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Our Work
This year has been quite productive as we continue to work with local city and county partners on projects that include: the new Butler Park, providing education support to parents and students and nurturing a strong youth initiative through our Bright Youth United for the Future program and Community Rec Program.
We continue to work on increasing citizen participation in community life, focusing on health care disparities and serving as a resource center for individuals and families, partnering with local law enforcement to improve community relations, strengthening small business development, and building bridges through new and diverse relationships for a better tomorrow.
The Newtown Story One Community's Fight for Environmental Justice was published by the the Newtown Florist Club, Center for Democratic Renewal is available for purchase. Please click on the pdf icon below to access an order form or contact our main office for support. All sale proceeds go to supporting our ongoing work for the community.
01
Environmental Justice Reform
The Newtown neighborhood was built atop an old landfill east of Athens Street in the years immediately after the 1936 tornado that killed hundreds. The "New Town" was to serve black families displaced by the disaster. Industries such as Purina and Cargill further added to the negative environmental impact and subsequently the increase of health problems already plaguing the community. Over the years, the club members noticed high rates of cancer killing their neighbors. Johnson, who is the Newtown Florist Club’s executive director, said the club’s environmental justice work really kicked off in the 1980s, as members of the community who were active in the club grew concerned about family members dying from throat, lung and colon cancers.
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02
Community and Economic Development Program
The Newtown Florist Club Community and Economic Development Program. strives to bring awareness and reform social and economic injustices as well as improve and maintain our local community through Community Advocacy Programs including Community Projects and the Economics Development Project.
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03
Voter Engagment Program
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NFC is committed to educating community members and organizations about a wide range of issues including voter suppression, candidate education, outreach, and advocacy to encourage greater citizen participation in community life. This Program also serves to increase community involvement in elections through voter education, awareness and participation through trainings, community collaboration, research, analysis, and community organizing.
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04
Youth Leadership Development Program
Youth Development has always been a central focus of our mission. Throughout the history of the NFC youth programs have included (past and present) the Mozetta Whelchel Girls Leadership Project, the Summer Youth Leadership Program, the Summer Enrichment Program, 100% Kids, Bright Youth United for the Future and the Neighborhood Rec Program. Additional youth development opportunities are made available to youth through all of our projects and annual events in the form of creative writings, performing arts, sports activity, voter engagement, youth issue discussions and more.
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05
The Education Support Project NFC partners with community-based organizations and individuals to support the educational needs of students and parents to support academic excellence and to improve student accomplishment in all areas of life.
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Educational Support Project
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Criminal Justice Reform / Public Policy
Newtown's Criminal Justice Reform Project primarily focuses on justice issues related to the pipeline, to prison, mass incarceration, and improving law enforcement community relations through education, awareness and public policy engagement.
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As part of for Criminal Justice Reform Project the Newtown Florist Club created the Criminal Justice Roundtable to address and advocate important issues, not only directly affecting the Newtown Community, but also fighting in other high profile cases including organizing and promoting the George Floyd Initiative.
The Public Policy Committee works to proactively encourage and increase community engagement with local law enforcement with the mission to build an educated community where all people have access to equal justice in Gainesville-Hall County, Georgia. ​
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