for East Gainesville from 2010 to 2019.
A decade. 10 years of relationships, growth, favor, and change. 10 years of long devotion in the same direction. This has been the heartbeat of our church and community partners. Our commitment to reducing disparities, shifting the status quo, and watching East Gainesville become a bright shinning light on a hill has been a worthy investment and glorious adventure.
Community leaders have been ignited to walk further into their God-given gifts and purpose. Schools have faithfully labored to improve the achievement gap. Teenagers have found a safe place to be themselves and freely discuss their faith. In the years to come, it is our desire and devotion to see these students and leaders at the forefront of change in their community. We believe their voices matter and deserve to be heard as this community rises. We see God being exalted in our city as East Gainesville springs forth.
Geenhouse Church is such an important part of Rawlings Elementary, I would love to share a little! I am always amazed by the dedication that the Greenhouse Church members have in their roles at Rawlings Elementary. The SMILE mentors commit to weekly mentoring sessions with their student mentee. The difference these mentors make in the lives of our student in improved academic gains, attendance, behavior and social interations is so important.
Beyond our SMILE mentoring program, the Greenhouse Church members also step up (often at a moment's notice) to help the school in so many other ways. They volunteer on field trips, family events, carnivals, contribute to patrol field trips, provide meals for staff appreciation events, and the list goes on and on. I don't think Greenhouse Church realizes how much that means.
Through the incredible partnership with Greenhouse Church, Lincoln has facilitated the salary for an administrator through the summer, and hired a Dean Assistant that serves as the Historian for our beloved facility.
Mr. Washington is one of the first graduates of Lincoln High School and keeps our students filled with pride and respect as they walk our halls. Greenhouse Church has invested in an East Gainesville initiative and has changed the lives of many of our families through after-school activities, tutoring and workshops. This has improved and assisted the livelihood of our families and encourage parental involvement.
Throughout the years at Eastside High School, Greenhouse Church has had an instrumental impact and partnership with EHS which has contributed to the daily success of students. Most importantly, Greenhouse Church has led the way with sponsoring and overseeing our I Got Your Back Mentoring Program. This mentoring program allows mentors or student volunteers form the community to be paired with our at-risk students who are in dire need or academic and social-emotional support. Mentors are matched specifically to meet the needs and supports for students which has had a profound impact with the continuation of ongoing positive relationships between the mentors and students.
