News & Events

Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute Regional Mapping Project

Cherokee FOCUS is currently working with The Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute to help them with their Regional Data Mapping Pilot Project. Six Partnering organizations have collaborated on an initiative to learn more about the assets and needs of nonprofit organizations in Cherokee County. They are the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Atlanta Community Food Bank, Families First, Kaiser Permanente, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, and United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. The results of this survey will help these organizations prioritize resources for addressing community issues specific to our County.

In February of 2010, representatives from The Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute, came to the FOCUS collaborative meeting and conducted focus group meetings with 48 non-profit representatives from Cherokee County. In May, the project facilitators will be conducting both personal and phone interviews with local community leaders to get there thoughts and feedback on issues concerning the children and families of Cherokee County. Also in May, non-profit providers of children and family support services will be emailed an online survey by Cherokee FOCUS that will go directly to Georgia Tech for the Regional Data Mapping Project.

Butts, Clayton and Rockdale counties are also a part of this regional project. Butts county was the first county to participate in the focus groups, one-on-one interviews and non-profit survey. Finding of the Georgia Tech project facilitators will be provider to the six partnering project organizations.

Cherokee Youth Works Gearing Up For Summer Jobs For Youth Program 2010

This summer Cherokee Youth Works will be partnering with both the Department of Human Services and the Atlanta Regional Commission Youth Council to help match qualified youth with summer jobs in Cherokee County. Youth ages 14 -18 were asked to apply for the summer program online at the Georgia Teen Work website site. Cut off date to apply was extended to April 30th but is now closed for teens wanting to apply for summer work through the Department of Human Services.

Through a contract between the Department of Labor and the Department of Human Services there are still a few job openings (as of May 20) for those youth who reside in a family currently on TANF, on Medicade or receiving food stamps. Youth who fall into this category should contact Cherokee Youth Works immediately to apply.

Youth who have been excepted to one of the summer programs will begin work on June 1, 2010 and work through July 30, 2010. Each youth will work from 20 to 35 hours and earn $8.50 per hour. Cherokee Youth Works will also be providing workforce readiness training to each teenager.

For more information email cherokeefocus@alltel.net or call 770-345-5483 ext. 3.

Foundation Directory Online Available At FOCUS.

Through a generous donation, Cherokee FOCUS is now able to offer the Foundation Centers' Foundation Directory Online for Cherokee County. The directory is a subscription based program with a confidential log in and password. There is no charge for anyone to come into Cherokee FOCUS and use the service.

The Foundation Directory Online makes searching for grants much easier than just doing a google search. Users can put in specific words to find funding for their particular needs. For more information or to schedule a time to use the service, email cherokeefocus@winstream.net or call 770-345-5483 ext. 1.