Explore Our Programs
Community Partners
Wealthy Habits
Tracy Tanner, Director
Wealthy Habits is an Atlanta-based nonprofit on a mission to revolutionize students’ financial futures. Through hands-on, activity-driven curricula, Wealthy Habits has empowered thousands of young learners to rethink money, master smart spending and saving habits, and build lifelong financial confidence.
Celestial Studios
Fox Gradin, Founder, Executive Director
Founded in 2007 by professional artist and storyteller Fox Gradin, Celestial Studios transforms Gainesville into a living canvas. Leveraging her background in fine art and literature, Fox curates world-dance performances, costume design labs, experimental theater, and multi-age creativity camps. Celestial Studios unites diverse audiences in collaborative art-making, nurturing creative confidence, cultural exchange, and a vibrant community spirit.
AMPED KIDS Foundation
April Rooks, Founder, Executive Director
AMPED KIDS transforms the lives of foster, adopted, and at-risk youth facing life’s toughest challenges by providing free music instruction, therapeutic programming, and dedicated mentorship. Through building musical skills and nurturing creative expression, AMP’D Kids foster resilience, discipline, and self-confidence—lifting young voices and opening doors to brighter futures.
Shift to Play
Corean Canty, Partner
Shift to Play (STP) is an organization based in Atlanta, Georgia dedicated to improving workplace environments through play. STP creates interactive experiences designed to foster connection, creativity, and collaboration among team members. Programs use play and improvisation to enhance team dynamics, reduce stress, and increase productivity. By turning work into play, STP helps organizations cultivate deeply engaged teams, smoother cross-departmental communication, and a sustained lift in creative breakthroughs—empowering companies to stay agile, resilient, and ahead of the curve.
Gainesville Housing Authority
Gainesville Housing provides quality, affordable housing in Gainesville and Hall County while promoting dignity, pride, and opportunity for its residents. Through housing, youth support, adult and senior services, and community partnerships, Gainesville Housing improves economic stability, transforms neighborhoods, and stabilizes lives.
Be More Positive
Larry Veal, Director
Be More Positive (BMP) delivers a proven, proprietary social-emotional resilience curriculum across Georgia’s public schools and within juvenile court systems—partnering directly with District Attorneys’ juvenile divisions. BPM’s hands-on, experiential approach has driven measurable drops in violence, suspensions, and expulsions. Founded in Gwinnett County, BMP also collaborates with community leaders and grassroots organizations to amplify youth engagement and lifelong success.
Hall County Animal Services
Trey Garcia, Director
The Hall County Animal Services (HCAS) team works to ensure the well-being of animals, promote responsible pet ownership, maintain public safety, shelter operations, and community engagement in Hall County.
HCAS provides adoption services for homeless dogs and cats, helping find loving, forever homes. Understanding the distress of a missing pet, the HCAS Lost and Found program works to reunite lost animals with owners. And when pet owners are faced with the difficult decision to part with their animal, HCAS facilitates owner surrenders by appointment only, ensuring a compassionate transition for the pet. HCAS also provides low-cost services, including vaccinations, microchipping, flea treatment, and spay/neuter vouchers through community events and partnerships.
For those looking to make a direct impact, HCAS offers fostering and volunteering opportunities that allow the community to directly support animals in HCAS care. Beyond direct animal care, HCAS conducts community outreach, programs, and classes to educate youth groups and other organizations on proper animal care.
Additionally, HCAS Animal Control Officers enforce Hall County's Animal Services Ordinances and respond to emergency calls via Central dispatch. They play a crucial role in rabies control and investigate and respond to critical incidents, including animal bites, cruelty investigations, reports of loose or uncontrolled domesticated animals, and potentially dangerous animals.
Lanier Technical College
Dr. Shannon Cole, Dean of Adult Education + Tracey Sheppard, Integrated Education and Training & Workplace Literacy Coordinator
Lanier Tech Adult Education programs through the Technical College System of Georgia offer opportunities for participation in training that lead to credentials in high-demand career fields. These programs are called Integrated Education and Training opportunities (IETs) to include -
Certified Nurse Aide
Early Childhood Care
Hospitality
Education
Commercial Truck Driving
This program, Volunteer to Career Pathway, is just one of the latest training programs for Lanier Tech’s adult education students providing participants with credentials in the areas they love, helping them find career direction and employment.
University of Georgia, Hall County
Gwendolyn Sue Hawn, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent +
Bridget Tuckey, Horticulture Program Assistant/Master Gardener Coordinator
UGA Family & Consumer Sciences delivers research-backed training and resources in health, nutrition, family well-being, home management, and personal finance—connecting Georgians with university expertise. The Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program trains community volunteers to share best practices in ornamental and edible horticulture, boosting local environments, wellness, and food security. 360 Love partner content will include:
- Health, food and nutrition education to include proper meal preparation and “fuel for our bodies” at any age with research based information to help the middle school children, Seniors and Volunteers live healthier, happier lives through maintaining a nutritious active lifestyle.
- Volunteer led workshops hosted by Master Gardeners.
- Farm to table gardening at home & in the Community and intergenerational learning through horticulture.