A 5-Star Accredited Chamber of Commerce |
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UPCOMING EVENT
Crossroads: Exploring Intersections in Race and Business
Wednesday, January 27, 1 - 2:30 p.m.
What is a microaggression? How do they affect us at work and in business? And what can we do about them? Join us for 2021's first episode of Crossroads: Exploring Intersection in Race and Business.
Crossroads is a safe space. It is formatted to connect businesses, professionals, and the community with perspective, best practices and a safe space to productively comment and ask questions without having to be identified. The event is open to businesses, employees and the community, and we will accept questions and comments in advance and anonymously. If you submit a question or comment using the link below, even we won't know who you are, so please feel free to provide your most honest feedback or ask your most sensitive questions.
There is no cost to attend, however, registration is required. We hope you'll join us!
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This Week's News with Senator Perry
Each week, Senator Keith Perry distributes an e-newsletter to keep the community up to date. Check out the most current issue to learn more about Senator Perry's proposal to boost child car restraints from age 5 to age 6, reading scholarship accounts available to Floridians and more. If you're not signed up to receive Sen. Perry's email newsletter, sign up here.
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EDUCATION NEWS
Gainesville High's Nicole Harris named Alachua County Teacher of the Year
Nicole Harris from Gainesville High School is the 2021 Alachua County Public Schools Teacher of the Year.
Congratulations again to all of the honorees! We are fortunate to have so many incredible teachers in Alachua County. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication in and out of the classroom.
Thank you to all the sponsors of The 29th annual Robert W. Hughes Teacher of the Year Program. Earlier this week, our teacher of the year team delivered bags full of goodies to each of the 40 outstanding teacher leaders and each honoree was gifted a $500 award to celebrate their achievement thanks to your generosity.
See more photos from the 2021 Teacher of the Year Program here.
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EDUCATION NEWS
The Education Foundation offering over $200,000 in college scholarships
Deadline to apply: February 16
The Education Foundation of Alachua County has opened its Senior Scholarships program application for spring 2021.
The Senior Scholarships program is open to high school seniors in the Alachua County Public Schools system. Students must complete one application to be considered for the more than 50 scholarships which they may be eligible.
Scholarships range from $1,000 to $60,000 for eligible seniors who meet the scholarships’ criteria, and last year, The Education Foundation awarded about $750,000 in scholarships including Senior and Take Stock in Children scholarships.
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MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
Donnelly + Gross receives several prestigious recognitions for 2020
Donnelly + Gross is proud to announce its recognition among the “Best Law Firms” for 2020 as ranked by US News and Best Lawyers®. The firm received four Tier 1 rankings in labor and employment law for the metropolitan area of Jacksonville. “Best Law Firms” is the leading survey of attorneys worldwide, providing a comprehensive view of the legal industry in the United States. Law firms are chosen for the U.S. News and Best Lawyers® report based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes client and lawyer evaluations, peer reviews from attorneys in their industry, and review of formal submissions by the firms. Additionally, firm principals Paul Donnelly and Laura Gross have been named 2020 “Best Lawyers®” for labor and employment law representing the top 2% of attorneys in Florida.
Also for 2020, Mr. Donnelly and Ms. Gross were selected to 2020 Florida Super Lawyers and to 2020 Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, recognitions which are based on a statewide survey of lawyers, attorney-led research, and peer-reviews by practice area. Mr. Donnelly and Ms. Gross also maintain AV Preeminent ratings from Martindale Hubbell.
Donnelly + Gross, with offices in Gainesville and Fort Myers, protects businesses and professionals on employment law matters, represents fire-rescue, law enforcement and public employee unions, and serves as general counsel for multi-million dollar retirement funds throughout Florida. For additional information, please visit www.donnellygross.com or call 352-374-4001. |
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MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
University of Florida Health researchers win $75 million grant to help develop new antibiotic
University of Florida Health researchers and their collaborators have a $75 million grant to identify a new, unique antibiotic that will protect public health.
Funding from the federal Defense Threat Reduction Agency will be used to study 28 compounds, eventually narrowing them down to one drug and a backup candidate that can destroy bacterial pathogens that would otherwise evade current antibiotics. The benefits should be twofold: Creating a compound that could be used to address a bioterrorism event while also treating stubborn infections among the public or hospitalized patients.
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MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
Swamp City Fitness hosting 5K Obstacle Race
Saturday, April 3, Noon - 5 p.m.
4949 Celebration Pointe Ave, Gainesville
Swamp City Fitness is hosting a 5K Obstacle Race for all fitness levels from Youth to Elite, at Celebration Pointe. This event will have food vendors, music, apparel vendors, and shopping. There will also be engaging fitness skill stations and mini challenges additionally for racers and spectators to test their abilities and show off their skills. Fun and engaging for everyone.
The Swamp City 5K Obstacle Race will have heat times and different divisions in order to avoid clusters at the obstacles, a smooth running challenging race, and increase competitors chances for awards and prizes.
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MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
New team leading the way for Gainesville For All's early learning center
A diverse team of educators and community activists has been empaneled to plan for the opening and daily operation of a transformative early learning center to be located on the campus of Metcalfe Elementary School, announced James F. Lawrence, Gainesville for All executive director.
“We’re excited that these talented professionals have agreed to join the strategic planning team created to lead the way for the Gainesville Empowerment Zone Early Learning Center,” Lawrence said. “Individually and collectively they are ideally suited for planning an early learning center that we believe can become a template for urban school districts wrestling with huge academic achievement gaps between Black and white students.”
The center will provide struggling families from pregnancy through age 3 with a wide range of educational and social services in a way that has not been done in the past in public education.
Team members:
Charmaine B. Henry, team chair, is the recently retired founder and principal of the Genesis Preparatory School. She also was a teacher at J.J. Finley Elementary School for 27 years before opening Genesis, a charter school, in 2000.
Yolanda Hagley Fluellen has been involved in early childhood education for more than two decades and formerly headed Alachua County’s HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) program which excelled under her leadership.
Elliene Chisholm is a retired preschool specialist and educator for Alachua County Public Schools.
Curtis Peterson is principal at Caring and Sharing Learning School, which has won numerous national and state awards for excellence.
Dr. Elizabeth Bondy is a professor at the University of Florida’s School of Teaching and Learning. She is currently actively involved in assisting teachers at Terwilliger Elementary School.
Marilyn McCall is former director of the My School, a non-profit full-day childcare center sponsored by the Campus View Church.
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MEMBER CONTRIBUTION
GRACE seeking sponsors for first-ever Farm to Table event
Thursday, February 25, 6 - 9pm
Belle Oaks Barn
11800 SW 157th Ln, Brooker
GRACE is looking for event and table sponsors for their first-ever Farm to Table event at Belle Oaks Barn in Brooker! GRACE has table sponsorships available for the full table (8 seats), half tables (4 seats), and pairs of tickets (2 seats). GRACE has taken a number of COVID precautions for this outdoor event, and is offering a fantastic Gather at Home (sets of two tickets) option.
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