Gaston Together will offer facilitator training to members of the community on Friday, March 2, 2012 from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm.  The training will take place at the Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce in the Seminar Room, 601 W. Franklin Blvd, Gastonia.

The training sessions teach basic meeting facilitation skills including: group management, self-management, establishing goals and setting priorities among other components.  The sessions are open to anyone who may benefit from learning basic skills which would apply to problem-solving and planning in the business setting as well as in community or civic club meetings.

This training also builds grassroots involvement by equipping members of our community with the skills they need to help find solutions for community issues.  Dozens of Gaston County citizens have received the Gaston Together training and have been instrumental in facilitating meetings and planning sessions for such groups as:  Gaston/Lincoln/Cleveland Provider Network, Gaston County Schools,  Pathways Coalition and Mt. Holly Community Development Foundation to name a few.

The registration fee is $30.00 which covers the cost of materials and lunch.  For more information or to register, please contact Christie Williams at Gaston Together, 704.867.9869.  Registration deadline is Monday, February 27th.

During the month of October, ministers and community members of GC3, an initiative of Gaston Together, will partner with Gaston County Schools for a Breakfast of Champions Kick Off Events for the new school year.  The events will be held at Bessemer City Middle and Grier Middle School.   Students will meet for a light breakfast and one on one discussion.  During the year, Breakfast of Champions events will feature guest speakers, one on one time with participating clergy and a year end field trip celebration.

The Breakfast of Champions events have been very successful at providing much needed encouragement and mentoring to at risk students.  If you would like more information on Breakfast of Champions or would like to volunteer your time, please contact Christie Williams, Gaston Together Administrative Assistant, at 704-867-9869, ext. 109. 

Gaston Together, 2011 "Pride In Gaston", Traveling Tour

This initiative serves to enhance the awareness of community pride in our school children. The goal of the day-long field trip for third graders is to introduce the students to points of interest in our county that will serve to build community pride.

The 2011 tour will feature stops at the Gaston County Courthouse Community Room, Gaston College and Holy Angels, Snoezelen Room (a sensory stimulation area). An Activity Book that features 13 sites of interest in Gaston County is given to students; each site has a sketch drawn by Lucy Penegar, a few facts of interest about the site, and space to add additional information.

Once third graders from all Gaston County schools and several private schools have completed their tour, students will then write an essay for the "Proudest Kid in Gaston County" Essay Contest.  A special ceremony will be held