| ||||||||
 | ||||||||
|
 "Measuring the Impact" Impact aims to engage students in addressing human and community needs within structured service opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and leadership development, and enhance students’ sense of social and political responsibility, as well as their sense of ability to affect systemic change. To fulfill this vision, Impact has created three “signature initiatives,” FocusFirst, SaveFirst, and SpeakFirst, which address, respectively, community health, financial literacy, and college preparation. As of last week, 219 college students and 28 community volunteers from throughout the state have participated in Impact projects. Impact owes much of its success to an incredible staff. We currently have a full-time executive director, two full-time Americorps/VISTA members, one full-time FocusFirst vision screening coordinator, and two salaried debate coaches.
Please take a minute to check out our website at www.impactalabama.org, and feel free to e-mail any suggestions or questions you may have. Sincerely, Stephen Black Founder/President - Impact | |||
FocusFirst Initiative The staff and volunteers of Impact are thrilled with the success of the FocusFirst preschool vision screening program over the past four months. The FocusFirst initiative has been launched on nine college campuses across Alabama. (High School students from Booker T. Washington Magnet School in Montgomery are also involved in the initiative.) With participation from University of Alabama at Birmingham, Unviersity of Alabama, University of West Alabama, Birmingham Southern College, Samford University, Athens State, University of Alabama at Huntsville, Jacksonville State University and University of North Alabama, we have trained 202 volunteers who have already screened over 2100 children for eye diseases and disorders. FocusFirst volunteers plan to screen 2000 more children before the end of the semester. Finally, all children who fail the screenings will receive comprehensive follow-up care free of charge through our partnership with Sight Savers of Alabama. This follow-up care includes glasses, low-vision aids, surgery, and any other medical treatment required. | |||
SpeakFirst The first SpeakFirst debate team has had tremendous success since we began direct service in August 2004. Since then, SpeakFirst students have participated in nine National Forensic League sponsored debate tournaments throughout the southeastern region of the Beginning in June, the SpeakFirst students will participate in two-week summer internships in a career of their choice so that they can be exposed to a realistic representation of the daily activities of professionals. Additionally, coordinated efforts with parents, high school counselors and teachers provide SpeakFirst students the opportunity to establish goals that help them seek and obtain a quality college education. Fredericka Anderson has developed a math enrichment program for the SpeakFirst students based on her thirty years of teaching experience at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. For one hour each week, two of the ten SpeakFirst students sit down with Ms. Anderson and, together, they participate in intense math lessons that prepare the students for higher scores on the SAT, ACT, and high school graduation exams. Students remain in the program for four years and are admitted into the program during the fall of each year in groups of 5-10. SpeakFirst has 45 active community members who volunteer by assisting with debate preparation, transportation, tutoring, and mentoring. The team now participates in both Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum debate. |
