Story by Cal Bryant, Roanoke Chowan News Herald

Who is better suited to show young students the correct path towards a successful career other than someone who has already traveled that road?

While the Gates County Community Partnership (GCCP) takes immense pride in its mission to inspire and increase community engagement by the citizens of Gates County for the educational and social development of its youth, they were once in the same shoes as those they are assisting today.

Guided by a Board of Directors whose background and upbringing lie within Gates County, GCCP benefits from a range of professional skills, individual experiences, and the generosity of volunteers dedicated to the betterment of their home county.

Rooted in the soil of civic pride and purpose, GCCP was established in October 2018 and was almost immediately recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity. Since their founding, GCCP has remained a catalyst for positive change across Gates County. Its current Board of Directors are Chante Jordan, President; Benjamin Saunders, Jr., Vice-President and Treasurer; Sherley Jones, Jr., Secretary; Brian Rountree, Director; and Sandra Jordan Branch, Director. Each matriculated through Gates County Schools.

Jordan said she joined GCCP to help make a positive difference and give back to the youth in the local community.

“Being a part of an organization with such a dedication to educational and societal development allows me to directly contribute to improving the lives of young people, helping them gain access to educational resources and opportunities,” said Jordan, who holds several degrees from East Carolina University and works with Gates County Public Schools as the Human Resources Director and Exceptional Children’s Program Director.

Jordan said it is exciting to witness and to be a part of a group of like-minded individuals with such a firm commitment to the overall development of local youth and the Gates County community.

“The various initiatives and activities each provide opportunities for community members to connect, communicate, and support one another,” she said.

Jordan feels that the academic enrichment, mentoring initiatives, and educational partnerships, all programs fostered by GCCP, have made the biggest impact thus far on the lives of local students.

As to the future, Jordan pointed to programs to address mental health and mentorship opportunities that would support the continued development of local youth.

“The Partnership has recently been engaged in the initiation of projects to address these topics,” Jordan stated.

Saunders, an engineering graduate of North Carolina A&T State University and the University of Detroit Mercy, is a charter member of the GCCP. He was on the ground floor when the organization, in its infant stages, partnered with Morehead Planetarium and Science Center of UNC-Chapel Hill to launch the Saunders Science Scholars program, a STEM enrichment, youth development, and college readiness initiative.

“We are adamant about access for all and have not charged for any programming directed towards the community we serve, as we want to ensure everyone can participate,” Saunders noted.

In addition to the Saunders Science Scholars, he pointed to three other programs that he feels have made the biggest impact on Gates County’s youth. They are:

The Access Initiative – the donation of over 140 laptops to local students and funding for 15 mobile hotspots for local internet access.

Opening GATES / ACTivate Futures that has provided college readiness programming and college tours to dozens of local youth.

GCCP NC Promise Tuition Scholarship that has funded the first year of college tuition for 10 Gates County High School graduates.            .

Other programs in the works include Busting Boundaries (a male mentoring program at Central Middle School) and “Let’s Chat,” an initiative that will promote spontaneous conversations in a welcoming environment.

Jones, who served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force and currently works for the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA), is also a GCCP charter member.

“The opportunity to engage with young people and share my story while also encouraging them to be the best version of themselves is what excites me about the GCCP,” Jones said. “It also gives me the opportunity to be a positive figure, showing students that dreams really do come true and providing awareness of forums available to them to achieve greater.”

When asked about the other impacts that the GCCP has made locally, Jones answered by saying, “The programs where we have brought in STEM advocates to raise awareness to students the college opportunities through scholarships and grants and also trade programs available to them in the local area and in the state of North Carolina. Also, the Access Initiative program where we have given computers to needy families, which help kids do well in school and help alleviate stress from parents to support them with academic resources.”

Like his other colleagues on the GCCP Board of Directors, Jones feels that the work they’ve done thus far is just the tip of the iceberg.

“I would like to see us provide program support to teachers, whether it be academic resources, more advance technology, or even funding for teachers to attain their certification or complete further degrees to provide an optimal classroom environment,” he said. “Another program to offer would be one for parents to raise their awareness and competencies on technology while also helping them bridge the academic gap to support student learning and behaviors in school environments.”

In addition to its existing programs, the GCCP has helped secure grants to support the Carnegie Learning Math Program as well as with funding for the new athletic training facility at Gates County High School and a Youth Athletics and Academics Grant, a development program for student athletes emphasizing the balance between sports and academics.

GCCP also supports its community in other ways. It led an initiative to provide free broadband access and purchase and install two large screen TVs at the Gates County Community Center. The purpose was to support the senior population and the rest of the local community.

To learn more about the organization or for information on how you can become involved, send an email to [email protected].