Community celebrates Wanda Davis' year of service to Glascock County

Wanda Davis was in her mother’s garden, picking vegetables when a commissioner walked up and offered her a government job driving her Glascock County citizens to the service center in Louisville. She was 21-years-old at the time and for the last 45 years she has dedicated her life to planting seeds of service, cultivating relationships and growing programs that feed, clothe and otherwise support the people in her community who need it the most.

Davis spent 10 years with the service center, then 10 more connecting area residents with state provided mental health services, before she heard about Family Connections, a Gov. Zell Miller program created in 1991 that was finally coming to Glascock in 1999.

She applied and got the job before she really even knew much about what the program involved.

“It was all so new and we hadn’t had one before,” Davis said. “Gov. Zell Miller thought the counties knew better what they needed regarding children and families than they did in Atlanta.”

Her first order of business was to take the pulse of her community. The state provided 41 benchmarks regarding children and family services and it was Davis’ job as the new program coordinator, to explore those needs in her community, find out what services were available and how well those needs were being met.

For the first year she worked out to the trunk of her car as she moved from agency to agency, meeting commissioners, sheriffs, police chiefs, school officials, the movers and shakers and leaders in other programs that were serving the area.

“They wanted us to look at things like school attendance, teen pregnancy, issues like that, and then choose what issues to focus on, areas where we could try to effect change,” Davis said. “Then we were supposed to get all of those community leaders to the same table and through a collaborative process do what we could to make improvements.”

What she found, was just how poor in resources her tiny, rural Glascock County actually was. She had known going in that there were few programs addressing these needs, but she said she had assumed it was that way everywhere. Through her collaborations with Family Connection coordinators in surrounding counties, she began to see just how far Glascock was behind not just the more metropolitan counties around Atlanta, but also behind all of its neighboring counties in central eastern Georgia.

“There were hardly any services here, no afterschool programs, nothing of that nature,” Davis said. “I had assumed everybody was like that. Nobody had ever compared what Glascock looked like to the rest of the state.”

That first year she worked on a budget of $25,000 driving around and talking with officials as she started to build a network of people, programs and services.

“I’m sure they all thought I was crazy and this was never going to go anywhere,” Davis said. “But I was getting excited. I realized that we had an opportunity here to make a difference and make things better for our people.”

The trick, she said, was to take on issues one at a time, to focus on doing a little bit and doing it well, before taking on more and more.

Right away, she said, she saw the need for mental health services.

“Mental health services were leaving the county,” Davis said. “When I left there were 110 Glascock County cases on my caseload. They wanted clients to drive to Burke County for services. I can tell you most, if not all of them were not going to drive to Burke County every day. They couldn’t afford to and mental health requires going to the office and getting counseling. If you’re not getting it on a routine and regular basis it’s not going to do any good.”

One of the first grants she worked for and received paid for a social worker’s salary in the county.

Next she created an afterschool program that offered both tutoring and mentoring.

“I felt like mentoring was something we could do, we have good people here, retired teachers and others who can make a difference,” Davis said.

The afterschool program started with around 10 children and was funded with a small grant Davis used to pay high school students as mentors or tutors. She is projecting this year the program, now supported by three different funding streams, will serve 135 students.

“There is still a big need,” Davis said. “The families do not pay for one thing.”

There are nearly as many children who also receive services during the program’s summer program, which serves hot breakfasts and lunch, snacks and contracts with the school system to run three bus routes through the end June.

“Wanda has put a lot of her time and energy into that program to build it up to what it is,” said Kathy Clark, chairman of the Glascock Family Connections Executive Board. “She looked around at the services the county needed and has added them to it, like the clothes closet, the energy assistance program and a food bank. She has always looked to help the community.”

One thing after the next, Davis discovered the needs in the community, came up with a plan to fill those needs, and then went looking for the grant funding to support the programs she either brought in or created.

“Many people don’t realize this, but we are 95 percent grant funded,” she said. “That makes a lot of people nervous, but when one door closed another one always opened. I feel like I built the reputation for Glascock for reliability. Grants work if you do what you say you will, give them results and make them (the grant providers) look good. And a big part of the job building those relationships and partnerships throughout the state.”

Over the last 25 years she has grown Family Connections from that $25,000 initial budget to one supported by nearly $800,000 a year. In all, Davis has secured over $14 million in grant funds to support services for Glascock County residents. And where she worked alone her first year, Glascock Family Connection now has eight full-time employees, 21 part-time after school program staff and three AmeriCorps positions.

Davis has also developed countless community partnerships with a nearly endless variety of volunteers.

The clothes closet program, which serves around 100 families or 350 people every month, is largely staffed by 11 community churches.

“There’s not one program more important than another,” Davis said. “If I'm talking to a senior citizen who lives over at the housing projects, then the energy assistance and the food pantry might be the most important. If I go ask the parent of an afterschool child, they’re going to say that program. We are here to serve all ages, young and old. After the career fair we’ve had adults tell us how that event help put them on the track to their career. We are a community resource center. We’re here to help people with whatever they need.”

After 45 years in service to the state and 25 years as coordinator of the local Family Connection and Communities in Schools, Davis recently announced her plans to retire from those positions as of June 30.

“I am so glad to be able to say that I have been a part of these improvements along with a team of many others,” Davis wrote in her announcement. “I am so very thankful to God, my family, the board of directors, my colleagues and my community for allowing me this opportunity.”

She said that while there was certainly a lot of work involved, it never felt like work.

“God lets things fall into place. I really believe that as long as we are doing his work, it is all going to be OK,” Davis said. “I really see this as a place where people are willing to try to help fill whatever need you have going on in your life right now. We want to make the community a better place.”

She said she realizes that those needs change as individuals cycle through different aspects of their lives, but she wants Family Connection to serve people throughout their lives in Glascock County.

“There are people who will think we should focus on other things,” Davis said. “These children that we are helping, we’re trying to help them break a cycle. We’re trying to help them see that there is another way.”

Clark said she has always been impressed with Davis’ vision, work ethic and dedication to the people of Glascock County.

“Some people know, but a lot do not know just what an impact this organization has made,” Clark said. “It has really made a major difference for families and their lives in this county, helping children to reach goals they may not have had there not been this program. It has brought a lot of money into our county. The employees there, they are paid a salary and I’m sure they spend some of their money in the county. It (Family Connections) has been a major employer for the county.”

On Thursday, June 13, the community held a special event celebrating Davis and her work in these programs.

“As Wanda bids farewell to her role, it's impossible not to reflect on the immense impact she's had, both as a boss and a friend,” said Monice Holloway, Program Consultant for the Family Connections and Community in Schools of Glascock County. “Through her unwavering dedication, she didn't just lead; she inspired. Her compassion knew no bounds, and her tireless efforts touched countless lives. In her, we found not only a leader but also a confidante, always ready to lend an ear or offer guidance. Her departure leaves a legacy of kindness, empathy, and selflessness that will endure as a guiding light for the ones following behind her.”

Karen Sammons, WIOA Coordinator and the CIS Site Coordinator, said she has worked with Davis for almost 30 years and has witnessed her unwavering dedication to the community.

“She is a great leader and inspiration to all who know her,” Sammons said. “If anyone deserves retirement it is Wanda Davis. She has gone above and beyond for many years to get Family Connections and Communities In Schools of Glascock County where it is today. She has been a fantastic Boss and Friend for many years and I look forward to continuing our friendship outside of the office.  Wanda, I love you and will miss your laughter in the office.”

Jennifer Kelley, the program’s current site coordinator and program director, who has been working with the program for 10 years, will be taking over for Davis as its executive director.

“I have big shoes to fill. Nobody is ever going to replace Ms. Wanda, but I’m excited. I’m honored to have the opportunity,” Kelley said. “She is an amazing woman who has done so much for the families and the children of our community. She’s tireless. She’s here anytime she’s needed. I have seen her put 80 hours a week in, especially when working on a big grant. She’s always looking for ways to help this community and so she’s always working.

“A lot of people think it (Family Connections) is just income-based kids, or kids who need extra help at school, it’s not. It is for everybody. We’re an organization that if we don’t have it, we will figure it out. If there is a need, we will find a solution for it.”

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Community celebrates Wanda Davis' year of service to Glascock County