Athens students invest in their city

ATHENS — An interesting debate took place recently among a group of high school students in Athens.

They weren’t discussing the latest fad or TikTok post or, even, the best singer.

The students – members of the Mayor’s Youth Commission – were debating how to divide money and donate the funds to local nonprofits.

The group received more than $3,500 in grant requests and had $2,500 to distribute. Through negotiations, the students finally settled on a method to fund each request by partially funding a majority of the projects.

“Prior to accepting (grant) proposals, the students set priorities such as downtown enhancement, healthcare, education, community events/programs, beautification and recreation,” Youth Commission mentor Holly Hollman said. “All of the proposals met one or more of those priorities, and it was tough for the students to choose.

“The students want to fund projects that will have an impact on Athens, and through this process, they learned about need in the community, budgeting, sharing their opinions and compromising.”

• Lindsay Lane Christian Academy junior Annelyse Dizon said priority should be given to citizens who contribute to the tax base. She supported a request from Make A Way Foundation for a book program aimed at those with special needs.
• Athens High sophomore Emma Tarokh said funding should go to encourage citizens and
  visitors to Athens to spend money and help the tax base. She supported beautification efforts downtown.
• Athens High sophomore Jerome Malone Jr. said funding should have a broader impact and support a project such as the Household Hazardous Waste event hosted by Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful.

“Many were not afraid to speak up and defend their choices for funding,” Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks said. “That’s the fun part. Seeing these students’ passion for their city.”

Hollman said most of the projects include opportunities for Youth Commissioners to volunteer.

“That is an important aspect to their community grant program,” she said. “We want Youth Commissioners to not only invest funding in our community, but also their time and talents.”

Youth Commissioners used donations from Dekko Foundations, Krebs Engineering and Samurai’s Steak House for their community grant program.

Summary of funded projects

• Athens Arts League – $275
  Will purchase ukuleles for 10 students to learn each year how to read music and play an instrument; students will participate in classes and camps in order to perform for hundreds of attendees at downtown events such as Mardi Gras, High Cotton Arts, Merchants Alley, Christmas Parade, and other events as opportunities arise; first music camp will be June 26-27.
• Athens-Limestone Beautification Board – $300
  Will expand beautification efforts with the purchase of more concrete pots and plants/flowers; with the expansion of businesses and growth of night life downtown, the group sees a need to add additional pots to enhance the aesthetic appeal of downtown to the thousands that visit/shop/dine; plants/flowers will be changed out seasonally.
• Athens-Limestone Community Association – $275
  Will help fund a two-day unveiling and dedication ceremony at the Pincham-Lincoln Center of historical photos of the Trinity School ancestors, teachers, parents, and sites; these are newly discovered photos (over 200) from the collection of Mildred Grupe, an American Missionary Association Teacher for the third- and fourth-grades at Trinity (1917-1933); ceremony will allow public to view collection and learn about the school and site’s history; this site tells the story of slave to soldier to student.
• Athens-Limestone Hospital Foundation – $500
  Will purchase car seats for its Mother-Baby Unit; hospital will provide these to families who may not be in a financial position to purchase an infant car seat or their current car seat does not follow safety guidelines.
• Athens-Limestone County Library Foundation – $200
  Will purchase supplies and books for the Youth Services Programming “Homeschool Hangout;” approximately 24 regular attendees for the weekly program in grades K-12 will enjoy a book, humanity-based conversations relevant to the story, creating crafts and science projects, and build with Legos.
• Hospice of Limestone County Camp Hope – $350
  Will purchase material for “Feelings Pillows” for approximately 85 campers who attend Camp Hope; pillows will be used to teach coping skills for children who are experiencing grief; volunteers hand sew each pillow cover and include a note of encouragement in the pillow pocket.
• Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful – $300
  Will help fund the Household Hazardous Waste Collection annual event, a free service for all Limestone County residents (expect about 300 to participate); will give residents the opportunity to safely dispose of harmful chemicals and items such as paint, cleaners, pesticides, used oil, etc., keeping harmful chemicals from being put in the landfill or poured into the ground, eventually getting into the water supply.
• Make A Way Foundation – $300
  Will fund a book drive for the Athens-Limestone Public Library to stock it with up to 50 books on a variety of special needs topics such as autism, Downs Syndrome, ADD, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Dyslexia, etc.; books will provide information to parents and include self-help books for children’s/teens/adolescents.