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For Immediate Release
June 16, 2009
For more information contact:
Bonny Millard, Executive Director, Blount Education Initiative
(865) 273-1210 or (865) 789-6007, bonny@blounteducation.org
www.blounteducation.org
Other Media Contacts:
Amy Schwinge, (865) 982-6626 or amy@marybethwest.com
Tyra Haag, (865) 982-6626 or mb@marybethwest.com
Blount Education Initiative (BEI) Eager to Speakwith Organizations in Blount County
As Agents of Change, Community Organizations Can Help Raise Educational Priorities
Maryville, Tenn. — Social, service and religious organizations all play an indispensable role in improving the quality of life for the Blount County community.
With that in mind, Blount Education Initiative (BEI) is inviting speaker requests from community organizations across Blount County to speak with those groups about making education a top priority in the community.
BEI’s leadership believes that the most important groundwork for ensuring the future of Blount County – for children and economic prosperity – is establishing education as a top priority held by the community as whole, including citizens from diverse backgrounds, circumstances and points of view.
To achieve consensus about education’s vital importance and what forms of support are required to achieve educational excellence, BEI has developed a community outreach plan that involves two-way communication and exchanges important information about Blount County residents’ attitudes and opinions regarding educational priorities.
In past research, BEI found 91 percent of individuals get their information about Blount County from talking to someone. Another 63 percent get their information from churches.
“BEI believes speaking with members of a variety of Blount County organizations, we can increase the awareness and advocacy for promoting education,” said BEI Executive Director Bonny Millard. “We know the profound impact and influence these groups have in our community. Now, we just need to get them onboard.”
The presentations provide an insightful overview of BEI’s mission, its outreach campaign and the recently released public-opinion statistics on what Blount County residents think about education as a priority. Audience members who view this presentation will gain a strong understanding of how the Blount County community should consider advancing education locally.
“This isn’t about promoting our organization,” BEI Board President Mark Cate added. “It’s about advancing education and generating community involvement in a grassroots effort. The information is here; we just need to get it out to the people in Blount County.”
BEI is currently accepting presentation requests from now through December 2009. Each presentation features a PowerPoint slideshow followed by a question and answer session with a BEI representative. Ranging anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, BEI presentations can be tailored to fit any forum’s time limits and needs. So, the presentations are perfect for luncheons, seminars or any other type of meeting.
For more information or to schedule a presentation, please contact Mallorie Mendence, (865) 982-6626 or BEI@marybethwest.com.
ABOUT BLOUNT EDUCATION INITIATIVE:
The Blount Education Initiative’s (BEI) mission is to make education the Blount County community’s top priority by developing a sustained public awareness campaign focusing on the critical issues related to education, supporting local schools in their efforts to provide a top-notch education for all students and serving as a bridge between the educational community and businesses to develop meaningful collaborations. Achieving consensus about education’s vital importance, and what forms of support are required to achieve educational excellence, requires an organized, concerted campaign involving information exchange, dialogue, learning and persuasion. That’s why BEI exists – to facilitate this process. For more information, visit www.blounteducation.org.
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