Leadership Davie

Class Project:

Each year, Leadership Davie class members raise money for a community service project. The idea for this year’s project came from Leadership Davie class member, Christina Myers-Cassidy after a family member was involved in a serious accident. “I started wondering what our EMS and rescue personnel might need that they didn’t have. I contacted Davie County EMS Director Joseph Ashburn and found out about the need for pediatric restraints, so that’s what we have put the focus on for our community project.”

Ashburn is grateful for the donation. “Instead of having a child in a mother’s arms for transport, we can actually have them secured to the stretchers and let the stretchers do what they’re designed to do in case of a motor vehicle accident. This will make transporting children a lot safer.”

Leadership Davie will also be hosting a car seat safety booth at the 2023 Touch-A-Truck on Saturday, September 30th in downtown Mocksville. Representatives from Davie County EMS, the Mocksville Fire Department, and the Davie County Sheriff’s Office will be onsite to assist with proper child restraint installation and to answer questions. At noon, the Leadership Davie Class of 2023 will present Davie County EMS with Pedi-Mate pediatric transport straps for each of its trucks to ensure that children can be safely transported to the hospital. Attendees are invited to stop by the booth for a prize and to see how the Pedi-Mate pediatric transport straps work.

Extra money that was raised through Leadership Davie project went to providing car seats to Davie County EMS for families who are in need of the safety device.

Class Project:

Leadership Davie, Class of 2022, chose to learn more about the Opioid epidemic and specifically how it is impacting the immedidate community of Davie County.  As part of that, they devoted their time and talent to building awareness about resources that are available to individuals who are victims of the Oioid crisis, but also offer assistance to family and friends who may have loved ones that are struggling.  Their initial deep dive into the project determined that there are many who are available to assist with this deadly issue, but the importance of bringing those resources to a common table so that work could be strategically focused, offered the biggest opportunity for successful outcomes.  Some of the highlights of their project work included:

• Co-hosting an event with Davie County Health and Human Services entitled Davie County’s Opioid Crisis: Owning the Problem that was held on November 15, 2022.  The event invited members of the community to participate in a conversation surrounding substance use and abuse in Davie County, the strategies that are being implemented, and opportunities for solutions moving forward. The event included guest speakers, time for collaboration and discussion amongst participants, and an update from the Davie County Opioid Task Force on future plans for community input.  The event was co-sponsored by Atrium Health/Wake Forest Baptist Health and the Davie Community Foundation.
• Additionaly, the Class of 2022 created a Community Resource Guide for Opioid Crisis and raised $1000 for S.A.F.E.

Thank you Leadership Davie Class of 2022 for doing your part to bring awareness to an epidemic that is affecting so many, but also bringing resources together to help find a solution.

Class Project:

Elementary school is an important time in the life of a child. They will learn their ABC’s and 123’s, colors, shapes, and how to write their name. Their hand eye coordination will increase. They will learn about Thing One and Thing Two as well as what happens and who to call when five little monkeys jump on the bed. There is another essential skill children gain in those formative years; how to make friends.

During this pandemic, parents and teachers did an amazing job to continue academic learning virtually. However, there was no doubt that our children needed other children. Research shows that friendships developed in grades pre-k to third provide the context to learn and practice cognitive, social, communication, and emotional skills. One of the main places they learn these skills is during recess when they are free to play, explore, and simply sit next to a friend and talk.

Schools and playgrounds were both closed at the height of the pandemic. Now, more than ever our children need time to just be children. Leadership Davie Class of 2021 has partnered with the Davie High School carpentry and drafting classes to build “Buddy Benches” for Davie County elementary schools. We need your help to purchase the supplies to complete this project. A monetary donation of any size will help us reach our goal. Stay connected for progress updates, photos, and the big reveal via Facebook live when we present the benches to the schools.

Thank you in advance for helping Leadership Davie Class of 2021 support our most important investment, our children.

Class Project:

Help create and fund new community park mural