'Thrive' is definitely thriving!

The other day we received a update from Jane Ellison, project manager for the Greater St. Cloud Area Thrive group.  (If you haven't heard about Thrive, you can either read about it on our website or browse through the Winter 2008 issue of IQ to learn more.

Since she describes everything so well, I thought I'd just share a clip directly from her email...

"As you know the Access project, developed by our Leadership Team, received a grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation.  While working on our planning year, that grant - along with our StayStrong grant [from the Initiative Foundation] - have given us an absolutely amazing opportunity to develop relationships between members of our Thrive Leadership Team and immigrant and refugee populations in the community.  I have attached a great picture of our Access planning team.  We are conducting forums and interviews with immigrant/refugee families and bringing the results back to share with our Leadership Team.  A final report of the forums and interviews will be presented in July to our Thrive Coalition team."

Jane goes on to describe a few other projects they're working on - home visitations, childcare provider trainings, 'playdates' between local legislators and kids, integrating services in area school districts and a variety of presentations and resource sharing.  

Thank you, Jane, for sending us the update and thank you, Greater St. Cloud Area Thrive, for doing such amazing work to support our area's youngest citizens!!