GCSU and LEC partner to host Jingle Jam

  • Andalusia Institute employee Nevaeh Jones tabled at the artisans market to teach attendees about creative writing opportunities through a local grant program. She was one of several vendors present to add an educational component to the event.
    Andalusia Institute employee Nevaeh Jones tabled at the artisans market to teach attendees about creative writing opportunities through a local grant program. She was one of several vendors present to add an educational component to the event.
  • The Milledgeville Police Department conducted demonstrations from their Fire Safety House.
    The Milledgeville Police Department conducted demonstrations from their Fire Safety House.
  • A mom and her daughter play Connect 4 together.
    A mom and her daughter play Connect 4 together.
  • Jingle Jam volunteers assist attendees in making pine cone bird feeders.
    Jingle Jam volunteers assist attendees in making pine cone bird feeders.
  • LEC’s Barbara Coleman takes the orders of two customers from the Coffee for a Cause truck.
    LEC’s Barbara Coleman takes the orders of two customers from the Coffee for a Cause truck.
  • C & C Community Relations provides toys at the pick-up location at the entry of the Urban Arts Village.
    C & C Community Relations provides toys at the pick-up location at the entry of the Urban Arts Village.
  • Prachi Patel and Fantom sell products at the Prachi Henna Art tent in the artisan market.
    Prachi Patel and Fantom sell products at the Prachi Henna Art tent in the artisan market.
  • Pixie Pots co-owners Mia Barone and Sydney Eggerton sell homemade planters.
    Pixie Pots co-owners Mia Barone and Sydney Eggerton sell homemade planters.

    Georgia College & State University (GCSU) partnered with the Life Enrichment Center (LEC) to host the inaugural Jingle Jam on Dec. 9 at the LEC’s Urban Arts Village.

    “This was a partnership that we have been planning with Georgia College’s Nonprofit Management class for a while,” said Barbara Coleman, executive director of the Life Enrichment Center.

    “They were looking for more ways to get involved and we wanted to create something that could be continued after the class was over.”

    Part of the LEC’s mission is to provide adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to engage in experiences within their community and create a sense of unity between the community and its individuals.

    “Our mission is to build a community that embraces individuals with developmental disabilities for their commonalities, not differences. Events like this bring everyone together with a common goal and strengthen those connections,” said Coleman.

    The Jingle Jam had a variety of activities for the community to participate in, from arts and crafts with LEC individuals, volunteers, and students of the Nonprofit Management class, to board games in the yard, provided by BodyPlex.

    In addition, a few of the LEC’s individuals were working the Coffee for a Cause truck that sold a variety of drinks from lattes to smoothies to support LEC programs.

    Near the main deck of the village, a line-up of artisans had set up tents selling a variety of products from handmade planters to clothing. A photo booth was also set up in the area of the market with photo opportunities alone or with Santa Claus.

    “The Jingle Jam was an event that the Nonprofit Management class has been planning all semester as their class project. The class handled the majority of the scheduling and planning for vendors, activities, and more,” said Ashley Copeland, director of Community Engagement at GCSU. “The Jingle Jam was an opportunity for them to learn how to reach out to the community, how to plan events and partner with organizations, and also taught a lot about adjusting those plans and allowing for flexibility.”

    During the planning process, the Nonprofit Management class also partnered with C & C Community Services to make Jingle Jam a pick-up location for Toys for Tots.

    According to Copeland, this was one of the other major community connections that students made alongside the LEC and were heavily involved with. Even outside of the class, GCSU allowed students of all majors to volunteer and get involved with packing toys at Santa’s workshop in preparation for pick-up.

    “Allowing them to see what goes into an event and having tangible results is a great benefit to our students,” said Copeland. “It also taught them how to deal with change and learn how they could adapt the event to make it accommodating and beneficial to a variety of partners and community members.”

    According to Copeland, a debrief is planned to occur soon to discuss what worked and could be improved or changed for next year’s Jingle Jam.

    Copeland also confirmed that GCSU plans to continue being a partner in hosting the Jingle Jam for years to come.

    “In our debrief, we plan to look at how we can make the Jingle Jam bigger and better for next year,” said Copeland. “We’ve built these connections for this first year and hope to strengthen them in years to come. The community can expect more events to come at the Urban Arts Village and for an even better Jingle Jam next year.”