2. Background/History
● Incorporated in 1967 as “The Christian Education Centers”, but opened its doors in
1969.
● In 1985, after seeing the need, it expanded its services to student and family
counseling.
● In 1994, in order to connect students with positive role models, it established a
mentor program.
● In 2001, during a spike in drug use in Gainesville, it started an alcohol and drug
prevention program.
● Two years later, they adopted the name Centerpoint when they realized it had
become about a lot more than religious education.
● More recently, in 2015, Centerpoint absorbed Teen Pregnancy Prevention, inc.
and its programs.
3. Mission
● Center Point enhances, strengthens, and changes lives by
promoting the success of students and families through teaching
and personal development.
● They hope to help members of the community on a personal
level.
● They provide a wide range of services to those in the community
in order to advance it.
4. The Community They Serve
● Gainesville is a city of tradition and they will never let you forget it.
● Population of near 40,000 people
● School system of Hall County and Gainesville city combine for over 35,000 students
● 54.2% White, 15.2% African American, 0.6% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific
Islander, 23.4% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of
any race were 41.6% of the population.
○ Very Diverse
● There are still a lot of problems in the community
○ Teen pregnancy
○ Gang Violence
○ Homelessness
5. How They Build and Strengthen the
Community
● Provide a safe and accessible place for students
in need of help
● Campuses on both sides of the county
● Services adults and families as well
● Helps address some of the large issues
impacting the community
● Helps adults and families as well as students
6. Barriers
● Funding
● Getting their name out
● Effectively running this center on a college
campus while keeping the students safe
● Originally opposed by some because of the
religious aspect
7. Effectiveness in Fulfilling their Mission
● Use the media to spread the word of their services
● Use their website, newspaper, and social media
● This has allowed students and families from all over to see their
programs and get help
● A lot of people find out about them through the newspaper or
instagram
● They have officially helped over 11,000 students and families
8. What is Working
● The use of the high school students to spread
their name
● Highly active newspaper articles, including front
page articles
● Well-run social media platforms that stay up-to-
date with their events
9. What isn’t Working
● Lack of funding
● Limited on their scope(currently)
● Need to involve more young people in their
organization
10. How to Improve
● Campaign more on school campuses
● More large-scale fundraisers
● Advertise in well known places
