DKG Mu Chapter learns about, assists Boys & Girls Clubs
Pictured above: Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Khing Banks, at left, accepts a contribution and a book from DKG Mu Chapter President Shronda Smith at the chapter’s February meeting.
From Delta Kappa Gamma Press Release
Khing Banks, executive director of the local Boys & Girls Clubs, spoke to members of Mu Chapter of DKG, an honor society for women educators, at its meeting on February 13, in downtown Newnan.
“I want to say, first and foremost, thank you,” Banks said. “The school sector is often the most challenging sector because of demands and political changes. I want to show appreciation for what you do. It means a lot,” he told the group of educators.
Banks said that often people are not aware that there are two local Boys & Girls Clubs: the Newnan/Coweta club on Wesley Street and the Howard Warner club on Savannah Street. Both clubs focus on helping children and youth succeed in school, live healthy, and become leaders.
“The Howard Warner club has funding through a 21st Century grant which structures its curriculum,” Banks said. Managing behavior and building character are among the goals for the club. Many of its participants are students at Welch Elementary School.
The Newnan/Coweta club is not funded by 21st Century, so it has more flexibility in its programming, Banks said. Building public speaking skills is an area of focus. The club is building a music studio/podcast studio, and it is getting ready to host “The Wiz” production on May 16. “Please make that event,” Banks said.
The club will sponsor an oratorical competition in April with the Youth of the Year fundraising gala. “We recently had our first Youth of the Year candidate in several years. The student didn’t win, but it’s not always about winning,” he said. “The delivery and speech were impeccable,” and, as a result of the competition, the student will be going to an event this spring in Washington, DC.
Banks has spent over 15 years in the youth development sector, serving in the juvenile justice system and working as a youth pastor. “It is our work to help the kids truly find their calling, and lead the kids to find their dreams and aspirations,” he said.
Mu Chapter President Shronda Smith presented Banks with a check along with a book, “What Do You Do with an Idea?” written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Mae Besom. Donations from Mu Chapter will support programming at the Newnan/Coweta club, specifically Black History events and stage plays.
DKG is a professional honor society for women educators with more than 55,000 members. There are 58 DKG chapters in Georgia with more than 1,600 members. Mu Chapter serves Coweta County and the surrounding area.
