What can research and statistics tell us about how to prevent another Ferguson? How does having a high school diploma change lives and communities? How do we improve community and law enforcement relationships and interactions?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Dr. Annise Mabry, Founder & Executive Director of The Dr. Annise Mabry Foundation. Annise introduces the Foundation, talks about her journey from being a homeschool mom to founding the Foundation, and then talks about what the Foundation is doing to improve communities, especially in rural America.

Annise discusses:

• How she started her foundation because the reading curriculum she wanted to buy for her homeschooled son was only available to nonprofits.
• The students who reached out because they had developed a model that could predict the next Ferguson.
• How Annise and the students discovered that communities that have higher levels of non-high school graduates results in a higher risk of becoming another Ferguson.
• How Annise’s homeschool cooperative has partnered with police and sheriff departments to increase the high school graduation rate in counties across Georgia.
• How high school graduates have so many more doors open to them than non-high school graduates.
• How Annise created the SW Georgia Community Policing Resource Center, which is a partnership between Walmart and police and sheriff departments to create cops’ closets; people who have an interaction with law enforcement can receive clothing, furniture, food, and other necessities free of charge.
• How police officers deliver donated gifts to kids in poor communities with blue lights and sirens!
• How Annise measures the effectiveness and impact of the Foundation’s efforts.

References:

• The Dr. Annise Mabry Foundation website
• Tiers Free Alternative Diploma Program
• SW George Community Policing Resource Center