WHAT'S ON

The fifth annual, “Telling People Good Things Day”, which would be celebrated here  for the first time is an extended initiative of the St. Francis Xavier University affiliate Coady Institute, which is known as a Centre of Excellence in Community -Based Development and Leadership Education.

 

Director of Community Development Brenda Thomas –Odlum explained that the idea is simple, “life is short so tell people good things and on September 17th make sure you tell someone something good and tell them to pass the idea on. You just never know how your kind words could help someone.”

 

Throughout the day, the officers from the Ministry of Social Transformation will join representatives from Coady Network in sending positive motivational quotes to residents in Antigua and Barbuda and across the world, utilizing the media and social Medias.

 

Motivational Quotes will also come from Minister of Health, Social Transformation, Consumer Affairs & Local Government Hon. Willmoth Daniel, Parliamentary Secretary Senator Hon. Malaka Parker and Permanent Secretary Mrs. Cecily Philip.

 

These Initiatives are being considered at the level of the Ministry of Social Transformation to involve Antigua & Barbuda in the program initiatives of the school as an effort to show our commitment to the work that Coady Institute is engaged-in to facilitate the training of our Community Development Officers.

 

Antigua & Barbuda’s connection to the Coady Institute was made approximately 45 years ago, when Prime Minister Dr. Hon. Winston Baldwin Spencer attended the Coady International Institute’s and pursued a Diploma in Social Leadership.

 

The relationship was re –ignited on September 26th 2009, when he returned as standing Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda to share his memories of his time at the Coady Institute and the impact it has had on his career and personal approach to leadership. During his presentation at the Grand Opening celebrations of the new Coady Institute facilities and 50^th anniversary Gala he also reconnected with Mr. John Chisholm, former Assistant Director of the Coady International Institute, who came to Antigua and Barbuda in the seventies and worked closely with the government in establishing the cooperative registry which is still operating today.

Meanwhile, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Coady Institute Prime Minister Spencer launched  the Prime Minister’s ‘Leadership Development Scholarship’ for  young person’s engaged in social development work in Antigua and Barbuda, to attend the Coady certificate or diploma course as of the 2010 academic year.

 

This scholarship is being awarded annually for the period 2010 -2015 and facilitated by the Silver Jubilee Scholarship initiative established in the Office of the Prime Minister.

 

To this end, five (5) officers have benefitted from the Prime Minister’s ‘Leadership Development Scholarship’ and Miss Dale O’Brien –Community Development Officer was the first (1^st) recipient. Also, benefitting from the program in 2011 was Mrs. Brenda Thomas –Odlum (Director of Community Development. For the 2012 academic year, Mrs. Valdrina Jackson (Community Development Field Officer) and Mrs. Adulcie Christian (Youth Officer/ Research Officer Social Policy Unit and Mrs. Carole Lincoln-Frederick Local Government Officer are currently pursuing their studies.

 

The Institute is a learning organization dedicated to identifying, developing and disseminating knowledge on effective development practice.