GCDD Honored at the 14th Annual Atlanta Branch NAACP - News from MAD Winter'13
The following is the News article from the Winter 2013 Making a Difference magazine.
GCDD Honored at the 14th Annual Atlanta Branch NAACP
Eric Jacobson, executive director for the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD), was honored by the Atlanta Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) at the 14th Annual Atlanta NAACP 2012 Jondelle Johnson Freedom Fund Dinner on November 3, for GCDD's its signature concept, the Real Communities Initiative.
"Because the brand of NAACP is so strong, there are many organizations that come to us with opportunities of partnership. We have to be very selective with those organizations. Tonight, this award goes to Mr. Eric Jacobson, the leader of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, for Real Communities," said Rev. Lee C. Franklin, Religious Affairs Liaison, Chairman's Office National NAACP. "We are proud to say we are working to be a part of this real community outreach."
"I accept this award on behalf of the people in Atlanta, Georgia and communities throughout this country who are isolated, segregated and are not recognized for the value, gifts and talents they bring – these are often people labeled as having a developmental disability," Jacobson said.
To give the audience a small taste of what the Real Communities Initiative is all about, the presentation of Jacobson's award was preceded by the video, "Getting Real in Georgia," a highlight of GCDD's Real Communities projects. To view the video, visit http://gcdd.org/news-a-media/videos.html.
"Together, we can build places all over this city and State, where the barriers come down and people want to stay and raise their children," said Jacobson."At GCDD we strive to make our Real Communities create bridges, a place where everybody can contribute to the community."
GCDD's Pat Nobbie Honored with a Big Voice for Children Award
Deputy Director Pat Nobbie, PhD, was honored with a Big Voice for Children Award from the Voices for Georgia's Children for her outstanding efforts in children's advocacy. Since 2007, Voices for Georgia's Children, a nonprofit child policy and advocacy organization that envisions a Georgia where children are safe, healthy, educated, employable and connected to their family and community, has hosted their annual awards ceremony to recognize Georgia's top child advocates.
Nobbie's advocacy work has helped move 100 children with developmental disabilities out of state facilities and into the community. "I get a lot of kids coming across my desk in crisis and you can't just let that be. You have to figure it out," stated Nobbie on being recognized as a leader in children's advocacy. "Over the years, I have only become more committed to people being more independent and integrated in the community. There is no excuse for treating people with disabilities or any other child as less than."
To hear Pat Nobbie's full comments on children's advocacy, visit http://georgiavoices.org/bigvoice2012. (This link is no longer active.)
