On Monday July 24th, 2017, The Enrichment Services Program in Columbus, Georgia, invited Tony Gareri to be the feature speaker at the annual Pre-Service/In-Service Training Program.
The Enrichment Services Program, a community-action agency, is charged with addressing causes and conditions of poverty. The mission of Enrichment Services is to eliminate poverty through education services and partnership, ultimately leading to economic self-sufficiency.
The Enrichment Services Program offers a number of educational classes such as Head Start and Early Head Start, as well as a number of training and scholarship programs. In addition to educational programs, the organization also provides social assistance for families struggling to pay for food and home energy bills. They also offer a home delivery service, providing meals for the elderly and homebound, as well they organize the distribution of commodities in partnership with Feeding the Valley.
Tony presented to the audience his talk: The Power of One! He spoke to over three hundred staff members about the impact one person (and in this case three hundred people) can have in a community. Recounting his personal journey, Tony shared anecdotes on building and fostering a positive company culture that is driven to make a difference in the world.
“It was truly an honor to be asked to Keynote at the Enrichment Services Program,” notes Gareri. ” The team, and the work they do each day helps make a difference in the day-to-day lives of so many, that I am honored to kick start their day”
The Enrichment Services Program CEO, Belva Dorsey, felt Tony’s story resonated with the staff, stating, “Tony Gareri was the keynote speaker for our employee training this year (2017). Our team is made up of transportation, teaching, custodial, social service, administrative and other professionals to fulfill our mission. It can be a challenge finding speakers who can relate to a diverse employee base. That was not the case with Tony, all of our team members were able to relate to his message. They felt valued and proud of the organization that they work with.”
Dorsey also mentions, “Tony devoted a significant amount of time, prior to our training event, learning about our organization and gaining an understanding of our desired outcome for his message. I was amazed at the way he connected “his story” to “our story”. He was very engaging while he told powerful stories. He delivered on “his promise” to energize and WOW our team! I look forward to hearing Tony again in the near future.”