About Us.

What is "Yes We Can! Dothan"?
A citizen driven initiative designed to engage Dothan citizens in creating a unified voice and vision for the Dothan City Schools and the children and families served. The effort will require an ongoing commitment by all participants to improve education and to foster accountability. "Yes We Can! Dothan" is an opportunity to design a better Dothan from the inside out by assessing expectations-met and unmet, and proposing progressive alternatives.

How is "Yes We Can! Dothan" implemented?
Through a series of Community Conversations, citizens were invited to share their ideas and explore the connections between quality public education and improved life in Dothan.

Who is involved in "Yes We Can! Dothan"?
ALL citizens of Dothan are encouraged to participate. Community Conversation participants were from faith based leaders, businesses, parents, non profit organizations, state agencies, neighborhood leaders, public officials, individuals, school faculty, retirees, and young professionals. The movement requires the help of the entire community to succeed, even involved people who do not have children in the public school system.

Why is there a need for "Yes We Can! Dothan"?
Responsible communities nurture and support public schools because these institutions help mold tomorrow’s leaders and decision makers while ensuring the continued vitality and economic stability of Dothan.

• Community involvement at all levels is the catalyst required to transform ideas into reality.
• Engagement is key to the success of this movement because it gives all citizens a voice in the process.
• A broad cross section of Dothan residents has united for the shared purpose of reconnecting communities and public schools. Similar programs have worked in other cities, yielding significant results.
• This long-term grassroots effort is designed to identify, assess, and pursue strategies for improving public education by empowering citizens to take personal responsibility for the success of our children.
• Similar programs have worked in other cities, yielding significant results.

The process is designed to reconnect Dothan citizens with it’s public schools by:

• Identifying what matters for our children.
• Setting clear and attainable goals for moving the school system forward.
• Creating a binding community agreement for executing change.
• Giving citizens a voice in the process.
• Empowering parents, families, churches and businesses to play an active roll in the future of their public schools.

The "Yes We Can! Dothan" Executive Team:
Judge Rose Gordon & Morris Slingluff, Co-Chairpersons
Thomas Harrison, Director of Operations
Twyla Williams, Director of Communications
Lavonda Gosselin, Director of the "Adopt-A-School! " Dothan" program
Libby Krietemeyer, Lucky Martin, Matt Parker, Wayne Prim and Tom Ziegenfelder  

The "Yes We Can! Dothan" Leadership Team:
John Boss,  Bob Boyle,  Mary Byrd,  Gina Cainion,  Sharon Cole,  Terry Collins,  Aaron Dickinson,  Davis Bishop,  Vince Edge,  Jannie Franklin,  Rob Goldsmith,  Judge Rose Gordon,  Thomas Harrison,  Karen Jackson,  Rosalind James,  Phillip Kelley,  Cheri Knowles,  Libby Krietemeyer,  Paul Lee,  Jimbo Loftin,  Lucky Martin,  Larry Matthews,  Mason Morrow,  Altha Newman,  Sam Nichols,  Matt Parker,  J.E. Saliba,  Mike Schmitz,  Tim Shirley,  Morris Slingluff,  Nicole Spivey,  Velma Tribue,  Ed Vaughn,  Sudonna Ward,  Twyla Williams and Tom Ziegenfelder

*  We appreciate the over 2,000 supporters who are on the YWCD Citizens Action Team.

-  Saying "yes" to our children is an investment in our economic future and the continued growth of Dothan.

-  Public schools are the major supplier of our workforce and a key to bringing new industry to Dothan.

-  Public schools play a vital role in the quality of life of Dothan.

BETTER SCHOOLS. BETTER DOTHAN.