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Public Welcome to Hear How-to's of Escape from Poverty

News release from Bainbridge College

In a return visit to Bainbridge, author and motivational speaker Calvin Sims of Lithonia will speak Nov. 9 to students, faculty and community members about the road to success and how to make it through life's obstacles.

There is no charge to attend; Decatur County Family Connection has arranged the presentation through a grant.

Sims will share his amazing story of survival, of going from a life of poverty to life as a successful business man who shares his talents with others. The program will be 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. in the Charles H. Kirbo Regional Center Auditorium at Bainbridge College (BC), said faculty member Elizabeth Whaley, who arranged his presentation.

Through storytelling Sims shares his success plan and will center his Nov. 9 presentation on Focus. "I will talk about what separates individuals in the corporate world and causes some to thrive and others to settle in mediocrity," he told Mrs. Whaley, giving her an overview of the presentation.

He will reveal the character traits that will almost guarantee students success in business and in life and will share the principles that help him live "an extraordinary life."

When he came to Bainbridge in September to promote the Rodeo sponsored by Family Connection, Sims spoke to the abstinence classes Mrs. Whaley teaches at Bainbridge High School Performance Learning Center (PLC). During that talk he spoke about a book he co-authored, Brother to Brother, Black Men Speak to Young Black Men, and he gave each student a copy.

Mrs. Whaley uses that Townsend Press publication in BC courses she teaches. In response to learning that, Sims shipped a case of the books to her gratis. "Needless to say I was so excited," Mrs. Whaley said.

"I wanted to bring Mr. Sims back to work with my PLC students and definitely wanted him to talk to my reading classes because we are reading the book in both my classes."

She worked with Student Activities Director David Price and Dr. Tonya Strickland, who chairs the Arts and Sciences and the Learning Support divisions at BC, to have Sims speak at the Kirbo Center. Both were very interested and supportive, Mrs. Whaley said.

The presentation is through a grant that Family Connection has applied for and received for the past two years, she said. The funding is under the Abstinence Education Block Grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services; the grant came through the Children and Youth Coordinating Council.