HOLLA! Awarded $250,000.00 Golden Leaf Grant

William Clarke, chair of the Golden LEAF programs committee, left, and Dan Gerlach, president of the Golden LEAF Foundation, presented a check to HOLLA! s Leon Gatewood and Subrina Hough during a ceremony on Dec. 14

Thanks to a $250,000.00 grant from the North Carolina Golden Leaf Fund, HOLLA! will soon have a modernized facility to conduct business and provide their valuable services to the community!

In 2006, the organization acquired an 8400 sq. ft. building at 229 East Main Street Morven, NC with the intent of converting it into a community center.  Plans for the property include the following:

• Media Center

• Literary Cafe

• Full Service Kitchen

• Multi-purpose/Convention Room

• Basketball/Tennis Court

• Meeting Rooms

"The HOLLA! Resource and Community Development Center will be a full service facility for this community," said Leon Gatewood, founder of HOLLA!  

Services at the center will include:

• Parent Resources

• Internet Access (for families who do not have it at home)

• Bookstore/Library (Literary Cafe)

• Recreation

• Job Services

For more information, please call the HOLLA! Hotline at 704.694.3552.

HOLLA! To Host Miss North Carolina and Miss NC's Outstanding Teen
Dynamic Duo To Appear For Miss Greater Pee Dee Pageant Information Session

Miss North Carolina, Katherine Southard (left) and Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen, Katherine Puryear (right) during a recent holiday gala.

Miss North Carolina, Katherine Southard and Katherine Puryear, Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen will be special guests at an upcoming informational session for the Miss Greater Pee Dee Pageant.

"The visit from 'The Two Katherines,' as they are affectionately called throughout the state, will give our young people a rare opportunity to meet two of  North Carolina's finest, face to face said Subrina Hough, local pageant committee chairman.  "This is as good as it gets!" she added.

The Miss Greater Pee Dee informational session is designed to address any concerns or questions prospective contestants may have.  Pageant officials say it will also awaken young ladies' imaginations to the possibilities before them.

The pageant is being sponsored by HOLLA!, a local grassroots organization aiming to motivate children to succeed.  The group also sponsors the Anson Idol singing competition and co-sponsors the HOLLA!/Hampton B. Allen Library Literary Festival which has brought scores of notable authors to the area.

The pageant has made some changes from last year when it was the Miss Anson County Pageant.  Then, the contestant pool was limited to Anson County.  This year, the pageant has been opened up to include Anson, Union, Richmond and Montgomery counties.  Wadesboro's Lillie Templeton was the winner of the Miss Anson County Pageant.

The Miss Greater Pee Dee Informational Session will be held 5:00 Tuesday, December 29 at the Hampton B. Allen Library.  It will begin with a reception.  

The public is encouraged to attend.  For more information, call 704.694.3552 or visit www.wadesboro.com.

The Miss North Carolina Pageant--A 'Rewarding' Experience For Locals

Miss North Carolina 2009, Katherine Southard makes a victory lap after winning the coveted crown.

Before the glitter and the glitz; even before Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen 2008, Mya Hipps, performed a flawless rendition of the Star Spangled Banner--the first order of business at the Miss North Carolina Pageant last week was to recognize the Miss Anson County Committee for producing 'a perfect pageant' in record time.  

Alan Clouse, State director of the Miss North Carolina Pageant called, Leon Gatewood to the stage on opening night to present him and the Miss Anson County Pageant Committee with the Last Minute Charlie Award.  "These guys put the perfect pageant together in three weeks," said Clouse.  "Well, you certainly can't have a perfect pageant without excellent contestants and an expert committee," Gatewood said.

Lillie Templeton won the local pageant and represented Anson County in the Miss North Carolina Pageant.  Felicity Powe of Morven accompanied her as her princess.  Morgan Kivett represented Anson County as the Outstanding Teen and received the Miss Congeniality award.  Her princess was McKenzie Williams of Wilmington.

Katherine Southard of Raleigh was the eventual winner of the very competitive Miss North Carolina Pageant.  She will be North Carolina's representative in the Miss America Pageant.  Katherine Puryear was Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen Winner and will represent North Carolina in the national pageant.   Puryear is the first ever African American winner of the title.

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Katherine Puryear, the first ever African American winner of the North Carolina's Outstanding Teen title, takes a victory pose.

No one, including Lillie Templeton and Morgan Kivett know whether they will ever vie for the titles again.  But they are quick to note that it was a very rewarding and enlightening experience.

The Miss Anson County Pageant was held recently.  Five talented ladies competed for the title and crown.  Watch the slideshow of what is being called an 'awe-inspiring' event!

HOLLA!/Hampton B. Allen Library Literary Festival 



Robert Gatewood, author of Paid In Full left, shares his story with Dr. Bobbie Little, right and HOLLA! CEO Leon Gatewood during Saturday's festival.

Filled with songs, dancing, rapping and information, the Third Annual HOLLA!/Hampton B. Allen Library Literary Festival was held Saturday February 7, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hampton B. Allen Library in Wadesboro , NC .   

Lillie Templeton, the local “Kickoff to Reading ” comic book writing contest winner from 2008 was among several other authors in attendance to encourage students and adults to read, write and use their imaginations! 

Dwight Calhoun (D.C. White), founder and president of History Records and Entertainment, gave a unique presentation using rap to tell the story of the Buffalo Soldiers.

Scholastic Books provided a free workshop during the festival entitled, Going beyond Bedtime Stories.  The session focused on strategies that parents can incorporate into an evening read aloud with their children.  They also gave away 50 books that parents could take home and begin reading to their children.

Anson County native, Robert L. Gatewood, author of Played In Full was the featured artist of the day.

HOLLA!/Hampton B. Allen Library Literary Festival--A Good Way To Spend A Saturday

The Third Annual HOLLA!/Hampton B. Allen Library Literary Festival was held Saturday February 7, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hampton B. Allen Library in Wadesboro , NC.   

Lillie Templeton, the local “Kickoff to Reading ” comic book writing contest winner from 2008 was among several other authors in attendance to encourage students and adults to read, write and use their imaginations! 

Dwight Calhoun (D.C. White), founder and president of History Records and Entertainment, gave a unique presentation using rap to tell the story of the Buffalo Soldiers.

Scholastic Books provided a free workshop during the festival entitled, Going beyond Bedtime Stories.  The session focused on strategies that parents can incorporate into an evening read aloud with their children.  They also gave away 50 books that parents could take home and begin reading to their children.

Anson County native, Robert L. Gatewood, the author of Played In Full was the featured artist of the day.

Other authors on tap for the day included:

Sherredah Barnes--Fighting the Battles of My Life
Cheris Hodges--More Than He Can Handle
Suzetta M Perkins--Ex-Terminator, Life After Marriage
John Lilton--Caesar Slaughter a Second to Die
Ndea B.--Too Good to Be True
Ty B. Moore--The Liar’s Truth
Robert L. Gatewood--Played In Full
Dark-N-Delicious--Visionz of Seductions
Tricia M Wagner--It Happened on the Underground Railroad
L.C. Evans--Jobless Recovery
Deborah Robinson--Workbook 4 the Soul
Lillie Templeton--Passages   
John Hart--The King of Lies
Cora Lee Smart-Crisco--I Asked...He Gave
Sarah Addison-Allen--The Sugar Queen
AlexSandra Lett--Coming Home To My Country Heart
Tammy Ponds Thomas--Tobias' Words
Rev. Fidelis O. Nwaka--Understanding The Divine Purpose And Benefits Of Trials
Doug Walker--Murder In Mill Town

Other features of the day included, a the Spirited Messengers Mime team from Laurinburg, NC and Anson Idol Winners LaShonda Huntley and Matthew Gibson.

New Book Aims To Mend The Hole In Black America’s Purse

If you’ve ever wondered why the earning capacity of Black America, which is larger than the Gross National Product than many sovereign nations, is overshadowed by its spending zeal, then you are in company with Wadesboro native Robert L. Gatewood, author of the new and riveting book, PLAYED IN FULL – The Marketing Exploitation of Black America.

Gatewood considers himself the unlikely “poster boy” for Black consumerism. A marketing expert who has been in the business for over 20 years, Gatewood says he too has been played by some of the very same tactics he has imparted upon his clients.

During a recent discussion of his book on the nationally syndicated Joe Madison show, Gatewood remarked, “I consider myself a rather smart fellow; graduated with honors from high school through college, and I have an MBA degree. So, it dawned on me one day that if a smart guy like me has to struggle to hang onto his money then this problem just might be bigger than a failure to grasp the three R’s.”

Gatewood’s book suggests that the purse of Black America is under assault. It’s an economic struggle that’s fought not just in the store aisles on Christmas Eve; rather, it’s a generational battle that’s fought in the mind. On one side you have Black consumers who have been conditioned to spend unconditionally, and coalesced on the other side are the Players - people and institutions who are trained in the extracting of money from Blacks. According to Gatewood, “I couldn’t create a less fair fight if I tried.  It’s like going fishing where the fish have been trained to jump in your boat.” 

Gatewood’s book offers several remedies to mend the hole in Black America’s pocket including; a) helping the readers understand the historical root of the problem, b) equipping the reader with effective tools to even the playing field – a crash course in marketing, c) identifying the types of Players and their tactics, and d) providing some concrete solutions on how to win, what heretofore appeared to be, an unwinnable battle.

To find out more about the book PLAYED IN FULL visit www.playedinfull.com.

Lillie Templeton (right) shares her experience with Arts Council Board Member, Leslie Capel during Friday's book signing.

The beauty of the atmosphere on the inside, gave no clue to the frigid cold weather on the outside, as first time author, Lillie Templeton, signed scores of copies of her comic book, Passages.

The Anson County Arts Council hosted the event which also featured an exhibition of local art including several pieces submitted by Lillie.

Lillie was last year's winner of HOLLA!'s Kick-Off To Reading Comic Book Writing Contest.  As winner; she was able to have her comic book published.  HOLLA! received a grant from the Anson County Writers' club to contribute toward this project.

Local Talent To Present First Comic Book To Public

Lillie Templeton (3rd from right) poses with Subrina Hough, Mary Little, Leon Gatewood and a poster of her comic book, Passages during the Charlotte Literary Festival.  Lillie will be signing books on November 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Anson County Arts Council.

HOLLA! (Helping Our Loved ones Learn and Achieve) and the Anson County Arts Council are teaming up for literacy in our community. On Friday, November 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Arts Council Office and Gallery located at 110 S. Rutherford Street , they are hosting the signing of 17 year old Lillie Templeton’s comic book, Passages.  Templeton won HOLLA!’s comic book writing contest earlier this year.

HOLLA! is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to help motivate the community to be more supportive of the school system. The comic book contest is HOLLA!’s attempt to encourage children to read, write and use their imaginations

Templeton’s winning entry, Passages, was inspired by the mural she painted in the Hampton B. Allen Library. The comic book is 14 fully colored engaging pages of clean, easy to read material. The story steps into the lives of three young teens and explores their individual love for reading. One day in class they are assigned a different genre to read and the adventure begins!

The Anson County Arts Council is also a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to bring the arts to the community.  “It’s a perfect match; helping a young artist and getting kids to read is a winning combination,” said Denise Beachum, President of the Arts Council.

Speaking on behalf of HOLLA!, CFO Mary Little stated that Templeton is an awesome talent and that “HOLLA! shares her excitement.”  “She encourages our belief in the future impact of this project,” she added. The next competition will be launched during the annual HOLLA!/Hampton B. Allen Literary Festival in February 2009.

The price is $6 per book and for an additional $3 donation a comic book will be gifted to a child for Christmas. So come out and support this rising artist/author and you will understand why people have said, “I knew her when…”

For more information call 704.694.4950 or 704.694.3552.

HOLLA! Parent Summit Stresses Collaboration



Anson Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Gregory Firn, lends an ear to Anson Middle School PTA President Vicky Isaac-Cook during Saturday's Parent Summit.

A diverse group of nearly 100 convened Saturday, October 25, 2008 for the HOLLA! Fall Parent Summit.  The bloc consisted of parents, teachers, students, school administrators, local service providers (e.g. Smart Start and the Anson County Health Department), representatives of the North Carolina PTA and other supporters of the community effort to improve Anson County student achievement. 

The summit was designed to provide parents with tools and information necessary to help navigate their children to success.  But what quickly emerged during the workshop from the opening exercise, was how strategically and carefully the community must work together to move children toward achievement.

Information on raising healthy children, life after high school, fatherhood, parenting, ways to talk to your children about sex and the importance collaborating was presented by the partners of the summit.  

HOLLA! collaborated with the Anson County Schools, South Piedmont Community College, the Anson County Heath Department, Parent Information Resource Center (PIRC), Parent Partners, Anson County Partnership for Children, Pathway to Peace Ministries, North Carolina PTA and United Way in the presenting of this event.

Another session is being planned for the spring.  For information, or to participate, call 704.694.3552.

Anson County Commissioners Adopt Resolution Supporting Million Father March  
HOLLA! Is Local Sponsor of March Urging Fathers To Usher Their Kids To School On The 1st Day

The Anson County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution in support of the Million Father March during a special called meeting in July.

The Million Father March is a national movement sponsored locally by HOLLA! that encourages fathers to take their kids to school on the first day.  According to the resolution, the commissioners are supporting the march because it is an opportunity for men to show their commitment to the educational lives of their children on the first day of school and throughout the year.

HOLLA! Co-chair, Subrina Hough, who was instrumental in getting the proposal before the board, says that it is important for children to know that their leaders want the best for them.  “Our objective is to motivate the community to get more involved in the educational process and this is a giant step,” she added.  Board Chair, Anna Baucom presented the resolution to the board and after a brief discussion, it was passed unanimously.

Research shows that children whose fathers take active rolls in their educational lives earn better grades, get better scores, enjoy school more and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college and have fewer behavior problems when fathers speak and listen to them regularly and are active in their lives.

The resolution ends by stating that the Anson County Board of Commissioners supports the yearly Million Father’s March and encourages all citizens to play a significant role in the success of the march.

Nationally, the Million Father March is sponsored by The Black Star Project.  Communities throughout the country will be participating in the event. 

More information about this event may be obtained by attending the HOLLA! Parent Conference on Thursday, August 14 at the Hampton B. Allen Library at 6:00 p.m., by calling 704.694.3552 or by visiting www.wadesboro.com.  

HOLLA! Comic Book Writing Contest Has A Winner!

The Anson Record reports that sleepless nights, determination and a mastery of Photoshop was the recipe for Lillie Templeton's triumph in the HOLLA! Kickoff to Reading Comic Book Writing Contest!

HOLLA! Summer Enrichment Camp -- Exposure Is The Word!

The eye bone connects to the...These HOLLA! Summer Camp kids were awed during their visit to the Wadesboro Rotary Planetarium and Science Center.

Camp participants discover new creatures during their visit to the Wadesboro Planetarium and Science Center
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"Exposure is the key," says pilot Theodore Horne. He gave over 20 kids their 'first flight' during a recent visit to the Anson County Airport by the HOLLA! Summer Camp.

Anson County Airport Director, Gary Finch, explains his duties and the benefits of the airport to attentive HOLLA! Summer Camp participants during a recent visit.

Prom DIVAS!

HOLLA! CFO, Mary Little (standing far right), invested plenty of effort to assure that these young ladies got to experience the high school prom.  The Anson County Partnership for Children and the community played a big part too, she said.

HOLLA! 100 Reasons To Achieve Program Awards $4000 In Savings Bonds

HOLLA! presented each student in the Anson County School system with the opportunity to win a $100 savings bond this year simply by staying out of the principal's office for disciplinary reasons.  Of the qualifiers, 40 names were drawn from schools throughout the system.  $4000 in savings bonds is being mailed out to the lucky winners this summer.



These Wadesboro Primary students enjoy refreshments during the HOLLA! 100 Reasons to Achieve Celebration

The program is provided as an incentive tool for teachers to use to help encourage kids to behave in class.  All students in the elementary schools who stayed out of trouble were also treated to a party at school complete with free refreshments, a DJ and a moon bounce. 

Congratulations to all winners!  Keep up the good work!

HOLLA! Summer Camp A Good Bargain

Anson County Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor, Sylvia Jeter demonstrates her duties to HOLLA! Summer Camp students during a recent visit to the facility.

Lenora Chambers receives flight instructions from local pilot Theodore Horne before experiencing her first flight at the Anson County Airport.

Breakfast at 9:30 a.m., lunch at 12:00 noon, bible study, math and English tutoring, recreation, field trips and the list goes on.  How much does it cost?  Not a penny to the participants.  This is all made possible through a grant to HOLLA! from United Way, the Burnsville Learning and Recreational Center's summer food program, Pathway to Peace Ministries and a host of student and adult volunteers.

HOLLA!'s Summer Enrichment program served 30 youth last year.  This year officers of the group say that over 100 youth registered to participate.  Carey and Ilene Rodgers of Pathway to Peace Ministries are conducting the camp again this year.  The camp is free to ages 6 through 13.  Over 10 youth ranging from age 14 to 21 have signed on as volunteers.

"This camp is a good bargain not only to the participants, but to the entire community," said Leon Gatewood, CEO of HOLLA!  He says thanks to the United Way and collaboration with Pathway to Peace Ministries, HOLLA! is able to supplement the Summer Food Program provided by the Burnsville Learning and Recreational Center with some other amenities like field trips, healthy food alternatives, recreation, tutoring, mentoring and exposure to other cultures and opportunities for advancement.  

HOLLA! is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization founded in May of 2005 to help promote the importance of education in the community.  The group has been consistent with its support toward the schools and youth of the community.  They credit their endurance to local support from other charities, civic groups and businesses.

Would you like to participate in or support this project?  Call 704.694.3552

The 2^nd Annual HOLLA!/Hampton B. Allen Library Literary Festival; February 2, 2008

New York Times Best Seller, Omar Tyree (far left) shares his success with festival attendees.

The 2^nd Annual HOLLA!/Hampton B. Allen Literary Festival is being planned for Saturday, February 2, 2008 at the library.  The event is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and is being presented to help promote literacy in Anson and surrounding counties.  The event will expose its attendants to some outstanding authors of fiction, nonfiction and spoken word.  

More than 25 authors will be in attendance representing all genres of literature from Christian fiction to romance.  

The festival will provide an excellent opportunity to personally meet a variety of nationally acclaimed authors and share their stories.

Praise dance teams are being invited to perform throughout the day in the Little Theatre.  This is an event you will not want to miss.
For more information on registering authors or praise dance teams, please call 704-695-3552 and leave a detailed message.
Please visit www.wadesboro.com/holla.htm for continued updates! 
  
Roster Of Authors Appearing at the HOLLA!/Hampton B. Allen Library Literary Festival 2008.  

Omar Tyree
http://www.omartyree.com
Books
Flyy Girl
A Do Right Man
Diary Of A Groupie
Just Say No
For The Love Of Money
Leslie
Sweet St. Louis
Single Mom
Boss Lady
What They Want

Dr. Margaret Reid
Book
Black Protest Poetry:  Polemics from the Harlem Renaissance and the Sixties

Cheris F. Hodges
http://www.cherishodges.com
Books
Just Can’t Get Enough
Revelations
Second Chances at Love
A Love of Her
Own and Cautious Heart

Deanna Manley
http://www.powerofeve.com
Book
The Power of Eve

Rory D. Sheriff
http://www.brandnewsheriff.com
Book
Get N’ Serious

Jaisun G. McMillian
http://www.mcmillianentertainment.com
Book
Behind Closed Doors: The Addiction to Power and Control

Janeece Jones
http://www.janeece.net/
Book
Eyes Volume I

Jarold Imes
http://www.holdonbestrong.com
Books
Worth Fighting 4
5 Miles to Empty
U Can't Break Me
Age Ain't Nothing But a Number

Glenda Horton Manning
www.touchincorporated.com
Books
Marzetta Stood in for Mama
Daddy Was a Big Man
The Be Attitudes of Parenting
 
Peron F. Long
http://www.peronflong.com
Books
If It Ain’t Right, It’s Wrong
Pulpit Confessions

Daphine Glenn Robinson
http://www.daphinerobinson.com
Book
Brotherly Love and Betrayal 
Momisms: Mama NEVER Told Me There Would Be Days Like This!

J. Hale Turner
http://www.jhaleturner.com/
Books
Orange Clouds Blue Sky
Love to Sing and Dance
Miss Betty’s Daycare

Carla Sarratt
http://www.carlasarratt.com
Book
Freshman Focus

Sharon Denny
www.sddenny.com
Book
EROTIGASM  

Alicia Williams
http://www.bigdoorllc.com
Book
Up From Rock Bottom

Sherri Knotts
http://www.sherriknotts.com
Book
It's His Loss! When the Relationship Ends

Anita Tarlton
Books
Two Watches: The Extraordinary Call of an Ordinary Woman
Co-Author of--- Sowing & Reaping a Fearless Heart: Convicted Not Condemned

David L. Waters Sr.
Book
Sowing & Reaping a Fearless Heart: Convicted Not Condemned 

Blake Karrington 
Books 
Country Boy
All or Nothing

Tracy Moody-Williams
Book
Ghetto To Godly 

Pam Lawhorne
website
Book
From Minimum Wage To Getting Paid

Anson County Writers’ Club
Book
Anson Pathways
www.ansoncountywritersclub.org
The Anson County Writers’ Club was organized in 1989. We have held contests in prose and poetry every year since then. Every three years we publish a book with the winning entries. We have 3 contests: adult, youth and children. Our purpose is to foster the art of writing in Anson County . We would like to come and speak about the contests and encourage young people to enter. We will have copies of the books for sale.

Cedresa Coble Wins HOLLA! Anson Idol Contest; March 22, 2008



Cedresa Coble (left) is congratulated by HOLLA! CEO, Leon Gatewood after winning Anson Idol 2008.

HOLLA! Kickoff To Reading
Comic Book Writing Contest Gives Local Students Chance To Be An Author


Comic Book Author, Daniel Skalak was one of the authors contributing to the success of last year's HOLLA!/Hampton B. Allen Library Literary Festival.  This year, a local student will have the opportunity to be an author.
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HOLLA! is sponsoring a comic book writing contest which guarantees that a gifted local student will be an author in the very near future.

In collaboration with the RealEyes Book Store in Charlotte, NC, HOLLA! is sponsoring the Kick Off to Reading program where the winner will have their book published by a national publishing company.

The competition commenced on August 27, the first day of school in Anson County and will end on May 16, 2008.  Children competing in the contest may turn their projects in anytime during that period. 

The 1st place winner will have their book published and receive other prizes.  The 2nd place winner will receive an honorable mention and other prizes.

Also this year the Black History Month Free Style Contest will be implemented.  

All students in the Anson County School System are encouraged to participate.  To submit a project or to ask questions concerning this project, please call 704.694.3552 and leave a message.

HOLLA! ROAD...

Since May 11, of 2005, HOLLA! has taken its mission to help young people learn and achieve to the streets...non-stop!  The plan...to motivate the community to believe that its children can only be what adults lead them to be!  HOLLA! is here until the change comes!

Pictured (from left to right); Anson Steppers pose for picture after performance at HOLLA!/Phi Beta Sigma Step Show; Virginia Gutierrez performs opera during HOLLA!/Las Amigas/Alpha Pi Chi Evening of Culture; HOLLA! presents 2nd $500 HOLLA! Check to Anson High School Student Council; Children enjoy the bubbles at Lilesville Community HOLLA! Motivational Event; HOLLA! show appreciation to students at Wadesboro Elementary School who qualified for HOLLA! 100 Reasons to Achieve; HOLLA! Founder, Leon Gatewood, poses with HOLLA! Summer Camp participants before boarding bus to Discovery Place; HOLLA! Black and White Ball students enjoy an evening in December. HOLLA! By Elizabeth McCray You walk into the district like you got it going on,  but DEEP down inside  the only thing you wanna do is holla! Sometimes you act like a spectator telling everything  you might talk so much you may even tell on yourself  when the only thing you have to do is holla! Do like a jobless father that just got a new job  nobody else might not scream or shout,  but you just holla! Don’t keep silent about what’s going on Ya might not scream and shout just holla! Just like an orchard tree,  stand your ground, but still holla! Then give yourself a break  eat a sandwich at Littles Park  it might be all we have but still just holla! Don’t get into any mischief just holla! Don’t complain just holla! Don’t become mad Just Holla! HOLLA! Community Get (IT) Together The winners of the HOLLA! Community Get (IT) Together bike contest, pictured above, show off their winning trophies.  The first place winner (far left) donated $100 to HOLLA! as a show of support. The Relay For Life HOLLA! Dance! The Anson County Relay for Life had its first ever HOLLA! Dance in the gym on Friday night at the Relay for Life.  According to the Relay for Life chairman, the dance went very well.  According to HOLLA!, it was a hype party with a very sincere purpose! "We're striving to get our children HYPED about getting a good education!" HOLLA! Million Father's March HOLLA! is partnering with the Black Star Project to sponsor the Million Fathers March locally.  On August 27, all men are being challenged to take a child to school. HOLLA! Parent Conference On Sunday, September 16, 2007 at 3:00 p.m., renowned motivational speaker, Glenda Manning was guest speaker at the HOLLA! Parents Conference.  This event is co-sponsored by South Piedmont Community College and Parent Partners. Anson Idol -- On March 24, 2007, over 1000 people came out to support Anson Idol 2007!  LaShonda Huntley of Rock Hill, SC took the title and the $500 cash prize from 11 other talented contestants.  A pre-event concert featured Daniel Gatewood and the New Hope Mass Choir, Minister Curtis Gatewood and his daughter Desmera, The Community Praise Dancers and Brother's Keeper! A Mind at a Time -- Each teacher in Anson County will be presented with the book "A Mind at a Time," by Dr. Mel Levine.  The book is to be used as a reference book to teachers who experience a challenge with communicating with students with diverse backgrounds.  About 60% of the teachers have already received their books, with many of them already using them.   HOLLA!/Hampton B. Allen Literary Festival -- 12 authors and over 750 people came out to support literacy in Anson County for HOLLA!'s first literary festival.  The literary figure Tickles Tabitha was born at th People Fest HOLLA! Lot -- October 14, 2006, downtown Wadesboro featured some of the most inspirational and refreshing talent nationwide! HOLLA!/Phi Beta Sigma High School/Middle School Step Competition -- November 11, 2006-- It was youth discipline and performance at its finest! HOLLA! Enough Is Enough!  Youth Revival -- November 12, 2006 -- 4:00 p.m. Co-sponsored by Harvest Ministries, Wadesboro, NC.  Moderator of the Zion Missionary Baptist Association, Rev. Walter Ellerbe, was the speaker at this event on the mission to get youth to re-evaluate their purposes in life.   Name ** Email address Your suggestions for improving student achievement, or other comments:   Click here to read the article of HOLLA!'s first event!