Fuller Center General

By Chris Johnson
Director of Communications

Much of what I did in the newspaper business was page design -- front pages, sports pages, news pages, features pages, you name it. And one thing I learned over the years is that you can never go wrong by running pictures of babies, dogs or cute girls. They catch the eye, and then you can use that hook to tell your story.

So, welcome today's cute girl: Shopahaulik. Well, that's her nickname on YouTube anyway. Shopahaulik is using her YouTube channel to talk about the Ginger Ford Northshore Fuller Center and her grandmother ... who just happens to be Ginger Ford. I would tell you all about the Ginger Ford Northshore Fuller Center, but she does a better job. And Christine Dufreche is probably a little cuter than me. Although, I feel pretty.

Giving some blog love to N.C. State

By Chris Johnson
Director of communications

There are many interesting Fuller Center for Housing programs, but one of the most intriguing is the Global Builders program. I think it's because so many people want to see the world but prefer to see it off the beaten path.

The Fuller Center's Global Builders program certainly helps them do that. It's not like we build a lot of homes in the high-rent, touristy areas of Paris, London, Rome and Tokyo. We're well off the tourist trail in places like El Salvador, Peru, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Armenia and Haiti – not exactly Monte Carlo.

Not having been here even two months, I haven't had a chance to experience one of these places – although I did once ride a bus under the Detroit River to visit Windsor, Canada. Wow! Those Canadians have such a strange and unusual culture, eh?

But while I haven't had a Global Builders experience, many have. And this year has been our biggest ever for the program, shattering records for trips from previous years. Judging from all the photos I've seen, the folks really seem to have a great time while helping others. You can see a lot of those photos by clicking here.

One of my favorite batches comes from a trip to El Salvador earlier this year involving a group from N.C. State University. This group really looked like a fun bunch. And since I haven't been, I thought I'd give up the rest of my blog space today to someone who was on that trip and offered a little write-up about it. So here's what Casey Miller had to say about the trip:

The doctrine of pre-emptive positivity

By Chris Johnson
Director of Communications

Dr. Randy Gregg is a minister-turned-consultant, the owner of Corporate Performance Resources, based just up the road in Montezuma, Ga., just across the Flint River from my hometown of Oglethorpe, Ga. He's a man of deep faith, which is practiced with a never-ending positivity. Don't you just hate people like that?!

No, you don't. And I don't, either.

I do envy it a lot, though. I'm a worrier. Some people see the glass as half-full, some see it as half-empty and I see it as this dangerous thing that could fall, break and cut my foot and possibly end my life or cause a very bad infection. So I need positive folks like Randy to keep me from falling off the deep end (OK, farther off the deep end).

When I first logged on to Facebook this morning, the first thing I noticed was a post on one of Randy's pages, “How Can I Live YES in a NO World,” which he started and labels as “a place where a community of YES gathers to share encouragement, hope, and grace so that friends may find the strength to walk through adversity and recreate their lives.” Anyway, this following post really struck a chord with me today. Read it and you'll probably understand why:

“Are you making a point or making a difference? As we watch and even participate in the political and theolgical debates of our time, it seems that in effort to make the point, the point is often missed. There are segments of our culture and our churches who seem to be anti- … well … everything.

“How can we reach out to those who need God if we seek first to make a point with them before we love them? Do we bring people closer to God if we first tell them how wrong they are, or if we welcome them and nurture them – no strings attached?

“The act of making a point is one of the big reasons so many have such a negative view of church. YES makes a difference, YES welcomes, YES loves. Love is the point! Love softens the human heart and nudges us all toward the straight but narrow path. Live YES today!”

Pedaling our story to the media

By Chris Johnson

Director of Communications

There are many communication directors out there. Few things aside from my captivating good looks and irresistible charm separate me from the pack. But there is one thing that does distinguish me from those in my field who have a similar responsibility to work with the media: I am the media.

Well, sort of.

I spent more than 22 years in the newspaper business, having started out as a lowly sports writer right here in Americus during my college days. Somehow, I got sucked into the business and became a full-time journalist in Americus, Montezuma, Ga., Valdosta, Ga., and then Columbus, Ga.

When I accepted the position here at The Fuller Center for Housing, I was willing to give up my prestigious slot as the Sunday humor columnist for the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. But President David Snell insisted that wasn't necessary, though he did force me to give up my side gig of alligator dentistry. (Next time you're gummed by a gator, blame him!) And for some reason the newspaper wanted to keep me on. I guess Ziggy had a prior commitment.

Pope to swing hammer in Kansas City

By Chris Johnson
Director of Communications

Wow! Talk about bringing a big name into the Fuller Center for Housing fold. It's been confirmed that this weekend's Bicycle Adventure celebration in Kansas City will include the Pope. Hang on just a sec; a colleague needs me. (“Huh? Not THE Pope? Oh.”)

Oopsies. I've just been told it's not THE Pope but A Pope who's coming, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Leonard Pope. I guess that makes more sense. I thought Pope Benedict was a little slow to play tight end in the NFL. Guess I'll scratch him from my fantasy football draft list.

Yesterday, we mentioned a big star was coming to Minden, Louisiana, for our Millard Fuller Legacy Build in October. No offense to HGTV's Kimberly Lacy, but today I'm talking about a really big star – as in a 6-foot-8, 264-pound star.

I remember seeing Leonard play high school ball at Americus High School, back when he was still 6-foot-8 but likely way less than 264 pounds. He played tight end AND free safety for a darn good Panthers team that won back-to-back state titles in 2000 and 2001. He also went on to play for my beloved Georgia Bulldogs and helped them win an SEC Championship in 2005. (On behalf of Bulldawg Nation, thanks, Leonard! Ruff! Ruff! Ruff!)

Primary links