Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) has opened Resource Centers on all six campuses to assist Special Populations students.

Daizha Staples, Special Populations coordinator at GNTC, manages the new program, which operates through the Office of Student Success. She also oversees all of GNTC’s food pantries and clothing closets. The resources are available on the Catoosa, Floyd, Gordon, Polk, Walker and Whitfield Murray Campuses.

GNTC’s Special Populations program serves single parents, out-of-work individuals, English learners, homeless individuals, foster care students, economically-disadvantaged individuals, individuals with disabilities and under-represented gender students. The program offers customized workshops and seminars, provides career training and exploration along with workshops and seminars that address life issues such as stress management, parenting skills, self-esteem improvement and job readiness training.

“I receive personal satisfaction from helping underrepresented students because when I attended a technical college, I was a Special Populations student who was economically disadvantaged, and these free resources were not available at the institution I attended,” Staples said. “I know that I would’ve taken advantage of these resources if I had them, and that’s why I am such an advocate for Special Populations students.

“This program aligns with GNTC’s mission because we partner with organizations to provide workforce development opportunities that support student success throughout the communities of northwest Georgia,” she explained.

When she was hired in November 2021, the Floyd County Campus had the only clothing closet, and the Floyd, Polk and Whitfield Murray Campuses had the only food pantries, she said. She established food pantries, clothing closets and Resource Centers on all six GNTC campuses in February 2022.

“The Resource Centers have diapers and baby wipes; male and female hygiene products; children’s ‘tool kits’ that include reading books, outdoor playing materials, crayons, markers, bubbles, chalk and more,” she said. “Moving forward I will increase the variety of resources available to our students.”

The food pantries, clothing closets and Resource Centers are open to Special Populations students on all campuses.

“The only campus that has open access to all students is the Polk County Campus because the college received a donation to that campus specifically for all students, so the food pantry, clothing closet and Resource Center is open to all students on the Polk County Campus,” she said.