Amy Pearson has worked with nonprofit organization On Point since 1997. Promoted in 2011 to Executive Director, she's now been named the President. She joins us to talk about their mission.
From a media release:
The Board of Directors today announced Amy Pearson officially as President of On Point, a Chattanooga-based organization that works with area schools and organizations to provide young people with the knowledge and support to avoid risky behaviors and equip them with the skills they need to thrive.
This transition in leadership at On Point is in response to a recent announcement that Lesley Scearce will be stepping down as CEO and President of On Point to accept a position as CEO of The United Way of Greater Chattanooga.
“The Board was unanimous in its decision to offer Amy this position and we are confident she is the right person to effectively build on the strong foundation provided under Lesley’s leadership as On Point continues to positively impact this community and region,” said Dale Tuder, Chairman of the Board of On Point. “Moreover the strong endorsement of Amy by Lesley Scearce was a major factor in this decision to ensure continuity and momentum for the organization.”
Pearson, who was promoted to Executive Director of On Point in 2011, has been with the organization since 1997 and served in a variety of roles including Classroom Educator, Group Facilitator and Program Director/Psychotherapist.
“Amy is author of four nationally recognized On Point curricula and is uniquely qualified to serve in this new role for many reasons, but the most important one is her passion for the healthy development of our region’s youth,” said Tuder. “In 2014 the outcomes of the Life On Point Program were substantiated in The Journal of Adolescent and Family Health providing further evidence of dramatic influence Amy has had on the effectiveness of On Point in this community.”
With nearly 300 years of combined expertise in youth development at On Point, the organization is firmly established, financially strong and positioned to grow strategically. Each school year, On Point provides knowledge and on-going support to 13,000 students.
Through a variety of holistic and multifaceted programs, On Point reaches students with Think On Point (risk avoidance & decision-making education); and the Life On Point curricula which focuses on students' Self-Discovery, Life Vision/Life Skills, Healthy Life Choices, Positive Support and a Leadership for Service.
Since On Point's inception, the teenage pregnancy rate has decreased by 54 percent (per 1000 teenage girls) in Hamilton County. On Point has also added programming to include: Graduate On Point (targeting students with the skills they need to graduate), and the On Point Teen Advisory Board (students from various high schools in the area who are the voices to and for On Point). These programs increase leadership skills, as well as encourage academic success for teens in our community.