On Thursday, Sept. 26, the City of Hinesville hosted a Community Partnerships Forum with Major General Antonio Aguto and a delegation from Fort Stewart leadership, along with leaders from area organizations. The intent of the forum was to provide an opportunity for Fort Stewart leadership to meet with community leaders and learn about existing partnerships and services provided to Fort Stewart soldiers and their families.
The day began with introductions between attendees and presentations by each entity explaining the services, programs and partnerships currently in existence and a roundtable discussion about programs, perceptions and the potential for additional growth, partnerships and prosperity for the Hinesville – Fort Stewart – Liberty County area borne of developing relationships between community organizations.
“This forum was the first of its kind and granted the opportunity for the City and local entities to present both existing and new ideas for partnerships and growth to the leadership of Fort Stewart. We are very fortunate to routinely have very community – oriented military leaders stationed at Fort Stewart,” says Kenneth Howard, Hinesville City Manager, “Maj. Gen. Aguto, Brig. Gen. Cottereau and Col. Logan are no exception to this and their dedication and enthusiasm for this community is evident in the care they take to establish and cultivate their ties outside the gates.”
Following presentations by local entities, attendees were taken on a Liberty Transit bus tour of Hinesville to show key locations in the city, including but not limited to Bradwell Park and the downtown area, Liberty Regional Medical Center, Savannah Technical College, Liberty County College and Career Academy and Georgia Southern University.
The bus tour ended at Bradwell Institute, where attendees were greeted by the Bradwell Marching Band playing “Eye of the Tiger,” along with the Bradwell Beaus and Belles and a contingent of cadets from the BI Tiger Battalion.
Following lunch and a brief presentation and slide show by Principal Alvin Williams and Vice Principal Anthony Johnson, the visitors were taken on a tour of Bradwell Institute – hosted by Vice Principal Anthony Johnson.
“We came together to talk about the partnerships we have in place and are walking away with much more: a sense of understanding that this community is dedicated to supporting our military neighbors and their families at all levels and that Fort Stewart is actively engaged in participating in our community and its growth,” says Mayor Allen Brown.
The City of Hinesville would like to thank the Fort Stewart delegation of Maj. Gen. Antonio Aguto, Mrs. Melanie Aguto, Brig. Gen. Hubert Cottereau, Mrs. Brigitte Cottereau, Col. Bryan Logan, Mrs. Michelle Logan, Division Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Coffey, Command Sgt. Maj. Rebecca N. Myers, Capt. Michael Polanski and 1st Lt. Samantha Beck for their time and attendance at the Community Partnerships Forum.
The City of Hinesville would also like to thank the following community partners and entities for their participation in the Community Partnerships Forum, without which the forum would not have been a success:
Georgia Southern University Liberty County
Liberty County School System
Liberty Regional Medical Center
Savannah Technical College