Building Strong Futures co-founders Michelle Norrington and Monica Banks join The Town Square Podcast to share the inspiring story behind their youth development nonprofit. What began as a small leadership and etiquette program at church has grown into a community-wide initiative helping students explore college, careers, and leadership opportunities.

Recently named the Newton County Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Organization of the Year, Building Strong Futures continues to impact young people through workshops, mentorship, and life-changing college tours. In this conversation, Michelle and Monica reflect on the mission, the students whose lives have been changed, and the vision for the next generation of leaders.

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In Episode 49 of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey sits down with Molly Melvin, Executive Director of the Newton Community Partnership, for a powerful and insightful conversation about youth empowerment, prevention work, and the often-invisible efforts that shape community health in Newton County. Molly shares how the Partnership—originally formed to address teen pregnancy—has evolved into a vital connector of agencies, schools, and families. With just two staff members, they lead initiatives around suicide prevention, early literacy, and substance misuse education while equipping young people through the Youth Action Team to be peer leaders and community advocates.

The episode dives deep into how prevention is interwoven with every issue facing families—from mental health to academic success—and how the Partnership’s focus on capacity building and collaboration makes a measurable difference. Molly also highlights the challenges of sustaining funding for prevention work, and she calls on listeners to get involved, share resources, and help expand the impact. It’s a hopeful yet realistic look at the behind-the-scenes work that often goes unnoticed but is essential to building a stronger, more connected Newton County.

In Episode 39 of The Town Square Podcast, hosts Gabriel Stovall and Trey Bailey sit down with Lindsay Dycus, the Executive Director of Alcovy CASA, Inc., to discuss the vital work of child advocacy in Newton and Walton counties. Alcovy CASA trains and supports community volunteers to act as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for children in foster care, ensuring they have a consistent, caring adult in their lives. Lindsay shares her journey in child welfare, the importance of consistency in volunteerism, and how CASA volunteers help reunite families and advocate for the best interests of children in the system.

This episode highlights the transformative power of advocacy, with real-life stories of how CASA has helped children find stability and healing in difficult circumstances. Lindsay also explains how CASA is funded and how listeners can get involved—whether through volunteering or donations—to continue making a difference in the lives of children in foster care. Tune in to learn more about how you can support this incredible organization and make a lasting impact on your community.