The Mississippi Statewide Afterschool Network works to better our state and its communities by connecting providers, parents and policymakers with proven tools and resources to increase the quality of and access to out-of-school time programming for K-12 children and youth.

 

Afterschool is a lifeline that keeps youth safe, helps kids learn and grow, and provides parents the ability to work without worry. 

Securing Funding and Long-Term Sustainability Webinar

Looking to secure funding for your afterschool program? Sign up for our 'Securing Funding and Long-Term Sustainability' webinar on November 20 at 2 p.m. ET. Discover essential funding sources, hear expert strategies for staying in local and federal budgets, and gain insights from successful afterschool programs keeping their doors open for the community!

Mississippi has hundreds of afterschool and summer learning programs across the state for children and families. Use this map to find a program in your area.

Mississippi has hundreds of afterschool and summer learning programs across the state for children and families. Use this map to find a program in your area.

IF/THEN Ambassador – Dr. Joyonna Gamble-George, Health Scientist

Feb 12, 2022 | Academics & Enrichment, Advocacy, Million Girls Moonshot, STEM in Afterschool

Personal Statement

Hi, I’m Dr. Joy. When I was a little girl, I had a curious mind fit for a scientist. I loved taking things apart when they stopped working and trying to repair them by putting them back together. Curiosity led me to complete a summer research program that was sponsored by NASA during high school; that research program exposed me to a really cool machine, called a spectrophotometer.

The spectrophotometer could tell me whether or not a compound was bound to another. I enjoyed mixing different chemical reagents before I placed them into that machine. I felt like a mad scientist at times creating some concoction that could change or save the world. I was studying changes in binding between organic compounds and an element, called molybdenum, which is found in foods, such as vegetables and dairy products. Our hope was to find a cure for gout, a form of painful arthritis that occurs when you ingest too much molybdenum. As a scientist, I continue using cool machines to help find cures to save lives.

Biography

With over a decade of experience discovering cures for the most common health diseases and disorders, Joyonna Gamble-George is an internationally acclaimed scientist. She has traveled the globe sharing her research approaches to medicine with diverse audiences, including Nobel Prize winners. Joyonna has been granted membership in seven (7) honorary societies and is the recipient of over 20 awards for her leadership, philanthropy, and dedication to science while fostering diversity.

During her doctoral studies at Vanderbilt University, she co-founded SciX, LLC, a biotech company searching for methods to combat brain disorders and other health issues. Her business acumen was honored with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award.Joyonna holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Biology with Honors in Mathematics from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Master of Health Administration from the University of South Florida College of Public Health. She enjoys drawing, painting, writing poetry, and playing the alto sax and piano.

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