Citizen of the Week: Alice Ensley’s positive impact is felt throughout Dalton

Published 8:00 am Friday, November 8, 2024

Alice Ensley has “a big heart for other folks,” according to Becky Jolly, who serves with Ensley on the First Presbyterian Church Dalton Mission Team.

“Many Daltonians will remember seeing a gentleman known as Jerry who could be seen walking through town, often on Walnut Avenue, always with a smile on his face,” Jolly said. “When Jerry lost his apartment, Alice secured another for him as well as helping with his transportation needs. At his funeral a few months ago she was one of only 10 or 11 people.”

Ensley was a literacy coach for Dalton Public Schools for more than 20 years.

“During that time she pioneered Big Red Reads and drove a minibus full of books to give away to school children in the summer so they wouldn’t lose reading skills over the summer,” Jolly said. “She recruited helpers from First Presbyterian Church for this effort.”

“Prior to that, she became acquainted with a teacher in Colombia who loads up his two donkeys and delivers books to kids in remote villages where there are few books,” Jolly said. “This effort is called Biblioburro and she brought him to Dalton to raise awareness and funds for his efforts.”

Ensley has also been involved with BooksForChange, an organization that offers mini-grants to teachers across the United States to stock their classrooms with mini-libraries. And she has recently joined the Coalition of Latino Leaders (CLILA) with their efforts to teach English and she has recruited others to help.

For the positive impact she has had on her church and her community, the Dalton Daily Citizen names Alice Ensley Citizen of the Week.