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Gainesville! Who Knew? on YouTube
Gainesville's 50-Year Secret: Inside Gainesville Ballet Company
50 years, and most of Gainesville has no idea it's there. Meet the woman keeping ballet's legacy alive on Riverside Drive.
On this episode of Gainesville! Who Knew?, we sit down with Jocelyn Buchanan, Artistic Director of Gainesville Ballet Company, to talk about a studio that's shaped generations of dancers since the 1970s. But as Jocelyn explains, what happens inside isn't just about pliés and pointe work — it's about building confidence, empathy, and character. "Ballet is much more than just steps," she says. "We teach life lessons." From a sensory-friendly Nutcracker to a Brenau University partnership to three-year-olds learning to use their imaginations, this is a look at how one Gainesville institution turns dancers into artists — and better people.
🩰 gbcdance.com
📍 971 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, GA
✉️ info@gbcdance.com
Cresswind Community Fund Part 2
In Part 2 of our Cresswind Community Fund episode, Gainesville Who Knew goes deeper into the real human impact of one of Hall County Georgia's most remarkable neighborhood charities. Mark Nestle, president of the Cresswind Community Fund at Cresswind Lake Lanier, shares stories that will stay with you — a grandmother and her grandchildren living in a tent, helped back into an apartment and stability. Seniors aging in place in their own Gainesville area homes thanks to a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Hall County. Food banks stretching every donated dollar ten times further than you'd expect.
We also hear from Dr. Michael Lipsitt, a retired cardiologist who now volunteers at the Good News Clinic in Gainesville, Georgia — one of the Fund's key partners providing free healthcare to uninsured seniors across Hall County.
Since its founding, the Cresswind Community Fund has granted over $1 million to local nonprofits and senior services organizations in Gainesville and Hall County. But as Mark says, the million dollars is not a ceiling — it's a starting point.
And here's the part that might surprise you: this model of community giving isn’t necessarily exclusive to Cresswind. Mark's message to every HOA, neighborhood, and individual in Gainesville and Hall County is simple — you can do this too.
Cresswind Community Fund
The Cresswind Community Fund just reached $1 million. In this episode you’ll hear the story of how a community of neighbors built something that’s now changing lives for seniors across Gainesville and Hall County, Georgia
We sat down with Mark Nestle, President of The Cresswind Community Fund and Bud Baker, who leads Help Me Please - the volunteer program that provides hands-on assistance to Cresswind residents every day.
Mark shares how the Fund was founded, what drives the mission and what crossing this milestone means for the future. Bud walks us through everything Help Me Please actually does - and how you can be a part of it - whether you need a hand or want to lend one.
The Fund goes far beyond the gates of Cresswind. In Part 2, we get the full story of the seniors and programs it supports across the greater Gainesville community. Stay tuned.
Agnes
You already know the story — now you can see it.
Our Agnes episode has made its YouTube debut, and we think the visuals add a whole new layer to the legend. Whether you want to re-experience the story or share it with someone who's never heard it, this is the perfect way to do it.
Behind The Scenes
Ever wondered how our Gainesville! Who Knew? podcast actually comes together? In this special Behind the Scenes episode, we take you through our entire creative process—from that first spark of an idea to the final polished episode you hear.
We'll show you how we decide which stories deserve to be told, track down the perfect people to interview, dive deep into research to ask questions that really matter, and then bring it all together in the recording and editing process. It's messy, it's fascinating, and it's a labor of love for our hometown.
While you can still enjoy this audio version, we’re excited to bring you into our world visually and show you what really goes into uncovering Hall County's forgotten history.
Copyright © 2025 Gainesville Who Knew - An Umbrella Media, LLC Production - All Rights Reserved.
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