Date post: | 27-Jul-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | douglas-county |
View: | 223 times |
Download: | 0 times |
President Barack Obama talks with introducer Alyssa Cole backstage before he
delivers remarks at the Anschutz Sports Pavilion at the University of Kansas in Law-
rence, Kansas, Jan. 22, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Little Free Libraries
If you have visited Edgewood
Homes recently you might
have noticed two new
“houses.” These are not bird
houses, they are Little Free
Libraries and they were
installed in honor of Carrie
Lindsey, former Director of
Resident Services. One is
located in front of Resident
Services and the other near
the Huppee Community
Facility, #150.
A Little Free Library is a box full
of books where anyone may
stop by and pick up a book
(or two) and bring back an-
other book to share. You can,
too!
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS LDCHA RESIDENT SERVICES
J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 1 5
Employment pg. 2
Homeownership pg. 3
New Staff pg. 2
Current Calendar pg. 4-5
Youth Program pg. 6
Special Events pg. 7
IN THIS EDITION
Much of Lawrence was excited when President Barack
Obama visited on January 22nd. LDCHA tenant Alyssa Cole
had the unique opportunity to introduce Mr. Obama before
his speech at the University of Kansas.
When asked about the experience, Alyssa replied, “It was
wonderful to get to meet and speak with the President. . . . It
was nice to know that someone acknowledged my hard
work and that made me more determined to complete the
goals that I have for myself.”
“Alyssa brought presidential attention to the issues affecting
working, low-income families including childcare and
education concerns. We are so happy to have assisted her
with meeting her goals,” added Heather Odell, Director of
Resident Services.
Congratulations Alyssa!
Welcome President Obama
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS LDCHA RESIDENT SERVICES
S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5 Bikes for the Community
Lawrence Unchained and the Full Circle Youth Pro-gram at the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Au-thority have teamed up to provide 30 youth with bicy-cles this summer. Youth range in age from seven to seventeen and will use their new bicycles for every-thing from recreation to riding to school. In order to earn their new bikes, youth complete a training and safety course provided by Full Circle staff and Law-rence Unchained volunteers, most of who are recent-ly trained League Cycling Instructors. Youth will re-ceive their bicycles during two Bike Rodeos held this summer.
So far, twenty youth have spent a Saturday morning learning about helmets and bike safety, bike fit, parking/locking and bike responsibility, handling and riding, rules of cycling and how to ride safely. Youth were also provid-ed bike helmets, locks and lights to encourage responsi-ble ownership and safety. Youth practiced drills in a park-ing lot at Edgewood Homes and then took a bike ride to either Liberty Memorial Central Middle School or New York Elementary depending on age and where youth will be attending school next year. Some beginning riders fo-cused on basic skills and riding in the Edgewood Homes
neighborhood. Youth learned a safe and accessible route to school they can utilize this coming school year. Parents were invited to a luncheon held at the Huppee Community Facility where their youth shared what they had learned. Parents were also given informational sheets over the curriculum covered during the day and provided maps of routes their youth may utilize when riding to school.
This program was made possible through generous grants from LiveWell Lawrence Healthy Kids and the Douglas County Community Foundation. The Douglas County Community Foundation grant also allows for the creation of the Full Circle Wrenching Crew. In a small group and one on one setting, youth have been instructed on bicycle maintenance and repair. Tools are provided to youth participating in the program.
Employment pg. 2
Homeownership pg. 3
New Staff pg. 2
Current Calendar pg. 4-5
Youth Program pg. 6
Special Events pg. 7
IN THIS EDITION
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS LDCHA RESIDENT SERVICES
N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5
Employment pg. 2
Homeownership pg. 3
New Staff pg. 1
Current Calendar pg. 4-5
Youth Program pg. 6
Special Events pg. 9
IN THIS EDITION
Edgewood Community Mural
Led by muralists Amber Hansen, Nicholas Ward and assistant muralist
Jafiya Birdling All in My Neighborhood is an imaginative,
collaborative, mural that explores the rich cultural roots, daily life
and future aspirations of the Edgewood community.
Project collaborators include Edgewood neighborhood residents,
LDCHA staff, and Full Circle Youth Program. Special thanks goes to
the project coordinators Chris Lempa, Mary Orem and to Doug and
his team for their help installing the panels.
L: Full Circle youth
imagine and create
drawings for the
community mural.
Youth depiction of Edgewood.
Jafiya Birdling speaks to the crowd at the Edgewood community
mural unveiling with local artists Amber Hansen and Nicholas Ward.
R: Mural assistant
Jafiya and his mom
paint together.
Eleven-year-old Jafiya Birdling earned a bicycle about one month ago and it has been life changing for him.
He is exercising every day and spending more time outdoors with neighborhood friends. “It’s really fun riding
the bike. I ride it every single day,” he said, enthusiastically. “It’s really easy to get to places and you just get
there faster.”
Jafiya, who lives in the Edgewood neighborhood in East Law-
rence, says he rides his bicycle to lunch at the nearby East Law-
rence Recreation Center, and when he does, he parks it in the bi-
cycle rack and locks it up so it isn’t stolen. He learned how to do
this during a bicycle rodeo June 20 that was held through the
Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority’s Full Circle
Youth program, which provides tutoring, games and activities for
youth ages 7 to 18, and Lawrence Unchained Bicycle Co-op, a
nonprofit community bike shop that exchanges and repairs bicy-
cles and provides education.
During the bicycle rodeo, Jafiya and 10 other children received
refurbished bicycles, bicycle helmets, lights and locks. Then, they learned how to properly put on a helmet, use
and care for their bicycles and equipment, and ride safely. The three-hour bike rodeo culminated with a group
ride to the children’s schools Liberty Memorial Central Middle School or New York Elementary School. Law-
rence Unchained members and League of American Bicyclists’ League Certified Instructors gave the lessons.
“They taught me a lot — like signaling,” Jafiya said, and then he demonstrated the hand signals for stopping
and turning right and left. “It’s really important so you can show cars where you’re going.”
Jafiya’s mother, Juliana Birdling, is grateful her son received a bicycle, helmet and all of the safety features
because they couldn’t afford them. “Some kids like to ride bikes, but the affordability is out of reach,” she
said. She said the bicycle has been beneficial to Jafiya’s physical and mental health. “He’s making new friends
and learning to be more responsible,” she said. Before receiving the bicycle, she said Jafiya spent more time
inside playing video games.
Mary Orem, Early Childhood and Youth Specialist with the
Full Circle Youth Program and a League Certified Instruc-
tor, was one of the instructors for the bicycle rodeo, and she
said the experience was inspiring. “For me, the highlight
was the excitement on the kids’ faces when they earned
their bikes,” she said. “Also, taking a group of six students
on a ride to Central Middle School and having them realize
how quickly and easily they can ride to school.” Now, she
sees them riding their bicycles with their helmets every day.
The Full Circle Youth Program plans to have another bike
rodeo this Saturday.
11-year-old Lawrence boy living healthier lifestyle
thanks to participation in bicycle rodeo
Excerpted from the July 19, 2015 webversion of the WellCommons. The full article can be read at http://wellcommons.com/groups/
lawrence-douglas-county-health-department/2015/jul/19/11-year-old-lawrence-boy-living-healthie/. Thank you to Karey Britt and
the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department for covering our Bicycle Rodeos.