Volume 2, Issue 4
RODOLFO “RUDY” RAMIREZ Executive Director
July 2015
An active summer for the Youth Leadership Association July 2015
BOARD OF COMISSIONERS 2015 EDUARDO GONZALEZ CHAIRMAN
ARMANDO BARRERA VICE-CHAIRMAN
JOE RODRIGUEZ COMMISSIONER
CRIS TORRES COMMISSIONER
JUAN GUZMAN
RESIDENT COMMISSIONER
Main Office Ciro Treviño Administration Building
910 S. Sugar Rd. Edinburg, Texas, 78539 REGULAR HOURS Mon.—Thurs. 8 a.m.—5:30 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
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STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT TOBACCO PREVENTION- During a Youth Leadership Association meeting held July 7, 2015, the UNIDAD Tobacco Prevention & Control Coalition spoke to students about the dangers of tobacco and raising awareness.
This summer, members of the Youth Leadership Association (YLA) took part in many engaging activities. From participating in McAllen’s Summer Outdoor Adventures Camp to taking part in weekly discussions based on the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey, our students were encouraged to continue learning throughout the summer. In addition to participating in activities and volunteering, the students were given a special presentation by the UNIDAD Tobacco Prevention & Control Co-
alition (UNIDAD TPCC) during a YLA meeting held Tuesday, July 7, 2015.
PRIZES FOR PARTICIPATION- Youth Leadership Association members received several prizes for answering questions.
During the presentation, Volunteer Specialist Melisa Tejada, discussed the importance of preventing tobacco abuse and the or-
ganization’s goal of advocating for a tobacco-free environment. After sharing valuable information about tobacco and worldwide statistics, presenters in UNIDAD TPCC also gave prizes to members for answering questions. Although summer vacation will soon come to an end, we look forward to seeing YLA members take part in many more great opportunities. We invite any student interested in joining to contact Diego Oros at 956-383-3839 for more information.
This month’s highlights... * ECISD gives free meals to students, Page 2 * Father’s Day celebration, Page 2 * Kids receive free mattresses, Page 3 * Canned food drive, Page 3
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EHA hosts Father’s Day celebration July 9, 2015 Thanks to our partnership with Edinburg Parks and Recreation, our agency held a very special celebration in honor of Father’s Day. Fathers who attended enjoyed a nice meal with their loved ones and were treated to special musical performances by Richard Ramos and Edinburg Parks & Rec. Folkloric dancers. During the event, Robert de Leon, our agency’s Youth Coordinator
performs Rick Ramos
and the Bro Models Executive Director, spoke about the importance of fatherhood and education to residents. We’d like to give special thanks to: Public Housing Supervisor Liz Hernandez; Joe Filoteo Director of Edinburg Parks & Rec. Dept.; Joe Silva the District Manager for Golden Corral; and, our resident Xochitl Canales and her family for generously donating 5 gift baskets and everyone who helped make this event a great success.
Gift baskets
DOZENS ATTEND EVENT- Fathers enjoyed food, fun and music with their families at the celebration.
REUNITING DADS- During the event fathers bonded with their children and had a good time.
Delicious food
Folkloric dance
A FATHER FIGURE- Fathers learned about their role and impact they have on their families.
Family time
Edinburg school district provides breakfast and lunch for students July 9, 2015 This summer, EHA students received free meals by the 2015 Summer Food Service Program. Thanks to our partnership with the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District (ECISD), students were provided breakfast and lunch meals at our Lantana Community Center. The program provided residents, 18 years-old and younger, with free breakfast and lunch meals
from June 8 through July 31, 2015. The efforts were part of ECISD’s goal of making sure students continue receiving healthy meals even when they aren’t at school. Last year, the program also helped students in our developments have meals throughout the summer months. Our agency would like to thank everyone who worked hard this summer to provide meals to our residents.
FREE MEALS IN THE SUMMER- Thanks to ECISD, students were able to receive healthy breakfasts and lunch during the summer.
ENERGIZED FOR THE SUMMER- Kids 18 years and younger enjoyed the free breakfast and lunch meals at the Lantana Community Center.
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Kids receive free mattresses from Ashley Furniture Homestore July 24, 2015 Thanks to Ashley Furniture Homestore’s A Hope to Dream initiative, 18 kids in our developments have been selected to receive new mattress sets. First founded in 2010, A Hope to Dream initiative works to help less fortunate children get a good night’s sleep by providing them with new mattresses. Aware that several of our families lack the means for new mattresses, the Edinburg Housing Authority was happy to submit referrals on behalf of our residents earlier
this summer. About half of the mattress sets were delivered to our residents Friday, July 24, 2015 and the rest will be delivered by the end of August. According to Hilda Hernandez, a mother of one of the recipients, her son is finally getting a good night’s sleep in his own bedroom. “We’re very happy for the new mattress,” Hernandez said. “My son now sleeps on his own bed in his room.” Besides donating the mattress sets, Ashley Furniture Homestore also donated bed frames, sheets,
pillows and comforters to recipients.
A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEPGael Valles, 10, was happy to receive his new mattress, pillows and bedding on Friday.
Due to the generous donations, residents expressed their gratitude towards the A Hope to Dream initiative and EHA staff for the referrals.
Canned food drive
“We didn’t expect the pillows and comforters,” shared Ernestina Torres a resident of the Lantana Apartments. “We’re very thankful to everyone who helped, especially Liz Hernandez and Claudia Lemus.” Our agency would like to give a big thanks to Ashley Furniture Homestore for its great efforts and helping our families.
SWEET DREAMS- Kids selected, received mattresses, pillows, sheets and comforters.
Thanks to EHA’s partnership with the University of Texas Pan-American’s Social Work Department, social work interns, Laura Pequeño and Danielle Vasquez, organized a Canned Food Drive at La Posada development.
Gardening together
Our residents continue to work together with Ricardo Carranza, the Texas A&M Community Garden Program Assistant and Valerie Reyes, to maintain the Lantana Community Garden. 3
Hiring Tutors Our agency is looking for passionate and highly-driven EHA high school or college students interested in being Tutors for the 2015-2016 EHA Tutoring Program. If you are interested or someone you know is interested in this opportunity to become a part of our team, please come by the Ciro Treviño Administration Building to pick up an application. For more information contact your managers at (956)383-3839. The deadline to apply is August 14, 2015 at 5 p.m.
Join YLA!
EHA welcomes any housing students 13 to 19-years-old to join the Youth Leadership Association! If you have a child that would like to be a part of the Youth Leadership Association or learn more, he/she can contact Diego Oros at doros@edinburgha.org or call 956-383-3839.
Do you know an Achiever? Along with redesigning our website, we have created the EHA Achievers Blog to highlight the outstanding efforts of students pursuing a higher education, outstanding residents and interns that come gain valuable work experience at our agency. To view the EHA Achievers Blog please visit www.ehaachievers.blogspot.com. If you know any EHA students that have attended or are currently attending college as well as any residents that have accomplished outstanding things, please contact us so that we can feature them in the blog. To let us know you may call the Juan Garcia at 956-383-3839.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS Rent deadline
Resident Council Meeting
Due monthly by the 1st, but EHA gives you until the 5th to pay in full. There is a $15 fee for late payments.
Interested in finding out what’s happening at EHA or your development? Come find out at our next Resident Council Meeting. Meetings are led by the Executive Director Rodolfo “Rudy” Ramirez and residents. Our next meeting will be:
Community service
September 10, 2015 @10 a.m at El Jardin
Residents 18+ years old who are not employed 30 hours or more a week or are not full-time students, must comply with the 8 hour HUD’s community service requirement.
Contact your property managers for the complete schedule of days and locations of our next meetings.
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Stay updated! Visit us todayn