Drawing Illustrates ‘What Home Means To Me’ by Kallin Baarstad, Communications Intern
The word “home” is not bound to one specific meaning. To one person, home could mean the place he or she returns to at the end of the day; to another, it could mean a place that gives a feeling of peace with life itself. Every year, Fargo Housing and Redevelopment Authority participates in the National Association of Housing Redevelopment Officials’ Housing America campaign called “What Home Means to Me.” It is a poster competition for children residing in affordable housing and community developments owned or administered by NAHRO member agencies. For the second time in the past three competitions, a local student’s drawing was chosen as one of 12 eligible winners. Gabriel of Fargo appeared on this year’s June calendar. Gabriel is a 7th grader and participates in both football and track. Of course, his favorite subject is art. According to his mother, Gabriel loves drawing pictures of houses, making this competition his bread and butter. Gabriel decided to draw a cabin on the lake, and for his description, said: “My home relates to a cabin on the lake because it is peaceful and quiet. When I’m at home I can be myself and express my feelings. At night I love to relax with my family.”
FHRA’s mission is to empower people to achieve independence through housing. It provides safe, affordable homes to those with lower and moderate incomes by efficiently, ethically and effectively putting government housing programs and funding to work for Fargo. The Authority also connects people with resources and services they need to stabilize their lives and their families. FHRA has been a member of the HBA for nearly 20 years. HBA of F-M CEO Bryce Johnson currently serves on their board of commissioners. She sees many similarities between the missions and values of both organizations. “HBA of F-M and Fargo Housing and Redevelopment Authority have values that cross over into common ground, including the importance of affordable and attainable housing. This poster competition is a fun and fantastic way to get kids thinking about how important the meaning of home is. It’s also great to see local representation at the national level!” Johnson says.
" FHRA has participated in the competition for many years, and Chief Deputy Director Jill Elliott finds value in taking part. “Fargo Housing takes pride in participating in this event each year because we believe in the next generation of kids who can break the cycle of living in low-income housing. This contest gives them the freedom to articulate ‘What Home Means to Me’ by expressing their inner emotions through coloring,” she says. 28
This poster competition is a fun and fantastic way to get kids thinking about how important the meaning of home is. It's also great to see local representation on the national level! BRYCE JOHNSON
Plains Builder September 2020
