April 2016 Grapevine by Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

April 2016

THE GRAPEVINE Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

Mission Driven

Volume 212, Issue 4

Monthly Reminders: 

The VEX IQ State Championship Tournament is presented by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation and is a brand new STEM program for elementary and middle school students (ages 8-14). Students, with guidance from their teachers and mentors, will build a robot using the VEX IQ robotics platform to solve an engineering challenge that is presented in the form of a game. VEX IQ Challenge teams will work together scoring points in Teamwork Matches, and also by displaying their robot’s skills individually.

Community/Resident Council Meetings: Kippax Place — April 12, 2016 5:30

Davisville/Bland Court — April 13, 2016 1:00 pm Piper Square — April 20, 2016 1:00 pm Thomas Rolfe — April 21, 2016 1:00 pm

In addition to building robots, the VEX IQ  Exavier Brown pictured above. Challenge will encourage students to actively learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics with a STEM themed research project that consists of a written or media presentation.

Rental payments are due on

Exavier Brown, eighth grade Piper Square resident, went to the VEX IQ State Championship Tournament in February to watch other teams compete. Exavier was able to learn a lot and is now interested in joining HRHA's Robotics Team with hopes of leading it. The team will learn and practice techniques needed to compete against other teams.

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“It was great experience because I was able to see a lot of things that I had not seen before. I want to be apart of the team so that I can set a better example for my peers,” said Exavier. This eighth grader is one who stays involved in programs and extracurricular activities that are provided by the Resident Services Department and his school. Exavier has been a member of HRHA’s Boy Scouts troop for quite some time now and has continued to excel. Frederick Ferguson, HRHA’s Boy Scouts Leader says “Exavier is a very smart young man who is respectful and shows signs of success. He is always eager to learn more and has strong ambitions and goals.” Exavier has plans to go to college to major in engineering and play football. With an intended major in engineering, he hopes to further his interest in building and fixing things. In his spare time he also enjoys playing basketball and hanging around positive people that will uplift and motivate him to be successful.

the 1st of each month and must be paid at the HRHA main office drop box by 5:00 after 5:00 p.m. is considered next day and a late fee will be assessed. Inside this issue: HRHA Grievance Procedure

Youth Corner

Management Policy

Healthy Families

Nonprofit Learning Point

Job/Resource Fair

HRHA Grievance Procedure HRHA has a Grievance Procedure that seeks to assure just and unbiased treatment of all residents and to provide procedures which are not unduly time consuming or complicated. The Authority will take required actions to ensure all grievants with special needs are accommodated to provide access to this Grievance Procedure. Should it become necessary for you to file a grievance, present your grievance personally, either orally or in writing, to the Authority’s Central Management Office or the Management Office where you reside within seven days, after the occurrence giving rise to the grievance. The oral or written presentation should state:

1. That the complaint is being pursued in accordance with the Grievance Procedure. 2. The actual basis of the grievance. 3. The action of relief. A copy of the Grievance Procedure can be found at the Community’s Management Office and at the Authority’s Central Management Office. If you are not satisfied with the resolution of your complaint, you may contact your HRHA Chairmen of the Board of Commissioners at 804-720-2581.

YOUTH CORNER

Keeping Up With Our Youth

Boy Scouts HRHA’s Boy Scouts troop has been to Camp Albright in Chesterfield twice this year for camping trips. During these trips the boys have cut down fire wood, made camp fires, put tents up, explored the wilderness, prepared food for the troop and learned many other valuable lessons. Jordan Pelham, Piper Square Boy Scouts participant, said "it was fun because we were able to explore the camp ground and practice the things we had learned in our meetings." The next camping trip will take place in April at the National Battlefield in Petersburg. During this trip, the boys will learn the history about the battlefield as well as different stars in the sky.

Girl Scouts On February 22 of each year, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from 146 countries celebrate World Thinking Day. World Thinking Day is not only a great opportunity to rally the global sisterhood around a particular theme, it’s also a chance to support girls as they travel internationally, connect with sister Girl Guides, and take action globally. This year, HRHA’s Girl Scouts troop also participated in this event which was held at the VFW in Hopewell. Each troop picks a country that they will represent and they cook food, create flags and other important cultural representations of that particular country. HRHA’s troop represented Ghana this year. Way to go girls! For those interested, Girl Scouts cookies are still available and will be sold at the Easter Eggstravaganza being held on April 2nd. 2

Management Policy HRHA does not discriminate on the basis of disability status in the admission or access to housing or employment in its federally assisted programs and activities. Mrs. Madelyn Peay has been designated to coordinate compliance with nondiscrimination requirements contained in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) regulations implementing (Section 504 CFR Part 8, dated June 2, 1988) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. You may contact her at: P.O. Box 1361 Hopewell, VA 23860 (804) 458-5160

Healthy Families Hopewell-Prince George Healthy Families is a non-profit organization that serves all families with newborns that reside in Hopewell and Prince George. This program offers home visitation services, developmental screenings, case management, parenting classes, positive discipline techniques and more. Parents interested in participating must enroll before the child turns three months old. The program is free and voluntary. For more information please call 804-458-9271 ext. 3 or visit www.hpghealthyfamilies.com

Nonprofit Learning Point Nonprofit Learning Point (NLP) is an organization that has a mission to provide high quality, affordable professional and leadership development for the nonprofit community of the greater Richmond region. NLP ensures quality programming through a loyalty to the guidelines of the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council and by using curriculum grounded in the latest research. NLP offers over 70 classes a year in all aspects of nonprofit management and leadership and has opportunities for individuals to earn certificates, such as the Certificate in Nonprofit Management. Hundreds of nonprofit and social sector leaders across the greater Richmond region have earned the 120-hour Certificate in Nonprofit Management from NLP since 1997. Resident Services Manager, Kathryn Thompson, recently met all the requirements and earned her certificate. “I was very excited to receive my certificate. It was a bit like running a relay and knowing that I had finished my leg of the race. I was even more excited to register the FSS Coordinator and Resident Services Specialist for their classes. As a group, there are internal procedures we can improve and we will all be on the same page as we move forward,” said Kathryn. Kathryn has been designated the Executive Director of STORY, HRHA’s new nonprofit. Kathryn said “It is a great responsibility to get a new organization up and running and I got to network with many people in the NLP classes. I feel I am prepared and even have a Birkman assessment that says I’m the person you want when you start a new venture like this. I’ve been a little nervous about STORY due to the number of organizations in the area, but I’m always up for a challenge, especially when there is an opportunity to impact lives.”

Job/Resource Fair HRHA has partnered with Community Housing Partners, The Goodwill Employment Center and The Salvation Army to host a job/resource fair. This event will be held on April 21st from 10:00 am—2:00 pm at the Hopewell Community Center. Interested persons should bring their resumes and come dressed for success. 3

Public Housing Staff Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

Madelyn Peay, Public Housing Director – (804) 458-5160

P.O. Box 1361 350 E. Poythress Street Hopewell, VA 23860

Lillian Quintana, Administrative Assistant to the Public Housing Director – (804) 458-5160

Phone (804) 458-5160 Fax (804) 458-3364

Tina Raatz, Housing Manager – (804) 452-1880 ext. 3 Thomas Rolfe Court/Extension & Davisville/Bland Court

Website www.hopewellrha.org

Lafonia Thornton, Acting Housing Manager – (804) 541-0392 ext. 2 Piper Square & Kippax Place

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Kathryn Thompson, Resident Services Manager – (804) 541-0392 ext. 4 Terence Barber, Resident Services Specialist – (804) 452-1880 ext. 4

Jennifer Campbell, FSS Coordinator — (804) 855-7065 Emergency After Hours – (804) 640-9337 Commissioner Hotline Number - (804) 720-2581