July 2016 Grapevine

July 2016

THE GRAPEVINE Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

Making Your Dreams Reality

Kitty Wade and daughter Shian Brooks pictured above in front of one of their paintings.

Volume 213, Issue 7

Monthly Reminders: 

Kitty Wade and daughter Shian Brooks, are in the process of starting their own painting business. Kitty and Shian are Project Based Voucher resi dents living in The Summit of Hopewell (formerly Langston Park). Shian started off doing art and painting five years ago while her mother has been doing this all her life but restarted about four years ago. “Public Housing was the perfect place for me to rekindle my love for painting since I had plenty of extra time,” said Kitty.

The business would include all types of painting and art work in addition to comic books entitled “Kat Scratch.” The name Kat Scratch derived from the their love of cats and their amazing ability to draw them. This business is not only a way to earn money, but helps Kitty live her dream and Shian show people different types of art work that they may have never been exposed to. When asked what they like most about painting they said “it ‘s the creativity, the fact that we can express ourselves and create something that will live on forever.”

After the business gets moving, Kitty and Shian would love to expand from creating paintings on posters to creating clothing, accessories and action figures. “We would want to see our work on buildings, something that is seen daily and not just hanging in a museum,” said the mom and daughter duo. Shian, the recent Hopewell High School graduate then continued to say, “It’s the only life you have, why not do what you love and enjoy? It’s too many people in life who do not love their jobs.”

In addition to painting, this duo stays busy with their family and staying active with their other hobbies. Kitty enjoys sewing and making clothes, costumes and costume jewelry as well as doing fantasy hair and makeup while Shian gravitates to making t-shirts, modeling, sewing, body building, salsa dancing and acting. The best advice they have to others who want to become entrepreneurs is that “Anybody's dreams can come true, you just have to put your mind to it. No matter how old or young.”

Community/Resident Council Meetings: Kippax Place — July 12, 2016 5:30 pm Davisville/Bland Court — July 13, 2016 1:00 pm Piper Square — July 20, 2016 1:00 pm Thomas Rolfe — July 21, 2016 1:00 pm Rental payments are due on the 1st of each month and must be paid at the HRHA main office drop box by 5:00 p.m.

Any payment received after 5:00 p.m. is considered next day and a late fee will be assessed.

Inside this issue: HRHA Grievance Procedure

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Richmond Peace Edu. Center

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Employee Spotlight

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Management Policy

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Job Corps

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Hopewell Community Center

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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.

Richmond Peace Education Center The Richmond Peace Education Center is hosting a two-day “Introduction to Conflict Resolution” training July 11th -12th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Fan Free Clinic, 1010 North Thompson Street, in Richmond. This training is for anyone interested in learning healthy ways to communicate and resolve conflict at work and in the community, becoming a member of the training team or earning a recertification points. This training is well suited to educators, individuals who work with youth and any member of the general public who wishes to strengthen their conflict resolution skills. Educators will earn a minimum of 15 points toward recertification.

The Richmond Peace Education Center is also seeking skilled and passionate individuals to lead Conflict Resolution workshops in the community, working with youth and adults. Successful completion of this two-day training is a first step for those interested in leading workshops. Scholarships may also be available for qualifying individuals. For more information contact Santa Sorenson at rpec@rpec.org and to pre-register email her your name, address and phone number.

Employee Spotlight

Sephron Roberts is from the Metro Richmond area and is now the Assistant Housing Manager for Davisville and Thomas Rolfe. Sephron previously served as the Administrative Assistant for Colonial Ridge Apartments in South Chesterfield and in the HCVP department of HRHA prior to taking on her new position.

Sephron enjoys volunteering for Chesterfield County Fire/Emergency Medical Services in her spare time and will soon be completing her Emergency Medical Technician Basic training and will be certified Basic Life Support. She also spends her time volunteering in the county and is very passionate about preventative healthcare to include diet, exercise and fire prevention.

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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

Towing Reminder If you are towed, you should first contact the Hopewell Police Department (HPD) and they will confirm if your vehicle was towed. The address of the towing company is 17400 South Crater Rd, Prince George, Virginia 23805 and they are located approximately 20-25 minutes away from Hopewell. Their office number is 804-732-9274.

The towing company hours of operation are: General Business Hours and Weekday Vehicle Release Days/Times: Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Vehicle Release Days/Times on the Weekend: Saturday and Sunday between 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Job Corps

Job Corps is currently recruiting young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 for its comprehensive vocational training program. Job Corps helps young adults learn a career, earn a high school diploma or GED and gain real world skills needed to succeed. Training is available in many rapidly growing career areas such as certified nursing, carpentry, culinary arts, auto repair, electrical, and welding.

Best of all, Job Corps is government sponsored and is free of charge for those who meet the income eligibility requirements. To learn more about Job Corps and begin the admissions process, plan to attend an information session. Information sessions are held every second Thursday of the month starting at 9:30 am at the Virginia Employment Commission Office, 5240 Oaklawn Boulevard, in Hopewell.

For more information, please call (804) 340-5540, visit the Job Corps website at https://recruiting.jobcorps.gov or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/doljobcorps.

Hopewell Community Center The Hopewell Department of Recreation and Parks believes in enhancing opportunities for a variety of recreational activities for the citizens of Hopewell. They promote public wellbeing in a safe, friendly and healthy environment. For convenience, the Department of Recreation and Parks offers several membership types and each membership includes access to the pool, gym, locker rooms, sauna, and fitness equipment.

The Hopewell Community Center waives daily fees for Hopewell residents ages 12-17 during free time. Free time hours are Monday – Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturdays from 9:00 am – noon until September 5th.

Please know that the gym and pool may not be available for free time on certain days due to other organized activities.

For more information please visit www.hopewellva.gov/summer-camps/ or call (804) 541-2353.

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Public Housing Staff Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority

Madelyn Peay, Deputy Executive Director – (804) 458-5160

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

Lillian Quintana, Assistant to the Deputy Executive Director – (804) 458 -5160

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

Tina Raatz, Senior Housing Manager – (804) 452-1880 ext. 3 (Calls and voicemails received by the Leasing Specialist/Administrative Assistant)

Website www.hopewellrha.org

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

Like our Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/ Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority Follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/ hopewellrha/

Sephron Roberts, Assistant Housing Manager – (804) 452-1880 ext. 2 Davisville & Thomas Rolfe Mellisa Underwood, Leasing Specialist/Administrative Assistant – (804) 452-1880 ext. 5 Terence Barber, Resident Services Specialist – (804) 452-1880 ext. 4 Jennifer Campbell, FSS Coordinator — (804) 541-0392 ext. 5 Emergency After Hours – (804) 640-9337

S.T.O.R.Y. Staff Kathryn Thompson, Grant Writer/Executive Director – (804) 5410392ext. 4

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