November 2015
THE GRAPEVINE Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority
S.L.O.T. Academy
Volume 211, Issue 11
Monthly Reminders:
The Student Liaison Outreach Team, better known as S.L.O.T., is a community service based organization founded on January 12, 2007 on the campus of Virginia State University. The mission is to bridge the gap between the campus and the tri-city area by fostering positive working relationships with everyone we Members of the Student Liaison meet, while serving as college menOutreach Team pictured above. tors. We are passionate about our youth and strive to connect them with their futures by being encouraging mentors and role models. The S.L.O.T. Academy began in October at the Piper Square Community Center and meets twice a month and is cohesive with our mission statement. Through the academy S.L.O.T. will help each participant achieve both educational and personal goals through a series of workshops based on the core values of leadership and citizenship. The first two sessions in October served as an ice breaker where the youth in Piper Square and members of S.L.O.T. were able to become familiar with each other and the basis of the program. Though the intentions are to build great leaders, the members of the organization also enjoy having fun. Each workshop will be both informational and interactive. S.L.O.T. is very excited to teach HRHA’s youth about the importance of civic engagement and plans to participate in a few community building activities throughout the length of the program. At the end of the academic school year, HRHA and S.L.O.T. have hopes of having the youth complete a huge community service project in the community.
Community/Resident Council Meetings: Kippax Place — November 3, 2015 5:30 pm Davisville/Bland Court — November 11, 2015 1:00 pm Piper Square — November 18, 2015 1:00 pm Thomas Rolfe — November 19 2015 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. After School Program Monday-Thursday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Piper Square community center. Computer classes every Friday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Piper Square community center.
Inside this issue: HRHA Grievance Procedure
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Terence Barber, HRHA Resident Services Specialist, said “I am excited to see this program and the youth in the community grow. Being an alumnus of Virginia State University, I knew that S.L.O.T. would be the perfect organization to lead and uplift the youth in the program. More programs like this one are needed in the Tri-Cities area and beyond.”
Nutrition Program
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Walk for Life
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Management Policy
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HRHA hopes that the children in the community continue to enjoy this program and are able to learn something each time they attend the academy.
Home for the Holiday’s
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HIIT & Flow
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Those interested in receiving more information on the program or registering their child should contact Terence at 804-452-1880 x4.
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.
Nutrition Program Would you like to know more about ways to improve your diet in addition to learning to read food labels for better health? Are you interested in making the best nutritional choices that not only fit your budget but save you money? Would you like to know how to plan balanced meals using the basic food groups? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider enrolling in the Expanded Food and Nutritional Education Program (EFNEP). In partnership with Virginia Cooperative Extension and endorsed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the program offers free classes to low-income families, young adults of childbearing age and individuals who have young children and are eligible for assistance such as SNAP, WIC and Head Start.
Rose Allen pictured above.
Classes are can either be held in your home or in a residential community center. Besides learning about food safety, participants are also introduced to the value of physical activity for optimal health and engage in hands-on food preparation.
Administered through Virginia State University’s (VSU) College of Agriculture, EFNEP targets low-income families in Hopewell, Petersburg, Prince George, Fort Lee, Dinwiddie and Southern Chesterfield. Classes are taught by Rose Allen who serves as the EFNEP adult program assistant. Allen, a VSU home economics education graduate, previously taught family and consumer sciences courses in four Virginia localities. For more information or to enroll in EFNEP, contact Rose Allen at (804)524-5484 or via email at rallen@vsu.edu.
Walk for Life The Pregnancy Support Center of the Tri-Cities, Inc. will be hosting a “Walk for Life” on Saturday, November 14th at Woodlawn Baptist Church in Hopewell. Registration begins 9:00 am and the walk at 10:00 a.m. The Pregnancy Support Center of the Tri-Cities, Inc. is committed to providing compassionate care to women unprepared for pregnancy by offering resources and practical help to assist them in making life-affirming choices. For more info please call 804-861-5517.
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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
Home for the Holiday’s The GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Hopewell will be hosting their 51st annual “Home for the Holiday’s” Craft Show and Bazaar on November 14th at the Hopewell Community Center (100 City Point Road). This event will be held from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and will include various vendors. Patron tickets are $7.00 each and include breakfast and private showing at 9:00 am. Names of individuals who purchase patron tickets will have their name in the event program. General admission for the event is $3.00 per person. The GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Hopewell was founded in 1945 and is a part of the world's largest women's volunteer organization. Members reside in Tri-Cities and make a difference in the local communities every day. With your support, proceeds from the show go towards causes and activities the club pursues. This includes but is not limited to the Camp Easter Seal, sponsorship of a child through the Christian Children’s Fund, Operation Smile, Wounded Warriors, Hopewell High School Scholarship, Appomattox Regional Library and various other organizations. If you would like a patron ticket, please send your name(s), address and the number of tickets you would like to jwchopewell@msn.com.
HIIT & Flow Resident Services Manager, Kathryn Thompson, was accepted into the Sports Backers Fitness Warriors program in March of this year. She applied to become a fitness instructor through the program because she wanted to help those in the community with limited access to fitness that needed to begin a journey towards a healthier lifestyle. Kathryn began her own journey in 2013 due to being obese and the effect it had on her. She joined several fitness meet up groups and fell in love with HIIT workouts, hiking and yoga. The groups gave her access to the support of others as well as free fitness activities.
Kathryn pictured above in camel pose.
Sports Backers is committed to making Richmond and surrounding areas one of the most active regions in the nation. Persons accepted into the Warriors program commit to monthly trainings and must offer free fitness classes within a community of their choice.
Kathryn will be teaching HIIT and Flow, a class comprised of high intensity interval training, yoga and Pilates on Mondays in the Davisville community center from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Kathryn is very committed to the journey of becoming a personal trainer and helping those who wish to begin living a healthier lifestyle. She hopes to begin yoga teacher certification in 2016. She would like to have workshops that combine her passion for yoga with her creative writing talents. She is also one of several bloggers for the Fitness Warriors and is very excited about the opportunity to use her writing talents to help promote the program. Follow the Fitness Warriors on Facebook for current information on classes and events. A complete schedule of free community classes can be found on the Sports Backers website at www.sportsbackers.org. 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
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