THE GRAPEVINE

January 2015

Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority Volume 211, Issue 1

Monthly Reminders:

Community/Resident Council Meetings:

Kippax Place — January 6, 2015 5:30

pm

Davisville/Bland Court — January 14,

2015 1:00 pm

Piper Square — January 21, 2015 1:00

pm

Thomas Rolfe — January 15, 2015 1:00

pm

Rental payments are due on the 1st of

each month and must be paid at Sun-

Trust Bank by 5:00 p.m. Any payment

received after 5:00 p.m. is considered

next day and a late fee will be assessed.

Job Corps Orientations at Hopewell VEC

every Thursday at 9:00 am

Employment assistance every Tuesday

from 9:00—11:00 a.m. at Piper Square

FSS Program Orientation in the Piper

Square community center January 3rd at

1:00 p.m.

HRHA Grievance Procedure 2

Christmas Ornament Crafting 2

Substitute Teaching 3

The Summit of Hopewell 3

BOA Student Leaders Program 3

Management Policy 4

VA Community Bus. Launch 4

Future Leaders Forum 4

Inside this issue:

Investing in HRHA Youth Ann Morris, of Piper Square, has lived in Public Housing for four years and finds more pleasure each year in helping the children of our community. Ann has set goals of obtaining her GED and moving out of public housing in the near future. Before passing, Ann’s father told her that he wanted her to strive to get her GED. This, along with being an example for the children, is what keeps Ann pushing to-wards achieving her goals.

After continuously being abused, Ann ran away from home at the age of 16

and struggled to find a place to stay. Her family wouldn’t take her in and thought this would help her learn how to survive. “This taught me that no matter what, I would be able to make it in life,” said Ann. It is for this rea-son that Ann developed such passion for helping children.

Having kids of her own, Ann naturally has a nurturing spirit, so when the kids in Piper Square began calling her “auntie” she took them under her wing. Ann began teaching them about discipline, the importance of throw-ing their trash away versus littering and many other things. In addition, she also began going around the property to gather them up and take them to the various programs held by the Resident Services Department. “I enjoy it, I even attend some of the programs with them and help pass out snacks, said Ann.”

Around Halloween of 2013, Ann had a stroke and spent quite some time in the hospital. “As soon as I came home from the hospital the kids were there to give me a warm welcome, crying and saying “auntie we were wor-ried about you.” From that day on, the kids came to check on me every day. They would help me with anything that I needed help with,” said Ann. The children helping her made Ann want to continue to help the children of this community and watch them grow.

Ann’s wishes are that the kids finish school, learn from one another and stay away from drug and gang activity. This can be accomplished by be-coming and staying involved in positive extra-curricular activities offered by Resident Services, the school system or the community. Ann says “I think the community should pull together a little more and act as mentors to the children and know, we can’t do anything without education.”

Ann Morris and children of Piper Square

pictured above

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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.

HRHA Grievance Procedure

On Saturday, December 6th, Assistant Housing Manager Lafonia Thornton held a Christmas ornament craft class for the children of HRHA. This class was held in the community center of Piper Square and was thoroughly enjoyed by the children in attendance. Lafonia used her creative skills and demonstrated how the ornaments would be created. After the demonstration was complete, the kids were able to go through the same steps, with assistance, and complete their personal ornaments.

Lafonia and her family have made it a habit to give back to the children in the community since the passing of her daughter in 2012. Lafonia always did crafts with her children and her daughter loved the holidays. Her pastor once told her “what you water will grow” and by doing this, Lafonia and her family feel this is a way to honor her daughter as well as inspire children.

The children were able to take these uniquely made Christmas cupcake ornaments home to hang on their trees. Any residents that have creative crafting skills and are interested in holding a class for children and/or adults within the community should contact the Resident Services Department.

Christmas Ornament Crafting

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Substitute Teaching

The Summit of Hopewell

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s Student Leaders Program is accepting applications for the 2015 Student Leaders program. Since its inception in 2005, the Bank of America Student Leaders Program has recog-nized more than 2,000 outstanding high school juniors and seniors who have a passion for improving their com-munities.

The program helps students gain a greater understanding of how nonprofits create an impact in the community and helps develop them as the next generation of community leaders through two components:

A summer eight-week paid internship with a nonprofit organization selected by the bank. This internship is designed to provide opportunities for the students to develop and apply leadership skills through hands-on work experience, while raising their awareness of community issues addressed by their Host Organization.

The week-long, all-expense paid Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. from July 12-17, 2015. Con-ducted in partnership with the Close Up Foundation, the Summit introduces students to aspects of civic, so-cial and business leadership and provides them with knowledge and skills they will use throughout their life to create positive community change.

Students can apply for the program by going to www.bankofamerica.com/studentleaders. The application is now open and the submission deadline is January 31, 2015. Any students who need access to the internet should con-tact the Resident Services Department.

For more information on the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.

BOA Student Leaders Program

Towards the end of November, 12 residents of the former Langston Park moved back into the community now known as The Summit of Hopewell. CHP also held several open house viewings in December for prospective resi-dents within the community. Applications for the tax credit units are currently available and the units will be available for move in soon.

The Summit consists of two, three and four bedroom energy certified apartments, each having two bathrooms. CHP is very community oriented and looks forward to the many collaborations and events with community or-ganizations and the residents.

Steve Benham, Executive Director of HRHA, says “This was just the beginning, The Summit is what we envision for the rest of public housing. We believe as opportunities and funding present themselves to upgrade housing, we plan to pursue.”

Hopewell City Public Schools is looking for substitute teachers for the remainder of the 2014-2015 academic year. All candidates will need to complete an application, pay for a background check, attend a training session and pass a substitute test. To be considered, candidates must have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED (some college may be required), proof of your formal GED or high school diploma or college transcript. If you have a current and completed application on file, please submit an original, signed letter indicating interest in this position.

To obtain the substitute teaching application packet, please visit www.hopewell.k12.va.us and click on the Em-ployment tab. Instructions for completion of the packet is included as a coversheet. If you need access to the internet, please contact the Resident Services Department.

4

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 Madison-Hyde 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

Virginia Community Business Launch

On December 5th, Governor Terry McAuliffe unveiled the first ever Virginia Commu-nity Business Launch (CBL) and announced the first three communities that will each receive up to $100,000 for small business development: The cities of Staunton, Hopewell and Gloucester Courthouse in Gloucester County. The pilot program is an initiative of Governor McAuliffe’s new Virginia economy Strategic Plan, falling under the pillars of economic development, entrepreneurship and small business develop-ment.

"Small business development is critical for building a new Virginia economy," said Governor McAuliffe. "Through this new initiative, we are placing the community at the center of small business development in order to help Virginia entrepreneurs thrive and contribute to our state economy starting in their own backyards.”

The CBL is designed to assist communities in taking a systems approach to defining and pursuing an asset-based small business development strategy. The program starts with a community’s unique vision for its future and then uses a local business competition to find and foster the entrepreneurs that connect with that vision. CBL will provide the tools to effectively prepare multiple entrepreneurs to operate suc-cessful businesses in a downtown or neighborhood commercial district and allow them to compete for funding to start up their new endeavor.

While only a limited number of entrepreneurs may win the business competitions, CBL will give rise to many budding entrepreneurs that have been prepared, through the CBL initiative, to be successful businesses. In addi-tion, it will help communities begin to develop a coordinated, comprehensive sustainable environment that iden-tifies launches and supports community-based entrepreneurs and small business at all levels of development.

“Small business is the backbone of communities around the Commonwealth. They provide jobs, they provide talent, and they end up leading our civic organizations and help our children to pursue their dreams,” said Secre-tary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “Entrepreneurship is a key component of our economic strategy, and we want to foster the development of these individuals and their ideas.”

For more information about the Virginia Community Business Launch, visit www.dhcd.virginia.gov.

Future Leaders Forum for Young Women

Young women who are currently attending high school are encouraged to register and attend the 11th Annual Future Leaders Forum for Young Women. This event will be held Saturday, March 21st at the Capital One Campus located at 15000 Capital One Drive in Richmond.

Event registration packets are now available. For more information or to request a packet, email futureleaders-forumforyoungwomen@capitalone.com or call 804.284.5757.

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Public Housing Staff

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

Lillian Quintana, Administrative Assistant to the Public Housing

Director – (804) 458-5160

Tina Raatz, Housing Manager – (804) 452-1880 ext. 3

Thomas Rolfe Court/Extension & Davisville/Bland Court

Assistant Housing Manager – (804) 452-1880 ext. 2

Thomas Rolfe Court/Extension & Davisville/Bland Court

Greg Pe’ay, Housing Manager – (804) 541-0392 ext. 3

Piper Square & Kippax Place

Lafonia Thornton, Assistant Housing Manager – (804) 541-0392 ext. 2

Piper Square & Kippax Place

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

Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority P.O. Box 1361 350 E. Poythress Street Hopewell, VA 23860 Phone (804) 458-5160 Fax (804) 458-3364 Website www.hopewellrha.org

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