2000 Best Practice Awards

2000-2040 Emergency Economic Development and Supportive Services (EDSS) "Rayo de Luz (Ray of Light)"
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Contact: Allan Cintron (787) 844-7720

The Sister Isolina Ferré Centers (SIFC), a non-profit organization with more than 30 years of experience in community development and social services programs. It obtained a grant from HUD for the Emergency Economic Development and Supportive Services (EDSS) Program. Six (6) public housing communities have been targeted in three municipalities of Puerto Rico, which suffered severe effects on their economic and service infrastructures due to the passage of Hurricane Georges in September of 1998—Ponce, Guayama and Humacao. This 2-year EDSS Project designated in Spanish "Rayo de Luz" (Ray of Light), was based on, and is directed to the overall strategic goals of the SIFC, which include: Ø Awakening of a sense of personal growth in the persons impacted; Ø Creating of a vision of community in the targeted individual citizens and families; and Ø Achieving a participatory process of revitalization among residents of communities served. Operating under the SIFC’s Institute for Economic Development and Relevant Alternatives ("IDEAR"), the Ray of Light Project is serving one hundred (100) residents of each of six (6) public housing projects, four in the municipality of Ponce, and one each in the municipalities of Guayama and Humacao, or a total of 600 residents, selected on the basis of their need for personal, academic and vocational/career development services and their potential for attaining significant movement toward self-sufficiency within the 2-year project period. The primary goal of the Ray of Light Project is: To achieve economic self-sufficiency in public housing residents through the provision of knowledge and skill improvement and economic development opportunities, combined with supportive services to permit their consistent participation and completion in a comprehensive set of program strategies. The process objectives directed to accomplishing this goal in a 2-year period, include: PO1-To identify, evaluate and select at least 600 participants, about 100 per housing project, with emphasis on welfare recipients, who will be motivated to enroll and actively participate in a comprehensive program of basic education, higher education, vocational and technical training, business development training. work experiences, on-the-job-training, job search and employment components. PO2-To assess comprehensive supportive services needs of all participants and provide and/or coordinate access, through case management and self-endeavors of participants, as many of the needed services as possible to ensure access of participants to self-improvement, education and training programs, including the payment of stipends for child care, provision of transportation, and other services required and determined case by case. PO3-To assess the interests, skills, abilities, aptitudes and experiences of 100% of the participating residents in order to tailor educational, training, and employment experiences to each participant to the degree possible within existing options or those that the program will develop. Individualized Personal Responsibility Plan PO4-To provide individual and group counseling, decision-making, communications, family and social relationships, and other personal development workshops and services. PO5-To provide and/or coordinate, through a case management, educational advocacy and employment officer ***approach, opportunities for educational advancement of individuals or groups of participants, through academic tutoring, placement exams and GED preparatory courses, assistance with access in courses of higher education, computer training and computer assisted self-learning programs and other means. PO6-To provide individual participants the opportunities to participate in SIFC or other existing vocational and/or technical training programs in areas of their interests and aptitudes. PO7-To provide participants vocational and career counseling, job search workshops, work habits workshops and other pre-employment services. PO8-To provide participants the opportunity to benefit from on-the-job-training and work experiences as well as job placement assistance to promote their self-sufficiency. PO9-To provide economic incentives to up to 6 resident corporations in order to support and reward their participation in the Emergency EDSS Project of the SIFC. PO10-To provide employment opportunities to residents who qualify for positions in the Emergency EDSS Project and in the provision of supportive services and/or training of other residents, with priority for those with special needs. The outcome objectives of the Emergency EDSS Project include: OO1-To achieve, by the end of the 2-year period of 1999-2001, at least a 75% overall completion rate and competency improvement rate (pre-post test results) in personal development activities for the 600 residents to be enrolled in the Emergency EDSS Project of the SIFC with at least an 85% high satisfaction rate among participants. OO2-To have achieved, by the end of the 2-year period, the passage of at least 50% of the participants who take placement and/or GED examinations to improve their educational status. OO3-To have achieved successful completion of short-term vocational/technical training in at least 75% of the participants who enroll in same during the project period and retention of at least 6 months of participants in longer-term training programs. OO4-To have achieved the successful completion of at least 70% of the participants enrolled in work experiences and on-the-job training programs through the Emergency EDSS project. OO5-To achieve at least a 40% job placement rate among participants in non-subsidized salaried positions or self-employment and at least 60 subsidized positions in and outside of the SIFC, by the end of the 2-year period. OO6-To have achieved the establishment of at least six (6) mini-enterprises, resident businesses, cooperative employment endeavors and/or small businesses in the target areas through project provided or coordinated incentives and contractual arrangements. OO7-At the end of the 2-year project period, to have achieved at least a 60% retention rate in higher education and employment positions of those participants placed through project case management efforts. The primary strategies to achieve these goals and objectives include: · CREATION OF PARTNERSHIPS- Strong interagency partnerships with a variety of public, private non-profit and for-profit entities of the target area (See listing of external partners and contributors under Number 5 below); · CUSTOMER EMPOWERMENT- Emphasis on community involvement in all stages of the development of the project, including participation of residents on the Advisory Board · RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT and INTEGRATION -Comprehensive initial assessment of candidates’ interpersonal skills, academic achievement level and vocational skills and interests. Planning and design of educational, vocational and economic development programs based on assesment which include: 1. Provision of academic tutoring, personal counseling, and job skill training 2. Utilization of the Case Management Model (presented below) CASE MANAGEMENT MODEL EEDSS PROGRAM 1999-2001 INITIAL EVALUATION: CASE MANAGER AND SUPPORT SERVICE AREA Orientation on the Program and Initial Evaluation Motivation and Decision-Making Workshop Follow-up (Individual Aid) Orientation & Counseling CASE MANAGEMENT AREA Individual Responsibility Plan Implementation Plan, Referrals, Placement in education, training or employment CASE MANAGEMENT AREA/CASE MANAGER/LIFE QUALITY ASSESSMENT Follow-up Individual Responsibility Plan/ Orientation and Counseling Employment Readiness or Life Quality Workshop SUPPORT SERVICES AREA Evaluation and Granting of Support Services and Stipends/Loans CASE MANAGEMENT AREA Follow-up Individual Responsibility Plan Network Services CASE MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT SERVICES AREA, QUALITY OF LIFE ASSESSMENT Job Search, Placement & Retention Job Search Workshop Follow-up, Orientation & Counseling Job Training & On-the-Job Training Computer Lab & Occupational Skills Self-Sufficiency & Improvement in Life Quality PROJECT SUPERVISORS, HUD STAFF AND EXTERNAL EVALUATORS Internal Evaluation and Monitoring Project Staff External Evaluation and Monitoring –HUD Staff and External Evaluators 3. Business development in the local communities to increase opportunities 4. Internal and mechanized monitoring and tracking of individual, each public housing project and each municipalities’ progress and achievements 5. External evaluation with regular reporting of findings to promote corrective action. · INSPIRATION - Sustaining the motivation that drives people to transform existing conditions and creating energy that drives a positive change and a reason for action to become independent and economically self-sufficient. The Ray of Light Project, starting with the name itself, is directed to inspiring hope in persons who are often despondent and discouraged. The project incorporates the success factors required to achieve the strategic goal of inspiring positive change toward independence and economic self-sufficiency in the 600 public housing residents it is directed to serving. The Ray of Light Project maintains strong and committed leadership: Leadership comes from the experienced managerial and supervisory staff of the SIFC, who has gained credibility among the residents through their successful programs over the years. But this leadership is not working alone, but rather has joined efforts with the Resident Councils of the various housing projects and with leaders from the larger community in this initiative, drawing on various resources. Together, these leaders have made a commitment to the task of improving the quality of life for all, assumed responsibility for the calculated risks they have assumed and have made both a moral and a fiscal commitment to this project. As the project is developing, these leaders are engaging other leaders in the effort, several new business leaders and community organizations and leaders having joined the initiative in the past months. The project has identified and is building programs on focused intentions and shared values: The focused intention of the Ray of Light Project is to improve the quality of life within public housing for all residents through personal and community empowerment and improved opportunities for education and economic self-sufficiency of the residents. The common values shared by the staff of the SIFC and its partner agencies, and which are being promoted among the residents include: · respect for the intrinsic value and uniqueness of each individual · belief in the capacity of each individual to change and to grow regardless of his/her current circumstances and prior experiences · the importance of dedication to service to others and the good of the community · the importance of education and learning as important unto itself as well as a means of achieving a better quality of life and upward mobility in our society · the responsibility of each individual to become self-sufficient within his/her capacities and opportunities. The Ray of Light Project empowers residents to take responsibility for themselves and their communities: One of the basic tenants of the SIFC is that the individual does not develop on his/her own, but rather within a family and within a community. It is for this reason that the projects efforts to empower the individual are directed not only to the individual, but also to the individual within his/her family unit and always focusing on the responsibility of the community to its residents and the responsibility of the residents to their respective communities. The Ray of Light Project is focused on providing the individual the skills required to gain greater economic self-sufficiency, but, at the same time, it includes a Social Responsibility Plan for each individual within his/her family and as potential or current parents. The project coordinates and provides parenting skills workshops for men and women. The project staff is working closely with the Resident Councils of each of the targeted areas, and promotes, among the participants, their participation in the planning and decision-making processes of their communities. The SIFC has demonstrated its belief in the residents as contributors by recruiting staff members from among the residents, including residents as representatives on advisory committees, and providing multiple mechanisms for obtaining input from residents during the implementation of the project. This assists residents to learn how to be effective in their various roles, and to gain skills and a sense of empowerment that can only come from having others believe in you and then fulfilling their expectations. The project is assisting resident in developing their self-esteem and inner strengths: The Ray of Light Project focuses on the development of interpersonal skills of residents, starting with self-esteem building. Self-esteem is developed through interactive workshops in which residents carry out introspective analysis of strengths and weaknesses and share experiences with others so they can learn that they are not alone in their fears and feelings of inadequacy. But more than workshops, residents will be provided practical experiences gauged to permit them to experience success in tutoring programs, educational and training programs and job training. These experiences will be based on a careful analysis of their individual interests, aptitudes and skills, i.e. tailor made for each participant. At the same time, participants will build self-esteem in-group interaction with other residents. The project staff and staff of partner agencies will be: 1) supportive of the residents, not judgmental; 2) patient in their efforts to empower and promote positive changes; and 3) very encouraging, providing praise and recognition of even small successes and achievements. In this way, the residents are expected to build their self-esteem, to come to believe in their own potential and to grow more independent and self-sufficient. Ø Numerical scoring system for initially screening and classifying prospective candidates was developed for three areas. Ø Partnership with the Puerto Rico Public Housing Authority, the Private Housing Management firms of the six projects, the Pontifical Catholic University of Ponce, the Playa Community Health Center, the 3 municipal governments and private businesses and industries, all to provide supportive services and/or business opportunities.

2000-2065 Hogar del Buen Pastor
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Contact: Michele K. Smith (787) 766-5400

Hogar del Buen Pastor is a transitional housing program in San Juan, Puerto Rico serving homeless men and women, most of whom have problems with drug addiction and/or alcoholism. The program is holistic, addressing the physical, psychological, sociological, spiritual and emotional needs of its homeless participants within a community/family-type setting. Hogar del Buen Pastor provides dormitory-style housing and three meals a day to up to 50 homeless persons at one time. One of the program’s primary goals is to assist its participants in addressing the reasons they became homeless and to achieve a level of self-sufficiency necessary to live independently in permanent housing. Towards this end, Hogar del Buen Pastor provides detox services on-site and has developed formal agreements with many other organizations for participants to receive such needed services as support groups, mental health services, life skills training, housing placement, job training, etc. Hogar del Buen Pastor operates three microenterprises, a thrift store, a retail doughnut business and an embroidery/transfer-on business, which serve to provide participants with internship experiences. In addition, the program has developed internship positions in cooking, secretarial work, construction, child care and chauffeuring. Through their internships, participants receive a salary, acquire job skills and develop the self discipline and organization necessary to find and keep a job.

2000-2166 Hogar del Buen Pastor Computerized Embroidery MicroEnterprise
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Contact: Rosemary Gonzalez (787) 721-8579

This project began in February 1999. It consists of a computerized embroidery micro-enterprise operated by Hogar del Buen Pastor, Inc. which is a non-profit organization that provides transitional housing and supportive services to the homeless population of San Juan. CDBG funds have been assigned to this project during the current program year. A second year allocation of funds is proposed for 2000-2001 to continue this project. The project has the following purposes: 1. To provide on-the-job training to the homeless population to prepare them for a permanent job or establish their own micro-enterprise. 2. To provide a means to earn money that will allow homeless persons to begin a new life after they finish their training or treatment. 3. To contribute to the self-sufficiency of this institution and to be able to continue to serve the number of homeless persons presently being served. 4. To improve life skills such as dealing with stress, maintaining self-esteem and responsibility, etc. Since its beginning, the number of customers has been growing. Among their customers are banks, private schools and other companies.

2000-2229 Construction of "Paseo Georgina Morales"
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
Contact: Mayra J. Ramirez (787) 834-1460

"Paseo Georgina Morales" consists of a series of permanent improvements to the existing infrastructure on a street, enlargement of sidewalks in both sides of the street, restoration of illumination and electric facilities, installation of adoquines, improvement of the traffic flow towards downtown, landscaping the area (including trees), establishing areas for vendors, and placing tables and chairs in a designated area to create a "sidewalk cafe" atmosphere. The "Paseo Georgina Morales Project" aims at initiating downtown business area improvements and increasing the overall economic activity of downtown Mayaguez. All this by creating surroundings that are attractive enough for businesses to establish or expand its facilities, developing a marketing strategy to motivate citizens to visit the downtown area which includes transportation facilities, entertainment as well as cultural activities, diversification of commercial areas and historical sites.

2000-2520 Revitalization of the Urban Core
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Contact: Maria R. Ortiz (787) 754-1600

The Office of the Commissioner of Municipal Affairs (OCMA) together with the 57 non-entitlement municipalities identified their need to revitalize its urban core as a means to provide economic development, empower low and moderate-income persons, and create jobs. This initiative, know as "Revitalization the Urban Core" demonstrates the successful use of planning to effectively address community needs in short and long terms. The main elements include partnerships among residents, businesses and government leaders, flexible loan products, maximization of federal and other sources of funds, neighborhood impact, restoration/protection of historic properties and business development for the creation of jobs.

2000-2812 Casa Protegida Julia de Burgos Transitional Housing and Supportive Services Project
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Contact: Colon Evangelista (787) 723-3500

The purpose of Casa Protegida Julia de Burgos (Casa Julia) Transitional Housing and Supportive Services Project is to provide transitional housing and supportive services homeless women and their children who are victims of domestic violence. The project provides the link between short-term emergency shelter and permanent housing for this homeless sub-population in the City of San Juan’s Continuum of Care (CoC). Supportive services are provided by project staff and by several collaborating public and private agencies through a referral system established under the City CoC. Transitional housing is provided through the lease of scattered-site apartment in the City of San Juan. Participants are assisted in obtaining permanent housing either through the use of Public Housing, Section 8 Rental Assistance or market-rent units. The Supportive Services needs of this population include Psychological and Psychiatric Services, Counseling, Legal Advice, Housing Referral, employment, Medical Services, Education, Vocational Orientation, Child Care, Empowerment Training, Recreation and Nutritional Services. Their Housing needs include immediate shelter in a protective safe environment. Ninety four percent of program participants have said that their main reason for leaving home was to avoid further abuse or death. Clearly, they need timely and adequate protection and counseling. These immediate services are provided in Casa Julia’s Emergency Shelter Facility. This facility has a 42 bed capacity and provides urgent short-term shelter (up to 90 days), support, orientation, psychological services, and referrals to other programs. Because of the short stay, many families have to leave the facility without receiving the full range of services needed. This 3-month period has proven, usually to be inadequate to stabilize and prepare residents for permanent housing. A longer stay and a more stable housing arrangement is needed to continue the delivery of appropriate services that will assure a smooth transition from shelter/transitional-based housing to permanent housing. Usually homeless women must surrender custody of their children while they focus on stabilizing their lives. Casa Julia recognizes that for these women the care and well being of their children is a primary concern which if not attended to appropriately, will interfere with their recovery (2) we have found it to be essential to provide supportive services to the children of participants while they are receiving services. The activities allow the mothers to effectively participate in program activities, job training and employment while at the same time receiving adequate housing for themselves and their children. To reach participants Casa Julia continues outreach efforts set up in l994. These include visits to other domestic violence shelters, and meetings with officials/staff from the Commonwealth/local government agencies. Casa Julia is also a member of the Coalition Pro-Homeless Rights, an umbrella organization for approximately 25 public and private organizations that provide services for the homeless. Member organizations are a source of referrals. In order to achieve community awareness a permanent advertising campaign is carried out through free publications in local newspapers. In addition, Casa Julia airs public service announcements on local and cable TV. Casa Julia also promotes community awareness and education through program presentations to civic organizations, schools, and public and private workplaces. Casa Julia has been recognized as an institution committed to helping victims of domestic violence and has reached the population at large, laying the groundwork for supportive donations, other assistance and client referrals.

2000-2867 Multi-use Facility, Barrazas Ward
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Contact: Jaime L. Garcia (787) 762-8686

1) The Multi-use Facility consists of 36,063.44 square feet that will be used to provide health care, educational (head start),recreational, and social services (day care center and center for the elderly) to very low, low and moderate income citizens from the Barrazas, Carruzos and Cedros wards. 2) The project has a Municipal Police Station which has assigned 24 officers serving the needs of the rural sector of the City. 3) The Facility has also a Municipal Aqueduct Distribution Center providing 15,000 gls. per day to the citizens of the area and the Multi-use facility.

2000-2945 Artesanias Tabaiba (Tabaiba Crafts)
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Contact: Allan Cintron (787) 841-1058

The Sister Isolina Ferré Centers (SIFC) is a non-profit organization with more than 30 years of experience in community development and social services programs. It is one of the oldest, most experienced and most successful non-profit community development organizations in Puerto Rico, dating from 1968 when it was incorporated. The organization has state and federal tax exempt status under Section 501 – C – 3 of the United States IRS Code. Within the CSIF network one particular program illustrates the agency’s success in achieving the establishment of entrepreneurial development targets and resulting in permanent benefits to low income client population. This is Artesanías Tabaiba (Tabaiba Crafts) project located at Playa Sector of the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The primary goal: To enhance the social and economic development of people with artistic and crafts abilities, who are qualified as low income and residing in distressed areas.

2000-2999 Villas del Gigante Housing Proyect
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Contact: Jaime L. Garcia (787) 762-8686

Villas del Gigante Housing Project is a 170 units walk-up type housing project for low and moderate income citizens, all three bedrooms built in a parcel of land of 6.6 acres in Barrazas Ward. Total project cost is $12.8 million and a Municipal contribution of $2.5 million from HUD funds (HOME, CDBG, UDAG) and municipal funds. Average unit selling price amounts to $75,000 with a HOME fund subsidy of $13,466, for a sellout of approximately $62,000 per unit. The Municipality's contribution will make the units affordable to low and moderate income citizens in the City's rural sector of Barrazas. The housing project also consists of a 65,000 gls. water treatment plant and improvements to the electrical and sanitary facilities, parking space availability and common areas.

2000-3002 Small Business and Employment Community Center of LNPSJ
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Contact: Jackqueline Mullen (787) 763-9700

The Center is a key self-sufficiency component of La Nueva Puerta de San Juan (LNPSJ) that promotes the creation and development of small businesses and employment opportunities for community residents. Incorporated as a non-profit, resident-based, community organization in November 29, 1999, The Center was incubated under the corporate structure of PROGRESSA, the Project Manager of LNPSJ. Utilizing HOPE VI and EDSS funds, and leveraging services with the public and private sectors, The Center provides occupational counseling, technical assistance for small business development, identifies employment opportunities, provides supportive services and offers courses and follow up to program participants.

2000-3015 Accessible Recreation with CDBG
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Contact: Maria R. Ortiz (787) 754-1600

The Municipality of Hormigueros, one of the 57 non-entitlement municipalities who benefits from the State CDBG funds administered by the Office of the Commissioner of Municipal Affairs (OCMA), developed a comprehensive plan for the planning, design and construction of a recreation and Sports Complex for the low and moderate income families including the elderly and persons with disabilities. Planned activities carried out under this project included the acquisition of land, plans and design of the project, and construction of the facilities. The Recreation and Sports Complex, already constructed, includes a Baseball Park, Tennis Courts, Gymnasium, Coliseum and a Swimming Pool, which features facilities for the disabled community. The project which demonstrates enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,also promotes the creation of jobs opportunities in the area, economic development and the use and benefits of recreation facilities by the disable population. All of this was achieved being the principal source of financing the State CDBG funds.

2000-3041 Housing Counseling Program - Ponce Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Contact: Arnaldo Lopez (787) 841-5055

The Ponce NHS Housing Counseling Program provides first time homebuyer’s in the City of Ponce, Puerto Rico information and all the necessary tools in order to obtain their first homes. An estimate of 16 hours of counseling is dedicated to each family in order for them to understand how to obtain a mortgage loan and resolve their housing need. The process begins with a screening interview, conducted by our Housing Counselor. At the First Time Homebuyer Seminar, the Housing Counselor will discuss the Fair Housing Act and law, shopping for a home, how to inspect a house, obtaining a mortgage, family budget and the process of mortgage closing. The Housing Counselor will be doing a follow up on each client’s case until the goal of buying a home is met.

2000-3043 Rehabilitation of Old City Hall (Casa Escuté)
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Contact: Jaime L. Garcia (787) 762-8686

The Municipality of Carolina Old City Hall (Casa Escuté) was rehabilitated and restored and is preserved as a historical site and is utilized as an art expo center and multi-cultural facility for the benefit of very low, low and moderate income citizens

2000-3051 Housing Mitigation for low Income Families After Hurricane George
Cidra, Puerto Rico
Contact: Angel Malave (787) 739-4041

The Municipality of Cidra is undertaking substantial rehabilitation of low income housing units utilizing Community Development Block Grant and Federal Emergency Management Administration funds to mitigate these units to meet federal uniform building codes, and converting housing units from wooden to cement structures.

2000-3054 "Torres del Sol" Condominium; a Homeownership Initiative
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Contact: Maria M. Jaunarena (787) 891-3965

The Condominium Torres del Sol was originally an abandoned apartment building that was rehabilitated and created into an affordable housing project. The building is seven stories high and has forty-six units (46), nineteen (19) two-bedroom apartments and twenty-seven (27) three-bedroom apartments. Each apartment is equipped with a water reserve tank, a generator, two elevators, parking area, it is handicap accessible, has controlled access, and passive recreational areas. The apartment are for sale and are directed towards first time homebuyers and the low-income population. Research conducted during the rehabilitation of the building allowed the HOME program to determine what was realistically affordable housing for the low-income population. Many homeownership projects have been developed and in many instances the high cost of the units make it difficult for the low income citizens to participate or qualify. The two-bedroom apartments are being sold for $39,000 and the three-bedroom apartments are being sold for $47,000. Those that qualify through the HOME program can receive a $10,000 subsidy or more that will be used towards the cost of the apartment unit.

2000-3057 First Federal Programs Fair
Cidra, Puerto Rico
Contact: Angel Malave (787) 739-4041

This best practice was a one day conference (in a facility constructed with CDBG funds) attended by over 350 residents with representatives from local, state, and federal agencies to present information on housing, health, and employment programs.

2000-3064 Technical Assistance to Community-based Organizations
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Contact: Melanie Catalfomo (787) 891-3965

During FY 98-99, the Community Development Office recognized that non-profit and grass roots organizations in our community had a need for guidance in their administration and organization skills. In an effort to attend to this need, a Sub-recipient Monitor position was created in April 1999. In coordination with the Special Needs Coordinator, a strategy was developed to offer the necessary technical assistance to these organizations. These two employees assisted a number of workshops and researched non-profit organizations statutes and laws in order to properly train the organizations that were requesting assistance in our community. The Municipal staff developed a workshop involving project and program managers, accountants, proposal technicians and other municipal dependencies such as Purchasing, Finance, and Internal Auditing Departments. Monitoring visits are conducted periodically to sub-recipient organizations in order to provide on-gong assistance when necessary. Technical assistance is provided to organizations that cannot afford to participate of costly seminars. Assistance is offered in the following areas: · Accounting · Financial management · Proposal writing · Incorporation procedures · Development and writing of by-laws · Development and writing of articles of incorporation · Organization and requirements of the Board of Directors · Federal Tax exemption 501 © 3 · State tax exemption · Funding opportunities · Program operations · Other areas This program has helped 16 organizations this year, and we will continue to collaborate and provide assistance to both established and grassroots community organizations as an integral part of our community building efforts.

2000-3228 The Virgin Islands Housing Authority youth Steel orchestra
St. Thomas, Virgin Island
Contact: Irma F. Hodge (340) 775-2741

This program was implemented in July 1995 as an anti-drug/crime initiative program for public housing children between the ages of 10-18. The orchestra is a thirty piece orchestra comprised of twenty-two students, seven of whom are honor students. the program operates from Monday through Thursday from 4-6:30 p.m. in one of our community Centers. Staff consists of two skilled and accomplished Steel Pan Instructors, A Community Services Specialist who monitors the program, and an after school tutorial teacher. A component of this program includes the opportunity for children to obtain exposure to the Arts so that they would develop an appreciation for Classical and Jazz music by attending performances at the reichold Center for the Arts as well as Jim tillett's Classics in the Garden Serries, thus enabling them to develop and demonstrate their versatility of playing classical and Jazz music on the steel pans. Other value added support services for this program are as follows: a structured and mandatory tutorial component held Monday's through Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.; Monthly workshops on conflict resolution; team building; professional decorum during performances; self-esteem; leadership, interpersonal and communications skills as well as sexual awareness and anger management.

Content Archived: April 20, 2011