HUD REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR AND MEMPHIS LEADERS EXCHANGE IDEAS OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Regional Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett with Pershing Park Family

Regional Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett and HUD Field Office Director Sernorma Mitchell at Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks Job Corps Center with construction instructors and students.

During HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett's recent visit to Memphis she met with several public and private partners to discuss new HUD Secretarial priorities and Region IV Leadership initiatives with a focus on self-sufficiency. Cleveland-Leggett also heard local perspectives on how HUD programs can improve local implementation and empower low income residents towards economic self-sufficiency and educational attainment.

"It is very encouraging to witness firsthand how local leaders in Memphis are catching the vision of self-sufficiency and how it brings hope and empowerment to those we mutually serve," said Denise Cleveland Leggett. "As we continue to work together in this arena and introduce EnVision Centers in different locations in the country on behalf of those we serve we will see positive changes in their lives and our own."

The visit included interaction with Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks, Memphis, Job Corps Center; AGAPE Child & Family Services, Inc, an organization that is implementing tutoring programs for residents of the Multi-family property-Pershing Park Apartments; Memphis Housing Authority to discuss their Choice Neighborhood Grant initiative; local HUD Memphis Field Office Staff. Also, the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis hosted a stakeholder's round table discussion and Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development conducted a drive by tour of the Crosstown Developments; and a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum.

EnVision Centers are designed to help people take the first few steps towards self-sufficiency. Every household that graduates from HUD-assistance allows HUD to help one more family in need. Located on or near public housing developments, EnVision Centers will be centralized hubs that serve as an incubator for the four key pillars of self- sufficiency; character and leadership, educational advancement, economic empowerment, and health and wellness. Through results-driven partnerships with federal agencies, state and local governments, non-profits, faith-based organizations, corporations, public housing authorities, and housing finance agencies, EnVision Centers will leverage public-private resources for maximum community impact.

As a part of the initiative, HUD will launch ten pilot EnVision Centers across the country. HUD is also launching a mobile app to help HUD-assisted households find local resources through the EnVision Center network, and issuing a notice in the Federal Register to get input from the public.

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