President Barack Obama talks with introducer Alyssa Cole backstage before he

delivers remarks at the Anschutz Sports Pavilion at the University of Kansas in Law-

rence, Kansas, Jan. 22, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Little Free Libraries

If you have visited Edgewood

Homes recently you might

have noticed two new

“houses.” These are not bird

houses, they are Little Free

Libraries and they were

installed in honor of Carrie

Lindsey, former Director of

Resident Services. One is

located in front of Resident

Services and the other near

the Huppee Community

Facility, #150.

A Little Free Library is a box full

of books where anyone may

stop by and pick up a book

(or two) and bring back an-

other book to share. You can,

too!

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS LDCHA RESIDENT SERVICES

J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 1 5

Employment pg. 2

Homeownership pg. 3

New Staff pg. 2

Current Calendar pg. 4-5

Youth Program pg. 6

Special Events pg. 7

IN THIS EDITION

Much of Lawrence was excited when President Barack

Obama visited on January 22nd. LDCHA tenant Alyssa Cole

had the unique opportunity to introduce Mr. Obama before

his speech at the University of Kansas.

When asked about the experience, Alyssa replied, “It was

wonderful to get to meet and speak with the President. . . . It

was nice to know that someone acknowledged my hard

work and that made me more determined to complete the

goals that I have for myself.”

“Alyssa brought presidential attention to the issues affecting

working, low-income families including childcare and

education concerns. We are so happy to have assisted her

with meeting her goals,” added Heather Odell, Director of

Resident Services.

Congratulations Alyssa!

Welcome President Obama

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS LDCHA RESIDENT SERVICES

S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5 Bikes for the Community

Lawrence Unchained and the Full Circle Youth Pro-gram at the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Au-thority have teamed up to provide 30 youth with bicy-cles this summer. Youth range in age from seven to seventeen and will use their new bicycles for every-thing from recreation to riding to school. In order to earn their new bikes, youth complete a training and safety course provided by Full Circle staff and Law-rence Unchained volunteers, most of who are recent-ly trained League Cycling Instructors. Youth will re-ceive their bicycles during two Bike Rodeos held this summer.

So far, twenty youth have spent a Saturday morning learning about helmets and bike safety, bike fit, parking/locking and bike responsibility, handling and riding, rules of cycling and how to ride safely. Youth were also provid-ed bike helmets, locks and lights to encourage responsi-ble ownership and safety. Youth practiced drills in a park-ing lot at Edgewood Homes and then took a bike ride to either Liberty Memorial Central Middle School or New York Elementary depending on age and where youth will be attending school next year. Some beginning riders fo-cused on basic skills and riding in the Edgewood Homes

neighborhood. Youth learned a safe and accessible route to school they can utilize this coming school year. Parents were invited to a luncheon held at the Huppee Community Facility where their youth shared what they had learned. Parents were also given informational sheets over the curriculum covered during the day and provided maps of routes their youth may utilize when riding to school.

This program was made possible through generous grants from LiveWell Lawrence Healthy Kids and the Douglas County Community Foundation. The Douglas County Community Foundation grant also allows for the creation of the Full Circle Wrenching Crew. In a small group and one on one setting, youth have been instructed on bicycle maintenance and repair. Tools are provided to youth participating in the program.

Employment pg. 2

Homeownership pg. 3

New Staff pg. 2

Current Calendar pg. 4-5

Youth Program pg. 6

Special Events pg. 7

IN THIS EDITION

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS LDCHA RESIDENT SERVICES

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5

Employment pg. 2

Homeownership pg. 3

New Staff pg. 1

Current Calendar pg. 4-5

Youth Program pg. 6

Special Events pg. 9

IN THIS EDITION

Edgewood Community Mural

Led by muralists Amber Hansen, Nicholas Ward and assistant muralist

Jafiya Birdling All in My Neighborhood is an imaginative,

collaborative, mural that explores the rich cultural roots, daily life

and future aspirations of the Edgewood community.

Project collaborators include Edgewood neighborhood residents,

LDCHA staff, and Full Circle Youth Program. Special thanks goes to

the project coordinators Chris Lempa, Mary Orem and to Doug and

his team for their help installing the panels.

L: Full Circle youth

imagine and create

drawings for the

community mural.

Youth depiction of Edgewood.

Jafiya Birdling speaks to the crowd at the Edgewood community

mural unveiling with local artists Amber Hansen and Nicholas Ward.

R: Mural assistant

Jafiya and his mom

paint together.

Eleven-year-old Jafiya Birdling earned a bicycle about one month ago and it has been life changing for him.

He is exercising every day and spending more time outdoors with neighborhood friends. “It’s really fun riding

the bike. I ride it every single day,” he said, enthusiastically. “It’s really easy to get to places and you just get

there faster.”

Jafiya, who lives in the Edgewood neighborhood in East Law-

rence, says he rides his bicycle to lunch at the nearby East Law-

rence Recreation Center, and when he does, he parks it in the bi-

cycle rack and locks it up so it isn’t stolen. He learned how to do

this during a bicycle rodeo June 20 that was held through the

Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority’s Full Circle

Youth program, which provides tutoring, games and activities for

youth ages 7 to 18, and Lawrence Unchained Bicycle Co-op, a

nonprofit community bike shop that exchanges and repairs bicy-

cles and provides education.

During the bicycle rodeo, Jafiya and 10 other children received

refurbished bicycles, bicycle helmets, lights and locks. Then, they learned how to properly put on a helmet, use

and care for their bicycles and equipment, and ride safely. The three-hour bike rodeo culminated with a group

ride to the children’s schools Liberty Memorial Central Middle School or New York Elementary School. Law-

rence Unchained members and League of American Bicyclists’ League Certified Instructors gave the lessons.

“They taught me a lot — like signaling,” Jafiya said, and then he demonstrated the hand signals for stopping

and turning right and left. “It’s really important so you can show cars where you’re going.”

Jafiya’s mother, Juliana Birdling, is grateful her son received a bicycle, helmet and all of the safety features

because they couldn’t afford them. “Some kids like to ride bikes, but the affordability is out of reach,” she

said. She said the bicycle has been beneficial to Jafiya’s physical and mental health. “He’s making new friends

and learning to be more responsible,” she said. Before receiving the bicycle, she said Jafiya spent more time

inside playing video games.

Mary Orem, Early Childhood and Youth Specialist with the

Full Circle Youth Program and a League Certified Instruc-

tor, was one of the instructors for the bicycle rodeo, and she

said the experience was inspiring. “For me, the highlight

was the excitement on the kids’ faces when they earned

their bikes,” she said. “Also, taking a group of six students

on a ride to Central Middle School and having them realize

how quickly and easily they can ride to school.” Now, she

sees them riding their bicycles with their helmets every day.

The Full Circle Youth Program plans to have another bike

rodeo this Saturday.

11-year-old Lawrence boy living healthier lifestyle

thanks to participation in bicycle rodeo

Excerpted from the July 19, 2015 webversion of the WellCommons. The full article can be read at http://wellcommons.com/groups/

lawrence-douglas-county-health-department/2015/jul/19/11-year-old-lawrence-boy-living-healthie/. Thank you to Karey Britt and

the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department for covering our Bicycle Rodeos.