HOUSING AUTHORITY OF NEW HAVEN’S PARTNERSHIP WITH KaBOOM! AND THE HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION HIGHLIGHTED AS PART OF FIRST LADY OBAMA’S LET’S MOVE! CAMPAIGN
(5/12/2010) NEW HAVEN – On Thursday May 13, 2010 at 3:15 pm at the Community Room at Westville Manor, 61 Level St., New Haven, HANH, Solar Youth and KaBOOM! will be joined by Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Sandra Henriquez to celebrate the award of a community playground by KaBOOM! Assistant Secretary Henriquez will join HANH’s Executive Director Karen DuBois-Walton and others for design day of the new playground to be built for the youth of Westville Manor. Recognizing the need for appropriate play space, enhanced physical activity and community building opportunities, Solar Youth, Inc. led by Executive Director Joann Scuilli, coordinated HANH’s successful application to KaBOOM! and the Home Depot Foundation for construction of a playground for the youth of Westville Manor, a large public housing development in the City of New Haven that is home to 150 families with over 200 children.
Executive Director DuBois-Walton stated, “I am thrilled and thankful for the partnership with Solar Youth that led to the successful application and award by KaBOOM! and the Home Depot Foundation for a new playground for our children at Westville Manor. Efforts to reduce the sedentary lifestyle that we have all grown accustomed to are welcome at HANH as we encourage everyone to participate in the Let’s Move! Campaign.”
The White House has identified New Haven’s project as one of several events that highlights the First Lady’s Let’s Move! Campaign to address the epidemic of childhood obesity. HUD’s support of this event is consistent with the coordinated efforts of Federal agencies to support the Let’s Move! Campaign.
Solar Youth has a long partnership with HANH and provides programming and youth leadership development activities for young people around a theme of environmental responsibility. Solar Youth, Inc. is a New Haven based non-profit youth development and environmental education organization that provides opportunities for young people to develop a positive sense of self and connection and commitment to others through community youth programs that incorporate environmental exploration, leadership and community service.
Since 1996, KaBOOM! and the Home Depot Foundation have worked with communities across North America to lead the hands-on construction of over 1,000 playspaces. KaBOOM!’s community build model is designed to help a community build a playground, strengthen existing support network, and discover new assets in the community. KaBOOM! and the Home Depot Foundation provide the design professionals, a project manager and the supplies. HANH, Solar Youth and the community provide the community input and labor for a successful build. Additionally, HANH commits to the on-going maintenance of the playground.
The Housing Authority for the City of New Haven operates the low income public housing and housing choice voucher (Section 8) programs for the City of New Haven.
HANH provides housing to over 5,000 families. HANH owns and operates over 2,000 units of public housing located throughout the city and subsidizes rent for over 3,000 families through the voucher program.
PRESS EVENT DETAILS:
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What: Kick off to Design Day – community joins together to design new playground made possible by grant award by KaBOOM! and the Home Depot Foundation. Young people and parents from the community will be joined by US HUD Assistant Secretary
Sandra Henriquez in her efforts to highlight what community’s can do as part of the White House Let’s Move! Campaign as well as representatives from Solar Youth, Inc.,
Housing Authority of the City of New Haven, KaBOOM! and the Home Depot Foundation.
When: Thursday May 13, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Where: Community Room at Westville Manor – 61 Level St. New Haven CT
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Contact Name: Jessica Mayorga
Contact Email: jmayorga@newhavenct.net
Contact Phone: 203-946-7660
