Housing Authority of Bowling Green Youth Programs Abraham

Housing Authority of Bowling Green Youth Programs Abraham Williams, Executive Director Email: awilliams@habg. org Katie Miller Stevens, Grants Manager Email: kmiller@habg. org 270. 843. 6071 www. habg. org

About Us… Have 598 Public Housing Units in 5 different developments 72% of Households led by women 1, 133 residents Residents Age ◦ ◦ Under 18 18 -34 35 -54 55 and over ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ African American Eastern European Caucasian African Immigrant Asian Multi-Racial Hispanic Central/South American Other Resident Ethnicity 41% 23% 21% 15% 504 187 154 97 82 38 36 30 5

Youth Programs The Housing Authority of Bowling Green’s After-School program began when a local principal told Executive Director, Abraham Williams “Your kids can’t learn. ” ◦ Started in 1996 with one center in a 3 bedroom unit that served 13 kids. Family Learning Center built in June 2000, and expanded in 2005, serves the youth who live in the 2 largest public housing developments. The 10, 000 sq. ft. facility is equipped with classroom and office space, a kitchen and 2 computer labs with 20 desktop computers. The center also offers access to over 50 laptop computers.

Youth Programs After-School Learning Centers ◦ 3 locations within our developments ◦ Provides tutoring, homework assistance, and education enrichment activities ◦ 125 -150 daily ◦ Open from 2: 30 – 5: 30 ◦ Employees Part-time tutors Mainly WKU students America Reads Federal Work Study program that provides tutoring services to elementary age students Program includes 12 staff members Current cost is $150, 000 per year.

Summer Operation Catch-Up Academy Summer Program ◦ ◦ Open 8: 00 a. m. to 5: 00 p. m. daily 7 week program Serves K-12 Additional classes offered in Spanish, German, Music, Practical Living, Physical Education and Health & Art Youth Reaching Higher for high school students. Students are encouraged to become more civic minded. Work towards preparation of college, volunteerism, job readiness training and creative writing. Focuses on the core curriculum of math, literature and science. ◦ Program includes 15 staff members Funding includes the American Honda Foundation for $28, 356, Dollar General Corporation for $1, 500, and Best Buy Foundation for $5, 000. Current Cost is $40, 000

Youth Programs Western Kentucky University General Motors Foundation Fast. Lane Academic Enrichment ◦ Diversity 345 WKU College of Education faculty 20 Junior and Senior level teachers candidates provide: Tutoring, homework assistance, and hands-on activities in science, math, reading, etc. Program was originally funded by HUD Drug Elimination funds, the General Motors Foundation and WKU. Bowling Green General Motors Corvette plant employees joined the General Motors Foundation to provide funding in the second year Western Kentucky Civic Engagement Program ◦ Provides the services of the Education Director Responsible for creating challenging, realistic community service projects to integrate into the WKU curriculum. PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) ◦ After-School Program receives funds from the Bowling Green City and Warren County Governments. ◦ This is the tax money the Housing Authority would have paid for property taxes.

Youth Programs Toyota Foundation ◦ Partnership with WKU, Bowling Green City Schools and Warren County Public Schools ◦ Created the Math and Technology Leadership Academy (MTLA) ◦ Main goal is to increase elementary students interest and achievement in math and technology by training elementary educators in innovative practices. ◦ Received $180, 000 over 3 years

Youth Programs Jessie Ball Du. Pont Foundation ◦ Received $150, 000 over 3 years ◦ Created ICAN 2, serving approximately 200 K-8 th graders and created 4 academies Wee. CAN Serves approximately 110 youth in grades K-3 Participate in language and literacy activities, math tutoring, along with social skills and social expression activities. Kids. CAN Serves approximately 90 youth in grades 4 -8 Participate in reading, math and science activities, career exploration, and social skills and expression activities

Youth Programs Jessie Ball Du. Pont Foundation cont…. ◦ ICAN Intervention program for approximately 10 middle grades(6 -8) who are failing or are identified as at risk for failing Provide intensive reading, comprehension, writing, science, social studies and math-focused instruction, and social skills and social expression training activities. ◦ You. CAN Lead Serves approximately 20 k-8 students identified has having exceptional abilities Participate in enrichment activities including language of literacy, study skills, and gifted and talented

Youth Programs 2011 SERC 19 th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Basketball Challenge held in January in Ozark, AL. Housing Authority of Bowling Green’s Bobcats participated in the tournament sponsored by the Southeastern Regional Council. The Bobcats took 1 st place in the 12 & Under Division, and experienced “a life changing” educational tour. ◦ Visiting historical sites including the United States Army Aviation Museum including the Army’s Aviation Hall of Fame and the Army Aviation ◦ Vietnam Memorial in Fort Rucker, AL, ◦ 16 th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL ◦ Civil Rights Institute and Monuments in Birmingham, AL and participated in the Christian Leadership Conference Rally as part of the annual holiday. The Housing Authority of Bowling Green received the bid to host the 2012 20 th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Basketball Challenge being held January 13 th-15 th, 2012.

Youth Mentoring Mentor ‘Me’ Program – Educating, Strengthening & Empowering Our Next Generations ◦ Involves mentoring, educating, youth sports and volunteerism ◦ Currently 60 young men and women ages 11 -18 Black Men United Mentoring Men ◦ Includes local men from various backgrounds and occupations mentoring young men aged 16 -21.

Health Promotion Programs Healthy Fit Program for After-school ◦ Helps with making healthy food choices ◦ Importance of active lifestyle ◦ Curriculum includes: healthy eating and exercising, saying no to alcohol and drugs, relieving mental stress, dental hygiene and screening, internet safety, taking care of eyes, etc.

Other Adult Programs REACH ◦ Resident Income and Employment Program provides public housing residents with 40 hours a week on the job training Homeownership Supportive Services ◦ Provides pre-purchase homeownership preparation training and one on one counseling. Also, provides forbearance counseling. Family Self-Sufficiency(FSS) ◦ Targets 50 public housing for education, supportive services, homeownership preparation, and establishes escrow accounts.

Other Adult Programs (cont. ) City of Bowling Green CDBG Small Business ◦ WKU’s Small Business Development Center holds training classes and provides small business counseling to minorities and other low income individuals JARC No Excuses Transportation ◦ Funded by the Kentucky Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration. Provides transportation services to and from work in the Bowling Green/Warren County area 24 hours per day 7 days a week.

Other Adult Programs (cont. ) Neighborhood Stabilization – NSP 1 ◦ Funds were used to purchase and rehabilitate 12 foreclosed homes and construct 5 new homes in the Lee Square Subdivision. All homes will be sold to low-, moderate-, and middle-income homebuyers Sherwin Williams Home. Work Program ◦ Training provides participants with the proper way to paint a home. Also, provides lead based paint removal instruction.