Recap of 2007 NeighborWorks® Week Events
100 volunteers turned out to paint and landscape the houses and yards of five homeowners in Brownsville. Celebrating NeighborWorks® Week, the event wrapped up week-long activities that also included a homebuyer education class and seminars on hurricane awareness and fair housing. Volunteers from BDP Bank, Citigroup, CommerceBank, Coral Gables Congregational Church, Great Florida Bank, Metro Bank, Republic Federal Bank, Team Metro, Washington
Mutual, and other groups ignored menacing rain clouds to assemble at 7:30 am under a tent.
Not ones to miss out on "the action," dedicated NHS Board Members Donna Adams, Patricia Algaze, Maedell Brown, Emilio Fernandez, Beverly Kovach, Maria Lee-Forbes, and Darlene Russell also left their weekend comfort zone to paint and landscape.
"It would have been several years before we could afford painting our house," Irish Chestnut stated. One of the five homeowners, she and her husband Frank, were delighted to receive the services of Neighborhood Housing Services' volunteers.
Fellow homeowners Willie Robinson, Katherine Lockhart and Althea Lindo echoed similar statements as the volunteers painted and landscaped their homes and grounds.
Morale and commitment were so high that project completion took place several hours ahead
of schedule. With only a brief hour out for lunch, the workers packed up and left by 2:00 pm.
Driving away, the last scene was a picture of true neighborhood revitalization: Neighbors were out in their yards, looking at the beautification of their neighborhood, barbecuing and laughing. The last comments heard were: "Maybe they will do my house next year. How do I get involved with them (NHS)?"
Hurricane Preparedness and Fair Housing Seminars
As a part of NeighborWorks® Week public awareness activities, NHS conducted two seminars on June 5th at the Joseph Caleb Center. With space generously donated by Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, Mike Rimoldi, a FLASH.org consultant, offered expert advice on how to prepare homes for the hurricane season. Right after his presentation, HUD presenters Debbie Bouziden and Aaron Levine informed attendees about their housing rights.
Homebuyer Education Class Held at The African Heritage Cultural Arts Center
Excited about the prospects of becoming a homeowner, over 100 participants came out to hear the entire process of becoming a homeowner. Many thanks to the following presenters: Lyvie Westerband -
NHS Homeownership Counselor
Beverly Kovach
Coral Gables Congregational Church
Deb Goldsmith
Donna Adams
HSBC Bank USA, N.A.
BPD Bank
Republic Federal
In-Kind Donations
M & M Title Services
Fransisco
Penya, Homewiz
Katherine Valverde, Realtor
Chef
George Weston Bakeries, Inc.
Surealty Title Inc.
Harold Hicks
Caribbean Paints
Sykes Ace Hardware
Somay Products, Inc.
North Miami Beach Home Depot
East Hialeah
Home Depot