Our kids have finished another Our House summer. Cover photo: The Blue Team goes for a walk at Wildwood.
U.S. Pizza Co. made sure our kids were ready for water park field trips this summer.
Vicki spent the summer teaching music classes for kids and adults.
The adult clients in our Learning Center spent some evenings this summer learning music and photography.
When 12-year-old Nicole said that wants to be a photographer like Ms. Amanda, I invited her to spend a morning as my shadow.
Check here each month for updates on the construction of our new childrenâ€&#x;s center.
302 E Roosevelt Rd; Little Rock, AR
www.ourhouseshelter.org
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This summer, Our House had 25 new team members working in our summer programs.
Support Our House at My Favorite Thrift Store.
Look here for one-click access to every issue of our newsletter.
newsletter design & all photos by Amanda Woods, an Our House VISTA, except photos pg 22-23 by Nicole, pg 24 by Dero Sanford, pg 42-43 by Justin Sanders © 2013
by Tonya Jones-Isaac, Youth Programs Coordinator Each summer thousands of youth enjoy summer camp, but only a few experience the best summer ever. This year over 75 youth who participated in Our House Summer Program 2013 discovered new interests and talents and created new friendships.
Our goal was to provide opportunities for the youth to learn and test new skills through participation in a wide range of social, cultural, and educational services. Campers participated in daily programs allowing them to customize their individual summer
experience. We believe these opportunities open doors to discovering natural talents and new interests. Our respectful and caring atmosphere encouraged campers to grow in self-awareness and confidence while strengthening their cooperation with and consideration for others. The campers in our program experienced weekly field trips. We also had an abundance of fun activities here at Our House
including computer games, scavenger hunts, water activities, and team-building activities. Our House Summer Program is committed to providing the best summer ever. This is a place where campers are encouraged to develop their own natural curiosity and creativity through structured programs and learning activities.
VL Cox Girl Scouts Nae Hatton Michael Holmes Vicki Lind Mosaic Templars Museum of Discovery Lennon Parker Laura Warren The YES Team 4-H Some of Our Houseâ€&#x;s own staff also volunteered to teach classes this summer: Michelle Allen Jackson Bittner Hannah Gibson Sarah Gibson Aaron Grimm Zac Hale Amber Hood Jessica Key Justin Sanders
Josh Rowland Rachel Stafford Ella Watson Taryn Watson Tanner Woodruff
Michael Ashton PT, DPT, ACT, COMT, FAAOMPT, Ortho Rehab & Specialty Centers
Hasaan Rasheed Professor, Arkansas Baptist College
Daryl Eason YIP Coordinator, Greater Second Care Center
Corporal Alvernon Rogers Arkansas State Police
James E. Johnson Athletic Director & Professor, Pasco Hernando Community College Little Rock Fire Department Coach Anthony Lucas WR Coach/Teacher, Pulaski Academy Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services of Little Rock Chef Marvin Mosley Executive Chef
Evan Milton Scaife UAPB Freshman Nina Scaife Homeless Coordinator, LRSD Calvin Smith UCA Freshman Justice Annabelle Imber Tuck Public Service Fellow & Jurist-in-Residence, H. Bowen School of Law Arlo Washington Owner & Director, Washington Barber College
U.S. Pizza Co. Freddie Black Jacob Box Community Bakery Celeste Davis Floyd Pittman Nyliram Event Planning, Inc.
Morgan Stanley
Ronald McDonald Care Mobile
Arkansas Enterprises for the Developmentally Disabled Left: Excited kids wait for their turn to choose swimsuit. Below: We currently don‟t have a space big enough for all of our kids & parents, so we went down the road to AEDD for our graduation ceremony. Next year, in our new Children‟s Center, we‟ll have plenty of room!
Arkansas Skatium Hillary Rodham Clinton Children‟s Library William J. Clinton Presidential Center Ferncliff Camp Ferncliff trip sponsored in part by Second Presbyterian Church
First Tee of Arkansas
Funtrackers JCA‟s Our Town JCA trip sponsored by Annabelle & Henry Tuck
Larry‟s Pizza Little Rock Zoo Magic Springs Murray Park
Millennium Bowl Pinnacle Mountain Rave Theater Riverdale 10 War Memorial Pool War Memorial Stadium Wildwood Willow Springs The Wonder Place
Arkansas Destinations gave Our House a discounted rate for their trolleys for our field trips.
by Arlena Johnson Children's Programs VISTA The Our Club Summer Youth Program started off with a big bang thanks to Drew Weber and U.S. Pizza Company! It was wonderful to have a donor that did more than just give a donation. They gave us a summer to remember.
Thinking back on the first day of this year‟s program, I remember seeing the smiling faces of over 75 children, all excited to pick out their swimsuits, grab their water bottles, and slide on their awesome new flip flops. Seeing those smiles and hearing that excitement was definitely the highlight of the summer. Thanks to U.S. Pizza‟s hard work and love for Our House, we were able to provide for all of the children that attended our summer program. It was great that Drew Weber challenged not only his employees but also the employees of other U.S. Pizza locations in a contest to see who could raise the most money for our kids‟ summer swimming supplies. Together the locations brought in a total of over $4,000 that got us off to a great start.
by Maureen Martin Director of Children’s Programs School of Rock was the place to be every Wednesday afternoon throughout the Our Club Summer Youth Program. Thanks to the musically talented Our House staff and VISTAs and our dedicated volunteer Dr. Vicki Lind, Professor in the UALR Music Department, the youth were able to sing hit songs, create their own music, and learn about and play many different instruments.
Summer VISTA Kanisha Hatton sings with Glenn during music class. Kanisha was the Theatre & Drama VISTA for the summer and helped kids from all three age groups prepare for their graduation performances.
Dr. Lind has been volunteering with Our Club since December 2012. “I strongly believe that music is important in education and that every child has a right to equitable access to music education.” She continues to volunteer because of the reduction of music programs in some schools. “We are very fortunate in Little Rock to have strong music programs in the elementary schools. That isn‟t always the case. We are finding more and more that schools do not provide equal access to the arts. Many factors contribute to the problem, but the result is often that educational opportunities are limited and the disparity among programs falls along economic and ethnic lines.”
Some of Our House‟s administration & housing staff volunteered to help Lind teach the music class. Operations Manager Aaron Grimm played the keyboard. Director of Client Services Justin Sanders played the drums. Development VISTA Sarah Gibson & Development Summer VISTA Hannah Gibson helped the kids with their singing.
She says her favorite memory of this summer is “seeing the children‟s enthusiasm and creativity.” While the older students composed their own music, “each group used ideas that I would not have thought of. They found ways to incorporate different ideas creatively.” Lind also taught adult music classes in the Learning Center this summer. The adults were more interested than she‟d expected. It was “nothing like I‟d imagined. As people began to arrive, I quickly realized the depth of their passion for music.” Dr. Lind plans to continue to volunteer with Our House‟s youth and adult programs throughout the next year.
Below: Vicki Lind plays the keyboard during a music class with the adults. Right: Summer VISTA Kanisha Hatton sings with Aubrei & Tyra.
by Amber Hood Learning Center Summer Institute VISTA This summer, Learning Center students participated in music, photography, and creative writing workshops. Clients developed critical thinking skills and bonded with each other while using art as a way of turning oftentimes complicated, overwhelming, and abstract feelings into something tangible. Clinton School graduate Maggie Carroll, UCA Masterâ€&#x;s candidate Eli Nichols, and UALR music professor Vicki Lind volunteered their time and talents to lead the workshops which concluded with a live music performance and photography exhibit for Our House residents and by Our House residents.
While the summer has ended, for some clients pursuing arts endeavors has only just begun. Mike is a familiar face to many people in the Our House community as he works evenings as the gatekeeper. He participated in Ms. Carrollâ€&#x;s photography workshop and has left with a newfound passion for art. Mike created and exhibited a collection of abstract photographs all capturing images of water. His goal was to show how beautiful something very ordinary can be. Now Mike plans on giving back by taking family photographs for his fellow Our House residents. The students who participated in the music workshop have now formed The Our House Band, still led by Dr. Lind. They have been invited to perform in the More Music for Moore all day music festival benefitting tornado victims in Moore, Oklahoma.
by Amanda Woods, Communications Specialist (VISTA) I‟m the Communications Specialist at Our House, but the kids call me The Photographer. This summer I found out that one of our young clients wants to be a photographer, too, and that she had a secret wish to be my shadow. I first met Nicole when she was 9 years old and spent a year in The Shelter with her mom and baby brother. Her family came back this year to be part of CAFSI, our program for alumni and non-resident families. Nicole, now 12 years old, also joined our summer youth program. We didn‟t have a photography class this year, but that didn‟t stop Nicole from shooting with the Our Club cameras. All photos on these two pages were taken by Nicole, 12, during this summer‟s field trips.
When one of our summer VISTAs told me about Nicole‟s interest in photography and in my work, I invited Nicole to spend a morning with me. She got to see that there‟s more to being a photographer than taking pictures. I showed Nicole what I do and how I do it. We talked about what she can do in the next six years to prepare for the possibility of studying photography in college. Later Nicole joined a few of my coworkers and me in a meeting about a new page we‟re adding to the Our House website. Nicole and I finished by looking at some of the photos she had taken this summer. Nicole gave me permission to publish some of her photos on these pages.
Breanna Posey, niece of Amanda Woods, Communications Specialist, Our House
benefitting Our House
109 N. Van Buren St. Little Rock 501-353-0642 4606 JFK Blvd. North Little Rock 501-246-5741 Pick-up is available for furniture donations. 501-772-5139
girls’ & boys’ clothes 89¢ to $4.99
This year, Our House had 25 Summer AmeriCorps VISTAs, summer interns, and other summer staff serving in our youth programs and in other Our House programs. Meet them on the following pages as some of them share their favorite memories of their summer of service.
Education: Health Sciences BS, Community Health Promotions emphasis, UALR Career Goal: Certified Personal Development & Fitness Coach, Dance Instructor My favorite memory of this summer was Career Week. Our children met professionals of all kinds from our community. The enthusiasm in the faces of the children when they encountered these empowering individuals in uniform expressed to me that these children will someday become whatever they choose to be.
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Education: UALR Chemistry, Biochemistry Emphasis Education Goal: Biochemistry PhD Career Goal: Pediatric Physician, rural & developing world health crisis Favorite summer memory: Being at the graduation ceremony & realizing that I actually meant something to the kids. I always felt I wasn‟t doing enough to keep them interested, but when I was named favorite teacher by a couple of kids, I teared up. It meant, & still means, a lot.
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Education: Psychology major, UALR Career Goal: Child Psychologist One of my favorite memories of the summer was actually something I experienced daily. Every morning when I walked through the door, I would hear “good morning Ms. Kiara” in the most exciting little voices. Hearing those voices, I couldn‟t help but smile.
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DeAnte Gaskins Summer VISTA Health & Wellness
Education: Advertising/Public Relations major, sophomore, UALR Career Goal: Fashion PR, Creative Director, or Stylist My favorite memories from this summer have been getting to know the residents working on a production. One moment in particular was when I was helping Michael & Derrick out in the guard shack to memorize their lines for a scene they were doing together for the play.
Alex Tingquist Summer VISTA Orange Team Leader
Education Goal: English major, Senior, University of Central AR My favorite memory of this summer was the climb up Pinnacle Mountain. Even with the steep hills & having to carry kids on my back most of the way up & down, seeing the accomplishment & excitement on the faces of the kids in my group was worth the struggle.
Seeing a shy boy throw his hands up in pure bliss to be the first to answer a science question. Hearing an intricate percussion as each child made the beat. Watching kids celebrate after hitting a good shot, swinging a golf club for the first time. Many moments like these demonstrate the absolute importance of Our House‟s summer program.
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Jay Hedges Summer VISTA Green Team Leader
Education: Kinesiology major, Senior, Ouachita Baptist University Career Goal: soccer coach My favorite memory of this summer was getting to play with the kids at Our Club & on all of our field trips. I work in the kitchen with Ms. Cynthia, so I thoroughly enjoyed the time I got to spend interacting with the kids. They are a pure joy!
Benjamin Washington Summer VISTA STEM
Education: UALR, Social Work Career Goal: MSW for a non-profit My favorite part of the summer was simply having the opportunity to invest in the lives of so many kids. These are the most incredible children I have ever met, & their smiles & laughs could brighten any day. To say they changed my life forever would be putting it lightly.
Education: McClellan High School Career Goal: Translator (Spanish, French, & Italian) and a writer My favorite summer memory would be when we went skating with the Orange & Green Teams. The floor was packed with skate aids for people who didn‟t know how to skate. We all had a great time no matter how many falls occurred.
Kendra Marbley Intern
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Education: Sociology BA, UCA; Education: Speech & Language Pathology major, Texas Christian University Career Goal: Speech Pathologist My favorite memory was Pinnacle Mountain. It was a hot & tiring day, but the excitement the children had about making it to the top & seeing the view was well worth it. It was a great bonding experience & reminded me how incredible these children are.
Joshua Bolden Summer VISTA Summer Feeding
MSW student, UALR
Career Goal: licensed social worker At Pinnacle Mountain, I had five kids hiking with me, including the only Orange Team member that climbed it. She was 6 years old & determined. She was the first to reach the top. The look of dignity on her face was my favorite part of the summer. She had made it & was proud of herself.
Education: Psychology BA, UA Career Goal: Medical Doctor or Healthcare Professional One of my favorite memories from this summer was walking into Our Club while the kids were playing Rock Band. Although only six kids were playing the video game, the entire room was singing along in unison to “Ticket to Ride” by the Beatles. It just felt like one big happy family.
Taylor Yokem Summer VISTA Blue Team Leader
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Marcus Brown Summer VISTA Special Projects
I had the opportunity to work with children who need love and attention, and that was the most important part of my job. I really love coming to Our House, with all the energy in the room.
I never dreamed that highlights of my day would be getting a 3-year-old to use the “big girl potty” or finally getting 5 words out of a moody teen. I watched as a 40-year-old mom graduated high school & how that changed the way her children felt about education. Our House & the people there become part of you. No matter if you volunteer a few times or an entire summer, it‟s a guarantee that your perspective will be influenced for the better.
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Salee Black Summer VISTA Floater
Cornerstone Bible Fellowship BIG thanks to Cornerstone Bible Fellowship this month for renovating the Family House basement for use as a storage and donation closet for Our House clients. As you can see in the before-and-after photos
below, the group tackled disrepair, mosquitoes, and bits of mold and turned it into a pristine space of operation, allowing our staff and clients to use every square inch more safely.
Chris Schaffhauser Chris Schaffhauser has been a tireless volunteer in support of our new Children‟s Center. He comes to weekly meetings, reviews contractor qualifications, reviews plans, comes up with energy cost savings, & much more. He & his wife Lori hosted a fundraiser for the Children‟s Center in their home. Chris has been a board member for two years. He has also helped rally his coworkers at UPS for many volunteer service projects. He has arranged for our clients to go to a free Travelers game each of the past two years. Chris recently came up with the idea to design Our House cycling jerseys & sell them as a fundraiser & outreach tool. We are now taking orders for the Our House cycling jerseys. You can get one for a $75 donation. For information about the jerseys or to place an order, e-mail events@ourhouseshelter.org. To find out how you can become a sponsor & get your company‟s logo on our jerseys, e-mail whitney@ourhouseshelter.org.
Polar Ice During the hot summer months, the programs at Our House use large amounts of ice. In years past we have had trouble securing enough ice using our own resources. This year, the friendly staff at Polar Ice solved this problem for our campus. They continuously donated bagged ice, sometimes at the drop of a hat, to assist us with our summer youth program field trips & other cooling needs.
Ella Watson Ella got up early on Monday mornings to help prepare & serve lunch for the kids in our summer youth program. She also chaperoned field trips with them. Her kindness, warmth, & dedication to children shines through, & she is never without a beaming smile. This is what our staff & kids love about Ella.
You can now use your Kroger card each time you shop at Kroger to give to Our House without spending an extra dime. The donation costs you nothing, and you still receive the normal savings and Kroger rewards points that you would normally get, but every time you make a purchase with your card Kroger will donate to Our House. Click here to register for a Kroger account. Once you have created an account with your card, click here to access the enrollment page. Then follow these steps: 1. Click under the list that includes Arkansas. 2. On the next screen, use the term “Our House.” 3. Select the bubble next to “Our House 302 East Roosevelt, Little Rock, AR Organization Number 81246” from the search results. Click . You have successfully helped us give hope to the working homeless and their families. Please share this and invite your friends to help us get more people signed up.
Individuals Twylla & Drew Alexander Anonymous Donor Amy & Hamlin Au Patrick Avinger Jr. Thomas Blackmon Nancy & Robert Childress Lisa Chrzanowski Rosemary Hallmark Julia & Lyle Heim Sarah & Theodore Hood Jo & Presley Melton Cathy & Michael Moran Janet & J.P. Morbeck Marian & Charles Nicholas John Perdue Evelyn Rose-Jones Rocklin Senavinin Bridget & Andrew Upchurch Angel & Drew Weber Terrie Wilkerson
Corporations AT&T Imperial Marketing US Bank Non-Government Grants Bank of America Foundation Heart of Arkansas United Way Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
Capital Donations Robyn & Kyle Allmendinger Anonymous Donor Amy Bressinck Bratcher Kevin Bratcher Renay & David Dean Sharon & John Denery Herron Horton Architects Susan & Dave Hoffpauir Stephen Humphries Linda Landers Barbara Lee Congregations Lighthouse Group, LLC Christ the King Catholic Church Mabee Foundation Church of the Immaculate Greg Nabholz Conception Melissa & James Cooper Riley Jr. Jewish Federation E.L. Ronnel Park Hill Christian Church Jessica Dean & Blake Rutherford St. Anne Catholic Church Billie & Skip Rutherford St. James United Methodist Church Lareda & Danny Smith St. Lukeâ€&#x;s Episcopal Church US Bank Tiffany & Jeff Weatherly Government Angel & Drew Weber AR Special Nutrition Program Molly & Denis Wewers City of Little Rock: Summer Youth Mike White Program Mary & George Wildgen DHS AmeriCorps Elizabeth & William Woodyard HUD Supportive Housing
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