giaStarGeorTHE WEST The Future of Community Service

“Positive anything is better than negative nothing.”

Elbert Hubbard

N E W S L I F E G R O W T H AU G - 2 0 1 6 I S S U E 0 7 www.westgeorgiastar.org

AU G U S T- 2 0 1 6 I S S U E 0 7

MEET & GREET Back 2 School With LHABoard of Directors

2016Fathers InitiativeWELCOME TO THE BARBERSHOP

1stEverLIFE SKILLSGraduationfor LHA

Dates To Rembemer Dont Forget...

TAKING ADVANTAGENew Voice, New Vision, New Opportunities

Be on the Lookout To Sign Up for

the After School Enrichment Platform

AUGUST IMPORTANT DATES

1st RENT DUE

3rd Effective Communication Life Skills

9am-12noon Ms. Olivia Brown Lucy Morgan 4th Effective Communication Life Skills

9am-12noon Ms. Olivia Brown Lucy Morgan 5th Last Day to Pay Rent

6th Rent Late

8th CPR and First Aid Life Skills (2 DAYS) 9am - 1pm Ms. Tonya Dunlap

9th Back 2 School Meet & Greet Party

10th Food Bank Ben Hill: 10am-12pm Lucy Morgan: 12:30pm-2:30pm

15th Pest Control: Lucy Morgan

16th Financial Management Life Skills Ms. Monica and Tarsha Askew (TBA)

18th Financial Management Life Skills Ms. Monica and Tarsha Askew (TBA)

20th Esther Project VBS at Morgan Community Building10am-12pm

22nd Darkness to Light Life Skills 10am-12pm MacKenzie Jackson

22th Pest Control: Ben Hill 25th Spiritual Wellbeing Life Skills&26th 2pm to 4pm

As, I write these words my desire is to deliver

a message that adds value to the lives of our

residents. I want to share with you a few goals that

we desire to meet to stimulate growth that allows

for increased opportunities, better housing, and

more job opportunities. I believe that all residents

should become more independent to create their

own path for success.

These are a few of the goals that we desire for housing authority residents:

• 100% of our residents that are able to work we assist with finding

employment

• 100% of our children advance to the next grade each year

• Increase the number of residents that will attend college or a technical

school

• Introduce our residents to more technology (Internet Access)

My door is always open!

Zsa Zsa Heard, ABD, MS, LPC

Chief Executive Officer

KEEP INTOUCH WITH

From the Desk of the CEO

Back to School tips

WEST GEORGIA STAR

Switching from a summer to a school schedule can be stressful to everyone in the household. Avoid first-day-of-school mayhem by practicing your routine a few days in advance. Set the alarm clock, go through your morning rituals, and get in the car or to the bus stop on time.

EASE INTO THE ROUTINE

A familiar friend can make all the difference when heading back to school. You might try calling parents from last year’s class and finding out which children are in your child’s class this year. Refresh these relationships before school starts by scheduling a play date or a school carpool.

CONNECT WITH FRIENDS

If your school hosts an open house, be sure to go. Familiarizing your child with their environment will help her avoid a nervous stomach on the first day. Together you can meet her teacher, find her desk, or explore the playground.

TOUR THE SCHOOL

For kids, one of the biggest back-to-school fears is “Will I like my new teacher?” Breaking the ice early on is one of the best ways to calm everyone’s fears. Take advantage of your school’s open house or back-to-school night.

MEET THE NEW TEACHER

Obtain the class supply list and take a special shopping trip with your child. Having the right tools will help him feel prepared. While keeping basic needs in mind, allow for a couple of splurges like a cool notebook or a favorite-colored pen.

TOOL UP

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facebook.com/ westgeorgiastar

Download The APP

LHA remindersAs of July 1, 2016, LHA IS NOW OFFICIALLY SMOKE FREE!!! This means that smoking is not permitted anywhere on the property. For residents already residing on the property, you have until July 1, 2017 to quit smoking. available shortly for LHA residents.

LHA reserves the right to refuse service to anyone not properly dressed. No doo rags, pajamas or head wraps. No undergarments showing.

WELCOME TO THE BARBERSHOPAdapted from the NYCHA Fatherhood

Initiative, HUD’s Father’s Day Initiative was

developed in response to the stark socio-

economic data indicating how children

and youth are being negatively affected by

father-absent homes.   An estimated 22,000

fathers, children, mothers and many others

participated in events that local public

housing authorities held all over the nation”

The event also featured a key note speaker, Kit Cummings. Kit founded

Power of Peace Productions, Inc. and Power of Peace Project, Inc. and

brings his experience working in some of the most dangerous areas in the

world– to bring about organizational CHANGE. Kit has inspired people

to Aim Higher in places as far away as Africa, Asia, Latin America and

Europe, and recently completed speaking tours in South Africa, Mexico,

Honduras and Ukraine.  Kit has negotiated peace between some of the

most notorious gangs in America’s under-culture and recently spoke at the

Gandhi Global Peace Summit in Durban, South Africa; his latest adventure

is working in the toughest area of Tijuana and inside the prisons there. Kit

has authored three books, is the host of Power of Peace Radio, and has

partnered with TIOC to launch a new Teen Reality Show. Kit spoke on his

experiences as a father as well his shared stories of his work at ones of the

toughest prisons in the nation.

On Sunday, June 26, 2016, West Georgia Star and

LaGrange Housing Authority hosted its 2nd Annual

Fatherhood Initiative Event. This year’s theme was

Barbershop Talk in the Man Cave. The event featured

a panel of local barbers discussing fatherhood, and

what it meant to them. The panel consisted of Teddy

Talley, the manager of Big Four Corners Barbershop,

Nate Newton, owner of Razor Cutz Barbershop, David

Simpson, owner of Northside Barbershop, Ty Griffin,

owner of TNT Barbershop. The barbers were asked a

series of questions from our Master of Ceremony, Lonnie

Thornton Jr., on how they viewed fatherhood and how

they planned on being positive role models to the young

men in our community.

2016 FathersInitiative

On March 31, 2016, West Georgia Star, along with the LaGrange Housing Authority, started the first set of Life Skill Classes, here on the property of Ben Hill. These classes were designed for our residents to add to their skill set, and to become more self-sufficient. These Life skill classes varied in different topics that were taught by some of the community’s finest instructors. These classes were designed to speak directly to our residents’ right where they were in life. Our students were very engaged with the instructors during classes. They even had moments where they were able to share some of their life experiences with some of the instructors. The instructors gave the students great tips on how to implement the information into their lives.Our students were able to take a good look at themselves from the inside to see what really makes them react in the manner that they do in different situations in their lives. The instructors also touched on how to utilize different coping

skills that will help them when their reactions are not good. The students were also provided workbooks to follow along as they call in to weekly on line radio sessions. During this 12 week course there were two residents that went through the Troup Trained program. Tiffany Lovick (which was featured in the July Newsletter) and Travia Mabry (which will be featured in the September issue) became OSHA certified through the Troup Trained program, and both are now working full time jobs.Some of the classes that were taught during the 12 week courses were: Effective Communication, Financial Management, Spiritual Wellbeing, First Aid & CPR Training, Job Readiness, Anger Management, Mental Health, Self Care for the Single Mother, Conquering you Depression and Mastering Negative Emotions, Developing Your Personal Success Plan for life.

We‘BoutThatLIFESkills

CONGRATULATIONS On June 25, 2016 the following residents graduated from our first LIFE SKILL CLASSES

Dutchess Brooks, Ninouska Bultron, Nakia Cleveland, Vickie Cox, Tiffany Lovick, Travia MabryBridgett Mason, April Rucker, Porshia Slaton, Hannah Smith, Shamanda White

W G S / L H A

servicesH e l p i n g Y o u G r o w

01 TRANSPORTATIONSERVICES Offers transportation to residents on a daily basis from 8am – 5pm, by appointment only (at least 3 days prior notice).

TRANSPORTS TO Doctor’s appointmentsCollege ClassesJob Training Employment (local)SchoolsOther services at WGS staff discretion706-616-3545

02 FOOD BANK AUG 10th 9:30am-12pm at Ben Hill & 12pm-2:30pm at Lucy Morgan. Applications will be available in either leasing officeThe Food Bank is normally the second Wednesday of each month, and applications are due the week prior

03WEST GEORGIA STAR

APPWGS, created an App to allow us to stay in touch with our residents and the surrounding community about different trainings, events & special contests.

SEARCH WEST GEORGIA STAR IN THE APP STORE!! GO INTO SETTINGS AND CHOOSE ALL THAT MAY APPLY TO YOU!! Stay informed!!

04 LIFE SKILLSA 12 week series of classes that will enhance, and develop your life skills. They encompass the biological, physical and mental aspects of your life; so that you become full and whole.

Date: August 9th, 2016Time: 1pm - 5pmLocation: Ben Hill Community Building and Pavilion

Come join West Georgia Star and the LaGrange Housing Au-thority Board of Commissioners to celebrate the kickoff of a great new school year!!! There will be a chance to meet our LHA Board of Commissioners as well as meet the WGS teaching staff, and find out what great things we have planned for the school year!! There will be fun games, bouncy houses, and lots of food!!

Transportation for Lucy Morgan will be available pick up will be at the admin building starting at 12:55pm

LHA AND WGS BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEET & GREET

AND BACK TO SCHOOL BASH

City Light Church also on will be doing food fun

and games Thursday, August 4th

from 11-1. Their buses will pick up at Lucy

Morgan at 10:30am in front of the

community building and Benjamin Harvey at 10:45am in front of the

community building.