Jericho News: September 2008
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Jericho Road Update
Lots Acquired: 49Homes Constructed: 17
Homes Sold: 14
*All of the building has occurred in the span of 25 months since August 2006.
The first modular home was set into place during the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. |
Jefferson with Chaddsity, 10, Chaddrick, 9, Chaterra, 7, and Jevon, 4
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New Jericho Road Homeowner
Michelle Jefferson, a 28 year old single mother of four, recently purchased a Jericho Road home on Sixth Street in Central City. Michelle first learned about Jericho Road after being selected as a grant recipient by the National Football League Member Jarvis Green’s Foundation. The foundation assists single working mothers impacted by Hurricane Katrina locate permanent housing.
After losing everything, Michelle decided to use the gift to help move her family into a neighborhood that could provide better schools and a more stable environment for her children.
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With the help of the Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans, she completed homebuyer training and learned how to improve and manage her credit. She soon heard about the Jericho Road homes.
Jericho Road Executive Director, Brad Powers said, “We were pleased to help get Michelle and her family into an affordable home in a great New Orleans neighborhood that is undergoing revitalization. Homeownership is an American dream. Being part of the effort to make that dream come true for this outstanding and close-knit family is just an amazing feeling.”
Michelle and her children are so excited to become first-time homeowners. “I fell in love with house the moment I saw it, and it’s a great location that is close to everything we need - the children’s school, public transportation, even the Mardi Gras Parade Route. Owning a home has been the greatest accomplishment in my life and has given me pride and confidence. If I can buy a home, I can do anything,” Jefferson said. |
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Exploring Education Partnerships
Earlier this month, while attending a strategic planning session with Executive Director Brad Powers and Jericho Road funders in New York City, Director of Housing Programs Chris Ross had the unique opportunity to meet with representatives of The Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ). HCZ is an innovative and unique community-based organization, offering education, social-service and community-building programs to children and families since 1970.
According to Ross, Jericho Road is exploring ways to develop a collaborative plan with local non-profit organizations to expand its outreach to children and youth in the community, using the HCZ as a model for change in New Orleans.
Ross said, “At Jericho Road, our view of neighborhoods and housing is holistic. We are advocates of more and better schools and increased neighborhood activities for Central City children and youth. Learning and observing the programs of The Harlem Children’s Zone was a first-hand opportunity to learn the best practices and explore ways to use that model to benefit Central City youth, as well as continue the expansion of Jericho Road’s community outreach efforts impacting education.”
Mayor Ray Nagin and Youth Performers at the Essence Fest Youth Rally
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Jericho Road's Youth Outreach
As a part of Jericho Road’s ongoing outreach to youth and children, the organization, along with the Artist in Action project, supported the Essence Fest Youth Rally. In particular, JR hopes to expand the Slam Poetry Event, a component of the Essence Youth Rally, and locate it in Central City next year.
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The Harlem Children's Zone
Called "one of the most ambitious social-service experiments of our time," by The New York Times, the Harlem Children's Zone project is a unique, holistic approach to rebuilding a community so that its children can stay on track through college and continue on to the job market. The goal is to create a "tipping point" in the neighborhood so that children are surrounded by an enriching environment of college-oriented peers and supportive adults, a counterweight to "the street" and a toxic popular culture that glorifies misogyny and anti-social behavior.
Among the programs offered, The Baby College offers a nine-week parenting workshop to expectant parents and those raising a child up to three years old. The Three-Year-Old Journey works with parents of children who have won the Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy charter school lottery. Harlem Gems is an all-day, pre-kindergarten program that gets children ready to enter kindergarten. Harlem Peacemakers, funded in part by AmeriCorps, trains young people who are committed to making their neighborhoods safe for children and families.
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 Featured Friend
Jericho Road would like to say thanks to Mason Alexis, long-time owner and operator of Slim’s Barber Shop on Oretha Castle Haley Blvd in Central City.
Since JR’s beginnings, Mason has been a huge supporter of our mission – sharing Jericho Road flyers and information with all of his customers. We can even directly credit Mason for referring recent homeowners Leo Buckley and Charmaine Johnson to a JR home. Mason, we are very grateful that you are a member of the Jericho Road family! |
To view previous Jericho Road newsletters click here. |
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