PCS Newsletter

Food programs are funded by a grant from Wayne Metropolitan, which provide boxes of food/bags of groceries each month; The Focus Hope program serves over 60 families in downtown Detroit who qualify (below 25% of federal poverty level).

People’s Partners

Summer/Fall 2014

Wrapping up the Summer

to the Family Aquatic Center at Chandler Park on August 18th and Gross Hills Nature Conservatory August 19th.

extended summer camp for both centers this year to include a trip Dr. Montgomery, Program Director at Delray Neighborhood House, sessions, food and fun.

Hamtramck and Delray centers for field games, information partners, Summer in the City volunteers, joined youth from Detroit. Camp closed with a “Grand Finale” event where all PCS Cooking Matters, on August 6, they l visited an urban farm in

Science Center and the Detroit Zoo. Several. In coordination with the Detroit International Art Museum, the Historical Museum, the The youth enjoyed several field trips over the summer, including summer camp

Delray accommodated approximately forty children each day for library or worked/played in the computer lab. Hamtramck and

created artwork in the crafts room, played in the gym, read in the soccer, football fields and playground at Delray. Indoors, children

Summer Day Camp at Delray and Hamtramck youth centers has come to an end and the kids have said goodbye to all the energetic Summer in the City volunteers who worked with them since camp began June 23. Youth at both centers spent time outdoors- at Veterans Park in Hamtramck or on the extensive

cleaned and resurfaced the basketball court, maintained and repaired the lawn and playground equipment.

the community center. Volunteers replaced old materials with new, for a day of cleaning, repainting, and repairing inside and outside Volunteers from Chrysler joined Executive Director Tom Cervenak

Preparing for Fall

at Hamtramck’s youth cente . Recreation Director Bonnie Co rad and Assistant Recreation irector, Jane Ramsey prov de life skills education and in

the youth after school program

provides a regular schedule for Program Director Peter Hodges

New Programs Keep Energy up at PCS

the real world. Through research on simple machines (“push-pull”

other programs offered for children at Delray, including:

“Arts and Scraps”Project using the STEM method of teaching, which helps children learn how to solve meaningful problems in

at Delray is excited about several Dr. Montgomery, Program Director

school year.help kids off to a healthy start this

screenings, immunization checks, hearing tests, and other services to

recipes, and how to prepare the meals.

Creating Healthy Eating Habits

Delray Neighborhood House and Hamtramck Community Center partners with Cooking Matters- for eight weeks, children will learn about meal planning on a budget, healthy

teaches vocals.professor Steven West, husband, opera singer and

Amy West, from the University of Michigan Department of Dance comes in to teach creative dance while her

Dance and Vocals training:

Tom took some time out to discuss what makes PCS special. “We’re not here to dispense charity; we’re here to be part of the community and to work with the community to grow. “A friend of mine put it well once: ‘we’re in your neighborhood.’”

“PCS is unique because we have a system of community centers that really no longer exists in Detroit today. There is not anyone here anymore that has the system that we do. And while

Looking forward, Tom said, “We’ve been able to expand our senior services to include wellness, home care, transportation and navigation services. We are now looking to expand our youth centers.”

A Word From the Executive Director

service Wayne county residents with emergency services. The resources we provide are from various agencies and the state. We also provide medical transportation and employment assistance. 

of food and medical assistance, housing and utility assistance, and family services through DHS.

Ms Haidar stated that “we provide at least 90 people with food through Focus Hope and Fresh Fruits & Vegetables through Gleaners.” We

people going through or on the edge of foreclosure.

Basic Needs helps provide resources for people in need

Rosaline Haidar is Basic Needs Program Director at the Hamtramck Neighborhood Center. Ms. Haidar announced that this year’s foreclosure event sponsored by MISHDA (Michigan State Housing Development Authority) will be held at the Hamtramck Community Center on Joseph Compau this September 27 from 10 am to 1:00 pm. There will be several resources available at the event to help

those on specific diets due to various medical conditions. Melanye

classes and teaches nutrition classes on Thursdays from 11-12. He also offers information on food safety and nutritious recipes for

Matrix hired two new nutrition advocates this summer. Chef Jeff Zaphor started working at Matrix last July. He runs the new cooking

neighborhoods. gives referrals for resources and services, such as needs for home repairs, nutrition and wellness, medical care/insurance, disability services, food, utility and housing assistance.

Matrix recently extended their Focus Hope food program to 2 different sites.

The Matrix navigation program provides out reach in Detroit

Michelle Williams, LBSW who started at Matrix three months ago. Both Yasmen and Michelle now split a case load of 128 clients, but plan to have up to 230 by the end of September.

checks, exercise and nutrition education on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10-11.

Yasmen, Bay, Manager of navigation at Matrix works with navigator

Matrix Human Services’ wellness program for seniors provides transportation to and from three senior apartments for wellness

Continued

Clean up Day at Delray Neighborhood House

Delray Neighborhood House: Program Manager Dr. Cassandra Montgomery with Administrative Assistant Elisabeth Swain

Hamtramck: Program Manager Peter Hodges with Recreation Director Jane Ramsey and Recreation Worker Bonnie Conrad

Summer Camp field trip to the Detroit Zoo

PCS Executive Director, Tom Cervenak

People’s Community Services Newsletter

visits from student interns at the University of Michigan

The Senior Center received

pressure checks, nutrition information, and enhanced fitness workouts.

roviding blood

p

venders were there,

and Activities in Hamtramck

Grace Holness is in charge of Senior Services at Hamtramck’s Senior Center and Matrix Human Services Center: The Open House at Jos Campau wellness center took place Aug 29. Several

Senior Center Provides Wellness

of the country, there are not a lot of private non-profit community centers like ours here in Michigan anymore. Most of the old settlement systems closed long ago.”

Tom is very proud of his staff. “We have a great caring staff…they’re here for service; they want to provide service and help people. We’ve also had great support from funders like the Detroit Agency on Aging, Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency and United Way, which

Rose Haidar, Basic Needs Program Manager

Delray Neighborhood

Dance Class at

Seniors’ Community Garden

Field trip to Detroit Zoo

Playground at DelrayNeighborhood House

420 Leigh StreetDetroit, MI, 48209

People’s Partners Summer 2014

Agency Affiliations

• ACCESS• Matrix Human Services• Hamtramck Adult Education• University of Michigan - School of Social Work• Summer In The City• United Way of Southeastern Michigan• Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern

Michigan• United Neighborhood Centers of America

(U.N.C.A.)• SMART• Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA)• City of Detroit Bureau of Substance Abuse• Hamtramck United Social Services• Michigan Neighborhood Partnership• City of Detroit Recreation Department

Wayne County Health Department

People’s Community Services