HCAP Weekly December 7, 2015

In this week’s issue:

The Hā Initiative Junior Robotics Teams Show Off their Innovative Way to Recycle
The Kupuna Independent Life Series Holds its End of the Year Prom
Kumuhonua Staff Collaborate to End Homelessness at the Landlord Summit
HCAP Head Start Staff Attend the Annual Parent and Family Engagement Conference
Head Start Home Base Parents and Children Create Beautiful Artwork Together

The Hā Initiative Junior Robotics Teams Show Off their Innovative Way to Recycle

This past Saturday, the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program’s Junior LEGO Robotics teams attended the Sci-Tech-Engineering-Math themed Showcase held at the Blaisdell Arena. This year’s challenge was Waste Wise and all of the kids involved did a phenomenal job exploring innovative ways to recycle. Each team that participated made their own Show Me poster board that highlighted all of their research along with a LEGO model. The Palamatrons built a micro-sized aluminum-steel sorter using a motor, gearing system and conveyor belt with a magnet to separate paperclips from thimble-sized cans. They received high praise from the judges, some of whom commented that they learned something new about the world of recycling.

Jr. FIRST LEGO League is a chance for our kids to develop important life skills while simultaneously being exposed to new and exciting STEM topics. They are shown the importance of teamwork and how sharing our experiences with others can lead to new partnerships and groundbreaking discoveries. They also learned the importance of respect and how to be professional. And above all, the Hā Initiative Junior LEGO Robotics team learned to just have fun because at the end of the day, everyone is a winner.

This event also offers an opportunity for family and friends to come together and share their interests, achievements, and future ambitions. Siala, a Hā Initiative student who is currently without permanent housing, invited his mother to the competition. Siala’s mother was brought to tears, because she thought it was a singing or dancing competition. She said she never imagined that her son would compete in a science and engineering competition. It is moments like these that make all of the work that goes into Junior FIRST LEGO League and STEM worth it!

The Kupuna Independent Life Series Holds its End of the Year Prom

On Thursday, December 3rd, the Kupuna Independent Life Series ended a thirteen-week run of workshops focused on health, social well being and advocacy for a Leeward District Service Center project targeting seniors 55 and over. The project, now in its third year, is a multi-generational effort to assist kupuna to “age in place” by providing education and support. The Kupuna Independent Life Series is in collaboration with Hawaii Pacific University’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Each spring and fall, the HPU students facilitate workshops through a community health clinical that is supervised by a faculty site coordinator.

At the end of the fall series, the Leeward District Service Center hosts a kupuna prom and holiday penny sale. Kupuna are able to purchase Christmas gifts for loved ones during the holiday penny sale in which an array of donated items such as toys, household products and clothes are on sale for one cent per item. The prom is a frenzy of food, music and dancing. This year, a mini-conference was added to the day, focusing on the legislative process. With a number of legislative bills being introduced for kupuna, it was important to learn how the process worked. Auntie Alice, a long-time homeless and environmental justice advocate in Waianae, assisted with the workshop.

The day would not have been possible without the assistance of staff and volunteers. Mahalo to Samantha Keawe, Theresa Jones and Lelani Ulu for helping prep the decorations early in the morning. The penny sale would not be possible without generous donors: Karen Hanabusa, Lana Ulu, Marriott Hotel and HPU nursing students. This semester, programming materials and lunches for kupuna were provided through funding from Friends of Hawaii Charities.

Kumuhonua Staff Collaborate to End Homelessness at the Landlord Summit

The Kumuhonua Transitional Living Center staff participated in the first Landlord Summit held at Dole Cannery Ballrooms. Landlords, property managers and service providers came together to discuss housing options for Hawaii’s homeless population. The participants exchanged resources and information on the services they provide. In addition, this event encouraged collaboration to decrease and end Hawaii’s growing homeless population. Kumuhonua hosted a display table and educated the attendees about Kumuhonua’s services, and also about all the other programs and services HCAP has to offer. There was an initial turnout of at least 300 people, which provided a great opportunity for networking and developing collaborative partnerships.

HCAP Head Start Staff Attend the Annual Parent and Family Engagement Conference

Cheryl Castro, Staff Development and Training Manager and Tricia Hornback, Policy Council Chairperson, attended the National Head Start Association’s 32nd Annual Parent and Family Engagement Conference in San Diego. This year’s conference theme was “The Next Generation” and focused on building resilience in children and families. In addition to participating in the many sessions that were offered, Cheryl was also a speaker for the conference. Her topic “Caring for Our Children: What you Should Know About Child Abuse” helped participants to be more confident in knowing the different types of abuse, recognizing the signs of child abuse, and how to make a report for suspected child abuse.

Head Start Home Base Parents and Children Create Beautiful Artwork Together

Recently at Ewa Community Church, Danielle Groff, a well-known artist at Island Café in Waipahu shared her painting skills with HCAP Head Start Home Base parents and children. The parents and children created either an ocean wave or a pineapple. Each of the children were able to choose their own color palate. When the children were creating their picture of choice, they used the letter “C” to paint their wave or pineapple. Simple shapes also appeared in their pictures such as an oval, circles, and crescents.