Region VI Update

Chairperson

Matt Jennings

Fort Smith AR

Vice-Chair

Nancy Robbins

Tulsa OK

Vice Chair Issues & Leg

Alecia Murphy

Monroe LA

Vice Chair Membership

Piedad Martinez

McAllen TX

Vice Chair Annual Conf

Victor Turner

Little Rock AR

Secretary/Treasurer

Barbara Ross

Denton TX

2014-2015 Officers

National Board Members

Matt Jennings

Fort Smith AR

Valerie Bargas

Albuquerque NM

Justus Bolo

Dallas TX

Piedad Martinez

McAllen TX

Nancy Mikeska

Conroe TX

Bonnie Moore

Shreveport LA

Nancy Robbins

Tulsa OK

Diana Serna

Hidalgo County TX

David Smith

Fort Smith AR

MARK YOUR

CALENDARS FOR

JUNE 24—27 AND JOIN

OUR FRIENDS FROM

ACROSS THE COUNTRY

AT THE ANNUAL NCDA

CONFERENCE IN

ARLINGTON TX!

View the draft agenda at

www.ncdaonline.org

NCDA Region VI

Members,

Hopefully by now each of you have received a message from Vicki Watson of NCDA that a CDBG Coalition survey is online. Please take the time, if possible, to demonstrate the continual re-ductions in the program and the impacts to our communities. The survey will be posted on the Region VI website at http://ncdaregionvi.weebly.com/ . Please place our Region VI website in your favorites for easy access. This will allow each of you to see the updates as the Arlington (National) and Little Rock (Regional) conference information is updated and other informa-tion is posted. Be sure and save the dates of June 24—27 for our Annual NCDA Conference and October 26-30 for our Region VI NCDA Conference and look forward to opportunities for learn-ing and socializing with other practitioners.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR,

MATT JENNINGS

Page 2 Region VI Update

Buffalo Run Park is a frequently occupied park lo-cated within the CDBG Target Area of Missouri City. Already having featured amenities such as covered pavilions, fishing piers, nature trails, public boat ramp, picnic tables, and sand volleyball court, the ex-cellent durability and truly fun commercial play-ground equipment for outdoor play is a great added characteristic in this very popular park. The Spider Web Climber is designed to let kids spin a wild web

of fun. Encourages imaginative movement while building upper-body strength. It is structured with Sturdy galvanized steel frame and Cable Core web material.

Missouri City Texas

Improves their Buffalo Run Park Playground

The Southwest Pulaski County Health Unit hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony December 11, 2014, to mark the grand opening of the new Southwest Pulaski County Health Unit building, located at 8901 Dailey Drive. The event featured music, refreshments, and tours of the building. Flu vaccines were also available to all who attended.

State, county and city officials, including: Pu-laski County Judge Buddy Villines; Arkansas Department of Health Director and State Health Officer Dr. Nate Smith; Representa-tive Fredrick Love (D-29); Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola; and the Mexican Consulate’s Maria Aguilar Rodriguez, spoke about their involvement in the development and con-struction of the new building. The City pro-vided $200,000 in Community Development

Block Grant to this project.

Since opening its new location on June 16, 2014, the Health Unit has served more than 2,000 WIC clients and provided more than 1,500 immunizations. The Health Unit is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Fri-day. The Unit offers: immunizations, family planning, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and many other health services.

Southwest Pulaski County Health Unit Holds Grand Opening

Page 3

El Paso Residents and City Officials

Celebrate Improvements to Armijo Park

EL PASO – Residents of the Se-gundo Barrio Neighborhood in El Paso are enjoying a reno-vated park with new play-ground equipment and shade canopy, new lighting, trees, rock landscaping, wood fiber mulch and a containment wall within the playground.

Armijo Park serves as a great forefront for the Armijo Recrea-tion Center and the Armijo Li-brary in the Segundo Barrio which were also funded by the Community Development Block Grant in previous years. The park has stood for many years as a place for play, fun and family gatherings and still today with Aoy Elementary School directly across the street it serves as the recrea-tional outlet for the students.

Partnering with the City of El Paso’s Parks and Recreation department as well as the Southside Neighborhood As-

sociation, the Department of Community and Human Development was able to ad-dress the needs and desires of the resi-dents.

Upgrades at Armijo Park, 701 E. Sev-enth St., were funded by federal Com-munity Development Block Grants drawn down by the City of El Paso’s Community and Human Development

Department in the amount of $533,031. This project supports the City of El Paso’s strategic goals of providing an improved visual image of the community; enhancing El Paso’s quality of life through recreational, cul-tural and educational environ-ments; stabilizing neighbor-hoods through ADA improve-ments as well as supporting the vision by enhancing the beauty of El Paso’s Neighborhood.

NCDA Winter Legislative Conference

Page 4

Special Thanks to our HUD officials Cliff Taffet, Ginny Sardone & Stan Gimont for joining us and providing us with the latest HUD NEWS!

We would like to thank Sheryl Kenny for all her efforts to make the upcoming Annual Confer-ence in Arlington TX one of the BEST!

The Texas Crew visits with

Congressional staff.

LaToya, Marissa, Piedad and Nancy join Vicki at the Region VI Reception!

Betsy Spencer presents Austin’s Sustainable Housing Program.

Fred and Valerie tear up the dance floor!

A Special THANKS to Bonnie Moore, Shreveport LA, our

NCDA Secretary/Treasurer and Michael Look, Seattle WA,

now our NCDA President. Thank you for continuing to

support our National organization!

NCDA Winter Legislative Conference

Now Piedad and Anna

are tearing up the dance

floor!

Nancy Mikeska,

making funny

faces with Rita

Pribyl and Marcy

Esbjerg - SMILE !

These guys are tak-

ing some good

notes!!

David Smith,

Candyce Waters,

Matt Jennings,

Donna Johnston and

Shanette Brown

Page 5