February 29, 2012

FAMILY INPUT NEEDED FOR EAST HARTFORD
RESOURCE CENTER PROGRAMMING

By Melissa Traynor, Hartford Courant

EAST HARTFORD -- The Community Resource Center is holding a neighborhood chat next week to gather input from families at the Veterans Terrace housing complex.

The resource center, which is based at the East Hartford Middle School, links families and children with programs and has already hosted two other neighborhood chats.

A previous neighborhood chat at the Summerfield Townhouses on Plain Drive resulted in the creation of the "Summerfield Homework and Tutor Club," where students can get help with school work at the complex's community center.

The supervised after-school homework sessions begin on March 5 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and students can use computers and printers to help with their work.

Resource Center Coordinator Lisa Díaz-McMahon credited the center's collaboration with East Hartford's ChildPlan, the Youth Services department, Summerfield's management company, state Rep. Jason Rojas and others for enabling the homework club.

Díaz-McMahon expects about five to seven students to attend the club initially and hopes it will grow.

Residents at Veterans Terrace are invited to meet with resource center staff to express their suggestions and ideas from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 7 at 102 Columbus Circle. The chat was originally scheduled for Feb. 29, but was postponed due to inclement weather forecasts.