April 30, 2019

HACE’s Livability Academy Spring 2019

On Saturday, March 30, HACE was pleased to celebrate participants in our first 2019 cohort of the Livability Academy. This day was the culmination of a two-month course, where 25 participants spent their Saturdays learning skills and building relationships as they designed projects to address quality-of-life issues in their neighborhoods. Four groups, comprised of community leaders, block captains, high school and college students, police officers, long-term residents, and new neighbors in the Kensington and Fairhill community presented the projects they had developed, and celebrated with their peers.

One team (called Community Workers and made up of women spanning a 50 year age range) invited audience members to join them for a day of support and celebration for people experiencing homelessness in our neighborhoods. Drawing from lived experience, team members identified hygiene products as an essential need for people living on the streets. They will be distributing travel-size toiletries at their event on May 11, while offering guests opportunities to connect with service providers and experience relaxing spa treatments offered by volunteers. While solving the issue of homelessness is beyond the scope of the Livability Academy projects, Community Workers team members designed a project to serve a population in need with dignity and respect and help people meet their immediate needs.