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Our Residents

Gentile Apartments Tenants’ Council off to a busy start

Gentile Apartments Tenants’ Council off to a busy start

In just a few short months, the newly formed Gentile Apartments Tenants’ Council is making an impressive mark at the South End development.

There are ongoing nutrition classes. And twice-weekly Bingo nights. And a quilting group. And regular card games. And brunches on both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. And a July 4 barbecue. On the mid-July day when Springfield voters showed their preference for a casino nearby, the council held a bake sale in the Gentile community room, a city voting site.

Gentile Apartments

Gentile Apartments

Best of all, there’s more to come at the William Street development.

Formed in April, the council draws more than two dozen of the development’s approximate 112 residents to its events and meetings. Each time, more people show up to participate, proof that word is spreading.

“I think word is getting out that we’re here, and we’re sponsoring activities for the residents,” explained President Paula Girard. “It’s great seeing people coming together. I think it’s really making a difference.”

Gentile Apartments Tenants' Association President Paula Girard and Vice President Barbara McNabb.

Gentile Apartments Tenants’ Association President Paula Girard and Treasurer Gail Turner.

Residents Services Site Coordinator Fidan Gousseynoff, who helped organize the group, said she too can see a difference at Gentile thanks to the tenants’ council.

“It’s great for the whole building,” Gousseynoff said. “It feels like the residents are becoming a community, they’re working closely together now.”

Gentile’s community room, spacious and air-conditioned, is the perfect place for meetings and events. Besides tables, chairs and many windows, the room includes a pool table, a piano and a kitchen.

Tenants’ council Treasurer Gail Turner said the room is used for informal gatherings for card games, visits, pool games and more. More formally, the council has invited in United Health Care for informational sessions, as well as health-based events with representatives of the University of Massachusetts Western Office’s Nutrition Education Program.

“I think the word is starting to get out,” Turner said. “We see more and more people coming out.”

Other officers are Barbara McNabb, vice president, Lula Barry, secretary, and Yuliya Dstroukhova, assistant secretary. SHA tenants’ councils qualify for funding for events, trips and supplies.

Girard said Gentile residents can count on more in the future.

“We’re just getting started,” she said with a laugh.

3902 days ago / Our Residents
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