Our Residents

Summer got off to a late but festive start recently at Springfield Housing Authority’s Sullivan Apartments, where food, friends and fun activities filled the lawn and parking lot on one of the season’s hottest days.

The summer kickoff party, delayed twice due to a rainy June, was brought to the Liberty Heights housing development courtesy of Talk/Read/Succeed!, a collaborative program that unites the SHA, two Springfield public schools and an array of groups and organizations whose shared goal is reading literacy by grade four.

At Sullivan, the steamy weather – a nearby thermometer read 99 degrees during the late afternoon celebration – didn’t stop moms, dads, teens and children from having some good clean fun.

“It’s kind of hot, but it’s still a good time,” said 11-year-old Javier Reyes, who has participated in many T/R/S! activities since the holistic program began three years ago.

“T/R/S! is good. Everyone knows that,” he noted.

Children at Sullivan Apartments engage in fire safety talk with Springfield Fire Department’s remote-controlled mascot.

The festivities included free food from R.S. Xavier’s Kitchen, tours of a Springfield Fire Department truck, tunes from a DJ, hula hooping lessons, face painting, and many educational and parenting tips from a variety of area vendors.

T/R/S! Outreach Coordinator Lynne Cimino said the summer kickoffs are intended to bring families together, provide education to help increase awareness and positive parenting, and as a means for increasing participation. The summer kickoff at Robinson Gardens Apartments, the other T/R/S! development was held in June.

“We’re trying to get people together and make them more aware of T/R/S!,” Cimino explained.

Face painting was a popular activity at the Springfield Housing Authority’s Talk/Read/Succeed summer kickoff at Sullivan Apartments.

The program includes parenting education, parent and child activities, counseling, and educational programs including the Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative, a nature-based summer program that has proven to boost or retain reading skills over summer vacation, when many children fall back.

Cimino said the program’s approach to achieving literacy by involving entire families in programs and activities is proving successful. Participating residents identify their greatest needs, which can range from educational materials and family counseling to adult education and skills for job-hunting. From there, T/R/S! tries to meet those needs.

“We’re making strides every day. We’re getting more and more people in GED programs, and out looking for jobs. It’s working. We know it works,” Cimino said.

One popular stop for the young set at the Sullivan summer kickoff was at the fire truck, where children were welcome to climb aboard to see the inside of the massive apparatus. Boys and girls lined up for a look.

Captain Robert Fancy said fire trucks are always a hit at parties.

“Everyone likes a fire truck,” he said. “We’re here to give them a look at how things work.”

Children at Sullivan Apartments line up to see the interior of a fire truck. Captain Robert Fancy stands at the passenger door.

Nearby, under a blue and white striped awning, were two dozen vendors and organizations with a focus on family, health and early literacy. Activities for children included face painting and  coloring.

Jessica McMillan, a representative from Project Baby Springfield, an outreach program by the city of Springfield’s Department of Health and Human Services, gave out information on infant deaths, which are high in Springfield. She told parents that 66 percent of so-called crib deaths can be attributed to unsafe sleep positions and locations – in other words, preventable.

Mother of four Erica Colon said parents can’t be too careful when it comes to their sleeping babies, who should be placed facing up for safety.

Colon, with her two younger children in tow, filled out a survey for Project Baby, and commented on T/R/S! which she has participated in since its inception.

“I love these events,” Colons said. “They educate the parents, and they give everyone chance to get together and have fun.”

Her children have participated in the ‘Get Ready for Kindergarten’ T/R/S! program that make connections between Sullivan children and the nearby Boland Elementary School, and Robinson Gardens children and Dorman Elementary School.

Mother of four Erica Colon, with daughter Isaleny Gonzalez and son Sergio Gonzalez, speaks about child safety with Jessica McMillan of Project Baby Springfield.

Nearby was Olander Worthy, turning a Hula-Hoop with skill and grace, and passing tips onto children.

“I try to introduce children and families to healthy exercises,” said Worthy, who also teaches tennis. “Hula-Hoop is great because it presents a challenge, it’s visually pleasing, and it’s fun.”