Howdy from Kansas City MO

Hi all,
I've been meaning to post a blog entry for awhile and finally got a moment to sit down and compose my thoughts.

I've completed 2 weeks of VISTA service in Kansas City, MO working on a Connected Communities project. I have not hit my "Second Thoughts" phase yet. I have a feeling I will never get there as I love where I am living, I am really enjoying the transition from Dallas to KCMO, and have been kept really busy fulfilling my VAD activities (and then some).

My service area is in the urban core of KCMO, serving three 100% Section-8 (subsidized) housing apartment buildings. These historical buildings have been recently rehabbed and have a beautiful architecture.

I am finding that there does not seem to be any existing OE resources for me to build upon since almost all OE Connected Communities projects have been for individual families, so resources like volunteer flyers, Installation Day, Family Questionnaire, just does not fit in with my project which will involve setting up a computer lab in a commons area of each building, and providing programs that meet the needs of the residents -- who are overwhelmingly 18-21 year old African-American women, some with children under the age of 5.

I have a feeling that my assumption is wrong and that there are other similar OE projects around the country that are not in their infancy (like mine). So I am calling on all OE VISTAs for anything useful in supporting my project. I know that Andy Santamaria in Atlanta has a similar project as mine. I don't mind starting and building from scratch but I certainly don't want to waste energy reinventing the wheel if I don't have to!

I am also getting to understand the very interesting dynamics of all stakeholders of the Project Section-8 housing units I am serving -- government officials, for-profit housing developers, paid property management staff, social services, neighborhood associations, neighboring homeowners, low-income residents, police, etc. There is a lot of tension and them vs. us feelings but I think overall, everyone wants what's best for all living in the area, so I have hope that solutions can be worked on that will benefit all.

All the best,
Tina Coles
Kansas City, MO