With the beginning of the New Year PJD also saw a beginning of new ways of serving colonia. We are always trying to look at ways to meet the needs of those in we serve and we’ve begun to a couple new programs that are described below.Clean up Cameron Park! One of the topics mentioned by both adults and children in the community is how much trash and junk is around the neighborhood. Yards become places where old and broken things like furniture, toys outgrown by children and unwanted tires end up. Beer cans and candy wrappers litter the side of the road and tall weeds grow through fences. Graffiti is painted on local tiendas, small neighborhood stores, and even wooden fences. This does not do much for the “curb appeal” or the beauty of our community. We’ve noticed that many who live here don’t have pride in their community. Therefore, PJD is working throughout its programs to teach about recycling and the dangers of unkempt yards. In the year to come, PJD hopes to help promote a community wide clean up and will work with those in the community to get abandoned lots cleaned up. A contest will also be held for those who wish to improve their yards.
(Below- mural of the community made by the children of the after-school tutorial program. The mural is entitled-Recycle! Keep our community clean.)
PJD has added a program that focuses on the whole family. So many times we have ourselves working with individuals who attend our programs and would like to make changes in their life. They return to their families only to find that it is hard to change when you don’t have support. Therefore, we are working with 17 families in the community. Each person in the family has agreed to be a part of the program and each family has set goals to obtain in the coming months. Our staff works closely with the families to guide, mentor, and support them in moving forward in their lives.
