Resident service coordinators at seven LINC communities are gear-ing up for the start of the LINC Cares Summer Enrichment Program, an extension of the after-school programs. In addition to games, art, and computer time, the students will also keep up their read-ing and math skills. A learning environment during the summer is important; as research has shown low-income students lose more

than two months in reading achievement, despite the fact that their middle-class peers make slight gains (Cooper, 1996). Have fun!

Adults over the age of 65 are more likely to be seriously injured in an automobile accident than a younger person. As driving can be a valuable way for seniors to keep an independent lifestyle, it’s important for seniors to be as safe as possible on the roadway. LINC’s seniors from SEASONS at the Hoover in Whittier and Somerset Glen Apartments in La Mirada traveled to downtown Los Angeles to attend the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) Senior Driver Expo. The mature motorists accessed senior driving materials, community resources and hands-on learning opportunities. The group was excited to meet public television personality and travel host Huell Howser. They were glowing when they took a photo together.

Other organizations were there to conduct health screenings, including inner ear exams, and demonstrate products, services and exercises designed to

assist senior drivers. AAA Approved Auto Repair also offered under-the-hood vehicle maintenance demonstrations.

Everyone had such a great day and learned a lot about how to stay safe on the road. A big “Thank-You” to Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe for the donation of the bus ride.

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LINC Cares Newsletter - Summer 2011

LINC CARES

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2 SENIOR KARAOKE2 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT2 STAFF SPOTLIGHT3 OUR FAMILY ALBUM3 DONATION OPPORTUNITY3 SPECIAL THANKS

“Opening Doors to a Brighter Future”

Volume 6, Issue 1

Los Angeles Seniors ReceiveSafe Driver Training

Summer Enrichment Kick-Off!

Lead Resident Services Coordinator:Meet Vladimir Campos

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Donate to LINC Cares atwww.linchousing.org/linccaresYou can also help out by visiting our LINC Cares on-line store.www.cafepress.com/linccares

GO

OD

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H

www.goodsearch.com

Conduct your

everyday internet

search on behalf

of LINC Housing

and you will help

us raise funding

for our programs.

Remember, the

more you search,

the more doors

you open.

STAFF SPOT

LIG

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ER SPOTLIGHT

ALL LINC VoLuNteer Hours serVed

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Damon Lerman is a dedicated LINC Cares volunteer, helping our services run smoothly behind the scenes. Damon has been a LINC Cares administrative volunteer in our downtown Long Beach office since September 2010 and has served more than 115 hours. Whether he’s processing student applications, scanning in resident attendance sheets, or making trips to the post office

to mail supplies to the LINC Cares team in the field, Damon always gets the job done. We are grateful to have him part of the LINC Cares team, helping us make a positive impact in our communities.

LINC Cares Administrative Volunteer:Meet Damon Lerman

LINC seniors are letting loose! Weekly they get together to karaoke their favorite tunes in English, Spanish, Mandarin and Korean. Though initially shy, many of them have a hard time giving up the microphone once they’ve sung. One breathless woman exclaimed, “It’s been so long since I’ve had so much fun!” LINC’s resident services coordinator, Terri Guilford, said it’s a very popular event, “We are all enjoying ourselves so much, we don’t even notice how much time has gone by!”

LINC Seniors Getting Down!

Vladimir Campos provides support and guidance to LINC’s resident services coor-dinators in the field who facilitate LINC Cares youth and family services. He brings unique perspective to this work, as he spent several years as a high-school volley-ball coach. “Working in a team toward a common goal is so rewarding,” Vladimir said. “The LINC Cares team is making a big impact among the low-income families who live in our communities.”

Currently in a teaching credential program at California State University, Long Beach, Vladimir has long been inspired to teach. He remem-

bers his fifth grade teacher who went over and above his duties to ensure all students were successful. “His

influence is a big motivator for me,” said Vladimir. “I see the same drive among our resident servic-es coordinators.”

Though the youth and families in our programs face some big obstacles, LINC is working hard to provide an encouraging atmosphere and the tools to succeed. We’re glad to have Vladimir as

part of the LINC Cares team.

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SPECIAL THA

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Cal State University Long Beach - Social Work Interns/Staff SupportDee Hardison - After-School Program

Los Angeles Galaxy - Home Game Tickets Los Angeles Kings - Home Game Tickets

Los Angeles Philharmonic - Hollywood Bowl & Disney Hall TicketsThe Norris Theatre for the Performing Arts - Theater Ticket Support

Ralph M. Parsons Foundation - LINC Cares General Operating Support Robert and Teri Norris - LINC Cares General Operating SupportThe S. Mark Taper Foundation - Senior Health and Wellbeing State Farm - Senior Disaster Preparedness Workshops Supervisor Don Knabe - Volunteer Program & TransportationTheatre of Hearts - Youth First Arts EnrichmentUptown Whittier YMCA - Activities with our Seniors

USC School of Social Work - Social Work Interns/Staff SupportVerizon Foundation - After-School Program in San Jacinto and San Diego

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ALBUM

FRIENDS OF LINC CARES

Tommy at Village at Beechwood

Donateto

LINC Cares

Tommy Sosa is a ten-year-old student in LINC’s after-school program at the Village at Beechwood Apartments in Lancaster. Lately, it’s rare to catch him without a smile on his face thinking about the next school year. He starts middle school in the fall – but not just any middle school – he was accepted in the STEM Academy at Endeavour Middle School. The STEM Academy emphasizes science, technology, engi-neering, and math – fields that are losing popularity among American students.

Both Tommy and his family are excited about what this might bring for Tom-my’s future. The U.S. Labor Department shows that of the 20 fastest growing occupations projected for 2014, 15 of them require significant math or sci-ence preparation to successfully compete for a job. Only ten years old, Tommy

already has jobs in mind and is most excited about engineering. He has long been interested in how things work – putting things together and taking them apart

again. Also a member of the Young Marines, he is considering becoming a full-fledged Marine in his future, perhaps in the Special Ops.

But Tommy wasn’t always so dedicated. Often the class clown, he didn’t take many things seriously. “He has really become a leader during his time in the after-school program,” said Austin Pearce, Beechwood’s resident services coordinator. Austin encourages Tommy to help the younger students with their work and can tell that Tommy is proud of his role there. Tommy appreciates his relationship with Austin and the help he gets in the after-school program – especially in math. “Austin’s help with my homework allows me to pay more attention during class,” said Tommy. “I don’t have as many questions.”

Austin also helped Tommy fill out his application to the STEM Academy. “We are really proud of Tommy, said Austin. “The kids look up to him. He is a great example of hard work.”

To

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en he began the program in 2006

110 Pine Avenue • Suite 500 Long Beach • CA • 90802

LINC Cares is the Resident Services program of

LINC Housing Corporation

LINC Cares provides dynamic services to enhance the lives of the families and seniors who live in our communities.

Our programs are offered at no cost, right where residents live, which uniquely positions LINC Cares to create positive outcomes and opportu-nity among the house-holds we serve.

SEASO

NS at Lakew

ood seniors pose with their new

ly crafted hats.

The LINC Cares Newsletter isprinted on Acid Free, Lignin Free paper, that is

made with Green-e certified renewable wind energy and thirty-percent post-consumer waste.