Green Impact Zone begins weeklong training for job seekers
A new Essential Employability Skills (EES) session is underway at the Green Impact Zone this week. About 30 area residents are taking part in the training program to prepare for jobs by focusing on attitude, dress, interviewing and resume writing. Participants began their first day with a session called “Keeping it Real.†Discussions centered on issues ranging from punctuality to dealing with on-the-job conflict resolution. The breakout groups were led by Gary Maltbia, former General Motors employee assistance program manager; Steven McClellan, caring communities site supervisor for the Local Investment Commission; and Pamela Cobbins, regional director for the Kansas City region of Connections to Success.
The first day of EES also included a “Dress for Success†image review for the participating men and women with a discussion on language and proper attire for the workplace. The session began Monday, May 13, and will end on Friday, May 19, with a reception for the graduates.
Officials break ground on Bancroft School revitalization project
Local dignitaries, including U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II and Kansas City Mayor Sly James, joined representatives of the Make It Right Foundation and neighborhood residents for a groundbreaking ceremony at Bancroft School on Saturday, Nov. 3. The school building at 4300 Tracy, built in 1904 and vacant since 1999, will be transformed into affordable housing units and community space.
The $14 million Bancroft renovation is led by the Make It Right Foundation, the organization founded by actor Brad Pitt to address housing needs in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Other project partners include the Dalmark Development Group, a local developer; Kansas City, Mo.’s Neighborhood Housing Services; BNIM Architects; the Historic Manheim Park Neighborhood Association; Truman Medical Center; Straub Construction; and the Green Impact Zone.
The Bancroft renovation will include 50 affordable rental units — half in the school building and half in new townhomes on the school grounds. The school building will also house community space, including an auditorium, gym, health clinic, computer lab and neighborhood association offices. BNIM Architects has received national acclaim for its design, which will meet LEED Platinum environmental standards. More»
Other news...
Sidewalk and Tree Q&A
When neighborhood leaders in the Green Impact Zone began drafting strategies to transform the community, infrastructure improvements were high on the list. The Kansas City region secured federal stimulus funds to pay for sidewalk, curb and street improvements that will make it safer and easier for residents to get around. Work is currently underway to repair and replace sidewalks in several neighborhoods in the Green Impact Zone. Unfortunately, in some cases, this means removing mature trees. Learn more»
Work underway at 5008 Prospect training center project
Work is currently underway to turn a vacant building at 5008 Prospect into a valuable community asset. Blue Hills Community Services is leading the project, which will convert the existing 14,168 square-foot structure into a LEED-certified facility with many green features. It will provide office space for small business contractors, along with classroom and meeting space for the community. The Green Impact Zone was instrumental in securing $2.2 million in funding for the project as part of the EnergyWorks KC grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. Learn how minority contractors and area residents are getting involved in this recent story from Fox 4 News. Read more»
A national model
The Green Impact Zone initiative is an effort to concentrate resources — with funding, coordination, and public and private partnerships — in one specific area to demonstrate that a targeted effort can literally transform a community. This national model for place-based investment is now underway in the heart of Kansas City's urban core. More»
