National Roll of Achievers

Illinois

Gwendolyn L. Doyle
Gwendolyn Doyle is a current resident with the Winnebago County Housing Authority’s senior/disabled family site, the Collier Gardens. Shortly after becoming a resident on July 1999, Ms. Doyle worked with the housing authority in establishing a craft program for the benefit of the senior and disabled residents of the 150 unit Collier Gardens apartments. Ms. Doyle marketed the program throughout the development and brought together disabled, senior, and minority families to work together on a monthly craft project, and designed the projects to be both fun and practical. Ms. Doyle’s efforts culminated in a 12/23/99 article by the Rockford Star, which included color photographs and stories throughout the paper (150,000 circulation). The article detailed a craft program in which the residents made and dressed dolls as Christmas gifts for children in the Intensive Care Unit of the Rockford Memorial Hospital, and provided holiday baked goods for the children and faculty of the neighboring Conklin Elementary School.

Rockford, IL

Augusteen Garner
Augusteen Garner is a single parent who was living in Public housing since May of 2000. Augusteen is also a recovering alcoholic who has faced many challenges.

In March of 2001, Augusteen was having a difficult time finding employment to support herself and her three dependent children. During this same period of time, another Public Housing tenant was struggling to meet his own basic needs such as feeding himself, taking his medication and other necessities as he had been suffering from a debilitating medical condition.

The Livingston County Housing Authority became involved with retaining services for the tenant who was struggling with feeding himself and other basic survival needs. The Department of Rehabilitation agreed to provide services for an ailing man. There was one problem with the Department of Rehabilitation providing services, the tenant had to hire his own service provider. This was initially thought to be a difficult challenge, as the tenant had no family or friends in the area. The situation was discussed with the Executive Director. "Augusteen Garner" was the Executive Director's response. Augusteen had worked as an in-home health care provider in the past.

Augusteen agreed to take the job providing care for the ailing tenant. Augusteen has literally saved this man's life. The improvement in quality of life for this gentleman has been inspirational to everyone at the Housing Authority. Augusteen has gone above and beyond the expectations of her new position. Augusteen has faced each challenge with determination and courage.

In working with this gentleman, Augusteen also benefited from the experience. She was often praised for her hard work in which she gained further self-esteem. The additional income allowed Augusteen the opportunity to better provide for her family.

Six months later, Augusteen was able to move from Public Housing. Augusteen continues to provide quality care for our tenant who needs assistance. Augusteen also works a second job. Recently, Augusteen came into the Housing office, she proudly, spoke of her new home and how well her client is doing. She has continued to attend AA meetings. Public Housing touched the lives of two very different individuals and brought them together. These lives have both have changed for the better. The hard work and determination shown by Augusteen has been an inspiration to all of us that have had the privilege to be a part of her life.

Livingston County Housing Authority
Pontiac, IL
2001

Amanda Q. Powell

Samuel Pulliam
Mr. Pulliam has been a Rockford Housing Authority resident since 1997. Before that he lived with his child at various locations for brief periods. He became his son’s guardian when the child was one year old. Mr. Pulliam was not in the best economic position to take care of the baby though he was directed to take part in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program and construction training classes through Youth Build. After completing the basic training he was offered a position within the agency as an assistant to the lead carpenter that went on for six months. Consequently, HUD and Rockford Housing Authority funded the Step-Up Program to give a more advanced training to participants. Mr. Pulliam became an on-the-job trainee through Rockford Housing Authority and will be involved with that phase of the program for two years. Later, after completing the training in various tasks, he will take part in the carpentry apprenticeship at the local union program. Thanks to the program sponsored by HUD and Rockford Housing Authority Mr. Pulliam is becoming increasingly self-sufficient as he completes his training.

Rockford, IL

Vanassa Reaves and Amanda Q. Powell
Vanassa Reaves and Amanda Powell are residents of the Winnebago County Housing Authority's Champion Park development, which is part of a current HOPE VI application. Vanassa and Amanda, both age 11, have been creating holiday cards for all the residents throughout the housing authority, which include their 61-unit family development, the 150-unit Collier Gardens across the city from their home, and the 50-unit Robert Johnston Gardens and 50-unit Louis J. D'Agnolo apartments, both located over 20 miles away in separate cities!

Vanassa and Amanda first started by making valentine cards for all 108 children under the age of 12 for the Champion Park Valentine's party, and even surprised the housing authority staff with Valentine cards. The cards were so successful that they included the additional three other apartment sites for Easter cards, and now Mother's Day cards (again surprising the Social Service Coordinator, Pamela McCann, with a special Mother's Day card). They intend to continue their work for all the holidays.

Both young ladies spend a great deal of time on the cards, each of which contain a separate message, drawing, and holiday theme decorations. The over 250 residents at the other three apartment sites are elderly and disabled residents, and for some, these cards are the only ones they receive to be remembered on holidays. Vanassa and Amanda have done a remarkable job in reaching out from their own distressed apartment development to all of their neighbors throughout the authority, and their hard work has been recognized with cards of appreciation. The senior and disabled residents of the Robert Johnston apartments even went so far in their appreciation as to assemble Easter baskets of donated candy and toys for the Champion Park children's Easter party. They are true heroes to our housing authority, and we are privileged that they have made their homes with the Winnebago County Housing Authority and the Champion Park apartments.

Winnebago County Housing Authority
Rockford, IL
2003

Velma E. Sanders
Ms. Sanders, a Section 8 participant with the Winnebago County Housing Authority, accepted a position as a housing authority Board Commissioner on January 13, 2003. For almost three years, Ms. Sanders has continually demonstrated her commitment to her commissioner responsibilities by attending every commissioner's meeting despite severe physical adversity. Ms. Sanders difficulties impact her physical mobility, yet she keeps the commissioners meetings which rotate between three distant cities. Her medical situation has at times required immediate hospitalization without notice, which once evidenced itself when Ms. Sanders was required to leave a meeting for emergency medical treatment - a meeting which she was careful to initially attend despite great pain from her disability. We wish to recognize the dedication in which Ms. Sanders selflessly brings to the housing authority and her diligence in providing a resident representation presence not limited by her medical difficulties.

In addition to her commitment as a commissioner and her health difficulties, Ms. Sanders has served as a foster parent for over three years with the Department of Children and Family Services, and has an extensive history of working in children's programs with the Northwest Community Center and the Rockford Park District's Beattie Park children's programs. Ms. Sanders has worked with the Jefferson Elderly Home Day Care, with the elderly at Rockford Memorial Hospital, and at Fairview Plaza Nursing Home with bedridden patients and patients suffering from cerebral palsy. The housing authority is proud to nominate Ms. Sanders for the NAHRO National Roll of Achievers.

Winnebago County, IL
2003

Theresa Sciumbato
Theresa "Crystal" Sciumbato, a resident of over seven years at the Winnebago County Housing Authority's Collier Garden Apartments, has been recognized by the state of Illinois for her photography talents. Participating in a photography program from the Janet Wattles Mental Health Care Center, Ms. Sciumbato's photographs were featured in the Rockford Registry Star, and then selected for display at both the city hall, the Illinois state capitol, and traveling exhibit.

Ms. Sciumbato has translated her photography skills into countless hours of volunteer work for the housing authority. Over the past years Ms. Sciumbato has freely given her time providing the photo documentation for the authority's various media coverage events, such as the new signage dedication for her development, and has covered the events for the housing authority's multi-bedroom Champion Park family development, located across the city from her residence. Ms. Sciumbato has provided mentoring skills for the 108 children under 12 years of age at this development in planning, organizing, and then assisting in each of the developments holiday parties for the senior and disabled residents at her own apartment complex.

Ms. Sciumbato is a valued resident who has built an outreach in bringing together the housing authority's residents of diverse backgrounds and locations. All of her help, work, and caring is recognized and appreciated by everyone at the Winnebago County Housing Authority.

Winnebago County Housing Authority
Rockford, IL
2003

Carol Smith
Ms. Carol Smith is currently a resident of the Housing Authority of Henry County’s Fairview Homes Development where she has lived since 1992. She is a single parent who is an active and innovative participant in several resident activities including the Tenant Council and Neighborhood Watch Group. She developed and writes the Fairview Homes Tenant newsletter and is always available to assist resident groups and the administration when called upon. Unable to be part of the traditional workforce because of a disability, Ms. Smith has most recently benefited from a Resident Opportunities Position made available through the Public Housing Drug Elimination Grant Program. Through this program, Ms. Smith served the Housing Authority as a Playground Monitor where she assisted in prevention activity and security awareness. We feel that she is deserving of this honor because she is a positive role model for other residents due to her willingness to take an active part in the betterment of the community.

Kewanee, IL

4/18/2000