RUFEES – Tax Assistance Preparation

March 2010

Horizons in partnership with OIC Prosperity Center, AARP and the Othello Housing Authority sponsored a Tax assistance day. Free Tax preparation services were provided to low-income individuals and senior citizens was provided at the housing authority in Othello. Services were provided in Spanish (via volunteer certified translators).

Alternative Finances to Higher Education

On April 23 was the 3rd Annual Regional Job Fair, hosted by the Washington State Dept of Social and Health Services, WA State Worksouce, Skillsource of Washington and Big Bend Community College. In this current economic climate, more adult students are seeking ways to better educate themselves to better jobs. To meet a growing need in the region Tony Garcia, the regional Horizons Coach, was asked to prepare and present a discussion on titled "Alternative Finances to Higher Education". This was a presentation to adult community members (over 40 were in attendance) to showcase how they might return to college, and where they could find resources to assist them. Topics included GED (and other possible HS equivalency programs), Americorp, Peacecorp, Military options, Apprenticeship programs, local financial support, state financial support, federal programs, grants, fellowships and scholarships. To enhance the presentation a 250 page book was developed and produced to hand to presentation attendees that gave necessary background information and contact numbers for easy access.

Gang Killing

March 18, 2009 - 19 year old Ismael Garcia was shot and killed during an gang altercation at the Taggers Park. The shooters were rival gang members. This is the main reason that we need increased gang awareness and police presence in West Othello. There is not only a greater gang presence in area (that can be seen in the increase of graffiti) but the crimes committed by gang members has increased in violence. As a response to the community, the Horizons program along with partner agencies (Adams County Community Network and the Adams County Juvenile Services) has sponsored several events to highlight the growing gang problem in the area as well as to provide increase knowledge on how to identify and deal with the problem.

Community Gang Meeting
April 2, 2009

More than 70 concerned citizens filled the pews at the Othello Christian Church for a town hall meeting on gang awareness last Thursday evening. The audience was attentive and relatively quiet as people listened to two nationally recognized gang experts, Domenic Cappelluti and Steve Hollister, from the Waukeen (Illinois) Police Department, who led a 3 hour discussion on gang cultures.


Regional Anti-Gang Training for Law Enforcement Personnel
April 2/3, 2009


A two day training by Gang Combat Dynamics was attended by 30 law enforcement personnel form throughout the region, including various city officer, sheriffs deputies from 3 different counties, probation/parole officers as well as federal officers from the Immigration and Customes Enforcement.

Gangs in Schools Task Force
April 29, 2009

Over 60 individuals including community members, school personnel (from various school districts) law enforcement personnel and various probation/parole officers came together to discuss the increasing problem of gang presence in local school districts and how to approach the Washington State Legislature for policy changes that would help local jurisdictions in identifying and dealing with the growing gang presence and problem.

STUDY CIRCLES

Community Study Circles training for community members was held at the Washington State Migrant Council's Headstart Building (WSMC a local partner hosted the location of the various events). The following Action items were identified as being what the local community should be dealt with in order to improve and/or assist in the reduction of poverty in the area.

1. Infrastructure: The need for road improvement, lights on street corners, stop signs and posted speed limits.
2. Park Improvements: the need for playground equipment, lighting and paved parking at the Taggeris Park (the only park located in the area)
3. Problems with the drinking water in the area. Community members complained of bad tasting and smelling water.
4. Improvement to county ordinances in regards to weeds, garbage removal, old non working automobiles, semi-truck parking in residential areas, and dog control.
5. Assistance in the elimination of the growing gang presence in the community.
6. Assistance to parents and students on how to access higher education.
7. Assistance to parents on how to understand and access the local educational system.
8. Improvement to the public transportation system.
9. Increase to access to local state and nonprofit services.
10. Increase awareness of local high teen pregnancy problem

Community Labels

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