Ester Holzendorf's Blog (100)

Legacy of Trauma: Context of the African American Existence.  Every 2nd Saturday of the month. 1-3 pm, 3811 Chestnut, Kansas City, Missouri. 64128. Free and open to the public. Sponsored by, Consolidated Social Work Services Inc.  Utilizing the works of Brandon Jones, M.A.  Psychotherpist and Behavioral Health Consultant. 

Saturday May 22, MoHart center, K.C. MO. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. K.C. Kindness will provide food and personal care items. First come first serve. They expect to help approximately 100 families.  www.kcmo.gov/coronavirus and click on "Help for Residents" or call 211 to be connected to Social Services.The City also has funding for emergency rent and past due utility bills. www.kcmo.gov/renthelp.

During this time of so many changes we are going through it is important that we take care of ourselves and each other. We strongly recommend following the directives of the CDC and health care professionals. Consolidated Social Work Services continues to provide Case management services on a limited basis. We are meeting with others utilizing the technology that is available, as well as direct and referral case management services. We will get through this, we have to know that and continue…

The Chestnut Ave. Family Resource Center is temporarily closed due to the pandemic. We plan to reopen as soon as it is safe to do so, In the meantime, be safe, take care of yourselves and each other. 

Consolidated Social Work Services continues to provide programs and services to the following:

1. Homeless and help with avoiding evictions/provide food and clothing

2. Education project

3. Collaborate with the Gray Panthers/Advocate for those in care facilities

4. Garden project

5. Collaborate with Missouri C.U.R.E./Advocate for the incarcerated

6. Community group/advocate for the…

Hope for the homeless project launched. Meetings, every 2nd Tuesday, 1-3 pm, East Patrol Police Station, 27th and Prospect, K.C. Mo. Funding through private donations and the Jackson County Housing Commission.

Sankofa for K.C. and Human Dignity Economic Justice collaborating with others to be more effective in providing programs and services.

Work continues with the homeless project. Mission and purpose statements written. Action plan is being written. Out reach to assist the homeless is being done. We must begin to think about homelessness in a broader context. I will post more about this later. 

Consolidated Social Work Services is one of the featured articles in the November-December "Taking Care of Business magazine. Our thanks to Saleem Rasheed, Executive Director and Staff. The article talks about our effort to provide much needed resources to help meet the day to day needs of people in the community.

Assist individuals and communities to access needed social services and resources. Serve as advocate as needed and whenever possible. 

Fresh vegges are being grown at the neighborhood garden on Chestnut Ave.  Working with the Global Farming group. 

If you are interested in starting a grand parent support group, please call 816-701-6534. 

Several people have contacted our office about social security disability and S.S.I. benefits. Rep. Runions just telephoned me and also Rep. Brandon Ellington. Budget's are being worked on and I will post the results as soon as possible. 

Received two new cases. Long term sentencing. One was a juvenile. Has served 23 years of a life without the possibility of parole. The other has served 27 1/2 years of a life without the possibility of parole for 50 years. Work continues.

Chess, Crochet,, grandparents/grandchildren programs are in place. More information in the near future.

The Grand opening of the Chestnut Avenue Family Resource Center and Reading Room will be Saturday May 7, 2016, from 2:00 P.M. until 4: 00 P.M.

Both bills have an effective date of August 28, 2016. Bills become law after being signed by Governor or President.

Clean up day in the neighborhood. UMKC Professors, students, Kamen's Angels, and Consolidated Social Work Services Inc. board members raked yards for seniors today. A bag of fruit was provided to each senior, Work on developing the Model Block Project continues.

Looking forward to an early spring grand opening for the Family Resource Center, Reading room.. Will keep you posted.

Work continues on writing the long term sentencing bill. Getting help from the incarcerated citizens. 

Mrs. Carol Edwards and I were guest on the Every Woman Show, KKFI 90.0 F.M. with Amy and Sharon. We talked about problems and solutions of aging. We discussed housing, codes, youth and families, school closings and how that affects neighborhoods, relationship between elders and young people and aging in place. We are meeting with members of the a consortium for aging in place with UMKC. More about that later. We must design a plan that is inclusine. It really does take a village. A clean…