Project Access: providing the keys to self-sufficiency

Project Access, Inc. was established in 1999, to bring education and health programs to the residents of affordable housing communities. It is guided by the belief that, when families have access to the appropriate resources, they can achieve wellness and self-sufficiency. Working in partnership with property owners and managers, health care organizations, schools, and a variety of other public and private agencies, Project Access provides free programs and services for low-income families – utilizing all available assets to address their specific needs and goals. This is accomplished through the creation of on-site learning centers, and, where on-site space is not available, by assisting off-site community service organizations to provide outreach to the residents. 

Proud graduates of the Pacific Point parenting skills class 

New Executive Director

Lane Macy, a nonprofit professional with more than ten years of experience in management, fundraising and program development, has been hired as Project Access’ new Executive Director. She comes to Project Access from Orangewood Children’s Foundation where she founded and managed CONNECT, a program that builds nonprofit capacity through comprehensive training and matching with business executives for strategic and business planning. Prior to her work with Orangewood, Ms. Macy served as Executive Director of the Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation and as a Senior Program Associate of El Pomar Foundation -- both Colorado-based philanthropic foundations. Her background also includes developing and managing grassroots national programs for USA Cycling, the governing body of cycling under the United States Olympic Committee umbrella, and working directly for the U.S. Olympic Committee in the Office of the President. 

Two new Orange County learning centers 

Two new Project Access learning and resource centers are slated to open in Orange County. At the Cypress Villa apartments in La Habra, Project Access is in the process of converting the space and hiring the Service Coordinator; and in Westminster, plans have been finalized for a new learning center that will be created at an affordable housing development that is presently under construction. Social services for the residents at each site will include tutoring and enrichment activities for school-age children, health and education for adults, senior outreach, information and referral, and community-building events. 

Young learners at the computer, Park Vista learning center

Learning Center Without Walls

Project Access is set to launch its Learning Center Without Walls program at three low-income housing developments in Anaheim and Buena Park. The outreach project will include programs and services that can be brought to the residents of affordable housing sites that have no space for learning centers. Project Access will partner with school districts and other agencies to offer innovative programs in areas such as literacy, school-readiness, health and wellness, and parenting skills, as well as information and referral services.

New health assessment program

Funded by a grant from the Orange County Children and Families Commission, Project Access is developing a comprehensive health assessment and service delivery project for children birth through five years of age and their parents -- connecting all eligible residents with vital services ranging from prenatal care and immunizations to health insurance and supplemental nutrition. The program will be piloted at the Park Vista and Malabar apartments

New Board members

Project Access welcomed two new members to its Board of Directors: J. Michael Chennault, who is the Director of the Mediation Program and an Associate Ombudsman at the University of California, Irvine; and Garry P. Warren, who is the Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Jackson Federal Bank in Brea, California.

An adult English language class

AmeriCorps partnership 

Project Access has joined with the YMCA of Orange County, California State University at Fullerton, and other local nonprofits in the “Y’s Service Corps” -- an AmeriCorps initiative that will provide after-school programming for youth in grades K-9 while building their capability for community volunteerism. Project Access will place four AmeriCorps members, who will each provide 450 hours of service, at the Malabar and North Hills learning centers.

Summer camp program

Through a partnership with Foundation for Social Resources and Campfire USA - Mt. San Antonio Council, Project Access sent twenty-six children from four learning center sites to a one-week summer camp at Angeles Oaks in August, 2003. There, they were able to participate in an exciting variety of outdoor activities -- such as nature walks, archery, canoeing, and singing around the campfire -- that many of them had only heard about, or seen other children do on television. Project Access has secured the matching funds and partnership commitments to offer this program again in the summer of 2004.

New partners

New partnerships were developed with Kellogg foods – which is donating healthy Keebler snacks to the after-school programs at each Orange County learning center; with Mattel toys – which donated $4,250 worth of age-appropriate toys to support the pediatric health assessment program; with Citibank – which donated $3,000 to support programming at the Warwick Square learning center; and with Project Santa Claus – which provided Project Access with more than two dozen large bags of toys for the benefit of the children it serves.



Warwick Square students display their affiliation 

Low-cost insurance outreach

In February 2004, a partnership was initiated with Western Medical Management, LLC to provide certified application assistance for low-cost Medi-Cal and Healthy Families insurance -- including health, dental and vision coverage -- for children at five affordable housing developments served by Project Access in Orange County. 

From our residents:

“My mom is a single mom, she works so hard. She doesn’t have time to help me with my homework. Before I came to the program I did not complete my work and it was incorrect most of the time. Now it is different, my grades are better. I didn’t like reading but now I really enjoy reading. This month I won a reading award at school, I read 12 books”
Jesus Malagon, 6th grade, Pacific Point

Expanding horizons at the Pacific Point learning center

How you can help

Your contributions and in-kind donations are vital to the continued success of the programs and services that are provided to low-income families. To make a contribution, or for more information, please contact:

Project Access, Inc.
4029 Westerly Pl., Ste. 113
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 253-6200
fax: (949) 253-3125
www.project-access.org

The Project Access E-Newsletter is an online publication of Project Access, a  nonprofit organization that brings together affordable housing providers and community service agencies to offer residents the resources needed to enhance the quality of their lives.

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   Copyright © 2004 by Project Access, Inc. The text and images of this newsletter may not be reproduced without the written consent of Project Access. All rights reserved.

www.project-access.org