6
Tuesday, November 2, 1971
University Daily Kansan
A Newcomer to the Center Peeks Warily Inside
Nell Blyl, Arkansas city senor (Left) demonstrates crocheting to a special Sunflower friend. (Below) Mrs. Paul Brotsman teaches a participant in the tutorial program to a game of cards.
Photos
by
Hank Young
KU Students Implement Sunflower Village Project
By REES OLANDER
Kansan Staff Writer
The cars pause momentarily at the yellow blinking light on K-10 and then rush on to their destinations in Lawrence and Kansas City. To most of the passengers in those cars, Sunny Days is a store where you grocery, store white, concrete block barracks and a bar.
But next to that highway bar is a special concrete building, a building symbolizes the municipal effort to improve the town. The building is the new community center created by the 10-month-old Sunflower Village Cic Association with the help of the Kamas student volunteers.
After a Coloring Session, Ball Tossing Provides a Break
The impetus for the center and civic group was a community development center project begin in February 1970 by E. J. Deering, then a KU senior in computer science at Fount Smothers, associate professor of architecture and urban design.
One of Dearer's primary jobs was to obtain a $20,000 Office of Economic Opportunity "incentive grant." The grade made this program possible by providing community buildings and to pay for office and staff expenses.
The adult library was intended to be more than just a library. Deering said it will be an adult library that qualifies for a high school diploma through a General Education program with special directors.
The first building, which will be used by the offices for a doctor, a dental public health, mental health, welfare and a 30-child day care
BY THE TIME SUMMER HIKE so involved with the community that he decided to continue his part in the project and became a teacher.
One of Sunflower's greatest problems in the past, Deering said, was the lack of cooperation between the cities and the community. By providing office space, the civic association hopes that it can bridge the gap between com-munities and institutions.
ALTHOUGH SUNFLOWER
residents, only 1,800
member members are actually involved in the project. Their ultimate goal is
to provide a sunflower garden.
The 400 to 500 books in the library, some art supplies and training will be provided by the Johnson County Library.
"We're hoping that it will motivate them," Deering said,
ANOTHER BUILDING, which the volunteer workers have not yet begun remodeling, will hold a multi-purpose room and an adult and children's library. There also is a summer art program for pre-schoolers.
When the grant expires in July, Deering said that he expects the various agencies will assume rent and utilities cost.
"It's not going to be just a collection of books," Deering said.
"and show them that the people did it. We have no social organizations, like the Lyons or to get behind a program here."
Although the construction of the center has been done almost exclusively by civic association workers, the community center is seeking outside assistance for center programs because these lack qualifications in certain areas and are overworked.
MOST OF THE OUTSIDE aid has come from KU and Baker student volunteers. Special assistant in the grade school and assist in the grade school and junior high school tutoring problems twice weekly. Four senior women in the School of Arts direct a recreational program
In the past social welfare graduate students have worked in clinics, but this year, said Paul Brotsman, an associate professor of social medicine at UCLA, trying to "add some arm power and man power from the unattainable."
The work that students have done at Sunflower, Brotman said, greatly added to the class special in special topics courses.
TWO KU WOMEN WORK with camp fire, girls in "character nurse and dance for needle crafts and folk dancing to youngsters and some of their parents. The students hope to take over the groups eventually.
Nell Bly, Arkansas City senior who teaches needle crafts, said she doesn't want to provide a way for people to get together. If they didn't want to do needlecraft, then we'd find them. Do this is not for our benefit."
There is a sed for male volunteers to complete the training of high age men who drift into the high age boys who drift into the area recreation need men who can participate in more masculine activities, Brotman man.
"There is a real opportunity to contribute while enjoying the experience in the Village," he said.
THE COMMUNITY ALSO IS seizing more outside or its institution. To do that, seven KU students and nearly that many Baker students are trying to help 60 Sunflower students in high school children. Ultimately, the program goal is to provide a one-to-one basis with students.
The Sunflower Village tutorial project is different from many other tutoring programs. Tutors teach students and provide them with companionship as much as academic aid. Some evenings, a tutor and his Sunflower "little" teacher will ice cream for the ice cream tea instead of studying.
Randy Mooddrell, Chicago, explained his relationship with the school's lawrence last Sunday, and we really got to know each other. I'm grateful to you.
Another tutor, Nancy Gale,
Overland Park junior, said, "I
may not be helping him that
way, but at least he's got a
friend."
(Right) David Showalter, a community social worker and Paul Brotsman, KU professor of social welfare where tutoring classes will be held. (Below) Randy McCormick gives some special attention to his "little brother."