Saunders School Apartments residents put creativity and design skills to the test
Residents of the Saunders School Apartments – a 16-unit supportive housing development on South Broadway, established to help fight homelessness in Lawrence – recently celebrated the conclusion of a special community-building, educational program with a trip to LEGOLAND in Somerville.
Over the course of three weeks, the children – ages 4 through 10, and their parents, gathered weekly to participate in LEGO workshops, designed to provide participants with a sense of accomplishment and pride in their creative abilities and engineering design techniques. The focus of the workshops ranged from STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education to artistic projects consisting of mosaic and garden designs made with LEGO bricks.
The Building Communities with LEGO Bricks program was made possible through a partnership with 7 Generations, Inc. and was funded by a grant from Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to providing and preserving affordable housing with supportive services for special populations, including formerly homeless families.
According to Saunders School Resident Services Coordinator, Marcy Grady, the Building Communities with LEGO Bricks program proved to be a wonderful experience for residents of all ages. “The LEGO program provided a welcomed opportunity for the children and their parents to come together and be a part of something that was both fun and educational,” said Grady. “We’re grateful to Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative for making this community-building program possible.”
All three photos from the Building Communities with LEGO Bricks program at the Saunders School in Lawrence.
Saunders School resident, Jaythian Villar, age 7, proudly shows off his LEGO creation during a workshop at the Lawrence property.
An excited, Harold Negron, age 7, presents his creation during a workshop at the Saunders School.