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<br />March 2015 Mayors Committee on People with Disabilities <br />Parks & Recreation Report <br />Alisa Mitchener, Recreation Specialist <br /> <br />I coordinated anIn-Service Staff Training: Homeless Issues in Our Parks <br /> <br />on Feb 27, 2015 for 56 participants. Guest speakers: J Yoshimoto, <br />Corporation Counsel; Dale Ross, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney; and Police <br />Officers Gregg Silva and Gavin Hashimoto. Guests also attending were <br />Kaloa Robinson from Housing and Community Development; Clarysse <br />Nunokawa from the Chronic Homeless Intervention and Rehabilitation <br />Project (CHIRP), Mayor’s Office; Jason Armstrong, Public Information <br />Officer of P&R; Priscilla Cardoza, Supervisor from Parks Maintenance, and <br />Randell Kokubun from the Elderly Activities Division. Highlights included <br />networking with Community Police Officers, increased awareness of the <br />complexity of homelessness and the stigma of mental illness, new <br />awareness of laws and the Aloha Spirit, and a glimpse of social service <br />programs in Kona. We identified tools that may help staff solve problems <br />and recorded suggestions, requests, and fears from staff. <br /> <br />A Wheelchair Tennis Program request prompted discussion for a demo and <br />beginner’s clinic in December 2015. We need a tennis coach and players <br />with ball feeding skills who want to learn about wheelchair tennis. We <br />talked about connecting with UH students, Wounded Warriors, and other <br />professional wheelchair athletes on neighbor islands. Here’s a link for more <br />info on the sport: <br />http://www.usta.com/Adult-Tennis/Wheelchair-Tennis/Wheelchair/ <br /> <br />I spoke to a leader in the Hilo Lion’s Club about collaborating on Swimming <br />Pool Orientations for people with visual impairments. She mentioned that <br />their young Leo’s Clubs participated in our Mobi mat days at the beach and <br />may be interested in assisting with orientations at the pool. <br /> <br />The County Department of Research and Development offers grant <br />listings through e-Civis Grants Network which is available at no cost to any <br />community-based non-profit organization on Hawaii Island. <br />http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/rd-funding-and-grant-resources <br /> <br />Merrie Monarch Week begins Sunday April 5 with free Ho’olaulea <br />performances at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Free night <br />performance is on Wednesday April 8, 2015 at the Edith Kanaka’ole <br />Multipurpose Stadium. For more information please call the Merrie <br />Monarch Office at 935-9168. <br /> <br /> <br />-5- <br /> <br />