Stepheney Bauer is the Community Connector at Lafayette Habitat for Humanity. 
She works with partner families and with the Neighborhood Revitalization program. She gave us some updates on current efforts by the local Habitat affiliate. The two neighborhoods that are the focus of Neighborhood Revitalization are Edgelea and Wabash Avenue. The “Junction House” in the Wabash Ave neighborhood was dedicated in June of 2016. It is used for an alternative school, for programs for children and as a gathering place for neighbors in the area. It is Stepheney’s goal to be familiar with the people in these two areas so she can be aware of needs from their perspective. One of the concerns for the Edgelea neighborhood is that there are no parks for children to play in. It would be a great benefit to the residents if a park could be established. Habitat endeavors to show God’s love by building houses, building community and building hope. This spring there will be house blessings for three new houses. In 2018, Lafayette Habitat will complete its 300th house. The goal is to construct ten houses this year alone. One of those houses will be built by women, including our own Rotary Club Women Build Team. (See next article.) Stepheney mentioned the Restore, which is a retail outlet selling donated home construction items and furniture. Proceeds benefit Habitat. The Restore is located near Star Furniture off Creasy Lane. Obviously, Lafayette Habitat for Humanity is involved in more than just building houses!
ROTARY WOMEN BUILD TEAM:
This year our Club is sponsoring a team for the Habitat for Humanity Women Build project, which will take place in the summer. 
This program is worldwide and in 2014 there were 2,300 homes built by women. Our team will be one of many helping to build the same house on Powderhouse Lane off Wabash Ave. Participants will work one day (8 hours) and contribute $100 each. The exact date for our team has not yet been announced. If you would like to help the team, but do not wish to build, we are seeking Supporters who will provide food on the build day and also contribute $100. Men, your contributions are welcome as well. Look for a pink sign up form and return it to Renee. Our Lafayette Rotary Club Foundation has contributed $1200 toward this project. Your Birthday Table dollars at work!!
GUESTS:
Errol Dogar, guest of ZARJON BAHA and former Rotarian; Julie Paolillo, guest of GEORGE RAMSEY; Tiffany Baer, guest of CHRISTINE BURR; and Mark Brandyberry, guest of DAVE SATTLER.