Yakima Valley Lives Rebuilt

Extreme Makeover - Union Gap Edition

CWHBA TO UNVEIL THE CRUZ PROJECT FEB 26

Central Washington Home Builders Association (CWHBA) will unveil the renovated home of Julie Cruz during a special ceremony Friday, February 26. Members of CWHBA began this project last year after it was learned the Cruz family had been a finalist for the TV show Extreme Home Makeover but didn't make the cut.

Julie Cruz is a 61-year old grandmother who is raising five grandchildren on her own. It's estimated there are 5,000 grandparents in the Yakima Valley who, like Julie, have put retirement plans on hold so they can raise their grandchildren. Despite her own hardships, Julie has worked tirelessly to help these other grandparents (known as kinship caregivers) by taking in and distributing donated clothing, furniture and other items with the help of her grandsons.

Prior to this project the family's home was in desperate need of major repairs. There was no functioning heating system, there were holes in the floor and the electrical system did not work properly. CWHBA members and many other local businesses came together over the past eight-months and provided materials and labor at little to no cost to help make the house a home for this special family.

The unveiling event will begin at 11:30 a.m. with speeches by key individuals involved in the project given at noon. Immediately following the speeches, a truck parked in front of the home will be moved, revealing the fully remodeled home to the Cruz family for the first time. Following a dedication ceremony the Cruz family will get to go inside and see everything that has been done.

CWHBA is a not-for-profit professional trade association dedicated to promoting, protecting and preserving the homebuilding industry. CWHBA has been building and supporting our communities since 1955. Covering the geographical area of Klickitat, Kittitas and Yakima Counties, the Association is comprised of 700 member businesses employing nearly 10,000 people. CWHBA is based in Yakima with a chapter in Kittitas County. CWHBA is led by member volunteers and professional staff, who strive to address issues unique to the various professionals within the association. For more information, call (509) 454-4006.

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More About Julie Cruz

Julie Cruz is a full time caregiver and teacher. Julie became a teacher through a process of life-long learning. Julie is currently raising five (originally 6) grandsons, all who have taught her a lot about advocacy, the educational system, and the mental health system. This experience has spurred her on to be active in her community educating other caregivers and non-caregivers alike about Kinship issues, systems issues, and advocacy. Julie takes every learning opportunity available to her and is not afraid to share her own lessons learned. Julie, once quiet, is now a voice for her family as well as for other kinship families. Julie exceeds in this area by her relentless efforts to connect with kinship families, her gift of sharing information regarding her own experiences as well as community resources with them, and by consistently being on-call to caregivers as an ear to listen and give feedback to.

Julie is a well known leader and advocate in her community for kinship care. Her face is recognizable to many as a crusader for her kinship children as well as other kinship caregivers. Julie has sought out the media on several occasions to get her message out. Julie has been trained in the Powerful Families curriculum and was a Powerful Families facilitator for several groups. She excelled in this area by making weekly contact with group members and serving as a mentor to members,all of whom she stills has regular contact with. Julie is a caregiver representative on the local community kinship collaboration called "Kindred Spirits" and is asigner on the Charter. She attends all meetings and is relentless on making sure the caregiver's voice and needs are heard and met. Julie has confronted racism in her community head-on and has taken issues straight to City Hall.

Volunteering

Julie is the leader of a community Kinship Support Group which meets twice monthly. Julie develops the agenda, makes reminder calls, and facilitates the meetings. Julie runs a clothing bank out of her home. She has made her phone number and address known publicly. She takes many donations, but alsoconnects with many new kinship caregivers through this venue allowing her to share resources and become a support to them. She sits on Washington State's Kinship Oversight Committee and consistently raises issues that need legislative and systems change so that kin caregivers can continue to provide lasting permanent homes to the relatives they so deeply love. Julie has volunteered on the Yakima Kinship Conference Planning Committee and Kinship Appreciation Dinner. Julie's evident dedication to supporting kinship care while meeting the ever growing needs of her own family makes Julie a hero and greatly qualified for CWHBA's Yakima Lives Rebuilt.