Community Action Team finds home

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Seraiah Hines
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs

The Community Action Team now has a place to call home on Goodfellow. The new Resiliency Center ribbon cutting ceremony on Dec. 11, began and concluded with many thanks and congratulations on finding a permanent home for multiple programs and courses focused on Comprehensive Airman Fitness.

“Our family advocacy programs playgroup had been continually looking for a place to reside,” said Megan Fowler, the 17th Training Wing primary prevention of violence specialist. “Not long after finding a location, they were told it was time to find a new one.”

Patriotic Blue led the ceremony with a singing of the National Anthem followed by a prayer and invocation led by Lt. Col. Robert Borger, 17th TRW chaplain.

Fowler, the lead coordinator on the project, spoke on all the work and effort put into the project by individuals all over the base.

“Our Community Action Team, formally known as the Integrated Delivery System, identified we had a problem that had been going on for years,” said Fowler.

It was through the combined efforts of Lt. Col. Yukio Kuniyuki, 344th Military Intelligence Battalion commander, and the CAT team that this building was able to be renovated and used, said Fowler.

“We made the renovations with the help of 35 volunteers and over 100 hours of service," said Fowler. “We were able to transform the building into the beauty you see today. The playgroup finally has a place to call home in the Goodfellow Resiliency Center.”

This building will also be used for Green Dot training, Master Resiliency Trainer courses, Rape Aggression Defense for Women self-defense classes, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response classes, CAT meetings, teal rope meetings and more.

“This whole project all boils down to helping agencies,” said Col. Jeffrey Sorrell, 17th TRW vice commander. “We as a part of the Department of Defense, to include the Air Force, are committed to strengthening our resiliency, it comes back to Comprehensive Airmen Fitness which is focused on the physical, mental, spiritual and social aspects of our daily lives.”

Within the building is also a library of resources. Along with the first installation-level nursing room for Goodfellow.

“People are our most valuable resource, and this is why,” said Sorrell. “They not only brought the problem to our attention, but also came up with the solution.”

Since the Goodfellow Resiliency Center is located directly across from the Child Development Center it makes it that much more convenient for mothers who are nursing to have a safe place to develop that bond between them and their child.

“There is no doubt in my mind that this facility will be utilized,” said Sorrell. “Many thanks to Megan as the lead coordinator for this entire effort along with Mr. Sullivan and the many others who came and helped make this happen, thank you all very much.”

In closing Fowler reflected on the journey that CAT has gone through to fine this permanent home for their programs.

“What started off as a vision only five months ago has finally come to fruition today,” said Fowler. “I want to thank Col. Sorrell for listening and trusting us to bring this dream to fruition.”