Executive Director Randi Rubin Rodriguez, construction site manager Hank Prohaska, fundraising chair Lindy Lee Gold at the early-morning “party.”
There was a “Slump” party in New Haven, and it was a very good thing.
The “slump” in question was the final testing of concrete that was then poured to make up the second-floor roof and provide the flooring for a new third floor on the expansion of the ‘rkids Family Center at 45 Dixwell Ave.
The slump test was passed with flying grey colors early this past Tuesday morning.
The 24-year-old adoption and foster care agency provides specialty services for children and biological, foster, and adoptive families. It has operated all these years out of a modest building on Dixwell.
That building has inscribed on its facade a line out of the Jewish rabbinic tradition: “With each child the world begins anew.”
The slump test marks the final phase of construction and entry into the last quarter of the $4.2 capital campaign. Now ‘rkids will have a new floor for all that renewal and family trauma-reduction to unfold on.
The services planned for the second floor include an Infant Toddler Family Trauma Center, an adoption counseling center, educational programming for youth in foster care, and more conference room spaces.
The 11,000 square-foot expansion (without any change to the envelope of the building) “will afford our families so many more healing opportunities from infancy through adulthood,” said Executive Director Randi Rubin Rodriguez.
She, her husband and co-founder Sergio Rodriguez, fundraising chair Lindy Gold, and the crew from local Suzio Concrete Company did the honors at the slump party.
Those interested in helping the agency bring the project across the finish line — — and additional funds are needed — should be in touch with Randi Rubin Rodriguez at randi@rkidsct.org or 203 – 865-5437