For the past six years, Lisandra Santa has spent many hours volunteering at Chesterbrook Gardens to make it a healthy and nurturing place for children to live.
Santa, who resides at the housing project, said she loves helping kids with their homework and creating fun activities at the Chesterbrook Learning Center, like Easter egg hunts, cookouts, and Christmas parties.
"I have two children, Christian, 15, and Lis, 11. I became involved when they started going to the center, because it was my first priority to make sure it was a safe environment," Santa said.
And now that she has been named winner of one of five Local Hero awards for her work there - an honor that comes with a $5,000 grant to establish a charity - she will make a library for children and teens in the center.
"I want to create a little area where kids can feel comfortable and read," said Santa.
She just wants to set up a small area with beanbags and shelves of books at the center, which shouldn't take long to do, she said.
"Winter is coming, so there won't be any physical activities outside. We have a bunch of little ones who like books," Santa said.
The grant was given by the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative, sponsored by Bank of America Charitable Foundation, for her work with the Chesterbrook Learning Center, said Margaret Skrmetti, spokeswoman for Bank of America.
"I was very surprised to get the award, and I'm very honored by it. I do it (the volunteer work) because I enjoy doing this with all the kids, not just my own kids," Santa said.
The smiles on their faces during activities like the big Easter egg hunt is incredibly satisfying, Santa said.
The Chesterbrook Tenants Association, in partnership with Bentley College and Police Officer June Conway, who started the program, tutors Chesterbrook Gardens children after school Monday through Friday, Santa said.
Each day at the center, children spend one hour on homework, one hour doing some kind of computer activity, and one hour of physical activity, she said.
Since Santa first started volunteering six years ago, she said, "it has evolved amazingly."
Through city funds, grants and donations, the center has employed several great directors, she said.
"Each of them has left a little mark there," Santa said.
Currently, the center serves about 25 children, ages 7 to 17 (though that age range is not strictly adhered to), she said.
Santa said she has seen the grades to prove how helpful the learning center's after school program is for children.
"It is very important, because it helps kids improve their grades. They have good grades, believe me - I have seen them on school reports," she said.
To make a donation to the Chesterbrook Gardens Learning Center, make checks payable to Joan Atlas, president of Chesterbrook Community Foundation Board at 22 Brookway Road, Waltham.
Joyce Kelly can be reached at 781-398-8005 or jkelly@cnc.com.
