Lifeworks works to strengthen base community more

Residents of Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., enjoy a free lunch during a meet and greet sponsored by the Lifeworks community program on base, Sept. 25, 2013. LifeWorks is a Balfour Beatty Communities Program that strives to provide an atmosphere of community, while providing opportunities for residents of all ages to engage in a variety of social and learning activities. LifeWorks programs are held throughout the month and are free for residents of Balfour Beatty Communities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

Lifeworks works to make base community more resilient

Residents of Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., enjoy a free lunch of hotdogs and burgers during a meet and greet sponsored by the Lifeworks community program on base, Sept. 25, 2013. LifeWorks is a Balfour Beatty Communities Program that strives to provide an atmosphere of community, while providing opportunities for residents of all ages to engage in a variety of social and learning activities. LifeWorks programs are held throughout the month and are free for residents of Balfour Beatty Communities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

And the winner is???

Col. Paul Bauman, 319th Air Base Wing commander, draws the winning entry form for a $100 gift card during a meet and greet sponsored by the LifeWorks community program for residents of Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D, Sept. 25, 2013. LifeWorks is a Balfour Beatty Communities Program that strives to provide an atmosphere of community, while providing opportunities for residents of all ages to engage in a variety of social and learning activities. LifeWorks programs are held throughout the month and are free for residents of Balfour Beatty Communities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

Creating a Resilient Air Force Community: Contract Housing program supports building a resilient base community

Published Sept. 26, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE. N.D. -- The Balfour Beatty Communities staff hosted a meet and greet for base residents here Sept. 25.

"We are excited to meet all of the residents of the Grand Forks Air Force Base," said Arlen Ihrke, LifeWorks coordinator for the Grand Forks AFB Family Housing Community.

LifeWorks is a Balfour Beatty Communities Program that strives to provide an atmosphere of community, while providing opportunities for residents of all ages to engage in a variety of social and learning activities.

The program engages residents through thoughtfully planned events, which are built around seven core areas: life management, physical, mind-building, social, community service, personal safety, and environmental.

Residents enjoyed a free lunch during the two-hour-long event. Door prizes were also given out to some of the residents in attendance, and a $100 gift card was raffled off for all residents who submitted a comment card.

"The goal of the event was not just about enjoying a free meal," said Ihrke. "It's about better serving the residents, by engaging them in a conversation where questions and concerns are addressed respectfully and in a wholesome and community-minded environment."

Ihrke said the LifeWorks community program is similar in essence to the Air Force's Comprehensive Airman Fitness Program, a service-wide initiative whose mission is to build and sustain a thriving and resilient Air Force Community that fosters mental, physical, social and spiritual fitness.

"We hope residents enjoyed this event and we hope more of them will participate in some of the events we have planned for the upcoming months because we are here to serve them," said Ihrke.

Susan Heredia, community director for the Balfour Beatty Community of Grand Forks AFB, reinforced Ihrke's sentiment about Balfour's Beatty and LifeWorks commitment to better serve the base residents, by sharing the news about plans to build a community center in the future.

"The community center will feature several amenities, which I'm sure the base residents and their families will really enjoyed," said Heredia.

Heredia mentioned that some of those features will include a splash park, a full-size kitchen and a playground, all three of which will be indoors so residents can use them year-round.

LifeWorks has scheduled two more events for September, which include a scarecrow contest Sept. 27 and a pet photo-giveaway Sept. 30.

LifeWorks programs are held throughout the month and are free for residents of Balfour Beatty Communities.

To see what events are happening at Grand Forks AFB, visit the program's homepage and their event's page.

LifeWorks homepage:
http://www.grandforksfamilyhousing.com/community-life/lifeworks/

LifeWorks Events:
http://www.grandforksfamilyhousing.com/community-life/messages-events/events/