A high school junior at the time, Avanna L’Homme didn’t realize what she was getting herself into when she turned in the “fun, little project” assigned her computer-automated drafting class at Upper Cape Tech.
A project that began as classwork developed into two years of extracurricular activity, and at age 19, the Wareham native finds herself a core contributor to plans for a renovated senior center in Marion.
“Shocked” is how L’Homme considers her plight. “I’m so happy that this is finally happening … seeing money being raised, seeing how incorporated the town is with this project. I love it, I absolutely love it.”
Not every day are a teenager’s opinions juxtaposed alongside the concerns of municipal stakeholders, including elected and appointed officials attempting to address the most passionate subject in their community: aging in place.
Members of the Marion Council on Aging have long held hopes for the Cushing Community Center, but the COA’s leaders wanted to see what some young minds from Upper Cape’s CAD class would produce in the way of concept designs. L’Homme’s was among a few plans that the COA liked the most, but she especially stood out by sustaining her pursuit, engaging her elders, accepting their feedback, making adjustments, and staying the course.
“I don’t really mind change because everyone has their own views on it, and whatever they want to do, to change it, to make it better, I’m fully open to it because that means that they’re taking it, they looked at it, they liked it and they wanted it to move forward. So that’s what matters to me,” said L’Homme, who had originally turned in a plan that included a beautiful garden with a fountain. “I don’t think they’ll have enough space, necessarily, for all that.”
The placement of certain features was altered, but the walking path remains central to the effort.
“That was the main thing – the walkway and the gazebo – so they could all sit outside, have lunch, enjoy themselves,” said L’Homme. “There were a lot of changes, though, along the way. I think I did about six plans through my junior year and senior year of high school.”
Her involvement in the project complete since graduating from Upper Cape two years ago, L’Homme is not in college and has not committed to a career pursuit.
“I’m open to anything, honestly,” she said. “Anything I put my mind to, I know I can do it.”
By Mick Colageo