Saturday, April 22nd the Harris County Democratic Party hosted an extremely informative Funding the Future Forum on the Houston Independent School District (HISD) Recapture ballot initiative at Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Please be aware that early voting starts today! Early Voting will be from April 24th until May 2nd and Election Day is May 6th.
The local branch of the NAACP in a statement said that voters in Houston are not accustomed to having May elections so please tell your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to go vote. Below is a link to the early voting locations as well as a link to HISD that gives additional information on the issue for your review.
Austin, Texas – Today, Senate Bill 4 passed to engrossment on a vote of 93-54 after close to 16 hours of impassioned testimony.
Members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, Mexican American Legislative Caucus, and Texas Legislative Black Caucus proposed numerous improving amendments and raised multiple points of order against the bill, but the course of the debate was largely steered by the Republican Caucus and its overwhelming majority.
State Representative Eddie Rodriguez issued the following statement regarding the debate and vote:
“The young children who testified in opposition to SB 4 before the House Committee on State Affairs returned for today’s floor debate.
“They arrived in the early morning to share their heartfelt stories with members who support SB 4, trying to appeal to their humanity. The children were blatantly ignored.
“I understand that many Republican members face pressure to cast votes in violation of their consciences. Speaking with those children, though, you get a sense of the awesome responsibility that we have as elected members of the Texas House of Representatives.
“Placing one’s selfish interest in reelection ahead of doing the right thing is worse than a good-faith vote for SB 4.
“I feel scared, sad, confused and angry along with all immigrant children tonight. My colleagues voted to condemn them to a life of fear and uncertainty, to hiding in the shadows and dreading the day their parents don’t come home from work. Worse, my colleagues wouldn’t even give them the time of day.
“I’ve opposed SB 4 from the beginning, using my voice to advocate for local control over policing policy from my district in Austin to the national stage. I refuse to be civil or ‘agree to disagree’ on SB 4 because the stakes are much too high.”
HOUSTON – Queendom Come, Inc. (QCI) will host a press conference Thursday, March 30, 2017, at 4 p.m. to launch its #ProtectOurDaughters campaign to address sex and human trafficking in the Houston area. Sex trafficking had become the new “slavery” and has taken national attention when a dozen of black and Latina girls went missing in Washington, D.C. this month. According to the U.S. Department of Justice,Houstonis one of the largest hubs for human trafficking in the nation and the largest hub in TexasHouston has over 200 active brothels, with two new openings each month. Houston is a popular entryway for internationally trafficked persons due to its two large, international airports and thePort of Houston, which is the largest international port in the United States and the thirteenth busiest in the world.
Age is the primary factor in vulnerability. We are seeing our daughters becoming victims to this modern-day slavery. Pre-teen or adolescent girls are more susceptible to the calculated advances, deception, and manipulation tactics used by traffickers/pimps – no youth is exempt from falling prey to these tactics. Traffickers target locations youth frequent such as social media sites, schools, malls, parks, bus stops, shelters and group homes. Runaway or homeless youth, as well as those with a history of physical and sexual abuse, may have an increased risk of being trafficked.
QCI has launched an educational and awareness campaign that targets women, adolescent girls and their parents in the Houston and surrounding areas. QCI has collaborated with other organizations in the community and women leaders such as, Green House International Church Co-Pastor Sandra Deckard of Greenhouse International Church, Kathy Griffin Grinan of “We’ve Been There Done That”, Valerie Muhammad of the Nation of Islam MGT & GCC, Calandrian Simpson-Kemp of the Village of Mothers, Jinaki Muhammad of the National Black United Front, Attorney Sadiyah A. Evangelista of the Ministry of Justice Millions More Movement, Deric Muhammad and Pastor E.A. Deckard of No More Blood Shed Movement and Deloyd Parker of SHAPE Community Center. A town hall meeting will be announced at the press conference.
WHERE: National Black United Front 2428 Southmore Blvd. Houston, TX 77004
WHAT: Queendom Come, Inc. Awareness and Educational Campaign #ProtectOurDaughters
WHEN: March 30, 2017, 4:00 p.m. CST.
WHO: Queendom Come, Inc.; Greenhouse International Church, We’ve Been There Done That; Village of Mothers, National Black United Front, Nation of Islam MGT & GCC, MOJ Millions More Movement, No More Blood Shed, SHAPE Community Center
Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved nearly $150,000 in federal grants for Precinct One programs that assist young people and senior citizens.
The nonprofit Harris County Precinct One Street Olympics Inc. was awarded a $42,024 Community Development Block Grant for the Harris County Aquatics Program, $28,993 for Discovery Camp and $58,502 for the Summer Games.
The Seniors Drama Program received a $20,000 grant. The program, directed by playwright Thomas Meloncon, provides acting and dance lessons. Seniors participate as actors, understudies and costume designers. Throughout the year, they perform plays that raise awareness of crucial issues affecting seniors.
Created in 1986, the Street Olympics implements and sustains year-round programs that provide training, support and resources that lead to healthy and productive lives for Houston-area youth.
The Aquatics Program offers swimming lessons and competitive swimming for youth. In July, Learn-to-Swim students compete in a friendly competition at the Harris County Aquatics Center.
Discovery Camp, which runs through the summer months, offers children ages 6-13 a one-day adventure that includes educational activities, games, crafts and projects that give them hands-on experience to help understand nature in natural settings at Challenger Seven Memorial and Deussen parks.
The Summer Games gives youth at participating agencies a chance to compete in traditional street games such as kickball, jacks, hopscotch, Hula Hoop and foot races. The best participants at the agencies – which include Houston Parks and Recreation Department sites, YMCAs, churches and other youth centers – earn the right to compete at the Final Event in August at NRG Arena, where they can win medals. For more information, call 713 991 6881.
The National League of Cities (NLC) selected Houstonas one of six cities that will take part in a two year project to explore and build equitable pathways to post-secondary and workforce success. The mayors of each participating city have made a commitment to increasing access and decreasing barriers that prevent youth from succeeding in higher education and gaining meaningful employment. Houston’s efforts will focus on the Hire Houston Youth (HHY) program.
“Workforce programs and summer employment can decrease the likelihood that a youngster will drop out of school, they help ensure we have an able and ready workforce and set youth on the path to long-term careers,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Despite these benefits, less than a third of American teenagers held a job last summer and their participation in the workforce is at an historic low. This year’s goal is to provide 5,000 summer jobs for local youth. I’m calling on our business community to help us get to this goal by hiring and paying a HHY summer applicant. If you don’t have a spot, you can pledge $2,500 to sponsor a youth’s salary, training and benefits at a government agency or a nonprofit organization.”
HHY provides local youth ages 16-24 with at least a seven week summer job or internship experience from mid-June through the first week of August. In preparation for job placement, applicants will attend workforce readiness training one week prior to their start date. Students will work up to 40 hours a week for seven weeks, earning at least $8 an hour. The program is part of the mayor’s vision to create complete communities in historically underserved neighborhoods.
Cities are the economic engines of our nation. In understanding this role as economic drivers, mayors and other city partners – including representatives from city workforce, economic development and education – will be working together to ensure access to education and employment for all citizens with the ultimate goal of building vibrant local economies. To reach this goal, cities need clear pathways to college and postsecondary programs that are responsive to regional workforce needs. The value of a college educated community brings both personal and city-wide benefits.
Through its Institute for Youth, Education, and Families and with support from The Kresge Foundation, and LinkedIn, NLC will bring together city leaders from the government, education and business sectors and national experts that will help Houston develop strategies and expand the city’s efforts. The city will also have access to labor market trends in hiring as well as insights on education pathways and key skill sets leading to employment from LinkedIn. For more information, call 832.393.0800.
The six cities chosen to participate as NLC cohort include Austin, Texas; Charleston, South Carolina; Corpus Christi, Texas; Houston, Texas; Jacksonville, Florida and Nashville, Tennessee.
Memorial Park became one of five Texas parks honored with the designation as a Lone Star Legacy Park by the Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS) during a ceremony at the association’s annual institute in Irving, Texas, on March 1, 2017.
“Memorial Park becomes the fourth park in our system to receive the Lone Star Legacy designation. It joins Hermann Park, Emancipation Park, and Sam Houston Park in receiving this prestigious acknowledgement,” said Joe Turner, Director, Houston Parks and Recreation Department. “We are honored that Memorial Park’s historic significance has been recognized by the Texas Recreation and Park Society.”
A Lone Star Legacy Park is classified as a park that holds special prominence in the local community and the State of Texas. To qualify for consideration, the park must have endured the test of time and become iconic to those who have visited, played and rested on its grounds. Nominated parks must be a minimum of 50 years old and have to meet at least one of the following criteria:
The property represents distinctive design and/or construction.
The park is associated with historic events or sites.
The park is associated with events specific to the local community/state.
The park is home to unique natural features.
Memorial Park was established in 1924. Its 1,503 acres were sold at cost to the City of Houston by William and Mike Hogg, sons of James Stephen Hogg, the former governor of Texas. The Park’s creation was in response to letters to the editor of the Houston Chronicle, first from Ilona Benda and later from Catherine Mary Emmott, beseeching the City to consider a park in tribute to the soldiers who trained at Houston’s Camp Logan and the many who died in World War I.
At the behest of philanthropist Ima Hogg, sister to the Hogg brothers, several stalwart protectors of park lands (Terry Hershey, Frank C. Smith, Jr., Sadie Gwin Blackburn, Dr. John D. Staub, and Sarah Emmott) were charged with protecting Memorial Park from encroachments and development concepts ranging from a fish hatchery to the Astrodome to oil drilling. This group of advocates, through efforts led by Claire Caudill, morphed over time to become the Memorial Park Conservancy, a 501c3 that works in conjunction with the City of Houston to care for the Park.
The five parks receiving the honor in the sixth year of the Texas Recreation and Parks Society statewide program include Parque Zaragoza, Austin; Kiest Park, Dallas; Tandy Hills Natural Area, Fort Worth; Kempner Park, Galveston; Memorial Park, Houston; and Cypress Bend Park, New Braunfels.
About the Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS) TRAPS is a non-profit 501c3 professional and educational organization founded 75 years ago with a membership of over 2,000 professionals. TRAPS is committed to advancing the field of parks, recreation and leisure services in Texas, while advocating for enhanced recreation opportunities and the increase of public green space for Texans. www.traps.org.
About the Houston Parks and Recreation Department The Houston Parks and Recreation Department (H.P.A.R.D.) stewards and manages over 37,851 acres of parkland and greenspace for the City of Houston and develops and implements recreational programming for citizens of all abilities. For more information on the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, call (832) 395-7022 or visit www.houstonparks.org.
Around 1:30 pm CST on November 8, Hillary Clinton (D), the first female presidential candidate from a major political party was stunned by Republican businessman Donald Trump in an upset victory for the 45th President of the United States of America. Running mate Mike Pence called the victory “A Historic night.” With his family standing near him, Pence (R) Governor from Indiana said that he was deeply grateful in being given the opportunity serve. He then introduced the president-elect business tycoon and television personality Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States. He has never held any job in government and made a decisive win. In front of a crowd chanting USA, he began by saying Hillary has worked very hard and we owe her a debt of gratitude. Trump having won the necessary 270 electoral college votes to become President said that he will bring the country together and unify the people of America.
Clinton, leading in the popular vote did not speak to supporters on election night instead, deferring to make a statement on Wednesday.
According to Mayor Sylvester Turner’s communication staff Janice Evans released that in the first analysis of Mayor Sylvester Turner’s pension reforms by a financial market expert, Fitch Ratings writes the proposal “includes reforms to benefits and contribution practices that could improve the sustainability of the city’s pensions.” Fitch also comments on the plan’s use of Pension Obligation Bonds, noting this is not deficit financing because the POBs will replace an existing liability rather than as a substitute for the City’s required annual pension contributions.
“This early validation from a global leader in credit ratings and research is encouraging and a sign we are on the right track,” said Mayor Turner. “The plan we have put forth is the only plan that provides both immediate and long-term financial benefits and takes the pension issue off the table for good.”
The proposal the mayor will present to state lawmakers for consideration in the upcoming 2017 legislative session will immediately reduce and later eliminate the City’s $7.7 billion unfunded pension liability and costs considerably less next year and every year after when compared to what the City would need to pay in the absence of reform. The plan includes:
Benefits changes that immediately reduce the unfunded liability by $2.6 billion while still maintaining defined benefit plans for City employees
A closed 30-year payoff period
$1 billion in POBs
A more realistic rate of return of 7% for future investments
A requirement that the city makes the full required annual contributions to the pension systems
Limits on annual costs going forward and mandatory negotiations on benefits changes to bring costs back in line if they exceed the specified limits
According to Fitch’s analysis released Friday, “use of POBs alone typically is insufficient to correct underlying sustainability concerns and provides only temporary relief in the absence of broader reforms. However, POB use in conjunction with reforms to benefits and contribution practices increases the odds of strengthening funding positions and improving long-term sustainability.”
Fitch and other credit rating agencies have previously cited Houston’s pension liabilities and voter-imposed revenue cap as credit concerns. Once the City’s pension problems are fixed, Mayor Turner has said that he will ask voters to repeal the revenue cap.
Mayor Turner intends to ask City Council to approve his plan within the next few weeks. Bill filing begins in Austin in mid-November.
Within the 150-member assembly of the Texas House of Representatives is a woman by the name of Alma Allen.
Currently serving as the state’s Representative of District 131, Allen has put on quite a résumé. But elected to one of the governmental jobs in the Lone Star State is just another destination to her tirelessly life journey.
Growing up in Livingston, Texas, Allen wanted to make a difference as a young girl, and education became an essential part of that difference.
“(I believe) education is the key,” Allen said.
Allen, 77, would eventually excel in elementary all the way up to college. She initially picked Prairie View A&M (PVAMU) as one of those universities which helped minorities like herself until she ultimately chose Texas Southern University (TSU).
“TSU gave me the background to put me as an educator,” Allen said.
She would soon have Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees under her belt.
“Having a degree has put me at a difference in quality of my life,” said Allen soundly.
One of Allen’s dear friends, Wilma Jordan, says that her love for people, her love for children is what makes her stand out from everyone.
“She will go out of her way, saying, ‘If you need help, I’ll help you do it’,” Jordan said.
Allen then goes after her Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction along with a certificate in administration and supervision, which she received from the University of Houston. As an alumna, Allen worked at the Houston Independent School District (HISD) before working as an adjunct professor for PVAMU, then for TSU. Afterwards, she got elected to the State Board of Education in 1992.
Current PVAMU professor William Parker, who is also a former colleague of Allen, knows the type of professional and person that she is.
“She holds all her colleagues, professors, and students to a standard of excellence,” Parker said.
“As long as she has a tone vision of education, she makes an impact in the community. She is known as an educator of Texas, and in the country”
Later, Allen would land at the Texas House of Representatives having being reelected for two-year terms since 2004 while viewing Houston as a condition of betterment.
“There’s always a lot to improve and I want to be a part of it,” Allen said.
A woman of integrity like herself has considered another opportunity once her Democratic Representative days finish, for she will be a candidate for superintendent of HISD. Her son, Laurence Allen, Jr., sees the character in her mother that impacts the people.
“She motivates other people to get involved. I am so proud of her,” Laurence said.
As reported by the Houston Chronicle, she plans to improve morale and the focus on finances and stability as one of her top priorities.
“The big challenge is to make people feel wanted and needed,” Allen said in the newspaper.
Allen will take this task head-on, if elected, once her term as State Representative ends in 2018.
A date for the choosing of the permanent superintendent has yet to be determined.
