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MAYOR TURNER.[Press Conference: "BeSuccessful Community Capacity Building Initiative"]
MORNING.THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING AS WE ANNOUNCE A NEW COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROJECT, UM, WHICH IS A COMPREHENSIVE INITIATIVE TO TACKLE POVERTY AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN, IN DISTRICT B.
THIS INITIATIVE IS CALLED BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND LET, BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO THANK MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, YOU KNOW, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT IN HELPING MOVE THIS INITIATIVE FORWARD.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UM, OUR COLLEAGUES, MY COLLEAGUES, WHO'S HERE.
WE HAVE VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM CASTEK, TATUM VI, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN.
UM, WHO ELSE IS HERE IF I MISSED? ABBY CAME IN.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
ALSO, I WANT TO THANK ALL OUR PARTNERS WHO ARE THE FOUNDATION OF THIS INITIATIVE.
YOU WILL HEAR SOME FOR SOME OF MY PARTNERS LATER ON DURING THIS PRESS CONFERENCE.
BUT I WANTED TO START BY THANKING DIRECTOR AT, UM, WILLIAMS AND DEBORAH MOORE FROM THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THEY SPENT A LOT OF HOURS WITH US MOVING THIS PROJECT INITIATIVE FORWARD.
ALSO, I WANT TO THANK OUR ANCHOR ORGANIZATIONS, PA, PASTOR GENTRY WITH COMMUNITY WORK, CDC.
UM, WE GOT MATTRESS MAC WITH WORK TEXAS.
UM, WE HAVE PASTOR, UM, DECKARD WITH GREENHOUSE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH, PASTOR STEARNS WITH JOSEPH'S HOUSE IVORY MAHORN, LUNCH POINT CDC.
UM, DOROTHY WAGNER WITH ACRES HOME BARBER COLLEGE, PASTOR JOHNSTON WITH DESTIN FOR EMPOWERMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR CREDIBLE MESSENGER TRAININGS, WHICH IS CM THREE, AND OUR HEALTH WORKER TRAINERS, WHICH IS MJ TRAINING CENTERS.
WE HAVE A QUITE A BIG PART, A LOT OF PARTNERS AS PART OF THIS INITIATIVE.
UM, HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM, HARRIS COUNTY JUVENILE PROBATION, AMAZON LISC, UNION PACIFIC, A-F-L-C-I-O, HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, LONE STAR COLLEGE, ASTROS FOUNDATION, HOUSTON IN ACTION, HOUSTON METRO.
AND I WON'T GO THROUGH THE WHOLE LIST, BUT THANK YOU ALL.
THANK YOU ALL FOR, UM, BEING HERE AGAIN.
UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND OF BE SUCCESSFUL, WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE TO REPRESENT DISTRICT B, MY MAIN PRIORITY WAS TO TACKLE ILLEGAL DUMPING, PUBLIC SAFETY, UNEMPLOYMENT, FLOODING.
BASICALLY, I WANTED TO WORK TO HELP IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT B.
AND THIS INITIATIVE IS THAT STEP OF GETTING US TO OUR GO, ACCOMPLISHING OUR GOAL.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT DISTRICT B IN 2019, UM, DISTRICT B POPULATION WAS APPROXIMATELY 195,000 OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS.
UM, THEY'RE GONNA BE RUNNING THE PRESENTATION OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS.
WE HAVE 46% BLACK AND 48% HISPANIC.
31% OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE NO HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.
34%, UM, HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, AND 25% HAVE SOME COLLEGE.
AND OF COURSE, 10% HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.
BUT WHAT STRUCK ME IS THAT 37% OF A HOUSEHOLD IN DISTRICT B MAKE LESS THAN $25,000 A YEAR.
YOU CANNOT SUSTAIN AND RAISE A FAMILY ON THAT INCOME.
SO THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS WITHIN DISTRICT B RIGHT NOW IS THE LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THE BEST WAY TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY THRIVE IS TO HELP PEOPLE GET INTO SOME GOOD PAYING JOBS SO THAT THEY CAN RAISE THEIR FAMILIES, STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITIES, AND MOST OF ALL, CONNECTING OUR YOUTH TO MENTORS THAT ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THEM.
SO WHAT IS BE SUCCESSFUL BE SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE.
IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY DRIVEN APPROACH THAT WOULD TRANSFORM DISTRICT B BY TACKLING FIVE CHALLENGES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
IT'S ALSO THE GOAL IS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN EMPLOYERS, UM, AND THE COMMUNITIES IN NEED OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND EMPLOYMENT.
WE ARE ALSO GONNA BUILD A CAPACITY OF JUSTICE IMPACTED AND UNDER SOURCED COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY CAN PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN THE ENGAGEMENT, TREATMENT, SUPERVISION, RESTORATION AND SUPPORT OF OUR YOUNG YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES AS A WHOLE.
SO THE PILLARS OF THIS BE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES, ONE IS TO CONNECT RESIDENTS TO TRAINING AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND THE JOBS THAT THEY NEED WITH THE COMPANIES WHO NEED THEM.
'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF COMPANIES SAYING THAT THEY HAVING ISSUES FINDING, EMPLOY, UM, PEOPLE TO, UM, FILL THIS POSITION.
SO WHAT WE WOULD DO IS HIRE AND TRAIN 25 COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, WHICH ARE RESOURCE NAVIGATORS TO CONNECT RESIDENTS TO TRAINING, JOB TRAINING, EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND OTHER RESOURCE, UM, UM, RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
WE WOULD CONDUCT JOB READINESS WORKSHOPS WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR.
OUR GOAL IS TO GET 600 PEOPLE PLACED IN TO SOME JOBS AND CONNECT JOBS, UM, SEEKERS TO WRAPAROUND AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY FRONT.
ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY HAS BEEN A HUGE ISSUE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
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UM, ONE SAFE HOUSTON INITIATIVE AS WELL AS THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.AND SO, UM, WE WILL HIRE A TOTAL OF 25 COMMUNITY CREDIBLE MESSENGERS.
AND THESE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS ARE BASICALLY NATURAL LEADERS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATED THEIR OWN PRIOR ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND HAVE SHARED SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AS YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE OR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
BUT THESE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS WILL ALSO PROMOTE LIFE SKILLS AND ENCOURAGE THESE MENTORS TO GET AN EDUCATION IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND GET A, A JOB SO THAT THEY CAN BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.
UM, CREDIBLE MESSENGERS HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD RECORD OF REDUCING YOUTH RECIDIVISM RATES BY 13%.
AND THAT'S IN CHICAGO, BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON DC AND WE'LL HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT CREDIBLE MESSENGER FROM JUVENILE PROBATION AND JEREMY KRA COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND ORGANIZATION CAPACITY BUILDING.
WE NEED OUR ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHO ARE ON THE GROUND EVERY DAY TO HELP SUPPORT THIS WORK.
AND SO THE BE SUCCESSFUL WITH DEVELOP AND COACH UP 10 ANCHOR ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS DISTRICT B WILL BE THE MAIN HUBS WHERE RESIDENTS CAN CONNECT WITH WHATEVER TYPE OF RESOURCES THEY NEED, WHETHER IT IS JOBS, WHETHER IT'S DAYCARE, WHETHER IF THEY NEED BUS FARE, IF THEY NEED THE, THEY NEED THEIR TRASH PICKED UP, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO WITHIN SOME TO SOMEONE WITHIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD TO GET THOSE RESOURCES.
WE ALSO GONNA PARTNER WITH RE RESILIA AND RESILIA WOULD COME IN AND WORK WITH 30 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP THEM BUILD THEIR CAPACITY.
THAT WORK WOULD INCLUDE HELPING THEM GET THEIR BOARDS IN ORDER, HOW TO FUNDRAISE, JUST BASICALLY WORKING WITH OUR ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT THEY CAN DO EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED.
NOW, IT'S HARD TO BUY HEALTHY, AFFORDABLE FOOD IN OUR, UM, DISTRICT.
ACCORDING TO THE USDA FOOD, UM, MAP, DISTRICT B HAS THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF A FOOD DESERT IN HOUSTON.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, DISTRICT B HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH NUMBER OF BLOTTED BUILDINGS.
AND SO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE IS BASICALLY WE'RE IDENTIFYING CREATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDING SOURCES TO REHAB, UM, BLOTTED BUILDINGS WITHIN DISTRICT B, SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND PRO PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH AMENITIES, AMENITIES THAT THEY NEED, INCLUDING GROCERY STORES AND RESTAURANTS.
AND LASTLY, WE WANT TO GIVE THE RESIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CO-CREATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE DEVELOPERS COME IN AND THEY BUILD WHAT THEY WANNA BUILD.
THE RESIDENTS HAVE IDENTIFIED PROJECTS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MOVE FORWARD.
AND THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE THE HOMESTEAD SHOPPING CENTER, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE KELLY CORRIDOR OFF OF, UM, AND CASHEL GARDEN, AND TRINITY GARDEN, EAST TEX, JENSEN, ORLANDO'S GROCERY STORE, WHICH IS THE WEST MONTGOMERY CORRIDOR.
WE HAVE LAKEWOOD PLAZA IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND THE GREENS POINT MALL.
SO THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE PROJECTS AS THE COMMUNITY HAVE ACTUALLY PUT IN PLANS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE INVESTED IN REHAB WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
LASTLY, THE VISION, MY VISION FOR DISTRICT B IS CENTERED ON BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES WHERE OUR FAMILIES CAN THRIVE, WHERE EVERYONE HAS WHAT THEY NEED TO LIVE FREELY AND FULLY, JUST LIKE GROCERY STORES, LIBRARIES, AND, UM, PARKS.
PARKS ARE NEEDED FOR HEALTHY COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
SO I'M EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH MAYORS, UM, 50 50 INITIATIVE.
UM, HE'S BEEN DOING A LOT OF GREAT WORK IN OUR PARKS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD, BUT I STILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT'S ON THE FOREFRONT THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER PARKS THAT NEED SOME, SOME, SOME TENDER LOVING CARE.
AND SO THESE PARKS INCLUDE TRINITY GARDENS PARK, HARBOR POTATO PARK, WHICH WE JUST, UM, MAYOR JUST UPGRADED THAT A FEW WEEKS AGO.
VERDE PARK, VERY FOREST PARK, SMOKEY, JASPER PARK, TIDWELL PARK, HIGHLAND PARK, AND TROTTER PARK.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE PARKS AND DISTRICT B THAT NEED SOME UPGRADES.
AND OUR PRIORITY IS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RESOURCES TO GET THESE PARKS INPLACE.
NOW THIS INITIATIVE IS NOT FREE.
THE CITY IS NOT PAYING FOR IT.
WE HAVE TO RAISE THE MONEY TO ACTUALLY MOVE THIS INITIATIVE FORWARD.
AND SO FOR THE JOBS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, TO HIRE 25 COMMUNITY RESOURCE NAVIGATORS FOR THE FIRST YEAR WILL BE 2000, I'M SORRY, 2,593,000 AND FOR FIVE YEARS.
AND THIS INITIATIVE IS A FIVE YEAR INITIATIVE BECAUSE WE, IT IS GONNA TAKE SOME TIME TO GET PEOPLE INTO IN THE GROOVE, BUT FOR FIVE, FOR THE, FOR OVER THE FIVE YEARS FOR THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE NAVIGATORS IS 12,966,000.
AND FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY, CREDIBLE MESSENGERS FOR THE FIRST YEAR IS 2,457,000.
AND OF COURSE, OF COURSE, OVER FIVE YEARS IS 12,287,000.
SO THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR THIS INITIATIVE OVER THE FIVE YEARS IS 27,500, NO, 27,537,000, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE THIS INITIATIVE FORWARD.
SO, I KNOW IT'S A LOT, BUT IT'S AGRE, IT'S, IT'S AGGRESSIVE, BUT WE CAN DO IT.
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INVESTING, INVESTING IN PEOPLE.YOU KNOW, WE DO A LOT OF INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND PEOPLE ARE PART OF OUR INFRAS INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO INVITE MY MAYOR, MY CHEERLEADER UP, UM, TO GIVE A FEW WORDS AND YEAH, JUST ENDORSE THIS PROJECT.
LOOK, LET ME, LET ME JUST START OFF BY SAYING HOW, HOW PROUD I AM OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TASHA JACKSON.
UM, LOOK, SHE IS VERY FOCUSED.
UM, AND SHE SAID FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, UH, THAT SHE WANTED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS IN DISTRICT B.
UH, SHE DIDN'T WANNA WAIT A LOT OF TIME IN WHICH TO GET IT DONE.
UH, SHE WANTED TO PUSH TO GET IT DONE.
AND, UH, AND SHE IS, UH, SHE IS, UH, STAYING TRUE, UH, TO HER, TO HER PURPOSE.
THE BE SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE, UH, WILL HELP ALL OF THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT B.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU HELP THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT B, YOU'RE HELPING THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
AND SO, I JUST, I, I AM, I AM SO PROUD, UH, OF THE WORK THAT SHE'S DOING.
UH, SHE PUSHES, UH, HER MAYOR, UH, HARD.
AND, UH, SHE SENDS ME FRIENDLY TEXTS EVERY MORNING,
HAVE A BLESSED MORNING, UH, EVERY SINGLE MORNING.
AND, UH, LET ME TELL YOU, UH, YOU CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE AT GETTING WHAT YOU WANT WHEN YOU TAKE THAT, WHEN YOU TAKE THAT APPROACH.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER.
UH, THE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS PROGRAM THAT'S A PART OF THAT 27 MILLION, UH, THAT FALLS UNDER THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON PROGRAM.
AND, UH, WE HAVE ALREADY DEDICATED $2.5 MILLION, UH, OF OPERA FUNDING FOR THE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS PROGRAM.
SO THAT PIECE IS TAKEN CARE OF FROM THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER.
WITH RESPECT TO THE PARKS, UH, THAT WERE MENTIONED, UH, WE'VE ALREADY MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS ON HOBERT TAYLOR PARK AS A PART OF OUR LOVE YOUR PARK INITIATIVE.
UH, THERE WAS ANOTHER PARK ON THERE, DESOTA PARK, UH, WHICH IS AN ACRE HOME, UH, THAT IS ALREADY PLANNED IN THE PERMITTING PHASE.
THOSE KIDS HAVE BEEN PLAYING ON, UH, PLAYING TENNIS ON A SEAMEN TENNIS COURT, UH, MATTRESS MAG FOR THE LONGEST, QUITE FRANKLY.
I WENT OUT THERE ON SOMETHING ELSE, AND WE, THE RENDEZVOUS PLACE WAS HOVER, WAS, UH, THE DESOTA, HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, DESOTA, UH, TAYLOR, UH, I MEAN DESOTA PARK.
AND, UH, AND I SAW THE TENNIS COACH AND THE, AND ABOUT 10 KIDS, AFRICAN AMERICAN KIDS, UH, READY TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY TENNIS.
UH, BUT WHEN I SAW WHAT THEY WERE PLAYING ON, UH, IT, UM, IT WAS JUST DISAPPOINTING.
SO IN TALKING WITH PARKS AND REC AND RECTOR, KENNETH ALLEN, UH, THAT TENNIS COURT AND THOSE OTHER ELEMENTS OUT THERE ARE BEING REDONE, UH, GOING THROUGH THE PERMITTING PHASE.
SO WE ARE ADDRESSING, WE ARE ADDRESSING ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE PARKS.
AND I WILL TELL YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE, THERE ARE 22 PARKS, UH, THAT ARE PART OF THE 50 50 INITIATIVE THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO GET SUBSTANTIAL UPLIFT, UH, BEFORE THE END OF DECEMBER OF 2023, BEFORE THE END OF NEXT YEAR.
AND MANY OF THOSE PARKS ARE IN THE PERMITTING PHASE.
SO WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THAT INITIATIVE.
AND AGAIN, UH, THAT IS A PART OF, UH, THE BE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AND THE ADVOCACY, UH, OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND I WANT TO THANK HER FOR IT ON COMPLETE.
YEAH, THANK, SHE SPOKE ABOUT, UH, ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES.
UH, AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN DISTRICT B WHO ARE IN NEED OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
UH, UH, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE, AS A PART OF THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, UH, WE HAVE TAKEN OVER, TAKEN OWNERSHIP, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, UH, WHAT USED TO BE BETHUNE ELEMENTARY ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE, UH, WORKING WITH ALL DEAN, UH, WORKING WITH LONE STAR.
MY DAUGHTER WORKS WITH THE LONE STAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
WE HAVE TAKEN THAT ON WITH A 30 YEAR LEASE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND TURNING THAT INTO A FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER, UH, THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE SCHOOL IS NOW OURS.
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THAT THAT TOO IS A PART OF THE BE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE.UM, UM, THERE, WE HAVE SEVERAL PARTNERS THAT ARE WORKING ON THAT FRONT.
IT IS CURRENTLY BEING BUILT OUT AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW.
UM, JUST TALKED WITH SOME ENERGY REPRESENTATIVES BECAUSE THE GOAL IS TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT SEGMENT OF THAT, UH, WHAT WE USED TO BE A SCHOOL, WHICH IS NOW THE EMPOWERMENT CENTER, UH, SPACE FOR THE ENERGY COMPANIES, UH, TO REALLY FOCUS ON, TO TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND GIVE KIDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, WHERE THEY CAN GO RIGHT THERE IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
RIGHT? UM, SO WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT WITH TXRX AND E EAST HOUSTON.
NOW WE NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT, RIGHT IN DISTRICT B.
SO WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THAT FRONT.
THE EAST RIVER DEVELOPMENT IS TAKING PLACE CURRENTLY.
IT WOULD INCLUDE 300,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE SPACE, 100,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL, AND 360 MULTIFAMILY UNITS.
THAT EAST RIVER PROJECT, UH, IS CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT, UH, IN DISTRICT B.
IT TIES INTO, UH, THE INVESTMENT THAT'S BEING MADE AT THE BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP, THE KINDER FOUNDATION THAT DONATED A HUNDRED MILLION.
AND WHAT I SAID TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER, AS WE DEVELOPED IN THAT AREA, IT NOW NEED, THE INVESTMENTS NOW NEED TO BLEED EVEN FURTHER INTO THE NORTHEAST SECTOR.
AND SO WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO VISIT AND TALK WITH SEVERAL IN REFERENCE TO HOMESTEAD AND TIDWELL, UH, WHAT USED TO BE A KROGER THERE.
UH, AND QUITE FRANKLY, WHAT DISTRICT B NEEDS, UH, LIKE SEVERAL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT THEY NEED A HIGH QUALITY GROCERY STORE, UH, IN DISTRICT B.
AND ONE OF THE WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE OR ENCOURAGE THAT IS THAT WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I'M PLEASED WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH ROBERTS LANDING, A SINGLE FAMILY HOME DEVELOPMENT OF NEARLY 500 HOMES, UH, ACROSS 127 ACRES IN THE NORTHEAST HOUSTON THAT HAS BEEN DONE WITH HABITAT, WITH THE, AND HUMANITIES THAT'S CURRENTLY IN PLACE.
AND HOPEFULLY AS, AS MORE ROOFTOPS ARE DEVELOPED AND WE HAVE MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THEN WE ALSO NEED TO ENCOURAGE, INCENTIVIZE, UH, HIGHER QUALITY RETAIL GROCERY STORE IN THAT NORTHEAST SECTOR.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, THAT LOCATION AT HOMESTEAD AND TIDWELL WOULD BE A, WOULD BE AN IDEAL SITE.
SO LEMME JUST SAY, AS I WRAP UP, LET ME JUST SAY TO, UH, MANY OF OUR RETAILERS WHO DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DON'T YOU WANNA BE A PART OF THE BE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE? AND ONE WAY, AND ONE WAY TO BE A PART OF THE BE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE IS FOR THE HEBS OR THE KROGER'S OR THE OTHER GROCERY STORES TO SAY, WE WILL JOIN IN WITH THIS INITIATIVE AND DEVELOP AT THAT PARTICULAR SITE.
AND WHAT I WOULD SAY TO THEM IS THAT WE WILL JOIN WITH YOU, LIKE WE JOIN WITH THE, UH, HEB AT MCGREGOR AND INCENTIVIZE THERE.
WE ARE PREPARED TO INCENTIVIZE ANY MAJOR RETAILER THAT GOES INTO NORTHEAST HOUSTON.
SO I'M EXCITED, I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL MEMBER LASER FOCUS, AS YOU CAN SEE, SHE'S GOT ALL OF US HERE,
AND, UH, I, UH, HAD ME TO CHANGE MY PLANS TO BE HERE,
UH, THEY NEED TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, AND THEY NEED TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THEIR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES EXIST, WHERE THEY'RE SAFE, AND WHERE THEIR KIDS HAVE QUALITY OF LIFE, LIKE PARKS AND OTHER GREEN SPACE, THEY'RE DESERVING OF THAT, AND WE NEED TO DO NO LESS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
AND I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR FIRST DAUGHTER, I FORGOT SHE WAS HERE WITH LONE STAR, BUT THAT'S OUR THANK YOU FOR COMING, ASHLEY.
UM, NEXT I'M GONNA BRING UP OUR, ONE OF OUR BE SUCCESSFUL PARTNERS, UM, JIM MATTRESS MAC, UM, WITH WORK TEXAS.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP.
THEY'RE ALREADY DOING A LOT OF WORK IN, UM, DISTRICT B, AND SO JUST THIS PARTNERSHIP IS GONNA, UM, MAGNIFY WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK YOU'RE DOING FOR PROJECT BE SUCCESSFUL.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE MAYOR THAT I HAVE A RATHER LARGE FURNITURE STORE ON THE NORTH FREEWAY
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JUST KIDDING.I, UM, HEB, KROGER, THESE OTHER PEOPLE NEED TO BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY'RE NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT'S NOT RIGHT NOW, THAT REALLY BOTHERS ME.
THE BEST ADVICE I EVER GOT IN MY LIFE WAS FROM MY FATHER.
HE PROBABLY STARTED GIVING ME THIS ADVICE WHEN I WAS SIX YEARS OLD.
HE WOULD ALWAYS SAY TO ME, GET UP, GO TO WORK AND MAKE SOMETHING OUTTA YOUR LIFE.
EVERY DAY WOULD TELL ME THAT, GET UP, GO TO WORK AND MAKE SOMETHING OUTTA YOUR LIFE.
WE HAVE TO BRING THAT MESSAGE TO THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN HOUSTON WHO, WHO ARE UNFORTUNATELY ROBBED OF THE GREATEST JOY IN LIFE.
AND THAT JOB, THAT JOY IS THE JOY OF WORK.
WE GOTTA GET THESE PEOPLE A JOB.
WHERE THEY CAN EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF WORK.
PEOPLE ASK ME ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THEY THINK I'M SUCCESSFUL.
THE JOURNEY OF BEING SUCCESSFUL.
NUMBER ONE, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? WHAT'S THE BEST ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE ME TO BE SUCCESSFUL? AND THEY ASKED ME, NUMBER TWO, WHEN ARE YOU GONNA RETIRE?
AND IN ORDER FOR ALL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TO DO THAT, THERE HAS TO BE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THEY CAN START A JOB.
AND IF THEY FAIL, THAT'S OKAY.
TRY ANOTHER ONE, TRY ANOTHER ONE, TRY ANOTHER ONE.
SO IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT, MY FRIEND MIKE FEINBERG AND I PUT TOGETHER WORK TEXAS AT GALLERY FURNITURE, WHERE WE TEACH FREE TRADE SCHOOLS LIKE CONSTRUCTION, WELDING, PLUMBING, ELECTRICITY, UH, CULINARY, ALL SORTS OF TRADES ON THE NORTH SIDE FOR FREE.
WE ALSO HAVE A, UH, FREE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL FROM STUDENT 16 TO 26 WHO HAVEN'T FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL.
WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THESE YOUNG PEOPLE LEARN HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND WE HAVE A FREE DAYCARE CENTER THERE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL THROUGH THE JOY OF WORK.
PEOPLE THAT ARE ROBBED OF THE JOY OF WORK ARE ROBBED OF THE GREATEST JOY IN LIFE.
BEING UNEMPLOYED, I WAS UNEMPLOYED FOR A SHORT TIME IN MY LIFE, WAS THE WORST TIME OF MY LIFE.
WE HAD TO GIVE THESE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE SOMEBODY.
AND I'LL CLOSE WITH A QUICK STATE STATEMENT.
MY FRIEND YVONNE STRAIT RUNS BROOKWOOD, WHICH IS A HOME FOR ADULTS WITH SEVERE LEARNING DISABILITIES IN BROOKSHIRE, TEXAS.
THEY HAVE 99 FULL-TIME RESIDENTS THERE, AND EVERY FULL-TIME RESIDENT, WHETHER THEY HAVE SEVERE DOWN SYNDROME, WHETHER THEY HAVE BRAIN DAMAGE, WHATEVER, AUTISM, EVERY RESIDENT THERE HAS A FULL-TIME JOB BECAUSE YVONNE, LIKE ME, BELIEVES THAT WORK IS LIFE'S GREATEST THERAPY.
SO A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, THIS VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS PERSON GOT A SEVERE AUTO MOTORCYCLE WRECK AND WAS BRAIN DAMAGED.
AND, UH, SO THEY MOVED THIS PERSON INTO BROOKWOOD TO HELP CARE FOR HIM.
AND YVONNE AND THEM KEPT TRYING TO GET HIM A JOB AND TRYING TO GET HIM A JOB, AND HE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING.
YVONNE HAS SEEN THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS OF BROOKWOOD COME IN WITH THEIR SELF-ESTEEM DOWN HERE, AND THEN THEIR SELF-ESTEEM GOES UP THROUGH THE ROOF ONCE THEY GET THAT JOB.
SO THEY FINALLY FOUND THIS GUY A JOB, AND HE LIKED HIS JOB, WHAT HE WAS DOING, MAKING TRINKETS.
AND, UH, HE'D BEEN A SUPER SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS PERSON.
NOW, HE WAS THERE AT BROOKWOOD AND HE'D BEEN WORKING HIS JOB FOR ABOUT A MONTH.
AND ONE DAY YVONNE WAS SITTING ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN HER OFFICE, AND SHE SAW THIS GREAT BIG GROWN MAN COME RUNNING DOWN THE HALLWAY AT FULL SPRINT WITH A PIECE OF PAPER IN, IN HIS HAND, AND HIM BEING BRAIN IMPAIRED.
YVONNE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS GONNA DO OR WHAT HE WAS GONNA SAY, AND HE BURST IN HER OFFICE.
SHE SAID, JOHN, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? HE SAID, MR. STRAIGHT, MR. STRAIGHT, MR. STRAIGHT.
SHE SAID, JOHN, WHAT'D YOU GET? WHAT'D YOU GET? WHAT'D YOU GET? HE SAID, I GOT A PAYCHECK.
OUR JOB IS TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE IN COUNCIL LADIES DISTRICT, DISTRICT B, BECOME REAL PEOPLE THROUGH THE JOY OF WORK.
I ALSO WANNA ANNOUNCE AT THE, AT THE JOB FAIR ON SATURDAY, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS HUNDREDS OF POSITIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
UH, JANE CHEEKS IS HERE AS DIRECTOR OF HR, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL BE AT THAT JOB FAIR, READY, AND PREPARED TO HIRE.
SO WON, PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
UM, AND SO I WANNA INTRODUCE OUR INTERMEDIARY OF THIS INITIATIVE, WHICH IS, UM, PASTOR GENTRY WITH COMMUNITY WORKS,
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CDC, AND HE'S GONNA GIVE A FEW, FEW WORDS.UM, TODAY IS UHANSWERED PRAYER.
UH, AND THIS BE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE.
IT'S, IT'S, UH, MANIFESTED PROMISES.
UM, THE FAITH COMMUNITY AND THE NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY, UH, IN HOUSTON HAS BEEN PRAYING FOR THE CALIBER OF LEADERSHIP THAT YOU SEE ON THE STAGE IN OUR MAYOR AND IN OUR COUNCILWOMAN IN TRIBUTE BEAST.
SO CAN WE GIVE THEM A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP? UM, WHEN, WHEN, UH, WHEN COUNCILWOMAN TOOK OFFICE AND EVEN WHEN SHE WAS CAMPAIGNING, SHE MADE SOME PROMISES OF SOME THINGS THAT SHE WAS GONNA DO AND BE SUCCESSFUL IS MANIFESTED PROMISE.
SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT COMMUNITY WORK.
UH, WE SERVED IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, THE NORTH FOREST CORRIDOR, UM, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT.
WANNA PAUSE, ACKNOWLEDGED CHRIS SENEGAL, ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO'S HERE, UH, A PROMINENT DEVELOPER AND DOING SOME GREAT THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF, UH, ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT.
UH, JACKIE OTTMAN, ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS IS ALSO HERE AS WELL.
UM, REALLY WE REPRESENT, UM, AS THE FISCAL AGENT.
WE REPRESENT THESE SIX ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ANCHOR ORGANIZATIONS WHO'VE BEEN DOING THE HEAVY LIFTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES FOR DECADES.
SO, UH, YOU, YOU HEARD THEIR NAMES EARLIER.
UH, DESTINED FOR EMPOWERMENT, GREENHOUSE CHURCH INTERNATIONAL, JOSEPH HOUSE MINISTRIES, ACRES HOMES, BARBER COLLEGE, UM, LAUNCH POINTS.
AND OF COURSE, COMMUNITY WORK.
CAN YOU GIVE THESE ANCHOR ORGANIZATIONS A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP? UM, NOT ONLY IS IT AWESOME BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO DURING DISASTERS, DURING PANDEMICS, UM, IT'S ALSO AMAZING THAT THIS BE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE, UH, IS A CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE THAT HELPS AUGMENT, SUPPORT AND ADVANCE OUR MISSION.
UM, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF THAT HAPPENING.
UM, WE ARE DOING CAPACITY BUILDING.
UH, WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE STRENGTHENED, THAT THEY HAVE ALL THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO GROW THEIR MISSIONS.
WE'RE DOING COALITION BUILDING.
UH, WE ARE WORKING, UH, UH, UH, WITH EACH OTHER.
WE ARE COMING OUT OF OUR SILOS.
WE'RE COLLABORATING, AND WE'RE ALSO, UM, UH, UH, FORMING BOTH POLITICAL, SOCIAL, UH, ALLIANCES IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT DISTRICT B STAYS TIGHT.
SO, THERE ARE SOME UNACCEPTABLE REALITIES THAT'S IN DISTRICT B THAT WE ALL AGREE, WHETHER WE'RE BAPTIST, WHETHER WE'RE, UH, EPISCOPAL, WHETHER WE'RE THE MOSQUE, DOESN'T MATTER.
THERE'S SOME UNACCEPTABLE REALITIES THAT WE'RE ALL COALESCED AROUND TO HELP MITIGATE AND ERADICATE.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES BE SUCCESSFUL.
SO MY APPEAL IS VOLUNTEER PARTNER DONATE, VOLUNTEER PARTNER, DONATE, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
UH, WHEN I SAY WE WILL EVERYBODY SAY BE SUCCESSFUL, WE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE A WORD FROM METRO, UM, JOSE PO.
UM, METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY.
UM, WE APPRECIATE BEING A PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR INVITING US, MAYOR AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR STARTER.
UM, METRO PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN OUR REGION, AND WHAT MAKES METRO SPECIAL IS THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT WORK AT METRO.
AND, UM, I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT ORGANIZATION.
IT'S AN EXCITING TIME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR KNOW.
UM, METRO IS DOING A LOT OF WORK IN THE COMMUNITY, EXPANDING OUR SERVICES AS THE REGION CONTINUES TO GROW.
WE'RE HERE TRYING TO MEET THOSE NEEDS, AND WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING FOR MORE PEOPLE TO BE A PART OF THE METRO ORGANIZATION.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING FOR BUS OPERATORS.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR, UH, BUS MECHANICS.
WE HAVE A DEDICATED WEBSITE THAT'S THERE, UM, THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO WORK FOR METRO, UH, WORK FOR METRO.ORG.
YOU CAN GO TO THAT WEBSITE AND LOOK FOR THE JOBS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO HIRE.
WE HAVE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NEW HIRES AND WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THAT JOBS FAIR THAT YOU HAVE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1ST AT THE HCC NORTH FOREST.
AND, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING US AS A PARTNER AND WE LOOK FORWARD, UH, TO BEING, YOU KNOW, PART OF THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND NEXT I'LL HAVE MR. SINGLETON, WHICH IS A, HE'S A MEDIA, UM, UM, APPRENTICE RIGHT NOW.
SO WE KIND OF DID A SLOW LAUNCH.
SO PEOPLE STARTED, YOU KNOW, REGISTERING TO BE APPRENTICESHIPS, AND WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE HIM A FEW OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
HOW YOU DOING? MY NAME IS LANCE SINGLETON.
A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW ME AS LEO CANO.
I'VE BEEN, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME PRODUCING MUSIC.
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HOST ON HIGH TV.UM, SO I GOT A CHANCE TO SEE THE COMMUNITY.
I USED TO WATCH THE MAYOR ON TV TALK ABOUT HOW WE TRYING TO BRING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TOGETHER.
UM, A LOT OF THESE GUYS ARE LOST, YOU KNOW, UM, THEY DON'T HAVE DIRECTION, OR SOME OF THEM DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.
I FEEL LIKE, UH, THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IS UNDER MONEY MINOR, UH, RECORDS AND ENTERTAINMENT.
UM, WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SYSTEM.
WE, WE TRAIN AT THE MJ TRAINING CENTER.
UM, WE TEACH 'EM HOW TO FILM AND EDIT FOR TV AS WELL.
I'M TEACHING 'EM HOW TO COMPOSE MUSIC.
I HAVE A ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN SCIENCE AND MUSIC PRODUCTION.
UM, I'VE BEEN AROUND IT AT THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS FOR 22 YEARS.
I'M THANKFUL FOR MISS KIMBERLY.
UH, MISS IVETA, WE ALL CAME TOGETHER.
DISTRICT V WE SHOT OUR FIRST FILM WITH THEM.
UH, WE GOT A CHANCE TO SEE THE CITY, THE, THE SHERIFF, UH, THE CHIEF, AND, UM, EVERYBODY JUST TRYING TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE SO WE ALL COULD BE SUCCESSFUL.
SO WE GROWING AS, UH, GOING OUT TALKING TO THE KIDS.
UH, SOME KIDS THAT DON'T HAVE DIPLOMAS, WE ACTUALLY TRYING TO HELP THEM GET THEIR DIPLOMAS AND SHOW 'EM THAT THEY GOT A WAY IN A LANE OF LIFE.
ALRIGHT, YOU, SO WE DEFINITELY BLESSED TO BE A PART OF IT.
UM, NEXT WE'LL HAVE DIANA QUINTANA, WHICH IS, UM, WITH HARRIS COUNTY JUVENILE PROBATION, ANOTHER PARTNER, UM, OF THIS INITIATIVE.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING JUVENILE PROBATION.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK ASHA FOR, UM, THEIR, UM, LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING FORTH THIS PROGRAM WITH INITIATIVE, MR. MAYOR, FOR SUPPORTING THIS INITIATIVE.
I WILL TELL YOU WHY IN A LITTLE BIT.
I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER FOR THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY WHENEVER WE, UM, SO IN SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS ON COMMUNITY BUILDING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS OUR, UM, OUR, UH, WHICH IS OUR, OUR VISION, UM, THE TO BE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE IS, THIS IS IMPRESSIVE.
I MEAN, IT IS AN INCREDIBLE SHOWS WHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU BRING, UH, A LOT OF PARTNERS TOGETHER FROM A LOT OF THE, THE CITY, THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS, UM, JUSTICE.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S IMPRESSIVE.
AND THAT IS, I THINK MOST WHAT'S GONNA MAKE IT THE MOST SUCCESSFUL.
UM, SO CREDIBLE MESSENGER, MESSENGER IS A PART OF THIS INITIATIVE.
I JUST WANNA TELL YOU A FEW THINGS ABOUT CRITICAL MESSENGER, WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO US TO JUVENILE PROBATION.
UM, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT JUST FOR JUVENILE PROBATION, BUT, UM, I THINK MOST OF YOU HERE EITHER HAVE KIDS OR ARE AROUND KIDS OR WORK WITH KIDS.
AND, UM, I THINK ANY POINT IN TIME YOU, THEY GET INTO A CRISIS, INTO A SITUATION, YOU TRY TO GIVE THEM ADVICE, YOU KNOW, AND THEY ACT LIKE YOU'RE IN DIFFERENT, THE TRI PERIOD.
YOU KNOW, LIKE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH.
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT MY CIRCUMSTANCE? AND THAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT MAKE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS, UH, WORK BECAUSE THEY ARE CREDIBLE, THEY'RE MESSENGER ARE CREDIBLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SPECIAL AND UNIQUE LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THEY CAN'T JUST NEGATE, RIGHT? IT'S LIKE, OH, WELL I CAN'T SAY NO WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE THEY DO.
SO, AND IT IS THOSE LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES I THINK THAT MAKE THEM SUCH A POWERFUL MENTORS FOR, FOR, UM, FOR YOUTH IN PARTICULARLY, UM, IN MY CASE, UH, JUST INVOLVED YOUTH.
I THINK WHAT DOESN'T GET SAID ENOUGH, WHAT DOESN'T GET STRESSED ABOUT THEIR CREDIBLE MESSENGER PROGRAM IS WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE COMMUNITIES, RIGHT? BECAUSE THESE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS COME FROM THESE COMMUNITIES, IMPACTED COMMUNITIES, RIGHT? SO, UM, AND IN WORKING WITH JUVENILES AT RISK OR JUVENILE JUSTICE INVOLVED IN OUR, IN OUR CASE, THEY ARE WORKING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WORKING TO, IN MANY CASES, RESOLVE CONFLICTS, RIGHT? SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TO THESE COMMUNITIES, YOU HAVE IT WITHIN YOU, YOU HAVE IT WITHIN YOU, THE ABILITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND TO HANDLE THIS CONFLICTS AND TO RAISE ABOVE THIS CRISIS, YOU ARE TELLING THIS NEIGHBORHOOD YOU CAN DO THIS WITH WITHIN YOURSELF.
YOU HAVE THAT CAPACITY SO THAT, THAT SOMETIMES DOESN'T, SORT OF, DOESN'T GET, UM, STRESSED.
WITH REGARDS TO THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER PROGRAM, WE, WE BELIEVE IN THIS PROGRAM, WE BELIEVE IT SO MUCH THAT JUVENILE PROBATION, WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED KIND OF A VERSION OF IT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS OUR JU OUR POST ADJUDICATED FACILITY.
'CAUSE THAT THOSE ARE KIND OF COMMITTEE WITHIN THEMSELVES.
SO WE WE'RE, WE'RE, UM, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, UH, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT, IMPLEMENTING A SORT OF A VERSION OF IT.
BUT, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY IT IS A GREAT PROGRAM.
WE ARE EXCITED, WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT GROW AND WE CAN'T MAKE TO WAIT TO BE PART OF IT.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, FOR DOING THIS.
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YOU SO MUCH.AND LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR OUR CREDIBLE MESSAGES.
WE HAVE QUITE A FEW CREDIBLE MESSAGES HERE.
CAN Y'ALL RAISE YOUR HAND? ALL OUR CREDIBLE MESSENGERS WHO ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THE TRAINING, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW OF THEM.
SO THANK Y'ALL, UM, FOR, FOR BEING HERE.
NEXT WE ARE GONNA, UM, HAVE A WORD FROM OUR CREDIBLE MESSENGER ADMINISTRATOR, UM, JEREMY CRAFT.
UM, AS ASHA SAID, JEREMY KRAFT, I'M THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER MENTOR MOVEMENT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE BE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE THAT FALLS UNDER THE, THE MAYOR'S ONE SAFE HOUSTON INITIATIVE.
UH, DIANA KIND OF TOOK MY WHOLE SPIEL ABOUT CREDIBLE MESSENGERS
SO I'M GONNA JUST TELL Y'ALL A QUICK STORY ABOUT A 12-YEAR-OLD.
IT WAS A 12-YEAR-OLD KID WHO HAD, HE WAS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH A DAILY WEAPON.
SO HE HAD FIVE YEARS OF PROBATION FROM THE AGE OF 12 TO 17.
UM, THIS KID STILL WENT ON TO GET AN ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP AT PRAIRIE AND M UNIVERSITY.
HE STILL WENT ON TO GET AN INTERNSHIP, UH, WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WORKING ON A 16 POINT BILLION DOLLARS PROJECT IN SOUTH KOREA.
HE, LATER ON WOULD TAKE THAT EXPERIENCE AND WORK HERE WITH A LOCAL ENGINEERING FIRM, UH, ON THE SHIP CHANNEL BRIDGE EXPANSION PROJECT, WHICH WAS ONE OF HARRIS COUNTY LARGEST, UH, JO UH, UH, JOBS AT THE TIME.
UM, HE WOULD, HE WOULD TAKE THESE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, UH, AND LEAVE AND BEGIN TO DO MORE COMMUNITY WORK INVOLVED WHERE HE'S MENTORING YOUTH AND DOING THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
JUST GETTING BACK INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON, RIGHT HERE IN AKER HOMES.
AND, UM, THAT 12-YEAR-OLD KID IS STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
IT'S A, IT'S A TESTAMENT OF THE MENTORS, UM, THE PEERS, THE LEADERS THAT, UH, I CONNECTED MYSELF WITH.
AND THAT'S WHAT CREDIBLE MESSENGERS ARE ALL ABOUT.
IT IS, IT'S ABOUT GIVING THOSE YOUTH THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES, GROW FROM THEIR MISTAKES, AND PROVIDE THOSE MENTORS WHO HAVE THOSE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AND TO SHOW THEM THAT YOU CAN STILL BE SUCCESSFUL NO MATTER WHERE YOU START.
YOU CAN STILL BE SUCCESSFUL AS LONG AS YOU KNOW HOW TO FINISH.
SO THANK YOU FOR, HE GOT ME IN TEARS OVER HERE,
AND LASTLY, WE'LL HAVE OUR VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, SHE'S GONNA COME UP AND GIVE US A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE CLOSE.
THIS IS EXCITING TO COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.
THIS IS HOPE, UH, IF YOU HAVE WORKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, UM, SINCE SHE GOT ELECTED EVERY DAY, SHE'S TALKING ABOUT THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER PROGRAM.
I WAS LIKE, GIRL, WHAT'S CREDIBLE MESSENGER,
AND SHE CAME AND SHE TOLD ME WHAT CREDIBLE MESSENGER IS.
SHE SAID, MY BE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.
SHE ADVOCATED FOR THIS PROGRAM AND SHE HAS BEEN A COL CONVENER, UM, FOR HER COMMUNITY.
AND WHEN I TELL YOU SHE IS ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT B EVERY SINGLE DAY, 24 HOURS A DAY, BECAUSE HER HEART IS FOR THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT B.
SO, ON BEHALF OF YOUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU AND ALL OF THESE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS.
AND EVERYONE WHO'S PLAYING A MAGNIFICENT PART OF THE BE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO A SUCCESSFUL EVENT ON SATURDAY.
AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN DISTRICT B HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND BEFORE WE CLOSE, I JUST WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UM, MS. MOORE OVER THERE WHO'S WORKED CLOSELY WITH US OVER THE PAST YEAR, JUST HELPING US THINK THIS, THIS WHOLE INITIATIVE THROUGH THANK YOU, UM, TO YOU AND DIRECTOR WILLIAMS REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.
UM, HE'S GONNA BE LEADING UP OUR NEXT CREDIBLE MESSENGER COHORT, WHICH IS GONNA START OCTO IN OCTOBER.
THE OCTOBER THE, WE HAVE A DATE, THE 17TH, WHICH IS THE NEXT COHORT OF TRAINING.
IT'S FOR OPEN FOR ALL OF HOUSTON.
IT'S NOT JUST DISTRICT BS FOR EVERYONE.
DISTILL THIS MAYOR'S ONE SAFE HOUSTON INITIATIVE.
SO, UM, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE OPEN IT UP.
WE'RE NOT GONNA BE SELFISH
AND THEN I SEE WE HAVE, UM, DEREK HAM BACK HERE.
UM, HE JUST, UM, UM, LAUNCHES NEW BOOK AND SO WE JUST HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP HERE.
JACKIE ALTMAN, I JUST WISH I COULD SAY THANK Y'ALL TO EVERYBODY, BUT THANK YOU EVERYONE, UM, FOR COMING OUT AND HOPE TO SEE YOU ON SATURDAY AT THE BE SUCCESSFUL JOBS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR, WHICH WILL BE AT HCC NORTH HOUSTON, LOCATED AT SIX 10 LITTLE YORK ROAD.
BRING PEOPLE OUT WHO NEED SOME JOBS.
WE'RE GONNA BE HIRING ON THE SPOT.
ALL, ALL OF OUR PARTNERS WILL BE PRESENT.
AND SO LET'S JUST DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
DO YOU HAVE ANY, UM, QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, OH, GO AHEAD.
UM, SO ABOUT THE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS PART OF ONE SAFE HOUSTON ALREADY.
SO WILL THESE FOLKS BE WORKING EXCLUSIVELY IN DISTRICT B OR IS THIS GONNA BE STILL A CITYWIDE PROGRAM UNDER ONE SAFE HOUSTON? IT'S A CITYWIDE PROGRAM.
IN FACT, THE TRAINING THAT WE HELD,
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UM, IN JUNE, WE HAD A TOTAL OF 32, UM, PEOPLE TRAINING.UM, WE HAD, UM, A FEW FOLKS FROM, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, POLISH'S DISTRICT, AND THEN FROM OUR DISTRICT.
AND THAT FUNDING IS ALREADY SECURED, RIGHT, MA'AM? YEAH.
BUT I, BUT WE GOTTA RAISE MORE, BUT SHE'S BEEN VERY MODEST.
UH, IT'S A PART OF ONE SAFE HOUSTON.
THE IDEA WAS PRESENTED FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TASHA JACKSON.
IT WAS COUNCILMAN NATASHA JACKSON THAT ASKED ME TO INCLUDE WITHIN THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON INITIATIVE, THE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS PROGRAM.
SO THERE'S $2.5 MILLION THAT'S SPECIFICALLY ALLOCATED FOR OPERA FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM.
AND THEN THE, THE RESOURCE NAVIGATORS, I THINK THAT'S SPECIFICALLY DISTRICT B.
AND ARE THOSE THE FOLKS THAT ARE BEING PAID WITH THE MONEY YOU'VE RAISED PRIVATELY? IS THAT CORRECT? SO BASICALLY FOR THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE NAVIGATORS ON, IN JULY, COUNCIL PASSED $500,000 THAT ACTUALLY, UM, WENT TO THE INTERMEDIARY WEST, UM, PASTOR GENTRY.
AND SO HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR DISPERSING THOSE RESOURCES OUT TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL BE HOUSING, UM, THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE NAVIGATORS.
AND THAT'S TO COVER THE SALARY FOR THE NAVIGATORS.
AND EACH ORGANIZATION WILL GET $50,000.
UM, AND AGAIN, THAT'S TO HELP BUILD THEIR CAPACITY, GET SOMEBODY ON STAFF, AND WE CAN CON CONTINUE TO RAISE, UM, THE RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE DOLLARS TO GET TO THE 25.
UM, WE HAVE I THINK SEVEN NAVIGATORS THAT'S READY TO GO TODAY.
UM, BUT EVENTUALLY, UM, WE'RE READY TO BUILD THAT UP.
AND THEN ON THE PARKS, I THINK YOU WERE MENTIONING YESTERDAY, YOU KNOW, KNOW THERE WAS SOME PRIVATE MONEY FOR PARKS TO HELP, YOU KNOW, ENHANCE WHAT'S ALREADY BEING DONE UNDER 50 50.
CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT EXTRA WORK IS GONNA BE OR WHAT THOSE EXTRA IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE? WELL, PARKS DEPARTMENT'S NOT HERE, BUT I, YOU GO AHEAD, MAYOR.
THERE, THERE ARE TWO INITIATIVES WITH, WITH PARKS AND REC.
THERE'S THE 50 50 PARKS INITIATIVE, UH, THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON.
THERE ARE 22 PARKS, UH, THAT, UM, WORKING WITH THE PARKS BOARD, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, THOSE PARKS ARE IN THE DESIGN AND PERMITTING PHASE RIGHT NOW.
UH, THAT WILL BRING SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, THERE ARE TWO PARKS IN EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER'S DISTRICT, SO THAT'S THE 22, THAT'S A PART OF THE 50, BUT THE 22 ARE IN MOVING IN, PERMITTING.
ALL OF THOSE PARKS WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
THEN THERE'S THE LOVE YOUR PARKS INITIATIVE, UH, THAT COMES WITH PRIVATE FUNDING.
UM, WE ALSO PUT SOME CITY DOLLARS IN IT AND THO THE LOVE YOUR PARKS INITIATIVE, IT MOVES MUCH QUICKER.
AND SO HOBERT TAYLOR PARK, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT B, WHICH WAS ON THAT LIST, THOSE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE.
WELL, WE ARE WAITING ON SOME ADDITIONAL, UM, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT THAT'S A PART OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN HOLD UP.
BUT THAT WILL BECOME COMING INTO THE HOBART TAYLOR PARK AS WELL.
BUT WE'VE ALREADY MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, THE, UH, HIGHLAND, UH, UM, PARK, THE SODA PARK IN THE HOME AREA, THAT'S A PART OF THE LOVE YOUR PARKS INITIATIVE.
AND THAT'S ALSO IN PROGRESS RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK.
UH, THERE ARE FIVE OF THEM, UH, FIVE ADDITIONAL, WE HAVE ALREADY DONE FIVE.
THERE ARE FIVE ADDITIONAL ONES.
AND SO THAT WORK IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BETWEEN NOW AND THE FIRST QUARTER IN 2023.
SO THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE INITIATIVES.
IS THAT CITY, DOES THE LOVE YOUR PARTS ONE, THE ONE THAT LEVERAGES PRIVATE FINANCING? OR IS THAT YES.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, SHANIE ENERGY OKAY.
IS A, HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT PARTNER WITH US ON THAT, ON THAT PROGRAM.
UH, THEY PROVIDE SOME OF THE PRIVATE FUNDING, THEN THE CITY LEVERAGES THOSE PRIVATE FUNDINGS AND THEN, UH, TO GET THOSE PARKS DONE.
THAT'S A MAJOR, THAT'S A MAJOR EFFORT.
AND THEN WE'RE WORKING ON, UH, NOW EVEN THE MAJOR DONORS, UH, TO REALLY PUT WHAT WE CALL SOME TRANSFORMATIVE FUNDING INTO SOME ADDITIONAL PARKS, UM, DISTRICT B AND ACROSS THE CITY.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.
AND, UH, MEETING ON THAT IN A COUPLE HOURS.
SO WE'LL SEE WHAT DEVELOPS FROM THAT.
AND UH, AND I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE UNION PACIFIC HERE.
THEY WILL BE THERE ON SATURDAY.
SO I KNOW THAT WE'RE ON, YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN THIS LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP, BUT THEY STILL, THEY ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY DO HAVE JOBS AND WE NEED TO GET, GET PEOPLE CONNECTED TO SOME JOBS.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR, UM, FOR BEING PRESENT TODAY.
SO IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? SO YOU GOTTA, YOU GOT, GOT, NOW SHE KNOWS HOW TO, OH, AND THEN, AND THEN, UM, DYLAN, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE PARKS.
UM, I WANTED TO ADD THAT THE ASTROS FOUNDATIONS, WE DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM ABOUT SMOKEY JASPER PARK.
AND SO WE ARE IN NEGOTIATION ABOUT THEM TAKING OVER, SPONSORING THAT PARK TO, AGAIN, THE INITIATIVE IS TO, YOU KNOW, PUT WHAT WE NEED OUT THERE AND ENCOURAGE FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW, WANT TO SUPPORT, TO SUPPORT.
AND SO, UM, UM, ASTROS FOUNDATION COMMITTED TO SUPPORT SMOKEY JASPER.
SO IF THAT'S ANY, NOTHING ELSE, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
AND LET'S JUST GO BE SUCCESSFUL.
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