[2023 HPL Adult Literacy Breakfast]
[00:00:17]
I'M FROM KPRC TO CHANNEL KPRC, TO NEWS
SO I GOT ABOUT FOUR HOURS OF SLEEP, PLEASE.
SO GOOD TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING, BRIGHT AND EARLY.
YOU ALL ARE LOOKING WONDERFUL.
SO HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU AND SERVE AS YOUR MC FOR THE MAYOR'S ADULT LITERACY BREAKFAST.
THE CAUSE OF LOW FUNCTIONAL LITERACY AMONG HOUSTON'S ADULTS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR FAMILIES, OUR ECONOMIC COMPETITIVE COMPETITIVENESS IN OUR FUTURE.
AND THIS IS WHY MAYOR TURNER CREATED THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR ADULT LITERACY.
IT IS THE ONLY OFFICE OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION.
WE THANK MAYOR TURNER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND ACTIVE COMMITMENT TO RAISING THE LEVEL OF ADULT LITERACY IN HOUSTON.
MAYOR TURNER LIT A TORCH FOR ADULT LITERACY AS HE MUGS HIS LAST ADULT LITERACY BREAKFAST.
AS OUR MAYOR, WE MAKE A COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT MOAL IN KEEPING THAT TORCH LIT.
LOW FUNCTIONAL ADULT LITERACY IMPACTS EVERY PERSON IN A FAMILY, CHILDREN AND ADULTS, EVERYBODY.
AND IT IS A MULTI-GENERATIONAL PROBLEM.
HOW DO YOU HELP WITH A CHILD'S HOMEWORK? HOW DO YOU GET A JOB, KEEP A JOB, GET A PROMOTION? OR HOW DO YOU EVEN MAKE A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT ONLINE? READ YOUR PRESCRIPTION LABELS OR ACCESS HEALTH AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR YOUR FAMILY IF YOU HAVE LOW FUNCTIONAL LITERACY.
LITERACY IS MORE THAN JUST READING.
BASIC DIGITAL SKILLS ARE NEEDED TO FUNCTION ALONG WITH OTHER ABILITIES, LIKE STRONG LITERACY AND NUMERACY SKILLS TO THRIVE IN THE CONNECTED ECONOMY AND MOVE SOCIETY FORWARD IN THIS DIGITAL AGE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY DAY.
WE WANNA THANK AND RECOGNIZE OUR TWO CHAIRPERSONS THIS MORNING, LISA HOLLAND BOWMAN AND BILL BALDWIN.
IF YOU'RE HERE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAND SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU? WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR HONORARY CHAIRMAN, FOBE TUDOR, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US, BUT WE WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS LEADERSHIP MADE TODAY POSSIBLE, SO THEY WERE VERY IMPORTANT.
LET'S ALSO RECOGNIZE A FEW MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SHAPING HOUSTON'S FUTURE, OUR LOCAL DIGNITARIES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE HERE, THERE, HERE TODAY ON THEIR BEHALF.
THEY ARE JOINING US THIS MORNING, AND WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO STAND SO THAT WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING, AND I WANNA ASK THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM APPLAUDING UNTIL THE END, AFTER WE RECOGNIZE EVERYONE.
I KNOW YOU'RE EXCITED TO SEE THESE PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT US, BUT LET'S WAIT UNTIL THE END TO GIVE AN APPLAUSE FOR EVERYONE.
FIRST, WE HAVE FRANK GONZALEZ.
UH, HE'S A STAFF MEMBER OF CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA.
AND WE HAVE MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, HIMSELF IN THE ROOM.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARLA CISNEROS.
COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK, COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUMMER.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.
COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS AND CHIEF OF STAFF JESSICA BEAMER, REPRESENTING COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN.
LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE GONNA START THE MORNING OFF WITH A VERY SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM OUR LITERACY AMBASSADOR, MR. DUSTY BAKER HIMSELF.
ALTHOUGH WE ALL PRETTY MUCH PROBABLY WOULD'VE LOVED TO SEE DUSTY HERE.
UNFORTUNATELY HE'S NOT WITH US BECAUSE HE'S TRAVELING WITH OUR ASTROS ON THE ROAD.
BUT HE DID LEAVE THIS VIDEO FOR US TO SEE AS HOUSTON'S AMBASSADOR FOR ADULT LITERACY.
[00:05:01]
WELCOME YOU TO THE ANNUAL MAYOR'S SIGNATURE BREAKFAST.I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY, BUT BE ASSURED THAT I'M WITH YOU.
IN THE SPIRIT OF KEEPING THE TORCH LIT, I PROBABLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU BEING THERE TO SUPPORT THE INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE ADULT LITERACY SO WE CAN EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
WHILE HOUSTON IS A HOME OF TWO TIME WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS, THE HOUSTON ASTROS AND STANDS AS A BEACON OF PROGRESS AND INNOVATION, THERE EXISTS A HIDDEN STRUGGLE THAT YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF.
ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO STRUGGLE WITH BASIC LITERACY SKILLS LIKE READING AND WRITING, THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS OR WHO DON'T HAVE THE LITERACY SKILLS NEEDED FOR GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT OR HELPING THEIR OWN CHILDREN LEARN AND THRIVE AS ATHLETES.
WE KNOW THAT BECOMING A CHAMPION IS AN ONGOING PROCESS.
THERE'S ALWAYS MORE PRACTICE AND ALWAYS MORE TO LEARN AND ACHIEVE.
THIS IS OUR FUNCTIONAL LITERACY AND WE CANNOT THRIVE WITHOUT THE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS WHO HELP US DEVELOP THESE SKILLS.
ADULT LITERACY IS ABOUT BRINGING OUT THE CHAMPION IN EACH LEARNER SERVED ADULT EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS, COACH AS LEARNERS WITH THE SKILL SETS NEEDED TO BECOME WINNERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND HOMES.
AND THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THE ONE BETWEEN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE USE OF PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR ADULT LITERACY, THE PROVIDERS OF ADULT LITERACY SERVICES ARE ASSURED THAT OUR CITY IS BEHIND THEM.
PEOPLE ASK ME WHERE MY PASSION FOR LITERACY CAME FROM.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A MOM THAT WAS A TEACHER AND MADE US READ.
I REALLY DIDN'T APPRECIATE IT UNTIL LATER.
NEXT WEEK IS ADULT LITERACY AND FAMILY LITERACY WEEK.
BY KEEPING IT CHOICE SLIP TO OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, WE MAKE A STATEMENT THAT HOUSTON IS COMMITTED TO MAKING CHAMPIONS OF EVERY ONE OF ITS CITIZENS AND FUTURE CITIZENS.
THE JOURNEY TOWARDS HIGHER ADULT LITERACY RATE STARTS WITH EACH ONE OF US WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM, INVESTING TODAY IN THE THRIVING LIVES OF OUR HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOR MANY TOMORROWS TO COME.
THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I'M COUNTING ON YOU TO KEEP THE TORCH LIT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DUSTY BAKER, KEEPING THE TORCH LIT.
OUR THANKS TO DUSTY FOR THAT MESSAGE THIS MORNING.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME VERY ENTICING RAFFLE ITEMS THAT YOU, MY FRIENDS, COULD BE THE LUCKY PERSON TO TAKE HOME THOSE ITEMS. IF YOU PURCHASE A $50 TICKET, I WANT TO, UH, LET YOU KNOW WHAT A COUPLE OF THOSE PACKAGES ARE.
FIRST WE HAVE THE TOOTSIES PACKAGE.
THINK ABOUT IT, A TOOTSIES PACKAGE.
I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THAT MIGHT BE, BUT IT SOUNDS GREAT AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING YOU MIGHT WANNA TAKE TO SOMEBODY YOU LOVE.
A SPECIAL TREAT FOR SOMEBODY IN YOUR LIFE.
WE ALSO HAVE RODEO TICKETS, A WINE TASTING CLASS THAT SOUNDS DIVINE, A LUXURY EDITION OUT OF MANY ONE PORTRAITS OF AMERICA'S IMMIGRANTS BOOK THAT'S SIGNED BY FORMER UNITED STATES PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH.
THERE'S A TOTAL OF SIX DIFFERENT PACKAGES THAT YOU COULD WIN TODAY IF YOU PURCHASE A RAFFLE TICKET.
NOW, IF YOU MISSED BUYING A RAFFLE TICKET, DON'T YOU WORRY.
WE HAVE A STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AROUND THIS ROOM WHO WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO SELL YOU A TICKET.
RAFFLE SELLERS, IF YOU'RE IN THE ROOM, CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN SEE WHO YOU ARE.
IF THEY WANNA PURCHASE A TICKET, THEY'RE IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM BACK THERE.
SO IF YOU WANT BUY A $50 RAFFLE TICKET, MAKE SURE YOU SEE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WITH THEIR HANDS UP RAFFLE WINNERS.
YOU WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE END OF TODAY'S PROGRAM.
ALSO, I WANT TO MENTION THAT HEB, TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE FLOWERS IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR TABLE.
THE CENTERPIECES, THOSE WERE DONATED BY HEB.
AND TODAY THEY COULD BE YOURS FOR $20.
THERE'S AN ENVELOPE ON YOUR TABLE IF YOU WANNA PURCHASE THOSE, PUT THAT $20 IN THERE.
BUT FIRST, MAKE SURE YOU PUT THE $20 IN THE ENVELOPE.
WHEN YOU PARTICIPATE IN THIS MORNING'S RAFFLE, YOU EARN AND YOU CREATE OPPORTUNITIES.
YES, OF COURSE, YOU EARN THE OPPORTUNITY TO POSSIBLY WIN A GREAT ITEM, AND YOU ALSO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT PROVIDERS WHO SERVE ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO BECOME MORE LITERATE AND HAVE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR LIFE.
I WANNA INTRODUCE YOU TO ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.
SO WHILE YOU START TO ENJOY YOUR BREAKFAST THIS MORNING, LET'S WELCOME NICK JOHNS WHO WILL SHARE A PERSONAL STORY OF HOW ADULT LITERACY PROGRAMS IMPACTED HIS LIFE.
NICK, CAN YOU PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM AND SHARE YOUR STORY?
[00:10:11]
NICKNICK
JOHN, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANKS TO N HOUSE.
UM, I, ADULT LITERACY AND, UH, A LITTLE NERVOUS.
BUT, UH, I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED AT MY HOUSE AND THINGS THAT I'M ABLE TO DO TODAY.
TAKING TESTS AND BEING ABLE TO PASS AC TESTS, TAKING TESTS ON A COMPUTER, THOSE WERE THINGS THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO DO AND IT TOOK ME SUCH A LONG TIME TO DO IT BEFORE I GOT TO N HOUSE.
BEING AT N HOUSE IS, UH, THIRD GRADE.
I LIKE TO LEAVE ANYONE WITH JUST TO SAY THAT FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE, UH, OH LORD, JUST A LITTLE NERVOUS
UM, I JUST LIKE TO LEAVE ANY, EVERYONE WITH THIS.
I'M JUST THANKFUL TO BE ABLE TO READ THINGS FOR MYSELF TODAY THAT I COULDN'T READ WHEN I FIRST WENT TO OUR HOUSE.
AND THANKS TO ALL THE WONDERFUL TEACHERS THAT ARE THERE THAT TEACHES US TO LEARN AND HAVING THE PATIENCE TO TEACH US.
THANK YOU NICK, FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.
OKAY, EVERYONE, SO NOW WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DON'T DO OFTEN IN THIS DIGITAL AGE, WHERE WE'RE, WE HAVE CELL PHONES AND WE HAVE NETFLIX, AND WE DON'T LIKE, HAVE THAT INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION.
LET'S INTRODUCE OURSELVES TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND SPEND A LITTLE TIME TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER.
WE'LL TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND WE WILL BE BACK SHORTLY.
[00:19:56]
OKAY, EVERYONE, WE'RE GOING TO RESUME OUR PROGRAM.IF YOU COULD START MAKING YOUR WAY BACK TO YOUR SEATS.
[00:20:02]
I ALSO WANNA MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT IF YOU STILL WOULD LIKE TO BUY A RAFFLE TICKET.OKAY, EVERYONE, WE'RE GOING TO RESUME OUR PROGRAM.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY A RAFFLE TICKET, THIS IS THE LAST CALL.
SO PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND OR SEE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SELLING RAFFLE TICKETS AND THEY WILL FIND YOU AND GET YOU THAT RAFFLE TICKET.
I HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING YOUR BREAKFAST AND YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO DR.
DR. LAWSON IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
DR. LAWSON HAS SERVED AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, HPL SINCE 2005.
SHE'S KEENLY FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN GENERAL AND HPL IN PARTICULAR REMAIN ESSENTIAL TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN COMMUNITIES.
THE LIBRARY SYSTEM IS CONTINUOUSLY EVOLVING AND MOVING FORWARD TO A COMPREHENSIVE, INNOVATIVE PLATFORM OF SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT MEET THE RAPIDLY CHANGING NEEDS OF HOUSTON'S RESIDENTS AND THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT.
PLEASE WELCOME DR. LAWSON TO THE PODIUM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS EARLY MORNING.
HOW MANY OF YOU GET UP THIS EARLY ANYWAY? OH, NO PROBLEM.
SO THANK YOU IN PARTICULAR FOR BEING HERE TO SUPPORT A MORE LITERATE HOUSTON.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP APPRECIATION TO OUR HONORARY CHAIR, PHOEBE TUDOR, WHO COULD NOT BE HERE.
UM, THE EVENT CO-CHAIRS AND OUR ADULT LITERACY AMBASSADOR AND THE ASTROS FOUNDATION, AND TO ALL OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT, UH, SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO ZARE BOYCE, THE VICE CHAIR OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION.
YOUR GENEROSITY WILL HELP GUIDE US TOWARD A MORE LITERATE COMMUNITY.
AND I KNOW WE ALL AGREE THAT THE POWER OF READING IS IMMEASURABLE.
WHEN WE STOP TO THINK ABOUT IT, WE HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO READ TO DO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE DO.
SO PLEASE KNOW THAT YOUR SUPPORT FOR ADULT LITERACY IS NOTHING SHORT OF TRANSFORMATIVE AND LIFE CHANGING.
TOGETHER WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
AND AGAIN, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR MAYOR FOR HIS UNWAVERING SUPPORT, HIS SUPPORT FOR LITERACY AND EDUCATION.
AND BECAUSE OF HIS DEEP COMMITMENT, HE HAD THE WISDOM, VISION, AND FORESIGHT TO ESTABLISH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR ADULT LITERACY.
AND BEING THE BRILLIANT MAN THAT HE IS, HE CONNECTED THAT OFFICE TO THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
PLEASE HELP ME THANK OUR MAYOR.
THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PARTNER WITH MOLD AND WITH ALL OF YOU TO MOVE FORWARD THIS CRITICAL WORK.
SO TOGETHER WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE TORCH LIT.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEND A POWERFUL MESSAGE ACROSS OUR CITY THAT LITERACY MATTERS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO REINFORCE THE FACT THAT LITERACY IS THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH A BRIGHTER FUTURE IS BUILT.
AND THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL, EVERY INDIVIDUAL DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN TO READ.
TOGETHER, WE ARE KEEPING THE TORCH SLIT, AND MOST OF ALL, TOGETHER WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
[00:25:01]
FEDERICO ARDI FEDERICO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR ADULT LITERACY IN HOUSTON.HE IS THE OFFICE'S INAUGURAL DIRECTOR.
HE AND HIS TEAM HAVE HELPED MAKE HOUSTON'S ADULT LITERACY EFFORTS A NATIONAL MODEL.
FEDERICO, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
ARE YOU EXCITED? ARE YOU EXCITED TO BE HERE? I AM.
I AM EXCITED TO SEE SO MANY ALL OF YOU, EACH ONE OF YOU COMING HERE THIS EARLY FOR THE CAUSE OF ADULT LITERACY.
A CAUSE DEAR TO MY HEART, CLOSE TO MY CHEST, FOR SO MANY YEARS, I'VE BEEN IN THIS FIELD FOR 36 YEARS, ALL OF THEM RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AND I WOULD SAY THANK YOU TO EACH ONE OF YOU, GUESTS, SPONSORS, BUT THOSE THANK YOUS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID.
I WANNA THANK THE STUDENTS, THE LEARNERS.
IF YOU ARE A LEARNER, AN ADULT EDUCATION, ADULT LITERACY LEARNER, WILL YOU PLEASE STAND UP FOR A MOMENT AND BE RECOGNIZED? ALL OF YOU WHO ARE LEARNERS, HOW MANY OF YOU ARE THANK YOU.
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE LITERACY PROVIDERS? YOU PROVIDE LITERACY? RAISE YOUR HAND.
YOU SEE, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THANK OUR SPONSORS, BUT IT'S ALSO CRITICAL THAT WE THANK AND RECOGNIZE THE VERY HARD LABOR OF PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT PROVIDE THE EDUCATION THAT OUR ADULTS NEED.
WITHOUT YOU, WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.
WITHOUT YOU, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE.
THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
AND EACH ONE OF YOU, I AM EXCITED.
I SAID, YOU KNOW, NEXT WEEK IS ADULT EDUCATION AND FAMILY LITERACY WEEK IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND WE ARE STARTING IT JUST A FEW DAYS EARLY.
WE ARE AHEAD OF A NATIONAL TREND, OKAY? CANDACE SAID, WE ARE THE ONLY OFFICE OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION.
BUT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT, AND CRITICAL, I THINK, IS THAT WE ARE THE ONLY OFFICE IN THE WHOLE NATION.
WE ARE THE ONLY CITY IN THE WHOLE NATION THAT HAS A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ADULT LITERACY.
THE ONLY ONE WE ADOPTED IT, WE ADOPTED IT IN 2021 WITH SEVEN STRATEGIC GOALS, OKAY? AND WE OWE IT TO THE LEADERSHIP AND THE HELP OF OUR FRIENDS WITH THE BAD BUSH HOUSTON LITERACY FOUNDATION.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE LABELED IT TOO LONG.
YOU KNOW, IF I READ THIS, I WOULD BE HERE UNTIL 9:00 PM
BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU TWO THINGS.
ONE, THE STATE OF TEXAS, THE GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR ALBERT, HAS SIGNED A DECLARATION DECLARING NEXT WEEK ADULT AND FAMILY LITERACY WEEK IN TEXAS.
AND SIMPLY TO START, IT SAYS, OUR ACCESS TO INFORMATION HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER.
YET MILLIONS OF ADULTS LACK FUNDAMENTAL READING AND WRITING SKILLS.
READING AND WRITING ARE ESSENTIAL IN THE WORKPLACE, THE HOME AND PUBLIC LIFE AND SUCH AS SUCH, ILLITERACY IS A NATURE IMPEDIMENT TO PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY AND FULFILLMENT.
AND WE ARE ALSO GOING TO A NOUNS.
THIS ONE IS EVEN BIGGER THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS ALSO PROCLAMATION SIGNED BY MAYOR TURNER, DECLARING NEXT WEEK, THE NATIONAL EDUCATION AND ADULT FAMILY LITERACY WEEK IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
THANK YOU GOVERNOR ABO FOR RECOGNIZING THE WORK THAT WE DO AND RECOGNIZING THAT THE PROBLEM OF LITERACY IS CRITICAL.
YOU ALL HAVE IN YOUR POSSESSION CARDS THAT SAY AS ALSO SOME OF THE SLIDES SAY,
[00:30:01]
LITERACY IS ABOUT MORE THAN READING.AND THAT IS WORK THAT IT'S CRITICAL FOR US TO DO, IS ALSO DIGITAL SKILLS.
WITHOUT DIGITAL SKILLS TODAY, THERE IS NO LITERACY.
AND OUR MOTTO FOR THE OFFICE IS, WITHOUT LITERACY, THERE IS NO EQUITY.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE DOING THE WORK WE ARE DOING, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN HOUSTON, IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN OUR CITY, IN OUR REGION, HAS ACCESS.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY.
AND WITHOUT LITERACY, WITHOUT DIGITAL SKILLS, THEY WILL NOT HAVE THAT ACCESS AGAIN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
COULD YOU ALL FILL HIS PASSION WHEN HE WAS UP HERE TALKING? IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY.
FEDERICO AND DR. LAWSON WILL BE PRESENTING EACH OF OUR HONOREES TODAY WITH THEIR AWARDS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO START THAT PART OF OUR PROGRAM NOW.
FIRST, THE LIFETIME LITERACY SUPPORTER, COMMUNITY HONOREE, MARIA AND NEIL BUSH.
FORMER FIRST LADY BARBARA BUSH BELIEVED THAT LITERACY IS A FOUNDATION TO REACHING ONE'S FULLEST POTENTIAL IN LIFE.
AND REALIZING THE AMERICAN DREAM, MARIA AND NEIL BUSH HAVE CONTINUED THAT LEGACY WITH THEIR WORK WITH THE BARBARA BUSH LITERACY FOUNDATION AND THE MANY PROGRAMS THAT THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS.
THEY KNOW THE DIFFERENCE IT HAS MADE TO THE CAUSE OF LITERACY IN THE CITY FOR THEIR MANY YEARS OF TIME AND EFFORTS TO ADVANCING LITERACY IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE PLEASED TO HONOR MARIA AND NEIL BUSH AS THE LIFETIME LITERACY SUPPORTER, COMMUNITY HONOREES.
AM I SAYING SOMETHING?
BEFORE I, UH, MAKE, MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON, ON THIS AMAZING HONOR, UM, MARIA AND I WOULD LIKE TO TO SUGGEST THAT, YOU KNOW, MY DAD, WHEN HE WAS ALIVE, THOUGHT THAT SERVICE WAS A NOBLE CALLING.
AND THIS WILL BE THE LAST CHANCE, UM, THAT I THINK WE'LL GET TO THANK MAYOR TURNER FOR HIS NOBLE SERVICE TO THIS CITY FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO THIS CITY FOR AS MANY YEARS OF COMMITMENT TO HELPING MAKE OUR CITY A GREAT CITY.
SO FROM THE BUSH FAMILY, JUST WANNA EXPRESS OUR GREAT LOVE FOR YOU MAYOR.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT SERVICE TO THE CITY.
I WOULD BE, BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ALSO CALL OUT THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE FOR THEIR GREAT SERVICE.
EVERYONE, WHETHER, WHETHER YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT YOUR HAT IN THE RING, IT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOU DO SO, SO GRACEFULLY AND BEAUTIFULLY.
UM, MARIA AND I, 10 YEARS AGO, STARTED THE BARBARA BUSH HOUSTON LITERACY FOUNDATION AFTER WE DRANK THE BARBARA BUSH KOOL-AID.
MY MOM HAS BEEN A, A WARRIOR FOR ADVOCACY FOR ADULT LITERACY ALL OF HER LIFE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE, AND SHE BELIEVED THAT IF YOU CAN'T READ AT A FUNCTIONAL LEVEL AS A, A KID OR AN ADULT, THAT YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY REALIZE YOUR FULLEST GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL.
WHEN WE FORMED THE FOUNDATION, THE BEST THING WE DID WAS HIRE DR. JULIE BAKER FINK, WHO'S BEEN AN AMAZING LEADER.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR HER WORK AND FOR THE WORK OF THIS INCREDIBLE TEAM.
UM, AND WE'RE ESPECIALLY PROUD APPROPRIATELY FOR THIS OCCASION OF THE WORK THEY'VE BEEN DOING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR ADULT LITERACY.
FEDERICO AND HIS TEAM HAVE DONE A FABULOUS JOB OF RAISING UP THE IMPORTANCE OF ADULT LITERACY.
AND SO THIS COLLABORATION LEADING TO AN AN ADULT LITERACY BLUEPRINT IS, HAS BEEN FOUNDATIONAL AND REALLY, REALLY CRITICAL.
UH, I WANNA THANK, AS FREDERICO DID ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF HELPING ADULT LEARNERS LEARN TO READ AT A FUNCTIONAL LEVEL.
AND, AND I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT ACROSS THE HALL, THERE'S AN EXHIBIT, UM, THAT
AND I TOOK A LITTLE TOUR OF IT, MY BROTHER GEORGE.
AND THIS IS, I'M ONLY SAYING THIS BECAUSE IT'S ILLUSTRATIVE, THAT IF YOU HAVE GOOD TRAINING, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE.
MY BROTHER GEORGE WAS NEVER AN
[00:35:01]
ARTIST, HAD NO ARTISTIC INCLINATIONS.AND THAT GUY, IF YOU WALK OVER THERE, YOU'LL SEE HE BECAME QUITE COMPETENT AS AN ARTIST.
AND HE USES HIS ART IN VERY GOOD WAYS.
SO HE IS BENEVOLENT AND KIND AND, AND DOES GOOD THINGS.
UH, BUT IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF HIS EFFORT ALONE, IT WAS BECAUSE HE HAD ARTISTS TRAIN HIM.
HE BECAME DEDICATED TO LORDING TO BE AN ARTIST, BUT HE HAD PEOPLE BY HIS SIDE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
AND THE, SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WORKING WITH ADULTS, HELPING THEM BECOME FUNCTIONALLY LITERATE, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL RECOGNITION.
NOW, THE OUTSTANDING CORPORATE LITERACY SUPPORTER, HONOREE PROFESSIONAL JANITORIAL SERVICES.
P-J-S-P-J-S WAS FOUNDED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS IN EARLY 1986 AND EXPANDED TO LOCALLY OWNED OFFICES IN HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, AND RECENTLY EL PASO.
THEIR UNIQUE COMMITMENT TO THE ENRICHMENT OF THEIR EMPLOYEES IS OUTSTANDING.
PJS HAS A HISTORY OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH PROVIDERS THAT HAS BRIDGED LANGUAGE BARRIERS FOR BETTER TEAMWORK, SAFETY, AND SERVICE.
THEIR ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT AND PROMOTION OF ADULT LITERACY HAS EARNED THEM THIS RECOGNITION TO ACCEPT.
ON BEHALF OF PJS WELCOME, LET'S WELCOME JAMIE FLORES IS GOOD MORNING.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A FUN FACT THAT I LEARNED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND THAT'S THAT HOUSTON'S RANKED NUMBER ONE CITY IN THE UNITED STATES TO SURVIVE THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
NOW, I'M ONLY ABLE TO BRING THAT FUN FACT TO YOU IS BECAUSE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I ATTENDED ONE OF OUR TWO ENGLISH ESL CLASSES THAT WE PROVIDE OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR INSTRUCTOR, MR. DOBLE WAS THERE.
AND I ASKED ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES LIKE, WHAT, WHAT'S, WHAT'S MOTIVATING YOU TO KEEP ON COMING TO THESE CLASSES? AND HE SHARED WITH ME THE FOLLOWING STORY.
HE TOLD ME THAT MR. AMBLE ENCOURAGED THEM TO START READING RANDOM STUFF, JUST PRACTICE WHAT THEY LEARNED IN CLASS.
AND HE, THIS INDIVIDUAL, THIS EMPLOYEE, WENT TO GO CHANGE HIS SOIL.
AND WHILE HE WAS WAITING FOR HIS MAINTENANCE, HE PICKED UP THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE.
AND THAT'S WHERE HE READ THAT ARTICLE NUMBER ONE, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT MAYOR TURNER.
OKAY? BUT IN THAT MOMENT, YOU KNOW, PT S HAS BEEN PROVIDING THIS PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES AT NO COST FOR ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS.
AND IN DOING SO, WE'RE DOING THAT TO EMPOWER, TO BETTER OUR EMPLOYEES TO NOT ONLY BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IN ENGLISH, BUT ALSO TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE LABOR OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT I ALSO REALIZED IN THAT MOMENT, IN THAT STORY THAT HE SHARED, BECAUSE HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE READ THAT AS BEST HE COULD.
AND HE SHARED THAT WITH HIS SON.
AND HIS SON WAS SO EXCITED THAT THAT WEEKEND, THE NEXT DAY, THEY STARTED WATCHING ALL THE RESIDENT EVIL MOVIES IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GET IDEAS TO HOW TO REALLY SURVIVE THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE.
RIGHT? AND IT WAS AWESOME BECAUSE THAT WAS A MOMENT THAT WAS CREATED OUTSIDE OF WORK BECAUSE OF ENGLISH AND BECAUSE OF THE ABILITY TO NOT O ONLY BE ABLE TO SPEAK IT, BUT TO READ IT.
SO THANK YOU ALL ON BEHALF OF PGS AND HOUSTON.
AND NOW, THE OUTSTANDING ORGANIZATION, LITERACY SUPPORTER, HONOREE, LEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH.
THIS AWARD ACCEPTED BY CHERIE BOYTON, THE CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, LEGACY BELIEVES FAMILIES AND KIDS SHOULD BE HEALTHY IN BODY AND MIND.
AND DOCTORS ARE TREATING BOTH WHEN THEIR YOUNGEST PATIENTS NEWBORN TO 18 YEARS OLD, COME IN FOR WELL VISITS.
IN ADDITION TO THE PHYSICAL CHECKUPS, FAMILIES LEAVE WITH A FREE BOOK AND A PRESCRIPTION TO READ.
THEY ARE DOING THIS THROUGH LEGACY'S LITTLE READERS.
[00:40:01]
IS ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERAL ADVERSE HEALTH OUTCOMES, INCLUDING LOW HEALTH KNOWLEDGE, INCREASED INCIDENCE OF CHRONIC ILLNESS, AND LESS THAN OPTIMAL USE OF PREVENTATIVE HEALTH SERVICES.READING AND TALKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN FROM BIRTH BUILDS NEW CONNECTIONS IN THE BRAIN, STIMULATING EARLY LANGUAGE LEARNING, AND INSTILLING THEIR MOTIVATION TO LEARN THROUGH LITTLE READERS.
LEGACY HAS GIVEN AWAY MORE THAN 231,000 BOOKS WITH PRESCRIPTIONS TO READ TO THEIR FAMILIES DURING THEIR WELL CHILD AND WELL TEEN VISITS, LITTLE READERS GIVES PEDIATRIC PATIENTS A LEG UP THAT THEIR PARENTS OFTEN DIDN'T HAVE, AND CAN EVEN HELP THE WHOLE FAMILY.
WHEN IT COMES TO LITERACY, WE CAN END THE CYCLE OF ILLITERACY BY PUTTING BOOKS IN HOMES THAT TOO OFTEN GO WITHOUT.
WE ABOUT HAD A CRASH GETTING ON THE STAGE.
UM, MAYOR AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, PHOEBE TUDOR, BILL BALDWIN, LISA HOLLY, NELSON BOWEN, AND DUSTY BAKER, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS ACKNOWLEDGES THAT CHILDREN WHO ARE READ TO REGULARLY SUCCEED MORE IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE.
WE STARTED A LITTLE READERS EIGHT YEARS AGO.
WE BELIEVED OUR PEDIATRIC CLINICIANS HAD A ROLE IN HELPING TO BRIDGE THE GAP IN LITERACY FOR OUR CHILDREN.
WE GIVE AN AGE APPROPRIATE BOOK TO EVERY CHILD WHO GOES TO THE DOCTOR, AND WE GIVE A PRESCRIPTION TO THEIR PARENTS TO READ TO THEIR CHILD AT LEAST 15 MINUTES EVERY DAY.
OUR KIDS LOVE THE BOOKS AND THEY LOVE GOING TO THE DOCTOR.
BUT YOU KNOW, THESE PROGRAMS DON'T JUST HAPPEN.
IT TAKES PEOPLE, IT TAKES VOLUNTEERS, IT TAKES EMPLOYEES, AND IT TAKES MONEY.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK SHANNON HALL AND MARCUS SCHON OF OUR FIRST CHAMPIONS TO RAISE MONEY, READ, READ BOOKS TO THE KIDS IN THE CLINIC, HEB, YOU ARE OUR FIRST CORPORATE SPONSOR, AND YOU CONTINUE TO SPONSOR US.
AND YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT HAS HELPED US.
MARIA CANTU AT OUR TABLE, DEBBIE CASTELLO, MARLENE CASTANEDA, ROBERT GRAHAM, DR.
WE HAVE TO GIVE SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO MARIA.
MARIA, WILL YOU STAND UP? MARIA OVERSEES THIS PROGRAM ALONG WITH THE LEGACIES, CLINICIANS, AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, AND SHE MAKES SURE THAT EVERY BOOK GETS IN EVERY CHILD'S HAND.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL HONOR FOR LEGACY, AND WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS CITY.
CHERIE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF TODAY'S HONOREES.
AND THANK YOU TO THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF LITERACY.
FEDERICO IS SO EXCITED ABOUT LITERACY IN TODAY'S PROGRAM THAT HE WANTS TO COME BACK AND TALK AGAIN.
SO LET'S WELCOME FEDERICO BACK TO THE PODIUM VERY, VERY BRIEFLY AND OUT OF SCHEDULE.
UH, SIMPLY TO TELL YOU THAT CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA HAS PRESENTED TO HOUSTON AND THE MAYOR TURNER, A DECLARATION FROM A CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION OF TODAY AS LITERACY DAY IN HOUSTON.
AND ALSO, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT RECOGNIZE, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT RECOGNIZING MY TEAM.
I WE WOULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT MY TEAM.
SO GIVE IT A HAND TO THE MAL TEAM.
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR ADULT LITERACY IS NOT JUST ME.
I HAVE FOUR PEOPLE SOMEWHERE IN THIS ROOM.
AND THIS REALLY HONESTLY WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE HPL TEAM.
THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY TEAM HAS HELPED ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY SINCE WE SET THE DATE FOR THIS EVENT.
EVERY REQUEST AND SOME OF THE REQUESTS CAME LATE.
I TELL YOU, THEY WERE REALLY, REALLY FANTASTIC.
[00:45:01]
HERE WITHOUT YOU.NEXT THIS MORNING TO THE PODIUM IS IVAN TE MAYO.
IVAN IS A FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST WITH THE ALL DEAN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
HE IS AN IMMIGRANT WHO HAD TO LEARN ENGLISH IN AN ADULT LITERACY CLASSROOM, AND NOW HE IS A FULL-TIME ADVOCATE FOR THESE PROGRAMS. PLEASE WELCOME IVAN TO THE PODIUM.
WOW, IT LOOKS IMPRESSIVE FROM HERE,
UM, UM, OUR MAYOR, MR. TURNER, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY STORY.
UH, I TRULY BELIEVE IN ADULT EDUCATION.
UH, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT A, A PROGRAM, UH, FOR ADULT EDUCATION SHOULD INCREASE THE PARTICIPANTS' CAPACITY AND GIVE A VOICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
YES, I AM A STUDENT FROM, I AM FORMER STUDENT FROM A LITERACY PROGRAM.
IN 2005, WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY, I NEEDED TO LEARN ENGLISH.
AND LONE STAR COLLEGE OPENED THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME.
I ENROLLED IN THIS ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM AT GREENS POINT, ALTHOUGH IT EFFECTIVELY HAS MY, UH, MY LANGUAGE SKILLS, THE CURRICULUM NEEDED MORE SURVIVAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT.
LET ME EXPLAIN WITH A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES WHAT WHAT DOES IT MEANS.
I, UH, AWAY, BEFORE WE ARRIVE IN AMERICA, WE TRIED TO BUY A CAR.
ALL THE DEALERS ASKED ME ABOUT MY CREDIT SCORE, AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT CREDIT SCORE MEANS.
ACCESS TO HEALTH, UH, SERVICES WAS ANOTHER ISSUE.
WE NEVER UNDERSTOOD OUR BENEFITS AND ALWAYS ACCEPTED EVERYTHING THAT THEY ASK US TO PAY.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE PRICE WAS VERY HIGH.
I HAVE MY FIRST SMARTPHONE, SMARTPHONE IN 2014, AND I'M STILL LEARNING HOW TO USE IT EFFECTIVELY.
THE WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE IT COULD BE TO BUY A HOUSE FOR US.
IT WAS NOT DOCUMENTATION CONTRACTS, DOWN PAYMENTS IN INSPECTIONS, INSURANCES, CREDIT SCORE TAXES.
WE WERE NOT PREPARED FOR THAT.
AND IT COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
BUT THE MOST TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE WAS NOT UNDERSTANDING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE WERE NOT PREPARED TO GUIDE MY SON DURING HIS TRANSITION FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL AND FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO THE UNIVERSITY.
THIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND OTHER MORE MOVE MY DESIRE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS NOT ONLY LANGUAGE.
I AM PRIVILEGED TO WORK IN ALDEN ISD, WHERE OUR LEADER, DR.
LA NEY, BELIEVES THAT WE MUST PROVIDE ALL OUR STUDENTS WITH THE BEST OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
WE STILL SHOULD TURN AND SAY ALL INCLUDES THEIR FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY COME FROM.
IN 2021, WE LAUNCHED OUR PROGRAM, THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY UNIVERSITY, WHERE WE ADDRESS LANGUAGE SKILLS AND LOOK AT EACH FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL AS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH DIFFERENT POTENTIALS AND CAPACITIES.
WE USE TERMS LIKE EMPOWER, ENGAGE, AND LEAD TO HIGHLIGHT THE POTENTIAL OF OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, WE STILL HAVE DETRACTORS WHO ASK WHY THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY UNIVERSITY.
TWO WEEKS AGO WE DID A PRESENTATION WITH FORMER STUDENTS FROM OUR, UH, FIRST GENERATION, SECOND GENERATION OF PARENTS.
AND THEY GAVE THEIR TESTIMONIES ABOUT THE PROJECT AND HOW THE PROJECT HAVE IMPACTED THEIR LIVES.
ONE OF OUR PARENTS SAID, THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY.
THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY I EVER HAVE TO USE MY LANGUAGE AND
[00:50:01]
MY VOICE WAS HEARD.THE FAMILY COMMUNITY UNIVERSITY HELPS FAMILIES TO LOOK FORWARD AND GIVE VOICE TO THOSE WHO STILL LIVE IN SILENCE.
IVAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY TO ADVANCE LITERACY.
AT THIS TIME, I AM HAPPY TO REINTRODUCE YOU TO LISA HOLLAND AND BILL BALDWIN.
THEY ARE THE TWO CHAIRPERSONS FOR THIS MORNING'S EVENT, AND THEY WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME REMARKS.
WHERE'S THE SCRIPT? EXCUSE ME NOW I DO NOT HAVE MY REMARKS.
BILL JUST ASKED ME IF I HAD MY REMARKS AND I WENT, WHERE'S THE SCRIPT? BUT THEN EVERYONE KNOWS ME.
SO GOING OFF SCRIPT IS MY FAVORITE THING.
AM I DOING OKAY? YOU IS PERFECT.
I'M LISA HOLLAND, NELSON BOWMAN, AND WITH MY CO-CHAIR BILL BALDWIN.
WE'RE SO EXCITED TO CHAIR THIS EVENT TODAY.
WE HAVE, WE ALL APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IN MAKING HOUSTON'S ADULT LITERACY AND WORKFORCE SKILLS EDUCATION A PRIORITY FOR OUR CITY.
LITERACY IS A PASSION OF OURS, LIKE IT IS FOR ALL OF YOU.
HERE IN THIS ROOM, WE WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY TELL YOU WHY WE ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT LITERACY AND WHY IT'S SO CRITICAL.
WE JUST HEARD A STORY ABOUT WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.
WE ALL KNOW, YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE NEED TO, WE NEED LITERACY TO MAKE HOUSTON WORK.
HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT STATISTICS TO THINK ABOUT.
THAT'S THE NUMBER OF ADULTS IN HARRIS COUNTY WHO LACK BASIC FUNCTIONAL LITERACY SKILLS.
AND WHEN 30% OF HOUSTON ADULTS HAVE LOW LITERACY, IT'S PRETTY DIFFICULT FOR HIM OR HER TO NAVIGATE EVERYDAY LIFE TASKS TO HELP WITH CHILDREN'S HOMEWORK, TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY EVENTS, NAVIGATE THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM OR COMPLETE A JOB APPLICATION.
AND OUR CITY AND ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE SUFFER.
I HAVE TO PUT WHAT I SAY ALL THE TIME HERE, WHEN PARENTS DON'T READ, CHILDREN DON'T READ.
AND OUR NEXT EDUCATED WORKFORCE DOESN'T HAPPEN.
AND WE DON'T STAY THE GREATEST CITY IN AMERICA.
THAT'S THE NUMBER OF WORKING AGE ADULTS IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA THAT DO NOT HAVE THE FUNCTIONAL LITERARY SKILLS TO PERFORM BASIC JOBS, EVEN IF THEY CAN COMPLETE A JOB APPLICATION.
SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR HOUSTON? IT MEANS THAT A HUGE RESOURCE OF PEOPLE IN OUR CITY WHOSE LACK OF SKILLS PREVENT THEM FROM BECOMING VIBRANT CONTRIBUTORS TO HOUSTON'S ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE.
BIGGER PICTURE, ADULTS WITH LOWER LEVELS OF LITERACY, OR MORE LIKELY TO BE IN POVERTY, THEIR CHILDREN ARE LESS LIKELY TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
AND AS LISA SAID, WHEN PARENTS DON'T READ, THEIR CHILDREN DO NOT READ EITHER.
SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT LITERACIES EFFECTS ON ADULTS IN OUR CITY TODAY.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT LITERACIES EFFECTS ON THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
AND OUR VERY FUTURE IS A COMMUNITY.
WE CANNOT HAVE A VIBRANT WORKFORCE IF IT'S NOT AN EDUCATED WORKFORCE.
WE HOPE TODAY THAT YOU'LL PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION.
YOU CAN SCAN THE QR CODE AT YOUR TABLE FROM YOUR PROGRAM.
EVERY DONATION THAT YOU MAKE TODAY WILL HELP HOUSTON WITH ITS ADULT LITERACY PROBLEM.
YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN A $100 AMERICAN EXPRESS GIFT CARD ALSO.
AND THERE ARE AMAZING RAFFLE, UH, ITEMS THAT WE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN BY PARTICIPATING IN THE RAFFLE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TODAY AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND BILL, AT THIS TIME I AM VERY
[00:55:01]
EXCITED TO SIT DOWN WITH MAYOR TURNER IF HE WOULD COME TO THE STAGE AND HAVE A SEAT HERE.WE'RE GOING TO ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS.
DO YOU ALL HAVE MICS FOR US? OH, GREAT.
ALRIGHT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE YOUR MIC.
MAYOR TURNER, IT'S SO NICE TO MEET YOU.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME MEETING YOU IN PERSON.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, I'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST A YEAR, BUT I AM ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY ALREADY.
I STARTED AT CHANNEL TWO IN MARCH, I THINK.
UM, AND SO I'VE SEEN YOU ON TV,
AND I THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
IN 2019, YOU OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR ADULT LITERACY TO FOCUS ON ENHANCING ADULT LITERACY, ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS AND ITS IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY, ON THE COMMUNITIES, ON FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO EVERYONE HERE HOW IMPORTANT THIS WAS AND WHY BUILDING IT UNDER THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL HELP IT TO CONTINUE TO GROW? THANK YOU, CANDICE.
SHE'S DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB THIS MORNING.
LOOK, LET ME, LEMME JUST THANK ALL OF THOSE, ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.
MARIA, WHAT CAN WE SAY? UH, YOUR MOM'S LEGACY CONTINUES THE BIBLE BUSH FOUNDATION.
SO THANK YOU ALSO VERY MUCH TO ALL OF THE AWARD WINNERS.
UH, TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE, UH, BEEN UP HERE, THOSE WHO CAME UP AND TOLD THEIR STORIES.
I MEAN, THAT'S POWERFUL IN AND OF ITSELF, UH, TO THOSE SPONSORS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED.
SO LET ME SAY THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALL.
UM, I DON'T THINK AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT I DON'T REALLY HAVE TO SELL THE CASE, UH, FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ADULT LITERACY, THE LIBRARY IS A NATURAL CONNECTION.
UM, I MEAN, IT'S A CREDIBLE SOURCE.
UM, IT'S FOCUS IS ON SERVICE EQUITY, PROVIDING SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHEREVER THEY COME FROM, WHATEVER THEIR NEEDS MAY BE.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME INTO THIS LIBRARY ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB.
SOME ARE LOOKING TO FIND A BOOK THAT THEY, UH, NEED, UH, WHETHER IT'S FOR SCHOOL OR SOMETHING ELSE.
UH, BUT THE LIBRARY'S PURPOSE IS ON PROVIDING THAT PORTAL, UM, EDUCATION AND INFORMATION.
SO IT WAS A NATURAL CONNECTION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UH, THE, UH, ADULT LITERACY, LOW FUNCTIONAL LITERACY.
AND THE QUESTION IS, HOW CAN YOU ALIGN? BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT IN THE LINEMAN, YOU SPEND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME, BUT YOU'RE NOT MAKING MUCH HEADWAY.
AND SO COMBINING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WITH ADULT LITERACY WITH THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS JUST A NATURAL.
AND LEMME TELL YOU, IT HAS WORKED.
IT'S ONE OF THE KIND, UH, IN, IN THE COUNTRY, BUT I'M MORE FOCUSED ON THE RESULTS AND THE ACCESS THAT'S BEEN MADE AVAILABLE.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE DID IT, AND IT'S MY HOPE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE AND WILL GO WAY BEYOND WHERE IT IS TODAY.
AND THEN FINALLY, LET ME THANK PHOEBE TUTOR, LISA, UH, BILL, UH, FOR TAKING ON AND, AND, AND BEING THE CHAIRS AND CO-CHAIRS OF THIS EVENT.
YOU ALL ARE CALLED ON A ZILLION TIMES, BUT IF YOU WANT TO GET THINGS DONE, YOU GO TO PEOPLE WHO ARE BUSY.
NO, MAYOR, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND LITERACY.
IS THERE SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR THAT SPARKED THAT INTEREST, THAT FIRE FOR YOU? YOU KNOW, I WAS LISTENING TO, UH, THE INDIVIDUAL FROM, FROM AL DEAN AND, UH, SUPERINTENDENT GONY.
WHEN THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ACTUALLY SHOWS UP AND IS IN PERSON, UH, THAT MEANS SOMETHING.
WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN PERSONAL PERSONAL STORIES.
WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO GO TO LAW, TO TO, TO, UH, TO LAW SCHOOL, LARRY, UH, YOU KNOW, I HAD SOME, SOME, UM, PAPERS THAT I NEED SIGNED AND I NEEDED, UM, SOMEONE TO SIGN.
I ASKED WHEN AND ASKED MY MOM TO SIGN.
WELL, MY MOM COULDN'T READ THE PAPERS, UH, BECAUSE NEITHER PARENT, UH, GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, BUT SHE WAS THE ONE WHO I NEEDED
[01:00:01]
TO SIGN THE PAPERS.SO I GAVE HER PAPERS TO HER AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU PLEASE SIGN 'EM? AND SHE SAID TO ME, UH, YOU ARE GONNA HAVE TO READ THEM TO ME.
BUT SHE WAS A VERY STRONG WOMAN.
SO SHE SAID, READ THEM TO ME AND DON'T LEAVE OUT ANY WORD
AND THEN, UM, AFTER I FINISHED, SHE SAID NO.
UM, BECAUSE THE AMOUNT THAT WAS BEING REQUESTED, THERE WERE LOAN PAPERS AND THE AMOUNT WAS EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH.
UM, AND THEN WE DISCUSSED, AND SEVERAL DAYS LATER, UM, LIKE MOMS, WHEN YOU PLEAD YOUR CASE AND YOU WALK AROUND LOOKING SAD, UM, SHE END UP SIGNING THE LOAN PAPERS.
UM, MY MOM, UM, WORKED AT THE RICE HOTEL AS A MAID FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
UH, BUT THERE WAS A LOW LEVEL IN TERMS OF LITERACY.
UH, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU GOT TO KNOW HER, SHE MASQUERADED IT VERY, VERY WELL.
THOSE OF US INSIDE THE HOUSE KNEW IT.
BUT OUTSIDE THE HOUSE, SHE REALLY, YOU REALLY DIDN'T.
AND SO ON SO MANY, MANY OCCASIONS, SHE WOULD BRING PAPERS HOME AND WOULD SAY TO HER, CHILDREN, READ THESE AND DON'T LEAVE OUT ANY WORD
YOU KNOW, BUT THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE PERSONAL EXAMPLES.
UH, THE OTHER THING IS THAT, UM, DURING COVID, I THINK WE ALL BECAME VERY, UH, IT BECAME VERY REAL TO ALL OF US.
WHEN SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN, KIDS WENT HOME, AND THEN PARENTS HAD TO BECOME TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS WHERE IF THERE'S A LOW LEVEL LEVEL OF, OF LITERACY IN THE HOME, IF IF PARENTS DON'T HAVE THE DIGITAL SKILLS, HOW CAN THEY ASSIST THEIR KIDS WITH A DIGITAL ASSIGNMENT IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE DIGITAL AWARENESS? YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE DEVICES, YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE DEVICES, ALL THE TOOLS, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF LITERACY, THE KIDS ARE STILL MISSING.
AND SO OFTEN WE FINISH, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE KIDS, BUT IT HAS BEEN SAID REPEATEDLY, IF THE ADULTS ARE LEFT OUT, THE KIDS CONTINUE TO SUFFER AND THE ADULTS SUFFER AS WELL.
WE LIVE IN A VERY VIBRANT CITY, BUT STILL ONE THIRD OF OUR CITY.
THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY ARE NOT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
SO THESE ARE EXAMPLES THAT EXIST EACH AND EVERY DAY.
AND IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A VERY DYNAMIC COMPETITIVE CITY WITH HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE, THEN YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE ACCESS AND EQUITY.
AND YOU CAN'T BE A SUCCESSFUL CITY IF TWO THIRDS OF YOUR CITY ARE MOVING FORWARD AND ENJOYING THE COMPETITIVENESS THAT EXISTS AND THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.
AND ONE THIRD OF YOUR CITY IS STILL BEHIND.
NOT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE, BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE LOCKED IN A SITUATION AND THEY'RE NEEDING ASSISTANCE TO ADVANCE AND MOVE FORWARD.
AND SO, UH, THOSE ARE, FOR ME, THOSE ARE REAL EXAMPLES.
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR.
YOU CAN LOOK TO A RELATIVE, A FRIEND, A NEIGHBOR, YOU NAME IT.
THERE'S SOMEONE THAT I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT'S EITHER MASQUERADING OR SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE TOOL SET THAT THEY NEED.
AND WE NEED TO PROVIDE, UH, THAT, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT PERSONAL STORY.
IT'S VERY INSPIRING TO HEAR WHAT LIT THAT FIRE FOR YOU AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND FOR YOUR MOTHER.
OKAY, SO YOUR FRIEND, DUSTY BAKER, YOUR GREAT FRIEND.
HE COULDN'T BE HERE BECAUSE HE'S AWAY WITH THE ASTROS AND WE REALLY NEED THEM TO KEEP ON WINNING.
UM, BUT HE DID GIVE US THAT GREAT MESSAGE THAT WE GOT TO SEE.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW HIS PRESENCE IN THE CITY HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE AND FOR PROGRAMS LIKE MOAO? WELL, YOU KNOW, UM, IN SO MANY WAYS, MAYOR'S OFFICE, ADULT LITERACY, UH, MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE SEXY ENOUGH.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ADULT LITERACY,
OR IF THEY GIVE, THEY DON'T GIVE ON THE SAME LEVEL BECAUSE THEY JUST, HOW DOES IT IMPACT ME?
[01:05:01]
I CAN READ, MY KIDS ARE IN COLLEGE, MY KIDS ARE DOING WELL.IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I PERSONALLY NEED.
MAYOR, HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO ME? WELL, THIS IS A HIGH PROFILE FIGURE.
HE IS LENDING HIS NAME, HIS FACE, UH, HE IS A CELEBRITY.
I MEAN, YOU SAY ASTROS, PEOPLE SHOUT, UM, WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS.
AND SO HE IS LENDING HIS NAME TO HELP RAISE THE PROFILE OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ADULT LITERACY.
WHEN DR. LAWSON ASKED ME TO CALL HIM TO SEE IF HE'D BE THE UNDERAGE CHAIR, QUITE FRANKLY, HE READILY AGREED BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD.
AND IF YOU COME FROM A BACKGROUND WHERE PEOPLE, WHERE YOU HAVE RELATIVES, CLOSE RELATIVES WHO HAVE NOT GRADUATED, LET'S SAY FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND HAVE MASQUERADED THEIR LITERACY, THEN YOU GET IT.
SO BY DUSTY GIVING HIS NAME WHEN I TOLD HIM, I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO COME TO EVERY EVENT, I GOT THAT.
BUT LENDING YOUR NAME WILL GIVE, WILL, WILL PROVIDE ADDED ATTENTION, A STATUS TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ADULT LITERACY AND WHERE PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE GIVEN BEFORE.
MAYBE THEY'LL PAUSE THIS TIME BECAUSE DUSTER BAKER IS ASKING.
UH, HE, HE DESPERATELY WANTED TO BE HERE.
HE WAS GOING TO TRY TO BE HERE EVEN WHEN THEY PLAYED LAST NIGHT, ONE.
UM, AND THEY ON THEIR WAY OUT.
SO HE, HE, HE WAS GOING TO SAID THAT THE LAST ONE, IF I COULD JUST SHOOT IN THERE.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, UH, LENDING YOUR NAME, PROVIDING THE VIDEO, CONTINUING TO BE ENGAGED, HAVING THIS BE A, A, A, A CAUSE THAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT, THIS IS NOT A ONE AND DONE, THIS IS A JOURNEY.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, AS THINGS MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE HIM.
AND IT REALLY SPEAKS TO DUSTY AND HIS CHARACTER TOO, FOR HIM TO LEND HIS NAME TO SUCH AN IMPORTANT CAUSE.
SO MAYOR, WE KNOW THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST LITERACY BREAKFAST AS MAYOR OF OUR GREAT CITY.
WHAT IS ONE MESSAGE YOU WOULD LIKE EVERYONE HERE TO KNOW, TO LEAVE WITH FROM THIS BREAKFAST THAT, UM, THAT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LITERACY, THIS, I MEAN, IT IS FOR PEOPLE, IT'S PERSONAL.
UM, I APPLAUD, YOU KNOW WHAT BARBARA BUSH DID? SHE LENT HER NAME TO A SUBJECT MATTER AND ELEVATED IT.
AND TODAY, QUITE FRANKLY, YOU ARE HERE IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF WHERE BARBARA BUSH STARTED.
SHE LEARNED A NAME TO IT AND THE FAMILY HAS EMBRACED IT.
NO ONE WANTS TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING THAT STARTS AND THEN DIES.
AND THINGS CAN EASILY START AND DIE, NOT BECAUSE THE NEED IS STILL IS NO LONGER THERE, BUT BECAUSE PEOPLE LOSE INTEREST AND THEY MOVE ON, MY HOPE IS THAT THE TORCH WILL CONTINUE TO BE LIT.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT PEOPLE WILL LOOK BEYOND THEMSELVES.
IF YOU ARE A HIGH LEVEL READER, IF YOU ARE HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL, IF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE DOING WELL, AND YOU ARE FRIENDS, GOD BLESS YOU, YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND IN YOUR CITY, AND IF ONE THIRD OF YOUR CITY IS STILL STRUGGLING, AND IF THERE'S UNEMPLOYMENT OR UNDEREMPLOYMENT OR POVERTY OR LIFE'S CHALLENGES BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE STUCK IN A WORLD, NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SMART AND CAPABLE, BUT BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN WHAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THEMSELVES, THEN I HOPE PEOPLE WILL LOOK BEYOND THEMSELVES AND RECOGNIZE THAT I STILL CAN'T BE
[01:10:01]
AS GREAT AS GOD WOULD HAVE ME TO BE IF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE STILL STRUGGLING.AND I THINK IF YOU WANT A SAFE CITY, HAVE A CITY WHERE ACCESS AND EQUITY BECOMES THE FOUNDATION AND WANT TO HAVE A SAFE CITY, HAVE A CITY WHERE PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LOCKED IN OR LOCKED OUT BECAUSE OF THEIR STATUS.
AND IF YOU WANT BUSINESSES TO COME, THEN YOU WANT A WORKFORCE THAT'S CAPABLE OF MEETING THOSE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME.
WHAT'S THE DI WHAT'S THE MAKE SENSE OF HAVING A 500, UH, FORTUNE COM, FORTUNE 500 COMPANY COME TO A CITY WITH A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES AND YOU HAVE A WORKFORCE THAT'S STILL DEFICIENT AND THEY CAN'T NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF THAT BUSINESS, OF THAT CORPORATION? WHAT'S THE VALUE OF THAT? SO MY HOPE IS, YOU KNOW, AND I TOLD THIS OTHER NIGHT, THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS A CRUISE SHIP.
YOU TRY TO TURN IT TOO QUICKLY, YOU'LL TURN IT OVER.
BUT ON DECEMBER 31ST OF THIS YEAR, THIS CRUISE SHIP WILL DOCK AND THIS CAPTAIN WILL COME OFF.
AND ON JANUARY 1ST, THIS CRUISE SHIP WILL TAKE OFF AGAIN WITH A NEW CAPTAIN.
BUT HOPEFULLY WHAT PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND IS THAT IF THE CRUISE SHIP TAKES OFF, AND IF WE ARE NOT AS PASSIONATE AND UNDERSTANDING AND SENSITIVE TO THOSE WHO ARE ON, WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING, THEN THIS CRUISE SHIP WILL FACE SOME SO MANY WATERS.
AND WHEN YOU DO FACE CHALLENGES, AND IT WILL, YOU WANT EVERYBODY ON YOUR CRUISE SHIP TO BE CAPABLE AND PREPARED TO PARTICIPATE IN WHAT YOU NEED TO BUILD A RESILIENCE AND A SUSTAINABLE CITY.
SO LET'S KEEP THE TORCH GOING.
I WILL JUST SIMPLY CLOSE BY SAYING IF YOU HAVE GIVEN THIS MORNING, THANK YOU.
IF YOU HAVE NOT GIVEN THIS MORNING, I HOPE YOU WILL.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T GIVEN TO THE LEVEL, LEVEL THAT YOU CAN, I HOPE YOU WILL DO MORE.
AND DON'T JUST DO IT JUST BECAUSE, BUT DO IT BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY WHO ARE NEEDING YOUR HELP.
AND OFTENTIMES WE SAY WE ARE FOCUSED ON OUR KIDS AND WE SHOULD.
WHEN YOU BOARD THE PLANE AND THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT SAYS, OR SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN ON THIS PLANE AND THE OXYGEN MAP, MASS DROP DOWN BEFORE YOU PLACE IT ON THE KID FIRST, PLACE IT ON YOURSELF.
IF YOU WANT TO SAVE THE CHILDREN, ADULTS MUST FIRST SAVE THEMSELVES.
YOU CANNOT EDUCATE KIDS AND NOT PROVIDE THE TOOLS TO THEIR PARENTS AND EXPECT THE KIDS TO BE ALL THEY ARE DESTINED TO BE.
AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT OUR CITY WILL RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST, THIS IS A MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ADULT LITERACY OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY.
I APPLAUD IT ON ONE HAND, SAD ON THE OTHER.
AND I HOPE THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD, AND I HOPE PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF ELIMINATING LOW LITERACY.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE YOUR MAYOR.
WHAT A GREAT WAY TO END THIS CONVERSATION.
ALL VERY THOUGHTFUL WORDS THAT WE ALL CAN TAKE SOMETHING FROM HERE TODAY BY MAKING A DONATION AND DOING MORE IN OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE IT IMPACTS US ALL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, FOR LIGHTING THE TORCH.