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STAND[Press Conference: "Houston Equity Fund - Open for Business Celebration"]
THEIR WHY.TO DIG DEEP AND LOOK AT THE CORE PURPOSES THAT DRIVE THEM FOR THIS ORGANIZATION, THE HOUSTON EQUITY FUND FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC EQUITY.
OUR WHY IS CLAIRE HE F'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE A GROUP OF, IN INFLUENTIAL INDIVIDUALS, DETERMINED ON ACCELERATING TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE IN HOUSTON'S UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES BY SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFITS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.
HEF WAS FORMED THREE YEARS AGO THIS MONTH AT A TIME.
AT THAT TIME, SOCIETY REELED FROM THE ILLS OF SOCIAL INJUSTICE.
OUR LEADERS RALLIED NOT TO JUST SEE A DIFFERENCE, BUT TO BE A DIFFERENCE.
SO TODAY, NOT ONLY DO OUR, WE CELEBRATE OUR ANNIVERSARY, WE CELEBRATE THOSE OF YOU IN THE ROOM THAT ARE OUR WHY.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, AS A MATTER OF FACT, IF YOU ARE A RECIPIENT OF ROUND TWO, UM, OVER FOR BUSINESS, IF YOU ARE A RECIPIENT, PLEASE STAND AS WE CELEBRATE YOU.
NOW, WITH THAT SAME ENERGY, WOULD YOU PLEASE GREET THE JUDGE? HONORABLE VANESSA GILMORE, THE CHAIRMAN OF OUR GRANT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
I AM SO EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH YOU THIS MORNING, AND SO HAPPY TO SEE ALL OF YOU.
BY DEFINITION, TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE MEANS TO CAUSE A MAJOR CHANGE, SOMETHING OR SOMEONE, ESPECIALLY IN A WAY THAT MAKES HIM OR HER BETTER.
WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU THIS MORNING TO THIS TRANSFORMATIVE MOMENT IN TIME.
MY NAME IS VANESSA GILMORE AND I AM CHAIR OF THE GRANT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, AND I'M ALSO A FORMER FEDERAL JUDGE HERE IN HOUSTON.
WENT THROUGH THE 12 STEP PROGRAM.
HOWEVER, FROM THAT POSITION, UH, THE NEED FOR PROACTIVE TRANSFORMATIVE CATALYST THAT WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES FROM MY BENCH, I SERVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF DECISIONS AND ACTIONS THAT WERE MORE REACTIVE AND OFTEN LEFT ME FEELING AND WONDERING WHETHER THERE WAS SPACE TO KNOW WHAT THE END RESULTS MIGHT HAVE BEEN, IF ONLY AS THE GRANT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON, IT'S BEEN MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO FACILITATE DECISIONS, UH, THAT UNDERSCORE THE HOUSTON EQUITY FUNDS, UH, SERVICE TO OUR Y, PARTICULARLY IN THIS ROUND TWO OF OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
OUR COMMITTEE AND OUR BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE SEATED WITH US HERE ON THIS STAGE TODAY MADE DECISIONS THAT WILL BRING OVER $7 MILLION INTO OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND PROVIDING FUNDS.
IT WAS ALSO OUR VISION TO PROVIDE HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND TO BE A REMINDER THAT YOU ARE VALUED AS A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
TO NAME JUST A FEW OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL BE RECEIVING GRANTS IN THIS ROUND.
THEY INCLUDE JANIE'S, CHILDCARE AND TRANSPORTATION, LLC JO JOSEPH, HOUSE COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER, KIDS CONNECT RESOURCE CENTER, KEEP ENRICHING YOUTH SUCCESS AND PEREZ MULTIMEDIA SERVICES ACROSS THE INDUSTRIES OF TRANSPORTATION, CHILDCARE, CONSTRUCTION, AND AREAS LIKE SERVICES TO YOUTH AND THE HOMELESS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT REPRESENTATION OF OUR WHY, OUR INVESTMENT, OUR INVESTMENT OF TIME AND ENERGY TO STEER RESOURCES TO EACH OF YOU IS THIS ORGANIZATION'S WAY OF PROACTIVELY SUPPORTING TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT WE GATHER IN THIS ROOM TODAY AND CELEBRATE YOU AS OUR WHY.
WE CELEBRATE YOU BECAUSE THE HOUSTON EQUITY FUND COULD NOT DO THIS WORK ALONE.
WE WANT TO AT THIS TIME, PLEASE WELCOME OUR KEY COLLABORATORS FOR THIS GRANT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME TO THE, UH, PODIUM AT
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THIS TIME, ENRIQUE, UH, ROSALES SENIOR COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIP MANAGER, WELLS FARGO.I AM ENRIQUE ROSALES, SENIOR COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIP MANAGER WITH WELLS FARGO'S MIDDLE MARKET GROUP.
I AM HONORED TO BE STAND HERE TODAY WITH MAYOR TURNER, THE HOUSTON EQUITY FUND BOARD, AND MY DEAR COLLEAGUES FROM WELLS FARGO TO TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT JUDGE GILMORE HAS COINED THE TRANSFORMATIVE MOVEMENT.
THE OPEN FOR BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM HAS SERVED AS A CATALYST FOR HELPING SMALL BUSINESS AND NONPROFITS GROW AND THRIVE IN OUR HOUSTON ECONOMY.
WE KNOW THAT THE FOLLOWING YOUR DREAM OF STARTING OR EVEN MAINTAINING A BUSINESS CAN COME AT A HEAVY COST, WHETHER THAT'S ONCE TIME TALENT OR MOST IMPORTANTLY, FINANCES.
WHILE THERE ARE MANY CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CAN IMPACT THE SUCCESS OF A BUSINESS, ACCESS TO CAPITAL REMAINS A KEY BARRIER FOR MINORITY OWNED AND LED BUSINESSES.
AND THAT IS WHERE OUR Y BEGINS.
ALMOST FOUR YEARS AGO, WE LAUNCHED THE WELLS FARGO OPEN FOR BUSINESS FUND, A ROUGHLY $420 MILLION PROGRAM CREATED DURING THE C 19 PANDEMIC TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES STAY OPEN, MAINTAIN JOBS, AND GROW.
THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT HAS BEEN PROFOUND, AND MANY OF OUR BELOVED ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE FACED UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES.
OUR FOCUS WAS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THOSE THAT HAD BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC.
FARGO'S OPEN FOR BUSINESS FUND HAS PROVIDED GRANTS TO MORE THAN 200 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SERVING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO ENABLE ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE.
LAST YEAR, WELLS FARGO ANNOUNCED THAT $100 MILLION WOULD BE ALLOCATED TO FIVE KEY MARKETS WITHIN WELLS FARGO'S, SCOPE, LOS ANGELES, CHARLOTTE, ATLANTA, MIAMI, AND HOUSTON.
WITH THE $20 MILLION DONATION FROM WELLS FARGO'S OPEN FOR BUSINESS FUND, THE HOUSTON EQUITY FUND IS ADVANCING PROGRAMS THAT ENABLE ENTREPRENEURS TO ACQUIRE TANGIBLE ASSETS LIKE PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT THAT WILL SET THEM UP FOR LONG-TERM GROWTH.
AND DAYS LIKE THIS ARE Y BECOMES EVEN CLEARER.
THE RADIANT ENERGY IN THIS ROOM IS UNDENIABLE.
TO LOOK OUT AND SEE THE JOY AND EXCITEMENT PERMEATING AMONGST US IS PRICELESS TO HEAR HOW THESE FUNDS WILL HELP BUY NEW EQUIPMENT TO EXPANSIVE BUSINESSES REACH, OR HOW THE FUND WILL ALLOW BUSINESSES TO ADD NEW JOBS AND RE REINFORCES THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHY WE BELIEVE ASSET OWNERSHIP HELPS ACCELERATE THE GROWTH OF A SMALL BUSINESS, OPENING UP AVENUES TO GROW REVENUE, PROFITABILITY, SERVICES, PRODUCTS, AND CUSTOMER EXPANSION.
ENABLING SMALL BUSINESSES TO GROW ALSO DEEPENS THE ROOTS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND SMALL BUSINESS CORRIDORS.
THE OPEN FOR BUSINESS FUND IS NOT MERELY A FINANCIAL INVESTMENT.
IT IS A LIFELINE FOR THOSE THAT HAVE WEATHERED THE STORM.
IT IS OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY TO REBUILD, SUPPORT AND FORTIFY THE VERY FABRIC THAT BINDS US TOGETHER.
THE HOUSTON EQUITY FUND, WITH ITS DEDICATED TEAM, IS NOT MERELY ADMINISTERING FUNDS.
THEY ARE STEWARDS OF HOPE, ARCHITECTS OF RECOVERY, AND CHAMPIONS OF ECONOMIC RESURGENCE.
IN CLOSING TO OUR SMALL BUSINESS AND NONPROFIT OWNERS PRESENT TODAY WITH US, I WANT TO REITERATE THAT THIS FUND IS NOT JUST FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
IT IS A DEMONSTRATION OF FAITH IN YOUR VISION, A VALIDATION OF YOUR IMPORTANCE, AND A RECOGNITION OF YOUR RESILIENCE.
THE FUNDS ARE DESIGNED TO, THE FUNDS ARE DESIGNED TO EMPOWER YOU TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO RECOVER, NOT ONLY TO RECOVER, BUT TO EMERGE STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT, AND TO POSITION YOU FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR PERSONAL STORIES AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THESE FUNDS HAVE HAD ON YOUR BUSINESS.
NOW WE'LL PASS IT ON TO THOMAS JONES, PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON EQUITY FUND BOARD.
I TAKE THAT APPLAUSE AND UH, AND I REALLY TURN IT BACK AT YOU.
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.UM, AS SAID EARLIER, YOU ARE OUR Y OUR PURPOSE, OUR CAUSE AND BELIEF THAT MOTIVATES US TO DO THE WORK OF SUPPORTING YOUR EFFORTS TO POSITIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS THOMAS JONES AND I'M, I'M PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON FUND FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.
AND, UH, YESTERDAY, UH, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM, VANESSA, GINA AND STAFF, UH, WENT AROUND AND VISITED SEVERAL BUSINESSES AND NOT-FOR-PROFITS THAT ARE RECEIVING GRANTS IN, IN, UH, THIS YEAR.
AND I GOTTA TELL YOU, IT WAS ONE OF THE MORE SPECIAL MOMENTS, UH, THIS YEAR FOR ME, IN FACT, FOR MY LIFE, UM, BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, UH, I CAN SHARE.
PRIOR TO RETIRING FROM MY FIRM, I WAS QUITE FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH SEVERAL OTHERS IN, IN, IN MY ACCOUNTING FIRM, MCCONNELL JONES THAT WE ESTABLISHED, UH, OH 30 YEARS AGO.
ALTHOUGH MY PARTNERS AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO EXPERIENCE MANY GREAT SUCCESSES, I HAVE BEEN BLESSED.
UH, I DO REMEMBER THE RELENTLESS PERSEVERANCE NEEDED TO ESTABLISH A COMPANY.
I REMEMBER THE EARLY MORNINGS, LATE NIGHTS, RUSSELL, I REMEMBER THE SACRIFICE OF PERSONAL TIME AND FINDING TO BUILD MY OWN OR OUR OWN.
AND I REMEMBER THE DISCOURAGING MOMENTS AND THE MOMENTS OF HOPING THAT ONE DAY I MIGHT GET MY CHANCE, OR MIGHT WE MIGHT GET THIS BIG BREAK.
I REMEMBER, AND SO MANY YEARS LATER, IT HAS COME FULL CIRCLE TO REMEMBER SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS TRANSFORMATIVE WAY.
AS WE TRANSITION FROM THE PLACES ON YESTERDAY, THROUGHOUT THE CITY VISITING JUST A FEW OF THE ORGANIZATION, IT WAS INSPIRING REALLY TO SEE THE VALUE THAT BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE TRI ON WHEELS, HOUSTON
WE CONTINUE TO BEND THE NEEDLE A BIT MORE TOWARDS JUSTICE, KNOWING THAT YOU TWO WILL BEND IT AS WELL.
YOU TWO WILL DO YOUR PART TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANY THAT WILL BE TOUCHED THROUGHOUT THROUGH THE ACTIVITIES THAT YOUR ENTITIES FACILITATE TO EACH RECIPIENT.
AND I WANT YOU TO HEAR ME CAREFULLY WITH THIS ONE, TO EACH RECIPIENT IN THIS AUDIENCE TODAY ON BEHALF OF AND ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD, YOU GUYS COMPETED AND WON.
OKAY? YOU GUYS COMPETED, AND, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SALUTE YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR BEING TREMENDOUS REPRESENTATION OF OUR Y.
SO, UM, BEFORE I PASS THIS MIC ONTO OUR NEXT GUEST, I WANNA SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
UM, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING, UM, OUR MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN HIS, I SERVED AS HIS TREASURER DURING THE ENTIRE TIME HE WAS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, SERVED AS HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGER, UH, IN THE FIRST TRIAL RUN FOR MAYOR IN 1991,
UH, AND NOW I'M ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
AND FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS HAVE, UH, MY FIRM HAS DONE THE CITY'S AUDIT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
YOU KNOW, UH, I COULDN'T BE HIS FRIEND TOO MUCH IN PUBLIC 'CAUSE WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN A POSITION OF INDEPENDENCE.
UM, SYLVA MAYOR TURNER HAS SERVED IN HIS CAPACITY AS MAYOR, MUCH LIKE A CEO OF A LARGE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR ORGANIZATION.
AND THROUGH ALL OF THAT, HURRICANES, FLOODS, DROUGHT, FREEZE.
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THE ONLY THING WE DIDN'T HAVE WAS LOCUSTS,UM, IT'S HARD TO, IT IS HARD TO KNOCK AND ARGUE WITH THE FACT THAT, UH, HE HAS SERVED THE CITY WELL.
WHEN YOU'RE A CEO OF, UH, OF AN ORGANIZATION WITH 20,000 EMPLOYEES, UM, IT'S A TOUGH JOB.
BUT, YOU KNOW, UH, WITH ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT HE'S DONE, HE'S, HE'S EFFICIENT MANAGER, ALL OF THAT.
AND SO, UH, MAYOR TURNER, ALTHOUGH YOU ARE RETIRING FROM THE CITY AS MAYOR, I WANT YOU TO KNOW, AND I SPOKE TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS, WE'RE NOT DONE WITH YOU YET,
SO I SALUTE YOU, UH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SYLVESTER TURNER, AND OUR HONORARY CHAIRMAN OF THIS BOARD AND CO-FOUNDER OF THIS BOARD.
GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE AS HE COMES UP.
LET ME, LET ME THANK, UH, UH, MR. PRESIDENT FOR HIS VERY KIND WORDS.
AND UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, THE JUDGE, VANESSA GILMORE AND WANTS A JUDGE, ALWAYS A JUDGE
AND REPRESENTING WELLS FARGO AND TO ALL OF THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM WELLS FARGO, UM, TO THIS INCREDIBLE BOARD.
AND, UM, AND THIS IS INDEED AN, AN INCREDIBLE BOARD.
AND I'LL SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THEM IN A FEW MINUTES, UM, TO DR.
AND I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS, UM, EQUITY FUND STARTED THREE YEARS AGO, UM, AND THE BOARD HAS GROWN SINCE THEN, UM, WELL NOW THANK YOU.
HEB WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO STEP UP WITH A MILLION DOLLARS TO THIS FUND, BUT TO ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, UM, A HUGE THANK YOU.
UM, LOOK, UH, I WON'T BE VERY LONG.
I, UM, AND I'M GONNA TRY TO STICK TO THE SCRIPT
UM, I LOOK AT YOU AND QUITE FRANKLY, EVEN BEFORE BECOMING MAYOR, UM, I WOULD'VE BEEN SITTING IN, IN ONE OF THOSE, IN ONE OF THOSE SEATS.
UM, 'CAUSE I STARTED OFF BEFORE BEING MAYOR, UM, UH, AFTER LEAVING A LARGE LAW FIRM, I STARTED A BUSINESS OF MY OWN WITH A FEW OTHER LAWYERS.
AND SO, UM, I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO GET AN INFUSION IN YOUR BUSINESS.
UM, 'CAUSE YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT IDEA.
YES, UM, YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT BUSINESS PLAN.
UM, BUT WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO START AND SCALE UP AND YOU, YOU HAVE, UH, EMPLOYEES AND EXPENSES, UM, AND YOU ARE DOING YOUR VERY BEST, BUT YOU'RE STILL STRUGGLING, UM, AND YOU, UM, WHEN PEOPLE ASK HOW YOU DOING? AND YOU JUST REALLY DON'T WANT TO TELL 'EM, YOU LEARN HOW TO FAKE IT UNTIL YOU CAN MAKE IT.
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PAY EVERYBODY ELSE BUT YOURSELF.UM, AND YOU JUST HOPE AND PRAY THAT BUSINESS WILL COME, CUSTOMERS WILL COME, CLIENTS WILL COME, AND THAT THE CLIENTS WILL PAY ON TIME
SO WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THAT AND YOU GET AN INFUSION, IN SOME CASES COULD BE A LIFELINE.
SOME CASES YOU JUST KIND OF NEED IT TO SCALE.
UM, IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
AND SO, UH, TODAY IS A GOOD DAY, UM, HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND, UM, AND I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE, UH, JUDGMENT AS A SPOKE ABOUT TRANSFORMATION.
UM, IT IS TRANSFORMING, UM, YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE Y YOU REPRESENT THE Y AND QUITE FRANKLY, YOU REPRESENT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO THIS IS A GOOD DAY TO CELEBRATE YET ANOTHER ROUND COMPLETED OF BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
GINA TELLS ME THAT THE TOTAL, TOTAL NUMBER IS OVER 400 SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHICH HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE EXECUTION OF THIS GRANT.
AND AS I SAID FROM THE BEGINNING, BACK IN FEBRUARY OF 2021, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS ENDEAVOR, UH, FOR US, THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT SAVING BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS, QUITE FRANKLY, THIS IS ABOUT SAVING PEOPLE'S LIVES, UH, FOR US.
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS BOARD.
UM, THE 400 PLUS TRANSLATES INTO JOBS BECAUSE, UM, BUSINESSES CREATE JOBS.
AND WHEN YOU'RE CREATING JOBS, YOU ARE HELPING FAMILIES.
AND THEN WHEN YOU'RE HELPING FAMILIES, YOU ARE BUILDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU ARE BUILDING A CITY.
AND FOR THAT, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MEN AND WOMEN, MEN AND WOMEN, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND NONPROFIT LEADERS WHO ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO FULFILLING THEIR UNIQUE DESTINY.
DESTIN DESTINIES AND PURPOSES, IT'S MORE THAN 400 DIGITS ON NUMBERS COUNTING BUSINESSES.
IT IS 400 NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO GET TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE BELIEVE IN YOU AND INVEST IN YOU.
AND MORE THAN COUNTING NUMBERS, IT IS THE NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE SHIFTING THE TRAJECTORY OF AN ENTIRE FAMILY LINE.
SOME OF THE NAMES REPRESENT FIRST TIME BUSINESS OWNERS AND NONPROFIT LEADERS WHO ARE ESTABLISHING SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME.
IT IS MORE THAN 400 STATISTICAL PIECES OF INFORMATION.
IT IS OVER 400 PLUS STORIES OF PERSEVERANCE, HOPING BEYOND THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES WITH A WILL TO GET IT BETTER FOR TOMORROW.
BELIEVING, PRAYING, YOU KNOW, ASKING GOD WHERE IS THE HELP.
IT IS 400 PLUS STORIES OF RESILIENCE, OVERCOMING CHALLENGES, AND DARING TO DREAM.
AND IT IS 400 PLUS STORIES OF EMPOWERING TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE THAT WILL LIFT OUR HISTORICAL COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND FOR THAT, I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE THE RECIPIENTS.
NOW, THIS GRANT, I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOUR FUTURE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
UH, I CANNOT, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE LABORED TO BRING THE EXECUTION OF THIS GRANT TO PASS, UM, LET ME JUST SAY A FEW THANK YOU TO THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, UH, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER, THANK YOU.
YOU'VE BEEN A FRIEND TO THIS BOARD ON OTHER PROJECTS AND TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE, AND FOR YOUR EXPERTISE AND EXECUTION OF GRANT FUNDING.
THANK YOU TO WELLS FARGO, UH, FOR YOUR INVESTMENT INTO HOUSTON'S LOCAL COMMUNITIES, THROUGH GRANTS LIKE THE OPEN FOR BUSINESS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
LET ME SAY THANK YOU, UH, YOUR $20 MILLION INFUSION INTO, UH, THE HOUSTON EQUITY FUND, UH, HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE.
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SEE THE DIFFERENCE THAT IT HAS MADE.AND I HOPE, UH, THAT WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, UH, THAT YOU CAN SEE THE INTEREST, THE DIVIDENDS YOU ARE MAKING ON YOUR $20 MILLION INVESTMENT, PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO.
AND THEN LASTLY, UH, TO THE BOARD.
UH, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF STANDING HERE AS THE HONORARY CHAIR OF THE FUND.
UH, BUT TO THIS BOARD, LET ME THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
YOU DO NOT KNOW THE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF HOURS THEY HAVE INVESTED, THE TIME THAT THEY HAVE SPENT, UH, TAKING AWAY FROM THEIR OWN BUSINESSES AND JOBS.
GINA HAS SENT OUT THE EMAILS WHEN THE MEETINGS WERE TAKING PLACE FOR THE BOARD.
UH, I SEE THE EMAILS AND WISH THEM WELL,
THESE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE MEETING EARLY IN THE MORNING IN THE AFTERNOONS, GOING OUT AND VISITING ALL OF YOU ALL.
AND WHEN THEY HAVE CALLED AND SAID, MAYOR, WILL YOU BE JOINING US FOR THE BOARD MEETING? I SAY THAT, UH, I OFFER YOU MY PRAYERS,
SO I WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK, I WANT TO THANK THIS BOARD BECAUSE THREE YEARS AGO IT WAS AN IDEA.
UM, WE SAW WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE IN BOSTON AND THOUGHT IT WAS AN EXCELLENT IDEA TO START IT HERE.
THESE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE INVESTED NOT ONLY THEIR TIME, BUT THEIR FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
AND SO FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE, THANK YOU FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT HERE PROBABLY IN THEIR OWN RESPECTIVE BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW.
UM, BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT THE BEST, LET JUST SAY IN CLOSING.
AND THEY ARE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT
AND THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL LAWYERS OR JUDGES.
THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS PERSONS.
THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL CONTRACTORS, THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL ASTRONAUTS.
AND HOW CAN I PUT IT? WINE COMPANY OWNERS,
I MEAN, WORKING IN SOME OF THE LARGER FIRMS IN OUR CITY, UM, WORKING AT MAJOR RETAIL STORES AND HANDING OUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ALL THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
UM, THE HEAD OF CPA FIRMS, THEY HAVE DONE QUITE WELL.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IN THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS, THEY'RE ALSO EXTENDING THEIR BLESSINGS TO YOU.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE IT IS AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR BUSINESS AND WE ARE ALL COUNTING ON YOU TO GO OVER AND ABOVE TO DO EXTREMELY WELL.
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WILL BE.AND SO, UM, I AM THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT I WILL TELL YOU, IF IT WERE NOT FOR MY OWN BUSINESS AND THE SUCCESS IN MY OWN BUSINESS, I WOULD NOT BE STANDING WHERE I STAND TODAY.
SO IT WAS THAT BUSINESS THAT ENABLED ME TO BE WHERE I AM TODAY.
AND UH, IT WAS THAT LINE OF CREDIT THAT MY BUSINESS RECEIVED.
AND IN THAT CASE, IN THE EARLY STAGES, IT WAS $50,000, BUT IT WAS ENOUGH TO TAKE US TO THE NEXT STEP.
AND I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN MY LAW PARTNER AND I, UM, WENT TO TRY TO SETTLE THIS CASE JUDGE.
AND WE UM, THEY TOLD US TO COME TO, UM, THE OPPOSING ATTORNEY SAID, ARE YOU, YOU WANT TO TRY TO SETTLE THIS CASE? WE SAID, SURE.
IT HAD BEEN LANGUISHING FOR TWO TO THREE YEARS.
AND HE SAID, WHY DON'T YOU COME TO LONGVIEW AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET IT SETTLED.
WELL, WE WERE DOWN TO OUR LAST CREDIT CARD,
SO I TOLD MY PARTNER, WE NEED TO GO TO LONGVIEW.
HE SAID, HOW IN THE HELL WE GONNA GET THERE
WE RENTED A CAR AND THEN WE DROVE TO LONGVIEW AND WE SAT DOWN TO SETTLE THIS CASE.
AND I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN THE OPPOSING ATTORNEY CAME BACK AND HE SAID, UM, WE'LL OFFER YOU A MILLION AND A HALF.
AND I TOLD HIM, HELL, YOU COULD'VE TOLD ME THAT ON THE PHONE,
I SAID, YOU BROUGHT US ALL THE WAY HERE FOR A MEASLY MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS.
AND SO HE SAID, WELL, WELL WHAT WOULD, WHAT'S YOUR COUNTER? AND I TOLD HIM, HE SAID, OH, NO, NO, NO, NO.
SO WE SAT DOWN AND HE CAME BACK WITH ANOTHER OFFER.
AND I TOLD HIM, YOU COULD HAVE KEPT THAT TOO
WHERE AT THAT POINT MY LAW PARTNER HIT ME UNDER THE TABLE,
SO HE STEPPED OUT, THE OTHER ATTORNEY STEPPED OUT AND MY LAW PARTNER TOLD ME THE CLIENT NEEDS THE MONEY AND WE NEED THE MONEY
AND DON'T LET YOUR EGO GET IN THE WAY.
SO CAME BACK AND I REJECTED THE OFFICER.
HE CAME BACK AGAIN WITH A THIRD OFFER.
I TOLD MY LAW PARTNER, GET YOUR BRIEFCASE.
SO I TOLD HIM, WE'LL TRY THE CASE.
SO THE ATTORNEY SAID, HOLD, WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE, LET'S GO, LET'S ONE MY FINAL LAW FIRM.
SO I SAID, WELL, WE NEED TO CALL THE CLIENT.
SO HE STEPPED OUT, MY LAW PARTNER LOOKED AT ME,
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE END UP GETTING IT SETTLED AND LEMME TELL YOU, WE GOT BACK IN THE RENTAL CAR.
WE DROVE AROUND THE CORNER, PULLED ON SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TWO BLACK GUYS START JUMPING UP AND DOWN.
NOW YOU TALKING ABOUT PRAISING GOD AND NOT WAITING ON A SUNDAY THIS MORNING.
WE PRAISE GOD THAT HE'S AT LEAST PROVIDED SOME HELP AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL CARRY YOU THE REST OF THE WAY.
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THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER.AND I THINK THAT SENTIMENT IS A GOOD SPACE.
'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE COME INTO THE ROOM ON TODAY AND WE SEEM VERY ORGANIZED AND COMPOSED, BUT THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF US WHO LITERALLY FIGURATIVELY ARE PULLING AROUND THE CORNER, GETTING OUT OF OUR CARS.
AND Y'ALL GO AHEAD AND GIVE IT UP AND MAKE SOME NOISE.
BECAUSE WHEN SOMEBODY LOOKED AT THE EMAIL AND SAID, IS THIS REAL? SOMEBODY SAID, I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THERE ON WEDNESDAY.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT EVERY DAY THAT WE GET AN EMAIL WHERE SOMEBODY IS SAYING, CONGRATULATE.
SEE, NOW Y'ALL KNOW, Y'ALL KNOW
AND HONEY, I COULD BARELY WAIT WHEN GHCF TOLD ME THAT WE COULD SEND THE EMAIL IF Y'ALL CHECK THE TIME, DO Y'ALL SEE WHAT TIME I SENT IT? LIKE 12:01 AM LIKE I COULD BARELY WAIT TO TELL Y'ALL CONGRATULATIONS.
SO TURN TO SOMEBODY ON THIS SIDE OF YOU AND SAY, CONGRATULATIONS, CONGRATULATIONS.
SO YES, UM, GHCF LET ME KNOW IT WAS TIME TO SEND IT, TATIANA.
I COULDN'T EVEN WAIT TILL EIGHT O'CLOCK.
LITERALLY IF THEY CHECK THE TIME, THEY TELLING Y'ALL IT'S ABOUT 12 0 4, 12 14.
I WAS LIKE, OOH, CONGRATULATIONS.
BUT ANYWAY, WE'RE GONNA GET READY TO WRAP UP.
WE'VE STARTED THIS DAY WITH THE Y AND I'M GONNA TRANSITION FOR JUST A MOMENT AND TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH.
SO I'M GONNA USE ALL MY MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHING ANTICS ON TODAY AND I'M GONNA NEED Y'ALL TO COOPERATE.
SO EVERYBODY SAY HOW MUCH? HOW MUCH? OH, Y'ALL ARE GOOD.
HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH IS IMPORTANT? BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH SOMEONE HAS SACRIFICED, THEN YOU'LL REALLY CAPTURE HOW MUCH THIS TEAM IS BELIEVING IN YOU.
OKAY, SO I'M GONNA START WITH GHCF, I CALL 'EM MY WORK FAM.
SO MANY OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, PARTICULARLY YOU SMALL BUSINESSES.
THE RRS LITERALLY HAS CODES WHERE ORGANIZATIONS 5 0 1 C3 ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO GIVE GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES WHO I SEE Y'ALL SHOULDERS DROPPING.
LIKE, OOH, WHAT THAT MEANS YOU ABOUT TO SAY WE NOT GETTING.
SO WHAT I REALLY WANT YOU UNDER TO UNDERSTAND THEN LOOK TRULY IS LOOKING AT ME LIKE, REALLY? YEAH.
DID Y'ALL KNOW THAT THAT 5 0 1 C3 ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO GIVE GRANTS TO BUSINESSES? SO YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE BATTLES THAT WE HAVE FOUGHT BEHIND THE SCENES BECAUSE IT MATTERED THIS MUCH TO GIVE YOU GRANTS.
NOW YOU CAN GET LOANS ALL DAY LONG, BUT GRANTS, AND I LOVE TO SAY NOT LIKE THE PUBLISHER CLEARING HOUSE TIME WHERE EVERYBODY'S SEEN THE COMMERCIALS ALL YEAR.
BUT IF WE WERE TO PAYING THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW, I WOULD ALMOST AGREE THAT NOBODY IN THIS ROOM GONNA BE ABLE TO NAME ANYBODY IF THEY DID EVER KNOW THEY GOT A CHECK FROM ANYBODY, ANYWHERE, RATHER ANYWHERE.
I'M GONNA ASK AGAIN, ANYBODY KNOWS SOMEBODY, BUT ANYBODY KNOWS SOMEBODY FROM HEF WHO'S GOING TO GET GRANTS FROM THE HEF PROGRAM.
WHAT? RIGHT? BUT IT TOOK, IT TOOK A LOT OF SUPPORT AND IT TOOK AN ORGANIZATION LIKE GHCF TO PARTNER WITH US TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
SO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
I WON'T EVEN GO INTO ALL THE DETAILS.
I'M JUST GONNA SAY THAT'S HOW MUCH.
SO EVERYBODY SAY HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH WITH WELLS FARGO.
I WAS DOING A QUICK LITTLE GOOGLE SEARCH.
I'M NOT GONNA ACT LIKE IT WAS DEEP HORROR RESEARCH, BUT I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW I LOOKED IT UP AND IT SAYS THAT WHEN THE WHOLE UM, THING WITH GEORGE FLOYD HAPPENED, ABOUT $340 BILLION WERE PLEDGED FROM ORGANIZATIONS TO ACT ACTIONS LIKE THIS.
AS OF TODAY, APPROXIMATELY 141 BILLION HAS BEEN PAID.
THAT LEAVES OUTSTANDING OVER 200 AND SOMETHING PLEDGES THAT PEOPLE MADE.
SO WHEN WE REALLY PROCESS THAT, WELLS FARGO DID NOT JUST MAKE A DECLARATION, THEY MADE A DEPOSIT INTO OUR ACCOUNTS FOR OVER $20 MILLION FOR THIS CITY.
AND HUNDRED MILLION WE SALUTE YOU FOR DELIVERING ON YOUR WORD.
NOW IF Y'ALL WANNA ROUND UP ANY OF THE OUTSTANDING AND PUT IT OUR WAY, WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
EVERYBODY IN AGREEMENT CLAP HANDS,
Y'ALL SAY HOW MUCH? HOW MUCH? THIS IS NOT WHAT I HEARD.
'CAUSE I'D BE EMAILING THEM, CALLING THEM, WORRYING THEM.
I WANNA TELL YOU, WE HAVE BOARD MEMBERS WHO LITERALLY, LIKE ONE OF THEM'S ON THIS SIDE, I BELIEVE HE'S OFTEN IN A DIFFERENT STATE WHEN WE HAVE AN 8:00 AM MEETING, HE GETS UP AT 6:00 AM TO BE ON THE CALL TO BE A PART OF IT.
[00:40:01]
WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE WHO LITERALLY WAS GETTING ON A TRAIN.HE HERE HE WAS GETTING ON A TRAIN.
LITERALLY Y'ALL ON A TRAIN LUGGAGE IN TOW WITH HEADPHONES ON HIS EARS CONTRIBUTING TO A MEETING IN PROCESS LIKE MOVING.
HOW MUCH AGAIN, WE'VE HAD BOARD MEMBERS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
WE HAVE A BOARD MEMBER THIS WAY OVER HERE, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT AROUND THIS WAY, FLEW IN TO BE IN THE PLACE ON TODAY.
AND I SAY ALL OF THAT TO SAY THIS IS NOT A REMUNERATED BOARD.
THEY DO NOT GET PAID A TIME FOR THE MEETINGS AND THE, AND THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY MAKE.
AND WHEN, WHEN MAYOR SAYS THAT THEY ALL CONTRIBUTED, THEY LITERAL, LITERALLY ARE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS CAUSE THAT'S HOW MUCH THEY'RE VOTING.
SO I'M GONNA SAY, I'M GONNA SAY THEIR NAMES.
LIKE THEY'RE YOUR BEST FRIENDS, OKAY?
AND YOU'RE JUST GONNA DO IT AND YOU'RE GONNA GR RIVER BIG AND WHOEVER'S TAKING PICTURES IS GONNA SEE Y'ALL CLAPPING REALLY HARD FOR THEM.
BUT THAT'S JUST WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
'CAUSE THEY VOLUNTEERED TO HELP RAISE THIS MONEY.
SO RIGHT HERE WE HAVE MR. GORDY BANISTER, COME ON, Y'ALL.
WE HAVE JUST VANESSA BILLBOARD, WE HAVE PRESIDENT THOMAS JONES COME BACK.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE BERNARD CLAP REAL HARD LIKE THAT.
SOME OF, SOME OF THEM HAVE TRIED TO RESIGN IN ALL OF THAT.
AND THEN I JUST KEEP CALLING THEM AND EMAIL 'EM LIKE, I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN I JUST KEEP TALKING TO THEM.
IT DON'T MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THEY SAY, OKAY GINA, I'M WRAPPING IT UP.
I'M TRYING TO WORK WITH MY VINEYARD.
SO I WAS SITTING BY DR. BERNARD AT MEETING ONE DAY AND YOU KNOW, THEY JUST ELEVATE MY AWARENESS AND HE SAID SOMETHING.
I SAID, OH, SO YOU'RE GETTING THAT WINE.
HE SAID, UM, HE SAID, IT'S SO GENTLE.
LIKE I'M GONNA JUST HELP HER KIND OF ELEVATE.
I SAID, I'M GETTING THAT VINEYARD.
OKAY, SO, SO WE'RE GONNA ELEVATE OUR CONVERSATION LEVEL
SO THEY ARE AMAZING TO WORK WITH.
AND THEN OUR PRESIDENT HERE, MR. THOMAS JONES, HIS WORD IS ONWARD.
SO, SO Y'ALL SAID THAT WITH ME.
AND SO MANY OF YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THAT WE ARE LIVING IN A SOCIETY RIGHT NOW THAT HAS DONE THE PENDULUM SWING POST GEORGE FLOYD.
NOW IT'S ALL THE WAY ON THE OTHER SIDE.
AND WHEN THAT BEGAN TO BE A MAJOR THING, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE DYNAMICS OF THAT AND HOW IT WOULD IMPACT THIS ORGANIZATION, WE WERE EVEN DESCRIBED AS HAVING A TARGET ON OUR BACK.
OUR PRESIDENT SAID ONWARD, ONWARD, ONWARD.
WHEN WE BEGAN TO HEAR ABOUT LAWSUITS WHERE PEOPLE ARE LITERALLY STOPPING CHECKS AND SAYING THAT THESE CHECKS CANNOT DEPOSIT, THAT'S ALSO WHY I SENT Y'ALL THAT EMAIL AT 12 IN THE MORNING.
BUT WHEN PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT THESE TYPES OF THINGS WOULD BE STOPPED, OUR PRESIDENT SAID ON WAY.
AND EVEN AS FUNDING IS A BIT MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE FOR THESE CAUSES, THE THE, THE TIDE HAS CHANGED.
HE CAN CONTINUES TO SAY ON WAY THAT'S HOW MUCH Y'ALL.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF A LOT OF THINGS TO SAY ABOUT MAYOR TURNER.
AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW ALL TO SAY EXCEPT I TRIED TO PRESS JEFF TO TELL ME ABOUT HOW MANY CALLS DO YOU GET AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS DO YOU GET AND REQUESTS FOR YOUR PRESENCE AND REP FOR YOUR ENDORSEMENT AND REQUEST FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF CERTAIN INITIATIVES.
AND HE REFUSED TO GIMME A NUMBER.
MAYOR TAR, HE SAID, YOU CAN GET CAUGHT UP IN THEM KIND OF STUFF.
BUT HE GAVE ME THIS WORD HE SAID COUNTLESS.
AND SO FOR US TO KNOW THAT EACH AND EVERY TIME THAT WE OPEN THESE DOORS AND WE RALLY AROUND THIS, CAUSE YOU SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE TIME.
LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER SKIPPED ONE OF THESE MOMENTS.
YOU'VE NEVER, NOW YOU DO SKIP THE MEETINGS, YOU DO DO THAT
BUT THIS FAR, THIS PART RIGHT HERE WHERE WE, WHERE WE RALLY AND WE, AND WE TRY TO INSPIRE AND GIVE HOPE LIKE YOU'VE SHOWN UP FOR US EVERY SINGLE TIME.
AND THERE'S SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT I COULD SAY.
JUST YESTERDAY I WAS WRITING WITH MY SISTER AND PASTOR OLSTEEN WAS TALKING ABOUT YOU AND HE USED THIS PHRASE, HE SAID HE MUST HAVE BELIEVED IN A BRIGHTER TOMORROW TO KEEP PUSHING THROUGH HIS TODAY.
AND JUST, THERE'S JUST ALL TYPES OF THINGS THAT I CAN SAY.
BUT I THINK I'LL START, I'LL JUST END WITH THIS BECAUSE YOU'RE A MAN OF FAITH.
UM, I WAS LISTENING TO A SONG AND IT'S ONE OF MY FRIENDS SHARED IT WITH ME.
AND IT'S CALLED, IT'S CALLED, LET ME THINK OF A RIGHT NAME.
WELL, LET ME NOT, LET ME NOT ENDORSE.
I'M, I'M GONNA EMAIL IT TO YOU, OKAY, MAYOR TURNER.
BUT ANYWAY, THE WORDS SAY SOMETHING LIKE THE ONE YOU SAVED HAS COME BACK TO HONOR YOU.
THE ONE YOU'VE HEALED HAS COME BACK TO HONOR YOU.
THE ONE THAT YOU'VE DELIVERED HAS COME BACK TO HONOR YOU.
AND WE KNOW ABOUT THE STORIES IN THE BIBLE WHERE LIKE THE ONE LEPER CAME BACK TO TELL JESUS.
[00:45:01]
ONE LAST TIME, AND YOU KNOW, I ALREADY TOLD YOU I'LL LEAVE THE WRITING CAMPAIGN IF YOU COULD BE MARRIED AGAIN.I GET IT STARTED, BUT IT'S NOT QUITE GOING THAT WAY.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, JUST WITH THIS WHOLE WRAP UP AND PERHAPS THIS WILL BE THIS LAST MOMENT IN TIME WITH US, IN THIS MOMENT WITH YOU IN THIS POSITION, I HOPE THAT YOU HEAR FROM THE THANK YOUS AND THE APPLAUSE THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN THAT WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN UP FOR US EVERY SINGLE TIME.
AND WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGHOUT THIS CITY, EVERY TIME YOU SEE A BUSINESS, EVERY TIME YOU BUMP INTO ONE OF US, MAY IT BE A REMINDER THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SHOW UP FOR YOU TWO AND TO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU COULD SEE US LONG BEFORE YOU SAW US.
BUT FINALLY YOU GET TO SEE US IF YOU HAVE SAND TO YOUR FEET AND GREAT DAY.
WELL, I'M NOT GONNA PROLONG THE TIME.
I AM HERE TO GIVE JUST A FEW HOUSEKEEPING BEFORE WE UM, ACTUALLY CLOSE OUT THIS PARTICULAR CELEBRATION.
BUT BEFORE I DO IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT I STAND AS A HOUSTONIAN.
THIS IS A PERFECT DAY AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO LET EACH AND ONE OF YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS A TIME AND A MOMENT AND SEASON THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.
HOW MANY GRANTEES CAN YOU TELL ME? CAN YOU, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT.
'CAUSE FOR OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS THIS TO COME OUR WAY, IT IS, IT'S VERY RARE.
AND AS SO MANY OF 'EM HAVE ALREADY SAID, YOU HAVE ACTUALLY DID THE WORK.
YOU WERE CHOSEN, AND NOW IT'S TIME TO CONTINUE TO POUR BACK INTO THE FABRIC OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AND SO WHAT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT MY HUSBAND AND I ARE BUSINESS OWNERS.
AND HOUSTON EQUITY FUND HAS ALSO HAD GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY USE OUR BUSINESSES TO U TO ACTUALLY DO THE SOUND FOR THE LAST EVENT AND HAD, IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.
GINA FOR BEING ABLE TO OPEN UP THESE DOORS.
WELLS FARGO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP, YOUR GENEROSITY.
MAYOR TURNER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE DON'T KNOW.
WE JUST WANNA GIVE HONOR TO YOU AND GIVE HONOR OUR HONOR IS DUE.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH ONCE AGAIN.
I'M GONNA GIVE A PEP FOR ALL OF YOU GUYS.
AND SO HERE'S A, HERE'S THE HOUSEKEEPING BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT.
AND SO WE WANT BOARD MEMBERS, MAYOR TURNER, WHICH IS STILL PLEASE REMAIN SEATED, OKAY? AND THEN WE'RE NOT GONNA EXIT THE BUILDING, OKAY? BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE LEAVE ROOM UP HERE SO THEY CAN GET THEIR PHOTOS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH OUT THE WAY.
SO ONCE YOU GET RISE UP, WE WANT YOU TO ACTUALLY GO OVER TO THE VENDORS, GIVE UP FOR OUR VENDORS, GIVE UP FOR OUR VENDORS.
THEY COME AND I WANT YOU TO ASSEMBLE ALL OF THEIR FOOD.
THEY HAVE SOME GREAT, GREAT VARIETY OF FOOD, MAC AND CHEESE.
UH, WE, WE JUST WANNA GIVE YOU ALL, UH, PRAISE FOR EVEN BEING HERE TODAY AND GIVING AND HAVING US TO SAMPLE WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY AND ALSO WHY YOU DOING THAT NETWORK.
MAKE SURE IF YOU HAVE YOUR BUSINESS CARDS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL IN HERE.
TALK TO SOMEONE, ACTUALLY LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU DO.
YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHERE YOUR OPPORTUNITY, YOUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY WILL COME.
COLLABORATION IS WHAT HOUSTON EQUITY FUND IS ALL ABOUT, IS OPENING THE DOOR FOR THE NEXT PERSON.
ALL RIGHT? AND THEN ALSO, FINALLY, MORE CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU GRANTEES.
THANK YOU FOR POURING INTO HOUSTON, CITY OF HOUSTON AND ALSO, OKAY, SO WE WANNA ALSO THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS.
OUR VOLUNTEERS HAVE DONE A LOT.
THEY VOLUNTEER THAT SERVICE IN THEIR TIME.
SO WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERY VOLUNTEER HOUSTON EQUITY FUND TEAM.
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
AND SO THIS IS GONNA BE THE FINAL RIGHT NOW.
SO AGAIN, WITH MAYOR TURNER AND BOARD MEMBERS, WOULD YOU PLEASE REMAIN SEATED AND WE'RE GONNA CLOSE ON OUT.
AND THEN WE WANT YOU TO GO OVER TO THE VENDORS TABLE AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU SAMPLE WHAT THEY HAVE FOR YOU ON TODAY.