[00:00:10]
IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE YOUR SEATS, WE DO HAVE WONDERFUL COFFEE OVER THERE TO KEEP WARM AND SOME HAND WARMERS.
UM, I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING TODAY.
LET'S ALL GET THE SEATS FILLED.
AND I WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY ON THIS SPECIAL DAY.
HOUSTON HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE'RE HONORING THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND THE LEGEND AND THE LEGACY OF PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER.
PRESIDENT CARTER WAS A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
HE WAS DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
DURING THAT TIME, PRESIDENT AND MRS. CARTER WORKED ALONGSIDE 108,000 VOLUNTEERS TO BUILD, RENOVATE, AND REPAIR OVER 4,400 HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOMES IN 14 COUNTRIES, ALL WHILE RAISING AWARENESS OF THE CRITICAL NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF PRESIDENT CARTER.
ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD ARE PARTICIPATING IN MEMORIAL EVENTS LIKE THIS ONE.
THIS DOOR BEHIND ME SYMBOLIZES THE MANY DOORS, LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY, THAT THE, THAT PRESIDENT CARTER HELPED TO OPEN BY WORKING WITH HABITAT HOMEOWNERS AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING IN HOUSTON AS THEY BUILT PLACES TO CALL HOME.
FROM TODAY, JANUARY THE SEVENTH, THROUGH THURSDAY, JANUARY THE NINTH, WE INVITE AND ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR HOUSTON COMMUNITY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT CARTER BY SIGNING THE WALL OR WOOD STUD WITH YOUR NAME OR A PERSONAL MESSAGE.
IN ADDITION, ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 9TH, WE WILL BE LIVE STREAMING PRESIDENT CARTER'S FUNERAL SERVICES ON THE DIGITAL SCREEN HERE IN THE PLAZA.
NOW I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY TALK MORE ABOUT PRESIDENT CARTER'S IMPACT ON HOUSTON AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
PRESIDENT AND MRS. CARTER INVOLVED WITH THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BEGAN IN 1980S WHEN THEY LED A WORK GROUP FROM NEW YORK CITY TO NEW YORK CITY TO HELP RENOVATE A SIX STORY BUILDING WITH 19 FAMILIES IN NEED OF DECENT, AFFORDABLE SHELTER.
THAT EXPERIENCE PLANTED THE SEED FOR WHAT BECAME THE CARTER WORK PROJECT AND THE CARTER'S DECADE OF SUPPORT FOR HABITAT'S VISION FOR A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE HAS A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE.
THROUGH THE CARTER WORK PROJECT, PRESIDENT CARTER INTRODUCED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO HU HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, INCLUDING ME.
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH HABITAT WAS WITH THE CARTER WORK PROJECT RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON.
AND JUNE, 1998, I VOLUNTEERED ALONGSIDE PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL PARENTS FROM FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ON MAIN STREET.
AND I FINALLY REMEMBER, WELL FINALLY, I I REMEMBER ADDING SIDING TO THE HOME ON FIFTH WARD ON SIC STREET.
HOUSTON, UH, CARTER PROJECT WAS SPECIAL AND IT MADE HISTORY AS WE NORMALLY DO, AS THE FIRST US HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AFFILIATE TO BUILD A HUNDRED HOMES IN ONE WEEK.
DURING THE BUILD, PRESIDENT AND MRS. CARTER WORKED IN HOUSTON'S TRIPLE DIGIT SUN, SUMMERTIME HEAT, ALONGSIDE 6,000 VOLUNTEERS WHO TRAVELED ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THIS MONUMENTAL EFFORT.
TOGETHER THEY BUILT A HUNDRED HOMES FOR A HUNDRED FAMILIES IN NEED OF SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS WAS TRULY AN EXCITING ACHIEVEMENT AND A TESTAMENT TO THE ENTHUSIASM AND DEDICATION OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT OUR PASSIONATE VOLUNTEERS, OUR COMMITTED PARTNERS, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
DURING THE ENTIRE PLANNING PROCESS OF THIS HUGE UNDERTAKING, THE CARTER WORK PROJECT, THE CITY'S PLANNING, PERMITTING, PUBLIC WORKS POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, THEY ALL STEPPED UP MAKING SURE THAT THIS ACHIEVEMENT FOR AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP WAS ACHIEVED.
EACH NIGHT WHEN CON CONSTRUCTION ENDED, THE CITY INSPECTORS WOULD VISIT EACH BUILDING SITE AND REVIEW THE WORK THAT HAD OCCURRED.
[00:05:01]
COMMITMENT, IT WOULD'VE BEEN DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE THE RECORD BLANK, UH, BREAKING A HUNDRED HOME BUILD.SO NOW I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR HOUSTON MAYOR JOHN WHITMAR TO SHARE REMARKS.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE MAYOR.
THANK YOU, MS. HAY, AND THANK EVERYONE THAT'S PRESENT TO CELEBRATE A REMARKABLE LIFE THAT'S HAD AN IMPACT ON EVERYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE, EVERYONE WE REPRESENT, AND REALLY ACROSS THIS GREAT NATION.
AND I'M SO HONORED TO BE WITH, UH, THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SHOW THE IMPACT THAT JIMMY CARTER, PRESIDENT CARTER, NOT 39TH PRESIDENT, HAD, NOT ONLY ON HOUSTON, BUT ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY AND ALL OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
YOU KNOW, I WAS TRYING TO THINK, WALKING OVER, WHAT WOULD JIMMY CARTER HAVE TO SAY TODAY? HE WAS ADVISING US, AND HE HAS BEEN A MENTOR TO SO MANY OF US.
PERSONALLY, I WAS A YOUNG STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND I GOT TO SEE FIRSTHAND WHAT PUBLIC SERVICE CAN ACCOMPLISH.
HE DIDN'T PUT OUT NEWSLETTERS, HE DIDN'T HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA.
HE HAD HIS WORDS AND HIS ACTION.
AND IT NOT ONLY WAS DEMONSTRATED AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, BUT HE BELIEVED PUBLIC SERVICE WAS A CALLING, WHETHER YOU'RE EVER ON THE BALLOT OR NOT.
IN FACT, EVERYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE IS A PUBLIC SERVANT, WHETHER YOU'RE EVER ON THE BALLOT OR NOT.
AND HE WOULD SAY, HE WOULD SAY THE CHALLENGES, LEAVE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
HE WOULD ALSO SAY THIS MORNING, CELEBRATE MY LIFE.
I'VE RETURNED TO A BETTER PLACE.
THIS IS A HAPPY DAY IN AMERICA THAT WE'VE GOT A MENTOR, NOT ONLY A PRESIDENT, AND THANK YOU HOUSTON, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER.
WE NEED DAYS LIKE TODAY TO CELEBRATE OUR SUCCESSES, COME TOGETHER, LEAVE OUR PARTY.
POLITICS ASIDE, JIMMY CARTER TOOK CARE OF HOUSING REGARDLESS OF YOUR STATUS IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO I'M FIRED UP BECAUSE OF JIMMY CARTER BECAUSE WE'RE COMING TOGETHER.
I'M GOING BACK TO CITY HALL AND WE'LL BE A BETTER MAYOR THAN THE ONE THAT GOT HERE.
I'LL GO AND LOOK AT PIERCE BUSH.
JIMMY CARTER WAS A MENTOR TO THE ENTIRE BUSH FAMILY THAT PRODUCED ICONIC PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
THANK YOU JIMMY CARTER, TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE AND EVERYONE THAT HE IMPACTED.
I ALSO AM VERY PROUD RIGHT NOW THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE, UH, OUR COUNTY, HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE, JUDGE LENA HILDAGO.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CEO HAY AND, AND, AND MAYOR AND, UM, CEO BUSH.
AND, AND OF COURSE, UH, A HOMEOWNER HERE WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET JIMMY, JIMMY CARTER.
I THINK ALL OF YOU GUYS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HIM.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T SAY THAT I DID.
UM, BUT I FEEL THAT I, I'VE KNOWN HIM NEVERTHELESS BECAUSE, UM, HE THOUGHT ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE SO REAL TODAY, PERHAPS EVEN MORE SO TODAY THAN THAN THEY WERE WHEN HE STARTED TO FOCUS ON THEM.
TAKE THIS SUMMER, FOR EXAMPLE, AFTER HURRICANE BARRELL, SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WERE AFFECTED.
SO MANY PEOPLE SAW THEIR HOMES DESTROYED, UM, A PLACE THAT THEY HAD BUILT WITH THEIR FAMILY FOR MANY YEARS.
AND JIMMY CARTER SAW THE IMPORTANCE OF HOUSING, AND HE SAW THE IMPORTANCE OF REBUILDING AFTER DISASTERS.
AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY, HE WROTE AN OP-ED, AND HE SAID, AS THE WATERS RISE, HE SAID, IN THE OP-ED, AS THE WATERS RISE, SO DO OUR BETTER ANGELS.
I CAN'T THINK OF SOMETHING THAT BETTER DESCRIBES HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY.
HE UNDERSTOOD THAT, AND HE UNDERSTOOD THAT PUBLIC SERVICE AND THAT COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE THAT HE ALWAYS HAD COULD CONTINUE BEYOND HIS PRESIDENCY, BEYOND THAT TITLE THAT HE HELD.
HERE'S ANOTHER THING, AND AND I LEARNED ABOUT THIS AS WE WERE RESEARCHING, UH, PRESIDENT CARTER'S LEGACY AND WORK IN PREPARATION FOR THIS EVENT.
JIMMY CARTER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ONES TO PUT THE ISSUE OF MENTAL HEALTH ON THE MAP.
YOU GUYS KNOW IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR ME, AND WE'VE LEARNED THAT IN THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY AFTER COID.
UM, IT'S THE BIG ISSUE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.
THE MORE WE TALK ABOUT IT, THE MORE
[00:10:01]
WE DESTIGMATIZE IT, THE BETTER IT IS FOR ALL OF US.HE INSTITUTED THE VERY FIRST PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON MENTAL HEALTH, AND HE PASSED GROUNDBREAKING LEGISLATION ON MENTAL HEALTH.
I THINK, UM, HE KNEW SOMETHING THAT WE ARE JUST GETTING TO KNOW BETTER TODAY, WHICH IS AS UNCOMFORTABLE AS THIS TOPIC IS, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ABSOLUTELY ALL NEED TO ADDRESS.
AND SO I AM, UM, I FEEL TWO WAYS.
I THINK THAT THIS HAS GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW PRESIDENT CARTER A LITTLE BIT BETTER, UM, TO CELEBRATE HIM, TO HONOR HIM.
OF COURSE, I'M, I'M, I'M SAD I NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO MEET HIM, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THIS THURSDAY, AND THIS WILL BE JANUARY 9TH, UH, PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS PROCLAIMED A, A NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING.
AND SO HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE WILL OFFICIALLY PROCLAIM THIS THURSDAY, JANUARY 9TH AS PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER DAY IN HARRIS COUNTY.
SO ANYWAY, I'M GONNA LEAVE YOU GUYS WITH THAT BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S COLD.
AND, UM, AND I'LL BE SIGNING THE WALL ALONG ALONGSIDE YOU ALL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND HONORING PRESIDENT CARTER.
SO I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO, UH, THANK YOU, JUDGE.
UH, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU AND TO INVITE MS. RAMOS, MS. CINDY RAMOS TO SHARE HER PERSPECTIVE.
MS. RAMOS NOT ONLY VOLUNTEERED IN THE 1998 CARTER WORK PROJECT, SHE ALSO BOUGHT ONE OF THOSE HOMES THAT WAS BUILT AT THAT TIME.
SO PLEASE, WILL YOU JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MS. CINDY RAMOS.
I AM HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF PTE JIMMY CARTER, ALONGSIDE YOU AND THE ENTIRE WORLD.
I AM PROUD AND HUMBLE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE STORY OF HOW PRESIDENT CARTER'S SERVICE IMPACTED AND TRANSFORMED THE LIFE OF ME AND FAMILIES, ALLOWING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DREAM AND BECOME A HOMEOWNER OF A BRAND NEW HOME.
I AM 1998 HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOMEOWNER.
THIS WAS THE FIRST LAUNCH IN HOUSTON, TEJAS AND WORK PROJECT OF PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER.
WE, MY FAMILY, ASSISTING WITH THE BUILDING OF THE HOME.
WE ALL WORKED WITH PRESIDENT CARTER DURING THIS PROCESS.
BECOMING A HOMEOWNER WAS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE FOR MYSELF, MY FAMILY, MY CHILDREN, TO HAVE THEIR OWN BEDROOM SPACE TO BE ABLE TO PLAY FREELY AND GROW AND HAVE A GARDEN.
DURING PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT CARTER'S HOUSTON PROJECT IN JUNE OF 1998, HE WAS ASKED BY CHANNEL 13 REPORTER, WHY DO YOU PUT YOURSELF IN THESE GRUELS CONDITIONS YEAR AFTER YEAR? AND THE RESPONSE WAS, WE REALLY ENJOY IT.
THE MOST GRATIFYING THING OF ALL IS JUST TO KNOW THAT YOU WORK WITH THE FAMILIES, THE LOVE, THE HOME OWNERSHIP MOST FOR WHOM AND HAD DECENT HOMES AT ALL.
I WOULD GUESS THAT THEY WOULD NEVER DREAM THAT THEY WOULD EVER HAVE A HOME.
JUST SEEING THE IMPRESSION ON THEIR FACES, THE GIFT OF THE BIBLE, AND THEM WALKING INTO THE HOME AND SAYING, THIS IS MY HOUSE.
AND MY FAMILY'S IS THE BIBLE, THE SIGNING.
WE HAVE A PICTURE FOR OUR MEMORY AND REMINDING US TO STAY HUMBLE AS I CONTINUE BEING MY HOMEOWNER.
I AM VERY FOREVER GRATEFUL AND WOULD HEAR FROM HIS RESPONSE THE WAY HE CHANGED LIVES AROUND THE WORLD.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO STATE, NEVER DOUBT THAT A SMALL GROUP OF THOUGHTFUL, COMMITTED CITIZENS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.
[00:15:04]
IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT HAS EVER HAD.UM, YOUR STORY WAS TOUCHING AND IT'S THE STORY OF, UH, WE HAVE 1300 HOUSTON HOMEOWNERS AND, UH, AND YOU WERE REALLY A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR ALL.
UM, NOW I'M VERY PLEASED TO INTRODUCE OUR, OUR SPEAKER, THE SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST
PIERCE BUSH IS THE CEO OF BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS LONE STAR.
SO PLEASE GIVE IT UP FOR PIERCE.
I PROMISE YOU I WILL BE QUICK 'CAUSE I'M THE LAST SPEAKER.
AND, UH, AND OUR MAYOR, IT TURNS OUT, IS SUCH A HOUSTONIAN THAT HE DOESN'T EVEN OWN AN OVERCOAT.
HE'S NOT USED TO TEMPERATURES IN, IN THESE RANGES.
SO, MAYOR, UM, I DON'T WANNA FREEZE YOU OUT HERE AND JUDGE ALLISON, MS. RAMOS, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU TO CELEBRATE THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE 39TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
WE'RE NOT ONLY HERE TO CELEBRATE A MAN OF REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT TO REFLECT ON THE VALUES, THE VERY AMERICAN VALUES THAT HE EXEMPLIFIED THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE.
DECENCY, SERVICE, HUMILITY, AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO HUMANITY.
AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN A DEEPLY OR FAMILY, DEEPLY INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SERVICE, TODAY'S OCCASION HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.
ONCE POLITICAL RIVALS IN THE 1980 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, MY GRANDFATHER, UM, HOUSTONIAN, GEORGE HW BUSH, THEN THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE SPOKE TO ME LATER IN HIS LIFE ABOUT HIS CONNECTION WITH PRE PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, WHOM HE VIEWED AS A SHINING POINT OF LIGHT, ESPECIALLY FOR HIS WORK IN HIS POST-PRESIDENTIAL YEARS.
DESPITE COMING FROM, UH, VERY DIFFERENT POLITICAL AND PERSONAL BACKGROUNDS, MY GRANDFATHER AND PRESIDENT CARTER FOUND COMMON GROUND IN THEIR SHARED COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND INTEGRITY.
AND THEY FOUND GREAT PURPOSE AND JOY IN PROMOTING VOLUNTEERISM IN CALLING AMERICANS TO BE THEIR BETTER ANGELS.
PRESIDENT CARTER'S WORK WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IS ONE OF THE MOST STELLAR EXAMPLES OF HIS ENDURING AND LASTING IMPACT THROUGH HIS LEADERSHIP AND HANDS-ON DEDICATION.
JUST LIKE THE STORY WE HEARD FROM MS. RAMOS, HE DEMONSTRATED THAT THE TRUEST MEASURE OF GREATNESS LIES IN THE GOOD WE DO FOR OTHERS.
OVER FOUR DECADES, PRESIDENT ROSALYN CARTER HAVE HELPED BUILD AND RESTORE HOMES FOR COUNTLESS FAMILIES, GIVING THEM, GIVING THEM NOT JUST A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS, BUT A FOUNDATION FOR HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY.
THE WORK REMINDS US THAT EVERYONE DESERVES THE CHANCE TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY, SECURITY, AND PRIDE.
AND I'D SAY THIS, IT'S FITTING THAT WE ARE GATHERED HERE IN HOUSTON, A MOST DIVERSE CITY THAT EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY AND COMMUNITY.
A CITY THAT HAS BEEN THE SITE OF NUMEROUS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PROJECTS UNDER ALLISON'S GREAT LEADERSHIP AND THE THE LEGACY SHE CARRIES ON FROM PRESIDENT CARTER'S 1998 VISIT.
THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE SEE THE ENDURING LEGACY OF PRESIDENT CARTER'S VISION, NEIGHBORS OF ALL POLITICAL PERSUASIONS COMING TOGETHER TO LIFT EACH OTHER UP BRICK BY BRICK AND HEARTBEAT BY HEARTBEAT.
PRESIDENT CARTER HAS TAUGHT US THAT OUR GREATEST CALLING IS TO SERVE OTHERS, TO BUILD BRIDGES WHERE THERE ARE DIVIDES, AND TO EXTEND A HELPING HAND TO THOSE IN NEED.
AS WE REFLECT ON HIS REMARKABLE LIFE JOURNEY, LET US CARRY FORWARD HIS EXAMPLE.
LET US ALL GATHERED HERE TODAY, HONOR HIS LEGACY, NOT ONLY WITH OUR WORDS, BUT WITH OUR ACTIONS, STRIVING TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER, MORE COMPASSIONATE, AND MORE UNITED.
SO, UM, I WANNA THANK EACH OF OUR SPEAKERS TODAY, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, JUDGE HIDALGO, MS. RAMOS AND MR. BUSH FOR THEIR KIND AND, UH, PASSIONATE WORDS.
EVERY ONE OF US HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY THE GOOD WORK THAT PRESIDENT AND MRS. CARTER DID.
UM, REMIND YOU, EVERYONE, THAT THIS IS NOT A, THIS IS A THREE DAY EVENT THAT WILL BE SPONSORED IN OUR BEAUTIFUL BARBARA BUSH LITERACY PLAZA.
AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SIGN, UH, THE, THE STUDS ON AROUND OUR BEAUTIFUL DOOR TODAY.
[00:20:01]
AND THROUGH THURSDAY.THURSDAY WILL ALSO BE A DAY WHERE WE'LL BE ABLE TO WATCH LIVE STREAM IN THE PLAZA.
COME AND WATCH, UH, THE MEMORIAL SERVICE ON THE NINTH AND WE WILL, UH, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SIGN AT YOUR CONVENIENCE.
I WOULD LOVE FOR EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO HABITAT.ORG AND SIGN.
THERE'S AN ONLINE MEMORY BOOK THAT WILL BE SHARED, UH, GLOBALLY, UH, THE TRIBUTES FOR PRESIDENT CARTER.
BUT AS I CLOSE TODAY, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE WITH YOU THIS QUOTE FROM PRESIDENT CARTER.
I THINK IT REALLY CAPTURES HOW HE WAS A CHAMPION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE.
HERE'S THE QUOTE, HABITAT PROVIDES A SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL AVENUE FOR PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS TO COME TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THOSE MOST MEANINGFUL THINGS IN LIFE.
A DECENT HOME, YES, BUT ALSO A GENUINE BOND WITH OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.
A BOND THAT COMES WITH THE BUILDING UP OF WALLS AND THE BREAKING DOWN OF BARRIERS.
THANK YOU, UH, PRESIDENT CARTER.
NOW, UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, JUDGE HIDALGO, MS. RAMOS, UH, AND MR. BUSH.
AND I WILL SIGN THE WALL, SIGN OUR STUDS OVER HERE.
AND ONCE WE FINISH, WE'RE GONNA WELCOME ALL OF YOU ALL ARE WELCOME TO SIGN TODAY.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME STUDS OVER TWO BY FOURS.
ALL THOSE TODAY AND ALL THESE STUDS HERE WILL BE USED IN A HOUSTON HABITAT HOME THIS YEAR.
SO PLEASE LEAVE A BLESSING OR A KIND WORD AND WE WILL SEND THAT ON TO OUR HOMEOWNERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY.