[Community Re-Entry Network Program Fall Graduation ]
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ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR DRIVER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WELCOME.
IT IS AN HONOR TODAY TO WELCOME YOU TO OUR 32ND, UH, BY ANNUAL FOUR GRADUATION CEREMONY, WHICH THE TEAM IS A CELEBRATION OF RESTORATION.
UM, THE COMMUNITY REENTRY NETWORK PROGRAM.
WE CREATED SPACE TO, UH, CREATED SAFE SPACE FOR OUR RETURNING CITIZENS TO COME AND INTERACT AND BE BETTER CITIZENS AND MORE SUCCESSFUL TO YOUR REINTEGRATION.
SO THIS SUCCESS STORY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN ANYTHING WITHOUT ALL OF YOU HERE IN THE ROOM.
SO ONCE AGAIN, LET US GIVE IT UP, GIVE IT UP TO OURSELVES PLEASE.
WE WANT TO SHARE OUR GRATITUDE TO OUR LEADERS OF HHD AND CITY OF HOUSTON, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE TO BE HERE.
WE UNDERSTAND YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE, BUT WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO THE FAMILIES AND WELL WISHES OF POWER GRADUATES.
THEY CANNOT BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT YOU.
SO WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY.
NOW, TO OUR WONDERFUL GRADUATES, I PERSONALLY UNDERSTAND THE JOURNEY.
WE'VE HELD OUR HANDS TOGETHER, WE'VE SHED TEARS TOGETHER AND WE LAED TOGETHER.
SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR THOSE MILESTONES YOU'VE ACHIEVED.
THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF YOUR SUCCESS STORY LIKE WE ALL SAY.
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANT YOU TO BE PROUD OF YOURSELF FOR THIS SUCCESS STORY THAT YOU STARTED.
TODAY IS GOING TO BE THE BEGINNING OF MANY OTHER CHAPTERS TO COME.
SO ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS.
GERALD
I HAVE A TEAM THAT WITHOUT THEM THIS WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
SO ON BEHALF OF OUR TEAM, I WANT TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THIS WONDERFUL LOCATION.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON A GENTLEMAN WHO IS A MAN OF GOD WHO IS GONNA LEAD US IN THE OPENING INVOCATION.
THIS PERSON IS NO OTHER PERSON BUT PASTOR
IT'S TRULY HONOR TO BE HERE WITH ALL YOU MEN AND WOMEN AND YOUR GRADUATES ON TODAY.
AND I, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE SITTING
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THERE THAT MAY NOT KNOW WHO I'M, I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS QUICK.UH, I MAKE THIS NOTE TO YOU BECAUSE I AM YOU, I AM YOU AND I STAND HERE HONORED THAT I WOULD BE ASKED TO DO THE INVOCATION BECAUSE I TOO JUST CAME HOME FROM PRISON IN MAY, COME ON OF THIS YEAR.
AND I ONLY DID 30 YEARS, SIX MONTHS, AND 21 DAYS IN THE PRISON SYSTEM.
I'M STANDING HERE AS YOU TODAY BECAUSE YOU MEN AND WOMEN ARE THE EMERGING LEADERS HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND NOW LET, LET US BY HIS PRAYER.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU ON TODAY.
FATHER, JUST YOU FOR THIS MOMENT.
LORD, THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME.
LORD, WE ARE HERE LORD, TO CELEBRATE THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING IN AND THROUGH THE LIVES OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN.
LORD, WE KNOW THAT RESTORATION IS A BIG PART OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO IN AND THROUGH YOUR PEOPLE.
SO ON TODAY, LOG, WE JUST BLESS YOUR NAME.
FATHER, LET THESE MEN AND WOMEN KNOW THAT THERE ARE NOT EX-OFFENDERS.
THEY ARE REENTERING LAW THAT THE NOW THE EMERGING LEADERS WHO HAVE OBTAINED VICTORY LOG IN THEIR OWN PERSONAL LIVES.
SO WE ASKED YOU TO JUST WATCH OVER LOGO.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE ON THE DAY THEY CAME OUT AND SUPPORTED THESE MEN AND WOMEN AND THE SUCCESS THAT THEY HAVE.
PUT FORWARD LOGO, LET THIS BE A MOMENT THAT THEY CAN STEP FORWARD PROUDLY, THAT THE WORLD WILL NOT REMEMBER THEIR PAST LOGO, BUT ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR PRESENT AND PROPEL 'EM TO THEIR FUTURE.
GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER THAT THIS DAY MAY BE A SUCCESS.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE SACRIFICED THEIR TIME LEVEL TO BE HERE.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR EACH AND EVERYONE THAT'S HERE ON TODAY.
WE THANK YOU AND WE HONOR YOU IN THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME ON STAGE THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, MS. JUDY HARRIS TO GIVE US SOME WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
THIS JUST DOESN'T SHOW YOU MUST ALWAYS BE PREPARED BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS BOTH OF YOUR WORDS ARE ENCOURAGED, BUT I'M STANDING HERE REPRESENTING THE DIRECTOR MAYBE HERE BEFORE IT'S OVER AT STEVEN WILLIAMS. AND ON BEHALF OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, I CONGRATULATE OUR GRADUATES.
I'M ALWAYS ENCOURAGED WHEN I SEE YOU.
I WAS HERE WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS REENTRY PROGRAM IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
IT STARTED OUT IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WITH ONE PERSON IN THE PROGRAM.
AND IT HAS GROWN TO WHAT WE HAVE TODAY WITH THIS WONDERFUL STAFF THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
AND WE HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE COME THROUGH OUR PROGRAM AND COMPLETE OUR PROGRAM.
AND I KNOW IT'S NO EASY CHORE, BUT YOU HAVE COMMITTED THE TIME AND THE EFFORT TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM.
'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE START AND THEY DON'T FINISH, BUT YOU FINISH THE PROGRAM AND WE ONLY WISH YOU THE BEST IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
'CAUSE I KNOW THE FIRST THING Y'ALL WANT TO DO IS IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT ALREADY, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A JOB.
RIGHT? AND SO THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, DO AND, AND, AND HELP PEOPLE REENTER SUCCESSFULLY BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO WORK WITH YOU.
AND I JUST WISH YOU THE BEST FOR YOUR FUTURE.
FOR THAT WORKS OF ENCOURAGEMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON MS. PATRICIA WATSON, WHO IS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SHARE SOME WORDS.
PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME MS. WATSON.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST SHARE A FEW WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TODAY.
AS HE MENTIONED, MY NAME IS PATRICIA WATSON AND I'M ONE OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTORS WITH THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AS MS. JUDY HARRIS SAID, CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH ONE OF YOU FOR NOT ONLY STARTING THE PROGRAM BUT COMPLETING THE PROGRAM.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF WHAT I THINK COULD BE A BRIGHT FUTURE.
SO WHEN I ASKED, UM, THE TEAM, WHAT WAS THE THEME FOR TODAY? THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A CELEBRATION OF RESTORATION.
SO I SAID, OKAY, WHAT REALLY IS RESTORATION? I SAW FOUR OR FIVE, SIX DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS, BUT THERE WAS ONE THAT JUST REALLY STUCK WITH ME, AND I'M GONNA READ IT TO YOU.
SO IT SAYS, TO RECEIVE BACK MORE THAN WHAT HAS BEEN LOST, TO THE POINT WHERE THE FINAL STATE IS GREATER THAN THE ORIGINAL CONDITION.
SO, SO WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN? WELL, WHAT THAT SAYS TO ME IS THAT THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF BEING BETTER THAN YOU WERE BEFORE.
CAN YOU BUY INTO THAT? THAT THIS IS A CELEBRATION
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OF BEING BETTER THAN YOU WERE BEFORE.SO NO MATTER WHAT YOU MAY HAVE DONE IN YOUR PAST, YOU ARE NOT YOUR PASTS.
YOU ARE THE PERSON WHO HAS LEARNED FROM YOUR PASTS.
AND THERE MAY BE DIFFICULT DAYS, BUT REMEMBER THAT YOU'RE NOT ALONE.
YOU HAVE THE REENTRY STAFF HERE.
AND LIKE MS. JUDY SAID, WE KNOW YOU WANT A JOB AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU WITH THAT.
EVEN WHEN THE ROUGH DAYS COME, JUST REMEMBER YOU'RE NOT ALONE AND BE ENCOURAGED THAT YOU'RE MOVING TOWARD YOUR FUTURE, RECEIVING THE BENEFITS OF BEING RESTORED BECAUSE YOU ARE BETTER THAN YOU WERE BEFORE.
YOU ARE BETTER THAN YOU WERE BEFORE.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE CELEBRATING TODAY.
ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR MS. WATSON.
AT THIS STAGE, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON STAGE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
WELL CERTAINLY, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON.
AND I AM COUNCIL MEMBER CAROL EVAN SHABBAZ, THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT D, ANYBODY FROM DISTRICT D, THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, RIGHT?
AND, AND, AND CERTAINLY I, I MUST SAY IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS, BUT IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CASHMERE GARDENS.
I'M TELLING YOU, I USED TO WORK AT FLEMING MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS AND I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA, BUT CERTAINLY THIS GRAND OCCASION BROUGHT ME HERE.
NATA REACHED OUT AND FIRST I SAID, GIRL, I CAN'T MAKE IT.
THEN I GOT A LITTLE GAP IN TIME AND I WAS ABLE TO COME.
AND I WANNA SAY IN MY OWN LIFE, OF COURSE I'VE HAD FOUR GRADUATIONS, RIGHT? BUT NONE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN A GRADUATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO FORWARD WITH A CHANGED MINDSET.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
YOU HAVE CHANGED YOUR MINDSET.
I'M SO ENCOURAGED TO SEE ALL OF THESE NAMES ON THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE THE NEW LEADERS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON OR WHEREVER YOU CHOOSE TO GO.
I CERTAINLY WANT YOU TO LOOK BACK AND, AND, AND SEE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE BACK THERE SUPPORTING YOU.
THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED YOU AND WHO WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, I'M SO ENCOURAGED WITH THE PASTOR AND, AND SHARING, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT HE HAD JUST GOTTEN OUT OF OF PRISON.
BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU, I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE THERE, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, GO, I, BECAUSE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT YOU CAN MAKE A BAD DECISION AND THEN YOU CAN END UP INCARCERATED.
BUT CERTAINLY THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
WE ARE GONNA PRAY AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE FROM THIS POINT ON, NOT TO SAY THAT YOU WILL NEVER MAKE A MISTAKE BECAUSE YOU WILL MAKE ANOTHER MISTAKE, BUT CERTAINLY IT'S NOT ONE THAT CAN IMPACT YOUR LIFE SUCH AS WHAT YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH.
BUT CERTAINLY I WANT TO THANK YOU.
UM, THIS IS, I THINK MY THIRD EVENT I GOT, I GOT ANOTHER ONE.
I'M GONNA JUST TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
OKAY,
YOU KNOW, THAT'S EVEN BETTER WHEN YOU GO THERE AND NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.
OH, SHE HAD LUNCH WITH WHO? ANYWAY, CERTAINLY, UH, I'M, I'M SO VERY HONORED TO BE HERE.
CERTAINLY MY COLLEAGUES ARE HERE AND THEY'RE GOING TO SHARE AND THEM DERE BACK THERE, HE'S A DISTRICT D CONSTITUENT.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, I'M SO VERY PROUD OF HIM AND HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND SO MY OTHER COLLEAGUES WILL INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND I'M SO VERY HONORED.
AND CERTAINLY IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT, CERTAINLY CHECK THE CITY OF HOUSTON WEBSITE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE IN THERE ELBOW TO MAKE SURE YOU GET PAID RIGHT.
BUT CERTAINLY WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE IN WHATEVER CAPACITY YOU CHOOSE.
AGAIN, I'M COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT D, WHAT I CALL THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
AND I CERTAINLY WANNA GIVE GREETINGS FROM YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER HERE IN DISTRICT B, COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON.
YOU ALL HAVE A SAFE, PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.
THE NEXT TIME, RIGHT? HI EVERYBODY, MY NAME IS SALLY ALCORN AND I'M ANOTHER HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
I'M AT LARGE, SO I REPRESENT THE WHOLE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I WOKE UP THIS MORNING WITH UM, JUST A FULL HEART 'CAUSE I LOVE THIS EVENT.
TRULY ONE OF MY, I BET THIS IS MY SECOND TERM ON CITY COUNCIL.
TRULY THIS IS ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE THINGS TO DO.
UM, I WORKED IN A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAM, VOLUNTEERED FOR YEARS AT THE DARRINGTON UNIT.
UM, LIKE CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ SAID, WHEN I HEARD THE STORIES THAT I, THEY'RE,
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THEY'RE, THEY'RE BEFORE THE GRACE OF GOD GO, I, I'D BE DEAD OR THE SAME PLACE THEY WERE.SO, UM, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S JUST A JOY TO SEE YOU.
I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HOME AND THROUGH WITH THIS PROGRAM, RIGHT, WITH THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
SO ENJOY TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
WELCOME HOME AND ALL THE BEST TO YOU.
MY NAME IS JOAQUIN MARTINEZ AND I'M YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT.
I, I KNOW YOU HAVE A DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, BUT WE WANNA CALL OURSELVES A DISTRICT OF INNOVATION.
BUT, BUT HONESTLY, UM, THIS, I'M FIRST YEAR COUNCIL MEMBER.
I'M ABOUT TO WRAP UP MY FIRST YEAR.
THIS IS MY SECOND, UH, EVENT, SECOND GRADUATION.
AND I'M GONNA DEFINITELY BE FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF SALLY AND BE HERE FOR EVERY GRADUATION.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS PAST, YOU KNOW, FEW MONTHS TO MAKE, TO SEE THIS, THIS LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT REALLY TAKES A COMMITMENT, SOME COURAGE TO REALLY STEP OUT OUT OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MINDSET THAT YOU PROBABLY HAD.
AND NOT EVEN THE MINDSET, BUT MORE SO LIKE WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE PUTS YOU IN, RIGHT? TO STEP INTO THIS ROLE AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I AM HERE.
AND THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY, COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET WHERE YOU ARE.
UM, AND AS BOTH OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID, THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS COMMITTED TO YOU ALL.
UH, THE REENTRY PROGRAM POST REENTRY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? GETTING THE JOB.
MAKE SURE YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE WE DO WANT YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT US HAVING THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE, THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON REALLY, REALLY IS, UH, INVESTED IN YOU ALL.
AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE FAMILIES THAT ARE HERE NOW AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, I HAD A BROTHER THAT WAS IN PENITENTIARY FOR SEVEN YEARS AND BUT FOR FAMILY, WAS HE NOT ABLE TO BE A, A LITTLE LEAGUE COACH AND BE PRODUCTIVE AS WELL? AND SO, UM, I LOOK AT YOU ALL AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO POUR YOURSELF INTO ALL OF THE GRADUATES TO THE GRADUATES.
UM, JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT Y'ALL CAN BRING TO THE, TO THE TABLE.
NOW THE CITY, BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO BE PRODUCTIVE.
WE WANT YOU TO BE THE LEADERS THAT YOU, WE KNOW YOU ARE.
I'M A REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER TARSA JACKSON OFFICE.
THAT'S DISTRICT B THAT IS THE BEST DISTRICT.
I'M A SPECIAL PROJECT EVENT COORDINATOR, MAN.
SO I JUST WANT TO LET Y'ALL KNOW, MAN, WHILE Y'ALL LOOKING AT ME, JUST KNOW I GOT MY START RIGHT HERE TOO.
SO TWO YEARS LATER I DIDN'T IMAGINE BEING ON THE SAME STAGE.
SO I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO BE ENCOURAGED TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THERE'S NO LIMITATIONS AND I'M STILL GOING.
AND THOSE THAT KNOW KNOW, THANK Y'ALL.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY AFTER THAT.
I'M THE TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 1 35.
JUST WON A COUPLE OF ELECTIONS,
BUT I DO WANT TO TELL YOU A STORY THAT, THAT I DON'T TELL VERY MANY PEOPLE, BUT I TELL IT HERE 'CAUSE UM, I WAS A DROPOUT AND FOR A PERIOD OF TIME I WAS HOMELESS.
AND, UM, A KIND SOUL CAME UP TO ME IN THE PARK AND HE SAID, ARE YOU SLEEPING IN THIS PARK? IS THIS WHERE YOU'RE LIVING RIGHT NOW? AND I SAID, YES.
AND HE SAID, WELL, LOOK, IF YOU WANNA WORK, WE, WE NEED PEOPLE WHERE I WORK.
YOU WANT TO COME MAKE SOME MONEY? AND I SAID, YEAH, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
BUT THE POINT IS, IT WASN'T FOR THE KINDNESS OF THIS PERSON.
SO I MEAN, I WENT TO WORK AND I'M LITERALLY, YOU KNOW, MAKING SANDWICHES AND THEN, UH, WE DID SOME CONSTRUCTION WORK AND WHATNOT.
I ENDED UP GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.
NOW I'M A DEGREED MECHANICAL ENGINEER.
I'VE GOT, I'VE GOT 30 YEARS OF ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE ALMOST ALL IN THIS CITY RIGHT HERE.
AND UM, AND NOW I'M ELECTED TO OFFICE.
I MEAN THAT'S THE CRAZIEST THING EVER,
BUT IF IT WASN'T FOR THE KINDNESS OF SOMEONE INVESTING IN ME, I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
SO FIRST I'M GONNA SAY GRATITUDE TO YOU ALL IN THIS PROGRAM FOR HELPING ALL THESE PEOPLE.
'CAUSE I CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE THE AMOUNT OF LOVE THAT GOES INTO THAT.
AND THEN SECOND, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS YOU ARE REENTERING, AS YOU ARE RECLAIM THAT YOU ARE IN A UNIQUE POSITION.
THAT EXPERIENCES THAT YOU HAVE, IT'S A SPECIAL, GIVES YOU A SPECIAL KIND OF STRENGTH
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THAT YOU HAVE COME THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AND READY TO MOVE FORWARD.AND SO I'M JUST GRATEFUL TO BE HERE.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERY DAY I WAKE UP BREATHING AND UH, I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE ALL OF YOU TODAY.
I'M THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR COMMISSIONER AT ADRIAN GARCIA IN HARRIS COUNTY WHO WAS THE FORMER SHERIFF OF HARRIS COUNTY.
I'M ORIGINALLY FROM NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.
SO THAT SAYS A LOT RIGHT THERE.
SO THE REASON WHY THANK YOU, THE REASON WHY I STAYED HERE IN HOUSTON IS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE SALLY ALCON AND CAROLYN SHABAZZ AND SASHA JACKSON AND OF COURSE, UH UH, JOAQUIN AS WELL BECAUSE THEY'VE GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU HAVE TODAY YOURSELVES.
THAT DOESN'T EXIST EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS A POLICE OFFICER, I TELL YOU WHAT JUST CAME BACK FROM SOUTH, UH, SOUTH CAROLINA, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TEACHING CREDIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
IT'S MAKING SURE THAT WE INTERACT WITH PEOPLE AND DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HELP TO REDUCE THE, THE CIV, RECIDIVISM RATE, RECIDIVISM RATE AS WELL.
I'M REMINDED OF ISAIAH 43 AND 19.
IT SAYS, SEE I AM DOING A NEW THING.
SO AS YOU CONTINUE TO WALK THE PAVED WAY THAT GOD HAS MADE FOR YOU, YOU JUST TELL PEOPLE AS YOU GO FOR THE JOB OPPORTUNITY, YOU INTERACT WITH FOLKS, YOU BUY YOUR FIRST HOME AND THEN PEOPLE MAY TELL YOU NO.
SAY, SEE, I AM DOING A NEW THING.
WHEN YOU GET THAT JOB TO ALL THE THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALRIGHT, WE CAN TAKE IT TO THE BENEDICTION RIGHT THERE,
WHAT A WONDERFUL, AWESOME, AMAZING CELEBRATION THIS IS.
AND ALTHOUGH IT'S SO AWESOME, THE BEST IS STILL YET TO COME, CAN YOU JUST SAY THAT WITH THE BEST IS YET TO COME AND I AM HERE REPRESENTING, I'M THE DISTRICT DIRECTOR FOR CONGRESSWOMAN ERICA LEE CARTER.
AND LET ME JUST SAY PART YES, YOU CAN GIVE IT UP FOR CONGRESSWOMAN ERICA CARTER REPRESENTING THE 18TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
MANY MANY OF YOU REMEMBER HER MOTHER, THE LATE GREAT CONGRESSWOMAN, SHEILA JACKSON LEE WHO THE QUEEN, THE QUEEN, AND WHO ALWAYS SUPPORTED THIS PROGRAM.
AND I PERSONALLY JUST WANNA SAY, UM, HOW AMAZING THIS PROGRAM, THIS PROGRAM IS AND WE CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE GRADUATES THAT ARE GOING TO BE RECOGNIZED AND OUR CONGRESSWOMAN HAS A SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT YOU WILL BE RECEIVING.
WE WANTED TO BRING NATIONAL RECOGNITION TO YOUR CELEBRATION ON TODAY.
SO ON BEHALF OF UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE, YOU AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO ASK, I'M NOT SURE WHO WILL ACCEPT IT ON BEHALF OF DR. WILLIAMS, BUT IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD BECAUSE WE GOTTA RECOGNIZE YOU.
AND LET ME JUST SAY, I'VE WATCHED THIS PROGRAM EVOLVE THROUGH THE YEARS AND THE DIFFERENCE THAT IT HAS MADE IN SO MANY LIVES.
UM, FIRST SUPPORTING WHEN I WAS DISTRICT DIRECTOR FOR CONGRESSMAN JEAN GREEN AND THEN FOR CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA, AND THEN FOR CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, AND NOW CONGRESSWOMAN ERICA LEE CARTER.
AND WE WANNA CONGRATULATE THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S REENTRY PROGRAM.
SO I HAVE A SPECIAL PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO PRESENT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THANKING YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORK AND THE EFFORTS THAT YOU MAKE IN MAKING THE DIFFERENCE IN TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF OTHERS, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY, COMPASSION, AND EMPOWERMENT TO OTHERS.
SO INDEED, YOU ARE WORTHY OF THE RESPECT, YOU ARE WORTHY OF THE ADMIRATION AND THE COMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
SO WE CONGRATULATE AND WE THANK YOU AS WELL.
WE HONOR AND RECOGNIZE ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL YOUNG AND WOMEN, GOD BLESS EACH AND AMEN.
ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM IN LINE.
WE WILL BE CONTINUE TO LISTENING.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO THE NARRATIVES FROM OUR SUPPORTERS AND THIS WILL BE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE SHOWING A VIDEO AND THAT VIDEO IS GOING TO BE SHOWN RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.
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SI, I'M HONORED TO JOIN YOU TODAY FOR THE 32ND BIANNUAL FALL GRADUATION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON REENTRY NETWORK PROGRAM.TODAY WE CELEBRATE RESILIENCE, DETERMINATION, AND RESTORATION.
A JOURNEY THAT EACH OF YOU, THE GRADUATES HAS EMBRACED TO THE GRADUATES THIS DAY REFLECTS YOUR HARD WORK AND THE REFUSAL TO LET CHALLENGES DEFINE YOU.
THE THEME, A CELEBRATION OF RESTORATION CAPTURES THE STEPS YOU'VE TAKEN TO BUILD YOUR LIVES AND CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR YOURSELVES AND YOUR FAMILIES.
THE COMMUNITY REENTRY NETWORK PROGRAM IS MORE THAN A REENTRY INITIATIVE.
IT'S ABOUT TRANSFORMATION PROVIDES VITAL SUPPORT LIKE COUNSELING, LIFE SKILL COURSES, JOB READINESS TRAINING, AND PEER SUPPORT TO HELP PARTICIPANTS SUCCEED BY OFFERING SECOND CHANCES, JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES.
THIS PROGRAM EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE, CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO THE STAFF AND LEADERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND COMPASSION.
YOUR WORK IS CHANGING LIVES AND STRENGTHENING FAMILIES TO THE GRADUATES.
YOU'VE PROVEN THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH DEDICATION, PERSEVERANCE, AND HAVING THE RIGHT SUPPORT SYSTEM IN PLACE.
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
YOUR SUCCESS INSPIRES OTHERS AND IS A TESTAMENT TO THE INCREDIBLE GROWTH THAT IS POSSIBLE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY.
STAY FOCUSED AND DETERMINED AS YOU KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND UPWARD IN ACHIEVING ALL OF YOUR DREAMS AND GOALS FOR SUCCESS AND POSITIVITY IN YOUR LIFE.
AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND EVERYONE WHO MADE TODAY POSSIBLE.
THIS IS TRULY A CELEBRATION FOR YOU TO BE PROUD OF.
I'M TRULY HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK TODAY AND SO BLESSED TO BE A PART OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S COMMUNITY REENTRY NETWORK PROGRAM.
I'M ESPECIALLY MOVED AND PROUD TO SHARE THIS DAY WITH MY FELLOW CLASSMATES WHO I CONSIDER TO BE NOT ONLY VALUED MEMBERS OF MY OWN LIFE, BUT ALSO AMAZING AND ASPIRING INDIVIDUALS TO BE VALUED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES AND BY SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.
WHEN I SIGNED UP WITH THE COMMUNITY REENTRY NETWORK PROGRAM, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS OTHER THAN HAVING BEEN TOLD THAT THEY OFFERED CLASSES AND COULD POTENTIALLY HELP WITH JOB REFERRALS.
I'M CURRENTLY ON DEFERRED ADJUDICATION FOR A FELONY AND I HAD BEEN ACTIVELY SEEKING EMPLOYMENT SINCE JUNE OF THIS YEAR AFTER HAVING BEEN INCARCERATED FOR THE PREVIOUS NINE MONTHS.
I HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE RESUME WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, BUT MY BACKGROUND CHECKS WERE AN ISSUE AND I WAS BECOMING DISCOURAGED.
MY GOAL WAS TO COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS PROGRAM AND HOPEFULLY BE AFFORDED SOME OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THE BARRIER TO BEING HIRED WOULD NOT BE INSURMOUNTABLE.
I WAS AMAZED TO LEARN THAT THE PROGRAM OFFERS FAR MORE RESOURCES THAN THE CLASSES AND EMPLOYMENT READINESS.
THEY ALSO OFFER COUNSELING ASSISTANCE WITH CAREER, CLOTHING, FOOD DONATIONS, TRANSPORTATION, AND ADDRESS MANY OTHER AREAS OF NEED AS WELL.
HOWEVER, WHAT I GOT OUT OF THE PROGRAM WAS ALL OF THIS AND SO MUCH MORE.
FROM THE MOMENT I MET WITH MY CASE MANAGER WAYNE, I FELT IMMEDIATELY SUPPORTED AND SHOWN SUCH GRACE AND RESPECT.
THIS CAN BE SAID OF EVERY INTERACTION I'VE HAD WITH ANY MEMBER OF THE STAFF AT CRNP.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, SUPPORT GRACE AND RESPECT OUR FACILITATORS.
MS. MAY AND MS. IVAN OFFERED SO MUCH WISDOM, ENCOURAGEMENT, PASSION AND COMPASSION.
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HELLO, MY NAME IS PETER HILL AND I SERVED 16 YEARS AND THREE MONTHS IN THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE FROM THE AGE OF 18 TO 34 YEARS OLD.TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO MY RELEASE, THE UNIT I WAS ON HAD A JOB FOR AND THERE WAS A REPRESENTATIVE THERE FROM THE COMMUNITY REENTRY NETWORK PROGRAM.
I LEARNED THROUGH THE REPRESENTATIVE ALL THE DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT WERE OFFERED BY CRMP.
I IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A CUSTOM MADE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME BECAUSE I NEEDED AND WANTED TO RECEIVE COUNSELING AND JOB READINESS INTERVIEWS AND BUILDING A RESUME UPON BEING RELEASED.
MY FIRST WEEK OUT, I WENT TO THE CASHIER MULTI-SERVICE CENTER AND ENROLLED IN THE CRMP PROGRAM.
WHEN I STARTED CLASSES, I KNEW I WAS RIGHT WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.
I LEARNED JOB READINESS, MAKING A RESUME, HOW TO INTERVIEW CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN THE WORKPLACE, POSITIVE THINKING, AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING I RECEIVED FROM MY COUNSELOR AND OTHER COUNSELORS.
MOST OF ALL, I LOVE THE SUPPORT FROM MY PEERS AND COUNSELORS.
THAT HELPED ME SO MUCH BECAUSE I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO USE TECHNOLOGY.
I DIDN'T JUST LEARN THESE THINGS.
I BEGAN TO APPLY THEM IMMEDIATELY TO MY EVERYDAY LIFE CHOICES.
THIS HELPED ME TO BECOME A CONFIDENT MAN IN REENTERING SOCIETY AND KNOWING THAT I AM A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY.
THAT ADDS VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE CRMP PROGRAM HAS HELPED ME WITH THIS, BUT MOST OF ALL THERE IS A FAMILY SPIRIT HERE THAT HAS GIVEN ME A SENSE OF BELONGING AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST IMPACT THE CRMP PROGRAM IS HAVING ON MY LIFE.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE PROGRAM BECAUSE AT ONE POINT IN MY LIFE I WAS HOPELESS THINKING THAT MY LIFE WOULD NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING.
I LISTENED TO MY FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF SOCIETY.
I EVEN LET MY CIRCUMSTANCES AND CHOICES I MADE IN THE PAST TELL ME I HAD TO GIVE UP ON MY DREAMS AND SET UP FOR MEDIOCRE.
I CAME OUT OF THAT MINDSET BY LISTENING TO A DIFFERENT MESSAGE AND I'LL TELL YOU, THE CRMP PROGRAM GIVES A MESSAGE OF HOPE AND THE TOOLS TO ALL IMPACTED BY THE JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT DESPITE BEING INCARCERATED, YOU CAN STILL BE A PRODUCTIVE INDIVIDUAL IN THE COMMUNITY YOU ARE PART OF.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE TWO PARTICIPANTS OF THE TWO GRADUATES THAT GRADUATES THAT WILL BE TALKING ON BEHALF OF THEIR COLLEAGUES.
THE FIRST PERSON WE HAVE TO SPEAK IS ERICA ROSE.
FIRST, I NEED TO GIVE ALL THE HONOR, PRAISE, AND GLORY TO MY HEAVENLY FATHER.
WITHOUT HIS LOVE AND GRACE IN MY LIFE, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
I CAME TO HOUSTON AFTER EXPERIENCING A TRAUMATIC EVENT.
THIS TURNING POINT LED ME TO MAKE SOME REALLY BAD CHOICES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THESE CHOICES LED ME TO PRISON.
IN JULY OF 2021, I SIGNED A PLEA FOR NOT ONE BUT TWO FELONY ONES, POSSESSION OF FRAUDULENT INFORMATION, CARRYING TWO SENTENCES OF 17 YEARS EACH.
WHILE ON THE INSIDE I CHOSE TO DO EVERYTHING I COULD TO BETTER MYSELF.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW I WAS BROKEN.
AND LIKE SO MANY OF US, I HAD EXPERIENCED ABUSE.
[00:35:01]
AS A VICTIM WAS WHAT I KNEW.I BLAMED OTHERS FOR MY BAD BEHAVIOR AND RATIONALIZED EVERYTHING.
I TOOK MULTIPLE COGNITIVE CLASSES AND PROGRAMS LIKE OP, EMPOWERING WOMEN OUT OF PRISON IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.
THEN AFTER ONLY THREE YEARS IN MAY OF 2024, I WAS GRANTED PAROLE FOR AN WITH AN FI TWO FOR RELEASE IN AUGUST.
I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW ECSTATIC I WAS, BUT THERE WAS STILL THAT PART OF ME THAT WAS SCARED.
WAS I REALLY GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL? WAS I GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET A GOOD JOB? I HAD MAJORED IN ACCOUNTING AND I NOW HAD FRAUD CHARGES.
ON AUGUST 21ST, 2024, I WAS RELEASED.
THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY I ATTENDED ORIENTATION WITH PAROLE.
HE WORKS WITH THE COMMUNITY REENTRY PROGRAM.
HE TOLD US HOW HE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN TDCJ AND NOW WORKS THERE.
HE TOLD US THAT THEY WOULD HELP US GET A GOOD JOB.
ALSO ABOUT ANOTHER GENTLEMAN WHO IS NOW WORKING FOR THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON.
I WAS SOLD, HE DIDN'T NEED TO SAY ANOTHER WORD.
I KNEW RIGHT THEN THAT I WAS GOING TO ATTEND THESE CLASSES AND THAT THEY WERE GONNA HELP ME GET A JOB.
WORKING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ENTERING BACK INTO SOCIETY AND BECOMING SUCCESSFUL IS NOT AN EASY TASK.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO REMAIN HUMBLE AND ASK FOR ASSISTANCE.
THIS IS NOT ALWAYS EASY BECAUSE MANY OF US HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO GET THE RIGHT KIND OF HELP.
THIS IS WHY THE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY REENTRY PROGRAM IS VITAL TO ONE'S SUCCESS.
THE PROGRAM PROVIDES US WITH THE HELP AND THE TOOLS THAT WE NEED TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.
MY CASE MANAGER MARIA, HELPED ME WITH MY RESUME.
SHE'S THE ONE WHO SUBMITTED IT FOR THE JOB, WHICH I'M NOW WORKING.
I'M EMPLOYED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AT THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
I WORK IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION.
THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE PROGRAM.
CRNP REALLY DOES CHANGE LIVES.
THEY TREAT YOU LIKE YOU ARE WORTHY, LIKE YOU ARE SOMEBODY BECAUSE YOU ARE SOMEBODY.
IT'S A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO EXTEND GRACE AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
THEY DEMONSTRATE LOVE IN A WORLD WHERE IT IS LACKING.
THIS IS THE BEST JOB I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE.
WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT I HAD TO GO TO PRISON TO FIND IT
SO DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN'T GET THE JOB BECAUSE YOU CAN.
I'M AN OVERCOMER BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND THE POWER OF MY TESTIMONY.
WITHOUT WHAT I DO, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE NEXT SPEAKER WHO IS GOING TO BE TALKING ON BEHALF OF THE GRADUATES.
MY NAME IS ED GAR SASO AND I MADE A MISTAKE AND THEN I KEPT MAKING MISTAKES.
EVEN THOUGH WE SHOULD ALWAYS DO WHAT'S RIGHT, NO MATTER WHAT, IT'S HARDER TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION WHEN THERE'S MORE OBSTACLES THAN OPPORTUNITIES.
THE COMMUNITY REENTRY NETWORK PROGRAM IS OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES.
I WAS INCARCERATED IN 2008 AT THE AGE OF 17 BECAUSE I WENT INTO PRISON SO YOUNG.
ALMOST EVERYTHING I KNOW AND TO A LARGE EXTENT WHO I AM IS A REFLECTION OF ANOTHER PRISONER.
MY COMPASSION INTELLIGENCE, MY POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS VIEWS WERE ALL HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY MEN I MET IN PRISON.
I FOUND FATHER FIGURES IN THERE AND I LOOKED UP TO THOSE MEN.
EVENTUALLY I FOUND MYSELF IN SITUATIONS WHERE I WAS A FATHER FIGURE.
I FOUND BROTHERS, FRIENDS AND AND ENEMIES IN THERE AND I LEARNED FROM THEM ALL.
[00:40:02]
I'VE BEEN A FOLLOWER AND A LEADER AND IN BOTH CAPACITIES FOR A LONG TIME, I APPLIED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT WERE DETRIMENTAL TO MY SOUL.I WAS KILLING MY VERY HUMANITY AND I WAS DOING IT INTENTIONALLY.
I HAD SUBJECTED MYSELF TO THE LAW OF CONFORMITY IN A NEGATIVE WAY.
BEING SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS OF WHICH I HAD TO SERVE A MINIMUM OF 15 BEFORE I COULD EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING HOME WAS NOT MY ROCK BOTTOM MOMENT FAR FROM IT BECAUSE YOU SEE, I DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING ABOUT ME THAT I HAD TO CHANGE.
MY HEART BEGAN TO HARDEN BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT THE, THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY THAT I COULD SURVIVE AND THRIVE IN MY NEW ENVIRONMENT.
THE PRAISE AND ACCOLADES THAT I RECEIVED FROM MY FELLOW PRISONERS WERE LIKE TROPHIES FOR ME TO BE DISPLAYED ON A MANTLE.
I FELT PROUD OF THAT REPUTATION.
THEN ONE DAY I GOT A VISIT FROM MY MOM AND MY SISTER.
YOU SEE, ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAD BEEN RELEASED AND FOUND HIMSELF SOCIALIZING WITH MY SIBLINGS.
HE TOLD 'EM ABOUT THE PERSON HE KNEW ME AS THE WAY I CARRIED MYSELF, THE WAY I SPOKE ABOUT THE THINGS I HAD DONE AND THE THINGS THAT I HAD FAILED TO DO.
THE LOOK OF DISAPPOINTMENT IN MY MOTHER'S EYES THAT DAY SHATTERED ALL THOSE TROPHIES.
IT SHOWED ME HOW BRITTLE AND EMPTY THEY REALLY WERE.
THAT DAY IS WHEN THE WORK BEGAN.
AND AS LIGHT TENDS TO DO A LITTLE BIT DARK PLACE, MY DESPAIR BEGAN TO GIVE WAY TO HOPE.
NOW I'VE LEARNED A FEW THINGS OVER THE YEARS AND ONE OF THEM IS THIS.
PEOPLE WILL NEVER EVER RISE ABOVE THE OPINION THEY HAVE OF THEMSELVES.
AND FOR A LITTLE WHILE, I DIDN'T THINK I WAS WORTH VERY MUCH.
THE COMMUNITY REENTRY NETWORK PROGRAM IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAVE CHOSEN TO INVEST IN ME BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT MY STOCK IS NOW RISING.
THE STAFF HERE HAS NEVER MADE ME FEEL LIKE A BURDEN AND HAS ALWAYS STRIVED TO MAKE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO ME BECAUSE I COMMITTED MYSELF TO THE PROGRAM.
I AM NOW A TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE RIGHT HERE, WORKING FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON CLEVELAND.
I'M NOW ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE WHO FACE MANY OF THE SAME CHALLENGES THAT I DID.
NOW THERE'S A LOT OF GOALS ABOUT REDUCING RECIDIVISM, BUT THAT'S NOT WHY I CAME HERE.
I DIDN'T COME HERE TO REDUCE THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM.
I CAME HERE TO FIND THE RESOURCES I NEEDED TO LIVE AS A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF MY COMMUNITY.
AND I FOUND THAT HERE, THIS PLACE, THIS PLACE IS CREATING A BETTER HOUSTON TO MY FELLOW GRADUATES.
I SAY THIS, THAT THIS GRADUATION IS NOT THE END FAR FROM IT.
THIS IS JUST A MILESTONE IN OUR CONTINUING JOURNEY FOR SUCCESSFUL LIVES.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
PLEASE LET US GIVE IT UP AGAIN FOR THIS TWO S SPOKEN AND WONDERFUL NARRATIVES ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.
YOU KNOW, I INTENTIONALLY SOMETIMES DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO THESE SPEECH.
I TELL THEM TO GO AHEAD AND SPEAK FROM YOUR HEART.
SO IT IS, IT COMES LIKE SURPRISE AND I'M TEARING UP, TEARING UP RIGHT NOW.
IT GIVES ME A REASON FOR KEEP DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING.
I WOULD LIKE TO SOFTEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE SOMEBODY WHO IS A POET, BUT WILL BE GIVING US A DELIVERY OF ANOTHER WORK DONE BY A GRADUATE THAT IS NOT SUPPOSED, THAT IS NOT HERE DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO THIS GENTLEMAN IS GOING TO GIVE US A GOOD PERFORMANCE OF SPOKEN WORDS.
NO OTHER PERSON BUT THE COURAGE BROWN, PLEASE.
HOW Y'ALL DOING? MY NAME IS KOI BROWN.
I'LL BE READING A POEM FROM ONE OF MY CLASSMATES, JANELLE KIN.
UNFORTUNATELY, SHE COULDN'T MAKE IT HERE TODAY, BUT SHE'S HERE WITH US.
PROGRESSIVE PICASSO BY JANELLE PETERSON.
A MOSAIC BEAUTIFULLY MADE FROM BROKEN GLASS ONCE WINDING UP, SHATTERED FROM TRAUMAS IN THE PAST.
[00:45:01]
MRT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR HABITS THAT WILL LAST CAUTIONS BEFORE THE CRASH.A PHOENIX RISING UP TRIUMPHANTLY FROM THE ASH, LEAVING BEHIND MASSIVE OPPOSITION, DIRECTING OURSELVES TO THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS AND POSITIONS.
EVERY SHARD, EVERY SCAR, EVERY BROKEN PIECE HAS BEEN A STEP TOWARDS CREATING A SUCCESSFUL RELEASE.
FREEDOM FROM THE PAST IS A PART OF THE ART.
A MOSAIC FORMING A STORY REBORN FROM THE PARTS HOPE ARRIVES IN LESSONS PROVING TO BE TRUE CASHMERE CENTER, KEEPING OUR MINDS REFRESHED AND ANEW.
FAMILIES LOVE REMAINS A STEADY GUIDE AS THEY STAND AT THE FINISH LINE.
ARMS OPEN WIDE FRIENDS ARE LIKE STARS IN THE SKY, LIFTING OUR SPIRITS AND HELPING US LEARN TO FLY.
OUR COUNSELOR'S ABILITY TO SEE THE BEAUTY BEYOND THE RUBBLE, PROVIDING HELP IF WE ARE TO SLIGHTLY STUMBLE EACH LESSON.
LOVING AFFIRMATION AND A WORD OF GRACE TURNS PAST DARKNESS INTO A MUCH BRIGHTER SPACE.
LIFE IS LIKE A MOSAIC, EXHILARATED, BOLD AND TRUE.
A MASTERPIECE SHAPED BY THE POSITIVE WE DO.
THE PAST MAY STILL HUNT US, BUT NO LONGER CHANGE DUE TO THE LOVE, STRENGTH, AND COURAGE THAT STEADILY REMAINS A PRISONER.
THE MOSAIC OF LIFE IS COMPLETED WITH SUPPORT OF OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
TOGETHER WE CAN CORRECTLY SHAPE THE PIECES INSIDE EACH FLAW OR FRACTURE.
WE ARE NO LONGER ASHAMED TO HIDE.
EACH SHARD OF GLASS BECOMES A TIMELESS DESIGN.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE KNOWING SUCCESS IS ALL MINE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT WONDERFUL REATION.
I THINK WE ARE GONNA GO FORWARD TO INVITE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THIS WONDERFUL OCCASION AND THE ONGOING FIGHT FOR JUSTICE, EQUALITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER, MR. DARRELL K DOUGLAS.
UH, BEFORE I START, I WANT EVERYBODY TO PAUSE RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, AND SO MUCH IN SOCIETY IS ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT? WHAT'S NEXT? WHAT'S NEXT? RIGHT? APPLYING FOR THIS JOB OF THIS NEXT THING RIGHT NOW, I WANT YOU TO PAUSE WHERE YOU ARE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE STEP THAT YOU'VE JUST CLIMBED TO AND TAKE A DEEP BREATH.
AND SO IN, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY STARTED THIS PROGRAM WITH YOU THAT ARE NOT HERE TODAY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO STARTED THIS PROGRAM WITH YOU, THAT BACKSLID.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO STARTED THIS PROGRAM WITH YOU TODAY, UH, WHO ARE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
UH, ALSO WANNA GIVE A, A RHYME OF APPLAUSE TO THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WHEN, WHEN WE WERE, WHEN WE WERE PULLING IN, I RECOGNIZED THE GREEN STRIPE ON THE BUILDING AND I SAID, I USED TO COME HERE FOR WIC.
SO I CALLED MY MOM, I SAID, MOM, IS THIS WHERE WE USED TO? SHE SAID SHE.
SO, UH, SHOUT OUT TO THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
LEIKA SAID, YOU KNOW, I GREW UP HERE IN HOUSTON, UM, IN SOUTH PARK ON A STREET CALLED ZELENSKY.
UH, RIGHT NEXT TO FROST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I'M PART OF THE LAST GENERATION OF PEOPLE WHO PLAYED OUTSIDE.
WE PLAYED RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT, RED LIGHT, RIGHT? WE PLAYED NICKER, KNOCK NICKER.
AND, UH, TWO OF MY BEST FRIENDS WERE SLIM AND JEREMY.
AND I MEAN, WE WERE, WE WERE THE THREE AMIGOS.
WE MADE A LOT OF TROUBLE IN SOUTH PARK BACK IN THE NINETIES.
AND, UH, I WOULD EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, SEPARATE FROM THEM SOMEWHERE AROUND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
BUT WHEN I GOT TO HIGH SCHOOL, STARTED HANGING WITH THE WRONG CROWD.
AND IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR THE BIO THAT WAS JUST READ BECAUSE I WAS EXPELLED IN THE 11TH GRADE AND SENT TO MY HOMESCHOOL WESTBURY HIGH SCHOOL, 1 1 9, 1 1 CHIMNEY ROCK, RIGHT? THEY USED TO SAY, GO REBELS.
AND HOW IRONIC THAT WAS IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW.
UM, AND THEN IN MY 12TH GRADE YEAR, I ALMOST DIDN'T GRADUATE.
SO AS A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE MAKING THESE BIG PLANS, ONE OF MY FRIENDS WAS GOING IN TO U OF AGE, ANOTHER TO UT I DIDN'T HAVE THOSE GRADES TO GET INTO THOSE SCHOOLS.
[00:50:01]
LIVED IN A HOUSEHOLD WHERE I WAS HELPING TO PAY THE LIGHT BILL.SO IT WAS LIKE, IF I GO TO UT, WHO'S GONNA HELP AT HOME? SO I SAW A BILLBOARD THAT SAID, MAKE, I THINK IT WAS $1,700 A MONTH, BE A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER.
SO I DECIDED THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA DO.
AND UH, I SPENT FIVE YEARS WORKING FOR THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE STARTING AS A CO.
AND IF YOU'VE BEEN LOCKED UP, YOU KNOW THERE'S A CERTAIN ENERGY INSIDE OF A PRISON.
THERE'S A CERTAIN SMELL THAT IS ALMOST INDESCRIBABLE, RIGHT? AM I RIGHT?
AND, UH, SO, SO THAT IS WHAT I DID.
AND WITHIN THE FIRST SIX WEEKS, I RAN INTO SLIM THE FRIEND FROM, FROM ELEMENTARY.
I WOULD ALSO RUN INTO JEREMY LATER.
AND SO AFTER FIVE YEARS, I STARTED ON RAMSEY THREE.
ANYBODY KNOW RAMSEY? THREE? I WAS CO ON RAMSEY, THREE CO ON JUST THREE.
I MADE LIEUTENANT ON RAMSEY TWO BEFORE LEAVING.
AND SO THERE ARE THREE PIECES OF ADVICE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO YOU.
NUMBER ONE, OWN YOUR STORY BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.
HAD I NOT WORKED FOR FIVE YEARS IN THE PRISON SYSTEM, I WOULD'VE NEVER SEEN THE OPPRESSION.
I WOULD'VE NEVER SEEN THE INJUSTICE.
I WOULD'VE NEVER SEEN THE INTERACTIONS AND VISITATION.
I WOULD'VE NEVER HEARD THE STORIES THAT INSPIRE THE WORK THAT I DO TODAY.
UM, MICHAEL GALLOWAY, STAND UP.
MICHAEL GALLOWAY, UH, HE RUNS EXCON FITNESS ON INSTAGRAM, RIGHT? AM I RIGHT? YES.
HE DIDN'T KNOW I WAS DOING THIS.
UH, AND HE'S ALSO GETTING HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN EXERCISE FITNESS.
I'M PRETTY SURE AT SOME POINT HE WAS DOING PUSHUPS AND PULLUPS.
HE WAS GOING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WRECK AND HE'S USING HIS STORY.
COME ON, ON THE OUTSIDE TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE.
I WORKED IN THE PRISON SYSTEM FOR FIVE YEARS AND WITHOUT THAT, THERE WILL BE NO, THERE WILL BE NO WAY THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK THAT I DO TODAY.
THE SECOND THING THAT I WANNA SAY, BUILD YOUR CIRCLE.
THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU, AND Y'ALL ALREADY KNOW THIS.
THEY AND YOUR THOUGHTS INFLUENCE YOUR ACTIONS.
SO IF YOU WANT TO GO HIGHER, SURROUND YOURSELF WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GO HIGHER.
IF YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GO LOWER, YOU CANNOT BE SURPRISED WITH THE OUTPUT.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT.
SOME OF YOU HAVE LOVED ONES IN THE BACK, SOME OF YOU DO NOT.
AND GUESS WHAT? WHEN THE JUDGE BANGED THAT GAVEL, IT WAS YOU WHO WAS SENT WHEREVER, RIGHT? AND IT'S YOU WHO ARE TASKED WITH MOVING FORWARD.
SO CONTINUE TO USE RESOURCES LIKE THIS ONE TO MOVE FORWARD.
ADDITIONALLY, SOMETIMES IT'S, AS I SAID BEFORE, UH, EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.
SOME OF YOU WERE SENT THROUGH WHAT YOU WERE SENT THROUGH IN ORDER TO BE THE STRONGER VERSION OF YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE TODAY.
I TELL PEOPLE THIS ALL THE TIME AND I'M PRETTY SURE EVERYBODY IN BLUE UP HERE CAN RELATE.
I RUN CIRCLES MENTALLY AROUND PEOPLE WHO'VE ONLY BEEN IN THE FREE WORLD.
AND YOU DO TOO, RIGHT? CAN I GET A HAND? IS THAT TRUE? USE THAT SUPERPOWER.
THERE ARE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS AT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND THE STATE LEVEL.
AND WHILE IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM SOME PEOPLE, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
PERHAPS THE REASON WHY YOU WERE SENT THROUGH WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH WAS TO CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING SURE THAT SOMEBODY ELSE DOESN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH.
PERHAPS THE REASON WHY YOU WENT THROUGH WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH WAS TO MAKE PROGRAMS LIKE THE ONE THAT YOU COMPLETED TODAY.
PERHAPS THE REASON WHY YOU WERE SENT, WHAT YOU WERE SENT THROUGH WAS TO FOUND THAT NONPROFIT TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS, RIGHT? BECAUSE ONE DAY YOU MAY GET TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF A GRADUATION.
GOING FROM BEING EXPELLED FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO STARTING A NONPROFIT, TO BEING ABLE TO GO FROM BEING QUALIFIED FOR WIC AND PUBLIC HOUSING TO OWNING OVER A DOZEN HOUSES OUTRIGHT IN MULTIPLE STATES.
AND PERHAPS YOUR STORY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE FOUR MOMENTUM IN SOMEONE ELSE'S.
[00:55:03]
THANK YOU SO MUCH.ANOTHER ROUND APPLAUSE FOR I WOULD LIKE TO CALL, UH, MS. HENRY, WE ARE ABOUT TO STOP.
IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL TO SEE EVERYONE HERE TODAY.
I MIGHT NEED SOME TISSUE UP HERE MYSELF.
I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, I GUESS THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO COME OUT AND BE A PART OF OUR GRADUATION, OUR FAMILY.
WE THANK YOU OUR SUPPORTERS BACK THERE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE FOR MY VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE FUTURE GRADUATES.
THEY ARE THE BE THEY WILL BE THE GRADUATES OF SPRING 2025.
WILL YOU PLEASE STAND RIGHT NOW? ALL RIGHT, AGAIN, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
KNOW THAT AS SURVIVORS, YOU ARE AWESOME.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU AS SURVIVORS TO REMAIN AWESOME.
I START BY SAYING, A, REMEMBER TO BE AN ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY AND YOUR FAMILY.
W KEEP A WINNING MINDSET OVER NEGATIVITY.
E THINKING EXCELLENCE AS YOU WALK INTO YOUR FUTURE.
S SOME MAY DOUBT YOU THAT YOU'VE CHANGED, BUT KEEP THINKING FOR GOOD AND THINKING BEFORE YOU ACT.
OH, ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE WHICH ROAD YOU WILL TAKE FROM THIS DAY FORWARD.
M MANAGING YOUR OWN EMOTIONS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.
CAN YOU GUYS SAY IT WITH ME? EVERYTHING, WHAT HAPPEN IN GOD'S TIME.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M GONNA ASK ONE OF OUR, UH, FUTURE GRADUATES, MS. GISELLE, THE FORCE TO COME TO THE AND, UM, DR.
WE ARE READY TO PRESENT TO YOU AND TO CONFER OUR GRADUATES OF FALL 2024.
CAN WE ASK OUR GUEST OF HONORS TO PLEASE TIME TO FOR THE HANDSHAKES.
Y'ALL READY FOR THIS ROLL CALL OF RESTORATION? YES.
Y'ALL READY? PLEASE WELCOME MICHELLE ANDERSON.
BRANDON WROTE WOO CLAYTON BRITAIN.
[01:00:02]
KO BROWN JUAN COLLIER.Y'ALL READY FOR MISS IVA? MISS HAT TANJA? HEY, MR. DEAN HEARD HAR HARS DION.
YEAH, DION, WHEN THE SUPERSTARS, Y'ALL ALL SPEAKING MR. PETER HILL.
MR. TIA HOLIDAY, YOU TALK ABOUT YOU NEED SOME HOPE.
MR. PRESTON LAMEL, CHECK OUT HIS THAT'S ITALIAN LEWIS.
MR. LEON, WELCOME MR. ISRAEL ANOTHER ONE OF THE SUPERSTARS UP ON STAGE AND MISS ERICA, MISS RUBY CHE.
NOW READY TO EXPLODE FOR THIS ONE? HERE COMES
MR. TYLER, MR. KOBE, WASHINGTON.
MR. DAMON, WILLIAM, MR. SHARA SANFORD.
MR. ARCHIE WILLIAM, MR. CRAIG ROBINSON.
LAST NOT LEAST, PLEASE WELCOME MS. WENDY DUTTON.
[01:05:19]
CONGRATULATIONS.ANOTHER ROUND OF UPLOADS TO A NEW GRADUATE SPACE.
AND THANK YOU MS. MARY AND MR. WAYNE FOR THAT WONDERFUL COORDINATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON, UH, THE BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE COMMUNITY REENTRY NETWORK PROGRAM, UH, MS. LAIA SELECTMAN TO COME AND, UH, SAY SOME FEW WORDS TO THE PARTNERS THAT HAVE BEEN COLLABORATED WITH AND HAVE COLLABORATED WITH US TO MAKE THIS DAY A WONDERFUL DAY.
PLEASE, AS SHE COMES UP, PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME HER STAGE WITH ROUND TALK.
OKAY, WE WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING ON THIS AFTERNOON.
WE KNOW THAT NONE OF THIS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH OUR PARTNERS.
THAT'S HENCE THE NAME, THE COMMUNITY REENTRY THAT WORK PROGRAM.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTNERING WITH US TO SERVE, UM, OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, WITH THAT SAID, WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE NAMES OF SOME PARTNERS WHO HAVE REALLY BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE WORK THAT WE DO TO SERVE, UH, OUR JUSTICE IMPACT COMMUNITY.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
FIRST IS, UM, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.
I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THESE PRETTY QUICKLY AND SO WE'LL DISTRIBUTE THEM AT THE VERY END.
HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS, THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF BUREAU OF IMMUNIZATIONS, THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BUREAU OF HIV AND STI, THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUREAU OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ANCHORING HOPES, THE CROSSWALK CENTER, DIEGO LEARNING SKILLS FOR LIFE HOSPITALITY PROGRAM, THE BURDEN BEARERS PROJECT, THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, MULTI-SERVICE CENTER OPERATIONS.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, PUBLIC WORK WORKS DEPARTMENT, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
THERE'S STILL MORE HOLD ON MINUTE.
THE TEXAS, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PAROLE DIVISION, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, REENTRY AND REINTEGRATION DIVISION, HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, CAREER GEAR, CAREER RECOVERY RESOURCES, TARGET, HUNGER, UNCHARTED TERRITORY.
AND THE LAST ONE IS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS.
IF THERE ARE ANY PARTNERS THAT WE DID NOT MENTION AT THIS TIME, JUST KNOW THAT YOU ARE CERTAINLY IN OUR HEARTS.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, PARTNERSHIP, YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR UH, PARTICIPATION IN THE WORK THAT WE DO TO SUPPORT JUSTICE IMPACT POPULATIONS.
WITHOUT YOU, THIS WORK CERTAINLY COULD NOT BE DONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO WORK WITH US IN THIS ENDEAVOR.
AND ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO OUR GRADUATES, PLEASE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR GRACE IN DISLOCATION WITH YOUR PRESENCE, AND THIS BRINGS THE CEREMONY TO THE END.