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I AM TRAVIS LEMONS AND YOU ARE WATCHING CITY PULSE HTVS HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND CITY DEPARTMENTS COMING UP ON THE PROGRAM.
WE CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF BARBARA BUSH WITH THE HOUSTON LIBRARY, BUT WE START WITH MAYOR WHITMEYER.
HE RECENTLY HOSTED US HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY SCOTT TURNER FOR A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TO BOOST HOUSTON'S DISASTER RECOVERY.
HUD HAS ALLOCATED $314 MILLION TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THE MONEY IS FROM GRANT FUNDS ALLOCATED BY HUD FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY.
151 MILLION OF THE CDBG FUNDING WILL BE INVESTED IN THE CITY'S POWER PROTECTION INITIATIVE LED BY CHIEF RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE.
HERE IS MAYOR WHITMEYER ON WHAT WILL BE A TOP GOAL, FOLLOWED BY SECRETARY TURNER ON HUD SUPPORT AND THE RECOVERY EFFORT.
SO WE'VE SET OUT AND IDENTIFIED OVER A HUNDRED STRATEGIC LOCATIONS, ALL OF OUR MULTI-SERVICES, POLICE STATIONS, FIRE STATIONS, LIBRARIES UNDER THIS PLAN.
AND THANKS TO HUD, WE'RE GONNA PUT BACKUP GENERATORS.
YOU'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE LIVED THROUGH THE DESTRUCTION.
YOU KNOW BEST, HOW TO REBUILD YOUR CITY.
YOU KNOW YOUR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW YOUR NEEDS BETTER THAN ANY BUREAUCRAT.
A HUNDRED, A THOUSAND MILES AWAY IN DC EVER COULD KNOW YOUR CITY.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I BELIEVE IN THAT AND I SUPPORT YOU.
WE'RE GREAT FACILITATORS AT HUD.
WE'RE GREAT CONVENERS AT HUD, BUT THE REAL WORK IS BEING DONE HERE ON THE GROUND.
SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE DAYS AHEAD AS WE SUPPORT YOU AND UPLIFT YOU AND BOLSTER YOU IN YOUR EFFORTS.
FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT, THE MAYOR AND HU SECRETARY TOWARD THE HARRIS CENTER TO DISCUSS HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY.
SOME OF THE CDBG FUNDS WILL BE USED IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AND HOME REPAIRS FOLLOWING A DISASTER.
WELL, IT'S TIME TO GRAB THE CALENDARS BECAUSE WE ARE ONE YEAR OUT FROM PLAYING HOST TO THE FIFA WORLD CUP, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK, WARM MOON, WE, AMONG THE STARS, TAKING PART IN A CELEBRATION, THE HYPE HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND DIVERSITY, AND WHY WE ARE 26.
WELCOME TO HOUSTON'S ONE YEAR OUT CELEBRATION FOR THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP.
WE ARE 26 ON BEHALF OF 2.3 MILLION HOUSTONIANS AND MILLIONS MORE IN OUR REGION.
LET ME THANK EVERYONE THAT HAS MADE THIS MOMENT POSSIBLE.
LET'S MAKE THIS NEXT YEAR VERY UNFORGETTABLE.
LET'S SHOW THE WORLD THE POWER OF ONE, THE POWER OF HOUSTON.
PREPARE YOURSELVES BECAUSE ONE YEAR FROM TODAY, HOUSTON, TEXAS, YOU'LL SHOW EVERYBODY JUST WHY YOU GOT THE NAME CLUTCH CITY 190 MILLION PEOPLE PER MATCH.
AND MORE THAN 1.3 BILLION PEOPLE TOTAL WILL TUNE IN TO WATCH ON TV AND STREAM ONLINE THE SEVEN MATCHES THAT WE'RE HOSTING, PEOPLE WILL GET TO EXPERIENCE THE GREATNESS OF HOUSTON AND, AND IT'S A GREAT CHANCE FOR HOUSTON TO SHOWCASE THEMSELVES TO THE WORLD.
WE'RE COMING TOGETHER IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT UNITY AND DIVERSITY COLLABORATION LOOKS LIKE.
I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD, AND I KNOW YOU SHARE THAT PRIDE WITH ME.
THIS IS NOT JUST ANOTHER EVENT, THIS IS A STATEMENT OF WHO WE ARE AS A CITY.
LET EVERYONE REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE TODAY.
THE HOME IS A CHILD'S FIRST SCHOOL, THE PARENT, THE CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER.
AND READING IS A CHILD'S FIRST SUBJECT.
THIS IS A QUOTE FROM FORMER FIRST LADY AND LITERACY ADVOCATE, BARBARA BUSH.
SHE WOULD'VE TURNED 100 THIS JUNE, BUT HER LIFE CONTINUES TO THRIVE THANKS TO THE BARBARA BUSH FOUNDATION FOR FAMILY LITERACY.
BRANCHES OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY CELEBRATED HER BIRTHDAY WITH A SPECIAL STORY TIME AND FAMILY EVENTS HERE AT SPECTRUM FUSION WITH THE STORY.
SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT BARBARA BUSH LEFT SUCH A LOVING LEGACY, UM, DURING HER LIFETIME.
AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE PRESENT, OUR CHILDREN'S AREA HERE ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF CENTRAL IS NAMED AFTER HER.
IT'S THE BARBARA BUSH LITERACY FAMILY SPACE.
UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE BARBARA BUSH LITERACY PLAZA, WHICH IS RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING ON THE PLAZA.
I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT SHE DID IN HER LIFE TO PROMOTE LITERACY WITH CHILDREN AND
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TO GETTING THEM TO READ AND LEARN AND TO FOSTER A LOVE OF READING.WE WANTED TO CELEBRATE PRIDE WITH OUR CHILD IN A WAY THAT WAS SAFE AND SHOWED HER THE DIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
IT OFFERS A SAFE PLACE TO CHECK OUT BOOKS AND TO COME TO COMMUNITY EVENTS AND BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN OURSELVES.
WE'RE ABLE TO MEET OTHER PEOPLE AND MEET OTHER FRIENDS AND JUST ENJOY ALL THE RESOURCES THAT IT HAS TO OFFER.
MY FAVORITE PART IS ABOUT THE INCLUSIVITY.
UM, WATCHING THE KIDS PLAY WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE FOR THEM AND REALLY INTRODUCING THEM TO LOVE, LOVING EVERYONE, LOVING EVERY PERSON FOR WHO THEY ARE.
I WANNA SAY MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING HERE IS WORKING ON THE YOUTH SERVICES TEAM.
SO ON A DAILY BASIS, I GET TO DO PROGRAMS, UM, LIKE STORY TIMES, CRAFTS, MOVIES, WHATEVER YOU CAN THINK OF.
I'VE ALWAYS REALLY LOVED WORKING WITH KIDS AND SO THE LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO DO THAT.
I, I AM REALLY VERY EXCITED FOR EVERYONE GETTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS WE HAVE THIS YEAR.
I'M JUST REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT MYSELF AND THE TEAM HAS PUT IN.
MY WIFE AND I, WE ALWAYS, UH, TRY TO FIND KIND OF INTERESTING THINGS TO DO, UH, WITH WALKER ON THE WEEKENDS WHEN WE'RE NOT WORKING.
AND HE GOES TO THE LIBRARY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD QUITE OFTEN.
AND TODAY WE WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING NEW.
SO WE CAME TO THIS LIBRARY AFTER WE HEARD THAT THERE WAS A STORY TIME HAPPENING, UM, AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO A NEW PLACE AND, UH, AGAIN, TRY OUT SOMETHING NEW.
IT'S EASY TO SEE THE IMPACT THAT HER LEGACY CONTINUES TO HAVE IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY.
SHE WAS THE CONSUMMATE HOUSTONIAN.
SHE WAS COMMITTED TO THE SERVICE OF OTHERS FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND THAT IDENTIFIES HOUSTON MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
AND HER SERVICE TO LITERACY HAS RESONATES WITH OUR COMMUNITY STILL TO THIS VERY DAY.
AND THE GIFT, UH, THAT KEEPS ON GIVING THROUGH THE BARBARA BUSH HOUSTON LITERACY FOUNDATION, UH, WE, WE JUST HAVE SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE IN HONORING MRS. BUSH.
WE NEED TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK, BUT WHEN CITY PULSE RETURNS, WE ATTEND A WELLNESS EVENT AND HOUSTON PARKS HAS A STORY ABOUT A CHILD WHO RECEIVES A SPECIAL GIFT.
STUDENTS SERVING ON THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL WERE RECENTLY RECOGNIZED AT A SPECIAL CEREMONY AT CITY HALL.
HTV INTERN ALANA FE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SOME OF THE STUDENTS WHO SHARE SOME OF THEIR FAVORITE MOMENTS.
YEAH, UM, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO, TO STAND BEFORE YOUNG FOLKS THAT, UM, THAT TAKES SERVICE, UH, PASSION.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT EVENT TO SHOWCASE ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL HAS DONE.
THEY DO A LOT OF COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON YOUTH AMBASSADORS.
SO SUPER HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO JUST RECOGNIZE THEM FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE THIS YEAR WITH THEIR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY COMMITTEE AND ALL OF THEIR OTHER EFFORTS.
I'M ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE AND I'M THE CHAIR OF IT.
YOU KNOW, MY FAVORITE PART OF THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL THIS YEAR WAS PROBABLY THE GATOR SERVE DAY OF SERVICE ON MARTIN LUTHER JR.
I AM ON THE EDUCATIONAL EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
MY FAVORITE PART WAS, UM, WORKING IN GREG PARK, UM, AS WELL AS GATOR SERVE, UM, DAY OF SERVICE, UM, ESPECIALLY 'CAUSE IT WAS A DAY, UH, FOR REMEMBRANCE FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING'S ADVOCACY WORK.
I AM A DIVISION MANAGER FOR THE OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT AND THE MAYOR'S ANTI-GANG OFFICE.
THE JOB THAT I HAVE ALLOWS ME TO WORK WITH AMAZING YOUNG PEOPLE, AN AMAZING ADULT.
SO THAT HAS BEEN MY MOST FAVORITE THING WORKING WITH ALL THE COMMUNITY OF HOUSTON THIS ENTIRE YEAR.
MEANWHILE, IN DISTRICT I COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS WAS A PRESENTING SPONSOR AT AN EXPO WITH A MISSION TO EDUCATE THE BLACK COMMUNITY ABOUT HEALTH DISPARITY AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM.
THE EVENT INCLUDED PANELS, HEALTH SCREENINGS, AND MUCH MORE.
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THIS EVENT HAS BEEN SPECTACULAR.THE TURNOUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE NUMBER OF VENDORS THAT WE HAVE, THE SPONSORS, AND REALLY THE INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES KNOW ABOUT THESE RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP THEM TO BE HEALTHY.
THE HOUSTON AREA CLUSTER, WHICH COMPRISED NINE DIFFERENT CHAPTERS, CAME TOGETHER OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS TO DO PLANNING.
OUR GOAL WAS TO TARGET THE GREATER HISTORICAL FIFTH WARD TO BE ABLE TO CREATE AN IMPACT.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES TO BE ABLE TO MITIGATE INEQUITIES AND JUST TO CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES.
IT'S SO EXCITING ABOUT PUTTING, SHE PROVIDED THESE CRITICAL RESOURCES,
IT IS A DAY FULL OF HEALTH, FUN AND EDUCATION.
AND TODAY THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY IN MANY DIFFERENT AREAS MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE WELL SERVED, EDUCATED, AND HAVE THE TOOLS FOR BETTER HEALTH.
WE ALSO ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT PANELS THAT TO ADDRESS TOPICS AS MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS THE CONTINUUM OF LIFE, ALZHEIMER'S AND DEPRESSION.
HEALTHCARE IS, IS NUMBER ONE, OUR IMPORTANT ISSUES.
IT BECOMES LIVES BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT HEALTHY, YOU CAN'T DO THE WORK.
YOU'RE HERE TO DO ALL THIS PLAN AND WE ARE CREATING AN IMPACT.
WE MAY BE LANDING AS A HELICOPTER, BUT IT IS OUR GOAL TO MAKE SUSTAINABLE IMPACT AND COLLECTIVELY, COLLABORATIVELY, WE CAN DO IT.
AND FINALLY, A FEEL GOOD STORY IN THE SHOW.
THE HOUSTON PARTS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT RECEIVED A GENEROUS $20,000 GRANT TO PURCHASE ADAPTIVE SPORTS WHEELCHAIRS FOR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS.
BUT THE BIGGEST SURPRISE WENT TO ULYSSES MENDEZ, WHO GOT HIS VERY OWN WHEELCHAIR.
IT'S ANOTHER BUSY DAY FOR ADAPTED SPORTS AT THE WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
BUT WHEN THERE WAS A PAUSE IN THE ACTION THIS HAPPENED.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE, UH, $50,000 HARTFORD ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT GRANT THAT WE RECEIVE.
THANKS TO THE HARTFORD AND MOVE UNITED.
SIX NEW ADAPTIVE SPORTS CHAIRS WERE DONATED TO THE CENTER AND ONE CUSTOM CHAIR TO AN ATHLETE.
YOU LIKE THE COLOR? THAT ATHLETE IS ULYSSES MENDEZ.
I JUST WANT TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT EVERYTHING'S POSSIBLE, LIKE EVEN IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY, AWESOME.
WHEN THEY SAID MY NAME TO GO UP THERE, I WAS LIKE SO HAPPY.
LIKE I WAS JUST SEEING BECAUSE LIKE, IT WAS, IT WAS MY FAVORITE COLOR.
IT'S 'CAUSE LIKE IT'S ACTUALLY FITS ME BECAUSE LIKE THE OTHER ONES WAS LIKE KIND OF BIG.
IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN A BURDEN ON US AND YOU KNOW, IS GETTING THIS CHAIR, IT TAKES A LOAD OFF OF ME AS A PARENT, AS A MOM, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT HELP FOR HIM.
AND I KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA PUT A SMILE ON HIS FACE EVERY DAY.
AND HE KNOWS THAT BECAUSE OF GOD, THIS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE.
AND ALL THE PEOPLE HERE THAT HAVE HELPED THIS DONATION WAS COORDINATED BY MOVE UNITED'S, CARRIE MILLER OR TEAMS, THIS ORGANIZATION, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE TEXAS PARA SPORT, BEING ABLE TO HAVE IT WITHIN 50 MILES OF THEIR HOME.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT'S JUST LIKE YOU COULD JUST GET HERE.
YOU COULD PLAY JUST LIKE EVERY, YOU KNOW, THE WEST OF THE WORLD AS IT SHOULD BE.
THE GREAT ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAM AT THE WEST GRAY MULTI-SERVICE CENTER IS JUST ONE MORE REASON WHY WE LIKE TO SAY HOUSTON PARKS AND REC.
OKAY, THAT IS GOING TO DO IT FOR CITY POST THIS WEEK FOR HTV HOUSTON TELEVISION SPECTRUM FUSION, HOUSTON PARK AND RECREATION, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER AND KINDNESS IS FREE.