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I'M TRAVIS LEMONS AND YOU ARE WATCHING CITY PULSE, A PROGRAM TO HIGHLIGHT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND CITY DEPARTMENTS COMING UP ON THE PROGRAM.
THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY OPENS A NEW FAMILY PLACE, LIBRARY'S WING, AND ONE OF OUR SUMMER INTERNS CHATS WITH KEITH JACKSON ON WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK IN GOVERNMENT TELEVISION WITH HTV.
BUT WE BEGIN THE SHOW ON A SOMBER NOTE.
THE JULY 4TH FLOOD IN CENTRAL TEXAS WAS A UNPRECEDENTED WEATHER DISASTER WHILE THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS HOUSTON STRONG.
AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY IN 2017, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER ASKED THE PUBLIC TO STAND WITH KERR COUNTY AND THE VICTIMS. I ACTUALLY THOUGHT ABOUT NOT HAVING COUNSEL TODAY AND TOMORROW TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT WE NEEDED A DAY OF REFLECTION, A DAY OF MORNING.
BUT HAVING CONTACTED, BEING CONTACTED BY SOME OFFICIALS AND FAMILIES, IT WAS BEST TO GO FORWARD WITH OUR WORK AND RESPECT THEIR PRIVACY.
AND I WOULD ASK EVERYONE TO DO SO.
THERE ARE STILL INDIVIDUALS LOST.
I DO THINK IT ALLOWS US AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNITE AS A CITY IN MOURNING AND RECOGNIZE HOW BLESSED WE ALL ARE TO BE WITH OUR FAMILIES, OUR GRANDCHILDREN, WHEN PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING SUCH UNIMAGINABLE LOSS.
I'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO THE KERRVILLE AND STATE OFFICIALS THAT HOUSTON STANDS READY.
HBD HAS A 12 MAN AND LADY TEAM READY UPON NOTICE THAT THEY'RE NEEDED.
HOUSTON FIRE HAS SINCE 10 TRAINED MEMBERS ARE TACTICAL, TRAINED WITH A TRUCK, AND SIX ARE TRAINED IN SWIFT WATER SEARCH AND RESCUE RECOVERY.
SO WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, BUT IT'S, IT'S REALLY A STRUGGLE.
YOU CAN'T GET IT OFF YOUR MIND.
I KNOW WHAT EVERYONE'S THINKING, SO LET'S HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
I DO THINK AS WE LISTEN TO OUR HOUSTONIAN GUEST TODAY, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SOME HOUSTONIANS THAT HAVE LOST THE MOST PRECIOUS THING IN THEIR LIFE.
SO LET'S PAUSE FOR A MOMENT AND REFLECT AND REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR DIVISION, BUT A TIME OF UNITY FOR OUR ENTIRE CITY, STATE AND NATION.
OUR PARTNERS WITH HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION HAVE KICKED OFF SUMMER IN SPLISH.
FLASH FASHION AS FAMILIES ENJOY POOLS LIKE THIS ONE AT TC JESTER PARK.
WE'VE COME TO THE POOL AT TC JESTER PARK.
THIS TC JESTER POOL IS JUST ONE OF 20 THAT ARE OPEN THIS WEEKEND AROUND THE CITY, AND THIS IS A MILESTONE WEEKEND FOR HOUSTON PARKS AND RECS.
IT MARKS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS MANY POOLS HAVE BEEN OPEN ON A WEEKEND SINCE BEFORE COVID.
IT IS AMAZING TO KNOW HOW FAR WE'VE COME AND THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED DESPITE THE ONGOING NATIONWIDE LIFEGUARD SHORTAGE.
TODAY IS AN AMAZING DAY FOR HOUSTON PARKS ALREADY AND ALL I CAN SAY IT'S TIME TO GET IN THE WATER.
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER KIDS HERE.
THERE'S NOT UP ANY KIDS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, SO I GET TO SOCIALIZE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR PRENTICE COLLINS ARRIVED AT PARKS AND REC JUST 10 MONTHS AGO, AND HE WAS THE ONE WHO LED THE CHARGE FOR INCREASED RECRUITING AND EFFECTIVENESS IN THE AQUATICS DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE SAT DOWN, WE PLANNED, WE FIGURED OUT THE, THE BEST SYSTEMS POSSIBLE TO RECRUIT THE BEST LIFEGUARDS POSSIBLE.
THIS IS, IT'S, UH, COOL AND IT'S FREE.
SO IT'S THE PERFECT PLACE TO BE HERE THAT YOU MADE IT.
I READ THE POOL AND ONE OF THE SHIFTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN RECRUITING STRATEGY WAS TO OFFER LIFEGUARDING JOBS TO 15 YEAR OLDS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF EXPANDING THE NET TO THE 15 YEAR OLDS, BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE IT'S NOT JUST A 15-YEAR-OLD, IT'S THEIR FAMILY
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MEMBER, IT'S THEIR BIG BROTHER OR SISTER TAKING THEM BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, TEACHING THEM RESPONSIBILITY AND WHAT BETTER PLACE TO DO IT AT THE CITY, CITY OF HOUSTON, PARKS AND RECS DEPARTMENT THIS WEEKEND, IT'S 20 POOLS, BUT COLLINS IS TARGETING THE DATE JUNE THE 10TH.THEY HAVE ALL 36 FUNCTIONING POOLS OPEN FOR HOUSTON FAMILIES TO ENJOY THIS YEAR.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT BACK AND WONDER, OH, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, IS MY POOL OPEN? NO, YOUR POOL IS OPEN TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
AND AGAIN, LET'S GO JUMP IN THE WATER.
2025 PROMISES TO BE A GREAT SUMMER FOR SAFE SWIMMING.
AND IT'S JUST ONE MORE REASON WHY WE LIKE TO SAY HOUSTON PARKS AND REC, WHERE YOU BELONG WHEN CITY POST RETURNS COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS PAINT CITY HALL RED WITH THE HELP OF THE DELTA SIGMA DATA SORORITY.
SAM HOUSTON PARK IS PICTURESQUE WITH WADDLING DUCKS AND NINE FROZEN IN TIME HISTORIC BUILDINGS.
HEY HOUSTON, PREPARATION LEADS TO CELEBRATION.
PREPARE FOR YOUR NEXT FLIGHT BY SECURING HASSLE-FREE PARKING RESERVE AND GUARANTEE VALET PARKING@FLYTOHOUSTON.COM SLASH PARKING.
TRAVEL SMARTER PARK SMARTER ST.
ARNOLD TEXAS'S, OLDEST CRAFT BREWERY, SHIPPED THEIR FIRST KEG OF BEER IN 1994.
SHAKE UP YOUR EVERYDAY AND COME EXPLORE DOWNTOWN.
FROM NEW ART INSTALLATIONS TO FAMILY FUN, SWEAT SESSIONS AND MOVIE NIGHTS, WE'RE KEEPING HOUSTON INSPIRED AND ENTERTAINED.
THE KENNEDY BAKERY BUILDING IS SAID TO BE ONE OF THE OLDEST HAUNTS IN HOUSTON.
WELCOME BACK RECENTLY, COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS WELCOMED HOUSTON AREA MEMBERS OF THE DELTA SIGMA, THE SORORITY TO CELEBRATE NOT JUST ITS STRONG SISTERHOOD, BUT RECOGNIZE THE SOCIAL ACTION ONGOING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT TODAY.
WE STAND IN THIS CHAMBER NOT JUST AS VISITORS, BUT AS INFORMED POWERFUL WOMEN, DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR CITY.
WE'RE NOT HERE FOR THE PHOTO OPS, WE'RE HERE FOR THE WORK.
WE ARE BEING SEEN IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT BECAUSE WE KNOW IT STARTS AT CITY GOVERNMENT.
IT INCLUDES OUR SCHOOL BOARDS AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A PRESENCE.
UM, WE'RE DEFINITELY BUILT ON, UH, SISTERHOOD, SCHOLARSHIPS, SERVICE, AND SOCIAL ACTION.
AND SO IT BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER FOR ALL OF US.
AND TODAY, A SEA OF DELTAS SHOWED UP AT CITY HALL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, BUT WE HAD SO MANY DELTAS HERE WHO WERE PAYING ATTENTION, WHO WERE ASKING TOUGH QUESTIONS AND BEING A PART OF THE PROCESS.
SO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS SO WE MAKE SURE OUR VOICES ARE HEARD, OUR COMMUNITIES ARE ADEQUATELY SERVED.
WE HAVE RESOURCES ACROSS THE GLOBE AND WE PULL RESOURCES TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT AREAS WE NEED TO FOCUS ON FOR SOCIAL ACTION AND ADVOCACY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
BECAUSE WE, WE ARE THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE SEVEN ALUMNI CHAPTERS, THREE COLLEGIATE CHAPTERS, BUT ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THOSE CHAPTERS MAKE UP MULTIPLE AND DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
DELTA IS NOT JUST ABOUT MARCHING.
WE DO NOT JUST SERVE, WE SHIFT SYSTEMS AND WE DON'T JUST SHOW UP.
WE SHOW OUT WITH STRATEGY, SUBSTANCE AND SOLUTIONS.
WE KNOW THIS STUFF, THIS IS WHAT WE DO, BUT IT'S USELESS IF IT DIES AND ONLY LIVES WITH US, RIGHT? WHAT I ENJOYED THE MOST ABOUT TODAY WAS BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY SIT IN ON THE SESSIONS THAT WERE GOING ON.
UM, AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR MEMBERS ARE ENGAGED AND BEING A PART OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR ONE ANOTHER, FOR OUR SISTERHOOD.
I THINK THAT WE WILL CONTINUE THE 112 YEAR LEGACY THAT WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED.
THE BEST PART TO ME IS JUST BEING A DELTA WOMAN AND KNOWING THAT IT TAKES TWO HANDS TO DO THIS WORK.
IT REQUIRES ALL OF US TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD, TO PARTICIPATE, TO ENGAGE, TO BE ACTIVE.
THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS ON BEHALF OF OUR MAYOR, HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 20TH, 2025 DELTA DAY HOUSTON SHANNON WALKER LIBRARY IS NOW HOME TO THE GEORGE AND BARBARA BUSH.
SPECTRUM FUSION WAS THERE FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING AND SHOWS US WHY THIS PLACE IS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT.
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RESEARCH SHOWS THAT A CHILD'S BRAIN IS 80% DEVELOPED BY AGE FOUR.SO FAMILY PLACE LIBRARIES IS KEY BECAUSE IT REALLY HELPS TO EDUCATE AND BRING TO LIGHT THIS BRAIN EARLY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY LEARNING.
IF MORE KIDS COULD ENTER KINDERGARTEN, READY TO LEARN HOW TO READ AND ON PACE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES, THEN THEY WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE SUCCESS INTO THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY AND IN LIFE.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT SPACE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW HOUSTON GETS HOT.
THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO ESCAPE THE HEAT.
WE HAVE A KID THAT'S SIX, SO A DAUGHTER THAT'S SIX AND A BOY THAT'S TWO.
SO IT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THEM, LEARN WITH THEM, KIND OF, YOU KNOW, DO IT HAND BY HAND, YOU KNOW, AND THAT, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.
FAMILY PLACE LIBRARY, UM, WILL HELP TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES IN THAT.
LOTS OF FAMILIES WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BRING IN AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT WE HAVE ON OUR LIBRARY SPACE FLOORS, THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR FREE OF CHARGE.
GIVING FAMILIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ALONG WITH THEIR CHILDREN, THE THINGS THAT THEIR CHILDREN NEED TO KNOW AS THEY GROW AND DEVELOP INTO ADULTS AND PREPARED FOR SCHOOL, GETTING THEM PREPARED FOR KINDERGARTEN ACADEMICALLY.
AND SO IMPORTANT TO REACH KIDS AT THIS EARLY STAGE BETWEEN BIRTH AND FIVE YEARS OLD SO THAT THEY CAN BE PREPARED FOR KINDERGARTEN, FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND LIFE.
AND WE KNOW THAT IF THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL, THAT WILL ALSO REDUCE INCOME DISPARITIES LATER IN LIFE.
SO IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE FOCUSED A LOT ON FOR 22 YEARS.
AT BNC, WE HAVE A $550 MILLION COMMITMENT TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND IT'S COMING TO LIFE HERE IN HOUSTON BY SUPPORTING FAMILIES, CAREGIVERS, EARLY LEARNING CENTERS, AND ANYTHING THAT PROMOTES FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.
I THINK THERE'S A GREAT NEED FOR FAMILIES TO BE SUPPORTED RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND SO DONORS REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO LITERACY RATES, WHAT FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THESE ARE ALL OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN BUILD OUR YOUNG CHILDREN FOR A BETTER FUTURE.
FINALLY, CASEY, ONE OF OUR INTERNS THIS SUMMER WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE WORKING FOR A GOVERNMENT TELEVISION STATION.
SO HERE SHE IS WITH A QUICK Q AND A WITH HTVS, KEITH JACKSON.
YOU KNOW, I WORK AT A GOVERNMENT OFFICE, SO I'M GONNA BE, I'M GONNA BE AS HONEST AS I CAN, AS YOU CAN, RIGHT? FULL OF LAUGHTER, ENERGY, AND FUN.
KEITH JACKSON DEFINITELY LOVES HIS WORK.
WHAT IS YOUR JOB TITLE HERE IN THE DEPARTMENT? UH, I'M LIKE H HP, HTV, PRODUCER, EDITOR, PHOTOGRAPHER.
KEITH HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 2013 AND HAS SEEN A LOT, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CURRENT ENVIRONMENT.
WHEN YOU CUT BACK ON STAFF OR STAFF RETIRES, THEN OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE ON YOUR PLATE.
SO, UH, I MEAN NOW I'M DOING A LITTLE BIT MORE SOCIAL MEDIA STUFF, WHICH BEFORE I DIDN'T DO, BUT MM-HMM
ALL THE OTHER THINGS I'M REQUIRED TO DO.
THE RISE OF STREAMING SERVICES AND SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE IS MAKING WAVES IN THE INDUSTRY, PROMPTING MEDIA PROFESSIONALS EVERYWHERE TO ADAPT.
HOW DO YOU THINK THE RISE OF STREAMING SERVICES HAS AFFECTED YOUR ROLE? OH, BECAUSE PEOPLE DOING MORE STREAMING SERVICES, YOU REALLY DON'T GET THE REVENUE THAT WE WERE GETTING BEFORE FROM LIKE, SAY COMCAST AT AND T AND ALL THAT 'CAUSE PEOPLE ARE DOING ROKU AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
SO IT HAS AFFECTED US AS FAR AS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE WE GET FROM BEING A PEG CHANNEL.
BEFORE WRAPPING UP, WHAT WOULD THIS EXPERIENCE MEDIA PROFESSIONAL TO THE NEXT GENERATION? HOPING TO BREAK IT TO TV.
I THINK AN INTERNSHIP IS LIKE CRITICAL BECAUSE I THINK IT GETS YOU IN THERE.
YOU GET TO SEE KIND OF HOW THINGS OPERATE AND SEE IF THAT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO FOR HTV CITY PULSE, I'M CASEY REM.
WE ONLY HAVE, WE PUT A BOW ON ANOTHER EPISODE OF CITY PULSE, BUT WE HIT A MILESTONE 50 EPISODES WITH ME AS YOUR CHAUFFEUR, OR IS IT UBER DRIVER? EITHER WAY, PLEASE GIMME A GOOD RATING FOR HTV HOUSTON TELEVISION, HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION SPECTRUM FUSION AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, PLEASE FIND FUN WAYS TO STAY COOL THIS SUMMER.
AND AS ALWAYS, REMEMBER THAT WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER AND KINDNESS IS FREE.