[00:00:18]
WHEN WE SAY, WHAT DO WE SAY? THERE WE GO.
OKAY, SO I SEE A FEW PEOPLE STILL TRICKLING IN.
WE'RE ALWAYS RUNNING ON HOUSTON TIME, RIGHT? BECAUSE YOU JUST NEVER KNOW, EVEN IF YOU PLAN 30, 40 MINUTES AHEAD OF TIME, SOMETHING'S GONNA HAPPEN ON THE ROADS, A SPOOL OR WHO KNOWS WHAT, RIGHT? UM, SO IF YOU GUYS COME IN, GET YOUR SEATS, SAY HI TO YOUR NEIGHBORS.
THIS IS ALL ABOUT HAVING FUN TODAY, RIGHT? OKAY.
I'M LIKE, ARE YOU GUYS AWAKE? DO WE NEED TO GET SOME EXTRA LIKE, UH, LITTLE ESPRESSO SHOTS HERE IN
UM, SO BUENOS WELCOME EVERYBODY.
I WILL BE YOUR MC FOR THIS GREAT EVENT.
MY NAME IS MAA MORENO AND I'M AN ANCHOR OVER AT A BC 13.
AND I'M JUST SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY AND BE A PART OF THIS GREAT CELEBRATION BECAUSE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE.
WE'RE TALKING, UH, FORICO, MARIACHIS, AZTECA DANCERS, AND OF COURSE WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU GUYS A LITTLE BIT OF FOOD AFTER.
ISN'T THAT EXCITING? SO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.
SO ENJOY THE ENTERTAINMENT AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GET YOUR BELLIES FULL.
OKAY? SO THIS IS THE SECOND ANNUAL HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION UNDER THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONTROLLER'S OFFICE.
CHRIS HOLLINS, LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND WE TRULY, TRULY HONOR EVENTS LIKE THIS.
SO THANK YOU FOR REALLY PUTTING THE LATINOS, THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN THE FOREFRONT.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT, YOU GUYS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE ALL COURT CULTURES, RIGHT? UM, SO I'M SURE IF YOU GUYS KNOW, UH, CELEBRATING LEIDA WAS A WEEK LONG EVENT IN 1968 UNDER PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON.
SOON AFTER IT EXPANDED TO WHAT WE HAVE NOW, A WHOLE MONTH CELEBRATION UNDER RONALD REAGAN IN 1988.
SO WE'VE COME A LONG WAY AND WE'RE TALKING ALL KINDS OF CULTURES.
IF YOU GUYS DIDN'T KNOW SPANISH IS SPOKEN IN 20 COUNTRIES AND US TERRITORY, PUERTO RICO.
WE'RE ALL THE SAME, BUT WE'RE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, RIGHT? LATINOS ARE VERY DIFFERENT.
THERE'S DIFFERENT SPICES AND WHATNOT.
I ALWAYS THINK IT'S LIKE TWINS.
THEY'RE THE SAME, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS THAT ONE TWIN THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, RIGHT? SO WE'RE KIND OF LIKE THE SAME HERE IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.
SO FOR ME, THIS IS EXTREMELY SPECIAL.
AND IF I CAN BRAG ON MYSELF AND MY FAMILY, 'CAUSE MY MOM'S HERE
SO FOR ME, THIS IS WHY THIS MEANS SO MUCH.
AND PEOPLE SAY, HEY, PEOPLE WEAR THEIR HEART ON THEIR SLEEVE.
I WEAR MY CULTURE ON MY SLEEVE AND I SAY IT LOUD AND PROUD.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS WE MIGRATED HERE TO HOUSTON WHEN I WAS LITTLE AND DENYING MY CULTURE IS LIKE DENYING MY ROOTS AND MY PARENTS.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I COULD NEVER DO.
SO ANYWHERE YOU SEE ME, I'M GONNA SAY YES.
SO LATINA, SO MEXICANA, I LOVE IT.
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY CULTURE.
SO TODAY WE'RE GONNA SEE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING, NOT JUST FROM MEXICO, BUT DIFFERENT CULTURES.
SO LET'S GIVE AGAIN CHRIS HOS A ROUND OF APPLAUSE 'CAUSE THAT IS AMAZING.
ALRIGHT, SO TODAY'S CELEBRATION.
ARE YOU GUYS READY FOR THE FIRST ACT? YES.
THIS, THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT, IF YOU GUYS ARE NOT AWAKE, THIS IS GONNA WAKE YOU UP.
OKAY? WE'RE HAVING A MARIACHI CELEBRATION.
SO LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HS PVAS MARIACHI PAROS.
IF YOU GUYS WANNA COME HERE AND START GETTING READY, YOU CAN GIVE A BROWN APPLAUSE.
LET ME BRAG ON THEM JUST A LITTLE BIT HERE IF I CAN.
MARIACHI LOS PAROS IS KNOWN TO BE ONE OF THE BEST MARIACHI PROGRAMS IN THE STATE, SECURING TOP HONORS AT THE TEXAS UIL STATE MARIACHI FESTIVAL.
THE ENSEMBLE EARNED A SUPERIOR DIVISION ONE SCORE, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST RATING POSSIBLE.
THEY'RE ALSO THE ONLY GROUP FROM HOUSTON TO EARN THAT HONOR.
THE ENSEMBLE IS MADE UP OF 25 MUSICIANS PLAYING GUITARS, TRUMPETS, VIOLINS, VIOLAS, AND HARPS.
THEY FREQUENTLY PERFORM ACROSS CITY OF HOUSTON, OF COURSE, THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, LOCAL SCHOOLS.
AND NOW TODAY, CITY HALL KINDER, H-S-P-V-A IS PART OF THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, PLEASE.
AND IF YOU FEEL LIKE THROWING ATO, GO FOR IT.
IT'S ALL FOR YOU GUYS TO HAVE FUN.
[00:05:42]
MARIACHI.THANK YOU FOR THE INVITE AND WE HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PERFORMANCE.
[00:17:37]
OH[00:17:37]
NO JAB LOVING.STAY HANG OUT RIGHT HERE FOR A QUICK SECOND.
I'M LIKE, UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THE STATE SO QUICKLY.
WE HAVE A LITTLE SPECIAL PRESENTATION BEFORE THEY LEAVE, SO JUST MAKE SURE WE GET THOSE HUGE ROUNDS OF APPLAUSE.
THESE ARE STUDENTS, Y'ALL, AND THEY GOTTA GIVE BACK TO CLASS.
AND SO BEFORE THEY RUN, WE JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU ALL.
CAN WE GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE? WHEN I WAS, UH, A STUDENT AT WELCH MIDDLE SCHOOL, I WAS, I WAS LOOKING AT H-S-P-V-A, BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT YOU ALREADY HAD TO BE TALENTED BEFORE YOU APPLIED.
I THOUGHT THEY GAVE YOU THE TALENT WHEN YOU GOT THERE, BUT YOU ALL WERE SO, SO POISED, SO CONFIDENT.
UH, YOUR PRESENCE TODAY IS, MEANS SO MUCH TO US.
AND SO WE WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
I HAVE A CERTIFICATE TO HONOR YOU ALL.
MYRA ALREADY TALKED ABOUT YOUR ACCOLADES AT UIL AND THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE TO REPRESENT THIS CITY.
AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE TODAY, AND WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT YOU ALL'S VERY, VERY BRIGHT FUTURE.
ALL RIGHT, IF YOU'LL GIMME A SECOND, I'M GONNA COME DOWN THERE SO
[00:20:01]
WE CAN TAKE A PHOTO.LET'S GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
OKAY, WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED.
WE STILL HAVE A PRETTY GOOD LIST HERE TO GO.
SO YOU GUYS ARE GONNA ENJOY TODAY, LIKE I SAID, UP NEXT, WE HAVE AN AZTECA GROUP.
SO IF YOU GUYS WANNA MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT, AND AGAIN, WANNA SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU KNOWN AS HOUSTON.
AZTEC DANCE AND DRUM WAS ORIGINALLY FOUNDED IN 2014 BY RAIN FLO AND HER THREE CHILDREN WHO ARE FROM AN EIGHTH GENERATION TEXAN FAMILY AND FOURTH GENERATION FAMILY, BORN AND RAISED HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
RAIN FLO AND HER ELDEST SON BEGAN WALKING THE RED ROAD OF TRADITIONAL NAC CEREMONY IN THECAL KNOWN AS SWEAT LODGES WITH ELDERS ACROSS TEXAS IN 1998.
THEY JOINED LACA IN 2002 AND HAVE BEEN BRINGING INDIGENOUS CULTURE TEACHERS, ELDERS AND CEREMONIES, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, HELPING TO ESTABLISH A CONSISTENT NATIVE AMERICAN INDIGENOUS CEREMONIAL LIFE PRESENT AND PAST FOR THE 20 PAST 25 YEARS HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
SO LET'S GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
SO WE'RE GONNA JUST PREPARE THIS QUICK.
I'M GONNA SAY REALLY, REALLY THE DANZA THAT WE'RE GONNA PRESENT IS CALLED GATO.
HERE IN TEXAS, WE HAVE OUR OWN LINEAGE THAT COMES FROM COLORADO AND CALIFORNIA FOR THE DAN AZTECA ESPLAN.
THERE'S DIFFERENT STYLES OF DANZA AZTECA, BUT BEING THE PATRONS FAMILY OF THIS FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO SHOW OUR TEXAS MEXICAN ROOTS.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER OUR PRE-HISPANIC HERITAGE.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA PRESENT VERY QUICKLY THIS DANCE THAT SHOWS THE MOVEMENT OF THE DANCE, THAT OF THE HORSE, AND THE PURPOSE OF THAT.
WE HAD ORAL TRADITION TO TEACH US FROM OUR ELDERS, ESPECIALLY OF THE ACE PEOPLE THAT WE HAD TRADITIONAL DANCE, UH, DANCES THAT WENT WITH A HORSE, BUT THEN THEY SAID THE SPANIARDS WERE THE ONES THAT INTRODUCED IT.
SO HOW COULD WE HAVE ORAL TRADITION IN THAT MANNER? WELL, WITH SCIENCE AND HISTORY, NOW WE KNOW WE DID HAVE OUR OWN SMALLER HORSES HERE IN THE AMERICAS.
AND SO LITTLE BY LITTLE WE'RE ABLE TO CLAIM MORE AND MORE OF OUR IDENTITY AND OUR HISTORY AND BE ABLE TO PUT WHAT OUR GRANDMAS AND OUR GRANDFATHERS OUR AND HAVE TAUGHT US BY OUR ORAL TRADITION WITH THE ACTUAL HISTORICAL TEXTS.
[00:27:20]
WOW, THAT WAS TRULY HELLO.CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? HELLO? HELLO.
LET'S GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE THAT WAS DEEPLY, DEEPLY INCREDIBLE AND JUST AMAZING.
SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU GUYS SOME REFRESHMENTS A LITTLE LATER, RIGHT? UM, AND THIS IS ALSO JUST FITS SO PERFECTLY TO TODAY'S EVENT BECAUSE WE HAVE CONCHITA AND CO CATERING TODAY.
IF YOU GUYS HAVE EVER BEEN THERE, I KNOW MY MOM'S ALWAYS THERE FOR BINGO AND ALL THE OTHER GAMES THEY HAVE OUT THERE.
UM, BUT THIS IS SO PERFECT YOU GUYS BECAUSE IT WAS FOUNDED IN 2016 BY IMMIGRANT CHEF VICTORIA ELIZONDO.
AND NOW FOR SOME REMARKS FROM THE CITY CONTROLLER, CHRIS HOLLINS GIVING A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO WELCOME EACH OF YOU TO YOUR CITY HALL AS WE GATHER THIS MORNING TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC TO, UH, HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
UH, THIS IS A TIME TO HONOR NOT JUST THE RICH CULTURE AND HISTORY OF HOUSTON'S HISPANIC COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO THE LASTING IMPACT THAT GENERATIONS OF HISPANIC HOUSTONIANS, HISPANIC HOUSTONIANS HAVE MADE ON OUR GREAT CITY.
UH, BEFORE WE CONTINUE, I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK, UH, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE DIPLOMATS, THE COMMUNITY LEADER LEADERS, THE LABOR LEADERS, AND THE SPECIAL GUESTS WHO HAVE JOINED US TODAY.
CAN YOU STAND TODAY AND BE RECOGNIZED? NOT ONLY DO I SEE, UH, MY FRIEND ANNETTE RAMIREZ HERE, UH, OUR OUR COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR, BUT WE HAVE CONSUL GENERAL AND ASSISTANT COUNCILS GENERAL FROM SEVERAL, UH, OF OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.
AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL'S PRESENCE.
UH, I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE A SPECIAL ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO OUR MISTRESS OF CEREMONY, A BC THIRTEENS MYRA MORENO FOR GUIDING US THROUGH TODAY.
UH, WE WANT TO THANK XAVIER FIGUEROA FOR HIS PRESENCE.
UH, A MEMBER OF THE STUDENT, UH, STUDENT BODY GOVERNMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST.
THOMAS, UH, TO GRACIE GAR SAYS, FROM THE TEJANO CENTER FOR TAKING PART IN THIS CELEBRATION.
[00:30:01]
UH, I ALSO WANNA TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT, UH, TO REMEMBER HUGO MOJICA, WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY.UH, HUGO SERVED AS CHIEF OF STAFF TO COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER.
UH, HE WAS A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT.
HE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF HOUSTON HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
AND SO IF WE COULD JUST TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE.
OUR HISPANIC AND LATINO COMMUNITIES ARE AT THE VERY HEART OF HOUSTON STRENGTH AND OUR VIBRANCY.
NO VOICE FROM OUTSIDE THIS CITY CAN TELL US ANY DIFFERENT.
AND SO TODAY, MORE THAN EVER, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ELEVATE THE IDEALS OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION THAT MAKE OUR CITY SO SPECIAL.
WE KNOW THAT MANY FAMILIES CONTINUE TO FACE CHALLENGES YET THROUGH IT ALL YOUR RESILIENCE SHINES.
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE SEE YOU AND THAT WE STAND WITH YOU, YOUR STORIES, YOUR CULTURE, YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.
THEY HELP DEFINE WHO WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY.
AND SO TODAY AND EVERY DAY, WE ARE PROUD TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HOUSTON'S HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
HOUSTON WEARS ITS DIVERSITY, WITH PRIDE, WITH MUSIC, WITH MURALS, WITH FOOD, WITH FESTIVALS, BUSINESSES THAT KEEP OUR ECONOMY MOVING AND LEADERS BOTH IN AND OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT THAT CONTINUE TO SHAPE THIS COMMUNITY.
EVERY CORNER OF THIS CITY BEARS THE IMPRINT OF HISPANIC CULTURE, MAKING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STRONGER, MORE VIBRANT, AND MORE RESILIENT.
AND TODAY'S GATHERING IS MORE THAN A LOOK BACK AT WHAT HAS SHAPED US, IS A CHANCE TO SPOTLIGHT THE LEADERS AMONG US RIGHT HERE WHO ARE OPENING NEW DOORS, UPLIFTING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND BUILDING A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR HOUSTON.
AND SO, AGAIN, TO ALL OF OUR SPECIAL GUESTS, WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY AS WE HONOR THE STORIES, CULTURE, AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF HOUSTON'S HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE THIS CELEBRATION WITH YOU AND I'LL WELCOME BACK RMC MS. MYRA MORENO AGAIN.
HE MENTIONED SO MANY SPECIAL GUESTS AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ANNOUNCE, UM, THE OTHER SPECIAL GUEST HERE THAT WE HAD HERE ON OUR LIST TODAY.
ANA GRACIE GAR OF DENO CENTER, AND JAVIER FIERRO OF ST.
STAND UP SO WE CAN GIVE YOU BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER GREAT PERFORMANCE FOR YOU GUYS.
IF YOU LADIES WANNA COME UP HERE.
ISA DORA GREW UP IN BUENOS AIRES AT AN EARLY AGE.
SHE STARTED TRAINING CLASSICAL DANCE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF SOME OF THE BEST MASTERS PERFORMING AT THE PRESTIGIOUS THEATER CO COLON.
AT THE AGE OF 20, SHE VENTURED INTO CONTEMPORARY DANCE AND WAS THE MOMENT THAT SHE FOUND TANGO AND DEEPLY FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.
NOW MEANTIME, MELISSA ORIGINALLY FROM COLOMBIA, HAS CALLED HOUSTON HOME FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS.
SHE DISCOVERED TANGO IN COLLEGE.
AND FROM HER VERY FIRST CLASS, SHE KNEW THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK.
SINCE THEN, SHE DANCED SOCIALLY.
SHE TAUGHT, PERFORMED AND ALWAYS DEEPENING HER CONNECTION TO THE ART.
LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[00:43:31]
THANK[00:43:31]
YOU SO MUCH.ISADORA MANINO AND MELISSA RAMIREZ.
THEY MAKE IT LOOK SO EASY, RIGHT? OH, LIKE, TEXT MY HUSBAND.
HEY, WE HAVE TO LEARN THE TANGO.
OKAY, BEFORE WE HEAD TO THE NEXT PORTION OF THE CELEBRATION TODAY, THE AWARD CEREMONY, FIRST WE HAVE ANOTHER, UH, MAY BEFORE OUR AZTEC DANCERS LEAVE.
IF YOU GUYS PLEASE COULD COME OVER HERE TO THE STAGE.
ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FOR YOU.
WE HAVE ANOTHER YOUNG LADY THAT NEEDS TO GIVE BACK TO CLASS, IF Y'ALL WOULD JOIN ME ON STAGE.
UH, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL, YOU KNOW, FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING DEDICATION TO PRESERVING, UH, CULTURE IN THIS WAY, FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY, UH, AND ALLOWING US TO ADMIRE, UH, YOUR TALENTS AND, AND TO REMEMBER ALL THAT THERE IS, TO REMEMBER AND RESPECT, UH, ABOUT OUR COLLECTIVE HISTORY.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
CAN YOU STAND OVER THIS WAY? OKAY.
[00:45:01]
THE CELEBRATION TODAY.I AM SURE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SEEING THESE BEAUTIFUL FACES HERE.
SO WE WANT TO HONOR THESE PEOPLE FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR CULTURE.
SO, UH, MAKE SURE YOU GUYS CLAP LOUD, GIVE THEM CHEERS AND ALL THAT BECAUSE THEY TRULY DO DESERVE IT.
MY NAME IS AUBREY CHRISTOPHER HOOPER.
I'M THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER HERE IN THE CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICE.
IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE CITY CONTROLLERS, AWARDEES, BEING RECOGNIZED AT OUR HISPANIC HERITAGE PROGRAM HERE TODAY.
THESE INDIVIDUALS TRULY EMBODY THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP THAT STRENGTHENS OUR CITY COMMUNITY HEROES, THOSE WHO HAVE SELFLESSLY DEDICATED THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO PROTECT, UPLIFT, AND INSPIRE OTHERS.
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS, INDIVIDUALS WHO ADVOCATE TIRELESSLY BUILDING BRIDGES AND ENSURING THE VOICES ARE HEARD AND THAT NEEDS ARE BEING MET.
COMMUNITY TRAILBLAZERS, PIONEERS WHO HAVE BROKEN BARRIERS AND CREATED NEW PATHWAYS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
EACH OF OUR HONOREES REFLECT THESE VALUES OF COMMITMENT, RESILIENCE, AND EXCELLENCE THAT THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS PROUD TO CELEBRATE.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING THEM AS I TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM AND THEIR REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO HOUSTON'S RICH DIVERSITY.
LET'S KICK IT OFF WITH A STORY ABOUT HOUSTON SPACE CITY LEGACY TO LIFE.
THE CONTROL THE CONTROLLER'S COMMUNITY TRAILBLAZER AWARD GOES TO DR.
ELAINE OUA, A TROOP PIONEER AS THE FIRST LATINO IN SPACE.
SHE SHATTERED BARRIERS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE EVERYWHERE, PROVIDING AND PROVING THAT YOU CAN TRULY AIM FOR THE STARS, LITERALLY RIGHT HERE FROM HOUSTON AS THE FIRST LATINA AND ONLY THE SECOND WOMAN TO DIRECT NASA'S JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, SHE LEFT A LEGACY THAT BRINGS VISION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE INSPIRING FUTURE GENERATIONS.
LET US CONGRATULATE HER AS SHE JOINS US VIA VIDEO, UM, THAT WILL BE PLAYED.
THANK YOU TO THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CONTROLLER FOR RECOGNIZING ME AS A HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH HONOREE.
THE VIBRANT DIVERSITY OF HOUSTON WAS MY HOME FOR NEARLY THREE DECADES, A PLACE WHERE DREAMS LIKE MINE COULD TAKE FLIGHT.
AS BOTH AN ASTRONAUT AND JOHNSON SPACE CENTER DIRECTOR, I SAW THE POWER OF EVERY VOICE, EVERY CULTURE, WORKING TOGETHER TO EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN AND TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE.
MY JOURNEY WAS ONLY POSSIBLE THROUGH THE TEAMWORK AND DEDICATION OF MY NASA COLLEAGUES, BOTH CIVIL, SERVANT AND CONTRACTOR WHO DEDICATE THEIR CAREERS TO PUBLIC SERVICE AS THE FIRST LATIN IN SPACE.
I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT THE LIMITLESS POTENTIAL WITHIN OUR HISPANIC AND LATINO COMMUNITIES.
OUR HERITAGE, OUR STORIES, AND OUR RESILIENCE ARE WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF HOUSTON.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING MY WORK, FOR RECOGNIZING THE TREASURE THAT IS JOHNSON SPACE CENTER AND THE COLLECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT MAKE THIS CITY SO EXTRAORDINARY.
SO, SWITCHING GEARS JUST A LITTLE BIT FROM OUTER SPACE TO THE BASKETBALL COURT.
UH, WE CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE WITH THE COMMUNITY HERO AWARD.
THIS YEAR'S HONOREE IS FABIAN ROMO, A CHAMPION ON AND OFF THE COURT.
AS A MEMBER OF TEAM USA'S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL, FABIAN BROUGHT HOME THE GOAL FROM THE 2024 PARA PARALYMPICS.
HIS DRIVE AND GRIT REMINDS US THAT HOUSTON IS HOME TO EVERYDAY HEROES WHO PUSH US PAST OUR LIMITS AND LIFT ANYONE UP WHO'S WATCHING.
LET US GIVE A VERY BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
APPLAUSE AS WE WELCOME TO THE STAGE OUR COMMUNITY HERO, FABIAN ROMO.
[00:50:20]
UM, I HAD RAVEN REACH OUT TO ME.I THOUGHT INITIALLY I HAD RESPONDED TO HER, BUT I DIDN'T.
SO SHE ENDED UP REACHING OUT TO MY WIFE.
SO
UM, BUT JUST VERY GRATEFUL, VERY BLESSED TO, TO BE IN THIS POSITION, TO BE AND HONORED, UM, TO RECEIVE SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.
UM, NEVER THOUGHT GROWING UP I WOULD BE IN THIS POSITION.
UM, I GAVE EVERYTHING TO MY PARENTS, UM, AND MY FAMILY AS WELL.
I THINK NONE OF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THEIR SACRIFICE.
I, I KNOW COMING FROM, AND THIS I CAN IMAGINE GOES TO EVERYONE.
UM, JUST THE SACRIFICE OF THEM COMING FROM MEXICO AND GIVING MY SIBLINGS AND I SUCH A AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO, TO BE HERE IN, IN THE STATES.
SO THIS AWARD AND THE, THE, THE MEDAL AS WELL AS EVERYTHING THAT I'VE EVER DONE, IT, IT ALL GOES BACK TO THEM.
UM, I WOULDN'T BE IN THIS POSITION WITHOUT THEM.
SO, TO, TO HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
THIS, THIS GOES TO MY PARENTS.
THE COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD HONORS A VOICE OF EQUITY AND EDUCATION, DR. RUTH LOPEZ TURLEY, DR.
TURLEY'S LEADERSHIP AT RICE UNIVERSITY'S KINDER INSTITUTE.
AND THE HOUSTON EDUCATION RESEARCH CONSORTIUM HAS OPENED DOORS FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS OUR CITY BY CONNECTING RESEARCH AND REAL WORLD POLICY.
SHE'S HELPING HOUSTON BUILD AN INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY FIELD CLASSROOMS, AND HER VOICE ECHOES NATIONWIDE IN THE PUSH FOR EQUITY.
JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING DR. RUTH LOPEZ.
TUR, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UH, THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING AT THE KINDER INSTITUTE FOR URBAN RESEARCH IS REALLY AIMING TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT GOES BEYOND MEETING NEEDS.
WE THINK THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
WE WANNA WORK REALLY HARD TO MEET THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE WANNA TAKE THAT A STEP FURTHER, AND THAT IS THAT WE ARE WORKING TO ELIMINATE NEEDS.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO THAT WITH THE HELP OF RESEARCH.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, RESEARCH CAN BE USED TO ELIMINATE THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON, UH, AT THE KINDER INSTITUTE, UH, FOR URBAN RESEARCH.
AND WE ARE REALLY, UM, HONORED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS WORK ON BEHALF OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE LOVE.
AND WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO DO IT WITH THE SUPPORT THAT WE GET FROM THIS COMMUNITY.
AND SO IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS WORK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
OUR SECOND COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD GOES TO ANGELICA RASO, A CHAMPION FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH OUR WORK WITH ME, FAMILIA VOLTA, AND IN ADVOCACY NETWORKS ACROSS HOUSTON.
AND ANGELICA CONTINUES TO BUILD BRIDGES TO REPRESENT FOR REPRESENTATION AND EQUITY
[00:55:01]
AT EVERY LEVEL.HER ENERGY AND COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT DEMOCRACY IS NOT JUST HERE IN HOUSTON, BUT THAT IT IS VERY INCLUSIVE AND THRIVING, NOT JUST HERE IN THE STATE, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING, IN SHOWING OUR APPRECIATION FOR ANGELICA RAZZO.
IT'S SO AMAZING TO BE HERE IN THE ROOM WITH FRIENDS, WITH COLLEAGUES, WITH NEW FACES, AND IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO GET TO CELEBRATE JUST ONE PIECE OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH WITH EVERYONE.
YOU KNOW, I LOVE BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT MY CITY, TO REPRESENT MY STATE, NOT JUST HERE LOCALLY, BUT ALSO IN NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE HOUSTON IS ON THE FRONT LINES OF INCREASING ACCESS TO DEMOCRACY, TO PROTECTING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, TO DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW ARE RIGHT TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER.
BECAUSE WHEN WE UPLIFT EACH OTHER, WHEN WE MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S VOICES ARE HEARD, WE ARE CREATING NOT JUST THE COMMUNITIES WE NEED RIGHT NOW, BUT WE ARE CREATING THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE GONNA BE STRONGER FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO THIS WORK, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO CELEBRATE TOGETHER.
UH, JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING AND APPLAUDING OUR COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS, OUR COMMUNITY HERO, AND OUR COMMUNITY TRAILBLAZERS.
THANK YOU AGAIN, AND GOD BLESS.
LET'S GIVE OUR HONOREES TODAY ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
TRYING NOT TO CRY HERE AFTER YOUR SPEECH.
OKAY, WE HAVE, UM, A LOT MORE COMING UP YOU GUYS, SO WE HOPE YOU'RE STILL HAVING SUCH A GREAT TIME BECAUSE WE HAVE ANOTHER PERFORMANCE.
ARE YOU GUYS READY? ESSO? OKAY, SO UP NEXT WE HAVE MEXICO
OH, THAT'S THE NAME OF THE SONG.
ALRIGHT, LET'S GIVE 'EM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THEY'RE GONNA PUT ON A GREAT PERFORMANCE, Y'ALL.
[01:02:44]
ALL RIGHT, THANKS AGAIN TO MEXICO FORICO TRADITIONAL DANCE ENSEMBLE.I KNOW I'VE BEEN PROMISING IT ALL MORNING, BUT I JUST GOT SOME BREAKING NEWS AND THE FOOD IS RUNNING A LITTLE BIT BEHIND.
I'M TOLD, YOU KNOW HOW EARLIER I MENTIONED THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING ON THE ROAD THAT HAPPENS.
I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.
SO I PROMISE IT'S GONNA GET HERE.
SO, UM, AS SOON AS THE PROGRAM IS OVER, JUST MINGLE, HAVE FUN, TAKE PICTURES, ENJOY EACH OTHER.
AND, UM, THE FOOD WILL BE HERE SOON, I HOPE.
ALRIGHT, SO NOW WE HAVE OUR CLOSING REMARKS BY CHRIS HOLLINS.
SO ONCE, LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE BECAUSE HIS OFFICE DID AN AMAZING JOB CELEBRATING US TODAY.
LET'S GIVE MYRA MORENO ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT MOST OF MY ROLE, UH, IN MAKING THIS A SUCCESS TODAY WAS THE SAME AS YOURS, WHICH WAS SHOWING UP, UH, THE STAFF AT THE CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICES WHO MADE THIS SUCH A WONDERFUL EVENT.
AND SO WE CAN WE GIVE ALL OF THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEIR WORK TODAY.
BEFORE WE CLOSE, I WANT TO ONCE AGAIN THANK, UH, OUR HONOREES FOR ALL OF, UH, WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND FOR YOUR PRESENCE TODAY.
UH, EACH OF YOUR STORIES IS DEEPLY INSPIRATIONAL.
UH, ANGELICA, AS YOU KNOW, UH, SO MUCH OF MY WORK BEFORE SERVING THE CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICE WASN'T MAKING SURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS COULD HAVE A VOICE IN HOW THEIR, THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THEIR STATE GOVERNMENT, THEIR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, UH, WAS RUN.
AND YOU HAVE DEDICATED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR SERVICE TO THAT.
CAN WE GIVE ANGELICA ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE? UH, YOU KNOW, FABIAN, AGAIN, I I ALSO WAS CLOSE TO TEARS IN, IN YOUR REMARKS.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE WENT TO RIVAL HIGH SCHOOLS.
YOU GOT TO PURSUE YOUR HOOP DREAMS. YOU KNOW, I JUST, I'M STILL DREAMING THEM TODAY.
UM, BUT THE STRENGTH OF, OF FAMILY AND YOUR STORY, UH, IS, IS SO MEANINGFUL.
YOU KNOW, BOTH OF OF US COME FROM FAMILIES WHERE, YOU KNOW, MY PARENTS DIDN'T ATTEND COLLEGE, AND I KNOW EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT SOME OF THEIR WILDEST DREAMS
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ARE BEING LIVED OUT THROUGH ME.AND SO I KNOW THAT YOU'RE DOING THE SAME, REPRESENTING YOUR FAMILY, YOUR HISTORY, YOUR HERITAGE, AND WE THANK YOU AND RECOGNIZE YOU FOR THAT.
UH, DR. RUTH LOPEZ TURLEY, UH, HAD TO STEP AWAY FOR ANOTHER IMPORTANT SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT, BUT THE WORK THAT SHE DOES, UH, EVERY SINGLE DAY OVER AT RICE UNIVERSITY, IN FACT, SHE'S A CRITICAL, UH, PARTNER TO THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN GATHERING DATA, UH, TO HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN BEST SERVE, UH, HOUSTONIANS.
AND SO WE'RE THANKFUL FOR, FOR WHAT SHE DOES.
BUT EACH OF YOU REMIND US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF UPLIFTING OTHERS, UH, AND LEADING WITH YOUR HEARTS.
AND SO, AGAIN, YOU ALL PROVE THAT, THAT PROGRESS AND HOPE ARE BUILT ON VISION, ON RESILIENCE, ON HARD WORK, AND ON A COMMUNITY SPIRIT.
SO LET'S GIVE THEM ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND SO, AS WE CONCLUDE NOW, UH, LET'S CARRY FORWARD THE ENERGY OF THIS INCREDIBLE EVENT.
LET'S CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE OUR CULTURE.
LET'S CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND ACROSS OUR CITY.
LET'S CONTINUE TO CREATE A HOUSTON WHERE EVERY INDIVIDUAL, EVERY FAMILY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A LEGACY.
MAY THE STORIES, THE MUSIC, AND THE PERFORMANCES THAT WE'VE SHARED TODAY INSPIRE US ALL TO CONTINUE SHAPING A BRIGHTER FUTURE TOGETHER.
AND SO, AGAIN, THANK Y'ALL FOR JOINING US.
PLEASE, PLEASE STICK AROUND, MINGLE, MAKE A NEW FRIEND AS WE WAIT, UH, FOR THE FOOD HERE.
UH, BUT TO CLOSE US OUT AGAIN, UH, FEL GOD BLESS YOU.