[00:00:19]
THIS IS AMAZING TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE SO MANY FRIENDS, SO MANY NEW FRIENDS, SO MANY ABOUT TO BE MY FRIEND.
UM, BUT IT, IT'S JUST WONDERFUL TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT'S PRETTY OVERWHELMING TO SEE HOW BIG THIS CROWD IS.
I'VE BEEN TO MANY BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROGRAMS OVER THE YEARS, AND SOMETIMES WE COULD BARELY FILL UP, YOU KNOW, A SMALL ROOM.
BUT TO COME DOWN TO CITY HALL OF ALL PLACES AND SEE THIS MAGNIFICENT EVENT, IT REALLY, UH, REALLY TOUCHES ME AND I'M SO GLAD TO BE HERE.
I'M ALSO GLAD TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME AMAZING HONOREES COMING UP.
UM, SO I WANNA WELCOME YOU OFFICIALLY FORGIVE ME TO THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION, HOSTED BY THE OFFICE OF HOUSTON CITY CONTROLLER CHRIS HOLLINS, AND STAND UP, IF YOU WOULD.
AND THIS IS MY FIRST GIG SINCE I RETIRED, SO I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
IF I FALL ASLEEP OR SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE, YOU'LL JUST KNOW SHE'S OLD, SHE'S RETIRED,
WELL, TODAY WE'RE GOING TO HONOR THE LEGACY, THE ENDURING LEGACY OF BLACK HOUSTONIANS, AND WE'RE GONNA WELCOME AND INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME VERY WELL-KNOWN COMMUNITY ICONS, AS WELL AS OUR NEXT GENERATION OF TRAILBLAZERS.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF YOU IN HERE RIGHT NOW, SO EXCITING TO SEE YOU AS A COMMUNITY.
WE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT GROUNDING OURSELVES.
CAN I GET AN AMEN FOR THAT? AMEN.
SO WE GONNA START THIS PROGRAM OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT BY CALLING DR.
MIA WRIGHT, CO-PASTOR OF FOUNTAIN OF PRAISE.
WHAT AN AWESOME PROGRAM FOR US TO COME TOGETHER ON SUCH A SPECTACULAR DAY AND TO HONOR THESE HONOREES.
WE GATHER TOGETHER TODAY WITH HEARTS FULL OF GRATITUDE FOR THE CLOUD OF WITNESSES THAT HAVE WALKED THESE BAYOU CITY STREETS BEFORE US.
THEY LAID A FOUNDATION UPON WHICH, WHICH WE CONTINUE TO BUILD MEN AND WOMEN WHO TURNED STRUGGLE INTO PROGRESS AND VISION INTO LEGACY.
INDEED, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE LEADERS YOU'VE CHAMPIONED IN THIS CITY, IN POLITICS, IN CULTURE, AND IN THE EARLY FORMATION OF OUR CITY, YOU GIFTED US WITH PIONEERS, INCLUDING AFRICAN-AMERICANS, WHO WOVE A TAPESTRY OF RESILIENCE, LEADING US TO BECOME THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THIS NATION.
WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE REVEREND JACK YATES, THE A SHEPHERD OF LIBERTY WHO TRANSFORMED THE SPIRIT OF THE EMANCIPATED INTO A THRIVING COMMUNITY OF FAITH AND OWNERSHIP.
HIS VISIONARY LEADERSHIP BIRTHED THE SACRED GROUNDS OF EMANCIPATION PARK, THE RESILIENCE OF FREEDMAN'S TOWN, AND STILL STANDING RIGHT HERE IN THE SHADOW OF DOWNTOWN'S PROGRESS, THE SANCTUARY OF ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH.
HE ENSURED THAT THE JOYS OF FREEDOM, FELLOWSHIP AND OWNERSHIP WOULD HAVE A PLACE FOR ALL PEOPLE IN THE HEART OF HOUSTON.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR RICHARD BROCK, THE BLACKSMITH OF OUR EARLY CIVIC LIFE, WHOSE TIRELESS ADVOCACY AS AN ALDERMAN AND COUNCILMAN FORGED A PATH FOR BLACK REPRESENTATION IN THESE VERY HALLS OF POWER.
WHO NEARLY A CENTURY LATER BROKE THROUGH THE SILENCE TO RECLAIM THAT SEAT, ENSURING OUR VOICES WOULD NEVER AGAIN BE ABSENT.
FROM OUR CITY'S GOVERNANCE, WE LIFT UP THE DAUGHTERS AND SONS OF HOUSTON WHO CARRIED THE TORCH INTO THE MODERN ERA, THE INDOMITABLE BARBARA JORDAN, A DAUGHTER OF FIFTH WARD, AND THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN FROM THE SOUTH TO GRACE, THE HALLS OF UNITED STATES CONGRESS, WHOSE VOICE WAS A THUNDEROUS, CLARION CALL FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND THE CONSCIENCE OF A NATION.
WE REMEMBER THE FIERCE ADVOCACY OF CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, A RELENTLESS CHAMPION FOR THE MARGINALIZED WHO NEVER TIRED OF FIGHTING FOR THE DIGNITY OF HER CONSI CONSTITUENTS.
AND FOR THE TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP OF CONGRESSMAN AND MAYOR
[00:05:01]
SILVESTER TURNER, WHO GUIDED OUR CITY THROUGH STORMS WITH A STEADY HAND AND A HEART DEDICATED TO EQUITY, ENSURING THAT HOUSTON STRONG WAS MORE THAN A SLOGAN.GOD THANK YOU THAT OUR CITY HAS BECOME A MODEL FOR THE WORLD, A PLACE THAT WELCOMES ALL CULTURES, EMBRACES OUR DIFFERENCES, AND STRENGTHENS OUR NEIGHBORLY BONDS AS WE LOOK TO THE PRESENCE.
DEAR LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE CULTURAL PILLARS THAT SUSTAIN AND PROPEL OUR COMMUNITY TODAY.
WE PRAISE YOU FOR THE VIBRANT HEARTBEAT OF OUR CREATIVITY, FROM THE MURALS THAT TELL OUR HISTORY ON CITY WALLS AND DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS, TO THE THEATERS THAT GIVE VOICE TO OUR LIVED EXPERIENCES.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE ARTISTS AND THE DREAMERS WHO ENSURE THE THE BLACK NARRATIVE REMAINS A LIVING, BREATHING MASTERPIECE IN THE SOUL OF HOUSTON.
GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE POWERHOUSE OF TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, A PREMIER CENTER OF EDUCATION AND INNOVATION, WHERE THE NEXT GENERATION OF GLOBAL CHANGE MAKERS ARE BEING EQUIPPED AND OTHER PLACES OF HIGHER LEARNING.
RICE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, ST.
THOMAS HOUSTON, CHRISTIAN, HOUSTON CITY COLLEGE, AND OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS, WHERE THE MINDS OF OUR YOUTH ARE SHARPENED AND THEIR SPIRITS ARE EMBOLDENED.
WE ARE GRATEFUL GOD FOR EDUCATORS WHO SEE THE GENIUS IN OUR CHILDREN AND PREPARE THEM TO BECOME LEADERS FOR TOMORROW.
WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE HEALERS AND ADVOCATES WHO AMONG US CHAMPION THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.
FROM THE MEDICAL CENTER TO COMMUNITY CLINICS, THE WELLNESS INITIATIVES THAT EMPOWER US TO THRIVE, WE CELEBRATE THE ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRE THAT BURNS IN OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THE VISIONARIES THAT ARE BUILDING NEW FUTURES AND TECHNOLOGY, ENERGY AND TRADE.
DEAR GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR HANDSET LABOR TO CREATE WEALTH OPPORTUNITY AND LASTING INHERITANCE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
AND GOD, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE SANCTUARIES ON EVERY CORNER THAT SERVE AS COMMUNITY HUBS PROVIDING NOT JUST SPIRITUAL FOOD, BUT DISASTER RELIEF, CI, CIVIC EDUCATION, AND ESSENTIAL SOCIAL SERVICES.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE COLLECTIVE POWER OF OUR FAITH, WHICH MOVES US TO SERVE YOU AND OUR NEIGHBORS WITH UNWAVERING EXCELLENCE, WE ASK, DEAR GOD, THAT YOUR WISDOM WILL BE UPON OUR CURRENT LEADERSHIP.
OUR MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, OUR MAYOR, PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, AND EACH MEMBER, MEMBER OF OUR CITY COUNCIL, WE ASK FOR YOUR FAVOR TO BE WITH OUR CITY COMPTROLLER, CHRIS HOLLINS, AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO SERVES OUR CITY AS EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS.
WE PRAY A VERY SPECIAL BLESSING UPON EACH HONOREE TODAY.
AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR STORIES.
MAY THEY CONTINUE TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE OUR CITY, OUR NATION, AND OUR WORLD.
NOW GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU SHINE YOUR FACE UPON THIS ROOM.
FOR THIS IS A MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE, A SEASON OF CELEBRATION, AND A CALL TO CHALLENGE AS WE LOOK BACK TO REMEMBER AND LEAN IN, TO CELEBRATE OUR COLLECTIVE GAINS.
WE ARE CHALLENGED TO CHANGE THE FUTURE, TO GUIDE OUR CITY AND OUR STEPS IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES.
WE ASK YOUR HAND THIS, WE PRAY IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF THE ONE WHO IS HIGHER THAN ALL OF US.
CAN WE ALL COLLECTIVELY BE TOGETHER, SAY AMEN.
BUILT IN 1926, THIS FORMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LOCATED IN HOUSTON'S HISTORIC FRIEDMANS TOWN HOUSES THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY RESEARCH CENTER.
THIS CENTER IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND PROMOTING THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN HOUSTON, THE GULF COAST AND BEYOND.
WE PROVIDE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND OTHER SPECIAL COLLECTIONS.
WE ALSO HOST A VARIETY OF EVENTS, EXHIBITS, AND MORE CONNECT, REFLECT, AND BE INSPIRED BY THE LIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.
MEET THEO CHOCO, MASTER OF DANCE AND LEGENDARY ENTERTAINER.
WE JUST TOOK HIS KEYS FOR THE DAY AND GAVE HIM A RIDE METRO FAIR CARD.
AND WHERE CAN CHOCO GO? AQUINA IN THE HEIGHTS, A DANCE OFF DOWNTOWN OR A SOUTH SIDE WEDDING AT THE END OF HIS TRAVEL SEAT.
WAIT, WHERE'S CHOCO NOW? VISIT RIDE METRO.ORG/CHOCO TO FIND OUT WHERE IS CHOCO.
WE ARE A CITY OF COLLABORATORS WHO BUILD ON ONE ANOTHER'S INSPIRATION, STRENGTHS, AND CULTURES TO SHAPE A FUTURE WE ALL CAN SHARE.
TOGETHER WE ARE MORE THAN 7 MILLION INGREDIENTS THAT MAKE SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE DISCOVERED, TASTED, OR INVENTED ANYWHERE ELSE.
COME ON, A MOVEMENT, A MOMENT, A FUTURE.
WE CANNOT WAIT TO MAKE TOMORROW TO TOGETHER.
I WANNA INTRODUCE YOU TO A YOUNG MAN WHO IS OUR CONTROLLER FOR THE DAY.
[00:10:02]
SO I WAS GONNA INTRODUCE, UH, CONTROLLER HOLLINS UNTIL I REMEMBERED.WE ALREADY HAVE A CONTROLLER UP HERE.
THIS IS MICHAEL PRINCE, WHO IS THE DEFINITION OF EXCELLENCE IN MOTION.
OKAY, LET ME HAND THIS TO YOU.
I'M A STUDENT ATHLETE AT SHARPSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M A MEMBER OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT STUDENT COUNCIL FOOTBALL BASKETBALL TRACK, AND I HAVE A BLACK BELT IN KARATE AND I'M ENROLLED IN ALL ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES AND ON-RAMP CLASSES THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND HISD.
I AM RANK TOP 10% OF MY GRADUATION CLASS OF 2027.
AND MY MOTIVATION COMES FROM GOD, MY FAMILY AND MY COMMUNITY THEATER PERFORMS. I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE AND PRESENT MYSELF AS CONTROLLER GRAHAM AS I AM ONE OF THIS YEAR'S CONTROLLER OF THE DAY ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS.
THIS PROGRAM GIVES STUDENTS LIKE ME A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT PUBLIC SERVICE, CIVIC LEADERSHIP, AND HOW FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY SHAPES OUR CITY.
IN MY ESSAY, I WROTE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND TRUST BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITIES.
VALUES THAT ARE REFLECTED, VALUES THAT ARE REFLECTED IN THE LEADER THAT I INTRODUCED TODAY, CHRIS HOLLINS.
CHRIS HOLLINS HAS SERVED AS HOUSTON CITY CONTROLLER SINCE JANUARY 20, 24 AND IS THE IN AND IS THE INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE NATION'S FOURTH LARGEST CITY.
HE OVERSEES A $7 BILLION BUDGET, MANAGES BILLIONS IN INVESTMENTS IN DEBT, ALL WHILE PRIORITIZING TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND RESULTS FOR HOUSTON RESIDENTS.
BEFORE BECOMING COMPTROLLER, HE LED HARRIS COUNTY'S 2020 ELECTIONS AS COUNTY CLERK EARNING NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR EXPANDING ACCESS TO VOTING DURING A HISTORICALLY CHALLENGING TIME.
HE IS A PROUD HOUSTON NATIVE AND A GRADUATE OF MOREHOUSE COLLEGE, YALE LAW SCHOOL AND HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL, AND A PUBLIC, A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT CONTROLLER HOLLANDS AND HIS WIFE MORGAN LIVE IN HOUSTON'S THIRD WARD WITH THEIR DAUGHTER VIVIAN AND THEIR SON GEORGE, AND ATTENDS WILLARD BAPTIST CHURCH.
THANK YOU CONTROLLER HOLLANDS FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO BE YOU.
THANK THAT WAS GREAT CONTROLLER GRAHAM, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE A PART OF THIS BROTHER
UH, AGAIN, IRY, WE'RE SO THRILLED TO HAVE YOU AS CONTROLLER FOR A DAY AND LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, TO THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, AND THIS IS A, A FORMAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE, UH, SEVERAL, SEVERAL STUDENTS, UH, SENT IN ESSAYS AND IRYS WAS AWARD-WINNING.
UH, YOU KNOW, ON THE TOPICS OF ESTABLISHING PUBLIC TRUST AND WHAT IT MEANS, UH, TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT A CITY CAN OPERATE.
AND SO I KNOW THAT WHEN I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, I WAS NOT THINKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC TRUST.
UH, I HAD SOME OTHER THINGS ON MY MIND, BUT IRY IS EXCEPTIONAL.
AND SO THANK YOU BROTHER, UH, TO OUR HONOREES, TO ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, FRIENDS TO ALL OF OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.
I MEAN, LOOKING AROUND THIS ROOM, THIS IS SIMPLY INCREDIBLE.
UM, IN ADDITION TO CONTROLLER GRAHAM BEING WITH US, WE'RE JOINED TODAY BY EL SIC HIGH SCHOOLS NEXT GEN GENTS.
GENTLEMEN, CAN Y'ALL STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED? CAN Y'ALL STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED, UH, IN ADDITION TO JUST BEING, YOU KNOW, ON THE TRACK TO SUCCESS? AND AGAIN, WE'RE SO THRILLED FOR YOU.
I SEE THAT YOUNG BROTHER IN THAT MOREHOUSE HOODIE.
UM, THEY HAPPEN TO ALSO BE HUGE FANS OF COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS.
SO THAT'S WHERE YOU HEARD THAT LOUD APPLAUSE COMING FROM WHEN SHE STOOD UP.
THANK Y'ALL BROTHERS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AND I KNOW THAT SISTER LAWSON ACKNOWLEDGED I ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT I'D LIKE TO DO SO BY NAME IF I CAN.
UH, FIRST WE HAVE LA CONGRESS, CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA, CAN YOU STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED? UH, WE ALSO HAVE STATE SENATOR MOLLY COOK WITH US IF STATE IS THE SENATOR COOK STILL WITH US? OKAY, UM, STATE REPRESENTATIVE LAUREN ASHLEY SIMMONS,
[00:15:04]
STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTINA MORALES, JUDGE OF THE 5 0 7 FAMILY DISTRICT COURT.LILLIAN ALEXANDER, OUR HARRIS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR, ANNETTE RAMIREZ, AND I'M MISSING THE PAGE.
BUT FROM CITY COUNCIL, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLL, DISTRICT J COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS, DISTRICT F WITH HER FAN CLUB.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE ROOM? YOURS FROM THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHA DAVIS AND AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER PASTOR WILLIE DAVIS.
WILL YOU STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED? THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR, FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE, UH, TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY.
UH, WE ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE, AND I THINK THEY'RE STILL ON THE WAY IN, BUT WE HAVE TWO FORMER HONOREES FROM THIS PROGRAM WHO ARE GONNA BE WITH US TODAY.
UH, ONE IS NONE OTHER THAN MS. KIMBERLY STROUD, PRESIDENT OF THE CJ STROUD FOUNDATION, AND PASTOR TIFFANY TARN OF ST.
AND WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY NONE OTHER THAN MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
MAYOR, DO YOU, UH, CARE TO JOIN US FOR A COUPLE OF REMARKS? PLEASE? THANK YOU.
I'LL BE BRIEF, BUT TO THE POINT.
IT'S WONDERFUL, CHRIS, THAT YOU WOULD BRING THIS COALITION, THIS DIVERSITY TO THE LEGACY ROOM WHERE IT BELONGS.
THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH BECAUSE WE NEED TWO TOGETHER IN THIS LEGACY ROOM.
SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO THOSE THAT WOULD TAKE US BACK, THOSE THAT ARE ATTACKING OUR INSTITUTIONS AND OUR COMMUNITIES, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING BACK.
DR. WRIGHT, YOU CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR US.
WE NEED ALL THE PRAYERS WE CAN GET TO MY FELLOW PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT ALLOWED US OUR OPPORTUNITY.
FIRST OF ALL, CHRIS, I MEANT TO SAY IT IS PROBABLY NOT SAFE FOR THIS MANY IMPORTANT PEOPLE TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM.
BUT LET ME GET TO THE POINT AGAIN.
AND I COULD NOT LEAVE THIS PROGRAM WITHOUT PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGING WHO GAVE ME MY OPPORTUNITY.
IN 1972, AT ABOUT THE AGE OF THE CHOIR, A 22-YEAR-OLD UNIVERSITY STUDENT WAS ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE BY INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS, A PROUD AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE 22, DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU STAND FOR? YOU HAD GOOD PARENTING, YOU HAD GOOD TEACHERS, GOOD FAITH, BUT YOU NEEDED THE COMMUNITY TO PUT YOU ON THEIR SHOULDER AND IT WORKED.
AND WE NEED TO GIVE OTHER, ALL OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND I'VE NEVER FORGOTTEN THE UNITY, THE EQUALITY, AND THE INCLUSION THAT INDEPENDENT HEIGHTS TAUGHT ME AS A 22-YEAR-OLD, AS THEY SENT ME OFF TO AUSTIN.
LET'S CELEBRATE OUR LEGACY IN THIS LEGACY ROOM.
AND, UH, THERE WAS ONE OTHER SET OF DISTINGUISHED GUESTS THAT I FAILED, UH, TO MENTION, AND THAT'S PART OF MY BLACK HISTORY.
MY PARENTS, GEORGE AND CHRISTIE HOLLINS, CAN YOU STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED AND MY FUTURE, MY WIFE, MORGAN HOLLINS.
CAN YOU STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED? OF COURSE, TODAY, UH, WE WILL BE GUIDED THROUGH THE PROGRAM BY NONE OTHER THAN MISS MELANIE LAWSON, OUR MISSIONS OF CEREMONY FOR DECADES.
AT A C 13, MELANIE HELPED TO TELL HOUSTON STORY WITH PROFESSIONALISM, WITH INTEGRITY, AND
[00:20:01]
WITH HEART.SHE PRESERVED OUR HISTORY AND SHE STRENGTHENED THE BOND BETWEEN THIS CITY AND ITS PEOPLE.
AND SO, MELANIE, WE ARE SO HONORED TO HAVE YOU WITH US HERE TODAY.
TODAY IS MEANINGFUL FOR MANY REASONS, BUT ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS YEAR MARKS THE 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ORGANIZED BLACK HISTORY MONTH OBSERVANCES.
100 YEARS AGO, HISTORIAN DR. CARTER G WOODSON CREATED NEGRO HISTORY WEEK BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD SOMETHING POWERFUL.
HE UNDERSTOOD THAT HISTORY MUST BE PRESERVED SO THAT WE KNOW THE TRUTH OF WHAT WE'VE ENDURED AND OVER WHAT WE'VE TRIUMPHED.
AND HE UNDERSTOOD THAT HISTORY MUST BE SHARED SO THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS KNOW WHAT'S POSSIBLE.
AND SINCE WE'RE IN TEXAS, IT'S WORTH MENTIONING THAT THAT INCLUDES PUTTING OUR HISTORY IN OUR STUDENTS' HISTORY BOOKS FOR 100 YEARS.
THE INTENTIONAL PASSING DOWN OF BLACK HISTORY HAS REMINDED US IN THIS COUNTRY THAT PROGRESS IS NEVER ACCIDENTAL.
PROVERBS 16 AND NINE TELLS US THAT IN OUR HEARTS, HUMANS PLAN THEIR COURSE, BUT THE LORD ESTABLISHES THEIR STEP.
Y'ALL SEE, I GOT MY PREACHING SUIT ON THIS MORNING.
OUR STEPS HAVE BEEN DETERMINED BY THE LORD AND THEY'VE COLLECTIVELY LED US TO CITY HALL TODAY TO THESE ACTS OF REMEMBRANCE.
TODAY IS NOT ONLY A CELEBRATION, BUT IT'S ALSO AN ACT OF RESISTING AGAINST THE ERASURE OF OUR HERITAGE AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR PEOPLE.
IT IS OUR STAND AGAINST THE SILENCING OF BLACK VOICES, OUR RECOGNITION THAT BLACK HISTORY IS INDEED AMERICAN HISTORY.
AND OUR REMINDER THAT THE WORK OF EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY IS STILL CALLING EACH OF US TO LEAD.
MUCH LIKE THAT WORK OF OUR RECENTLY DEPARTED ANCESTOR, THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, WHO TAUGHT US TO KEEP HOPE ALIVE.
PROGRESS HAPPENS BECAUSE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO LEAD.
PEOPLE CHOOSE TO OPEN DOORS FOR OTHERS AND PEOPLE THAT CHOOSE TO EXTEND THE LADDER FOR THOSE COMING BEHIND THEM.
AND NOWHERE IS THAT MORE EVIDENT THAN RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
HOUSTON'S STORY CANNOT BE TOLD WITHOUT BLACK EXCELLENCE.
IT CANNOT BE TOLD WITHOUT BLACK LEADERSHIP.
IT CANNOT BE TOLD WITHOUT BLACK SERVICE.
IT CANNOT BE TOLD WITHOUT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE HONORING HERE TODAY.
WE KNOW THAT HOUSTON IS HOUSTON, THE HOUSTON THAT WE KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S A MOSAIC OF ITS PEOPLE.
DIVERSITY ISN'T JUST A WORD HERE, IT'S A LIFESTYLE.
IT'S THE WAY THE THIRD WARD ROLLS RIGHT INTO SEGUNDO BARRIO.
IT'S THE WAY THAT WE SHOW UP EVERY YEAR AT THE RODEO, AND IT'S HOW EVERY SUNDAY CANDY, PAINT, AND SLABS SHOW UP ON OST.
BUT IT'S ALSO SHAPED BY MIGRATION, BY IMMIGRATION, BY CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERSHIP.
AND SO I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS MOMENT THAT OUR COUNTRY CURRENTLY SITS IN NEARLY SIX YEARS AGO, GEORGE FLOYD, A BLACK MAN, A JACK YATES MAN, A HOUSTONIAN WAS MURDERED IN THE STREETS OF MINNEAPOLIS, SPARKING THE LARGEST CIVIL RIGHTS REVIVAL OF MY LIFETIME.
PRESENTLY, WE'RE WITNESSING THE STIFLING AND DESTRUCTION OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY WITH MINNEAPOLIS AGAIN AT THE EPICENTER.
AND AS HEINOUS AS THE MURDERS AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ARE, WE'VE ALSO SEEN CITIZENS STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES AND STAND UP FOR ONE ANOTHER.
THESE MOMENTS IN TIME REMIND US, REMIND ALL OF US THAT OUR FATE AS A CITY, AS A COUNTRY, AND AS A HUMAN RACE ARE INEXTRICABLY TIED TOGETHER.
IN MY ROLE AS CONTROLLER, I OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE MATH, THE DOLLARS, THE NUMBERS.
BUT PUBLIC SERVICE IS ABOUT MORE THAN NUMBERS.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERY HOUSTONIAN SEES THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THE FUTURE THAT WE ARE BUILDING.
THAT'S WHY TODAY'S HONOREES ARE SO IMPORTANT.
THEY REPRESENT EXCELLENCE ACROSS MUSIC, ACROSS EDUCATION, SPORTS, AVIATION, COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, BUT BEYOND THEIR FIELDS.
THEY EACH REPRESENT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SUCCESS IS USED TO OPEN DOORS FOR OTHERS.
AS WE REFLECT ON 100 YEARS OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE'RE REMINDED OF SOMETHING POWERFUL.
AND AS THAT HISTORY IS ALIVE, IT'S WRITTEN BY ORDINARY PEOPLE, KIM, WHO CHOOSE TO HELP OTHERS TO UPLIFT, TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
[00:25:01]
AND BECAUSE OF THE LEADERS THAT WE HONOR TODAY, BECAUSE OF THE COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SERVING QUIETLY WITHOUT HONORS, WITHOUT RECOGNITION ACROSS THIS CITY, HOUSTON'S FUTURE REMAINS A PLACE WHERE ANYONE CAN BUILD A BETTER LIFE.THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO ENSURE THAT THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS OF BLACK HISTORY IN HOUSTON ARE WRITTEN WITH COURAGE, WITH PURPOSE, AND WITH EXCELLENCE.
MEET THE MOOLA SONGWRITER, WORLDCLASS VIOLINISTS AND AWARD-WINNING MULTI GENRE ARTISTS.
WE JUST TOOK HIS KEYS FOR THE DAY AND GAVE HIM A RIDE METRO FAIR CARD.
AND WHERE CAN DOOL GO? THE STUDIO TO RECORD A TRACK, PLAY A CONCERT, OR PERFORM THEAT BALL GAME.
LET'S GO VISIT RIDE METRO DO.ORG/MOLA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS RIDE MOMENTS.
SHARED WITH LOVED ONES ARE PRECIOUS JOY ENCHANTMENT CONNECTION.
IT'S WHY WE TRAVEL AT HOUSTON AIRPORTS.
WE KNOW THE MAGICAL FLIGHT BEGINS THE MOMENT YOU SECURE YOUR PARKING SPOT AND EMBARK ON YOUR JOURNEY.
THAT'S WHY WE WORK SO HARD TO BRING YOU THE MOST CONVENIENT PARKING SOLUTIONS THAT ARE THE BEST FIT FOR YOUR TRIP.
IF YOU'RE TRAVELING FOR BUSINESS OR LEISURE, WHETHER YOUR VOYAGE STARTS FROM BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL OR WILLIAM P.
HOBBY AIRPORT, OUR PARKING TEAM AT VALET PARKING ECO PARK, ECO PARK TWO OR TERMINAL PARKING IS HERE TO GIVE YOU A FIRST CLASS EXPERIENCE WITH A BIG TEXAS SMILE.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU TO ENSURE THIS MOMENT AND EVERY MOMENT IN BETWEEN WILL BE FILLED WITH GREAT MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME.
SO TRAVEL SMARTER, PARK SMARTER, AND GET MORE OF THE MOMENTS THAT MATTER IN HOUSTON.
THE WORLD DOESN'T JUST SHOW UP.
IT TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT STREET BY STREET, PITCH BY PITCH.
SOCCER LIVES HERE, FROM TACO TRUCKS TO GLOBAL FLAVORS, FROM MURALS TO MUSIC, THIS CITY MOVES TO AN INTERNATIONAL BEAT HERE.
SOCCER ISN'T JUST A GAME, IT'S A GLOBAL CELEBRATION.
SO BRING THE ENERGY, BRING THE PASSION BECAUSE IN 2026, THE WORLD PLAYS IN HOUSTON.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE CONTROLLER HOLLANDS COME BACK TO THE PODIUM.
HE'S GOT A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FOR OUR HONOREES CONTROLLER.
I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A FEW OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO, UH, HAVE JOINED US.
UM, I SEE CONGRESSMAN MENIFEE.
I SAW COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ, COUNCILMAN MARTINEZ, COUNCILWOMAN CARTER, AND COUNCILWOMAN ALCORN, I BELIEVE HAS ALSO JOINED US.
TODAY IS ABOUT SOMETHING POWERFUL AND SOMETHING PERSONAL.
COMMUNITY IS NOT JUST WHERE WE LIVE'S, ABOUT HOW WE SHOW UP FOR ONE ANOTHER.
IT'S A QUIET DECISION TO GIVE MORE THAN IS REQUIRED.
IT'S LEADERSHIP THAT SERVES IT'S EXCELLENCE THAT UPLIFTS.
THIS MORNING WE GATHER IN CELEBRATION OF SIX INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO EMBODY THE VERY BEST OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY HEROES, COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS, A COMMUNITY TRAILBLAZER, AND A COMMUNITY LEGEND.
EACH HONOREE REPRESENTS A DIFFERENT EXP EXPRESS EXPRESSION OF IMPACT, BUT THEY SHARE ONE THING IN COMMON.
THEY USE THEIR INFLUENCE TO ELEVATE OTHERS.
TODAY IS THE BRIGHTEST OF THIS DAY.
WE PAUSE TO SAY THANK YOU AND CELEBRATE THESE WONDERFUL LIVES WHO HAVE MADE OUR CITY EVEN STRONGER.
TRAILBLAZERS DON'T SIMPLY LEAD INSTITUTIONS.
TODAY WE HONOR A LEADER WHOSE VISION EXTENDS BEYOND THE CAMPUS GATES AND INTO THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR CITY.
AS PRESIDENT OF RICE UNIVERSITY, DR.
[00:30:01]
AT THE HAM OF ONE OF THE NATION'S PREMIER RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS.BUT WHAT MAKES HIM A COMMUNITY TRAILBLAZER IS NOT JUST HIS TITLE, IT'S HIS IMPACT.
UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, RICE HAS DEEPENED ITS COMMITMENT TO ACCESS INNOVATION AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP.
HE UNDERSTANDS THAT A GREAT UNIVERSITY DOES NOT JUST EXIST APART FROM ITS CITY.
DE ROCHE'S JOURNEY FROM ENGINEER AND SCHOLAR TO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT REFLECTS DISCIPLINE, EXCELLENCE AND PERSEVERANCE.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HIS LEADERSHIP REFLECT, REFLECTS INCLUSION OPPORTUNITY AND FORWARD THINKING.
HE IS EXPANDING PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS.
HE'S STRENGTHENING RESEARCH THAT SERVES SOCIETY.
HE IS POSITIONING HOUSTON AS A GLOBAL HUB FOR INNOVATION AND DISCOVERY.
TRAILBLAZERS CREATE PATHS THAT OTHERS CAN WALK.
AND BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT DEROCHE, NEW DOORS ARE OPENING EVERY DAY, NOT JUST AT RICE, BUT ACROSS THIS CITY.
SO TODAY WE ARE PROUD TO HONOR PRESIDENT DR.
REGINALD DEROCHE AS OUR COMMUNITY TRAILBLAZER, A LEADER SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON THROUGHOUT EDUCATION, VISION, AND SERVICE.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING PRESIDENT ROACH.
AND, AND, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR THIS HONOR.
IT'S, IT'S SO GREAT TO BE HERE.
UH, I'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON NOW, UH, UH, SEVEN YEARS, NINE YEARS, NINE YEARS.
AND IT'S, UH, IT TRULY IS MY CITY.
IT IS MY HOME, AND I'M, I'M HONORED TO BE HERE AND TO BE, UH, TO BE HONORED HERE TODAY.
LET ME THANK THE OFFICE OF THE CITY OF CONTROLLER FOR, UH, THIS GRACIOUS HONOR AND FOR THE RECOGNITION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN HOUSTON.
BLACK HISTORY IS NOT CONFINED TO A SINGLE MONTH.
IT LIVES EVERY DAY IN THE STORY OF HOUSTON.
BLACK HOUSTON CULTURE IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF WHAT MAKES THIS A WORLD CLASS CITY.
IT'S VIBRANCY, ITS CREATIVITY, ITS LEADERSHIP, AND ITS RESILIENCE.
I ALSO KNOW THAT THIS RECOGNITION IS NOT MINE ALONE.
I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF MANY FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, MENTORS, COLLEAGUES AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE SHAPED MY PATH AND OPENED DOORS OFF OFTEN UNDER FAR MORE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES THAN MY OWN, INCLUDING, UH, THE CONTROLLER'S UNCLE, WHO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK STUDENTS, UH, AT RICE UNIVERSITY IN THE EARLY 1970S.
I FOUND THAT OUT FROM YOUR FATHER, NOT FROM YOU, CHRIS.
I'M NOT SURE WHY YOU NEVER TOLD ME THAT, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
AT RICE, WE BELIEVE OUR ROLE IS TO SERVE HOUSTON.
OUR SUCCESS IS DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS CITY AND ITS COMMUNITIES.
THAT MEANS EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY, SUPPORTING EDUCATION, AND ENSURING TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE ALWAYS SEEN THEMSELVES AT PLACES LIKE RICE CAN IMAGINE A FUTURE THERE AND BEYOND.
HOUSTON HAS ALL ALWAYS BEEN A CITY OF POSSIBILITY.
THE LEGACY OF BLACK LEADERS IN EDUCATION, IN MUSIC AND SPORTS MEDICINE, LAW AND PUBLIC SERVICE, BUSINESS AND CIVIC LIFE HAS HELPED MAKE THAT TRUE FOR GENERATIONS.
SO I ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION NOT AS A FINISH LINE, BUT AS A REMINDER OF A RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP OPENING DOORS TO WIDEN PATHWAYS AND TO HELP THE NEXT GENERATION SEE THAT THEY BELONG IN EVERY SPACE WHERE LEADERSHIP AND CHANGE HAPPENS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS HUMBLING AND MEANINGFUL HONOR.
LET'S GIVE PRESIDENT DE ROCHE ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
UH, HIS HUMILITY CAN SOMETIMES, UM, KEEP US FROM SEEING HIS TRUE BRILLIANCE.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION RIGHT NOW, HIGHER EDUCATION ACROSS THIS COUNTRY IS IN TURMOIL, BUT YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ANY OF THAT AT RICE UNIVERSITY.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE HE HAS LED WITH GRACE, BUT HE HAS ALSO LED WITH
[00:35:01]
BOLDNESS, AND HE'S PUT THE SUCCESS OF HIS STUDENTS FIRST.AND SO WE WANNA THANK YOU ONE MORE TIME FOR DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, PRESIDENT MONROE.
AND THIS TIME I'M GONNA START BY INTRODUCING MYSELF.
SO MY NAME IS AUBREY CHRISTOPHER HOOPER.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR OF SERVING THE CITY AS THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF OF STAFF IN THE CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICE.
UM, SO WE'RE GOING TO TRANSITION FROM TALKING ABOUT TRAILBLAZERS TO TALKING ABOUT CHAMPIONS AND OUR COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS.
CHAMPIONS ARE NOT DEFINED ONLY BY WINS.
THEY ARE DEFINED BY WHAT THEY BUILD BEYOND THE SPOTLIGHT.
YES, DKO RYAN IS A RESPECTED LEADER IN THE NFL AND A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR HOUSTON.
BUT TODAY, WE HONOR SOMETHING EVEN GREATER.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP WORK HAPPENING OFF THE FIELD TOGETHER.
DKO AND JAMILA RYAN'S MODEL LEADERSHIP ROOTED IN FAITH, FAMILY AND SERVICE THROUGH THEIR PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS AND COMMITMENT TO YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THEY'RE INVESTING IN FUTURES, NOT JUST IN FOOTBALL SEASONS.
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT INFLUENCE IS STEWARDSHIP.
THEY UPLIFT FAMILIES, THEY SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE.
THEY SHOW UP, THEY SHOW, EXCUSE ME, THEY SHOW THE SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY IMPACT.
ALONGSIDE HER HUSBAND'S DISCIPLINED LEADERSHIP, CREATES A PARTNERSHIP THAT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE STADIUM BECAUSE OF THEM.
HOUSTON GROVES, PLEASE JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS, COACH DIKA RYAN AND HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE, JAMILA RANKS.
THIS IS SUCH A HUGE HONOR FOR NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT ME AND MY WIFE, AND, UM, JUST THE WORK THAT WE ASPIRE TO DO IN THE COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON SINCE 2006 NOW.
UH, IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME WHEN, UH, WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, LEAD THIS ORGANIZATION, THE HOUSTON, TEXAS.
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME, NOT ONLY TO MAKE IT ABOUT FOOTBALL, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT MYSELF, MY WIFE COULD HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SHE SPEARHEADS A LOT OF THE WORK.
I'M JUST THE ONE TALKING IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT SHE DOES ALL OF THE WORK ALONG WITH MY WIFE JAMILA, AND OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TINA HARRIS OF THE RYAN'S FAMILY FOUNDATION.
THEY JUST POINT ME IN THE DIRECTION, TELL ME WHERE TO GO, AND I SHOW UP.
WELL, NO, IT'S, UH, OUR WORK, THE WORK THAT WE TRY TO DO IS REALLY, I WAS PROUD TO SEE ALL OF THE YOUNG MEN WHO WERE HERE EARLIER AND JUST TRY TO, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
IT'S ABOUT INSPIRING THOSE WHO COME BEHIND US BECAUSE WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US.
AND SO YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT HERE, CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO POUR BACK INTO THIS COMMUNITY WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO IMPACT AND ENHANCE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
IT'S OUR GOAL TO ENHANCE THAT.
AND LET'S HELP CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SPECIAL.
WE'LL KEEP IT SPECIAL BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THIS ROOM.
SO THANK YOU TO OUR CONTROLLER, THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.
AND, UM, WE'RE JUST BLESSED AND HONORED TO BE IN A POSITION OF SERVICE JUST LIKE MANY OF YOU ARE IN THIS ROOM.
[00:40:05]
I KEEP FORGETTING TO TAKE PICTURES.UH, COACH RONS IS A NATIVE OF ALABAMA, BUT JAMILA IS A HOMEGROWN HOUSTONIAN FROM SUNNYSIDE, AND THEY MET AT CHURCH.
SO FOR ALL Y'ALL SINGLE FOLKS, STILL LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO ON SUNDAY.
UM, THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE LOOK AS, AS THE HEAD OF THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE.
I KNOW A LOT ABOUT TAKING CREDIT FOR THE WORK OF SO MANY PEOPLE WHO REALLY DO THE WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY.
UM, BUT THE, THE, THE RYANS FAMILY FOUNDATION, WE'VE ALREADY PARTNERED WITH THEM ON SEVERAL, UH, EFFORTS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING SO MUCH MORE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT TOGETHER, UH, WE ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN WE ARE A PART.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
SO NOW TRANSITIONING TO HEROES.
HEROES DON'T ALWAYS WEAR CAPES, BUT SOMETIMES THEY WEAR WINGS.
TODAY WE HONOR TWO MEN WHO NOT ONLY MAKE, WHO ARE NOT ONLY MAKING HISTORY AND AVIATION, BUT EXPANDING THE POSSIBILITY FOR AN ENTIRE GENERATION.
JAMIL AND JIL PAUL, I, I THINK I JACKED THAT UP.
A RARE ACHIEVEMENT IN AN INDUSTRY WHERE REPRESENTATION HAS LONG BEEN LIMITED.
BUT WHAT MAKES THEM COMMUNITY HEROES ISN'T JUST WHAT THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED.
IT'S WHAT THEY INSPIRE AT 300, EXCUSE ME, AT 30,000 FEET.
THEY COMMAND AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND.
THEY LIFT DREAMS. WHEN YOUNG PASSENGERS SEE THEM IN UNIFORM, SOMETHING POWERFUL HAPPENS.
BELIEF EXPANDS, BARRIERS, SHRINK FUTURES LOOK DIFFERENT.
THEY INTENTIONALLY SHARE THEIR STORIES.
THEY MENTOR, THEY REPRESENT EXCELLENCE WITH HUMILITY.
AND THROUGH THEIR VISIBILITY, THEY QUIETLY REMIND OUR COMMUNITY, YOU BELONG IN EVERY SPACE YOU PREPARE.
YES, TODAY IT'S THE LIGHT OF THE DAY.
WE CELEBRATE NOT JUST THEIR FLIGHT, BUT THE WAY THAT THEY HELP OTHERS TO SOAR.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY HEROES, THE PAUL TWINS, OH, FIRST OFF TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHO'S BECOME OUR NEW HOME.
THE HOSPITALITY IN THE SOUTH IS REALLY THE REAL DEAL.
YOU ALL HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE IN WELCOMING US.
WE COME FROM NEW JERSEY, UH, BERGEN COUNTY SPECIFICALLY HACK AND SACK.
SO WE HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF AN ACCENT BEFORE WE WENT TO HIGH FLIGHT SCHOOL AND WE LOST IT A LITTLE BIT.
BUT NONETHELESS, I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE HEARD THE MOST MELODIC VOICE OF MY BABY GIRL IN THE BACKGROUND SINGING THIS ENTIRE TIME ON BEHALF OF HER.
MY LITTLE BROTHER, MY FAMILY BACK HERE, MY INCREDIBLE WIFE WHO'S JUST TAKING CARE OF THE FORD AT HOME.
AND SHE'S THE TRULY INSPIRATIONAL ONE OUT OF ALL OF US.
UM, REALLY JUST TAKING CARE OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
SO I JUST WANNA THANK HER AND MY EXCEPTIONAL PARENTS AND FAMILY HERE, AND EVERYBODY HERE ON BEHALF OF JAL AND MYSELF.
WE ARE JUST MORE THAN PRIVILEGED AND GRATEFUL AND TRULY HUMBLE, UM, AND HONORED TO BE STANDING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED WITH SELECTING US IN THIS AWARD.
AND WE'RE VERY, VERY HUMBLED BY IT.
UM, IN REGARDS TO, UH, MR. HOLLINS AND, AND HIS REMARKS EARLIER, AS FAR AS THE LORD LEADING OUR STEPS,
[00:45:01]
WE DIDN'T KNOW WE'D BE IN HOUSTON, BUT, UH, HERE WE ARE.WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BE OBEDIENT IN OUR LIVES AND EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY DO WITH, UH, PASSING ON THE BATON OF INSPIRATION DOWN TO THE NEXT GENERATION AS FAR AS THAT, THAT GOES THERE.
SO WE'RE JUST VERY HONORED TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.
WE HOPE THAT WE LIFT MORE DREAMS THAN WE CAN IMAGINE.
NOT ONLY YOUNG, BUT OLD AS WELL.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE APPROACHED US IN THE AIRPORT WHO ARE OLDER THAN US, WHO HAVE SAID, HEY, YOUR STORY HAS INSPIRED US.
AND WE JUST TRULY HOPE THAT WE CAN BE A, A BEACON OF HOPE FOR MANY OUT THERE, NO MATTER WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE, WHERE THEY COME FROM, WHAT SOCIO BACKGROUND THEY, THEY DERIVE FROM THAT THEY CAN SAY, HEY, IF THERE'S A DREAM IN MY MIND, I CAN ACHIEVE IT, UH, PERIOD AT THE END OF THE DAY.
SO THAT'S OUR GOAL HERE, QUITE HONESTLY.
AND, UH, JAMIL ALREADY SAID A LOT OF STUFF, SO OFTENTIMES IN OUR LIFETIME.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, WHAT HE SAID, BUT, UH,
BUT, UH, YEAH, UH, AS HE ALREADY MENTIONED, WE'RE JUST ABSOLUTELY HUMBLED TO MY BRIDE, WHO'S SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE, WHO'S BEEN HERE FROM THE BEGINNING TO OUR MOTHER TO, UH, OUR SURROGATE PARENTS TO, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS WELL, TO, UH, AUNTIE ADAMS AS SHE KNOWS EFFECTIVELY TO, UH, EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN PART OF THIS JOURNEY.
UH, IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF WHAT THE LORD'S BEEN DOING.
SO WE'RE JUST GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF IT AS HE'S LEADING IT.
SO AS WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS, THE GOAL WAS ALWAYS TO INSPIRE.
AND SO AS THE YOUNG BOYS AND YOUNG GIRLS SEE US UP FRONT, IT'S ALWAYS TO TELL 'EM NOT ONLY THAT THEY CAN, BUT THEY WILL DO IT.
AND, UH, I HAVEN'T SEEN EARS, HAVEN'T HEARD, IT HAS NOT DAWN ON THE HEARTS OF MEN WHAT YOU COULD DO WHEN YOU TRUST LORD, WHEN YOU LOVE HIM.
AND AS I'VE LEARNED TO TRUST HIM WITH MY HEART AND LEAN NOT ON MY UNDERSTANDING, HE'S BEEN DOING EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL I COULD HAVE BEEN DOING.
AND SO AS HE CONTINUES TO DO THAT, I, I GOT THE SAME SUIT, MR. JUST, JUST WAITING FOR THE ORANGE JUICE.
BUT, UH, SO AS HE CONTINUES TO DO THAT, WE'RE JUST HUMBLED TO BE A VESSEL OF INSPIRATION.
AND IN CLOSING AS WELL, WE HAVE TO THANK OUR, OUR, OUR ONE AND ONLY INCREDIBLE, UH, MANAGER, MISS AUBREY.
SHE'S THE ONE WHO'S THE HEART.
SHE'S THE ONE WHO'S PUT OUR STORY OUT AND JUST REALLY MAKING THE CONNECTIONS.
SO, UH, WITHOUT HER, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD'VE BEEN ON FOX OR ANY OF THE MEDIA OUTLETS, UH, WHO SHE'D BEEN INCREDIBLE WITH INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS HISTORY.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR US THUS FAR.
UM, THANK YOU TO THESE BROTHERS.
I MEAN, SERIOUSLY INSPIRATIONAL.
UH, AND WE ALSO WANT TO THANK UNITED AIRLINES, WHO IS A CRITICAL PARTNER TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, DOING WHAT WE CAN DO.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THE WHITE HOUSE IS TUNED INTO THE LIVE STREAM, BUT BLACK FOLKS FLY PLANES TOO, AND THEY'RE QUALIFIED.
I KNOW THAT IS A, AS YOUNG FOLKS IN PARTICULAR STEPPING INTO THESE SPACES, UH, PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT YOU AND SAY, YOU SUPPOSED TO BE HERE.
AND THEY'RE PROVEN EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO BE THERE, BUT THEY'RE LEADING THE WAY.
APPRECIATE, UH, BOTH, UH, THE CONTROLLER AND AUBREY, WHO IS RUNNING A TIGHT SHIP HERE.
UH, I WANNA BRING UP, IN FACT, LET ME HAND YOU THAT WE'RE SHARING A MIC HERE.
I WANNA INTRODUCE YOU TO SOMEONE WHO IS REALLY THE DEFINITION OF EXCELLENCE IN MOTION.
HE IS A WORLD-CLASS VIOLINIST AND RECORDING ARTIST WHOSE TALENT HAS TAKEN HIM TO ARENAS ACROSS THE GLOBE AND MOST RECENTLY TO THE SUPER BOWL STAGE.
ALL RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
BUT HIS IMPACT DOES NOT STOP WITH THE SPOTLIGHT.
MICHAEL'S PASSION FOR MUSIC IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN SERVICE AND EDUCATION IN 2023.
HE FOUNDED HOOD ORCHESTRA, AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO OPENING DOORS, UPLIFTING COMMUNITIES, AND BUILDING A LIFELONG APPRECIATION FOR THE ARTS BY BRINGING MUSIC, EDUCATION, AND NON-TRADITIONAL EXPERIENCES TO UNDERSERVED STUDENTS.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS CERTAINLY ABOUT CELEBRATING THOSE WHO TURN THEIR TALENT INTO PURPOSE.
AND TODAY WE WANNA HONOR ONE OF THEM.
BUT PLEASE JOIN ME IN GIVING A VERY WARM WELCOME TO THIS MAN OF ALL TRADES.
I DIDN'T THINK A VIOLIN WOULD TAKE ME TO THE CITY HALL, BUT HERE I AM TODAY.
THANK YOU EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.
Y'ALL REALLY MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO EXIST IN HOUSTON.
[00:50:01]
IT'S FUNNY, LIKE I'VE TRAVELED ALL AROUND THE WORLD, BUT I MOVED RIGHT BACK TO THIRD WARD BECAUSE HOUSTON IS REALLY ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES ON THE PLANET.SO I'M JUST GONNA PLAY TWO SONGS.
ONE SONG IS CALLED PEACE AND LOVE.
IT'S FROM AN ALBUM I RELEASED A YEAR AGO CALLED I AM BLACK.
I'M VERY BIG ABOUT LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT I'M BLACK, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT MY HERITAGE, MY HISTORY.
COULD I BEGIN ONE MORE SONG? I, I, I HEARD YOLANDA ADAMS WAS HERE.
I ACTUALLY FELT YOUR PRESIDENT AS YOU WALKED IN THE DOOR.
AND I, THERE'S THIS SONG, Y'ALL PROBABLY HEARD IT.
AND I WAS TELLING MY MY GIRLFRIEND GABRIELLE EARLIER, I SAID, THIS SONG HAS PROBABLY SAVED A LOT OF LIVES.
YOU KNOW, YO, WHEN YOU'RE IN TRAFFIC AND IT'S LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT BE FEELING THE HEAP, AND THEN YOU TURN ON THAT SONG AND IT'S LIKE, BOOP.
SO I'M GONNA JUST, JUST START THIS SONG JUST TO HONOR YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW WE ARE HONORING YOUR LEGACY AS A COMMUNITY LEGEND AND AS A PERSON THAT'S, YOU'VE MADE A BIG IMPACT ON MY LIFE AS SOMEONE WHO'S A MUSICIAN FROM THIRD WARD, FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS.
I'VE GONE TO WHEELER A LOT, AND YOU'VE BEEN THERE SHOWING UP FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO I'M JUST GONNA START THE FIRST VERSE OF THIS PIECE.
COULD YOU TURN IT UP A LITTLE BIT IN THE BACK? PLEASE? TALK TO ME.
[00:55:01]
ME, IT, I FEEL SO LOST BECAUSE I, I AM SO AFRAID, AFRAID OF DISAPPOINTING YOU WHEN THANK YOU.YOU THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE WORLD, THE COMMUNITY, THE UNIVERSE.
SOMEBODY OUT THERE ON JUPITER IS LIKE YOLANDA.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR HAVING ME.
THE URBAN FABRIC OF HOUSTON IS WOVEN FROM THE AMBITIONS AND TRADITIONS OF PEOPLE AND IDEAS.
WE ARE A CITY OF COLLABORATORS WHO BUILD ON ONE ANOTHER'S INSPIRATION, STRENGTHS, AND CULTURES TO SHAPE A FUTURE WE ALL CAN SHARE.
WE ARE MORE THAN 7 MILLION INGREDIENTS THAT MAKE SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE DISCOVERED, TASTED, OR INVENTED ANYWHERE ELSE.
COME ON, A MOVEMENT, A MOMENT, A FUTURE.
WE ARE RESHAPING THE CULINARY LANDSCAPE.
CULTURES COMBINE TO CREATE A POWERFUL, FLAVORFUL TASTE OF THINGS TO COME.
CRAWFISH AND NOODLES, ASIAN FLAVORS, AND TEXAS STYLE BARBECUE.
JAPANESE TAPAS, KOREA MIX, AND NIGERIAN JAMBALAYA SET THE TABLE FOR A CREATIVE, INVENTIVE, COOPERATIVE SCENE.
THE POWER OF TOGETHER IS CREATING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE SHAPING AN ECOSYSTEM OF BUSINESSES IN ORBIT AROUND THE EARTH.
TAKING US TO THE MOON AND BEYOND.
COME ON, OUR TOGETHER IS ROCKET FUEL.
THE POWER OF TOGETHER IS THE POWER TO HEAL.
WE ARE DEVELOPING THE WORLD'S MOST ADVANCED RESEARCH CAMPUS AT THE WORLD'S LARGEST MEDICAL CITY.
THE GREATEST MINDS IN MEDICINE, SCIENCE, ACADEMIA, AND COMMERCE COLLIDE HERE.
RESEARCH AND BREAKTHROUGHS COME ON TOGETHER.
WE ARE POWER IN THE FUTURE, EVOLVING THE ENERGY, SUPPLY AND SCIENCE LEADING THE GLOBAL TRANSITION TO A MORE EFFICIENT, SUSTAINABLE, LOW CARBON FUTURE.
HOUSTON WELCOMES YOU TO SAY HELLO TO THE INCREDIBLE POWER AND INFINITE POSSIBILITY OF TOGETHER.
WE CANNOT WAIT TO MAKE TOMORROW TOGETHER.
WE COULD START BY TELLING YOU HOW SLEEK IT IS, HOW IT'S AT THE EDGE OF INNOVATION IN ITS INDUSTRY, THAT IT MAKES CONNECTIONS FASTER AND MORE CONVENIENT.
WE COULD PROMOTE THE FACT THAT EVEN TRAFFIC SIGNALS GIVE IT THE GREEN LIGHT AND THAT IT MOVES SO QUICKLY.
WE HAD TO GIVE IT ITS OWN LANE.
OR YOU COULD JUST RIDE, DISCOVER WHERE THIS RAIL LIKE RIDE IS GOING NEXT.
LEGENDS ARE BUILT OVER TIME THROUGH FAITHFULNESS EXCELLENCE AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT.
YOLANDA ADAMS IS MORE THAN AN INTERNATIONALLY CELEBRATED GOSPEL ARTIST.
SHE IS A MENTOR, A PHILANTHROPIST, A DAUGHTER OF THIS GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON WHOSE VOICE HAS CARRIED HOPE ACROSS GENERATIONS.
AS YOU JUST SAW, HER MUSIC HAS UPLIFTED US IN MOMENTS OF CELEBRATION.
[01:00:02]
IT HAS STRENGTHENED US IN SEASONS OF CHALLENGE.IT HAS REMINDED US TO HOLD ON AND TO BELIEVE.
BUT BEYOND THE AWARDS AND ACCOLADES, WHAT MAKES HER A COMMUNITY LEGEND IS HER HEART.
SHE HAS SUPPORTED CAUSES THROUGH STRENGTHENING FAMILIES.
SHE HAS REPRESENTED HOUSTON WITH GRACE ACROSS THE WORLD.
HER LEGACY CONTINUES TO SHINE.
TODAY WE CELEBRATE NOT JUST HER VOICE, BUT HER IMPACT.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY LEGEND, THE INCOMPARABLE YOLANDA ADAMS. YO, I I KNOW, UM, FIRST OF ALL, MICHAEL, YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO ME.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE TISSUE, DR.
UM, FIRST I HAVE TO THANK GOD MY LIFE IS SO AMAZING.
IT IS A COLLECTION OF ALL THE YESES THAT I GAVE BECAUSE I TOLD GOD YES, I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR HOUSTON.
JUST, I MEAN EVERY, EVERY ASPECT OF HOUSTON, MY LIFE AS A STUDENT AND, UM, AND HAVING SUCH AMAZING FRIENDS AND, UM, STUDENTS LIKE THE HOLLINS.
IT IS, WE NEVER WOULD'VE THOUGHT ROAMING THE HALLS OF ROSS SHAW STERLING, THAT YOU FAST FORWARD A WHOLE BUNCH OF YEARS AND THE NEPHEW OF TWO OF MY CO STUDENTS OR YOU KNOW, FRIENDS IS HONORING ME TODAY, THAT IT BLOWS MY MIND.
I WAS SITTING THERE THINKING ABOUT THAT AND TRYING NOT TO CRY.
AND THEN MICHAEL STARTS PLAYING AND THEN I JUST HAVE TO CRY.
BUT I HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED TO HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND LEGENDS BEFORE ME, LIKE BRENDA WATERS, CARL, PREACHER, SHIRLEY JOYNER, THEOLA BOOKER, PEOPLE WHO INVESTED IN ME AND DID WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
GIVING THEM A CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR OWN VOICES, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM.
THAT WHAT THEY'RE FEELING THEY CAN PUT OUT IN THE MUSIC, THEY CAN PUT OUT IN SPORTS, THEY CAN PUT OUT IN FINANCES, THEY CAN PUT OUT IN WHATEVER BRILLIANT THING GOD HAS PLACED THEM ON THIS EARTH TO DO.
AND NOW I HAVE TO THANK THOSE WHO ARE LIVING LEGENDS.
ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS AND BROTHERS IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD IS HERE WITH ME THIS MORNING, DR.
WITHOUT HIM, I KNOW A WHOLE LOT OF THIS WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.
I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE QUICK BACKSTORY BEFORE I GO TO MY SEAT.
MIKE AND I USED TO DO THINGS LIKE ROCKEFELLERS.
HOW MANY ROCKEFELLERS FOLKS WERE IN THE BUILDING WHEN THEY WERE LETTING ROCKEFELLERS DO GOSPEL.
[01:05:01]
SO WE WERE GOING ALL UP IN THERE CLEAN THOUGH.SO, UH, THERE'S A SONG CALLED THE BATTLE.
THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, IT'S THE LORD'S.
I RECORDED THAT SONG BEFORE I RECORDED OPEN MY HEART AND THE WORLD FOUND OUT WHO I WAS AS A SOLO ARTIST BECAUSE OF THE BATTLE.
AND I HAVE TO THANK HIM OPENLY AND PUBLICLY AND GLOBALLY FOR BEING SUCH A TRAILBLAZER AND A WONDERFUL PERSON IN MY LIFE.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOUR STEPS IN FRONT OF PEOPLE WILL DO TO IMPACT THEIR LIVES.
I HAVE ALWAYS HAD FAMILY TO RELY ON.
MY FAMILY IS THE MOST AMAZING FAMILY.
I WISH THEY WERE HERE BECAUSE THEY TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE SUCH A KIND PERSON.
NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU FIND YOURSELF IN LIFE.
WE HAD, AND I SAID THIS BEFORE, WE'VE HAD SO MANY EXPERIENCES AS A FAMILY WITH PEOPLE OF ALL ETHNICITIES, WITH PEOPLE, OF ALL RELIGIONS, WITH PEOPLE OF ALL.
I MEAN JUST, JUST WHEN IF, IF THERE WAS A MELTING POT, MY MOM AND MY DAD ALLOWED US TO EXPERIENCE PEOPLE ON EVERY LEVEL.
AND BECAUSE OF THE STATE OF THE WORLD, I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BE THAT PERSON THAT LOVES ON YOU AND HUGS ON YOU.
NO MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM, NO MATTER WHO YOU LOVE, NO MATTER HOW HARD YOUR JOURNEY HAS BEEN OR HOW OPULENT YOUR JOURNEY HAS BEEN, I HAVE TO BE THAT PERSON.
AND I THANK GOD FOR ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HOUSTON, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT HOUSTON.
Y'ALL HAVE PRAYED FOR ME IN PLACES YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT I NEEDED PRAYER.
YOU ALL HAVE REMAINED SO FAITHFUL.
EVERY TIME I DO SOMETHING IN THIS CITY, YOU ALL ARE ALWAYS THERE.
EVERYBODY CAN'T SAY THAT ABOUT THEIR CITY.
BUT I CAN DEFINITELY SAY THAT ABOUT HOUSTON.
I THANK YOU AND I THANK GOD FOR YOU AND, UH, CONTROLLER HOLLANDS.
I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
BUT I THANK GOD FOR THE LIVES OF YOUR PARENTS, YOUR AUNTS, YOUR UNCLES, ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO POURED INTO YOU TO MAKE YOU THE FABULOUS PERSON THAT YOU ARE.
NO TALK ABOUT SINGING CHILD MICHAEL THEN WORE ME OUT.
BE THE GLORY TO GOD, BE THE GLORY FOR THE THINGS THAT HE HAS DONE.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRINGING TO THE STATE.
I DON'T HAVE A, A WHOLE LOT TO SAY BECAUSE MICHAEL AND, AND YOLANDA AND AUBREY ALREADY COVERED IT.
BUT FOR SOME FOLKS, AND OFTEN IT'S, IT'S IT'S, YOU KNOW, AN ACTOR OR, UH, AN ATHLETE OR SOMETHING.
BUT WHEN THEY'RE DOING THEIR THING, YOU KNOW, AS A YOUNGSTER, YOU'RE YOUR, YOUR PARENT OR SOMEBODY WILL TAP YOU ON THE SHOULDER AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THEY FROM HOUSTON
AND SO I REMEMBER, UM, THAT'S ALL WE HAD ON THE, IN THE CAR WAS GOSPEL WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER.
UM, MY KIDS CAN'T SAY THE SAME, BUT, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE WERE LISTENING TO IN THE HOLLANDS HOUSEHOLD BACK THEN.
[01:10:01]
UH, AND MY DAD WOULD CONSISTENTLY REMIND ME, YOLANDA'S FROM HOUSTON.PRESENTING OUR, OUR LEGACY AWARD.
I'M GONNA BRING TO THE STAGE, UH, ALEX X. SMITH, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY, PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION IN THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE.
SO, AS AUBREY SAID, I'M ALEX SMITH.
I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY, PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION IN THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE.
AND TODAY I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE POSTHUMOUS LEGACY AWARD TO A LEGEND.
GROWING UP I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SHARING SEVERAL MOMENTS WITH MAYOR TURNER, MY STEPFATHER, WHO'S HERE TODAY.
OFFICER MYRON BRADY, SPENT 36 YEARS WITH HPD AND HE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING ON HIS OFFICIAL SECURITY DETAIL.
HE WAS BY HIS SIDE NEARLY EVERY DAY.
SO I ASKED HIM TO SHARE A STORY, ONE THAT WOULD REVEAL HIM AT HIS CORE.
I WAS LOOKING FOR A LASTING MOMENT THAT I COULD SHARE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
HE TOLD ME, UM, THAT THEY WERE AT THIS INTIMATE GATHERING AND THEY WERE LATE AND THEY STAYED LONGER THAN THEY HAD PLANNED.
WE, I'M SURE ALL THE POLITICIANS KNOW ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND THEY WERE RUNNING LATE FOR A LARGER EVENT.
SO THE TEAM'S GOAL WAS TO GET THE MAYOR OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, RIGHT? BY THIS TIME, MAYOR TURNER HAD ALREADY KISSED ALL THE BABIES, SHAKING ALL THE HANDS, TAKING ALL THE PHOTOS.
UM, THEY EVEN GOT JEFF, WHO I THINK IS HERE TODAY, HIS RIGHT HAND TO DO THAT GENTLE NUDGE AND SAY, OKAY SIR, I THINK IT'S TIME
AND SUDDENLY EVERYONE'S LINED UP.
THE MOTORS ARE RUNNING OUTSIDE.
AND JUST AS THEY WERE ABOUT TO HIT THE EXIT, A WOMAN STEPS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM AND SAYS, MAYOR TURNER, DO YOU REMEMBER ME?
I MET YOU AT THAT CHURCH THING.
YOU REMEMBER ME, RIGHT?
IF YOU KNOW HIM, THAT WAS HIM.
BUT IN THAT MOMENT, SHE WAS WHERE HE NEEDED TO BE FOR HIM, LEADERSHIP WAS ABOUT MAKING PEOPLE FEEL SEEN THROUGH POLICY, SEEN THROUGH ADVOCACY, AND IN HER CASE, THROUGH A HUG.
SO I TAKE A DANCING, WELL, I TAKE A LINE DANCING CLASS IN THE GYM DOWNSTAIRS.
IT'S ACTUALLY A GYM, UH, MAYOR TURNER BUILT.
AND EVERY TIME I GO, I HAVE THIS MOMENT OF GRATITUDE.
'CAUSE I APPRECIATE HOW WE'RE STILL MOVING IN THE PLACES AND SPACES THAT HE MADE POSSIBLE.
AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH Y'ALL THIS MORNING, NO MATTER HOW MUCH I PRACTICE, I WILL NEVER BE AS SMOOTH AS THAT MAN WAS ON HIS FEET.
I KNOW THAT
AND HE OFFERED US SOMETHING GREATER THAN HIS POLICY, HIS PRESENCE.
MANY OF US KNEW HIM AS A REPRESENTATIVE OR MAYOR OR CONGRESSMAN, BUT TO ASHLEY TURNER, HE WAS DAD, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR FATHER WITH ALL OF US.
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE, IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT THE POSTHUMOUS LEGACY AWARD AND RECOGNITION OF A LIFE THAT TRANSFORMED THIS CITY AND CONTINUES TO INSPIRE IT.
ASHLEY, WOULD YOU DO ME THE FAVOR? JOIN ME ON STAGE AND TAKING, TAKING A PHOTO.
[01:15:04]
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.WE HAVE EDITS AND PHOTOS BECAUSE I WAS HOLDING IT.
AND THEN YOLANDA CAME UP AND SANG THAT SONG.
UH, BUT FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO, UH, CONTROLLER HOLLANDS.
UH, IT'S SO NICE TO BE BACK IN THIS BUILDING THAT MY FAMILY AND I PRETTY MUCH CALLED HOME FOR EIGHT YEARS.
UM, THIS WAS MY DAD'S DREAM JOB WAS TO BE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
YOU'VE ALL HEARD THE STORY OF HIM ON THE BUS, ON THE FOFO, UH, AS A KID.
AND HE SAID, ONE DAY, I WANNA WORK IN ONE OF THOSE TALL BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN.
AND GOSH, LOOK WHAT THE GOOD LORD CAN DO IF HE WAS HERE TODAY.
WE ALL KNOW HE WOULD PROBABLY START OUT TALKING ABOUT HOW HE STARTED SINGING WITH YOLANDA ADAMS, OR YOU KNOW, HOW HE WAS IN THE CHOIR AND BE MICHAEL MCKAY KICKED HIM OUT.
UH, AND HE HAD THIS WAY OF BRINGING LEVITY TO ANY SITUATION.
HE HAD A WAY OF SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER AND THEN TELLING A JOKE, BRINGING REASSURANCE, AND THEN ENDING IT WITH A LINE DANCE SOMETIMES ALL WITHIN THE SAME HOUR.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT WE LOVED ABOUT HIM.
HE HAD THIS ABILITY TO CONNECT.
BUT WHAT I LOVED MOST ABOUT MY DAD IS THAT HE COULD AMPLIFY THE VOICE OF ANY COMMUNITY AND STILL NOT DISPARAGE HIS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS.
HE COULD TALK ABOUT ANY COMMUNITY AND STILL RECOGNIZE THE BEAUTIFUL ACRES HOME COMMUNITY, STILL RECOGNIZE HIS OWN BLACK EXCELLENCE BECAUSE HE REALLY DID UNDERSTAND THAT I DON'T HAVE TO DIM ANYBODY'S LIGHT FROM MY TO SHINE BRIGHT.
AND SO LET THAT BE PART OF THE LEGACY THAT WE TAKE ON AND PASS ON TO OUR CHILDREN.
AND THAT'S THE POST THAT I NOW HOLD, YOU KNOW, BEING THE PHYSICAL REPRESENTATION OF WHO HE IS.
BUT ONE THING I MUST SAY, THE LAST TIME I WAS IN THIS BUILDING WAS ALMOST A YEAR AGO WHEN MY FATHER WAS LYING IN STATE.
SO TO BE BACK HERE FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, TO CELEBRATE HIS BLACK EXCELLENCE, TO BE A REMINDER OF ALL THE THINGS THAT HE GAVE TO OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE HE REALLY DID GIVE IT HIS ALL.
AND I REMEMBER ONE TIME I WAS AT HOME WITH HIM, UM, AND I THINK IT HAD BEEN A TOUGH DAY.
AND I ASKED HIM SOMETHING ABOUT BEING MAYOR.
AND HE WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT ASH, THE THING ABOUT LEADERSHIP, SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU SAY AND PEOPLE MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU DO, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU HAVE TO COME HOME AND LOOK YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE GOOD LORD.
AND AS LONG AS YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT, THEN THAT IS JUST FINE.
AND I HAVE NOW LIVED MY LIFE WITH THAT, THAT AS LONG AS YOU ARE OKAY WITH THAT AND YOU CAN LOOK YOURSELF IN THE EYE, THEN IT IS JUST FINE.
BECAUSE I HAVE LEARNED IN THIS LAST YEAR THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IN YOUR DARKEST SEASON, GOD IS STILL GOOD.
IF I STARTED TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS ON THE HONORABLE SYLVESTER TURNER, NUMBER ONE, I'D LOSE IT.
NUMBER TWO, WE'D BE HERE ALL AFTERNOON.
UM, A GREAT MAN, A GREAT PUBLIC SERVANT, UM, AS HE STATED THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, AND AS ASHLEY STATED IN HER EULOGY OF HIM, UH, HE DID NOT PULL THAT CAR OVER WHEN THERE WAS GAS IN THE TANK.
HE RAN IT ALL THE WAY TO THE END.
HE GAVE HIMSELF TO HIS VERY LAST DAY AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL.
AND AS WE GIVE HIM THIS POSTHUMOUS LEGACY AWARD, WE KNOW, ASHLEY, THAT YOU ARE HIS LEGACY.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, AND JIMMY KNOWS THAT THAT BABY BOY IS YOUR LEGACY.
AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, AND WE THANK YOU FOR SHOULDERING THE BURDEN THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO AS FIRST DAUGHTER AND FOR CONTINUING TO DO THINGS
[01:20:01]
LIKE THIS WHERE WE CAN HONOR YOUR FATHER'S MEMORY.BETWEEN MICHAEL AND YOLANDA AND ASHLEY, I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MOP THE FLOOR IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
WELL, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY AS WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
THIS HAS BEEN CONTROLLER, IT REALLY IS INCREDIBLE.
YOU REMIND ME OF WHY WE ALL LOVE HOUSTON SO MUCH.
SO IF YOU WOULD EVERYBODY GIVE YOURSELF A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR BEING A PART OF THE LARGEST EVENT IN THE LEGACY ROOM'S, UH, HISTORY, WHICH IS PRETTY REMARKABLE.
IT HAS TRULY BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE AS YOUR MC THIS MORNING.
HOUSTON IS A CITY FUEL BY BRILLIANCE, LEADERSHIP, AND LASTING IMPACTS OF SO MANY BLACK HOUSTONIANS.
AND THIS MONTH IT'S ABOUT LIFTING UP THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS AND AMPLIFYING THE WORK THAT CONTINUES TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I DO WANNA THANK THE CONTROLLER ONCE AGAIN FOR PULLING US ALL TOGETHER TODAY AND, UH, REMINDING SO MANY EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, UH, WHY WE LOVE IT.
SUMMER'S NOT WITHSTANDING MOSQUITOES AS BIG AS PLANES,
YOU KNOW HOW IT IS WHEN YOUR FRIENDS FROM OTHER PLACES, THEY SAY WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THAT CITY? WE SAY, DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT IT.
I DO WANNA THANK AUBREY AND THE CONTROLLER FOR JUST A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PROGRAM.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND THAT, SO I WANT TO THANK THEM AS WELL.
UM, AND ALSO I DIDN'T INTRODUCE MY FAVORITE CITY EMPLOYEE, NO OFFENSE ANYBODY ELSE.
MY SISTER ROXANNE WHO HAS DOUBLED IS MY PAPARAZZI TODAY.
SO, AS WE PREPARE FOR OUR FINAL MOMENTS TOGETHER, PLEASE ENJOY THIS FINAL PERFORMANCE BY THE TSU CHOIR.
AND AFTER THEY MAKE THEIR PRESENTATION, OUR WONDERFUL CITY CONTROLLER WILL JOIN US TO CLOSE OUT THE CELEBRATION.
I THINK, I THINK WE HAD ONE, UH, SMALL ERROR IN THE PROGRAM.
'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE ONE AWARD STILL LEFT UP HERE, RIGHT, HARPER? YEP.
SO FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY CO-CONSPIRATOR, UM, ROXANE
TRAILBLAZERS DON'T JUST FOLLOW HISTORY MM-HMM
FOR DECADES, MELANIE LAWSON HAS BEEN A TRUSTED VOICE IN HOUSTON HOMES THROUGH A BC 13.
BUT HER IMPACT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE NEWSROOM.
SHE HAS ELEVATED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT EDUCATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY.
SHE HAS MODERATED FORMS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY AND AMPLIFY VOICES THAT DESERVE TO BE HEARD.
IN AN ERA WHERE INFORMATION MOVES SO FAST, SHE REMAINS A STEADY HAND LEADING WITH INTEGRITY, CLARITY, AND PURPOSE.
MEL, MELANIE UNDERSTANDS THAT STORYTELLING IS SERVICE BECAUSE OF HER COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN SEEN BECAUSE OF HER LEADERS HAVE BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE OF HER.
HOUSTON HAS BEEN INFORMED WITH DIGNITY.
TODAY WE CELEBRATE HER CONSISTENCY, HER PROFESSIONALISM, AND HER ENDURING IMPACT.
WE PROUDLY HONOR MELANIE LAWSON AS OUR OTHER COMMUNITY, TRAILBLAZER, A WOMAN WHOSE VOICE HAS HELPED TO GUIDE THE CITY FORWARD AND WHOSE LEGACY CONTINUES TO INSPIRE GENERATIONS OF STORYTELLERS AND CIVIC LEADERS.
BECAUSE SHE CHOSE TO TELL ITS STORY.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY TRAILBLAZER.
[01:25:01]
MELANIE LOSS.FIRST OF ALL, THAT WAS INCREDIBLY SNEAKY, UH, AS I TOSS TO THE NEXT THING.
UH, BUT SECONDLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, AND TALK ABOUT IT BEING AN UNBELIEVABLE COMPANY.
UM, BUT, BUT I DO WANNA SAY THAT THIS IS A CITY I LOVE DEARLY.
UH, I, WE CAME HERE WHEN I WAS BARELY A YEAR OLD.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY? I'M NOT FROM HERE, BUT I GOT HERE AS SOON AS I COULD.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT MY FAMILY DID.
BUT I AM SO PROUD OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THIS CITY, AND MY JOY HAS BEEN IN TELLING SOME STORIES THAT MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE OUT THERE.
UH, AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO ALWAYS KNOW THAT THERE'S SOMEONE IN THE NEWSROOM IN THOSE EDITORIAL MEETINGS SAYING, NO, WE GO DO THIS STORY ON THIRD WARD.
UM, BUT I AM SO GRATEFUL TO YOU ALL AND, AND HAVE ENJOYED ALL OF MY DECADES.
UM, AND I JUST APPRECIATE THIS SO MUCH MORE THAN I CAN SAY.
MELANIE, UH, YOU, ROXANNE AND CHERYL ALSO KNOW, UH, HOW IT FEELS TO, TO BE THE LEGACY OF, OF SOMEONE WHO HAS TOUCHED THIS COMMUNITY.
I, I, WHEN, WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, MY FAMILY ATTENDED BRASSWOOD ASSEMBLY OF GOD.
BUT MY GRANDMOTHER, THE PRAYER WAR IN OUR FAM FAMILY, MARY LEE HOLLANDS, UH, WAS THERE FAITHFULLY AT, AT WHEELER AVENUE.
AND, UM, WE GREW UP WALKING IN THERE AND SEEING THIS GIANT WILLIAM ALEXANDER LAWSON.
UH, BUT HIS DAUGHTERS HAVE DONE SO MUCH IN THEIR OWN RIDE, IN THEIR OWN STEAD.
AND, AND YOU ARE CERTAINLY ONE OF THOSE THREE WHO HAVE DONE IT, UH, AND HAVE DONE IT AGAIN WITH, WITH SO MUCH GRACE, SO MUCH FERVOR, SO MUCH COMMITMENT.
UH, WE'RE SO, SO GRATEFUL TO YOU.
BUILT IN 1926, THIS FORMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LOCATED IN HOUSTON'S HISTORIC FRIEDMANS TOWN HOUSES, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY RESEARCH CENTER.
THIS CENTER IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND PROMOTING THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN HOUSTON, THE GULF COAST AND BEYOND.
WE PROVIDE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND OTHER SPECIAL COLLECTIONS.
WE ALSO HOST A VARIETY OF EVENTS, EXHIBITS AND MORE CONNECT, REFLECT AND BE INSPIRED BY THE LIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.
MEET DIO CHOCO MASTER OF DANCE AND LEGENDARY ENTERTAINER.
WE JUST TOOK HIS KEYS FOR THE DAY AND GAVE HIM A RIDE METRO FAIR CARD.
AND WHERE CAN CHOCO GO? AA IN THE HEIGHTS, A DANCE OFF DOWNTOWN OR SOUTHSIDE WEDDING AT THE END OF HIS TRAVELS HEAT.
WHERE'S CHOCO NOW? VISIT RIDE METRO.ORG/CHOCO TO FIND OUT WHERE IS CHOCO IN HOUSTON.
THE WORLD DOESN'T JUST VISIT, IT BELONGS FLAVORS FROM EVERY CONTINENT.
CULTURES COLLIDING BEAUTIFULLY BOLDLY HERE.
SOCCER ISN'T JUST A GAME, IT'S A LANGUAGE SPOKEN ON EVERY BLOCK IN EVERY PARK WITH EVERY HEARTBEAT.
THIS IS WHERE THE WORLD COMES TOGETHER FOR EVERY FLAVOR, EVERY GOAL, EVERY MOMENT COME READY TO PLAY.
COME READY TO CELEBRATE AS HOUSTON WELCOMES THE THE WORLD IN 2026.
ASHTON JONES AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS DIRECTOR OF CHOIRS AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
UM, WE ARE SO DELIGHTED TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU, UH, CONTROL HOLLANDS AND, UH, YOUR TEAM FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
WE ARE GRATEFUL, UH, TO SING AND SHARE WITH YOU ALL IN SONG AS WE JOURNEY THROUGH HISTORY.
IN THIS HUNDREDTH YEAR, UM, CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH A AFRICAN GREETING, UH, WHICH TAKES US BACK TO THE MOTHERLAND, RIGHT? UH, WHICH MEANS SUR DIE.
IT'S SIMILAR TO, UH, THE WORD JAMBO, UH, WHICH IS SWAHILI OR SHALOM, THE HEBREW, HEBREW WORD.
SO JUST LOOK AT SOMEBODY AND SAY SODA.
SO WE'LL BEGIN WITH THAT AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UM, UH, THE NEGRO SPIRITUAL, WHICH SONGS BIRTHED RIGHT HERE ON AMERICAN SOIL HONORING, UH, THAT TIME IN HISTORY.
AND WE'LL END WITH THE GOSPEL.
[01:30:04]
I SAY THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY GREETINGS MY BROTHER, EVERYBODY LOVE ONE, ONE.
[01:35:01]
ORDER MY STEPS IN YOUR WORD.PLEASE ORDER MY STEPS IN YOUR WHILE YOU BE STILL IS BUSY.
ORDER MY STEPS IN YOUR PLEASE.
ORDER MY STEPS IN YOUR BE ACCEPTABLE SIDE DAY.
PLEASE ORDER MY STEPS IN THE, OH, YOU ARE STILL THE SAME.
PLEASE ORDER MY IN THEIR HEARTS.
HUMANS PLAN THEIR COURSE, BUT THE LORD ESTABLISHES THEIR STEPS.
AS WE CLOSE TODAY'S CELEBRATION.
I'M GONNA LEAVE YOU WITH THIS REMINDER ONE MORE TIME.
100 YEARS AGO, DR. CARTER G WOODSON CREATED WHAT WOULD BECOME BLACK HISTORY MONTH BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THAT HISTORY SHOULD GUIDE OUR FUTURE, NOT JUST OUR PAST.
PROGRESS THAT WAS BY NO MEANS GUARANTEED AT THE OUTSET, BUT THAT WAS PURCHASED WITH THE BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS OF SO MANY TODAY REMINDS US THAT HISTORY IS STILL BEING WRITTEN AND EACH OF US HAS A ROLE IN SHAPING IT.
WE CAN SEE THE WRITERS OF HISTORY IN THIS ROOM,
[01:40:01]
THE LEADERS, THE THINKERS, THE ACTIVISTS, THE YOUNG PEOPLE.IF WE REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR CONVICTIONS AND OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING OTHERS AND OUR COMMITMENT TO SEEING THE BEST IN ONE ANOTHER, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO PERSEVERING THROUGH ADVERSITY AND OUR COMMITMENT TO UPHOLDING THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE SET BY OUR FOREFATHERS AND FOREMOTHERS, THEN THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS OF BLACK HISTORY IN HOUSTON WILL BE EVEN STRONGER.
I WANNA THANK YOU ALL ONE MORE TIME FOR BEING HERE.
UH, IN A LAST SET OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO WERE PRESENT, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, JONATHAN FBA, OUR HOUSTON CITY COLLEGE BOARD MEMBER, MR. LALU DAVIES YEAN, AND OUR FORMER HARRIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR.
MR. OTIS ERU, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU TO OUR MISTRESS OF CEREMONY AND HONOREE, MS. MELANIE LAWSON, TO ALL OF OUR HONOREES, TO THE STAFF AND TEAM OF THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
I'M JUST NAME A COUPLE, MR. AUBREY HOOPER, MISS RAVEN HOLLANDS, NO RELATION.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR HARD WORK IN DOING THIS TO THE ENTIRE STAFF OF THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE THAT KEEP THIS CITY HUMMING EVERY SINGLE DAY, MAKE SURE THAT THE 23,000 EMPLOYEES OF THIS CITY GET THEIR PAYCHECKS ON PAYDAY, AND THAT WE'RE WATCHING EVERY DOLLAR TO CRACK DOWN ON WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE.
WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY TO SERVE THIS CITY.
UH, FINALLY, AS WE TAKE STEPS TOWARD DEPARTURE, WE HAVE REFRESHMENTS, UH, HERE FROM GATLIN.
BUT WE HAVE REFRESHMENTS, UH, FROM GATLIN.
UH, WE WANT YOU TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT YOU GET TO KNOW SOMEBODY YOU DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE YOU GOT HERE TODAY.
AGAIN, WHAT MAKES HOUSTON, HOUSTON IS US COMING TOGETHER.
AND SO PLEASE MAKE A NEW FRIEND.
PLEASE SPEND MORE TIME IN YOUR LEGACY ROOM IN YOUR CITY HALL.
BUT WE THANK YOU FOR BEING, UH, HERE.
ONE MORE TIME FOR ANOTHER PHENOMENAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION.