[00:00:19]
THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT FOR THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION, THE OFFICIAL CONSTRUCTION START OF TRINITY EAST SENIOR 90 BRAND NEW APARTMENTS TO SERVE OUR LOCAL SENIORS.
WE DO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT AND JUST SAY A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE AMAZING STAFF AT THE HISTORIC EL DORADO BALLROOM WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
UM, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THE COMFORT AND THE SHELTER OF THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND THE SERVICE OF THE STAFF AND WATER AT OUR BIDDING.
UM, WE HEARD FROM OUR, OUR WONDERFUL CONSTRUCTION TEAM, COREY, OVER HERE, THAT HE WAS WILLING TO BRING DRY DIRT ON HIS BACK TO THE SITE, BUT THANKFULLY WE DID NOT HAVE TO DO IT.
UM,
SO WHILE WE ARE NOT AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE, WE DO INVITE YOU TO LOOK AT THE PICTURES AND LATER, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THE ADDRESS.
WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO DRIVE BY AND SEE IT.
IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER ON MCGOWAN.
THE NHP FOUNDATION IS SO PLEASED TO CONSIDER HOUSTON PRIORITY MARKET IN OUR PORTFOLIO.
THIS CITY OF HOUSTON IS SO RECEPTIVE TO INCREASING HOUSING, HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS AND OUR LEADERSHIP UNDER OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO ERIC PRICE IS DEDICATED TO BRINGING MORE OF IT TO THIS REGION.
AND SO TO TALK A BIT MORE ABOUT THE TRINITY EAST SENIOR VILLAGE PROJECT AND OUR COMMITMENT TO HOUSTON, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO ERIC PRICE.
ON BEHALF OF THE NHP FOUNDATION AND OPERATION PATHWAYS, I WANNA WELCOME EVERYONE HERE TODAY.
I REALIZE THAT PROJECTS LIKE THIS CAN TAKE MANY YEARS TO PUT TOGETHER AND TAKE LONG-TERM SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE SO MANY OF YOU OUT HERE TODAY.
WHILE IT'S BEEN SEVEN YEARS IN THE MAKING FOR US, WE REALIZED THAT MANY OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE HAD A VISION THAT GOES BACK MUCH LONGER.
AND I WANT TO TRULY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE A PART OF THAT VISION.
I WANNA BEGIN BY THANKING OUR PARTNERS, TRINITY EAST VILLAGE, CDC, AND TRINITY EAST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MEMBERS FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THEY, ALONG WITH THE WIDE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, CONCLUDING STRONG CITY COUNCIL, SUPPORT, SUPPORT OF LOCAL UNIVERSITIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND NEIGHBORS THAT WILL BRING MUCH NEEDED AND VITAL RESIDENTIAL SERVICES TO LOCAL SENIORS WHO WANT TO AGE IN PLACE.
THIS PROJECT MARKS OUR FOURTH CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN THE PAST SIX YEARS, AND IT HAS ONLY BEEN POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE HOUSTON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, THE HOUSTON POLICE, AND HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLES.
ALL PROVIDED CRITICAL SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT TO KEEP THIS PROJECT ON TRACK, FOCUSING PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES IN THE AREA AND ENABLING US TO CELEBRATE HERE TODAY WHEN CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE.
NHPF AND TRINITY EAST VILLAGE, CDC, LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING AT LEAST 60 CURRENT COONEY HOME RESIDENTS TO THE NEW PROPERTY.
IN ADDITION TO OTHER LOW INCOME SENIORS FROM AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND CITY, WE'RE HONORED TO BE PART OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES EFFORTS TO REDEVELOP AND REVITALIZE COONEY HOMES AND THE GREATER THIRD WARD.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
IN ADDITION TO THE PUBLIC SUPPORT, I WANT TO THANK MID TIME REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND I WANNA THANK, UH, BANK OF AMERICA WHO IS NOT HERE, BUT THEY'RE BOTH THE DEBT LENDER IN THIS PROJECT AND THEY ALSO ARE PROVIDING EQUITY, UH, TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD.
UM, ALSO I REALIZED THAT NOT ALL OF OUR FUNDERS WILL BE SPEAKING HERE TODAY.
SO I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GENEROUS GRANT FROM RICE REAL ESTATE GROUP.
HOPE I PRONOUNCED THAT CORRECTLY.
HE WAS A CHAMPION FOR THIS PROJECT AND WE ARE JUST VERY DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK THE NHP TEAM.
UH, JOHN WELSH IS HERE, IS THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE JOHN IS, BUT RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND I WANT TO GIVE A VERY, UH, SPECIAL, SPECIAL THANK YOU TO LAUREN OLI.
LAUREN, WHERE ARE YOU AT? UH, I WANNA THANK LAUREN FOR ALL THE WORK, UH, THAT LAUREN HAS DONE.
SO I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF SPEAKERS.
[00:05:01]
ON TAKING LONG, UH, UP HERE RIGHT NOW.AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO NEXT IS I WANT TO INTRODUCE, UH, REVEREND MELINDA OWENS TRINITY DE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, SENIOR PASTOR AND A CHAMPION OF THE HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT, AND SHE'S GOING TO DELIVER THE INVOCATION.
HOLY GOD, IT IS IN YOU, GOD, THAT WE LIVE, WE MOVE AND WE HAVE OUR BEING.
WE GIVE YOU HONOR, WE GIVE YOU GLORY.
IT IS BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITHFULNESS, GOD, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GATHER TODAY AND CELEBRATE THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE TRINITY EAST VILLAGE SENIOR APARTMENTS.
GOD, WE KNOW THAT EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT COMES FROM YOU.
SO WE THANK YOU, GOD, FOR THE VISION THAT YOU PLACED IN THE HEART OF THOSE WHO DREAMED OF THIS DAY.
LORD GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE LEADERS WHO NEVER GAVE UP.
WE THANK YOU FOR EVERY DONOR, EVERY VOLUNTEER, EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER, EVERY PUBLIC OFFICIAL WHO MADE THIS STAY POSSIBLE.
GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE SENIORS THAT WILL RESIDE AND TRINITY EAST VILLAGE SENIOR APARTMENTS.
GOD, WE PRAY THAT IT WILL BE MORE THAN JUST A BUILDING.
GOD, WE PRAY THAT IT WILL BE A PLACE OF PEACE, HEALING, JOY, FRIENDSHIP.
WE PRAY THAT EVERY RESIDENT WILL FEEL LOVED AND VALUED, LORD.
SO GOD, WE DEDICATE THE PROJECT, THE LAND AND EVERYONE WHO WILL BE BLESSED BY IT, GOD TO YOU.
AND IT'S IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE A MAYOR WHO HAS MADE EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING A TOP PRIORITY AND IS COMMITTED TO KEEPING HOUSTON THE MOST AFFORDABLE BIG CITY IN THE NATION.
THROUGH STRONG LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIPS LIKE TRINITY EAST VILLAGE SENIOR, HE'S ENSURING LONGTIME HOUSTONIANS, ESPECIALLY OUR SENIORS, CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY CALL HOME.
PLEASE JOIN ME AND WELCOMING MAYOR JOHN WHITMORE.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU PRESIDENT PRICE AND THANK YOU CERTAINLY TO NHPF FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER.
THERE'S SO MUCH ON MY MIND THIS AFTERNOON.
WE'RE DEALING WITH TRAGIC, TRAGIC EVENTS, WHICH TOGETHER WE WILL OVERCOME.
WHAT'S ON MY MIND IS I COULDN'T WAIT TO GET HERE BECAUSE PASTOR, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY BETTER THAN MOST OF US.
THE COMMUNITY NEEDS SOME GOOD NEWS, AND WE'RE AT THE RIGHT PLACE.
I'VE DONE A LOT OF GROUNDBREAKINGS IN MY CAREER.
THIS IS A FIRST TO BE AT THE EL DORADO BALLROOM THAT HAS BROUGHT JOY FOR DECADES.
I'M NOT SURE IT'S EVER BEEN USED FOR A GROUNDBREAKING, BUT WHY NOT? AS MR. PRICE SAID, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A NECESSITY.
EVERY COMMUNITY ALSO HERE IN HOUSTON, ALL MAJOR CITIES HAVE CHALLENGES.
THE DIFFERENCE IN US AND OTHER MAJOR CITIES, WE'RE MEETING OUR CHALLENGES, BUT WE'RE NOT DOING IT ALONG IN CITY GOVERNMENT.
I LOOK OUT, I SEE MR. LER, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, I SEE THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY.
[00:10:01]
DEVELOPMENT INDIVIDUALS, I SEE THE CHURCH, AND THE LIST IS TOO LONG.CHAIRING THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, TIFFANY THOMAS HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE.
AND I COULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER.
A GOOD COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABAZZ.
AND I WISH, I WISH WE HAD TIME TO NAME EVERYONE THAT WAS HERE.
ONE INTEREST OF POINT OF INTEREST IS Y'ALL ARE CALLING 55 YEARS SENIORS
WE'RE GONNA WELCOME FOLKS 55 AND OLDER, AND I THOUGHT, MAN, TIME HAS CHANGED.
DON'T Y'ALL KNOW OUR LIFE EXPECTANCY HAS BEEN LENGTHENED.
OUR WORK, OUR WORK ETHIC HAS BEEN LENGTHENED, BUT I'M AT THE RIGHT PLACE TO OUR RESIDENTS OF CUNY HOME.
A COMMITMENT MADE IS A COMMITMENT KEPT.
YOU'RE AT THE TOP OF THE PRIORITY LIST.
AS I SAID WHEN I GOT UP HERE, THIS IS A RE JOYFUL DAY.
ENJOY THE MOMENT THAT WE'RE IN.
IT'S A STATEMENT THAT THIRD WARD WILL NEVER, EVER BE FORGOTTEN AGAIN.
AND THAT SENIORS, WE OWE SO MUCH TO YOU BECAUSE HOUSTON'S A GREAT CITY BECAUSE OF THOSE THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE US.
WITH THAT, LET ME SIT DOWN AND ENJOY THE PROGRAM AND THEN I WILL LEAVE HERE FOR MORE CHALLENGES.
THANK YOU, YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR WHITMEYER.
IT IS NOW MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE A DEVOTED PUBLIC SERVANT WHO HAS SUPPORTED NHP F'S WORK IN HOUSTON AND THE THIRD WARD FOR YEARS.
AND SHE OFTEN REFERENCES THE CITY'S RESOLVE TO UPLIFT EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER THROUGH MEANINGFUL INITIATIVES.
WE'RE CERTAINLY HAPPY THAT TRINITY EAST SENIOR FITS INTO THAT CATEGORY.
PLEASE WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ, DISTRICT D CITY HOUSTON.
I AM COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABA, THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT D, WHAT I CALL THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
SO VERY HONORED AND HAPPY TO BE HERE.
AND CERTAINLY MAYOR, THIS MAY BE YOUR ONLY CHANCE HERE FOR GROUNDBREAKING.
BUT OF COURSE, MY PARENTS AND MS. WELLS AND THOSE, THEY USED TO SHAKE A TAIL FEATHER IN THIS BUILDING, OKAY? THEY HAD ALL OF THE WONDERFUL ENTERTAINERS WHO WOULD COME AND, YOU KNOW, WE'D STAY AT HOME AND TEAR THE HOUSE UP, BUT THEY WOULD BE HERE SHAKING A TAIL FEATHER.
HE REMINDED ME THIS MORNING OF WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT 1:00 PM TODAY.
AND I'M SO VERY HONORED, AND IT'S A GREAT DAY IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
AND CERTAINLY I HAVE TO HONOR REVEREND WHITE, MARILYN WHITE.
SHE SHED MANY BLOOD, MUCH BLOOD AND TEARS TO GET THIS PROJECT OFF THE GROUND.
AND SHE PASSED THE HELM TO A WONDERFUL AND ANOTHER STRONG AND ANOINTED WOMAN OF GOD IN PASTOR OWENS.
AND I CERTAINLY HAVE TO, AND YOU WILL HEAR FROM HER SOON, MY COLLEAGUE, WHO IS OFF THE CHAIN COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE.
THE MAYOR HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER.
THIS IS NOT OUR FIRST RODEO WITHIN HPF.
YOU ALL HAVE BEEN PHENOMENAL IN HELPING US TO BRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND IT'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN TO HAVE A, A ROOF, A STABLE ROOF THAT YOU CAN AFFORD.
AND SO CERTAINLY ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO GIVE ACCOLADES TO.
AND SO TODAY PEOPLE WILL SEE THE SHOVELS, THE PHOTOGRAPHS, AND THE CELEBRATION.
BUT WHAT THEY MAY NOT SEE REVEREND WHITE ARE THE YEARS BEHIND THIS MOMENT.
THEY MAY NOT SEE THE SETBACKS, THE MEETINGS, THE LETTERS OF SUPPORT, THE COUNCIL ACTIONS AND INACTIONS, THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES.
[00:15:01]
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.THIS GROUNDBREAKING IS A RESULT OF YEARS OF VISION, SACRIFICE, PERSEVERANCE, AND FAITH NOW.
RIGHT? PASTOR JONES BACK THERE, PASTOR JONES PREACHED A WONDERFUL SERMON ON SUNDAY.
AND I HAPPENED TO HAVE BEEN THERE.
I WAS TRYING TO HIDE BEHIND SOMEBODY'S HEAD AND HE SAW ME.
THANK YOU PASTOR JONES AND EVERY PERSON WHO HELPED CARRY THIS PROJECT FORWARD UNDERSTOOD ONE IMPORTANT TRUTH.
OUR SENIORS ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO BUILT THIS COMMUNITY, RAISED FAMILIES HERE, SUPPORTED OUR CHURCHES, OPEN BUSINESSES, EDUCATED OUR CHILDREN, AND STOOD FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD DURING ITS MOST DIFFICULT DAYS.
THEY DESERVE TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY.
THEY DESERVE SAFETY, THEY DESERVE STABILITY.
THEY DESERVE QUALITY HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY HELPED CREATE TRINITY EAST VILLAGE SENIOR WILL PROVIDE 90 NEW HOMES FOR RESIDENTS.
ANYWAY, BUT THIS IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT CONSTRUCTING APARTMENTS, IT IS ABOUT PROTECTING THE RIGHT OF OUR SENIORS TO REMAIN ROOTED IN THIRD WARD.
IT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE PROGRESS DOES NOT PUSH THEM ASIDE OR LEAVE THEM BEHIND.
AND IT IS ABOUT DECLARING LOUDLY AND CLEARLY THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD NEVER MEAN A LOWER STANDARD OF LIVING.
THEY DESERVE COMFORT, THEY DESERVE COMMUNITY, AND THEY DESERVE A PLACE THEY ARE PROUD TO CALL HOME.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
I GAVE THEM A LITTLE PLAQUE THIS MORNING THAT I FOUND IN THE GARAGE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GIVEN TO HIM WHEN HE WAS SENATOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
AND, YOU KNOW, HE WAS SO GRACIOUS ABOUT IT, HE WAS JUST SO HAPPY THAT HE RECEIVED IT, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DID GET IN YOUR HANDS.
AGAIN, THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS, THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, TRINITY EAST VILLAGE, CDC HOUSING ALLIANCE, HTX, THE NHP FOUNDATION, TRINITY EAST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, AND EVERY PARTNER WHO REFUSE TO ALLOW THIS VISION TO DIE.
TODAY, WE ARE NOT MERELY BREAKING GROUND, WE ARE KEEPING A PROMISE.
SO IN CLOSING, I'M GONNA SAY, YOU MAY SEE A LADY RIGHT THERE.
SHE, THEY USED TO SAY WE LOOKED ALIKE AND SHE GREW HAIR.
HOW ABOUT THAT? WE WENT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOGETHER AND, AND HER DAD WAS VERY, VERY FOCUSED AND A PART OF THIS PROJECT.
UH, LIEUTENANT COLONEL, COLONEL CAMERON WELLS, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
AND WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION
SO I'M VERY PLEASED NOW TO INTRODUCE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, UH, TIFFANY D. THOMAS IF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE HOUSE, UH, THE CHAIR OF HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
YOUR SUPPORT WAS REALLY INSTRUMENTAL FOR THIS PROJECT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND WE INVITE YOU.
THANK YOU MUCH TO REVEREND WHITE.
AND BECAUSE WE HAD INVOCATION, I FEEL IT'S APPROPRIATE TO SAY THAT, THAT THE PRAYERS ARE THE RIGHTEOUS OKAY.
UH, AND LOOK WHAT WE GET TO AVAIL TODAY, RIGHT? SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CARRYING OUT IN YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE VISION OF KNOWING THAT THIS NEEDED TO HAPPEN, UH, TO NHP, THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD, UH, IF AT FIRST YOU DO NOT SUCCEED, WE DO WHAT WE TRY AND TRY AGAIN.
AND TRINITY EAST IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING HOUSTON.
YOU ARE A NATIONAL LEADER IN HOUSING OPTIONS.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOUR WORK IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS ALLOWED US TO EXPAND OUR FOOTPRINT OF AFFORDABILITY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CONTINUUM FROM HOMELESSNESS, UH, LOWER INCOME, AND THEN NOW SENIORS.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UH, WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR MAYOR AND WE'VE HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUE, AND SO I'M GONNA ACT LIKE THEY'RE NOT HERE.
IF MAYOR WHITMEYER WAS NOT HERE, UM, I WOULD SHARE WITH YOU HIS REMARKS DURING HIS INAUGURATION WHERE HE SAID THAT THEY'RE HOUSTONIANS WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN OUR CITY, AND THEY CANNOT WAIT.
IF COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ WAS NOT HERE,
[00:20:01]
I WOULD TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, AND I WOULD SOMEWHAT ALTER THAT AND SAY THE DISTRICT OF CHOICE.UM, AS THE HOUSING ALLIANCE MOVES FORWARD WITH THE HOUSING CHOICE GRANT, WHICH IS GONNA BE TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, TRINITY EAST HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN, WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT.
AND HER COMMITMENT TO CHOICE TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT JUST THE STUDENTS AT RICE, NOT JUST, UH, U OF H AND TSU, AND NOT JUST MIDTOWN, AND NOT JUST THE HOUSTON ZOO, BUT THAT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THIS DISTRICT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY OF CHOICE FOR YOU TO STAY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OF CHOICE, AGE IN PLACE, RAISE YOUR CHILDREN, AND EVEN HAVE A GOOD TIME AND SHAKE A TAIL FEATHER AT THE EL DORADO BALLROOM.
SO SINCE THEY ARE HERE, I WILL TELL THEM PUBLICLY, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.
UH, IT IS NO SECRET, YOU KNOW, MAYOR WHITMEYER AND I, UH, WE FIGHT A LIGHT A LOT, SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES, BUT IT'S FRIENDLY FIGHTING.
UM, AND I WILL TELL YOU WHERE WE ARE COMPLETELY ALIGNED IS HIS VISION FOR HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, IT'S, IT IS NOT JUST A TALKING POINT THAT YOU HEAR ON THE NEWS, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT CONSISTENTLY SHOWS UP ON OUR AGENDA FOR EVERY INCOME, UM, SOMETHING THAT OUR CITY AND SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF.
UM, AND SO YOU KNOW THAT WHEN WE ARE LINKED TOGETHER, IT IS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF OUR ENTIRE CITY.
AND SO FOR ALL OF YOU, CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL.
UM, FOR THE SENIORS THAT HEARD OF THE VISION, WENT TO THE MEETINGS, LISTENED TO ALL OF THE INFORMATION, AND POSSIBLY EVEN WAVERED TO SAY WHAT THIS EVEN HAPPENED, I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, THAT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN YOUR BELOVED NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, BECAUSE IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
I ALMOST QUALIFY FOR THIS DEAL, BUT I'M NOT GONNA LEAVE THE WEST SIDE.
UM, AND THEN TO ALL OF, TO ALL OF YOU, UH, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THE FRIENDS OF TRINITY EAST, I SAW THE URBAN LEAGUE IS IN THE ROOM, ALGEN SCOTT DAVIS IS HERE.
AND THEN SO MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY.
NONE OF THIS HAPPENS SEPARATELY.
IT'S NOT JUST THE MAYOR, IT'S NOT JUST COUNCIL, IT'S NOT JUST THE HOUSING ALLIANCE.
IT IS ALL OF US, UM, ADVOCATING, MAKING SURE THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN.
SO THIS IS A GREAT DAY TO CELEBRATE.
THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING IN OUR CITY, AND SOMETIMES THE MOMENTS OF JOY GETS OVER SHADOWED BY MOMENTS OF DESPAIR.
BUT EVEN IN DESPAIR, WE STILL HAVE TO CARVE OUT TIME OF JOY.
AND THIS IS A TIME OF JOY FOR YOU.
HOWEVER I CAN SUPPORT YOU TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR, UH, NOT JUST AFFORDABLE, BUT ACCESSIBLE, ATTAINABLE HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
UM, ALLOW ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.
THIS EX EXTRAORDINARY DEVELOPMENT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE BELIEF AND PASSION OF TRINITY EAST VILLAGE.
THEY'VE ROLLED UP THEIR COLLECTIVE SLEEVES SO MANY YEARS AGO.
THEY SELECTED NHPF AS A PARTNER TO PROVIDE LOW INCOME SENIORS WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HIGH QUALITY AMENITIES AND SERVICES IN A GENTRIFYING NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE THANK REVEREND DR. MARILYN WHITE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRINITY EAST VILLAGE, CDC, AND HER ENTIRE TEAM, ALL OF THEM OVER THE MANY YEARS FOR THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.
PLEASE WELCOME REVEREND DR. WHITE TO THE STAGE.
IT IS SO GOOD TO BE HERE TODAY.
THIS IS TRULY THE LORD'S DOING AND IT IS SO MARVELOUS.
TODAY IS TRULY MARVELOUS BECAUSE WHAT WE CELEBRATE DID NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
IT IS RESULT OF YEARS OF FAITH, PERSEVERANCE, PARTNERSHIP, UNWAVERING BELIEF THAT OUR SENIORS DESERVE A PLACE THAT THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE.
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW ME, I AM REVEREND DR. MARILYN WHITE, AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE PASTOR OF TRINITY EAST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FOR OVER 11 YEARS.
AND I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CDC.
GOD BLESSED TRINITY EAST WITH VALUABLE LAND.
BUT WE BELIEVE THAT BLESSING WAS NEVER MEANT JUST FOR THE CHURCH.
IT WAS MEANT FOR US TO USE AS A RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO, THE VISION WAS BORN TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO LONGTIME RESIDENTS WHO LOVED THIS COMMUNITY COULD AFFORD TO LIVE HERE IN THE MIDST OF RISING
[00:25:01]
LAND COST AND HOUSING PRICES.WHEN I ARRIVED AS PASTOR, THE VISION WAS STILL ALIVE.
ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN NUMEROUS SETBACKS, DOORS CLOSED IN THEIR FACES, THE VISION WAS STILL ALIVE.
SO MY JOB I SAW WAS HELP TO BRING THE VISION FORTH, BUT I, BECAUSE I'VE LEARNED SOMETHING THAT WHEN GOD GIVES A VISION, HE ALSO GIVES THE PROVISION AND HIS DELAYS ARE NOT HIS DENIALS.
AS WE LISTEN TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND THE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS AND LEADERS HERE, THE MESSAGE WAS CONSISTENT.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING REMAINS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES HERE IN THIRD WARD.
RATHER THAN TRYING TO DO THIS ALONE, WE DECIDED WE WILL CHOOSE PARTNERS TO PARTNER WITH US.
AND WE FOUND THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE IN THIRD WARD ALREADY WORKING.
AND SO WE CAME TOGETHER FOR THIS ONE VISION TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER.
TO EVERY RESIDENT, TO EVERY ORGANIZATION, TO EVERY ADVOCATE AND SUPPORTER WHO ATTENDED MEETINGS, WROTE LETTERS, TRAVELED TO AUSTIN WITH US, STOOD BEFORE CITY COUNCIL AND REFUSE TO GIVE UP.
I SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE THE PROJECT BELONGS TO ALL OF US.
I ESPECIALLY REMEMBER TAKING RESIDENCE WITH US FROM CUNY HOMES TO AUSTIN.
SO LAWMAKERS COULD HEAR FIRSTHAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS PROJECT WOULD BE WHEN ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS WERE THROWN AT US.
WE SAW IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND PARTNERSHIP WITH EVEN MORE PEOPLE.
SO I WANNA THANK ALL OF THOSE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE CAME TOGETHER AND WE CAME UP WITH THAT CRIME PLAN THAT THEY DEMANDED THAT WE HAVE BEFORE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
I SAY TO YOU TODAY, THAT IS WHAT COMMUNITY REALLY LOOKS LIKE.
I OFTEN REMINDED OUR CONGREGATION THAT THIS PROJECT WAS NEVER ABOUT US, BUT IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT BEING A BLESSING.
IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
BEING BLESSED TODAY PROVES THAT WHEN PEOPLE UNITE AROUND OUR SHARED VISION, EXTRAORDINARY THINGS CAN HAPPEN.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO OUR CO-DEVELOPER, NHP, FOR BELIEVING IN THE VISION AND WORKING FAITHFULLY BESIDE US THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO LAUREN AVEOLI.
SHE WAS THE RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT TIME THAT NHP SENT THAT NO MATTER WHAT DOORS GOT SHUT, SHE NEVER GAVE UP.
SHE WOULD ALWAYS CALL ME REVEREND WHITE, LET'S TRY THIS NEXT, LET'S TRY THIS NEXT.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, ESPECIALLY OUR CITY COUNCIL PERSON, CAROLYN SHABA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OUR FINANCIAL PARTNERS AND EVERY ORGANIZATION THAT INVESTED IN THIS VISION, YOUR SUPPORT MADE TODAY POSSIBLE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS.
THEY SELECTED TRINITY EAST VILLAGE, CDC.
AND HERE I AM, DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CDCS, BUT THEY SELECTED US TO BE A PART OF THEIR FIRST TEXAS FAITH-BASED DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.
AND THEY ALLOWED US TO COME IN AND THEY ASSIGNED US THAT DYNAMIC SISTER, IF Y'ALL DON'T KNOW HER, COURTNEY JOHNSON ROSE TO TEACH US HOW TO DO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS IS, IT TELLS YOU HOW DYNAMIC IT WAS WITH REVEREND JOE DANIELS OUT OF WASHINGTON DC, EMORY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, WHO'S DONE A LOT OF THIS WORK.
HE BECAME OUR MENTOR AND POURED INTO US.
THANKS EVERYONE, BECAUSE IT TRULY IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT.
AS I END MY SPEECH TODAY, YOU KNOW, AS PASTORS, WE ALWAYS IN CHURCH TAKING
[00:30:01]
UP A COLLECTIONI'M NOT ASKING FOR A COLLECTION, BUT I DO HAVE AN INVITATION.
CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN ON THE SENIOR HOUSING COMMUNITY, BUT THE VISION DOESN'T STOP WHERE THE FENCE ENDS.
I INVITE YOU ALL TO GO AND TAKE A LOOK.
OUR NEXT GOAL IS TO BUILD AFFORDABLE MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING ON THE REMAINING PROPERTY SO THAT EVEN MORE FAMILIES CAN CONTINUE TO CALL THIRD WARD AT HOME.
SO THIS IS MY PLEA INSTEAD OF A COLLECTION, I INVITE OUR FINANCIAL PARTNERS AND INVESTORS AND EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN THE MISSION TO COME SEE THE VISION AND CONSIDER BECOMING PART OF ITS NEXT CHAPTER.
WE NEED FINANCIAL PARTNERS TO GET THE MULTIFAMILY BUILT.
PERHAPS YOU ARE THE ONE THAT GOD IS SENDING TO BRING THE REST OF THE VISION TO LIFE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR PERSEVERING AND ABOVE ALL, THANK GOD THAT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, WE CAN FINALLY SAY WE WERE DELAYED, BUT WE WERE NOT DENIED.
UH, BEFORE I INTRODUCE OUR NEXT SPEAKER, I DO WANT TO INTRODUCE A DEAR COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO HAS JOINED US.
MR. JAMES WHITE, IF YOU WOULD JUST STAND UP FOR A MOMENT AND LET US SAY HI.
UH, VICE PRESIDENT FOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
A DEAR THIRD WARD PARTNER, UM, IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
SO PARTNERSHIPS SUCH AS THE ONE THAT WE HAVE WITH THE HU OR THE HOUSING ALLIANCE OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, OUR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SHARED VISION OF RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING COMMUNITIES INTACT EVEN DURING PERIODS OF CHANGE.
JAMIE BRYANT, WHO IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HOUSING ALLIANCE, HOUSTON, TEXAS, IS A VISIONARY WHO IS ENSURED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS WOULD COME TO FRUITION.
THEY'RE PROVIDING 80 PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS, A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION AND OTHER FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS IN THE TRINITY EAST SENIOR PROJECT.
WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL AND WE WELCOME JAMIE BRYANT TO THE STAGE.
HI LADIES, I SEE YOU AND BACK.
AND, UH, WOW, WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE RUN OF SHOW AND I SAID, I GET TO COME UP AND SPEAK AFTER THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON, TWO INCREDIBLE PASTORS FROM THIS COMMUNITY AND TWO OF OUR MOST PASSIONATE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, THAT'S GONNA BE A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW.
SO I'M NOT EVEN GONNA TRY TO FOLLOW, I'M GONNA TELL YOU A STORY.
UM, A ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND I'VE BEEN IN THIS JOB ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PROJECTS THAT GOT PUT ON MY DESK THAT SAID, IT'S NOT ONLY CRITICAL, IT, IT ABSOLUTELY MUST HAPPEN AT ALL COSTS.
AND WHEN WE HEARD THAT IT WAS THREATENED, UH, THE FINANCING WAS THREATENED AND WE ALL PACKED UP AND, AND WENT TO AUSTIN.
OUR, OUR FRIENDS FROM THE COMMUNITY, OUR FRIENDS FROM THE CHURCH, OUR FRIENDS FROM CUNY HOMES, UH, FOLKS FROM THE CITY, FOLKS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND AT THAT FIRST MEETING, UM, WE WERE LET DOWN.
NOW WE WERE, WE WERE LET DOWN FOR DIFFERENT REASONS THAN WE THOUGHT.
WE WENT THERE AND WE HAD MORE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE IN THE, IN THIS COMMUNITY, IN THIS STATE THAN I THINK ANY PROJECT THAT'S EVER COME TO.
I MEAN, IN FACT, CHAIRMAN VASQUEZ WAS LIKE, WE GET IT, WE GET IT.
NOBODY'S OPPOSED TO IT, BUT THERE'S SOME ISSUES WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
UH, AND WE LISTENED AS A TEAM.
AND AS THE PASTOR SAID, IT WAS NOT A NO, IT WAS A NOT YET.
AND, UH, I ASKED THE TEAM, I SAID, LOOK, WE'RE GONNA STAY RIGHT HERE.
WE WENT IN, THERE WAS AN EMPTY ROOM NEXT DOOR.
WE JUST WENT IN THERE AS A TEAM WITH OUR TEAM AND THE PASTOR'S TEAM AND THE, AND OUR RESIDENTS FROM CUNY.
UM, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS.
BUT I ASKED REVEREND WHITE IF SHE WOULD LEAD US IN PRAYER THAT DAY.
'CAUSE WE KNEW THAT GOD WAS WITH US.
WE KNEW THAT IT WAS A NOT A NO.
THAT IT WAS NOT A, IT WAS JUST A NOT YET.
WE KNOW THAT GOOD THINGS GENERALLY GET ATTACKED AND REQUIRE SOME RESOLVE AND RESOLUTION TO MOVE THROUGH IT.
AND I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS WERE LOOKING AT US LIKE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SERIOUSLY GOING TO SIT IN THE ROOM RIGHT NEXT TO THE BOARD THAT JUST TOLD YOU NO, AND YOU'RE GONNA PRAY ABOUT THIS? AND WE SAID, ABSOLUTELY WE ARE.
AND SO WE CAME BACK, WE WORKED HARD OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AS A GROUP AND CAME BACK TO AUSTIN, UH, UH, AT THAT NEXT MEETING AND GOT A RESOUNDING YES, A UNANIMOUS VOTE FROM THE STATE.
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UH, AND NOT ONLY THAT, WE GOT COMMENTS FROM THEM ABOUT HOW THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW THIS COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO PULL THIS OFF IN SUCH A QUICK ORDER AND ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS AND MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENED.I THINK THEY WERE VERY SURPRISED.
I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS, UH, AS, AS, AS REVEREND WHITE SAID, THIS IS THE COMMUNITY'S PROJECT.
EVERYBODY PLAYED A, A HUGE PART OF IT, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU TO MY, MY COLLEAGUE NEIL RADCLIFFE, WHO WHEN, WHEN WE GOT OUT OF THAT MEETING, HE SAID, I'M GONNA TAKE THE REINS ON THIS AND I'M GONNA WORK WITH LAUREN.
I'M GONNA WORK WITH THE REVEREND AND WE'RE GONNA FIGURE THIS OUT.
THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THE SUPPORT, UH, HPD AND CHIEF GUZMAN AND, AND HIS TEAM, UH, ACCOMPANIED US TO AUSTIN, UH, THAT SECOND TIME AROUND AND MADE A HUGE, HUGE, UH, A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THIS, UH, COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
AS WE MENTIONED THIS IST A THIS IS AN INITIAL PHASE WE'RE PARTNERING WITH, WITH OUR LARGER INITIATIVE OF, OF INVESTING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS COMMUNITY OVER THE COMING DECADE AS WE, AS WE WORK TOWARDS THE REDEVELOPMENT OF CUNY HOMES, UH, AS WELL AS OTHER ELEMENTS AND INVESTMENTS WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY, UH, AS I, AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER WITH SEVERAL FOLKS IN THIS AUDIENCE, YOU KNOW, WHAT MOST PEOPLE SEE IS THEY SEE A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND THEY SEE 12 OR 18 MONTHS AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE 5, 10, 15, 20 YEARS THAT LED UP TO THAT.
THE VISION, THE HARD WORK, YOU KNOW, AND THE PASSION.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SPEAK, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WHEN WE OPENED THE CARPENTER THERE ACROSS FROM HOLMAN BAPTIST.
AND I REMEMBER SITTING IN THIS COMMUNITY 15 YEARS AGO AT THE INVITATION OF, OF, OF, OF REVEREND MANSON JOHNSON, WHO ASKED ME TO COME TO THIRD WARD AND HEAR THE VISION.
AND IT TOOK 15 YEARS TO GET TO THAT POINT.
SO IT TAKES PASSION AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, DON'T GIVE UP ON YOUR IDEAS.
DON'T GIVE UP ON THESE THINGS.
UM, I, REVEREND WHITE AND I WERE JOKING THOUGH, AS WE GOT THAT FINAL UNANIMOUS VOTE, UH, IT'S, IT WAS ALMOST A MONTH A YEAR AGO TO THIS DAY WE WERE IN AUSTIN AND I COME OUT OF THE, I COME OUT OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING, I'M ABOUT TO GO GET IN MY CAR AND I SEE REVEREND WHITE AND HER COHORT FROM THE CHURCH AND HER CAR'S BROKEN DOWN
WE WERE LAUGHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE SAID, IF THIS IS THE HICCUP IN THE ROADBLOCK WE GET TODAY, LORD, WE WILL TAKE IT.
AND SO NEIL AND I SHED OUR SUIT JACKETS AND GOT TO WORK AND GOT OUR CAR STARTED AND GOT HER AND HER TEAM BACK ON THE ROAD.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND SO I'M JUST FOR, I'M SO FORTUNATE THE HOUSING ALLIANCE, THANK YOU TO MY BOARD MEMBERS HERE, CHAIRMAN PERLER AND VICE CHAIRMAN SMITH ARE HERE.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS THE HOUSING ALLIANCE IS INVESTING OVER THE NEXT 15 YEARS, UPWARDS OF $15 MILLION IN THE FORMS OF VOUCHERS, CAPITAL INVESTMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENTS.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON, ON ON THAT.
AND I JUST WANNA LEAVE WITH ONE NOTE THAT HIT ME LAST NIGHT.
AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT TODAY, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS WORD TRINITY, UH, ABOUT THE, THIS CHURCH THAT'S HERE.
I WAS, I'VE BEEN INVITED TO SPEAK AT, UH, THE HUDSON CENTER FOR FAITH INITIATIVES, WHICH TALKS ABOUT THINGS JUST LIKE THIS, RIGHT? HOW DO WE PARTNER WITH OUR FAITH COMMUNITY? WHO IS, WHO IS EMBEDDED IN THESE COMMUNITIES? WHO, WHO CAN BE OUR PARTNERS TO MAKE PROGRESS IN COMMUNITIES, RIGHT? BUT WHAT IS, WHAT DOES TRINITY MEAN? AND YOU KNOW, AS THERE'S BEEN ENOUGH PASTORS UP HERE TALKING, I FEEL I CAN GET, I CAN GO DOWN THIS RABBIT HOLE A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE THINK ABOUT THE WORD TRINITY IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND IT'S, IT IS THIS THREE IN ONE.
YOU HAVE THIS STRUCTURAL ELEMENT OF GOD, YOU HAVE THIS PERSONAL ELEMENT OF GOD AND THIS SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING ELEMENT OF GOD.
AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT REVEREND WHITE AND HER TEAM HAVE SET OUT TO DO RIGHT, IT IS VERY SIMILAR IN THAT NATURE IS YOU HAVE THIS STRUCTURAL ELEMENT OF A BUILDING, BRICKS AND STICKS AND FINANCING.
BUT THIS PERSONAL ELEMENT OF WORKING WITH OUR SENIORS IN THIS COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ALWAYS HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE TO STAY IN THEIR COMMUNITY, UH, AND LIVE AND SAVE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSES.
BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE WHEN WE HAND THE KEYS OVER.
IT DOESN'T STOP THERE WHEN WE HAND THE KEYS OVER AS WE CONTINUE TO WALK ALONGSIDE THEM, HAND IN HAND IN ALLIANCE AND, AND COUNSEL THEM, GUIDE THEM, PROVIDE THEM RESOURCES, MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE.
UH, SO I KNOW TODAY IS JUST, WHILE IT'S BEEN A DECADE COMING, REVEREND, TODAY IS DAY ONE OF THIS STORY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE STORIES WE HEAR FIVE, 10 YEARS FROM NOW ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT YOU HAVE HAD ON THIS COMMUNITY.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOW INTRODUCE ANOTHER KEY PARTICIPANT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRINITY EAST SENIOR.
WE CANNOT THANK THE HOUSTON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ENOUGH FOR THEIR LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO THIS PROJECT AND TO SECURING VITAL HUD FUNDING ALWAYS THERE TO HELP GUIDE THE PROCESS.
WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO WELCOME THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, RYAN BIBBS.
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GOOD AFTERNOON.I'M THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK TRINITY EAST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, OUR DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, EVERYONE WHOSE VISION AND COMMITMENT HELPED MAKE TODAY POSSIBLE.
MARKS ANOTHER IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR HOUSTON'S HISTORIC THIRD WARD.
A COMMUNITY DEFINED BY GENERATIONS OF STRENGTH, SERVICE, AND DEEP NEIGHBORHOOD PRIDE.
IT IS A GREAT SOURCE OF PRIDE TO CELEBRATE TRINITY EAST SENIOR, WHICH WILL BRING NEW AFFORDABLE UNITS TO SENIOR HOUSTONIANS AND HELP RESIDENTS REMAIN CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY THEY KNOW AND LOVE.
OUR SENIORS DESERVE TO LIVE WITH GRACE, COMFORT, DIGNITY, AND HOMES DESIGNED WITH CARE, THOUGHTFULNESS, AND A TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR NEEDS.
THE CITY'S 4 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THIS PROJECT REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO CREATE SAFE, RESILIENT, AND WELCOMING COMMUNITIES WHERE RESIDENTS CAN THRIVE AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR LIFE.
THIS DEVELOPMENT IS ABOUT MORE THAN HOUSING.
IT'S ABOUT STABILITY, IT, CONNECTION, PEACE OF MIND, AND CREATING A PLACE WHERE SENIORS FEEL SUPPORTED AND TRULY AT HOME.
IT ALSO REFLECTS WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN THE CITY, FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS, DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, AND THE COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER AROUND A SHARED VISION AND PURPOSE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED US ACHIEVE THIS IMPORTANT DAY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING TRINITY EAST SENIOR BECOME A PLACE WHERE RESIDENTS CAN LIVE, BUILD A COMMUNITY, AND CREATE NEW MEMORIES FOR YEARS TO COME.
AND NEXT WE HAVE HERBERT GREEN BOARD PRESIDENT OF TRINITY EAST VILLAGE, CDC.
HE HAS ACTIVELY WORKED TO SEE THAT SENIORS IN HIS THIRD WARD COMMUNITY CAN AGE IN PLACE IN HIGH QUALITY HOUSING.
WE THANK HIM FOR HIS STRENGTH AND FAITH IN HELPING GET US TO THE FINISH LINE TODAY.
THE PROGRAM TODAY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOUSING, BUT THE THEME HAS BEEN THANKING GOD FOR THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT HE HAS DONE.
THAT'S THE THEMATIC THING THAT I'VE GOTTEN FROM THIS MEETING TODAY.
I'M NOT A PREACHER SO I TRY NOT TO BE LONG
BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS I MAY REPEAT MY CLAIM TO FAME.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I AM A CHILD OF GOD.
AND SECONDLY, I'M DONNA GREEN'S HUSBAND.
THAT'S RIGHT IN THE BIBLE IN HEBREWS CHAPTER THREE, VERSES THREE AND FOUR, AND I'M PARAPHRASING, IT SAYS, THE BUILDER OF THE HOUSE HAS MORE HONOR THAN THE HOUSE.
AND FOR EVERY HOUSE IS BUILT BY SOMEONE, BUT THE BUILDER OF EVERYTHING IS GOD.
AND WE HAVE BEEN THE INSTRUMENTS THAT HE, THAT WE HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED THAT HE USED TO DO THIS.
AND LET US BE MINDFUL OF THAT, ALTHOUGH MANY OF US HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THAT.
BUT IN MY OPINION, IT'S GOD POWER THAT GOT US WHERE WE ARE.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY FOR SOME OF THE DIRECTORS OF TRINITY EAST VILLAGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN PURSUIT OF THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.
WELL, WHEN I SAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I'M JUST NOT TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN TERMS OF COST, BUT DECENT, SAFE AND SANITARY HOUSING BECAUSE THERE'S HOUSING THAT'S CHEAPER BUT IT'S NOT LIVABLE FOR MOST HUMAN BEINGS.
IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 34 YEARS FOR ME.
THERE HAS BEEN MANY CHALLENGES, DISAPPOINTMENTS AND HEARTBREAKS.
HOWEVER, IN SPITE OF IT ALL, GOD HAS PAVED THE WAY AND REMOVED ALL OBSTACLES AND ENABLED THIS DEVELOPMENT TO COME TO FRUITION ON BEHALF
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OF THE TRINITY EAST VILLAGE CITY.CDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WE THANK THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OUR CITY COUNCIL PERSON, EVAN SHABAZZ AND OUR DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, NHP, CITY OF HOUSTON HOUSING ALLIANCE, AND ALL OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS.
WILL OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS PLEASE STAND ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORTERS OVER THE YEARS IS TOO MANY FOR ME TO CALL ALL THE NAMES.
KEN ROGERS, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, THIRD WARD.
WELL YOU ALGER DAVIS, WELL YOU AL GENEVA DON'T BE BASHFUL.
SHE'S WAY BACK THERE IN THE BACK.
FINALLY, I WOULD BE REMISS IF A, IF I DID NOT MENTION THOSE DIRECTORS WHO HAVE TRANSITIONED DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN PURSUING THIS ENDEAVOR.
THE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE FOR THOSE DIRECTORS WHO ARE DECEASED, WILL YOU PLEASE STAND WHEN I CALL THEIR NAMES.
MR. SEARAY HENDERSON AND COLONEL CAMERON S WELLS, THOSE INDIVIDUALS GAVE THEIR TIME, THEIR TALENTS AND THEIR RESOURCES TO TRINITY'S PHIL, CDC.
AND THEY PLANTED TREES KNOWING SOME OF THEM THAT THEY WOULD NEVER ENJOY THE SHADE.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT GOD AND PEOPLE AND GOD SERVING HIS, SERVING GOD AND SERVING GOD'S PEOPLE.
I WANT TO THANK AGAIN OF IN AGAIN AND AGAIN THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, FOR HAVING HIS AGENDA, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ONLY HIS AGENDA, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY WHAT THEY DID AND HOW THEY ASSISTED US.
AND I'M BEGINNING TO BE, GET A LITTLE BIT REDUNDANT.
I'M ABOUT TO GET A LITTLE BIT EMOTIONAL.
I WANT TO THANK ENTERPRISE, MICHELLE, THE PHILLIPS.
CAN YOU PLEASE STAND? DON'T BE SHY.
AND ALL OTHER COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS.
I DIDN'T SEE ANYONE STAND BEFORE.
THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO SUPPORTED THIS ENDEAVOR.
WILL YOU PLEASE STAND? 'CAUSE YOU'RE HERE.
WHERE ARE YOU? CARL DAVIS? MM-HMM
I CAN'T REMEMBER EVERYBODY'S NAME, BUT THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE AS REVEREND WHITE HAD SAID.
AND ONE OF THE SMARTEST THINGS WE DID AT THE CDC WHEN REVEREND WHITE LEFT TRINITY EAST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AS WE CLAIMED HER, AND WE GOING TO KEEP HER.
BEAUTIFULLY, BEAUTIFULLY SAID.
JOINING US NEXT IS REVEREND ROBERT BESSER, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER OF CONNECTIONAL RESOURCES, TREASURER AND BENEFITS OFFICER WHO HAS LONG ESPOUSED THE BELIEF IN FAITH-BASED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND THE MINISTRY'S FOCUSED EFFORT ON HEALTHY HOUSING.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CONFERENCES ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRINITY EAST SENIOR AND WELCOME HIM TO THE STAGE.
AS UNITED METHODIST, WE BELIEVE THAT OUR FAITH IS LIVED OUT IN PRACTICAL WAYS.
WE FEED THE HUNGRY, WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, WE WELCOME THE STRANGER, AND WE CREATE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN FLOURISH.
SO THIS GROUNDBREAKING TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
PREACH, PREACH, AND THE GOOD FOR OTHERS.
SCRIPTURE REMINDS US GALATIANS SIX, LET US NOT GROW, GROW WEARY IN DOING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR WE WILL REAP AT HARVEST TIME IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP.
TODAY WE SEE THE BEGINNING OF WHAT HAS BEGUN YEARS AGO, YEARS OF FAITHFUL WORK
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TO EVERYONE WHO HAVE SERVED, WHO HAVE ADVOCATED, WHO HAVE PLANNED, WHO HAVE PRAYED, WHO BELIEVED WE GIVE THANKS.YOUR PERSISTENCE HAS BROUGHT US HERE TODAY.
YOUR COURAGE HAS MADE ALL OF THIS, ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE.
ON BEHALF OF BISHOP CYNTHIA FIERRO, HARVEY, BISHOP HARVEY OF THE TEXAS ANNUAL CONFERENCE, UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, UH, APOLOGIZES THAT SHE CANNOT BE HERE IN PERSON ON THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY.
SHE ASKED ME TO CONVEY TWO SPECIFIC WORDS FROM HER TO YOU.
PERSISTENCE IS WHAT KEEPS MOVING FORWARD.
AND WHEN PROGRESS, UM, SEEMS SLOW IS CONTINUING TO BELIEVE IN THE MISSION EVEN WHEN THERE ARE SETBACKS.
PERSISTENCE IS WHAT HAS CARRIED THIS PROJECT THROUGH ALL OF THOSE COUNTLESS MEETINGS, ALL OF THOSE PLANNING SESSIONS, ALL OF THE CHALLENGES AND ALL OF THE CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES.
IT IS QUIET FAITHFULNESS OF PEOPLE WHO REFUSED TO GIVE UP PERSISTENCE.
COURAGE IS CHOOSING TO DREAM WHEN OTHERS ONLY SEE OBSTACLES.
COURAGE IS MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS.
COURAGE IS INVESTING IN A FUTURE THAT YOU MAY NOT FULLY SEE.
THANK YOU MR. GREEN, FOR RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED AND WILL NOT SEE THIS TODAY.
COURAGE IS MAKING THOSE DECISIONS WHEN YOU WON'T SEE THE RESULTS.
THAT'S WHY WE PLANT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
NO ONE THAT GOD'S GOING TO DO THE WORK TO SEE IT COME TO FRUITION.
COURAGE SAYS THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES BETTER.
COURAGE SAYS THAT OUR SENIORS DESERVE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN LIVE WITH DIGNITY, WITH SAFETY, AND WITH HOPE.
SO IT'S MY PRAYER THAT EVERY PERSON WHO WILL ONE DAY WALK THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY AND CALL THIS COMMUNITY HOME, WILL EXPERIENCE NOT ONLY QUALITY HOUSING, BUT ALSO WE'LL SEE THE LOVE, THE DIGNITY, THE HOPE AND THE COMING TOGETHER OF ALL OF US ON THIS DAY AND ALL THAT IT'S TAKEN TO GET HERE.
THAT THEY WILL SEE THAT LIVED OUT IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT.
AS PART OF ITS MISSION, THE MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY PRIORITIZES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION.
WE'RE SO PLEASED THAT THAT ORGANIZATION STEPPED UP TO SUPPORT THE TRINITY EAST SENIOR BY DONATING A PAR PARCEL OF LAND TO THE PROJECT.
PLEASE WELCOME MARLON MARSHALL, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
I'M MARLAND MARSHALL, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR MIDTOWN HOUSTON.
AND ON BEHALF OF MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND OUR BOARD CHAIR ALAN DOUGLAS, WE THANK NHP FOUNDATION AND TRINITY EAST VILLAGE, CDC FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER TODAY TO CELEBRATE THIS TREMENDOUS MILESTONE.
IS IT AN HONOR TO STAND ALONGSIDE MAYOR WHITMEYER? COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS REVEREND WHITE AND EACH OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARTNERS HERE TODAY.
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REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HAS LONG RECOGNIZED THAT PRESERVING AND EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAINING THE CHARACTER DIVERSITY AND LONG-TERM VITALITY OF THIRD WARD.ONE OF RA'S MOST IMPORTANT TOOLS IS THE ABILITY TO STRATEGICALLY INVEST PROPERTIES TO CREATE LASTING COMMUNITY DRIVEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
AND THIS TRINITY EAST VILLAGE SENIOR PROJECT IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THAT COMMITMENT IN ACTION.
MIDTOWN HAS BEEN A PROUD PARTNER WITH TRINITY'S VILLAGE SINCE OUR BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE CONVEYANCE OF MRA PROPERTIES TO HELP ASSEMBLE THE LAND TO MAKE THIS DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE.
TODAY WE SEE THE POWER OF THAT CONTRIBUTION AS THOSE PARCELS OFFICIALLY BECOME PART OF THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS IMPACTFUL PROJECT.
TODAY'S GROUNDBREAKING REFLECTS WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN FAITH-BASED LEADERS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLIC AGENCIES, AND PRIVATE PARTNERS WORK TOGETHER AROUND A SHARED VISION.
IS IT AN INVESTMENT NOT ONLY IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT ALSO IN PERSEVERING AND PRESERVING THE PEOPLE CHARACTER THAT MAKE THIRD WARD SUCH A SPECIAL HISTORIC COMMUNITY? MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS HONORED TO HAVE PLAYED A SMALL PART IN BRINGING THIS VISION TO LIFE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO RETURNING TO CELEBRATE THE RIBBON CUTTING AND THE OPENING OF MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR SENIORS HERE IN THIRD WARD, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR PARTNERS THAT HELP CARRY THIS VISION FORWARD.
AND THANK YOU NHP AND TRINITY'S FOR INCLUDING US IN THIS MOMENTUM ATION.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS AND FOR EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO BE HERE AND WHO HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO MAKE TODAY A REALITY.
UM, WHILE WE INVITE OUR SPEAKERS UP HERE TO COME IN, UH, THE SAME WAY THAT YOU CAME ONTO THE STAGE, YOU CAN GET A, A HARD HAT AND A SHOVEL.
WE'RE GONNA DO A PICTURE UP HERE.
WE INVITE EVERYONE ELSE TO ONE.
AFTER YOU LEAVE HERE, PLEASE GO BY THE SITE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, THE EXCITING PATCH OF DIRT AT 26 11 ST.
CHARLES STREET, THE CORNER OF ST.
AND PLEASE ENJOY SOME REFRESHMENTS, TALK TO EACH OTHER, CONGRATULATE EACH OTHER ON THIS INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT.