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ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF HOUSTON CITY CONTROLLER, CHRIS HOLLINS, WELCOME TO OUR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION
MY NAME IS YVONNE GARRY, AND IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO SERVE AS YOUR MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES FOR TODAY'S PROGRAM.
HOUSTON IS HOME TO A VIBRANT AND GROWING HISPANIC COMMUNITY, ONE THAT PLAYS A VITAL ROLE ACROSS OUR CITY'S BUSINESS, CULTURE, EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC SERVICE.
TODAY WE COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THAT RICH HISTORY AND LASTING IMPACT AND TO RECOGNIZE LOCAL LEADERS WHO WORK CON, WHOSE WORK CONTINUES TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON, AND THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO BEGIN THAN WITH THE CULTURE, RHYTHM, AND ARTISTRY THAT MAKES THIS COMMUNITY SHINE.
NEXT, WE WILL HAVE AN INDI INDIGENOUS BLESSING DANCE PERFORMED BY DANZA AZTECA AND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THEIR PERFORMANCE.
THE NEXT VOICE YOU WILL HEAR IS THAT OF JAIME PENA FROM THE RISING STARTS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AT ST.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING DANZA AZTECA TO THE STAGE.
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I DID.LET'S GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND NOW IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INVITE JAIME BE BEYA TO THE PODIUM.
UM, JAIME BEYA THE THIRD IS A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT IN HIS SENIOR YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST.
THOMAS, MAJORING IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND DOUBLE MINORS IN MARKETING AND FINANCE.
HE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF RISING STARS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
AT UST RISING STARS EXPANDS OPPORTUNITIES FOR FIRST GENERATION AND LOW INCOME STUDENTS THROUGH MENTORSHIP, INTERNSHIP PLACEMENTS, AND TUITION ASSISTANCE DURING THEIR ACADEMIC TENURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST.
THE PROGRAM PROVIDES REAL WORLD PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS WHILE STRENGTHENING HOUSTON'S FUTURE WORKPLACE AND BUILDING OUR NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS.
JAIME HAS INTERNED WITH UST IT GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP AND IS CURRENTLY IN HIS SECOND YEAR WITH THE CONVENTION AND CLIENT SERVICES TEAM AT HOUSTON.
FIRST AT THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER, AND THROUGH HIS INTERNSHIP WITH HOUSTON FIRST JAIME SHARES HE HAS GAINED VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO THE WORLD OF EVENT AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT AND HAS ALLOWED HIM FIRSTHAND IN THE COORDINATION, COMMUNICATION, AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL REQUIRED TO EXECUTE SUCCESSFUL CONVENTIONS AND EVENTS.
JAIME HOPES TO CONTINUE BUILDING UPON THE EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE SHAPED HIS COLLEGE CAREER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST.
THOMAS AND LOOKS FORWARD TO WHAT LIES AHEAD IN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER.
SO GIVE IT UP FOR JAIME PENA, WELCOME.
MY NAME IS JAIME PENA, AND LIKE YVONNE SAID, I AM A FIFTH YEAR SENIOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST.
THOMAS, MAJORING IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT WITH DOUBLE MINORS IN MARKETING AND FINANCE.
IT ALL KIND OF TIES TOGETHER WITH BUSINESS AND MARKETING, SO I'M NOT PUTTING THAT MUCH WORK ON MYSELF, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL COLLEGE, SO IT IS WORK.
UM, BUT TODAY I HAVE LIKE ONE OF THE BIGGEST HONORS IN MY LIFE, UM, TO STAND HERE BEFORE WE, BEFORE YOU TODAY AND AT THE THIRD ANNUAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION AT HOUSTON CITY HALL.
TODAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING SOMEONE WHO NEEDS VERY LITTLE INTRODUCTION, YOUR HOUSTON CITY CONTROLLER, CHRISTOPHER GEORGE HOLLANDS.
CHRIS HOLLAND IS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN WHO HAS SERVED AS YOUR CITY CONTROLLER SINCE JANUARY 20, 24.
AS AN INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE NATION'S FOURTH LARGEST CITY CONTROLLER, HOLLANDS OVERSEES A BUDGET EXCEEDING $7 BILLION AND MANAGES A CITY'S 6 BILLION INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO AND 14 BILLION DEBT PORTFOLIO.
AND IF YOU ASK ME, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
CONTROLLER HOLLINS IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO TRANSPARENCY, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND RESULTS USING HIS OFFICES AUDITING AUTHORITY TO BRING FRESH IDEAS AND BEST PRACTICES TO CITY DEPARTMENTS, DRIVING REAL COST SAVINGS AND A HIGHER STANDARD OF SERVICE FOR EVERY HOUSTON RESIDENT BEFORE BECOMING CITY CONTROLLER.
HOLLANDS LED HARRIS COUNTY'S 2020 ELECTIONS EFFORT AS COUNTY CLERK EARNING NATIONAL CLAIM FOR PROTECTING AND EXPANDING VOTING RIGHTS FOR 2.5 MILLION HOUSTON AREA VOTERS DURING ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL ELECTIONS OF OUR LIFETIMES.
HIS INNOVATIONS, HIS INNOVATIONS DRIVE THROUGH VOTING.
24 HOUR VOTING ONLINE MAIL BALLOT TRACKING AND TRIPLING THE NUMBER OF EVERY EARLY VOTING CENTERS HELP DELIVER RECORD BREAKING VOTER TURNOUT EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
CHRIS AND HIS WIFE MORGAN LIVE IN HOUSTON, THIRD WARD AREA WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
VIVIAN AND GEORGE, THE HOLLANDS FAMILY WORSHIPS AT WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING HOUSTON CITY CONTROLLER, CHRIS HOLLINS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, JAIME, FOR THAT WARM INTRODUCTION.
UH, PUT MY WHOLE GOVERNMENT NAME OUT THERE,
I'M GLAD HE DIDN'T THROW OUT MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
UH, JAIME, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND, UH, TO OUR INCREDIBLE MISTRESS CEREMONY.
YVONNE GUIDRY, CAN WE GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE? GRATEFUL THAT YOU GRACED US WITH YOUR PRESENCE TODAY, UH, TO ALL OF OUR HONOREES, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, UH, COMMUNITY LEADERS, FRIENDS, AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.
UH, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO YOUR CITY HALL AND TO WELCOME YOU TO YOUR CONTROLLER'S OFFICE'S THIRD ANNUAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION.
UH, BEFORE I GET GOING, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE AND THANK UH, SEVERAL OFFICIALS WHO ARE WITH US TODAY.
UH, FIRST WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVERAL COUNCILS GENERAL FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE.
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STARTING WITH ARGENTINA, WE HAVE, UH, DANIEL BELTRAN BELTRAN HERE.ARE YOU HERE? CAN YOU JUST STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED? I'M GONNA MAKE Y'ALL STAND UP.
UH, MS. NIVEA ARA FROM GUATEMALA.
UH, THE CONS, GENERAL OF PERU, UH, MS. MARIA DE FATIMA TRIGO, SOMA, UH, THE CONS GENERAL OF BRAZIL, BRANDO DIAZ DECO DECOSTA.
THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR PRESENCE.
AND THEN FINALLY REPRESENTING THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF SOMEWHERE, ALEJANDRO VASIA.
ALEJANDRO, WHAT COUNTRY ARE YOU REPRESENTING? I'M SORRY, FROM MEXICO? FROM MEXICO.
AND, AND PARDON, UH, MY NOTES FOR BEING A LITTLE SHORT HERE, UH, FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO CASTILLO.
WE ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, JULIAN RAMIREZ, AS WELL AS ALEJANDRA SALINAS AND THE TEXAS STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTINA MORALES.
SO GOOD TO SEE YOU, UH, FROM OUR FRIENDS AT HARRIS COUNTY, UH, DISTRICT ATTORNEY SEAN TIER, OUR DISTRICT CLERK, MARILYN BURGESS, AND OUR TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR, ANNETTE RAMIREZ.
UH, FINALLY WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THIS, THE OFFICE OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE LAUREN ASHLEY SIMMONS, CONGRESSWOMAN LIZZIE FLETCHER PRECINCT ONE COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS, AND FRIENDS FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENCE.
IF I GET TO TALKING ABOUT THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, I'LL BE HERE FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I'LL JUST SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO FOR TO EDUCATE, UH, OUR POPULATION ABOUT THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH BEGAN NEARLY 60 YEARS AGO, AND IT STARTED AS A SINGLE WEEK.
IT GREW TO A FULL MONTH BECAUSE OF COURSE, ONE WEEK WAS NEVER GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO TELL THE STORY OF THIS INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH RUNS FROM SEPTEMBER 15TH THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH, A WINDOW CHOSEN BECAUSE IT CARRIES THE INDEPENDENCE DAYS OF COSTA RICA, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, AND NICARAGUA, MEXICO AND CHILE.
IT IS A MONTH BUILT ON THE IDEA THAT HERITAGE AND LIBERATION TRAVEL TOGETHER.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, HOUSTON IS HOME TO ONE OF THE LARGEST AND FASTEST GROWING HISPANIC POPULATIONS IN THE COUNTRY.
THIS COMMUNITY SHOWS UP EVERY DAY IN OUR CLASSROOMS, IN OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, IN OUR RESTAURANTS, IN OUR HOSPITALS, AND IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.
YOU SIMPLY CANNOT TELL HOUSTON STORY WITHOUT THE HISPANIC AND LATINO COMMUNITY.
YOU CAN'T TELL IT WITHOUT SEGUNDO BARRIO, WITHOUT THE TEJANO CENTER, WITHOUT THE FOLK LO CODE DANCES THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE AND THE SOUNDS OF THE MARIACHI THAT ARE GONNA CLOSE OUT TODAY'S PROGRAM.
IN MY ROLE AS CONTROLLER, I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME TALKING ABOUT THE MATH, THE DOLLARS, THE NUMBERS.
BUT PUBLIC SERVICE IS ABOUT MORE THAN NUMBERS.
IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE BEHIND THOSE NUMBERS.
IT'S ABOUT ENSURING THEIR DIGNITY.
AND IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERY HOUSTONIAN, NO MATTER WHERE THEY WERE BORN, OR WHAT LANGUAGE THEY'RE COMFORTABLE SPEAKING, THAT THEY SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THE FUTURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING FOR OUR GREAT CITY.
I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MOMENT THAT OUR COUNTRY FINDS OURSELVES IN ACROSS THIS NATION.
IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ARE LIVING IN FEAR, AND I WANNA TAKE US BACK TO FEBRUARY DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, BECAUSE RIGHT THEN IN THAT MOMENT, I STOOD HERE ON THIS STAGE AND I TALKED ABOUT THE MEMORY OF GEORGE FLOYD, A HOUSTONIAN WHO WAS MURDERED BY A POLICE OFFICER IN MINNEAPOLIS AT THAT TIME.
I BROUGHT IT UP REFLECTING ON THE TRAGIC MURDER OF RENEE GOODE BY ICE, AND HOW THOSE LOSSES WERE INEXTRICABLY TIED TOGETHER IN OUR COLLECTIVE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE, AND HOW SUCH LOSS CAN ALSO INSPIRE ACTION.
SADLY, IN THE MONTHS SINCE FEBRUARY, THE TRAGEDIES OF MINNEAPOLIS HAVE MADE THEIR WAY TO HOUSTON.
LORENZO SALGADO ROJO, AN IMMIGRANT, A FATHER, A HUSBAND, A HOUSTONIAN WAS MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD BY ICE AGENTS WHO HAVE BEFORE AND SINCE
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WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AS PART OF OFFICIAL CITY POLICY HERE IN HOUSTON, ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE CITIES IN AMERICA, WHERE ONE IN FOUR RESIDENTS IS AN IMMIGRANT.ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR HOUSTONIANS WAS BORN OUTSIDE THE BORDERS OF THIS COUNTRY.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED WITH ICE BEYOND WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES IN WAYS THAT ERO TRUST THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, IN WAYS THAT HARM OUR ECONOMY AND THAT WEAKEN THE SOCIAL FABRIC THAT SIT AT THE CORE OF WHAT MAKES HOUSTON.
THESE EFFORTS HAVE NOT ONLY VIOLATED THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF CITIZENS AND NON-CITIZENS, THEY'VE NOT ONLY OPENED UP OUR CITY TO LITIGATION, BUT THEY ALSO RESULTED IN THE TAKING OF MR. SALGADO'S LIFE.
AND THAT'S WHY TODAY MATTERS BECAUSE TODAY IS INTENDED TO BE A CELEBRATION, BUT IT'S ALSO A REMINDER THAT OUR DIGNITY SHOULD NOT BE NEGOTIABLE.
THAT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE HISPANIC AND LATINO COMMUNITIES CANNOT BE OVERSHADOWED, BUT MUST BE EMBRACED.
AND THAT EVEN THOUGH OUR HEARTS ARE HEAVY, OUR FIGHT IS NOT OVER AND WE CANNOT GIVE UP.
WE'RE NOW GONNA TAKE A MOMENT TO HEAR FROM LORENZO'S SON WEDO SALGADO.
SO PLEASE TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREENS BEHIND ME.
HOUSTON HAS SHOWN UP FOR ME AND MY FAMILY SINCE JULY 7TH, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE MEMORIAL.
PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER TOWN AND EVEN FROM OTHER PLACES AROUND TEXAS AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE SHOWN UP TO BRING A CANDLE TO BRING FLOWERS OR JUST TO SIMPLY VISIT A PLACE AND PROCESS THEIR EMOTIONS AND REFLECT ON A LIFE THAT WAS LOST AND SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF THIS.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS SHOWN UP AMAZINGLY IN OTHER WAYS AS WELL, NOT JUST AT THE MEMORIAL, BUT THEY'VE SHOWN UP AT PROTESTS, AT OTHER FORMS OF GATHERINGS, PEACEFUL GATHERINGS, TO TRY TO RAISE AWARENESS, TO TRY TO GET SOME JUSTICE FOR MY DAD, AND TO TRY TO MAKE CHANGE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
WE'RE VERY, VERY THANKFUL THAT OUR DAD WAS HONORED AT THE MARIACHI FESTIVAL.
AT SOME OF OUR FAMILY GATHERINGS, LIKE AT GRADUATIONS OR MILESTONE AGES IN OUR LIVES, WE USUALLY GET, WE USUALLY GET SOME MARIACHIS AND WE SING TOGETHER.
I'M USUALLY THE ONE SINGING TOO.
EVERY NOW AND THEN, MY DAD AND I WOULD DO IT ON A SONG AND IT'S, IT WAS A REALLY BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE.
HOUSTON IS WHERE I'VE LIVED ALL MY LIFE.
HOUSTON IS WHERE I'VE GROWN UP.
HOUSTON HAS BEEN HOME FOR US EVER SINCE MY DAD GOT HERE IN THE EARLY NINETIES.
THIS IS A MAN WHO SACRIFICED A LOT AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.
HE LEFT HIS HOMETOWN IN MEXICO AND MADE IT A MISSION TO GET HERE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR A BETTER LIFE, FOR HIMSELF AND FOR HIS FUTURE FAMILY.
THIS IS A SACRIFICE THAT I'VE ALWAYS, ALWAYS APPRECIATED OF HIM.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT HE SACRIFICED HIS BODY, HE SACRIFICED HIS TIME.
UH, HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE CONSTRUCTION SITES, UH, IN ORDER FOR US, UH, MY BROTHERS AND I TO GO TO SCHOOL AND ATTEND VERY GREAT INSTITUTIONS WITH THE HELP OF HIS LABOR.
IF IT WERE NOT FOR HIM AND HIS SACRIFICES, WE WOULD NOT BE WHERE WE ARE NOW WITH MY BROTHERS AND I.
BEING HIGHLY EDUCATED WITH ONE, STILL PURSUING A COLLEGE FOR AN ENGINEERING DEGREE.
THANK YOU HOUSTON, FOR SHOWING UP AND SHOWING OUT.
MAYBE ONE DAY I'LL BE ABLE TO RETURN TO FAVOR IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
THERE'S WAYS THAT YOU GUYS CAN CONTINUE SHOWING UP THAT STARTS WITH THE POLLS.
CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION, REGISTER TO VOTE.
IF YOU'RE OF AGE, MAKE A PLAN TO GO OUT AND VOTE.
AND I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE SUPPORTING CANDIDATES THAT SUPPORTS AND RESPECTS THE RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS.
SO THAT WAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN TO ANYONE'S DAD.
RONNIE IS UP IN WASHINGTON DC ADVOCATING, UH, FOR THIS CITY AND ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES IN POLICY THAT WILL PREVENT FUTURE TRAGEDIES LIKE THE ONE THAT BEFALL HIS FAMILY.
UH, AS A TRIBUTE TO THE SALGADO FAMILY, OUR OFFICE COMMISSIONED A WORK OF ART THAT HONORS HONORS LORENZO'S MEMORY.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP TO THE STAGE HOUSTON BASED ARTIST, ALISIA AGUILAR, WHO WILL SHARE HER WORK AND WHO WILL TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS.
ALYSSA, CAN YOU JOIN US ON STAGE? HEY, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS ALICIA AGUILAR AND I'M ALSO KNOWN AS THE LOFTY MOM.
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AN INCREDIBLE HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY AND PRESENT THIS PORTRAIT OF LORENZO SALGADO ARUJO.I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK THE CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICE AND THE TEAM FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY AND GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, CREATE, AND ALSO SHARE THIS PIECE WITH LORENZO'S FAMILY.
I'M ALSO DEEPLY GRATEFUL THAT MY TWO DAUGHTERS ARE ALSO HERE TO HAVE THIS MEANINGFUL MOMENT WITH ME.
AS AN ARTIST, I BELIEVE CREATIVITY CAN DO MORE THAN CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.
IT CAN PRESERVE A LIFE, TELL A STORY, AND MAKE SURE SOMEONE IS REMEMBERED FOR MORE THAN JUST THE TRAGEDY THAT TOOK THEM FROM US.
THROUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH LORENZO'S SON AND FAMILY, I LEARNED ABOUT THE MAN THAT THEY KNEW AND LOVED.
HE WAS A HARDWORKING FATHER WHO LOVED HIS FAMILY, HIS GERMAN SHEPHERD, BLACK HORSES, SOCCER, RAINY DAYS, MANGOES AND COCONUTS.
EVERY COLOR AND SYMBOL IN THIS PIECE REPRESENTS A PART OF HIS LIFE.
THE BLUE HONORS HIS FAVORITE COLOR.
THE FLOWERS REPRESENT THE LOVE BETWEEN HIM AND HIS WIFE.
AND THE WORDS FAMILIA AND CIA REPRESENT THE FAMILY WHO CARRIES HIS MEMORY AND THE JUSTICE THEY CONTINUE TO SEEK.
AS A MOTHER WHO ALSO UNDERSTANDS LOSS, CREATING THIS PIECE CARRIED A DEEPLY PERSONAL MEANING.
FOR ME AS A MOTHER, IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME THAT I SHOWED LORENZO FOR HIM TO BE REMEMBERED, NOT ONLY FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM, BUT FOR THE LIFE HE LIVED, THE JOY HE BROUGHT, AND THE PEOPLE WHO WILL FOREVER LOVE HIM.
TO LORENZO'S FAMILY, THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING ME WITH HIS STORY.
I PRAY THIS PORTRAIT BRINGS COMFORT, PRESERVES HIS MEMORY, AND REMINDS EVERYONE WHO SEES IT THAT LORENZO WAS HERE.
LORENZO WAS LOVED, AND LORENZO WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
LORENZO'S FAMILY IS STILL WAITING FOR THE FULL AND INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING OF WHAT TOOK PLACE ON THE DAY OF HIS MURDER.
WE'RE GRATEFUL COLLECTIVELY THAT DISTRICT ATTORNEY SEAN TIER, IS CONTINUING TO PURSUE THE TRUTH.
AND I REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL BRING LORENZO'S FAMILY THE SENSE OF JUSTICE THAT THEY DESERVE.
IF YOU'LL NOW JOIN ME, JOIN ME IN A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE.
LIKE LORENZO, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN ACROSS THIS CITY WHO MAY NOT BE KNOWN BY ANY OF US, BUT WHOSE WORTH, WHOSE WORK STRENGTHENS.
HOUSTON TODAY IS ABOUT BEARING WITNESS TO THE BRILLIANCE, THE BRILLIANCE FOUND IN OUR HONOREES, AND ALSO THOSE WHO WE MAY NEVER MEET, CELEBRATING THE CULTURES PRESENTED BY OUR INCREDIBLE PERFORMERS.
UM, I ALSO, UH, CAN'T GO BEYOND THIS WITHOUT SHOUTING OUT, UH, DAVID AND INFANTE AND HHTX GARAGES.
IF YOU JOINED US FROM THE FRONT, YOU WOULD'VE SEEN A FEW LOWRIDERS SITTING OUT FRONT IN CITY HALL.
AND IF YOU HADN'T, HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK THOSE OUT, UH, PLEASE DO SO.
UH, WHEN WE WRAP UP THIS CELEBRATION, JUST STRAIGHT OUT THE FRONT DOOR, UH, TO THE RIGHT, IT'S TRULY A SIGHT, UH, TO BEHOLD.
AND YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENT, UH, FOR THE DAY.
NOW WE'RE GONNA PIVOT TO OUR HONOREES.
AND OUR HONOREES REPRESENT EXCELLENCE, EXCELLENCE ACROSS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, THE ARTS, ADVOCACY, AND PUBLIC LEADERSHIP.
BUT BEYOND THEIR FIELDS, EACH OF THEM REPRESENTS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ONE PERSON DECIDES TO OPEN A DOOR FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TO, FOR HELPING TO WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER OF HISPANIC HERITAGE IN HOUSTON.
DOING SO WITH COURAGE, WITH PURPOSE, AND WITH JOY.
AND SO NOW TO CONTINUE THIS CELEBRATION, IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE COLOMBIA ARTE, PRESENTED BY CONSUL GENERAL ANDRES DIAZ AND VICE CONS MOLINA OF THE REPUBLIC OF COLUMBIA.
THIS GROUP SHOWCASES SOME OF THE MOST REPRESENTATIVE FOLKLORIC EXPRESSIONS FROM COLUMBIA'S VARIOUS REGIONS THROUGH TRADITIONAL COSTUMES, MUSIC AND DANCE.
ITS ARTISTIC WORK REFLECTS THE RICHNESS OF A MULTI-ETHNIC AND MULTICULTURAL COUNTRY, AND FEATURES TRADITIONAL RHYTHMS AND DANCE STYLES.
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JOIN ME IN WELCOMING COLUMBIA ARTE.[00:31:41]
YES,UM, I THINK WE'RE GONNA ALL PETITION FOR A DANCE PARTY, A MBIA DANCE PARTY HERE, MR. COLLINS.
SO EACH OF TODAY'S, SO WE'RE GONNA ANNOUNCE OUR HONOREES.
UM, EACH OF TODAY'S HONOREES REPRESENT EXCELLENCE, LEADERSHIP, AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO SERVICE.
THEY REMIND US THAT IMPACT ISN'T JUST ABOUT ACHIEVEMENT, IT'S ABOUT HOW WE LIFT OTHERS ALONG THE WAY.
AND WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO A SPECIAL PART OF TODAY'S PROGRAM, RECOGNIZING FOUR OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS.
SO, PRESENTING OUR AWARDS TODAY ARE AUBREY HOOPER AND MONICA DE LOS SANTOS.
UH, MY NAME IS AUBREY CHRISTOPHER HOOPER.
I'M THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF OF STAFF IN THE CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICE.
AND I'M JOINED HERE BY MONICA DE LA SANTOS, THE SENIOR ASSISTANT, UH, CITY CONTROLLER AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE OPERATIONS DIVISION.
BEFORE WE GET TO THE HONOREES, WE HAD A FEW MORE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO, UH, JOINED US.
SO I WANT REP, UH, I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILWOMAN SALLY ALCORN, AS WELL AS WE'VE HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM COUNCIL GENERAL, UH, OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC STAND.
AND SO WITH THAT DELEGATION, PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS FROM, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, LESLIE BRIANNA'S OFFICE.
AND SO WITH THAT REPRESENTATIVE, THANK YOU FOR, FOR COMING ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CONTROLLER AND OUR WONDERFUL CITY CONTROLLER, CHRISTOPHER GEORGE HOLLANDS.
YES, THAT'S HIS GOVERNMENT NAME, UM, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IT IS OUR HONOR TO RECOGNIZE ACTUALLY FIVE EXTRAORDINARY INDIVIDUALS, UH, WHOSE COURAGE, SERVICE, AND LEADERSHIP REMINDS US OF THE POWER EACH OF US HAS TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.
FIRST, WE PROUDLY RECOGNIZE CAESAR ESPINOZA WITH THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AWARD.
CAESAR'S LIFE EMBODIES, YOU CAN WAIT ONE SECOND.
AN IMMIGRANT FROM MEXICO WHO CAME TO THE UNITED STATES.
THE UNITED STATES AT AGE FIVE, A DACA RECIPIENT.
CAESAR TRANSFORMED HIS OWN JOURNEY INTO A CALLING TO EMPOWER OTHERS.
AS CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PHIL, HE HELPED TO BUILD THE LARGEST IMMIGRANT LED CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
HIS ADVOCACY EXTENDS FROM IMMIGRANT AND STUDENT RIGHTS TO HUMAN RIGHTS, RACE RELATIONS, AND POLICE REFORM.
CAESAR REMINDS US THAT ADVOCACY IS
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MORE THAN SPEAKING UP FOR PEOPLE.IT'S FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THEM AND MAKING SURE THAT THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN ACKNOWLEDGING OUR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, UH, CAESAR ESPINOZA.
UM, THIS IS WEIRD FOR ME 'CAUSE I'M USUALLY ON THE SECOND FLOOR, UH, IN CITY HALL, UH, ON CHAMBERS.
BUT, UM, ONCE IN A WHILE, WE COME TO THE FIRST FLOOR.
UH, MY NAME IS SESAR ESPINOZA AND I'M A PROUD IMMIGRANT, UH, FROM MEXICO CITY, MEXICO.
MY FAMILY BROUGHT ME HERE AT THE AGE OF FIVE, AND I LIVED IN HOUSTON FOR 33 YEARS EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE AWKWARD YEAR WHERE I MOVED TO COLUMBUS, OHIO.
UM, AND FOR SOME PEOPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT STRUCK ME WHEN I SEE, UH, MR. LORENZO SAL'S PORTRAIT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK US, WHY WAS HE HERE FOR 35 YEARS WITHOUT GETTING STATUS? AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT IS THE REALITY THAT IMMIGRANTS FACE IN THE UNITED STATES.
I WAS UNDOCUMENTED FOR 33 YEARS, AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL TWO YEARS AGO THAT I WAS ABLE TO APPLY TO BECOME A LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT.
AND I HAVE 220 DAYS TILL I BECOME A US CITIZEN, UH, WHICH I'M GONNA PROUDLY DO.
FOR US, IT'S ABOUT LIVELIHOOD.
UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, UH, WOULD BE REMISS IF I DON'T REMIND EVERYBODY IS THAT EVEN THOUGH I WAS UNDOCUMENTED FOR 33 YEARS OF MY LIFE, I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE THAT I FELT LIKE THE WORLD CAME TO ME IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO GULFTON IN THE SOUTHWEST SIDE TO TRY OUT SOME FOOD, GO AFTER THIS, GO OVER THERE AND GO TRY OUT SOME OF THE BEST FOOD FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, CENTRAL AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO, UH, RECOGNIZE IS THE FACT THAT EVEN THOUGH MEXICANS DO MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF IMMIGRANTS IN HOUSTON, THERE'S SUCH AN AMAZING CULTURE IN COLOMBIA, IN ARGENTINA AND EVERYWHERE AND, AND WE'RE ALL INTERCONNECTED.
UH, COLUMBIA COMES FROM, FROM, UH, AFRICAN ROOTS.
MANY OF OUR BEATS COME FROM AFRICAN ROOTS.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE SOMETIMES AS HUMANS FORGET THAT WE ALL COME FROM ONE SAME FAMILY.
AND IT IS TIME HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS THAT WE BECOME THAT ONE SAME FAMILY THAT WE RECONCILE AND THAT WE PUT OUR DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND TALK TO ONE ANOTHER AND REALIZE THAT WE COME FROM ONE SAME FAMILY WITH ONE SAME FUTURE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
THIS IS THE EXAMPLE THAT WE NEED TO SET HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS FOR OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.
WE WILL BE THERE FOR YOU FAMILIA.
WE'LL BE THERE FOR YOU, AND WE WILL BE THERE FOR YOU NO MATTER WHAT TILL THE VERY, VERY END.
AND FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE, UH, BEFORE I, I CONCLUDE.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WHY ARE WE CELEBRATING RIGHT NOW IF THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON? AND I SAY, WHY NOT? BECAUSE OUR EXISTENCE IS OUR RESISTANCE AND WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT BECAUSE OUR FIGHT IS YOUR FIGHT AM AND THIS AWARD GOES RIGHT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF YOU, AND WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.
UM, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU AMONG SO MANY OTHERS, ENSURE THAT EVERY HOUSTONIAN HAS A VOICE, UH, TO YOUR ENTIRE TEAM AT FI.
WHO'S HERE? CAN Y'ALL JUST STAND UP SO WE CAN SEE YOU ALL? AND I INCLUDE MOM AND WIFE IN, IN THAT NUMBER.
UM, THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO IS INCREDIBLE AND, AND IS DEEPLY INSPIRING, SO THANK YOU.
[00:40:09]
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT USING YOUR VOICE TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER A COMMUNITY, OUR NEXT HONOREE HAS TAKEN THAT MISSION TO EXTRAORDINARY SCALE.WE HONOR CARLOS ESPINA WITH THE COMMUNITY HERO AWARD.
CARLOS PROVES THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR PERMISSION OR A CERTAIN AGE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
HE BEGINS SERVING HIS COMMUNITY AS A TEENAGER, EVENTUALLY CREATING PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO LOW INCOME CHILDREN AND SUPPORT DETAINED MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES.
TODAY, CARLOS REACHES MORE THAN 15 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA WHILE LEADING MAGES UNIT OF UNIDOS UNI, UNIDOS, EXCUSE ME, UH, A COMMUNITY CENTER RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON.
HE HAS TURNED INFLUENCE INTO IMPACT AND FOLLOWERS INTO A MOVEMENT.
CARLOS REMINDS US THAT A PLATFORM PROVIDES TRULY POWERFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO LIFT EACH OTHER.
PLEASE JOIN US IN CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY HERO.
CARLOS, I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD TO GIVE A SPEECH, BUT NOW CESAR MADE ME NERVOUS 'CAUSE HE GAVE A REALLY GOOD ONE.
SO I HAVE TO BE ON LEVEL AS HIM.
I'M HAPPY THOUGH 'CAUSE I WORE THE SAME SHIRT AS MY PICTURE SO YOU DON'T CONFUSE ME.
BUT ANYWAY, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME, MY NAME IS CARLOS ALDO ESPINA.
I GREW UP IN COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, BUT NOW I LIVE IN HOUSTON AS OF TWO YEARS AGO.
AND MY STORY BEGAN WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
I REMEMBER I WAS IN MY SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL WHEN DONALD TRUMP RAN FOR PRESIDENT THE FIRST TIME.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT POLITICS BACK THEN, BUT I REMEMBER HEARING HIM SPEAK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE THAT I CARED ABOUT AND SAID, HEY, WELL THIS IS NOT RIGHT.
THIS IS NOT WHAT REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE I KNOW, THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH, THE PEOPLE THAT I LOVE.
AND SO THAT LED ME TO GETTING INVOLVED, STARTED TEACHING CITIZENSHIP CLASSES, DOING A LOT OF NON-PROFIT WORK.
I WENT TO VASSAR COLLEGE IN NEW YORK WHERE I STUDIED POLITICAL SCIENCE.
AND DURING THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, I HAD A PROJECT WHERE I WRITE LETTERS AND SEND MONEY TO IMMIGRANTS DETAINED AND ICE DETENTION CENTERS.
I CAME BACK HOME IN MARCH OF 2020 FOR SPRING BREAK, ABOUT TO GRADUATE IN MAY.
AND THEN WE GET AN EMAIL SAYING, HEY, DON'T COME BACK.
SOMETHING'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD.
AT THAT POINT, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE LIKE MANY OF YOU, MY WORK WAS BEING WITH PEOPLE FACE TO FACE.
I WAS LIKE, WHAT DO I DO NOW? SO THE ORGANIZATION I USED TO VOLUNTEER WITH WAS LIKE, HEY, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO TEACH CITIZENSHIP CLASSES ONLINE? 'CAUSE ALL OUR OTHER VOLUNTEERS ARE TOO OLD TO UNDERSTAND IT.
AND I JUST STARTED, WHO WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT? UH, WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION DO? NEXT THING I KNOW, I HAD A COUPLE THOUSAND FOLLOWERS, AND THOSE THOUSAND FOLLOWERS BECAME MILLION OVER TIME.
AND NOW FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, I'VE BEEN REACHING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND FORMING THEM ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS, WHAT'S GOING ON, ON IMMIGRATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN BETWEEN.
AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT THIS IS YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW WHO'S WATCHING YOU AND WHO'S IN, YOU KNOW, WHO'S BEING INSPIRED BY YOU.
WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT LORENZO SALGADO.
I REMEMBER WHEN THAT HAPPENED.
UM, I REACHED OUT TO THE FAMILY AND THEY SAID, OH MY GOD, WE CAN'T BELIEVE YOU REACHED OUT BECAUSE OUR FATHER WAS A HUGE FAN OF YOURS.
HE WOULD WATCH YOUR VIDEOS EVERY AFTERNOON AFTER WORK AND THEN SHOW THEM TO OUR MOTHER.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS, BUT HE KNEW WHO I WAS.
AND WHEN I REACHED OUT TO THE FAMILY, FOR THEM IT WAS A COMFORT.
IT WAS LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE THE GUY THAT OUR FATHER WOULD ALWAYS SEE ON TIKTOK, AND NOW YOU'RE HERE HELPING US OUT.
AND WHAT I MEAN TO GIVE BY THAT EXAMPLE IS THAT ANY ACTION YOU DO, IF IT'S A POSITIVE ONE, WILL NOT GO UNNOTICED.
YOU MIGHT NOT THINK PEOPLE ARE WATCHING.
YOU MIGHT THINK PEOPLE DON'T CARE, BUT THERE'S SOMEONE WHO'S WATCHING YOU.
IT MIGHT BE A FEW PEOPLE, IT MIGHT MEAN MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
BUT THOSE ACTIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF THAT CONNECTION, BECAUSE OF THAT TRUST THAT THEY HAD IN ME, WE WERE ABLE TO LAUNCH A PETITION, THE GOFUNDME, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
AND I WAS ACTUALLY WITH THEM YESTERDAY IN WASHINGTON DC AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY WERE TELLING ME IS, YOU KNOW, WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW, AS CSAD MENTIONED, WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS.
WE CAN STOP CELEBRATING OURSELVES.
WE CAN GET SCARED, WE CAN GO INTO HIDING, OR WE CAN USE IT TO BECOME STRONGER AS A COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED TO SEE, NOT ONLY BY ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE, OR SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE IN HOUSTON AND ABROAD AND THEN OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS, IS THAT WE'VE USED THIS MOMENT THAT WE'RE SEEING AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNITE, TO COME BACK STRONGER.
AND NOW WITH, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE ELECTION, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE EXCITED TO ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY.
[00:45:01]
ALL THAT TO SAY IS, YOU KNOW, THESE MOMENTS, WE CAN'T CONTROL THEM A LOT OF TIMES, BUT WE CAN'T CONTROL HOW WE REACT TO THEM AND WHAT WE DO TO THEM.AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE HONORED HERE TODAY, TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE SUPPORT OF SO MANY PEOPLE WHO WATCH ME EVERY SINGLE DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND TO CONTINUE USING MY VOICE.
BECAUSE I THINK WHAT I DO IS NOT ANYTHING THAT ANYONE ELSE CAN'T DO.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST ABOUT SHOWING UP FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, DOING WHAT'S RIGHT.
AND I THINK PEOPLE WILL NOTICE AND SUPPORT YOU ALONG THE WAY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND GOD BLESS YOU.
EVEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE MILLIONS OF FOLLOWERS THAT CARLOS HAS, WE'RE WE'RE UNDERSELLING WHAT THAT TRULY MEANS.
THIS IS A GUY WHO RECEIVES PHONE CALLS FROM PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ASKING, CAN YOU COME AND VISIT ME? CAN I GET ONTO YOUR CHANNELS? CAN I GET ONTO YOUR FEEDS? AND HE USES THAT PLATFORM NOT TO ELEVATE HIMSELF, UH, BUT TO HELP OTHERS.
UH, WHEN THE CORPORATE PARTNERS ARE REACHING OUT TO HIM, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO, YOU KNOW, GET HIM INVOLVED.
HE'S SAYING, I NEED YOU TO HELP THESE YOUNG KIDS IN MY COMMUNITIES WHO NEED BACKPACKS, WHO NEED SOCCER FIELDS.
UM, AND, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BEAR WITNESS PERSONALLY TO HIS WORK IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY AND WE'RE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR IT.
COMMUNITY CAN BE STRENGTHENED THROUGH ADVOCACY AND A POWERFUL VOICE, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE STRENGTHENED BY CREATING SPACES WHERE PEOPLE FEEL CONNECTED TO THE PLACE THEY CALL HOME.
SO THAT BRINGS US TO OUR NEXT HONOREE.
WE PROBABLY RECOGNIZE DIEGO NORIA WITH THE COMMUNITY HERO AWARD.
DIEGO IS A HOUSTON ENTREPRENEUR AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WHO SAW A POSSIBILITY IN HIS OWN NEIGHBORHOOD, WHAT BEGAN WITH MURALS AT HIS FAMILY OWNED DIVINE SHINE CAR WASH GREW INTO A MOVEMENT CELEBRATING THE ART, MUSIC CULTURE, AND PEOPLE OF HOUSTON'S EAST END AND SECOND WARD.
THROUGH THE DIVINE ART COALITION AND THE SEGUNDO BARRIO BLOCK PARTY, DIEGO HAS CREATED SPACES WHERE ARTISTS, ENTREPRENEURS, FAMILIES, AND NEIGHBORS CAN COME TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE WHO THEY ARE.
HIS WORK REMINDS US THAT SOMETIMES TRANSFORMING A COMMUNITY BEGINS SIMPLY BY BELIEVING IN THE COMMUNITY YOU ALREADY CALL HOME.
JOIN ME IN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR COMMUNITY CHAMPION DIEGO NORIA.
WELL, MY PLAN WAS TO LET HER TALK, UM,
I REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A SPEECH REPAIRED, BUT, UH,
AND AT THE HEART OF THAT SAME WORK IS ANOTHER COMMUNITY HERO WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT PRESERVING A COMMUNITY ALSO MEANS PRESERVING ITS STORIES.
JOINING DIEGO, WE PROUDLY HONOR RA WITH THE COMMUNITY HERO AWARD.
RAEL UNDERSTANDS THAT A PHOTO, A PHOTOGRAPH CAN DO MORE THAN CAPTURE A MOMENT.
IT CAN GIVE SOMEONE A VOICE THROUGH HER WORK.
AS A BILINGUAL VISUAL JOURNALIST, SHE HAS DOCUMENTED MIGRATION, SOCIAL ISSUES, POLITICAL MOBILIZATION, AND LIFE ALONG THE US BORDER, MEXICO BORDER, WHILE FOCUSING ON SOMETHING THAT CONNECTS US ALL, OUR HUMANITY, OUR STRUGGLES, OUR RESILIENCE, AND OUR HOPE.
SHE HAS ALSO USED PHOTOGRAPHY AS A TOOL FOR EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY BUILDING, PARTICULARLY WITH YOUNG WOMEN.
TOGETHER WITH DIEGO AND THE DIVINE ART COALITION TEAM, ERNESTO SANDOVAL, CHRISTOPHER VASQUEZ, AND GEORGE ALIAS.
RAQUEL IS HELPING ENSURE THAT HOUSTON'S PEOPLE CULTURE AND STORIES ARE NOT ONLY SEEN, BUT CELEBRATE IT.
LET'S CELEBRATE OUR OTHER COMMUNITY CHAMPION RAEL, PLEASE.
SO, I KNOW THE PLAN WAS TO MAKE ME SPEAK, BUT I ALSO WAS NOT THAT PREPARED.
AND NOW I'M LIKE HALF CRYING 'CAUSE HE'S SO CUTE.
[00:50:01]
BUT I THINK THAT, UH, I SPEAK FOR BOTH OF US WHEN WE SAY THAT THIS COMMUNITY AWARD IS NOT JUST FOR US.
UM, I REALLY WANNA THANK THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF SIDO BARRIO BECAUSE THEY OPENED UP THEIR DOORS AND THEIR HEARTS TO US IN WAYS THAT REALLY IS WHAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
UM, IT'S TRUE WHEN THEY SAY IT TAKES A VILLAGE, IT TOOK SO MANY PEOPLE COLLABORATING WITH US AND SAYING YES TO US AND SEEING THE VISION, UM, AND WORKING WITH US.
AND SO THIS AWARD IS REALLY FOR THEM AND FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU KNOW, UM, STARTED OFF WITH THE, UH, UND BARRIO BLOCK PARTY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SIX ROUNDS OF THEN THE FU, WHICH HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE, WHICH WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING.
BUT JUST INVITING EVERYONE OUT TO, UH, BARRIO BASH.
UM, WE WERE BLESSED AND REACHED OUT WITH AND PARTNER WITH TAMICO.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE, WE'RE GONNA BE HOSTING BAR BASH AT THE CAR WASH ON CANAL AGAIN OCTOBER 11TH.
UH, THAT WILL BE A VERY NICE, UH, PRE-PARTY ON THE 10TH WITH LUCIA LIBRE.
SO EVERYONE, PLEASE COME ON OUT.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING.
UH, IF, IF YOU KNOW ME AND MY FAMILY, UH, MY WIFE IS THE ART PERSON IN THE FAMILY, UM, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WORK OF THE DIVINE ART COALITION, UM, AND, AND THE MEANING THAT IT BRINGS AND REPRESENTS, UM, YOU KNOW, HERE IN IN, IN THE EAST END IN SEGUNDO BARRIO, UH, AND WELL BEYOND, UH, IT, IT, IT TRULY MEANS SO MUCH AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING, UH, WITH YOU.
UH, WHEN YOU HEAR BLOCK PARTY, SOMETIMES FOLKS DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS, UH, BUT THIS IS FAMILY FRIENDLY.
UH, AGAIN, THIS IS ALL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ALL COMING TOGETHER AND, UH, AND THEN THAT WE'RE HAVING AN IMPACT IN THAT TIME THAT WE'RE TOGETHER.
SO, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
EACH OF THESE HONOREES SHOW US WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE CHOOSES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN FRONT OF THEM.
OUR FINAL HONOREE SHOWS US HOW FAR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE CAN LEAD FROM HELPING INDIVIDUALS ONE-ON-ONE TO CITY HALL, TO THE HALLS OF CONGRESS.
IT IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL FOR THE CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICE TO RECOGNIZE CONGRESS RUMAN SYLVIA GARCIA WITH THE COMMUNITY TRAILBLAZER AWARD.
IT IS EXTRA SPECIAL FOR ME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONGRESSWOMAN AS SHE WAS THE CITY CONTROLLER WHEN I STARTED MY CAREER AT THE CITY.
FROM GROWING UP AS ONE OF 10 CHILDREN IN THE SMALL SOUTH TEXAS COMMUNITY OF PALITO BLANCO, CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA BUILT AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION, HARD WORK, AND SERVICE.
SHE BEGAN AS A SOCIAL WORKER AND LEGAL AID ATTORNEY BEFORE EMBARKING UPON A HISTORIC CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
SHE SERVED AS PRESIDING JUDGE OF HOUSTON'S MUNICIPAL COURT SYSTEM, AND THEN AS THE HOUSTON CITY CONTROLLER, WHERE SHE BECAME KNOWN AS A WATCHDOG FOR TAXPAYERS AND A CHAMPION FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
SHE WENT ON TO MAKE HISTORY ON HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN THE TEXAS SENATE, AND ULTIMATELY IN CONGRESS BECOMING THE FIRST HISPANIC MEMBER OF HOUSTON'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND ONE OF THE FIRST TWO LATINAS TO REPRESENT TEXAS IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA HAS SPENT A LIFETIME BREAKING BARRIERS, BUT A TRUE TRAILBLAZER DOES MORE THAN MAKE HISTORY FOR HERSELF.
SHE MAKES THE PATH WIDER FOR EVERYONE WHO FOLLOWS.
FRANK GONZALEZ WILL BE RECEIVING THE AWARD ON HER BEHALF.
AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, I'M NOT CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA.
I HAD YOU FOOLED FOR A MINUTE.
WELL, IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
AND I WANNA SINCERELY THANK CONTROLLER CHRIS HOLLINS, HIS TEAM AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE HISTORY, CULTURE, TRADITIONS, AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
CONGRESSWOMAN DE GARCIA HAS DEDICATED HER LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE FROM BEING A SOCIAL WORKER AND LEGAL AID ATTORNEY, TO SERVING AS HOUSTON CITY CONTROLLER, AS HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, A TEXAS STATE SENATOR, AND NOW TEX, UH, REPRESENTING CONGRESS FOR THE 29TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS.
SHE ALSO MADE HISTORY AS MENTIONED EARLIER AS THE FIRST LATINA TO REPRESENT TEXAS 29
[00:55:01]
IN CONGRESS.SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT THE HISPANIC, THAT HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS NOT JUST ABOUT CELEBRATING WHERE WE COME FROM, IT'S ABOUT ALSO RECOGNIZING THE CHALLENGES OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO FACE AND STANDING UP FOR DIGNITY, EQUALITY IN HUMAN RIGHTS.
WE MUST ALSO REMEMBER THE MANY PEOPLE IN DETENTION CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO BREATHE FREE.
WE MUST ALSO REMEMBER FAMILIES LIKE SALGADOS WHO CONTINUE TO SEEK JUSTICE AND ANSWERS.
THIS IS WHAT OUR HERITAGE TEACHES US, TO BE PROUD OF WHO WE ARE, TO NEVER FORGET WHERE WE CAME FROM AND TO STAND UP FOR ONE ANOTHER.
CONTROLLER HOLLANDS, HIS TEAM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, FOR ALLOWING US TO CELEBRATE TOGETHER IVA HOUSTON.
AND AFTER THE PICTURE, WE HAVE A SHORT VIDEO, UH, FROM THE CONGRESSWOMAN.
I'M SORRY I CAN'T BE WITH YOU IN PERSON TODAY, BUT I'M TRULY HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION DURING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
CINDY HALL WILL ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON AS CITY CONTROLLER.
THAT EXPERIENCE TAUGHT ME THAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS ABOUT BEING RESPONSIBLE WITH PEOPLE'S TRUST AND ALWAYS REMEMBERING WHO YOU WORK FOR.
THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, I HAVE TRIED TO MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE A VOICE AND THAT GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE IT'S SUPPOSED TO SERVE.
THAT'S WHY THIS RECOGNITION MEANS SO MUCH TO ME.
THANK YOU TO THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE FOR THIS HONOR, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE OTHER HONOREES.
LET'S KEEP OPENING DOORS, SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES, AND MAKING HOUSTON PROUD, WHICH CIAS ILLA.
SO THANK MAKE SURE YOU GET THE BOX.
UH, AS WE'VE NOW HEARD A COUPLE OF TIMES, UH, BEFORE SYLVIA WAS LAA, UH, SHE WAS LA RA AND, UM, SHE IS, SHE'S ONE OF THE, THE FEW PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, HAVE SAT IN THIS OFFICE THAT I'M ABLE TO CALL ON FOR ADVICE, FOR WISDOM.
AND SHE'S ONE OF THE EVEN FEWER PEOPLE WHO INSTEAD OF ME CALLING THEM FOR ADVICE, SHE CALLS ME.
AND, AND I GET A LOT OF CALLS FROM OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS ON A REGULAR BASIS, USUALLY TO, TO ASK FOR SOMETHING.
UM, SHE'S CALLING TO TELL ME SOMETHING, UH, TELLING ME ACTION THAT I NEED TO TAKE ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY, UH, YOU KNOW, TO UPHOLD, YOU KNOW, THE ACCOUNTABILITY FUNCTION FOR THIS OFFICE.
AND SO I'M IN TRULY, UH, I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR, UH, FOR HER FRIENDSHIP, FOR HER LEADERSHIP, UM, AND FOR HER GUIDANCE AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA.
TODAY WE HAVE CELEBRATED FIVE PEOPLE WHO REMIND US THAT LEADERSHIP IS NOT DEFINED BY TITLE.
IT IS THE COURAGE TO ADVOCATE WHEN OTHERS ARE SILENT, THE WILLINGNESS TO SERVE WHEN OTHERS NEED YOU.
THE VISION TO SEE POSSIBILITIES WHEN OTHERS MAY NOT, AND THE DETERMINATION TO LEAVE YOUR COMMUNITY BETTER THAN WHEN YOU FOUND IT.
DIFFERENT JOURNEYS, DIFFERENT FORMS OF SERVICE, BUT ONE SHARED COMMITMENT TO MAKE HOUSTON AND THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THEM STRONGER AND BETTER THAN HOW THEY FOUND THEM.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING ALL OF OUR HONOREES AND GIVING THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THESE INCREDIBLE AND EXTRAORDINARY HOUSTONIANS REMIND US OF WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD WITH PURPOSE, TO SERVE WITH HEART, AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA BRING UP OUR WONDERFUL MC.
I FEEL LIKE I'M NOT DOING ENOUGH IN THE CITY BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE DOING AMAZING.
LET'S GIVE THEM AN EXTRA ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
OKAY, SO NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM BALL RES DE PER PRESENTED BY CONSUL GENERAL AMBASSADOR FATSO AND MINISTER JORGE LASSO, DEPUTY COUNCIL GENERAL BALLET DE PERU IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, DEDICATED TO SHARING, PROMOTING AND PRESERVING TRADITIONAL PERUVIAN DANCES AND CULTURE.
SO LET'S WELCOME BALLET FORICO DE
[01:00:01]
PERU.MARRA NORTE, A DANCE ORIGINATING FROM THE NORTHERN COAST OF PERU, CELEBRATED FOR ITS ENERGY, ELEGANCE, AND COMPETITIVE SPIRIT.
IT FEATURES AGILE WELL-DEFINED MOVEMENTS WHERE DYNAMIC FOOTWORK AND THE PLAYFUL USE OF HANDKERCHIEFS BRING TO LIFE A VIBRANT COURTSHIP BETWEEN THE DANCERS.
THE WOMAN CAPTIVATES WITH HER GRACE, STRENGTH, AND COMMANDING STAGE PRESENCE WHILE THE MAN COMPLIMENTS HER WITH SKILL, PRECISION AND RESPECT.
MAR, PER PLEASE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR FUL RISES.
[01:06:12]
THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL GRACIAS.FOR THE FINAL PERFORMANCE, WE WILL HONOR RONALDO AND HIS FATHER LORENZO ONE LAST TIME FOR A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE BY THE KINDER HIGH SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS MARIACHI BAND.
LET'S WELCOME THEM WITH A WARM ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[01:12:06]
IN.[01:17:35]
CAN I TAKE THIS OFF? ALRIGHT.SO AS WE BEGIN TO CLOSE TODAY'S PROGRAM, I WANNA THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR BEING PART OF THIS CELEBRATION OF SUCH A RICH HERITAGE AND LEGACY AS US.
HOUSTON IS A CITY DEFINED BY ITS DIVERSITY AND STRENGTHENED BY THE COMMUNITIES THAT SHAPE IT EVERY DAY.
AND WHAT A BLESSING FOR US TO BE PART OF SUCH A VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS NOT JUST A TIME TO REFLECT, BUT A TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS THAT CONTINUE TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE AS YOUR MC TODAY.
IT'S TRULY BEEN AN HONOR AND HAVE A GR RE GREAT REST OF YOUR DAY.
AND NOW, CITY CONTROLLER HOLLANDS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE AND FOR CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, IT MEANS A LOT TO ALL OF US.
LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR OUR MC.
IF YOU WANNA FOLLOW HER ON SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, YOU CAN FIND HER AT SPOILED LATINA.
THAT'S WHAT SHE CALLS HERSELF.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M CALLING HER.
SPOILED LATINA, UH, SPOIL HERSELF.
IF I CAN GET THIS, UH, WHAT A MORNING IT HAS BEEN.
UH, I WANT TO GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR ALL OF OUR PERFORMERS.
CAN WE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE? I DON AZTECA, UH, BA LED FOR FOLK, UH, COLO ARTE, AND OF COURSE, UH, FROM KINDER H-S-P-V-A, THE MARIACHI PAROS.
UM, I ALSO, UH, WANT TO RECOGNIZE FROM THE KINDER INSTITUTED RICE UNIVERSITY, DR. RUTH LOPEZ TURLEY, A FORMER HONOREE FROM THESE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATIONS.
CAN YOU PLEASE STAND AND CAN WE RECOGNIZE YOU? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
WE KNOW, AND WE WERE REMINDED TODAY THAT CULTURE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SIMPLY OBSERVE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE LIVE AND WE LIVE OUT LOUD, AND WE LIVE TOGETHER, UH, TO OUR HONOREES.
CARLOS, DIEGO, RAQUEL
EACH OF YOU TOOK SOMETHING THAT YOU WERE GIVEN A TALENT, A PLATFORM, A TITLE, AND YOU USED IT TO LIFT UP
[01:20:01]
OTHERS.UM, THAT IS THE ENTIRE POINT OF TODAY.
UM, THE FACT THAT YOU MADE THOSE CHOICES TO INVEST YOUR TIME, YOUR ENERGY, UH, INTO THIS COMMUNITY, INTO OTHERS, IT MEANS SO MUCH.
AND WE CANNOT SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH.
EARLIER IN THIS PROGRAM, WE PAUSED TO REMEMBER LORENZO SALGADO.
I WANNA RETURN TO THAT MOMENT BECAUSE HIS FAMILY HAS ASKED US TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT HIM AND WE INTEND TO KEEP OUR WORD.
LORENZO SHOULD STILL BE ALIVE.
REMEMBERING HIM TODAY IN THIS ROOM, ALONGSIDE THIS COMMUNITY'S JOY AND ITS EXCELLENCE, IS PART OF HOW WE HONOR HIM.
VERY SOON, WE WILL WELCOME RONALDO BACK TO CITY HALL FOR A CONVERSATION ABOUT HIS FAMILY, ABOUT THE UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH AND ABOUT WHERE WE AS A COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE GO FROM HERE.
UH, WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US THERE, AND WE WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH MORE DETAILS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS WE CLOSE.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS JUST BEGINNING.
IT CONTINUES THROUGH MID-OCTOBER, AND THIS MONTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AND ARE STILL BEING MADE RIGHT NOW IN EVERY PART OF THIS INCREDIBLE CITY.
HOUSTON'S FUTURE IS BEING BUILT BY THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, BY ADVOCATES, BY ARTISTS, BY ENTREPRENEURS, BY FAMILIES WHO CAME HERE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITY AND HAVE FOUND A WAY TO GIVE EVEN MORE BACK TO THOSE AROUND THEM.
IF WE HOLD ON THAT TO SERVICE, TO DIGNITY, TO ASPIRATION, TO THE IDEA OF SHOWING UP FOR ONE ANOTHER THE NEXT YEAR, WE WILL HAVE EVEN MORE TO CELEBRATE.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF HOUSTON STORY.
OF COURSE, NO CELEBRATION OF HISPANIC AND LATINO CULTURE WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT FOOD THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER AND THAT TASTES LIKE HOME.
AND SO PLEASE STICK AROUND FOR A MOMENT.
ENJOY THE REFRESHMENTS THAT WE HAVE, UH, FROM COTAS CATERING, AND MAKE A NEW FRIEND BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE ROOM.
ONE MORE REMINDER, WHEN YOU LEAVE OUTTA HERE, GO CHECK OUT THE SLABS FROM A-T-H-T-X GARAGE IN THE FRONT.
AND SO MAKE MAKE YOUR WAY OUT THERE, UH, AS YOU LEAVE TODAY.