SEHTA Neighborhood News Vol. 1 feb14

Neighborhood News
OST/SOUTH UNION
GO NEIGHBORHOOD
VISION:
We envision an
engaged and
informed community
working together to
transform Southeast
Houston into a
healthy, vibrant, safe
and economically
stable community—a
place that
nurtures and
supports us
throughout our lives.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Farmers Market
2
Kuhlman Gully
2
Strollin’ & Rollin’
3
Education & Youth 3
Kids’ Corner
4
Pastoral Coalition
4
Preston Roe Pavilion
5
Quality of Life
5
Early Action Project
5
AWE Celebration
6
Housing
6
Proud Partner
6
Movie Night
7
National Night Out
7
GO Teams
8
Who Represents Me
8
Neighborhood Recovery
Community Development
Corporation
5445 Almeda Road, Ste. 505
Houston, TX 77004
Office: (713) 520-5232
V O L U M E
1 ,
I S S U E
1
1 S T
Q U A R T E R
WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE ARE HEADED
The Southeast Houston Transformation
Alliance (SEHTA) is a collaborative effort
that brings together residents and key
stakeholders to transform Southeast
Houston area into a healthy, vibrant,
and economically stable community.
In November 2011, University of
Houston Research Professor Carroll
Parrott Blue received a grant from the
National Endowment
for the Arts (NEA)
Our Town Initiative.
Three
guiding
principles emerged
from
the
community’s input
and participation in
Our Town’s activities,
plans,
historic
research and arts as
supported by this
grant:
 Community
empowerment and organization
 Personal and environmental health,
wellness, and nutrition
 Urban connectivity
In order to address the concerns raised
from the results from Our Town’s initial
work, SEHTA was formed in October
2012 and received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in March 2013.
In January 2013, OST/South Union was
designated a GO Neighborhood by
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
(LISC). SEHTA serves as the Steering
Committee in conjunction with
Neighborhood Recovery Community
Development Corporation (NRCDC) as
the Convening Agency.
GO Neighborhoods is a multi-year
comprehensive
initiative
for
revitalizing Houston
communities
by
addressing the many
aspects of developing
a
sustainable
community – a good
place to work, live,
and raise a family.
This
initiative
is
guided by GO Teams
to develop a Quality
of Life Agreement
(QLA) as described on page five.
Additional technical assistance came in
January 2013 from Blue’s National Park
Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation
Assistance Program award to support
the Strollin’ and Rollin’ GO Team.
Visit us at www.go-neighborhoods.org
PAGE
2
Farmers Market Opens at Palm Center
Thanks to the
Greater Southeast
Management District
for this article.
This bench was
dedicated to
Palm
Center
Farmers
Market had their grand
opening Saturday, October
12. Despite the rain, one
vendor was down to his
last two sweet potatoes by
the time the skies opened
up around noon–a measure
of success if there ever was
one! Sponsored by the
Southeast
Houston
Transformation
Alliance
(SEHTA)
Health
and
Wellness GO Team with a
GO Neighborhood Early
Action Project grant, the
market is a blend of
wholesalers, distributors,
artisans,
restaurant
owners, and local growers.
Homemade
pastries,
shockingly hot salsa, and
fresh produce from the
adjacent
community
garden were just a few of
the delightful offerings.
SEHTA volunteers staffing
the event were passionate
about
nutrition
and
community engagement.
And sure enough, the Palm
Center Farmers Market
aspires to be more than
just a weekend stop for
fresh produce. Cooking,
urban
gardening,
and
nutrition classes will be
available
through
the
program.
second Saturday of every
month through January,
2014, and will resume in
May for the spring season.
Be sure to stop by and
stock up on fig pies and
fresh broccoli!
If you’re interested in
becoming a vendor with
the Palm Center Farmers
Market, be sure to check
their website here (http://
www.pcfm.net/) for more
information.
The Palm Center Farmers
Market took place the
Kuhlman Gully
In January 2012 the Kuhlman Gully, a
1.09 mile waterway and a renowned
outgoing
community dumping ground, flooded
Councilmember
Southeast Houston. The Arts, Culture
and History GO Team along with SEHTA
Wanda Adams on
have decided to become the stewards
December 8, 2013
of the Kuhlman Gully, a long neglected
but beautiful natural habitat and
at the Houston
outdoor
environmental
learning
Texans YMCA.
laboratory. Joining forces with the
Harris County Flood Control District,
the City of Houston Public Works and
Engineering Department, and Keep
Houston
Beautiful, we are
becoming a firstever in Houston
“Adopt-AWaterway” pilot
program. The plan
is to do, with the
support of each
group’s
environment
Bench created by Artist, Sam Jones
education divisions,
a
Kuhlman
Gully
Clean-Up,
Beautification
and
Environment
Education Project.
Through funding from the National
Endowment for the Arts Our Town
program, Carroll Parrott Blue, the
Southeast Houston Arts Initiative’s
principal investigator, commissioned
Sam Jones, an artist and sculptor of
recycled materials, to create a bench
made out of the trash he collected
from Kuhlman Gully. The bench seats
and arms encase these items in epoxy.
This bench was dedicated to outgoing
Councilmember Wanda Adams on
December 8, 2013 at the Houston
Texans
YMCA.
This
dedication
celebrated arts, the environment and
the hard work of Councilmember
Adams on behalf of the community.
Future plans for Kuhlman Gully include
beautification
and
environmental
education programs for youth in the
community.
PAGE
Education & Youth GO Team
The vision of the Education and Youth GO Team is
“Working together we will care for our youth and
support them and their parents in education and life.
We believe it takes a village to raise a child. We want
to work together to enhance opportunities for all of
our young people. We will work with our teachers,
students, and parents to make education a priority,
to enhance access to learning technologies, and
provide productive and creative opportunities for
our youth outside of the classroom.”
The Education and Youth GO Team is implementing
an after school reading program at Foster
Elementary, “Supporting Successful Parents with
Encouragement and Enrichment (SSPEE).” The goals
of this program are to engage parents to increase
the number of career oriented and college bound
students, work within the community to inspire
greatness and cultivate aspirations among parents
and children, build relationships with parents and
children, and encourage involvement in the
community, especially with civic clubs.
The program is free and will be held every
Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. for students who are in
the 1st-3rd grade. Our main focus will be reading,
cultural history, and parent involvement. We will
offer snacks, homework help, educational games,
and reading enrichment with culturally relevant
materials, and parent workshops.
We are looking for individuals who may be
interested in volunteering with the after school
program.
For more information, please contact
Monique Davis at (713) 449-5648.
3
PAGE
4
Kids’ Corner
As a result of the essay below, Evan Johnson was awarded with a week long camp
at Blackwood Nature Camp in Hempstead, TX.
“My experience at Blackwood Nature camp was AWESOME! I loved it so much and
I'm so glad I won that essay. We played capture the flag and some other fun games.
Lots of awesome fun games. I loved it there! The people were very nice too. I
would encourage new campers to go there because IT WAS AWESOME!
Why and How I Want to Maintain the OST/South Union Neighborhoods
By Evan S. Johnson
Evan S. Johnson
New South Union Civic
Association
I live in South Union. It just doesn’t seem safe all the time. You have to pay attention
to your surroundings a lot instead of just play.It feels good to be here but we need to
change it a little bit. We have to clean the community, fix the houses and sidewalks or
build sidewalks on streets where we don’t have them, like mine.
I would help by picking up litter because after we cleaned up a few weeks ago, people
messed it up again. So, I would put flyers everywhere that say,
“Please help the community to keep the community better than it is now”
“To catch the
reader's attention,
place an
interesting
sentence or quote
from the story
here.”
I would give every house a plastic hand clamper to pick up trash where they live. I
would offer a reward for the cleanest street or ditch by throwing a “rock the block”
party! I would give the best cleaner a “winner ribbon”, trophy and t-shirt to wear
around the neighborhood for everybody to see! I would send their picture to the news
and newspaper. If they’re a child, I would give them a free ticket to the Children’s
Museum for a month and if they’re an adult, I’d give them a free dinner at their
favorite restaurant! If it’s a whole family, I’d give them a Saturday fun day of play at
Discovery Green or IT’Z Pizza!
I would, also, encourage people to start a garden and have contests for best garden
then trade fruits and vegetables because if everyone grew their own garden, they’d
have healthy families and there would be less fast food wrappers to clean up.
Whatever we do, we can only do it if we work together.
Pastoral Coalition
Pastoral Coalition
Breakfast May 29, 2013
The purpose of the Pastoral coalition is to
bring together pastors and outreach
ministers in order to encourage their
congregations to make a difference in our
community.
This
quarterly breakfast
meeting has been
established to begin
dialog
among
pastors
and
ministers in order
to engage residents
of the community.
This breakfast was
also designed to foster relationships
between Pastors and ministry leaders in
the OST/South Union community. It is our
hope that through this coalition,
participants will take ownership in the
community thus leading from the bottom
up and creating a community where the
quality of life is raised for everyone.
If you would like to attend or participate in
the Pastoral Coalition, please contact David
Hill at [email protected] / 832
-865-6235.
Preston Roe Pavilion
PAGE
On November 9, 2013, The City of Houston dedicated the Basketball Pavilion
at George Nelson Park to longtime civic leader Preston Roe. Mr. Roe is the
President of the LaSalette Civic Club, Super Neighborhood Council #68 and of
SEHTA. Congratulations to him for all of his hard work!
George Nelson Park Pavilion
Quality of Life Agreement
One of the most important steps in
becoming a great neighborhood is the
development of a quality of life plan.
During this process, residents,
stakeholders, partners, allies, and key
community leaders are developing a
vision for OST/South Union using the
community’s strengths to create a
strategic plan for achieving this vision.
Vision and Alignment Day
On June 8 over 100 residents came
together to develop a vision for the
Greater
OST/South
Union
GO
Neighborhood at Oakton Place, 5011
Griggs Road. During this process,
residents identified the strengths of
the neighborhood and the different
aspects of the community they would
like to change or keep in place.
Residents and stakeholders formed GO
Teams
to
address
community
concerns. These GO Teams and their
contact information are listed on page
eight.
The goal was to bring together
community residents, leaders and
potential resources to develop a vision
for
the
Southeast
Houston
neighborhood, in five major areas:
increasing family income and wealth,
stimulating
economic
activity,
improving access to quality education,
fostering safe, livable environments,
and expanding investment in housing
and real estate.
A resident stated: “I could feel a real
sense of community as I watched
residents from various civic clubs
eagerly discuss areas of concern and
opportunities
for
community
enhancement. I also saw leaders from
various government offices and
churches offer resources and solutions.
Everyone seemed to agree that our
neighborhood is transforming for the
better, with all of the projects taking
place in the area (Metro Rail, Young
Library reconstruction, etc.) but that
we as a community need to have a
proactive approach to making sure
that it does not get consumed by
gentrification. We concluded that by
educating residents, empowering
them, and inviting them to be part of a
committee to take action was very
effective.”
Strategy and Synergy Days
After developing a comprehensive
vision for the community, residents
came together again for Strategy Day
on July 20 and Synergy Day on October
5 at Foster Elementary School, 3919
Ward Street, to develop a strategic
plan for achieving this vision and
working together to make it a reality.
On February 8, prospective partners
and allies were invited to join us again
at Foster Elementary School to provide
input, technical assistance and
guidance to proposed projects,
programs,
and
policy
recommendations presented by each
GO Team.
Early Action Project Grants
Early Action Project grants up to $5,000 are available to
Super Neighborhood 68 non-profit organizations, faith
community, groups or individuals who demonstrate a
commitment to the vision of the OST/South Union GO
Neighborhood. Grant requests should provide seed
funding for a project that will have an immediate
impact the quality of life in Super Neighborhood 68,
build collaboration among a diverse representation of
residents and other stakeholders from the community,
and lay the foundation for future projects and attract
investment. Projects should provide visible results in
the short-term (3-6 months) and/or contribute towards
engaging more stakeholders in the neighborhood.
Requests should be submitted at least 90 days before
the funds are needed. Applications may be requested
from [email protected] or by calling 713-520-5232.
Visit us at www.go-neighborhoods.org
5
PAGE
6
Re-Grand Opening
Ribbon Cutting
AWE Celebration
The AWE-Inspiring Celebration, a community festival which
introduced the public to the OST/South Union LISC GO
Neighborhood and SEHTA, celebrated the grand re-opening
of the Park at Palm Center including the launch of the
community garden adjacent to the Park at Palm Center, and
encouraged Arts, Wellness, and Environment-related
programming and participation in activities at two other
parks located in the GO Neighborhood—MacGregor Park
and George T. Nelson Park. AWE also showcased the resources of the agencies and
organizations of the Third Ward Community Cloth and other community
stakeholders.
It was a day filled with live entertainment from the Hartsfield Elementary School
Choir, Gospel Heritage Music Foundation, Joe Carmouche jazz band, a
motivational speech by Miss Houston, line dancers, hip-hop artists, disc jockeys,
spoken word poets from elementary and middle schools in the neighborhood,
athletic activities and competitions, and a bike ride connecting the three parks.
Several elected officials including Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, State
Senator Rodney Ellis and City Council Member Wanda Adams opened the
celebration along with representatives from the Mayors’ Office and the Parks
Director.
“….a community
festival which
introduced the
public to the OST/
South Union GO
Neighborhood.”
OST/South Union
Civic Leaders
Housing GO Team
During the coming year,
the Housing GO Team will
present
several
educational workshops.
The
workshops
will
educate residents and
stakeholders
on
inheritance
planning,
preparation of wills, how
to protest your taxes, tax
exemptions and reverse
mortgages. We hope that
by bringing education and
resources
to
the
community, we can help
seniors stay in their
homes, and help pass
homes to the next
generation. This can also
help us reduce the
number of vacant homes
and
blight
in
the
community, and preserve
owner occupied houses,
maintaining the character
of the community. The
months and dates will be
announced soon.
We are also researching
home repair programs
and looking for skilled
volunteers who would be
willing to help make
repairs to improve the
livability of seniors in our
community who are in
need.
If
you
are
interested in our work,
education,
or
volunteering,
please
contact Pauline Brown
at (713) 741-5582.
Mayor’s Proud Partner Award
On October 29, 2013, Civic Leaders from the OST/South Union GO
Neighborhood were recognized at the Mayor’s Proud Partners Awards
Luncheon, sponsored by Keep Houston Beautiful. This event celebrates
organizations working to beautify and clean up the city of Houston.
SEHTA and OST/South Union received three awards—more than any
other single community.
Movie Night
The Arts, Culture, and History GO Team hosted a filming of
"Dining In The Desert" produced by Yates High School
students , "Hear Our Houston" produced by Carrie
Schneider and "Kuhlman Gully", produced by Carroll Parrott
Blue and Johnny Hanson at the YWCA, 6309 Martin Luther
King, Jr. Blvd. These local projects explored economically
distressed communities, their lack of access to fresh fruits
and vegetables and the value of maintaining community
waterways. The films highlighted local community activists
and their efforts to find solutions. Films starred:
 Bam Lewis — Bam's Auto Express
 Cavanaugh Nweze — Grub Not Grass
PAGE
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Jessica Johnson and Family — Our Home
Baba Shango — SEHAH Youth and Fitness
Tafari — Marcus Garvey Liberation Garden
Vivian Vincent — MacGregor Palm Terrace
Terrence Wiley — South Union
Priscilla Graham — South Central and Houston
Texans YMCA
Join us on February 20th at 6:00 p.m. at Young Branch
Library , 5260 Griggs Road, for a FREE encore performance
of “Hear Our Houston” and other stories of OST/South
Union.
National Night Out
The OST South Union GO Neighborhood appreciates the financial support State Farm Insurance provided to GO
Neighborhoods for the National Night Out celebration. The introduction of National Night Out, “America’s Night Out Against
Crime”, in 1984 began an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships,
neighborhood camaraderie and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and
fighting back.
Festivities were held at seven venues across the community. Invitations were distributed via flyers, email, press releases,
social media, and other media outlets (television, newspapers, magazines, etc.), through the schools, churches and day care
centers to encourage family involvement. A big push this year was to engage renters in each community.
Our civic clubs hosted over 500 current and prospective homeowners and renters from our community, as well as former City
Council members Wanda Adams and Andrew Burks, State Representative Borris Miles and several City Council candidates,
including Dwight Boykins, newly elected District D Council Member, Judge Zinetta Burney, Constable Mae Walker and Police
Chief Charles A. McClelland, Jr.
State Farm was a welcome partner because many homeowners are unable to interpret all of the literature included in their
home insurance policies. In 2008, one of our finest residents in South Union, Brenda Williams, was displaced from her home
after Hurricane Ike due to insufficient insurance and a denial letter from FEMA. Following her flood experience she was
involved in a home fire which leveled her home to the ground. If Mrs. Williams had been educated on the importance of
interpreting her insurance policy she would not have been permanently displaced from our community. Similar untold
incidents such as this one have been experienced across the community.
Grand Park and Southern Village produced a video about their National Night Out celebration which can be found at
http://youtu.be/jmR7Md48jEE.
According to the National Night Out website, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for communities nationwide to promote policecommunity partnerships, crime prevention, and neighborhood camaraderie. While the one night is certainly not an answer to
crime, drugs and violence, National Night
Out represents the kind of spirit, energy
and determination to help make
neighborhoods a safer place year round.
The night celebrates safety and crime
prevention successes and works to expand
and strengthen programs for the next 364
days.” In keeping with this intent, State
Farm is providing funding for several Crime
Prevention through Environmental Design
(CPTED) projects in OST/South Union. One
project is the fencing around Agape
Development’s Community Garden.
7
GO Teams
Get Involved. Stay Involved. GO Teams are the backbone of the GO Neighborhood process. Led by community residents and
stakeholders, GO Teams support each aspect of the GO Neighborhood’s mission through weekly and monthly meetings, community
activities and events, and major community projects. For information on becoming a member of a GO Team contact the Team Leaders
listed here.
Arts, Culture and History
Maria Castillo
281-827-4484
[email protected]
Norola Morgan
713-748-7229
[email protected]
Paulette Wagner
713-748-2061
[email protected]
Education and Youth
Ellis Johnson
713-741-1945
[email protected]
Melissa Hill
281-352-0730
[email protected]
Monique Davis
713-449-5648
[email protected]
Economic Development |
Family Income and Wealth
Cavanaugh Nweze
832-262-8019
[email protected]
Laura Tryon
713-392-7779
[email protected]
Health and Wellness
Roland Cotton
832-882-1249
[email protected]
Verda Gaines
713-408-7095
[email protected]
Infrastructure
Beverly Sadler Adjei
713-304-7658
[email protected]
Mallory Williams
832-721-3562
[email protected]
Housing
Pauline Brown
713-741-5582
[email protected]
Paul Charles
713-520-5232
[email protected]
Leadership and Civic
Engagement
David Hill
832-865-6235
[email protected]
Nikki Knight
832-259-7257
[email protected]
Erika Swanson
832-340-5128
[email protected]
Safety and Clean-ups
Eric Johnson
832-703-7200
[email protected]
Belinda Anderson
713-741-7273
Preston Roe
713-747-4358
[email protected]
Strollin’ & Rollin’
Cedric Douglas
713-320-1773
[email protected]
Paul Cotton
832-978-6349
[email protected]
Who Represents Me
HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL
City Hall Annex
900 Bagby, First Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Council Member C.O. "Brad" Bradford
At-Large Position 4
Phone: 832.393.3012
E-Mail: [email protected]
Council Member Dwight Boykins
District D
Phone: 832.393.3001
E-Mail: [email protected]
Council Member Jack Christie
At-Large Position 5
Phone: 832.393.3017
E-Mail: [email protected]
Council Member Stephen Costello
At-Large Position 1
Phone: 832.393.3014
E-Mail: [email protected]
STATE SENATOR
Council Member David W. Robinson
At-Large Position 2
Phone: 832.393.3013
E-Mail: [email protected]
Council Member Michael Kubosh
At-Large Position 3
Phone: 832.393.3005
E-Mail: [email protected]
Senator Rodney Ellis
District Address:
440 Louisiana, Suite 575
Houston TX 77002
Phone: (713) 236-0306
STATE REPRESENTATIVES
Rep. Borris Miles
District Address:
2656 S. Loop West,, Suite 265
Houston TX 77054
Rep. Garnet Coleman
District Address:
P.O. Box 88140
Houston TX 77288
Phone: (713) 520-5355
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D)
Houston Office
1919 Smith St.
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 655-0050
U. S. SENATORS
Sen. Ted Cruz (R)
Houston Office
1919 Smith St.
Suite #800
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 653-3456
Sen. John Cornyn (R)
Houston Office
5300 Memorial Drive
Suite 980
Houston, TX 77007
Phone: 713-572-3337
Visit us at www.go-neighborhoods.org
For more information contact
Gwendolyn Fedrick,
Community Coordinator for
OST/South Union GO
Neighborhoods at
(713) 520-5232 or email at
[email protected].