Complete Communities
June 2020
Scroll to the bottom to read more about the headline stories. Call us at 832-393-6600 if you'd like more information.
Acres Home
To create a more equitable prosperous city, the Mayor’s Office of Complete Communities continues to promote innovative projects to address the needs and services for residents and businesses in Acres Home through the creation of the Acres Home Workforce Development Council.
This council was a recommendation from professional consultants with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Consultants recently visited Acres Home and met with several community stakeholders to discuss small business development, corridor revitalization, business attraction, workforce development, small business and commercial assets, and identifying community assets through Opportunity Zones.
For more information about the Acres Homes Workforce Development Council, please contact Tonia Kirven, Workforce Council Coordinator, at [email protected].
Alief/Westwood
Ibn Sina Foundation and CVS open Alief COVID-19 Rapid Test Site
Community clinic system Ibn Sina Foundation and CVS Health have partnered to offer free rapid COVID-19 testing starting Tuesday, June 9, 2020. Licensed CVS Health physician’s assistants, nurses and pharmacy staff will swab patients for the virus when they arrive and test results will be provided on the spot. The testing site is located at 11226 S. Wilcrest Drive, and patients can book COVID-19 testing appointments at 281-495-7462.
For more information, please read original article from Houston Chronicle: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Ibn-Sina-Foundation-CVS-open-Alief-COVID-19-15325689.php?fbclid=IwAR0Xmr4zOPlXI_78UdqWGZbTGPH1lgH1K_QdITsayyP8J6OyINFHOw3ix10
Promoting Education Through Computer Giveaway
Council Member Edward Pollard joined Comp-U-Dopt and Communities In Schools of Houston to provide 300 free computers to families in need at Bonham Elementary. Many students in underserved communities were without computers at home when the COVID-19 shutdown began, but with this donation, hundreds of children can keep up with their studies this summer.
"To see the smiles on the kid’s faces was so rewarding. Thank you to CompUDopt and Communities in Schools for all your amazing work in our community, shout out to Council Member Sallie Alcorn for coming to District J and participating as well," said Pollard.
Original source:
https://mailchi.mp/ec2b33f39204/the-pollard-press-9462398?e=802d00590f
Gulfton
The office of District J partnered with the Houston Food Bank, the Southwest Management District and the Ardenwood Group to host one of Houston’s largest free food distributions to date. The event was held in the parking lot of the PlazAmericas Mall, where thousands of residents lined up to receive up to 80 pounds of food. The distribution included fresh produce, meat, non-perishables and beverages. Mayor Sylvester Turner was on hand to visit with volunteers and help distribute food to residents.
District J would like to extend a sincere and heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this possible including the Houston Food Bank, Houston Police Department, S.E.A.L. Security, Kenneth Katz of PlazAmericas, Kenneth Li and Alice Lee of Southwest Management District, Sharpstown Civic Association, Fred Bhandara of the Ardenwood Group, the U. S. Census Bureau, Kapcherd and the city’s Public Works Department (Wendell Allen, Stephon Gladney, Mack Jamison, Dedric Foster, and Nocholas Foster). We also thank the 150-plus volunteers who helped to make this event successful. Click here for more pictures from the food distribution.
Original source: https://mailchi.mp/ec2b33f39204/the-pollard-press-9462398?e=802d00590f
SEWN GOODS: A Houston Collaborative
Connect Community has partnered with sewists from neighborhoods across Houston, including Gulfton, to create sewn cloth face masks. To respond to the needs of healthcare workers, public and local businesses, the masks are created to keep their neighbors and city safe. This collaborative supports 100 + jobs to the most vulnerable.
A portion of all masks produced are donated to frontline public and health care workers. For more information visit, https://myconnectcommunity.org/pf/sewn-goods/.
New Bus Shelter Installation
A new bus shelter was installed on Renwick and Gulfton. Kudos to Metro!
Food Distribution
Brighter Bites, the YMCA and the Houston Food Bank are hosting Produce Distributions at Connect YMCA, located 6700 Bellaire Boulevard Houston, TX 77074.
Mondays - 6/15, 6/22 and 6/29 at 9:00 A.M - while supplies last.
Kashmere Gardens
Free Grab and Go Meals
Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation (CRC) has been partnering with Be a Champion, Inc. to provide free grab and go meals. The meals are being provided every Tuesday from 11 am to 1 pm at 4300 Lyons Avenue. For more information, contact [email protected] or call 281-833-3129.
Near Northside
Project GRAD Virtual College & Career Planning
Project Grad Houston is offering virtual advising sessions for college and career planning. You can go on www.projectgradhouston.org to schedule a free virtual advising session. Appointments are available Monday through Saturday.
COVID-19 Community Impact Survey
Dr. Mesias Pedroza, from the Natural Science Department at the University of Houston-Downtown, is conducting a survey to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the community, especially among minority and low-income families. Eligible participants must be of age 18 or older. Responses will be kept confidential. The survey is provided in both English and Spanish, and the link is below. For more information, please contact Dr. Mesias Pedroza at [email protected].
Survey: https://uhd.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6lLPByNdIGkoDv7
Second Ward
Bridging the Digital Divide
District H Council Member Karla Cisneros is improving digital access for residents in her neighborhoods by providing $100,000 from her Council District budget to equip 550 families in
District H with desktop computers. Names will be chosen on Monday, June 15th.
Thank you to the Council Member for supporting digital access in Complete Communities!
According to the latest update from District H, only 42.4% of households in Second Ward have responded to the Census. Your participation determines funding for a wide variety of programs within Second Ward, the East End, and the City of Houston. Please fill out your form online at https://my2020census.gov/ or by phone at 844-330-2020. Remember to encourage your neighbors and friends to say “Yes!” to Census 2020.
Sunnyside
Sterling High School COH Fleet Interns Inagural Class Graduates
The City of Houston first class of fleet interns graduated this May. This is the inaugural year of the program, and COH FMD partnered with students in Sterling Automotive class to apply to shadow mechanics, service writers, parts room associates etc, at the HPD Maintenance Facility on Mykawa. The program began at the top of this semester and concluded last month with a total of 6 graduates. The program helped to enhance department recruiting and expose high school kids in automotive courses to job opportunities with the City of Houston Fleet Department. The program was a great success, and upon graduation two of the graduates signed offer letters with the COH. Click here for more photos.
Department. The program was a great success, and upon graduation two of the graduates signed offer letters with the COH.
Congratulations to the graduates:
- Sha’quan S. Baskin
- Nya D. Dicks
- D’Andre L. Houston
- Rixcey L. Manning
- Thomas E. Reed
- Rogelio Soto Hernandez
Third Ward
To pay tribute to George Floyd, a Houston native and Jack Yates graduate, allegedly killed by Minnesota police officers during an arrest, Houston artist Alex Roman, Jr. paid tribute to George Floyd by bringing his image to life outside the Scott Food Mart store in Third Ward. The placement of this mural comes as no surprise, Floyd’s mother resided across the street from this mural. Since Floyd’s death, people all over the world have peacefully protested against police brutality and sparked hard conversations about criminal justice reform, social justice, and race relations in America.