District K – Update January 18, 2021

 

Martin Luther King Jr. led a non-violent struggle to reform and redeem the United States and is revered by many as a hero. As we pay tribute to him on his birthday this year it is my hope that his message of love and action will resonate with each of us.

 

King’s “I Have a Dream” speech called for peace and equality. His iconic speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial continues to stand out as one of the 20th century’s most unforgettable memories.

 

Martin Luther King Jr. was only 39 years old when he was assassinated on April 4,1968. He was the first modern private citizen to be honored with a federal holiday. The Congressional Black Caucus collected six million signatures in support of a federal holiday to honor Dr. King. In 1983 President Ronald Reagan signed a bill that created the federal holiday. The holiday was first commemorated in 1986 and is celebrated every third Monday in January, close to the civil rights leader’s birthday, which is January 15th.

 

The theme for the 2021 King holiday observance is “The Urgency of Creating the Beloved Community.” King described the “Beloved Community” as a society where “caring and compassion drive political policies that support the worldwide elimination of poverty and hunger and all forms of bigotry and violence. Let’s continue working together to ensure District K and the entire city of Houston is a “Beloved Community” for everyone who lives here.

 

The City and the Black Heritage Society are partnering this year to host the virtual 43rd Annual “Original” MLK Day Parade which will take place online from 10 a.m. to Noon. The show will include clips from past parades along with new video entries submitted online.

 

Simultaneously, a “Parade of Giving” will take place at MacGregor Park, 5225 Calhoun Rd. from 10 a.m. to Noon to support Houstonians who’ve been significantly affected by the pandemic.

 

I invite you to watch the virtual parade and drop off donations to help our fellow Houstonians if you can. Stay safe and be kind to each other!

 

-Martha

Houston Public Works Capital Projects is hosting a virtual public engagement meeting for the Park Manor (Fort Bend, Houston) and Surrey Square Roadway Pavement Replacement projects on Thursday, January 21, 2021, at 5:00 PM.

 

Meet the project team, learn more about the project and how to prepare for construction. There will be a Q&A session at the end of the presentation. All questions and answers will be posted to the project page online within three business days after the meeting. Please tell your friends and neighbors to join us!

 

The public can join the virtual meeting via this Public Engagement Meeting for Park Manor.

 

Any questions and/or comments prior to the meeting can be emailed to buildforward@houstontx.gov.

Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Director of Houston Public Library (HPL), Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, are pleased to announce the search for the City of Houston’s next poet laureate.

The Poet Laureate Program celebrates Houston’s rich culture and diversity through the work of a Houston poet who serves as the City’s ambassador for the literary arts. The City’s next poet laureate will serve from April 2021 through April 2023 and receive an honorarium of $20,000 from the City of Houston’s City Initiative Grant Program.

 

The deadline to apply is February 25, 2021.

 

View the full press release with guidelines and application link here: Press Release: Search for Next Poet Laureate.

50/50 Park Partners want to hear from you about future improvements to Mayfair Park! Please fill out this survey to give your input on what you’d like to see in your neighborhood park: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XBPTS9W.