Women’s History Month is dedicated to reflecting on the many contributions of women to United States history. The actual celebration grew out of a weeklong celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history and society.
 
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. The U.S. Congress followed suit the next year, passing a resolution establishing a national celebration. Six years later, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March.
 
Each year, the National Women’s History Alliance designates a yearly theme. The 2022 theme is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.”
 
 
 

Houston City Council History Makers

 
Did you know 10 out of 17 members serving on Houston’s City Council are women? These trailblazing council members make the largest majority in the city’s history!
 
Scroll down to the Politics section and check out the story Damali Keith of Fox 26 did in honor of Women’s History Month about our 10 women council members:
 
Keep soaring, Ladies!
 
 

Vice Mayor Pro Tem Castex- Tatum joins State Representative Shawn Thierry at the Unveiling of the Barbara Jordan Memorial Parkway

 
International Women’s Day was truly fitting for the unveiling of the Barbara Jordan Memorial Parkway. Texas State Representative Shawn Thierry, who authored House Bill 519, hosted an unveiling ceremony of the 10 mile stretch of roadway on Highway 288 which runs from Cleburne to Beltway 8.
 
Barbara Jordan’s only living sister, Rosemary McGowan, along with City and State officials joined the celebration in honor of the late congresswoman. State Representative Shawn Thierry remarked that the state is “honoring an iconic woman who was such an inspiration. This is a permanent memorial to a great woman for all to see.”
 
As she closed her remarks, VMPT Castex Tatum stated, ” It is my hope that as we each travel the Barbara Jordan Memorial Parkway, we channel her courage, her eloquence, her wisdom and her fight for the good of ALL people.”
 
This is the first time a stretch of highway has been named in honor of the late congresswoman and we are happy to have it right here in Houston, TX where she made such an impact. Congratulations State Representative Thierry!
 
 
 
 

Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend Redevelopment Authority Launches CO.STARTERS

 
 
The Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend Redevelopment Authority launches the Houston Southwest Accelerator program by CO.STARTERS. Small business owners can train on how to refocus, pivot, and grow their business.
 
Register now through March 11, 2022.
 
For more information and to register visit:
 
 

Protecting Our Loved Ones

Did you know that GUNS are the second leading cause of death among Texas children and teens. Many of these tragic incidents are preventable. Safe storage also keeps guns away from criminals who would steal them and use them to hurt others.
 
This being “March on Crime” Month, we encourage all gun owners to safely store your guns. Let’s keep our families and communities safe.
 
Follow the link to view the Safe Storage Video featuring District Attorney Kim Ogg and Chief Troy Finner: Safe Storage Video.
 
 

Future Edison Cultural Arts Center in Fort Bend Featured in Community Impact!

 
Community Impact Newspaper reporter Hunter Marrow highlights the future Edison Cultural Arts Center coming to Fort Bend Houston. Read about how this reinvestment project will benefit our community and City:
 
 
 

District K Improvements

 
Sidewalk Program work is authorized for the removal and replacement of the sidewalks and ramps on the south side of Dellfern Drive from Sandpiper Drive to Dawnbridge Drive in Brays Oaks. This Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) project PAR6117 is scheduled to commence March 16, 2022 and is expected to be completed April 6, 2022.
 
Residents in Westbury will also see new sidewalks soon. The contractor will remove and replace sidewalks and install ADA ramps at 5406 Spellman Court to 5418 Spellman Court. Construction will begin March 14, 2022 and is expected to be completed March 28, 2022.
 
 

District K Standing Room Only PIP Meeting!

 
Thank you District K residents for coming out to engage with the Vice Mayor Pro Tem and Commander Hassig! The room was filled with constituents and questions were answered about crime, speeding and other neighborhood concerns. In 2021, we are celebrating over 90 initiated and completed projects totaling over $450 million dollars.
 
The plan is to continue to tackle crime, speeding, illegal dumping, bandit signs, donation boxes and other issues important to our residents. We hope to see you at the next scheduled PIP meeting on Tuesday, March 22nd.
 
Southwest HPD Substation
13097 Nitida
Houston, 77045
7PM
 
 
 

Hire Houston Youth Application
Period is Extended

 
 
What is Hire Houston Youth?
 
It’s time to plan for summer employment now! Mayor Sylvester Turner joined City officials and business owners to announce the Hire Houston Youth program. This program provides paid summer jobs and internships to Houston area youth of ages 16 – 24. The deadline for employers to sign up and for youth to apply is April 8, 2022.
 
Make sure all the young people you know are aware of this dynamic opportunity in our city.
 
Visit http://www.hirehoustonyouth.org/ for more information.
 
View the press release:
 
 
 

What Makes a Community Equitable?

 
The City of Houston is launching the Equity Indicators project by asking for your comments to one important question: What makes a community equitable?
 
Houston is the most diverse city in the nation, but despite the strength of our diversity and multiculturalism, Houstonians experience vast racial and ethnic disparities. The Equity Indicators Project   will facilitate broader conversations on equity and inclusion, take active steps to measure disparities, and have leaders across multiple sectors be held accountable for taking action to increase equitable outcomes for all Houstonians.
 
The city is seeking feedback from community members to ensure that this project is reflective of Houston’s diversity and multiculturalism. Visit houstontx.gov/equity to share your thoughts on what makes a community equitable between March 6 until April 2.
 
The Equity Indicators project is led by the Planning and Development Department, Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability, and Complete Communities, and ties to the vision and framework for a resilient community outlined in the Resilient Houston strategy. The city has partnered with Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research using the methodology developed by CUNY- Institute for State & Local Governance to focus on key indicators for equity in Houston. The Shell Foundation has funded this initiative that focuses on six themes:
  • Economic opportunity
  • Health
  • Public Safety
  • Environmental and Climate Risks
  • Built Environment
  • Access and Inclusion
The data analysis will result in an overall Equity Indicators Score for the City of Houston. The public, city departments, city programs, and community service organizations can track the score to document progress and change over time. The numerical value is based on a 100-point scale. A high score signifies Houston’s level of success toward building an equitable city, whereas a low score represents a high level of inequity and more opportunity for improvement. 
 
A printed survey card will also be available at city locations. Houstonians with questions or needing assistance filling out the survey may call 832-393-6637. For more information, visit Equity Indicators online at www.houstontx.gov/equity.
 
 

District K Celebrates Women’s History Month

 
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” — Maya Angelou
 
District K’s Emmit’s Place celebrated these beautiful women artists for their professional efforts and contributions to our community in the Music & Arts Entertainment world!
During this Women’s History Month, we are proud to recognize these 2022 Outstanding Houston Women Honorees.
 
 

SAVE THE DATE!

Join the Brays Oak Town Hall on Thursday, March 24th, from 5:30pm to 7pm. on the Houston Community College SW Campus.
 
Register at tinyurl.com/hccsw-townhall or if you have questions email [email protected] or call 713-718-8647 for more details.
 
 

Free Meals for Seniors & Veterans

 
Interfaith Ministries’ Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston Program provides home-delivered meals to homebound seniors, veterans and disabled adults 60 & over in five counties. This nutritional support helps seniors stay independent and in their own homes. These services are free and you don’t need proof of disability. Eligible seniors must be 60 years or older ( or disabled), Homebound and not able to work.
 
Veterans must have their Honorable Discharge documentation or Spouses, surviving spouses, or dependents of veterans much show documentation. For more information on how to apply for this service, call 713-533-4978. You can also visit Meals on Wheels online at www.imgh.org/MOW
 
 

City of Houston Seeks Applicants for
Build Up Houston

Applications are now open for the seventh cohort of Build Up Houston, a no-cost executive education program that provides small business owners with practical business education, a supportive business network, and access to contracting opportunities. The program is offered by the Office of Business Opportunity (OBO) in partnership with Interise.
 
Businesses in construction, technology, and in the services, restaurant and hospitality industries are invited to apply before March 31st at programs.interise.org/houston. The 7-month program, held in person on Tuesdays from 5-8 p.m., is set to begin in May 2022.
 
To qualify for Build Up Houston, a business must be:
·    Certified as a small business with the City of Houston
·    Operating for a minimum of two years
·    Have a minimum of two employees
·    Have minimum annual revenue of $150,000
 
For more information about Build Up Houston, contact Dr. Porscha Jackson at [email protected] or go to www.houstontx.gov/builduphouston.
 
 

Happy Retirement Inspector, Rocky Boyer!!!

 
Mr. Rocky Boyer we appreciate your many years of service to the City of Houston and the attention you paid to the concerns of our District K community. We will miss you but wish you a restful, fun and enjoyable retirement.
 
 

Keep Houston Beautiful Day is April 2nd!

 
Keep Houston Beautiful Day is April 2, 2022! Are you ready to help keep our city clean and green? Start planning and organizing now to participate in the Great American Clean-up day.
 
Visit www.houstonbeautiful.org and register your community and order free cleanup supplies. Let’s all do our part and don’t let Houston or District K go to waste!
 
 
 

Mark Your Calendars for Music Fest 2022

 
 

Free WiFi Connections & More

 
The Affordable Connectivity Program is offering free or reduced cost Internet for qualifying Harris County households. Two recently launched programs are helping Harris County families gain access to the internet for work and school. Harris County Public Library Emergency Connectivity Fund is providing 40,000 wifi hotspots and 15,000 laptops to qualifying households.
 
Click here for more details: https://www.hcpl.net/digital-access
 
 

NFL Foundation Grassroots Program

 
The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program is a partnership of the National Football League Foundation, which provides funding for the Program, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), which provides technical assistance and manages the Program. The goal of the Program is to provide non-profit, neighborhood-based organizations with financial and technical assistance to improve the quality, safety, and accessibility of local football fields. The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program provides grants of up to $250,000 for capital improvement projects.
 
In order to be eligible for a grant under the Program, projects must be sponsored by non-profit community-based organizations registered as exempt from Federal Income Tax under Internal Revenue Service Code Section 501(c)(3) or middle or high schools. In addition, all organizations applying for funds must be located specifically and exclusively within NFL Target Markets, listed in Attachment A and serve low to moderate-income areas within those markets. Proposals are due by May 31, 2022. Please read the complete RFP before submitting a proposal.
 
Email submissions to [email protected]. Please send the proposal as a PDF attachment and include all required documents as per the RFP. 
Click here for more information. 
Click here to review the RFP (application) and apply. 
 
 

Houston Health Department Says “Get Vaxxed”

 
When you’re not vaxxed, everything is more complicated. Get informed about the COVID-19 vaccine and save the drama for the stage. Learn the facts at GetVaxxedHouston.org.