| Mayor Sylvester Turner, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Alison Leland and two U.S. Congress members on Saturday unveiled a statue honoring the late Congressman Mickey Leland, a global humanitarian who devoted his life to helping others. Click here for video of Saturday’s dedication ceremony. Please courtesy the City of Houston Municipal Channel.  The speakers – including Congressman Leland’s widow, Alison, and U.S. Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green – mentioned the importance of recognizing him during the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic that has created food insecurity in the country and also has highlighted the inequalities in the nation’s health care system, especially for the poor and people of color.  Congressman Leland, born Nov. 27, 1944, in Lubbock, and 15 others died in a plane crash on Aug. 7, 1989, while on a humanitarian mission to Fugnido, Ethiopia. He served six terms in Congress and six years as a Texas state legislator. He focused his political career on issues such as health and hunger. Saturday’s ceremony was held in front of the statue that was installed Thursday in Hermann Park on the west plaza of Miller Outdoor Theatre. The project was a partnership between Harris County Precinct One, City of Houston and its Parks and Recreation Department, and Houston First. The project to erect the statue started in December 2018 when Harris County Commissioners Court, at the request of Commissioner Ellis, approved the sculpture’s creation. In April 2019, Commissioners Court approved a contract with artist Edward “Ed” Joseph Dwight Jr. to create the statue. Dwight is a groundbreaking African American sculptor and artist. He was also a test pilot in the Air Force and engineer. He made history when he was selected by the Kennedy administration to be the first African American astronaut trainee. |
Statue of late U.S. Congressman George Thomas “Mickey” Leland unveiled in Hermann Park
Prince Royce Releases the Video for “Me Robaste La Vida” From His Multi-platinum Double Album Alter Ego
| Multiplatinum award-winning Latin superstar Prince Royce has just released the video for “Me Robaste La Vida”, off his latest album, the double disc set ALTER EGO. To watch the video click HERE. The artistic and minimalistic production is part of a body of work shot by renown director Carlos Perez which includes concept music videos for most of the album’s songs. Each one, captures the unique mood and aesthetic of the song. In the following weeks, Royce will continue to release the videos every other Saturday, as a special gift to the fans of his music. The videos released are being chosen by the fans through social media polls and questions Royce has been posting. ALTER EGO debuted at #1 in February on the following Billboard charts: Top Latin Albums, Latin Album Sales, and Tropical Albums and it has already been certified 2X Platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for its sales in the United States and Puerto Rico. ALTER EGO had the most successful debut sales week for a Latin album since April 2019 and the first and only #1 debut of the year on the Tropical Albums chart. The album’s latest single “Carita de Inocente” has been #1 on the Billboard Tropical Airplay chart for five consecutive weeks joining ALTER EGO’s other tracks that have been at the top of the charts, “Morir Solo” also reached #1 on the Billboard Tropical Airplay chart, his 6x Platinum hit “El Clavo” was #1 on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart and his 2x Platinum single “Adicto” feat. Marc Anthony, remained at #1 on the Tropical Songs chart for seven consecutive weeks. In addition, his collab with Manuel Turizo, “Cúrame”, has been certified 2x Platinum, it reached #5 on the YouTube Global chart and remained in the Top 5 of the YouTube Global Viral chart for 7 weeks, reaching #3. ALTER EGO is the only original double album released by a Latin artist in over a decade. Listen to it now by clicking HERE. ALTER EGO encapsulates a two-year creative journey of musical expression that ends up in a fantastic labyrinth of romance in its different forms of expression. The double album is comprised of “Genesis” and “Enigma”. In “Genesis”, Royce expands upon the sound and influences that kick-started his career, this time with more mature concepts and lyrics, while also experimenting with more traditional elements and switching things up with interesting collabs. In “Enigma”, Royce submerges himself in and experiments with different musical worlds, he takes risks creating more artistic, innovative, non-censored music. The result is a masterpiece that represents the best of all worlds – a powerful Latin (Spanish-language with some English) double album destined to become a classic, where we get to experience a rich musical adventure that includes everything from bachata to urban to pop to R&B. Prince Royce is a finalist for the 2020 Billboard Awards in the Tropical Artist of the Year category. About Prince Royce In the past 10 years, multi-platinum award-winning, singer/songwriter Prince Royce has become a bona fide Latin superstar, scoring 18 #1 radio hits, 22 Latin Billboard Awards, 19 Premio lo Nuestro Awards, 19 Premios Juventud Awards, 7 Latin AMAs, and 13 Latin GRAMMY nominations. Royce has a massive fan base with close to 60 million followers on social media and he has sold out many of the most prestigious venues in Latin America and the United States. In February 2019 Prince Royce made history becoming the first and only tropical music artist to perform at the Houston Rodeo at the NRG Stadium where he attracted more than 55,000 euphoric fans. According to Billboard, he is one of the Top Ten Latin artists with most followers on TikTok. His latest album, the double disc set ALTER EGO debuted in February 2020 at #1 on the following Billboard charts: Top Latin Albums, Latin Album Sales, and Tropical Albums and it has been certified 2X Platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for its sales in the United States and Puerto Rico. Some of the artist’s collaborations include: Shakira, Chris Brown, Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Snoop Dogg, Pitbull, Thalia, Maná, Daddy Yankee, Becky G, Anitta, Ludacris, J Balvin, Bad Bunny, Farruko, and Maluma, among others. Prince Royce has co-starred as Peter in the Fox Live musical broadcast of “The Passion” in 2016 and was part of the cast of Hulu’s hit series, “East Los High”. In 2018, Royce guest-starred in Disney’s “Elena of Avalor: Song of the Sirenas” TV movie, voicing the character of Prince Marzel. August 9, 2018 was proclaimed “Prince Royce Day” in New York by Mayor Bill de Blasio, in recognition of his contributions to society and for being a role model to youth in his home town. He has been induced into the Bronx Hall of Fame with a street named after him, and ran the New York City Marathon to raise funds and awareness on education in public schools and kidney disease. Billboard included his 2013 album “Soy El Mismo” in their “50 Best Latin Albums of the Decades” list. Royce’s self-titled debut album is #4 on Billboard’s list of Top Latin Albums of the Decade (2010s) and he has three songs in the Hot Latin Songs of the Decade chart “Darte Un Beso”, “Corazón Sin Cara” and “El Verdadero Amor Perdona” x Mana. |
Commissioner Garcia Announces Creation of “Senior Care Facility Task Force”
Commissioner Adrian Garcia is announcing the launch of the “Senior Care Facility Task Force” to ensure seniors, who are among the most at-risk during the Coronavirus pandemic, are not forgotten. The group will hold discussions with operators of Precinct 2 senior living facilities and will use this information to present a set of recommendations for how to navigate the current crisis and keep residents and facilities safe. The task force features experts from an array of sectors related to all aspects of crisis management and senior facility care.
The members include: Dr. Raouf R. Arafat (Former Director, City of Houston Office of Surveillance and Public Health Preparedness), Rosalinda Martinez(Associate State Director, Outreach and Advocacy at AARP), Claudia Aguirre (President and CEO, Baker-Ripley), and Michael Moore (Chief of Staff for former Houston Mayor Bill White, and point person for Mayor White for Houston’s response during Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike).
“I am so proud to have some of the area’s brightest minds working with me on the Senior Facility Preparedness Task Force,” Commissioner Garcia said, “we are very concerned about our loved ones who are amongst the most vulnerable living in these residential facilities, as time and time again, we have seen that they can be hotspots for Coronavirus outbreaks. This task force hopes to establish a set of recommendations for the more than 150 locations in Precinct 2 that can then be applied county-wide.”
The members of this task force bring a wealth of experience and insight to senior programming, engagement, epidemic detection/response, and disaster response and recovery. The set of guidelines and recommendations produced by the task force could serve as a framework for other senior care facilities throughout Harris County.
Second Servings and Hess Expand “Dinner’s On Us” Program to Serve All Houstonians in Need
With recent funding from the community and private foundations, such as the Leslie L. Alexander Foundation,Second Servings andHess Corporation are expanding the“Dinner’s On Us” program to provide take-home chef-prepared family meals toall Houstonians in need.
“Serving Houston’s hospitality workers is what inspired the Dinner’s On Us program,” Second Servings Founder Barbara Bronstein said. “However, we’re excited to expand the program to the entire community, thanks to the generous support we’ve received.”
Beginning Thursday, April 23, the “Dinner’s On Us” meals will be available to the public, exclusively on a drive-thru basis. Second Servings’ volunteers will distribute 10,000+ meals weekly, prepared by Hess Corporation’s Food Services team, every Tuesday and Thursday between 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the LAM Parking Lot located at 702 Avenida De Las Americas, Houston, TX, 77003. Distribution will continue for as long as funding allows, and volunteers will adhere to all recommended social distancing protocols.
Please visit secondservingshouston.org/dinnersonus if you would like to support this program financially or to volunteer. The “Dinner’s On Us” Program was created by Second Servings, in partnership with Hess Corporation, BHW Capital, Iberia Bank, ACME Party & Tent Rental, PREFCO Distribution LLC, LAM Parking Lot and Sysco Houston. High-res photos available HERE.
“Dinner’s On Us” Distribution Details
WHAT: Free frozen chef-prepared, family-sized meals for the public beginning Thursday, April 23
WHEN: Every Tuesday and Thursday
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. / until supplies last
WHERE: LAM Parking Lot (downtown)
702 Avenida De Las Americas Houston, TX
**MUST BE IN CAR**
Mayor’s Office of People with Disabilities Launches Food Access Program
| In response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities has launched a food access program for people with disabilities. This program will deliver shelf-stable goods, fresh produce, as well as some basic home necessities for people with disabilities who are finding it difficult to independently secure these items. “We understand that across our city there are food insecurities,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “I am proud that my office for people with disabilities has set up a program to ensure that Houstonians with disabilities are not left behind during these trying times. I am also grateful for the generous contributions of Walmart, Sam’s Club, the Houston Food Bank, and Metro. Without their support, this program would not be possible.” “The COVID-19 emergency has disrupted everyone’s daily living routines,” said Gabe Cazares, Director of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. “This is especially true for people with disabilities who are facing additional barriers in our every-day activities. I am proud of our partnerships with major retailers and nonprofits in Houston who have made this initial food drop possible. And we welcome the participation of additional corporate and nonprofit partners to assist us in continuing this program for our disability community.” To learn more about thee MOPD Food Access Program, including ways to contribute, please visit www.houstontx.gov/disabilities or call 832-394-0814. |
Mayor Turner Launches Domestic Violence Awareness Campaign
| Mayor Sylvester Turner and Council Member Abbie Kamin announced a city-wide domestic violence awareness initiative to reach vulnerable populations and provide resources for victims. Local law enforcement and the Houston Area Women’s Center are tracking a rise in domestic violence incidents linked to the crisis. HPD saw an increase of 8.72% percent in domestic violence calls for service in March compared to February 2020. The Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC) and the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) are partnering with the City so survivors know service providers are open, ready to help and are taking COVID-19 precautions. The Mayor also announced a $50,000 grant from Uber to provide ride services to victims of human trafficking and domestic violence who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19’s stay at home order. Uber’s grant expands Mayor Turner’s existing human trafficking COVID-19 response and will assist in launching the city’s new domestic violence response in light of increased reports. “We cannot tolerate victims suffering in silence while home at the hands of their domestic abusers,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “I want to thank Uber for stepping forward and providing $50,000 in rides to ensure that they have a safe way to move around. I also want to thank HAWC and the HCDVCC who have worked tirelessly during this crisis.”  The city’s and coalition partners’ efforts include: Rolling out a social media campaign designed by HAWC and the HCDVCC featuring safety tips, hotline numbers, and videos by Houston Dash players.HAWC and HCDVCC launching a new website, www.nocovidabuse.org, which contains vital information and resources.Leveraging OEM’s messaging delivery systems to ensure people know the DV service providers are open and are able to help.Partnering with the Houston Food Bank to place DV resource flyers in distributed boxes and bags.HEB will assist with printing flyers for these distributions.Providing $50,000 in Uber rides for human trafficking and domestic violence victims as needed.The city is also helping to address the need for short-term hotel lodging for victims since shelters have to reduce their populations to allow for social distancing. “We may be apart, but victims of domestic violence are not alone. I am grateful to all of our community partners, and our law enforcement agencies, for working together with us to reach as many people as possible,” said Councilmember Abbie Kamin. “We also call on all residents to be aware, to be vigilant, and to help others in need by sharing this information. We will continue to do everything we can to make sure Houstonians are safe.” “We want to build on our existing presence in Houston and do our small part to help during this challenging time,” said Uber’s Trevor Theunissen, Director Public Affairs. “This is part of our global commitment to provide 10 million free rides and food deliveries to healthcare workers, seniors, and people in need. We’re grateful for Mayor Turner’s leadership on this issue and will continue to work with more organizations to move whatever matters.” If you are a victim of domestic violence, help is available at (713) 528-2121. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For more information on how Uber is committed to helping around the world, visit their blog: https://www.uber.com/us/en/coronavirus/. |
Fort Bend County Releases COVID-19 Case Data for Race and Ethnicity
Fort Bend County, TX – County Judge KP George announced that the county has updated its website with all available race and ethnicity data for residents of Fort Bend County who have tested positive for COVID-19. The data will be updated daily when new reports are received.
“I am committed to transparency and that means releasing data about the novel coronavirus cases accurately and quickly,” said County Judge KP George. “I ask everyone of all ages, genders, races and areas in Fort Bend to help stop the spread of this virus in our county by social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks in public places.”
CURRENT DATA: The race and ethnicity COVID-19 breakdown as of today (4/21/20) is on the websites and shows this data: Of the confirmed cases with race and ethnicity reported, 34% are Black, 22% are Hispanic, 21% are Asian, 19% are White and 4% are other. The total deaths are 18 and of those, 9 were White, 4 were Hispanic, 3 were Asian and 2 were Black.
REPORTING METHODOLOGY: Fort Bend County receives reports of notifiable diseases from multiple sources, which include hospitals, doctors and laboratories. The reports have varying amounts of information on them. Up to now, Fort Bend has posted the data from the reports online for gender, age and zip code. The County did not initially report the race and ethnicity online because not all the reports have that information. However, due to the heightened national interest in race and ethnicity data, Fort Bend County has begun adding that information to its online hub daily.
REPORTING DETAILS: The county’s health department is working with various reporting sources to go backwards and capture as much of the race and ethnicity information as possible for all the reported cases. The additional case data will be updated on the website as it is received, with two caveats. There is a lag in reporting cases across the country so the information can be for older cases. Secondly, the data on the county website will likely never equal 100 percent of cases because some reports don’t include race and ethnicity.
To learn more about the health issues related to coronavirus (COVID-19) in Fort Bend County, please visit fbchealth.org/ncov
METROLift to Deliver Groceries to Families in Need
| METROLift is partnering with the city of Houston, the Houston Food Bank, Walmart and Sam’s Club to make sure no family goes hungry during the COVID-19 crisis. Today, the city announced the program to deliver groceries to those in need.Thanks to a $30,000 donation from Walmart, beginning Friday, April 24, METROLift will make 500 grocery deliveries each week. The agency is proud to support this worthy cause while the city and county’s “Stay Home” order remain in effect.Anyone interested in signing up, or learning more about the program can call 832-394-0814 or go to the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Website. The Houston Food Bank is America’s largest food bank in distribution, leading hunger relief in 18 southeast Texas counties. |
Governor Abbott Provides Update On Job Openings In Texas, Resources For Texans Seeking Employment
Governor Greg Abbott today provided an update on job openings in the Lone Star State and outlined resources for Texans seeking employment due to the economic effects of COVID-19. The Governor also announced that nearly 500,000 job openings are currently listed on WorkInTexas.com, a powerful online job matching and workforce solution system developed by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). This system provides fast access to a complete set of employment tools in one website where job seekers can browse job postings, find education and training, and complete resumes and state applications.
The Governor presented different industries and certain employers that are hiring in each region of Texas and announced that many companies — including H-E-B, Amazon, and Randalls — are hiring statewide. Governor Abbott also discussed additional resources available through the 28 local workforce development boards located throughout the state of Texas. The local workforce solutions offices are also available to employers of all sizes who can receive assistance in recruiting, identifying, and hiring qualified individuals. These services are available to both employers and job seekers at no cost.
Job seekers can visit Texas Economic Development and Tourism’s Texas Jobs page for links to all 28 local workforce development boards. The webpage also contains additional COVID-19 resources for employers and job seekers alike.
“As we continue to slow the spread of COVID-19, we are also working to alleviate the severe economic devastation that has impacted so many Texans,” said Governor Abbott. “People are ready to get to work and earn a paycheck again, and the State of Texas is committed to connecting Texans with the many job opportunities that exist throughout the state. I thank the Texas Workforce Commission, our local workforce organizations, and businesses across the state who are working tirelessly to connect Texans with job openings during these challenging times.”
Mayor Sylvester Turner names Marvin Odum the City of Houston’s COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Czar
| Mayor Sylvester Turner on Monday named former Shell Oil Co. Chairman and President Marvin E. Odum as the city’s COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Czar. In this role, Odum will work with business leaders, chambers of commerce, employee groups, and nonprofit organizations on a plan to safely and responsibly restart Houston’s economy. Odum will also work on strategies to address the challenges faced by the city’s vulnerable and at-risk populations, develop a plan to avoid the resurgence of community spread, and help the city prepare for a future pandemic or viral attack.  “Marvin is no stranger to working on disaster recovery, as he previously served as Houston’s Chief Recovery Officer after Hurricane Harvey,” Mayor Turner said. “From all sectors, he received rave reviews for the team he assembled, the task force he created, and the collaborations he forged. Marvin is the right person for the job.” During his time as Houston’s Chief Recovery Officer, Odum was credited with working successfully with regional, state, and federal partners to secure funding for housing and reform policies. He broke new ground in disaster recovery and helped move Houston forward as a more resilient city. “To be clear, this is about keeping people safe and getting people back to work and re-energizing our economy,” said Odum. “We have been charged with completing the plans that reflect the delicate balance between the need to return to work with the necessary vigilance required to keep people safe and healthy.” Mayor Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo have had numerous conversations about the region’s recovery from the COVID-19 health crisis. Odum will work directly with the county’s designated representative to forge a cohesive strategy and a plan for Houston and Harris County. “Over the past two months, we have aggressively worked to save lives and blunt the progression of coronavirus, and we see positive results, but the virus is not yet under control. Before we send people back to work and reopen businesses, we must also have robust, ubiquitous testing. We also must consider what happens if we reopen the economy, and we start to see an increase in the number of positive cases,” said Mayor Turner.  “You can expect that this plan with be gradual and phased, and I’m sure we all understand why things cannot immediately return to normal,” said Odum. “We will need the continued cooperation of all Houstonians to ensure this plan is successful, and we will provide more details as soon as possible.” Odum served as Chairman/President of Shell Oil Company from 2008-16 and was a director/executive committee member of Royal Dutch Shell. In addition to working with and investing in several technology-based start-up companies, Odum is a board member of Europe-based Stena international and Stena Drilling, CEO of TerraLithium and Chairman of AAL LLC – focused on low carbon energy technologies. He is a board member of the National Urban League and MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the Dean’s Council for Harvard’s JFK School of Government, advisory board for University of Texas’s Cockrell School of Engineering and co-chair of the capital campaign for the University of Houston which has exceeded its goal of raising $1 billion. In March 2020, BakerRipley honored Marvin and his wife, Mariloli, with the Alice Graham Baker Award for their work on Hurricane Harvey recovery and their commitment to help vulnerable communities. |