The Blueprint
Bureau of Youth & Adolescent Health
"Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think."
-Martin Luther King Jr.
In Memoriam of Councilman Larry Vincent Green
Council Member of District K
Houston, TX
1965-2018
Sworn into office in January 2012, Council Member Larry V. Green is the Council Member of the newly formed District known as “K”. District K serves from the edge of the Texas Medical Center to the portion of Houston within Fort Bend County. The District also includes the Reliant/ Astrodome Complex, two management districts, and two school districts—Houston ISD and Fort Bend ISD.
Engaged in private practice of law for 21 years, Council Member Green has been responsible for all matters relative to a general practice. During, his first term on Houston City Council, Council Member Green has brought over 20 million dollars’ worth of economic development projects to District K including but not limited to a Houston Police Department station, neighborhood street reconstruction and repair projects, a senior citizen center in Fort Bend Houston and has brought a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) for the Hiram Clarke and Fort Bend Houston Area. Additionally, Council Member Green led the efforts to increase the MWBE / SBE participation goals from 22 percent to 34 percent. The Council Member also insured that women owned businesses were included back into the city’s affirmative action contracting program.
Exemplary and perfection are two characteristics that defined Larry's standards. He was always immaculately dressed - even in his casual swag. Larry did not meet a stranger, and everyone he touched could share a testimony of how he impacted their lives. As a leader, he had the highest of expectations and would not settle for mediocrity. A savvy business, he knew he couldn't accomplish his work alone and was grateful to his staff for helping him realize his vision from conception to execution.
In The News & Updates
Obama Foundation Spotlights MBK Houston!
NY Times: New Study Shows Black Boys Fall Behind Regardless of Family Income
City Council Approves & Supports MBK Houston Programs and Services!
MBK Executive Leadership Team
Where are Harvey Relief Funds Going?
HoustonRecovers: Mayor & county judge: 4th round of flood relief grants is largest ever at $42.3 million. "The Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund is disbursing $42.3 million to 27 carefully vetted, local nonprofit organizations to provide additional aid and services to Hurricane Harvey flood victims in the Houston area. Since August, the fund has supported 123 local nonprofit organizations that are focused on providing a wide-variety of support to those who were affected by Hurricane Harvey. Grants complement federal and state funds, and the work of volunteers, to provide flood victims with much needed financial, health, legal and other support."
Building a Community of Practice
YABC Launched in Gulfton and Acres Home
"Civic engagement and developing youth leaders is an important identified goal in the Complete Communities Action Plan for the Acres Home and Gulfton communities. To help implement this project, the City of Houston Health Department, My Brother’s Keeper and the Houston Health Foundation have partnered together to create the Y-ABC.
The Y-ABC (Young Adults Building Communities) is a free program designed to empower young people (18-30 years of age) through training and experiential learning to become a voice for positive changes in their community. The program includes training on effective communication strategies, connecting to your elected officials, increasing awareness of available resources, skills in coalition building within and outside your community and health literacy. There will also be an opportunity to apply for mini-grants for community improvement projects. Sign up to register for Acres Home [or] Gulfton [and find] more information on the program."
-Planning & Development Department
One Seed One Block Success
The University of Houston Black Student Union Members joined together on Saturday, March 3, 2018 MLK Community Center to demonstrate how to plant seed potatoes in garden containers. These freshly planted vegetables were handed out to the 3rd Ward Community to create a stable food resource. This is the first milestone in an effort to build fertile pathways in communities with limited resources!
The Tylor Kelly Story
Tylor Kelly started working with the City of Houston Health Department at the age of 17 years old and his admiration in life was to graduate and to join the Air Force. Tylor Kelly started working with the City of Houston Health Department summer 2017 as a summer intern. From the time Tylor was interviewed he expressed how much he like working outside and that he enjoyed gardening and stated how he assisted with maintaining his very around flowerbeds at his house. Tylor job responsibilities at the time was to maintain our city gardens by watering, planting our vegetables and provided training to Houston Health Department employees as well as his peers in Mayor Turner’s Hire Houston Youth Summer Jobs Program on how to maintain healthy gardens.
Tylor said he loves experimenting in agriculture and learning new things daily. Tylor has been working closely with Mr. Joe Icet the City of Houston Heath Department Master Gardener who has been mentoring Tylor in the agriculture aspects of building and maintaining gardens, planting, and networking with community partners. Tylor said, “it is a blessing to currently still be working with Bureau of Youth and Adolescent Health under the guidance of our Bureau Chief Noel Pinnock My Brother’s Keeper.”
International Women's Day
Will you join us in creating opportunities for girls around the world?
Black History Month Recap
My Brother's Keeper Milestone Snapshots
Houston Basics Campaign Preps Local Kids for School Success
Houston Basics: Read & Discuss
To view more Houston Basic videos click here.
National Read Aloud Month
Does reading aloud really matter? YES! More than one in three children arrive at kindergarten without the skills necessary for lifetime reading. Research shows that reading aloud is the single most important thing you can do to help a child prepare for reading and learning. Here are some key reasons to Read Aloud:
- Language Development
- Instill a Love of Reading
- Knowledge Gained and Shared
- Literacy Skill Building
- Brain Development
- Bonding
Check out the full infographic here to see the some statistics and share with someone to let them know that 15 minutes is enough to make a difference!
K Smith Elementary Sw2ag Fest feat. Paul Wall
On February 28, 2018, MBK Houston partnered with K.Smith Elementary School to host a college/job fair. Students had the opportunity to meet professionals in a wide range of careers. Houston legend Paul Wall made a surprise appearance. He talked about his keys to success and the importance of getting an education to the whole school which includes kindergarten through 5th grade students.
Momentum Schools Lunch and Learn Series
Careers in Law Session
FWEP's 34th Shadowing Career Day
On March 12, 2018 we hosted the 34th year of Fifth Ward Enrichment Program (FWEP) Shadowing career day at the Houston Health Department. The young men were engaged by a professional staff partner Anthony Russell with Workforce Solutions and 10 Houston Health Department (HHD) employee’s presentations. Participants were given a tour and history of each company along with its business purpose, and provided personal information highlighting the workforce and their educational and personal backgrounds.
The young men participated in team building activities and open discussions. There were about 15 young men in attendance for career day. The young men were very motivated and ask many questions to our presenters. Having career day for the young men will allow them to become responsible men and productive members of their families and community.
Photos Courtesy: Constance Carron
Youth Leadership Conference
Photos Courtesy: Noel Pinnock
Young Men Empowerment Series: Rep Your College
Mayor Sylvester Turner Shares His #MyUrbanLeagueStory
Summer Jobs Program
On March 8, 2018 a BYAH team member assisted students with Summer jobs program application process at Raul Yzaguirre School for Success. There were about 50 youth in attendance to submit applications before Summer jobs program submission deadline. The youth were also trained in mock interviews, job readiness prep and learn helpful tips on resume writing.
Constance Carron serves as the liaison for employment, internship, and volunteer opportunities for youth at the Houston Health Department. For questions, please contact her 832-393-4801 or email at constance.carron@houstontx.gov.
Photos Courtesy: Constance Carron
Obama Foundation Job Opportunities
Friends,
I hope this note finds each of you doing very well! I want to be sure you know that there are many job openings at the Obama Foundation right now. They are listed below and can be found at https://www.obama.org/careers/. Please review and help us spread the word! And do let me know if you know of someone extraordinary that applies. BTW, I've started the list with a few of the jobs I think everyone on this e-mail list can help us fill - diverse innovators, change-makers, experienced practitioners with deep work in under-served communities, cross-sector leaders, etc.
Best, Michael Smith, Obama Foundation
Hurricane Harvey Education Relief Program: IT Network and Cabling
Visit:
March 26 – April 5 Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
HCC West Loop Campus 5601 West Loop South Houston, Texas 77081
Required Documents:
- Financial Aid Application
- Authorization to Work Documentation
- Selective Service Registration
Dislocated Worker:
- Individuals who are temporarily or permanently dislocated from work because of the covered disaster
- Other eligible individuals who qualify as dislocated workers under WIOA
- Receiving or eligible to receive Unemployment Benefits
- Lay Off Letter
- Exhausted unemployment benefits
- Veteran discharged under honorable conditions within the last 48 months
- Individuals who are long-term unemployed. “Long-term unemployed” is defined as unemployed and searching for employment for 10 weeks or more
- Self-employed individuals who became unemployed or significantly underemployed because of the emergency disaster
HCJPD New Probation Facility is Not What the Public Thinks
Bureau Chief Noel Pinnock meets with Henry Gonzales, Assistant Executive Director, and Thomas Brooks, Executive Director from the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD) to discuss plans for the new juvenile justice rehabilitation and educational facility, tentatively scheduled to open its doors for service in 2020. (Photo Courtesy: Noel Pinnock)
Quite opposite from public perspectives, it was revealed that the actual plans for the new juvenile justice rehabilitation and educational facility is to create a safe place for kids who end up off the straight and narrow path and to not keep them any longer than necessary.
The overarching goal for the new 133,500 sq. ft. rehabilitation and educational facility is to address the root causes as to the reasons why the kids get here. “Judicially, the decision was made to place our kids in a facility for treatment and that's what we want to offer them. Again, it's not like the adult facilities where you are doing time. That's not it…It's more of a school than a lock-up facility,” the duo stated.
The HCJPD team did their due diligence and visited two sites, one of which was in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center is not your ordinary concrete and bars facility retro fitted for a juvenile population. Their center is nestled in a vibrant community and once the construction was completed, the residents loved it so much that a school-aged kid told his mom that he wanted to go there when he grew up.
Most kids who are processed in the juvenile justice system are suffering, on average, at a 2-year education deficit. The goal is to create an inviting place to make families feel more comfortable and doing what is best for the kids by providing them with the most effective treatment in an educational-centric environment so that they can complete the rehabilitation process to transition successfully back into society and achieve their life's full potential.
This is at the heart and soul of the My Brother’s Keeper mission, and we are excited to partner with HCJPD as we work collectively to reduce crime and violence and provide second chance opportunities so that our city’s most vulnerable youth can become productive citizens who contribute to our society locally, nationally, and globally.
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HCJPD's Mission
The Harris County Juvenile Probation Department is committed to the protection of the public, utilizing intervention strategies that are community-based, family-oriented and least restrictive while emphasizing responsibility and accountability of both parent and child.
HCJPD's Core Values
- We value the belief that everyone is to be treated with dignity and respect.
- We value the belief that each person has innate worth, dignity and the capacity for positive change.
- We value services that are ethical, effective and culturally competent.
- We value and promote a positive image of the department, the employees and our role within the community.
- We value an environment that promotes initiative, productivity, teamwork and professional growth.
- We value an atmosphere which stresses tolerance and is free of discrimination.
- We value developing collaborative efforts with judicial, legislative and community partners.
Youth Violence Prevention Workshop
BYAH successfully hosted Youth Violence Prevention Week with the help of the Houston Youth Violence Prevention Coalition partners, including Association of the Advancement of Mexican Americans, Crime Stoppers, AVDA, and Prairie View A&M University. Events were hosted throughout the week that highlighted the importance of addressing teen dating violence and youth violence from a public health perspective. The culminating event of the week, was the STOP Youth Violence Workshop that allowed local youth to attend a variety of workshops focused on parental engagement, employment opportunities, and entrepreneurship.
Artivism Community Art Supply: "Students had a chance to work on a graffiti mural with Craig C Theartist and receive valuable information about how to stay safe. As students all over the country take to the nation's capitol for #marchforourlives, My Brother's Keeper is working to engage our youth about #violenceprevention in our schools, including conversations on #gunviolence. Join us at our next workshop!
-->Read More
Cities United March News
Mayor Announces Creation of Commission to End Gun Violence
Afro-American Police Officers' League: President Message
"I would like to thank the AAPOL members for the support and dedication to the organization. The February General Meeting was successful with attendance and participation of all events. I’m requesting that we as an organization continue to reach out to others in getting more officers to become members. In the near future, the AAPOL Board will discuss relocating our headquarters back to Griggs Rd. with the intent to make it more convenient for members to attend meetings and be more present in the community. Again, I would like to thank the members for the support, Chief Acevedo for backing AAPOL’s initiatives and Executive Chief Finner for his guidance. Let’s continue to make the African American Police Officers’ League great!"
-Eric Carr, AAPOL President
Upcoming Events
Y2K Easter Event
Friday, Mar 30, 2018, 01:00 PM
3316 De Soto Street, Houston, TX, USA
Community Garden Spring Planting
HHD Joe Icet/ CPTED Paul Johnson, will team with several Youth Violence Prevention Coalition and community members to host a community Garden spring planting this Saturday March 31st at the Southwest Multi Service Center from 9:00 am to 12:00pm.
Saturday, Mar 31, 2018, 09:00 AM
Southwest Multi-Service Center, High Star Drive, Houston, TX, USA
Houston: You’re invited!
Join the Facebook for Education team on Friday, April 6 in the Houston Library to learn how Facebook products, programs, and resources can connect, inspire, and transform your work with each other or with students. This event is free and open to all educators, administrators and non-profits.
Facebook for Education Workshop
Facebook for Education Workshop: 9AM – 11am
Networking, product and virtual reality demonstrations: 11am – Noon
More about the event
PRODUCTS
Learn how educators, administrators, and non-profits connect with each other and families across the globe in Groups and how to increase collaboration among staff members with Workplace, your professional version of Facebook. Experience virtual reality and the power to truly transform your work with students using Oculus' education virtual reality apps.
PROGRAMS
Learn how to improve your school climate with inspirED, and how to introduce students and families to the wonders of computer science through TechPrep and TechStart.
RESOURCES
Learn about the online safety, anti-bullying, and well-being resources available in Facebook's Parent Portal.
Friday, Apr 6, 2018, 09:00 AM
Julia Ideson Building, McKinney Street, Houston, TX, USA
Young Men and the Power Within Boys Conference
Friday, Apr 13, 2018, 07:00 PM
FountainLife Center 14083 S. Main St Houston, TX 77035
Community Health Worker of Houston Class 2018 Graduation
Saturday, Apr 14, 2018, 11:00 AM
Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center, West Fuqua Street, Houston, TX, USA
Family Health Night
Thursday, Apr 19, 2018, 05:00 PM
Benbrook Elementary School, Bolin Road, Houston, TX, USA
D.E.A. "Drug Take Back" Event
On April 28, 2018 CoSAP (Coalition of Substance Abuse Prevention) will sponsor a D.E.A. “Drug Take Back “ event at Houston Community College Spring Branch campus; this is an opportunity for people to disposed of their unused and expired medications.
This is a free event!
Saturday, Apr 28, 2018, 10:00 AM
Houston Community College - Spring Branch Campus, West Sam Houston Parkway North, Houston, TX, USA
Love Your Jiggle & Skate!
Saturday, Apr 28, 2018, 09:00 AM
Alvin Skate-N-Party, Highway 6, Alvin, TX, USA
Send YOUR Submissions to MBKHOUSTON@HOUSTONTX.GOV!
All submissions must be submitted No Later than the Monday before distribution and will be reviewed by a team member and notified of submission approval.
Follow Us @MBKhouston for more updates
Email: mbkhouston@houstontx.gov
Website: www.mbkhouston.org
Location: 8000 North Stadium Drive, Houston, TX, United States
Phone: 832-393-5169
Facebook: facebook.com/MBKHouston/
Twitter: @MBKHouston