The Blueprint
September 2019 Edition
"To all of those who have sacrificed their tomorrows, committing to the ultimate sacrifice, we owe them. We owe them a vow to never forget the sacrifices. We owe them the promise that we shall tell future generations of the price they paid for freedom. Our children must never forget that freedom is bought with the lives and blood of patriots."
– Mayor Sylvester Turner, City of Houston, Statement on the anniversary of 9/11
Join us Tuesday!
36th Annual Houston/Harris County National Night Out
A message from our Mayor Sylvester Turner:
As Mayor of this City, I encourage each of you to step outdoors on this night and meet your neighbors. After the introduction, you will no longer be a stranger and a connection will begin. This connection can lead to unifying neighborhoods, streets, subdivisions, and communities against crime. Your neighbors can become your allies against crime and together we will be able to improve the quality of life in our city.
For more information and planning ideas, please contact Officer J. L. Williams of the Houston Police Department's Public Affairs Office at 713-308-3253. I hope you will come outdoors on National Night Out and be a part of this wonderful event.
Despite Tropical Storm Imelda...
MBK Houston Each One of Us Mentor Program Kickoff Success
Earlier this year MBK Houston and Change Happens! was chosen as 1 of 10 communities to be awarded the Impact Community Grant. The "Each One of Us" Mentoring Program was established to fulfill the grant and MBK Mission. Despite the rain and flooding events caused by Tropical Storm Imelda…we were still able to celebrate a successful program kickoff that was scheduled for September 19, 2019 11 am at Yates High School. Learn more about the program in our Milestone 3 section!
Check out our competition winner video created by the Obama Foundation below:
In the News and Updates
You are never too young to lead
City Matching Grants Program
Grants support neighborhood improvement projects
Community-based organizations invited to apply
Application Deadline: November 1, 2019
Mayor Sylvester Turner, City Council and the Department of Neighborhoods announce the 2019-2020 Neighborhood Matching Grants Program to help neighborhood-based nonprofit organizations fund projects that improve the appearance of neighborhoods, cultivate volunteerism, and promote community pride.
The program provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 from City Council members’ discretionary District Service Funds. To qualify, projects must involve residents, provide long-standing benefits to the community, and be accessible to the public. Applicant organizations must identity how the proposed project will be funded and supported in the future. Council members will select the winning proposals.
The application deadline is November 1, 2019. Applications must be complete to be considered, and there will be no exceptions to the deadline.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a matching grant, applicants must be certified as a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization by the State of Texas or must secure a partnership with a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organization to carry out the proposed project. Organizations funded under the program must represent a specific geographic area within Houston city limits.
The Neighborhood Matching Grants Program is administered by the Department of Neighborhoods in partnership with City Council offices.
Confirmed! Teens Hospitalized After E-Cigarette Use
Houston - At least three Houston teens have been hospitalized with serious lung illnesses following use of e-cigarettes, the Houston Health Department confirms. The hospitalizations all occurred within the past month and fit the profile of a multistate outbreak of severe pulmonary disease associated with the use of e-cigarette products.
“This is a very serious outbreak and I urge all parents to check with their children to make sure they are not using e-cigarette products. Adults should also stop using the products,” said Dr. David Persse, local health authority for the Houston Health Department and EMS medical director. “These illnesses are life-threatening, even for healthy young people who may not regularly use these products.”
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What We're Reading
Guidance Counselors Changing Roles. How Mentors Can Help
the changing roles of high school guidance counselors who “once focused largely on helping students prepare for college and careers, counselors have seen their portfolios expand to encompass a host of new responsibilities for students’ social and emotional well-being.
Author: Jean Rhodes, The Chronicle of Evidence-based Mentoring
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Impact of Exposure to Community Violence on Adolescents' mental health
It has been well researched that urban adolescents are also exposed to high amounts of community violence, which can affect their overall and mental well-being.
Author: Jeremy Astesano, The Chronicle of Evidence-based Mentoring
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Building a Community of Practice
Volunteers Needed: Cougar Food Market
Fresh Hub Food Distribution is Back!
HOUSTON – The Houston Health Department is continuing a partnership with Fresh Hub, a student-led program that provides people fresh nutritious produce, bread and other foods at no charge. The distribution events, held at two health department multi-service centers, target food deserts, areas with low-access to healthy food options.
Fresh Hub, a project of Bellaire High School’s Future Problem Solvers Club, collects quality excess food from grocery stores and bakeries and offers it free of charge through a collaboration with Second Servings. The program distributed more than 3,550 pounds of free food to more than 600 people through its first nine events
Up to 40 % of food in the United States is never eaten while approximately one in eight Americans struggles to put enough food on the table, according to the National Resource Defense Council. Project Fresh Hub aims to address those challenges.
“What these Bellaire High School students have been able to accomplish through Project Fresh Hub is extremely impressive,” said Stephen Williams, director of the Houston Health Department. “These young people identified a need in the community and developed an innovative and effective approach to help those affected.”
The distribution events are free, open to anyone and pre-registration is not required. Participants are asked to arrive to the event no more than 30 minutes before start time.
The next six Fresh Hub monthly distribution events are scheduled to take place September 2019 through February 2020 at the Kashmere Multi-Service Center, 4802 Lockwood Dr, and the Sunnyside Multi-Service Center, 9314 Cullen Blvd.
- Friday, Oct. 11: Kashmere Multi-Service Center, 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 25: Sunnyside Multi-Service Center, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Monday, Dec. 23: Kashmere Multi-Service Center, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 17: Kashmere Multi-Service Center, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 15: Suunnyside Multi-Service Center, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fresh Hub was recently awarded first place in the human services category at Future Problem Solving Program International, a dynamic international program in which students apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to hypothetical future situations.
HHD's Flood Safety Recommendations
HOUSTON - The Houston Health Department recommends people in the Houston-area keep safety in mind during recovery from flooding due to Tropical Depression Imelda.
“Good hygiene, food safety and properly sanitizing a flooded home are of the utmost importance the next few days,” said Dr. David Persse, local health authority for Houston Health Department. The department recommends people follow the flood safety precautions below.
Food Safety
Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with floodwater. If cans have come in contact with floodwater or storm water, remove the labels, wash the cans, and dip them in a solution of 1 cup (8 oz/250 mL) of bleach in 5 gallons of water.
Cleaning and Sanitizing Your Home
When rain or flood waters get into your home, take steps to prevent mold growth. First, wash surfaces with soap and warm clean water to remove dirt and debris. Next, sanitize surfaces with household bleach. Clean it with a solution of 1 cup household liquid bleach per 5 gallons of water. Remember:
- Keep children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup is complete.
- Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as, mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products).
- Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with floodwaters.
- Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, counter tops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent.
- Help the drying process by using fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers.
People seven years of age and older with puncture wounds or cuts that were exposed to flood water or dirt may be at risk for contracting tetanus. They will need a tetanus shot if they have not had one in the past ten years. Please consult your primary care physician or your medical home. Exposure to flood water without a wound or skin injury is not a risk for tetanus.
Good Hygiene
Practice good hygiene (handwashing) after contact with flood waters.
- Do not allow children to play in flood water areas.
- Wash children's hands frequently (always before meals).
- Do not allow children to play with toys that have been contaminated by flood water and have not been disinfected.
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Positive Youth Development
MENTOR: Step up this school year
The Mentor's Guide to Youth Purpose
Michelle Obama's Back-to-School Challenge
A Message from Tiffany Drake, Executive Director, Girls Opportunity Alliance
We hope you’ll also answer Michelle Obama’s call to share a favorite back-to-school photo—post a throwback of your own school portrait or your child heading to school on social media with the hashtag #GirlsOpportunityAlliance.
MBK Houston Milestone Snapshots
THE BASICS HOUSTON - 5 FUN, POWERFUL WAYS TO BUILD YOUR BABY'S BRAIN
Through a series of free "fun-shops" in neighborhoods around Houston, new parents are encouraged to practice with their babies five fun, simple, yet powerful “basics” which help build an early foundation for their children to be able to read, speak, solve problems, do well in school and have positive relationships later in life.
Five Basics Houston include:
- Maximize Love, Manage Stress (Watch video)
- Talk, Sing, and Point (Watch video)
- Count, Group, and Compare (Watch video)
- Explore Through Movement and Play (Watch video)
- Read and Discuss Stories (Watch video)
Give your child a greater opportunity for success by building your baby's brain early in life!
Join a fun-shop
October
- Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019: Baker Ripley Castillo at 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019: Woodland Community Center at 10:30 a.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019: Holy Name Catholic Church at 10 a.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019: Avenue Station at 9 a.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019: Wesley Community Center at 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019: Carnegie Library at 11 a.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019: Fulton Village at 10:30 a.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019: Irvington Village at 10:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019: Baker Ripley Gulfton at 10 a.m.
How to Choose Read Aloud Books: Babies to Third Graders
It’s never too early to start reading to young children. Babies and toddlers are listeners, building their vocabulary before they can even talk.
What to look for in choosing books for babies and toddlers:
- Brightly colored pictures of simple objects.
- Simple texts, rhyming, and repetition.
- Books that introduce colors, shapes, counting, and letters.
- Lift-the-flap and sturdy pop-up books to encourage exploration.
- Board books and cloth books — perfect for young hands to manipulate.
-->See some of our favorite read alouds for babies and toddlers
Preschoolers are aquiring language skills quickly. They enjoy the sound of language — even nonsensical words — and a good laugh; after all, they’re developing a sense of humor!
What to look for in choosing books for preschoolers:
- Bright, big illustrations.
- Simple stories with basic plots.
- Books that help answer a preschooler’s “why?” questions about their world.
- Rhyming text, including the classics like Mother Goose and Dr. Seuss.
- Classic stories with universal themes such as friendship and generosity.
- Activity books that encourage exploration, observation, and play.
- Bedtime stories to calm preschoolers after their busy days!
Kindergarteners — they're growing up, and so is their taste in books. They’re developing empathy and relationships with other children.
What to look for in choosing books for kindergarteners:
- Titles that explore kid interests, expand horizons, and offer exposure to different kinds of writing.
- Stories that let them see how characters in different situations behave toward others.
- Engaging informational texts with lots of colorful photographs or illustrations that help kindergartners build knowledge about the world.
- Cumulative tales full of built-in anticipation, like There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.
- Longer stories or chapter books with thematically rich issues that lead to discussion and reflection.
First grade is when many children begin to read independently. But reading aloud with first graders remains not only a pleasurable but an important activity.
What to look for in choosing books for first graders:
- Rich language — words and phrases that deliver complex meaning and imagery.
- Stories with more complex plots that spark a desire to predict and learn what happens next.
- Books that relate to the experiences of a first grader and feature characters similar in age.
- Narrative nonfiction that’s full of fascinating facts yet reads like a story.
- Silly stories and poems that have fun with words and sounds.
Second graders are expanding their interests and putting ideas together in new ways. Books — timeworn or new, fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose — shared aloud allow both adult and child to explore the world together.
What to look for in choosing books for second graders:
- Old favorites — second graders may want to read the same book many times, even though you may have thought they’d outgrown it.
- Characters dealing with the same fears, interests, and concerns that they experience.
- Nonfiction genres that introduce second graders to biography, history, and real stories of nature and science.
- Picture books that lead you to chapter books, such as Diary of a Spider and Charlotte’s Web.
- Chapter books to read aloud that are rich in detail and above independent reading level.
Empathy, experience, vocabulary, and a love of language continue to grow long after third graders can read by themselves.
What to look for in choosing books for third graders:
- Books that tackle tough topics and lead to discussion that helps kids cope with daily challenges.
- Characters they can relate to and learn from.
- Stories that keep your read aloud lively and interactive and lead to lots of conversation.
- Picture books that build knowledge and support connections to the complexities of the world around them.
Each One of Us Mentoring Program
To help boys and young men of color (BYMOC) improve academic achievement, self-esteem, social competence, and avoidance of high risk behavior by providing a relationship with a caring adult who works to help the mentee achieve his full potential.
Objectives
- Provide one-to-one mentoring to BYMOC to students ages 14-19
- Foster and build a network of collaboration and partners
- Providing positive long-lasting and impactful relationships.
Outcomes
With your help, the MBK Houston Each One of Us Mentoring Program seeks to achieve some of the following outcomes:
- Decrease in attitudes supporting violence and willingness to use violence in conflict situations
- Increase high school graduation rates
- Increase college enrollment
The Difference a Word Can Make
By Kathleen Nelson-Simley of KNS Learning Solutions:
When you hear the word, “rules”, what do you think of? How does the word make you feel? How does it sound to you?
Maybe the word sounds and feels the same to you as it does when kids hear it. When kids hear the word, “rules”, they think of everything they can’t or aren’t suppose to do. To them, rules are usually made by an adult and enforced upon them. Rules are made to be challenged.
Let’s try another word…what do you think of when you hear the word, “standards”? How does this word make you feel? How does it sound to you?
When you ask kids what the word, “standards”, means they usually say it is something they should or are expected to do. Standards are something to live up to.
The kids are right. There are major differences between the two words. If you were to do a definition search of them on Google you would find the following:
- As nouns, the difference between “rule” and “standard” is that a rule is a regulation, law or guideline while a standard is a level of quality or attainment.
- As a verb, to rule is to regulate, be in charge of, make decisions for or reign over.
- As an adjective, standard is falling within an accepted range of size, amount, power or quality.
By definition alone you can see that rules are forceful. In fact, if you were to reference a thesaurus for synonyms for the word “rule” you would find words such as, “command”, “controlling” and “dominant”. Individuals are forced to bow DOWN and abide by a set of rules they may not agree with.
On the contrary, if you did a similar search for standards you would find words such as, “character”, “individuality”, “genius” and “virtue”. In this case, individuals rise UP in the situation to increase their likelihood of success.
The bottom line is…rules are negative while standards are positive.
During an interview, Coach Mike Krzyzewski of Duke University, who has more wins than any coach in Division 1 college basketball, once described his reasoning for use of standards instead of rules with his basketball team…
“When I was at West Point we had a bunch of rules, all of which I didn’t agree with. Usually when you’re ruled, you never agree with all the rules, you just abide by them. But if you have standards and if everyone contributes to the way you’re going to do things you end up owning how you do things.”
Coach “K” also coached the US Olympic Basketball Team comprised of NBA superstars - LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and more. The question for him was never about talent; the question was whether the team could learn to play together, work together and get along together.
In their first meeting, he decided not to talk about offense and defense. Instead, he built the agenda around how the team was going to “live together.” He told the team, “We’re not going to have any rules. We’re going to have standards. His belief is that people don’t own rules, but they will own standards.
The same is true in your classroom or student group you work with. When you are the one who sets the rules for your students, without their input, they are more likely to challenge them and challenge you. Rules increase the chances you will have more negative and disruptive behaviors with your students. Why? They are your rules and not theirs.
If you want to increase the likelihood your students will get along and exhibit more positive behavior than negative, you need standards of behavior that you and they both create and buy into. Your students are more likely to live up to their own standards and hold each other accountable to them if they have a voice and vested interest in them.
So, what do you have established in your classroom or group? Do you have rules? Or, do you have standards? Your answer to this question can make all the difference to having a group of students who get along with each other and with you.
Free Training Programs in Houston
The free training programs in Houston, TX are meant for you to gain new skills for some certain jobs. At the same time, these free training programs can come in handy to sharpen the skills that you already have. To take advantage of these free training program, you have to know who is offering them and the conditions at which they offer. Many free training programs are available in Houston, Texas.
Some of which are:
- CDL Training
- CNA Training
- Welding Training
- Forklift Training
- Computer Training
- Security Guard Training
Visit will your local Workforce Solutions office or a career coach at your local community college (like Houston Community College) to connect to more opportunities like these!
Scholarships for Re-entry Students
Cashier, Cook or Food Runner Positions
Juma offers youth a great opportunity to work and make career dreams a reality. We offer employment opportunities, the chance to build workplace skills, training on how to manage money and save, counseling to develop a plan for building a career and connections to jobs and education opportunities to help get there.
Juma Provides:
- Employment at one of our concession businesses in a major sporting or entertainment venue
- Job skills training
- Financial guidance
- Career tours
- One-on-one mentorship
- Career exploration and coaching
- Connection to an alumni network of support
Data Collector Positions
Harris County Will Stop Prosecuting Some Marijuana Possession Cases
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced on Tuesday her office will only accept criminal charges for misdemeanor possession of marijuana if a lab test result proves that the evidence seized has a THC concentration of more than 0.3 percent.
Upcoming Events
Brazos Bend State Park 2 Nights Camping
BUS TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED
Bus picks up at Forest lawn church (8101 Wileyvale Houston, Tx 77016) at 8:00 am and transports to Brazos Bend State park (21901 FM 762 Rd Needville, Tx 77461) 50 miles. First day: learn to set up tent, build camp fire, aquatics training – lunch and dinner will be prepared. Second day: fishing, hiking, games, nature photography, Furs/Skulls/Tracks presentation, Game Warden presentation – breakfast, lunch and dinner will be prepared. Third day: Learn how to take down tents, clean up, leave no trace – continental breakfast will be prepared. Bus picks up at Brazos Bend State park (21901 FM 762 Rd Needville, Tx) at 10:00 am. Stop at park store about 1hour then transports to Forest Lawn church 50 miles arriving by 1 pm.
Friday, Oct 11, 2019, 08:00 AM
8101 Wileyvale Houston, Tx 77016)
Annual Crime Stoppers Gala
Wednesday, Oct 2, 2019, 06:00 PM
Hyatt Regency Houston, Louisiana Street, Houston, TX, USA
6th Annual Jensen Jubilee Parade & Fall Festival
Saturday, Oct 19, 2019, 10:00 AM
Shady Lane Park, Shady, Houston, TX, USA
Social Media Breakfast: Gift of Guidance
Wednesday, Oct 23, 2019, 12:00 AM
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The application deadline is Wednesday, October 23, 2019. Nonprofits can apply here.
During the program, which will be held on Friday, December 13, 2019, from 8:30am-10am at Houston Chronicle, the chosen non-profit organizations are matched with SMBHOU volunteers who offer their pro bono advice to develop a mini social media plan over breakfast.
Over the next few weeks, more information about volunteering will be sent, but in the meanwhile we are hoping that you will pass this on to any nonprofits that you think would benefit from this program.
If you, or your contacts in nonprofit organizations, would like to learn more about the program, you can watch this video on our Facebook page.
Kami Huyse
Host of the Social Media Breakfast Houston
kamichat@gmail.com
3rd Annual Men of Color Greater Houston Area Collegiate Symposium
Follow Link to Register for the Symposium.
High Schools (can add up to 32 people per one ticket by the Chaperone) & Collegiate Students (Track #1, Ticket #1)
*9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m
Friday, Nov 1, 2019, 09:00 AM
University of Houston-Downtown (UHD), North Main Street, Houston, TX, USA
MHA's 2020 Annual Conference: From Resiliency to Recovery
Thursday, Jun 11, 2020, 12:00 AM
Washington D.C., DC, USA
2020 Conference Call for Proposals Coming September 30
We are happy to share that our Call for Proposals for our 2020 Annual Conference, From Resiliency to Recovery, will be released at the end of the month.
About the theme
At MHA’s 2020 Conference, we want to examine the individual’s capacity to thrive amid adversity - why some people are negatively impacted by adversity while others are able to thrive - and how communities are coming together to help address these issues.
- We’ll focus on cognitive, emotional and behavioral effects of childhood trauma, their long lasting impacts into adulthood, and how research shows trauma can cause permanent changes in the structure and chemical activity of a growing brain;
- We’ll talk about how racism, anti-immigrant bias and other forms of discrimination can impact mental health and wellbeing;
- We’ll dive into the principles of trauma-informed care - and how safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural sensitivity must be incorporated into life-long services and supports for victims of trauma;
- We’ll learn about the work that communities are developing and implementing in response to the specific barriers experienced by diverse individuals in response to the traumatic events facing our society; and
- We’ll talk about the recovery model in mental health care - centered on the belief that individuals with mental health conditions can lead full, rewarding, self-directed lives - and how peer support can be an effective and essential element of recovery-oriented mental health systems.
Time to start thinking about your proposal! Will you be one of the talented individuals chosen to speak next year? Speakers receive free registration and are invited to attend all three days of the conference.
Visit the conference homepage to see a recap of our 2019 Annual Conference and get an idea of what is in store for 2020!
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