The Blueprint
MBK Houston Movement
"To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness. "
~Confucious
Hire Houston Youth
Hire Houston Youth offers youth ages 16 to 24 internship and job opportunities at public and private employers in the Houston area. Companies who join Mayor Turner’s Hire Houston Youth commit to providing a local youth with a 7 week summer job or internship experience. Most opportunities will begin June 12, 2017 and end no sooner than August 11, 2017. The minimum required employment length is 7 weeks to ensure youth have a meaningful work experience, however employers are welcome to extend the period to meet their individual needs. After joining Hire Houston Youth, companies will work with HHY staff to specify their employment opportunities, craft job descriptions, and coordinate interview with candidates. If you are interested in participating as an employer, please make your pledge here or contact Kaleb Taylor at kaleb.taylor@houstontx.gov.
Beginning in April, Hire Houston Youth will host various on-the-spot hiring events open to all youth ages 16 and up. No pre-registration required. Past participating employers include McDonald’s, Jack-in-the-Box, Whataburger, Cash America, Corner Store, and Walgreens. If you are interested in participating as an employer, please make your pledge here and indicate you are interested in participating in hiring youth at our on-the-spot hiring events. More detailed information coming soon.
Touchdown Houston Read On! Initiative
The Early Matters Coalitions and the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation are partnering with the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee on its Touchdown Houston Read On! Initiative to achieve the following goals:
1. Enlist community members to serve as tutors, coaches and/or mentors to striving readers in schools, libraries and nonprofits for at least 51,000 hours over a 10-month period.
2. Create 5,100 personal home libraries for children living in public housing and other underserved communities across the Houston area.
Join our team in support of Touchdown Houston Read On! Become a volunteer or make a tax-deductible donation to sponsor a home library for a child in need for as little as $30. With your involvement, we will be closer to reaching our vision in which every Houston child reads on grade level by the end of third grade.
Thank you for helping to create a legacy of impact!
Click Here to SPONSOR A CHILD
Pictured above: Neil and Maria Bush stand alongside Mayor Turner and representatives from: Houston City Council, Phillips 66, Robert and Janice McNair Educational Foundation, Houston Public Library Foundation and Renovation Houston.
Mayor Sylvester Turner Announces Tribute to First Lady Barbara Bush, Kicks Off Downtown Renovation
Earlier this week Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner held a press conference to announce Houston City Council’s recent unanimous decision to rename the Central Houston Public Library Plaza to “Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza” to pay tribute to the legacy of First Lady Barbara Bush and her lifelong pursuit to break the intergenerational cycle of low literacy among families and help more people realize their fullest potential in life through the power of literacy. Mayor Turner remarked, “Literacy is essential. Period. Our elevated priority for literacy begins today…The Barbara Bush Plaza will be a focal point for literacy in Houston. It will also be a reminder of what one person can do through a lifetime of support for a cause.”
Mayor Turner also unveiled architectural renderings for major renovations for the plaza and kicked of the capital campaign to raise $5.5M through the Houston Public Library Foundation to pay for the effort. A focal point connecting Houston’s Main Library and the historic Julia Ideson building, the Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza will include a performance stage, an Internet café, an adult reading garden, an outdoor children’s reading room, and more.
CLICK HERE to read the entire article
Pretrial Justice Update - November 2016
The #1 Myth About Bail Reform: People will get out of jail “free.”
The Houston Chronicle published an interesting story about some of the changes already being made in Harris County. The truth is that personal bonds create an obligation to pay a monetary amount if the bond is forfeited for failure to appear—just like the monetary bonds secured through bondsmen. The only difference is that the person is not forced to pay the 10% fee to the bondsmen. Bondsmen collect a non-refundable 10% fee, totaling hundreds or thousands of dollars. Once paid, that 10% is gone. Either way—whether a person is released through a bondsman or by means of a personal bond—the incentives for the person to appear in court are exactly the same: the forfeiture of the bond which subjects the person to the possibility of civil liability for the dollar amount of the bond and a warrant issued for the person’s arrest for failure to appear.
Bondsmen talk about “free bonds” to create an illusion that money bonds provide greater public safety. They don’t. They do bring in approximately $40 million in fees per year for bondsmen, as the attached report of Project Orange Jumpsuit shows. A pretrial release system that conditions a person’s release on the public safety risk a person poses would promote public safety; one that turns on ability to pay does not.
Bail Reform News
Bail reform continues its steady march forward. This month brought an entertaining hearing in Federal Court in Houston over Harris County’s bail system. Regardless of what happens in the litigation, we should see some changes with the election of Kim Ogg as Houston’s new DA and Ed Gonzalez, the new Sheriff-elect.
Organizations representing a rainbow of political persuasions from around the state are taking an interest in bail reform. In addition, the Greater Houston Coalition for Justice (a coalition of several dozen civil rights groups) is planning a stakeholders forum on bail reform in January.
~Sandra Guerra Thompson
Alumnae College Professor of Law and Criminal Justice Institute Director
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON LAW CENTER
Click on the links below to review the Declaration by Ed Gonzalez , Bail Hearings and Personal Bonds Report and November Bail Report
You're invited to "COMMON GROUND – FROM THE INSIDE OUT"
This moderated discussion among men of color will be comprised of panelists representing thoughts and opinions of persons within various generational groups. The personal expressions presented will be based on each of their unique educational, social, & economic experiences and are in no way meant to represent the thoughts and or intentions of respective generational or specific demographic groups. The goal of this event will be to end collaboratively and facilitate notes of mutual respect. The agenda topics will be Education: Community Engagement (What are the best practices for minority community engagements? How can I become involved?) and The Law: Policing and Me (What do I do if I am detained in the city, county, or state? What are my rights?).
Click below to register for this FREE event:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/common-ground-from-the-inside-out-tickets-29226214394?aff=eivtefrnd
Saturday, Dec 17, 2016, 10:30 AM
1300 Victor Street, Houston, TX, United States
SAVE THE DATE: Family Success Fair - January 28, 2017
SAVE the DATE: African American National Spelling Bee Championships, Inc.
Save the Date for 6-8th grade students, as registration DEADLINE is December 16 (so the students can review the Word List and practice over the holidays).
HCC Central Campus has designated classroom space for us on Saturdays, from 1-3pm for additional training outside their classroom settings.
Workshop schedule is on the website, www.bee-aboutit.org, under "Events."
Saturday, Feb 18, 2017, 08:00 AM
3517 Austin Street, Houston, TX, United States
Girl Empowerment Network (GEN) will hold its 2nd annual We Are Girls Conference at Hogg Middle School
Girls Empowerment Network (GEN) is a nonprofit serving girls in 3rd – 12th grades. www.girlsempowermentnetwork.org. Our mission is to support and guide girls to make wise choices as they navigate the unique pressures of girlhood.
The We Are Girls Conference, produced by Girls Empowerment Network (GEN) is an annual statewide event designed especially for girls in grades 3-8 and the adults who care about them. Featuring skill-building workshops and dynamic presentations, the We Are Girls Conference connects girls to relatable role models and encourages healthy relationships, educational discovery, and creative self-expression. Leadership positions are available for high school girls. Tickets are $30 per person and 50% attendees attend on scholarship.
Saturday, Apr 29, 2017, 08:00 AM
1100 Merrill Street, Houston, TX, United States
Big Brothers and Big Sisters Wants YOU!!!
Become a School-Based Big today!
- Visit www.bbbstx.org/mybrotherskeeper and complete an online application to begin changing the life of a child.
Join the MBK Houston Movement
Mayor Turner's MBK Summit 2016
MBK RESOURCES FOR UTILIZATION:
Community Resource Guide
Reach Higher's College Quick Reference
MBK Houston Community Engagement Events (YTD)
High-touch Community Engagement Events
For More Information...
Email: mbkhouston@houstontx.gov
Website: mbkhouston.org
Location: 8000 North Stadium Drive, Houston, TX, United States
Phone: 832-393-5169
Facebook: facebook.com/mbkhouston
Twitter: @mbkhouston