Community

Mayor Turner establishes Complete Communities Improvement Fund to accelerate initiative’s progress

DEFENDER NEWS NETWORK — Mayor Sylvester Turner today accelerated the progress of his Complete Communities initiative by announcing the establishment of a fund to receive private donations and pledges for neighborhood improvements with an initial $25 million fundraising goal.

Published

6 years ago

April 2, 2019

Oakland Post

By Defender News Service

Mayor Sylvester Turner today accelerated the progress of his Complete Communities initiative by announcing the establishment of a fund to receive private donations and pledges for neighborhood improvements with an initial $25 million fundraising goal.

The initiative focuses on increasing mixed-income housing stock, providing micro-lending and mortgage down-payment assistance, teaching job skills, awarding college scholarships, and growing retail and other forms of economic development. Residents identified 371 improvement projects and programs in the five pilot neighborhoods and collaborated with city planners to prioritize the work to be done.

“Our bank is proud to work with a program that’s focused on leveling the playing field and creating more inclusive prosperity across Houston, said Mark Jacobs, Region Bank’s Houston market executive. “One of the most powerful ways we can make a difference at Regions is by connecting more people with financial skills that can help them save more, spend wisely and achieve financial security. We believe financial education leads to financial empowerment, and our local team is excited to connect with people through this initiative to help them define their financial futures.”

The fund was started to identify and secure public and private resources to implement the residents’ action plans. It will be administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation and guided by an advisory board appointed by Mayor Turner. In the photo above, from left, are advisory board member Laura Jaramillo of Wells Fargo; Harris County Treasurer Dylan Osborne; council members David Robinson and Karla Cisneros; advisory board member Raamel Mitchell of Microsoft; Mayor Turner; Complete Communities Director Shannon Buggs; advisory board member David Kim of the Urban Land Institute; advisory board member Murphy of Cadence Bank; advisory board member Jacobs of Regions Bank; and Council Member Martha Castex-Tatum.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to serve on the Complete Communities Improvement Fund advisory board, said Kim, executive director of the Urban Land Institute. “My colleagues on the advisory board and I are committed to being good stewards of the fund’s investments into the Complete Communities and to making wise decisions about how to use these funds to serve the best interests of the these neighborhoods’ residents and the entire city of Houston.”

Additional fund donors include Wells Fargo, AT&T, United Arab Emirates, Houston Endowment, Comcast, Jack and Jill of America Foundation, and Cities for Financial Empowerment.

Some of the accomplishments of the Complete Communities initiative include:

Down-payment assistance and home-buying education events hosted separately by Wells Fargo and the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America.

The debut of the Gulfton Story Trail Mural Project, a showcase for 12 murals that celebrate the diversity of culture and food of the area.

The Houston Building Institute Acres Home Training Program, thanks to a grant from the global manufacturing company Norbord. Young men and women ages 18- 24 years old completed 12 weeks of training to start their careers in the construction industry.

Microsoft-hosted YouthSpark in Schools events sharing cutting-edge technology and teaching techniques with educators training the next generation of coders and engineers, as well as providing digital literacy workshops for parents, career-transitioning professionals and other adults.

AT&T’s sponsorship of workshops on job-seeking skills to prepare Complete Communities residents for upcoming job fairs. AT&T also provided access to hiring managers who could fill jobs on the spot.

The national Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund’s selected Houston to receive grant to establish a Financial Empowerment Center that offers professional, one-on-one financial counseling as a free public service.

With funding from Wells Fargo, a single-family home development in Acres Home, a micro-lending program in Gulfton, college student internship stipends and renovation planning for the East End YMCA in Second Ward.

Mayor Turner recently announced the creation of the Office of Complete Communities and named Shannon Buggs as director. Her position is funded by Houston Endowment.

For more information on the Complete Communities initiative or to view each community Action Plan, visit online at http://www.houstontx.gov/completecommunities/. To contact the Mayor’s Office of Complete Communities, call 832-393-1085.

This article originally appeared in the Defender News Network.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Visionary Women of Houston: Sharon Watkins Jones

Don't Miss

PRESS ROOM: Detroit Medical Center and Meharry Medical College Expand Medical Student Training Affiliation

Oakland Post

Click to comment

California Black Media

Gov. Newsom Goes to Washington to Advocate for California Priorities

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior Biden-Harris Administration officials and members of California’s congressional delegation. During the week, he pushed for increased resources to improve public safety and quality of life in California.

Published

2 days ago

November 26, 2024

Oakland Post

Gov. Newsom visits the White House on Nov. 14. Photo courtesy of Gov.Ca. Gov

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior Biden-Harris Administration officials and members of California’s congressional delegation.

During the week, he pushed for increased resources to improve public safety and quality of life in California.

“California is continuing our work to secure additional tools and resources to improve access to health care, clean air and water, and secure critical funding to support communities recovering from disasters,” said Newsom.

At the White House, Newsom met with President Joe Biden and key officials, advocating for disaster relief funding, healthcare expansion, and environmental protection. He also engaged in discussions with senior Biden-Harris officials, including Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, to address water quality improvements and the San Luis Dam project, which will support water supplies for two million Californians.

“Building on our strong partnership with the Biden-Harris Administration, California is working closely with the White House over the next two months to deliver the critical protections and resources our communities need,” Newsom said.

On Capitol Hill, Newsom met with California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, along with other Congressional leaders, to emphasize the need to approve pending disaster funding, healthcare programs, and environmental protections. He also previewed California’s upcoming special session to proactively address potential federal challenges when President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office.

Newsom’s discussions also focused on securing Medicaid waivers from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to enhance behavioral health services and reduce homelessness. The state seeks approval for the BH-CONNECT waiver, which would address behavioral health and homelessness, and the MCO Tax Waiver, which would provide over $20 billion for Medi-Cal to improve healthcare access.

Additionally, California is pushing for Clean Air Act waivers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which are crucial for enforcing air quality regulations. These measures are projected to prevent 11,000 premature deaths and provide $116 billion in health benefits over the next three decades, according to the Governor’s office.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

California Black Media

California to Offer $43.7 Million in Federal Grants to Combat Hate Crimes

Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced that 311 California nonprofit and faith-based organizations, including those representing communities targeted by hate crimes, will receive over $43.7 million in federal funding through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The funding aims to enhance security measures such as reinforced doors, access control systems, and lighting to protect against hate-based violence.

Published

2 days ago

November 26, 2024

Oakland Post

iStock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

The funding aims to enhance security measures such as reinforced doors, access control systems, and lighting to protect against hate-based violence.

“An attack against any community is an attack against our entire state and our values. We will protect the ability of every Californian to worship, love, and gather safely without fear of hate or violent attacks. California is continuing to safeguard all communities, including those most at risk,” said Newsom.

California receives 10% of the national allocation, the highest of any state. This funding comes in addition to $76 million in state funding for similar security improvements announced in July 2024. In total, California has invested over $230 million since 2015 to safeguard vulnerable communities.

“California is dedicated to helping our communities stay safe from violent hate crimes and get access to essential financial funding to support those efforts,” said Cal Office of Emergency Services (OES) Director Nancy Ward.

The grants are particularly important as hate crimes, especially against Jewish, Muslim, LGBTQ+, and Black communities, have seen an increase. In response, California has also launched initiatives like the CA vs Hate hotline and website, providing a platform for reporting hate incidents anonymously. Newsom’s administration continues to prioritize the safety of all Californians, with ongoing efforts to combat discrimination and hate violence.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

California Black Media

California Reports First Case of Mpox in the United States

On Nov. 16, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), reported the first known case of clade 1 Mpox, previously known as Monkeypox, in the United States. However, the risk to the public remains low, according to the CDPH.

Published

2 days ago

November 26, 2024

Oakland Post

iStock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

On Nov. 16, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), reported the first known case of clade 1 Mpox, previously known as Monkeypox, in the United States.

However, the risk to the public remains low, according to the CDPH.

“This case was confirmed in an individual who recently traveled from Africa and is related to the ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox in Central and Eastern Africa,” reads a statement the CDPH released.

According to the DDPH, “The affected individual received health care in San Mateo County based on their travel history and symptoms. The individual is isolating at home and recovering.”

Public health workers are also conducting a contact tracing exercise and reaching out to people who have been in close proximity to the affected person.

“The mpox specimens from the traveler are being sent to the CDC for further laboratory testing,” the CDPH press release continues.

Californians can take a number of steps to prevent Mpox. Here’s more information:

Preventing Mpox Infection

It appears clade I mpox spreads in a similar manner as clade II mpox, through close (skin-skin), intimate and sexual contact. The identification of a potentially more severe mpox version in the United States is a good reminder for individuals who have certain risk factors to take preventive action, including:

Getting vaccinated if you may be at risk for mpox. For the greatest protection, make sure you get both doses of the vaccine. Find mpox vaccine (JYNNEOS) near you.
Taking precautions if you were exposed to mpox. Get the mpox vaccine before symptoms develop and consider avoiding intimate contact with others for 21 days. Watch yourself for symptoms and get tested if they develop.
Preventing spread if you have been told you have mpox. Avoid contact with others until the rash is healed, clean and disinfect shared areas in the home, and notify people who may have been exposed.
Talking to your sexual partner(s).
Avoiding skin-to-skin contact with those who have a rash or sores that look like mpox.
Not sharing items with someone who has mpox.
Washing your hands often.
Protecting yourself when caring for someone with mpox by using masks, gowns and gloves.