The Thomas Telegraph Vol. 5, Issue 2 – July 28, 2023

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Councilmember Thomas received a surprise Happy Birthday serenade from His Excellency Adamu Gwari, the Permanent Secretary of FCTA in Nigeria and the Honorable Abike Daibiri Erewa.

In addition to Councilmember Thomas, the delegation included Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Castex Tatum and City Council Member Karla Cisneros along with members from various sectors and industries including the Texas Medical Center, Chevron, Haliburton, Port Houston, East End Maker Hub, and the Ghana-Houston Chamber of Commerce.

The mission of the trip was to foster government and business relationships between the City of Houston and the three West African countries, build on existing relationships, explore new bi-lateral economic opportunities, and strengthen cultural and civic engagement.

In Cote d’Ivoire, the delegation, the first from the United States to come to Cote d’Ivoire, met with the Vice President, Prime Minister, Ambassador of the United States, and officials from the Ministry of Technical and Vocational Training and the Ministry of Oil, Energy, and Mines, among others.  They discussed ways Houston can support workforce development and innovation in the country, as well as exchanges in the medical and energy sectors.

Following the delegation’s return, members will continue to foster the relationships that have been initiated and follow up on the discussions, responsibilities and action items with an after-action report in the next few weeks.

With the summer heat wave shattering single-day temperature records, many District F residents are turning to pools to escape the heat. Pools provide a host of benefits, as well as dangers. In 2020, Texas reported having 80 drownings. Almost 80% of these incidences happened to children 4 years old and younger.

With the safety of some of our youngest constituents at risk, Councilmember Thomas decided to host a swim event targeting an often overlooked and underserved segment of the population. Conducted by Houston Waves, the hourlong seminars included basic swimming instruction, as well as overall water and pool safety tips.

Additionally, all Houstonians who visited the park on Sunday received a free Kona Ice.

Launched in late June, the “Summer of Safety” initiative is a series of public safety events and citywide campaigns focused on the health and safety of young District F residents. With an overarching goal of improving the quality of life for all Houstonians across the city.

When President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981 on July 26, 1948, calling for the desegregation of the U.S. Armed Forces, he repudiated 170 years of officially sanctioned discrimination. Since the Amercian Revolution, African Americans had served in the military, but almost always separately from white soldiers and usually in menial roles.

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• Total Work Orders: 37
• Hotspot of the Week: 2870 Stoney Brook
• Total Man Hours Worked: 64
• Tree Waste: 780 lbs.
• Mattresses: 4
• Furniture Waste: 14 pieces
• Tires: 11
• Trash Debris: 270 lbs.
• Shopping Carts: 1
• Bandit Signs: 139
• Landscaping: none

Regardless of the issues that move you, there are two excellent opportunities for youth civic engagement training and experience.

Alief Votes is a grant-funded 501(c)(3) organization that empowers youth civic engagement in Alief. The organization receives administrative support from District F, the Department of Neighborhoods, and OCA.

Alief ISD students may apply to be an Alief Votes Fellow. Students receive civic engagement training, stipends, and resources and a budget to plan and fund their own community events.

Click here to apply.

Students and constituents are invited to a youth engagement workshop focused on Alief and civic opportunities on Saturday, September 16 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Click here to register.

In honor of the ADA anniversary, District F turns the spotlight onto Suzan Nguyening. The first thing you notice about Suzan is her magnetic personality. She is a force and you can easily see why people would be inspired by her.

Suzan was involved in a traumatic car accident and experienced the loss of her dominant arm. Through resilience and the support of those around her, Suzan promised herself to #bebetter not bitter. She learned how to create joy from within and began helping others to do the same.  This soon became her life mission.

In 2021, Suzan was crowned Mrs. Universal Empire First Queen. Her gift of inspiration was now on a global stage and that is where she remains today.  Traveling the world, helping others turn pain into power, to heal from within, and inspire with love and light.

Suzan — District F salutes you and thanks you for all that you do!

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OEM is updating Houston’s Severe Weather Plan and Pre-Disaster Recovery Plan to identify risks in our area and provide strategies to limit the impact of natural disasters.Participate by taking the survey below. Information collected is anonymous. Your Feedback is valuable.

Click here to participate in the survey.

The City of Houston is re-activating its Public Health Heat Emergency Plan, providing resources for people to take refuge from extreme heat Wednesday through Sunday.

Houston libraries and multi-service centers will function as cooling centers during normal business hours. The Central Library downtown is unavailable as a cooling center. Community centers operated by Houston Parks and Recreation Department will open to the public after the conclusion of daily programming for enrolled participants.

Anyone without air-conditioning can seek shelter at any of the following city buildings designated as cooling centers during the heat emergency.

The National Weather Service indicates a Heat Advisory is in place until at least 9 p.m. Tuesday.

The YMCA of Greater Houston will also provide a resource for people needing to seek relief.

People without adequate transportation to a designated cooling center can call 3-1-1 to request a free ride from METRO or zTrip. Transportation is only to and from the cooling centers; transportation to other locations is unavailable.

• Increase water consumption. Drink lots of liquids even before getting thirsty.
• Conduct outdoor work or exercise in the early morning or eveningwhen temperatures are not as high.
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that permits the evaporation of perspiration.