* Spayed/neutered pets reduce animal overpopulation.

* Spayed/neutered pets are less likely to wander or be aggressive.

* Spayed/neutered pets are healthier, happier, and have longer lives.

* Plenty of "no cost" or "zero cost" spay/neuter opportunities

Council Member Cisneros has dedicated $20,000 to provide free spay/neuter surgeries for pets of District H residents. District H residents are invited to sign up and register for one of the six free spay/neuter events by visiting the Love Your Pet website.

In celebration of LOVE YOUR PET Month,

Council Member Cisneros has partnered with the Houston Humane Society, Best Friends,

PetSet, Big Fix, and Unity for a Solution to offer

4 PET FOOD PANTRIES in the month of February. Stop on by!

Check out the new mini mural on White Oak Drive near Woodland Park that features the official bird of Houston, a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron.

The mural was funded by Council Member Cisneros and designed by UP Art Studio artist Sylvia Blanco.

This week, Houston's positivity rate is 15.1%, a slight drop in the right direction! Please continue to follow the guidelines and stay vigilant in protecting yourself and those around you.

Visit the City of Houston's Free COVID-19 website for dates, times, and locations of this week's testing sites or call 832-393-4220 to reach the COVID-19 Call Center.

Harris County Public Health has created a COVID-19 Vaccination Portal. The portal allows individuals to be placed on a waitlist and contacted once vaccines and appointments are available.

Additional Houston Health Department vaccination appointments are not being scheduled at this time. When supply increases, the department will open the appointment portal and post the link on their webpage.

For the latest announcements and links to information on appointments, vaccine providers and distribution sites, visit the City's COVID-19 Vaccine webpage. You can also sign up for alerts by subscribing to AlertHouston to receive push notifications regarding new appointment opportunities.

February marks the anniversary of the City of Independence Heights , when it became the first Black municipality in the state of Texas. On February 8, 1915, Independence Heights established its independence and its own government with a mayor and two commissioners.

The Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs and UP Art Studio invite Texas Artists to apply to the Mini Murals Program Artist Registry 2021. The program has paid local artists over $300,000 over the past five years, and it has many upcoming opportunities for commissions in 2021. Applications will be accepted year-round and reviewed quarterly, allowing artists to apply any time. More info here.

Mayor Turner and Council Member Cisneros want your input on park improvements for Nieto Park in Denver Harbor. The meeting will take place on February 16th at 6:30 PM. You must register in advance to participate. Register here.

Kids Meals Inc. is delivering free meals, Monday to Friday, to children under the age 6 who live within the 43 delivery zip codes. Kids Meals Inc. will also be providing meals for older siblings when school is out. More info on how to apply can be found here or by calling 713-695-5437 with any questions. The application can be here in English or Spanish.

Air Alliance Houston is a research-based non-profit organization advocating for policies to reduce air pollution. The organization is looking to partner with Complete Communities to install air monitors in response to its findings from the recent Environmental Hazards and Health Inequities in Houston’s Complete Communities Report. According to the report, each of the Complete Communities has at least 2 concrete batch plants within its boundaries. The Near Northside area contains the most with eight plants. Through its Community Air Monitoring Program, Air Alliance seeks to work with these communities to identify areas/facilities of concern. It plans to establish an “Air Monitoring Ambassadors Advisory Board” to educate and train community members on how to understand and interpret air quality data.

Presentations about the program process were held during online meetings hosted by Super Neighborhoods and Complete Communities. You can view the presentation here to learn more about this program. Planner from the City of Houston Planning and Development Department, Davonte Caldwell, is coordinating efforts with the Near Northside Complete Communities area. If you have any questions about the program, you can contact him at Davonte.Caldwell@houstontx.gov or 832-393-6568.

Help improve mobility in the Old Sixth Ward Area. Take the self-guided tour and leave comments at each stop. Walk, bike or take the tour virtually from home. To answer the questions, please visit the interactive map and follow the instructions.

The possible expansion of I-45 has been controversial. Stop TxDOT I-45 has created a survey to help the organization set priorities. The survey will take approximately 10-12 minutes to fill out. Let them know how they can best serve the communities affected by the expansion. Fill the survey out here.

As you may know, the Quitman Signal Pilot Program Houston Public Works (HPW) recently removed three traffic signals on Quitman street and replaced them with all-way STOP signs to improve traffic flow. The pilot is expected to end this month. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Katrina Bayer at 832-395-3010 or Katrina.Bayer@houstontx.gov.

Today, February 11th at 4:00 PM, the Harvard Graduate School of Education Solidarity Collective for Black Lives highlights the research of their esteemed Black education scholars at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The speakers will discuss their commitment to racial justice in education & research. More info here

The Comcast RISE Investment Fund will provide $1 million dollars of grants to hundreds of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned, small businesses in Houston. The application period is March 1-14th. Grant winners will be announced at the end of April 2021. More info here.

Families with special needs children are eligible for $1,500 from the state of Texas. Each family must fill out the online application. The money is there and available now with no obligation. Questions should be directed to the Governor’s Press Office: 512-463-1829. More info here.

Be An Angel (BAA) provides funding for adaptive equipment when not covered by insurance and the parents cannot afford it. Here is a blank BAA application. Email the completed application and supporting documents to angel@beanangel.org. If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact the BAA office at 281-219-3313.

Learn Skills to Get Job Ready for an In-Demand Career: Provided by AT&T Coursera Scholarships. The Interest Form is due March 1 and the program begins March 15th. More info here.

Free Training in Logistics and Forklift: Provided by HCC, you can find more information here.

Department Labor: Construction Trades Apprenticeship: Free training and opportunity for a paid position. Contact Dale Sanford at 832-429-1944 or dale@builtrite.work. More information here.

Free Tuition and Supplies for Healthcare Training! Provided by San Jacinto College, you can find more information and requirements here.

Learn Relevant Skills for In-Demand Jobs: Microsoft Learn and LinkedIn Learning offering free training, discounted certification test, and free job-seeking tools. Program closes March 31st. Start now!

*Please refer to the District H Resource page for more opportunities.*

Check out our District H Resources Page for links and more information about available resources. Resources are updated every week.

Download the 311 app to your Android or iPhone. When you see an issue in your neighborhood, use the app to report it. You can even include photos! If you prefer to talk directly to a representative about your issue, or want to request information about City resources, birth certificates, elections, and more, call 713-837-0311. Remember: Always call 911 in the case of an emergency!