Introducing the New Houston Food Insecurity Board
Council Member Pollard is proud to announce the formation of Houston’s new Food Insecurity Board, which was approved by a unanimous vote by the Mayor and City Council. This allows for an ordinance amending Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances to create the Board.
The Houston Food Insecurity Board will be an effective and comprehensive approach to addressing the issue of food insecurity by providing policy suggestions, guidance, and best practices to policymakers. The Food Insecurity Board will consist of 19 members, who will each serve one-year terms, with the first term expiring on January 2, 2023. The members include: Shariq Abdul Ghani (Chair of the Board), Valhalla Clack, Billyssia Pierce, Gabrielle S. Dirden, Warren B. Luckett, Kandace Cooks, Charmaine A. LeBlanc, Sandra Rodríguez, Vipin Kumar, Zahoor A. Gire, Rudy Rasmus, Kathy Flanagan-Payton, Megan Hoag, Shannon G. Strother, Nipa Kamdar, Katherine H. Byers, Daphne C. Hernandez, Tanweer Kaleemullah, and Lisa Helfman.
Over 738,000 Houstonians have little to no access to healthy food, and 360,000 children in Harris County are experiencing food insecurity. This includes over 500,000 Houstonians living in “food deserts” with little to no access to healthy food. Because of the pandemic, the Houston Food Bank distributes 1,000,000 pounds of food per day, compared to 450,000 pounds a day before COVID-19. After Winter Storm Uri, this number spiked to 1,200,000 pounds of food per day as mass distributions took place in worship spaces, schools, and parking lots throughout the city.
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Honoring U.S. Marines
The City of Houston honored local Marines in celebration of their 264th birthday. Council Member Pollard was selected to present a proclamation to the U.S. Marine Corps. The Council Member is the son of a Marine who served honorably in Vietnam. District J is thankful for all who served and continue to serve to keep our nation safe.
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Celebrating Local Veterans
Our office participated in the Veterans Day Parade in honor of every Veteran who served in our Armed Forces. We appreciate the sacrifices made by every soldier in the name of protecting our freedoms.
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Discussing Public Safety in District J
The spike in crime in Houston is of great concern to residents of our city including leadership. Council Member Pollard attended the city-wide Positive Interaction Program (PIP) meeting to listen to concern citizens, Houston District Attorney Kim Ogg and members of the Houston Police Department on ways to address the issue.
Council Member Pollard also held his own meeting with some District J constituents to hear their thoughts on the crime and other issues as well. He believes it will take everyone working together to curb Houston’s crime rate. Thanks to everyone who came out in the chilly weather to get updates and to ask questions of Council Member Pollard.
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CM Pollard Receives Presidential Award
The office of the President of the United States and AmeriCorps presented the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award to Council Member Edward Pollard for his commitment to public service.
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Council Member Pollard Featured in LA Weekly
LA Weekly recently featured Council Member Pollard in its publication, highlighting his accomplishments as a public servant and entrepreneur. In the article, he talks about efforts to unify people from different backgrounds and how he's able to run a successful law form. Click here to read the article in its entirety. |
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Glenshannon Town Hall Meeting
Join Council Member Pollard for a community meeting to address solutions to curb speeding and reckless driving on Wilcrest. It is critically important that we do everything we can to keep our roads safe for everyone. All are welcomed to attend, particularly residents who live in the four associations of Glenshannon. The meeting will take place Monday, December 6 at 6 p.m. at 8900 Wilcrest Dr.
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Help for Families Dealing with Autism Comes to District J
Social Motion is a non-profit organization that helps families with autistic children and young adults gain the skills and access to resources necessary to have a high quality life. This free community event is open to the public and will have fun activities for children including pictures with Santa, food and toy distribution as well as health screenings. The event will be December 15 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Sharpstown Garden Apartments, located at 7575 Bissonnet St.
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Serving Up Gratitude for the Holidays
The District J office participated in many Thanksgiving food distribution events throughout our area in preparation for the holiday. One such event took place at Higher Dimension Church, located in our district. Special Thanks to the Houston Food Bank and Amazon and all the other sponsors, partners and volunteers for their contributions in making this a great holiday for families in need.
The Bee Busy Wellness Center hosted a Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway in time for the holiday. Thanks to a partnership with the Houston, 3,000 families received turkeys and sides for their Thanksgiving meals. During the event, the District J office presented Azeb Yusuf with a Certificate of Recognition for his work in the community.
The District J office partnered with Aristocrat Life Hospitality Group to arrange a catered Thanksgiving dinner for youth at the Burnett Bayland Juvenile Rehabilitation Center and their parents. All of the families and the center’s staff were treated with full plates of delicious meals by Lost & Found Midtown.
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Celebrating District J at Mayor's Partnership Awards Ceremony
Council Member Pollard’s office nominated Sharpstown Park Alliance and the Houston Baptist University Athletic Department for recognition at the 36th Annual Mayor’s Partnership Awards ceremony presented by Keep Houston Beautiful. The event took place at the Julia Ideson Building downtown. The organizations were nominated for their outstanding work around the beautification of the community, which includes tree planting, home and lawn maintenance and community gardens. All of their consistent efforts have gone a long way in helping improve the quality of life in District J.
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Indio-American Leaders Community Luncheon
A group of faith and civic leaders gathered to promote unity and tolerance at a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by the Indo American Committee. The attendees dined on traditional Indian cuisine. The city of Houston has a thriving Indian community, with our area having one of the most populous Indian subcultures in the nation.
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Houston's African Townhall
District J enjoys a robust African community. Council Member Pollard attended a townhall meeting, where he engaged with individuals from various African countries. Special thanks to Raoul Keddy for organizing the meeting and Chez Michelle restaurant for serving as the host.
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District J Tailgate at HBU
Residents for within District J and all over the city gathered for the first District J Tailgate event at the Houston Baptist University (HBU) football game. Dozens of people came together to enjoy food, football, fellowship and fun! We are proud to have HBU located within our district and were happy to show our hospitality while cheering on the team.
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Real Men Read at Benavidez Elementary
Reading is such an incredibly important skill and can often dictate the success path of children early in their education. As part of the Real Men Read program, Council Member Pollard spent time reading to 3rd graders at Benavidez Elementary School in District J. He read a book titled “Grace for President,” which depicts a little girl’s ambition to become the first female president of the United States.
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Honoring Law Enforcement Officers
Law enforcement officers have a difficult job on a daily basis. Council Member Pollard joined other council members and Mayor Turner in showing appreciation to officers at the Afro American Police Officers League Gala. A big congratulations go out to all the award recipients of the evening.
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India House Annual Gala
India House hosted its 18th Annual Gala where the theme was 'Together We Will.' University of Houston President Dr. Renu Khator served as the keynote speaker for the event. Special thanks to Col. Kumar for his continued leadership in the community.
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Chinese Community Center Gala
It takes every community to make the city of Houston a great place to work, live and play. Local leaders were honored for their contributions and accomplishments at the Chinese Community Center Gala. The Chinese Community Center is celebrating 42 years of extraordinary programing and service to all.
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The Breakfast Klub Celebrates 20 Years
Council Member Pollard presented a Certificate of Recognition to Mel and Marcus Davis for the 20th anniversary of The Breakfast Klub. It is no small feat for a restaurant in Houston to remain in business for two decades. The Breakfast Klub has become a staple in Houston and a must-see destination for those visiting our great city. The restaurant has received recognition as the best breakfast in the country by “Good Morning America,” “USA Today,” Esquire Magazine and Forbes.
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The Black Chamber Hosts The Blackout for Small Businesses
The Greater Houston Black Chamber hosted a virtual event, The Blackout, where members of Houston's City Council discussed topics related to supporting minority-owned businesses in Houston. Council Member Pollard serves on the Economic Development committee and has a passion for supporting small businesses. To view the session, visit the GHBC's YouTube channel.
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Helping Our Elderly
An elderly District J resident was having a hard time getting long limbs from an overgrown tree removed from his property, which began impacting his power lines. It was unclear which city department was responsible for addressing the overgrowth. Because of the urgency of the issue, District J Director of Constituent Services David Brizuela and Council Member Pollard rolled up their sleeves to help clear the waste from the property themselves. Although every resident is important, the elderly and disabled could use a bit of extra help.
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Inspiring and Empowering Girls
Making sure young girls are empowered in every way benefits our society as a whole. The District J office supported the Girls on the Run Greater Houston organization at its 5k run event at Rice University. Girls on the Run uses physical activity and engaging discussions to build social, emotional and physical skills and encourage healthy life habits in all girls.
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Recognizing Diwali
Diversity is one of the strongest elements of District J, with our area enjoying dozens of different cultures. Last month, Council Member Pollard celebrated Diwali at the GSH Event Center in District J. Diwali is a five-day religious festival and one of the most popular holidays in India. The honors the idea of light triumphing over darkness.
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HOT Team
The HOT Team assists with picking up scattered debris, removing heavy trash, tree waste and illegal dumping, and handling specific landscaping issues. All requests for assistance from the HOT Team should be submitted via 311. The HOT Team makes pickups according to the following schedule:
1st Thursday - Sharpstown
2nd Thursday - St. George, Gulfton and Richmond Plaza South
3rd Thursday - Braeburn Area
4th Thursday - Alief/Westwood
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The District J office received several calls from veterans who were also seniors requesting the removal of tree waste. The HOT Team worked to clear the lawns of residents throughout the district. |
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District J Programs
There are many organizations in District J that are beneficial to our community. Each month, we will include some of those events in this newsletter.
Keeping Houston Beautiful with Tree Planting Project
Join the District J office and the Alief Super Neighborhood Council in planning 100 trees. The fun volunteer event will take place rain or shine on December 11 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Tools, water and snacks will be provided. Meet the organizers at the intersection of Bissonnet and Beltway 8. Parking is available at 10550 Bissonnet.
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District J Patrol
District J Patrol is a three-pronged approach to public safety bridging the gap between the law enforcement officers in District J and the communities they serve. Sponsored by the District J office, this pilot initiative includes community patrolling by Houston Police Department’s Differential Response Team (DRT), the use of two Polaris vehicles and the District J Patrol Task Force. Residents may report small neighborhood violations and infringements, such as panhandling, loitering, overgrown lots, graffiti, homeless encampments and other public nuisances. To file a report, visit the online portal at www.DistrictJPatrol.com.
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Council Member Edward Pollard
City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby, First Floor, Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (832) 393-3015
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