Dear HCP4,

As the summer winds down, we look ahead and prepare to send our children back to school. Growing up as the daughter of two public school teachers and as a former public-school teacher myself, I believe it is essential for every child—regardless of their ZIP code or family income — to have a fair chance to succeed.

This means investing in our children as early as possible. High-quality child care has been linked to higher rates of educational success and adult employment, as well as reduced drug use and criminal outcomes. We recently invested $26 million in federal dollars for the Early REACH program, which will provide free, high-quality childcare for at least 800 children ages 0-3 across Harris County.

Raising my three young daughters, I know how important it is to provide this kind of support to parents and families year-round. Recently, we renewed our commitment to County Connections, a vital program that provides summer programming for students in grades K-12. Through a three-year, $7.1 million agreement, the County and the Harris County Department of Education will continue to offer structured summer experiences that benefit students — particularly low-income students — before they head back to school.



We are also making sure that all children in Harris County are equipped with the tools they need to succeed once they are back in the classroom. This month, we are continuing to distribute free Chromebooks, for a total of 1,000 overall, to help students from underserved communities get access to the tools needed for a high-quality education. We have also teamed up with local organizations to give out backpacks and school supplies throughout the Precinct, collecting nearly 1,250 items at one of our supply drives.

Finally, when you send your children off to school, know that we are prioritizing ways to rethink our infrastructure to make commutes safer for children who are walking or biking to school. I am deeply committed to ensuring that every child is safe, receives a quality education, and has the support they need to thrive.

Thank you for your partnership as we create opportunities for every student to succeed.

All my best,

Lesley Briones

National Association of Counties

Community Budget Meeting

CRECEN

Latin Restaurants Week

Backpack Giveaway

On July 16^th, Commissioner Briones joined the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to celebrate 50 years of independence.  In celebration of the 50^th Golden Independence Day, Commissioner Briones presented a proclamation to commemorate the anniversary of their sovereignty.

Power on Heels

Commissioner Briones attended the Power on Heels Fund, Inc. Latina Power Institute Program – Elevate the Powerful Leader Within where she spoke about her leadership journey and obstacles she overcame as a Latina.

Power on Heels, Inc. is a non-profit organization focused on decreasing the impact that the gender pay gap has on the advancement of Latinas. The organization provides professional and economic development opportunities to assist Latinas increase earning potential, accelerate career advancement, and cultivate future leaders. For more information, click here. 

CLICK 2 HOUSTON: Harris County commissioner talks progress, college program supports students, and more on Houston Newsmakers. Lesley Briones has only been the Harris County Precinct 4 commissioner for seven months but has hit the ground running... She was involved in a groundbreaking for a $20 million drainage improvement project in the Bear Creek area and securing $1.2 million for the Harris County TeleDeputy program, but she said there is still much more to do.

COMMUNITY IMPACT: New Precinct 4 nonprofit seeks to advance quality of life for residents. Improving the quality of life for more than 1 million residents within Precinct 4 will be the initiative behind a newly established nonprofit, Precinct4Forward… Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said in a news release that she is energized by the outreach coming from community member support.

HOUSTON STYLE MAGAZINE: Harris County Unveils PROSPERS: A Visionary Roadmap to Prosperity. In an inspiring leap forward, Harris County Commissioners Rodney Ellis and Lesley Briones have taken a remarkable step towards realizing the American dream for every citizen. This Thursday, they will proudly launch Harris PROSPERS, an ambitious and comprehensive roadmap designed to make sure everyone in the county has a home, a stable job, and the essential pillars to create a fulfilling life.] 

COMMUNITY IMPACT: Gulfton's Bayland Park gets green light for major improvements. We’re so committed to revitalizing Bayland together with deep community input and doing community outreach in multiple languages and really just revitalizing that southwest part of Harris County,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said at the July 18 meeting.

COMMUNITY IMPACT: 6 August school supply drives in Greater Houston. Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones is hosting a school supply event that will be giving out free backpacks with school supplies.

HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Harris County to investigate Houston title company accused of 'scamming' homeowners. Over the last 10 years, dozens of people in our communities have accused these companies of scamming people in real estate transactions,” Menefee said at a June 28 press conference, where he was joined by Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones and members of two families who say they were victims.

UNIVISION: "Pone en peligro las vidas de nuestros hermanos": trabajadores protestan contra la nueva ley HB 2127. A pesar de las altas temperaturas, activistas y líderes locales se dieron cita frente al Ayuntamiento de Houston para protestar contra la nueva ley HB 2127, firmada por el gobernador Greg Abbott, la cual entrará en vigor en septiembre. Lesley Briones, comisionada del Precinto 4 del Condado de Harris, aseguró que esta legislación afecta especialmente a la “comunidad latina”.

HOUSTON LANDING: Can we just say it? Resilience in Houston is exhausting. …During a ceremonial groundbreaking this June, complete with public officials stomping shovels in too-big hardhats, Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones noted that the $20.2 million project will improve drainage and mitigate future flooding. She also acknowledged what was on many residents’ minds: Six years is a long time to wait for a solution.

Senior Birding Trip  

August 18, 2023 | 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Kleb Woods Nature Center, 20303 Draper Rd, Tomball, TX, 77377

Join us to look for shorebirds on Galveston Island and then visit the Moody Gardens Rainforest Pyramid. Space is limited and spots are on a first come basis.

To attend, please sign up by emailing klebwoods@hcp4.net or calling 281-357-5324. Transportation is provided for individuals 50 and older through Harris County Precinct 4. The vans will pick up and drop off participants at the parking lot on Draper Road. 

"UP" Movie Night 

August 25, 2023 | 8:00 a.m

Reginald Moore Community Park, 13900 Sand Canyon Dr., Houston, TX, 77083

Join us for a family-friendly movie night at the Korean American Association Community Center. To register, visit our events page.