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Job Opening - American Federation of Teachers - Texas

Tanya Tarr — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:00:00 GMT

Below is information regarding a great job opportunity for the American Federation of Teachers here in Texas (T-AFT).

For those individuals interested in political work and who got their start block-walking and phonebanking for President Obama's campaign, it could be a good way to expand your skills and enhance your resume.

Temporary Political Assistant: Texas AFT

Position: Temporary Political Assistant $2,600/Monthly Position runs from hire date to November 3rd, 2010.

Position Summary: Under the supervision of the Texas AFT Director of Legislative and Political Mobilization, Tanya Tarr, the Temporary Assistant will focus on running successful member-to-member mobilization campaigns in his or her assigned region, including but not limited to: volunteer recruitment, organizing and running daily phone banks, and organizing and implementing door-to-door canvassing. All work will be focused on communicating with membership, their families, and public school employees in support of the November 2010 elections.

Position Responsibilities and Requirements:

•    Oversee the day-to-day implementation of grassroots activities in support of the union's political programs, including daily phone banking and door-to-door canvassing, twice per month.
•    Provide daily and weekly political reports, including number of volunteers scheduled, number of dial attempts done through the phone bank, number of Identifications (IDs) for endorsed candidates of Texas AFT and local affiliates, and number of IDs and attempts from canvassing.
•    ID and recruit volunteers from Texas AFT membership; build volunteer lists and upload data daily to VAN and My Campaigns.
•    Other duties as assigned.
•    Must be willing to work weekends and irregular hours.
•    Must possess a car, car insurance and a valid driver's license.

Primary Knowledge and Skills
•    Must have at least one year of field campaign experience.
•    Must be a team-oriented individual
•    Must have excellent communication skills, with experience speaking to, training and working with diverse groups.
•    Familiarity with online programs such as VAN is helpful.

Additional Knowledge and Skills
• • •

Labor union experience helpful. Bilingual (Spanish-English) ability a plus. Knowledge of public education also a plus.

The difference between this job and working on a campaign is that folks would be working directly with our members: teachers, school clerical staff, bus drivers, school nurses and public school employees across Texas. We'll be supporting all endorsed statewide races, as well as critical house races and a few local school board races, educating our members on what's at stake and directly supporting races that have a huge impact on our members.

The campaign techniques are the same - but the work we do this and every other campaign season not only helps get our endorsed candidates elected, but directly builds our union. The temporary political assistant's impact stretches far beyond this fall.

For anyone interested in the Labor Movement, this job can be an excellent resume builder.

Regions I'm still hiring for include:
Austin
Dallas
El Paso
Houston Suburbs (Fort Bend, Cypress-Fairbanks)
San Antonio

Please email resume directly to Tanya Tarr, ttarr@texasaft.org.

Democratically Yours,

Melanie Aranda
President
Texas Young Democrats

26-Aug-10 10:00 AM

Change your diet and the environment with a home garden!

Brad Pritchett — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 03:00:00 GMT

Change Your Diet and the Environment with a Home Garden!

If you're a beginner vegetable gardener, remember this: It's better to be proud of a small garden than to be frustrated by a big one!

One of the common errors for beginners is planting too much too soon and way more than anybody could eat or want. Unless you want to have zucchini taking up residence in your attic, plan carefully. Start small.

The Very Basics

Here are some very basic concepts on topics you'll want to explore further as you become a vegetable gardener extraordinaire:

Vegetables love the sun. They require six hours (continuous, if possible) of sunlight each day, at least.
Vegetables must have good, loamy, well-drained soil. Most backyard soil is not perfect and needs a helping hand. Check with your local nursery or county extension office about soil testing, soil types, and soil enrichment.
Placement is everything. Like humans, vegetables need proper nutrition. A vegetable garden too near a tree will lose its nutrients to the tree's greedy root system. On the other hand, a garden close to the house will help to discourage wild animals from nibbling away your potential harvest.
Vegetables need lots of water, at least one inch of water a week. In the early spring, walk around your property to see where the snow melts first, when the sun catches in warm pockets. This will make a difference in how well your vegetables grow.
Study those seed catalogs and order early.

Deciding How Big

A good-size beginner vegetable garden is 10x16 feet and features crops that are easy to grow. A plot this size, planted as suggested below, can feed a family of four for one summer, with a little extra for canning and freezing (or giving away).

Vegetables that may yield more than one crop per season are beans, beets, carrots, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, radishes, rutabagas, spinach and turnips. For the plan below, your rows should run north and south to take full advantage of the sun.

Make your garden 11 rows of 10 feet each of the following veggies:

Tomatoes — 5 plants staked
Zucchini squash — 4 plants
Peppers — 6 plants
Cabbage
Bush beans
Lettuce, leaf and/or Bibb
Beets
Carrots
Chard
Radish
Marigolds to discourage rabbits!

Leave 2 feet between bush beans, 1/2 foot between bush beans and lettuce, and 1 foot between all of the rest.

(Note: If this garden is too large for your needs, you do not have to plant all 11 rows, and you can also make the rows shorter. You can choose the veggies that you'd like to grow!)

If you're interested in planting potatoes, just remember that tomatoes and potatoes are not ideal companions and need "distance."

28-Jun-10 10:00 PM

Human Rights Campaign Issues 2010 Buyer's Guide

Brad Pritchett — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Issues 2010 Buyer's Guide

Every year the Human Rights Campaign issues a buyer's guide, highlighting businesses and corporations that are banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition, these businesses provide benefits for GLBT employees and their families and do so publicly.

The idea of the guide is to allow individual consumers to support businesses that support equality by doing business with those companies.

With the holiday season fast approaching the Buyer's Guide can come in handy if you're interested in making sure your purchases are supporting companies that support equality for all people.

Go to HRC's website to view the guide online - http://www.hrc.org/buyersguide2010/ .

To download a PDF version you can print out, follow this link - http://www.hrc.org/buyersguide2010/hrc_buyersguide_10.pdf

10-Dec-09 2:00 PM

Announcing "Change Corps Sandwich Club"

Brad Pritchett — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

INTRODUCING CHANGE CORPS' FIRST MONTHLY RECURRING EVENT

Change Corps is proud to announce our first recurring, monthly event.

The "Change Corps Sandwich Club" is a monthly gathering, planned for the 2nd Sunday of every month beginning in January of 2010.

Benefitting SEARCH Homeless Services, the idea is we bring the food and goods to put together sandwiches and pack them. We assemble the sandwiches and then provide them to SEARCH, who distribute them to the homeless population in Houston.

Our weekly goal will be to assemble a minimum of 75 sandwiches, just the meat and bread or peanut butter and jelly. We want to avoid anything that can spoil quickly, such as using mayonnaise.

Suggested supplies:

Bread

Peanut Butter

Jelly (any flavor)

Any sandwich meat product

Cheese

Brown paper bags

Zip-lock sandwich bags
Labels

Once a month we can come together, spend an hour or two assembling the sandwiches and packing them and helping to provide someone in need with a meal that will improve their lives in more ways than one.

It's important to know there are people who care and with the economy impacting so many, individuals find themselves performing a balancing act between middle-class and poverty.

We hope you'll take part in this monthly Change Corps activity. Call Brad with any questions at 713.898.9734.

8-Dec-09 0:00 AM

Candidates Who Care - Stephen Costello for Houston City Council, At-Large Position 1

Brad Pritchett — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Candidates Who Care

Candidate - Stephen Costello

Running for - Houston City Council, At-Large Position 1

Website - www.costelloforcouncil.com

I met Stephen Costello during the General Election this year. After attending multiple candidate forums it became clear that Stephen was running for Houston City Council for all of the right reasons.

His expertise lies in flooding and drainage issues and that expertise has been used to help write criteria manuals for the Harris County Flood Control District and the City of Houston. Anyone who lives in Houston knows how important it is that we have public officials in elected positions who understand problems like flooding and can work on innovative solutions.

Another focus of Stephen's is green spaces in Houston. As a 13-year board member of the Memorial Park Conservancy and 4-year board chairman, Stephen is dedicated to preserving the park's historic significance and natural green space. He has also been instrumental in coordinating park improvements using a public-private partnership, using NO tax-payer funding.

It was from Stephen that I learned about Memorial Park's history. Originally deemed Camp Logan, Memorial Park was leased by the War Department during WWI and used to train some 25,000 soldiers. In 1924 the city of Houston purchased the land and estabished Memorial Park in memory of the soldiers who had once trained there.

Stephen's dedication for green space came from his love of being outdoors. An avid runner and tri-athlete, Stephen has successfully completed 17 marathons and 6 Ironman triathlons.

With a skillset that is unmatched in his race, and an ability to bring people together for a common good, Stephen Costello is truly a candidate who cares.

Please consider supporting Stephen Costello for Houston City Council, At-Large Position 1.

7-Dec-09 10:00 PM

Give A Day, Get A Disney Day

Brad Pritchett — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Give A Day, Get A Disney Day

HandsOn Network and Disney Parks are celebrating the power of
volunteerism with a brand new program entitled “Give A Day, Get A
Disney Day.” Individuals and families who give their time to help
improve communities will receive a free one-day ticket to a Disney
theme park. The goal is to engage one million volunteers in service in
2010.

Here are the details:
- Who is eligible: Residents in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico

- How volunteers participate: Starting January 1, 2010, volunteers
can go to www.disneyparks.com to search for volunteer opportunities
made available through HandsOn Network, and sign up for a day of
volunteer service.

-Program Dates: Jan. 1, 2010 – Dec. 15, 2010

HandsOn Network is the activator for this program with more than 250
HandsOn Actions Centers across the country in addition to 70,000
community-based partners such as food banks, homeless shelters,
schools and faith-based organizations.

Also, be sure to check out the frequently asked questions here:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?PointsofLightFoundat/123516ba25/849ac43cab/f5f99c8594.

Thanks for everything you do to help improve communities and celebrate
civic engagement.

10-Nov-09 3:00 PM

Small Change - Shop Your Local Farmer's Market

Brad Pritchett — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Small Change - Shop Your Local Farmer's Market

This month our small change is suggesting that you try shopping at your local farmer's market. The benefits of buying your food locally are multi-fold, from helping the local economy and small businesses, to offering your family the freshiest and most seasonal foods available.

So why buy at a Farmer's Market?

1. Local food tastes better. It is fresher and has been ripened in the field rather than in a shipping container.

2. Local food is better for you. The shorter the time between field and table, the fewer the nutrients lost.

3. Local food preserves bio-diversity. Large scale farming uses a limited number of varieties of plants and animals to maximize uniformity and shelf life. Local farms often grow a greater variety of plants and animals that are well suited to local conditions.

4. Local food has a smaller carbon footprint. Buying organic produce may seem like it would be better for the environment but it can actually have a negative impact due to the use of diesel fuels in hauling it long distances. Local farmers and ranchers travel relatively short distances to bring what they grow to you.

5. Local food supports local families. Local farmers sell directly to their customers, cutting out the middleman and enabling them to support themselves by what they grow. It also means that local dollars stay within the community and have three times the impact on the local economy.

In Houston we recommend visiting - http://farmersmarket.rice.edu/showhome.aspx and the Houston Farmer's Market at Rice University.

6-Nov-09 2:00 PM

Candidates Who Care - Anna Eastman for HISD Trustee District I

Brad Pritchett — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Candidates Who Care

Candidate - Anna Eastman

Running for - HISD Trustee District I

website - www.annaeastmanforhisd.com

I met Anna Eastman during the Democratic Primary last year.

My neighborhood is the Houston Heights, and we were lucky enough to have an Obama office just around the corner from our house.

Every time I would go into that office, I would see Anna Eastman. She was a fixture at that location and one of the hardest workers I have had the priviliege to meet.

After the campaign had come to an end, I had stayed in contact with Anna and what she was doing via social networking sites like Facebook. She had taken up a cause to bring healthier foods to her childrens' school and put her activism to work for kids.

So it is no surprise to me that she has decided to run for HISD Trustee District I.

Anna will bring the same dedication and commitment she brought to her volunteer efforts to the children of HISD everyday on the job.

Anna will work to bring more innovation to our classrooms, increase parental involvement in the education of their children, and work to resolve our drop-out rate.

Anna is truly a candidate who cares.

Please consider supporting Anna Eastman for HISD Trustee District I.

24-Sep-09 12:00 PM

Noel Freeman offers Houston "Solutions, not Soundbytes"

Brad Pritchett — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Noel Freeman offers Houston "Solutions, not Soundbytes"

Houston City Council Candidate Noel Freeman, candidate for Houston City Council, At-Large Position 4, released a new campaign offering Houstonians solutions to some of the problems facing our city, rather than soundbytes with no substance behind them.

The three public policy papers address Flooding and Drainage, Promoting Community Health Clinics and Giving Houstonians a greater voice on our City Council by allowing their representatives to place items on the agenda.

“This campaign season has seen stump speeches and the usual campaign rhetoric, but it’s time to show real leadership by putting policy proposals on the table.” Freeman said. “My policy proposals will show Houstonians I am the candidate in this race who knows more about how our City operates than any of my opponents and I am ready to work toward real solutions on day one.”

Noel Freeman is a veteran of the United States Air Force and a life-long public servant. For the past five-years he has worked for Houston's Department of Public Works on issues related to our infrastructure. He is the only candidate on the ballot in any race who is a member of the Texas Floodplain Management Association.

Noel is also one of the founding members of Change Corps Houston. He has devoted his time to our community service projects as well as helped us plan and coordinate events. Noel was instrumental in helping us to design and create the wonderful mural of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama at the Independence Heights Community Health Center.

Noel Freeman has a positive record of experience helping people all across our city and he has more knowledge about how to get things done realistically than any other candidate in the race. He isn't a politician by trade, he's a regular person ready to serve the public interest and has the knowledge and experience to bring fresh ideas and new leadership to City Hall.

If you haven't already, please look at Noel's website at http://www.NoelFreeman.com/

And for all three of his new policy papers, go to www.NoelFreeman.com/solutions

DOWNLOAD all three policy papers here!

/attachments/wysiwyg/1/solutions-agenda.pdf

/attachments/wysiwyg/1/solutions-clinics.pdf

/attachments/wysiwyg/1/solutions-flooding.pdf

24-Sep-09 12:00 PM

Houston BARC - How you can help today!

Brad Pritchett — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Houston's BARC - How you can help today!

If you've been watching the news in Houston, you know that problems with Houston's Bureau of Animal Regulation and Control has been under fire for quite sometime.

Animal rights activists have been fighting for the health and wellfare of the animals at BARC for years after mistreatment of the animals by employees and deplorable conditions at the facility. Recently there has been a big push by volunteers to help pick-up the slack at the facility.

Change Corps was able to talk with Robyn Arouty, a volunteer and one of the leading activists leading the charge for change at BARC. Below you'll see our interview with Robyn as well as how YOU can get involved volunteering at BARC starting today.

Robyn -

I started with an organization called Weekends at BARC, walking & playing with dogs every saturday or sunday. soon i was fostering, assisting with adoptions, blogging about my experiences...then was asked to do weekly photography for the houston examiner featuring animals available for adoption. My background is in psychology and I worked in corporate america for several years, so I was quickly struck by the dysfunction of the BARC system as a whole...from an organizational psychology prospective, this system was so broken in every way. The big picture, the past, & the future haunted me & it was obvious that something had to be done on a much larger scale. My efforts turned to reaching out and lobbying for positive changes at BARC on a political level, with other animal welfare agencies & through social networking, especially on facebook.

Change Corps - What are some of the biggest problems you see at BARC?

Robyn -

By history, there have been countless reports of animal abuse and neglect. Puppies being washed down broken kennel drains and dying in trucks with malfunctioning a/c systems. The facility has been unclean, thereby spreading distemper and parvo diseases like wildfire. Staff has been accused of being unfriendly, non-animal loving and incompetent...and many are not properly trained to use the shelter software, putting many precious lives at risk, many owners/pets not being reunited, etc. Vaccinations have not being given, retaliation against volunteers who whistleblow, and the worst thing is that houston has one of the highest euthanasia rates in the entire country...and the list goes, literally, on and on and on!

BUT, the good news is that in the last few weeks there have been some significant changes to the system. Mr. Gerry Fusco was hired as a consultant to turn things around at BARC. Without getting into all of the controversy, let's just say that he comes with an extremely high price tag for the city, which many people are not too pleased about. The city council needs to vote on whether his contract will continue for the remainder of its 6 month proposal. In the meantime, he is the interim bureau chief and answers to Stephen Williams, the director of Houston's Health Dept.

Change Corps - In your opinion how can we start to correct these problems? Do you think more volunteer involvement is the answer or should the city of Houston be stepping up more?

Robyn -
Oh, please pardon the cliche, but it really will take a village. We need volunteers there on a daily basis, we need Houston to step up and fix *all* the problems...they need to make promises and then keep them. For example a new adoption facility has been in the works for several years. Where is it? In 2005, there was a task force that completed a very in depth report of the problems and the changes that needed to take place. The mayor promised...the health dept. promised...and nothing happened...in fact, things got even worse. Here are some photos I took with my cell phone last year. Dogs were forced to sleep in their own urine and feces...then when volunteers complained, many of the staff starved the animals in an effort to eliminate waste to clean up.

Change Corps - How do you think we can work to solve some of the issues that plague BARC?

Robyn -

We have been very lucky lately to receive the media attention on these problems. The Houston Chronicle and all of the television stations have been providing coverage on a weekly basis. We intend to keep BARC in the limelight...they have yet to prove that consistency can exist in this organization. Our main hope is for a solid and strong advocate for the animals to take over as bureau chief in the next 6 months. BARC has had 4 different people in this director position in the last 5 years. Houston, we have a problem! And, I'm also happy to go on record as saying that we will not see permanent change until the mayor and the health dept. director are gone...happy trails to your senate seat Mr. White...there, I said it. Remember...it all trickles down...

Change Corps - You do a lot of promotion of animal adoption yourself, how much of a response have you seen from people in your online efforts?

Robyn -
Facebook has provided an amazing outlet for animal rescue. I have created a network of animal advocates across the country who can immediately see my posts and act on them. I'm so proud of the countless success stories of rescue, support, fundraising, etc. we see on a daily basis. I often post videos and articles about dog fighting and puppy mills and education about the importance of spaying and neutering. Everyday it is something different and there's plenty of work to be done. We completed a rescue transport of a boxer not too long ago...his fostermom contacted me, I posted his story on facebook with a photo, and a friend of one of my friends since the 2nd grade instantly fell in love with him! The hsus wrote an article about this fun event for their website as soon as "Gavin's Travels" completed the Dallas, TX to Buffalo, NY trip. Here's a link to the story:

http://www.hsus.org/about_us/offices_and_affiliates/regional_offices/central_regional_office/facebook_brings_a_dog_and_his_new_family_together_062508.html

Change Corps - How can ordinary people step-up and help out with the situation at BARC and with the overall problem Houston has with animal control?

Robyn -
BARC is located at 3200 Carr Street, near I-10E and 59N, off Collingworth Drive. (http://www.houstonbarc.com) Anyone who is concerned can help. There is a place for your skills in this mix, I promise. For example, We're currently trying to gather people to go out in force to put up posters to combat dog fighting in Houston. Yes, it's still a huge problem here. The United States Humane Society has created a national tipline...and they are offering a $5000 reward for any tips that lead to a conviction. We have narrowed down the zip coded areas and are ready to go. You would be amazed at the lack of education in this city...about spay/neuter, about dogs on chains (illegal!), about proper and responsible pet care. Education is key. Loving and playing with the animals at BARC is crucial to their socialization. Spreading the word about adoption events is very important. So, feel free to contact me anytime to discuss opportunities to assist in this fight. My email address is robyn@project71.com and you can find me on facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/robyn.arouty - love making new animal loving friends!

You can follow the links listed above and help get involved with the volunteers who are working on a daily basis to improve the conditions at BARC and help to adopt out the many loving animals just looking for a home.

Change begins with you.

19-Aug-09 11:00 AM

Houston adds to its Wind Energy Committment!

Brad Pritchett — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Change really does begin at home.

On the Change Corps website we try to suggest small changes you can make in your life everyday that can have big results, so it's so refreshing to see the City of Houston stepping up and making a change that benefits not only its citizens but all of the planet's citizens as well.

On July 1, 2009, Mayor Bill White announced that 32% of the City of Houston's total electricity load will be purchased entirely from wind energy! This is a 5% increase in use of wind energy. Below is a portion of a news release about this big step for an environmentally conscious Houston!

“We begin taking this additional wind power today as a benefit for both today and the future,” said Mayor White. “As the energy capital of the world, Houston is committed to becoming the clean, sustainable energy capital of the world as well. Supporting clean sources of energy means helping put off the time when we’d all bear the cost of adding expensive new power plants and it also helps reduce harmful emissions.”

Houston is key in Texas’ ranking as the leading wind state in the nation. The EPA’s Green Power Partnership previously hailed the City of Houston as the No. 1 municipal purchaser of green power in the nation and as a crucial leader in the alternative energy trend.

Houston recently passed the U.S. Air Force to become the nation’s leading purchaser of wind energy by a governmental entity.

Starting today, 32 percent of the City’s operations will be powered by wind energy from Texas wind farms, mainly located in West Texas. The City expects to use as much as 1.7 billion kilowatt-hours of this renewable energy in the next four years, through 2013. This is equivalent to the amount of kilowatt-hours needed to power 26,000 homes each year. It also helps reduce the need to build more expensive power plants for the region’s rising energy needs.

The City, designated by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of its Solar America Cities, also is active in developing its own solar powered sources of energy. At the end of July, Mayor White will flip the switch on a new 100 kilowatt system that will be used to power a portion of the George R. Brown Convention Center. This new system will be in addition to the recently installed systems on the City’s Code Enforcement building (3300 Main), Discovery Green Park and the City Hall Annex building (900 Bagby).

Also, despite double-digit growth, the City has instituted energy conservation and energy efficiency measures that have enabled it to cut its total energy consumption by 6 percent over the past five years.

14-Jul-09 9:00 PM

Community Spotlight - Neighborhood Centers Inc.

Brad Pritchett — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Community Spotlight - Neighborhood Centers Inc.

There are many terrific organizations in the Houston-area that are constantly working to make positive change for a broad range of communities. This month we highlight Neighborhood Centers Inc.

Founded more than 100 years ago by a school teacher named Alice Graham Baker, Neighborhood Centers has existed in many variations, but the organization's overall mission has never changed. Today they have a network of 59 service sites whose mission is to bring resources, education and connection to underserved neighborhoods.

They carry out this task through a series of core values:

Respect and Responsiveness

Leadership and Excellence

Accountability and Integrity

Growth and Innovation

Diversity and Inclusiveness

One the great things about Neighborhood Centers Inc is that they aren't a service organization that simply hands out assistance whenever and wherever, but they're engaging members of the communities they work in and keeping them involved in the process of improving their neighborhoods through interaction.

For more information on Neighborhood Centers Inc, visit their website at http://www.neighborhood-centers.org.

12-Jul-09 1:00 AM

Candidates Who Care

Brad Pritchett — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Candidate Who Care

In November, Houstonians will go to the polls to cast their votes for a number of important offices for our City.

The big race this year will be the election of our new Mayor, but there are also a number of important City Council races we need to be paying attention to as well.

Change Corps was started after our members found inspiration in President Obama's message of making change where we live. And since this organization started by supporting a candidate, it was clear that our involvement in politics would continue even after we helped put President Obama into the White House.

As such we're highlighting candidates who have made it a point to promote non-profit organizations through their campaigns and who have emphasized the importance of community service and the true contribution it makes on our city and surrounding communities.

This month we're featuring 2 candidates who we believe deserve your support and your vote come November. If you know of any other candidates running for office who have made community service and non-profit support an important part of their campaign, please email me at brad@hopeactionchange.org so that we can feature them next month.

This month we're featuring Houston Mayoral Candidate Annise Parker and candidate for Houston City Council, At-Large Position 4, Noel Freeman.

Candidate - Annise Parker
Position - running for Mayor of Houston

URL - www.anniseparker.com

As Houston's current City Controller, Annise Parker has been at the forefront of making sure that Houston's economic status in the country has remained stable during the current economic crisis. Change Corps is always looking to lend support to candidates who recognize the importance of citizens taking part in community service projects. Annise Parker's website for Mayor includes a section entitled "Give Houston a Hand" wherein she highlights a number of non-profit organizations that are constantly in need of the help of volunteers.

This list of organizations covers a broad spectrum of groups, genders, orientations, ages, etc. and offers contact information for each through Parker's website.

Parker herself participates or has been involved with many of these organizations herself. You can find a fan-made video on her website of Annise Parker and her campaign participating in AIDS Walk Houston this year, helping to raise money for AIDS Foundation Houston.

Candidate - Noel Freeman
Position - running for Houston City Council At-Large Position 4

URL - www.noelfreeman.com

For the past 5-years Noel Freeman has been an employee of the City of Houston's Public Works and Engineering Department. He's seen where our city is falling short and how we can improve the basic services that you and I use everyday. His knowledge on the city's infrastructure is unparalleled by his opponent. We are biased somewhat as Noel has been a member of Change Corps since the organization started.

And he talks the talk when it comes to community service, but he certainly walks the walk as well.

His website features webisodes entitled "What Makes Houston Great" which highlight various organizations and events that make Houston the world-class city we all love so much. The videos follow Noel while volunteering for non-profit organizations like Habitat for Humanity and the Houston Food Bank, as well as featuring information about other cultural events in and around our city.

Check out Noel's website and browse through his Youtube channel to see all of the episodes of "What Makes Houston Great".

We hope you'll consider lending your support and your vote to both Annise Parker for Mayor and Noel Freeman for Houston City Council, At-Large Position 4.

If you know of any candidates running for any office who are making community service an integral part of their campaigns, please forward their information along to me at brad@hopeactionchange.org so we can feature them in the newsletter as well.

12-Jul-09 1:00 AM

Change Corps Member Noel Freeman for Houston City Council At-Large Position 4 Event

Brad Pritchett — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Change Corps Member Noel Freeman for Houston City Council, At-Large, Position 4

Join Leigh Hollins Mize and The Young Professionals for Noel Freeman for a Meet & Greet Fundraiser at the Corkscrew Wine Bar located at 1919 Washington Avenue, on June 18th from 5:30pm to 7pm.

Change Corps has a particular interest in this race because Noel Freeman has been one of the founding members of Change Corps Houston. He has participated in every project we have undertaken and we know his committment to the community is genuine because he talks the talk and walks the walk.

Noel has a tremendous understanding of the City of Houston and has been employed by the City for the past 5 years in the Department of Public Works and Engineering. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force and has previously worked for the National Security Agency, the National Archives and the United States Congress. On June 13th, Noel will be receiving the President's Volunteer Service Award along with other Change Corps members.

I want to encourage anyone who is available and interested to come out to the Corkscrew and take some time to interact with Noel and you'll see what we already know - the we need Noel Freeman on Houston City Council.

Come out to the Corkscrew or check out his website for more information.

http://www.noelfreeman.com

The end of June is the first finance reporting period for the campaign and we want to do everything we can to help Noel make a strong showing. If you are able to make a contribution or want to help the campaign by volunteering, just check out Noel's website and follow the links.

4-Jun-09 1:00 PM

Change Corps honors members with Presidental Volunteer Service Awards

Brad Pritchett — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Change Corps honors members with Presidental Volunteer Service Award

America has a long and proud tradition of volunteer service. Now more than ever, volunteers are renewing their commitment to helping others and making new connections that bring us closer together as families, as neighbors, as communities, and as a Nation.

The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation (the Council) was established in 2003 to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers are making in our communities and encourage more people to serve. The Council created the President’s Volunteer Service Award program as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.

Recognizing and honoring volunteers sets a standard for service, encourages a sustained commitment to civic participation, and inspires others to make service a central part of their lives. The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard – measured by the number of hours of service over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.

To date, the President’s Council has partnered with more than 80 Leadership Organizations and more than 28,000 Certifying Organizations to bestow more than 1.5 million awards to the Nation's deserving volunteers.

As a certifying organization, Change Corps Houston is proud to take part in this program and extend the honor to the following members.

Javier Avellan

Lynn Wilson

Julia Milazzo

Noel Freeman

Ashley Minor

Each of these volunteers had made a commitment to giving back to their communities and have provided our organization with much needed energy, enthusiasm and hard-work. It is our absolute pleasure to present each of them with the Presidental Volunteer Service Award.

21-May-09 0:00 AM

Olivewood Cemetary receives Texas Historic Cemetary Status.

Brad Pritchett — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT

On Saturday, April 4, 2009, the Descendants of Olivewood hosted an event at Olivewood Cemetary to celebrate the designation of Texas Historic Cemetary.

With an official historic marker from the State of Texas being unveiled, the event featured Houston Mayor Bill White, Houston Controller and Mayoral candidate Annise Parker and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

After a long court struggle to determine who would obtain guardianship of Olivewood Cemetary, the Descendants of Olivewood were finally granted oversight of this beautiful gem hidden away near White Oak Bayou. Olivewood is estimated to cover around 8 acres, however years of neglect and overgrowth have left many of the grave sites hidden in the thick brush surrounding the cemetary.

The Descendants of Olivewood is dedicated to the restoration of the cemetary so that future generations of Houstonians can learn and appreciate the cultural significance of this site.

Check out the photo album of this event here on the Change Corps website at - http://www.changecorps.org/en/photos/albums/v/13

We hope you can join us for our next venture into Olivewood on Saturday, April 25th.

6-Apr-09 9:00 AM

Donate for AIDS Walk Houston!

Brad Pritchett — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:00:00 GMT

AIDS Walk Houston

Join Change Corps for the 20th Annual AIDS Walk Houston, presented by Chevron, which is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 2009. It is an exciting, non-competitive walk event that increases community awareness and educates Houstonians about HIV/AIDS. Proceeds from AIDS Walk Houston raises money for AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc., as well as many other local HIV/AIDS service organizations.

We hope that Change Corps members will be able to come out and walk for this terrific cause.

If you're unable to participate in the actual walk, then PLEASE go online and consider making a donation to Change Corp's team. You can find us by clicking the link below :

http://www.aidshelp.org/site/TR?fr_id=1060&pg=pfind

Select "Team" and enter "Change Corps Houston".

If every member on this list would just donate $1.00, then we would FAR surpass our goal of $250.00. If you're able or willing to give more, please consider doing so. This is an event that raises awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and raises money that will help real people here in Houston dealing with this disease.

"The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Houston has really reached alarming rates." said Change Corps member and City Council candidate Noel Freeman. "That's why an event like the AIDS Walk is really important. Houstonians can come together to raise awareness of the epidemic and raise money that is used locally to give access to housing, food and proper medical care for those in need."

13-Mar-09 11:00 AM

National Day of Service - MLK Mural Project Follow-Up

Brad Pritchett — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:00:00 GMT

National Day of Service MLK/Obama Mural Project

celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and the Inauguration of President Barack Obama.

On Monday, January 19th, Change Corps partnered with the Independence Heights Redevelopment Council for the National Day of Service.

To raise awareness for the Independence Heights Community Health Center (located at 4040 Yale St) our volunteers came together to create a mural honoring the legacy of Dr. King and celebrating the Inauguration of President Barack Obama.

We initially had about 140 people register for the project, but by the days end we saw more than 300 volunteers show up to take part. The project grew to such an extent that we added a second mural project designed for the front of the Health Care Center with a medical theme.

With students, seniors and neighbors all coming together to work toward a single purpose it was a terrific day of activities.

The Independence Heights Redevelopment Council sponsored delicious BBQ meals for the volunteers, along with activities for children and games for adults. With help from Ameri-Corps volunteers, students from St. John's high school and the University of Houston's NAACP chapter, our volunteers made quick work of the mural project.

The mural was designed by Change Corps organizer Brad Pritchett and set-up as a paint-by-numbers project to make it as easy as possible for anyone to take part. No artistic skills were required; however, we had local artists lend their hands and give special touches to the mural.

The event garnered attention from many local media outlets and featured several stories on our volunteers and the finished mural project.

To take a look at the gallery of photos from the event check out the photo gallery here on the Change Corps website - http://www.changecorps.org/en/photos/albums/v/12.

You can also watch videos of the event and news coverage at Change Corps's Youtube channel, www.youtube.com/ChangeCorps.

Thanks to all of the volunteers for helping to create something that will continue to inspire a community for years to come.

3-Feb-09 1:00 PM

Change Corps Member Noel Freeman to run for Houston City Council

Brad Pritchett — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Change Corps Member & Obama Volunteer Noel Freeman Runs for Houston City Council, At-Large, Position 4

Change Corps member and Obama volunteer Noel Freeman has announced his candidacy for Houston City Council, At-Large Position 4.

Freeman was a founding member of the Obama Volunteer Corps as well as Change Corps Houston. He continues to participate in all of the volunteer events organized by Change Corps and has acted as the group's official Historian.

Noel started off volunteering for the Obama campaign during the Primary in Texas. Like many other volunteers he hit the pavement doing neighborhood canvassing, spent hours participating in phone-banking to voters and serving as a Precinct Captain and Caucus Secretary.

During the general election he continued volunteering his time and efforts to helping elect President Obama, while also devoting time to helping the Harris County Coordinated Campaign locally to help turn Harris County blue. Supporting candidates like Chris Bell, Steven Kirkland, Rick Noriega, and Adrian Garcia, Noel was heavily involved in helping Democrats here in Houston.

He has continued his work by becoming more involved in local communities. He sits on the Board for the Independence Heights Redevelopment Council and was instrumental in Change Corps National Day of Service Mural Project.

Noel is a graduate of Texas A&M University, a veteran of the United States Air Force and currently works for the City of Houston in the Department of Public Works and Engineering. With his knowledge of the city and his committment to making the community a better place through active involvement from its residents, Noel will make a terrific addition to Houston City Council.

You can find out more about Noel Freeman's Campaign for At-Large, Position 4 at his website:

www.noelfreeman.com

If you want to be involved in a local campaign from the ground-up, volunteer your time.

www.noelfreeman.com/involved.html

If you cannot spare the time but want to contribute to the campaign, any small bit can help (as we all learned from the Obama campaign).

www.noelfreeman.com/contribute.html

Noel Freeman on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Noel-Freeman/1077133334

3-Feb-09 1:00 PM

Neighborhood Focus - Independence Heights, Houston

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Independence Heights - Houston

In January, Change Corps will be volunteering to create a mural in the Independence Heights neighborhood of Houston, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King and celebrating the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

Independence Heights is a historically significant neighborhood within the City of Houston. Independence Heights is bounded by North Tidwell and 610 to the North and South and I-45 and North Shepherd to the East and West.

In January of 1915, Independence Heights became the first city incorporated in the state of Texas by African-Americans.

The history of Independence Heights is significant because the city, which quickly elected a mayor, established several churches and built a school and City Hall, was completely managed by African-American owned businesses.

Independence Heights became a place where African-American families, excluded from or marginalized in other communities, encountered the support and resources to develop themselves, build their own homes and participate in civic life.

Although the newly formed city enjoyed a rich community life, in 1928 its residents - hoping to gain paved roads and improved public services - voted to dissolve their city status in order to be annexed by Houston.

While Independence Heights continues to boast a strong and vocal contingent of descendents of its original founders and residents, when integration opened up new opportunities in other parts of the city, much of the younger generation chose to leave the neighborhood.

Independence Heights has faced its share of challenges - over the past thirty years economic decline has led to abandoned lots, public safety issues and high rates of poverty.

Yet since its founding Independence Heights has been a community that has offered opportunity and support to those who seek it. It has a strong network of churches, organizations and individuals willing to extend a helping hand to support one another.

3-Jan-09 1:00 AM