Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials and Commissioner Rodney Ellis announced Tuesday the EPA’s soil test results for the Julia C. Hester House/ Solo Street Greenspace in the Greater Fifth Ward area.

Harris County officials, including Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Congressman Sylvester Turner, will address the public about the EPA's findings of dioxin contamination at the Julia C. Hester House in Fifth Ward.

HOUSTON – Daisy Stiner has spent her career trying to bring support and relief to underserved communities. Established in 1943, the Hester House is one of the oldest community outreach centers in Houston. “It started out as a hub, a meeting place for community residents,” Stiner said. Ad“To family members who are unemployed, we have our referral services where they can get the services they need to provide stability to their families,” Stiner said. “We are proud to be a part of that and to be a beacon to the community,” Stiner said.

HOUSTON – The president of Prairie View A&M University, Dr. Ruth Simmons, has gifted the Fifth Ward community with a major boost in an effort to help a non-profit founded 77 years ago. Simmons presented the Julia C. Hester House, a long-standing community center in the Fifth Ward area, a donation in the amount of $100,000 on Saturday. Simmons said the gift will help the organization continue to serve residents with a variety of programs, including child development, education, community swim classes, senior services and meal distributions. “My siblings and I owe a great deal to Julia C. Hester House," Simmons said. “We were both surprised and elated with gratitude when we received the news of this thoughtful donation.