Celebrating Houston history makers: Meet this yearโs 8 award-winners
Eight community volunteers are being honored by Comcast this year, in celebration of Black History Month. It has been four years now since the Mayorโs History Makers Awards presented by Comcast kicked off. Comcast partners with the Mayor of Houston annually to recognize eight African-American citizens who are making a difference in the local community. They deserve to be celebrated every day -- and especially during Black History Month,โ Mayor Sylvester Turner said. Publisher, Houston Style Magazine; Edward Pollard, Houston City Council Member, District J; and Dr. Ruth Simmons, President, Prairie View A&M University.
Houston Newsmakers: Houston-area nonprofits receive nearly 100 million dollars
Prairie View A & M University was a big winner toward the end of 2020 when it was awarded 50 million dollars by the Mackenzie Scott Foundation. Happy days for Houston Area nonprofits50 million dollars-Prairie View A & M University18 million dollars-YMCA of Greater Houston15 million dollars-Goodwill Industries Houston7 million dollars-Easter Seals of Greater Houston? Meals on Wheels Montgomery CountyYMCA of Greater HoustonAfter an aggressive pivot on priorities because of the pandemic, the YMCA of Greater Houston now has a much needed cushion for programs. Steve Lufburrow is the President and CEO and recounts his thoughts when told of his 15 million dollar award. More Information:Ruth Simmons, Ph.D., President, Prairie View A & M Universityยท Website: https://www.pvamu.edu/ยท Twitter: @PVAMUStephen Ives, President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Houstonยท Website: https://www.ymcahouston.org/ยท Twitter: @YMCAHoustonSteve Lufburrow, President & CEO, Goodwill Industries Houstonยท Website: https://www.goodwillhouston.orgยท Twitter: @goodwillhoustonElise Hough, CEO Easter Seals of Greater Houstonยท Website: https://www.eastersealshouston.org/ยท Twitter: @eastersealshouSummer Day, President & CEO Meals on Wheels Montgomery Countyยท Website: https://www.mowmc.org/ยท Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mealsonwheelsmc/?ref=hl
Prairie View A&M University president gifts Fifth Ward non-profit with $100,000 donation
HOUSTON โ 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. โMy siblings and I owe a great deal to Julia C. Hester House," Simmons said. โWe were both surprised and elated with gratitude when we received the news of this thoughtful donation.
Center for Race and Justice proposed
Center for Race and Justice proposed for Prairie View A & M University (KPRC)THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE CENTER FOR RACE AND JUSTICE:1-PVAMU President Dr. Ruth Simmons came up with the idea in the wake of the racial unrest after the George Floyd killing. 2-Goal will be to address issues of race and to expose students to cutting edge research and activists whove lived a life of uplifting their communities. 3-One million dollar personal contribution was made by Charles Butt, Chairman of H-E-B to kick start the funding for the center to be named after Dr. Ruth Simmons. Ruth Simmons, Ph.D., President of Prairie View A & M University, says the idea behind the center is to address issues and work to find solutions to race related problems that continue to exist in this country. With funding underway and curriculum being developed she says all thats needed now is approval from the Texas A & M University System board of regents.
Prairie View A&M University to launch Center for Race and Justice in response to death of George Floyd
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas Prairie View A&M University President Ruth Simmons has announced the university is launching a Center for Race and Justice and will require a mandatory class on the history of race for incoming students as a response to the death of Houston native George Floyd and other similar murders that have taken place across the United States. Now we must call upon that identity to give us guidance and succor in the coming period.Simmons said as soon as it is approved, incoming students will be required to take a course on the History of Race and Class in the United States. Led by Professor Melanye Price, the center will serve as a resource to encourage teaching and scholarship that contributes positively to overturning systematic biases that impede the ability of minorities and other groups to be accorded their full rights under the U.S. Constitution, Simmons said. Simmons believes the death of Floyd is a catalyst to implement actions that can have a lasting impact on the historically black college, the students and surrounding communities. Click here to read Simmons entire letter.