One for All E-Newsletter March 2023 Edition

Dear Friends,

March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on the women who have changed the course of history and the strides we still must make to ensure every woman has equal access to opportunity.

Unfortunately, we still have a way to go. In Harris County: Women are 50% more likely than men to live in poverty. Women in this County make just above 80 cents for every dollar a man makes. A white woman’s median income is 69 cents on the dollar compared to a white man's. That number is 63 cents for an Asian woman, 47 cents for a Black woman, and 33 cents for a Hispanic woman.

These disparities are unacceptable, but every day we are fighting to make our county more prosperous and equitable. This county has taken significant strides to address long-overlooked gender disparities by:

Creating a Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) policy that ensures minority and women businesses have a fair chance to receive county contract dollars. The overall utilization of MWBEs has since increased by 61%.

Enacting the Best-in-Class Paid Parental Leave Policy, which provides up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for County employees.

Investing in a Maternal Health home visiting pilot program, with a focus on narrowing mortality and morbidity rates among Black mothers and babies.

And on March 8, 2022 — International Women’s Day — I led Commissioners Court in creating a nine-member Women’s Commission because we recognized the importance of closing the County’s pervasive gender and racial gaps in terms of economic opportunity, health outcomes, and more.

Women are leaders across our Precinct and across our County. In March and every month, we celebrate those achievements and fight to make it easier for the next generation of women to reach even greater heights.

Onward,

Harris County Women's Commission

In honor of Women’s History Month, on Tuesday, March 21, Precinct One hosted a ceremony to recognize the year-old Harris County Women’s Commission that Commissioners Court established to make recommendations related to economic opportunities and health outcomes of women of all races, ethnicities, and income levels.

The nine board members were recognized by Commissioner Rodney Ellis. Also recognized were the women department heads in Harris County, including Flood Control District Executive Director Tina Petersen, Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen, Public Health Executive Director Barbie Robinson, Pollution Control Director Latrice Babin, and others. Commissioner Ellis also recognized Precinct One women who head departments.

Apply for Boards and Commissions

Did you know Harris County has over 60 boards and commissions that residents can serve on? From housing to animals, the boards cover a wide range of topics, and we’re always looking for candidates to fill these roles. Your work background or life experience might make you a perfect fit. If you are interested in contributing to the County’s success by serving, we encourage you to learn about the county boards and fill out an online application!

Chess Tourney at Julia C. Hester House

Improving our youth’s school performance has always been a goal at Precinct One. One way of doing that is by teaching youth how to play chess. Perfect Team Play coaches instruct children on the four cornerstones of the game: time, attention, patience, and strategy (TAPS). Together, these skills help with learning life skills and academic instruction.

Those skills were on full display at the March 8 Chess Tournament at Julia C. Hester House, with 48 beginner, intermediate, and advanced players from 10 schools as well as some who are home-schooled. First-, second-, and third-place winners in each category were given certificates and medals.

Lasting Legacies

To ensure that our seniors plan for the future, Commissioner Rodney Ellis and County Attorney Christian Menefee hosted a free Lasting Legacies breakfast to help attendees plan their estates. County Attorney Menefee gave a presentation to 148 people who participate in our Senior Wellness Program at six community centers.

The March 7 event at Tom Bass Community Center focused on what it means to plan for the future of your estate and what to look for when planning a will.

Reproductive Healthcare Access Fund

To fulfill a promise made after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Commissioner Rodney Ellis pushed for Commissioners Court’s approval of a $6 million program that will provide funding to under-resourced health clinics in target areas to support reproductive health services and screenings.

The Reproductive Healthcare Access Fund, which will be managed by Harris County Public Health (HCPH), will provide more people with access to contraception and screenings at local clinics operated by HCPH and other providers. Clinic operators and grassroots organizations also will provide education and outreach to at least 20,000 residents. It’s funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

The program, which will operate in ZIP Codes with a high number of uninsured people, will increase awareness and utilization of reproductive healthcare services, decrease the transmission of sexually transmitted infections and improve health outcomes for reproductive-age people. It will operate for a two-year period.

Maternal & Child Health Conference

During Black Maternal Health Week, Harris County will host its first Maternal & Child Health Conference: Integrating Systems and Reimagining Models of Care from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. April 11 and 12 at NRG Center, 1 Fannin St., Houston.

The public is invited to attend the conference designed to strengthen communitywide efforts to improve maternal health, eliminate disparities in maternal health outcomes and promote equitable maternity care practices. For information on how to attend in person (limited seating) or virtually, please click here.

Almeda Trail

At the start of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the NCAA Final Four, Precinct One hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to announce the completion of the Almeda Road Trail that connects pedestrians and cyclists to Holly Hall and on to NRG Park.

The $1.13 million concrete trail, which runs along Almeda from Old Spanish Trail to Holly Hall, provides an alternative means of transportation for commuters to NRG Park and other destinations. Commuters also can connect to Brays Bayou Greenway, Hermann Park, and sections of the Texas Medical Center to the north and the east-west path along Holly Hall. And if you missed the Rodeo or Final Four, remember NRG Park hosts an array of sporting events, entertainment, and conventions. So, in the future, you can do your part by walking or cycling to NRG Park to help save the environment. As an added bonus, you don’t have to pay parking fees to enter the complex.