Civic Engagement – Page 31 – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Huntsville’s Scary Square–2023

LEAP began assisting with the Scare on the Square in 2005, which may have been Main Street’s first such “stab” at the event. Well, for the 19th time, we “suited up” for this Halloween ritual that brings in thousands of people from the community together for a safe day of fun.

This time, though, we worked in a somewhat different capacity and there were a few new twists (of the knife).

A few weeks ago, Jessica Cuevas, LEAP’s co-Vice President of Operations, was brought in by the City of Huntsville to supervise the event as the Interim Main Street Manager. So, LEAP Ambassadors worked as “special assistants”–“Igors,” so to speak–to help the event run smoothly.

And, after years of taking place directly on the square, the event was shifted one block south so as not to interfere with customer parking for downtown businesses.

But as in past years, the event was a huge draw for local residents and a lot of fun for everyone. Vendors offered many options of food and drink, allowing visitors to “pick their poison.” More than 50 local organizations participated, including two of Professor Yawn’s classes. These students, being future attorneys, were the most frightening characters of all.

The Fire Department was again on hand, doing community service.

While many of the selfie stations were similar to past years, a new attraction was the 21st century photo booth, which takes a video from a 360-degree view. It was, in short, a “scream.”

Of course for most of the kids, the real attractions were the games and the candy. There were ring tosses on witches’ hats…

…pumpkin decorating…

…a Jurassic Trunk…

…ghost bowling…

…a cauldron toss, an eyeball toss…

…basketball shooting, face-painting…

…and many others. Thankfully, the costumes were diverse this year, with fewer Barbies than one might have expected.

For our part, we dressed as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It was a bit of a change for us, as we’re not exactly ninja material, but we enjoyed it nonetheless.

The result, according to the City of Huntsville’s Economic Development Coordinator, Tammy Gann, “perhaps the best attended Scare on the Square we’ve had.” It was, at least for us, certainly one of the most satisfying.

Ariza Martinez, the Main Street intern for the fall, had the opportunity to take the lead in organizing a community event of this scale for the very first time.

It was her chance to showcase her creativity and adaptability while making a positive impact on our community.

The City of Huntsville staff–Aron Kulhavy, Tammy Gann, Angela Robinson–were great! Continuing on the superhero theme, which may have been open to interpretation for some, was a “super” sight! Regarded as Huntsville’s unsung heroes, it was a true joy to see them enjoying the day’s festivities.

As for the Ambassadors, we “shelled” out lots of fun and truly enjoyed ourselves in Huntsville’s downtown, well, most of us.

While our ninja skills may have been questionable, our enthusiasm was undeniable.

Celebrating Sam Houston

On this week 187 years ago, Sam Houston was inaugurated as the first-ever President of the Republic of Texas. Almost two centuries later, his legacy continues, in large part because of the great work done by Sam Houston State University and the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library.

Tuesday night, the Museum celebrated not only the anniversary of Houston’s inauguration, but also the addition of numerous new and impressive artifacts to its large collection. And speaking of impressive, the celebration was just that!

Derrick Birdsall, Director of the Museum, opened the program with remarks at 6:30, introducing President White and the many other notable guests in attendance.

President White also spoke, highlighting Houston’s legacy, discussing his impact and relevance, not only to Texas history, but also to our own time, and also noting the role that the Museum plays in attracting students to SHSU.

Mikey Sproat, Curator of Collections, also took to the podium, discussing the addition of artifacts to the Museum and pointing to their centrality to understanding Texas history and Houston’s life.

The most prominently displayed artifact in the rotunda was Sam Houston’s commission as Commander in Chief of the Texas Army.

Included on the display is a QR code that allows visitors to scan and learn more about the document–one of many efforts the Museum has made to scale up the accessibility of their online artifact collection, which supplements the physical presentation of their artifacts.

But the allure of the Museum goes beyond the presentation and artifacts; it is also tied to the people who work and visit the Museum. Accordingly, the LEAP Ambassadors were thrilled to help for the event when asked by Director Birdsall. Our part was small, but it allowed us not only to assist Birdsall, but also to work with the great staff at the Museum…

…which included: Megan Buro, Jude Routh, Mikey Sproat, Joann Purvis, Yesenia Marroquin, Tim Scott, and Gregoria McGuire.

When the formal part of the program ended around 7, we had a chance to relax a bit and enjoy the Museum and the many wonderful people there: President James Gaertner and Nancy Gaertner, Mac and Leanne Woodward, Jane and Dr. Charles Monday, Vice-Provost Anne Gaillard, Aron Kulhavy, Tammy Gann, Regent Sheila Faske, former Regent Trisha Pollard, and Charlie Vienne.

We had a chance to say hi to Russell Martinez, which was nice because a few of the LEAP Ambassadors have been awarded the Martinez Scholarship. We met Bill Dabaghi, a genuinely nice guy who shared with us some of his family’s history in the area.

And we also had the opportunity to visit with individuals from the President’s office, including General Glaser, Jennifer Alexander, and Tabitha Shanley. And, of course, we took the opportunity to take a photograph with President White.

We even had a chance to visit with one of our favorite alumni, Blake Roach!

There was also great music…

…as well as a rare opportunity to physically enter the Museum’s displays. In one area, SHMM depicts Santa Ana’s “surrender” to an injured Sam Houston, and the Museum will soon be removing this exhibit. Therefore, it allowed visitors (and staff!) to enter the area and have fund with photographs!

We attend or assist with approximately 50 events per semester, but the general consensus is that this was our favorite this semester. We had the chance to spend time in one of our favorite places, with some of our favorite people while being part of the Sam Houston community.

Seeing Huntsville: Louise and Oleta’s

Morgan Robertson

As most college students know, a good caffeine pick-me-up can make a huge difference for a study session, paper drafting, or just to make it though the next class. The LEAP Ambassadors, thanks to Olivia, found our new favorite caffeination spot: Louise and Oleta’s! Previously located on Lake Road, Louise and Oleta’s recently expanded and moved downtown.

Now on 12th Street behind Cafe Texan, Louise and Oleta’s provides that infectious small-town ambiance, with great food, as well as coffees, lemonades, and other interesting concoctions. For this iteration of “Seeing Huntsville” Michelle, Jessica, Olivia and I sat down in the pink, pastel tea room to enjoy coffees, teas, and a few of our new favorite bites.

I chose the Farmhouse flatbread, with goat cheese and veggies. Jessica both enjoyed the cast-iron skillet mac and cheese, which was the favorite among the group. And Oliva loved the brie and apple slaw on the La Pomme sandwich.

There are endless coffees and teas to chose from, with incredible and creative flavors. For tea enthusiasts, Louise and Oleta’s also has a traditional tea service on their menu, but all the drinks we tried were good!

For catching up with friends, study sessions, or simply enjoying the aura, Louise and Oleta is the perfect place to see Huntsville–even if you already live here!

State of the City: Huntsville, 2023

Morgan Robertson

Every year the City of Huntsville hosts the State of the City, where they update citizens on important business, foster connections with the public, honor staff, and to celebrate the community. This year, LEAP had a strong presence at State of the City, with Olivia Discon, Cinthia Villarreal, and Jessica Cuevas working for the City. In addition, Michelle, Madison, and I attended to learn more about local government, to support our peers, and to be part of the community.

Kristy Doll, the City Secretary and her wonderful team, Sharon Schultz (Deputy City Secretary) and Summer Davis (Records Specialist) did the event planning, and the venue, lighting, and layout looked great.

The event opened with a posting of the colors by Boy Scout Troop 114, who did a great job.

This was followed by remarks from Sam Masiel, the Assistant City Manager, thanking everyone for attending, and introducing Aron Kulhavy.

The bulk of the evening was the update from the City Manager. Aron updated attendees on the City’s finances, infrastructure projects, new buildings, airport, and expanding the City’s tax base and sales tax revenue.

Key takeaways from his discussion the ongoing challenges with meeting the needs of an aging sewage infrastructure;

…the increased revenue from sales taxes and expanding property base; and the impending opening of City Hall in 2024 (the rendering of the building drew an audible “oooh” from the audience). And, of course, everyone was happy about the recent opening of the MLK Community Center in Emancipation Park.

This State of the City was bittersweet for everyone who’s had the honor to have worked with, or met, Mayor Andy Brauninger. The Mayor’s eight-year term is coming to a close, and he delivered his farewell address to a full room of people who’ve been impacted by his leadership in the city.

He began his address by noting that he is often invited to attend community functions, and during one visit to a local church (Lone Star Missionary Baptist), the Mayor was blessed to hear the voice of Katherine Houston, who describes herself as a “child of the Most High God.” He then ushered Ms. Houston to the front to sing “”My Tribute” and “The Lord’s Prayer.”

The singing was beautiful. Several members of the audience recorded the event, the audience was visibly moved, and at least one person we spoke with indicated she was nearly brought to tears.

Mr. Brauninger, too, was almost moved to tears as he began his speech, with his wife, Marlene, on stage with him. He reflected on his time with the City, praised the many non-profit leaders and community leaders that perennially work to improve the community, and gave a shoutout to several City staff–including “Little Jerry” and “Big Josh.”

The entire experience was educational to LEAP Ambassadors, and it was a pleasure to see so many community members in one place. We enjoyed seeing Derrick Birdsall, from the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library…

…Dave Smith of the Good Shepherd Mission…

…members of City Council;

…Jeff Murski from Rep. Pete Session’s Office; Diana McRae, the Tax Assessor; and numerous City staff.

On a more personal level, it was also nice to see fellow LEAP members enjoying the event so much. For Cinthia Villarreal, who is interning for Parks and Recreation, it was the first such event with the City, and her smiling face brightened the room.

And Olivia Discon, a sophomore at SHSU and VP of the LEAP Ambassadors, is also working for the City. Part of her role was to assist in the preparation of the PowerPoint for City Manager Aron Kulhavy’s State of the City address.

She has a great eye for detail and is conscientious, and these qualities were reflected in the PowerPoint. All LEAP members have known Olivia for at least a year now, and this was the happiest we’ve seen her. She was truly in her element.

On behalf of the LEAP Ambassadors, it was great to be part of the evening, thanks to the City staff for including us, and thanks to the community members who participated and, of course, the City staff.

On behalf of the Veteran LEAP Ambassadors, we would like to thank Olivia for her great work, and we are very proud to have you on our team.

Opening Doors: The MLK Community Center

The City of Huntsville has 26 parks covering more than 2,000 acres, but none is as important to the community as Emancipation Park on MLK Boulevard. Long a cornerstone of the Black community in Huntsville, it is used by all residents and, as Mayor Andy Brauninger noted, the park contains “the most utilized public building in Huntsville.”

After years of planning, resource acquisition, and construction, Emancipation Park added a new jewel in its crown, “The MLK Community Center”. Groundbreaking on this Community Center began in September 2022, and a year later, the doors opened for a celebration of a (mostly) completed Center that is, as many of the speakers noted, “for everybody.”

Background

Before it was a park, the land that is now Emancipation Park was used for hosting Juneteenth Celebrations and other community gatherings.

In 1933, R.A. Josey purchased land to be used by the community for recreation. In 1963, the land became an official city park. Over time, this became not just a neighborhood park, but also what the National Recreation and Parks Association describes as a “Community Park” which functions “on a large scale, serving the parks and recreation needs of an entire community.” Emancipation Park, at 10 acres, is the fourth-largest park in the City, and it is also one of the most developed, with amenities including basketball courts, picnic tables, playground area, horseshoe pits, and off-street parking for more than 100 vehicles.

But it was also showing its age and as the City was preparing its 2016….

MLK “Rec Center,” Pre-Renovation and Expansion

…Parks Master Plan, expansion and additional development at Emancipation Park was one of the six top priorities. With the acquisition of additional land, implementation of those goals began.

COVID interrupted that implementation, and it also drove up prices. But, as Parks employee George Perry observed, a “plan delayed is not a plan denied.”

Breaking Ground and Opening Doors

The Center’s opening reflects the work of many people and organizations. Multiple Councils approved parts of the funding and development of the Center; the Powell Foundation provided a grant; KABOOM provided support; the Parks Advisory Board offered key support; a Steering Committee guided efforts; and City staff worked for years on this program.

Many of those people were there for the October 9 ribbon cutting…

…with City Manager Aron Kulhavy; Steering Committee Chair Chris Tyson; Parks Advisory Board Chair Nate Grigsby; Community Praise Ministry Founder Vanetta Mills; Parks and Leisure Director Penny Joiner; former Parks Director Joseph Wiggs; long-time Parks employee George Perry; Mayor Andy Brauninger; Council Member Deloris Massey; and architect Charles Burditt speaking at the event.

The City and community members envisioned a Center that was, according to the Huntsville Item, “modern, functional, and aesthetically fitting for the purpose it will serve.”

So there were high hopes among the approximately 100 attendees as they walked through the doors to see the new building. What they saw did, in fact, reflect the aspirations of the planning committee, with a new stage, complete remodeling, and a building approximately twice the size of the original.

Although the building will not be open for reservations until November 1, this initial gathering for the ribbon cutting suggests that the building will live up to its potential. Not only was the crowd large, it was also diverse, with people from all walks of life on hand, suggesting that the entire community has a stake in the success of what has been aptly named a “Community Center.”

Coda

The ribbon cutting for the MLK Community Center comes days before Mayor Andy Brauninger will give his farewell address to the City, as his fourth term as Mayor draws to a close. But his comments at the groundbreaking a year ago are also fitting for the facility’s opening, appropriate to the spirit of the a Community Center, and a good reminder to public servants everywhere: “This is more than just a building. It’s a good day today. My heart feels good. I love this community, and when I am gone, I hope people remember that we built this together.”

Parks and Leisure Intern Cinthia Villarreal, Director Penny Joiner, and Recreation Coordinator Kristy Wheeler

Election Day Prep: Meeting the Candidates

Morgan Robertson

We are just one month away from Election Day (November 7, 2023) and there are some pretty important positions up for vote in Huntsville!

The Mayor’s seat is up for election, as well as 4 city council seats and 2 school board of Trustees seats. To educate ourselves, and to assist, LEAP Ambassadors attended the “Meet the Candidates” event put on by the Walker County Republican Party. Although hosted by the GOP, the candidates are all running for non-partisan positions, and it is in that nonpartisan spirit that we attended the event.

Attendees heard from the following individuals who will be on the ballot:

For the mayoral race, Candidates Russell Humphrey and John Jafreh…

Running unopposed for Ward 1, Tore Fossum…

For Ward 2, candidates Casey Cox and Yolanda Scott…

For Ward 3, Candidates Russell Barnett, Benjamin Sessions, and Anissa Antwine…

Running unopposed and for reelection, Jon Strong for Ward 4…

For Position 4 on the HISD School Board Ryan LeNorman and John Hendricks…

Running unopposed and for reelection, Cathy Schweitzer…for Position 5 on the HISD School Board.

To conclude the evening, Walker County Tax Assessor Diana McRae gave brief voter update and a reminder for voters to do their research ahead of time.

Thank you to all the candidates for speaking to attendees and good luck in November!

The Largest Country on Earth: Learning more about India

Macey Schank and Michelle Cardenas

In a world increasingly interconnected and dependent on international cooperation, understanding the intricacies of foreign relations and diplomacy has never been more crucial. To further explore the topic, World Affairs Council of Greater Houston (WAC) featured former United States Ambassador to India Kenneth I. Juster at ChampionX’s headquarters.

During his introduction, Jahan Jafarpour highlighted Ambassador Kenneth’s extraordinary career as Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of India.

He also mentioned Ambassador Juster’s extensive education and former occupation as a lawyer. Following Mr. Jafarpour’s remarks, Ronan O’Malley, the moderator for the evening, and Ambassador Juster took the stage.

To start the evening, Ambassador Juster began with an introduction of the U.S. and India’s complex foreign relationship over the years. He explained that India is a nonaligned country, meaning it works with many countries, including the U.S., but is not allied with any particular country. One explanation for this non-alliance is due to India’s geographic position, which offers India unique opportunities and challenges.

India’s emergence as a nonallied global power has made it the bridge between the West and the global South. The recent formation of the BRICS nations, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa further emphasizes this point. Ambassador Juster mentioned some of the concerns that came with the formation of BRICS. He believes this group can serve as a warning to the U.S. to strengthen foreign relations as the world begins to seek a shift in power moving away from a more Western-dominated world.

Ambassador Juster focused on the importance of India’s growing economy and what this means for the future of the country. Under Prime Minister Modi and his more direct economic approach, India is currently one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Countries like the U.S. and China are eager to work with India, despite their complex history, and in China’s case, a fostering sense of mistrust. Ambassador Juster expressed that the U.S.-India foreign relations is currently “one of the most consequential relations.”

Ending the night with the Q&A portion of the evening…

… we were able to learn more about Ambassador Juster’s role and what being Ambassador to India entails. Ambassador Juster describes the role as similar to that of a mayor who is responsible for all Americans and U.S. affairs inside the country, ranging from American schoolchildren, visas, intelligence, to the occasional arrested tourist. The role of ambassador is a multifaceted position that requires diplomatic finesse, cultural acumen, and a steadfast commitment to representing one’s country on the global stage.

The final question of the night was asked by Professor Yawn, who wanted to know who Ambassador Juster believes to be the most effective politician he has worked with, in which he notes former President George H. W. Bush and Jim Baker. In fact, he refers to this administration as the “Golden Age of Foreign Relations” due to its many triumphs.

Namaste

To follow the evening’s theme, corresponding with Ambassador Juster’s ties to the Republic of India, we decided to indulge in some Indian cuisine for dinner.

Olivia found an incredible restaurant named Namaste that proved to be absolutely delicious! Our server, Kledisa, ensured we made the most of our meal and recommended an array of a delicious dishes for us to try.

We started with some ginger garlic chicken and samosas for our appetizers. The table was laden with a variety of entrees, such as chicken butter masala, korma, madras goat pepper curry, chettinad with paneer, and roast chicken biryani, paired with naan bread and rice.

Namaste introduced us to a new and delightful experience with exceptional dishes and impeccable service. It truly was the perfect conclusion to yet another successful WAC event!

The Formative Years of Charles Jones: The Wynne Home Speaker Series

By Olivia Discon

The Wynne Home Arts Center is a pillar in the Huntsville community in promoting the arts and civic engagement. It is always a pleasure to attend the many events the Wynne Home has throughout the year, and we have especially enjoyed their Speaker Series. Starting off the fall with its first presenter, Charles Jones, a jack of all trades of the arts, gave a glimpse into his impressive work.

Following an introduction by Joe Kirkland, Jones shared how the nature of Huntsville–where he was raised–fostered his perception of community and artistic inspiration.

We had the opportunity to view a comprehensive showcase of Jones’ work through a presentation, which consisted of prints, sketches, and woodcuts. These pieces captured the essence of his passion for philosophy and the human condition.

He attributed his love of the arts to his family, as his parents encouraged him to refine the skills of what he excelled and enjoyed in his childhood. Whether it was music, literature, or art, Jones followed what he was interested in.

Charles Jones put it simply: “Art is powerful; it allows you to participate in things”. It’s a reminder that art is an active experience, inviting us to join in the rich tapestry of human expression.

Angela Robinson and Nancy Gaertner helped close the program, but many people stayed around to learn more…

…including us.

This experience allowed the audience to both appreciate Huntsville’s roots and how far it has come.

While many things have changed over the course of time, the dedicated community that champions the arts has remained unwavering. We greatly appreciate the Wynne Home’s strides in providing enriching events to our community, and look forward to the speakers to come!

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