Touchdown! Jeff Davis High School Scores 

On Tuesday, September 27, 2011, Jeff Davis High School and the Northside Village community joined the Houston Texans and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to celebrate t he $100,000 raised to revitalize the Jeff Davis football field. Representatives from the Houston Texans, including Defensive Tackle Earl Mitchell, were on hand to deliver a $50,000 check, and AvenueCDC/GO Neighborhoods presented a second oversize check for $10,000.

Jeff Davis cheerleaders and football players eagerly await the check presentation to revitalize their football field

With the $100,000, Jeff Davis will install new sprinklers, lighting, and bleachers for the football field, as well as do general field repair.   The field will be used not only by Jeff Davis, but also by youth teams from Marshall Middle School, the YMCA, and the Salvation Army, making it a true community asset.

The project is a collaborative success for the neighborhood. Many partners, including Avenue CDC, Houston Independent School District, and the GO Neighborhoods Safety and Youth and Education teams, came together to fund and support this project.    

Community leaders present $10,000 from Avenue CDC/GO Neighborhoods to Jeff Davis High School.

Recognizing the positive impacts that a safe outdoor field would have for the community, a group of community partners came together in Fall 2010 to pursue the LISC NFL Grassroots Program Grant, a national program that provides financial and logistical assistance for revitalizing neighborhood football fields. The group sought and received pledges of matching funds from Avenue CDC, Jeff Davis High School, and Houston Independent School District before applying for and receiving the $50,000 commitment from the Houston Texans.

Community leaders rallied around the cause, and were at Jeff Davis on Tuesday afternoon to celebrate. Congressman Gene Green, a Jeff Davis alum who wrote a letter of support for the grant, said, "I'm glad there's this investment in the school. There are so many good things happening at Jeff Davis"  

With cheerleaders, dancers, the band, and the Marshall and Jeff Davis Football teams present, it was clear that the new field will have an immediate impact for the youth in the community.

"Money Talks" Brings Northside Village Together for Day of Learning and Fun

It was all about the money for the over 70 people who gathered at Jeff Davis High School on Saturday, September 17th.

Residents, community organizations, and businesses came together for "Money Talks," a community meeting hosted by the GO Neighborhoods Family Income and Wealth Team. Designed to teach residents practical financial skills and connect them with community resources, the event included workshops, a resource fair, and a youth program.

Rene Hernandez, of SER Jobs for Progress, teaches "Money Talks" participants about budgeting and credit.

Lucretia Jelks, of Wesley Community Center's Financial Opportunity Center, and Luis Garcia, Director of La Raza United, facilitated the event. "We all envision that our community will be a safe and inviting place where all ages and income levels can live well," they told the audience, urging them to continue to participate in community events.

From there, the breakout workshops provided participants with skills to use and grow their money. There were six different programs to choose from, ranging from "Improving Your Credit" to "Homebuyer Education" to a youth program that taught banking skills.   Community partners facilitated these workshops: SER Jobs for Progress, Wesley Financial Opportunity Center, Avenue CDC, and Capital One Bank. Participants were impressed: several expressed their desire to attend 2 or 3 classes in a day instead of just one.

For the organizers and 30+ volunteers, the event represented a collaborative success. More than 20 partners came together to plan and host "Money Talks," creating a coalition that will be able to move forward on similar large community events in the future.

In response to the success of the event and the excitement surrounding it, the GO Family Income and Wealth team is already talking about hosting another "Money Talks" in the spring.

If you are interested in joining the GO Family Income and Wealth Team, or any other GO team, please contact Jenifer Wagley at Jenniferw@avenuecdc.org or at 713.864.8099 ext 237.

   National Night Out- October 4   

GO Safety - October 5, 6pm

Avenue CDC Homeownership Center, 707 Quitman   

GO History and Art - October 6, 6pm

Avenue CDC Homeownership Center, 707 Quitman

40 Fridays 4 Teens- October 7, 7pm

Transformation Youth Center, 113 Coronado St.     

 Kaboom! Playground Build - October 8

Houston Can! Academy, 3401 Hardy St. 

GO Mobility- October 10, 6pm

Metro Solutions North Corridor Office, 2613 Fulton

"Credit in a Money World" - October 13, 6pm 

Wesley Financial Opportunity Center, 1410 Lee St.

Go Youth- October 14, 12pm

M.D. Anderson YMCA, 705 Calvacade 

40 Fridays 4 Teens- October 14, 6pm

Moody Park   

"Walk for Success" -   October 15, 9am-1pm  

Project GRAD, Jeff Davis High School

 GO Health- October 18, 2pm

La Nueva Casa De Amigos, 1809 N. Main

40 Fridays 4 Teens- October 21, 6pm

Ryon Civic Association 

"Petoberfest" Animal Health Fair- October 22, 9am-1pm     

 Marshall Middle School

GO Family Income and Wealth - October 28, 10am 

Washington Courtyards Community Room, 2505 Washington Ave.

40 Fridays 4 Teens "Movie Night at the Y"- October 28  

   M.D. Anderson YMCA, 705 Calvacade 

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK BY CLICKING HERE!