Department of Neighborhoods
Press Release
MAYOR TURNER PRESENTS 2022 VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARDS TO 25 HOUSTONIANS
Awards recognize community partners’ service to the City and Houston residents
March 3, 2022 -- Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner presented the 2022 Mayor’s Volunteer Service Awards to 25 community partners in recognition of exemplary volunteer service to the City and Houston residents at a reception hosted by the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) at City Hall on March 15, 2022. The awards recognize the significant contributions of individuals and organizations dedicated to helping neighbors and communities through service projects in the following categories: Community Engagement, Education, Social Service, and Youth.
“I am proud to recognize the impact of volunteerism in our city as we honor the work of some remarkable individuals who have stepped up to generously give of their time to help fellow Houstonians in need,” said Mayor Turner. “Whether it’s leading organizations to fulfill their mission, helping people rebuild their lives after the devastation of a natural disaster, or just finding a way of giving and helping others, these volunteers are tackling big challenges. We thank them for joining forces with the city as community partners to ensure that Houstonians receive the services they need and that communities stay strong.”
“We are extremely grateful to our honorees for their hard work and dedication to serving Houstonians, and we thank them for working with our department’s community outreach staff daily,” said TaKasha Francis, DON director. “Whether the call is for food assistance, shelter for a homeless family, services that empower refugees, immigrants, and disenfranchised populations, or simple acts kindness for seniors, these individuals work tirelessly to ensure that basic needs are met. They are a fine example of neighbors helping neighbors, and today we celebrate their generous caring deeds.”
Mayor Sylvester Turner and Department of Neighborhoods director TaKasha Francis and staff celebrate the contributions of 2022 Mayor's Volunteer Service Award recipients.
2022 MAYOR’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS
Community Engagement Category
Betsy Ballard
Director of Communications
Catholic Charities of Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Catholic Charities is a partner organization involved with The Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Erika Banks
Emergency Operations Manager
Houston Food Bank
The Houston Food Bank is a partner organization involved with the Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
James Banks
Assistant Director
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Houston Metro Area
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a partner organization involved with the Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Cynthia Colbert
President
Catholic Charities of Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Catholic Charities is a partner organization involved with The Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Andi Cook
Communications Director
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Houston Metro Area
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a partner organization involved with The Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Chris Crawford
Executive Assistant of Elder Cuvelier
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a partner organization involved with the Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Elder Corey Cuvelier
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Elder Cuvelier serves in one of the highest leadership positions with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Houston area. The Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints is a partner organization involved with the Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Dalton DeHart
President
Dalton DeHart Photographic Foundation
Dalton DeHart is recognized for volunteering over 20 years to preserve the history of Houston’s LGBT community and donating his time to photograph the activities of the Department of Neighborhoods’ Office of New Americans and Immigrant Communities and other City events.
Bart Ferrell
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Catholic Charities is a partner organization involved with The Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Marshall Gonzales
Director
Texas Adventist Community Services
Texas Adventist Community Services is a partner organization involved with The Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Jeff Gutke
Executive Assistant of Elder Rascon
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a partner organization involved with the Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Karina Hernandez
Director of Community Relations
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Catholic Charities is a partner organization involved with The Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Keoni Josiah
Basileus
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity has contributed significantly as the core volunteer group for Department of Neighborhoods' Good Neighbor Project. In 2021, fraternity volunteers provided lawn service to 13 senior citizens in various neighborhoods throughout the city.
Greg Little
Executive Assistant to the Director
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Houston Metro Area
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a partner organization involved with the Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Pastor José Ortega
Disaster Service Director
The National Association of Christian Churches
The National Association of Christian Churches is a partner organization involved with the Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Olga Perez
YMCA International Services
YMCA International Services is a partner organization involved with the Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Deanna Poehlman
Houston Responds
Houston Responds is a partner organization involved with the Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Elder Art Rascon
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a partner organization involved with the Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Tommy Rosson
Executive Director
Houston Responds
Houston Responds is a partner organization involved with The Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Elder Carlos Villarreal
Director
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Houston Metro Area
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a partner organization involved with The Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Jeff Watkins
Executive Vice President for Inclusive Communities
YMCA International Services
YMCA International Services is a partner organization involved with the Family Transfer Center. The Family Transfer Center was opened to help migrants cleared at the border connect with their families or sponsors in the U.S. The 500-person capacity center featured respite facilities and services for migrants waiting to be shuttled by volunteers to the airport or bus station for travel to their final destinations.
Education Category
Reda Hicks
Board of Directors & Executive VP for Inclusive Communities
League of Women Voters of Houston
Reda Hicks covers voting rights laws and civic engagement for the Department of Neighborhoods Complete Communities University leadership development course. Her presentations have educated and inspired emerging leaders enrolled in the course.
Social Service Category
Pastor Enid S. Henderson
Ebenezer United Methodist Church
Pastor Enid Henderson and her congregation have been important partners of the Department of Neighborhoods' Good Neighbor Project and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service kindness projects benefitting 200 seniors in the Independence Heights community.
Youth Category
Dylan Flores
Student
Cy-Ridge High School
Dylan Flores has been responsible for recruiting youth to participate in service-learning projects for the City of Houston. Those projects include the MLK Day of Service, Global Youth Service Day, and the September 11 Day of Service, among others. Over the past few years, Dylan has recruited as many as 175 youth for projects benefitting senior citizens and veterans.
Christina Hill
Paralegal Specialist
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas is a partner organization involved with providing Christmas presents (Angel Tree) for youth for 18 years.
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The Mayor’s Volunteer Service Award recipients were selected through a nomination process administered by DON’s Volunteer Initiatives Program. For more information, call 832-393-1061 or email paul.green@houstontx.gov.