PUBLIC DEFENDER
History was made in Harris County on November 9, 2010. It came stealthily, silently, on cats’ feet. But it pushes Texas’ largest county from an old era into a new one. Alexander Bunin was appointed to be our first Public Defender.
You have likely read or heard about men who have been kept in Texas jails and prisons for years, up to Michael Anthony Green’s 27 years. Then it was discovered they were innocent, and they were released. But their lives were forever damaged. The problem? They were poor, and could not afford to hire a lawyer to argue for their innocence. And since Harris County has had throughout its history the antiquated court-appointed lawyer system, they were left to the mercy of the District Attorney and the criminal courts. So with little or no defense, they were thrown into jail and forgotten.
Until Tuesday, November 9, Harris County was the only metropolitan county in all fifty states without a Public Defender. Even Dallas County, our sister city, had one. We have known about this blind eye to indigent accusees for scores of years, but have chosen not to deal with it. It is a lucrative system, and court-appointed lawyers reap handsome income, some up to half a million dollars a year. It makes necessary the building of more jails, enriching contractors and suppliers, and creating new jobs in the criminal justice system. The court-appointed lawyer system has been supported because it strengthens the bottom line.
We owe thanks to Senator Ellis and his supporters in the Texas Legislature, to County Commissioners El Franco Lee and Sylvia Garcia, to Rev. Robert Jefferson and Ministers Against Crime, to Howard Jefferson and Carolyn Scantlebury of the NAACP, to Mary Ramos of LULAC, to Judge Caprice Cosper, to all the clergy to formed the “moral army,” and to WALIPP, who pulled them all together to convince Harris County to move into a new era of justice and fair treatment for the indigent.
MAIN STREET COALITION
The transformation of Houston’s Main Street into a signature Boulevard impacts a multitude of entities with distinct agendas. WALIPP convened an open forum at Rice University. City, County, Metro and development entities with interests along Main Street came together. The Mayor, Main Street Coalition Chair, E. D. Wulfe and Peter Brown shared the vision for Main Street, announcing a competition for architectural firms across the nation to submit ideas for implementing the vision. WALIPP facilitated the forum and all entities bought into the concept, committing to support its implementation.
OLIVEWOOD CEMETERY CLEAN-UP
WALIPP pulled together some 500 volunteers from churches, synagogues, and the general community to clean up the historical Olivewood Cemetery. Since that time we have incorporated it so it has an owner, a 501(c)(3) called Olivewood, Inc., and we are now working to infuse some funds into it for ongoing care.
PASS IT ON MENTORING/TUTORING
Audrey Lawson conceived of a program targeting African American males, the most endangered species in our community. College men pass on tutoring and mentoring skills to high school boys, who mentor middle school boys, who act as mentors and tutors to elementary school boys. Its pilot run included 30 boys. Project Coordinator Davetta Mills, did an outstanding job of facilitating the program and soliciting support dollars.
This program, the brain-child of Mrs. Audrey Lawson, operates on the principle that a boy will learn more from a ‘peer-plus’ (a boy a little older than himself) than he will learn from parents and from educational institutions. It has excelled in academic tutoring, its central thrust. But above and beyond the academic tutoring, the boys have been introduced to a whole spectrum of experiences:
- They networked with other young people in the Mayor’s Youth Conference
- They attended the reception for the Metro CEO
- They engaged in seminars for test-taking, careers, health and wellness
- They studied Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
- They attended the Harlem Renaissance Exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts
- They attended theatre at HSPV A and the Rodeo and Livestock Show
- They did community service by helping to clean up an old abandoned cemetery
- They did their religious duty by attending Wednesday Bible study
- They honed their reading skills by reading a book a month
- They engaged in political activity by attending a town hall meeting, and by helping in the campaign of Lawrence Marshall, a candidate for HISD School Board
- Ms. Mills worked out permission for them to attend a prayer rally put on by President Bill Clinton
Kudoes go to the four levels of boys and their parents.
WOMEN ON THE MOVE
The Women’s Guild of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church worked with WALIPP to host a luncheon for women in shelters. The partnership solicited clothing from successful women throughout the community to be given to women who were (a) drug and alcohol-free, (b) not on probation for a felony, (c) willing to work toward a G. E. D. or a professional certificate, and (d) willing to take a job and be reliable employees. A luncheon, workshop and fashion show was held and included representatives from companies and institutions that might consider the women for training and employment. The women were given tips on interviewing and job-search. Surplus clothing was donated by WALIPP to individuals and shelters in need.
EDWIN REED CDC WORKSHOP
WALIPP hosted Edwin Reed, Chief Financial Officer of Allen A. M. E: Church of Jamaica, NY, a guru of faith-based community development and moving force of one of the nation’s largest neighborhood revitalization projects. Reed came to speak to a WALIPP-gathered audience of local CDC’s (Community Development Corporations) at Texas Southern University.
