Calendar
On January 18, 2021 the Houston Black Heritage Society will celebrate its 43rd Annual “Original†MLK Day Parade and Holiday Celebration. The “Original†MLK, Jr. Parade was commissioned at the behest of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s. own father, known by many as Martin Luther “Daddy†King, Sr., on January 21st, 1978.
Not only did his father commission the organization to conduct the very first MLK Day Parade in the nation, Dr. King’s father also served as Houston Peace and Justice Center parade’s first-ever grand marshal. In addition to the annual parade, the organization host a variety of educational, community, and celebratory events all year long to honor one of our nation’s most revered civil rights leader.
Due to COVID-19 and the commitment to prioritizing the health and safety of Houston Peace and Justice Center fellow citizens in the community, the City of Houston and the Black Heritage Society’s 2021 Annual “Original†MLK Day Parade will broadcast live on virtual platforms for this year. For individuals and organizations that would like to be a part of the 2021 virtual celebration, please submit a Participation Request Form. All are encouraged to participate, including:
- Families and Individuals
- Corporate and Non-Profit Organizations
- Schools, Churches, and Civic Groups
- Colleges and Universities
- Community Members
- K-12 & University Bands, ROTC, Dance & Cheer
In support of the City of Houston and the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, the Black Heritage Society’s 43rd Annual “Original†MLK Day Parade and Holiday Celebration will launch this year’s holiday celebration in accordance with the Texas Governor’s Executive Order GA-32 and the City of Houston’s Health and Safety COVID-19 Guidelines.
Celebrate Black History Month with this delicious soul food meal. The meal includes baked chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread, peach cobbler, and iced tea. Payments must be mailed in advance to Mangum-Howell Center, 2500 Frick Road, Houston, Texas, 77038. Make checks payable to Doss Advisory Council. Payments cannot be accepted the day of the luncheon.
Payment must be received by Friday., February. 12.
$8 per plate.
Registration required by calling 281-591-7830.
Join KMP naturalists to explore the night sky. Binoculars, camp chairs, and flashlights are recommended. Face coverings required.
Celebrate women’s history month by learning about the women who make a difference in parks, wildlife, and science. Face coverings required.
The 2021 Texas Land Conservation Conference will be held as a virtual event April 14-16 and will offer a variety of program content and learning experiences related to land and water conservation in the Lone Star State. This year’s event will also feature regional (outdoor, safe, and socially distanced!) in-person networking events on Thursday evening. As 2021 will be our 25th-anniversary conference, we will be raising a glass to celebrate this milestone!
With nearly 300 attendees and growing, the conference is the preeminent statewide meeting for anyone working in the field of land and water conservation, private landowners interested in conserving their land, government, business, and NGO agency partners, and any person interested in learning more about these important issues in Texas. This year’s event will be our first-ever virtual event and it will be jam-packed with fantastic sessions on a diversity of important land and water conservation topics. Please make plans to join Texas Land Conservation Conference for what is sure to be another excellent learning and networking opportunity!
Friday, Starting at 4 p.m. – TMS Member Shopping
Saturday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Public Shopping
All ages; no registration required.
Celebrate Earth Day with Mercer Botanic Gardens! April is the best month for planting and celebrating Mercer Botanic Garden planet! Pick out a new tree to fill out your yard or add some flowering shrubs like Hibiscus! Choose from a variety of choice plants including trees, flowering shade and sun perennials, shrubs, herbs, and more to fill out your garden beds!
Shop this online-only sale at https://themercersociety.square.site/ All orders are pickup only; plants cannot be shipped. Plant pickup is off-site at The Mercer Society’s Horticultural Propagation Center, located approximately one mile from Mercer at 3602 Hirschfield Road in Spring, TX. For more information, call The Mercer Society at 713-274-4166.
To become a TMS member, or to renew your membership, visit https://themercersociety.org/get-involved/membership/ today!
Pollinator migration season is nearly here! Show your love of these beneficial insects by attending the Fourth Annual Pollinator Festival and Plant Sale on Saturday, Oct. 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road in Humble.
What to Buy
Shop plants that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to your garden. The Mercer Society’s (TMS) Pollinator Plant Sale features host and nectar plants, including blue mistflower, purple coneflower, cardinal flower, Texas lantana, and scarlet tropical sage. Create a stunning home habitat for monarch butterflies by planting a wide variety of Texas native milkweed, including zizotes milkweed, green milkweed, aquatic milkweed, swamp milkweed, and antelope horns. Bring other local and migrating species to your yard by adding Texas native host plants. False nettle attracts red admirals and queens, spicebush lures spicebush swallowtails, and maypop brings gulf fritillaries.
Activities
This free, outdoor community event also features a scarecrow contest, lawn games, educational displays, and a book sale hosted by the Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library and Friends of the Library. Visit local exhibitors and vendors and participate in pollinator-themed activities, including the Pollinator Partners Promenade, a self-guided garden tour. If you need advice on pollinator plant selection or garden maintenance, visit a Harris County master gardener at the Ask a Master Gardener tent or connect with knowledgeable TMS plant growers.
Live performances will occur throughout the day, including an eclectic mix of Appalachian fiddle tunes and Celtic music by the Dulcimer Doin’s, Native American flute music by the Spring Cypress Flute Circle, and popular songs from the 1920s to today by the Houkulele Strummers. To add to the fun, visitors are invited to dress in bee, butterfly, bat, hummingbird, or flower attire.
What to Bring
Plant sale attendees are encouraged to bring something to transport their purchases, as wagons are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Proceeds from the Pollinator Plant Sale benefit Mercer Botanic Gardens. The festival is held outdoors at Mercer’s East Side Main Garden. Event parking is at the West Side Arboretum. Parking for those with disabilities is at the East Side Main Garden. Shuttles are available to transport visitors between the garden and arboretum on the east and west sides. A parent or guardian must accompany children younger than 16. Volunteer opportunities are also available. Email jhartwell@hcp4.net for details.
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour is returning to Houston on January 29, 2022. Hosted by the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, this year’s film fest will be a hybrid event, taking place both online and in person at MATCH to accommodate everyone’s COVID safety preferences.
SPONSORS
Thank you to our 2022 Sponsors:
Join other Christians to celebrate Earth Day by participating in a streamed pre-recorded creation-focused worship service. Listen to the wisdom, song, and stories from our fellow Creatures, human and non-human. The Rev. Dr. Carmelo Santos will share the message of the day. This 45-minute worship service is in English with full Spanish translation, and does not include communion. Observe Earth Day by praising the Creator and giving thanks for God’s good creation in worship on April 22! Register to participate at www.eventbrite.com at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creation-focused-worship-for-earth-day-tickets-301138712997?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.