Octavio Olvera is a senior at University of Houston-Downtown majoring in Marketing. He is set to graduate in the fall of 2021 and plans on working towards a master degree after graduation. He is very passionate and eager about growing his skills in digital media and is actively seeking to learn new skills to apply them in his future endeavors.
Octavio is focused on gaining hands on experience to get a taste of what its like to work at an organization like CEC. He believes this experience will help him contribute to his community and make a positive impact in this world. In his spare time, Octavio enjoys watching social media influencer videos, drawing, reading comics and working out at the gym.
Jasmine is a junior at Rice University majoring in Psychology, minoring in Business. She is set to graduate in May 2022 and plans on joining the Masters of Accounting program at Rice University upon graduation. She is highly passionate about applying her skills as a future accountant to organizations like CEC to make a bigger difference in the world.
Jasmine is very excited to gain real-world experience that she is looking for and learn how non-profits like CEC operate. She believes that only through efforts like this can we truly start to make a difference. Some things Jasmine enjoys doing during her time off is singing jazz, playing pool, and watching nature documentaries.
Jasmine is open to employment or summer opportunities and can be reached at [email protected]
Wild About Houston! UH Energy Symposium, Bike Around the Bay, Prairie Pandemonium, Focus on Fifth Ward, Gulf Coast Water Conservation Symposium, Green Jobs, and more
Wild About Houston Green Film Festival
The CEC is proud to host the third annual Wild About Houston Green Film Festival. The virtual festival will tell the story of local environmental issues, their champions and how you can make a difference. This year, the number and quality of film submissions was so great that CEC will host two nights of programming: October 21 and November 18, 2020. Each night will feature different films. A few of the best local films will be shown at the January 2021 Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour. Tune in to the live program to vote for your favorite film, or register to receive a link to watch the on-demand program later. Register at eventbrite.com. If you are interested in sponsorship, visit cechouston.org.
Please scroll down to read about public engagement opportunities and notes from our member organizations and the community.
CEC NOTES
Justice and Transformation: Houston Women on Climate Action, Oct. 28, 2020
On October 28, 2020, beginning at 6 p.m., please join Rice University’s Fondren Library for a discussion on justice and climate. This virtual panel will bring together four Houston women whose work addresses climate justice: Dr. Denae King (TSU), Dr. Cymene Howe (Rice), Amy Catherine Dinn (Lone Star Legal Aid), and Iris Gonzalez (Coalition for Environment, Equity & Resilience (CEER)). CEC is pleased to be a cosponsor of this event. Learn more at library.rice.edu/JusticeTransformation.
Support the environment through workplace giving
If you work for employers such as the City of Houston, the State of Texas, or HISD, among many other public and private workplaces, remember that the fall is campaign season for most employee workplace giving programs. Employees are offered the chance to select from many charitable organizations to support through payroll contributions. You can give to CEC via EarthShare of Texas, as one of 60 local, regional and national environmental organizations supported by EarthShare of Texas. You can designate individual organizations or let EarthShare of Texas divide it equally among their participating organizations. A complete list of participating workplaces is available at www.earthshare-texas.org. For more information about EarthShare of Texas, including information about how your organization can offer workplace giving, please visit www.earthshare-texas.org or call 800-GREENTX. Look for the the CEC’s code number under the EarthShare of Texas heading in workplace giving campaign literature at all state agencies (035569), at HISD (0111) and at the City of Houston (1413). Please consider CEC in your workplace giving program!
Be CEC’s Neighbor at MECA
CEC’s office is at MECA (Multicultural Education and Counseling for the Arts) in the historic Dow School in the Old Sixth Ward off of Memorial Drive just outside of downtown. Studios (aka classrooms) are available, including one right next to CEC! (We might even share our conference room.) Learn more at meca-houston.org or email [email protected] to get the scoop.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES
Learn more about public participation opportunities
Through Nov. 9, 2020: North Houston Highway Improvement Project MOU Listening Session
On Oct. 22, 2020, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Transportation Policy Council will hold a virtual public Listening Session to receive feedback on the Memorandum of Understanding between the key cooperating entities on the proposed North Houston (I-45) Highway Improvement Project that will showcase their commitment to ongoing discussions regarding the project’s design, opportunities for increased transit, and mitigating community impacts. For more information, including how to attend the meeting, visit h-gac.com. If you are not able to attend Thursday’s MOU Listening Session, the same people will be back in the room for their regularly scheduled Transportation Policy Council Meeting on Friday, Oct. 23, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Find out more about the meeting at h-gac.com. Comments will be accepted until at least Nov. 9, 2020.
Through Oct. 30, 2020: Texas House of Representatives seeks testimony regarding aggregate mining
Sand Mining sediment – West Fork San Jacinto River
The recently formed Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining (TRAM) is a statewide coalition of member groups (including CEC member organizations Bayou Land Conservancy, Bayou City Waterkeeper and Air Alliance Houston) seeking to work with lawmakers, state agencies, and good-faith industry operators to create state standards for best management practices in the rapidly expanding Aggregate Production Operation (APO) industry, and adopt those standards into law. TRAM’s goal is to create a healthier, safer and more desirable community for Texans as well as a more efficient APO industry that is aligned with the concerns of the communities in which they operate. TRAM invites members of the public to submit written testimony to the Texas House of Representatives Interim Committee on Aggregate Production Operations by Oct. 30, 2020. Learn more here.
Through Oct. 30, 2020: TCEQ accepting comment on revised penalty policy proposal and begins Compliance History rulemaking
Though Oct. 31, 2020, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is accepting comments on a proposal to revise the commission’s penalty policy. The penalty policy was last revised on April 1, 2014. Since then, statutory changes have occurred, and recent incidents have caused significant impacts to the public and the environment demanding accountability within the bounds of TCEQ authority. The comment period will last 30 days. After the Oct. 30 deadline, received comments will be presented to the commissioners for their consideration at a future commission work session or commission agenda. For more information on the proposed revisions and how to comment, visit tceq.texas.gov.
Through Oct. 31, 2020: City of Houston Draft Long-Range Solid Waste Plan
The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) is excited to announce the creation of an updated Long-Range Solid Waste Management Plan covering waste and recycling programs for Houston until 2040. The draft plan will provide for sustainable materials management for the Houston area for the next 20 years. SWMD welcomes comments through Oct. 31, 2020. Learn more at houstontx.gov/solidwaste/longrange/index.html. Residents are encouraged to provide comments on surveymonkey.com.
Through Nov. 2, 2020: Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries Resiliency Study Interim Feasibility Report released
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District, along with the Harris County Flood Control District, recently released an Interim Feasibility Report for the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries Resiliency Study. The purpose of the study is to evaluate alternatives with the goal of helping to reduce flooding under a range of flood events. Information sessions are scheduled for Oct. 15, 22, and 26. Learn more at usace.army.mil.
COALITION & COMMUNITY NOTES
We have endeavored to confirm the opportunities listed below. Please consider confirming directly with the hosts, particularlyin light of concerns about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
