Celebrating Freedom at Liberty Fest

This year’s Liberty Fest was a true celebration of what makes District J so special—our diversity, community spirit, and resilience. Despite the rain, the event was packed with incredible food, family-friendly games, valuable resources, and what many are calling the best fireworks show in Houston. A big thank you to Paul Wall, Diana Torres, and all the performers who lit up the stage with outstanding entertainment. Deep gratitude goes out to the Southwest Management District, Sharpstown Civic Association, PlazAmericas Mall, District J Patrol, HPD, HFD, Commissioner Briones, Council Members Thomas and Ramirez, and all the vendors and volunteers who helped make this celebration unforgettable. Your support and dedication truly made Liberty Fest shine.

Sharpstown Trail Ribbon Cutting

Council Member Edward Pollard joined community leaders and residents to celebrate the ribbon cutting of Phase One of the Sharpstown Trail. This newly unveiled 1.8-mile, 10-foot-wide trail runs from Sands Point Drive to Beechnut Street through a CenterPoint Energy easement and is part of a broader vision to connect to Brays Bayou and the Bayou Greenway network. Once complete, the trail will improve mobility, expand access to green space, and offer a safe place for recreation in Southwest Houston. Council Member Pollard extends his gratitude to Commissioner Briones, the Houston Parks Board, Parks and Recreation Department, TIRZ 20, Southwest Management District, Sharpstown Civic Association—especially Pat Menville and Charmaine LeBlanc—and all the dedicated stakeholders, volunteers, and vendors who helped make this vision a reality.

ALMAAHH Gets Funding Support

The Houston City Council has approved $130,000 in support of ALMAAHH (Advocates of Latino Museum of Cultural and Visual Arts & Archive in Houston, Harris County) to help advance their vision of creating a world-class arts and culture complex. This future museum will celebrate American Latino heritage and solidify Houston’s role as a national hub for Latino cultural expression. While the museum will be located in the East End, District J is proudly home to many Latino families. Council Member Edward Pollard contributed $25,000 from his council office budget to support this important initiative. The museum is a long-term project, and this funding marks an important step toward making it a reality.

Annual Parade Celebrates Juneteenth

Council Member Edward Pollard proudly joined the community for the Annual Sylvester Turner Juneteenth Parade, a vibrant celebration of freedom, history, and unity. Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Texas were finally informed of their emancipation—over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Today, it stands as a powerful reminder of resilience, progress, and the ongoing fight for equality. The parade was a joyful, family-friendly event filled with music, culture, and community pride. Families of all backgrounds came together to honor this important milestone in American history and celebrate the rich contributions of African Americans to our city and nation. It was a day of reflection, education, and shared joy—everything a great community celebration should be.

Houston Make Music Day

Striking a chord for community and culture, Council Member Pollard proudly participated in Houston’s 5th Annual Make Music Day by picking up a violin and joining musicians across the city in this global celebration. Held every year on June 21st, Make Music Day is a free event that invites people of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels to come together through the universal language of music. Originating in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique, the event now spans over 1,000 cities in 120 countries. In 2024 alone, more than 5,300 music-making events took place across the U.S. — all designed to be inclusive, spontaneous, and open to the public.

St. George Place Community Block Party

The St. George Community Block Party was a wonderful opportunity to connect with neighbors in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Council Member Pollard enjoyed spending time with residents, sharing conversations, and strengthening community ties. The event was filled with laughter, games, delicious food, and a true spirit of fellowship. It served as a reminder of the power of community gatherings to bring people together across backgrounds and generations.

Panama City Economic Trade Mission

Council Member Edward Pollard had the honor of leading a delegation of business and civic leaders from the Houston area on an economic trade mission to Panama City, Panama. The visit offered valuable opportunities to build relationships, explore investment prospects, and engage with Panamanian culture in meaningful ways.

Special thanks to all the dedicated delegates who participated and to Heidi Powell and the team at Global Vision for their outstanding coordination and support. This mission marks another step in strengthening Houston’s global economic connections and expanding opportunities for our local community.

Social Motion Offers Free and Discount Autism Services for Families

Council Member Edward Pollard remains committed to ensuring accessible after-school and summer programming for children with autism and special needs. In partnership with Social Motion, Social Skills classes are now being offered at no cost to families residing in District J zip codes 77036, 77074, and 77081—while funding lasts. Families outside these areas can still participate at an affordable rate. This effort is part of a broader commitment to fostering a community where every child has the chance to learn, grow, and thrive.

For more information or to enroll, visit socialmotionskills.org.

Bless the Block Father's Day Community Event

Council Member Edward Pollard and his son EJ joined community partners for the Father’s Day "Bless the Block" food distribution, part of the Help Houston’s Homeless initiative. The event brought together a coalition of local organizations and volunteers committed to serving our most vulnerable neighbors. Special thanks to Hoodies for Healing, Cali Kitchen HTX, Guzel Cakes, Black Voters Matter TX, SGI-USA, AAMWA Houston, and all who helped make this event a success. A heartfelt thank you also goes to Rosemary Tucker for her unwavering compassion and leadership in supporting Houston’s homeless community.

Fade to Black Arts Festival

Council Member Edward Pollard attended the Fade to Black Arts Festival at the MATCH Theatre in Midtown. This annual event celebrates the work of Black playwrights and actors through a dynamic lineup of plays and performances. Council Member Pollard proudly sponsored the festival in memory of his late mother, who collaborated with many of the talented individuals featured in this year’s event. It was a meaningful opportunity to honor her legacy while supporting Black arts and culture in Houston.

Texas Women's Veterans Day

Council Member Pollard had the honor of delivering remarks at the Texas Women Veterans Day celebration at City Hall. The event paid tribute to the courageous servicewomen who have served our nation with distinction—many of whom have not received the recognition they rightfully deserve.

Among the honorees were Mildred Lois Hooper, mother of Stelena Hopper Evans, who proudly served in the historic 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion during World War II. Another honoree, Judy Harwell, was Pollard’s principal at Lovett Elementary and a veteran of the Vietnam War. To all women veterans—thank you for your bravery, sacrifice, and service to our country.

Gearing Up for the FIFA World Cup

We are now less than one year away from Houston hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2026. As we count down to this global event, our city is preparing to welcome the world to the most diverse city in America—where one in four residents is foreign-born. This is an incredible opportunity to showcase Houston’s culture, hospitality, and unity on an international stage.

To learn how you can volunteer and get involved, visit fwc26houston.com.

Majority Minors Camp Teaches Civic Engagement to Youth

Council Edward Pollard recently met with the inspiring young advocates of Majority Minors—elementary students participating in a summer camp focused on civic engagement. These bright future leaders came prepared with thoughtful questions and a passion for improving homeless policies in Houston.

J City Students Receive Free Laptops

In a meaningful collaboration with Compudot, AT&T, CYCLE Houston, The Garden, and St. Luke’s Gethsemane Methodist Church, free laptops were distributed to students at Nativity Academy in J City. For many of these children, this marks their first access to a personal computer at home—an essential tool for education, exploration, and growth. The initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure every student has the resources they need to succeed. The excitement on their faces was unforgettable, and the hope is that these laptops will open doors to knowledge, creativity, and opportunity.

CVS Homeless Encampment Cleared

Thanks to the swift response of the District J Patrol, a growing homeless encampment at the abandoned CVS Pharmacy at Bissonnet and Wilcrest was recently cleared. After receiving complaints from residents, the Patrol scheduled an on-site meeting with a CVS representative and filed a trespass affidavit to legally prevent further unauthorized use of the property.

The team will continue to monitor the location to ensure no new encampments are established. CVS is actively working to sell the property, and once new ownership is in place, the District J team plans to engage with them to encourage responsible use and ongoing site management. This is another example of how the District J Patrol works proactively to address public safety concerns and maintain the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

Home Repair and Homebuyer Assistance Programs Now Available

The City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) is proud to announce the official launch of two critical programs designed to bring relief and opportunity to Houston families: the Winter Storm Uri Single-Family Home Repair Program and the Harvey Homebuyer Assistance Program 2.0. See below for the details on each program.

Crain Park Listening Session

Council Member Pollard attended a pop-up listening session at E.L. Crain Park, hosted as part of the Sharpstown Civic Association Meeting. This interactive event gave residents a chance to share their thoughts and ideas for future improvements to their neighborhood park. With Spanish language services available, along with dinner, door prizes, and giveaways, the session was designed to be accessible and engaging for the whole community.

J City Projects

Plainfield and Meaux Panels



The Public Works Department replaced panels along a stretch of roadway near Plainfield and Meaux.

Wednesday Wrap-Up

Now more than ever, it is critically important for as many constituents as possible to be informed about how our local government operates. With this in mind, Council Member Pollard highlights one topic addressed at Houston City Council sessions in a video series called Wednesday Wrap-Up. It's an effort to provide insight into the innerworkings of City Hall. Check out the YouTube channel to see weekly wrap-up videos.

Thursdays in the J

Stay in the loop with everything happening in J City by watching Thursdays in the J—our weekly video series where Council Member Edward Pollard highlights programs, services, and key initiatives across the district. From community resources to public safety updates, these videos provide valuable insights into the services our office offers and how they can benefit you.

Tune in every week on the District J YouTube channel.

District J Patrol is a three-pronged approach to public safety bridging the gap between the law enforcement officers in District J and the communities they serve. Sponsored by the District J office, this initiative includes community patrolling by Houston Police Department’s Differential Response Team (DRT), the use of five Polaris vehicles and the District J Patrol Task Force. Residents may report small neighborhood violations and infringements, such as panhandling, loitering, overgrown lots, graffiti, homeless encampments and other public nuisances. To file a report, visit the online portal at www.DistrictJPatrol.com. 

To learn more about our modern approach to community policing, or to file a report regarding a quality of life issue, please visit www.districtjpatrol.com. To retrieve data, research policy, or to file a complaint online, visit houstontx.gov/policetransparency.

District J Office Staff

The District J office staff is here to serve you.

David "Alex" Brizuela, Deputy Chief of Staff

Ana "Francis" Ellis, District Coordinator

Council Member Edward Pollard

Misty Starks, Director of Communications

Paul Young, Chief of Staff