Citizens Coalition

A bayou initiative with Bush backing: Parks By You wants to improve Houston'sgreen space

Houston parks have much green space to gain from a $410 million public bond package that will be put to voters in November, and though the date is still months away, grassroots activists have already started getting the word out.

Parks By You, a cleverly-named coalition of citizens working to connect bayou trails, improve neighborhood parks and increase access to both, was launched this summer to promote the benefits — from public health and safety to environmental preservation — of proposed park expansions.

The group's first goal is to pass the Nov. 6 bond issue, which would allocate $160 million worth of improvements to those bayous and parks. Its ultimate vision is to make green spaces available, so that no Houstonian would have to travel more than 1.5 miles to enjoy the great outdoors.

The group's first goal is to pass the bond, which would allocate $160 million worth of improvements to those bayous and parks, on Nov. 6.

A YouTube PSA video released in late July features upbeat testimonials from some of the coalition members: A spandexed and cycling State Sen. Rodney Ellis, City Councilman Ed Gonzalez in running gear, council member Stephen Costello wearing a suit and tie, plus a handful of other political supporters and community members.

Among the other faces is a familiar name — Pierce Bush (grandson of George H.W. and younger brother to model and philanthropist Lauren Bush Lauren), a self-described "avid park user" who works at an investment firm and co-chairs Parks by Young Professionals.

"You will know that your vote made the difference that made this thing possible," says Bush, who encourages Houstonians to create the city that they want by voting in November.

Watch the video above.

Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Beyonce Super Bowl

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”

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