Houston – The 6thAnnual Shepard-Acres Homes Legends: Past and Present Essay Contest Celebration will recognize and award those students who’s essay best highlighted an Acres Homes community leader past or present. The community is invited to attend this outstanding event on Saturday, March 2, 2019, 10 AM at the Beulah Shepard-Acres Homes Neighborhood Library, 8501 West Montgomery 77088, 832-393-1700.
Mayor Sylvester Turner, life-long resident in the Acres Homes community, will be this year’s guest speaker.
This event is made possible by: The Houston Public Library, the Houston Public Library Foundation, and the Friends of Beulah Shepard Legacy.
Program Presentation will include:
Special Dance Tribute: Lit 4 Praise directed by Beverly Allen Robinson.
Mistress of Ceremony: Rene Jefferson Smith
Poetry Presentation: M. Powers
Introduction to Guest Speaker: JaShon Palmer
Guest Speaker: Honorable, Mayor, Sylvester Turner
Presentation of Awards
About the Essay Contest
In honor of African American History Month, students in Pre-K through 12th grade were encouraged to research and write an essay about Acres Homes leaders (past and present) who are community legends.
Students chose one or more Acres Homes community leaders to profile. Suggestions for community leaders were Mayor Sylvester Turner, Loretta Devine, Jewel Houston, Ruby Mosely, Dorothy Hubbard, Beulah Shepard, Pastor F.N. Williams, Pastor Edwin Davis, Pastor Floyd Flakes, the Jefferson family, or a student could choose another Acres Homes legend that was not listed. Entries have been judged on originality, grammar and creativity. All entries will be kept upon submission by the Friends of the Beulah Shepard Legacy Committee.
About the Acres Homes Community
The Acres Homes community was established during World War I and is considered to be one of the largest African American communities in the southeast region.
About Ms. Beulah Shepard
Beulah Shepard, a community activist, crossed many political barriers. She made herself heard about what she believed in and supported many important causes with great passion. She worked on several political campaigns that included John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barbara Jordan, Mark White, and Mickey Leland. She shared her wisdom with public figures at all levels. Local city council members, county officials, state legislators, members of Congress and even several U.S. Presidents sought her advice and counsel. Shepard became known as the “Mayor” of Acres Homes, where she was instrumental in improving her community.
About the Houston Public Library
The Houston Public Library (HPL) operates 37 neighborhood libraries, three HPL Express Libraries, a Central Library, the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, The African American Library at the Gregory School, and the Parent Resource Library located in the Children’s Museum of Houston. With more than eight million visits per year in person and online, HPL is committed to excellent customer service and equitable access to information and programs by providing library customers with free use of a diverse collection of printed materials and electronic resources, Internet, laptop and computer use, and a variety of database and reference resources with live assistance online 24/7.
For further information, visit the Houston Public Library at www.houstonlibrary.org, on Twitter @houstonlibrary, on Facebook – houstonlibrary or call 832-393-1313.