Good Evening,
Let me also thank the Federal Reserve Bank and Donald Bowers for once again hosting the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Meeting.
It was here in 2007 that I was first sworn-in as Chairman of the Chamber.
It is an honor, to once again, have the opportunity to serve our community with the outstanding individuals on this year’s board.
During the past five years, the Chamber has grown bigger and stronger. We have more members, more supporters, have secured historic landmark designation for our building, created a foundation and continue to award college scholarships and recognize the pinnacle of African-American businesses from the established to the upstarts to our biggest advocates.
To all of you who are here tonight, our members, sponsors and supporters, especially the Port of Houston and Shell, as always, thank you for your continuing commitment to the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce and our mission of serving as the leading advocate and defender of Houston’s African-American business owners, professional and entrepreneurs.
Since 1934, The Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce has been “The Leading Voice of Houston’s Black Business Community.”
The Chamber has always been and remains an advocate for equal opportunity and partnerships for economic empowerment and social justice in our city. This is why we will work with Pat Oxford and the Greater Houston Partnership on their “Common Ground” Initiative.
What African-American business owners continue to care about is what’s best for our entire City.
We care about the survival and success of businesses, job creation, equal employment opportunity, diversity in the Boardroom, Executive Suite, and contracting in the public, private and non-profit sectors.
We care about safe, clean and healthy neighborhoods because without them you don’t have customers for businesses and businesses in unsafe neighborhoods suffer serious property damage and usually don’t prosper, grow or succeed.
As we move into this new year and new decade, our nation is at a crossroad.
We are not going to win the future in Texas by lying about history in our children’s textbooks.
I agree with President Obama that if this new century is going to be another American Century, our nation must be the best educated and most innovative in the world with the best infrastructure, manufacturing facilities and largest clean and renewable energy industry. The Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce will work to ensure that Houston remains the Energy Capitol of the world.
African- American business owners, professional and entrepreneurs must be leaders and consensus builders on addressing issues such as immigration reform, climate change, environmental protection, energy security, improving education, rebuilding our infrastructure and fiscal responsibility at the local, state and federal levels of government.
We must also be international in scope which is why I have asked Val Thompson, our former Executive Director, to assist us with our international efforts and initiatives.
Locally, we need to make sure that any voter identification law that is passed in Texas does not disenfranchise or dilute the voting strength of African-American voters.
We have come too far and worked too hard to end the poll tax, literacy exams and the all White primary in Texas for business leaders to sit silently and lose ground during this legislative session and round of redistricting.
Political power, a quality education and level playing field are the cornerstones of economic empowerment for African-Americans in our city, our state and our nation.
To succeed and grow, businesses need people who can read, write, think, use technology, work together and solve problems whether it requires science, engineering, math or common sense.
This is why the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce awards college scholarships and provides internship opportunities. We care about education as well as access to capital, bonding and contracting opportunities. Wealth, as it always has, grows out of intellectual capital, initiative, working smart, and having access to opportunities, political power and money.
In the coming months, the Chamber will work with Mayor Parker on rebuilding Houston’s infrastructure. We will also support her Hire Houston First Initiative. Our goal will be increasing the number of African-American prime contractors doing business with the city and the total amount of dollars spent with African-American businesses and entrepreneurs across the board, from construction to goods and professional services.
Finally, as we begin the celebration of Black History Month, let us all remember that Black History is American History.
Black History month is an acknowledgement that America is a better and stronger nation because of the contributions of African- Americans from unknown slaves to President Barack Obama today.
This month’s celebration not only gives us an opportunity to look back, it also gives us the opportunity to continue moving forward together. That is the goal of the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce; One Houston, One Texas, One America.
Thank you and God Bless.
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