Please find below the endorsement by the Star Telegram of me for a 3rd term as your City Council Representative for District 8.
The endorsement means so much to me. However, I am more moved by all the great work we have been able to do together for District 8 and our great city over the past 4 years!
We have just two weeks to go until Election Day! Thanks to all of you for your support and friendship and prayers!!!
Onward and Upward - District 8!!!!!!
- Kathleen
Recommendation: Hicks for Fort Worth City Council District 8
Fort Worth Council District 8
Fort Worth City Council District 8 runs primarily along the east side of Interstate 35 from roughly Texas 121 in the north to past Farm Road 1187 in the south. It includes central city and rapidly growing suburban areas, and has some of the city’s most depressed areas within its boundaries.
Under council member Kathleen Hicks, it has made great strides in the past four years.
Hicks, also mayor pro tem, is high-energy, hardworking and independent, but she has proved that she can bridge the needs of district residents and the city staff for the betterment of both. District 8 has shown a steady decrease of crime during her council tenure.
Hicks, 36, who is the executive director of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Tarrant County, understands that the issues of transportation in Fort Worth affect the entire region — and vice versa.
Her keen interest in the development of the city’s 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness stems from the fact that the majority of the city’s homeless men, women and children seeks services and help at agencies located in her district.
Hicks pledges to focus in a new term on seeing that Code Compliance works with other city departments and government agencies to improve neighborhoods not only in District 8 but throughout the city.
The Star-Telegram Editorial Board recommends Kathleen Hicksfor Fort Worth City Council District 8.
Come phone bank for my re-election campaign for Fort Worth City Council, District 8! We are meeting on the dates below. Come one day or come to them all! Food! Fun! Great people! And working for a good cause!
Bring your cell phone and speak to the people in your community about the great strides we’ve made in District 8!
Volunteer Schedule Tuesday April 21st 6PM - 8:30PM
It has been a very busy day indeed in our district. My mother joined me at Texas Wesleyan University to hear noted Professor Dr. Bartley L. McSwine, a Fort Worth naive. The historic Saint Andrews United Methodist Church help sponsor Dr. McSwine who lectured on African-American studies. I was then off to address the retired Fire Fighters of Fort Worth who have been long-time supporters and engaged and involved in our great Fort Worth community.
From there, I toured through the Historic South side. Some of the most unique architecture in Fort Worth can be found in this jewel of a neighborhood so very near downtown. This area of our city is truly on the cusp of a new positive chapter of renaissance. It is a pleasure to see all the new buildings in the area including the Hazel Harvey Center for Neighborhoods, the Shamblee Library and lot more to come!
Today, I also got a chance to visit Meadowbrook United Methodist Church where Pastor Jim Chandler. Rev. Chandler has done a wonderful job bringing these communities together. That was never more evident in the basketball I got to witness. My friend GiGi is one of the coaches. Not only is an opportunity for positive activities in our communities, it provides a positive and uplifting experience for kids from all walks of life.
From there I visited with West Meadowbrook President Don Boren and his wife Wanda Conlin about continued re-zoning in the area and other pro-active avenues to keep this wonderful community moving forward in a positive way.
Finally, I meet with United Communities which brings together several neighborhood associations on the south side. We discussed progress with the urban village at Berry and Riverside , the new economic development at the old Masonic Home and other issues.
It has been a long day, but extremely productive as our district continues to work so well to improve our neighborhoods.
As a teenager, I often took a short cut through CobbPark leaving my home in Rolling Hills to make it to Martin Luther King Freeway.Then as is now, the park is not the most inviting.At over 200 acres, it is one of the biggest parks in Fort Worth.Yet, there is little parking and very few other amenities as opposed to SycamorePark, down the street and also in District 8, which boosts the first new splash pad in the City of Fort Worth.
But CobbPark is finally poised for a renaissance!At the February 3rd Council meeting, the council unanimously passed a redevelopment plan for the park.With well over 3 million dollars, a new entrance will be constructed, there will be more parking facilities, more picnic areas, a bridge over what is currently a low water crossing and many other improvements.This is the result of a master plan that was created for the park last year.It was the first master plan since the 1960s!!!!!!Over 400 residents participated in the survey demonstrating that District 8 residents care deeply about our parks.
Reclaiming this beautiful space has been a major goal of mine as we work toward the continued renaissance of this wonderful part of our city.Once again, the improvements at CobbPark signal that we are on positive journey toward real and lasting change for our District 8 community.
What an amazing experience this has been! Tuesday was the never-ending day as we wearily trudged back to the hotel after the balls at 2 a.m.! Indeed, below is a picture of my uncle IP, who was my escort for the night taking a quick nap on the Metro.
But what an experience! First Lady Michelle Obama looked exhausted by the time she and the president reached the Southern Ball around midnight. But the diverse crowd of over 4,000 was enthralled, and so was I.
We also got to hear Vice President Biden graciously thank everyone for their support. Even after returning back to the hotel, I could not help but watch the television coverage. I have never seen so many people come together in such a positive and remarkable way. During this trip, we have met and seen countless Americans who are so hopeful about our future. We saw friends who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina but were determined to share this moment in history and drove here 22 hours almost non-stop.
At the inauguration, I sat next to Palestinian-Americans who, despite the continued tormoil in the Middle East, remain optimistic. And so I leave Washington, D.C., feeling renewed. I thank the Star-Telegram for this opportunity to share this remarkable journey through this forum. I look forward to continuing to work with many other folks to bring positive and lasting change to our community. As President Obama urged us last night "let's go change America!"
Headed out to the We the People Ball and Southern Ball, I thought there was something really wrong with wearing a sleeveless floor-length dress in 25-degree weather AND riding the subway!
There are 100 members of our Fort Worth Police Department here, led by Deputy Chief Ramirez and Captain Salinas. Indeed, while I was complaining about getting up at 5.30 a.m., they were out at 3.30 a.m., working a full day at the inauguration, parade and balls. Law enforcement helped out from across the country, and I know FWPD was honored to be a part of this historic chapter in our nation's history. And, yes, guys, I got you lots of souvenirs!
It's quickly becoming a family and Fort Worth friends reunion here! Had dinner Sunday night with lots of family and friends. The buzzing excitement can be felt everywhere we go!
This morning, my aunt, Deborah, braved the long lines to wait for our inauguration tickets. I joined her, and together we saw lots of Fort Worth residents also lining up for tickets. Eastside activist Regina Blair was there with her mother and sister. We also saw City of Fort Worth Economic Development director Jay Chapa with his wife. (See photo)
Also here is an old family friend, Travis Parmer, who reported that he drove the whole way here on his own!
Special thanks to members of Congress Dr. Michael Burgess, Kay Granger and Kevin Brady for our inauguration tickets. We also received the programs, which are absolutely amazing! My mum and I started crying again when we looked at them.The fact that an African-American will soon take the oath of office for the highest office in the land is still too awesome to comprehend.
(Photo of Regina Blair, Kathleen Hicks, Maryellen Hicks at office of Rep. Michael Burgess.)
Just joined my mother for her weekly radio show, and many generations joined us. We were all crying as we contemplated what will occur in just over 48 hours.
Last night, we arrived at our hotel about 7 p.m. in Arlington, Va.
We had traveled through six states until finally hitting a blue state: North Carolina.
On Friday night, we stayed in Atlanta with my cousin Whitney, who is working on a doctorate in African-American Women's studies at Emory University. It was great to share this time with her. Whitney represents what's so great about this county: the ability to succeed through education - she is truly living the dream.
We got a late start on Saturday-- just exhausted from the long journey. However, as we drove farther north, we started to see more and more Obama signs, including an "Obama, here we come!" sign. Our excitement continued to build.
I have heard from so many old friends along the way, including a friend whom I rode my bicycle with in Ryan Place as a child. He had read about our journey and wanted to wish us the best.
We are now headed to the mall with my uncle and a friend from New York to hear the concert. We hope to see the President-Elect!
Well, isn’t it only fitting that I would start my blog in the heart of the American south?Indeed, our journey started well before dawn when a Star Telegram photographer came to my mothers, Judge Maryellen Hicks’ home to commemorate what I hope will be a very excellent adventure!
Now I will not lie. I was rather underwhelmed to be driving to Washington, DC.My mother and I had shared a rather unpleasant plane trip to Africa a few years ago.She has not been on a plane since.Swept up in a moment of election night euphoria, my best friend Dr. Camille Rodriguez and I promised my dear mother that we would drive her to Washington, DC if Barack Obama won.
And so I find myself in Meridian.Nevertheless, it is a very small price to pay to be a very small piece of history.This past summer I had driven this very same route with my mother on yet another car trip.I remember fretting about whether this country could indeed elect an African-American president.Not even six months later, I find myself on my way to being apart of something I never thought possible – at least not in my lifetime.
Over the past week, I have talked to many Fort Worth residents who are making the same journey.One lady told me she would be leaving by bus at 1 am in the morning.Another was driving with friends.We all shared the same excitement, the same hope – that despite the economicwoes that plague this country, the uncertainty of the future, we remained optimisticand, yes, we wanted to share in a new day for our country.
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