Hope, Progress and CHANGE!

Dear Fellow District 8 Resident,

2008 was another exciting year for our district. Indeed, George Bernard Shaw once stated that “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” Change was a crucial theme this past year as we elected a new president in a historic election. Locally, positive change continued to ring throughout our district.

The last quarter of 2008 saw many more groundbreakings across the district. Mayor Moncrief, numerous city staff and community advocates joined me on a crisp October day to break ground on the new Hazel Harvey Peace Center for Neighborhoods on the corner of Terrell and I-35.

In November, I joined federal and state officials to break ground for the new multi-million dollar Veterans Hospital. The facility near Campus and 8-20 will serve veterans from across north Texas. A few weeks days later we celebrated more positive change with the opening of the newly renovated Baker Building on the campus of Texas Wesleyan University. The renovation reflects the significant progress in the Polytechnic Urban Village. Thanks to public and private partnerships, the area is coming alive with the TWU bookstore, and other commercial development to come in 2009 in buildings along East Rosedale that have stood empty for far too long.

November also saw the Go Gateway! Celebration as hundreds of residents came out to enjoy this great east side park which soon will boast numerous new improvements for all of Fort Worth to enjoy. Also the FW City Council recently approved the Neighborhood Empowerment Zone for West Meadowbrook. This important milestone will encourage re-investment in East Fort Worth.

Finally, I was delighted to take part in the ceremony in which All Church Home for Children celebrated their move to the old Masonic Home Campus at MLK Freeway and East Berry. As a proud board member of ACH, I can tell you that this organization is setting the bar for quality programs in child welfare that is dramatically strengthening families and reducing child abuse. ACH will invest well over 10 million dollars to improve the campus and will be a vital anchor in district 8 community. We welcome them!

I could go on and on about all the positive change occurring through-out our wonderful district. I thank you for going on this positive journey with me as we continue to make important and lasting strides!

Until next time,

Onward and Upward District 8!!

-Kathleen