Chancellor Bruce Leslie is justly proud of what Houston Community College Systems has accomplished so far, but he was adamant about what must be done to prepare the next generation of underprivileged minority students to compete in 2015 America’s job market when he spoke at the Acres Home Citizens Chamber of Commerce’s July 11, 2002 Networking/Luncheon at G.W. Carver High School, 2100 S. Victory.

Leslie was eloquent in his presentation, as he expounded on the ever-expanding programs provided by HCCS that already annually trains 200 students to become EMTs. And as many as 600 students who annually take continuing education courses to upgrade their skills, including nurses, physicians and medical school residents at hospitals in the Texas Medical Center. “Our 55,000 students, as well as the taxpayers in our 618 square mile service area, are benefiting from HCCS’s return on the local and state governments’ investment in higher education and in the earning potential of our students,” said Leslie. “We are dedicated to the success of our students and to the prosperity of Houston and surrounding areas.”

Leslie certainly wasn’t being self-aggrandizing, insofar as the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) released a study touting the positive impact of community colleges on the state’s economy. As the largest singularly accredited community college system in Texas, HCCS is responsible for a $2.1 billion expansion to Houston’s economy each year. However, as glowing as the Leslie’s report was, an impromptu debate between Bud Johnson, our living historian and HCCS’s Trustee Bruce Austin energized the well-attended network/luncheon, much to the delight of many of those who were unaware of the community college concept’s origin.
As essential as HCCS has become to assure many students with an opportunity to continue their education, that they otherwise would be denied, Bud opened an old can of worms, when he suggested that the original mission HISD mandated for the school had not only been abandoned, but had become somewhat an aggressive competitor for students and resources with other schools of higher education. A puzzled Leslie, who hails from the east coast deferred to Austin, who obviously is very familiar with the history as well as the politics of HCCS, that at one time threaten the existence of the much needed school.

“First thing is that HISD lied from the start.” Austin who was in rare form in spite of recovering from a recent stroke. “Even if HCCS had gotten the cooperation promised (to use existence school buildings and teachers for evening classes), it still wouldn’t have worked. You can’t teach higher education in ill-equipped high schools. It was an impossible dream.”
However, Austin momentarily became passionate when he explained how “dirty politics” literally forced HCCS to go its separate way. And it is very fortunate for the untold numbers of African American students, as well as the others who benefited from HCCS that it became a separate and independent entity.

In spite of the bad publicity, and the bickering between the Board of Trustees, that include Austin, Jay Alyer, Abel Davilla, Yolanda Navarro Flores, Herlinda Garcia, Herman Little, James Murphy, Christopher Oliver and Dr. Michael P. Williams, the good things that HCCS brings to our communities far out weighs the bad things, and there definitely is no reason to complain for the outstanding job they’re doing. Especially in the northwest Houston community. The Acres Home Citizens Chamber of Commerce greatly values its relationship with HCCS.
In fact, Dr. Leslie revealed future plans that are already on the drawing board that will allow HCCS to serve students even better, which is a fact we are thankful for. And as always we had a chance to thank Dr. Margaret Forde, president of HCCS’s Northeast Houston, personally because she is a regular member of AHCCC’s “Lunch Bunch.”

Also representing HCCS at the luncheon were: Manuel Rodriguez, Jonathan Taylor, James Sparks, Robert Melcahy, Curtis Dopolan, and Thomas Baxter. Kenneth Holden, Lois Avery. Patti Whitmire Carlton, Aleca Rodriguez and Jackie Mullei. Aldine ISD, as usually was well represented by General Superintendent Nadine Kujawa, Margaret Byrd, Dianne Creekmore, Clarence Johnson and Tim Salman.   Helen Large, Carmen Flores and Freddie Jammer were a lively contingent from a lively Judge David Patronella’s Justice Peace Court 1-2. TXU Energy’s Donna Melton, Carlos Santo and Casey Mc Kinney not only were in the house but brought gifts; HFD’s Rick Flanagan topped that by bringing his daughter Alesia and Lt. Fred Guidry represented HPD; Clifford Brown, Mattie Cade, Hilda Cole, Juanita M. Oliver, Elnora Melcher, Rev. C.O. Radley, Elizabeth Hebert. Veronica Guillory, Janette Hammond, C. E. Amos, Keith Gray, Darryl Thomas and Harold Wade were Team Reliant.

Also present were: Betsy Forrest (Triumph Hospital); Connie Leday (Harris Academy); Rev. Raymond Hillis (PMBC); Marcus Milburn (Sheraton); Rev. John Gibbs (A.C.T. I.O.Ns CDC); Holly Brock, Jon Zumsteg, Sophia O’Neil, Pasaron Muws, David Tensen, and Nickie Shelton (Voice Stream Wireless); Barbara Trageser (Bethune); Ernest Houston; Greta Molo (CM Galloway); Kim James, Cecil Huston and McKinley Smith (Carver); Herbert Steptoe (Winner’s Circle); R. Dean Moore (MHMRA); Jocelyn Dorsey (Osborne); Carolyn Kenner-Varner (Metro); Danitre Frazier (3D Visions), Natalie Fridge (AH Health Center); Debbie Santa (AHYA) and Paradise Funeral Home’s Rose Howard.

Acres Home Community Development Corporation that will hold it’s 3rd Annual Banquet on August 8, 2002 at Greater Zion MBC, 1202 Dollywright @ W. Montgomery, was represented by Hosea Harris, Tammie Piper and Brenda Lacey. Chamber members Robert LeDay did his usual job of moderating and Keith Silas presented the speaker. Beulah Shepard offered prayer.
The Chamber’s next monthly meeting will be Sept. 5, 2002 at Harris Academy, 3130 Holder Forest (Oaks of Inwood Subdivision), Mrs. Connie Leday, principal. City Councilmember At-Large, Position 2 Gordon Quan will be the guest speaker. For information and direction call Sharon Johnson 713/692-7703.