Celebrating Black History Month. Commemorative Edition

Transcription

1 Celebrating Black History Month Commemorative Edition Volume 46 March 31, 2017

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3 Celebrating Black History Month HONORING OUR HISTORY A mericans have recognized black history annually since 1926, first as "Negro History Week" and later as "Black History Month" and African American History Month. What you might not know is that black history had barely begun to be studied or even documented when the tradition originated. Although blacks have been in America at least as far back as colonial times, it was not until the 20th century that they gained a respectable presence in the history books. We owe the celebration of Black History Month, and more importantly, the study of black history, to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Born to parents who were former slaves, he spent his childhood working in the Kentucky coal mines and enrolled in high school at age twenty. He graduated within two years and later went on to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. The scholar was disturbed to find in his studies that history books largely ignored the black American population and when blacks did figure into the picture, it was generally in ways that reflected the inferior social position they were assigned at the time. Woodson, always one to act on his ambitions, decided to take on the challenge of writing black Americans into the nation's history. He established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called the Association for the Study of Afro American Life and History). In 1915, and a year later founded the widely respected Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he launched Negro History Week as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history. Woodson chose the second week of February for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the black American population, Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. Volume 46 March 31, 2017 HONORING OUR AUSTIN,TEXAS PIONEERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Oliver Street Construction Company Doyle & Freeman Builders Thomas E. Ates, General Contractor James City, Home Builder Alvin Washington Trucking Company Hunt & Yett Construction Co. (real estate and general construction) JHarper Construction Company Schuler s Roofing Company Lawrence Electric Fowler s Electric Johnson s Hauling Company C.G. Hill Electric Company James C. Smith Concrete Dotson s & Johnson Heating & Air Conditioning Humphrey s Landscaping James Collins Concrete B&L Heating & Air Conditioning Lee Clemmons Plumbing Co. Chambers Heating & Air Conditioning Fred Jones Landscaping Ernest Mooney Plumbing Company Tom Wright Landscaping Co. Marshall Trucking Company Moseley s Woodcraft, Inc. Sneed s Welding Lott Lumber Co.

4 Page 4 A Tribute to... African American Construction Contractors African American Construction Contractors and Suppliers have struggled tirelessly over the decades to overcome systemic barriers that have blocked their full participation and ability to achieve economic parity in the construction marketplace. In spite of this, African American Contractors have been inventive, creative and resourceful with knocking down these barriers thru advocacy and demands for equal access to opportunities. Additionally, African American Contractors have provided many meaningful employment opportunities, training and mentorships to hundreds of individuals from all ethnic backgrounds in the Austin Metropolitan Area. To date, African American Contractors have participated in several City of Austin landmark projects with little or no recognition. These projects includes the - New Austin City Hall New Central Library and Related Improvements Austin Bergstrom International Airport Terminal Facility Austin Bergstrom Terminal East Infill Austin Bergstrom Terminal / Apron Expansion and Improvements Austin Energy Control Center Water Treatment Plant 4 Waller Creek Tunnel Decommissioning of Holly Street Power Plant Waller Creek Water Treatment Plant. The ABCA recognize these achievements for a job well done and what better way to celebrate is during Black History Month 2017 Best Regards and Success, Carol S. Hadnot Program Manager / Consultant, ABCA February 22, 2017 ABCA Award Recipients Sammy Ramirez City of Austin, Austin Energy Veronica Briseño & Thomas Owens City of Austin Small and Minority Business Resources Dept. Alvin Washington Alvin Washington Trucking Company Reginald World Trini Construction and Builders, LLC Alayne Johnson All Points Inspection Services, Inc. Patrick Carter Unity Contractor Services, Inc. Cloteal Davis Haynes Haynes Eaglin Waters, LLC Calvin Williams ZLynx Enterprise, Inc. Ralph Anthony Wright RAW Trucking

5 Page 5 Alayne Johnson, General Manager of Allpoints Inspection Services, Inc. is an ABCA 2017 Next Generation Contractor and newly elected president of the ABCA Sammy Ramirez, City of Austin, Austin Energy Recipient of ABCA s Advocacy Award City of Austin, Small and Minority Business Resources (SMBR) Staff Representatives: Harold Tolbert Business Development Counselor; Stella Richerson Kinley, Sr. Business Development Counselor; Veronica Briseño, Director; Edward Campos, Assistant Director; and Thomas Owens, Resource Division Manager

6 Page 6 On February 22, 2017, in the spirit of Dr. Carter G. Woodson the father of Black History Month, the Austin Area Black Contractors Association celebrated by honoring and recognizing several of their members and City of Austin staff members involved in the advancement of minority and women business enterprises.

7 Page 7 HONORING ABCA S NEXT GENERATION CONTRACTORS Recipients received a Congratulatoy Plaque and a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Austin Mayor s Office Cloteal Davis Haynes Haynes Eaglin Waters, LLC Patrick Carter & LaShae Lenzy Unity Contractor Services, Inc. Reginald World Trini Builders and Construction, LLC Alvin Washington Washington Trucking Company Calvin Williams Zlynx Enterperise Inc. Anthony Wright RAW Trucking

8 Page 8 Hale Hawkins, Austex Tree Services Avery Williamson, Avery Lawncare & Landscaping Heath Williamson and son Shadiq Williamson; Mrs. Vera Williams; and Sophia Williams Seated Right: Muriel Kruse, Univesity of Texas, Project Management and Construction Services; Debra Dibble, AISD HUB Program; Veronica Briseño, City of Austin SMBR; Edward Campos, City of Austin SMBR; Thomas Owens, City of Austin SMBR; Sherry Cruz, Forst Bank; Amelie Gonzales, Austin Energy; Linda Moore, Retired SMBR Seated Left: Reginald World, Trini Construction Builder; Juan Oyervides, USHCA; Cloteal Davis, HEW; Rolando Fernandez, City of Austin, Interim Director, Capital Contracting Officer Debra Dibble, Director of AISD HUB Program Veronica Briseño, Director, City of Austin SMBR

9 Page 9 Juan Oyervides, United States Hispanic Contractors Association Cloteal Davis Haynes and Arika Haynes Haynes Eaglin Waters, GC/Consulting Sammy Ramirez, Austin Energy, Harold Tolbert, SMBR Hale Hawkins, Austex Tree Services Theresa Smith, Smitco Concrete Alvin and Barbra Williams Alvin Washington Trucking Company Heath Williams and son Shadiq Williamson; Mr. James Harper, one of the ABCA Founding Members; Theresa Smith, Smitco Concrete; Mrs. Vera Williams and Sophia Williams were there to participate in the celebration.

10 Page 10 Standing: Sammy Ramirez, Sherry Cruz, Amelie Gonzalez. Seated: Hale Hawkins; Austex Tree Services; Avery Lawncare and Landscaping; Alvin Washington and Barbra Washington, Alvin Washington Trucking Company. Juan Oyervides, United States Hispanic Contractors Association Cloteal Davis Haynes and Arika Haynes Haynes Eaglin Waters, GC/Consulting; Sammie Ramirez, Austin Energy, Harold Tolbert, SMBR; Muriel Kruse, UTPMCS; Debra Dibble, AISD; Ed Campos, SMBR; Thomas Owens, SMBR; and Linda Moore

11 Page 11 Patrick Carter and Sammy Ramirez Muriel Edward Debra Veronica Linda Moore and Harold Tolbert Juan Oyervides, USHCA a publication of the Austin Area Black Contractors Association, Inc. The Black History Celebration is an annual event sponsored by the Austin Area Black Contractors Association. The event was held on February 22, 2017 at Pappadeaux s Fine Dining Room. Business Resource Consultants served as the Event Planner. Black History Month 2017 Commemorative Edition March 31, 2017 Volume 46 website: , office , fax brc-pro@att.net Publisher: Business Resource Consultants, Program Manager / Consultant for the Austin Area Black Contractors Association

12 Author: JULIET E. K. WALKER is professor of history at the University of Texas, Austin, and the founder and director of the Center for Black Business History, Entrepreneurship, and Technology. She is author of Free Frank: A Black Pioneer on the Antebellum Frontier and editor of Encyclopedia of African American Business History.