Weekly Report 1-15

Community PillarThelma Scott

By d-mars.com

Students and Family Empowerment Diversity Communities (S.A.F.E.), formally known as Barbara Jordan Endeavors Corporation, is celebrating 20 successful years of assisting high school students with disabilities attend college and beyond.

The SAFE Diversity Communities is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that focuses on stopping the stigma of bullying, reducing the dropout rates and increasing suicide prevention methods for at-risk high school students with disabilities who are emotionally and mentally challenged. SAFE encourages empowerment by equipping the students to become self-sufficient, discover their maximum potential and achieve their academic goals.

The organization hosted their 6th Annual Blue Carpet Scholarship Awards GALA, this year’s celebration being virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The online celebration took place on July 10 and 11 and included special guest and keynote speaker Robert Springer, President & General Manager for KHOU Channel 11 News. Honorees were Mayor Sylvester Turner, Shah Ardalan, President of Lonestar University Park, Rev. James Caldwell, Founder/CEO Coalition of Community Organizations, Special Guest Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee, Bryan Glines with CenterPoint Energy and all 2020 scholarship recipients and their parents. The organization gave over $15,000 in scholarships and raised awareness of why it is important to fight for diversity and inclusion, especially in this day and time.

Over the last 20 years, SAFE Founder and CEO Thelma “Mama” Scott, with the help of sponsors, supporters and community partners, has been able to reward more than $150,000 in scholarships without the assistance of state and federal funding.

Scott’s work has gained her recognition from several prestigious organizations and people

cluding a nomination by former Presidents Barak Obama for the Champion of Change STEM Award for People with Disabilities and being the first African American Woman to be appointed by the Governor Office to serve on a statewide position where

collaborating with various churches, school districts, businesses, organizations, corporations and partnering coalitions to connect at-risk high school students with disabilities to community resources.

Over the years, the growing community organization has created unique ways to spread their initiative and gratitude throughout the Greater Houston area where they invite vendors for FREE to come out and share information and resources that help their students, their parents and their family members that gives them an opportunity to strive in rebuilding their lives in any

she traveled each year to Washington DC to advocated for funds for the State of Texas.

SAFE believes the community is stronger when everyone comes together to advocate for diversity inclusion and equality for all. This is achieved through