[00:00:10] PROCLAMATION PRESENTATION. TODAY IS TUESDAY, JANUARY 6TH, 2026. AND IF YOU WOULD CHOOSE TO STAND IN SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN INVOCATION AND ALSO PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. GRACIOUS AND LOVING GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE THAT GIVE SO MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND AND WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR PRESENCE HERE TODAY AND FOR THE RECOGNITION THAT THEY DESERVE. AND, LORD, WE ASK THAT THIS COMING YEAR THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BLESS US AND GUIDE US AND DIRECT US AND BLESS THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND THESE PEOPLE. AS WE MOVE FORTH IN TO MAKE BEAUMONT A MORE BEAUTIFUL CITY, A MORE CARING CITY, A MORE LOVING CITY, AND WE ASK ALL THIS IN THE PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS. IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SIT BY ME. ALL RIGHT. TODAY WE HAVE FIVE PROCLAMATIONS. AND WHEN I CALL [PROCLAMATIONS] YOUR NAME AND THE GROUP'S NAME, IF YOU'D PLEASE COME FORWARD TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION. AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE PICTURES AS WELL. AND THEN YOU'LL BE ALLOWED AND AS MANY AS OF YOU, AS OF YOU IN THE GROUP AS YOU WOULD LIKE, CAN SPEAK AT THE PODIUM, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND FIRST, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING. TUESDAY, JANUARY 6TH, 2026, AS THE UNITED WAY OF BEAUMONT AND NORTH JEFFERSON COUNTY LADIES IN RED HONOREE'S DAY FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT AND ACCEPTING WILL BE MISS KAREN HUSBAND, UNITED WAY PRESIDENT AND CEO. AND IF YOU WOULD BRING UP ALL THE LADIES THAT ARE WITH YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU. AND I'M JUST FOLLOWING. GOOD TO SEE YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS TO. HELLO. THAT'S COOL ABOUT YOUR SON. HELLO. HOW ARE YOU? I'M SORRY. OH, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU. OVER HERE. YES. YEAH. THAT'S ALRIGHT. YOU CAN SIT RIGHT HERE BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY THREE OF THEM. THIS IS THE FIRST ONE. PERFECT TIMING. OKAY. IF EVERYBODY WILL LOOK RIGHT HERE FIRST. AND THREE. TWO. ONE. OKAY. AND NOW EVERYBODY ELSE HOLD FOR ME. OH, WE'RE GETTING ANOTHER ONE. SORRY. ANOTHER ONE. WELL, YOU. ONLY. MISTER CHAIR. YEAH, YOU MAY SIT. YEAH, I'M ABOUT TO. IS THIS OKAY? GOOD MORNING. THE UNITED WAY OF BEAUMONT IS PROUD TO STAND IN THE COMPANY OF THESE PHENOMENAL WOMEN AND CELEBRATE THEIR VAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT INCLUDE SUCCESSFUL CAREERS AS WELL AS MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY. LIKE MANY OF THE REMARKABLE WOMEN WHO ENRICH OUR LIVES, OUR WORKPLACES AND OUR ORGANIZATIONS, THEY DO NOT SEEK THE SPOTLIGHT OR ACCOLADES, WHICH IS WHY WE'VE ASKED THEM TO WEAR RED, TO STAND OUT AND STAND PROUD AS THE LEADERS THEY ARE. RED IS THE COLOR OF STRENGTH. AND YES, THEY ARE STRONG. BUT AS A WISE MAN ONCE SAID, SOONER OR LATER WE ALL COME TO REALIZE THAT KINDNESS IS THE ONLY STRENGTH THERE IS. THAT IS THE STRENGTH THEY EMBODY KINDNESS, COMPASSION, [00:05:06] UNDERSTANDING, AND A WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OTHERS WITH HUMILITY AND LOVE IN THAT CHARITABLE SPIRIT OF UNITY, THEY ARE FURTHERING THE MISSION OF THE UNITED WAY OF BEAUMONT BY ENGAGING IN AN ONLINE COMPETITION TO RAISE MONEY FOR OUR EFFORTS TO BUILD A BETTER BEAUMONT, AND WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SUPPORT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO US THAT PEOPLE SEE WHAT THESE WOMEN DO, BUT ALSO HOW THEY DO IT. OUR HOPE IS THAT OTHERS WILL BE AS INSPIRED BY THEIR EXAMPLES AS WE ARE, AND HAVE THE STRENGTH TO BE KIND. ONE LAST COMMENT. WHILE SHE'S NOT HERE, WE DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT COUNCILWOMAN LADONNA SHERWOOD WAS ONE OF OUR LADIES IN RED. SHE DID A â– PHENOMENAL JOB REPRESENTING US IN EVERY WAY. AND WHILE SHE WASN'T ABLE TO PARTICIPATE THIS YEAR, WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SHE, TOO, IS A LADY IN RED. AND WE'RE PROUD OF HER EXAMPLE OF SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JANUARY 31ST AS BE WELL, BEAUMONT DAY AND ACCEPTING WILL BE TERRENCE ADAMS, PROGRAM MANAGER, THE CANCER PREVENTION AND CONTROL BE WELL COMMUNITIES. AND NORMA SAMPSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GIFT OF LIFE, AS WELL AS EXXONMOBIL STAFF AND ANYONE ELSE THAT IS A PART OF THE BE WELL PROGRAM. PLEASE COME FORWARD. OKAY. GOOD TO SEE YOU. HAPPY NEW YEAR. HEY, HAPPY NEW YEAR. GOOD TO SEE YOU. NEW YEAR. HAPPY NEW YEAR. GOOD TO SEE YOU. HAPPY NEW YEAR. GOOD TO SEE YOU. I GIVE THIS TO YOU. STAY UP THERE. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH. GET UP HERE A COUPLE TIMES. HERE. GOOD TO SEE YOU. I'M GOING TO STAY FOR A PICTURE. I KNOW, I LOVE IT. I'M GOOD. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. MAN. WE GOT A CROWD. I KNOW, I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT. HEY, GIRL. HOW ARE YOU? HELLO. HOW ARE YOU DOING? HOW ARE THOSE GUYS? THIS IS A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE. GOOD. AND THE BROCCOLI TOO. GOOD GOOD GOOD, GOOD. AND A LITTLE BIT OF. FREEZE DRIED FRUIT AT THE FARMER'S MARKET. OH. VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU, SIR? THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS AND AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH. YEAH. HOW YOU DOING? HELLO. HAPPY NEW YEAR. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU. COME ON OVER HERE, CHRIS. YEAH. YEAH. OKAY. WELL, YEAH. THERE WE GO. GOOD TO SEE YOU, BOSS. HEY, EVERYBODY RIGHT HERE. HERE. WE WANT TO SHIFT A LITTLE BIT. THIS WAY, THIS WAY. COME ON. YEAH. THREE. OKAY, I HAVE ONE FOR NORMA REAL QUICK. YOU'RE WELCOME. THERE'S A FEW MORE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK Y'ALL. ARE YOU GOING TO JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THIS. EXCELLENT. ALRIGHT. DO YOU WANT. YEAH. DID YOU BRING THESE. CRACKS ME UP BECAUSE I ONLY GOT ONE CONTACT. I CAN'T EVEN SEE WHO YOU ARE. SO KEVIN, OUR CORE COMMITTEE, Y'ALL STAY HERE. SO Y'ALL, WHERE'S BRITTANY? FOR SURE. I KNOW. YEAH. YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU. HOW'S IT GOING? HAPPY NEW YEAR. HAPPY NEW YEAR. I KNOW [00:10:01] IT'S LIKE OLD HOME WEEK. YEAH. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MAYOR, COUNCILMAN. COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND FRIENDS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE REMARKS IN SUPPORT OF TODAY'S PROCLAMATION. RECOGNIZING BE WELL, BEAUMONT DAY AND TO INTRODUCE THE EVENTS IMMEASURABLY INVALUABLE INSTRUMENTAL LEADERS THAT HAVE PUT THIS TOGETHER AND ORCHESTRATED IT. IT'S OUR BE WELL BEAUMONT CORPS COMMITTEE. WE'VE ALSO TOOK PICTURES WITH OUR TEAM LEADERS, AND THEY HAVE HELPED ORCHESTRATE THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE. GIFT OF LIFE IS DEEPLY PROUD TO STAND ALONGSIDE EXCUSE ME, UNITED WAY OF BEAUMONT AND NORTH JEFFERSON COUNTY IS ONE OF THE TWO BACKBONE ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING THIS IMPORTANT EVENT. OUR MISSION IS TO REDUCE CANCER DEATHS IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH EARLY DETECTION, NAVIGATION TO TREATMENT, AND PREVENTION EDUCATION. THESE ALIGN DIRECTLY WITH THE GOALS OF THE BE WELL BEAUMONT COLLABORATION THAT'S LED BY EXXONMOBIL AND MD ANDERSON, AND EVERYONE RECEIVED A FLIER. SO ON SATURDAY, JANUARY THE 31ST, WE'RE GOING TO LAUNCH THE FIRST BILL BEAUMONT DAY. I'M SORRY. BEAUMONT ALLERGIES AT THE SHEILA UMPHREY REGIONAL AT THE SHEILA UMPHREY RECREATIONAL CENTER SPORTS CENTER ON THE LAMAR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. THIS FREE, FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT WILL BRING TOGETHER DOZENS OF COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL VENDORS, AND VOLUNTEERS TO MAKE HEALTH AWARENESS ENGAGING, INTERACTIVE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR FAMILIES. THIS DAY IS DESIGNED AS EMPOWERING GUIDE. IT WILL SHOW THAT WELLNESS CAN BE FUN, ACHIEVABLE AND CERTAINLY LIFE SAVING. SIMPLE PREVENTION STEPS LIKE ROUTINE HEALTH SCREENINGS, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, GOOD NUTRITION AND INFORMED LIFESTYLE CHOICES ARE ACTIONS THAT LEAD TO LASTING, MEANINGFUL CHANGES IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. WHILE WE CELEBRATE THIS OFFICIAL RECOGNITION TODAY, WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MADE THIS POSSIBLE. IT'S THIS CORE COMMITTEE. IT'S THE TEAM LEADERS AND CERTAINLY THE BILL BEAUMONT STEERING COMMITTEE THAT REPRESENT MORE THAN 40 ORGANIZATIONS. THEY'RE GOING TO BRING THEIR LEADERSHIP, THEIR EDUCATION AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY LED, EVIDENCE BASED SOLUTIONS. WE INVITE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND ALL OF YOU TO PLEASE WEAR YOUR BE WELL BEAUMONT SHIRTS THAT THEY'VE PROVIDED AND BE WITH US ON JANUARY THE 31ST. EXPERIENCE LOCAL HEALTH RESOURCES. ENGAGE IN WELLNESS ACTIVITIES AND TAKE MEANINGFUL STEPS TOWARDS A HEALTHIER LIFE. FINALLY, OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE GOES TO YOU, TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT AND TO EVERYONE WHO'S PAVING THE WAY FOR PATHWAYS TO WELLNESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND TERRENCE HOLMES WITH MD ANDERSON ALSO HAS SOME COMMENTS IF HE COULD SHARE THOSE AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU NORMA. SO I WILL BE REALLY BRIEF, BUT FIRST, I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANKS TO EXXONMOBIL FOR SPONSORING THIS. SO BILL BEAUMONT IS AN INITIATIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. I'M A LITTLE TALL. SO YEAH. SO BILL BEAUMONT IS AN INITIATIVE OF MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER, SPONSORED BY EXXONMOBIL. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO OUR COLLABORATING PARTNERS AND BILL BEAUMONT DAY GIFT OF LIFE. SHOUT OUT TO NORMA, WHO'S DOING AN AMAZING JOB LEADING IT. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYBODY. JANUARY 31ST AT LAMAR UNIVERSITY, 10 A.M. UNTIL 1 P.M. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND SO WITH US TODAY ARE OUR CORE OUR CORE PLANNING COMMITTEE. WE REPRESENT THE Y THE UNITED WAY FAMILY SERVICES. WE HAVE THE 100 BLACK MEN THAT ARE HERE. THEY'RE ALL IN FORCE BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF CERTAINLY PROVIDING HEALTH CARE SERVICES, BUT IS LEADING THE STEPS TOWARDS ADVANCING THE CITY OF BEAUMONT TO HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE AND ACCESSING ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PART OF THE BE WELL STEERING COMMITTEE, ACCESSING THE RESOURCES. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A KITTY ZONE, A WELLNESS CORRIDOR, AND OPPORTUNITIES GIVEAWAY AND FOOD FOR EVERYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US. AND SO WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA, AND CERTAINLY THE FLIER WITH EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. AND SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT'S HERE. AND REGINA ROGERS, JUST SPECIAL, SPECIAL THANKS TO YOU ALL, BUT ALSO TO EXXONMOBIL. I WANT TO GIVE THEM A TREMENDOUS ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THIS AVAILABLE TO SOUTHEAST TEXAS. IT'S BEEN DONE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IT FOR YEARS HOPING THAT IT WOULD COME. AND SPECIAL THANKS ALSO TO MD ANDERSON FOR COORDINATING THIS. WE LOVE ALL OF YOU. BLESSINGS IN THE NEW YEAR. FOR A WORLD FILLED WITH COMPASSION, UNDERSTANDING, AND MUCH LOVE. THANKS! THANK YOU. NEXT, WE [00:15:02] HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF JANUARY AS NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING MONTH. ACCEPTING WILL BE MISS BRITTANY DELAGARZA, EDUCATION COORDINATOR FOR EMBRACING FREEDOM AND AND BRING WITH YOU ANYBODY ELSE THAT CAME AND SO THANK Y'ALL. COME ON UP. COME ON OVER. THREE. TWO ONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO STAND HERE. EMBRACING FREEDOM IS ONE OF THE ONLY AGENCIES IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS PROVIDING THESE SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH THAT ARE TRAFFICKED. AGAIN, MY NAME IS BRITTANY DE LA GARZA. I'M THE EDUCATION COORDINATOR. WITH ME IS HANNAH MOORE, OUR ASSISTANT CHIEF OFFICER. BUT FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW US, EMBRACING FREEDOM IS A LOCAL NONPROFIT SERVING SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT, ADVOCACY, AND LONG TERM SUPPORT TO CHILDREN WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SAFETY AND HEALING AFTER THEIR TRAFFICKING. THIS PROCLAMATION MEANS MORE THAN WORDS ON PAPER, AND IT REPRESENTS AWARENESS, PARTNERSHIP, AND A SHARED COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THE VULNERABLE. WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO OUR CITY LEADERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND ADVOCATES WHO STAND WITH US IN THIS IMPORTANT WORK. WE THANK YOU FOR SHINING A LIGHT ON THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU COME AWAY TODAY KNOWING SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EMBRACING FREEDOM AND THE WORK THAT WE DO, AND JUST KNOW THAT THE CHILDREN THAT WE WORK WITH EVERY DAY ARE GRATEFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE WORK EVERY DAY TO MAKE THIS BETTER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND NOW WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JANUARY 19TH AS NATIONAL DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY, JUNIOR HOLIDAY AND ACCEPTING WILL BE MR. JOHN EUGENE AND MEMBERS OF THE 100 BLACK MEN OF GREATER BEAUMONT AND MISS BOBBIE PATTERSON, FOUNDER OF 100 BLACK WOMEN COALITION, AS WELL AS ANY FROM HER GROUP. IF Y'ALL WOULD COME FORWARD. THANK YOU. YES, I GOT ONE FOR YOU. ANOTHER ONE. THANK YOU. HAPPY NEW YEAR. HAPPY NEW YEAR. HAPPY NEW YEAR. THANK YOU. HAPPY NEW YEAR OKAY. AGAIN. HEY, COACH. NEW YEAR. GOOD TO SEE YOU. HAPPY NEW YEAR. TO BE SKEWED IN A LITTLE BIT THIS WAY. YEAH. OR MAYBE SOME ON THIS SIDE. HAPPY NEW YEAR. RIGHT. THE COUPLE RIGHT HERE. COME OVER HERE. YEAH. EVERYBODY SCOOCH THIS WAY. KEEP GOING. AND. YEAH. READY TO BE SEEN. I'M SURE YOU CAN SEE ME. OH, WELL. OKAY. SORRY. OKAY. LET'S SEE HOW THAT LOOKS. MUCH BETTER. THANK YOU. OKAY. RIGHT HERE. ONE. TWO. THREE. GOT IT. OKAY. OKAY. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND [00:20:01] COUNCIL AND MR. CITY MANAGER AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND ALL WHO ARE HERE. MARTIN LUTHER KING EMPHASIZED LOVE. HE EMPHASIZED JUSTICE, KINDNESS AND EQUALITY. MOST OF ALL, THAT I TOOK AWAY IN FORMING OUR GROUP 100 PLUS BLACK WOMEN OF COALITION OF BEAUMONT IS SERVICE AND KINDNESS. AND ONE OF HIS QUOTES THAT HE STATED IS THAT GREATNESS IS FOUND IN SERVING OTHERS, AND EVERYONE CAN SERVE. AND I BELIEVE THIS IN OUR GROUP. WE ALL OVER BEAUMONT SERVING IN ANY CAPACITY THAT WE CAN, AND OBVIOUSLY ALL OF US HERE ARE. SO THE QUESTION THAT HE NORMALLY ASKS IS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR OTHERS? OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF YOU ARE DOING A LOT, BUT WE NEED TO GET THIS OUT MORE TO OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY OUR YOUTH, WHO ARE HURTING. AND SO WE NEED TO DO MORE OF IT. AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, AND I'LL BRING IT BACK TO OUR GROUP, AND I'M SURE THEY WOULD APPRECIATE IT AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MORNING. GOOD MORNING. ON BEHALF OF THE 100 BLACK MEN OF GREATER BEAUMONT, WE ARE DEEPLY HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS CITY PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY. THIS OCCASION STANDS AS A TESTAMENT OF THE ENDURING LEGACY OF DOCTOR KING AND AFFIRMS THE COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO HIS DREAM OF EQUALITY, JUSTICE AND UNITY FOR ALL. WE ARE A BODY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN WORKING TO AFFECT CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND BY PUTTING GOD FIRST, WE PUT ASIDE OUR PERSONAL INTERESTS, OUR DIFFERENCES AND OUR EGOS TO CONTINUE FOCUSING ON THE OVERALL COMMON GOOD OF AND BENEFIT OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY. THE 100 BLACK MEN OF GREATER BEAUMONT HAS DEDICATED TO UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR MEMBERS ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH YOUTH, PROVIDING GUIDANCE, SUPPORT AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT FOSTERS ACHIEVEMENT AND PERSONAL GROWTH. OUR CORE PRINCIPLES MENTORING, EDUCATION, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT WITH A FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, GUIDES OUR ACTIONS AND INSPIRE US TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL OUR AREA YOUTH AND OUR COMMUNITY. THROUGH OUR SATURDAY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, WE STRIVE TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACING OUR YOUTH AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES BY ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING A MEANINGFUL IMPACT BY PROMOTING RESPECT, INTEGRITY AND EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO. AS OUR MOTTO STATES, WHAT THEY SEE IS WHAT THEY'LL BE. AS WE ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION HONORING DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY, OUR GOAL IS TO EXPAND OUR REACH, DEEPEN OUR IMPACT, ENSURE THAT EVERY YOUNG PERSON HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE AND SUCCEED. WE THANK THE CITY FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND REAFFIRM OUR DEDICATION TO BUILDING A COMMUNITY WHERE THE IDEALS OF DOCTOR KING ARE REALIZED, WHERE HOPE PREVAILS AND EVERY VOICE IS HEARD. THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE WORK OF THE 100 BLACK MEN OF GREATER BEAUMONT. TOGETHER, LET US HONOR THE LEGACY OF DOCTOR KING, NOT JUST IN WORDS, BUT IN ACTIONS THAT UPLIFT AND TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. AND I'LL LEAVE IT UP, OPEN IT FOR THE MEN TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. OR. FOR. MICHAEL CHAMBERS, FIRST VICE PRESIDENT, MELVIN BROWN, EARL WHITE, JOHN ADAMS, PAST PRESIDENT KENNETH COLEMAN, TERRY HACKNEY, ABU DHABI GREG [00:25:07] FONTENO, SECOND VICE PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THERE WE GO. AND NOW WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JANUARY 17TH, 2026 AS ELOISE MILAM AND THE MELODY MAIDS DAY. IN ACCEPTING WILL BE MISS K.J. CONNOR, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR OF MELODY MAIDS THE MOVIE, AS WELL AS MISS MASON. AND Y'ALL. COME ON, Y'ALL COME ON UP. THANK YOU. HAPPY NEW YEAR. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU. WE GOT IT HERE. YEAH. THAT'S IT. HI. HAPPY NEW YEAR. Y'ALL. Y'ALL WANT TO COME OVER HERE FOR. GOOD MORNING BEAUMONT. TO SAY ELOISE MILAM WAS A UNIQUE AND AMAZING AND EXCEPTIONAL WOMAN. THIS IS HER PHILOSOPHY ON MY BAT. THAT'S WHY I TOOK OFF MY COAT. SHE TAUGHT 1500 PLUS WOMEN GIRLS TO HAVE ETIQUETTE AND DIPLOMACY, TO TRAVEL THE WORLD, ENTERTAINING THE SOLDIERS ALL OVER THE WORLD. FOR 30 YEARS, FROM 1942 UNTIL 1972. SHE'S FROM ANAHUAC. AND SO I DO WANT TO I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANAHUAC CONTRIBUTION. BUT MOSTLY I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. YOU ALL HAVE OPENED YOUR DOORS, ROLLED OUT THE RED CARPET, BEEN SO HOSPITABLE AND WONDERFUL TO US. WE FEEL GREAT TO BE HERE. SO I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE CAROL EVANS AND BECKY MASON AND AMY LAVOY. I'D LIKE THEM TO EACH SAY A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT ELOISE, BECAUSE SHE'S TOUCHED ALL OF OUR LIVES. LET ME DO AGAIN. WE'D LIKE TO THANK BEAUMONT FOR RECOGNIZING THE DAY FOR ELOISE. SHE REALLY WAS INSPIRATIONAL IN HELPING 1500 OVER THREE DECADE WOMEN GO OUT AND SERVE BY ENTERTAINING OVER A MILLION SERVICEMEN DURING THE YEARS ONE INDIVIDUAL WOMAN HAD THE POWER TO HELP US TO GET OUT OF BEAUMONT, GET TO SEE CITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD. THEY WENT TO GREENLAND, THEY WENT TO ANTARCTICA, THEY WENT TO JAPAN, THEY WENT TO HAWAII. AND ALWAYS WITH THE THE SERVICE IN MIND THAT THAT'S WHAT WE WERE DOING. AND FOR ME, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. MY MOTHER WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL 42 MEMBERS. SHE STARTED AT THE BEGINNING, DID THE FIRST RALLY BOND RALLY, AND THOSE GIRLS RAISED OVER $300,000. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT THAT MONEY WOULD BE TODAY. BUT JUST WITH THEIR GROUP WAS ABLE TO MAKE THAT. I WAS ALSO A MELODY MADE IN 1970. IN THE 70S, RIGHT BEFORE IT STOPPED, I WOULD NEVER HAVE DREAMED SOMETHING I DID IN 1972. I WOULD BE HERE GETTING TO HAVE A MOVIE MADE ABOUT IT. IT'S A VERY INTERESTING MOVIE. YOU'LL SEE THE THINGS THEY DID, AND WE'RE JUST VERY PROUD OF CK FOR PUTTING IT TOGETHER. MY NAME IS BECKY MASON, AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING A PART OF ELOISE'S FAMILY. I'M MARRIED, HER NEPHEW AND I MET HIM THROUGH THE MELODY MAIDS, SO MY PERSPECTIVE OF ELOISE WAS SHE WAS A FIRECRACKER. SHE WAS A WOMAN. WHEN I THINK OF WOMEN IN THE 40S AND 50S, I THINK OF STAY AT HOME MOMS. THEY COOK ALL THE MEALS AND THEY TAKE CARE OF THEIR KIDS AND THEY THEY DON'T WORK AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING. WELL, SHE WAS A FIRECRACKER AND SHE WAS A MUSICIAN, A TEACHER, A GROUNDBREAKER, A FREE THINKER. SHE WAS DETERMINED, DEFINITELY DETERMINED, FEARLESS. AND SHE [00:30:03] MADE. SHE TAUGHT ME TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY DAY. AND SHE WAS AN INSPIRATION FOR THOSE OF US WHO WHO GOT TO KNOW HER AND HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH HER. SO THIS IS AN AMAZING DAY, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE FOR RECOGNIZING ELOISE MILAM. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS AMY LAVOY. I'M THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER BEAUMONT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AND AS A CHILD, I USED TO GO INTO THE JULIE ROGERS AND TO THE ROSE ROOM, WHERE THERE WAS THE MEMORABILIA OF THE MELODY MAIDS AND ELOISE. AND OF COURSE, YOU WEREN'T ALLOWED TO TOUCH ANYTHING. BUT AS A CHILD, I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AND SEEING THESE ITEMS AND THINKING THAT MAYBE ONE DAY I WOULD BE THAT PERSON THAT GETS TO GO AWAY AND, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT BEAUMONT IN MY HOME AND DO GOOD THINGS AND BE A LEADER. SO SHE WAS EXTREMELY INSPIRING. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION TO MAYOR WEST AND I WERE INCLUDED, THE PREMIER SEEING THE MOVIE MONTHS AGO. AND SO WE WERE ENCOURAGED TO GET THE MOVIE HERE. AND SO I APPRECIATE, ON BEHALF OF OUR 900 PLUS MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER, INCLUDING THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, AND MANY PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE UP HERE TODAY TO SAY THAT THE MOVIE IS GOING TO PREMIERE. SO ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 17TH, 2 P.M. AND 7 P.M. A 44 MINUTE DOCUMENTARY ABOUT AN AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE WILL BE SHOWN. AND AFTER THE MOVIE, THERE WILL BE A Q&A LED BY JORDAN WILLIAMS AND WITH K.J. AND A FEW OF THE MAIDS. AND MY HOPE IS THAT WE'LL ALL GET TO HEAR A FEW OF THE MELODY MAIDS SING AFTERWARDS. TICKETS ARE ON SALE AT TICKETMASTER $10, OR YOU CAN BUY THEM AT THE BEAUMONT CIVIC CENTER BOX OFFICE. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE. WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE MOVIE. AND THE BEGINNING STARTS WITH BEAUMONT AND SPINDLETOP, AND I THINK THAT YOU WILL ALL BE SO PROUD OF OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY. ELOISE AND THE MELODY MAIDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE I DO HAVE A FINAL THOUGHT THAT I WANT YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT. THESE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THE MELODY MAIDS. THEY'RE ALL AMAZING. THEY ALL WENT FORWARD. ELOISE TAUGHT THEM TO SAY YES TO EVERY OPPORTUNITY, AND THEY WENT INTO THE WORLD AND PRESENTED BEAUMONT TO THE WORLD. AND THERE'S SO MANY OF THEM, AND THEY'RE ALL EXCEPTIONAL. I DID HAVE A FINAL THOUGHT, BUT NOW I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS. I DO I JUST THINK ABOUT ELOISE. OH, I KNOW WHAT I WANTED TO SAY. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE ROCKETTES, YOU THINK ABOUT NEW YORK. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE MELODY MAIDS, I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT BEAUMONT. AND I THINK THIS MOVIE. I MEAN, I'M SO HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SPREAD THIS STORY AND TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT FOR ALL THESE WOMEN THAT CAME BEFORE ME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY. AND AT THIS POINT, T * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.