November 5, 2022 – February 2, 2023
Central Library | 1st Floor Gallery
500 McKinney St., 77002 | 393-1313
Heart Gallery Houston is a powerful, traveling photographic exhibit. This community education and awareness initiative was created to help find forever homes for children in foster care awaiting adoption. With the help of professional photographers who volunteer their time and the support of local businesses, churches, and community partners, these heartfelt canvas photos show the faces of children that long to find a forever family and a life with stability and love.
Growing up in the Texas foster care system is a reality for thousands of children. More than 6,000 children in Texas wait for a family and a place to call home. Sadly, a disproportionate number are children of color; Hispanic children are two times more likely to be removed. The foster care system cares for children of all ethnicities and of every age, ranging from newborn to 17 years. Most of the children featured in the gallery are older children, sibling groups, and children with special needs – often referred to as "forgotten children." While statistics of this special population are astounding, Heart Galleries is working nationwide to change these grim numbers.
Heart Gallery Houston is a program of Be A Resource (BEAR) Houston, a 501(c)(3) organization working with Harris County CPS and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to offer unique programs and supportive services that provide comfort, dignity, and celebration of successes for abused and neglected children.
To learn more about BEAR and their Heart Gallery Houston program, visit bearesourcehouston.org.
This exhibition is free and open to the public.
The Houston Public Library (HPL) received $75,000 in funding from The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) under its Special Projects Grant program. HPL will use the funds to expand its Career Online High School (COHS) program by providing tuition, computers and internet access to 30 new program participants in FY23. COHS is a SACS-accredited high school completion program offered in partnership with Smart Horizons and Workforce Solutions. The program helps individuals 21 and older who have completed a minimum of eighth grade earn a high school diploma and prepare for the workforce.
"Students who want to complete their high school diploma shouldn't have to deal with the burden of extra costs. These funds will allow more students to achieve this milestone and gain other opportunities," said HPL Community Engagement Division Manager Mercedes Clarke.
Prospective COHS students can access the online application at https://houston.careeronlinehs.org. The deadline to apply for scholarship money is December 30, 2022. For further information, prospective students may contact HPL's cafécollege at 832-393-1737.
This project is one of 43 made possible this year by a grant awarded to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. “Communities in every corner of Texas will benefit from the resources that have been made available through this list of forward-thinking grant proposals.” said TSLAC Director and Librarian Mark Smith. The Special Projects Grant supports programs seeking to expand library services to include all members of a library’s community, including those populations with special needs. “We are grateful to the IMLS and the federal government for providing this assistance to libraries across Texas as they support their communities in these challenging times,” said Smith.
Additional TSLAC support to the Houston Public Library includes $10,000 from the Texas Reads Grant allocated to HPL’s Summer Reading Program and $25,000 from the TexTreasures Grant designated for a digitization project of the African American History Research Center. These projects are made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (Grant #LS-252486-OLS-22) to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. (2023)
ABOUT THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION
Formed in 1909, TSLAC is committed to giving Texans access to information and programs to improve their lives and communities. TSLAC provides historical and genealogical search assistance, federal and state government documents, electronic research, and library services to all Texans, including those who are unable to read standard print material because of physical or reading disabilities. For more information, visit www.tsl.texas.gov.