METRO is woven into the very fabric of this region. We always strive to remain visible in our community and seek opportunities to engage the public in our efforts to promote public transportation. By working together with the community, we strive to create strong neighborhoods and improve the quality of life for Houston area residents. Every day area residents count on METRO to go to work, school, libraries, houses of workship and other everyday activities. METRO sponsors numerous How to Ride educational programs and other outreach activities to educate the community about METRO services.
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Miller Outdoor Theater Jazz Night Pre-Show METRO Information
Sunday, November 1, 2009
It was a cool night for a warm show. METRO staff was onhand at Miller's
Jazz Night to promote transit use and vanpooling. It is the home stretch
for our 2009 participation at Miller Theater with only a handful of our
information tables left. Attendees are encouraged to come by our
pre-show tables to pick up transit and vanpooling information before the
shows in November. |
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Gulfton Spooktacular at Burnett Bayland Park
Friday, October 30, 2009
C.O. staff was on hand this year to hand out candy and transit safety
information to crowds at this year's Gulfton Spooktacular sponsored by
the United minds Youth Leadership Development and Gulfton HPD Officers. |
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Miller Theater: Tap Kids Show
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009
Community Outreach staff hosted a pre-show information table that
featured a variety of METRO service information. Visitors including
students came prior to the show. |
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Texas Diversity Council Corporate Commitment Awards
Oct. 2009
METRO was among five companies recognized recently at the Sixth Annual
Gulf Coast Diversity Awards Luncheon held at the UH Hilton Hotel for its
commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and business
community. This year's luncheon theme was "Building H.O.P.E. through
Diversity (Helping Organizations Pursue Excellence), and were delighted
to have Texas Secretary of State, Esperanza "Hope" Andrade, as the
distinguished keynote speaker. M. Helen Cavazos, VP of Human Resources,
Diversity & Inclusion, and Texas Diversity Council Board member was on
hand to receive the recognition on METRO's behalf, along with other key
METRO staff. |
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Miller Outdoor Theater Information Table for Splendid China
Performance
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009
METRO Community Outreach staff was present at this year's Splendid China
Dance Performances at Miller Outdoor Theater. Show attendees came by the
pre-show booth to pick up METRO Q® Fare Card, Quickline and transit maps at the
table. |
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National Night Out 2009
10/6/09
MPD and METRO Community Outreach Staff were out at a variety of Houston
neighborhood locations on National Night Out to meet community members.
Staff traveled to various neighborhoods to promote transit safety and
services. |
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SoccerFest At Dynamos Game
Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009
Despite heavy rains, brave soccer fans came by the Explorer Bus to pick
up METRO information. Fans are invited to join METRO and STAR Van staff
for the last SoccerFest of the year on Sunday, Oct. 18 prior to the
Dynamos game against L.A. Galaxy in a few weeks. |
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2009 Komen Walk
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009
METRO C.O. and STAR Van staff hosted an information tent at one of
Houston's largest Charity Walk on October 3. Over 35,000 attended the
Komen walk this year. METRO's staffers helped distribute information
about our services to hundreds of visitors to the tent. |
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Miller Theater Chicano Festival 2009 (1st Night)
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009
METRO kicks off the October shows at Miller Outdoor Theater with a
pre-show information table featuring information on some of our new
routes including the Quickline and Swiftline service. STAR Van staff was
onsite talking to patrons about vanpool services. Staff members will be
out at Miller in October on the following dates: Oct. 10, 15 and 23rd
prior to the shows. Show attendees are invited to come by our
information table for the latest information from METRO. |
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M. Helen Cavazos, METRO VP of Human Resources and Diversity
2009 Houston Dynamo Outstanding Hispanic Community Leader Award.
Saturday, September 19th
Houston Dynamo and Budweiser, selected M. Helen Cavazos, METRO VP of Human Resources and Diversity, as one of the 2009 Outstanding Hispanic Community Leaders. Helen was honored at halftime during the Dynamo Hispanic Heritage Night presented by Budweiser on Saturday, September 19th. She was recognized as one of the Houston’s Hispanic leaders because of her continuous contribution and giving back to the community. This will be the fourth year the Houston Dynamo recognized the leadership achievements of Houston’s Hispanic community leaders who demonstrate
determination, passion and service. Helen had the chance to experience La Naranja en vivo beat the Real Salt Lake team 3 to 2. Download PDF of Award |
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Job Fair Sponsored by State Representative Kristi Thibaut
Wednesday September 16, 2009
Among other 13 participants and with an attendance of 3,000 participants, 90% African American, 8% Hispanic, 2% Chinese and other, searching for employment. The event took place at the Workforce Solutions Office – Southwest, District 133.
America Anguiano and Leticia Gonzalez participated on METRO’s behalf.
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Houston Dynamos Soccerfest 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
METRO STAR and Community Outreach staff were out at the September SoccerFest, 2009. There are only two SoccerFest events left for the year, Sundays, October 4th and October 18th. Dynamo Soccer Fans are encourage to come by and play our kick ball game and win a bag full of goodies including useful METRO information.
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El Grito Festival At Miller Outdoor Theater
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
METRO continues celebrating Fiestas Patrias this week at Miller Outdoor
Theater. Staff from Community Outreach and METRO STAR hosted a
pre-show information table at the event. Visitors came by the
information table to get the newest route information including the new
SwiftLine service between METRO's Southeast and Texas Medical Center
Transit Centers. STAR staff was on hand to recruit new vanpoolers.
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2009 UH Green Commuter Fair - University METRO Q® Fare Card Event
Tuesday, Sept. 1 - Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009
Community Outreach, Revenue and IT staff participated in the annual
event to register and renew University of Houston students that ride
METRO using the University METRO Q® Cards. Hundreds of students came by two
processing stations on campus.
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METRO Goes Live to Promote New TMC Swiftline Service
August 24, 2009
METRO's Community Outreach Team partnered with the HEB located at the corner of Scott and OST to host a live remote broadcast on local radio station Majic 102. Area residents learned about the new express service pilot program called TMC Swiftline. As shoppers received information about the new service, which operates from Monday through Friday during peak travel times from the Southeast Transit Center to the Texas Medical Center Transit Center; they enjoyed music, prizes and learning about the new service and an array of other METRO information. |
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Dynamo Soccer Fest 2009 Houston Vs. Seattle
Sunday, August 23, 2009
METRO and STAR Vanpool staff
members at SoccerFest, before Houston played Seattle.
Mom and son after son "won" playing the METRO soccer
kick.
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METRO At Miller Theater's Movie Week
8/18 - 8/19/09
METRO Community Outreach and METRO STAR staff spend a few nights talking
to guests attending Miller Theater's Movie Week screenings just before
the shows. Staff distributed METRORail, STAR Vanpool and the new SwiftLine
brochures to screening attendees. |
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Spring Branch Family Development Center Back to School Fair
Saturday, August 15, 2009
With large crowds on hand, METRO Community Outreach staff and our star "Abuelta" hosted a back to school information table at this year's 2009
Back to School Fair in Spring Branch0. Information on area Service
Changes, Abuelita Promotion and METRO Q® Fare Card applications were distributed to
visiors to the table. |
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Commute Solutions Day at TMC Transit Center
August 12, 2009
Community Outreach and METRO Star Vanpool staff spend morning rush hour
at the Texas Medical Center Transit Center thanking riders for using
METRO and introducing them to a variety of commuting solutions. Staff
distributed information on a new premium service - 426 linking TMC
Transit Center and Southeast Transit Center beginning later in August.
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Christian Outreach Center - Living Word Fellowship Church Block Party
Saturday, August 8, 2009
August is back to school month for events. Community Outreach staff
hosted an information table at the Christian Outreach Center event this
past week to promote the use of student METRO's Q® Fare Cards and our latest
services in the Northwest area.
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Photo by Jorge Olivares form Plan B television "Foro Hispano". |
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METRO Participated at the Representative Armando L. Walle Job Fair
Tuesday July 21, 2009
With an estimated attendance of 400 and 25 employers participating, the fair was a success.
METRO's representatives Art Murillo, America Anguiano and Leitica Gonzalez, distributed about 200 job applications and collected 22. The Parson Representative Raynese Edwards offered opportunities for 25 participants to be trained in construction.
Representative Armando Walle came to thank us for participating.
We were able to promote jobs as well as services, in particular METRO Airport Direct.
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Dynamo Soccer Fest 2009 At Robertson Stadium on UH Campus
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Things are heating up at METRO's Explorer Bus at a recent Dynamo Soccerfest event. METRO Community Outreach and METRO STAR van staff played a kick ball game in front of the bus. Winners got a bag of METRO promotional items and the latest service information. The Explorer Bus will continue to show up this summer, so come out and join the festivities.
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Dynamo Soccer Fest 2009 At Robertson Stadium on UH Campus
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Community Outreach and METRO STAR staff were out at July's Dynamo SoccerFest event just prior to the game on Saturday, July 25, 2009. Staff handed out information on METRO services and signing up potential METRO STAR participants. METRO will be back at SoccerFest next month on August 1, 9 and 23. Dynamo fans are encouraged to come by our display at the event.
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METRO Services Information Table At Miller Outdoor Theater in Hermann Park
Friday, July 17 - 18, 2009
It has been a busy month for METRO Community Outreach and METRO STAR staff at Miller Theater. Despite the weather, staff was onsite prior to each show to promote METRO services featured in July was METRO's new Bellaire Quickline and 32 Renwick Crosstown Services. Also available at the information table was information on our Abuelita and Terra Cotta Warriors promotional brochures. Look for our upcoming tables next month during the August Broadway show series.
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METROs Partnership with the Houston Children’s Museum and the Southwest Multi Service Center
June 29, 2009
METRO’s Community Outreach partnered with the Houston Children’s Museum and the Southwest Multi Service Center to spend the morning with the Center’s children and their families. As part of our collaboration, METRO and The Children’s Museum – along with the Southwest Multi Service Center, arranged a day at the museum to expose the families to a wealth of multi-cultural arts and crafts.
As a result, the children were glowing with excitement as they participated in plenty of activity filled exhibits such as: “Think Thank, Cyber Chase, and Power Play.” Furthermore, Community Outreach personally accompanied the families on the 2 Bellaire bus and rode the rail towards the museum district to instruct the families about METRO’s routes and rail services. Once more, METRO demonstrated the long lasting amity with the community and the importance of educating the public about our services.
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Houston Symphony 4th of July at Miller Outdoor Theater
Saturday, July 4, 2009
METRO's Community Outreach staff was out at the 4th of July event this
year at Miller Outdoor Theater. Staff hosted an information table
featuring some of the newer METRO services to include the Bellaire
Quickline, 32 Renwick Crosstown and Airport Direct Service.
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Genesysworks Interns Get Student METRO Q® Fare Cards
June 30, 2009
Community Outreach and Revenue staff worked together to process over 70 student Q-Cards for Genesysworks, an internship program located at KBR Towers, downtown Houston. Staff provided an orientation to the interns on the use of the Q-card and how to use the METRO system at their classrooms.
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METRO At Dynamo Game
Saturday, June 20, 2009
METRO’s Community Outreach made an appearance at the thrilling soccer match at Robinson Stadium between the Houston Dynamos and Real Salt Lake. While thousands of people came out to cheer on the Dynamos play, Community Outreach took the opportunity to inform the public about METRO’s routes and rail services. Community Outreach staff also distributed megaphones to everyone so they can cheer on their favorite team. Once again, METRO expressed its on going commitment with diverse communities throughout the Houston region.
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Juneteenth Celebrations at Miller Theater
Friday, June
19, 2009
Community Outreach and METRO STAR staff host an information booth at
this year's Juneteenth celebrations at Miller Theater. The staff promoted the new Quickline, Renwick bus services and
STAR services. |
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METRO Launched 32 Renwick Route in Southwest Houston
May 20, 2009
METRO launched its long awaited 32 Renwick route in southwest Houston with a radio remote at Seller Bros with MEGA 101 and its afternoon DJ personality - Liz. To commemorate this convenient new service, MEGA 101 and Sellers Bros – along with METRO’s Community Outreach, helped galvanize the public outside of the grocery store with Dynamo tickets, an autographed soccer ball and t-shirts give-a-ways. METRO also revealed its delightful new rider; “La Abuelita” who was on hand to assist the public with Renwick route information. Once again, METRO has improved its services with new routes throughout the Houston but especially in the southwest corridor where ridership continues to grow and expand. |
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Sunnyside Community Center's Senior Group Main Street Trip
May 20, 2009
Sunnyside Community Center's Senior Group took its first field trip
and ride on the Main street line. They took the opportunity to ride the
rail to the METRO Ride Store to sign up for their discounted Senior METRO Q®
Fare Cards. Those over 70 recognize the advantages of their METRO Q® Fare Cards, which
allows them to maintain their independence to get around Houston at no
cost.
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17th Annual Gulfton Festival Celebration at Burnett Bayland Park
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Colorful Latin acts performed traditional dances while providing cultural awareness. Valuable information about the METRO Q® Fare Card, Airport Direct, Southwest area routes, METRORail guides - along with the soon to launch Bellaire 402 Quickline and Renwick routes were distributed to the dozens of people as part of Community Outreach’s initiatives. METRO continues its spirit of cooperation through its ongoing relationships with the different communities throughout the Houston region, especially in the Gulfton corridor where this richly diverse population calls home.
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2009 Gulf Coast Green Expo
April 22, 2009
METRO Community Outreach and STARVAN staff hosted an information table
at this year's fair at America Tower on Earth Day, April 22, 2009.
Employees from various companies in the towers received information on METRO's Airport Direct Service, Vanpool information and METRO transit
services to the towers. Houston METRO was among the organizations that
participated in many of the events and activities held throughout
Houston to commemorate Earth Day.
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2009 Cushman & Wakefield Energy & Transportation Fair at America Tower
April 17, 2009
METRO participated in the 2009 Gulf Coast Green Expo in Reliant Center
from Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 18. METRO staff greeted
visitors by providing them with information about Metro's programs
including Bikes on Buses, Airport Direct and our future HOT Lanes
project. Hundreds of visitors came by the METRO display which included
Metro's newest fleet bus - The Orion Hybrid - Diesel - Electric bus.
Thirty-four of these new Hybrid Transit Buses have been in service for
over 18 months. These vehicles use less diesel, produce 50% fewer
emissions, and require less maintenance. Riders find the hybrid buses
much quieter and more pleasant to ride than traditional buses.
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METRO's Community Outreach is key sponsor for Port City Links South Central Little League Kickoff
Saturday, March 28, 2009
The Pork City Links and the South Central Little League kicked off this year’s spring baseball season with an opening ceremony and community fair at Sunnyside Park on Saturday, March 28th. The event was a much-anticipated community celebration for the more than 70 little leaguers and their parents who joined in the festivities. This year METRO played an important and visible role as METRO’s Police and Human Resources departments teamed up with METRO’s Community Outreach staff for the health, job and education fair that was held in conjunction with this year’s little league debut. Many other vendors and community groups were also on hand to provide valuable information and to participate in many of the day’s activities.
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Columbia Tap Rail to Trail Ribbon
Saturday, March 7, 2009
The City of Houston Bikeway Program celebrated the Grand Opening of the Columbia Tap Rails to Trails Bikeway on the campus of Texas Southern University (TSU). As a participating sponsor, METRO showcased the METRO “Bikes on Buses” initiative by conducting several demonstrations for the 100 + attendees.
Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis and TSU President John Rudley led a bike ride from Discovery Green to the campus of Texas Southern University, as bikers stopped along the way to plant trees to show support for the The Park People and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD). Mayor Bill White, along with other elected officials, acknowledged the significant progress of the project; which adds 4 additional miles of trails to the City of Houston Bikeway network. The trails runs from Dixie Road to Walker Street with connections to the Medical Center, TSU, Downtown and existing bike and bus routes.
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Houston Academy for International Studies
March 2009
Community Outreach staff participated in an orientation session with parents and students at the Houston Academy for International Studies. The school is moving into a new building in Midtown. Community Outreach staff provided parents and students information on bus service, safety and student METRO Q® Fare Card features.
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University of Houston College Park Off Campus Housing Fair
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
METRO Community Outreach staff participates in this year's University of Houston College Park Off Campus Housing Fair at the University's Student Center. Staff provided students with METRO service information for those students who plan to live off-campus.
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Hollywood Comes to Houston 40th NAACP Image Awards
February 12, 2009
In celebration of its’ 100 years, the NAACP Houston Branch, honored several Houston pioneers. Among those honored were Zinetta Burney, Howard Jefferson, William A. Lawson, Ernest McGowan Sr., Quentin Mease and Hazel Young. Guests also got a taste of Hollywood as the 40th Annual Image Awards were simulcast during the reception. Many of these leaders have partnered with METRO in the past, working with us to bring much needed service to the community. “It’s a real honor for me personally”, said Karen Marshall, Director of Community Outreach at METRO. “I have worked with Reverend Lawson and Howard Jefferson for years on various METRO issues, from Main Street to Scott Street.” These folks have worked tirelessly so this recognition comes as no surprise. METRO is deeply grateful for the huge contributions and support over the years that each of these leaders has given to the community.
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The Houston Hispanic Forum held their Annual Career and Education Day at the George R. Brown Convention Center
Saturday, February 7, 2009.
The METRO Explorer Bus was among the featured attractions at this event. The purpose of this annual forum is to help students and parents navigate their way through the college preparation process. Many colleges and universities as well as public and private organizations were on hand to highlight the many opportunities and services that are available for young people.
Hundreds of students and parents boarded the Explorer Bus, METRO’s newest educational mobile unit. Once inside the Explorer Bus, METRO staff and volunteers shared information about the Student METRO Q® Fare Card discount program, the extensive and affordable METRO bus and rail service, and many other important and interesting tidbits of information greeted visitors
The Houston Hispanic Forum has reported the estimated attendance at 18,000; making this one of the most successful Career and Education Days in recent history. |
