Community Profile

1. Community Profile Bianca Avery Student Teaching Assignment Spring 2005

2. Overview: Third Ward, Houston, TX The Greater Third Ward District encompasses the area south of University of Houston to Old Spanish Trail, north to the Gulf Freeway, west to Fannin and east to the H.B. & T Railroad. Taking Scott Street most easily accesses the entire District. Cutting through the heart of Third Ward, Scott links major thoroughfares and freeways such as Gulf Freeway, Elgin, Old Spanish Trail and South Loop East. A roughly six-mile segment of the roadway runs through neighborhoods comprising Texas Southern University, University of Houston and a predominantly single-family residential area.

3. Resources/Services Available Grocery store Bank Fast Food Restaurants WIC office Shape Community Center YMCA Harris County Hospital

4. Resources/Services not available Fine Dining Restaurants Gym/Recreation Center Police Station Major Transportation Center (METRO Park and Ride)

5. People as Mentors High school students College students College Professors Storytellers City Council Members

6. Community Field Trips Texas Southern University University of Houston Buffalo Solider Museum- The primary objectives of the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum and Heritage Center are to preserve, promote and perpetuate the history, tradition and outstanding contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers toward the development and defense of the United States of America. The Alabama Garden- affiliated with the Houston chapter of Urban Harvest, the national organization that encourages community gardening as a means of feeding the poor. Texas Southern University owns the land on which the garden is located.

7. Challenges in the community At first glance, the Third Ward appears to be just another inner-city neighborhood in the midst of tremendous revitalization efforts, however, the area has a lot of history. Most of the challenges in Third Ward are similar to those in other urban communities. Problems such as: loitering, drugs, prostitution, and violence. The area also has quite a few abandoned houses.

8. Future of Third Ward The Third Ward to Main Street Connectivity Project is a collaborative, transportation initiative to link Houston's Third Ward community with the Main Street Corridor and light rail system. The Third Ward is predominantly an African-American community, immediately adjacent to the Main Street Corridor. Included in the Third Ward are the Texas Southern University and the University of Houston. Both institutions are largely commuter campuses and together serve a student population of over 39,000. The project will focus on improving and expanding transit access between the Corridor and Third Ward neighborhoods and institutions, creating essential east-west, transportation and pedestrian connections.

9. A Piece of History The Alabama Garden, a 56-bed vegetable garden at 2818 Alabama, was started by Verious Smith in 1985 after he decided he wanted to grow his own food. When he saw how fertile the ground was, he enlarged the garden, and his brother Voydell Smith and friend Christopher Warren cleared additional land so they could plant, too. Most of the gardeners give away their produce, taking it to shut-ins or those in the area who are sick. The gardeners also host school supply drives, Easter egg hunts and holiday food drives for Third Ward residents.