Good evening.

Good evening.

If I can have your attention.

My name is Deborah Peoples.

And on behalf of the mayor and the City of Fort Worth City Council, we welcome you to our first annual Black History Program.

Okay, I need your full attention.

This is my friend and fellow councilwoman.

We are so excited that you are excited to be here, but we want your full attention that you can hear the remark that she is sharing.

Yes, they are.

We're gonna wait.

Huh?

I'm a school teacher and I'll wait all day.

And then I'll start calling you by name.

I am okay.

All right, City of Fort Worth, we are so glad that you are here today.

It is my pleasure and privilege to introduce councilwoman of District 5, City of Fort Worth, none other than the Deborah, Miss Deborah people.

So for those of you who don't know, my mother was a school teacher, so Dr.

Mia Hall brought back memories of my mama.

So now that the class is at attention, I just want to tell you that the city of Fort Worth was chartered in 1849.

In 1849, there were 59 bright folks and a hundred and fifty black folks.

For almost five decades, the Black Chamber has stood as a champion of black businesses, families, and communities, promoting wealth, opportunity, and unity.

Thank you to the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring this evening's event.

On behalf, yes, that is a pause.

On the path of the entire Fort Worth City Council, we are so grateful for your partnership.

And I would also like to thank all of the wonderful businesses who helped make this event one to remember.

And you guys, I want your full attention because we're going to recognize all these magnificent vendors who took the time to be here this evening.

I want to thank each of you individually.

Please wave your hand when you're called.

And this is in no particular order.

I love you all.

I would like to thank Carpenter's Cafe.

Ooh.

Thank you.

The Buffalo Soldiers for honoring the legacy and preserving the history.

Make sure you stop by Tiebreaker by Crisco.

The Perfect Well Juicery.

And LeBert Financial Services.

Thank you all so much.

We certainly cannot have done this without you.

And you guys, I hope that you've all gotten a bite to eat, learn some history, and make sure you've purchased something from one of the lovely vendors.

And last but not least, I would be remiss if I not thank the wonderful, magnificent, amazing, dynamic, unstoppable district directors from offices five, six, and eight.

Thank you all for your hard work, ladies.

You made our visions come true, and we could not have done this without you.

And thank you to the city of Fort Worth staff who made sure we had electrical, we had stage AV and everything.

So without further ado, I have the privilege of introducing the dynamic, magnificent, one of a kind, my partner and friend in crime, not crime, service and community.

Councilman Chris Nettles of District A.

Hello, Fort Worth.

All right.

We want to get a couple of preliminaries out of the way.

I do want to take an opportunity to announce an actor that we have in the house with us, Mr.

Isaac Keys from the Hit TV series force.

He's gonna have the we can wave his hand.

Let's show him some love.

Let's show him some Fort Word love.

Also, we want to acknowledge our recent past commissioner.

Commissioner Roy Brooks is with us as well.

We have a couple of our electives that's here.

I see our city manager, Mr.

Jay Chopper.

I see Mayor Proteam Carlos Flores.

I think I see Councilwoman Jeanette Martinez.

Councilwoman, oh, she's in the back.

Councilwoman Elizabeth Pett.

And you have heard from Deborah Peepels and Leah Hall.

That's who I see.

I think the mayor's gonna be here strolling.

I don't see her just yet.

Uh but we want to take this opportunity.

If I can have everybody's attention, this is gonna be a very sacred moment.

We want to take a moment.

So if you're at the vendor table, can you just kind of tell them be quiet for one second?

All of them here, Penny Drop.

Uh we made some changes to our program today due to a certain incident that happened on yesterday.

One of our very beloved Mayor Pro Tim, Gina Vivens went home to be with the Lord on yesterday.

And so today we want to take an opportunity to honor her legacy of being a fierce black elected official that stood her ground for the community and the people.

And so we want to take time today in this moment and have a moment of silence for her legacy and her hard work over a decade to the city of Fort Worth residents and the community.

So at this time, if everyone that can hear my voice can be quiet for at least thirty seconds.

I don't know if you can be an alumni of a middle school, but I am alumni of Crowley Middle School.

We're gonna make our starting I'm gonna stand down there so they can see your face.

Oh we signed up.

Oh we started Oh wait, I know.

Oh we found us.

Oh we saw that we try not to start.

Oh no.

Oh we saw it.

If you follow the dream for drinking the dream.

When the sun comes back on the first home.

Left foot traveling all.

Hello, the drinking.

Oh, there's another member on the home.

Oh no, the drinking.

No more to black for me.

For the own man is a painting point to have you.

If you follow the dream for the way.

So can you go?

And so what we're gonna do now is OD Wild is getting set up to march us into City Hall for a six o'clock meeting.

At this time, we want to invite our mayor to the stage.

Mayor Maddie Parker.

Now let's give up as she comes.

Good evening, Fort Worth, and welcome to Fort Worth City Hall.

We're so pleased that you're here.

Before I read our recognition for Black History Month, I first need to say thank you to Councilmember Deborah Peoples, Councilmember Dr.

Mia Hall, and Councilmember Chris Nettles.

And to their district directors and staff for making tonight possible.

So please.

I think rather than read this whole recognition and proclamation because it's a little bit loud.

Um, I just want to make sure we understand the significance of this month of February.

That the celebration of Black History Month began in February of 1926.

I'm gonna get everybody's attention for a second.

One, two, three, quiet, or like a teacher in the classroom.

Hello, hello, hello over here.

Everybody's quieting down.

William Johnson, Jay Choppa.

Be quiet.

Are we quieter a little bit?

Okay, not really.

So Black History Month began in February of 1926.

It began as a week-long event and was expanded to a month-long event in 1976, honoring the significance of Black history throughout this nation.

And if you take just a moment to think about the decades that transpired between 1926 and 1976, think about the significance of that time period in the United States of America.

So much history continues to happen.

Black History Month is a time for all Americans to reflect on the rich history, achievements, and contributions of African Americans whose leadership from early pioneers to present day leaders has played a vital role in shaping Fort Worth into the strong thriving community that it is today.

And whereas in conducting this celebration, the city of Fort Worth reflects a century of Black History commemorations, the 2026 National Black History Month theme while joining the nation and marking the 250th anniversary of the United States of America is a historic milestone that invites communities to honor the people and principles who shaped our shared democracy.

Whereas for 100 years, Black History Month has preserved and elevated the stories of African Americans whose resilience, innovation, and leadership has strengthened Fort Worth, the state, and the nation, contributing to economic growth, civic life, cultural excellence, and the ongoing pursuit of freedom and equality.

Whereas the City of Fort Worth reaffirms its pride in being a community where history is fully remembered.

Progress is pursued collectively together, and diverse contributions of all residents are recognized as essential to the American story.

And now, therefore, the City of Fort Worth does hereby proudly proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month, honoring the enduring contributions of African Americans to Fort Worth and our entire nation.

I'll admit to you, I'm a little bit somber tonight.

Who I was with her on Friday, and Sandy called me on Friday night to say she really wanted to hold on to be here to see a 100-year commemoration of Black History Month.

You have done her so proud.

And I promise you, she's looking down on us tonight with a big smile on her face and wishing that she could dance a little bit oddly in front of us all for sure.

Thank you for being a part of the celebration tonight.

This this hall, this city place belongs to each of you.

And while I know that you come sometimes for long, arduous meetings, by the way, tonight might be a little long, we get 98 speakers.

Um we are starting with a very important celebration for Black History Month.

So I'm so pleased you could be here before.

Please join us for the city council meeting if you can because there's some very important recognition that our city council members will be providing tonight.

So with that, I'll close by saying, God bless Fort Worth and God bless Black History Month here in the city of Fort Worth.

Thank you very much again.

Jeanette Martinez.

Okay.

All right, well, we're in our program and so we want to thank all of you for coming.

Now only why is getting ready to set up right there close to the entry of City Hall.

I mean the chambers so we'll hear them as we march in.

We want to thank all of you for being part of this program today and we hope to come back.

Please see our vendors before you leave we also want to acknowledge Mr.

Naman Joan of James was the first sergeant black sergeant in the city of Fort Worth Police Department.

He's here wave your hand also representing the black chamber all right thank you for being here we'll now put in the hands of Oli Watt Yaffe fellowship and we'll join into the city council starting at six o'clock.

God bless