[It's Happening 0924]
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WELCOME TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
I'M GEORGIA CLEMSON, AND WE HAVE A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TODAY, AND WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE WITH US MARY DOMINGUEZ.
GREAT TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING, MY DEAR.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE KIND INVITATION.
I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE AND SHARE THE GREAT NEWS WE HAVE FOR THIS YEAR'S FIESTAS.
WE'RE EXCITED TO KNOW THAT IN SEPTEMBER YOU ARE HAVING A RETURN EVENT, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY, YES.
AND WHAT IS IT CALLED? IT'S CALLED THE GRAND FIESTAS.
IT'S GONNA BE HELD, UH, SEPTEMBER 14 FROM 9:00 AM UH, TO 1:00 PM AND OF COURSE, THIS TIME IS EXTRA SPECIAL BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR VERY OWN MAYOR, RON JENSEN, AS THE GRAND MARSHALL.
NOW HE'LL SHOW UP AND EVERYBODY WILL GET TO SEE THE MAYOR AND HAVE SELFIES WITH HIM.
YOU KNOW THAT WE LOVE OUR CELEBRITY MAYOR.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GONNA BE EXTRA SPECIAL REALLY, FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
IS THAT AT THE BEGINNING OR WHEN IS THAT? YES, AT THE PARADE.
UH, THE PARADE LINEUP IS GONNA BE AT CITY HALL AT 7:00 AM AND WE PLAN TO DEPART FROM CITY HALL AT 8:00 AM TRYING TO BEAT THE, THE SUN, THE HEAT.
AND UM, FROM THERE WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND, UH, GET BACK TO THE, UM, FARMER'S MARKET, BACK TO FROM, FROM CITY HALL 7:00 AM ROUTE, AND THEN WE GET BACK TO CITY HALL AND THEN BACK TO FARMER'S MARKET FOR THE ACTUAL FESTIVAL.
NOW DO, IN ORDER TO BE IN THE PARADE, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS GET ON THE HISPANIC HERITAGE AMBASSADOR'S WEBSITE.
THERE IS A FORM, THERE'S NO FEE.
IT'S A SMALL REGISTRATION FORM SUBMITTED.
IF IT'S AN ORGANIZATION AND THEY HAVE 10 CARS PARTICIPATING, IT'S ONE FORM FOR THE 10 CARS.
ALL WE WANNA MAKE SURE IS THAT WE KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY TRAFFIC, HOW MUCH TRAFFIC, HOW MANY CARS TO EXPECT.
AND MARY, I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE HISPANIC HERITAGE YES.
BECAUSE THAT'S A VERY SPECIAL GROUP TO YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE THE FOUNDER, CORRECT? YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
I MEAN, THIS IS JUST ONE AREA OF WHAT YOU DO, BUT WHAT ELSE? YES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO, UH, IS OF COURSE CULTURAL AWARENESS AND THE PERSEVERANCE OF HISPANIC CULTURE AND TRADITIONS.
BUT WE'RE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT COMMUNITY SERVICE.
UH, WE DO BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVES, WE DO HEALTH FAIRS.
WE DO THE AUTISM AWARENESS AND MENTAL AWARENESS, UH, WHICH IS OUR PASSION.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY'S TAKEN CARE OF AND THEY'RE UNDERSTOOD AND THEY KNOW THAT THERE'S MANY ORGANIZATIONS BESIDES HISPANIC HERITAGE AMBASSADORS THAT ARE HERE TO PROMOTE AND HELP THEM WITH THEIR NEEDS.
SO WE DO OFFER MANY RESOURCES ASIDE FROM CULTURAL AWARENESS.
THE FOOD PANTRIES IS OUR PASSION, THE MO CHILON, THERE'S JUST SO MANY EVENTS THAT WE DO.
THE MAGIC CHRISTMAS IS OUR TOY DISTRIBUTION AND SPAGHETTI DINNER.
UH, THAT THANKS TO OUR MAYOR AGAIN, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR SPONSORS AND THE CITY CO-SPONSORS.
UH, WE'RE GLAD AND WE CAN BE ABLE TO HELP OVER 800 KIDS EVERY YEAR.
THERE'S SO MUCH NEED AN AMAZING EVENT TO SEE THE FAMILIES COME AND THE CHILDREN AND HOW THEY ENJOY THAT.
AND YOU'VE BEEN OUR ONE OF OUR STORY READERS AND YES,
NOW LET'S GET BACK TO THE EVENT ON THE 14TH.
UH, WE KNOW YOU'RE INVOLVED IN SO MANY WONDERFUL EVENTS.
TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS SPECIFICALLY.
WHAT DOES IT, UH, REPRESENT? OKAY.
THE, UH, GRAND FIESTA PATRIA IS A CELEBRATION OF INDEPENDENCE FOR LATIN AMERICA COUNTRIES, UH, MEXICO, SALVADOR, UM, BAILEY SE, NICARAGUA, HONDURAS, GUATEMALA.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT THIS YEAR HAS BEEN DIFFERENT.
MORE PEOPLE ARE ADDING, WE HAVE SOME SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES JOINING.
WE HAVE CASA ESPANIA, WE HAVE COLOMBIA, WE HAVE BAILEY, UM, UH, PERU, ECUADOR JOINING US.
SO THAT IS A BIG, YOU KNOW, CHANGE AND WE ARE SO HAPPY TO EMBRACE EVERYBODY THAT'S WANTING TO BE A PART OF IT.
UH, AND, UH, ONE OF THE OTHER HIGHLIGHTS THAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE ADDING A KIDS, UM, SOCCER AREA, UH, WHICH FC DALLAS IS PROUDLY, UH, HELPING US TO DO.
AND ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AS WELL IS IN THE PARADE IS WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR VERY OWN VIRGIL ORTIZ JUNIOR, THE BOXER PARTICIPATE IN THE PARADE.
SO HOW GREAT IS THAT? THAT IS EXCELLENT.
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PARADE.AND WILL HE BE STICKING AROUND AT FARMER'S MARKET FOR A LITTLE WHILE? I HOPE SO.
I HOPE THAT HE DOES STICK AROUND AND, UH, THERE'S PLANS THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WILL BE THERE FOR A LITTLE BIT SO KIDS CAN, UH, AND THE PEOPLE GO UP TO HIM AND HOPEFULLY TAKE SOME PICTURES AND MEMORABILIA OF THIS, YOU KNOW, IMPACTFUL EVENT TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE VENDORS, UH, KIDS AREA ARTS AND CRAFTS, UH, FOOD VENDORS AND, YOU KNOW, ARTS AND CRAFTS VENDORS.
THERE'S JUST ENTERTAINMENT OR SCHOOLS, GRAND PRAIRIE FINE ARTS AS ALWAYS, PARTICIPATE AND SUPPORTIVE AND YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND THEN WE HAVE A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, WHICH IS ALREADY, HE IS BEEN READY SINCE DAY ONE THAT HE SAID, YES, I'M GONNA BE A PART OF THAT PARADE.
YOU KNOW, SO IT'S JUST REMARKABLE.
HE'S SUCH A, A WONDERFUL, UM, ADDITION TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE EVENT, UH, IS, UH, EARLY HOURS.
WE ARE STILL, UH, YOU KNOW, INVITING EVERYBODY TO COME OUT HERE TO BE PART OF THIS CULTURAL CELEBRATION.
EVERYBODY'S INVITED AND THIS IS A COMMUNITY EVENT THAT BELONGS TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE'RE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING THIS, UH, HERE IN OUR GRAND CITY FARMER'S MARKET.
NOW, MARY, WHEN I COME UP THERE, WILL I SEE ANY VENDORS OR, UH, WILL THERE BE OTHER THINGS THERE? YES, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE VENDORS.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THE ARTS AND CRAFTS FOR KIDS.
UH, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THE SPORTS AREA FOR KIDS.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE DANCING HORSES AND A PONY RIDE FOR THE KIDS AS WELL.
SO WE DO HAVE SEVERAL ACTIVITIES, UH, THROUGHOUT THE EVENT.
UM, ENTERTAINMENT AND, UH, A LOT OF FUN.
AND IS THERE A CHARGE FOR ANYTHING? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
EVERYBODY'S WELCOME TO ATTEND AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING EVERYBODY BE A PART OF THIS GRAND CELEBRATION.
NOW, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO PURCHASE FOOD WHEN THEY COME? ABSOLUTELY, YES.
AND I CAN'T WAIT MYSELF, 'CAUSE I WANNA TRY SOME OF THE VENDORS, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FOOD THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE.
WE KNOW IT'S SEPTEMBER THE 14TH.
SEPTEMBER 14TH FOR AT FARMER'S MARKET AT 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM PARADE LINEUP IS AT, UH, 7:00 AM AT CITY HALL.
THERE IS NO FEE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARADE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING EVERYBODY FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
AND YOU'LL END UP AT FARMER'S MARKET.
AND HOW LONG WILL YOU BE THERE OR WILL THE, UH, VENDORS BE THERE TILL ONE ISH? UH, TILL ONE O'CLOCK.
UH, WE USUALLY, LAST YEAR WE STOPPED, I BELIEVE AT 1245.
UH, BUT THIS YEAR, BECAUSE WE DO PLAN TO EXTEND THE ENTERTAINMENT TILL EXACTLY ONE, BECAUSE WE HAD GROUPS FROM CA SPANA, FROM ARGENTINA, UH, OTHER COUNTRIES THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA SHOWCASE HOW WE DANCE IN OUR COUNTRY.
I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MAKE AN INVITATION AND HAVE A SPACE FOR YOU TO BE PART AND SHARE YOUR CULTURE AND TRADITIONS.
WILL YOU HAVE ANY BALLET FOLK? AS ALWAYS? THAT'S MY PASSION.
I'VE ALWAYS SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M A CHEERLEADER OF VAL RICO, GRAND PRAIRIE FINE ARTS ACADEMY.
UH, IT HAS THEIR FULL SCHEDULE.
WE HAVE MARIACHIS, WE HAVE THE VALS.
I WANNA THANK OUR G-P-I-S-D DISTRICT AND, UH, IF I CAN, YOU KNOW, AND I THANK LORRAINE, DR.
WHEATLEY FOR ALL HER COOPERATION, HER PASSION OF HELPING ME AND HER WILLINGNESS TO HELP ME MAKE THIS, YOU KNOW, COLLABORATION EFFORT, A SUCCESS.
SO YOU WORK WITH THE SCHOOLS? YES, WITH THE CITY.
THE CITY'S A CO A CO-SPONSOR OF THIS EVENT.
YOU KNOW, FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, UH, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN GOING ON THE FIESTA PATRIA, UM, FOR 15 YEARS WITH THE CITY, THREE YEARS.
AND WE ARE PROUD AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE HAVING THE EVENT WITH THE CITY BECAUSE IT IS A COMMUNITY EVENT.
AND HAVING VIRGIL ORTIZ THERE, THAT'S THE SPICE.
UH, IT'S A DOUBLE SPICE AND A DOUBLE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR MAYOR LEADING.
AND HOW COOL IS THAT? AND HOW GREAT IS THAT? AND THEN VIRGIL ORTIZ VIRGIL.
MY GARCIA GRANDSONS WILL HAVE TO COME SEE VIRGIL.
AND TAKE A PICTURE, YOU KNOW,
TAKE A PICTURE, WRITE FOR OUR BOOKS.
AND MARY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING ALL THIS EXCITING INFORMATION TO US.
I CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR SEPTEMBER 14TH.
THANK YOU MS. GEORGIA, FOR ALL THE SUPPORT FOR GIVING ME THIS SPACE TO BRING AND SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY WHAT OUR PROGRAM'S GONNA BE ABOUT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON THAT DAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR US.
WE COULD NOT DO IT WITH OUR SUPPORT OF OUR CITY.
GRAND PRAIRIE IS CHANGING THE SCHEDULE FOR GARBAGE AND RECYCLING PICKUPS STARTING OCTOBER 2ND.
GARBAGE PICKUPS NORTH OF WARRIOR TRAIL WILL BE ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY.
GARBAGE PICKUPS SOUTH OF WARRIOR TRAIL WILL BE
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ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY, AND RECYCLING PICKUPS WILL CHANGE TO WEDNESDAY FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.BUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW PICKUP SCHEDULE, VISIT GPTX.ORG.
WELCOME BACK AND WELCOME TO OUR NEXT GUEST, MS. EMILY EZ FROM THE FUN DEPARTMENT AT GRAND PRAIRIE PARKS ART AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
AND FUN DEPARTMENT IS ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE LIKE TO SAY IN PARKS, ARTS AND RECREATION.
AND YOU HAVE SOMETHING FUN TO SHARE WITH US TODAY, DON'T YOU? WE ALWAYS HAVE FUN THINGS GOING ON IN PARKS AND REC, BUT UH, THIS SEPTEMBER WE'VE GOT SOME BRAND NEW EVENTS THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO DOWNTOWN AND WE'RE SO EXCITED TO SHOWCASE THEM TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND START WITH THE SEPTEMBER 7TH ONE.
SO WE ARE BRINGING PICKLE FEST TO DOWNTOWN GRAND PRAIRIE ON SEPTEMBER 7TH FROM 8:00 AM TO 1:00 PM THIS IS A BRAND NEW EVENT FOR US.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE SITTING AROUND TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE FUN THAT PEOPLE ENJOY, AND WE WERE LIKE, OKAY, PICKLES, PICKLEBALL, LET'S DO IT.
SO, UH, PICKLE FEST IS GONNA TAKE PLACE DOWNTOWN IN THE FARMER'S MARKET FOOTPRINT, AS WELL AS, UH, THE BOTTOM OF THE CITY HALL PARKING LOT.
SO SIMILAR TO WHERE FOLKS ATTENDED MAIN STREET FEST.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY EXCITING COMPONENTS LIKE A PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT ON SITE, AND THE AMOUNT OF PICKLE FLAVORED GOODIES THAT ARE COMING TO THIS EVENT ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
WELL, I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE ALL THE DIFFERENT, WELL, I CAN IMAGINE THE PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT, BUT ALL THE DIFFERENT FLAVORS OF PICKLE ITEMS. ABSOLUTELY.
SO WE'LL HAVE OVER 70 VENDORS, AND THEY WERE ALL ASKED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF PICKLE OR PICKLEBALL COMPONENT.
SO WE'VE GOT SOME FOLKS THAT ARE SELLING LIKE PICKLEBALL OUTFITS AND PADDLES.
BUT REALLY WHERE WE'RE, UM, MOST EXCITED IS THE PICKLE RELATED VENDORS.
WE'VE GOT PICKLE COTTON CANDY AND PICKLED POPCORN, PICKLED CHICKEN WINGS AND PICKLES THAT ARE FREEZE DRIED KITS TO MAKE YOUR OWN PICKLES.
TRULY, IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO SEE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE OF TEXAS APPLY TO BE A PART OF THIS EVENT AND BRING THEIR PICKLE GOODIES TO SHOW OFF.
I THINK IT'S GONNA BE REALLY SPECIAL AND IT TAKES A PLACE OF AN EVENT WE DID HAVE, CORRECT.
SO IN THE PAST, PARKS AND REC HAS DONE TWO EVENTS AT THE FARMER'S MARKET, AND THEY'VE BEEN A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS.
MOST RECENTLY THE HATCH CHILI AND THE CRAWFISH BOIL.
SO WE WANTED TO TAKE THE IDEA OF A FOOD RELATED EVENT THAT PEOPLE GET SO EXCITED ABOUT, AND THAT'S WHERE PICKLE FEST WAS BORN.
AND THAT IS SO EXCITING AND IT'S SOMETHING NEW.
AND I HEAR THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF RESPONSE FROM THAT.
IT'S, IT'S BLOWING UP A LITTLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO, UH, WE'RE EXCITED FOR FOLKS TO COME OUT.
WE'VE GOT SOME FUN BACKDROPS FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE PICTURES ON.
CHICKEN AND PICKLE WILL BE THERE WITH A COURT FOR KIDS TO HAVE OPEN PLAY PICKLEBALL OF LIVE MUSIC.
I MEAN, IT'LL REALLY BE, UM, A SPECIAL OCCASION.
AND DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF, UM, RESPONSE FOR THE TOURNAMENT? SO WE, WE KEPT IT PRETTY LIMITED BECAUSE OF THE TIME THAT WE'VE GOT, BUT WE'VE GOT 16 TEAMS THAT ARE EXCITED AND READY TO PLAY, AND ONCE THE TOURNAMENT IS OVER ABOUT MIDWAY THROUGH THE EVENT, IT'LL BECOME AN OPEN PLAY COURT FOR FOLKS THAT JUST WANNA COME OUT AND PLAY.
OH, THAT'S GONNA BE SO MUCH FUN.
ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT PICKLE FEST? REMIND US THE DATE AND THE TIMES.
YEAH, SO IT'LL BE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH FROM 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM UH, ONE SPECIAL COMPONENT THAT WE ADDED IS THAT AT THE FARMER'S MARKET FOOTPRINT, THE GRAND PRAIRIE ARTS COUNCIL IS WORKING WITH SOME OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PROGRAM, UM, ACTS ON THE STAGE.
SO WE'LL HAVE SOME BALLET FOLK LOCO SOME, UM, BREAK DANCING GROUPS, SOME UH, MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIRS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE MORE FOLKS COME OUT TO THE EVENT THAT MAYBE, UH, DIDN'T KNOW YET THAT THEY LOVE PICKLES AND THEY'RE SURE.
AND WILL THE NORMAL VENDORS BE THERE AS WELL FOR THE, SO WE'LL HAVE A PORTION OF THE FARMER'S MARKET VENDORS, PRIMARILY THE PRODUCE AND PICKLE RELATED ONES INSIDE THE FARMER'S MARKET BUILDING.
BUT THEN ALL THE REST OF THE VENDORS THROUGHOUT THE FOOTPRINT OF THE EVENT WILL BE, UH, THE PICKLE AND PICKLEBALL FOLKS THAT WE'VE BROUGHT IN.
AND SOMEBODY TOLD ME THERE MIGHT BE A PICKLE SNOW CONE.
WE COULDN'T DO A PICKLE EVENT IN GRAND PRAIRIE WITHOUT A PICKLE SNOW CONE.
SO OUR VENDOR HAS PICKLED TOPPINGS AND PICKLE FLAVORED JUICE.
SO I THINK, UH, IF THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE LIVED IN GRAND PRAIRIE A WHILE AND REMEMBER THOSE PICKLE SNOW CONES, THIS IS A LOCAL VENDOR THAT WE'RE EXCITED TO, UH, BRING THAT EXPERIENCE BACK.
WE DID HAVE PICKLE SNOW CONES AT THE UPTOWN THEATER BACK IN THE DAY.
WELL, I'M EXCITED TO BRING A LITTLE TASTE OF OLD GRAND PRAIRIE BACK.
AND NOW LET'S MOVE ON FROM PICKLE FEST.
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING? YEAH, SO LIKE I SAID, WE'RE EXCITED FOR SEPTEMBER.
WE'RE BRINGING AN EVENT ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH CALLED MEET ON MAINE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, BARBECUE IS ALWAYS
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A HOT TOPIC IN TEXAS, AND SO WE'RE ACTUALLY HOSTING AN AMATEUR BARBECUE SMOKE OFF DOWNTOWN AT OUR FARMER'S MARKET FOOTPRINT.UM, THIS IS A SMALL GROUP OF FIVE OR SIX LOCAL, UM, TOTALLY AMATEUR BARBECUERS, BUT UM, GIVES THEM A PLATFORM TO KIND OF SHOWCASE THEIR SKILLS AND IT'LL BE REALLY FUN FOR FOLKS TO WATCH.
UM, THE REST OF THE EVENT WILL BE FILLED WITH SOME OTHER SORT OF TAILGATE ACTIVITIES.
WE'RE KIND OF CALLING IT A KICKOFF TO FALL.
SO WE'LL HAVE A CLASSIC CAR SHOW, A CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT, AND LOTS OF VENDORS, UM, SELLING THINGS LIKE LEATHER AND MM-HMM
UM, YOU KNOW, BARBECUE, BARBECUE, BARBECUE, TAILGATE RELATED THINGS, SEASONINGS AND ALL THAT JAZZ.
SO THIS ONE WILL BE, UM, IN THE EVENING, 11:00 AM TO 5:00 PM SO, UM, A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN AFTERNOON VIBE, BUT I THINK IT'S GONNA BE REALLY FUN.
AND IF YOU, IF YOU LOVE BARBECUE, COME ON OUT BECAUSE THERE WILL BE LOTS OF IT.
AND IT ALWAYS SMELLS DELICIOUS WHEN THEY DO THAT.
AND THEY'RE AMATEURS, YOU ALREADY HAVE SELECTED.
AND WILL WE, UH, BE A CONTEST OR ANYTHING? SO WE'LL HAVE SOME JUDGES THAT'LL JUDGE THE THREE CATEGORIES.
THEY'RE MAKING US A, A BRISKET, SOME RIBS AND SOME CHICKEN.
AND SO THE JUDGES WILL BE DOING A LIVE JUDGING IN FRONT OF THE CROWD.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME OTHER VENDORS ON SITE ACTUALLY SELLING BARBECUE TO THE PUBLIC.
BUT THESE AMATEURS ARE GETTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMPETITION, AND THEN THE BIG WINNER WILL BE AWARDED A SUPER AWESOME PRIZE.
AND EVERYBODY, ALL TEXANS LOVE BARBECUE, DON'T THEY? YES, MA'AM.
AT LEAST WE, WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA ENJOY THIS EVENT.
AND THERE'S LOTS OF, UM, THINGS, WE, WE HAVE A FUN, UM, MECHANICAL BOWL FOR THE KIDS AND SOME SMALL ACTIVITIES, AND OF COURSE, ALL OF OUR VENDORS IN SHOPPING.
SO I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AND REMIND US THE DATE AND THE TIME.
SO THIS ONE, UM, WILL BE SEPTEMBER 28TH FROM 11:00 AM TO 5:00 PM SO A LITTLE BIT LATER, UM, THAN THE TRADITIONAL FARMER'S MARKET, BUT THAT'LL ALSO BE ON A SATURDAY.
AND REMIND US HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN WITH PARKS ARTS AND RECREATION GP.
YEAH, SO I'VE ALMOST MADE IT TO ONE YEAR.
AND YOU KNOW, THE, LIKE YOU SAID, PARKS IS THE FUN DEPARTMENT.
AND SO THE AMOUNT OF THINGS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO EXPERIENCE JUST SINCE I'VE COME ABOARD BETWEEN PRAIRIE LIGHTS AND MAIN STREET FEST, WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE BRINGING REALLY SPECIAL EVENTS TO THE COMMUNITY, UM, AND BRINGING THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT.
AND I'M SO GLAD YOU CAME TO GRAND PRAIRIE AND YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.
GRAND PRAIRIE, IT'S TIME TO BAG THE BAG AND GRAB THE BIN.
THE CITY IS NO LONGER COLLECTING RECYCLED ITEMS IN PLASTIC BAGS BECAUSE PLASTIC BAGS DAMAGE PROCESSING EQUIPMENT.
INSTEAD, USE YOUR RECYCLING BIN TO HOLD ITEMS FOR PICKUP.
AND REMEMBER, ONLY GLASS BOTTLES AND JARS, METAL CANS AND PAPER PRODUCTS ARE OKAY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT GPTX.ORG/RECYCLING.
WELCOME BACK AND WELCOME TO OUR NEXT TWO GUESTS.
WE HAVE LYNN MCGINLEY AND SHARON BOHART, BOTH WITH CHILDREN FIRST.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING, FOR HAVING US.
UM, LYNN, WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND YOU HAVE SOME HISTORY OF CHILDREN FIRST THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US.
YOU KNOW, CHILDREN FIRST CAME ABOUT IN 1977.
WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF SUCCESS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THERE WAS A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT FELT THE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF ABUSED CHILDREN AND TO JUST CHECK ON FAMILIES THAT WERE NEEDING A LITTLE EXTRA SUPPORT.
UH, SO THANK GOODNESS THEY FOUNDED, UH, CHILDREN FIRST INCORPORATED YEARS LATER, 19, 19 88, JIM PAT AND APRIL, UM, GRIFFITHS DECIDED THAT WE WANTED TO RENAME OURSELVES SO THAT WE CAN POSITION OURSELF AS WE ARE, WHICH IS OUR FOCUS IS ON CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
SO WE BECAME CHILDREN FIRST INCORPORATED DOING BUSINESS AS CHILDREN FIRST COUNSELING CENTER.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE MOSTLY TODAY WHEN YOU SEE CHILDREN FIRST.
AND YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL BOARD WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOARDS I'VE EVER WORKED WITH.
BEST BOARD, BEST STAFF, BEST PLACE TO WORK.
AND WHAT IS THE MISSION OF CHILDREN FIRST? I KNOW WE KNOW THE GIST OF IT, BUT ABSOLUTELY.
WHAT IS YOUR MISSION? ABSOLUTELY.
THE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE HOPE AND HEALING TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH EDUCATION AND COUNSELING.
SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING.
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DOING COUNSELING FOR FAMILIES.WE'RE DOING COUNSELING FOR CHILDREN.
IF, IF CHILDREN ARE AGE THREE, WE CAN GET TO THEM THROUGH PLAY THERAPY, WHICH IS VERY, VERY INTERESTING.
UH, AND THEN WE DO PLAY THERAPY.
WE DO SOME ART EXPRESSION, BUT NOT ART THERAPY.
WE DO, UH, EMDR, WHICH IS KIND OF AN INTERESTING THING, UM, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE TRAUMA OR IF YOU'VE HAD PTSD, THAT PARTICULAR KIND OF COUNSELING IS FOR YOU.
WE ALSO, OF COURSE, DO LISTENING THERAPY WHERE IT'S ONE-ON-ONE.
OUR OUR FAMILIES, OUR COUPLES THERAPY, AND WE HAVE CLASSES, WE HAVE PARENTING CLASSES, WE DO STRESS MANAGEMENT WITH TEENAGERS, WHICH SO MANY TEENAGERS NEED THIS, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW.
AND, UM, WE ALSO DO MINDFULNESS, WHICH IS INTERESTING TO ME BECAUSE I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE MY MIND'S GOING SO FAST, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EVER SETTLE IN ON SOMETHING.
SO, UH, THOSE ARE KIND OF THE KIND OF THINGS WE'RE DOING OVER THERE.
AND WE'RE SEEING QUITE A BIT OF SUCCESS.
AND WHEN YOU SAY OVER THERE, YOU HAVE A NEW HOME, DON'T YOU? WE HAVE A NEW HOME AT 6 21 NORTHWEST SIXTH STREET IN GRAND PRAIRIE WHERE THE K 1 0 1 USED TO BE, I BELIEVE IT IS, BUT IT'S RIGHT BEHIND THE, THE NEW FIRE STATION ON MAIN STREET.
YOU CAN'T MISS THIS BEAUTIFUL FACILITY, BEAUTIFUL HOME.
AND WHEN YOU HAD YOUR OPEN HOUSE, OF COURSE I GOT TO SEE YOU AND SHARON AND MANY SUPPORTERS THERE.
AND I, I THINK I WAS MOST SUPPRESSED, IMPRESSED ON THE TOUR WITH THE PLAY AREAS FOR THE CHILDREN.
UM, THE SAND AND THE DIFFERENT LITTLE ITEMS THEY CAN EXPRESS THEMSELF WITH THROUGH THE PLAY.
IT'S VERY TELLING WHEN CHILDREN WALK INTO A ROOM AND THEY GRAVITATE TOWARDS CERTAIN TOYS, OUR COUNSELORS ARE TRAINED TO PICK UP ON THAT AND TO KIND OF BE ABLE TO GENTLY GUIDE THEM UNTIL THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO OPEN UP AND TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE.
AND SHARON, YOU HAVE ARE NOW CURRENTLY, UH, THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH CHILDREN FIRST? SO, I'VE BEEN WITH CHILDREN FIRST ABOUT 12 YEARS.
UM, THIS IS MY, UH, FIRST YEAR AS BOARD PRESIDENT.
IT'S BEEN VERY BUSY AND VERY ACTIVE AND, BUT A LOT OF FUN AND VERY REWARDING TOO.
AND YOU HAVE A GREAT BOARD, GREAT VOLUNTEERS.
AND ALL OF THIS THAT WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT TAKES MONEY.
AND YOU HAVE FUNDRAISERS AND YOU HAVE WONDERFUL SUPPORTERS.
BUT SOMETHING SPECIAL IS COMING UP SOON.
WE HAVE, EXCUSE ME, ONE OF OUR MOST FAVORITE, UM, FUNDRAISERS CALLED LITTLE LUNCH OF HOPE, UM, AND A LITTLE LUNCH OF HOPE THIS YEAR.
WILL, WE'RE AT OUR 47TH YEAR, I BELIEVE.
UH, THIS YEAR'S EVENT WILL BE HELD ON OCTOBER 30TH FROM 11 TO ONE AT THE ASIA TIMES SQUARE.
AND THIS YEAR'S THEME FOR LITTLE LUNCH IS DELIVERING HOPE, WHICH IS OUR MISSION AT CHILDREN FIRST TO BRING HOPE AND HEALING TO THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
SO YEAH, THAT'S OUR, THAT'S OUR NEXT FUN EVENT.
AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE GET TO WEAR COSTUMES.
WHAT, WHAT DATE IS IT AGAIN? IT'S OCTOBER 30TH.
AND WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE COSTUMES.
THERE WILL BE A COSTUME CONTEST.
IT'S JUST A, IT'S JUST A FUN EVENT.
I THINK WE HAVE, UM, 30, OVER 30 ITEMS, MAYBE 35 RAFFLE ITEMS. WE'LL HAVE A LIVE AUCTION.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR FAMOUS SPOOKY DUCKS.
AND SO FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT A SPOOKY DUCK IS, OUR SPOOKY DUCKS ARE, THEY'RE LIKE A GRAB BAG.
UM, AND YOU PURCHASE A DUCK FOR $25 AND THAT DUCK IS NUMBERED AND THAT CORRESPONDS WITH THE PRIZE.
AND IT'S FUN TO WATCH PEOPLE BUY THE DUCKS AND, AND GET THEIR PRIZE.
AND ALL OF THOSE PRIZES ARE VALUED AT THAT $25 OR HIGHER.
AND THERE MIGHT BE A CASH PRIZE IN THERE, I DON'T KNOW.
IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL.
UM, THAT IS ALWAYS A FUN EVENT.
EVERYBODY ENJOYS THAT THE MINUTE THEY WALK IN THE DOOR.
THERE ARE PHOTO OPS AND, UH, THE DIFFERENT COSTUMES, EVERYTHING.
AND, UH, YOU WILL, UM, HOW DO I GET A TICKET? WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, YOU CAN REAL EASY, GO TO OUR WEBSITE CHILDREN FIRST INC.ORG.
UM, AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE THERE IS A LITTLE ORANGE LINK THAT SAYS LITTLE LUNCH.
THAT'LL TAKE YOU RIGHT TO OUR TICKET OPTIONS.
THE SPONSORSHIP OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AS WELL.
UM, OR YOU CAN SIMPLY CALL OUR OFFICE AT, UH, (972) 264-0604,
[00:25:02]
AND ANYONE THERE WILL BE GLAD TO, UM, UH, TO HOOK YOU UP WITH, WITH TICKETS.BUT IF I CAN, I, THERE'S JUST ONE MORE THING.
I WANNA SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS LUNCH IS VERY, UH, IT'S A LOT OF FUN AND WE ENJOY IT SO MUCH, BUT IT'S ALSO EDUCATIONAL IN THAT OUR ATTENDEES WILL LEARN, UH, NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT WE DO AT CHILDREN FIRST, BUT HOW THEY CAN HELP AND NOT JUST HELP AT THAT EVENT, UH, BUT HOW THEY CAN HELP US ALL YEAR LONG, UM, TO HELP, UM, DELIVER THAT HOPE TO THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILY.
SO, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE LICENSED THERAPISTS WORKING WITH THE CHILDREN.
UH, AND ARE ANY OF THOSE VOLUNTEER, ARE THEY ALL, UH, ON STAFF? NO, WE HAVE LICENSED THERAPISTS WORKING FOR US, BUT WE ALSO HAVE INTERNS THAT ARE STUDYING TO BE LICENSED THERAPISTS.
THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR THEM TO PUT IN SO MANY HOURS OF COUNSELING.
SO WE HAVE VERY, VERY INTENSE, UM, SUPERVISION OF THESE INTERNS.
AND THEY COME THROUGH A SEMESTER AT A TIME AND THEY, WE ALWAYS HAVE A GOOD GROUP OF INTERNS.
THE COOL THING IS THAT THEY'RE STARTING, WHEN THEY FINISH AND GET THEIR HOURS, THEY COME BACK TO US.
AND WE LOVE SEEING THAT BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE A FULLY LICENSED READY PERSON.
WE ALSO HAVE, UM, BILINGUAL COUNSELORS, BILINGUAL AND SPANISH, BECAUSE 75% OF WHO WE SERVE IS HISPANIC.
AND 60% OF THAT GROUP WANTS TO SPEAK IN SPANISH.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY IN THAT WAY.
SO WE ALWAYS HAVE THOSE BILINGUAL COUNSELORS AVAILABLE.
UH, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORK AND SERVICE YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, AND YOU HAVE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS.
AND, UH, THERE'S SUCH A NEED OUT THERE.
CAN I ADD ONE MORE THING? SURE.
WE DO THIS AT NO COST OR LOW COST.
SO IF YOU FEEL LIKE, WELL, WELL, I CAN'T AFFORD COUNSELING, OR I REALLY WOULD LIKE MY CHILD TO SEE SOMEBODY, BUT I CAN'T AFFORD COUNSELING, PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU.
COME AND, AND TALK TO US AND WE WILL WORK THROUGH AND FIND A PROGRAM WHERE WE CAN HELP SUPPORT THAT EXPENSE.
UM, ANOTHER THING IS, IF YOU WANNA HELP US, WE ARE DOING SOMETHING CALLED KIDS BEFORE COFFEE.
AND THAT IS IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU GET UP AND GET YOUR COFFEE AND YOU'RE SITTING THERE, THINK ABOUT GOING TO OUR WEBSITE.
UH, GO TO THE FRONT PAGE, SCROLL DOWN TO WHERE YOU SEE A LITTLE GIRL IN A RED DRESS AND SUBSCRIBE TO KIDS BEFORE COFFEE.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US $10, $5, $25, A HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH AND IF, AND PUT IT ON SOME KIND OF RECURRING BASIS.
AND IF YOU WILL DO THAT, UH, I THINK IF YOU DO THAT, YOU CAN SUPPORT THREE AND A HALF COUNSELING SESSIONS WITH JUST $10 A MONTH.
AND THAT MIGHT NOT HURT YOU, BUT IT WILL CERTAINLY HELP ONE OF OUR CHILDREN.
AND WHAT A BLESSING THAT IS TO THESE FAMILIES AND TO THE CHILDREN ESPECIALLY.
I JUST APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU AND YOUR, OF COURSE, YOUR BOARD AND ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR CITY, AND ESPECIALLY FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, AND WE WANT EVERYONE TO COME OUT FOR A LITTLE CALL US, COME TO LITTLE LUNCH IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE, IT'S AN AMAZING EVENT.
YES,
AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
I'M REMINDING YOU THAT IT'S HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE.