Black El Paso Voice

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BEP Voice Weekly

December Greetings

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🎄✨ Hello, December! ❄️🌟

As the final chapter of the year unfolds, take a moment to reflect on the good you’ve done, the joy you’ve shared, and the strength you’ve shown. Maybe you didn’t check off every goal—that’s okay! Life isn’t a race, and every day is a new chance to begin again, when the time feels right for you. 💖

Let’s embrace this magical season with warmth in our hearts and hope in our spirits. Here’s to cozy moments, fresh starts, and maybe—just maybe—a beautifully snowy winter. ❄️☕ Praying for a season filled with peace, love, and light for us all. 🕊️💫

#WelcomeDecember

~Monica 

Renard Johnson for Mayor: Founder’s Statement

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It is no secret that the final day of a major political election brings out most voters. Today, I hope everyone who didn’t vote early, does their part in choosing who is right to assist with positive progress.

Living in El Paso as a military spouse, mother, businesswoman, community activist, and advocate for almost 30 years, I have gained clarity and understanding concerning what it takes and who it takes to lead our community forward. Understanding the intersection of resilience, dedication, and vision, this current season of change is reflective of my beliefs and where I believe that we, as a community, go from here.

Our city is not without complex issues, and because of that, it takes people who are compassionate, non-combative leaders, to help us attain a greater level of being seen as a city that invites new innovations for job creation, improved safety, and better quality of life, among other things.

Heightening my commitment to the well-being of El Paso, I have chosen roles that shape my perspective and have accompanied my heart and mind since a young age, and my heart is for El Paso. Renard Johnson embodies these qualities that our city needs now more than ever. He genuinely understands the challenges and aspirations that define El Paso and is a proven leader in business who exudes compassion when it comes to having a heart for the community.

Renard is the only candidate for mayor who stepped forward to ensure our military families, especially military spouses, are included in the progress of our city and is positioned to drive the growth we need to be an inviting city to new and expanding industries.

I’m not only convinced but assured that Renard is a leaders leader who is caring enough to understand that we, the people, are a part of the necessary group that should be included in leading our city.

Monica Tucker

  • Founder, Black El Paso Voice/The Black Roundtable
  • Community Activist, Advocate, Volunteer
  • Mother, Grandmother
  • Businesswoman
  • Military Spouse – 34+ years
  • El Pasoan – 28+ years
  • Positivity Promoter – Since birth

Minerva Torres Shelton for Sheriff: Founder’s Statement

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Everyone who knows me knows that besides Northeast El Paso, the sheriff’s department and who we have as a leader is important to me because I want our deputies to be safe, and we want the corruption to end! My opinion is unpopular, but the other candidate can’t hold a candle to Minerva regarding experience, honesty, and diplomacy. She does not have a negative agenda.

My vote is actually for Sgt. James Brown. She will provide the leadership necessary to ensure we won’t lose our service members to ignorance. Our law enforcement community deserves better, and change is needed in the sheriff’s department. Don’t let the party affiliation fool you; Minerva Torres Shelton is the experienced leader El Paso needs to revitalize the Sheriff’s Department. She has over 25 years of law enforcement training and experience, including a distinguished tenure with the FBI and serving our country in the Army in military intelligence.

Her expertise and vision make her the ONLY candidate on the ballot to address systemic issues that plague the county law enforcement division. Minerva began her law enforcement career as a patrol officer with the EPPD, where she enhanced her experience in community policing and public safety. She started her career with the FBI, as with many, after September 11, 2001. In this role, she led critical investigations into violent crimes, human trafficking, and counterterrorism.

As a Supervisory Special Agent, her experience with the Joint Terrorism Task Force and her work on human trafficking initiatives demonstrate her commitment to protecting vulnerable populations. Transparency and accountability, which are essential in the role of the sheriff to end corruption, is where her approach is focused on restoring trust in the Sheriff’s Department.

Who we elect is crucial to the safety of our deputies and the department’s operations. She has a plethora of strategies to enhance public safety while prioritizing mental health support within our jails.

Minerva Torres Shelton is not just another candidate; she is the ONLY candidate who has demonstrated passion for advocacy for fair justice. Neither a consensus nor a survey is needed to understand that we’ll risk further mistrust and mishandling if we don’t transfer leadership to a more experienced candidate. Her aim is to create a Sheriff’s Department that reflects the values of El Paso—integrity, service, and community engagement.

Hands down, she is unmatched when it comes to experience, integrity, and commitment. How do you throw safety out the window? By voting for the least experienced person.

Monica Tucker

  • Founder, Black El Paso Voice/The Black Roundtable
  • Community Activist, Advocate, Volunteer
  • Mother, Grandmother
  • Businesswoman
  • Military Spouse – 34+ years
  • El Pasoan – 28+ years
  • Positivity Promoter – Since birth

Cynthia Boyar Trejo for District 4 NE Rep: Founder’s Statement

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I’ve had the privilege of speaking and getting to know Cynthia Boyar Trejo, and it’s clear to me that she’s uniquely suited to represent Northeast El Paso. As a third-generation El Pasoan and an Andress High School graduate, Cynthia knows our community’s values and challenges firsthand.

As the founder of a nonprofit focused on underserved populations, she has over 20 years of business experience. Expanding economic growth and improving the quality of life for all Northeast residents is what she is dedicated to achieving with the help of those she will serve.

She is passionate and dedicated, as many of us are when it comes to changing the narrative about the Northeast and showcasing the potential for growth and opportunity. She is committed to community-driven solutions and ensuring the residents of Northeast El Paso have a voice because she genuinely understands the need to be heard and valued.

Solid leadership, years of executive coaching, and hands-on community work, I have no doubt she is ready to advocate for vital services, attract new businesses, and create opportunities that benefit all of El Paso.

Monica Tucker

  • Founder, Black El Paso Voice/The Black Roundtable
  • Community Activist, Advocate, Volunteer
  • Mother, Grandmother
  • Businesswoman
  • Military Spouse – 34+ years
  • El Pasoan – 28+ years
  • Positivity Promoter – Since birth

The State of Black El Paso: Catalyzing Transformative Change Through Exemplary LeadershipThe State of Black El Paso:

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The journey towards sustainable progress and equity for the Black community is not a leisurely stroll but a race against time. It requires a paradigm shift – one that emanates FROM WITHIN and spreads outward through the embodiment of exemplary leadership.

Mere rhetoric and passive engagement will not suffice to dismantle the insidious barriers that have historically impeded our collective advancement. We must step up as change agents, not just beacons of excellence, but ACTIVE forces that dismantle these barriers and pave a new path. Our determination is the key to our success.

We must cultivate a generation of Black leaders who are intellectually formidable and possess an unwavering commitment to ethical conduct, resilience, and steadfast determination. These pioneers should relentlessly pursue academic and professional excellence, using their achievements to shatter stereotypes and defy societal boundaries, thereby transforming our community.

Moreover, our leaders must embrace a spirit of service, recognizing that actual progress is achieved through uplifting and empowering our communities. They must be catalysts for positive transformation, encouraging our youth while addressing the systemic inequities hindering our mutual betterment. It is our responsibility to uplift our communities.

By embodying these principles and leading by example, we can inspire a renaissance of Black excellence that transcends boundaries and inspires future generations.

When: Juneteenth – Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Where: Location sent to attendees

Cost: $10 – Click here to purchase tickets

Speakers: Various El Paso Changemakers

Questions? Have a topic you’d like addressed? Send to monica@blackelpasovoice.com

Black History Month Panel Discussion | The Black Roundtable at UTEP

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Thank you to the amazing panelists of The @blackroundtable The Black Roundtable and Crystal for an amazing job moderating this evening. Awesome! If you missed it, follow us and @bewaretheday Beware the Day to see the video tomorrow. Thank you to Carla who put everything together. Jackeline Biddle Richard @jbr.immigration @afrolatinx_culture – Ryan O. Adams host of #BewareTheDay, Tomas Arellano @iamtommynoir, and @abenijanae Abeni Janae – all of you were amazing!
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Politics | Alexsandra Annello Announces Run for HD 77

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“She is a Champion of Community and Equality. It was an honor to honor her at our Black Business and Community Awards.” ~Monica Tucker

 

In the heart of El Paso, Texas, stands a woman whose commitment to her community knows no bounds. Alexsandra Annello, a pillar in the local landscape, has dedicated herself to uplifting those around her through advocacy, service, and unwavering dedication to equality.

 

Alexsandra’s journey to becoming a beacon of change in El Paso began with a foundation of resilience and empathy. After experiencing the unexpected loss of her father during her studies at Catholic University, she found solace and renewed purpose at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Here, she not only completed her college degree but also imbibed the ethos of community service that would define her career.

 

Alexsandra ignited her passion for community building after immersing herself in the arts and nonprofit sectors across Texas for a decade. However, her pivotal role in initiating the Juneteenth El Paso event, now a celebrated city occasion, solidified her reputation as an initiative-taking and inclusive leader.

 

Throughout her tenure on the El Paso City Council, Alexsandra distinguished herself as a champion for equity and justice. She spearheaded initiatives to enhance access to education, healthcare, and public spaces, recognizing these as fundamental pillars of a thriving community. Her commitment to women’s rights, evidenced by her advocacy against corporate welfare and women’s autonomy in healthcare decisions, earned her widespread admiration and respect.

 

Now, as she embarks on her campaign for State Representative, House District 77, Alexsandra continues to amplify the voices of those she serves. Her platform is rooted in the principles of education, empowerment, and economic opportunity. Adamantly opposed to policies that undermine public education, such as vouchers and book bans, she stands as a steadfast advocate for the vital role of institutions like UTEP and El Paso Community College in shaping Texas’ future workforce.

 

Beyond her political endeavors, Alexsandra remains deeply connected to her community. Whether strolling through Memorial Park with her husband Beto and their dog or finding solace in the pages of a book at her local library, she epitomizes the spirit of accessibility and approachability that defines her leadership.

 

Alexsandra Annello is an example of progress. Her dedication to community, along with her steadfast advocacy for equality and justice, serves as a reminder of the transformative power of compassionate leadership.Â