Empowerment council shows up to enrich the overlooked

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  Members of the Tri City Empowerment Council receive donation checks in the amount of $25,000 from Mr. and Mrs. Stayton Weldon and $10,000 from the Trull Foundation. Pictured from L-R, Devonna Eldridge, Isabel Patton, Helen Whittington, Loleat Ross, Rogers Wardy, Debbie Scott, Viola Holman, and Nicole Henderson. STAFF PHOTO

  Members of the Tri City Empowerment Council receive donation checks in the amount of $25,000 from Mr. and Mrs. Stayton Weldon and $10,000 from the Trull Foundation. Pictured from L-R, Devonna Eldridge, Isabel Patton, Helen Whittington, Loleat Ross, Rogers Wardy, Debbie Scott, Viola Holman, and Nicole Henderson. STAFF PHOTO

Each Wednesday evening the cul de sac in front of Viola Holman’s house fills up with cars as members of the Tri-City Empowerment Council gather to move forward their mission of uplifting overlooked individuals.

Not one, but two dining-room tables accommodate the board members who are committed to Tri City’s vision.

“They’ve shown up every week for two years, no matter what,” Holman said.

The board’s ultimate mission is a fully functioning Duale Resource Center, which will offer enrichment, education and workskill development. Located at the site of the historical Duale school house, the refurbished 23,000-square foot facility will offer programs for education, entrepreneurship, youth, arts and health services.

In July, Robert Oliver kicked off the Duale capital fund drive with a $25,000 donation. Another $25,000 donation toward Duale came in this month from Mr. and Mrs. Stayton Weldon.

In the meantime, Tri-City sponsors annual events such as the Ethosha Lynn Back-to-School Bash and the upcoming Gospel Fest. The Back-to-School Bash has been sponsored by the the Trull Foundation since it started 10 years ago.

The Back to School Bash was held on August 3 at the Cuero Park Pavilion and had many participants. Isabel Patton, the board member in charge of free haircuts, said the barber kept cutting hair for an hour and a half after the close of the event.

The next annual event will be the Gospel Fest on Saturday, Oct. 12 that is scheduled to coincide with the Turkey Fest. Many out-of-town performers and guests are excited to also attend Turkey Fest at the conclusion of the early evening Gospel Fest.