Rockets Hold Company-Wide Day Of Service At Freedmen's Town
HOUSTON — In an appreciation of Juneteenth, the Houston Rockets and Toyota Center employees held a company-wide Day of Service at the historic Freedmen’s Town in Fourth Ward.
Rockets general manager Rafael Stone, coach Ime Udoka, Kevin Porter Jr. and Jabari Smith Jr. participated in the event.
They conducted a cleanup task at Saulnier House. The Rockets' goal was to help renovate Saulnier House, one of Freedmen's Town's original homes, in hopes of making it a future residency for a new family.
"It's beautiful," Porter said. "Growing up and learning about these things in high school has always been a sensitive topic, especially for me as a black man. I want to be a part of things like this more and more, especially in Houston. I love Houston. It's home for me."
Udoka added: "I’m kind of getting integrated into the community. I think it’s a great thing for everybody. To actually get to integrate myself into the city and learn more about it is a big thing."
Slaves freed after the Juneteenth announcement in Texas on June 19, 1865, founded Freedmen’s Town, which has become a historic black neighborhood. Following clean-up, Porter, Smith, Stone and Udoka toured Freedmen's Town to learn about its history.
The excursion included the establishment of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, formed in 1866. The 1870 Reverend Jack Yates' house. And Barbara Jordan's mother's and father's original church, Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church.
Friday’s day of service included additional clean-up duties at Wiley Park and Freedmen’s Town Association with other Rockets and Toyota Center employees. Team President of Business Operations Gretchen Sheirr was also in attendance.
"For the last few years, we have been coming out to Freedmen's Town to learn about the history and resiliency of the people who settled here years and years ago.
"It's about telling the stories of freed slaves who came here and built this area of town. It is a great experience for us. Hopefully, it inspires other people in the city to come and tour this area of town to learn about Freedmen's Town."
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