Odessa City Council Approve New City Manager , MLK Jr Street and Hispanic Heritage HOT FUNDS

Odessa, Texas/April 24, 2025-The Odessa City Council during its regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 22nd approved several key agenda items. The council approved Hispanic Heritage of Odessa’s request for $50 thousand dollars from the hot funds for cultural events for the 2025 season even though the applications for the HOT Funds were out of its traditional cycle. 

(Craig Stoker, Odessa Councilman At-Large-City of Odessa/Texas) 

(Carol Uranga, Executive Director-Hispanic Heritage of Odessa/Odessa, Texas) 

The Council unanimously voted and approved the renaming of East Murphy St to M.L.K., Jr Street in southside Odessa starting at South Grant Avenue & Murphy traveling east to the north service road of I-20 crossing over south Dixie and South Grandview. 

(Eddie Mitchell, Odessa Councilman, District 1-City of Odessa/Texas) 

(Craig Stoker, Odessa Councilman At-Large-City of Odessa/Texas) 

The Odessa City Council returned from Executive Session at approximately 8:45pm approved the selection of David A. Vela, the current Sweetwater, Texas City Manager as the new Odessa City Manager and voted to begin the contract process.  

(Cal Hendrick, Odessa Mayor- City of Odessa/Texas) 

(David A. Vela, Current Sweetwater, Texas City Manager-New Odessa City Manager/Odesa, Texas) 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

 

Black Cultural Council of Odessa Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr

Odessa, Texas/January 15, 2024-The Black Cultural Council of Odessa hosted and celebrated the birthday of Civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr. The January 15th celebration included a community brunch at the Woodson Community Center at Woodson Park in southeast Odessa. 

(Javaun Johnson, Pastor-Crossroads Church-Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.-Odessa, Texas) 

Young students from the STEM Academy located at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin presented posters the students created in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. 

(Jaimie Enriquez, Elementary School Counselor-STEM Academy/Odessa, Texas) 

Residents gathered at the Salvador Guerrero Senior Activity Center and begin the traditional march starting on south Dixie Blvd to East Murphy Street to the Woodson Community Center in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Followed by cultural activities. 

(Javaun Johnson, Pastor-Crossroads Church-Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.-Odessa, Texas) 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera  

 

MCH Volunteers Hosted Reading Event for MLK Day of Service-DRB Media Communications Digital News

Odessa, Texas/January 17, 2023-On Monday, January 16th, the Volunteer Services at Medical Center Hospital hosted two reading events for children as part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Services. 

(Cheryl Ferguson, Chair-Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary-Odessa, Texas) 

Volunteers with the Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary serve the community in different way from handing out popcorn to volunteering at the West Texas Food bank 

(Cheryl Ferguson, Chair-Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary-Odessa, Texas) 

This is DRB Media Communications Digital News 

BCC of Odessa Martin Luther KIng, Jr.-Remembrance and Celebrations-DRB Media Communications Digital News

Odessa, Texas/January 16, 2023-The Black Cultural Council of Odessa and the Black Chamber of Commerce of the Permian Basin held the annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.  

The remembrance featured a breakfast and speeches at the Woodson Park Community Center and a march that started at the Salvador Guerrero Southside Senior Activity Center. Officials with Ector County ISD and the board of trustees, football players from Permian High School and State Representative, District 81, Brooks Landgraf, his wife Shelby Landgraf and their daughter participated in the march that ended at the Woodson Activity Center. 

(Savanah Morales, President Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce/Odessa Resident) 

Savanah Morales was recognized at the MLK remembrance for her assistance with the Black Cultural Council of Odessa and southside church events. 

(Savanah Morales, President Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce/Odessa Resident) 

The Martin Luther King remembrance and celebration concluded with prayer and a candle light vigil. 

(Savanah Morales, President Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce/Odessa Resident) 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera 

 

DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS(011822)-DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR, PARADE AND CANDLELIGHT VIGIL

Odessa, Texas/January 18, 2022-The Black Cultural Council of Odessa hosted the Freedom Parade to celebrate and remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The parade route moved north from I-20 down south Dixie Blvd. To east Murphy to Woodson Park. 

(Angela Love-Jackson, Educator) 

The parade featured decorated vehicles, athletes from Permian High School, a diverse group of residents walked the parade route, as-well-as local politicians, who are currently running for various seats in county and city political races.  

(Angela Love-Jackson, Educator) 

The Odessa Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. held a special  candle light vigil at the Woodson Center. The ceremony event featured a special performance based on a speech by Dr. King, and other performances. 

(Nat Snd) 

Shelia Stevenson, President of the Odessa Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., has concerns regarding the new Texas Voting Law-which for some, the new law is voter suppression. 

(Shelia Stevenson, President of the Odessa Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Soroity, Inc.) 

Several students at U.T. Permian Basin celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther KIng, Jr., by creating poster that would be posted at the Student Activity Center. 

(Izaiha Bush, President-Black Student Union-U.T.P.B. ) 

For DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, Danny Barrera. 

 

 

DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS(011822)-DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR, PARADE AND CANDLELIGHT VIGIL

Odessa, Texas/January 18, 2022-The Black Cultural Council of Odessa hosted the Freedom Parade to celebrate and remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The parade route moved north from I-20 down south Dixie Blvd. To east Murphy to Woodson Park. 

(Angela Love-Jackson, Educator) 

The parade featured decorated vehicles, athletes from Permian High School, a diverse group of residents walked the parade route, as-well-as local politicians, who are currently running for various seats in county and city political races.  

(Angela Love-Jackson, Educator) 

The Odessa Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. held a special  candle light vigil at the Woodson Center. The ceremony event featured a special performance based on a speech by Dr. King, and other performances. 

(Nat Snd) 

Shelia Stevenson, President of the Odessa Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., has concerns regarding the new Texas Voting Law-which for some, the new law is voter suppression. 

(Shelia Stevenson, President of the Odessa Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Soroity, Inc.) 

Several students at U.T. Permian Basin celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther KIng, Jr., by creating poster that would be posted at the Student Activity Center. 

(Izaiha Bush, President-Black Student Union-U.T.P.B. ) 

For DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, Danny Barrera.