Young Men’s Leadership Conference Hosted by L.U. L.A.C. & Hispanic Heritage of Odessa

Odessa, Texas/May 1, 2025-LULAC and Hispanic Heritage of Odessa held a men’s leadership conference for ECISD High School students. 9th grade thru the senior class heard commentary from Sheriff Mike Griffis with the Ector County Sheriff’s, Detective Alex Reyes with the Odessa Police Department as well from Odessa Mayor Cal Hendrick. 

Dr. Gregory Williams, President of Odessa College presented information to the Young Men’s Leadership class on the bond proposal that will impact future students and the local workforce. 

(Carol Uranga, Executive Director, Hispanic Heritage of Odessa/L.U.L.A.C-Odessa, Texas) 

Participating students at the Young Men’s Leadership training were bussed to the westside of Odessa near Walmart between West 16th street and West 22nd help Keep Odessa Beautiful pick up trash as part of the leadership training to beautify the city. 

(Sunshine Thompson, President-Keep Odessa Beautiful-Odessa, Texas) 

Odessa Mayor Cal Hendrick and First Lady Amy Hendrick were on location with students demonstrating through actions, the importance of community involvement to be a part of the solution in making the Odessa community a better place to live. 

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

(Gilbert Vasquez-Councilman, District 3-City of Odessa/Texas) 

Odessa Mayor Cal Hendrick celebrated with ECISD High School students after a successful leadership cleanup activity. 

(Nat Sound) 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera 

Friends of Kellus Turner Park 1st Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange

Odessa, Texas/December 24, 2024-Friends of Kellus Turner Park had their 1st Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange. The Families and children were invited to participate in a cookie decoration activity and the cookie exchange later in the day. 

(Michele Lee Spinks, West Odessa Community Advocate-Friends of Kellus Turner Park/West Ector County-West Odessa) 

Children visited the Ector County ISD Mobil Inspiration Station and were able to apply for an Ector County Library Card and check out books. Families to enjoyed fun activities during the morning and purchased food items from the participating food truck. 

(Michele Lee Spinks, West Odessa Community Advocate-Friends of Kellus Turner Park/West Ector County-West Odessa) 

Daniel and Savanah Morales owners of Masa Bakery provided the cookies and the cookie decoration kits for the Kellus Turner Park Christmas Event. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

Reagan Elementary at ECISD Unveil Murals by Artist/Painter/Muralist Tabata Ayup

Odessa, Texas/Ector County ISD leaders, Reagan Elementary school administrators, students and Reagan parents came together to celebrate the mural ribbon cutting ceremony. The gymnasium walls are decorated with an interactive mural customized for Reagan Allstar students. 

(Catherine Daniels, Reagan Magnet Elementary, PTA President) 

Tabata Ayup is a professional with 15 years of experience as a muralist and artist. She studied at the institute for Art and Restoration in Florence, Italy. 

(Tabata Ayup, Painter/Artist/Muralist-Odessa, Texas) 

Students and guests were provided 3-D glasses to be able to see hidden images such as stars, chemical formulas, and the DNA strands that were painted within the murals. 

(Tabata Ayup, Painter/Artist/Muralist-Odessa, Texas) 

Tabata Ayup has painted murals in Torreon Coahuila, Mexico, and has been featured in exhibitions in Odessa, Midland, Santa Fe, New Mexico and Olando, Florida. Ms. Ayup created and painted a Christmas Ornament for State Representative Brooks Landgraf, District 81 that was placed on the Texas Capitol Christmas Tree. 

(Tabata Ayup, Painter/Artist/Muralist-Odessa, Texas) 

Other murals painted by Tabata Ayup are located in the Reagan Elementary library and on an exterior wall of the school 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera.