You’re listening to Centex Sustains. I’m your host Christine with the Cen-Tex Sustainable Communities Partnership.

Last week Thursday, Fort Hood Garrison Commander Col. Chad Foster along with mayors from the communities of Belton, Copperas Cove, Gatesville, Harker Heights, Killeen, Lampasas and Salado, and a council member from Nolanville gathered at Harker Heights Carl Levin Park to proclaim April as Sustainable Environment Month and also present the Cen-Tex Environmental Ambassador Awards.

Foster said, “on behalf of the Cen-Tex Sustainable Communities… we encourage Central Texans to do their part to promote beautification, conservation, pollution prevention, and recycling within their communities, homes, schools, and workplaces. This will help us to achieve positive impacts from sustaining the mission that includes all of you, to enhancing the well-being of our youth, Soldiers, our military families and all residents of Central Texas both on Fort Hood and in the larger Central Texas community.”

Foster and Harker Heights Mayor Spencer H. Smith hosted the event to celebrate youth, organizations and individuals from each of the partner communities.
Smith said, “it takes these dedicated individuals, whether it is through their career or volunteering to make the difference.”

Recipients included Manuel Zapata from Belton; Nathan Garner from Copperas Cove; Maj. Kandice Hines from Fort Hood; Joe Campbell from Gatesville; Angie Wilson from Harker Heights; Yalondra Valderrama-Santana from Killeen; Lampasas Community Garden; Colleen Smith-Fey and Marlene Fey from Nolanville; and Colleen Brooks from Salado.

Many notable accomplishments were recognized including Garner who was the youngest recipient. In the past year and at 9 years old, he has participated in every trash pickup held, partnered with Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful to host the second annual Shred Day and organized a recycled crayon and used marker drive in all Copperas Cove Independent School District schools. He recently won $1,000 for Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful from Hillshire Farms and Fort Hood Thrift Shop, which he will use to implement an Adopt-A-Road and Spot Program.

Since 2013, Hines has been an advocate for environmental stewardship and sustainability from serving as her unit’s Environmental Compliance Officer to volunteering for countless community events. Her efforts include educating thousands of youth at Earth Day, America Recycles Day, FRIENDS Leadership, and Geographic Information Systems Day school events and engaging Central Texans at public events like Monarch Fest, One Community One Day, and Earth Fest and Month of the Military Child.

Hines said, “I feel blessed and it is very humbling to be recognized, but personally, it is never about recognition. My Soldiers and I are committed to the process of environmental sustainability. We are the change and it starts with us here and now. We have to press the green button on sustainability, while balancing the mission.”
During the recognition, awardees were presented with a tree cookie – a cross section of a tree and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman John Carter.

Smith said, “This is an indication of the quality diversity of people that we have, here, serving in Central Texas. These individuals serve as a reminder to our responsibility as government leaders, managers, and residents to remain committed to sustainability.”

Following the awards presentation, Foster, the mayors and a council member gathered at the park’s pocket prairie to sign a proclamation declaring April as Sustainable Environment Month and participated in a seed throwing ceremony.

Smith challenged communities to sign the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge and commit to creating habitat for monarchs and pollinators.

He said, “I am proud to have signed the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge for the second year in a row. I encourage all the Mayors here today to do the same. One of our efforts is to build more butterfly waystations. Today, with your help, we will be expanding our pocket prairie by adding native seeds. This prairie has already brought new diverse species to this park.”

In commemoration of the ceremony, awardees and mayors were also each gifted a Blackland Prairie seed mix to spread in their communities.

He emphasized that a passion for the environment and sustainability is the reason partnerships such as Cen-Tex Sustainable Communities Partnership works, sharing, “over the years, we have seen a stronger partnership throughout the counties, and I look forward to seeing it grow.”

To learn more about the Cen-Tex Sustainable Communities Partnership and for local event updates and volunteer opportunities, check out our Facebook page Centex Sustains. Feel free to send questions and topic suggestions for this show to centexsustains@gmail.com. Join us next week on Monday at 6:15 pm on KNCT-FM 91.3 to learn more about environmental and sustainable practices.