Description: [ On screen, Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation.Enhancing the quality of life for individuals and families in Houston’s Fifth Ward.]
Narrator: Kathy Flanagan Payton: The Fifth Ward is a historic community located in Houston, Texas, and it is an impoverished community that is largely made up of African American and Hispanic families. In the early 40s, 50s, and 60s it was Houston’s Main Street for African Americans.
Description: [ On screen, videos of the Fifth Ward throughout the decades play.]
Narrator: Bridgette Dorian: There were a lot of thriving Black-owned business. My dad was one of them, and they were a very strong community. They collaborated with each other.Kathy Flanagan Payton: It wasn’t until 1980 that the community really began to experience decline. The Fifth Ward has been hit with multiple disasters, starting with the intersection and the introduction of the highways.
Description: [ On screen, videos of the Fifth Ward throughout the decades continue to play, alongside images of historic businesses and families. ]
Narrator: Bridgette Dorian: The construction of I10 was a barrier. It split the community, so a lot of people were displaced, and so it kinda destroyed the Black businesses out here.Harvey Clemons Jr.: We had to combat the varies ails that was causing our community to have an image of poverty and lack of safety, lack of appreciation of history, bad infrastructure, no economic development, educational programs were suffering.
Description: [ On screen, videos and images of the Fifth Ward community and families, particularly children playing. ]
Narrator: Harvey Clemons Jr.: And so the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation was created to deal with those concerns.Kathy Flanagan Payton: Our goal is to increase and enhance opportunities for an improving quality of life through the programs that we offer.
Description: [ On screen, Kathy Flanagan Payton presents pamphlets and describes programs to members of the community. ]
Narrator: Kathy Flanagan Payton: Those programs are centered around real estate development, which includes affordable housing opportunities. The work that Fifth Ward CRC engages in is critically important to the community and it’s equally important that we have the support of the private sector.
Description: [ On screen, Kathy Flanagan Payton speaks to the camera about the Fifth Ward CRC. ]
Narrator: Kathy Flanagan Payton: Many times, developments cannot take place without the level of support from both philanthropy, private investment, as well as the public support.
Description: [ On screen, Communities across the country need more affordable housing.Bank of America’s support for the Fifth Ward CRC is helping Houston residents find homes.]
Narrator: Kathy Flanagan Payton: We had so many families who had rented for 60 plus years. That means with a 30-year mortgage they’ve bought the same home twice. With the entrance of new home ownership purchase opportunities, families begin to build assets and build wealth.
Description: [ On screen, Mary Thompson speaks to the camera about her experience as a Homeowner in the Fifth Ward.]
Narrator: Mary Thompson: My baby son came home one day from school and had a brochure with Fifth Ward redevelopment, and was asking, “Mom, are we gonnaget a house built”? With Kathy’s assistance we would get our credit together and it would help us get in a mortgage. Investing in yourself to build a foundation basically for your family.
Description: [ On screen, Kathy Flanagan Paytonspeaks to the camera about the Haint Elizabeth Hospital project. Images and videos of the hospital and its interior play in the background.]
Narrator: Kathy Flanagan Payton: One of the most exciting projects that we have here in Fifth Ward is the Saint Elizabeth Hospital. We are adapting and repurposing that facility to preserve the rich history and the architectural style, and using it to revise the interior to accommodate affordable and workforce housing.Harvey Clemons Jr.: A city is as strong as itsweakest community. So if Fifth Ward is strong, if Fifth Ward is an attractive place, then Houston becomes a better place.
Description: [ On screen, Support for Fifth Ward CRC is part of Bank of America’s commitment to help advance racial equality and economic opportunity across the country. Learn more at bankofamerica.com/equality]
Description:["What would you like the power to do?®" above the Bank of America logo and this legal disclaimer: Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. © 2021 Bank of AmericaCorporation. All rights reserved. ]