TJJD’s First Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Vendor Fair

Texas Juvenile Justice Department’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program held its inaugural HUB Vendor Fair on Friday, June 17, 2016 in the Lone Star Conference Room at the Austin office. The event is designed to allow HUB vendors to meet face to face with agency personnel. In addition, the meet-and-greet was designed to allow the end users to see who they are buying products and services from.

Many of the vendors at the fair were vendors who contract with TJJD or have products purchased for the agency. Included in the list of vendors at the event were new HUB vendors, looking to start their small business and hoping to make that business connection here at TJJD. A business is considered a HUB if it is:

A for-profit entity that has not exceeded the size standards prescribed by 34 TAC §20.23, and has its principal place of business in Texas; and
At least 51% owned by an Asian Pacific American, Black American, Hispanic American, Native American, American Woman and/or Service Disabled Veteran, who reside in Texas and actively participate in the control, operations and management of the entity’s affairs.

At this first TJJD-hosted event, vendors with varying types of businesses included: Elumicor, Cima, Tex-Am Construction, Steel Branding, Urban Circle, Flores and Associates, Victorious Life, Spectrum Technologies, Scooter Rabbit Motivations, and AHI Enterprises. In addition, TXDMV, DIR, TCEQ and DPS HUB Coordinators attended to support TJJD’s HUB Program.

The event showcased a new vendor – Scooter Rabbit Motivations, owned by Mr. Alexander Wright. Mr. Wright is a former professional football player who played for many teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Saint Louis Rams and was a scout for the New England Patriots in 2000.

Mr. Wright still holds the Cowboy’s record for the longest kickoff return for a touchdown – 102 yards. Coach Wright no longer plays football but he is very involved in sports including being a certified educator, motivational speaker and a minister at Cornerstone Ministries in San Antonio, Texas.

The TJJD HUB Program is committed to providing opportunities for HUB’s to allow them to grow and prosper in Texas. TJJD staff will strive to improve this event for next year. If you have any suggestions or comments, please forward them to Danny.Vasquez@tjjd.texas.gov.

PHOTO: Danny Vasquez, HUB Program Specialist and Kenneth Ming, Director of Business Operations and Contract.

McFadden Sends Youth Home with Backpack of 'Hope'

By Y. Denise Caldwell Community Resource Coordinator, Northern District Parole Office FLOWER MOUND, Texas - Larry Bossaler, McFadden volunteer McFadden Ranch Volunteer Larry Bossaler enjoys his assignment: Making sure that every youth who leaves the McFadden halfway house knows that people are praying for him and wishing him the best in his future. He is the man who brings them their “Good-Bye” backpack. When he delivers the backpacks, he makes sure to do three things – visit with the youth, show the contents of the backpack (because staff put them in the lockers until the youth leaves), and lastly close the visit with a heartfelt prayer. The youth enjoy and appreciate the backpack, the visit and the prayer. Many are a little anxious and scared to leave but knowing that the McFadden volunteers care enough to send them off in this special way, helps them feel a bit less worried. “I always bring an extra backpack,” Larry said. “In case a youth i

McFadden Ranch High School Graduates Honored

DENTON, Texas -- The Kiwanis Club of Denton recognized nine youth from McFadden Ranch who earned their high school diploma or equivalency by inviting them to their April 17 noon meeting and luncheon where they were awarded $50 each for their trust fund. Spearheaded by JCO IV Gregory Winn, a longstanding member of the Kiwanis Club of Denton, the event was truly memorable for the youth who attended. They heard a motivational and moving presentation by Texas Rep. Pat Fallon, who completed the Greatest Endurance Challenge – the World Marathon Challenge – tackling seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. He took the challenge after being inspired by Jonny Wade, a 7-year-old boy who battled pediatric cancer and had only one wish – ‘that no other kid ever gets cancer.’ Wade’s death led to the creation of Pediatric Cancer Foundation for which Fallon raised over $250,000 so far. Fallon, who represents a portion of Denton County, said the takeaway from his experience is that we

Teamwork Leads to Arrest Without Incident

GAINESVILLE, Texas – Late at night on July 21, a young man escaped from the Gainesville State School, and an exceptional team effort ensured that he was found the very next day. Employees from TJJD State Programs, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, local law enforcement, and TJJD Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigators from Gainesville, Brownwood, Mart, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin all answered the call that night. Sgt. Gabriel Medellin was contacted at approximately 2:00 a.m., on July 22. He left San Antonio for Gainesville at approximately 6:00 a.m. to meet with other investigators and begin searching for the youth. At approximately 12:25 p.m., Sgt. Medellin observed a male walking down a highway in Gainesville who matched the description of the youth. Sgt. Medellin made contact, confirmed his identity, and made the arrest without incident. He was assisted by OIG Sergeants Walker Willey (Ron Jackson) and Tom Hamilton (Mart). OIG Chief Forrest Mitchell s

TJJD News & Announcements

Search This Blog