The Sharpstown Democrats cancelled their regular 4th Saturday meeting in order to have the opportunity to volunteer for HISD's "Expectation Graduation" program designed to encourage dropouts to return to school.  

Our volunteers assisted teachers and other HISD volunteers on Saturday morning knocking on the doors of dropouts.  Sometimes the student has hardships such as the need to help with childcare or financial support of the family.  Information about social programs ,flexible scheduling and night classes can sometimes help students overcome these hurdles.  Other times, just having someone come by is enough to encourage students to return.

For me, the biggest eye opener was the condition of the apartment complex next door to Sharpstown High School.  I walked over mud puddles bubbling from garbage, cooked rice settling on broken sidewalks and soiled diapers in the courtyard.  Most disturbing was a second floor guardrail only being held to its vertical support by a 1/4 inch rope.   We smelled natural gas both times we passed by one of the buildings. For some reason I thought there was a heath ordinance against these types of things. 

This is the fourth year of the Expectation Graduation program.  This year, Mayor White was one of the Sharpstown High School volunteers, as well as city council member MJ Khan, state Senator Rodney Ellis, District 13 and Representative Scott Hochberg, District 137.  Many corporate sponsors donated food, t-shirts and services as well as recruiting volunteers from the community. 

Mayor White gave a compelling speech at Sharpstown, concluding with the suggestion that as a matter of homeland security, it is imperitive that America invests in its brain.