Marty McVey

Much gratitude to the Rupani Foundation for their dedication to promoting early childhood development and mental health awareness worldwide. Mental illness has a profound impact on families, communities, industries, and nations. By fostering open discussion, identifying signs, prioritizing critical issues, and collaborating to support those in need, we can create a better world. I appreciate the Ismaili Center Houston for hosting this vital dialogue and being such a large part of Houston's identity.

As Italy celebrates 80 years of resilience and progress, we salute Consul General Mauro Lorenzini and the Italian people, embracing the vibrant spirit of hope, peace, and courage that defines the Italian journey.

The colors of the flag stand for hope, peace, and courage. May this Festa della Repubblica exemplify create a path forward to a brighter future for all. 🇺🇸 🇮🇹

Mental health matters. Every individual, every family, every profession, every community, every state and every nation is affected in all aspects of society. Well‑being starts with awareness & support.

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and I am grateful to Office of County Judge Lina Hidalgo for bringing together healthcare experts, citizens and community partners to discuss the opportunities to lend support to those in need and are hurting. Thank you to the panelist for sharing their stories, it takes great courage. It’s always my pleasure to see my friends, Dr. Asim Shah and Chairman Nasruddin Rupani.



Assistance is a just a phone call or click away.

Visit https://www.theharriscenter.org/services/crisis-services

What a touching moment to see old friends reunite after years to pay tribute to our extraordinary friend and tireless champion of Houston, the incomparable Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

Today, the City of Houston bestowed a well-deserved honor by naming Terminal E at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in celebration of Congresswoman Lee's remarkable legacy of dedication to our people and everything Houston. Congresswoman Erica Lee Carter

Great to see Lisa Shimkat, Associate Administrator of Field Operations, U.S. Small Business Administration, in Houston today as we recognize up-and-coming entrepreneurs and companies.

For the communities that keep America strong, National Small Business Week is a prime opportunity to support local enterprises that drive job growth and employ nearly half of America's workforce.

Every entrepreneur wanting to start a small business should know that the Small Business Administration provides support and valuable resources to facilitate a successful, smart start. sba.gov/nsbw  

SBA.gov

It is a pleasure to welcome President Irfaan Ali of the Republic of Guyana, alongside colleagues and fellow Houstonians, as we anticipate exploring new avenues for collaborative opportunities in oil & gas, mining, agriculture, construction and finance. A special thanks to Hon. Lutfi Hassan for all his incredible dedication.

We appreciate the Houston community's commitment for supporting one another, particularly the patrons who foster artistic growth among local talent, thereby cultivating a diverse range of skills. Houston is an intersection of talent and support and we’re all fortunate as a result.

DACAMERA brings renowned artists to Houston, continually innovating engaging music presentations. Its Education and Community Initiatives have garnered national recognition for the Young Artist Program, which professionally develops exceptional musicians through community advocacy, Music Encounters in classrooms teaching core subjects through music, and bedside hospital performances via Music in Medicine.

Additionally, DACAMERA offers free community concerts, including Stop, Look, and Listen! at The Menil Collection, A Little Day Music series, jazz performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre, and various other complimentary performances throughout the city. Thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Adel Chaouch and Da Camera of Houston for all you do for our city.

www.dacamera.com

To the people of Poland and those of Polish heritage, Houstonians extend our warmest congratulations on the occasion of the 1791 Third of May Constitution Day, a significant Polish national holiday. It is a day to commemorate unity, family, and national pride.

A special thanks to the Consulate General of Poland in Houston for their dedication to promoting trade, culture, and goodwill between Poland and the United States 🇺🇸 🇵🇱 .

Privileged to attend the 2nd Annual Diplomat Immersion, Policy, and Observation Day at Rice University with colleagues, faculty and graduate students.

Rice University’s Master of Global Affairs is a two-year professional master’s degree co-sponsored by the James A. Baker, III Institute for Public Policy and the School of Social Sciences.

Students in the program participate in Diplomatic Immersion, Policy Learning, and Observation (DIPLO) as a unique gateway into the world of modern diplomacy. This innovative program blends high-impact mentoring with real-world immersion through:

Briefings by consuls general based in Houston.

Direct exposure to the daily work of senior diplomats.

Engaged, real-world policy work impacting today's international relations.

A special thanks to Hon. Kai Hennig and the staff at the German Consulate General Houston for a year long engagement with students in the program.

Today, I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead.

It was my pleasure to co-host “Dialog with Diplomats - The Role of Modern Diplomacy” with my friend Dr. Rima Adil at the Insmalli Center in Houston.

Informed Houstonians, civic leaders and elected officials gathered to listen to prominent international voices discuss the consistently evolving role of modern diplomacy, highlighting the importance of dialogue as a foundation for mutual understanding and cooperation across cultures, economies, trade, education, health, and policy.

Panel members of the Consular Corps of Houston included Hon. Adel Chaouch, Honorary Consul of Tunisia; Hon. Gunther Emil M. Sales, Consul General of the Philippines; Hon. Ambassador Breno Dias da Costa, Consul General of Brazil; and Hon. Anna Hammarlund Blixt, Consul General of Sweden.