The North Houston District has recently welcomed a new partner into its offices.  Sheena Childs is a new Community Relations Liaison for Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia focusing on West Aldine, which includes the North Houston District.  Harris County Precinct 2 joins the Greens Bayou Coalition and N. Houston Development Corp/TIRZ 11 as partners in the District’s offices.

Childs recently discussed her role and how community partnerships benefit local constituents.

Partner Spotlight: Community Relations Liaison Leads Boots-On-the-Ground Outreach

Sheena Childs is new to Precinct 2, but she’s no stranger to public service. She recently joined Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia’s office after a 15-year career in public service at the City of Houston.

As the Precinct 2 Community Relations Liaison-West Aldine, Childs oversees community outreach and helps support constituents by connecting them with available resources from the county and its partners. “My role is to bridge the gap between local government and the community,” she says.

Childs graduated from the University of Houston-Downtown with a Communications degree and quickly began her career in public affairs and local government after being hired by now-Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, who was then running for Houston City Council to represent District H. She accepted a position as a council aide, where she quickly gained experience engaging with community leaders and stakeholders.

Building Trust & Bridging the Gap

In her position at Precinct 2, Childs is laser-focused on providing accessibility and responsiveness, in addition to being a familiar face in the community.

“We can’t do what we do without the community—they see the areas with speeding, the weeded lots, the dilapidated housing, and they report concerns to Precinct 2,” she shares, adding, “It’s important that community leaders know they can come to me with issues, and we’ll address them in a timely manner.”

But Precinct 2’s work extends beyond responsiveness to proactive, boots-on-the-ground outreach. The Community Relations Liaison spends two to three nights a week at local civic meetings, gathering public feedback on specific County projects or interfacing with key community leaders.

“Right now, there are only a handful of community stakeholders identified within the Aldine-West area. So one of my primary goals is to connect with new community leaders in the area,” Childs explains. This includes faith-based leaders, local school districts, civic clubs and neighborhood groups, and local nonprofits serving the area.

Educating Residents About Resources & Improvement Projects

From the Keep2Clean initiative, which addresses illegal dumping, to Revive2Thrive, which focuses on strategic investments on infrastructure and quality of life programs, Commissioner Garcia’s office provides a range of services to area residents. Childs helps educate the public on major projects happening in the area and how they will benefit the community.

“We are constantly coming to the table with information and questions for residents. We take their feedback and come up with the best plan with the help of key stakeholders,” she says.

Childs is looking forward to an upcoming project at Airline Drive and West Mount Houston, which is approaching the public input period. The project, which is located south of the North Houston District’s boundaries, will address traffic flow on Airline Drive caused by a popular local flea market, which often creates pedestrian issues. Plans under consideration will implement a pedestrian bridge, raised above the street, as a solution.

Residents will have an opportunity to give feedback and vote on which design they like the most.

Other outreach efforts on the horizon include coordinated emergency planning ahead of hurricane season. Several local churches are designated food distribution hubs during emergencies, and Precinct 2 provides standardized procedures and important contact info with the Red Cross, City of Houston, and other key partners. “It is fulfilling and meaningful work. I love being a resource to people,” Childs says.

Strong Partnerships Power Communities

Childs points out that her community relations support alongside the District’s daily activities enhances the resources available to constituents in the area. And officing out of the same suite makes quick, coordinated responses easier than ever.

North Houston District President Greg Simpson agrees. “Having Sheena and Harris County Precinct 2 office alongside the Greens Bayou Coalition and the N. Houston Development Corp/TIRZ 11 further strengthens the collaborative approach that helps move the District forward,” he says. “These partnerships are critical to advancing infrastructure, beautification, public safety, and quality of life projects that benefit area residents and businesses. We appreciate our relationship with Commissioner Garcia and his team and are pleased to provide a home base for their service to West Aldine.”