LOCAL Houston | The City Guide October 2017 | Page 10

ON OUR RADAR TEE-ING UP FOR HURRICANE RELIEF KEEP #HOUSTONSTRONG WITH UNIQUE TEES AT LAUNCH As Houston continues to recover in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the community has come together to help neighbors rebuild. In support of these efforts, LAUNCH pop-up boutique in Avenida Houston is offering T-shirts with a positive message of support and hope. 100 percent of profits from the sale of these shirts will go toward Mayor Turner’s Harvey Relief Fund. “LAUNCH presents Houston's rich and vibrant culture as seen through the eyes of talented, local artists. Their beautiful pieces illustrate the creative power of our city, and these shirts represent an important chapter in our story," said Sydney Dao, Director of Retail, Houston First Corporation. “It was inspiring to see how the commu- nity came together and we hope these shirts continue to keep the spirit alive as we work to overcome the destruction and loss.” LAUNCH will offer four tees that are designed by the city’s growing creative community. Printed by LAUNCH Alum and Houston artist Gooseworks, the tees are $28 and can be purchased at LAUNCH or online at www.launch.visithouston.com. GOOD JOB, SER! WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY CENTER OPENS SER-Jobs for Progress of the Texas Gulf Coast (SER) is opening a new headquarters – a state-of-the-art Workforce Opportunity Center at 1710 Telephone Road. This $16.6 million project is a joint venture being built with public funding and philanthropic support. Once completed, the Center will double SER's training and direct client service capacity. The first phase of this new 22,000sf facility will be one-of-a-kind in the nation, featuring Houston’s first Career Café and connecting job seek- ers to middle-skills jobs. The Center will also create a hub in the commu- nity for job seekers, employers, community partners and local residents to intersect and connect. The second phase of the capital campaign will include a 30,000sf warehouse which will enable SER to expand its job training services to industries beyond construction, banking and logistics, to new sectors, including healthcare training programs. 10 L O C A L | 10 . 2017