Special Hearts Day Conversation with Margarita Velasquez

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Rex in the morning on see oneon one with three days Grace. I
have on the line Margarita of Alaskaz. Now, look, you didn't win
the autograph ghost guitar, but youhave it. Haang it back. But
you've got important things to tell usabout. It's a Special Hearts Day.
Now. This is a I justread all about it. It's a collective
call to action for our local communityas we inspire other locations all across Texas

(00:25):
to hold their own Special Hearts Daycelebrations in the years to come. Can
you explain to me what Special HeartsDay is and why we're trying to spread
this message and its importance. Yes, Eric, thank you first off for
having me this morning. I'm verypleased to be a community advocate for Special
Hearts and the Arts Center. Butspecifically we're highlighting Special Hearts Day, which

(00:47):
is December eighth, and that isa day declared by Governor Abbott and state
Representative at atl who and collectively withthe executive director Shary Davis, started back
in June this year. Special HeartsDay has been declared for a ten year
period for throughout the whole entire stateof Texas. So it's a day to
highlight Texas Texans who have disabilities,but more so to be able to celebrate

(01:12):
their special abilities. And that's whywe call them special hearts. So they're
special abilities, they're special talents.And some of these people are actually deeply
involved in the community when it comesto you know, arts and and and
even some vocational skills and some veryinteresting things. Some of these people are
are amazing writers and great talents andand here's a great way for you guys

(01:36):
to hit them with the spotlight sopeople realize that, Look, I'm not
just a disabled person. I doall of these other things too, and
so you'll look past the disability andsee the talent that we have right here
in the coastal Bin. That's exactlyright. That is exactly why we're doing
this. I'm a community advocate forthis group. I just got involved this
year and I wasn't even aware ofthis nonprofit and corpus and so what better

(02:00):
way to be involved. All weekwe're having celebrations, we're having activities take
place today. This morning is ourevent over at the US Lexington. So
anybody that has a family member orrelative or a friend who has a special
ability, please go on out tothe Lexington. They are doing a tour
for those that are have a disabilitythat have been is taking place from nine

(02:23):
to four today. Tuesdays, we'redoing a delivery swagbag toward a local entities
and agencies who have special hearts inthe community. That's Tuesday and Thursday Wednesday.
Our local area schools have participated inPEP rally, so we're giving the
school directs start giving an opportunity tobe able to recognize those individuals in the
school districts, to be able tohighlight them and make it even more special.

(02:47):
That's really cool when you hit themon a middle and a high school
level. Having a PEP rally forthe people that go to the schools,
that are involved with other students whatnotthat you may not realize have special talent.
Not just oh there's that person overthere that's disabled, that sort of
thing where you walk past someone andyou go about your busy day at school.

(03:07):
This way you highlight the kids thatyou actually go to school with and
hell, look this, I didn'trealize that you were into this or that
you could do this. The USSLexington is actually opening their doors to individuals
with special needs but you're doing itfor free today, which is really cool.
So if you have somebody in yourfamily special needs, when I go

(03:28):
toward the Lexington I'm reading here,they can do that for free. Am
I telling them the truth? That'sgreat? That is so cool. That
is so cool. I think it'simportant to do this, like you said,
with these pepp rallies and whatnot,because it starts at a very young
age where people see other people andthen that's when you know where labels come

(03:50):
from and people are so much morethan just a label when it comes to
a disabled person. That's right.That's right. Throughout the week. Friday
is there a special Hearts Day.That is the local day that we're having
local celebrities come out to the center, which is located at eight twenty three
North to Tonko West Street. Fromeleven to one there'll be celebrities we call

(04:14):
celebrities people that have the abilities andspecial abilities from eleven to one happening there
and then at five to seven seriesin the evening, so if you're working
you can come on out catch themthere. And then Saturday is the big
celebration day to wrap up the weekthat is being held at the Boys and
Girls Club from ten to two.That is an open community day. We
want you to come on out andkind of support the efforts of all week

(04:36):
throughout the committee that I'm serving onalong with all the sponsors, a big
major sponsors. There's so many differentsponsors, but highlight just all that good
stuff we're having arts, crafts,perform performing, I'm sorry, performances buy
these group of kids. So whatbetter way to come spend out your day
with family and join the community thatway? Now, is there a website

(04:58):
to go to to learn more aboutthese people with all of their abilities and
special hearts and those who will behonored? Where can I do an Internet
search on this? Yes? Soat Special Hearts indearts dot com we have
a website. There's a website thereand also on Facebook. We've got a
Facebook group Special Hearts in the ArtsInstagram as well, so please please if

(05:19):
you have We're also looking for volunteers, so if you have it in the
week in your broadband. I knowit's a very bus time of the year,
but if you're able to please findus on social media. You can
contact executive director at three six oneseven seven four zero zero three three,
or you can reach out to myselfat three six one eight five seven three
five sixty six. Margarita, youyou have been absolutely fantastic and I will

(05:42):
help to spread your message by justeven saving our interview and throwing it on
my podcast right there at C oneon one dot com Special Hearts Day.
And I think this is a greatmonth for it. You know, people
are so busy doing everything that they'redoing. I think it's really cool to
take a moment and focus on peoplewho live right here in our community with
disability and really the gift that theygive our community. That's really cool.

(06:10):
Thank you so much for joining methis morning on C one oh one.
Absolutely Rex, thanks for having me