HOUSTON – African-American News & Issues presents Edna Griggs of, Acres of Angels as our profile of the week. Griggs hails from one of the most historical settlements in the Houston region, the Acres Homes community. Proud to be a resident of the area known throughout Texas as the “44”, Griggs describes Acres Homes as, “one of the first communities originally homesteaded by Blacks, and one of the largest Black communities in the United States.”
At an early age, Edna developed a love and passion for helping others. This desire in part was a result of her mother and grandmother, they instilled in her the values of being concerned of one’s fellow man. Her mother was a nurse and political activist.
She grew up watching her mother give of herself to others, as she would actively find employment for men within Harris County. If that wasn’t enough Edna recalls her grandmother feeding and housing those who were homeless. Her grandmother was a business owner in Acres Homes and had a sincere love for helping and inspiring others.
Griggs knows and understands the importance of African-Americans letting their voice be heard. Thus she serves as a political activist. She may be seen anytime there is an election going on in the community and/or around the city encouraging as many residents as she can to get out and vote.
She has also worked alongside many individuals pursuing public office as well as current politicians with their campaigns.
Edna is very involved in her community and is considered the Acres Homes activist for seniors and young people. So much so that she has formed an organization that is geared toward rebuilding the community. She is the CEO of Acres of Angels. She has also adopted the Chelsea Seniors Apartments Health Fair and moonwalk for the families at Lincoln Park. For six years, Griggs hosted a ‘Mardi Gras’ party and contributed most of the proceeds to Texas Children Hospital towards children living with disabilities.
She is also the CEO of Edna’s Social and Charity Club (The Rebirth). This was an organization that was originally birthed by her grandmother in the 1950’s. It was designed to help people living in poverty and help build self esteem.
Among her affiliations and memberships are: Chief Steward, Executive Board Member, Coalition of Labor Womenmember, legislative committee member with Communication Workers of America (CWA) and also on the City of Houston Commission Board for Keep Houston Beautiful. She is also involved with AT&T Community Net, AT&T Women Group, AT&T Pioneers and is a leader with the HBAD Democrats, a political organization and Texas Democratic Women. Additionally she plays an active role with Project Power (a committee created by American Diabetes Association to educate African-Americans about the danger of diabetes) and the American Heart Association. To that regard, she is also living with Diabetes and has become an activist in this effort to help find a cure.
To date, she has received several awards for her community involvement throughout the years, such as: awards from Mayor Lee P. Brown, Mayor Bill White, proclamations from Council Member Jerry Davis and Mayor Annise Parkerand her latest; Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee’s office for getting the Acres Homes Multi Center Seniors a digital flat screen television and cable donated by Best Buy and Comcast. She has also been featured in the Women Day Magazine living with Diabetes.
Edna is a member of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Edwin A. Davis. Within Galilee she has assisted with health fairs as a means of promoting good health for members and affiliates of her church family. She has been employed with AT&T for over 42 years and has three wonderful children, three grandchildren, one sister and one niece.
For more information about Acres of Angels and Edna’s Social and Charity Club (The Rebirth) contact (713) 688-5290, (713) 594-0056 or email, ednagriggs@sbcglobal.net
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