{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://saaacam.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/zp3vt1jf0w/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Monique Vernon Interview"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/571/original/full-color_2x.png?1735841768","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Publisher"]},"value":{"en":["The African American Network TV (TAAN TV)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eNative San-Antonian, Monique Vernon discusses her work in city government, Community Service, the  value of mentorship, and sharing your story with others. \u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eAll materials are for noncommercial educational or research uses only. 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My name is Jeremy Carrizales, and with me is Monique Vernon. Hello, Miss Vernon.\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  0:09\r\nHi.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  0:10\r\nHow you doing today?\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  0:11  \r\nDoing well, thank you.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  0:12  \r\nDoing good? Excellent. We're here for 300 Voices and you're one of our voices. I wanted to thank you for coming out today.\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  0:18  \r\nNo problem. Thank you for having me. \r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  0:19\r\nYeah, sure. Uh, tell us. Where were you born?\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  0:21  \r\nSo I was actually born and raised in San Antonio. Um, in fact, there are about four generations of my family from San Antonio. So that's very exciting. I consider this my home and I think it's a wonderful place to live.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  0:34  \r\nSo you've lived here all your life, and, um, what do you like most about San Antonio?\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  0:39  \r\nThe thing I like most is that there really are a lot of activities and events that take place in San Antonio. There's a lot of diversity and history and culture here. And honestly, growing up in San Antonio, I didn't appreciate it. I wanted to move away. I thought, “Oh, there's so many other places to live with a lot more to do.” But going away to college and then coming back to San Antonio, I had a much greater appreciation for the things that we really do have here. And so now I take full advantage of everything that the city has to offer. \r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  1:10\r\nAnd where did you go to school by– \r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  1:11\r\nI went to– \r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  1:12\r\n–if you don’t mind me asking.\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  1:12\r\n–Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana. And there I studied criminal justice and sociology.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  1:19  \r\nOkay, nice. And what did that lead you to- to end up doing now?\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  1:21  \r\nWell, it was interesting because, at the time, I wanted to go to law school, become an attorney. When I graduated, I moved back home and started working for a local law firm here–Lineberger Law Firm–and they collect delinquent property taxes for cities and counties. So that actually exposed me to government work. And I realized that, you know, I could go to graduate school, study public administration for a shorter period of time, and then I could still affect change into local government without actually going to law school. \r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  1:51\r\nWow. Okay. So where do you- so where did that lead you to do now- right now? \r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  1:54  \r\nSo currently, I serve as a city manager of the city of Kirby, which is a suburban city right here in the San Antonio area. We have about 8,500 residents, and it's about two and a half square miles.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  2:06  \r\nAnd what kind of, um, things do you do in that community?\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  2:09  \r\nSo, um, a majority of my job is to implement the vision of the city council. So that includes infrastructure projects, managing the budget, managing the staff, determining, you know, what other services need to be provided to the city. So I oversee water, garbage collection, fire, police, pretty much everything that the city offers.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  2:32  \r\nAnd what do you find most that you enjoy, being a city manager of Kirby?\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  2:36  \r\nHonestly, the best part about it is that I'm never bored. I'm the kind of person who- I couldn't punch a time clock and sit at a desk all day. I have to be out talking to different people, I like challenges, so every day is truly different. I never know what I'm going to walk into, and then also get to touch all of the projects, so everything from a street infrastructure project to a new business opening to even a resident’s complaint, I get to be a part of all of those things.\r\nJeremy Carrizales  3:06  \r\nOkay, excellent. So do you live in Kirby, or?\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  3:07  \r\nI do not. I actually live in another suburban community in the city of Selma. Um, so one of the things that I think is great about San Antonio, is that we have–you know, the city of San Antonio itself is really large–but then surrounding it, you have multiple suburban cities that are still an intricate part of the San Antonio community.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  3:27  \r\nSo you're working with the community. And what do you find- kind of was the inspiration for that and working with the community?\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  3:33  \r\nWell, growing up here, I was very involved in church, um–Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, where I'm still a member today. I was also involved in a lot of community programs. My mother exposed me to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, which I'm now a member of. So now as an adult, I have an opportunity to participate in those things and give back, work with some of the youth of the community. Because I was able to get so much out of being a part of the San Antonio community that I'm- I’m pleased to be able to now participate and give back for the future generations.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  4:06  \r\nWe need to be able to share our legacy and our stories.\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  4:09\r\nYes, absolutely.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  4:10\r\nYeah. Um, well, speaking of that, wh- why do you think it's important for us to be able to- to share our stories with the youth o- or the community?\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  4:17  \r\nWell, one, it's important for people to know the challenges that you may have experienced, and it's good for children today to see that they can accomplish their goals. You know, for example, kids need to see that you can grow up on the East Side of San Antonio or the West Side of San Antonio or the north side of San Antonio, and you can still have opportunities to be successful, no matter your socioeconomic status, no matter your race or ethnicity. San Antonio is a diverse place that has opportunity for everyone. So I want to be able to show, you know, young children that.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  4:51  \r\nRight, well what part of town did you grow up on?\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  4:53  \r\nI grew up on the East Side of San Antonio. I graduated from Sam Houston High School. So–\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  4:57\r\nIs it the Hurricanes or the Chero– \r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  4:59\r\nThey were Cherokees when I was there. So now they are Hurricanes. But I still think it's you know, it's important to have a presence on the East Side, even though I don't live there anymore, just to show, you know, kids, “Hey, this is where I came from,” and I have not forgotten that, an I, you know, would like to be able to work with the community and give back.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  5:17  \r\nKind of being like a m- mentor to- for the community. Yeah, I appreciate that. Yeah. Is there anything that you've kind of found in your- in your path of life, that kind of- maybe like a mentor that you had when you were growing up that maybe inspired you to- to be in the position where you are, or- or just being as an individual like yourself.\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  5:37  \r\nThere is. Um, actually the former 289 Juvenile Court judge, Judge Carmen Kelsey–she's now retired, recently retired–she was actually my mentor, somebody that I looked up to. I actually met her in church, and then in high school, I had an opportunity to intern in her court. And so, you know, at that time, as I mentioned, I was really interested in wanting to go to law school, but just watching, you know, the impact that she made on the community by being in that position. You know, she was there to be a disciplinarian, for those who have committed a crime, but she was also very passionate about the kids because there are children who make one mistake and, you know, people can turn their back on them, and that can ruin their future. But what I saw in her was somebody who really cared about those kids and wanted to get them back on the right track. So she was fair in her discipline, but then also very compassionate. So that inspired me, and I try to remember that in my career field, even now, is that, you know, I'm not necessarily in law enforcement or the judicial system, but I still have a responsibility to be compassionate, and- and to give people second chances.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  6:43  \r\nAnd I think that can transfer over to professional and personal life, as well. \r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  6:47\r\nYes, it does.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  6:49\r\nDo you- do you have a family?\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  6:50  \r\nI do. I have a son who's 13 years old. His name is Kendall and so I, you know, try to keep him very involved in the community, involved in church. I allow him to see all of the things I participate in. He's been to city council meetings, so he knows what I do, you know, professionally, he knows what I do in my personal life– volunteer work–because I want him to be exposed and make his own decisions about, you know, what career path he wants to go down. And right now he's very interested in engineering. So he wants to do, you know, software design and engineering. So-\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  7:22  \r\nMy- my brother, I actually went to go help him move out to A\u0026M to th–\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  7:25\r\nOh, okay.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  7:26\r\n–for the School of Engineering.\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  7:26  \r\nVery good. \r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  7:27\r\nSo, yeah.\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  7:27\r\nYeah, that's a wonderful industry to get into. More kids need to get into the STEM career fields. So, very important.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  7:34  \r\nAnd that's interesting how you were able to have that mentorship and, you know, help you develop your- your personal life and your family and that kind of stuff. Is there anything else you'd like to share with our TAAN TV audience about- about you being city manager of Kirby or- or about your- your life growing up here on the East Side of San Antonio or anything like that?\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  7:51  \r\nSure. So one of the things that's very significant to me, personally, is that Kirby was incorporated in 1955, and in the history of the city they had actually never had an African American city manager. So for me, that is, you know- I'm very pleased to have that opportunity. And when I was hired there in 2014, I was hired by unanimous vote, seven-zero. So I, you know, take a lot of pride in, um, in the fact that they thought, you know, I was the right person for the job at the time. And, you know, going on three years now that I've been there, I feel like I've accomplished quite a bit, but we need to look forward to several other things. Before I leave Kirby, I do intend to fix all of the streets there. Because it's an older community, a lot of the infrastructure has been neglected. So that is my number one goal, is to–even if we have to do a bond package–get that passed, so we can fix the streets.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  8:43  \r\nIs there anything else that you're working on currently to try to benefit the city of Kirby?\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  8:47  \r\nI am. We actually are putting a hike and bike trail in Friendship Park. It's a half a million dollar project, we were fortunate to get some grant funding through the Metropolitan Planning Organization. So we will break ground on that project in the next couple of weeks. So by January, that trail should be open. And of course, that will be- you know, allowed for not just the residents of the community, but people in the area. Everyone's welcome to come and enjoy our trail.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  9:16  \r\nSo it's gonna be like a hiking, biking trail, like–\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  9:18\r\nYes, absolutely. \r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  9:19\r\nOkay, excellent. Yeah. We kind of- you know, in San Antonio we have something similar to that. \r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  9:22  \r\nYes, they actually have, um, a couple of different ones in- in parks. So we're really pleased to be a small community and to be able to have a trail that's going to connect to some of the bike lanes, like, lump Binz Engleman Road, Ackerman Road, kind of–\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  9:33\r\nOh, so it’s an actual– \r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  9:34\r\n–tie that whole area together. \r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  9:37\r\nOh, I- wow. So it’s actually going to connect with those same trails.\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  9:39  \r\nRight, because the next project after the trail is finished is Binz Engleman Road. We're going to reconstruct the road and add bike lanes there. So that will be a direct path, and then hopefully, we can continue to extend that and be able to have connectivity from San Antonio as well.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  9:54  \r\nGetting all the co- you know, communities together. That's a good way, yeah. I'm an avid bike rider. So– \r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  9:59\r\nOh, okay. Well great–\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  10:00\r\n–you know, I want the- I want the insight.\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  10:01  \r\n–you’ll have to- yeah- you'll have to come and check out our trail. Definitely.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  10:06  \r\nCool, cool, cool. Um, well thank you- I want to thank you again–\r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  10:07\r\nNo, thank you.\r\n\r\n\r\nJeremy Carrizales  10:07\r\n–for coming in to see us today. You know, your- your inspiration as a city manager of Kirby, kind of showing our TAAN TV audience that we need to be deep rooted in our community in order for- to implement change, and positive change. And I want to thank you for that. \r\n\r\n\r\nMonique Vernon  10:20\r\nThank you. I’ve enjoyed it.\r\n \r\nJeremy Carrizales  10:23\r\nThan- this has been another episode of 300 Voices in 300 Days. My name is Jeremy Carrizales. We're signing off.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://saaacam.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2808/collection_resources/127831/file/239692#t=0.0,633.30133"}]}]}]}