Bun B among 5 Houstonians honored for community work

“Each honoree has a unique approach to how they have served.” Felicia Martin, NCAA senior vice president of inclusion, education and community engagement

The NCAA recognized five Houstonians who have made positive change in their community through athletics, gender equity, government, health and safety, higher education or social justice.

The recipients of the 2023 Legends and Legacy Community Award are Lucy Bremond; Charlotte Kelly Bryant; Jessica Castillo-Hulsey; Bernard Freeman, also known as Bun B; and Peggy Turner.

“Each honoree has a unique approach to how they have served the greater Houston area,” said Felicia Martin, NCAA senior vice president of inclusion, education and community engagement. “Each recipient’s list of civic accomplishments is in essence their love letter to their neighbors and to their beloved city.”

The Legends and Legacy Community Award used to be known as the Legacy Award and is part of the NCAA’s community programs leading up to the Houston-hosted Final Four competition.

The award winners get a plaque to symbolize their accomplishments along with recognition during a Final Four game April 1 or 3 in NRG Stadium.

Lucy Bremond

Bremond, president and CEO of Bremond Consulting Services, was recognized with the award for being a leader and entrepreneur in the Houston community.

She has had many roles in the city, such as being the first executive director of the Emancipation Park Conservatory, while also working as an executive leader for General Electric Corporate Citizenship. She also served as senior manager of community engagement for the Houston Independent School District.

She worked with literacy and community education programs for the NCAA Final Four Houston Host Committees in 2011 and 2016, when the competition previously came to Houston.

She is the president and CEO of the Community of Faith Foundation, awarding scholarships to high schoolers. She is also a chairwoman of Blue Triangle Friends, which helps to provide safe environments for youth and adults.

Bremond was named to the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame and has many received local awards.

Charlotte Kelly Bryant

Bryant is a former Houston Independent School District educator and the founder and executive director of the Blue Triangle Multi-Cultural Association, a Houston community center.

Bryant kept Blue Triangle open through fears the facility would be sold and through devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey. She raised money for repairs after the hurricane.

Bryant is also president and an emeritus board member of the Ivy Educational and Charitable Foundation of Houston, supporting access to education.

She has also been recognized with Houston’s 2020 History Maker Award, Outstanding Woman in Houston and Teacher of the Year.

Jessica Castillo-Hulsey

Jessica Castillo-Hulsey earned recognition via her work in Houston’s East End and Second Ward.

Castillo-Hulsey organized an Eastwood Park cleanup and worked with the local government to put up murals in the park, helping the area achieve the Mayor’s Proud Partner Award. She also lobbied the city to build the Eastwood skate park.

She advocated for a partnership with the Houston Police Department’s FAST Team and city officials to promote safety, thereby addressing nuisance activities, shutting down drug activity, monitoring crime and coordinating cleanup programs.

She was fundamental in establishing an early childhood education center and has been involved with Our Neighborhood Produce Program, bringing fresh foods to seniors and families.

Bernard Freeman

Freeman, known as rapper Bun B, made his mark on Houston through music, business and education, earning him the Legends and Legacy Community Award.

Freeman is a solo artist and also part of the rap duo UnderGround Kingz. Beyond making music and being the founder of Trill Burger, Freeman is also involved in Houston’s higher education. He teaches a course on hip-hop and religion at Rice University and works with the University of Houston to start campus conversations about hiphop, social justice, religion and Black culture.

His music has won him further awards and recognition nationally, but in Houston Freeman aids low-income housing and works to get children healthy meals.

Freeman has been involved with the education program Reading with a Rapper and published a coloring book.

He also helped in organizing disaster relief funds after Hurricane Harvey.

Peggy Turner

Turner was chosen for her work with athletes and people with disabilities. Throughout her career she has focused on making athletics more inclusive.

The former cross country athlete works at TIRR Memorial Hermann with people who have physical disabilities and helps them to find ways to play adaptive sports.

Turner’s career started with managing recreation and sports programs along with facilities for youth and people with physical disabilities.

She created Houston’s first adaptive sports and recreation programs and was a director of athletics for injured military members and programs associated with the Olympic and Paralympic movement.

Turner was also a wheelchair basketball competition manager for Prince Harry’s Invictus Games for injured military members and represented TIRR Memorial Hermann in the U.S. Department of State’s Global Sports Mentoring Program which aims to advance gender equity and disability rights.