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If you don’t know your past, you don’t know your future!
By: Rebecca S. Jones African-American News&Issues HOUSTON– From the age of six, hard labor and working from sun up to sun down is all that owner of Davis Meat Market (Mr. James Davis) located at 2204 Lockwood Dr., can remember. A native of Tangipahoa Parish’s largest city located in Hammond, Louisiana, Davis recalls from the moment he started walking, he started working. “That’s just how it was back in my day”, “I mulched more strawberries than anyone can count during my youth”, stated Davis. As the years continued to fade away, Davis in search of a more fruitful and vibrant future set his sight on a more bounteous ground. With .25 cents in his pocket and a will to succeed, Davis landed himself in the heart of Houston ’s 5th Ward. Being homeless and with no intended place of shelter in mind, nor idea of his next Photo Credit: Rebecca S. Jones The Davis Family: Jonathan, Patricia and James move, Davis encountered one of 5th Ward’s most notorious pimps (Mr. Robert Zoom). It was Mr. Robert Zoom who fed Davis with a delectable seafood platter. Shortly thereafter, Davis began walking up and down 3rd Ward’s Dowling Street , in freezing weather looking for any type of legal avenue to make ends meet. Although, a great deal of his efforts appeared to be futile, it was Mr. Marshall Jenkins who gave him his first job. Square Deal Cab Lines is where Davis worked for merely $50 dollars a week. He stayed there for three years. In the midst of working there, he continued working any odd jobs that he could find. Davis built a reputation of cutting yards, landscaping, washing cars, working at gas stations, you name it, he did it; all the while saving every penny he earned. He eventually enrolled in school to develop a professional trade and continued to work days and attend school at night. However, through all of the work, skills and trades that Mr. James Davis did, it was perhaps his employment at a meat packing house for 27 years that proved to be one of the most rewarding places of employment that he found. It was there that he begin to seek out a career that would later make him a renown giant in the Houston area. For it was after a job-related injury and no source of income or assistance from the company, that Davis really thought on going into business for himself. Equipped with $35 dollars in the bank, a car and house note pronging him, no obvious signs of Workers Compensation in sight and a realization that he was approaching 50 years of age; Davis began to, “put all of his ducks together”. Pursuant, he purchased ten boxes of meat from the owner of a meat packing house. Much to Davis chagrin, those ten boxes sold out of the back of his truck were completely gone in four hours and yielded him a $500 dollar return. From that feat, Davis continued the same trend, selling meat in every nook and cranny in the Houston area. This trend resulting in the title of, “Coon Man” which Davis is still known as to this day. Seeing as how the meat business proved to be a lucrative and booming one, he was blessed enough to acquire enough funds
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Politics
Attorney Gaynelle Griffin Jones dies HOUSTON- Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1993 as the first Black woman to be United States attorney for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Attorney Gaynelle Griffin Jones has died. The 64-year-old Houstonian was also the first Black woman to serve on the First Court of Appeals in Texas. “There was never a dull moment with her, she was definitely a busy woman all her life.” said her daughter, Athena Jones. She added, “She certainly pushed people to achieve greatness. She wanted everyone to aim high.” Attorney Gaynelle Jones encouraged Athena to pursue her career in journalGriffin Jones ism and even pushed her husband to finish his doctorate degree last year. Additionally, her husband of 26 years, Robert Jones stated “She got onto me about finishing my Ph.D. studies, she always put her family first. Her family was her heart.” Jones’ 40-year legal career began after graduating from Boston College Law School in 1972. She has been both a state and federal prosecutor in Louisiana and Texas and practiced corporate law in Boston and Houston. Most recently, Jones served as litigation counsel for Hewlett-Packard Co. She was also an adjunct professor of trial advocacy at the University of Houston. Jones received many honors and awards that celebrated her continued activity in the community, the legal profession and her church. Jones was also a deaconess at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. Jones was born in Dallas in 1948 and moved to Houston in 1986. She loved to read long novels and always took at least one vacation a year. Jones the University of Texas11:21 M.D.AM Anderson AANIreceived Color adtreatment - OCT-3 from 75 x 5_Layout 1 10/17/12 Page 1Cancer Center for three years before she died on Friday, March 1st.
Texas • March 11-17, 2013
Senator West votes on closure of Dawson State Jail
AUSTIN -- Soon, a very important step will take place as it relates to how criminal justice will be administered in the State of Texas. The Senate Finance Committee followed the recommendations of a criminal justice workgroup that proposed the non-renewal of the contract with the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) that currently has an agreement with the state for the operation of the Dawson State Jail facility. If approved by the Senate, then the full Legislature, the contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of August, consistent with the state’s fiscal year. At its outset, Dawson State Jail, as part of the state jail program created by the Legislature in 1993, was on the vanguard of a criminal justice reform that was designed to divert nonviolent offenders from what we know as the state prison system. We were at the end of a period of rapid prison population growth when Texas thought that with tough sentencing, we Senator Royce West could incarcerate our way out of a crime problem. Seeing the rising incarceration headcount, private corporations jumped into the prison business. In the 20 years since, times have changed and the state jail program has experienced hard times, some caused by several rounds of budget cuts, the most crippling which took place in 2003. When that happened, substance abuse and other rehabilitative programs that were designed to return short-term offenders to the community equipped with the tools necessary for success, were stripped from the state jail formula. What we were left with was a place where offenders would serve out sentences that averaged nine months to a year before being released - more than often not - only to be arrested again at rates that are higher than for those who return from state prison. At the same time, since 2005, other programs introduced and funded through local probation departments have proven successful in keeping offenders out of prison. Now with lower prison populations, the need for privately-run jail space has been diminished. But what has acted to propel Dawson more swiftly along the path toward closure have been persistent reports of neglect and lack of proper medical treatment for the offenders assigned there. These conditions have resulted in deaths over the past five years and have raised the ire of civil, criminal and faith-based advocacy groups, in addition to correctional labor organizations. Over the remaining months of the legislative session, this issue will be thoroughly examined. Dawson was not the only privately-run jail facility recommended for closure. What the legislature must do, is to act in in the best interest of all involved, including offenders, who though convicted of crimes, still possess basic rights that must be protected. What citizens can and must do, is remain vigilant and hold all public servants, and those who act on their behalf, accountable as stewards of the public trust.
Black Austin Democrats Monthly Meeting
AUSTIN- The Black Austin Democrats will host their Monthly Meeting on Thursday, March 21st, beginning at 6pm. The meeting will be held at the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex, located at 1156 Hargrave Street, in Austin. The Black Austin Democrats mission is to promote participation in the political process by Black Democrats and work in conjucntion with other Democratic organizations throughout the greater Austin area. They strive to stay connected to the issues that affect our community. The group consists of: Jeffrey Travillion, President; Kinaya Ulbrich, VP for Membership; James Nortey, VP for Political Action; Roxanne Evans, Secretary; Kevin Cole, Treasurer; Gary Cobb, Board Member; Joi Harden, Board Member; Velva Price, Board Member; Tommy Wyatt, Parlimentarian; Evelyn McKee, Chair, Nominations Committee Chair. Regular Membership (18 years & older) - $30 and Student Membership (18 - 22 years old & a full-time student) - $20. For more information, visit www.blackaustindemocrats.net.
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Texas • March 11-17, 2013
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How the Sequester will “Houston, we have a Problem!” Effect African-Americans Mass Incarceration, Just a different plantation
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Voters have twice elected an African-American president, and Republicans have twice responded with obstinance -- by waging an intellectual civil war. Voter-suppression efforts were insufficient to deliver a Romney victory, but strategically gerrymandered districts guaranteed that Speaker John Boehner and his Republican-dominated House could continue to serve as the proverbial thorn in Obama’s side. The sequester measure -- first designed as a way to force both political parties to agree on a grand bargain of budget cuts and new revenues -- is now being used to stifle momentum gained from the president’s re-election victory and effectively redirect the political discourse away from gun control and immigration reform and toward spending cuts and smaller government. As a result, billions in automatic cuts to defense and discretionary spending took effect on March 1, after GOP members in Congress refused to negotiate on what economists are calling a “stupid” and “irresponsible” way to govern the world’s largest economy. Who will this affect the most? Black, Brown, poor and working-class families still struggling to find work and wrestling with unresolved mortgage debts. This is where the sequester crosses the color line. African-Americans remain disproportionately unemployed and underemployed -- at a rate of 13.2 percent, nearly double the 6.8 percent unemployment rate of their White counterparts. During the 2012 presidential campaign, the issue was hotly debated. Republicans saw it as a way to dissuade Obama’s most loyal constituency, arguing that his economic policies had failed to benefit them. The GOP’s aim was to breed apathy and discourage enough Blacks from turning out to vote. Democrats instead highlighted the steady drop in Black unemployment -- from its recession high of 16.7 percent -- and reminded voters of the consequences of returning to Bush-era
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Edward Wyckoff Williams Political Analyst economic policies. But the truth is, the 2-to-1 disparity wasn’t caused by George W. Bush or the Great Recession -- it has existed since 1972, the first year the data tracking began. The recession only exacerbated the problem. Racial discrimination was traditionally considered the reason for such disparity, but researchers have found that the problems affecting African-Americans have compounded. Systemic poverty, lack of educational opportunity and corporate glass ceilings have all worked in tandem to create a crippling cycle of lack and want. Discrimination, therefore, isn’t the simple explanation it once was, and affirmative action is wholly insufficient to address the widening chasm. One disparity leads to another, and new barriers are created. As Michael Fletcher pointed out in the Washington Post, Blacks suffer most from weaker social networks -- lacking the right connections and facilitated access to job opportunity. In a nation whose explicit domestic policy had been to deny rights, benefits and access on the basis of race, a de facto affirmative advantage for whites emerged. The result is that the racial gap exists regardless of educational achievement or occupation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobless rate for African-American college graduates was 7.1 percent in 2011, while the rate for Whites was 3.9 percent. Whites with only a high school diploma had an unemployment rate of 8.4 percent, compared with 15.5 percent for Blacks. And in construction jobs -- hardest hit by the mortgage crisis -- Blacks endured a jobless rate of 30.4 percent, compared with 15.3 percent for whites. The deep public-sector cuts still
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t is no accident that the United States of America has been labeled as the, “Incarceration Nation”. These United States of America have more citizens imprisoned than any other country in the world. And how ironic is it that the South region of the country; which was also the last segment of the nation to receive the news that slaves had been freed; also has the highest incarceration rated in the nation? While, the state of Texas ranks as number three with the highest incarceration rate in the world. In the words of Apollo 13 crew member, James Lovell, “ Houston , we have a problem!” A really big one at that! Dick Price, Editor of LA Progressive indicated that, “More Black men are in prison or jail, on probation or parole than were enslaved in 1850, before the Civil War began”. It is also a proven fact that, both men and women of the African-American communities are more likely to be imprisoned than in race in the world. African-Americans are incarcerated at five times the rate of Whites in Texas . Perhaps, what is even more disturbing is that, there are more African-American men of all ages in prison in Texas than in the higher educational system. Furthermore, in a national report published by the Justice Policy Institute, it shows that nearly twice as many African-American men in their
early 30’s have prison records versus Bachelor degrees. Are you starting to get my drift, mass incarceration, just a different plantation? The National Center for Policy Analysis records of how Texas spent a little more than $11,000 dollars per student, yet only half of that was actually used for instructional purposes. On the other hand, Texas Public Policy records, that over $18,000 is spent per inmate on an annual basis. In other words, more money is spent in Texas imprisoning that educating. Once again, “ Houston we have a problem!” We MUST Understand, that oppression is all about control. Some believe that the purpose of educating is not necessarily meant for the benefit of Blacks advancing themselves, but so that Blacks can stay in their place. In other words, “Know your role and shut We MUST also Understand that in the era slavery, Whites had total control of the Black mind. Blacks were robbed of their history, identity and culture. They had to be told what they could do and could not do. And truthfully, not much has changed. Families and tribes were torn asunder and turned against one another. They had complete control over the slaves until slavery as it had been known was ended. When slavery was finally over Whites everywhere, especially in the South were mad as hell. You see, the South thrived off of the backs, tears and sweat of slaves. With slavery abolished, it was as if Whites has lost
We MUST Understand By Roy Douglas Malonson, Publisher
control. The Black race was free and there was nothing that could be done about it, or at least that’s what they thought. But the oppressor never gives up its oppression willingly or freely. As a result, new and innovative ways were immediately sought out. These methods introduced Jim Crow laws. These laws were merely new ways to lynch Blacks and lock them up. Ultimately, it is of importance that we realize that the elements from slavery are still the same, it’s just the era that has changed. Many people look for individuals walking around with white sheets and holes in them. But you are looking for the wrong sources. Those white sheets have been replaced with police badges and black robes among many other elements. So beware! Now don’t get me wrong, in no way, shape, form or fashion am I saying that all White people are bad. In fact, there are some very good White people. I have a few of them as personal friends. However, there are still a few racist Whites that control the system and work really hard to ensure that Blacks remain in their place. The sad part is that they use the law and their careers to do so!
being demanded by Republicans will only make the problem worse. Once unemployed, African-Americans are less likely to find jobs, and they stay unemployed much longer. In 2011, Blacks experienced a median duration of unemployment of 27 weeks, compared with 19.7 weeks for Whites and 18.5 weeks for Hispanics. As periods of unemployment extend, gaining viable employment becomes more difficult. Applicants may lack the resources, connections and income support to even pursue opportunities. And employers often consider credit scores and last date of employment as screens for job candidates, placing an added burden on those already at a disadvantage. For those whose families rely on programs like WIC -- designed to aid children and mothers -- $543 million could be lost, affecting the 450,000 people of color on assistance. Likewise, since 2010, $2.5 billion has been cut from housing-assistance programs like Section 8, which aids the poor and elderly. Data from 2008 showed that 44 percent of those recipients were Black. This is President Obama’s catch-22: trying to deliver on campaign promises to his most loyal supporters while fielding a Republican opposition indifferent to his constituency. As the GOP fights to protect tax loopholes for the wealthiest, the Black and Brown voters the party lost in the last election suffer as a kind of quiet retribution. And as the systemic nature of unemployment, underemployment and discrimination creates a 21st-century underclass, neither political party has the courage to discuss the issue in Black and White. TX-3
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African
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Texas • March 11-17, 2013
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C mmunity
Prince Hall Shriners to participate in Diabetes EXPO
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to purchase from the infamous Don Robey a small building located at 2204 Lockwood Dr. for $18,000 dollars. Approximately, two years after Davis started selling meat out of his truck, he officially went from wholesale to retail. Hence, Davis Meat Market premiered in June of 1988. The store started from a small room which has since been upgraded to the big red building advertising: hog crackling, ox tails, home cooked meals, steam table, Cajun boudin, homemade sausage, pork chops, beans and rice, and hickory smoked Bar B Q, can be seen in passing 5th Ward’s Lockwood Dr., any day of the week. In spite of all of Davis achievements, he recollects that it did not come easy. He has been faced with discrimination and many forms of prejudice to state the least. While it was at Baytown Seafood located on Little York many years ago that he was making a delivery and came face to face with racism. With half of his load of meat on his truck and the other half inside the store, he was confronted with a White man who locked him out and refused to allow him to complete his delivery. Faced with many similar situations, Davis persevered through and never gave up and suggests that each obstacle that he met, only served to strengthen his drive as a business owner. As James Davis was making his way to Houston , in another part of one of Texas ’ sister states Louisiana , there was a young lady named Patricia who was born in Ville Platte. After relocating at the age of six to Louisiana ’s Cajun Country of Lake Charles, Patricia affectionately called “Pat”, recalls living in a segregated community. “As Blacks, we stayed on our side and the White folks stayed on there side”, uttered Pat. She worked 14 years at the Hazel Brothers Grocery Store. After graduating from Boston High School in Lake Charles , Pat relocated to Houston in the early 1970’s. Once arriving in Houston , she began looking for any type of job that she could find. Her efforts provided her with the opportunity to work at Clayton Grocery Store as a cashier. Motivated to better herself, she went to school and became a nurse’s aid. This certification led to her working at Homestead Medical Center for over five years. There she was a nurse’s aid, physical therapist and performed a variety of services for patients that visited the hospital. Pat later worked at an Elementary School in the Heights for three years. Nevertheless, it was one day that she was on her way to church and waiting at a bus stop that she met Mr. James Davis. He offered her a ride and she stated that she has been riding with him ever since. Mrs. Patricia Davis works diligently with her husband and refers to herself as a silent partner of Davis Meat Market. She boasts of one of her greatest successes as a woman, their son Jonathan. Jonathan has been working for the family-owned business since the age of four. He is now the Manager of Davis Meat Market, and works side by side with his parents. When asked of his opinion on working with and for his parents he stated that, “It is a great privilege, to be able to work in the business with my parents.” Jonathan is a graduate of Wheatley High School where he was elected as ‘Mr. Wheatley’ and became the captain of the football team. He has since graduated from the University of Houston where he majored in Finance and minored in Economics. He is a certified Financial Planner and owns his own business as well. Tentatively, he plans to graduate from Rice University with a MBA in Finance. He has two small children who may also be seen working just as hard with their father and grandparents. Davis Meat Market is a location frequented by many Houston residents. Long-time patron, Mr. Cliff Hall noted that Davis Meat Market is an exceptional place to purchase meat from. He further added that, “I’ve been buying meat for over 40 years, and it is still one of my favorite spots in the Houston area.” The meat business has accomplished the Davis ’s with much success. TX- 4
Moussa Temple No. 106’s National Diabetes Inititative committee members (lt-rt) Noble Graddie Robinson, Noble Robert Moya, Past Potentate Edward Jones, and Noble Burrell Parmer. (Not pictured is Past Potentate Fentress Posey.)
Photos by: Tiffany Paige
Story by: Noble Burrell Parmer SAN ANTONIO – Continuing to strengthen the partnership created in 2009 through the National Diabetes Initiative, Prince Hall Shriners of Moussa Temple No. 106 of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine (A.E.A.O.N.M.S.) met with American Diabetes Association (A.D.A.) officials to commit to the Diabetes EXPO 2013,. The EXPO is the city’s largest diabetes self-care management health fair and will be held at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center, May 18. Among many activities, the EXPO will include an extensive exhibit area, speakers, health care screenings, a family fun zone, cooking demonstrations, entertainment and access to healthcare resources. The EXPO was free to the public with more than 5,000 participants in attendance. The National Diabetes Initiative is a collaborative effort between the A.E.A.O.N.M.S. and the A.D.A. The initiative addresses the shared concerns about the devastating impact of diabetes in the African-American population. The Prince Hall Shriners Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, makes an annual donation to the A.D.A. to support the A.D.A.’s education and awareness programs and, moreover, to fund research in finding a cure.
The dynamic duo have two additional restaurants inclusive with: a restaurant in Texas City and another which intersects at Bennington and Lockwood. In addition, they have purchased several rental properties throughout Houston . With a proud stare, Davis informed that, “We don’t owe anyone a dime and we are a 100% Black owned operation”. When asked of words of inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs, Davis stated that, “You must be willing to work hard, if you want to run a business.” He further added that his day starts at 3-4 o’clock in the morning and that on a weekly basis, he dedicates at least 80 to 90 work hours toward his businesses. Davis takes pride in the fact that in all of his years as operating as a proprietor, that he has only missed one day from work. Mrs. Davis stated that, “In operating and running a business for yourself, you must be mindful that you won’t always see immediate financial results”. “I believe that it takes at least three years before you really generate a profitable earning, because most of your proceeds have to go right back into the business if you want to keep it running”, stated Pat. Concluding, Patricia and James Davis together have become icons in the meat industry. Having being acknowledged and commended in several publications including: the Houston Chronicle, Houston Press and Houston Forward Times, the Davis’s have really built quite the resume of being noted as one of Houston’s Best Kept Secrets! The Houston Chronicle denoted that, “Patricia and James Davis have been married to each other and the meat business for over 27 years.” Thus, African-American News&Issues, salutes the dynamite partners who have definitely made their mark in the African-American community; and we encourage our African-American News&Issues audience to support one of Houston’s truly Best Kept Secrets.
Texas • March 11-17, 2013
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Hundreds Celebrate New African-American Cultural & Heritage Center
AUSTIN- About 500 community members recently gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the African American Cultural and Heritage Facility in East Austin. The grand opening festivities featured U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole, City Manager Marc Ott and community leaders including City Council members and representatives from the Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce, the African American Resource Advisory Commission and the African American Cultural Heritage District. The public event included a ribbon-cutting, entertainment and self-guided tours. “The opening of this African American Cultural and Heritage Facility is a historical occasion in Austin’s story,” City Manager Ott said. “Not only will this facility be a central gathering place for the community, it will serve as a reminder of the City of Austin’s long-term commitment to protecting and enhancing quality of life for African Americans.” The African American Cultural and Heritage Facility, 912 E. 11th St., is a three-part project: • Restoration of the historic Dedrick-Hamilton House. • Construction of a 4,000-square-foot building with meeting space, offices and a multi-purpose room. • A mosaic mural commissioned by Art in Public Places in the outdoor courtyard. The mural pays tribute to the African American Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the African-American Cultural & Heritage Center Photo Credit: Tommy Wyatt community in Austin. The Dedrick-Hamilton House was owned by Thomas Dedrick, one of the first freed slaves in Travis County. The home, built about 1880, was in one of the earliest African American communities in East Austin. The restored historic house will serve as the African American Visitors Center providing information on the African American Cultural Heritage District and African-American cultural events throughout the city. The project grew out of the African-American Quality of Life Initiative that began in 2005, and contributes to its goals of business opportunity and support of the arts.
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Texas • March 11-17, 2013
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Public Notice PUBLIC NOTICE The City of Houston (City), applied to the Texas General MalonsonLand OfficeMr. (GLO) for Community Development Block Do weDisaster need Recovery to add (DR) Program for HurGrant (CDBG) FullRound Time2,or Part ricane Ike Phase 2. Time The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) determined the method of distribution position in the ad as well? for the Round 2 funds awarded in the 13-county H-GAC area. The City, through its Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) is scheduled to receive $107,348,346 in its General Housing Allocation, $7,270,468 in Affordable Rental Single Family Rental, and $7,304,160 in Affordable Rental (Other) Multifamily Allocation, for a total of $121,922,974. In addition, H-GAC also awarded $30,292,591 to the City for the Subsidized Housing Allocation, which the City will use in collaboration with the Houston Housing Authority (HHA). The total amount of the City’s Housing portion of the application to GLO is $152,215,565.
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By analyzing storm damage and areas across the City that have high minority and / or high poverty concentrations, HCDD, along with several community groups, determined there should be four Neighborhoods of Opportunity to concentrate CDBG DR program funds for Hurricane Ike Round 2, Phase 2 funds. These areas, the methods used to determine them, and rules for expenditures will be presented in a public hearing on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. in the former Council Chambers at City Hall Annex (900 Bagby, Houston, TX 77002 Public Level). Input from this hearing will inform program delivery and fair housing choice issues. The Needs Assessment will be posted on the HCDD web site at http://www.houstontx.gov/housing/. The public is invited to provide input and comments on this proposal at the meeting. The public may provide written comments through Wednesday, March 13, 2013 to Andrea Jones, HCDD, 601 Sawyer Street, Houston, TX 77007. For additional information, contact HCDD at 713-868-8300. To request special arrangements (interpreter, sign language, captioning, or other) for the hearing, contact HCDD at 713-868-8300 no later than Friday, March 8, 2013.
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TX-6 Please sign for approval and fax back to 713-692-1183 by 5 P.M. Wednesday for publication or the ad will not run.
713-734-1442 4925 Richfield Lane Houston, Tx 77048
call 713-228-0735 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., by April 8, Date 2013, to complete a screening application over the phone. To qualify, applicants must be Harris County residents 60 years of age or older and meet the Houston Volunteer Lawyers’ low-income guidelines. Those who qualify will be given an appointment to meet with a volunteer attorney on April 16, 2013, at the Third Ward Multi-Purpose Center, 3611 Ennis, Suite 118. The documents will be completed on May 2, 2013 at the Third Ward Multi-Purpose Center. The Houston Bar Association’s Elder Law Committee provides free legal services and advice to senior citizens in Harris County, as well as free handbooks on Elder Law.
Heading Title:
Public Notice Rate and size of Ad to run in AAN&I’s Marketplace.African American News&Issues s. com EDITION DATE: March 11-17, 2013 (Vol. 16 Issue 7) Read us online! w w w. aframnew Contact Information:
Texas • March 11-17, 2013
Public Notice
Project Number: 13-03-01CS Houston Independent School District The Houston Independent School District will receive Competitive Sealed Proposals from contractors for Renovation work at Grissom Elementary School. The work includes, but is not limited to, abatement, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, restroom upgrades, code compliance, ADA upgrades, technology upgrades and general renovation work. Proposals are due no later than Thursday, March 28, 2013, at 2:00 p.m., at 4400 West 18th Street, Office of Board Services, Houston, TX 77092. The price proposals will be opened and the amounts read aloud. Grissom Elementary School is located at 4900 Simsbrook, Houston, TX 77045. The Request for Competitive Sealed Proposal (RFCSP), which includes plans and specifications, will be available beginning Monday, March 11, 2013, and may be obtained from A&E The Graphics Complex, 4235 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77027 / Phone (713) 621-0022 / Fax (713) 621-2537 upon refundable deposit of $250.00 for each set of plans and specifications. Documents in portable document format (pdf) are also available from A&E on disk for a deposit of $50.00. Deposit checks should be made payable to HISD. Any questions regarding bid documents are to be addressed to MLB and ASSOCIATES, 21214 Bridge Springs, Katy, TX 77449, Michael Buster Jr., v. (832) 367-4087. The Competitive Sealed Proposal process will be utilized as authorized in H.B. No. 628, Legislative Session 82 (R)-2011. The Competitive Sealed Proposal process enables HISD to select contractors on the basis of price and qualifications/methodology. M/WBE Forms, schedules and statements, as required by Section AB of the RFCSP and in accordance with the Office of Business Assistance, will be received at 12:00 Noon, April 1, 2013, at the Board Services Office, 4400 West 18th Street, Office of Board Services, Houston, TX 77092. PROPOSALS SUBMITTED WITHOUT M/WBE FORMS PROPERLY COMPLETED WILL BE CONSIDERED NON RESPONSIVE. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at Grissom Elementary School, 4900 Simsbrook, Houston, TX 77045. A walk-thru of Grissom Elementary School will be held immediately following the Pre-Proposal Meeting. For additional information regarding this project, please contact Mr. Wm. “Earl” Finley, 713556-9306, or wfinley@houstonisd.org. Drawings and Specifications for the RFCSP may be reviewed at the following Houston locations:
HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTICE TO PROPOSERS
Heading The Houston Independent School District located in Title: the Hattie Mae White Educational Support CenterPublic at 4400Notice West 18th Street Houston, Texas 77092 will accept proposals, until the stated date and time deadlines, in the Board Services Office, Level C1
Contactfor Information: Project 13-02-13 – RFP/Asset Information Inventory Name: Ethel Kujimiyo Services – with a deadline of 3 PM; March 27, 2013. A preHouston proposal conferenceCompany: will not be held for this ISD project. Phone: (713) 556-6524
Chamber Events
Name: Ethel Kujimiyo Company: Houston ISD Phone: (713) 556-6524 HOUSTONSave713-556-6551 the Date for The Acres Home Chamber for Fax: Business and Economic Development, Inc., located in the Beulah Email: EKUJIMIY@houstonisd.org Address for tearsheets/copies: Ann Sheperd Building at 6112 Wheatley St.
****Please provide address!!**** For more information or to RSVP for any of the events, call 713692-7161. March
Friday, March 22nd- 23rd Annual ComCOST munity Awards Banquet, Guest AD Speaker: Net Rate: $90 x 2 cols. =180 Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Texas 180 x 4.15”= $747.00 Rep. District 141
20% Discount = $149.40 Project 13-03-03 - RFP – Fax: HVAC713-556-6551 & Boiler First Response and Chiller & Boiler Replacement – with a deadline of 2:00 P.M., April Total Cost to run Ad for one week: Email: EKUJIMIY@houstonisd.org Thursday, April 4, 2013. The pre-proposal conference for this Thursday, April 4th- Monthly NetAddress for tearsheets: $597.60 project will be in Room 117 at the HISD CFS Administration Honorable working Luncheon, 11am-12:30pm, Guest ****Please Building, 3200 Center Street, Houston, provide TX 77007address!!**** on Tuesday, Senfronia Thompson Speaker: Jim Robinson, Chief Appraiser, March 26, 2013 at 10 A.M. Harris County District
Please sign for approval and fax back to (713) 692-1183 by 12your NOON Wednesday Send business eventfor Net Rate: $90 x 2 cols. =180 Proposals are available on the HISD web-site at 180 x 6.93”= $1,247.40 next Monday’s publication. www.houstonisd.org. information and announcements
Project 13-04-01 - RFP/Student Athletic Accident Insurance with a deadline of April 22, 2013 at 2 P.M. The pre-proposal conference for this project will be Thursday, March 21, 2013 at ADaddress. COST 2 P.M. in Room 2C12 at the above stated
The District reserves the right to reject or all proposals, or, 20%any Discount = $249.40 to accept the proposal that is most advantageous to the District. Total Cost runatAd for one week: The District sells obsolete assetsto on-line www.PublicSurplus.com. $998.00
to news@aframnews.com
Signature
Please sign forToday’s approvalManagement and fax Business Profile: Consultants
back to (713) HOUSTON- African-American News&Issues presents: Mrs.692-1183 Shirley Thomas of Today’s Management Consultants. Today’s Management Consultants is a full-service handyman company. Today’s Management Consultants Wednesday next Date subscribes to a motto, by “Better12 men’s,NOON Better husbands, Better dad’s”. With over a for decade of experience in the industry, TMC is an accredited member withMonday’s the Better Business Bureau, and with an A+ approval rating. publication. TMC is the 1st stop and the only stop handyman company any home or business owner requiring repairs will need. It is not just another repair company that has popped up out of the blue. It was established because Mrs. Shirley Thomas saw a great need that existed in the African-American community; primarily targeting men who were unemployed. P.O. Number for this Ad Today’s Management Consultants came to life out of the realization that when men are employed: crime decreases, they have a greater sense of pride; which in return makes for a better and safer community. At TMC, there is a belief that Signature the men are the backbone of the country and community. In the origination of TMC, Mrs. Thomas posed a question, asking God one day, what she could do for others, not just making money so that she could live well, while so many others suffered. There was a light bulb revelation that went off in her head and prompted her to start a home repair business. After baffling with the decision, she just couldn’t believe that becoming a business owner was what God wanted from her. She thought to herself, that she is a woman and a small one at that. SoP.O. finally Number after weeks of going back and forth in her head, the home repair business was the vision that kept coming Mrs. Shirley Thomas Owner of: back to her. Today’s Management Consultants Ultimately, she surrendered and remembers that it was scary for her. She realized that she would be responsible for a load that she wasn’t sure if she would be able to carry it. After taking a look around the vicinity of where she had lived for over 16 years, she realized that it had been staring her in the face all the time. Today’s Management Consultants is a company that is few in number. TMC brings on board those who have a criminal background, with hopes for rehabilitation.Date It is sad that there are husbands, fathers and single men that are willing to work, but because of their background no one will hire them. Although, their Title debt to society has beenHeading honored, some are still unable to vote, work or become acceptable by society’s standards. If there is no honest work available for these T-Shirts individuals they are labeled as menaces to society. Nevertheless, this criminal brand and element is forever hanging over their heads, like the dropping of birds. If a human being can be institutionalized at the tax payers expense for approximately $40,000 a year, wouldn’t it be better for the country if they were to have gainful employment, rather than being a burden to society? This is why Today’s Management Consultants needs your support! Contact Information There has been plenty of road blocks from other handyman company owners in the establishment of Today’s Management Consultants. For one, being a Name: Stephanie Thompson female inCompany: a male dominated industry has caused Mrs. Shirley Thomas a grave misconception. However, she has been determined to find work for those who Cultural Concepts want to work and she believes that God will take care of the rest. Along with TMC’s resume includes partnerships with: the City of Houston, Sheltering Arms for Phone: 713-747-0021 Senior Services, Fax: United Way and countless other homes and businesses throughout the greater Houston and surrounding areas. For more information or to make an appointment for services please contact: Mrs. Shirley Thomas at (832) 343-4587 or stop by 7816 Curry Rd. Houston, Address for tearsheets: Texas 77093. tmconsultants@att.net, or visit Today’s Management Consultants website at: www.1ststophandyman.com. 4913Email: Griggs St. Photo Credit: Rebecca S. Jones
Competitive Sealed Proposal Notice for Renovation work at Grissom Elementary School
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nd size ofGeneral 1.5” ad to in AAN&I’s Marketplace Edition. Associated Contractors, 3825 run Dacoma Street, Houston, TX 77092, (713) 843-3700 HISD Construction ServicesJanuary Office (Bond), 3200 Center Street, HousRun Dates: 30-February 5, 2012ton, TX 77007, (713) 556-9250 McGraw Hill Construction/Dodge, www.construction.com January 28-February Virtual Builders Exchange, 3910 Kirby, #131, Houston, TX 77098-3, 2013 4151, (832) 613-0201
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Houston, Texas
TX-7
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African
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Texas • March 11-17, 2013
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Acres Homes Chamber for Business and Economic Development March Networking Business Luncheon Download a QR Reader and scan our code below to visit our website!
Councilmember Jerry Davis and Judge Zinetta A.Burney
Reginald Gordon, Operation Outreach
Bro. Kofi Taharka, Roy Douglas Malonson, Bro. Robert Muhammad, Bro. Thomas Muhammad
Georgia Provost, Provost Photography
Orlando Riddick
Mr. Harold Egans of H.E. Wear
Annie Lott and Ivory Lott
TX-8
HOUSTON- The Acres Home Chamber for Business and Economic Development held its Monthly Business Networking Luncheon on Thursday, March 7th. Members and affiliates of the AHCBED came to network and hear the powerful message delivered by National Chairman of the National Black United Front, Bro. Kofi Taharka. The event was held in the Beulah Ann Shepard Building located at 6112 Wheatley Street, 77091. The next Monthly Business Networking Luncheon will be held on Thursday, April 4th, at 11:30 am. The Keynote Speaker will be Mr. Jim Robinson, Chief Appraiser of the Harris Country Appraisal District. For more information, at (713) 692-7161.
African
Texas • March 11-17, 2013
American News&Issues
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HBCU Corner TSU President Dr. John Rudley Leading Federal loan will changes hamper NCAA Committee HOUSTON– Texas Southern University President Dr. John M. Rudley is Black College Enrollment leading the NCAA’s Advisory Group that is assisting with academic challenges Black students are finding themselves having to move back home, transfer to a less expensive school or find new money when the U.S. Department of Education quietly changed how it evaluated the credit of parents applying for a federal PLUS loan. The greater scrutiny affected families and schools everywhere, but Historically Black Colleges were hit particularly hard because so many of their students come from low-income families dependent on PLUS loans. In recent years, as many as a third of all Black college graduates had used PLUS loans, a proportion twice as high as the rate for all schools, according to one estimate. The Education Department said the changes were made as part of an effort to more closely align government lending programs with industry standards and decrease default rates. Before the changes, the loan program looked at whether an applicant had an adverse credit history for an account in the past 90 days. Now the program looks for delinquent accounts during the last five years. The examination includes foreclosures, bankruptcies, wage garnishments, repossessions and tax liens, in addition to past due payments on bills such as utilities. While many colleges worried about the denials, others said the changes prevented lower-income families from being saddled with debt they can’t afford. The policy change was made in October 2011, but most students and schools were unaware of it until this past summer when their loans were
unexpectedly rejected. PLUS loans are popular because they don’t have a limit and can cover tuition, fees, books as well as room and board and other expenses set by a school. The Education Department said it could not provide more recent figures or say how many people were denied PLUS loans after the changes.
Women Inspiring to Reach New Heights” in STEM Fields with St. Phillips College SAN ANTONIO– Join St. Phillips College for a STEM Panel Discussion on “Women Inspiring to Reach New Heights” in STEM fields on Friday, March 22nd at 1pm in the Watson Fine Arts Center Morgan Gallery. The college’s mathematics department staff moderates a discussion with five female panelists who share the paths they took to professional accomplishment in their STEM careers. Panelists include: St. Philip’s College President Dr. Adena Williams Loston; Adrienne Pennick Blocker, chemical engineer, Shell Oil Company; Janet Buckingham, statistician, Southwest Research Institute; Denyce Chavero, civil engineer; and Annette Fothergill, microbiologist, clinical laboratory scientist. For more information, visit alamo.edu/spc/whm/ or contact Jill Zimmerman at 210-486-2345 or jzimmerman@alamo.edu.
that impact Limited Resource Institutions (LRI). The formation of this advisory group represents a collaborative and proactive effort between HBCU institutions and the NCAA to serve as a conduit to communicate issues and concerns that may impact LRIs collectively within the Academic Performance Program (APP). Specifically, this group serves in an advisory capacity to the Committee on Academic Performance (CAP) on policy-related issues. The rationale for the formation of this group is based on an in-depth examination of APR trends indicating that a higher proportion of Historically Black Colleges and universities (HBCU) and other LRI teams are subject to APP penalties. Rudley has been leading the charge to get the attention of NCAA to let them know that “one size doesn’t fit all,” as it relates to resources, infractions, sanctions, etc. Rudley is pleased to have the opportunity to lead and work with this group. “The goal of increasing the graduation and completion rates for student athletes is strongly supported by every college president. The issue is how quickly can institutions with limited resources, such as the HBCUs, add the infrastructure critical Dr. John Rudley to making the improvements in Academic Performance Rate (APR),“ said Rudley. To date, the advisory group has provided recommendations to the CAP based on concerns that limited-resource institutions are at a disadvantage due to the amount of resources available to make academic changes to increase the APR. The transition recommendation allows limited-resource institutions – teams in the bottom 15 percent of all Division I member institutions in resources - more time to make meaningful change for academically underperforming teams. The LRI would have until 2016 to implement the APR minimum score of 930. This is an additional two years longer than the original NCAA proposal. The other recommendations support the ongoing APR improvement of limited-resource institutions and facilitate working towards meeting the established benchmark of a score of 930 for all teams.
Prairie View A&M Alumni Intern in Legislature PRAIRIE VIEW– PVAMU graduates Brenda DeRouen and Simone Wilson have been selected to participate in the Texas Legislative Internship program for the Texas 83rd Legislature. DeRouen received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a specialization in Juvenile Studies from PVAMU. She is a second-year law student at Thurgood Marshall School of Law. She is currently interning with the Texas Association of Counties and hopes to become an attorney. Wilson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from PVAMU and is a graduate student at Texas State University where she is pursuing a Masters degree in Public Administration. She is interning with the Council of State Governments Justice Center and is seeking a career in Government Relations. The Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP) is an educational internship program sponsored by Senator Rodney Ellis and administered by the Mickey Leland Center on World Hunger and Peace at Texas Southern University. The program offers opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students attending Texas colleges and universities to serve as interns in the Texas Legislature.
Simone Wilson, left, and Brenda DeRouen
Photo Credit: PVAMU
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African
American News&Issues
Texas • March 11-17, 2013
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Religi n
Dillard University Concert Choir to perform at Metropolitan CME Church talented University choral group with a long and distinguished history of performing both the traditional music of the Black experience, as well as the classics, folk and popular music of the contemporary era. The musical and artistic elegance of this 40 voice choir will touch the spirit and leave the listener filled with aesthetic admiration and spiritual joy. The Choir will perform the music of internationally renowned composer, arranger, director and pianist Moses Hogan as well as traditional spirituals and sacred music. During Katrina, the Dillard campus experienced $400 Million in damages and is still re-building its student base to the pre Katrina level. The Choir concerts and national tour contribute to the ongoing revitalization by exposing the public to the traditions and heritage of this highly ranked HBCU. The Houston community is cordially invited to the concert which is free and open to the public. Church Choral groups and Choirs, College and High School Choirs are especially invited to enjoy this extraordinary musical treat. Donations will be welcomed. For more information, please contact Metropolitan CME Church at 713-748-5947, Metrocme@aol.com, or Event Coordinator: Dr. Mtangulizi Sanyika at 713-376-3364, wazuri@aol.com,
Dillard University Concert Choir HOUSTON –On Friday March 15th, 2013, one of America’s premiere choral groups, the Dillard University Concert Choir will be performing at 7 pm at the Metropolitan CME Church, located at 8955 South Freeway at Reed Rd. in Houston, Rev. Dr. Bobby R. Best Pastor. The “Met” as it is affectionately known is a contemporary state of the art facility that combines extraordinary beauty, elegant simplicity and a warm sound that makes for a spiritually unique listening experience. This extraordinary New Orleans cultural event is taking place in Houston as the 1st stop of the Choir’s 2013 National tour. The Dillard Choir under the direction of Dr. S. Carver Davenport over the last 40 years is an exceptionally well trained and
The Upper Room Prayer Ministry
HOUSTON – Come out on Saturday, March 16th to Charity The Love Driven Church, located at 2800 Antoine, Suite 2844 at 5pm for wonderful fellowship with The Upper Room Prayer Ministry. Dave Ripley will the teaching this month and Reflections will be given by Donald Ray Page. Minister B. J. Smith and Minster Joe Mayes will provide inspiring music. The Upper Room Prayer Ministry meets every 3rd Saturday of the Month. For more information, please call Gwen-Lee Page at 281-591-7806.
Church Profile: Lyons Unity Missionary Baptist Church HOUSTON- Lyons Unity Missionary Baptist Church, 3215 Lyons Avenue, Houston, Texas was organized with 251 charter members in 1964. After a fervent prayer meeting conducted by the deacons representing the group of believers in Christ. It was organized at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 1510 Pannel Street, with the late Rev. L. H. Simpson, Pastor officiating. This organization was conceived in the minds of these faithful and tireless members who met regularly in the home of the late Bro. and Sis. Jack Perkins, 2920 Clementine Street. The name Lyons Unity was voted upon and accepted after it was submitted by the late Sis. Willie B. Hamilton and the late Bro. Frank Wallace. Pastors participating in this organization included: the late Rev. G. W. Prince, Pastor-Mt. Olive Baptist Church; the late Rev. Johnnie Allen, Pastor-Greater Mt. Nebo Baptist Church and the late Rev. Joseph Brown, Pastor-St. Mark Baptist Church. Rev. Charles M. Oliver and the late Rev. Horace Anderson were appointed to conduct all services until a pastor would be called. Preparatory to their entrance service the Lyons Unity Missionary Baptist Church, organized Sunday 3:00 p.m., February 16, 1964 in the educational building of the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist by Drs. L. H. Simpson, G. W. Prince, L.V. Bolton and Johnny Allen, assembled and formed a line of march, of more than 300 members and friends, from the Houston City Fire Station on Gregg St. (escorted by motorcycle officers paid for by Clay & Clay & Ross Mortuaries) to the building at 3215 Lyons at 2:00 p.m., March 1, 1964, for the purpose of dedicating the cafeteria building, formerly owned by the new Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, for public worship and church services until a new church building was constructed at the above address. The entrance sermon was delivered by Dr. W. H. Banks, Pastor of Jordan Grove Missionary Baptist Church. The 22-member Usher Board was introduced, an entrance offering of $844.51 was received and the Lord’s Supper was administered on March 3, 1964 by Dr. L. H. Simpson, pastor of Pleasant Hill and Lyons Unity Spiritual Advisor until a pastor was called. Under the temporary leadership of Rev. Oliver and the late Rev. Anderson, church officers were elected and auxiliaries were organized. The new church voted unanimously to join and fellowship with the General Central Missionary Baptist district Association. On July 5, 1964, Rev. Oliver C. Johnson, Sr. accepted the call and became the pastor. In August of 1964 , the following auxiliaries were organized: Men’s Chorus, Senior Ushers, the Home Department, the Eucharist Board, Junior Ushers, Nurse Aide Board, Junior & Youth Choirs, Women’s Uplift, Prayer Meeting. In September of 1964, plans were initiated to build a church edifice and architects were employed. Then on April 17, 1966 the Lyons Unity family marched into the new sanctuary, Sermon by Rev. A. C. Nelson, Pastor of Progressive Church of God in Christ. A great loss was felt when Pastor O.C. Johnson, Sr. departed his life on January 21, 2003. Rev. William Anthony Jordan was elected the new pastor on July 26, 2003 and was installed on November 16, 2003 by Rev. S. C. Dixon, Pastor of Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, La.. Under the leadership of Pastor Jordan, Lyons Unity has continued to be blessed spiritually, financially and in membership. Effective July, 2011, our Sunday Worship service is now 8:00 a.m. Join the Lyons Unity Missionary Baptist Church as we celebrate our 49th Church Anniversary Year. Pastor William Anthony Jordan Thursday, March 14th, 7p.m. – Rev. Keion Henderson, Pastor of the Light House Church, Houston, Texas, Guest Speaker Lyons Unity MBC Sunday, March 17th, 8am Worship Service – Rev. Andrew W. Berry II, Pastor of Greater Barbour’s Chapel B.C., Texas City, Texas, Guest Speaker TX-10
Texas • March 11-17, 2013
Educati n/Y uth
Pre-K 4 SA Job Opportunities
HOUSTON – The Mayor and the voters of the City of San Antonio have taken a stand to dramatically improve the availability of high-quality early childhood opportunities for four-year olds throughout the city. Educational research shows that high-quality prekindergarten has the most impact in improving overall education outcomes for a community and helps children to learn and read on grade-level, making them less likely to fall behind their classmates and more likely to graduate and attend college. The City of San Antonio is breaking new ground with its Pre-K initiative and expects to offer dramatically enhanced early childhood education to ensure future vitality and long-term economic health for San Antonio. “This is a major milestone in our efforts to make San Antonio the most vibrant brainpower community in the country,” Mayor Julián Castro said. “The vision supported by voters is taking shape by hiring the qualified individuals who will bring this program to life.” The City is hiring people for a variety of positions, to include master teachers, teacher assistants, and other professional and administrative staff. Interested applicants may access information about each position and apply at www.sanantonio. gov/hr/jobs/Pre-K4SA_Jobs.asp. In an effort to offer additional information to interested applicants, the City will be hosting four Pre-K 4 SA job fairs at the following locations on the following dates: Wednesday, March 20th, 5:30-8:30 pm, at the North East Service Center, 0303 Tool Yard and Thursday, March 28th, 4:30-7:30 pm., at the Mission Library, 3134 Roosevelt Ave. If you would like to be notified when new Pre-K 4 SA positions are made available, email the City of San Antonio’s Human Resources Department at hrcustomerservice@sanantonio.gov and your name will be added to the mailing list. The program will improve teacher professional development for all participating school districts from Pre-K through Grade 3. Pre-K 4 SA also will provide highquality Pre-K services for an additional 1,700 children through a competitive grant process beginning in the 2016-2017 school year with participating school districts and educational providers. For more information, call (210) 207-8705.
Center for Troubled Youth to Close
HOUSTON -- A center serving troubled youth in the community is closing one of its facilities. DePelchin Children’s Center announced they will permanently close the Elkins Residential Treatment Center located at 4950 Memorial Drive on or around April 20. This facility closure means 44 full-time employees and 13 parttime workers will lose their jobs. A spokesman for the facility stated, “ DePelchin Children’s Center has a long history of evolving its programs to meet the changing needs of the children in the community it serves. As the state moves toward a model of supporting more children in the home environment, we have decided to focus our efforts on the recruiting and training of additional loving foster families to care for children. At this time, we will continue providing residential care at our Richmond Residential Treatment Center.”
NAACP Houston Branch opposes School Consolidation Plan
HOUSTON – The NAACP Houston Branch will hold a press conference to discuss its opposition to the school consolidations of James D. Ryan Middle and Jesse H. Jones High Schools. The press conference will be held on Thursday, March 14th, beginning at 10 am, at James D. Ryan Middle School, located at 2610 Elgin, 77004. For more information contact, Yolanda Smith, Executive Director at 713-526-3389.
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Turning Hardships into Second Chances
African-American Male Mentorship Program provides students with Belonging and Encouragement
Members of UHD’s African-American Male Mentorship Program HOUSTON-Many students at the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) are the first in their families to attend college and some come from backgrounds far from conducive to an education and economic or professional success. A program at the University is working to change that – one African-American male at a time. Trevor Jones, an alumnae and undergraduate advisor at UHD, knows firsthand the challenges of overcoming both hardships and peer pressure when breaking out of a negative personal environment. Based on his experience – as well as the fact that college graduation rates for African-American men are historically low across the nation – Jones founded UHD’s African-American Male Mentorship Program (AAMMP) to offer these students the support they need to succeed. “My main message to students in the AAMMP program is, ‘Refuse to let your circumstances dictate your future,’” said Jones. “I’m 33 and to this day, I’ve never met my biological father. But I was blessed to have a very supportive grandfather who taught me the importance of a positive male role model in a young man’s life. Many of our students come from similar home situations, but have never known a single positive male role model. I work with African-American students who also face multiple challenges of raising younger siblings and working full time or in multiple jobs while trying to earn a college degree.” AAMMP brings prominent African-American community leaders to campus for roundtable discussions, enabling members to witness the speakers’ success firsthand and gather tools to set and reach their own professional and personal goals. The program also serves as an on-campus resource for students, many of whom struggle with uncertainties about college life and how to successfully navigate the challenges of higher education. John Franklin, a UHD junior and AAMMP member, is one such student who has benefitted greatly from the program’s faculty- and peer-mentoring. When he first began classes, he faced daunting academic challenges and needed direction and support to raise his grade point average. Now, three years after joining AAMMP, he has significantly raised his GPA and recently received an award for having overcome the most of any program member. “Before I joined the AAMMP program, I’d never had a positive male role model in my life,” said Franklin. “It felt so great to have men in my life for the first time that I admired to guide me. Through the AAMMP program, I got an internship at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and got to work with curators and ancient artifacts from China and Egypt. Now, I’m looking forward to hopefully working at the Smithsonian Museum once I graduate next spring with my degree in history.” Chris Birchak, Ph.D., dean of University College and a faculty advisor for AAMMP, works closely with program leaders and lauds the work of staff in UHD’s Advising Center and Student Affairs in supporting AAMMP students. “I’ve personally seen great academic improvement in the lives of AAMMP members and this is due, in large part, to the helping hands of committed faculty, staff and fellow program members,” she said. “What began with a grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has grown into an initiative that brings priceless rewards to program participants. We hope to continue to grow the program so that each member will have a oneon-one mentor relationship with a faculty member who follows him throughout his tenure at the University.” “Through AAMMP, we get the opportunity to say, ‘We’re all brothers in this together,’” said Jones. I tell members, “You’ve got to strive for excellence and give yourself the best chance to succeed. When you get a chance to positively change your life, you’ve got to take it – and you’re the only one who can.”
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African
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Texas • March 11-17, 2013
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8 oz.
GET Llévatelo
free! ¡gratis! with in-store coupon Nissin Top Ramen Short Cuts
8.82 oz. assorted varieties
Llévatelo GET
¡gratis! free! with in-store coupon Yoplait Yogurt 4 pk., 6 oz. light or original assorted varieties
Llévatelo GET
¡gratis! free! with in-store coupon
Bolthouse Farms Mini Carrots 2 lbs.
That’s up to
3.48
$
free! buy
H-E-B Fully Cooked Burgers, 8 pk.
24 - 32 oz. assorted varieties
Prices Good Monday, March 11 Thru Sunday, March 17, 2013 At Your Neighborhood H-E-B Stores.
Some items may not be available in all stores. Items not valid at Central Market. Due to the popularity of our Extra Low Prices Every Day, we reserve the right to limit quantities. Limit Rights Reserved. We Accept Lone Star Card, WIC And Manufacturers’ Coupons. ©2013 HEB, 13-1046 visit www.heb.com
HOU-12
That’s up to
3.00
$
free!
Llévatelo GET
¡gratis!
free!
with in-store coupons • H-E-B Soft Drink
2 L btl. assorted varieties
• H-E-B Flavored Tortilla Chips, 12 - 14 oz. assorted varieties
Llévatelo
¡gratis!