Volume 25 Issue 8

March 15, 2020

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION African-American News&Issues

Vol. 25, Issue 8 COMMUNITY CONCERNS

CORONAVIRUS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”

YATES VALEDICTORIAN STRIVES FOR EXCELLENCE DESPITE FAMILY SETBACKS Photo courtesy City of Houston

By AANI Staff Writer

HOUSTON — The City of Houston seemed to be at a standstill Wednesday after Mayor Sylvester Turner, along with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo President Joe Crowley and health officials confirmed the news no one wanted to hear: the historic Houston rodeo and all of its activities would cease immediately due to Coronavirus concerns. Everything was shut down. Carnival goers were told to leave the premises, services at food and vendor booths halted immediately and hearts across the city collectively dropped.

CORONAVIRUS cont’d on page 3

LIVING LEGEND

CHERYL CREUZOT

Photo courtesy of AAANI Staff Writer

MALON GARNER. Yates High School Valedictorian pictured with her biggest supporter, Principal Tiffany Guillory.

By Isaiah Robinson

HOUSTON — They say what defines every person is their reaction to any given situation. Life provides us with an abundance of circumstances — good and bad — that we, sometimes, have to react to, deal with and endure while carrying our burdens in suitcases and duffle bags.

Though the statement, “A person can only endure so much,” is so true, it’s only a mere understatement for Jack Yates High School basketball player and senior Malon Garner.

“When dealing with situations without my parents to help me decide, I had to look at the bigger picture in different circumstances...”

Garner, 17, currently holds the status of Valedictorian of her class with a 4.2 GPA despite facing many family setbacks in her life. The young queen dealt with the passing of her father Michael Garner in 2018 on Oct. 6, and her grandfather Henry Garner in February of this year, plus the incarceration of her mother Paulette Garner.

The hardships she’s experienced gave Garner a dif-

DEMOCRATIC ENDORSEMENTS ON PAGE 4

ferent look on life and the decision a few children have to make in growing up at a young age.

“It made me group up faster than expected,” said Garner. “When dealing with situations without my parents to help me decide, I had to look at the bigger picture in different circumstances and have to make the right decision for myself and what’s best for me.”

Her burdens taught Garner about who to trust and what situations to react to or ignore.

“I had to learn that everything doesn’t need a reaction. I have a lot more to lose if I’m arguing with someone else, so I’m doing nothing but hurting myself because I could lose everything I worked hard for and that’s what they want,” Garner said. It’s hard to find people who you can trust and open up to after losing your love ones because they don’t know what I’m feeling, sometimes it feels pointless.”

Despite the hurt and pain, Garner found overwhelming support from her head coach, Patrick Augborn and the alumni at Yates high school.

“Ever since my father passed, my coach stepped up and helped me on and off the court. He makes sure he YATES cont’d on page 3

PASTOR CALDWELL PLEADS GUILTY ON PAGE 5

Photo courtesy of Top30Women.com

HOUSTON — On March 4, Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston City Council voted to approve the nomination of Cheryl Creuzot to serve as a member of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. Creuzot, a highly-respected business, and civic leader will be the first African-American female port commissioner in the nearly 116-year history once she is sworn in.

CREUZOT cont’d on page 5 UNITY BANK PARTNERS WITH CITIBANK ON PAGE 5

2 AFRAMNEWS.COM Roy Douglas Malonson, Chairman/Publisher Shirley Ann Malonson, President/CEO/Publisher NL Preston: Managing Editor Todd Rogers: Layout Designer Isaiah Robinson: Contributing Writer General: news@aframnews.com Ads: sales@aframnews.com Website: aframnews.com Artwork: prod@aframnews.com African-American News&Issues

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MARCH 15, 2020

EDITORIAL

CORONAVIRUS: ‘THAT USED TO BE US’ Partin’ the Waters

By Omawale Luthuli-Allen

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GREATER HOUSTON AREA

A three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist had a conversation with the Matrix, that is, Ex-POTUS Barack Obama about the Chinese economic miracle, unprecedented growth, infrastructure development and the lifting of three billion people out of extreme poverty and President Obama said “ that used to be us.” We should have gotten a glimpse of this first responder paralysis when our government could not mount an effective response to the Hurricane Katrina misery. We have a fourth of the population of China and we are trance dancing in the face of a PANDEMIC with the COVID virus. Although we have been forewarned, we are not forearmed.

It appears that Mayor Sylvester Turner and County Judge Lina Hidalgo received the memo from the CDC and Houston Health Department.

They acted Wednesday by declaring the city and county to be a mass disaster zone. Let’s hope that they acted in time to prevent the actions that have been taken in New Rochelle, NYC. New Rochelle is the epicenter of a cluster of cases. New Rochelle has a quarantine that is backed up by National Guard troops. City leaders have realized that the stage of containment has basically passed and now steps must be taken to slow down the spread.

Mayor Turner has said that it was a “painful” and difficult” decision to cancel the rodeo and other mass gatherings for the next week. Mayor Turner and the County Judge deserve extremely high marks by going against the tide and prescribing an approach that makes sense.

At the city-county level, we are not ruled by a kakistocracy, that is, a government led by the incompetent and unfit. If this spread of the virus is a HOAX, why did Italy, a nation of 60 million people quarantine the entire country? 4,500 have died in China and there are 125,000 cases of infection. We are the most advanced industrial country, but disinformation has handcuffed an appropriate response. Distrust of the scientific community will backfire in a big way. We must have information from trusted sources. One fact is greater than a shipload of argument and propaganda. It is a mistake to gather information from those who fudged their grades in high school, those who cheated on tests and did not bother to learn the scientific method. One subject matter expert’s testimony in a court of law is accepted and regarded more highly than the sound and fury of a hundred thousand grandstanders and stable geniuses. When some learn the game, the game will be finished.

Because this virus is somewhat new, information about it is changing quickly.

Our trusted sources are saying that a vaccine will not be ready tomorrow and it will not be instantly available to the public. It is not likely that the warmer weather will make the virus disappear. However,

if you can think critically, problem solve and get ready, you will survive this pandemic. The good news is that symptoms are mild in eight out of 10 affected people. Only about two out of 10 people have a serious illness. Older people 65 and 70 + are more likely to get seriously ill, especially if there are pre-existing respiratory illness and a weak immune system. Based on the limited data, pregnant women seem to be at a greater risk.

The best recommendation appears to be maintaining social distance, ceasing handshaking, touching your face and washing your hands.

Let’s be clear, if you are visiting your doctor and you don’t get a timely diagnostic test for a condition such as colorectal cancer, it can be construed as the doctor was negligent and intentionally harmed you.

TO BE US cont’d on page 6

RISING

By Joshua Howell

WHITE FEMINISM ON THE RISE It is telling that, of the female candidates who have exited the Democratic primary thus far, none has caused quite the same stir as Elizabeth Warren.

Not Kirsten Gillibrand.

Not Kamala Harris. Not Amy Klobuchar. Not (bless her heart) Marianne Williamson. Then again, it is also telling that,

of the many columns published last week lamenting the demise of Warren’s campaign, most were written by white women.

Of course, one shouldn’t dismiss the sentiments expressed therein.

In the New York Times, Sarah Smarsh wrote a moving essay about how she was “burning with fury and grief” over Warren’s exit. She went on to display genuine frustration that Warren placed fourth in Nevada “in spite of thoroughly winning a Las Vegas candidates debate”.

Her passion is no doubt sincere, but when she casually forgets to mention — or is simply unaware of — a Politico report detailing how six women of color left Warren’s Nevada operation because they felt tokenized and not listened to, Smarsh’s jeremiad, that indefatigable fury of hers, appears to be burning white-hot.

Which isn’t to smear Smarsh as a racist. That would be ridiculous. But these are the types of oversights that happen when one’s coalition is primarily comprised of white voters.

It seems Warren had a plan for everything, except for how to woo voters of color, the king-and-queen makers in a Democratic Primary. The plans themselves may have been the problem. Warren was one of the most liberal candidates in the race while African-Americans are some of the most conservative. Her plans for Black America, while appealing to a narrow strain of Black scholars and activists, often came across as patronizing, as yet another white politician insisting they knew what black people needed better than they did. At best, Warren’s plans showed a level

of thoughtful seriousness typically unseen in elections. At worst, they were evidence of white saviorism, this time gussied up with an Oklahoman accent and a Harvard pedigree.

People want politicians to listen to them during elections, not lecture them.

Warren isn’t even the last woman to drop out of the race. That honor will eventually go to Tulsi Gabbard, an Iraq War Veteran and the first American-Samoan and Hindu member of Congress.

Poor Tulsi. When Warren suspended her campaign and spoke of “all those little girls who are going to have to wait four more years,” the least she could have done is given Gabbard a shout out.

When, during an interview with Rachel Maddow, the MSNBC host gave a list of female primary candidates that excluded Gabbard, Warren missed yet another opportunity to throw some credit her way.

Perhaps Warren was afraid Gabbard was encroaching on her brand of political persistence.

Maybe, in the tumult of shuttering her campaign, it quietly slipped her mind.

The humanity of her mistake aside, it was still a bad look, and it is undoubtedly part of a larger pattern of her campaign’s mishandling of race.

But the commentariat is a larger matter. The vast majority of the columns published last week — which are either about Warren specifically or female candidates more generally — do not mention Gabbard at all. In a satirical column for The Washington Post, for example, Alexandra Petri transports readers to America

RISING cont’d on page 6

GREATER HOUSTON AREA

YATES cont’d from cover

stays on top of me, pushes me to my full potential and talks to me after my games to tell me what I did right or wrong like my father did,” said Garner. “The alumni support is very strong here. Some will call to check on me to see if I’m taken care of or need anything; this is one of the best schools any kid would want to come to.”

MARCH 15, 2020

COVER STORIES Garner held a basketball in her hand since she was a kid and still hasn’t put the ball down. The young phenom is the starting point guard for the Lady Lions and lead her team to a 24-6 record. The Lady Lions advanced to the fourth round of the playoffs this season before losing to Fairfield High School 86-60.

“Ms. Guillory played a major role in my success at Yates. She’s helped in guiding me through my situations, made sure that I had everything I needed in and out of school, and someone I can talk to anytime...”

Garner also found support from someone she calls her mom, Tiffany Guillory, the principal of Yates High School. Principal Guillory and Garner grew a bond through a love/hate relationship.

Garner received basketball scholarships from Blinn College, Cisco College, Trinity Valley Community College, Tyler Junior College, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), Jacksonville State University, and Southern University. She hopes to receive a scholarship from Baylor University.

Even though she has always loved basketball, Garner also has a plan to be an engineer.

“My dad would ask me two questions, ‘What is your plan A and if that plan doesn’t work, what is your plan B,’” Garner said. “I want to play in the Women’s National Basketball Association and if that doesn’t work, I have my major, civil engineering, to fall back on.”

“Don’t let your outside world determine your future, stay focused and dedicated. In life, we all go through different things...but never give up.”

“When I was the dean of instruction, I would have to deal with Malon for discipline reasons and at the time, she was very angry,” Garner said. “When I did discipline her, she would avoid or ignore me. Even in the hallway I would make her speak to me when she wouldn’t want to.

She asked me one day, ‘Why do you want to be my friend?’ I told her, ‘I don’t want to be your friend, I just want to make you smile,’” Guillory said. “After that, she began to talk to me more.”

As Guillory and Garner began to get close, the principal became inspired by her story.

“She taught me to never give up. If she can go through this at 17, at 50, what can’t I do?” Guillory said. “She’s an example for a lot of adults on this campus.”

Garner found a shoulder she could cry on and an ear to listen to when she needs to vent when the bad days came.

“When she told me about her mom, my response was, I’m here for you, whatever it is, just let me know you need me,” Guillory said.

“Ms. Guillory played a major role in my success at Yates. She’s helped in guiding me through my situations, made sure that I had everything I needed in and out of school, and someone I can talk to anytime of the day,” Garner said. “She feeds with motivation and spiritual scriptures so that I won’t give up and continue on my journey.”

Garner found a love for engineering through her favorite subject, mathematics.

“Math and science is the connection. I feel I can do anything regarding math. My teacher, who’s a civil engineer, showed us a few things about what he does in his career field and how he does his job and I knew then that I wanted to be an engineer,” Garner said.

AFRAMNEWS.COM 3

CORONAVIRUS cont’d from cover

Even the highly anticipated Lizzo concert scheduled for Friday’s Black Heritage Night and all concerts behind it for the remainder of the month was canceled out of an abundance of caution for public health safety.

Health officials confirmed that a Montgomery County resident who attended the HLSR barbecue cookoff on Feb. 28 had tested positive.

Also locally, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Regionals at Toyota Center March 27-29 to be played without spectators; the University of Houston Athletics limiting the number of spectators to games until March 31; Houston Independent School District announced it would be limiting the number of campus visitors between March 23 until April 3; 2020 Tour de Houston scheduled for March 15 postponed until further notice; all events at Discovery Green canceled until April 1; Harris County Criminal Court’s #8 bond dockets (except arraignments) canceled; and several Houston-area hospital groups changing visitation policies: Houston Methodist, Texas Children’s, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Hermann, Harris Health System, HCA Houston Healthcare and CHI St. Luke’s, and nearly a dozen Texas universities decided to extend Spring Break, moving classes online. The Coronavirus did not just hit Houstonians hard; the nation as a whole felt its effect.

The NBA announced the cancelation of the remainder of the basketball season due to a Utah Jazz player testing positive for the illness, the E3 Video Game Conference was canceled, and President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday night, suspending travel between the United States and Europe for 30 days. And the list of cancelations and changes continues to grow.

— AANI (MORE ON PAGE 4) Garner is currently taking AP Calculus, AP Economics, AP Literature, and AP Environmental Sciences with straight A’s in her classes.

Garner has been accepted to University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), New Mexico State University, Lamar University, Sam Houston State University, University of Iowa, and Wichita State University.

In the next 10 years, Garner hopes to be well established to help take care of her mom.

“My main goal is to give my mom everything she deserves. In 10 years, I’ll have everything I need to take care of her.”

“I want her to reach for her dreams, go to college, be successful and be an inspiration to those in her community...”

Yates High School Valedictorian pictured with her mother, Paulette Garner

When asked what would be her message be to her colleagues as Valedictorian of her class, she said, “Don’t let your outside world determine your future, stay focused and dedicated. In life, we all go through different things — some greater than others — but never give up.”

Guillory wants her to use hardships as stepping stones and to be successful in everything she does.

“I want her to reach for her dreams, go to college, be successful and be an inspiration to those in her community with who have the same story or one similar like hers,” Guillory said. Also, to not leave her story behind, but make sure she knows that you can come out of Third Ward and be whoever you want to be.” — AANI

Malon Garner lovingly pictured with her grandfather Mr. Henry Garner

4 AFRAMNEWS.COM

MARCH 15, 2020

GREATER HOUSTON AREA

COMMUNITY WAKE UP AMERICA

WHO WILL OBAMA ENDORSE?

CITY OF HOUSTON HOTLINE 832-393-4220

The Centers for Disease Control has provided information on what you need to know:

Who is at Higher Risk?

Early information out of China, where COVID-19 first started, shows that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness. This includes: • Older adults • People who have serious chronic medical conditions like: heart disease, diabetes and lung disease

Get Ready for COVID-19 Now!

• Have supplies on hand • Contact your healthcare provider to ask about obtaining extra necessary medications to have on hand in case there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in your community and you need to stay home for a prolonged period.

• If you cannot get extra medications, consider using mail-order for medications.

• Be sure you have over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies (tissues, etc.) to treat fever and other symptoms. Most people will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home.

Take everyday precautions……

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.

• If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

• To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places – elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.

• Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.

• Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks & cell phones) • Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick.

• Avoid all non-essential travel including plane trips, and especially avoid embarking on cruise ships.

• If COVID-19 is spreading in your community, take extra measures to put distance between yourself and other people to further reduce your risk of being exposed to this new virus.

• Stay home as much as possible.

• Consider ways of getting food brought to your house through family, social, or commercial networks • Stay in touch with others by phone or email. You may need to ask for help from friends, family, neighbors, community health workers, etc. if you become sick.

• Determine who can provide you with care if your caregiver gets sick Watch for symptoms and emergency warning signs • Pay attention to potential COVID-19 symptoms including, fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you feel like you are developing symptoms, call your doctor.

• If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately.

In adults, emergency warning signs:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest • New confusion or inability to arouse • Bluish lips or face • Get medical attention immediately if you have any of the emergency warning signs listed above.

Photo courtesy of www.reddit.com

DEMOCRATIC ENDORSEMENTS. The race for the Democratic nomination boils down to Sen. Bernie Sanders and former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

By Isaiah Robinson

HOUSTON — And then there were two. The race for the Democratic nomination boils down to former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders. The focus now is, which former candidates will endorse the Democratic hopefuls?

Sen. Cory Booker (NJ) endorsed Biden for president Monday, one day after Sen. Kamala Harris of California endorsed the former vice president. The two senators appeared with Biden at a rally Monday night in Detroit, which has a large population of African-American citizen voters.

The endorsements from Sens. Booker and Harris adds to his support from former top rivals like American entrepreneur Andrew M. Yang, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MN), former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg to push him to the Democratic nomination.

The backing of Sens. Booker, Harris and Rep. James Clyburn (SC) boosts Biden’s already overwhelming support from Black voters, who’ve propelled him to big victories in South Carolina’s Feb. 29 presidential primary and on Super Tuesday last week. Sanders received endorsements from civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson. ”I stand with him because he’s never lost his taste for justice for the people. I stand with him because he stands with you.”

“I stand with Bernie Sanders today because he stood with me,” said Jackson at a rally for Sanders in Grand Rapids, Michigan. ”I stand with him because he’s never lost his taste for justice for the people. I stand with him because he stands with you.”

Mass. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has not decided on who she will endorse, however, Warren’s alumni campaign, nearly three dozen staff members endorsed Sanders in a signed letter posted on Medium.com Tuesday endorsing Sanders, less than a week after Warren suspended her presidential bid.

Still, everyone is waiting to hear who former U.S. President Barack Obama will endorse for the Democratic nomination. — AANI

GREATER HOUSTON AREA

MARCH 15, 2020

COMMUNITY

FALL FROM GRACE

PASTOR CALDWELL PLEADS GUILTY

By AANI Staff Writer

HOUSTON — Prominent Houston Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell is facing five to seven years in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to fraud charges.

Caldwell, the 66-yearold pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church, admitted in a Louisiana court that he aided his investment adviser, Gregory A. Smith, in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Smith pleaded

guilty to the same charges on July 23, 2019.

Documents show Caldwell duped elderly investors out of millions, which he used to maintain a high-profile lifestyle.

According to the indictment, Caldwell and Smith encouraged 29 victims to invest about $3.5 million in historical Chinese bonds between April 2013 and August 2014.

They informed the investors they could see returns as high as 15 times their initial investment, but the bonds were worthless.

The bonds were from the former Republic of China and only existed before the communist takeover in 1949. The Securities and Exchange Commission considers the bonds “collectible memorabilia.”

The investors, believing in the pastor, wired funds to his bank

accounts, and the money was divided between Caldwell, Smith and a few others.

The money was used for lavish goods, including vacation homes, mortgages, luxury vehicles, etc. The investors were given excuses when inquiring about their lack of profits.

“These defendants used their positions as religious leaders and investment advisers to defraud Louisiana residents - many of whom are elderly and retired. In doing so, the defendants abused the trust and respect of their victims for the sole purpose of stealing their money,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph.

“This type of deceit can be devastating for victims, especially when life savings are lost. My office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who

use confidence schemes to prey upon the elderly and people of faith.”

Throughout the trial, Caldwell has continued to serve in his role as senior pastor at Windsor Village UMC, a megachurch with more than 15,000 members. He is famously known for his relationship with presidents; being a trusted friend of President Barack Obama and even conducting the benediction at President George Bush’s 2001 inauguration.

Caldwell also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. Caldwell has begun paying restitution, but still has at least another $2 million remaining owed to his victims. Caldwell’s sentencing is scheduled for July 22.

Smith’s sentencing is set for May 4. — AANI

MONEY MATTERS

UNITY BANK TO PARTNER WITH GLOBAL LEADER CITIBANK

AFRAMNEWS.COM 5

CREUZOT cont’d from cover

“I am confident Cheryl Creuzot will be outstanding as Port Commissioner and that she will be an uniter for the community,” said Turner. “She brings a breadth of experience to her new role and I’m pleased to be a part of this historic moment.”

“She brings a breadth of experience to her new role and I’m pleased to be a part of this historic moment.”

“I look forward to working diligently. I am not only proud but understand the immense responsibility of this appointment and I will work very hard with the seated commissioners to enable the port to accomplish its strategic goals,” Creuzot said. “Going into a new position, I will first continue listening and learning, and then rolling up my sleeves to get to work along with the other commissioners and staff to make our port a global leader.”

Creuzot, a 36-year industry veteran, is currently President Emeritus of Wealth Development Strategies, LLC, since stepping down as President and Chief Executive Officer, a position she held since 2000.

She serves as Vice-Chair of the University of Houston Foundation. Creuzot serves on the Board of Visitors of the MD Anderson Cancer Center, as well as the Vice-Chair of the Board of The Frenchy’s Companies, a 50-year-old family-owned restaurant, and food processing organization. Creuzot is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, The Texas State Bar Association and The Financial Planning Association.

In addition to extensive civic service, Creuzot has received several political appointments. Most notably, in 1993, she was appointed by the Governor to a six-year term on the Texas Public Finance Authority Board, a political and corporate body created to provide financing for state agency facilities. She served as Vice Chairman of the Authority from 1995 to 1997.

She is a proud University of Houston alum holding four degrees from the university: the University of Houston Bauer College (M.B.A. with honors, December 2012), LL.M. (Taxation, 1999), the University of Houston Law Center J.D. (1992) and the University of Houston (B.A. with honors, 1981).

A native of Washington, D.C., Creuzot has called Houston home since entering the University of Houston as an undergraduate freshman. She is married to Percy Creuzot and they have three children. — AANI

By AANI Staff Writer

HOUSTON — Unity National Bank of Houston NA (“Unity”), the only African-American owned bank in Texas and one of only two African-American owned banking institutions with a National Chartered Banking License, announced an on-going knowledge exchange partnership with Citi under the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Agent Mentor-Protégé Program. Through this program, Unity will engage in collaboration and enterprise training sessions led

by Citi, the third-largest U.S. bank by assets with approximately 200 million customer accounts, serving clients in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions.

Launched in 2018, the Financial Agent Mentor-Protégé Program

pairs designated Financial Agents, such as Citi, with smaller financial institutions, including minority and women-owned banks, to increase the number of qualified Financial

economic development and access to capital in the communities that Unity serves,” said Laurie A. Vignaud, President and CEO of Unity.

“A collaborative relationship with Citi will assist Unity in moving community banking into the 21st century” Agents. This designation allows community and regional banks to perform financial services on behalf of Treasury and its financial management arm, the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

“A collaborative relationship with Citi will assist Unity in moving community banking into the 21st century, enhance and grow its business, and in turn support

To date, Unity has engaged with Citi in knowledge transfer sessions specific not only to becoming a Financial Agent but also centered on growth acceleration, technology enhancements, and capital and risk management. One of the specific areas of focus, beyond the pathway to becoming a Financial Agent

UNITY cont’d on page 7

Launched in 2018, the Financial Agent Mentor-Protégé Program pairs designated Financial Agents, such as Citi, with smaller financial institutions, including minority and women-owned banks, to increase the number of qualified Financial Agents.

6 AFRAMNEWS.COM

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GREATER HOUSTON AREA

Notice to Proposers: RFP #712 – Facilities Management Services. Electronic bids are due by 11:00 a.m., Thursday, 4/23/2020. Walkthrough Mandatory Site Visit, Wednesday, March 25, 8:30 a.m., LSC-University Park, 20515 State Hwy. 249, Houston, TX 77070, Parking Garage 9, Lobby area. Continued Mandatory Site Visit, starting at 8:30 a.m. 3/26 3/27/2020 (if needed). Refer to RFP for additional location and site visits. Continued Mandatory Site Visit, starting at 8:30 a.m. 3/26 - 3/27/2020 (if needed) Contact: Christina.M.Thibodaux@lonestar.edu Must register to bid: http://wwwappsdstc.lonestar.edu/istar/supplier. htm. If registered, please ensure your registration is up to date. For assistance with the online registration process, contact 832-813-6575.

Lone Star College Bid Request: RFQ # 714: To provide Indefinite Delivery-Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Civil Engineering Services for Lone Star College, electronic bids due by 11:00 AM, Tuesday, 4/14/20. Mandatory Pre-Qualification Meeting, 10:00 AM Monday 3/30/2020 LSC University Park Campus, Dallas Conf. Room 265, Building 11, 20515 State Highway 249, Houston, Texas 77070. Online WebEx Tuesday, 3/31/2020 @ 10:00 AM. Call-in Phone Number, 1-408-792-6300, refer to RFQ #714 page 4. Must register to bid: http:// wwwappsdstc.lonestar.edu/istar/supplier.htm. If registered, please ensure your registration is up to date. For assistance with the online registration process, contact: pamela.johnson@lonestar.edu or 832-813-6782.

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TO BE US cont’d from page 2 There are people in intensive care units that would not be there if they had been properly diagnosed at first contact with their medical provider.

As of today, we don’t have a mass administered diagnostic test. This virus is tricky and slippery. This virus is asymptomatic, meaning that many will be infected but have no symptoms. Many of these infected will unknowingly infect two to three others.

Thinking critically means that if your communion leaders want you to drink from the chalice, you will have to exercise your power to say ‘NO.’ You have to have the power to back out of your cruise and eat the lost dollars.

You realize that you have the power to cancel your airline ticket and re-plan your travel after the dust settles.

You have the power to stay at home if you are sick. Plan for 30 days of essential supplies. If you have your supplies, bless a poor household with water and disinfectant wipes. Refuse to hoard so that others can buy essential supplies. Remember, worrying can’t change destiny.

Taxpayers get your pocketbooks out. The stimulus will be required for those who are central to the GIG economy. These service workers often don’t have paid sick leave or health benefits. Uber and Lyft will be starved of riders, pizza joints will be unable to deliver to your front door and workers who have transitioned to work from home will cancel their pet sitters.

According to Rachel Maddow of MSNBC, South Korea has been testing 10,000 people a day since February. Maybe we should shift gears and ask South Korea to kindly lend us some technical expertise.

THAT USED TO BE US! — AANI

RISING cont’d from page 2

circa 2148, when we still have yet to elect a female president. Petri wrote: “First Hillary. Then Liz, Amy, Kamala and Kirsten. Then Alexandria. Then Fiona. Then Tiffany.

Then Siri. Then Glorm (1 through 19).” It’s funny (as her commentary often is), but much of Petri’s poignancy is lost because she takes the time to invent names but does not include the one woman — a woman of color — who is still running in the race.

Let us be clear on this point: There is no chance that Gabbard will make a miraculous comeback, and some of that has to do with her controversial positions. (Her belief that abortions should be “safe, legal and rare” carries with it a judgement about the medical procedure’s moral acceptability, a judgement that may have turned off many liberal voters.) But Gabbard wasn’t the only candidate with controversial positions — if memory serves, Warren and Sanders wanted to obliterate private health insurance.

Besides, there is an instructive metaphor in all this: a woman of color persisting longer than a white woman despite slimmer odds. And for her troubles, what does she receive? Praise for how principled she is? Respect for her never-say-die attitude? A patronizing if well-intentioned pat on the back? Of course not. That would be ridiculous. At best, pundits mention her perfunctorily, a mere gesture to factual accuracy. At worst, they ignore her completely. The metaphor would be crude if it weren’t so familiar. Nevertheless, Gabbard persists.

We can only hope that Warren, her supporters, and the columnists who have drowned us in so much black ink will blanch at their mistakes. Four years from now, there will be another Democratic Primary, and we can rest assured that there will be more female candidates.

When they begin their campaign, it will be important for them to realize that no candidate deserves the nomination without the support of — and doing good by — people of color. — AANI

GREATER HOUSTON AREA

EVENTS

MARCH 15, 2020

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WHATS HAPPENIN’ AROUND HOUSTON TUESDAY, MARCH 3 JUNE 30

Core Focus Yoga at Discovery Green DISCOVERY GREEN 1500 McKinney Street 6:30PM-7:30PM FREE ADMISSION

SUNDAY, MARCH 8 APRIL 19

Fotofest Biennial 2020: African Cosmologies “Photography, Time, and the Other”

SILVER STREET STUDIOS 2000 Edwards Street 11AM-6PM FREE ADMISSION

SATURDAY, MARCH 14 – JUNE 7

ROUND 51: Local Impact II PROJECT ROW HOUSES 2521 Holman Street PORCH TALK 3PM COMMUNITY MARKET 8PM-11PM FREE ADMISSION

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

The Market at Sawyer Yards Presented by Mitch Cohen THE SILOS AT SAWYER YARDS

1502 Sawyer Street FREE ADMISSION

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

The Purple Show 2 Presented by Henry Murillo SHARESPACE 2203 Preston Street Houston, Texas 77003 8:30PM-11:30PM Tickets: $15

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 MARCH 21 Inspired Visions: The Art of Karl E. Hall FOLTZ GALLERY 2143 Westheimer Rd. Houston, Texas 77098 713-521-7500 FREE ADMISSION

SATURDAY, MARCH 28

Caution: Roses Die Here Presented by Black Buddha Creative Agency THE DELUXE THEATER 3303 Lyons Avenue Houston, Texas 77020 3PM & 9PM Tickets: $25

Crawfish Trap Fest!

GALLERIA AREA 5524 Richmond Avenue Houston, Texas 77056 2PM-8PM TICKETS: $20

SATURDAY, MARCH 21

SATURDAY, APRIL 4

RE-CON: Restyle & Revamped Fashion Show-Out EXCHANGE TO CHANGE 3801 N. MacGregor Way Houston, Texas 77004 6PM-9PM TICKETS: $10-40

The Black Authors Matter Tour SHARESPACE 2203 Preston Street Houston, Texas 77003

SATURDAY, MARCH 21

SATURDAY, APRIL 25

African Cosmologies Symposium MFAH - BROWN AUDITORIUM 1001 Bissonnet Street Houston, Texas 77005 10AM-4PM FREE ADMISSION

(713) 842-9522 10AM-3PM

Art Exhibition, Panel & Networking Reception 11312 Westheimer Rd. Houston, Texas 77077 4PM-7PM TICKETS: $10

UNITY cont’d from page 5

Bank of Treasury, is to enrich the retail client experience for existing and prospective customers. Unity also aims to better serve the communities in which they operate and views participation in this program as a stepping-stone to undertaking larger transactions, bolstering their balance sheet and better assisting local entrepreneurs.

“We look forward to deepening our participation in the Mentor-Protégé Program by partnering with Unity National Bank,” said Harold Butler, Managing Director and Head of Citi’s Financial Agent Mentor Protégé Program at Citi. “Effecting change and increasing access to resources in the minority-banking sector underpins Citi’s commitment to increase equity and inclusivity in the financial industry.”

“Effecting change and increasing access to resources in the minority-banking sector underpins Citi’s commitment to increase equity and inclusivity in the financial industry.”

Unity’s partnership with Citi is critical to the Houston-based bank’s ambitions to grow at scale and increase its presence into underserved communities throughout Texas and Georgia, where Unity has recently expanded operations providing customers a full product suite of financial offerings.

Roy Douglas Malonson, the publisher of African-American News&Issues, says this all sounds great, but he has one question vital for the community.

“Citibank is going to get a lot of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) credit for joining with the black bank,” he said, “But what have they done thus far to put the money into the black community?”

We should always WATCH before we are quick to APPLAUD. We’ll see if the bank will truly put its money where the Black mouths are. — AANI

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