I Messenger 8-26-22 by Cheryl Smith

Families Continue Rich HBCU Heritage Beyond Football Classic I MESSENGER VOL XI NO 51 August 26, 2022

myimessenger.com The Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from ra cial and national antagonisms when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as (903) 450-1397 1 Year Subscription $45.00 Garland,RowlettMesquiteRichardsonE.Dallas Free - Take One (903) 450-1397 1 Year Subscription $45.00 Garland,RowlettMesquiteRichardsonE.Dallas Free - Take One I MessengerAnIMMLLCPublication MAILING ADDRESS 320 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway Suite 220 Dallas, TX WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM75203214-941-0110 Cheryl stewartcuret@myimessenger.comeditor@myimessenger.comPUBLISHERSmith-EDITORwww.myimessenger.comS.CuretGENERALMANAGEREDITORIALASSISTANT Marva Sneed EDITORIAL TEAM Chelle Wilson Dorothy J. Gentry Eva RebeccaLajuanaColemanBartonAguilarVincentHall DESIGN/LAYOUT FzanStudio WEB/SOCIAL MEDIA CIRCULATION/DISTRIBUTIONEDITOR MB Distribution Editorial submissions editor@texasmetronews.com 2 Wear the masks, wash your hands and show love!

August 26, 2022myimessenger.com INSIDE 3

THINKING...JUST

Beyonce’s song, Church Girl, has obviously caused a ruckus within some Christian circles. On one hand, it’s exciting that some of the Black church is waking up. On the other hand, as a body, we have been asleep. Sadly, the decision to speak out about the issues in the music industry are too little and too late.

THE LAST WORD

WAS

Democrats play checkers, and Republicans play chess. That’s why the Reagan Revolution, which kicked off in 1980, worked. President Ronald Reagan pledged to trim government bureaucracy, install conservatives into administrative government positions, and deliver a conservative agenda.

p6 p25 p32 UTTERANCESFAITHFUL

That Last Goodbye

For the past decade, he has been a contributing writer for I Messenger Media’s Texas Metro News, Garland Journal and I Messenger Through his writings, Thomas found much joy, of ten laughing at his own “clev er Inrants.”the future, we will share his last column.

The beauty of Thomas was that whatever he supported, even if he was standing alone, all by himself, that is exactly what he would do, STAND! He also liked to host events where he celebrated people in the community who he felt were deserving. He definitely believed in giving flowers when the re cipients could enjoy them. I was the beneficiary of at least two such “honors.” One time he gathered folks in the community as he called attention to my efforts as a “forever” mother to my sis ter’s four children. As someone from the vil lage who had to put in his time babysitting or transport ing the Three Live Crew Plus 1, he was well aware of many of the challenges I faced. Then in 1999 he held a community event to celebrate my victory as I was elected to the board of the National Association of Black Journal ists. There were some special people who assembled to show me love; like the late, great Hon. Kathlyn Gilliam and journalist extraordinaire Lawrence E. Young. Yes, Thomas provided memories for so many and I am so glad that we will get the opportunity to do the same for his loved ones as we come together in the future to cele brate his life, triumphs, con tributions and sacrifices.

Thomas Muhammad had been ill and dealing with health issues for several years but I was not one for prema turely writing his obituary. And Thomas wasn’t either as he worked right up to his last days, dying peacefully in his sleep on Monday, August 15,He2022.left an indelible mark in so many places and with so many people and I will re member him and his works; as well as through his writ ings, his words. Which brings me to my truth!

CherylbySmithPublisher

Stay tuned for more infor mation as plans are underway to give friends, family and col leagues as well as anyone who feels he touched their lives in a positive or productive way will have an opportunity to cele brate his life with like minds.

Hopefully if someone didn’t with Thomas, they will realize the importance in the future of sharing the love, or whatev er feelings in that moment be cause we usually don’t know when that moment will be the last one.

Thomas Muhammad, with his trademark fist in the air, and Cheryl Smith

Thomas was an organizer, an activist and a student who was always learning and shar ingHeknowledge.lovedlife and while he could be serious and focused, he loved to laugh. He was proud to be from Dallas, and he wanted folks to know that Dallas did have activists who would challenge the status quo and were fear less in advocating for causes and people they believed in. Several years ago, I reached out to Thomas Muhammad to begin writing a column ad dressing issues of importance to our readers.

August 26, 2022 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com MY TRUTH

womenhelpence.duringlectivewithintelligentdon’tveryCryptocurrencycryptocurrency.year,morecouldwerethatthanwithonlyReserve,Accordingdiscussions.”totheFederalBlackwomenaretheracialorethnicgroupmorebusinessownerstheirmalepeers.“Wecameupwithtopicswethoughtthatwomeninterestedinandtheybenefitfromknowingabout.Forinstance,thisweaddedasessiononEventhoughisnotdoingwellnow,manyofusknowenoughtomakefinancialdecisionsit,”saidGiddings.Shesaidshewasveryseintopicstobecoveredthetwo-dayconferHerteam’sgoalwastoleveltheplayingfieldforinallareas.Crypto

Photo and Story

Purpose, professional de velopment, and the pursuit of entrepreneurship were all takeaways from the 5th An nual Women’s Leadership Summit hosted by Helen Gid dings, businesswoman and former State Representative.

DeMetris Sampson, Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome and Helen Giddings

Power-packed Conference Inspires Women in Leadership

“Basically, we just wanted women to come together,” said Giddings, adding that it is easy to build confidence at such gatherings. “In coming together, we share stories of other women’s accomplish ments and how they have overcome challenges. She continued, “It is im portant for women to share successes. We realize that by working together, we can ac complish a great deal. When we do things that uplift wom en, we uplift families.”’’ said Giddings, who D Magazine listed as one of the Top Power Brokers in 1980. A trailblazer in her own right, Giddings brings to the conference her experience of being a human resource ex ecutive with Sears, Roebuck & Company, with responsi bility for 11 states. She is also the former board chairman for the Dallas Chamber of Commerce and the founder of Multiplex, Inc., a specialty concessions company. “I came up with this idea for the original conference because I wanted to help em power women. I wanted to do it intentionally,” she said, explaining how she sat down and drew up a one-page plan. “I invited 14 women to come and have dinner with me. I shared the one-page idea with them. They all agreed that it was crucial for African American women to come to gether and to be able to have transparent

has a higher participation rate among younger adults than older adults: 15% of those 18 to 34 own cryptocurrencies, compared with 11% of those ages 35 to 64 and 4% of those 65 and Accordingolder. to CNBC, only 4% of crypto investors are BlackKristinwomen.Rattler, a business owner who has also found ed a non-profit organization, said she attended the confer ence to recharge her battery.

“The inspiration and ener gy I received from the con ference were irreplaceable. However, my biggest take away was from Judge Vanes sa Gilmore, who reminded us that our care and concern for others measures success,” saidAccordingRattler. to Forbes there is a pronounced gender dis crepancy in American men torship; 82% of men have had male mentors, while just 69% of women have had female mentors.Giddings said it is so essen tial to elevate women. “So often, we are disrespect ed and disregarded. We have to build our confidence to say I have a voice and a right. I have the right to hear, and my voice should be heard. We need to create a culture where our granddaughters come of age and they realize they can have it all.“They might not have it all at once, but they can have it all. That is very important to me. I wonder to what height I might have climbed if I had been able to see her. In too many cases, I was the first at what I did. I wonder what it would have been like if I had been able to start on some body’s shoulders instead of on the ground floor,” Gid dings concluded.

By Sylvia Dunnavant Hines

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THINKING...JUSTByNormaAdams-Wade PartI

Winn’s 1982 Urban Ghetto Street Scene. Photo: www.worthpoint.com

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The late, unassuming Dal las artist and jazz drummer Walter Winn Jr. popped into my mind recently. I wish his name were more remembered. It certainly de serves to be. I had many conversations with Walter while he lived and considered him a friend. I would like to think – but know better -- that everyone knows he created the 7-1/2ft bronze statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that stands today in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center at 2922 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. in South Dallas. That is a mouth full of Dr. King Jr.’s name, isn’t it? I’m delighted, though, that we must use his name so much in that sentence. I was just thinking…, I wish there were a way to make Winn Jr.’s name so repeated andYes.remembered.Heismost remem bered for the Dr. King Jr. stat ue at the King Center. But sculpture was not Winn Jr.’s go-to art form. After years of painting on canvas images of people he met, the King Jr. statue was, in fact, Winn Jr.’s firstForsculpture.thosewho do not know about Winn Jr., let me take a walk down memory lane and pay tribute to his person and his skill. My best mem ory of how I met Walter is as a reporter interviewing him about being chosen to create the King Jr. statue for the King Center in the late 1970s. He deserves our memory. After many months of painstaking work and frus trating research, the statue was unveiled and dedicated the day before July 4th, 1976 -- the Independence Day bi centennial that marked the nation’s 200th birthday. Dig nitaries – including then-Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby and Dallas Mayor Robert Folsom -- and an enthusiastic public au dience, that included me, gathering in front of the King Center. Center officials pro claimed the statue as the only full-standing figure of Dr. King Jr. in the Southwest. Martin Luther King Sr., fa ther of the assassinated civil rights leader, was the key note speaker. While Winn Jr. worked on the statue, he met several times with the King Artist of Dallas King statue Walter Winn Jr. deserves our memory I WAS

We will further explore Winn’s background, why he was picked to create the stat ue, his struggles as he worked on it, some of his memora ble quotes, his gigs as a jazz drummer, and his children. We also will consider how the public could pay homage to him. Stay tuned.

August 26, 2022myimessenger.com family to ensure he was get ting physical details correct. Winn Jr. was brilliantly tal ented and dirt poor. He was unpretentious, like able, easy-to-get-along-with, and had a pleasant, cheerful personality. He was not the moody, withdrawn person that you might imagine a Mi chelangelo or Vincent van Gogh to be. No. The Walter I remem ber loved to talk, always was describing some image in his mind that he wanted to cap ture on canvas.

Winn’s 1976 MLK Jr. statue at MLK Jr. Center.

Everything artist Winn Jr. did was self-taught; that is to say, he recalled that his ear liest memories of using his innate talent was going to school with an older sister when he was between ages 4 to 6. Once there, he would help teachers decorate their classrooms for projects by standing on a chair to draw art on the blackboard. He did not begin to take his visual art talent seriously until he was about age 30, Winn Jr. has said.In interviews in various publications, Winn Jr. talked about his very low grades in school, about not being tied to any particular job after he somehow managed to grad uate, of trying boxing for a while, getting by as a drum mer in New York, and finally arousing the natural talent that had been lying dormant inside him.

NEXT WEEK: PART II

Winn’s 1968 untitled oil portrait, perhaps of an urban dweller.

Photo: www.auctionspear.com

Winn Jr. died of a stroke in 1996, 20 years after the un veiling and about a month before his 67th birthday. Re cords about his fragmented life are so conflicting that it’s hard to decide which dates to trust. One record said he died August 15 another Aug. 31. The scattered records about Winn’s process of creating the King Jr. statue -- and the con versations he and I had -- re cord that Oscar M. Graves of Detroit, a more established African-American sculptor, was added to the project late in the game to quietly counsel Winn in his newest art form. Then Graves did final casting of the figure at a Dallas-area foundry.

Photo: Mary Clark Traveler blog

Norma Adams-Wade, is a proud Dallas native, University of Texas at Austin journalism graduate and retired Dallas Morning News senior staff writer. She is a founder of the National Association of Black Journalists and was its first southwest regional director. She became The News’ first Black fulltime reporter in 1974. adams_wade@yahoo.comnorma_

He began painting portraits continuously of noted local and national musicians he ei ther encountered or admired, such as Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, David “Fat head” Newman, Miles Da vis, and Roger Boykin. Some who knew Walter said he had a photographic memory of scenes he saw around town, particularly street scenes and street people who caught his eye. Friends said he would paint what he remembered that he saw.

August 26, 2022 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com8 here,belongsAdYour214-941-0110Contact:

August 26, 2022myimessenger.com 9

ICDC is Going Green in Sunny South Dallas

(l-r)Johnny Richardson, Manager with Green Mountain Energy (they awarded ICDC with the nearly $130k grant), Adam Bazaldua, District 7 Dallas City Councilman, Diane Ragsdale, ICDC Founder /Director and Billy Lane, ICDC Asst Executive Director

Photo by Stewart Curet

For decades, Dallas native and former Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Diane Ragsdale has been a champion for her commu nity and while some grow up and move away, she is one who stayed and has been in strumental in the growth and development of an area that oftentimes is overlooked.

“Thisindustry.jump to solar is not just to reduce our depen dence upon the utility grids,” she“Flippingexplained.this switch bene fits the entire community that we serve by using less fossil fuel and reducing pollutants in green house gas emissions that come from ndon green construction.”Inliterature touting the program and encouraging applicants to take advantage of opportunities, information was presented that exhibit ed how through ICDC’s part nership with Dallas College, trainees in the workforce program earn industry recog nized certifications that lead to living wage jobs. Addition ally, through a partnership with Green Careers Dallas, a nonprofit providing solar in stallation training as a path way to living wage work in a lasting career, solar installa tion apprentices will have an onramp to clean energy ca reers.“We are especially proud to be a leader in the South Dal las/Fair Park communities to confront environmental racial injustice by switching to solar power. ICDC joins the fight to confront global warming and promote climate change.”

Since its founding in 1986 by Ragsdale, who serves as the executive director, the Innercity Development Cor poration (ICDC) has been all about transforming the South DallasICDCCommunity.hasfocused on build ing and revitalizing commu nities, with several ongoing initiatives that include build ing more than 250 homes and an office complex for com mercial and retail develop ment; creating an incubator center and health care facil ity; and developing partner ship with Dallas College to provide training.

By Cheryl Smith

At a press conference that included sponsors and board members, as well as members of the community and Dallas City Councilmember Adam Bazaldua, it was announced that Green Mountain Energy Sun Club was donating more than $130,000 to assist ICDC in transitioning to solar pow er.According to Ragsdale, ICDC wants to model the type of businesses we want built in District 7 and her council member agrees. “This is incredible for the southern sector,” said Bazaldua, as he referenced previous problems during power outages in the City of Dallas. “We don’t have to depend on a grid that has al ready failed us.”

The energy savings will al low ICDC to build more ener gy efficient affordable hous ing in the community and provide workforce training for green construction, home ownership counseling, and a business incubation program for community members. The total saved from the new so lar array will allow more than 360 individuals to receive free financial counseling. With ICDC leading by ex ample, the event will also highlight ICDC homeowners who have installed solar pan els and are sustainably pre serving generational wealth through decreased energy costs.The partnership between ICDC and Green Mountain Energy will offset 78% of the building energy needs, ac cording to Johnny Richard son, program manager for Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. “We were able to sup ply a sustainability grant of $130,000 to ICDC. The grant will significantly reduce the organization’s electricity costs/energy needs while also increasing ICDC’s resilience.

“We believe in solutions that not only benefit the plan et but benefit the people in the communities we serve,” he said, adding that the proj ect could lead to generational wealth.Stability is just what Kier ra was looking for. On hand to tell her story about gradu ating from the program and moving on to a career in so lar construction, she talked about her transition after ex iting the military. The former marine said the move was somewhat bumpy and she had to deal with housing issues. Fortu nately she found out about a tiny homes project and so lar training. Today, she’s just happy to work on projects like the one with ICDC. This project, said Ragsdale, “Unveils another tool in our arsenal to fight economic and socialAddinginjustice.”that the ICDC is able to continue its mission of building lives and revital izing communities, Ragsdale said they are providing viable careers with gainful employ ment in the green construc tion

FLIP The Switch

For years Historically Black Colleges and Univer sities (HBCUs) have been looked at as having a prin cipal mission of educating Black Americans.

August 26, 2022 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com10

Heritage Beyond Football Classic For some the State Fair Classic is a family tradition spanning several generations

Families Continue Rich HBCU

Hattie Wayne, Cathy Conwright and Shelia Williams in (high chair). The Wayne family has been recognized locally and nationally for being published in the Guinness Book of World Records. This photo was taken after a taping of a segment for WFAA TV Channel 8 -Dallas.

“As a child in Dallas, every year my parents took us to the State Fair Classic Game in the Cotton Bowl,” said Kimberley Runnels, who has served with both the National and Dallas Alum ni Associations for Prairie View. “This started from the earliest time that I can remember attending a foot ball“Itgame.wasfrom the early 70s with Bishop College through the 80s with Grambling. This went on into the 90s, when I graduated from Prairie View, although at that time we never won a game, but I was still attending every game and so were my par ents.For Runnels who has been attending the State Fair Classic game for about 40 years, the game is more than just football. It is about con tinuing a legacy and sup porting her alma mater. “To say that we are con nected to the game is put ting it mildly. The Runnels family bleeds purple and gold,” said Runnels.

CottonGramblingStateWHAT:FairClassicWHO:StateandPrairieViewA&MUniversityWHEN:October1,2022WHERE:BowlinDallas,TX

With Prairie View winning the last four consecutive games, this year’s State Fair Classic game gives added hope to Runnels and her rel atives that will be attending. “We are excited about Coach Leonard “Bubba” McDowell,” she said. “He has NFL experience. He played for the Houston Oil ers and the Carolina Pan thers. He has also been a PV assistant coach. They felt that he was ready to be the head coach and we are behind him. We feel good about the Actuallygame.”Runnels is very optimistic about the out come of the game. “I don’t have any doubts that Prairie View will be the victor on October first,” pre dicts Runnels, who is also a Prairie View season ticket holder.Runnels admits that her family’s commitment to Prairie View extends beyond the upcoming rival game. They are dedicated to the financial support of the uni versity as well. “In the same weekend as the game ,the Dallas Prairie View Alumni Chapter will host our annual scholarship gala. In fact, this is the 27th year for the gala. We start ed the gala to fund athletic scholarships.“Wemade a four-year pledge of $200,000 to as sist the Prairie View A & M Foundation in the building of the new stadium. In the history of our scholarship

By Sylvia Dunnavant Hines

As the State Fair Classic game approaches, two HB CUS – Prairie View A & M University and Grambling State University are show ing that a rich Black family heritage of education is also enhanced by a deep con nection to football.

The Runnels family makes supporting Prairie View at football games a family affair. (left to right) Tony Runnels, Erin Runnels, Kimberley Runnels,Tony Runnels Jr. and Felecia Runnels. Kimberley Runnels is following in her mother's footsteps by bringing pom poms to cheer Prairie View A & M University on at their home games.

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Hattie Wayne’s family will also be among the genera tions celebrating this year’s State Fair Classic game.

fund we have given Prairie View over a million dollars just from our little chapter,” said Runnels, who is chair person for the gala which will be held at the Renais sance Hotel, the evening prior to the State Fair Classic game.The announcement of the construction of the new Panther Stadium at Black shear Field was made in 2014. The 15,000-seat stadi um holds 10 skyboxes/suites and 500 premium seats, a field house featuring a large weight room, a dining area, academic support space, and other amenities. The to tal cost for the stadium was over 60 million dollars.

The Wayne Family has been recognized in the Senate and US House of Representatives for their significant achieve ment. However, they are not resting on their laurels. They are paying it forward with a $100,000 endowment pledge through the Wayne Family Hardship Scholarship Fund, which is allocated for grad uate students of Grambling University that may need fi nancial assistance while con tinuing their education. “We need to tell our sto ry, because we have a lot to tell,” said Wayne, who de sires to have a documentary to highlight their academic accomplishment. She would also like to have a build ing named after her family in honor of their academic success at Grambling. Family commitments like those of the Runnels and the Wayne families are becom ing crucial in these econom ically challenging times.

“I went to a Grambling meeting and some of the people were talking about all their family members that had gone to Gram bling. Of course, many of them were graduates. As they were talking, I realized that I had a lot more family members that had attended than the people who were talking. I also knew that over the years our family had a large number of cousins that were graduates of Gram bling. After the meeting, I came home and pulled up the Guinness Book of World Records,” said Wayne, who worked to have her family’s historic recognized.accomplishmentIn201

Over the last few decades, there have been a number of HBCUs in the United States experiencing a decline in at tendance and funding; how ever most recently, there has been a spike in atten dance and more donations from“Havingphilanthropists.ourfamilies in volved makes it that more special for me. My father played football for Prairie View one season. Seeing his reaction when we go to the game makes it more excit ing,” said Runnels. “My mom used to wave her pom poms at the games. Now I carry my own pom poms to the home games. These experienc es have created some great memories. I think that it is important that we celebrate our high academics, and we celebrate our athletics.”

4 the Wayne family from Marion , LA was rec ognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for the most family members to graduate from the same university Their family had 40 members who graduated from Grambling University between 1956 to 2010.

August 26, 2022 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! August 2022 Tracy Morgan and Megan Wollover 7 years Dun Annie and Romond Lax 14 years Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz 12 years Holly Robinson and Rodney Peete 27 years LL Cool J and Simone Johnson 27 years Arthur and Jolly Okello Happy Anniversary Month Louis and Stephanie C. Dixon 8 years Bryan O. Parker and Alesia Parker 1 year Wattstax 50th year Anniversary Barkays Lead Singer Larry Dodson Chris and Gloria 2 years Blair Underwood and Desiree DaCosta 28 years James Jr. and Beverly Elaine Harris Chappell 47 years 12

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No matter how old you are, or which life stage you are in, you need an emergency fund. And you need it even before you start saving for yourSo,future.what exactly is an emergency fund and why is it so critical? Consider it to be the buffer that keeps you going when stuff happens without having to resort to high-interest credit cards, payday lenders and friends. To be clear, I’m not talking about the three to six months of living expenses that finan cial advisors say you need in case you lose your job. In real life stuff happens. An emergency fund for most of us is cash you would need in a real emergency – your car breaks down; your HVAC stops operating during a heatwave, or you need a new hot water heater.

4. Set aside your tax refund or pay raise instead of pay ing bills.

Emergency funds can be critical, especially for Blacks

1. Start by creating a budget. See how your income and expenses match up, and where you can save.

3. Set aside $20 a week, when you have it, or $10 when you don’t. Don’t carry it around, put it in a book or in a sock drawer. When you get it up to a couple of hundred, put it in a bank savings account. You won’t earn much on the money, but you want it in cash.

RODNEYMONEYTALKBYA.BROOKS

The reason you want to begin an emergency fund before you begin saving/investing: You don’t want to pull money out of a mutual fund or retirement fund to pay for an unexpected emergency. Not only will you be messing with your investment return, but you also may also face tax consequences.

The truth is that less than half of Americans would have enough savings to cov er a $1,000 emergency ex pense. Bankrate, a consumer finance company, asked in a survey “How would you pay for a $1,000 unexpected ex •pense.Only 44 percent would be able to pay from savings • 20 percent would pay us ing a credit card • 15 percent would pay it but cut spending in other areas • 10 percent would borrow it from friends • 4 percent would take out a personal Accordingloanto the Pew Re search Center, fewer than half of Black Americans said they had an emergency fund and they have taken multi ple steps to make ends meet. That survey also said that, unsurprisingly, Black Amer icans typically experience higher levels of economic insecurity than Americans overall. Remember the av erage net worth of a Black family is only 1/10 of a white family ($17,100 vs. $171,000). Are you prepared to pay for the unexpected without hav ing to resort to costly payday loans or high-interest cred it cards? The average credit card interest was 19.13 per cent for new offers and 15.13 percent for existing accounts in the second quarter of 2022 according to WalletHub. Things are worse since the pandemic. Inflation is rampant, there are shortag es everywhere and prices of everything are still rising. A set of new tires can cost you $600, or more, though costs will vary with the model and use. Plumbers can cost $45 to $150 an hour with mini mum service rates. How much you need in that emergency fund depends on your personal situation. But you need to have some sav ings to get you through those toughHere’scrises.how you can build an emergency fund.

2. Set a reasonable financial goal for your individual emergency fund.

5. Cut out one restaurant meal a month or one week ly visit to Starbucks and in stead put that money into emergency fund savings.

6. Get a temporary side hus tle or part-time job. Save until you have $1,000. The reason you want to be gin an emergency fund be fore you begin saving/invest ing: You don’t want to pull money out of a mutual fund or retirement fund to pay for an unexpected emergency. Not only will you be messing with your investment return, but you also may also face taxYouconsequences.mustconsider that emergency fund to be sepa rate, and only your first step towards and investing for your future and your retirement.

Rodney A. Brooks is a Senior Fellow at Prosperity Now and the author of Fixing the Racial Wealth Gap: Racism and discrimination put us here, but this is how we can save future generations. A former Deputy Managing Editor/Money at USA TODAY, he has written for USA TODAY, The Washington Post and National Geographic.

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Livable

Earlier this year, when Dal las Mayor Eric Johnson named Lynn McBee as his Workforce Czar, he said that boosting up skilling efforts in the City was a “top mayoral priority.” Because of the importance of this issue, this partnership, said McBee, will help with one of her goals, which she stated when ap pointed, and that is workforce development.“Workforce Dallas is com mitted to helping up to 10,000 residents a year upskill for jobs of the future. UpSmith’s tech platform provides a needed link to employers,” she said. “I am pleased UpSmith is launching its workforce training endeavor in North Texas to create path ways for Metroplex residents to gain high-demand credentials in the skilled professions.”

Darren Green wholehearted ly agrees and he was on hand to share his experiences.

Despite the thunderstorms and flooding early this week, UpSmith CEO and Founder, Wyatt Smith called Monday an exciting day as UpSmith, Inc. and American Residential man Resource Officer, Chris Snow. “With their support, we will be able to provide enhanced services to our valued custom ers and communities. The ARS Network is proud to pioneer these paid on-ramps to wel come new, hard-working talent into our industry. In addition to creating home services careers, we are inviting bright, ambi tious young men and women to build fulfilling careers in a rap idly advancing market.”

By Stewart Curet Collaborators Gather at CitySquare for Announcement for aspiring HVAC Technicians.

August 26, 2022 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com

Citing statistics that show 40 percent of Dallasites are in the low income bracket, McBee said she and Mayor Johnson are “hyper-focused” and working hard to change those statistics.

Services Houston,”erinourarefuture,”ableforcountry.communities,onwill25applicantscompletiontrainingtechniciansovices,air-conditioningtiallargesttradespeople,qualify,employers-ogyneedonjobchallengeaddingtheHVACties”high-dignityatingannounced(ARS/Rescue-Rooter)apartnershipcre“high-purpose,high-pay,careeropportuniacrossTexasforaspiringtechnicians.“OurmissionistocombatU.S.skillcrisis,”saidSmith,thattheyhaveabigwithoveronemillionopeningsinTexas.“Totakethoserolesandexpand,weanewwayofworking.”ThroughUpSmith’stechnolplatform-UpSmith.comwhichconnectstalentwithseekingtoidentify,staff,andretainskilledARS,thenation’sproviderofresidenheating,ventilation,and(HVAC)serissponsoringcandidatesearncredentialsasHVACviapaid8-weekbootcamps.AccordingtoSmith,uponoftheprogram,willbeoffered$20-perhourandthoserateshaveasignificantimpactnotonlytheeconomybutfamiliesandthe“Texasisaprovinggroundhowtocreatefast,affordpathwaystojobsofthehesaid.“Ourplatformsopenforbusiness!”“WeareexcitedtoannouncepartnershipwithUpSmithaddressingtheskilledworkshortageacrossDallasandsaidARSChiefHu

The former Marine said he went through an identity cri sis and needed to find a niche to direct his drive and sense of purpose.Because he enjoyed work ing with his hands, and he saw an opportunity for growth, he signed up, graduated from HVAC school and is gainfully employed, doing something that is providing him so many opportunities.Andthose opportunities are coming fast, according to Smith, who says candidates interested in careers as HVAC technicians should visit Up Smith.com to learn more, and apply. He said the process is simple and after creating a vid eo, passing checks that include background and drug testing; they will be hiring in the next two and a half weeks.

$20-25 Hourly

After Training, to Make

“You’ll be a technician by the middle of the Fall,” Smith add ed. Marva J. Sneed contributed to this report.

Graduates

“We’ve got to all be involved and working hard to move those people out of the low in come situations and multiple job situations, and we know that technology is the way to scale, technology is the future in solving workforce issues.”

She added that partnering, as well as employment train ing are critical to CitySquare and their team will be “walk ing alongside” workers to help them achieve their goals.

Photo: Stewart Curet, Texas Metro News

Collaboration Addresses Texas Labor Shortage Provides Hands-on Training, Wages

“In the fight to move our neighbors out of poverty into the possibilities, everyone de serves to have equal access to training, and building market able skills is paramount.”

For McBee, solutions include upward mobility, providing the skills and investing in partici pants reaching their fullest po tential.Tounderscore the value of their community partnership, CitySquare Chief Programs Officer Nadia Salibi said: “At CitySquare, our programs ad dress inequality in access to housing, food, healthcare, le gal services, and employment opportunities. As we strive to remove obstacles for so many of our neighbors, we are ex cited to partner with UpSmith and empower our neighbors through training that can se cure better pay and a reward ing, sustainable career.”

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Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the Founder and CEO of Soulstice Consultancy, specializing as a Partnership Broker and Leadership Expert for companies and organizations to thrive with measurable and meaningful impact. She also is the VP of Community Affairs and Strategic Alliances for the State Fair of Texas.

For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, mal ice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and fol ly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘un clean.’” (Mark 7:20-23) We tend to look outside of our selves to believe that it is a problem in the world, but those same issues are in the church.Church girls, boys, men, and women all need a place of deliverance, healing, and restoration. Beyonce’s song is a reminder of how we are missing the mark. We have a real opportu nity beyond the 2-hour ser vices on Sundays to really transform people’s lives if we choose to engage instead of remaining enraged and do ing nothing.

Beyonce actual ly helped promote her song even more. If we are not careful, this can become a distraction from what’s real ly going on that’s much big ger than a song…. let’s pay attention to the culture that we have chosen to ignore instead of using these situa tions as a teachable moment to instruct, offer wisdom and not condemnation, but pro vide a true alternative rooted in love, hope and faith. I learned as a parent that the more I said no to some thing, the more my child wanted it. I realized that when I explained the circum stances and taught her to think critically, she made the rightMydecision.fearisthat we have be come fixated on soundbites and going viral than we are with really creating solutions to address the trauma and many wounds’ people have in the church and for some, because of the church. We might find the lyrics questionable but until we deal with what’s inside of each of us and our congre gations, we will not impact the culture. Many of those that are being preached to on Sundays are the very ones in the club dropping it like it’s hot the night before. They don’t need condem nation. They need to be in the service seeing something different than what the world offers. Sadly, it’s often hard to tell the difference. It’s time for us to look in the mirror. The world is going to do what it does and yet, we are called to be different. Scripture reminds us “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’

Beyonce’s song, Church Girl, has obviously caused a ruckus within some Chris tianOncircles.onehand, it’s exciting that some of the Black church is waking up. On the oth er hand, as a body, we have been asleep. Sadly, the deci sion to speak out about the issues in the music industry are too little and too late. Instead of harping on the lyrics of this song, it’s a missed opportunity to really address a culture of young adults whose reality is either NOT the church or going to church as a formality due to tradition.According to a recent re port by The Survey Center on American Life of the Amer ican Enterprise Institute, “Research has consistently shown that every generation of adults is somewhat less religious than the generation that preceded it. This pattern continues with Generation Z demon strating less attachment to religion than the millennial generation did. In terms of identity, Generation Z is the least religious generation yet. More than one-third (34 percent) of Generation Z are religiously unaffiliated, a sig nificantly larger proportion than among millennials (29 percent) and Generation X (25Thepercent).”realissue isn’t the lyr ics of Beyonce’s song—it’s the lack of connection, un derstanding and real rela tionship we have with those in our congregations and communities to see the church as a relevant place of transparency, safety, and healing especially for young people.Although it probably wasn’t Beyonce’s intention to cause a religious dialogue, this song actually provides a glimpse into the multiple realities that many young people face— one of church that does not understand the many dynam ics they face so differently than each generation before. Young people witness the hypocrisy within the church that we are willing to call out sins in the world without tak ing a deep look at the cancer that has created a duality for a “church girl” to “drop it like a thotty” and still “wanna be centered in thy will” as stated in her Attackinglyrics.

Church Girls, Boys, Men and Women

August 26, 2022myimessenger.com 25

We have a real opportunity beyond the 2-hour services on Sundays to really transform people’s lives if we choose to engage instead of remaining enraged and doing nothing.

UTTERANCESFAITHFULBYDR.FROSWABOOKER-DREW

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August 26, 2022 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com28 Nena's Finds 215 W. Tyler St. Gilmer, Texas 75644 (903) 680-3333

Our Weapon Against Racism

Our Vote

Dr. John E. Warren is publisher of The San Diego Voice and Viewpoint.

August 26, 2022myimessenger.com 29 DR.VOICESOURJOHNE.WARREN

Our vote is our most weaponimportantagainstthismovementofracismcloakedinthe“MakeAmericaGreatAgain”movement(MAGA).

The recent electoral primaries are giving us important insight into the future politics of our country. All one has to do is look at the number of Trump supporters win ning primary elections for a place on the November General Election ballots.Eight out of ten of the Republicans who voted to impeach former Presi dent Donald Trump have either lost their primaries or decided not to runJustagain.this week, we saw Congress woman Elizabeth Cheney lose her primary race as a Wyoming Repub lican to a Trump supporter of the “Big Lie” that President Biden did not win the election.

Let there be no doubt that racism in the form of fear of the Black and Brown voting electorate is at the heart of the Trump movement of voter suppression and planned ef forts to decertify future elections. Our vote is our most important weapon against this movement of racism cloaked in the “Make Ameri ca Great Again” movement (MAGA). When we allow low voter turnout in the primary elections, we set the stage for the big November Gener al Election Republican sweep that would not only give back control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, but also encourage the acceleration of Hate Crimes we are presently experiencing against people of color. If we want victories during and af ter the General Election of Novem ber 8th, 2022, we must get involved NOW. How? Check your Voter Reg istration.Ifyouhave moved since the last election, fill out a new voter registra tion form. We have them available at the Voice & Viewpoint office, or, go online.Itwas our votes that gave the state of Georgia two democratic Senators, shifting the balance of power in the U.S. Senate back to the Democrats. If Black Votes Matter (BVM), then we must vote because there are enough of us to make a difference in the general elections this November. If we plan to vote then we need to be sure we are registered and at the present address. If we don’t vote, then we can’t complain about rent increases, gas prices, lack of day care, and job opportunities. We will stay on this issue until we see some activities. We are less than 90 days from the election. What are youOurdoing?vote is our weapon because there are only three things that cor porate America fears: (1) lost prof its, (2) bad publicity, and (3) a vote cast against corporate interest. Our vote has been our weapon since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which the U.S. Supreme Court has sought to dismantle. Now that Trump has stacked the Court with his conservative right judges, our vote for those who sit in the Congress and the Senate rep resents the only way to neutralize bad Court decisions like Roe vs. Wade. Again, are you preparing to vote or will you just leave it to others to fight for your rights?

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SHUCKEY DUCKEY Quack Quack

In need of flowers, want to beautify a venue? You need to talk with Aerial Woodkins of Monarch Manor Florist. Aerial is known for making “the whole place come to life with the florals.” Talk about service with a smile, that’s what you get from Monarch Manor Florist. Aerial says, “I’d like to consider myself an artist, and floral design is like painting with flowers. The absolute best part is bringing your floral fantasy to life! I’m looking forward to being apart of your special moments. Your florals are guaranteed to be beautiful, and unique just like the wings of a butterfly.” 878-9888 something host own with PowerPlay Podcast TV, located at 8500 Stemmons Freeway Suite #4025, Dallas,Texas 75247 September 1, 2022 Powerplay will offer much more as it merges with The Good News Network (TGN). The new TGN PowerPlay website will feature digital channels which include TGN Radio Network, TGN Latnix, TGN Podcast, TGN Sports, VYBEZ Radio and PowerPlay Radio Network, PowerPlay TV, PowerPlay after Dark and Power Biz. Check them out at www.tgnradio.net, powerplaypodcasttv.com, Willis and Keith McElhannon are running 972-730-4322 KITCHEN AND SPORTS LOUNGE

When Dr. Fred erick D. Haynes III, of Friend ship-West Bap tist Church, an nounced 100 Days of Buying Black in acknowledging the 100th Commemoration of the Tulsa Race Massacre, we joined the move ment. December 31, 2021 marked 100 days of featuring Black Businesses. and we decided that the struggle continues and we must also. So enjoy reading about more Black-owned businesses and please support.

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Still, the Republican Party has imposed a loyalty oath on those who value integrity over the favor of a cultlike former President. How many have the courage of Rafensperger to resist the siren call of the former President?

Democrats cede the future to those Republicans playing the long game by promoting election-denying Secretaries of WhenState. Democrats play checkers, we allow the chess players to claim the victory.

Secretary of State Races are Important THE DR.WORDLASTBYJULIANNEMALVEAUX

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and Dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at Cal State LA. Juliannemalveaux. com

The. Democratic National Committee needs to spend money focusing on some of these down-ballot elections. Congressional and Senate races are important. So are Secretaries of State. In most states, the Secretary of State determines how elections are run. They choose the voting machine vendors and decide on election rules regarding early voting, mail-in voting, and more. They certify election results.

August 26, 2022 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com32

Thus, the Democratic focus on midterm elections has not sufficiently amplified Biden’s victories, and there are many. More importantly, Dems have been far more focused on the top of the ticket than the bottom. Election deniers are running for state and local offices, and electing them will have ramifications in 2022 and 2024.

Newt Gingrich’s Contract on America, introduced in the 1994 congressional campaign, successfully ushered a Republican congressional majority, even though President Bill Clinton was the Democratic leader. Their theme – reduce taxes, enact welfare reform, and cut the size of government. In the nearly thirty years since the Contract on America (they called it the Contract for America, but it was an attack on America) was implemented, its strange fruit is still beingConservativeharvested.

Republicans ran in fourteen primary elections for Secretary of State. Many are election deniers who still think that the disgraced President won the 2020 election.Mark Finchem, the winning Republican candidate for Secretary of State in Arizona, is an election denier who would like to “decertify” the 2020 election.He’sin bad company. Six of the 14 people endorsed by the America First Secretary of State Coalition won their elections in Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. These people can change election rules to limit participation and stealTooelections.manyvoters look at the top of the ticket and no further. In ignoring Secretary of State elections, they are turning the future over to the election deniers who have already said what they will do in 2024. They will change the rules, purge the voting rolls, and “find” how many votes the former President needs to win.

Currently, 22 Republicans are Secretaries of State, compared to 20 Democrats. Every Republican Secretary of State has not pledged allegiance to the 45th President. Raffensperger is proof enough of that.

Republicans have become rabid co-signers of the putrid agenda of the 45th President of the United States. Republicans who know better have chosen to be quiet in the face of neo-fascist election deniers who prefer winning to integrity. These folks think long-term, while Democrats prefer to indulge in internecine squabbling, short-term thinking, and unfocused resistance.

That’s why the former President called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, asking him to “find” enough votes to overturn President Biden’s narrow victory in that state. Raffensperger declined to meddle in the election results, which resulted in the former President endorsing his opponent in the May Georgia primary. That hasn’t stopped the former President and his allies from their election denial. And it has not prevented the twice-impeached President from endorsing his supporters who might alter the course of future elections. Secretaries of State certify election results.The former President’s allies, supported by him, will likely bend the rules to “find” votes to prevail in upcomingRepublicanelections.Jim Merchant is the Republican nominee for Secretary of State in Nevada. He is also the founder of the American First Secretary of State Coalition.Notsurprisingly, this group advocates same-day voting only, purging voting rolls, and other measures to limit voting rights. There are twenty-seven Secretary of State elections this year.

STAAR Results Are In: DeSoto ISD Is Making a B-Line to Excellence

Warriors Advocate Group (WAG), through the Building Homes for Heroes program, is hosting its inaugural chari ty event this weekend to support efforts towards building a housing program for homeless Veterans and aid transition ing military Veterans by providing tem porary housing assistance, job training, and entrepreneurial opportunities.

WAG is committed to advocacy and the advancement of Veterans across the country; with a particular emphasis of establishing headquarters in Dallas- Ft. Worth and the objective of expanding to other US regions. WAG is focused on providing Veterans with the resourc es and support needed to build a solid foundation for continued success.

The 2022 accountability rat ing is a demonstration of the district’s forward movement and progress--demonstrat ing significant improvement from the district’s 2018 and 2019 accountability ratings which respectively landed at a “D” and “C.”

August 26, 2022myimessenger.com 33

With Dallas the home of the largest homeless population of veterans in the country, more and more advocates are stepping up to ensure that those who served this Country at the very least have a place to rest at night.

After reporting promising preliminary district STAAR results earlier this summer, this week, the Texas Educa tion Agency released state accountability ratings for lo cal education agencies and DeSoto ISD is pleased to announce that the district earned a “B” for the 20212022 academic year.

DeSo to ISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Usamah Rodg ers said. “The district began laying the foundation for this achievement with the adop tion of the Board goals and monitoring progress month ly during meetings. As the new superintendent, I look forward to working with the team to continue the positive momentum and progress. I know that, without a shadow of a doubt, our DeSoto ISD students and staff are capa ble of achieving greatness.”

While educating possible donors on the plight of Veterans, it will also al low WAG to provide Veterans in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with necessary support, especially during these trying times, says organizers. “Our country has a shortage of veteran housing and Warriors Advocacy Group wants to change that,” said WAG CEO Corneilous Thomas. “With the assistance of local government officials and com munity leaders we hope to heighten the awareness of issues facing Veterans.”

For more information on WAG and sponsorship opportunities visit https:// warriorsrun.org

DeSoto ISD Superintendent Lone Finalist Dr. Usamah Rodgers

DeSoto ISD DeSoto High School DeSoto West MS McCowan KATHERINEMSJOHNSON TMA RUBY YOUNG PSA THE MEADOWS ES FRANK WOODRIDGE*COCKRELLMOATESHILL* 85828285829279767683 BBBBBACCCB The overall ratings by campus are as follows: *WRE and CHE ratings are based on each campus’ intermediate feeder campus ratings. View TEA’s published 2021-2022 accountability reports here. Campus NUMERICAL RATING LETTER RATING

The Red Box Project offers Veterans the opportunity to become entrepreneurs by constructing custom shipping container kiosks, so Veterans can establish their own vendor-style companies.

The Building Homes for Heroes fund raiser, on August 27, is a Black Tie Event at Redefined Coffeehouse, 200 W North west Highway, Grapevine, TX 76051.

WAG Hosts Benefit for Homeless Veterans From Staff Reports

The DeSoto ISD had a goal of ensuring that all campuses received a 70 or above on this year’s account ability ratings--a goal the district is proud to announce that it was able to accomplish. “We know that our school community has been watch ing and waiting with great expectation for our results to officially document the district’s progress,”

In addition to the WAG’s Homeless Veterans Project, there’s also the RedBox Project. With the help of the Department of Veterans Affairs, WAG has developed a program, Homeless Veterans Project, that will build new housing for home less Veterans starting in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The program is designed to offer job training and temporarily house Veter ans for up to two years until permanent housing is acquired.

Former DISD Superintendents Linus Wright and Michael Hinojosa.

Adrian Williams, son, is now a member of the Board of Directors of the Credit Union of Texas, cutting the ribbon of the Ada L. Williams Community Room

By Joe Simnacher

Celebrating a QUEEN!

The legacy and memory of Mrs. Ada Williams was celebrated on August 22, 2022, when Credit Union of Texas (CUTX) commemorated the life and service of Mrs. Williams’ on her birthday with the dedication of the Ada Williams Community Room.

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Ada Lee Gipson Williams was a teacher and counselor for the Dallas Independent School Dis trict, where she later served as the school board’s parliamen tarian.In2008, the auditorium at the district’s administration build ing at 3700 Ross Ave. was named in honor of her 44 years of ser vice to students and faculty. Williams, 84, died Dec. 27, 2018, of natural causes at Meth odist Dallas Medical Center. Williams tried to help people in her many roles with Dallas ISD and beyond, said her son, Adrian Williams of Dallas.

WilliamsElsieCooke-Holmes,

National President and Chair of the Board of Directors of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. recalling the many contributions that Ada Williams made to 8 past National Presidents. Ada L. Williams is National Parliamentarian Emeritus of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

The Commemorative Wall of HONORS of Ada Williams’ plaques now prominently displayed in the headquarters of the Credit Union of Texas. She would be SO proud. always supportive!

August 26, 2022myimessenger.com 35

Thanks Mythe Kirven!

More Delta Sigma Theta Members Deltas

The artist did this live painting of Ada during the luncheon.Mythe Kirven took the original picture. Eula Woodberry offering kind remembrances of Ada L.

The “Titles” of Ada L. Williams. As a Bible is to a Preacher, so was Robert’s Rules of Order to Ada L. Williams LaJuana Barton presented a proclamation on behalf of the State of Texas and Texas Senator Royce West

Seniors, we

Attention all seniors: this is a year you will never forget. If there is something that you have always wanted to do, it’s your last year so go for it because if you don’t, you will regret it. Go to all the games and school dances, because it is your last chance to do so.Dear Class of 2023, We have almost made it, May 2023 will be here before we know it. Our freshman year was cut short, by what we thought was going to be a two week break. Instead it turned into a global pandemic. Staying at home gave us the opportunity to learn more about ourselves and grow. Most if not everyone came back to school the following year their true authentic selves. If you still have not figured out what exactly your true authentic self is, it’s okay. My freshman year I knew there was room to grow, but I did not realize how much. I am so proud of the person I am today. When I look back at old pictures, I am reminded of the roadblocks I faced. While it makes me sad, I then come to realize how it made me stronger and I persevered.Therehave been times throughout our high school careers when we almost gave up, but we kept pushing. High School, is only the beginning but it gets better. The world is waiting for us and we are ready. We will face challenges but high school prepared us. It is not graduation yet, so there are many things we will learn in due time. When you ever begin to doubt yourself remember, we were all 8th-graders that turned into mature young men and women.

KICKIN’ IT WITH KENDALL GAYLE BY KENDALL EDITOR-IN-CHIEFWASHINGTONGAYLE

August 26, 2022 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com36

are almost there! Twitter: Facebook:Instagram:@TrendsetterTMN@thetrendsettertmnTikTok:@thetrendsettertmn@TheTrendsetterTMNPinterest:@thetrendsettertmnSnapchat:@trendsettertmn Follow us to keep up with the trend!

Liu Photo 247 Sports Photo 247 Sports Photo 247 Sports

our

myimessenger.com 37 Jackson Arnold Hailing from Guyer High School in Denton, Texas, Jackson Arnold is a five-star quarterback; ranked as the fifth best quarterback in the Lone Star State. He is committed to play for the University of Oklahoma. Anthony Hill Hailing from Ryan High School in Denton, TX is No. 1 linebacker and No. 2 Lone Star State recruit Anthony Hill; who is a five star recruit committed to play at Texas A&M. Johntay Cook II Hailing from DeSoto High School in DeSoto, TX is four star wide receiver Johntay Cook II. Cook is the fifth best wide receiver in Texas and is committed to play at the University of Texas at Austin. Markis Deal Hailing from Naaman Forest High School in Garland, TX is four-star defensive lineman Markis Deal. Deal is the 14 best

and

News

The Trendsetter is the Texas Metro youth section, focused solely on the occurrences opinions of youth. Here will find the latest, hottest, jaw-dropping stories, appealing to those ranging from 13-25. Liu Maya Palavali

DISD requires clear or mesh backpacks for students, right in time for back-to-school the QR code to follow Spotify and see what are listening to!

our

Prepare to be informed and entertained! Editor-in-Chief: Kendall Gayle Washington Entertainment Editor: Angelina

By Angelina

you

CHECK OUT OUR SPOTIFYThe Trendsetter

Layout and Design Editor: Iniya Nathan Editorial Page Editor:

August 26, 2022

ideals, interests,

Scan

Photo 247 Sports Photo 247 Sports Photo 247 Sports Photo 247 Sports Photo 247 Sports Photo 247 Sports Photo 247 Sports

Hailing from Covenant Christian Academy in Colleyville, TX is four-star defensive lineman Enow Etta. Etta is the 17 best wide receiver in Texas and is committed to play at the University of Michigan.

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Hailing from Guyer High School in Denton, TX is four-star safety Peyton Bowen. Bowen is the fifth best safety in Texas and is committed to play at Notre Dame University.

Hailing from Martin High School in Arlington, Texas is four-star cornerback Javien Toviano. Toviano is the fourth best cornerback in Texas and he is uncommitted.

Malik Muhammad Hailing from South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, TX is four-star cornerback Malik Muhammad. Malik is the sixth best cornerback in Texas and is committed to play at the University of Texas at Austin.

Isaiah Robinson

defensive lineman in Texas and is uncommitted. Javien Toviano

Hailing from Lamar High School in Arlington, TX is fourstar wide offensive tackle Isaiah Robinson. Robinson is the 23 best offensive tackle in Texas and is committed to play at Baylor University.

Enow Etta

Jayvon Thomas Hailing from South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, TX is four-star cornerback Jayvon Thomas. Thomas is the seventh best cornerback in Texas and is committed to play at Texas A&M University.

Peyton Bowen

All high schools have a variety of sports teams, from basketball to tennis. The athletic department has become so important that schools have begun to increase their attention and resources. According to Busted Coverage, American schools spend an average of $100 billion on sports events as well as three times as much compared to education. With this, there’s an ever mounting pressure on student athletes.

BY MAYA EDITORIALPALAVALIPAGEEDITOR

Extracurricular activities are important in any young adult’s development; everything we do in these formative years matter. An easy way to stay active and stay well rounded is joining a sport. Many join a sport with the intention to have fun and, in essence, is what it should be— a fun way to help your body. However, it has become the opposite as time has gone by.

August 26, 2022myimessenger.com 39

The current culture is one of constant competition and stress. Students wake up early and get home late with their free time taken up by their sport. Games are scheduled weekly, at minimum, while practice is usually held daily. The underlying issue is that of inherent expectations. All of the pressure is put onto the student’s shoulders to win and perform perfectly. The intent of sports falls away to the pressure of being the best of the best. This situation causes detrimental effects in students. According to North Eastern University, recent statistics show that 95% of male and 85% female athletes experience higher stress levels compared to the 52% for non athlete students. The demand sports have on young adults takes away their ability to take care of their mental and social needs. Students have less time for studying, but also basic necessities such as eating and sleeping. Neglecting needs is just one factor of the rise of mental health problems in student athletics. Because of this culture of the constant need to prove oneself, most young athletes are not happy with where, and who, they are. There is nothing that one individual can do to fix the system as a whole. But, you can change something arguably more important: your own life. To be the best in your sport, you have to stop focusing on being the best. Though this may seem contradictory, you need to start prioritizing your needs over your desire to become perfect. You need to commit to a balanced routine that involves work and play. Once you get your mind stimulated, you will have more of a headspace to devote to your athletic responsibilities. Allowing yourself to breathe means that you are allowing yourself to heal; just like your body, your mind needs to be taken care of.

Graphic by Maya Palavali

How to help student athletes’ mental health

Credit: Coastline College

9. Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship a. Requirements: You must be a high school senior and part of a minority group. You must demonstrate a need for financial aid and have exhibited traits in leadership or civic engagement. You must also submit copies of standardized test scores, transcripts, four essays and letters of recommendation. Deadline is Jan. 12, 2023.

8. Ron Brown Scholarship a. Requirements: The scholarship is for Black and African American high school seniors who come from economically challenged backgrounds and have a focus on serving the public. You must submit two letters of recommendation, your SAT or ACT scores, an official transcript and answers to essay questions. Deadline is Jan. 9, 2023.

7. Top Ten List Scholarship a. Requirements: You must be a student and legal U.S. resident (including District of Columbia) and create a Top Ten list of why you should get the scholarship. Ages 14 years and older may apply. Deadline is Dec. 31, 2022.

3. The leader of the marching band.

2. The school dance team that performs at football games.

5. Leaders at school that promote school spirit. Football,ANSWERS:Down:1.2.DrillTeam,3.DrumMajor Across:4.Spirit,5.Cheerleaders

August 26, 2022 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com40 Positive Affirmations

10. I Have a Dream Scholarship a. Requirements: You must be a U.S. student, 14 years and older (enrolled or planned to be enrolled by 2027, in a postsecondary institution of higher education). You must also fill out the application form and complete the essay. Deadline is Jan. 31, 2023. and Angelina Liu

Down 1. Pool Party 3. Firework 4. Beach Ball 6. Kite Across 2. Lemonade 5.7.WatermelonBarbeque8.Goggles CrosswordSPORTS

you’re going to afford Check out and scholarships to take stress. Scholarship To apply, you must either be or high school collegeDeadlinegraduateisJul. Essay You must be a graduate student enroll within 12 or older, or at of your parent a free account 31, 2022. Scholarship You must be or companies,home-schooled)bePermanentacurrentschoolintheU.S.graduatingacademicschoolhavea3.0GPA,pursueadegreepost-secondarybeachildorformerownersofCoca-TheCoca-Companydivisions,applicationopens Apocalypse Scholarship You must years and older be enrolled DeadlineinstitutionbyofisOct.31, Scholarship Complete the and FAFSA. Deadline is Nov. 20, 2022.

1.Down:Asports team that plays on a field with a brown ball.

6. Unigo $10K Scholarship a. Requirements: You must be a student and legal U.S. resident (including District of Columbia) and submit an online written response to the essay question. Ages 14 years and older may apply. Deadline is Dec. 31, 2022.

4.Across:Someone who is really passionate about their school has school ______.

August 26, 2022myimessenger.com 41 MethodisttheonphysiciansThemedicine.practicingfromhospitalsprohibitslawTexas agentsoremployeesnotarewhopractitionersindependentarestaffmedicalSystemHealth affiliateditsofanyorSystem,HealthMethodistCenter,MedicalCharltonMethodistof andlawsrightscivilfederalapplicablewithcompliesSystemHealthMethodisthospitals. sex.ordisability,age,origin,nationalcolor,race,ofbasistheondiscriminatenotdoesCharltonMethodistnewwholeaexperiencetotimeIt’s nearlyfindyou’llTodayCenter.Medical300physicians comprehensivestaff,medicaltheonspecialties58in cardiacrecognizednationallyoptions,surgeryrobotic earlyopeningand,treatmentcanceradvancedcare, that’sAnddepartment.emergencynewentirelyan2023, yourinneedyoucaretheProvidingbeginning.thejust andcommunity,That’syears.50nearlyforneighborhood peoplemanysowhy Methodist.Trust ChooseCharlton.orgatusVisit 877-637-4297callor upgrades,Advances, nationallyand care.recognized

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Metro Community Calendar powered by

I Was Just Thinking with Nor ma Adams-Wade “History Class is in Session” Join in on Facebook/@TexasMetroNews and BlogTalkRadio.com at 11 am -1 pm. CST. Wednesdays. Join the conversation call 646-200-0459. Send your calendar items editor@texasmetronews.comtoorcall214-941-0110

2022 DALLAS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY JJ DINNER WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKERS BETO O'ROURKE, CECILE RICHARDS, FEATURING REP. COLIN ALLRED WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 AT 6:00 PM THE FAIRMONT HOTEL, 1717 N AKARD ST, DALLAS, TX 75201 VIP RECEPTION AT 5:30 PM DINNER AT 6:30 PM

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-jaguar-night-scholarship-fundraiser-730-pm-sep-16th-2022-tickets-339007680097?aff=ebdssbeac1824

The Press Club of Dallas 10th Legends of North Texas Journalism at Texas Theatre. LEGENDS: Ed Bark, Karen Blair (posthu mous), Karen Blumenthal (posthumous), Cheryl Hall, Molly Ivins (posthumous), Verne Lundquist, Murphy Martin (posthumous), Scott McCartney, Laura Miller, Liz Oliphant, Bob Schieffer and Brett Shipp.

The World According to Andrew on BlogTalkRadio.com 8 am.-10 am. CST. Sundays Tune in for thought-provoking, enlightening, informative, and entertaining news and commentary. Join the call 646200-0459 on Andrew’s World.

Mountainview26Church of Christ 7979 E. R. L. Thornton Frwy, Dallas 27 New Jubilee Park Community Clinic open house at 820 Ann Ave., Dallas, 75223, offers primary care and dental services for people 9:30AM at the Downtown Dallas Public Library with light breakfast and refreshments served, plus celebratory appearances by the South Dallas Concert Choir, The Accommodation Author Jim Schutze, Joaquin Zihuatanejo, and Will Evans of Deep Vellum Bookstore and Publishing Co. 7

October7

The Southern University Alumni Federation - Fort Worth Chapter will host “Jaguar Take over Night,” an annual scholarship dinner party and fundraiser, at 7:30 p.m. at Crowne Plaza Suites, 700 Avenue H, in Grand Prairie. Tickets may be purchased on Eventbrite at:

Friday night- Vinettis 14388 Midway, Addison, TX 5 PM until hosted by Mr. and Mrs. James Price 13

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Sweet Tooth Hotel is presenting their newest exhibit Rewind through August 31. Located at Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm, 970 Garden Park Dr. Allen, TX 75013. Ticket prices range from $15-$35.

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The Perot Museum of Nature and Science, located at 2201 N. Field St. Dallas, TX 75202, celebrates its 10th Anniversary with the new exhibit, “Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall.”

Starting July 9-September 5, world-renowned conservationist and ethologist Dr. Jane Goodall – who has famously studied chimpanzees in the wild for more than 60 years – will be celebrated in this special exhibition, produced in partnership with the National Geographic Society and the Jane Goodall Institute.

Building Homes for the Heroes fundraiser event at the Redefined Coffee House, 200 W. Northwest Highway, Grapevine, TX 76051

Apparel worn by some of this country’s legendary figures will be unveiled as a prelude to the kick-off of TBAAL’s 5th annual Riverfront Jazz Festival at 5:30 pm.

Tickets may be purchased on Eventbrite night-scholarship-fundraiser-730-pm-sep-16th-2022-https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-jaguat:ar-tickets-339007680097?aff=ebdssbeac23FREEGrantWriting&Business-Workshopwithco-hostGSA-AlbertGarzaandSBA-NancyAlvarezwhichwillbeonSeptember23andthelastLegalClinicwillbeOctober22.

The 9th Annual HBCU Scholarship Fundraiser, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm CST, at 4Thirteen Kitchen and Sports Lounge located at 755 TX HWY 121 Lewisville, TX 75067. During this HBCU Scholarship Fundraiser, up.to four scholarships will be awarded to the university(ties) that raise the most funds. .\\ Donations may be written off as

AUGUST27

SEPTEMBER2

The Dallas Opera will be performing at the Dallas Arboretum for two special nights of music as you watch the sunset over White Rock Lake! Bring your friends and family to enjoy a picnic and night of beautiful music! 7-9pm 16 The Southern University Alumni Federation - Fort Worth Chapter will host “Jaguar Takeover Night,” an annual scholarship dinner party and fundraiser, at 7:30 p.m. at Crowne Plaza Suites, 700 Avenue H, in Grand Prairie. The scholarship event is one of several activities held on the same weekend that SWAC com petitors Southern University of Baton Rouge, La. and Texas Southern University of Houston meet for the His torically Black College classic, the Arlington Football Showdown. Single tickets to the fundraiser are $50. A table for 8 guests at the scholarship event is $400.

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Someone Like Me, is a panel with eight queer femme and non-binary artist sworking across mediums and cultures. It will be at the Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak Street, Tx 75404 through August 20, 2022.

National202210UNCFWalk for Education – North TX 7:00 am - 11:00 am LAKE CLIFF PARK 300 E. COLORADO BLVD.DALLAS, TX 75201 10-11 Hispanic Heritage Celebration on September 10 & 11 featur ing our Quinceañera Fashion Show! Save the date for the fifth annual Dallas Arboretum Hispanic Heritage Celebration on September 10-11, 2022 featuring our Quinceañera Fashion Show and Cultural Celebration! Visit the garden for a celebration you won’t want to miss. Food, vendors, live music, a cooking demonstration and of course, the much anticipated Quinceañera Fashion Show. Free with garden13-14admission.

a tax https://hbcufortheculture.eventbrite.comdeduction.***It’stheOldSchool70’sPartyoftheYear! Join the “Old School Jam Day-Party” with DJ Jimmy Porch, DJ TDK and I as we take old-schooling to another level. Even if you don’t plan on attending any other party this year, this is the “one” you don’t want to miss! Click for school-jam-day-party-on-sept-24th-tickets-389629681867https://www.eventbrite.com/e/youre-invited-to-the-old-ticketsGrabyourticket(s)ortabletodaybeforeitstoolate! 30 Each Tuesday at 1pm, Chef Isabel presents a delicious cooking demo featuring the weekly samples at the Tasting Pavilion at the Dallas Arboretum. Prairie View A&M UniversityAlumni-Dallas 25th 816OCRenaissanceandScholarshipAnniversaryGalaSilentAuctionDallasHotel-MardiGrasTheme6:30pmTOBER23SoulFoodMontgomerySt.,Dallas Lifestyle Metro Calendar powered by Send your calendar items editor@texasmetronews.comto McKinney Oktoberfest SEP 23 AT 12 PM –SEP 25 AT 7 pm Historic Downtown McKinney 111 N. Tennessee St., McKinney

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August 26, 2022 I MESSENGER myimessenger.com52 ARRESTED HE IS A SERIAL RAPIST He targeted members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. but this is more than about a sorority. We’re talking about a community. Come on PEOPLE! Don’t you CARE? Will it matter when it is your sister, mother, aunt or grandmother or maybe YOU? Crimestoppers 877-373-8477