Texas Metro New

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DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE

MY TRUTH

By Cheryl Smith,

Publisher

Paul Quinn becomes latest COVID-19 Testing Site By Allana J. Barefield Texas Metro News

Please help? Sometimes the best laid plans are disrupted. You can plan and mark your calendar, but then guess what? Life happens! That’s right. You map out your life, sometimes in a vacuum and other times, with the help of friends or loved ones. It seems perfect, easy to achieve if you take certain steps. It sounds easy and you are confident; that is until life happens. Which brings me to my truth. I wasn’t trying to come up with something I planned to be doing into another century. I was living for the moment. I asked for friends to help me fulfill a need. Today, I come with the same mission: raise funds to help our youth go to college, participate in educational programs and grow. First Chuck D of Public Enemy gave his support, followed by comedian Dick Gregory (who came almost every year prior to his death in 2017). We even bought a suit for a young man to wear to his high school graduation. Can you imagine graduating with honors and not having anything to wear to the ceremony? Well, the Don’t Believe the Hype Foundation has fulfilled similar needs for over 25 years. In addition to funding trips to journalism conferences/conventions from Seattle to D.C. and Milwaukee to Baton Rouge; a student in Sen. Royce West’s Dr. Emmett J. Conrad Leadership Program received see MY TRUTH, page 8

Please wear your mask and wash your hands!

Bishop Vashti McKenzie with Cheryl “Action” Jackson of Minnie’s Food Pantry

With the opening of a COVID-19 testing site on campus, Paul Quinn College (PQC) is getting in on the action to help a community that many say has been historically underrepresented, under-served and overlooked. In the midst of a global pandemic, this historically Black college recently partnered with Lyda Hill Philanthropies and the city of Dallas to offer free COVID-19 tests to residents through July. The testing site opened last

week and beginning in July, tests will be offered on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for anyone, whether or not you have symptoms. Located in southern Dallas County; the private, liberal arts school with an enrollment of almost 600 students, sits on 146 acres in an area where there’s one grocery store within a five mile ra-dius. PQC President Dr. Michael J. Sorrell says it is important that citizens in that area also have access to the COVID-19 tests. see COVID-19 TESTING, page 13

From the Classroom to the Board Room

Former Head Start Student elected President of the Board Special to Texas Metro News

Laura Cobb Hayes was a student in the first ever Head Start in Dallas County. Fast forward a number of years and she now has been elected as President of the Board for that very organization. She was recently seated as President at the Head Start of Greater Dallas Annual Meeting. Ms. Cobb Hayes is the first AfricanAmeri-

can female to hold the position. Her story is inspiring. “I grew up in a tiny little community called Dalworth,” she said.“The name is telling because it is nestled between Dallas and Fort Worth, just on the Dallas side of the Tarrant County line. It was a part of the community that was forgotten. Both of my parents see HEAD START, page 5

Cece Cox, J.D. Chief Executive Officer

LGBTQ workers will now have more protection at work. In a 6-to-3 decision, the US Supreme Court ruled against discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation.

The ruling has given Veronica Jimenez of Dallas some relief. By day she presents as a male at her job at a dental office. Only some of her family members and friends know she’s transitioning from male to female. “I’ve faced prejudice in the workplace

June 24, 2020

I WAS JUST THINKING By Norma Adams-Wade

Flowers are beautiful – but do not last Here are some flowers for you. Please enjoy them right away. They won’t last. That’s the problem with beautiful things. Mostly, the beauty is temporary. It’s like a Happy Birthday party. You get to be the center of attention, sap up adulation and gifts, eat cake and have it too. Then the next day comes and it’s back to business as usual. I was just thinking.... why is beauty so fleeting, even the beauty of life? It doesn’t last.

for being trans, but kept quiet to keep my job,” said the 49-year-old. Veronica is her name as a woman. She asked us not to use her male name because she still fears she will be discriminated against at work. The Court’s decision

So, in the midst of all the muck and mire, destruction and mayhem, sorrow and heartbreak in recent months, I want to give you some beauty. Right about now, we all need some flowers. So, here are yours. Usually, flowers are meant to deliver an assortment of messages – a gesture of comfort during sadness, an apology or request for forgiveness, a congratulation, an acknowledgement of a wedding or other special occasion, or a “just because” reason. Flowers

see LGBTQ, page 5

see THINKING, page 5

Laura Hayes Cobb

Supreme Court upholds that workers cannot be fired for being Gay, Lesbian or Transgender By Rebecca Aguilar Texas Metro News Senior Correspondent

VOL.8 NO. 37


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