Business Journal 154 by d-mars.com

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

June 2020

Inspire, Inform & Educate

154th Edition

The Death that Sparked a Movement:

Houstonians Discuss the Impact of George Floyd’s Death

Keith “MR. D-MARS” Davis, Sr. sons Ethan and Keith Jr.

Anzel Jennings and son “AJ”

18-19

INSIDE

Meet Royce West for US Senate

11-26

Taking Action: Houston’s Response to the Life and Death of George Floyd

Loss of a Legend: Noted TSU Professor Dr. Thomas F. Freeman dies at 100

June 2020 | 3

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

MR. D-MARS CERTIFIED:

HMSDC

d-mars.com is proud to share the success stories of African American businesses and civic and community leaders. We know that success does not always come easy and it is not always measured in money. How have you helped your fellow entrepreneur? Have you supported your locally-owned African American business? Have you donated to a nonprofit that is working in our underserved communities? Questions to think about and actions to take. This month’s issue highlights the March for George Floyd that took place in Houston. Several community leaders including elected officials, pastors and other prominent figures and well as over

Port of Houston

BEHIND THE JOURNAL PUBLISHER & CEO Keith J. Davis, Sr. COO & MANAGING EDITOR Kimberly Floyd ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla STAFF WRITER Carly Hammack ART DIRECTOR Angel Rosa DISTRIBUTION Rockie Hayden PHOTOGRAPHY L.C. Poullard Grady Carter CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Noel Pinnock Stacy M. Brown d-mars.com

“I see what’s possible when we recognize that we are one American family, all deserving of equal treatment.“

METRO

-Barack Obama

City of Houston

60,000 Houstonians gathered at Discovery Green to march to City Hall to honor the life of George Floyd and advocate against unjust treatment of the Black American community. This issue included a special edition section in honor of George Floyd and the community events held in Houston to celebrate his life. Included is a special message from me, MR. D-MARS as well as several community members sharing their thoughts on reaching equality in this country as well as the actions needed to achieve that. As always, thank you for your continued support of d-mars.com. When you support us, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen

HISD

CONTENTS

08 MAYOR’S OFFICE PRESS RELEASE 08 Houston Integrates COVID-19 Response and Recovery into Resilient Houston Framework 11-26 SPECIAL SECTION 11-26, Taking Action: Houston’s Response to the Life and Death of George Floyd 18-19 COVER STORY 18-19 A Special Message from our President and CEO 27-34 HEALTH 28 3 telehealth tips connected to COVID-19 30 Don’t ignore heart attack symptoms, even during COVID-19 30 Newly Unemployed? Understanding Your Health Insurance Options 32 How to take charge of your mental health 36 DID YOU KNOW 36 Loss of a Legend Noted TSU Professor Dr. Thomas F. Freeman dies at 100

VBE

DBE

OUR SERVICES

04 BUSINESS 04 Greater Houston Partnership Cautions on Reopening of Office Spaces 04 What we’ve learned from working at home 05 COMMUNITY 05 Analysis: Houston Economy Likely to Begin Rebound in Q3 06 Goodness is the Enemy to Greatness 08 NFL Announces Major Steps to Incentivize Teams to Hire Minorities for Top Posts 09 Meet Royce West for US Senate

HUB

ADVERTISING | MARKETING MEDIA | COMMUNICATION • Business Journal • Health & Wellness Journal • Community Journal • Black Pages Online Business Directory • Top 50 Black Health, Medical & Wellness Professionals • Top 50 Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs • Top 30 Influential Women of Houston • Top 25 Prime & Subcontractors for Diversity • Business Connection • Business Development • Business Consulting • Graphic Design • Photography • Printing • Web Design • Online & Email Marketing • Public Relations • Social Media • Advertising • Writing • Promotional Marketing

38 TECHNOLOGY 38 Going Digital is a powerful tool for small businesses in the new normal 40 TRAVEL 40 Daydreaming of travel? 5 ways to save money now on future trips

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4 | June 2020 BUSINESS

Greater Houston Partnership Cautions on Reopening of Office Spaces

be physically present to do your job, commonsense would say you should continue teleworking.”

By d-mars.com News Provider

he Greater Houston Partnership today released a statement on behalf of its president and CEO, Bob Harvey regarding confusion surrounding Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Texas Executive Order GA-18 and whether it calls for the return of office workers to the workplace. “We are suggesting to Houston companies that they delay the return of office workers to the workplace for the time being. Many office-based employees have been able to carry out their tasks remotely for some time now, and as we enter this gradual process of reopening, there is no need to add ‘fuel to the fire’ when it comes to COVID-19 transmission. “Governor Abbott is clear in his executive order that we all should minimize contact with people outside our household unless we are providing or obtaining essential or reopened services, and specifically says employees ‘should work from home if possible.’ To me, unless you are an essential worker at one of these companies and you need to

GA-18 DETAILS On Monday, April 27, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued Texas Executive Order GA-18 to begin the process of reopening the Texas economy. According to GA-18, “…every person in Texas shall, except where necessary to provide or obtain essential services or reopened services, minimize social gatherings and minimize in-person contact with people who are not in the same household.”

The order continues, “In providing or obtaining essential services or reopened services, people and businesses should follow the minimum standard health protocols recommended by DSHS, found at www.dshs.texas.gov/ coronavirus and should implement social distancing, work from home if possible, and practice good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and sanitation.”

DEFINING ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND EMPLOYEES To aid businesses in their efforts to determine if they are an “essential service or reopened service,” the Texas Department of Emergency Management established a webpage to guide that determination. “Essential services” as defined by the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have been permitted to operate on an emergency basis since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Abbott’s order adds a list of “reopened” services as including restaurants, retail, movie theaters, malls, museums and libraries. CISA’s COVID-19 guidance regarding the workers working for essential companies states, “Workers should be encouraged to work remotely when possible and focus on core business activities. In-person, non-mandatory activities should be delayed until the resumption of normal operations.”

CLARIFICATION REGARDING PERSONS WORKING IN AN OFFICE In his list of reopened services designated in GA-18, Governor Abbott states, “Services provided by an individual working alone in an office.” During his announcement on Monday, the Governor stated that “sole practitioners” would be able to reopen. There was no reference to individual offices in a larger office environment. Source: Greater Houston Partnership

BUSINESS

What we’ve learned from working at home By d-mars.com News Provider

he recent transition to widespread working from home has shown that the experience has been both educational and eye-opening for many. Working at home means learning to cope with distractions, space constraints, managing time with family and learning new skills. And, according to new consumer research, it has also meant reassessing what is most important. A nationwide survey conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of LG Electronics reveals the many ways working from home has challenged and surprised Americans.* Connecting with loved ones The most striking survey results show the importance of close relationships. Social distancing has caused many to reassess who is most important to them, and how much they may have taken friends and family for granted. The global health crisis has turned socializing into a more deliberate act. More than half (53%) of homebound people said they felt closer to loved ones than before the outbreak, and 27% even said that they

felt much more connected than before. When asked what they want to do first when the crisis is over, the top answer was to visit loved ones, followed by going out to a meal. Managing work-life balance For many people, juggling priorities and obligations was difficult even before the switch to remote working. But having to work at home has shined a brighter spotlight on how we cope and find a healthy work-life balance. Here are some of the tricks people have discovered:

• Half said they take frequent short breaks to balance work and home responsibilities. • 37% are starting work earlier, while 17% are starting work later to manage schedules better. • 35% are learning to keep their whole household to a schedule. • 23% use visual cues (like signs) to let others know when they're working.

Mastering technological challenges Most people affected by the crisis say they have had to master (or learn from scratch) how to complete their work entirely from home, including the new norm of conducting

video conferences from somewhere in their home. Technology has been crucial to this adaptation. Almost half (47%) have discovered a new app or service they say they now can't live without - especially video chat apps that have helped them learn how to communicate better with colleagues and loved ones. As one might expect, a majority of respondents admitted to making conference calls from a common area in their house. However, some said they were stuck calling from a makeshift workspace in a lesser-used part of home. One-fifth of respondents admitted to calling from a basement or attic, while others said they took work on the go. The research shows 18% have called from their cars, and perhaps most surprisingly, 12% admit taking work calls in the bathroom. For many, the time they've spent working at home has helped them appreciate how successfully technology has kept them connected on all fronts, including their work and personal lives. Reevaluating life's priorities Overall, the experience of working from home has had everyone reassessing what - and who - is most important to them. Among those who said they've discovered new apps, digital services or technology, many said that they were spending significant time using it

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for family or relationship management. An overwhelming number of survey respondents said that they plan to continue at least one of their new practices even after returning to a "normal" work situation, including: • 39% plan to do more cooking. • 43% said they're likely to arrange more family dinners. • 39% also said they would do more video chatting.

As a result of spending some more time at home, many have been rethinking their priorities, with nearly half considering buying or using fewer things. Some (16%) have thought about beginning a new career, and others are considering starting their own business (14%). No matter what your work-from-home experience has been, chances are it's changed your attitudes about work and family life and how to balance the two - in ways that will stay with you long into the future. *The LG WFH Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 1,000 U.S. adults, working from home due to COVID-19, between April 10 and April 15, 2020, using an email invitation and an online survey. Source: BPT

June 2020 | 5 COMMUNITY

Analysis: Houston

Economy Likely to Begin Rebound in Q3

By d-mars.com News Provider

oughly 21 million Americans have lost their job in the nearly eight weeks since the coronavirus pandemic began shutting down parts of the national economy. Nearly 400,000 of those now unemployed are in the Houston region, according to the latest government figures. New weekly U.S. jobless claims are down from their peak in early April but remain well above historical averages, according to Partnership Senior Vice President of Research Patrick Jankowski. Jankowski gave an update on the economic picture in a webinar presentation for Partnership members on May 12. Watch the full presentation to the right.

Here are several highlights: • The national GDP fell by 4.8% in Q1. On average, economists anticipate the U.S. GDP will drop about 35% in Q2 before beginning to rebound in Q3 and Q4. But there is consensus that it will likely be the middle of 2021 before we regain the ground lost in the first half of this year. “We will finish 2020 with a smaller economy, smaller GDP, and fewer jobs,” Jankowski said. • U.S. unemployment stood at 14.7% at the end of April, which translates to about 1 out of every 7 workers nationwide unemployed. Level of education has become big factor in joblessness during the current crisis: roughly 21% of those without a high school diploma are now unemployed compared with 8% of those with a bachelor’s degree. • The hardest hit sector nationally has been the bar and restaurant industry, accounting for roughly 6 million of the 21 million lost jobs. • The mining sector, which includes oil and gas related jobs, reported losses totaling 57,000 jobs through the middle of April, but Jankowski said to expect that to jump significantly in the next reporting period. • The U.S. Purchasing Manager’s Index, a barometer of economic activity derived Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

from surveys of private sector companies, fell to 41.5 in April. Readings below 50 indicate economic contraction. The Houston PMI has fallen to 34.6, its lowest point since tracking began. • Looking at manufacturing statewide, a recent survey by the Dallas Fed found that production was down for 64% of respondents while new orders were down for 72% and shipments down for 63%. • In Texas’ services sector, revenue was down 73% in April compared with April 2019, employment was down 39% and hours worked down 56%. • On the residential real estate front, average listing prices were down just 0.6% in Houston in April compared with April 2019. Active listings are down 6.1% and new listings are off 27% year-over-year. • Air travel has taken a big hit. The latest Houston figures available show March traffic fell to 2.2 million passengers, down from 5.2 million in March 2019. The figure is expected to plummet further when the April data is released in a few weeks. Nationally, TSA screenings have fallen from a daily average of 2.5 million passengers to around 200,000. • Sales tax collections for the City of Houston were down roughly 10% in March compared with March 2019. That figure will also drop further when April data is released. • The Partnership has conducted its Business Barometer survey for the last five weeks. The latest results indicate 28% of businesses believe their situation is improving, up from 23% a week earlier. • Asked what elements of their business they might reassess in response to their COVID-19 experience, the top three answers among respondents were: telecommuting practices (61%), technology needs (36%) and their relationship with customers (35%).

Get details on reopening plans via the Houston Work Safe Program. Read the latest Business Barometer. Visit the Partnership’s COVID-19 Resource page for updates, guidance for employers and more information. Source: Greater Houston Partnership

6 | June 2020 COMMUNITY

Goodness is the Enemy to

Greatness By Noel Pinnock Contributing Writer

he basic definition of good is ‘well’ and the basic definition of great is ‘very well.’ The two are remarkably similar in context and meaning but both are competing rivals in many respects. Some settle on being good while others strive to be great. There is no wonder why there are so few people, companies, and organizations that share their place in the greatness circle. While good is ‘good,’ it is certainly not great. For example, I live in Missouri City, a good suburb a few miles just outside of the city of Houston, which struggles to crossover into greatness because we lack essential Leadership, Engagement, Growth, and Stability or, in other words, LEGS. For some, living a good city, working for a good organization, or raising a good family is okay but to others, like me, and possibly you, we work tirelessly to overcome the paralytic and caustic sting of goodness in an effort to strive for greatness and are relentless in the pursuit of it. Leading a city is no different from leading your home, business, or non-profit organization because it requires individuals who are like pistols, hot-blooded people, not the mild manner conforming types, that will succumb to the awesome power of the existing culture. Culture is an umbrella term which encompasses social behaviors and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups. Culture eats strategy for lunch every day because it is that rhythm that pulls people to the dancef loor or pushes them to the threshing floor because nobody likes dancing to noise and without LEGS, we are limited in movement, function, and sometimes, purpose. Why? Well, leadership is an essential factor in moving from good to great because leadership properly engages people in ways that not only solicit their input but also empowers them to transform that input into reality. Without engagement, people perish. Everyone has an innate desire to be a part of something great. When people are informed and engaged and understand their role in the good-to-great conversion process, great things happen. Without growth, people freeze and don’t see a clear path to the next level. This is a major reason why some acquiesce or abdicate responsibilities and

elect to travel the road of the least resistance. Without stability, people flee and when they leave, they take with them institutional knowledge that can adversely impact the trajectory of progress. You see, the secret of greatness is not achieved in some complicated algorithmic equation, prophecy from a person who we consider an expert in an industry, or from the leaf pages someone’s magnum opus. It is not even achieved by understanding what your competitors are doing or not doing but is laser-focused on what you are doing and who are the people who have subscribed to the notion that we can achieve increased success that shatters the norm. Great business, cities, organization, etc., focus on getting and hanging on the right people in the first place.

Level 5 leaders who are productively neurotic, those who are self-motivated and self-disciplined, those who wake up every day, compulsively driven to do the best they can because it is simply part of their deoxyribonucleic acid, The reason why greatness eludes so many is because we sometimes invest a lot of time, money, and energy in “trueing-up” anecdotal things while omitting the more serious issues that lay inside themselves or inside the company or organization. I coin this phenomenon, the logic box, in that our individual or organizational collection of knowledge, skills, abilities, and habits limits perception and act as a restriction on objective thought and creative expression. Good is the enemy of great and

nothing great has ever become great by just settling on being good. Jim Collins, author of the book, Good to Great, writes: Picture an egg. Day after day, it sits there. No one pays attention to it. No one notices it. Certainly, no one takes a picture of it or puts it on the cover of a celebrityfocused business magazine. Then one day, the shell cracks and out jumps a chicken. All of a sudden, the major magazines and newspapers jump on the story: “Stunning Turnaround at Egg!” and “The Chick Who Led the Breakthrough at Egg!” From the outside, the story always reads like an overnight sensation—as if the egg had suddenly and radically altered itself into a chicken. Now picture the egg from the chicken's point of view. While the outside world was ignoring this seemingly dormant egg, the chicken within was evolving, growing, developing— changing. From the chicken’s point of view, the moment of breakthrough, of cracking the egg, was simply one more step in a long chain of steps that had led to that moment. Granted, it was a big step—but it was hardly the radical transformation that it looked like from the outside. It is a silly egg-analogy, but then our conventional way of looking at change is no less silly. Everyone looks for the “miracle moment” when the conversion from good to great happens but if you ask some good-to-great executives from Walgreens to Facebook when change happened they cannot pinpoint a single key event that exemplified their successful transition. Transitioning from good to great takes some time but time is inconsequential when you keep your eyes on the prize, proverbially speaking. I live by a simple axiom… in God we trust, the rest show data. If we are ever to be great, we must confront the brutal facts and respond to these three questions that affect individual and organizations alike: 1. What do you do better than anyone in the world? 2. What drives your economic engine? 3. What are you are most passionate about? After answering these questions, align your organizational or personal strategy around the responses, monitor your progress, confront your new reality, and celebrate your successes or opportunities for improvement. Remember this, the good will become great and the great can become awesome because steady, consistent progress leads to eventual breakthrough! #getatit

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8 | June 2020 MAYOR’S OFFICE PRESS RELEASE

Houston Integrates

COVID-19 Response and Recovery into Resilient Houston Framework

By d-mars.com News Provider

ay 18, 2020 -- To effectively navigate through the global coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Sylvester Turner has updated the Resilient Houston plan to include a COVID-19 addendum to guide the city’s response to this public health crisis and associated economic impacts. Resilient Houston is the city’s strategy for responding and recovering from unexpected shocks and systemic stresses, such as a hurricane, flooding, cyberattacks, or terrorism. “We did not develop a resilience plan to put it on a shelf and keep it there,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “The City of Houston is using it in real time to provide relief during the COVID-19 public health crisis and the national economic downturn. It will guide us as we approach hurricane season, summer heatwaves, and other resilience challenges, that Houstonians know too well.” Resilient Houston, first released in February 2020, is the city’s framework for addressing urban resilience challenges at multiple scales. It develops a vision for Houston as a healthy place to live; an equitable, inclusive and affordable city; a leader in climate adaptation; a city that grows up, not out; and a transformative economy that builds forward. With the COVID-19 global pandemic and associated economic challenges, this vision and associated

goals, targets, and actions are more critical than ever. The COVID-19 addendum to Resilient Houston helps Houston to manage the crisis while building its future. “The COVID-19 addendum details how Houston can apply our existing framework to the challenge at hand and how the City and our partners can prioritize the actions we take to maximize the benefits for Houstonians,” said Marissa Aho, Chief Resilience Officer. The COVID-19 addendum identifies 42 of Resilient Houston’s 62 actions and how they apply to ongoing COVID-19 response and recovery phases, including emergency response, stabilization, adaptive recovery, and institutionalization. It provides short tangible examples of how the COVID-19 global pandemic has amplified our existing resilience challenges and created new challenges to address. “The COVID-19 addendum to Resilient Houston will help to guide the approach we take to COVID-19

recovery, which will prioritize our most at-risk and vulnerable populations and include steps we can take to improve health, equity and access, and the economy,” said Marvin Odum, COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Czar. Examples include how COVID-19 impacts employment and workforce development, supporting small businesses and products made locally, increasing equitable access to open recreational space for physical and mental health, equitable community engagement during recovery, and leveraging smart city infrastructure to better track public health data. The COVID-19 addendum was developed by Houston’s Chief Resilience Officer with pro bono support from HR&A Advisors to analyze Resilient Houston’s goals and actions in the context of the COVID-19 global pandemic and develop a framework for phasing resilience actions.

About the City of Houston’s Resilience Office Marissa Aho, AICP, the Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) for the City of Houston, leads the city’s resilience efforts, including the development and implementation of the Resilient Houston strategy, launched in February 2020. Resilient Houston is focused on building resilience at every scale and is organized into five chapters, 18 goals and targets, and 62 actions. Each chapter identifies actions for increasing the resilience of Houstonians, our neighborhoods, our bayous, our city, and our region.

COMMUNITY

NFL Announces Major Steps to Incentivize Teams to Hire Minorities for Top Posts By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

ational Football League teams must now interview at least two minority candidates for head coaching positions under new resolutions that the league hopes will improve diversity among its 32 teams. In an expansion of its Rooney Rule, which had previously called on teams to interview minority candidates, the league said teams must also interview at least one minority candidate for coordinator openings and one external candidate for positions in teams' front offices. "While we have seen positive strides in our coaching ranks over the years aided by the Rooney Rule, we recognize, after the last two seasons, that we can and must do more," Commissioner Roger Goodell said during a media conference call. "The policy changes made today are bold and demonstrate the commitment of our ownership to increase diversity in leadership positions throughout the league."

Troy Vincent, the NFL's executive broader scope of how we look at things." vice president of football operations and The new rules include a provision that second-in-command to Goodell, said the begins in 2021, which states that teams will league is now in a better position to not no longer restrict staff from interviewing only hire minorities and women but to with other clubs for "bona fide" coaching retain their services. or front office posi"What the chairtions. Goodell called man (Art Rooney II) the commitment to “The policy changes and the commissioner improving divermade today are bold did today and what the sity throughout the ownership voted on toleague is "critical" for and demonstrate the day has been a fight for future success. commitment of our decades to get mobility "While we have ownership to increase seen positive strides that has disproportionately affected people of in our coaching diversity in leadership color," Vincent stated. ranks over the years positions throughout "Just the ability to aided by the Rooney the league.” get an interview, you Rule, we recognize, don't get hired unless after the last two seayou have an interview. sons, that we can and The mobility resolution today was signifi- must do more," Goodell said. cant and historic, because it has been a "The policy changes made today are bold fight for decades. That's the foundation. and demonstrate the commitment of our Frankly, we would call that the linchpin of ownership to increase diversity in leadership these inequalities. With these initiatives, positions throughout the league." the enhancement of the Rooney Rule, Clubs also will be required to "include which is a tool; it just allows us to have a minorities and, or, female applicants in the Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

interview processes for senior-level front office positions such as club president and senior executives in communications, finance, human resources, legal, football operations, sales, marketing, sponsorship, information technology, and security positions," according to the expanded rule. Also, league officials stated that they would use an advisory panel to further strategies aimed at fostering an inclusive culture of opportunity both on and off the field. Goodell also promised to improve the league's pipeline for minority coaching and player personnel candidates with assistance from its Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellowship. "This fight has been going on for a long time," said Vincent, who could one day become the league's first African American commissioner. "The facts are we have a broken system, and we're looking to implement things to change the direction in where we're going, and it's been south. Not a gradual south but a direct south." Source: NNPA Newswire

June 2020 | 9 COMMUNITY

Meet

Royce West

for US Senate

Education Committee and is a member of Senate committees on Education, Finance and Transportation.

By d-mars.com News Provider

oyce West has dedicated his life to providing and protecting basic rights and opportunities for all Texans. Since graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington with a bachelor’s and master’s degree and receiving her juris doctorate from the University of Houston, he has been serving the citizens of Texas in both the public and private sector. West has served as senator, President pro tempore and even received the ceremonial title of “Governor for a Day.” Outside of his work in the community and legislation field, West also holds a successful career as the managing partner of West & Associates, L.L.P. Serving as a Texas State Senator, he has represented the 23rd Senatorial District on behalf of the citizens of Dallas County. During his tenure, Senator West achieved many great awards including being named by Texas Monthly as one of the “Ten Best Legislators in Texas”, and receiving countless awards from community and business organizations for his leadership. He also serves as the Vice Chair of the Senate Higher

Senator West has advocated on behalf of numerous causes including: • Jobs and Economy • Healthcare • Climate Change • Education • Women’s Rights • Criminal Justice • LGBTQ+ Rights • Gun Violence • Immigration His work includes partnering with parents and teachers to achieve outstanding education for students, championing criminal justice reform, supporting workers seeking fair wages, and advocating for common-sense gun legislation such as banning assault weapons and having universal background checks. West promoted and defended women’s reproductive rights, stood with immigrant rights communities for complete immigration reform, and marched with students seeking fair voting rights. He also advocated for expansion of healthcare opportunities for Texans and provided subsidized foster care alternatives to grandparents, as well as other family members. For more info, visit www.roycewest.com.

Mark your calendars to get out and vote and show your support for candidates like Senator West! The dates for the Democratic Primary runoff election are as follows: Vote Early: June 29 – July 10 Election Day: July 14 OR Vote By Mail

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10â&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; June 2020

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d-mars.com

June 2020 | 11

FREE

BUSINESS JOURNAL

June 2020

Inspire, Inform & Educate

154th Edition

The Death that Sparked a Movement:

Houstonians Discuss the Impact of George Floyd’s Death

Anzel Jennings and son “AJ”

Keith “MR. D-MARS” Davis, Sr. sons Ethan and Keith Jr.

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

12 | June 2020

A Look at How Houston Honored the

LIFE OF GEORGE FLOYD

MAYOR

SYLVESTER TURNER H

ow did the death of George Floyd change your perspective on the treatment of Black citizens in America? George Floyd’s death was shocking and unacceptable. I will never forget watching the image of a police officer with his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. It says to me that too many people view African American men as a threat and have no regard for our lives or what we contribute to our community and country. Why do you think George Floyd’s death was such a wake-up call for some people? For one, the videotape was shocking. George Floyd became a catalyst for a movement to stop police brutality, improve relations between police and the public, and invest in under-served and underresourced communities. Floyd’s death also represents the death of so many other African American men killed in police custody across the country. People are frustrated and angry. They have had enough, and that is why you see marches, rallies, and protests across the country. I am grateful to everyone who has kept events peaceful and respectful in the city of Houston. That is what Floyd’s family members say they wanted. George grew up in the Third Ward, was reared in Cuney Homes, and graduated from Jack Yates High School. He was one of us. Now people know his name in South Africa, Canada, Nairobi, Berlin, South Korea, and Europe. What some people meant for evil, God has turned it out for good. We honor George Floyd not because he was perfect, but we honor him because when he took his last breath, the rest of us will now be able to breathe.

U.S .CONGRESSWOMAN

SHEILA JACKSON LEE C

ongresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee proposed renaming the original policing bill, The Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act of 2020 and proposed an amendment to name the Justice in Policing bill after George Floyd… As Americans, we must deal with the realities of systemic racism and economic discrimination that has plagued our nation for over 400 years. It is time for us to account for the brutal mistreatment of African Americans during chattel slavery, Jim Crow segregation and the enduring structural racism endemic to our society. H.R. 40 is intended to create the framework for a national discussion and study on the enduring impact of slavery and its complex legacy to begin that necessary process of atonement. “The strength and foundation of democratic government rests upon the consent and confidence of the governed. Similarly, effective enforcement of the law and administration of justice requires the confidence of the community that the law will be enforced impartially and that all persons are treated equally without regard to race or ethnicity or religion or national origin,” stated Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

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June 2020 | 13

U.S. CONGRESSMAN

AL GREEN W

hat are some next steps you will take or encourage others to take against unjust treatment of Black Americans? “Mr. Floyd’s on-camera, modern-day lynching confirmed something for me: we must seek justice for America’s original sin – racism – and all other forms of invidious discrimination. To that end, I filed a resolution declaring unconditional war on racism and invidious discrimination and providing for Congress to pass legislation, which I intend to file, to establish a Cabinet-level Department of Reconciliation charged with eliminating racism and invidious discrimination. We cannot rest until we end the recurrence of such vicious and merciless actions by law enforcement agents against unarmed black people and all other innocent civilians across our nation.”

TEXAS STATE SENATOR

BORRIS MILES W

hy do you think George Floyd’s death was such a wake-up-call for some people? It was such a wake- up call because it was the epitome of a public lynching. We saw that officer put his knee on George Floyd’s neck for 8:46, there was no looking away or explaining away, America was slapped in the face with the harsh reality of what Black folks are still living through. How many more unarmed black brothers and sisters must die at the hands of white police officers, neighborhood watch volunteers and people feigning citizen arrests? We must ask America today the same question that civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer posed over 50 years ago when she addressed a committee at the Democratic National Convention, “Is this America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, where [blacks] . . . [are] threatened daily, because we want to live as decent human beings, in America?” I too, along with so many others, are “sick and tired of being sick and tired” of the systemic and structural racism and discrimination that exists within the health care, economic, criminal justice, education and housing systems of this country. Enough is Enough!

TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE

JARVIS JOHNSON P

olice brutality against Black people has gone on since the creation of police forces. This has never been a secret to the Black community, but since the invention of video cameras and phones, it has been brought from darkness to light. Other races are seeing what we’ve known for years. Now in order for police brutality to stop in Black communities, there must be consequences to police for the irresponsible and illegal activities they have perpetrated on our community. It’s not enough to see officers placed on desk duty or fired or even charged. Justice is served when these criminal officers are CONVICTED and sent to jail for long periods of time. We must have a cultural shift from juries giving police the benefit of doubt, to evaluating them equally and fairly. Without the sympathy of juries, the killers of Tamir Rice, Eric Garner and many others would be locked up. Police officers have to be held to the same law as any citizen. A cop can’t shoot an unarmed Black man because “he feared for his life”. Without a weapon there is no fear of life, so that officer must be convicted just as any citizen would be.

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14 | June 2020

SENIOR PASTOR AND FOUNDER, HIGHER DIMENSION CHURCH

TERRANCE H. JOHNSON QUESTION: What are some next steps you will take or encourage others to take against unjust treatment of Black Americans?

ANSWER: #1 Welcome your emotion from a healthy place. Healthy meaning, allowing the emotions you feel to visit you, process them, but don’t let them take residence in your life. Get angry but do not sin! #2 Talk about it. Connect with others in your community and express your processed thoughts, lean in and listen to what others have to say. We can feel, but the point of positive communication amongst our communities is to help offer right perspectives. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 NIV #3 Serve. Serving others, comforting others gives purpose to healing and recovery for yourself and those you aid. Mentoring young black men and women in our communities, connect with your local church to serve African American elders will lift both your spirit and theirs. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.“ 2 Corinthians 1:4 NIV #4 Get involved. The most basic action we can take against racism is to VOTE. Connecting with local councilman that support policies and programs for the rights of black people is how we push back and repel racist ideas. Faith without works is dead. #5 Be a peacemaker. With so much happening in our world, we need people who will have the courage to reach across and into other cultures and communities. Being open to hearing from our Caucasian communities, creating relationships and being bold enough to share your heart with them that they may not understand but get insight to the plight of the African American will promote healing between races. “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Matthew NIV 5:9 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

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June 2020 | 15

SENIOR, LAMAR H.S.

THEO JOHNSON W

hy was George Floyd’s death such a wake up call for some people? I believe George Floyd’s death was illustrated as an invigorating wake up call to society due to the fact of how previously amplified racism was before that. What I mean by this is that not only were there so many acts of police brutality and racism committed in the past, but, George Floyd’s death sat atop two immediate deaths that were believed to be motivated by racism. These being the murders of Ahmaud Arberry and Breonna Taylor. With all that being said, the two previous killings only increased anger and frustration so the protests and riots began to mentally boil and cook. When confronted with it directly via the video that displayed Officer Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd’s neck, the pot began to overflow within society’s mind, and thus everyone unequivocally “woke up.”

FRESHMAN, LAMAR H.S.

TIRZAH L. JOHNSON W

hat impact do you hope George Floyd’s death has on the perspectives/actions of non-Black Americans? My father once said, “you can stretch a rubber band so wide for so long and eventually it will break.” According to the book of Ecclesiastes 3:3 it says, “there’s a time to kill and a time to heal ; a time to tear down and a time to build” For so long African Americans have been killed because of social injustices and racial inequality. History proves that time and time again many policemen have stereotyped African Americans which has caused many of them to be wrongfully imprisoned, falsely accused and even murdered. So many killings of African American men and women have been taken by the hands of white law enforcement officers and by white American citizens. Now is the time for justice, now is the time for healing! As black people, we’ve been torn down. I agree with what Gandhi said, “Where there is injustice I believe in fighting.” The time has come for a generation of blacks, whites, browns and every color to come together and fight against these injustices to dismantle prejudice and racial inequality. We must build up the African American race that has worked as hard as the Caucasian race to build America and only then can we experience a world that truly is a better place.

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16 | June 2020

FRANCHISE OWNER, MCDONALD’S

DAVE MOSS D

id the death of George Floyd inspire you to take action or change the way you were already taking action against injustice ? I think that the death of George Floyd has inspired me to take a more active level of involvement in insuring that all of our people, especially the younger generations, understand the power of the vote at the local, state and national levels. We cannot sit back and simply let others control our leadership and representation at these levels. We cannot let others decide laws that will govern our lives and affect our everyday existence. The persons we elect might determine the living conditions, the educational circumstances, access to adequate health care or the economic circumstances of our neighborhoods. Our younger generations have in recent elections been somewhat apathetic and detached from the political process. The unfortunate, unfair death of George Floyd has brought the continued horrendous treatment of Black citizens to the forefront AGAIN, after years and years of its existence. We must reach out and assure that the history of the movement and struggle for fair and just treatment of Blacks remains at the forefront. We must continue to explain our history in detail, so the struggle is understood and never forgotten. We must reach out to the generations to help them understand the importance, the strength and the power of our vote.

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June 2020 | 17

CEO, E-PIC TRAINING CENTER, INC.

TIFFANY MASSIE DAVIS, MSN, CNE T

he result of racism is prejudice, discrimination or antagonism directed against another group because of your skin color or ethnicity. I am a Christian and believe the bible when it says, “the death of Jesus Christ eliminated the things that once caused separation.” As an educator, teaching diverse groups, George Floyd’s death has caused me to be more intentional on seeing people through the lens of Christ. His death reminded me that equal rights and education for all is necessary. Where rage and frustration would surface, being intentional about “calling it out” with love and respect is needed. Some people may be ignorant.

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18 | June 2020

A Special Message from our

President and CEO O

n May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered after being pinned on the ground under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. His last words, “I can’t breathe,” have become an infamous mark throughout the protests that erupted across the world in response to his death. While Floyd’s unjust death is not the first to occur in the Black community and unfortunately not the last, his death, for me and so many others, was the tipping point. The eyes of the nation have finally been open to the ongoing, unjust treatment that Black Americans experience and fear on a daily basis. Enough is enough. Now is the time for change. At d-mars.com, we do not shy away from the truth, especially when it comes to bettering the lives of the people in our community. I believe it is essential that America understands the plight of the black community, especially the black men in this country. We choose to speak up and fight against the racism, prejudice and unfair obstacles that we must overcome simply to accomplish anything and be treated fairly. The world needs to know there is a difference when it comes to treatment from police based on race; and finally, the eyes of the world have been opened to what Black America has been saying for years. I feel that this one incident finally opened people’s eyes to what has been an ongoing issue for far too long. The murder of Mr. Floyd was done in broad daylight, on camera. This wasn’t a movie; it was real life. And it was over something as simple as a $20 bill that could have landed in the hands of anyone. As a Black man from Houston, Texas just like George Floyd, this one hit home. Every Black man in this country can share the same thought of “that could’ve been me.” We have all experienced it in some form. For me, growing up, profiling and racial discrimination happened so much and so often that it just seemed normal, especially when we had white police officers in black neighborhoods who didn’t understand the culture or the people. I remember coming home from the military on leave, and my brother had rented a car to come and pick me up. On our way back to our neighborhood we got pulled over by two white police officers who ran up to our car with guns drawn, flung open our doors and pointed their guns at us simply because we fit a description of someone they were looking for. No questions asked, just the unfortunate coincidence of fitting a description. It blew my mind that I just took an oath and spent time risking my life fighting for my country, only to come back and be treated like less than a human

JERROLD & CO CHST | PRINCIPAL

KEITH J. DAVIS, JR. R

obert Kennedy once said, “Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom.” And through the tragedy and the death of former Houstonian George Floyd, I’ve been inspired to gain wisdom and understanding of the struggles and challenges we still face. It has motivated me to be more involved in minority communities and to show more support to my fellow black owned businesses. This was a reminder, that only through economic growth and unity in our own communities, will we be able to change the narrative and gain equality.

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June 2020 | 19

7TH GRADE STUDENT LANIER MIDDLE SCHOOL

ETHAN SIMS DAVIS G

eorge Floyd’s death was a wake-up call for me and others. This was a wake-up call because the people (the police), who are here to protect the citizens are doing the harm. I didn’t realize racism was that bad. It was on video, in our face and a clear sign of injustice. My first response was, “This is wrong.” Being a black boy, it was scary to believe this could really be my FUTURE. It is scary that if you can’t trust the police, then who do you call if you are in trouble?

“Scary to believe this could really be my future.”

-ETHAN

by that same country just because of my skin color. Because of experiences like this, I have dedicated 21 years of my life to inspiring, informing and educating the community on who the Black community really is. So often the Black community is portrayed negatively in the media, fueling stereotypes of Black Americans being dangerous, uneducated criminals. I wanted to do my part in changing that. We cover what is often left out of mainstream media. We show the prominent, successful, good, hardworking Black community that we know but is easily overlooked and unseen. Through d-mars.com, the world gets to see my community as I see it. We show them that not every black person is a criminal. That we are educated and successful and caring individuals. My desire is to make a difference and show our community in a brighter light. For me, the protests against the death of George Floyd marked a new beginning. One thing I witnessed that touched me was seeing the younger generation, Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, showing up at the event and advocating for the fair and equal treatment of Black lives. It was so refreshing to see that our brothers and sisters of different races showed up and made the effort to understand the lives that Black Americans live. It made

me see that this is no longer just a black problem, it is a community problem, and people are speaking up and showing up to create change for their neighbors. As a black community, we can appreciate that people aren’t just sitting on the sidelines anymore. The inequality in jobs, leadership, opportunity, education, the criminal justice system and so many other areas is finally being seen. My hope is that people continue the fight and continue educating themselves. This starts with digging more into black history to better understand why this isn’t just about George Floyd, that he was just the tipping point. When we saw on video a white officer kneeling on a black man’s neck with his hand in his pocket like it’s no big deal, it felt like all the issues the black community had been fighting for were unseen and unheard. That opened people’s eyes. There shouldn’t be a Black America and a White America. There should be one America made up of different cultures that are treated and appreciated equally. The last time I read the constitution it claimed that all men were created equally and had an equal opportunity to the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. That’s the America we need and want. And now is the time to make that change. But change will not happen overnight, so I encourage you all to continue the fight. To continue educating and listening and learning. To continue voting and encouraging others to vote. If the leaders we elect are not for us, then how can we ever expect things to change. As always, we thank all of you for continuing to support us and stand with us. It takes a village to make things happen, and we would not be here if it weren’t for our readers, clients, supporters and friends. Keith “MR. D-MARS” Davis, Sr. President and CEO d-mars.com

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20 | June 2020

PRESIDENT/CEO-HOUSTON MINORITY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

INGRID ROBINSON T

he recent events have given all American’s the opportunity to have a candid conversation between people of color, their friends, family members and members of their community. Open dialogue in regard to years of social injustice and the black experience in America is critical to bringing about change that addresses the social inequities. I have been encouraged by the call to action members outside of the black community have demonstrated. I hope the fever pitch for change does not dwindle as time passes. We need citizens of all races to push our elected officials to enact legislative change that will begin to bridge the gap created by racism.

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June 2020 | 21

PRESIDENT OF MIG CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

MARCUS A. MOODY Q

uestion: What impact do you hope George Floyd’s death has on the perspectives/actions of non-Black Americans? George Floyd’s death has made a significant impact on the world; we all witnessed a man take his last breath while in the hands of the United State’s justice system. What I hope continues is the publication of BlackAmerican history and the adversities we were forced to endure. Our nation’s progression depends on the continued support provided by my closest friends, their desire to comprehend Black-American history, and their interest to ensure that all ethnicities know the truth about what has been suppressed for over 400 years. Understanding the history of America will help us determine how to approach the future, as it allows us to learn from our past mistakes (and triumphs) as a society.

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22 | June 2020

ENTREPRENEUR, SHE’S HAPPY HAIR

MARCUS BOWERS

his one was different from the others for a lot of reasons. It was super close to home, being that George Floyd is a native of the Tre, Houston, TX. The H has to see it through that justice is really served, along with swift reform on murder and accountability in the police departments. I wouldn’t want my city to not go back to business as usual if this happened to me. The video evidence left no room for the officers or those representing them to manufacture another excuse for killing an unarmed black man on Memorial Day. A day that America and veterans like myself remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice, like Micah Xavier Johnson. Protect and serve not just overseas in uniform but also right here in our communities, even from the police. Who do you call when you need protection from the ones that’s supposed to protect you?

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24â&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; June 2020

ATTORNEY & CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, GREATER HOUSTON BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CAROL Y. GUESS, ESQ. F

irst, I would encourage the black community to engage in cooperative economics to control our destiny. The greater houston black chamber has consistently supported black owned businesses through our "buy black" campaign at www. Houstonbuyblack.Com. A strong economic foundation in our community will enable us to control and remedy many of the ills that ravage us. Also, financially support the work that the chamber and other groups do to support our community. Second, all people should vote for the candidates that support the change they want to see. Everyone should make sure they are registered to vote, and exercise that right.

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June 2020 | 25

ACTIVIST

DERIC MUHAMMAD T

he voice of Black America has spoken louder, clearer and stronger than ever before. Our protests were Earth-shaking. Our cry for justice was soulstirring. The deep pain we felt for our brother, George Floyd, stopped time as we know it. We are against police brutality. We are against racism, in all its forms. We are against mass incarceration. We are against racial profiling. We are against economic exploitation. We are clear about what we are against, but how clear are we (really) about what we are for? That is the trilliondollar question. If we put more energy into what we are “against” than we put into what we are “for” we will ultimately find ourselves working for what we are against and working against what we are for. We are not simply against police brutality; we are FOR the organizing, mobilizing and the policing of our own communities, by our own people. We are not simply against the racist culture in America’s police departments; we are FOR replacing them with our own. We are not simply against racial discrimination in the workplace; we are FOR building and supporting Blackowned corporations that hire our own and treat us fairly. We are not simply against “food deserts” in the Black community; we are FOR the purchasing of arable land to grow our own food, to be sold in our own supermarkets and restaurants. We are not simply against the criminal justice system’s unjust treatment of Black people; we are FOR the creation of conflict resolution centers where we come together to solve our own problems. We are not simply against the propaganda machine, known as mainstream media; we are FOR the strengthening of Black-owned media outlets. It's time to take what's ours.

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26 | June 2020

GET YOUR

COPY TODAY!

Dmars ad and Voting ad Back of George

One thing I am proud of is that for 20 years I have kept my core beliefs,” Davis said. “I know that by holding on to those values, we have changed lives and helped people grow in business and in their personal lives. It is all thanks to the people who supported us and saw we were doing good in the community. — Keith “MR. D-MARS” Davis, Sr.

ORDER ONLINE NOW WWW.KEITHJDAVISSR.COM (713) 373.5577 Keith J Davis Sr.

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FREE

® ®

HEALTH & WELLNESS JOURNAL

June 2020

Inspire, Inform & Educate

96th Edition

telehealth tips connected to COVID-19

INSIDE

Newly Unemployed? Understanding Your Health Insurance Options

Don’t ignore heart attack symptoms, even during COVID-19 Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

How to take charge of your mental health

28â&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; June 2020

HEALTH

telehealth

tips connected to

By d-mars.com News Provider

s the number of COVID-19 cases continues to mount, many Americans may be considering where to go for care if they develop potential symptoms. One important - yet potentially overlooked - resource is telehealth, which may enable people to connect 24/7 with a health care provider via a digital device and avoid potential exposure risks associated with in-person trips to health care facilities. "Telehealth may be especially helpful as an initial option for medical advice related to COVID-19 and to help evaluate other possible health issues, as well as to assist people who live in rural areas," said Dr. Anne Docimo, Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare.

COVID-19

through a telehealth visit to help confirm a diagnosis for COVID-19 (if needed), care providers can help guide patients to a local care provider or public health authority for testing and follow-up care. Making these connections may help people take the appropriate steps in advance of an in-person test, which may help reduce the risk of your exposure and possible exposure to other patients and health care providers. For other illnesses (not COVID-19 related) that are treatable with medications, telehealth care providers can write prescriptions and discuss how to obtain them safely, such as using medication home delivery or drive-thru pickup at a local pharmacy. Due to the COVID-19 situation,

To help people more effectively take advantage of this technology during the evolving COVID-19 situation, here are three tips to consider:

Identify available resources: To find telehealth resources, check with your care provider group, health benefit plan or employer. According to a recent Mercer study, nearly nine out of 10 employers offer telehealth visits to their employees, as do many Medicare and Medicaid health plans (in some cases by telephone). Meanwhile, 76% of hospitals connect patients and care providers using video or other technology, according to the American Hospital Association. In some cases, people can currently access telehealth visits without cost sharing. Since the outbreak emerged, some health plans are now encouraging patients to use telephone or live videoconferencing (if available) to connect people with local network medical providers, currently waiving cost sharing for COVID-19 related visits and treatments. Docimo points out this is especially important for people with certain complex conditions, such as diabetes or Parkinson's disease, as it may enable them to "see" their own physician for acute or follow-up care related to their condition and help avoid potential exposure to the coronavirus during an in-person visit.

Understand likely next steps: During a telehealth visit, care providers can give general medical advice to evaluate possible COVID-19 symptoms (fever, dry cough or difficulty breathing). While diagnostic testing services are not available

it is important to note that people may anticipate potential wait times, as some care providers offering telehealth may be currently experiencing a surge in appointments.

Access other health services: While elective health care procedures may be delayed to help enable care providers to focus on COVID-19 cases, telehealth may help people more effectively manage other health issues without the need to go out and risk potential exposure to the virus. Telehealth can help address myriad medical issues, including allergies, pinkeye, fevers, rashes and the regular flu. In addition, so much time at home can also contribute to behavioral health issues, so people should consider telehealth as a resource to connect with a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist. Importantly, people who experience a significant or serious medical issue should go to the emergency room (ER). By considering these tips, people across the country may be able to more effectively use telehealth resources to help stay safe during these challenging times. For more information about the COVID-19 situation, go to www.uhc. com/coronavirus. Source: BPT Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

June 2020â&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; 29

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30 | June 2020 HEALTH

HEALTH

Don’t ignore heart attack symptoms, even during COVID-19 It‘s your heart. Don‘t hesitate. By d-mars.com News Provider

f you're experiencing symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, doctors urge you to not delay seeking treatment because of COVID-19 concerns. During the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors across the nation are reporting a sharp decline in patients coming to the hospital for heart attacks and strokes. These conditions don't stop during a pandemic, and the decline has doctors worried that many people experiencing symptoms may not be seeking treatment, or that they are seeking treatment only after their condition has worsened. Delaying care could pose a significant threat to your health. "Heart attacks and strokes required emergency care before the COVID-19 pandemic, and they continue to require emergency care now," said Sean D. Pokorney, MD, MBA, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the division of cardiology at Duke University School of Medicine. "If you are experiencing symptoms, contact your doctor or call 911 now, as you may need immediate care to save your life."

Contact your doctor for these heart attack & stroke symptoms You may be having a heart attack if you have symptoms such as • chest pain • difficulty breathing • discomfort in your chest, arms, back, neck, shoulder or jaw

You may be having a stroke if you are experiencing:

• numbness, weakness or loss of movement in your face, leg or arm, especially on one side • loss of balance • confusion, including trouble speaking or understanding

Health experts urge you to contact your doctor or call 911 if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Hospitals have safety measures in place to protect you Patients may be understandably nervous about going to a hospital during COVID-19, but hospitals have implemented many safety measures to protect you from coronavirus. These facilities are ready now to safely care for you if you are experiencing serious health issues. "Hospitals are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of patients who need critical care," said Pokorney. "With all of these measures, going to the hospital is probably at least as safe as going to the grocery store.

Certainly the consequences of not seeking timely care for heart attacks and strokes are far greater than the risk of COVID-19 exposure in the hospital." Facilities have implemented routine screening procedures to evaluate if any visitors entering the facility might have a risk of COVID-19 exposure, even before they step foot inside the building. Many facilities are separating COVID-19 patients into separate wards or buildings to ensure other patients are protected and not exposed. Routinely checking temperatures, masks and protective equipment for healthcare workers and other staff are some of the other measures that help to ensure a safe environment.

Waiting now can cause complications later Bad news doesn't get better with time. Delaying treatment for a heart attack or stroke can have serious consequences, causing a bad condition to worsen and making recovery more difficult. For some patients, postponing care can be the difference between life and death. "I've talked to patients who are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack or warning signs for sudden cardiac death and some are choosing to take their chances at home," explained Pokorney. "The unfortunate result is that those patients may die at home or have worse long-term outcomes from the delays in care - and that's avoidable." The recovery period after a heart attack may also require critical care. "A heart attack is a potential risk factor for sudden cardiac arrest, a life-threatening condition that occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating," said Mary Newman, Executive Director of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. "If you've had a heart attack, your doctor can help to determine if you are at risk and can discuss treatment options to keep you safe. But they can only help if you follow up on your symptoms."If you are having symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, getting care quickly is critical to your treatment and recovery. When you seek help immediately, the care you receive is more likely to be lifesaving, you can likely get better more quickly, and you can limit the damage to your heart and your overall health.

Newly Unemployed? Understanding Your Health Insurance Options By d-mars.com News Provider

ith millions of people nationwide filing for unemployment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals and families across the country are suddenly finding themselves without health insurance at a precarious time. Fortunately, new options may be able to help those on tight budgets. “The sudden and unexpected loss of health insurance only compounds the stress caused by job loss amidst this unprecedented economic and public health crisis. However, unemployed individuals have more options for affordable health insurance than they did during past economic recessions thanks to provisions in the Affordable Care Act, along with actions recently taken by Congress and some states,” says American Medical Association (AMA) president, Patrice A. Harris, M.D. Whether you recently lost your job-based health insurance or were uninsured before COVID-19 struck, the AMA, a long-time advocate for health insurance coverage for all Americans, is highlighting the following options: • Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces: Family and individual health plans can be bought in the health insurance marketplaces created by the ACA. Losing a job is a qualifying life event that allows unemployed individuals up to 60 days to enroll in a marketplace health plan before the close of a special enrollment period. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, certain states have reopened enrollment periods when all consumers -- not only those who have experienced a job loss -can enroll in marketplace health plans and potentially qualify for financial assistance to purchase these plans based on their income. Subsidies available to eligible individuals through the health insurance marketplaces can help with premiums and out-of-pocket costs, making coverage more affordable. The Kaiser Family Foundation can help calculate an estimate of premiums and subsidies based on an individual’s income, age and family size. It will also estimate an individual’s eligibility for Medicaid. • Medicaid: While each state’s program has unique attributes for coverage, Medicaid can offer no- or lowcost coverage for those with the lowest incomes with limited cost-sharing requirements. Unlike the ACA marketplaces, there is no defined open enrollment period for Medicaid, and eligible people can sign up at any time. State eligibility requirements and income qualifications vary by state. Every state covers low-income children, pregnant women and people with disabilities, while 36 states and the District of Columbia have expanded Medicaid coverage so that adults with income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level can qualify. • Beware Short-Term Plans: The AMA cautions patients to avoid short-term limited duration plans whenever possible, especially during this pandemic. Short-term plans are designed to fill temporary gaps in health insurance when comprehensive coverage may not be an option. But it is important to understand that these plans offer very limited benefits and do not usually cover COVID-19 testing and treatment, preexisting medical conditions, mental health services, prescription drugs, and preventative and wellness care. “Avoiding gaps in coverage should be a top priority for anyone who has recently lost their health insurance,” says Harris. “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of having meaningful health insurance coverage.”

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Source: (StatePoint)

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32â&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; June 2020 HEALTH

How to take charge of your mental health By d-mars.com News Provider

ur nation is sharing in an experience with the COVID-19 crisis that will serve to reshape the future of our communities, our work, our families, and each and every individual. With so much attention focused on the diagnosis and treatment related to the virus, we recognize that those feelings of isolation, depression, anxiety, and even substance use may impact substantially more of us than a COVID-19 diagnosis. Nearly half of American adults report that the COVID-19crisis has affected their mental health, according to recent polling by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Meanwhile, Mental Health America's (MHA) free, anonymous screening tools have seen a 70% increase in individuals taking their anxiety screen, and a 64% increase in the number of people taking their depression screen between January and April of this year. During this public health emergency, it is important to take care of ourselves, support one other and spread the message that "you are not alone."

You are not alone The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is partnering with Anthem Inc., one of the nation's largest health benefits

companies, on a month-long campaign focused on reminding all of us that "You Are Not Alone." May is National Mental Health Month, and together, NAMI and Anthem, Inc. are focused on the power and necessity of maintaini n g social connections and well-being during a time when many are physically distanced from each other. As NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. shared, "Especially during this time of isolation, uncertainty and tragedy, it is

vital that no one feels alone in their mental health journey." He continued, "The COVID-19 crisis not only shines a spotlight on our need for social connectedness, but also our need for real mental health resources. To support individuals during this crisis, NAMI is raising awareness to change our fragmented mental health system into one that serves everyone, so people can get the care they need." "Caring for ourselves - physically and emotionally - is critical to improving lives and communities," said Dr. Prakash Patel,

executive vice president and president of Anthem, Inc.'s Diversified Business Group. "During this challenging public health crisis, it's important to know there are resources out there, whether through your employer, healthcare provider or community organizations, to help us get through this difficult time. Taking care of our mental health is just as important as our physical health. This month is a great reminder to take care of ourselves, as well as each other."

Caring for yourself, caring for others To take charge of your mental health during the current crisis: * Care for yourself. Recognize the importance of "me time" and carve out a part of each day to do something that rejuvenates yourself - listen to a podcast, do yoga, connect with a friend, or just go outside for a breath of fresh air. * Seek help if you need it. Talking to a friend or family member is a good start, but professional mental health services may also be necessary. The earlier people seek help, the better their results. While going to see someone in person may not be possible, telehealth offers a way to talk to a professional while practicing physical distancing. If you are thinking about harming yourself, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which can provide free and confidential emotional support in times

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of crisis. * Explore community resources. There are many valuable and often underutilized resources available. These include Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), which are offered by many employers and include free therapy sessions and telehealth, as well as digital resources, like the mental health resource site, Psych Hub. And you can contact NAMI for nationwide peersupport and resource referrals, by phone (800-950-NAMI) or email (info@nami.org). * Support one another. Caring for others is one way to care for yourself. Call an older adult who may be experiencing loneliness, text a friend who's working long hours, or join your family or friends for a video dinner. A simple gesture can go a long way for you and for them. * Talk about it. Let people know that they are not alone. Your experience matters. Taking time for yourself? Share your #MeMinutes, whether on social media, using the hashtag, or with others in your community. Sharing your own self-care routine may encourage others to care for themselves, too.

Sharing your personal experience engages others and fosters acceptance and awareness around mental health, and encourages others to take the steps to access treatment and support during difficult times. You are not alone. For more information, visit www.nami.org.

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36 | June 2020 DID YOU KNOW?

Loss of a Legend

Noted TSU Professor Dr. Thomas F. Freeman dies at 100 By d-mars.com News Provider

r. Thomas F. Freeman, a legend, educational icon, and sage to innumerable students at Texas Southern University, passed away on Saturday, June 6, following a brief illness at age 100. Dr. Freeman celebrated his centennial birthday this past June at TSU. Dr. Freeman was an esteemed debate coach, faculty member, orator and minister at Mount Horem Baptist Church in Houston. He was a revered educator and leader of the award-winning Debate Team at Texas Southern University since his arrival in 1949. Under his leadership, TSU debaters have garnered multiple national and international titles during its existence. “This is, most definitely, a sad day at Texas Southern University,” said TSU Interim President, Kenneth Huewitt. “Dr. Freeman exemplified all that is good about our university. His commitment, first and foremost, to his students, across eight decades of service, is what stands out in my mind as one of his greatest legacies. He offered all that he could in the pursuit of excellence. He expected the best from his students and colleagues, and he knew how to bring it out in everyone around him. Like the stars in the sky, the number of lives he influenced is beyond measure.” Dr. Freeman instructed such iconic national and global figures as Representative Barbara Jordan and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and advised Academy Award winner Denzel Washington in the 2007 movie, The Great Debaters. When Washington was preparing for his role as a debate coach he needed the help of a master in this specialty. After a search for what he called the “best debate coach in the world,” he selected Dr. Freeman to provide that help. With the insights and guidance of Dr. Freeman, Washington and his creative team produced an exhilarating movie masterpiece. The Great Debaters, which earned a Golden Globe “Best Picture” nomination, shone a bright spotlight on the accomplishments of debate teams at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In 2009, the TSU Board of Regents named the new Honors College after Dr. Freeman, helping to ensure that his legacy would forever inspire scholars at TSU to become leaders in the nation and the world. Prior to his arrival at TSU, Dr. Freeman received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA; a Bachelor of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, MA; and a Doctor of Philosophy from the Divinity School of the University of Chicago, IL. He engaged in post-doctoral studies in 1963 at the University of Vienna in Austria, and pursued inter-institutional studies in 1973 at the Universities of Liberia, Lagos, and Ghana, and at Fourah Bay College in West Africa.

Dr. Freeman received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, both before and after his “retirement” from TSU in 2013. Most recently, in 2018 he was the inaugural recipient of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's History Makers Awards– Living Legend. The award pays tribute to outstanding individuals committed to making a difference in Houston through volunteerism, mentorship, advocacy and civic engagement. In 2017, Dr. Freeman received the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) highest honor in Washington DC. He was presented with The Phoenix Award and recognized for his profound influence on our nation as a legendary educator and prolific scholar. His long-standing commitment to improving the quality of life for African-American students was the basis of the award. Dr. Freeman held numerous academic and administrative positions at TSU, in addition to his ongoing role as professor and debate coach. He was an assistant to the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; and, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. For almost 70 years, he served as minister of Mt. Horem Baptist Church in Houston, where he provided spiritual guidance since 1951. He served as a professor at Virginia Union University, where he taught Practical Theology; a Stahley Christian Scholar Lecturer at St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, VA; minister of Pleasant St. Baptist Church, Westerly, RI; and associate minister of Monumental Baptist Church, Chicago, IL. In 2001, a Houston Mayor’s Proclamation gave recognition to Mt. Horem’s Silver Anniversary and to Freeman’s outstanding civic leadership.

Dr. Freeman was born in Richmond, Virginia, to Louis and Louise E. Freeman. He is survived by his wife Clarice, who will turn 100 later this year. Together, they raised three children – Thomas F. Jr., Carter, and Carlotta, and have several grandchildren. “My father’s life ended peacefully,” said Dr. Carlotta Freeman, daughter of Dr. Thomas F. Freeman. “Our family prefers to focus on the life he lived. We will announce the arrangements shortly.” Dr. Freeman received many awards during his career, including the Doctor of Humane Letters from Eastern Massachusetts University (1980 and 2000); American Performance Theatre Award (1992); Houston Urban League, Margaret Ross Barnett leadership Award (1992); TSU’s International Recognition Award (1992); Martin Luther King Drum Major Award (1995); Educator of the Year Award presented by the Black Caucus of the Texas Legislature (1995); Houston Trail Blaze for the Negro Heritage Foundation (2000); Trail Blaze Award from Houston Community College System (2003); and Doctor of Divinity from Bishop King Theological Seminary (2002).

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38â&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; June 2020 TECHNOLOGY

is a powerful tool for small businesses in the new normal How small businesses can adapt to the new normal By d-mars.com News Provider

f you own a small business, or frequently shop at one, you know that COVID-19 has instantly changed everything. As brick-and-mortar shops have had to temporarily close to customers, the need to adapt has never been greater. For small businesses willing to reinvent themselves, going digital - or ramping up your digital operation if you already have one - can help weather the storm. There are plenty of tools available to help your business survive - and even thrive - through the pandemic and beyond. "Helping small businesses find fast paths to recovery as they navigate an overnight move to digital commerce is a top priority at Visa," says Jack Forestell, Chief Product Officer, Visa. "Using our network, partners and products, we help sellers get online easily and maximize their digital experience to reach more customers." Forestell details six insights about today's current landscape including ways your business can pivot and master the strategies to move forward. Consumers are going digital in this remote world, you should too. Millions of new buyers are shopping online, some for the first time, and many more are shopping for items they never thought they would buy outside of their local businesses. To keep them shopping with you, your business should provide a convenient, easy-to-use online shopping experience, along with a marketing approach to boost your digital presence. Use your existing customer email/mailing list to let customers know they'll be able to find your business online soon - even if you're not yet ready to launch. Reminding loyal customers of your business is key during this transition period, before their new shopping habits have solidified. Strengthen your digital toolkit to meet customers in new ways A study conducted by Visa in 2018 found that less than half (46%) of U.S. small businesses had an online presence of any kind.[1] If your business doesn't yet have a website,

or if you don't have an eCommerce platform, your first priority will be setting that up. Using an eCommerce platform like Shopify can help you pivot to an online business quickly. If your business does have a website, find out if your web hosting service has an eCommerce plugin you can add. You could also research using an eCommerce plugin that connects to your point of sale (POS) system, if you have one. Other tasks on your to-do list may involve figuring out how to manage your inventory and product pickup and/or shipping.

updated to help meet today's challenges. Send money digitally instead of using checks Build your business and pay employees securely by partnering with an experienced financial network. As circumstances quickly change, employees and customers need and expect quick and secure access to their money digitally. For example, Visa offers fast and secure money movement options. Through Visa Direct, companies can pay employees or gig workers quickly by moving money to Visa debit cards in real time.[2] It can also make transactions easier for small business owners who need funds for their business. Access data to drive real time business decisions Partnering with Visa can help provide businesses of any size with useful data and analytics to inform critical business decisions as you deal with the new influx of online activity. Insights from that data can help you assess purchase risks and understand the wider marketplace as your business adapts to the "new normal." Protect your business and your customers

Once you're ready to launch your online business, reach out to customers and make use of social media to get the word out that you're open for business. Offer contactless payments - avoiding contact while buying is better for health and safety for your employees and customers With many businesses eager to welcome customers back into stores, their return also will bring new protocols and procedures. Offering contactless payment options in-store means customers can tap and go, avoiding the need for them to touch the checkout terminal. Not only is tapping to pay a reliable solution, contactless transactions are secured with dynamic EMVÂŽ Chip security technology that has already shown to drastically reduce counterfeit fraud. Using an established leader in contactless transacting, like Visa, helps you and your customers have a seamless experience. Visa works with partners worldwide to support secure transactions, with capabilities that are constantly

Due to the many disruptions caused by the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in disputes between buyers and sellers. The need for transparency - plus protections for both buyers and sellers - has never been more crucial. Through Verifi, Visa offers services to help prevent and resolve disputes before they become chargebacks. Whether a business is new to online, experiencing an influx of customers and/or rapidly revamping an online presence, our new normal is causing businesses to pivot and prioritize digital. Visa can help businesses shift to an online-led selling strategy that works wherever you are in the world. To help your small business adapt, visit Partner.Visa.com. [1] Visa Digital Transformation of SMBs, 2018 https:// usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/global/run-your-business/ documents/digital-transformation-of-smbs.pdf [2] Actual fund availability depends on receiving financial institution and region. Source: Brandpoint

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40 | June 2020

Daydreaming of travel? TRAVEL

5 ways to save money now on future trips By d-mars.com News Provider

s the world seeks a "new normal" following the advent of COVID-19, many Americans are looking forward to taking trips again - albeit safer, carefully chosen vacations. A mid-May survey by research firm Destination Analysts found nearly seven in 10 Americans greatly miss vacationing, while more than half miss the planning itself. Forty-five percent predict they'll take at least one road trip between now and the end of August, and 20% anticipate engaging in air travel during that time. "Everyone has a touch of cabin fever after the worldwide coronavirus lockdowns," writes Christopher Elliott in USA Today. "So it's no surprise people want to travel soon. Whether it's a cabin in the woods or a cruise ship cabin, Americans are dreaming of their next trip - and not just dreaming but booking." Many Americans are also closely watching their budgets right now in reaction to economic changes caused by COVID. But with a little extra planning, we should still be able to enjoy fun, relaxing getaways without having to break the bank. In that spirit, here are a few moneysaving tips for your next trip.

attached to theme parks, museums, cultural centers, entertainment venues and other key attractions. You may also find it easier to maintain social distancing guidelines in the great outdoors. • Pre-book your lodging via Hotels.com™. The onestop shop for hotel pricing and availability is offering major rewards on future travel. Hotels.com Rewards members who book at eligible properties by May 24, 2020, and stay between June 1, 2020, and Aug. 31, 2021, will collect double stamps. For every 10 stamps you collect, you receive a free night. This promotion will get you to that free night twice as fast, at the same cost. To participate, log in to your Hotels.com Rewards account and enter coupon code RWD2X2020 at checkout. • Seek out mid-week airfares. Not only are you likely to find attractive airfares as America eases back into more extensive air travel, but you may find even lessexpensive (and less-congested) flights on the slowest travel days of the week - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

• Spend your food dollars wisely. Your dining plans (or lack thereof) can easily make or break your vacation budget. You may wish to make great food a major highlight of your trip, but if you'd rather use your money elsewhere you can use strategies like self-packed lunches, the free continental breakfasts at your hotel, restaurants where kids eat free and water instead of pricey drinks. When you do dine out, make lunch your biggest meal of the day and avoid higher-priced dinner menus. • Optimize credit cards that offer travel rewards. Options include general purpose cards that pay rewards on all travel purchases or brand-specific cards that reward only for spending money on specific airlines or hotels. Look for cards that offer unlimited cash back on your greatest expenditures and seek generous expiration dates for redeeming rewards. Other available perks may include sign-up bonuses, waived baggage fees or foreign transaction fees, complimentary companion tickets or bonus rewards for booking with travel partners. Do expect annual fees and do pay monthly balances in full to avoid interest charges, forfeited rewards and/or negative impacts to your credit rating.

• Consider a nature-focused vacation. Hiking or sightseeing amidst America's natural beauty can be a cost-effective alternative to the hefty admission fees

Your next vacation need not take a big bite out of your budget if you plan ahead. Wherever you choose to go, travel safely and travel wisely this season. Source: BPT

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T H E

E X P E R T

N E TW O R K

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Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication