Community Journal 31

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March/April 15th 2014

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Putting the “Unity” Back in Community

Buffalo Soldiers National Museum Hosts Annual Gala

PAGE 14

Unity in our Community

By Stephanie Allen-Gobert

PAGE 8

page 4

Meet the Mayor: Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen Talks Re-Election

page 6

Chris Preston has Eyes on Missouri City Council At-Large Position 2

Young Black Professionals Showing Houston that ‘Legends Do Live’

By Valerie Jones PAGE 10

page 9

Join our e-mail list for the latest updates @ d-mars.com

Black Professional Cowboys and Cowgirls Association Hosts 15th Annual Heritage Day

I’m a reflection of the community.

- Tupac Shakur

page 12

1000 Men in Black Empowerment Expo Series

March/April 15th 2014

Journal Behind The

3.

Publisher’s Message

Keith J. Davis, Sr.

SR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Sr.

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Kevin Davis

VICE PRESIDENT Kim Floyd

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The mission of d-mars.com when we first began 15 years ago was to be the link between business and the community. I feel that we’ve made great strides in doing that, but there is still a long way to go. It takes every person – yes, every single one of you – to take the initiative to put the “unity” back in community. This month’s issue focuses on doing just that with stories we hope you will find both encouraging and enlightening. Remember, your community is only as strong as you make it!

Valerie Jones

ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla

Office Manager

Contents

Johnny Ray Davis, Jr.

Meet the Mayor: Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen Talks Re-Election . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Chris Preston has Eyes on Missouri City Council At-Large Position 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Angelle Gillum

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES C.T. Foster Eric D. Goodwine Tiffany Black

PHOTOGRAPHY L.C. Poullard Grady Carter Tony Gaines

Unity in our Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Black Professional Cowboys and Cowgirls Association Hosts 15th Annual Heritage Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Young Black Professionals Showing Houston that ‘Legends Do Live’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Communication 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 April 13 Marks the Induction of the 1000 Men in Black Empowerment Expo Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Metamorphosis Women’s Conference 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Andrea Hennekes

Buffalo Soldiers National Museum Hosts Annual Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Changing Your Thinking to Reach for the STAAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kevin Wright

DISTRIBUTION

Booker T. Davis, Jr. Rockie Hayden

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Valerie Jones Stephanie Allen-Gobert Dr. S. Terri Smith J.T. Myers, M. Ed, MRT

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March/April 15th 2014

Meet the Mayor: Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen Talks Re-Election “I want to continue seeing our city grow and continue being one of the best cities in the U.S. to live, play and raise your family.”

– Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen

By Valerie Jones

A

Contributing Writer

llen Owen believes in his city just as much as he believes in his ability to lead the city. Owen has served as Mayor of Missouri City for the last two decades.

Owen has called the Houston/Missouri City area home for 47 years. He has been married to his wife Jane for 46 years and has three grown children and two grand-

daughters.

“I believe that God put me on this earth to serve others, and I have tried my best to do that in a positive way,” Owen said. “I believe I have proven my dedication and accomplishments as the Mayor for the past 20 years as well as serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission for five years, Mayor Pro-Tem and Council Member for eight years prior to that.

I understand budgets and how to work within them. I want to continue seeing our city grow and continue being one of

the best cities in the U.S. to live, play and raise your family.”

Owen took a minute to discuss the city’s economic development, his past experience and re-election. d-mars.com: Missouri City has thriving residential and commercial development. How do you plan to foster continued economic development in Missouri City?

Mayor Owen: I will continue to work with the major developers and land owners to attract more companies and retailers to our city. We are currently working with one of those developers that developed Lakeview Business Park to find more land along Highway 90A and the Beltway. They had run out of land on Buffalo Run. We will continue to build on our sales tax base to help reduce the tax burden on homeowners. d-mars.com: If re-elected as Mayor of Missouri City, what would be on the forefront of your agenda for your twoyear term?

Mayor Owen: We have a $40 million bond issue on the ballot for some much needed infrastructure repairs and replacement. It is a five-year plan and includes streets, sidewalks, drainage projects, and building and facility improvements to city facilities. I will work to see that we do these projects in a way that it will not increase property taxes and stay within our own budget and ability to complete them quickly. Our city has aged to a point that there are needs in all parts of the city and we must address them to keep our quality of life moving in the right direction. One of the projects in this bond issue is another much-needed fire station to address issue we are having with response time to certain areas of the city. d-mars.com: Missouri City is known as the “Show Me City.” Can you explain where that nickname came from and why it’s used to describe Missouri City?

Mayor Owen: We hired a marketing

firm to study our logo and to come up with a catchy slogan. Missouri City was founded in the late 1800s by people from Missouri who came here with the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Missouri is known as the “Show Me State.” This is why we adopted a similar name. d-mars.com: You’ve served as Mayor of Missouri City since 1994. In the past 20 years, what would you identify as being your greatest accomplishment in that position?

Mayor Owen: I am most proud of the fact that we remain one of the safest, most affordable, most diverse, and one of the best cities in the U.S. to live and raise a family. I am proud of the way we have grown with a good mixture of businesses and residential development. d-mars.com: How did your prior experience as a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission and a member of the City Council help prepare you for the position of Mayor?

Mayor Owen: It gave me insight into the planning process that is required in a zoned city. I met and got to know the major developers and business owners that have built our city. Those relationships remain today and have proven to be instrumental in keeping the developers and business owners here. d-mars.com: What do you think is Missouri City’s greatest strength?

Mayor Owen: Some of the strengths of Missouri City are: it’s safe, affordable, ethnically diverse, has higher levels of income, an educated workforce, and just a great place to live. It’s close to Houston and close to the Medical Center—a large supplier of jobs—yet, one does not have to live in Houston. d-mars.com: Tell me one thing people may be surprised to know about you.

Mayor Owen: I played semi-professional baseball while in college.

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March/April 15th 2014

5.

Paid for by Allen Owen Campaign, 2022 Masters Lane, Missouri City, Texas 77459

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March/April 15th 2014

Chris Preston has Eyes on Missouri City Council At-Large Position 2

“I’m running for city council because the city deserves more and it deserves to have its concerns addressed, mainly the development of the city.”

- Chris Preston

By Valerie Jones

C

Contributing Writer

hris Preston has a love for his city that dates back to his childhood.

He has been a member of Windsor Village Church since childhood and attended schools in the Fort Bend Independent School District. He was also a Congressional Scholar.

“Politics is local. What happens at City Hall affects us all,” he said. “It’s important that we exercise our right to vote and it’s important that we become civically engaged in our community.” d-mars.com takes a minute to get to know Chris Preston, a Missouri City native who is running for Missouri City Council At-Large Position 2. d-mars.com: Why do you want to run for city council?

Preston: I’m running for city council because I’m a product of Missouri City and as a long-term resident of this community, I’ve witnessed it go through several changes. Most of those changes have not been for the betterment of Missouri City. I’m running for city council because the city deserves more and it deserves to have its concerns addressed, mainly the development of the city. Texas Parkway

is one example. It used to be home to a Walmart, Kroger and a movie theater.

For the last several years, all of those businesses have left Texas Parkway and moved to Highway 6. We could definitely create incentives for business owners to return to Texas Parkway. d-mars.com: Why is diversity important to the growth of Missouri City in areas such as economic development and business?

Preston: I think that economic development in the business community of Missouri City should reflect the city’s diversity. Diversity is extremely important to the growth and development of any prosperous community and Missouri City is no different. Diversity provides unique opportunities and a variety of services to the community. As a Missouri City council member, I will advocate for diversity programs that encourage minority ownership and development. d-mars.com: Name three key issues you’d like to address, if elected to At Large Position #2 for Missouri City Council.

Preston: The first issue is reinvestment for Missouri city. This is important because for too long, certain parts of Missouri City have been ignored – like Texas Parkway, for example. Now people in that area have to travel to Highway 6 for shopping diversity and entertainment. We need to encourage business development

in the underdeveloped parts of Missouri City, such as Texas Parkway. The next issue is public safety. City governments should be forward thinking. Currently, there are several areas within the Missouri City community that have heavy crime.

We need to invest in high resolution cameras in our public parks in Missouri City. We shouldn’t wait until someone is victimized. We should be forward thinking. The third one is fiscal responsibility.

A city is only as strong as its finances, and we need to make sure that Missouri City remains fiscally responsible and taxpayer dollars are spread evenly throughout Missouri City. d-mars.com: What do you feel is Missouri City’s greatest strength? Why? Preston: I believe Missouri City’s greatest strength is the opportunities that lie ahead. Missouri City is a very ripe city for business development and economic prosperity. We need to make sure we make that process easy for business owners to come in and do business with the city. We need to be business friendly and look into diversity programs. d-mars.com: Are there any other areas relating to the community that you feel strongly about?

Preston: Senior citizens are a huge part of our community and we want to make sure they have adequate resources. Missouri City is a mixed community – with

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both an old and young demographic. It’s very important we insure that senior citizens are not confined or restricted by their age or lack of mobility to not be able to enjoy the city fully. We want to make city government as accessible to senior citizens as it is for those in the general population.

Though city government does not vote directly on educational issues, city council has a responsibility to work with the school board and advocate on behalf of the community for issues that concern our educational system. Good working relationships are important in anything that you do and the relationship between city council and the school board isn’t any different.

It’s important that city government fosters a strong relationship with Fort Bend Independent School District to insure that our citizens are receiving the necessary resources to maximize their educational potential. When we have been successful with partnering with FBISD, we will get a more prepared workforce which will contribute to the viability of our city and continue to ensure that our city economy is strong. d-mars.com: Tell me something people may be surprised to know about you.

Preston: I have traveled and lived in eight different countries, but I’ve yet to find a place that I love as much as Missouri City.

March/April 15th 2014

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March/April 15th 2014

Unity in our Community

By Stephanie Allen-Gobert Contributing Writer

“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” This quote

by J.K. Rowling should stand true for all communities. The African American community is no different, but recent racial-based issues and prominent court cases have caused many to question how united the American community is and is the African American community hurting or healing and helping our community grow.

February 26, 2014 marked the anniversary and the death of Trayvon Martin and the open public case of his killer George Zimmerman and the “Stand Your Ground” verdict. The non-guilty verdict sent some Americans, mainly African Americans, into a rage (myself included).

Zimmerman claimed self-defense and under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, the police were prohibited from making an arrest. The verdict shined light on the racial diversity and adversity that still exists in our country. Having a 14-yearold son and being an African American mother, the verdict and day-to-day life issues we all face as African Americans led me again to have the “you are a young black man” talk with my son. I also did soul searching on some other issues that affect our community. Having being personally affected with prison incarceration and seeing the judicial system “at work,” it made me wonder and write about other issues that should be uniting our beautiful community for growth and empowering us with knowledge and the drive to fight for what is right.

As we unite in our community on issues of racial injustice, I wanted to shed

light on some other issues that continue to hurt our community – that many might not be aware of – and steps that we can take to change this injustice in our community and our prison community.

A recent article published in Mother Jones pointed out some stark statistics about the racial makeup of America’s overall prison population and private vs. public prisons. The article also noted that African Americans and Latinos make up 30 percent of the U.S. population, but a whopping 60 percent of the country’s inmates. This is just the tip of the iceberg; one in every 100 adults in the United States is currently incarcerated and one in 31 adults is on probation or parole with the majority of the inmates incarcerated being African American or Latino. Statistics show the majority are first-time offenders or nonviolent drug offenders.

Attempting to attack the “war on drugs” in June of 1971, President Nixon dramatically increased the size and presence of federal drug control agencies and pushed through measures such as mandatory sentencing and “no-knock” warrants (www.drugpolicy.org). But this war is disproportionate: two thirds of all persons in prison for drug offenses are people of color.

Mandatory minimum sentencing laws require binding prison terms of a particular length for people convicted of certain federal and state crimes. These “one size fits all” sentencing laws may seem like a quick-fix solution for crime, but they undermine justice by preventing judges from fitting the punishment to the individual and circumstances of their offenses. This injustice in our community is leading to the state and federal prison overcrowding, exorbitant costs to tax pay-

ers, and diversion of funds from law enforcement (www.famm.org).

The yearly cost for one federal inmate ranges from $21,000 to $33,000 depending on the prison’s level of security. About half of the nation’s more than 218,000 federal inmates are serving time for drug crimes and virtually all of them faced some form of mandatory minimum sentencing.

There are several laws in Congress that need approval, support and should be reviewed. As a united community, we should no longer sit by while our men of color are getting 20- and 30-year sentencing for nonviolent drug charges while the ‘Ethan Couches’ of America get 10 years’ probation for the senseless killing of four people, while driving drunk. The defense in the Couch case stated the 16-year-old suffered from “affluenza,” having been brought up by parents who allowed “freedoms no young person should have.”

Our community should not sit by while our young black men are killed simply for playing loud music (Jordan Davis); and another “killing” of locking our men away and throwing away the keys are done with the unjust incarceration that is happening daily. George Zimmerman, who stated he was simply standing his ground, killed a young man just because ‘he had the look.’ Our community looks away as young black men and women are given life without parole while many others are given a slap on the wrist. Child molesters and rapists are often given little or no time and soon out to offend again.

Attorney General Eric Holder and other key Democrats and Republicans have finally started to address the laws and are taking key steps to get some of the laws eliminated or changed. Recently, even Texas Governor Rick Perry at the CPAC Panel on Criminal Justice, who has presided over more executions than any oth-

er figure in American history said, “Only a nation that’s rich and stupid would continue to pour billions into a system that leaves prisoners unreformed, victims ignored and communities still living in fear of crime Justice.” Perry nor any of the other panel members touched on the fact of the racial disparities in sentencing or that black males make up 50 percent of the state and local incarceration rate for drug crimes, or that black kids are 10 times more likely than white kids to be picked up for drug offenses, despite being less likely to use drugs.

Organizations like Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) and FedCURE are trying to take a stand against the unjust laws. Petitions are being placed in Congress to bring federal parole and other just laws back into our judicial system. I am doing my part and writing local congressmen/women, senators local and abroad, Attorney General Holder, and even President Obama in hopes they will open their eyes to this injustice and find other means of rehabilitation and incarceration. I also hope they can see and hear from some of the families, like mine, who are affected when long prison terms are given with no real benefit. I am also trying to get the message out there to some of the rappers, leaders, and activists in our community; who can rap about being incarcerated and say they know the prison struggle, but still do nothing when they are released, to stop the vicious cycle and maybe help other black boys and girls from getting incarcerated.

For unity in our community, we cannot just celebrate our history and heritage in February…we have to be our own activist year round. I am fighting for my husband and other family members caught up in a judicial system that continues not to show justice…it continues to be affecting just us!

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March/April 15th 2014

9.

Black Professional Cowboys and Cowgirls Association Hosts 15th Annual Heritage Day

By Valerie Jones

F

Contributing Writer

riends, family, fun…and horses. Attendees of the Black Professional Cowboys and Cowgirls Association’s (BPCCA) 15th Annual Heritage Day Rodeo were treated to that and more. The theme for this year’s event, held at Humble Civic Center, was a “Salute to Cancer Survivors,” and it benefitted the BPCCA Scholarship Fund.

“The Heritage Day is an all-black rodeo and the largest black rodeo in the Houston area,” said BPCCA vice president Dena Hawkins. “It showcases African American cowboys and cowgirls. We have all types of food—BBQ, crawfish, etc.— there’s Zydeco bands performing and also a championship rodeo, which serves as a platform for African American cowboys and cowgirls to showcase their talents.”

Hawkins’ father Dwight Judge is the founding CEO of BPCCA, but Hawkins will soon take the reins and his duties.

“We have a really good team of people helping with BPCCA, which includes my family,” Hawkins said.

The Heritage Day Black Rodeo is BPCCA’s largest event. There’s also a kickoff dance and a scholarship gala held annually in May or June. The Black Rodeo benefits the scholarships. Since 1999, BPCCA has given more than 150 scholarships totaling more than $110,000.

Hiawatha Johnson, Jr. was a 2004 BPCCA President’s Award scholarship recipient.

“I’ve known about the BPCCA since its inception in 1999. My scholarship was $500. I love organizations that give scholarships some people may consider nominal. But those scholarships are extremely beneficial to a college student and can help cover costs other than tuition, such as books,” Johnson said. “The scholarship

amounts have now increased to $1,500.

That just goes to show how much the BPCCA has grown.”

2014 marks Johnson’s 10th year being involved with BPCCA. He even implemented a program into the organization: the college prep forum for high school seniors. The program has been around for five years.

“I majored in Education and I have a passion for youth and education,” he said. “Our programs are about the Black Cowboy experience, but also about education.”

The college prep forum, which Johnson describes as “his baby,” is for BPCCA scholarship recipients. Local individuals who are thriving in their respective fields as well as college students are invited to the forum to encourage prospective college students and share insight of what is to be expected from college life.

“The college prep forum allows us to grow as an organization and gives us an

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alumni base,” he said.

Hiawatha said it’s important for young people to learn the rich history of African American cowboys and cowgirls. Events such as the Black Rodeo help to spread the knowledge.

“Each year, we have different themes,” he said. “We’ve saluted cowboys, educators and many more, but this year we really wanted to reach out to cancer survivors. There are so many more people affected than those that are diagnosed.

The rodeo is a community event and it’s a family event. Cancer affects both.”

Johnson said BPCCA founder Dwight Judge is one of his personal mentors, but he feels extremely confident in Hawkins’ ability to take over the position.

“Dena is phenomenal. She wears a lot of hats. For her to take over this organization, that speaks to her greatness as a leader. She’s more than equipped to do the job.”

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March/April 15th 2014

Young Black Professionals Showing Houston that ‘Legends Do Live’

By Valerie Jones

W Contributing Writer

hat does it mean to be “Legendary?” Attendees of the recent Legendary Launch Party became privy to the answer when Legendary members revealed what they had been working on for years.

“Legendary is a collective group of individuals that came together to better the youth through engaging interviews, social media and live events,” said Jarren Small, founder of Legendary.

The launch party featured interview clips of some of the “Legends,” including Brad Gilmore and Ken Randle.

“The reason for the launch was to showcase the interviews and let the city and community at large know what legendary is,” said Legendary co-founder Douglas Johnson. “We wanted to give the community something that is different, specifically for helping other kids.” d-mars.com’s own MR. D-MARS was also interviewed and is featured on the website as a Legend.

“I think Legendary is so connected to what we do at d-mars.com every day – inspiring, informing and educating – and I was honored to be considered a legend,”

said MR. D-MARS. “Often times, you see people’s glory, but you never know their story. These interviews allow people to hear the stories – pain, passion and purpose – right from the legends’ mouths.

That’s a part of being legendary.”

The Legendary members all have a variety of interests, backgrounds, beliefs and experiences, but they all share the same common vision: establishing and maintaining a culture which promotes higher social, economic and intellectual status while strengthening the community for young professionals.

“We are all entrepreneurs under the age of 25 that now collectively put on a series of interviews, with everybody from Hou-

ston City Controller Ronald C. Green to rapper/actor David Banner,” Johnson said. “We share their unique stories to let the world know that they are real people.”

Legendary’s members have a lot of things planned for future growth, including another series of interviews to be released on their website as well as planning more events, including a 5K run/walk in the spring. The organization also partnered recently with Houston Television Network (HTV).

To learn more about Legendary, visit the website legendsdolive.com.

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March/April 15th 2014

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March/April 15th 2014

Communication 101

April 13 Marks the Induction of the

1000 Men in Black Empowerment Expo Series

T

By Dr. S. Terri Smith Contributing Writer

here is nothing more important in any relationship than communication. The biggest impact you make on the people around you is done by the words you choose to speak when you communicate your thoughts and feelings.

The definition of communication is the exchange of ideas, messages and information, and because we grow up talking we have conditioned ourselves to believe that communication comes naturally. The truth is talking comes naturally but communication is an art form that has to be practiced and cultivated. However, there are three simple steps that can help get you on your way to developing strong communication skills.

1. Learn to be a good listener. James 1:19 – (AMP) Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. Whenever there is an issue or dispute, especially among loved ones, listening to what the other person is saying shows them that you care about what they are saying to you. When the person you are communicating with knows that you care about them, their defenses come down and they are more willing to share with you what’s truly in their heart.

2. Make sure your first response is always positive. Proverbs 15:1 – (AMP) A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. If your first response is negative or judgmental, you will immediately shut down the lines

of communication and any hope of resolving your situation. You want to make sure that the atmosphere remains positive; therefore, you must choose your words carefully. It would prove more productive for you to put your conversation on hold and come back later with something positive than for you to begin by saying the wrong thing.

3. You must always wait for a response. Proverbs 12:15 – (AMP) The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who listens to counsel is wise. This is a very critical point in your conversation.

You have listened to what they had to say and you have responded positively. It’s in their response to you that you discover whether they have actually heard and received what you had to say. When they can express to you how they are going to handle the information that you have given them is when you know that the conversation was a success or has the potential for success. If there is no response, there is no real exchange. If there is no exchange, there is no real communication.

In our high-tech, microwavable society we are slowly loosing the art of communication. But these are three simple steps that you can put to work in your life.

Show the people around you how important they are to you by becoming vulnerable enough to communicate in a manner that breaks down the walls of insecurity that separate us all. Begin communicating today!

Dr. S. Terri Smith is the author of Developing the D.I.V.A. in You! You can find this and other materials by Dr. Smith by visiting her website: www.lmfc.org.

Actor/Singer/Philanthropist Bruce Johnson brings awareness to the needs of veterans and "men in transition" with an expo created to enrich and empower.

The 1000 Men in Black Empowerment Expo, the first of its series, will take place in Humble, Texas on April 13, 2014 from 2pm-6pm at the Humble Civic Center.

The expo centers around veterans and "men in transition." The event will include speakers and an awards presentation. The expo is expected to be supported by area churches, U.S. Army groups, schools, community leaders and corporate sponsors.

"April 13 will be a landmark day that will make a move towards molding and reshaping the minds of men across the nation," explained the expo's founder, Bruce Johnson. "We hope to empower these seemingly forgotten men to pursue their dreams and to foster hope for a more

productive future. Our goal is to assist our veterans and our community ‘men in transition’ to encourage, to educate and to equip them for a better tomorrow. We are in the business of changing lives...one man at a time."

The keynote speaker for the 1000 Men In Black Empowerment Expo will be New York Times top 10, best-selling author and educator Mr. Stedman Graham. Other esteemed speakers scheduled to appear are Expo founder Bruce Johnson, Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, Sam Bean, Pastor Keith D. Porter, and Community Leader Keith “MR. DMARS” Davis. The host will be Melinda Spaulding, Fox 26 News Anchor, and entertainment for the afternoon will be musical artist Broderick E. Hooey and The Kingwood High School Jazz and Orchestra Band and Humble High School Marching Band.

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March/April 15th 2014

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March/April 15th 2014

Metamorphosis Women's Conference 2014

Buffalo Soldiers National Museum Hosts Annual Gala The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum (BSNM) 14th Annual Gala “Honoring Our Military� Judge Advocate Generals was held recently at the Bayou City Event Center.

The gala included featured guest U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro and special guest Attorney Lisa M. Tatum, President of State Bar of Texas. The keynote speaker was At-

torney Travis J. Sales of Partner Baker Botts, LLP and The Duke of Earl Gene Chandler put on a special performance.

The BSNM is a nonprofit institution founded in 2000 by Vietnam veteran and African American military historian Captain Paul J. Matthews.

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March/April 15th 2014

15.

Changing Your Thinking to Reach for the STAAR

By J. T. Myers, M. Ed, MRT

W Contributing Writer

ith the great anticipation of a yearly benchmark, STAAR inches closer to the April’s dawning of each school’s doorway. Alas, for concerned students and parents it does not have to be an unwelcomed greeting.

The State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) is a more challenging test than past tests; it measures whether a student is learning on a college ready level, as opposed to the prior basic minimum skills measure of TAKS. Change is always challenging because it poses new realities and pressures people out of their comfort zones. To do well on this more rigorous and four-hour time constrained test, students are required to be well-prepared, relaxed and extremely focused throughout the tests. The essence of how important these three factors are to a student’s success on this test cannot be underestimated.

Preparation is defined as the state of being ready. It is what is necessary to be capable and equipped to complete a task.

The success of a student on STAAR is more pivotal than just accelerating to the next grade level. It places a heavy burden on whether a student will be adequately prepared to compete in a global economy.

The success on this test holds serious consequences for each child in Texas’ future.

This means will a child possess the skills needed to have a fighting chance to level the global playing field for careers in the future against others who are competing from outside the United States for the same careers?

Well-prepared means more than just being proficient or satisfactory, or doing strategies on a test; it requires a consistency of practice and diligence to continue to foster critical thinking when a question is posed on a test. Students must prepare through not just mnemonics, strategies, or definitions of concepts alone, but through acquiring vital critical thinking skills. These critical thinking skills will not only be an imperative skill to be successful on tests, but also in life. It is through these thinking skills that students learn how to not be falsely misled based purely on facts,

red herrings, and biased opinions, but to read information and analyze it through their own thoughts. Relaxation is another key component to students doing well on the STAAR test.

If a person is stressed and uptight it only leads to mental blocks in thinking and anxious or hurried responses on exams. Placing undue pressure on students to do well only yields the opposite effect.

For students to be at their very best, they must feel confident in what they can do and assured that they are knowledgeable so it will show on the test. Parents can do this by encouraging students throughout the period leading up to the test and during the days of testing to keep the mood light as well as offering sincere words of praise reassurance. Focus is the edge that will allow students to nail all the components of what has been taught to them down on the test. A student must not

wane and lose focus while reading stories, and not paying careful attention to the language of word problems, questions or important details on the test. It is from this a student will sink or swim to success.

Students have an uncanny ability to focus on things such as television, computers, iPads, iPods, and video games with uninterrupted concentration and without adult prompting. These same students appear to sometimes be unable to do the same when working on academic tasks.

This can be channeled by marrying academic and entertainment into one. There are several resources that parents can purchase which entertain as well as prepare students for this test. The fee ranges from $2.99 per mobile app to $9.99 per subject at educationgalaxy.com/mobile-appsSTAAR-math or www.txstaar.com/ipadproducts. Use any resources that have valid content and practice to stretch students’ ability to concentrate on academic tasks more thoroughly because this will enhance their success on STAAR. Whether you are a parent, teacher, coach, or mentor, you must do everything in your power to identify students’ gifts, inspire their dreams, and provide them with the strategies outlined in this article and more to be successful on this STAAR test that will ultimately affect the future of their economic, social, and educational lives.

1Whichever comes first. For full details on BMW Ultimate Service® visit bmwusa.com/ultimateservice. ©2013 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.

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It’s your moment.

No matter your passion, HCC can help turn your dreams into reality.

If you’re just getting started, or starting a new chapter, we have the skills and knowledge that meet your goals and your schedule.

HCC has convenient locations and hundreds of programs and degree plans. What are you waiting for? Go get it.

It’s yours.

Your journey begins here.

Register today at hccs.edu

Learn about our logistics program, and many more at HCC.

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HE HEARD MY CRY FELLOWSHIP

he heard my cry

Mission Statement HHMCF is dedicated to following the Word of God, feeding the flock the Word of God and fellowshipping with the saints. That the lost might be saved, the saved might be fed and equipped to edify the body of Christ.

Faith-Filled

Pastor Claude Cummings, Wife Joaquina Cummings & Daughter Jillian I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

-Psalm 116: 1-2

Bible-Based

Family-Friendly

Sunday Morning Worship

Starts at 9:00 AM at the Communication Workers of America Building

1730 Jefferson St., Houston, Tx 77003

Phone: 713.581.0852 | Email: Info@hhmcf.com | www.hhmcf.com | Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

He Heard My Cry