VOL. XXXIII • SEPTEmBER 26, 2019
50 cents
Paid Parental Leave Policy
Arresting Black Children
Dallas City Council approves budget, census count underway State/Metro Pg 2
By DIANE XAVIER The Dallas Examiner
The Dallas City Council unanimously approved the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget of $3.8 billion at its Sept. 18 City Council briefing. It was the first time since 2014 the council voted unanimously, 15-0, in favor of approving the budget. “I want to congratulate everyone here for getting to this final step and passing this budget,” Mayor Eric Johnson said. “We’ve had four workshops on the budget, and we have heard from citizens across numerous town halls of which several I was able to attend. We have had three public hearings on the budget, and we have asked a lot of questions and have heard several amendments to this budget. I hope that today we approve a budget that reflects our commitment to public safety,
but also continues much-needed human and social programs and demonstrates our fiscal restraint by not increasing our property tax rate by holding steady.” Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax also thanked the community for their involvement at the town hall meetings regarding the budget. “I want to thank the community for showing up to the 41-plus community meetings regarding the budget,” Broadnax said. “There was great insight given and many more needs addressed by the community.” A large portion of the budget will go toward public safety and first responders. About $162 million will go toward the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System, which is an increase of $5.2 million from last year. The fiscal year will begin Oct. 1. The City Council also heard a briefing on the Dallas 2020
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr..The Texas Tribune
Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, chief of staff for the city of Dallas – The Dallas Examiner screenshot from the city of Dallas video
census. “Ensuring a full count is vital to our city,” Johnson said. “We will lose $1600 every year per person for every person we don’t count. If you add that up, an undercount will cost us millions of dollars in federal funding for roads, schools and health care.” Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, chief of staff for the city of Dallas, stressed the importance of getting the census accurate. “We know that we have to get the census right,” Tolbert said.
White House – Official White House photo
“There is no room for us to not put the effort in place to ensure that every single residence in this community is counted. Our census team is working hard, and we made a lot of good progress in this last year, and we are working with the mayor’s Complete Count Committee and really building those important partnerships that will really help us make this census effort successful.” Brett Wilkinson, managing director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships and Government Affairs for the city of Dallas, said the U.S. Constitution mandates a census count must be held every 10 years. “Those dollars have direct impact on planning for schools, transportation, health programs and other community needs,” Wilkinson explained. “The census information is used to
See City Council Page 9
President Donald J. Trump during a bilateral meeting Tuesday at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. – Official White House photo by Shealah Craighead
White House drama shakes up battleground Texas races By PATRICK SVITEK and ABBY LIVINGSTON The Texas Tribune
WASHINGTON – It was almost another one of those Trump-era days when the mayhem of the national capital could be felt back home in Texas. Except this day felt bigger, more consequential, and some members said, possibly even a little frightening. House Democrats moved swiftly and with fierce determination toward impeachment after a whistleblower revealed information about a phone call between President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. It was an unfathomable act only a week ago, as members of Congress grappled over revelations that Trump allegedly withheld military aid from Ukraine in exchange for a politicized investigation into the business activities of the son of his possible 2020 rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. “We were not expecting this. We didn’t orchestrate this,” said U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat, later adding, “This is frightening. I just don’t think we can wait much longer.” Democrats across the Capitol echoed her sentiment. There was a startled sense to the way the day played out. What made the moment so dramatic was that, across the country and in Texas, vulnerable freshmen Democrats said they would push for impeachment if the Trump administration did not release a whistleblower complaint over the Ukranian matter.
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Few seemed interested in discussing the possible reelection ramifications back home in their districts, and the political mood changed so quickly that it appeared some of these Democrats were flying blind – they had not had time to test out how impeachment will play in their districts. “Here you have a clear case of the president abusing his power very directly against a political rival; the Mueller report involved many different pieces … this is a much more direct interaction that the president had with a foreign president,” said U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, echoing numerous other Capitol Hill Democrats Tuesday. The dramatic turn began Tuesday morning, when U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, issued a statement saying that if the director of national intelligence did not turn over the whistleblower report, “the only remaining option is for the House to begin impeachment proceedings.” About two hours later, U.S. Rep. Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, D-Houston, put out a statement saying that the House “should act swiftly to investigate and should be prepared to use the remedy exclusively in its power: impeachment.” The statements from the two most endangered Texas Democrats in Congress – both flipped historically red districts last year – drew swift criticism from national GOP groups and the Republican Texas candidates already targeting the two in 2020. Fletcher was a particular focal point for Republican umbrage. One of her challengers, military veteran Wesley Hunt, released a flood of robocalls to voters in the
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district that said Fletcher “is just like the radical squad – she hates President Trump so much that it distorts her view of reality. I’m Wesley Hunt and I will stand with President Trump.” Allred’s and Fletcher’s races weren’t the only ones in Texas where the growing impeachment drumbeat reverberated Tuesday. Hours before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s announcement, Wendy Davis, the leading Democratic candidate to challenge U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, joined the impeachment calls with a statement that sought to thread a needle, calling on lawmakers to “launch an impeachment inquiry and then immediately return the focus” to issues like health care. Among the Texas GOP congressmen who chose to weigh in Tuesday, skepticism and caution were common. The group included U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul – another Republican in a tough reelection fight – who spoke out in his capacity as the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “Unfortunately, House Democrats are moving forward to impeach President Trump based on only press reports and hearsay,” he said. “It’s a disappointing rush to judgment because we don’t even have the basic facts yet.” The three Democrats challenging McCaul, meanwhile, had all backed an impeachment inquiry before Tuesday. One of them, Austin doctor Pritesh Gandhi, issued a statement Thursday afternoon calling on the incumbent to “set politics aside and
See Impeachment Page 7
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Perspectives Pg 5
The Indigent Project – Part VI Free at last, a new path
Attorney Drew Willey (left) and U.S. Marine vet Marvin Wilford – Photos by Trevor Paulhus/The Texas Tribune and Texas Monthly
By NEENA SATIJA
Texas Tribune and Texas Monthly
“Are we ready on Wilford?” asked Sage. It was Nov. 30, 2018, and through a gray door, Wilford entered the Travis County courtroom, a sweater peeking out from under his jail uniform. His new lawyer, a 42-year-old with a scruffy beard named Andy Casey, patted him on the back. After replying softly to a few questions from the judge, Wilford was taken to jail one last time, for processing. With that, he was free. After almost a year of waiting, it was an anticlimactic ending. Not even his wife was there to celebrate. She’d caught the flu and was stuck at home. To Wilford, the lack of fanfare was perfectly emblematic of how simple his case could have been. Casey had called Christine Wilford as soon as he was appointed to the case. It had taken a few months, but he’d examined the evidence, witness list and video, then negotiated a deal with the prosecutor: If Marvin Wilford pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault for being involved in the scuffle, the felony charges would be dropped. The maximum sentence was a year, which Wilford had already served. “The one thing you do see him carrying in the video is a cane,” Casey said. A month later during Christmas, Christine had bought him a ring to wear next to his wedding band, a symbol of all they’d been through together. Marvin had applied for a small business loan to start an online hat shop; his mother had loved hats, and he planned to name the venture after her: Marie Antoinette and Sons Hat Shop. He could not speak about Espersen without getting agitated. “How old does a Black man have to be before y’all stop trying to destroy his life?” he asked. During a meeting with Sage in regard to Espersen’s caseload, she noted that the numbers can be misleading. Sitting in her office, she pulled up a spreadsheet from her own courtroom. “As of Jan. 2, I have the most cases [of any judge],” she declared – specifically, 1,200. “That’s not for the whole year. Just right now.” But one defendant on her list, for instance, was facing 20 charges. Handling 20 cases for one person is very different from handling the cases of 20 people, Sage stressed. It’s true that caseload numbers come with caveats. Casey, for example, was overloaded, yet he still managed to give Wilford the necessary attention. But his caseload was not nearly as high as Espersen’s. And, it’s also true that Sage doesn’t deal with 1,200 cases by herself; she has a team of prosecutors who have their own staff, including investigators and assistants – resources that most defense attorneys do not
See Indigent Page 3
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Page 2 September 26, 2019
STATE/mETRO
DeSoto’s paid parental leave will go into effect next month Special to The Dallas Examiner
The city of DeSoto will offer full-time city employees with at least a year of service time three paid weeks off after the birth of a child. This policy goes into effect Oct. 1, making it the first city in North Texas to guarantee paid parental leave for city employees. Councilwoman Candice Quarles proposed this benefit for all city employees because she believed it would fix a broken system where new parents are forced to piece together vacation, sick and unpaid time off from work to get a bare minimum of time with their newborns. As a mother, this issue was personal for Quarles. She said she and her husband enjoyed bonding time with their daughter when she was born, but there were complications. Quarles was restricted to bed rest and had to use most of her sick and vacation time before she was born prior to the birth. “Even if all goes well in a pregnancy, we should allow new moms and dads the allimportant time to care, nurture and bond with their child. Anything less is putting our women and families at risk,” she stated. Before the policy was passed, many testimonies were given in support of the policy including local elected official Candace Valenzuela, a school board trustee in Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. “Children are not a luxury
DeSoto Councilwoman Candice Quarles represents Place 6. – Official photo
item; children are an investment in the long-term care and growth of a city. If your city employees are setting an example for that, you’re going to have sustainable growth for generations” Valenzuela stated. Policy details: • Three weeks of leave for all employees. • Employees are eligible after one year of full-time service with the city of DeSoto. • Parental leave is separate from sick or vacation and not required to exhaust the other PTO. • In the case of a married couple, both parents will be allowed to take the designated time off, as long as the time is not concurrently. Quarles now urges other leaders to follow suit to support the modern workforce. The United States remains the only country in the developed world that does not mandate employers offer paid leave for new mothers – 25% of women in the U.S. have to go back to work in
just two weeks to make ends meet, and only 14% of civilian workers have access paid parental leave. “Most women do not have enough PTO for the full 12 weeks allowable by FMLA law and are exhausting all of their leave balances and receiving no pay to spend time with their newborns,” Quarles explained. Research shows paid parental leave is necessary for working families and benefits both families and businesses through estimated costs, potential savings and anticipated outcomes. This is backed up by the nation’s first statewide paid leave program in California. Paid family leave helps employers because it can increase employee morale, productivity and labor force attachment once new parents return to work. It has a positive effect on infant and maternal health, reducing the rates of infant mortality and stress and depression for mothers, according to a study by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. “As a mother of a toddler and having spent 12 years in human resources, I know that new mothers are making the hard choice of going back to work sooner than ready because they cannot afford to stay home with a new baby,” Quarles shared. “Parents should not have to choose between a paycheck or leaving a newborn child. It’s 2019. We can do better, and we will do better in the city of DeSoto.”
Around the State
Special to The Dallas Examiner
DALLAS “Small Businesses Get Ready, Set, Grow,” with four work sessions, is designed to help small businesses with preparing loan portfolios that will help them access funds available to them from lending institutions. The Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Community Outreach Center and PeopleFund have partnered to teach and help small-business owners learn about funds that are available to them and how to prepare a portfolio to help access those funds. PeopleFund provides small-business loans to established businesses, nonprofits and startups, creating economic opportunity and financial stability. The sessions will be held Sept. 26, Oct. 1, Oct. 8 and Oct. 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Frazier House, 4600 Spring Ave. Sessions will explore a new topic at each session and provide information on the various aspects of building a business loan portfolio. The objective of these sessions, said Frances Smith-Dean, executive director of the ZWHJCOC, is to help educate new and existing small businesses, with an emphasis on those in the Southern Sector, on funds available to them and how to prepare their loan portfolios. Information will include: • Which institution best fits the needs of the business. • How loan tiers work. • How to properly complete a business plan. • Features that loan officers look for in business plans. • The importance of good credit. • The importance of relationship
building with a banker. Loan officers will be onsite as part of the final activity so participants can submit their loan applications for consideration for a loan. Sessions are free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided. For more information, email info@zwhjcoc.org. To register, go to http://www.zwhjcoc.org and click on “Classes.”
DALLAS The Eighth Anniversary No More Violence Organization Memorial Service, themed “Celebration of Life,” will honor survivors as well as their families and children, Sept. 29, with a processional starting at 3:30 p.m. at Southern Bible Institute, located at 7200 S. Hampton Road. The service will start at 4 p.m. in the chapel of Eternal Rest Funeral Home, located at 1400 N. Hampton Road in DeSoto. Participants include the Foundation Children’s Choir at Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, the Anointed Men of Praise and the Young Men of Praise at Forest Avenue Baptist Church, Mission 2 Mime Ministry, Triple D Dance Company and Silent Connection Mime Ministry at Concord Church. No More Violence Organization provides support to families who have lost a child to acts of violence by providing a memorable celebration of life by capturing the person’s essence through personal touches displayed on a table for funerals, wakes, birthdays, candlelight vigils, balloon releases, etc. The group also offers assistance with funeral planning. For more information, contact Pratricia at 972-805-7648 or 214- 868-2673.
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Indigent,
continued from Front Page
have. In addition, it’s rare for a single person to face 20 charges; on average, one defendant in Travis County has 1.6 pending cases. The caseload for a lawyer like Espersen reflected this average: In 2015, for example, his clients in Travis County numbered 384 and his cases 424 – not a huge disparity. Could she really make the case, I asked, that a lawyer with almost 400 new clients a year could serve all of them well, or even adequately? Sage spun back and forth in her chair. “That’s a lot of cases,” she said. “Lawyers have a personal responsibility. They know what they can handle. Do we really need to tell a lawyer, ‘Don’t do that?’” That question would swirl around Austin for most of the spring. In a series of heated exchanges, criminal
justice reform advocacy groups, supported by Democratic county leaders, argued publicly that the managed assigned counsel model had not solved either excessive caseloads or judicial interference – and that the only solution was to expand the county’s public defender’s office after all. But resistance from defense lawyers and judges was fierce, and it took until late May for Travis County to submit a proposal to the TIDC. The proposal asks the state for about $24 million over five years and commits the public defender’s office, if expanded, to strict caseload limits based on TIDC recommendations. It also asks for more resources for CAPDS. The TIDC, which received a funding boost from this year’s Legislature of about $14 million a year, must now decide whether to fund the requested state grant; a decision is expected at the end of August.
Of course, for longtime observers of Texas’ criminal justice system, it’s precisely this piecemeal approach – a few extra public defenders here, some added funding there – that dooms poor defendants to inadequate representation. “The only way to do this correctly is to have a statewide system with standards that’s properly funded,” said Jeff Blackburn, an Amarillo-based lawyer who founded the Innocence Project of Texas. Class-action lawsuits are forcing this issue elsewhere: In New York, for example, after a historic settlement with the New York Civil Liberties Union, the state will spend $250 million a year on indigent services, a burden once shouldered almost entirely by its counties. It’s likely that no such class-action suit will take place in Texas anytime soon – the idea of a statewide public defender system
Page 3 September 26, 2019
Kimberly Clark-Washington, a mental health clinician, works at the Harris County public defender’s office in Houston. – Photos by Trevor Paulhus/The Texas Tribune and Texas Monthly
does not have broad constituency in a place this large and diverse – so until then, change at the state level will require action by the Legislature. And as a practical matter, that won’t happen without approval from judges, as former state Sen. Rodney Ellis found out 20 years ago. “Judges who will remain nameless still try and tell me that the judge picking the lawyer is better because they pick people who are capable. How do you say that with a straight face?” said Ellis, who is now a commissioner for Harris County. Even the TIDC is an example of this complicated dynamic. Though by law it has the power to set maximum caseloads for lawyers across the state, it has never done so. Only the agency’s board can approve such a move, and the board is led by Sharon Keller, the presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. “We really do think that people in the local jurisdiction know best,” she explained. After showing her that caseload data shows some lawyers doing what the TIDC’s own study says is the work of at least five lawyers, she replied, “I don’t even know if that’s wrong. The guidelines are a point of reference, and they’re not absolute.” In the meantime, it may be that lawsuits at the individual level, like Willey’s,
are the surest way to force incremental change. In April, the Houston lawyer saw his efforts resolve quietly when his suit against Ewing ended with a settlement and both parties agreed “not to cause or ask others to violate the Texas Fair Defense Act.” It wasn’t exactly a bold finish – “Nothing in this settlement should be considered as an admission by Judge Ewing of any wrongdoing,” read the files – but Willey saw it as a limited victory. “There’s a federal judgment now, dictating that he must agree to follow the law,” he said. Meanwhile, Harris County had seen its own changes: After a sweep of Democratic judges came into office in November, the public defender’s office budget nearly doubled, to $21 million a year. Its juvenile division – whose attorneys had been receiving an average of 141 cases per year, versus the 300-plus cases per year given to some private attorneys – had started receiving enough cases to hire three more lawyers. The county was also exploring managed assigned counsel for its court appointments, including – in a radical move – a proposal that lawyers adhere to TIDC caseload recommendations. (When the print edition of Texas Monthly with this story went to press, Harris County’s felony judges had not agreed to such a pro-
posal.) “Travis County did it backward,” explained chief public defender Bunin, who was feeling hopeful about these changes. “You need a public defender and then a managed assigned counsel.” In June, Willey’s fundraising for Restoring Justice was going so well that he’d hired an executive director; he’d also secured a partnership with the Houston Texans. But the change in Harris County judges had also spelled change for him. Suddenly, he was getting court appointments in Houston and being asked to host fundraisers for friends who were now in the judiciary. That month, he’d been given work in the misdemeanor courts of judges Genesis Draper and Franklin Bynum, both former public defenders. Willey was glad for the appointments, of course, but he was also developing a nagging sense of discomfort. He revealed a message he’d received from a supporter after the news of his settlement with Ewing. “I hope you didn’t settle because you are going to become like them and forget about justice for all and the underserved community,” the texted read. “I hope you don’t become a good old boy.” For a minute, Willey stared at his phone. He would save the message, he said. So that he wouldn’t forget.
Disclosure: The University of Texas, the University of Houston and Texas Tech University have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism.
Page 4 September 26, 2019
Ask the question:
When are we going to end child poverty in America? By mARIAN WRIGHT EDELmAN Children’s Defense Fund
“No child living in America today should have to worry about whether they’ll have a place to sleep at night or enough food to eat. But these are daily realities for the 1 in 6 poor children in this country. Children like me.” These are the words of 18-year-old Children’s Defense Fund–Minnesota Beat the Odds scholarship winner Israel Glenn in a petition to add a question about child poverty to an upcoming presidential debate. Israel continues: “Growing up on the North Side of Minneapolis, I know what it means to struggle. I’ve been homeless, spending school nights sleeping on park benches. I’ve been hungry, not knowing where my next meal would come from. I know what it means to have to work to support your family when you need to be focusing on school. And I know that other kids shouldn’t have to face these struggles. Every child in America should be able to focus on learning, growing and just being a kid. “Did you know it’s been 20 years since there was a question about how to address child poverty in a presidential debate? But a child is born into poverty every minute in this country. Those children will face hunger, homelessness, illness, violence and toxic stress. And those children deserve answers about how the next president of the United States is going to make sure they get a fair shot at a better life. Ignoring this issue on the national debate stage sends a signal that children living in poverty are not a priority. To fix the problem, we need to put a spotlight on it. That’s why I’m calling for a question in the presidential debates about child poverty. I want to know what the next president is going to do to make sure the next generation won’t struggle like I did.” Israel is beating the odds right now, but it hasn’t been easy. For him, growing up poor meant frequent moves through unsafe neighborhoods, bullying, periods of homelessness and bouts of hunger. He remembers times when he cried every night. When he was a sophomore in high school, he took a job with his school’s janitorial staff to help support his family and other students would deliberately make messes just to tease him as he cleaned up. Despite working 30 hours a week, Israel excelled in school. He was ul-
timately elected class president and became the first person in his family to graduate from high school and go to college. He is a college freshman and determined to keep succeeding for his whole family, especially for his mom: “I want her to be proud of me and to experience through me the things she missed doing.” He also dreams of a future in politics so he can help others – especially families living in poverty. This petition is just a start. He knows there is so much work to be done. New data released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau showed children are the poorest age group in our country. Disgracefully almost one-third of the 38.1 million poor people in the United States are children. While the data shows a reduction in child poverty in 2018, the number of poor children – 11.9 million, 16.2% of all children – remains unacceptably high. More than 70% of poor children live in working families and the youngest children are the poorest children. The odds continue to be stacked against children of color who made up nearly three-quarters of all poor children in 2018. With nearly 1 in 4 poor, they are more than 2.5 times more likely to be poor than White children. That’s why Israel and the CDF want to make sure ending child poverty now becomes an urgent national priority and make sure it’s a priority for candidates who want to be president. They should be asked their specific plans for ending it. CDF’s new Ending Child Poverty Now report showed again that the United States could help millions escape poverty now by investing in existing policies and programs to increase employment, make work pay and meet basic child needs. We’d like to hear candidates’ own innovative ideas for tackling child poverty with urgency. So let’s all ask them and keep asking them until they act to give every child a fair chance to succeed in America. As Israel says, “I was born, grew up and graduated high school while I waited for answers. I’m done waiting.” Stand up for poor children like Israel and sign the petition here: https://change.org/ childpovertyquestion
Marian Wright Edelman is founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund whose mission is Leave No Child Behind. For more information, visit http://www.childrensdefense.org.
EDITORIAL
The Dallas Examiner www.dallasexaminer.com
Passing of Juanita Abernathy inspires gratitude and inspiration By mARC H. mORIAL
National Urban League
“I started when there were no cameras and no newspapers writing nice things about you, instead they were writing all sorts of ugly things. But we kept going. It wasn’t about us. It wasn’t about me. It has always been about right and righteousness. Justice and equality. Not just for me and my family, but for all of God’s children.”
– Juanita Jones Abernathy
In this digital age, we can organize a protest march, urge a boycott or raise awareness about social issues with a click of a mouse. In the dark and dangerous days of Jim Crow, half a century ago, civil rights activism was more labor intensive. And nothing embodies the bootson-the-ground labor that was involved more than the image of Juanita Jones Abernathy, pounding away at her typewriter, creating fliers for the Montgomery Bus Boycott. “She said that if she typed with a heavy hand, she could make seven copies at once,” her son Kwame Abernathy told The New York Times. And the image of the Abernathy’s firebombed home illustrates the danger of such work. Juanita Abernathy, who passed away last week, was not only a stalwart of the 20th century Civil Rights Movement, she was a champion for marginalized people, a brilliant businesswoman and
a dedicated community servant. Her husband, Ralph Abernathy, who died in 1990, was known as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s close friend and collaborator. She, like most of the women of the Civil Rights Movement, didn’t receive their due recognition at the time, as Juanita would be the first to tell you. “The men ran the movement, but we were the actual bodies that made it happen,” she once told an interviewer. Juanita worked in the Alabama chapter of the NAACP when Rosa Parks was arrested, sparking the 381day Montgomery Bus Boycott. In addition to typing up flyers, she organized a transit plan to get people to work without patronizing the buses, arranging intricate car pools using extra cars lent by a local funeral home. A few weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, in Browder v. Gayle, that bus segregation was unconstitutional, a pregnant Juanita was at home with her toddler daughter. Her husband was away with King, organizing the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Ku Klux Klan members, enraged by the desegregation ruling, firebombed her house and First Baptist Church, where Ralph Abernathy served as pastor. She and her daughter escaped the house unharmed. The church was destroyed. The white supremacist terrorists who confessed to the bombings were acquitted by an all-White jury. Her grace, determination and bravery in the face of life-threatening danger remain overwhelmingly inspirational. Juanita was the youngest of eight children born into a farming family designated by Tuskegee Institute as the most successful Black farmers in the Black Belt in the 1940s. She
‘‘ ’’ Black History Fact
Defining myself, as opposed to being defined by others, is one of the most difficult challenges I face.
– Carol Moseley-Braun
Carol moseley–Braun was the first African American woman senator, and the second Black senator since the Reconstruction Era. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, Aug. 16, 1947. Her father, Joseph Moseley, was a policeman, and her mother, Edna “Davie” Moseley, was a medical technician. After earning a B.A. in political science in 1969, she worked on the campaign of Harold Washington – an Illinois state representative, a U.S. representative, and the first African American mayor of Chicago – and the campaign of Illinois State Senator Richard Newhouse. In 1973, she began working as a prosecutor in the office of the U.S. Attorney in Chicago until 1977. In 1978, she won election to the Illinois state house of representatives, a position she held for a decade. After an unsuccessful bid for Illinois lieutenant governor in 1986, she was elected the Cook County, Illinois, recorder of deeds in 1988, becoming the first African American to hold an executive position in Cook County. In November1991 she ran for senate and defeated her opponent with 53 percent of the vote – and became the first woman to serve on the Finance Committee. During that time, she advocated for civil rights, human rights, criminal justice, and education and families rights. After losing her 1998 bid for re-election, President Bill Clinton appointed her as the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand. She served from 1999 until 2001. Sources: Office of the Historian and the Clerk of the House's Office of Art and Archives
earned a bachelor of science degree in business education from Tennessee State University in Nashville and married Rev. Abernathy in 1952. In 1961, the family left Montgomery for Atlanta, where she worked to integrate the public schools and fought for the creation of the Food Stamp program and a National Free Meal Program for public school children. She stepped back from the Civil Rights Movement following the assassination of King and became a successful saleswoman for the Mary Kay cosmetics company, eventually rising to National Sales Director and proudly piloting a series of pink Cadillacs, the company’s signature high-sales award. Her activism continued, however, as she traveled the world on peace missions, risking her life in Northern Ireland in 1972. She fittingly occupied a place of honor at President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009. Juanita’s passing touches me personally, as she was a contemporary of my parents who were also NAACP members during those turbulent years and who also faced death threats as a result of their work. She, like my parents, have my eternal gratitude and continue to inspire not just myself but everyone in the Urban League Movement.
Marc H. Morial, former mayor of New Orleans, is president and CEO of the National Urban League.
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PERSPECTIVES
Page 5 September 26, 2019
Blessed are the children around the world By EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON
U.S. House of Representatives
It was an amazing sight witnessed last Friday by the world’s adults when nearly four million children, including many in North Texas, gathered in cities, suburban and rural areas, and in villages to express their outrage that elected officials and policymakers are doing very little to reverse a
changing climate that is a direct threat to them. The young people, many of them taking a day off from school, spoke to the world in one clear voice, declaring that their futures, their ability to earn income and to live decent and productive lives is in doubt and that doing nothing was unacceptable to them. In cities such as Cape Town, Berlin, New York, Kampala, New Delhi, Melbourne, Houston and Dallas they demanded a future in which they and their fami-
lies would be unharmed by poisonous air quality, raging storms and changing weather patterns that have recently resulted in death and destruction. In speech after speech they declared that they were frightened about their futures and reminded those who listened that they would soon be of voting age, and that they would remember those who were indifferent to them and their demands. In Houston, where Tropical Storm Imelda recently
flooded homes and destroyed property, students marched and chanted in loud voices, “Our streets flood, so we flood the streets.” Many of these same students witnessed the viciousness of Hurricane Harvey just two years ago, which brought their city and the region to a life-threatening standstill. They joined their fellow students in their outrage because they have seen the danger and witnessed the burdens that changing climates could bring.
Like their fellow students and many others, they are tired of those who refuse to take the actions that the world’s leading scientists describe as necessary. In the House of Representatives, we have passed legislation designed to stop the rise of dangerous greenhouse gas emissions whose presence in our atmosphere leads to the warming of our planet. The Republican-controlled Senate has refused to consider the legislation, aligning itself with President Trump and his administration.
The children are being purposeful, and we should be very proud of them. They bring great meaning to the words that are found in 3 John 1:4, which reads, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas in the United States House of Representatives. She also chairs the House committee on Science, Space and Technology.
When Black police officers feed racial injustice By SUSAN K. SmITH Crazy Faith Ministries
There is no reason any 6-yearold child who has misbehaved should be arrested, handcuffed and fingerprinted. And while incidences of Black children being arrested by White officers are not all that uncommon, it is reprehensible when the officer arresting and handcuffing a Black child is a Black police officer. Kaia Rolle, 6, was arrested after having a temper tantrum. The arresting officer, one Dennis L. Turner, arrested another child, age 8, in the same school on the same day. The identity of the second child has not been revealed. Turner is a Black man. Reports say that Kaia, a student at the Lucious and Emma Nixon Academy, kicked another student during a tantrum. Officer Turner, an Orlando school resource offi-
cer, arrested her, going so far as to handcuff and fingerprint her, according to The New York Times and Heavy.com. Turner apparently has a reputation for being violent and abusive, even toward his own children. In 1998, he was charged with aggravated child abuse in an incident involving his own son who was 7 at the time. It is one thing to see White officers brutalize Black people, including children, but when the officer perpetrating violence against a Black person and, more specifically, a Black child, the disgust is palpable. From the outside, it looks and feels as though police officers have unbridled authority to be violent. I have long argued that all a police officer has to say to avoid being held accountable for their violence is “I was in fear for my life.” That sentence is a dealbreaker when it comes to the victim of police violence seeking justice. But what is it in the psyche of a person that results in his committing
violent acts against children, even those as young as 6 years of age? Times have surely changed. In my young life, I saw some of my classmates and other students as well commit what looked like violent acts toward each other, but nobody was arrested. At best, you were put into a corner; at worst, you were sent to the principal’s office. You were made to understand that what you had done was wrong, but nobody was branded as a criminal. What makes today’s officers – and perhaps school officials – think that criminalizing children for doing what children do – is acceptable behavior? How can those who are charged with taking care of and teaching children be all right with this heinous practice, and how can police departments sanction it? It will not work to say that “kids are badder” than they used to be. Every generation thinks that children are worse than they used to be. They attribute the erosion and disappearance of “good” children to a number of things, including the absence of prayer in school.
Never mind that prayer in school never stopped children from misbehaving. It is through misbehavior that children learn what is right and what is wrong, what is acceptable and what is not. Children have to be held accountable, or they do not learn, and that causes problems for them later in life. But misbehavior is not a crime, and children who misbehave are not criminals. If they were, or if misbehavior was a crime, all of us would have police records. The fact that Officer Turner, a Black man living in a White world, chose to arrest this little girl and another child in the same day, says something about the mindset of police officers in general and about this man in particular. The sanction of police brutality is an abuse of power, but when the brutality or excessive force involves children this young, it indicates that living in a violent world controlled by white supremacist mores does severe psychic damage to White officers generally and specifically to Black
officers, who work hard to assimilate into the police officer culture. Our children need someone “out there” to protect them. They are sitting targets for all kinds of unfair treatment due to what’s accepted as normal in a society which does not value them. No officer who commits excessive force should be allowed to continue working, but officers who accost children need to be fired. Child abuse is never acceptable. And it is even less acceptable when the officer accused of abusing a young Black child is himself or herself Black. Turner should be kicked off the force. Perhaps he should have been kicked off a long time ago.
Rev. Dr. Susan K. Smith is the founder and director of Crazy Faith Ministries. Contact her at revsuekim@sbcglobal.net. Her latest book, Rest for the Justice-Seeking Soul, is now available for preorder through Barnes and Noble at http://bit.ly/restbn or through Amazon at http://bit.ly/restamazon.
Debt collectors target minorities, people making under $50K By CHARLENE CROWELL Center for Responsible Lending
A new survey asked likely voters across the country what they thought of a proposed debt collection rule. The response was strong and broad opposition. Proposed earlier this year by Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Kathleen Kraninger, the rule would authorize debt collectors to expand how often consumers could be contacted as well as the ways such contacts could be made: email, text messages and more. Conducted by Lake Research Partners and Chesapeake Beach Consulting, the poll was jointly commissioned by the Americans for Financial Reform and the Center for Responsible Lending. The results, released on Sept. 11, found stark opposition by consumers to regulatory reforms announced by the CFPB.
Consumers are strongly united in wanting more and better protection in this area of financial regulation. One in 5 poll participants were contacted by a debt collector in the past 12 months for different types of debt – including medical. Consumers of color, lowerincome consumers and military families were contacted at higher rates. More than 1 in 3 Black consumers (34%) or consumers with incomes less than $50,000 (33%), were contacted. Among Latinx consumers, nearly half or 48% were contacted. Likely voters were most concerned about three specific changes included in the CFPB debt collection proposal: • 76% opposed allowing debt collectors to leave messages for people in places that are not private. • 74% opposed allowing debt collectors to contact consumers by private direct messaging on social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter. • 73% opposed allowing debt collectors to phone
people as often as seven times a week for each debt in collection. “It should not surprise any of us that Americans don’t support government-sanctioned harassment by debt collectors via phone, email or text,” said AFR Senior Policy Counsel Linda Jun. “And yet that’s exactly what the Kraninger CFPB is proposing. The agency needs to withdraw this plan and come up with one that actually protects consumers.” The real irony with CFPB is that for six years consumers benefited from a series of actions that helped 29 million consumers to receive nearly $12 billion in restitution and/or forgiveness. Additionally, multiple public forums held across the country on a variety of issues gave consumers and all stakeholder interests meaningful opportunities to help shape public policy developments. Research released by the CFPB has documented the harm of abusive debt collection practices and shown the rippling consequences of financial services
practices as large as mortgages and as small as payday loans. Under the Trump administration, a consistent and focused deregulation effort has been underway to turn CFPB into a toothless tiger. It’s almost as if CFPB now stands for Corporate Financial Protection Bureau. Rather than living up to its name, CFPB eschews consumers and defers to companies and their preferences as to what financial regulation should look like. The administration has also repeatedly emphasized consumer information and education while predatory lenders pick the pockets of unsuspecting consumers. The error in this approach is that being aware of what should occur will not and cannot change punitive practices that earn billions of dollars for the corporations abusing consumers. These actions are particularly suspect when one considers that debt collection complaints have been among the chief consumer complaints filed at both the
CFPB and the Federal Trade Commission. Under CFPB’s first director, the agency filed more than 25 federal enforcement actions against debt collectors and creditors that deliver $300 million in restitution and another $100 million in civil penalties due to deceptive and abusive debt collection practices. From weakening the bureau’s Office of Fair Lending, to rewriting the long-awaited payday-lending rule that required lenders to ensure that borrowers can afford to repay these smalldollar loans that come with big costs, businesses and corporations are being coddled while consumers remain caught in harassing debt collection practices and debt trap loans. “Bad policies from Washington are often the brainchild of people who aren’t personally impacted by them,” said Jeremy Funk, spokesman for Allied Progress, a consumer advocacy organization. “Maybe spamming the spammer-inchief at the CFPB will help them realize the massive in-
vasion of privacy that are inviting with this plan. … Congress should get prepared to hold them accountable.” Speaking for the Center for Responsible Lending, Melissa Stegman, a senior policy counsel said: “The poll is clear – Americans don’t want CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger to give debt collectors a license to harass and intimidate consumers,” said Stegman. “A consumer-first debt collection rule should protect people – and particularly people of color and active duty military members, veterans and their families – from timebarred ‘zombie debt.’” Government is supposed to be ‘for the people’ – not for corporations. Charlene Crowell is the communications deputy director with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.
America is my home – the land of freedom and the pursuit of happiness By ANGELA SAILOR
Trice Edney Communications
Do you consider America to be your home or just the place you happen to live? Sept. 22 has long been a meaningful date for me and my family. That’s the day, in 1862, when Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. This year, as that date approached, I was listening to one of my all-time favorites, Luther Vandross’ A House Is Not A Home, when the question popped into my head: Do I consider America to be my home or just my house? I know many in our community feel marginalized – as though America is not the loving, accepting, nurturing place that we often dream of. But, in real life, no homes are idyllic all the time. There are tensions, stresses, arguments and divisions, even in loving families.
So, looking at America with realistic eyes, is it truly my home? If I posed that question to billionaire entrepreneur David Steward, entertainment giant Tyler Perry or my boss, Kay Coles James, who is the president of The Heritage Foundation, I’d wager they’d all have the same answer. Each of these leaders has demonstrated that they view America as not just a house but a home. Each has lived a real-life success story. Rooted in humble beginnings, with the odds at their faces, each stepped beyond the walls of their community and the limits of their circumstances to explore, trailblaze and ultimately conquer the unknown. Empowered by emancipation, they have undertaken the all-American pursuit of happiness and left a lasting mark – a legacy, if you will – on the American identity and our nation’s culture. Today, they stand as beacons of light, shining examples to the next generation of what we can accomplish with our Godgiven talents, the freedoms we
enjoy, the opportunities available in our nation and, yes, a whole lot of determination. As a community, we must be courageous enough to deal with the tragedies we have suffered as a people as well as our past failures – and to learn from them. But let us learn to forgive and to encourage each other to move on boldly to pursue happiness and make the most of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. As for how I answer the home/house question ... When I reflect on America’s history, I also think about my family and the legacy of my forefathers and foremothers. Grandma Irene, fully decorated with a third grade formal education and a Ph.D. in homemaking and rainmaking from the school of wisdom, intentionally pounded history into our household discussions. We often spoke about Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington and their different roles and approaches to liberty, life and the pursuit of happiness. As we slowly rocked on
her front porch during the summer nights, she would proudly whisper about Crispus Attucks, the first American to die in the Revolutionary War; Benjamin Banneker, the architectural genius who designed our nation’s capital; and Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, the first person to successfully perform open-heart surgery. Grandma’s history lessons about great Americans who looked like us convinced me that inalienable rights are the pathway to being better than just good, but good for something. My grandmother believed God anointed us with the power to overcome trials, tribulations, obstacles, disparities and hopelessness by emancipating ourselves in the walk toward freedom and opportunity. George Washington viewed freedom much like Grandma did – as a fundamentally internal or spiritual power rather than as a physical or political state. He noted that “all through human experience, we find that the highest and most complete freedom comes slowly and is purchased only at a tremendous cost.
Freedom comes through seeming restriction. ... Those persons in the U.S. who are most truly free in body, mind, morals, are those who have passed through the most severe training – are those who have exercised the most patience, and at the same time, the most dogged persistence and determination.” Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation loosed the chains that had too long bound our people. It opened the door to us enjoying the freedoms that, under the Constitution, belong to all citizens. With that act, America became a home for my family; one that gives us freedom – the freedom to use our God-given abilities for our own benefit and the freedom to pursue happiness according to our own lights. The next generation has those freedoms, so let’s invest our time teaching them how to make America their home.
Angela Sailor is a vice president of The Heritage Foundation, a leading national think tank based in Washington, D.C.
Page 6 September 26, 2019
The Dallas Examiner www.dallasexaminer.com
The Dallas Examiner www.dallasexaminer.com
HEALTH
Page 7 September 26, 2019
Pink Peppermint Project to host annual GlamCon Experience Special to The Dallas Examiner
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and local nonprofit the Pink Peppermint Project plans to raise awareness while celebrating breast cancer survivors, caregivers, friends and supporters at its third annual GlamCon Experience presented by Methodist Dallas Hospital. The event will take place Oct. 11 through Oct. 13 at The Study USA, a co-working space for women entrepreneurs and executives located at 801 W. Irving Blvd. in Irving. Pink Peppermint Project is a
Impeachment, continued from Front Page
show leadership on this matter” by backing an inquiry. The growing impeachment crusade also rippled into the Democratic primary to take on U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-
501(c)(3) founded in 2017, designed to equip cancer patients and caregivers with a powerful integrated approach to the cancer journey. Dr. Jessica Shepard, OB-GYN and women’s health expert, will deliver the keynote address along with Michelle Lamont, manifestation coach and certified MCT. Breast cancer survivor and breast health advocate Mama Sophia will serve as the event emcee. “As we embark upon our third year of celebrating the lives of so many touched by breast cancer, I am excited to grow the GlamCon
Texas. Two of the primary candidates, Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez and Chris Bell, tweeted their support for impeachment prior to Pelosi’s news conference Thursday, while a third contender, state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, did so shortly after her announcement. A fourth candidate, Sema Hernandez, has
Experience from a single day to a full weekend of self-care and pampering activities for resilient women who have endured and overcome an array of health and life obstacles,” said Shantaquilette Carter, founder and CEO of the project. “The weekend will be a time where we celebrate and honor conquerors and warriors through an array of exciting activities that are great for the spirit and soul.” The GlamCon Experience is a movement that is empowering women to look and feel their best regardless of their breast cancer story. From motivational speeches
previously voiced support for impeaching Trump and did so again Tuesday evening. West issued a longer statement Tuesday evening calling the impeachment inquiry “a long time coming” and Trump’s dealings with Ukraine “treasonous” if true. The flurry of pro-impeachment comments gave Repub-
and informative expert panels to beauty workshops and wellness resources, the event aims to uplift spirits, while building awareness, unity and sisterhood. Highlights include a Power Talk with author and certified life coach, Deya Smith-Taylor; a Wine and Wig Pajama Soiree presented by KRK Medical of St. Louis; a Mindfulness and Meditation Brunch hosted by Asian Mint and Priya Patel; and a Worship and Praise service at Concord Church. Attendees will also be able to participate in interactive sessions including beauty treatments and
licans an opening to pressure other hopefuls in the crowded primary. “As leaders of their party keep racing to the left, Texans deserve to know whether the remaining Democratic candidates will follow,” Joanna Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said in a statement. The impeachment boomlet also factored into the race for the 28th Congressional District, where Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, faces primary challenger Jessica Cisneros. After Cuellar emerged Tuesday morning as the lone holdout on impeachment among Texas Democrats in Congress, Cisneros seized quickly on his reluctance, calling for impeachment herself and saying in a statement, “It’s time for Rep. Cuellar to put his constitutional duty ahead of his support for Trump.” By the afternoon, Cuellar had updated his statement on the matter to signal a new openness to impeachment without explicitly endorsing it. “If you look at the polls, where is the American public?” Cuellar told reporters at the Capitol. “Is there an overwhelming movement to impeach? It’s not there yet. … There are some members
makeovers as well as Zumba, yoga and fireside chats. Additionally, Karla Baptiste, Nadiah Smith, Anica Duke and Alice Wash will be presented with the Glamorous Conqueror awards. The event is free to all current cancer patients. The community can purchase tickets on the website. Proceeds raised will benefit the Pink Peppermint Project to provide support services to current patients and caregivers. All guests are encouraged to wear pink. For more information, visit http://www.glamconevents.org.
who I hope take the right precision and make the right vote on that. For some of my members, I am a little apprehensive.” For now, there is a sense of inevitability in Washington. Unless the Trump administration releases the whistleblower complaint and the allegations against the president are overblown, impeachment in the Democratic-controlled House is more than likely to happen. The Republicanheld Senate will then take up the issue in a trial that most anticipate for now will acquit Trump. But impeachment will not materialize in the near future – members are expected to fly home at the end of the week to their districts for a two-week recess. And no matter which party they’re in, the onus will be on each member and candidate to make their cases to their voters. “I’m trying to have a little faith in the American people,” said Jackson Lee. On Wednesday, the Trump administration released a five-page transcript summary, revealing more information than anticipated and sparking more questions than answers regarding Trump’s phone call with Zelensky. And while some republicans
are saying that the transcript reveals Trump did nothing illegal, Democrats are united in saying they will continue with the impeachment inquiry. “I respect the responsibility of the president to engage with foreign leaders as part of his job. It is not part of his job to use taxpayer money to shake down other countries for the benefit of his campaign. Either the president does not know the weight of his words or he does not care about ethics or his constitutional responsibilities,” Pelosi said in a prepared statement. “The transcript and the Justice Department’s acting in a rogue fashion in being complicit in the president’s lawlessness confirm the need for an impeachment inquiry. Clearly, the Congress must act.” The Democrats are now waiting to read the documented complaint that was sent to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees from a whistleblower – reiterating the importance of the nation’s whistleblowers and protecting them from retaliation. J. Edward Moreno/The Texas Tribune and Robyn H. Jimenez/The Dallas Examiner contributed to this report.
Dallas ISD is on the rise! Dallas ISD Trustee Karla Garcia District 4
The district continues to show strong gains in academic achievement under the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) A to F accountability system. With a fivepoint gain, the district has earned a “B” for the second year in a row, increasing from an 81 to 86. Fifty-seven percent of schools earned an A or B in the district’s more rigorous local accountability system, 28 of which earned an A.
Without doubt, this growth is a result of the hard work and dedication of our students, led by district educators and administrators, with strong support from parents and partners. Our work as a community is reflected in these academic gains, and I am grateful to everyone for their commitment to Dallas’ children.
Five District 4 schools are among the 28 Dallas ISD campuses to earn an A as a state rating. Those are: Young Women’s STEAM at Balch
Springs Middle School, School for Talented and Gifted in Pleasant Grove, Central Elementary, Julius Dorsey Elementary and Edward Titche Elementary. I am also proud to share that nine schools from our district earned a B. I’d like to thank the staff, parents and community from District 4 for helping us to continue rising. Congratulations to all of you!
Despite the recent academic growth, we recognize there is still much work to be done; the district will be providing intervention plans and additional support to campuses that are in need of an academic boost. Dallas ISD educators remain committed to their mission of providing a quality education to all students.
One of the newest and exciting initiatives to continue growing is the creation of the Leader Excellence, Academic and Development (LEAD) Department, which launched last school year. Through this program, the district plans to grow its own principal pipeline to ensure best-fit leaders at every school. I encourage parents to reach
out to your campus principal and get to know him/her by attending Coffee with the Principal events and other school activities. Building a relationship, with your child’s teacher and your school principal, will help you identify ways to work together to ensure your child’s succeeds.
In other topics, is your child getting ready for college? If so, connect your 11th- or 12thgrader with hundreds of representatives from local, state and out-ofstate colleges and universities at the annual Districtwide College Fair. The FREE fair will be held from 5:308:30 p.m. at Ellis Davis Field House, 9191 S. Polk St. See your high school counselor to sign up and arrange for free transportation. A great perk this year is free immunizations for students heading to college. For more information and to preregister, visit: https://www.dallasisd.o rg/collegefair.
Learn more district news by following us on social media @Dallasisd and @dallasisdEspanol.
Paid for by the Dallas Independent School District
Page 8 September 26, 2019 Now–Sept. 30 “Branch Out Dallas,” a program from the city of Dallas offering Dallas residents one free 5-gallon tree from a grouping of five Texas trees. Tree may be picked up from six locations. Must show valid ID or water bill. Pick-up Nov. 2 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, email branchoutdallas@dallascityhall.com and register at www.dallascityhall.com/branchoutdallas. Now-November 24 The Village Coop neighborhood market, including up to 35 vendors selling locally grown foods and goods, will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Friendship-West Baptist Church, 2020 W. Wheatland Road. For more information, contact Danielle Ayers at 972-228-5200.
September National Food Safety Awareness month www.foodsafety.gov
National Baby Safety month www.jpma.org
National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery month www.recoverymonth.gov
26-29 “The Shine Play
Festival: Black Men Illuminated,” presented by the Soul Rep Theatre Company, with performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., will be held at the South Dallas Cultural Center, 3400 S. Fitzhugh Ave. For more information, call 469-7349382.
27
Gay Men’s Awareness Day
HIV
27 The Color Purple Mu-
sical will be performed at the Winspear Opera House, Jan. 7-12, 2020. Tickets go on sale Sept. 27. For more information, visit www.attpac.org, call 214-880-0202.
27 & 28
FAME Fest Dallas, Dallas’ first experiential fitness festival, bringing together the hottest fitness trends, local artists, musicians and culinary experiences for a weekend of movement and arts, will be held at the Omni Dallas Hotel, 555 South Lamar St. For more information, visit www.experiencefamefest.com.
28 Math Tutoring from 10
CALENDAR COmmUNITY
ONGOING EVENTS
Now–November A Shared Border, an exhibit on how the diverse cultural landscape of the Texas and Mexico borderland has caused different cultures to blend and innovate, will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m at the Dallas Historical Society, 3939 Grand Ave. For more information, visit http://www.dallashistory.org/exhibitions.
Now–march 1, 2020 The Kinsey Collection, a groundbreaking exhibit featuring 150-plus works of art, photos, rate documents and more, celebrating the achievements and contributions of Black Americans from 1595 to present day, will be open to the public at the African American Museum, 3536 Grand Ave. For more information, visit www.aamdallas.org.
a.m. to noon at the MLK Branch Library, 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Tutoring is free, but preregistration is required. Register at www.intellichoice.org/sign-up. For more information, call 214-670-0344.
28 St. Philip’s School and
Community Center Fine Arts Symposium, with Debbie Allen plus conversations and workshops around the inclusion of children of color in the arts, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. For more information and tickets, call 214-421-5221 ext. 241 or visit www.stphillips1600.org/finearts.cfm.
28 Citizens’ Civil Acad-
emy fall edition, sponsored by Judge Staci Williams, a free nonpartisan course about the civil court system and how citizens can navigate it, will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at New Millennium Bible Fellowship, 9026 Elam Road. Registration is required. For more information, visit www.ccadallas.com.
28
Engage Kenya Ltd presents Engage Dallas, “All Said and Done,” where Kenyans take the stage to share fascinating stories of mind-bending experiences, will be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at SMU, Hughes Trigg Student Center, 3140 Dyer St. For tickets and more information, visit www.engage.or.ke.
28 Dallas Black Expo, or-
ganized by Dallas-Ft. Worth Black Business Network, will begin at 11 a.m. at Dallas Market Hall, 2200 N. Stemmons Freeway. For more information, email dfwblackbusinessexpo@outlook.co m or call 214-617-3976.
Oct. 10 to march 22, 2020 Origins: Fossils From the Cradle of Humankind, an exhibit including fossils of two recently discovered ancient human relatives being brought to the U.S. for the first time from South Africa, will be open to the public at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, 2201 N. Field St. For more information, visit www.perotmuseum.org.
mondays-Wednesdays Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing/ Treatment, testing and treatment for STIs, HIV, Hep C and other sexual infections, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Prism Health Clinic, 4922 Spring Ave. For more information, call 214-421-7848.
28
State Fair Classic: Grambling v. Prairie View A&M, will begin at 4 p.m. at Cotton Bowl Stadium, 3750 The Midway. For tickets, visit www.stubhub.com.
29
Family Health and Fitness Day
October
National Breast Cancer Awareness month www.nbcam.com
Brain Injury Awareness month www.biausa.org
AIDS Awareness month www.blackaids.org National Domestic Violence Awareness month www.ncadv.org
National Hospice month www.whitehouse.gov
1 Free Legal Clinics, legal advice and consultation on civil matters presented by the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program for Dallas County residents who meet financial guidelines, will begin at 5 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Center Core Services Building, 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 122. For more information and scheduling, visit www.dallasvolunteerattorneyprogram.org.
mondays, Wednesdays & Saturdays Sittercise, a low-impact class that can be done from your chair, is offered from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. at Methodist Charlton Medical Center, 3500 W. Wheatland Road. For more information, call 214-947-7777. 1st, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays Free legal services will be available at 5 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 2922 Martin Luther King Blvd. For more information, call 214-748-1234.
1st & 3rd Tuesday CitySquare’s Hospitality Program, a free 6week hospitality training program, will begin at 10 a.m. at CitySquare, 1610 S. Malcolm X Blvd. – Bldg. 100. For more information, contact Dana Branch at dbranch@CitySquare.org or
United Methodist Church, will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 5710 East R. L. Thornton Freeway. For more information, call 214-821-2970.
call 214-823-4409.
Tuesdays & Thursdays Free SkillQuest Career Readiness Classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. For more information, call 214-879-9950 or email sgronstal@skillquestcareers.org.
Wednesdays The MLK Fresh Produce Distribution Center will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. - Bldg. A. For more information, call 214708-2739 or visit www.dallasmlkcenter.com.
p.m. at Lofty Spaces, 816 Montgomery St. For more information, visit eventbrite.com.
5
The Exciting Singing Hills Baptist Church – Community Health, where Parkland will provide education and information from North Texas Poison Center, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Singing Hills Baptist Church, 6550 University Hills Blvd. For more information, email Banita Jones at banitae320@tx.rr.com or call 972-835-0810.
6-12
National Safety Week
Fire
8 Free Legal Clinics, legal advice and consultation on civil matters presented by the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program for Dallas County residents who meet financial guidelines, will begin at 5 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Center Core Services Building, 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 122. For more information and scheduling, visit www.dallasvolunteerattorneyprogram.org.
11 New Friends New Life
Annual Luncheon with Jada Pinkett Smith will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Omni Dallas Hotel Downtown, 555 S. Lamar. St. To reserve a table or for more information, call 214-217-8650 or visit newfriends.org/luncheon.
5 Mental Health Sympo- 11
sium, showcasing speakers, workshops, panel discussions and exhibitors focused on the causes and treatment of mental illnesses among youth, adults and seniors, hosted by St. Luke Community
The Dallas Examiner www.dallasexaminer.com
Shop Black Dallas Marketplace, a monthly community outreach initiative geared at shining a spotlight on the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of local Black businesses and business owners, will be held from 6 p.m. to 10
12 WellMed Senior Activ-
ity Center Block Party, a celebration for Medicareeligible individuals, will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at WellMed at Redbird Square, 3107 W. Camp Wisdom Road, Ste. 170. For more information or to register, call 972-942-7700.
12 “Boys Becoming Men of Distinction,” from the Project MALE Program, a kick-off created to help ensure student success for African American males in kindergarten through junior high, will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University of North Texas Dallas, 7300 Highland Hills Drive. For more information and to register, visit www.projectmaleprogram.net.
13
“Touching Lives for 100 Years,” DCT 100th Anniversary Gala, a blacktie affair celebrating the 100th anniversary of Dallas City Temple SeventhDay Adventist Church, will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Highland Dallas, 5300 E. Mockingbird Lane. Proceeds benefit the Southwest Adventist Junior Academy, the oldest Black Christian academy in the DFW metroplex. For more information and tickets, visit www.dallascitytemple.org.
14 Columbus Day 17
12 City of Dallas Water
“Getting Work Ready” Job Training Vendor Fair, hosted by council member Casey Thomas II, will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Thurgood Marshall Recreation Center, 5150 Mark Trail Way. For more information, contact Chris Soto at 214-6700777 or richard.soto@dallascityhall.com.
12 “It’s All About You” –
17 “Ready for Work” Workforce Development Panel, a discussion on bridging the workforce gap in Southern Dallas, hosted by council member Casey Thomas II, will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Thurgood Marshall Recreation Center, 5150 Mark Trail Way. For more information, contact Chris Soto at 214-670-0777 or richard.soto@dallascityhall.com.
Utilities Health Fair, where Parkland’s Women and Infants Specialty Health division will offer Family Planning education, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ronald Kirk Pedestrian Bridge, 106 Continental Ave. For more information, email Matthew Yates at matthew.yates@dallascityhall.com or call 214243-1131.
Breast Cancer Awareness, a health education fair hosted by Parkland Hospital for ages 16 and up with no cost mammogram screenings, will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Light of the World Church of Christ, 7408 S. Hampton Road. To register and ensure eligibility for mammograms, call 214266-4398.
17
Dallas ISD Board Meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Turney W. Leonard Governance & Training Center – Conference Area, 5151 Samuell Blvd. For more information, call 972-925-3720.
18 National Mammography Day
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Send your calendar events and a photo no less than two weeks before your event:
Email: calendar@dallasexaminer.com
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MISSING Caden Chavis
DOB: June 5, 2002 missing Since: March 9, 2019 Age Now: 17 Sex: Male Race: Black Height: 5’6” Weight: 160 lbs Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Brown missing City: Houston NCmEC Number: 1352023
Anyone having information regarding this missing youth should call the Houston Police Department at 713-884-3131.
Every 40 seconds, a child is reported as "missing," according to several government and missing children's reports. And the number of missing African American children has increased from 25 percent to 33 percent. This is not only a crisis for the families of the missing children, but for our community and our country. The Dallas Examiner has made it its mission to post missing children in our community, as reported by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, each week. Anyone having information regarding this child, should contact National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST. For more information or to view more missing children in your area, visit www.missingkids.com.
City Council, continued from Front Page
determine how billions and billions of dollars of federal funding are distributed to states and local governments every year. Those dollars are used to make very important decisions. Census inform-ation is not just used by governmental agencies but also used by the private sector in making important business decisions. Census data is also used for reapportionment to draw legislative districts as well as local city council districts.” The 2020 census will be the first time that residents may respond online or on the phone in 12 different languages. “It is estimated that Texas stands to gain more than any other state during the 2020 census, and it estimates that we will pick up at least three new seats in the U.S. House,” Wilkinson said. In March of 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau sends out information to residents regarding the census to fill out information, and in December 2020 the apportionment counts are delivered to the president. On March 31, redistricting counts are delivered to the states. Dallas is the third largest city in Texas. In 2020, the city is estimated to have 1.39 million residents. “Texas stands to lose more federal funding from an undercount in 2020 than any other state,” Wilkinson said. “Federal funds lost by Texas due to a census undercount are redistributed to other states. For example, for each federal dollar that Texas gives up, California gets an extra 13 cents.” In order to raise awareness about census 2020, the Dallas mayor has a Complete Count Committee. Elizabeth Saab, external relations manager for the city of Dallas, talked about the efforts of the CCC. “The CCC fundraising committee has been tasked to raise funds to support the city of Dallas outreach efforts for the census,” Saab said. “The fundraising committee is working to raise private dollars from nonprofits and private corporations for outreach efforts and fundraising dollars will be used for printing, supplies, media buys, large-scale awareness opportunities and weekend-long census 2020 online participation events across the city of Dallas.” The CCC committee also includes a person who is in charge of hard-to-count residents, which council member Casey Thomas of District 3 chairs. Saab explained what “hard to count” means. “Hard to count includes residents who are less likely to fill out the census,” Saab said. “They are hard to locate, hard to contact, hard to interview or hard to convince to fill out the census. The city of Dallas’ hard-to-count populations include: immigrants, low-income households, people of color, people who move frequently and young children. “Counting all hard-to-count residents is critical to making census 2020 successful for the city of Dallas,” Saab said. “There are 201 hard-to-count tracts inside or crossing into the city of Dallas with an estimated 979,994 people living in those tracts.” Another outreach effort for the census that the city of Dallas is doing is partnership. “Partners in this effort are trusted voices who have the ability to mobilize their resources for effective outreach within their respective communities,” Saab said. “This includes representatives from the media, government agencies, apartment associations, health care, community advocates and the faith community, among others.” Saab said the next steps for the CCC subcommittees include continuing to convene monthly to work their outreach strategies and collaborate on action items. “The CCC has formed an African American consort-ium and a Hispanic/Latino consortium to develop targeted outreach strategies to those communities,” Saab said. “The CCC is also working with the Census Bureau Partnership Special-ists to identify opportunities for joint outreach effort.” Updates on the Dallas census can be found at http://www.dallascensus.com.
CLASSIFIEDS
Page 9 September 26, 2019
Bids
Bids continued
INVITATION FOR BIDS September 22, 2019
INVITATION FOR BIDS IFB-2019-24
DHA Housing Solutions for North Texas (“DHA”), on behalf of the Dallas Housing Corporation (DHC) will receive sealed bids for the purchase of the land and improvements at the following locations: Estell Village 5969 Highland Village, Dallas, TX 75241;
Forest Green Manor 9730 Shepherd Road, Dallas, TX 75243; and
Lakeland Manor 3105 Peavy Road, Dallas, TX 75228 (the “ Property” or “Properties).
Bids will be received until 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 24, 2019 at the DHA, Procurement Office, 3939 North Hampton Road, Dallas, Texas 75212, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Any bids received after 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 24, 2019 will be rejected. Bids may be submitted for 1) each property separately; 2) two properties; or 3) all three properties.
NO REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES WILL BE MADE REGARDING THE PROPERTIES. IT IS FURTHER UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED THAT THE PROPERTIES ARE BEING SOLD WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTY AS TO CONDITION, HABITABILITY AND FITNESS FOR PURPOSE. THE WINNING BIDDER SHALL HOLD DHA, ITS SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES AND DHC, ITS SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES HARMLESS FROM LIABILITY FOR ANY MATTER CONCERNING THE PROPERTY, WHATSOEVER.
The Properties have Section 8 Project-Based Assistance Contracts from HUD. The successful bidder must be acceptable to the HUD Multi-Family Office and the sale is contingent upon receiving approval from HUD.
Bid documents including legal descriptions of the Properties may be acquired at the DHA HQ Building, Procurement Department, 3939 N. Hampton Road, 2nd Floor, Dallas, Texas 75212, or by visiting the DHA’s website at www.dhantx.com. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Friday.
The DHA reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to waive any informalities in the bidding. DHA will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, familial status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Employment
OPEN POSITIONS:
Freelance Copy Editor Must be able to edit using AP Style while incorporating The Dallas Examiner’s style. Applicants must have journalism degree &/or experience and be available Mondays and Wednesdays. Send resume and writing samples as attachments to rjimenez@dallasexaminer.com Subject: Resume Please note: links will not be accepted.
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today!
Call 214-941-3100
DHA, Housing Solutions for North Texas will receive sealed bids for the Replacement of Roofs at Little Mexico Village, 3027 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75201 (Project # IFB-2019-24).
Bid documents including Plans and Specifications may be obtained from the Procurement Department at DHA’s HQ which is located on the 2nd floor at 3939 N. Hampton Road, Dallas, Texas 75212, or by calling 214/951-8429, beginning Wednesday, September 25, 2019. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday.
A non-mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Wednesday, October 09, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at Little Mexico Village Community Building, 3027 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75201.
Sealed Bids will be accepted until 4:00 P.M., on Wednesday, October, 23, 2019 in the Procurement Department, on the 2nd floor at 3939 N. Hampton Road, Dallas, Texas 75212, at which time and place all sealed bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. All sealed bids must be received in the Procurement Department by the specified time. Any Sealed Bids received after 4:00 P.M., on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 will be rejected.
DHA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS OR TO WAIVE ANY INFORMALITIES IN THE BIDDING. DHA WILL NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, SEX, DISABILITY, FAMILIAL STATUS, OR AGE. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.
INVITATION FOR BIDS IFB-2019-25
DHA, Housing Solutions for North Texas will receive sealed bids for the Replacement of Roofs at Military Parkway, 7619 Military Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75227 (Project # IFB2019-25).
Bid documents including Plans and Specifications may be obtained from the Procurement Department at DHA’s HQ which is located on the 2nd floor at 3939 N. Hampton Road, Dallas, Texas 75212, or by calling 214/951-8429, beginning Wednesday, September 25, 2019. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday.
A non-mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Thursday, October 10, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at 7619 Military Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75227.
Sealed Bids will be accepted until 4:00 P.M., on Thursday, October, 24, 2019 in the Procurement Department, on the 2nd floor at 3939 N. Hampton Road, Dallas, Texas 75212, at which time and place all sealed bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. All sealed bids must be received in the Procurement Department by the specified time. Any Sealed Bids received after 4:00 P.M., on Thursday, October 24, 2019 will be rejected.
DHA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS OR TO WAIVE ANY INFORMALITIES IN THE BIDDING. DHA WILL NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, SEX, DISABILITY, FAMILIAL STATUS, OR AGE. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.
Internships
Internship at The Dallas Examiner Internships are available throughout the year for students enrolled in journalism, writing or design classes. Applicants must be reliable. Hours are flexible. These are not paid positions but will allow students to gain practical, on-the-job experience. Students interested must e-mail their resume and three writing or design samples. Contact: rjimenez@dallasexaminer.com Subject Line: Internship
Page 10 September 26, 2019
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