The Dallas Examiner headliners for Oct. 10

VOL. XXXIII • OCTOBER 10, 2019

50 cents

Quest to become a Vision Zero City Free Mammograms

Beware of Medicare Scams

Health Pg 6

LifeStyle Pg 7

DIANE XAVIER

The Dallas Examiner

Eliminating traffic-related deaths by the year 2030 was the focus of the city of Dallas in its quest to become a Vision Zero City.

The Dallas City Council was briefed on Vision Zero, a traffic safety strategy program, by the Director of the Department of Transportation Michael Rogers at its Oct. 2 briefing.

“Vision Zero is an internationally recognized strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries relating to automobile users, pedestrians and bicyclists,” Rogers said. “It is based on the belief that no loss of life is acceptable and that all traffic fatalities and severe injuries are preventable. It also encourages urban design that makes streets as easy as possible to navigate for all roadway users of all

Dallas and Harris counties have the most areas in the state's latest list of the 100 most congested roadways in Texas, according to a list compiled by The Texas A&M Transportation Institute for the Texas Department of Transportation. I-35E is among the top ten most congested roadways. – Photo by Shelby Knowles/The Texas Tribune

physical abilities and promotes safe and equitable mobility for all users, such that movement around the transportation network can be done by road users of all walks of life.”

On average, over 100 people died in traffic crashes everyday in the United States in 2017. There were 37,133 total traffic fatalities, of which 5,977 were pedestrians,

the National Highway Traffic Administration reported.

“Now, take a little bit of time and think about that. How severe those numbers are. Those numbers are higher than the fatalities that have happened in Desert Storm. Take a real hard look and think about that,” Rogers said.

Additional data by TxDOT

reported that from 2013 to 2017 there were 3,780 fatal and severe injury crashes in Dallas.

Dallas is known to have one of the highest traffic fatalities in the country. It has the fifth highest traffic and pedestrian traffic fatality rates among the 25 largest U.S. cities and the highest rates among Texas’ largest six cities, including

Houston, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso and Fort Worth, according to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Administration in 2017.

“On average, over two people died in traffic crashes every week on Dallas city streets in 2017,” Rogers said. “That is unacceptable.

Of those fatalities that happened in 2017, 46 were pedestrian and one was a bicyclist. These are significant issues we truly need to start to address. When looking at some of the data and looking at those 25 major cities within the country, you will see only four cities actually are ahead of us.

Those cities are Jacksonville, Phoenix, Detroit and Memphis.

Our fatality rates are based on 100,000 population as well.”

Dallas also ranked fifth when it

Trial judge’s finding to take inmate off death row rejected by higher court

See Vision Zero Page 3

By JOLIE McCULLOUGH The Texas Tribune

Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall is interviewed at The Texas Tribune Festival in 2017. – Photo by Qiling Wang/The Texas Tribune

Members of Botham Jean’s family rejoice in the courtroom after former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was found guilty With her new Bible in hand, Amber Guyger leaves for jail, Oct. 3. of murder. – Photos by Tom Fox/Reuters

Guyger trial highlights why communities of color often distrust law enforcement

By JUAN PABLO GARNHAM and JOLIE McCULLOUGH The Texas Tribune

The murder conviction of a White former police officer who killed an unarmed Black man in his own home – and the 10-year prison sentence a jury gave her last week – each drew different reactions in a city whose history is rife with tensions between law enforcement and communities of color.

Amber Guyger’s murder conviction brought many people relief. But her sentence for killing 26-year-old Botham Jean was derided by some as being too short, even though Jean’s brother offered Guyger forgiveness and a hug at the end of the trial.

And trial evidence about police officers’ conduct following the shooting – which prosecutors said showed Guyger got special treatment – spurred Dallas residents and Jean’s mother to call for reforms within the department.

“The city of Dallas needs to clean up inside. The Dallas Police Department has a lot of laundry to do,” Allison Jean said in the Frank Crowley Courts Building shortly after Guyger was sentenced Oct. 2. “Every single one of

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you citizens of Dallas and residents of Dallas need to know what to do to get your city right.”

Jean was eating ice cream on his couch when Guyger, who had just finished a long shift, entered his apartment.

She said she confused it for her own apartment one floor below. Thinking Jean was an intruder, Guyger shot and killed him.

Seemingly aware of the ever-present tension in her community that began to again boil over during Guyger’s trial, Dallas Police Department Chief U. Reneé Hall held a press conference shortly after the sentencing to address the community’s distrust of police.

She mentioned allegations against police that arose at trial, like Guyger and her partner deleting their text messages around the time of the shooting and the head of the police union having cameras turned off so he could speak to Guyger off the record immediately after Jean was shot.

Guyger’s defense attorneys argued there was no evidence that suggests the shooting was racially motivated. But during the sentencing phase of Guyger’s trial, prosecutors showed the jury texts in which the for-

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mer officer joked about Martin Luther King Jr.’s death and made discriminatory comments about Black police officers.

“I can only imagine the community’s perception of who we are as a Dallas police department and, if we’re truly honest with one another, what law enforcement is or who law enforcement is across this country,” Hall said.

But, she said, the allegations heard at trial are not “reflective of the men and women of the Dallas Police Department.” She explained that the troublesome testimony was now being handed over for investigation from the department’s internal affairs division, and that any necessary policy or procedural changes would be made afterward.

Earlier on Oct. 2, a small crowd of people gathered in the foyer outside the courtroom, yelling and crying in frustration over what they said was too short of a punishment.

“The energy in Dallas is more volatile now than when the case started, because you gave people a bit of hope, then you took it away,” said Changa Higgins, head of the Dallas Community Police Oversight Coalition.

As is the case in cities

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across America, many Dallas residents’ distrust of authority stems largely from their public leaders’ flagrant racism in the 20th Century and the systemic biases remaining within the criminal justice system decades later.

“There are a number of situations throughout this country where white men – armed – have been taken in, and Black men – unarmed – are killed,” Daryl Washington, one of the Jean family’s attorneys told reporters while the jury deliberated Wednesday. “Until we face the facts of it all, these cases are going to continue to happen. We would love to say this isn’t about race, it’s about training, but it’s a combination.”

For activists in the community, this particular death had a double reading. It was another shooting of an unarmed Black man. But at the same time, Jean was a middleclass professional, resting in the privacy of his own home.

“A lot of times the police shoots someone and there is some kind of criminal background,” Higgins said. “In this case there’s nothing of that. It literally could have been anybody. He was the symbol of doing everything right and still not being safe.”

See Black&Blue Page 3

214-941-3100

Paul Storey was one step away from escaping the death penalty. Then came the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

The state’s highest criminal court Oct. 2 rejected the trial court judge’s recommendation to resentence Storey to life in prison without the possibility for parole after a threeday hearing last year.

Storey’s sentence was being reconsidered after it became known that Tarrant County prosecutors falsely said at his 2008 trial that the family of Storey’s victim, Jonas Cherry, wanted the death Paul Storey – Photo by penalty.

Cherry’s Jenevieve Robbins/TDCJ parents have since said that they have always opposed capital punishment, including for their son’s killer.

In last week’s ruling, the court explained that it was taking the unusual step of opposing the trial judge, who it acknowledged “is in the best position to assess the credibility of the witnesses.” While the court order didn’t argue against the finding that Storey’s trial lawyers were unaware of the Cherrys’ opposition, it ruled that one of his appellate attorneys – who is now dead – might have known, claiming there was no evidence to show he didn’t.

The judges also ruled that since Cherry’s father said he often talked about his anti-death penalty views, the appellate attorney, Robert Ford, could have found out through “the exercise of reasonable diligence.”

“The trial court found that Ford did not know that the victim’s parents opposed a death sentence for [Storey],” the court’s order states.

“This finding is not supported by the record.

[Storey] did not present any evidence showing what Ford did or did not know regarding the victim’s parents’ anti-death penalty views.”

“And although the trial court found that Ford generally ‘had a strong reputation for his diligence,’ [Storey] presented no evidence showing that Ford was diligent in his particular case,” the ruling continued.

See Storey Page 7

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www.dallasexaminer.com

Page 2 October 10, 2019

Around the State

Special to The Dallas Examiner

DALLAS Nominations are being accepted for the 2020 Hall of Fame Class of the African American Education Archives and History Program. The AAEAHP identifies and recognizes educators and others who have made significant contributions to the educational experience of African Americans in Dallas County.

To help those who might be interested in making a nomination, a session on how to complete the form and make a nomination has been set for Oct. 15 at 10:30 a.m. at the Paul Dunbar Lancaster-Kiest Library, located at 2008 E. Kiest Blvd. Individuals who are interested in being nominated or who would like to nominate another individual are encouraged to attend.

Nomination forms are available at the African American Museum, Dallas Post Tribune, Paul Dunbar Lancaster-Kiest Library, Polk Wisdom Library, Dallas West Library and online at http://www.aaeahp.org.

The deadline to submit online nominations is Nov. 26. Printed nominations must be postmarked by Nov. 26 to be considered for the 2020 Hall of Fame. Mail to P.O. Box 411091, Dallas, TX 75241.

For more information, visit the website or call Dr. Roscoe C. Smith at 972-741-8213 or Gwendolyn Brantley at 972298-6980.

DALLAS The Take Flight Summit, cofounded by Lisa Randolph of Kaizen Endeavors Inc. and LaDonna Coy of Learning Chi, will be held Oct. 19 and Oct. 20. The summit will focus on life’s challenges and opportunities for women 45 and up.

Women from across the country will be attending to both network and engage with women thought leaders covering just about every important area in life.

“We decided on a gathering, a summit, the Take Flight Summit, made up of women like us, 45 and over, who are ready to raise our awareness about the changes we are experiencing, while also developing skills for living into our hopes and dreams of the future,” said Lisa Randolph, event co-founder. “What we’ve discovered is remarkable support and outstanding resources for women to tap into. We believe the best of our lives is ahead of us, living our legacy in full color. We hope you’ll join us in this life adventure.”

The summit is for women of all races, religions, sexual orientations and nationalities.

Topics will include highlights like health, wellness and selfcare; career and entrepreneurship; relationships; finances and building wealth; legal issues; and leaving a legacy.

For more information, regis-

STATE/METRO

tration and hotel information, visit http://www.takeflightsummit.com.

DALLAS The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas announced Oct 3 plans to serve thousands of new families and multiple new communities by expanding its presence throughout the North Texas region.

Following a year-long study, the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas Board of Directors and the organization’s leadership approved a multi-year, strategic growth strategy to renovate existing YMCA locations and partner with new communities to significantly expand the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas’ footprint with new or expanded programs or building facilities.

This comprehensive approach will enable the Y to serve more people and address pressing community health and wellness needs. In addition to renovating existing facilities, building new locations and providing expanded programs throughout North Texas, the plan will also examine the effectiveness of existing facilities to ensure donor resources are efficiently utilized.

“The YMCA has always been a convener in this region around the issues of health and wellness and in bringing families together,” said Curt Hazelbaker, chief executive officer of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas. “But as North Texas continues to grow, there are more families and communities. An important part of our mission is to serve those everincreasing number of families in need.”

The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas currently serves 250,000 people each year in diverse communities within Dallas and surrounding cities in 8 counties. By 2030, North Texas is anticipating having a population of nearly 9.5 million residents. Part of the growth plan also includes the recent announcement of a potential sale of the T. Boone Pickens YMCA. The Y has had a presence in downtown Dallas since 1885 in four different locations.

“The YMCA will continue to call downtown home,” Hazelbaker continued. “If we’re able to secure the right offer and identify a suitable new location, the sale of the existing building could provide significant resources for our efforts to serve more families as part of our new growth strategy, including in downtown.”

The YMCA brings together men, women and children of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds and incomes. The YMCA makes accessible the support and opportunities that empower people and communities to learn, grow and thrive, with three areas of focus: youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

The Dallas Examiner www.dallasexaminer.com

Sankofa Garden Homes: African American soul food

By CLARENCE GLOVER Sankofa Gardening Homes

“Food for us comes from our relatives, whether they have wings, fins or roots. That is how we consider food. Food has a culture. It has a history.

– Winona LaDuke, Dakota Nation

Winona LaDuke has given an excellent description of the relationship between food and culture. As a member of the Dakota Nation and a Native Environment Activist, LaDuke understands that food is a reflection of a group’s cultural background. The connection between food and culture can be seen throughout society. French food, Asian food, Mexican food, European food, Mediterranean food, German food, Creole food, Cajun, Italian food and the list goes on.

While we can find these various cultural food combinations, there seems to be an obvious absence of mainline African restaurants or African American restaurants.

With the increased number of African immigrants, we are gradually beginning to see a growth in African restaurants in the Dallas area. Significant among them are Queen of Sheba Ethiopian, Aso Rock Restaurant and Lounge, and Afrika Fusion.

By mainline I mean African and African American restaurants identified and advertised as such in mainline media print and television. While African food and restaurants when publicized carry their unique branding, such as “Queen of Sheba,” an Ethiopian restaurant, African American food and restaurants do not have the same cultural identity attached with them.

Most of the time, African American food is associated with “Southern cooking” or “soul food.” Very seldom, if ever, is African American food or restaurants connected to African American culture. There seems to be a disconnect with the food and the culture of people of African descent, whose ancestors were enslaved in America. Granted, our enslaved African ancestors’ bodies were placed in shackles and chains, but I submit to you that the real shackles and chains were placed on their minds.

The ultimate goal of chattel slavery (property, ownership) was to own not only the bodies of Africans, but to also own their minds, their intellectual property, their cultural creations, their talents and their culinary creations. Subsequently, the foods enslaved Africans brought to America, and the food styles they created once

Professor Freedom eats a healthy plate of African American soul food; collard greens seasoned with smoked turkey, candied yams, black eyed peas, hot water cornbread, red onion and baked chicken. – Photo Courtesy of Sherman Bowen

here, were no longer theirs, but the property of those they served.

Terms such as “Southern cooking” and “home-style cooking” became associated with African American foods and cooking. The roots and history of African American foods and cooking became lost as America worked to forget slavery and Jim Crow. European Americans and African Americans alike did not connect African American foods and cooking to Africa given all the negative connotations associated with it.

Patricia B. Mitchell in her book, Soul on Rice: African Influences on American Cooking cites a different perspective: “The half-million Africans surviving the formidable passage across the Atlantic brought virtually no material possessions with them. However, they did bring something of even greater value: a rich cultural heritage. Native African food ways were an important part of the legacy. The diet of the average population in Africa centered on cultivated plant foods – starchy grains, roots and legumes. Rice was a much-used food; and maize, introduced to West African regions in the 16th century became a staple. Sorghum (or “guinea corn”) millet, yams, groundnuts (akin to the peanut) and cowpeas (called “black-eyed” peas in this country) were essential to the diet. Green leafy vegetables, okra, varieties of pumpkins, squashes, gourds and cucumbers were eaten. Eggplant, introduced there prior to the Middle Ages by Arab and Persian travelers, was cultivated. Fruits and meats were secondary components of the typical diet in West Africa, the area from which most slaves came.”

Slave: a noun, a person who is the property of another and is forced to obey them; as used above and in so many other references to refer to the West Africans who

Oct 21

were enslaved in America has sought to extract any cultural value from African Americans, thus resulting in ambiguous interpretations of our identity. It then becomes our responsibility to identity these ambiguities and create a new “language of cultural identity” for African Americans and our historical and cultural contributions.

Such an opportunity prompted me to write this article after reading a D Magazine article dated October 2019 entitled Food for the Soul.

“Soul food originated with slaves in the Deep South who used imported flavors, rationed supplies and found ingredients not only to survive, but to create community and celebrate life. Southern cuisine with added depth, it’s spicier, saltier, sweeter and anything but static,” Dalila Thomas wrote in the article.

To the contrary, soul food originated with African people enslaved in America who brought with them their knowledge of their culinary traditions and customs. Together with what they found in America they created the core of what would be called “popular culture” in America. Slavery is a condition, not a people.

In the book, African Americans and Popular Culture, Todd Boyd stated, “The African American influence on popular culture is among the most sweeping and lasting this country has seen. Despite a history of institutionalized racism, Black artists, entertainers and entrepreneurs have had an enormous impact on American popular culture.”

Furthermore, Vanessa Hayford in her article The Humble History of Soul Food on Blackfoodie.co wrote, “Soul food takes it origins mostly from Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama, a collection of states commonly referred to as the Deep South. During the Transatlantic Slave Trade, enslaved African people were given meager food rations that were low in quality and nutritional value. With these rations, enslaved people preserved African food traditions and adapted traditional recipes with the resources available. Over time, these recipes and techniques have become the soul food dishes we are familiar with today.”

Now that you know, go to your favorite African American soul food restaurant and have a culinary cultural experience. Spread the news. Don’t forget the hot sauce!

Clarence Glover, known as Professor Freedom of Sankofa Education Services, provides the Sankofa Gardening Homes column. He can be reached at clarencegloverjr@aol.com.

Meet the Candidates presented by The Dallas Examiner

Forum for November 5, 2019 Election

Invited: Candidates for Texas State Representative for District 100 who are on ballot.

6 p.m. to 8 p.m. African American Museum, 3636 Grand Ave. For more more information, information, call call 214-941-3100 214-941-3100 For

The Dallas Examiner www.dallasexaminer.com

Black&Blue, continued from Front Page

History of violence, distrust Dallas has a long history of police officers shooting unarmed people of color. In 1973, Dallas officer Darrell L. Cain threatened 12-yearold Santos Rodríguez with a gun during an impromptu interrogation and fatally shot him. After being convicted of murder and given a sentence of five years, Cain was released two and a half years later.

Despite a litany of subsequent police-involved shootings, decades passed before another officer was convicted of murder in Dallas County. In 2013, a Dallas police officer was not indicted after he shot and killed unarmed Clinton Allen. In 2017, another officer who killed Genevive Dawes was charged with aggravated assault.

But Guyger’s conviction was the third time in the last two years that a Dallas County jury found a police officer guilty of murder. A Farmers Branch officer was sentenced to 10 years last

Vision Zero, continued from Front Page

after killing January teenager José Cruz in 2016.

And last August, ex-Balch Springs officer Roy Oliver was sentenced to 15 years for the 2017 murder of Jordan Edwards, who was 15.

Yet the city’s relationship with law enforcement has also been marked by the deadly shooting of five police officers in the middle of a Black Lives Matter march in July 2016. Military veteran Micah Xavier Johnson, who was Black, opened fire at the march in downtown.

At the time, former police chief David Brown said that Johnson “wanted to kill White people, especially White officers.”

For former Dallas police officer Vana Hammond Parham, the months that followed were a complicated time.

“We were in the middle of a nationwide crisis, where Black men were being shot by police officers, and here in Dallas we had the opposite,” Parham said.

She remembered a lot of Black residents coming to show support for the department.

“For awhile it helped in our relations. We could

came to pedestrian fatality rates in the country. As a result, the Federal Highway Administration designated Dallas as a Focus City for pedestrian safety.

“Thirty five percent of all fatal and severe injury crashes occurred within the city’s Priority Improvement Zones,” he added.

“Areas where we will continue to focus on includes downtown, uptown, Park Lane station area, Northwest Highway from Community Drive, Harry Hines area, Hampton, Illinois, Ledbetter, Hampton and our Buckner corridor, and our LBJ east area by Skillman.

These areas are where we see higher rates than other areas in the city.”

In order to combat this issue,

come together in what we think is wrong and respect lives as a whole,” she said.

But Parham highlighted that the conviction this week is the third of a police officer in recent years.

“It’s a sign to the community that we are in the right direction,” she said.

But not everyone agrees.

Although activists see the creation of the Community Police Oversight Board in April as a step forward, they have said evidence presented during Guyger’s trial shows that she received special treatment in the aftermath of the crime.

“The reality just taught us that she is part of a bigger system and one actor taken out does not change the system,” said Sara Mokuria, cofounder of Mothers Against Police Brutality. “We are still managing a very troubled system, with a long and horrible history when it comes to Black, indigenous, lantinx, queer folks and women.”

Department under stress On the steps of the Crowley courts building after the conviction, but before the sentencing this week, advocates said the fight for

Rogers said getting involved in the Vision Zero network is key.

“The National Vision Zero Network is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing Vision Zero in the United States, and it recognizes over 40 cities as Vision Zero communities based on their formal commitment and significant actions to advance Vision Zero principles,” he said. “It provides resources and peer-to-peer learning opportunities for communities engaged in Vision Zero, such as Dallas.”

Rogers said in order for Dallas to become a Vision Zero City, the path includes committing to Vision Zero and setting a clear goal of eliminating traffic deaths and severe injuries among all road users within a specific time frame.

“It is just not a hope and desire but an action plan to get there,” he explained. “It also includes

changes within the department is not over. Their focus now will be seeking the resignation of Mike Mata, the Dallas Police Association president who allegedly asked that a camera be turned off so he could talk to Guyger the night of the shooting.

“They need to bring the officers that obstructed the investigation to some disciplinary action,” Higgins said. “Then the police department needs to have a real investigation into their officer shooting practices, procedures and policies, look into how the investigative units proceed with this. This exposed a lot of issues.”

Guyger also admitted during the trial that attempting to deescalate the situation didn’t cross her mind, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She had had an eight-hour training in the subject five months before the shooting, but when asked what she took away from it, she said she couldn’t remember.

“Police officers should be tested twice a year about the use-of-force continuum,” said Leroy Peña, national director of the Red Handed

committing to development of a Vision Zero Action Plan within a specified time frame and focusing on being data driven, equitable and including community input.

There would also be a formation of a Vision Zero Task Force that will collaborate with city departments on the development of a Vision Zero action plan. Key city departments will need to be actively engaged in the process of developing the Vision Zero plan development, implementation and evaluation.”

Vision Zero Action Plan is a document that establishes the strategies that Dallas would employ to have the goal of zero traffic fatalities and a 50% reduction in severe injuries by the year 2030.

“An example of the Vision Zero Action Plan strategy includes to prioritize roadway design by

Page 3 October 10, 2019

Warrior Society, a group that works on issues from indigenous rights to police brutality.

Additional training or testing requirements might be difficult for a department that is already understaffed. Sergeant Sheldon Smith, president of the Dallas chapter of the National Black Police Association, said that makes things more complicated.

“We don’t have the manpower we had before. We have to prioritize our calls in terms of how violent is the case,” Sargeant Smith said. “And the city of Dallas is not getting smaller. It’s getting bigger.”

And Mokuria doesn’t think more money for the department is a solution.

“Right now the role of the police is too broad and too wide. They are being asked to be social workers, first responders, experts in mental health, traffic officers,” she said. “We need to identify a different way to address these problems. The role of police officers needs to radically change and create new entities to better shift our issues. A hammer is just one tool and you can’t use it for every situation.”

implementing complete streets policy, identify intersections, corridors and areas where crashes are likely to occur using predictive analytics and target capital investments in areas where there is a high frequency of fatal and severe injury crashes,” Rogers said.

Future goals include the adoption of a resolution by the City Council that commits the city to a Vision Zero goal of zero traffic fatalities and a 50% reduction in severe injuries by 2030.

“It would also direct the city manager to develop a Vision Zero Action Plan by December 2021,” Rogers said. “The city manager will create a Vision Zero Task Force that will collaborate with city departments on the development of a Vision Zero Action Plan, and the city manager will direct key city departments to participate in Vision Zero Action Plan development,

‘It begins with us’ One thing that everyone agrees on, though, is there needs to be better communication between law enforcement and communities of color.

“Trust is not given, it is earned,” Smith said. “You can’t stay in the police car and expect trust. You need to develop relations and sometimes talk to people you are not comfortable talking to.”

The police chief echoed those sentiments after the sentencing.

“There are areas of concern that we need to address, and I pledge that we will make those changes,” Hall said. “Changing the perception of law enforcement, it begins with us. We must double our efforts to continue to build trust.”

As the sun set on the night of Oct. 2, more than a hundred people gathered outside the courthouse.

“We have to continue to organize,” someone shouted.

Later, they walked to a nearby intersection, stopped traffic and shouted, “Who runs these streets? We run the streets.”

implementation and evaluation. In conclusion, adopting a Vision Zero plan would be an important step in our future in making our city as safe as possible.”

Rogers also addressed the high number of minorities affected by injuries from traffic fatalities, especially the African American community, which has a disproportionate number of people affected. Even though the African American population in Dallas is 24.3%, the percent of fatalities and injuries is 34.7%.

“When it comes to people of color, 70% of these injuries and fatalities that we are looking at are people of color,” he concluded.

“That’s why it’s very important that we look at these through an equity lens. Because if we have a problem in a certain area, that’s where we need to set our priorities and fixing those issues.”

Page 4 October 10, 2019

What matters 2020

EDITORIAL

The Dallas Examiner www.dallasexaminer.com

– Issues that impact minority communities By JEFFERY BONEY NNPA

Every vote counts and elections have consequences!

The 2020 presidential elections will definitely have consequences, and it will be important that every vote is counted and accounted for.

Everyone and everything in this country is impacted by someone in a position of political leadership who shapes public policy and who makes decisions regarding the very legislation that we must all adhere to, in one way or another. This includes city council members, mayors, governors, judges, county, state and federal representatives, and even our president.

Knowing how important it is to vote is one thing, but getting engaged in the process is an entirely different thing altogether. One group that has made a major impact in this country and that has done a great job of engaging and energizing people of color relative to getting involved in social issues and politics has been the Black Lives Matter Global Network.

Founded in 2013 by Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman, what started as a hashtag has now grown into a global chapter-based, member-led organization in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. The organization’s mission has been to mobilize determined activists who are committed to fighting anti-Black racism and discriminatory reforms worldwide.

In an exclusive interview, Cullors said that BLM was invited to attend the third installment of the Democratic Presidential Debate, which was hosted at Texas Southern University, an HBCU located in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward – a place known for its rich Black history and culture. The debate marked the first presidential campaign debate at an HBCU since 2007.

While in Houston for the debate, Cullors announced that BLM was rolling out a new nationwide initiative to help increase voter registration and turnout. She, along with co-founder of the Los Angeles chapter of BLM Melina Abdullah and Managing Director Kailee Scales, introduced the new nationwide initiative entitled, “What Matters 2020 – Issues That Impact Minority Communities,” with a dedicated focus on getting the vote out for the 2020 presidential election.

Cullors stated that BLM’s goal was to hit all major cities where Black folks live and engage Generation Z to increase voter registration, turnout and overall engagement.

“Black voters have traditionally been the Democratic Party’s most loyal constituency and younger voters represent the future of the party,” she said. “We thought it was important that we use this platform to ensure that our constituency has the resources to be informed when tuned into the debate and that the candidates know just how impactful our vote will be to this election.”

Working in conjunction with a cross section of partners from all sectors, BLM leaders are seeking to directly

impact the 2020 election cycle by ensuring candidates are held accountable for the issues that systematically and disproportionately impact minority communities across the nation.

The initiative would increase voter registration and turnout by deploying technology applications, establishing candidate accountability and employing grassroots strategies to access, inform and empower minority communities during the 2020 election cycle,” Cullors said.

Issues this initiative will mobilize around include: • Racial Injustice • Police Brutality • Criminal Justice Reform • Black Immigration Environmental Conditions • Voting Rights & Suppression • Economic Injustice • Healthcare • Education • Commonsense Gun Laws • LGBTQAI • Human Rights In addition to introducing this initiative, BLM plans to directly interact with candidates and students, and will be launching technology applications aimed at increasing voter registration and turnout in 2020.

“We will engage and empower all Black folks, our allies and underserved communities to use their collective voices and votes to achieve the outcomes we want, need and deserve in 2020,” Cullors stated. “We will educate BLM constituents about candidates and the issues that impact Black voters most and promote voter registration and voter turnout among the Black community, our allies and Generation Z. This initiative will inspire and motivate people to ask themselves and their candidates are you really addressing ‘What Matters in 2020?’”

In measuring the success of the initiative, Cullors stated that they will be monitoring the results based off of the outcomes that come prior to the 2020 election.

“We will know that we are successful when each candidate has an acceptable and tangible comprehensive plan that specifically addresses racial injustice, criminal justice reform, police brutality and reparations, among other issues that impact the Black community,” she said.

Since the organization’s inception in 2013, BLM has been on the frontline of many issues impacting minority communities, including police brutality, criminal justice reform, education, Black immigration, public policy and more.

For these efforts, they have been widely recognized, received and in many instances, criticized. They continue with the work, however, and hope this effort will galvanize marginalized and minority communities all across this country. Perhaps more importantly, BLM has reminded the Black community of its own power and collective strength.

To find out more, visit blacklivesmatter.com/whatmatters-2020. Join the ongoing conversation on social media using #WhatMatters2020.

Jeffrey Boney is a political analyst and frequent contributor for the NNPA Newswire and BlackPressUSA.com and the associate editor for the Houston Forward Times newspaper.

Rev. C.T. Vivian’s wisdom By MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN

Children’s Defense Fund

Legendary civil rights leader Rev. C.T. Vivian turned 95 this year, celebrating a lifetime of wisdom and service. Rev. Vivian, a Presidential Medal of Freedom winner, was a leader in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a role model for so many of us in the 1960s era of civil rights activism. He remains an indispensable long haul moral, racial and economic justice warrior. I am so grateful for his friendship and example.

A few years ago, Vivian inspired and challenged a receptive Children’s Defense Fund audience of college students when he said he believes young people today are inheriting the world at a unique crossroads in history and that “this is the moment we have waited for.” He explained, “When I say ‘we’ve’ waited for, I’m talking about humankind has waited for. I’m talking about all the great philosophers and thinkers have waited for this moment. We have lived like we have lived, blowing each other up, killing each other, stealing from each other, making a world that is not fit for human beings – we

S

have lived that way because it’s been allowed to be.”

But Vivian said he believes we are finally reaching a tipping point where many are realizing that “today, if we decide to live like we lived yesterday, none of us will live at all.” I truly hope so for our children and grandchildren’s sake!

The 1960s civil rights movement laid a foundation for this new world as ordinary people tired of injustice seized the moral high ground and confronted the racial violence surrounding them with controlled, disciplined, nonviolent action which allowed America to see there was another way to create change. As a leader in the Nashville sit-in movement, one of the ministers who joined Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee members on Freedom Rides into Mississippi, and a SCLC leader bringing people to the steps of Selma’s courthouse to vote, Vivian faced violence repeatedly.

But when he was beaten and jailed he never wavered. He believed along with Gandhi and King that human history has shown hatred and violence always destroy more than they create. Now, he says, “the central task will be to remove violence as a means of solving social problems” for good, “When we really think of it that way, then we are on our way. The task

Black History Fact

egregation of African American railroad passengers was a long-standing tradition in the South, despite the Emancipation and passage of constitutional amendments related to civil and political rights. In 1871, the wife of Senator Walter Burton was thrown off a moving train when she refused to leave the Whites-only coach. Situations like this inspired African American legislators to join Rep. Elias Mayes in attempting to enact laws supporting equal accommodation on trains for African Americans. In the late 1870s, Rep. R. J. Evans of Navasota offered an amendment to a railroad rate bill that, if the amendment had passed, would have made it illegal not to sell African Americans first-class tickets.

In 1881, Rep. R. J. Moore attached a relevant amendment to one bill after another African American woman was thrown from a train after standing up for her right to sit where she wanted. Governor John Ireland pleaded with the Colored Men's Convention of 1883 not to press the railroad issue, but they did. Ireland then went to the railroad companies and asked them to provide separate but equal coaches and some complied. However, "separate but equal" was still segregation. In 1889, during the 21st legislative session, Mayes and Alexander Asberry worked tirelessly to end racial segregation in railroad passenger cars. The segregationists had more influence. In 1896, railroad accommodations were the case in point when the Supreme Court legalized separatebut-equal facilities for Blacks and Whites.

will be different than before. We all dreamed of it.

We sat in church and talked about it. We made songs about it. We talked about a new world coming. We talked about all of that, right? Now that it’s here, we’ve got to make it real.”

His words have a special meaning and challenge today when violence as a conflict resolution strategy has become a daily threat in this era of domestic and global terrorism, out of control demagogic political discourse encourages violence at home and fuels anger around the world, and relentless gun violence driven by a powerful gun lobby saps the lives of 30,000 human beings in our nation every year including thousands of innocent children.

Since 1947, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has published a “Doomsday Clock” to warn us all about how close humans are to global destruction as a result of weapons and technology we’ve created. In 2018, they reset the clock to 2 minutes to midnight, tying 1953 as the most dangerous time in history. They explained that a renewed threat of nuclear conflict and the existential threat posed by climate change have created what they call “the new abnormal.”

But rather than be discouraged or paralyzed by the disturbing direction our nation and world have been heading again, we need to

get up, organize and mount without ceasing our strong nonviolent voices and witnesses to change the narrative of what it means to be a good steward of God’s earth and all of God’s peoples.

What is it going to take for enough of our political leaders and citizens to stand up and reject the old world view too often riddled with intolerance and hatred and confront those who fuel racial and religious intolerance within and without our borders? How many of us will stand up and say no to the violence of coarse and careless political, racial, gender-based, and any other rhetoric intended to demean other human beings that teaches our children we cannot disagree without being disagreeable? And when will a critical mass of people and leaders come together determined to pass on a safer and better nation and world order to our children and grandchildren?

If Vivian is right, now is the moment we have been waiting for.

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.

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Page 5 October 10, 2019

Stop punishing the victims of homeless!

By EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

U.S. House of Representatives

One of the cruelest policies of the current administration is the demonization of homeless people simply because they find themselves on the margins of life. With growing income inequality and increasing prices for food and transportation, many of our fellow citizens find them-

selves being victimized.

According to the federal government’s annual homeless statistics, approximately 540,000 people – including children and military service veterans – sleep on the streets of our nation’s cities and towns each night, or in automobiles, wooden crates and in cardboard boxes. This is unacceptable, and we must do better.

Homeless people are being violently attacked on the streets of our cities as they simply attempt to find shel-

ter, rest or sleep. Most recently in one of our major cities, four people were slain within blocks and hours of one another. They bothered no one and posed no threat.

Yet they became targets.

With the federal government making it more and more difficult for people to find affordable housing, the number of homeless people continues to rise. Instead of providing for the homeless, the Trump administration persists in demonizing them, making their activities un-

lawful, encouraging their arrests and sending them down a spiral of hopelessness.

Violent acts against the homeless should be regarded as hate crimes. In our nation’s public schools, the number of children who live in homeless families has increased during the past decade. It is as if we care very little about these children and their attempts to learn and secure a safe place for themselves in the richest country on earth.

As the co-chair of the Con-

gressional Homelessness Caucus, I witness firsthand the problems that homeless people face, and I am committed, as are many of my colleagues in Congress, to compassionate, reasonable and immediate action that will end homelessness.

I am also committed to the restoration of full civil rights for those who are homeless and to promulgating policies that will end their plight as they deserve better than they are being offered.

We must provide them

with housing and other social, health and economic programs that will halt their criminalization and demonization. They, like the rest of us, deserve the best that this country has to offer.

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.

Defining patriotism during these confusing times

By SUSAN K. SMITH Crazy Faith Ministries

I remember a conversation I overheard between three White women when Donald Trump announced his candidacy for the United States presidency.

They at first bemoaned what then-President Obama had done to the country, in their opinion. The sentence I remember most was, “You know he’s not an American and what he’s done is bad. This country will never be the same.”

They continued to talk loudly enough, it seemed, for me to hear.

As they praised Trump, they exclaimed, “He so patriotic!”

At that time, I hadn’t experienced Trump as president, but what he had offered at that time didn’t seem particularly patriotic to me. Yes, he talked about America being “first,” but I didn’t know what that meant to him.

I do now, and I still hear people exclaiming that he is “patriotic.”

And so I am confused. I am as con-

fused about that as I am about White people who are clearly racist saying they are not, and also saying that the president is not.

The definition of patriotism, according to one dictionary I sought out, is “devotion to and vigorous support for one’s country.” I then looked up “nationalism,” which is defined as “identification with one’s own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.”

I guess technically, then, Trump is patriotic – or better yet, he is a nationalist. We hear him say “America first,” but we also see him giving honor and respect to nations that clearly are not friends of this nation, while openly and publicly expressing distrust of the American governmental institutions, spewing his disdain for those institutions to dictators who clearly have an interest in seeing America fall.

I have personally cringed as I have watched and listened to this man give respect and honor to dictators. The “love letter” he says was sent to him by Kim Jong Un, as noted by The Hill, and his talk with Vladimir Putin in the White House

behind closed doors with no interpreters present, as reported by CNBC, have been troubling.

It seems that he has talked privately with Vladimir Putin at least 16 times since being president and his siding with Putin at the Helsinki summit in 2018 was beyond words, as reported by The Washington Post and BBC.com.

In his rallies, he fires up his supporters saying “America first!” but in truth, it seems that he is giving foreign and hostile countries access to the privilege of being in a relationship with what used to be the model of democracy. Flawed as it was, America’s democracy was the ideal that countries looked up to and imitated.

But now, foreign countries are confused, according to The New York Times. What is this new America under this president? The world is reeling today after the news of this president impulsively pulling American troops out of Syria, as reported by KansasCity.com.

Kim Jong Un, the apparent writer of the “love letter” to Trump, no longer wants to talk with the president – and he is still firing missiles, something that the president says

his relationship with the North Korean dictator all but ended, The Washington Post reported.

The trade war with China has had a devastating effect on America’s farmers – and while he criticizes China for being unfair to America, he asked China to help investigate U.S. presidential hopeful Vice President Joe Biden, and his daughter Ivanka continues an apparently very lucrative business relationship with a country Trump has labeled as a menacing opponent of American interests, noted News Week and SCMP.com.

Trump has alienated America’s allies and agitated America’s enemies. This nation feels less safe now than it has since the Cuban Missile Crisis.

And in spite of all of that, his followers say he is patriotic. But to me, what he has done and is doing is anti-American. He has put the entire nation in peril, all the while crying out, “America first!”

Trump’s daughter sent a nice thank you note to Turkey’s dictator, Newsweek revealed.

None of what he is doing seems patriotic to me, just like a racist who oozes racist ideas and prac-

tices saying he is not a racist seems nonracist, or anti-racist to me.

At the end of the day, I guess my civics lessons were wrong. That’s the only conclusion I can come up with, watching his administration and its supporters wave the American flag while continually pouring poison into America’s core – which was already problematic, true, but which has never been under this kind of attack from the commander-in-chief.

If Trump’s goal was to create a real-life reality show, he has succeeded, but the very country he says he loves is in more danger of being overtaken by its enemies than it has ever been before.

Rev. Dr. Susan K. Smith is the founder and director of Crazy Faith Ministries. She is available for speaking. 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.

Senate education chair blocks bill to extend HBCU funding By CHARLENE CROWELL Center for Responsible Lending

Each year, as families beam with pride at seeing a son, daughter or another relative graduate from college, that achievement is nearly always the result of a family’s commitment to higher education.

And when these institutions are among the more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, that pride is magnified by the history of how our forefathers overcame what once seemed to be insurmountable challenges.

According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, between 1861 and 1900 more than 90 HBCUs were founded. From the first HBCU, Pennsylvania’s Cheyney University, established in 1837, ensuing years led to even more educational opportunities that today include institutions spread across 19 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

So when federal legislation is blocked that would extend

and preserve funding for HBCUs, such actions are not only an affront to today’s college students, but also to a history that has led to only 3% of the nation’s colleges and universities educating nearly 20% of all Black graduates. The success of HBCU graduates is even more noteworthy considering that 70% of students come from lowincome families.

On Sept. 26, the damaging action taken by Tennessee’s Sen. Lamar Alexander, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee – known as the HELP Committee – blocked HBCU funding. Even worse, Alexander made this move just days before funding was set to expire on September 30.

The bill, sponsored and introduced on May 2 by Alabama Sen. Doug Jones and co-sponsored by South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, was named the FUTURE Act, an acronym for Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources Act. It began with bipartisan and bicameral support to extend critical HBCU and other minority-serving institutions funding through 2021 for sci-

ence, technology, engineering and mathematics education.

“Alabama is home to 14 outstanding HBCUs that serve as a gateway to the middle class for many firstgeneration, low-income and minority Americans,” stated Sen. Jones. The FUTURE Act will help ensure these historic schools and all minority-serving institutions continue to provide excellent education opportunities for their students.”

Scott agreed, adding “We all have a role to play in making the dream of college a reality for those who wish to pursue their education. The eight HBCUs in South Carolina have made a significant impact in our communities, creating thousands of jobs which translates to over $5 billion in lifetime earnings for their graduates.”

By September 18, a total of 15 senators signed on as cosponsors, including eight Republicans representing the additional states of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Dakota and West Virginia. Other Democratic senators signing on represented Arizona, California, Connecticut, Minnesota, Mon-

tana, Virginia and West Virginia.

On the House side, two North Carolina Representatives, Rep. Alma Adams and her colleague Mark Walker, introduced that chamber’s version that quickly passed in just two days before Alexander’s actions on the Senate floor.

So why would the HELP Committee Chair oppose a bill that had such balanced support – in both chambers as well as geographically and by party?

“Congress has the time to do this,” said Sen. Alexander on the floor of the Senate.

“While the legislation expires at the end of September, the U.S. Department of Education has sent a letter assuring Congress that there is enough funding for the program to continue through the next fiscal year.”

Alexander concluded his comments by using his remarks to push for a limited set of policy proposals that would amend the Higher Education Act piece by piece.

His comments prompt a more basic question: Why is it that Congress has failed to reauthorize the Higher Education Act for so many years?

Competing HEA legislative proposals with different notions have been bandied about since 2014. Most of these ideas were variations of promises for improved access, affordability and accountability, simplified financial aid applications and appropriate levels of federal support.

Yet for families faced with a financial tug of war between rising costs of college and stagnant incomes, Congress’ failure to act on higher education translates into more student loans and longer years of repayment.

The same day as Alexander’s block of the bill, Wil Del Pilar, vice president of higher education at The Education Trust, a national nonprofit that works to close opportunity gaps that disproportionately affect students of color and students from lowincome families, reacted with a statement.

“The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act is of vital importance to millions of students who currently struggle to afford college, lack adequate supports while enrolled, and are underserved by a system that perpetuates racial inequity,” said Pilar.

“Students need a federal policy overhaul that addresses these issues and acts to close racial and socioeconomic equity gaps, and they can’t afford to wait any longer.”

Ashley Harrington, a senior policy counsel with the Center for Responsible Lending agreed adding, “College is only getting more expensive every year, student borrowers are struggling to make payments and servicers and forprofit colleges are getting free rein to mistreat their customers and students. As this crisis exacerbates the racial wealth gap and constrains an entire generation of taxpayers, we need a real plan to address these important issues.

We hope Alexander reconsiders his position of holding hostage funding for HBCUs, Minority Serving Institutions and the students of color that they serve.”

Alexander, here’s hoping you are listening.

Charlene Crowell is the communications deputy director with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.

Joy of politics uncovered: The people, process and accountability

By LEE H. HAMILTON

Patriotic Millionaires

You’re probably chuckling already. Seriously? The joy of politics?

That was pretty much the reaction I got the other day when, in the middle of a conversation about how confrontational, adversarial and downright unpleasant politics has become of late, I suggested that it could be both fun and a source of satisfaction.

Yes, of course there are always irritations and inconveniences. And the often mean-spirited tone of today’s contentious politics is well beyond anything I encountered when I was in office.

But none of this erases the satisfactions that also come with the territory. They start with the people you can meet in the political arena:

able, ambitious, articulate and often at the top of their game. They may be friends or foes, but the foes aren’t usually permanent: sometimes they become friends, as the debate moves along to other issues and you find yourself sharing common ground. In fact, you’re never lonely in politics, because nothing can be accomplished alone. There’s huge satisfaction in the teamwork, in rolling up your sleeves with a likeminded group of people focused on a common goal.

Politics is also what allows you to hold government to account, call out its misdeeds and failures, and highlight its successes. You find that you have a voice in the public debate. It’s hard, maybe impossible, to measure your own impact. But there’s a true thrill in the battle: win, lose or draw. You’re participating in the success and the direction of your community and your country.

More to the point, you’re trying to change things. As Teddy Roosevelt said in a famous 1910 speech, “It is

not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena. … [Whose] place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

The satisfactions of engaging in politics do not just come when things are easy or running smoothly.

They’re most acute, in fact, when circumstances are difficult, when being involved can make a difference and when working through fraught times yields progress on the other side.

It’s true that progress is often incremental; it rarely comes all at once. The pleasures come from knowing that you’re doing your best to solve or mitigate problems and fighting for what you think is right.

You’re participating in the great experiment of democracy in America and are part of a long line of Americans trying to answer Lincoln’s

question at Gettysburg of whether this nation “so conceived and so dedicated can long endure.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes once said that one “may live greatly in the law.” It’s true for politics, too, despite its difficulties. It challenges you to develop your talents, to hone skills – listening, articulating your thoughts, negotiating with able adversaries and partners, building consensus, compromising in the name of moving forward – that are vital in all walks of life. At its best, politics stretches you and makes you live better.

I have to confess that when I suggested to some of my colleagues that I planned to write about the joy of politics, they thought I was joking. Many people don’t like the political process, and they don’t want to engage in it. There’s something about it that turns them off.

I recognize that it’s not an endeavor that fits everyone’s makeup or desires. But I’d also ask you this: If you’re serious about being a citi-

zen in a democracy, how can you avoid engaging in it in the manner and to the extent of your choosing?

In the end, politics is just how we Americans do our best to help our neighborhoods, our towns and cities, our states and our country become even better places to live.

And if you do get involved, here’s my bet: that you’ll have times that make you wonder why you bothered, but you’ll also find plenty of moments that bring you satisfaction, and even joy.

Lee Hamilton is a senior advisor for the Indiana University Center on Representative Government, a distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and a professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years.

Page 6 October 10, 2019

HEALTH

The Dallas Examiner www.dallasexaminer.com

Counseling Corner Parkland offers Breast Cancer Symposium, no-cost mammograms

Getting your stress under control

American Counseling Assoc.

Stress affects all of us these days. Jobs, family issues, the daily news and hundreds of other factors can all help create and promote the stress and anxiety that so many of us feel.

Of course, there will always be factors in your life that make you worried and can leave you feeling nervous, afraid or uncomfortable. That’s simply life. But there are ways you can minimize the effect stress may be having on your physical, mental and emotional health.

Simple lifestyle changes for better health are some of the easiest ways to handle stress. A physically healthier you doesn’t make the sources of stress in your life disappear, but does leave you better equipped to handle them.

High on the healthier lifestyle list is being more active and eating healthier. Something as simple as adding a daily walk or bike ride improves physical health and helps refocus your attention away from the things that might be bothering you.

Being physically healthier can help you better manage stress, too.

A few simple dietary changes, like adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet, is an important step in that direction.

Equally important is avoiding poor lifestyle choices that both weaken your health and add stress

all on their own. Excessive alcohol consumption, too much caffeine, smoking and overeating all increase stress.

In addition to such changes, try adding activities that bring relaxation and lower stress levels.

Look to activities that bring you enjoyment, good feelings and a distraction from the stressors in your life. A walk in the park serves such a purpose. So does daily meditation, a yoga class, or reading or listening to something that provokes laughter. Music can often be calming, or just putting aside time to read a good book. Time spent with good friends is another way to relax.

But if finding time to work in relaxation activities is a problem, make a change. Excessive demands on your time also create stress. You may need to learn to sometimes say “no” in order to make time for yourself.

Stress is a basic part of life, but excessive stress and anxiety bring real costs. If you find that taking self-care measures isn’t enough, consider talking to a professional counselor who can help you identify the sources of your stress and can provide tools to help you better cope with them.

Counseling Corner is provided by the American Counseling Association.

Comments and questions can be sent to acacorner@counseling.org or visit http://www.counseling.org.

Special to The Dallas Examiner

During October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Parkland Health and Hospital System will offer events throughout Dallas County to promote breast health and breast cancer awareness.

Events will include breast health education for women ages 16 and up as well as no-cost mammogram screenings for women ages 35 and up who are uninsured and underinsured.

In addition, Parkland will host its annual “Come Together for the Cure” Breast Cancer Awareness Symposium Oct. 12 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Light of the World Church of Christ, located at 7408 S. Hampton Road. There is no cost to attend the symposium, which will feature roundtable discussions with clinical experts and breast cancer survivors, a continental breakfast and lunch, as well as gifts and raffle prizes.

Presentations will be in both English and Spanish.

The event also offers nocost mammograms for those registering in advance. For more information or to RSVP, contact 214-266-4398 or email vickie.henry@phhs.org.

Upcoming no-cost mobile mammography sessions

Parkland Comprehensive Breast Center – Photo courtesy of Parkland Health and Hospital System

Parkland provides breast health services annually for 30,000 individuals and diagnoses and treats hundreds of patients with breast cancer – volumes that greatly exceed most other area hospitals. Parkland treats 20% of all breast cancer cases in Dallas County.

“Early diagnosis is a key to survival,” said W. Phil Evans, MD, division chief of breast imaging at Parkland and UT Southwestern and director of the UT Southwestern Center for Breast Care. “We want to ensure that women in Dallas County know their risk factors, recognize early warning signs of the disease and have the opportunity to be screened to find cancer early.”

With advances in screen-

ing and treatment, the death rate from breast cancer has decreased by 40% since 1990. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 or older, but breast cancer also affects younger women. About 20% of all new cases in the U.S. are found in women younger than age 50. Most women should begin yearly screening with mammography at age 40, according to Evans.

The no-cost mobile mammography sessions throughout Dallas County all month from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the locations below. To register and ensure your eligibility for no-cost mammograms, call 214-266-4398 or the contact person for the event.

• Oct. 5 Singing Hills Baptist Church 6550 University Hill Blvd.

Dallas, 75241 Contact: Vickie Henry 214-266-4398 • Oct. 12 Light of the World Church of Christ 7408 S. Hampton Road Dallas, 75232 Contact: Javier GonzalezMaese 214-266-0677 • Oct. 19 Binational Health Fair Mountain View College 4849 W. Illinois Ave. Dallas, 75211 Contact: Monica Moran 214-266-3059 • Oct. 25 Buckner WynnwoodFamily Hope Center 2006 Didsbury Circle Dallas, 75224 Contact: Monica Moran 214-266-3059 • Oct. 26 Spring Fellowship Church 817 Holcomb Road Dallas, 75217 Contact: Jeff Howard 214-266-0514 • Oct. 30 Moorland Family YMCA 907 E. Ledbetter Drive Dallas, 75216 Contact: Monica Moran 214-266-3059

The Dallas Examiner www.dallasexaminer.com

Storey,

continued from Front Page

Generally in death penalty cases, if evidence could have been raised at an earlier appeal and wasn’t, it is not allowed to be used in future appeals. After the ruling, one of Storey’s attorneys, Keith Hampton,

said the legal team would ask the court to reconsider the ruling, arguing the opinion now requires appellate attorneys to interview murder victim survivors. He said an equitability argument raised in their appeal was ignored in the court opinions.

“You can’t fault ... counsel for not finding something that you suppressed,”

LIFESTYLE

Hampton said during an interview. “You’re not in a position to say, ‘Hey, you didn’t try hard enough to find the thing that I buried.’”

Storey, now 34, was sentenced to death for the 2006 murder of Cherry, the 28year-old assistant manager at a miniature golf course near Fort Worth, during a robbery.

Court records state that Storey and another man shot Cherry while he was on his knees begging for his life. At his 2008 trial, a prosecutor said that “it should go without saying” that all of Cherry’s family “believe the death penalty is appropriate.”

But two months before his scheduled execution in 2017, Cherrys’ parents, Glenn and Judith, wrote to Gov. Greg Abbott and the Board of Pardons and Paroles, asking for a life sentence. They said they never wanted the death penalty and had made that clear to Tarrant County prosecutors.

“As a result of Jonas’ death, we do not want to see another family having to suffer through losing a child and family member,” they wrote.

One of the jurors in Storey’s trial, who has asked Texas legislators to change what he says are confusing jury instructions in capital cases, also wrote an affidavit that he would have never voted for a death sentence if he knew the Cherrys didn’t want it.

The Court of Criminal Appeals stopped his execution, and sent the case back to the trial court to determine if the Cherrys’ opposition could have been discovered earlier. The judge found that Ford had exercised due diligence as Storey’s appellate attorney, and that the trial prosecutors withheld the information and knowingly presented false evidence at trial. He recommended Storey’s sentence be changed to life.

Though the majority of the nine-judge Court of Criminal Appeals disagreed, three

dissented from the ruling. In a 26-page dissent, Judge Scott Walker said asking the Cherrys their opinions on the death penalty goes beyond “reasonable diligence.” “‘Reasonable’ diligence would not go prying into the private feelings of a murder victim’s family without a very good reason for doing so,” Walker wrote in his dissent, which Judge Michelle Slaughter joined.

“The trial court found that ‘in most cases family members of murder victims do not wish to speak to lawyers representing the person found guilty of killing their loved one.’”

Judge Kevin Yeary said in his dissent, also joined by Slaughter, that he would at least set the case for additional review instead of simply rejecting the appeal, which the court did.

“What I would not do is simply declare that [Ford] – who is now deceased and unable to respond to claims about his diligence–failed to diligently investigate the present claims, and dismiss the subsequent writ application on that basis,” he wrote.

Three other judges, however, signed onto an opinion

by Judge Barbary Hervey in support of the court’s order, saying the case is not one of false evidence “because no evidence of the family’s preference was introduced at trial.” She said that the prosecutor’s closing argument is not evidence at trial.

Hervey also stated that even if evidence of the Cherrys’ opposition was brought up at trial it would not change the horrors of the case, also noting that some jurors cried during Cherry’s wife’s testimony at trial explaining how her husband’s murder impacted her life.

“In light of all of this, it is difficult – if not impossible – to conclude that the victim’s parents’ general opposition to the death penalty would cast ‘the whole case in a different light,’” she wrote.

Page 7 October 10, 2019

Beware of ‘free genetic testing’ Medicare scam Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Family Features

Over the past few years, DNA tests have become more popular across the country. However, unscrupulous people are taking advantage of the buzz around these tests to scam Medicare beneficiaries. target Scammers Medicare beneficiaries through telemarketing calls, booths at public events, health fairs and door-to-door visits. They offer “free” genetic testing to help recipients avoid diseases or find the right medications.

They claim it is covered

by Medicare, and therefore is free to the beneficiary. In reality, Medicare only covers genetic testing in limited situations, and only when ordered by the beneficiary’s physician. If a company bills Medicare for genetic testing, and Medicare denies the claim, the beneficiary could be responsible for the entire cost of the test, which can total around $10,000.

In other cases, the scammers are simply trying to obtain Medicare numbers they can use to steal a beneficiary’s medical identity or to fraudulently bill Medicare for services they did not provide. Such fraud can hurt the beneficiaries, as well as all American taxpayers who contribute to Medicare.

To avoid being scammed, the Administration

for Community Living offers this advice: • Do not accept genetic testing services, including a cheek swab, from someone at a community event, local fair, farmer’s market, parking lot or other large event.

• Always be cautious about giving out your personal information, including your Medicare number.

• If you receive a genetic testing kit in the mail, don’t accept it unless it was ordered by your physician. Refuse the delivery or return it to the sender. Keep a record of the sender’s name and date returned.

• Always review your Medicare Summary Notice or explanation of benefits. The terms “gene analysis” or “molecular pathology” may indicate questionable genetic testing.

If you received a kit that was not ordered by a trusted provider or have concerns about billing errors or possible fraud, contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol. The program, funded by ACL, helps Medicare beneficiaries protect themselves from fraud, errors and abuse, and detect and report problems if and when they occur.

Find your local SMP at http://www.smpresource.o rg or call 1-877-808-2468.

Page 8 October 10, 2019

The Dallas Examiner www.dallasexaminer.com

The Dallas Examiner www.dallasexaminer.com

FAMILY & HOME

Reduce your residential risk:

Advice to make your home storm-ready Family Features

In the United States, more than 100,000 thunderstorms occur each year. These storms can be accompanied by high winds, hail and tornadoes, and cause power outages, fires and flooding – posing serious threats to people and property nationwide.

When these storms hit, many of the features that make your home more comfortable and enjoyable can also pose serious risks. Learn how to protect your family and home from these common hazards.

Landscaping Lush, well-developed trees provide valuable curb appeal, but they can also be dangerous in storm conditions. Although it’s virtually impossible to fully prevent damage from falling branches or even entire trees, you can minimize the risk. Prune trees regularly to maintain a safe distance from the house and power lines, and eliminate dead trees or damaged branches that are more susceptible to high winds. Keep large shrubs, bushes or other vegetation pruned to prevent damage to homes or vehicles.

Decorative features The strong winds from storms can turn items in your yard into airborne hazards. If items like decorations and patio furniture aren’t secured, bring them in or safely secure them before the storm hits.

Also check for decorative features like shutters, which can shake loose in a strong wind and cause significant damage to the home’s exterior.

Propane tanks Severe weather, including floods and strong winds, can cause falling tree limbs or other debris to impair or even destroy a propane tank. More important than the property damage are the potential safety risks, such as gas leaks. Trim back landscaping that could fall onto a tank and have a service technician survey the tank for possible risk factors, such as rust, loose fittings or faulty valves.

Doors and windows Poorly fitted or sealed doors and windows are especially vulnerable

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

in a storm. They can invite leaks or, even worse, blow in completely when weakened by blustery force.

Give all openings a careful review at least a couple of times a year and again after any major weather event.

For more information on preparing for severe weather conditions, visit http://www.propane.com/safety.

10 Storm Safety Tips If your home uses propane, consider these tips from the Propane Education and Research Council to help keep your family safe.

1. Create an emergency contact list with information for your propane supplier and emergency services, along with instructions for turning off propane, electricity and water. If you do need to turn off your propane, contact a service technician to inspect the system prior to turning it back on.

2. Consider installing UL-listed propane gas detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, which provide an additional measure of security. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding installation, location and maintenance.

3. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Metal objects such as propane tanks and equipment, tractors and telephone lines can conduct electricity. Do not go near them. If you are caught outside and cannot get to a safe dwelling, find a low-lying, open place away from trees, poles or metal objects.

Make sure the place you choose is not subject to flooding.

4. In the event of a flood, shut off the gas. Turn off the main gas supply valve on your propane tank if it is safe to do so. To close the valve, turn it to the right (clockwise). Also, it’s typically a good idea to turn off the gas supply valves located near individual indoor appliances. Before you attempt to use any of your propane appliances again, have a

propane retailer or qualified service technician check the entire system to ensure it is leak-free.

5. If a tornado is approaching, immediately take action. If you are inside your home or a building, go to the lowest level possible such as a basement or a storm cellar. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level.

If you are in a mobile home, trailer or vehicle, get out immediately and seek shelter in a sturdy building or storm shelter.

6. After the storm passes and it is safe to do so, check the entire area for damaged gas lines or damage to your propane tank. High winds and hail can move, shift or damage gas lines and tanks. If it is dark, use flashlights, not candles. Immediately call your local utility company or propane retailer if any of these hazards exist. Do not attempt repairs yourself.

7. Never use outdoor propane appliances like portable heaters, barbecue grills or generators indoors or in enclosed areas, particularly during a power outage. This can result in carbon monoxide poisoning and potentially death. Never store, place or use a propane cylinder indoors or in enclosed areas such as a basement, garage, shed or tent.

8. Inspect propane appliances for water or other damage, if it is safe to do so. If the appliances have electric components and have been exposed to water, they can create a fire hazard. Do not turn on a light switch, use any power source or inspect your household appliances while standing in water. This can result in electrocution.

9. Schedule a time for a qualified service technician to perform a complete inspection of your propane system if you suspect any of your propane appliances, equipment or vehicles have been underwater or damaged, or you have turned off your gas supply. Never use or operate them until they are inspected.

10. Exercise sound judgment. Stay calm and use radios, television and telephones to stay informed and connected. If any questions arise, contact your propane retailer or local fire department.

Page 9 October 10, 2019

Emergency preparedness to help ensure pet safety Family Features

Preparing for an emergency can be a challenge. It oftentimes is hard to foresee when disaster will strike and how to properly prepare before it occurs.

When it comes to managing pet safety during an emergency, the unpredictable can make the preparation process even more difficult. Regardless of a pet’s size or demeanor, a disaster can take a toll on a pet without proper planning. Keep in mind that all pets are different, particularly when the unexpected occurs. From accommodating their nervousness to tracking their food or medication requirements, understanding the needs of your pets can make a difference in the handling of an emergency.

The following are tips from PetSmart Charities to help create a preparedness plan for you and your pets.

Pack in Advance Arranging emergency supplies ahead of time can be a helpful first step when creating a pet preparedness plan. Essentials for packing include bowls for food and water, basic first aid items, lists of vaccinations and medications and a spare leash and collar. Consider adding the pet’s name and your phone number to the collar incase you become separated from your pet.

Keeping these items close will be essential if you’re able to stay in your home. But if you have to leave, bring along a week’s supply of food and water, labeled pet medication and a crate to provide a safe space for pets that may feel nervous or frightened.

“Plastic or wire crates will not only safely contain and transport pets, but they also condition relaxed behavior,” said Amanda Landis-Hanna, DVM, senior manager of veterinary outreach at PetSmart Charities.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

“Using a crate can provide a familiar reference point for pets during times of fear, uncertainty and anxiety.”

Pick a safe location Knowing where to turn in the case of a crisis can be tricky when bringing pets along. Try locating an array of safe places that allow pets and keep the list on-hand in the event of an emergency. Locations range from the homes of friends and relatives to hotels and disaster shelters, however, be sure the accommodations are petfriendly and do not have restrictions on specific animals or breeds. If those locations won’t suffice, check with your local humane society or Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to see if they offer facilities during disasters or can provide recommendations.

Ready yourself When disasters take place, try to maintain as much of a ready-to-go mindset as possible. With items packed in advance and locations in mind, it can be beneficial to have details and items sorted, like a toothbrush and other easily overlooked necessities. Although the needs of your family members, whether they are four-legged or two-legged, are at the forefront of your mind, it can put you at ease knowing your needs are in check.

For more tips to prepare you and your pets for an emergency, visit http://www.petsmartcharities.org.

Page 10 October 10, 2019 October 1-31 Amazon Hiring Event, a job fair to fill full-time positions starting at $15 an hour, weekdays, no walk-ins, must apply at https://amazon.force.com.

Now-Nov. 24 The Village Coop neighborhood market, with up to 35 vendors selling locally grown foods, 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.

Now-November A Shared Border exhibit on how the diverse cultural landscape of the Texas and Mexico borderland has caused 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 www.dallashistory.org/exhibitions.

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

10 & 11 Speaking Truth

to Power Conference, an event to equip and empower church and commuleaders and nity stakeholders to ignite a spirit of revival for churches, fight the hostile takeover of gentrification with strategic plans for organizing and developing our communities, and educate our people to join the fight for reparations and justice, will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Friendship-West Baptist Church, 2020 W. Wheatland Road. For more information and to register, visit /www.friendshipwest.org/events-registrations or call 972-228-5200.

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.

CALENDAR COMMUNITY

ONGOING EVENTS

Now–March 1, 2020 The Kinsey Collection, a groundbreaking exhibit featuring 150-plus works of art, photos, documents and more, celebrating the achievements and contributions of Black Americans from 1595-today, will be open to the public at the African American Museum, 3536 Grand Ave. For more information, visit www.aamdallas.org.

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.

11

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 p.m. at Lofty Spaces, 816 Montgomery St. For more information, visit eventbrite.com.

11 In Her Shoes: An expe-

riential training, presented by the Dallas County Domestic Violence Awareness Coalition, an interactive and experiential exercise where participants experience the lives of domestic violence victims, will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Dallas CASA, 2757 Swiss Ave. For more information visit www.eventbrite.com.

11 Kid Tank Live, an op-

portunity for young entrepreneurs to pitch their business to a panel of judges to win cash prizes, will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at St. Philip’s School and Community Center, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. It’s free to attend, but you must register. For more information, contact Toni Patterson at 214-421-5221 ext 241 or email tpatterson@stphilips.com.

11 & 12 Downtown Dallas Comedy featuring Shang will begin at 9 p.m. at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Clarence Muse Café Theatre, 13090 Canton St. For more information and tickets, call TBAAL Box Office at 214-743-2400 or Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.

12 WellMed Senior Activity Center Block Party, a celebration for Medicareeligible individuals, will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at WellMed at Redbird

Mondays-Wednesdays Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing/ 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.

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.

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.

12 “It’s All About You” –

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.

12 Comprehensive Health

Risk Assessment, hosted by state Rep. Yvonne Davis and CVS Health, will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 2420 W. Wheatland Road. Assessment includes blood pressure, body mass index, glucose screening and total cholesterol screening. Free to the public. For more information, contact Rep. Yvonne Davis at ydavisfortexas@aol.com.

12 City of Dallas Water 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

1st & 3rd Tuesdays 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 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. Com-

matthew.yates@dallascityhall.com or call 214243-1131.

12

Kidpreneur Expo, where future entrepreneurs between the ages of 6-16 are given the opportunity to showcase their business or products among other young businessmen and businesswomen, will be held from noon to 3 p.m. at St. Philip’s School & Community Center, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. For more information, contact Toni Patterson at 214-4215221 ext 241 or email tpatterson@stphilips.com.

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 (observed)

14 “Faiths in Conversation,” presented by the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, a monthly event approaching relevant topics of faith from academic and accessible perspectives, will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Thanksgiving Square, 1627 Pacific Ave. Audience participation is encouraged. For more information, contact info@dallasinstitute.org.

15

The Dallas Examiner www.dallasexaminer.com

“Small Businesses – Get Ready, Set, Grow,”

munity Center, 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. - Bldg. A. For more information, call 214-708-2739 or visit www.dallasmlkcenter.com.

Wednesdays State Fair Job Assistance will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center Library, 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. - Bldg. C. For more information, call 214-708-2739 or visit www.dallasmlkcenter.com.

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.

Session 4, hosted by PeopleFund & ZWHJCOC, will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Frazier House, 4600 Spring Ave. For more information or to register, visit zwhjcoc.org/classes.

Soto at 214-670-0777 or richard.soto@dallascityhall.com.

17

16

“A Book Group for Young Professionals,” for young professionals wanting to connect with others through literature, in-depth conversations presented by the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 2719 Routh St. For more information, contact nfo@dallasinstitute.org.

16

Promise Champions Initiative Kickoff, where you can learn how you or your organization can become a Promise Champion and help make The Promise a reality for all Dallas youth, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, 1800 N. Lamar St. For more information, visit http://dallascountypromise.org.

17

“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.

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

College Fair, presented by Cedar Valley College and Lone Star Sports, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Cedar Valley College Gymnasium, 3030 N. Dallas Ave., Lancaster. For more information, contact CFannin@LonestarSports.com or call 214641-1987.

17

Business Women’s Empowerment Series, “How to Network with Sisters to Make A WinWin!” will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Friendship-West Baptist Church, 2020 W. Wheatland Road. These sessions are designed to empower and equip women and women business owners to become more productive and effective in their businesses. For more information, please contact wow@friendshipwest.org.

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.

17 Urban Engagement Book Club, Healing Voices of Women of Faith Who Survived Abuse Speak Out by J. Harris, consisting of 11 real-life stories of women who have experienced various forms of violence (domestic violence, rape, incest and other violent acts), who survived because of their faith in God, will be read at City Square Opportunity Center, 1610 S. Malcolm X Blvd. For more information, email policy@citysquare.org.

Disclaimer: The Dallas Examiner makes every effort to accurately list all calendar events. However, The Dallas Examiner bears no responsibility for schedule changes and/or cancellations. Contact information on each event listing is provided for the public for confirmation and additional information.

Send your calendar events and a photo no less than two weeks before your event:

Email: calendar@dallasexaminer.com

The Dallas Examiner www.dallasexaminer.com

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.

CLASSIFIEDS Bids

INVITATION FOR BIDS IFB-2019-26

DHA, Housing Solutions for North Texas will receive sealed bids for the Replacement of Roofs at Brackins Village, 1544 E. Eighth St., Dallas, Texas 75203 (Project # IFB-2019-26).

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, October 09, 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 23, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at Brackins Village, 1544 E. Eighth Street, Dallas, Texas 75203.

Sealed Bids will be accepted until 4:00 P.M., on Thursday, November, 07, 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, November 07, 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.

Employment For Sale

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 Aetna Internships Aetna offers internships to smart, energized people who are ready to make a difference in the working world. Aetna prides itself in a richly diverse workforce - with employees of different races, ethnicities, life experiences and viewpoints.

Opportunities for students and recent graduates exist across all Aetna functions, offering meaningful work, in-depth training programs and best-in-class experience. Specific positions and requirements vary by area, but dedication and a passion for excellence are a must.

Contact: www.aetna.com/working/students/index.html

Internships At Shell As a Shell intern, you’ll benefit from regular and structured performance evaluation from your mentor and direct supervisor. You’ll also receive direct feedback to help you to enhance your strengths and build on any areas for development. Learn more at http://blackstudents.com.

American Express American Express is committed to attracting the highest-caliber graduates to lead and grow our business into the future. Not just academics, but individuals with intellectual curiosity, passion, flexibility and drive.

Learn more at http://blackstudents.com.

Internship at Marriott Marriott offers paid internships that provide true hands-on work experience to prepare interns for leadership in the professional world. Participants will focus on one professional area, with possibilities to explore other business operations. Learn more at http://blackstudents.com.

State Farm Internship Program State Farm’s Intern Program is an introduction to the nation’s largest auto insurer and a major financial services provider, plus much more. The objective is to provide you with a meaningful work experience and a preview of the type of work you would do as a fulltime employee.

Learn more at http://blackstudents.com.

Page 11 October 10, 2019

Real Estate

Scholarships

Texas Grant Program The Texas Legislature established the TEXAS – Towards EXcellence, Access and Success – Grant to make sure that well-prepared high school graduates with financial need could go to college. To receive a basic initial award through the TEXAS Grant Program, a student must be registered with Selective Service, or be exempt, demonstrate financial need, be classified by the institution as a Texas resident, have not been convicted of a felony or crime involving a controlled substance and be enrolled at least threequarter time as a Baccalaureate student who graduated from an accredited public or private high school in Texas, completed the Foundation, Recommended, or Distinguished Achievement high school program (or the equivalent) and, enrolled in an undergraduate degree or certificate program at an approved institution within 16 months from high school graduation.

Deadline: Varies Contact: Scholarship Committee Student Financial Aid Programs P.O. Box 12788 Austin, TX 78711-2788 888-311-8881

Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Program The purpose of the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Program is to provide grant aid to financially needy students enrolled in Texas public two-year colleges. To receive an initial award through the TEOG Program, a student must be registered with selective service, or be exempt; be classified by the institution as a Texas resident and be enrolled at least half-time.

Deadline: Varies Contact: Scholarship Committee Student Financial Aid Programs P.O. Box 12788 Austin, TX 78711-2788 888-311-8881 ABA Diversity Scholarship The Diversity Scholarship focuses on broadening the number of traditionally underrepresented groups in the management and operation ranks of the transportation, travel, and tourism industry.

Eligible candidates must have completed, at a minimum, their first year of college at an accredited university; must have a declared major or course of study relevant to the transportation, travel, and tourism industry; and must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA. Applicants are required to submit a 500-word essay discussing the role they hope to play in advancing the future of the transportation, motorcoach, travel, and tourism/hospitality industry. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.

Deadline: varies Contact: American Bus Association 700 13th Street, NW Suite 575 Washington, DC 20005 800-283-2877 https://www.buses.org/?/aba-foundation/ scholarships/diversity

Cheryl D. Conkling Memorial Scholarship Battling the physical hardships of gamma globulin anemia and hearing loss, Cheryl Conkling loved and excelled in education and music, and graduated Summa Cum Laude. This scholarship is named in her honor to support students with hearing or other physical hardships who have demonstrated a love for education. It is only open to students who live and/or attend school in Windsor, Colorado; Conroe, Texas; Wilkinson County, Mississippi; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; or West Feliciana Parish in Louisiana. Students must be a high school senior enrolling in an accredited college or university in the fall when the scholarship is awarded.

Preference may be given to students with hearing or other physical impairments, students not receiving other substantial aid, and/or students in Louisiana.

Deadline: Varies Contact: Scholarship Committee 100 North Street, Suite 900 Baton Rouge, LA scholarships@braf.org 225-387-6126 www.scholarships.com

Children of Disabled or Deceased Public Servants Scholarship The Children of Disabled or Deceased Firemen, Peace Officers, Game Wardens, and Employees of Correctional Institutions Scholarship provide a benefit to the children of eligible persons who have been killed in the line of duty prior to September 1, 2000, or who have been disabled in the line of duty. Applicants must apply before their 21st birthday (age 22 if a participant in a special education program under section 29.003); must have had a parent who was a paid or volunteer fireman, paid municipal, county, or state peace officer, or a custodial employee of the Texas Department of Corrections, or a game warden and be the child of a parent who suffered an injury, resulting in disability or death, sustained in the line of duty. Applicants must also enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e. a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its costs). A person may receive an exemption from the payment of tuition and fees only for the first 120 undergraduate semester credit hours for which he or she registers or age 26, whichever comes first.

Must attend a public Texas college/university.

Deadline: Varies Contact: Scholarship Committee Student Financial Aid Programs P.O. Box 12788 Austin, TX 78711-2788 888-311-8881

Advertise your Classified Ads today! Call 214-941-3100

Page 12 October 10, 2019

The Dallas Examiner www.dallasexaminer.com