Houston Defender: January 30, 2014

NATIONAL

ELECTION COMMISSION URGES NATIONWIDE VOTING REFORMS, P3

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Volume 83 | Number 13

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NEWSTALK SHEILA JACKSON LEE supports school choice

P2 FEATURE ALICE WALKER subject of PBS documentary

P4 BLACK HISTORY ROSA PARKS remembered with portrayal

P9 HS ZONE J.C. WASHINGTON loves playing for Yates

P11

Kevin Hart plays romantic role H Page 5

President Obama speaks to nation President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union speech, and discussed his accomplishments and unfinished business. Hear what he had to say about achieving goals. See why he’s calling for a “year of action.”

Black children reach milestone America’s population is changing, and a new report reveals that certain children of color can’t be called minorities anymore. Read about the challenges facing youngsters and their families. Find out what can be done today to give them a brighter future.

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DEFENDER | JANUARY 30 | 2014

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newstalk

Houstonians rally for school choice

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ore than 2,500 children, parents, educators and concerned citizens gathered at Minute Maid Park for the kickoff of National School Choice Week, which highlights the need for effective education options for all children.

Local event planning partners included Families Empowered, KIPP Houston, YES Prep Public Schools, the Texas Charter Schools Association, Harmony Public Schools and four independent school districts – Aldine, Galveston, Houston and Spring Branch.

Supporters of school choice include (l. to r.) Families Empowered Executive Director Colleen Dippel, Speakers included CongressTexas Sen. Ted Cruz joins students, teachers, parents and others in supporting school Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and KIPP Co-Founder woman Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas choice. (Photos courtesy of Families Empowered) Mike Feinberg.

Sen. Ted Cruz, HISD Superintendent Terry Grier and KIPP co-founder Mike Feinberg. students, 69,000 chose to attend school outside of child’s specific skills and talents.

Jackson Lee said depriving a child the right of their neighborhoods.

• Building relationships with teachers and a quality education is an injustice.

National School Choice Week features thouschool leaders who will be partners in supporting a “I don’t want to see [fewer magnet schools], I sands of activities across the country. Participants child’s academic success. want to see more,” she said. “And I want to make believe that parents should be empowered to • Increasing a parent’s ability to shape a child’s sure that if there’s a magnet school in your neighchoose the best educational environments for overall development. borhood like Baylor Medical Middle School, that their children.

Feinberg said school choice has been proven to the neighborhood children can go to that school as Events highlight a variety of options, including make a difference. well or the local charter school or the public school traditional public schools, charter schools, magnet “Through the work of many dedicated individuthat they want to go to.” schools, private schools, online learning and home- als inside and outside of education, Houston has Cruz talked about the advantages of school schooling. created and replicated schools that have changed choice.

In Houston, Families Empowered was founded life trajectories for thousands of underserved stu“We know that for the kids who are given a to support the escalating number of area families dents,” he said. choice, it improves their reading scores, their math searching for great schools for their children. Ac“We look forward to rolling up our sleeves and scores, their ability to get into college, their ability cording to the nonprofit, the benefits of school teaming up with educators and community leaders to achieve a better life and a better future,” he said. choice include: across Houston to open even more doors of opporGrier added that in HISD, out of its 210,000 • Choosing a learning environment that fits a tunity for young people in the coming years.”

localbriefs THE TEXAS ECONOMY saw positive job growth last month with the addition of 17,600 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm positions. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the state’s unemployment rate decreased for the fifth consecutive month, down to 6.0 percent in December. It remained below the national unemployment rate of 6.7 percent. Trade, transportation and utilities expanded by 8,100 positions, more jobs added than any other major industry in Texas. Other industries with job growth included manufacturing, 6,600 jobs, and education and health services, 4,400 jobs.

“We continue to see growth across major industries

in Texas, with all of them adding jobs over the year,” said TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar……..

THE CITY OF HOUSTON filed a lawsuit against the Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund (HFRRF), one of three pension systems covering city employees. The city took the action due to a growing concern about its ability to meet long-term retiree pension obligations. The lawsuit seeks to enable the city to have the same input on contributions and plan design for HFRRF that it already has with the Houston Police Officers Pension System and the Houston Municipal Employee Pension System. “State law that applies only to

Houston is unreasonably restricting our ability to protect taxpayers and keep our commitment to secure and sustainable firefighter retirement benefits,” said Mayor Annise Parker……...METRO has permanently closed its Pinemont Park & Ride lot due to TxDOT’s reconstruction and widening of US 290. The work includes demolishing the ramp that connects the Pinemont Park & Ride to the Northwest Freeway HOV lanes. Customers who park at the lot and ride the bus or who carpool and access the HOV lane via the lot are asked to consider using either the West Little York Park & Ride lot or the Northwest Transit Center as alternatives.

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national

U.S.briefs A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT study shows that allegations of sexual abuse in the nation’s prisons and jails are increasing – with correctional officers responsible for half of it – but prosecution is still extremely rare. The report, released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, shows that administrators logged more than 8,000 reports of abuse to their overseers each year between 2009 and 2011, up 11 percent from the department’s previous report, which covered 2007 and 2008. It’s not clear whether the increase is the result of better reporting or represents an actual rise in the number of incidents……..

ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER said the Obama administration will soon announce policy guidance that would make it easier for banks to deal with state-legalized marijuana businesses. Twenty states and Washington D.C. have legalized marijuana for medical use. Many banks have been afraid to open checking or savings accounts for legalized marijuana businesses out of fear of breaking federal law. As a result, the businesses are forced to deal with large amounts of cash, creating public safety risks. “You don’t want just huge amounts of cash in these places. They want to be able to use the banking system. There’s a public safety component to this,” Holder said……..THE CORRUPTION TRIAL of former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin began with a federal judge imposing tough rules on spectators and reporters during jury selection. About 150 people have been called as potential jurors for the trial, which is expected to take about two weeks. Nagin is accused of involvement in a bribery and kickback scheme in which he allegedly received money, free travel and other perks from business owners seeking contracts from the city. Nagin gained national recognition for leading New Orleans during and after Hurricane Katrina. If convicted he could be sentenced to at least 20 years in prison.

VOLUME 83 • NUMBER 13 JANUARY 30, 2014 Publisher Print Editor Marilyn Marshall Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Art Director Advertising/Client Relations Tony Fernandez-Davila Selma Dodson Tyler People Editor Strategic Alliance Manager Yvette Chargois Clyde Jiles Sports Editors Multimedia Manager Max Edison Tiffany Williams Darrell K. Ardison Online Editor Contributing Writer ReShonda Billingsley Cierra Duncan The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

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Election Commission urges voting reforms

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NNPA News Service

n order to make sure no voter waits in line more than 30 minutes before casting a ballot, states need to adopt a series of election changes, the Presidential Commission on Election Administration proposed after a six-month study.

The report recommended that all states adopt online voter registration procedures and that states compare voter rolls to maintain accuracy across state lines. It also suggested the use of mail-in ballots and the expansion of in-person early voting opportunities to reduce overcrowding at the polls on Election Day. In addition, the commission urged states to turn schools into polling centers where one-third of voters already cast ballots. It noted that many of the voting machines in use are at least a decade old, and said that the process of certifying new voting technology has to be updated.

The report said that no citizen should have to wait more than 30 minutes to vote; jurisdictions can solve the problem of long lines. Yet many people had to wait as long as six hours to vote.

“Long wait times at select polling places result from a combination of mismanagement, limited or misallocated resources, and long ballots,” stated the report.

Long wait times plagued Black voters disproportionately.

A joint study by OurTime.org, a nonprofit group that organizes young people online for political engagement, and the Advancement Project, a multiracial civil rights group, found that long lines constituted a “time tax” replacing poll taxes and literacy

tests that blocked Black and poor eligible voters from casting ballots during the Jim Crow era.

“Florida voters experience some of the longest voting lines in the county, with an average wait time of 39 minutes to cast a ballot. That was three times the national average in 2012, of 13.3 minutes,” stated the OurTime.org/Advancement Project report.

According to that report, Blacks waited 23 minutes to vote in the 2012 presidential election, compared to whites who waited an average of 12 minutes.

The election commission report failed to address the often raciallycharged, phantom pursuit of voter fraud and controversial voter ID laws that some civil rights leaders claim suppress the minority and poor vote.

“Black youth reported that the lack of required identification prevented them from voting at nearly four times the rate of white youth (17.3% compared to 4.7%). Latino youth (8.1%) were also affected at higher rates than white youth,” stated the OurTime.org/ Advancement Project report.

As the country grows more diverse, protecting the voting rights of young, minorities will become more significant.

A study by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University reported that voter challenges, voter caging, voter intimidation, and other deceptive practices often block eligible voters from casting ballots, interrupting the democratic process. “…Democracy suffers when anti-fraud initiatives block or create unnecessary hurdles for eligible voters; when they target voters based on race, ethnicity, or other impermissible characteristics; when they cause voter intimidation and confusion; and when they disrupt the voting process,” stated the Brennan report.

“Long wait times at select polling places result from a combination of mismanagement, limited or misallocated resources, and long ballots.”

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DEFENDER | JANUARY 30 | 2014 defendernetwork.com

Alice Walker

subject of PBS documentary should be laughing, crying when they should be crying. I got to feel it as a lice Walker has living work of art, as somebeen defined as one thing useful. My interest in of the key internacreating anything is that it tional writers of the be useful. People can love 20th century. She the beauty of it, but they made history as the first Africanshould also use it to grow, American woman to win a Pulitzer to deepen.

Prize for Fiction as well as the NaKW: What was it like tional Book Award in 1983 for her dealing with the blowback novel “The Color Purple,” one of for the next several years the few literary books to capture coming from critics who the popular imagination and leave felt it was anti-Black men? a permanent imprint.

AW: It actually lasted The award-winning novel for a decade. How could served as the inspiration for you imagine that people Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film and could be mad at you for so was adapted for the stage, opening long? I felt a great deal of on Broadway in 2005.Walker’s weariness. But because it books include seven novels, four wasn’t the first time that I collections of short stories, four had been heavily criticized, children’s books, and volumes of I learned that you just keep Walker’s award-winning novel “The Color Purple” was made into a movie starring Whoopi Goldberg. essays and poetry. going and turn to other tiful, little church, too. As sweet as could be. It was As an activist, she presented things. Which I did. I went on to write at a bend in the road, with a big, oak tree sheltering the keynote address at the 11th Annual Steve Biko “The Temple of My Familiar” which may be my fait. Still, I wandered right out the window, mentally Lecture at the University of Cape Town in South vorite of my novels, because it was a and emotionally, got into the trees, and never Africa, and was awarded the Lennon/Ono Grant miraculous gift that I had no idea left. for Peace, in Reykjavik, Iceland. She donated the how I got it…So, the blowKW: How did you feel about the financial award to an orphanage for the children of back, in a way, faced me screen and stage adaptations of AIDS victims in Kenya. in a new direction which “The Color Purple?”

Here, she talks about her career and about was very interesting.

AW: I was worried about the documentary “Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth” which premieres on PBS on Friday, Feb. 7 at 9 p.m. the film at first, because I’d never had a movie made It tells her dramatic life story with poetry and lyriof any of my work on a cism, and features interviews with Walker, Steven big scale like that. There Spielberg, Danny Glover, Quincy Jones, Gloria had only been a couple Steinem and others. of small, student efKW: How do you feel about having the biopic forts before that. ‘The coming out about you?

Color Purple’ was so AW: Well, it’s very interesting because I aloverwhelming that I actumost never do anything for Black History Month, ally brought a magic wand because I feel it’s just another way to separate us.

Alice Walker is shown on to New York City for the the set of the documentary It’s amusing to me that it would be coming out as “Beauty in Truth.” (Photo premiere, and pointed it at the a Black History presentation on PBS. But on the

by Shaheen Haq) screen in the hope that movie level of the film, I like it. And I love the producer didn’t embarrass all of us. Lo [Shaheen Haq] and the filmmaker [Pratibha Parand behold, it turned out to be mar]. I think they were incredibly devoted. They a beautiful picture. did it on a hope and a prayer, and at one point had The audience was so into to rely on crowd-sourcing because of the huge it, gracious and emotional, expenses. laughing when KW: The film left me with an appreciation of they your deep connection to nature.

AW: The forest is the first cathedral. I felt that from the time I was a child. I credit my mother with that. I used to think it came from her Native-American side. Whichever it was, she instinctively connected with nature, and taught me that. Church just could not hold my spirit.

It was a beauBy KAM WILLIAMS Special to the Defender

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JANUARY 30 | 2014 | DEFENDER

entertainment

what’sup SAMUEL L. JACKSON recently introduced the first trailer and footage from his next film, “Kite.” It is an adaptation of a Japanese tale about a young, female assassin on the hunt for her parents’ murderer. Jackson portrays a cop in the film, which doesn’t have a release date yet. Jackson is also reprising his role as Nick Fury in the sequel “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” which hits theaters in April.

ANTHONY MACKIE appears in the film as Falcon, a flying superhero……..

USHER traveled to Panama to visit with his protégée, JUSTIN BIEBER, who was vacationing after being arrested in Miami for driving under the influence and drag racing. Usher helped Bieber achieve success after the teen was discovered on YouTube……...The recent episode of the TYLER PERRY drama “The Haves and the Have Nots” set a series rating record, earning 2.8 million total viewers on OWN. The show follows the lives of a rich and powerful Georgia family and the hired help who work in their opulent mansion……..The new docu-series “SWV Reunited” recently premiered on WE TV, and was seen by 1.2 million viewers. The show stars the ‘90s singing group SWV, comprised of CHERYL “COKO” CLEMONS, LEANNE “LELEE” LYONS and TAMARA “TAJ” GEORGE. They had a string of R&B hits, including “I’m So Into You.” The three women went their separate ways in 1998 and reunited to record an album in 2012. In their new show, the women “figure out how to trust again – on and off the stage – and perform with each other.” It airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. through Feb. 20……..PHARRELL WILLIAMS was a big winner at the Grammy Awards.

He and DAFT PUNK won for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Record of the Year and Album of the Year. Williams also won Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.

QUEEN LATIFAH made headlines for officiating over a mass wedding of 33 heterosexual, interracial and same-sex couples at the awards show.

Kevin Hart and Regina Hall are lovers in “About Last Night.”

Kevin Hart

plays romantic role in new film

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Defender News Services

omedian Kevin Hart’s stock as an actor continues to rise. He currently co-stars with Ice Cube in the No. 1 film in the country, “Ride Along.”

On Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day – Hart can be seen in the romantic comedy “About Last Night,” which co-stars Michael Ealy, Regina Hall and Joy Bryant.

It is a remake of the 1986 film set in Chicago. The new version has a predominantly Black cast and is set in Los Angeles.

The film explores “new love for two couples as they journey from the bar to the bedroom and are eventually put to the test in the real world.” Hart portrays Bernie and Hall is his girlfriend Joan. They introduce Ealy (who plays Danny) and Bryant (Debbie).

Hart is pleased to be in another film.

“I’m just glad all my hard work is paying off,” Hart said. “You don’t work hard to take a break, you work hard to continue to have success and that’s what I plan on doing

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— to keep working hard and hope it continues to pay off.”

In June, Hart will be seen in “Think Like a Man Too,” the sequel to the hit 2012 film. Ealy, who starred in the original “Think” movie and will be seen in the sequel as well, talked about working with Hart.

“Working with Kev gets better and better every time we do it, actually,” he said. “On ‘Think’ we had a ball. On ‘About Last Night’ we had a ball. There’s no way you’re not going to have fun working with Kev, it’s just not gonna happen.”

Born in Philadelphia in 1980, Hart became a standup comedian shortly after graduating from high school.

He worked his way up to gigs in New York and Los Angeles and in 2006, he released his first stand-up album, “I’m a Grown Little Man.” Six years later, fans in nearly 100 cities watched Hart perform during his “Let Me Explain” international tour.

Hart has entertained moviegoers in such films as “Little Fockers,” “Death at a Funeral” and more recently, “Grudge Match” starring Robert DeNiro and Sylvester Stallone.

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DEFENDER | JANUARY 30 | 2014

Obama calls for ‘year of action’

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Defender News Services

uring his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama asked Americans to make 2014 a year of action.

He said that after “five years of grit and determined effort,” the United States is better-positioned for the 21st century than any other nation on Earth.

“In the coming months, let’s see where else we can make progress together,” Obama said. “Let’s make this a year of action. That’s what most Americans want, for all of us in this chamber to focus on their lives, their hopes, their aspirations.

“And what I believe unites the people of this nation, regardless of race or region or party, young or old, rich or poor, is the simple, profound belief in opportunity for all, the notion that if you work hard and take responsibility, you can get ahead in America.”

Obama talked about the strides America has made during his administration, including a rebounding housing market, a manufacturing sector

cente

that’s adding jobs, more oil produced at home and deficits cut by more than half.

He proposed a number of solutions to move the country forward, and said he would attempt them with or without Congress’ help.

“What I offer tonight is a set of concrete, practical proposals to speed up growth, strengthen the middle class and build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class. Some require congressional action, and I’m eager to work with all of you,” he said.

“But America does not stand still, and neither will I. So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Obama said he envisions a “rising America, where honest work is plentiful and communities are strong; where prosperity is widely shared and opportunity for all lets us go as far as our dreams and toil will take us.

“None of it is easy. But if we work together; if we summon what is best in us…with our feet planted firmly in today but our eyes cast towards tomorrow, I know it’s within our reach.”

Commentary

Obama seeks to do something with

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By GEORGE E. CURRY NNPA Columnist

resident Obama’s State of the Union speech was designed to be upbeat and to again sketch his vision for an economically “United” States of America. But this year’s speech, like the one a year ago and like his second inaugural address, was a gallant effort to remain relevant during an era of a do-nothing Congress that will do even less in 2014.

Heading into his sixth year of office, Obama has finally accepted the reality that he can’t change Washington. At least, not for the better.

Having already passed the Affordable Health Care Act, the signature accomplishment of his administration, Obama’s goal in his last two years will be less ambitious: to continue to improve the economy, lower the unemployment rate, expand access to early childhood education, enact immigration reform, make progress on climate control and curb the nation’s propensity to get entangled in wars that have little, if anything, to do with our national security.

With many of his proposals lost in the logjam of Congress, Obama now plans to do more by executive order, according to his aides. Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Press Secretary Jay Carney said, “What we saw in 2013 was a Washington that did not deliver for the American people. The president sees this as a year of action, work with Congress where he can and to bypass Congress where necessary…”

According to the Washington Post, White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer has submitted a

three-page memo that outlines a different strategy for 2014.

“Among its conclusions is that Obama, a former state legislator and U.S. senator, too often governed more like a prime minister than a president. In a parliamentary system, a prime minister is elected by lawmakers and thus beholden to them in ways a president is not. As a result, Washington veterans have been brought into the West Wing to emphasize an executive style of governing that aims to sidestep Congress more often.”

That means more executive orders and leaving the legislative haggling primarily to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada).

Obama understands that the Republican-controlled House in particular will continue to obstruct whatever legislative plans he might offer.

Unproductive Congress

According to the Pew Research Center, the 113th Congress is on track to be one of the least productive.” Unlike most measurements that only take into account the amount of legislation passed, Pew tallied only substantive legislation and found this Congress lacking.

Consequently, according to another Pew survey, “Views of Congress remain historically negative: just 21% have a favorable opinion of Congress while 70% view it unfavorably. Opinions of Congress fell to a 20-year low in August 2011, following the contentious debate over raising the nation’s debt ceiling, and have never recovered.

“Large majorities across nearly all demographic and partisan groups have an unfavorable impression of Congress. About seven-in-ten independents (73%) view Congress unfavorably, as do 69% of Democrats and 67% of Republicans.”

In a tor in the s “The like the id is a histori race in ou Obam last Novem to his [Ob Whi corporate Republica Acco expenditu of tax-exp and the to And population Repu the gap be time the p

defendernetwork.com • Serving th

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Executive actions Obama will take • Raise the minimum wage through Executive Order to $10.10 for federal contract workers. He will also continue to urge Congress to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 across the nation.

• Create a new starter savings account called “myRA” to help millions save for retirement. It would be offered through a Roth IRA account and, like savings bonds, would be backed by the U.S. government.

• Launch four new Manufacturing Innovation Institutes to support investment in competitiveness and accelerate innovation. The new institutes will build on the success of the four that Obama has already announced.

• Conduct a program-by-program review of federal training programs to be more focused on the skills needed in high-demand sectors. The administration will help community colleges build partnerships with businesses so that training programs are meeting the businesses’ needs.

• Partner with CEOs to put the long-term unemployed back to work.

Obama is asking every business leader in America to help the long-term un-

he Houston area for over 80 years

David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star

h do-nothing legislators

break from his normal over cautiousness, Obama acknowledged that race may be a facstrong oppositions to his programs. ere’s no doubt that [there are] some folks who just really dislike me because they don’t dea of a Black President,” Obama told the New Yorker magazine in an interview. “There ric connection between some of the arguments that we have politically and the history of ur country, and sometimes it’s hard to disentangle those issues.” ma is not the only one who thinks race drives many of his opponents. A Rasmussen poll ember found: “One-in-four voters believes racism is the driving factor behind opposition bama’s] policies.” ile Obama is unlikely to make any progress on race, he hopes that anger over huge profits and record Wall Street gains will be a rallying point for both Democrats and ans. ording to the Tax Policy Center, the top fifth of the population receives 66 percent of tax ure benefits, the middle 60 percent of the population receives a little more than 31 percent penditure benefits, the bottom fifth receives just 2.8 percent of tax-expenditure benefits op 1 percent of the population receives 23.9 percent of tax-expenditure benefits. d the report pointed out, “That’s more than eight times as much as the bottom fifth of the n, and nearly as much as the middle 60 percent of the population.” ublicans, traditional protectors of the rich, aren’t likely to join Obama in trying to narrow etween rich and poor. And they’re even less likely to do so in a mid-term election year, a party in power usually loses seats in Congress.

defendernetwork.com

employed find jobs and will convene a group of CEOs who are committed to his plan.

• Expand apprenticeships by mobilizing business, community colleges and labor. Obama wants to boost the number of apprenticeships in the U.S. and expand “learn and earn” strategies to other cutting edge fields.

• Connect 20 million students in 15,000 schools to the best technology to enrich and personalize K-12 education, without adding a dime to the deficit. New programs and partnerships will accelerate his vision of technologyenriched classrooms across America.

• Redesign high schools to teach the real-world skills that students need.

Obama wants a comprehensive effort to rethink the high school experience so that students receive a “rigorous and relevant education.”

• Increase college opportunity and graduation. Obama is seeking new commitments to action to help more lowincome students access and succeed in college, including help from additional colleges and universities, businesses, nonprofits and other leaders.

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DEFENDER | JANUARY 30 | 2014 defendernetwork.com

Children of color under 2 now a majority

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Defender News Services

Ensuring kids a brighter future The Children’s Defense Fund lists six ways to ensure a brighter future for every child.

End child poverty. Invest in high quality education for every child, livable wages for families, income supplements like the Earned Income and Child Tax Credits, job training and job creation, and work supports like child care and health coverage.

Provide comprehensive health services. Ensure that every child and pregnant woman has access to affordable, seamless, comprehensive health and mental health coverage and services.

Provide protection from abuse and neglect. Expand prevention and specialized treatment services for children and their parents, connect children to caring permanent families, improve the quality of the child welfare workforce and increase accountability for results for children.

Provide early childhood care and development programs. Make early childhood development programs accessible to every child by ensuring such programs are affordable, available and of high quality.

Guarantee quality education. Ensure that every child can read at grade level by 4th grade and ensure our schools have adequate resources to provide high quality education to every child Stop the criminalization of children. Reduce detention and incarceration by increasing investment in prevention and early intervention strategies, such as access to early childhood development and education services and to the care children need for healthy development.

classifieds MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY will be accepting responses to Request for Proposal for the following service:

Agency Datacenter Design, Planning, Coordination, Relocation, and Installation Services Specifications may be secured from MHMRA, Harris County, Purchasing Services, 1st floor, located at 7011 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7300 and/or via MHMRA website http://www.mhmraharris.org or the Electronic State Business Dailey Site https://portal.cpa.state.tx.us/ beginning Monday, February 10, 2014 Proposal documentations must be submitted to the Purchasing Department by 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, February 26, 2014, at 7011 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 in a sealed envelope marked "REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL RESPONSE - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL – WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014 - AGENCY FACILITY SPACE PLANNING, DESIGN AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES” – PROJECT #14/0010.” Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to Joycie Sheba via E-mail joycie.sheba@mhmraharris.org or fax at (713) 970-7682.

MHMRA reserves the rights to reject any and/or all responses, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests, and is not obligated to accept any response(s) to this solicitation for requested services.

NOTICE OF 2014

Harris County Area Agency on Aging Area Plan Listening Session The Older Americans Act (OAA) requires all Area Agencies on Aging develop an Area Plan. The purpose of the plan is to ascertain needs, service gaps, service trends, strengths and challenges impacting older adults. The Harris County Area Agency on Aging (HCAAA) welcomes your participation in our scheduled "Listening Session."

Host: When: Where:

B:4.79”

LEGAL NOTICE

“It is disgraceful that 50 years after President Lyndon Johnson declared a War on Poverty, millions of children in America, especially young children and children of color, still live on the outskirts of hope”

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Time: Contact:

Area Planning Advisory Council (APAC) Thursday, February 6, 2014 Metropolitan Multi Service Center 1475 W. Gray Street Houston, Texas 77019 10:30 a.m. to Noon Patricia Pullins @ 281.200.9228 or @ 832.393.4389

Who should attend:  Anyone 60 years old and older  Older persons with disabilities  Family caregivers of older persons  Community service providers  Aging services professionals  Individuals concerned about issues related to older persons  The general public What to expect:  An opportunity for your voice to be heard (3 minute limit)  An opportunity to complete a Regional Needs Assessment  An opportunity to provide written comments  An opportunity to mail in written comments after the session  An opportunity to make a difference

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new report from the Children’s Defense Fund shows that for the first time, the majority of children in America under age 2 are now children of color.

The report, “The State of America’s Children 2014,” examines such areas as education, population, family structure and income, and juvenile justice.

The report also found that many children are growing up poor and hungry.

“It is disgraceful that 50 years after President Lyndon Johnson declared a War on Poverty, millions of children in America, especially young children and children of color, still live on the outskirts of hope” said Marian Wright Edelman, president of the CDF. “I call on President Obama and America’s political leaders in every party at every level to mount a long overdue, unwavering, and persistent war to prevent and eliminate child poverty and finish the task President Johnson and Dr. Martin Luther King began.”

Key findings of the report include: • Children of color are the majority of all children in 10 states – Texas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada and New Mexico – and the District of Columbia.

• Child poverty has reached record levels. Every fifth child – 16.1 million – is poor.

• In six states half or more Black children are poor and nearly half the states have Black child poverty rates of 40 percent or more.

The report concludes that the country can ill afford not to invest in every child.

“The first step to prevent and alleviate indefensible, costly and morally obscene child poverty is to build a quality early childhood continuum of care from birth through age 5 so that every child, regardless of the circumstances of birth or lottery of geography, is ready for school and has a fair chance to reach their Godgiven potential,” Edelman said.

In addition to comments made at the Listening Session, written comments received up to and including the date of the Listening Session will also be taken into account by the Harris County Area Agency on Aging in completion of the Area Plan.

Also an online Needs Assessment Survey will be available from January 27 until February 7, 2014. The survey is accessible at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KSHHLFG . For additional information you can contact Daphine H. Sands at the Harris County Area Agency on Aging at 832-393-4417 or email daphine.sands@houstontx.gov

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JANUARY 30 | 2014 | DEFENDER

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Black History Month schedule of events

T

he Community Artists’ Collective presents a photographic exhibition titled “A Corner of Canaan” beginning Feb. 1 at 1413 Holman. The photographs focus on the preservation of pre-Civil War buildings in East Texas. An opening reception is Friday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m. Artist Ben Davis will give a gallery talk on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 3 p.m.

Contact: thecollective.org or 713.523.1616.

The University of Houston sponsors an African-American Heritage Lecture Series on Monday, Feb. 3, at 11 a.m. at MD Anderson Library, Rockwell Pavilion.

Guest speaker is Dr. Lee Hampton, executive director of the Amistad Research Center at Tulane University. Contact: uh.edu/class/aas/ or 713-743-2811.

Contact: uh.edu/class/aas/ or 713-743-2811.

The University of Houston-Clear Lake sponsors a Black Student Association Speaker Series presentation titled “Colorism,” on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. in the Garden Room, Bayou Building, 2700 Bay Area Blvd. Guest speaker Foster Expose Jr., Ph.D. will discuss skin color. Contact: uhcl.edu or 281-283-2575.

The Houston Public Library presents “Meet Mrs. Rosa Parks” on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Mancuso Library, 6767 Bellfort; 3 p.m. at Stimley-Blue Ridge, 7007 W. Fuqua and 6 p.m. at HeningtonAlief, 7979 S. Kirkwood. Contact: houstonlibrary.org or 832-393-1313.

UH Clear-Lake hosts a Black History Trivia Contest Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. in the Garden Room. UH Clear-Lake honors former provost and professor Edward The Houston Public Library presents “Jim” Hayes on Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. in the “Meet Mrs. Rosa Parks,” a one-woman The late Rosa Parks, whose arrest sparked the historic Montgomery Bus Boycott, will be the Garden Room. Contact: uhcl.edu or subject of a portrayal at eight Houston Public Library locations interactive portrayal by Melissa Waddy281-283-2575.

Thibodeaux on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 10:30 Street. The musical odyssey was written by Thomas The Houston Public Library presents a.m. at Hillendahl Library, 2436 Gessner, and 4 Meloncon. Contact: houstonlibrary.org or 832-393-1440. “Meet Mrs. Rosa Parks” on Thursday, Feb. 6, at p.m. at Walter Library, 7660 Clarewood. Contact: 10:30 a.m. at Library at Gregory School, 1300 Victor; The University of Houston hosts a Distinguished houstonlibrary.org or 832-393-1313.

4 p.m., Heights Library, 1302 Heights Blvd. and 6:30 The African American Library at the Gregory School Alumni Speaker Series on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 11:30 p.m. at Johnson Library, 3517 Reed Road. Contact: a.m. at Agnes Arnold Hall, Room 628. Guest speaker is presents “Dream of Doors” by Express Children’s Ryan Dennis, public art director of Project Row Houses. houstonlibrary.org or 832-393-1313.

Theatre on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 10:30 a.m. at 1300 Victor T:9.75”

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DEFENDER | JANUARY 30 | 2014

sports

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Earl Thomas

Super Bowl XLVIII

Broncos vs. Seahawks a classic match-up

W

By MAX EDISON Defender

hat happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object? The latest answer to that perplexing question will be revealed as the drama of Super Bowl XLVIII is played out on the frozen wastelands of New Jersey’s

Met Life Stadium.

The AFC champions, the Denver Broncos, will compete against the NFC’s finest, the Seattle Seahawks, to determine NFL supremacy.

The riveting plot surrounding this year’s epic contest is the physical match-up between the cerebral Peyton Manning, arguably the NFL’s greatest passer, against the Seahawks secondary of Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Walter Thurmond and Richard Sherman. They are known collectively as the Legion of Boom, the most dominant unit in the league.

Both teams were the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences. Bronco head coach John Fox likes the match between his high-scoring offense and Seattle’s stifling defense, and said the fans will enjoy it.

“I think for the fans it’s an incredible matchup,” Fox said.

He added that it’s admirable for Seattle “to go through the late part of the season, crunch time, and be the No. 1 seed and fight through a tough division and tough conference and finish No. 1 in defense in just about every important category.

“And then on our side, being the No. 1 seed…

It should be a tremendous matchup, and it’s one we’re very excited about.”

Broncos Pro-Bowl wide out Wes Welker knows it will be a tall task working against the Seahawk defense and their talented secondary.

“They have a very talented group and a lot of guys who can really run – physical guys. They definitely do a great job collectively of playing within their system and doing a great job making plays.”

Manning and the Bronco offense have been executing at an alarming clip all season. Even with the forecast of frigid weather conditions, Welker believes their offense will produce.

“I’ve seen a lot of games where they’ve been able to throw for a lot of yards in bad weather,” Welker said.

“I don’t see that being a problem for us. I just see us going out there and executing our plays and not worrying about the weather or anything else. Just have the mindset that we’re going to move the ball and score touchdowns.”

Seahawks defensive spokesperson Richard Sherman, widely regarded as the NFL’s No. 1 cornerback, believes the fact that his teammates will be facing the league’s most prolific offense will be a great motivator.

“I think we have a team full of competitors who want to go against the best team, the best offense, the number one offense,

Seattle’s outstanding secondary is nicknamed the Legion of Boom.

Peyton Manning

Wes Welker

the number one quarterback, who has thrown the most touchdowns,” he said.

“We have a tremendous amount of respect for them because we know their resume and their reputation. We’re going to go out there and try to execute, and it’s going to be a battle of wills. It’s going to be a fun game for us.”

Sherman believes their key to success as a defense can be summed up in one word – execution.

“I think the only way you can do that is to focus on yourself and focus on what you have to do – playing disciplined, sound football, being where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there, and not really worrying about what they have to do.

“You can study the film, you can do everything and prepare yourself as best you can, but after that it really comes down to execution. If you’re worrying about them executing and you’re not executing, then you don’t have a chance anyway.”

Take your pick, Broncos or Seahawks. It should be a fascinating chess match.

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h.s.zone Washington relishes role as Lions leader

UH head coach James Dickey. “Our fans should be excited to see him take the floor for the 2014-2015 season.” ccording to J.C. Washington, there’s For now, Yates head coach Greg Wise is a certain aura about donning the pleased that Washington still proudly wears crimcrimson and gold uniforms of Hous- son and gold. ton’s Jack Yates High School.

“J.C. gives 100 percent every second that he’s The 6-foot-7, 230-pound senior on the floor and is right in the middle of everypower forward says the best part about playing thing we try to do,” said Wise, who guided Hightfor the Lions, aside from contending for a state ower to consecutive state tournament berths before championship every year, is having a target on doubling that number at Yates. their backs.

“We’ve been on a progressive path throughout “Around the city people really don’t like us the season and been able to minimize our setbacks. and we have to bring it every game because we’re Hopefully, that’s a trend that we can continue,” facing a team that’s going to give it their best,” Wise said. said Washington, who committed to the University Melvin Swift and D.J. Lewis are other key of Houston last November. “I like the feeling of seniors on the Yates being on a team that 2014 squad. everyone wants to In the classbeat.” room, Washington to find out some things people don’t Washington likes math and hisknow about J.C. Washington. entered the Yates bastory. He likes fixing ketball program as a things and putting freshman during the 2010-2011 school year them back together again so he’s conas the Lions were coming off back-to-back sidering mechanical engineering as a state championships (2009-2010). After college major. missing the state tournament in 2011, If he could be anyone else in the Yates has made repeat trips to Austin the world for 24 hours, it would be Mipast two seasons. ami Heat superstar LeBron James.

“One of the highlights for me since “I want to see how it feels to be I’ve been here is coming in as a freshone of the greatest players to ever man and learning how to be a team leader,” touch a basketball,” Washington said.

Washington said. “Each year I continued to “I want to see how he deals with all grow and mature and now our goal is to the criticism and continues to move go back to state and bring home forward while getting better as a another state championplayer and a person. ship.”

“To handle all that In a recent 81-69 and still take care of District 23-3A vichis family, that would tory over Houston be a good lesson for Sterling, Washington me to learn,” Washpowered his way ington said. to 31 points, 17 For a person rebounds and three who didn’t take up blocked shots. In basketball until the season opener middle school, you against Prime Prep, get the feeling that Washington finWashington is a fast ished with 26 points, 14 learner. rebounds, six blocks and two steals.

J.C. Washington, a power forward “J.C. is a tough, with Yates High School, enjoys being on a basketball team “that everyone physical player with trewants to beat.” mendous potential,” said

A

By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender

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JANUARY 30 | 2014 | DEFENDER

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sportsbriefs Montgomery defeats Brenham Although the Montgomery and Brenham girls have battled for basketball supremacy in District 18-4A for more than two decades, it had been two years since the last Montgomery victory in the series. Brenham had gained the upper hand with the coming-of-age of 6-foot-8 junior center Teaira McCowan. In the latest encounter between the perennial playoff qualifiers, Montgomery rode the combination of clutch free-throw shooting, ball movement, defensive pressure and outside shooting prowess to a 50-48 victory over No. 4 state-ranked Brenham to forge a first-place tie at 11-1 in district play. Montgomery’s Shelby Saefke and Delaney Maberry provided the free-throw accuracy in the game’s closing moments, 6-1 senior post Heidi Schroeder delivered the outside shooting and coach Stacey Blalock switched between a full-court press and a half-court trap to keep Brenham off-balance. McCowan had a game-high 21 points, 16 rebounds and three blocked shots in the loss. Brenham won the first meeting 56-39 back in December. Montgomery’s win was the first in the series since McCowan was a freshman.

HISD hosts signing ceremony HISD will host a National Football Signing Day ceremony on Feb. 5 beginning at 1 p.m. The ceremony will be staged at the Region IV Education Service Center, 7145 W. Tidwell Road. All HISD football players signing a national letter of intent to continue their football playing career at the collegiate level while furthering their education will be recognized during the ceremony.

Charlo stays undefeated Houstonian junior middleweight Jermell Charlo (23-0, 11 TKOs) remained undefeated by recently defeating Gabriel Rosado in a 10-round unanimous decision. Charlo opened a cut over the left eye of Rosado in the third round and it was all downhill for him after that. “Gabe Rosado was a tough fighter and he did exactly what we trained for,” Charlo said. “He was strong, my strongest fighter to date. I want to give him his props. It was about being in shape. That’s the No. 1 thing. Once I saw the eye leaking, I told myself, ‘Let’s finish this eye off and if we have to continue to go, we’ll go and we’ll get some work in,’ ” he said. The win moves Charlo a step closer to a championship shot later this year.

Texas HOF announces class The Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame (TBSHOF) recently announced its 18th luncheon to honor 2014 inductees. The class of inductees include: Zelmo Beaty Jr. (posthumous), basketball; Steffanie Blackmon, basketball; Chryste Gaines, track & field; Clifton Gilliard, coaching; Kenneth Houston, football; Robert Hughes, coaching; Carl Jackson, coaching; Jeff Jacobs, football; Benjamin Kelly, football, and Todd Scott, football.

“The thing that stands out with this class is how they excelled in whatever role they were called to fulfill and in many cases under very adverse circumstances,” said Gordon Jackson, a member of TBSHOF’s Advisory Committee. TBSHOF honor coaches and athletes of high character and athletic achievement who are Texans by birth or by athletic participation. The luncheon will be held Feb. 15 in Dallas.

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DEFENDER | JANUARY 30 | 2014 defendernetwork.com