Houston Defender: February 20, 2014

NATIONAL ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER FAVORS VOTING RIGHTS FOR EX-FELONS, P3 defendernetwork.com

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Volume 83 | Number 16

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Rockets shoot for the playoffs H Page 14

ENTERTAINMENT KATHY TAYLOR stars in musical at TSU

P6 BLACK HISTORY MARC MORIAL says Black History Month needed

P12 HS ZONE JUSTIN JACKSON earns national recognition

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Terry Grier

Trayvon Martin

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier is receiving harsh criticism for a district proposal that has upset many community members. Learn what some Houstonians think about the problem and the solution. Find out what one local activist has to say to Grier and the HISD board.

The death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin two years ago at the hands of George Zimmerman had an everlasting impact on America. What changes took place after Trayvon was killed on Feb. 26, 2012? What steps are Trayvon’s parents taking to keep their son’s memory alive?

under fire

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changed history

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Pastor Rudy Rasmus and Neal Rackleff at Tenemos CDC groundbreaking

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DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 20 | 2014

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Grier under fire for closure proposal

By MARILYN MASHALL Defender

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ome community members are calling for the resignation of HISD Superintendent Terry Grier because of a proposal to close five campuses due to under enrollment.

Demonstrators recently Dr. Terry Grier gathered outside of Grier’s home to protest the proposal to close Dodson, Nathaniel Q. Henderson and Port Houston elementary schools, Fleming Middle School and Jones High School. Billy Reagan K-8 is scheduled to be re-zoned. HISD board members will vote on the proposal on March 13.

In announcing the proposal, Grier said, “While these types of changes are always difficult, it’s important that we constantly evaluate enrollment levels to utilize our facilities to best serve our students.”

Kathy Blueford-Daniels was one of those participating in the protest at Grier’s home, which was led by Quanell X and the New Black Panther Party.

“They’re raping our community,” Blueford-Daniels said. “Once they close the schools they kill the community, and the communities that have been targeted are primarily minority. We feel that will be a direct pipeline to prison for our children.”

Local activist Charles X White sent a letter to Grier and HISD board members requesting Grier’s removal.

“We are requesting that Dr. Grier be fired or resign immediately,” White said. “We are requesting an accounting of all school closings records at the district’s expense, to be made available by the end of February 2014, to a team of subject matter experts selected by various groups currently protesting the actions of HISD.” White said Grier should step down for numerous reasons, including “discriminatory practices and poor performance and academic leadership.”

“We would like you to resign in light of the second round of assaults you are proposing for additional school closing specifically targeting African-American and Hispanic schools,” White said. “…We would like you to resign in light [of the] Ryan Middle school bait and switch with African-American students that are zoned and only 11 percent being accepted into the renamed school.”

Congressman Gene Green is against the closure of Port Houston Elementary and sent a letter to Grier expressing his opposition. He said the school’s closure would be a “devastating loss” to the community.

“It is apparent to me that our communities do not want this,” Green said. “We need to do everything we can to ensure that Port Houston Elementary School remains open, and that our children have a safe and secure place to learn.”

Update on Obamacare Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was joined by Congressman Al Green and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee during an appearance in Houston to discuss the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Sebelius announced that 3.3 million people – 207,500 of them in Texas – had signed up for health coverage by Feb. 1. Sebelius said she intends to spend more time in Texas encouraging residents to sign up for the ACA before the March 31 deadline to enroll in coverage for 2014.

Early voting underway Early voting for the March 4 Democratic and Republican Party primary elections continues through Feb. 28 at 39 locations across Harris County.

Voters will elect candidates running for numerous offices,

including governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. senator, U.S. representative, attorney general and district judge. For voting times, locations and other information visit HarrisVotes.com or call 713-755-6965.

Cover photo Courtesy Houston Rockets

localbriefs FIFTH WARD’S historic DeLuxe Theater on Lyons Avenue is getting a facelift. A groundbreaking was recently held for the project, which is a partnership between the City of Houston, Texas Southern University and the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Authority. The once popular movie house is being converted into a 125-seat performing arts theater, with classroom space, a laboratory and space for future retail development. The theater opened in 1941, closed in 1969 and was used as an art gallery from 1971 to 1973 before being shuttered…….. DOZENS OF PEOPLE rallied in downtown Hemphill to demand justice in the

mysterious death of Alfred Wright of Jasper.

Wright’s body was found last year in a wooded area. Though Wright’s death was attributed to an accidental drug overdose, family members and friends think he was murdered and that local law enforcement could be involved in a cover-up. “This was definitely murder, definitely foul play,” said Wright’s father, Rev. Douglas Wright…….METRO reports that early numbers show the public is embracing its new North Line extension, which has surpassed ridership projections by 62 percent. In its first full month of service the North Line averaged 4,200 weekday boardings, 1,600 more than what is

forecasted to be the average daily ridership by the end of the 2014 fiscal year. “This speaks volumes about the value of rail in the community, and how expanding the reach of one form of transit enhances others like our bus service,” said Metro Board Chair Gilbert Garcia…….. FORT BEND ISD has re-opened the application process at six high school academies. The academies are personalized, small learning communities that function within a larger high school with a mixture of career and academic classes offered to students. The deadline to submit applications for any of the academies is Friday, Feb. 28. For more information visit fortbendisd.com.

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FEBRUARY 20 | 2014 | DEFENDER

national

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Holder favors voting rights for ex-felons

By FREDDIE ALLEN NNPA Washington Correspondent

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Civil War repression. And they have their roots in centuries-old conceptions of justice that were too often based on exclusion, animus, and fear.”

Civil rights leaders and criminal justice advocates applauded Holder’s call to lift the ban on voting rights for ex-felons.

“The attorney general’s strong leadership in calling for the repeal of felony disenfranchisement laws across the country is an extraordinary signal to states and the American people,” said Barbara Arnwine, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights under the Law. Tanya Clay House, the public policy director at Arnwine’s organization, said that passing the Democracy Restoration Act, a bill co-sponsored by Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) and Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) in 2009, would restore voting rights in federal elections to those disenfranchised because of criminal convictions.

Wade Henderson, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said there is undeniable bipartisan momentum for criminal justice reform that would update inhumane sentencing laws.

“America is the world’s greatest democracy, yet felon disenfranchisement laws deny almost six million Americans the right to vote,” Henderson said. “These laws serve no purpose but to make it harder for returning citizens to reintegrate into their communities – to work, seek an educa-

In Texas, individuals convicted of a felony are ineligible to vote while incarcerated, on parole, or on probation.

Voting rights are automatically restored upon completion of all supervised release. Exoffenders can then reregister to vote.

f America is ever to end the revolving door of prison recidivism, it needs to ease the re-entry of former offenders back into society by allowing them to vote, Attorney General Eric Holder believes.

Holder announced his position during a recent conference on criminal justice reform at Georgetown University Law Center at Washington, D.C. He called on state officials, state leaders and other elected officials to reform or repeal laws that block ex-felons from voting, more than two million of them Black.

Holder said that some of the laws dating back to the Reconstruction Era were specifically crafted to target Blacks and weaken their voting power, especially in Southern states where most Blacks live.

According to the Sentencing Project, one of every 13 African-Americans can’t cast a ballot due to felony disenfranchisement. In Florida, Kentucky and Virginia more than 20 percent of Blacks are barred from voting.

Holder said that felony disenfranchisement laws often undermine the reentry process and defy the principles – of accountability and rehabilitation – that guide our criminal justice policies.

“And however well-intentioned current advocates of felony disenfranchisement may be – the reality is that these measures are, at best, profoundly outdated,” Holder said.

“At worst, these laws, with their disparate impact on minority communities, echo policies enacted during a deeply troubled period in America’s past – a time of post-

tion, and participate in our democracy.

“Successful reintegration and smarter sentencing are the keys to ensuring that our criminal justice system is more fair, more humane, and more fiscally responsible.”

Holder also addressed states that continue to “restrict voting rights, to varying degrees, even after a person has served his or her prison sentence and is no longer on probation or parole.”

Black leaders critical of Dunn verdict VOLUME 83 • NUMBER 16 FEBRUARY 20, 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).

Defender News Services

Representatives of civil rights organizations said they are disappointed by the results of Michael Dunn’s trial. Dunn was accused of shooting 17-yearold Jordan Davis to death at a Jacksonville, Fla., gas station in 2012 because of a dispute over loud music.

A Jacksonville jury found Dunn guilty of attempted murder in the second degree for getting out of his car and firing 10 times at the SUV in which Davis was killed.

The judge, however, declared a mistrial on the count of first-degree murder, which applied to Davis’ death.

“We are deeply disappointed by the verdict in

the case of Michael Dunn,” said Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network. “Though he was convicted for attempted murder and shooting into the car, the value of Jordan Davis’ life was not addressed in this verdict…”

Sherrilyn Ifill, president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, agreed.

“The shooting of 17-year-old Jordan Davis marked yet another tragic and senseless death of an unarmed, innocent, African-American teenager,” Ifill said. “Rather than seeing Jordan or his friends for what they were – ordinary teenagers – Mr. Dunn saw a threat and recklessly acted with lethal force.”

Prosecutors said they will retry Dunn for Davis’ murder.

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DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 20 | 2014 defendernetwork.com

Chamber welcomes new board Defender News Services

The Greater Houston Black Chamber recently installed its new board, including the first female chairperson in its 79-year history, Vernita Harris.

The GHCB board is comprised of eight men and seven women representing the public and private sector. “The experience and enterprises of our board members mirror in perfect fashion the commercial interests of the business owners and operators we serve,” Harris said.

In addition to Harris, members of the executive board are: Courtney Johnson-Rose, vice chair; Joi Beasley, second vice chair; Robert Collier, treasurer; Che’ McFerrin, secretary; LaMetrice Dopson, parliamentarian and Kevin Riles, historian.

New members of the board of directors are Theadore Andrews, Paul Cannings Jr., James Donatto II, Carol Guess, Michael Harris, Wayne Luckett, Carl McGowan and Latoya Walls.

The directors, officers and chair are elected volunteers who serve for two, two-year terms or a maximum of four years.

Founded in 1935, the GHBC (formerly the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce) serves as an advocate for African-American business owners and professionals in the Houston area. For more information visit ghbcc.com.

Small business optimism hits higher level

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NNPA News Service

Small business owners are the most optimistic they have been in five years, according to the latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, and expect their businesses to increase cash flow and hire more employees in 2014.

In a survey conducted in January, several factors contributed to the increase in optimism: Improved cash flow: More small business owners said they had good cash flow over the past 12 months than they did last quarter (52 percent compared to 46 percent). A larger majority of owners also expect to have good cash flow in 2014 (57 percent compared to 52 percent).

Increasing hiring: More small business owners said they expect to increase hiring in the next 12 months than in last quarter’s survey (22 percent compared to 16 percent).

Increasing revenue: A larger percentage of small business owners expect their revenue over the next 12 months to increase (48 percent compared to 44 percent).

Accessing credit: Fewer small business owners reported having difficulty obtaining credit than did so last quarter (23 percent compared to 27 percent).

When business owners were asked to identify challenges they faced, concerns at the top of the list were finding new business, the economy, government regulations, hiring and health care.

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FEBRUARY 20 | 2014 | DEFENDER

entertainment Regina Hall & Kevin Hart

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discuss ‘About Last Night’

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By KAM WILLIAMS Defender

egina Hall and Kevin Hart continue to find box office success. Their newest hit movie, “About Last Night,” is a remake of the classic romantic comedy released in 1986.

Hall began her acting career in the late 1990s while simultaneously earning a master’s degree from New York University. She has since emerged as one of Hollywood’s most sought after comedic actresses.

Last year, she reprised her role in the sequel “The Best Man Holiday” alongside such stars as Terrence Howard, Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan. In June, she will star opposite Howard, Gabrielle Union, Taraji P. Henson and Michael Ealy in the sequel “Think Like a Man Too.” Hall’s additional film credits include “Scary Movie,” “Law Abiding Citizen” and “Death at a Funeral.” Her TV credits include “Law & Order: LA” and “Ally McBeal.”

Hart began his career as a comedian, and his memorable appearance at the Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival led to roles in such films as “Paper Soldiers” and “Along Came Polly.”

He has worked nonstop ever since. This year, Hart already has a hit movie in “Ride Along,” which has grossed over $100 million and counting.

Here, Hart and Hall discuss their latest roles.

Kam: What interested you in “About Last Night?”

Regina: I loved the script. I’m always thrilled whenever I see a good script.

And of course, when I then heard that Kevin was going to be my co-star… that sealed the deal. Need I say anything more?

Kevin: I also liked that this was a different type of role for me, and that the original movie was so amazing.

Kam: What factors played a role in doing a remake?

Regina: It was already there on the page. We just adapted it in a way to make it fresh, contemporary, sexy and fun. We also kinda followed the journey of two couples as opposed to one, so you get to see us explore the dynamics in the friendships between the men and the women, as well as in the couples’ relationships. It ended up feeling great.

Kam: Was it hard juggling egos on the set?

Kevin: Not at all. It was basically just four good people…There weren’t any jerks. Everybody came with the same agenda which was to make a great film.

Kam: What excites you?

Kevin: The most exciting thing in the world to me is that I’m doing what I love to do, and that I’m successful doing it. Pursuing my dream and executing it is exciting to me.

Regina: I’m just excited about life. Life is really good right now with my family and friends, and being able to work with people I respect.

Kam: What is your favorite dish to cook?

Regina: That’s a hard question, because I’m a really good cook…I make great lamb chops. And I make really good yams.

Kevin: She also makes a mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Regina: Thanks. You’ve got to have just the right balance of peanut butter and jelly.

“About Last Night,” starring Kevin Hart and Regina Hall, debuted at No. 2 at the box office.

what’sup Actress and comedian KIM COLES brings her one-woman show “Oh But Wait…There’s More!” to the Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main St., on Monday, March 3, at 6 p.m. Coles is best known for her role as Synclaire on the Fox sitcom “Living Single.” She was also an original cast member of “In Living Color.” Her one-woman show gives an account of her entertainment career through anecdotes, multimedia and an interpretive dance number. Coles was the Ensemble’s 2013 Actress of the Year honoree and is returning in support of its annual Heart of the Theatre Appreciation Celebration.

Tickets are $35. For information visit EnsembleHouston.com or call 713-520-0055…….. Good Morning America” anchor ROBIN ROBERTS and model TYSON BECKFORD are among the hosts of ABC’s “Red Carpet Live,” which airs immediately before the Academy Awards on Sunday,

March 2, at 6 p.m……..“12 Years a Slave,” which received nine Oscar nominations, continues to garner additional recognition. It won the Best Film award recently presented by the British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) in London. CHIWETEL EJIOFOR won the BAFTA award for Leading Actor for his role in the film……..

Rapper LIL WAYNE is advising educators not to use his raunchy lyrics as a teaching tool. He was responding to the recent suspension of a Florida eighth-grade English teacher who assigned one of his songs as homework. “I’d never be embarrassed by anything I say because I say it and I mean it.

But I don’t think that you should be trying to teach it any way to kids because I don’t record it and say it for kids to listen to it,” he said……..TONI BRAXTON & BABYFACE have found musical success together again. Their new album

“Love, Marriage & Divorce” sold more than 67,000 units in its first week, and debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. Next month they will head to Broadway as special guests in “After Midnight,” a production celebrating the music of DUKE ELLINGTON. It is co-produced by WYNTON MARSALIS and stars DULÉ HILL……..

The National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS has launched an Artists Against the Spread of HIV Initiative.

The initiative will include an album, concert, documentary and other activities to increase awareness and prevention of HIV/AIDS in the Black community. Artists expected to participate include TYRESE GIBSON, ANGIE STONE, VICKIE WINANS, LeTOYA LUCKETT, MINT CONDITION, MELBA MOORE, GEORGE CLINTON and “BOOTSY” COLLINS.

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DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 20 | 2014 defendernetwork.com

Gospel musical ‘Crowns’ comes to TSU

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Defender News Services

oted Houston gospel artist Kathy Taylor is one of the stars of the production “Crowns,” which is coming to Texas Southern University’s Sawyer Auditorium. Performances are Friday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 1 at 2:30 p.m.

Taylor, an accomplished recording artist, songwriter and minister of music at Windsor Village United Methodist Church, has been cast as Mabel, a lead role in the play.

“I knew I wanted to be a part of this initiative the moment I was approached,” Taylor said. “It’s for such a worthy cause. TSU is my alma mater and it is heart-warming and an honor for them to reach out to the community and partner for a program such as this one. I’m telling people about it wherever I go.”

“Crowns” is set against a tapestry of music and dance and tells the story of a young African-American girl named Yolanda, played by Crystal Rae, who is stricken by tragedy.

She relocates to the rural South to live with her

defendernetwork.com Read Kathy Taylor’s thoughts on her character Mabel

church-going grandmother, and is engulfed in stories about magnificent women in the area and how their distinctive hats illustrate their individual experiences.

Through her relationship with the “hat queens,” Yolanda experiences healing and finds self-realization.

Taylor said she was attracted to the production because of its message. “There is so much wisdom and truth in the play…I love the healing that takes place as a result of the tragedy.”

Taylor has received critical acclaim for her soul-

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stirring performances. She has ministered before Queen Elizabeth II, former President Bill Clinton, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Cicely Tyson, Maya Angelou and many others.

Additional cast members include Andrea Baty as Mother Shaw. She has sung background for gospel greats such as Yolanda Adams, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and V. Michael McKay. Tanya Galamison portrays Jeanette in the play. She has performed in Houston’s “Dancin’ in the Streets: Motown and More Revue” production.

In addition, CeCe Gordon and Felicia Johnson will be part of the ensemble. Keith Bolden plays the main male character. Keith Eason will serve as musical director.

KMJQ Majic 102 radio personality Kandi Eastman is serving as the honorary chair for TSU’s HATS and TIES Committee.

Tickets are $50 for VIP seating (with parking included), $35 general admission and $20 for students.

Tickets are available at such outlets as TSU Hannah Hall Suite 210, TSU Book Store or online at tsu.thankyou4caring.org/crowns.

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FEBRUARY 20 | 2014 | DEFENDER

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DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 20 | 2014

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Trayvo

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By KYSA ANDERSON DANIELS Defender

T Trayvon Martin was killed on Feb. 26, 2012.

Foundation keeps Trayvon’s memory alive Not long after Trayvon’s death, his parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, spearheaded efforts to simultaneously preserve the memory of their son and help others.

The Trayvon Martin Foundation launched in March 2012 as a nonprofit, originally under the auspices of the Miami Foundation.

Its mission is to advocate for crime victims and their families, increase awareness of racial and gender profiling, educate youth about conflict resolution techniques and reduce incidences of confrontations between strangers that turn deadly.

One of the foundation’s recent activities included a youth essay contest focused on contributing positively to society.

The foundation’s website invites readers to “Meet Trayvon Martin,” and says in part: “Trayvon was our hero. He loved sports, repairing his bikes, listening to music and horseback riding. At only 17, he had a bright future ahead of him with dreams of attending college and becoming an aviation mechanic or pilot…”

For more information visit TrayvonMartinFoundation.org.

he killing of an African-American teenager two years ago in Sanford, Fla. gave rise nationwide to fiery debates, town hall meetings and protests concerning longstanding racial stereotypes and justice in America.

In the end, Trayvon Martin’s death at the hands of George Zimmerman on Feb. 26, 2012, changed American history in more ways than one. It shed light on stand-your-ground laws, generated debate over racial profiling, mobilized Blacks across the country and increased distrust in the judicial system.

Carroll G. Robinson, an attorney, Texas Southern University associate professor and Houston Community College trustee, said the long-term impact of Trayvon’s death is irrefutable.

“Historians cannot write about this time period without talking about Trayvon Martin and the aftermath of his death,” Robinson said.

Neighborhood Watch volunteer Zimmerman claimed he shot Martin after a sidewalk scuffle and that The acquittal of Ge increased Black dis he considered him suspect because of recent break-ins in the neighborhood where both Zimmerman and Martin’s father lived.

Zimmerman, who is half Hispanic and half white, said he pulled the trigg defense and referenced Florida’s stand-your-ground law, which effectively ena to shoot and kill, then claim self defense with impunity.

Trayvon, evidence shows, did not have a weapon – only his phone, Skittl tea purchased from the convenience store he’d just left. The teen also wore a h night.

Last July, an all-female jury comprised of one Black acquitted Zimmerm Trayvon’s murder. Here is a look at how Trayvon’s death impacted America.

Racial profiling

Dr. Tamara Brown, a clinical psychologist and dean of Juvenile Justice a Psychology at Prairie View A&M University, said Trayvon’s death sparked he awareness about the importance of parents educating their children on the hars racial profiling.

“Although there has been considerable progress in this country, Trayvon other cases tell us that there is much to be done,” Brown said.

The American Civil Liberties Union characterizes racial profiling as law and private security practices that disproportionately target people of color for and enforcement.

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ed history

In Martin’s case, the most tragic result of racial profiling is death. Brown points to other consequences.

“Racial profiling has implications for job decisions, jury decision-making, promotion opportunities, so on and so on,” she said.

Perhaps one of the most significant outcomes of Martin’s death is that it prompted some law enforcement agencies throughout the nation to review and re-evaluate their racial profiling procedures.

Brown added that some of the burden for addressing racial profiling falls on African-Americans.

We’ve got to go out of our way to try to remove as many of those automatic stereotypical images, so that we get a chance to have our abilities and intellect judged,” she said.

Parents Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton joined Blacks across the country in protesting their son’s death.

Stand-your-ground laws

History assuredly will document Trayvon’s death as the trigger that prompted re-evaluation of stand-your- ground statutes in states across the nation, including Texas.

Carroll Robinson welcomes this development and notes it’s one of the legislative issues Texas lawmakers will address during next year’s session.

“The more you look at it, the right to roam around with a handgun has essentially stretched traditional doctrine to the extreme to accommodate the belief that everybody should have a gun, under every circumstance, everywhere,” he said.

This broad interpretation of the law, Robinson believes, is dangerous for criminals and noncriminals alike.

Tamara Brown agrees.

“We definitely need some clarification about stand-your- ground and what this really means,” she said.

In 2005, Florida led the way for nationwide expansion of stand-your-ground laws when its legislature extended the so-called Castle Doctrine, which effectively eliminated an individual’s duty to retreat before using lethal force.

Distrust grows Proponents of stand-your-ground laud it as a crime deterrent, but there are reports showing Cries of injustice rang across the nation the night the reverse. jurors in Florida read “not guilty” verdicts for the Two Texas A&M University researchers examined 2000-2010 crime rates in 20 states with neighborhood watchman who killed unarmed Trayvon. stand-your-ground statutes. Their findings indicate the laws did not deter burglaries, robberies or But the case had fallen under intense scrutiny even aggravated assaults, but rather led to a statistically significant jump in the number of murders and before the trial, when police opted against arresting non-negligent manslaughters.

George Zimmerman.

“We need to look very closely at stand-your-ground laws,” said Helen Green. “They seem to Despite mounted protests and conflicting accounts be doing more harm than good.” eorge Zimmerman for Trayvon’s murder from neighbors about what they saw and heard during the strust of the judicial system. confrontation between Zimmerman and Trayvon, more than Blacks mobilized a month passed before police arrested and charged him.

Trayvon’s death mobilized a swell of everyday citizens, students and countless activists who Although charges lagged, Malik Nelson, a 26-year-old para-professional, felt confident flooded America’s streets protesting racial profiling and systemic injustice. ger in selfa jury would convict Zimmerman.

They pushed tirelessly for Zimmerman’s arrest, which police say they didn’t do initially ables citizens When this didn’t happen, Nelson had to confront skepticism about the justice system because there wasn’t enough evidence to refute his self-defense claim. coming from the African-American boys and girls he mentored in an after-school program The deceased teen’s heartbroken parents too, became often seen protestors, lending their les and iced during that time. likeness and voice to demonstrations nationwide. hoodie that “I felt justice would rule,” Nelson said. “It was eye opening for a lot of us as young One mobilization effort centers on a group of Florida youth, mostly college students, pushing people.” for repeal of stand-your-ground in that state. The Dream Defenders organized shortly after Martin’s man of Dr. Helen Greene, co-author of the book “Race and Crime” and a professor in the death, using as a model 1960s civil rights organizations.

TSU Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, had questions about the They’ve had numerous successes, including a month-long sit-in at the Florida State Capitol, Zimmerman case from the beginning. which led to the draft of Trayvon’s Law, a package of bills primarily aimed at reversing state laws “I guess a big part of the outrage in the Black community is that the police told that enable individuals to shoot and kill, then claim self-defense with impunity. and [Zimmerman] not to get out of his car and he got out of his car and nobody knows exactly The Dream Defenders also led a state voter registration drive resulting in more than 60,000 eightened what transpired,” Greene said. new voters and influenced the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to examine its racial sh reality of “I always wonder what did they think of Zimmerman? Why were they so comfortable profiling policies. in letting him go?”

Closer to home, Robinson recalls local mobilization efforts that took place after n Martin and Tamara Brown said the Zimmerman case stoked disillusionment.

Zimmerman’s acquittal, when he was faculty advisor for TSU’s student chapter of the NAACP. “I think there’s reason to question, to doubt and to have less confidence in the justice TSU students along with those from the University of Houston organized local enforcement system,” she said. demonstrations, similar to widespread protests held across the United States. r investigation Trayvon’s death, she believes, makes it even more important to fight racial injustice.

“The more our young people can become conscious and active, the better,” Brown said.

he Houston area for over 80 years

10

DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 20 | 2014

health

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A Defender and Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Alliance

Breast reduction surgery increasingly popular

B

By Jamal Bullocks, M.D., F.A.C.S.

reast reduction is high on the list of most-requested cosmetic plastic surgery procedures by African-Americans. Also known as reduction mammoplasty, breast reduction surgery removes some of the tissue and skin from the breasts to reshape and reduce the size of the breasts. It can also Dr. Jamal Bullocks make the area of dark skin surrounding the nipple – the areola – smaller.

If you have large breasts, you might decide to undergo breast reduction surgery to relieve discomfort or to achieve a breast size proportionate to your body. Breast reduction surgery might also help improve your self-confidence, as well as your ability to participate in physical activities.

Changing lives

Overly large breasts have both physical and emotional consequences. Men and women can feel embarrassed or self-conscious about their chest size. Often they will avoid active physical or social situations because of the way they

look or to avoid being stared at. Add this to the physical realities of living with a larger chest, such as: • Chronic back, neck and shoulder pain.

• Deep grooves in the shoulders from bra strap pressure.

• Poor posture.

• Difficulty fitting into bras and clothing.

• Chronic rash or skin irritation under the breasts.

Although breast reduction surgery can be done at any age, it’s best to wait until your breasts are fully developed and, if possible, after you’ve had children. Depending on your health plan, insurance may cover the cost of your medical procedure.

Breast reduction surgery is performed under general anesthesia and generally takes between two to three hours.

During surgery, incisions are made on the breast and excess skin, fat and glandular tissues are removed. Some liposuction may be performed to improve the shape of the breast.

During recovery, breasts will be swollen, but patients will see and feel a difference in size immediately. Most patients are able to resume some daily activity in one to two weeks.

You might be a candidate

You’re a good candidate for breast reduction surgery if: • You are physically and emotionally healthy.

• You’re a non-smoker.

• You, not someone else, are unhappy with the size of your chest or breasts.

As with any surgery, there are risks to consider. The most common risks of breast reduction surgery include: permanent scars, uneven nipples or breasts that aren’t the same shape or size, loss of feeling in the nipples or breast and the possible inability to breastfeed.

Breast surgery is not something to take lightly, but for many it can be a life-changing experience. Patients who’ve had breast reduction surgery report improved self-esteem, selfimage and self-confidence. They say they are able to exercise and be more active in ways they never could before. To see if breast reduction is right for you, consult a plastic surgeon who is experienced in dealing with the sensitivities of dark skin.

Dr. Bullocks is a board-certified plastic surgeon who is skilled in cosmetic surgery and breast restoration after mastectomy. He cares for patients at Kelsey-Seybold’s Main Campus near the Texas Medical Center. To schedule an appointment, call 713-442-1122. To learn more, visit kelsey-seybold.com/bullocks.

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FEBRUARY 20 | 2014 | DEFENDER

11

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Trailblazers leave legacies across Texas

A

Defender News Services

frican-Americans have a rich history in the Lone Star State, and a number of pioneers are included in the Texas Trailblazer Series sponsored by the Houston Place Preservation Association and edited by Patricia Smith Prather and Bob Lee. Here are profiles of three trailblazers.

J. Mason Brewer (1896 -1975) was fascinated by stories told among African-Americans and began writing down folk tales in about 1925.

His first published collection of folklore stories was titled “Juneteenth.” He also wrote the 1958 classic “Dog Ghosts and Other Texas Negro Folk Tales.”

Brewer became known as one of America’s most distinguished folklorists, publishing hundreds of tales he collected. He was the first AfricanAmerican member of the Texas Folklore Society

SOCIETY

FOR

THE

and the first to become vice president of the American Folklore Society.

Brewer was born in Goliad, graduated from Wiley College, and received his M.A. degree from the University of Indiana. He eventually became chair of the Department of English and Literature at Huston-Tillotson College.

Juanita Craft (19021985) was just 7 years old when the NAACP was founded in 1909. She would later risk her life to help form NAACP chapters throughout Texas.

Craft worked alongside NAACP general counsel Thurgood Marshall during some of the organization’s most turbulent times. She became the first Black woman to vote in Dallas and the first deputized to sell poll taxes. In the early 1960s Craft led students to integrate theaters, restaurants and other public places.

The seeds for political involvement were sown when she was growing up near Austin in the shadow of the State Capitol. She remained

politically active throughout her life and at the age of 73 became the second African-American woman elected to the Dallas City Council.

William S. Holland (1904-1981) became a coach at Jack Yates High School in 1927 and one of the pioneer AfricanAmerican coaches in HISD. Perhaps the sweetest victories were when his team won football games against rival Wheatley High School.

In 1940, Holland was promoted to principal.

He became one of the most outspoken critics of unequal education. His militancy cost him a major promotion. In 1958, when Yates moved to a new building, Holland was not named principal.

Holland remained principal at the old school, which became the Ryan Junior High. He retired in 1974. In 1975, he was elected to the school board. His contributions to education were recognized when the William S. Holland Middle School was dedicated in Houston.

PERFORMING ARTS 2013 | 2014 Season Bringing the World’s Best to Houston

Robert Battle, Artistic Director

Masazumi Chaya, Associate Artistic Director

8 pm | Friday, March 14, 2014 2 & 8 pm | Saturday, March 15, 2014 Jones Hall

Get Tickets Today!

Find us on:

spahouston.org | 713.227.4772 2013−2014 Season Sponsor

Antonio Douthit-Boyd Photo by Andrew Eccles 2-13_Alvin Ailey_Houston Defender Ad.indd 1

Jerry Levias became the first African-American to receive a football scholarship in the old Southwest Conference. He went on to become an athletic and academic All-American at SMU and an All-Star for the Houston Oilers.

2/10/2014 7:51:58 PM

This February, ABC-13 honors the African-American trailblazers who've left their mark on our community and made our world a better, more tolerant place.

12 DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 13 | 2014

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH Commentary

Black History Month is needed now more than ever

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By MARC H. MORIAL NNPA Columnist

ver since the 2009 election of Barack Obama as America’s first Black president and the 100th anniversary of the National Urban League in 2010, the perennial debate about the need for Black History Month has intensified.

Some have questioned the need for a special month to recognize the many unknown and unsung achievements of African Americans. With Obama as president, the logic goes, we have now achieved Dr. King’s dream of a non-racial America where everyone is judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. I wish it were so.

Last year, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and the passage of the Voting Rights Act. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the repeal of the poll tax. But unfortunately, the suppression of voting rights and other instances of racial discrimination remain.

All one needs to do is look at the glaring disparities between Blacks and Whites in income, employment, incarceration rates, educational achievement and health status to see that race still matters in America.

In 1926, after centuries of Blacks being excluded, not only from the mainstream of American life, but also from the textbooks in our schools, African American historian Carter G. Woodson did a service to all Americans when he created Negro History Week, which was expanded to Black History Month in 1976.

Woodson’s vision was one of unity and inclusion. He said, “What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race, hate and religious prejudice.” That is a goal that America is still struggling to achieve.

Black history is American history. While the story and achievements of African Americans are especially celebrated this month, the contributions we have made and the struggles we still face deserve recognition every day of the year.

Next year, Black History will enter the mainstream when the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture opens on the National Mall in Washington. The museum describes itself as “a place of meaning, of memory, of reflection, of laughter, and of hope…’

Marc Morial

As we honor those who have made history, we must also recognize that we are history in the making. Through our work, commitment to equality and civic engagement, we can and we must, in the words of President Obama, continue to “right the wrongs of history and make our world anew.”

Celebrating

AFRICAN-

AMERICAN

HERITAGE Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is interwoven throughout our culture and has served as a cornerstone of our commitment to customer service for more than a century.

To help customers get, stay and live well Walgreens provides products and services to help manage high blood pressure— a condition many African-Americans develop early in life. In addition, many locations carry fresh fruit and vegetables and other healthy food choices—key to a balanced diet.

Just as important is taking prescribed medications as directed.

Skipping even one dose may lead to a blood pressure spike, which can cause damage to the heart.

At Walgreens you can check your blood pressure anytime at no cost, and ask our pharmacists about any of the medications you may take.

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FEBRUARY 20 | 2014 | DEFENDER

13

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Black History Month schedule of events

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he African American Library at the Gregory School sponsors a presentation on the History of Freedmen’s Town Churches on Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. Contact: houstonlibrary.org or 832-393-1440.

The University of Houston-Clear Lake hosts a showing of the Oscar nominated film “12 Years a Slave” on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. in Room 1.203, Student Services and Classroom Building. Contact: uhcl.edu or 281-283-2578.

Houston Community College Southwest hosts a movie matinee featuring “The Great Debaters” on Monday, Feb. 24, at noon and 6 p.m. at 10041 Cash Road in Stafford. Contact: southwest.hccs.edu or 713.718.7800.

Churches in Freedmen’s Town are the subject of a presentation at the Prairie View A&M University presents African American Library at the Gregory School.

“The African Americans: Many Rivers to American Heritage Lecture Series on Historical Cross” with Henry Louis Gates on Tuesday, & Genealogical Research presented by Debra Feb. 25, at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. in Samuel Metters Blacklock-Sloan. It takes place Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Auditorium. Contact: pvamu.edu or 936-261-9836.

11:30 a.m. in Agnes Arnold Hall, room 628. Contact: Prairie View hosts Personal Reflections of Civil uh.edu/class/aas/ or 713-743-2814.

Rights and Lunch Counter Protests at 6 p.m. on Feb. HCC Southwest presents the work of artist 25 at the Northwest Houston campus. It is presented Alton G. Cooper throughout February at the West

by Halcyon Watkins, a trustee with Hempstead ISD. Loop Campus, 5601 W. Loop South. Contact: southContact: pvamu.edu or 713-790-7281. west.hccs.edu or 713-718-7930. A special reception The University of Houston hosts an African-

recognizing Cooper’s work is Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. at the West Loop Campus. Contact: southwest.hccs.edu or 713-718-7868.

UH-Clear Lake sponsors a discussion on How to Break Stereotypes on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. in the Garden Room, Bayou Building. Contact: uhcl.edu or 281-283-2578.

Prairie View hosts a President’s Lecture Series with Minister of Music Hanq Neal on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 1 p.m. in Hobart-Taylor Recital Room. Contact: pvamu.edu or 936-2613566. Prairie View hosts a Black History Dinner & Movie featuring “The African Americans: Rise! The Road to Civil Rights” with Henry Louis Gates on Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. at the Northwest Houston campus. Contact: pvamu.edu or 713-790-7281.

UH Clear Lake’s Women of Jubilee panel display is being exhibited through Friday, Feb. 28, in the Atrium I, Level I, Bayou Building. It celebrates women such as Angela Davis and Mary McLeod Bethune. Contact: uhcl.edu or 281-283-2578.

The library at the Gregory School presents the exhibit It’s a Black Thing: Collecting African-American Memorabilia through Saturday, March 1, at 1300 Victor St. Contact: houstonlibrary.org or 832-393-1440.

Texas football legend Earl Campbell says

“Your

loved ones

need you.”

Earl Campbell (left) lost family members to complications from diabetes.

He is pictured here with his brother Willie, who now has control over his diabetes by learning diabetes self-management skills.

Diabetes complications can be avoided, so you can be around for all the important moments with your family.

Sign up for FREE diabetes self-management workshops.

To sign up for a FREE workshop, please call 1-800-725-2633 or find workshop providers on our website www.diabeteshealthforlife.org

This material was prepared by TMF Health Quality Institute, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Texas, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy.

10SOW-TX-EDC-14-10

14

DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 20 | 2014

sports

defendernetwork.com

Rockets eye playoffs as season resumes

By MAX EDISON Defender

T

he NBA All Star festivities have come and gone and as is customary the break gives teams a chance to reflect on their play at this juncture of the season.

The Rockets, with the free agent signing of the games No. 1 big man Dwight Howard, have set high expectations for this season. Team GM Daryl Morey indicated that he did not bring this group together as a future project. His mindset is based on the precept that there’s no time like the present.

At the All-Star break the Rockets record of 36-17 is third best in the Western Conference, two games behind San Antonio and one game ahead of the L.A. Clippers. That’s not bad for a young team trying to work in a new featured player.

“We’re doing a good job of playing together, sharing the basketball,” All-Star James Harden said. “Obviously things are not going to be perfect throughout the entire game, but we’re finding a way to get it done.”

The Rockers are winners of seven in a row before the break. “The Beard” likes what he sees from his talented teammates.

“We haven’t really hit our stride yet,” Harden said. “We’re doing a pretty good job this far on this win streak. We still have a long way to go. It’s scary how good we can be.”

Small forward Chandler Parsons agreed that the team is beginning to round into shape and play consistently.

“We’re really clicking now,” Parsons said.

“Our offense is flowing, we’re really spacing the floor and playing unselfish, which is really a fun exciting way to play.”

Chandler explained why sharing and a spirit of selflessness are vital to team success.

“It makes us so much more balanced,” he said. “Anyone on our team can go off at any

James Harden sa ys the team is shari ng the ball and finding a way to wi n.

Dwight Howard believes the team’s chemistry is constantly improving.

certain time. We have such willing passers and great scorers; it makes us that much harder to stop. We’re making the extra pass, giving up good shots to take great shots. Defensively we’re communicating better, we’re helping each other better and it’s all coming together a lot better.”

The obvious question now is how the team has acclimated to working in the play of a classic, low-post big man to their equation. Head coach Kevin McHale has seen signs of steady progress in this area.

“The guys have only been together for what, 50 games. We’re getting better at getting him the ball inside our flow. A lot of these guys haven’t played with true low-post bigs. Post feeding is kind of a lost art, but we’re getting better at it.”

Dwight Howard is witnessing the evolution of a team becoming comfortable and familiar with its components.

“We’re learning how to play together and what we need to do to win,” he said. “The chemistry is getting there, the identity is coming. We want to make sure come playoff time we have an identity and we do it every night.”

With approximately two months remaining in

the season, the Rockets appear to be peaking at the right time. They must continue to grow and evolve, but the potential is there.

“We know we have a lot of potential here and a chance to be really, really good,” Parsons said. “It’s just going to take time and the maturity level we have to have. We have to keep building that chemistry out there, but I think we can get a lot better.

The sky’s the limit for us.”

Let’s hope he’s correct. Rockets fans have been patiently waiting.

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offense ng” and its

am is “clicki

e te rsons says th Chandler Pa ” g. in is “flow

FEBRUARY 20 | 2014 | DEFENDER

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h.s.zone

sportsbriefs

HCYA’S Jackson priming for playoffs

T

By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender

here was something wrong with this scenario.

One of the nation’s top prep male basketball players stayed on the bench trying to keep himself occupied while his Homeschool Christian Youth Association (HCYA) team faced rival Episcopal High School down the stretch of a close game.

Justin Jackson hollered out encouragement to his teammates. A few moments later, he picked up a water bottle and then a towel.

It was evident that not being on the court was nearly tearing him apart. A walking boot on his left foot shed some light on the situation. This was the second consecutive game the 6-foot-8 North Carolina Tar Heels signee had missed due to a sprained left ankle.

“It’s definitely been hard. I’ve never had to miss games because of an injury before,” he said. “We’ve actually played two games since I got hurt and we’ve lost both of them. To see my team out there working as hard as they can and come up short is tough.”

HCYA head coach Mike Decker says his team is missing more than Jackson’s 30 points and 10 rebounds per game.

“Justin has been with us since he was 10 or 11 years old,” Decker said. “He has worked hard and deserves any recognition that he gets. God’s gifted him but in addition to that, he’s a good kid and a rock for the other boys. He gives us a good, solid base to start with.

“He’s hard to replace when he’s not in the lineup,” Decker said. “Maybe he could have gone tonight, but maybe he couldn’t have. We have state and national tournaments coming up at the end of the month so we weren’t going to take that chance.”

Jackson and his teammates are now gearing for the home school state and national tournaments, an event that HCYA has

Homeschool Christian Youth Association star basketball player Justin Jackson is one of the best in the country.

15

won before. “Winning nationals has been one of the biggest things to happen to me,” he said.

Since then Jackson signed with a college program he has always admired.

“Growing up we were North Carolina fans but I don’t know if I wanted to go there all along,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting to be recruited by them at first. But then I started getting a little better and people started recruiting me and then they came in.

“So obviously we were fans of the program, but I wouldn’t say that is where I wanted to go from the start,” Jackson.

Jackson possesses an all-around floor game that includes shooting from range, slashing to the basketball, setting up teammates and playing tenacious defense. He can play any of the five positions on the court.

When Jackson signed with North Carolina during his junior year, he was ranked the No.3 small forward in the country and No. 14 overall in the Class of 2014 by ESPN 60. He chose North Carolina over Arizona, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Virginia and Washington.

Jackson joined No. 12 overall Class of 2014 recruit Joel Berry of Florida as a Tar Heels signee. North Carolina native Theo Pinson, a 6-foot-5 small forward, has since joined the fold.

Atascocita boys in playoffs Head coach David Martinez knew he might be watching something special when his team opened the season by defeating state-ranked North Shore (now No. 4). Up next were non-district victories over Fort Bend Marshall, Cypress Springs and Arlington Martin. Then the No. 7 state-ranked Eagles knocked off No. 12 Westfield twice while going undefeated in District 13-5A. Atascocita is 25-6 on the season and five of those losses are to schools in the top 13 of the Texas Class 5A state rankings. The other loss is to Louisville Ballard, the No. 2-ranked team in Kentucky. All this is coming from a school that has only made two playoff appearances in the six years the school has been open. Atascocita has never won a playoff game and the last time the Eagles advanced to the postseason was in 2011.

Yet every player from a squad that finished fifth in the district standings a year ago and one game short of the playoffs returned led by Oklahoma State signee Joe Burton. Other key players include Zach Haney, Nolan Bilbo, Greg Shead, Carsen Edwards and Jai Edwards.

Girls’ elite eight field set The girls’ high school basketball playoffs are a week ahead of the boys and the state tournament qualifier for both Region III-5A and Region III-4A will be decided. Manvel, Cypress Woods, Cy-Fair and North Shore are favorites in Class 5A while Brenham and Beaumont Ozen lead the way in Class 4A.

Astros sign Jerome Williams

classified HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTICE TO PROPOSERS The Houston Independent School District located in the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center at 4400 West 18 th Street Houston, Texas 77092 will accept proposals, until the stated date and time deadlines, in the Board Services Office, Level C1 

Project 14-01-09 RFP – Elevators/Wheelchair Lifts Maintenance & Repairs with deadline of 10 A.M., March 5, 2014. The pre-proposal conference for this project will be in Room 2NE51 at the above stated address on February 26, 2013 at 10 AM.



Project 14-02-02 RFQ - Architect & Engineering Services for Energy Institute High School – with a final submittal date of 2 P.M. March 3, 2014. The pre-proposal conference for this project will be held in Ryan Auditorium located at 4001 Hardy Street; Houston, Texas 77009 on February 24, 2014 at 2P.M.



Project 14-01-12 - RFP – Milk, All Types & Dairy Products (Food Services) – with a deadline of 10 A.M., March 7, 2014. The preproposal conference for this project will be in Room 2E02 at the above stated address on February 26, 2014 at 11A.M.



Project 14-01-13 - RFP – Fruit Juice & Other Beverages (Food Services) - with a deadline of 10 A.M., March 7, 2014. The preproposal conference for this project will be in Room 2E02 at the above stated address on February 26, 2014 at 11A.M.



Project 14-01-15 - RFP – Food - Fresh Baked Pizza (Food Services) - with a deadline of 10 A.M., March 7, 2014. The preproposal conference for this project will be in Room 2E02 at the above stated address on February 26, 2014 at 11A.M.



Project 14-01-16 - RFP – Food - Chips, Breakfast Cereal, and Snacks (Food Services) - with a deadline of 10 A.M., March 7, 2014. The pre-proposal conference for this project will be in Room 2E02 at the above stated address on February 26, 2014 at 11A.M.

Proposals are available on the HISD web-site at www.houstonisd.org.The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, or, to accept the proposal that is most advantageous to the District.

The District sells obsolete assets on-line at www.PublicSuprlus.com.

The Houston Astros recently agreed to terms on a one-year Major League contract with Jerome Williams, a free agent right-handed pitcher. Williams, 32, went 9-10 with a 4.57 ERA (86ER/169.1IP) in 37 games, including 25 starts, for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last season. He began his 2013 season in the Angels bullpen, where he made his first eight appearances (2.35 ERA, 4ER/21.1IP), before starting 25 of his last 29 games from May through the end of the season. Williams finished the season strong, posting a 4-0 record in five September starts with a 4.03 ERA (13ER/29IP). His four wins were tied for second in the Majors for the month.

Astros pitchers and catchers recently reported to spring training in Kissimmee, Fla.

Doug Williams goes ‘home’ The Washington Redskins recently announced that Doug Williams has rejoined the organization as a personnel executive. The former Grambling head coach played with the Redskins from 1986-89 and led Washington to a Super Bowl XXII title, where he was named MVP. “It’s great to be home again,” Williams said. “It also is great to be affiliated with a GM and coach who are so focused and dedicated to winning.” Williams worked in a similar capacity (2004-2008) under Bruce Allen, the Redskin GM when Allen was GM at Tampa Bay. “We are focused on finding people with genuine football insight and a passion for winning,” Allen said. “Doug has seen it all and done it all. We believe he has an incredible talent for identifying the type of players we want with the Redskins.”

16

DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 20 | 2014

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For Event Coverage...visit

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chag’splace

TEMENOS HOUSING GROUND BREAKING….. ceremony included City Controller Ronald Green, Elected officials, corporate business representatives Redick Edwards and many others! God Bless!.....THE and community leaders joined Pastor Rudy Rasmus HEART OF HOUSTON…..In all of his endeavors, and Dana Hogan, CEO, Temenos Community Laurence “Larry” J. Payne, host and producer of Development Corporation (TCDC) “Dialogue Houston,” a community Campus and St. John’s United affairs program on HCC-TV and Join Yvette Chargois Methodist Church’s Bread of Life, host of “Interchange” talk show on Inc. (BOL) to break ground for public radio 90.1 FM KPHT, explores Events of the Week Temenos Place Apartments II. The ways in which to create sustainable More photos on defendernetwork.com apartment complex is located near leadership, personal transformation and See Events on KTRK Ch.13’s Crossroads downtown Houston and will consist authentic involvement for individuals with Melanie Lawson Sunday Morning @ 11 a.m. of an 80-unit housing facility that and organizations throughout Houston. will serve extremely low-income Larry recently launched the release persons and homeless residents. In of his book, “The Heart of Houstonaddition to the housing units, each resident will have Lessons in Servant Leadership,” in which he introduces access to supportive services, including but not limited a collection of essays on servant leadership by inspirational men and women across the broad spectrum to, job searching and preparation skills, educational classes, budgeting, nutrition and case management of Houston’s sectors. It includes a foreword by Dr. services through BOL. In March 2006, Pastor Rasmus Stephen L. Klineberg and essays by former Houston created TCDC in partnership with BOL to identify First Lady Andrea White, Judge Vanessa Gilmore, affordable housing opportunities for low-income and Dr. Valarie Jackson, Gordon Quan, Rev. William A. Lawson, Rev. Joseph A. Fiorenza, Khambrel homeless persons. Participants in the ground breaking

Cheri Kirby, Roxanne Lawson and Sonia Boyd

Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg and author Larry Payne

Dr. LaCresha Peters, Sherman Lewis III and Dr. Nicole McZeal Walters

Pastor Rudy Rasmus and Neal Rackleff

Dee Woody, Regina Drake Payne and Zoe Jarre

Author Dr. Dennis P. Kimbro

Marshall, Dr. Lovell A. Jones and many others. Bright Sky Press hosted the event that was attended by Jim Kollaer, Rabbi Samuel E. Karff, Rogelio Marroquin, Linda Osadchey and Sylvia Quan. Congratulations!…..

LEADERSHIP FORUM…..The fourth annual Houston Black Leadership Forum, in partnership with the National Black MBA Association, the 100 Black Men Metropolitan Houston Chapter and the Greater Houston Black Chamber was recently held at the Power Center.

The forum featured best-selling author and business school professor Dr. Dennis P. Kimbro, who discussed his new book, “The Wealth of Choice-Success Secrets of Black Millionaires.” Afterwards, he moderated a panel discussion on professional and economic development, as well as health awareness. The panelists included Dr. Nicole McZeal Walters, University of St. Thomas; Sherman Lewis III, the Lewis Croup and Dr. LeCresha Peters, Kelsey-Seybold. Spotted at the forum were board chair Vernita Harris, Diane Allen, Vanessa Reed, Errol D. Allen II, Tiffany Williams, Courtney Rose and Gerald Womack. Great forum!.....From Chag’s Place to your place, have a blessed week!

Temenos CEO Dana Hogan

Dr. Valarie Jackson and Judge Vanessa Gilmore

Vance Ratliff, Vernita Harris and Jerry McCruse

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