Houston Defender: March 14, 2018

FEATURE

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DEMOCRATS CHOOSE MILWAUKEE OVER HOUSTON FOR 2020 CONVENTION P4

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Volume 88 | Number 20 MARCH 14 |2019 |FREE

NEWSTALK SYLVESTER TURNER talks about city layouffs

P2 NATIONAL JAMES CLYBURN making the case against reparations

P3 SPORTS CHARLES MCCLELLAND receives top NCAA post

P9

TOP EVENTS

Nomathemba Armstrong, Alane Lillie, Najah Callander and Jackie Pope at the Links’ Fabulous Red Dress & Red Tie Affair.

P12

R. KELLY

could be penniless H PAGE 5

Patricia Williams

Calvin Solomon

leads Imani School

dominates on court

The Imani School is celebrating its 30th anniversary of making a difference in the lives of students, families and communities. Learn what Head of School Patricia Hogan Williams has to say about the commitment to educational excellence.

The jury is in and Klein Forest High School is up there with the best Texas has to offer in basketball this season.

Leading the charge for the Golden Eagles is 6-foot-6 point forward Solomon. Read about the team’s trip to the state championship.

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DEFENDER | MARCH 14 | 2019

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newstalk

Firefighters, workers face layoffs over Prop B there’s additional revenue coming in in a significant way, we cannot do it withNearly 500 city employees out significant layoffs,” he could soon be without a job as the said. city prepares to lay off 400 fireIn response, firefighters and 100 municipal workfighters’ union president ers. The move comes as Mayor Marty Lancton said, “The Sylvester Turner prepares to enact mayor’s hatred of firevoter-mandated raises for firefightfighters will now have ers. terrible consequences for Turner said the cost of Proposius and for the public. He’s tion B makes it impossible to avoid willing to destroy public job cuts. safety in Houston to pun“The gap for next year’s budget Mayor Sylvester Turner ish firefighters’ families. when you factor in Proposition B is Houston is about to have a fire department that $197 million that we must find a way to balance is below national safety standards. A world-class between now and the end of June, and unless Defender News Services

fire department is being destroyed from within by third-rate politicians.”

Turner has held off swearing in the latest class of Houston Fire Department cadets while the debate over how to pay for raises continues. The cadets recently filed discrimination and retaliation complaints against both the mayor and Fire Chief Samuel Peña.

“These are employment decisions based on the financial constraints of the city,” Turner said.

“Complaints by fire cadets of discrimination and retaliation will be handled by the Office of Inspector General like any other complaint…But these theatrics are nothing more than a distraction and do not help us to solve real financial challenges.”

Notice of the layoffs could go out within weeks.

Defender NEWSWRAP debuts Saturday, March 16

Debate team wins again

Texas Southern University’s debate team continued its reign at the 2019 HBCU National Speech and Debate Championship at Tennessee State University in Nashville. TSU brought home 45 trophies and claimed eight first-place titles. Top honors included being the overall tournament champions and winning first place in debate. First-place winners included: After-dinner speaking, prose interpretation and IPDA speaker points, Antrechelle Dorsey; dramatic interpretation and slam poetry, Durmerrick Ross, and impromptu speaking, Nahab Fahnbulleh.

NEWSWRAP, the latest addition to the Defender family, debuts Saturday, March 16 on DefenderNetwork.com.

In a three-minute-or-less newscast, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, a seasoned newscaster and Defender managing editor, will give you a snapshot of the news you need to know for the week in the Black community from the local, state and national perspective. You cannot get this collection of Black news in a quick, easy and convenient package anywhere else.

Defender CEO Sonceria “Sonny”

Messiah Jiles said, “In an effort to better serve the Black community, the Defender is launching a new digital product called NEWSWRAP as our gift to Houston as part of Black Press Week.

“In addition to the news, listeners will receive a list of upcoming community events delivered to their computer, tablet or cell phone. So, sign up for NEWSWRAP. It’s free, easy and gives you a wrap-up of the weekly news in the Black community every Saturday.”

To sign up: defendernetwork.com/subscribe.

localbriefs MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER LAUNCHED his re-election campaign by unveiling a new website, opening a campaign headquarters and inviting supporters to join him at the Union Station lobby in Minute Maid Park on March 30 for a kickoff. In a video accompanying the announcement, Turner highlighted his accomplishments leading Houston through Hurricane Harvey and the continuing recovery, saving the city from bankruptcy by fixing the pension crisis, and creating more than 100,000 new jobs in the region with a focus on startups, technology and innovation. His priorities for a second term include flood recovery and prevention; traffic, transportation and roads; economic development and jobs, with a continued focus on Houston’s emerging technology sector; and fiscal

responsibility, particularly as the city implements Proposition B…… CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN IS CONTINUING HIS CALL for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

“I love my country and believe that the immortal words of Thomas Paine were written for times such as these and a crisis such as ours. However, these are not only the times that try our souls, they try our will to withstand voices of political expediency that would allow an unfit President to remain in office. We who believe that the virtues of the moral imperative to impeach an unfit President trumps the good intentions of political expediency to wait until the next election, must not yield to those good intentions," he wrote in a statement.

“Good intentions will not prevent an unfit President from

continuing to perpetrate and perpetuate egregious harm to our society. Those who suffer cannot wait, and we who have the power to prevent suffering must act.”......HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN NOW VOTE ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY after joining the Countywide Polling Place Program, which allows counties with more than 100,000 voters to create election day voting centers without regard to precinct. Beginning with the May 4, election, voters can cast ballots at any Harris County polling place. County Clerk Dr. Diane Trautman said the program will help area residents exercise their right to vote. For information visit www.HarrisVotes.com or by call the Harris County Clerk’s office at 713-755-6965.

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national

U.S.briefs FRESHMAN CONGRESSWOMAN ILHAN OMAR is disputing an article that quoted her saying she had issues with some of former President Barack Obama’s policies while he was in the White House.

Politico quoted the Minnesota Democrat as dismissing the “hope and change” promoted

by Obama as a “mirage.” She also criticized Obama for the “caging of kids” and “droning of countries around the world,” saying, “His policies are bad, but many of the people who came before him also had really bad policies.

They just were more polished than he was.”

Omar took to Twitter to clarify them. “I’m an Obama fan! I was saying how Trump is different from Obama, and why we should focus on policy not politics,” she said..…..

CALIFORNIA’S ATTEMPT TO TRACK RACIAL PROFILING complaints against police produced numbers so unrealistically small that the board overseeing the tally wants departments to make changes to encourage more people to come forward. The panel’s most recent report found 17 percent of California’s law enforcement agencies reported not a single complaint in 2017. Of 659 profiling complaints that were filed in a state of nearly 40 million people, just 10 were sustained. Advocacy groups don’t believe the numbers and think it might be the result of police protecting their own…….A FLORIDA MAN CAUGHT ON VIDEO assaulting a female McDonald’s employee has been sentenced to 60 days in jail. Daniel Willis Taylor, 40, pleaded no contest to two counts of battery stemming from the viral New Year’s Eve incident. Yasmine James, 23, was working when she said Taylor became irate about the lack of straws at the eatery’s drink station. State law prohibits restaurants from placing plastic straws out in the lobby, although they’re still available upon request. Taylor lunged across the counter and yanked James by her shirt, prompting her to fight back.

VOLUME 88 • NUMBER 20 MARCH 14, 2019 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler

Strategic Alliance Manager

Clyde Jiles Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Photographers

Ray Carrington III Jimmie Aggison

Editors ReShonda Tate Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writer Aswad Walker Sports Max Edison Jodie B. Jiles Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For digital subscriptions, visit www.DefenderNetwork.com/ subscribe. No paper subscriptions are available. All material covered by 2019 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

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Clyburn says reparations impossible, pushes policy Defender News Services

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said he has a major issue with using reparations as a way to address racial and wealth inequality, just as some 2020 presidential hopefuls have suggested they support the idea.

Democratic hopefuls U.S. Sens.

Kamala Harris (D-Calif) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro have all expressed support for reparations to Black Americans impacted by the legacy of slavery.

In a recent interview with the Post and Courier, Clyburn said he thought Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina said his “10-20-30” policy is a solution “pure reparations would be impossible to inequality, unlike reparations. to implement” and called it an impracrecompense “due to the sprawling family trees that have tical solution to racial inequality. evolved in the generations since slavery was abolished.”

However, “we can deal with the issue [of inequalHe also argued that some white people who’ve ity] if we’d just admit, first of all, that it exists and then never even felt the effects of race-based discrimination come up with some straightforward ways to deal with could wind up claiming to have connections to former it,” he said. slaves just to be compensated.

Clyburn, the highest-ranking African-American “Is that a fair way to do it?” he asked. “I say not.” congressman, also teed off on the concept of so-called Clyburn already has his own solution to tackling the “opportunity zones,” an effort championed by Black issue of inequality in the form of his “10-20-30” policy.

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) that rewards developers The formula, which is already included in some federal with tax incentives when they invest in underserved, policies, would direct 10 percent of government funds to low-income communities. Clyburn is opposed to the counties where 20 percent or more of the local population idea and dismissed it as just “a bunch of smoke and has lived below the poverty line over the past 30 years. mirrors.”

“To me, that’s a much better way to deal with what For Clyburn, the fear is that reparations would reparations is supposed to be about,” he said. only lead to disputes over who’s actually eligible for

States try to control food stamp purchases Defender News Services

Several states have for years been preoccupied with trying to control what kind of food low-income residents purchase with their food stamps. In the latest example, Arkansas State Rep. Mary Bentley filed a bill that would block people from using food stamps to purchase junk food such as soda, chips and candy.

It was Bentley’s second attempt after a similar measure failed to pass in 2017, but Arkansas was far from alone. In 2017, at least five states – Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, New Mexico and Tennessee – introduced bills that asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for permission to ban junk food

purchases with food stamps, according to the Pew Trust.

The repeated attempts to ban junk food, while seemingly well-intentioned, ignore the lack of access to inexpensive healthy food choices in many low-income communities. There seems to be no end to food deserts, which the USDA has broadly defined as neighborhoods – even in large, urban communities – that don’t have large supermarkets or grocery stores nearby.

Between 2010 and 2015, the number of poor neighborhoods that found themselves in food deserts increased from 8,959 to 9,245. A major part of the problem is a lack of transportation for people who live in food deserts, the department said.

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DEFENDER | MARCH 14 | 2019 defendernetwork.com

DNC picks Milwaukee over Houston, Miami Associated Press

Milwaukee will host the 2020 Democratic National Convention, party leaders announced, selecting a battleground state that unexpectedly helped deliver Donald Trump to the White House as the site of a presidential nomination that could oust him.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez chose Milwaukee over Houston and Miami after deliberations lingered longer than party leaders or officials from the three finalist cities had expected.

"This choice is a statement of our values," Perez said in a statement. "The Democratic Party is the party of working people, and Milwaukee is a city of working people."

The convention is scheduled for July 13-16, 2020.

It will be the first time in over a century The Fiserv Forum was the centerpiece of Milwaukee’s 2020 convention bid. that Democrats will nominate their presidential candidate in a Midwestern city other 2020. than Chicago. Instead, the political spotlight will shine Democrats see plenty of symbolism in Milwaukee for a week on a metro area of about 1.6 million people. after a bitter 2016 election defined by Hillary Clinton Once dubbed as "The Machine Shop of the World," the being nearly swept in what her campaign aides had working-class city also is known for its love affair with confidently called a "Blue Wall" across the upper Midbeer and as the birthplace of Harley-Davidson motorwest and Great Lakes region. cycles.

That band of states twice sided with President Republicans are set to gather in Charlotte, the largBarack Obama, but Clinton held only Minnesota, cedest city in battleground North Carolina, on Aug. 24-27, ing Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania – a

combined 64 of the necessary 270 electoral votes – as white working-class voters flocked to Trump.

The president won Wisconsin and its 10 electoral votes by about 23,000 votes out of almost 3 million cast, the first time since 1984 that Republicans claimed the state in a presidential election. Afterward, Clinton took withering criticism for not once visiting Wisconsin as a general election candidate.

Democratic officials in Washington said picking a host city is as much about logistics as anything else, even as they acknowledge political optics.

On logistics, Milwaukee may have pulled somewhat of an upset, given its small footprint compared to Houston and Miami, cities long accustomed to hosting major events. Houston hosted the Super Bowl as recently as February 2017.

Milwaukee organizers pitched their city – the Democratic stronghold of Wisconsin – as resurgent. Home to some of the country's biggest brewers, including Pabst, Schlitz, Miller and Blatz, the metro area has a redeveloped downtown, a hotel capacity exceeding 17,000 rooms and a new downtown streetcar line that opened in November.

Still, the city had to prove it has the overall capacity for tens of thousands of delegates, party activists, donors and media.

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MARCH 14 | 2019 | DEFENDER

entertainment

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Embattled R. Kelly could be left with nothing money troubles. Financial records show at least six federal tax liens totaling about $8 million were filed between 2009 and R. Kelly grew up in a public housing 2012. The records also show a federal project in one of Chicago's toughest South tax payment of more than $2.6 million in Side neighborhoods and built a worldwide 2008. musical brand that earned tens of millions A state of Illinois tax lien of about of dollars over a nearly 30-year career. $24,000 was filed in 2002 against Kelly But tax and legal issues – including and now-ex-wife Andrea Kelly. recently filed charges that he sexually Kelly's publicist, Darryll Johnson, abused three girls and a woman – could confirmed that Kelly's concert dates have leave the Grammy winner who has writlargely dried up. ten songs for some of music's top stars "He hasn't worked in a long time. He with next to nothing. can't book shows," Johnson said.

In an emotional A concert in Springfield that Kelly was interview that aired supposed to host recently on "CBS This was called off in Morning," Kelly said that January because people stole money from the allegations and his bank accounts. He the protests outside offered no details. his Chicago studio His defense attorney raised security said last month that the concerns. Other performer's finances were concerts, includ"a mess" after Kelly was ing in New York unable to post $100,000 and Chicago, have in bail after his arrest on also been canceled 10 counts of aggravated in the last several sexual abuse. months.

The lack of cash Kelly was arrested again following a child Kelly's hopes forced Kelly to spend a support hearing in Chicago. to make more weekend in a Chicago money on a spring jail, until a 47-year-old European tour suburban business owner were dashed when put up the money. She a German concert identified herself on the arena canceled its bond slip as "a friend" of contract with the Kelly's. organizer days Kelly was jailed after Kelly was again on March 6 because Kelly made millions as a singer, songwriter charged last month. he did not bring enough and record producer.

Kelly had defiantly money to court to pay scheduled shows in $161,000 in back child Germany and the Netherlands despite the cloud of legal issues support. An anonymous looming over him. But a judge ordered him to surrender his benefactor paid that so passport.

Kelly could be released.

His options for earning money quickly dwindled after James L. Walker, an the release of a BBC documentary about him last year and the Atlanta-based entertainmultipart Lifetime documentary "Surviving R. Kelly," which ment lawyer, said Kelly aired in January. Together they detailed allegations he was should be worth over A social media campaign resulted in protests of Kelly’s concerts and music. holding women against their will and running a "sex cult." $100 million based on A social media campaign under the #MuteRKelly hashtag his publishing catalog For many entertainers, maintaining their income pushed fans to boycott his concerts and music. Spotify later alone. At his apex, he was earning at least $150,000 depends on recording, concert or other music-related cut Kelly's music from its playlists. News outlets also reported a night from live shows. Since then, he has taken deals. last year that Apple and Pandora were not promoting Kelly's financial hits from being dropped by his record label, "In the recording business, it's not like you get a music.

Universal Music Publishing Group, and from scrapped check every week," said Chicago attorney Eric Macey.

In addition to other lawsuits and settlements, Kelly's concerts and tours, Walker said.

He represented former Kelly business manager Dercustom-built suburban Chicago mansion, once valued at more The latest allegations against Kelly date back as far rel McDavid in a 2014 lawsuit against Kelly. A court than $5 million, sold for $950,000 in a foreclosure auction in as 1998 and span more than a decade. The singer, who entered a civil judgment of just over $1 million against 2013. Kelly was evicted in February 2018 from two Atlantawas acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008, the star. has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.

That judgment was only a part of Kelly's mounting area homes over more than $31,000 owed in unpaid back rent.

Associated Press

Music superstar R. Kelly now faces severe financial problems.

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DEFENDER | MARCH 14 | 2019

The Imani School celebr

T

By ASWAD WALKER Defender

he educational force that is the Imani School is preparing to celebrate its 30th anniversary of making a positive and powerful difference in the lives of students, their families and communities.

Imani is a private Christian school founded by Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell of Windsor Village United Methodist Church. The school will observe its anniversary with a gala on Saturday, March 23.

Patricia Hogan Williams, Imani’s head of school since its founding, said their success is no accident.

“Our school is built upon three pillars – faith, self-confidence and academic achievement,” Williams said. “Teachers and parents share common goals, common values and a strong commitment to helping each child become everything that God has purposed them to be.”

For Williams, developing students’ faith in self and God is foundational to Imani’s longevity. So too is the school’s family atmosphere.

“School is only one part of a child's life, but when the parents and teachers work together for the benefit of the children, they are bound to succeed,” she said.

Williams stressed that expectations are high at Imani.

“We expect our children to achieve and we don't accept mediocrity,” Williams said. “We teach them that ‘good enough isn't good enough.’ We believe in our children and therefore they believe in themselves.”

Dr. Carla Brailey, a former Imani instructor and co-chair of the Imani gala, said the school is dedicated to excellence on every level.

“Imani teachers not only meet children where they are, they take them places they have yet to imagine,” she said.

Brailey added that the secret to Imani’s success is Williams’ leadership.

Imani School students receive hands-on experience with robotics and other areas of technology.

“She simply believes all children are created to be excellent in their own greatness, and it’s the teachers’ task to nurture it through their learning process.”

Rose and his wife Courtney chose the Imani Williams said that belief permeates everything at Imani.

School for their child in large part because of its educa30th Anniversary Gala “It is not enough to hope children become self-confident. At Imani, we are tional philosophy: “Commitment to excellence for the Portraits of Excellence very intentional about developing self-confidence,” Williams said. glory of God.” Saturday, March 23, 7-9 p.m.

“Though the way we talk to and encourage our students seeks to instill self“[Imani] was the only school we saw that offers The Power Center, 12401 S. Post Oak confidence, we teach our children to encourage and affirm themselves. We liken a Christian, family environment where it encourages Tickets: bit.ly/Imani30 this activity to depositing money into one’s bank account – you can withdraw families to work together to build a community,” he Info: 713-723-0616 or www.imanischool.org affirmations in the future when needed. It’s a deposit into yourself.” said.

Imani’s speech classes that begin at kindergarten are an example of the Rose was also impressed with the school’s afterschool’s emphasis on self-assurance, and students are taught to stand up and speak school activities, especially the Jr. Beta Club, Imani’s chapter of the National Beta tional challenges facing Black with confidence and competence. Brailey said there are more examples of excelClub, which promotes academic achievement, character, leadership and service.

America’s new Civil Rights M lence.

Imani spares no expense providing students from pre-K on with the latest “Rather than water down “Their reading program is second to none and their arts and humanities are technologies and multimedia academic programs so they will “We ‘teach up,’ challenging ou exemplary. Students begin presenting projects as early know how to utilize technology as a tool for current and future comes from our commitment t as PK-3,” she said. “While self-esteem isn’t a program, www.DefenderNetwork.com success.

But beyond technology, it’s the people at Imani that remind students regularly that not enough money can buy it. Imani School students Patricia Williams Hogan on preparing make the difference.

As a result, Imani gradua are poised to perform competitively in academics and in students for success; “When a child matriculates from one grade to the next, awards, including becoming D extracurricular activities.” challenges and opportunities in that child is personally delivered to the next teacher and that Moreover, they are highly recr education teacher is briefed on each child versus that teacher having to “Providing our children w w AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE take the first few months of the year to learn the idiosyncrasies ble, and becomes more import Teeba Rose, vice president of Imani’s Dad’s Club of that child,” Rose said.

“Children live up to or do and founder of the school’s Super Hero Dad’s Read event, said because of the Parents have their responsibilities as well, including being their child’s advocate limiting factor to African-Ame confidence the school instills in its students, they are consistently several grades and getting involved. learn. At Imani, we set the bar ahead academically.

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rates 30th anniversary

Brailey, an Imani parent and Howard University graduate, believes in Imani’s holistic program.

“It’s the closest educational experience I could provide for my daughter to my educational experience at Howard,” Brailey said. “I want my daughter to believe she can be and do anything, and in a setting where others believe she can too.”

Williams believes Imani’s power comes also from its willingness to confront the real-world educak children, and views bridging the achievement gap as Movement. n the curriculum, we set the bar high,” Williams said. ur students to ‘reach up.’ This old-fashioned approach to teaching mastery,” said Williams, who is known to at Imani success is spelled w-o-r-k. ates have won numerous local and national academic Duke TIP scholars and National Merit semifinalists. ruited by area high schools. with an excellent educational experience is non-negotiatant with each passing year,” Williams said. own to your expectations, which is why the greatest erican student achievement is the notion that they cannot very high and celebrate as our children climb.”

he Houston area for over 88 years

Students say grac e before enjoying a meal at Imani, a school. private Christian

About Imani • Enrollment – 357 • Teachers – 30 • Grade levels – Pre-K to eighth grade; infants and toddlers • Sample academic programs – Robotics, Singapore Math, STEM, Spanish, speech, Reasoning Mind, Makerspace, visual and performing arts, intensive phonics/ vocabulary development • Sample accomplishments – 1st Place Math, 1st Place Speech, 1st Place Group Talent, National Jr. Beta Club Convention; 1st Place, NOBCChE Science Fair • Extracurricular programs – Chess, choir, cheerleading, dance, radio-television, track, football, soccer, karate

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DEFENDER | MARCH 14 | 2019

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Nation’s oldest HBCU fights for survival Defender News Services

Nestled 45 minutes outside Philadelphia, the Cheyney University campus looks like any number of small colleges that dot the rural Northeast: rolling lawns, stately gray brick dorm halls and an architectural hodgepodge of classroom buildings old and new, each a testament to Cheyney’s 182-year history.

But Cheyney University isn’t just any run-of-the-mill Northeastern college. Cheyney is arguably the country’s oldest historically Black college or university.

HBCUs are a crucial albeit often overlooked part of our country’s history. Some, like Cheyney and Lincoln (another university that also claims the title of being the first HBCU), were founded before the Civil War. But the vast majority of HBCUs were founded after the war’s end to educate the millions of freed

African-Americans.

Today, the survival of many of America’s historically Black colleges and universities is in jeopardy. Perhaps nowhere is the present state of America’s smaller HBCUs clearer than at Cheyney.

Enrollment at Cheyney has dropped 38 percent since last year, and the school has been struggling to keep its accreditation with Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.

It was against this backdrop that Aaron Walton assumed the role of university president in 2017, making him Cheyney’s fourth president in 10 years.

Leaning into his private-sector experience, Walton began making changes. He eliminated jobs, reorganized academic departments and discontinued the school’s popular football program.

“Some of the decisions that have had to be made are very

Campaign shows curvy Alabama State dancers Defender News Services

The dance team of Alabama State University called the Honeybeez is making waves because of a body positive JustDoIt Nike campaign.

The Dream Crazier campaign sheds a light on stories of people who often don’t get their “shine.” In the campaign, a group of curvy, plus-sized women from the Honeybeez are shaking their bottoms

and speaking about the dance platform that allows them to be who they are.

In the video, the women say that the group is all about self-confidence and self-love.

They also say that their commitment includes working out and working hard.

“We sweat a lot,” one woman says in the video.

A woman in the video also said when she first joined the dance troupe, she was push-

ing 400 pounds and now she’s down to 294.

Another dancer in the video touched on not loving her chocolate skin color. She now credits her dance coach with helping her embrace her skin color and realize the beauty that is within her.

Just recently Nike rolled out a Dream Crazier commercial narrated by tennis icon Serena Williams, which debuted during the

difficult and very painful to a lot of people including myself,” said Walton. “I don’t relish disrupting people’s lives. But I also know changing the business model is not change, it’s transformation.”

While still acknowledging the tough road ahead, Walton believes that Cheyney’s transformation is imminent. He says enrollment is up for the coming year and the school recently unveiled programs, including a partnership with Starbucks and Thomas Jefferson University, aimed at attracting competitive students from around the world.

classifieds The HARRIS CENTER for Mental Health and IDD

(formerly known as MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY) will be accepting Request for Qualification for the following:

Agency Wide Appraisal Services

Oscars.

“If we show emotion, we’re called dramatic. If we want to play against men, we’re nuts. And if we dream of equal opportunity, delusional,” the voiceover by Williams says.

Specifications may be secured from The HARRIS CENTER, Purchasing Department located at 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7116 and/or via The HARRIS CENTER website www.theharriscenter.org or the Electronic State Business Daily Site https://portal.cpa.state.tx.us/, beginning Tuesday, March 19, 2019. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFQ is Tuesday, March 26, 2019. Solicitation documents must be submitted to Purchasing Services, 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 by 10 a.m., Friday, April 12, 2019 in a sealed envelope marked "RFQ FOR AGENCY WIDE APPRAISAL SERVICES” - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL - FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019 AT 10:00 A.M. Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to James Blunt, Buyer II or E-mail questions to james.blunt@theharriscenter.org cc: sharon.brauner@theharriscenter.org., or via fax at (713) 9707682. The HARRIS CENTER reserves all rights to reject any and/or all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests, and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.

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McClelland named to NCAA committee “For me to have the ability to represent the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Dr. Charles McClelland, commissioner the 10-member institutions is tremendous, one that I cannot put into words.” of the Southwestern Athletic Conference McClelland is the (SWAC), has been seformer athletics direclected to serve a five-year tor at Prairie View A&M term on the prestigious University (2001-2008) and NCAA Men’s Division 1 former vice president for Basketball Committee. athletics at Texas Southern McClelland’s term University (2008-2018). on the committee begins The Jackson, Miss. native Sept. 1. He is the first earned his bachelor’s degree SWAC representative to in accounting and MBA be given a full term on the from PVAMU. He earned committee in the history a doctoral degree in higher of the conference. The education administration committee is responsible from Texas A&M Univerfor the 68-team field for Dr. Charles McClelland sity. the NCAA Basketball “I am just honored that the NCAA Tournament, including seeding and comhad enough confidence in me to allow me pleting the brackets.

“It’s mind-blowing to me personally to to serve on the committee,” McClelland said. be selected to be on the [committee],” Mc“It says the Southwestern Athletic Clelland said in an interview with Fox 26 Sports. “This is the most prestigious NCAA Conference has a seat at the table and we have some say-so in Division 1 men’s committee that’s responsible for Division 1 basketball.” basketball in the tournament.

Defender News Services

Freeda Foreman death ruled suicide by county Defender News Services

Freeda Foreman, the 42-year-old daughter of boxing legend George Foreman, committed suicide according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. She was found unresponsive by a family member on March 9 at her Atascocita home. The cause of death was listed in medical examiner records as asphyxia by hanging.

Two days after her death, Foreman tweeted that it was his "first Sunday in 42 years" without

his daughter.

Freeda briefly followed in her father’s footsteps as a professional boxer compiled a 5-1 record. She left the sport to raise a family, and survivors include her husband, two daughters and three grandchildren.

George Foreman, a Marshall, Texas native, is a two-time heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist. Now 70, he is an entrepreneur, rancher and pastor of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in north Houston.

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DEFENDER | MARCH 14 | 2019

sports

Cowboys VP Will McClay diagrams offseason

T

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Will McClay

By MAX EDISON Defender

he NFL offseason is kicking into high gear and fans can expect a flurry of activity. The league free agent and trade period began March 13. So much of an NFL franchise’s success in the fall depends on how they manage offseason personnel moves. One of the league’s top personnel executives Will McClay helps break down what fans can expect to see over the next few months.

McClay is vice president of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys and began his career as an executive in 2009 as Dallas’ pro scouting coordinator. McClay, a local product, is a Marian Christian High School and Rice University graduate and former football player.

“In order for a team to stay in contention year after year you have to be able to successfully win in the offseason,” McClay said. “Normally as soon as a franchise’s season ends, the evaluation process begins. Sizing up existing players’ performance, contract situations, McClay, Dallas vice president of player personnel, talks to team GM Steven Jones. free agency, etcetexplained how teams balance pursuing a player through is an excellent time for era are all a part smaller school players to free agency as opposed to the draft. of the process.”

“With free agency the key is how much money a step up and make a name Breakteam has under the salary cap,” he said. “You don’t get for themselves.” ing down the a blank check to just go shopping with. Another key is The NFL Scouting anatomy of how close a team thinks they are to their ultimate goal.

Combine recently conthe offseason, Assuming they have the cap space, is there a player or cluded in Indianapolis the next step is two or three in free agency that fill a need that can get and McClay discussed evaluating college you over the top with their contribution? how it fits into the offplayers who will “The difference between a free agent pick-up and season landscape. be eligible for the “The combine gives a draft choice is that a free agent has actually played in draft. the NFL and had success. With a draft pick you can do us a chance to evaluate “Scouts beall your evaluations, but you never know how they will the top draft eligible gin the evaluation fare until they hit the field,” he said. players in one place at process by attendThe NFL draft takes place this year in Nashville on one time in a number of ing the various different position drills,” April 26-28. Teams that are successful in the draft on a collegiate all-star consistent basis are teams that normally end up in anMcClay said. “Guys games that occur work out with other guys nual playoff contention. at the end of the “The draft is the culmination of exhaustive work by in their position group. season,” McClay an organization’s personnel department, [including] all “Players are said. “Here you McClay, shown with head coach Jason Garrett, played football locally at of the evaluations, scouting reports, film study, combine weighed and measured.

Marian Christian High School and Rice University. get an opportuand pro days,” McClay said.

In addition, there are nity to see a player “The league is so competitive and the sense of urmedical evaluations. Teams also get an opportunity to that you may have scouted during the regular season in gency for teams to win is immediate. You hope drafted sit down and have one-on-one interviews meeting with a different environment. players are able to come in the league and contribute players they have an interest in.”

“You see them working out and competing in sooner than later.”

With the free agency period set to begin, McClay practice against top players from other schools. It also

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MARCH 14 | 2019 | DEFENDER

11

HS sports Calvin Solomon

Klein Forest point forward tough, fearless On the ensuing possession Solomon fouled out of the game with only two minutes to go. In the final 90 seconds, Duncanville went on a 6-2 run capping off their state championship.

SAN ANTONIO – The jury is in and Klein Forest High Klein Forest head coach Cary Black said Solomon is a School is up there with the best Texas has to offer in basketball tough player who doesn’t back down. this season. Leading the charge for the Golden Eagles is 6-foot“He is also obviously a very good player, but I think his 6 point forward Calvin Solomon. mental toughness and his lack of fear to put himself on the line Solomon made his presence felt on the court during the for the team is what makes him special,” Black said.

UIL boys’ basketball state championships played in the AlamoThe Defender spoke with Solomon after the team’s victory dome. In the end, however, Duncanville defeated Klein Forest in the semifinals and defeat in the state championship game.

73-69 to win the Class 6A state title.

Defender: How were you able to will your team back from In the semifinals, Yates lost to Oak Cliff Faith Family 80-74 being down double digits at halftime? and North Shore lost to Duncanville 63-56.

Solomon: It felt good to put the team on my back. I had Klein Forest advanced to to tell them that this is not over when the finals with a 69-60 victory everybody was looking down. I had to over Cibolo Steele. The Golden For game and crowd photos visit tell them to bring a lot of energy the way Eagles were down double digits I had brought a lot of energy in the game IG: @DefenderHighSchoolSports at halftime when Solomon helped by scoring. I also said I am going to help carry the team back to a lead first you and get shots open and everything. by scoring himself in the post twice, then making two pinpoint Defender: Playing as a scoring point forward, how are assists to his teammates Corin Robinson for an easy layup and you able to decipher when to score versus getting your teamTyrese Howard for a three-pointer. mates involved?

It was obvious that Solomon’s energy and effort helped raise Solomon: When I need to score, I just score when my the level of others to follow his lead as Klein Forest advanced. coach tells me to score. But I am a great passer and I just love to Against No. 1-state ranked Duncanville, Solomon was get my teammates involved first because that opens up the game defensively matched up against the team’s best two players in for me. So, I just say to my teammates knock down the shots and Texas Tech commit Jahmius Ramsey and tournament MVP (also I’ve got you. an AAU rival) Micah Peavy.

Defender: What did you learn about yourself in the state Despite the circumstances, Solomon rose to the level of championship loss that will make you a better player on the competition in a grind-it-out game where he recaptured a 67-65 next level? lead late in the fourth quarter with a key bucket off of an offenSolomon: Make sure I don’t have any silly fouls so that the sive rebound over Peavy. refs can’t get me in foul trouble because I hate that I fouled out.

By JODIE B. JILES Defender

Solomon analyzed his performance in an interview with Defender HS Sports Reporter Jodie B. Jiles. (Photos by Jimmie Aggison)

Calvin Solomon maneuvered his way to the basket in the state championship game against Duncanville.

Solomon slam-dunked Klein Forest to the finals with a win over Cibolo Steele.

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DEFENDER | MARCH 14 | 2019

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topevents

Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com

THE LINKS’ FABULOUS RED DRESS & RED TIE AFFAIR………The Spring Paul Finkelman, judges Toria Finch, Tonya Jones, Ursula Hall, Deidra Davis, Fort Bend Cypress chapter of Links hosted their Red Dress & Red Tie Affair 2019 at Emancipation County District Attorney Brian Middleton, Reginal Harris, L. Darnell Weeden, Chief Park. All event supporters were invited to “Stop in the Name of Love,” i.e. stop the bad Justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeals Carolyn Wright and countless others……. habits, stop being inactive, stop ignoring their health and start promoting heart-healthy OPP EX 2019 HOUSTON……..Houston’s 97.9 The Box, Majic 102.1 and 92.1 Radio Now care. Chapter president Alane Lillie and event coordinators Najah Callander, Dr. June hosted their inaugural “Opportunity Expo” (Opp Ex) career development and recruitment Colman and Jackie Pope welcomes attendees adorned in radiant fair to meet the needs of Houston employers and job seekers. Held red including Nomathemba Armstrong, Roshunda Steele, at the George R. Brown Convention Center, the fair included panel Defender TOP EVENTS More photos on defendernetwork.com Jillian Mayfield, Britney Roberts, Willie Mae Evans, Lynda discussions, workshops and networking sessions. Attendees heard from PHOTOS BY: Aswad Walker House-McPeters, Angela Veale Joubert, Dr. Rhesa Sannibusiness executives, local officials and career coaches offering solutions Thomas, Adrienne Henny, Dr. Kelly Coleman and many and guidance on topics such as entrepreneurship, managing your digital others……..THURGOOD MARSHALL LAW SCHOOL REVIEW SPRING 2019 brand, pursuing careers in the music industry, navigating employment with a criminal record SYMPOSIUM……..The Thurgood Marshall School of Law hosted a Law Review Spring and more. Attendees included Pamela McKay (general manager, Radio One-Houston), 2019 Symposium, “The Renewed Civil Rights Movement.” The event featured panel Keisha Nicole, Kandi Eastman, Mayor Sylvester Turner, Tammy Harris, Thelma discussions and keynote addresses on a myriad of topics including the TMSL’s involvement in Sample, Madd Hatta, Chester Pitts, Erica Hubbard, Sydney Whitman, Monica Crofton, the Civil Rights Movement, voting rights, judicial fairness and more. Attendees and panelists Anelle Williams, Jonathan and Sanerica Cook, Javon Laramore, Kristie Coleman, included Melinda Spaulding, LaKai Henderson, George Oginni, Christina House, Dr. Tanesha Barnett, Brittany Phillips, Brandon Pittman, Carmela Walker and many more.

Nomathemba Armstrong, Alane Lillie, Najah Callander, Jackie Pope

Elizabeth Opara, Kaie Bodden, Derek Rolle

Pamela McKay, Keisha Nicole

Dr. Rhesa Sanni-Thomas, Adrienne Henny, Dr. Kelly Coleman

Countess Dudley, Cassandra Hill

Roshunda Steele, Jillian Mayfield, Britney Roberts, Dr. June Colman

LaKai Henderson, George Oginni, Misty Bishop

Tammy Harris, Thelma Sample, Anelle Williams, Chester Pitts

Kristie Coleman, Tanesha Barnett

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