Houston Defender: March 26, 2015

FEATURE

BLACK BUSINESS DAY WILL BE OBSERVED IN AUSTIN ON TUESDAY, MARCH 31 P8 defendernetwork.com

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Volume 84 | Number 17

MARCH 26, 2015 |FREE

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NATIONAL

Tracee Ellis Ross & Regina King

MARC MORIAL gives State of Black America

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‘BLACK GIRLS ROCK!’

SPORTS MARIO ELIE celebrates Rockets’ anniversary

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HS ZONE EMERALD GREEN jumps for Lamar High School

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P11 TOP EVENTS

Vicky Pink (center) enjoys her birthday with Lisa Chargois and Yvette “Ms. Chag” Chargois

Borris Miles seeks HUB equity

Perrye Turner

State Rep. Borris Miles is concerned about the University of Houston’s Historically Underutilized Business program and Blacks’ share of the vendor pie. Learn why other state universities should take note.

Find out what UH says about its HUB program.

Perrye K. Turner is in charge of the FBI’s Houston Division. Read about his priorities and challenges. See why he encourages other minorities to consider a career with the bureau.

Hear what the national FBI director said during a trip to Houston.

leads local FBI

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DEFENDER | MARCH 26 | 2015

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newstalk

UH urged to increase HUB numbers

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By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender

ouston State Rep. Borris Miles is concerned about the University of Houston’s efforts to ensure that African-Americans get their fair share of the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) pie.

Miles expressed his concerns in correspondence and meetings with UH Chancellor and President Dr. Renu Khator, and said he was troubled by a “steady and rapid decline” of Black HUB numbers.

Recently, Miles and other members of the Black State Rep. Borris Miles Legislative Caucus and Hispanic Caucus met with Khator in Austin.

Admissions. He said he Miles said that for the last two years, Black HUB conwas pleased to hear about tracting has been “a shameful and paltry” $4.7 million, which some of the new processonly represents 5.78 percent of total dollars spent with HUB es and procedures being vendors overall. implemented to increase He also said that construction projects for UH’s School the number of underrepof Optometry and the new stadium had “zero” contracts with resented students and the Black HUB vendors. hiring of a new HUB coordinator.

“When such large construction projects repeatedly have He said however, “significantly more” could be done in little or no African-American HUB contacts, a strong inferthe areas of student admission and HUB vendors. ence exists for the willful effort to disenfranchise African“I believe President Khator understands that we have Americans at UH,” Miles wrote. some real concerns and she has acknowledged them and is “Clearly, it is without a doubt that African-American working toward fixing them and correcting them,” Miles said.

HUB numbers are not a priority.”

“Since our first meeting five months ago she has put Questions about UH’s HUB record were raised in a people in place in the recruitment area to recruit African2013 Defender article titled “UH neglects Black commuAmerican students, in the admissions office to get them nity.” The article looked at UH’s Black student enrollment, admitted and working to get them out the door and graduate. faculty and business participation. It revealed that in 2013, “Those things have been put in place already and suponly 7.12 percent of HUB money was spent with Black posedly are making a difference already. That is yet to be HUBs. seen.”

In Texas, a HUB is a company at least 51 percent Miles said he is especially concerned about UH because owned by a Black American, Asian Pacific American, Hisit is in his “backyard,” but the quest for parity doesn’t end in panic American, Native American, American woman and/ Houston. or service disabled veteran who resides in Texas and actively “I’m getting ready to start looking at all state universities participates in the control, operations and management of the as it relates to minority contracting, admissions and graduaentity’s affairs. tion,” he said.

Last year, Miles met with several key UH administraMiles recommended five steps UH should consider to tors in the areas of the HUB program and the Office of further increase HUB numbers.

1 Encourage joint venture partnerships between prime contractors and HUB contractors such as Harris County.

2. Institute a compliance program similar to the City of Houston to ensure that HUB vendors that are part of the proposal and part of the team that works on the project and receives payment from the prime as promised. The compliance program would strengthen the integrity of the procurement process.

3. Ensure that a “realistic budget” is in place for the HUB vendor procurement process and that it is allocated in areas of deficiency first and foremost. Thus, there will be a strong likelihood that underserved HUB vendors will receive an equal opportunity of the available market share that exists to conduct business with the university.

4. Require UH to increase its HUB goal in every procurement category whenever UH’s average percentage of total dollars spent with HUBs between fiscal years 2010 to 2014 is less than 30 percent, but excluding a person identified as a service disabled veteran since insufficient historical data exists.

5. Require UH to expand its strategic planning in hopes of resolving its lacking HUB performance.

UH details HUB Program, efforts According to the University of Houston, its HUB Program was established to identify and encourage HUBs to participate in the competitive bid process with the objective of increasing the number of contracts and subcontracts awarded to HUB vendors.

In a Q&A with the Defender, Maya Thornton, director of the HUB Program, discussed Black contracting dollars and steps UH is taking to increase Black participation.

Defender: For the last two years, the amount of African-American HUB contracting at UH has declined, totaling $4.7 million, and representing 5.78 percent of total dollars spent with HUB vendors overall. To what do you attribute the decline?

Thornton: University of Houston spending with HUBs increased from $67,639,122 in FY13 to $81,907,202 in FY14, which is a 21 percent increase in overall HUB spending. HUB spending as a percentage of overall

spending (HUB and non-HUB) increased from 21.76 percent in FY13 to 28.43 percent in FY14. The amount paid to African-American HUB vendors increased from $4,284,131 in FY13 to $4,734,836 in FY14.

However, the percentage of payments to African-American HUB vendors compared to all categories of HUB vendors decreased from 6.33 percent to 5.78 percent in the same period. The University of Houston does not give preference to certain categories of HUB vendors based on gender, disability or ethnicity. Rather, our goal is to provide as much opportunity as possible for all HUB vendors to participate in the procurement process so HUBs can be awarded more contracts.

Defender: According to its website, UH “encourages solicitations from HUB vendors in an effort to award more contracts to those businesses.” How is UH reaching out to those vendors?

Maya Thornton

Continued on Page 8

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SS! S PA NG VI SA

With multicultural consumer spending in the United States today at $3.4 trillion, this “super consumer” group has tremendous impact on U.S. mainstream culture, according to a new Nielsen report.

The report, “The Multicultural Edge: Rising Super Consumers,” identifies multicultural consumers as the most dynamic and fasting growing segment of the U.S. consumer economy.

“The [report] builds on Nielsen’s previous series of reports on the attitudes and spending behaviors of African-American, Asian American and Hispanic consumers,” said Monica Gil, senior vice president and general manager of Multicultural Growth and Strategy, Nielsen.

“The unprecedented influence of multicultural consumers on the behavior of nonmulticultural shoppers is upending outdated assumptions and enlarging and expanding the market opportunity, which may be the key to the future.”

Super consumers refer to the top 10 percent of households who drive at least 30 percent of sales, 40 percent of growth and 50 percent of profits of any consumer product category.

Multicultural consumers are younger, in their prime and already make up 38 percent of the U.S. population. Expected to become the numerical majority by 2044, 21 of the top 25 most-populated counties in the United States are already more than 50 percent multicultural.

Knowing the cultural appeal of a brand is critical to marketers, as multicultural populations can vary widely even within metro areas.

Multicultural consumers comprise a disproportionate share of many categories, such as dairy, baby food and diapers, laundry supplies and detergents, school supplies, and other family goods.

Findings show that Asian Americans are more likely to eat organic foods (29 percent). Cultural identity is very important to African-Americans (78 percent) and Hispanics (71percent).

To download a copy of the full report, visit www.nielsen.com.

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DEFENDER | MARCH 26 | 2015

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national

Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, said Black America is in crisis “on many fronts.”

State of Black America:

Crisis continues

By FREDDIE ALLEN NNPA Correspondent

W

hen it comes to the equality in America, a new report by the National Urban League says that Blacks are missing nearly 30 percent of the pie.

The annual State of Black America report compared how well Blacks were doing in economics, health, education, social justice and civic engagement.

In the introduction to the report, Marc Morial, president and CEO of the Urban League, wrote that “on many fronts, Black America remains in crisis – and we see justice challenged at every turn.”

Morial added: “The world watched as non-indictments of the police officers responsible for the deaths of unarmed Black males including Eric Garner, Michael Brown and John Craw-

ford signaled that police accountability for taking Black lives was reaching a modern-day low – and that the widespread and dangerous mistrust between law enforcement and too many communities of color in America was reaching a new high.”

Morial also expressed concerns about separate and unequal resources in schools, double-digit unemployment in the Black community and continued attacks on voting rights.

The Urban League derives its numbers from an “equality index” that is based on nationally collected data from federal agencies. Full equality with whites in areas ranging from economics to education is set at 100 percent. The Black equality index increased from 71.5 percent in 2014 to 72.2 percent in 2015.

Higher scores in social justice (56.9 percent in the 2014 report vs. 60.6 percent in the 2015 report) and health (78.2 percent vs. 79.8 percent) fueled the rise in the index. The economic indicator also rose slightly from 55.4 percent to 55.8

percent.

“The education (from 76.7 percent to 76.1 percent) and civic engagement (from 104.7 percent to 104 percent) indexes both declined slightly,” stated the report.

The report said that fewer Blacks are falling victim to violent crimes and a lower number of Black high school students are carrying weapons, which had a positive effect on the social justice index. The report also credited the Affordable Care Act and a decline in binge drinking for helping to improve the health index.

“While we celebrate the tremendous progress and transformation of our nation, we have a continuing need to be vigilant, to persevere and to protect past gains,” Morial said.

“We must not allow the forces of division, intolerance and right-wing extremism to turn back the hands of time.”

Report’s key findings 1. With the equality index of Black America at 72.2 percent, Blacks experience less than three-fourths the quality of life experienced by white Americans.

2. Black median household income is about 60 percent of that of whites, $34,815 vs. $57,684, respectively.

3. African-Americans are more than twice as likely as whites to be living in poverty, with 27.6 percent of Blacks living in poverty vs. 11.1 percent of whites.

4. The Black unemployment rate is more than double the white unemployment rate, with Blacks at 11.3 percent and whites at 5.3 percent.

5. Blacks have a median wealth of $6,314 vs. whites who have $110,500, meaning the median African-American household has just 6 cents in wealth for every dollar of white household wealth.

6. Latino median household income is 72 percent of that of whites, $41,508 vs. $57,684, respectively.

7. Latinos are more than twice as likely as whites to be living in poverty, with 24.8 percent of Latinos living in poverty vs. 11.1 percent of whites.

8. Of the 70 cities ranked, almost half (33) had a Black unemployment rate above 15 percent, with seven above 20 percent.

9. At 65 percent, the smallest Black-white unemployment gap was in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro where the Black unemployment rate was 13 percent and the white rate was 8.5 percent.

10. The smallest Hispanic-white unemployment gap was in Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, where Latinos have a 5.8 percent unemployment rate vs. 8.6 for whites.

VOLUME 84 • NUMBER 17 MARCH 26, 2015

Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Advertising/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Online Editor ReShonda Billingsley Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila

Print Editor Marilyn Marshall

Multimedia Coordinator LaGloria Wheatfall Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

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MARCH 26 | 2015 | DEFENDER

entertainment

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King, Ross host ‘Black Girls Rock’

Actresses Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King return to the stage as co-hosts of the special, “Black Girls Rock!” It airs on BET Sunday, April 5 at 6 p.m.

The show honors the triumphs of inspirational African-American women who are trailblazers in the areas of art, philanthropy, sports and community service.

“I am proud to once again be part of such a wonderful night celebrating the beauty, the talents and accomplishments of black women – it will be a show to remember,” Ross said.

“It’s wonderful to be back cohosting “Black Girls Rock!” with my dear friend Tracee and working alongside all my friends at BET…,” King said.

“I am looking forward to a heartwarming, electrifying, star-studded evening, with lots of surprises sprinkled throughout the show. It’s always a rewarding experience for me and the fans.”

The show’s previous honorees include Queen Latifah, Venus Williams, Patti LaBelle and Marian Wright Edelman.

Founded by celebrity DJ and philanthropist Beverly Bond, Black Girls Rock! is a multifaceted movement dedicated to shifting the culture of media images and empowering women and girls.

The nonprofit organization strives to enrich girls through leadership, education and positive identity development programs.

what’sup Gospel artist MARVIN SAPP will perform during a free pre-Easter praise service on Wednesday, April 1, at 7 p.m. at Brentwood Baptist Church, 13033 Landmark.

Sapp has recorded seven albums and is best known for his 2007 hit, “Never Would Have Made It.” Sapp is pastor and founder of Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids, Mich. For information visit www.brentwoodbaptist.org or call 713-852-1400… …..JENNIFER HUDSON is joined by JENNIFER NETTLES on the duet “You Will,” a new original song that will serve as the anthem for OPRAH WINFREY’S network. Hudson said she’s proud of the project. “I was

g RegineeadKonin C’s B AbouystAliy A ah Shad

• Portra me” “American Cri r roles Awards for he e ag • Won Im movie land” and the in TV’s “South “Ray” in “Ray,” ards for roles • Won BET Aw s Conis “M Story” and lla re de in C “A geniality 2” imated ices for two an • Provides vo ks” “The Boondoc characters on “Enemy Smith’s wife in • Played Will ng Jr.’s di and Cuba Goo of the State” Maguire” wife in “Jerry leton the John Sing • Appeared in tic oe “P ” d, the Hoo films “Boyz n ” ng ni ar Le igher Justice” and “H “227” on a nd re B ayed • As a teen, pl 1990 from 1985 to from a Alexander Jr. n Ia n so • Has age previous marri

About Tracee E

llis Ross

• Portrays Rain bow Johnson on ABC’s “Black-is • Won NAACP h” Image Awards for her TV roles Between the Li on “Black-ish,” nes” and “Girlfr “Reed iends” • Served as a fo rmer host of “T he Dish” on Lifetim • Broke into co medy as a regu e lar performer on Lounge Show” “The Lyricist • Worked as a fashion editor fo r Mirabella and • Received B.A New York mag . in Theatre Art azines s from Brown Un • Single, no child iv ersity ren • Daughter of D iana Ross and Ro bert Ellis Silber stein

honored to come together with Jennifer Nettles and create something special for OWN, which stands for so many wonderful things,” she said……..Hudson can also be heard on the “Empire” soundtrack, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, topping MADONNA’S latest album The soundtrack sold 130,000 units in its first week, and also features MARY J. BLIGE, JUICY J, ESTELLE and RITA ORA. In addition, “Empire’s” two-hour season finale averaged a record 16.7 million viewers, and the Fox hit ranks as the toprated network series among viewers ages 18 to 49……..

KELLY ROWLAND is on the cover of Essence

Magazine with her husband TIM WEATHERSPOON and their 4-month-old son, TITAN. Rowland said she loves motherhood. “I actually wish I would have had him sooner. It’s just so much joy. I feel so blessed. I try to wake up a little bit earlier than him because I like watching his face in the morning, because he wakes up smiling,” she said……..At age 77, MORGAN FREEMAN isn’t slowing down. He stars in the medieval thriller “Last Knights,” which opens at select theaters on April 3. In May, Freeman can be seen in the film “5 Flights Up,” and portrays the husband of DIANE KEATON.

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DEFENDER | MARCH 26 | 2015

BLA

FBI Director James Comey spoke about law enforcement issues in Houston.

Bureau director discusses issues

By LAGLORIA WHEATFALL Defender

D

uring a recent trip to Houston, FBI Director James B. Comey addressed tension between the Black community and law enforcement, the importance of hiring minorities and other concerns.

“Law enforcement in general should be talking to the people that we serve and protect,” Comey said. “It’s important that we try to understand, deep in our gut, what it feels like to be a young AfricanAmerican man walking home and encountering us.”

Comey leads an organization that employs 35,000 people, including special agents and support professionals such as intelligence analysts, language specialists, scientists, and information technology specialists.

The FBI’s mission is to protect and defend the U.S. against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats, to uphold and enforce criminal laws, and to provide leadership and criminal justice services to federal, state, municipal, and international agencies and partners.

Comey has admitted that most FBI agents are white males.

According to the bureau’s website, 83.2 percent of special agents are white, 6.8 percent are Hispanic, 4.5 percent are Black and 4.3 percent are Asian. Nineteen percent of special agents are women.

Comey said that diversification in hiring minorities can help the FBI and other law enforcement become more effective.

“We are less effective if we do not better resemble the community or the country that we serve,” he said. “We don’t have the advantage points, perspectives or life experiences that connect and we will lose if we drift to an entire white male workforce.”

He said the FBI is making efforts to attract more minorities at all levels.

“I am keen to get the message out to people that the Bureau is a cool place to work and we would like to attract people of all backgrounds because we think it’s the right thing to do and we also think it’s more effective,” he said.

The wearing of body cameras by officers has gained a lot of attention recently due to the tension between the Black community and law enforcement nationwide.

“The bureau hasn’t taken a position on body cameras,” Comey said. “I think it hasn’t been denied that body cameras are worth talking about and experimenting with, but it’s [an idea] we have to approach carefully and thoughtfully.”

Comey, an attorney, has served as director of the FBI since 2013. His experience includes serving as deputy attorney general at the Department of Justice and as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Turner leads Hou

among universities, and the law enforcem community to adequately address the cyb which continues to evolve.

Perrye K. Turner has served as special agent Defender: What inspired you to see in charge of the FBI’s Houston Division for the last with the FBI? eight months. He said the most rewarding aspect of Turner: After graduating from colleg his job is the knowledge that what the Bureau does worked in the private sector as a senior co every day “impacts the safety of our communities property claims adjuster, but I always had and the future for the next generations.”

I wanted something more. I had a strong d In a Q&A with the Defender, Turner talked seek a profession where I could serve my about his priorities, his challenges and more. challenged and make a positive impact in Defender: What are your top three priorimunity. My older sister encouraged me to ties as special agent in a job charge?

FBI a Turner: First, been Learn surprising facts about it’s important that we I had Perrye Turner enhance our community in a c outreach throughout the entire territory, especially Why should African-Americans consider in the minority and ethnic communities. The betwith the FBI? ter we know our communities, the better we can Turner: In order for the FBI to contin protect them. resent the communities we serve, we need Second, I’d like to enhance and improve our Americans to apply for the various jobs w criminal investigative programs, particularly in FBI. There are a host of career choices fro the areas of public corruption and violent crimes. sional staff to intelligence analysts and spe We’ve seen an increase in armed commercial robof the FBI. Working for the FBI provides a beries and other violent crimes that are impacting satisfying and exciting career. the quality of life in our communities and need a Not only do we have offices and assi closer look, and possibly a surge of resources. in our 56 field offices and FBI Headquarte Third, it’s important to continue to build and have positions at our Training Academy, L enhance our partnerships in the private sector, tory, and Engineering Research Facility at

By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender

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About Perrye Turner

Hometown: Shreveport, La. Background: Special agent in charge Louisville Division; assignments in Birmingham, New Orleans, Jackson and Memphis Divisions; supervisory special agent, Criminal Investigation and deputy assistant director, IT Engineering Division, FBI Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Education: MBA, Belhaven University; Bachelor of Science, Mathematics and Statistics, Louisiana Tech University Family: Married, father of two Criminal Justice Information Services Division in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and assignments in 84 overseas offices.

I personally assisted our Human Resources Division is implementing a minority recruitment initiative aimed at increasing the number of minority applicants in the FBI. Over the past four years the FBI has partnered with African-American fraternities and sororities such as Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha

he Houston area for over 80 years

Psi, Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta.

Defender: What is a typical day at the office like for you?

Turner: No day in law enforcement or the FBI is ever typical! That being said, I do try to maintain certain routines. I try to arrive in the office as early as possible after my daily workout. I read about four newspapers, and check my office e-mails to keep apprised of current events. I meet with my management team to determine if there are any issues I need to address.

I try to make contact with my colleagues at FBIHQ, other FBI field offices, and within my local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, just to check in on the pulse of what’s going on in the world and our communities. On occasion, I attend luncheons or various community outreach events.

Defender: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

Turner: The most challenging aspect of my job is for our office to be proactive and not reactive.

Solving crimes after they happen is one thing, but to prevent crimes and resolve threats before they occur is our ultimate goal.

Threats and crime trends are always changing and in order for FBI Houston to be an effective law enforcement entity we have to engage the community, build trust, educate and raise awareness about those emerging threats and crime problems. The FBI has finite resources and we must rely on our partners in the community to help us do our jobs.

Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner has been with the FBI since 1991.

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DEFENDER | MARCH 26 | 2015

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Chambers host Black Business Day in Austin

T

he Texas Association of African Businesses (HUBs).

“Without question, our efforts have resulted in American Chambers of Com“It is simply unacceptable that increased awareness for state agencies and busimerce, a statewide network of ness owners.”

Black-owned businesses were the nearly two dozen groups, will demFor registration information visit only group among HUB businesses onstrate the value of Black-owned www.taaacc.org. to experience a decline in the businesses to the Texas economy by value of contracts since the 2012 sponsoring a Black Business Day in budget. Black Business Day at the Austin.

Capitol gives Black business ownIt will be held Tuesday, March ers the opportunity to demonstrate 31 at 10 a.m. in Room E1.004 at the their value to the Texas economy.”

Texas State Capitol Auditorium.

TAAACC works closely with NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS “We have watched with alarm legislators and agency officials Sealed bids, in duplicate, addressed to Fourth Ward Redevelopment as state spending with Black-owned to develop strategies that result Authority will be received at 410 Pierce Street, Suite 355 Houston, TX 77002, until 2:00 pm, Tuesday, April 14th, 2015. Bids will be publicChristopher Herring businesses continues to erode,” said in increased spending. Over the ly opened at 2:00 p.m. and read at 2:15 PM on Thursday, April TAAACC Chairman Christopher Herpast two years, the organization 16th, 2015, for furnishing all labor, materials, equipment, and incidentals, as required, for the construction of Fourth Ward ring. “We also know that unless legishas hosted professional services Affordable Housing Project - “3-Shotgun Houses”, in Houston, lators are made aware of the situation, roundtables in venues across the Texas. CONTRACT DOCUMENTS may be examined at the following locations: (1) Associated General Contractors, 2400 Augusta, Suite the 84th Legislature will come and state, bringing agency procure305, Houston, TX; (2) Virtual Builders Exchange, 7035 W. Tidwell, go without this critical concern being ment staff, HUB coordinators Building J, Suite 110, Houston, TX, (3) AMTEK, 4001 Sherwood Lane, Houston, TX and (4) Houston Minority Business Development Center, addressed.” and business owners together to 2900 Woodridge, Suite 124, Houston, TX 77087. The right is reDuring the most recent Texas learn about upcoming opportuniserved, as the interest of the Owner may require, to reject any and all bids, and to waive any informality in bids received. Plans, specificabudget, Black-owned businesses were ties, certification and the bidding tions and bidding documents may be obtained at the offices of ESPA/ awarded contracts totaling 1.22 perprocess.

KCI, 801 Travis St., Suite 2000, Houston, Texas 77002 (713-6800080) for a nonrefundable fee of $60.00 per set. Make checks payacent of nearly $16 billion, a signifi“We have crisscrossed the ble to Fourth Ward Redevelopment Authority. A pre-bid conference cant drop in spending from the low state in an effort to increase will be held at 410 Pierce Street, Suite 355 Houston, TX 77002 in the 1.63 percent recorded in 2012. spending,” said TAAACC past 3rd Floor Large Conference Room on Tuesday March 31, 2015 at 10:00 am. It is requested, but not mandatory, that each bidder be “On Tuesday, March 31, we are chairman Jim Wyatt. “From the represented at the pre-bid conference. inviting all Black business owners Permian Basin in west Texas, to from across the state to witness the Tyler in east Texas, Fort Worth, Jim Wyatt signing of the 2015 Memorandum Killeen, Houston, Dallas…we Notice of Public Meeting of Cooperation,” Herring said. “The MOC comhave delivered the message that increased utilizaThe Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will hold public mits the signing agencies to concentrated efforts to tion of Black-owned businesses is essential to the meetings regarding the proposed North Houston Highway Improveimprove spending with Historically Underutilized health of communities across the state. ment Project. The meetings will be held at three locations: Thursday,

classified

UH details.. Continued from page 2 Thornton: Since coming to the University of Houston in July 2014, I have implemented the following procedures and organized the following events to encourage solicitations from HUB vendors: 1. The University of Houston Purchasing Department notifies Houston-area trade organizations (including minority and women organizations) whenever there is an opportunity to bid on a UH contract. These organizations are encouraged to notify their members.

2. UH Purchasing also uses the Comptroller’s HUB Director to identify HUB vendors that can provide the goods or services needed and notifies them directly by email of the solicitation so they can compete.

3. The UH HUB website (www.uh.edu/hub) has a link to current UH bidding opportunities on the Comptroller’s Electronic State Business Daily website.

4. UH also hosts two annual events in which HUB vendors are encouraged to participate. There is no charge for HUB vendors to

attend either event. At the HUB Vendor Fair, which was held Oct. 8, 2014, over 50 HUB vendors provided flyers and samples of their products to UH faculty and staff…

On April 15, 2015, the UH System will host the HUB Forum on the UH campus…

More information about the Forum is available on the HUB website.

5. In addition, I have attended several HUB Vendor Fairs and Forums at other state agencies and universities to inform HUB vendors about doing business with the

University of Houston.

Defender: Overall, what steps are being taken to increase African-American HUB numbers?

Thornton: While we do not give preference to any type of HUB vendor, we recognize the need to reach out to HUB vendors that are in our local community and have not been awarded UH contracts.

Three of the organizations that Purchasing notifies about UH contracting opportunities are African-American organizations – the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Com-

merce, the Tri-County Black Chamber of Commerce and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

In addition, three of the five HUB Vendor Showcase events scheduled so far have been with locally owned African-American HUB vendors. The HUB Vendor Showcase is a monthly event in which one vendor makes a detailed presentation about their company, products and services to UH employees who make procurement decisions.

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April 23, 2015, at Aldine Ninth Grade School, 10650 North Freeway, Houston, Texas 77037; Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at Houston Community College Central Campus, Learning Hub/Science Building, 1300 Holman Street; Houston, Texas 77004; and Thursday, April 30, 2015, at Jefferson Davis High School, 1101 Quitman Street, Houston, Texas 77009. The meetings will be held in an open house format from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The purpose of the public meetings is to present the Proposed Recommended Alternative for the proposed project to the public and receive comments. The proposed project would add four managed lanes to I‑45 from Beltway 8 (BW 8) North to I-10, plus realignment of sections of I-45, I‑10, and US 59 in the downtown Houston area. The proposed project also consists of improving connections to SH 288 and US 59 south of downtown. The purpose of the proposed project is to enhance safety, create additional roadway capacity to manage congestion, and to improve mobility and operational efficiency by better accommodating increasing traffic volumes. The proposed improvements would require additional right-of-way.

Maps will be available to show the proposed project’s recommended alignment at the meeting and at the TxDOT Houston District Office located at 7600 Washington Avenue, Houston, TX 77007. The information presented will be available on the project website www.IH45NorthandMore.com (Quick Link: 4th Public Meeting Documents). All interested citizens are invited to attend this public meeting. Written comments from the public regarding this proposed project are requested and may be presented for a period of 14 calendar days following the meeting. Written comments may be submitted either in person or by mail to the TxDOT District Office, Director of Project Development, P.O. 1386, Houston, Texas 77251-1386, or emailed to HOU-piowebmail@txdot.gov. Written comments must be received by May 14, 2015, to be included in the public meeting summary report, but comments are welcome at any time and will be reviewed by the project team.

The public meeting will be conducted in English; however, some Spanish meeting materials and Spanish-speaking project team members will be available. Persons interested in attending the meeting who have special communication or accommodation needs, or need an interpreter, are encouraged to contact the Public Information Office at TxDOT (713) 802-5072. Requests should be made at least two days prior to the public meeting. Every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate these needs. If you have general questions or concerns regarding the proposed project, you may contact Pat Henry at (713) 802-5241.

The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 16, 2014, and executed by the Federal Highway Administration and TxDOT.

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MARCH 26 | 2015 | DEFENDER

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Proudly Caring for the City of Houston New initiative aims to prevent diabetes With more than 86 million Americans living with prediabetes and nearly 90 percent of them unaware of it, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have joined forces to prevent diabetes and are urging others to join in the effort.

The initiative is called Prevent Diabetes STAT: Screen, Test, Act, Today, and expands on the work each organization has already begun to reach more Americans with prediabetes and stop the progression to type 2 diabetes, one of the nation’s most debilitating chronic diseases.

African-Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes as whites. In addition, they are more likely to suffer complications such as end-stage renal disease and lower extremity amputations.

“It’s time that the nation comes together to take immediate action to help prevent diabetes before it starts,” said AMA President Dr. Robert M. Wah. “Type 2 diabetes is one of our nation’s leading causes of suffering and death, with one out of three people at risk of developing the disease in their lifetime.

“To address and reverse this alarming national trend, America needs frontline physicians and other health care professionals as well as key stakeholders such as employers, insurers and community organizations to mobilize and create stronger linkages between the care delivery system, our

communities, and the patients we serve.”

People with prediabetes have higher-than-normal blood glucose levels but not high enough yet to be considered type 2 diabetes.

Research shows that 15 percent to 30 percent of overweight people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years unless they lose weight through healthy eating and increased physical activity.

In 2012, the CDC launched a national prevention program which showed that high-risk individuals who participated in lifestyle change programs saw a significant reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes. Today, there are more than 500 of these programs across the country, including online options.

The AMA launched an initiative in 2013 aimed at preventing both type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It includes a partnership with the YMCA to increase the number of physicians who screen patients for prediabetes and refer them to prevention programs offered by various local YMCAs. The AMA and CDC have developed a tool kit to serve as a guide for physicians and other health care providers on the best methods to screen and refer highrisk patients to diabetes prevention programs in their communities.

There is also an online screening tool for patients at www. preventdiabetesstat.org to help them determine their risk for type 2 diabetes.

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3/13/15 1:25 PM

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DEFENDER | MARCH 26 | 2015

sports

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Rockets celebrate 20th anniversary of titles

T

By MAX EDISON Defender

ip your hat to Rockets owner Les Alexander and the franchise brain trust for acknowledging and honoring the 20th anniversary of the team’s backto-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995.

Players, coaches and staff were honored with an invitation-only-luncheon at the Toyota Center, a special halftime ceremony and numerous video action clips and tributes shown throughout a recent game.

The returning players were treated to courtside seats to watch the current Rockets defeat the Denver Nuggets compliments of a 50-point eruption by MVP candidate James Harden.

Among the notables in attendance were former head coach and player Rudy Tomjanovich, Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, Otis Thorpe, Mario Elie, Vernon Maxwell, Robert Horry, Matt Bullard and Charles Members of Houston’s back-to-back championship teams gather to celebrate.

Jones.

Sam Cassell, a Clipper assistant coach, sent a recorded acknowledged his apmessage, as did Kenny Smith, who was working March preciation.

Madness for TNT. “Just bringing this For the fans in attendance at the Toyota Center it was great city the first profesa nostalgic trip down memory lane and an opportunity to sional championship ever, revel in the glow of Clutch City. Even though the venue had that’s big,” Elie said. “I changed, adoring hoops fans made their heroes feel right at want to thank Mr. Alexanhome. der and the Rockets orgaThe event was a surreal moment for Tomjanovich. The nization for recognizing us man who coined the phrase “Never underestimate the heart for that because it is a hard of a champion” was most excited about what his team’s acfeat and we did it back-tocomplishments meant to Houston. back and we’re one of the “First of all me being a Houstonian, playing ball here, few teams to do it.

I loved the Astros, I loved the Oilers,” Tomjanovich said.

I still make my home “They got close and didn’t get it and everybody was saying here and it’s good that Houston hasn’t had a major champion. people still remember. It’s “To be a part of that team was extra special. Then havgood when you win,” Elie ing Dream [Olajuwon], who went to school here was great, said. like a fairy tale. The next year with Clyde joining it, it’s like The reunion also come on, you couldn’t make this stuff up. It was beautiful.” signaled the return of the Winning for the city of Houston was the recurring team’s prodigal son, guard theme among the players assembled. Power forward Otis Vernon Maxwell. He was Thorpe, a fixture on the first championship team, vividly The Rockets won their first title in 1994, defeating the Knicks in game seven. disgruntled that the trade recalled the feelings. that brought Drexler to the “It was special,” Thorpe said. “They had just come team cost him his starting said. “It was my first, it was the off that disastrous [playoff job, and quit the team during the opening round of the ’95 city’s first, it was the Rockets March Madness comes to loss] with the Oilers. The championship run against Utah. first and you never forget your NRG Stadium Rockets had been to the “The way I left, I hadn’t been back here since,” Maxfirst. [After] years and years of finals and lost to Boston. It well said. “I had closed the door on this chapter of my life. I frustration, years and years of was a lot of ‘almost there’ had said I would never ever go back to Houston, Texas again. being one game away and then and finally we got that breakthrough winning that first cham- I opened it back up again and I showed up, I’m cool with it. finally getting over that hump and making it happen, that’s pionship. It was a great thing for the city.”

“I’m honored, I’m blessed, just to be around these something to cherish.”

Known for the famous kiss of death in the Phoenix guys, to see them again,” Maxwell said. “I can’t say Small forward Robert Horry echoed Thorpe’s feelings. series in route to championship No. 2, swingman Mario Elie enough about it.”

“The city had never had any championships,” Horry

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h.s.zone Lamar girls’ track team loaded the board.

Sophomore Julia Heymach is one of the top distance runners in the Lone Star State. Prior to merald Green epitomizes the spirit of the recent TSU Relays, Heymach had recorded the Texans. These particular Texans the state’s best times in three different events reside at Houston’s Lamar High School (3,200, 1,600 and 800). “She has a beautiful and comprise the girls’ varsity track stride and just knows how to run,” Collett said. and field squad. Head coach Robert Collett said Chanell O’Conner is a senior sprinter who Green will do whatever the team needs from qualified for state in the 200-meter dash last year. jumping events to hurdles and sprints.

“She really hasn’t started running yet but she “I love track and field and I’ll do what the looked good [at TSU],” Collett said. “Chanell is coach tells me to,” Green said. “I’ve always been going to be a factor in both the 100- and 200-melike that.” ter dashes.”

Loaded with a full deck for the 2015 high Milan Young is a sophomore school track and field season that includes who went to state as a freshman three competitors in every event, Collett is in the 100-meter hurdles. Young rewarding his senior troubleshooter by alis also strong in the 200-meter lowing her to concentrate on the event she dash and runs a leg on Lamar’s likes the best.

4x100 relay. “Going to state “Last year I competed in the triple jump as a freshman was unbelievable and got second in district and fifth at the and she’s something to watch on regional meet,” Green said. “My goal is to the relays,” Collett said. win the long jump at the district (20-6A) Chase Martin is running meet in three weeks. around 43 seconds in the 300-me“I felt comfortable going down the ter hurdles. She also has posted a runway [at the TSU Relays]. time of 14.45 seconds in the I’m targeting the Rice meet 100-meter hurdles and [Victor Lopez Invitational) in runs a leg on the 4x100 two weeks to get my routine relay. Martin has together and get ready for disexperience in the long trict a week later,” Green said. jump and high jump as A rating service recently well. ranked the Lamar girls as the Collett said Haley top Class 6A girls’ track and Pollard is a phenomfield program in Texas. Collett enal freshman in the says that distinction means the discus and shot put. program is moving in the right “She’s still learning how direction. to use her arms and hips in “It doesn’t necessarily mean her throws,” he said. that we’re going to win a state Other key team members championship,” said Collett, now include Brandy Thomas (400 in his ninth year at Lamar. “It meters), Destiny Hamilton does mean that the program is (400 meters, mile relay), well-rounded and that we value Christine Njodu (triple jump), each event as much as the Mikia Edomobi (relays), next.”

Hannah Gant (high jump, 800 Many schools load up on meters, relays), Jada Mitchell Emerald Green competes in the long jump the relays in order to win state (relays) and Jordan Reeves at Lamar High School. team championships in (3,200, 1,600). high school track and Green will be waitfield. Collett is poised ing in the wings if her to get points from across coach needs her.

Dawson track star ranked

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By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender

defendernetwork.com No. 1 nationally

MARCH 26 | 2015 DEFENDER

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sportsbriefs Top track meets on tap Some of the Houston area’s top high school track and field competitors will make their way to Austin on March 27-28 for the annual Texas Relays at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas. The next big local meet will be the following weekend (April 3-4) at Rice University for the Victor Lopez Invitational. The all-important district meets will commence April 14-17 at sites throughout Houston and the surrounding area. A Class 6A area meet will be held April 23 at Barnett Sports Complex in southeast Houston. The Region III-6A meet is set for May 1-2 at Alief ISD’s Crump Stadium.

All-tournament state basketball teams named The greater Houston area had three schools compete for state high school basketball championships this month in the San Antonio Alamodome. The Cypress Woods girls defeated Dallas Skyline 57-49 to claim the Class 6A state title. Senior Erica Ogwumike was named the championship game Most Valuable Player. Ogwumike and 6-foot-9 junior teammate Nancy Mulkey were named to the all-tournament team as selected by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC). In the boys division, Houston Sterling and Clear Lake advanced to the state title game in their respective classes. Sterling fell to Bridgeport in the Class 4A title game while Clear Lake lost a heartbreaker at the buzzer to top-ranked Plano West in the Class 6A final. Sterling forward Joshua Young was named to the all-tournament team. Clear Lake guard Christian West and post Chris Stenerson were selected to the 6A all-tournament squad.

PVAMU bowlers win again

The Prairie View A&M University Lady Panthers clinched their third SWAC bowling championship in school history as they held off arch-rival Texas Southern University for a 4-3 decision at the Bowing ITRC in Arlington.

The Lady Panthers remained red hot to open the championship round as they bowled a pair of 200-plus games to jump out to an early 2-0 advantage. However, the Lady Panthers cooled off in games three and four as TSU fought back. TSU eventually forced a seventh and final game. PVAMU closed the match out with a strong 10th frame and finished with a 222 and the school’s third title. Allen, Texas sophomore Alexis Borman claimed the SWAC Most Valuable Bowler honor as she bowled 14 frames, tossing six strikes and seven spares. Borman only allowed one open frame.

SWAC in Celebration Bowl Representatives from SWAC and the MidEastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will meet in the newly created post-season Celebration Bowl to be held on Dec. 19. The game will pit champions from the two Black college conferences. The game will be played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and will be broadcast on an ESPN network. “This is a great opportunity for our schools and student-athletes to compete on a national stage and showcase the talent that exists within HBCUs,” SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said. “To have it during bowl season, the most exciting time in college football, is a bonus.”

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DEFENDER | MARCH 26 | 2015

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

topevents

VICKY PINK’S BIRTHDAY……..Photographer and videographer Vicky Pink Mirron Willis, Detria Ward, Kendrick “KayB” Brown, Yunina Barbour-Payne brought in her 50th birthday with a bang at the Ensemble Theatre. Guests celebrated and Cynthia Brown Garcia. In attendance were Donna Smith, Carl McGowen, Vicky’s long tenure in photography both nationally and locally. “I enjoy capturing James V. Thomas, Barry Barnes, Gail Grant, Brenda Peters, Rev. Farris Gooden, special and historic moments,” she said. “I get to do what I love.” Those in attendance Dr. Mildred Bright, John Chase, Marshall Graham Sr. and Robert Ross…….. included Yvette Chargois, Tyrone Willis, Lisa Chargois, Paula Miller, Clarence FOUNDATION’S RED CARPET AFFAIR……..The Elliot-Chandler Foundation Miller, Janice Weaver, Jackie Adams, Barry Barnes, Marie Heileman, and Richard recently hosted its seventh annual gala, “A Red Carpet Affair,” at the Hilton Post Heileman. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and State Oak Hotel. The foundation upheld its mission of inspiring young Rep. Sylvester Turner presented Vicky with proclamations men to become leaders of the world as they honored students from Defender TOP EVENTS in her honor. Her passion and years of service in Houston will the Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy with academic More photos on defendernetwork.com continue to be celebrated for years to come. Congrats!........ scholarships. The gala’s keynote speaker was Dr. Rod Paige and See Events on KTRK Ch.13’s ‘Crossroads’ with Melanie Lawson Sunday Morning @ 5:30 and 11:30 a.m.

ENSEMBLE PRODUCTION……..The Ensemble kicked off mistress of ceremonies was Gina Gaston. Special remarks were spring with a reception to present a romantic comedy by author made by Congressman Al Green, honorary co-chair Michael Harris Pearl Cleage titled, “What I Learned in Paris.” It is set in the and Stephen Reed and a proclamation was presented to foundation 1970s, and director Eileen J. Morris wants to portray the author’s vision of taking the chairs Ronald and Regina Jackson. Others in attendance included Dr. Phyllis Tyler, Dameion J. Crook, Derek Ford, Billy Moye, Freddie Greene, Marie Bosarge, Rudy audience back in time during the women’s liberation movement as well as the historic election of Maynard Jackson as Atlanta’s first Black mayor. Cast members include Comeaux, Jillian “JJ on the Mic” Simmons and Monica Lewis.

Vicky Pink, Marie Heileman and Richard Heileman

Barry Barnes and James V. Thomas

Yvette Chargois, Tyrone Willis and Lisa Chargois

Chelsea Taylor, Alphonso Delaney and Marion Bryant

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Ronald and Regina Jackson and Congressman Al Green

Jillian “JJ On The Mic” Simmons and Monica Lewis

Paula Miller, Clarence Miller and Janice Weaver

Mirron Willis, Detria Ward, Kendrick “KayB” Brown, Yunina BarbourPayne and Cynthia Brown Garcia

Michael Harris, Stephen Reed, Lucy Bremond and Dameion J. Crook

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