Houston Defender: May 01, 2014

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Volume 83 | Number 26

MAY 1, 2014 |FREE

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OPINION DONALD STERLING fouls out with comments

P4 BUSINESS ALEJANDRA CASTILLO takes charge of MBDA

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SPORTS JOSH HUFF waits for NFL draft

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CHAG’S PLACE

Dr. Elwyn Lee and Rev. Leslie Smith II at Change Happens! breakfast

P15

Steve Harvey searches for ‘dreamers’ H Page 10

Marlon Wayans makes a sequel

Older adults provide wisdom

Multi-talented actor Marlon Wayans is more than a star of the sequel “A Haunted House 2.” He also co-wrote and co-produced it. Why did he make a second installment? What does he have to say about something old and something new? What is his guiltiest pleasure?

May is Older Americans Month, and Milton Randle (pictured) and other members of SHAPE Community Center’s Elders Institute of Wisdom exemplify active, involved seniors. Find out more about the institute. See why elders should be respected and appreciated.

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DEFENDER | MAY 1 | 2014

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newstalk

localbriefs

Houston-area schools receive grades

C

Defender News Services

hildren at Risk, with support from Education Resource Group, recently released its annual rankings of public schools from eight counties in greater Houston.

The rankings revealed good news and bad news. While the top performing schools received A-pluses or A’s, schools at the bottom of the list received F’s and some were on the list last year.

HISD has three of the top 10 elementary schools, two of the top 10 middle schools, and five of the top 10 high schools.

“We should all be proud today,” said Superintendent Terry Grier. “These rankings are a reminder of the great things that are happening in our classrooms every day.

“There is still more work to be done, but it is clear that the hard work of everyone – teachers, principals, parents, students, volunteers – is paying off in major ways, and others are taking notice.”

Fort Bend ISD has one high school in the top 10, one middle school and two elementary schools. Alief has one high school in the top 10.

However, elementary schools receiving F’s in 2013 and 2014 include Kashmere Gardens, Hilliard and Northwest Preparatory. Middle schools near the bottom of the list both years include Victory Prep, Attucks and Forest Brook. Several historically Black high schools also made the bottom list again.

UH selects new law school dean

High schools at a glance Here are the area high schools at the top and bottom of the list and their districts.

Top 10 1. DeBakey for Health, HISD 2. Performing & Visual Arts, HISD 3. Kerr, Alief 4. Carnegie Vanguard, HISD 5. Clear Horizons, Clear Creek 6. Eastwood Academy, HISD 7. Challenge Early College, HISD 8. Westchester Academy, Spring Branch 9. Harmony Science Academy, Harmony Science 10. Clements, Ft. Bend Bottom 10 148. Yates, HISD 149. Hitchcock, Hitchcock 150. North Forest, North Forest (now in HISD) 151. La Marque, La Marque 152. Madison, HISD 153. Jones, HISD 154. Wheatley, HISD 155. Sterling, HISD 156. Kashmere, HISD 157. Worthing, HISD

Professor Leonard M. Baynes of St. John’s University School of Law in Queens, N. Y., has been selected as the new dean of the University of Houston Law Center. The recommendation will be submitted to the UH System Board of Regents for consideration on May 7.

In addition to his teaching duties at St. John’s, Baynes is the inaugural director of the Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights and Economic Development.

Baynes was among six finalists chosen by a search committee to replace interim dean Richard M. Alder-

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY continues to aggressively recruit students at a time when its bond rating has been downgraded a notch by Moody’s Investors Service. According to Moody’s, “the rating downgrade reflects the university’s precipitous enrollment decline in fall 2013 coupled with multiple years of deficit operations and weakening liquidity.” In addition, “the university is especially vulnerable to changes in federal aid policies, as evidenced by the loss of 1,164 students from fall 2011 to fall 2013 after Pell Grants were limited to use for six years…”

TSU President Dr. John M. Rudley has taken a personal interest in recruiting and is spearheading a presidential bus tour.

TSU is also experiencing an upswing in new applications ……..THE TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS of 2012 had the highest graduation rate in the country among African-American students and tied for the highest graduation rates for white and economically disadvantaged students. According to the U.S. Department of Education, only Iowa posted a higher graduation rate than Texas for the Class of 2012. Texas, with a graduation rate of 88 percent, tied for second place with Nebraska, Vermont and Wisconsin…….. OLD SPANISH TRAIL/GRIGGS landscape improvements have been completed as part of the City of Houston’s Urban Corridor Planning initiative. The announcement was made by the OST/Almeda Corridors Redevelopment Authority TIRZ No. 7 and the Greater Southeast Management District.

A ceremony was held in the medians on SH 288 between Holcombe and OST……..

THE DALLAS AREA received a boost when Toyota announced it was moving its U.S. headquarters and about 3,000 jobs from the Los Angeles suburbs to the outskirts of Dallas. The company will invest $300 million in its new corporate campus that will be housed in Plano. The announcement came two months after Occidental Petroleum Corp. disclosed it was moving its headquarters from Los Angeles to Houston.

man. If approved by regents, Baynes will assume his new position on Aug. 15.

Baynes earned his J.D. degree from Columbia Law School. He earned an MBA from Columbia and a B.S. in Finance and Economics from New York University.

Prior to joining the St. John’s faculty in 2002, he taught at Western New England University School of Law in Springfield, Mass. He served part-time as a scholar-in-residence for the Federal Communications Commission from 1997-2001.

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Leonard Baynes

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MAY 1 | 2014 | DEFENDER

national

nationalbriefs A WHITE HOUSE task force to protect college students from sexual assault announced a series of actions to help identify the scope of the problem, help schools respond effectively and improve the government’s law enforcement efforts. It’s estimated that one in five women is sexually assaulted while in college. Most assaults occur during students’ freshman or sophomore years, usually by someone the victim knows.

The majority of assaults are never reported… …..PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA will have a new Chicago public high school named after him. The preparatory school will be built on the city’s Near North Side and will open in the fall of 2017. It will start with a freshman class of 300 students and will ultimately serve 1,200 students. It will be the first school named after Obama in his home state of Illinois……..

MORE THAN 2 MILLION African-Americans receiving Social Security benefits are disabled, or are the spouses or children of disabled, retired, or deceased workers. New legislation is addressing the rising cost of disability without jeopardizing existing social service benefits. If enacted, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act will allow disabled Americans and their caregivers to set up secure, tax-free savings accounts for their disability-related expenses.

Currently, Social Security Disability Insurance recipients cannot have more than $2,000 in assets, or they will lose their benefits. The bill has received bipartisan support from members of Congress in all 50 states. It still faces one hurdle – a financial assessment from the Congressional Budget Office to determine how the bill will affect the federal budget……..A NEW GUNCONTROL ADVOCACY group has been established. Everytown for Gun Safety is working with lawmakers and citizens to “pass commonsense laws and policies that save lives.” Supporters include National Urban League President Marc Morial and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

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Black med students aid underserved

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NNPA News Service

ccording to the American Association of Medical Colleges, there are only 2.3 physicians for every 1,000 people in the United States. That number is even lower in some states with large African-American populations, such as Texas, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.

Enter the Student National Medical Association. The SNMA is the oldest and largest student-run organization of medical students of color. It not only nurtures thousands of mostly African-American student Future medical professionals begin helping underserved communities long before members as they matriculate through they earn their medical degrees (Photo by Michael L. Jones) medical training, but it also instills a have low rates of health literacy, and a low number duty to serve, particularly in communiof primary health care physicians.” ties where health care access is inadequate.

The CHAT program isn’t the only way SNMA “The people in this organization are the next wave of medical leadership, and will practice largely student members address community disparities.

Project H.O.P.E. (Health Optimization through in underserved communities of color,” said SNMA Patient Education) is a major initiative from the national marketing manager DeJuana Thompson. student members of the University of South Alabama In 2011 when Thompson began working with College of Medicine chapter. The program brings the SNMA, a new initiative to deepen the group’s together high school students and members of their impact was brewing in Mississippi. A team led by community living with HIV/AIDS for monthly conMichael L. Jones at the University of Mississippi versations.

Medical Center launched the Community Health Incoming SNMA national president and Wright Advocacy Training Program, which partners with churches and other hubs to train laypeople to become State University medical student Topaz Sampson takes the commitment to serve underserved populaneighborhood health advocates. tions seriously. She plans to broaden the SNMA’s “Mississippi leads the nation in most chronic focus to include the needs of LGBT, immigrant and diseases, such as high blood pressure, obesity, diarefugee communities. betes, and heart disease,” said Jones. “But we also

Tobacco plan excludes most Black media VOLUME 83 • NUMBER 26 MAY 1, 2014 Print Editor Publisher Marilyn Marshall Sonceria Messiah-Jiles People Editor Advertising/Client Relations Yvette Chargois Selma Dodson Tyler Sports Editors Multimedia Manager Max Edison Tiffany Williams Darrell K. Ardison Online Editor Local Editor ReShonda Billingsley LaGloria Wheatfall Art Director Contributing Writer Tony Fernandez-Davila Cierra Duncan The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

NNPA News Service

A revised plan for major tobacco companies to purchase court-ordered ads to admit that they deliberately misled the public about the dangers of smoking would add nine white-owned newspapers to the list of publications carrying apology ads, but shut out more than 90 percent of Black newspapers and all Blackowned radio and TV stations.

“If they had asked, we could have helped them develop a better plan than this,” said National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Chairman Cloves Campbell. “They didn’t consult us and the end result is that we’re back to where this process started last year. What they have put on the table is totally

unacceptable.”

After being sued by the Justice Department and the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund, the tobacco manufacturers were ordered to halt their offending practices and place ads for a year acknowledging their wrongdoing.

The tobacco companies submitted a revised plan after NNPA and the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters filed an amicus brief challenging the original plan to run court-ordered ads only in white and Latino publications and on the three major TV networks.

Under its latest plan, the tobacco firms also propose advertising in only 14 of approximately 200 Black newspapers, none of which are in Texas.

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DEFENDER | MAY 1 | 2014

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opinion

Racist NBA owner has fouled out

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By GEORGE E. CURRY NNPA Columnist

Taylor Jones, Politicalcartoons.com

BA Commissioner Alan Silver, who replaced David Stern just two months ago, did what we’ve all been waiting for – he showed Los Angeles Clippers bigoted owner Donald Sterling the nearest exit and told him not to look back.

Silver banned Sterling from the NBA for life and fined him $2.5 million, the maximum allowed under the NBA constitution and bylaws. Of course, that’s only shoe shine money for someone worth $1.9 billion. Still, it sends a powerful message not only to Sterling, but to others that at least one sector of America is willing to confront brazen racism.

Now, the NBA Board of Governors needs to complete what Silver started by forcing Sterling to give up ownership of the Clippers Unless you’ve been under a rock or just landed from mars, you should know by now that Sterling, who has a long and acrimonious history with people of color, exposed his true feelings about African-Americans in a conversation with his mistress, Vanessa Stiviano, who is almost 50 years his junior.

The conversation was apparently taped surreptitiously in Sterling’s home by Stiviano, who describes herself as part Mexican and part Black. A 9-mintute segment of the conversation was posted to celebrity website TMZ. A 15-minute excerpt was later posted by Deadspin.

There was this exchange in one segment: V: I don’t understand, I don’t see your views. I wasn’t raised the way you were raised.

DS: Well then, if you don’t feel—don’t come to my games. Don’t bring Black people, and don’t come.

V: Do you know that you have a whole team that’s Black, that plays for you?

DS: …do I know? I support them and give them food, and clothes, and cars, and houses. Who gives it to them?

Does someone else give it to them? Do I know that I have— Who makes the game? Do I make the game, or do they make the game? [Are] there 30 owners, that created the league?

At one point, Sterling said: “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with Black people. Do you have to?…”

“You can sleep with [Black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to

promote it on that … and not to bring them to my games…”

“I’m just saying, in your lousy f******* Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with Black people.”

“Don’t put him [Magic Johnson] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games.”

Finally, there was the following exchange: DS: You think I’m a racist…

V: I don’t think you’re a racist.

DS: Yes you do. Yes you do…It’s the world! You go to Israel, the Blacks are just treated like dogs.

V: So do you have to treat them like that too?

DS: The white Jews, there’s white Jews and Black Jews, do you understand?

V: And are the Black Jews less than the white Jews?

DS: A hundred percent, fifty, a hundred percent.

V: And is that right?

DS: It isn’t a question – we don’t evaluate what’s right and wrong, we live in a society. We live in a culture. We have to live within that culture…

Sterling, 81, has a long history of antagonizing Blacks.

In 2009, he paid $2.7 million to settle a suit accusing him of discriminating against Blacks, Latinos and families with children at an apartment building he owned in Los Angeles.

In addition, NBA Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor, who spent 22 years with the Clippers, filed a suit against Sterling in 2009 for wrongful termination. According to the Los Angeles Times, “In his deposition, Baylor spoke about what he called Sterling’s ’plantation mentality,’ alleging the owner in the late 1990s rejected a coaching candidate, Jim Brewer, because of race.

Baylor quoted Sterling as saying: ‘Personally, I would like to have a white Southern coach coaching poor Black players.’ Baylor said he was shocked. ‘And he [Sterling] looked at me and said, ‘Do you think that’s a racist statement?’ I said, ‘Absolutely. That’s plantation mentality.’ ” Donald Sterling is the Paula Deen of professional basketball. Accordingly, the NBA stuck a fork in him and told him he’s done.

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MAY 1 | 2014 | DEFENDER

Blacks needed in clinical research

By LaGLORIA WHEATFALL Defender

A collaboration between Windsor Village United Methodist Church, MD Anderson and the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation will bring the community together to increase awareness and minority access to treatment and prevention research programs.

The groups will host the “AWARE for All” event on Friday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to noon at Windsor Village, 6011 W. Orem. It is open to the public, and free food, health screenings and access to research experts and information will be available.

Since 2008, Windsor Village and MD Anderson have partnered on a research study to create a higher understanding of research and community health to reduce the impact of cancer among African-Americans by increasing research participation.

“Minority participation in research is essential to discover differences in prevention, drug response and treatment in underrepresented racial and ethnic groups,” said Betty Stewart, congregational care coordinator at Windsor Village.

“These diversity issues in participation create delays in figuring out if new drugs, medical devices and treatments are equally beneficial for all.”

Lynne Nguyen, director of the MD Anderson center’s Community & Populations Core, explained what can be done to get more minorities to participate in clinical research studies.

“On the patient side, we need to increase minorities’ understanding and awareness of clinical trials, and the important role that clinical research plays in reducing health disparities for minority groups. On the physician side, we need to increase the numbers of minority physicians in research,” Nguyen said.

“From an institutional perspective, we need to ensure that consent forms are written in plain language, and in languages other than English, to accommodate the diverse language abilities of our patients. We need to bring these trials out to the community setting,” Nguyen said.

To register for AWARE for All, call 713-794-1730 or email aware@ ciscrp.org.

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Minorities can learn about participation in clinical research.

“AWARE for All” will be held May 9 from 9 a.m. to noon at Windsor Village, 6011 W. Orem.

Buy any Walgreens Brand Health + Wellness Product and instantly support health tests and immunizations for people in need.* To learn more visit Walgreens.com/WayToWell. *One cent from the purchase of every Walgreens Health and Wellness item, up to $3 million annually, will be dedicated to the Walgreens Way to Well Fund®.

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DEFENDER | MAY 1 | 2014

Jazz festival returns to Galveston Defender News Services

Grammy Award-winners Al Jarreau and Kirk Whalum and Grammy nominee Boney James headline an ensemble of musical guests performing at the fourth annual Red Cat Jazz Festival.

It will be held May 2-4 at Moody Gardens Oleander Bowl in Galveston and is sponsored by the Red Cat Jazz Preservation Society. Gates open at noon.

The line-up also includes host Marion Meadows, Miki HowAl Jarreau ard, Tom Brown, Mike Phillips, Jazz in Pink featuring Nik West, Karen Briggs & Gail Jhonson, Michael Ward, Joey Sommerville and Bryan Best.

In addition, the festival will celebrate Kirk Whalum native Houstonian Ronnie Laws’ 50 years in music.

The weekend experience includes a pre-festival poolside reception where guests can mix and mingle with the artists up Boney James close and personal, a golf tournament at the Moody Gardens Golf Course, vendor exhibits, a host of culinary offerings and more.

A Rising Star Talent Competition will bring promising high school musicians to the stage as part of its mission to educate students about the importance of jazz in Houston. The talent competition will be hosted by radio personality Dana Jackson.

The Red Cat Jazz Preservation Society produces events for private, corporate and non-profit organizations, with the goal of promoting and preserving the unique art form of jazz musicians and jazz-oriented music.

The society’s goal is attained through concert events and free educational activities for non-profit organizations including music lectures, music programs and student activities.

Seating options for the jazz festival start at $40. For information visit redcatjazz.com

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MAY 1 | 2014 | DEFENDER

entertainment

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Marlon Wayans

makes ‘Haunted House’ sequel

By KAM WILLIAMS Special to the Defender

B

orn in New York City in 1972, Marlon Wayans graduated from the High School of Performing Arts before attending Howard University’s film school.

He started out in Hollywood as a cast member of the variety series “In Living Color,” created by his older brother, Keenen. Next, Marlon and his brother Shawn starred in the hit sitcom “The Wayans Bros.”

Some of his big screen credits include “The Ladykillers,” “Scary Movie,” Little Man,” and “White Chicks.” More recently, he starred opposite Channing Tatum in “G.I. Joe: Marlon Wayans and Gabriel Iglesias can be seen in the sequel “A Haunted House 2.”

The Rise of Cobra.” Last summer he appeared in “The Heat,” a blockbuster just by making some adjustments and by adding a featuring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. few pieces to the puzzle. One of those pieces was Here, he talks about his latest film, “A Haunted Gabriel Iglesias, and another one was Jaime Pressly.

House 2,” a sequel spoofing the “Paranormal ActivKW: How do you rev up a sequel so the faithity” franchise. ful return for more while simultaneously enticing KW: Why did you decide to make a “Haunted newbies?

House” sequel?

MW: I think you have to make sure you have MW: Because the audience really, really ena little bit of the old, while adding something new. joyed the first one. And I also felt like I could find a We kept Cedric the Entertainer, Affion Crockett nice, natural progression for my character, Malcolm. and Essence Atkins, and like I said, we added Gabe Plus, comedically, I knew I could match or exceed Iglesias and Jaime, and also Ashley Rickards…I what we did in the original, and make a bigger, don’t believe you try to sell it out. Instead, you just broader movie that could appeal to a wider audience keep your tone and your sense of humor, because

that’s what they bought into the first time. It’s all about being authentic to whatever that movie is, and not reaching too hard.

KW: Is there a remake of a classic film you’d like to star in?

MW: I’d love to redo “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.”

KW: What’s the most difficult thing about your work? What’s the most fun?

MW: It’s always fun. I love my job, man. There’s no greater job for me in the world. I was born to do this.

I think the most difficult aspect of the job is not having much time off, or time to sleep, or time to just chill.

Sometimes, fame can be a little hard.

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

MW: Coconut sorbet and wine.

KW: If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be?

MW: Jesus Christ.

KW: If you had to choose another profession, what would that be?

MW: Probably a lawyer.

KW: What is your favorite charity?

MW: The Wayans family.

KW: What key qualities do you believe all successful people share?

MW: Hard work, a belief in themselves, and they never stop trying. A good work ethic is the greatest talent.

what’sup BET unveiled its upcoming programming schedule. The lineup includes two new movies. REGINA KING directs “Let the Church Say Amen,” based on the best-seller by Defender online editor ReSHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY. Its stars include NATURI NAUGHTON, STEVE HARRIS and LELA ROCHON FUQUA. QUEEN LATIFAH is a producer and T.D. JAKES is an executive producer. BET will feature its first mini-series, “The Book of Negroes.” The sixpart historical drama details a West African woman’s capture, enslavement in America and emancipation in England. It stars Academy Award-winners CUBA GOODING JR. and LOUIS GOSSETT, JR., along with AUNJANUE ELLIS……..The OWN series “Oprah’s Master Class” returns Sunday, May 11 at 9 p.m. OPRAH WINFREY’S first guest is JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE. Other guests will include

WHOOPI GOLDBERG, ROBIN ROBERTS, LIONEL RICHIE and VANESSA WILLIAMS……..BEYONCÉ is going on the road again. She and husband JAY Z will embark on a summer tour that will take them to 16 cities. The “On the Run” tour begins June 25 in Miami and ends Aug. 5 in San Francisco. Dallas is the only Texas city on the list. They will perform there on July 22. Their tour announcement included a photo of them wearing ski masks. Beyoncé also made the cover of Time Magazine for its annual issue on the 100 Most Influential People in the World. PHARRELL WILLIAMS made the list as well……..COLUMBUS SHORT confirmed that he is leaving “Scandal,” the series created by SHONDA RHIMES. Short portrayed Harrison Wright, an employee of the character played by KERRY WASHINGTON. “Everything must come to an end and unfortunately the time

has come for Harrison Wright to exit the canvas,” he said.

“I wish nothing but the best for Shonda, Kerry and the rest of the cast, who have become like a second family to me in such a short amount of time.” Short has been plagued by personal problems. He allegedly had a violent altercation with a man at a bar in March and was arrested and charged with battery. Earlier this month, Short’s wife Tuere accused him of coming home drunk and threatening to kill her……..

THE ENSEMBLE THEATRE presents the comedy “The Old Settler,” which runs May 8-June 1. The play celebrates African-American women and addresses the question of age, strength and forgiveness during the Harlem Renaissance.

Cast members include ROC LIVING, DETRIA WARD, SAMANTHA WEST and BEBE WILSON. For ticket information visit EnsembleHouston.com or call 713-520-0055.

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DEFENDER | MAY 1 | 2014

centerfold

Elders provide

wisdom, experience

By CIERRA DUNCAN Defender

Spirits are high each week when members of the Elders Institute of Wisdom gather for their weekly meetings at SHAPE Community Center.

Each gathering begins with a word of prayer. The elders then participate in a moderate exercise routine, listen to a guest speaker or performer, and discuss current events and how they can improve issues in the community.

Members of the institute come from various backgrounds and occupations, including activist, teacher, minister and poet.

“The institute is extremely important in terms of getting the wisdom of the elders, what they’ve been through and what they can help you with,” said Sister Valerie Mawiyah, a member of the National Black United Front and former development worker in Haiti. “They can do mediation and give you a perspective of many years.”

A key part of belonging to the Elders Institute of Wisdom is being able to provide guidance to the young.

“We speak openly,” said Milton Randle, an ordained minister and leader in the elder’s institute. It is not uncommon to see Randle or another elder being a mentor to a SHAPE youth.

Randle said the Institute of Wisdom is derived from an African concept where elders are the leaders in a community.

Elders make the final decision when an issue is brought before them and that decision is honored and carried out by younger members in the community.

“An elder is someone who’s old and

wise,” said Deloyd Parker, executive director at SHAPE. “You don’t have to have a Ph.D. Your wisdom, knowledge and understanding make the difference.”

“As a collective, SHAPE is healing,” said Mother Jean Dember, founding member of the National Black United Front.

She said people have come into SHAPE disoriented and lacking focus due to the disrespect they’ve encountered in their everyday lives. However, once spending time at the center, interacting with the elders and being respected, they gain a new outlook on life. “That’s what gives them dignity,” she said. “They are respected here.”

Dember became involved with SHAPE shortly after she moved to Houston. She was encouraged by a doctor at Riverside Hospital to become active in the community.

“We do not need a list of the problems,” she recalled the doctor stating. “We need a list of solutions. What are you going to do about the problems you see in the community?”

Dember has been a long-time activist in Houston. Most recently she has fought in support of keeping the Southmore Station Postal Office open. She has also been vocal about HISD’s decision to repurpose Jones High School and close Dodson Elementary.

She said some political and community leaders have lost their reverence for elders.

“They are supposed to come to the elders and find out what we have learned in life and what we can transmit to them,” Dember said. “Then they can put them into the laws, customs and services that we need.”

The Elders Institute of Wisdom has made a vital impact on SHAPE Community

Members of the Elders Institute of Wisdom and supporters gather at SHAPE Community Cen

SHAPE executive director Deloyd Parker and Elder Milton Randle emphasize the contributio adults make to the community.

Center. It has not only reenergized and enhanced the lives of its members but the institute has also been a source of knowledge for younger generations.

“The community would not be if it weren’t for SHAPE,” said Lillie Starks, a retired City of Houston employee.

Starks came to SHAPE after retirement to continue working with people.

She said she enjoys the center and the elders because of the community and interacting with people close to her age.

“If their life is enhanced tended then that means we b because they are here for us, “It’s like a circle of interdep when they grow we grow. Th teach us, we can learn from can continue to learn.”

“They are active,” he co “They are not elders sitting d down and waiting to die. Th who are making a difference still making a difference.”

defendernetwork.com • Serving th

nter.

ons that older

d and exbenefit more ,” Parker said. pendence, hen they can them and they

ontinued. down, lying hey are elders e. They are

defendernetwork.com

9

Older Americans Month observed Defender News Services

About the Elders Institute of Wisdom Communities have always had an informal group of elders that provide knowledge to younger generations and Deloyd Parker, executive director at SHAPE Community Center, spearheaded the creation of a formal group in Third Ward.

The Elders Institute of Wisdom, established in 1986, is a network of elders whose wisdom is drawn upon to educate, guide, direct, and lead the community.

They meet every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 pm to discuss neighborhood news, health, mentoring and other resources valuable to elders.

There are currently 80 to 90 active participants ranging in age from 50 to 90 and beyond.

“Our motivation and inspiration to start the elders institute was the desire for us to utilize the wisdom and the knowledge of those who came before us,” Parker said.

Becoming an elder is not solely based on age and those who join must meet certain criteria. Potential elders must be at least 50 years old, known in the community and discern the needs of the people among them. They must have African centered values and show evidence of self-determination in their lives.

“What makes you an elder is that you’re never too old to learn and you know that,” Parker said.

Elders must have respect for all demographics and be ready to serve people.

They must show evidence of being a spiritual, trustworthy and moral person who is also committed to improving the community.

There are two categories of elders in the community. Those 50-57 years old are considered “elders in training” and are considered to still be “evolving, developing and learning.” Those 58 and older are called certified elders. “If you’re old and think that you know everything, you don’t qualify,” Parker said.

Members of the institute have the responsibility of giving guidance on activities in the community and, in some cases, serve as an extended family member to youth and families. They also share stories about the community and the African-centered culture.

“Many times we praise the elders and the older people but we never ask them to do anything,” Parker said. “They need more than praise. They need work. They are happy when we let them know they are valuable, that we need them and there’s some work they can do to help us.”

he Houston area for over 80 years

May is Older Americans Month, a time to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons to the United States.

When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthdays. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty and there were few programs to meet their needs.

Interest in older Americans and their concerns was growing, however. In 1963, May was designated as Senior Citizens Month. In 1980, it became known as Older Americans Month.

Here are some statistics on older Americans from the Census Bureau.

• Blacks comprise 9 percent of the U.S. older population.

Whites make up 80 percent, compared to 7 percent for Hispanics and 3 percent for Asians.

• By 2050 the older population will be 58 percent white, 20 percent Hispanic, 12 percent Black and 9 percent Asian.

• The average life expectancy is 74.3 years for Blacks and 78.4 years for whites.

• In the U.S., 13.7 percent of the population (43.1 million people) is 65 and older.

• In Texas, 10.9 percent of the population is 65 and older.

• An estimated 9 percent of people 65 and older live in poverty.

• Men 65 and older comprise 21.3 percent of the workforce and women 65 and older comprise 13.4 percent of the workforce.

• According to the 2010 Census, 53,364 Americans were age 100 or older.

10 DEFENDER | MAY 1 | 2014

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Students can apply for Disney academy inside look at what their future can hold.”

Harvey knows all about making Applications are available dreams come true. He began doing for 100 high school students to be stand-up comedy in the mid-1980s, selected for the 2015 Disney Dreamwhich eventually led to a long stint as ers Academy with Steve Harvey and host of “It’s Showtime at the Apollo.”

Essence Magazine. The academy is His success as a stand-up comedian led an outside-of-the-classroom, educato his TV sitcom “The Steve Harvey tional mentoring program held at the Show.”

Walt Disney World Resort.

His first book, “Act Like A Lady, “Disney Dreamers Academy Think Like A Man,” quickly became a gives us the honor each year to motibestseller. Currently, Harvey hosts a navate, educate and uplift 100 exceptionally syndicated morning radio show tional students ready to unlock their and daytime talk show. potential,” said Tracey D. Powell, a Academy applicants must anDisney vice president. swer three essay questions about their Participants and a parent or personal stories, the people who are guardian will receive an all-expensemost influential in their lives and their paid trip to Walt Disney World where dreams for the future. Students are they will engage in special sessions selected based on a combination of and enjoy the resort’s theme parks. attributes, including a strong character, Dreamers have the opportunity positive attitude and determination to to cultivate relationships with other Steve Harvey is surrounded by students selected for the Disney Dreamers Academy. (Photo achieve their dreams. students from across the nation while by Gregg Newton) Applications are open to U.S. high they gain first-hand knowledge from school students ages 13 to 19. The deadaccomplished entrepreneurs and event is hosted by Harvey and Essence. line is Oct. 31. Winners will be announced in Decemexecutives.

“Disney Dreamers Academy gives hope and Motivational speakers and celebrities share their inspiration and exposes youth to a world of possibili- ber. The 2015 academy will take place March 5-8.

For more information visit disneydreamersacadstories and provide insight on how to achieve success ties,” Harvey said. “We are excited about another emy.com. and dream big. In addition to Disney, the four-day opportunity to transform lives and give students an Defender News Services

Workforce SolutionS can Help You find a career tHat paYS Did you know you could earn as much as $130,000 per year as an Engineer?

Or more than $100,000 per year as a Pharmacist?

Also, Registered Nurses or Chemical Plant Operators can earn wages almost twice the annual average for our region!

Workforce Solutions maintains extensive online materials concerning the four major industries of the Gulf Coast region — education, specialty construction, energy and health care—all of which are expected to produce the highest job growth and the highest salaries in the coming years.

Anyone who is preparing to enter the workforce for the first time or looking for new career opportunities can find a surplus of materials for planning a career at Workforce Solutions.

In our career offices throughout the Gulf Coast region, as well as on our Web site, detailed information on the hottest careers is easily accessible.

Workforce Solutions is an equal opportunity employer/ program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Relay Texas Numbers: 1-800-735-2989 (TDD) 1-800-735-2988 (voice) or 711

Whether you view the up-to-date information on the High-Skill, High-Growth Jobs in the region, visit the online Career Video Library, or watch the Learn How to Build Your Career Planning Video, your time spent with us — in person or online at wrksolutions.com — will leave you more informed and better prepared to pursue your career goals.

To schedule an appointment with a career counselor, call our toll free number at 1-888-469-JOBS (5627).

For quick access to our career planning resources, visit: wrksolutions.com/jobs/careerplanning.aspx

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MAY 1 | 2014 | DEFENDER

Airport system hosts networking fair Defender News Services

Local entrepreneurs are invited to attend the 8th annual Runway to Business Networking Fair hosted by the Houston Airport System (HAS) Office of Business Opportunity.

The free event offers small, minority and womenowned businesses the opportunity to hear first-hand about upcoming projects and potential contracts with HAS. It will be held Thursday May 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway.

It will bring together prime contractors, local firms and HAS decision-makers to discuss the more than $1 billion in airport construction projects to take place over the next seven to 10 years.

In addition to networking with airport decision-makers, attendees will meet representatives from prime contrac-

business

tors in the concessionaire, construction, maintenance and professional services industries. Last year’s fair hosted nearly 800 attendees and over 50 exhibitors.

HAS is operated and maintained by the City of Houston Department of Aviation. It is comprised of three airports – Bush Intercontinental, Hobby and Ellington – which served more than 50 million passengers in 2012.

“We’re proud of the economic impact [HAS] offers to the greater Houston metropolitan area and want to ensure that we’re promoting opportunities to Houstonians,” said Jason McLemore, deputy assistant director of the system’s Office of Business Opportunity. “[The networking fair will] update the community, encourage mentorships and build understanding of our system for small and minority businesses.”

To attend the event register at http://tinyurl.com/attendrunway

by May 6.

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MBDA director appointed U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced the appointment of Alejandra Y. Castillo as new director of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA).

Castillo, an attorney, is the first Hispanic-American woman to lead the agency. She previously served as MBDA national deputy director.

“I am honored to accept this appointment,” Castillo said. “As the daughter of a Dominican business-owner, I have come to see first-hand the transformative role minority-owned firms play in their communities and the contribution they make to the nation’s economy.”

Castillo’s background includes serving as a Department of Commerce special advisor and executive director of the Hispanic National Bar Association The MBDA is a federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of minority-owned businesses.

The Texas Lottery Commission Invites You to Attend:

“Doing Business Texas Style” Spot Bid Fair

In conjunction with: DFW Minority Supplier Development Council’s ACCESS 2014 T:6.5”

Location: Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas | 500 West Las Colinas Blvd. | Irving, TX

Monday, May 12, 2014 | 1:30 pm - 6:00 pm Tuesday, May 13, 2014 | 9:15 am – 11:30 am & 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Small, minority-owned, and Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) will have a unique opportunity to compete for bid awards and network with state agencies and institutions of higher education. Bids must be submitted to agency staff on-site.

Bid opportunities available for view and download at: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/bidops/current_bid_opportunities/index.phtml For more information contact: Tiffany Dockery Mays: (512) 471-2863 or tiffany.dockery@austin.utexas.edu Dominik Mendoza: (512) 389-4538 or dominik.mendoza@tpwd.state.tx.us

© 2014 Texas Lottery Commission. All Rights Reserved.

The Spot Bid Fair is FREE of charge!

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DEFENDER | MAY 1 | 2014

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sports

Former Nimitz star Huff waits on draft

I

By MAX EDISON Defender

t has been a long year for former Aldine Nimitz standout and Oregon Duck Josh Huff. It actually began last Dec. 30 in San Antonio when Huff’s Ducks defeated the University of Texas in the Valero Alamo Bowl 30-7.

That game saw Huff break a 43-year-old school record for single-season receiving yards (1140 yards) and tying marks for receiving touchdowns in a season (12) and career (24). Now with one week before the NFL draft, Huff is about ready for the process to end and for somebody to call his name.

After the Alamo Bowl Huff turned heads with his overall versatility at the Senior Bowl. Then he put in a solid performance at the Scouting Combine. Next came the Oregon pro day and after that, private team workouts. Huff is literally exhausted.

“The process has been long and exhaustive, but it’s been worthwhile and obviously necessary,” he said. “It’s actually at times been kind of fun. I’ve met a lot of good people during the process from different backgrounds and made some friends along the way.”

Though it has been an enjoyable process Huff has had enough.

“Honestly I’m ready for it to be over with. I’m extremely excited about where I’m going to be playing and who my new team will be. I’m ready to contribute to my new team and help them be successful.”

Huff (5-feet-11, 202 pounds) has seen his draft status trend upward with every workout.

In perhaps the deepest position of the draft, he is seen as a versatile commodity that can easily contribute on special teams. Most experts have him slotted as a second or third-round selection.

At Nimitz, Huff was a versatile performer, playing running back, quarterback and receiver. The decision to take his talent to the great Northwest took some by surprise, but Huff could see big things in his future.

“I had lived in Houston all my life and was really just

ready to leave and see what a new area had to offer,” Huff explained. “Oregon gave me a chance to branch out, see a different lifestyle, to meet new people and explore new things.

“There was a real family environment there that gave me the opportunity to grow not only as a football player, but more importantly as a man. I got my degree and was able to play on a very good football team.”

Huff was a key cog in former Ducks coach Chip Kelly’s prolific offense. Kelly (now head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles) converted Huff exclusively to wide receiver and he was off to the races.

“I didn’t have any problem moving from running back to receiver,” Huff recalled. “One of the keys to coach Kelly’s offense is to have as many explosive playmakers on the field as possible. That makes it hard on a defense to key on any one guy.

“We emphasized that football is truly a team game,” he continued. “I was taught to not be a onedimensional receiver, but a guy who could contribute in the run game with my blocking. I think that, along with my playmaking ability with the ball in my hands, makes me an elite receiver.”

Wherever Huff ends up he knows he’ll be representing Houston

Josh Huff

defendernetwork.com UT coach Charlie Strong talks football and the North side in particular, a neighborhood that’s near and dear to his heart.

“Every time I step on the field I’m always playing for Houston and the people in the neighborhood I grew up in,” he said. “I’m playing for Nimitz and the guys that I grew up with that didn’t make it to college and play football. I want to represent them and make them proud.”

The NFL draft is May 8-10, beginning at 7 p.m. on May 8.

Huff, a standout wide receiver (No. 1) with the Oregon Ducks, is anxious to be selected in the NFL draft.

defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 80 years

MAY 1 | 2014 | DEFENDER

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h.s.zone

sportsbriefs

Strong Houston track contingent to compete runner-up LaShya Cole of West Orange-Stark (36-9.25).

A three-time state winner at Class 2A Tatum in the triple jump, Collier transferred to Worthing during her shmael Zamora (Elsik), Anthony Franklin (Yates), senior year. She will attend Kansas State University on a Justin Lane (Westbury), Kenija Collier (Worthing) track scholarship. and Chanell O’Conner (Lamar) will lead a strong Lane, a senior who hadn’t run track since middle Houston-area contingent into Austin for the annual school, qualified for the state meet in the boys’ 5A state high school track and field meet.

400-meter dash. Jamarco Stephen of Clear Brook (48.41) The two-day event is set for May 9-10 at Mike nipped Lane (48.46) at the tape to win the event and A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of force the latter to qualify for state as the runner-up.

Texas.

“I could have done a better job if I had just run Zamora, Franklin, Lane, Collier and O’Conner through the tape,” Lane said. “But I’m still happy about qualified for the state meet with their performances at qualifying for state. It means I have another race to run.” the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Class 5A Franklin, who transferred to Yates last year, also & Class 3A track and field championships at Humble’s used a silver medal-winning performance in the 3A Turner Stadium. The top boys’ 300-meter hurdles two finishers in each event event to advance to state. advanced to the state meet.

Marcus Howard of Waco Up close & personal with Chanell O’Conner Connally (38.89) edged Zamora and Collier are defending state champions Franklin (39.01) for the in their specialties. Zamora gold medal. won the gold medal in the 5A boys 110-meter hurdles “Last year I was ineligible for track because I had with a personal best time of 13.68 seconds to win easily. just transferred in,” Franklin said. “I’m just thankful Arno Hamilton of North Shore (14.09) and Langham to God for putting me here and keeping me focused to Creek’s Kieth Batista (14.24) placed second and third, make this happen. All my people are Yates graduates respectively. and I’m the last one to come through.”

“I stumbled a little bit out of the blocks and that O’Conner overcame a competitive field in the 5A caused me to hit one hurdle but once I regained my balgirls’ 200-meter dash to earn her berth in the state meet. ance, I was able to create some separation,” said Zamora, O’Conner (24.78) held off Jasmine Lewis of Cypress who will go to Baylor on a football scholarship. “My Creek (24.83) and Jasmine Grace of Fort Bend Hightgoal coming into this season was to get back to state and ower (24.94). set a new personal record.”

“We were all right there together and they pushed Collier will be going for her fourth consecutive state me coming down the stretch,” O’Conner said. “I came title in the triple jump after winning the 3A Region III in ranked No. 1 in the region but I didn’t do that well in crown with a leap of 38 feet, six inches. Collier’s goldthe prelims. I came into the race with the mentality that medal winning effort was nearly two feet further than anyone could win.”

I

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By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender

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Sterling banned, fined After Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was sternly denounced for racist comments by a spectrum of individuals ranging from President Barack Obama to superstar LeBron James, NBA Commissioner Alan Silver fined Sterling $2.5 million and banned him from the NBA for life. Silver said he will ask the NBA Board of Governors to force Sterling to sell the Clippers, an action that would require a three-fourths approval. The fine, the maximum allowed under the NBA’s constitution and bylaws, will be donated to anti-discrimination and tolerance organizations jointly selected by the NBA and the NBA Players Association. “The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful. That they came from an NBA owner only heightens the damage and my personal outrage,” said Silver, who succeeded David Stern as commissioner in February. About 75 percent of NBA players are Black.

Brantley to be honored Elkins High School head football coach Dennis Brantley will be honored by former player Devard Darling at the fourth annual As One Foundation Water Gala. The event is set for May 8 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Sterling McCall Lexus in Houston.

Darling, a Fort Bend Austin High School graduate turned NFL player, will present Brantley with the first ever “Darling to Heart Award” for his positive impact in the community in the areas of education, athletics and spiritual enrichment. “Coach Brantley meant so much to both my brother and me,” Darling said. “He is the heart of whatever community he serves.” The gala is a signature event benefiting the foundation’s programs, including the Devard and Devaughn Darling Scholarship Award and Operation Hydration – a public awareness program that promotes hydration and sickle cell trait education.

The event is open to the public and admission is $50. Reservations can be made online at asonefoundation.org/auction/.

Clements advances to state The Clements High School girls’ golf team advanced to the Texas State Class 5A Golf Championships at Onion Creek Country Club in Austin. The Lady Rangers qualified based on a second place finish at the Region III Golf Championship at Eagle Pointe Golf Club in Mont Belvieu. Team members include Amber Wang, Beryl Wang, Samantha Waldheim, Miriam Dumes and Mindy Nguyen. Competing against 16 other teams and 98 players, Clements had to play two rounds in one day due to the postponement of round one due to severe weather.

Strong comes to Houston Anthony Franklin

Chanell O’Conner

Ishmael Zamora

Justin Lane

University of Texas head football Charlie Strong came to Houston to rally Longhorn alums and fans.

The “Comin’ on Strong Tour” has been crisscrossing the state, introducing the recently hired Strong to the Lone Star State. The visit also served notice to high schools players and coaches in the area that there was a new sheriff in town on the “Forty Acres.”

Coach Strong addressed fans at a Touchdown Club luncheon, followed by a rip-roaring, pep rally event at NRG Stadium (formerly Reliant). Longhorn legends such as Earl Campbell, Vince Young, Casey Hampton and Selvin Young were also on hand.

defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 80 years

14

DEFENDER | MAY 1 | 2014

GM executive has always been career driven

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

Document Scanning and Imaging Project

By GEORGE E. CURRY NNPA Editor-in-Chief

Though no one knew it at the time, the decision by Edward T. Welburn Jr.’s parents to take him to a local auto show in Philadelphia around the time he was learning his multiplication tables would shape the rest of his life.

“I’ve been drawing cars since I was 2 and a half,” he said. “At age 8, my parents took me to the Philadelphia Auto Show and I walked in and there was this concept car and I pointed at it and said, ‘When I grow up, I want to be a car designer for that company.’ ” At 63 years old, Welburn has had plenty of time to grow up.

Not only is he the top designer for General Motors, the company that designed the Cadillac Cyclone, the car that he fell in love with at the ripe age of 8, he is the company’s vice president for global design, responsible for the entire GM brand.

Welburn is the sixth person to head GM’s design team in the company’s 106-year history and the first appointed to supervise all 10 design studios around the world instead of just North America. He is the highest-ranking AfricanAmerican in the automobile industry.

At the time, he was first dreaming of designing cars, no one told young Welburn that there were no African-Americans working as designers for GM or any other car manufacturer at that time.

“My parents knew there were no Blacks designing cars, that it would be a challenge to get into the field and I was on a mission…

So they did everything to help me realize that dream,” Welburn recalled before speaking at the recent Civil Rights Summit in Austin, where GM served as the lead sponsor.

His father, Edward Sr., who owned his own auto mechanic shop, encouraged his son to work on his car designs; his mother, Evelyn, made sure young Ed never strayed academically.

“As a kid, I was a slow reader,” Welburn remembered.

“I didn’t like reading at all. My mother sent me to all kinds of

defendernetwork.com

Specifications may be secured from MHMRA, Harris County, Purchasing Services, 1st floor, located at 7011 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7300 and/or via MHMRA website http://www.mhmraharris.org or the Electronic State Business Dailey Site https://portal.cpa.state.tx.us/ beginning Monday, May 5, 2014 Proposal documentations must be submitted to the Purchasing Department by 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, May 28, 2014, at 7011 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 in a sealed envelope marked "REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL RESPONSE - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL – WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 – DOCUMENT SCANNING AND IMAGING PROJECT – PROJECT 14/0012#.” Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to Joycie Sheba via E-mail joycie.sheba@mhmraharris.org or fax at (713) 9707682. MHMRA reserves the rights to reject any and/or all responses, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests, and is not obligated to accept any response(s) to this solicitation for requested services.

MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY will be accepting proposals for the following:

AGENCY WIDE SECURITY GUARD SERVICES Specifications may be secured from MHMRA, Harris County, Purchasing Services, 1st floor, located at 7011 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7300 and/or via MHMRA website www.mhmraharris.org or the Electronic State Business Dailey Site https://portal.cpa.state.tx.us/ beginning Thursday, May 8, 2014.

A Pre-Proposal Conference is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 7011 Southwest Freeway. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFP is Monday, May 19, 2014.

Proposals must be submitted to Purchasing Department, 7011 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 by 10:00 a.m., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014 in a sealed envelope marked “PROPOSAL DO NOT OPEN UNTIL WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014 - AGENCY WIDE SECURITY GUARD SERVICES”. Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to Sharon Brauner, C.P.M. Buyer III, via fax at (713) 970-7682 or E-mail questions to sharon.brauner@mhmraharris.org cc: nina.cook@mhmraharris.org MHMRA reserves the rights to reject any and/or all proposals it deems to be in its best interests, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.

Edward Welburn, General Motors’ vice president for global design, is shown with the 2014 Corvette Stingray. He is the highest-ranking African-American in the automobile industry. (Photo by Paul Figura for Chevrolet)

special programs every weekend.

Then, she discovered how I loved reading car magazines. I was age 10 when I got subscriptions to Hot Rod, Motor Trends, all of these. I would read these magazines coverto-cover.”

When he was 11 years old, Welburn wrote a letter to GM asking for advice on how to become a car designer. To his surprise, he got a detailed reply, including a recommendation to get a college education.

Welburn did that at Howard University, graduating in 1972 from its College of Fine Arts, where he studied sculpture and product design. While enrolled as a student at Howard, he interned at GM. He started his career at GM in 1972 as an associate designer in the Advanced Design Studios. The

next year, he joined the Buick Exterior Studio, working on the Buick Riviera and Park Avenue. In 1975, he joined the Oldsmobile Exterior. In 1989, he was promoted to chief designer of the Oldsmobile Studio. In 1996, Welburn accepted a two-year assignment with Saturn, working mostly out of its Russelsheim, Germany studio.

After more key assignments, he was named vice president of GM Design North America in 2003 and two years later was selected as vice president for global design.

Welburn has repeatedly demonstrated that he knows how to connect with GM’s customers, having had a hand in the design of such best-sellers as the Cadillac Escalade, Hummer H2, Chevrolet Avalanche and the SSR, a retro hot-rod pickup.

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MAY 1 | 2014 | DEFENDER

For Event Coverage...visit

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Founder and CEO Ronald Jackson and Regina Jackson

Charlene and Jarvis Johnson and Cleo Johnson-McLaughlin

chag’splace

Ronald Jackson, Hawkins Owens IV, Donell Jones, Derrick Watson Jr. and Regina Jackson

Kristyn Page and Vanessa Reed

Honorees Winslow Jeffries, Dr. Polly Turner, Connie Cochran and David Lopez

15

Yvonne and James Carter and Sue and Lionel Feazell

Dr. Elwyn Lee, Rev. Leslie Smith II and Sonceria Messiah Jiles (Change Happens! photos by Vicky Pink)

Honorees Helen George, Harry Johnson and Vernita Harris

ELLIOTT CHANDLER FOUNDATION…..The Elliott directors and gala captains for a fun and profitable evening.

Chandler Foundation recently hosted its annual gala and Continued success!…..CHANGE HAPPENS!.....Change chose the theme “A Smooth Harlem Night” with all the Happens! is an organization that provides a variety of services charm reminiscent of the 1920s in Harlem, including live jazz to encourage and promote positive outcomes for children, music, culinary delights and much youth and families by providing a wide more. The foundation supports the range of services and collaborations. It Join Yvette Chargois development of leaders of tomorrow by has 18 programs and operates in various Events of the Week providing financial support and critical communities throughout 13 counties in More photos on defendernetwork.com assistance to deserving young men with Gulf Coast Region 6. After 25 years the See Events on KTRK Ch.13’s Crossroads a demonstrated record of academic agency continues to advance its mission of with Melanie Lawson Sunday Morning @ 11 a.m. performance and an interest in pursuing empowering families to help themselves. a degree from a higher learning Their seventh annual spring breakfast was institution. The 2014 scholarship recipients are Hawkins recently held at the Junior League of Houston and some of Owens IV, Donell Jones and Derrick Watson Jr. Guests the attendees included Vanessa Reed, Debra McGaughey, included Yvonne and James Carter, Sue and Lionel Feazell, Janette Cosley, Curtis Flowers, Erica Lee, Jene Guess Leslie Buckley, Tanya Jones, Randolph Byrd and Dr. Cash, Yolanda Green and others. We salute founder/ Phyllis Tyler, to name a few. Kudos to Regina and Ronald CEO, Rev. Leslie Smith II, event chair Darryl King, coJackson, founder and CEO, for their vision and dedication in founder and CEO of the Principle Partnering Group, and assisting our young men. A special thanks to their board of all sponsors for a successful event…..TSU SCHOOL OF

Kevin Adams, Dr. John Rudley and Dr. James Ward

COMMUNICATION…..Texas Southern University’s School of Communication hosted its Fifth Annual Dean’s Stellar Communicators Awards and Scholarship Dance.

The school is committed to creating an environment that promotes creativity, dedication and scholarship in the fields of speech communication, journalism, radio, television and film and the entertainment and recording industry. This year’s Dean’s Stellar honorees included Ricky Anderson, Michael Berryhill, Marie Bosarge, Connie Cochran, James Davis, Sallie Creuzot, D. Z. Cofield, Helen George, Vernita Harris, Winslow Jeffries, Harry Johnson, David Lopez, Gregg Maddox, Dwain Nared, George Nwanguma, Joe Ratliff and Polly Sparks Turner. The Dean’s Stellar students included Chante Anderson, Cierra Duncan, Paula Foreman, Nelson Fung and Kenyon Polk. Nearly 800 guests enjoyed the evening and danced to the music of Collector’s Item Band and deejay Keith Bynam. Special thanks to Dr. James Ward, dean of the communications school. Congratulations!.....From Chag’s Place to your place, have a blessed week!

defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 80 years

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T:9.75"

DEFENDER | MAY 1 | 2014

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GENERATE SOME ENERGY.

T:12.75"

THE NEW 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU

Stop/start technology automatically shuts off the engine when the car is stopped and restarts it when the brake is released, helping to save gas and power. Efficient designs help the Malibu offer an EPA-estimated 36 MPG highway.1 Now, all your family stops keep you going. #THENEW GENERATION

1 Malibu with 2.5L engine EPA-estimated 25 MPG city/36 highway