Houston Defender: July 10, 2014

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Volume 83 | Number 35

JULY 10, 2014 |FREE

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NATIONAL ADM. MICHELLE HOWARD makes military history

P3 ENTERTAINMENT “ASTRO” BRADLEY stars in sci-fi film

P4 OPINION MARC MORIAL reflects on civil rights

VACATION at

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P6 CHAG’S PLACE

State Rep. Sylvester Turner and Councilman Larry Green at Texas Black Expo luncheon

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Michelle Obama

Adrian Garcia

First Lady Michelle Obama is committed to helping kids become healthier, and is defending government updated school meal standards. See why she believes America can’t afford to play politics.

Read what she says about junk food and unhealthy messages.

Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia established a “Mentoring Moms” program to extend services to jailed pregnant inmates. Read about the latest graduates. Discover details about the program. Find out how the new moms are getting a second chance.

defends standards

helps moms

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DEFENDER | JULY 10 | 2014

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Texas Democrats elect vice chair

Shooting mars Caribbean Festival The Houston Police Department is seeking information about a suspect who opened fire at a Houston Caribbean Festival party in the early hours of July 5.

Four men were shot during the holiday weekend event and two women injured. One man was shot in the head and is not expected to survive. The other three men received gunshot wounds to the upper body and neck and are expected to survive.

The two women were injured while trying to escape after hearing gunshots.

An estimated 5,000 people were in attendance at the party, held in Southeast Houston.

Witnesses said those in attendance were having fun when they heard the shots, and chaos ensued afterward.

Some 30 off-duty police officers provided security for the festival but were standing on the perimeter of the arena, not inside where the shooting occurred.

The festival is an annual event that is held at different venues. A festival organizer issued a statement on the event website. It read, “On

behalf of the Houston Caribbean Festival our condolences go out to all of the families that were affected by the tragedy that occurred at the Friday night Jouvert event.

“The mission of the Houston Caribbean Festival is to promote and preserve our diverse Caribbean culture to our fellow Houstonians and the world.

“We would like the public to know that the Houston Caribbean Festival’s first priority in planning any event is the safety of our supporters. We would like to thank all our supporters for the kind and encouraging expressions via social media and through all other forms of communication.

“The [festival] will work with the proper authorities to ensure that all measures are reviewed which will allow us to continue to celebrate our cultured diversity through a festive environment.

“The Houston Caribbean Festival once again would like to thank our supporters and acknowledge that without your support we would not exist.”

Fredericka Phillips was elected vice chair of the Texas Democratic Party during the group’s recent convention in Dallas.

Phillips is a member of the Fort Bend County Democratic Party and president of the Southwest Suburban Texas Democratic Women in Sugar Land.

She is a longtime resident of Sugar Land.

“Having Fredericka Phillips elected as vice-chair of the state party gives Fort Bend a giant boost toward turning blue,” said Fredericka Phillips Don Bankston, Fort Bend Democratic Party chairman. “She brings intelligence, class, and a fighting spirit to the job. She believes in the Texas values of hard work and playing by the rules.

“Although we in Fort Bend are especially proud of her accomplishments, this proves that Texans all across the state recognize her leadership skills.”

Phillips, a native Texan, is a lawyer, entrepreneur and mother. She is an honors graduate from Lamar University and South Texas College of Law. She will serve alongside State Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa. Her term begins immediately and runs for four years.

localbriefs HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY Vince Ryan filed suit against 10 companies involved in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The suit seeks to compensate Harris County for the economic losses it continues to suffer as a result of the spill. Ryan claims the defendant companies, including BP, Transocean, Halliburton Energy Services and related companies, engaged in grossly negligent, wanton and reckless conduct. The suit states that the companies had prior knowledge of problems with the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, failed to properly maintain equipment and made irresponsible decisions about its operations. The lawsuit asks for a jury trial

and seeks economic and compensatory damages, punitive damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, litigation costs and other “relief available.” The amount of damages exceeds $23 million plus interest……..

THE NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION (NKF) will host a patient and community education seminar titled “A New Normal” on Sunday, July 20, at noon at the Houston Marriott Galleria.

It is designed for those who have or are at risk for developing kidney disease. The seminar will connect patients and families to medical professionals who will discuss how to deal with the challenges of kidney disease and its associated risk factors. Lunch

will be provided. The cost is $5 in advance or $10 at the door. Contact the National Kidney Foundation at 877-543-6397 or email texasinfo@kidney.org........ A MORTGAGE-FREE HOME will be donated to a military family in the Houston area through Operation Homefront, a national charity supporting families of service members. Applications for the new home are being accepted from eligible military and veteran families. The single- family, 1,882 squarefoot, one-story home features three bedrooms and two baths, and is located just north of FM 1960 and Highway 290. The deadline for submissions is Aug. 3. Visit homesonthehomefront.org/.

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JULY 10 | 2014 | DEFENDER

national

U.S.briefs THE N-WORD is in the spotlight again after a New York City community paper, WestView News, ran an editorial titled “The N***** in the White House. The newspaper has come under fire for the headline, which is intended to be pro-President Obama and slams the racism of far-right voters. George Capsis, the paper’s 86-year-old editor and publisher, said the goal of the article was to shock people into consciousness……..THE BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT RATE hit a six-year low in June, dipping below 11 percent for the first time since August 2008. The Labor Department reported that the Black jobless rate was 10.7 percent in June, compared to the white unemployment rate, which was 5.3 percent.

The unemployment rate for Black men over 20 fell from 11.5 percent in May to 10.9 percent in June, compared to white men who saw their jobless rate decrease from 5 percent to 4.9 percent over the same period. The jobless rate for Black women over 20 continued to improve, dropping one percentage point, from 10 percent in May to 9 percent in June.

The unemployment rate for white women ticked down one-tenth of a percentage point from 4.9 percent in May to 4.8 percent in June…….. $83.4 MILLION in Affordable Care Act funding will go to support primary care residency programs in 60 teaching health centers across the nation. The funding will help train more than 550 residents during the 2014-2015 academic year, increasing the number of residents trained in the previous academic year by more than 200 and helping to increase access to health care in communities across the country. Residents will be trained in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, geriatrics, and general dentistry. Lone Star Community Health Center in Conroe is the only Texas recipient, and will receive $1.35 million.

VOLUME 83 • NUMBER 35 JULY 10, 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).

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Michelle Obama defends healthier school meals

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irst lady Michelle Obama is standing by healthier school meal standards after a House subcommittee approved a bill that would allow schools to waive the standards if they have a net loss on school programs for a six-month period.

Republican Congressman Robert Aderholt of Alabama said he wrote the bill in response to school food directors who said the rules are too restrictive.

“The last thing we can afford to do right now is First Lady Michelle Obama, who supports healthier school meals, eats lunch with a group play politics with our kids’ of students. health,” Mrs. Obama said.

The first lady champiThe School Nutrition Association (SNA), oned the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which represents school nutrition directors, lobbied which was signed by President Barack Obama. for changes to the updated standards and endorsed Under the act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture the House bill. made the first major changes in school meals in 15 “Our request for flexibility under the new years to promote healthier children. standards does not come from industry or politics, “The idea here is simple,” Mrs. Obama said. it comes from thousands of school cafeteria profes“Our classrooms should be healthy places where sionals who have shown how these overly prescripkids aren’t bombarded with ads for junk food. Betive regulations are hindering their effort to get cause when parents are working hard to teach their students to eat healthy school meals,” said SNA’s kids healthy habits at home, their work shouldn’t Leah Schmidt. be undone by unhealthy messages at school.”

The USDA tweaked some of the updated The updated nutrition standards called for standards, such as omitting limits on the amount of school meals with more fruits, vegetables, and proteins and grains students could eat after some whole grains, and snacks that are lower in fat, kids complained that they were hungry. sugar and sodium.

Howard makes history as four-star admiral Michelle Howard recently became the first woman to attain the rank of four-star admiral in the Navy’s 238-year history during a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. In 1999, Howard became the first African-American woman to command a Navy ship.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus presided over the ceremony and administered the oath of office.

“Michelle Howard’s promotion to the rank of admiral is the result of a brilliant naval career, one I fully expect to continue when she assumes her new role as vice chief of naval operations, but also it is an historic first, an

event to be celebrated as she becomes the first female to achieve this position,” Mabus said.

“Her accomplishment is a direct example of a Navy that now, more than ever, reflects the nation it serves – a nation where success is not born of race, gender or religion, but of skill and ability.”

Howard graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982 and from the Army’s Command and General Staff College in 1998 with a master’s degree in military arts and sciences.

Howard was the USO Military Woman of the Year for 2011 and the NAACP Chairman’s Image Award recipient in 2013.

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DEFENDER | JULY 10 | 2014

entertainment Brian ‘Astro’ Bradley from music to movies

By KAM WILLIAMS Special to the Defender

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rian “Astro” Bradley was born on in 1996 in Brooklyn where he started rapping as at an early age. At 14, he successfully auditioned for season one of the reality-TV series “The X-Factor” by performing a song he wrote titled “Stop Looking at My Moms.”

Astro finished seventh overall in the competition and was subsequently signed to a contract by Epic Records.

Here, he talks about making his acting debut as the narrator and co-star of “Earth to Echo,” a sci-fi adventure very similar to “E.T.” The film recently opened in theaters and follows the ad- Brian “Astro” Bradley, Teo Halm and Reese Hartwig star in “Earth to Echo.” ventures of a group of kids and an alien that needs their help.

KW: What would you say is the main message KW: What interested you in making the jump of “Earth to Echo?” from music to movies?

A: I think it represents friendship…Echo just A: I haven’t abandoned music. I’m still doing happens to be an alien, and it took all of us united to the music thing. I was 15 when I read the script for save him. We weren’t the coolest kids in the neigh“Earth to Echo.” I thought it was amazing, and I borhood, but when we came together on his behalf, couldn’t think of turning it down. It’s awesome for we felt like giants who had conquered the world. a kid from Brooklyn to have an opportunity to be on KW: They didn’t focus on the fact that your the big screen. And I had a great experience learncharacter, Tuck, is Black in the movie. So race ing what the movie business is like. So, I’m glad I wasn’t an issue. Did you enjoy that? did it.

A: Yeah, I never even thought about that. And

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I don’t think anybody else on the set ever focused on it either. It’s 2014, man!

KW: How does your mom feel about the song “Stop Looking at My Moms?”

A: I don’t want to seem like a jerk, but that song is so old. It’s from over five years ago now.

KW: So what’s going on with you musically, then?

I know you have a new EP called “Computer Era” coming out.

A: Yeah, I’m going to put the EP out soon, though I’m not rushing it. I’m taking my time since I don’t have a due date. I’m going to drop the first video from it really soon, but I’m not going to say when.

KW: Let’s say you’re throwing your dream dinner party—who’s invited?

A: Spike Lee, Jay-Z and Biggie [Smalls], which would be weird, since he’s dead.

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

A: Positive energy. When you think positively, you attract positive people...If you’re negative, you’ll find yourself surrounded by negative people.

That’s why guys like Jay-Z and other successful people strive. They’re positive and they attract other positive people who enable them to go further.

what’sup MORRIS CHESTNUT, who co-starred in “The Best Man” (1999) and “The Best Man Holiday” (2013), shared a few details about a sequel in the works while attending the American Black Film Festival in New York. Chestnut, who was joined by “Best Man” director MALCOLM LEE at the festival, said the sequel will probably be “the funniest” of them all. “I’m excited because [during] the last movie I was kind of upset throughout and very emotional, so Malcolm promised me this movie is going to be completely different for me so I’m looking forward to that,” Chestnut said. Lee also told movie fans what to expect. “It’s going to be some romance, there’ll be some sex there’s going to be a wedding and there’s going to be a distant location,” Lee said……..Rapper LIL KIM gave fans a peek at her 1-month-old daughter ROYAL REIGN on Instagram.

“Look who is stepping out today for the 4th of July,” she wrote. “Happy Independence Day from my blessing, Royal Reign.” The baby’s father is New York-based rapper MR. PAPERS.……..Former “Scandal” actor COLUMBUS SHORT had another run-in with the law. Short was recently arrested for public intoxication at a Dallas restaurant and later released. Short was arrested in March after being accused of knocking out a customer at a Los Angeles restaurant. In April, Short’s wife accused him of threatening to kill her, and filed for a restraining order and a divorce……..MICHAEL STRAHAN is host and executive producer of the first “Kids’ Choice Sports 2014,” an awards show featuring sports stars and entertainers. It airs Thursday, July 17, at 7 p.m. on Nickelodeon. Presenters include NICK CANNON, KEVIN DURANT, GEORGE LOPEZ, DEZ BRYANT

and MARSHAWN LYNCH. PHARRELL WILLIAMS will perform his chart-topping hit, “Happy.” Kids can cast their votes for winners by visiting www. nick.com/ sports……..TOM JOYNER is gearing up for his Family Reunion Labor Day Weekend which will be held Aug. 28Sept. 1 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando. Concert performers include THE JACKSONS, KENNY “BABYFACE’ EDMONDS” YOLANDA ADAMS, JAMES FORTUNE, KURTIS BLOW and KID & PLAY. For information visit blackamericaweb.com……..A new trailer gives film fans the first look at “Jimi: All Is by My Side.” ANDRÉ 3000 of OUTKAST portrays legendary guitarist JIMI HENDRIX. The film is written and directed

by JOHN RIDLEY, who won an Oscar for best adapted screenplay for “12 Years a Slave.” It opens in September.

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JULY 10 | 2014 | DEFENDER

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DEFENDER | JULY 10 | 2014

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opinion

50 years after the Civil Rights Act

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Black unemployment remains twice the level of white unemployment, similar to where it was in 1972. The black poverty rate has dropped from more than 40% in the 1960s to about 27% today; child poverty similarly has dipped from 67% to about 40%.

By MARC H. MORIAL NNPA Columnist

Bill Day, Cagle Cartoons

uly 2 marked the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson’s signing of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 that outlawed discrimination and segregation based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

First introduced by President John F. Kennedy shortly before his 1963 assassination, the Civil Rights Act also offered greater protections for the right to vote and paved the way for another historic achievement one year later – the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Momentum for the legislation picked up following the 1963 March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the National Urban League’s Whitney M. Young, along with 250,000 activists and citizens, gathered to demand “Jobs and Freedom” for people of all races who were locked out, left out, and disenfranchised.

President Kennedy, a Massachusetts liberal, introduced the bill in June of 1963, just five months before his assassination. It was up to his appointed successor, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, a former United States Senator from Texas with deep southern roots, to carry it over the finish line.

Despite extreme opposition, especially from his former southern Congressional allies, President Johnson successfully navigated the bill’s passage. He signed it into law surrounded

by Dr. King, Whitney Young and a multi-racial group of civil rights activists.

It was only 50 years ago that it was legal in some states to deny Blacks the right to eat in the same restaurants as whites, to sit in the same movie theaters or even to apply for the same jobs. Thankfully, that is no longer true anywhere in America. We have also seen other gains, including a rising Black middle class and an increase in African-American high school graduation rates.

However, there is still a wide opportunity gap in America.

According to a recent USA Today article, “In almost every economic category, Blacks have been gaining, but not by enough. Median family income (in inflation-adjusted dollars) is up from $22,000 in 1963 to more than $40,000 today, still just two-thirds of the median for all Americans.

Those numbers still are glaring, however. And the gap in overall wealth is more than 5-to-1 between whites and blacks…”

Perhaps the most visible demonstration of the progress we have made over the past 50 years is the 2008 election and the 2012 reelection of Barack Obama as America’s first Black president.

But even that achievement has been met with a backlash, as right wing voter suppression efforts have risen since President Obama first took office and the United States Supreme Court essentially gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 last year.

Obviously, 50 years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, our work is not yet done.

As we noted in our statement in support of the Voting Rights Amendment Act now before Congress, “The National Urban League believes there is no better and fitting tribute to the men and women who 50 years ago fought for and died to secure a Civil Rights Act and a Voting Rights Act than to pass the VRAA this year before the November mid-term elections.

We cannot focus only on a celebration of progress. We must also ensure there is a continuation of the very equality and opportunity that are at the core of this country’s democratic values.”

A second chance at building a future There are around 1,000 women housed in the Harris County Jail at any given time, including expectant mothers. The good news is that women are receiving a second chance to build a future for themselves and their children through the Mentoring Moms program.

Under the leadership of Sheriff Adrian Garcia and the Mexican Institute of Greater Houston, the latest class of inmates from the job skills training course offered as a part of the program recently graduated.

Garcia launched the innovative program in 2013 to extend services beyond basic medical care for pregnant inmates. The program utilizes

social workers, caregivers, educators and case managers for services offered to expecting mothers.

In addition, more than 30 non-profit organizations and educational institutions have offered resources to the Mentoring Moms program.

We already know that many jail inmates are young, Black and Hispanic, and one reason they’re locked up is because the educational system failed them.

Statistics tell us that nearly 85 percent of young people in the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate, and more than 60 percent

of all inmates are functionally illiterate.

The NAACP calls it “misplaced priorities.”

At a time when failing schools, college tuition hikes and shrinking budgets threaten the education of minority kids, we continue to invest billions of dollars in our corrections system.

“We are sending our youth a clear message that we value incarceration over education,” says the NAACP. That’s why Sheriff Garcia should be commended for his efforts. The program he launched is providing young mothers with a better foundation on which to build their lives, and they all deserve a second chance.

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JULY 10 | 2014 | DEFENDER

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Sheriff’s ‘Mentoring Moms’ graduate Under the leadership of Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia and the Mexican Institute of Greater Houston, the latest class of inmates from a job skills training course offered as a part of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Mentoring Moms program have graduated.

At any given time, up to 1,100 women are housed in the Harris County Jail. Texas law requires the Harris County Sheriff’s Office to provide for the health and wellbeing of its inmates, including prenatal care for pregnant females in custody.

In 2013, Sheriff Garcia launched the Mentoring Moms program to extend services beyond basic medical care for pregnant inmates. Mentoring Moms is an innovative program utilizing social workers, care givers, educators and case managers

Sheriff Adrian Garcia

Summer reading program begins

Any child or teen up to 18 years of age can activate their imagination at this year’s “Your Space to Dream” at the Houston Public Library’s 2014 John P. McGovern Foundation Summer Reading Program.

Young people will also be able to participate in the Camp S.T.R.E.A.M. (science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and math) programs. They will earn sticker badges for each program they attend.

for a full suite of services offered to expecting mothers.

Over 30 non-profit organizations and educational institutions have offered resources to the HCSO’s Mentoring Moms program.

In May, the Mexican Institute of Houston joined with the Sheriff’s Office to host a computer literacy course for inmates enrolled in the Mentoring Moms program. Inmates participated in the fiveweek training course for four hours a day, five days a week.

Mentoring Moms is a comprehensive program aimed at providing expecting female inmates with the tools for success as mothers. Educational courses such as those provided by the Mexican Institute of Greater Houston, empower inmates with job skills as they re-enter society as new mothers.

If they attend five or more S.T.R.E.A.M programs and read a minimum of five books they will receive a special prize pack that includes a book bag and a Chipotle meal coupon, while supplies last. Participants can also earn rewards by reading or listening to books from five, 10, 20, or 30 book levels.

To sign up, visit www.houstonlibrary.org or a neighborhood library.

Enjoy an intimate portrait of Nat “King” Cole, the man, his music, and the dreams of a nation who In 1957, calmed a generation of white viewers during raging racial violence in the streets of America with his golden voice.

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DEFENDER | JULY 10 | 2014

coverpage

10 tips for a great ‘staycation’ Defender News Services

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Plan ahead. Decide if you want your staycation to involve a home spa, movie marathon or other relaxing activity. Even though you’ll be staying in town, you might still want to splurge on a nice dinner go out to the movies, so set a budget and stick with it.

Don’t plan too much. Remember to schedule some “down time.” A staycation should be fun and relaxing and shouldn’t wear you out.

Get input. Ask your mate and kids what they would like to do for their staycation. Make sure everyone wants to go where you’re going.

Rest. Feel free to sleep in or take naps on your staycation. If you aren’t sleepy, read a book or magazines, watch television or daydream.

Avoid the chore trap. There’s always a closet to clean, a garage to de-clutter or windows to wash. A staycation, however, won’t be relaxing if you spend the entire time on chores. Try to get chores out of the way before taking time off, or if you must clean, allocate a specific amount of time to do it.

Explore a different part of town. Houston’s neighborhoods are numerous and diverse. You can spend the entire summer exploring the city and its surrounding areas, from Sugarland to Pearland to the Woodlands. When’s the last time you were in Third Ward, Fifth Ward or Fourth Ward? Have you visited Midtown or Chinatown lately? Don’t forget about West University or the Heights or the Galleria.

Check into a hotel. If you still feel the need to get away, consider spending the night in a hotel. Go online to find discounts and the most affordable hotels. Once you check in, you can order room service, relax by the pool and temporarily forget about doing laundry, cutting the grass or cleaning the bathroom.

Take a class. Do you want to learn a new recipe, make a quilt or

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improve your golf game? Take a class during your staycation. You can learn a new language, try line dancing or become a better photographer.

Visit a day spa. You don’t have to stay at an expensive resort to be pampered. Check out a local day spa and treat yourself to a massage, facial, manicure/pedicure or other treatments.

Document your staycation.

Take photos or videos of all the places you visited and the activities you enjoyed.

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Places to go, things to do

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here are hundreds of sites to see and things to do in Houston. Here are a few suggestions: Go to the park – Houston has 49,643 acres of total park space, and the Parks & Recreation Department oversees 366 developed parks and more than 220 green spaces in every part of town. You can enjoy a picnic, play various sports, jump in a pool or participate in arts and crafts. One of the most popular destinations is Hermann Park, which attracts 6 million visitors annually and is home to the Houston Zoo and Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Try the tunnel – Take a trip to downtown’s 7.5-mile long tunnel system, which is 20-feet below and air-conditioned. It includes restaurants, shops, salons and banks. Entry points are from street-level stairs, escalators, and elevators located inside office buildings that are connected to the tunnel. Access to the tunnel is on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit houstondowntown.com.

Tour the bayou – Houston owes its existence to the Buffalo Bayou, the 53-mile waterway that flows through the Houston area. In 1836, brothers August and John Allen stepped ashore on a stretch of the bayou and laid claim to the land. The bayou helped Houston thrive

as a commercial hub and is a focal point of recreation. Visit buffalobayou.org.

Visit row houses – Project Row Houses started with the renovation of 22 shotgun houses in Third Ward. It has grown to 39 properties encompassing four blocks. The mixeduse spaces have helped transform the community with art exhibitions, houses for young mothers, and office and commercial spaces.

Visit projectrowhouses.org.

Stop by a museum – The Houston Museum District has 19 institutions providing experiences in art, history, culture, nature and science. The district is an important tourism destination and a vital educational resource.

Institutions include the Houston Museum of African-American Culture (hmaac.org) and the Buffalo Soldier’s Museum (buffalosoldiermuseum.com).

Watch a game – The Astros play regular season baseball through September. Minute Maid Park’s retractable roof technology brought open-air baseball to Houston for the first time in 35 years. The natural grass surface and classic architecture are a throwback to past ballparks. Tours are offered Monday-Saturday during non-home games. Visit houston. astros.mlb.com.

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DEFENDER | JULY 10 | 2014

business

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Business plan competition underway

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ayor Annise Parker recently announced the secondyear launch of “Liftoff Houston!” 2014 Business Plan Competition, which engages and empowers entrepreneurs seeking to start a new business in Houston by providing them with access to essential information, resources and support necessary to develop a sound business plan.

The competition is sponsored by Capital one Bank and in partnership with the Houston Public Library and the Office of Business Opportunity.

“If you can dream it, you can achieve it in Houston,” Parker said.

“Thanks to Capital One Bank, the Houston Public Library and the Office of Business Opportunity we are able to provide the start-up support needed to turn dreams into reality. It’s just the kind of help that could help launch Houston’s next big entrepreneurial venture.”

The competition takes place over a five-month period and will include four stages: orientation, workshop, mentor, and business pitch. Capital One is providing cash prizes totaling $30,000 to the winning business plan submissions in the categories of product, service and innovation. Prizes of $10,000 will be awarded for each category.

“Small business is a driving force for both our national economy and our Houston economy and it is a cornerstone for Capital One Bank,” said Annella Metoyer, Houston market president for Capital One Bank.

“We know that small business owners want solutions that make it easier

for them to grow and manage their businesses.” “Through our product and services, and through our support of programs including ‘Liftoff Houston,’ we’re constantly developing innovative solutions to help them succeed.”

To be eligible, applicants must be in the start-up phase of their for-profit business, only in operation for less than one year, have earned revenue of less than $10,000, must live in and plan to operate their business in the Houston city limits. The top three finalists will receive capital to invest in their business.

Registration includes a mandatory orientation that will provide a general overview of the competition application and judging process and requirements. Participating applicants will be assigned a professional business coach/ mentor and a personal financial advisor.

Webinars for women The U.S. Small Business Administration has extended its free webinar series through July for women business owners to learn more about increasing opportunities in the federal contracting arena.

The Office Hours for WomenOwned Small Business Federal Contract Program will be held each Tuesday and Thursday through July 31 at 1 p.m.

The federal contract program presents an opportunity for small businesses to increase their presence in the federal marketplace. The federal government

is the biggest buyer in the world and the SBA said it is a “must-have customer” for women-owned companies.

The hour-long webinars will be led by SBA officials, and will help to answer questions and give insight to women entrepreneurs on doing business in the federal marketplace.

Registration is free, but required.

Contact LeAnn.Delaney@sba.gov to sign up, and include the date you would like to participate. For more information visit sba.gov.

Applicants cannot submit an application without having attended an orientation session, and must RSVP to

attend. Sessions last two hours and will be offered as follows: Saturday, July 12, 10:30 a.m. and Thursday, July 31, 11:30 a.m., Central Library, 500 McKinney Wednesday, July 16, 11:30 a.m., Shepard Acres Homes Library, 8501 West Montgomery Thursday, July 24, 5:30 p.m., Vinson Library, 3810 West Fuqua Monday, July 28, 5:30 p.m., Park Place Library, 8145 Park Place Saturday, July 26, Robinson-Westchase Library, 3223 Wilcrest Applications are due Aug. 1. Workshops and mentor consults will be held in August. The business plan is due Oct. 20 and business pitch/awards ceremony is Nov. 15.

For more information or to register, visit www.liftoffhouston.com or call 832-393-0954.

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JULY 10 | 2014 | DEFENDER

New TB test could improve diagnosis

Nurse Health Line provides answers

A new rapid tuberculosis (TB) test developed at Texas A&M University could dramatically improve the speed and accuracy of diagnosis for one of the world’s deadliest diseases, enabling health care providers to report results to patients within minutes.

Jeffrey Cirillo, Ph.D., professor at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, in collaboration with GBDbio, a Texas A&M spinoff company, and investigators at Stanford University, have identified a new chemical compound to spot the bacteria that cause TB with a level of sensitivity that currently takes months to produce.

Results of the first human clinical trial data are promising. Findings show the test can determine that a patient has TB with 86 percent sensitivity and 73 percent specificity. Smear microscopy, the most widely used test in the world, has a significantly lower ability to detect TB, ranging between 50 to 60 percent sensitivity.

Although preventable, TB claims three lives every minute, making it the second leading cause of mortality from an infectious disease in the world.

Spread through the air when an individual with active TB infection coughs or sneezes, reports show that if left untreated, a person with active TB infects an average of 10 to 15 people each year, leaving a great need for faster, more reliable testing.

The test is currently in the later stages of clinical trials with plans to go to market in the next 18 months.

H

ouston-area residents with medical questions can now talk directly with a registered nurse 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling the new Nurse Health Line at 713-338-7979.

The free health line is funded through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Texas Health and Human Services Commission. It is not designed to assist with life-threatening conditions or emergencies.

Callers will reach an experienced registered nurse who will carefully evaluate their health needs and offer advice on the best course of treatment for illness or injury.

The health line can help callers…

• Decide when and where to go for treatment • Learn to manage a medical condition • Get help after the doctor’s office has closed • Avoid sitting for hours in the emergency room • Find out more about a specific ailment or disease • Figure out how treat a sick child • Understand a medical diagnosis The health line features bilingual staff and language interpreters. All calls are confidential.

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12 DEFENDER | JULY 10 | 2014

defendernetwork.com

Students benefit from

minority teachers

By FREDDIE ALLEN NNPA Washington Correspondent

D

espite the cry from people of color for more teachers who look like them, both whites and Blacks benefit from a more diverse teaching force, according to a study by Center of American Progress. “… A study of the relationship between the presence of African-American teachers in schools and African-American students’ access to equal education in schools found that fewer African-Americans were placed in special-education classes, suspended, or expelled when they had more teachers of color, and that more African-American students were placed in gifted and talented programs and graduated from high school,” stated the report.

Teachers of color also have, “an affinity for infusing their classrooms with culturally relevant experiences and examples, setting high academic expectations, developing trusting student-teacher relationships, and serving as cultural and linguistic resources – as well as advocates, mentors, and liaisons – for students’ families and communities.”

A study titled “Teacher Diversity Revisited” reported in May 2014 that learning from and networking with a multicultural teaching staff is also important for preparing white students for a workforce and society where they will no longer make up the majority. “[It is important for] students to interact with people who look and act differently than they do in order to build social trust and create a wider sense of community,” stated the report. “In other words, the benefits of diversity are not just for students of color.”

CAP researchers said that male teachers of color are more than twice as likely to ditch the classroom for another career than female teachers of color.

Black male teachers also told researchers that feelings of isolation or being the only Black male on the faculty increased their, “desire to leave their current schools.”

Statistics tell the story: • Minorities account for nearly half of the students in public schools in the U.S., but less than 20 percent of teachers are non-white.

• Less than 10 percent of teachers are Black. At 70 percent, white females account for the majority of all teachers.

• Only 2 percent of all teachers are Black men.

In an effort to address the lack of minority teachers and to retain the ones currently in our nation’s classrooms, CAP report suggested states should “develop innovative approaches to teacher preparation in both university-based and alternative-certification programs.”

Researchers also proposed higher benchmarks for teacher-training programs.

The CAP report also cited the Education Depart-

“[It is important for] students to interact with people who look and act differently than they do in order to build social trust and create a wider sense of community.” ment’s recruitment campaign aimed at preparing 80,000 Black teachers for classrooms across the country by 2015 to provide students not only with high-quality educational experiences, but also to present them with role models with a variety of cultural experiences, as well.

“There is a need for more teacher-preparation programs to embrace calls for higher quality and candidate expectations – indeed, to marry the call for quality and diversity,” stated the report. “Improved preparation will go a long way toward minimizing the number of new teachers that enter our schools ill-equipped and quickly exit through the revolving door.”

The report concluded that policymakers needed to shift their focus to retaining effective minority teachers, while supporting the efforts of minority professionals seeking to enter the field.

“States and school districts have the power to

remove barriers to the retention and success of teachers of color. Those that do not address these barriers – by, for example, supporting high-quality teaching and reforming school conditions – will continue to face high turnover, destabilized faculties, and unsatisfactory student achievement levels,” the report stated. “Communities of color must advocate for effective teaching and encourage their children to prepare to enter a rigorous and demanding profession.”

The report calls for “access to not only high-quality education opportunities, but also a high-quality and an equally diverse teaching force.”

The CAP report said that effective teachers play a pivotal role in producing high performance students, and conversely that less experienced teachers often contribute to achievement gaps between whites and non-whites.

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JULY 10 | 2014 | DEFENDER

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DEFENDER | JULY 10 | 2014

sports

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Altuve named All-Star again

I

By MAX EDISON Defender

t has been a rollercoaster season for the Astros. An influx of talented young players has created a feeling that the club is close to turning the corner, but is not quite there yet.

One constant throughout the first half of the season is the stellar play of Jose Altuve, who for the second time in three years has been named an All-Star.

The 5-foot-6 Venezuelan dynamo is the living embodiment of the cliché “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.” The talented second baseman made the American League All-Star team after being voted in by the players. He has the distinction of having been named an All-Star in both leagues (NL in 2012).

Never one to revel in his own achievements, Altuve was quick to thank his teammates.

“It feels really good,” he said. “First of all, I want to thank all the players, and I want to thank all the fans that voted for me, too. It wouldn’t have hap-

Astro second baseman Jose Altuve has been named to the AllStar team again.

pened without my teammates and my coaching staff. I don’t want to mention all those names, but I want to thank all the guys who are in the [locker] room. They’re doing everything for me and trying to support me.”

Offensively, Altuve has been one of the game’s most consistent performers this season. He has 122 hits, which leads the majors and leaves him one shy of Bob Watson’s club record prior to the All-Star break.

With 38 stolen bases, he is on pace to make a run at the club single-season record, while leading the AL with a .337 batting average. Altuve hit .411 with 39 hits and was 17-for-17 on stolen-base tries in June.

Altuve is just the third Astros second baseman to make the All-Star team, and along with Craig Biggio is one of two Astros second baseman to make it in multiple seasons. Biggio was a six-time All-Star as a second baseman (1992, 1994-98), while Joe

Morgan made it to the Midsummer Classic for Houston in 1970.

One of Altuve’s biggest supporters is his manager, Bo Porter, who is not surprised that he’s an All-Star again.

“I’m not surprised at all. You look at the numbers and what it is he’s been able to do here and the way he’s impacted the game, he’s put together one of the best first halves in the history of baseball,” Porter said.

“When you look at the number of hits and the way he impacts the game and how he helps other players around him, he has done everything that an All-Star can be asked to do.

“As his manager, I feel completely honored. It brings joy to your heart when you see someone work as hard as Jose has worked and to be rewarded,” Porter said. “He doesn’t talk about himself, and it speaks volumes about him as a person and a leader.”

The Major League Baseball All-Star game will be played July 15 at Target Field in Minneapolis.

JULY 10 | 2014 | DEFENDER

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h.s.zone

sportsbriefs

‘Electric’ Brett Winnegan leads Pearland Dawson Patterson and Pearland all-state offensive lineman Willie Williams.

“I know D’Eriq and we talk from time to time,” misconception about Pearland Dawson Winnegan said. “JaColbie and I have had a rivalry running back Brett Winnegan is that he is since we were both freshmen. He played varsity as a loud and misunderstood. Perhaps it’s the freshman and I didn’t. Then last year I rushed for more dreadlocks, similar to those of one of his yards than he did. favorite NFL players, Richard Sherman “When we talk we usually throw friendly slugs at of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. one another, but it’s all in fun,” Winnegan said.

Winnegan is actually quiet, intelligent, articulate For the rest of the summer Winnegan will work and a master of the understateas a lifeguard at a local ment. A perfect example was his defendernetwork.com pool while maintaining his reply when asked at what point daily workout regimen to Find out about Brett Winnegan’s dream school of the 2013 high school football improve his size without season he realized he was going sacrificing speed. to have a breakout season.

“It was during the second game of the season when I had five touchdowns by halftime,” he said. “I thought it was my time and that we could have a good season.

But I didn’t expect the outcome would be that huge and turn out that amazing.”

Dawson advanced to the regional final and finished with an 11-3 record. After gaining 300 yards in 30 carries as a sophomore, Winnegan exploded with 2,290 rushing yards on 273 carries with 26 touchdowns.

“Brett is the most electric player I’ve ever coached,” said Dawson offensive coordinator Ryan Silvertooth. “Rarely does the first man tackle him and he’s a three-down back with great balance and can catch the ball well.

“He’s the leader of our team and probably the hardest worker we’ve got,” Silvertooth said. “Brett placed second at the state track meet in the long jump and he does an excellent job in the classroom.”

The latter explains why Rice, Navy, Air Force, Running SMU, USTA, Fresno State, Colorado State and Illinois back Brett Winnegan have already expressed scholarship interest in the excels in 5-foot-10, 178-pounder, who likes the running style of football Kansas City Chiefs running back and former Univerand track at Dawson. sity of Texas standout Jamaal Charles.

“I like him because he’s an explosive player that can make big plays when given the opportunity,” Winnegan said. “Of course, we’ve got the dreads in common too.”

Winnegan hopes to follow up his breakout 2013 season with an even better one in 2014.

Dawson will move into the newly-aligned District 22-6A that includes Manvel, Pearland, Pasadena Dobie, Pasadena Memorial, Alvin, Pasadena, South Houston and Sam Rayburn. Dawson will play rival Pearland for the first time in football on Oct. 3 and face highlytouted Manvel the following week on Oct. 10.

In a district filled with talented Division I college prospects, none are more identifiable that Winnegan, Pearland running back JaColbie Butler, Manvel quarterback D’Eriq King, Dobie linebacker Keion

A

15

By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender

“He’s the leader of our team and probably the hardest worker we’ve got.”

The Woodlands on top again For the seventh year in a row The Woodlands High School has the Houston area’s top all-around sports program. The Highlanders began the 2013-2014 school year strongly by winning a state and national championship in volleyball. None of the school’s volleyball teams from varsity down to freshmen teams lost a single match all season. The Woodlands capped off the year by playing for a state title in softball before succumbing to crosstown rival Deer Park. Seven of the eight team sports on The Woodlands’ campus won district championships.

The Woodlands amassed 154.5 points in the scoring system. Boys (73) and girls (81.5) competitors were almost equally effective. Points were earned in team sports by qualifying for the postseason and bonus points were awarded on how far a team went in the playoffs. For individual sports points were awarded based on winning district, regional and state titles along with how they finished in regional and state competitions. Deer Park, Kingwood, Cinco Ranch ranked second through fourth behind The Woodlands.

Friendswood leaves Class 4A When the 2014-2015 school year begins next month, Friendswood High School will be in the University Interscholastic League’s largest school enrollment classification (6A). Yet the Mustangs left Class 4A by celebrating the school’s third consecutive all-sports title. Friendswood enjoyed success at the district, regional and state levels, especially with the girls’ volleyball, soccer and swimming teams. The UIL recently awarded Friendswood its third consecutive 4A Lone Star Cup for athletic and academic excellence.

Spurs retain players While other teams scramble to improve their teams by attracting big-name free agents, the world champion Spurs are content to retain their players.

The Spurs recently announced that they came to an agreement with Boris Diaw on a three-year contract worth $22 million. Diaw was a pivotal component of the Spurs run throughout the playoffs. He was particularly effective in the finals, battling LeBron James. The team previously reached an agreement with back-up point guard Patty Mills and convinced Tim Duncan to return for another season. With the Diaw signing, the Spurs have all of their top 11 players under contract. Looks like the Spurs will be the odds-on favorite to defend their title in 2014-15.

Josh Gordon needs help You sometimes wonder what certain athletes are trying to do. Such is the case with Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon. The former Lamar High School and Baylor star was recently arrested for driving while impaired in Raleigh, N.C. The arrest couldn’t possibly come at a worst time, since he is currently appealing a possible one-year suspension by the NFL for violating their substance abuse guidelines. At 23, Gordon is one of the most talented young wideouts in the game today. He caught 87 passes for a league-leading 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns in 2013, including back-to-back 200yard receiving games. His issues with substance abuse go back to his days at Baylor where he was kicked off the team for failed drug tests.

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DEFENDER | JULY 10 | 2014

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For Event Coverage...visit

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chag’splace

Jonita Reynolds served as mistress of ceremony. We MISSOURI CITY CELEBRATION…..The 12th ansalute MCJCF founder and Missouri City Councilman nual Community Service Awards gala hosted by the MisDon Smith for a great event. Continued success!.....2014 souri City Juneteenth Celebration Foundation (MCJCF) was held at the beautiful City Centre-Quail Valley facility. TEXAS BLACK EXPO…..Texas Black Expo is a non-profit organization with a mission The foundation has brought positive attention to African-Americans in to stimulate growth and developJoin Yvette Chargois the Missouri City/Fort Bend area, ment within urban communities by Events of the Week while celebrating the Emancipastrengthening businesses, inspiring More photos on defendernetwork.com tion Proclamation that includes a youth, and building better lives.

See Events on KTRK Ch.13’s Crossroads weeklong Texas-sized family events Texas Black Expo hosts Texas’ largest with Melanie Lawson Sunday Morning @ 11 a.m. and activities. This year’s honorees African-American empowerment were Dr. Theophilus Herrington, festival, which is consistently held to associate professor of political science coincide with the Juneteenth holiday. at the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Founded in 2003, the Expo has successfully touched Affairs at Texas Southern University and Teana Watson, hundreds of thousands of lives with business developprincipal attorney with T. V. Watson Law PLLC. Sevment programs, youth initiatives, health and wellness eral students received college scholarships, including expositions, and community and entertainment events.

Claudia Singleton, Ashlee Sherman, Joe Dickerson, This year’s corporate luncheon’s keynote speaker was Asia Jones, Caleb Pete and Josephine Weymon. State State Sen. Wendy Davis. Sylvester Turner served as Rep. Ron Reynolds served as the honorary chair, State chair and Councilman Larry Green served as lunRep. Sylvester Turner was the keynote speaker and Dr. cheon chair. Kudos to Jerome Love, president of the

Honorees Dr. Theophilus Herrington and Atty. Teana Watson

State Rep. Sylvester Turner, Councilman Don Smith and State Rep. Ron Reynolds

State Rep. Senfronia Thompson and Dr. Melody Ellis

State Rep. Sylvester Turner and Councilman Larry Green

Honorary chair Ric Campo and CEO Judson Robinson III

Texas Black Expo, Inc. and the entire board of directors for another successful year. Congratulations!.....

HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE……The 46th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Gala was held at the Hilton American Hotel. Each year, HAUL honors the dedication of committed individuals and organizations that supports its mission of helping Houstonians pursue economic self-reliance and equal rights. The Houston Area Urban League Heritage Award was presented to Allstate, the Margaret Ross Barnett Leadership Award was presented to John D. Hofmeister, the Gerald Himes Corporate Award was presented to UPS, the Quentin Mease Community Service Award was presented to Southwest Airlines and the Whitney M. Young Humanitarian Award was presented to Chip Carlisle.

Those contributing to the success of the gala included honorary chairman Ric Campo, gala co-chairs Cary Yates and Kristyn Page, HAUL President/CEO Judson Robinson III, the board of directors, staff and volunteers. Continued success to you also!.....From Chag’s Place to your place, have a blessed week!

Scholarship recipients Claudia Singleton and Ashlee Sherman

State Sen. Wendy Davis, Jerome Love and Carla Lane

Honoree Chip Carlisle, Judson Robinson III and honoree John Hofmeister

Gala co-chairs Cary Yates and Kristyn Page

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