Houston Defender: August 4, 2022 by Defender Media Group |DefenderNetwork

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The rap star brought his skills to the Houston symphony Summer series.

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SAFE PASSAGE

2 | August 4, 2022 | DEFENDER NETWORK

• Black father goes viral responding to worker who called him the n-word.

• Check out the Defender channels: Black Women, Under 40 and Community Central.

If you haven’t heard, Brandon Calloway, a young brother spooked by police lights afer allegedly running a red light, got out of his vehicle and ran to his girlfriend’s home. Cop, guns drawn, chased and caught him, bogarting into said girlfriend’s house, then beat the living sh-crap out of Cal loway. We already know policing is broken, or not broken, and just functioning the way it was created to function—as a tool to keep Blackfolk in our place. Either way, something needs to change. Our white “cousins” say “Just comply and cops won’t get violent.” And we respond: Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, John Crawford, etc. Where was this deep well of cop “bravery” they display while beating and shooting unarmed Blackfolk, when those children in Uvalde were dialing 911 and cops stood in the school

What do the start of the Haitian Revolution, the arriv al of the frst acknowledged Africans to the Americas, the Watts Riot of ’65, Nat Turner’s Rebellion and the Ferguson Uprising afer the murder of Michael Brown have in com mon? Tey all took place in August. But the annual com memoration of Black August was founded by Black politi cal prisoners, spurred by the assassination of revolutionary George Jackson by San Quentin prison guards (Aug 21, 1971). In protest, the brothers chose to fast and focus their readings on the plights of oppressed people globally. Soon, the practice spread beyond prison walls, and has come to commemorate the long list of Black History moments that fall in August, including the March on Washington (1963), birth of Marcus Garvey (1887), death of Emmett Till (1955) and more. Organizations and communities nation wide hold various celebratory and empowering events and gatherings, from book or topic discussions to community service projects and more. If this is the frst you’ve heard of Black August, don’t fret. Just use this August to celebrate our people and our story.

Aswad Walker

BRANDON CALLOWAY

We recently lost three giants: Nichelle Nich ols, Bill Russell and Mary Alice. Alice starred in countless movies, one of which was the original “Sparkle” where she played the moth er of three daughters trying to make it in the music biz. She was also the House Mother on “A Diferent World.” But more than that, she was greatly respected by her peers. Addi tionally, the “Lord of the Rings,” Bill Russell made his transition. If you measure greatness by champi onships alone, who was better? Russell was undefeated in “winner-take-all” games (11-0, NBA; 9-0, NCAA; and 2-0, Olympics). But more than that, it was his constant stance for Black people that made him a giant among men. And speaking of giants, it’s impossible to calculate the impact Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek’s Lt. Nyota Upenda Uhura, had on the culture. Beyond being fne as “all-da-be-dayyum,” her leadership role on the Star Ship Enterprise during a late 60s opened the minds of countless Black boys and girls to fnally see themselves “going where no one has gone be fore.” Safe passage, all.

BLACK AUGUST

Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Uhura. AP Photo

To the POINTDN

hallway for over an hour? Where is that train ing they deploy to de-escalate situations with whites who slap, spit on and cuss out cops, yet receive no bruises when they encounter us? We have to give our kids “Te Talk” and teach them the entire police stop ritual just so they have a chance to not get killed over a trafc violation. Yes, Calloway ran. But do you blame him?

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• See the video interviews on whether high school ath letes should be paid.

Message from the Associate Editor

Rev. Ronald K. Mouton Sr.

e DA’s office also said it wasn’t consulted before the gun buyback event, according to Mitcham, who confirmed that Ogg expressed her concerns in a letter written to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Pre-

More than 800 guns were collected on Saturday as part of a regionwide buyback event — an eﬀort that Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner hailed as “incredibly successful.”eevent was less well-received by the Harris County District Attorney’s Oﬃce, which categorized the event as a potential deterrent to solving crime.

“For them, this is at least some relief but they’re still going through, they’re asking the public for prayer and privacy. But for all of us, we’re hopeful that justice is done.

e gun buyback program, part of the city’s federally funded One Safe Houston initiative, was lauded as a success that exceeded organizers’ expectations in terms of turnout. A spokesperson for Turner said 845 guns were collected, with nearly $100,000 in gi cards distributed in exchange.

Deshawn Longmire, 23, has been charged with murder and is currently being held in Harris County Jail. Witnesses said they saw Longmire, who was driving for Uber in his black Honda sedan with peeled window tint, arguing with Mouton, who was driving a white BMW, at a stoplight on the Gulf Freeway frontage road.

Defender News Service

His longtime friend Bishop James Dixon said Mouton’s family is still grieving.

LongmireDeshawn

An Uber driver has been arrested in the June death of Houston pastor Rev. Ronald K. Mouton Sr. of East Bethel Missionary BaptistMoutonChurch.was shot and killed during a possible road rage incident on the Gulf Freeway at Gould Road on June 24.

e effectiveness of such programs in reducing violent crime is the subject of much debate. A 2021 study released by the National Bureau of Economic Research found such programs, “have been ineffective at deterring gun crime, firearm-related homicides, or firearm-related suicides in the short- or long run.”

| 3 NewsDN August 4, 2022 | DEFENDER NETWORK

Ellis added that Ogg’s letter “was at best uninformed and cynical, and at worst a political stunt.”

Saturday during a gun buyback event held at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, 3826 Wheeler Ave. Oﬃce of Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis

cinct 2 Constable May Walker and Houston Police Chief Troy Finner.

e Houston Police Department is checking the guns to see if any of them were stolen or used in a crime, in which event they will be returned to their owner or processed as evidence, according to the mayor’s oﬃce. e weapons will otherwise be destroyed.

Mitcham added that the distribution of gi cards could be problematic in the event a gun is tied to a crime. e person who turned in the ﬁrearm may be considered a witness to the crime, and accepting something of monetary value from law enforcement in return could cause problems for prosecutors down the line.

Uber Houstondeathchargeddriverinofpastor

In the event any of the turned-in guns are determined to have been used to commit a crime, Mitcham said connecting that weapon to a person responsible would be akin to encountering a “brick wall or blind alley.”

David Mitcham, the top assistant to DA Kim Ogg, said Monday his oﬃce takes issue with the no-questions-asked part of Saturday’s event at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in the ird Ward, where Houston-area residents were invited to anonymously turn in handguns and riﬂes in exchange for gi cards worth at least $50.

But Turner and Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who also were event organizers, questioned the reason for Ogg’s criticism as well as the timing. Both Turner and Ellis released statements arguing that Ogg — a fellow Democrat — could have communicated her concerns well in advance of the publicly promoted event.

“ e program was informed by best practices from gun buyback events across the country, and as such, HPD does not share the concerns she presented in her letter dated the day before the event,” Turner said.

What we refuse to be accused of is inaction,” he added. “If we got one gun oﬀ the street and prevented one shooting, we made a diﬀerence today.”

Houston buyback nets 845 guns, prompts criticism

One of the top officials for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office said it was glad to have that many weapons out of the community and headed to an incinerator, but the office also questioned whether gun-related crimes would go unsolved as a result.

Rodney Ellis

Surveillance video from Pusch and Nguyen Injury Lawyers showed Pastor Mouton crashing his vehicle at a curb. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

More than 800 guns were collected

Neither driver exited the vehicle at the time of the argument, investigators said. Witnesses say when both vehicles started moving, Longmire “stretched his arm out of the driver window with a pistol in his hand” and allegedly shot Mouton. Longmire then took oﬀ.

Houston Public Media

Mouton’s family said he was a pastor for 32 years in the community. He will be remembered as a man who touched many lives.

e family wants justice to be done.”

In a statement, SB 1 co-author state Sen. Bettencourt, R-Houston, called a possible lawsuit “frivolous.”

• The Texas Education Agency added a chief of school safety and security

• $105 million for school safety

• All school districts in the state have been provided the advanced law enforcement rapid response training program by Texas State Universityeresponsibility for children safety not only falls on the hands of law enforcement and district officials, Jetton said it is also a community eﬀort and it begins

HPM

Houston Public Media

“ e democrat majority on the Harris County Commissioner’s Court has authorized their most ‘frivolous’ election lawsuit yet on a partisan 3 to 2 vote,” Bettencourt said. “ is time along with County Attorney Menefee, they are disputing the

Harris County considers legal action over election audit

During a recent press conference, Fort Bend County Sheriﬀ Eric Fagen, Representative Jacey Jetton and Representative Ron Reynolds gave an overview of school safety and emergency preparedness, improvement in ﬁrst responders intelligence gathering, ways to deal with activeshooter threats and mental health

and mental health initiatives

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‘randomness’ of an audit selection by the Texas Secretary of State as they were one of two large counties out of 18 selected per an Amendment to SB 1.”

“ e teachers that are here and everyone else at the schools recognize that when they read the report that came from Uvalde from the House Committee, the policies and procedures without follow through mean nothing,” said Jetton.

Fort Bend oﬃcials discuss measures to increase student safety in schools

Other updates happening on the state level:

Fagan and other law oﬃcials explained different procedures that will be enforced. Some include regular rotations of patrol divisions and daily testing of door locks and vestibules.

Harris County is already subject to an election audit of its 2020 election results, along with three of the state’s other large counties – Dallas, Tarrant, and Collin Counties. at audit came following public pressure from former President Donald Trump.

• Governor Greg Abbott directed a School Safety Center to guarantee all Texas schools follow proper procedures to maximize school safety

Harris County is set to bring legal action against Texas, following the Secretary of State’s oﬃce’s selection of the county for an audit of its 2022 election results. County Attorney Christian Menefee requested permission to pursue the legal action, and Commissioners Court voted 3-2 along party lines to authorize the suit. e election code required the Secretary of State select four counties for audit – two counties with populations of 300,000 or more, and two with populations less than 300,000.

e audit is part of the new Texas voting law, Senate Bill 1, passed during a special legislative session in 2021.

“ is is the model not for Fort Bend, but for America, in terms of working across the aisle. Because I have never seen a mass shooting bullet that identiﬁed Democrats or Republicans this is something that impacts us all,” said Reynolds. “ is is an issue we must tackle head on, not just hopes and prayers. I’m a man of faith but faith without works is dead.”Fagen said that school shooters look for so targets and to prevent

As students, teachers and school administrators plan for the return back to the classroom, Fort Bend County is outlining school safety plans ahead of the upcoming school year.

Fort Bend discusses school safety

“All of this stems from folks in a certain party using lies about the 2020 election and now subsequent elections for political benefit. Not only do we have these audits, which drain county resources, but we have conspiracy theorists who file lawsuits against Harris County that my office ends up having to defend,” Menefee said.

with reporting incidences of bullying.“TheSecret Service, in their analysis of targeted school threats, outline that most of the attackers were bullied and bullied in open,” he said. “People knew that this was happening. ose same attackers also communicated their intentions to attack. It is important for us to pay attention and be vigilant in our communities to ensure that we are reporting those threats.”

Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said that’s no coincidence.

By Laura Onyeneho

concerns in the wake of the deadly Robb Elementary mass shooting in Uvalde in May.

“ is the same process we use to determine the ballot order for Constitutional Amendment propositions – they are usually drawn from a cowboy hat or boot,” Taylor added.Texas has 254 counties. Harris County is one of only 18 counties with populations of over 300,000, and it is by far the largest.

Oﬃcials talk measures to improve student safety

“We printed each county’s name on a slip of paper, and divided the slips into two groups: (1) counties with more than 300,000 in population, and (2) counties with under 300,000 in population. en, we placed those slips into an empty bucket

Harris County election workers handle ballots Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

and had a member of our staﬀ randomly select two counties from each group,” said Sam Taylor, Assistant Secretary of State for Communications.

that from happening there needs to be a “force multiplier” of various agencies partnering with the school district police to have eyes on the school’s majority during school hours.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas(METRO) is planning to issue the procurement listed in this

Visit one of our 16 locations throughout Greater Houston & the

“I wrote it because I’m very passionate about health and wellness,” said Aguirre. “A lot of that’s due to my family history of heart disease, which is typical of a lot of African American families. So, I wanted to share the message that there are ways to actually prevent or even reverse it with a healthy, plant-strong diet.”

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Afer issuing the call, several of Aguirre’s friends responded, including Dola Young, a retired attorney and SHAPE supporter recently certifed as an Integrative Nutri tion Health Coach.

In Tird Ward, several entities are band ing together to provide body, mind and spirit nourishment for adults and youth alike. SHAPE Community Center, the Alabama Garden, Blodgett Urban Garden, Palm Center Garden and Peaceful Planet Foundation have partnered to provide solutions to several current and longstand ing food and health challenges.

The Chawlas said Aguirre’s initiative was consistent with their work that seeks to address patients from a holistic (mind, body and spirit) approach, with commu nity being a foundational component.

And that’s where SHAPE came in. Agu irre and SHAPE’s director Deloyd Parker were college classmates, who, along with other UH students in the late 1960s helped found the community center.

Take a tour and learn about a more primaryapproachpersonaltocare

By Aswad Walker

If you are unable to download the documents or are having diffculty, please contact 713-615-6125 or email Contracts/ Property Services.Property Services.

Community Wellness Initiative promotes healthy food, people

“Tese 19 people are learning all that they can about nutrition, exercise, stress management, gardening, just various things, so that they can then be the ambas sadors of health in their own community, and teach this information to their friends and family and community members.”

“I’m excited that we’ve embraced a very comprehensive and holistic approach to good health,” said Parker. “SHAPE is hon ored to be hosting and participating in this partnership. Because that’s what it is, a comprehensive partnership that’s about healthy living and healthy life.”

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Deloyd Parker, Dr. Munish Chawla, Dr. Kimberly Adams, Terry Garner, Dola Young, Dr. Bandana Chawla and Sherra Aguirre. Photo by Aswad Walker

Check out the full interview DefenderNetwork.comat

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“Basically, it’s a group of community health ambassadors,” said Dr. Bandana Chawla, who with her husband Dr. Munish Chawla, are physicians board certifed in lifestyle medicine, and founders of their

Te Community Wellness Initiative (CWI) started as an outgrowth of local author/activ ist Sherra Aguirre’s book “Joyful, Delicious, Vegan: Life Without Heart Disease.”

nonproft, Peaceful Planet Foundation.

“Te initiative is about getting a group of grassroots people who want their own health to be improved, and then sharing that information with their family and community,” said Young, about the initia tive’s “each one, teach one” approach.

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~Sherra Aguirre contributed to this article

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“Chronic diseases, whether it’s diabetes or heart disease or obesity, they’re caused by our diet and lifestyle,” said Munish Chawla. “We need to fx that, otherwise we can throw all the pills, all the proce dures [at them, but] we’re not addressing the root cause.”

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“She chose collaborators, references, and even specific keyboard sounds that pay homage to club-land memories while making her own 21st-century statement,” Matos wrote. e new tracks include songs like “Cozy,” “Cuﬀ It,” “Energy,” and “Break My“ForSoul.”at least the past decade, Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter has been the world’s greatest living entertainer,” Rolling Stone wrote.

“Beyoncé really made this album for the club,” journalist Vincent Desmond tweeted.

musical trilogy is new even for her. Like every piece of art that bears her name, the anticipation is half the fun.”

As noted by Pitchfork, Renaissance was announced as “Act I” of an upcoming saga, and the album’s liner notes conﬁrmed that Beyoncé would follow it up with at least two more“She“acts.”hassaid that all the music was made during a creative burst at the peak of COVID and that it was inspired by her children, her husband, and her team,” journalist Dylan Green

“No matter how much you love ‘Renaissance,’ you are going to love this at least ﬁve times more if you hear the album or any of its songs in the club. It goes so crazy.”

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“Butwrote.what could these multiple parts entail? One theory: e music is the driving force behind ‘Renaissance’ more than a speciﬁc narrative arc; if Act I is a culmination of various forms of Black music and their eﬀects on pop across the 20th and early 21st centuries, it’s possible that Act II and Act III might look at the way it moves in the present

and forward into the future,” Green said.

Beyoncé’s new album, “Renaissance,” has taken the world by storm as expected, with a healthy helping of Chicago house music and classic 1970s disco.

“Beyoncé has accomplished a lot over her nearly 30-year career, but a full-blown

e album immediately soared to the top of Apple Music in 100 countries. Sixteen of the top 21 songs on Apple Music are from “Renaissance,” and the debut enjoyed more than 43 million streams on Spotify — a new record.Critics across the country took note.

6 | August 4, 2022 | DEFENDER NETWORK EntertainmentDN RSVP REQUIRED : 346-800-4990 Come share some laughs with us! You’re invited to attend an amusing comedy stand-up show. Before the event, we can mingle over beverages, small bites and a casual tour. This will be a socially distanced event. Masks required. Tuesday, August 16 5:30 - 6:30 pm Continue Your Life Story With Us AnthologyTanglewood.com 504 Bering Dr. / Houston, TX Independent Living / Assisted Living / Memory Care License Pending ANTHOLOGY OF TANGLEWOOD ANTHOLOGY OF TANGLEWOOD Tell a Joke Day! Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ album breaks records The WeighBeyoncégreatestsongs.in.

“It is consciously steeped in dance-music history, cannily embracing decades of samples and sounds: the 1970s disco of Donna Summer and Chic, Jamaican dancehall, internet-speed hyper pop,” Michaelangelo Matos penned for the New York Times.

“Commonman.isusing his musical platform to bring people with diverse racial backgrounds but similar social ideologies together for the common good of our nation, and the good of our global communities,’’ said Tonya Sykes, event

the expression of their art.

“ e performance was absolutely dope,” said professional musician, educator and artist Ikechi Ojore. “I’m not usually at a loss for words, but simply put, it was amazing.”Additionally,

Common won an Oscar for the song “Glory” (with John Legend), a Grammy for “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop)” and an NAACP Award for his role in His“Selma.”current album, “A Beautiful Revolution Part 2,” is a poetic call to community activism amid jazzy tones, fast-paced R&B tempos and Latin-ﬂavored guitar chords. Common brings attention to social, racial and economic injustices in the Black community with cuts like “Courageous,” “A Place in is World” and the title track “A Beautiful Revolution.”

Common performs with Houston Symphony

attendee. “I was so surprised to see so many non-Black people here.”

Common performs onstage during the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards. Getty

e Stardust Kids is an incubator collective for emerging artists and artistic entrepreneurs that encourages, supports and develops the raw talent of youth in the program. One of the core goals of the collective is to teach members how to incorporate social justice issues (and any other important issues they chose) into

Common Ground’s Dreamers and Believers Program exposes students to ﬁne arts career paths and college readiness mentorship. During the meet and greet, there were unconﬁrmed whispers of Common Ground expanding to Houston.

Common and his team hosted intimate meet and greets each night after the shows interacting with

| 7 EntertainmentDN

August 4, 2022 | DEFENDER NETWORK AFTER TOMORROW.CAPPROGRAMSCHOOLTODAY.ANDGOWN Help your child excel beyond the classroom with after school programs at the Y. Housed in local schools, students engage in a variety of structured activities that promote positive social interactions and reinforces academic concepts, as well as lessons in empathy, inclusion and service learning. Let your child discover their full potential at ymcahouston.org/after-school. YMCA Mission: To put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Everyone is welcome. GROW WITH THE Y. YMCA-0186_defender_print_ad_mech.indd 1 7/25/22 8:02 AM INTERVIEW: UNCOMMON FLOW

If there was a common theme that tied all his songs performed with the Houston Symphony together, it was reﬂected in one of Common’s own lyrics: “Remember your light when the word seems shady.”

Houstonians had the rare opportunity to witness a hip-hop performance accompanied by a live orchestra — not a band, but an orchestra when “Common with the Houston Symphony” recently came to town. Houston Symphony’s summer series drew fans from all over the metro area.Yes, the classical instrumentation was present: woodwinds, brass, percussions and strings, along with the hip-hop icon Common.Common collaborated with Steven Reineke, who conducted the live musical arrangements for the two sold-out shows at the Hobby Center. e diverse audience enjoyed the motif of melodies, rhythms and harmonies, all intertwined with the thought-provoking lyrics of a conscientious Black

By L.J. Garﬁeld Special to the Defender

some of Houston’s power players to share and discuss the opportunities to team up with his non-proﬁt Common Ground and his newest social project the Stardust Kids Common Ground was created in 2002 by Dr. Mahalia Hines and Common to provide leadership and mentoring support to at-risk high school populations in his hometown of Chicago. Programming includes Window of Opportunity (WOO) Academy, an entity that addresses freshmen year transitions by providing students with the tools to be successful learners.

L.J. Garﬁeld (aka Mama Wata Flow) is the host of “Word Bender,” a radio show / podcast that can be heard on All Real Radio (www.AllRealRadio.com) every Friday from 6 p.m.– 8 p.m. Garﬁeld is also a health science instructor at the Pima Medical Institute, a spoken word artist and community activist.

programs you can sign up for. Talk with teachers and school oﬃcials. The last thing you want is your child to be set on being on the football team, only to discover tryouts were three weeks ago. Take notes of important dates throughout the year –ﬁrst day of school, PTA meetings, registration deadlines.

Hosted by the City of Houston

2. Check vaccinations. With COVID-19 still raging, and other preventable diseases coming back, Lockridge encourages all parents to check with their health care provider, health department or school system on getting updated vaccinations. And don’t wait. “A lot of parents don’t think about vaccinations until right when school starts then they’re scrambling to try and get into the crowded doctor’s oﬃce,” Lockridge said. Call your child’s doctor and schedule a visit for updated vaccinations or physicals ahead of the school year. Texas has a minimum state vaccine requirement for grades K-12. Students must show evidence of acceptable vaccinations before entry, attendance, or transfer to a child-care facility, public or private elementary or high school in Texas.

By ReShonda Tate

Location: George R. Brown Convention Center

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF

Location: 18103 Cypress Trace Rd.

3. Make sure kids get some sleep. Adequate sleep is essential to a successful school year. That involves shutting oﬀ electronic devices, keeping weekday and weekend routines consistent and potentially installing black-out curtains to keep the room dark. “Kids need about 10 hours of sleep a day, which is more sleep than people realize,” Lockridge said.

10 tips to help you prepare

By Laura Onyeneho

4. Get to know your kids’ teachers. This one is self-explanatory but you’d be amazed at the number of parents who don’t bother. If you can’t make orientations, make it your business to get up to the school during your child’s ﬁrst week. Or at least connect via email. Don’t wait until the last week of school to do this (which many teachers say is quite common).

SOCIETY OF CHAMPIONS

Date: Aug. 13

Give Away

7. Get wardrobes organized. Enjoy school-shopping with your child and involve them by giving them choices. That way you’ll avoid early morning ﬁghts over what to wear, especially if your children don’t wear uniforms. Organize your child’s clothes for the entire week. Pick every outﬁt out on Sunday a ernoon and lay them out or hang them up for the week.

5. Be aware of the ﬁnancial commitment.

reused? Do you still have items in good condition?

BACK 2 SCHOOL

Date: Aug. 13

Time: 12 p.m.- 3 p.m.

Time: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

HOUSTON’S Back to School Bash Date: Aug. 21 Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit jih.org SCHOOL DISTRICT START DATES Aldine ISD . . . . . . . . . Aug. 17 Alief ISD Aug. 8 Channelview ISD . . . . Aug. 15 Crosby ISD Aug. 11 Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Aug. 22 Fort Bend ISD . . . . . . Aug. 10 Galena Park ISD Aug. 11 Houston ISD Aug. 22 Humble ISD . . . . . . . Aug. 9 Katy ISD Aug. 17 Klein ISD . . . . . . . . Aug. 10 New Caney ISD Aug. 8 Pearland ISD Aug. 17 Sheldon ISD . . . . . . . Aug. 17 Spring Branch Aug. 16 Tomball ISD Aug. 16 Resources & schedules During the state’s sales tax holiday inonlineitemspayshoppersweekend,don’ttaxesonpurchasedandperson. *Total purchase must be under $100 Texas tax free weekend Aug. 5-7 BACK year.upcomingbestmakeknowneedWhatCOLLEGE.TOyoutototheofyour Sign up for TOP 5 Newsletter for your child's Social Studies and Current Events

9. Check your inventory. Do you have supplies that can be

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Parents should always have fruits and vegetables that the children eat prepared, washed and ready to go. Pre-made sandwiches for afterschool snacks or for in-between activities are a great way to stay out of fast-food drive-thrus. InFocus

Take your time to sort through what you don’t and make a list of ones you do before you head to the store.

Utilize community resources for assistance. Here are a few in the Houston area.

The back-to-school “to do” list can get stressful for parents and children as the start of the new term quickly approaches. Between shopping, readjusting mindsets, registering for school and squeezing some ﬁnal moments of fun out of summer and more, parents can deﬁnitely get overwhelmed.

1. Start establishing a new routine. “Parents should work now to normalize as much as possible,” said family therapist Shawn Lockridge. “Parents may have been a little lenient during the summer on bedtime and screen time. It’s important that children who have been staying up late, especially on video games, are given time to get back into the structure of school years.”

8. Get a head start. Prepare yourself for early mornings and prepare what you can the night before. Being ready for a school morning is the best thing that you can do to get your family oﬀ to a great start. It makes a HUGE difference (and cuts back on stress and chaos during the mornings).

8 | August 4, 2022 | DEFENDER NETWORK | 9

There’s nothing like getting your back-to-school shopping out of the way, only to discover your child needs $40 for a gym uniform, $30 for a lab fee, $10 for an ID, etc.

Make sure you’re aware of all the expenses you will incur so you’ll be better prepared to tackle them.

10. Plan menus. Start your child’s day out right with a great meal. Plan some easy, healthy, afterschool snacks to fill your kids just enough until dinnertime. School meals changes might occur. In the case that they do, start planning what lunches and snacks you will pack. Search for what will be served at the school’s cafeteria and what you can make at home. How much do meals cost at school? How much money do you need to spend on meal prep?

BACK TO SCHOOL

Here are 10 tips for parents to have a stress-free start to this school year.

e key to having a productive and stress-free return to school starts with proper planning. With the costs of products and services increasing, this is a perfect time to search for places to buy school necessities while getting the most bang for your buck.

Time 8 a.m.-2 p.m., or until supplies last.

Find out what extracurricular

Back to School Backpack

6. Be aware of extracurricular activities.

Date: Aug. 6

Back to School Giveaway

levels lower than where they were at the beginning of summerBrandonbreak.Neely is director of School Impact for Teach For America (TFA) Houston. His role requires him to partner with schools and teachers to support classroom transformation by leveraging the resources and talent of the TFANeelynetwork.spoke with the Defender about the public education landscape and ofered advice on how to prepare kids for the upcoming school year.

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Like many good things, summer fun in the sun eventually comes to an end. Tat means parents will have to focus on preparing their children for the back-to-school transition in theTherefall. is a degree of stress that comes with charting car pool thethesemunitiesdisadvantagedularlyyeartocialschoolforentshecticshoppinghomeworkschedules,wars,andotheractivitiesparhavetoprepareaheadoftheyear.Summerisacrutimeforstudentsstarttheacademicstrong,particinhistoricallycom.Manyofstudentsbeginschoolyearwithachievement

By Laura Onyeneho

Defender: Te pandemic exacerbated problems in the public education system that were already there. What differences have you seen from last school year until now?

• If your child’s school requires that they wear a uniform, make a note to pur chase those items early.

TEACH FOR

10 | August 4, 2022 | DEFENDER NETWORK

Neely: Parent involvement in their child’s academic success and class curriculum has been a big topic in the last few months now, especially with the restrictions around crit ical race theory and LGTBQ rights. Out of 225 frst-year and second-year teachers cur rently in our program, 66% identify as [Black,

teachers will come on cam pus and fnd out that certain teachers will be absent, so they’ll have to cover classes. Teachers are wearing many hats to give the students the best. Teach for America is start ing a leadership intensive program where we’re training about 103 midlevel leaders at one of our school districts to help them better support teachers as a whole.

OTHER TIPS:

Brandon Neely, Director of School Impact for Teach For America Houston

• Check with your child’s school to see if there are any materials your child can be reading now to give them a jumpstart on the curriculum. Take advantage of back-to-school drives to ensure your child has all the supplies they need to be successful in the classroom.

communication between both parties?

Indigenous and people of color]. Of that, 35% identify as Black, 25% identify as LGBTQ+. We fgure out what the gaps of the curricu lum and how to navigate them to still deliver the best education possible. We do a lot of community outreach bringing communities to our teachers and letting them know what is out there.

Tips on preparing kids for back to school

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• Use summer’s last “dog days” to stim ulate kids’ minds by exposing them to learning opportunities. Tere are plen ty of cost-efective or free museums, gardens, and other places to explore in and around Houston.

• Go into the school year with a mind set that it will be a year of growth and success. Be optimistic about what is to come.

Defender: Parent and teacher rapport is import ant. How are educators preparing to strengthen the

Read other tips parents considershouldwhen preparing for back-to-school.

learning loss in general. A lot of teachers are staying afer school hosting group tutoring sessions; they’re using any free time through out the day even on weekends to get students back on Sometimestrack.

Brandon Neely: There’s been a lot more imbalance as far as teachers being expected to take on additional roles in the classroom even during the time of quarantine or addressing

| 11August 4, 2022 | DEFENDER NETWORK Celebrate the leadership of these two fne institutions Amegy Bank Tower Walter Johnson Conference Center 1717 W. Loop South 77027 5:30 pm Reception 6:30 pm Program Dr. Ruth Simmons President Prairie View A&M University Classic Register Today: bit.ly/hbcupresidentsclassic PRESIHBCUDENTSThursday,August25,2022 Dr. Lesia Crumpton Young President Texas Southern University

Her social media popularity opened doors for local, national and interna tional television appearances, launching her private chef and catering business called Jenny On the Go 365 along with her cold-press juice company Jennandthejuice.Withthelong list of accomplish ments, nothing gives her more joy than philanthropic work she does for strug gling refugees in the community.

By Laura Onyeneho

Photo: Jennifer Sebasigari Instagram

12 | August 4, 2022 | DEFENDER NETWORK andtomatoes,rizo,withTartetainchocherryolives InstagramSebasigariJenniferPhoto:

Defender: What were some challenging experiences in your culinary arts career?

Visit Defendernetwork.com to read what Sebasigari thinks about Houston’s culinary arts culture

ProfleDN JENNIFER SEBASIGARI

Sebasigari spoke with the Defender about her culinary journey and hearthealthy home cooking alternatives Black folk should consider.

Sebasigari was first introduced to cooking living at a refugee camp with her family in Cameroon the Rwandan genocide migrating from one city to another for safety. She would cook meals for her parents and siblings.

Sebasigari: Whoever isn’t on social media really needs to get on it because it is something all of us will need to leverage our businesses. I leverage social media the way I leverage my friendships. You have to be social. You have to go out and meet people. Consistency is key. I’m an infuencer, but I’m also a culinary chef and that’s how I want my social media to be. I read up on the latest updates and I’ve taken social media courses as well. Tis is a tool and I choose to use it for brand visibility.

Jennifer Sebasigari isn’t your average professional chef. She is an entrepreneur and infuencer whose food-centric Ins tagram page with colorful dishes -- from a mobile seafood broil to brisket mac and cheese to the Congolese delicacy poisson grille (grilled fsh) wrapped in banana leaves -- has garnered her more than 350,000 followers.

Defender: How have you leveraged social media as a tool to attract your audience to your brand?

Bay Seafood Boil

Popular Chef shares her passion with unique dishes

Eventually, she leveraged her raw talents afer migrating with her fam ily to the United States to attend Le Cordon Blue College of Culinary Arts in Austin years later at the age of 25. Her skills have taken her to Walt Disney Park and Resorts in Orlando, Fla., to working for a leading restau rant in Houston, Oxheart.

Jennifer Sebasigari

Defender: You came to the U.S. as a refugee from Burundi at age 12. How was your experience moving to a new country?Sebasigari: Te United Nations and other organizations were issuing 1,500 visas for Congolese war victims to come to America. My family and I were one of them. We stayed in a refugee camp. My family went through a screening pro cess and eventually relocated to Aus tin. Coming to America was a dream come true. Te challenge was learning to speak English and adjusting to the American way of life.

Sebasigari: One of the challenges I’ve faced launching my Jenny On the Go 365 company was really understanding what it means to be a culinary chef. It takes a lot of time and dedication to the craf. Understanding what it means being a Black woman in a male- domi nated industry and then on top of that being African. Carving my niche and making a name for myself. I never went into my career as a know-it-all. I’m very open to challenges and learning from my peers. Tat’s how I’ve been able to overcome

Before Russell, who died July 31 at age 88, developed the skills that would make him an 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, two-time Hall of Famer and an Olym pic gold medalist, he had a front row view of the racial indignities endured by his parents as he grew up in segregated Monroe, La.

During the show’s third season, Nich ols’ character and Shatner’s Capt. James Kirk shared what was described as the frst interracial kiss to be broadcast on a U.S. television series. In the episode, “Plato’s Stepchildren,” their characters, who always maintained a platonic rela tionship, were forced into the kiss by aliens who were controlling their actions.

It’s why when Russell later faced his own forms of discrimination decades later, he didn’t hesitate to challenge the status quo.

ObitsDN

I believe I somethingcontributecanfar more important than mere basketball.”

| 13

“I have never worked to be well-liked or well-loved, but only to be respected,” Russell wrote in his 1966 book “Go Up For Glory.” “I believe I can contribute something far more important than mere basketball.”

In a time when Jim Crow laws in the South existed to silence the views of Black people, he was groomed to be an unapol ogetic thinker.

A star of Russell’s stature to show a willing ness to put his convictions ahead of his ath letic career put him in a small group during that time like Muhammad Ali, Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and Jim Brown.

(Martin Luther King Jr) told me ‘You’ve changed the face of television forever.”

“In the end, I live with the hopes that when I die it will be inscribed for me: Bill Russell. He was a man.”

Her role in the 1966-69 series earned Nichols a lifelong position of honor with the series’ rabid fans, known as Trekkers and Trekkies. It also earned her accolades for breaking stereotypes that had limited Black women to acting roles as servants and included an interracial onscreen kiss with co-star William Shatner that was unheard of at the time.

critic for National Public Radio, told Te Associated Press in 2018. “Te characters themselves were not freaking out because a Black woman was kissing a white man... In this utopian-like future, we solved this issue. We’re beyond it. Tat was a won derful message to send.”

Bill Russell

Like other original cast members, Nichols also appeared in six big-screen spinofs starting in 1979 with “Star Trek: Te Motion Picture” and frequented “Star Trek” fan conventions. She also served for many years as a NASA recruiter, help ing bring minorities and women into the astronaut corps.Te original “Star Trek” premiered on NBC on Sept. 8, 1966.

-Bill Russell

And it was Russell, Alcindor and Brown sitting beside Ali in Cleveland in 1967 when the boxer announced he was refusing induction into the U.S. military to fght in the Vietnam War.

Te kiss “suggested that there was a future where these issues were not such a big deal,” Eric Deggans, a television

Despite concerns, the episode aired without blowback. In fact, it got the most “fan mail that Paramount had ever gotten on ‘Star Trek’ for one episode,” Nichols said in a 2010 interview with the Archive of American Television.

Len Elmore, who played 10 seasons in the NBA and is a senior lecturer at Colum bia University where he’s taught on athlete activism and social justice in sports, called Russell’s social contributions “immortal.”

-Nichelle Nichols

collective sports world advocating for jus tice following the 2020 death of George Floyd and others, Russell used his platform to hasten civil rights.

Nichelle Nichols

It’s what made the winningest athlete in team sports one of the greatest champions of activism. His belief in equality and the stances he took helped create a pathway that athletes today continue to walk in.

Worried about reaction from Southern television stations, showrunners wanted to flm a second take of the scene where the kiss happened of-screen. But Nichols said in her book, “Beyond Uhura: Star Trek and Other Memories,” that she and Shatner deliberately fubbed lines to force the original take to be used.

REMEMBERING TWO LEGENDS OF THE COURT AND SCREEN

Decades before Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem demonstrations to raise awareness about police brutality, or the

“He showed many of us in the game how to be,” Elmore said.

“That foresight Dr. King had was a lightning bolt in my life,” Nichols said.

Bill Russell never had to fnd his voice as an activist. He didn’t know any other way but to speak his mind.

When former President Barack Obama presented Russell with the Presidential Medial of Freedom in 2011, he called it an example of how he “stood up for rights and dignity of all men.”

Nichelle Nichols, who broke barriers for Black women in Hollywood as com munications officer Lt. Uhura on the original “Star Trek” television series, died July 30 at the age of 89.

It echoed what Russell wrote in 1966 about how he wished to be remembered.

August 4, 2022 | DEFENDER NETWORK

“I think many people took it into their hearts...that what was being said on TV at that time was a reason to celebrate,” Nichols said in 1992 when a “Star Trek” exhibit was on view at the Smithsonian Institution.Sheofen recalled how Martin Luther King Jr. was a fan of the show and praised her role. She met him at a civil rights gathering in 1967, at a time when she had decided not to return for the show’s second“Whenseason.Itold him I was going to miss my co-stars and I was leaving the show, he became very serious and said, ‘You cannot do that,’” she told the Tulsa (Okla.) World in a 2008 interview. “‘You’ve changed the face of television forever, and therefore, you’ve changed the minds of people,’” she said the civil rights leader told her.

Joirdon Karl Nicholas took part in the NBPA Top 50 Basketball Camp in Atlanta this past weekend along with recent Tiger graduate Bryson Etienne. Modeled a er the NBPA Top 100 camp, players from the SWAC and SIAC had a chance to learn from current and retired NBA players while also showcasing their talent in scrimmages and games throughout the

disappoint, earning starts in Week 15 and Week 16. Owens only allowed one pass to be caught during his first start against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15. en in Week 16, he showed up big with his first career interception and a fumble recovery to help the Texans to an upset victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Unfortunately, the following week he suffered a wrist injury against the San Francisco 49ers that ended his season, but the Texans may have seen enough to warrant giving Owens some serious starting consideration this season.

So far, Owens seems to be impressed with Pitre.“He’s talking, telling us what type of plays might come,” Owens said. “He’s a really smart guy. He’s a great safety to be out there with. He’s definitely coming along quicker and developing.”

By Terrance Harris

“You’re more comfortable,” Owens said. “You know the hurt plays on the defense, so you can relay that message to the younger guys. You know formations. You know what people are going to give you in certain formations. It’s a lot more familiarity with the defense. It just gives you more conﬁdence because you’ve done it before.”

TSU’s ThomasJohnathandraed Texas made a name for himself this season as the nation’s top stolen bases leader with 62. In addition to stealing bases, Thomas also hit .345 while scoring 68 runs and recording 42 RBI last season. Thomas spent the ﬁrst three years of his collegiate career at the University of Houston before transferring to TSU for his senior season.

“Getting out there and actually getting game time on defense,” Owens said of his goals for the season. “I think it has been ﬁve years since I got to play serious defensive time and just being out there and getting comfortable again and slow your mind down and play football free. at was my goal and I’m just looking to keep building.”

Houston Texans defensive back Jonathan Owens takes part in a drill during an NFL football training camp practice Friday, July 29, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Russell, of course, is best known for onaccomplishmentshisthebasketballfloor with the Boston Celtics where he led the team to an NBA-record 11 championships, which included eight straight during his 13-year career, and was named MVP of the league five times. Additionally, he wore two hats as head coach/player during his final two years. Russell was also influential in speaking up for civil rights during the turbulent 1960s.

JoirdonJohnathanRussellThomasKarlNicholas

He spent the oﬀseason working harder than ever for this opportunity and a er the first few practices he seems ready to prove himself.“Just being conﬁdent, man, doing my job well,” said Owens, who was undra ed out of Missouri Western when the Kansas City Chiefs signed him in 2018 and he joined the Texans a year later. “Understanding the defense and executing

Olympic gymnast Simone Biles walks with her boyfriend Houston Texans defensive back Jonathan Owens (36) a er the Texans’ practice at NFL football training camp, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Houston. (Brett Coomer/ Houston Chronicle via AP)

DraLeaguethetonbydraThomasplayerstandoutSouthernbaseballJohnathanwased51stoveralltheWashing-NationalsinrecentMajorBaseball.TheFresnonative

TEXANS READYJONATHANSAFETYOWENSFORNEXTSTEP

SportsDN 14 | August 4, 2022 | DEFENDER NETWORK

A er a year of intense learning in Texans coach Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 Defense, safety Jonathan Owens is feeling a little more natural in his responsibilities in the secondary.

Sports Briefs

Instead of just learning and processing this training camp, he is more ﬂuid in what is being asked of him in Year 2.

Being at this level of comfort is critical for Owens, who is making the transition from oﬀ-and-on practice squad player – and is known as gymnastic star Simone Biles’ fiancé – to being a true leader and veteran in the Texans secondary thisOwens,season.a fifth-year veteran, got his ﬁrst long look late last season and he didn’t

Bill Russell dies at 88 Basketball icon and outspoken civil rights activist Bill Russell died July 31. He was 88.

TSU men’s basketball players take part in NBPA Top 50 Texas Southern men’s basketball player

weekend.Bill

the game plan when given my opportunities. I’m just looking to keep building every day and get better.”

e Texans come into the season with a void at safety a er Justin Reid le for Kansas City in the oﬀseason. at leaves an opportunity opposite Eric Murray. e team spent a second-round dra ed pick on Jalen Pitre, who is expected to compete for a starting spot at safety.Butnothing is guaranteed, which creates an opportunity this training camp for Owens to make the most signiﬁcant impact of his career.

He also seems to have adapted to being a team leader as well. Owens can be seen on the ﬁeld, talking to the young players and helping them settle into the defense.

In January 2023 the Texas Legislature antic ipates bringing to the foor a bill allowing high school athletes to receive endorsement deals for use of their name, image and likeness.

Sports

“On one hand I see it working with the NCAA. Te kids deserve it. It is their name, it is their image and likeness, and it is what they have earned with their talent. Ten on the other hand you wonder if kids that age are equipped to handle the kind of pressure that comes with having money in their pocket.

which have already adopted such policies, we have typically seen kids make a few thou sand here and there from local auto dealers and mom-and-pop products. Five-star Cal ifornia quarterback Nico Iamaleava report edly has received one of the highest paying

“I think our community understands the value of hard work. Our parents understand the value of earning their keep and I have nothing but confdence in all of our parents to understand that they are going to keep these kids level-headed, they are going to work with us and we are going to work with them. Together we are going to fnd a way to get these kids on the same level when it comes to competing.

“I think the Texas High School Coaches Association is doing a good job trying to stay in front of it by bringing educational platforms in front of us that are going to help us come to grips with what the rules are…It is an opportunity and a coachable moment that we are going to have to learn on the fy and just be there for our kids to make sure they have what they need.

By Jodie B. Jiles

with stellar play.

“Te reality of it is I don’t see it going anywhere soon espe cially with the passage of it in Louisiana in the Eastside of the Houston area where it is so easy for kids to head that way if they feel like it is the best opportunity for them and their families. So, as I coach, I think it is something we are going to have to embrace.

In states like California and Louisiana,

“At the high school level it would just be a way for people to exploit kids and their families that desperately need money.

“It is bad enough as it is when kids and parents jump from school to school for athletic purposes to either play or try to create super teams. And now you are going to add money to the equation. It will destroy high school football.

“So now you’re going to pay a kid hun dreds of thousands of dollars or maybe even millions of dollars, and you don’t think that is going to affect a high school age kid as far as how they view their teammates and coaches who will probably make less money than them? It will destroy high school football as we know it.”

DN | 15August 4, 2022 | DEFENDER NETWORK

“I think nationwide they need to stop that in its tracks. Honestly, I think whenever you add money in a situation like that it is going to destroy high school football as we know it.

“Te beauty of high school athletics is that you can have diferences in income, diferences in resources and diferences in all kinds of stuf, but you step in between those white lines everything is equal. It’s time to go to work.”

FOR & AGAINST

FOR FULL COACHESINTERVIEWSZOOMWITHKAY AND ANTHONY VISIT: DEFENDERNETWORK.COMWWW. JONFORKAY GALENA PARK NORTH SHORE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH CORNELIUSAGAINSTANTHONY HIGHTOWER HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

“In my opinion they haven’t even fgured it out on the collegiate level. And now you want to bring it on the high school level?

endorsement deals worth up to $8 million. Granted, not every player in the state of Texas will be given such large sums of money, but in a free market system that is Amer ica, they can at least put themselves in the position to get in the game early and ofen

Te Defender spoke with two of the most decorated coaches in Class 6A and Class 5A football to discuss their thoughts on such a bill passing and what outcomes they believe could result.

Should HS athletes get paid?

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