June 6 – 12, 2010 | FREE
Volume 79 Number 32
www.defendernetwork.com
Mis-Education of a State? Texas board passes conservative textbook curriculum By Gordon Jackson SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE DALLAS WEEKLY
By Aswad Walker DEFENDER
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he Upper MLK Corridor, just south of MacGregor Park, has suffered from decades of economic divestment and under-development due to numerous factors. For years, residents have sought economic reinvestment with little or no success. However, at present, there are seven major development projects underway simultaneously on MLK Blvd, between Old Spanish Trail (OST) and Griggs Rd. Those projects represent a level of investment on the part of the City of Houston, Harris County, HISD, METRO and others unmatched in the city’s history in terms of potential for the community’s economic revitalization. In fact, such modern-day, multi-faceted developments in predominantly African American neighborhoods, are
extremely rare. What is unique about these efforts, which have been coined as the “Upper MLK Revitalization Project,” is that the principal development entities have been acting as individual developers rather than as a coordinated unit. The Shrine Christian Center, which is in the midst of renovating its church sanctuary from damage incurred during Hurricane Ike, seeks to bring these individual entities together to provide a mutually beneficial approach to development activities, benefiting each developer, their constituents and the residents of the Upper MLK Corridor. The Shrine is hosting a community forum entitled The Upper MLK Revitalization Project, which will bring together all the key players in the numerous development initiatives affecting resi-
AUSTIN, Texas – A week-long series of strong testimonies, marches, rallies and cries of injustice by nationally renowned figures such as NAACP President and CEO Ben Jealous and former U.S. Secretary of State Rod Paige could not deter a bloc of hard-core ultra “Christian Conservatives” of the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) from passing 9-5 a controversial social studies component of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum in the late evening of May 21. Ben Jealous Unless other efforts are successful, the structure of the social studies curriculum will be implemented into Texas schoolbooks, by law, for the next 10 years and taught to over 4.7 million public school students. Further, with the state being the largest supplier of schoolbooks in the country, up to 40 percent of the rest of the nation could adopt the same curriculum Rod Paige for their school districts. The vote ended, at least for now, several months of heated debate and charges of attempting to rewrite history in a way that would drastically diminish the credibility and contributions of
Upper MLK Revitalization forum Saturday June 12, 2010 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Shrine Cultral Center 5309 MLK Blvd.
★MLK, Page 7
★MIS-EDUCATION, Page 2
PRESIDENT OBAMA
Obama issues memo calling Despite employment growth, for more Federal contracting Black jobs crisis prevails By Ken Smikle
adding “small business contracting should always be a high priority in the procurement process.” The memo establishes The Interagency Task (NNPA) - President Obama recently issued a Force on Federal Contracting Opportunities for memorandum directing the heads of Small Businesses, with the Secretary all executive departments and agenof Commerce, the Director of the cies to develop more opportunities Office of Management and Budget, for small businesses to participate in and the Administrator of the Small the Recovery Act. The memo specifBusiness Administration serving as ically calls for the participation of Co-Chairs of the Task Force. businesses owned by minorities, “Obtaining tangible results will women and economically disadvanrequire an honest and accurate taged individuals in the $500 billion accounting of our progress so that we in federal purchases made annually. Barack Obama can have transparency and accounta“The Federal Government has not bility through Federal small business consistently reached its small business contracting goals,” the Obama memo states, ★CONTRACTS, Page 7
SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE MISSISSIPPI LINK
SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM TARGET MARKET NEWS
Photo: Paul Sancya/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Milini Williams, left, fills out an application while her son Gregory, 10, sleeps while attending a job fair.
INTERVIEW
Chilling with Ice Cube By Kam Williams CONTRIBUTING WRITER
O’Shea Jackson was born on June 15, 1969, and adopted the cool alias, “Ice Cube” before founding N.W.A. in the late 1980s. As the lyrical mastermind behind the legendary group’s Straight Outta Compton album, he literally launched the gangster rap revolution. And his subsequent solo material, including such early Nineties classic CDs as AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted and Death Certificate, solidified his place in the pantheon of the genre’s more socially-aware artists. Next, the versatile talent began his meteoric ascent in Hollywood as the star in, producer of and catalyst for the “Friday,” “Are We There Yet?” and “Barbershop” film franchises. He established himself as one of the most bankable actors around, thanks to his charismatic turns in such boxoffice hits as “The Longshots,” “First Sunday,” “Anaconda,” “The Players Club,” “Three Kings,” “All About the
Benjamins,” “XXX2” and “Boyz ‘N the Hood.” In 2007, Ice Cube partnered with the prestigious McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, Minnesota to establish The Ice Cube Scholarship, a fellowship awarded annually for creativity, talent and songwriting ability to a student in the music technology department. Here, he reflects on his latest venture, producing and playing a support role on the new TV sitcom “Are We There Yet?”, which is based on his movie of the same name. The show premieres with back-to-back episodes airing on TBS on Wednesday, June 2nd at 9:00 and 9:30 PM. Kam Williams: Hey, Ice Cube, thanks so much for the time. Ice Cube: Oh, no problem. KW: What inspired you to turn “Are We There Yet?” into a TV sitcom? IC: It was really the idea of Executive Producer Joe Roth who owned the property over at Revolution Studios and said ★ICE CUBE, Page 2
Click on Defendernetwork.com Weekend
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Nicole C. Lee
Health
Marc Morial
Spring Renewal
Do Black People Need Sunscreen?
Class of 2010
NEW YORK -(NNPA) National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial has cautioned that higher-than-expected job growth last month should not cloud the still-desperate employment crisis among communities of color. “The need for direct job-creation legislation is still very real,” Morial said. “The dangerouslyhigh Black unemployment rate of ★JOBS CRISIS, Page 7
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Ice Cube
Mis-education
continued from page 1 he was thinking about taking it to TV. And after he said that he already had [writer/director] Ali Leroi on board, and that he was going after Terry Crews, to me it was a no-brainer. I said, “Let’s put this together!” KW: But didn’t you want to star in it, since you had originated the role of Nick on the big screen? IC: No, because I wanted to go in a different direction, artistically. But having somebody like Terry in it was your ace in the hole. That makes it very strong, so I definitely had to jump in with both feet. KW: So, how heavily involved are you with the production? IC: While I had done the movies through Revolution Studios, we own the sitcom. It was a situation where, once the team was assembled, I knew we could create something really, really good. KW: Did you have a debate about the title, since the movie sequel had been called “Are We Done Yet?” IC: No, “Are We There Yet?” was the perfect title, because it’s such a common saying. And having made the movie with the same name kinda locks it all in. KW: Do you think that the focus of the show on successful African-American professionals marrying and creating a blended family with a strong father figure will have a larger impact on the television-viewing public now that we have an African-American President. IC: I don’t know, but I hope so. [Chuckles] I hope everything works in our favor. The show is cool. It’s family fare. We ain’t aiming at the cheap seats. Instead, we’re making something with a broad appeal that people of any color or creed and from all walks of life can enjoy and maybe learn something from. KW: How did you make the transition from rapper to actor to producer. IC: Well, for the transition from rapper to actor, I was fortunate that director John Singleton pursued me for about two years to be in Boyz ‘N the Hood. I really wasn’t even thinking about acting at the time, since I was singularly focused on being the best rapper in the world. So, that was really a blessing, because I wasn’t really taking him seriously. Therefore, I can’t really attribute my success onscreen to any formula and suggest you “do
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Photo:Williams & Hirakawa
Coy Stewart, Essence Atkins, Terry Crews, Teala Dunn and Ice Cube star in the TBS show “Are We There Yet?” this or that” to make it as an actor. However, as far as producing, once we started shooting, I soon realized where the critical decisions about the movies were really being made, and it wasn’t on the set. They were being made in the production meetings. That’s where producing a movie happens. And that’s where I wanted to be. I didn’t just want to be a piece, a pawn being played. I wanted to take part in the creative process, and that’s how I sort of got introduced to the idea. KW: You are a performer who seems to have figured out show business rather than show business figuring you out. So many rappers are here today and gone tomorrow? When did the insights of how the business really works hit you? What advice can you offer young people about how to be successful in the real business of show business and have a career like yours? IC: When I was in N.W.A. and didn’t get paid all the money I was owed, that’s when the business side of showbiz hit me. I thought, “Half of this is workin’. I’m famous, but now I need to be famous with some money.” That got my brain started at trying to figure out the business end. And once I figured out the business side, I next came to understand that success really comes down to the product, not to me, my personality, or what club I’m seen going into or coming out of. None of that matters. What’s important is whether or not people feel like they wasted their time or money when they pay for a movie or a CD. Once I appreciated that, it became all about the project. It ain’t about me. KW: Are you going to be doing another Friday film?
IC: I get that question a lot. I’ve vowed not to do another one, unless Chris Tucker was in it. He still hasn’t accepted the offer, so…I can’t say. I don’t know whether we should, if we can’t really do the movie that people have been waiting for. KW: How about another Barbershop movie? IC: Yeah, I would hope to do another one. If a third one comes together, I’ll jump on it. Or are we already on the fourth one? I’ve lost count. KW: It would be the third. Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would. IC: No, not really. I could do an interview or just as well not do one. It’s not like I’m looking for extra publicity. So, the questions that are asked are cool. And so are the one’s that’s not asked. KW: Are you happy? IC: I’m always happy. I’ve just got a mean face. [Laughs] KW: What music are you listening to? IC: I’m working on a record, so I don’t listen to nothing while I’m in the studio, because I don’t want to be influenced by anybody else. KW: Can you reveal what type of album you’re working on? IC: To me, it’s a California summer record. KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps? IC: It’s all about the work. Don’t worry about being a star, worry about doing good work, and all that will come to you. KW: Thanks again for the interview Cube, and best of luck with everything. IC: Thank you.
African Americans and Hispanics. “I am ashamed of what we’ve done to the teachers and the students in this state, I will not support this travesty of a document,” said trustee Mavis Knight (DDallas), one of the five Democratic board members who have been fighting losing battles to prevent the adoption of the conservative curriculum. “We might as well say Hispanics don’t exist,” said board member Mary Helen Berlanga (D-Corpus Christi). “We have hidden information; we have tried to cover up a lot of information. I guess there are people that have a difficult time with the truth. I feel that I have let down the students in our state.” Much of the debate came to a head during the public hearing session on May 19, before overflowing crowds at the SBOE boardroom, where a total of 206 citizens signed to speak. The board was forced to turn away over half of that number as the testimonies ran into the late night hours. Jealous however was one of the first to speak and stated his case as to why the board should the delay the vote. “We are entitled to our own opinion but we are not entitled to our own facts. We have to make sure our kids are taught what actually happened not what the school board wishes,” Jealous told the board. “We are concerned about quality, not quotas. We are concerned about our children learning the whole truth, not half of it.” Jealous commented on one example, where the Atlantic slave trade would be renamed the “Atlantic Triangular Trade.” Also that speeches by Confederate President Jefferson Davis, also a slaveowner, should be taught in equal value with Abraham Lincoln. “They will talk about the civil rights movement but not about the struggle,” Jealous said. “It minimizes the role of the civil rights movement. The civil rights movement moved our country and you got to talk about the facts. They will be learning something other than the truth. They will not be able ★MIS-EDUCATION, Page 4
SPORTS
JUNE 6 – 12, 2010 | DEFENDER
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Max Edison
on Sports
Texan OTA Update Normally I wouldn’t do this, but since the Astros are 17 games below .500 and one of the worst teams in MLB, coupled with the fact that the Rockets have watched the entire playoffs the same way you have, from the sofa, I have to do something! The mighty Texans have just finished their second week of OTA’s (organized team activities). Imagine OTA’s as very large, rich men being involved in a very rough game of “two-below” touch football, with helmets and shorts, minus pads. They are designed to give players their first layer of insight into what they can expect in training camp (mid July). New players are introduced to the basic offensive and defensive formations as well as the pace of practice. Veterans knock off the off-season dust and get ready for another season of work. Coaches check to see if guys are in shape and if new guys have the aptitude to pick up on what the Texans want done. Wide receiver Jacoby Jones is one veteran whose play has caught the eye of the head coach. “He’s had an excellent OTA. He got some great work when (WR) Andre (Johnson) wasn’t here, and had some really good days. He looks like a better player than he was last year,” Kubiak shared. “I think he should be pushing (WR) Kevin (Walter) for a job. He’s pushing Kevin and pushing (WR) David (Anderson). He could be a very good player, but there’s another level for him to go reach. Hopefully, we’re heading there.” ★EDISON, Page 4
Darrell Ardison
on H.S. Sports It had to be deja’ vu with a better ending for former Astros All-Star second baseman Craig Biggio. Back in 2005, the Astros got off to a horrendous 15-30 start before righting the ship and advancing to the World Series for the only time in franchise history. Of course, the Chicago White Sox swept the Astros in four games and so much for a fairytale ending. Now in his second season as head coach at St. Thomas High School, Biggio watched his Eagles finish third in rugged TAPPS District 3-5A. Houston Christian came in first place and St. Pius was runnerup. All three schools advanced into the postseason. When the dust settled, those same three schools qualified for the state semifinal round along with Addison Trinity Christian. St. Thomas defeated St. Pius 2-1 to advance to the title game. Awaiting them was their nemesis Houston Christian, who had beaten them three times earlier this season. Hundreds of St. Thomas fans made the journey to Belton, where they were joined by Astros owner Drayton McLane. When the game was over and St. Thomas had put the finishing touches on a 7-5 victory, Eagles players stormed the field and piled on pitcher Jack Cordova while the fans roared their approval. ★ARDISON, Page 4
Salute to a legend
PV’s Barbara Jacket celebrated for her legacy By Max Edison DEFENDER
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Coach Barbara Jacket was named SWAC er name is synonymous with excellence in her sport. Her career Coach of the Year on 23 occasions and spanned over 25 years on the NAIA Coach of the Year five times and “Hill” at Prairie View as head coach of Jacket tutored 57 All-Americans. Her incredible success was not overWomen’s Track and Field. She’s Coach looked by her peers nationally. She Barbara Jacket, the illustrious forwas named head coach of the 1992 mer coach at PV. This Saturday, a U.S. Women’s Olympic Track group of her former student-athTeam during the Olympics, which letes are honoring her in a tribute ran from July 25-August 9 in banquet, Paying Homage to a Barcelona, Spain, the second Black Legend. female to coach an Olympic team. From 1965-1991, Coach Jacket’s team included: Jackie Jacket’s Lady Panther’s Track and Joyner-Kersee and sprinters Gwen Field teams accumulated an Barbara Jacket Torrance, Gail Devers, and Evelyn unprecedented string of champiAshford. The Women’s team won onships, both indoor and outdoor. To say Jacket’s reign was dominant is an overall: four Gold Medals, three Silver understatement. Her Lady Panther’s Medals, and three Bronze Medals - more claimed eight National Association of than any team since 1956. Mary Young, a 14-year veteran of the Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) outdoor titles and two indoor titles; won national Houston Police Department and a member titles in the Association of Intercollegiate of the last group coach Jacket coached, is Athletics for Women and the U.S. Track one of the event organizers. She explains and Field Federation; won eight why it was important to do something to Southwestern Athletic Conference salute the coach. “This program is something to pay trib(SWAC) cross country titles, nine indoor titles and five outdoor SWAC titles in track ute to Coach for the many roles she has fuland field. In total, the Lady Panther’s won 23 SWAC championships. ★SPORTS, Page 4
BARBARA JACKET: HIGHLIGHTS ■
PV Athletic Director from 1990-95, first female AD in the SWAC
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Won national titles in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women and the U.S. Track and Field Federation
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Won 8 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) cross country titles
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Nine indoor titles and five outdoor SWAC titles in track and field
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Lead the Lady Panther's won 23 SWAC championships
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Named SWAC Coach of the Year on 23 occasions
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NAIA Coach of the Year five times
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Coach of the 1992 U.S. Women's Olympic Track Team, Barcelona, Spain
The Boys and Girls of summer on the Diamond By Darrell K. Ardison DEFENDER
After guiding her team to the Class 5A softball state championship game a year ago, Pearland head coach Laneigh Clark has the Lady Oilers knocking on the door again. The District 22-5A champions advanced to the regional finals by sweeping Katy (4-2, 6-4) in a best-of-three regional semifinal series. Katy Taylor swept past Elkins (1-0, 3-0) in the other regional semifinal. Taylor was Laneigh Clark the third-place team out of District 17-5A. Junior pitcher Jessica Bowden survived early control problems and went the distance in Jessica the seriesBowden clinching victory for Pearland. Bowden added two hits and her RBI single in the bottom of the first inning gave the Oilers’ a 1-0 advantage. Two blown assignments on suicide-bunt attempts and base-running miscues hounded Katy’s comeback. Yet Pearland was fearless on the basepaths and junior Lauren Langner escaped a rundown to score another run.
Brazoswood defeats Pearland in Region III-5A baseball quarterfinals. “Lauren is great at making things happen out on the bases and she did that again today,” Clark said. “Just being real feisty and real aggressive and hoping something happens by putting the pressure on Katy. I thought my kids did a good job of that for a couple of innings.” Katy threatened to score in nearly every inning except the last one. Clark had junior Brook Dubois warm up on a number of occasions, but stuck with the resourceful Bowden. “I credit their coaching staff and team for scouting Jessica very well,” Clark said. “They made
some changes from yesterday’s game to today’s game. Obviously, it’s hard to come out here and pitch two intense games back-toback. Overall, I thought she did a pretty good job. She fielded her position well and she came up with two hits. “Yet I was pretty close to bringing Brooke in because she’s a different type of pitcher,” Clark said. “She’ll keep the batters off-balanced by throwing off-speed pitches. But at the end (of the game) I felt we had momentum going our way and I was going to stick with Jessica until they got a few more base runners. But I had
no problem going with Brooke at all.” Clark reiterated that it felt great to be in the regional finals. “I’m going to tell the kids the same thing I’ve been saying all year long and that’s one game at a time, one game at a time,” Clark said. “That’s all we can do along with believe in one another and hopefully good things will happen. What we do best is put the ball in play and hope people make mistakes.” Pearland, 34-6-1, defeated Baytown Lee (1-0) in the first ★THE DIAMOND, Page 4
SPORTS
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continued from page 3 filled in the lives of so many student-athletes,” Young explained. “She’s been an Olympic coach, an educator, a mother-figure and at times, even a baby sitter. The program will be like a visual book of her accomplishments. We want to express what the student-athletes saw that many in the public were not ordinarily aware of. The many ways she helped develop us, not just as track athletes, but people.” Young counts herself as exhibit #1 of what the influence of Barbara Jacket can do to motivate one to achieve. “I may have been the youngest athlete Miss Jacket ever had. I finished Madison (High School) at 16 and I was 16 years old when I arrived at PV in the fall of 1985,” Officer Young recalled. “I didn’t have a drivers license, social security card, didn’t have anything. She took a personal interest in me as a mother-figure and literally took me in. I ran the 400 meters and the 4x400 relay. Because of her influence, I got my undergrad degree, a Masters degree and now a PhD.” For the success that Coach Jacket enjoyed, it was tough sledding early in her career as head coach. Carol Alford, a member of her second team in 1968 remembers those lean days. “We didn’t win a lot in those early years. Texas Southern, Alcorn State, those were the better teams back then,” Alford recalled. “Remember, this was before Title 9, so most of our athletes came directly from PE classes. Personally, I never ran track in high school (Texarkana). Frank Yepp, one of the financial aid advisers noticed me running to & fro across campus and recommended me to Miss Jacket. As a result, I joined the team.” “We didn’t have a lot of team success back then. I ran and placed in the 100 (yds.), 440 (yds.) and 440 relay,” Alford continued. “Nineteen-seventy was when our team really began to take off. That team was: Charlene Foster (Hillsboro, TX.), Charlene Branch (Brookshire, TX.), Debra Sapenter (Turkey),
The Diamond
continued from page 3 round of the playoffs, Clements in the area round (4-0, 4-2) and Deer Park (1-0) in the regional quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Katy Taylor’s run to the regional finals has been fueled by senior Callie Lazarine. In the regional quarterfinals against District 17-5A champion Cinco Ranch, a team that had beaten Taylor twice during the regular season, Lazarine provided two run-scoring doubles as the Mustangs prevailed 2-1 in a one-game playoff. “It’s always good to see your senior leader come through,” said Taylor coach Billie Powell. “She’s the one they look up to anyway. To see her come through like that is fun to watch.” Facing Elkins in game one of the Class 5A Region III semifinal series at Foster High School, Lazarine led off the bottom of the second inning with a home run. The Mustangs made that one tally hold up in a 1-0 victory with their
Mis-education continued from page 2
swing (should) be narrower and let history speak for itself. What students are taught should not be the handmaiden of political ideology. “We have allowed ideology to drive and define the standards of our curriculum in Texas.” Other items within the proposed curriculum included the lauding of conservative institutions such as the Moral Majority, the National Rifle Association and the Contract with America with no counterbalance from the progressive perspective. Another states that President Thomas Jefferson’s contribution to the writing of the U.S. Constitution did not promote the concept of the Separation of Church and State, as believed before by many historians. The actions of 1950s Senator Joseph McCarty, whose anti-Communist campaign resulted in the blacklisting of several Americans – many of them African Americans - will be recorded as justified, even though many of the blacklisting were deemed inaccurate and McCarthy left the Senate in disgrace. The “Double V Campaign” of African American World War II veterans promoting to fight for equality both at home, as well as abroad, was “gutted from the current TEKS draft.” Amendments have to be placed to keep the curriculum from removing the works of Thurgood Marshall, the nation’s first Black Supreme Court justice and the lead attorney behind the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education case and Caesar Chavez, the highly heralded labor organizer and
Coach Jacket receives another award for her many achievements. Mary Wallace (Centerville, TX.), Carol Cummings (Jamaica), Willie Franklin (Van Vleck, TX.), and Brookshanell Jackson (LaGrange, TX.) and myself. We won the Texas Relays that year. That was the beginning of big things for Coach Jacket and our team.” Alford, a coach and educator for over 35 years, believes Jacket’s strong sense of family and hard-driving work ethic were the keys to the coach’s success and the success of the team. “Coach Jacket is an outstanding family-oriented person, an outstanding daughter and sister. She had no children of her own, but she helped with her brother’s children and I think in many ways, she considered us her children. She always talked to us about how to properly carry ourselves as young ladies. Remember, most of our girls were from small towns and this was our first time in many instances being away from home. She believed in hard work and education. If you check the record, well over 90 percent of her girls graduated from
Prairie View.” For All-American Debra Melrose, Coach Jacket and Prairie View were the natural choice. “I was fortunate enough to go to the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada as a guest representative,” Melrose explained. “Being from Austin, I had seen Prairie View and Debra Sapenter run in the Texas Relays on many occasions. When I saw Debra run and medal (silver) in Montreal, I knew Prairie View was the place for me. My high school coach had left and took over as the head coach at the University of Texas, so everyone assumed I would follow them, but PV was the place for me.” Melrose and her class welcomed the next wave of talent for Coach Jacket to mold. “I was a member of the class that included Essie Kelly and Pat Jackson. I was a member of the 4 x 100 relay, the 4 x 200 relay, the 4 x 400 relay, I long-jumped, did the 100 hurdles and
defense taking center stage. Each time Elkins threatened to score, Taylor came up with a big out. Left fielder Aisha Graham made a diving catch in the top of the second to rob Donielle Breaux of a hit. Catcher andi Stallard threw out runners attempting to steal in the fourth and fifth innings. Graham and Stallard combined on the biggest defensive play of the game in the top of the seventh inning. With D.J. Hooks on second base, Breaux singled to left. Graham fielded the ball and made the throw home where Stallard tagged out Hooks to end the game. “Defense has been our forte,” Powell said. “And through the playoffs, it has been different players making those big plays.” The next day Taylor clinched the series with a 3-0 victory. In boys baseball, nationally-ranked Bellaire ran into a buzzsaw against Memorial in the Region III-5A quarterfinals. Lefthanded pitcher Mike Cotton provided 6 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in the first game of
Hispanic rights activist. The curriculum also purports that the gains made in the women and civil rights movements were more because of White-male benevolence instead of the courageous and death-defying sacrifices made by its leaders. “Minimizing or misrepresenting African-American and Latino culture and history can lead to distorted beliefs regarding our fellow Americans,” Jealous said. “And it can lead students from those ethnic groups to have a skewed picture of themselves and their place in the world. Studies of high school dropout rates have shown that students became disengaged with classes because what they were learning didn’t seem relevant to their lives.” Another amendment revealed that President Barack Obama’s full name was previously absent from the high school curriculum. Republican member David Bradley motioned to further include Obama’s middle name “Hussein” into the amendment, for what Democratic trustees felt was for a wrong motive of stirring up the same controversy Obama endured during his presidential campaign. After debate, Bradley said: “I’ll put an end to the whining. I’ll withdraw the motion.” Constantly, throughout the last several months, Democratic trustees Knight and Berlanga,” along with Rene Nunez (El Paso), Rick Agosto (San Antonio) and Lawrence Allen, Jr. (Houston) have been defeated in a string of 10-5 votes in their attempt to derail the conservative measures, with one of the moderate trustees occasionally siding with them, still resulting in 9-6 losing votes. The board considered the more that 20,000 responses and worked on many of the
the 400 hurdles, which was one of my strongest events. There was a lot of pressure coming in following the group that included Sapenter, Mary Airs, Shirley Williams and Cookie. These ladies were awesome athletes, American record holders. It was phenomenal that our class was able to set the world indoor record in the mile relay. We set a lot of American records. Most of us were ranked around the country in our individual events. Some of us, like Essie and myself, were ranked in more than one event. We continued the tradition and Coach Jacket was instrumental in that.” For Melrose as well, Jacket was more than just a coach. “I came from Austin, a family of fifteen. My dream was to come to Prairie View and run for Miss Jacket. I was a brainiac with athletic ability, but I was very self- conscious and intimidated because I had a stuttering problem. Coach Jacket was very instrumental in helping me overcome those feelings. Her ability in being able to see the best in us and make us see it, both on the track and in life is truly a blessing. She was like our mom away from home. She was hard on us, she expected a lot from us and she always made all of us believe we were winners. She would always remind us, “Nobody remembers second place”. Even though Barbara Jacket is finally retiring, Melrose is sure her legacy will live on indefinitely. “It’s amazing that so many of Coach Jacket’s former athletes have emulated her and gone into education and coaching and are very good coaches,” Melrose said. “Coach used to always say ‘be careful what you do now because it will affect your life later.’ I’ve gotten a Masters degree and I’ve been teaching and coaching for 30 years. Now, it’s so positive because people like myself and other former athletes are sending young people back to Prairie View. I’m in middle school now and my babies are competing and I’m telling them about Coach Jacket. She has set a great legacy for us to follow. I’m glad she’s finally totally retiring. Her impact will last on and on!”
a best-of-three series as the Mustangs defeated the Cardinals 6-3. Memorial coach Jeremy York called on Cotton just eight batters into the first inning after starter Nick Bergmann walked four and allowed three runs. The 5-foot-7 Cotton got the final out of the inning, then proceeded to pitch three-hit baseball on a season-high 78 pitches the rest of the way to keep the Cardinals off the scoreboard. “I knew I had to throw strikes. That’s what we preach and I kept reminding myself of that between innings,” Cotton said. Cotton struck out four and walked one, hit a batter and allowed one runner past second base in the final six innings. “He has accepted his role and good things happen to good people when they accept that role,” York said. In other boys action, the big bats of Brazoswood bombarded Pearland (14-0, 10-2) to secure a berth in the regional semifinals against Memorial.
over 400 amendments that were recommended to tweak the curriculum, many of them at the 11th hour before the May 21 vote, which upset trustees. “I don’t know of anyone that would be accepting cut-and-paste material now,” Berlanga said. “I don’t think a teacher would accept that from a student.” Allen made a motion to delay the vote until this July, with moderate trustee Bob Craig (Lubbock) actually seconding the motion. Still, the motion was defeated 8-6, followed by the conservative side passing the curriculum for elementary, middle school and high school. The conservative board members held their positions throughout the debate. Don McLeroy (R-College Station) said the revisions, albeit lastminute, was proof that the curriculum was valid, calling any diminishing of minority representation as “clearly false.” “We have corrected the imbalance and are heading straight in the right direction,” McLeroy said. “Children need to know what makes the country so great and unique.” Cargill (R-The Woodlands) spoke about the amendment that will teach high school students not the “effects” of the free enterprise market economy, but its “benefits” in world history, without any counter argument. “This is one of the most important things we teach our students, to value free enterprise,” said Barbara Cargill (R), author of the contentious lastminute addition. “By delaying this process we’re doing nothing but increasing the amount of disagreement,” said Cargill. “Because we’re never going to agree.”
Ardison
continued from page 3 Biggio had a lot of great baseball moments during his amazing career, and now he can add coaching a team to a state title to the list. The state championship is the Eagles’ fifth. They also won in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2008. Biggio said he had heard the Houston area was a hotbed for high school baseball. Yet now he gets to see it first-hand. “From The Woodlands to Pearland to Katy to Sugar Land – Houston has a lot of really good (high school) baseball teams,” he said. “Now I get to see them and it really is remarkable to see what these kids are doing. There is so much talent here.”
Edison
continued from page 3 Defensively, first round pick Kareem Jackson has not disappointed. “He’s been good. He’s been way ahead of a lot of the guys who come in here that are young,” Kubiak continued. “He’s been coached extremely well, so he’s way ahead from that standpoint. A lot is being asked of him, and he’s getting a ton of reps and working with the first group, but our expectations are very high of him.” Bad News on Cullen Houston Cougar running back Charles Sims has been ruled ineligible for the 2010 season by the NCAA, school officials announced earlier this week. Sims will remain a student at the University but will not compete in any games for the Cougars. When he returns, he will have two years of eligibility left. Sims, who was expected to challenge for the starting spot, joined the Cougars out of Houston’s Westbury High School a year ago, as a true freshman. He competed in 14 games, rushing for 698 yards and nine touchdowns. Head coach Kevin Sumlin praised Sims for his attitude during the situation and expects Sims to continue to have a positive impact on his teammates.
CLASSIFIED REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSALS REQUEST FOR BIDS: Project Name:W.R. Banks First Floor Remodel, Project No. PV-0456 at Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX. Estimated project cost: $840,000.00. SCOPE OF WORK: Remodel the first floor to include, but not limited to: walls, carpentry, carpet, wallpaper,vct,lighting,electrical,HVAC,DATA,security, communication, etc.. RECEIPT OF BIDS: Sealed Proposals will be received by Prairie View A&M University, Procurement & Contract Services, W.R. Banks, Room 129 L.W. Minor Street, or mailed to Procurement & Contract Services, Mail Stop #1311 P.O. Box 0519 Prairie View,Texas 77446. BIDS DUE: All bids are due Wednesday, July 7, 2010 between hours of 12:00a.m.-2:00p.m., one hour before bids are to be read. PROPOSAL READING: Wednesday,July 7,2010 @ 3:00 p.m. publicly open and read aloud at Physical Plant Administration Building Room 111 located on Anne Preston at Reda Bland Evans Street. PREBID CONFERENCE: Meeting will be held Wednesday, June 23, 2010 @ 10:00 a.m., in Room 111, Physical Plant Administration Building, Anne Preston Street & Reda Bland Evans Street, Prairie View, TX 77446. Single prime contract award. Non-mandatory attendance. INFORMATION AND BIDDING DOCUMENTS: Studio Red Architects, 1320 McGowen, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.622.5333 phone, 713.255.8753 fax, DBR Engineering Consultants, 9990 Richmond Avenue, South Building, Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77042,713.914.0888 phone,7139140886 fax and Construction & Planning Office. Bidding documents obtained from Prairie View A&M University Physical Plant Administration Building, Construction & Planning Office Rm 114. Non-Refundable Plan Deposit: $50.00 per set. Check or Money Order Only for General Contractors & Subcontractors. Checks made payable to: Prairie View A&M University Construction & Planning Office. If you desire bids to be mailed to you , please include a fed-ex number for S&H. Mail to Channen McGary, Physical Plant Administration Building Construction & Planning Office, Prairie View A&M University, Mail Stop #1411, P.O. Box 519, Prairie View, Texas 77446, 936.261.9170, e-mail: cmcgary@pvamu.edu It is the intent of the Texas A&M University System that Historically Underutilized Businesses be afforded every opportunity to participate in its construction projects as prime contractors, subcontractors and/or suppliers.
OUR HEALTH
JUNE 6 – 12, 2010 | DEFENDER
5
A Defender & Texas Children’s Hospital Alliance
Long-sleeved shirts, long pants and hats can help protect your child from bug bites.
A
lthough it is fun to spend more time outside during the summer months, the threat of bug bites increases during this time of year. You can avoid getting bitten by: • Avoiding the outside during dawn, dusk and in the evening. • Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants and hats when outside. Tuck in your shirt. • Using a bug spray that contains DEET on your skin, clothes, shoes and outdoor gear. • Getting rid of things around your house that collect water, such as empty flowerpots, so the bugs won’t be attracted. If you or your child gets a bug bite: • Wash your hands and your child’s hands. • Wash the bite and surrounding area with soap and water. • Do not scratch the bite. • Use anti-itch cream to help soothe the itching. • Call your child’s doctor if you think the bite is infected. Skin infections may cause tenderness, pain and swelling at the site of the infected bite. The infection can spread and cause your child to have fever and chills. If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, call your child’s pediatrician or nurse.
Preventing cellulitis in children Cellulitis is an infection at the deepest of infection. If the infection spreads, you may layer of the skin. The infection is caused by have fever and chills along with swollen bacteria which can get into your body through lymph nodes. If you notice any of these sympbroken skin such as a cut, toms in your child, call your scratch, animal bite or a bug child’s pediatrician or nurse. bite if you scratch it. It is important to take preUsually, when you scratch cautions while outside. Use bug or get a bug bite, just the top Cellulitis can repellent if your child will be occur anywhere playing outdoors. Try to prelayer of the skin is affected and it will clear up on its own. But on the body, most vent your child from picking at if the infection goes deeper, it often on the legs, old scabs and scratching the face or arms. becomes cellulitis and all three areas that have been bitten by layers of the skin can become mosquitoes or insects. Wash the areas with soap and water and red, swollen and tender. Cellulitis can occur anywhere on the body, use an antibiotic or an anti-itch cream or most often on the legs, face or arms. lotion. Cut your child’s fingernails so that Some symptoms of cellulitis include ten- germs and bacteria can’t be carried to other derness, pain, swelling and redness at the site parts of the body.
FACT
Source: eMedicine Health
Help your kids stay safe while surfing the Internet
Even small children enjoy helping to prepare healthy meals in the kitchen.
Cooking with your child Cooking with your child can be fun. Your child can help you and learn at the same time. The more your child gets to help in the kitchen, the more likely your child will want to continue to help in the kitchen as they get older. Here are a few tips to help make cooking fun for you and your child. Make it easy for your child to help in the kitchen. Let your child stand on a stool or chair to reach the counter or move the work to a lower table. Dress the part. Tie a small apron or big towel around your child or dress your child in an old shirt. This will keep your child clean. Make food your child likes to eat. Preparing food your child likes to eat makes cooking in the kitchen fun. Easy recipes include lemonade, cookies, brownies, cakes, scrambled eggs, pancakes and dips. Show them how to measure. Even if your child
can’t fill a measuring spoon or cup on his or her own, you can show your child how it’s done and let your child do the pouring into the bowl or pot. Give them the fun tasks. Let your child squeeze lemons, sprinkle in cheese or spices, spread icing or crack eggs. Let your child set up the table for meals. There are many things your child can do such as set placemats, carry plates and fold and place napkins on the table. Make cleanup fun. Your child can help wash or rinse dishes, dry pots with a towel, load the dishwasher or sponge down a counter. Let your child sweep up with a short-handled broom and dustpan. This also teaches that cleaning up is part of the cooking process. Manage your kitchen. You should handle using the knives or cooking the food on the stove or in the oven. .
About Texas Children’s Hospital Texas Children’s Hospital is committed to a community of healthy children by providing the finest pediatric patient care, education and research. Renowned worldwide for its expertise and breakthrough developments in clinical care and research, Texas Children’s is ranked in the top ten best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. For more information on Texas Children’s Hospital, visit www.texaschildrens.org.
With children home for the summer, many will be spending time online. Make sure your children follow these important rules to help keep them safe on the Internet. • Never give out personal information in a chat room, bulletin board, interactive game or public site. Personal information includes your name, your family or friends’ names, your address, your school, your sports teams or activities or your telephone number. • Never send a picture of yourself to someone you chat with on the computer without a parent’s permission. • Do not meet someone or have them visit you without the permission of your parent. • If you get an e-mail or a message from someone that you don’t know, don’t open it and tell an adult. It is important for parents to supervise • Remember that children while they are using a computer. people online may not be who they say they are or how old they say they are. If you only know a person online, then they are a stranger to you. Even if you talk to them a lot and you think you know them, you don’t. You can’t trust them the way you can a friend from school or from your neighborhood. • Inform your parents right away if you read anything on the Internet that makes you feel uncomfortable. Source: www.fbi.gov
OUR HEALTH
6
Tips for summer safety on wheels
Experts offer tips for safe use of fireworks
Although many cities – including Houston – do not allow individuals to set off their own fireworks, many families travel outside of the city to celebrate the Fourth of July. To help you celebrate safely this Independence Day, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Council of Fireworks Safety offer the following safety tips: • • • • • •
Have an adult present. Buy from reliable sources. Use outdoors only. Always have water or a fire extinguisher handy. Light only one firework at a time. Never re-light a “dud” firework (wait 15 to 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water). • Never give fireworks to small children. • Dispose of fireworks by soaking them in water and then disposing of them in your trashcan. • Never throw or point fireworks at other people. • Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers. Remember, fireworks are not allowed in some areas and during burn bans. Make sure you know and obey the laws wherever you go. Source: National Council on Fireworks Safety
JUNE 6 – 12, 2010 | DEFENDER
Ensure your child is wearing appropriate safety gear before they play on bikes, scooters, skates or skateboards.
Riding on skateboards, scooters and in-line skates can be a lot of fun, but children need to be careful so they do not get hurt. Ensure children follow the safety tips below so they can have fun and be safe at the same time: • Always wear safety gear including a helmet, knee, elbow pads and wrist guards. • Make sure that skateboards, scooters and inline skates are safe. Parents should check them before allowing children to ride. • Ride or skate only on smooth, dry surfaces. Avoid riding or skating on sand, dirt, gravel or other bumpy surfaces or on oily or wet surfaces. • Learn how to control speed, turn and stop. • Wear bright clothing so others can see you. • Do not skate at night. • Do not ride or skate in the street or on busy sidewalks. • Always ride or skate on the right-hand side of sidewalks, bike paths and trails. • Always pass people on the left and remember to say, “passing on the left,” before passing. • Be careful going downhill. If a hill is steep, walk to the bottom carrying your skates or skateboard. • Obey local signs and laws and skate or ride only where those activities are allowed.
Summer is a good time for well-child visits If your child has not had a well-child checkup this year, summer is a good time for this important visit. A well visit is not the same as a sick visit or sports physical. During a well-child checkup, the doctor will: • Ask questions about the child’s health • Measure the child’s height, weight and blood pressure • Perform a physical exam and screenings • Check to see if immunizations are up to date
• Ask about the child’s development and eating habits • Give you information about nutrition and safety Well-child visits play an important part in keeping a child healthy. They give parents a chance to ask questions, and they also help your doctor get to know your child’s needs. Call to schedule a well-child checkup before the start of the new school year. And don’t forget to make annual dental Schedule your child’s well-child visit and vision appointments for your child during the summer break so they will as well. be ready for the new school year.
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JUNE 6 – 12, 2010 | DEFENDER
MLK
the corner in the 4600 block of OST. ACTION CDC Inc., founded by continued from page 1 Minister Robert Muhammad, is prodents along the Upper MLK Corridor. posing a new mixed-use development The forum will be held on Saturday, June to be constructed on a partially wood12 from 2-4pm at the Shrine Cultural ed, 2.3 acre tract of land near Center and Bookstore located at 5309 Macgregor Park. The development MLK Blvd, Houston, TX 77021. Forum seeks to provide much needed low to participants include representatives from moderate income housing in the METRO, KIPP Inc., the Houston Texans Greater Third Ward Community, as YMCA, the Houston Public Library, well as to provide commercial lease HISD’s Peck Elementary, Oasis Intown, space on the emerging redevelopment the Greater Southeast Management of the OST thoroughfare. District and the Shrine. The June 12 forum is being organ“The Upper MLK Revitalization ized by the Shrine Christian Center to Project is something that we have provide community residents with worked on and others, including TIRZ information regarding the present and #7, the Greater Southeast Management future benefits of the numerous Upper District, and numerous very active area MLK projects. In addition, Nelson civic clubs, in terms of its component seeks to promote the multiple developparts,” said Reverend Don Kimathi ment projects as a model for neighborThe Oasis Intown is hoping to lure young black professionals to Nelson, presiding bishop of the Shrine hood revitalization in urban areas the area. Christian Center’s national constellation across the country. of churches. “What we’re trying to do is “Our communities suffer from a lack create an identity for the convergence of of a viable model. For us that model is offer a place where people can feel like they projects and give it greater meaning and signifithe role that a church can play in dealing with the belong.” cance than the significance of the individual projmodern problems that confront our communities. The development projects along MLK Blvd. ects. It’s really redefining an area. It’s not just a A lot of the models of how churches are to operate between OST and Griggs Rd. include the total renlibrary, a school, and a light rail. If you build a in a community are antiquated and don’t really ovation of Peck Elementary, which was originally building, that’s not necessarily lifting the spirits of touch on the human need today. So we’re trying to scheduled for closure, and the building of KIPP people. If you start a business, that’s not necessary establish the viable model of how a church can help Liberation’s Bob Lanier Campus. Construction of uplifting the community. What we’re interested in revitalize a community in the hope that that model the KIPP school offers the community its first new is the community effect. We’re in the people buildcan be understood, repeated and magnified in comschool construction in over 30 years. ing business and we’re trying to uplift people.” munities nationally. We ourselves have churches Educational upgrades, however, are not the only Part of that community uplift involves meeting across the country that will try to repeat this model, things taking place along the Upper MLK corridor tangible needs, such as transportation and econombut it’s not just about our church,” said Nelson, who that hold the potential of having a direct impact on ic revitalization issues. Donna Lane, METRO’s oversees the Shrine’s churches in Houston, Atlanta, area businesses as well as neighborhood residents. stakeholder affairs representative, believes light rail Detroit and Calhoun Falls, SC. Ed Taravella, president of TARACORP and 2005 expansion down MLK Blvd. will go a long way “In the 50s, the Shrine created a model of theolrecipient of the Greater Houston Builders toward facilitating both. ogy. Now, we’re trying to create a model of minAssociation’s “Developer of the Year” award, is co“With the implementation of the METRO istry in a time of difficulty and despair where peofounder of the Oasis Intown gated community, a Solutions plan and the construction of new light rail ple are squandering, trying to survive. sight rarely seen in urban areas. lines, METRO is a partner in the revitalization of Economically, our collective wealth has dwindled. “I had some business partners originally from the Houston and, more specifically, the community Psychologically we’re staving off depression. MLK Blvd. area who informed me that younger along MLK Blvd.,” said Lane. “This partnership Children are growing up thinking they can’t Black urban professionals who had a desire to includes improvements METRO is bringing to the achieve. So revitalization is something we need in move back to the neighborhoods where they grew area including: the Southeast light rail line, a dramatic way. Educationally, our children are up but sought luxury homes were under-served improved bus service, and improved infrastructure still dropping out of high school when that is totalbecause there were really no alternatives,” said – all of which bring other benefits to the area.” ly unacceptable; going to prison in record numbers. Taravella. “We offer a product no one is really The new Southeast light rail line will provide We have to revitalize people if they want to live a offering, single family homes, not condos, not town overall mobility and connectivity to some of the meaningful and productive life. Any hope we have homes, with the amenities and a big back yard major activity centers in Southeast Houston. It will as a people must first come in the form of hope to young professionals are looking for. We offer be 6.6 miles long, traveling between Palm Center the individual person,” said Nelson, who believes detached, two-story homes with lots of space, and a and Downtown. Ten light rail stations will provide the Upper MLK revitalization efforts offer just that. private park that adds to the overall quality of the access to important destinations such as KIPP Though fellow development participants may living experience.” Houston’s Bob Lanier Campus, University of not have goals as grand and far-reaching as The boon in area development, many believe, Houston, Texas Southern University, the Shrine, Nelson’s they are all invested in the success of their played a role in HISD’s decision to renovate Peck MacGregor Park, and Downtown. ventures, the community, and the upcoming forum. rather than close it down. This same area investThe construction of the Southeast light rail line, The YMCA’s Graham wants forum participants ment may have helped convince members of the along with improved bus service to the Southeast to leave more informed about what the YMCA Houston Public Library to choose the lot diagonalarea, includes approximately $70 million dollars of actually does. ly to the Houston Texans YMCA as the site for the infrastructure improvements—new traffic lights, “There seems to be a lot of misconceptions about relocation of the Alice M. Young Library. paved streets, sidewalks and crosswalks—METRO what we do,” shared Graham. “I want people to Even amid recent cutbacks, the Houston Public is making to the Southeast community. know we offer holistic programs and a sense of Library (HPL) has committed to relocating its METRO has also invited Houston’s small busicommunity.” Young branch in the space once owned by recently nesses to participate in construction by committing Taravella and Lane want forum participants to deceased community icon, Adell Maxie, who, for to 35 percent small business goal for eligible conview their respective projects as area enhanceyears, ran Maxie’s Barbershop. HPL and the City struction contracts, providing a minimum of $300 ments. of Houston are in the process of designing a million in contracts for small businesses. “The forum is a good opportunity for the comreplacement facility for the Young Neighborhood Joining METRO in the revitalization of the area munity to get a vision for what light rail can be, Library, which will contribute to the revitalization is the YMCA and their partnership effort with the what it will look like, and the possibilities and of the area and complement other neighborhood Houston Texans. opportunities it will afford,” said Lane. development. “We at the YMCA wanted to stay in the commuThe Saturday forum is free and open to the pubThe new Young Neighborhood Library, expected nity, and the corner of MLK and Griggs was lic and is part of the Shrine’s Restoration Weekend to open fall 2012, will be approximately 20,000 viewed as a prime location,” said Priscilla Graham, featuring the grand re-opening of its sanctuary on square feet, 12,000 square feet bigger than the curexecutive director of the Houston Texans YMCA. Sunday, June 13 beginning at 11am. The Shrine rent Young Library facility in Palm Center, and will “Several partners, including former mayor Bill Christian Center sanctuary is located at 5313 MLK be comparable to the largest neighborhood libraries White were instrumental in choosing that location.” Blvd. in the HPL system. In fact, it will exceed the size of With a new, state-of-the-art facility scheduled to “We’re trying to show there are things that can be three of HPL’s regional libraries. The new facility open in December 2010, the YMCA along with done to give people options and hope to overturn will have more meeting space than any other neightheir NFL partners the Texans, hope to be viewed as our circumstances. Most people, when they hear borhood library, more public computers than any a valued community fixture. MLK revitalization think of infrastructure. We’re other HPL location except the Central Library, sep“Though we are a membership organization we thinking about that also, but even more so we’re arate adult, children’s, and teen areas, and a large need the community to support us to be successful. focused on the revitalization of people and the meeting room for 200 people with a projector and Our programs offer Judeo-Christian ethics in praccommunity,” added Nelson. screen, as well as a small meeting room for 25 peotice, seeking to develop the mind, body and spirit— ple. the whole person,” said Graham. “Too often it Adding to the growth of the area is a proposed seems we’ve lost a sense of community, but we development planned for construction right around
VOLUME 79 • NUMBER 32 JUNE 6 – 12, 2010 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles
Columnist Yvette Chargois
Editor Von Jiles
Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison
Associate Editor ReShonda Billingsley Art Director Cale Carter
Contributing Writers Aswad Walker Webmaster Corneleon Block
The Houston Defender Newspaper published by The Houston Defender Inc. Company (713) 663-6996. The Defender audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscriptions, send $60.00 — 1 year, to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston, TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All materials covered by 2010copyright... (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
Contracts
continued from page 1 procurement data. Additionally, we must expand outreach strategies to alert small firms to Federal contracting opportunities.” The Obama memo addresses many of the issues on which Black media owners have been seeking action from the White House. It includes directives that were addressed in Executive Order 13170 issued by President Bill Clinton in October 2000. That executive order required all executive branch agencies, including the military, to engage in affirmative action to include minority-owned businesses in the procurement of advertising. Groups, including the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters and the National Newspaper Publishers Association, in April called for enforcement of the Clinton executive order in the allocation of hundreds of millions of dollars in Federal advertising. The Obama directive also calls for the creation of a Website within 90 days that will monitor the progress of the Task Force and “that illustrates the participation of small businesses, including those owned by women, minorities, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and service-disabled veterans of our Armed Forces, in Federal contracting.” For full text of the presidential memo, please go to www.Targetmarketnews.com. Ken Smikle is president and founder of Target Market News.
Jobs crisis
continued from page 1 16.5 percent remains unchanged, and unemployment among Black women is rising while the rate for teenagers remains elevated.” Morial noted that the percentage of long-term unemployed - 27 weeks or longer - rose to 45.9 percent of the total unemployed. “The level of long-term unemployed is unprecedented and points to a core group who are being left out of the growth in jobs,” he said. The real unemployment rate - the officially unemployed plus the underemployed and those no longer looking for work - is 17.1 percent. Morial said President Obama’s leadership, particularly with regard to the Recovery Act, has begun to lift the country out of the crisis, but more needs to be done if every segment of society is to share in the recovery. “The need for legislation could not be more clear, and a cost-benefit analysis shows the legislation would grow the economy and even trim the federal deficit through a combination of savings and increased revenue,” he said. The analysis is available on the National Urban League’s new State of Urban Jobs website, at www.nul.org/content/state-urbanjobs. Morial said the National Urban League launched the website to bring the jobs crisis into sharper focus, highlight the League’s Plan for Job Creation, and provide a forum for the unemployed. In addition to analysis and data, the site includes a jobs bank and help for job seekers.
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A NEW HOUSE IN GREATER FIFTH WARD…….The Julia C. Hester House has served as a beacon of hope and community leadership for thousands of families and youth for almost 70 years. Recently, the board of directors held a historic ground breaking ceremony for new facilities, to be completed in five phases. The new house and facilities will continue its legacy of service by expanding its educational and service programs for youth and families. The $5 million investment is a combination of contributions from the private and public sectors, including The Houston Endowment, various foundations and the state. It will also include a new wellness and fitness center, gymnasium, additional space for current and new programs and a family park – in collaboration with Harris County and the City of Houston. Attending this historic event included State Representative Harold Dutton, Board Chair, Bruce Austin, Vice Chair Joy Kaplan, former Board Chair Patricia Roberts, former board members Ms. Chag and Dr. Albert Lemons, Executive Director Jennifer Holmes, Dorothy Edward, Allen Square, Wanda Wilson, Alvin Major, Carl Davis Patricia Prather, Charles Savage, Charles McCloud, Ella Toliver and Ardener Franshaw, to name a few. We salute the Julia C. Hester House!........PATH TO PROSPERITY……..Over 1,500 folks attended the 2010 Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance (WBEA) Expo at Reliant Center. They rolled out the “Path to Prosperity” green carpet for this year’s conference which is the largest event for women business owners in Texas. The day-long event was open to the public and featured over 150 exhibitors, one-on-one sessions with potential MBE suppliers and corporate buyers and an awards luncheon that recognized women businesses for their accomplishments. A special salute to Phyllis Bailey, President of 3B Resource Group on her nomination for the WBE Advocate of the Year award and Joi Beasley, President of GOGO Business Services on her nomination as Supplier of the Year for under $1 million in annual sales. Some of the attendees included Board of Director Hubert Jones, WBE Corporate Vice President and Director of Supplier Diversity with ConocoPhillips, Wanda Lockhart, Joel Clary, Crystal Martin, Donovan Casanave, Martanya Blair-Hyde, Kimberly Phillips and Angela Senegal. Great Expo!...........BDAY CELEBRATION…….GiGi Scott celebrated her big day with a crawfish boil and all the trimmings with family and friends. The beautiful backyard, including a private lake was the setting where hundreds of crawfish were consumed by guests including Meaghan Jackson, Jonathan Scott, Milton and Yava Scott, Roxanne Chargois, Michelle Peterson, Steven Peterson, Glenda Thibeaux, Cheryl Fleming and Gaye Patterson. This finger-licking dish was prepared by hubby, Leonard Scott and the more you ate, the more you enjoyed it. Happy BDay!........A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST…….The Aldine Y.O.U.T.H. recently celebrated their 20th Anniversary at the Hilton Houston North Hotel. The organization was formed to assist a lowincome community that had no accessible programs and services needed by the youth and families. Several years ago, after receiving a large grant from Houston Endowment they were able to move into a facility on Aldine Mail Route, where within a two mile radius there are 11 schools, five low-income apartment complexes and five sub-divisions. By recreating the village concept and partnering with schools, churches, businesses, agencies and talented volunteers, they now have over 25 much needed programs and still growing. Their future goals are to expand on these programs and help empower other low-income communities to replicate this valuable and effective model. Continued success!.........Have a great week and remember to watch CROSSROADS on Channel 13 Sunday morning with Melanie Lawson for your event covered by Ms. Chag. Also check out our website at defendernetwork.com to view the “Event of the Week.”…..From Chag’s Place to your place, Ciao Darling!
JUNE 6 – 12, 2010 | DEFENDER
Carl Davis and Patricia Prather
Former JCHH Board Members Patricia Roberts, Dr. Albert Lemons and Ms. Chag
Dorothy Edwards, Allen Square and Wanda Wilson
JCHH Board Chair Bruce Austin, Ex. Dir. Jennifer Holmes and State Rep. Harold Dutton
Charles Savage, Ben White and Charles McCloud
Jennifer Holmes and Board Member Joy Kaplan
Muriel Funches and Kim Davis
WBEA Board Member Hubert Jones and Donovan Casanave
B-Day Girl GiGi Scott and Leonard Scott
Alvin Major and Albert Lemons
Ella Toliver and Ardener Franshaw
After School Student Cailen Easley
Martanya Blair-Hyde, Kimberly Phillips and Angela Senegal
Wanda Lockhart, Joel Clary and Crystal Martin
Glenda Thibeaux, Cheryl Fleming and Gaye Patterson
Michelle Peterson and Steven Peterson