Houston Style Magazine Jan. 18, 2018 - Jan. 24, 2018
Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication
Volume 29 | Number 04
Complimentary
Jesse Jackson
Trump Doesn’t Understand What Makes America Truly Great
General Motors
Earns Top Honors in the IHS Markit Loyalty Awards
DJ Reader is On a Mission of Love
Cress Williams
Words by Jo-Carolyn Goode Photo Courtesy of DJ Reader Follow ollow Us #TeamStyleMag
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NABJ 2018 Winter Meeting
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The Importance of Playing a Black Superhero
HBCU Documentary Premiers at TSU Mayor’s VIP Reception
N E W S | C O M M E N TA R I E S | S P O R T S | H E A LT H | E N T E R TA I N M E N T
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Jan. 18- Jan 24, 2018 www.stylemagazine.com
Volume 29 | Number 04 | Jan. 18, 2018 - Jan. 24 2018
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My Black Is Beautiful
Publisher Francis Page, Jr. Associate Publisher Lisa Valadez
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Managing Editor Jo-Carolyn Goode editorial@stylemagazine.com Social Media Editor/Videographer Reginald Dominique reggiedominique@me.com
NATIONAL WRITERS
Jesse Jackson jjackson@rainbowpush.org Roland Martin www.rolandmartin.com
Black-ish
Judge Greg Mathis www.askjudgemathis.com
PHOTOGRAPHERS VICKY PINK vhpink@gmail.com
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William Ealy Williamealy1906@gmail.com Semetra Samuel semetra@artistikrebelcreative.com Mike Munoz artrepreneur91@gmail.com Robert Franklin editorial@stylemagazine.com
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COMMENTARY Trump Doesn’t Understand What Makes America Truly Great By Jesse Jackson, National Writer
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I am not a racist,” Donald Trump found it necessary to reassure Americans. It was a revealing echo of when Richard Nixon told us, “I’m not a crook.” Trump’s derogatory remarks about Haiti, El Salvador and African countries generally were extremely vulgar. Presidents are human; many have used vulgar phrases, although seldom so crudely. What’s striking about Trump’s insult is that it reveals how small and stunted his view of the world and of this country is. He simply doesn’t understand what makes America great. Trump sees the world through a keyhole, from behind a locked door embedded in a wall. Yet America’s greatness has come from maintaining an open door -- one that has allowed people and ideas to pass both in and out. America’s values -- liberty, equal justice under law, opportunity, freedom of speech and religion -- were and are beacons to the world. Americans are forged from those values, not from one bloodline or one race or religion. Our values have attracted the energy and the hopes of peoples across the world. And the American example opened doors to Americans across the world. Where Trump sees threats, Americans historically have seen opportunities. This country was not born in perfection. Slavery was its greatest scar. Our
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s battles over immigration and government spending advance with no solution in sight, Senate Democrats are being forced to decide whether they’d support a short-term measure to avert a government shutdown -- even if it doesn’t include protections for the hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants brought into the United States as children. A contingency of 2020 prospects -including California Sen. Kamala Harris, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand -- want to play hardball, refusing to vote for anything that doesn’t secure the fate of those who gained legal status under former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Their position matches a Democratic base that overwhelmingly supports protections for DACA participants and is eager to see lawmakers use every available tactic to pressure Trump.“Why are we kicking the can down the road?” Booker said Tuesday.But the 10 Democratic senators up for re-election this year in states Trump won in 2016 -- all of whom need to win over conservative voters -- may be less
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democracy initially was limited to white male landowners. It took a Civil War, our bloodiest war, to eliminate slavery. Waves of immigrants were often greeted harshly, segregated and scorned. It took a civil rights movement to end legal apartheid in this country. What makes America great is that our most basic rights, enshrined in the Constitution, laid the basis for and gave legitimacy to the social movements that have been necessary to make America better. Freedom of religion protected us from religious wars. Freedom of speech and assembly and of the press helped keep government and business accountable, while giving citizens the possibility of driving fundamental reforms. In his scorn for press freedom, his cancerous appeal to racial differences, Trump seems oblivious to this foundation of American greatness. America was not always a good neighbor. Our expansion across the continent exacted a harsh and savage toll on Native Americans. We traduced our own values in supporting dictators and overthrowing democracies even in our own hemisphere. We were not a colonial power, but we continued a colonial war in Vietnam at great cost. For years, we saw the terrorist apartheid regime of South Africa as an ally and branded Nelson Mandela a terrorist.
What makes America great is that Americans objected to these violations of our basic values. An antiwar movement helped end the war in Vietnam. A movement in support of free South Africa helped end apartheid in that country. We may violate our values, but they retain their force. Trump, however, seems too often oblivious to the values that he is trampling. America is a big country with an expansive vision, a country of many races, creeds and nationalities, a land of opportunity. We aspire to equal rights for all, yet we witness a growing and extreme inequality that threatens to undermine our democracy. Trump and his allies, as they lavish tax breaks on the already rich and empower multinationals to trample protections of consumers, workers and the environment, seem oblivious to how corrosive that is to the Republic. Some worry about Trump becoming a dictator, but he seems less dictatorial than scared, less imperious than impulsive, less arrogant than insecure. His vision is too cribbed to make America bigger or better or more generous. Leaders can choose. They can rise by appealing to our better angels, by offering
hope or gain by rousing our demons, by peddling fear. This country and the world are now experiencing a political whiplash. We elected Barack Obama, a graceful president who sought to bring us together, arguing that there were not blue states or red states, but a United States of America. And then, in reaction, Donald Trump was elected, railing against immigrants (even as immigration was declining) and Muslims, promising to build a wall, appealing to our fears. When Dr. King helped build the civil rights movement in the apartheid South, he had a deep and abiding faith in America and in American values. He could endure beatings and insults and arrests because he had an unshakeable confidence that the freedom movement was appealing to the best of America. It is that confidence that will move people of conscience to organize the movement needed to make Donald Trump, who so fuels racial division that he must assert that he is not a racist, a relic of America’s past, not the tribune of its future. You can write to the Rev. Jesse Jackson in care of this newspaper or by email at jjackson@rainbowpush.org. Follow him on Twitter @RevJJackson. Share this story online at stylemagazine. com.
Will 2020 Contenders Put Democrats In a Bind On DACA? By CNN/StyleMagazine.com
willing to force a government shutdown over immigration policy. “I’ll vote to keep the government open,” West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin said. “We’ve got people running for president all trying to find their base, and then you’ve got people from Trump states that are trying to continue to legislate the way we always have -- by negotiation,” Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, whose state Trump carried by 19 percentage points,told The New York Times. “And never the twain shall meet.” The clock is ticking, with government funding set to expire Friday. “I would hope we’d have all the things everybody agreed to,” Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy said Tuesday when he was asked that question. Pressed to clarify, he repeated: “I would hope we’d have something everybody has agreed to.” “I would hope the President and Republican leaders wouldn’t want to humiliate themselves by not going forward with what we agreed to,” Leahy said, turning around and acknowledging how vague he’d been as he walked into an elevator. “How’s that for a clear answer?” Democratic strategists involved in 2018 races acknowledged the complicated politics of
Jan. 18- Jan 24, 2018 www.stylemagazine.com
Donald Trump immigration but noted that protections for Dreamers are politically popular across the board and said Republicans -- who control all levers of government power -- would be blamed for a shutdown. But the positions of Harris, Booker and Gillibrand, all seen as viable prospects for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, have reflected the passion of the broader Democratic base -- which is young, diverse and overwhelmingly supportive of hard-line tactics against Trump and congressional Republicans. Those Democrats have dug in since Trump said at a private Oval Office meeting that
he wants immigrants from places like overwhelmingly white Norway -- and not from Africa.Booker on Tuesday ripped into Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen during a heated committee hearing, after Nielsen denied hearing Trump say the words “shithole” or “shithouse” in a White House meeting last week. Booker said Nielsen was “complicit” in the damage done by Trump’s reported insult. “When ignorance and bigotry is allied with power, it is a dangerous force in our country. Your silence and your amnesia is complicit in it,” Booker said.
Keep marching March because “darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.” March because “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” March because “hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Comcast celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with an exhibit inspired by his words. Take a virtual tour of the artwork created by Philadelphia area students by visiting VoicesOf TheCivilRightsMovement.com.
Personality rights and copyrights of Dr. King are used with the permission of The Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr., Inc. Represented by Greenlight. © 2018 Comcast. All rights reserved.
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LOCAL & STATE BRIEFS Tchanori Kone and Mom
Houston Winner of MLK Jr. Oratory Contest Appears On Good Morning America [ABC13.com]
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he student who won the 22nd annual MLK Jr. Oratory competition Jan. 12 made an appearance on “Good Morning America” Monday. Fifth grader Tchanori Kone attends Gregory-Lincoln elementary school. She was among the fourth and fifth grade students who performed an original speech inside the historic Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Christ in downtown Houston. Speaking to GMA co-anchor George Stephanopoulos, Kone and her mother, Tamdiwe, discussed what inspired her speech. “I was looking around in my community, and I saw a lot of homeless people living in tents under the bridge. I looked on TV, and I thought no one’s really doing anything about this,” Tchanori said.
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Austin school board member Edmund Gordon
School Board Asked to Censure Trustee in Confederate School Name Flap [Austin American-Statesman]
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ustin school district trustee Ann Teich asked fellow school board members Wednesday afternoon to consider censuring Trustee Ted Gordon for publicly criticizing the board. The request, made during a board operations meeting, is the latest move in ongoing clashes related to the trustees’ delay in deciding whether to remove the names of Confederate figures from five schools. Teich asked that the board officers — President Kendall Pace, Trustees Geronimo Rodriguez and Julie Cowan — schedule a discussion of a possible closed-door censure of Gordon at a future school board meeting. Teich said she wanted trustees to consider the censure “for his comments on two different separate occasions about the board of trustees, which includes all of us.
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Houston Judge Blocks Funding for Low-Income Clinics [StyleMagazine.com Newswire]
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entral Care Clinic’s lawyer Reginald McKamie tells patients don’t be alarmed by the lost of funding for Central Care Clinics. A federal judge’s ruling to block funding was issued this week. Central Care operated using grant money from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) but sued this past December to keep the funds. Court testimony from the CEO Central Care cited numerous reasons for the clinic’s low performance rating due to actions by HRSA. The clinic that mainly serves patients in South Houston was told to seek alternative funding.
Twitter @HoustonStyle
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Larry Nassar
Houston Begins To Thaw From Icepocalypse [Patch.com]
Gymnastics Doctor’s Victims Speak, As Simone Biles Says She Was Also Abused [NPR.org]
he arctic front that rolled into southeast Texas early Tuesday morning is expected to bring another night of freezing temperatures before it moves out completely Thursday. Temperatures are expected to rise above freezing for the first time since midnight Tuesday, and bring a thaw to the icy roads that have resulted in school closures, and brought Houston and the surrounding area to a stand still. On Tuesday, more than 1,000 flights were cancelled and hundreds were delayed, while icy roads caused more than 300 traffic accidents in the span of nine hours. As of Wednesday at 10 a.m., both George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport are open, but severe weather in and around the Houston area has resulted in numerous cancellations
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early 90 women who allege they were sexually assaulted by a former USA Gymnastics doctor plan to speak about the abuse during a four-day sentencing hearing. Larry Nassar is accused of sexually abusing more than 140 women and girls as the doctor for Team USA and Michigan State University. He has pleaded guilty in Ingham County, Mich., to seven first-degree sexual assault charges. Before ordering a sentence, the judge in the case is allowing all of his accusers to speak if they want to. The first accuser to speak was not a patient of Nassar’s, but a family friend. In an emotional speech that left several people in the courtroom weeping, Kyle Stephens recounted the trauma of the first time she said she was molested at Nassar’s house.
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CAIR’s Mustafaa Carroll and attorney Joaquina Rodriquez
New Alliance
Seal Special Education
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Prison Rights Groups Allege Mistreatment Of African-American Muslims [Houston Public Media]
ulti-national clothing retail company, H&M, has received sharp criticism from the public following a “racist” photo of a young black boy wearing a “coolest monkey in the jungle” hoodie featured on their website. The hoodie, listed as printed hooded top on the store’s UK website, gained negative feedback after social media users noticed it. H&M, a Swedish company, apologized for what many have said is an insensitive correlation between the young black model and a typical hateful insult against Black people. “This image has now been removed from all H&M channels and we apologize to anyone this may have offended,” the company said in a brief statement from its Stockholm headquarters.
Jan. 18- Jan 24, 2018 www.stylemagazine.com
New Alliance Mentors Black Women in Business World [MySanAntonio.com]
he Black Women’s Leadership Alliance is hosting a DreamWeek event that underscores their mission to strengthen leadership among professional black women. President Della Guidry said their goal is to foster the ability to network with like-minded women and come together as a collective group. She said the alliance was founded after a group of executive-level women saw a void in opportunities to network and mentor one another. Guidry said the alliance is available as a source of information, a sounding board to offer a platform for people to discuss issues they can feel comfortable about discussing in a safe environment. “The ultimate goal is to make these women available to serve the community and be on board so they can be at the decision-making process,” she said.
Feds Say Texas Illegally Failed to Educate Students with Disabilities [TexasTribune.org]
U.S. Department of Education investigation concluded Thursday that Texas violated federal law by failing to ensure students with disabilities were properly evaluated and provided with an adequate public education. After interviews and monitoring visits with parents, school administrators and state officials, the federal investigation found that the Texas Education Agency effectively capped the statewide percentage of students who could receive special education services and incentivized some school districts to deny services to eligible students. It also told TEA that it needs to take several corrective actions, including producing documentation that the state is properly monitoring school districts’ evaluations for special education.
Floogals available on Universal Kids on Xfinity Stream app
A limited-time offer on limitless entertainment Today we stream in more places than ever before. That’s why Xfinity delivers the fastest Internet, so you’ll have the speed you need to stream at home. Or watch on the go with easy access to millions of Xfinity WiFi hotspots nationwide. Plus, with the Xfinity Stream app, you can stream live sports and hit TV shows, or even download your favorites to watch when you’re offline. Right now, you can get a limited-time offer on Xfinity, with more download speed than ever, for two whole years — until January 2020! Xfinity delivers the speed and streaming experience you want, at a price you can’t miss.
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Hurry! This sale ends January 29th. Go to xfinity.com, call 1-800-XFINITY or visit your local Xfinity Store today.
Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to X1 Saver Double Play with Digital Starter TV and Performance Pro 150 Mbps Internet. Early termination fee applies if all Xfinity services (except Xfinity Mobile) are cancelled during the agreement term. Equipment, taxes and fees, including Broadcast TV Fee (up to $8.00/mo.), Regional Sports Fee (up to $6.50/mo.) and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after promo. After promo, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular rates apply. TV: Limited Basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service. Internet: Fastest Internet claim based on Xfinity’s fastest available download speed. Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. Xfinity WiFi hotspots included with Performance Internet and above. Performance Starter and below not eligible. Available in select areas. Compares Xfinity X1 Saver Double Play to DirecTV’s Select All Included package & AT&T’s Internet 50 as of 12/19/17. © 2018 Comcast. All rights reserved. NPA211651-0004
124773_NPA211651-0004 Jan Sale ad_HoustonStyle_10.8125x13.indd 1
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BUSINESS & NATIONAL BRIEFS
Buick IHS Award
CVS
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GM Earns Top Honors in the IHS Markit Loyalty Awards [GM.com]
or the third year in a row, IHS Markit, a leading source of global automotive industry information, analysis and insight, has recognized General Motors as the company with the highest overall customer loyalty. Buick was also recognized with an award for the Most Improved Loyalty to Make during the 2017 model year. The announcements were made last night at the Automotive News World Congress held in conjunction with the North American International Auto Show. IHS Markit loyalty awards are presented annually to companies and brands that demonstrate the ability to retain owners over repeat buying cycles. They are based on consumer transactions and information obtained from state registration and lease transaction information.
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NFL And Hispanic Heritage Foundation Launch NFL Hispanic Leaders Alliance [StyleMagazine.com Newswire]
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uilding off the success of the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Awards, the NFL, together with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) and Nationwide are pleased to announce the launch of the NFL Hispanic Leaders Alliance Presented by Nationwide. The alliance will feature webinars, events, and continued dialogue to help shape the NFL’s engagement and outreach with the Hispanic community. Together, these groups will work to make a positive and lasting impact on the community. “The launch of the Hispanic Leaders Alliance signifies a continued commitment by the NFL, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Nationwide to connect with and serve Latino communities across the country,” said Dawn Hudson, NFL Chief Marketing Officer.
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CVS to End Alterations in Beauty Ads [U.S. News]
he nation’s largest drugstore chain has pledged to put an end to featuring beauty ads in which the appearance of models has been digitally altered, introducing new guidelines that strive for what company officials called “transparency for beauty imagery.” Introducing its new “CVS Beauty Mark” campaign, CVS, which has more than 9,700 locations, will begin placing a watermark on ad material that has not been “materially altered,” which the company defined as “changing or enhancing a person’s shape, size, proportion, skin or eye color, wrinkles or any other individual characteristics,” according to a press release from the company on Monday. “As a woman, mother and president of a retail business whose customers predominantly are women.
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My Black is Beautiful The Talk
Sam’s Club
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P&G Leads “The Talk” About Bias [BusinessWire]
Here’s Why Walmart Is Closing 63 Sam’s Club Stores [BusinessInsider.com]
uring a recent episode, Dre (played by Anthony Anderson) is selected to lead development of an advertising campaign that focuses on “The Talk” By P&G’s My Black Is Beautiful. Originally released in July, “The Talk” is a 2-minute film that depicts the conversations Black parents have with their children through the decades to prepare them for the racial bias they may face in the world. The foundational story behind “The Talk” and the challenge of making bias relatable are central themes in the episode. P&G hopes it will broaden the conversation about bias by exploring how people from different backgrounds can use listening and dialogue to form a common ground of understanding.
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Salvadorans
Tanisha Agee-Bell and her son, Nathan
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Trump Administration Ended Protected Status for 250,000 Salvadorans [CNN.com]
resident Donald Trump’s administration is significantly scaling back the number of immigrants granted what’s known as Temporary Protected Status, which allows them to live and work legally in the US. TPS protects these individuals from deportation, as a form of humanitarian relief for people who would face extreme hardship if they were forced to return to homelands devastated by armed conflict and natural disasters. Under the Trump administration, the Department of Homeland Security has announced the end of TPS for immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti, Sudan and Nicaragua but extended it for immigrants from South Sudan. And this year, the agency will decide whether to extend TPS for five other nations.
Jan. 18- Jan 24, 2018 www.stylemagazine.com
almart is closing 63 of its Sam’s Club stores, which are located throughout the US and Puerto Rico, Business Insider reports. Sam’s Club CEO John Furner said the locations were affecting other stores, likely referring to cannibalization of customers, and that populations did not grow as the company had hoped in certain areas. However, even with these locations in tow, Sam’s Club postedpositive year-over-year (YoY) growth in net sales, traffic, and operating income through Q3 of its fiscal 2018 (ended October 27, 2017). Between 10 and 12 of the closed locations will be turned into e-commerce distribution centers. These new centers will help Sam’s Club build out its e-commerce capabilities by giving it a wider fulfillment network.
Mom Wants Teacher Fired For Telling Her Son He Might Be Lynched [BlackNews.com]
white teacher in Ohio who told a black boy student that his classmates will form a mob and lynch him if he doesn’t “get on task” is not going to be fired nor suspended. Renee Thole, the social studies teacher at Mason Middle School who made the “racist” remark to Nathan, the 13-year-old student last December, was advised to undergo counseling and cultural training instead, according to the Mason City School District. However, Tanisha Agee-Bell, the boy’s mother, was not content with the decision. In an interview, she said, “That’s not a clear punishment. That’s not satisfactory at all. I still want her out of the classroom until she gets that training.” In over 15 years of her teaching in Mason Middle School, Thole’s personnel file shows mostly positive feedbacks and no disciplinary action yet.
Tell Them Wear
Powerful Look At Black Colleges And Universities Coming Next Month [Houston Public Media]
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he rich history of America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) began before the end of slavery, flourished in the 20th century and profoundly influenced the course of the nation for more than 150 years — yet remains largely unknown. With Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities, the latest documentary from Stanley Nelson (Black Panthers, Freedom Riders), America’s foremost film chronicler of the African-American experience, the powerful story of the rise, influence and evolution of HBCUs comes to life. Tell Them We Are Rising, co-directed and co-produced by Marco Williams, premieres on Independent Lens, Monday, February 19 at 8 p.m. on Houston Public Media TV 8.
LOCAL Alpha Kappa Alpha Mentors
Students to ASCEND to Greater Dimensions
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utting any person in a box limits their opportunities. They have no room to grow and flourish. There is no new path to travel. No new discoveries to be made or challenges to tackle. However, when someone comes along to remove one side of the box a whole new world opens. Mentors do that for children by exposing them to the world beyond their limited space for a better future. Through the years, the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. have constantly worked to remove children out of the box that they may be in through mentorship and exposure. Over the past four years, the sorority has adopted the signature program of ASCEND to enrich the lives of high school male and female students. ASCEND is an acronym meaning Achievement, Self-Awareness, Communication, Engagement, Networking, and Development Skills. It is part of the sorority’s Target I: Educational Enrichment focusing on academic, life, career,
By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor
and character-building skills. This youth enrichment program has impacted nearly 37,000 students and counting since January 2015. Adding to those impressive numbers locally is the Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. On average 25 students are mentored by the ladies over the course of a year. During their monthly meetings with the AKAs, students engage in STEM and SMART career activities, college and career readiness workshops, go on cultural outings, serve their communities and become global citizens through a Model UN simulation. Former chapter president and vice president LaDonna Harris and Karen Aubrey, headed the local program for the first two years and now current chapter president and vice president & program chairman Marsha Penn and Cherise Story now head the program in its final two years. Usually the ladies serve youth from various areas of Houston but in this last year for the pro-
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t this very moment on Twitter or Facebook, there is a thread of people debating on who should run for President in 2020. They’re going to list the names of celebrities, billionaire donors, and countless other people that have never worked in the political or judicial world. As flashy as those conversations may be, real change and policy start in our local governments. Nowhere is this truer than in a courtroom where a judge has the power to throw out cases, evidence, raise or lower bails, and countless other powers. With the newly renovated Emancipation Park in the heart of 3rd Ward in Houston, TX as the backdrop to what would be a very enlightening interview, I sat down with a man that wants nothing more than to fulfill the legacy of those that came before him. A legacy of making a change in a time that many are calling the most volatile political climate in our history. Meet Brennen Dunn, candidate for Harris County, 185th District Court. Down the street from where Brennen graduated college at Thurgood Marshall School of Law, I asked one simple question, “Who is Brennen Dunn?” I was intrigued by his answer. Dunn is an advocate and trial lawyer who isn’t afraid of the system or going to trial if he believes his client is innocent and he doesn’t mind saying so. Most of our initial conversation was about bail hearings and how inherently unfair they are, especially to those of color. He cites case after case in which innocent men and women were held behind bars simply because they couldn’t afford to get out and the ones that did get out were often times in debt
gram decided to focus their attention solely on the students of Jack Yates High School. Story excitedly told of how the students have already given back to their communities by serving breakfast to children over the holidays at the Blue Triangle’s annual Breakfast with Santa and filling backpacks with food through a partnership with Blessings in a Backpack. NASA engineers and other scientific professionals have sparked the students’ interest in science, math and technology through cool activities like coloring milk and speaking about the many SMART careers. “We want to get them ready to go out into the world,” added Story.
host an ASCEND Summit on April 14th in association with the other Houston Metropolitan Area Chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. leading up to the sorority’s national convention that will be hosted in Houston this summer.
A program like this takes more than individuals willing to serve but also funding. Dow Chemical has given the local program a major boost of a $16,000 promise grant through an initiative to impact African American students in disadvantaged areas. Alpha Kappa Omega will use the funds to
From now until years to, come the AKAs will always be ladies who serve. Penn put it best when she said, “ I serve as a way of uplifting and helping others have an easier and more joyful life here on this earth.” The ASCEND program gives today’s youth a better tomorrow.
ASCEND students’ scope of vision is widen by the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. because it allows them to dream bigger than they imagined for themselves. “It is so heartwarming to see someone break out of their shell…. to see something different than what they see in their circumstances every day,” said Story.
Real Political Change Starts Locally: Meet Brennen Dunn By Demez White, Style Feature Writer
to bail bondsmen. One thing is clear from the beginning; Dunn talks very little about himself. No mentioning of his accolades or accomplishments. No mention of degrees. The only thing that gets him really talking surround the topics of the law and what’s right and wrong about it. Even when I ask him to give me an example of a case that defines him, he struggles with the question. Looking through his phone and even calling his mentor he starts to name case after case. He finally settles on one in which he helped get a man that was facing capital murder charges and life in prison, a lesser sentence where he would have a chance to get out one day. I can tell this is a point of pride for him as a trial lawyer but what I wanted was a case that involves someone who was completely innocent. A case the everyday citizen could relate to. A case that would help me understands his character and why citizens should vote for him. Smiling and realizing what I was asking he tells me he has the perfect example of what I’m looking for. And so his story begins. He starts with a woman driving and she sees the police officer’s lights behind her. She’s on the tollway and there’s no shoulder so she slows down, puts her arm out the window in a manner letting the officer know she sees him, and she drives until she finds a safe place to stop. It’s nighttime so she wants to be safe, which is understandable. The police officer is irate that she didn’t stop. When she finally stops and the officer approaches her vehicle, he does so guarded. Although the woman has not done anything to indicate violent behavior, the officer ap-
pears at her vehicle with his hand on his gun yelling at the woman. Now feeling threaten and angry herself, the woman gives a natural defensive response. Sadly, this scenario plays out a lot on streets and highways all across America. Thanks to technology the innocent now have a tool working for their defense. – dashboard cameras. This makes it easier for the truth to be known and rulings don’t have to be decided on he said/ she said stories that are the party’s own, sometimes slighted, version of the truth. The entire above ordeal was recorded on the officer’s dashboard camera. Dunn smiles in a proud way of how the woman told the officer, “I’m not going to be Sandra Bland, I’m not going to be Trayvon Martin, and you’re not going to shoot me?” At this point the officer gets even more agitated and arrest the woman. He charges her with evading arrest, a charge that’s a felony. But where is the proof of that? As the woman tells her horrific tale to Dunn, she is honest from the beginning and he can tell. She admits to Dunn that she was speeding and deserved the speeding ticket but that was all she was guilty of. She also says that part of her anger stemmed from the fact that she’s a teacher and can’t afford anything on her record. Over the course of the investigation, Dunn gets the footage and statements and they all show the woman did nothing wrong outside of speeding. He also gets the officer to admit that he lost his temper and overreacted. At this point, he expects the judge to throw the case out but he doesn’t. He expects the District Attorney to drop the case but that doesn’t happen either. Instead, they
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offer the woman a misdemeanor, which Dunn is quick to point out, would still be on her record. “Why would she take any type of charge when all the evidence says she did nothing wrong? The reason they even offered it is because there are ‘plea lawyers’ out there that will get their clients to accept anything that means no jail time,” remarked Dunn. He’s adamant that he’s willing to go to trial. A trial in which he won easily but it still cost this woman money, time and pieces of her reputation, and sanity. That’s when I understood it. That’s when I saw what he saw. A system that is broken and he’s been on the frontlines fighting to fix it. Now he wants to try and fix it from the inside. I’m a journalist, I don’t create the story, I tell the story. From my conversation with Brennen Dunn, I believe him. He is the kind a man with a fierce passion to make changes on the local level that could sweep the country. Small changes lead to major ones and Dunn is the one to make that real change possible.
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FEATURE HBRW: Serving Up Black Businesses as the Main Dish
DJ Reader is On a Mission of Love
By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor
H
e was his teacher. He was his mentor. He was his best friend. David Reader Sr. was everything to his son, Houston Texans’ Defensive Nose Tackle David Vernon Jr. or DJ. Four years ago Reader lost his father to a disease that claims the lives of more people than breast or prostate cancer. An estimated 661,000 Americans have kidney disease according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases yet little is known about this deadly disease. Reader wants to change that as a tribute to his father on a mission of love. Kidneys function by removing waste products and excess fluid from the body. The waste products are removed through the urine. When a person has kidney diseases this process stops working and the waste products build up in the body. As a result, a person may experience high blood pressure, anemia, weak bones, poor nutri-
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tional health and nerve damage. If the condition worsens to kidney failure, dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed to sustain life. Think about these facts about African Americans and kidney disease from the National Kidney Foundation. African Americans are three times more likely than Caucasians to get kidney disease due to high rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. African Americans constitute more than 35% of all patients in the U.S. receiving dialysis for kidney failure, but only represent 13.2% of the overall U.S. population. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in African Americans. High blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney failure among African Americans, and remains the leading cause of death due to its link with heart attacks and strokes. Other conditions such as Lupus, Glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney
Jan. 18- Jan 24, 2018 www.stylemagazine.com
disease, urinary tract infections, and more can also cause kidney disease. Reader’s father kidneys failed as a consequence of type 2 Diabetes. His father also had high blood pressure. Not wanting anyone in his family to give him a kidney, Reader’s father opted to undergo dialysis to treat his kidney disease. Unfortunately, the disease had progressed too far and his father passed away. “We thought he was going to be alright but ended up not going that well,” said Reader. As one can image, it was an extremely hard loss for Reader. He had a very close relationship with his father starting early on when his father homeschooled him as a child. The relationship got closer as his father cheered him at football games and supported him throughout his life. “I was fortunate to have a great man in my life,” said Reader. He established the David Reader Sr. Foundation to educate others about the kidney disease to honor his father’s legacy.
Going through the death of a parent changes a person. And it changed Reader. He says now he doesn’t take things for granted. “I live life to the fullest I feel like and things I want to do I try my best to go do them. I don’t get down on myself. I work hard,” he said as he remembered his father. “ I just try to apply everything he taught me and the fight that he put up through everything, even when he wasn’t feeling well with all the different types of problems, you can still put a smile on someone’s face.” Putting smiles on the faces of youth is what Reader does best through his foundation. He teaches the fundamentals of football to children free of charge in his native Greensboro, NC at the DJ Reader Football Camp. On or off the field, Reader is making every day count by focusing on the things that matter to him. He is a man on a mission of love.
LOCAL Houston Locals Take
the Podcast World by Storm
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n 2017, we saw a steady rise of podcasts and saw as they quickly became a guilty pleasure for everyone who is on the go but wanted a change from the radio. Houstonians alone have grown more keen to podcasts but little did we know we had our very own best kept secret brewing right in our own backyard. Hafeez Baoku and Chris Below began “The Roommates” podcast early in January 2017 (Yes, as actual roommates!) and have seen much success in a very short period of time by averaging 3,000 downloads per month and gaining a large social media presence. The show is a late-night conversation taking you behind the scenes of becoming an adult with all the people, conversations, and perspectives you’d experience on the way. With covering everything from fitness to relationships, and self-help, “The Roommates” podcast is a show that any and every one can enjoy. “I like to explain the show as a crossover of being entertained like a talk show, educated like a TED Talk, and enlightened like a sermon. Our show is different because we cover all basis and want to produce content where any and every one can
By Kelsey Whittington, Style Feature Writer
enjoy it,” said Hafeez Baoku. Although many think the podcast market is becoming over saturated that is not the case. There are many podcast out but very few that release quality content with a good quality production. “The Roommates” made a name for themselves by knowing the right direction to take their show so that it is not easily grouped into things that we have already seen before. It is very rare that we not only see young males doing positive things but also making an effort to see a different point of views. In 2017, “The Roommates” has had guests on their show that represent different platforms from the Back Lives Matter Movement to the Young Republicans group and even a gospel recording artist. “I really enjoy the show, not only are they funny but they are very well rounded when it comes to topics and takes the initiative to be open-minded and learn new things, which is very rare these days,” said Olivia Mitchell, a loyal listener. Like many other entertainment related markets
LOCAL
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ust northeast of Downtown, a new hub for creative works is blossoming thanks to privately owned art galleries descending upon the neighborhood comprised of loft style apartments, studios and art galleries such as the newly opened District Art Gallery. The District Art Gallery recently held its grand opening for a host of Houston’s socially conscious and fashionable young professionals. The atmosphere was entertaining as the live violinist played along to the latest hits while guests enjoyed libations from the open bar.
District Art Gallery, the co-founded venture of artist and entrepreneur Moriah Standberry, is home to a progressive group of artists that include Ryan Williams, Latonia Allen, Shawn Artis, Trazail Tucker, Shelbie Nicole and Moriah Alise. District Art Gallery is a contemporary gallery for both emerging and mid-career artists from Houston and beyond who believe in utilizing their creativity to highlight the truth of their realities.
breaking into the podcast, the industry is not easy. It requires a lot of time and dedication and Hafeez and Chris have proven that they are up for the challenge. Even though they both work full-time jobs and balance their personal life they have been dedicated to producing weekly episodes and being interactive with their listeners on social media. As someone who is an active podcast listener, I quickly grew to like this podcast. It is something about expecting the unexpected. No two shows are alike and they all cover different topics. A lot of times podcasts only cover one topic or show a left side view of things. It’s refreshing knowing that you won’t get a biased opinion on things when you tune in. Aside from being open to different perspectives you can tell that the duo has also put time and effort into their production. Not only do they have a studio where they shoot the shows they also invested in top market sound equipment which shows how dedicated they are to their craft.
Hafeez Baoku and Chris Below “The Roommates” have accomplished a lot in a very short period of time but they are only just getting started. The duo has declared 2018 as the year of breaking barriers and continuing to grow to reach a larger audience while still staying true to their original vision and foundation. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/ us/podcast/the-roommates-podcast/ id1193460831?mt=2 and follow “The Roommates” on social media @Roommateshtx.
District Art Gallery: I Am, We Are By Monica Jones, Special to Style
Each of the artists’ collections were handpicked for the I AM, WE ARE exhibition which can be best described as bold and alluring where each stroke tells an honest story of self-reflection and personal perceptions of their environment.
The 15-piece exhibit is spread throughout the spacious gallery, which is equally inviting as it is beautiful. The abstract art allows art enthusiasts to interpret the works through their own eyes. The space will also double as an intimate event space for creatives and entrepreneurs within Houston looking for a unique venue to host events. The current exhibit will run through March 15, 2018 during normal operating hours Tuesday-Friday from 12-8pm or by appointment be sure to stop by and check out one of Houston’s soon to be staples in the art realm. Location: 810 Richey Street Houston, TX 770025 For more information, visit www.districtartgalleries.com
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ENTERTAINMENT Actor Cress Williams: The Importance of Playing a Black Superhero By BlackDoctor.Org
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ctor Cress Williams’ 20-plus year career acting in Hollywood has had its share of highlights, including regular and recurring roles on a number of television series such asBeverly Hills 90210, Veronica Mars, ER, Grey’s Anatomy, Prison Break, Friday Night Lights, Living Single (you might remember him as Queen Latifah‘s love interest, “Scooter”) and even a leading role on Hart of Dixie. The talented Williams will return to The CW this midseason to star in the Black superhero series based on the comic-book, Black Lightening. The storyline goes a little something like this: After nearly a decade out of the game, former Olympian and high school principal, Jefferson Pierce (played by Williams), is forced to suit up again as the electricity-manipulating superhero Black Lightning when his daughters get caught up with local gang The One Hundred. “He’s a strong leader in his community,” explains Williams. “So when he first wore the suit, he was a teacher, so he was trying to uplift his community through education, but he was also on the streets as a hero. For the sake of his family — his wife wanted
him to come home safely every night — he decided to put that side away, and has since become a principal. He’s done a lot of good through education, but there’s also something lacking on the streets. Because of that, he gets pulled back in. His family gets tied up into it and simply his daughters are in direct danger, which forces him to step up.” “I’m excited that we are portraying this. This family and this family man. This is really a family drama, with superpowers sprinkled on top. Family is hugely important to me. I’ve made a lot of sacrifices for my family so to put this out is extremely important.” On The CW’s new series — from executive producers Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Salim and Mara Brock Akil — the reluctant hero has powers, but his foes are much more grounded, particularly in socially conscious issues that are just as prevalent now as they were when the Black Lightning comics launched in 1977. With some upgrades, Jefferson now has a new bullet-proof suit. “When I put on the suit for the first time, I felt taller, I felt like I could go through walls,” Williams says
with pride. “I was extremely excited.” “I grew up in a time when we didn’t have this. We didn’t have a plethora of this. All I had was the “Super Friends” and Saturday morning, and they really didn’t even have Spider-Man at that point, so I was always a Superman fan. “Now, [Black Lightening] lives in the community, and he’s in a really nice house in the community, but he lives in the community every day. It’s not like he left. He’s there, so he can’t help but want to make a difference and that’s important.” Just like his school principal character, Williams also has some experience teaching. “Prior to this I taught acting for about nine years, and so there’s a teacher in me, and there’s a director in me. Initially I tried to step back from that, because I wanted people to have their own experience, but also knowing that I really care about the show and I really care about all our cast mates, and saw that on our show it was encouraged. I was allowed to step in, and feel like I can step in and give notes and help out, and it just comes very natural to me.
Cress Williams So what’s next for Williams? “The biggest thing for us, we talk about staying present and just enjoying what we’re doing in the moment,” he tells Entertainment Weekly. “We really hope the show’s gonna be amazing, we hope that it changes the world. We hope that people receive it in a way that we think they should receive it. But ultimately we don’t know, and so all we have is this moment. All we have is when we’re doing it and enjoying it, and let those come. It’s really about staying in the moment.”
Trip, “Get Out,” “Black-ish,” Garner Multiple Wins ENTERTAINMENT “Girls at 49th NAACP Image Awards By GoodBlackNews.org
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he winners of the 49th NAACP Image Awards were announced last night during the live broadcast from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium which aired on TV One.
individual within the recording industry who has achieved worthwhile success and inspiration for civic engagement, criminal justice, education, economic opportunity, or criminal justice.
The two-hour live special was hosted by Anthony Andersonand opened with a powerful moment in support of #TIMESUP featuring Angela Robinson, Kerry Washington, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Laverne Cox, Lena Waithe and Tracee Ellis Ross.
“Girls Trip” triumphed as the winner in the Outstanding Motion Picture category, and picked up a second award for its breakout star Tiffany Haddish in the Supporting Actress category.
Av a D u Ve r n a y w a s h o n o r e d as the NAACP Entertainer of the Year. NAACP Chairman Leon W. Russell presented the NAACP Chairman’s Award to William Lucy, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson presented the NAACP President’s Award to Danny Glover and several members of the Memphis Sanitation “I Am A Man” Workers were also in attendance – they were presented with the NAACP Vanguard Award earlier in the week during a press conference at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN. Gap Band leader Charlie Wilson was honored with the Music Makes a Difference honor which is bestowed upon an
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Jordan Peele‘s horror opus “Get Out” received three awards, including Best Actor honors for lead Daniel Kaluuya, and Best Director and Best Writing wins for Peele. “Black-ish” took home the award for best television series, while host Anderson won Best Actor, Tracee Ellis Ross repeated as Best Actress and Marsai Martin won for Best Supporting Actress in a TV series. In recording, Bruno Mars took home awards for Outstanding Male Artist, Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album and Outstanding Song – Traditional for “That’s What I Like.” Kendrick Lamar owned the Outstanding Album, Outstanding Song – Contemporary and Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration categories (the latter with Rihanna).
Jan. 18- Jan 24, 2018 www.stylemagazine.com
Black-ish Cast wins NAACP Image Award The winners of the 49th NAACP Image Awards in the non-televised categories were announced during a gala dinner celebration that took place Sunday, January 14, 2018, at the Pasadena Conference Center – the event was hosted by The Real’s Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley. The NAACP Image Awards is the premiere multicultural awards show. It cele-
brates the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film, and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. For all information and the latest news, please visit the official NAACP Image Awards website at: http://www. naacpimageawards.net.
HEALTH
A Closer Look at Vision Health
A
n estimated 4.3 billion people suffer from the same health problem regardless of gender, age or ethnicity: vision impairment. Whether moderate or severe, vision impairment can have far-reaching social and economic impacts. As the number of Americans with visual impairment is expected to double by 2050, vision health has an obvious role in the national health conversation. Uncorrected vision is highly noticeable among certain groups, like the elderly and workers who rely on vision for safe and effective job completion. According to the Vision Impact Institute, two other groups significantly impacted by poor vision are drivers and
By Family Features
children.
Drivers A study from the British Journal of Ophthalmology found that one of the major causes of visual impairment is uncorrected refractive error (URE), and that preventable URE causes nearly 80 percent of the global burden. The number of people impacted by URE is especially troubling when taking into account day-to-day activities such as driving. A report from the American Academy of Optometry revealed that even moderate visual field loss causes drivers to have significantly poorer capabilities in completing tasks such as matching speed when changing lanes and maintaining lane position. When you consider how changing technology and business models like ride-shar-
ing companies and delivery services are adding drivers to the road, this impact becomes all the more crucial. If eye exams were part of the standard for renewing driver’s licenses then these issues could be called out by an eye care provider in advance of potential accidents on the road.
Children Today, vision impairments and eye disorders are the third-leading chronic conditions among children in the United States, with costs for direct medical care, vision aids, devices and caregivers amounting to $10 billion per year. In the U.S. alone, the total economic burden of eye disorders and vision loss was $139 billion in 2013. Uncorrected vision problems in children can have serious negative impacts on their educa-
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tions and future employment opportunities. In 2014, researchers studied the impact on academic performance after providing a vision screening and free eyeglasses to low-income and minority elementary school children in the U.S. The study found that among fifth-grade students both the screening and eyeglasses significantly improved student achievement in math and reading. As 80 percent of all learning occurs through vision, a simple pair of eyeglasses could correct poor vision and drastically change the course of a child’s life. There are many correlations between vision health and the financial, educational and safety implications it can have on society. To learn more about vision standards and giving vision a voice in the national healthcare
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BEAUTY Simple Solutions to
Combat Winter Skin Sensitivity By Family Features
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he winter season is here, and it’s important to get in the habit of taking care of your skin. Cold weather brings low humidity levels and dry air, which can suck the moisture from your skin, and without proper care, skin can become dry, cracked and irritated, causing discomfort. This winter, focus on a regimen that helps protect and hydrate skin so you can spend time enjoying the benefits of winter like family game night, snow days and snuggling by the fire. Prepare your family for cold weather with these simple tips that can be easily incorporated into your family’s daily routine, keeping skin feeling soft and healthy all winter long. Hydrate Inside and Out. Staying hydrated during the hot, summer months is a given, but it is also important to remember that cold winter air can leave your skin parched. Use a humidifier to keep skin hydrated during the dry months and be sure to lather on moisturizer. Natural moisturizers
like coconut oil and shea butter can act as protective barriers against harsh elements, sealing in moisture. In addition to hydrating on the outside, it is just as important to stay hydrated on the inside. By drinking water throughout the day, your skin can stay healthy and moisturized. Switch to a Mild Laundry Detergent. Many common detergents can be abrasive to sensitive skin, especially when it is more vulnerable to irritation during the harsh winter months.
Choose moisturizers and skin care products that don’t contain common irritants, and opt for mild cleansers and moisturizers that are specifically labeled for sensitive skin. Castor oil is another moisturizer alternative that is natural and can be used on both the face and body.
Wash bed linens, towels and clothes with a mild detergent like all Free Clear year-round, especially during the winter months.
Layer Up. Lock in moisture and protect your skin from wind, rain and snow by wearing layers whenever you venture outside.
As the No. 1 recommended detergent brand by dermatologists, allergists and pediatricians for sensitive skin, all Free Clear includes no dyes, fragrances or irritating residues.
The skin on your neck, face and hands is thinner than other areas of the body and therefore more sensitive to the effects of winter weather. Thermals, scarves and gloves can keep you warm and protect your skin from the cold, dry air. For those with sensitive skin, avoid synthetic fabrics
Using the power of stainlifters to fight
BOOKS T
hrow it out. That’s what always seems to happen to your best ideas, your finest interviews, the proud moments that fall flat as pavement. Ugh. When it comes to The Big Ask, what are you doing wrong? Read “You Get What You Pitch For” by Anthony Sullivan with Tim Vandehey; the answer is no throwaway. Back when he was 24 years old and selling mops, Anthony Sullivan lived in a van and slept atop the product, but he was on a learning curve. He developed a pitch, figured out how to use it, and ultimately attained his television goals by appearing on HSN. So how did he do it? He pitched. “Pitching,” he says, “is a superpower. Do it right and you’ll change minds, open doors, get opportunities…” That doesn’t mean pitching is selling. It “can be used to sell,” but it shouldn’t be the only thing in your sales arsenal. Master it, and you can “become a boss at” connecting with anyone, anywhere; in fact, chances are that you already know how to pitch and “you don’t realize it.” To “activate” your pitching Super Powers, first determine what outcome you want before you make your pitch, but also know what else is acceptable to make it a success. Doing so is not failure; it’s being happy with an alternative outcome. Know your audience and what they need, and know how to “be the cure” for it. Practice, practice, practice, until you’ve got your patter down pat… and then practice some more. Learn how to work past what Sullivan calls “the Force Field”
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tough stains, it is also safe for the whole family to use, keeping laundry clean while being gentle on skin. Avoid Toxins, Specifically Allergens and Irritants. Products that contain toxins, allergens and irritants should be avoided during months when skin is most sensitive.
and itchy materials like wool, and wash clothes with a dermatologist-recommended detergent like all Free Clear. By implementing these best practices for skin sensitivity, you can minimize redness, dryness and discomfort to help skin stay healthy and glowing throughout the winter season. Visit all-laundry.com to learn more. Sponsored by ‘all
“You Get What You Pitch For” by Anthony Sullivan with Tim Vandehey By Terri Schlichenmeyer, Book Reviewer and how to call (positive) attention to yourself. Be a storyteller, but know when the time is right to start your tale. Embrace your mistakes and know how to recover from them in front of your audience. Understand when – and how – to “push back” properly. Forget the close and “trust the process.” And finally, be confident and have fun! It’s that last one that makes people want to buy from you… Okay, you’re saying. You know how to pitch but it still doesn’t work. So is “You Get What You Pitch For” still worth reading? It’s hard to argue with a man who sells products as successfully as does author Anthony Sullivan. Together with Tim Vandehey, Sullivan shares some of his secrets of success, as well as the things you should beware of doing (or not). This is extremely helpful, but it’s obvious that the authors’ encouraging words might not work with cold-calling or with phone sales; absolutely, this is a book about in-person pitching so it may not apply to gig economy workers. Also, this book may offend many readers with repeated references to “Getting her number” at a bar or cocktail party. Once was amusing; more than that was not cool. Still, if you need a new angle for a business- or life-pitch, this book is worth a try. It’s readable, and do-able. Just know what you’re getting from “You Get What You Pitch For” before throwing it in your cart. Share this story online at www.stylemagazine. com.
Jan. 18- Jan 24, 2018 www.stylemagazine.com
EVENTS
1/19/18 – 1/20/18
Survivors With Voices Gala Omni Hotel at Westside Friday, January 19 Meet & Greet Professional networking Saturday, January 20 Keynote speaker Survivor Awards Presentation Fundraising Gala Red carpet & much more!
1/20/18
Behind the Pretty: Surrender What’s Behind the Pretty 8am-5 pm Yale @ 6th, 655 Yale Street, Houston, TX 77007 *Registration online for $99 synergytotalholistichealthandwellness. com *Call or text 832-791-1190
1/20/18
Bayou City Burlesque & Circus Arts Festival Warehouse Live, 813 St Emanuel St, Houston, TX 77003 Tickets are available now at BCBCfestival.com starting at $25.
1/22/18
Criminal Justice Reform: A Moral Imperative 5:00pm DeLuxe Theater, 3303 Lyons Avenue, Houston TX Congressman John Lewis will be the keynote speaker.
1/25/18 -2/25/18
Regional premiere Fetch Clay, Make Man by Will Power and directed by Mirron Willis Thursdays: 7:30 p.m; Fridays: 8:00 p.m; Saturdays: 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m; and Sundays: 3:00 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre, 3535 S. Main Street, Houston, TX 77002 Featured Cast members include: Derrick Brent II, Jason E. Carmichael, Renee’ Rivon, Henry Edwards Jr., and Trevor Cone Tickets Available Online at www.EnsembleHouston.com and range between $23-$50
1/27/18
Boss Babes, Brunch, & Boards 12-3 pm Guest speakers will cover slaying your finances, beauty, health & relationship goals. Brunch, goodie bags, and all supplies provided. Tickets are $40. Visit eventbrite.com for more information.
1/27/18
JAN. 27 & FEB. 10-11
5th Annual “Community of One” Gala Book Signing & Author Reception 5-6:15 pm; program 6:30 pm Fountain Life Center, 14065 Main, Houston, TX 77035 Featured Keynote Speaker: ReShonda Tate Billingsley
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EAT WITH STYLE Vegan Spicy Joes By BlackDoctor.org
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m, you’re about to die. Then, you’re Directions: gonna come back to life, eat this sandwich, and then die again. It’s To cook the sloppy joes, just heat a THAT good! skillet. Then, add the oil, onion, garlic, and jackfruit. Cook until the onions are tender. Ingredients: Use two forks and shred the jackfruit to mimic the look of pulled pork. Then, add 2 cups of jackfruit, in water (if in brine, the brown sugar, garlic powder, black pepper, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Cook on rinse thoroughly) low heat for about 5 minutes until the sauce 1 tablespoon of olive oil is nice and thick and mixed well with the 1/2 cup of diced onion jackfruit. Then, make the coleslaw. Add the 4 cloves of minced garlic vegan mayo, sugar, salt, pepper, apple cider 3/4 cup of ketchup vinegar, tequila, and lime juice to a bowl 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and mix well to make the dressing. Then, 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar pour over the coleslaw mix. You can eat this at room temperature, or if you prefer it to 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder be cold, you can chill it first. Either way, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper it’s delicious. 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin a good pinch of red pepper flakes Also, I understand some folks run the Tequila Lime Coleslaw: gambit on how they enjoy their creami2 cups of coleslaw mix ness of a coleslaw. If you like it creamier, 1/2 cup of vegan mayo add more dressing. Less creamy, add less. 2 tablespoons of sugar That’s why it’s good to make the dressing first; then you can add as much or as little 1 pinch of salt cabbage mixture as you’d like. 1 pinch of pepper 1/2 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar For more recipes from Darius, darius1 tablespoon of tequila cooks.tv or follow him on Instagram.com/ 1 tablespoon of lime juice DariusCooks
FOOD
Sloppy Joes Photo credit dariuscooks.tv
Get Ready for the Super Bowl with Pluckers By StyleMagazine.com Newswire
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luckers Wing Bar will be taking pre-orders featuring their entire menu for the Super Bowl! Call any location to place an order beginning Monday, January 22. Orders will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. They know that hosting a big party is a lot of work. Let them do the cooking so you don’t have to miss a second of the game…or the commercials! Pluckers has all the great wing flavors, in addition to a few unique ones such as: •Dr. Pepper •Manganero: Mango + Habanero •Ginger Peach Sriracha •Spicy Mandarin •Gochujang: a savory and sweet Korean BBQ sauce For more information, visit Pluckers.com.
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Jan. 18- Jan 24, 2018 www.stylemagazine.com
2018
TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY HOUSTON, TX
Winter NABJ Board Meeting Photography by Vicky Pink or two days Houston played host to the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Board of Directors as they held their winter meeting in the city. Several public events were held including a roundtable with Houston news executives and a special conversation with WFAA traffic reporter Demetria Obilor. Some in attendance throughout the weekend were Mayor Sylvester Turner, Jerome Solomon, Cindy George, Melanie Lawson, Joy Sewing, Sarah Glover, Cheryl Smith, Mary Benton, Carl Davis, Greg Morrison, Sharon Toomer, Dorothy Tucker, Marion Walker, Kim Floyd, Kyra Azore, Tanzi West-Barbour, Ken Lemon, Vickie Thomas, Terry Collins, Phyllis Bailey, Rushion McDonald, Bridget Joe, Linda Brown, and State Rep. Ron Reynolds.
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2018
THE ENSEMBLE THEATRE HOUSTON, TX
Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards
Photography by William Ealy here was a packed crowd at the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards hosted by Sonia White and Rick Chaffold. Many gathered to applaud the good works of twenty-five community leaders that were honored for their contributions to the city of Houston. Honorees received a Presidential Certificate signed by President Barack Obama and/or Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson who also gave remarks. State Rep. Ron Reynolds also gave inspiring words. Some in attendance were Dr. Jonita Reynolds, Thelma Scott, Bruce Johnson, Miss Black America Coed Erica Bryant, Karl Mays, Jalene Mack, Kevinn Robinson, Rhonda Radford, James Hudson, Verna Caddie, Marie Cortes, Edward Hamilton, and Dr. D. Ivan Young.
2018
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Greater Houston Frontiers Club VIP Mayor’s Reception
Photography by Vicky Pink s a kickoff to the 30th Annual Martin Luther King Memorial Scholarship Breakfast, the Greater Houston Frontiers Club hosted Mayor Sylvester Turner at the VIP Mayor’s Reception. Celebrating 30 years of MLK Observances, the club members annually raise funds for minority students seeking to advance their education. This year’s theme was “Embracing our Diversity, Celebrating our Heritage” was a reminder of Dr. King’s legacy of strength of empowerment. Some in attendance were Rushion McDonald, Jarvis Johnson, Steve Brown, Vince Ryan, Dwight Boykins, Judson Robinson, Wanda Adams, Thelma Scott, Tammie Campbell, Shar-day Campbell, Lalou Davies, and Reagan Flowers.
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Jan. 18- Jan 24, 2018 www.stylemagazine.com
ANSHEUSER BUSCH BREWERY TASTING ROOM HOUSTON, TX
2018
VARIOUS HOUSTON LOCATIONS HOUSTON, TX
Screening of Tell Them We Are Rising Photography by Vicky Pink BCU pride was on display at the screening of Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities, the latest film from director, Stanley Nelson. The film examines the impact HBCUs have had on American history, culture, and national identity. Following the film was a panel discussion with Grammy Award winning vocalist Yolanda Adams, TSU Student Government President Corbrin Burton, Legendary TSU professor and debate coach Dr. Thomas Freeman, TSU President Dr. Austin Lane, and Tell Them We Are Rising Director Stanley Nelson and moderated by Melanie Lawson.
2018
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PHIL & DEREK’S HOUSTON, TX
50 Shades of Jay
Photography by Vicky Pink t was a Capricorn takeover as attorney Jalene Mack celebrated her 50th birthday in grand fashion. Dressed in red, Mack was the center of attention as she mixed and mingled with guests at the festive celebration. Guests nibbled on a three-tier cake and lite bits. Some in attendance were Rick Chaffold, Lloyd Gite, Larry Green, Maria Jackson, Crystal Toussant, Emma Donald-Penny, Deme Maxie, Zelma Lee, Amelia Jeffries, and Evangeline Young.
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