Houston Style Magazine Vol 34 No 8

Publisher Francis Page, Jr. fpagejr@stylemagazine.com

Associate Publisher

Lisa Valadez lisa@stylemagazine.com

Managing Editor

Jo-Carolyn Goode editorial@stylemagazine.com

Social Media Editor/Videographer

Reginald Dominique reggiedominique@me.com

Sports Editor

Brian Barefield brian_barefield@yahoo.com

Food Writer

Alex Jack alexandriajack1991@gmail.com

Arts Editor Kathleen Coleman kathleen@stylemagazine.com

NATIONAL WRITERS

Jesse Jackson jjackson@rainbowpush.org

Roland Martin www.rolandmartin.com

Judge Greg Mathis www.askjudgemathis.com

Erynn Haskins editorial@stylemagazine.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Vicky Pink vhpink@gmail.com

Mike Munoz artrepreneur91@gmail.com

ADVERTISING/SALES

AdVertising emAil advertising@stylemagazine.com

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Layout Editor Cameron C. Lee thisiscam6@gmail.com

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Houston Style Magazine & www.StyleMagazine.com

Phone: (713) 748-6300 • Fax: (713) 748-6320

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©2022 Houston Style Magazine, a Minority Print Media, L.L.C. Company. All Right Reserved. Reproduction in whole or within part without permission is prohibited. Houston Style Magazine has a 2019 Audit by Circulation Verification Council (CVC). Houston Style Magazine is a member of the Texas Publishers Association (TPA), Texas Community Newspaper Association (TCNA), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Independent Free Paper of America (IFPA), Association of Free Community Papers (AFCP) and Members of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP). National Association of Hispanic Publications, Inc. (NAHP, Inc.), Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HHCC), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Latin Women’s Initiative (LWI), National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals (HAHMP), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), and Supporters of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP)

WILL THE RON DESANTIS BUBBLE BURST?

By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer

Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, has made himself into the leading rival to Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. He won a sweeping re-election victory as governor in 2022, even as Republicans generally were underperforming. Now, he’s used that position to pick purposeful fights on polarizing social issues, clearly seeking to cater to the fury of the MAGA Republican base. By assailing what he calls “wokeness,” including everything from vaccinations, Dr. Fauci, critical race theory, LGBTQ students, and how American history is taught, he apparently hopes to offer Republicans a new generation culture warrior who can rouse Trump’s base and have a broader appeal to suburban voters.

DeSantis is relentless if nothing else. He picked a fight with the Disney Corporation, scolding it for being too woke. He championed the “Don’t Say Gay” law to ban teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity in early grades and limit it in later years. He’s banned abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, trampled law and decency shipping Venezuelan migrants to Martha’s Vineyard and is moving to eliminate any diversity and equity programs and critical race theory teaching across Florida public schools and universities. His Department of Education blocked high schools from teaching the advanced placement curricula on African American studies.

DeSantis says he wants the core curriculum to be “grounded in actual history, the actual philosophy that has shaped Western civilization,” but he’s opposed to teaching actual American history, for that would violate his dictate

that nothing be taught that might make any student feel uncomfortable or guilty.

DeSantis’ focus on how American history is taught isn’t new to the South. After the Civil War, the plantation class in the South invented the theory of the “lost cause,” suggesting that secession was about states’ rights, not slavery, and that the slave system was in fact beneficial to the backward Black race. That utterly distorted history helped provide legitimacy to legal segregation – American apartheid –that treated Blacks as second-class citizens for another 100 years after the Civil War. DeSantis stands in that ignorable tradition. He opposes “wokeness,” which he defines, according to his spokesman, as the belief that there is “systemic racism in institutions in our country and that something must be done about it.” That means it is impossible to teach the “actual history” of voting, housing, employment, education and the economy.

Can DeSantis be elected president as a cultural warrior?

Many people think that Trump’s victory in 2016 was driven by his race baiting politics, his assaults on immigrants, Black protests and feminists. Trump, however,

combined racial division with a big right-wing populist argument. American politics, he famously argued, was corrupted by big money; elites were cleaning up as working people struggled; America’s trade policy was shipping jobs abroad; its endless wars were weakening the nation.

DeSantis, in contrast, offers the race baiting cultural wars without the populist economics. As a congressman he was a stalwart conservative Republican, one of the founders of the Freedom Caucus. He pushed to shut down the government over funding for the Affordable Care Act in 2013 and voted to cut more than $250 billion from Social Security and Medicare over a decade. While voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act, he lined up with Republicans in 2017 to support Trump’s tax cuts for the rich and the corporations.

Florida remains one of 11 states that has refused to expand Medicaid to its low-wage workers. DeSantis is explicitly opposed to redistribution – raising taxes on billionaires to pay for child tax credits for families, for example. And of course, DeSantis is a politician backed by big money, with all of the corruption that comes with the

checks in the mail.

The cultural and race wars that DeSantis is championing are powerful and divisive. They also have the potential to backfire – as Republicans discovered after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and a woman’s right to control her body.

In addition, Americans –across the political spectrum – are tired of corrupt politicians, of corporations and billionaires that pay lower taxes than nurses do, of ruinous trade policies, conservative drug policies that have us paying the highest price for prescription drugs in the world.

Republicans like Trump and DeSantis can rouse ugly fears –about immigrants, about the myth of critical race theory, about the LGBTQ community, about vaccinations and “grooming.” But unlike Trump, who promised his base a new course, DeSantis still champions the old, failed, right-wing economics and politics. At some point, he isn’t going to be able to hide that behind the heated rhetoric of his cultural attacks. What has played well for him as a politician in Florida may be too thin a gruel for the presidential election in 2024. Running on hate and division isn’t as powerful as running on hope and change. And that is likely to be the choice in 2024.

You can write to the Rev. Jesse Jackson in care of this Newspaper or by email at: jjackson@rainbowpush.org

Governor Ron DeSantis

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COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS ANNOUNCES 793 GUNS RECEIVED DURING THIRD GUN BUYBACK

Houston -area residents turned in 793 guns on Saturday at the third Gun Buyback event conducted by Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Sheriff Ed Gonzales and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner in their efforts to reduce violent crime and make Houston-area communities safer.

Hundreds of cars lined up at Deussen Park to exchange guns for gift cards funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Commissioner Ellis said gun buybacks are necessary to curtail gun violence sparked by the state’s dangerous gun laws. Since 2009, more people have died in mass shootings in Texas than any other state, according to a report by Everytown for Gun Safety,

a gun violence prevention organization. The gun death rate in Texas has increased nearly 16% since 2010, according to the Johns Hopkins Center’s Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence.

“Harris County is mobilizing its resources with absolute urgency in a full-court press to reduce gun violence in our communities,” Commissioner Ellis said. “We may not control gun laws, but we are not powerless to take guns off the street.”

Said Mayor Turner: “I am grateful for the partnership with Commissioner Ellis and Sheriff Gonzalez. Some people want to diminish the impact of gun buybacks, but we know that every firearm taken off the street is a potential life saved. Gun buybacks could prevent

weapons from getting into the hands of a child, preventing someone from committing domestic violence or another criminal act, or stopping someone from committing suicide. Our focus is on saving lives and reducing violence on our streets. I ask people to join the One Safe Houston initiative. By working together, we can make a difference.”

One Safe Houston initiative is a $53 million investment aimed at crime reduction.

Said Sheriff Gonzalez: “Law enforcement is asking the community to join us in helping to remove unwanted guns off the streets and safely turn them in. It is more important now than ever to do all that we can to reduce potential crime and help ensure these guns remain

out of the hands of those who commit crimes in our neighborhoods and businesses.”

At Saturday’s buyback, residents – with no questions asked – turned in firearms in exchange for gift cards in the amount of $50, $100, $150 and $200 – depending on the type of gun.

Last year, Commissioner Ellis, in conjunction with the City of Houston, held two gun buybacks that collected about 2,000 weapons. Five others are planned after the February buyback. “We can’t bring back a life,” Commissioner Ellis said. “But we can buy back a gun and make sure it never falls into the wrong hands or causes harm.” For more information, visit houstontx.gov

With nine years under its belt buckle, H-E-B is pleased to announce the call for entries for the 10th Annual H-E-B Quest for Texas Best. Submissions will be accepted February 22 through April 6. Qualified participants will compete for a combined $70,000 in cash prizes and the opportunity to feature their product on H-E-B shelves across the state.

H-E-B has discovered more than 960 unique products throughout the Lone Star State over the last decadefrom cookies, coffees, and roasted crickets, to empanadas, pickles, and pho, to salsas, spices, and everything in between. Non-food submissions have included beauty items, toys, home goods, and household necessities, to gardening supplies, coolers, and more. They have reviewed more than 5,500 samples of the most creative Texas-made products and awarded nearly $2 million in prize money complemented by marketing, mentoring, and supplemental support.

“As we continue to expand the opportunities for small businesses in Texas and diversify our supplier base through programs like Quest for Texas Best, we look forward to seeing what

our fellow Texans bring to the judges’ table during the 2023 competition,” said James Harris, Sr. Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Supplier Diversity for H-E-B. “Now in our tenth year, we are constantly amazed at the innovation and execution of unique ideas presented by our fellow Texans.”

To prepare for Quest, participants will have the opportunity to visit with H-E-B Sourcing and Supplier Diversity leaders about product development and best practices for

submitting their product during special virtual information sessions March 8, 9, 16, and 30. Registration is required and space is limited to competitors only. To reserve your informational meeting space, review competition details, and learn more about the two-minute video requirement, please visit heb.com/quest.

Interested suppliers and manufacturers can submit details about their products at heb.com/quest by 4:59:59 p.m. on April 6 for consideration.

After the Call for Entries pe-

riod is complete, H-E-B’s Business Development Managers will select the top applicants who will present their products before a panel of judges selected by H-E-B on August 9 at Fair Park in Dallas. The panel of judges will determine the top four winning products and award $25,000 to the Grand Prize winner, the title of “Texas Best”, and placement on store shelves; $20,000 to the first-place winner; $15,000 to the second-place winner; and $10,000 to the third-place winner.

IS THERE A BLACK DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?

By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor

humans and stacked on top of each other like property. On that journey, they had to exist in deplorable conditions that were filled with human fecal matter, urine, and other forms of human waste. This resulted in them becoming gravely ill, and some died. None received medical care.

Where are all the Black doctors?

They are hard to find. On average, about 5.7% of all the doctors in the US are Black according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Although enrollment of African Americans in medical school is on the rise, 5.7% is still low when considering that there are 66.1% of active physicians with a US Doctor of Medicine degree.

Looking back at the history of Blacks in medicine, it's easy to see why the numbers are so low. However, new data suggests that more black doctors are needed now than ever, and for some, it could mean the difference between life and death.

On average, when put in a crowd of a diverse population with no identifying connections, a person will gravitate toward those of their own race. It's a natural behavior because people are more at ease with who or what they know. Generally, being of the same race is an easy commonality to draw towards. This same kind of thinking works in medicine as well. According to studies, Black Americans who have black doctors have more trust in them, practice preventative care, and ultimately live longer lives.

"I think we as blacks relate more to people who look like us. Often, we have unspoken similar backgrounds that bring us to a common place of understanding when we have difficulties in our quests for higher education," said Dr. Creaque Charles, Pharm. D. at an accredited HBCU school of pharmacy. How

to Improve Representation of African Americans in Medicine?

The answer to that question lies in the problems that Blacks have with medicine. To understand the concerns, one must go way back in history to when enslaved men and women were forcibly brought over on ships to America. Those men and women were treated less than

The feeling continued when slave owners subjected their Black female slaves to forced sterilization to stop reproduction. Women were also exploited for their bodies to produce more strong slave labor. These women did not also receive any medical care. When the truth about an unethical experiment with Tuskegee men and Syphilis (dubbed the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis) came to light in 1972, prejudices grew.vDuring the era of the Civil War, Blacks were "doomed to extinction" by the medical community of the time, which thought the mental, moral, and physical deterioration of Blacks would send them to an early grave. The distrust of the medical community continues to this day as some doctors of other races may have prior biological beliefs about Blacks that can result in doctors thinking Blacks have a high tolerance for pain, so they may undertreat them for pain.

Incidents like the above led some Blacks to believe that they receive better treatment than their own because they know the point of view from which they are coming. They understand it. "When people look at me and they can see themselves in me, that commonality serves as the foundation for a bond of trust," said Dr. Robbyn Traylor, chief medical officer of an urgent medical care clinic, who knows that any doctor can be excellent no matter their race. "There is a level of comfort that is understood and that can remain unspoken when brown and Black patients are treated by brown and Black doctors."

A CNN article dives further into the issue of why there is not a surge of Black doctors. Those reasons include factors like the race being excluded from medicine, systematic racism, institutional racism, not being exposed to STEM or STEM careers as a child, and a lack of Black doctors as mentors are among the top reasons. History supports this when looking at the first Black person to earn a medical degree. Dr. James McCune Smith had to go all the way to Scotland to receive his degree in 1837 from the University of Glasgow.

Dr. Traylor was fortunate as a

child to be heavily exposed to the life of a Black doctor as both of her parents worked in the medical field. She was often at their heels as a child while they worked at one of the best trauma centers in the Texas Medical Center. "I was lucky enough to grow up in a community of people who made me believe that I had the intellect and attitude for medicine."

Diversity Matters

After Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington enacted bans on affirmative action, the diversity of the medical schools in those states dropped by a third. Before Black students were wholeheartedly welcomed at these schools in the 1800s and 1900s, they had a choice of seven medical schools, according to research by the Duke University Medical Center Library and Archives. Now only two remain: Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee.

Black students are more likely to attend black medical schools to seek out those who look like them and have proven that their dreams are achievable. Future Black doctors want to attend schools where they don’t have to feel as if they don’t belong. They want to go to schools where they are encouraged to do well, and those who are instructors and mentors truly believe that THEY can do well.

Dr. Tamiya Sam, who is a registered pharmacist and holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, knows that whether it is medical, pharmacy, dental, or nurse practitioner school, having a Black mentor matters. "The face of pharmacy is increasingly non-Black.

COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS, U.S. REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE, COUNTY ATTORNEY CHRISTIAN MENEFEE, OTHERS HONOR STATE

that see through the scales of justice and demand "Justice for All!"

After Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and others bestowed accolades on state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, Texas’ longest serving legislator then brought the crowd to laughter at a ceremony to unveil two downtown murals, one that honors her.

“I want to say thank you,” said Rep. Thompson, who then broken into laughter when she added: “I am running for re-election. Just letting you know this is not – (with) all these pictures of me – that I’m retiring. I want to make sure that I get that out of the way.”

Behind Rep. Thompson a few blocks to the southeast, the mural on the north side of the Harris County Attorney’s Office building honors the legislator affectionately known as “Ms. T.” The artwork features her hypnotic eyes

On the west side of the building, there’s the “Lady Justice Mural” that captures UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

The murals are inspired by Harris County’s planned Remembrance Park, which aims to create a space of recognition and discourse around the historical arc of racial terror and the continuing existence of systemic injustice in the country. On Friday, Feb. 10, Commissioner Ellis, County Attorney Christian Menefee, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, other elected officials and community leaders gathered on the University of Houston-Downtown’s south deck to unveil the murals and honor Rep. Thompson during Black History Month.

“The County Attorney’s building is on the site of one of the most popular slave auction trading blocks

in Houston,” Commissioner Ellis said. “That, in part, is why I thought these two women would be important to be on this building. The two murals we are unveiling today are inspired by Black women.”

Commissioner Ellis started a parade of speakers who honored Rep. Thompson for her public service. “Her legacy is built not just on these legislative achievements, but on the barriers she has broken and the obstacles she has overcome to achieve them,” Commissioner Ellis said. “She has served in the Legislature longer than any woman or any Black person in all of Texas history. For 50 years, she has been at the forefront for the fight of justice and equality under the pink dome in Austin and here at home as well.”

Rep. Jackson Lee, who introduced Rep. Thompson, called her “stoic and serious.”

“Her bills have impacted so many,” Rep. Jackson Lee said. “She was at the cornerstone of the James Byrd Hate Crime bill for those of you who remember that heinous act in our community. ... She’s been a champion for women’s rights. She’s been a fighter against domestic violence. She’s a fight-

er for reproduction rights – successfully so. And, of course, she has been a fighter against human trafficking.”

County Attorney Menefee said words on his office’s logo -- integrity, community, justice and service – remind him of Rep. Thompson.

“All those words perfectly describe you in your legacy and the service that you have had to the people of the state of Texas,” Menefee said. “I consider it to be my honor to be in office when we are able to put you on the wall.” Rep. Thompson said the murals mean so much to her. She said it’s not because her image is on one, but for what they represent.

“I was reared and was nurtured in my family and in my community to respect diversity, equity and inclusion,” she said. “That’s been the hallmark of my life and it will continue to be till God takes me home. We have to do things that will improve the lives of people on this earth.”

PHOTO ID: Rep. Senfronia Thompson, with the mural with her eyes in the background, speak at the Remembrance Murals unveiling event that also honored her for her public service.

Rep. Senfronia Thompson

emorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby Center announces tickets for the first North American tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical will go on sale Friday, November 4 at 10AM. Moulin Rouge! The Musical will play the Hobby Center February

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is the winner of ten 2021 Tony Awards including Best Musical, two Drama League Awards including Outstanding Production of a Musical, five Drama Desk Awards and ten Outer Critics Circle Award Honor citations including New Broadway Musical.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical opened to critical acclaim at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in the Summer of 2019 and reopened in September 2021 following the shutdown of Broadway

“Spectacular! Euphoric! In Moulin Rouge! The Musical, life is beautiful,” raves The New York Times.

“Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a fabulous new musical. The high begins the instant you walk into the theatre,” said the New York Post. Entertainment Weekly concludes that “it’s easy to believe that Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers and with a book by Tony

Award winner John Logan, choreography by Tony Award winner Sonya Tayeh and music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Tony Award winner Justin Levine.

The design team for Moulin Rouge! The Musical includes Tony Award winner Derek McLane (sets), Tony Award winner Catherine Zuber (costumes), Tony Award winner Justin Townsend (lighting), Tony Award winner Peter Hylenski (sound), Drama Desk Award winner David Brian Brown (wig and hair design), Sarah Cimino (Makeup design) and Tony Award winner Matt Stine (Music Producer). Casting is by Jim Carnahan and Stephen Kopel.

Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Pop the champagne and prepare for the spectacular spectacular … Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Baz Luhrmann’s iconic film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a theatrical celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and - above all - Love. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is more than a musical; it is a state of mind.

For more information, please visit haul.org/eodgala or contact Brandi Ledet | bledet@haul.org | 713-393-8783

As in the film, Moulin Rouge! The Musical celebrates over 160 years of music – from Offenbach to Lady Gaga. The stage

musical features many of the iconic songs from the movie, and also includes recent hits released since the movie premiered 21 years ago.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is produced by Carmen Pavlovic and Gerry Ryan OAM for Global Creatures and Bill Damaschke. General management is by Foresight Theatrical.

Co-producers of the touring production include Aaron Lustbader, Hunter Arnold, Darren Bagert, Erica Lynn Schwartz/Matt Picheny/Stephanie Rosenberg, Adam Blanshay Productions/Nicolas & Charles Talar, Iris Smith, Aleri Entertainment, Sophie Qi/Harmonia Holdings, CJ ENM, Len Blavatnik, Ambassador Theatre Group, Endeavor Content, John Gore Organization, Spencer Ross, Gilad-Rogowsky/InStone Productions, AF Creative Media/International Theatre Fund, Nederlander Presentations/IPN, Cody Renard Richard, Jujamcyn Theaters, Eric Falkenstein/Suzanne Grant, Peter May/Sandy Robertson, Tom & Pam Faludy, Triptyk Studio, Carl Daikeler/Sandi Moran, Desantis-Baugh Productions, Red Mountain Theatre Company/ 42ND.CLUB, Candy Spelling/Tulchin Bartner, Roy Furman, Andrew & Ruby Ryan, Brent & Sarah Deboer

and Michael Ryan.

Dusty Baker

ck Excellence in Sports Leadership General Manager Houston Astros

Dr Reginald DesRoches

Dr Loren Blanchard President University of Houston-Downtown President Rice University

Dr LaTonya Goffney Superintendent Aldine ISD

Dr Millard House II Superintendent Houston ISD

Dr Ruth Simmons Dr Lesia L Crumpton-Young President Prairie View A&M University President Texas Southern University

Stephen Silas Lovie Smith Head Coach Houston Rockets Head Coach Houston Texans

Houston area celebrity chefs teamed up with the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto to create unique desserts using Girl Scout cookies as their key ingredient at the 12th annual Just Desserts. This event is one of the kickoff events for the 2023 cookie season.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world. Monies raised from cookie sales help fund unique adventures in scouting for girls all year

JUST DESSERTS BY THE GIRL SCOUTS KICKS OFF THE 2023 COOKIE SEASON

By Alexandria Jack, Culinary Writer

long and help build girls' courage, confidence, and character.

Those tasked with the hardest job of picking winners were guest judges Sharron Melton of CW39, Valerie Sweeten of Hot in Houston, Amy Davis of Channel 2, and Alexandria Jack of Houston Style Magazine. The judges voted Crumbville as the Best Table Display and Cheesecake Queen as the Most Camp Friendly after tasting delicious dessert after delicious dessert. The

People’s Choice Award went to Salt and Sugar Texas for their lemonade cheesecake. Be sure to catch your favorite Girl Scout or visit gssjc.org to order your cookies. Girl Scout cookie season is here for a limited time.

MEMORIAL PARK

S. PICNIC LOOP

MARCH 24-26 2023

FRIDAY - SUNDAY

10 AM TO 6 PM

FEATURED ARTIST DEWEY JAMES

■ 300 National & International Artists

■ 19 Disciplines of Art

■ 2 Entertainment Stages

■ Active Imagination Zone

■ Craft Beer & Wine Garden

■ Art Installations & Exhibits

■ Food Truck Park

■ VIP Hospitality Lounge

HHLSR Uncorked!® Wine Competition

HHouston Livestock Show and Rodeo hosted the Rodeo Uncorked!® International Wine Competition at NRG. The annual competition allows wines from across the world to be showcased as well as highlights wine production in agriculture. The 2023 Rodeo Uncorked!® winners receiving top honors of Grand Champion Best of Show to Le Chemin du Roi Brut, Champagne AOC, NV, exhibited by famed rapper and business mogul Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, whose wine was previously awarded 2021 Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show. The 2023 Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show was awarded to Bernhardt Winery Antiquity Chardonnay Reserve, Danube Plain, 2020. Visit the Champion Wine Garden where the champion wines are served.

HNAACP’s annual Freedom Fund Gala

HThe NAACP Houston Branch honored nine distinguished Houstonians at their annual Freedom Fund Advocacy & Awards Gala over the weekend. State Rep. Senfronia Thompson was recognized with the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Award while Dr. Joseph Gathe, Jr., Courtney Johnson-Rose, and Argentina James were named as President Award recipients. Lastly, Dusty Baker, Carol Mims-Galloway, Tina Knowles-Lawson, Ricky Anderson, Esq., and Pastors Rudy and Juanita Rasmus were acknowledged as NAACP Legends. Mayor Sylvester Turner also received special recognition. NAACP National Board Member and Regional Vice President of Communication Workers of America, Claude Cummings, Jr., and his wife, Dr. Ruth Cummings, served as this year’s Dinner Chairs with the NAACP National Board Members, Attorney Gary Bledsoe and Mr. Leonard James serving as Dinner Co-Chairs.

HInaugural Cactus Jack HBCU Classic H

Texas Southern University (TSU), Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), Southern University and A&M College, Grambling State University, Jackson State University and Mississippi Valley State University all competed in a round-robin college baseball tournament in the inaugural Cactus Jack HBCU Classic. The three day event hosted by the Astros Foundation (AF) and rapper Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Foundation included a college fair attended by 1,000 high school students, a reception attended by 75 college students and 10 corporate sponsors, and gospel brunch. The idea was to shine a light on HBCU and raise funds for scholarships. Over $30K was raised at Paula Harris’, AF’s vice president of community affairs and director, Old School Bday Party. During pregame activities of TSU vs PVAMU, reps from both organizations took to the field for Harris to present a $1 million check on behalf of AF for the construction of new baseball and softball stadiums at TSU.

HThe Rock Visits Houston H

Mayor Sylvester Turner was on hand to enjoy the season opener for the Houston Roughnecks. The home team is undefeated as they took the game 33 to their opponent’s, Orlando Guardians, score of 12. Tavante Beckett was a beast in the game with four tackles and an interception. Trent Harris was the defensive star power with four sacks. Overseeing it all were XFL owners actor and athlete Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia, the league’s chairwoman and first woman owner of a major American sports league.

BLACK-OWNED H-E-B IS PROUD TO SUPPORT Brands

JUST POPPIN GOURMET POPCORN

POPPIN’ WITH FLAVOR

Not all popcorn is created equal. Just Poppin Gourmet Popcorn offers an opportunity to taste the finer popcorns in life. Our perfected recipes, family-led business, and Southern roots manifest in every kernel we produce. Our 8 secret family recipes are handmade daily to give you a rich, tasty snacking experience.

SAVANNAH ROSE SWEET TEA PUNCH

TEA THAT PACKS A PUNCH

A veteran in the catering business, former postal worker and entrepreneur Brenda Powell transformed sweet tea into a delicious punch that keeps guests asking for more. After becoming one of the top 25 products selected in the H-E-B Primo Picks Quest for Texas Best competition, she’s now packaging and distributing Savannah Rose Sweet Tea Punch to H-E-B stores throughout Texas.

Brenda Powell, Founder

Jerome and Danya Hall, Founders