Houston Style Magazine Vol 32 No 09 by Houston Style Magazine (HSM)

Houston Style Magazine February 25 – March 03, 2021

Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication, Since 1989

Volume 32 | Number 09

Joy Priest Receives U.H. Writing Fellowship H

Complimentary

Jesse Jackson

The Right To Vote Again Under Siege In The United States Of America Lisa Valadez – Associate Publisher

Brian Barefield – Sports Editor

Keandra Scott Tatum – Feature Writer

Yolanda Pope – Culinary Writer

HOUSTON STRONG H OUR STORIES Christian D. Menefee

Harris County Attorney Launches Investigation of ERCOT and Others

Cecilia Austin – Feature Writer

Jo-Carolyn Goode – Managing Editor

Raegan Carey – Arts and Entertainment Writer

TotallyRandie Bell – Feature Writer

STAY HOME H WORK SAFE CORONAVIRUS – US NUMBERS: Cases: 29,025,857 Deaths: 519,830

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Twitter: @HoustonStyle

Instagram: @StyleMagazineHTX

H-E-B Quest For Texas Best - Call For Entries Now Open

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Dana White – Hyundai’s First Women Of Color

Ralph Martinez

Comcast NBAUniversal Commits $500K In Winter Storm Uri Relief

STYLE HAUTE SHOTS

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 Support Black Owned Businesses

Week of February 22, 2021

Rev: 02/20/21 4:50 p.m.

February 25 – March 03, 2021

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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

NATIONAL WRITERS

Jesse Jackson jjackson@rainbowpush.org Roland Martin www.rolandmartin.com Judge Greg Mathis www.askjudgemathis.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Vicky Pink vhpink@gmail.com

#MASKUP!

William Ealy Williamealy1906@gmail.com Semetra Samuel semetra@artistikrebelcreative.com Mike Munoz artrepreneur91@gmail.com Robert Franklin editorial@stylemagazine.com

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Houston Style Magazine & www.StyleMagazine.com Phone: (713) 748-6300 • Fax: (713) 748-6320 Mail: P.O. Box 14035, Houston, TX 77221-4035

“President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden Will Visit Houston On Friday “to meet with local leaders to discuss the winter storm, relief efforts, progress toward recovery and the incredible resilience shown by the people of Houston and Texas.”

©2021 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)

President – Joe Biden • First Lady Jill Biden

STORM RECOVERY www.BuildBackBetter.gov

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February 25 – March 03, 2021

COMMENTARY

The Right To Vote Again Under Siege By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer

he fundamental right in a democracy — the right to vote — is once more under siege. In state after state, across the country, Republican legislators have introduced literally hundreds of bills designed to suppress voting. Their passion is fueled by Donald Trump’s big lie that the presidential election was “stolen” from him. Their targets are minorities – African Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans, as well as the young. They call themselves Republicans, but their lineage comes not from Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, but from Jefferson Davis, the Southern Democrat who led the confederacy after the Southern states seceded in their battle to keep blacks enslaved. The current debates have a haunting history. After the South was defeated in the Civil War, the U.S. Congress passed the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution. Often termed the “second founding,” these amendments ended slavery (13th Amendment), guaranteed equal protection under the laws (14th Amendment) and prohibited discrimination in the right to vote (15th Amendment). The defeated Southern states then began what was called the Reconstruction. To be readmitted to the Union, they had to create new constitutions that rendered equal rights to all. In some states, the newly freed blacks constituted the majority. In many states, a new fusion politics began, often bringing the newly freed black citizens together in coalition with small farmers and merchants against the old plantation aristocracy. In states like North Carolina, the new majorities passed remarkable progressive reforms in public education,

public works, progressive taxation, land redistribution and more. The white plantation aristocracy could not abide the new order. They organized a systematic effort to suppress the new coalitions. America’s first domestic terrorist organization – the Ku Klux Klan – unleashed a wave of violence against newly freed blacks and the whites who joined with them. An estimated 5,000 blacks were lynched. The violence that included setting fire to black stores and neighborhoods was designed to drive blacks and their allies out of the polling booths and out of the South. The plantation aristocracy successfully took back power, and then imposed Jim Crow laws that segregated the South and made it virtually impossible for blacks to vote. The federal government failed to check the violence, and in 1876, in a corrupt deal, Republicans agreed to end Reconstruction and remove the remaining federal troops. After the last election, Trump rallied his supporters with the big lie that the election was stolen, inciting them to sack the Capitol and to march on state legislatures. Worse, even after the riot, 147 Republicans in the House and Senate voted to overturn the election. The violence – just as in the Reconstruction – is combined with a systemic campaign to suppress the right to vote of minorities and the young. In 33 states, legislators have introduced 165 bills to restrict voting, the Brennan Center on Justice reports. In nine states, Republicans have introduced legislation to limit mail in voting (nearly half of the votes in the 2020 election were cast by mail due to the pandemic). In 10 states, Republicans are pushing more stringent voter ID requirements, knowing that

February 25 – March 03, 2021

these discriminate against minorities (25 percent of African Americans and only 8 percent of whites are without government issued photo IDs). Others are pushing to prohibit the use of student IDs to make it harder for the young to vote. In dozens of states, Republicans are pushing to roll back automatic voter registration laws, or end Election Day registration. Others are seeking to reduce the number of days for early voting. In Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas, Republicans control all branches of government, giving them power to gerrymander districts in the redistricting after the 2020 census. Once more the Supreme Court has aided and abetted these anti-democratic actions. The right-wing majority gutted the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder. For the first time, there will be no prior review by the Justice Department to limit racially discriminatory gerrymandering. Then in Rucho v. Common Cause, the gang of five ruled that the courts would no

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longer review challenges to partisan gerrymandering. No federal court will stand in the way of discriminatory outrages. We can’t wait decades this time. Jefferson Davis Republicans are once more intent on imposing minority rule – and using the law and a partisan majority on the Supreme Court to enforce it. They’re using both terrorist threat and legal measures to intimidate and impede voters. Once more it will take popular opposition – demonstrations, voter registration and mobilization drives, popular education and engagement – to protect the right to vote. The House of Representatives has passed a law – HR 1 – to provide expand and protect the right to vote. The bill is likely to face universal opposition from Republican senators, unless popular mobilization forces some to stand up. It is time for ordinary heroes once more. Follow him on at: Twitter @RevJJackson Share this story online at:

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February 25 – March 03, 2021

2/8/21 4:08 PM

Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) Announces Moratorium Of Heavy Trash Heavy Trash Code Enforcement Suspended Thru March 12th By www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

ue to the continued inclement winter weather conditions in the City of Houston, and to ensure department employee safety, starting on Wednesday February 17, 2021 the operations at the Neighborhood Depository/ Recycling Centers, Westpark Recycling Center, Environmental Service Center, Reuse Warehouse will be closed. During this time, all recycling, yard waste and junk waste collection services will be suspended as well. Due to widespread damage to many homes during last week’s winter

storm, the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) Inspections and Public Service (IPS) division will suspend heavy trash code enforcement, effective immediately through Friday, March 12, 2021 to allow residents adequate time to clear debris from their properties. The department will resume heavy trash code enforcement on March 15, 2021. For information about heavy trash codes and guidelines, visit www. houstonsolidwaste.org and www.houstontx.gov/ips/avoid_common_violations.

For questions about notices and citations issued by DON, call the IPS Call Center at 832-394-0600 For more information about SWMD and our services, visit us at www.houstonsolidwaste.org, “LIKE” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/houstonsolidwaste, follow us on Twitter @HoustonTrash, or call 3-1-1, the City of Houston’s Customer Service Helpline. About the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department

Carolyn Wright – Interim Director of Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department The Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) provides solid waste services to the citizens of Houston through the collection, disposal and recycling of discarded material in a manner that is safe, efficient, environmentally sound and cost-effective.

Mayor Turner’s Statement On Merrick Garland – President Resignation of ERCOT Board Joe Biden’s Nominee As A.G. By www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire By www.Wikipedia.com / www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

ayor Sylvester Turner issued the following statement today after five board members resigned from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. “Last week, Houstonians and communities across our state found themselves vulnerable and literally in the dark due to ERCOT’s mismanagement of the power grid. Having out-of-state board members resign will not change the failed oversight by the Public Utility Commission or the lack of common-sense policy by the Texas Legislature. “ERCOT alone should not be made the scapegoat. When I was in the Texas legislature, I filed a bill in 2011 relating to the PUC to ensure ERCOT has adequate reserve power to prevent blackout conditions. That bill never got a hearing. “The PUC oversees ERCOT, and the governor appoints all three commissioners. The resignations do not change the fact that the PUC and the Texas Legislature failed to provide oversight or enact common-sense policy. “The time to act is now. I urge the 87th Texas Legislature to make the

Mayor Of Houston – Sylvester Turner necessary changes to the oversight of our electric grid to prevent this type of disaster from happening in the future.” To voice your concerns about the failure of Texas’ Electricity Grid, please go to:

www.ERCOT.com www.PUC.Texas.gov/

February 25 – March 03, 2021

errick Brian Garland (born November 13, 1952) is an American attorney and jurist who serves as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He has served on that court since 1997. President Joe Biden has nominated Garland for the position of United States attorney general. A native of the Chicago area, Garland attended Harvard University for his undergraduate and legal education. After serving as a law clerk to Judge Henry J. Friendly of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Justice William J. Brennan Jr. of the Supreme Court of the United States, he practiced corporate litigation at Arnold & Porter and worked as a federal prosecutor in the United States Department of Justice, where he played a leading role in the investigation and prosecution of the Oklahoma City bombers. President Barack Obama, a Democrat, nominated Garland to serve as an associate justice of the Supreme Court in March 2016 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Antonin Scalia. Despite Republicans themselves having spent years suggesting Garland as an acceptable Democratic choice,[2] the Senate Republican majority refused to hold a hearing or vote on this nomination made during the last year of Obama’s presidency, with the Republican majority insisting that the next

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Merrick Garland with then President Barack Obama elected president should fill the vacancy. The unprecedented refusal of a Senate majority to consider the nomination was highly controversial. Some Republican lawmakers suggested leaving the court with just eight seats if Hillary Clinton were to be elected, saying they would block Garland or any other nominee and keep the seat vacant for at least another presidential term. Garland’s nomination lasted 293 days (the longest to date by far) and expired on January 3, 2017, at the end of the 114th Congress. The seat for which Garland was nominated was eventually filled by Neil Gorsuch, appointed by President Donald Trump.

www.BuildBackBetter.gov

BENEFITS OF

GETTING THE COVID-19 VACCINE Discover the benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC dives into what is currently known and why it’s important to get vaccinated.

COVID-19 vaccination will help keep you from getting COVID-19 • All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19. • Based on what we know about vaccines for other diseases and early data from clinical trials, experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine may also help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19. • Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. • Experts continue to conduct more studies about the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on severity of illness from COVID-19, as well as its ability to keep people from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.

• Getting COVID-19 may offer some natural protection, known as immunity. Current evidence suggests that reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19 is uncommon in the 90 days after initial infection. However, experts don’t know for sure how long this protection lasts, and the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an antibody (immune system) response without having to experience sickness. • Both natural immunity and immunity produced by a vaccine are important parts of COVID-19 disease that experts are trying to learn more about, and the CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.

COVID-19 vaccination will be an important tool to help stop the pandemic • Wearing masks and social distancing help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others, but these measures are not enough. Vaccines will work with your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed.

COVID-19 vaccination is a safer way to help build protection • COVID-19 can have serious, life-threatening complications, and there is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you. And if you get sick, you could spread the disease to friends, family, and others around you.

• The combination of getting vaccinated and following CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.

• Clinical trials of all vaccines must first show they are safe and effective before any vaccine can be authorized or approved for use, including COVID-19 vaccines. The known and potential benefits of a COVID-19 vaccine must outweigh the known and potential risks of the vaccine for use under what is known as an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

• Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools we have available. As experts learn more about how COVID-19 vaccination may help reduce spread of the disease in communities, CDC will continue to update the recommendations to protect communities using the latest science.

Source: CDC

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February 25 – March 03, 2021

Wells Fargo Foundation Donates $500k for Texas Winter Storm Disaster Relief By www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

he devastating effects of several winter storms have left millions of Texans dealing with costly home damages and limited access to food and water. To help aid in relief efforts, the Wells Fargo Foundation will donate a total of $500,000 for response and recovery, including $50,000 to American Red Cross and $100,000 to Feeding America’s network of 21 food banks in the state. The remaining $350,000 will be used to support local nonprofit efforts, as well as aid with the recovery in communities of color, who have been disproportionately impacted during this crisis. “The recent winter storms caused a wide path of destruction and emotional distress, and we want our customers, employees and communities we serve across the state to know we are here for them,” said

Nate Hurst – President for the Wells Fargo Foundation Nate Hurst, president of the Wells Fargo Foundation. “We hope our donation helps local nonprofits expand their work and facilitate an equitable recovery from the severe weather. Importantly, we also wanted some of our funding to help build resiliency for the

future so communities can better withstand the impacts of climate change.” Wells Fargo is committed to providing support to customers, clients and employees affected by these storms, including suppressing/waiving/reversing certain fees, such as late fees. Payment assistance and disaster relief options requires customers to contact us. Customers who want to discuss their financial needs should call 800-219-9739. For up-to-date information on location closings, customers can visit our branch locator website. Additionally, customers are able to make donations to the American Red Cross via online banking and mobile app via Zelle. Wells Fargo is also supporting employees through the WE Care Fund, a Wells Fargo program that provides financial grants to employees to cover unforeseen expenses caused by a disaster situation or a financial hardship that is beyond their control.

www.WellsFargo.com

Harris County Attorney – Christian D. Menefee Launches Civil Investigation Into ERCOT and Related Agencies By www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

arris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee announced today his office is launching a civil investigation into the circumstances leading up to Texas’s recent electricity disaster—including decisions made by the Public Utility Commission (PUC), the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and market participants—to identify all responsible parties.

“Members of our community died in this disaster, and millions of Texans languished without power and water while suffering billions in property damage,” said County Attorney Menefee. “Harris County residents deserve to know what happened, who made which decisions, and whether this could have been avoided or mitigated.” Menefee will seek authority from the Harris County Commissioners Court at its meeting on Friday to take appropriate legal action on behalf of Harris County:

February 25 – March 03, 2021

Request by the County Attorney for authorization to consider and file friend of court briefs or other appropriate litigation on behalf of Harris County in cases involving the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and other related entities involving the loss of power in and around Winter Storm Uri. County Attorney Menefee released the following statement: “We knew back in 2011, after the last hard freeze, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission put the state and the power generators on notice that the grid was underprepared for hard freeze events. There was nothing unpredictable about this last freeze, and everyone had plenty of notice it was coming. But the people running the grid were woefully unprepared and failed to take immediate action and warn folks of what could happen. My office will conduct

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Christian D. Menefee – Chief Civil Legal Officer Harris County Attorney Office a comprehensive investigation into these events and take legal action where appropriate. I am aware state agencies are conducting their own investigation and I am willing to work with them in that process. But, Harris County government must protect its residents. My office’s investigation will focus on what went wrong with getting power to residents and facilities in this County, and the impact of those failures.”

Harris County Attorney Christian D. Mene-

fee is the County’s chief civil legal officer and has the duty and the authority to represent Harris County in all civil matters including lawsuits.

www.HarrisCountyCAO.org

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February 25 – March 03, 2021

The newly redesigned 2021 Hyundai SANTA FE. A bold reimagining with family fun in mind.

In sunshine, snow, and rain, the redesigned SANTA FE puts all other SUVs in its class to shame. Comfort and safety aside, this tech-forward SUV offers a bold design with a premium and sophisticated interior and exterior that showcases a stylish, rugged elegance. With available features like in-dash Blind-Spot View Monitor, Safe Exit Assist, Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert, HTRAC All Wheel Drive and a 10.25-inch full-touch infotainment screen, you can relax, knowing your family is covered and so is your style game, in or out of the city. It’s so much better, together.

February 25 – March 03, 2021

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Starting at a Black Newspaper, Dana W. White Is the First Black Woman to Run Communications at a Major Automaker

By Troy Schulz – Zenger News / www.StyleMagazine.com

s Hyundai North America’s first black chief communications officer, Dana W. White knows what it is like to have two feet in two worlds. “Growing up I always knew about the power of communication, the power of words,” she said, talking about her childhood in Charlottesville, Virginia. “My grandfather, who was born in 1896, founded the oldest black newspaper in the state. I used to cut ad sheets every month and write copy and process blackand-white photos […at the paper]. The entrepreneurial spirit runs deep in me and my family.” While the weekly black newspaper, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Tribune, is gone, the family’s entrepreneurial spirit lives on. “The environment I grew up in, my family, was that there was never just a pot of gold waiting for me at the end of the tunnel,” she said. “It’s in my DNA – to make it happen for yourself.” Dr. Ben Chavis runs the trade group for African American newspaper publishers. “The National Newspapers Publishers Association salutes Hyundai for its decision to elevate an African-American woman leader to the position of Chief Communications Officer. In this year where the focus is on the empowerment of all women, Dana White represents and embodies the best of Black America,” he told Zenger News of White. She studied hard in college, taking the toughest courses on purpose even if they were scheduled early in the morning and required long walks across Chicago wind-chilled campus. Those courses included learning to read, write and speak Mandarin, the mostly widely used of the Chinese-language dialects. She majored in Chinese history at the University of

Chicago. After college, she moved to Washington, DC without a job and worked as an intern and a temp to pay the bills while she applied for jobs on Capitol Hill. Now Dana White runs North American Communications for Hyundai Motor Company, a South Korean car maker that builds more than half of its vehicles at its plant in Alabama and employs some 25,000 people in the United States. She joined the Zenger News advisory board in 2019. White sees herself as a cross-cultural bridge. At Hyundai Motor North America, she is the Chief Communications Officer—a first for Korean automaker in the U.S. She oversees communications for Hyundai Motor North America headquarters and all of Hyundai’s North America Affiliates including Canada and Mexico, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Glovis (Hyundai’s Logistics Operations), Mobis (Hyundai Parts Operations), Hyundai Capital and the Washington, DC Office. White also has strategic oversight of Hyundai’s luxury automotive brand Genesis, the first SUV for the industry’s newest luxury brand. “When I joined Hyundai a year ago, I knew I needed someone who understood decision making at the highest levels, storytelling and how to work across cultures seamlessly to deliver results. So, I called Dana,” said Jose Munoz, Global COO of Hyundai Motor Company and Pres. & CEO of Hyundai Motor North America. “It’s rare to find one person with all the skills, talents and experiences that she has. And she has proven track record of success. In few short months, Dana has already made a big difference in how we operate, communicate and tell the Hyundai

Hyundai recognizes the value of community. Learn more at HyundaiDiversity.com.

Dana W. White – Vice President Of Communications – Hyundai. (Carol Larsen/Zenger) story.” Ultimately for White, she said her passions are education, excellence and empowerment. “I can still hear my grandfather’s gruff voice saying, ‘Mouse, I want you to be a smart little girl. Learn everything you can.’ I think about everything he survived, all the limits placed on his life and how if he could see me now—a man who was proud to put pictures of my nursery school graduation in the paper—I know he’d say…’So, Mouse…what’s next?’” “The thing about me is that I’m propelled by history and obsessed with the future. I’m passionate about ideas and a mission. I want to see people move forward—know their past and explore their future,” she said. “It’s in my family—this spirit of perseverance. I feel like they handed me a baton. They ran hard and ran fast. They carried the baton as far as they could go. Now, it’s my turn to run faster and farther and pass the baton to the next generation. I say, ‘When you stand on the shoulders of slaves, there’s no slouching.’”

www.Hyundai.com

Art by Ronnie Phillips. RonPhillipsArt.com.

Hyundai Celebrates Black Excellence The journey and societal contributions of African Americans is an epic tale worthy of retelling time and again. Their traditions and rich heritage combine for a legacy to remember. Hyundai is proud to join in on the celebration of Black History, this month and all year long. We salute contemporary Black artists like Ronnie Phillips, who firmly believes that children are the future, stating, “I like the idea of connecting images of present-day Black children to their past as a way of honoring the continuity in our culture.” Hyundai and Ronnie Phillips, building upon the past together while constructing a better future for all. Hyundai is a registered trademark of Hyundai Motor Company. All rights reserved. ©2021 Hyundai Motor America.

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February 25 – March 03, 2021

Houston Style Magazine

FEATURE: Houston Strong H Our Stories By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor – www.StyleMagazine.com

In our lifetime we continue to see the unexpected. We have seen the first Black President of the United States – Barack Obama, the first Black Vice President of the United States – Kamala Harris, a global pandemic – COVID-19, and now the worst winter storm in Texas’ history – Uri. Although we were caught off guard by the severity of the winter blast – we did not crumble! Our instincts kicked in and we used skills we didn’t even know we had to survive in any way possible. Each one of us has a different story to share how we made it through the storm. This is how our #TeamStyleMag of Houston Style Magazine staff endured the great freeze in “Houston Strong – Our Stories.”

Lisa Valadez – Associate Publisher

Brian Barefield – Sports Editor

Keandra Scott Tatum – Feature Writer

Yolanda Pope – Culinary Writer

Opened Doors to Those in Need

Learn to Appreciate the Small Things

Love Thy Neighbor

We Can Out Last Any Storm

was one of the fortunate ones to have retained power and water during the freeze. I felt quite helpless as I witnessed the rest of the state suffer. As I traveled the icy streets to pick up a few family members to bring to my home, I recall feeling a sense of despair as I witnessed many Houstonians looking for gas for their generators while others searched for any store or fast-food establishment that was serving hot food. I knew at that point that I had to do something. That evening, my home became a refuge for many seeking a warm place to sleep. And in the days following, I once again opened my doors for those wanting to fill up water bottles/jugs or those wanting a hot shower. This is the power of Houston – this is what we do for one another. We are forever Houston Strong.

n last week the entire state of Texas went through a winter storm that left many without water and power. I was lucky enough to have electricity long enough to make it through, but when the underground pipes burst near my complex I was without water for days. Being a military veteran has prepared me for many of things in life, but this was one I was not expecting. Of course, I knew how to take a “Field Bath” (Baby Wipes), but I was not mentally ready to have to use a kitchen pot to get water from the pool to flush the toilet or boil for consumption. It was something that made me, and many others realize that you can’t take basic necessities for granted. I almost felt guilty for having power when many were without it. May God bless those who were affected to fully recover. #Sarge

February 25 – March 03, 2021

s a native Houstonian, the Texas Winter Freeze reminded me a lot like Hurricane Harvey; the aftermath has been so devastating. Our great city is reminded tremendously of the true meaning to ‘love thy neighbor’ because we never know when we will need one another. I’ve been able to assist my mother and uncle with helping my 92-year-old grandfather who has been relocated from his home due to burst pipes. Currently, I have taken an initiative to assist my former congregation-North West Community Church with fundraising efforts through hosting ‘clothing drives’ and much more for their WAF Outreach Ministry. In addition, my family’s non-profit, Jamaa (@connectwithjamaa-FB), are committed to several volunteering opportunities within the community to assist those who have been greatly affected.

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n February 15, 2021, we woke up to the beaming sun and a ground covered in snow. The air was crisp, dry, and rather refreshing, because of the lack of the usual humidity. Later on, that evening it began to rain and the atmosphere turned damp and extremely cold. After learning that so many people were without electric power, we began to wonder if we were going to lose ours. Having allergies and asthma I frequently rely on an electrical nebulizer to take breathing treatments. We lost water for a short time, but it was quickly restored, and we lost power for only two hours. Our prayer group gathered online including some individuals who were still without running water. In short, we are all living proof that God gave us what we need to face any storm. Stand firm in your prayers!

Houston Style Magazine

Houston Strong – Our Stories

2021 Black History Month

H COVID-19 – Testing & Vaccinations H Winter Storm Uri H No Electricity H No Water

Cecilia Austin – Feature Writer

Jo-Carolyn Goode – Managing Editor

Raegan Carey – Arts and Entertainment Writer

TotallyRandie Bell – Feature Writer

Thugged It Out In Near Freezing Home

Being Thankful For Plans

Fighting to Keep Little Guy Warm

Protecting Our Baby From Winter Storm

don’t have many memories of snow. Sure, I remember diving under a desk during earthquake drills while growing up in California, but snow was largely an anomaly reserved for TV. It looked nice enough, but I don’t do cold so there’s that. So, seeing snow in Houston, where I’ve now lived for over a decade, had never crossed my mind. For a city largely accustomed to floods, hurricanes and soul searing humidity snow just isn’t something most of us are prepared for including myself. As I told a friend recently, save the “this isn’t even that cold” jokes for those accustomed to snow chains and wearing ‘Timbs’ in the wild north. That is not our ministry. From that point on the city was essentially closed, as millions of Texans woke up to a combination of no heat and no water. Many of us had stocked our fridges of what we thought would be a cold snap, not knowing the fridge would be the least of our concerns. That Monday I went through the motions as best I could, using my phone for work and praying the lights (and water) would come back on soon. Unfortunately, we don’t have a gas stove, leaving us to huddle under large Sherpa blankets as I tried to work off my phone. As the temperature dropped from 40 to under 30 degrees, my husband and I moved to the car to charge phones that no longer even had service. That night we warmed up in the car and then ‘thugged’ it out by sleeping in our near freezing home. Over the next four days we migrated to a friend with a fireplace, where I discovered that I can chop firewood in a kitchen, but that’s a story for another day.

aving a plan A and B can always benefit you in any situation, especially when facing the worst winter storm that Texas has ever seen. Plan A was kicked into action when the power went out early Monday morning. After huddling over the gas stove and using the car heater didn’t keep my friend and myself warm, we activated Plan A by going to my friend’s mom’s house. At our new location, we had power, water, and lots of love. Shortly after our arrival, we were once again in the dark. It was time for plan B – book a hotel. That plan quickly failed as the hotel room we confirmed online was sold right from under us when we contacted the hotel. Back we went to try to make plan A work. A true blessing was that my friend’s mother’s home was an older one built in the 1960s so that meant it was equipped with a wood burning fireplace, a gas stove, and space heaters in the bathrooms. A new problem presented itself with our plan A. We didn’t have enough firewood to make it through the night. However, a miracle phone call to one of my sorority sisters solved that problem. Now with enough firewood, we closed ourselves into one room, wrapped up in blankets, and huddled around the fireplace to ride out the storm. Night after night as we sat in the dark we found ourselves being very thankful and grateful for God’s grace, life itself, and all the little things we take for granted daily. We satisfied our hunger needs by having a great cookout. Four days without electricity made me grateful and thankful for God’s graces.

, along with my husband, have a beautiful baby boy, Cassius. As parents to a busy toddler, we stayed stocked with the needs for our son. With the pending storm, we made sure we were good on milk, bottled water, and diapers for at least several days. Though we prepared, I began to worry about how the extreme cold temperatures and the eventual loss of water would affect our son because of his condition. Cassius was born with Sickle Cell Disease, a red blood cell disorder that can be painful when triggered. Two of the most common triggers of pain are cold temperatures and dehydration. I had to prepare to fight to keep my little guy warm. I started by triple layering his clothing. We then turned on the oven and huddled as a family. Thankfully, after 48-hours our power was restored. We had to go almost five days without water, but my husband melted down bags of ice we had to ensure we had water. You really don’t know how resilient you are until you are literally pushed into a storm.

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hen we first had our son Lennox, at the time, I stated that I thought I knew fear and how I absolutely knew nothing. Having a baby makes you fearful of everything. Now take that baby and place him in a pandemic and a freeze. When the lights first went out and we saw snow we put on the warmest clothes Lennox had and took him out to experience his first snow fight. At two years old he said, “Mommy let’s build a snow man.” Although he was in distress when his iPad didn’t work, he finally allowed himself to be entertained by me via books and other games. It seemed as if we were going to make it. Then the hot water heater pipe burst and then the cold-water pressure decreased. At that time, we knew Lennox could no longer stay in this house. His paternal grandmother who lives 20 mins away insisted that we bring him there as their lights had just turned back on and she lived in a newly built neighborhood. Of course, we immediately obliged. We dropped him off and came home to salvage what we could, charging devices and warming blankets in our cars. We knew our Lennox was fortunate, but I couldn’t help but think about all of the other 2-year old’s who were not okay. What if Lennox had no “GG’s house” to go to? What if I had to watch my child suffer? Just the thought of that type of suffering brings tears to my eyes. It’s easy to take care of ourselves but, we have so much anxiety about his safety when a child is involved. We just can’t help repeating to ourselves how thankful we are to have our family.

February 25 – March 03, 2021

2019 Grand Prize winners Traci Johannson and Jody-Hall with

H-E-B’s George Johannson, Winell-Herron and H-E-B’s Luke Ayden

H-E-B Issues State-Wide Call For Entries Quest For Texas Best 2021 Expands Beyond Food Products Submissions Accepted February 24th – April 7th By www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

Johannson and James-Harris congratulates 3-Sons Foods Since launching the contest in

available at any other large chain or

2014, H-E-B has reviewed more than

retailer, and the vendors must be willing

4,500 samples of the most creative

to sell exclusively to H-E-B. Addition-

and mouthwatering Texas-made food

ally, Texas-based suppliers must also

and beverages, deemed more than 750

create, produce or co-pack the products

unique products worthy of shelf place-

in Texas.

ment and awarded nearly $1 million in

About H-E-B

ow in its eighth year, H-E-B

James Harris, Director, Diversity

prize money, marketing, supplemental

Quest for Texas Best has ex-

& Inclusion and Supplier Diversity,

support and mentoring. Interested

panded its search for the finest

H-E-B. “While we were unable to for-

suppliers and manufacturers can

billion, operates more than 400 stores

foods and beverages in the Lone Star

mally hold the competition in 2020, we

submit details about their products

in Texas and Mexico. Known for its

State to also include non-food items. In

still found a number of excellent com-

at: www.HEB.com/quest by April 7th

innovation and community service,

addition to food creators and innova-

panies. We look forward expanding that

for consideration.

H-E-B celebrates its 115th anniversary

tors, Texas-based purveyors of beauty

list with the 2021 competition.”

H-E-B, with sales of over $31

After the Call for Entries period

this year. Recognized for its fresh food,

items, toys, home goods, household

To prepare for Quest, partic-

is complete, H-E-B’s Business Devel-

quality products, convenient services

necessities, gardening supplies, coolers

ipants will have the opportunity to

opment Managers will select the Top

and a commitment to environmental

and everything in between are now in-

visit with H-E-B Sourcing and Sup-

20 applicants, who will present their

responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B

vited to join! The call for entries is now

plier Diversity leaders about prod-

products before a panel of judges se-

strives to provide the best customer ex-

open, and submissions will be accepted

uct development and best practices

lected by H-E-B on August 24th 26th,

perience and lowest prices. Based in San

February 24th through April 7th.

for submitting their product during

2021 at the San Antonio Food Bank.

Antonio, H-E-B employs over 135,000

Qualified participants will compete for

special virtual information sessions

The panel of judges will determine the

Partners in Texas and Mexico and serves

a combined $70,000 in cash prizes and

March 2nd, 10th and 11th. Registra-

top four winning products and award

millions of customers in more than 300

the opportunity to feature their product

tion is required and space is limited

$25,000 to the Grand Prize winner, the

communities.

on H-E-B shelves across the state.

to competitors only. To reserve your

title of “Texas Best” and placement on

“Through Quest, we have the

informational meeting space, review

store shelves; $20,000 to the first-place

For more information, visit:

opportunity to connect with even more

competition details and learn more

winner; $15,000 to the second-place

Texas-based innovators each year,

about the newest requirement – a

winner and $10,000 to the third-place

which helps us further curate rich and

two-minute video – please visit: www.

winner.

www.HEB.com/QUEST

robust offerings for customers,” said

HEB.com/quest.

February 25 – March 03, 2021

Eligible products must not be

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Meeting 1 - March 2, 2020: 10 am-11:30 am https://www.eventbrite.com/e/h-e-b-quest-for-texasbest-informational-meeting-1-of-3-registration-139570090899 Meeting 2 - March 10, 2020: 1 pm-2:30 pm https://www.eventbrite.com/e/h-e-b-quest-for-texasbest-informational-meeting-2-of-3-registration-139571946449 Meeting 3 - March 11, 2020: 10 am-11:30 am https://www.eventbrite.com/e/h-e-b-quest-for-texasbest-informational-meeting-3-of-3-registration-139572981545

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February 25 – March 03, 2021

s power and water outages persist throughout our region over the next few days, Precinct One has compiled a list of resources for constituents to navigate these difficult times. We hope that you are staying warm and safe. The information in this document is current as of 2.17 and will be updated periodically, but please be sure to verify information by visiting websites and making phone calls.

Warming Centers:

Updates: • Much of Harris County is now under a boil

water notice. Check your location on the interactive map at www.ReadyHarris.org. Be sure to boil water for 2 minutes and let cool before using to drink, cook, brush your teeth, or making ice. • In order to preserve water pressure and supply, do NOT continue to let your faucets drip. www.Twitter.com/readyharris/status/1362108973202231297?s=21 • We know that many people are experiencing difficulties with their water supply, but please DO NOT CALL 911, check with your city or utility district instead. Let’s not overwhelm our first responders who need to focus on life-threatening emergencies. • If you do have power, please conserve as much as possible. Unplug additional appliances, turn off nonessential lights, avoid doing laundry or dishes, etc.

Protect the Four P’s: People, Pets, Pipes, & Plants:

• • • • • • • • • •

keep in body heat. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, use generators, pressure washers, grills, and similar items outdoors ONLY. Put your whole family in one room and keep doors shut. You can use extra towels or blankets near windows or doors to prevent warm air from escaping. Close blinds and curtains and make sure all windows are tightly shut. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Continue to eat, your body needs the energy to stay warm. Check on your friends and neighbors, especially the elderly. Even if you’re without power in your home, your home is still the safest place you can be right now. Stay off roadways and be careful walking on outdoor surfaces. Stay tuned to trusted sources for updates and information.

• People: Keep warm, stay inside, if possible.

If you need to go out, dress in layers and wear hats, gloves and an appropriate coat. Avoid overexertion, as cold weather puts added strain on your body. • Pets: Bring pets inside, and move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas. Keep adequate food and water available. • Pipes: Disconnect outdoor hoses; drain and store in protected area. Wrap exposed faucets and pipes - including those outside the house or in unheated crawl spaces, attics, garages and other areas. If you do have a pipe burst, see here www.bit.ly/3aq6qUL to quickly turn off your water supply. • Plants: Bring potted plants inside or store in garage near interior wall to provide extra warmth and protection from wind. For cold-sensitive outdoor plants, put down extra mulch and consider covering with a cloth fabric of some kind to shield the plants from wind and frost.

Staying Warm and Safe: • Wear loose layers of clothing, which help to

HCP1 16

Heater Safety:

Portable space heaters are often used to heat rooms and homes. If not used properly, they can cause fires, severe injuries, and death. If using a portable heater, remember these important safety tips:

• Keep heaters at least 3 feet from anything

that can burn, including furniture, carpets, curtains, and people.

• Place heaters on solid, non-flammable surfaces.

• Never block exits with a heater and keep them out of the way of foot traffic.

• Keep children away from heaters. • Always plug heaters directly into wall outlets – NEVER use an extension cord. • Turn off and unplug space heaters when leaving a room or going to bed. • Protect yourself from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning by installing a battery-operated CO detector and never use generators, grills, camp stoves, or similar devices indoors.

Warming centers are open throughout the area for those needing to escape frigid temperatures. • List of Warming Centers: www.ABC13.com/ heres-where-you-can-go-if-you-need-togetwarm/10338709/ • Gallery Furniture stores are now warming shelters: www.Chron.com/news/houstonweather/article/Gallery-Furniture-storesare-now-warming-shelters-15954396.php • American Red Cross Warming Centers: www.Redross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-andrecovery-services/find-an-openshelter.html • Coalition for the Homeless, Winter Shelter Updates: www.HomelessHouston.org/winterweather-alert

Trusted Resources:

Having reliable info. from trusted resources allows you and your family to make informed decisions. You can rely on the following websites for updates:

• Weather Updates: https://www.weather.gov/ • • • • • •

hgx/ Local Traffic Updates: https://www.houstontranstar.org/ Harris County Updates: https://www.readyharris.org/ State Traffic Updates: https://drivetexas.org METRO: https://www.ridemetro.org/ City of Houston Emergency Operations Center: https://houstonemergency.org/ If you need assistance or food: 211texas.org or call 2-1-1

Stores and Restaurants:

• Open Restaurants for To Go: https://houston.

culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/0216-21houston-restaurants-open-winterstorm/ • HEB: As the winter weather continues, many of our stores have updated hours today and will be opening later or closing earlier than usual. Please check heb.com/newsroom for the most updated information. • Kroger: Stores that are currently open will close at 8pm tonight, and reopen with regular business hours on Wednesday, February 17th. Note that due to power outages, some stores are still closed. • Walmart: Find the status of stores near you here: https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2021/02/15/winter-storm-facility-status

• Remember: 9-1-1 is ONLY for emergencies.

WINTER STORM RESOURCE GUIDE

HCP1

Precint One Commissioner Rodney Ellis Has Compiled A List Of Resources For Constituents To Navigate These Difficult Times

February 25 – March 03, 2021

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February 25 – March 03, 2021

Comcast NBCUniversal Commits $500,000 To Support Winter Storm Uri Relief Efforts By www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

Amanda McMillian – President and CEO for United Way of Greater Houston

Ralph Martinez – Senior Vice President for Comcast’s Houston Region

ur hearts go out to the people of Houston, including thousands of our employees and customers who have been impacted by the extreme and devastating effects of Winter Storm Uri. To help support those impacted by the disaster, Comcast NBCUniversal is committed to providing $500,000 in support to Houston-area relief efforts, including cash and in-kind contributions. The $500,000 commitment includes $250,000 in cash that will be shared between the Greater Houston Community Foundation and the United Way of Greater Houston. Additionally, the company will donate advertising time on its cable systems to these organizations to run public service announcements to help educate concerned citizens about how they can assist with relief efforts. “Winter Storm Uri has truly highlighted the importance of businesses taking care of the community,” said Amanda McMillian, president and CEO for United Way of Greater Houston. “We thank Comcast for stepping up and making this donation that will provide a lifeline to Houston residents who are struggling due to the devastating effects of this extreme weather.” Comcast NBCUniversal’s pledge is another step in the company’s commitment to providing a combination of financial and additional resources to

assist with the relief efforts in Houston. Last week, Comcast opened more than 800,000 Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots around the Houston area to help all area residents and emergency workers to connect during Winter Storm Uri. “Comcast believes it is our responsibility to continue our support to strengthen the community, said Ralph Martinez, senior vice president for Comcast’s Houston region. “We hope this donation will help accelerate the recovery process and provide the support Houstonians need at this challenging time.” The outpouring of support from Comcast NBCUniversal employees across the country has been tremendous. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by the storm, and we will continue to identify ways to give back as rebuilding efforts begin.

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Joy Priest Has Been Writing Ever Since She Could Hold A Pen By www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

Joy Priest is a first-year doctoral student in the UH Creative Writing program in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. She has been awarded a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts which will allow her to set aside time for writing, research and travel.

’ve been a poet all my life, but I was a reader first,” said the first-year doctoral candidate in the University of Houston’s renowned Creative Writing Program. “My mother would read to me every night, and when I was about three years old, I started taking the book from her because I wanted to read it myself.” That love of reading evolved into writing short stories and poems, and today, Priest is an award-winning poet who has received a Creative Writing Fellowship of $25,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). She is one of 35 writers selected out of 1,600 applicants through a highly competitive, anonymous process and judged on the basis of artistic excellence of the work sample they provided. “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support these 35 talented poets through creative writing fellowships,” said Amy Stolls, director of literary arts at the Arts Endowment. “These fellowships often provide writers with crucial support and encouragement, and in return our nation is enriched by their artistic contributions in the years to come.” Priest is nationally known

for “Horsepower” (Pitt Poetry Series, 2020), a collection of poems about growing up in Louisville, Kentucky across from Churchill Downs “on the backside of the racetrack.” The book won the Donald Hall Prize for Poetry and was nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award’s John Leonard Prize for best first book in any genre. She is also the recipient of the 2020 Stanley Kunitz Prize from the “American Poetry Review,” and her poems have appeared in the Academy of American Poets’ “Poem-a-Day” and “Virginia Quarterly Review,” among others. This month, “The Atlantic” began featuring Priest’s poem “Ghosts in Schools” as part of the publication’s “Inheritance” project about American history, Black life and the resilience of memory. “I write a lot about race,” explained Priest. “I am very interested in the connections between America and Germany when it comes to racial ideologies.” As a NEA Fellow, Priest will be able to set time aside for writing, research, travel and general career advancement. She plans to use her award money to learn more about her familial origins and

Joy Priest write a series of poems while studying at UH. Priest’s workshop professor, Martha Serpas, an acclaimed poet herself, says Priest fits perfectly with an exceptional class of poets at UH because her work and presence are “inventive and fearless.” “Joy told me, ‘I’ll never stop writing about my family and Kentucky and racism.’ What I admire about her process is that she incorporates a southern Kentucky vernacular in her work to deal with these complicated subjects,” Serpas shared. Since 1967, the Arts Endowment has awarded more than 3,600 creative writing fellowships totaling over $56 million. “As a writer, you don’t know how your work going to be received,” Priest added. “I think this award is validation that the work I am putting out there is quality work. It’s good to be read.” The full list of FY 2021 Creative Writing Fellows is here: www.arts.gov/grants/recent-grants/ literature-fellowships/list-by-year

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February 25 – March 03, 2021

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CHANGE IS ROOTED IN

Helping Texans in need has been the cornerstone of H-E-B’s Spirit of Giving. We’re continuing to expand our investment in nonprofit organizations that are doing meaningful work in diversity, equity and inclusion.

Houston Area Urban League (HAUL) – The Houston Area Urban League is dedicated to providing opportunities and resources that enable African Americans and other minorities to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights.

UNCF – The UNCF awards more than 10,000 scholarships annually, enabling more African American students to attend and graduate from college. Through their partnerships with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), they have helped to more than double the number of minorities attending college.

NAACP Empowerment Programs Inc. – The NAACP and the NAACP Empowerment Programs Inc. work to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race, by focusing on training, education, and advocacy that ensures the health and wellbeing of all persons.

Join us in supporting equity, empowerment,

February 25 – March 03, 2021