Houston Style Magazine Vol 34 No 5

Voices for the Heart

Community-Based Event

For the Houston Area

January 31, 2023, at 7:00 PM CST

Attend Virtually NAMI –Greater Houston

Registration Information Click Here or QR Code

Speaker: Dr. Olasimbo Chiadika, MD MPH FACC CMQ Associate Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine

The University of Texas Health Science Center McGovern Medical School

Moderated by: Mrs. Angelina Hudson Executive Director, NAMI Greater Houston

Dr. Olasimbo Chiadika will be joined by a special guest, who will share hispersonal journey with a rare heart disease (transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy, or ATTR-CM)

Don Chaney

NBA Hall of Famer

Registration Information Click Here or QR Code

Publisher Francis Page, Jr. fpagejr@stylemagazine.com

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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

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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)

WE CANNOT ACCEPT MASS MURDER

By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer

Once more the horror. Three mass shootings in California – 11 killed at a ballroom dance hall in Monterey Park, seven killed at Half Moon Bay, and a week earlier, a 16-year-old mother and four others shot in a California farming community – are tragic and grotesquely routine. The savage beating and murder of Tyre Nichols by five Memphis police officers was criminal, and one more incidence of police brutality that too often is unleashed on African American men.

The murders once more trigger demands for reform. The unspeakable shooting of children at Sandy Hook and Parkland led to mass protests, culminating in the March for Life, led by the children themselves. The police murder of George Floyd, one of too many police murders, fed the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, the largest interracial non-violence demonstrations in our history, demanding police reform.

The results feed despair. The killings take place, the demonstrations demand change. Politicians express condolences and promise action. Then the lobbies mobilize to fight against reform. The gun lobby – even with the National Rifle Association scarred by corruption –remains one of the most powerful in Washington and in statehouses across the country. Police unions resist reform and scare off politicians. Reform gets twisted into a partisan issue, with politicians posturing that opponents want to “take your guns away,” or “disarm the police” or side with the criminals against the citizens. The reforms get watered down, the reformers retreat. Real change is blocked. The killing goes on.

Some argue that reform

won’t make a difference. Laws cannot erase the violence that a person might carry in his or her heart. But they can make it harder to get access to weapons of mass murder. They can require police reforms that offer training, limit qualified immunity, reorganize forms of policing, and create accountability that changes what is deemed acceptable. As Dr. Martin Luther King taught, “It may be true that the law cannot change the heart, but it can restrain the heartless.”

After the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy in the summer of 1968, Lyndon Johnson pushed to treat guns like cars, licensing all gun owners and registering all weapons. Laws like that in Great Britain have had dramatic effect. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, that passed the House twice but was torpedoed by Republicans

in the Senate, would outlaw racial profiling, restrict use of excessive force, and limit qualified immunity. That would help empower mayors to reform police departments across the country.

When the civil rights movement pushed for equal protection under the law, for voting rights, and for equal access to public accommodations, we knew that changes in the law would not erase the racial hatreds that some carried in their hearts. But we also knew that reform would change actions even if it couldn’t change hearts. And it would empower those who wanted to do right and disarm those who wanted to continue the repression. We cannot allow ourselves to accept mass murders, gun violence and police misconduct. We cannot allow ourselves to adjust to them or to accommodate them.

In the last three years, there have

been across America more than 600 mass shootings in which four or more people were injured or killed. That’s nearly two a day on average. An average of nearly 53 people a day are killed by a firearm in the US. Seventy-nine percent of homicides in the U.S. are gun related. That compares to 4 percent in the United Kingdom, or 13 percent in Australia.

A record 1,176 people were killed by police in the U.S. last year, according to Mapping Police Violence. Only 31 percent were involved in an allegedly violent crime. Nearly as many were cases in which either non-violent offenses or no offense at all were alleged. Nearly one-third were in situations where the person was fleeing from police. African Americans were three times as likely as whites to be killed by police.

There are more guns in America than there are Americans. More die from guns than in any other industrial country. Police brutality turns the law enforcer into the lawless. Yet sensible gun controls and police reform get twisted into partisan posturing.

We can demand better. And we cannot fail to make that demand. Reform may seem impossible. Progress may seem an illusion. But accommodating ourselves to the violence offers no hope. Each horror, each crime, each tragedy must goad us toward greater action. This cannot go on.

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

Demonstrators fill Times Square as they protest the death of Tyre Nichols after an altercation with police in Tennessee, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023

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

PROSPECT FOR PASSING POLICING LEGISLATION IN CONGRESS REMAINS LOW

By CNN/StyleMagazine.com

The prospect for new bipartisan negotiations on Capitol Hill for legislation overhauling policing laws remains very low, despite calls from the NAACP, the Congressional Black Caucus and others for congressional action in the wake of the brutal police beating and death of Tyre Nichols.

Previous talks broke down without a deal in September 2021 despite months of negotiations between Sen. Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican, Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat and then-Rep. Karen Bass, a California Democrat, now serving as mayor of Los Angeles. Now, with a divided Congress in place and a presidential election year on the horizon, the chances of getting a deal are slim.

Still, Scott and Booker both reiterated their commitment to reform in the wake of Nichols' death.

Scott, the only Black Senate Republican, spoke on the Senate floor Monday night about Nichols' death and called on his colleagues to agree on "simple legislation" regarding police reform.

"I take the issue of policing in America seriously," the South Carolina Republican said. "I want our body to see it not as an issue of Republicans versus Democrats, but as good people standing in the gap, elected to do a job that we all ran to do. Let's do our jobs. We can make a difference in this nation." The senator "never left the negotiating table

and has encouraged his colleagues on the other of side of the aisle to join him in his continued efforts to increase safety in our communities," a spokesperson for Scott told CNN earlier Monday.

Booker said in a statement he will be renewing his legislative efforts "in the coming days."

But any effort would need bipartisan support and 60 votes to clear the Senate and would then have to pass a GOP-controlled House, an extremely difficult task and, at this point, an unlikely outcome.

"Although Senate action on policing reform has proven difficult, from the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to more targeted reforms, I will never stop working to build a broad coalition to enact the changes that will make our

nation safer, stronger, and more just," Booker said in the statement.

Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, signaled over the weekend he would not support crafting any new laws.

"I don't know that there is any law that can stop that evil that we saw that is just, I mean, just difficult to watch," Jordan said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "What strikes me is a lack of respect for human life, so I don't know that any law, any training, any reform is going to change, you know, this man was handcuffed. They continued to beat him."

Key Senate Republicans have cast doubt that a fresh compromise can be found, even after Nichols' death.

HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY MENEFEE OPENS APPLICATIONS FOR 2ND HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER LEGAL ACADEMY

(including HISD, Alief ISD, Klein ISD, and more).

The office of Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee is now accepting applications for the 2023 Summer Legal Academy (SLA), a twoweek educational readiness program for high school students to learn more about what it takes to become an attorney. The inaugural program launched in the summer of 2022, yielding more than 250 applications. The 2022 class of 21 students came from 21 different high schools in six local school districts

During the program students will: learn about what it takes to succeed in college, on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), and in law school; participate in mock lectures given by current professors at local law schools; hear from multiple panels of attorneys in a variety of practice areas (including corporate law, criminal law, family law, etc.); and tour local law schools and courthouses.

"SLA is a safe space for young adults around Houston to come together and grasp a deeper understanding of the law field. Prior to my time at SLA I had

never met an Attorney, but SLA allowed me to network with and receive actual lectures from real professionals. The knowledge I gained at SLA and the friendships I created are ones I will keep with me forever," said Carmen Cruz, a senior at Milby High School who was part of the 2022 SLA cohort.

“I started the Summer Legal Academy last year to empower kids from all backgrounds, regardless of where they go to school or the issues they face in their own life, to know how to navigate the process of becoming a successful attorney. Every young person deserves to know that the options ahead of them are endless and that they have what it takes to create a bright future for themselves,” said Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee. “Growing

Asked about the prospects for new legislation as they left a GOP leadership meeting Monday, Senate Republican Whip John Thune cast blame on Democrats for ending those earlier negotiations.

"We'll see. We made a lot of progress on that front a few years ago with Tim Scott until Democrats torpedoed it," he said, adding that Republicans would have to assess if Democrats would take a different approach now.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the GOP leadership and Senate Judiciary Committee, told CNN that "I don't know what the pathway is" to finding a deal on policing legislation. The Texas Republican said that the issue of changing qualified immunity for police officers -- to make it easier to sue them in civil court -- remains a central sticking point.

"We've been talking about (the legislation) for two years and never been able to get to consensus on that," Cornyn said.

"You got these police officers that use excessive force. They need to be prosecuted. I'm not sure there's any law you can pass that would prevent what happened," Cornyn added.

Read more at:

StyleMagazine.com

up, I had never met a lawyer and I had no idea how to get into law school. It’s incredibly meaningful to me to be able to connect Harris County high school students to a diverse group of attorneys, judges, and even staff from local law schools and allow them to ask questions and dream big about their own future.”

For more details on Summer Legal Academy and the application process, visit cao.harriscountytx.gov/students. Any high school student in Harris County entering grades 10 through 12 may apply. The deadline for students to apply is March 24. Applicants are expected to submit a recommendation letter, a writing sample, and a short essay. The program will be held Monday-Friday during a two-week period in July.

Chris Menefee

Sen. Cory Booker

FILM CAPTURING HOUSTON'S 5TH WARD HISTORY TO AIR ON BET FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH

The Historic Fifth Ward, located on the northeast edge of downtown Houston, Tx. served as home to the iconic musical venue “Club Matinee” founded in 1936. During the days of segregation, legends like Ray Charles (one of his first gigs), James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Louis Armstrong, Sam Cooke, Little Richard and B. B. King & more performed at this KCOH satellite location.

Award winning film director & multi-platinum Grammy nominated music producer Isaac Yowman, has used his visual talents to document the history made during the era of Club Matinee with his newest NAACP Image Award nominated film “Memory Builds The Monument”.

Yowman partnered with local non-profits Fifth Ward CRC and SOURCE Studio to create the project through his film/tv production company IYO Visuals. The documentary premiered as an Official Selection at SXSW and has won nearly a dozen film festivals globally.

Paramount now has acquired the film, and will officially debut “Memory Builds The Monument” on BET throughout Black History Month, and available to stream on BET+ February 1st.

This community driven motion picture will be released in conjunction with an original music soundtrack (EP) and a 23,000+ sqft. Art Exhibition located at THE MAG in Downtown Houston. Both the soundtrack & month-long art exhibit are entitled “Southern Glory”

In collaboration with Morehouse College, Yowman will host an Atlanta screening of the BET special and Q&A on Friday, February 17th in the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center. The activation will serve as an Official Founder’s Week event and is FREE to all residents of ATL, students and alumni.

Read more at: StyleMagazine.com

Gilbert, Ben, DeeDee, Melissa, Andrew, Daniel, Julianna

Gilbert, The 44th Annual Co-Grand Mashal of the Original MLK Parade with his wife, DeeDee

CHANGE PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS OF BLACK MEN

By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor

Alton Sterling was killed testing the entrepreneurial waters selling DVDs and CDs in the same America where a nine-year-old boy can start a $700,000-a-year necktie and bowtie company, Mo’Bows. Philando Castile was killed at a traffic stop in the same America where Garrett Morgan invented the traffic light. Tamir Rice was killed playing with a toy gun in the same America where Lonnie Johnson invented the super soaker gun. Trayvon Martin was killed walking the street in a hoodie with Skittles and iced tea in the same America where three brothers can establish a chocolate candy manufacturer. Botham Jean was murdered while eating ice cream in the same America where Augustus "Father of Ice Cream" Jackson was an ice cream innovator. Despite all these successes achieved by black men that have helped make our world more enjoyable today, they are still perceived as a threat, thought of as less than, and are highly underestimated. All black men are not criminals, unemployed, or in poverty. America needs to understand and be reminded of this as much as possible for the black man to stop being thought of as the biggest threat in American society.

A CNN report on "Black Men Making It In America" collected data to reflect that, compared to stats from the 1960s, the number of black men in poverty had decreased by 23% and that of those in the upper class had increased by 19%. This proves that, despite all the negativity and threats to their lives, black men are finding ways to succeed in America and are thriving at it. Black men are resilient.

Tyre Nichols was one of those resilient men. As a 29-year-old man, he was an entrepreneur with his own photography business and made money working for FedEx. He was a 6-foot-3inch family man with a young son. He was trying to do right in life when his life was snatched from him in a most violent way by five boys who looked just like him. Then, probably also because of his race, responding officials did not render any aid to him. As a believer, I won’t say that Tyre Nichols should still be here, because if he were, God would have kept him here. Tyre Nichols, on the other hand, did not have to be another black man added to the list of those who die in heinous ways at the hands of another human being.

Black men were brought to this country as property to work, be beaten,

and be treated less than, yet they are always deemed dangerous. Why is the white man with a whip less frightening? Or Stephen Paddock, who injured 867 people on the Las Vegas, Nevada, strip in 2017 less frightening? Less not forget about Dylan Roof, who walked into a place of worship and killed nine people. Don’t forget the names of Chunli Zhao and Huu Can Tran, who recently gunned down eighteen during Lunar New Year celebrations this year. Salvador Ramos was 18 when he murdered 21 at an elementary school in Uvalde, TX. The list could go on and on and all of these men don’t hold a candle to the terror some people feel of black men.

No matter their age, level of intelligence, income level, style of dress, marital status, etc., a black man is seen as one who would cause harm. Let’s change the narrative in America by trying to assume the positive before the negative, not just of black men but of all men. It is perfectly fair to be on guard and cautious in our day-to-day lives. In this age, one has to be aware of their surroundings. However, do not be overly suspicious of one race over another.

Referencing the CNN article again, "Black Men Are Succeeding in America," they found that black men are more likely to be successful when they work, have an education, and are married. Black men who have an education and work are generally in a higher income bracket and have core values of respect. They want to provide for themselves and their families and offer protection for them. Black women assist black men in succeeding by providing them with the necessary support. Furthermore, black women tend to be that success factor for some black men who are in the middle class or higher as a re-

sult of the size of their personal income adding to the household income.

Another factor to note for success is military experience. Championing those virtues of duty, responsibility, and loyalty helps give black men a solid foundation and builds their own code by which to live. The study found that it increased success by over 70%.

Changing the way people think of black men will not just keep them stay safe, but it will help them stay on a progressive path for a better future. Just

think of children in a similar scenario. Those who are loved, supported, and know more is expected of them will generally achieve more than those who are not. If one expects a child to fail, they will. Put black men in a positive light, and they will know they are not alone in their fight and that someone is expecting more of them. This type of behavior raises one’s self esteem.

Don't group all black men together and project your personal prejudice on the species. As W. Bradford Wilcox, senior fellow at the Institute for Family Studies and a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, writes, "The evidence suggests that if more Americans knew how many black men were succeeding, and more about the routes they were taking, it would reduce racial prejudice and engender hope among today’s young black males that they too have a shot at making it in America."

This Black History Month see black men in a positive light rather than a negative one. Thought provoking thinking might just save a black man’s life.

Tyre Nichols

BUN B’S TRILL BURGERS TO RETURN TO HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO FOR THE 2023 SEASON

Award-winning smashburger concept set for an encore appearance at NRG Park

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

Trill Burgers has announced that it will make its much-anticipated return to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Rap legend Bun B’s award-winning smashburger concept – which was named “Best Burger in America” by Good Morning America in 2022 – will be a food vendor at booth RP130 in Rodeo Plaza at NRG Park, located on NRG Parkway East near the Champion Wine Garden and NRG Astrodome. It will be next to the booth that Trill Burgers operated last year, with an updated buildout for 2023.

Trill Burgers made its Rodeo debut in 2022, serving up more than 12,000 burgers during the 21-day festival. That culminated with 1,234 burgers sold on Bun B’s birthday, March 19 – which will be the final day of the 2023 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Bun B will once again grace the revolving star-studded stage inside NRG Stadium on Friday, March 3, for

Bun B’s Southern Takeover, leading an all-star cast of hip-hop elite from the Southern United States.

“As excited as I am to be performing again at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on March 3, I’m equally excited to be serving our Trill Burgers on Restaurant Row again for the entire Rodeo,” Bun B said. “There’s no better way to present our amazing burger to as many Houstonians in one setting. See you there!”

The news of the smash hit concept returning to Houston’s marquee public event comes as work continues on Trill Burgers’ first brick-and-mortar location at 3607 S Shepherd Dr. in Montrose. The 3,236-square-foot building, which features a drive-thru, was formerly home to one of Houston's oldest James Coney Island locations. An opening date will be announced soon. Read more at RodeoHouston. com

BEYONCE’ BRINGS RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR TO HOUSTON SEPT. 23

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

Stop HIV together

Following the wildly successful release of BEYONCÉ’s seventh studio album, RENAISSANCE, the global superstar has announced RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR, her first solo tour in over six years. The North American leg of the tour is leveraging Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan technology to ensure more tickets get into the hands of concertgoers.

Ticketing will begin Monday, February 6, 2023, starting with an exclusive presale to BeyHive members.

As with previous tours, Beyoncé will make her mark offstage, too, with BeyGOOD, the initiative she founded in 2013 to support people and programs

around the world. BeyGOOD will support entrepreneurs through Black Parade Route luncheons, celebrating small business owners, with grant opportunities being awarded and a foray of services with global partners to promote business sustainability. One thousand small businesses will be supported with a commitment totaling one million dollars. BeyGOOD will also support students through scholarship funds that will be given to colleges and universities in ten different cities along the tour. Working with Beyoncé and the BeyGOOD Foundation, Citi and Verizon will purchase 100 tickets combined in each market across the U.S. touring leg for distribution to local community initiatives.

Beyonce’ s tour comes to Houston on September 23, 2023, at the NRG Stadium. Visit beyonce.livenation.com and tour.beyonce.com for more information."

"Black communities have made great progress in reducing HIV NBHAAD is an opportunity to increase HIV education, testing, community involvement, and treatment among Black communities "

Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston Health Department opened the first combined health and multi-service center in the Sunnyside community today, offering a new state-of-the-art facility to better support the underserved community.

The new Sunnyside Health and Multi-service Center located at 4410 Reed Rd., offers more than 57,000 square feet of combined community service-oriented, multi-service center, and health center programs in one facility.

“This new facility has been a long time coming for the Sunnyside community and this community has long been a focus of my Complete Communities initiative,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “They now have access to a magnificent health and multi-service center in one state-of-the-

MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER AND HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT OPEN SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

the lives of Sunnyside residents and encourage them to lead healthier lifestyles.”

Services include immunization, dental, family planning, sexual health, tuberculosis, a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) center, and programs for mental health, new mothers, and seniors.

art facility.”

The facility is the first of its kind for the Sunnyside community with a large two-story indoor atrium connecting the health and multi-service areas. The new $25.8 million center replaces the nearby 30-year-old former Sunnyside Health Center and Sunnyside Multi-Service Center.

A large auditorium, conference rooms, classrooms will be available for use by community and non-profit organizations and there's an on-site public charging station that houses six pay-and-go charge points for electric vehicles.

The center also has a quarter-mile walking trail open daily for exercise, a community garden for volunteers to help maintain and a fitness room.

The health and multi-service

center will also showcase two original public art pieces created by local artists commissioned by the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA). The pieces will provide Houstonians and visitors an opportunity to engage with art in public spaces.

“I was delighted to be a part of the unveiling of Sunnyside’s new health and multi-service center, which is located in my congressional district. I thank Mayor Turner for demonstrating good stewardship of tax dollars with the construction and unveiling of this multi-service center. The opening of this health center was facilitated by the millions of fungible federal dollars that benefit the overall growing demand across Houston for health and community services, as well as this health and multi-service center,” Congressman Al Green said. I eagerly await to see how this new health and multi-service center will transform

According to data from the Houston State of Health, more than 46 percent of families in Sunnyside received SNAP benefits in 2022 compared to Houston overall at 61 percent, and the number of people with disabilities living in poverty is more than 40 percent compared to the city, at 28 percent.

“There is no doubt this expansion to a combined health and multi-service center was long overdue in the Sunnyside community,” said Houston Health Department Director, Stephen L. Williams. “We are all passionate about providing access and equity and this center will go a long way towards achieving that positive outcome.”

To celebrate a milestone in the City of Houston's Supplier Diversity program, Mayor Sylvester Turner honored the 5,000th small business to receive certification – Little Bits & Masterpieces, LLC.

The arts studio, which recently was granted the Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise certifications, provides an environment that encourages children to be confident, to trust themselves, and to enhance their creative and artistic abilities through exploration and independent thinking.

During Mayor Sylvester Turner’s administration, the City of Houston’s supplier diversity program has certified 5,000th businesses. With this number, the City of Houston now has more certified businesses than any

regional certifying agency in Texas, second only to the State of Texas HUB Certification Program. The City of Houston serves 10 counties in the Houston metropolitan area, while the State’s certification program certifies HUB firms in 254 counties across Texas. With certifications, small businesses are eligible to participate in City of Houston goal-oriented contracts. They can also

be used to do business in many public sector agencies across the region, as well as in the private sector. Last Fiscal Year, the City of Houston awarded more than $608 million to certified MWSBE firms.

“When I became mayor in 2016, there were 2,550 small businesses in the City’s Certified Firm Directory,” said Mayor Turner. “As I come to the end of my term, I’m proud to say we have increased that

number by almost 100%. In fact, we are already growing past the 5,000 mark. With the help of the Office of Business Opportunity, the City of Houston will continue its commitment to the advancement of equitable access, economic opportunity and the success of historically underutilized small businesses in the Greater Houston region.”

During Wednesday's celebration, Mayor Turner also recognized owner Sultonah Theriot, proclaiming it “Little Bits & Masterpieces, LLC Day.” With the proclamation, he commended Theriot for making City of Houston history, for contributing to the growth of the local economy and for making an impact in the community through her certified business.

CommissionerState Rep. Alma Allen, City Councilwoman Carolyn Evans Shabazz, Mayor Slyvester Turner, Congress- man Al Green, and State Rep. Shawn Thierry at the grand opening

Mayor Sylvester Turner recognized Little Bits & Masterpieces, LLC

ck

ASTROS BLAZE UNIQUE TRAIL BY HIRING DANA BROWN AS GM

On November 6, 2022, Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker became the third African American manager to win a World Series title.

By Brian Barefield, Sports

Editor

were the first to do it from 2000-03.

in Sports Leadership

e joined former Toronto Blue Jays skipper Cito Gaston who did it back-to-back years (1992 & 93), and current Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts who accomplished the feat in 2020.

Baker also made team history by being the first African American manager to win a title for the Astros. Houston owner Jim Crane made all that possible by going against the norm and hiring Baker after firing former manager A.J. Hinch, who was suspended for a year for his involvement in the 2017 cheating scandal. At

the time, Roberts was the only black manager in the majors.

On Thursday, Crane turned heads again when he hired former Atlanta Braves Vice President of Scouting Dana Brown as the Astros' new general manager, making him the only African American in the MLB to hold that title.

With the hire, Baker and Brown became only the second Black general manager-manager combination in baseball history.

"It is pretty special," said Brown during his introductory press conference about being the only black GM in the majors. "I have had a few opportunities to interview for GM jobs, and I remember Rob Manfred (MLB Commissioner) told me to 'Stay positive.' There are a lot of qualified African Americans in the game that knows baseball and be a big part of an organization. They can lead an organization and baseball operations."

"So, at the end of the day, I think it's good for our sport to have diversity, and I am really excited for this opportunity. I am especially grateful that Jim Crane took an opportunity and said, 'Hey, I like this guy. I like what he is all about, and he is rolling with me.'"

to make any statement except that Brown has the r é sum é needed to help lead the Astros back to the World Series.

He was an intricate part of putting together the talent needed for the Atlanta Braves to defeat the Astros in six games in the 2021 World Series. He helped the Toronto Blue Jays return to the postseason in 2015 after a 22-year drought.

Former Chicago White Sox GM Ken Williams and manager Jerry Manuel

Even though the MLB lacks diversity regarding African Americans getting opportunities for front-office positions, this hire was not meant

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

Since being hired, Brown has talked to Baker, someone he knew before becoming GM, and he likes the fact that Baker doesn't mince words when it comes to baseball. "Dusty is old school," Brown said about Baker. "He cuts it straight, and I like it. So that means I can cut it straight with him, and he can cut it with me, and we can get right down to the nitty-gritty. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Dusty and his whole career and everything he has done."

Dusty Baker

Excellence

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

Gerald Hin

Quentin Mease Community Service Award Texas Black Expo & We All Eat Campaign

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

Jerome Love

AUTO: Experience an Unforgettable Ride in the Ford Bronco Raptor

By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor

She approached the apparatus slowly, visualizing her goal. Her muscles were pumped. Rising on her toes, she took a deep breath to thrust herself forward for the perfect mount. Up, twist, and she makes the perfect landing in the driver’s seat of the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor 4-Door Advanced. Big, huge, large, massive, enormous, colossal, mammoth, momentous—the Ford Bronco Raptor is all those adjectives and more. But isn't that what it's supposed to be? Standing at 5'7", it took a gymnastic-style maneuver for me to slide on in behind the wheel, and the experience was worth it. The Raptor is fun and exciting to drive and ride. Allow me to take you on a tour.

One look at this SUV, and you know it is made for adventure. Already a very large vehicle, Ford engineers have gone and made it wider by almost 10 inches and taller by 5 inches. Overall, the Bronco keeps its general look. Across the front is a gray and black grille with classic Ford badging and Rigid® fog lamps embedded inside. Along the front are a set of tow hooks, integrated parking sensors, thunder flares, and a front camera. A vehicle this size doesn’t need to let other vehicles know it’s coming, but in difficult weather conditions, it still helps. Amber LED lighting can be found in the front, on the side mirrors, and in the back, so all will know the Raptor has taken over the road. Moving from the front to the sides of the Raptor, my eyes were drawn to

the awesome gill-like fender vents that help with the vehicle's performance and enhance the look of the vehicle.

Sitting on standard 37-inch tires, the sports utility vehicle has a sturdy structure. Along the outer parts of the vehicle, there are a few elements that are helpful when using the Raptor in normal routines, like side steps and rock rails. However, when you want to get a little wild off-roading, they are removeable for a better drive. A huge spare tire hugs the back door, which can open in two parts. The upper glass swings up, and the lower door swings outward. I think both ways are very helpful when loading anything into the vehicle.

Enough of the outside, let’s explore the inside. Opening the door of the Raptor, I instantly felt like Alice in Wonderland after eating the cake or the potion—you know when she shrinks. Everything on the inside matches the outside by being big. However, I love all the bigness of it. The driver has a clear 12-inch instrument cluster to show a wealth of information, from the basics like audio controls, the phone, and fuel economy to the more complex aspects of four-wheel drive, off-road settings, and oil life. All the controls are on the steering wheel, along with several other things. Think of the steering wheel like your computer's keyboard. There is some visible technology in the Raptor, and much that is not visible but is working. Another huge but helpful screen is the 12-inch display for the center con-

sole, which controls audio, Bluetooth, apps, navigation, and more. The screens have extremely clear and crisp views, which is helpful when driving using the camera views. I found them to be so useful since I was a little apprehensive about driving the Raptor in certain conditions since it was so huge.

However, the angles from the camera, especially the 360-degree view, gave me the confidence I needed. Comfort level is a plus in the Raptor. The seats were plush and roomy. They are heated, along with the steering wheel. There is space, so tall folks have no worries there. Open spaces to store items are plentiful. What I really loved was the color combination of the metallic blue on the exterior and the bright orange accents on the interior. Just looking at it made me excited and ready to go.

Speaking of going behind the wheel of the Raptor, it felt like a different experience every time. Engineers made a few upgrades to make the journey even better with enhanced Fox shocks and a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine. The boosted power output from the massive hood is 418 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque. The fuel economy is 15 mpg city and 16 mpg highway. The

Raptor is unquestionably the G.O.A.T. of the road. G.O.A.T., which stands for go over all terrain, works with the 10-speed automatic transmission and an improved four-wheel drive system. I did not get to test out the Raptor on a wide variety of terrain, but I can tell you that on the Houston streets and surrounding suburbs, it handled great.

I didn’t feel any of the road imperfections since the tires were so large. However, I can imagine that if I were on rough terrain, it would have been like the best roller coaster ride, which is an experience you would expect. I was able to get a good grip on the steering wheel to take command of the road. The Raptor was very responsive to my driving style.

My experience in the Ford Bronco Raptor was one that I didn’t want to end. Even though my experience did have to end, your experience with the SUV doesn’t have to conclude like mine. The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor's base price is $68,500. My test vehicle had extras that brought the price to $81,085.00. Check it out at your local Ford dealership. Find out more at Ford. com

Building upon a historic, decade-long collaboration with the renowned al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait, which has brought hundreds of objects of Islamic art on extended loan to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Museum will mark the 10thanniversary of that initiative by opening new, permanent galleries for Art of the Islamic Worlds on March 5, 2023. Collector Hossein Afshar has endowed these fresh galleries. They will present the full extent of MFAH holdings in Islamic art for the first time in the context of an extensive selection of Iranian masterworks on long-term loans from the Afshar Collection. Carefully assembled over the past 50 years, the distinguished Afshar Collection conveys the rich artistic traditions of Iranian civilization from the 7th to 19th century in several hundred exquisite paintings, significant ceramics, precious inlaid metal ware, and finely woven silk fabrics and carpets. The MFAH has devoted permanent gallery space to Islamic art for over a decade. The new Afshar galleries nearly double the previous display space for Islamic art

Hundreds of objects—exquisite paintings, manuscripts, ceramics, carpets, and metalwork spanning more than 1,000 years—will reflect the breadth of historic Islamic lands, including

MFAH WILL OPEN NEW GALLERIES FOR ART OF THE ISLAMIC WORLDS ON MARCH 5

Endowed by Collector Hossein Afshar, Galleries will Feature Iranian Art in Extended. A loan from the Afshar Collection and Selections from the Museum’s Holdings to Reflect the Breadth and Depth of Historic Islamic Lands

Kathleen Coleman, Arts Editor

long-term loan so that we may enhance our effort to reflect the city whose many communities we serve.” the new galleries are a culmination of the strong partnership between the Museum, our dynamic Houston communities, and an extraordinary historical collection,” said AiméeFroom, curator Art of the Islamic Worlds at the MFAH. “Encompassing diverse cultures, ethnicities, languages, and regional traditions, this new presentation, with the Museum’s growing collection paired for the first time with the Hossein Afshar Collection, will convey the extraordinarily vibrant contributions and legacies of

present-day Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, Egypt, Türkiye, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.

The opening of the galleries culminates in a significant, longtime initiative at the MFAH to develop special exhibitions, new scholarships, signature acquisitions, and dynamic public programs for Islamic art. The extended loans from the Afshar Collection are the second such partnership initiated by the Museum; the first was the 2012 landmark agreement with Theal-Sabah Collection, Kuwait, which has placed several hundred objects from that exceptional art collection from Islamic lands on extended loan to the MFAH. Gary Tinterow, Director, the Margaret Alkek Williams Chair of the MFAH, said, “These new, permanent galleries enable us to significantly expand a cultural home in Houston for art from historic Islamic lands. We remain enormously grateful to Sheikha Hussa Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah and the late Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who placed their distinguished holdings with the Museum on long-term loan in 2012. And we are immensely grateful to Hossein Afshar, creator of perhaps the most extensive collection of Iranian art in private hands, for placing his collection on

Islamic civilizations.”

The New Hossein Afshar Galleries for Art of the Islamic Worlds With 6,000 square feet of space, which includes the eventual use of an adjoining garden, the new presentation will highlight a trove of principles. In many cases, rare objects have never been displayed in such depth. As a result, the Museum will be able to show, for the first time, the full strengths of its collections and the extraordinary range of Iranian art from the Hossein Afshar Collection. Read more at MFAH.org

HMelanie Miles Campaign Kickoff

HMelanie Miles officially kicked off her campaign for City Council At-Large #1. Hosted by her friends, the event at The Spot Eado was a success and well attended. Some in attendance were Lance Brazil (her husband), Pastor Marcus D. Cosby (her pastor), Dr. Janice Beal, Mary Barnett, Nicole West, Carl Davis, Caleen Allen, Argentina M. James, Billy Ray Grant Jr., and Gerald Womack, Carlotta Outley Brown. Miles has early endorsements from 3 City Counilmembers, Black Women of Greater Houston PAC, Harris County Afro-American Sheriff's Deputies League, the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT), and law enforcement unions.

H Janice Weaver and OBN Honored

HA star-studded event was held for One Body Networking Founder & President, Janice Weaver, who was honored for her commitment of saving lives for ten years. Her foundation, One Body Networking, raises awareness to the community of how donating blood saves lives. The non-profit won the 2022 Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center Small Heroes Award. They were also highlighted in the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center’s 2023 calendar. Janice is a dedicated community leader, Christian and humanitarian who is committed to helping others; she diligently serves as the Director of Community Relations for the City of Houston as part of Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Executive Staff. She is truly an active public servant throughout the greater Houston area and volunteers with numerous organizations throughout the community. On Saturday January 28th, Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaimed “Janice Weaver Day” in the City of Houston.

H Zula Ball King & Queen Ball

The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, Inc. hosted the King and Queen Party honoring Nicholla “Nick” Spears, Sr., and Dr. Christy Lagarde-Spears. Zulu Balls are known to be the largest, open to the public Mardi Gras ball servicing the African American community. The everyman club has a vast membership and some of them in attendance at the ball included James Gilford III, Keith Rubin Jr., Brian A. Smith, Guy Narcisse, Derrick Gardner, Djai Albert, Antonio Condley, Rodney Mason Jr., Charles Medley, Reggie White, Decento Barbarin, Khari Baker-Barbarin, Terrance McGuire, Pete Sanchez, Garren Mims, and Elroy A. James.