Houston Style Magazine Vol 34 No 2

Jesse

Hakeem

COMMENTARY

THE LUNATICS TRULY HAVE TAKEN OVER THE ASYLUM

By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer

care, childcare, college, housing, retirement security - continue to rise out of reach of more and more Americans. The military budget is soaring yet remains inadequate to the long and unending war that the country continues to wage, while attempting to police the world.

of climate change.

The zany fight among congressional Republicans over electing their own leader as Speaker of the House dramatized the nuttiness of their extreme right. What's more worrisome for the country, however, is just how off the wall the Republican majority is as a body.

Twenty Republicans proved zealous enough to publicly disembowel their own leader, forcing him to lose vote after vote for days before agreeing to make him Speaker. But those in McCarthy's camp from the get-go aren't exactly moderates. Fully 70 percent of the Republican caucus embraced Trump's big lie that the 2020 election was stolen in their campaigns. One hundred and twenty-three of the Republicans were re-elected after refusing to certify the 2020 election, even after the Capitol was sacked. The fight over McCarthy wasn't the fight against moderates. It was a squabble among the extreme.

McCarthy's opponents - less than 10 percent of the Republican caucus - extracted pledges that will make it more difficult for the House to operate and will weaken McCarthy from day one. One member now will be able to demand a new vote for the Speaker at any time. The holdouts won promises for seats on powerful committees. They also

extracted a promise from McCarthy that guaranteed a crisis over keeping the government open, designed to force deep cuts in basic support programs like Social Security and Medicare. They even insisted on in-person voting and hearings, ensuring that more legislators, staff and witnesses would contract Covid.

Yet, even before concessions were made to the right, McCarthy's majority already was promising an agenda that is far more about political posturing than public policy.

Consider. The economy is threatened by a recession, as the Federal Reserve keeps raising interest rates to fight inflation by throwing people out of work. Communities are ravaged by extreme weather - from cyclone bombs to floods to droughts - that cost billions in destruction and growing numbers of lives. Over a million people have died from Covid, and the contagion and future contagion remain a threat. Inequality has reached obscene extremes. Corporate corruption and malfeasance are pervasive. Gun violence plagues our cities and schools.

Deaths of despair continue to rise, even as the life expectancy of Americans continues to fall.

The costs of basics - health

So, McCarthy pledges that the first bill Republicans will introduce will be to encourage tax avoidance by the rich. That's right. His priority is to cut the increased funding for the IRS that would enable the agency to increase its abysmally inadequate ability to audit the taxes of the very wealthy.

The second thing McCarthy promises is a flood of investigations into the past, almost all about political posturing. Republicans will investigate Hunter Biden. They promise to investigate the FBI, the Justice Department, including "on-going criminal investigations," and the "weaponization of the federal government," whatever that means.

Whatever Hunter Biden's misdeed, they have nothing to do with the challenges the country faces. This is mostly about revenge for the investigation of Donald Trump, and the prosecution of those who sacked the Capitol on January 6. Bizarrely, McCarthy's folks want to investigate the CDC's Dr. Fauci, part of their continued posturing against the mandates that were imposed to fight the pandemic. They'll investigate Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan, mostly to embarrass the administration.

Their leading economic initiative will be to make it easier for oil, gas and coal companies to get permits on federal land and to expand oil production in the U.S. This rewards their donors while simply scorning the clear and present costs

At a time when college costs are still soaring, when schools are more segregated than they were when Brown v. Board of Education was decided, when new resources are needed to ensure adequate ventilation and adequate health facilities in our schools, their first order is showpiece legislation to "own the libs," focused on bathroom rules and opening greater parental wars over books and racially biased history.

On crime, they'll tee up bills to spend more on police while promising investigations to deter efforts to reform police forces, and to discredit prosecutors who are trying to hold police accountable. On the border, they go after Biden administration officials, even while continuing to block any comprehensive package of reforms to address what will be a growing problem.

Tax relief for the rich. Fiscal austerity in a time of need. More money for Big Oil. Political revenge for Donald Trump. Posturing against "wokeness" while serious needs go unaddressed.

That isn't the agenda of the 20 "knuckleheads" as former Republican Speaker John Boehner labeled them who opposed McCarthy. That is the agenda of the Republican caucus. The lunatics truly have taken over the asylum - and the only question now is how much damage they will do to the country.

You can write to the Rev. Jesse Jackson in care of this

Newspaper or by email at: jjackson@rainbowpush.org

New House Speaker Kevin McCarthy

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HAKEEM JEFFRIES MAKES HISTORY AS THE FIRST BLACK LAWMAKER TO LEAD A PARTY IN CONGRESS

By Shawna Mizelle, CNN/StyleMagazine.com Newswire

person elected to lead House Democrats to be born after the end of World War II. Jeffries' position was made official after the conclusion of a prolonged floor fight for House speaker. California Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy ultimately secured the powerful position leading the GOP majority in the chamber following days of painstaking negotiations and failed votes.

Jeffries told the Congress that he also wanted to "make clear" that Democrats "will never compromise (their) principles."

bia, 'yes, we can' over 'you can do it,' and zealous representation over zero-sum confrontation."

As John Lewis would sometimes remind us on this floor, we may have come over on different ships but we're all in the same boat now," Jeffries said, referencing the late civil rights legend and longtime congressman. "We are White. We are Black. We are Latino. We are Asian. We are Native American. We are Christian. We are Jewish. We are Muslim. We are Hindu. We are religious. We are secular. We are gay. We are straight. We are young. We are older. We are women. We are men. We are citizens. We are dreamers," he continued. "Out of many we are one. That's what makes America a great

country. And no matter what kind of haters are trying to divide us, we're not going to let anyone take that away from us. Not now. Not ever."

"This is the United States of America, a land of opportunity. The fact that I'm able to stand up here today is another data point in that narrative."

The New York Democrat now leads the minority party in the US House of Representatives, succeeding Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who served as speaker in the prior session of Congress when Democrats held the majority. In addition to being the first Black lawmaker to attain such a position, he is also the first

"House Democrats," he said, "will always put American values over autocracy, benevolence over bigotry, the Constitution over the cult, democracy over demagogues, economic opportunity over extremism, freedom over facism, governing over gaslighting, hopefulness over hatred, inclusion over isolation, justice over judicial overreach, knowledge over kangaroo courts, liberty over limitation, maturity over Mar-a-Lago, normalcy over negativity, opportunity over obstruction, people over politics, quality of life issues over QAnon, reason over racism, substance over slander, triumph over tyranny, understanding over ugliness, voting rights over voter suppression, working families over the well-connected, xenial over xenopho-

For Democrats, Saturday officially marked the end of an era -- and the start of a new one -- as Jeffries, at 52, takes up his new position after Pelosi and top-ranking Democrats Steny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn announced they would be stepping down from their leadership positions. Clyburn is expected to become assistant leader in the new Congress. Jeffries addressed Pelosi in his remarks, thanking the California Democrat "for all that (she has) done."

"It's an honor to stand on your broad shoulders," he said, "as well -- as well as the shoulders of the great Steny Hoyer and the great Jim Clyburn, two consequential leaders in their own right."

House Democrats selected Jeffries to helm their party during a closed-door election in November. He ran unopposed, and Democrats have united around him following Pelosi's exit from leadership after two decades helming the party. Jeffries will likely be at the forefront of the House Democratic minority for the next two years with Republicans holding a slim majority in the chamber.

For more information, visit CNN.com.

The Department of Neighborhoods (DON) invites Houston residents to apply for enrollment in the Complete Community University (CCU) Spring 2023 leadership training course.

The course will run 8 weeks, March 8 to April 26, 2023, Wednesdays, 6-8:30 p.m., in person and online via Microsoft Teams. In-person classes will be held at the City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby Street.

The CCU program coaches emerging leaders on civic engagement methods and techniques, cultivates pos-

itive relationships between community leaders and the City of Houston, and promotes the participation of residents in civic activities to vitalize neighborhoods.

The CCU curriculum focuses on leadership development through civic engagement,volunteerism, and voter education. Participants explore how city and county government function and relate to neighborhoods and how to effectively access City and community services. The classes are conducted by DON staff with extensive experience

in civic engagement and knowledge of Houston communities and feature presentations by City department and community subject experts.

Apply today!

At least 30 enrollees will be selected through a competitive application review process conducted by department staff. Selection criteria includes commitment to civic involvement in the City of Houston, leadership potential, skills, and experience. Diversity and representation from all City Council districts will also be considered. The ap-

plication deadline is February 8, 2023. For the application guidelines and forms, go to www.houstontx.gov/ neighborhoods/ccu.html. For questions, call 832-393-1061 or email CCUniversity@houstontx.gov.

Representative Hakeem Jeffries

The Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs (BJ-ML SOPA) at Texas Southern University will begin offering “mini-courses,” as part of its community engagement initiative. The first course begins on Saturday, January 7.

The inaugural mini-courses, which will be offered during the Spring 2023 semester, will cover four major areas: Introduction to Texas Government, Introduction to American Government, Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System, and Introduction to International Relations. Each course will be taught by a faculty member in BJ-ML SOPA.

Course Schedule:

Introduction to Texas Government (January 7-28)

Introduction to American Government (February 4-25)

Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System (March 4-25)

Introduction to International Relations (May 6-June 3)

Each course will have a duration of four weeks. The courses will be held once a week on Saturdays (10 a.m.-12 noon).

Participation: Participation in the “Inaugural Mini-Courses” is open to community leaders and residents of the Metro Houston Area. Registration is required. To complete the necessary form, email Mr. James Joseph, Consultant for Community Engagement and Outreach, Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs: james. joseph@tsu.edu.

Instructional Mode: Each minicourse will be offered in the face to face instructional mode.

Certificate: Each participant will receive a Certificate at the end of each mini-course.

Cost: All courses are FREE!

Barbara Jordan

LOCAL: TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY’S

BARBARA JORDAN-MICKEY LELAND SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFERING FREE MINI-COURSES TO COMMUNITY

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

Mickey Leland

GREGORY SCHOOL RECEIVES OFFICIAL TEXAS HISTORICAL MARKER

By Lisa Carrico , Houston Public Library

LOCAL

The Houston Public Library celebrated the unveiling of an Official Texas Historical Marker from the Texas Historical Commission for the Gregory School building at the African American History Research Center (AAHRC). The dedication ceremony took place amongst the exhibits inside and culminated outside at the marker's permanent location, at the corner of Wilson and Victor streets in Freedmen's Town/Fourth Ward.

The event began with opening remarks from Angela Kent, Senior Manager of HPL’s History Research Centers and Miguell Ceasar, AAHRC Manager and Senior Archivist. Local historian and member of the African American Library Gregory Friends (AALGS) Debra Blacklock Sloan gave an official statement on the awarding of the marker. She also thanked the local officials who sent proclamations, like State Representative Jolanda Jones. HPL Director Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson gave remarks. “When I became the Director of the Houston Public Library in 2005, implementing Mayor Lee Brown’s vision for the Gregory School, now the African American History Research Center, was at the top on my list of goals,” said Dr. Lawson. “I have

had the pleasure of seeing it evolve to become a significant destination in Houston, all while providing a unique window into the local and global Black experience. Now we have a restored facility with an official State Historical Marker designation thanks in large part to the dedication of the Friends of the Gregory School. We are very thankful for their continuing support and longtime partnership.”

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner read the text of the marker, after which it was unveiled.

Mayor Turner said, “We come from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, but we are all here together for a common cause: to recognize the contributions of people and places like Gregory School that are sacred pillars of education and advancement within the African American community.”

After the ceremony, attendees headed indoors for an open house and tour of the AAHRC facility.

For more information, visit www.HoustonLibrary.org/blog.

:

HOUSTON LIVESTOCK

SHOW

AND RODEO ANNOUNCES 2023 RODEO HOUSTON ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officials released the entertainment lineup for the 2023 Rodeo season, scheduled for Feb. 28 – March 19. The lineup features a mix of genres, including Country, EDM, Hip-Hop, Norteño, Pop, Rock, and Christian. Many of the artists will make their RODEOHOUSTON® debut in 2023.

“We are thrilled to welcome back so many talented artists including some fan favorites such as Houston rap legend, Bun B who will be taking the stage alongside some additional iconic southern performers,” said Chris Boleman, Rodeo President and CEO. “The level of talent we have in this lineup will get the fans excited, including Texas’ own Parker McCollum, who is helping us kick off this 2023, star lineup on Opening Day.”

tickets will go on sale to the public Thursday, Jan. 12. For the first time, they will be sold in two waves, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., at rodeohouston.com. Ticket prices start at $25, plus a $4 convenience fee. Find more information at RodeoHouston.com

Individual RODEOHOUSTON

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Dr. Rhea Lawson, and community in front marker

45th MLK Jr. Parade, Festival, & Weekend Celebrations

"Mayor Sylvester Turner Chosen as 2023 Grand Marshal “Climbing the Mountain to a Better Future”

By Stylemagazine.com – Newswire

The Black Heritage Society, in partnership with the City of Houston, is having its 45th Annual Original MLK Jr. Day Parade & Festival on Monday, January 16, 2023, beginning at 10 a.m. The 45th MLK Jr. Parade is free to the public and is held downtown starting on Lamar @ Smith Street. The MLK 2023 theme is “Climbing the Mountain to a Better Future.”

This year, the Black Heritage Society has selected Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to serve as Grand Marshal. The Co-Grand Marshals are Rev. Dr. Derek King, nephew of Dr. MLK Jr., Dr. Camille Cash, Houston Plastic Surgeon, and a Memorial Tribute to the Late John Bland!

“The 2023 Original MLK Jr. Day Parade will be the last one held during Mayor Turner’s administration, and the Black Heritage Society believes he is a wonderful representation of Dr. King’s dream. Over the past seven years, Mayor Turner has led our city through natural disasters, pension reform, and creating a more resilient Houston for the future. He also will leave a legacy of unity – bringing together diverse people in our city and putting Houston on the global stage,” said Teresa Brewer with the Black Heritage Society.

The MLK Festival is held immediately following the parade and ends at 5 p.m. at Hermann Park Square at Houston City Hall and is free to the public. The children will enjoy a Day

of Service learning about Dr. MLK Jr. There will be food trucks, vendor booths, live music, DJ, youth activities, and more.

The MLK Weekend celebration also includes the Black Heritage Society Gala. The Gala is being held on Saturday, January 14th, at Embassy Suites Katy, 16435 Katy Fwy, Houston, Texas 77094. This evening of elegance will start with a red-carpet reception at 6 p.m., and the Gala begins at 7 p. m. The world-renowned Kashmere Reunion Stage Band will entertain the guests. The honorary speaker is Dr. Derek King, and the keynote speaker is Mayor Sylvester Turner. Also, the Black Heritage Society youth King and Queen winners will be present at the Gala! The tickets are $100.00 per person and $ 50.00 for children. You can purchase tickets online at the following link, https:// blackheritagesociety.net/tickets. The Gala attire is Cocktail or Semi-formal. The other weekend MLK Celebration is the Gospel Fest Concert on Sunday, January 15, 2023, at Green House International Church, 200 W. Greens Road, Houston, TX 77067. The doors will open at 1:30 p.m. with vendors participating in the Gospel Fest Shopping and the Gospel Concert starts at 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. We are excited about the concert line-up, which includes Pastor Robert Morris, Disciple of Christ, Pentecostal of Katy, Marcus Jordan & Divine Favor, and the special guest gos-

pel recording artists are James Fortune, Zacardi Cortez, and Endurance.

The MLK Jr. Day is a Federal Holiday and is cherished and supported by many diverse communities. We invite all media, churches, community leaders, elected officials, schools, non-profits, professional and social organizations, fraternities, sororities, and businesses to join us for the 45th Annual Original MLK Jr. Day Parade and Festival. The Black Heritage Society is pleased to announce that Radio One is again joining them as the official radio partner for the parade. The Radio One stations participating are Majic 102 FM, 97.9 FM The Box, and KROI Praise 92.1. Some of this year’s corporate sponsors are HEB, McDonald’s, Wells Fargo, AT&T, Allegiance Bank, Citgo, Garcia Hamilton & Associates, Houston Health Department, Rodeo Dental, Camille Cash, M.D., Silver Eagle Distributors, Foston International Communications, Inc., and United Airlines as the official airlines sponsor.

Black Heritage Society dba Martin Luther King Jr. Parade Founda-

tion Inc. is a 501 (C) 3 Organization 2023 MLK Day Celebration Schedule

Saturday, January 14, 2023

Black Heritage Society Gala 6 p.m. Reception, 7 p.m.

Program Embassy Suites Katy 16435 Katy Fwy, Houston, Texas 77094

Sunday, January 15, 2023

MLK Gospel Fest Concert 1:30 p.m. Vendors and Food Trucks 4 p.m.– 7 p.m.

Green House International Church 200 W. Greens Road, Houston TX 77067

Monday, January 16, 2023

45th Annual (The Original) MLK Parade (Downtown starting on Lamar @ Smith) 10 a.m.

MLK Festival Hermann Square Park 900 Bagby, Houston, Texas 77002 (Immediately following the Parade) For more information, visit blackheritagesociety.net.

Voices for the Heart Community-Based Event

For the Houston Area January 31, 2023, at 7:00 PM CST Attend Virtually NAMI –Greater Houston

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

CLOSER TO THE DREAM

By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor

Orleans, LA, born on May 8, 1960. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication in 1980. She earned a Juris Doctorate from Howard University in 1984. She is also a graduate of the senior management program at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Before her role in Congress, she spent ten years at the Smithsonian. The 62-year-old Johnson serves on the boards of the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church and the Faith & Politics Institute.

When you close your eyes at night to drift off to sleep, what do you dream? Do you dream of goals for yourself? Or perhaps you imagine your children's future? Dreams can make us happy or scare us. Dreams can arise from anywhere or from nothing. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a dreamer. He was a dreamer of peace, harmony, freedom, and justice.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," said Dr. King. Since King spoke those words, it seems that we, as a country, are inching ever so slowly towards his dream. Some signs of our most recent progress include the first African American U.S. President (Barack Obama), the first African American U.S. Vice President (Kamala Harris), the first African American woman on the Supreme Court (Ketanji Brown), and the first African American to appear on U.S. currency. Now we get to add two more first. Hakeem Jeffries made history as the first African American to lead a party caucus in either chamber of Congress. Cheryl Johnson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, is the first African American, to preside over the House chamber.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is the first African American to lead the

minority party in the U.S. House of Representatives. His career in politics began as a representative of the New York State Assembly in 2006. Following that role, he was elected to represent New York ‘s 8th congressional district. In Congress, he made his mark as the chairman of the Democratic caucus. During his sixth term, Rep. Hakeem hopes to restore the child tax credit, rebuild economic access, and make his party the majority. He is now soaring to become the highest-ranking Black politician ever in America.

Rep. Jeffries was born on August 4, 1970, in New York City, NY. He matriculated at Binghamton University to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. While in undergrad school, he became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. ® He went on to earn a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University in 1994. He gained more knowledge at New York University, where he was a member of the New York University Law Review. In 1997, he graduated with his Juris Doctorate.

Rep. Jeffries began his career as a clerk for a judge before going into private practice. He is the former director of intergovernmental affairs for the New York State Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors. Currently,

he is the president of Black Attorneys for Progress.

Cheryl Johnson was the 36th Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives during the 116th, 117th, and now 118th U.S. Congresses. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi named Johnson as her choice for the position in December 2018. A few months later, Johnson was sworn into office and officially started her role on February 26, 2019. From January 2–7, 2023, Johnson presided over the 118th Congress, where 15 ballots were cast before Kevin McCarthy was elected as the 55th Speaker of the House. Throughout the proceeding, Johnson was commended for her sense of calmness and professionalism in keeping the House in order.

Johnson is a native of New

Jeffries and Johnson have seats at the table where decisions are made. On their backs are the souls of African Americans cheering them on as they stand in front of them, on either side of them, and behind them. They have support coming from all sides. We want them to keep their seats, make room for others, and let our voice be heard. Be heard. This was Dr. King’s dream.

"I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land," said Dr. King.

We have not reached the promise land just yet, but we are closer than we used to be. Keep pushing and making strides for history because one day "we shall overcome."

Thank you, Dr. King, for the dream.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed for us to live in a world where we would “not be judged by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character.” Join Children’s Museum Houston in honoring civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his legacy during our 27th annual celebration.

SPECIAL EVENTS: Beginning at 11 a.m. at Main Entrance:

African Heritage Food Demo: Join Prairie View A&M in celebrating African gastronomy legacy.

Beginning at noon in Brown Auditorium:

Violin Performance: International violinist Jamie Perry will pull at our heartstrings.

Musical Medley: Dr. Kiana Williams will enlighten with “Lift Every Voice and Sing” rendition.

Inspirational Words: Join Houston Defender Associate Editor Aswad Walker as he draws meaning and significance to the day.

Caryakid Award: Museum’s highest honor to be presented to Dr. Polly Sparks Turner.

Peace March Led by Kid’s Committee: Exercise your right in

celebration of Civil Rights.

“I Have a Dream:” Hear the powerful speech in a reenactment by Steve Scott.

Praise Dancers: Catch an emotional dance performance by Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.

ON-GOING ACTIVITIES:

Dream Clouds: Share your dreams for changing the world at Junktion.

Peace Doves: Make a world symbol of peace and what it means to you at Junktion.

Star Promise: Take the pledge to be kind and fair to every one at Junktion.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Cel ebration, Jan. 14, 2023. ***Activities, events, and times subject to change.

Children’s Museum Houston, 1500 Binz St., Houston, TX 77004

HOURS: Open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Ceremony begins at noon.

Special Admission: $5 per person.

For more information and Play Safe guidelines, visit www.cmhouston.org or call (713) 522-1138.

AWARD” TO HONOR DR. POLLY SPARKS TURNER

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

SCOUT'S HONOR: BLACK BOY SCOUTS IN HOUSTON, 1940S - 1970S

By Lisa Carrico, Houston Public Library

HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE REVEALS FIRST TWO BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMS

By Ashley Brown, Houston Public Media

Founded in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) emerged when the country was transforming from an agrarian society of farmers to an industrialized nation of factory and office workers. The BSA’s goal was to teach boys “patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues,” as well as outdoor skills, values that critics thought were lost as families moved to cities.

The first Black Boy Scouts in Houston were organized in 1935 by Reverend J. H. M. Boyce. The following year, about a dozen men completed a training course for leaders and formed seven or eight troops in the city. Although interest in Scouting started small, with only about

a dozen Black Boy Scouts per troop, by 1947, their numbers grew to almost 3,000 throughout Houston.

This exhibition features photographs, ephemera, and newspaper clippings from the Harrison Family Collection. Edwin Stafford Harrison (1912-1979) was a civic leader, Methodist minister, and the first Black Precinct judge and poll tax writer in Harris County. Harrison was a Scout Executive from 1944 until his retirement in 1975.

This exhibition is free and open to the public. Dates are subject to change. For more information, visit HoustonLibrary.org.

Houston Community College will offer two new bachelor's degree programs starting in fall 2023. Students can obtain a four-year degree in Applied Technology in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics and Applied Science in Healthcare Management.

"We’re just excited about being able to offer these two degrees because we know that we’re giving students the opportunity to start and complete their four-year education in one campus or one college," said Vice Chancellor of Instructional Services and Chief Academic Officer Norma Perez.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2118 in 2017, which allowed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating board to authorize public junior colleges to offer bachelor's degrees in applied science, applied technology, and nursing. In 2019, House Bill 3348 was signed, which expanded the number of degrees junior colleges can offer to five.

HCC was approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges as a Level 2 Baccalaureate granting institution in December.

HCC's Chancellor Cesar Maldonado said in a statement: "We are continually exploring ways to provide relevant programs and instruction that serve the needs of students and employers in our service area," he said. "With these two inaugural bachelor's degree programs, we give students an opportunity to start and complete their four-year education on the same HCC campus."

Perez said when House Bill 3348 was signed, she knew the college needed to expand its academic portfolio.

Read the full story online at HoustonPublicMedia.org.

The number of COVID-19 patients in Harris County hospitals continues to increase since the holidays. According to the Houston Health Department, more than 15% of Covid tests are coming back positive, and the amount of virus in the city’s wastewater is 917% above the baseline level set back in 2020. That means the virus is spreading fast.

But health officials don’t believe that the current strain is more deadly than previous strains.

Dr. Janeana White is with the Houston Health Department and said the new omicron variant, XBB1.5, is a major reason for the surge. But there are other reasons for the increase in cases. “While it’s very transmissible, it’s not creating severe illness, which is a good thing,” White said.

Health officials have also pointed to waning vaccine immunity in the community as a reason for the surge.

David Persse is Chief Medical Officer with the city of Houston. He said the

good of a job of preventing infections.

“But they seem to be doing a pretty good job of preventing hospitalizations,” he said. “And that’s important because at the end of the day we want to make sure nobody dies from the infections. We also want to make sure that people who have other health problems have a hospital bed to go to when they need it.”

upswing of a Covid wave, which is no surprise to him. According to data from the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC), as of last Thursday, the rolling weekly average is 40 cases per 100,000 Harris County residents. That’s up from 27 per 100,000 Harris County residents the week before.

“We tend to follow the northeast and they’re having an increase,” he said.

dictor of what’s about to happen in hospitals. Hospitalizations are up. Numbers are nowhere near as high as they were in the past, but things are moving in an upward direction.”

Persse said there’s more herd immunity and the new variant continues to be a challenge, but there’s also a fatigue of precautions.

“People are tired of wearing the masks, and they’re tired of the precautions we take, and that’s absolutely understandable,” Persse said. “I worry most about people who are at higher risk having bad outcomes.”

Those groups include older people, people with cancer, or organ transplant patients, and very young children, such as newborns.

“I still see a fair amount of people – not a lot – still wearing masks,” he said. “So the message is not totally lost.”

For more information, visit HoustonPublicMedia.org or StyleMagazine.com.

By Ariel Worthy, Houston

Texas Heart Institute (THI) and Fit Houston announced a partnership to promote #WALK30, a new health campaign that combines Texas Heart Institute’s industry-leading research, thought leadership, education, and patient care with Fit Houston’s strategy for a community wellness movement across Houston’s neighborhoods. The movement launched with the community fit walk #WALK30 on Saturday, January 7th, 2023 at Arthur Storey Park. With lifestyle and activity levels playing a critical role in health outcomes, #WALK30 brings accessible, community-based solutions to deliver health transformations in Houston’s neighborhoods and workplaces.

“The modifiable risks for cardiovascular disease are well-established. A focused initiative on exercise is a vital component of overall cardiovascular health for our community,” according to longtime physical activity advocate Dr. Joseph G. Rogers, President, and CEO of The Texas Heart Institute.

“Regular physical activity reduces cardiovascular risk, improves mental health, and reduces cancer risk. Fit Houston is laser-focused on facilitating free physical activity available in every community and is done through a positive wellness movement with cultural empathy, “said Fit Houston Founder and Executive Director Lharissa Jacobs.

LEADING HOUSTON ORGANIZATIONS LAUNCHED MOVEMENT TO PROMOTE HEALTH

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

#WALK30 COMMUNITY

FIT WALK

The #WALK30 campaign creates a pathway for CEOs, organizational leaders, families, and individuals to “Take the Healthy Pledge” and inspire others to walk for 30 minutes each day, wherever they are, and then share walking activity and its impacts on personalized social media posts. On January 7th, we will reach the community with a free community Fit Walk to promote the #WALK30 campaign.

Special Collaborators include City of Houston, Nordic Walking Houston, Urban Paths, Bite of Hope with HOPE Clinic, Baker Ripley, the YMCA of Greater Houston, Rice University, University of Houston, Harris County Precinct 4, Harris County Precinct 2, American Leadership Forum, Houston 2036 Task Force on Equity, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, the Houston Parks Board, and Community Health Choice. We will meet at the Beltway 8 parking lot entrance to Arthur Storey Park at 8 am to start the event.

For more information, visit fithouston.org.

The Houston AutoBoative Show returns to NRG Center January 25-29, 2023 bringing together the best of two shows, the 67th Houston Boat Show and the 40th year of the Houston Auto Show, presented by Evolve Houston.

For just one ticket, guests can experience the latest in cars, trucks, boats, and outdoor activities at the largest show of its kind in the U.S. After exploring all the pontoons, bay boats, wake boats, bass boats, sport fishers, RVs and more, take a test drive in the latest vehicles from Ford, Subaru, Toyota, VW, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram. Plus, browse the newest technol-

THE HOUSTON AUTOBOATIVE SHOW COMBINES THE BEST OF VEHICLES AND BOATS FOR

ONE 5-DAY EVENT!

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

ogy and designs of nearly 500 vehicles from more than 30 auto brands. This unique opportunity lets attendees truly experience and learn about all the latest models and comparison-shop across many brands.

This year, the electric vehicle revolution has zoomed into the Houston AutoBoative Show. Evolve Houston will host an EV showroom featuring various electric vehicle models and informative content from their partners. Attendees curious about what it is like to drive an EV should also participate in the all-electric ride-and-drive experience to test drive the Ford Lightning, VW ID4 and various other models.

Swedish technology company X Shore, the world’s leading supplier of electric boats, will also make a splash at the show with the unveiling of its latest, award-winning model. The X Shore 1, which received the Gold prize at the 2023 German Design Awards, will make its Texas debut at the Houston AutoBoative Show as the second stop in its North American unveiling. X Shore’s award-winning flagship model, the Eelex 8000, will also be showcased at the show.

More than 200 boats from 30 Houston area dealerships will be on site for the AutoBoative Show representing the latest models, technology and trends in the industry, along with electronics, rods and reels and tons of fun accessories. All boats and RVs at the show will be for sale.

To learn more about boating and boating safety, representatives from Texas Parks & Wildlife and the United States Coast Guard will be on hand. For family fun, the kids can go fishing for rainbow trout at the Fish-ORama or learn some great casting tech-

niques from live fishing demonstrations with expert angler Chuck Devereaux at the 5,000-gallon, 40-feet-long Bass Tub.

Additional activities for the family include: experiencing an off-roading test drive through Camp Jeep or sampling brews at the Beer Garden. You can also satisfy the urge to shop with more than 250 vendors within the Boat Show and Auto Show areas.

Discounted pre-sale tickets are available before January 24th at www. AutoboativeShow.com for $15, plus service fees, and children under five are free.

baseball& baseball& Wegotogetherlike Wegotogetherlike

The Houston Texans have fired head coach Lovie Smith after just one season in charge, the team announced on Sunday. The Texans finished the year with a 3-13-1 record.

"On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to thank Lovie Smith for everything he has contributed to our team over the last two seasons as a coach and a leader," Texans general manager Nick Caserio said in a statement.

"I'm constantly evaluating our football operation and believe this is the best decision for us at this time. It is my responsibility to build a comprehensive and competitive program that can sustain success over a long period of time."

Smith is the second coach to last just one season with the Texans.

HOUSTON TEXANS FIRE HEAD COACH LOVIE SMITH AFTER

ONE SEASON

By: Jacob Lev, CNN/Stylemagazine.com Newswire

The team fired David Culley after a 3-14 season last year and then went on to hire Smith.

"We are grateful for his leadership and character, and we wish him the best moving forward," team chairman and CEO Cal McNair said. "While we understand the results have not been what we had hoped for, we are committed to building a program that produces long-term, sustainable success. Our fans and city deserve a team that they can be proud of."

The firing comes after Houston defeated the Indianapolis Colts 3231 earlier on Sunday, costing the team the chance to get the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Chicago Bears clinched the top pick after finishing with a 3-14 record. For more information, visit CNN.com.

TEXANS GM NICK CASERIO NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR

By Brian Barefield, Sports Editor

On Sunday, the Houston Texans decided to part ways with head coach and defensive coordinator Lovie Smith after the Texans finished the 2022 regular season with a 3-13-1 record.

"Nick Caserio and I spoke with Lovie Smith tonight and informed him that we will be moving in a different direction as an organization," said Houston Texans Chairman and CEO Cal Mcnair. "I appreciate Coach Smith and his entire family for their contributions over the last two seasons. We are grateful for his leadership and character, and we wish him the best moving forward."

It is the second consecutive year that Houston has fired their coach

after one year of service. Former head coach David Culley was terminated after he completed the 2021 season with just four wins. General manager Nick Caserio, who was responsible for hiring both Culley and Smith, will now have the opportunity to employ his third coach in as many years, which is unprecedented in the NFL.

Caserio will be heading into his third year of a six-year, $30 million deal as a GM next season. After firing Culley in January 2022, he was asked if he felt any pressure to get the hire right, given that most general managers don’t get the opportunity to hire a third head coach.

"Only the pressure you guys put on me," Caserio responded. "I’m immune to pressure. We live with pressure every day. Everybody deals with a lot of difficult situations that we’re dealing with. I’m blessed to be in the position that I’m in, and I am excited for the opportunity here moving forward to try and continue to build our program out with whomever the next coach is. Excited about the opportunity. Pressure is, however, you define it, so the pressure will probably come more externally, but that’s ok; that’s part of the fun of it."

Being immune to pressure does not give Caserio the green light to keep putting this franchise in situations where they will have to replace head coaches year in and year out after less-than-mediocre seasons. If the Texans have another terrible season, Caserio will have to look at himself in the mirror and ask, "Is it me that is keeping this franchise from getting back to some sort of relevancy?"

Houston is scheduled to have the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. That would have been the num-

ber one pick had the Texans not pulled off some late-game heroics to beat the Indianapolis Colts 32-31 in the season’s final game.

That selection now belongs to the Chicago Bears, whom Lovie Smith once coached. They also have the number 12 pick in the draft, which was acquired after the Texans traded former quarterback Deshaun Watson last offseason.

Caserio hopes to entice a head coaching candidate with 11 total draft picks and a budget of $46.7 million to spend in 2023. With a plethora of picks and cap space in the future, Houston becomes one of the most attractive jobs available in the offseason. The only blemish will be if Caserio is unwilling to allow the new coach to hire his staff and take a hands-off approach regarding game-day preparation.

McNair and Caserio are slated to address the media on Monday about the future of the Texans and their coaching search.

For more information, visit StyleMagazine.com.

Nick Caserio, Houston Texans General Manager

Lovie Smith, Former Houston Texans Head Coach

By

- Newswire

The Grammy® Award-winning Houston Chamber Choir, under the direction of founder and artistic director Robert Simpson, joins the exciting instrumental group Loop38 in the regional premiere of Mass for the Endangered by American composer Sarah Kirkland Snider, with libretto by poet Nathaniel Bellows. The concert will be held Saturday, Feb. 4 at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church.

A celebration, and an elegy, for the natural world, this extraordinary work is an appeal for greater awareness, urgency, and action. At once jubilant and reverent, Mass for the Endangered is a meditation on all that nature has to offer and what we can offer in return. The six-movement work is a rumination on the concept of the traditional Catholic Mass, its fidelity enhanced by Snider’s interpolation of traditional Latin text for the Gloria, Sanctus/Benedictus, and parts

of the Kyrie, Credo, and Agnus Dei.

Snider has received critical acclaim for her chamber, orchestral, song cycle, choral, and ballet works.

Her musical compositions, particularly her song cycles, frequently borrow from indie rock and popular musical idioms as well as classical chamber music forms and instrumentation. These stylis -

tic choices have led critics to label her music as part of the burgeoning indie-classical movement, where she has been called "perhaps the most sophisticated" of voices within this genre.

Of particular note are the album releases of her classical song cycles and her Mass: Penelope (2010), Unremembered (2015),

and Mass for the Endangered (2020). Loop38 is a boundary-pushing, artist-driven music ensemble based in Houston that aims to build community around innovative, stimulating, and culturally relevant musical experiences.

Since their debut in 2016, Loop38 has performed a range of works by local composers, young and upcoming voices, and globally established artists.

The Houston Chamber Choir and Loop38 come together for an evening of music that is sure to be one of the most memorable concerts of 2023. Special community partners for this event include the “green groups” Houston Botanic Garden, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center and Galveston Bay Foundation, all of which are dedicated to preserving, conserving and protecting the natural environment in the greater Houston Area.

HOUSTON CHAMBER CHOIR PRESENTS REGIONAL PREMIERE OF SARAH KIRKLAND SNIDER’S MASS FOR THE ENDANGERED WITH LOOP38 ON FEB. 4 AT ST. JOHN THE DIVINE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

StyleMagazine.com

Ladies Who Love Museums

Ladies That Love Museums took a trip to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MAFH) to view the Gordon Parks: Stockley Carmichael and Black Power exhibit. The ladies were able to five of Parks most famous photos. Also on displayed are several never before published or exhibited. Some of the ladies attending were Stelena Hooper Evans, Cheryl Fleming , and Ramona Moore.

ARTS: MUST SEE EXHIBITS AT HMAAC

By Kathy Coleman, ARTS Editor

There is still time to catch the Houston Museum of African American Culture (HMAAC)’s exhibit Negative Women: Four Photographers Questioning Boundaries, curated by Christopher Blay, HMAAC’s Chief Curator. The exhibition will be on view until January 21, 2023.

Negative Women: Four Photographers Questioning Boundaries features the works of national and international women photographers pushing against accepted narratives, and telling complete histories. Letitia Huckaby’s focus on Africatown and the last slaving vessel to reach the shores of America, The Clotilda, Tanya Habjouqa’s resonant images of Afro-Palestinians, Mari Hernandez’s poignant narratives around boundaries of gender and history, and Ciara Elle Bryant’s deep dive into and across the boundaries of Black culture in the new millennium and in our communities, all combine to reflect and reveal untold stories and histories.

Another very interesting exhibit is “The Jazz Church of Houston.”

The permanent exhibit is an endeavor by artist Tierney Malone to create a temporary institution dedicated to collecting and sharing the story of Hous-

ton's musical tribe. While there are museums in Texas dedicated to music, a space does not exist that chronicles the jazz history of Houston. The name “Jazz Church” drew its inspiration from the Church of John Coltrane in San Francisco. Established in 1970, the church uses John Coltrane’s music as an expression of worship. The Jazz Church of Houston is a secular temple that will serve as a communal gathering place for like-minded people to listen, learn and celebrate jazz music and culture in Houston.

The Jazz Church of Houston’s patron saint is Texas tenor legend, Arnett Cobb. He is the standard bearer for all those who came after him. He made Houston his base of operation instead of New York or LA, as many of his contemporaries have done. He mentored the next generation of jazz musicians who followed in his footsteps to New York. He is the model of rugged individualism that often characterizes Texans. He survived many physical challenges to pursue his passion of making music. He was hospitalized for a year from a car accident, and used

crutches for the rest of his life. He never let his physical challenges prevent him from playing for audiences around the world.”-Tierney Malone, via jazzchurchhouston.org.

The Stairwell of Memory at the HMAAC is a permanent exhibit that was dedicated on February 19, 2022, with the addition of the portrait of Houstonian Robbie Tolan, “The Survivor.” On December 11, 2021, HMAAC dedicated a portrait of Tolan by artist Cedric Ingram that was added to the ones of Bland and Floyd. The three of them represent our area’s most prominent symbols of police brutality. America is indeed lucky and blessed that one of them survived; a living reminder that justice for black victims of police brutality is so rare as to essentially be non-existent, and that good citizens of all races must be diligent to change our current culture to one of fairness and equity.

HMAAC has a mission to collect, conserve, explore, interpret, and exhibit the material and intellectual culture of African Americans in Houston, the state of Texas, the southwest

and the African Diaspora for current and future generations. In fulfilling its mission, HMAAC seeks to invite and engage visitors of every race and background and to inspire children of all ages through discovery-driven learning HMAAC is to be a museum for all people. The mission fits their vision. HMAAC seeks to be a cultural portal through which people share and converge histories and contemporary experiences that acknowledge and expand the African American experience, and from such interactions come together to build a common future.

Houston Museum of African American Culture (HMAAC) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Your support will help ensure the museum sustainability. Text “HMAAC” to 44-321 to donate!

Admission is always free at HMAAC. Their hours of operation are Thursday-Saturday from 11am-6pm. For more information, visit HMAAC. org or StyleMagazine.com.

HPD Explorers Competition

Houston Police Department Explorers got to practice the skills and drills they have learned in an interactive competition. The program allows youth and young adults between the ages of 14-21to explore their interest in learning more about a career in the law enforcement field. All participants are provided educational training on the purposes, mission, and objectives of law enforcement. The primary goals of the program are to help young adults choose a career path within law enforcement and to challenge them to become responsible citizens of their communities and the nation.

Campo & McKamie Reappointed to the Port Commission

continue to serve as Chairman of the Board of Pilot Commissioners

Harris County Ports. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Commissioner

Ellis presided over the joint session. The joint meeting of the two governing bodies to appoint the chairs of the Port Commission and the Pilot Board is their only regular occurrence together.

The Harris County Commissioners Court and Houston City Council unanimously reappointed Ric Campo as the Chairman of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority of Harris County, Texas in a joint session. He was first appointed to the position in January 2019. During the meeting, the governing bodies also appointed Houston lawyer Captain Reginald McKamie to

for

Rodney

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