Houston Style Magazine Vol 34 No 4

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

Publisher Francis Page, Jr. fpagejr@stylemagazine.com

Associate Publisher Lisa Valadez lisa@stylemagazine.com

Social Media Editor/Videographer Reginald Dominique reggiedominique@me.com

Sports Editor Brian Barefield brian_barefield@yahoo.com

Food Writer Alex Jack alexandriajack1991@gmail.com

Arts Editor Kathleen Coleman kathleen@stylemagazine.com

NATIONAL WRITERS

Jesse Jackson jjackson@rainbowpush.org Roland Martin www.rolandmartin.com

Judge Greg Mathis www.askjudgemathis.com Erynn Haskins editorial@stylemagazine.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Vicky Pink vhpink@gmail.com

Mike Munoz artrepreneur91@gmail.com

ADVERTISING/SALES

AdVertising emAil advertising@stylemagazine.com

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Layout Editor Cameron Lee thisiscam6@gmail.com

COMMENTARY

DESANTIS FOLLOWING TRUMP'S LEAD

By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer

Ron DeSantis, just re-elected governor of Florida, is a leading Republican contender for the presidency. He echoes all the favorite tropes of right-wing Republicans: build the wall, send immigrants to Massachusetts, ban abortion after 15 weeks with no exceptions for rape or incest, tax cuts for corporations and the rich, restrict voting. His signature stance, however, is to "defend freedom" against what he calls the "woke liberal agenda."

What is the woke agenda? DeSantis spokespeople define the term "woke" as "the belief there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them." DeSantis doesn't believe in that. So he's championed an attack on Florida's schools - setting up commissions to review lesson plans, passing laws to ban books, culminating in the so-called "Stop Woke Act" that aims to protect students from any instruction that makes them "feel guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress" due to their face, color, sex or national origin and passing the "Don't Say Gay" law that restricts discussion about sexual preference.

As Mark Walker, the chief justice of the US District Court concluded in ruling that the Stop Woke Act violated the First Amendment and the 14th Amendment protections on due process, the state's argument that "professors enjoy "academic freedom" so long as they express only those viewpoints which the State approves, is "positively dystopian."

DeSantis is part of the fierce reaction to the civil rights movement and its drive to provide equal justice to all, by correcting the entrenched inequities in our system as they apply to women, gays and

lesbians and particularly Blacks and other people of color. Every movement for reconstruction in this country has triggered a reactionand DeSantis sees political benefit in making himself a leader of that reaction.

The reality - whether DeSantis believes it or not - isn't deniable. America is still scarred by entrenched racial and gender and sexual preference biases. Every study, for example, shows that African Americans - and particularly African American men - are more likely to be stopped by police, more likely to be searched if stopped, more likely to be arrested, more likely to be imprisoned if arrested. The notorious police murders of African Americans that triggered the Black Lives Matter movement continue to this day.

What De Santis wants - to get schools and universities to teach a pasteurized version of history that doesn't expose the horrors of slavery and segregation, the inequities of sexism or discrimination against the LGBTQ community - isn't a new

idea.

Before the Civil War, even white churches preached that slavery was sanctioned by the Bible, that it wasn't immoral to own Blacks and treat them as property. That false prophecy helped arm the slave owners and contributed to the insurrection that led to the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the plantation class in the defeated Southern states rose to oppose the reconstruction designed to give the freed slaves equal rights. The Klan unleashed terror on Blacks and their allies. The Southern elite organized systematic resistance to the new coalitions and governments emerging. When the federal troops were withdrawn, they enforced segregation across the South, an apartheid that conservative justices on the Supreme Court embraced by turning the meaning of the 14th Amendment upside down in Plessy v. Ferguson.

At the same time, a new school of history was created that taught the myth of the "lost cause," arguing that the Southern states se -

ceded to uphold state rights, not to defend slavery. History books were rewritten to expunge the terrorism of the Klan and to slander the efforts of reforms, labeling reformers corrupt carpetbaggers.

Once more, we see a reaction to reforms that have made America more equal. Once more, ambitious politicians realize they might profit from fanning the flames of racial division, of nativism, of cultural warfare. Once more, right-wing justices on the Supreme Court have inverted the law, disemboweling the Voting Rights Act, undermining affirmative action to open schools and jobs, invoking the First Amendment to defend discrimination against gays and lesbians, and more. Once more a conservative church embraces the new reaction. And now DeSantis wants to create the legal framework for another historical whitewashing of the past.

Donald Trump - in railing against immigrants, preying on race divisions, attacking the "politically correct" - demonstrated its political power. DeSantis follows his lead, trying to take it a few steps further.

Trump, of course, lost the popular vote twice in his presidential runs. Most Americans refused to enlist in the new reaction. But as DeSantis shows, this battle has only just begun, and the struggle to make America better still must overcome the false prophets of reaction.

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

Newspaper or by email at: jjackson@rainbowpush.org

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

HARRIS COUNTY DA KIM OGG BACKS BILL TO PRIORITIZE MURDER TRIALS

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

State Sen. John Whitmire, chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee and author of SB 402, filed the bill last week, outlining his solution in part for addressing violent crime in Harris County and the backlog of criminal cases in the county’s court system. The legislation would give capital murder and murder cases priority in scheduling similar to that currently given to child sex abuse cases.

others, both in jail and on our streets.”

Ogg noted a spike in the local murder rate and cited a near doubling of homicide cases filed since the beginning of her administration in January 2017 to January 2023 – from 1,019 to 1,841. Long delays in those cases can result in lost witnesses and evidence, she noted.

Whitmire said he’s proud to have filed the bill to get swifter justice for families across Texas.

to pass SB 402 this legislative session.”

Families who waited a long time for their loved ones’ killers to come to trial also applauded the move. While no law can bring victims back, they said they hope the enacting of SB 402 will help others.

For more information, visit app.dao.hctx.net/kim-ogg-harris-county-district-attorney.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg joined with families of homicide victims Friday to announce her support for proposed legislation to eliminate delays in the scheduling of murder trials.

“This is common-sense legislation that puts murders and capital murders on par with child sex crimes and domestic violence cases, which state law already requires judges to prioritize,” Ogg told the gathering at Crime Stoppers of Houston. “Those accused of murder are some of our highest-risk offenders and pose the greatest threat to

“Surely everyone can agree that families of victims should not have to suffer long waits before trials take place,” Whitmire said. “In addition, our county jails, particularly in Harris County, were not designed to be prisons housing our most dangerous offenders. I look forward to working with District Attorney Ogg, crime victims and others

POLITICIANS RESPOND TO TEXAS SENATE BILL 147

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

On Monday, January 23, 2023, Congressman Al Green released the following statement: “SB 147, a recently proposed bill in the Texas Legislature, prevents entities and individuals from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from purchasing property in the State of Texas. In so doing, it can conceivably promote harmful xenophobia and heinous nativism against Asian immigrants, including asylum seekers as well as green card-holders––all of whom are lawfully within the United States. As the Member of Congress representing one

of the most ethnically diverse regions in the United States, which includes many members of the Asian diaspora, I find this bill to be of grave concern. To ban persons from these countries from purchasing property in Texas at a time when Asian Americans are under assault is to fan the flames of bigotry. I denounce this bill and stand with local leaders in speaking out against this discriminatory legislation.”

Senator Borris L. Miles Statement on SB 147

Texas State Senator Borris L. Miles released the following statement

on Senate Bill 147.

“Texas’ growth and prosperity is fueled by its diversity and immigrants pursuing the American dream in our great state. SB 147 would target foreign citizens who are here legally and may even be in the process of becoming American citizens. This bill would prevent those legal residents from buying a home or property to start a small business. It also creates a slippery slope which could lead to more people from different countries, different religions or different races being banned from owning property in the future based on

the political whims of the time. SB 147 is fundamentally un-American and I will be fighting its passage in the Senate.”

Fort Bend County Judge KP George "Injustice for one is injustice for us all," stated KP George. "It's unfathomable that our state leaders, who are elected to serve in the best interest of all of their constituents, would target groups of people from different nations and prohibit them from their right to own property. It's blatant discrimination."

Congressman Al Green

Kim Ogg

Texas Senator Borris L. Miles

Fort Bend County Judge KP George

By

Awoman of faith and determination to make a difference, Carolyn Camille Parker-Scantlebury, made her heavenly home on Thursday, January 12, 2023. Her loving and everlasting presence will remain a legacy.

Carolyn was the first child born to Clarence Parker & Virttie Jacks Parker in the heart of Fifth Ward in Houston, Texas on October 9, 1947 at St. Elizabeth Hospital. She was a graduate of Jack Yates High School, Huston-Tillotson College, Atlanta University and Yale University with a specialty practicum in Psychiatric Social Work. Human Services and the elevation of “our” people was her greatest passion. Her motto was “Find a Way or Make One” and that is what she lived by.

For many years, she worked as a psychiatric social worker for HISD and was a parent advocate for many students and families. She served as President Emeritus of the Houston Branch of the NAACP, devoted member of Alpha Kapa Alpha Sorority Inc. and was a faithful member of the Windsor Village Church Family for 35 years.

To cherish her memories, she leaves her beloved son, Darnley (Donnie) DeCosta Scantlebury III (Ivorie); her three grandchildren, Noah Russell, Asa Ra and Ava Camille; her cousins, Rev. Anthony Ferrell, St., Rev. Anthony Ferrell, Jr., the Jacks families of Houston and San Francisco, CA and many other extended family and friends. Carolyn was truly a “Mover & a Shaker and may she Rest in Peace!

Her homegoing celebration will be held on Sunday, Jan. 29th @ 1:30 pm at the Windsor Village Church located at the Kingdom Builders Center (KBC) at 6011 West Orem Dr., Houston, TX 77085.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

Carolyn C. Parker-Scantlebury

CAROLYN C. PARKER-SCANTLEBURY

Devoted Mother& Grandmother, Faithful Friend and Dedicated Community Servant

StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office recognized the men and women within the department as well as partnering agencies for their commitment to public safety.

The Promotions and Awards Ceremony was held at the Gus George Law Enforcement Academy, on Thursday, January 12, 2023.

Captain Kevin Hunt was appointed into the position as Captain of the FBCSO Court Division. He joined the Sheriff's Office in the fall of 2022. He was born and raised in Fort Bend County. Captain Hunt began his career in law enforcement in 2001 when he

FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CELEBRATES PROMOTIONS AND AWARDS

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

Captain Kevin Hunt

joined the Houston Police Department as a patrol officer. After 20 years of dedicated service, he retired as a senior officer. He then transferred to the Port Patrol Division helping secure the Port of Houston. Captain Hunt was pinned by his cousin, Judge Teena Watson.

Deputy Kathryn Petrash was promoted to sergeant. She is a graduate of the FBCSO Gus George Law Enforcement Academy and was 2019 class president. She has proudly served within many divisions of the Sheriff's Office including dispatch, support services, and detention. She was also a member of Honor Guard. Sergeant Petrash was

pinned by her father, Harris County Sheriff's Office Reserve Sergeant, Dan Petrash. Deputy Terrance Wall was promoted to sergeant. He is a graduate of the FBCSO Gus George Law Enforcement Academy. He obtained his basic instructor certification and was a member of Honor Guard. He celebrates 15 years within law enforcement, having also completed eight years with Fort Bend County Constable Precinct 1. Sergeant Wall was pinned by his son, Zion Wall.

During the ceremony, various divisions recognized personnel who went above and beyond in their role

within the department. Surrounding partnering agencies were also recognized for their contributions including the Texas Rangers, Home Depot Investigators, Homeland Security, and Rosenberg PD. Service awards were also distributed to personnel completing 5, 10, 20, 25, and 30 years of service with the Sheriff's Office.

"It's always a great day when we see families and friends come together to celebrate," said Sheriff Eric Fagan. "Each individual recognized plays a vital role in the overall efforts of the Sheriff's Office to serve and protect the citizens of Fort Bend County."

Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Worthing Early College High School officials on Saturday, Jan. 21 unveiled the “Stop Gun Violence Mural” at the school in Sunnyside as a call to action to stop the violence.

“Public art can carry powerful messages and this mural has a bold and important one: Our children are the ones frequently paying the price for inaction on gun violence,” Commissioner Ellis said. “But children are also the ones leading the movement for change. This mural is an incredible piece of public art that I’m proud to host here in Precinct One at Worthing High

School. I hope it will remind students at Worthing every day that they are never too young to lead a movement.”

Commissioner Ellis and Street Art for Mankind (SAM) co-founders Thibault and Audrey Decker were inspired to commission the mural after the shooting in Uvalde and the litany of school shootings that have occurred over the past decades. The message is one of hope for a future where students in their schools are safe from the threat of gun violence. Houston-based artist Bimbo Adenugba painted the mural with help from Worthing students. The mural depicts a school setting with the Houston landscape in the back -

ground along with students and teachers holding signs. It calls for a ban on high-caliber weapons and a focus on safety and protocol when it comes to guns.

“This is particularly important in the context of a school, where the wellbeing and education of our young people are at stake. We must do everything in our power to protect them,” said Samson Bimbo Adenugba, a Houston-based painter/illustrator originally from Nigeria.

The Sunnyside, South Park, Greater Old Spanish Trail and South Union areas now participate in Harris County Public Health’s Community Violence Interruption Program, which focuses on youth and young adults at higher risk of being im-

pacted by gun violence.. To break the cycles of violence, outreach specialists, trained in mediation and conflict resolution, work in the community with at-risk youth and in the hospital with survivors of violence. They also provide enrollment assistance to youth and families for benefits like food and housing assistance, medical and mental health care, which can help stabilize people’s lives and reduce violence.

Over the past decade, Texas has had more school shootings than any state. These deaths are preventable, Commissioner Ellis said.

“But instead of creating responsible gun safety measures, Texas has loosened our gun laws,” Commissioner Ellis said. “Despite the challenges created by Texas leaders fueling the crisis with dangerous gun laws, Harris County is working every day to prevent gun violence through art and meaningful action that have the power to save lives.”

Commissioner Rodney Ellis, State Rep. Alma Allen and others from Worthing HS

Dep. Connie Lilly 25 years

Investigator Jesse Murphy and Home

January 23 was Maternal Health Awareness Day, a day in which Harris County Public Health (HCPH) highlights the urgent maternal and infant health crisis in the county and what Harris County is doing to combat that crisis. HCPH reminds families about the importance of knowing their risk and the many preventive steps that can be taken to

healthier outcomes.

Pregnancy and birth can carry serious health risks to both the mother and the baby. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 80% of maternal deaths are preventable. Over the past several years, there has been an alarming increase in maternal mortality nationwide and in Texas.

According to the most recent data released by the state, Texas has experienced a 25 percent increase in severe medical complications from pregnancy and birth between 2018 and 2020. With one of the highest rates of maternal morbidity among metropolitan areas in the United States, Harris County is at the center of this crisis. Black women are disproportionally impacted with 65 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 29 deaths per 100,000 live births for all groups in Harris County. HCPH is committed to improving health outcomes for families, particularly those in most need of care.

“The county is working to protect mothers and babies through communitywide investments in maternal health that include expanding health care access before pregnancy; addressing systemic racism within

medical care; and increasing access to vital services and resources,” said Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis. “Black mothers and infants, compared to any other group, are at highest risk for serious health complications and death in Harris County. That’s why we’ve invested $7.7 million into a Maternal and Child Health Program to provide direct support to mothers and infants who are most at risk.”

Over the last couple of years, HCPH has taken important steps toward improving these statistics and HCPH’s Maternal & Child Health Program is at the forefront of its efforts. The HCPH Maternal and Child Health Program was established to reduce the risks and barriers families face in creating a health foundation. Our team has partnered with Healthy Families America, an evidence-based holistic model, to help expecting and recently expanded families improve their health outcomes through education, program assistance, and one-on-one counseling.

“Ensuring all families have adequate resources and education through a pregnancy and into the early childhood years is vital for better health outcomes,” said Harris County Public Health Executive Director Barbie Robinson. “Harris County Public Health has made it a mission to help hundreds of families with their pregnancy journey and our programs will provide more comprehensive and holistic approaches toward making sure families in need get the resources and care they deserve.”

It is also important to note the crucial role that ACCESS Harris County will play in our efforts to improve

our county’s maternal health outcomes and support programming efforts. Through the ACCESS-Coordinated Care Teams, we will be able to connect participants with compounding needs to other service agencies across Harris County through a data-sharing system. Our coordinated care teams will be able to provide comprehensive case management, service needs and create an integrated care plan.

Understanding the U.S. maternal mortality crisis is the first step

toward eliminating preventable maternal deaths. Harris County supports and recognizes the need for further investments communitywide in efforts to improve maternal health, eliminate disparities in maternal health outcomes, and promote respectful and equitable maternity care practices.

Harris County Public Health’s wellness clinics provide consultations, health screenings, and referrals to eligible Harris County residents. To see if you qualify, call 832-927-7350 for

Photo by Luma Pimentel on Unsplash

Photo by: Mateus Campos Felipe

H Houstonians Observe the Lunar New Year H

he Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced its plans for Community Day, presented by TC Energy, with free admission for all guests until noon on Wednesday,

For the first time, the Rodeo will host Community Day, providing additional discounts for guests coming to NRG Park on the middle Wednesday of Rodeo. The celebra -

HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO ANNOUNCES

DAY ON MARCH 8 WITH FREE ADMISSION UNTIL NOON

tion includes buy one get one rides and games, discounted food and beverage offerings and community activations.

"This is the first time the Ro deo has offered free admission to the entire community, and we're thrilled to have TC Energy as our presenting sponsor on March 8," said Chris Boleman, Rodeo president and CEO. "Community Day will ensure the entire community gets the opportunity to come out to the NRG grounds and truly experience what the Rodeo has to offer. We are grateful for our partnership with TC Energy, and we can't wait to celebrate on March 8."

In addition to free admission and discounts, there will be several exciting community-driven activations across the Rodeo grounds. Additional community partners will be announced in the coming weeks.

Free admission for all guests until noon.

Black Excellence in Education

Buy one, get one rides and games in the Junction Carnival area until 4 p.m. Discounted food and beverage offerings until 4 p.m.

$3 mini corn dog at McKinney Corn Dog

$3 small popcorn at Kid Shack $3 small sour apple lemonade at Squeezers

Additionally, for every person that walks through the gates between 8 a.m. until noon on March 8, TC Energy will donate $1 to the local community through its social impact program, Build Strong, which invests in organizations that are integral to local communities.

Pipelines at TC Energy. “We’re honored to bring our community together in a family-friendly atmosphere to experience and celebrate what RODEOHOUSTON is really about.”

In addition to Community Day, the Rodeo has announced Family Wednesdays on March 1 and 15 with similar discounts and free admission for seniors 60+ and children under 12 until noon. For more information on discounted Wednesdays, please visit rodeohouston.com.

Community Day discounts include:

“Our partnership with the Rodeo reflects our commitment to build strong, vibrant communities where we live and work,” said Tina Faraca, President U.S. Natural Gas

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

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

Dusty Baker

ck Excellence in Sports Leadership General Manager Houston Astros

Dr. Reginald DesRoches Dr. Loren Blanchard President University of Houston-Downtown President Rice University Dr LaTonya Goffney Superintendent Aldine ISD

i Dr Ruth Simmons President Prairie View A&M 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

THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-DOWNTOWN USHERS IN NEW ERA WITH GRAND OPENING OF WELLNESS & SUCCESS CENTER

of rebar were used in the Center’s construction.

The gymnasium includes eight long-span trusses, each measuring 99 feet in length, that were all delivered and erected in one piece!

The elevated indoor running track on the second floor is open to the three-court, first-floor gym below for a great view.

On the cusp of its 50th anniversary, the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) ushered in a new era today with the official opening of its Wellness & Success Center (WSC). Designed by SmithGroup in association with HarrisonKornberg Architects and built by Vaughn Construction, the $39 million, 75,000-square-foot facility not only expands UHD’s footprint and visibility, it also establishes a dynamic core and recognizable landmark for fostering and nurturing an on-campus community.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony began with remarks by UHD’s President Loren J. Blanchard, Director of Sports & Fitness Richard Sebastiani, and Student Government Association President Jesus Nieto; University of Houston System (UHS) Regent John A. McCall, Jr. and Vice Chancellor of Governmental Relations Jason Smith; and Representative Mary Ann Perez. Lynette Cook-Francis, Interim Vice President, Student Success and Student Life, emceed the event. Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia was also in attendance. The Houston Rockets enlivened the event with interactive activities and giveaways in the Center’s gym.

“The reality is that the name of this building is synergistic in nature,” stated Blanchard. “We are focused on the wellness of our students because we know that their success depends upon all of their basic needs, including physical and mental well-being, being met. They are much more likely to graduate, experience socioeconomic mobility, and, ultimately, become leaders in their

professions and communities by living healthy lifestyles.”

Blanchard continued, “The opening of the Wellness & Success Center advances not only student well-being and success at UHD, but also the physical and mental wellness of our faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. I could not be more pleased that student advocacy and support helped to bring this important addition to our campus to fruition, and I look forward to seeing our student body take full advantage of this wonderful facility.”

“The Wellness & Success Center will be a game changer in terms of the greater quality and space of exercise facilities and programs that will be available for the University community,” added Richard Sebastiani, UHD Director of Sports and Fitness. “It also demonstrates UHD’s commitment to student wellness on campus. We expect the Center to make a positive impact on student recruitment and retention in addition to improving the quality of student life on campus.”

In the near future, affiliates and friends of the University will be eligible to purchase half-year or annual memberships to the Center. “As we aspire to be an Anchor Institution, we know that the Wellness & Success Center will play a major role in solidifying UHD’s relationship with not only those who live and work in Downtown, but also those living in the communities surrounding our campus,” said Blanchard. With its bold architecture, the Center brings a sense of place to the urban

campus. Located on the western edge of the campus, the Center is bordered by the White Oak Bayou Greenway to the west, the I-10 interstate expansion project to the north, and the existing College of Sciences & Technology (CST) building to the southeast.

The building’s transparent, three-story entrance with a prominent overhang canopy faces the Bayou Trail, a part of the Campus Loop pedestrian route, and the Marilyn Davies College of Business on the other side of Main Street. The Center pairs extremely well with the adjacent CST building, which opened in 2019. The synergy of entry plazas between the two buildings establishes a landmark for the growing campus.

The grand entrance welcomes visitors, rewarding them with outstanding views of the Downtown skyline once inside. The three-story lobby leads to a student lounge area with seating for socializing and casual study. It flows into an outdoor terrace that capitalizes on the building’s best Downtown views. Students can also prepare food and share a meal in the adjacent community kitchen or find respite in the quiet spaces of the wellness suite.

Beyond the locker rooms, fitness amenities fill three floors: strength training and conditioning on the first level, personal workout areas and cardio equipment on the second level, and group studios on the third. Ample use of glass brings in natural light and offers visual connections among fitness areas, the central lobby area and the outdoors. On the building’s north end, a two-story bay houses three sports courts ringed with an elevated indoor track. The Center also houses three times the number of pieces of equipment as before, a customized bouldering wall, a demonstration kitchen for nutrition workshops, massage/personal training spaces and a parking garage. Fun facts surrounding the design and construction of the Center include: Roughly 650 tons of structural steel, 6,400 yards of concrete, and 475 tons

The new facility has the capacity to serve more than double the number of students compared to the previous facility.

The east façade and elevated track “push” toward the bayous to maximize the new greenway and create space for the future growth of the UHD campus.

Prior to the new Center, the Jesse H. Jones Student Life Center served the University as a hub for student activities for 25 years. In the intervening years, student enrollment has nearly doubled and increased the demand for more exercise classes and sports and wellness options.

The Center was funded by a student referendum pushed forward by UHD’s Student Government Association and approved by state legislation.

In 2019, UHD alumna and State Rep. District 144 Mary Ann Perez authored House Bill (HB) 1277 during Texas’ 86th Legislative Session authorizing a dedicated student fee to support the project. State lawmakers approved HB 1277. Previously, the UHS Board of Regents and UHD students voted to approve the fee for this new facility. The UHS Board of Regents approved the site and program plans for the WSC in 2019, with construction beginning in April 2021.

Learn more about the University of Houston-Downtown at www.uhd. edu.

New Center Called a Game Changer for UHD and the Downtown Houston Community By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON PORTRAIT OF COURAGE: GENTILESCHI, WILEY, AND THE STORY OF JUDITH

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

Two paintings created 400 years apart raise contemporary issues through a historical lens. Both depict the Old Testament story of Judith slaying Holofernes.

Artemisia Gentileschi’s 17th-century Judith and Holofernes and Kehinde Wiley’s 21st-century Judith and Holofernes continue their national tour at the MFAH. Portrait of Courage: Gentileschi, Wiley, and the Story of Judith places the two paintings in dialogue with one another, revealing shared narratives and ideas across time and culture.

The subject of the paintings comes from the Old Testament Book of Judith. A Jewish town is under attack by the Assyrian army, led by the general Holofernes. Judith, a courageous local widow, dresses in finery and visits the enemy camp under the pretense of helping Holofernes defeat the Israelites. Enchanted by Judith’s

beauty, Holofernes invites her to dinner, and after he falls asleep she severs his head with his own sword. The Assyrians flee, and the Jewish people are liberated.

The story of Judith and Holofernes—the vulnerable rising to slay a hostile invader, the oppressed overthrowing the oppressor—holds enduring appeal. Over the centuries, Judith has been variously interpreted as a virtuous young woman, a seductive femme fatale, and a brave heroine by artists from Botticelli, Rembrandt, and Caravaggio to Klimt. In depicting a woman’s act of courageous defiance, the paintings by Italian artist Gentileschi and American artist Wiley both address timeless issues of gender, race, violence, oppression, and social power.

Portrait of Courage: Gentileschi, Wiley, and the Story of Judith / January 25–April 16, 2023. For more information visit mfah.org

The Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Arts Network and Fund - also known as “BANF” – announced its new round of funding to artists in Houston’s Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Middle

The Rebirth in Action exhibition, organized by the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and the Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy, expands the notion of a monument to include the living community represented by the legacy residents of Houston Freedmen’s Town. In the Freedmen’s Town community, legacy residents provide the cornerstone of a historical lineage to emancipation and its founding freed black community. As a container of these histories, each legacy member embodies a facet of Houston Freedmen’s Town. Within this rich context, the exhibition will center on equitable collaboration and engagement to create resource-generating opportunities for the legacy residents even as long-standing infrastructure and cultural heritage investments are being made in their community. In conjunction with the feasibility plan, artistic activations by local and national artists—including an exhibition by Theaster Gates and an exhibition highlighting innovative Black artists of Houston—will seek to ignite public imagination around the

Eastern, and other communities of color. The 2023 BIPOC Arts Network and Fund Artist Awards will invest $1 million in artists who reflect Greater Houston’s artist community’s diversity and potential. BIPOC artists living in the

9-county region of Greater Houston are invited to see complete guidelines and eligibility requirements and apply by visiting the BANF website at https://houstonbanf.org. The applications are open from January 10th to February 17th of 2023. This round’s 25 Awardees will each receive up to $20,000. The funds honor a legacy of service to our communities and are not tied to any specific project. The second round will open in the Fall of 2024.

This round of the 2023 BIPOC Arts Network and Fund Artist Awards is part of the larger BANF

strategy that so far has provided over $2M in direct resources to BIPOC art organizations and creative collectives impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent crises.

Read more at: StyleMagazine.com

rich stories embedded within Freedmen’s Town. The Rebirth in Action exhibition will honor and support legacy residents while preserving and archiving their histories—ingrained within the historic brick streets—as a memorial in Freedmen’s Town. Throughout his career, Theaster Gates has commanded and reoriented our understanding of black labor, materiality, and place. His work offers a poignant lens through which we are asked to consider the true power of black spaces, which, although historically underappreciated and under-resourced, hold deep resonance as sites of resilience, restitution, and redemption.

The Rebirth in Action exhibition will commence with a series of town hall and community stakeholder meetings to identify the immediate needs and values

of the legacy residents. This effort, which connects deeply to Gates’ artistic investments and explorations throughout his practice, seeks to make explicit connections between materiality, labor, community, and spirituality. "The Rebirth in Action project is an example of how social innovation in black communities develops out of precarity and how a museum can work hand-in-hand with community partners to engage in restorative justice and develop deeper community engagement through the lens of art, healing, and community investment," says CAMH Deputy Director Seba R. Suber. "The historical and spiritual legacy of Houston’s Freedmen’s Town recontextualizes and amplifies the resiliency of black communities and its descendants." The project will create new opportunities for local artists and re-artists-in-residence at Freedmen’s Town. It will be curated for projects that highlight, honor, and animate the histories and stories of Freedmen’s Town. Each residency will culminate in a public presentation of a project within Freedmen’s Town. In line with HFTC’s goals, research fellows will generate new research that connects

artists and the general public to the legacies of Freedmen’s Town. They will act as research guides for artistic activations and the CAMHLAB artists-in-residence, connecting each artist to the resources they need to create their work.

The Houston Public Library Director, Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, is "proud to partner with HFTC in the shared goals of protecting, preserving, and amplifying the rich history of African Americans in the region by utilizing our shared resources right here in the Freedmen’s Town Heritage District to engage the public." "Houston Public Works (HPW) is proud to partner with HFTC and CAMH through this project," says HPW Director Carol Haddock. "By creating a schematic feasibility plan with Concept Engineers, Inc., we can ensure future developments are respectful of and complementary to Freedmen’s Town's heritage." We will be able to preserve its history while enhancing the area for a more resilient future.

For more information, visit CAMH.org.

LOCAL

ART

TO AWARD $1 MILLION TO BLACK, INDIGENOUS, PEOPLE OF COLOR ARTISTS

The new round of funding is part of a larger effort to empower and build more equitable funding systems for BIPOC artists

Kathleen Coleman, Arts Editor

THE REBIRTH IN ACTION EXHIBITION, ORGANIZED BY CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM HOUSTON AND HOUSTON FREEDMEN’S TOWN CONSERVANCY By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

H Premium Goods x Nike AF1 CollabH

Photo Credit: @jvincephotos

Jennifer Ford celebrates the Premium Goods x Nike AF1

Jennifer Ford celebrates the Premium Goods x Nike AF1

Jennifer Ford celebrates her city proclamation Sincerely Lenora performs at the Premium Goods x Nike AF1

Guests enjoy cocktails & mocktails by DIAGEO and its brands

Bun B and Jennifer Ford