Houston Style Magazine Vol 33 No 45

Publisher Francis Page, Jr. fpagejr@stylemagazine.com

Associate Publisher Lisa Valadez lisa@stylemagazine.com

Managing

Jo-Carolyn Goode

Social Media

Sports

Barefield

Food

Jack

Arts Writer Kathleen Coleman kathleen@stylemagazine.com

NATIONAL

Jackson jjackson@rainbowpush.org

Martin www.rolandmartin.com

Greg Mathis

Haskins

COMMENTARY DEMOCRACY IS ON THE BALLOT

By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer

Tuesday, Nov. 8, is Election Day. Television and social media are plastered wall to wall with political attack ads that offer voters far more heat than light. We hear more about blame than about solutions. The noise distracts from the reality: real issues are at stake in the election.

Democracy is on the ballot. The New York Times found that the majority of Republican elected officials in major offices now embrace Trump's Big Lie about the 2020 election being stolen, as do more than 100 current Republican candidates for major offices.

The Republican National Committee defends those who sacked the U.S. Capitol, saying they were engaged in "legitimate political discourse." Con gressional Republicans voted to block legislation that would expose the sourc es of dark money and limit big money and corporate money in our elections. At the state level, Republican legislatures have pushed to make it more difficult to vote, particularly for those in cities or on college campuses. And across the country, election officials are being terrorized, armed "observers" turn out to intimidate voters, and mass, unfounded claims of voter fraud threaten to sow election chaos.

Justice - and justices -are on the ballot. If Republicans take the Senate, they will block confirmation of Biden's judicial nominees. The Supreme Court packed with right-wing partisans has stripped women of the right to abortion. This session, they are targeting voting rights, affirmative action, gay rights, and the ability of the federal government to protect consumers and the environment, and to regulate corporations. They are even taking up a case that would nullify state constitutions to give state legisla tures absolute power to determine the outcome of elections.

Workers - and inequality - are on the ballot. On the stump, Republicans tout themselves as the party of white work ing people, but vote with corporate CEOs when they get in office. They oppose raising the minimum wage. They oppose strengthening workplace health and safety laws. They oppose empower ing workers to organize and bargain col lectively. Republicans want to raise the retirement age or roll back the benefits of Social Security and Medicare. They want more tax cuts for the rich and for corporations, while blocking the child tax credit that would provide working families with much needed help for childcare. They oppose any relief for those burdened with student debt, while voting to preserve the obscene tax break for hedge fund operators.

Climate is on the ballot. Repub licans vote in mass against investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency. They want to rev up production of oil, gas and coal, and sustain the subsidies that go to big oil. They promise to weaken regulation on clean air and clean water.

In contrast, many things are in those political ads, but not on the ballot. For example, inflation dominates Republi can ads, but a party that favors tax cuts for the rich, deregulation, and opposes price controls, antitrust laws, lifting sanctions on oil producing countries, or taking on profiteering by the drug com panies, the oil companies, and the health care complex has no plan on inflation.

Crime is also a feature of politi cal ads, but neither party has an answer. Republicans oppose any regulation of guns - or any reforms of police that might increase their legitimacy. Both parties want more police and more harsh sentencing. If history is any guide, these will add to injustice but do little to re duce crime.

Immigration provides grist for stump speeches, but not for solutions. Republicans want to build the wall and beef up the border, but they oppose comprehensive immigration reform, oppose cracking down on the employers of undocumented workers, and oppose aiding development in our southern neighbors to reduce the desperation that

drives people north.

Gridlock isn't in the ads or on the ballot but it is the all too likely result of the election. Our nation is bitterly divided in the face of great challenges. Partisan divisions make it easier for entrenched interests and big money to block vital reforms. Corruption grows ever more corrosive. The only hope is democracy and the vote. Americans agree far more about issues and direc tion than our parties and politicians suggest.

For change to come, voters will have to cut through disinformation and distractions. Consider Summer Lee, a brilliant candidate for Congress in a district near Pittsburgh. In her primary, she had to overcome literally millions of dollars in ads that claimed she was not a real Democrat. The ads were paid for by a pro-Israel lobby that raised money from Republican billionaires. In her general election, she faces a Republican candidate with the same name as the popular former Democratic incumbent retiring after decades in office. She may still win, but only if voters pay sufficient attention to cut through the slander and the confusion. As voters, we still have the power, but with campaigns getting more expensive, dark money and dis information getting more pervasive, we'll have to work harder to exercise it. Please vote by Tuesday and get your neighbor to vote. Our democracy de pends on it.

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

On Friday, October 28, 2022, Congressman Al Green (TX09) and Congressman Garret Graves (LA-06) introduced the Bipartisan Original National Do mestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution of 2022. It garnered over 170 cosponsors in Congress. They released the following statement:

“Since my arrival in Con gress in 2005, I have regularly in troduced legislation to bring greater awareness to the dangerous situation that domestic abuse victims are in. My legislation is also meant to help hold perpetrators accountable and encourage everyone to do their part in preventing further abuse from taking place,” Congressman Al Green stated. “According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Pre vention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, violence perpetrated by an intimate partner affects over 12 million people each

CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN, CONGRESSMAN GARRET GRAVES INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN ORIGINAL NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH RESOLUTION OF 2022

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

year. Additionally, one in three wom en and one in four men in the United States experience rape or other forms of violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.”

Congressman Green add ed, “These statistics demonstrate that domestic violence remains an exceedingly serious, pervasive issue across our nation. I will continue to be a strong advocate of domestic

violence prevention as long as I remain in Congress and urge all people of goodwill to continue bringing visibility to this very important issue. I thank Congressman Graves for his continued partnership in introducing this legisla tion.”

“We must all understand the severity of family violence in America. 50 percent of all homeless women and children in the U.S. are fleeing from

domestic violence and abuse. Domestic violence's costs add up to more than $37 billion dollars a year. This includes medical and mental health, law enforcement involvement, legal work, and lost productivity at their jobs. Every 9 seconds a woman is assaulted or beaten in the United States. These are facts that cannot be ignored. We must recognize that our nation has leaders that are tolerating and per petuating violence against women and children. Then we must stand with the leaders who are fighting to protect women's and children's rights," Jacquelyn Aluotto, Presi dent of No Trafficking Zone (NTZ) said.

Read More at StyleMagazine.com

Congressman Al Green and Congressman Garret Graves at press conference.

ARTISTS HELP CAPTURE OUR POLITICAL CHAOS

By Ben Jealous, Special to Style

Art can be a powerful tool for social change. Sometimes that threatens people in power.

Right now, some of America’s greatest artists are contributing their time and creative talents to remind vot ers in Georgia what is at stake in this year’s elections. And a couple of nation al billboard companies are refusing to let People For the American Way share some of those images with voters.

The Georgia billboards are part of a multimedia campaign to remind voters—especially Black men—why Republican candidates Brian Kemp and Herschel Walker are the wrong choices in this election. Georgia is ground zero for attacks on our democracy by MAGA extremists with agendas calculated to stop progress.

The billboard campaign is designed to expose hard truths to vot ers in a way that makes these attacks real—and motivates people to vote. “As artists, we can create art that addresses the ills of systems that devastate the fabric of our families, our communi ties, and our nation,” says renowned multimedia artist Carrie Mae Weems. “Artistic expression can inspire people to channel their energy into voting for a better future for everyone.”

The billboard campaign is also part of a broader long-term project to engage artists in making political and

social change. As a longtime civil rights leader, I know that there is a long lineage of artists whose music, poetry, spoken word, and visual arts have helped ener gize our great social justice movements. Weems and other artists participating in this campaign have taken their place in that honorable history. They include Victoria Cassinova, Shepard Fairey, Alyson Shotz, Deborah Kass, and Cleon Peterson.

Shotz, whose art depicts the attack on the U.S. Capitol by people trying to prevent a peaceful transfer of power after Trump lost the 2020 elec tion, notes that art played a crucial role

in the national mobilization to defeat fascism in the 1940s. “Now this task is upon us again, to fight the power of authoritarians and conspiracists, racists and nativists and fear-mongers,” she says. “It falls to us, We the People, to save democracy, through our actions, through our art, through our votes.”

Art can speak to our hearts. That’s part of its power to provoke thought, emotion, and action. And that is why censorship is often a weapon wielded by those who fear art’s moti vating power.

`"The personal and political chaos in our world is a direct result

of the violence against human beings in the name of power,” says Peterson, whose art installations depicting White supremacist gun violence and attacks on reproductive choice were rejected by billboard owners. “The art for these billboards depicts the rawness and the terror of those struggles and I hope it's enough to move the people of Georgia to action in this midterm election.”

Kass contributed an installation that includes the faces of five far-right Supreme Court justices—a clear re minder that the courts and all the rights that depend on a fair and independent judiciary to uphold them—are at stake in this election.

People For the American Way will use billboards and social media to bring the censored artwork to Georgia voters and to people around the country who care about the issues that are at stake in this year’s elections.

There is no doubt that art ex pressing the harsh realities people face in their daily lives can be jarring. But that is no reason to turn away.

“There’s a short line between the intense reactions to the art depictions and the urgency that we carry to the ballot box,” says my colleague Svante Myrick, executive director of People For the American Way. “If this artwork offends you, wait to see what happens if you don’t vote.”

Deborah Kass’s rejected design for a Georgia voting campaign (images courtesy PFAW)

MOCA CONCLUDES 2022 EXHIBITION SERIES, PUTTING DOWN ROOTS: A SERIES OF EXHIBITIONS ON ART AND IMMIGRATION

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) presents its last exhibition of the year connected to Putting Down Roots: A Series of Exhi bitions on Art and Immigration, with a show at the City Hall Rotunda featuring Trans-----fer. Trans-----fer, an exhibi tion that consists of photographs and mementos of artist Veronica Gaona’s family, pays tribute to immigrants and bookends the series in a contemplative way.

MOCA presented the exhibition series as the City resumed its public-fac ing activities. Putting Down Roots cele brates the lives of Houston immigrants and their descendants as they create new lives and put down new roots in this global city. Victor Ancheta, Com munity Liaison for MOCA, envisioned the series and curated the exhibitions. Ancheta, an immigrant artist himself, was born and raised in the Philippines and immigrated to Houston in 2001. He has called the city home since then. “It is important to me to showcase exhibitions that speak to me as an immigrant,” says Ancheta. “Leaving home is not easy. For many Houstonians, however, leaving behind everything and starting anew is exactly what they have done. To immi

grate is an act of immense courage.”

To MOCA Director Necole Ir vin, the exhibition series highlights the connection between immigrants and the city. “One out of every four Houstonians is foreign-born, making Houston the most diverse city in the country. It’s a characteristic that makes Houston, Houston,” says Irvin. “The series, Put ting Down Roots, reflect immigrants' lives and their contributions to making our city a global city and one of the best places to live in the world.”

The exhibitions have been successful in illustrating immigrant life through many activations and collaborations that MOCA helmed. In collaboration with the Houston Public Library, artist talks were held in the Central Public Library virtually and in person. The talks gave artists space to discuss their works displayed in the Rotunda of City Hall, as well as to gen uinely connect with their audience and talk about their lives as immigrants or descendants of immigrants. MOCA also collaborated with Harambee Art Gallery for a joint summer exhibition, as well as with FOTOFEST to make City Hall a participating space for FOTOFEST’s famous biennial show.

MOCA’s objective to lift up lo cal artists continues with the exhibition series and has showcased the works of Anthony Pabillano, Sol Diaz, Rochella Cooper, Mathieu Jean Baptiste, Melissa Aytenfisu, and Veronica Gaona.

MOCA’s inaugural show of the series began with Filipino artist Anthony Pabillano, a first-generation immigrant and member of the Filipinx Artists of Houston. Pabillano put together a powerful and emotional exhibition of artworks that re-examined his diffi cult childhood back in the Philippines and how those traumas resurfaced as brought on by the Great Freeze of 2021. One of the works he displayed is titled, I Weave to Unravel a Past, and the Further the Unraveling Goes, the More Com plete I feel I become. A paper sculpture that is reminiscent of traditional Filipino weaving and with its complete incom pleteness, is evocative of the immigrant state of feeling.

Like Pabillano, Gaona’s current exhibition at City Hall offers a glimpse into immigrant life. Clothing and pho tographs of her immigrant uncle and grandmother become sources of inspira tion for her work and when displayed in the hallowed space of City Hall become

not just cast-off objects but reliquaries of immigrant life.

Gaona, a second-generation Mexican-American artist, pauses and looks at a colorful bouquet of flowers and fixes a banderole with the Mexican adage, “Hacer de Tripas Corazón.”

“It means to muster up the courage, despite the fact you are going through a difficult situation,” she says.

Aside from the series on Immi gration, MOCA has also displayed other exhibitions this year. In celebration of Juneteenth, MOCA collaborated with A.B. Anderson Elementary of Acres Homes for an exhibition about Free dom featuring the works of its students. While in August, MOCA worked with Ground Zero 360 for a 9/11 Memorial Ceremony and exhibition showcasing the winning works of students from Bellaire High School and Sharpstown High School. MOCA also hosted His Royal Highness, the Aga Kahn, for an exhibition on the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Stay tuned for MOCA’s next series of exhibitions which will be about Expressions and begins in Janu ary 2023. Read more at: HoustonTX. gov.

message from Chris Hollins, the Voting Guy:

We’re running out of time. VOTE NOW

The stakes in this election are way too high for you to sit on the sidelines. Early voting is underway.

When I served as County Clerk in 2020, we broke all records for voter turnout. We did it before and I’m calling on you once again to show up and make your voice heard.

Please join me: Vote for Democrats up and down the ballot—and be sure to vote near the end of your ballot for these three outstanding Democrats:

Re-Elect Democrat LINA HIDALGO

Harris County Judge

Democrat ADRIAN GARCIA Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 2

Democrat LESLEY BRIONES Candidate, Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 4

HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, MAYOR TURNER ANNOUNCE NEW PLANS FOR HISTORIC RIVERSIDE GENERAL HOSPITAL SITE

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

Four years after Harris County Com missioners Court agreed to invest in re-opening historic Riverside General Hospital, Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turn er, health experts and Qatar officials will provide updates on services that will be available for underserved people in Third Ward and countywide.

“I am grateful to know that soon the legacy of care will live on now that the County successfully purchased this site and is investing in revitalization efforts,” Commissioner Ellis said. “The County's planning efforts and generous donations from the Houston Endowment Inc. and the Qatar Harvey Fund have allowed us to breathe new life into Riverside and provide improved health services to the public.”To defray the project’s cost, Houston Endowment donated $5.3 million to purchase the property and the Qatar Harvey Fund (QHF) gave $2.5 million. The State of Qatar created QHF to administer a $30 million gift from the country to support long-term recovery of Southeast Texas following Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Work at the complex, which will be operated by Harris County

Public Health (HCPH), includes restor ing the hospital building built in 1926, making it part of the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, the Hous ton Negro School of Nursing building and laundry room will be renovated.

In 1926, the site opened as Houston Negro Hospital, the first non profit health-care facility in Houston for African-Americans. The nursing school opened in 1931.

In Phase II, plans also include construction of a state-of-art building for HCPH. The building will give the community access to additional care services and house HCPH administra tive offices.

The complex will be the headquar ters for Accessing Coordinated Care and Empowering Self Sufficiency (ACCESS) Harris County, a program Commissioners Court created last year that works to improve outcomes for vulnerable individuals through a multi-interdepartmental disciplinary team or care coordination team. The team will focus on supporting clients holistically, addressing multiple needs that ensure better outcomes and greater stability.

Through ACCESS Harris, HCPH will partner with other Harris County De partments and non-County organizations. HCPH will lead to provide care for the public health needs of the community, while simultaneously connecting recipients to ser

vices from ACCESS partners.

Services planned for the site include dental care, childhood vacci nations, flu shots, obesity reduction, asthma management, diabetes pre vention, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) services, and maternal and infant health.

“As we’ve seen with mater nal health disparities, from the time a person of color is in their mother’s womb, they are on the wrong side of a bad statistic,” Commissioner Ellis said.

Read more at: StyleMagazine.com

Mayor Turner at the press conference

H-E-B REPRESENTATIVES VISIT CAHS AT PVAMU

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

dents will complete “off-the-job” train ing at H-E-B locations. By the end of the course, the students will understand the development of the meat industry, principles of butchery, knowledge as sociated with carcass by-products, food safety, quality control, hygiene, and customer service principles. The pro gram will offer tried and true traditional methods and innovative techniques for a comprehensive education.

Represetatives from H-E-B’s butch er division visited with members of the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences’ Cooperative Agricul tural Research Center and Cooperative Extension Program to discuss the pos sibility of a collaboration between the company and our butcher certification course within The Rural Workforce Academy.

Meat scientist Lea Kinman, Ph.D., CEP Executive Associate Di rector Carolyn Williams, Ph.D., TRWA Workforce Specialist Laura Jones, and others hosted H-E-B’s Education and Workforce Program team. They dis cussed an essential pipeline plan for a certification track that would allow butcher apprentices to train here at the

university and then find guaranteed work as a butcher within the company.

The meeting began with an introductory speech from CAHS Dean Gerard D’Souza, Ph.D., who reiterated the college’s tripartite mission to help the community and train students to excel professionally. “Food is central to our mission, the same as yours,” D’Souza stated. He reiterated that one of the college’s main ideas is to address human health through better eating and food nutrition.

Following the dean, Williams provided an overview of the extensive reach of CEP throughout the communi ty. And the Executive Associate Director of CARC, Erdogan Memili, Ph.D., also discussed the various renowned talents

within the research department and the possibility of growing the department further.

Then Laura Jones provided the H-E-B group information regarding TRWA, highlighting its impact and ne cessity in rural counties. The program offers free or reduced-cost education for eligible applicants who need work or are struggling to find employment.

Kinman then provided a pre sentation on the butcher certification course. It’s a three-year program that will help students understand a range of meat and meat products. They will learn the various techniques for processing high-quality meat, including cutting, preparing, packaging, and presenting the product. In addition to learning, the stu

EVERYTHING IS ON THE LINE

The H-E-B representatives were quite receptive to the idea. They were concerned about the length of the training program and whether it’d be too long before the students began working for them but were assured that students could train and learn on the job simul taneously.

The trip ended with a tour of the Meat Science Center and a promise to discuss the possibility of this collab oration further.

BETO O’ROURKE WILL fiGHT FOR US

EXPAND MEDICAID to create jobs, lower property taxes, and ensure all Texans can afford to see a doctor.

FULLY FUND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS and raise teacher pay to fill the teacher shortage and improve our kids’ education.

PROTECT OUR FREEDOM TO VOTE by reopening polling places in our communities and making it easier to register and vote.

TEXAS HISTORICAL MARKER DESIGNATED FOR DR. THOMAS F. FREEMAN

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

Southern University. “He made histo ry every day at our University, so this historical marker is a fitting honor for the rich legacy he provided to us.”

This will be the fourth such marker to be located on the TSU cam pus, with the others located in front of Hannah Hall (honoring the murals found in Hannah Hall and other places on campus), in front of the John T. Biggers Art Center (honoring long time TSU art faculty member John T. Biggers), and in front of the School

of Public Affairs (honoring Barbara Jordan).

“The Official Texas Historical Marker program helps bring attention to community treasures and the im portance of their preservation,” said Mark Wolfe, executive director of the THC. “Awareness and education are among the best ways to guarantee the preservation of our state’s history. This designation is a tool that will in crease public awareness of important cultural resources,” Wolfe said.

The Texas Historical Commis sion (THC) has recognized the late Dr. Thomas F. Freeman, long-time Texas Southern University debate coach, as a significant part of Texas history by awarding an Offi cial Texas Historical Marker in his name. The designation honors his legacy as an important and education al part of local and national history.

In his 100-year life, Dr. Free man directly influenced the lives of thousands of people including former students Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Congresswoman Barbara Jordan. He also left an indelible mark on the community and the nation.

A marker unveiling ceremony to commemorate the late Dr. Freeman will be held on Thursday, October 27, 2022, at 5 p.m. under the Sigma Pi Alpha Healing Tree in the Carroll Harris Simms Plaza on the TSU cam pus. The TSU Debate Team and the Harris County Historical Commis sion welcomes the public to witness this exciting, historical event.

“Dr. Freeman embodied TSU’s mission and he inspired not only his students, but the entire TSU community and beyond, to never settle for anything less than excellence,” said Dr. Lesia Crump ton-Young, President of Texas

Mrs. Clarice Freeman, window of Dr. Freeman

Councilman Edward Pollard

Harris County Public Health (HCPH), through its Community Health and Violence Prevention Services (CHVPS) Division, and HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest is launching a pilot program to assist injured survivors of violence in overall healing from the trauma associated with their injuries.

The Hospital-Linked Violence Interruption Program (HVIP) will ini tially assist injured survivors of violence who are admitted to an inpatient bed at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest following a gunshot wound, stabbing or aggravated assault. These survivors must reside or are victimized in zip codes 77021, 77033, 77051 and 77090, which have reported more violent crimes than other zip codes in Harris County. The pilot program with HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest is the first of two HVIPs that the health department is im plementing. HCPH will launch another HVIP initiative with Ben Taub Hospital in the near future.

In August 2021, Harris County Commissioners Court approved the creation of the CHVPS Division under Harris County Public Health. HVIP is one of three programs within the divi sion. Harris County contracted with the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI) for technical assistance in the creation of the program.

"We are very excited to part ner with HCPH in the launch of this much-needed program,” said Shiree Berry, MD, Trauma Medical Director at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest.

“We understand that violence is a public health issue and it takes collaboration with community partners to address the

HARRIS

NORTHWEST ANNOUNCE NEW HOSPITAL-LINKED VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAM

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

full impact it has on our patients. The resources provided to survivors through this program will address social and mental aspects surrounding violent acts beyond the surgical and/or medi cal treatment we focus on in a hospital setting. We believe these services will be key in reducing the recidivism rates we see in our trauma program."

An integral part of the program is the in-person care provided by Out reach Specialists to injured survivors immediately after they are admitted to the hospital for medical treatment of injuries from violent incidents. These Outreach Specialists, otherwise known as Credible Messengers, meet with survivors at the bedside at the most critical moment to engage and offer non-medical services by HCPH and its partner agencies. The goal is to assist with recovery and help survivors avoid future violent incidents and injuries.

Support and assistance will continue after survivors leave the hospital. HCPH’s new Accessing Co ordinated Care and Empowering Self Sufficiency (ACCESS) Harris Coun ty program will provide long-term, intensive case management of these individuals through a coordinated care approach. In collaboration with other agencies, ACCESS Harris County will direct them to access a variety of sup port services, including employment, mental health assistance, substance abuse prevention, childcare, transpor tation, food and housing to name a few

For information about HCPH’s Community Health and Violence Pre vention Services, visit www.hcphtx. org/chvps or call (713) 274-4877.

EARLY VOTING COMING TO A CLOSE AS ELECTION DAY APPROACHES

By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor

The pavement is being worn out with campaign workers hitting the streets to knock on doors and voters standing up for what they believe in at the polls. Only a few more days are left to vote before the November 8th Election when we find if Texas will remain a red state under the Greg Abbott administration or if the tide will turn blue with Beto O’Rourke at the helm. As of Sunday, October 30th, more than 354,000 people have casted their votes in-person, a little over 44,000 mail ballots have been returned for a total of 398,263 early voters out of the 2,575,270 registered voters as of October 27th. There are still so many who need to vote as political power hangs in the balance.

Halfway through early voting saw a low in voter turnout than previous years but the Harris County Elections Office still received complaints of long lines at some of the 99 polling locations. Some lines maybe lengthy if voters are not prepared to go through the longest ballot in the nation. Officials say voters need to estimate almost 7 minutes to complete ballot. That is why it is highly suggested that you bring a paper copy of the sample ballot with you with your notes inside the voter booth to streamline the process. Do your research before heading to the polls. Visiting HarrisVotes.com is a useful website for any votes that has everything one needs to know. Early voting is encouraged to avoid the problems that sometimes come on Elec tion Day. Polling locations have already seen problems like a few losing power because of thunderstorms and some expe riencing technical glitches with some of the voter registration equipment. Election officials were prepared with generators

and tech support for voting not to be delayed too much.

One voter who is not taking any chances with Election Day mishaps and chose to vote early is southwest Houston resident Pam Cormier. She was taught at an early age by her parents about the importance of voting and how so many fought and lost their lives for African Americans to have the right to vote. This is a lesson she is passing onto her sons by bringing them with her to vote. “It was important for me to accompany my

sons and especially my first-time voter to the polls for him to see the importance of this human right as a family and to exercise his right to vote that was not an option for Black people prior to the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.” Cormier continued, “I voted with my parents and hope he continues the same tradition with his family. Our votes matter.”

Chandra Thornton is a mother as well who continues to stress the importance of voting to her college-aged daughter. When her first-time voting daughter nev

er received her mail-in ballot, Thornton flew her down from D.C. for her to vote in-person.

“To me the effects of the US snail mail have made the voting by mail process cumbersome for those that are not within the state. You can submit the application via email or fax, but the orig inal application has to be in your county clerk's office within 4 days following the email and fax. They don't care if it is postmarked within the 4 days. They say they are not responsible for the mail if it gets lost or doesn't meet the deadline.”

Thornton said there are too many issues at stake for her daughter not to vote. “It was important to fly my daugh ter from college to vote in this midterm election. This race is very crucial for the State of Texas. The issues dealing with women's reproductive rights, voter's rights, and gun control are all on the bal lot. We need a governor in office that will protect everyone's interest. Our current governor and leaders are so hypocritical. They say gun control would restrict a person's right to bear arms but it's ok to restrict a woman's right to make decisions concerning her own body. Reproductive rights are not about if abortion is right or wrong. It is about a woman's choice to make her own decision effecting her life.” No matter what your reason make your way to the polls to vote. Put people in office that reflect your interests not just now but for the long term. Many of the decisions of those elected will have long term ramifications.

If you don’t early vote, be sure to vote on Election Day, November 8th from 7am-7pm. For more information, visit HarrisVotes.com.

Pam Cormier and her son Joseph

Chandra Thornton and her daughter Madison Johnson

Seventeen chefs will bring their ele vated oxtail creations for the fourth annual Oxtail Mashup Culinary Competition on Sunday, November 6, at Project Row Houses from 6-9pm bene fitting Feed the Soul Foundation. Chefs from Houston and beyond bring creativi ty to a classic cut of meat that has been a historical staple in the black community. Be prepared to taste out-of-the-box oxtail dishes like those from past competitors, General Tso's Oxtail from Chef Bowie of Taste Bar and Kitchen, and Smothered Oxtail Ragoons from Chef Kurt Evans of CYL Hospitality.

Oxtail Mashup is a collabora tion between co-founders Chef Shakti of Assembly HTX and Warren Luckett, founder of Black Restaurants Week. The event honors diverse talents in art, mixol

OXTAIL MASHUP CULINARY COMPETITION IS BACK TO BRING TOGETHER ALL CULTURAL ELEMENTS & BENEFIT

FEED THE SOUL FOUNDATION

By Alexandria Jack, Culinary Writer

ogy, and music as it aims to secure future business opportunities for marginalized communities. "I created Oxtail Mashup after witnessing a lack of diversity at Texas mainstream culinary events," said Chef Baum. "I wanted to develop an event that highlights high-level chefs that often are overlooked within the industry."

This premier gastronomic event celebrates art, libations, and music, with proceeds benefiting Feed the Soul Foun dation. Feed the Soul Foundation was established by Black Restaurant Week, LLC, to aid marginalized entrepreneurs in the culinary industry with business development resources and support to foster sustainable business growth. Black Restaurant Week also supports restaurants with business development scholarships and emergency funding.

Last year's Grand Champion, Chef Reginald Scott of Smoke HTX, won with his Smoked Yaji Ground Nut Oxtail Stew with Seared Boniato and Puffed Honeycomb Tripe. This year he will be competing again as he is weeks away from opening his new restaurant.

We will see more returning chefs and new faces at this year's Oxtail Mashup. Competing chefs will include:

Chef Reginald Scott/The Smoke HTX / 2021 OMU GRAND CHAMP

Chef Ruben Vela / Lucille's 1913 / 2021 People's Choice TEAM WINNER

Chef Ryan Savoie / Saint Arnold Brewing / Houston

Chef Kurt Evans / CYL Hospi tality / Philadelphia

Chef Daya Myers - Hurt / Fish Company Taco / Galveston

Chef Osei 'Picky' Blackett / Ariapita / Brooklyn

Chef Shannen Tune & Stacy Tune / Craft Burger / Houston

Joseph Boudreaux / Boo's Burg er & The Tipping Point / Houston

Pit Master Cory Burns / Burns BBQ / Houston

Pit Master Randy Duncan / Daddy Dun can's BBQ / Brookshire

Chef Clinton Jackson-Potts / CJ'S Mas terpiece / Houston

Chef Darius King / Gatlin's Fins & Feath ers / Houston

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FORT BEND COUNTY PROGRAM AIMS TO EXPAND SERVICES FOR INCARCERATED PARENTS AND THEIR MINOR CHILDREN

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

George along with FBC Sheriff Eric Fagan, and FBC Director of Behavioral Health Services Dr. Connie Almeida, announced a new program designed to support the minor children of parents who are currently incarcer ated in Fort Bend County thanks to a collaboration between the Department of Behavioral Services and the Sheriff’s Office, through a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.

FBC Behavioral Health Ser vices’ Always Parenting Program, is de signed to provide support and resources to the FBC jail to create child-friendly spaces for visits and family-focused services, enhance safety protocols and procedures for visiting children, and develop a coordinated system of fam ily-focused services that support the needs of incarcerated parents and their children. Additionally, the program intends to reduce the adverse effects of incarceration by strengthening parent-child relationships, addressing social determinants of health, and sup porting re-entry and positive family reunification. The Always Parenting Program is made possible by grant funds

from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Second Chance Act, addressing the needs of incarcerated parents and their minor children for the fiscal year 2022. The amount of the grant is $741,460, with no match required by Fort Bend County, for the period of October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2025.

Preliminary data from FBC jail indicates that in 2019, nearly 44% (n = 5,341) of individuals booked into FBC jail had minor children. The Program

aims to coordinate a protocol to identify the needs of incarcerated parents with minor children and the needs of their children, and further established policies for visitation in FBC jail to increase the opportunities for engagement, play, and mutual learning between incarcerated parents and children. Working alongside FBC Behavioral Services is Dr. Robin Gearing from the University of Hous ton’s Graduate School of Social Work in Fort Bend County. The development and deployment of Always Parenting

will be accomplished in two phases. The initial phase focuses on planning activities needed to imple ment an evidence-based coordinated system for the provision of programs and services that support the needs of incarcerated parents and their children. An advisory group and subcommittees comprised of key agency and communi ty stakeholders will develop and imple ment sustainable components address ing: (1) Identifying needs and targeting services (e.g., screening/assessment tools specific to parenting); (2) Creating supportive and safe visiting protocol and procedures (e.g., child-friendly and safe visitation rooms, Visit Coaching, virtual visits); (3) Developing staff/core personnel training (e.g., Mental Health First Aid, Trust-based Relational Inter vention).

The subsequent implementation phase focuses on executing these plans to institute a countywide, a cross-system collaborative approach to improve re sponsiveness to needs and outcomes for incarcerated parents and their children in FBC. More information at www. fortbendcountytx.gov

Fort Bend County (FBC) Judge KP

Judge KP George and Representatives of the Fort Bend County Always Parenting

Amanda Edwards Campaign, Melanie Gray,

HOUSTON DELEGATION RIDES JAPANESE BULLET

TRAIN AND TOURS OPERATIONS CENTER

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

On the third day of the investment and trade mission to Japan, Mayor Sylvester Turner, Greater Houston Partnership President/CEO Bob Harvey, and members of the delegation learned more about the Japanese company that is the model for plans to develop a bullet train in Texas.

The engagement began with a Texas Central update on the status of the proposed Houston - Dallas bullet train project. Representatives explained that the landscape changed since March 2022, when the company underwent a restructuring effort, and the future of the high-speed train remains bright. Texas Central has assembled a worldclass team to construct the system and reached regulatory milestones.

Developers of the Texas proj ect say high-speed rail would provide a safer, more comfortable passenger experience that is more efficient and environmentally friendly than driving or flying.

In July 2022, the company won a significant victory when the Texas Supreme Court affirmed the status of Texas Central as an "interurban electric railway" under Texas law. Following the briefing, the delegation connected with

Japan Central Railway for an exclusive tour of the Shinkansen control and training centers, followed by a ride on the bullet train from Tokyo to Mishima, Japan. Over the Shinkansen's 50-plusyear history, carrying over 10 billion passengers, there has not been a single passenger fatality or injury on board

due to train derailments or collisions, according to the JRC

"Many of us were very support ive of the high-speed train before we came here, and what we have seen has reinforced our position. In Texas, it can be transformational and an economic stimulant for the entire state. It is an

idea whose time has come for Texas and the United States. It would help im prove transportation and mobility, and if people could ride it now, they would be convinced of the benefits for their families and the business community," said Mayor Turner. "We had some very productive and constructive discussions about the train in Japan. The leadership in Houston is very supportive and wants it to happen. I look forward to working with Texas Central and our state and federal partners to advance this project. If you build it, people will take full ad vantage of it."

Earlier in the week, the dele gation met with Japan's Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism who pledged full support for the Texas bullet train project.

PHILIP GUSTON NOW, FIRST RETROSPECTIVE IN 20 YEARS

INFLUENTIAL ARTIST’S WORK, OPENS AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON

By StyleMagazine.com

Across 50 years, Philip Guston continually explored varying means of representation, ranging from figuration to abstraction and back again, as he never stopped questioning the place of the artist in society at large. His richly worked paintings resonate with a profound humanism, defined equally by themes that touch on what he called the “brutality of the world” and his profound commitment to the joy of painting. Organized by the Na tional Gallery of Art, Washington, in collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH); the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and Tate Modern, London, Philip Guston Now is the first retrospective of the artist’s work assem bled in two decades.

In Houston, the exhibition features 86 paintings, and thirty-three drawings and prints, from public and private collections, including wellknown and rarely-seen works. Among the highlights are foundational paintings from the 1930s that have never been on public view; a cycle of major abstract paintings of the 1950s; a multi-part

array of small panel paintings from the late 1960s as Guston developed a new vocabulary grounded in ordinary objects; a reunion of the controversial paintings from Guston’s groundbreak ing Marlborough Gallery show in 1970; and a powerful selection of large, often apocalyptic paintings of the late 1970s that form Guston’s final artistic state ment.

“Few artists of the 20th century re main more compelling or mysterious to contemporary viewers,” said Gary Tinterow, Director of the Margaret Alkek Williams Chair, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. “Guston’s extraor

dinary turn away from the gorgeous abstract paintings with which he made his reputation for making inscrutable figurative paintings filled with doubt and anxiety aligns him with his hero, Francisco de Goya. Like Goya, Guston felt compelled at the end of his career to comment on society and the human condition in ways that break conven tion.” Philip Guston (1913–1980), born Phillip Goldstein, was the youngest child of Jewish immigrants who fled the pogroms that swept Central Europe at the turn of the 20th century, landing first in Montreal before making their way to Los Angeles in 1922. Guston’s

father died by suicide in 1923, and both cartooning and drawing provided a ha ven for the precociously talented young artist. Guston left high school during his senior year and was self-taught, taking inspiration from books on the Italian Re naissance and the flourishing Mexican Muralist movement. He also visited the superb African and Modern art collec tion assembled by Walter and Louise Arensberg, who frequently opened their home to young artists.

Among the earliest works on view in the exhibition, Mother and Child (c. 1930, private collection) were completed when Guston was still in his teens. It reflects his admiration of Michelangelo and the Surrealist com positions of Giorgio de Chirico. During these early years, Guston’s political outlook was honed by encounters with the Los Angeles Police Department’s notorious “Red Squad” and the city’s Ku Klux Klan rallies, which prompted Guston’s first paintings condemning anti-Semitism and racialized violence. For more information visit mfah.org

AAMA WELCOMES INTERIM CEO WHILE CELEBRATING GROWTH AND PERFORMANCE ACROSS THE GREATER HOUSTON REGION

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

AAMA, the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Ameri cans, announces senior leadership promotions while celebrating elevated performance at AAMA's George I. San chez Charter Schools. Daisy Morales will serve as interim CEO, while Adolfo Melara becomes President and Super intendent, and Debbie Ortiz becomes COO.

“The Board is pleased that Daisy Morales has accepted a pivotal role as our interim CEO starting in December,” said AAMA Board Chair Benjamin Hernandez. “Daisy shares our vision for a future that invests in education while continuing to strength en our communities. Daisy will lead an empowered team that continues to grow and excel for our students, our mission, and stakeholders.”

Morales, Melara and Ortiz are assuming their new roles as the George I. Sanchez Charter Schools, a vital part of AAMA’s mission, have earned higher state scores under Melara’s first year as Superintendent. With today’s announcement, AAMA board mem bers celebrate the progress Melara and Ortiz have achieved. Ortiz has created new strategic partnerships and relation ships, brought in new donors, increased AAMA’s revenue, and stepped up to serve as interim CEO over the past 6 months. Melara undertook a rigorous “turn-around” strategy for the schools,

bringing state ratings up strongly and positioning the schools and students for future success. “Adolfo and Debbie have been a key part of our growth and educational improvements during the last year,” said Hernandez. “The Board is recognizing not only their ac complishments, but also their ongoing capacity for high performance in the future. Having a nonprofit executive and

community leader like Daisy gives our organization a wise and trusted interim senior leader over the next year as Adolfo transitions his Superintendent duties to become AAMA’s President and CEO.”

“Serving as interim CEO allows me to continue to invest in our community while having a well-defined time span to support AAMA’s future,” said Morales. “This is a great way to give back! I am

grateful to Debbie for her long-term commitment, even agreeing to serve as a bridge to my role as interim CEO, and in turn I am committed to providing a structure in which Debbie and our whole team can thrive, and in which Adolfo can continue to guide the school’s ex cellent progress while planning for his larger organizational duties. A year from now, or maybe sooner, I look forward to welcoming Adolfo as our President and CEO.”

AAMA serves 10,000 people each year, including nearly 1,000 stu dents at two Sanchez charter schools, 6,000 individuals who are recovering from substance use disorders or at risk of communicable diseases including HIV, 1,000 more who participate in ESL and HSE classes, as well as others in workforce development and career pathways, and Early Childhood.

The AAMA Team at the 2022 Illumine Gala

AAMA Celebrates Illumine Gala

The Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA) – celebrates more than five decades as the leading non-profit organi zation in Texas that works with Latino families to achieve financial security, well-being and self-reliance. Held at The Ballroom at Bayou Place, the Illumine Gala raises funds for AAMA’s year-round pro grams and services, which benefit more than 10,000 people throughout the state of Texas annually. Thank you to all of the generous sponsors for giving back and supporting AAMA!

2th Annual Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council Success to Significance Luncheon

The 12th Annual Success to Significance Luncheon, which supports local Girl Scouting programs and benefits the council's nearly 40, 000 members was held on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at the Hilton Americas Hotel. Native Houstonian and ballet icon, Lauren Anderson, served as the featured speaker. Thanks to all of the generous donors - the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto council will be able to provide financial assistance to all girls that want to participate in Girl Scouting, regardless of their financial situation. Currently, one third of GSSJC girl members are supported through financial assistance, and events like Success to Significance make this possible.