VOL XVIII ISSUE 16 MARCH 20, 2019
MY TRUTH Cheryl Smith Publisher
Another Woman Worth Celebrating
Sometimes for whatever reason, folks come into our lives and have an impact. Some folks we are glad to see coming and then others we’re glad to see them leaving. Still others come into our lives and before long we forget they existed. Life is strange because you meet folks and feel you have met your soul mate. Many of those relationships don’t last. It’s a wonderful thing when you meet someone who brightens your life, warms your spirit and makes you feel good. Which brings me to my truth. I think the first time I interviewed the Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson, it was in 1990. She was in her car and it was a phone interview about
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson
something related to the office she held at time, Texas State Senator. We talked at length and I remember my tape recorder failed me. I don’t recall the topic but I do remember that she was very accommodating and responsive. Over the years we had very little interaction and then one day something ama-zing happened. We clicked. The stars aligned. I already knew she was an elect-ed official, the first nurse to serve in the Texas House and Senate, and also U.S. Congress. She advocates for veterans and a number of other causes and issues, like science and technology; or others we rarely hear about, like Lupus, foreign affairs, or leading the only veto override during President Bush’s terms. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Congresswoman Johnson has strong family ties and feelings of loyalty to those she trusts and respects. And she’s very knowledgeable and focused. Let me tell you. She brings joy into my heart. I look forward to seeing her, even if just to share a moment or two. Some of those special moments have been spent at Heroes House where we join businessman Gary Hasty as we feed and visit with veterans who live at the two Dallas locations. Even when I am out of town, I return back to Dallas for those special days so I can interact with the valiant men and women who served our country. During the first event, I realized just how deeply the Congresswoman cares for veterans and is committed to addressing their issues, of which there are many. I remember learning more about the needs of those incarcerated as told by Joyce Ann Brown; who spent nine years, five months and 24 days in prison for a crime she did not commit. Before meeting Ms. Brown over 30 years ago I thought everyone behind bars actually committed a crime. Not! The incarcerated are human too. We shouldn’t forget that. With veterans I’ve always held them in high esteem, sometimes feeling sorry for them for having to go to foreign countries fighting for the rights of others when they couldn’t share equal rights upon returning home. Through Cong. Johnson, Mr. Hasty and my nephew Andre Smith, as well as those at Heroes House; I’ve learned so much about the lives of men and women who serve in the
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Garland Club hosts “Go Red” Event
The local Garland, Texas Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. (NANBPWC) held its annual “Go Red for Healthy Heart” program last month. Attendees gathered at 10:00 AM dressed in red attire at the fellowship hall of the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church of Garland. The room was beautifully decorated with red balloons and other red heart décor. Garland Club founder, Mrs. Ruby Armstrong, chaired the event and member Patsy Pritchett gave opening remarks and introduced the guest speaker. Prior to the speaker presentation, guests went through a buffet line of delicious
breakfast food and beverages, then reassembled for a “heartwrenching, sister-to-sister” type speech from Mrs. Dee Baker Amos. Mrs. Amos is Vice President of Health Strategies with the American Heart Association. She electrified the audience with stories of her life growing up and every woman in the room identified with her experiences. She shared stories of strong African American women that shaped her life and the pitfalls that we, as black females, too often fall into! Why? Mrs. Amos explained it had to do with a “theme” she chose to deal with this year. The theme is “the failure to put ourselves on our own TO DO list.” She followed this
revealing failure with the fact that IF we don’t begin to care for our own health, we will not be around to care for the wellbeing of our families! Valuable statistics were shared by the speaker and material on the following subjects was distributed to each lady in attendance:: • Heart Disease in African Americans • The Truth About High Blood Pressure • Know the Facts About High Blood Pressure • Risk Factors for Stroke • Stroke, TIA and Warning Signs • Be a Stroke Hero
See Go Red, on page 3
Dee Baker Amos, Vice President of Health Strategies with the American Heart Association with Founder of the Club and Chair of the program, Ruby Armstrong
Former council member receives Outstanding Texan Award Former Garland City Council Member B.J. Williams was honored with the Texas Legislative Black Caucus (TLBC) Outstanding Texan Award at the 2019 African American Legislative Summit. Williams, a member of the Garland City Council from 2012 to 2018, was nominated for the award by Representative Rhetta Andrews Bowers (HD 113) for his service and
involvement in his community. Each year, the TLBC Outstanding Texan Award is given to individuals who are making significant contributions to their community through their time, actions, talents and dedication. Linda Griffin and Ricky McNeal were also honored with the award. Griffin has been a member of the Garland Independent School District’s
Board of Trustees since 1998. McNeal is the current President and Political Action Chair of the Garland NAACP. “Linda, B.J. and Ricky are three individuals who have given so much to the City of Garland over the years,” said Representative Bowers. “It was my honor to nominate them to receive this prestigious award and I am happy to see them get the recognition they deserve.”
B.J. Williams
Long-time educator authors book on leadership Dr. Jennifer Wimbish, the first African American president of Cedar Valley College (CVC), of the Dallas County Community College District, in her recently released book “Leadership Wisdom For All Generation,” takes you on a journey, including her walk with God, from her childhood in the segregated South, to her college presidency, as she shares character and leadership principles gleaned from her mentors –wise authentic leaders. She provides in each chapter a short autobiography, followed by character and leadership lessons learned from her mentors. Dr. Wimbish concludes the book by presenting lessons derived from her own experiences. According to Dr. Wimbish, the
Dr. Jennifer Wimbish
book is linked to her commitment to transgenerational learning. She believes strongly that each generation must leave a legacy that includes the learning of wise individuals, thus preparing
tomorrow’s world leaders. One endorser of the book noted that, Dr. Wimbish provides leadership principles that are valuable, life-changing, and that challenge all to lead with integrity. Her written accounts of leaders “Words of Wisdom” from her past serves us well today. Dr. Wimbish’s personal journey and voice on leadership is one that inspires, and results in a mustread book for every current and emerging leaders. A millennial from the college graduating class of 2020 said, “Leadership Wisdom for all Generations is both simple and insightful. Dr. Wimbish manages to express her message in a compelling fashion that is reminiscent of listening to
one’s own family. This book stays true to its title by offering aphorisms which will resonate with any one—regardless of age.” UPCOMING BOOK SIGNINGS Thurs, April 4, 4-6:00 pm, Brookhaven College, Bldg S/Rm 003, 3939 Valley View Lane, Farmer, Branch. Sat, April 6, 2:30 – 4:00 pm. University of North Texas,Dallas, Founder’s Hall Bldg, Rm 101, 7300 University Hill Blvd. Sun, April 7, 1-3:00 pm, Half Price Bookstore, Highway 67, Cedar Hill, Texas.
FAMU plays key role in Medical Marijuana Research BY CARMA HENRY
Florida A&M University (FAMU) has a unique opportunity to educate Floridians about medical marijuana and its use as an alternative health remedy. In 2016, the Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative, also known as Amendment 2, was approved by 72 percent of the state’s voters. The legislature approved funding for FAMU to “educate minorities about marijuana for medical use and about the impact of the unlawful use of marijuana on minority communities.” FAMU’s Marijuana Education and Research Initiative was established as the foundation for a repository of information about marijuana and a leader in research on the subject of medical marijuana. The initiative strives to educate Florida’s minority communities about the availability and uses of medical marijuana and to help these communities understand systemic problems associated with the
selective enforcement of marijuana laws and the consequences of the illicit use of marijuana. Peter Harris, J.D., is the director of the FAMU Marijuana Education and Research Initiative. He served the what industry as a strategic advisor to firms seeking a license from the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use to grow marijuana, manufacture medicine and dispense products for over a year. Prior to that, he provided consulting services to organizations seeking to impact the development of the industry in Florida. According to Harris, FAMU has an opportunity to play a vital role in the state’s development and use of medical marijuana. “We want to impact the health of Florida’s communities through our education and research efforts,” said Harris. “We also want to influence economic and behavioral issues, while engaging Florida’s diverse minority communities in the changes that are sure to come.”
Harris also stated that, “Our colleges and schools ranging from pharmacy, education and allied health to our institutes of public health, agricultural and food sciences as well as psychology and social sciences are integral not only to the growth and development of the nascent industry, but FAMU is also producing the future workforce.” Cynthia Hughes-Harris, Ph.D., dean of FAMU’s School of Allied Health Sciences explained that FAMU has received state funds to address the many critical and relevant questions related to the use of marijuana through the interdisciplinary efforts of faculty and students. “As marijuana use has become legalized in many arenas, particularly for medicinal purposes, more questions have arisen as to how marijuana can and should be used,” said Hughes-Harris. She added, “These questions are aimed at multiple populations, but they are particularly important to marijuana
use in minority communities. FAMU is particularly qualified to address these issues due to the talents and skills of the faculty, as researchers and as educators, combined with our understanding of our target communities throughout the state of Florida.” Additionally, the University also launched a major research initiative to award mini-grants to support faculty and graduate student research projects. Their work will help to establish FAMU as a national source of information regarding marijuana’s impact on minority communities. As part of the roll out, FAMU has hired Salter Mitchell Public Relations to help craft the messaging that will launch the statewide media campaign. The University has also collected data and conducted focus groups with the various minority communities it is charged with informing.
This article originally appeared in The Westside Gazette.