Texas Metro VOL 4 ISSUE 10
James named chair of DBCC
Darren L. James
Darren L. James, President and COO of KAI Texas, AIA, was recently elected Chairman of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce. James was honored for his advocacy and support of minority business endeavors at the chamber's 89th Annual Awards Dinner held on Oct. 23, 2015, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. "I am excited and humbled to be elected as Dallas' Black Chamber of Commerce Board Chair. For our 90th year, we'll continue to promote meaningful and significant participation of our members in the region's economic drivers, and invest in their growth through peer relationships, seminars and general business support," said James. Founded in 1926, the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce serves as an advocate for the creation and growth of African American businesses. The chamber actively promotes the expansion of business opportunities on behalf of its membership through referrals, partnerships, seminars, technical assistance and marketing. James has served on the Dallas Black Chamber Board since 2007.
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James has long been an active advocate of minority businesses in the Dallas area. He was named a 2014 Minority Business Leader by the Dallas Business Journal. Most recently, the Regional Black Contractors Association recognized James for his leadership, naming him the 1st Annual Herman Jerome Russell Award recipient. The announcement came as part of the association's Annual Year End Celebration held on Oct. 16, 2015. James was also recognized by the Asian American Contractors Association of Texas (AACATX) as a recipient of the Star Award as part of their 5th Annual Constellation Awards ceremony held last October. The Star Award is presented annually to the corporate or agency individual who did the most outstanding job in helping AACATX members. James joined KAI Texas in 2005 to lead as principal and partner of the firm. KAI Texas is an award-winning architecture, engineering and design-build firm headquartered in Dallas, with an additional office in San Antonio. He is passionate about enhancing the fabric of community and augmenting the ways in which architects influence these environments. KAI Texas engages in TEACH (Transit, Education, Aviation, Commercial, Housing & Health Care) opportunities for clients throughout Texas and the United States.
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Johnson issues statement in support of President’s Executive Action to reduce gun violence Washington, DC - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson released the following statement in response to President Obama’s executive actions to reduce gun violence and make American communities safer. “Today President Barack Obama took a courageous and much-needed step to help curb America’s problem of gun violence,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “The President has used his legal authority to issue executive actions that will strengthen gun safety laws in this country – without infringing on any law-abiding individual’s right to bear arms. The President’s decisive actions today will strengthen background checks, protect communities through better enforcement, improve mental health services, and fuel research to make guns safer.” The executive actions announced by the President today will make significant progress in the ongoing struggle to curb gun violence: · Toughening background checks nationwide: The President’s executive actions provide new guidance on existing federal laws, clarifying that any individual in the business of selling firearms must obtain a license through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and therefore conduct background checks on prospective gun purchasers. These actions also include new measures and resources to make the background
check system more efficient and effective. · Protecting communities with bolstered enforcement: The executive actions take new steps to promote smart and effective enforcement of our gun laws – including a proposed increase in funding for more ATF agents, greater resources for tracking illegal online firearms trafficking and strengthened domestic violence outreach efforts. · Improving mental health services: The President is proposing increased investment to expand access to mental health care. Further, the executive actions remove barriers that prevent the reporting of relevant mental health information to the background check system. · Driving new research into gun safety: The executive actions direct the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security to conduct or sponsor research into new technology to make firearms safer. “I will continue to support common sense gun laws that do not infringe on the rights of responsible gun owners,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “It is time for Congress and our Republican leadership to build on the President’s important steps to curb gun violence and allow gun safety legislation to be discussed and voted on. To start, Congress should pass the bipartisan King-Thompson legislation to strengthen background checks and close dangerous loopholes, so that criminals, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill don’t have easy access to guns. The President has done his part – and now, Congress needs to finish the job.”
Texas Metro News in congratulating the Dallas- Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists for 35 years of service and training aspiring journalists!
AROUND THE WORLD
Four new laws authored by progressive women took effect 1/1/16 AUSTIN, TX - On January 1, 2016, 4 new laws authored by 4 Annie’s List-endorsed legislators will take effect; 76 new laws have already been enacted. The new public policies taking effect on 1/1/2016 include: HB 3610 by Rep. Nicole Collier (HD-95 Fort Worth) recognizes the struggles and contributions of African American Texans through commemorative Juneteenth license plates. HB 706 by Rep. Jessica Farrar (HD-148 Houston) increases access to solar or wind-powered energy devices. HB 1510 by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (HD-141 Houston) provides landlords with protection against liability solely for renting or leasing to someone with a criminal record. This new law therefore increases housing opportunities for formerly-incarcerated individuals and helps them provide for themselves, their families and their communities. HB 127 by Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon (HD-120 San Antonio) provides recognition of the bravery and service of Texas veterans who have received Commendation Medals through the issuance of commemorative license plates.
Suit filed to remove District Attorney District Attorney Patrick Wilson filed a Second Amended Petition for the Removal of Dallas County Criminal District Attorney Susan Hawk. Below is public comment made by one of two attorneys who filed the first and then First Amended Petition against Hawk. “We are encouraged by the actions of District Attorney Patrick Wilson. His recently filed Second Amended petition for Removal contains affidavits from additional witnesses who personally observed Ms. Hawk’s mental and substance abuse problems. Mr. Wilson’s actions indicate how serious he is taking the case and is a clear sign that he is expanding the investigation. We are confident that at the conclusion of this matter, Ms. Hawk will be removed from office. We are pleased that Ms. Stormer’s courage in initiating this suit will result in benefitting the public and restoring confidence in the office of the Criminal District Attorney of Dallas County.”
CITY LOCAL TRUCK DRIVER
TRUCKING 519 N. Cedar Ridge Dr., Suite #7 Duncanville, TX 75116 www.mycrossroadtruck.com We are seeking Local City Drivers who must have a Class A - Commercial Driver License. NOTE: All Drivers must have a clean background (no felonies or misdemeanors) and at least one year driving experience with a clean MVR. Must have medical card, valid DL, SSC card, DOT card and must pass a required physical and drug screening. Driver should have a minimum of one year of driving experience in the last 3 years and 5 years of driving experience in the last 10 years. Must be 21 years of age and have a required High School Diploma/GED. Minimum Requirements Driver’s License Type: Class A - Commercial Commercial Driver’s License Endorsement: X - Combination of N and H T - Doubles/Triples Between $900.00 /WK and $1,000 / WK. Rotating Shift - home daily. Work week - full time 30-45 hours. Additional details: We are looking for drivers who are safe and will not have customer complaints. Driver must be free of accidents, service violations, and accident services. Cell: 214-475-3052 Office 214-245-5157 or email us at cr.trucking519@gmail.com
REGIONAL DRIVER
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Seeking Team Drivers (OTR). .42 cents per mile, must have a Class A - Commercial Driver License. NOTE: All Drivers must have a clean background (no felonies or misdemeanors) and at least one year driving experience with a clean MVR. Must have medical card, valid DL, SSC card, DOT card and must pass a required physical and drug screening. Driver should have a minimum of one year of driving experience in the last 3 years and 5 years of driving experience in the last 10 years. Must be 21 years of age and have a required High School Diploma/GED. Minimum Requirements Driver’s License Type: Class A - Commercial Commercial Driver’s License Endorsement: X - Combination of N and H T - Doubles/Triples Additional details: We are looking for drivers who are safe and will not have customer complaints. Driver must be free of accidents, service violations, and accident services. Cell: 214-475-3052 Office 214-245-5157 or email us at cr.trucking519@gmail.com
METRO Dallas businessman recognized for supporting students for 25 years Dallas businessman Mike A. Myers was recognized recently by the Dallas County Community College District Foundation’s board of directors for 25 years of mentoring and providing financial support to more than 200 students who participated in DCCCD’s LeCroy Scholars program. Pictured are former DCCCD LeCroy Scholars who attended The scholarship – which was the DCCCD Foundation board’s December meeting and lunch established in 1988 by Myers presentation with Mike Myers and Dr. Joe May: Front row, from to honor one of DCCCD’s left, Bianca Teniente, University of Texas at Dallas education student; Christian Osorio, project manager/estimator, former chancellors, the late Phillips/May Corporation; Suja John, nurse anesthetist, Dallas R. Jan LeCroy – is awarded Parkland Hospital; and Annie Saleem, accountant. Middle each year to high-achieving row, from left, Rafael Kreklau, vice president, Prosperity Bank; students who exhibit Myers, May and Yvette Bell, engineer, Raytheon Company. Back row, from left, Kevin Cross, head coach of women’s soccer, the former chancellor’s community University of Texas at El Paso; Fabian Campos, director, Redan leadership, Bilingual Media; and Tonychris Nnaka, acute care nurse, Baylor involvement and spirit. Dr. University Medical Center Dallas. Joe May, DCCCD’s chancellor, and several former LeCroy Scholars joined Myers for his special recognition during the December foundation board meeting. Myers, who also has served on the DCCCD Foundation board since 1988, is chairman and CEO of Dallas-based Myers Financial Corporation and president of Myers Development Corporation, a residential development company in Texas and Missouri.
CBC commends President Obama’s Executive Actions to reduce gun violence and make communities safer WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, CBC Chairman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) and Co-Chairs of the CBC Gun Violence Task Force, Reps. Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Brenda Lawrence (MI-14) released the following statement in response to President Obama’s executive actions to reduce gun violence: “Gun violence has taken its toll on communities across America, and has particularly had a disproportionate impact within the African American community and urban areas across the country,� said CBC Chairman G. K. Butterfield. “We have long witnessed the impact of horrific events that have unnecessarily taken the lives of countless individuals and it is time for sensible gun laws to help lessen the burdens that such violence has created. Over the past decade, more than 100,000 people have been killed as a result of gun violence and many of these incidents could have been prevented. Today’s executive action to reduce gun violence is a step in the right direction and members of the Congressional Black Caucus commend President Obama on the resolve to keep communities safe and keep guns out of the hands of individuals who never should have had access or the ability to purchase a weapon in the first place.� “I applaud President Obama’s bold executive actions taken today,� said Representative Robin Kelly. “These policies will have an immediate impact by keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and dangerous individuals and preventing gun trafficking, while also protecting the Second Amendment rights of responsible, law-abiding citizens. While
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w w w. T E X A S M E T R O N E W S . com President Obama’s executive actions are crucial steps in reducing the senseless gun violence plaguing our nation, they do not absolve Congress of its responsibility to act. There are gaps in existing gun laws that leave us all vulnerable to gun violence, holes that only Congress can plug. With over 30 Americans being killed by a gun every single day, inaction is not an option. Congress has a moral obligation to address the public health epidemic of gun violence in America, and the CBC Gun Violence Task Force will keep pushing to pass reasonable and responsible gun safety laws to save lives.� “I strongly support the President’s proposal to address gun violence by providing for new ATF and FBI resources and staff as well as support for mental health programs and reviews,� said Representative Brenda Lawrence. “Nothing in the President’s proposal restricts our Second Amendment right to bear arms or our right to privacy. It does, however, address several loopholes that bad apple gun dealers have been able to exploit for far too long. It also addresses the appalling lack of access to information related to people who have been legally determined unfit to purchase firearms. This includes felons, those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence, and people who have been found to be a risk to themselves and others and prohibited from possessing a firearm for mental health reasons.�
Jenkins provides with First Steps and pointers for dealing with disasters As residents are recovering from the deadly tornadoes that hit Dallas County over a week ago, it’s important to make sure they know the proper steps to take over the next few weeks. Below is a brief list of initial tasks for residents: FIRST STEPS: Be sure your property is safe before returning. Shut off your gas and electricity for safety. If you are unsure how to do this or unable to do this on your own, contact your service providers for help. If possible, make temporary repairs to your home to prevent further damage to the property and your belongings inside. List any and all damage you find when cleaning up. Call your insurance agent. If you have insurance that covers tornado damage, your agent will tell you and can help you make a claim with your insurance company and an adjuster will contact you. Take photos and/or video of the damage to your home, including damaged personal property and structural damage. It is very important that you document all damage immediately. You’ll need complete records for your insurance claim. When you have the visible damage documented, send any photos and/or videos to your insurance company. Thoroughly document any contact with your insurance company, including the date and time of any calls, who you spoke with, and the general substance of your conversations. When the insurance company adjuster visits your home to inspect the damage --- the adjuster may rely on you to provide information regarding the extent of your damage. Be sure to tell the adjuster that any damage you point out, documented or discuss is only the damage you have noticed, and there may be other damage that you are unaware of or that is not immediately visible to an untrained eye. If you disagree with the amount of damage found by the insurance company’s adjuster --- or the amount the insurance company is paying you for your damage, do not give up. It is okay to accept payment, even if you don’t agree with the amount, and use it to begin repairing your home. However, if you do not receive enough money to restore your home to pre-tornado condition, immediately tell the insurance company. Obtain estimates to repair/replace your property from a trusted contractor to compare with the amount that insurance company is paying, and make sure you are being covered prior to signing any Proof of Loss. Send those estimates to your insurance company to document that it is going to cost you more to fix your home than the insurance company paid.
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INSURANCE CLAIM DOS AND DON’TS DO: ¡ Report the claim as soon as possible. Don’t hesitate reporting a legitimate claim for damage to your insurance company. The sooner the insurance company can observe the damage, the better. ¡ Document the loss and interactions with the insurance company. Thoroughly document your loss in writing and with photographs. Take photos and video of your damage to show the insurance company. Also keep records of the date and time of any calls to the insurance company, who you spoke with, and the general substance of the conversations. Keep all written communication with the insurance company in a safe place. ¡ Provide accurate answers. You are the best historian of your home and have the best information about the pre-storm condition of your home and personal property. When the insurance company adjuster inspects the tornado damage, she may rely on information you provide regarding the extent of your damage, so provide accurate, honest answers. However, be sure to tell the adjuster that any damage you identify is only the damage you have noticed, and there may be other damage. ¡ Get your own estimates. If the insurance company’s estimate does not fairly represents the amount or extent of the damages, seek additional estimates from local trusted contractors regarding the amount it will cost to repair your home to pre-storm condition. ¡ Ask for help. The insurance claim process can be confusing. If you have questions or concerns about the insurance claim process or decisions made by the insurance company, seek help to be sure you get a fair evaluation. DO NOT: ¡ Do not prematurely discard damaged items. Do not throw away a damaged item until the adjuster has seen it or you have thoroughly documented the damage to the item. Proof of damage will be necessary for reimbursement of covered items. ¡ Do not prematurely make permanent repairs. Do not make structural or permanent repairs until the insurance company has observed the damage. Temporary repairs and measures to prevent further damage to your home are generally encouraged – just be sure the damage is documented! Save receipts for any temporary repairs made and provide them to your insurance company. ¡ Do not rely solely on the adjuster. The importance of doing your own research, making your own decisions, and staying involved with your claim cannot be overstated. Do not rely on others to make the best decisions without your involvement. Seek the advice of trusted contractors and professionals experienced in tornado damage mitigation and rehabilitation if you need help. ¡ Do not get discouraged. The insurance claim process can be intimidating and overwhelming. Don’t get so discouraged that you settle for less than you are owed. Insist on a fair investigation and evaluation of the claim. If you feel too overwhelmed by this process, consider hiring a professional to help you get every dollar you deserve to restore your home. HELPFUL TIPS FOR CHOOSING A CONTRACTOR TO REPAIR YOUR HOME AFTER A DISASTER: ¡ Research local, established contractors familiar with your area. After a disaster, there will surely be “fly-by-nightâ€? contractors trying to take advantage of vulnerable homeowners by charging exorbitant amounts for poor work or, sometimes, no work at all. Research local contractors who are established in your community and familiar with the building, repair, and permit restrictions for your area. Research contractors on Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbb.org to be sure they don’t have a record of consumer complaints. ¡ Get multiple estimates. You may not know if the first contractor you consult with gives you an accurate and fair estimate for the necessary repair work to your home. It’s smart to get a second or third opinion so you can compare before deciding on which contractor is best for the job. ¡ Request customer referrals. Reputable professional contractors should have references to provide you from current or past satisfied customers. Reach out to these references and speak to previous customers regarding their experience. ¡ Confirm contractor’s license and insurance. A professional contractor will always hold the necessary credentials to legally operate in the community for the type of work they are performing (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, etc.). The contractor should be insured and be able to show proof of that insurance. ¡ Beware of suspicious payment arrangements. Beware of “cash onlyâ€? contractors. No reputable contractor will require full payment upfront in cash. A reasonable deposit for materials is common, but be sure you have a signed contract before making any payment. Beware of the common scam in which a contractor will offer you a limited time low price claiming he has left over materials after completing another job in your neighborhood. Never feel forced to make a decision quickly when it comes to choosing a contractor to repair your home. ¡ Verify the contractor’s contact information. A contractor that only has a P.O. Box and no physical address may be a red flag. Get the contractor’s address, phone number(s), and email address, and verify that the information is correct and functioning before signing a contract. FREE NON-PROFIT HELP: Many non-profits have volunteers who are offering to assist residents free of charge. Volunteer organizations can assist with the following needs:
See METRO BRIEFS, page 11
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Texas METRO NEWS Formerly Kuumba Heritage News Founded by Theresa Thrash in 1994 to the Glory & Honor of Jesus Christ
An I Messenger Enterprises LLC Publication MAILING ADDRESS 320 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway Suite 220 Dallas, TX 75203 WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM 214-941-0110
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Will America pass test of morality in 2016? “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. . . . I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word[.]� -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, December 10, 1964
The start of this New Year finds America at an inflection point as wars and terrorism abroad are echoed in violence, suspicion, and fear at home. How will we meet the moment? Hundreds of organizations and individuals have signed on to the urgent message of the campaign We Are Better Than This: “We grieve the many lives that have been lost or painfully transformed in recent weeks through extreme acts of violence. And we are appalled by the surge of divisive rhetoric that sows the seeds of more violence to come. A dangerous tide of hatred, violence, and suspicion is rising in America - whether aimed at Arab and Muslim Americans, women and the places we seek health care, Black people, immigrants and refugees, or people just going about their daily lives. This tide is made more dangerous by easy access to guns. When has hate ever
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Child Watch By Marian Wright Edelman President, Children’s Defense Fund
via George Curry Media
led to progress? Is this really what we want America to be? We are better than this.� We are better than this. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German Protestant theologian who died opposing Hitler’s holocaust, believed that the test of the morality of a society is how it treats its children. We flunk Bonhoeffer’s test every hour of every day in America as we let the violence of guns and the violence of poverty relentlessly stalk and sap countless child lives. A child or teen is killed by a gun every three and a half hours, nearly 7 a day, 48 a week. More than 15.5 million children are poor and children are the poorest age group in America - the world’s largest economy. And the younger children are, the poorer they are. Children of color, already the majority of our youngest children, will be the majority of our children in 2020. Millions of them lack their basic needs for enough food, decent housing, health care and quality early childhood supports during their years of greatest brain development. And more than six decades after Brown v. Board of Education, a majority of children of color are still waiting for a fair and equal chance to learn. A majority of all fourth and eighth grade public school students and more than 80 percent of Black and 73 percent of Hispanic students in these grades cannot read or compute at grade level and face dim futures as a jobless landscape looms. They also lack assurance that their lives matter and are at great
risk of being sucked into a prison pipeline. Those of us who remember McCarthyism see familiar signs in the hateful rhetoric and hatred aimed at Muslims, refugees, and immigrants. Even children report being bullied and attacked and hearing hateful words. And the pervasive and relentless threat of violence and terror continues to attack and frighten children and adults from Syria to Paris to California and in our cities and rural areas. There is another way. Again, Dr. King’s words lead us there - through a world that often can feel suffocated by “starless midnight� to belief in a new day. He warned us that excessive materialism, militarism, racism, and poverty could be America’s undoing but that it was up to us to act and combat these evils. In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Dr. King also told us he had “the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits.� And he said: “Civilization and violence are antithetical concepts ...Sooner or later all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace, and thereby transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. If this is to be achieved, man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.� Let’s hear and decide that this is the voice we will follow into this New Year. And let us pray and act for an end to preventable poverty and violence in our nation beginning with our children. Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children’s Defense Fund whose Leave No Child BehindŽ mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For more information go to www.childrensdefense.org
Get a crash course in journalism and more
The Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists (formerly the Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Communicators) will present its annual Urban Journalism Workshop for high school a Baccus and college students in 2016. Advertising sales@texasmetronews.com This 12-week workshop is open to students in Dallas, Tarrant, Ellis, Collin and Denton counties. Students receive handsEditorial submissions on experience working with seasoned professionals who editorial@texasmetronews.com have gained a reputation locally and nationally, as well as !VAILABLE AT .EWSSTANDS IN internationally. Calendar Garland,Rowlett calendar@texasmetronews.com The program, which emulates one started by George Curry, Mesquite Gerald Boyd and other members of the Greater St. Louis Richardson Association of Black Journalists in St. Louis, has graduated & E.Dallas students who have gone on to anchor newscasts, edit newspapers, open public relations firms and produce radio shows. 972) 926-8503 $45.00 Fax (903) 450-1397 1 Year Subscription $45.00 Mr. Curry visits the Dallas workshop students annually to ar Subscription conduct his “basic training.� Mr. Boyd died of lung cancer in CREDO OF THE BLACK 2006. PRESS “We’re excited about continuing the tradition that was started almost 30 years ago,� said Eva Coleman, one of the instructors The Black Press believes that for the program. “I am looking forward to working with America can best lead the world students this year.� away from racial and national Ms. Coleman, who teaches radio and television in Frisco ISD antagonisms when it accords will be overseeing the radio and television segments of the to every person, regardless workshop, pulling together experts in the field. of race, color or creed, full Previous speakers have included: Dallas County Commissioner human and legal rights. Hating John Wiley Price, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, Senator Royce West, Star-Telegram editor and columnist Bob Ray Sanders, no person, fearing no person, Dallas Morning News columnist Norma Adams Wade, Our Texas the Black Press strives to help Publisher General Berry, PR gurus Lyria Howland and Rose every person in the firm belief Gafford, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Irwin Thompson, that all are hurt as long as K104’s Sam Putney, 97.9’s Gary with the T, Dallas Examiner anyone is held back. Publisher Mollie Belt, Producer Haile Gerima and Dallas Weekly Publisher James A. Washington. CIRCULATION/DISTRIBUTION MB Distribution
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EDITORIAL
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ONE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN’S OPINION By Cheryl Smith Ms. Smith, who has been with the program since its inception, took over the directorship in the mid 90s and continued through 2004. Ms. Smith returned to the program as director in 2007. At the conclusion of the workshop, the students will participate in a closing ceremony where they will present a newspaper, television and radio broad-casts, a website and a special project. Here’s what a few alumni had to say about the program: Kevin Abercrombia - I am a former student of the DFW-ABJ workshop. It is a great experience when it comes to journalism. The other thing is you have a great mentor in Ms Smith, who will be in your corner no matter what.The one thing I gained from the workshop is experience, getting to do live newscasts at Channel 5, learning to write news scripts, getting to write article for the workshop newspaper and most importantly, doing protocol. So if you are looking to step up your game and come out of your shell the workshop is the best way to do that. Speaking as a person who was shy and reserved, the DFW/ABJ workshop helped me gain confidence in myself. Alecia Thompson - I used the lessons and the connections that I gained in this great workshop throughout my 14 years in radio and, actually, to this day. From how to introduce myself to how to conduct an interview to how to write and produce a story from start to finish for talk radio. The friendships, the professional networking relationships that goes well beyond the actual workshop are not only priceless but, are very beneficial in
whatever path you take in life. I am so glad that I invested myself in this workshop and appreciate, from the bottom of my heart, the people and the hard work as well as the fact that this even exists! Andre Smith - As a member of the journalism workshop I learned many trades that I still use to this day. From public speaking, to asking the real questions. Along with learning how to network, and when taking photos “get in there�. To always double shoot, because it is better to have two to choose from. Royle King - Wouldn’t be where I am today without this program! This is definitely the real deal! Jeremy Erwin - I learned the importance of punctuality, a firm handshake, and professionalism. I was informed on what’s appropriate and inappropriate. I got the tools necessary to build a foundation for leadership. I was 15 years old having professional conversations with commissioner John wiley price, senator Royse west, news anchors, and hosts. Those opportunities made it easy for me to now have professional conversations and meetings with A list celebs and execs in Hollywood. This workshop prepared me for the real deal. It’s definitely worth the TIME! Because after all, it’s Free. Gray Hall - This is where it all started for me. The workshop is more than worth its weight in gold. I am surprised it is still FREE. Please take advantage of this life changing experience. Angela Lang - Through this program, I gained experience, friends, mentors, and great memories! It’s a great opportunity for young people who are interested in journalism to make contacts, get real world experience, and have a lot of fun! It’s tough! Remember those weekly current events quizzes? But will get you ready for college and a career in journalism. For more information about the workshop, call 214-9410110. Applications must be turned in by January 21, 2016. Mail completed applications to: DFWABJ 320 South R.L. Thornton Frwy #220A Dallas, TX 75203
PERSPECTIVES
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HALL: Get Yo’ Boy
Quit Playin’ Vincent Hall Vincent L. Hall is an author and award-winning columnist. Whether you read the editorial “White people, come get your boy’ or “How Donald Trump destroyed the Republican Party in 2015,” the message is resonating. Donald Trump is the best gift Democrats ever received and the worst nightmare that the GOP could ever have dreamt. This thesis is fortified by hearing the national opinion in high fidelity stereo from two polar Black voices. Two divergent Black voices like the crass comedian of current events, W. Kamau Bell and the Washington Post’s genteel voice of reason, Eugene Robinson. Let’s start with my hope-to-die W. Kamau Bell from the margins of Salon.com. “Donald
Trump isn’t a Republican issue or a rich people issue or a human issue. Donald Trump is a White people issue. Whenever Ben Carson says batshit crazy nonsense, Black people rise up, and let him know that he needs to STFU. Whenever Raven-Symone pops off, we put her cap back on. We even handled Rachel Dolezal for you. Yes, we also make jokes and come up with clever memes and hashtags, but at the core of all that is that we are letting these people know that they are embarrassing us as Black people. It is time, White people, for you to finally step up and recognize that you also (even more so) have a responsibility to your race. It is up to you to silence Donald Trump. Don’t
just insult him and make fun of him. You have to connect it to your race. Recognize that he is embarrassing you as a White person. Stop acting like Trump isn’t the pinnacle and the result of America’s history and tradition of White supremacy. And again, P.S.: simply put, White people; come get your boy.” Now let’s channel over to the cleverest newsman to ever carry a meat cleaver. Eugene Robinson has better skills than Uncle Ben Carson when it comes to making surgical incisions without leaving ugly scars. “The Republican Party promised — with nods, winks and dog-whistle toots — to change all of this and make everything the way it used to be. In practice, however, party leaders were compelled to deal with the world as it actually is. Hence, for example, the establishment’s view a couple of years ago in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. “Enter Trump, who has the temerity to point out that the party establishment says one thing but does another. He launched his campaign by calling the GOP’s bluff on immigration: If the 11 million people here without documents are really “illegal,” as the
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party loudly proclaims, then send them home. Other candidates were put in the position of having to explain why, after claiming that President Obama was somehow “soft” on immigration, their position on allowing the undocumented to stay is basically the same. “Similarly, many leading Republicans were careful not to offend the “birthers” who denied Obama’s legitimacy as president. An unabashed birther long before he was a candidate, Trump still refuses to say whether he accepts the proven fact that Obama was born in the United States. Trump has given voice to the ugliness and anger that the party spent years encouraging and exploiting. He let the cat out of the bag, and it’s hungry.” Let me marry these missives and meld the two as one mild invective; White people better get they Boy before the Republicans
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are ruined forever. The GOP has mastered the art of positing ugly subtleties, symbolisms of superiority, slimy signals and just out right outrageous xenophobia. Donald Trump is delivering the unfiltered GOP message; he just traded the Ronald Reagan soft pitch for David Duke hard ball identity politics. A great theologian once said; “The greatest tragedy in life is to already be where you’re going.” If the GOP doesn’t confront Trump, that tragedy will become their reality.
Black Head Coaches -- College Football’s Last percent and 63 percent. [EDITORS: DO NOT POST BEFORE MONDAY NIGHT, JAN. 11, 2016]
By George E. Curry George Curry Media Columnist This season’s national college football championship has been decided, but no one knows how much longer we must continue to wait until the head coaching ranks are no longer largely reserved for White males, even those who have been failures at other schools. Although Blacks were 53.4 percent of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players going into the 2015-16 football season, only 13 (10.2 percent) of the head coaches were African Americans, according to The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) at the University of South Florida. To make matters worse, Black and White coaches with similar records often face starkly different futures. Writing in the Washington Post, Donald H. Yee wrote, “Last week, one of the few black head football coaches in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision, Ruffin McNeill at East Carolina University, was fired. His record was 42-34, along with a 30-18 conference record. The winning percentages, respectively, are 55
TRUTH TO POWER
“Around the same time, college football writers By George E. Curry were praising the University George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine and editor-inof Iowa for its patience with chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.) head coach Kirk Ferentz, He is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. Curry can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com. You can also follow him at who is being lauded for www.twitter.com/currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook. his performance this year. Bowling Green State University announced Ferentz has an overall winning percentage of 60 percent, and a that it has hired Mike Jinks, an associate head conference winning percentage of 56 percent. coach at Texas Tech University, as its new head Ferentz is in his 17th season at Iowa. Before coach. With McNeill’s firing and the hiring of this current 12-1 season, his overall winning Jinks, there are now 10 Black head coaches percentage was 58 percent - comparable to among the 128 coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision - less than 8 percent. McNeill’s.
Mason, Vanderbilt; Trent Miles, Georgia State; David Shaw, Stanford ; Charlie Strong, Texas; Kevin Sumlin and Willie Taggert, South Florida. Many Black coaches labor for years as assistants before getting a chance at the top job. However, many White coaches who fall from grace quickly get second and third chances.
For example, Mike Price was fired for visiting a strip club before he could assume the job as head football “Iowa, however, had coach at the University So when you see rabid - and often drunk - White fans cheering of Alabama. Still, he was to endure seasons where Ferentz won one, three after another touchdown scored by Alabama’s Derrick Henry or able to land a job as head and four games. McNeill coach at the University never won fewer than five. a touchdown pass thrown by Deshaun Watson, Clemson’s Black of Texas-El Paso. After As any knowledgeable quarterback, in the night’s championship game, don’t be misled. it was discovered that college football fan George O’Leary lied on his knows, East Carolina’s They love it as long as the Black athletes are bringing in millions resume at Notre Dame, budget is not even half of for the University of Alabama’s athletic department or the sports he was hired as head Iowa’s. McNeill’s salary at coach at the University East Carolina wasn’t even program at Clemson, but the athletes don’t deserve to get much of Central Florida. And within the top 60 in the Eustachy’s problems more beyond their athletic scholarships for one reason - the Larry country, while Ferentz has at Iowa State included perennially been one of color of their skin. acknowledging that college football’s highest he was “a recovering paid coaches. alcoholic,” but that didn’t prevent him from getting the top job at The 10 Black coaches are: James Franklin, Southern Mississippi. “McNeill, clearly, was not treated with the Penn State; Darrell Hazell, Purdue; Curtis same patience Iowa showed Ferentz.” Johnson, Tulane; Mike London, Virginia; Derek
Some Black coaches have been spectacular yet remain underrated. David Shaw, whose Stanford team trounced Iowa in this year’s Rose Bowl 45-16, is a perfect example. Under Shaw, no Pac-12 program had more players drafted in the past four years, including Andrew Luck, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft. Stanford’s website catalogues the university’s recent success: “...three Pac-12 football championships in four years, five BCS/ New Year’s Six bowls in a six-year span, all combined with an NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 99 percent, leading all majorcollege football programs.” Black coaches in the NFL are often underappreciated. If there were any questions about the skills of Black coaches, they should have been permanently put to rest in 2007 when the Indianapolis Colts, under Tony Dungy, squared off against Lovie Smith’s Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. It was the first time two African American coaches met on football’s ultimate stage. To its credit, the NFL established the Rooney Rule in 2003 that requires each NFL team to interview at least one minority candidate for each head coaching vacancy. In 2009, the requirement was expanded to include interviews for general managers and similar positions. Unfortunately, universities don’t have a
The Texas Metro News family wishes you the best in 2016
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January 6, 2016
January 8-9 Four brothers are back by popular demand! CUSP 'THE POLYMATH,' DA BEAR, AWAJI JOHNSON, OBBIE WEST hits the stage again this season, rippin' and rappin' like the poets of the 1960's Cultural Revolution. Sharing their personal experiences while honoring four distinguished poets, the brothers words are penetrating and smooth and so is the jazz. They've got a word for the ladies! Friday and Saturday, January 8 & 9, 2016 @ 9pm Clarence Muse Cafe Theater Dallas Convention Center Theater Complex To purchase tickets, call TBAAL Box Office at 214-743-2400
CALENDAR January 18 February 10
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CELEBRATING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’S BIRTHDAY OFFICIAL DALLAS PARADE WITH GRAND MARSHAL TOM JOYNER (THE FLYJOCK) FOLLOWED BY FESTIVAL IN THE AUTOMOBILE BUILDING AT FAIR PARK.
January 9
January 21
Comedian Lavell Crawford performs at the Majestic Theatre. Call 888-929-7849 FOR TICKETS
Oak Cliff Chamber for its Annual Awards & VIP Reception, "Spotlighting the Cliff." Featuring Master of Ceremony, Rep. Rafael Anchia, the Awards Ceremony will recognize the best Oak Cliff businesses, organizations and individuals in 2015 for their achievements, community contributions and milestones. Bishop Arts Theatre Center 215 Tyler Street, Dallas, TX 75208
Merri Dee at the Black Academy of Arts and Letters 10a.m.
January 11
Jan. 21-Feb. 13 Garland Civic Theatre presents the hard-boiled mystery, "The Man with Bogart's Face" by Andrew J. Fenady. Full of twists, turns, intrigue and deadly danger, this play's heart is a loving tribute to the private eye mysteries rooted in classic Hollywood film noir. "The Man with Bogart's Face" will run Fridays and Saturdays, Jan. 22-Feb. 13 at 8 p.m., with Sunday performances on Jan. 24 and 31 at 2:30 p.m. There is a Thursday performance on January 21 at 7:30 p.m. Granville Arts Center Small Theatre 300 N. Fifth Street Tickets: $22 at GarlandArtsBoxOffice.com or 972-205-2790.
This month's topic: "Bank on It" BB&T's Financial Literacy Workshop Starts at Noon Banking Services and Employee Benefits for Small Businesses With economic development in mind, BB&T has partnered with the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce to provide FREE education and financial literacy to take pre-existing businesses to the next level. BB&T recognizes that the heart of the community is small business and in order for it to grow, small businesses must grow. In this workshop, you will get an overview of Basic Business Financial Services designed to show how they work for small businesses. Attendees can expect to learn: Presented by: BB&T's Community Development Team Cost to Attend: FREE to Chamber Members, Non-Chamber Members and the Oak Cliff Community. RSVP is required. Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce "Community Development Room" 1001 N. Bishop Ave. Dallas, TX 75208 (214) 943-4567
The USA Film Festival announces the schedule of events for the 32nd annual KidFilm® Festival taking place Saturday, January 23 and Sunday, January 24, 2016 at the Angelika Film Center, 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. All programs will be presented FREE to the community. KidFilm is the oldest and largest-attended children’s film festival in the United States, featuring an entertaining, educational, and diverse line-up of new and classic films for both children and adults.
January 15
January 30
Fred’s Entertainment Pays Homage to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mr. Harry T. Moore The Pan African Connection 8:00 PM Until 4466 South Marsalis Ave @ Ann Arbor Dallas, Tx. 75216 Keynote Speaker: Dr. Juanita Wallace Founder of 100 Black Women of America, Speaking on Mr. Harry T. Moore: Mr. Gary Brown (Mr. Harry T. Moore is the founder of the first branch of the NAACP in Brevard County Florida) Special Guest: Mr. Lee Alcorn and Family African Drumming by Baba Kwasi Doors Open at 7:00 PM PLEASE DRESS IN ALL WHITE HEAD TO TOE Student With ID $9.00 ($33.00 at the door). General $15.00 ($33.00 at the door). VIP $27.00 ($33.00 at door) Go to Payment Page on www.fredsentertainment.com And click on Buy Now Contact: Fred A. Ghaffar at 214-607-6445 ******** Black Music Civil Rights Movement Concert at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St, featuring Tony Terry and Rahsaan Patterson. Student performance 10am on Friday. Public Performance 730pm on Sunday ********** Friday and Saturday Comedy at the Muse Theater at the Black Academy of Arts and Letters, featuring Damon Williams at 9p.m.
January 23 and 24
Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Founders Day Luncheon will be held at the HYAtt Regency ****** Nontombi Naomi Tutu the daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, will speak at 1:00PM at The Black Academy of Arts & Letters (TBAAL) 1309 Canton Street Dallas, Texas 75202 (Corner of Canton & Akard St). John McCaa WFAA-TV News Anchor will act as Master of Ceremonies. As Americans finish out the month of celebrating the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a month that has been preceded by unprecedented politically divisive hate speeches with no let up it appears until January 2017 when presidential elections are complete. Many are questioning what can be done to get America back to its well known mantra of "a land of people yearning to be free!" Ms. Tutu a person who grew up in racist South Africa's Apartheid government system will speak to how her father and other anti-Apartheid heroes fought to change that system making it a model for the world that perhaps America too can learn from. Come join the discussion! Tickets $10 call 214-743-2400
February 3 DBCC Power Lunch! Bill J Priest Institute 1402 Corinth Street Dallas 75215 1-3pm February 3, 2016 Understanding Government Contracting
Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night, running February 10th - March 6th. All evening performance for this show will start at 7:30 at the Undermain Theatre
February 13 AMOUD FOUNDATION ANNUAL FUNDRAISER at 6:30 PM
February 14
12th Annual Dallas Blues Festival featuring Latimore, Sir Charles Jones, Theodis Ealey, TK Soul, Shirley Brown, Cupid, Bobby Rush Sun, Feb 14, 2016 - 6:00PM Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie 1001 Performance Place Grand Prairie, TX 75050
February 17 DBCC Power Lunch Bill J Priest Institute 1402 Corinth Street Dallas 75215 1-3pm February 17, 2016 Understanding the RFP &RFB Process
February 20 UNCF Masked Ball at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. Call 972-234-1007 for tickets.
February 26 New Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church will host its 11th Annual Raymond B. Spencer Scholarship banquet on February 26th 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at the Fort Worth Hilton Hotel. The Featured keynote speaker will be Dr. Rev Raphael G. Warnock, Ph.D., a civil rights leader and new generation trailblazer. Dr. Warnock is the senior pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, the church home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
February 27 JD Lawrence presents Martin, Malcolm and Me at the Majestic Theatre. Call 888-9297849 for tickets
March 2
DBCC Power Lunch! Bill J Priest Institute 1402 Corinth Street Dallas 75215 1-3pm March 2, 2016 How to do a Business with DART
March 12 MaDea’s on the Run - Two shows 3p.m. And 8p.m. At the Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie. Call 888-929-7849
April 2 HERB ALPERT & LANI HALL 8 p.m. Majestic Theatre The nonprofit AT&T Performing Arts Center and AEG Live announced Herb Alpert and Lani Hall will perform at the Majestic Theatre in downtown Dallas. Center Members get access to the best available seats. Call Membership Services at 214-978-2888 or go to www.attpac.org/support to join. Center Membership presale began Tuesday, September 29 at 10 a.m.
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Promises, Promises
Spiritually Speaking by James A. Washington For a moment I’d like to think through this thing called covenant. I understand the dictionary definition as you probably do also. However, let’s take a look at it biblically. The fact is God made a covenant with His people. Today, that means you and me. In essence He’s made us a promise. Now if you’ve lived as long as I have, you’ve had many people make promises to you that (1.) they have no intention of keeping and (2.), they failed miserably while trying to keep said promise. A third reality would be that he or she could have cared less about keeping a promise they made to you. Perhaps you are one of these promise breakers rather than a promise keeper. I know I’ve broken a promise or two in my day. But the subject here is God and I’ve got to assume that if anybody keeps His word, it’s got to be God.
Therefore it stands to reason and faith that we should take to our graves the covenant promise God made to Abraham, aka, us. It’s the one Jesus came to fulfill. Jesus’ new covenant, as a matter of fact, replaces the old one. Remember the operative concept here is promises. Now if I’ve got the concept down and the importance associated with keeping one’s word, then I need to be more careful in the promises I make and to whom I make them. It appears the foundation of spiritual belief is wrapped up in a simple promise. To Noah, “Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you green plants, I now give you everything.” Genesis 9:3. To Abraham, “As for me, this is my covenant with you….. you will be the father of nations….I will make nations of you and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for generations to come, to be your God and the God of the descendants after you…..I will be their God.” Genesis 17:2-8. To Moses, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant then out of all nations, you will be
my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation…..” Exodus 19:5. From Jesus to the disciples, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood…for whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes….. 1 Corinthians 11:25-26. Remember this is God talking about His promise to us. Have you made any promises to Him lately? What about to yourself about Him, or to someone who loves you or to someone whom you love? Have you kept them? Are you a covenant breaker or a covenant keeper? Do you believe you when you talk? Do you speak the truth when you do? There is a saying we’ve all heard about speaking the truth into existence. What about this one? Be careful about what you ask for. You see this covenant thing had a powerful beginning. A promise is downright godly. It has to be. The first one came from God to us through Adam and Eve. It kind of gets all caught up in words and the power of words and the understanding of words; God’s words, your words and more words. They have incredible power, if we could always
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understand them in the context of covenant. They are really vehicles to communicate with each other and the original covenant maker. A reality for all of us is that we are accountable for our words and thereby our actions. My obligation then is to emulate God almighty in a manner befitting His divine order. “So shall my word be that goes forth out of your mouth…” Isaiah 55:11. This covenant is a wondrous thing because God keeps His word. The more we understand this, the more scripture opens up and reveals the true nature of God. If I am made in his image, honesty should be the stuff of which my promises are made. Truth is the essence of life and faith in God’s word and is unshakeable. Hopefully, others can demonstrate their faith through their words. You can accomplish a lot with the right words at the right time. It’s all about that truth thing. It does set you free and it has the added value that as long as you speak the truth, you don’t have to remember it. A lie on the other hand, well… May God bless and keep you always.
The Texas Metro News Family wishes the best for you and yours in the new year!
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DFW-ABJ Annual Mixer honors media giants The Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists recently held its annual mixer sponsored by AT&T, American Airlines and the Don’t Believe the Hype Foundation. Many are unaware of the invaluable work of our members but you’re going to hear more from us in 2016 as we celebrate 35 years. We have the Urban Journalism Workshop that begins in January and we want all of your help as we train aspiring journalists. We have scholarship applications, along with membership applications for DFWABJ. We also will be doing a community access forum - How to get into the News without Committing Murder. There’s our Griot Awards that will be revamped and our 35th anniversary celebration. Check out our website www.dfwabj.com and our facebook pages for meeting dates and events. Our new calendar comes out in two weeks. At the event we collected clothing and money for Minnie’s Pantry. Dr. Cheryl “Action” Jackson continues to feed one mouth at a time. Those who haven’t written a story or reported on her, please help spread the word when someone like Dr. Jackson is doing such great things.
We honored some wonderful people presenting them with Honorary Lifetime Membership in DFW-ABJ: Demond Fernandez, a stellar reporter and active member is a mentor, who believes in our youth. One of his stories won a National Association of Black Journalists Salute to Excellence Award this summer. Mollie Belt couldn’t be with us because of the wake for her husband, Atty. James Belt Jr. Our prayers are with the Belt Family. A former Community Service Award winner for the National Association of Black Journalists, the Dallas Examiner has won numerous awards and this past summer the Dallas Examiner won two Salute to Excellence Awards. We also observed a moment of silence in honor of James Belt, Jr. John McCaa is a former president of the Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Communicators (now Journalists) and the Press Club of Dallas. He has been at WFAATV for over 25 years and he is a long-time member of the National Association of Black Journalists. This year he received his Ph.D in Philosophy from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Bob Ray Sanders is the dean of area journalists! Bob Ray recently retired as an editor and columnist with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He excelled in convergence, because before we knew anything about the word -- he was writing for newspapers, reporting and producing shows for television and hosting a radio talk show. He also taught at the collegiate level. Robert Mong is the editor emeritus of the Dallas Morning News and he had a brief retirement before assuming the helm as the president of the University of North TexasDallas. Bob is a friend to aspiring journalists and prior to his appointment at UNT, I was called asking my thoughts about him at UNT and I talked candidly about the commitment I saw from him, decades ago and right up to today. Bob cares about young people and he cares about the world we live in. We’re excited that he’s continuing to make a difference in the lives of others. Norma Adams-Wade is one of the 44 founders of NABJ. There are no words to adequately address all of the contributions that Norma has made to journalism, society and this world.
Her words have touched the lives of millions and although she could be retired and on an island, she continues to share her wealth of information with the world. In addition to life membership in DFWABJ, Norma we are flying her to NABJ’s National Convention this summer in Washington, DC, where she will join other NABJ founders. Guess what? DFW ABJ is about scholarships and one of our stellar Urban Journalism Workshop participants received a scholarship. Jershayla Johnson is a freshman at the University of Houston and she is a born leader. To close out the program Clarence Hill Jr., Dallas Cowboys beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a strong member of DFWABJ and NABJ, also serving on the Sports Task Force led a discussion with one of the greatest Florida A&M University Rattlers of all time, former Dallas Cowboy Nate Newton. It was a great event and we are making a nice contribution to Minnie’s We are also looking forward to a great year in 2016. Join us! Cheryl
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IN MEMORIAM Author, Psychiatrist Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, 80 Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, a psychiatrist whose ideas about racism and society sparked years of debate and controversy, died on Saturday, January 2nd, at age 80. Often described as Queen Mother of Black Consciousness, Dr. Welsing became famous for her work, “The Cress Theory of ColorConfrontation” in 1974 and later published the controversial The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors in 1991. Welsing was born March 18, 1935 to Dr. Henry Cress, a medical doctor, and Ida Griffen, a schoolteacher, in Chicago, Ill. She attended Antioch College and graduated with her bachelor’s in 1957. She earned her doctorate at Howard University in 1962. According to Blackamericaweb.com, Welsing joined Howard’s faculty as an assistant professor of pediatrics after working in the Washington, D.C. area as a psychiatrist. It was during this tenure when she published her essay, “The Cress Theory of ColorConfrontation and Racism (White Supremacy).” In that essay, Welsing put forth the idea that racism was a worldwide behavior – and that whites’ status as a global minority feeds a fear that leads to oppression and violence. In a 1974 TV appearance with William Shockley on Tony Brown’s Black Journal, Welsing said: “I think that… even though most white people are not consciously understanding their problem in genetics, they are certainly aware that they are genetically dominated by people of color – that’s why there’s the statement that one drop of black blood makes you black. Because people of color have the genetic capacity to annihilate white people.” According to Welsing’s account, Howard decided to not renew her position with the school after the publishing of the paper. She then began working with Department of Human Services and worked over two decades as a psychiatrist, mostly with children. She was acclaimed for her work. The Isis Papers expanded on several of Welsing’s ideas around whites feeling threatened by the scope and reach of Black people around the globe, even down to the size of genitalia. The seminal book also explored the Black family structure, AIDS and the crisis of Black male and female relationships. In The Isis Papers Welsing wrote: “The whole of white culture is designed to say that whites have [certain] qualities. Everything possible is done to demonstrate this. First, you have [only] white players, then blacks come in, but a white has to be the quarterback. Western culture has to project white supremacy. When blacks succeed athletically, whites are forced ‘up against the psychological wall’ because white youngsters are ‘brought up to believe a white has to be superior’.” Welsing specialized in child and general psychiatry and her books were the basis for measuring the damage of racism in America and the world. In calling for strong families and role models in the Black community, Welsing wrote, “Children are the only future of any people.”
Singer, Actress, Author Natalie Cole, 65 Singer Natalie Cole, the daughter of jazz legend Nat “King” Cole who carried on his musical legacy, has died. Multiple Grammy-winning recording artist Natalie Cole was just 8 years old when her father, legendary crooner Nat King Cole, recorded his first album in Spanish, scoring an unexpected international smash in 1958. Her father’s foreign-language success was a culturally captivating experience for little Natalie, who got to travel outside the country for the first time with her famous father. She vividly recalls a trip to Mexico during which she saw her first piñata, posed for pictures “as a señorita” in folkloric dress, and most memorably, witnessed first-hand the adulation and esteem that Latin American fans showed for the King, a pioneering African-American superstar. Natalie Cole rocketed to stardom in 1975 with her debut album, Inseparable, earning her a #1 single, “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” and her first two Grammy® awards for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. In 1977, Cole scored a No. 1 R&B hit with “I’ve Got Love on My Mind” from her third
release, Unpredictable, which became her first platinum album. Cole continued her winning streak that same year with her fourth album, Thankful, which also went platinum and featured another signature hit, “Our Love.” The singer expanded her success with her own TV special in 1977. It was the first of more than 300 major television appearances in her career, including dramatic roles on “Law and Order” and “Touched by an Angel” as well as guest spots on talk shows with Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and Larry King. In 1979, Cole was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. After overcoming personal challenges, Cole returned in peak form with 1987’s Everlasting, an album which garnered three hit singles: “Jump Start (My Heart),” the Top 10 ballad “I Live For Your Love,” and her dance-pop cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Pink Cadillac.” Cole marked a career milestone in 1991 with the release of Unforgettable… With Love, featuring the celebrated duet with her late father, Nat King Cole. The album spent five weeks at No. 1 on the pop charts, earned six Grammy® awards, and sold more than 14 million copies worldwide. In 1996, Cole released a follow-up album of American standards, Stardust, which featured another duet with her father on “When I Fall in Love.” The album went platinum and won another Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Subsequent albums, Snowfall on the Sahara (1999) and Ask a Woman Who Knows (2002), both merited the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Artist Cole took home her ninth career GRAMMY® award for 2008’s Still Unforgettable, which won for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. It also earned Natalie a NAACP Award for Best Jazz Artist.” In 2001, she starred as herself in “Livin’ for Love: the Natalie Cole Story,” based on her autobiography, Angel on My Shoulder, which detailed her harrowing drive to overcome drug addiction. She received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special. As an actress, Natalie starred in director Delbert Mann’s “Lily in Winter” and co-starred with Laurence Fishburne and Cicely Tyson in Walter Mosley’s “Always Outnumbered A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. , Cole released a second memoir in 2010 titled “Love Brought Me Back,” the heart-wrenching chronicle of her quest for a kidney transplant.
County Commissioner El Franco Lee, 66 El Franco Lee is a native Houstonian, reared in the Kashmere Gardens section in the City of Houston. Commissioner is a graduate of Phillis Wheatley Senior High School, earning a B.S. Degree from the School of Technology at Texas Southern University~Houston, and completing related courses at the University of Houston. Commissioner Lee began his political career in 1979 when he was elected Texas State Representative for District 142 where he served for five years. In 1985, Commissioner Lee was elected and sworn in as the first African American Harris County Commissioner, where he is currently serving his seventh term in office. Lee was a great advocate of partnerships. Through partnering with various entities, his precinct has benefited through the process of combining resources toward a common cause, thus resulting in the enhancement of quality services and an increase in the numbers served. Much of Precinct One is made up of the inner city, and over the years, Commissioner Lee has worked hard to improve the quality of life for the residents in underserved areas. His emphasis on the inner city has had a far-reaching impact and has been instrumental in providing services and opportunities for youth and young adults through various initiatives within the Harris County Precinct One Street Olympics Program. In 1986, Street Olympics began as a Summer Youth Program, but has since developed into a network of recreational, educational, and health programs that include the Harris County Aquatics Program (HCAP), the Northeast Adolescent Program (NEAP), Bright Futures,
and the Discovery Camp. Precinct One Street Olympics, Inc. now serves over 10,000 Harris County youth each year. Commissioner Lee has also helped the inner city through his participation in the SPARK Park Program, which upgrades inner-city school property for public park use. His participation in the SPARK initiative was the catalyst that led to the establishment of the Finnigan Park Project that, to date, has been most successful in completing comprehensive park upgrades involving total renovations and new construction of some 9 parks within the precinct. Although Lee has one of the most active Seniors Programs involving initiatives such as Health & Fitness, Arts & Crafts, Piano/Computer Tutorials, Gardening, Tours/ Transportation, Annual-Holiday Celebrations, and other special programming such as the Seniors Drama Group, and the Seniors Readings and “In Our Own Words” Writing Workshops, he has continued his passion and emphases on youth initiatives through the creation and expansion of the Northeast Adolescent Program (NEAP) that started in 1990. NEAP is the result of a partnership between Harris County Precinct One, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston ISD, Harris County Hospital District, March of Dimes, Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services, Aldine ISD and North Forest ISD, created as a pilot program to address the high rates of teen pregnancy and infant mortality in the inner city. Currently in its fourteenth year, NEAP now serves several thousand youth each year through the teen health clinics that are located within his precinct area. Not only has Commissioner Lee served the community well, he has also worked extensively on a number of substantive local, state and national committees and boards. Aside from his official county duties, Commissioner Lee has been active in a number of community outreach programs. He has worked with the Urban Outreach Program, and the Northeast and Metro branches of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). He has also helped to raise funds for a number of charitable organizations, including the American Diabetes and March of Dimes Associations, and the Live Oak Fund. Commissioner Lee and wife, Ethel Kaye have two children. “I’m shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee,” said Texas State Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston). “El Franco was a personal friend and mentor – someone I always turned to when considering big decisions in my life, so I’ll miss him greatly. “His legacy will be that of public service, as he was always a stalwart advocate for Harris County and Precinct One. He positively impacted the lives of countless residents each year, whether through the Street Olympics, public park upgrades, or senior programs. El Franco used the power of his office for the greater public good, and our community is better off thanks to his dedication and desire to serve.”
Songwriter, choreographer, singer Nicholas Caldwell, 71 Nicholas Caldwell was a founding member of the group, The Whispers. With a consistent track record of hit records dating back to the late 1960s, The Whispers were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003 and were winners of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation’s prestigious Pioneer Award in 2008. The group was inducted into The SoulMusic Hall Of Fame at SoulMusic.com December 2012. Nicholas was born April 6, 1944 in Loma Linda, California. He and Marcus Hutson created a group called “the Eden Trio.” Later, they were renamed “The Whispers” by Lou Bedell of Dore Records. The Whispers formed in 1964 in Watts, California. The original members included the twin brothers, Wallace “Scotty” and Walter Scott, along with Gordy Harmon, Marcus Hutson and Nicholas Caldwell. In 1973, Harmon was replaced by former Friends of Distinction member Leaveil Degree. Scotty Scott’s fluid, melodic voice is featured on virtually all of their hits. Known for his smooth moves on stage, Nicholas wrote the neoclassic song, “Lady.” It is still a favorite at concerts. The Whispers have Seven Gold Albums, Two Platinum Albums, 12 Top Twenty Singles, 40 Charted Hits Since 1970, American Music Award Nominees, Soul Train Award Nominees, Grammy Award Nominees 2003 Vocal Group Hall of Fame Inductees, 2005 Regional Grammy Governors Award, 2002 NAACP Image Award. Most of the group’s choreography is done by Nicholas, who is also The Whispers’ invaluable second tenor, Reared in Southern California, Nicholas got most of his basic vocal training from singing in glee clubs in high school. “Getting a chance to do the choreography for The Whispers is really a fantastic experience,” said Nicholas. “Every member of the group can really dance well, including acrobatic and tap dancing.”
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Metro Briefs, continued from page 3 Debris removal, Blue tarps for roofs, Sorting personal belongings Help with packing Chainsaw work Heavy equipment for debris (Skid Steer) If you need assistance with any of the above needs, please go to the Multi Agency Resource Center located at the Granger Recreation Center, 1310 W. Avenue F, Garland, TX 77040, to fill out a work request for free volunteer labor and to explore the many other resources that are available to you free of charge. You may also sign up for tornado clean up assistance by calling our Crisis Cleanup hotline at 1-800-451-1954 for free help from organizations. “I urge residents who are covered by insurance to work closely with their insurance provider. When interviewing a contractor, ask questions, ask for identification and ensure any contractor you hire is a
legitimate contractor in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. It’s also critically important that you safeguard your personal information,” said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.
january 6, 2016
Dana Swinney PR expands to service Dallas-Fort Worth Area
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Based on the east coast, Dana Swinney PR has been providing public relations services to businesses and individuals across the country for over 10 years. Recently, this growing PR boutique has started focusing its growth on servicing the needs of the DFW area. Entrepreneurship is on the rise in the area and Dana Swinney PR hopes to help local businesses with branding and PR outreach. As a new business many startups wonder if they need Public Relations. The short answer is yes. Your public image and portrayal in the media are crucial and have a direct relation to sales and a rise in client base.
Dana Swinney PR Top Ten Reasons You Need PR: 1. Visibility- For any business, it is crucial to get your name noticed just to stay in business. The idea is to create and maintain a positive image in the press that works for you. The most effective way to increase visibility is through media development. 2. Make Your Point- You need your voice to be heard. 3. Moving- If you are moving locations or trying to tap into a new market, one of the most seamless ways to do so and make potential customers aware of your presence is through the media. 4. Growth- If you want to grow your business, targeting specific media markets has the ability to expose your brand to an audience who may otherwise not be familiar with your products or services. 5. Spread Your Knowledge- Let people know what you offer. 6. Internal Growth- PR is an excellent way to attract potential employees and to highlight the current employees who shine. 7. Competition- Is social media all a buzz over your competition? A strong PR campaign can work in your favor to highlight your strengths over your competitors. 8.Community- Giving back always comes back. The more you support your community, the more they will support your company. 9. Reassurance- An effective PR campaign can not only draw new customers but also impress and reassure current customers that they are using the best. 10. Credibility- The editorial endorsement of PR is so powerful that a page of PR coverage is worth 3-5 times a page of advertising, and you don’t need to buy the space. Added to these cost benefits, advertising is not as powerful as PR. The reader knows when they are being advertised to, an article or interview lends to your credibility. Known affectionately to her clients as the “media whisperer” and “the closer”, Dana Swinney is a public relations consultant with the skills that make the media want to cover your story. Dana worked in the public relations and marketing field for over five years prior to starting a business as a full time freelance PR professional in 2006. Dana’s results-driven approach has resulted in a range of diverse placements for her impressive client list. Dana offers clients her ability to examine any potential news angle and find the right pitch for the right target, be it local, regional, national or international press. For more information on Dana Swinney and services she provides, visit www.Dana SwinneyPR.com or contact dana@DanaSwinneyPR.com. Mention this article for a free consultation.
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LIFESTYLE
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Reel-ality TV Talk By Marquesa LaDawn George Curry Media Columnist 5 of the10 Biggest Life Lessons in 2015 from the Real Housewives of Atlanta and New Jersey 1-Self-Awareness is Everything: Finding yourself in the same argument or situation multiple times with different people means you’ve issues you need to fix. Kenya Moore (Real Housewives of Atlanta) struggled with this issue since she became a Real Housewife. Over the past year, it grew worse. She consistently requests that people are removed from her space when she gets angry at them. Every time she gets in an argument, it’s someone else’s fault, she’s always the victim - at least in her mind. The interesting part of this is, the other housewives are noticing the consistent bad habits and are sick of it. Ironically, Kenya introduced Kim Fields on the show this season, and Kim’s not having it. In a tasteful way, she calls Kenya out on her stuff. I have a feeling that this season, Kenya will have to look in the mirror and change. 2-Personal Responsibility will happen one way or the other: Teresa Giudice (Real Housewives of New Jersey) is notorious for not owning her stuff. One of the original RHONJ, she found herself in some legal hot water that resulted in prison time for her and her husband. Has she truly changed? We will find out in time, but she’s not off to the greatest start. She left prison and arrived home to see a fancy Lexus SUV wrapped in a bow parked in front of her home. This became a big part of the news story about her return home (unavoidable) and now fans are outraged about what seems to be a lesson not learned. I have mixed feeling about this, I think if she needed a car, she’s free to choose what that is. At the same time, however, it’s not smart to rub your expensive things in front of the world so soon after being released from prison for financial mischief. I just pray for their children’s sake, the lesson is learned. 3-Be Real from the Beginning: If you are loud and proud, own it, especially in a relationship. Otherwise, you are setting it up for failure. Porsha Williams (Real Housewives of Atlanta) is a completely different person from who she was in her first season. Initially, I thought it was because her husband required her to be a certain type, but I now believe she had a fake persona from the beginning. The fake persona was a Stepford wife; her look was super conservative, everything was about her husband, she seemed to promote her grandfather’s charity in her spare
time, etc. The post-divorce Porsha is anything but conservative she’s loud, outrageous, eager to display her body parts and pretty vocal about everything. I have no problem with this type of persona, it defines a real housewife’s TV personality. I do have a problem with her trying to fool everyone from the beginning. She’s desperate for love and seems to think just being a pretty girl with a great body will get her there. All that does is attract the wrong men with the wrong intentions. Still, it’s extremely entertaining. 4- Success does not erase your past, which will keep showing up: NeNe Leakes (Real Housewives of Atlanta) is a bonafide celebrity. She’s done it all, including sitcoms, movies, Broadway, talk shows, clothes line, you name it. If we go back to how she became famous, it was from bad behavior; she was cold, rude and unforgiving when it came to defending her point of view. She’s had a record number of physical altercations and made a lot of not-so-great choices on past seasons. She also changed and became more mature as time passed. She walked away from arguments, she excluded herself from potential problem situations and she even tried therapy, though not always successful. I look forward to seeing the newest version of Nene Leakes. 5-Friendship is a delegate thing: When its put up against other big things like money and fame , it does not always win: Phaedra Parks (Real Housewives of Atlanta) is a natural friend and thrives on that connection. Phaedra had a tough 2015, she lost her husband to prison, her credibility is still questioned and she’s struggling with her new normal. Image and success was everything for her since she first debuted on the show. So much so, she lied about little things to keep that perception intact. Now, her ride-or-die chick is no longer a fan and she’s devastated. Kandi tried hard to not choose a side when it came to her husband and her best friend but it was unavoidable. Phaedra entered a business deal with Todd, Kandi’s husband, and she did not complete the business. In her mind, she thinks Kandi and Todd have more than enough money to settle their obligations. But Kandi has famously dealt with friends not paying for her services and is ultra sensitive about that and must look out for her husband the same way. In addition, Todd is an Apollo fan and that rubs Phaedra the wrong way. It’s a mess and Phaedra is acting out by talking about Kandi behind her back. Again, bad for them, but entertaining for us. Marquesa LaDawn is a professional businesswoman who escapes the pressures of living in New York City by retreating into the real world of reality TV. Follow her on twitter @realityshowgirl, Periscope and subscribe to her podcast at www.RealitytvGirl.com
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NEW FEATURE
DAYES: Ask Pam about healthcare Q A
- I’ve been on Medicaid for several months and drawing SSI from Social Security Administration (SSA). I’ll be turning age 62 next month, I was informed by SSA that my SSI would go away because I’ll start drawing a Social Security Retirement check. Since my retirement income will be significantly greater than the SSI I’ll no longer be eligible for Medicaid assistance. I’m concerned about keeping some medical assistance so my
question is will I get Medicare too when I turn 62 next month?
- That depends; people are eligible to enroll in Medicare prior to age 65 only if they’re on Social Security Disability and have met the 24-month waiting period, or have a special condition. Check with the Social Security Administration to see when you will be eligible for Medicare. If you find that you’re not eligible for Medicare yet, then you can always visit yourtexasbenefits.com or call 2-1-1, that’s if you live in Texas, to find what medical resources are available in your
area. Medicare Annual Open Enrollment period: October 15th thru December 7th. The Affordable Care Act - Federal Marketplace Exchange – 2016 Open Enrollment period: November 1st 2015 thru January 31st 2016. P A M E L A J. D A Y E S is a Licensed & Certified Health Insurance Agency serving North Texas area. She is passionate about learning and gaining knowledge in the area of HealthCare reform. She is devoted to passing on that knowledge in particularly to the Senior Market. Her expertise is in making Medicare clear and understandable. I look forward to answering your questions. Email questions to askpam@med-supps.com
My BFF’s man is bold! Ask Alma
Dear Alma, I’m a single mother supporting my three children with no help Alma Gill’s newsroom experience spans over 25 years, from my ex-husband. including various roles at USA Today, Newsday and the I am thankful to have a great Washington Post. Email questions to: alwaysaskalma@ yahoo.com. Follow her on Facebook at “Ask Alma” and job that I like very much. twitter @almaaskalma. I referred my BFF’s husband a hard place (her husband), not wanting to the company who has since become a regular employee and he is to disturb the friendship. very happy here as well. That’s kool, I understand. This incident Once you pass the 90 day probation, isn’t a reason for this friendship to be the employee who referred you is given shaken. If anything, he’s trying to take a referral bonus. My friend’s husband advantage of the relationship. Because recently approached me and said boldly he is your BFF’s husband, dismiss him. in my face that he expects me to split You owe him nothing! the money with him. Don’t allow him to manipulate and get Needless to say, I was shocked. My you all in a tizzy. Stand tall, shoulders BFF has a full time job and they know straight, pumps pointed forward, ready to deal with him directly. it’s just me caring for my kids. Say it once, you don’t even need to I’m not sure how to handle him and maintain our friendship. What should I do? E.S., Jackson, Miss.
Dear E.S., Double-check your forehead. Did you miss seeing “sucker” tattooed between your eyebrows when you washed the sleep from your eyes this morning? LOL. Now, double, double-check the conversations between the two of you, replaying them in your mind’s eye. Did you fist bump on an agreement in advance? You know how it goes when you’re fast talking, excited and all. For example, when discussing the vacancy, did you jokingly say, “If you get hired, I’ll split the bonus with you.” That’s the only reason I can see him expecting a few coins heading his way. In all honesty, I don’t get the feeling o.com, (214) 514-9553 or that’s what happened here. You didn’t mention it did, in your very detailed email. Seems to me, you feel like you’re caught between a rock (your BFF) and
practice. This should come off as sweet as pineapple pie. Repeat after me “I’m not splitting any money with you.” That’s it, don’t ever discuss it again. You don’t owe him a reason, excuse or justification for your response. Nope, nada, nothing. Let me remind you that in this economy, jobs are tough to come by. The best reference anyone can have is an employee, who’s a friend that already works for the company. His act of appreciation should be nothing more than, “Thank you for helping me get a job,” cause that my friend, is priceless. Alma
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