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City releases results of first equity indicator study uity indicator study conducted in collaboration between the city and Rice University’s Kinder Institute. The study, the city said, uses “equity scores” to identify socioeconomic inequalities exacerbated by biases based on race, ethnicity, gender, and ZIP codes. The study attempted to measure equity across 63 indicators for the city of Houston, according to the report, to measure whether opportunities are equal-
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
The city of Houston recently released the results of an inaugural study regarding equity in terms of access to services and opportunity in the city, and city officials say that while results indicate it exists in some aspects of city life, there remains work to be done in other areas. On Tuesday, the city announced results of its first eq-
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When searching for an Eagle Scout project to undertake earlier this year, Heights High School student Deuce Worthy learned that the Houston Humane Society relies heavily on community donations and support in its mission for animal welfare. The mission immediately tugged at his heartstrings, so he sprang into action. Earlier this year, the high school sophomore hosted a pet supply donation drive for the organization as his Eagle Scout project for the Boy Scouts of America – one that netted hundreds of pounds of pet food to supply to the Humane Society’s benefactors – as the final step to earning the highest rank the Boy Scouts offer. He was honored at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church this past Saturday. “I worked hard for this, and being an Eagle Scout is confirmation for me that I can do anything I set my will and desire to do,” Worthy said Tuesday. In order to obtain Eagle Scout status, Boy Scouts must earn at least 21 merit badges. Of those 21 badges, 14 must come from a list of Eagle-required merit badges for things like citizenship to the community, first aid, communication, camping, personal fitness, and more. Meanwhile, the rest can be any badges not used for those 14. It’s a rank that Worthy has worked for years to obtain. He first joined the Boy Scouts as a Tiger Cub in 2014 following an encounter with a member of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in the church’s fellowship hall. They told him about camping and getting patches, he said, and he was hooked after the first camping trip. Eventually, Worthy would go on to earn the Charles E. Townes Supernova STEM Medal and the Arrow of
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Committed Look inside today to see where a local football star has pledged to continue his football career in college.
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Take a tour If you’ve ever wanted to take a look around the Arts District, your chance is this weekend.
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See Worthy P. 10
See Equity P. 10
Police searching for suspect accused of indecency with child
Eagle Scout project nets 700 pounds of food for area pets
PHYLLIS A. OESER
ly available to all Houstonians. Houston’s “Equity Indicators tool” was comprised seven of seven themes for the study, according to the report: • Access and Inclusion • Economic Opportunity • Environmental and Climate Risks • Health • Housing • Infrastructure
Contributed photos Heights High School student Deuce Worthy recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout with a donation drive for the Houston Humane Society, and was honored last weekend.
Houston authorities are looking for the whereabouts of a man accused of indecent sexual contact with a child in Independence Heights, according to a news release from Houston Crime Stoppers. There is a warrant out for the arrest of Miguel Angel Garcia, 31, who is accused of indecency with a child according to Harris Miguel Angel Garcia County court records. He remained on the run as of Saturday morning, according to Crime Stoppers. According to Crime Stoppers, police detectives received an outcry accusing Garcia of alleged indecency with a child in the 4500 block of Lelay Circle in Independence Heights. During the investigation, the release from Crime Stoppers said Garcia allegedly “performed inappropriate sexual contact with the child.” Crime Stoppers said Garcia is a Hispanic man standing 5-foot7, and weighs about 180 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair, according to Crime Stoppers. Information about Garcia or his potential whereabouts can be reported by calling Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477. Community members can also submit tips online at www.crime-stoppers. org or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app.
Area students travel to Zimbabwe for service project Staff Reports
Can’t miss it See what food reviewer Dan Greer had to say about Puebla’s Mexican Kitchen.
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For the first time in school history last month, a group of engineering students from Booker T. Washington High School’s Leadership Academy traveled to Zimbabwe for a global leadership exchange program to help improve the country’s infrastructure. In total, 17 students and eight staff members from the school made the trip to Zimbabwe for a 10-day trip to take part in a collaborative
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project between Booker T. Washington students and Rydings College in Zimbabwe. The project, according to the district, involved using a 3-D printer to create a water filtration device that would make water safer to drink, among other improvements to help improve the college’s infrastructure. The college did not previously have unmitigated access to electricity or clean water, according to a news release from the district. The
school had to raise more than $50,000 in order to send its students and staff on the trip, according to the district. “We wanted to discover new ways to en-
hance available resources through alternative energy and water purification.” class of 2023 valedictorian Rebecca Stansell said in the release. “We used our water filtration device, which is 3D printed with multiple components, to filter out water and solar panels to provide a source of alternative energy that could be relied upon.” Back in 2017, the district said Booker T. Washington hosted about 50 exchange students from Zimbabwe for a learning
project, and had planned a return trip for later that same year. However, factors such as Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 pandemic in subsequent years – among other factors – delayed the trip until recently according to HISD. During all that time, however, Principal Carlos Phillips said in the release that the school maintained communication and relationships with Zimbabwe and with See Zimbabwe P. 10
Allegiance Bank and CommunityBank of Texas have come together as Stellar Bank. While our name has changed, our commitment to serving our customers and supporting our local communities will stay the same. We look forward to a bright future together.
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