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My Truth By Cheryl Smith Publisher

Let’s ACT responsibly! If I was thinking about going back to college, I would want to choose an institution like the one where Dr. Elayne Anthony is the Acting President. You see, I need and have grown to expect to have a pres-

Dr. Elayne Anthony Acting JSU President Photo: JSU

ident who is not only smart, visionary, great at raising funds, and able to navigate through the bureaucratic posturing of legislators, and alumni; but also proficient at displaying tough and unconditional love See MY TRUTH, Page 7

THURSDAY MAY 4, 2023 VOLUME X

Remembering How a man is working to preserve neighborhood named Harry Belafonte after his grandparents By Dianne Solis

The Dallas Morning News

Reginald Hurd looks to the white arches of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge over the Trinity River as he stands in a West Dallas minipark named for his grandmother Helen C. Emory. Squinting into the sunlight, Hurd pointed to the bridge and said, “That’s why this all started.” Nearby, a bulldozer cleared ground for new homes not far from a Osage orange tree, a stately hardwood where Hurd once crashed his bicycle as a boy. His grandparents lived down the street, he said, pointing to an area of old one-story houses and new two-story townhouses. Hurd, 61, wants to stabilize the neighborhood of his grandparents. Cecil and Helen Emory ran a grocery store, an essential business for what was then a mostly Black community. The efforts of Hurd and community advocates like Lottie McKnight-Calhoun and Paula Hutchison to preserve the old neighborhood illuminate the obstacles. Hurd tried to preserve the land where an old segregated school

Harry Belafonte

A Personal Tribute By Curtis King An old Lincoln sits parked on Obenchain St., Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022 in Dallas. Gentrification is seen as new homes are built in the Gilbert-Emory neighborhood. Photo: Rebecca Slezak / Staff Photographer

stood, but he was told it was too late. He owned three houses but had to tear down one that was beyond repair. He maintains the other two as potential rentals in the neighborhood, though they are now empty. He refuses to sell to developers who might build pricey townhouses, though he knows he could probably make more money by selling. Today, the neighborhood, Gilbert-Emory, carries the surname of his grandparents. Once it was simply called the Frederick Douglass community, after the segregated school that stood in the

center of the neighborhood. Hurd wanted to develop an expansive park at the former school site. But when he tried, he learned the land was about to be sold to a private developer. “It was a wonderful idea,” said Hurd’s 83-year-old mother, Helen M. Hurd, daughter of the grocers, one February afternoon. She sighed sadly at her son’s attempt to preserve Black history. She grew up not far from the school, on Muncie Avenue. She moved to southern Dallas in the See HOW A MAN IS WORKING, Page 5

Superb Women Our Superb Women! By Cheryl Smith Texas Metro News

2021 was the “Year of the Woman,” especially the Black Woman! For 10 months, we dedicated this space to uplifting Black women and spreading a message that we need to show love and empower people with love instead of destroying them with hate and disrespect. We celebrate Black Women and call them SUPERB! AND WE ARE KEEPING THE CELEBRATION GOING FOREVER! We love you Black Queens!

MICHELLE LONDON-BELL Michelle London-Bell, an entrepreneur, adjunct professor at Houston Community College and published writer, is a content, marketing and visual communications expert. She received her MBA from University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Houston. A member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and the National Black MBA Association, she is the owner/ founder & creative director at Urban Media Group of Texas. A consummate professional who is highly respected, Michelle has enjoyed stints as a content strategist and marketing manager for Aquent; reporter for the Dallas Examiner and Dallas South News; campaign associate for United Way of Metropolitan Dallas; medical representative for Merck; marketing associate for Houston Symphony and Analyst at AIG. DR. JACQUELINE MCDOWELL-WALTON Dr. Jacqueline McDowell-Walton has had an impressive career as a Principal/ Assistant Principal/ Director of Curriculum/ Special Education Coordinator/Academic & Testing Coordinator/Teacher. She has enjoyed stints as special education coordinator at Harmony School of Innovation, principal at Focus Academy. Dr. McDowellWalton received a BA in Multi-Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas Woman’s University, a Master of Education from Texas Christian University and Doctor of Education from Nova Southeastern University. Her focus is on helping children and other educators thrive.

KIM ASKEW A life member of the American Law Institute, Kim Askew is a graduate of Knoxville College with a degree in Business, and Georgetown University Law Center. She is a partner at DLA Piper, where she represents clients in complex commercial and employment litigation. A longtime leader in the American Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, and Dallas Bar Association, she is a member of the ABA House of Delegates and Past Chair of the Section of Litigation of the American Bar Association. She has also previously served on the Board of Directors of ALI-ABA. Kim has received numerous honors and she has been a mentor to so many others. Kim hails from Savannah, GA and is the epitome of grace, intelligence and professionalism. TRACEY H. NEW Tracey H. New is a storyteller, Emmy-nominated Journalist, food writer, content curator, multicultural DEI/Outreach Advocate, experienced Brand Ambassador, PR Executive, and entertainment publicist. A UNT Grad, she’s also a diehard Golden State Warriors fan. A member of the National Association of Black Journalists, Tracey has enjoyed stints as a contributing writer for the Dallas Morning News, Chief Creative Officer for Tracey New INK, social media manager for Hawks Select Basketball Club, adjunct professor at Mayborn School of Journalism, community services director for WFAA-TV/Dallas Morning News, senior entertainment editor for Eclipse Magazine, rea development director for UNCF, publicist for Death Row Records, exec. asst./publicist for MCA Records and Manager of marketing and public relations for Dallas Park and Rec Dept. Add a beautiful and engaging personality, Tracey is the total package! SHERRYE ELLISON WILLIS Sherrye Ellison Willis is the founder, president and CEO of Alliance for Greater Works. She also served as executive director of Esping Family Foundation where she directed over $10 million in assets and provided over $500K in annual grants to organizations that address social and education initiatives targeted to low-income communities. With more than 30 years’ experience in everything from leadership, business

planning, fundraising and nonprofit management, Sherry is an expert, the go-to person. Sherrye received her BBA degree from Northwood University, an executive MBA from Grand Canyon University and is now a Doctoral Student, PhD - Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies at Biola University. ALIAH M. HENRY Aliah Henry is the CEO of The Henry Group, a consulting firm specializing in Strategy, Fund Development and Communications for nonprofits and small businesses. An active community leader, serving on the board of Vogel Alcove and the executive committee for The Village Giving Circle; Aliah is the author of 31 Days to Live Your Best Life and she’s the executive producer and host of the podcast, The Aliah Henry Show. Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in the midwest, she graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School where she was a student-athlete in track and cheerleading. Aliah received a BA in Sociology from Morris College. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and received an MBA from Texas Christian University, Neeley School of Business. SUZIE HILL Suzie Hill is a freelance call center operations manager, after spending more than 31 years at AT&T in communications and as manager; utilizing her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management. Suzie is an experienced Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the telecommunications and security alarm industry. Skilled in Negotiation, Account Management, Internet Protocol (IP), Strategic Planning, and Wireless Technologies. She is a strong professional with collaborative leadership and management skills. Her colleagues describe her as pleasant, professional, and exemplary. Known as someone who promotes teamwork and gets the job done, her work and character is described as “exceptional” making her an asset in any environment. COMFORT D. BROWN Comfort D. Brown has enjoyed stints as a strategic program development professional and as a senior program manager for Alliance for Great Works, where she currently oversees the strategic implementation of Alliance’s Resilient Church Collective program initiative. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Comfort is a servant

Great human beings who understand their journey, from the time of their birth on the planet, waste no time in their sojourn. When their eyes open to the light of the world, they seem to know, instantly, what work God has for them! They become servants and angels, of sort, spiritual representatives guided by an ethereal vessel, the human spirit. They are born with the vision and clarity of a world that doesn’t seem to be too foreign to them because they waste no time getting busy to do the work. They are not afraid to be challenged because they also challenge. They are not afraid to lead See HARRY BELAFONTE, Page 4

April 2023 leader. She has served as executive director of the community center at St. Anthony School & Community Center in Dallas and a community specialist for World Vision providing disaster relief throughout the state of Texas. She is passionate about the communities she serves and has extensive knowledge and expertise in areas of nonprofit leadership and management, cross-sector collaborative building, training and facilitation, resident community engagement/outreach. TERRY WILSON GRAY Terry Wilson Gray serves as the Executive Director of the Bridge Breast Network (BBN) and has held this position for the past 18 years. Under her leadership, BBN has seen substantial growth in the number of individuals served. Terry has over 40 years of experience working with underserved population groups in both California and Texas. She is a 35-year cancer survivor and knows personally the journey of a cancer survivor. Terry has a Bachelor of Science degree in health science from San Jose State University and a master’s in public administration from California State University, East Bay. Terry also served as a Deaconess at Concord Baptist Church. THE HONORABLE JACQUIN HEADEN Jacquin Headen sits on the Grand Prairie City Council. She is a Co-Pastor of New Bethel Agape Church, a small business owner, and a community servant. Her service has included being a board member on Grand Prairie’s Library Board and Westchester Public Improvement District. An educator and certified mediator; she’s also creative – an artist and owner of a decorating business and lifestyle blog - Interiors by Jacquin. She received her BA Degree in English from Davidson College, attended the School for International Training, and received her law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. PASTOR TONYA MCCLARY Tonya McClary is the 1st Police Monitor for the City of Dallas, TX and Director of the Office of Community Police Oversight. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, she is a servant leader, she is an experienced monitor with a See SUPERB WOMEN page 8