• Vol. 11 • Aug. 25 - 31, 2022
MY TRUTH By Cheryl Smith
WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM
Pages 7-10
T E X A S
MetroNews DELIVERING NEWS YOU NEED
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Power-packed WAG Hosts Benefit for Emergency funds can Conference Inspires Homeless Veterans be critical, especially for Blacks Women in Leadership
PUBLISHER
That Last Goodbye
Money Talk By Rodney A. Brooks
Thomas Muhammad had been ill and dealing with health issues for several years but I was not one for prematurely writing his obituary. And Thomas wasn’t either as he worked right up to his last days, dying peacefully in his sleep on Monday, August 15, 2022. He left an indelible mark in so many places and with so many people and I will remember him and his works; as well as through his writings, his words. Which brings me to my truth! Thomas was an organizer, an activist and a student who was always learning and sharing knowledge. He loved life and while he could be serious and focused, he loved to laugh. He was proud to be from Dallas, and he wanted folks to know that Dallas did have activists who would challenge the status quo and were fearless in advocating for causes and people they believed in. Several years ago, I reached out to Thomas Muhammad to begin writing a column addressing issues of importance to our readers. For the past decade, he has been a contributing writer for I Messenger Media's Texas Metro News, Garland Journal and I Messenger. Through his writings, Thomas found much joy, often laughing at his own "clever rants." In the future, we will share his last column.
For years Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been looked at as having a principal mission of educating Black Americans. As the State Fair Classic game approaches, two HBCUS – Prairie View A & M University and Grambling State University are showing that a rich Black family heritage of education is also enhanced by a deep connection to football. “As a child in Dallas, every year my parents took us to the State Fair Classic Game in the Cotton Bowl,” said Kimberley Runnels, who has served with both the National and Dallas Alumni Associations for Prairie View. “This started from the earliest time that I can remember attending a football game. “It was from the early 70s with Bishop College through the 80s with Grambling. This
See MY TRUTH, page 6
See FAMILIES CONTINUE , page 5
DeMetris Sampson, Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome and Helen Giddings Photo and Story
From Staff Reports
By Sylvia Dunnavant Hines Purpose, professional development, and the pursuit of entrepreneurship were all takeaways from the 5th Annual Women’s Leadership Summit hosted by Helen Giddings, businesswoman and former State Representative. “Basically, we just wanted women to come together,” said Giddings, adding that it is easy to
With Dallas the home of the largest homeless population of veterans in the country, more and more advocates are stepping up to ensure that those who served this Country at the very least have a place to rest at night. Warriors Advocate Group (WAG), through the Building Homes for Heroes program, is hosting
See WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP, page 5
See HOMELESS WARRIORS, page 14
Families Continue Rich HBCU Heritage Beyond Football Classic For some the State Fair Classic is a family tradition spanning several generations By Sylvia Dunnavant Hines
The Runnels family makes supporting Prairie View at football games a family affair. (left to right) Tony Runnels, Erin Runnels, Kimberley Runnels,Tony Runnels Jr. and Felecia Runnels.
Hattie Wayne , Cathy Conwrigh and Shelia Williams in (high chair). The Wayne family has been recognized locally and nationally for being published in the Guinness Book of World Records. This photo was taken after a taping of a segment for WFAA TV Channel 8 -Dallas.
No matter how old you are, or which life stage you are in, you need an emergency fund. And you need it even before you start saving for your future. So, what exactly is an emergency fund and why is it so critical? Consider it to be the buffer that keeps you going when stuff happens without having to resort to high-interest credit cards, payday lenders and friends. To be clear, I’m not talking about the three to six months of living expenses that financial advisors say you need in case you lose your job. In real life stuff happens. An emergency fund for most of us is cash you would need in a real emergency – your car breaks down; your HVAC stops operating during a heatwave, or you need a new hot water heater. The truth is that less than half of Americans would have enough savings to cover a $1,000 emergency expense. Bankrate, a consumer finance company, asked in a survey “How would you pay for a $1,000 unexpected expense. • Only 44 percent would be able to pay from savings • 20 percent would pay using a credit card • 15 percent would pay it but cut spending in other areas • 10 percent would borrow it from friends • 4 percent would take out a personal loan According to the Pew Research Center, fewer than half of Black Americans said they See EMERGENCY FUNDS, page 6