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Volume 85 | Number 15 FEBRUARY 11, 2016 | FREE
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ENTERTAINMENT
’s l e tn in ecia e Sp l a V ay D
SHAWN HAMILTON portrays Dr. King onstage
P6 OPINION REV. JESSE JACKSON addresses Flint water crisis
P3 SPORTS
BLACK HISTORY LOVE STORIES H PAGE 8
TONY DUNGY to enter Hall of Fame
P14 TOP EVENTS
Angela Davis speaks out
Angela Davis, who achieved national prominence in the 1960s as an outspoken activist, is still speaking her mind. Hear what she has to say about America’s criminal justice system. Learn her thoughts on racism. H PAGE4
Nathelyne Kennedy earns honor Texas engineering pioneer Nathelyne Kennedy has received another honor for her contributions to the industry. See why she is considered a trailblazer. Discover how she made a difference in the lives of others. H PAGE 5
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DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 11 | 2016
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Ellis wants Waller County reforms attorney you can afford,” Ellis In response to Sandra said. “That’s why reforms to the Bland’s death last July while indigent defense system are so in custody at the Waller crucial.” County Jail, Houston State He urged Waller County to Sen. Rodney Ellis is urging focus on three key reforms: reforms in the county’s indi1. Reducing unnecessary gent defense system. pre-trial incarceration. More “In light of the continthan 60 percent of people in ued litigation and community Texas jails, and more than 75 unrest involving the untimely State Sen. Rodney Ellis percent of the people housed in death of Sandra Bland, I Waller County Jail, are there because they am encouraged Waller County is taking do not have enough money to get out. the initiative to examine their indigent 2. Providing counsel early. Respectdefense system,” said Ellis, who appeared before the county’s Commissioners Court. ing these rights is especially critical for “Many of the students at Prairie people who are distressed or may be sufView A&M University come from my fering from mental illness. Senate district, and I want to ensure that 3. Pursuing a more coordinated my constituents, rich or poor, have equal approach to indigent defense through access to justice regardless of whether a public defender office. Most Texas they’re at school or back home in Houscounties, including Waller County, utilize ton. a court-appointed counsel system where “The unfortunate reality is that the a judge chooses your lawyer if you’re quality of justice one receives is too poor and decides whether an attorney gets often contingent on your wealth and the resources to investigate a case.
Congressman Al Green delivers a U.S. flag to a veteran.
Green salutes Houston veterans Houston Congressman Al Green distributed flags flown above the Capitol to approximately 400 veterans at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The flag distribution was in recognition of National Salute to Veteran Patients Week. Green has distributed thousands of flags flown to veterans at the hospital since 2008. “Every year I am honored and
humbled to look these veterans in the eye and say ‘Thank you’ as I hand them a flag flown over the Capitol,” Green said. “We must all show our appreciation for the men and women who have made it possible for us to live in the greatest country in the world. They were there for us and now we must be there for them.” Green added that he will continue to support and author legislation which benefits veterans.
HISD seeks community input online for new supt. HISD will begin gathering community feedback on the candidate profile for the next superintendent, and could have a replacement named as early as May. The school board recently reviewed a tentative timeline for the search process during their first meeting with Ray and Associates, the firm hired to find a replacement for outgoing Superintendent Terry Grier. Ray and Associates will help trustees conduct surveys and host a series of community meetings held
over the course of several days to gather input from various district stakeholders, including parents and students, school-based staff, district employees, and business and community members. HISD is currently conducting an online survey and will use the community’s input to develop a superintendent candidate profile. The board will then use feedback to finalize its superintendent profile and begin searching for
candidates, a process that could begin as early as March. According to the rough timeline, applications would be due in early April, with first-round interviews conducted later that month. Second-round interviews could be conducted in early May. Grier plans to step down on Feb. 29. For more information or to provide feedback visit www.houstonisd.org/supesearch.
localbriefs TWO HOUSTON RAPPERS were recently shot by unknown assailants. Denzel Redman, who raps under the name Bugatti, was shot in the bathroom of a local gentlemen’s club. He was admitted to the hospital in serious but stable condition. Erron Shamlin, a former college basketball player, was shot to death near his home in Humble. Shamlin, who played basketball at Humble High School, later played at Morehouse College. He rapped under the names of ShamBino and SHAM713……..THE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING Harris County Deputy Darren Goforth last August has been declared incompetent to stand trial. Shannon Miles, who has
a history of mental illness, shot Goforth 15 times while the deputy pumped gas. Miles was examined by two forensic psychologists who concluded that he was not able to stand trial. Miles was ordered sent to a state hospital for 120 days of treatment with hopes that he can return for trial. Miles will wait in the Harris County Jail for an opening at a hospital…….. AUSTIN STATE REP. Dawnna Dukes is being investigated by the State Auditor’s Office to determine if she misused her staff. Two former legislative staffers said they performed personal errands for Dukes, including taking her dogs to the veterinarian, babysitting her daughter and working at a nonprofit
event she sponsors. Dukes, a member of the Texas House since 1994, said one staffer who made such allegations “blatantly misrepresented facts/issues in an attempt to create issue where there was none” and was disgruntled……..THE CITY OF HOUSTON Department of Neighborhoods and the Neighborhood Centers Inc. Free Tax Preparation Program announced the availability of sign language interpreting services for people with hearing disabilities who need help with the preparation of tax returns. Appointments will be scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays through March 19. For more information call 832-394-0670 or visit www.freetaxcenters.org.
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This month, X1 from XFINITY® brings you iconic Black lms and the lmmakers that make them. Join us as we relive, rediscover and realize the power of storytelling. See the often controversial, but always poignant look at social injustice in the Black community from Spike Lee, one of the “Greatest Of All Time,” award-winning directors. Or discover who’s next – with a collection of independent lms curated by the American Black Film Festival. These movies, and more, are available anytime, anywhere, on any screen with XFINITY On Demand.™
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DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 11 | 2016
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U.S.briefs
Activist Angela Davis promotes judicial reform
A
Special to the Afro
ngela Davis, the noted activist and scholar, took the stage at Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins University recently to deliver a lecture that touched on the war on drugs, race, gender and the prison population. Davis, who currently teaches humanities at the University of California, Santa Cruz, became nationally known in the late 1960s for her involvement in the Black Panthers and the all-Black branch of the Communist Party. The second Davis walked on the stage in Baltimore a roar of applause filled the room and she was met with a standing ovation. Davis opened with speaking about the city’s influence on justice. “Of course throughout the world today, the mere mention of the city of Baltimore evokes the police killing of Freddie Gray and the protests that were unleashed by his death,” Davis said. “As well as the continuing efforts to achieve justice for Freddie Gray and to persuade the world that Black lives do indeed matter.” The main question she wanted to address was “how can individuals be held accountable without concealing the deep structural racism that is embedded in the very systems of policing and imprisonment?” “There’s now a popular public discourse on the continuing connection between over- incarceration and policing on the one hand and the persistence of racism on the other,” she said. “Racism continues to play a determining role in who gets stopped by police and who doesn’t; who gets arrested and who goes free; who gets longer sentences, who gets shorter sentences,” she said.
Angela Davis
Davis took time to answer questions from the audience. On Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan taking money from higher education institutions to rebuild a prison in Baltimore Davis said: “The millions of dollars that are being spent on the jail here in Baltimore could be better used by re-envisioning education. How much would it take to rebuild a school? And not just a new school but a new school with teachers that are not schooled in the notion that discipline is the main activity that teachers should engage in.”
Maryland legislature restores voting rights Maryland’s General Assembly cleared the way for 40,000 of the state’s residents to regain their right to vote. After Gov. Larry Hogan vetoed legislation restoring voting rights to more than 40,000 residents with prior felony convictions in 2015, the Maryland House of Delegates and Senate overrode the veto with definitive majorities. The law will now automatically reinstate the right to vote for individuals released after incarceration, allowing persons on probation and parole to vote. The reversal dealt a political blow to the Republican governor, who lobbied to prevent the bill from becoming law, and set the stage for former inmates to
cast ballots in Baltimore’s primary election for mayor and City Council this spring. Hogan characterized the override as a consequence of “partisan” politics and an exercise of Democrats’ power. Advancement Project, a national civil rights and racial justice organization, commended the legislature for taking action. “No one should be deprived of their fundamental right to vote,” said Advancement Project co-director Penda D. Hair. “This is a momentous day for the 40,000 Marylanders who are set to regain their voice in our political process, and for all who believe in the values of inclusive democracy.”
THE NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION, the nation’s largest organization of lawyers of color, is seeking justice in the Flint, Mich. water crisis. The NBA has called for an independent investigation by the Department of Justice into the crisis, the criminal and civil prosecution of Gov. Rick Snyder and any other public official who was responsible for making the decision to supply Flint with a contaminated water supply, and a comprehensive plan for health care and other civil remedies for all residents affected. “I am deeply appalled at the lack of accountability and insensitivity of the governor and other elected officials in Michigan,” said NBA President Benjamin Crump……... FORMER NAACP PRESIDENT Benjamin Todd Jealous announced his endorsement of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in his quest for the Democratic nomination for president. At one time, candidate Hillary Clinton was thought to be a shoe-in for the nomination, but, after her razor-thin win in Iowa, there is rising belief that Sanders could actually become the nominee. Jealous applauded Sanders’ 100 percent NAACP legislative report card record. Though Clinton also received straight A’s on the NAACP report card, Jealous criticized her “yes” vote on the war in Iraq and relationship with the banking industry.……..THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE held its Black Republican Trailblazer Awards Luncheon to recognize its leaders, activists and rising stars. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus presented the 2016 Trailblazer Award to Alphonso Jackson, former secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2004-2008……...THREE AFRICAN-AMERICANS are among the top 10 most influential scholars in the United States, according to a recent ranking by Education Week. They are: Linda Darling-Hammond, founder and faculty director of the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education at Stanford University; Gloria Ladson-Billings, chair of the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Claude Steele, executive vice chancellor and provost at
VOLUME 85 • NUMBER 15 FEBRUARY 11, 2016
Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Advertising/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Social|Online Editor LaGloria Wheatfall Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila
Print Editor Marilyn Marshall Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison Contributing writers Jasemine Knowles Amber Vernon
The Defender is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. (713-663-6996). The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
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Nathelyne Kennedy named Engineer of the Year Nathelyne Archie Kennedy, P.E., beginning her career in Chicago, she has been chosen as Houston Engineer returned to Houston and in 1979 became of the Year by the Houston Engineers the first African-American woman to Week Committee, which promotes attain a professional engineering license the engineering profession as a social in the State of Texas. and economic influence. As her firm completed bridge design Kennedy founded Nathelyne A. on the majority of Houston’s freeways, Kennedy & Associates in 1981. The she nurtured young talent into the next company provides civil engineering generation of engineering professionals. and program management services for Kennedy’s clients have included highway, mass transit, street, bridge, the City of Houston, Harris County aviation, port, water and wastewater, Toll Road Authority, Texas Department Nathelyne Archie Kennedy educational campus and sports of Transportation and Metro. Her complex projects. projects have included street reconstruction, tollway Kennedy, a Conroe native, was Prairie View A&M widening, light rail program management and airport University’s first female engineering graduate. After terminal expansion.
Throughout her career, Kennedy has mentored women, minorities and students. She also endowed a scholarship for architecture and engineering students at PVAMU. In 2006, PVAMU named the Nathelyne Archie Kennedy Building, housing the School of Architecture and Art, in her honor. In addition, Houston Chapter of WTS International (an organization of women in transportation) celebrated the 35th anniversary of Kennedy attaining her professional engineering license by conferring on her in 2014 their inaugural Trailblazer Award. Kennedy has served on the Texas Turnpike Authority Board of Directors and on advisory committees for Texas Southern University, the University of Houston Downtown and PVAMU.
PVAMU librarian receives award Elizabeth Brumfield, distance services librarian at Prairie View A&M University, has been named the 2016 recipient of the Routledge Distance Learning Librarianship Conference Sponsorship Award. The annual award, sponsored by Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group, and administrated by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Distance Learning Section, honors an ACRL member working in the field of, or contributing to, the success of distance learning librari-
anship or related library service in higher education. Brumfield will receive the award at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Orlando. Brumfield received a B.A. in Communication and master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh. ACRL is the higher education association for librarians and represents more than 11,000 academic and research librarians and interested individuals.
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DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 11 | 2016
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Shawn Hamilton
Houstonian plays MLK onstage
A
By JASEMINE KNOWLES Defender
ctor Shawn Hamilton is honored to “be in the shoes” of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hamilton portrays King in the play “All the Way,” which runs through Feb. 21 at the Alley Theatre. Hamilton grew up in Kashmere Gardens with his mother, who worked as an educator for HISD, and his father, who was a driver for an oil company. Hamilton attended Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Lanier Junior High and the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where he graduated in 1982. He enrolled in the University of North Texas, where he originally planned to become a musician. Shortly after taking a few classes in theater, he chose a new career. Hamilton has performed in more than 20 productions at the famed Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, with his most recent play being at the Alley in “A Christmas Carol.” “All the Way” centers around 1964, a pivotal year in American history when the 36th president of the United States, Lyndon Baines Johnson, and Dr. King joined together to pass the landmark civil rights bill that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender or national origin. Here, Hamilton talks about his role and what makes the play different from other stories told about MLK. Defender: How did you start acting? Hamilton: I went to UNT as a music major and I came out playing the sax. During my time I started doing a little bit of theater and I enjoyed it. I eventually auditioned for Yale School of Drama in New Haven, Connecticut. I got in. I never thought I would be able to have this chance again so I just went for it. Defender: Why did you want to be involved in the production of “All the Way?”
Hamilton portray s Dr. Martin Luth President Lynd on B. Johnson in er King Jr. and Brandon Potter is the Alley Theatre ’s “All the Way.” amilton
Hamilton: I’ve played King a few times before and he is such a fascinating man. Playing the role of King was important to me because he is one of the reasons why we have real change today in this country. I was born in 1964 and during this time period of the mid-20th century – in which “All the Way” is set – it was the completion of freedom and for me growing up. Defender: How is this production bringing something new to this story? Hamilton: We have forgotten intricate details in our own history. Not many people know of King’s other speeches besides the “I Have a Dream” one. There is really so much more to King. He had a very complex philosophy and many people don’t Shawn H
know the real him. Most people who come to the show and leave surprised with the new information they get. Defender: How do you connect to the character? Hamilton: King was brilliant tactically and strong physically. Personally, to find someone who is courageous and a visionary such as King, and who is willing to take on such a huge role with his life being in constant danger, I find that very self-less, and that’s not always what I am. So for me, it’s about allowing myself to live and experience what it’s like to be in his shoes. Defender: What is your ultimate goal as an actor? Hamilton: To keep working and not starve. I also want to take on more projects that inspire me as I explore my art.
what’sup BEYONCÉ stole the show and the headlines with her halftime performance at Super Bowl 50. She was flanked by dancers who sported afros and black berets, reportedly in reference to the Black Panther Party. Beyoncé performed her new song “Formation,” which recently debuted with a music video. The video is set in New Orleans and features a wall that reads “Stop Shooting Us.” She also appears on top of a police cruiser sinking in water. In addition, there’s a cameo featuring BLUE IVY, the daughter of Beyoncé and JAY Z. The lyrics to “Formation” include the lines, “My daddy Alabama, momma Louisiana. You mix that Negro with that Creole make a Texas
‘Bama.” Beyoncé performed at the Super Bowl with CHRIS MARTIN, his group COLD PLAY and BRUNO MARS……..Actor MICHAEL B. JORDAN was a big winner at the NAACP Image Awards. He won Entertainer of the Year and Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his role in “Creed.” The film “Straight Outta Compton,” which tells the story of the rap group N.W.A., picked up the Outstanding Motion Picture prize. SANAA LATHAN won Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her performance in “The Perfect Guy.” O’SHEA JACKSON JR., the son of ICE CUBE, won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for “Straight Outta
Compton.” PHYLICIA RASHAD won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in “Creed.” Another big winner was the ABC sitcom “black-ish.” It won Outstanding Comedy Series, and Image Awards host ANTHONY ANDERSON won Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series. His co-star TRACEE ELLIS ROSS won Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, and 11-year-old Texas actress MARSAI MARTIN, who plays their daughter, won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. “Empire” was another winner, with TARAJI P. HENSON and TERRENCE HOWARD taking home awards.
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Earth, Wind & Fire fans are mourning the death of the group’s founder, Maurice White, who died Feb. 3 at age 74. He suffered from Parkinson’s Disease. “My brother, hero and best friend Maurice White passed away peacefully last night in his sleep,” said band member Verdine White. “While the world has lost another great musician and legend, our family asks that our privacy is respected as we start what will be a very difficult and life changing transition in our lives. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes.” Earth, Wind & Fire has sold more than 90 million albums and recorded such hits as “September,” “Let’s Groove,” “Shining Star” and “Reasons.” “Michelle and I were saddened to hear of the passing of Maurice White,” said President Obama. “With his brothers and bandmates of Earth, Wind and Fire, Maurice fused jazz, soul, funk and R&B into a quintessentially American sound that captured millions of fans around the world…He is the shining star in heaven tonight.” White was born in Memphis. He sang in his church’s choir as a boy and worked gigs as a drummer while still in high school. He moved to Chicago after graduation and attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music. He joined the Ramsey Lewis Trio in 1967 and formed Earth Wind & Fire in 1969. “I wanted to do something that hadn’t been done before,” White said. “Although we were basically jazz musicians, we played soul, funk, gospel, blues, jazz, rock and dance music…which somehow ended up becoming pop. “I wanted our music to convey messages of universal love and harmony without force-feeding listeners’ spiritual content.”
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DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 11 | 2016
AFRICAN-AMERICA
BLACK HISTORY
By JASEMINE KN Defender
In honor of African-American History Month and Va present historical figures whose spouses shared their drea in their quest for civil rights. Here are five Black couples
w Medgar & Myrlie Evers w Fredrick Douglass & Helen Pitts
Frederick Douglass was a former slave and eminent human rights leader in the abolition movement. He was also the first Black U.S. marshal and the first Black nominated for vice president. In 1847 he started an anti-slavery newspaper, North Star. Douglass was known as an orator, writer and statesman, and by the time of the Civil War was one of the most famous Black men in America. His first wife, Anna Murray Douglass, was a Black abolitionist who preceded him in death. His second wife, Helen Pitts, was a white feminist and abolitionist. They were married in 1884. Their marriage caused controversy. Though Pitts’ parents were abolitionists, they opposed the marriage because Douglass was the son of a white father and a Black mother. Douglass said his marriage to Pitt “proves I am impartial. My first wife was the color of my mother and the second, the color of my father.” The Douglass’ had no children together, however, he had five children from his previous marriage. Douglass died in 1895. After his death, Pitts created the Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical Association before she died in 1903.
w Booker T. & Margaret Murray Washington
Educator Booker T. Washington was one of the foremost African-American leaders of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He established Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, known today as Tuskegee University. Washington helped in the development of the National Negro Business League. He was the first African-American to be featured on a U.S. postal stamp in 1940, and on a memorial coin in 1946. He was married three times and had one child with his first wife and two children with his second wife. His first two wives preceded him in death. Washington met his third wife, Margaret Murray, an activist and educator, when she became the “lady principal” at Tuskegee. They were married in 1892. Murray often contributed to Washington’s speeches and accompanied him on lecture tours. She helped direct the development of Tuskegee into a successful model of Black industrial education by establishing the Tuskegee’s Woman’s Club and the National Association of Colored Women, of which she served as president. Booker T. Washington died in 1915 and Margaret Murray Washington died in 1925.
As the first field secretary for the Mississippi NAACP, Medgar Evers organized voter registration efforts, demonstrations and boycotts of companies that practiced discrimination. Evers became a target for those who opposed equality and desegregation, and fell victim to an assassin’s bullet in 1963. His wife, Myrlie Evers, worked alongside him in the fight for rights, and later fought to see his killer brought to justice. She was a senior at Alcorn A&M College when she met Evers, a World War II veteran. The couple fell in love and married in 1951. They had three children, Darrell, Reena and James. Evers and his family were subjected to numerous threats and violent actions, including a firebombing of their house in May 1963. The next month, Evers was shot in the back in the driveway of his home in Jackson and died at a nearby hospital. Byron De La Beckwith, a white segregationist, was charged with Evers’ murder, but was set free after two all-white juries deadlocked. In 1994, Beckwith was finally convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Myrlie Evers created a Mississippi institute dedicated to social change. She also moved to California, became an author, remarried and served as chair of the NAACP’s National Board of Directors. She is 82.
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AN HISTORY MONTH
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Y LOVE STORIES
NOWLES r
alentine’s Day, the Defender looks at past and the ams of equality, and walked side by side with them and one interracial couple who made a difference.
w Malcolm X & Betty Shabazz
Malcolm X was an activist and outspoken voice of the Nation of Islam, which challenged the mainstream Civil Rights Movement. He urged his followers to defend themselves against white aggression “by any means necessary.” After Malcom X’s assassination in 1965, his wife, Betty Shabazz, became an activist and university administrator. Born Malcolm Little, he experienced racism early in life. He eventually turned to a life of crime and was sentenced to prison. He converted to the Nation of Islam while incarcerated and upon release, won a large number of followers with his oratory skills. Betty Sanders was a New York City nursing student who experienced racism that deeply affected her. In 1955 she met Malcolm X at a dinner party where they shared stories of their experiences of racism. The two wed in 1958 and had six daughters: Attallah, Qubilah, Ilyasah, Gamilah, Malikah, and Malaak Shabazz. (Malcolm X changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz after a 1964 trip to Mecca). Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965 while giving a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. Three Black men were convicted of his death. Betty Shabazz died in 1997 from severe burns suffered in a fire set by her grandson.
he Houston area for over 80 years
w Dr. Martin Luther & Coretta Scott King
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered as a principal leader of the Civil Rights Movement to end racial segregation and discrimination in America during the 1950s and 1960s. He was also a leading spokesperson for nonviolent methods of achieving social change and was arrested over 20 times fighting for freedom. His wife Coretta was often by his side. The Kings met in Boston, where he was a theology student and she was a music student. They were married in 1953, and had four children: Yolanda, Martin Luther III, Dexter and Bernice. In his autobiography King wrote of his wife, “I am indebted to my wife Coretta, without whose love, sacrifices and loyalty neither life nor work would bring fulfillment. She has given me words of consolation when I needed them and a well-ordered home where Christian love is a reality.” King was assassinated in Memphis in 1968, and James Earl Ray was convicted of the crime. Mrs. King concentrated her energies on fulfilling her husband’s work by establishing the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change as a living memorial to his life and dream. She continued his legacy for 38 years until her death in 2006.
w President Barack & Michelle Obama
In 2008, former U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois was elected 44th president of the United States, and became the first African-American elected to the highest office in the land. His wife, Michelle Obama, became the first AfricanAmerican first lady, as well as a role model for women and an advocate for poverty awareness, higher education and healthy living. President Obama calls the first lady his “rock,” and said she “had the power of veto,” meaning if she would have told him not to run for president he wouldn’t have. Michelle Obama said that time, love, sacrifice and struggles make you stronger and that the pair is “constantly balancing each other.” Born in Hawaii to a white mother and Kenyan father, Barack Obama graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School. Michelle Obama, a Chicago native, graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School. They met in 1989 while working at a Chicago law firm. After dating for three years, they tied the knot in 1992. Of their vows, Michelle Obama said, “Barack didn’t pledge riches, only a life that would be interesting. On that promise he delivered.” They have two daughters, Malia and Natasha (nicknamed Sasha). Sources: Defender files, biography.com, history.com, NAACP, the White House
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DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 11 | 2016 defendernetwork.com
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH
Houston celebrates Black history with events Saturday, Feb. 13
The Houston Public Thursday, Feb.18 Library and Texas SouthPVAMU hosts the ern University present a National Association of discussion with author Student Affairs ProfessionWil Haygood, whose als (NASAP) Conference story became the basis for from Feb. 18-21 at the the movie “The Butler.” Westin Houston Memorial. It will be held at 2 p.m. Contact: www.nasap.net or in Sawyer Auditorium, 936-261-3564. and Haygood will discuss The Houston PubRice University will be the site of a Feb. 18 panel discussion celebrating 50 years of Black undergraduate life. his novel, “Showdown: lic Library presents a performance by Da Thurgood Marshall and the Camera Chamber Music & Jazz at 3:30 p.m. Methodist Episcopal denomination established in Supreme Court Nomination That Changed Ameriat Vinson Neighborhood Library, 3810 West Fuqua. ca.” The event is free but reservations are required. Acres Homes. Contact: 713-697-5657. Contact: houstonlibrary.org. Contact: houstonlibrary.org. Monday, Feb.Past, 15 Promises for the Future Rice University and the Association of Rice UniReflections of the The Shrine of the Black Madonna and People’s Prairie View A&M University presents “Halversity Black Alumni (ARUBA) will celebrate 50 years Law Study Group continue their “Elevation of lowed Grounds: History SitesUndergraduate in Texas” ofLife Blackatundergraduate life with a panel of speakA Discussion Celebrating 50Black Years of Black Rice Black Consciousness Series” with a biography of with Prof. Anna Mod and community development ers. They will provide a historical account of Rice’s slain Black Panther leader Fred Hampton at 6 students at 5:30 p.m. in Room Northwest Thursday, Feb. 107, 18, 2016 desegregation and first-hand perspectives on the early p.m. at 5309 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Special Houston Center, 9449 Grant Road. Contact: 713years. A 5:30 p.m. reception will be held at the Execuguest is Lady of Rage, who appears in an upcom790-7282 Executive Commons, McNair Hall, Rice 5:30–6:30 p.m. Reception University tive Commons in McNair Hall, followed by a 6:30 p.m. ing film about Hampton. Contact: 713-397-1904. program at Shell Auditorium in McNair Hall. Panelists Tuesday, Feb. 16
Sunday, Feb. 14
6:30–8:30 p.m. Program and Panel Shell McNair University willRice be Ronald Arceneaux (‘74), Charles Szalkowski A Golden Buddha JazzAuditorium, Band and TSU Jazz Hall,
The Harris County Historical Commission will Band workshop/performance will feature a cultural (‘70), Regina Tippens (‘74) and Jan West (‘73). It will Rice University and the Association of Rice University Black Alumni (ARUBA) invite you to a panel of be moderated by Harris County Commissioner Gene dedicate an official Texas historical marker for exchange of Eastern folk instruments and Africanoutstanding speakers who will provide a historical account of Rice’s desegregation and first-hand The event free and open to the public. RSVP Greater Ward A.M.E. Church at 3 p.m. at 6822 American jazz at 11 a.m. at TSU’s Rhinehart Audiperspectives on the early years of this transition. The panel discussion kicks off Locke. a yearlong seriesis of to Jan.F.West@rice.edu or call 713-348-6759. Arabella. The congregation is events the firstcelebrating African 50 years T:9.75” torium. Contact: www.tsu.edu. of black undergraduate life at Rice. The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to Jan.F.West@rice.edu or call 713 348-6759.
T:6.5”
IT’S A WINNING IDEA! The Texas Lottery Commission is committed to including Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) in its procurement opportunities.Your minority or woman-owned company may qualify to be certified as a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) with the State of Texas.
To learn more about the State of Texas HUB Program, visit the Texas Procurement and Support Services web page at: http://www.window.state.tx.us/procurement/prog/hub/
© 2016 Texas Lottery Commission. All Rights Reserved.
For information about state certification and Texas Lottery opportunities, contact our HUB Coordinator, Joyce Bertolacini at (512) 344-5293 or joyce.bertolacini@lottery.state.tx.us
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By REV. JESSE L. JACKSON SR. Rainbow PUSH Coalition
FEBRUARY 11 | 2016 | DEFENDER
opinion
Behind the Flint water horror
T
he basic story of the poisoning of the children in Flint, Mich., through the water they drink is now pretty well known. But as more details come out, it keeps getting worse. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, after passing a big tax cut for the rich and corporations on coming into office, had to find cuts to make up for the lost revenue. In Flint and other cities, he essentially nullified democratic elections, deposed elected mayors and city councils and installed his own agents with virtually dictatorial powers. The “emergency manager” of Flint decided that the city could save money by discontinuing its water supply from Lake Huron and instead drawing it from the toxic Flint River. He then failed to treat the new water with additives needed to keep the city’s old pipes from leaching lead. When people objected to the brown, smelly water filled with particles that was coming out of the taps, the governor’s men reassured them the water was safe. All of Flint’s children were exposed to water with elevated levels of lead. Now we learn that General Motors complained to state officials that the water was corroding their auto parts. So the governor’s team gave GM its own hook-up back to the water from Lake Huron, while still insisting to the residents of Flint that the water was safe for their children to drink. State officials also acted promptly to respond to the bad water for one other constituency: state employees in Flint’s state office building. Even as it was reassuring residents that the water was safe to drink, Flint officials arranged for coolers of purified water to be set up on all the floors of the
office building. Flint’s residents – disproportionately Black and low-income – were seen as disposable. And they are not alone. The national statistics on lead poisoning, as Kevin Drum of the magazine Mother Jones details, show that African-Americans were poisoned at three times the rate of whites until recent times. And, of course, low-income people are poisoned at higher rates than the more affluent. Poor, urban African-Americans and Latinos suffer the highest rates of all. Drum notes that while white children were severely afflicted in the postwar lead epidemic, it produced “nothing less than a carnage among Black kids.” He argues that before lead was brought under control in the late 1980s, virtually an entire generation of urban Black teenagers was at risk of lower IQs, more behavior problems in school, higher rates of violent behavior. This, of course, reinforced already vicious racial stereotypes of African-Americans and the poor. The only hope in Flint is that the children’s exposure was limited in time and intensity, but
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even that is grasping at straws. As Flint resident and documentary filmmaker Michael Moore points out, this isn’t just a crisis of water. Flint’s residents now see the value of their homes wiped out and their hopes for jobs dashed. Few would consider buying a home in Flint now. Few employers will want to set up shop there or expand there. The governor’s men have wreaked untold economic damage on the residents of Flint on top of the threat to their health. The lessons of Flint are plain. Those who scorn government are the wrong people to elect to head it. Government capacity to enforce health and safety, to police environmental poisons and water safety, is essential to the security of our children. As America gets more and more unequal, the cynical, unstated assumption that there are some who are simply disposable, who don’t deserve decent services, is likely to spread. But Flint may end up showing something else as well. That cynicism is more corrosive than the toxic water coming from the Flint River. People aren’t going to put up with it. They aren’t going to adjust quietly to the decline of basic services. The Flint calamity was exposed because the poorest residents objected time and again, despite the reassurances issued by authorities. The failure of the governor’s local dictator and of the state officials themselves is now apparent. Yet the reaction to the calamity still seems in slow motion. It is time for the federal government to step in. Investigations should lead to indictments. Federal resources should be mobilized to rectify the water in Flint immediately, and to provide the city with a real plan for renovation and revival.
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DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 11 | 2016 defendernetwork.com
Mullins appointed to Baylor board The Baylor College of Medicine Board of Trustees has appointed Eric Mullins as its newest member. Mullins is a founder and coCEO of Lime Rock Resources, a private equity fund focused on acquiring and developing oil and gas properties. “A recognized business and community leader, Eric Mullins will bring a valuable perspective to our board of trustees,” said Dr. Paul E. Klotman, Baylor
Eric Mullins
president, CEO and executive dean. Prior to starting Lime Rock Resources, Mullins was managing director with Gold-
man Sachs and first joined the firm in New York. He was promoted and transferred to the Houston office in 1995, and named a managing director in 1999. Mullins is a graduate of Houston’s Strake Jesuit College Preparatory High School. He received a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Texas gets failing grade in tobacco reduction The American Lung Association released its 14th annual “State of Tobacco Control” report and that found in 2015, Texas failed to enact tobacco control policies that will save lives. The report also finds that Texas is not alone, as most states and the federal government earned poor grades, and the high level of youth use of tobacco products other than cigarettes threatens to undermine the United States’ overall progress in the fight against tobacco-caused death and disease. Texas received an “F” in tobacco prevention and control program funding, tobacco taxes, smoke-free air and access to cessation services. “Texas is missing a clear opportunity to save lives by not taking action to prevent and reduce tobacco use,” said Michelle Stoddard, executive director of the lung association in Texas. “We must also face
R YAN W HITE P LANNING C OUNCIL M EETINGS FOR 2016 February 11 March 10 April 14
May 12 June 9 July 14
August 11 September 8 October 13
November 10 December 8
Meetings are open to the general public; only Council members are allowed to vote but public comment is always welcome at the beginning of every meeting. The Council meets at Noon at our offices located in the Galleria area (near METRO bus route 82). Call to request a calendar, a membership application or more information. Attend a Meeting Apply for Membership Be a Participant
The calendar of all Council and Committee meetings and a wealth of other information is available on our website. Check the calendar regularly for topics of specific interest to you. We hope to see you soon! Houston Ryan White Planning Council 2223 West Loop South, Suite 240, Houston, TX 77027 Phone 713 572-3724 TTY 713 572-2813 Fax 713 572-3740 www.rwpcHouston.org
N OW
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR
Project LEAP 2016
Project LEAP (Learning, Empowerment, Advocacy, Participation) is a free comprehensive 17 week advocacy training program for HIV affected or infected individuals. The purpose of Project LEAP is to train people to become active participants on local HIV/AIDS planning bodies.
Classes are on Wednesdays March through July 10:00 am - 2:00 pm -or- 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm A brief application & interview are required Application Deadline: Monday, February 26th at 5:00 p.m. If you have questions about the program or would like to request an application please contact Diane Beck at 713 572-3724 or diane.beck@hctx.net Or apply online: www.surveymonkey.com/r/PLEAP2016 RYAN WHITE PLANNING COUNCIL OFFICE OF SUPPORT
2223 West Loop South, Suite 240; Houston, TX 77027 Phone 713 572-3724 Fax 713 572-3724 TTY 713-572-2813 www.rwpcHouston.org
the reality that youth use of other tobacco products nationwide like e-cigarettes and little cigars is at an all-time high. Nearly a quarter of high school students are
using tobacco products, and it is crucial that Texas take aggressive action to reduce all tobacco use – the No. 1 cause of preventable death and disease in our nation.”
classified U.S. 59 / I-69 Downtown Corridor Design Competition (RFQ) Houston First Corporation requests SOQs from urban design firms, landscape architects or architects capable of creating an inspired, multi-disciplinary approach to the beautification of the U.S. 59 / I-69 Downtown corridor.
RFQ documents are available online at: www.houstonfirst.com/do-business. Questions should be submitted by e-mail to bids@houstonfirst.com.
defendernetwork.com
FEBRUARY 11 | 2016 | DEFENDER
Enjoy benefits of regular physical activity Staying physically active on a regular basis is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Here are some benefits from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Control your weight – Both diet and physical activity play a critical role in controlling your weight. You gain weight when the calories you burn, including those burned during physical activity, are less than the calories you eat or drink. Getting to and staying at a healthy weight requires both regular physical activity and a healthy eating plan. Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease – Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Getting at least two hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity can put you at a lower risk for these diseases. You can reduce your risk even further with more physical activity. Regular physical activity can also lower your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol levels. Reduce your risk of diabetes – Regular physical activity can reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, which is a condition in which you have some combination of too much fat around the waist, high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, or high blood sugar. If you already have Type 2 diabetes, regular physical activity can help control your blood glucose levels. Reduce your risk of some cancers – Being physically active lowers your risk for two types of cancer: colon and breast. Although the research is not yet final, some findings suggest that your risk of endometrial cancer and lung cancer may be lower if you get regular physical activity compared to people who are not active. If you are a cancer survivor, research shows that getting regular physical activity not only helps give you a better quality of life, but also improves your physical fitness. Strengthen your bones and muscles – As you age, it’s important to protect your bones, joints and muscles.
Research shows that doing aerobic, musclestrengthening and bone-strengthening physical activity of at least a moderately-intense level can slow the loss of bone density that comes with age. Improve your mental health and mood – Regular physical activity can help keep your thinking, learning and judgment skills sharp age. It can also reduce your risk of depression and may help you sleep better. Research has shown that doing aerobic or a mix of aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities three to five times a week for 30 to 60 minutes can give you these mental health benefits.
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DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 11 | 2016
sports
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NFL welcomes new Hall of Fame class
O
By MAX EDISON Defender
ne of the highlights of Super Bowl weekend is the announcement of the new Hall of Fame class. Eight heroes of the game were selected to this year’s 2016 class. Former San Francisco 49er owner Edward DeBartolo, coach Tony Dungy, quarterback Brett Favre, linebacker/defensive end Kevin Greene, wide receiver Marvin Harrison, offensive tackle Orlando Pace, the late quarterback Ken Stabler and the late player/coach Dick Stanfel will be inducted this summer. Edward DeBartolo purchased the 49ers in 1977 and held them until 2000. His team won an average of 13 games each season (including playoffs) from 1981-1998. Under DeBartolo the 49ers were the first franchise to win five Super Bowls. The 49er dynasty won Super Bowls 16, 19, 23, 24 and 29. He was named NFL Man of the Year by Football News in 1989 as the nation’s top sports executive. Tony Dungy, head coach of the Tampa Bay Bucs from 1996-2001, turned around a franchise that had a celebrated history of losing. In six years Dungy took the Buccaneers to the playoffs four times, including an NFC championship game. He became head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 2002. During his seven years at Indy, the Colts posted 12-win seasons every year. Dungy coached the Colts to a Super Bowl 37 win over Chicago, becoming the first AfricanAmerican head coach to do so. Brett Favre played for 20 years in the NFL, most notably 15 years with the Green Bay Packers. He threw for 3,000 yards in each season except his first and final years. He recorded 4,000-yard seasons six times. Favre retired as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing with 6,300 completions, 10,169 attempts, 71,838 yards and 508 touchdowns. He was named NFL MVP three consecutive times, 1995-97. “It’s an incredible feeling. It really is,” Favre said of his selection. “I’m well aware of my career and what I’ve done…I’ve accepted it for what it is, but Roger Staubach comes up on stage and I still get goosebumps. That’s my childhood hero. I guess what I’m saying is that I’m extremely thankful that I’m part of the group.” Kevin Greene played 15 years in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers and 49ers. He was a fifth-round selection (113th player overall) in the 1985 draft. Greene recorded double-digit sack totals
defendernetwork.com Houston is on the clock for Super Bowl 51
Tony Dungy coached the Tampa Buccaneers and Indianapolis Coltsa
Brett Favre quarterbacked the Packers to a 1997 Super Bowl win.
10 times, second in the record book at the time of his retirement. He was chosen as a member of the NFL All-Decade team for the ‘90s. Marvin Harrison played 13 years for the Colts (1996-2008). He was a first-round selection from Syracuse (19th overall). A member of NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s, Harrison retired with 1,102 career receptions, 14,580 yards and 128 touchdowns. He finished second to Jerry Rice in league annals in career receptions, most consecutive games with a reception (190) and most career 100-yard games (59). Orlando Pace played 13 seasons in Marvin Harrison was a record-setting receiver for the Colts. the NFL for the St Louis Rams (19972008) and Chicago Bears (2009). At 6-feet-7, 320 pounds, Pace was the first Raider from 1970-1979, he led Oakland to winning records overall selection in the ’97 draft out of Ohio in each of his nine seasons as a starter, including five straight State, the first offensive lineman selected first overall since division crowns. An All-Pro and NFL’s MVP in 1974 and 1968. He blocked for three straight NFL MVPs (QB Kurt 1976, he was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the Warner, 1999, 2001 and RB Marshall Faulk in 2000). Pace ‘70’s. He led the Raiders to glory winning Super Bowl XI. was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection (2000-2006) and a fiveDick Stanfel played from 1952-1958 with the Detroit time All-Pro selection (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004). Lions and Washington Redskins. He was selected to the Hall Ken Stabler played 15 years (1970-1984) with the of Fame as a senior honoree. He was an All-Pro for five of Oakland Raiders, Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints. A his seven years.
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h.s.zone
FEBRUARY 11 | 2016 | DEFENDER
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sportsbriefs Watt named top defender For the third time in his career Texan defensive lineman J.J. Watt has been named Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Watt, who also won the award in 2012 and unanimously in 2014, joins Lawrence Taylor (1981, 1982 and 1986) as the only players in NFL history to win the award three times. Watt finished the 2015 season leading the NFL in sacks (17.5), tackles for loss (29) and quarterback hits (50). Watt also recorded 76 tackles (57 solo), eight passes defensed, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Watt passed Derrick Thomas for the second-most career sacks in a player’s first five seasons in NFL history.
MLB hosts invitational
Madison High School head girls’ basketball coach Anthony Fields (center) is flanked by his district champion Lady Marlins and assistant coaches.
Madison girls reclaim past basketball glory
from Conway, Ark. “I thought with the group we had coming back that we would be pretty good,” Fields said. “Although Miracle didn’t It was a flashback to the success and dominance of have any previous varsity experience, she solidified what we yesteryear. The Houston Madison High School girls’ varsity needed and helped put us in the position that we’re in today.” basketball squad celebrated an outright District 20-5A chamMadison plays an up-tempo style with pressure defense pionship recently following a 47-12 victory over Lee at Butler from start to finish. Fields has a short bench that usually fieldhouse. It had been eight years since the Lady Marlins last extends to one or two players. “We don’t have any star players shared the title with Bellaire back in 2008. but we play well together,” Fields said. “That’s real important.” Madison improved to 18-8 on the season and 13-0 in Holliday said the experience has been a memorable one district play with one league game remaining. for her. “I was beginning to wonder if we were going to get back “At my last school in Arkansas the players weren’t really to this level while I was still coaching,” said Anthony Fields, connected,” she said. “We weren’t really a team. But I came Madison’s head coach for the past 27 seasons. “We had a real down here and the girls are open and accepting of me. good run followed by some “I’m a point guard and lean years. Two years ago, we my job is to distribute the defendernetwork.com missed the playoffs altogether.” ball and get my teammates See which Wheatley track star During the 1990s and involved in the game,” signed with Alabama early 2000s, Madison regularly Holliday said. “That’s what won district titles, consistently [Fields] wanted and that’s competed for regional titles been my role.” and earned a berth in the state basketball tournament. Then Fields believes a trip to College Station earlier in the seaprograms at Bellaire and Westside gained prominence, while a son played a major role in the development of his team. dwindling student enrollment prompted a move down in clas“We only won once in four games, but we learned that if sification and Madison’s star began to lose some of its luster. we play hard from start to finish that we can give ourselves a Fields returned two solid players from last year’s team in chance to win at the end of games,” Fields said. “Off the court post Brandolyn Walker and wing Sherita Bell. “Brandolyn is the players had an opportunity to interact as personalities and very athletic and Sherita can put the ball in the basket,” Fields mesh as people.” said. “Paige Taylor does a good job for us on the boards and Bell remembers that victory in College Station over Magfreshman Yumon Simien can shoot the lights out. nolia West (44-43) very well. “What we lacked was somebody that could bounce the “We learned how to play to our strengths,” she said. “We basketball effectively,” Fields said. “I needed a point guard that learned how to play well against good teams. We really didn’t could control the tempo of the game and get us into our sets have a lot of faith in ourselves before then. [plays].” “That game sticks out and enabled us to start playing with As if by magic senior Miracle Holliday transferred in confidence,” Bell said. By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender
Major League Baseball’s Urban Invitational is returning to New Orleans for the third consecutive year, with games being held at the University of New Orleans and the New Orleans MLB Urban Youth Academy from Friday, Feb. 19 through Sunday, Feb. 21. Launched by MLB in 2008, the round-robin collegiate baseball tournament is designed to place a spotlight on HBCUs and their baseball programs. Grambling State University, Southern University, Alcorn State University, Prairie View A&M University, Louisiana Tech and University of New Orleans will be the participating schools. Saturday’s match-ups at the New Orleans MLBUYA between Louisiana Tech and Southern at 2 p.m. and Grambling University and University of New Orleans at 6 p.m. will air live on both MLB Network and MLB.com.
Joseph coach of year Katy High School head football coach Gary Joseph has been named National Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association. The honor came after Joseph guided the 16-0 Tigers to the school’s eighth state football championship and fourth during his tenure. Katy defeated Lake Travis for the Class 6A Division II state title and was later named mythical national champions by the MaxPreps.com, NationalHSFootball.com and PrepNation.com national rankings. The Tigers posted 10 shutouts in 16 games and outscored opponents 778-62. Joseph’s teams are 168-14 and haven’t lost a district game since 2008. Fourteen Katy players signed with colleges on National Signing Day, including DB Collin Wilder (Houston), RB Kyle Porter (Texas), LB Paddy Fisher (Northwestern), DB Travis Whillock (Northwestern), LB JoVanni Stewart (West Virginia) along with brothers Michael Vasquez (Reinhardt University-Georgia) and Dylan Vasquez (Angelo State).
Oliver, Dickson honored Spring Westfield defensive tackle Ed Oliver and Navasota wide receiver Tren’Davion Dickson have been named to the Parade Magazine All-American team. Oliver, who recently signed with the University of Houston, earned honorable mention after being named defensive MVP of the Under Armour All-American Game and leading the Mustangs to the state semifinals in 2014. Dickson was named to the first-team offense after winning the Gatorade Player of the Year in Texas award. The Baylor University signee finished his prep career with a state record 76 touchdown receptions, including 39 as a junior to set both the state and national marks while leading the Rattlers to the 2014 state title.
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DEFENDER | FEBRUARY 11 | 2016
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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
topevents
The honorees are Merrill and Joe Hafner and Betty and Gene McDavid. Honorary chairs are TOP LADIES TEEN BALL……..The Houston Chapter of the Top Ladies of Distinction, Barbara and George Bush, Susan and James Baker and Margaret Alkek Williams. Chairs are Inc. hosted its 33rd Annual Mr. & Miss Top Teen Presentation Ball at the Power Center. The Dorothy and Mickey Ables, Susie and Sanford Criner and Trini Mendenhall. The black-tie event chapter presented to society more than 20 teens. Proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund and teen will benefit Red Cross services and programs for Texas Gulf Coast communities, including disaster Programs. Kianna Hawkins and Timothy Criswell II were named Miss and Mr. Top Teen. Those relief, home fire prevention and assistance and services to members of the Military. The mistress of in attendance included Congressman Al Green, Earnestine Randle-Forest, Kim Topps, Valerie ceremonies was KHOU Great Day Houston host Deborah Duncan. Those in attendance included: Leverett, Shantel, Lofton, Brianna Portis, Brandin Young, Nia Gordon, Briana Kelly, Samaria Stephen Vetrano, Susan McEldoon, Stefanie Charles, Marguerite Williams, Frederick Wilson, Gerra Gistand, Chamyah Brown, Maxwell Jefferson and Lady Karen Baker…….. Barksdale, Regina Jackson, Ronald Jackson, Jonathan Sprinkles, and MAYOR’S YOUTH COUNCIL OATH……..Houston Mayor Michael Koury……..AMERICAN RED CROSS GALA……..The Sylvester Turner recently administered the oath of office to 64 newly Houston American Red Cross Chapter celebrated 100 years of service named members of the Mayor’s Youth Council during an inauguration at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. The honorees were Merrill and Joe Hafner ceremony held in the City Hall Council Chambers. Congratulatory More photos on defendernetwork.com and Betty and Gene McDavid. Honorary chairs were former President remarks were made by City Council members Brenda Stardig, Steve See Events on KTRK Ch.13’s ‘Crossroads’ George and Barbara Bush, Susan and James Baker and Margaret Alkek Le, Karla Cisneros and Greg Travis, and Director of Education Juliet with Melanie Lawson Sunday Morning @ 5:30 and 11:30 a.m. Williams. Chairs were Dorothy and Mickey Ables, Susie and Sanford Stipeche. The youth will gain an understanding of how city government Criner and Trini Mendenhall. The black-tie event benefitted Red Cross works, provide city officials with formal reports on youth concerns and collaborate with citizens and civic leaders to carry out public service activities. The guest list included services and programs for Texas Gulf Coast communities, including disaster relief, home fire prevention and assistance and services to members of the Military. The mistress of ceremonies Michael Pelton, Charlen Huang, Carla Godoy, Rhonda Pelton, Niara Pelton, Christina was KHOU “Great Day Houston” host Deborah Duncan. Those in attendance included Stephen Huang, Janice Crowder-Russell, Lionel Russell, Micheal Brown, Micheal Brown Jr., Phillips Vetrano, Susan McEldoon, Stefanie Charles, Marguerite Williams, Frederick Barksdale, Simmons, Jonathan Simmons and a host of family members and supporters……..AMERICAN RED CROSS GALA…….. Red Gala celebrating 100 years of service at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Regina Jackson, Ronald Jackson, Jonathan Sprinkles and Michael Koury.
Defender TOP EVENTS
Valerie Leverett, Shantel Lofton, Brandin Young, Earnestine Randle-Forest
Rhonda Pelton, Niara Pelton, Michael Pelton
Deborah Duncan
Kianna Hawkins, Brianna Portis, Nia Gordon, Briana Kelley
Janice Crowder-Russell, Lionel Russell
Michal Koury, Jonathan Sprinkles
Timothy Criswell II, Kianna Hawkins
Charlene Huang, Carla Godoy, Christina Huang
Regina Jackson, Ronald Jackson
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