04.09.2026_Defender-e-FULL

TothePOINT DN

One -OnOne

Message from the Reporter

Houstonians,BlackRestaurant Weekisback

BlackRestaurantWeekisbackinHouston. For those who know, this week is so much morethanjustgoodfood

At its core, the event is a celebration of African American, African, and Caribbean cuisine.Itisalsoaplatformforlocal,independent businesses that often lack the resources tomarketthemselvesonalargerscale.Itwill rununtilApril19.

Throughcuratedeventsandpartnerships, Black Restaurant Week shines a spotlight on chefs, food trucks, caterers, and specialty food brands It extends beyond the traditional restaurant model and tries to authentically showcase the full spectrum of Black culinary talentacrossthecity

Theexperienceisintendedtobringpeopletogether,trying anewspot,supportinganeighborhoodfavorite,ordiscovering flavorstiedtogenerationsofculturaltraditions

Butanotherimportantaspectofthisweekistheeconomic impact. Driving foot traffic and visibility, it helps strengthen local businesses while encouraging Houstonians to invest in theirowncommunities.

StillrecoveringafterHurricaneBeryl

SinceHurricaneBeryltorethroughHoustoninJuly2024, someresidents,especiallylower-incomehouseholds,struggled to return to normal life 4-6 months or even a year after the storm.

AnewreportfromRiceUniversity’sKinderInstitutefound thatwhilemostpeoplesaylifehasreturnedtonormal,asignificantnumberofresidentsarestilldealingwiththeaftermath ofBeryl,withnotmanytosharetheburdenwith

Most respondents said their day-to-day lives were either completely(74%)ormostly(20%)backtonormal,while6% saidtheirdailylivesremainedsomewhatormostlydisrupted. Thedifferencesinnormalcydependonhouseholdincomes. Only2%ofthosemaking$100,000ormorereportedthattheir lives were still somewhat or very disrupted, compared with

17%ofthoseearningunder$25,000.

For many, the primary issue is home repairs,includingdamagedroofs,leaks,mold problems, and damage to personal items, whichcausedunanticipatedfinancialburdens.

For others, loss of income, insurance, or FEMA concerns, health and mental health issues, displacement, and utility issues have causedlingeringbarrierstostayingafloat

Whilesomeresidentsreporteddelaysand outright denials from insurance companies and FEMA, leaving them to cover costs on theirown,healthandmentalhealthchallenges impededotherresidents’recovery,perthereport ForsomeHoustonians,theimpactofBerylstilllingers The realrecovery,forthem,isyettocome

HISD’sPre-Kpush

HoustonISD’senrollmenthasbeenonthedeclineforyears, butthelosseshavegrowninbothsizeandpacesincetheTexas Education Agency (TEA) takeover in 2023, a University of Houston study found. As of 2024-25, the district is serving 13,208fewerstudentsthanin2022-23,andannuallossescontinuetogrowyearoveryear

Tomitigatethisissue,theschooldistrictistryingtoexpand itspre-Kfootprint.

On one side, HISD is partnering with Collaborative for Children to create more PreK access through community-basedcentersthroughthestate-backed1882partnership. Ontheotherhand,it’sdoublingdownondoor-to-doorcanvassing, led by canvassing nonprofit Groundwork Outreach, toconnectfamilieswithavailableseats.

PerHISD,somecampuseshavehighwaitlists,whileothers have empty seats. Last year alone, outreach efforts reached roughly56,000familiesandcontributedtooneofthedistrict’s largestgrade-levelenrollmentgains,evenasoverallnumbers declined

Thisyear,thateffortisexpandingto65,000familiesinthe feeder patterns of the high-density Chavez, Milby, Sterling, andYateshighschools.

Victor Glover makes history

By ReShonda Tate

When Victor Glover boarded NASA’s Artemis II on April 1, 2026, he didn’t just pilot a spacecraft—he stepped into history. Today,astheOrioncapsule“Integrity”swings aroundthelunarfarside,Gloverhasofficially become the first Black man to travel to the Moon

For Glover, a Pomona, California native who calls the Houston area home, thismomentislayered withpride,responsibility,anddeepreflection

“I live in the America that sent me to space, told my grandfather he couldn’t fly during the Korean conflict when he was enlisted, but he got to sit and watch me fly,” Glover said in a previous interview with the Defender “We live in a very complicated country.”

The Artemis II mission marks the first crewedlunarjourneyinmorethan50years. Whilethecrewisnotlandingonthesurface, theyarecurrentlyachievingmilestonesthat haven’t been touched since the Apollo era Later today, the crew is expected to reach a maximum distance of 252,757 miles from Earth, breaking the record for the farthest humanshaveevertraveledintodeepspace— surpassing the mark set by Apollo 13.

Glover is joined by a diverse,

international crew:

•ReidWiseman:MissionCommander

•Christina Koch: The first woman to embarkonalunarmission.

•Jeremy Hansen: The first Canadian astronauttoleaveEarth’sorbit

Together,theyrepresentwhatNASAcalls aneweraofexploration—onethatreflects a broader cross-section of humanity

Even as history surrounds him, Glover admitted the magnitude of the mission took time to sink in. “I have to be honest

it was a little bit of shock,” he told the Defender “ButalsoIjustfeltlike,wow,this is big… it just seemed really big.”

A decorated Navy test pilot, Glover’s resume prepared him for this 10-day gauntlet. With over 3,000 flight hours and 24 combat missions, he previously served assecond-in-commandofSpaceX’sCrew-1 mission in 2020. However, his path was non-traditional; growing up, he didn’t see many astronauts who looked like him.

“I saw a space shuttle launch on TV

KPGEORGEGUILTYVERDICT

and thought I would love to drive that machine,” he recalled “But I didn’t even have the context to say, ‘I want to be an astronaut,’ because I didn’t know any. ”

AsOrionpreparesforitsreturnjourney and a planned splashdown in the Pacific OceanonApril10,Glover’sjourneystands as a visible reminder of progress Only 24 Americans had ever traveled to the Moon before this journey. Now, Victor Glover is one of them—carrying the hopes of a new generation watching the stars from below.

Fort Bend county left in limbo

ByTannisthaSinha

Fort Bend County Judge KP George has been found guilty following a jury trial on afelonymoneylaunderingcharge HissentencingissetforJune,butinthemeantime, Georgeremainsinoffice.

FortBendCounty deputies placed George in handcuffs and escorted him outofthecourtroom after the unanimous verdict. A judge set his bond at $20,000, split at $10,000 per charge, and asked GeorgetosurrenderhisU.S.passport.

After a closed executive session with County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson, county commissioners unanimously voted to revoke George’s authority to sign county documents, appointed Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage to preside over

the commissioners court, and authorizedCountyAuditor

Robert Sturdivant to conduct an internal investigation into potential financial risks tied to George’s conviction

Governor Greg Abbott’sofficealsofroze27stategrantscoveringcybersecuritytrainingandemergency medicalservices.

The decisions effectively sideline George from core administrative functions while stopping short of formal removal, a process governedbystatelawandstillpending.

Whathappened?

Court records show that on March 31, 2025, George was indicted on two felony counts of third-degree money laundering, totaling $46,500. The defense mounted a

pretrialchallenge,arguingthatthestatefailed to prove criminal intent and that investigatorsreliedonincompletefinancialrecords.

George’s attorneys, Jared Woodfill and Terry Yates, argued George was repaying himselfforacampaignloan,permittedunder TexasEthicsCommissionrules,andaccused Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middletonofprosecutorialmisconductand pursuingapoliticalvendetta

Georgewillremainthecountyjudgeafter posting bond, and Commissioner Grady Prestage will act as the “temporary presiding officer.” During a commissioners court meeting,Prestagesaidtheappointmentwas toensurethecountygovernmentcontinued tofunction

Under the Texas Local Government Code, a county official is removed after a felony conviction, but the removal takes effect only upon a final judgment, not a jury verdict. Therefore, George will not be removed until the case ends with a

sentencing, expected on June 16.

“The law says [removal from office occurs] ‘immediately upon conviction,’ but theremovallanguageisinthejudgment,and the judgment cannot be complete until we have a punishment,” Wesley Wittig, Second Assistant District Attorney for Fort Bend County Justice Center, said “The way we lookattrial,we’renotdoneuntilwedopunishment.Hecan’tevenappealhisconviction untilwefinishpunishment.”

Politicalconsequences

Even before the conviction, voters had begun to move on George, first elected as a Democrat in 2018 and reelected in 2022, switchedpartiestojointheRepublicanParty afterhisindictment.

In the March primary, he finished last in a five-candidate race, securing just 8.4% of the vote Former Sugar Land City Council memberDanielWongwontheprimarywith 54.1%ofthevote

School districts sound alarm on funding crisis

ByTannisthaSinha

The numbers coming out of the Texas School Districts’ Perspectives at this year’s HoustonInvestorConferencearestark.

Across four of Texas’s largest school districts, Houston, Dallas, Austin, and Cypress-Fairbanks ISDs, chief financial officers gathered at the event organized by City Controller Chris Hollins’ office They describe a system under financial strain, underfunded by the state and forced into increasinglyhardchoicesaboutstaffingand thefutureofpubliceducation

The‘$10billionworthofneed’ atHISD

ForHISD,theinfrastructurecrisisiswaiting to be resolved

Dr James Terry, chief finance and businessservicesofficeratHISD,saidthedistrict is on track to balance its budget this year, a significantturnaroundafterfacingadeficit that once reached $528 million.

Theprogress,however,comeswithdifficult decisions, including school consolidations tied directly to financial realities.

Additionally, HISD’s $4.4 billion bond proposal failed at the ballot in November 2024.

But if HISD were to seek another bond, publicsupportwouldbecrucialtopassone, Terry added.

“Thebond’sgoingtohavetorisefromthe people,”TerrytoldtheDefender “That’sthe onlyway.Somebody’sgottobecomekindof the hero and say, ‘the school district needs a bond.’”

In reality, he added, HISD’s needs far exceed that bond amount

“We have $10 billion worth of need,” he said “We use duct tape to keep our HVAC systems together The need truly is there.”

Per Terry, most school districts seek a bond every five years. But HISD has not had one since 2012

Inasimilarmove,EduardoRamos,deputy superintendent of business services for Dallas ISD, said his district has also proposeda$6.2billionbondpackageforvoter approvalontheMay2ballot Thismeasure,

if passed, would become the largest school bond request in Texas history.

HesaidDallasISDhadspentayearbuilding a facility scoring system that evaluated every building on physical condition and educational relevance, then structured the program across phases to minimize tax rate impact

Thebondfundswouldbeusedtoupgrade safety systems, expand physical education and athletic facilities, and purchase new schoolbuses,amongotherthings.

Cypress-FairbanksISDCFOKarenSmith described a similarly methodical approach, notingthatherdistrict’slong-rangeplanning committee deliberately spread bond investmentsacrossmultipleyearstokeepthecommunity’staxburdenassteadyaspossible

CFOslikeSmitharealreadypreparingfor adifficult2027-28budgetcycle,planningto move to zero-based budgeting to find efficienciesthatincrementalcutscannolonger deliver.

ForHISD,thestatetakeoverin2023complicatedthetrajectoryofitsbonds.

“All those things did not lead to a lot of goodpublicityforHoustonISD,sowhenwe went out for a $4.4 billion bond, it failed,” Terry explained “Like many of the school districtshere,wehavesomeschoolsthatare

over100yearsold.Whenwestarted,wehad a position control of 37,000 employees. We nowhavelessthan25,000employees.Wedid notaffectourteachers.”

He added HISD is going to refinance “in thenearfuture.”

Thereasoningbehind consolidation

While the bond question remains open, HISDistakingamoreimmediatesteptostabilize its finances: Consolidating underenrolledschools.

Terry confirmed that consolidations wereplannedforthecomingfiscalyear,the underlying math being, “For a school districtto,inaccountingterms,breakeven,they needabout300to400kids,”heexplained.

Every school in the consolidation plan fallsbelowthatthreshold,meaningeachone isafixed-costdrainbeforeasinglevariable expenseisadded.

Eliminating those losses, he said, would helpthedistrictholditsground.

“We’regoingtobreakeventhisyear,soit willhelpuswithourfundsnextyear,”Terry said to the Defender “But we don’t know exactly what the legislature is going to do next year or exactly what the enrollment is goingtobe.”

Thesentimentechoedacrossthepanel. Smith [Cy-Fair ISD] described a recent process of cutting $58 million from her district’s budget, one that she said had to begin atthetopbeforeanyasksweremadeofindividualcampuses.

KatrinaMontgomery,CFOofAustinISD, described an even steeper climb of a projected$100millioninreductionsneededfor the coming year, layered on top of years of deficitbudgetsthathadleftthedistrict’sfund balancefragile.

“Year over year over year…we’ve passed deficitbudgets,andsonowwe’reintheplace wherewehavetofigureouthowtocontinue togrowourfundbalance,”Montgomerysaid “That’s where the stress and the hard work reallycomein.”

Austin ISD also lost approximately 3,000 students in a single year, compounding the gap. Her takeaway was that staffing allocations demand far closer monitoring, citing one campus that was overstaffed by 14 fulltime positions at an average cost of $85,000 each

“When I came to Austin, there was a saying, ‘At Austin ISD, you can have everything,’”Montgomeryadded.“Yeah,youdid, and that’s probably (why we are) where we arenow. ”

Feature DN TSUsit-ins

66 yearslater,the legacy endures

By Tannistha Sinha

On themorning of March4,1960, a groupof13Texas Southern University students walked from campus to aWeingarten’sgrocerystore on Almeda Road

They took seatsatthe lunchcounter andordered food from abusinessthat refusedtoserve Blackcustomers.Thestudentsweredeniedservice,buttheydidnot leave,remainingseatedinquietprotestand igniting Houston’sfirstmajor civilrights demonstration

“OnMarch4th,1960,they[students]sat downsothenationwouldbeforcedtostand up,”saidSerbinoSandifer-Walker,aprofessorofjournalismatTSU.“Theywantedto be treatedlikefirst-classcitizensbecause, fortoolong,theyhadbeentreatedlikesecond-classcitizens. Thisissomething that they felt hadtocometoanend.”

At thetime, segregationlawsand customs acrossthe SouthbarredBlack customers from sittingat“white-only”lunch counters

Sixty-sixyears later, thelunch counter isgone.Thecityhastransformed.Thelaws havechanged.

Butthe spirit of student activism that beganthatday stillechoesacrossthe TSU campus,evenastoday’sstudentsconfronta very differentset of politicalbattles.

A lunch counter that sparked a movement

ItwastheprotestthatchangedHouston. Historianssaythe1960sit-inwasbothlocal andnationalinits significance.

The protest, organizedbythe students’ ProgressiveYouth Association,challenged thecity’ssystemoflegallyenforcedsegregation andstrategizedtodismantleit.

Membersofthe ProgressiveYouth Association,mostly TSUstudents, protestedatWeingarten’sin1960. Credit:Texas SouthernUniversity

AccordingtoTSU’s Thurgood Marshall SchoolofLawprofessorJamesDouglas,the protestbeganwithjust13studentsandthen quicklybecameaturningpointforthecity.

“Atthattime,AfricanAmericansdidnot havetheabilitytoeatinwhiterestaurants,” said Douglas. “This wasthe beginning of thecivil rights movement in Houston… They integrated thelunch countersoon after that.”

Decadeslater,the protestsitelooks very different.A U.S. post office nowoccupies thelocationwhere Weingarten’s grocery storeoncestood.

‘Wejustbelieveditwas theright thing to do’

Forthose whoparticipated, thedemonstrationscarried real danger

It gave me alot of determinationto want to fight down thebastions,those remainingbastions of segregation.”

Texas StateRep.Senfronia Thompson, a TSUalum, wasamong thestudentswho participated in the1960 sit-in at aMedex Pharmacy,a separate protestthatwas part ofthesamemovement.Ittookplacewhere aWalgreens sits today.

Manystudentsfacedtheriskofarrestor violence.Othersworriedthatbeingarrested coulddamagetheir future careers.

ButThompson recalled that thosefears did notdeter theprotestors.

“Itgavemealotofdeterminationtowant tofightdownthebastions,thoseremaining

“We’re apartofCongressional District 18,and fornearlya year,wewerewithout representation,” addedTyson,referencing thegap in representation after Sylvester TurnerdiedinofficelastyearandChristian Menefeewinningthe run-off election last January.“Ifyoudon’thavearepresentative, that meansyou don’thaveasay in things that go on in Texas, andthataffectsyou. We’reverymuchlivinginatimewhereour democracyisflawedandinneedofleadershipthatwon’tbenegligenttotheneedsof theAmericancitizens.”

Sandifer-Walkersaidthe students’protest wasgroundedinconstitutionalrights andthattheir actionshelpedshape lasting legalchangesandcontinueinfluencingstudentactivismtoday

“These TSUstudentstoday standon theirshoulders,”shesaid.“Theyhavestood upthroughsomanydifferentmeans…their wayofprotestingisthrough social media. People don’trealize howsocialmedia has democratizedpeopletobeabletousetheir voices in an effective way. ”

bastions of segregation,”Thompson said “Wejustbelieveditwastherig

Newissues, newactivism

Whilethecivilrightsmove the1960sfocusedonsegregat voting rights, thepolitical lan facingstudents todayisdiffe ArtistTyson,aseniorpolit ence majorwitha minorin American studiesatTSU,sa heardabout thebroader ci movement growingupinth “deep”LouisianaandAlabam initiallyknowabout theTSU

Headdedthat,inthepostera, students’issues have cha Amonghis peers, he sees increasedconcernaboutvote turnoutand representation in Congress

m ementof tionand dscape erent ticalsciAfrican id he had ivil rights e South, in a,butdidnot U protest. segregation nged an r

TexasState Rep. Senfronia Thompson, aTSU alum, participated in the1960sit-in. Credit:Senfronia Thompson Thompson ghtthingtodo”

Black southernbelles

By Laura Onyeneho

Today BlackwomenacrossHouston are confronting that legacy whilereshapingwhatitmeansto beaSouthernBelleinamodern Black context. Historically the Southern Belle emerged as an idealizedrepresentationofwhitewomanhood in the pre-Civil War South. She was expected to be charming, modest and dependent, her “delicacy” reinforcing racial and class hierarchies.Theplantationeconomyallowedherto embody leisure while enslaved Black women performed the labor that sustained Southern householdsandculture.

But according to Dr Karen Kossie-Chernyshev a history professor at Texas Southern University centering the term Southern Belle is one example of Black womanhood being misrepresentedinhistory.

Black women did not arrive in the Americas without concepts of beauty, femininity or self-presentation, she said Enslaved African women carried cultura traditions with them includingadornment,braiding,color,andcarriage, even as systems of enslavement worked tostripthemofdignityandbodilyautonomy “Enslavementwasdesignedtostripwomen

Redefining the meaning of:

offemininityandbeauty,”Kossie-Chernyshev said “ButBlackwomenresistedthatinsubtle andpersistentways.”

The Southern Belle archetype, by contrast was a constructed ideal tied to whiteness and economic privilege. While popular culture laterromanticizedtheimagethroughfilmslike 1939’sGonewiththeWind Kossie-Chernyshev says the ideal was largely reserved for women oftheplanterclass,whoseleisurewassustained by Black domestic labor. That dynamic, she said complicatesmodernattemptstoreclaim theterm

“Black women historically did not define their beauty in response to white women’s standards,”shesaid “Soresistancetotheterm makessense.”

Afteremancipation,Blackwomennavigated a new set of expectations shaped by survival respectability andsafety Dress,grooming and etiquettebecametoolsforprotectionandsocial mobility. Churches, HBCUs, sororities, and civic organizations emphasized presentation as a way to reclaim dignity in a society that

routinelydeniedit

Sunday church attire gloves, hats, and formal dress offered moments where Black women could assert humanity after a week of labor.Insomecases,clothingevenfunctioned asresistance,signalingsanctityorrespectability toprotectagainstsexualviolenceinapost-slaverySouth.

“Blackwomenwereneverallowedtojustbe pretty,”Kossie-Chernyshevsaid “Theyalways hadtobestrongatthesametime.” That history, she explained, is why the Southern Belle remains a fraught reference point. While Black women helped create Southern culture, from foodways to fashion to hospitality, their labor was excluded from thearchetype’srewardsandrecognition.

Whenthelabeldoesn’tfit

“When I hear Southern Belle, I think of a white woman, ” said Dr Ashandra Batiste, founderandCEOofEliteDentalWellness “I doesn’tfeelendearingbecauseitwasn’tcreated withusinmind.”

“If we’re talking about intelligence access, leadership and running businesses Black women have always embodied that,” she said “Butthedefinitionhastobehonest.”

She describes herself as a “Southern rebel,” someonewhocarriesherselfwithdignityand elegance but refuses to romanticize the past Raisedinafamilythatemphasizededucation, discipline, and accountability Batiste said she is intentional about passing those values to her children, particularly as she watches standardsshift

“Wecan’tlosethesenseofprideinhowwe present ourselves and how we move through the world,” she said noting concerns about younger generations being disconnected frombothhistoryandhowBlackpeoplehave to move in the world. “The standards have droppedtohell Wehavetodobetteratteaching our children about etiquette, hospitality, andcarryingthemselveswithconfidence.You havetobethebestversionofyourself.”

Houston resident Demetra Liggins Banks embraces Southern hospitality and etiquette,

butsheresistslabelingherselfaSouthernBelle. “Thewordcarriesahistory,”shesaid “Even ifpartsofitresonate Iwouldn’tclaimit.”

Banks said she was raised around strong Southern women who modeled warmth and generositywithoutneedingatitle.Forher,the reluctance is less about rejection and more aboutself-definition Shevaluestradition,but resistsarchetypesthatfeellimitingoroutdated “ThecornerstoneofbeingaSouthernwoman isprobablySouthernhospitalityandetiquette,” she said “These are characteristics I proudly possess. ”

RedefiningSouthernwomanhoodon Blackterms

Popular culture has played a key role in expandinghowtheSouthernBelleisimagined CharacterslikeWhitleyGilbertonADifferent WorldofferedaversionofSouthernrefinement thatwasunapologeticallyBlack,educated and self-assured

RealitytelevisionfiguressuchasformerReal Housewives of Atlanta starPhaedraParksand shows like The Belle Collective further position Black Southern women as socially connected financiallyempowered,andculturally influential

These portrayals matter because they shift the archetype from a state of dependency to oneofautonomy ThemodernSouthernBelle in entertainment is no longer defined by who shemarries,bu bywhatshebuilds,owns and leads.TiffaniJanelle,aHoustonnativeandchef with more than two decades in the culinary industry says that today’s Black Southern Belle is a woman who moves through the world assured in who she is, benefiting from thegroundworklaidbygenerationsbeforeher.

Powerofsisterhood

Carmen Jones, founder of Black Girl Social Club,framesthemodernBlackSouthernBelle as someone rooted in values and intentional behavior Raised learning etiquette and social standards from older generations, Jones views refinement not as elitism, bu as respect and protection

community through hospitality, graciousness andtradition.”

That foundation was built through service, hospitality, and community care Janelle comesfromalonglineofwomenwhoserved aschurchleaders,bakers hosts,andcaretakers womenwhofedpeoplenotjustwithfood,but withpresence Thatlineagedirectlyshapedher life’swork

As a private chef Janelle has shared Southern-rooted cuisine across the globe, from EuropetotheCaribbean,carryingfamilytraditions with her into elite and international spaces

Janelle now watches that legacy take shape through her 15-year-old daughter who is beginning her own entrepreneurial journey. HeradvicetoyoungBlackwomenistounderstandthattheworldwasnotbuiltwithyouin mind, but space has been carved out for you tooccupyfully.

“Take up space, ” she said “Build something legacy-centered. There’s no timeline on purpose, but once you know you’re called to something,youbelongthere.”

“Showingupwithintegrity,knowinghowto moveindifferentspaces andhonoringcommunitystillmatters,”shesaid Herworkemphasizes mentorship accountability andthepreservation oftraditionsthathavelonghelpedBlackwomen navigateSouthernsociety.

ThroughBlackGirlSocialClub Jonescreates spacescenteredonmentorship,accountability and sisterhood reinforcing values she believes havebeendilutedovertime Herworkisabout preserving standards while allowing Black womentodefinethemforthemselves

Michiel Perry, founder of BSB Media, describes Black Southern Belles as women whohavealwaysshapedSouthernculture,even whentheywereexcludedfromitsimagery.

“To me I think of the women in my family (from the hairdressers to the seamstresses) and who I grew up with in church, through communityactivities theteachersandadministrators at my schools,” she said “The archetype to me means the women who are the artisansofthetraditionsofhomeandlifestyle, whethertheyworkedonafarm,factory,campus, or office She is a woman who serves her

PerrycreatedBSBMediaafternoticingalack ofBlackSouthernlifestylerepresentationwhile planningherweddinganddecoratingherhome “WhenIwasplanningmyweddinganddecoratingmyhome Iwasn’tseeingenoughBlackand southernlifestylecontent,especiallyBlack-owned vendors,” she said “I wanted monogrammed items that represented the HBCUs my bridesmaids attended and it inspired me to find this content, and when I didn’t see it I bought the URLandwentfromthere.

What began as a personal search became a platform highlighting Black-owned businesses home décor, food travel and family traditions Perry views the work as honoring skills Black womenhavelongpracticed.

“Ibelieveweareheretoshinealightonwhat hasalreadyexistedwithinourcommunitiesand tohonorthattradition,”Perrysaid “Ourancestors createdanddevelopedthesecraftsandexpertise in home and entertaining, and today’s modern women are continuing the tradition to cultivate our professional careers, deepen our friendships and maintaining our family traditions and connections, al while innovating and creating newtraditions.”

GIGWORKERS!

Don’t get in trouble this tax season

By Laura Onyeneho

Ifyoubraidedhair,cateredaparty,drove forarideshareapp,orsoldhandmadegoods atapop-upshopandgotpaidthroughCash App,Zelle,orVenmo,theIRSalreadyknows about it And if you didn’t report it, this tax season could be costly

WiththeApril15federaldeadlineweeks away,taxprofessionalsareurginggigworkersandsidehustlerstogettheirfinancesin order before the IRS comes calling.

“Alwaysreportallofyourmoney,regardless of how much it is,” said Aliah Minor, a Houston-basedbusinesstaxstrategist “Let’s writestuffoffsothatyoudon’tgetsomething that says, ‘Hey, you are trying to evade us,’ otherthanyouwroteoffabunchofstuffthat youmaybeabletoproveversusyounotputtingenoughmoneyonyourreturn.”

The stakes are real According to IRS guidelines, any gig worker who earns $400 or more in net income is required to pay a15.3%self-employmenttax,whichcovers SocialSecurityandMedicarecontributions.

GIG WORKERS BEST PRACTICES

Michelle Levi McDaniel President & CEO, Elite Image Tax & Notary Service

That obligation exists whether or not a workerreceivesa1099-Kformfromapayment platform

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which governs the 2025 tax year filed in 2026, the threshold for payment apps like Venmo and PayPal to issue a Form 1099-K has been reset to more than $20,000 and over 200 transactions But tax professionals stress that this reporting threshold does not determine taxability. All income, even a $50 cash payment for a service, must still be reported

“Themisconceptionisthatpeopledonot liketoreportcash,”Minorsaid “Thatmoney stillgoestoyourbankaccount,andtheIRS stillgetsitbecausewhateverthethird-party company is has to report it.”

Minor also drew an important distinctionthatmanyappusersoverlook Notevery digital payment is taxable. Splitting a dinnerbillorreimbursingafriendthroughthe “friendsandfamily”optiononVenmodoes notcountasincomebecauseyoudidn’tearn

Set a Plan. Most cashbased and gig workers go with the flow and don’t have a financial plan. Without one, you’re not benefiting from what you’re earning.

Get Involved and Determine Your Direction. Decide where you want to take your gig business. Is it staying a side hustle, or do you want to grow it into a legitimate, revenue-generating business?

Be Active in Your Business Growth. Whether your hustle is part-time or fulltime, stay engaged and involved in its growth.

Have a Trusted Resource

— Not Google. The internet gives partial information that doesn’t apply to every industry

Find a licensed tax professional who knows your specific field

it. But the moment a transaction is marked asabusinessorservicepayment,itisreportable, trackable, and owed to the IRS.

She also stressed the importance of separating business and personal finances immediately.

“You never want to commingle funds. Have your business at one bank, your personal at another. If you need to pull from your business account for personal use, transfer it first and document it properly,” Minorsaid “Becausewhenanauditcomes, they want to see everything, and every line that doesn’t make sense is a problem.”

Michelle Levi McDaniel, president and CEO of Elite Image Tax & Notary Service inHouston,saysmanygigworkersarealso missing out on significant tax benefits simplybecausetheyarenotstructuredproperly as businesses

“Alotofpeopleinthegigeconomywork under their social security number, which means that income is taxable to them personally,”shesaid “IfyougetaDBA,a‘Doing

BusinessAs’certificate,andanEINfromthe IRS,youbecomeasoleproprietor,andyou can start writing off your expenses.”

ADBA,orassumednamecertificate,can beobtainedatmostTexascountyofficesfor aslittleas$25andisvalidfor10years.With that structure in place, eligible deductions can include supplies, marketing, mileage, utilities, a dedicated home office, and even uniforms, all expenses that reduce taxable income.

Mileage,inparticular,isoneofthemost commonly missed deductions and one of the most scrutinized. Minor recommends anappcalledMileIQ,whichautomatically tracks every trip and generates a year-end mileagesummary,thekindofdocumentation the IRS demands in an audit.

“When that audit comes, they’ll ask you to prove your mileage, and whatever you putontherethatyoucannotprove,theywill takeoff,”Minorsaid.“Andiftheytakeitoff, that means you’re going to end up owing them later.”

BothexpertsalsoflaggedScheduleC,the IRSformusedbysoleproprietorstoreport business income and losses, as a major audit trigger. McDaniel noted the IRS redflag returns where a business shows a loss every single year

“Typically, you get two years of a new startup business to be at a loss,” McDaniel said “Butwhenyou’reatyearfiveorsixand stillinthesamebusiness,that’sanindicator.”

For side hustlers who haven’t tracked a single expense, experts say it is not too late Gobackthroughbankstatementsand payment app histories month by month. Create a simple spreadsheet, 12 tabs for 12 months, logging every dollar earned and every expense paid If you filed incorrectly inaprioryear,IRSForm1040-Xallowsyou to submit an amended return.

For the first time, self-employed workers who receive tips may be able to deduct upto$10,000to$12,500fromtheirtaxable incomeundernewprovisionsfromtheOne Big Beautiful Bill Act. Minor confirmed the deduction applies to self-employment income, a significant benefit for Houston’s service-based workers that many have yet to discover

“Youhaveabusiness,notjustasidehustle,” Minor said “Run it like one. ” Free tax help is available across Houston through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and the AARP Tax-Aide program for qualifying individuals.

For more information, visit irs.gov/vita.

Rewrites the music rulesfor Black women JamiePerry

ByLauraOnyeneho

Shewasfouryearsold,sittingbesideher mother in achurchpew,whenshe sawit forthe first time,aviolinist,bow in hand, fillingthe sanctuarywithsound.Jamie Perrydidn’tknowwhattheinstrumentwas called.Sheonlyknewshewantedtodothat

More than twodecades later, that little girl from Houston, Texas, is nowthe violinistatWheeler Avenue BaptistChurch, arecordingartist, amusic educator,and a multi-genreperformer whohas takenher bowtostagesacrossthe world.

Perry’spathwas pavedright here in Houston. At fiveyears old, sheenrolled in theviolin programatParkerElementarySchool,amagnetschoolwhosemusic curriculumgaveherbothin-schoollessons andaccesstoprivate instruction. Herfirst teacher, ShirleyCook, laid thefoundation forherearlyeducation.KathyKarpickicarried herfromthird gradethrough tenth, sharpening hertechniquethrough private lessonsand orchestratraining.

From there, thepipelinethatHouston’s arts communitybuilt forstudentslikeher guidedPerry to Johnston Middle School, nowMeyerlandMiddle,whereDr.CatherineBrown taught herhow to carryherself in an orchestra.

“Shemadesurethatweknewhowtoplay in an orchestra, howtosit,whattowear, howtobeina group,”Perry says Dr.JoséRocha then trainedher as concertmaster in eighth grade. Thencame HSPVA(Kinder High School forthe PerformingandVisualArts),whereDr.Hector Aguerofurther cemented hercraft.

In2014,atjust18,shewenttoLondonto pursue herbachelor’sdegreeinviolinperformanceatTheRoyalAcademyofMusic, theoldestconservatoireintheUnitedKingdom. Shewas oneofthree Americansin hergraduatingclassof88students.Shewas theonlyBlack American

“IreallyfeltlikeImetGodagaininLondonbecause Iwas by myself,” Perrysays. “Beingaroundpeoplewhoarereallyexcellent at that level, it kind of humblesyou, butatthesametime,itgivesyouthisfuel.”

TheRoyalAcademypushedherhard,but itwasherteacherthere,JoshuaFisher,who helpedher findherself

“Hereallytaughtmehow to be Jamie,” shesays. “Hemadeitclear that no matterwhatIdid,aslongasitwas technically sound, as long as it wasexcellent,itwas beneficialtome.”

Shewalkedthe same hallways as Jacob

Collier, nowone of themostcelebrated musiciansinthe world.

“Wewereinthe same graduating class,”Perrysays.“Wesaweachother in thecanteen.Being around people likethat,you’relike,‘wait,Icanactually hang with thebig dogs andstill be myself.’”

Coming home

Perrybegan thinking abouther next move before graduation.She turned to someonewho hadalwaysbelievedinher, MinisterLeonLewis,theministerofmusic at WheelerAvenueBaptist Church

He hadwatched herplaysince shewas achild,had invitedher to performduring summertimeandholidayserviceswhenshe came home from school,and hadalways seen thepotential in bringing stringsinto thechurch’sministry.

“I sent himalongemail.Ithanked him forhis supportand,atthe end, askedif theremightbeaplaceformeonhisteam,” Perrysays.“Hesaid,‘Absolutely.Wewould love to have you. Thishas been p vision foryears.’”

Thatwaseightyearsago.Today theloneviolinistinthe Wheeler b only womanamong agroup shedescribes as “someofthe topmusicians in theworld.”

Sheisalsothe assistant orchestradirectoratBookerT WashingtonHighSchool,pourin into thenextgenerationofHoust musicians.

Sisterhood in creativity

Rivers is the dance directorat Wheeler Avenue BaptistChurch andJamie Perry’s closest friend. Credit: Q. Olivia Rivers/ Instagram

setting, there’sa spectrum,”Riverssays.“There aremoments of quietreverence where ah ym n sounds so soft andsweet and melodic.Andthen thereare times wherewearerockingout,it’salmost like arockband.”

When Perry released hersingle “Church” on her birthday,Feb.1, Rivers choreographeda dance piecefor it,collaboratingwithher friend to visually bring themusic to life.

“Did youeverthink ourancestors wouldbepraying in thecottonfields

startedthecar,theseatbeltchime.Sheand afriendrecordedit, slammedthe door, revvedtheengine,andbuiltabeatfromthe sounds.Fivetrackslater,she hadher first project.Hernewsingle“Church”marksher first forayintogospelmusic,and she hints that alargerproject is in theworks

“I can’tgivetoo much away,” shesays, “but it’s gonnabelit.”

Perrygrewupinclassroomswhere thenumberofBlack students in orchestradwindledeachyear. Heradvicetothe younggirls coming up behind herisas grounded as thefaith that drives everythingshe does:“Give yourself grace. Slow practice is your best friend. Have funwith it.And placepositiveaffirmationsonto what you’re doing, becauseitisadifficult instrument,butifyouinvestthetimenow, it won’tbeashardinthe future.”

“Inkindergarten, everyone’s doing it.Byfirstgrade,there areafew.Byfifth grade, it mightjustbeyou andone other kid,”Perry says.“Now, seeing alltypes of Blackviolinart of my

y,Perryis band, the g ton’s

QOliviaRivers, thedance di Wheelerand Perry’sclosest fri hadafront-row seat to allofit. connectedatchurchyears ago, R yearsPerry’ssenior,drawninbyt of stringsshe’d always loved.

“Theway Jamieplays musicin

irector at iend, has The two ivers, 10 thesound a church

Jamie Perry,Houston-born violinistand Wheeler Avenue BaptistChurchmusician, studiedatLondon’s Royal AcademyofMusic, becoming the only African American in her graduatingclass of 88 Credit:Jimmie Aggison

p y g aboutthislittleBlackgirlwhowas going to grow up and play the violin?” Rivers said “There are spaces our ancestors fought for us to be in, stages we would never have been able to dance on ” Perry’s debut EP, Driving Music, released in 2020, was born from a soundsheheardinher MiniCoopervehicle every time she yp ists, doing rock, EDM, gospel,andseeingus take the violin and make it fit into our culture, I think, is really, really cool.”

Sports DN

WELL-TRAVELED SWAC QB

CAM’RON McCOY

Excited for Texas Southern opportunity

By Terrance Harris

Cam’Ron McCoy is getting his footing duringTexasSouthern’sspringdrills,growing more comfortable and excited about a place he never imagined he would be

Forthosewho’vefollowedSWACfootball overthepastcoupleofseasons,youmightbe morefamiliarwithMcCoythanyourealize. Youmayhaveseenthedual-threatquarterback in action

Acoupleofyearsago,heplayedquarterback in spots for the Jackson State Tigers And he got in some snaps, even starting a game, for the Southern Jaguars last season. Now McCoy is suiting up for the Tigers with his best chance of becoming a fulltime starter.

IfyouaresurprisedMcCoyiswearingthe maroon and white, you aren’t the only one.

“It’snotwhereIthoughtIwouldendup,” McCoy said recently to the Defender “If I took it back to high schoolandtoldmyself that I would end up here, I wouldn’t believe myself

however, has come at JSU and Southern, where he spent a year at each school

“Itgivesmeagoodedge,”McCoysaid “I told Coach Dishman a couple of weeks ago that I’ve beat every team in the SWAC and I’ve also lost to every team in the SWAC

“Knowingthat,IjustthinkIknoweverybody’s strengths and weaknesses now, a lot ofthethingsthedefensesaregoingtobring to me, and give knowledge to our defense about the things that the offenses are going to give Just spreading knowledge all over.”

McCoy, a promising duo-sport athlete out of St. Louis, had his best college season statisticallywithSWACWestfoeSouthern. Lastseason,thespeedy6-foot-1quarterback completed 51 of 108 passes for 698 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions in the 10 games played, including one start.

TSUSpringGame

When: Saturday,April 11

Where: DurleyStadium

“But I’m glad Everything is a learning lesson, and I’m glad to be in the position I am right now. ”

That position is potentially filling a gapingholeintheTigersquarterbackroomafter lastseason’sstarter,KJCooper,andprimary backupJordanDavisbothleftthisprogram this offseason via the transfer portal.

Third-yearTSUcoachCrisDishmanand his staff this offseason added bodies to the QB room, including junior college transfer Jeremiah Harrell and Nelson Peterson, the youngerbrotherofformerNFLstarAdrian Peterson, from Forney High School While Dishman and quarterbacks coach Harold Smith are quick to make the point that the quarterback competition is still wide open, thereisnodenyingthatMcCoyshouldhave the leg up based on sheer experience in the league alone.

In 23 college games that span stops at EasternMichigan,JacksonState,andSouthern,McCoyhascompleted81of174passes for 1,081 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions, and a 108.9 passer efficiency rating The bulk of his playing experience,

But his production didn’t result in wins, as the Jaguars finished 2-10 and 1-7 in the SWAC, while head coach Terrence Graves was fired during the season after a 1-6 campaign NFLHallofFamerMarshallFaulkhassince taken over the program.

Thewholeexperienceoflastseasondidn’t sit right with McCoy, who jumped into the portalonJan.12andlandedinthedivision with the Tigers

“I just want to finish it out,” McCoy said when asked why he decided to transfer to histhirdSWACschool.“Lastyearleftabad taste in my mouth at Southern, so I didn’t want to just leave the conference like that.”

So far this spring, the coaching staff has been impressed by how McCoy has gone about his business, tackling the playbook, earning his teammates’ respect, and taking on a leadership role

“Camhasbeenlookingreallysharp,”said Dishman. “We’re not naming anyone right now. Everyone thinks Cam is going to be our guy. But he has (some) practices to go to prove he is the guy. ”

Smith, who has taken over as the sole quarterbackscoachthisoffseason,hasbeen equally impressed.

“I think Cam is doing an awesome job,” Smith said “He’s got here from Day 1; he’s

It’s a great quarterbacks (room). Anywhere I’ve ever been,

best

I’ve

the

teams

ever played on, it’s a competition every day in the quarterback room. I feel like these guys are pushing me to be the best I can be, and that’s all I can ask for.”

CAM’RON MCCOY

gottheplaybookinhishands.He’sastudent of the game, he’s a professional, he’s a pro. He is out here every day. He is the first one out here, the last one to leave.

“I’m excited about what we are getting out of him.”

McCoy is equally excited about this new opportunityatTSU,hisnewteammates,and

the possibilities of this upcoming season. “It’sbeenagoodtransition,”saidMcCoy, who also played baseball at Eastern Michigan “Everybody has been real welcoming to me They haven’t looked at me like an outsider or anything like that

“So the transition has been very good, fluid, and easy for me.”

Sports DN

ports

ABOUTANTHONY AVALOS Class: 2026

IG: @Anthonyavalos2026

Position: Forward

Height& weight: 6-feet-6, 200 pounds

Favoriteartist:

NBAYoungBoy

Status: Uncommitted

Favoritesubject: Math

AnthonyAvalos(right) shakes the hand of his coach, CraigMaura,after one of his recent dunk contestdunks. Credit: Jimmie Aggison.

ANTHONYAVALOS

By Jimmie Aggison

Thegym buzzed as thefinal attempt neared,but fewpredicted what happened next

MadisonseniorAnthonyAvalos,already knownforhisabove-the-rimskills,stepped up,focused,andlaunchedhimself,clearing notjustone,but twoplayers before deliveringadunkthathad theentirearena on theirfeet.

It wasthe highlightofthe 2026 HISD All-Stardunkcontest,butforAvalos,itwas justanotherchapterinajourneythatstarted yearsearlier,whena13-year-old first realized he couldfly.

Avalosfacedtoughcompetitioninafield full of dunk enthusiasts: Rico Taylor from Yates, RileyHudlowfromBellaire, Collier ColemanfromWheatley,KendarionPayne fromWheatley,MichaelDanielfromWestside,and Adam McIntyre from Lamar.

“Thereweremanythoughtsinmymind before thedunk, butIknewif Ijumped over twopeople, everyone wouldjumpout of theirseats,”saidAvalos

Avalos hadpreviouslyjumpedover someoneinthe second round, andthe gymerupted,creatingevenmorecreative

pressure on hiscompetitors

However,thisspecificdunkwasn’tspontaneous;itwastheresultofweeksofpractice andpreparation

“I hadbeenpracticingthatdunkevery dayfor twoweeks,” said Avalos

Whilethe dunk mayhaveseemedlike abreakthroughmomenttothe crowd, for Avalos,the artofdunking took yearsto develop,datingbacktowhenhefirstgained crowdsupport afterdunking in middle school

“Itwas thebestfeeling,” said Avalos.“I wasabletodunkatLawsonMiddleSchool during layuplines in frontofeverybody.”

Feelingthatexcitementand energy was contagious

“After that,Ikeptpracticingdunking becausedunking made everything else in thegameeasier,” said Avalos

That earlymomentdidn’tjustspark excitement;itsparked obsession. Avalos begantrainingtoimprovehisverticaljump.

“I begantorun alot anddoaround200 calf raisesa day,”saidAvalos.

By thesummerofhis eighth-grade year, Avalos wasnot only dunkingbut doingso confidently.This soon encouragedhim to

studythe greatplayers whocamebefore him.

“Myhighschoolcoach,Craig Maura, is abig Dr.Jfan,sowewatch alot of dunk contests,”saidAvalos.

Besidesthe legendaryJuliusWinfield “Dr.J”Erving,Avalosalsoexaminedformer NBAstarsVinceCarterandTracyMcGrady, both knownfor theirincredibledunks.

“I wouldwatch VinceCarterand tryto recreatehis360-windmilldunk,”saidAvalos.

“Hestudied Dr.J,Vince,and Tracy McGradyashetried to mimictheir explosiveness,” said Madisonheadcoach Craig Maura.“Youcan seethese influencesinhis game today, in hisworkoutsinthe weight room,andhisexplosivetraininginthegym.”

Whilethose influenceshelpedshape his identity on thecourt,theyonlytellpartof thestory.Avaloshelpedleadhis team to a 16-0first-placefinishin5ARegionIIIDistrict21, butat6-feet-6,hefeels part of his game is stillunderrated.

“Ifeelmyshotblockingandballhandling areunderrated,”saidAvalos.“Everybody sees me as asmall 5, butIwould love to showthemthatI’m not. Beyond beingable todunk,Ihavetheabilitytodirectlyimpact

thegamebygettingmyteammatesinvolved andtakingoverwhenIneed to.”

“Outsideofhighlights,hecanreallyshoot thebasketball,”saidMaura.“Ibelieveifthey hadallowedhimtoparticipateinthethreepointcontest theother night, Ibelieve he would’vewonthatoneaswell,buttheylimited himtojustthe dunk contest.”

Ashisgamecontinuestoevolve,sodothe opportunitiesaheadofhim.Avalosislookingfor acollege programwitha winning basketball culture, strong family ties,and astrongemphasisonplayerdevelopment I’mnot committedright now, butI feel confident aboutmyrecruitment progress becauseeveryone’spathisdifferent,”said Avalos.“PanolaCollege,FrankPhillipsCollege,Blinn,andDallasCollegeCedarValley have allexpressed interest.”

“Him beingalatebloomer andonly startingtoplaybasketballafewyearsago,I thinkthatwithpropercoaching,puttingin thework,andworkingreallyhard,Ibelieve hecouldreachthehighestlevel,whetherit be overseas or in theUnitedStates,”said Maura.

Nomatterwherehelandsnext,onething isclear:Dunkingovertwopeopleisn’teasy.

Screen timerules forkidsineffective

ByLauraOnyeneho

Parentshavebeentoldtosimplylimittheir children’sscreentime.

Setatimer.Twohoursmaximum.Turnoff thetablet before bed. Butaccordingtonew guidancefromthe American Academyof Pediatrics(AAP),thatapproachisnolonger enough

TheAAP’scomprehensivereview,covering hundreds of studiesonthe effects of digital mediaoverthelast20years,marksadeparture from previous thinking on screen use. Thereportemphasizesthatsimplyenforcing rigidtimelimits canbackfire,and that parents should focusonthe qualityand design features of digital platformsratherthanjust thequantityofscreentime.

Dr.Stephanie Chapman, directorofprimary care psychologyatTexasChildren’s Hospital,welcomedtheshiftinthinking

“WhatIreallylikedaboutthenewpolicy statementistakingsomeofthepressureoffof parentsand saying,yeah, it’s notyourjob to tryandgetelectronicsoutofchildren’slives. It’s all of ourjobs,”she said.“It’s really hard to getelectronics outofour children’s lives becauseweliveinthisdigitalecosystem.”

Rather than obsessingoverscreentime limits,Chapmanrecommendsparentsfocus on thetypeofcontent theirchildren consume.“Things that areproblematic arethe scrolling,Instagram,TikTok,YouTubeshorts, or things that arehyper-stimulatingwith flashinglightsandaction,orthingsthathave algorithms,”shesaid.“Kidsclickonabutton fivetimes, andsuddenly allthey’re seeingis eatingdisorderorbodyimageissues.”

Ontheotherhand,shesaysusingcomputersforcreativeactivitiesrepresentsbeneficial screentime

“You’rewatchingYouTubevideosandfollowingtheirorigamifolding,oryou’reusing youriPadtopracticefilmingstopanimation, oryou’rewatchinga20-minutePBSKidscartoon that haslanguageand characterdevelopment andacademics builtin. Thatkind of media, we want to push back lessonand encourage.”

Dr.D.IvanYoung,aclinical behavioral scientistspecializinginneuroscience and emotionalintelligence,explainswhathappens inside children’s brains

“Companies spendmillions of dollars everyyeardesigningcontent algorithms, gettinggranularall theway down to the colors,the fonts, andthe characters to captivateyourchild’sattention,”hesaid.“Every time youlookatsomething that validates your perspective, your belief,orentertains you,youliterallyexperienceneurochemical interactionrangingfromdopaminetoserotonintogettingyouradrenalineuptoeven oxytocin, whichisabonding hormone.”

Parentsmustleadbyexample

Thereportrecommended making a greaterinvestmentinpublicresources that give families real alternatives to screens, includinglibraries, parks, after-schoolprograms, childcare, andcommunity spaces.

“Theappledoesnotfallfarfromthetree,” Youngsaid. “Parents, in many instances, arenot modeling behaviorsthatsuggest intimacy.Whatkidsneedmorethananythingelseinordertobewellintegratedand self-regulatedisqualitytimewithaparent.”

He says that children imitate what they seeat home.“Children have arelationship with their tablet that is farmoreattached andinalignment than they have with their parents. Hence, yousee children whowill throwahissyfitifyoutaketheirtabletaway.”

Forparentsfeelingoverwhelmed,Chapmanrecommendsstartingsmall

•Start smallbyshuttingdownelectronics 30 minutes to onehourbeforebed and removing them from children’s bedrooms

•Establishmedia-freezonesinfamilylife, such as during carridesoratmealtimes, with adults modelingand enforcingthis behavior

•Monitorcontentintentionallybyteachingchildren proper useoftechnologyand ensuring they areengaged in homework rather than playinggames or chatting with untrustworthyindividuals

The HarrisCenterfor Mental Health andIDD will be accepting proposalsfor thefollowing: CourierServices: Mail, andPharmaceuticalsRFP Specifications maybesecured from TheHarrisCenter websitewww.theharriscenter.org beginning Tuesday, April 14, 2026. TheHarrisCenter utilizes Bonfire fortheirsolicitations https://theharriscenter.bonfirehub. com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities.A non-mandatoryvendor conferencemeetingwill be heldvia Lifesize at2:00p.m., on Monday,April 20, 2026. Deadlinefor prospective vendorstosubmit questions to this RFP is Wednesday,April 22, 2026. Proposalsmustbesubmittedby11:00 a.m.,Wednesday,May 6, 2026. The HarrisCenter reserves allrightstorejectany and/or allproposals, to waiveformalitiesand reasonable irregularitiesinsubmitteddocumentsasitdeemstobeinits bestinterests and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal

Newguidancefromthe American Academy of Pediatricsindicatesthat screen-time limitsaloneare insufficient as children grow up in adigital world that impacts their sleep,learning, and mental health. Credit:Getty Images