JARVIS JOHNSON ELECTED TO FILL UNEXPIRED STATE REPRESENTATIVE TERM P2
NEWSTALK
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Volume 85 | Number 28 MAY 12, 2016 | FREE
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NEWSTALK MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER addresses flooding, finances
Anthony Mackie as the Falcon
man as Chadwick Bose r he Black Pant
P2 NATIONAL JAHANA HAYES National Teacher of the Year
Don Che ad War Mac le as hine
Will Smith as Deadshot
P3 HS ZONE MILAN YOUNG overcomes track & field hurdle
P11 TOP EVENTS
Young authors Kamryn Johnson and Saniya Scott host a book signing
P12
BLACK SUPER HEROES ...Comics add color
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Lloyd Gite displays Cuban art
Adrian Peterson gives back
Gallery owner Lloyd Gite is giving Houstonians a glimpse into the world of Cuban art. Read about the 10 days the former journalist spent in Cuba, which is opening its doors. Hear his impressions of the country. See works created by Cuban artists.
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is giving back to his hometown of Palestine, Texas, after flooding took lives and destroyed homes. Find out about his efforts to make a difference. Learn why Peterson is determined to lend a hand.
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DEFENDER | MAY 12 | 2016
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Turner addresses flooding, finances By ASWAD WALKER Defender
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ayor Sylvester Turner is wasting no time acting on his areas of focus outlined during his first State of the City address. Turner listed the city’s flooding challenges, fiscal crisis, and growth and prosperity gap as principal targets for his attention over the coming months. During his address made to the Greater Houston Partnership, Turner announced the appointment of Stephen Costello as the city’s chief resilience officer or “flood czar.” Costello, a civil engineer and former City Council member, will report directly to the mayor. Turner believes Costello’s work will convince Houstonians considering relocating to avoid future floods, to decide to stay. One thing Turner wants to see
gone, however, is the city’s $160 million shortfall, described by the mayor as “the largest fiscal challenge the city has faced since the Great Recession.” A large portion of Turner’s strategy to improve the city’s economic reality depends on removing the property tax revenue cap, an issue he vows to put before voters in November 2017. “No other local governmental authority in this state is operating under similar constraints of population and inflation,” stated Turner, of the revenue cap. “The State of Texas, under its most conservative leadership, is not governed by a similar revenue cap either.” Turner believes this move will unleash substantive growth in the city described currently by the mayor as a tale of two cities: one with signature parks and abundant retail options, and the other desperate for playground equipment and ending food deserts. Turner wants to ensure that prosperity reaches all Houstonians, highlighted
Mayor Sylvester Turner thanked Public Works & Engineering employees who helped make his pothole repair program a success.
by his pledge to humanely confront the issue of homelessness, and his call for businesses to support the Hire Houston Youth summer jobs program. Turner recently presented his
proposed budget to City Council. He believes his budget allows for city growth though it included spending cuts in the form of a freeze on pay increases and targeted layoffs.
Johnson to finish unexpired term Jarvis Johnson won the special election to fill the remainder of the unexpired term of former District 139 State Rep. Sylvester Turner, now Houston’s mayor. Johnson, a former Houston City Councilman, will serve at least until January 10, when Turner’s term officially ends. However, to keep the seat beyond that Johnson will have to defeat Kimberly Willis in a May 24 special election.
Johnson defeated his lone challenger, Rickey Tezino. However, Willis, a social worker and community activist, chose to focus her efforts on the May 24 match-up. Johnson chose to be on two ballots. Willis and Johnson were the top two vote-getters in the March 1 Democratic primary, with no Republican opposition. Turner had served in the Texas House since 1988.
localbriefs CITY LEADERS have come up with a comprehensive plan to combat human trafficking in Houston. Mayor Sylvester Turner and other leaders explained how they are addressing the problem. “Over the past few years, our human trafficking section has handled well over 1,000 cases. The common theme we have found is these victims are vulnerable regardless of background, age or gender,” said Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson. The city is working with public and private individuals who may come in contact with victims of the sex trade and labor trafficking. The city is also teaming up with taxi companies to educate drivers through text
and email blasts……..AID MAY BE AVAILABLE for flood-damaged vehicles. Texans whose vehicles were damaged or destroyed by this April’s flooding may be eligible to receive federal assistance to repair or replace the vehicle. “Those who may be eligible include not just residents of the designated counties, but also those who were working in or visiting those areas between April 17 and April 24 and had disaster-related damage to their vehicle,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin Hannes, who is in charge of FEMA’s operations in Texas. The eight counties included in the federal disaster declaration are Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Grimes,
Harris, Parker, Waller and Wharton………THE GULF COAST may be known for hurricanes, but this year the region of 60 million people could find itself at ground zero for a different type of storm: a mosquito-borne Zika epidemic. Cities such as Houston have robust plans in place, while smaller towns struggle with fewer resources. The Gulf Coast’s steamy climate, abundant mosquitoes and international airports create an environment ripe for the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has spread to 37 countries and territories in the Americas. The disease causes devastating birth defects and is linked to paralysis and other serious complications.
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national
U.S.briefs THE “GRIM SLEEPER” SERIAL KILLER has been convicted of murdering Black women for over two decades. Former Los Angeles trash collector Lonnie Franklin Jr. showed no emotion as he was convicted of 10 counts of murder in the serial killings that targeted poor, young Black women. “We got him,” exclaimed Porter Alexander Jr., whose daughter Alicia, 18, was shot and choked. Her body was found under a mattress in an alley in September 1988. “It took a long time. By the grace of God it happened. It’s such a relief.” Franklin never gave a motive for the killings……..WEST POINT is experiencing campus drama. A group of 16 African-American female graduating cadets is being investigated by West Point Academy officials after a picture circulated of the group raising their fists, a gesture some say means they support the Black Lives Matter Movement. The move would be a violation of the Department of Defense policy that warns against “partisan political activity” while in uniform. Academy officials are conducting an inquiry into the matter. As the women are waiting to hear if they will be punished, their supporters and opponents continue to fight online……..ALLEGATIONS OF A RAPE COVER-UP at Spelman College sparked controversy after a post by a young woman using the Twitter handle @RapedAtSpelman went viral. The anonymous freshman claimed that she was raped by four Morehouse students at a party. She said she was ignored by Spelman’s dean for close to a month before finally being met with pressure to remain silent. The trending topic brought out others and the hashtags #RapedByMorehouse and #RapedAtSpelman exploded across social media in response, with many saying that this kind of thing had been happening for decades at the Atlanta University Center, where both Spelman and Morehouse are located. University officials now say they are investigating.
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Lack of teacher diversity focus of summit
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By ASWAD WALKER Defender
hough demographic trends project America becoming more diverse, educator workforce diversity is moving in the opposite direction. To this end, the U.S. Department of Education recently released a report titled “The State of Racial Diversity in the Educator Workforce,” in conjunction with the National Summit on Teacher Diversity. The summit was described as “an important step in the efforts to examine the need for a more diverse teaching force, learn from each other’s best practices, and develop commitments to recruiting, supporting and retaining teachers of color.” The report reviews trends in the diversity of elementary and secondary school educators, and examines the health of the new teacher pipeline. “A diverse teacher workforce isn’t just a nicety – it’s a real contributor to better outcomes in our schools, workplaces, and communities,” Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. said. “It’s important for students of color to have role models who look like them and share common experiences. It’s just as important for all students to see teachers of color in leadership roles in their classrooms and communities.” According to the report less than one in five U.S. public school teachers –18 percent – are individuals of color, while approximately half – 49 percent – of public elementary and secondary school students are individuals of color. In addition, students of color made up 38 percent of
the postsecondary student population, but only 25 percent of those enrolled in teacher preparation programs. “We know great teachers come from all backgrounds, but we also believe that teachers who share the background of their students have the potential to make a profound additional impact,” said Elisa Vilanueva Beard, Teach For America CEO. The report reveals decreasing diversity at multiple points across the teacher pipeline, from college to classroom. As a result, the current teacher workforce is 82 percent white, with Black males making up only two percent. The report also examines programs that produce a relatively higher proportion of teacher candidates who are individuals of color. HBCUs for example, enroll only two percent of those preparing to be teachers, yet produce 16 percent of all Black teacher candidates.
Obama recognizes National Teacher of the Year VOLUME 85 • NUMBER 28 MAY 12, 2016 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Digital Editor LaGloria Wheatfall Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Proofer Maia Shelby
Editors Aswad Walker Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writers ReShonda Billingsley Jasemine Knowles Asmber Vernon Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (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).
President Barack Obama recently bestowed the National Teacher of the Year honor on a Connecticut woman who has demonstrated through her own life that students can overcome almost any obstacle. In a White House ceremony, Obama described how high school history teacher Jahana Hayes grew up in a housing project and lived in a community full of “poverty and violence, high crime and low expectations.” Jahana Hayes “Being a teacher was the furthest thing from her mind,” Obama said. “In fact, there were times where she didn’t even want to be a student.”
Obama said Hayes’ teachers saw something in her and challenged her to dream bigger and imagine a better life. They convinced her she was college material. Hayes now uses that experience to connect with the students she teaches at John F. Kennedy High School in Waterbury. “I see myself in every one of those students,” Hayes said. “I have to seize every encounter as an opportunity to create a positive memory for a child. I remember vividly the teachers who created those memories for me and encouraged me to challenge
myself.” Hayes was selected for the honor by the Council of Chief State School Officers.
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DEFENDER | MAY 12 | 2016
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MAY 12 | 2016 | DEFENDER
entertainment Year of the Black superhero W
By ASWAD WALKER Defender
ith the recent release of the Marvel blockbuster “Captain America: Civil War,” it is apparent that 2016 is the year of the Black superhero. That film alone boasts three Black heroes, two of whom are reprising past roles, and another seemingly set for stardom. “Captain America: Civil War” offers comic book and movie fans the long-awaited debut of Black Panther, the wealthiest and arguably most respected of all Marvel superheroes. Black Panther, played by Chadwick Boseman – who also played Jackie Robinson in “42” and James Brown in “Get on Up” – is joined by Don Cheadle (War Machine) and Anthony Mackie (The Falcon). On May 27, actress Alexandra Shipp will star as Storm in Marvel’s “X-Men: Apocalypse.” And months ago, Marvel’s Luke Cage aka Power Man debuted in the Netflix series “Jessica Jones.” Mike Colter plays Cage, and will soon have his own Netflix series later this year. This relative explosion of blackness in a genre that has been traditionally lily white is no accident. Nat Moore, executive producer of “Captain America: Civil War,” offered critical input on the development of characters for “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Captain America 2: Winter Soldier,” among others. Moore also suggested introducing The Falcon as Captain America’s crime-fighting partner, just as he read in the comics as a child. Black Panther was another hero who spoke to Moore. Now, Moore has helped the Black Panther speak to a new generation of movie-goers. Black Panther is presented as the equal of titans Iron Man and Captain America, a big deal in the comic world. “We kind of think of [Black Panther] as Obama,
man
Chadwick Bose
Anthony Mackie
Don Cheadle
if Obama was also James Bond,” Moore said. “He has to lead a country, but also has to be that country’s best fighter.” But Black superheroes matter to more than just Marvel. This August Will Smith will play Deadshot in the DC movie “Suicide Squad.”
Will Smith
what’sup ARSENIO HALL and SINEAD O’CONNOR are in a heated battle, with Hall recently filing a lawsuit against O’Connor, after she went on a Facebook rant saying he hooked PRINCE on drugs. Hall filed the $5 million defamation claiming, “Desperate, attention seeker Sinead O’Connor has maliciously published outlandish defamatory lies about comedian Arsenio Hall, falsely accusing him of supplying illegal ‘hard drugs’ ‘over the decades’ to the recently deceased music artist, Prince, and of spiking her with drugs once years ago.” Hall vehemently denied the allegations and said he only briefly met O’Connor years ago. She replied with
an expletive-laced response……..LAURYN HILL blames tardiness on her “energy alignment.” The former FUGEES singer took to Facebook to finally address fans over her long-standing reputation for unprofessionalism. Hill recently showed up two hours late to her show at Chastain Park Amphitheatre in Atlanta, which lasted less than 40 minutes. She reportedly arrived to her 8 p.m. show at 10:20 p.m. and her mic was cut promptly at 11 p.m. due to the venue’s strict performance rules. Fans were livid, with many blasting her apology as “an excuse” and a lack of consideration for her fans……..DENZEL and PAULETTA WASHINGTON brought in lots
of money for a worthy cause. The couple held an event at their Los Angeles home and raised over $17 million for the Smithsonian African-American Museum, scheduled to open in Washington, D.C. this fall. The event included the announcement of a hefty pledge of $10 million from television titan SHONDA RHIMES, who could not attend the fundraiser. “There is such a historical significance to this project,” said Denzel Washington, who is currently directing VIOLA DAVIS in the film adaption of AUGUST WILSON’S play ‘Fences.’ “It means so much for our community, our country and to future generations,” he said.
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hile countless Americans are waiting to experience the magic of Cuba, gallerist Lloyd Gite is already ahead of the game. Gite, who owns the Gite Gallery in historic Third Ward, is giving Houstonians a glimpse into the world of Cuban and Afro-Cuban art. Seven months ago he spent 10 days in Cuba as part of an educational tour. “I wanted to go to Cuba before it changed dramatically and thanks to the lifting of some sanctions by President Obama, I was able to do that,” said Gite, a former TV reporter. “I’m sure once American companies invade the island, there will be a Kentucky Fried Chicken on every corner. Cuba today is so historic and pretty much unchanged since the late 1950s.” Gite was impressed with the art of Cuba.
“Slave ended up in “Blacks are print on Cub Afro-Cu scene for ma celebrated in galleries. Am “I was world’s best in the U.S. h artists. I also descendants name, Picass Gite spe for art and w and canvas. Upon h finds. The C
Lloyd Gite, owner of the Gite Gallery, acquired 60 pieces during his trip to Cuba.
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es were brought from Africa and many of them Cuba working in the sugar cane fields,” he said. there today and as usual they have left their imban culture, fashion, art and food.” uban artists have been in the forefront of the art any decades. A number of those artists have been n permanent collections at national museums and mong them are Lam and Choco. able to meet Choco, who is considered one of the print makers,” Gite said. “It’s amazing how we have little knowledge of these incredible Black o got a chance to meet one of Picasso’s Black who is also a painter and works under his last so.” ent much of his 10 days on the island searching was able to purchase 60 paintings on both paper
his return home, Gite decided to showcase his Cuban pieces were custom framed and the gallery
recently held an opening, making the Gite Gallery the first in Houston to show Cuban and Afro-Cuban paintings and sculptural pieces. Nearly all of the 60 pieces sold in less than a month. “Cuban and Afro-Cuban art is similar to the art AfricanAmericans are creating,” he said. “There are lots of wonderful colors in the pieces and the subject matter is varied.” For the past 12 years the Gite Gallery has exclusively offered African art. But with the success of the Cuban and Afro-Cuban exhibit, Gite has decided to offer a permanent collection of that art. “Initially we wanted to sell only art and paintings from Africa. But with Cuba opening its doors we now feel the need to expand. We can now say we carry art by Blacks from Cuba as well. At some point we will offer black art from Cuba and from the African diaspora which would include Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and other countries where Blacks live and work and create great art,” he said. Visit www.thegitegallery.com for more information.
he Houston area for over 85 years
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About Gite • Houston native
• Earned degree in Political Science with honors from North Texas State University • Earned master’s in Radio, TV & Film with high honors from University of Michigan • Spent 25 years as TV reporter across the U.S., the last 18 years with KRIV-TV in Houston • Worked as freelance reporter for BET for 10 years • Worked as freelance writer for Essence, Black Enterprise, Glamour, GQ, USA Today and Money • Opened the Gite Gallery in 2002; voted Houston’s Best Gallery by Houston Press in 2014 • Traveled much of the world, including Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, Russia, Japan and China • Member Greater Houston Black Chamber • Celebrity clients include Beyonce’ and Tina Knowles, Loretta Devine, Tom Joyner, former NBA player T.J. Ford, NFL player Mario Williams
Cuba: 10 things to know 1. Cuba is the most populated country in the Caribbean, with more than 11 million residents. 2. Cuba has a 99.8 percent literacy rate, one of the highest in the world. 3. In March of this year, President Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Cuba in 88 years. 4. Cuba has the highest doctor to patient ratio in the world. There are so many doctors in Cuba that doctors are often sent abroad to countries with a great need of medical professionals. 5. Dance is very important in Cuba, the birthplace of the Bolero, Mambo and Cha Cha. 6. The only cars that Cuban citizens can own legally are cars created and bought before 1959. The Cuban government seized all of the cars, and owns them all to this day. Most of the pre-1959 cars in the country are from the United States. 7. In 1961 Cuban President Fidel Castro established the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere. Since then more than a million Cubans have moved to the U.S. 8. In February 2008, an aged and ailing Castro resigned as Cuba’s president, ending 49 years of uninterrupted rule. He named his brother, Raul, as successor. 9. The natural beauty of Cuba attracts millions of tourists, with many coming to see the thousands of species of plants and animals that live nowhere else on earth. 10. Protected natural areas take up nearly 22 percent of Cuban territory, providing habitats for crocodiles, flamingos, orchids and more. Sources: National Geographic, discovery.com
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DEFENDER | MAY 12 | 2016
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King, Anderson and Truth are on the money TriceEdneyWire.com
In addition to the placement of Harriet Tubman’s image on the $20 bill, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced redesigns of the $5 and $10 bill with images of other prominent AfricanAmericans. The redesign of the $5 bill will include historical events that occurred at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. These images will include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivering his 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech. Opera singer Marian Anderson will be shown singing at the top of the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 before 75,000 people after the Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow Anderson to sing in Constitution Hall because she was African-American. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who arranged for Anderson to give a concert at the Lincoln Memorial, will also have her image placed on the back of the $5 bill. The front of the $5 bill will continue to feature President Abraham Lincoln. Alexander Hamilton, the nation’s first treasury secretary, will remain on the front of the $10 bill due to the outstanding popularity of the musical “Hamilton,” which was written by and stars Lin-Manuel Miranda. Lew will put a vignette of suffragettes on the back of the $10 bill. The new $10 bill design depicts the 1913 women’s right to vote march.
Images on the bill will honor Lucretia Mott, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Alice Paul for their contributions to the women’s suffrage movement. The Treasury Department worked on the redesigns over the last 10 months and even considered the idea of creating a $25 bill, according to Lew. The final redesigns for the three bills will be unveiled in 2020 and should be available before 2030.
classified Edmentum Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.
Is bidding on Project Number 16-04-03 Comprehensive Online Instructional System for the Houston Independent School District. We are looking for possible M/WBE suppliers to provide the following Professional Development and Customer service. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Denise Hill @ denise.hill@edmentum.com
The HARRIS CENTER for Mental Health and IDD (formerly known as MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY) will be accepting proposals for the following:
PSYCHIATRIC PLACEMENT AND LOCUM TENENS COVERAGE
Marian Anderson delivered a historic performance at the Lincoln Memorial.
Sojourn er Tru is amon th g the suffra featured gettes on the $5 bill.
A reward of $20,000 is being offered for information leading to the capture of the person who shot and killed James Weldon Ecford, a 25 year-old man who was defending his mother from armed robbers. “Our entire community should be angry and outraged at this,” community activist Quanell X said. Ecford was shot and killed on April 11 in Southwest Houston while responding to the screams of his mother as she was being grabbed outside their home in the 8500 block of Sands Point. The two men began fighting until the assailant pulled out a pistol and
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS HOUSTON DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT MAIN STREET SQUARE FOUNTAIN REHABILITATION
$20,000 reward offered for killer By ASWAD WALKER Defender
Specifications may be secured from The HARRIS CENTER, Purchasing Services located at 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7300 and/or via The HARRIS CENTER website www.mhmraharris.org beginning Monday, May 16, 2016. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFP is Tuesday, May 24, 2016. Proposals must be submitted to Purchasing Services, 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 by 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 6, 2016 in a sealed envelope marked "PROPOSAL DO NOT OPEN UNTIL – MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2016, PSYCHIATRIC PLACEMENT AND LOCUM TENENS COVERAGE". Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to Frances Otto, Buyer II or Sharon Brauner, C.P.M., Buyer III, via fax at (713) 970-7682 or E-mail questions to frances.otto@mhmraharris.org cc: sharon.brauner@mhmraharris.org. The HARRIS CENTER reserves all rights to reject any and/or all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests, and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.
fired. Ecford was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Before fleeing the scene, the gunman also fired at Ecford’s mother but missed. He then got into the back seat of a waiting vehicle and fled, Houston police said. “All he was doing was what any son would do – protecting his mother,” Quanell X said. During a press conference, volunteers passed out fliers with a sketch of the gunman. “My son didn’t deserve this,” said Ecford’s father, Weldon James Ecford, who also goes by James. Anyone with information is asked to contact Houston police at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
The Houston Downtown Management District (the “Downtown District”) will receive sealed bids for the Main Street Square Fountain Rehabilitation project, located in Downtown Houston. Bids will be received until 2:00 PM, local time on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 by the Director of Construction, Downtown District, 2 Houston Center, 909 Fannin, Suite 1650, Houston, Texas 77010. Bids received after this time will not be accepted. Beginning 11:00 AM, Thursday, May 5, 2016, Bid Documents may be purchased for $50 per set from the Downtown District by cash; or by cashier's check, certified check, or money order (payable to the Houston Downtown Management District); or by credit card (MasterCard, Visa, or Discover). The cost for up to two sets will be refunded to Bidders who submit a valid bid for this Project and return bidding documents to the Downtown District. Addenda are free of charge and will be distributed by email to those who purchase Bid Documents and attend the Pre-bid Conference. Bid Documents may also be examined at plan rooms of the Minority Business Development Center (2302 Fannin Street, #165, Houston, TX 77002), Amtek Information and Plan Room (9000 Hempstead Suite 130, Houston, TX 77008) or viewed online at isqft.com. A MANDATORY Pre-bid Conference will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, in the Downtown District’s Conference Room, 2 Houston Center, 909 Fannin, Suite 1650, Houston, Texas 77010. All bidders (general contractors) are invited to attend. Bids will be ruled non-responsive if received from a bidder who did not attend the Pre-bid Conference. Late arrivals will not be admitted to the Pre-bid Conference. Bidders shall comply with City Ordinance 95-336 (March 29, 1995) and Exec. Order No.1-2 (June 14, 1995), and City of Houston Affirmative Action and Contract Compliance Division Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Procedures (June 1995). The successful Bidder will be required to make good faith efforts to achieve an M/WDBE participation goal of 20 percent.
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MAY 12 | 2016 | DEFENDER
opinion Locked out: education, jobs and justice By MARC H. MORIAL National Urban League
s we observe the 40th anniversary of the State of Black America, the similarities of the United States of 1976 and the United States of 2016 are profoundly striking. The nation was recovering from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. According to the report, “Blacks suffered disproportionately because of their low position on the economic ladder as unemployment climbed to depression levels in many of their communities ...” These words could just as easily apply to today. The 2016 edition of the State of Black America, “Locked Out: Education, Jobs and Justice,” will be released on Tuesday, May 17, during a live broadcast from the Newseum. I encourage you to watch on NBCBLK, News One or IAmEmpowered.com. The report is the National Urban League’s annual analysis of Black and Latino equality in America, and, for the second year it will be available in an alldigital format available at www.stateofblackamerica. org. Visitors will find the e-book, Web series, select data, videos, articles and other frequently updated features. This year’s report again includes the Equality Index, in its 11th year for the Black-White Index and its sixth year for the Hispanic-White Index – measuring how well Blacks and Latinos are doing in comparison to their white peers in five categories: economics, education, health, social justice and civic engagement. The report will include a retrospective detailing America’s 40-year progress in economic and social equality and opportunity. As this year’s report focuses on “Education, Jobs and Justice” it’s valuable to look back to the state of Black education, jobs and justice in 1976. On education: Former NUL President Vernon Jordan wrote, “Not only were Black children not being educated by the schools, a fact attested to by declining test scores, but they were also being thrown out of the institutions in disproportionate numbers for alleged infractions.” On jobs: “Despite claims that the recession has bottomed out and the worst is behind us, unemployment is still rampant in the nation and even the most optimistic forecast projects a continuing official unemployment rate of over seven percent. For Blacks, this automatically means an official unemployment rate of 14 percent.” Jordan added, “To assume that the nation can live with so many people unable to find jobs and forming a permanent cadre of the helpless and hap-
Daryl Cagle, CagleCartoons.com
Rick McKee, The Augusta Chronicle
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less, is dangerous. And on justice: “While blacks are over-represented as crime victims, they are underrepresented in the criminal justice system. The city of Chicago is an example with a population that is 32.7 percent Black, it has a police force that is only 16 percent Black. A survey by the Race Relations Information
Center revealed that in 42 states out of a total of 41,984 state police personnel, only 616 or 1.5 percent are Black.” At the launch of the State of Black America 2016, we look forward to hearing from Vernon Jordan himself. Some of the nation’s leading thoughtleaders, analysts and activists are featured in our Web series, such as David Johns, Jonathan Capehart, Mo Ivory and Sam White. The report itself includes essays from notables such as journalist and author Joy-Ann Reid, Congresswoman Robin L. Kelly, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Sundial Brands Founder and CEO Richelieu Dennis. Please join us online for the launch of State of Black America on May 17, and stay in touch on www. stateofblackamerca.org for our ongoing conversation.
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DEFENDER | MAY 12 | 2016
sports
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Adrian Peterson helps hometown of Palestine
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By MAX EDISON Defender
Adrian Peterson
innesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is known as a former NFL MVP, All Pro, a rushing leader and one of the most physically punishing runners of this era. The native of Palestine, Texas, recently showed that his passion doesn’t just burn hot on the playing field, but also extends to his hometown when a crisis hit the city. Torrential rains recently dropped 7.5 inches of water in less than an hour on the east Texas town. Flash flooding ensued, destroying dozens of homes and killing six people, one a former high school teammate of Peterson. That’s all the incentive he needed to spring into action to find a way to assist his hometown in its time of need. “They raised me in Palestine,” Peterson said. “You have a whole community who has supported me through Peterson’s hometown of Palestine was hit by flooding, which took lives and destroyed lives everything, my ups and my downs. They know me to my core.” Palestine holds an “Adrian Peterson Day” each summer give out more. I want a lot to be done, so when The flooding was something that caught the town of approxithat honors his accomplishments on the football field. The it does come, we’re able to do the little things to mately 19,000 totally by surprise. event includes an annual focus on some aspect of community help.” “That’s what was so unusual about it. We’ve never had an issue growth, including education and public health awareness. To that end, Adrian’s company, Texas Tea, is with flooding,” Peterson said. “We’ve had heavy rains for days at a This year’s celebration is slated for June 18, and Petersending trucks full of water, tea and other beverages time, but nothing to this magnitude. For this to hit overnight, and the son said flood response and preparedness efforts will be a to the residents of Palestine. He is speaking with damage that it caused, it was devastating.” major part of it. many of his sponsors, encouraging them to donate “They’re hard-working like you would see “Living there for so many years, you’d think, ‘Why much needed clothing. any place in America,” he continued. “These would you ever need In addition, Peterson are not people who are out on yachts on the flood insurance?’ And is working to get food defendernetwork.com weekend. These are people who are workyou come back, and trucks to the floodTexans’ rookies report ing and taking care of their families day by you’re like, ‘Dang.’ ” stricken area. to minicamp day.” Though he now makes his offseason home in The Woodlands, Peterson knew he had to do something to help the city that forged his athletic skills making him a high school all-Amer• 6-feet-1, 220 pounds, age 31 ican and the No. 1 high school • Son of a former Idaho State University basketball player Nelson Peterson recruit in 2003. and high school track champion Bonita Jackson Peterson has developed a • Broke the 2,000-yard mark as a high school junior and senior; also partnership with the Salvacompeted in basketball and track tion Army to help in the • At University of Oklahoma, set school record with 1,925 yards as a relief effort. He has made freshman in 2004, breaking Billy Sims’ record an initial investment • Broke the 100-yard mark 22 times in 31 games of $100,000 and will • 2004 Heisman Trophy runner-up and AP 1st-Team All-American match subsequent • Drafted by Minnesota Vikings seventh overall in 2007 donations. • Set NFL single-game rushing record with 296 yards vs. San Diego in 2007 “No one ever • NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2007 thought this was going • In 2008 led NFL in rushing and set Vikings single-season record with 1,760 to happen,” he said. yards “We’re working on • Took NFL mission trips to Africa in 2010 and 2011 to provide hearing aids to seeing how we can help disadvantaged children the cause even more and • In 2012 became third Vikings player to earn NFL MVP honors, joining Alan Page and Fran Tarkenton Peterson became a star running back for
About Peterson
the Minnesota Vikings in 2007.
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h.s.zone Lamar’s Milan Young overcomes huge hurdle
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By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender
t was the toughest ordeal Milan Young had ever encountered. After qualifying for the state track meet during her freshmen year in the 100-meter hurdles, the Lamar High School standout had grand visions for her sophomore year in 2015. Unfortunately, those hopes and dreams were derailed by an injury. The diagnosis was a stress fracture to her pelvic bone and basically sidelined her for the entire season. “That was the toughest situation I’ve ever had to go through as an athlete,” Young said. “I’ve never been hurt before. That was the first time. “I was able to get my confidence back quickly because the practices were hard, really hard to get me back in shape,” she said. “It was my comeback year so I had to show them.” Indeed. At the Region III-6A track and field meet held recently at Clear Creek ISD’s pristine Challenger Columbia Stadium, Young competed in three open events and won gold medals in each of them. The Lamar junior began her day by roaring from behind to nip runner-up Hawkins took an early lead and held it until the Samiyah Samuels of Clear Springs at the tape in the next to last hurdle when Young pulled even, then 100-meter dash. In fact, Young (11.728 seconds) was Hawkins regained the lead with one hurdle remaining. able to hold off the Clear Springs tandem of Samuels Hawkins crashed into the final hurdle and went down, (11.836) and Essance Sample (11.898) who placed not finishing the race. third. Meanwhile, Young took first place with a time of Young added her sec41.971 seconds and ond gold medal of the meet Kimble (42.496) qualdefendernetwork.com in the 100-meter hurdles. ified for state as the That’s the same event she See what area track standout is a runner-up. “I didn’t qualified for state in as a favorite at state meet realize that Birexis ninth grader. went down,” Young Virtually leading from said. “I just kept going start to finish, Young crossed the finish line in 13.863 and ran the race. I hope she’s fine.” seconds. Kennedy Bailey of Cypress Woods (13.932) Young finished with three gold medals at the took home the silver medal and Mayde Creek’s Javregional meet and qualified for three events at this lyn Cameron (14.088) settled for the bronze medal. weekend’s University Interscholastic League state One of the top matchups of the meet involved high school track and field meet (May 12-14) at Mike Young and Birexis Hawkins of Fort Bend Hightower A. Myers Stadium in Austin. in the 300-meter hurdles. “I’m really happy about the way things have “Coming into the race I was looking at Birexis worked out this year,” Young said. “I actually ran the and Paige Kimble [Pearland Dawson] as my stiffest mile relay early in the year. But I really wanted to competition,” Young said. concentrate on my open events.”
MAY 12 | 2016 | DEFENDER
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sportsbriefs Burrell heads to trials The University of Houston’s Cameron Burrell punched his ticket to the United States Olympic Trials after competing at the Tom Tellez Invitational. Burrell booked his trip to the trials in Eugene, Ore., and earned a shot to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games by winning the 100-meters in a wind-legal 10.16. Burrell’s time moves him to No. 7 on the NCAA list this season, and also set a stadium record. In addition to Burrell, freshman Mikaila Martin broke the women’s hammer throw record. Martin launched a throw 187-3 (57.08m) to break Shayla Bowman’s top mark in school history of 177-5 (54.07m) set in 2004. Martin made it a double play by winning the women’s shotput with a throw of 45-0.5 (13.73m).
Alvarez KOs Kahn Middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez successfully defended his title by knocking out challenger Amir Khan. Alvarez stopped Khan with a thunderous right hand to the chin in the sixth round. With the retirement of Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, many boxing experts consider Alvarez the new face of boxing. The win pushes his record to 47-1-1 with 33 KOs. Alvarez’s only loss was to Mayweather. With the win over Kahn, all eyes point to a potential match between Alvarez and Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin (“Triple G”). A fight between the undefeated (35-0, 32 KOs) Golovkin later in the fall would unify the middleweight division and bring in a mega-payday for both fighters. “We don’t come to play in this sport,” Alvarez said through his translator. “I fear no one in this sport.”
Heymach goes for repeat Julia Heymach is the defending state high school champion in the Class 6A one-mile and two-mile races. The Lamar High School standout missed the early portion of the 2016 track and field season with a strained Achilles suffered in early January. Yet the junior served notice at the recent Region III-6A meet held at Challenger Columbia Stadium that she’s rounding into form and ready to defend her titles. Heymach won the two-mile gold medal with a time of 10 minutes, 48.826 seconds. A day later, she placed first in the one-mile race with a clocking of four minutes, 52.284 seconds. “It was really fun racing with these girls because they are so fast,” Heymach said. “I was just trying to run a good time in a competitive race since I haven’t been able to do that this track season. I’m still figuring out my strengths and weaknesses along with my race strategies. I’m definitely behind where I was last year from a conditioning standpoint. But I’m not too worried about it because I can build it up again.”
Murray going to state Dawson High School’s Matthew Murray earned his first state berth by finishing second in the boys’ 1,600-meter run at the Class 6A Region III meet with a time of four minutes, 18.1 seconds. Andrew Hebert of Strake Jesuit placed first in 4:17.6. “I finished third in the 800-meter run and I wasn’t about to come in third place again,” Murray said.
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DEFENDER | MAY 12 | 2016
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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
topevents
DELTA SIGMA THETA MAY WEEK……..The Houston Alumnae Chapter of used human cell line in biomedical research. Her granddaughter Jeri Lacks Whye and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. hosted its May Week Scholarship Program at the great-granddaughter Veronica Robinson showcased a presentation of their family and University of Houston Hilton. The chapter awarded the most scholarships and the highest rich history. Attendees included Dr. Ernest Hawk, Dr. Elise Cook, Dr. Cathy Eng, Dr. dollar amount in its nearly 90-year history. Recipients included: R’riel Smith, Chandler Colleen Gallagher, Dr. Richard Theriault, Dr. Henry Gomez, Sheree Prather, Dr. Jackson, Kianna Hawkins, Pooja Agrawal, Marilyn Smith, Gerald Barnett II, Kyle Lois Ramondetta, Terry Wiley, Emmanuel Enriquez, Rosemary Catallo, Cassandra Ward, Tyra Patterson, Nasiah Richard, Andrea Graves, Evangeline Carson, Asha Harris, Chloe Dorsey and Jila Tanha……..KIDPRENEURS HOST BOOK Jackson, Lauren Hebert, Melanie Salazar, Havyn Colon, Rebecca Williams, Labria SIGNING……..Nine-year-old Saniya “Niya” Scott and 10-year old Kamryn “Kam” Lanaux, Hayley Watkins, Cameron Lavergne, Sharmerra Johnson hosted a book signing at Sugar Rush Too Cake Gallery Smith and Hannah Johnson. Those in attendance included in North Houston. In their newly published children’s cookbook, Defender TOP EVENTS Janeen Johnson, Christine Criner Smith, Nita Gilbert, “Cooking in Style,” the bite-sized authors mix unique recipes and More photos on defendernetwork.com Annetra Piper, Dr. Linda Callaway, RoseMary McGowan, stories prepped to satisfy the appetite as well as the imagination. Rosalie Buggs, Ana Kirksey and Jona Sargent……..MD Kam and Niya solidified their claim to fame after being interviewed ANDERSON HENRIETTA LACKS PANEL……..The MD Anderson Center on TV’s “The Real” daytime talk show as they continue to encourage and empower children around the world. Guests included Ebony Towns, Deborah Hodge, Earl for Clinical and Transitional Sciences and the Center for Community-Engaged Translational Research held a panel discussion titled “The Power of One: The Legacy Hodge, Lillie Parker, Angie Moore, Sharon Baker, Vonda Broden, Faye Webster, of Henrietta Lacks.” Henrietta Lacks was an African-American woman whose cervical Kiara McFee, Jerimiah Fuller, Kaliah Curry, Paula Dean, Geraton Fuller and a host of supporters. Thanks to Peaches Sullivan for the photos. cancer cells were used for research without her knowledge. It became the most widely
Eileen Barrett-Williams, Dr. Linda Callaway
Evelyn Banks, Hollie Barbour-Ball
Rosemary Catallo, Chloe Dorsey, Cassandra Harris, Jila Tanha
Kaliah Curry, Paula Dean, Kaydence McFee
Cassandra Diep, Kamisha Escoto, Loren Bryant
Kamryn Johnson, Saniya Scott
Linda Halliman, Joanna Taylor, Jona Sargent, LaVerne Richards, Shirley Sneed
Veronica Robinson, Dr. Elise Cook, Jeri Lacks Whye
Standing: Ebony Towns, Debra Hodge, Earl Hodge, Faye Webster, Sitting: Kaydence McFee, Kamryn Johnson, Saniya Scott
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