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Volume 86 | Number 34
NEWSTALK GEORGE WRIGHT Prairie View president stepping down
P2 FEATURE IRA BLAKE
named president at UHCL
P5 ENTERTAINMENT JELANDO JOHNSON taking a musical journey
Exclusive
President Austin
Lane shares inside story of TSU H PAGE 9
P6
TOP EVENTS
Deloyd Parker, Jr. and Kofi Taharka at the Pan African Cultural Festival.
Juneteenth celebrates freedom Juneteenth is Monday, June 19, and Houstonians will celebrate the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas received word that they were free. Read about historic Emancipation Park, which will be rededicated after a $33 million makeover. See the park’s improvements and learn why local ministers blessed the landmark. Discover what else is happening, from parades to musical performances to prayer breakfasts. H PAGE 12
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Prairie View A&M president stepping down Texas Tribune
Saying the time has come to “focus on other things,” Prairie View A&M University President George Wright has announced that he is stepping down. The leader of the historically Black university said he will leave his job after 14 years as soon as an interim replacement is found. The school didn’t immediately give a timeframe for when that will happen. “I have decided that this is a good time because we have just put the last legislative session behind us, and we are at a point where a transition in leadership will have the least disruption on our school,” he said in a statement. Wright, a professor of African-American Studies, said he will return to Prairie
President George Wright
View’s faculty once his interim successor is found. “What I plan to do is focus more on my research, which requires more travel and attention than I can give it in my current role,” he said. Wright oversaw the university during a time of significant growth. Under his watch, enrollment climbed nearly 40 percent to about 9,000. It added several doctoral programs, opened a degree program in Northwest Houston, created an honors college and built a new football stadium. “He touched a generation of students and faculty, and he changed lives for the better,” Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp said in a written statement. “He is to be commended, and we will miss him greatly.”
Southwest’s first Black pilot retires Defender News Services
A 64-year-old Southwest Airlines pilot has retired after nearly 37 years with the airline, and his celebration is sincerely moving. When he started at age 25, Louis Freeman was Southwest’s first Black pilot, though he didn’t know it at the time. He later became the first Black chief pilot at any major U.S. airline, paving the way for pilots of color in an industry where minorities are scarce. “It never occurred to me, but when I got here I was the only pilot of color ― it didn’t take long to figure out,” he told the Associated Press. “I put a whole lot of pressure on myself because I had to get it right. I had to be perfect because I wanted them to hire more of us.” Freeman is clearly beloved at the airline, where
he mentored plenty of younger pilots. Five of them turned up at the gate for Freeman’s recent final flight from Dallas to Chicago. “I strive to mentor all pilots.I let it be known I am just a phone call away, any day and any hour,” Freeman told HuffPost. “I love to talk, and I love to help others problem solve. Some of the young pilots presented me a poster calling me ‘the Godfather.’” For his last trip, Freeman flew a plane full of friends along with his wife and son and champagne for his passengers. The former Air Force pilot landed to a water cannon salute. He said he hopes his career inspires others. “I want people to know their dream is possible,” Freeman said. “If you dream it and if you really want it, you can make it yours. Sure, it will take work, dedication, focus, determination and knowledge, but you can do it.”
Louis Freeman
localbriefs TEXAS GOV. GREG ABBOTT SIGNED a bill banning out-of-school suspensions for students in pre-kindergarten through second grade throughout the state of Texas, except in cases involving drugs, weapons, or extreme violence. Authored by State Rep. Eric Johnson of Dallas, the law also encourages school districts to implement research-based positive disciplinary alternatives to suspension that keep kids in schools. In his official statement, Johnson said the law “sends a strong message that the state of Texas wants children to be educated and not incarcerated.”……FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE REMEMBERING A COACH killed in a wrong-
way accident. Adrian Byrd, a beloved high school coach at Heights High School, was killed after the driver of a truck was heading the wrong direction on the West Beltway near the Southwest Freeway. The collision caused a secondary accident with another car crashing into Byrd’s vehicle. Byrd’s wife was taken to a nearby hospital and is listed in stable condition. Adrian and his wife have a 3-year-old son and a daughter who turns two next month. Funeral services are pending for Byrd, who also coached at Nimitz High School…..MISSOURI CITY WILL HOST A TOWN HALL meeting with At-Large Position 1 Councilmember
Jerry Wyatt and City Manager Anthony Snipes on Tuesday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 1522 Texas Pkwy. The meeting will feature discussions on the Fiscal Year 2018 General Fund Budget; an overview of the Community Center renovations, introductions of newly hired executive team members, and updates on the Missouri City Library expansion and Houston Community College’s future grand opening of the Center for Entrepreneurship, Technology & Health, which is adjacent to City Hall. For more information call 281-403-8500.
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U.S.briefs STACEY ABRAMS COULD BECOME THE FIRST African-American female governor in American history. This won’t be the first time Abrams has sought to make historic strides in politics. She is the first woman to lead either party in the Georgia General Assembly and the first African-American to lead in the House of Representatives. Though Abrams is considered a top contender for replacing the state’s current governor, the term-limited Republican Nathan Deal, in Georgia, no Democrat has won statewide office since 2006, and that only 11 Black women have ever been elected to statewide positions nationwide.…..THE CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS WHO LIED in police reports after they watched one of their fellow officers shoot 17-year-old Laquan McDonald will be back at work, receiving their full paychecks. Officers Daphne Sebastian, Janet Mondragon and Ricardo Viramontes and Sgt. Stephen Franko had all been suspended without pay since last summer, 400 days after the city of Chicago released video of the brutal shooting that contradicted the reports the officers filed. Officer Jason Van Dyke, who was on the scene for less than 30 seconds, shot McDonald from 10 feet away as he walked away. Van Dyke fired into McDonald’s body 15 more times.......PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS ONCE AGAIN the target of a lawsuit over conflicts of interest between his presidential office and private business pursuits. The attorneys general of Maryland and the District of Columbia have filed a federal lawsuit claiming Trump is violating a government anticorruption principle in the U.S. Constitution, known as the Emoluments Clause. Trump has been allowed to sit in the White House while his business empire continues to make deals at home and overseas in secrecy. It raises questions about the motives behind his decisions, such as withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate accord to benefit the U.S. coal industry.
VOLUME 86 • NUMBER 34 JUNE 15, 2017 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Digital Editor LaGloria Wheatfall Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Proofer Maia Shelby
Editors ReShonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writers Aswad Walker Jasemine Knowles 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).
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Black unemployment falls for wrong reasons
B
NNPA Newswire
lack workers continued to experience lackluster job growth under the Trump Administration, according to the latest jobs report from the Labor Department. Although the share of Black workers in the population that held jobs ticked up from 57.6 percent in April to 57.7 percent in May and the unemployment rate decreased from 7.9 percent to 7.5 percent, the latest numbers also indicated that some Black workers exited Black unemployment is more than double that of whites. the labor market. The 7.5 percent Black unemployAmerican economy should not only be adding jobs, ment rate is more than double the jobless but also experiencing stronger wage growth. rate of white workers, a stubborn disparity that has Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), recently joined Rep. existed for decades. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and Sens. Bernie Sanders Though the jobless rate for white workers also (I-Vt.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to introduce decreased, it was likely because they stopped lookH.R. 15, the “Raise the Wage Act of 2017.” Scott ing for work, too. Both white and Black working said that it has been 10 long years since we last men over 20 lost ground in the labor market last raised the minimum wage. month. So did white women, who not only left the “While 29 states have taken action to raise their labor market, but were also employed at lower rates wages above the federal minimum since then, miniin May than the previous month. mum wage workers in 21 states are still paid $7.25 Black women entered the labor market and an hour. This leaves a full-time, year-round worker found jobs at higher rates in May compared to with a dependent child living below the federal April. The labor force participation rate for Black poverty threshold,” said Scott. women increased from 62.7 percent April to 62.9 “Today’s low-wage workers earn less per hour, percent in May. adjusted for inflation, than their counterparts did 50 In a blog about the labor market for the Ecoyears ago, but productivity has nearly doubled over nomic Policy Institute (EPI), researchers noted that same time period. That is unacceptable.” that job growth has slowed. The EPI said that the
U.S. has most obese children, young adults A new study on global obesity paints a troubling picture for health in America. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the United States has the greatest percentage of obese children and young adults at 13 percent, while Egypt led in terms of adult obesity, with almost 35 percent among the 195 countries included in the study. Worldwide, more than 2 billion adults and children are overweight or obese and suffer health problems because of their weight. That means that one-third of the world’s population is overweight, due to poor diets, lack of physical activity and urbanization. “People who shrug off weight gain do so at
their own risk – risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other life-threatening conditions,” said Dr. Christopher Murray of the University of Washington, who worked on the study. “Those half-serious New Year’s resolutions to lose weight should become year-round commitments to lose weight and prevent future weight gain.” With obesity increasing, there is an urgent need for better nutrition and other efforts to prevent unhealthy weight gain said Dr. Ashkan Afshin, the study’s lead author. However, “there is no single simple solution for the problem of overweight and obesity,” he said.
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DEFENDER | JUNE 15 | 2017
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Black woman named to NASA astronaut class Defender News Services
NASA has announced its first class of astronaut candidates since 2013. The 12 candidates from various backgrounds and fields of study met rigorous requirements and made it to the top of the pool of 18,300 applicants, a record number for NASA. Among them is one Black woman: Jessica Watkins. Jessica Watkins Watkins, a 29-year-old geologist from Lafayette, Colo., said that she’s excited about NASA’s efforts to diversify STEM. “I’m very excited about the diversity on this team, this amazing group of people. I think that says a lot about NASA and their goals towards creating a diverse workforce,” she said. “I think the thing about diversity is that it allows for experiences that may not be exactly the same to bring different things to the table. And then the other side of that is the idea of being able to be a face to others who may not see people who look like them in STEM fields in general, and doing cool things like going to space.”
Watkins said that she always knew that she wanted to be an astronaut. After majoring in mechanical engineering at Stanford and admitting that wasn’t her passion, she shifted gears and started studying planetary geology. After completing her doctorate in geology at UCLA, Watkins began working on the Mars Curiosity rover, according to NASA. The new class will begin their two-year training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston in August. While training, the candidates will learn a range of lessons, including on the International Space Station systems, robotics training, space walks, the Russian language and flight training. T:9.5” could participate Some of the candidates
in the Orion mission, which aims to send men and women to Mars. Watkins, who worked on the Mars Curiosity rover, has a good chance of being one of those to set foot on the planet. She told the Lafayette News that she’s “excited about contributing to” NASA’s expansion of human presence in space. Watkins said she’s passionate about encouraging young girls to pursue a career in STEM. She advises them to enlist a mentor, especially a female mentor, to help them. “That is something that has really pushed me to this point in my life,” she said. “I’ve been really grateful and lucky to have the mentorship support that I’ve received from a lot of my teachers and professors and supervisors.” Watkins is in good company with the five Black women who have made their mark at NASA, including Dr. Mae Jemison, Yvonne Darlene Cagle, Stephanie Wilson, Joan Higginbotham and, more recently, Jeanette Epps.
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Black woman sole finalist for UHCL president Ira Kincade Blake has been named the sole finalist to become the fifth president and first woman to lead the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL). Blake is currently serving as senior vice president and provost for academic affairs at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. “Ira Blake is an inspiring leader and accomplished educator, so we are fortunate to have an administrator of her caliber to lead the University of Houston-Clear Lake,” said University of Houston System Chancellor Renu Khator. “UHCL is a university on the rise and Dr. Blake has the necessary vision to build on our success.” “I am humbled to be selected as the next president of the University of HoustonClear Lake,” Blake said. I look forward to working with the UHCL community to continue progress in its public mission,” said Blake, who is scheduled to take office Aug. 1. Blake has served as senior vice president and provost at Bloomsburg since 2009, focusing on the university’s academic mission. Previously, she was an associate vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at Dixon University Center as well as an interim dean of the college of education at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. She holds a Ph.D. and master’s degree in developmental psychology from Columbia University and secondary master’s degree in educational psychology from San Francisco State University. Speaking to students and faculty at an open forum on campus in April, Blake cited UHCL’s standard of excellence in graduate programs and real world, hands-on instruction by faculty as factors for her interest in the position. In addition, she expressed a belief in shared governance where administrators and professors work together to better connect with students. Engaging with more alumni to create networks for students to get new opportunities would be the biggest challenge, she said, while acknowledging that building the university’s brand is also important.
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DEFENDER | JUNE 15 | 2017
entertainment
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Jelando Johnson
Taking a journey through music By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender
Houston native Jelando Johnson has always believed life is a journey, not a destination. It was the basis for his latest album, “The Journey.” The debut EP from the recording artist, composer, producer and musician is a collection of deep grooves blending melodically with funky rhythms in an upfront yet laid back manner will excite the ears of each and every listener. Johnson honed his musical skills as a member of the award-winning Texas Southern University Jazz Ensemble. It was there and many other venues where he developed styles in various musical genres. Those skills have led to Johnson laying down grooves with such artists as Joe Sample, George Duke, Marion Meadows, Kim Waters, Bobby Lyle, Steve Cole, Peter White, Kirk Whalum, Bob Baldwin, Patrice Rushen, Michael Henderson, Avery Sunshine, Karen Briggs, Ronnie Laws, Eric Darius, and many others. Throughout his journey, Jelando has shared his talents through many recordings, musical productions and concerts across the nation and around the world. He’s also performed at numerous festivals including: The Defender talked with Johnson about the inspiration behind his music. Defender: What are your latest projects and what are you working on now? Jelando Johnson: My main project is my EP “The Journey.” My main focus is getting it to the people through social media, my website, my blog and through performances at festivals and music venues in Houston, nationally and internationally.
your love of music? Johnson: I’ve had a love for music all my life. I used to listen to my uncle’s record collection after school every day for years. But after I saw Earth Wind & Fire in concert on HBO, I knew for sure I wanted to be a musician. I still have that DVD.
Jelando Johnson
Defender: How crucial was your time in the Texas Southern University’s jazz ensemble in shaping the musician that you have become today? Johnson: My time with the TSU Jazz Ensemble was crucial because that’s where I learned the fundamentals of jazz. It was also a link to KTSU-FM where my jazz education really took off. The seeds of me becoming the professional musician I am now were planted at TSU. I also wrote my first song there. Defender: What is your ultimate goal in the industry? Johnson: My ultimate goal is to build a rich musical legacy through performing, teaching, film scoring, publishing, writing, recording, partnerships, giving back and any other way I can make a difference through music. Defender: How can people find you? Johnson: I can be found at: www.jelandojohnson.com. On Facebook@Jelando Johnson Music, Twitter@jelandoj, Instagram@jelandoj or Pandora Internet Radio@Jelando Johnson Radio. My music can be purchased through my website along with iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and all the other digital stores. Defender: What’s a little known fact people would be surprised to know about you? Johnson: I’m from Texas and I don’t like pecans.
Find Jelando
www.JelandoJohnson.com Facebook@Jelando Johnson Music, Twitter@jelandoj Instagram@jelandoj Pandora Internet Radio@Jelando Johnson Radio.
Defender: How long have you had
what’sup Actor POOCH HALL is speaking out about his strained relationship with BET after his departure from “The Game.” The actor says BET threw major shade his way when he decided to take his acting in a different direction by taking a dramatic role on Showtime’s “Ray Donovan.” Hall says things really got tense when his new gig made headlines and that’s when BET stopped calling him. Pooch says the rejection from the network almost led him into depression causing him to question his ability as an actor and the tough transition from being a main character to a supportive role…….Many fans were still keeping hope
alive for WGN’s “Underground” series, when creator JOHN LEGEND announced that the show would find a new home despite being cancelled after two seasons. BET, Hulu and OWN were a few of the networks that were mentioned in talks of a second home for the series. OPRAH WINFREY says OWN is going to pass on the show which centered around the Underground Railroad in antebellum Georgia because the show just costs too much – $5 million an episode. Winfrey also expressed that she had to take into consideration that OWN is still a relatively young network, and that despite trending on Twitter on multiple
occasions, the show’s ratings just didn’t justify its expense…….Lionsgate is in development on “The Book Of Luke,” a drama about Miami rap group 2 Live Crew and its leader LUTHER CAMPBELL, whose parody of ROY ORBISON’S “Oh Pretty Woman” was the center of a victorious Supreme Court case that paved the way for fair use sampling for music judged to be parody. MIKE EPPS is among the executive producers. The film follows the provocative group’s rise and envelopepushing material that catapulted Campbell from poverty to becoming a millionaire and a symbol of free speech.
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Tamar Braxton
Music stars set the stage at BET Awards Defender News Services
BET Networks has announced the performers and presenters set to take the stage at the 2017 “BET Awards.” The iconic annual show will have performances from some of the biggest names in music including Bruno Mars, Future, Migos, Trey Songz and Tamar Braxton. The “BET Awards” has set the standard for one of the most intently unconventional, news-provoking broadcasts. Hosted by stand-up comedian Leslie Jones, the “BET Awards” will air live on Sunday, June 25 at 7 p.m. from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.In addition, leading enter-
tainers across television, film, sports, comedy and music join as presenters at the “BET Awards” 2017 including Yara Shahidi, Cardi B, Issa Rae, Jamie Foxx, La La Anthony, the cast of Universal Pictures’ “Girls Trip” (Regina Hall, Tiffany Haddish, Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah), Trevor Noah, Robin Thede, Cari Champion and Demetrius Shipp Jr. These names represent some of the most accomplished talent and rising stars in the industry today. As previously announced, Beyoncé dominates this year’s nominations with a total of seven including ‘Best Female R&B/Pop Artist,’ ‘Best Col-
laboration’ with Kendrick Lamar for “Freedom,” ‘Video of the Year,’ and ‘Album of the Year’ for Lemonade. Bruno Mars follows with five nods including ‘Album of the Year,’ ‘Best Male R&B/Pop Artist,’ and ‘Video of the Year’ for “24K Magic.” Other nominees include Solange, nominated for four awards and who is up against sister Beyoncé for ‘Best Female R&B/Pop Artist.’ Chance the Rapper and Migos received four nominations as well, Chance the Rapper nominated for ‘Best Male Hip-Hop Artist’ and ‘Best New Artist’ and Migos for ‘Best Group’ and ‘Best Collaboration’ for their #1 hit “Bad and Boujee” with Lil Uzi Vert. Award.
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DEFENDER | JUNE 15 | 2017
health
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A Defender and Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Alliance
Diabetes ups the risk for vision loss By JOSHUA UDOETUK, M.D.
T
ype 2 diabetes complications can be widespread, affecting nearly every part of your body. One of the greatest threats is to your eyes. People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing serious eye Joshua Udoetuk, M.D. problems that could lead to blindness. If you have diabetes, your body isn’t properly using or storing sugar and carbohydrates from the food you eat. Your blood sugar can fluctuate, which can damage those tiny blood vessels that supply your eyes. This can result in eye problems that threaten sight, such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma.
Warning signs can be subtle
The symptoms of diabetes-related eye problems aren’t always obvious. You can develop diabetic retinopathy and other vision problems and have no symptoms. Or, you can experience such symptoms as blurred vision, double vision, peripheral vision loss,
poor night vision, floaters and difficulty reading. When symptoms do appear, they can last anywhere from a few minutes to months or can be permanent.
Common eye problems
The most common eye problem associated with diabetes is retinopathy. It starts without you noticing any vision problems. Your retina develops tiny bruises and leakages that can slowly worsen over several years before you begin to notice it. As it worsens, your retina begins to sprout new blood vessels which are fragile and have a tendency to rupture, causing you to see floaters or leading you to lose vision. These fragile vessels may also contract or scar, leading to retinal detachment. Glaucoma is another concern. This eye condition is the result of elevated pressure in the eye, which over time damages the optic nerve. The vision loss is typically slow and painless. Untreated, it can cause blindness. It’s important for all adults to be screened for glaucoma as this vision loss can be prevented. In a healthy eye, the lens is clear. But it can become cloudy or foggy, making it difficult to focus. This is what’s known as a cataract. If you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop cataracts at a younger age and they often progress faster.
Risk factors play a role
Your chance of developing serious diabetes-related vision problems depends on: • Diabetes control: This means strict control of blood sugar and maintaining your hemoglobin A1c in a healthy range. • Blood pressure and cholesterol: High blood pressure and elevated cholesterol can further strain blood vessels, which may already be weakened by diabetes. • Family history: You may be more susceptible if others in your family have diabetes and eye problems. African-Americans and Hispanics have a higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. Visit your eye doctor regularly. Don’t wait until you have vision problems to see an eye doctor. Schedule that appointment today. Dr. Joshua Udoetuk is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in retinal diseases and surgery at Kelsey-Seybold’s Main Campus and Spring Medical and Diagnostic Center. For appointments, call 713-442-0000.
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President
Austin Lane shares inside story of TSU
I
By VON JILES Defender
t has been a busy year for Dr. Austin A. Lane. Last June, he assumed leadership of Texas Southern University, succeeding Dr. John M. Rudley as president. Lane came to TSU from Lone Star College, where he served as executive vice chancellor and managed seven campuses. Armed with an agenda of recruitment and enrollment, Lane said, “I beleive we are in a position to take TSU to new heights.” Founded 90 years ago, TSU has 9,200 students and 1,400 staff and faculty members. It is one of the nation’s largest HBCUs and its mission includes “transforming diverse students into lifelong learners, engaged citizens, and creative leaders in their local, national, and global communities.” In an exclusive interview with the Defender, Lane, who celebrates his first year, shared his goals for TSU, and discussed the university’s growth, graduation rate, and its future. Defender: The city of Houston is growing in many sectors, and there’s a demand in the job market for talented individuals. What are some of the efforts you’re putting in place to prepare students to be competitive? Equally important is the academic credibility because some people have devalued a TSU degree. Lane: TSU is the heart and soul of Houston. If you flip the word around you can’t spell Houston without TSU. Someone in your family – if they were here in Houston and into higher education since 1927 – had to come through Texas Southern University. So we have a proud history of creating and pushing out scholars. We know what we produce. How do we get better? What we’re doing is establishing advisory councils. One of our strongest is in our Jesse H. Jones School of Business. The advisory council there has influential leaders working in Houston corporations whether it be in oil and gas or banking, any business-related area, and these individuals who have influence are giving us sort of a cheat sheet on what our students need to know and learn before they get into their internships and eventually the corporations that they work in which is what we need. You hear about the Aggie network and some of these other places and it’s because they have strong advisory boards. That’s something that we’re enhancing here. Where I come from we have very strong advisory boards and that means in conjunction with our deans of every school they have to identify influential leaders inside of these corporate organizations – Shell, Amegy, H-E-B, NRG. Whatever corporation that’s looking for our graduates they’re bringing these folks into our institution and we’re getting feedback on how well our students are doing at those institutions, what is it that we can add to our curriculum to help those students and be more competitive, what kinds of internships can we get our students after the freshman year. We know that if you get an internship in your junior or senior year it’s too late. There are other students who are already there so we are at a disadvantage unless we get there
early. Our students need paid internships and so this pipeline to these corporations is critical. The last thing I’ll add is the Higher Education Coordinating Board has a new plan, 60 by 30 Texas. By 2030, 60 percent of Texans will need a degree or certificate. You and I both know what this state is going to look like in 2030. We already know what HISD looks like, over 60 percent minority. Dallas is the same way. They’re probably closer to 75 percent minority. So we know TSU is going to produce more African-American and Hispanic students than any other university in this state. We already turn out more AfricanAmerican and Hispanic graduates than A&M and UT combined. We just had 1,139 graduates cross the stage this May. So we know we’re the institution for corporations that want to be diverse and we’re in a diverse city with our great mayor, Sylvester Turner, and we know we’re going to be the future. Not only are we the heart and soul of this community and Houston, but we also know that corporations that want more diverse workforces will look to us to produce those students to work in those corporations. We’ll be ready to do that.
Continued on Page 10
Background Hometown: Native of Hackensack, N.J. Education: Attended Odessa Junior College on basketball scholarship; earned B.A. in psychology from Langston University, M.A. in human relations from University of Oklahoma, Ed.D. in higher education administration from University of Alabama Employment: Executive vice chancellor, Lone Star College; president, Lone Star College-Montgomery; vice president for student affairs, Tyler Junior College; dean of students, University of Texas at Arlington; adjunct professor, Sam Houston State University, UT Arlington Family: Married to Loren Lane and father of three
defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 85 years
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(l-r) Regent Oliver Bell, Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell, Regent Derrick Mitchell, First Lady Loren Lane, President Austin Lane, Regent Glenn O. Lewis, Regent Marilyn Rose, Board Chairman Wesley Terrell.
(l-r) Mayor Sylvester Turner, President Austin Lane, Milton Carroll, Gerald Smith
President Austin Lane continued from page 9
Defender: You have a reputation at previous institutions of higher education of increasing enrollment. How are you growing student enrollment at TSU and what plans do you have going forward? In addition, what is the university currently doing or looking to put in place to significantly increase its presence in local high schools? Lane: Enrollment is probably one of the most critical pieces given how the state funds institutions of higher education. It’s not about graduation rates, it’s not about persistence rates, it’s about enrollment. So every institution I’ve been with I’ve been able to forge some really good partnerships with our ISDs and community colleges to be able to tap into the masses who are trying to go to college. One of the big things at TSU that I think we have on our side or to our advantage happened back in the summer. We started to look at students who are conditional admits, meaning those who are students who are at a 2.4 when the requirement is a 2.5. They are at an 819 when the requirement is an 820. They are right on the edge. These are students who if they didn’t have a 2.5 or an 820 we would have denied them. In the summer you want to try and grow your enrollment from those large populations of students who fit that criteria. Even with the standards we have in place, you have students coming in the summer on a conditional program. We did that this past summer and we had more than 300 students who took us up on that, which helped our summer enrollment. We had those students go through seven hours and we had 94 percent of those students who were successful in persisting to the fall so that helps with your fall enrollment. This spring, we were up 5.7 percent so our trend had actually been tapering off and going down. We were up 5.7 percent in our spring enrollment and here’s a bigger percentage. We were up 60 percent in our transfer enrollment. That’s huge for us. We forged back in the fall a relationship with HCC and my old institution, Lone Star College, and we did that because at any given time between those two institutions there are over 200,000 students – the majority are minority students who fit our demographics – who are looking to transfer. We thought why not try and tap into that population and make it more seamless for students to transfer. So we strategically targeted the Aldine area with Greenspoint, the Victory Center with Acres Homes, Cy-Fair and that area which has a growing minority population, North Harris,
and also targeted HCC schools. We’re doing more than just saying hey, come to TSU, we’re actually having students transfer in pipeline programs. For example, if you have students who are taking pharmacy, we start to recognize those students earlier than their sophomore year at the community college. The students know even though they may finish two years, community colleges are encouraging them to go on to a bachelor’s degree. So we’re encouraging them to pipeline right into our academic program, not just general studies, but we want them to come through an academic program that links directly to what they’ve been taking so those credits can be applied. One of the problems community college students have had is that it only takes 60 hours to graduate. They’re finishing with an average of 90. That’s a lot of hours. We have a lot of partnerships with HISD, we have a lot of partnerships with Dallas. The Dallas market for us over the next five years is going to be critical. If you look at their demographics in the Dallas ISD, south of downtown, all of those areas have students who want an HBCU experience overall and they can’t get it in the Dallas area. Paul Quinn has turned into more of a work college; that’s a new concept. They’re being pretty unique and creative but if you want an on-campus, HBCU experience that students are used to seeing or hearing about, you think about those students demographically and socioeconomically, they fit our demographics. It’s what we call strategic enrollment management. We use a yield rate chart. It’s an enrollment funnel. It consists of us number one, targeting students who would fit. You go to students where they are. So we go to Dallas, we go to the Golden Triangle – Port Arthur, Beaumont and Orange – we go to Louisiana, Chicago, Atlanta. The idea is that we know those students would want an HBCU experience in an urban environment. You have to do more than just recruit by giving them something. You also have to stay in contact with them and those students have to actually come and apply for admissions, apply for financial aid, register. Defender: The state of Texas has placed major emphasis on graduation rates, even penalizing with the “Be on Time” legislation. What strategies are you implementing at TSU to address the low 5 percent graduation rate (according to U.S. News)? Lane: TSU when I arrived had about a 4 percent in four-year
graduation rate and in six years it was about 18 percent. There are a couple of variables here. The reality is 90 percent of our students are on some form of financial aid. That means that those students without funding to go to school they don’t always drop out but they stop out and there’s a key difference. Our students stop out because they don’t have the financial resources to go to school which delays their graduation each semester. Number two, in 2012 the year-round Pell Grant went away. That means that in the summer, students, particularly African-American students who are part of that 90 percent on some form of financial aid, they didn’t get the Pell Grant so what happens? Most kids at other institutions go and take a full load during the summer. That’s how they graduate faster. Our students who rely on financial aid didn’t have those resources to be able to do it. So if you look at the data in 2012 you start to see graduation rates not only at TSU but across the country at HBCUs take a dip because again our students couldn’t afford out of pocket to pay for those summer classes to keep them on track to graduate. So it’s not that easy and it’s really unfair sometimes when you think about the demographics and socioeconomics of students here. You can’t just penalize them for not being able to finish. The other piece is, if the state does not fund institutions of higher learning, particularly HBCUs at an appropriate level, you’re not able to go and get the faculty members to teach the courses that students need to graduate. Many times you’ll hear students say, “I was supposed to graduate this spring and they’re not offering the class.” What happens is it delays their graduation. What we have done in the fall is we have targeted every student who is at 90 hours, meaning they only have 90 to 120 hours, we targeted ever student to ensure that every course they’re going to need is going to be there for them to graduate so they don’t have to say “I tried to enroll but the class is closed or you’re not offering it so I have to be delayed” because we want those students to get to the finish line. We’ve also looked at financially what it will take for those students who are between 90 and 120 - it’s a gap scholarship we give them now. We’re watching their financial profiles to say, this student may need $5,000, they may need $6,000; or they may need $700. We’re assessing that and making sure that student is able to progress in that senior year to get to the finish line and move on.
defendernetwork.com • Serving t
President Austin Lane, First Lady Loren Lane, Reggie Van Lee
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Bobby Wilson, President Austin Lane, Rickeena Gresham, Dr. Merline Pitre
TSU Video Series DefenderNetwork.com President Lane discusses:
Mon., June 12
Will TSU merge with a system?
Tues., June 13 Board of Regents challenges
Wed., June 14
Lane and Lone Star College Chancellor Dr. Stephen Head signed an articulation agreement between the two institutions..
Budget/personnel cuts & finance
Thurs., June 15
Community Building Plan
Fri., June 16
TSU 5% graduation rate
Sat., June 17
Five-year vision for TSU Find out “Some Things You Don’t Know About President Lane.” View the photo gallery. defendernetwork.com
the Houston area for over 85 years
Pappas Restaurants presented Lane with a $540,000 check for student housing.
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Emancipation Park gets a $33 million makeover
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By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender
ouston will celebrate the renovation of one of its most important landmarks when historic Emancipation Park is rededicated on Saturday, June 17, followed by another celebration on Monday, June 19. Located in Third Ward, it is the oldest public park in Texas and a symbol of freedom for African-Americans. The timing of the celebration is important, said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “It is significant because the land Emancipation Park is on was originally purchased in 1872 for the purpose of holding Juneteenth celebrations,” Turner said. “It became a City park in 1916, and today 145 years later, we celebrate the vision that the original founders had for this land by rededicating it during this year’s 2017 Juneteenth celebrations. Emancipation Park’s $33.6-million dollar renovation was made possible with funding from the OST/Almeda Redevelopment Corridors-Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 7 (TIRZ#7), Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Houston Endowment, Kinder Foundation, Timken Foundation of Canton and the City of Houston. The Emancipation Park Conservancy was established to preserve, fund and protect the cultural legacy of the park, and is under an agreement with the City of Houston to provide strategic oversight and direction and other services. Turner said the park renovation is a plus for Houston and Third Ward. “The original goals for the redevelopment of Emancipation Park were to create a beautiful and functional park for the residents of Third Ward and surrounding communities, to be a catalyst for local business development and to become a draw for national and international visitors,” Turner said. “We believe that all three goals are being met with the redevelopment of this historic park.” Ramon Manning, chairman of the Conservancy, also recognizes the park’s importance. “In the course of following our charge, I personally learned how valuable this resource is to our community and what it represents for it to be fully restored to its rightful place of prominence,” Manning said. Manning added that he “tips his hat” to Judge Zinetta Burney, chair of the TIRZ #7 board; Joe Turner, former director of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD), and the state agencies and philanthropic organizations that “all supported the construction effort.” Manning is anticipating the park’s redevelopment activities. “This rededication ceremony has been a long time coming and we can’t be more thrilled to finally be making this historic park and green-space destination available for all to enjoy,” he said. “As the stewards of this community treasure, we, the Conservancy, appreciate the commitment of our funding partners and the patience the community has demonstrated with this worthwhile initiative. “Our unwavering desire is for Emancipation Park to serve as the center of the community and a vibrant community showpiece for all to enjoy.” Algenita Scott Davis, vice chair of the TIRZ #7 board,
The entry to historic Emancipation Park welcomes visitors. (Photo courtesy Houston Parks and Recreation Department)
Mayor Sylvester Turner
Ramon Manning
Rededication celebration
The rededication ceremony of Emancipation Park is Saturday, June 17 at noon. The emcees will be KHOU-TV anchor Len Cannon and KTRK-TV anchor Melanie Lawson. Participants include Mayor Sylvester Turner, the Buffalo Soldiers, Third Ward Community Choir, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Councilmember Dwight Boykins and Jackie Bostic, great granddaughter of Jack Yates. A day-long festival will be held at the park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 17 at 11 a.m. and on Monday, June 19.
agrees that Emancipation Park is “an essential part of the Third Ward community” and is pleased that TIRZ #7 played a major part in its redevelopment. The objectives of the TIRZ are to create and support an environment attractive to private
Algenita Scott Davis
Lisa Johnson
investment primarily along the Almeda, Old Spanish Trail and Griggs corridors and in the Upper Third Ward area. Davis stressed the historical importance of Emancipation Park and its founders who were former slaves – Rev. Jack Yates, Rev. Elias Dibble, Richard Brock and Richard Allen. The four men raised $800 to purchase the park land to honor their newfound freedom. Davis said attending the rededication activities is one way Houstonians can recognize the city’s history and historymakers. “They need to be there to celebrate the cultural recognition of freedom,” Davis said. “We’re celebrating what the Colored People’s Festival and Emancipation Park Association did only six years out of slavery. We’re celebrating the audacity of their inspiration. We’re celebrating the fact the people have used Emancipation Park since 1872 and that land, that plot, hasn’t moved.” Lisa Johnson, interim director of HPARD, said Emancipation Park is important because of the history behind its creation, and that the park will take its place among the best properties in the country. “We offer our thanks to the founding fathers who boldly embraced their future to purchase this land long before the city created a parks department,” Johnson said. “We also offer our thanks today to all of our partners, to future park users and to all the visitors that we believe will come to visit Emancipation Park. We hope they will all cherish and embrace the history and beauty of the park.”
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Park features numerous improvements Emancipation Park is designed to be functional and beautiful. Improvements include: • A new 16,000-square feet recreation center, which includes a gymnasium, weight room, classroom, lobby and reception area, and office and storage space. The building is designed to have access to an outdoor stage area which will be built when additional funding becomes available. • The existing community center was renovated and restored to more closely resemble the original design A modern swimming pool replaces the previous one. Emancipation Park has a 16,000-square foot recreation center. and honors the historical importance project integrates sustainable site design and low of the building (built during 1938impact development principles that include site 1939) and creates a functional facility storm water management. All lighting is energy for the community. The building efficient and utilizes LED fixtures. provides meeting spaces, lobby area, • Parking is on the perimeter of the park (exoffice, and kitchen. The stage area, cluding Elgin) and additional land was purchased referred to as the Blessings Theater, for an off-site parking lot on Tuam. was restored and provides space for • Other features include an entry plaza, small outdoor or indoor performancsplash pad, playground, walking trail, porch-like es. covered areas and several picnic areas. The base• The swimming pool was reAnother feature is the Park Plaza and Cultural Center Building. (Photos Courtesy Houston ball field and tennis and basketball courts were moved and replaced with a modern Parks and Recreation Department) replaced and upgraded. pool, and the existing pool house was • All buildings are LEED Certified (LeaderSource: Houston Parks and Recreation Derenovated and air-conditioned so that it can be used ship in Energy and Environmental Design) and the partment during special events.
HAPPY JUNETEENTH, HOUSTON! On Juneteenth, 2017, we recommit ourselves to their vision as we celebrate the rejuvenation of Emancipation Park — Houston’s longest operating public space — and the historic renaming of Dowling Street to Emancipation Avenue. Enjoy the day!
MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER
POL. ADV. SYLVESTER TURNER CAMPAIGN.
In 1872,
a group of visionary African-American Houstonians led by the Rev. Jack Yates, a Baptist minister and former slave, purchased 10 acres of land to hold a Juneteenth celebration — and named it Emancipation Park in honor of their freedom.
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Local ministers bless Emancipation Park By JASEMINE KNOWLES Defender
With Juneteenth right around the corner, a group of Houston-area ministers and community leaders gathered at Emancipation Park to bestow peace over the newly renovated landmark. Among those in attendance were Rev. Mark Sloan, Rev. L.L. Atkins, Rev. Robert Gilmore, Minister Robert Muhammad, Rev. David L. Punch, Rev. Marilyn White, and Rev. Gerald Shanks. Members of the Third Ward Community Cloth Cooperative, OST/ Almeda Corridors Redevelopment Authority, City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department and the Emancipation Park Conservancy attended as well. Sloan, a minister at Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church, said the park serves as a place of pride where African-Americans can congregate. “Emancipation Park was the only place where Blacks could assemble because back then it was against the law and there weren’t many places for our people to come together,” he said. Gilmore said that because founders of the park included spiritual leaders it was important to bless the “hallowed grounds.” “It is critical for [us] to pray over Emancipation Park primarily because of the founders being Christian leaders, Gilmore said. “The fact that
Political ad paid for by the Dwight Boykins campaign
Participants in the prayer vigil included (l. to r.) Naomi Carrier, Rev. L.L. Atkins, Minister Robert Muhammad and Rev. David L. Punch.
they had so little yet had the faith to purchase something like this; all we want to do is continue their vision by consecrating the land in unison and breathing prosperity in its legacy.” As ministers prayed on all four corners of the park, Muhammad said they’re also praying to bless the
future generations of children and making sure they understand the history behind it. “This park represents the epicenter of the cultural renaissance here in Third Ward,” Muhammad said. “The cultural center here isn’t
Sister Sonya Lucas Roberts led a procession in honor of Emancipation Park.
just there for recreation, it’s here to teach future generations about our ancestors’ rich history because in this generation, there’s an obligation to make this kind of investment in the future for those that come behind us to continue to bring peace to this treasure here in Third Ward,” he said.
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Area events commemorate Juneteenth • The Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration Foundation (MCJCF) hosts its annual activities. A free Funday in the Park is 4 p.m. Friday, June 16, at Hunters Glen Park, 1340 Independence Blvd. On Saturday, June 17, there will be three events. A Festival Under the Stars is from 4-11 p.m. at Hunters Glen Park and features R&B funk band Lakeside and flutist Althea Rene in concert. A “One Mile of Smiles” Parade begins at 7 p.m. at Texas Parkway (FM 2234) and Court Road. A free Battle of the Bands begins immediately after the parade at Hunters Glen Park. Info: www.mcjcf.com or 281-816-6441 • The play “In All Thy Getting: The Forgotten Story of Freedmen’s Town,” written by Houston native Holly Charles, comes to the Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main St. Performances are Friday, June 16 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, June 17 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday, June 18 at 8 p.m. The play explores the lives of a young couple who are caregivers to the husband’s grandmother. Through the grandmother’s hallucinations, dreams and clarity, we learn about Fourth Ward’s beginnings. Info: www.rbhy.org or www.ensemblehouston.com • The AnMavis Staples performs at Miller Outdoor Theatre on June 19. nual Acres Homes Juneteenth Parade Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. on June 19 at the hosted by Mayor Ashton Villa, 2328 Broadway. The JuSylvester Turner will be held Saturday, neteenth celebration is June 19 at 1 p.m. June 17, at 10 a.m. It will start at the at Jack Johnson Park, 2601 Avenue Acres Homes Multi-Service Center, M. Reedy Chapel A.M.E. Church will 6719 W. Montgomery, head north on commemorate the first known JuneW. Montgomery, turn left on Dolly teenth celebration at 6 p.m. on June 19 Wright and end at Greater Zion Miswith its annual march from the steps of sionary Baptist Church, 1620 Dolly the Old Galveston County Courthouse Wright. The parade will feature marchto the church at 2015 Broadway Ave. ing bands, dancers, schools, cars and Info: www.galveston.com motorcycles, floats, horses and more. • A Gulf Coast Juneteenth Blues • The Annual Juneteenth Schol& Creole music festival is Monarship Gala sponsored by Broken Chains Awareness Development Group day, June 19 at 7 p.m. at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park. is Saturday, June 17 at 6 p.m. at The It features singer and civil rights Shrine Cultural Center, 5309 Martin activist Mavis Staples, Milton Luther King Blvd. Info: www.brokenHopkins & the Hit City Blues chainsadg.com Band and J Paul Jr. & the Zydeco • Galveston celebrates JuneNuBreedz. Free tickets for covteenth with a parade on Saturday, June ered seating are available at the 17, at 7 p.m. at 17th and Strand. The box office the day of the perforGalveston Juneteenth Coalition hosts the 38th annual Al Edwards Emancipa- mance. Info: www.milleroutdoortheatre.com tion Proclamation Reading and Prayer
The Westbury High School Band marched in the 2016 Acres Homes Juneteenth Parade.
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Winners of Father’s Day contest announced By JASEMINE KNOWLES Defender
In observance of Father’s Day, three winners of the Defender Father’s Day lookalike photo contest were announced With the role of the father often relegated to a secondary status as compared to a mother, Defender Publisher Sonny Messiah-Jiles said the contest serves as a pillar to showcase that fathers are just as important as mothers. “Father’s Day is a time to honor fathers because fathers bring positive benefits to their children that no other person could bring. In our communities, fatherhood is often neglected and the Defender wanted to create a platform where children could uplift and recognize their loved Vernon and Rolanda Rush ones,” she said. The first-place champs of the contest are father, Vernon Rush and daughter, Rolanda Rush, both Houstonians. Rolanda Rush said her father means “the world” to her. “I felt extreme excitement when I got news that I won the contest,” she said. Cleveland (Doc) Shepard, “My father has done so much III and Cleveland (CL) for me over the years from Shepard, IV financing my college education to helping me purchase my first car – a Lexus at that. He’s just always been there to provide even in my adult years and I’m extremely grateful,” she said. “He’s forever my king and I’m forever his princess,” Rush added. Mi’cah and Mark Ducro Father and son Cleveland “Doc” Shepard III and Cleveland “C.L.” Shepard IV came in second. Father-daughter duo Mark and Mi’cah Ducros followed in third. First, second, and third-place winners won a gift card of $300, $200, $100 respectively from sponsor Macy’s. “It’s always an honor and a blessing to have a chance to engage the community, while also awarding a gift for participation,” said Jiles. Currently, the Defender’s “Honor Your Graduate” photo contest is still ongoing, and voting ends Sunday, June 25. To cast your vote visit defendernetwork.com/ grad/
classifieds PUBLIC NOTICE Notice of Proposed Goal for the Participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in the Department of Transportation Assisted Contracts Harris County Community Services Department Office of Transit Services As required by Section 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 26, the Harris County Community Services Department (HCCSD), Office of Transit Services, has determined a proposed overall goal FY 20182020 of six percent (6%) for the participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE’s) in its contracts for financial assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT): The proposed goals and their rationale are available for review between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday (except Holidays) at 8410 Lantern Point Drive, Houston, Texas 77054 and online at www.harriscountytransit.com. This information will be available for inspection until July 17, 2017. HCCSD and the DOT (through the Federal Transit Administration) will accept written comments until July 17, 2017. Written comments can be directed to the agencies below: HCCSD Attn: Mr. Gene Simeon (DBELO) 8410 Lantern Point Drive, Houston, Texas 77054 The Federal Transit Administration 819 Taylor Street, Room 8A36 Fort Worth, Texas 76102
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS LAKE HOUSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS W. LAKE HOUSTON PKWY AT KINGS CROSSING DR. AND W. LAKE HOUSTON PKWY AT NORTHPARK DR., PROJECT NUMBER T-1006 The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority (“the Authority”) will receive sealed bids for the construction of the project known as “INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS OF W. LAKE HOUSTON PKWY AT KINGS CROSSING DR. AND W. LAKE HOUSTON PKWY AT NORTHPARK DR.” located in KINGWOOD, CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS. Bids will be received until 1:00 PM local time on Friday, June 30, 2017 by the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority, C/O Cheryl Panobzzo, Allen Boone Humphries Robinson, 3200 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 2600, Houston, TX 77027. Bids received after this time will not be accepted. Beginning, Monday, June 12, 2017 at 1:00 PM Bid Documents will be available via CivCast at www.CivCastUSA.com search: W. LAKE HOUSTON INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS. There is NO CHARGE to view or download documents. However, Bidders must register on this website in order to view and/or download specifications, plans, and other related documents for this project. Addenda will also be distributed CivCast. A NON-MANDATORY Pre-bid Conference will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at the offices of Walter P Moore, 1301 McKinney, Suite 1100, Houston, TX 77010. All bidders (general contractors) are invited to attend. 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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Black women undervalued, underpaid
B
Defender News Services
lack women have always been known as hard-working women, who toil to put food on the table and to take care of their families. But most often Black women don’t get paid what they are worth. A new report not only underscored this fact, but also presented recommendations on how to stop gender and race inequality in the workplace on several levels. The Status of Black Women in the United States is a comprehensive report from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR). Produced in collaboration with the National Domestic Workers Alliance, the report found that Black women in the workforce continue to be undervalued and undercompensated. The report looked at data by gender, race, and ethnicity for all 50 states and the District of Columbia addressing six areas: political participation, employment and earnings, work and family, poverty and opportunity, health and well-being, and violence and safety. “Whether one examines Black women’s access to healthcare, earnings, or access to
much-needed social supports like childcare and eldercare, Black women are getting the short end of the stick, despite having contributed so much to the building of this nation,” noted the report. To level the playing field, the IWPR points out raising the minimum wage would actually improve “Black women’s earnings, reduce poverty, and reduce gender and racial earnings inequality.” When looking at the responsibilities Black women have in the area of family, the report
found that more than 80 percent of Black mothers are not only the family’s main breadwinners, but also have other caregiving responsibilities such as caring for an elderly parent, a person with a disability, or a young child. The IWPR recommends: “States can help Black women stay in their jobs and advance in their careers by enacting policies such as paid family and medical leave and paid sick days, which can help workers balance their family care responsibilities with the demands of their jobs.” Because Black women are not paid fairly, they experience poverty at higher rates than Black men and women from all other racial/ethnic groups except Native American women Also getting more Black women into political office would help change the government’s policies. Despite voting at comparatively high rates, Black women remain underrepresented at every level of federal and state political office. Ultimately, the IWPR hopes its research supports prompts “new policy, practice and legislation that supports the well-being of Black caregivers, so that all caregivers can be cared for in return.”
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sports
Cougars sprint to glory at NCAA championships Cameron Burrell
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By MAX EDISON Defender
t was déjà vu at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore. For the first time since 1982 the University of Houston Cougars are champions in the Men’s 4x100 meter relay. The Cougar relay team of John Lewis III, Mario Burke, Jacarias Martin and Cameron Burrell etched their names in the record books as national champions. In addition, Burrell captured his second consecutive second-place finish in the 100 meters. Houston’s winning time of 38.34 broke the school record that was set in 2016 when that squad consisting of Burrell, Martin, Burke and LeShon Collins took silver in 38.44. The Cougars hold the fourth fastest time in NCAA Championship history, and sixth fastest time ever run in the collegiate ranks. Houston also set a new Hayward Field mark, topping LSU’s NCAA championship winning time of 38.42 from 2016. The 4x100-meter relay championship was the second in school history for the Cougars and the first since Charles Young, Mark McNeil, Anthony Ketchum and Stanley Floyd won gold in 1982 (38.53). That team’s mark stood as the school record until 2016. “There’s no better feeling than crossing the finish line in first place and sharing this with my teammates,” anchor leg Burrell said. “We’ve worked so hard all season. We were close last season, but everything came together this year on the biggest stage of all…We have worked and sacrificed so much. It’s just an awesome blessing what we’ve accomplished together – we’re champions.” The Cougars’ gold medal was the first NCAA championship for the Houston men since 2013 when Errol Nolan claimed the indoor 400-meter dash title. The win was the first outdoor championship for the Cougar men since Sam Jefferson’s 100-meter dash win in 1994. “You can’t minimize what this does to the profile of our track program here at Houston,” Burrell continued. “Our success is just another example of what we’re building here. We have a program that breaks record and creates champions.” An hour after the relay finals, Burrell was back on the track for the finals of the 100-meter dash. Burrell qualified third overall earlier in the
The UH relay team takes a victory lap in Eugene, Ore. Burrell takes the lead at the track meet. (Photos courtesy Pat Holleran/ Athletics Pix)
week after winning his heat in a school-record 9.93. With the conditions cold, wet and windy for the final, Burrell crossed the line in 10.12 to claim the silver medal. The runner-up finish for Burrell is the top Houston performance in the event since Jefferson’s gold in Boise, Idaho. Burrell is the son of legend and UH head track coach Leroy Burrell, and trains under the eye of another legend, Carl Lewis. He takes pride in what the current UH team has accomplished. “It’s spectacular to follow in the footsteps that my Dad and Carl and so many others helped to create,” the
younger Burrell said. “To wear the uniform, to match some of their accomplishments, it’s great to see the pride in their faces.” With the second-place finish, Burrell completed his fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA championships in a straight track race after qualifying for the indoor 60-meter dash and the outdoor 100-meter dash in each of the last two seasons. Burrell’s silver medal was the fourth of his career after taking second in each of the 2016 and 2017 NCAA indoor 60 championships and helping the Cougars to a runner-up finish in the 4x100-meter relay in 2016.
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h.s.zone The Deer crowns season with state title By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender
ROUND ROCK – As the final out was recorded in the Class 6A high school baseball state championship game at Dell Diamond, the Deer Park faithful stood as one to celebrate a win for the ages. For the first time in four visits to the state baseball tournament the Deer were the final team standing with the state championship trophy securely in hand. Deer Park (35-8-1) defeated San Antonio Reagan 7-2 in the 6A title game behind the pitching of Clay Aguilar and Adrian Gonzales along with the clutch hitting of Aguilar, Blake Martin, Taylor Deer Park celebrates 2017 Class 6A state Lee, Chase Keng, Austin Mitchell, baseball championship. Blaine Holden and Dylan Pullig. The Deer were never threatened to Langham Creek. after scoring two runs in the second “We felt like we would be cominning, one more in the third followed petitive for sure this year, but you never by three in the fourth. know until you reach the playoffs,” Rupp “I told my kids they deserved said. “Once we got past the first three it [state championship] with all the rounds with some really good pitching I hard work they’ve put in,” said Deer told our pitching coach (Donnie Elliott) Park head coach Chris Rupp. “They we have a chance to make a really deep believed in what we were doing and playoff run.” now they are reaping the rewards. Deer Park took a 2-0 lead in the sec“Only one team gets to do ond inning against San Antonio Reagan this when the tournament is over,” thanks to a perfectly-executed hit-and-run Rupp said. “We got great pitching, play. Martin led off the inning with one we played good defense and we got of his three hits at the state tournament Blake Martin some timely hits. This feeling is just and Pullig walked. awesome.” Both runners were in motion when Lee pulled a double down A two-run uprising in the final at-bat enabled Deer Park the leftfield line. to overcome Southlake Carroll 3-2 in the state semifinals a day “Their pitcher was taking his time making his delivery to earlier to advance. home plate when we had runners on second base,” Rupp said. “He Deer Park eliminated playoff qualifiers Summer Creek, was giving us third base by not holding the runners close and we Pearland, Clear Springs, Ridge Point and Fort Bend Travis on the wanted to stay out of the double play.” way to the state tournament. Five Aguilar was able to navigate victories came with the Deer facaround 11 Reagan base hits over 4 ing elimination themselves. and 1/3 innings with the help of two Find out which player was named MVP The 1990 Deer Park team 4-6-3 double plays by his defense. and see who made all-tournament team held a one-run lead in the final Gonzales retired all eight batters he inning of the state title game faced to close it down. against Duncanville only to lose on a walk-off home run. The “Mentally I wasn’t tired because it was the state playDeer also advanced to state in 1975 and 1964. offs,” said Gonzales, who pitched the final 3 1/3 innings against Last year’s Deer Park team won its first 35 games of the Southlake Carroll in the state semifinals. “I had a little soreness in season on its way to a No. 1 national ranking only to lose the final my shoulder from pitching the day before but I was able to pitch two games of the season in the Region III-6A championship series through it.”
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JUNE 15 | 2017 | DEFENDER
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sportsbriefs She’s so Raevyn Houstonian Raevyn Rogers continued her reign of dominance at the recently concluded NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship. The Oregon junior made history by winning her third straight NCAA 800 title. The winning time of 2:00.02 was 1.30 seconds ahead of the runner-up, Virginia Tech’s Hanna Green. Rogers is the first three-time NCAA 800 outdoor champ in history. She has now won five straight NCAA 800 titles between indoors and outdoors. If that wasn’t enough, with the meet championship on the line, Rogers ran the anchor leg on the 4x400 relay. The Ducks needed to win the event to win the meet. Rogers ran that leg in a remarkable 49.77 and the Ducks won it all in dramatic fashion.
Springer hosts benefit Hats off to Astros outfielder George Springer, who recently hosted his third annual All-Star Bowling event benefiting Camp SAY. Springer, a person who stutters, is the national spokesperson for Camp SAY, a life-changing summer camp for young people who stutter. In the inaugural year, Springer hosted the benefit to establish the George Springer Kids Fund and provide young people of all socioeconomic backgrounds financial aid assistance and access to Camp SAY. To date, no family has been turned away from Camp SAY due to their inability to pay. “I want to help kids who stutter build the confidence they need to pursue their dreams,” said Springer. The event was well attended by Springer’s teammates. Among those in attendance were Carlos Correa, Dallas Keuchel, Lance McCullers, Mike Fiers and Jake Marisnick.
PNG wins Class 5A title It’s a banner year for Region III high school baseball. In addition to Deer Park winning the Class 6A state championship, Port Neches-Groves claimed the Class 5A title. The Indians ousted Brenham in the Region III-5A championship series by scores of 5-3 and 4-0 to return to the state tournament for the first time in 13 years. PNG defeated Frisco Wakeland 3-2 in the 5A state semifinals and knocked off Grapevine 4-2 in the 5A title game. The 34-8-2 Indians rolled over Humble, Manvel, Barbers Hill and Tomball to reach the state tournament. PNG lost to eventual state champion Boerne in the 2004 Class 4A state semifinals and to Corpus Christi Calallen in the 2000 4A title game. Other schools to win 2017 state baseball titles in Texas include Abilene Wylie (Class 4A), Nacogdoches Central Heights (Class 3A), Muenster (Class 2A) and Abbott (Class A).
Players all-tournament The Willis High School softball team made history in 2017 with the school’s first trip to the state softball tournament. The Wildkats defeated Dripping Springs 5-0 in the state semifinals before succumbing to The Colony 5-2 in the Class 5A state title game. Pitcher/utility Casey Dixon earned the semifinal victory by recording nine strikeouts in a complete game three-hitter. Dixon had a hit in each game of the state tournament. Joining Dixon on the Class 5A all-tournament team were Willis teammates Suzy Lopez (first base), third baseman Samara Lagway and outfielder Hannah Earls.
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DEFENDER | JUNE 15 | 2017
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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
topevents
FIRST FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR……..The Gite Gallery, owned and operated in attendance while they sampled her latest product. Attendees included Wayne by Lloyd Gite, hosted its monthly First Friday Happy Hour welcoming a packed Luckett, Laolu Davies, Rhonda Russell, Tara Yeoman, Sulay Renee, Gerald house of participants who took in the ambiance of fine art, spoken word and Shealey, Deborah Sauls, Clotie Wayland, Kimberly Williams, Kelly King, music, along with food and champagne. Participants were able to network Moniqua Roberson, Clarence Grayson III, and more.….. 38th ANNUAL PAN with Houston’s top professionals while enjoying the collection of original AFRICAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL….. SHAPE Community Center recently fine art by African and Cuban artists. Vendors were also on hand, giving hosted its 38th Annual Pan African Cultural Festival in recognition of African participants the opportunity to support local merchant artists. A partial list of Liberation Day. The family-friendly event was held in Our Park and offered individuals present included Fred Goodall, DeShonda food, vendors, performers, spoken word, face painting, a Hamilton, Sade Hill, Lucero Ramirez, Rain, Asia petting zoo and more. Proceeds benefit the SHAPE Summer Defender TOP EVENTS Youth Enrichment Program and the SHAPE-sponsored Russell, Ebony Rose, Lena Jones, Victor Ross, John More photos on defendernetwork.com Nicklos, Tonya Peavy, Beverly Harris, Chrystal Beasley, Freedom Tour which takes youth on a tour of historic Civil and more.……..MEET & GREET SOUTH AFRICA’S Rights Movement sites. SHAPE director Deloyd Parker FIRST FEMALE WINEMAKER…….. Ogun Art + was on hand to welcome countless attendees, including Wine and Branwar Wines hosted a meet and greet for Ntsiki Biyela, South Elma Jackson-Green, Lovie Evans, Gene Pack, Kofi Taharka, Dewayne Africa’s first female winemaker. Born in the KwaZulu province of South Africa, Evans, LaShondra Oliver, Karson Oliver, Norma Goodrich, Tracy Beavers, Biyela shared with attendees her incredible journey and rise to the top ranks of Munirah Olabisi, Baba Ifalade, Tamika Woods, San Antonio’s Organization the winemaking profession. Biyela eagerly shared tips with aspiring winemakers of African Unity and several others.
Raven Grant, Elzia Broussard
DeShonda Hamilton, Fred Goodall
Wayne Luckett, Ntsiki Biyela, Laolu Davies
Deloyd Parker, Kofi Taharka
Moniqua Roberson, Clarence Grayson III
Dion Craig, Mica Smith
Monica Payne, Lloyd Gite
Kimberly Gossett, Carl McGowan, Tiffany Jackson
Norma Goodrich, Tracy Beavers, Trula Samuel
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