07.16.2026_Defender-e-FULL

To thePOINT DN

Message from the Reporter

What theCarters remind us aboutlegacy

Jay-Zopenedhis Reasonable Doubt 30th anniversaryrun at Yankee Stadium this month, theway aproud father would, byfoldinghisfamilyintothestoryhebuilt. Beyoncestepped in forMaryJ.Bligeon “Can’tKnocktheHustle.”Thenhis14-yearolddaughter, Blue IvyCarter, satdownat apiano andplayed“Feelin’It” whilehe watched, visiblymoved by hisself-taught child.

The career-spanningresidency showcasedtheir enduringmusicalpartnershipandfeatureddeeplyintimatefamily momentsthatwentviralonsocialmedia.Night twoofthe residencydrewover45,000fans,breakingtheall-timerecord forthe largest single-night crowdfor asoloartistatYankee Stadium.

Theyhavesignificantlyinfluencedglobalmusic,business, andculture fordecades,showcasingexceptional artistry, strategicownership,and record-breakingachievements, impactingmultiplegenerations from Jay-Zand Beyoncéto theirchildren.

Thisisafamilywhose rise mirrorswhatsomanyBlack familiesherearetryingtobuild.Somethingthatoutlastsone generation.Watchinga teenager casuallycarry that kind of talent andaccessisa reminder that Blackwealthand Black artistrycanbeinheritedlikeanheirloom,notjustchasedfor onelifetime. What arewebuildingright nowthatour own kids caninherit later?

What SenatorLindsey Graham’s deathmeans forDemocrats

Recently,U.S.Senator LindseyGrahamdiedfroma suddenaorticdissection,daysafterreturningfromanoverseas trip.HisdeathremovesoneoftheSenate’smoreexperienced Republicanvoicesatamomentwhenthechamber’smajority is alreadythin, with anotherseniormember, former GOP leader MitchMcConnell,who washospitalized followinga fall andpneumonia

Thatinstability mattersherebecause thesameSenateis decidingthefateofasweepingbudgetpackagethatincludes newSNAPrequirementsandMedicaidworkrules,policies withdirectconsequencesforBlackhouseholdsnationwide.

Everyseat, everyvote, andevery absence changesthemathonlegislationthatshapes whetherourneighborskeepfoodassistance andhealthcoverage.ThisprovidesDemocrats with astrategic opportunitytostall PresidentDonaldTrump’s legislativeand judicialagendaheadingintotheNovember midterms

The immediatevacancy shifts thebalance of poweroncriticalcommitteesand complicateskeyRepublicaninitiatives,and BlackHouston cannot affordtolookaway from whofillsthe gap.

Is WorldCup commentary better in Englishor Spanish?

Across thecountry,plentyofEnglish-onlyspeakershave beenflippingtheirWorldCupviewingtoSpanish-language broadcasts rather than Englishcoverage, even though they understand only fragmentsofthe commentary.Viewers describe theSpanish-languagecalls as more emotionaland energetic, with camerasthatstayonthe action rather than cuttingtocommercials.Ihappentoagree

Imightnotbefluentinit,butwhenIwatchit,youcanfeel thecommentators’passionforthesport.Spanishbroadcasts focusentirelyonthepitchandtrulyrespecttheatmosphere oftheglobalgame,ratherthanoverexplainingstandardrules orveeringofftopiclikeAmericananalysts.AndIabsolutely dislikebeing choked with thesamecommercials over and overagainwhenIclickovertotheEnglishside.AndstreamingthetournamentviaPeacock(whichbroadcastsTelemundo’s feed)issignificantlycheaper than paying forplatforms that carryFox andFS1.

Thissmall viewinghabit says somethingbiggerabout whereAmericanculture is headed.Ina politicalclimate fixatedonborders, language restrictions,and immigration crackdowns,itisworthnoticingthatmillionsofAmericans arevoluntarily leaningintoSpanish becauseitfeels more aliveand exciting

On TheWeb

•Why Imiss90’sBlack Sitcoms.

•Tay Butler uses arttoelevate Blackconsciousness •College students’views on Trumpand politics.

Community demands accountability after fatal ICE shooting

ByAswad Walker

Communityleaders,electedofficials,and the family of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo are demanding answers after the Houston man wasfatallyshotrecentlyduringanencounter with ICE officers in Magnolia Park

Standing with the family were U.S. Reps. AlGreenandSylviaGarcia,alongwithleadersfromLULAC,theGreaterHoustonJustice Coalition,theNAACP,FIEL,andotherorganizations.Theyarecallingforanindependent investigation, the release of body-camera footage, and congressional oversight

“Wemusthaveathorough,complete,and transparentinvestigationbeforetherecanbe accountability,”Greensaid “Wemust have ahearingsothatthepubliccanseeandhear as much evidence as is available, especially body camera footage.”

Green also warned that Congress should not approve additional ICE funding without mandatory body cameras and pledged to conduct his own investigation

Whitmirecallsformoratorium

DuringaJuly15CNNinterview,Houston Mayor John Whitmire called for a 90-day moratoriumonICEtrafficstopswhilefederal officials review enforcement policies.

anofficerbeforeanagentfiredinself-defense Communityadvocatesarguethoseclaims shouldnotbeacceptedwithoutbody-camera footage and other evidence They point to recent ICE shootings in Minnesota and other places where video and witness accounts told a vastly different story than the tale ICE spokespersons told.

In the wake of the Houston killing, ICE officersinMainefatallyshotamotorist,Joan SebastianGuerrero,a26-year-oldColombian nativewhowasauthorizedtoworkintheU.S. and had a Social Security number, according toadvocacygroups.Reportedly,bodycameras were not used during either fatal incident.

Familyseeksjustice

Relatives said Salgado Araujo spent decades working construction, had no criminal convictions, and was driving a work crew to a job site when he was killed

“They should go [on] moratorium till theycanfiteverybodywithabodycamera,” Whitmire said “Body cameras work We needDHStoallowindependentauthorities to investigate.”

Conflictingaccounts

DHS said Salgado Araujo was not the intendedtargetoftheimmigrationoperation. The agency alleges he ignored commands, struck an ICE vehicle, and attempted to ram

Whitmire also criticized what he called a lack of compassion from the federal government,saying,“Thesearehumanbeings.”

“He did not deserve to die,” said his son, RonaldoSalgado “Hedeservedtoliveaquiet life as Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a husband, a father, and a job creator for dozens of men who also wanted the American dream.”

Green warned against allowing ICE to investigate itself, saying, “We cannot allow a cover-up to take place.”

New deadline for student loans

By Laura Onyeneho

For over seven million student loan borrowers, a massive wave of federal repayment changes has arrived,bringingfreshuncertainty overwhatcomesnext.

TheSavingonaValuableEducation (SAVE) Plan, once celebrated as the most generous incomedriven option in history, is being phased out. Federal loan servicers are set to start distributing individual transition letters on July 1, 2026. However, a recent Department of Education court filing clarified a vital grace period No borrower will be dropped from the SAVE program until September 29, 2026, at the very earliest Insteadofasuddencutoff,borrowers will enter a staggered, personal 90-daywindowbasedonwhenthey receivetheirnotice Thosewhofail to proactively switch to an alternative, such as the newly unveiled Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP),riskbeingautomatically transferred to standard or tiered payment structures, which could cause monthly bills to surgeovernight.

“The SAVE Plan was the most generous student loan repayment program available. Now, you are going to have to get out of SAVE andgetintoanotherincome-driven repayment plan,” Adams said “People are already receiving letters with 2028 deadlines, but do not wait. At any time, youcanreceivea90-day notice Start researching now.

”

Launched in 2023, the Biden administration initiative faced immediate, fierce legal resistance, leading to court rulings that ultimately blocked key provisions before the current administration moved to dismantle it entirely What remains now is the transition period,andformillions ofborrowers,thedecisionsmadeinthenext few months will shape their finances for years tocome

Adams wants borrowers to understand that the much-discussedJuly1date does not apply to everyone equally. That deadline primarily affected people who needed to consolidateloanstotrigger a new repayment plan, specifically, Parent PLUS loan holders who have not yetcompletedconsolidation.

Ja’NetAdamshaswatched these numbers play out in real time Adams is the founder andCEOofDebtSucksUniversity, afinancialliteracyorganizationthat has helped borrowers secure more than$4millioninstudentloanforgivenessover15years.Shepaidoff $50,000ofherowndebtintwoyears afteralayoffcostherfamily60%of itshouseholdincome Today,sheis oneofthemostsought-aftervoices on federal student loan policy, and she says the confusion surrounding the collapse of the SAVE Plan isunlikeanythingshehasseen

For those borrowers, the window has effectively closed

“If you have not already consolidated your Parent PLUS loans togetintotheIncome-ContingentRepaymentplan,that is unfortunately going to be veryhardtoaccomplishbeforeJuly 1,” Adams said “Those borrowers need to go to studentaid.gov right now, look at all their options, and understand what their new paymentisgoingtolooklike.”

For borrowers currently in the SAVE forbearance, the stakes are different but equally urgent Those who remain in SAVE are not making payments, but their loanbalancescontinuetogrowas interest accrues Critically, those monthsdonotcounttowardloan

forgiveness timelines.

“For those of you in Public Service Loan Forgiveness, you only have10yearstotal,”Adamswarned “Every month you stay in SAVE, youarelosingamonthtowardforgiveness If you can afford to start makingpaymentsagain,pleasedo.”

The remaining repayment options,Income-BasedRepayment, PayAsYouEarn,andIncome-Contingent Repayment, are still available Adamsadvisesallborrowersto visitstudentaid.gov,signin,anduse the loan simulator to find the plan that produces the lowest monthly paymentbasedontheirincome

“That is the one you pick,” she said simply “And if the number is still too high, you figure out where tofindthegap.Cutback,pickupa sidejob.Becauseifyoudonotpay, they will garnish your wages and take your tax refund This is no longeragame.”

The economic weight of this moment goes beyond repayment plan logistics. Phoenix Jackson, theHouston-basedco-founderand CEOofPHINDWork,aworkforce development app connecting people to jobs, apprenticeships, and resources in construction, trades, and green tech, sees the downstreamconsequenceseveryday.She saysthepeoplecomingthroughthe PHINDpipelinearemakingimpossiblefinancialdecisions

“People are having to prioritize shelter, food, transportation, their basic needs, before they can even consider paying off student loans or credit card debt,” Jackson said “We have people who are actively defaultingandbecomingdelinquent notbecausetheydonotwanttopay, butbecausetheysimplycannot.”

Shedescribedayoungmanwho

hadcompletedtwoyearsofcollege beforedroppingouttopursuewelding, a decision driven directly by studentloananxietyandeconomic instability.

“He now has a guaranteed role when he is done,” Jackson said. “Peoplearerescuingthemselves.”

Jackson said that Black women have been disproportionately impacted by federal layoffs under the Trump administration, and thattheirroleaseconomicanchors in Black communities makes their financial instability a community-widecrisis

“Wecannotaffordtolose300,000 to350,000jobs.Ourcommunityis the minority. A community that has 125 million constituents cannotabsorbwhatothers can. And when you have over eight percent ofBlackwomenunemployed, and they are the breadwinners, that affectsallofus.”

Alan Pruitt, a Houston-based certified public accountant and founder of Pruitt Prep CPA LLC, breaksdownwhatborrowersoften overlook

UnderthenewRepaymentAssistance Plan introduced by the Big

BeautifulBill,theforgivenesstimelineextendsto30years,upfrom20 to 25 years under prior programs Butthereisacatchmostborrowers donotknow Anyamountforgiven attheendofthattimelineistreated astaxableincome.

“Let’s say you have $50,000 forgiven and you are in the 22% tax bracket,youcouldbelookingatan additional $11,000 owed on your taxreturn,“hesaid “After30years of payments and all that interest.”

The student loan interest deduction, meanwhile, remains capped at $2,500 per year, a figure Pruitt calleddeeplyinadequategivencurrentbalances.

His advice for anyonepanickingistostart withwhatyouknow “Know how much you have coming in, look at your bills, and figureoutwhatyoucan realisticallyafford.Then lookatallyouroptions, because depending on when you took out yourloans,therearestill pathsforward,”hesaid “Butplease,donotsetitandforget it Take a proactive stance And if you can build a side hustle, do it Having a job and a side hustle is a cheatcodewhenitcomestotaxes.”

Kandace Washington Turns son’s legacy into a lifeline

By ReShonda Tate

On April 12, 2025, two days before a grandjurywassettohearthecasethathad consumed his life for months, Kyren Lacy was gone He was 24.

A star wide receiver with an NFL future infrontofhim,Lacywasreducedonlineto asingleaccusation AfteraDecember2024 chain-reactioncrashthatclaimedthelifeof a 78-year-old man, Louisiana State Police chargedLacywithnegligenthomicide,felony hit-and-run, and reckless operation, alleging he caused the crash by illegally passing another vehicle. But a grand jury later declined to indict him, determining theevidencedidnotsupporttheclaimthat he caused the fatal collision. Lacy died by suicidejustdaysbeforethegrandjurywas scheduled to hear the case The court of public opinion had already delivered its verdict, long before any courtroom could. The burden came to be too much for the young athlete, and he took his own life.

His mother, Kandace Washington, has spent 12 years as a school counselor, guidingotherpeople’schildrenthroughexactly this kind of pressure She never imagined she’d need those same instincts to try to save her own son or that she wouldn’t get the chance

Now she’s turning that grief into somethingelse:theK2Foundation,afoundation built in Kyren’s name, meant to catch the next young athlete before the internet, the courts, and the weight of it all close in.

“Iwastalkingwithmytherapist,andshe wassayingtomethatIhaveallthisloveand care for Kyren, and she said, ‘You have to put it somewhere,’” Washington said

That conversation became the foundation’soriginstory awaytoturnherlove for her son into something he would have wanted to see come to life.

RememberingKyren

Washington is intentional about keeping thefocusonwhohersonwas,notjustwhat happened to him.

“I want people to know that Kyren was a gentle giant, he had a huge heart,” she said, describing him as someone who loved his community, showed up for the people around him, and was known for making others laugh.

The K2 Foundation’s first initiative is direct: Covering counseling costs for student-athletes.Ifanathletehasinsurancebut can’taffordthecopay,thefoundationpaysit Ifanathleteisuninsured,K2coversuptofive counseling sessions in full

“So our foundation is based on offering supportforathletes,”saidWashington,pointingtothegapshesawbetweenthepressure collegeathletesfaceandtheresourcesactuallyavailabletothem especiallyatthelevel Kyren competed at

That pressure, she says, has only intensified with the rise of NIL money and the always-on nature of social media, where an athlete’s public image can flip overnight.

“I think social media is the biggest issue

right now, because one second you’re doing something good, you’re a hero,” Washingtonsaid “Andthesecondyoudosomething wrong,thethingsthatpeoplesayonlineare really atrocious.”

She added that athletes are still full-time students underneath the spotlight juggling classes, practice, and a social life like anyoneelsetheirage,evenasthepublictreats them like they aren’t

The mission, at its core, is about shifting perspective.

“The core message is, and the mission is toalwaysbeasimplethingofchangingyour perspective,” Washington said

“I wanted to use my platform to recognize any and every single person that feels unseen,” Washington said. “So if God gave me this platform, I’m going to use it for the good things.”

For Washington, that kind of visibility is exactly what a young nonprofit needs. The foundationisstillbuildingoutitswebsiteand formal infrastructure, and she says volunteers and donations go a long way.

“Thebiggestcontributionispeopledonatingandhelpingout,”shesaid,“sobeingable togethelpfromothercompaniesororganizationsandpartneringwithotherpeoplehas really been a help for the foundation to go above and beyond.”

Takingthemessage toHouston

Washington’sstoryhasresonatedacrossthe country, particularly among those who see

firsthand the unique pressures young Black athletes carry. Andrea Odom, co-founder of BlackSportsMoms,saidKyren’sstorystruck herimmediately,andshe’sinvitedWashington to deliver the keynote address at the organization’supcomingconferenceinHoustonon July18(blacksportsmom.com).

Odomsaidthestoryofanathleteperforming under bright lights, only to be turned on after a single misstep, felt painfully familiar Shedescribedtheonlinebacklashathletesface as relentless, comparing it to being outnumberedbybullieswithnowaytofightback

“InthiscasewithKyrenLacy,hewastried inthecourtofpublicopinionandnevereven madeittocourt,”Odomsaid Shepointedto that as part of the reason Washington’s messagematters:peopleneedtobekinderonline, and remember there’s a real person on the otherendofeverycomment.

LookingAhead

Washington’s long-term goal is for K2 to becomeoneofthemostdependableresources available to student-athletes navigating the mental toll of competing at a high level withafullrosteroftherapistswhounderstand thespecificpressuresofthatworld.

She measures success not by scale, but by whetherthefoundationreachesevenoneathletewhoneedsit

“I feel him every time I do something at everyeventthatwehave,”Washingtonsaid “I thinkhewouldbeveryproudoftheworkand the family coming together and just making surethatthisisareallysuccessfulfoundation.”

By Tannistha Sinha

ornearlytwodecades, TexasDemocratshave held outhopefor a “bluewave,”particularlyamidchanging demographics. The state’spopulationisgrowingrapidly Itsmajor cities arebecomingyounger and more diverse, with Black, Latino,and Asian Texansaccountingformuchofthatgrowth. Everyelectioncycle seemstobring another roundofpredictions that Texasisfinallyon theverge of becoming aDemocraticstate. Yet, Republicanscontinuetowin statewide. The question headingintothe 2026 midtermselections hasshiftedfromwhether Texasischangingtowhether that change will translateintopolitical power.

Where is the optimism coming from?

Apartofthe optimism restsonthe woman Democratshopewillbreak a three-decade statewidelosingstreak, State Rep. Gina Hinojosa of Austin,who won theDemocraticnominationfor governor in Marchagainst Gov. Greg Abbott with 60.5%ofthe vote.She citedrecentwinsas evidence “IthappenedinTarrant County,where we flipped thestate senate.Ithappenedin Leander,whereweflippedthemayor’sseat,” Hinojosa said

InJanuary,unionmachinistTaylorRehmetwonarunoffforTexasSenateDistrict9 with57%ofthevote,flippingaFortWortharea seat theGOP hadheldsince 1991,in adistrictPresident Donald Trumphad carriedby17pointsin2024. Weekslater, Na’ColeThompson wona specialelection formayorofLeander,aWilliamsonCounty suburb Trumphad carriedbyroughly four points,with57%ofthevoteinanonpartisan race that national Democratsnonetheless celebrated

Meanwhile, followingtheir runoffwins, CongressmanChristian Menefee, Harris CountyjudgenomineeLetitiaPlummer,and

UEW

‘BLUWAVE’

Thereare peoplewho have been so disengaged in the past fewvoting cyclesthat they’rehavinga hard time buying in.Seeingthe rest of us buyin, seeingpeoplewho have votedevery election cycle, even though we perhapshavebeenlet down, is gonnabring thosepeople outinthe same way.”

Fort Bend County judgenominee Dexter McCoyvowed to channeltheir focusinto turningTexas blue

“Weare united in ensuring that Democrats winevery single county-widerace in Harris County,win everysinglecounty-wideraceinFortBendCounty, anddo allwecantoflipthestateofTexasandmake sure that flowsthrough Harris andFort Bend County,” Menefeesaid.

Ireallythink this is thetimethatTexas canturnblue,”saidJoeDumas,anattorney “It’sgoingtobehard.Idon’tthinkit’sgonna belikea60-40,butit’sgonnabea51-49kind ofsplit.ThereareRepublicanswhoarealso upsetand gonnavoteangrily againsttheir ownparty this time.”

AdriannaIvory,alsoanattorney,seesthe same trend.

peoplewhohavevotedeveryelectioncycle, eventhoughweperhapshavebeenletdown, is gonnabring thosepeopleout in the same way. ”

Is theremerit to the optimism?

race,six points widerthanhis narrow 2018 winoverO'Rourke. Abbott beat O'Rourke by10.9pointsin2022inthegeneralelection forGovernorofTexas,barelydownfromhis 13.3-point margin in 2018

No Democrat haswon statewideoffice inTexassincethemid-1990s,andnonehas wona U.S. Senate seat theresince Lloyd Bentsenin1988.

CongressionalDistrict18. Were themost diversecityinthe entire nation .generally, noteverybody,butmostpeopleofcolorgenerallyvoteDemocrat.Weneedmorepeople tostandup,usetheirvoices,andholdpeople accountablesowecaneasilyflipTexasblue.”

These upsets couldbewhat’sfueling the optimism within theDemocraticParty

IHSANBAHA

theseconversations Whatwerereallymiss-

theseconversations.Whatwerereallymissingistransparency.Weneedmorecommunity organizing.”

Someyoungvoters,likeMariahAdeeko, an organizerwiththe youth-focusednonprofitYoung Invincibles, arenot so sure, attributinglow turnouttologisticalissues andlow motivation

“No,Idonotthinkthatthe2026midterm electionswillturnTexasblue…itwillprobably take us anothertwo generalelections forustoturnTexas,” Adeeko said.“Butit will move theneedleforward…I’m seeing peoplecanvas,organize,butIamstillwary aboutexcruciatinglylonglines at allofthe pollingcenters.”

Toomanycooks?

MichelleDurham,aresidentinherthird yearofvotinginTexas,pointedtopartydisciplinethatstillrevealsgapsinorganization.

“Thereare people whohavebeensodisengagedinthe past fewvotingcyclesthat they’rehavingahardtimebuyingin,”Ivory said.“Seeing therestofusbuy in,seeing

Specialelections,though,drawsmalland motivatedturnoutsthathavenotalwayspredictedwhathappensoncethefullelectorate showsup.

Severalvotersreconciledthatgap by pointing at therolls rather than thepolls.

ZoraSmith,agraduatestudentattheUniversityofHouston with afocus on policy andadvocacy,saidtheyoungvoterpoolhas thepotential to create meaningful change, butremains skeptical.

R

t Education, showingthem howimportant it is,not just registeringvoters, but gettingthemout to thepolls That’s apriority.”

Redistricting effortsand impact Redistrictinghas also complicatedthe question of whetherTexas’growing Black population is translatingintogreater political influence.Votingrightsadvocates and politicalanalystsargue that recent congressionalmapshavereshaped,andinsomecases diluted, Blackvotingpower Voting rights activist Pamiel Gaskin told theDefenderthatBlack voters were effectively“packed”intofewerdistricts,reducing theirinfluenceelsewhere IhsanBaha, aprecinctchair,agreedthat Blackvoter turnouthas lagged,but called it fixable.

“I don’tthink we’vehad enough [turnout] to come outfor this past election,but we’reworking on it,” Baja said.“Education, showingthemhow importantitis, notjust registeringvoters,butgettingthemouttothe polls. That’sa priority.”

When it comestothe upcoming Senate race betweenAttorneyGeneral KenPaxton andState Rep. JamesTalarico, voters like DarrellJordan,aU.S.ArmyveteranandformerHarrisCountyjudge,pointedtoPaxton’s record as an indication that theseatcan be flipped in November.Paxton wasindicted on securities-fraud chargesin2015 and impeached, then acquitted, in 2023.

Trumpcarried Texasby13.7percentage pointsin2024,thestate’swidestpresidential marginintwodecades,upsharplyfrom5.6 percentage points in 2020,while TedCruz beatAllredby8.49pointsintheU.S.Senate

“Ifyoulookatthevoterrecords,thereare alot of people that areonrecordthathave voterregistrations.Theyjustdon’tvote,”said KarlaWest, theDemocraticprecinctchair fordowntown’sPrecinct16, citing herown

“I’moftenonthefence,”Smithsaid.“We justneedeveryyoungvotertocomeoutand vote.Weneedpeopleoncollege campuses We need ourelected officialstocomeout andactuallyencourageyoungpeopletohave

“Wehavetoget outintothe community andinformall of us more,” Durham said “Peopleshouldgoeverywhere…andtalk to people in away that helps‘em understandhow theirvotewillmatterintheir day-to-daylife.Wehavetoomanydifferent candidatessometimesevenwithintheDemocraticpartythataresayingdifferentthings, andwereallyneedaunifiedvoice forthat everyday voter.”

“Wecan flipthatseatbecause thereare a lotofpeoplewhoareupsetwithhim,whodo notsupportthethingsthathe’sbeenaccused of,” Jordan said.“If Talarico does hispart, comesouttotheAfricanAmericancommunity andall communitiesand asks fortheir vote specifically, Ithink this is thetimetha we canhaveastatewide seat.”

Prepares girls to runthe world Girls Inc.

By AswadWalker

MalcolmXfamouslynoted that Black womenare themostdisrespectedgroup in society, areality that begins well before adulthood. GirlsInc., anationalprogram with apowerfullocal presence,seeks to profoundlychangethisrealityforthebetter.

Current hurdles

From kindergarten through12thgrade, Blackgirls face harsher, more frequent disciplinaryactions than theirwhite peersfor thesameinfractions

Thisisdrivenlargelyby“adultification”— thepracticeofperceivingBlack children as olderandmorematurethantheyare,strippingthemoftheirinnocenceandexposing them to systemicbias.

Compoundingthese classroomhurdles, school-agedBlack children arelesslikely to have health insurance, more likely to carrytraumafromlosinga lovedone,and routinelyexposed to teachers with implicit or explicit biases.Combinedwithsocietal sexism,Blackgirlsfaceunique,monumental obstacles.

Enter Girls Inc.

Foundedin1864tosupportyoungwomen navigatingtheupheavalofthepost-CivilWar era, GirlsInc.operatesacross1,690 sitesin theUnitedStatesand Canada.Its core Bill of Rights reflectsalasting commitmentto helpinggirlsgrowuphealthy,educated,and independent.

Celebrating29yearsoflocalimpact,Girls Inc. of GreaterHouston (GIGH) dedicates

itselftothisexactmissionforgirlsofallbackgrounds. LedbyCEO TreopiaCannon, the organizationenvisionsafutureof“powerful girlsinanequitablesociety.”

Part of alargerfederated networkof75 affiliates,GIGHinspiresgirls to be “strong, smart, andbold” throughsix essentialelements: mentoring, intentionalprograms, girls-onlyenvironments,sustainedexposures, interactiveactivities, andresearch-based curricula.

Holistic andpreventative programming

Servingyouth ages 6through 24, the organization delivers comprehensiveprogramming integrated directly into school curricula, summer camps, andSaturday sessions.

It operates on threedistinctorganizationalpillarsdesignedtobuildfoundational life skills:

•Strong:Focusesonmentalandphysical healthyliving.

•Smart: Prioritizesacademic enrichment,STEM,financialliteracy,andreading.

•Bold: Teachesleadershipand self-advocacy.

To ensure successisnever restricted by financiallimitations,corporate partnershipsallowGIGHtoofferallprogramming entirelyfreeofchargetogirlsandtheirfamilies. Furthermore, initiativeslikeProject Insightcombatmiddleschooldropoutrisks by connecting participants with anetwork of trainedmentors andlicensed, in-house social workers.

Confronting barriersand personal mentorship

ForCannon, awoman of colorherself, thesesystemichurdles arenot new—they arehistoricchallengesthathavesimplybeen exacerbatedbymoderntimes.Inresponse, theorganizationlauncheditslatestcampaign: “Herewecome.GetReady.”

The true heartbeatofthe Houstonchapterisitshands-onmentorship.Cannonpersonallyreviewsresumesandconductsmock interviews with participants before placing themwithcorporatepartners.

Recognizingtheneedforongoingsupport, shealsoextendedservicestoincludealumni up to age24. In oneinstance, theorganization hiredaformerparticipant whohad to dropoutofcollegeduetohardshipsasapaid intern,andlaterhelpedhersecureacorporate

internshippaying$20anhour

CommunityImpactand Future Outreach

Thetangiblebenefitsofthisdedication arefeltdeeplyinlocal schools. JustineRitsema,formerprincipalofDeandaElementary School—where 92%ofthe studentbodyis economically disadvantaged—notedthat participatingscholarshaveshown increased classroomconfidence anda greaterinterest inmathandscience

Currentlyserving over 3,000 girlsinthe GreaterHoustonareathroughschools,communitycenters,andlocalpartnerships,Girls Inc.ofGreaterHoustonplanstokeepexpandingwherevertheorganizationisinvited. To supportGirls Inc, or for more information,visitgirlsinc-houston.org.

Feature DN

REPORT

Young adults

Can’t afford to leave home

By Laura Onyeneho

ShehasaPennStatedegree,acommunicationscareer,andanearlycompletedgradschool program. But at 27, Tipawa Kaunda still lives withherparentsinDallas

“IlookedatHouston,”saidKaunda,aZambianAmericangradstudentandcommunications strategist “I was doing the math Rent, utilities, car insurance, groceries, and everythingIwasfindingwasprettymuchequaling whatImakeinamonth.Iwasworkingadecent job,andIstillcouldn’tmakeitwork.”

A new analysis by Realtor.com found that 25.2millionadultsunder35livedwithaparentin2025,roughlyoneinthreeyoungadults, surpassing even the pandemic-era peak Roughly70%ofthoseinthe25-34agegroup are employed, pointing squarely to housing costsratherthanemploymentasthedriver The nationalmedianhomelistingpricehit$430,000 in 2025, up 34% from 2019. The median asking rent climbed to $1,673, up nearly 18% overthesameperiod

ShemovedinwithherparentsinJuly2025.

Notice of Class Action Settlement

Authorized by the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York Notice of Class Action Settlement

Si desea leer este aviso en español, llámenos o visite nuestro sitio web.

TO: All merchants in the U.S who accepted Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards at any time since December 18, 2020.

This notice (“Notice”) is authorized by the Court to inform you about an agreement to settle the equitable relief claims in a class action lawsuit, called In re Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation, No. 05-md-01720 (BMC)(JAM)(E.D.N.Y.). The lawsuit claims that Visa and Mastercard, separately, and together with certain banks, violated antitrust laws and caused merchants to pay excessive fees for accepting Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards, including by adopting interchange rules and rates, and other network rules, which the lawsuit has claimed constituted unlawful price fixing, unreasonable restraints of trade, and monopolization.

The defendants say they did nothing wrong. They maintain that their business practices are legal, justified, and the result of independent competition, and have benefitted both merchants and consumers. The Court has not decided who is right because the parties agreed to a settlement, which was preliminarily approved by the Court on June 9, 2026.

A. What Merchants Will Get from the Settlement

During the lawsuit, the Court previously certified an Equitable Relief Class under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(2) and has now preliminarily approved a settlement of the Class claims (the “Rule 23(b)(2) Class Settlement” or “Settlement”).

Under the Settlement, Visa and Mastercard have agreed to substantive changes to the Visa and Mastercard rules applicable to merchants who accept their cards as a form of payment.

The Class includes all persons, businesses, and entities that accept any Visa-Branded Cards and/or Mastercard-Branded Cards in the United States at any time during the period between December 18, 2020 and the date of preliminary settlement approval, or June 9, 2026. The Court has set November 16, 2026 as the date for a final approval and fairness hearing (the “Fairness Hearing”) in connection with the Settlement, after members of the Class have had the opportunity to evaluate the Settlement and exercise their rights, as set forth in the Notice. Further information regarding the Settlement and the Fairness Hearing will be posted on www.InterchangeEquitableReliefSettlement.com.

Under the Rule 23(b)(2) Class Settlement, Mastercard and Visa will modify certain rules to preserve, establish, or expand the circumstances in which merchants can, among other things, do the following:

• Decline acceptance of Visa- or Mastercard-Branded Commercial Credit Cards and/or Premium Consumer Credit Cards.

•Surcharge customers a fee for the use of any Visa or Mastercard-Branded Credit Cards, including based on the type of card used (e.g. a different surcharge for rewards and non-rewards cards).

• The cost of an Independent Auditor who will ensure that Visa and Mastercard comply with the credit card interchange-rate reduction commitments, and

• Attorneys’ fees and expenses, including any named Class Representative service awards, as approved by the Court.

The money in this fund will be distributed only if the Court grants final approval of the Settlement, and the money for attorneys’ fees and expenses, and service awards to Class Representatives, will be distributed only if the Settlement has become final and all appeals are exhausted, and the Court approves the application for attorneys’ fees and expenses, and Class Representatives’ service awards.

Attorneys’ fees and expenses, and service awards to the Class Representatives: For work done through final approval of the Settlement by the Court, as well as any work they will be required to do in the future, Class Counsel will ask the Court for attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of reasonable and necessary litigation expenses, and any service awards to the named Class Representatives that the Court may award, in an amount not to exceed $206,000,000. The Settlement Agreement requires Visa and Mastercard to pay these fees and expenses separately from the other Settlement financial obligations and they will not reduce any other benefits of the Settlement; members of the Class will not be required to pay any amount toward these fees and expenses.

C. Legal Rights and Options

•Offer discounts to customers who do not pay with Visa or Mastercard-Branded Credit Cards, or based on the financial institution that issued the Visa or Mastercard-Branded Credit Card.

• Decline acceptance of Visa or Mastercard-Branded Cards at all outlets that operate under the same trade name or banner, even if that merchant accepts those same cards at outlets that operate under a different trade name or banner

Houston has long marketed itself as one of the more affordable major cities in the country. According to the C2ER Cost of LivingIndex2025Annual Average,thecity’shousingcostssit20.2%below thenationalurbanaverage.Butlocaldatatellsa morecomplicatedstory forBlackresidents.The Kinder Institute for UrbanResearchatRice University flagged a decline in Black homeownership across HarrisCountyinitsmostrecentStateofHousing report,notingthathomepricesinheavilyBlack outer-loop neighborhoods, including Acres Homes and South Acres, rose by 30% to 60% between2020and2025

Meanwhile,aHoustonhouseholdneedsan annual income of roughly $91,200 to afford the typical monthly homeownership costs here,accordingtotheHoustonAssociationof Realtors, a benchmark out of reach for many youngworkers.

ForBrittaniAnderson,aPrairieViewA&M Universitygraduatewhohaslivedandworked in Houston since 2017, the barriers became clear after a divorce left her a single mother

“Creditandjusttryingtosave,”saidAnderson, 34, who is now pursuing a master’s in socialworkwhileraisingherdaughter “When youwantahouse,theywantyoutoputdown acertainamountofmoney.Anditseemslike once you pay your bills, you really don’t have anymoneyafterthat Itseemslikeyouhaveto getasecondjobjusttosave.”

Andersonsaidwhensheandherex-husband attempted to buy a home together, her credit score was the obstacle, even though they had savedenoughforadownpayment.Shebelieves thesystemneedstoberestructured

“As long as people can prove they have an incomeandthey’reworking,”shesaid.“Idon’t thinkacreditscoreshouldstopsomeonefrom beingapprovedforahome.”

KaundaandAndersondescribednavigating family dynamics as adults living under their parents’roofs,renegotiatingindependence,settingboundaries,andbalancinggratitudewith theweightofunmetexpectations.ForKaunda, herZambianbackgroundhelpedreframethe experience

“Inourculture,theolderyouget,livingwith yourparentsisstillverymuchanormalthing,” shesaid “IrecognizedIwasinaprivilegedposition Parentswhodon’tkickmeout,thatdon’t makemepayrent ButIalsowantedtomaintain myownautonomy.”

Anderson,whohadnotlivedwithherparents since age 18, said returning home as a 34-year-oldmotherreshapedherrelationship with them. “I’m still your child, but I’m your adultchild,andIhaveachild,”shesaid “Living with my parents now, I appreciate them so much more I feel blessed that they’re in a positiontoletmeandmydaughterstayhere.”

•Engage in Pilot Programs whereby they accept Visa or Mastercard-Branded Credit Cards at some but not all outlets operating under the same trade name or banner for a limited duration or test out various acceptance, surcharging and discounting options at some but not all outlets operating under the same trade name or banner, including not accepting Commercial or Premium Consumer Credit Cards, for a limited duration.

•Accept some digital wallets at brick-and-mortar locations but decline others and enable some digital wallets for on-line transactions but not enable others, and “steer” among the cards within a digital wallet under the same rules that govern steering among traditional cards.

•Receive the benefit of credit interchange rate reductions: Visa and Mastercard will reduce published and negotiated Credit Card interchange rates for U.S. merchants.

•Receive the benefit of Credit Card interchange rate caps: The Settlement Agreement reduces and caps “Standard” Consumer Credit Card rates at a specified level and otherwise caps Credit Card interchange rates, such that neither Visa nor Mastercard will increase any of its published Credit Card interchange rates above the rates effective as of March 31, 2025 and each will reduce its network-wide average Credit Card interchange rate to or below the specified level.

•Form Merchant Buying Groups that meet certain criteria to negotiate with Visa and Mastercard.

•Receive access to a Merchant Education Program, established and administered under the Settlement Agreement, to help understand and maximize the benefits of the rule changes, including how to effectively “steer” in States that restrict surcharging.

B. Monetary Aspects of the Rule 23(b)(2) Class Settlement

There is no monetary payment to members of the Class in this Settlement. This Rule 23(b)(2) Class Settlement concerns only the Equitable Relief Claims set forth in the lawsuit. Claims for monetary damages arising out of the defendants’ alleged antitrust violations are the subject of a separate settlement for the Rule 23(b)(3) Class. For information concerning the separate Rule 23(b)(3) Cash Settlement Class, please visit the website: www.PaymentCardSettlement.com

The Settlement does provide for Visa and Mastercard to make certain payments into the Rule 23(b)(2) Class Settlement Escrow Account, which money will be used to pay:

• The cost of settlement administration and notice, as approved by the Court,

• The cost of Merchant Education Program expenses, as approved by the Court,

Merchants who are included in this lawsuit have the legal right to Object to the Settlement. The deadline to object is: September 14, 2026 To learn how to object, visit: www.InterchangeEquitableReliefSettlement.com or call toll-free: 877-318-7713.

Note: You cannot elect to be excluded from the Rule 23(b)(2) Class Settlement. For more information about these rights and options, visit: www.InterchangeEquitableReliefSettlement.com or call toll-free: 877-318-7713.

D. If the Court Grants Final Approval of the Settlement

If the Court grants final approval to the Settlement, members of the Rule 23(b)(2) Class will be bound by the terms of the Settlement and will release all claims against all released parties listed in the Settlement Agreement. The Settlement will resolve and release any claims by payment card acceptors against Visa, Mastercard and other defendants that were or could have been alleged in the lawsuit, including any claims based on interchange or other fees, no-surcharge rules, no-discounting rules, honor-all-cards rules, and any other network rules. The Settlement will also resolve any payment card acceptor claims based upon the future effect of any Visa or Mastercard rules as they were or are in place on December 18, 2020 and up to the Settlement Final Date (as defined in the Settlement Agreement), the modified rules provided for in the Settlement, or any other rules substantially similar to those rules. The release will not bar claims involving certain specified standard commercial disputes arising in the ordinary course of business.

For more information on the release, see the Superseding andAmended Rule 23(b)(2) Class SettlementAgreement at: www.InterchangeEquitableReliefSettlement.com.

E. The Court Hearing About This Settlement

On November 16, 2026 at 11:00 am ET, the Court will hold a hearing to decide whether to approve the proposed Settlement, Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and expenses, and service awards for the named Class Representatives. The hearing will take place at: United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan 225 Cadman Plaza East Brooklyn, NY 11201

You do not have to attend the Court hearing or hire an attorney, though you may do either at your own expense. The Court appointed the law firms of Hilliard Shadowen LLP; Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.; Freed Kanner London & Millen LLC; and Nussbaum Law Group, P.C. to represent the Class (“Class Counsel”). F. Questions?

For more information about this case (In re Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation, MDL 1720), you may: Call toll-free: 877-318-7713

Visit: www.InterchangeEquitableReliefSettlement.com

Write to the Class Administrator: Interchange B2 Class Administrator P.O. Box 6340, Portland, OR 97228-6340 or Email the Class Administrator: info@InterchangeEquitableReliefSettlement.com

Sports DN

TSU

CENTER

ZACHARYMARSHALL

Ready to build on freshman season

ByTerranceHarris

Zachary Marshall only had one Division I scholarship coming out of high school in FloridaandTexasSouthernwasit

Butthatdidn’tstoptheoffensivelineprospectfromsettinghisexpectationshighwhen he arrived on campus last summer, only to havethemrealized

“Iwascomingin,intendingtobeastarter,” saidMarshall,theTigers’center.“Ihadtobeat outasixth-yearseniorforthejob.Hegothurt infallcamp,andwhenIcameininfallcamp, Ijuststayedfortherestoftheseason.”

That isn’t typical of how things go for a virtuallyrecruitedfreshman,especiallyatthe offensiveline’smostchallengingposition But Marshall quickly proved he wasn’t a typical freshman

The Tigers’ coaching staff became aware ofMarshallwhenhishighschoolcoachfrom BartramTrailHighSchoolintheJacksonville areareachedouttoTSUoffensivecoordinator/offensive line coach Steven Smith. The two had a good conversation, which led to SmithreceivingMarshall’sgametape,which thenledtoanon-campusvisitwithMarshall and his parents. Marshall got to hear TSU’s plan, and the coaching staff had an opportunity to understand the depth of football knowledge the 6-foot-4, 290-pound youngsterpossessed.

From there, all parties were sold on each other.

“Heisprobablyoneofthesmartestdudes you will ever talk to,” Smith said “When it comestofootball,hediditfromDay1.From Day1onhisrecruitingvisit,Iputituponthe board,talkedaboutit,andhewasabletofeed

itbacktomejustlikethat He’sbeenthesame wayeversince.”

And once injury met opportunity, Marshall seized the moment and never looked back Hestartedall12gamesattheleadership positionoftheoffensiveline,whereblocking assignments are made, and one missed call couldresultinthequarterbackbeingsacked ortherunninggamebeingstuffed

Marshall anchored an offensive line that ranked in the Top 25 of all FCS programs Now,Marshallisreadytobuildonthatwith anevenbettersophomorecampaign

“I had a great freshman year,” he said “There are still a lot of things I can improve on, and I was working on in the spring I’m going to go into the summer getting better and coming into the fall even better than I waslastyear.”

Marshallhasspenttheoffseasonimprovingonhistechniqueandrunblocking.Smith hasbeenimpressedwithhisprogress

“Biggrowthfromlastyeartonow,”Smith said “He’s getting stronger He has always been a fighter, which was the one thing I loved about him when we recruited him. He’ssmart,andheisafighter,andhe’sgetting betterandbetter.”

Marshall is a part of a talented young interior offensive line core, which includes 6-foot-3, 350-pound Jayden Daniels and Sterling product Malachi Godfrey, who is 6-foot-4 and 340 pounds Both are guards, and all three were starters last season as freshmen

Theexperiencetheygainedfromlastseason and the chemistry they have were on display during spring practices when they

oftendominatedthelineofscrimmage,givingthequarterbacksampletimetofindopen receivers and opening gaping holes for the runningbacks.

“The three young guys, I think they did a really good job,” Smith said “The three freshmen who started progressed well in thespring,thesamewaytheydidlastyear.”

Marshall believes they will be even better this upcoming season, despite losing offensivetacklesBradenCainandDennisJonesto FBSschoolsinthetransferportal

“We’re a lot tighter as a group, ” Marshall said “Fromjustplayinglastyear,thingsclick better,betterthantheydidjustcominginand tryingtofigureeverythingout.”

ForMarshall,lastyearwasaboutfiguring

The offensive line, we will be great. Last year, we were really good I think we were ranked Top 25 in FCS as an O-line. This year, we are going to try to come back and be better than that.”

ZACHARY MARSHALL

a lot out as he learned to exist in a difficult culturalenvironment.Butheadjustedtoand embraced the culture and environment of playingcollegefootballatanHBCU

“It was a great experience,” Marshall said “The bands in the SWAC are just amazing, andallofthecrowdsaregreat.”

Marshall has appreciated the welcoming environment both on the field and around campus.Heappreciateswhathehaslearned sofarfromheadcoachCrisDishman,Smith, andtheothermembersofthecoachingstaff whoeitherplayedintheNFLorhavecoached intheNFLorothermajorcollegeprograms

Last season, Dishman and his assistant coaches helped produce TSU’s first NCAA-recognizedwinningseasonsinmore thantwodecades.Theexpectationisthatthe Tigerswillbuildonthatsuccessthisseason

“We can be really good,” Marshall said. “We have a great receiving corps, a lot of people coming back Our running back room is amazing, and the quarterbackroomis amazingaswell.”

FROM OVERLOOKEDTOTEXAS

Sports DN McKaleLee

Finallygot herchance

ByJimmie Aggison

McKale Leewas hardly anewcomerto thetrackworld

LongbeforewinningaUILstatechampionship,Lee hadalready establishedherself asa10-timeAll-Americanandafour-time JuniorOlympian. Yetwithout atriptothe UIL StateTrackand Field Championships, theseniorremainedlargely unknownto many collegerecruitersand to high school trackfansacrossTexas.

That changedwhenLee ran2:09.08 in the800 meters at theregionalmeet, qualifying forher first UIL statemeetasa senior.Weekslater,sheloweredhertimeto 2:08.69, captured herfirstUIL gold medal, andsuddenlybecameoneofthestate’shottest recruits.Soonafter, theUniversityof Texasextendedanoffer,whichLeequickly accepted.

Now, after making herfirstappearance at Nike OutdoorNationals andrunning 2:08.41, Leehas proven that herbreakout season wasyears in themaking.

“I thinka lotofthe overlookingand doubtcameduringmyjuniorseason,”said Lee. “Despite my accomplishmentsand winningevery 800-meter race up until the Area meet, Iwas rarely seen. ”

Leesaidthe disappointment wasn’t rootedinasingleracebutinacombination of limitedexposure, missed opportunities, andonemomentthatovershadowedeverythingshe hadaccomplished.

“I’m from Alief,asmall place wherenot many athletes getrecognized,”saidLee.“I didn’t gettogotothe bigmeets like Rice, Victor Lopez, andthe A&MInvitational meet.WhenalleyeswereonmeattheArea meet,Ifellduringtherace.So,IguessIcan understand whya lotofpeoplebegan to overlookme,whycollegesdidn’treachout, andwhy coachesdoubted me.But despite it all, Inever stopped working.”

Despitealready accomplishingmore than most runnersher age, Lee’srésumé stilllackedoneachievement:Qualifyingfor theUILstatemeet.Shefinallycheckedthat boxbyrunning2:09.08attheregionalmeet duringherseniorseason,puttingherselfon thestate’s radar.

“Qualifyingfor thestate meet honestly meanteverything,”saidLee.“EveryyearI wouldwatchthestatemeetfrommyroom, so finallyhavingthe opportunity to prove myself,toshoweveryoneIwas amongthe bestinTexas,meant more than wordscan describe.”

AliefTaylor High School graduate McKale Lee rounds thefinal curveduring the 800-meter race at the Class 6A Area Qualifying meet at Crump Stadium.

Credit:Jimmie Aggison/ Defender

Forthefirsttime,therestofTexasnoticed.

Theperformancedrewattentionfromcollege programs, butLee wasstill waitingfor theopportunityshehadspentyearsworking toward.TexasSouthern, UTSA,and Prairie View A&M hadshown interest before the statemeet, yetnonehad extendedanoffer.

“Asa seniorwithnooffers,Iwas more motivated,”saidLee.“In some of those moments, Idid worry. It hurt,but Inever doubtedmyself. Istayedfocused and

EveryyearI would watchthe state meet from my room, so finally having the opportunitytoprove myself,toshow everyone Iwas among thebestinTexas, meantmorethan wordscan describe.”

MCKALE LEE

consistent,never losingsight of my goals.”

Despiteeverythingshehadaccomplished, nothingwas guaranteed.

“Afterpeoplewitnessed,readabout,and themedia coveredMcKaleLee running 2:08.69 andwinning theState Championship in the800 meters,theycouldn’thelp butviewherasatruecompetitor,”saidAlief TaylorheadgirlstrackandfieldcoachKaren Hawkins.

“ThethingIremembermostfrommystate 800-meterraceisthe last 300meters,”said Lee. “Thepartofthe race Ihad worked so hard on foryears,the moment IrealizedI hadwon.Seeingmyfamilyandmycoaches’ proudfaces is somethingI’llnever forget.”

Herwinningtimeof2:08.69 wasall the University of Texasneededtosee

Suddenly,theseniorwhohadenteredthe postseasonwithoutasinglescholarshipoffer receivedone from herdream school

“Texashasalwaysbeenmydreamschool,” said Lee. “Inthe months leading up to my outdoorseason,Ispentalotoftimeemailing coaches,sharingmystory,andupdatingthem onmyseason.WhentheUTcoachcalledmy parentsand I, it wasadonedeal.”

“Thecampus’ home feel,the closeproximitytohome,andtheamazingcoachesand runnersmade me feel rightathome,”said Lee.

Onerace transformedLee’s recruiting future andvalidated yearsofwork. Now committed to oneofthe nation’s premier trackprograms, shehas shifted herfocus from provingshe belongstoproving how farshe cango.

AttheNikeOutdoorNationals&USATF U20 ChampionshipsinEugene, Oregon,Lee ran2:08.41, finishing seventhinthe nation andproving herstate championship performancewas no fluke

“AtNikeNationals,Iwantedto showeveryonethatIwascapableof competingwiththebest,evenwith so much othertalentinthe field,” said Lee.

“I’vehad theprivilege of watchingher grow notonlyasanathlete butalsoasaleaderandcompetitor,” saidHawkins.“Herdedication,discipline, andheart will continue to shapeher into an outstandingrunner. Sheisanexceptional athlete, andthere is more to come as she continuesatthe collegiate level.”

Whileher statetitle introduced hertoTexas, herseventh-place finish at the Nike OutdoorNationals andUSATF U20 Championshipsintroducedher to therest of thecountry

“Looking back to whereI started, it all feelssobittersweet,”saidLee.“Ialwaysknew Ihad it in me,but to seethe things Iused to pray forall come true is themostbeautifulthing;somethingIwill always carry with me.”

Feature DN

Trae Day

Celebrates 19 yearsofcommunityimpact

By LauraOnyeneho

Whatbeganasabirthdaycelebrationhas become oneofHouston’s most enduring communitytraditions. For19 years, rapperand humanitarian Trae Tha Truthhas transformedhisJulybirthdayweekintoTrae Day, afree, week-long initiativethatconnectsthousands of Houstonfamilieswith schoolsupplies,healthresources,anddirect support.Noadmission.Nostringsattached.

In 2008,then-Mayor Bill Whitemade it official,declaringJuly22TraeDayinthecity ofHouston,thefirsttimethedistinctionwas giventoarapper.Sincethen,thecelebration hasexpandedfromasingleafternooninto amulti-day eventdrawing families, elected officials,athletes,celebrities,andvolunteers from acrossGreater Houstonand beyond Thisyear, the19thAnnualTrae Dayruns July 16-22.

Trae ThaTruth,bornFrazierOthel Thompson III, says thenervesnever go away

“Every year Iget nervous,”hesaid. “You wantittojustbesuccessful.Youdon’twant anyissues.”

Thatanxiety, he explained,ismatched only by theweight of responsibility he feels to Houston’sfamilies,who have come to countonTraeDaythesamewaytheycount on theholidays.

“TheylookatTraeDay thesameas ThanksgivingorChristmas,”hesaid.“That’s onelessstressthey’re goingtohavetodeal with everyyear. ”

The financial commitmentbehindthat peaceofmindissubstantial.TraeThaTruth said he spends nearly $250,000 each year during Trae Dayweekalone,inaddition to theholidaygiveaways,disasterreliefefforts, andspontaneouscommunityeventsheruns throughout theyear. Through hisnonprofits,AngelbyNatureandtheReliefGang,he has ledresponses to HurricaneHarvey, the COVID-19pandemic,andnaturaldisasters in Louisianaand Puerto Rico

Whenaskedwhatkeepshimgoing,Trae ThaTruthdoesn’tpointtometrics.Hepoints topeople.Herecalledamomentduringhis specialneedsevent when amotherbroke down in tearsasher nine-year-oldson got hisfirst-everhaircut

Nineteen yearsin, theinfrastructure behindTraeDayis,asheputit,“awell-oiled machine.”Henamed hischildrenand his team as thefoundationofits future “Idoplanonhavingitgoonfortherestof Houston’slife,”hesaid.“ThisyearI’mdoing everythingonmyown,”hesaid,“andweare up to thefinish line.”

Idoplanon having it go on forthe rest of Houston’slife. This year I’m doing everything on my own,”he said,“andweare up to thefinish line.”

Trae thaTruth wasthe first rapperinHoustonhistory to receiveadesignated city day. CourtesyTraeThaTruth

KimSoMajor,aHouston-based media personality, filmmaker,and Recording Academymember,haswatchedthatevolution upclose. Shefirstcovered Trae Dayas ajournalistandanon-airpersonalitybefore stepping into avolunteer role,ashift that happenednaturallyafterHurricaneHarvey pushedher deeper into community work

“IwantedtoseehowIcanhelp,”SoMajor said.“IknowTraedoessomuch.”

What shehas witnessedoveryears of involvementgoesbeyondthe school suppliesand giveaways.

“Every year it just feelslikea reunion,”

SoMajorsaid. “Ithumanizes everybody,”

Shedescribedneighborsfromsurroundingapartment buildings walkingoverto participate, localentrepreneursgaining exposure,and families making memories together.Thepresenceofcelebrities workingsidebysidewithcommunitymembers, withoutastageoraplatformbetweenthem, carries itsown message.

ForSoMajor,the longevity of Trae Day speaks to somethingthe broader culture oftenunderestimatesaboutHouston’sBlack community

“Don’tletsocialmediaorthealgorithms

foolyou,”shesaid.“Weareastrongcommunity here.Peoplecomeout andshowout.”

Trae ThaTruth shared that sentiment withoutframing it as competitionwith anyoneelseinthecity’sphilanthropiclandscape. He resiststhe impulsetotellothers they shouldreplicatewhathedoes.

“I don’tlookatanythingascompetition,” he said.“I’minmyown lane.What I’mdoing is formyown personal reasons that Godplacedwithinmyheart.Any step up from wherewewerethe previous time is an accomplishment.I’m grateful forthe smalland thebig things.”