OPINION
RACISM MUST BE CONFRONTED NOW IN HOUSTON AND BEYOND P4
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Volume 88 | Number 41 AUGUST 8, 2019 |FREE
IDRIS ELBA
plays the villain in ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ movie H PAGE 6
FEATURE BARBARA JORDAN to be honored with city artwork
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What is METRO doing? Black community impact With a major bond election coming up in November, Metro explains the impact of proposed changes on the Black community and how improvements will meet transit needs. Find out which neighborhoods will be affected.
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DEFENDER | AUGUST 8 | 2019
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Harris County residents can vote anywhere Defender News Services
In the upcoming November election, Harris County voters will be able to cast their ballots anywhere in the county during early voting and on election day. Residents will no longer be limited to their precinct polling place, making Harris County with its over 2 million registered voters the largest county in the nation to implement the program of countywide voting. Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman announced that Texas Secretary of State David Whitley authorized the county to implement Countywide Polling Place Program and now voters can vote where they live, work, shop or go to school. The County Clerk’s office held multiple public hearings and meetings about the program ahead of the unanimous vote by Harris County Commissioners Court. “There’s no more rushing home after work to get in line by 7 o’clock to vote at our assigned precinct location,” stated Trautman. “So, there’s much less chance of people getting there at the last minute and maybe too late to vote.” For more information on the Countywide Polling Place Program call 713-7556965 or visit www.HarrisVotes.com.
Congressman Will Hurd of Texas, the only Black Republican in the House, recently announced that he will not seek re-election.
Black congressman hopes to diversify GOP Defender News Services
Texas Congressman Will Hurd said his decision not to seek re-election could put him in a better position to add more diversity to the GOP. Hurd, the only Black Republican in the House of Representatives, represents the 23rd Congressional District, which stretches across the southwestern portion of Texas and is predominantly Hispanic. “I am interested in helping other candidates like me. I think I want to see a Republican Party that has more folks that look and sound and operate like I do,” Hurd told “Face the Nation.” “Everybody thinks the end all or be all is actually being in Congress. The party is defined by the people that are in it, not necessarily the politicians. And so this gives me the freedom and flexibility to operate in other parts of the country,” he said. Hurd, a moderate who split with President Donald Trump over race and immigration, became the ninth House Republican departing Congress and the sixth in just over a week. Those retirements – and Republicans say there are more to come – could complicate the GOP’s pathway to gaining the minimum 18 seats it will need to grab the chamber’s majority in the November 2020 elections. Hurd, 41, personifies some problems his party
faces as the campaign season gears up: He is among several junior lawmakers to abruptly abandon vulnerable seats and is a visible symbol of the GOP’s struggle to shed its image as a bastion for white men. Hurd’s exit puts the GOP ahead of its pace in 2018, when 34 of its members declined to seek reelection – the party’s most retirements since at least 1930. It also underscored a distaste among many Republicans for life as the House minority party, today’s razor-sharp partisanship and Trump’s tantrums and tweets. Republicans say they don’t expect this election’s retirements to reach last year’s levels. But the recent departures put perhaps four additional GOP seats in play and suggest an underlying unease within the party. Hurd’s district, which he’s represented for three terms, skirts the Mexican border. While he said he’s “taken a conservative message to places that don’t often hear it,” Democrats consider it a prime pickup opportunity. Gina Ortiz Jones, the Democrat he narrowly defeated in 2018, is already campaigning. Hurd was a leader in a failed bipartisan effort last year, opposed by Trump, to help young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally to be able to stay in this country. He was also among four Republicans to back a Democratic condemnation of Trump’s “go back” insult as racist.
localbriefs FEMA AWARDED FEDERAL GRANTS to the City of Houston for a pair of large-scale flood mitigation projects in areas hit by the record-high rainfall from Hurricane Harvey. The City will receive funding for the first phase of the $46.9 million Inwood Forest Stormwater Detention Basin at the former Inwood Golf Course on the northwest side and the first phase of the $47.1 million Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Project. The Inwood project will protect over 4,400 structures in the White Oak Bayou and Vogel Creek watersheds. The Lake Houston Dam project will add 10 gates to the dam to allow for larger controlled releases of water in advance of
heavy rains, protecting about 35,000 residents and 5,000 structures…….THE BARBARA JORDAN CAREER CENTER celebrated the grand opening of its new building. As part of HISD’s 2012 bond program, the new center features a 120,000-square-foot building designed to enhance its career readiness efforts. The school features specially designed spaces for training and instruction in automotive and diesel, audio/visual, construction management, cosmetology, early childhood development, culinary arts, marketing/entrepreneurship, electronics and welding. The programs are open to students zoned to Northside, Furr, Kashmere, North Forest, Heights, Washington, Wheatley, and Yates
high schools and Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center. Students spend half the day at their home school and the other half at Jordan participating in specialized, high-demand career curriculum. “Moving to this new facility has energized adults and students alike,” said Principal Ross McAlpine………BISHOP VASHTI MURPY McKENZIE, THE FIRST WOMAN bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, will speak at the dedication ceremony of Clear Lake AME Church on Sunday, Aug. 11, at 3 p.m. The new sanctuary is located at 202 Cyberonics Blvd. McKenzie appointed Rev. Derrick A. Cyprian as the fourth pastor of Clear Lake AME in 2013.
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AUGUST 8 | 2019 | DEFENDER
national
Julian Castro
Sen. Kamala Harris
Beto O’Rourke
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Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Candidates blame Trump rhetoric for shootings Associated Press
Democratic presidential candidates sought to blame President Donald Trump following a pair of mass shootings in Ohio and Texas, saying his language against minorities promotes racial division and violence. At public events and on television, several candidates pointed to a need for more gun restrictions, such as universal background checks. But they directed much of their criticism at Trump, seeking to draw a link between the shootings in Dayton and El Paso that have left more than two dozen dead and months of presidential rhetoric against immigrants and people of color. “There is complicity in the president’s hatred that undermines
the goodness and the decency of Americans regardless of what party,” New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said. Sen. Kamala Harris of California also found blame in Trump’s use of language, which she said has “incredible consequence.” “We have a president of the United States who has chosen to use his words in a way that have been about selling hate and division among us,” she told reporters. Sen. Bernie Sanders urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to call senators back to Washington, saying the Senate should “have a special session to address gun violence in America and let us finally have the courage to take on the NRA.” The call for McConnell to bring senators back to deal with
gun violence was echoed by other candidates, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren. “We should vote within 48 hours on the two background check bills that have already passed the House,” Warren said. Former Texas congressman and El Paso native Beto O’Rourke said that Trump is a white nationalist. O’Rourke said El Paso “will overcome this,” as he called for universal background checks, ending the sale of weapons of war into communities and red flag laws. Julian Castro, who previously served as San Antonio mayor and U.S. housing secretary, described “a very toxic brew of white nationalism,” and called on Trump to “to try and unite Americans instead of fanning the flames of bigotry.”
Blacks, Browns targeted in Dayton, El Paso shootings
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Defender News Services
he killings of 31 people during two separate mass shootings left America in shock and renewed concerns about racial hatred. Patrick Crusius, a 21-year-old white man from a Dallas suburb, was arrested for killing 22 people and wounding more than two dozen at an El Paso Walmart packed with back-to-school shoppers on Aug. 3. The majority of the victims were Hispanic and authorities worked to confirm whether a racist, anti-immigrant manifesto posted online shortly beforehand was written by Crusius. Hours later in Dayton, Ohio, on Aug. 4, another young white man, 24-year-old Connor Betts of Bellbrook, Ohio, was killed by police after shooting to death nine people and injuring more than 25 at a popular nightlife area. The dead included six Black people and Betts’ own sister, Megan. In Dayton, the bloodshed was probably limited by the swift police response. Officers patrolling the area took just 30 seconds to stop the shooting, which unfolded around 1 a.m. on the streets of the downtown Oregon
District, Mayor Nan Whaley said. Video released by police shows Betts being shot down by officers, just steps away from entering a bar filled with hiding patrons. Had police not responded so quickly, “hundreds of people in the Oregon District could be dead today,” Whaley said. Whaley had been in touch with other mayors around the country dealing with rampant gun violence. “It is a terrible day for Dayton but I am so grateful for Dayton police’s fast action,” she said. Authorities were surprised that the shooting took place in what they describe as a safe part of the city. Betts fired near two pubs. Blind Bob’s and Ned Pepper. The border city of El Paso is home to 680,000 people, 80 percent of them Hispanic. The suspect in the shooting, Crusius, was charged with capital murder and held without bond. Authorities said he had a ‘’stone cold look’’ when he surrendered. “It was a look I’d never seen before, and I’ve been on this force for 31 years,” one official said. “I’ve seen murderers, robbers, nothing like this.” El Paso Mayor Dee Margo said he
Dayton, Ohio was the site of a mass shooting on Aug. 4 and most of those killed were Black. (AP Photo)
knew the shooter was not from his city. “It’s not what we’re about,” the mayor said at a news conference with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the police chief. Crusius is believed to have authored a racist, antiimmigrant document that laid out a dark vision of America overrun by Hispanic immigrants. With the hate-filled writing were the words, “I’m probably going to die today.” President Donald Trump denounced both shootings and said, “Hate has no place in our country.”
VOLUME 88 • NUMBER 41 AUGUST 8, 2019 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler
Strategic Alliance Manager
Clyde Jiles Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Photographers
Ray Carrington III Jimmie Aggison
Editors ReShonda Tate Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writer Aswad Walker Sports Jodie B. Jiles Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For digital subscriptions, visit www.DefenderNetwork.com/ subscribe. No paper subscriptions are available. All material covered by 2019 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
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DEFENDER | AUGUST 8 | 2019
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opinion
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RACISM must be confronted ‘NOW’
By SONNY MESSIAH JILES
he festering racial challenges of our country continue to surface despite efforts to contain or reduce their effect on our society. It is infecting our city, our state and our nation. The mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio are a reflection of the underbelly that is no longer hidden in the shadows but has been embolden by a president who feeds the racist beast on a regular basis. The targets of these erosive tactics are Blacks, Browns, Muslims, women and the list goes on. The frequency and intensity of the racial slurs and attacks have made us numb and almost non-responsive except when a monumental event occurs jolting us into a state of anger, remorse, indignation and disbelief. Alert: America has changed. Yes, we do still live in a white male-dominated society but they are losing ground and this is creating a fear that is beyond belief. It is a fear like an animal cornered that only knows flight or fight. The lines in the dirt have been drawn. The partisanship has resulted in an inability to find consensus and build upon our common ground to address the issues impacting our lives. What recourse do we have? Call out the racism, build coalitions to fight the racism, create strategies to change the racism, pass laws to confront the racism. The guns were the tools used but the targets were people of color. Unfortunately, the boldness of this new racism has extended its reach to the Houston mayorals race with a drawing that is both demeaning and disrespectful. But more disturbing is the fact that it paints a picture of racism that must be confronted with contempt and condemnation. Granted, politics has been called a nasty business. But this meme or artwork cloaked in a political message goes beyond a “vote for me” post. The topic is recycling and Mayor Sylvester
Turner has a lot to do with that. However, what do the Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena and Press Secretary Mary Benton have to do with garbage or recycling? Is the message throw all the minorities in the garbage instead?
Does it remind you of President Donald Trump’s perspective on people of color? Why didn’t the garbage truck have members of City Council, the folks who make the decisions related to garbage pick-up and recycling? Don’t be fooled. Shown in the garbage bins are City Councilmembers Ellen Cohen, who is Jewish, and Dave Martin, who is Catholic, implying religious discrimination. The facts speak for
themselves. The elephant in the room is what did mayoral candidate Tony Buzbee have to do with this cartoon? Many attributed its origin to his campaign, however Buzbee issued a statement saying, “that’s not an ad from our campaign. It’s a silly meme that someone posted and sent to me. I reject racism and have tried civil rights cases for 20 years.” What is glaringly evident is that Buzbee claims innocence yet he posted the cartoon on all of his social media platforms basically condoning the racist message. Either the message was racist and those who produced it should be reprimanded (not share the message as he did) or you endorsed the essence and meaning of the artwork. Mr. Buzbee, what you DO speaks louder than what you SAY. You cannot have it both ways. You were wrong to retweet and share the meme especially if you thought it was “silly” and wrong in the first place. In a little less than 90 days, we will head to the polls to elect the mayor of the City of Houston. A great deal is at stake with this election. The leadership of this city impacts each and every one of us directly and indirectly. We cannot afford to overlook any incident that smacks of racism no matter how small. There were many warning signs during the presidential campaign that indicated the character of the man we now call president. We were alarmed, taken aback and even at times it was unbelievable that someone would say or do the things reported in the news and still be elected president. But it happened. Let’s stop this racism. It may be a little early but mark your calendar. Early voting starts Monday, Oct. 12 and ends Nov. 1. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. An added bonus is you can vote ANYWHERE in Harris County. You are no longer confined to only your precinct polling place. So you see, there is no excuse. There is an old saying “You are either a part of the problem or a part of the solution.” Be a part of the solution and VOTE.
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U.S. Rep. Cummings urges Trump to ‘come to Baltimore’ to Baltimore and I promise you, you will be welcomed,” he said. Maryland U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings took the high Cummings said he doesn’t have time for those who road in inviting President Donald Trump and other Americriticize the city where he grew up but wants to hear from cans to visit Baltimore but declining to respond in kind people willing to help make the community better. He noted to the barrage of the outpouring of support he presidential tweets and has received, the thousands comments disparaging of emails, and the presence him and the majorityat the event of leaders from Black city he has long the University of Maryland’s represented. medical center, foundations “We are a great and businesses. He wore a community,” Cumhat and polo shirt of Under mings, the chairman of Armour, the popular apparel a powerful House commaker headquartered in Balmittee investigating the timore. administration, said in Asked directly by his first public remarks reporters afterward if there about the controversy would be a meeting with as he participated in Trump, the congressman said the opening of a small he’d love to see Trump in neighborhood park the city. near his home. “The president is welCongressman Elijah Cummings calls Baltimore “a great community.” Community leadcome to our district,” he said. ers and residents gathered to cut the ribbon on a pocket of In a weeklong series of attacks, Trump called the Balgreenery and flowers, built from what had been a vacant lot timore district a “rat and rodent infested mess” and comoften used as a dumping ground for trash. plained about Cummings, whose district includes key parts “Come to Baltimore. Do not just criticize us, but come of the city.
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Associated Press
Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings
Cummings speaks to PVAMU
Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, the wife of Congressman Elijah Cummings, will be the keynote speaker for the Prairie View A&M Foundation 10-year anniversary gala on Friday, Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton Americas Hotel. She is a PVAMU alum, chair of the Maryland Democratic Party and president/ CEO of Global Policy Solutions, LLC. The foundation provides support to the university by maximizing contributions and growing the donor base, creating a culture of philanthropy. For gala info call 1-800-7078138 or email info@pvamf.org.
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DEFENDER | AUGUST 8 | 2019 defendernetwork.com
entertainment
‘Hobbs & Shaw’movie
Idris Elba plays the villain in spinoff Defender News Services
Usually, debonair actor Idris Elba plays characters that many women dream of, but in the latest installment – or rather, spinoff – of the “Fast & Furious” franchise, “Hobbs & Shaw,” Elba plays the man of our nightmares (though some may still find him dreamy). Elba, who stars as the genetically modified super villain Brixton opposite Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jason Statham, said that one of the best parts of playing his character was getting to officially kick the “butts” of two major action stars. “You’ve got the ‘The Rock,’ who’s probably the biggest movie star in the world [and] you’ve got Jason Statham, biggest action star in the world,” Elba said. “And the two of them against me. What was satisfying is that I kicked their butts.” But Elba said he has brawled for a long time now. “I’m an only child. I used to fight all my cousins,” he said. “So, when we got into this film…it was all a lot of fighting [and] a little bit of talking. I enjoyed that. “David Leitch, the director, is an ex-stuntman,” Elba added. “So, his whole approach to directing is a bit like being a stuntman. It’s just more, more, more.”
Idris Elba joins Jason Statham and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in “Hobbs & Shaw,” a “Fast & Furious” spinoff now in theaters.
to have a good quality. You can’t just be all bad,” he said. Elba is no stranger to franchises, having worked in Marvel’s “Thor” films, but said being part of “Fast & Furious” was particularly hard work. “It was good though,” he said. “It was a good team to work with, if you’re going to work hard you might as well work with Dwayne and Jason, who are the biggest action movie stars in the world, so I looked forward to going to work every day. “I went home with a bit of a headache though.” The “Luther” star also had to get in shape for the role, saying, “Those guys are very fit, they are notoriously known for that, and I’m not. “But I turned up, I definitely trained for this film to try and be as fit as I possibly could.”
Though Elba, the working-class son of Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean immigrants, felt comfortable with his action scenes, he admitted that there were some challenges. “I think that the hardest thing for me was trying to understand how to play a human being that has enhancements,” he said. “This is a man who was shot in the face; he practically died. They brought him together, gave him a new spine. Gave him sort of like a chip in his brain that allows him to see the world slightly differently. And trying to make that human, that was the challenge.” Elba said it was natural that he would bring heart to a villain. “When you’re a villain, you have
what’sup Rap-A-Lot Records CEO J. PRINCE sent a message on Instagram to drug dealers who are stamping the company’s logo on pills. Prince said throughout adulthood, he has avoided being set up. “I vowed with an oath to God in my early 20’s to never contribute to this aspect of the game anymore in my lifetime,” he said. “So, you can only imagine how I’m feeling about this violation that’s taking place in the streets of Houston with my brand @rapalotrecordson narcotic pills…If you are caught making, selling or using narcotics with my branding illegally imprinted on them, you’re in violation and will have bigger problems than just the police,” he
added……..Actress AFTON WILLIAMSON, a co-star on ABC’s police series “The Rookie,” is leaving because of alleged racial discrimination and sexual harassment. Williamson said she experienced discrimination and inappropriate comments from the hair department, was harassed by a guest star and sexually assaulted at a wrap party. She said the harassment was reported to the show’s creator who failed to notify human resources as promised. The studio behind the series said it is initiating an independent investigation into the allegations… …..A tower commemorating rapper NIPSEY HUSSLE is being built where he was gunned
down on March 31 in Los Angeles. Hussle’s longtime love LAUREN LONDON made the announcement after news spread that a fence had been set up as a lot barrier. London said a gate was erected to enclose the site honoring Hussle’s “life and legacy.” She posted the notice on behalf of his company, Marathon Clothing. She said the store will “remain closed” until construction is complete and orders are being taken online. Hussle was fatally shot in the parking lot of his store and two other people were wounded. Eric Holder was charged with the shooting and bail was set at $6.53 million.
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AUGUST 8 | 2019 | DEFENDER
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SUMMER GOES FAST
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Summer doesn’t end until September, and it’s still the perfect to time to get away. In fact, according to AAA, nearly 100 million Americans – four in 10 U.S. adults – are planning to take a family vacation in 2019. Whether you’re going abroad or traveling stateside, it’s important to think ahead about how you’ll manage your money on-the-go, and make sure you maximize your rewards along the way, too. Consider these tips to help keep your finances organized and stress-free as you embark on summer travel: w Include financial security on your packing to-do list When was the last time you updated your phone number? Ensure your contact information is up to date and enable alerts on your mobile device so your bank can reach you if suspicious activity is detected. If your travels take you out of the country, check with your mobile carrier about options to receive SMS texts abroad. You may also want to consider placing a hold on your mail. To stay on top of bills and other financial obligations, schedule automatic payments for while you’re gone. w Maximize your trip with a card that pays you back As tempting as it might be to let the world know where you’re at, try to save the selfies until you get home, and avoid posting your location or travel agenda on social media. Sharing these details allows potential thieves to track where you are, making it easier for them to time a crime. And since you’ll be taking those selfies while dining and engaging in fun experiences, consider paying for those memories on a card that pays you back. Make sure you’re using a credit card that fits with your lifestyle and earns rewards. For example, the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa Card offers unlimited 1.5 percent cash rewards on purchases, and these rewards won’t expire as long as the account is open. Even better, you’re protected with 24/7 fraud monitoring, alerts, and zero liability protection for promptly reported unauthorized transactions. w Back to reality Because you vacation with intention and potentially spotty Wi-Fi, you likely haven’t been monitoring your account and card activity from your mobile apps as frequently as you normally would. But once you’re home, it’s important you carefully review your transactions for accuracy. If you see any unusual activity or unauthorized transactions, alert your bank and card issuer right away to resolve disputes and request replacement cards. By keeping these tips in mind, it’s easier than ever to keep your finances organized and secure whenever, and wherever your travels take you. Darryl Montgomery is Houston North Region Bank president, Wells Fargo.
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DEFENDER | AUGUST 8 | 2019
ith the Greater Houston area’s population of 4.6 million residents expected to nearly double by 2040, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) seeks to be proactive in its ability to meet the region’s transportation challenges through the proposed solution, MetroNext. The plan, which requires Houston voter approval on November 5 before its implemented, will cost roughly $7.5 billion, a figure that concerns some. Others want to know how MetroNext will benefit Black communities and employ people of color in the plan’s decision-making and implementation processes. “Most Houstonians expect heavy traffic Monday through Friday during the workday, but now it’s every day and even weekends,” said Troi Taylor, a member of METRO’s board of directors. “MetroNext is the first step to respond to a growing region…If you can imagine the populations of Austin, San Antonio and Dallas-Ft. Worth added onto Houston’s current population, it’s not sustainable. We have Troi Taylor to have a response for that.” MetroNext involves a multi-tiered set of initiatives, all of which, according to transit officials, are meeting specific requests from riders. They include making improvements to Metro’s existing network of services, 200 miles of two-way HOV lanes, extending light rail transit, expanding service hours and route frequency, regional express networks and more. The program’s main goals include improving safety, accessibility, speed and connectivity. Thomas Lambert Commenting on feedback received from 30-plus open houses and over 300 neighborhood meetings, Metro President and CEO Thomas Lambert said community input lies at the heart of the MetroNext plan, including connecting commuters to Hobby Airport and Bush Intercontinental Airport. “Communities want two-way HOV lanes not only to improve service to suburban areas, but also how we get those lanes to improve local service and be in service 24/7,” Lambert said. He added that connecting sidewalks and building more shelters and benches at bus stops were community suggestions included in MetroNext. Improving transportation reliability and frequency were also high on the community’s list of wants. Some of MetroNext’s solutions to such issues, according to Lambert, involve the use of technology in improving traffic service coordination and collecting fairs off the bus to speed up service. “We seek to improve the general standard of service and the community requests that we stay in service 24/7,” said Lambert. Lambert and Taylor noted Metro’s desire to future-proof its plans to keep pace with technology changes.
LOOKING AHEAD
“[Texas Southern University’s] pilot program is extremely important to us as we look to the future,” added Lambert, speaking on the region’s first autonomous (no driver) vehicle, the 12-passenger “EasyMile” shuttle, tested on TSU’s Tiger Walk. “Thanks to President [Austin] Lane and TSU, they’re conducting a lot of research there that we can learn from.” Lambert said part of MetroNext’s vision is already being put in place via MetroNow, its current plan. “If you look at Acres Homes, we started a community connector
MetroRapid debuts in 2020
MetroRapid, an environmentally-friendly rapid transit vehicle that looks like a bus but runs like rail, is scheduled to make its debut in Uptown in 2020. Like rail, MetroRapid will run on a convenient frequency-based schedule. According to Metro, the first-of-its-kind service, has unique features, including: Top-of-the-line platforms, dedicated lane, priority clearance at traffic signals, modern design offering 100 percent accessibility with wider doorways and level boarding and infrastructure that promotes long-term growth.
What’s Next for MET
Black neighborhoods bene By ASWAD WALKER | Defender
service, a door-to-door type service that improves connections within a five-mile area to a connector system that connects riders even further. This program will be expanding to Kashmere Gardens and other neighborhoods, connecting to schools and businesses; getting people where they need to go.” Lambert added that Metro is currently focusing on one of its busiest routes, Route 54, which runs from Third Ward to Downtown Houston, seeking to improve its frequency and quality of service. Part of the MetroNext plan involves connecting Metro’s Green and Purple Lines and extending service to Hobby Airport. Another plan involves northern expansion and leveraging existing partnerships. “To get commuters to Intercontinental Airport, we seek to expand the existing Red Line to the North Shepherd Line in partnership with TxDOT using managed lanes,” Lambert said. “We’re looking to build lanes for higher frequency service to downtown, to Greenspoint to Intercontinental, leveraging public funds already being spent. We’re also looking for ways to improve service, whether with autonomous
vehicles Cr initiativ ing that via raise Howeve “W sales tax the 1978 don’t ge Ac son, Me Novemb bonding for Metr Chair Carrin Patman stated that if approved, the de but in groups of projects that won’t surpass the app funding would come from grants and local funding
FUNDING & IMPACT
Lambert said $10 million has been designate funds. “Those funds were a tremendous benefit duri able to get things up and running quickly. We’ve si fund.” Metro’s figures are based on the forecast of U professor Dr. Robert Gilmer. “His optimistic sales tax revenue forecast for a key part of the financial assumptions,” said a Me Additionally, Lambert said Metro would con
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s or other means. ritics of Metro’s plan point to the ve’s $7.5 billion price tag, suggestresidents will have to pay for this ed taxes and Metro service fees. er, Metro said otherwise. We’re not proposing and won’t raise x. We get a 1 percent sales tax from 8 vote to support operations. We et property taxes.” ccording to another spokesperetro’s board will ask voters in this ber’s general election to approve g authority (i.e. give permission) tro to issue up to $3.5 billion. Board ebt would not be issued all at once proved amount. Additional project g.
ed by Metro as part of its emergency
ing Hurricane Harvey. We were since been able to replenish that
University of Houston economics
r Metro from FY 2019- FY 2040 is etro spokesperson. ntinue with its General Mobility
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METRONext facts & figures
Major investments
• 110 miles, regional ex press network • 20 miles, extended lig ht rail lines • 75 miles, new Bus Ra pid Transit (BRT) system • 260 miles, BOOST an d Signature Bus Lines (enhanced local service) • 16 new or improved Park & Rides and trans it centers • 3 Community Connec tor curb-to-curb service s • 25 percent increase in local bus service
Service & access impr ov
Program where Metro rebates 25 percent of its one-cent sales tax revenue back to Houston, Harris County and the 14 other multi-cities Metro services for mobilityrelated projects. Another hesitance on behalf of some Houstonians is wondering the level of impact MetroNext will have on communities, specifically Black communities, and the level of input into the MetroNext plan by Blacks and other people of color. “As we look at all these corridors, we’ll establish citizens advisory boards. We can bring value to neighborhoods, but the transit centers belong to those neighborhoods. We’re making sure we’re working with businesses and community organizations. Getting the right input from the public is extremely important,” Lambert said. Lambert listed several people of color as key Metro leaders with major roles in MetroNext, including Taylor and fellow board members Sanjay Ramabhadran, Terry Morales and Dr. Lex Frieden. “We have a very diverse board that is at the forefront of leading this change,” added Taylor, “including Dr. Frieden, one of the authors of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).” Additionally, Lambert spotlighted Jerome Gray (chief communications officer), Tracy Jackson (director of Media), Tanya McWashington (VP Public Engagement) and others. “Roberto Trevino led the entire [MetroNext] planning team. Art Smiley [CFO] has been instrumental and looked at making sure we can maintain a state of repair with existing systems. And Kim Williams (VP Office of Innovations) has been working with Team Houston, a diverse team including TSU, UH, Port Houston, Texas Medical Center, Harris County, City of Houston and others, designed to answer how can we work together to use technology to move goods and people in this region. “TSU has been an active partner and very knowledgeable. Several Metro employees graduated from TSU’s transportation program. We’re proud they’re part of the team.”
ng the Houston area for over 88 years
ements • Green and Purple Lin es extended to Hobby Airport and Houston Municipal Co urthouse • Downtown to Greens point and Bush IAH via I-45 • Improved transit servi ce on major freeways • Improved bus service (seven days a week inc luding expanded midday service) an d bus stops • Universal accessibility (connected sidewalks, ADA compliant bus stops, curb-to-curb service) • Faster regional trips between employment centers and major destinations • Partnership projects Financial assumptions
• No increase in sales tax rate (remains 8.25 perce nt) and no property tax increase • Net sales tax revenue s available based on the annual growth rates (FY2019-FY2040 and beyond) • General Mobility Pro gram continues through 2040 and beyond • Bus and light rail infras tructure projects are fin anced using 45 percent debt/55 perce nt grant funds • Bus system enhancem ents and optimization projects are financed using debt an d local funds • Forecasted expenditu res include operating an d maintenance costs for all MetroNext projects • Metro’s board appro ved cash reserve requir ements (25 percent of operating ex penses plus $10 are me t
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DEFENDER | AUGUST 8 | 2019
Millennials urged to become homeowners Defender News Services
The new president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) wants to see Black wealth increase through homeownership with a special focus on reaching the country’s millennials. During his speech at the conclusion of the NAREB Convention held in Atlantic City, N.J., Donnell T. Williams, outlined a targeted agenda. The national meeting convened just days after the U.S. Census Bureau released its second quarter 2019 homeownership rates which listed the Black homeownership rate at 40.6 percent the lowest it has been in more than 50 years. In comparison, the non-Hispanic white homeowner rate was 73.1 percent, representing more than a 30 percent gap. “Bold, energetic and effective action must be taken to stop this unthinkable slippage in Black wealth. Homeownership and investment in real estate represent the tools Black Americans in general, and millennials in particular can use to build or rebuild their wealth,” said Williams, taking the helm of NAREB, the nation’s oldest miDonnell T. Williams nority professional real estate organization. “My plan to reverse the downward slide is to reach the 1.7 million mortgage-ready Black millennials who make over $100,000 annually, but have delayed or not considered homeownership as part of their wealth building strategy.” Several initiatives were outlined by Williams. One program in particular drew applause from the audience when he said, “Our people need to know that you’re in violation if you drive a Land Rover and you pay rent to a landlord.” The initiative, www.housethenacar.com, concentrates its financial focus on attracting millennials and Gen-X-ers to homebuying or real estate investment opportunities to build sustainable wealth. Williams emphasized that NAREB’s member Realtists must embolden themselves as well as their potential customers. “We must educate, empower, and mobilize ourselves as well as the Black American public. Wealth building through homeownership is indeed possible and we need to make that happen,” he said. Williams established his brokerage Destiny Realty in 2001 in Morristown, N.J with a satellite office in Newark, and it is now one of the largest African-American, independently owned real estate brokerages in the state.
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Artist wanted for artwork of late congresswoman Defender News Services
The City of Houston is looking for an artist to create Houston’s first permanent outdoor artwork commemorating the life and legacy of the late Congresswoman Barbara Jordan The director of the city’s Cultural Affairs Office, Debbie McNulty, said that Jordan was chosen in part because there are very few women honored in Houston’s collection of art. “We had a lot of gaps in our collection in terms of who was being recognized,” she said. “So, I think when we were talking about all of the potential names that have come to us in response to community conversations…that was one of the names that we got the most public comment.” Jordan, a Houston native, was elected to the Texas Senate in 1966 and was the state’s first African-American senator since 1883. During her time in the Senate she passed the state’s first
classifieds Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and Pre-Qualification Submittals to provide Home Repairs NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS August 9, 2019 The Harris County Community Services Department (HCCSD) seeks to pre-qualify responsible contractors for participation in the Harris County Home Repair Program for the following categories: 1) Neighborhood Stabilization Repair; 2) Minor Repair; 3) Major Rehabilitation/ Reconstruction; and 4) Health & Safety Improvements. The mission of the Harris County Home Repair program is to provide assistance to low-to-moderate income homeowners for the purpose of providing decent, safe and sanitary housing conditions as well as improving their quality of life. The Harris County Home Repair Program will provide assistance under the following home repair categories: Neighborhood Stabilization Repair: Provide up to $20,000 to make County acquired vacant foreclosed homes decent, safe and habitable and to prepare the home for sale or occupancy. Goal: 10 units/year Minor Repair: Provide up to $20,000* assistance in the form of a grant for repairs to owner occupied homes, including but not limited to roof repair/replacement, handicap accessibility improvements; mechanical, electrical and plumbing improvements. Goal: 35 units/year. *ProCured in - house and subject to PO approval by the Purchasing Department. Major Rehabilitation/Reconstruction (target area projects only): Provide up to $80,000* assistance for Major Rehabilitation and provide up to $180,000* assistance in the form of a grant or deferred loan for major home rehabilitation/reconstruction for housing structures deemed unsafe or severely defective. Goal: 10 units/year in targeted geographic areas. *Procured through the Harris County Purchasing Department and subject to Commissioners Court approval. Health & Safety Improvements: Provide up to $40,000* assistance in the form of a grant for the purpose of repairing /replacing water wells and septic systems that are not functioning and/or have received a citation for health and safety violations. Goal: 8 units/year. *Procured in—house (CSD) or through the Harris County Purchasing Department and subject to Commissioners Court approval. The program will operate on a continuous annual basis using multiple contractors. These projects will be federally funded by the US. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through HCCSD. Applicable requirements include, but are not limited to, Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968, and contracting with small, minority, and disadvantaged firms. All Contractors who are interested in participating in the Program must complete a pre-qualification submittal, provide all documentation requested, and be approved by the Harris County Community Services Department to be placed on the Qualified Contractors List for the Home Repair Program. A meeting to review program rules, requirements and qualifications will be held on Thursday, August 29, 2019 10:00 AM at the Harris County Community Services Department 8410 Lantern Point, Houston, TX, 77054 Filing of Submittals All applications must be filed with the Harris County Community Services Department, Attention: Housing Construction and Inspection Services, 8410 Lantern Point, Houston, Texas, 77054, on or before 4:30 p.m., September 6, 2019. Pre-qualification packages may be obtained by contacting Adriana Villuendas at (832) 927-4815, Via Email at adriana.villuendas@csd.hctx.net, or may be downloaded from the Harris County Community Services Department’s Website at www.csd.hctx.net.
The late Barbara Jordan
minimum wage law and worked on anti-discrimination clauses in business contracts. She then became the first southern Black woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1972, where she focused on extending federal protection of civil rights. Artists from across the country can apply for the project. The artwork will be placed at the African American Library at the Gregory School in Freedmen’s town. The deadline for artists to apply for the project is Sept. 23. For details visit www. houstontx.gov/culturalaffairs/barbarajordan.html
classifieds Houston First Corporation Requests proposals from experienced media buying agencies to arrange and place a mix of consumer and business-to-business campaigns with more than 10 specifically-targeted campaigns, 117 vendor placements and 257 million plus impressions across print, digital display and programmatic retargeting, social, television, streaming, out -of-home and radio. Campaigns include: local, regional and national general consumer placements, trade media for meetings and conventions, LGBT, hyper-local diversity, and large-scale special events. Proposals are due by August 14, 2019. Please visit https://www.houstonfirst.com/do-business for complete details.
ADVERTISEMENT FOR PROPOSALS Hanover Construction (GENERAL CONTRACTOR) will receive COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSALS for the construction of the Hanover Square Infrastructure Material Testing until 2:00 P.M. local time on August 19, 2019. Proposals shall be sealed and received at the Hanover office at 1780 S. Post Oak Lane, Houston, Texas 77056. Proposals received after this time will not be accepted. Proposals will be evaluated based on relevant project experience and proposal cost. Hanover will select the best value contractor based on this selection criteria. Scope of Work to include the following: Material Testing Instructions for Bidders and other bid documents can be provided by contacting Donna Scotka at dscotka@hanoverco.com or 713-580-1170 .
will be accepting Request for Qualifications for the following: External Evaluation of Jail Diversion Program Specifications may be secured from The HARRIS CENTER, Purchasing Department located at 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7116 and/or via The HARRIS CENTER website www.theharriscenter.org or the Electronic State Business Daily Site https://portal.cpa.state.tx.us/, beginning Tuesday, August 13, 2019. A Non-Mandatory meeting with vendors will be held at 9401 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas, 77074 on Monday, August 19, 2019 at 2:00 P.M. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFQ is Thursday, August 22, 2019. Solicitation documents must be submitted to Purchasing Services, 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 by 10 A.M., Wednesday, September 4, 2019 in a sealed envelope marked "RFQ FOR EXTERNAL EVALUATION OF JAIL DIVERSION PROGRAM” - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2019 AT 10:00 A.M. Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to James Blunt, Buyer II or E-mail questions to james.blunt@theharriscenter.org cc: sharon.brauner@theharriscenter.org., or via fax at (713) 970-7682. The HARRIS CENTER reserves all rights to reject any and/or all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests, and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.
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AUGUST 8 | 2019 | DEFENDER
10 school bus safety tips for young riders Family Features
Another school year means children are boarding buses at the beginning and end of each day. Consider these tips from the Propane Education & Research Council to help keep children safe. w Ensure backpacks are packed securely so papers and other items don’t scatter as the bus approaches. w Create a morning routine that puts kids at the bus stop five minutes before the scheduled pickup time. This helps avoid a last-minute rush, when safety lessons are easily forgotten. w Encourage children to wear bright, contrasting colors so they can be seen easier by drivers. w Instruct children to walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, advise them to stay out of the street, walk single-file, face traffic and stay as close to the edge of the road as possible. w Walk young children to the bus stop or encourage kids to walk in groups. w If kids must cross a street, driveway or alley, remind them to stop and look both ways. w Remind children that the bus stop is not a playground. w Instruct children to stay at least three steps away from the road and allow the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching it. wTeach safe riding habits: stay seated with head, hands and feet inside at all times. w Remind children to look before stepping off the bus.
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DEFENDER | AUGUST 8 | 2019
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Counting everyone in your household can shape your future. Every 10 years, the United States counts everyone living in the country on April 1, regardless of their nationality or living situation. This includes renters.
To ensure an accurate count, remember to:
Count every person living or staying in your home.
Respond at the address where you were living or staying on April 1, 2020.
What’s in it for me? The 2020 Census is an opportunity to create a better future for our communities and the next generation by providing an up-to-date count of our population. The data collected will help determine how over $675 billion in federal funding is distributed each year for things like housing assistance, infrastructure, and public transportation.
For more information, visit:
2020CENSUS.GOV D-OP-RE-EN-121
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pro sports
AUGUST 8 | 2019 | DEFENDER
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HS Sports Editor Jodie B. Jiles is on vacation
Former Cowboy Dez Bryant takes time for himself Defender News Services
D’Onta Foreman is gone after two seasons with the Texans.
Texans waive running back D’Onta Foreman Defender News Services
Running back D’Onta Foreman, the Texans third-round pick in 2017, was recently released by the team. The Indianapolis Colts claimed him off waivers from Houston. Foreman appeared in just one game last season after rupturing his Achilles tendon during his rookie year. He compiled 85 carries for 326 yards and two scores in two seasons with the Texans. The Texas City native played college ball at the University of Texas and was awarded the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back.
With Foreman’s absence, Houston has five running backs remaining on the roster. “We’ve got some guys that are playing pretty good at that position and we had a need at some other positions,” said coach Bill O’Brien. “That’s just what we decided to do. We wish D’Onta the best. He’s a good guy, he’s got talent, and we wish him the best.” Lamar Miller, Damarea Crockett, Josh Ferguson, Karan Higdon Jr., Buddy Howell and fullback Cullen Gillaspia are all participating in training camp. Miller, who is in his fourth season with the Texans and eighth in the NFL, has solidified his role as the starter.
Former NFL receiver Dez Bryant hasn’t played a down of pro football since he was released from the Dallas Cowboys in 2018 and ruptured his Achilles last fall during practice with the New Orleans Saints. Bryant recently said he hasn’t retired from the game but is taking time for himself. “This is exactly why I don’t have [any] interest in playing football right now,” Bryant tweeted while also tweeting a link to a TMZ story about a pending lawsuit against Dallas and running back Ezekiel Elliott. “People forget real quick we are still human,” he continued. “My anxiety and depression came from this type of stuff…” Bryant added that he has been approached by other organizations and is not retiring. “I’m not retiring bro…I’m just taking care of myself…that’s a promise,” he responded to a fan. Bryant was released by the Cowboys after eight seasons and owner Jerry Jones said it was a difficult decision. “As an organization we hold Dez Bryant in the highest regard, and we are grateful for Dez Bryant is off the football his passion, spirit and contributions to this team field but insists he hasn’t retired. for the past eight years,” Jones said. “He will always be a valued member of our family. “Dez and I share a personal and professional relationship that is very strong, and he is one of just a handful of players with whom I have become that close to over the past 30 years. “This was not an easy decision. It was made based upon doing what we believe is in the best interest of the Dallas Cowboys.” Bryant, who grew up in Lufkin, was a football and track star in high school and a football standout at Oklahoma State. He was drafted by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. He earned three Pro Bowl berths and was a first-team All-Pro player in 2014.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Ed Reed, a former star safety with the Baltimore Ravens, was among the inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Reed made an impassioned speech about mental health and violence in the aftermath of recent mass shootings. “You know mental illness is one of the biggest problems in our world,” Reed said. “It really kills. So, I’ve got to say prayers to the families that have experienced the mass shootings the last couple of days. Just in general across this country, it’s something we really need to address.” Also enshrined were former Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez, New England Patriots cornerback Ty Law, New York Jets center Kevin Mawae, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, Dallas Cowboys executive Gil Brandt and Chiefs safety Johnny Robinson.
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DEFENDER | AUGUST 8 | 2019
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Acclaimed author Toni Morrison dead at 88 Associated Press
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Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, a pioneer and reigning giant of modern literature whose imaginative power in “Beloved,” ‘’Song of Solomon” and other works transformed American letters by dramatizing the pursuit of freedom within the boundaries of race, has died at age 88. Publisher Alfred A. Knopf announced that Morrison died Aug. 5 at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. Morrison’s family issued a statement through Knopf saying she died after a brief illness. “Toni Morrison passed away peacefully last night surrounded by family and friends,” the family anToni Morrison received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Barack Obama in 2012. nounced. “She was an extremely devoted mother, grandEye,” was published. By her early 60s, after just six mother, and aunt who reveled in being with her family novels, she had become the first Black woman to reand friends. The consummate writer who treasured the ceive the Nobel literature prize, praised in 1993 by the written word, whether her own, her students or others, Swedish academy for her “visionary force.” She was she read voraciously and was most at home when writfeatured in an acclaimed documentary, “Toni Morrison: ing.” The Pieces I Am.” Few authors rose in such rapid, spectacular style. Morrison helped raise American multiculturalism She was nearly 40 when her first novel, “The Bluest to the world stage and helped uncensor her country’s
past, unearthing the lives of the unknown and the unwanted, those she would call “the unfree at the heart of the democratic experiment.” Morrison wove everything from African literature and slave folklore to the Bible and Gabriel Garcia Marquez into the most diverse, yet harmonious, of literary communities. “Narrative has never been merely entertainment for me,” she said in her Nobel lecture. “It is, I believe, one of the principal ways in which we absorb knowledge.” Winner of the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for “Beloved,” she was one of the book world’s most regal presences, with her expanse of graying braids; her dark, discerning eyes; and warm, theatrical voice, able to lower itself to a mysterious growl or rise to a humorous falsetto. “That handsome and perceptive lady,” James Baldwin called her. The second of four children of a welder and a domestic worker, Morrison was born Chloe Ardelia Wofford in Lorain, Ohio, a steel town outside of Cleveland. She was an honors student in high school and attended Howard University. At Howard, she spent much of her free time in the theater and met and married a Jamaican architect, Harold Morrison, whom she divorced in 1964. They had two children, Harold and Slade.
NATURAL GAS POWERS COMMUNITIES NATURAL GAS:
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AUGUST 8 | 2019 DEFENDER
Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
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AFRICAN & CARIBBEAN FOOD FESTIVAL……..The Ayva Center played Lan Vo, Alexia Dos Santos, Jordan Johnson, Danielle Dawson, Maisha Walker, host to this year’s African & Caribbean Food Festival, an experience that showcased Keaun Adams, Olga Cruz, Anana Walker, Trevor and Ann Williams, Epek, Sin food and music from Africa and the Diaspora. Countless countries from the African City, Lady Rascals, Galing, Riot Squad, LWKY and nearly a thousand others…….. continent and the Caribbean were on full display as attendees adorned traditional SUMMER JAZZ WORKSHOP SCHOLARSHIP JAZZ BRUNCH 2019……..As and contemporary fashions, dancers and musicians showed off their skills, youth part of the 2019 Houston International Jazz Festival, Bubbha Thomas’ Jazz Education, enjoyed the Kids’ Zone and Houston’s top Afro-Beats and Caribbean DJs kept the party Inc. and the Houston Arts Alliance hosted the Summer Jazz Workshop Scholarship Jazz going. Attendees included Ennie Aladejana, Lara Osinusi, Brunch. Held at the Junior League of Houston, the event featured Yenni Popo, Gina Jyneen, Kevin and Crystal Lister, performances by the all-star Summer Jazz Workshop Band and Defender TOP EVENTS More photos on defendernetwork.com Jamaan Holden, Nia Patterson, Imani Lowery, Breona national jazz artist Julie Johnson. Al Campbell, Kelly Dean and Patterson and many more……..SOUNDBOX SUMMER Lloyd Hughes instructed youth ages 10-17 for five weeks honing MELTDOWN 2019……..Nationally known SoundBox Dance their jazz music skills. Tyler Johnson and Nicholas Andres received Studio again played host to its annual Summer Meltdown Dance Competition with SJW College Scholarships, while Shironda White won the Xtra Mile Award. Attendees dancers Taryn Cheng, Archie Saquilabon and Teej Medallo of L.A.’s dance group included brunch chairperson Pamela Zackory, State Rep. Ron Reynolds, Dr. Jonita Reynolds, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Monique and Ruby Adams, Charles GRV serving as judges. Calvin Lee Eata and Aaron Medina emceed the festivities Washington, Dr. Alicia Lacey, Stephanie Johnson, Koya Beavers, KTSU’s Donna that showcased local and statewide squads and one from Mexico. Youth and adult teams Franklin, Larry Don Johnson and Sheldon T. Nunn and a host of others. showcased their skills in this competition for dance team supremacy. Attendees included
Kevin Lister, Crystal Lister, Jamaan Holden
Grace Guzman, Liza Murillo
Meisha James, Briahna Langston
Sin City Dance Team
Marquis Foreman, Paula Foreman, attendee, Bubbha Thomas
Warren F. Muhammad, Curtis Ray
Nia Patterson, Imani Lowery, Breona Patterson
Olga Cruz, Anana Walker, Blessing Ajughu
Sidney Lacey, Dr. Alicia Yancy, Christopher Cola
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DEFENDER | AUGUST 8 | 2019
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THE ALL-NEW CHEVROLET BLAZER DRIVING HBCU TALENT INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
TYLA BARNES
SHARON JOY WASHINGTON
MIANA MASSEY
TEDARIUS ABRAMS
EMANI NICHOLS
ELAE C. HILL
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Follow these DTU Journalism Fellows through their summer internships. See the stories they’ve uncovered at nnpa.org/chevydtu. @ChevroletDTU