Local Entrepreneurs Push past barriers
FEATURE
PROFILE
ENSEMBLE 50TH
BYRON CANADY
Eileen Morris and the Ensemble prepare for its 50th season.
The entrepreneur runs the city’s only Black comic book store.
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Volume 95, issue 45 August 27, 2026
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DN To the POINT
Terrance Harris Congratulations NABJ 2026 Excellence Award Winner
"SWAC Coaches Brace for Top Players Hitting Transfer Portal for FBS Riches"
Prairie View A&M welcomed its Class of 2030 to “The Hill”, marking the university’s 150th anniversary. Credit: Prairie View A&M University.
Message from the Reporter A power outage in scorching heat
Mesquite, Nevada, who hopes to pursue A days-long power outage at the Rose robotics and expand access to technology. Plaza Apartment Complex in Houston’s The scholarship, named for two of Fifth Ward has left about half of the property PVAMU’s founders, provides opportunities without electricity, prompting Congressman for research, study abroad, internships, and Christian D. Menefee to call for immediate faculty connections. action. While power has returned to some units, UH enrollment surges amid many residents remain without air condicurriculum cuts tioning and other essential services during The University of Houston is beginning Houston’s summer heat. Menefee called the the fall semester with record freshman conditions “completely unacceptable,” citing Tannistha Sinha enrollment while implementing significant heightened risks for seniors and residents changes to its core curriculum. with health conditions. UH is welcoming nearly 7,100 freshmen, surpassing 7,000 According to Menefee’s office, the outage does not appear for the first time and marking its third consecutive year of to be connected to CenterPoint Energy equipment. Cen- record freshman enrollment. The university also received terPoint technicians inspected the property last week, and nearly 39,000 freshman applications, up from last year. the remaining electrical problems are believed to be the More than 4,000 transfer students are joining UH. New responsibility of the property owner. graduate enrollment has also increased. Crews are working to restore electricity to the remaining The Honors College is welcoming 750 students, and buildings, but officials have not provided an estimated time Gaines-Holland scholarships for new undergraduates have for full restoration. increased from last year. Menefee said his staff is working with residents to conThe growth comes as UH reduces the number of courses nect them with assistance. Fifth Ward Civic Club President satisfying its core curriculum requirements from 241 to 144, Sandra Edwards also called on Rose Plaza management to a roughly 40% decrease. The courses will continue to be address residents’ immediate needs and help families recover offered, but will no longer fulfill general education requirefrom the prolonged outage. ments. The changes affect first-time students beginning The American Red Cross and United Way are providing this fall. relief, including food and water. Residents needing addiThe courses impacted include Black Liberation Theology tional assistance can call 2-1-1 or 1-877-541-7905, or visit and Intro to Women’s Studies, among several others. 211texas.org. The UH System Board of Regents approved the changes as part of a curriculum review connected to Texas Senate PVAMU welcomes class of 2030 Bill 37, which requires governing boards to review general Prairie View A&M University welcomed the Class of 2030 education programs every five years. to “The Hill” as the institution celebrates its 150th anniverTogether, the developments mark a consequential semessary. Beginning Aug. 16, incoming students participated ter for UH, combining enrollment growth with changes to in Panther Camp, a week designed to introduce them to students’ academic options. campus resources and traditions. Among the incoming students are Mikayla Turner, a ON THE WEB biology major from Dallas who hopes to become a den- • Terrance’s Take: TSU, PV breaking from Labor Day Classic tist; Parker Lollar, a mathematics major from the Houston/ tradition. Cypress area who plans to become a mathematics profes- • Report: Cost of living is Americans’ top source of anxiety. sor; and Ethan Ofori, a computer engineering major from • AfriRock Dance Company celebrates 10 years in Houston.
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DN News ‘ALWAYS REMEMBER’
Congressman Al Green Hosts slavery remembrance gathering
By Tannistha Sinha
As efforts to reshape how America teaches and remembers its racial history continue across the country, Congressman Al Green is pushing to ensure the nation’s history of slavery is never forgotten and that its legacy remains part of the country’s public conscience. Green’s fifth annual Slavery Remembrance Legislative Update, where hundreds gathered in Houston under the theme, “Harder Yet May Be the Fight,” commemorated formerly enslaved people. While Juneteenth celebrates emancipation, Green has argued that the nation also needs a day to commemorate those who lived and died enslaved and never experienced freedom. At the Houston gathering, Green asked the audience to respond “always remember” whenever he said the words “we must.” He then moved through a litany of suffering and resistance, of Africans kidnapped and
At Rep. Al Green’s fifth annual Slavery Remembrance Legislative Update, history became a call to preserve memory. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender.
forced into slavery, those who died during the Middle Passage, men, women, and
children confined aboard slave ships, parents separated from their children at auction
blocks, and enslaved people who risked their lives seeking freedom. Throughout the program, speakers moved between the history of enslavement and contemporary fights over voting rights, education, economic opportunity, and racial equality. Green’s premise for the observance was to describe slavery without euphemisms. “Sometimes in polite society, we lose the meaning and definition of what slavery really was,” Green said. “It was more than being shackled. It was about kidnapping, rape, murder, forcing people to work hard each and every day without pay. Slavery is something that we have to tell the truth about…people who worked and had a hand in building the White House, building the capital, feeding the country, built the roads and the bridges. It’s about honoring 240 years of sacrifice. The United States of America built its economic foundation on their backs.”
Black voters mobilize after increased voting rights attacks By Aswad Walker
A new national study suggests attacks on voting rights may be producing the opposite of their intended effect: Motivating more Black Americans to become politically active. The research comes from the Black Opps Coalition, a national initiative of 10 civil rights, labor, and community organizations that studies how to increase Black civic engagement and voter participation. “Our main goal is to figure out what it will take to activate Black political power when the stakes have never been higher, and the barriers have never been more deliberate,” said Black Opps research manager Danielle Lemi. Conducted with public opinion firm HIT Strategies, the latest phase of its year-long Black Opps Project examined which messages most effectively inspire Black voters to act ahead of upcoming elections. The findings show that 64% of Black voters say recent attacks on voting rights and Southern gerrymandering make them more likely to vote in the next midterm election. Researchers also found that 75% of Black voters are now willing to take at least three political actions—including voting, protesting, or
About the project.
A nationwide study finds Black voters increasingly energized by voting rights threats, with youth-focused messaging proving especially effective. Credit: Katherine Hanlon/Unsplash.
boycotting—a 13-point increase from October 2025. ‘Freedom’ resonates more than ‘democracy’ One of the study’s strongest findings is that messaging matters. Researchers found Black voters respond more strongly to appeals centered on defending Black freedom and voting rights than to broader calls to protect “American democracy.” According to the survey: • 75% say defending freedom is urgent. • 71% say defending voting rights is urgent. • 63% say defending American democracy is urgent.
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DN News
University of Houston
Launches health initiative to tackle care shortage By Tannistha Sinha
While the population of Houston is booming, health care providers are in short supply, and hospitals are facing the brunt of this strain. In response to the crisis, the University of Houston (UH) has launched UH Health, an umbrella structure designed to encapsulate the university’s health care initiatives, from medical evaluations to community-centric clinics. It aims to bring health care to underserved populations through a coordinated vision to expand access to health care across Houston. The program integrates resources the university already has, including the Family Care Center, a federally qualified health care center run by the College of Medicine, a nursing clinic located in Downtown Houston, an optometry clinic network with sites across Texas, and community-centric wellness hubs. “There are pockets of health in nearly every college and program across the university, either health-related research or community health initiatives, but many of them are separated from each other, and you don’t get the multiplying effect that you would if everybody was working together,” said Dr. Jonathan McCullers. The program will prioritize the three neighborhoods of Third Ward, the East End, and South Houston, primarily. For the city’s Black communities, the need for health care access is urgent. Black Houstonians live an average of 72.8 years, compared to 77.5 years for white residents. Black infants die at a rate twice that of white infants, Black women face the highest rates of pregnancy-related mortality, only a fraction of Black adults with a mental illness receive care, and 21% of Black children live with food insecurity. Gaps in health care: A state-wide issue University leaders have framed UH Health as a response to a broader crisis, with a growing health care workforce shortage, driven by population growth and hospital staffing shortfalls.
The University of Houston launched UH Health to coordinate health care services across the region. Credit: UH.
According to the Texas Hospital Association, 64% of the state’s hospitals have had to operate with fewer beds or reduced services due to a lack of staff. UH President Renu Khator said the initiative is meant to bring “the full strength of our health enterprise” to bear on those challenges, leveraging the university’s proximity to the Texas Medical Center and partnerships with institutions like HCA Healthcare, Memorial Hermann, Baylor College of Medicine, and MD Anderson. The reorganization brings together programs in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, optometry, psychology, social work, population health, research, the Humana Integrated Health Systems Science Institute, and many others under one program. McCullers clarified that none of UH’s clinics would require health insurance. Patients without coverage will be treated on a sliding scale, self-pay, or a no-pay basis.
Wellness hubs will target underserved communities The unified program will work in coordination with “Places of Wellness,” or community wellness hubs. One such hub, located inside Project Row Houses in the Third Ward, Houston’s historically Black neighborhood, recently received funding from the Cullen Trust for Health Care to establish a community-driven space expanding access to primary and mental health services. McCullers explained that the hub will offer health screenings and training on how to manage diabetes, among other classes. “If somebody’s been in the hospital or trying to get into clinics, they can help them navigate the very complicated healthcare system we have,” he said. “There’s a referral feeder into not only our family care center, but into other safety net clinics or FQHCs (Federally Qualified Health Centers), or other medical offices around the areas that we serve.”
Cori Grant, the project’s principal investigator and a clinical assistant professor at the Fertitta College of Medicine, said the initiative shifts power to community members and health care workers. It will also include health screenings and support for chronic diseases. “The 3rd Ward Place of Wellness reflects what is possible when communities lead,” Grant said. Geographically, UH Health’s outreach will prioritize the Third Ward and the East End first, given their proximity to UH. The university also aims to expand UH Health to the Fifth Ward, another historically Black neighborhood, often described as “a hospital desert.” The initiative is soon to reach the Rio Grande Valley, where UH broke ground on a new medical research and education center. Beyond Houston, UH Health is expanding its reach through partnerships such as its collaboration with DHR Health in the Rio Grande Valley.
Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles
Content Manager Terrance Harris
Special Assignments Reporter Tannistha Sinha
VOLUME 95, NUMBER 45 - AUGUST 27, 2026
Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles
Associate Editor Aswad Walker
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender News- paper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2025 copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, TX 77288
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DN Feature
WATCH
VIDEO
Houston Restaurant Weeks Check out Black-owned venues to visit
By Laura Onyeneho
Houston Restaurant Weeks (HRW) is back through Sept. 7, giving diners 38 days to eat well and do good. And for many restaurants, the citywide fundraiser is a lifeline during the industry’s toughest stretch in years. Now in its 23rd year, HRW expects more than 350 participating restaurants across Greater Houston, from the Galleria to Galveston. Diners pay a fixed price for a prix fixe brunch, lunch, or dinner menu, with a built-in donation to the Houston Food Bank on every meal sold. Since its founding in 2003, the event has raised more than $23 million and generated the equivalent of 70 million meals for food-insecure Houstonians. Among this year’s roster are Cocody Restaurant and Bar in River Oaks and Astor’s Table in Katy, two Black-owned restaurants using the promotion to introduce new diners to their kitchens while supporting a cause close to home. For Defender readers looking to direct their dining dollars toward Blackowned businesses, the 38-day window offers built-in visibility for the support. Cocody Restaurant & Bar Cocody Restaurant & Bar was founded in 2023 by Edwin and Edith Bosso. It is named for the upscale Abidjan neighborhood in the Ivory Coast, where the couple grew up. The 7,000-square-foot restaurant in the River Oaks Shopping Center blends French technique with global influences from Africa, Asia, and the Americas. This is Cocody’s third year at HRW, and the Bossos said the event has become a much-anticipated moment to reconnect with regulars and meet new guests.
“It’s always an opportunity to reconnect with our customers,” said Edith. “And to discover a new one, and the opportunity for the restaurant to introduce our culinary world.” Edwin said HRW’s August timing couldn’t be better. July is typically a challenging time for restaurants, as Houstonians travel and school lets out. “It is typically the lowest month revenue-wise in the industry,” he said. “So the timing of restaurant week is perfect ... it’s kind of a rebirth every year.” Black-owned restaurants face severe systemic and economic hurdles, driven primarily by limited access to capital, inequitable loan approvals, and rising operating costs. Nationally, over 40% of independent restaurants struggle with profitability, but minority-owned establishments face steeper barriers to survival. The Bossos’ favorites span all three courses of Cocody’s HRW menu. Edwin points to the Provençal octopus and shrimp ceviche and the crispy trout fillet, prepared Grenobloise style, calling the trout “a traditional preparation that he’s made and revisited for the Houston palate.” Edith favors the chicken profiterole lollies and short rib ravioli. On dessert, the couple suggests the Black Forest Dome, Edwin’s reworked take on the classic German cake. Being a Black-owned restaurant in River Oaks hasn’t changed their approach to hospitality. “The guest is a guest,” Edwin said. “They want to be welcome. They want to be treated well. They want to feel at home.”
Cocody Restaurant & Bar features playful French-inspired items like Chicken Profiterole Lollys on their three-course dinner special. Credit: Cocody Restaurant & Bar.
Cocody Restaurant and Bar owners Edwin and Edith Bosso in Houston’s River Oaks Shopping Center are among the Black-owned restaurants participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks 2026. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender.
Astor’s Table HRW has meant even more to Astor’s Table owner and executive chef, Casey Castro, this year. Castro was born in Angola and raised in South Africa. He moved to Houston more than two decades ago after plans to sponsor his immigration to Atlanta fell through. He arrived in Texas with $75 to his name. What began as a small coffee shop evolved into Astor’s Table after customers kept asking for the African dishes Castro learned from his mother and grandmother. This year marks roughly his eighth year participating in HRW, and Castro estimates the restaurant has donated more than $70,000 to the Houston Food Bank through the event over the years. “It is not about the money,” Castro said. “It’s about doing something for the greater good.” HRW had a positive impact on his business over the years. Weekend revenue, which typically runs $3,000 to $4,000, has jumped severalfold during HRW, and his waitstaff can earn thousands more in tips each week. “If there is a restaurant out there that is Black-owned, and they are struggling ... use Restaurant Week,” Castro said. “It gives you more than what you expect.” Being a Black-owned, fine-dining restaurant serving African and Latin cuisine in Katy comes with added hurdles, especially as restaurants nationwide have closed in a difficult economy this year. “The strategy for me is to lean into hospitality and consistency,” Castro said. “Instead
Casey Castro. Courtesy: Casey Castro.
of focusing on what holds us back as a people, we need to focus on how to move forward and create a memorable experience for our guests.” HRW representatives told the Defender via email that restaurants choose how they are categorized on the event’s website, self-selecting by cuisine, neighborhood, meal type, and “vibe” tags such as date night or family-friendly. Participating restaurants commit to a $1,000 upfront donation per location and choose a dinner price point, $39 or $55, that determines how many meals their sales generate for the food bank, with an optional $25 brunch or lunch menu. Visit houstonrestaurantweeks.com for more.
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DN InFocus
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WATCH
VIDEO
Local Entrepreneurs push past barriers H By Tannistha Sinha
ouston may like to describe itself as a city where professionals with a great idea and hustle can make it. For Black entrepreneurs, the data suggest that the promise is only partially being kept. The number of Black-owned firms in the region keeps climbing, but revenue and access to capital are not climbing anywhere near as fast. Contracts and access to capital also remain as central obstacles. Business owners describe these challenges as less of individual walls and more as a culmination of factors, depending on where a business is in its life cycle.
Houston’s Black-owned businesses are expanding their economic footprint, but persistent gaps in access to capital and contracts remain. Credit: Getty Images.
Challenges and how to overcome them Margo Jordan, founder and CEO of the pediatric behavioral health platform Enrichly, described the venture capital side of the equation. She raised over $2 million from VCs and angel investors, like the American Heart Association, BIP Ventures, Catalyst by Wellstar, Florida Funders, Google, Nex Cubed, HBCU Founders, Techstars, and the Global Good Fund. Black women tech entrepreneurs like Jordan have long faced barriers to capital access. Studies show that only about 4% of venture capital funding goes to all-women teams. Less than 1% goes to Black women. “It impacts your mental health because you’re wondering if there’s something wrong with you,” Jordan said. “But no, there’s really just something wrong with the system and the lack of access to capital that Black founders, Black women founders continue to receive.” The funds are necessary to test out myriad attempts
Margo Jordan
at scaling, Jordan has observed. “The most difficult part about scaling is not having an adequate amount of funding to test things out, to test whether or not you should go into a market or not,” Jordan said. “You have to scale slowly. You don’t have a lot of chances to like start and fail.” Jordan is no stranger to such failure. After a brick-and-mortar business defaulted on a Small Business Administration loan during COVID, she pivoted into ed-tech and then health-tech, eventually raising about $2 million in venture funding. “By the time we got our feet underneath us, the loan had defaulted so bad that they added like an additional $100,000 on to what we already owed,” she added. “That itself made it even more difficult for me to start from scratch again and access that type of capital.” In response to a lack of capital and access to funding opportunities, the community is resorting to circulating funds within the community, which involves spending more at Black businesses. This, in turn, helps build a foundation for those who follow. “We wanna circulate our dollars in our community,” said Frank Perkins II, CEO and co-founder of Black Wall Street. “Not only does it help the business owner, but it helps the infrastructure, provides tools and knowledge for our kids that are going up behind us, and provides jobs.” Perkins also traces his mission to providing more contracts to minority vendors, otherwise missing from traditional chambers of commerce.
Brandon Davis
What to do, what not to do In Houston, contracting also poses challenges for Black business owners. But there is not one obstacle, but several interconnected ones. “Access to capital is important, but capital alone doesn’t create a scalable business,” said Brandon Davis, MBE Services director at the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council. “Companies also need a strong customer pipeline, significant contracting opportunities, the operational capacity to perform larger contracts, and access to the relationships and information that help them anticipate where opportunities are developing.” Dr. Asheli Atkins, president and CEO of the
Access to capital is important, but capital alone doesn’t create a scalable business.” BRANDON DAVIS MBE Services Director, Houston Minority Supplier Development Council
Tiffany L. Williams
Frank Perkins II
Greater Houston Black Chamber, categorized Black businesses that seek funding. There are entrepreneurs who need the basics, such as understanding how to use accounting software like QuickBooks. Other businesses are ready to scale, having their foundation and systems in place. These business owners face challenges in landing procurement opportunities with the city and county. The remaining include entrepreneurs seeking access to capital through grants and loans, as well as those who have been in business for a few years and now need to build out their succession plan. “Like a strategic financial group, we have so many different financial institutions that we work with that help our members to get access to grants as well as loans and lines of credit,” Atkins said. “Access to capital is just the umbrella,” she said. Tiffany L. Williams, CEO of the 14-year-old video production firm Twice Media Productions, offered a counterpoint on how to work around the gap, which comprises securing a line of credit well before it is needed. The decision to do so has kept her company afloat and payroll running through Hurricane Harvey in 2017. “Understand how important cash flow is,” Williams said. “Understand how important cash flow is, your numbers, your financial statements. A lot of the organizations I’m involved with also provide scholarships for entrepreneurs. Every year that I’m eligible for those types of scholarships to improve my business education or further my business education, I take advantage.”
Contracting: Benefits of certification Experts also suggest certification to widen chances of landing government contracts. Certifies businesses that received MBE contracts increased 19% from 2021 to 2024, creating jobs for the local economy. They also generated $1 billion in taxes locally. Davis believes that the next generation of Black entrepreneurs can scale their businesses in fields such as technology and AI-enabled services, infrastructure, energy transition, healthcare innovation, cybersecurity, advanced professional services, and supply chain solutions, where demand and investment are growing. “Houston offers significant opportunities because of the size and diversity of our economy,” he added. “The opportunity is not simply to start more businesses, it’s to build scalable companies that can participate in Houston’s major industries, diversify their customer base and revenue, compete for larger opportunities, and develop the capacity to grow over time.” Additionally, total MBE revenue jumped 180%, to $23.3 billion, supporting 118,600 jobs and contributing 3.5% to Houston’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Black-owned firms make up the largest single racial group among those certified MBEs. But that numerical scale does not translate to a scale in dollars. Black MBEs account for just 19% of MBE employees and only 9% of total MBE revenue. By contrast, Hispanic-owned firms are 29% of the count but capture 51% of employment and 65% of revenue.
Dr. Asheli Atkins
The productivity gap is stark when measured per worker. The average annual revenue generated per employee at a Black MBE is $195,000 compared with $540,000 for Hispanic-owned firms and $606,000 for Asian Indian-owned firms. The bigger picture suggests Black-owned firms did grow. Their collective revenue nearly tripled, from $708.7 million in 2021 to just over $2 billion in 2024, and employment rose from more than 6,000 to 10,000 workers. Where Black-owned businesses cluster Professional, scientific, and technical services, such as consulting, accounting, engineering, and related fields, are the dominant sector for Black-owned MBEs, accounting for 37% of them. Administrative and support services, education services, and construction round out the next largest categories. Atkins says the pattern holds inside her own membership base, too. “Our biggest membership, the highest category... is finance and accounting,” she said, pointing to a wave of Black-owned CPA firms and consultancies. On the other end, she flagged the restaurant industry as volatile, while noting that instability is not unique to Black-owned businesses.
More ways to push past barriers.
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VIDEO
Byron Canady Runs Texas’ only Black-owned comic store
By Laura Onyeneho
Byron Canady never set out to open the only Black-owned comic bookstore in Texas. He just wanted a place where Black nerds could see themselves on the shelves. Gulf Coast Cosmos Comics sits at the corner of Stuart Street and Emancipation Avenue in Houston’s Third Ward. It’s one of just 10 Black-owned comic shops in the country, and the only one in the state. “It wasn’t my intention to become the first,” Canady said. “I wanted a place and a space for people like myself who love comic books, but a place that celebrated Blackness in a way that was true and authentic and unapologetic.” His love for comics started young. Canady’s first interest in comics began shortly after he learned how to read. “I was eight years old when my dad introduced me to comic books, and the love affair began then,” Canady said. “I stepped away from collecting for nearly two decades before rediscovering the medium in a comic shop years later.” Now at 57, that history shapes who he built the store for. “I am doing this for the Black nerd that needs a place and a space to be seen,” he said. “To celebrate themselves and to enjoy this medium called comic books, and by extension manga [Japanese comics] and gaming.” When you walk through the door, the store is unapologetic Black. Canady wants people to come in understanding that they are receiving a curated Black experience, with shelves that reflect Houston’s Black American, Caribbean, and African communities. Gulf Coast Cosmos hosts manga clubs, artist signings, and a monthly “Geek Meet”
Byron Canady, founder of Gulf Coast Cosmos Comics, stands outside his Third Ward shop, the only Black-owned comic bookstore in Texas. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender.
salon that doubles as an informal neighborhood networking event. Canady said the programming follows three values passed down from his parents: Entertain, Educate, and empower. Third Ward has long been considered the cultural and political heart of Black Houston, and it has faced mounting pressure from
Gulf Coast Cosmos’ goal is to tell the story of comic book fans and creators. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender.
gentrification in recent years. Canady said staying rooted there means “understanding the people, the culture that exists here in the trade, and not being afraid to say, I see you, I celebrate you.” Canady says that running the shop takes more than a love of comics; it requires a grasp of profit margins, inventory, payroll, and marketing, “spinning all the plates” week to week. Conventions like DreamCon, Comic-Palooza, and Anime Matsuri have funneled millions of dollars into Houston in recent years, fueled in part by Black fans whose influence on anime is rarely acknowledged, Canady said. The comic store is also a founding member of the Ink Alliance, a national coalition of Black-owned comic retailers formed after owners noticed publishers were releasing few long-running Black titles despite strong sales. The alliance now counts 10 members nationwide. “That is painfully odd,” Canady said, “Considering that in Houston, if you just Google comic book stores, you get this laundry list” of options.” Its first project paired the stores with DC Comics on an exclusive variant cover for
“New Titans” No. 38, illustrated by Sanford Greene and centered on Static, a Milestone Comics hero whose 1990s run put Black characters at the center of the page. “It’s needed. It’s a lifeline,” said Desmond Jones, a Gulf Coast Cosmos regular and software developer who found the shop through a Google search after feeling watched and unwelcome elsewhere. “It’s a hub for so many things within comics, art, even music, even branching off to just job searches.” Jones said he has landed job leads through connections made at the shop and found a community among characters he could finally relate to, having grown up on X-Men. At Gulf Coast Cosmos, he said, “It’s home.” That loyalty is the store’s foundation, and the open question hanging over its future. Sustaining the only Black-owned comic shop in Texas means Houston’s Black nerd community has to keep showing up, not just at conventions but at the counter, week after week. “I want the shop to remain a fixture for the long haul,” Canady said. “Our focus is more than just the comic books, but really sustaining a community for the Black nerd community to be their authentic selves.”
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DN Feature ONE VISION, ENDLESS STORIES
Ensemble: 50 years old By Aswad Walker
For 50 years, Houston’s Ensemble Theatre has been more than a stage. It has been a cultural institution, a launching pad for artists, and a gathering place where generations have seen Black life reflected with honesty, excellence, and pride. Now, the nation’s oldest and largest professional African American theatre in the Southwest is marking its golden anniversary with a yearlong celebration built around the Eileen Morris theme, One Vision, Endless Stories. Founded in 1976 by the late George Hawkins, The Ensemble Theatre has grown into one of the country’s premier African American theaters, producing works that entertain while preserving Black history, culture, and lived experiences. Today, it remains one of the few Black theatres in the nation to own and operate its own facility with an in-house production team. Honoring a visionary legacy
The 50th anniversary celebrates more than longevity. It honors a vision that has shaped Houston’s cultural landscape for half a century. “What a milestone to celebrate 50 years of producing Black theatre, sharing experiences, and telling stories that inspire, entertain, and connect not only to the Houston community but to audiences around the world,” said Artistic Director Eileen J. Morris. She credits the Ensemble founder George Hawkins with creating a year-round home for Black theatre in Houston. “Fifty years ago, our founder, George Hawkins, had a dream: To bring Black theatre to Houston year-round,” she said. “He made that dream a reality by bringing together people who believed in the power of the arts to preserve our history, broaden perspectives, and create a sense of pride, joy, and belonging.”
Our 50th anniversary theme, One Vision, Endless Stories, celebrates the rich legacy while looking ahead to the future.” EILEEN MORRIS
A season built on excellence
The anniversary season pairs acclaimed contemporary works with beloved classics and audience favorites. Opening the season is Purpose, the regional premiere of Tony Award-winning playwright Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins’ gripping family drama, directed by Morris. Running Sept. 18-Oct. 11, the play examines family, identity, belief, and legacy through the complicated dynamics of the Jenkins family. The holidays bring back A Motown Christmas, a crowd favorite blending Motown classics with traditional Christmas music in a family-friendly musical celebration from Nov. 13-Dec. 20. The new year opens with another regional premiere, The Wash, inspired by Atlanta’s historic Washerwomen’s Strike of 1881. The drama highlights Black women who organized for fair wages, dignity, and respect, reminding audiences of the power of collective action. Spring features a revival of Lorraine Hansberry’s timeless masterpiece A Raisin in the Sun, followed by George C. Wolfe’s biting satire The Colored Museum, which challenges stereotypes while celebrating Black resilience. Closing the landmark season is Jubilee, an a cappella musical chronicling the Fisk Jubilee Singers, whose performances of spirituals helped break racial barriers while introducing audiences worldwide to the richness of African American music. Beyond the stage
The celebration extends well beyond theatrical productions. Special anniversary events include a Celebrity Gala, the Giorgee Awards, a Charity Golf Tournament, and other signature celebrations highlighting the theatre’s artistic achievements, historical legacy, and enduring impact on African American culture. Education also remains central to the theatre’s mission. Through workshops, artist residencies, student performances, and its Young Performers Program, The Ensemble continues investing in future generations of performers and creators. Its STEM-centered theatre training introduces young people ages 6 to 17 to every aspect of theatrical production while building confidence, creativity, and leadership.
She said the milestone season continues The Ensemble’s longstanding commitment to artistic excellence while inviting audiences to experience productions rooted in joy, reflection, family, and community.
“As we build on a tradition of artistic excellence and memorable storytelling, we invite you to join us for a season filled with family, music, laughter, inspiration, and community,” she added.
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One vision, countless stories
For Morris, the anniversary is as much about the future as the past. “Our 50th anniversary theme, One Vision, Endless Stories, celebrates the rich legacy while looking ahead to the future,” she said. “This exciting season features beloved revivals and compelling new works that reflect the heart of who we are.”
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10 | August 27, 2026 |
DEFENDER NETWORK
DN Sports STARTING QUARTERBACK QUANDARY
Prairie View evaluates QBs
By Terrance Harris
Prairie View football coach Tremaine Jackson is known for saying he normally takes his quarterback into every postgame press conference, and he ain’t going with nobody who is soft or anybody he don’t know nothing about. “So we are going to find out who that is and we are going to find out who can be the leader of the locker room,” Jackson said. “And when we find who that is and make a decision, that’s who we are going to roll with.” Just who that will be remains a mystery that probably won’t be revealed until Saturday night’s season opener at sixth-ranked Tarleton State. All we know for sure is that Cam Peter’s successor will be chosen among Tevin Carter, Preston Brown, and Kaeden Smith. Offensive coordinator Chris Buckner and Jackson revealed to the team this week which of the three will be QB 1 at the end of fall camp, but everyone will have to wait until the opener. What we do know is that the coaching staff is pleased with the group it has to pick from. “This year, for whatever reason, these guys took off,” Buckner said to the Defender. “We had a strong spring ball, and we had a pretty strong fall camp. Overall, as an offense, I can say that we are better than we were last year. Not that much better, but I will say we’ve gotten better.” A year ago, Jackson and his staff were new and inherited a quarterback group that they had to learn. This season, the Panthers return Carter, who was a part-time starter but mainly played a backup role behind Peters. Brown and Smith have been added to the
All three have done a really good job of really being around the team and getting to know the team. We have been very honest. The guy who is going to be the quarterback for the Panthers is going to be the guy who wins the team and takes care of the football.” TREMAINE JACKSON PV Coach
roster as transfers after having played a lot of football at lower levels of college football. On paper, the job is Carter’s, a dual-threat quarterback who started out at the University of Memphis and then went to Tennessee State before transferring to PV last year. Then there is Brown, who is coming off a breakout year at Division II Catawba College, where he was a Harlan Trophy nominee (The Division II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy) after throwing for 2,755 yards and 26 touchdowns while completing 69% of his passes. But if you are reading between the lines, don’t be surprised if Smith, a product of Manvel, gets the nod despite having the least playing experience. Smith played primarily a backup role last season at Angelo State, completing 44 of 91 passes for 595 yards, 10 touchdowns, and two interceptions. The 6-foot-1 dual-threat quarterback also ran for 328 yards and three touchdowns in the two games he started and six that he played in last season. Since arriving on campus last spring, Smith has definitely impressed his coaches. “I would like to say, had I been here when he came out of high school, he would have been here,” Jackson said. “He would have been here when he came out of high school, because I like him and I like the way he plays. We’re happy to have him.” Smith seems to have all the intangibles that Buckner and Jackson are looking for. He makes the right reads, commands the huddle, makes the right throws, and Prairie View’s offense has some similar principles as the air raid offensive attack Smith is coming from at Angelo State. The Defender was unable to speak to Smith or any of the quarterbacks because Jackson does not make his players available to the media during fall camp. “He kind of saw it, so he is walking into an offense where he has some familiarity,” Buckner said of Smith. ”So when he came in, he was like, `I know what you guys are doing with the second level and true progression.’ And like I said, he just ran with it.” Still, it’s hard to dismiss the benefits of going with Carter, who has a year of experience in the system and even came up with some big wins in what became the Panthers’ SWAC Championship and subsequent Celebration Bowl appearance last season. Carter was 2-1 as a starter last season, guiding PV to victories over Northwestern State and Grambling State while also having some moments in the loss against Rice. “Tevin is very smart, and he has been around me the longest, so he knows what I’m thinking,” Buckner said. “Kaeden is a killer, and I think Preston is a game manager.” Jackson also sees a scenario where all three
Quarterback Preston Brown (18) came into fall camp as the most accomplished and decorated of the three Prairie View quarterbacks, having been a Harlan Trophy Award candidate after a breakout campaign last season at Catawba College. Credit: Terrance Harris/Defender.
will play this season and may even start. He learned from coaching in the SWAC last season. “All three of those guys have started games in college football,” Jackson said. “So for me, when you look at the climate and the state of
college football, everybody is going to pay for one guy who started games somewhere else, and they go and steal them. We are fortunate enough to have guys who have started games here, started games in Division II, and started games in the Lone Star in Division II.”
CLASSIFIED BID NOTICE NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES SUNNYSIDE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NO. 26 RFQ Number: 2026-PES Issued Date: Monday, August 24, 2026 SOQ Submission Deadline: Monday, September 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM CT PROJECT DESCRIPTION & SCOPE The Sunnyside Redevelopment Authority seeks to engage one or more qualified professional engineering firms to provide comprehensive engineering services for capital improvement projects within Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 26, City of Houston, Texas. TIRZ 26 serves the Sunnyside area and is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the City of Houston and Harris County. Services to be procured include planning, preliminary design, design development, permitting assistance, bid phase services, and construction management for public infrastructure projects including roadway and street improvements; sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure; drainage and stormwater management; park facilities and trails; and water and sewer utility improvements. Requests for interpretation (and other questions) must be via email to info@sunnysidetx.org no later than September 1, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS Download RFQ from: https://www.sunnysidetx.org/about Format: Electronic PDF submission via email Submit To: Damon Williams, Zone Administrator Email: info@sunnysidetx.org Deadline: Monday, September 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM CT (no late submissions accepted) ESTIMATED TIMELINE RFQ Release Date Monday, August 24, 2026 SOQ Submission Deadline Monday, September 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM CT Targeted Shortlist Completion Friday, October 9, 2026 Board Approval of Shortlist Friday, October 16, 2026 Price Negotiation & Contract Award To Be Determined The Authority reserves the right to select the firm(s) whose submittal is most advantageous to its goals and interests; reject any or all submittals or qualifications; waive informalities and minor irregularities in submittals received; request additional information from any firm at any time; and cancel this RFQ in part or in its entirety if the Authority determines it is in its best interest.
August 27, 2026 |
DEFENDER NETWORK
| 11
DN Sports
Eisenhower High School football offensive linemen from (left to right) Jerrell Hinnant (77) Derrick Blanton (60) Braylon Kelley (52) Kordae Harris (72) Sedrick Steptoe (62). Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender.
REFLECTING ON LAST SEASON PLAYOFFS
Eisenhower seeks championship By Jimmie Aggison
The Eisenhower High School football program, despite the last season, took an important step forward. In head coach Padraic McGinnis’ first season, Eisenhower snapped a three-year playoff drought by finishing 4-3 in District 14-6A and returning to the postseason. Now, with 16 returning starters, including all five offensive linemen, Eisenhower enters the 2026 season with a new standard, no longer simply trying to reach the playoffs but believing they have the experience and leadership to compete for championships. “It starts with culture,” said McGinnis. “Having been around programs like North Shore and Hightower, I’ve seen what championship teams do daily. The details matter: Discipline, consistency, and doing things right when no one is watching.” That championship mindset is being reinforced by a roster with the experience and physical development that McGinnis believes will be critical this season. “We return 16 starters, many of them seniors, giving us mature, physically developed players who can wear teams down over time,” said McGinnis. “We also have size and physicality up front.” That experience has taken on even greater significance given the level of turnover McGinnis inherited. Despite losing about 30 players before his arrival last season, the players who remained have continued to develop and lay the foundation he wants for the program. “Our goal is to blend a physical, run-first identity with modern offensive versatility,
enabling us to run the ball, spread the field, and score in multiple ways,” said McGinnis. That offensive identity is part of a broader transformation under McGinnis, who believes last season’s breakthrough laid the foundation for something bigger. “Last year, the goal was simply to reach the playoffs, and we came close to a district title while finishing with the No. 1 defense in the district,” said McGinnis. “This year is different. The expectation is to compete for a state championship. Nothing is guaranteed, even with changes in the district landscape. We still have to earn everything through preparation and execution.” That confidence starts with one of the district’s most experienced offensive lines, as Eisenhower returns all five offensive linemen from last season. “They function as one unit,” said McGinnis. “All five starters have scholarship offers, but more importantly, they genuinely care
All five starters have scholarship offers, but more importantly, they genuinely care about each other and hold each other accountable.” PADRAIC MCGINNIS Head Coach
about each other and hold each other accountable. Their growth in the weight room has been significant, with every starter in our 1,000-pound club.” At the center of that cohesive group is 6-foot-3, 280-pound senior offensive lineman Kordae Harris, a 1st Team All-District selection last season who will anchor the unit’s offense this year. “Every Friday night, we want to show chemistry and physicality,” said Harris. “Running behind five returning starters gives you a lot of confidence and energy to make the next play,” said senior running back Elijah Dixon. “That makes a group dominant and unbeatable.” Although Eisenhower must replace key defensive pieces after losing two All-District defensive linemen and a key middle linebacker, they return experienced playmakers elsewhere in the defense. “It’s more about consistency and development than change,” said McGinnis. “Our commitment to daily strength training has been a major factor in our progress. We still have strong speed at linebacker and returning experience in the secondary, with three starters and two All-District players.” That consistency helped produce one of the strongest defensive units in 6A Region II District 14 last season, as Eisenhower recorded four shutouts and held opponents to one touchdown or fewer in multiple games. “The expectation is to build on that,” said McGinnis. “If we stay disciplined and consistent, we believe this defense can match or exceed last year’s performance.”
For senior linebacker Carl Smith, sustaining that success will require more than individual talent. It will require a defense that remains disciplined, coachable, and committed to playing as one. “We have to be on one accord, play as a unit, and make as few mistakes as possible while believing and trusting in each other,” said Smith. Experience has raised expectations throughout the program, but Eisenhower knows that potential alone will not end a decade-long title drought. Health and buy-in to the team culture will be critical. “We have size, experience, strength, and improved preparation,” said McGinnis. “Now it comes down to leadership and execution. I’m proud of our seniors who stayed through adversity after losing around 30 players. They’ve continued to build this program the right way. But nothing is given. Everything must be earned in the classroom, the weight room, and on the field. Our goal is no longer just winning the district. We are preparing to compete for a state championship.” “This senior class wants to leave a legacy of brotherhood and be one of the best senior classes to come out of Eisenhower,” said Harris. “When people talk about the 2026 Eisenhower football team years from now, we hope they remember us for working as a unit and dominating any team in our way.” With a veteran offensive line, an experienced defense, and championship expectations, Eisenhower enters 2026 believing it has the pieces to build on last season’s breakthrough.
12 | August 27, 2026 |
DEFENDER NETWORK
DN Health
A DEFENDER AND KELSEY-SEYBOLD CLINIC ALLIANCE
Psoriasis Isn’t Always Obvious at First
By KENNE OGUNMAKIN, MD, FAAD
Psoriasis is a long-term skin condition that affects millions of people in the United States.¹ Early signs aren’t always dramatic and can be easy to overlook, especially when symptoms seem mild or temporary. Skin changes may improve for a period of time and then return, which can make it harder to recognize a chronic pattern. Early Changes May Be Easy to Miss Psoriasis doesn’t always begin with thick, scaly patches of skin. Early signs may include small areas of irritation or color changes that linger or return. These changes can resemble common skin concerns, so they’re often brushed off. Over time, psoriasis can become more noticeable or uncomfortable if it isn’t recognized.
small
Appearance Can Vary by Skin Tone Psoriasis can look different depending
on skin tone. On lighter skin, patches often appear red with visible flaking. On darker skin, affected areas may appear brown, purple, or gray and may not look as inflamed.² These differences can make psoriasis harder to recognize in its early stages. Research shows that people of color can experience longer delays in diagnosis, which may affect when treatment begins.³ Why Ongoing Care Matters Psoriasis can change over time, and symptoms may come and go. Regular visits with a dermatologist help track those changes and adjust care when needed. Ongoing care can also help tell psoriasis apart from other skin conditions that may look similar. Treatment may change as symptoms change and can include skin-applied care or other options, depending on
what is appropriate. When To Consider a Dermatology Visit Skin changes that don’t resolve or repeatedly return may be worth discussing with a dermatologist. An evaluation can help clarify what’s causing the changes and outline appropriate next steps for care or monitoring. Sources (Reviewer Use Only) 1. JAMA Dermatology. Psoriasis prevalence in the United States https://jamanetwork.com/journals/ jamadermatology/fullarticle/2822205 2. National Psoriasis Foundation. Psoriasis in skin of color https://www.psoriasis.org/skin-of-color-resourcecenter/
Kenne Ogunmakin, MD, FAAD Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Cosmetic Dermatology, Dermatology
Memorial Villages Campus Scan to view her online profile.
3. National Psoriasis Foundation. Health disparities in psoriasis diagnosis https://www.psoriasis.org/advance/healthdisparity-bipoc/
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Named 2026 Best Primary Care Physician Group in Houston
AUGUST 2026