Volume 25 Issue 14

April 26, 2020

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

lIvInG leGenD

Vol. 25, Issue 14

CaSSIe branDleY

Dr. CarloS phIllIpS II

‘NEW

NORMAL’ By: N.L. Preston

HOUSTON - It’s 6:30 a.m. and Dr. Carlos Phillips rises and gets ready to shine for yet another day - even when it seems like COVID-19 gloom is looming constantly in the atmosphere. After getting himself dressed, he assists with getting his three boys ready, then the four of them say goodbye to the woman of the house - his beloved wife Tyechia Phillips, who’s now pregnant with their 4th child. Phillips loads his boys into his pickup truck and drives from the Pearland area to Independence Heights, while traditionally eating his bowl of cereal at stops along the way.

First stop -- dropping 2-year-old Carlos III (Tre) off at the daycare, then continuing on with the two older boys; Kameron, 12 and Kory, 9 as they head to their final destination at Booker T. Washington High School.

The principal and his sons pull into the noticeably empty parking lot -- compared to the good old days of a couple of

“I really want my staff to understand that you have to take care of your family first.”

months ago -- for their “new normal” activities.

Principal Phillips logs his boys into available computers so they can do their online learning as he attends to the needs of his students and staff.

“I go to my campus every workday. We are required to work from a web-based platform, and I want to make sure I am there with my teachers who sacrifice daily,” he said. “I

Cassie Brandley is a philanthropist and business leader, with a professional background in oil and gas.

She has worked at Fortune 500 companies for more than 16 years of solid experience.

Cassie began volunteering extensively with nonprofit organizations in Houston in the late 90s, while she was still attending public schools. Her unwavering passio for women’s empowerment, gender equality, human Cont’d on page 2

CoronavIruS anD the neW aMerICan eConoMY By: Solomon Ali

want to make sure I see what the needs of the community are, and be there for whatever all of our kids need.”

Phillips admits it’s hard seeing the empty halls.

“One thing I have noticed is how much our teachers genuinely miss our students during this absence,” he shared.

“The fact that our kids are now separated from us, we see how much they really were a part of our daily lives.”

Due to the COVID-19 / Coronavirus outbreak, it has been decided that Texas schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. It’s an adjustment period for all as educators and students were forced to immediately switch to an online learning platform, which is new for most, and Phillips stresses balance is key.

“It’s really exciting to see what everyone is coming up with and shines a light on the high-flying teachers; the ones who’ve always done great things in their classrooms and seeing how they are using out-of-the-box thinking to get the job done,” Phillips said. “I really want my staff to understand that you have to take care of your family first, make sure that you are healthy, and we will work together to make sure our students have the best.”

It is known that many students depend upon their schools for food and safety. With that in mind, Phillips says he and his staff are taking extra measures to personally stay connected.

“We know that we are a home away from home for a lot of students, especially at Booker T. Washington. We have a caring atmosphere. Even before the pandemic, when our students got out of school early, many were not in a rush to get

The face of the American economy is forever changed by this Coronavirus pandemic. In three weeks-time, we’ve witnessed financially viable companies go into rapid freefall by the millions, starting with employees and trickling rapidly. Small to midsized businesses are laying off in record numbers, and there is no clear end in sight.

With the spread of Coronavirus, people are being asked to choose between their livelihoods and their very lives. Businesses are pairing down to “skeleton crews,” keeping just enough workers on board to get by and doubling remaining employees’ duties. Never before have we realized just how interconnected we all are in our quest for survival.

More than 20 million Americans have now filed for unemployment, an unprecedented figure. Solomon Ali, CEO of NDR Energy Group and Revolutionary Concepts, gives us tips on how we can brace for financial impact and minimize the fallout.

Cont’d on page 2

Cont’d on page 3

WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY • AVOID PUBLIC SPACES OR EVENTS WITH MORE THAN 10 PATRONS • SANITIZE AND STOCK UP • AVOID TOUCHING YOUR EYES, NOSE AND MOUTH • PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE

2 AFRAMNEWS.COM

April 26, 2020 Partin’ the Waters

Tristar

By Omawale Luthuli-Allen

Dear Con Man: You have a heart problem!

Office: (713) 692-1178

Three Card Molly is an urban con game. Usually two outlaws work together and offer you silk toilet paper to finish your bathroom hygiene. “Con man” is short for confidence man. All con men are in love with their own reflection and are sociopaths at heart. They value their own interest, not yours –faking caring without real empathy.

Three Card Molly is a bait and switch scheme that operates on the cuts. It consists of nice guys lavishly bestowing praise on you for being so intelligent. You will discover the mystery card two out of three times, but on the third attempt, the mystery card disappears quicker than you can say Poof. Pray that the purse that you squandered is not your rent money or your high blood pressure medication money.

Governor Mario Cuomo of NYC said that New Yorkers can spot a con man. Confidence men sell wolf tickets, wooden nickels, counterfeit money and cotton candy dreams.

Casinos are basically CON outfits run by CON men. White noise and enrapturing enticements corral styled buffets and honeys flashing twin peaks. One-armed bandits and a 1-800 number for those who get too full and order desert. Break the boredom when you receive your Social Security check and I will provide a free bus to bring you to me and see

the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

Remember that CON Men are sociopaths at heart. Many sociopaths are magicians, but all magicians are not sociopaths. They don’t smoke or drink, but they lie faster than a Tennessee Walker can trot. They have a cheating heart that can’t stand the truth. Smiling faces, they don’t tell you the truth. Your enemy can’t do you no harm because you know where he is coming from. From the bully pulpit, the stable genius with zilch med school credentials says.......

“Corona Virus is the flu, not a PANDEMIC, we have it under control.”

“It will be gone in 15 days.”

“There are enough testing kits and there is enough Personal Protective Equipment.”

“Let’s reopen the country by Easter Sunday and get the country moving.”

History is replete with CON Men who convince you that they can kill a dead tree stump. The Titanic was a superpower and impregnable, but it didn’t have enough lifeboats or life vests - Personal Protective Equipment. I am reminded of a great Virginian and MAGA general who told General Hooker to restore his division after a battle at an unknown cut and shoot town called Gettysburg and prepare for another attack. General Hooker replied, “Sir, my division has eaten so much blue steel and Cannonballs, they are NO MORE.” “Nightingale” songstress Nancy Wilson says that she was CONNED by a lover that only loved himself, but thank GOD, she found out in time.

Remember that in the Gospels, the Master Physician told Simon the Magician, my daddy invented Card games, put the spots on dominoes, you have got a Heart problem!

Principal, cont’d

home,” he said. “As principal, I give my cellphone number to all students and some have reached out letting me know that they are OK. And our teachers reach out to every student on their roster to check on their well-being and we document that. If any student or family is in need, we have a wrap-around resource specialist to provide assistance.”

When it comes to his own kids, the same priorities remain high, practicing what he preaches.

“My wife and I make sure the boys know what’s going on. We ask them if they have any questions and we help them to understand.

We play card games, we go to the gym at school to exercise, and we spend a lot more time together,” he said. “I don’t show panic because I know they’ll pick that up.”

He wants his children, and all families, to make wise decisions at home, knowing that the days will get better.

“At my house, we calculate

Brandley, cont’d

trafficking, homelessness and at-risk individuals began at a young age when her biological father, Clarence Brandley, was wrongfully convicted for a 1981 rape and murder.

He was eventually freed from death row, and died in September 2018.

After Cassie observed the many volunteers who helped her father, she felt the need to give back to others, regardless of their current situations.

One day, she went to Finnigan Park to work out and that’s when someone introduced her to the Executive Director of International Youth Friendship Development Program, which has been around

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION our steps to be frugal with our spending and continue to take care of business because when things go back to normal, we are still going to be normal,” he said.

“We are not going to let what’s going on outside of our control make us mentally unstable. We are also conscious of recognizing that there are some who do not have the things that we have so we try to help wherever we can; food drives, etc., and continue to be humble.”

Phillips added, for next school year, the Booker T. Washington family will look at the educational deficits from the learning curve that may have taken place during this time period, and use this as an opportunity to better serve the students.

African-American News &Issues asked Phillips to share a few lessons learned and words of encouragement.

Message to parents and guardians: “I hope this experience gives a new level of respect to the field of education, to the quality of our teachers

and how much they are so important to the development of our young men and women. We make the leaders; the doctors, the lawyers, the practitioners and the future politicians. This is what we do,” he said.

Message to graduating seniors: “You made it! Now all the training that you have received in the classroom setting, you are responsible to give that back to the world and to help strengthen our society. Take this experience and use it to catapult you into the journey that life is going to bring you on,” Phillips said. “Everything happens for a reason and some things are beyond our control. Just as you have been resilient from Pre-K through 12th grade, you can be resilient now as these new challenges arise. I am proud of you. I always shook your hands in the hallways and just know, I will find a way to shake your hands one final time to say congratulations.”

for more than 20 years.

That day changed her life and she knew she wanted to help impact the lives of others.

Today, Cassie serves on the board of the International Youth Friendship Development Program with the role of Executive Director, dedicating herself to the needs of the community. She has worked on many initiatives, including Human Race 5K Walk for human trafficking, Girl Power Purse Drive, Feeding Veterans, COVID-19, and multiple service-learning programs through partnership with corporate organizations in Houston. She has volunteered with Women

in Action, Narvell Ashley Chapter #20, Boys and Girls Club, Baker Hughes Veteran Golf Tournament, Feeding the Homeless, Junior Achievement, Back to School Drive, Lue Wish, Sankofa, etc. She continues to serve on several other committees.

Cassie earned her bachelor’s in business management and completed her master’s in supply chain management, while being a fulltime mother and an employer on fast track project.

Cassie currently resides in Houston with her family.

- AANI

- AANI

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION

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Communicate with Your Creditors and Debtors: Explain where your company is at, discuss options and re-negotiate terms if you can. Inquire about extensions on payment terms, request waivers of late fees and penalties. The good news is that you are not alone. Tens of millions of people are currently in the same boat and your creditors know that. In many ways, this puts you in the driver’s seat to renegotiate payment terms and obtain some forgiveness on penalties that would normally be imposed.

Reach out to the current customers you do business with to gauge where they are at. Offer discounts and other payment incentives to get whatever liquid money you can upfront. For example, if a customer owes an outstanding balance of $1,000, make them an offer to pay you $700 now to settle the account. This will give you much needed cash in hand. Regarding new sales, companies should be all about solving customers’ pain points right now.

Identify Pain Points and Solve Them: Identify your customer or client “pain points” during this time and strategize to solve them in a way that could potentially make you indispensable during a time when most products and services will be cut from the equation. Whether that is free delivery, discount packages, future incentive packages, extra services or penalty-free rescheduling; the old playbook no longer applies. Become flexible in your approach.

Form Strategic Alliances: Companies should also look to industries that are thriving and communicate their desire to align and/or partner with other companies to leverage profitability, innovation and market share. Seek out companies that offer complimentary products or services and reach

AFRAMNEWS.COM 3 out to see how you can help one another. We are living through times where people are more emotionally receptive, because no matter what industry you are currently in, we are all feeling vulnerable right now.

A Few Types of Partnerships: Joint Venture – If you decide to merge with another business in your industry to combine assets and resources, you are going to need to consolidate and cut costs. For example, Company A may have a stronger sales team, but Company B has a better administrative team. You would consolidate those resources, keeping Company A’s sales force and Company B’s administrative team. We cut costs down because we are working together and trimmed the fat.

Equity Investment – A private equity investor comes in and either loans you capital or invests capital into your company. This means that you are loaned money in exchange for equity in your company. A private equity investor may extend you a line of credit to help you survive this climate. You don’t pay back an equity investment in traditional terms, but you will find your ownership stake shrinking, perhaps considerably. The good news is that the equity investment would likely outweigh the loss.

Acquisition – Getting acquired by a larger business that has the financial wherewithal to support your business and keep operations afloat during this period of time places a strong bandage on the current uncertain marketplace. This means you will not be in such dire need of immediate profits to stay alive or to plan the future trajectory of your business. You can also maintain your marketing and advertising efforts and continue to grow your market share without immediate profits, but with the future projection of profits.

Streamline Efforts with Technology and Outsourcing: Can I have my workforce work remotely? Can I outsource my marketing and advertising team? Can I streamline my administrative with technology or keep my workforce intact but teach them how to be more efficient with the use of technology? These are some of the questions to ask yourself during this time. You may find out through an efficiency audit of your business that 20% of your workforce is doing 80% of the work.

With that information, you can pivot your efforts and infrastructure accordingly.

This is an opportunity to become more efficient and more profitable in the long run.

Keep Your Eye on Fall 2020: Companies can use the spring and summer months to position themselves for an autumn boom, if they take the right strategic steps.

The financial effects of Coronavirus will be felt long after the pandemic is under control. We will feel ripples and aftershocks well into 2021 and perhaps throughout this decade. This means that business as usual is a losing proposition. Our economy will recover, albeit with a different spin than before. We will see a rise in consciousness about the way humans treat and consume animals, and we will begin to shift towards more of a cause and effect mentality. We will also come back together and socialize in slightly different yet distinctive ways, with a return to more communitybased activities. Local parks, places of worship, board games and general fellowship with one another will be newly discovered and offer a newfound charm.

Employers will also become more accommodating of remote workers and flexible schedules, and will be more accommodating to sick leave and other dispensations that support employees’ health and well-being.

- AANI

4 AFRAMNEWS.COM

April 26, 2020

GREATER HOUSTON EDITION