African-American News&Issues

APRIL 24 - 30, 2017 | FREE

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African-American News and Issues Newspaper

VOL. 22 ISSUE 14

AframNews

Education

A MESSAGE TO THE BLACK BOARD MEMBERS: YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE & WE ARE WATCHING YOU! Greater Houston Area

UNDERSTAND THE BOOTS I WALK IN...

Rhonda Skillern-Jones, Secretary, District II

Wanda Adams, President, District IX

SEE PAGE 4

HELPING HOMELESS VETS STARTS WITH COMPASSION, COMMUNICATION AND GIVING BACK CONCERNS ON THE APPLICATION OF THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT ORDINANCE: What do you want the community to do to fulfil their obligation to help the homeless?

How does one fulfil their spiritual obligation to help the homeless?

Where do you want the homeless that remain on the street to go? #AframCommunityWants2Know #BlackGameChangersConverge

Jolanda Jones, Second Vice President, District IV SEE PAGE 6

African

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American News&Issues

UNDERSTANDING LAW: COMMON LAW MARRIAGE Krystin Collins Attorney at Law

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ommon Law Marriage is a legal term used in Texas to refer to a couple that has become husband and wife without going through the formalities of getting a marriage license and having a wedding ceremony. When a couple has established a common law marriage it has the same legal effects as a formal

Roy Douglas Malonson Chairman Shirley Ann Malonson President/C.E.O. Chandra Jarmon

Production/Editor

Kimberly Taylor

Production Asst.

Darwin Campbell

Senior Journalist

Chelsea Davis-Bibb

Journalist

Rebecca S. Jones

Contributing Writer

Mark Spivey

Contributing Writer

Lorenzo Tolbert

Contributing Writer

General: news@aframnews.com Ads: sales@aframnews.com Website: www.aframnews.com African-American News&Issues is published

by African-American News & Issues, Inc., 6130 Wheatley Street, Houston, Texas 77091, (713) 692-1892. Our office hours are Monday-Friday, 9am - 5pm. The entire contents of the paper are copyrighted by African-American News & Issues, Inc. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. African-American News&Issues is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers.

The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the publisher.

African-American News&Issues assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other material, unless accompanied by a self-address stamped envelope.

Letter to the Editor

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e welcome all original responses from our readers to content found in the African-American News&Issues.

Letters to the Publisher may be sent via e-mail to news@aframnews.com. Please keep all letters under 300 words. Be sure to include the author’s name, area of residence. All letters and articles may be verified before they are published. All letters are subjected to editing or being cut for spacing purposes. Thank you in advance for your submission.

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Editorial & Opinion

marriage. In Texas, there are general elements that have been established by the court as evidence of a common law marriage.

In Texas, there are three elements to a common law marriage that must be met: 1. An agreement to be married: There must have been some type of agreement or understanding between the couple that they are agreeing to live as husband and wife without a formal marriage.

2. The couple must live together as husband and wife; and 3. The couple must hold themselves out as being married: There are several ways that a couple can hold themselves out as being married, such as: filing income taxes as a married couple, joint credit applications, obtaining a mortgage as a married couple, by simply telling people that you are a married couple.

The upside of common law marriage is that a couple is able to gain all the rights and responsibilities of a married couple without actually going through the formalities of getting married. The downside to common law marriage is that because you gain all the rights and responsibilities of a married couple, to end the relationship you must get a formal divorce.

If you are seeking advice regarding whether or not your relationship constitutes a common law marriage or you are seeking to end a relationship where a common law marriage may exist, always consult with an attorney to ensure that your rights are being protected.

Attorney Krystin Collins is a native of the Acres Homes Community. She is a graduate of Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law and has been a licensed attorney since 2009. Her primary practice areas are criminal defense, civil litigation, personal injury, estate planning, and divorce. She may be contacted at 713-775-0332 or krystin.collins@ gmail.com.

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“CROSSING THE BURNING SANDS AT YOUR OWN RISK”… (PART 3) Before I Lay it Down...

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By “Coach” Mark Spivey, M.Ed

he big coming-out party known as “Probate” happened on a lot of college campuses over the past two weeks, where the current classes of “Neophytes” (new members) got to “strut their stuff” while unveiling themselves in front of thousands of screaming college students, parents, and friends. With auditoriums and/ or gymnasiums filled to capacity, late arriving spectators could only hope for live Facebook streams or texting updates provided by their “petty” friends on the inside. Petty people are on time.

Located strategically where they could easily be seen, dozens of sections of “Prophytes” (members of one or more years) proudly displayed banners signifying the inaugural dates of their organization’s founding. It’s an occasion similar to a Mardi Gras; a festive atmosphere full of pageantry and colors minus the bead-throwing and boob-flashing.

Precision foot-stomping performances and choreographed dance routines worked the crowds into a HBCU-like frenzy reminiscent of homecoming after parties. Sweaty hugs and kisses accompanied by high-flying leapers and chest-thumping Alphas caravanned together with their new sorors and frat brothers to the delight of chapter presidents and graduate advisors. The best part of THIS probate is knowing that no one died during the initiation process. Not this time…

Does anyone remember the names of Kristin High and Kenitha Saafir? Kristin was 22 and Kenitha

24 when their bodies were pulled from Docweiler State Beach in Los Angeles, California just before midnight on September 9th, 2002.

Their parents believed they were part of a hazing ceremony and forced to do calisthenics in the water when one of the girls was pulled out to sea by a high wave. Knowing her friend could not swim, the other young lady swam out to save her and both drowned. According to the Los Angeles Times, these young ladies had been illegally pledged and hazed for weeks.

Closer to home, 20-year old Donnie Wade, Jr. died on October 20th, 2009 after being hazed on the Hempstead High School track, in Hempstead, Texas. Wade was a student at Prairie View A&M University at the time. The fraternity chapter involved was suspended for 5 years afterwards for violating university rules and trying to cover up the hazing. The family settled a lawsuit with the chapter’s national office in 2010.

Unfortunately, in both instances, these and many other cases like them could have been prevented, had the students involved obeyed the language written by the universities and Greek Organizations prohibiting involvement in pledging and hazing activities. The directives are written and crystal clear.

What’s even more disparaging and disheartening are the chapters of these organizations that cover up the illegal activities of their own members who are hell-bent on continuing these silly practices in the name of “brotherhood” and “sisterhood”.

These “members” take delight in the beatings, paddlings, degrading, and bruising of the brain-washed individuals who believe that the only way to avoid being referred to as a “paper” member is to succumb to this punishment and embarrassment.

TEXAS • APRIL 24 - 30, 2017 These are college-educated people we’re talking about. The only way to stop it is for more people to die.

And die they will…

Black Greek Letter Organizations should do more to discontinue this type of behavior.

Plenty of it happened over the past two weekends on HBCU campuses across America. But plenty of money has been made, also.

Membership fees into fraternities and sororities are very expensive. Ask any parent. Another variable into turning a blind eye to these issues are the consequences that college students risk in getting caught hazing while in school. They could be suspended and/or expelled. The pressure on campus advisors of these BGLOs to keep this from happening is extreme. Who wants to be responsible for letting a parent know that “little Johnny” or “little Susie” is getting kicked out of school for participating in hazing activities when they’re almost ready to graduate? Unfortunately, the cycle of hazing will continue. Even death can’t stop it…

Many of us have chosen to cross the burning sands, yours truly included. However, there are large numbers of us who chose not to participate in hazing activities, period. My momma taught me at an early age that if someone hit me, I better hit them back. But, that’s another story.

Probate 2017 was pretty good for those who survived being hazed. At least they lived to “enjoy” it.

God bless, goodnight , and keep yo families together.

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TEXAS • APRIL 24 - 30, 2017

Editorial & Opinion

DO MILLENNIALS HAVE A WELFARE MENTALITY? The Overflow

By Chelsea Davis-Bibb, M.Ed

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elfare is defined as “the health, happiness and fortunes of a person or a group.” It is also defined as “financial support given to people in need.” The one word that stands out in the second definition is given.

We live in a society where a lot of people (not all) feel as if everything should be given to them. In spite of all the generations, it seems as though the millennial generation has their hand out expecting everything to be handed to them which I define as having a “welfare mentality.” This “welfare mentality” mindset didn’t just happen overnight, but has slowly evolved over time.

The Millennial generation ranges approximately from 1980 to 1999 (13-32), and according the US. Census Bureau, the Millennials have surmounted Baby Boomers as the largest living generation (80 million).

The Millennial generation is known to be the most unique, diverse, and the most technological advanced generation. According to The Millennial Research Review by The US Chamber Foundation, “Most consistent is that this generation is technically savvy, almost as if it has a digital sixth sense. A wired, connected world is all that Millennials have ever known.” The research indicated that this generation is full of self-expression with 75% creating a profile on a social networking site, and 20% posting a video of themselves online.

Technology is a blessing and a curse, but I believe that technology has made some of the millennial

generation lazy, impatient, entitled, and ungrateful. Technology has made a lot of things easy and convenient that some people expect those same characteristics to be applied to our everyday livelihood including the professional world. With a click of a button, we can order anything and can expect a delivery the next day.

We can even order our groceries online and can pick them up curbside, or order from a restaurant that doesn’t even deliver, but UberEats and other companies will bring it to you just to name a few. Whatever your heart desires can be deemed possible with just a click of a button. However, when it comes to getting a job and moving up in whatever field you are working in, it doesn’t happen with just a click of a button. It takes patience, perseverance, hard work, commitment, and dedication.

As a Millennial myself, I grew up with old school parents who always told me that “this world we live in don’t owe you anything.” With that in mind, they instilled in me that the only way to make something of myself is solely through hard work. Hard work is a characteristic that can’t be taught. An individual can look up to someone who is hard working, but in order to obtain that same trait, it is something that they must find within themselves. Even as a school teacher, I have seen and experienced the effects that technology has made upon this generation, which still leaves the question, “Do Millennials have a welfare mentality?”

There are just a few things that this generation, and other generations should know.

The world doesn’t owe you anything – if you have your hand out, put it away. If you want something in life, don’t expect someone else to do it for you, go after it yourself.

Continue Reading more of The Overflow online @ www.aframnews.com

African

American News&Issues

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP & ACCOUNTABILITY

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ommunity, I’ve made it my business to demand accountability from the leaders who represent our community. My goal has always been to shine a light on people and organizations so the public can see what’s really going on. It’s been about a year since I’ve written about one of my favorite universities, Texas Southern, so I thought I’d take a peek into third ward and see what’s happening. President Lane has hit the ground running. He put on a hell of a homecoming celebration for the alumnae and the community.

He and the first lady looked like royalty in that classic Benz during the parade. Lord, I miss the Obamas.

Enrollment is up and students are happy. But as they say on Scooby Doo, “the fun didn’t last for long.”

I’m told a group of “Rudley Renegades” are not happy with all of the changes made by the new administration over the last 10 months.

Take a look at TSU for yourself and you will see the improvements.

Almost everyone in leadership 12 months ago is gone. Some of them sponsored the culture of mismanagement during Dr. Rudley’s tenure.

Now ya’ll know I don’t just rely on rumors, so I started digging. After all of my research here’s what I found. I was live streaming a board meeting on March 22 and saw a hint of dysfunction on the board. Regent Wesley Terrell made some really rude comments to Regent Mitchell.

I got to hand it to Regent Mitchell, he handled the situation very professionally, which is not the way I would have responded. I would have torn Regent Terrell a new you know what. Regent Mitchell was elected Chair in 2015. By all who count, he has done a good job keeping the University on solid ground while they were looking for a new president. Some say he walks around campus with a shotgun like Wyatt Earp rooting out evil doers. I’m not sure if that’s true, but I did see him at the rodeo wearing a cowboy hat and some cowboy boots and we are in Texas! Either way, the facts are

simple; the University has flourished under his leadership. So why are the Rudley Renegades so upset?

Based on talking to others and a review of the videos of the board meetings over the past year, here’s what I found. Let’s start with Regent Wesley Terrell. He’s from South Park. He has a great resume. He graduated from Yale undergrad and Columbia law. Based on that I would think he’d be a super lawyer by now. He did short stints at two large firms in Houston. Typically, the only reason you leave firms like those is if you can’t cut it. I’m just saying. Today he is an average lawyer with AT&T in Dallas, just above a legal assistant. Maybe that’s why Regent Terrell is so disrespectful to Regent Mitchell. I think the young folks call that “light weight hating.” Check out the video of the board meeting in March. Regent Terrell got issues. From what I’ve seen on the videos, he doesn’t seem to like Dr. Lane either. Why are you on the board? I’m watching you son.

Now on to Regent Marilyn Rose. Regent Rose works in the audit department at Harris County.

The word on her is she’s only on the board to get handouts for herself, her kids and her husband, Lyndon Rose. Let me remind you about our friend Lyndon. Lyndon is the brutha who walks around town licking republicans’ boots. The man begs for favors more than the panhandlers on Westheimer. Ya’ll have heard of handkerchief head Negros, well, Lyndon is the posterchild. He was on the Board of Regents at UH and let me just put it this way, the staff was very uncomfortable with some of his request for freebies.

On to Regent Erik Salwin. Ten out of ten said the same thing about him, “He aint his daddy.” His daddy was appointed by Governor Perry. Unfortunately, he had some health challenges so he resigned from the board. I suppose part of the deal was his son, little E, had to replace him. Now daddy Salwin was

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We MUST Understand

By Roy Douglas Malonson, Chairman

the former general counsel at Dell Computers. He was a good board member, very engaged. He gave money to the University and he had a strong personality. After looking at the videos of Erik, I saw just the opposite. This guy seems as weak as that boy on Friday, who cried out “my grandmama gave me that chain.” He whines about everything and he’s such a do gooder. Everyone say it with me, “Mama’s Boy.” And I’m told he set Eva Pickens up to fail. Regent Mitchell did you take his chain or something? I almost died laughing when he told the sad story of Regent Mitchell not informing the board that someone had passed in his family. He’s mentioned it several times, so he’s clearly holding grudge.

I would talk about a few other board members, but some of their terms have expired and the others are like simple sheep looking for a shepherd, not worth the ink.

Enough about the board, let’s talk about the ultimate Rudely Renegader, Jodie Lynn Jiles. Jodie, that hit piece you put out was flat out wrong. I heard you tried to hide behind Sonny’s coattails and deny it, but everybody in town knows it was you. Why would you stoop so low and do other people’s evil deeds. Just spreading lies. You did the same thing to Sylvester Turner in 1991. Ya’ll put on your memory caps. The election for mayor was heating up. Sylvester was leading in the polls against Bob Lanier.

Houston was on the cusp of electing its first African American mayor.

Then all of a sudden, Jodie dropped a hit piece about Sylvester and the race was over. Sylvester lost by a slim margin in part due to Jody’s efforts. JJ why so much hate for folks who have potential to succeed? Is it because you got fired from RBC? Is it how you were raised?

Cont. reading online @ AframNews.com!

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African

American News&Issues

HOMELESS FROM PAGE 1

HOUSTON - Is thanking a veteran for his or her service good enough?

For many homeless veterans, it simply is just not enough.

Many hardly ever hear that special “Thank you” or feel part of the America they love, helped to defend and protect.

While many Americans enjoy the benefits and freedoms of liberty in a free society, the high price paid for their sacrifices is to come back to struggle in a silent hell and loneliness called “Homelessness”.

Homeless veterans are the truly “forgotten” men and women of this country.

Of late, attention has been brought to the topic of homelessness in a bountiful prosperous America, but for one of these men or women spending one more night on the street is an unforgivable American embarrassment and a slap in the face of democracy.

Houston’s new Homeless Encampment Ordinance is considered to be a major step in a greater comprehensive plan to address the ongoing homelessness/mental illness issue.

However, it appears to be a more unbalanced approach and a biased plan to get the homeless off streets, out of sight and out of mind while preserving Houston’s precious image.

Lost in the argument is the homeless veteran whose voice has not been heard and is not a major priority in the fight.

City leaders forget that there might not be a Houston, Texas were it not for the bravery, courage and heroic men and women who answered the call to protect life and liberty and preserve this freedom and democracy we hold dear or take for granted that has lasted over 245 years.

It is high time for citizens who take freedom for granted to meet and know and understand the plight of these men and women.

“Homelessness really is a complex issue and the path that leads veterans to homelessness is rarely straight forward and (it) requires a community commitment to provide a support network of services and resources to resolve it,” according to San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor Who Are Homeless Veterans?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that 39,471 veterans are homeless on any given night.

Of those, 3,534 are chronically homeless and 1,768 are Texas veterans.

Roughly 45% of all homeless veterans are African-American or Hispanic, despite only accounting for 10.4% and 3.4% of the U.S. TX- 4

COVER STORY

veteran population, respectively.

The majority are single; live in urban areas; and suffer from mental illness, alcohol and/ or substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders.

Also, about 11% of the total adult homeless population are veterans.

About 1.4 million other veterans continue to be at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) is one of the nation’s foremost authorities on homeless veterans’ issues, programs, legislation, federal funding streams and national policy issues, as well as interagency coordination of services and organizations providing direct services to homeless veterans.

Homeless Veteran Demographics Nationally, the NCHV has a breakdown of the problem into the following categories: • 13% of the homeless adult population are veterans • 20% of the male homeless population are veterans • 68% reside in principal cities • 32% reside in suburban/rural areas • 51% of individual homeless veterans have disabilities • 50% have serious mental illness • 70% have substance abuse problems • 51% are white males, compared to 38% of non-veterans • 50% are age 51 or older, compared to 19% non-veterans

America’s homeless veterans have served in World War II, the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq (OEF/ OIF), and the military’s anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America. Nearly half of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era. Twothirds served our country for at least three years, and one-third were stationed in a war zone.

According to the city’s plan, it allegedly will provide low level shelters as a temporary solution while identifying permanent supportive housing solutions, addressing mental healthcare and the necessary treatment by trying to bring back facilities dedicated to their specific needs, and make sure that the homeless have holistic guidance to provide additional assistance throughout this transitioning process.

However, city leaders in Houston, Dallas and Austin need a deeper understanding of the plight of the veteran, not just politics and feel good window dressing when it comes to the homeless and veterans.

Why Are Veterans Homeless?

In addition to the complex set of factors influencing all homelessness – extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income and access to health care – a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse, which are compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.

Additionally, military occupations and training are not always transferable to the civilian workforce, placing some veterans at a disadvantage when competing for employment.

The Houston Motive ?– A top priority for homeless veterans is secure, safe, clean housing that offers a supportive environment free of drugs and alcohol. The Houston Ordinance appears more pushy and political than passionate about solving homeless problem – and troubled veterans are trapped and caught in the middle of the mess.

It was presented after some area residents complained about aggressive panhandling and other activity on the street, which they found to be a public safety hazard. Others also raised issues about how the encampments detract from the image of their communities and the city.

According to goals in Houston, official hope to house 500 homeless people within six months; add 215 shelter beds once a new Star of Hope shelter on Reed Road is complete; and create supervised outdoor shelters that would have restroom facilities, for up to 75 stubborn folks who don’t want to go to places like Star of Hope or the Salvation Army.

On the flip side, it would also appears to stipulate and criminalize being homeless on the streets without a permit, punishable with a fine of up to $500 — and possibly resulting in warrants being issued for homeless people’s arrests for failure to pay those fines or appear in court.

The city appears to be trying to strike a non-harmonic chord with the ordinance between safety, for the homeless people, agencies and helpers and the surrounding neighborhoods where the homeless still congregate.

Tristia Bauman, a senior attorney for the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, expressed concern recently over the ordinance, stating that it unfairly punishes those who are facing hard times.

“This law as written is constitutionally concerning, and I think it’s very vulnerable to legal challenge,” she said in a recent response to the ordinance.

To continue reading visit www.aframnews.com Story By: Darwin Campbell

TTexas EXAS •• August APRIL 2430, 2017 12-18, 2013

Help for Homeless Veterans Across Texas

WEST CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL FOUNDATION ADDRESS: 3702 Loop 322 Abilene, TX 79602 PHONE: 325-672-8544 WEBSITE: http://www.wctcog.org/wctcog/rf_index.php WEST CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL FOUNDATION ADDRESS: 3702 Loop 322 Abilene, TX 79602 PHONE 325-672-8544 WEBSITE: http://www.wctcog.org/wctcog/rf_index.php BRAZORIA COUNTY VETERAN SERVICE OFFICE CONTACT: John Jerabeck ADDRESS: 451 N. Velasco St. Suite 120 Angleton,TX 77515 PHONE: 979-864-1289 EMAIL: johnj@brazoria-county.com WEBSITE: http://brazoria-county.com/veterans/ CARITAS OF AUSTIN ADDRESS: 611 Neches Street Austin,TX PHONE: 512-472-4135 WEBSITE: http://www.caritasofaustin.org

78701

CENTER POINT, INC. ADDRESS: 2101 South Interstate 35 Frontage Road, Austin, TX 78741 PHONE: 512-297-2990 WEBSITE: http://www.cpinc.org/ COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR THE HOMELESS CONTACT: Christa Noland ADDRESS: 1503 S. IH-35 Austin, TX 78741 PHONE: 512-469-9130 GREEN DOORS CONTACT: Frank Fernandez ADDRESS: 1503 South IH 35 Austin, TX PHONE 512-469-9130 EMAIL FFernandez@greendoors.org WEBSITE: http://www.greendoors.org TEXAS HOMELESS NETWORK CONTACT: Ken Martin ADDRESS: 1713 Fortview Rd. Austin, TX PHONE: 512-482-8270 EMAIL: ken@thn.org WEBSITE: http://www.thn.org

78741

78704

TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION - AUSTIN CONTACT: Thomas Palladino ADDRESS: 1700 North Congress Avenue, Suite 800 Austin, TX 78701 PHONE: 512-463-6564 EMAIL: ExecutiveOffice@tvc.state.tx.us WEBSITE: http://www.tvc.state.tx.us/ NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS INC. ADDRESS: 4500 Bissonnet, Suite 200 Bellaire, TX 77401 PHONE: 713-667-9400 EMAIL: nci.info@Neighborhood-Centers.org WEBSITE: http://iamforgood.org

VIEW FULL LIST OF CONTACTS ONLINE @ AFRAMNEWS.COM

TEXAS • APRIL 24- 30, 2017

Community

Read us online! www. aframnews. com

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Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation hosts Homebuyer’s Education Class

(L-R) Pauline Allen, Erica Andrews, Tracey Lewis, Cerendy Sias, Evelyn Randle, Krystal Hasselmeier, Ajana Adams, Shawn Simmons & Latrice Martin)

FIFTH WARD - Xi Alpha Omega’s (XAO) ¬ Family Strengthening Committee, chaired by Cerendy Sias, in partnership with Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation (FWCRC), recently hosted a Homebuyer’s Education Class. FWCRC is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit Texas corporation committed to the revitalization of the Fifth Ward Community in Houston, which includes homebuyer education and counseling, credit counseling, delinquency or foreclosure prevention counseling, and home maintenance training, as well as the development of single family homes, apartments, and commercial space. The event, under the leadership of president, Tracey Lewis, was held in the Fifth Ward Business and Financial Center in Houston. The class provided information to families on the process of purchasing and maintaining a home, as well as provided the educational requirement

Restore Your Credit Score

M

y relationship with the Houston Black Real Estate Association, presented the opportunity for me to meet Hope. Her successful background in sales for over 20 years, helping clients reach their personal and business goals, made it a natural transition to get involved in Real Estate Sales.

To enhance the exemplary, services she presently offer, as a Real Estate Agent, the opportunity presented itself to become a part of United Credit Educational Services. She stated, “Clients usually want more house than their credit will allow them to attain”, she said. Credit is an essential tool for her clients.

The umbrella of the company is F.E.S or Financial Education Services, Protection Plan. Other services, such as: Life Lock

Identity, Wills Trust and Power of Attorney. Digital Lockbox etc…

Hope adds, most people are afraid to even see their credit reports, so this program provides a middle man. Becoming a client of this program you would be reporting directly to a credit counselor and Hope would NOT, be involved with your personal business or have access to it without your consent.

Taking a little in-depth and some of the services; DF Lock Box- Keeps records and online information and the client gets to choose who has access.

Debt Zero- Allows you to use a calculator and counselor, for long term debt resolve and there are several options to choose from.

Bankruptcy- Judgements, Tax

for qualified applicants to receive down payment and/or closing costs assistance. Class participants were welcomed by FWCRC staff member, Krystal Hasselmeier, followed by a Managing Your Money session conducted by Evelyn Randle with Karn Kay Realty.

Other sessions included: Understanding Credit, Obtaining a Mortgage, Readiness and Shopping for a Home, and Protecting your Investment, followed by an open forum which allowed for a discussion and question period. XAO members provided breakfast for class participants and coupon holders with coupons to encourage money management and budget tips during and after the purchase of their new home. Additionally, two participants were selected to receive Walmart gifts cards donated by XAO to assist in decorating their new home. PHOTO CREDIT: Mr. Garry Johnson

Liens, Student Loans, Chargeoffs, late payment and medical payments. All the things will and can be a determining factor in qualifying for a home or just getting your house in order for short term purchasing or long term goals. An Attorney will develop all needed documents, on your behalf and provide you and your creditors with hard copies by mail.

SECURED CREDIT CARD SERVICES: NON CONTRACTUAL As you can see, that, to have these services at your fingertips would really be beneficial. The cost of the services are $87.00 a month and you can cancel anytime. You can also apply for the Secure Credit Card for an additional $87.00 month with $2.00 going towards a Youth Financial LiteracyFund! Set up for 8th graders and up. They are on track to fund $100k this year.

The benefits does not stop there. If you become a member it can be a great business opportunity for you. So this works two-fold, fix your own credit woes and help others fix theirs! If you choose to become a member and this would be a great fit you will have an, additional supplementary income, by recruiting others’then the program becomes free for you, after reaching certain requirements.

Hope has a beautiful personality, very easy to work with and I’m confident if these are the type of services you feel you need, she would be the perfect person to talk to. She’ an Island girl, Born on the island of Mauii to a Military Father and an educator Mother and holds a B.S. from Southwest Texas State University.

Ms. Hope Sampson is a upstanding member of the Acres Home Chamber of Economic and Business Development Inc., lets

Hope Sampson support all the business owners in our organization.

Written By: R. Bea. King

MEMBER TX- 5

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African

American News&Issues

Feature Story

TEXAS • APRIL 24 - 30, 2017

HISD Proposition 1 is Worse Than the One We Voted Down in November!

Vote AGAINST HISD Proposition 1!

Point 1: Make sure you get out and vote on May 6th.Proposition 1 is back on the ballot and the community needs to make sure they are aware of what it includes! Vote AGAINST HISD Proposition 1!

It has been said that Prop. 1 is not for the Black community while others have turned their backs from their previously agreed status to now kissing the “others” backside.

Point 2: We, as Black people, must call out our elected officials who sell us down the river. We just called out a member of the U.S Congress. Now African-American News&Issues will address the Black Trustees on the Houston ISD (HISD) Board.

This is the year that we will hold everyone accountable as leaders.

There’s a new election approaching very soon that will replace our vote in November where we defeated the November proposition because we would have had to send back over $1 BILLION dollars of our Harris County tax dollars to the Texas general fund for bureaucrats to spend anywhere but in HISD. That in turn would have caused HISD to have to cut 1.

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early childhood centers mentoring and tutoring programs mental health resources truancy prevention dropout reduction, college counseling and career technical education resources HISD would also have had to shut down schools and lay teachers off.

So now, African-American News&Issues is bringing the attention to those Black board members, and other elected officials who have failed to give us that valuable information on Prop. 1.

We are sick and tired of Black elected officials, who we elect to fight for us, rolling over when rich people threaten them. It was said that Texas Education Agency (TEA) threatened to take over HISD if they didn’t put Prop 1. back on the ballot...

SO WHAT! It was also said that they got cussed out by legislators... SO WHAT! HOU- 6

“

We the people elected the board members to do what we say not what other elected officials or appointed bureaucrats say!”

Then we hear that Rhonda SkillernJones whined about that at the board meeting explaining why the board needed to put this already-decided ballot measure back on the ballot. Now if this is true we are really saddened to hear this and she really needs to listen to us closely as the people and grow some courage.

The only thing that has changed since November is that 1.

We know what specific properties will be detached We know the tax rate

2.

In November, we all guessed that the detached properties would be in the Galleria, downtown and other exclusive business centers. We also knew that the businesses would have to pay the tax rate of the district where they were detached to. So now we know specifically that it’s Aldine ISD. So basic math: • •

HISD’s tax rate is 1.2067 Aldine ISD’s tax rate is 1.323388.

The difference between the two is .116688.

What this means is: for every million dollars a company pays $1,167 more.

Let’s take the Texaco building. Its taxable value is $250,000,000 ($250 million dollars). Texaco would have to pay an extra $291,720 this year if it were detached, so of course rich businesses don’t want to be detached. It’s not in their best financial interest. What big companies save in taxes doesn’t affect less fortunate people at all.

It’s not rocket science to understand why The Greater Houston Partnership and its affiliate businesses want HISD to pay Recapture payments and why they are running a campaign. I bet if you check campaign contributions to all the politicians who are for HISD to pay Recapture, they will have thousands of dollars of political contributions from The Greater Houston Partnership.

Even under the supposed revised 50% homestead break, the community will still have to pay more than they would have had to pay in November, where the measure was soundly defeated with over 60% of the vote.

Believe it or not, $2 million dollars or more would have to be paid under this new ballot measure, if it passes. It’s like a pay day loan. They want to make it appear that you will be paying less but they will eventually get you on the back end.

In the November election, we were going to have to pay $1.112 billion dollars. In this May election, we will have to pay $1.114 billion dollars. Also there is a lawsuit filed, filed after HISD got the supposed 50% homestead exemption, that says that the commissioner of the TEA didn’t have the authority to give us that break. As administrative law is currently written, he didn’t have the power to grant that exemption so we may end up paying the nondiscounted rate anyway. African-American

News&Issues will say it again, even if we pay the recapture payments instead of detachment our taxes are going to be RAISED. HISD will be forced to lay off teachers, shut down schools, cut valuable programming like early childhood centers, mentoring and tutoring programs, mental health resources, truancy prevention and dropout reduction, college counseling and career technical education resources.

And if history has taught us anything, when HISD doesn’t have enough money Black children are the ones who get screwed. It’s our schools that get closed and consolidated, our principals get replaced each year and we are the ones who don’t get qualified teachers. We are the ones who are going to get screwed, especially since we have two Black board members who vote with the White republican board members.

To continue reading visit us online @ www.aframnews.com Story By: Roy Douglas Malonson

What’s Happenin’

TEXAS • APRIL 24 - 30, 2017

APR

26 WEDNESDAY Mayor Turner

Art Scholarship Reception 901 Bagby Houston, TX 77002 4:30pm to 6pm For more info contact: (713) 520-9267

This should be your event!!!

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2017 Congressional Art Competition For more info contact: Congressman Al Green 3003 S Loop West, Ste. 460 Houston, TX 77054 (713) 383-9234

Malcolm X Essay Contest African-American News&Issues

will host its first annual “Malcolm X” Essay contest for grades K - 12. All interested parties should contact (713) 692-1892 to recieve requirements. The deadline for entry is April 28, 2017. Winners will be announced May 15, 2017. Brunch and reading of winmning essays will be held May 20, 2017 at the Acres Home Chamber for Business and Economic Development, Inc. located at 6130 Wheatley Street Houston, Texas 77091 at 11:30am. Winners will recievea prize.

Hurry & sign up today! www.aframnews.com

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28 FRIDAY State Representative

Jarvis Johnson Senior Spring Fling Fashion Extravaganz 6719 W. Montgomery Rd. Houston, TX 77091 10:30am to 12:45pm For more info contact: (713) 699-3043 SATURDAY Nigerian-American Multicultural Council 6th Annual Gala & Awards Night 6 E Greenway Plaza Houston, TX 77046 Beginning at 6pm For more info contact: (832) 768-9080 SATURDAY Lone Star Summit Foundation Star Gala Celestial 1601 Lake Robins Dr The Woodlands, TX 77380 6:00pm to midnight For more info contact: (832) 813-6592

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Houston 34th Annual Scholarship Luncheon The Doubletree by Hilton - Hobby Airport 8181 Airport Blvd Houston, TX 77061 11:30am to 1:30pm For more info contact: (415) 350-6990

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In 1875, the legendary “Hanging Judge” Isaac C. Parker was appointed a federal judge of the Indian Territory.

Parker appointed James Fagan as U.S. Marshal and instructed him to hire 200 deputy marshals.

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ass Reeves is a legend of the west, one of the first Black lawmen in the region and one of the first Black heroes of the era.

Refining his skills as an outdoorsman, Bass became an expert sharpshooter. Because he was ambidextrous, he was alleged to have incredible accuracy shoot with either hand. In addition to earning a living as a farmer, rancher and a horse breeder, he also served as a guide into the Indian Territory for Deputy U.S. Marshals for the Van Buren federal court searching for outlaws.

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TEXAS • APRIL 24 - 30, 2017

Knowing of Bass Reeves reputation with a pistol as well as his ability to speak several Indian languages and his ability to interact with them, as well as his knowledge of the territory, Fagan named Reeves a Deputy Marshal, the first Black to hold the title. Deputies in the territory were authorized to arrest only Black and White criminals who were not members of a tribe. Native Americans had their own laws and law enforcement procedures.

Although he arrested more than 3,000 felons, he was never harmed by gunfire (although his hat and gun belt were shot off).

He did clam, however, to having to shoot to death 14 criminals in self-defense. On one occasion he claimed to have brought in nineteen horse thieves he captured near Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

One famous outlaw, the notorious Belle Starr allegedly turned herself in at Fort Smith, Arkansas when she heard that Reeves had the warrant for her arrest.

He also captured Seminole outlaw Greenleaf, wanted for the murder of seven people and alluding capture for more than eighteen years Reeves died of Bright’s disease on January 12, 1910. For

his service he has received several tributes in recent years.

He was the first AfricanAmerican inducted into the Great Westerners Hall of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City in 1992 and was inducted into the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Hall of Fame on December 5, 2010.

On November 9, 2011, the U.S. Route 62 bridge crossing the Arkansas River between Muskogee and Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, was named the Bass Reeves Memorial Bridge by the Oklahoma State Legislature.

On May 26, 2012, a large, bronze statue designed by sculptor Harold Holden which depicted Reeves riding on a horse was dedicated in Fort Smith’s Pendergraft Park.

TEXAS • APRIL 24 - 30, 2017

Texas HBCU Corner

Read us online! www. aframnews. com

9

THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN SCIENCES HOSTS ITS ANNUAL AGRICULTURAL FIELD DAY (AG FIELD DAY) and innovative research in the College of Agricultural and Human Sciences. We welcome the community to raise awareness about our farm activities and attend informative workshops intended for local farmers and producers.

Areas of Interest: PRAIRIE VIEW – Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) 2016 AgField Day will be held April 28-29, 2017 on the main campus. Activities start on Friday, April 28th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ending on Saturday, April 29th.

Field Day and later combined activities with another major event and together became known as Agricultural Field Day. The program focuses on our flagship International Goat Research Center horticulture and other types of farming.

Agricultural Field Day is a major annual event that originated as Goat

The Agricultural Field Day is a family friendly celebration of the programs

TSU salutes retiring COPHS faculty trio

• • • •

Livestock and Forage Small Ruminant Horticulture Home and Commercial Vegetable Production

The Ag Field Day workshops will be held in the Carden-Waller Cooperative Extension building and the Governor Bill

and Vara Daniel Farm.

As the only 1890 Land Grant University in the state of Texas, Prairie View A&M University is dedicated to providing educational and employment opportunity for all, through innovative scientific research and community-minded extension programs.

For more information on the PV CAHS Ag Field Day visit: www. pvamu.edu/agfieldday USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

HUSTON-TILLOTSON HONORED FORMER NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS

Recently, Huston-Tillotson University honored several former Negro League baseball players.

The Rams baseball team hosted the Texas College Steers. After the game, former Negro League players Joe Lewis, Marion Shaw, Richard “Lefty” O’Neal, Everett Turner, Raymond “Red” Hardee, Allen Hicks and Clifton Fifer were honored.

(l-r) Dr. Jackie McVea, Dr. Jean Hampton, Dr. Shirlette Milton and Professor Dorothy Quiller.

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (COPHS) faculty celebrated and saluted the longstanding commitment of Drs. Jean Hampton, Jackie McVea, and Professor Dorothy Quiller for their years of service and dedication to COPHS and its students.

The triumvirate, affectionately known as the “Three Heartbeats,” were honored April 5 at a retirement luncheon hosted by friends and colleagues at a private venue. Dr. Shirlette Milton, interim COPHS dean, delivered a special presentation to each honoree, noting their individual and collective accomplishments.

Dr. Hampton was the first student to graduate from Texas Southern University with a doctoral degree in Environmental Toxicology. She went on to serve the University for over 37 years as program director and became chair of the Health Sciences Department. Dr. McVea and Professor Quiller served COPHS students in the clinical laboratory program for 40 and 45 years, respectively.

Estella Wells, daughter of the late Willie Wells, represented her family at the event. Willie Wells, a superb hitting and fielding shortstop from Austin, was a Negro League All-Star and played in Canada, Mexico and Cuba as well. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.

Admission to the game and the program afterward was free.

Jackie Robinson The Diamonds in the Outfield Scholarship Gala fundraiser was held at 6 p.m. on April 15 at the Hilton Austin, 500 E. Fourth St. The event included dinner, entertainment, a dance, hall of fame awards and a tribute to former Negro League players who were in attendance.

The gala also honored the legacy of Jackie Robinson, who broke major league baseball’s color barrier in 1947. In 1944-45, Robinson coached the men’s basketball team and taught physical education at Samuel Huston College, which merged with Tillotson College in 1952 to form what is now HustonTillotson University. Robinson also served on the Huston-Tillotson Board of Trustees.

TX-9

10

Read us online! w w w.a f r a m n e w s .c om

Texas Round-Up

COURT ORDER OBTAINED AGAINST SHOPPINGCENTER WHERE KUSH ISSOLD ALIEF - Recently, Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan won a restraining order from a Harris County civil district court against the owners of an Alief shopping center and their tenant to close the store and stop the sale of synthetic marijuana.Judge Randy Wilson, of the 157th Civil District Court of Harris County, ordered the owners of the Smoke & Tote Shop located at 12127 Bissonnet to cease operations, finding the store participated in criminal activity. He also ordered the Lock Lim Management Trust, the owner of the shopping center, to take measures to close the store immediately. Investigations by the Houston Police Department between October 2016 and February 2017 resulted in arrests for possessing and selling synthetic cannabinoids at the Smoke Shop and the seizure of over 280 grams of Kush. Weapons, including a sawed off shotgun and a revolver, have been recovered from the store. Over the course of the last five months, neighboring business owners complained to police about drug-related activity at the shop, including individuals clearly suffering the effects of Kush wandering the parking lot and scaring employees and customers. Synthetic marijuana, or Kush, is a designer drug typically manufactured overseas and is marketed as a safe and legal alternative to marijuana. Synthetic marijuana is not marijuana at all but a dried leafy substance that is sprayed with powerful, added-in hallucinogenic chemicals that are dangerous and highly addictive to the user. All it takes is one time for the person to experience a significant health crisis. It is often sold in colorful packets with flavors such as strawberry and blueberry to appeal to children, and is the second-most abused drug by high school students, after marijuana itself. It is also illegal in Texas. The next hearing in this case is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on April 28 in the 61st Civil District Court of Harris County, 201 Caroline, 9th Floor.

HOUSTON - In honor of Law Day, a national holiday recognizing the rule of law in American society, the Houston Bar Association has extended the hours of its free legal advice program, LegalLine. The extended LegalLine program will be held on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, from noon until 9:00 p.m. The public is invited to call the Houston Bar Association at 713-7591133, where volunteer attorneys will answer simple legal questions, give brief legal advice, or refer the caller to the appropriate social service or legal aid agency for further assistance.

The second LegalLine program of the month will be held at its usual time, on Wednesday, May 17, from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

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MITIGATE DISASTER

Travis and Hays County Collaborate on Flood Planning Efforts TRAVIS COUNTY - Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with Hays County that will deliver flood risk mitigation strategies and solutions, while collaborating on effective and efficient projects that help protect residents. In addition to this ILA, the Travis County Commissioners Court has approved three flood mitigation projects that will better assist in controlling flooding, including $500,000 for the design of the Arroyo Doble/Twin Creeks Drainage Retrofit, $2.6 M for the Thoroughbred Farms Drainage Retrofit and $2.5 M for a 14 home buyout on the creek side of Citation Avenue in Thoroughbred Farms. Travis County and Emergency Services District #11 will host a community forum in south-east Travis County on May 17, 2017 at 6:00 PM to discuss work that has been completed since the 2015 floods.

Judge Eckhardt and representatives from the Office of Emergency Services, Fire Marshal, STAR Flight and Transportation and Natural Resources will discussb County preparedness, response and mitigation plans with the community.

Additional information on the forum will be made available prior to the event.

STUDENT QUALIFIES FOR DUKE GIFTED PROGRAM

SPREADING FREE SMILES HOUSTON - Dr. Alison Scott Cuillier with Lasting Impressions Dental Group located at 4418 Almeda, Houston, TX 77004 will host its 6th annual event, Dentistry From The Heart through Awesome Angels Inc. supporting Harris County residents and surrounding areas. They will provide free care on a ‘first come - first served’ basis for adults 18 years old and over to the first 100 people on Friday, April 28th, 2017. Each of the 100 attendees will have a choice of a filling, cleaning or extraction. Patients are asked to arrive early. The event will begin at 8:00 a.m. and patients will be seen through 4 p.m. that day. Patients are also encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather, to bring chairs, blankets, water, snacks, etc. as they may be outside waiting to be seen. For more information visit www.lastingimpressionsdentalgroup.com or call us at (713) 528-0040.

HELPING

TEXAS • APRIL 24 - 30, 2017

FORT BEND - NOELLA UKPEROBERTS, a 7th grade student at Baines Middle School, invited to join the Duke University Talent Identification Program’s prestigious 7th Grade Talent Search in November, has gained admission into Duke’s 2017

Academy Summer Studies Program.

She will be taking a college-level equivalent course in finance that will explore marketing, innovation and the effects that the stock market, taxes, mortgages and interest-bearing accounts have on our daily financial decisions.

“Qualifying for Duke’s Summer Studies is such an amazing opportunity. I’m hoping to gain skills in finance that will prepare me to own and operate my own animation studio one day,” said Noella.

Each year, Duke TIP identifies a group of academically talented

students in the United States based on their exceptional grade-level standardized test scores. Only those who score at or above the 95th percentile qualify to participate in the 7th Grade Talent Search and to take the ACT or SAT, which are designed for college-bound eleventh and twelfth graders. Of those, only the top scoring participants are granted admission to Duke’s Summer Studies Program.

Participants in the 7th Grade Talent Search also receive a variety of support services and gain access to research and other information about using their academic abilities more effectively.

TEXAS - The Texas economy expanded in March with the addition of 9,500 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs. Texas' seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 5.0 percent in March, up slightly from 4.9 percent in February.

EISENHOWER BOYS, GIRLS TAKE TOP HONORS AT 16-6A TRACK AND FIELD MEET

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TX - 10

The Eisenhower High School boys’ and girls’ track teams took home first-place honors in their respective divisions at the District 16-6A Track and Field Meet, held April 10-12 at George Stadium in Spring ISD. The MacArthur High boys’ team finished in second place in their division, while the Davis High Lady Falcons finished in third place in their division. The Lady Eagles, under the direction of head coach Ahmad Roper, amassed 176 points to easily secure their first-place finish. Spring High finished second with 139 points and Davis High

finished third with 133 points.

The Eagles, under the direction of head coach Jonathan James, totaled 157 points. The Generals, under the direction of head coach Rod Baxter totaled 129 points. The Davis Falcons finished in third place with 80 points. A number of Aldine ISD track and field athletes qualified for the Area Meet, which will be held April 19-20 at Klein Stadium.

Health

TEXAS • APRIL 24 - 30, 2017

CRYBABY

Smith, she answered a variety of questions that were in regards to mental illness, and questions that revolve around the play.

(C.D.) Why do you believe that mental illness is the key to sound living?

HOUSTON - According to American Psychiatric Association, “Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in thinking, emotion, or behavior (or a combinations of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities.” There are many people across the world who suffer from mental illnesses, and some may not even know it. Of the many conversations that occur all over the nation, mental illness is not a subject that is generally discussed, and it should be. To help with this, one upcoming production is making sure that the community is more aware about the topic of mental illness.

CryBaby, an original play will tackle mental health issues on stage.

According to American Psychiatric Association, in one year: “nearly one in five adults experience dome form of mental illness, one in 24 has a serious mental illness, and one in 12 has a substance use disorder.” This play will look at the everyday impact of mental illness on an individual, a family, and a community. The goal of the play is to educate the community, and spark a conversation in order to help those who are unaware, and those who may be in need. The writer of this play, Joyce Smith, who holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling, has seen the effects of mental health through her work in education, advocacy, and in her own personal life. The play will be held at Encore Theater at 4112 Old Spanish Trail in Houston, Tx 77021 on May 6th at 2pm and 5pm.

For more information about the play, you can visit their website at www. crybabytheplay.com.

In a recent interview with Joyce

(J.S.) “I think that a lot of times we have so many different things that are distracting us from being completely well and completely whole. We are living our day to day lives trying to make sure we are paying bills and take care of family, and seeing things that are occurring on the news, and even our personal issues…I think we become so automated to get things done that when we actually take a moment to breathe we don’t realize that we aren’t mentally well. We could be operating a whole lot more effectively if we actually took time to just get self check ups and make sure we are balancing life and enjoying life and not in the day-to-day routine of things. People automatically assume that mental illness is only just being diagnosed with something major like bipolar or schizophrenia… but there are also issues of depressions and feelings of anxiety that can keep you from working to your fullest potential. Being able to monitor and adjust those things can help you live a life that’s more satisfactory.”

(C.D.) How can people try and filter out everything we take in and balance our lives?

(J.S.)“I think the biggest thing is to realize that there is always tomorrow. As long as you’re breathing, there is always tomorrow. Everything doesn’t have to get done today, and everything doesn’t have to be done perfectly. I think we have to acknowledge our limitations and take time to smell the roses.”

(C.D.)The initial idea for the play came after reading multiple articles where mentally ill mothers had killed their children. How did that affect you emotionally to write this play?

(J.S.)“I was just disturbed because

I wondered if they had gotten help, and what type of support did they have, and could it have been avoidable? My initial objective was to spark a dialogue. The play is called CryBaby because a lot of time, especially women, they are seen as hormonal, or being extra or being stressed, and you’re just being whiny like a big crybaby. I wanted to bring awareness to this…it’s not something that individuals can handle by themselves. It’s a collective thing, and it takes family, and having support. I just wondered what kind of support system did these women really have, or did they suffer in silence. The tagline to the play is silent noise, because a lot of times we are making noise, but it’s something that no one else is noticing and stopping to actually hear.”

(C.D.)How can people recognize when someone has a mental illness? What should they pay attention to?

(J.S.) “I think what they shouldn’t do is look for major things. I think sometimes Hollywood has glamourized mental illnesses that we don’t look for some of the subtle things. It could be sleeplessness or sleeping a lot. It could be being irritable, or being snapping…or someone who used to be timely and are now increasingly late. Those are initial things that some people need to say are you okay? Just noticing the subtlety of individual changes…then it’s time to sit back and reflect and see what’s going on. I think if people begin to notice the little things, if it is a serious mental disorder, then they can be able to notice as those signs began to worsen.”

(C.D.)How do you approach someone who may be in denial about having a mental illness?

(J.S.) “You can approach them with research with what they’ve been experiencing…and show them what you’ve found. You don’t want to diagnose anyone…but hopefully they will be open to it.

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HOU -12

That’s up to

• H-E-B Kettle Cooked Chips

7 - 8.5 oz. assorted varieties

Llévatelo GET

¡gratis!

free! with in-store coupon

Big Red, 2 L assorted varieties

(Big Red Brand Only)

1.67

$

free!

Llévatelo

¡gratis!