had a poignant message during the Win with Black Women call on Sunday, November 10, 2024.
As she and Sen.-Elect Lisa Blunt Rochester prepare to become only the 4th and 5th Black female senators to serve in the U.S. Senate she expressed the importance of us investing in collective power, collective strategy, and collective action.
I urge you to go to www.winwithBlackwomen.org and check out what’s going on and learn about this wonderful movement.
Praising the work of the many who worked to register, educate, and encourage citizens to vote, Sen. Alsobrooks’ words reminded us that we are undefeated and victorious.
Sen. Blunt Rochester talked about history, and self-help; which is critical because the pain is real!
To say their messages were inspiring would be an understatement. And to have them joined on the call by Sen. Laphonza Butler, well, it was definitely a Black History Moment.
They gave me hope - we are going to be alright!
Joining the calls on Sunday evenings has become a ritual for me.
This week’s call was FIRE!
Founder Jotaka Eaddy was phenomenal as were the women who followed, like NCNW’s Shavon Arline Bradley, Donna Brazile, Star Jones, Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, and Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.
A passionate Ms. Brazile gave marching orders as she said, “Our work is not done.”
She encouraged the more than 10,000 on the call to help rebuild the Democratic Party.
Now, I have expressed my disappointment with the Democratic Party because I have viewed it as weak, lacking in heart, and just straight-up anti-Black men, especially.
Too often they cry ”poormouth” but turn around and use their resources to fund houses and lavish lifestyles for unqualified consultants who blow smoke up their butts with outdated strategies and campaigns.
Meet Wiley Jackson –General Manager at Mesquite KIA
By Gwendolyn H. Daniels Correspondent
Although Wiley Eugene Jackson, Jr. was born in Dallas, he was raised by his grandfather and grandmother in Whitehouse, Texas, a small city just 10 miles north of Tyler. In addition to his grandparents, Wiley grew up in a household that included two aunts, two uncles, and a cousin.
When asked about his childhood in Whitehouse, Wiley fondly recalls “Home life was great and a loving environment with all holidays being the best, especially at Christmastime.”
Wiley has a combined 21 years of experience in auto sales. He had a goal of climbing the sales ladder at Lithia Motors, Inc., and three years ago Wiley reached his goal being named General Manager at Lithia’s Southwest KIA of Mesquite. He credits putting in long hours, maintaining strict discipline to daily work ethics, and his strong will to succeed as the reason he now holds the title of GM with Lithia.
Recently, his dealership was renamed Mesquite KIA. Wiley is currently overseeing a complete
renovation of the grounds at 1919 Oates Drive in Mesquite. It includes a massive expansion of the showroom and all sales quarters. This major project is scheduled to be completed in October, 2025. In the midst of renovating Mes-
quite KIA, Wiley manages a staff of primarily young auto sales associates (not including his auto repair and finance departments).
Karen Renee Holland is his mastermind in finance and his right arm at the dealership.
Wiley highly praised his staff, saying “Even though they are young, they are very innovative, paying attention to detail like me.
“I don’t ask them to do anything I wouldn’t do myself, as I lead by example.”
Wiley shared that “Success comes to us here at Mesquite KIA through hard work and a clear vision to execute daily. None of us at Mesquite KIA is bigger than the program, so we strive to be our best each and every day.”
As communities across the nation prepare to observe World AIDS Day, it’s a sobering reminder that it has been 43 years since the first AIDS diagnosis in the United States.
In the decades since, significant strides have been made in understanding HIV and AIDS, yet the face of the disease and those most affected continues to evolve.
Initially, AIDS was labeled a “gay men’s disease” due to early cases being primarily among gay men, even referred to as “GRID” (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency) before the broader understanding of HIV/AIDS.
Today, however, African American women represent the highest number of new cases among people diagnosed with the virus.
“African American women often carry an immense burden, putting on a strong front and pushing through life’s challenges, sometimes ignoring symptoms like sniffles, headaches, or stomach cramps,” explained Kelly Allen Gray, Executive Director of the AIDS Outreach Center (AOC) in Fort Worth, Texas. “We tend to keep moving, sometimes to the detriment of our health.”
Wiley Jackson-General Manager, Mesquite Kia
Sen. Laphonza Butler, Sen.-Elect Angela Alsobrook, and Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester on the #winwithBlackwomen call, Sunday, November 10, 2024.
Kelly Allen Gray, Executive Director of AIDS Outreach Center in Fort Worth, Texas, admits that the face of AIDs is changing as more African American Women are being impacted by the disease.
By Sylvia Powers Senior Correspondent
By Cheryl Smith
NOVEMBER
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
arlington/comic/lil+rel/
DECEMBER
Dressember
Green Aglow in Fundraising Flow
Greater Denton County Links provide a day of entertainment
By Eva D. Coleman Lifestyle & Culture Editor
It was green aglow with a fundraising flow as The Links; Incorporated Greater Denton County Chapter entertained guests during An Emerald Affair on Nov. 10, 2024, at the Rayleigh Underground in Las Colinas, TX. Led by President Vivian Johnson, this ultimate day party was packed with welldressed attendees, raffle items and prizes, live entertainment, food, and fun.
Upon arrival, attendees were treated to a reception in the upstairs portion of the venue. Later, guests moved to the lower level for the program activities. Emceed by powerhouse vocalist Angela Blair-Jeffries, the event featured performances by Audacity band, an all-female group of singers and musicians.
DJ Cliff Jackson provided sounds that got attendees up and moving on the dance floor. Games and prizes were a feature as well, including the popular Heads or Tails. An Emerald Affair also transitioned to a football watch party where the Dallas Cowboys took on the Philadelphia Eagles. It was a day packed with a variety of entertainment, all to raise funds to help the Greater Denton County Links continue to provide programs that impact the community.
There was a packed house for the Dallas screening of "The Day Before Christmas" at the Angelika Film Center. The Day Before Christmas is about single parents who accidentally swap phones and their children's backpacks on a hectic Christmas Eve, then find themselves covering for each other. Perri Camper Rivers, a 1999 graduate of Lincoln Humanities and Communications Magnet and a Radio/ TV/Film graduate of UNT, is the executive producer of this entertaining, heartwarming, funny, and sure to tug at your heartstrings.
Medicare plans change every year, so can your health. Visit Medicare.gov to see all your options side by side and compare coverage, costs, and quality ratings.
New in 2025, all Medicare plans will include a $2,000 cap on what you pay out of pocket for covered prescription drugs.
The cap only applies to drugs that are covered by your plan, so it’s more important than ever to review your plan options to make sure your drugs are covered.
Get help with drug costs.
If you are struggling with your prescription drug costs, Extra Help is a Medicare program that can help pay for your drug coverage (Part D) premiums, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs. If you make less than $23,000 a year, it’s worth it to apply. Visit ssa.gov/extrahelp to complete an application.
There Must be 50 Ways!
By Vincent L. Hall
“The problem is all inside your head,” she said to me, “The answer is easy if you take it logically I’d like to help you in your struggle to be free There must be fifty ways to leave your lover.” Paul Simon, 1976
There must be 50 ways to explain why all that love for Kamala Harris dissipated. This column needs to be longer to get to the 50 reasons, but I got a few.
My headline is not original. “Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover” was a 1976 Billboard topping hit by Paul Simon. Folklorists and Baby Boomers that made it popular swear that the song is rooted in the divorce from Simon’s first wife, Peggy Harper.
A divorce of sorts can partly explain the loss the Democrats suffered on Tuesday. In 2020, Biden beat Trump with 81 million plus voters; Kamala lost to Trump after registering a mere 69 million votes. Trump lost one million votes, while the Democrats lost 12 million.
That’s a divorce. What hap-
The
pened? Well, I have a few theories, and mine are probably about as valuable as the knucklehead opinion pimps you tune into on cable news networks.
Some of us are pissed that CNN and “Jake Snapper” led a calculated campaign to remove Joe Biden from the process. It was an orchestrated and coordinated coup. History will reflect that Biden is a great statesman and a sincere politician. Hooray for Kamala, but Joe didn’t deserve that.
There’s plenty of blame going to a number of voter groups. Let’s begin with Latino males who, by way of exit polls, appear to be the first plaintiff group. They voted 65% Democrat in 2020, but just 53% last week. Democrats also lost White women and younger voters in terms of gross votes.
What we don’t fully know is which group in the Latino consortium defected and left the family. Latinos are as divergent in subgroups as Black people are in skin tone. Was it the East Coast Latino men or Southern? Were they Mexican, Cuban, or Puerto Rican?
Then there is the Evangelical Church. I don’t use the term Evangelical Christians because, frankly, their God ain’t my God.
But let’s start with Donnie Swaggart and his assault on the “Black Church.” This term he used without pointing out the historical truth that the Black church was invented by the White church. White Chris-
Illusion
Political yard signs can symbolize intentions and allegiance. But this year, they’ve also symbolized betrayal.During this general election, Black women were led to believe that more White women would stand with us. Exit polls, however, told a different story.
Despite overwhelming displays of support, more White women still chose to vote for the convicted felon, reality TV star, and rapist. White women answered the call but left us hanging at the polls.
A Familiar Disappointment
I live in DeKalb County, Georgia, and the abundance of Harris-Walz yard signs could’ve fooled me. But I’ve seen this before, back when Stacey Abrams ran for governor.
White women showed up, put up signs, attended rallies, knocked on doors, and phone-banked.
Yet, when it came time to vote, they let us down—not once but twice. I’ve been here for over 15 years, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that political signs are symbols without weight.
tians did not allow Blacks in their church. And by the way, that’s also how we got Black colleges, Black music, and any other American institution that starts with Black.
What I don’t understand about Swaggart is how he is allowed to call out the Black church with Black folks sitting in his congregation. When the American media exposed his daddy’s fondness for prostitutes, the Black people in his congregation stood by him. But I guess Donnie doesn’t feel like he owes any allegiance to those same people.
And finally, to the dark truth... White folks are scared as hell! No pun intended. Not all of them, just the ones who enjoy the trappings of White privilege. Trump bragged about the “weave,” which he uses as a means of obscuring a natural cognitive decline that he suffers from. Like every other 80-year-old he suffers from CRS. (Can’t Remember Sh!t!)
But when you “weave” the dark dystopian rhetoric he blended with a side order of hatred, fear, and grievance, you understand why Red State and rural voters get caught up. They actually believe that the “meth heads” they live with are less threatening than the “crackheads” living in the “urban jungle!”
Listen to the code. They are invading us. They are conquering small communities. They are spending your tax dollars on them.
are killing our citizens. They are rioting and taking over cities. They ruined Detroit. They are taking your jobs! But after the whimsical weave, he has one solitary answer. I can fix it.
I can make America Great Again. I can defend you, and I will protect the women whether they want me to or not! White women in Blue State America were clutching their pearls, while White women in Red
were
of Allyship. White Women, Your Yard Signs Mean Nothing to Me
In every election, I’ve talked with White women. Most aren’t the primary earners in their families and vote along party lines, aligning with the preferences of their fathers and husbands. These conversations reveal a reluctance to break from tradition, even when their votes affect women and certainly when their votes impact the lives of people who look like me.
The Illusion of Solidarity Symbols Are Not Enough On social media, I’m seeing White women posting pictures of blue bracelets to “prove” they didn’t vote for Trump. “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye.
These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.
I’ve seen Black Lives Matter signs and black squares posted on Instagram to “prove” support for Black people, but we now know that was a lie, too. Will those same people who claimed Black lives mattered now take down their Harris-Walz signs and show their true selves?
Navigating these truths is a daily
struggle for me—professionally and socially. White women often misuse their privilege, supporting us only when it’s convenient. Seeing overqualified Black women sabotaged or abandoned by White women at critical moments is a constant emotional challenge. It’s exhausting to live with this reality, especially when solidarity seems like something they pick up and discard at will.
One clever campaign ad from Harris-Walz that spoke directly to White women. “Your Vote, Your Choice” emphasized that their vote was pri-
to the Editor
vate—independent of their household situation. Another was from Olivia Howell Dreizen, the “Vote Without Fear” campaign, which empowered women to consider the greater impact of their choices. But it seems many still couldn’t choose the roadmap to freedom—even when it was handed to them.
A Call for Action
Beyond Words
White women, I want to believe you care, but actions speak louder than yard signs, bracelets, or Insta-
gram posts.
Show up in our communities, advocate in your workplaces, and stand up to dismantle the structures that uphold white supremacy. Only through real action will we know where you stand. If you choose not to act, we see you—and we know exactly where you stand. Good luck these next four years.
Roger, Troy, Emmitt, Charles, Michael, Drew or any Cowboy legend. Somebody needs to lock Micah Parsons in a room, dare him to move and teach him what it means to be a leader. What he said after the game about McCarthy goes beyond explanation. I’ve never seen such a level of public disrespect for any professional or even collegiate coach.
Mike McCarthy was doomed headed into this season by the actions and inactions of Cowboy brass and the departure of veteran talent, some to Washington. Ok, maybe he’s not Reid, Tomlin, Jimmy, Landry or Shula. But he’s got something Micah may never have: class and a championship ring. Parsons went several games before injury with feeble stat lines and disappeared in games last year. Now he’s fragged the organization for the season. Jerry, step up! Love Parsons enough to sit him down a game for conduct unbecoming to the team!! Now is the occasion for a timely SHUT UP AND PLAY!
Phone:214-941-0110
Website: www.garlandjournal.com
Editor: editor@myimessenger.com
They
States
fastened to his every word and sentiment for dear life. There must be 50 ways to leave your lover, but what we did to Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton before her was illogical and detestable. The only constant and saving grace in the entire analysis is that Black women stayed the course.
Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, award-winning columnist and a lifelong Drapetomaniac!
By Dawn Montgomery
Our Voices
‘Race,’
‘equity’ removed from UNT course titles to comply with Texas DEI ban, faculty say
By Marcela Rodrigues
The Dallas Morning News
At least 78 changes were made to UNT courses in attempts to comply with the state’s DEI ban, according to internal communications reviewed by The Dallas Morning News.
Faculty members fear the law — which bans diversity, equity and inclusion offices and programs from public colleges and universities — is leading to censorship of classes despite the exemptions for course instruction and research.
The course changes at the University of North Texas’ college of education included removing words such as “race,” “gender,” “class” and “equity” from titles and descriptions. Bill Camp, faculty member in the college of education, emailed colleagues on Oct. 28 alerting them of the changes made to graduate courses.
“If a change is being made to your course, there were problems related to SB 17 and the new charge in the new legislative session,” Camp wrote, referring to the legislation that created the DEI ban and to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s charge for lawmakers to review course syllabi for DEI content.
However, UNT spokeswoman Devynn Case said the changes are not related to the DEI ban.
“The College of Education is currently conducting its state-mandated curriculum alignment review to ensure its curriculum is in line with teacher education standards as required by the state,” Case wrote in a statement to The News. “In response to the review, we are updating course names, content, readings, etc. to align with the state’s standards for the training of teachers.”
She added that, “This review is not related to SB17.”
Camp did not respond to a request for comment. He serves on the college curriculum committee, which reviews and approves such
changes, Case said.
“In the college of education, two faculty members from each department serve on the committee and part of their charge is to report out and keep their department faculty colleagues informed,” Case explained.
On Monday, state senators debated how DEI is woven into course content across various disciplines during a higher education subcommittee hearing in Austin.
“While DEI-related curriculum and course content does not explicitly violate the letter of the law, it indeed contradicts its spirit,” Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, who authored the DEI ban, said at the hearing.
In a statement, the Texas conference of the American Association of University Professors urged UNT’s administration to “end the censorship and restore its institutional commitment to academic freedom and shared governance.”
Academic freedom is “the freedom from censorship by the institution in a faculty member’s teaching, research, and expression,” the statement read. “Censoring content on course syllabi violates UNT’s policies and professional standards on academic freedom.”
Camp emailed colleagues on Oct. 28 about the changes. Some were not surprised because since the spring, they heard school administrators say the law could potentially impact classes, said Katherine Cumings Mansfield, a professor of educational leadership.
Faculty were told to make sure their syllabi complied with the new law, which left some confused because the law doesn’t apply to course instruction, Cumings Mansfield said.
Her course “race, gender and class in education” was changed to “critical inquiry in education,” which she says doesn’t make sense to the course she teaches.
That class is mostly made up of
seasoned teachers training to be principals and school administrators who learn about the research on race, gender and class, such as why are Black boys overrepresented in special education classes, Cumings Mansfield said.
Changing the course’s focus would be “heartbreaking and very sad,” because the course helps the next generation of school leaders to be ready to “open up possibilities for students, regardless of their race, regardless of their class, regardless of whatever gender they are,” she said.
Understanding how such demographics impact education is personal to Cumings Mansfield. She is a first-generation college graduate who grew up in poverty and was told by a high school counselor that she wasn’t “college material,” she said. She eventually found supportive teachers and became an educator herself.
Other faculty worry that such changes will go beyond the college of education and impact courses across UNT and the state.
During Monday’s hearing, Creighton said he received multiple reports about college courses that have DEI content and questioned whether professors’ political leanings impact what’s taught.
The Senate higher education subcommittee’s goal is to examine programs and certificates that “perpetuate any discriminatory efforts within diversity, equity and inclusion,” he said.
Tracy Everbach, a journalism professor at UNT, said she hasn’t heard a word from university leadership, and faculty are wondering whether changes are coming to their courses soon.
“Everyone seems to be in a state of confusion,” she said. “We haven’t been given any guidelines.”
She teaches “race, gender and the media,” which explores how such topics are covered in news media, television, advertisement and entertainment.
“It has been taught at UNT for more than 20 years,” Everbach said. She has been teaching it since 2009.
“It’s a really important class. When I talk to journalists, they wish they had a class like that,” she said.
The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.
SENATOR NATHAN JOHNSON’S FIRST-DAY LEGISLATION: HOUSING, HEALTH AND EDUCATION
AUSTIN, Texas – On the first day of early filing, State Senator Nathan Johnson filed bills to address major needs in a growing state. Johnson refers to all of them as “infrastructure”: physical (housing), social (health and public education), and governmental (political responsiveness).
“Texas is growing and changing rapidly, in ways both predictable and unpredictable. New growth requires new investment, and change requires new strategies and evolving priorities. The bills I filed today propose new investment in fundamental systems and shift priorities towards those that will allow us to meet the demands and avail of the opportunities of that growth and change.”
Johnson filed the following bills, among others:
SB 234: Workforce Housing. It is estimated that Texas is short approximately 300,000 housing units to meet the demand of a growing workforce. Scarcity of housing for essential workers is driving prices up at all levels of affordability. This bill would incentivize private sector construction of hundreds of thousands of workforce housing units through low-interest mezzanine financing, similar to that employed in the Texas Energy Fund.
SB 232: Live Well Texas. Offered again this year, Johnson’s Live Well Texas plan drew a temporary majority of the House in the 87th Session. The plan would
expand Medicaid under the ACA, bringing first-time health insurance to around a million Texans, financed by a $90-$10 federal-state match. As an 1115 waiver form of ACA expansion, it proposes a Texas-specific plan, addressing the on-the-ground reality of qualifying enrollees and Texas healthcare providers.
SB 236: Non-Medical Drivers of Health. This bill recognizes the parallel health benefits and cost reductions realized when Medicaid managed-care programs can invest in the non-medical circumstances that drive good and bad health outcomes. The bill permits the reimbursement of MCOs for providing certain qualified transportation, nutrition, and housing services.
SB 233: School Finance – Increase and Stabilize. State financial support for public schools has fallen since 2019 in direct relation to inflation. Johnson’s SB 233 would narrow the funding gap and stabilize future financing of public schools, by increasing the basic student allotment from $6,160 to $7,750 per student, setting a funding floor for subsequent years indexed to a 5-year average inflation rate, and basing funding on enrollment rather than attendance.
SB 235: Community Schools. Schools must meet the changing demands of communities and students. This bill supports that by allowing public schools with campus turnaround plans to operate as (statutorily defined) “community
schools”—a model that connects educators, families, and communities to address each school’s unique needs.
SJR 14: Statewide Initiative and Referendum. When political inertia renders it impossible for legislatures to act in step with overwhelming public opinion on a matter of public importance, a well-crafted initiative and referendum mechanism may be invoked to overcome it. This bill creates a process for Texans to propose state-wide ballot measures through a petition. Johnson says he intentionally made the mechanism to be relatively difficult to deploy, because initiatives and referenda should be used only in truly special cases. In those cases, the people should have a voice.
“Baby,” Big Mama used to say, “Once upon a time when we were colored, we had our own.”
She believed in leaning on faith but never ignoring our responsibility to act. Those words ring in my ears today as I reflect on the anxiety, frustration, and determination of my community in the wake of America’s latest election.
On several national, regional and local Zoom calls, emotions ran high. Words like mad, betrayed, frustrated, angry, and shocked filled the chats.
Someone said it felt like “the rug was pulled out from under my feet,” and another remarked, “God hasn’t cast one vote, yet we blame Him for man’s decisions.” Another said, we asked one candidate to be flawless and let another be lawless. unfair!
Big Mama would’ve nodded knowingly and said, “What you not gon’ do is let crazy rule you. Let God!”
The election results were a bitter pill. Vice President Kamala Harris
led with grace, intelligence, and resilience, yet the nation chose a path that left many feeling undone. Still, hope flickered. Some turned to scripture, prayer, and quiet reflection. Others leaned into action, echoing Brenda Raine’s call: “It’s time to do something!”
Big Mama often reminded us of the power in our hands. She’d say, “Baby, we spend a lot of money with other people. Turn that into our own jobs and wealth generation.”
Those words feel especially urgent now. If privilege and misinformation shaped this outcome, our response must be unity, strategy, and grit.
The call to action is clear: mobilize, educate, and invest in our communities. As participants said, “We need to learn from this and become engaged in what we’re going to do as a result of the outcome.”
This moment clearly states that our current situation isn’t our final destination. We have to hover and prepare.
Big Mama always found ways to make us laugh even in tough times. “You can’t say amen,” she’d says, “just say trust God!”
But her wisdom didn’t stop there. She believed in coping through faith and community. “Don’t stop watching the news,” she’d say, “just know how to avoid being the news.”
The road ahead is steep, but history reminds us we’ve overcome before, and we will again. In the words of a caller, “We shall overcome. Faith has always brought us through.”
So, let’s get to work, y’all. If she heard VP Harris’ closing speech, Big Mama would say, “The fight ain’t over—it’s just getting good!” What do you know about being colored and acting up?
Email me, let’s talk.
By Terry Allen Big Mama Said
Course changes at the University of North Texas’ college of education included removing words such as “race,” “gender,” “class” and “equity” from titles and descriptions.
Then to top things off, they diss their most loyal
base! They treat us like execs did
Soul Train Founder Don Cornelius back in the day, dismissing him by saying they didn’t need to advertise to Black viewers because we were going to buy Cadillacs anyway. No need to spend their money on Black voters, because we vote Democratic, is the sentiment. Then, I saw how they treated
President Joe Biden. They act like punks when it comes to dealing with Trump but they went after Biden like thugs! Then some have the unmitigated gall to blame Vice President Kamala Harris for an election they were losing before she got in the race — expecting her to do in three months what they hadn’t done in more than three years! Give me a break!
Black women and Black men
did their jobs on November 5th and the numbers show that for the most part, people of color also did; so we won’t fall into another den of lies and disinformation and turn on our allies. No one is going to stop me from whatever process I go through.
Forewarned is forearmed, though.
I don’t know how long it will take, but PTSD is real and
I know that as I walk around with the front of my shirt reading #victorious and the back, #undefeated, I encourage those who are clueless to proceed with caution. I have work to do and I am going to channel the spirits of my ancestors and those dynamic women with #winwithblackwomen and continue my mantra of being gracious in victory or defeat.
Still, be careful!
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Meet the Mesquite KIA Sales Staff
Braeshaun (Brae) Dunn
Brae is a native of Dallas and a graduate of Lakeview High School in Garland. One of his best friends since high school encouraged him to start selling vehicles after he went through a layoff in corporate America. Brae now has five years in auto sales. He began working at Mesquite KIA last April. His success in auto sales gives him empathy that “people are people. They may have had financial challenges, but they are still people needing my help to get them into an automobile.” Brae feels confident selling KIAs. He’s impressed with how KIA “rebranded itself” and he says KIA’s 100,000 mile warranty on its motor is “an amazing seller.” Brae considers Saturdays as “the Superbowl of sale days.”
Contact Brae at: 318-990-3335 or on Facebook at: MrDunnDeal.
Jonathan was born in Garland. He is a graduate of North Forney High School and has been an auto salesman for two anda half years. Jonathan’s been at Mesquite KIA the entire time. While waiting tables at a restaurant, he said his customer, Mr. Antonio Ayala saw something in me and asked me to come andtry my hand at selling automobiles where he works as a Manager at Mesquite KIA.” Jonathan shared that he “has always naturally enjoyed talking with people.” He said, before I started selling KIAs they weren’t that appealing to me, but once I began selling KIAs, the product itself made a huge believer out of me!” Jonathan explained, “the KIA technology, the warranty, and the smooth, quiet driving experience won me over.” He stated that “first-time buyers are the type of customers he ‘s learned a lot about.” Jonathan shared “It’s important to meet their needs on set budgets that they have.”
You can reach Jonathan at: 469-886-6320.
Emiliano (Emi) Martinez
Emi is a native of Dallas and a graduate of Skyline High School. As an auto sales associate for one year and eight-months, his entire time has been at Mesquite KIA. Before selling autos, Emi worked with his dad as a painter. Seeking something less labor intensive, Emi was grateful that he knew Mr. Wiley Jackson who offered Emi the opportunity to be a salesman. Emi’s philosophy is approaching my job with the daily motivation of being the best I can be to get the job done.” Emi feels that KIA’s “price to quality is one of the best in the industry and that KIA’s manufacturer warranty is a hit.” Emi says he is “brutally honest with customers that he interacts with day in and day out.” His mentor taught him to “focus heavily on his customer andto look out for their interests.”
Emi can be reached at: 214-986-8402.
LaShay Antonette Blair a native of Dallas. She has been an auto salesperson for three years, but she’s really been employed by Southwest KIA of Mesquite for a total of seven years. The first four years, !9.Sbgyvvas in Internet sales before joining the floor sales team. Her interest in auto sales was primarily due to the pay! She’s been very successful because she describes herself as “a people’s person.” Possessing that trait has been a big asset for her. was quick to point out that her job of selling KIAs “is much easier due to overall KIA features, designs and KIA’s 100,000 mile warranty, plus the price point.” To remain a success in auto sales, shared that “it’s important to be driven, to be intentional and confident in her abilities to close sells.”
Customers can reach .!4.Sbgyby phone at: 469-655-0456 or by email at: Lashayblair@lithia.com.
Marco Vinicio Hernandez
Marco was born in Dallas. He is a graduate of Skyline High School. For the last two years he’s sold autos, but Marco has only been with Mesquite KIA for six months. He first began in auto sales after a friend referred him for a job at a Toyota dealership. Marco says “l stayed with with it because I really like the work!” He says helping people is important to me - I ‘m patient in guiding my customers through the process.” Marco was quick to explain, “KIA is a very good and reliable vehicle which makes it easy for me to sell.” Plus, Marco said, “KIAs are not as expensive as some other autos.” He shared that “anyone wishing to become auto salesperson must believe in themselves and establish good work ethics.”
Customers interested in shopping for a vehicle with Marco can reach him at: 214534-8830.
A native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Levi relocated to Texas and graduated from Juan Seguin High School in Arlington. He’s been selling autos for three and a half years and has worked at Mesquite KIA two years & two months. Levi explained he began selling autos Zduring the really bad ice storm when there was no electricity in DFW.”
He’s learned one valuable lesson bout selling autos and that is I)on let the slow times get you down.” He said what works for him is “to put in extra hours and speak with any and every customer that I can.” Levi shared that “the transition KIA has made in the last five years has made my job much easier!”
He is impressed with the advertising dollars KIA puts into marketing their vehicles and he said “the new model designs have been awesome!” Levi feels it’s important that he continues raising his level of knowledge about KIA autos.
To reach Levi, dial: 817-876-7711.
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Willie James Porter, II
A native of Akron, Ohio Willie’s family transitioned to Texas while he was a minor. He is a graduate of North Mesquite High School. He’s been on the Mesquite KIA sales team the entire two years of his career selling autos. Willie’s family has a long history of buying vehicles from Mr. Jackson, the GM, and he gave Willie a chance at KIA. Willie prides himself on “providing great customer service.” He’s found by doing so, it’s provided “repeat customers and helped to spread a positive word of mouth for me,” Willie said. He’s glad for “the rebranding of KIA and its new technology has yielded a great customer base.” Willie has found that fthere are new things to learn about the industry every day.” He ‘s learned a lot from who he calls ‘the veterans.” Contact Willie at: 469-410-9378 or Email him at: Willieporter@lithia.com.
A native of Santa Maria, CA, Jerry has sold automobiles for 20 years. He became interested in selling vehicles because he needed a job and he said “the rest is history.”
Jerry has been a salesman at Southwest KIA of Mesquite (now Mesquite KIA) for 15 and a half years. When asked what his philosophy was that has made him so successful all this time, Jerry answered “l love God with all my heart.” A great mentor of Jerry’s taught him that the five keys to success in selling autos are: “Everybody is a buyer; stay off the subject of price; continue learning; follow up; stay in one place.” Jerry shared that staying in one place has helped him with repeat customers. Jerry’s learned over time to “stick to the basics; be attentive to my customers; and meet their needs.” Call 214-537-9618 to reach Jerry.
LaShay Antonette Blair
Jonathan Tristan Payne
Levi Slape
Jerry Jayne Tonubbee
“THE GARLAND MINUTES” by The City Of Garland.
City Celebrates its Fifth Build Garland Day
Saturday, Nov. 16, was Build Garland Day No. 5 for the City of Garland, a chance to celebrate milestones related to projects in our 2019 bond program.
Thursday, Dec. 5 5 to 10 p.m.
The City of Garland strives to bring families together by spreading the joy of the holiday season.
Mayor Scott LeMay and Assistant City Manager Crystal Owens presided over the four-stop event. The morning started with a groundbreaking for Surf & Swim, 342 W. Oates Road, with remarks from District 4 Council Member B.J. Williams. The remake of Surf & Swim is the second largest project in the Parks and Rerecreation portion of the 2019 bond program and is adjacent to the upgrades at Audubon Park Recreation Center that were celebrated in the very first Build Garland Day.
City o cials, project partners and others then cut the ribbon on the Street Department Facility, 530 Tower St. District 2 Council Member Kris Beard and Streets Director Tony Irvin noted the features of the $6.5 million project.
Then it was over to Naaman School Road to put more shovels in the dirt. The project, a partnership with Dallas County, will add lanes to Naaman School Road and lift it out of the floodplain. District 8 Council Member Chris Ott talked about walkways and trail
Dallas County Commissioner Theresa Daniel noted the importance of the infrastructure project as an answer to the widespread growth the neighborhood and the northern part of the county have experienced. While the project is years in the making already with design, right-of-way acquisition and utility work, all cautioned the work from just west of Spring Creek to State Highway 78 will require patience over the next 2 1/2 to 3 years.
VisitGarlandTX.com/ Christmason-the-Square
This is one of many opportunities to give input during our 20-month-long planning process. Learn more. on the Squar e A Garland
Are there any other communication channels you would like to see the City of Garland use?
We have plenty of important updates to share about City services, available resources, public safety, Council decisions, upcoming events and more. Make sure you don't miss out! Take the City's 2024 Communications Survey to provide feedback on the best ways to serve our residents, business owners, visitors and more.
Once you have completed the survey, fill out and submit this form for a chance to win a $100 gift card. One winner will be announced by Dec. 13.
Finally, the first of three new fire stations from the 2019 bond was celebrated with a traditional hose uncoupling ceremony (pictured). Fire Station 6, 6450 N. Bush Turnpike, replaces a 44-year-old station and delivers many amenities of safety and connectivity to the firefighters and community. District 1 Council Member Je Bass said Build Garland Day had truly saved its best for last. Fire Chief Mark Lee drew the bright signage seen by thousands who travel the turnpike daily into his remarks. "May the big red 6 that shines out front be a beacon to safe harbor," Chief Lee said.
What are your big ideas for the future of Garland? What issues or concerns do you have that may impact growth and development in Garland over the next 10 to 15 years?
Take our second comprehensive plan survey at GarlandForward.com to help prioritize needs and provide feedback on possible areas for improvement. The survey will close Friday, Nov. 22.
AOC addresses AIDS Stigma
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Gray’s organization has been a cornerstone of support in North Texas since 1986, providing a range of services from healthcare and mental health support to education and advocacy, as it seeks to address the unique challenges faced by those living with HIV/ AIDS.
While the perception of HIV/ AIDS has evolved over the years, Gray points out that stigma persists.
“There was a time when people wouldn’t even want to use the restroom after someone with AIDS. People feared they could contract the virus, which we now know is
male, female, single, married, or widowed. Everyone should know their status.”
The AOC’s mission is clear: to provide hope and improve the lives of those affected by HIV/ AIDS through direct services, prevention, and community outreach.
The organization envisions a future free from new infections, stigma, and discrimination, where individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS can live empowered, fulfilling lives.
To achieve this, AOC works to meet both the health and social needs of its clients while also addressing prevention through widespread education and outreach.
and other nonprofits to make resources more accessible to at-risk groups.
In honor of World AIDS Day on December 1st, AOC is hosting its first Red Ribbon Benefit Concert—a new initiative to honor those lost to the disease and support those living with HIV.
“This is our first year hosting a concert for World AIDS Day,” said Gray. “Since December 1st falls on a Sunday, we’ll host the event the following weekend. The Red Ribbon Benefit Concert will not only support our mission to provide services to at-risk individuals but also serve as a tribute to those
