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IMESSENGER VOL XIV NO 31

APRIL 18, 2025

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Established 2011 CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS The Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonisms when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.

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METRO SPOTLIGHT

CONGRATS PAUL QUINN COLLEGE Paul Quinn officially joins the HBCU Athletic Conference, becoming the 15th member of this powerhouse league.

Joining the conference levels up game for Paul Quinn by: • Creating more visibility for student-athletes • Opening doors for national competition & exposure • Elevating the full student experience

INSIDE

BLAIR IS STRONG PUBLIC SAFETY.

me is down, but our work is . We can count on Lorie Blair e working to keep us safer.”

TABLE TRACEY GULLEY

VOTE EARLY April 22nd-29th ELECTION DAY Saturday May 3rd

OUR VOICES

AMID CALLS TO REFORM BAIL...

I WAS JUST THINKING...

I have been a dedicated community advocate for one of the most diverse districts in Dallas—District 8. This district spans from the city’s most rural areas, home to farmland and over 500 horses... p10

In the heat of an argument last spring, Khyla Mason raised a handgun into the air on a neighbor’s porch. She was acting in self-defense, she said, and never fired, but the confrontation was captured.... p22

What determines how a person makes an impact on the world and the people around them? The life of Edna Pemberton is a case study in seeking an answer to that baffling question. p26

U and for YOU

April is National Minority Health Month BlackPR.com Black PR Wire) Each April, National Minority Health Month provides an opportunity to reflect on our country’s collective progress toward health equity. This year’s theme, “Advancing Commitments to Eliminate Health Disparities,” reminds us that achieving equal health outcomes requires sustained attention and collaboration across communities.

Dr. Rudy Moise, a highly regarded and well-known community leader, physician, attorney and busi-

ness executive, shares the importance of prioritizing one’s health above all else.

“Scheduling and keeping your doctors’ visits, maintaining a healthy eating lifestyle, getting ample rest, and exercising regularly are but a few of the essential tools needed for a healthy and happy body,” says Dr. Moise. “Your health is your wealth, so stay connected with your physicians and together, let’s make it happen.” While healthcare access has improved in many ways, differences in health outcomes persist for racial and ethnic minority groups

including Black, Latino, and Indigenous American communities. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that African Americans are 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease than non-Hispanic Whites, while Hispanic adults are 70 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and Indigenous Americans have the lowest life expectancy at birth. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH), these disparities emerge from complex fac-

tors including access to care and cultural divides.

Addressing these disparities requires thoughtful and long-term solutions that engage healthcare systems, community organizations and policymakers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health seeks to close this gap by sharing resources and strategies to support health equity. Their work highlights how culturally informed care, community partnerships, and preventive health measures can make a meaningful difference.

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MY TRUTH by Cheryl Smith Publisher

HELP FIND OUR MISSING It has been about the length of time it takes to bring a new life into the world. Myrtle Polk went missing on June 8, 2024.

During the past nine and a half months, I have heard about so many missing women, men, and children.

Sadly if you are not of a certain demographic, you don’t get as much attention or media coverage as what is the preferred demographic.

And in the case of Mrs. Polk, the search didn’t last long at all. Didn’t even make it a month, when others are being searched for decades later!

If you read the Metro News, that arrives in your inbox daily, you have seen a picture of Mrs. Polk.

Eighty-eight-year-old Polk was last seen on that June day, in the 1100 block of Indian Creek Trail, in Dallas.

My birthday wish that month was for her to be found and safely returned home to loved ones. Of note, it was a decade earlier, to the day, that my mother transitioned. I didn’t want it to be the last day Polk’s loved ones enjoyed her company.

Mrs. Polk is African American, 5’2”, 120 pounds, brown eyes, with short, white hair.

I loved looking at her pictures because she had such a beautiful smile.

It is refreshing to see that people

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are still concerned.

Recently, Dr. Stacia Henderson Alexander posted about our missing senior.

Texas State Senator Royce West also weighed in on FaceBook, “Just because we haven’t found her doesn’t mean we won’t. Say her name. MRS. MYRTLE POLK! Remember her face. Don’t stop looking.”

Regardless of what others are doing or not doing; it is imperative that we DO as if the missing person were our loved one, because one day, sadly, it may be yours.

Thanks to Black and Missing Inc., we are hearing more about the miss-

ing from our communities.

This is our problem, issue, fight.

We can be the solution.

Everyone does not have Alzheimer’s, like Mrs. Polk. There’s a serious human trafficking problem in this country. And yes, we do have runaways.

Whatever the case, let’s make it our business to provide support.

Find out what you can do. Get involved. Bring our people home!

If you have any information about Mrs. Polk’s whereabouts, please reach out. Contact the Dallas Police Department at 214-671-3001 or Black & Missing at 877-97-BAMFI.

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APRIL 17

Community Calender MetroNews 1 COMMUNITY CALENDAR T E X A S

WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM

• Vol-12 • August 29 - September 4, 2024

Live Conference on Friday April 25 and Sunday April 27 at 2126 E. Overton Road, Dallas

15-17

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Divine 9, join the Black Wall Street Rally 2025. Happening May 15 - 17th in the historic Greenwood District, located in Downtown Tulsa, OK. Make a difference by impacting the community through service and volunteer efforts that will soon be announced. Ain't no party like a D9 Party!www.blackwallstreetrally.com

ncnwgreatertrinity.com/scholarship

MAY 2

19 The Elite News EGG Stravaganza.

Twelth annual event, 1pm-5pm at William Blair Jr. Park. *** LOVE THY HEIGHBORS Pre-Easter Eggstravaganza Celebration at Mount Sinai Baptist Church, 6819 Lake une Road in Dallas - 10 am- 3:00pm

Iota Phi Lambda Sorority - Psi Chapter will celebrate their 51th Annual Business Month Education & Scholarship Awards Luncheon, 11:00 a.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Dallas Campbell Centre. 8250 North Central Expressway, Dallas, Texas Take your grooming to the next level with the AT Ease Hair & Skin Care Mens Hair & Skin Care Seminar.

Join us Saturday April 26, 2025 from 10-2p for a Free 🆓🆓🆓 🆓🆓🆓🆓🆓. Refreshments and Gift Bags will be provided. Click the link and sign up https://www.

*** Black Sports Professionals North Texas is hosting the 2025 BSPNTX Summit on the campus of the University of North Texas at Frisco (12995 Preston Road, Frisco, TX 75033). The chapter’s second sports-centric conference is 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

25&27

The City of Duncanville presents the BloomFest Music & Arts Festival, a vibrant celebration of art, music, and culture, from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm at Armstrong Park.

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African American Museum at Fair Park

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Texas Women’s Foundation Leadership Forum & Awards Celebration, at the Omni Dallas Hotel (555 S. Lamar St., Dallas, TX 75202).

“Rooted In Rhythm” Country Music Showcase, 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM, Tupps Brewery, 402 E Louisiana St Building 2, McKinney, TX 75069. Featuring performances by: - Stephanie Urbina Jones and The Honky Toni Mariachi Pynk Beard - Elsie - Kentucky Gentleman - Valerie Ponzio - DJ Rick Dominguez (Line dance instructor and DJ *** COME JOIN US FOR AN ELEGANT NIGHT OF ART & JAZZ! LIVE MUSIC, ART, CULTURE, AND TONS OF NETWORKING! YOU DON’T WON’T TO MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY!!! LET’S COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE BLACK CULTURE WHILE WE GET A CHANCE TO MINGLE WITH THE BEST DFW HAS TO OFFER!!! FORMAL ATTIRE REQUIRED!! FOR MORE QUESTIONS CONTACT ANTOINE WHITE at 314-630-4465!!!!

DELIVERING NEWS YOU CAN USE

24 51st Annual Recital @ Majestic Theatre - 3:30pm

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Metroplex, is once again bringing an adventurous one-day festival concert event, “Jazz on the Trinity” back to the Panther Island Pavilion, the hub for music lovers and fun, in Fort Worth on Saturday, May 31, 2025.

Elusive Ladies 47th Deltaversary

JUNE 7

29 Ensemble Auditions 2025 @ DBDT studios If your student is interested in performing on a regular basis representing Dallas Black Dance Academy, come audition for one of the academy ensembles!

Thursday, May 29, 2025, 6-8:30pm DBDA 2025-2026 Ensemble Auditions Summer Enrichment 2025 @ DBDT studios (Ages 9-16 years old) Experience intensive training during the summer with DBDT professional company members.

June 2-13, 2025 (Monday – Friday 8:30am-3:00pm) Dallas Black Dance Academy Summer Enrichment 2025

31 Poetic Visions Live, the fresh new concert promoter shaking up the

Les Miserables at 1:30pm Music Hall at Fair Park Dallas, TX

***

Summer Workshop 2025 @ DBDT studios (Ages 2-Adult) Continue your weekly training for 4 weeks in the summer!

June 7-June 28, 2025 (4 Saturdays) Dallas Black Dance Academy Summer Workshop 2025 Summer Intensive 2025 @ DBDT studios (Ages 13-Adult Preprofessional and Professional levels) Experience intensive training with Master teachers in the field of dance.

June 16-June 27, 2025 (Monday – Friday) Dallas Black Dance Theatre Summer Intensive 2025

***

Ascension Ensemble Concert Latino Cultural Center Tickets are $25

10 eventbrite.com/.../mens-hair-skincare...

9th Annual Survivors’ Luncheon 11:30 am at the Hilton Garden Inn. Come join the celebration of Sur-

Kendrick Lamar and SZA will bring their joint “Grand National Tour” to North Texas, at AT&T Stadium.

27 The Greater Trinity Section of NCNW’s Women of Impact Luncheon; proceeds goes towards the Dr. Levatta Levels Scholarship. Donations are accepted. Scholarship applications are available now!! https://www.

vivors and those who advocate for them. Keynote Speaker is Lady Sharon Wynn-Walker from California. She will share snapshots of her amazing journey to wholeness as a Survivor of domestic abuse.

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Dallas needs strong, visionary leadership

R IS STRONG C SAFETY.

wn, but our work is count on Lorie Blair g to keep us safer.”

OUR VOICES

RACEY GULLEY

OTE EARLY l 22nd-29th CTION DAY Saturday May 3rd

for YOU

BY LORIE BLAIR

I have been a dedicated community advocate for one of the most diverse districts in Dallas—District 8.

This district spans from the city’s most rural areas, home to farmland and over 500 horses, to a thriving economic hub centered around UNT Dallas and the reimagined Shops at Redbird.

It also houses the city’s largest active landfill, McCommas Bluff, Dallas’ water treatment plant, and the International Inland Port. Yet, despite these major developments, District 8 has some of the most available land ready for growth and transformation and now is the time for this growth and transformation.

For the past six years, I have proudly served as District 8’s City Planning Commissioner and as vice chair of the Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee— stepping down only to run for City Council. From day one, I stood out as a leader, making independent, informed decisions to support the district’s land use priorities and mentoring new commissioners along the way. There were dockets that district 8 held the most cases on the docket

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and everyone was given the same attention and thought as the next.

Before my civic service, I built a 35-year career with AT&T, starting as a service representative and retiring as an Area Manager in IT Project Management.

I learned early on the importance of integrity and exceptional service and later mastered the art of executing projects on time, within budget, and with precision.

tor and even managing the paper’s layout when needed.

After leaving Elite News, I became a certified mediator, volunteering in civil courts until the pandemic shut them down. Even today, I use my mediation skills to navigate zoning and land-use conflicts.

When the pandemic hit, the city’s needs didn’t pause—if anything, District 8 became busier. As a quasi-judicial body, the

My experience, leadership, and deep commitment to District 8 have prepared me to continue advocating for smart, sustainable development that benefits our residents.

Beyond my corporate experience, I honed my communication skills as a writer and editor for Elite News, a local weekly newspaper where I frequently wrote cover stories.

This role introduced me to Dallas politics, allowing me to interview elected officials and develop a deep understanding of the city’s governance.

As part of this family-run publication, I wore multiple hats, including serving as Chief Financial Opera-

City Planning Commission continued meeting virtually to address critical issues.

One of my proudest moments as commissioner was leading the fight to prevent a warehouse from being built next to Friendship-West Baptist Church.

Instead, a mixed-use development is now in the works.

Additionally, I played a key role in securing unanimous approval from the Planning Commission for the Floral Farms Area

Plan—an effort to correct environmental injustices caused by incompatible zoning around Shingle Mountain. This plan finally moved forward to City Council after years of work.

Understanding District 8’s unique land-use needs, I have worked tirelessly with the other commissioners to shape Forward Dallas 2.0, ensuring it reflects the district’s future.

This framework recognizes that: Kleberg-Rylie remains rural, preserving its character.

The Inland Port remains the hub for warehouses and logistics.

The area around UNT Dallas and the DART rail line are the district’s strongest economic development corridor, driving new opportunities for growth.

My experience, leadership, and deep commitment to District 8 have prepared me to continue advocating for smart, sustainable development that benefits our residents.

Together, we can build a future that honors our community’s unique strengths while embracing new opportunities. I am willing and already to continue the work I have been doing for the last six years to be the next City Councilmember for District 8.

Lorie Blair is a candidate for Dallas City council District 8.

Alpha Rho Deb-Beautillion 2025 The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Incorporated, Alpha Rho Chapter will host its annual Deb-Beautillion at 6:00 P.M. on April 27, 2025, at the Doubletree by

Hilton located at 3300 West Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. The event’s theme, ‘An Evening of Enchanted Elegance, ‘will provide a backdrop for celebrating the achievements

Derrell Bivins II Derrell Bivins II, son of Derrell Bivins I (Kishion) and Dr. Chiniqua Varner-Busby (Nicholas), currently attends Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy.

This fall, he will be attending Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.

Debutant Condoleezza Briones Condoleezza Briones, daughter of Cher and Greg Briones, currently attends Townview School of Health Professions, where she is ranked third in her class. After graduation, she plans to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy to pursue a degree in Physical Therapy.

Debutant Niya McCray Niya McCray, daughter of Kwan McCray and Carmen Moss, attends Sunset High School. She will be attending Prairie View A&M University to study biology.

and outstanding community service of six senior high school students from the Metroplex. This year, they will honor one young man and five young ladies.

Debutant Leila Booker Leila Booker, daughter of Shironda Booker, is currently a senior at South Oak Cliff High School and a dual-credit student at Dallas College. After graduation, she plans to attend Howard University to major in nursing.

Debutant Josslyn J’nai Freeman Josslyn J’nai Freeman, daughter of Dwight and Rosalyn Freeman, currently attends Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy. She will be attending Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in the fall to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Physics.

Debutant McKinleigh Grace Carpenter-Smith McKinleigh Grace Carpenter-Smith, daughter of Danyelle N. Carpenter and Charles Smith Jr., is a student at Skyline High School, where she will graduate with High Honors. After graduation, she plans to attend Clark Atlanta University to pursue her undergraduate degree.

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Michelle Obama: ‘I’m Not Divorcing Barack — I’m Choosing Me’

By Stacy M. Brown BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent Former First Lady Michelle Obama is setting the record straight about her marriage, brushing off rumors of a split from former President Barack Obama and calling out the sexist assumptions that fueled them.

In part two of her appearance on the “Work in Progress” podcast hosted by Sophia Bush, Michelle Obama addressed the online speculation that ramped up earlier this year when Barack Obama appeared alone at several high-profile events, including the funeral for former President Jimmy Carter and the inauguration of Donald Trump.

Critics quickly jumped to conclusions — but Michelle Obama made it clear that her choices had nothing to do with marital discord. “This year people couldn’t even

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fathom that I was making a choice for myself,” Obama said. “They had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing. This couldn’t be a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself, right?”

She added, “That’s what society does to us. We start actually finally going, What am I doing? Who am I doing this for?’ And if it doesn’t fit into the stereotype of what people think we should do, then it gets labeled as something negative and horrible.”

The bestselling author and former First Lady, who spent eight years in the White House without scandal — unless one counts Barack Obama’s infamous tan suit — said her efforts to make room for her voice and decisions have often been misinterpreted. “I feel like it’s time for me to make some big girl decisions about my life and own it fully,” she said. “Because if

not now, when? What am I waiting for? Look, the summers are—we’re in the summer countdown at 61, right?

It’s not so tragic if something happens to you and you’re 80.

So now is the time for me to start asking myself these hard questions of who do I truly want to be every day?”

Michelle also spoke about the discomfort women often feel when asserting themselves.

“When I say ‘no,’ for the most part, people are like, ‘I get it,’ and I’m OK,” she said.

“That’s the thing that we, as women, I think we struggle with — disappointing people.”

Despite the rumor mill, the Obamas have continued to share affectionate public messages. On Valentine’s Day, Barack posted a photo with Michelle, writing, “Thirty-two years together, and you still take my breath away.”

Michelle echoed the senti-

ment in her post: “If there’s one person I can always count on, it’s you, @BarackObama.

You’re my rock. Always have been. Always will be.”

The couple met in 1988 at a Chicago law firm. Michelle, a 25-year-old Harvard Law graduate, was assigned to mentor Barack, then a summer associate finishing law school. They married in 1992 and have two daughters, Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23.

Many on social media, especially in Black communities, were quick to ridicule the divorce rumors, pointing out that the Obamas — whose biggest scandal was wearing a tan suit — are still treated with more suspicion than Donald Trump, a twice-impeached and 34-time convicted felon who routinely is ensconced in scandals.

“This couldn’t be a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself, right?”

Michelle Obama said.

“LORIE BLAIR IS STRONG ON PUBLIC SAFETY. Violent crime is down, but our work is never done. We can count on Lorie Blair to continue working to keep us safer.”

CONSTABLE TRACEY GULLEY

ELECT For Dallas City Council District 8

VOTE EARLY April 22nd-29th ELECTION DAY Saturday May 3rd

Always Working with YOU and for YOU

Women’s History Month at the African American Museum, Dallas May 3, 2025

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Quit Playin: A Future Delight!

QUIT PLAYIN’

BY VINCENT L. HALL

We are just enthralled watching this teenaged virtuoso at my church. As a kid, no one, not even his family could have imagined that he would be such a musical wonderment. Derrick Howell Jr., is a student at Booker T. Washington School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Thinking of him made me recall the humble beginnings of Quincy Jones.

On this particular night, all that 11-year-old Quincy wanted was lemon meringue pie.

The urge was so strong and so prevalent that he and his band of comrades broke into a recreation center in their Seattle-area neighborhood.

They pigged out on the pie and some ice cream. They reportedly reserved the leftovers for a food fight and then destiny found delight! Quin-

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cy Delight Jones Jr. stumbled upon his destiny when he wandered into an office and spotted a piano in the corner.

I almost closed the door and left,” he says. “But something, thank God, told me, ‘Go back in that room, fool.’ And I did. I touched that piano and knew then that every part of my soul would be in music forever.”

And that was the night when Black Music was met with Delight. Quincy Delight Jones Jr. is the standard bearer and official barometer for Black Music.

That one moment, when Delight met destiny altered the text and texture of Quincy Jones’ life. It became obvious that pilfering and thievery was not his life’s calling. But even greater, Quincy fell head over heels in love with music, which would serve as a lifelong paramour and mistress.

A mistress so passionate that it would outlast four wives who bore a total of seven beautiful children.

But look at what his love for music made of him. Quincy

Jones has credits that establish himself and his name as a composer, artist, conductor, arranger, producer and record company executive.

Legendary names like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson whom he collaborated with to produce “Thriller”, the best-selling album in history.

And don’t forget Ray Charles, a boyhood friend who is also known among the all-time greats in America’s music requiem.

But Quincy Delight could not limit himself to music alone; he also fared well in television and filmography.

If you are living and were Black in 1978 you were probably proud and mystified when Quincy produced the phenomenal blockbusting film, The Wiz. Not only was the music nominated and in receipt of several awards, but it did something else.

The Wiz is among Jones’ most significant works because he used the Wizard of

Oz as a template to tell the story anew, afresh and attuned to the sensory perceptions of African American culture.

The Wiz was Black, but it wasn’t racial.

As a result this film became an iconic remake of the original icon that the Wizard of Oz was known to be. Jones proved in film what he proved in music; that people of all races are connectable as long as all cultures are represented. Jones’ list of accolades, achievements and awards includes near 80 Grammys and hundreds of smaller awards.

It does not yet appear what youthful Derrick Howell Jr. will do with his musical mastery, but his success reminds us that we should never fail to encourage and invest in our children.

Derrick Jr. is a delight!

Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, award winning columnist and a lifelong Drapetomaniac!

Saying The Same Things Over Again Until The American People Believe Them OUR VOICES

BY JAMES B. EWERS JR. ED.D.

The iconic African American poet, James Baldwin once said, “I don’t believe what you say because I see what you do.” Overtime, this expression has probably resonated with many of us.

In your job, your supervisor says to you great job and we want to keep you in our company. However, all the while, you never get a raise.

A college recruiter tells a prospective student that they have excellent grades, test scores and letters of recommendation.

However, they never receive a scholarship offer from the college.

Your drama teacher tells you how well you are reading your lines and acting out your role in the play.

However, you never get the opportunity to have a lead role.

The essence of these scenarios is a lot of talking and not much doing. It is simply word salad without the dressing.

We must choose who we are around and the

messages we are hearing. Immediately after the November election, the incoming president declared that America would be on a better path because of him.

He said that he would create jobs for the American people. The president made bold statements about how prosperity would rule the day.

Well that’s not the case.

Since he has been in the president’s chair, thousands of people have lost their jobs. They have either been fired or coerced into taking a buyout which has rendered them unemployed.

During his campaign, he issued a strong immigration stance which was to deport those not having their papers in order. On the face of it, that sounded reasonable.

Well, what he said and what he did were two different things. He is expelling any and everyone for what are bogus and questionable charges.

Because of it, families are being torn apart. Children are missing their mothers and fathers because they are being taken illegally and placed in holding cells.

This level of inhumanity and insensitivity is simply unimaginable. Respect and

the rule of law have now disappeared from the current administration’s handbook. We are in a moral and social justice crisis.

The new group in DC believes in education, however it is selective education.

Research monies have now been stripped from the budgets of colleges and universities across the nation.

Make America Great Again has been the catchy phrase for this president.

Everywhere you go, you see it emblazoned on hats, ties and T-shirts.

Crowds are cheering as this message is placed on screens and videos. Hold on, wait a minute a lyric made popular by Bruno Mars rings true here.

Don’t be fooled and have the wool pulled over your eyes by this expression.

America is a great country, and it has nothing to do with what this new administration is saying.

Interestingly, the same folks who are mouthing these words are the same folks who have lost their jobs because of him. These are the same folks who can’t buy enough groceries because the prices are too high.

Let’s not stop there.

These are the same voters who won’t be able to send their children to college because of the dismantling of the Department of Education. You can’t buy a car because of high tariffs for the parts and the costs are being passed on to the consumers.

Democrats, Republicans and Independents who believe America is in trouble must now join forces to stop the slide.

Senator Cory Booker, Democrat from New Jersey gave an impassioned speech recently imploring his colleagues to help stop America’s meltdown.

Reports say it was the longest recorded speech in US Senate history. He said, “These are not normal times in our nation. The threats to the American people and American democracy are grave and urgent, and we all must do more to stand against them.”

Do you think it’s time to stand up? The answer is yes.

Dr. James B. Ewers, Jr. is a longtime educator who hails from Winston Salem, N.C. Ewers is a life member of the NAACP and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! April 2025

JAMESHA AND MARCEL DOUGLAS 6 YEARS

JEFFREY AND KIMBERLY DAVIS 3 YEARS

JOHN AND CRYSTAL ARNETT 31 YEARS

JOSHUA AND AYO OLAMIPOSI 3 YEARS

DEE AND JIM SNOW 7 YEARS

RENEE & DWIGHT PERKINS 46 YEARS

RICK AND VENUS THUES 40 YEARS

JAMIE AND TERRENCE MAIDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

JD AND KIM DOUGLAS 19 YEARS

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Pink Tariff? Black Women Hit Hardest

by Trump’s Trade Moves

By Stacy M. Brown BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent As the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs take effect, Mica Whitfield, Co-President and CEO of 9to5, National Association of Working Women, warns that the policies are another economic blow to already vulnerable communities—especially Black women. “These tariffs are just a tax on working people, especially working women,” Whitfield said on BlackPressUSA.com’s Let It Be Known News show.

“They’re making decisions at the gas pump about groceries while rent is already sky-high.

One in three single mothers is already living in poverty— tariffs push them closer to the edge.”

Whitfield, who leads 9to5’s mission for economic justice for working women and non-binary people of color, says these new economic burdens should be viewed through a gendered lens.

She compares them to the long-standing “pink tax”—the added cost women pay for everyday items like razors and personal care products—only much worse.

“We can think of it as the pink tariff,” she said. “Women already pay more with smaller financial margins. These tariffs just stack on top of that.”

In practical terms, the price hikes caused by tariffs reach deep into women’s lives, especially for those working in care industries or running small businesses. From higher prices on diapers and cleaning supplies for childcare providers to increased costs for raw materials for Blackowned hair care brands, Whitfield said the domino effect is widespread.

“Black women are the fast-

est growing group of entrepreneurs, but they’re already struggling with access to capital,” she said. “Now they’re forced to find new sources for packaging or ingredients just to stay afloat. This could close doors for so many of them.” She said the same goes for caregivers. “We work with Black and Brown women who provide childcare in their homes or run small centers.

Tariffs raise prices for the essentials they need—wipes, toys, and cleaning supplies— which are already expensive.

This is the kind of pressure that can bring the whole house down,” Whitfield asserted.

As Americans suffer from the fallout, states like California, under Governor Gavin Newsom, have floated the idea of independent trade negotiations. However, Whitfield, who is based in Georgia, noted that such state-level innovation isn’t possible everywhere. “Red states have been slow to respond to the administration,” she said. “Our folks in Georgia and Wisconsin are doing the resistance work

on the ground, but it’s tough.

We’re watching states like California try to hold the line while others leave working people to carry the burden.”

Whitfield says part of her organization’s work is to make economic issues like tariffs more accessible. “Tariffs sound abstract, but they’re not. They’re a working people’s issue,” she said. “We’ve estimated they’ll cost the average family about $3,800 a year—around $300 a month.

That’s a real hit.” She also worries about the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to programs like Head Start, which she said would devastate communities of color.

“These programs are already deeply underfunded.

Millions of children who qualify don’t get access,” she said.

“Gutting Head Start means more kids without early education and more parents, mostly mothers—unable to work. It’s a domino effect that sets back another generation of Black and Brown children.”

Founded in Boston over 50 years ago, 9to5 inspired the classic film Nine to Five, star-

ring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin. Today, the organization operates chapters in Colorado, Wisconsin, and Georgia, organizing working women and non-binary people around issues like childcare, paid leave, workplace harassment, and economic justice.

Whitfield and her Co-President, Ashley Panelli, are the first Black women to lead the organization. “Our roots are in worker justice, but our focus now is specifically on those doing low-wage, carebased jobs—mostly Black and Brown women,” she said.

Though federal wins have grown more elusive, 9to5 continues to build power locally, pushing for change through city commissions, public service boards, and school boards.

“In Southwest Georgia, people were paying power bills as high as their rent,” Whitfield said. “So, we started organizing around public service commissioner races and utility boards—things people didn’t realize directly impact their lives.”

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Let’s hear it for these

HALL OF FAME EDUCATORS! 10 educators were inducted into the African American Education Archives

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and History Program Hall of Fame, along with two Presidential Awardees at a sold-

out event at the Renaissance Hotel in Dallas.

SCENES FROM AAEAHP HALL OF FAME Saluting the Class of 2025

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Amid Calls to Reform Bail, Judges in St. Louis Embrace Ankle Monitors

After Khyla Mason was arrested and charged with unlawful use of a weapon, she was released with an ankle monitor.

By Taylor Tiamoyo Harris

Special from New York Times

In the heat of an argument last spring, Khyla Mason raised a handgun into the air on a neighbor’s porch. She was acting in self-defense, she said, and never fired, but the confrontation was captured on video, and some children were nearby. Ms. Mason wound up in a St. Louis jail charged with unlawful use of a weapon.

Just a few years ago, someone facing the same charge in St. Louis was likely to pay a small bond and resume life as usual until trial, local attorneys said. But Ms. Mason, who was then 21, was released from jail with a box the size of a deck of cards strapped to her right ankle. It tracked her every move.

For weeks, the device alerted officials each time she missed her court-imposed curfew or left her house without approval. Sometimes, she was buying food or dia-

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pers for her 2-year-old son, or taking him to the hospital, she said. After more than two dozen violations, she was sent back to jail.

She remained there for a month.

More and more defendants across the country are being placed on electronic monitors, part of an ambitious effort to prevent overcrowding in the nation’s jails and keep people from being imprisoned while awaiting trial for minor offenses.

Like courts in Baltimore, Dallas and Los Angeles, the St. Louis city circuit court is among those that have embraced electronic monitoring as a powerful reform of the cash bail system. The number of new monitors activated here more than doubled from the first half of 2021 to the first half of 2024, when it surpassed 550, a New York Times analysis found.

But in that time, St. Louis has had to grapple with some unforeseen complications —

including technological mishaps, privacy concerns and high costs — that offer lessons to other courts. More significantly, the devices are now worn by hundreds of people who most likely would not have stayed in jail anyway.

The Times analysis found that about three-quarters of the people monitored in St. Louis in the first half of 2024, including a small number ordered to download monitoring apps, were charged with misdemeanors or lower-level felonies such as unlawful gun possession, driving while intoxicated and third-degree assault. In the past, people facing those kinds of charges would generally have been offered a cash bail, four local criminal attorneys said.

The devices have subjected some defendants to more scrutiny than those individuals would have otherwise faced. They have also made it more obvious that the defendants were accused of a crime, and several said that

Credit:Julia Rendleman for The New York Times

having a visible monitor cost them a job or made it hard to attend school or care for a child or an older relative.

In a statement, Joel Currier, a St. Louis city circuit court spokesman, acknowledged that monitoring was “an imperfect tool,” but said that the court’s program balanced “the rights of the accused as well as the safety of crime victims and the community.”

Michael K. Mullen, a retired St. Louis city circuit judge who supports monitors, said the devices were better for defendants than jail.

“That’s what they have to be reminded of when they come in front of me,” he said.

But Matthew Mahaffey, who runs the city’s public defender office, which represents people who cannot afford attorneys, said that monitoring was too often required of people who posed no flight risk or threat to public safety.

Making matters worse, he said, the devices have occa-

sionally malfunctioned and provided inaccurate readings.

“Until it gets cleared, it looks like a violation, which can put the client in a tricky spot,” Mr. Mahaffey said, adding that defendants had been sent back to jail or issued harsher sentences as a result.

Research has also shown that electronic monitoring can lead to isolation and prejudice from landlords and employers, said Kate Weisburd, an expert on surveillance and technology who teaches at U.C. Law San Francisco. She raised further concerns about privacy.

“As there is a growing appetite to end incarceration, there’s this knee-jerk reaction to want to substitute incarceration with something,” she said. “We can’t just strip people of their privacy rights the moment they are arrested for a crime.”

Dead Batteries and Missed Curfews Last year, The Times sat in on dozens of pretrial bond hearings, which are held to determine whether a person who has been arrested will be released or held in jail, and interviewed more than

David D. Hemphill, who works in home renovation, said he had trouble landing construction contracts while wearing a visible monitor last year.

Credit: Julia Rendleman for The New York Times

20 people who wore ankle monitors. The charges against them ranged from harassment and property damage to domestic assault.

James Neal wore a monitor for about six months last year after he sped away from a traffic stop. He was later charged with fleeing, resisting arrest and drug and firearm possession, court records show.

Mr. Neal, 42, was not allowed to carry a weapon because of a past felony conviction. He said he kept one anyway because of the city’s high crime rates.

Once the monitor was installed, Mr. Neal had to charge the device by connecting it to an outlet and sitting tethered to the wall for hours at a time.

That was especially difficult while he was looking after his young son, he said.

Mr. Neal received violations because the battery died and because he left his house without the court’s permission, court records show.

Once, he was cited for spending two nights at his mother’s house after a death in the family, the records confirm.

Mr. Neal pleaded guilty in July and was sentenced to probation.

Ms. Mason, who was sent back to jail last summer for the violations her monitor flagged, fell behind on her rent while she was incarcerated, she said. By the time she was released in August, she had been evicted from her north St. Louis apartment.

She was in the second trimester of a new pregnancy.

Ms. Mason said the monitor affected her life in other ways. After wearing it to the hospital where she worked as a dietary worker, she lost her job. The hospital said she was let go because of poor attendance, but Ms. Mason said she had covered her absences with sick time.

In the months that fol-

Ms. Mason crossed the street after a court appearance. The number of new electronic monitors activated in St. Louis more than doubled from the first half of 2021 to the first half of 2024.

Credit: Julia Rendleman for The New York Times

lowed, she said, potential employers zeroed in on her ankle at job interviews.

“I can’t really get a job or any good opportunities because people instantly judge me,” she said in October.

In December, a judge reduced Ms. Mason’s felony charges to a single misdemeanor. If she stays out of trouble for two years, the remaining charge will be expunged from her record.

She had the ankle monitor removed two weeks before

giving birth in the new year.

‘Least Restrictive’ Conditions The St. Louis city circuit court began using devices with GPS technology to monitor a small number of defendants about a decade ago. At first, the initiative drew criticism because of how it was funded: The private company running the program charged defendants installation and surveillance fees, and those FRIDAY • APRIL 18, 2025 •

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who could not afford those fees could be sent back to jail.

The program remained small for years.

But in 2019, amid a wave of bipartisan bail reform policies, the Missouri Supreme Court directed judges across the state to seek out alternatives to incarceration for defendants who could not afford bond.

In St. Louis, the number of people ordered to wear monitors spiked, data shows. The numbers held steady during the pandemic, when public health officials called for fewer people to be held in jails, and then surged when Gabe Gore — who cast himself as a law-and-order candidate — became circuit attorney and ramped up prosecutions.

In the cases The Times observed last year, prosecutors regularly recommended monitoring for people being considered for release. In a statement, Mr. Gore’s office said that monitors were not the default, and that prosecutors evaluated the facts of each individual case.

While defense lawyers can weigh in on the recommendation, judges ultimately decide whether a defendant will be detained or released, and whether monitoring is necessary. Judges are supposed to impose the “least restrictive” conditions to ensure public safety as well as the defendant’s return to court.

James Neal wore a monitor for nearly six months last year after he sped away from a traffic stop.

Credit:Julia Rendleman for The New York Times

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Mr. Currier declined to make Judge Christopher E. McGraugh, who became the court’s presiding judge in January, available for an interview.

In many ways, the St. Louis court has done more than most to make the monitors less disruptive to defendants’ lives.

It now covers the costs of monitoring for those who cannot afford to pay, something many other courts across the country, including the neighboring St. Louis County circuit court, do not do. In recent months, the city’s circuit court has paid for almost 90 percent of people who were being monitored, data shows.

In addition, the court’s pretrial services office offers bus passes and mental health and shelter referrals to people with pending cases, Mr. Currier said.

Total Court Services, a company based in Michigan, is the court’s contractor for monitoring services. It rents a small office across the street from the courthouse; there, four or five employees keep tabs on more than 400 defendants at a time.

The vice president for sales and marketing, Jason Tizedes, said the company was trying to make monitoring less intrusive. It recently released a smartphone app that judges in the St. Louis city circuit court have started to use in a limited number of cases.

“If folks are lower risk, you don’t want to overmonitor them,” Mr. Tizedes said in an interview. “If you oversupervise, overmonitor people that don’t need it, it’s essentially setting them up for failure.”

As for the privacy concerns, Mr. Tizedes said, the company shares people’s location data only with court officials and law enforcement officers who have warrants. He blamed the job loss and the discrimination people with monitors sometimes face on unsympathetic employers.

David D. Hemphill, who works in home renovation, said he felt that discrimination while wearing a visible monitor last year. After landing fewer contracts than he expected, he fell into a depression.

Mr. Hemphill, 38, said that he had been arrested after failing to pull over for a traffic stop and leading the police on a 30-minute chase. He said that the officer who had initiated the stop was a neighbor, and that he did not trust the police.

Four months after the arrest, the charges against Mr. Hemphill were

Ms. Mason’s ankle monitor. As she neared the end of her pregnancy, the device became more uncomfortable, she said.

Credit: Julia Rendleman for The New York Times

dropped, he said. But in that time, Mr. Hemphill became increasingly paranoid.

His monitor beeped constantly and issued loud voice alerts. Sometimes he did not know whether the noises meant that the equipment was faulty or that he had unknowingly violated the terms of his release.

Once he began wearing his monitor, he noticed just how many of his co-workers on construction sites were wearing the same kind of device. He started talking to them about their experiences and realized that many felt the same as he did.

“Each violation plays on your mental,” he said. “You don’t know what the outcome is going to be. These people have your life in their hands.”

A Record Budget Though many see it as a reform, electronic monitoring has drawn wide-ranging criticism both in St. Louis and across the country.

Blake Strode, the executive director of ArchCity Defenders, a St. Louis civil rights law firm that has challenged the use of cash bail and inhumane jail conditions, called the city circuit court’s monitoring program “an incarceration scheme” that set people up to be jailed for technical violations.

Mr. Strode acknowledged that judges used cash bail less frequently now, and that the jail population had shrunk. But electronic monitoring starts punishing people as soon as they are charged with a crime, he said, not after a finding of guilt.

“We should ask whether that trade-off

is worth it,” Mr. Strode said.

The policy has also faced a different critique: that letting people accused of crimes await trial at home undermines public safety. Some critics have also said that court officials and prosecutors have not been aggressive enough in punishing people for violations.

In St. Louis, that argument gained traction in 2023, after a man awaiting trial on robbery charges ran a red light and seriously injured a teenage pedestrian. The defendant, Daniel Riley, had amassed dozens of GPS violations before the crash, but was never ordered to appear in court over the infractions. The city’s circuit attorney at the time, Kim Gardner, resigned amid the controversy.

National proponents of electronic monitoring like Carl Wicklund, a former executive director of the American Probation and Parole Association, continue to see the value in the system. But Mr. Wicklund said that people with the devices must be able to hold jobs, secure housing and be involved with their families, churches and communities.

Without those things, he said, defendants become “higher risk, because they have nothing to lose.”

According to the St. Louis circuit court’s 2023 annual report — the most recent it has published — nearly 87 percent of defendants who wore monitors completed their pretrial periods without a new arrest. The figure was nearly the same for defendants who awaited trial at home without monitors. (The court cautioned against using the statistics to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of monitoring, saying that the figures did not account for factors such as age, criminal history and substance abuse.)

Court officials’ investment in the program continues to grow. This fiscal year, the city budgeted more than $850,000 for the initiative, a record high for St. Louis. Budget documents show the court is on track to spend more than $1 million on the initiative.

In the spring, the court plans to solicit proposals from contractors interested in providing monitoring services after its current contract expires. Mr. Tizedes said Total Court Services was likely to submit a bid.

Justin Mayo contributed reporting.

Susan C. Beachy contributed research.

This article was reported in partnership with Big Local News at Stanford University.

Taylor Tiamoyo Harris is examining the courts and bail bond systems in St. Louis as a part of The New York Times’s Local Investigations Fellowship.

A member of NABJ and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she is a graduate of Duncanville High School, Howard University and the D/FW ABJ Urban Journalism Workshop.

ABOUT ANALYSIS To calculate the number of new ankle monitors activated in St. Louis, The Times analyzed hundreds of pages of monthly invoices that Total Court Services sent to the St. Louis City 22nd Circuit Court from October 2020 through June 2024. The invoices, obtained through a public records request, show how much Total Court Services billed for each defendant (identified by case number) who used 24/7 ankle monitoring services.

The Times excluded defendants monitored only via the company’s smartphone app, CourtFact, which has a limited GPS component. The invoices specify start and end dates, as well as whether the court or the defendant was responsible for payment.

To calculate the share of monitored defendants who were charged with misdemeanors or class D or E felonies, The Times analyzed the court’s monthly pretrial data reports. The reports, which are available online, include monthly counts of defendants released from jail with GPS monitors broken down by class of charge.

Discrepancies between the invoices and the court’s reports are because the reports indicate the month judges ordered defendants to wear GPS monitors while the invoices indicate when the monitors were activated, and the two dates can be different. Additionally, pretrial data reports included defendants released with CourtFact smartphone monitoring in the totals. Beginning in June 2024, the reports included only defendants with GPS ankle monitoring.

The city of St. Louis budgeted more than $850,000 for the electronic monitoring program this year, a record high for the city.

Credit: Julia Rendleman for The New York Times

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Edna “Ms. P” Pemberton – a “voice” & “soul” for her people, community, city – leaves powerful legacy I WAS JUST THINKING...

NORMA ADAMS-WADE

What determines how a person makes an impact on the world and the people around them?

The life of Edna Pemberton is a case study in seeking an answer to that baffling question.

You’ve probably been under a rock if you have not heard that one of Dallas’ premier keepers of the people’s souls, and the souls of humanity in general, joined the ancestors over the weekend.

“Ms. P,” as she was widely known, was an outstanding community leader and people’s servant who was effective at all levels of leadership. City and business leaders and everyday folk as well lauded and listened to her.

Brushes with greatness It’s hard to try to put a label on “Ms. P.” Perhaps two of her biggest claims to fame were when she earned the honor of introducing former U. S. President Barack Obama when he visited Dallas for a Democratic event in 2013 and -- already aware of

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her respected but humble standing -- greeted her with a warm hug that photographers captured.

The other distinction was when she was picked to carry the Olympic torch through Dallas on its way to the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, GA in 1996, the Olympics’ Centennial year. The iconic athlete Muhammad Ali lit the final caldron flame at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Stadium.

Mrs. Edna Pemberton snapping a photo at a public meeting.

Credit The Dallas Morning News.(A)

Funeral details “Ms. P’s “ home-going services include visitation Friday, April 25, 2025, from 3-6 p.m., followed by a wake from 6-7:30 p.m., both at Evergreen Memorial Funeral Home, 6449 University Hills, Dallas, TX 75241.

Her home-going funeral service will be at 10 a.m.

Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Concord Church, 6808 Pastor

Former Pres. Barack Obama hugs Edna Pemberton during Dallas 2013 Dallas visit.

Credit: AP photographer Pablo Martinez Monsivais(A)

In media reports, Pete Brodsky -- owner of Southwest Center Mall, formerly Red Bird Mall, whose vital reorganization Ms. P” helped realize, -- called her “the soul of the mall.” Various other leaders and supporters called her “the voice of Oak Cliff” where the mall is an economic lifeline.

Bailey Dr, 75237 in Dallas’ Oak Cliff community.

Burial will be at DFW National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211 where she will join her late, beloved husband, DarNell Pemberton, who died in May 2005.

“Ms. P’s” burial time and date to be determined later.

Tributes and praise “Ms. P” previously won a battle against cancer that began in 2012 and also battled blindness. Tributes and accolades from leaders and community people overflowed on social media and in daily broadcast and print media.

Among those who posted tributes and heart-felt regrets were Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett who said, “She didn’t just believe in change, she was the change.”

Others who gave tributes included former Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, officials with the African American Museum at Dallas’ Fair Park, and various local Blackowned media outlets.

One community supporter posted on social media: “Lady P,” as the saying goes, ‘You are able to walk with kings and not lose your common touch.’

Early recognition I remember writing one of the first major public stories about “Ms. P” during my early years at The Dallas Morning News, probably around the 1980s.

Memories fade, but I recall that she and I talked about the traumas of her growing up in a

foster home as a toddler after her mother died, leaving behind nine children; of which “Ms. P” was the youngest.

You could say it’s common that some individuals perform volunteer advocacy and charity efforts. Yet, “Ms. P’s” effectiveness and knack for organizing volunteers and spotlighting community issues made her stand out.

Childhood and youth Edna Pemberton was born in Chicago on March 27, 1948. We talked about her learning to incorporate the survival skills she learned in foster care, and about her early years on one of her first jobs at the old K-Mart department store in Chicago and Dallas.

Those early jobs allowed her to display her abilities and leadership qualities.

We talked about her meeting her fabulous late husband, DarNell Pemberton, at church as a teenager.

They married, had four children, and additionally raised six more children of her late sister who died after giving herself an abortion.

The Pembertons lived in Chicago, California and Texas, sharing mutually fulfilling lives together.

They were caring humanitarians and dedicated Christian members of Concord Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, now renamed Concord Church.

Leading from the trenches

Edna Pemberton never held an elected office. She did allow herself to be persuaded to run for Dallas City Council in 1993. She did not win.

The benefits of her losing was that she returned to her undeniable skills as a community leader. She continued as an effective influencer who had the ear of practically all local leaders in public office.

After losing the election, she said: “... my work is done in the trenches.”

At one point in 1991 she led a movement for a 10 p.m. youth curfew. It was an attempt to quell violence after a young mother was beaten and raped by several youths at night. Some community groups opposed the curfew idea.

She led volunteers to help thousands of Katrina Hurricane evacuees, working closely with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Her giving nature knows no boundaries as she founded Operation Community Care, a nonprofit that supplied needs to people who lived in homeless campsites around the city. She regularly met with police officials and landlords to discuss any current tenants’ issues that involved them.

She chaired the nonprofit Camp Wisdom Now. She led Friends of Red Bird Airport, now renamed Dallas Executive Airport. And she served as the community liaison during the transformation of the old Red Bird Mall to the current Southwest Center Mall.

Pemberton seated in middle with group honoring her as Olympic torch carrier in Dallas. Credit UT Arlington

Edna Pemberton speaking before former Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall at table to support juvenile curfew to curb crime.

Credit X and Dallas Police Department (A)

Honors and recognition Her past honors include the 2006 Texas Governor’s Volunteer Award; the Community Lifetime Achievement Award presented to her and Black community leader Betty Culbreath at Dallas Executive Airport Business Center.

During a past Women’s History Month, the African American Leadership Institute presented her with the Black History Everyday Difference-Makers Award, and they described her as “the pulse of Southern Dallas, business & community influencers.”

And to kick off Black History Month in 2025, officials and citizens held a public celebration with food and entertainment and voter registration, declaring the occasion “Edna P Day” at Southwest Center Mall.

I was just thinking...how does anyone expertly compose their life so that it makes an impact among the high and mighty and the low and humble?

“Ms. P” managed to connect both ends – and serve the middle.

So, what do we make of her life? Can a new Edna Pemberton enter stage right? She left a strong enough legacy for someone among us to try.

Norma Adams-Wade is a veteran, award-winning journalist, Graduate of UT- Austin and Dallas native. One of the founders of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), she was inducted into the NABJ Hall of Fame

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This week’s listing has the following categories: • • • • • • • • • • •

Career Pathways Training Opportunity [NEW] Job Opportunities [NEW] Small Business Loan Program Resume Bank Federal Employees Lawsuit Announcement Scholarships, Internships and Fellowships Writing Workshop Volunteer Opportunities Grant Opportunity Research Funding Opportunity Important Deadlines

CAREER PATHWAYS TRAINING OPPORTUNITY The Career Pathways Training (CPT) program supports and empowers New Yorkers by providing accessible, high-quality training and educational opportunities at no cost. We’re committed to ensuring that all participants, regardless of background or financial circumstances, have the tools, knowledge and resources necessary to pursue fulfilling careers in healthcare.

Learn more here: https://www.tefcpt.org/ JOB OPPORTUNITIES The Hillcrest Children and Family Center has several opportunities.

research agenda and subsequent portfolios of the Pell Institute to encourage policymakers, educators, and the public to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for first-generation college students, students from low-income backgrounds, and college students with disabilities.

Emphasis is also placed on research needs within the scope of TRIO programs. To develop compelling research portfolios that position the Pell Institute as a leading research space, the VP of Research / Director is responsible for identifying and cultivating research and funding partnerships to recruit talent, secure resources, and build the Pell Institute’s network.

The position requires frequent travel to accomplish the Pell Institute’s funding and research goals.

Learn more and apply here: https://form.asana. com/?k=skavt0qSMrVUDJoBD4yS2g&d=755215894757064 The CFO directly oversees and supervises the financial/ accounting staff and other departments as directed by the CEO. The CFO serves as an active member of the Executive Management Team helping to develop and implement the agency’s vision and mission.

Assisted Outpatient Psychiatrist (contractor) Salary: $225/hour The AOT Psychiatrist will provide psychiatric services to individuals enrolled in the Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Program at Hillcrest Children and Family Center. This role focuses on serving individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) who require structured outpatient care to enhance treatment adherence and recovery. While services are primarily delivered in an outpatient setting, the AOT Psychiatrist may also conduct evaluations and provide treatment in community-based settings as needed.

The position requires flexibility and responsiveness to the evolving needs of the AOT population, including collaboration with courts, case managers, and community providers.

School Based Therapist Salary: $67k-$72k As a School Based Mental Health Therapist, you will provide compassionate care to school-aged children struggling with mental health concerns by providing support for student Individualized Education Program’s (IEP) and Behavioral Intervention Plan’s (BIP).

As a Joint Commission and CARF accredited organization, we take pride in promoting awareness and understanding to break down barriers for mental health issues in our community!

This is a rewarding opportunity to directly influence the lives of children and adolescents through intervention support and training to teachers, administrators, and parents! **If you have a LPC, LGSW, LGPC, or LICSW license, we encourage you to apply!!**

Psychiatric Community Nurse Salary: Starting at $85k In an Outpatient Behavioral Health setting the Registered Nurse will be responsible for working with clients aged 55 and older to provide integrated healthcare services, behavioral health and physical health, with a focus on physical health. In this role the nurse will function to promote optimum physical health to the service population. Specifically, working with geriatric clients to identify chronic health conditions alongside behavioral health needs and inform individualized care plans.

Intake Assessor Salary: $73k-$80k The Intake Assessor plays a crucial role in the organization by conducting initial assessments and evaluations of individuals seeking services. The primary responsibility of this position is to gather comprehensive information from clients, assess their needs, and determine appropriate next steps within the organization’s service delivery framework. **Candidates must have one of the following District of Columbia certifications: LICSW, LPC, LGPC or LGSW**

Chief Financial Officer Salary: $120k-$130k The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for all aspects of the financial operations for the agency. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the CFO provides accounting, budgetary, operational, and programmatic support to all agency programs and activities.

Learn more about these opportunities and apply here: Careers At Hillcrest Children and Family Center The Council is hiring a Vice President for Research and Director of the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education (“Pell Institute”).

This role is responsible for managing the Council’s

National Partnership for Women & Families is seeking a Senior Director of Experts and Booking to join our fun and friendly communications team.

Our team helps to bring voice to the issues the National Partnership works on, with the belief that media is an extremely powerful tool for improving the lives of women and families.

The Senior Director of Experts and Booking works with the Vice President of Marketing and Communications to deploy our president, surrogates and experts of the National Partnership across national and regional media outlets.

The Senior Director will be responsible for overseeing all relationships with media bookers, crafting booking memos, gathering talking points, creating protocol and developing strategies to increase the visibility of the National Partnership’s president and staff experts and fellows. In addition, you would be responsible for helping to elevate the profile of our president who is the first Black woman to run this 50-year-old organization.

The Senior Director will also be responsible for helping to media train staff for tv and radio interviews.

Apply here by 11:59 p.m. on Marc 23: https://nationalpartnership.org/about-us/join-our-team/senior-director-of-experts-and-booking/ The Fund for Educational Excellence (“The Fund”) is hiring a Senior Director.

The Senior Director will be a trusted advisor and partner to President and CEO and serve as a member of the Fund’s leadership team.

The human resources function at the Fund interacts on some level with every core staff member at our Baltimore office, as well as our employees who work within our fiscally sponsored organizations. However, key interfaces for this role will include the Fund’s leadership team(comprised of the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Directors of Analysis and Engagement, Development and Fiscal Sponsorship Services),apart-time HR Manager as a direct report to this role, and the leaders (e.g., Executive Directors, etc.),at each of the organizations sponsored by the Fund.

The Senior Director will also manage the relationships with external parties who provide services to the Fund, e.g., labor counsel, insurance brokers and people operations service providers.

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Joke of the Day

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Call issued to Support Black Businesses Buy Black!

By Cheryl Smith Texas Metro News

When Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, of Friendship-West Baptist Church, announced 100 Days Dr. Frederick D.Haynes III of Buying Black in acknowledging the 100th Commemoration of the Tulsa Race Massacre, we joined the movement. December 31, 2021 marked 100 days of featuring Black Businesses. and we decided that the struggle continues and we must also. So enjoy reading about more Black-owned businesses and please support.

PERFECT HEALTH HOLISTIC INSTITUTE, INC. FOUNDER DENICE FORD

At Perfect Health Holistic Institute, their mission is to educate, motivate, and support families to healthier, happier lifestyles mentally, physically, financially, and spiritually. To impact the world by providing the best integrative holistic experience for families in one place, healing through education and research is the vision of the Perfect Health Holistic Institute (PHHI), which is based in Tarrant County. Founded by Denice Ford of the Ford Health Shop, a board-certified Natural Wellness Practitioner and Herbalist with nearly 40 years of experience, the Perfect Health Holistic Institute is dedicated to solving the problem of families’ unhealthy lifestyle choices and increasing the development of lifelong healthy habits. Visit the website for more information on holistic living.

• Call: (817) 690-4637 • Address: 5070 S. Collins St. Suite 206, Arlington TX. 76018 • Email: phhiedu@gmail.com

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CHEF CASSY CREATIONS

BY CHEF CASSY JONES When you eat a dish created by Chef Cassy Jones what you taste is a blend of her country roots and urban influences. Her passion is to create traditional Southern dishes with a modern twist. Jones grew up in South Dallas and comes from a long line of great home cooks, but her dream of becoming a professional cook always seemed out of reach. She took care of her daughter with special needs and ran a daycare for 15 years to help other children as well as her daughter. At 40 she went to culinary school and began a new career as a chef and caterer. Her Fried Collard Greens recipe is a twist on a traditional Southern Soul food favorite, and quickly made her a Fair favorite. Visit the website.

• https://chefcassy.com • 304 US Hwy 175, Eustace, TX • (214) 405-8846 • email: chefcassy@gmail.com HARDEMAN’S BAR-B-QUE AND SOUL-FOOD Experience southern comfort food at its finest, step into Hardeman’s, where the rich aromas of slow-smoked meats and soulful seasonings welcome you home. Their time-honored recipes and tender, fall-off-the-bone barbecue are served alongside made-fromscratch sides that will warm your heart and satisfy your deepest cravings. Nestled in the heart of Dallas, TX, Hardeman’s BarB-Que & Catering exudes warmth and welcomes guests with open arms. With its cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and a menu bursting with mouthwatering homestyle favorites, it’s the perfect place to unwind and savor a delightful meal. Visit the website for the full menu and locations or just stop by. The Chester Field Hardeman descendants still run the businesses.

• https://hardemansbarbquesoulfood.toast.site • (214) 388-5252 • 6931 Scyene Rd, Dallas, TX 75227 THOMAS FINANCIAL CEO/FOUNDER DR. ROSIE THOMAS Your Tax Experts for Personal and Business Taxes. They have a Professional Team that has learned from their customer’s feedback. Rosie has over 15 years of experience. They succeed in IRS issue resolutions. Their mission is to provide exceptional

financial services that empower our clients to achieve their financial goals with confidence and clarity. The team members are experts with seamless and reliable tax preparation solutions tailored to individuals and businesses alike. To learn more about them visit the website.

• https://www.thomasfinancialllc.com • (214) 717-6200 • email: info@thomasfinancialllc.com LAWAN LAW GROUP, LLC CEO UMMI LAWAN Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt what would happen legally and financially to you, to your loved ones, your money and everything else you care about if something unexpected happened to you? At the Lawan Law Group their services include Estate Planning, Kids Protection Planning, Creative Business Counselling, and Asset Protection Planning. Parents It’s time to ask yourself two questions. Do you know what would happen to your children if something happened to you? And would your loved ones have immediate protected access to your money? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, it’s time to take your estate planning into your own hands. Lawan can assist you in planning for the legacy you will leave for your family. Visit the website to learn more.

• https://lawanlawgroup.com • (469) 382-7544 • email: support@lawanlawgroup.com • 9330 LBJ Freeway, Ste 900 Dallas, TX 75243 POWERFUL BLESSED CHAMPIONS LLC OWNER CHESLEY SHABAZZ T The Powerful Blessed Champions LLC, CEO and Founder Chesley Shabazz an elite provider of personal protection and event staffing services.

They specialize in ensuring the safety of individuals and groups at all types of events, offering highly trained professionals for any security need. In addition to their security services, they have comprehensive training programs, including Texas License to Carry (LTC) and Level 2, 3, and 4 security officer licensing courses. They offer a flexible and comprehensive insurance plan for all these risks across the USA. For more information on their services visit the website.

• https://powerfulblessedchampions.com/ • Email: pbceliteprotection@gmail.com • 214-809-1085

Public Notice

24 Hour Wrecker Serv 24 Hour Wrecker Service Public Notice VSF 0514204 The following vehicles will be sold at public auction on Monday 4/21/2025 if not released to register owners. Any announcements made the day of sale supercede any advertised announcements. The auction will be held at On line at www.jdnewell.com.

If you have any questions,please call 972-227-5188.

Year/make, VIN, Tag. ALL VEHICLES ARE SOLD AS IS.

Vehicle 1995 Toyota Camry 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 2003 Saturn Ion 2004 Lexus ES 330 2005 BMW 330Ci 2005 Honda Accord 2006 Land Rover Range Rover 2006 Porsche Cayenne 2007 Toyota Camry 2007 Toyota Corolla 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe 2009 Honda Accord 2010 Honda Civic 2011 Ford F150 2011 Hyundai Accent 2012 Acura TL 2012 Hyundai Elantra 2013 Dodge Avenger 2013 Dodge Challenger 2013 NISSAN Altima 2013 Toyota Camry 2014 Chevrolet Equinox 2015 Lexus GS 350 2016 Ford Fusion 2017 Acura Mdx 2019 NISSAN Sentra 2022 Honda Cr-V homemade trailer MINI 4WHEELER trailer

VIN JT2SK12EXS0286369 1B7KF2363XJ582988 1G8AL52F53Z137861 JTHBA30GX45047273 WBABD534X5PL16011 1HGCM56775A191051 SALSF25456A964135 WP1AB29P86LA63248 4T1BE46K47U052546 1NXBR32E77Z882260 1GNFC13C08R202512 1HGCP26779A150382 2HGFG1B89AH516676 1FTFW1CT3BFD11314 KMHCN4AC4BU603992 19UUA8F25CA015082 5NPDH4AE6CH091634 1C3CDZAB0DN618566 2C3CDYAG4DH566292 1N4AL3AP2DN457531 4T1BD1FK1DU077496 1GNALBEK2EZ137047 JTHCE1BL6FA006575 3FA6P0G72GR186620 5FRYD3H55HB009880 3N1AB7AP5KY343286 2HKRW1H76NH402211 NOVIN 21271420

FRIDAY • APRIL 18, 2025 •

35

ARRESTED

E F I L HE IS A SERIAL RAPIST

He targeted members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. but this is more than about a sorority.

We’re talking about a community.

Come on PEOPLE! Don’t you CARE? Will it matter when it is your sister, mother, aunt or grandmother or maybe YOU?

Crimestoppers 877-373-8477 36 • FRIDAY • APRIL 18, 2025