Business Journal 142

d-mars.com 19992019

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

Entrepreneur | Business | Education and Career | Finance | Real Estate | Technology | Insurance

June 2019

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Inspire, Inform & Educate

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142nd Edition

MAXIMIZING THE POWER OF NETWORKING WITH MR. D-MARS & DR. GEORGE C. FRASER

14-15

INSIDE

09 Health Care: The New Self Care

04

Five Reasons Why Hope is Not a Strategy to Grow Your Small Business

22 Economic Opportunity Abounds at Houston's OBO

June 2019 | 3

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE d-mars.com is proud to share the success stories of African American businesses and civic and community leaders. We know that success does not always come easy and it is not always measured in money. How have you helped your fellow entrepreneur? Have you supported your locally-owned African American business? Have you donated to a nonprofit that is working in our underserved communities?

Questions to think about and actions to take.

This month’s issue highlights Keith

"You don’t build businesses, you build people.

And then people build business."

— Dr. George C. Fraser

J. Davis, Sr and Dr. George C. Fraser. These men have harnessed the power of networking and maximizing their skill set in order to achieve ultimate success. In this month’s article, they discuss their mentor-mentee relationship, working together on “Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest” and the importance of attending the 2019 Power Networking Conference.

As always, thank you for your continued support of d-mars.com. When you support us, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

MR. D-MARS CERTIFIED:

HMSDC

Port of Houston

BEHIND THE JOURNAL PUBLISHER & CEO Keith J. Davis, Sr. COO & MANAGING EDITOR Kimberly Floyd EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Tiffany Brown ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla STAFF WRITER Carly Hammack ART DIRECTOR Angel Rosa GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kendra Wiseman PROJECT COORDINATOR Lindsey Ford DISTRIBUTION Rockie Hayden PHOTOGRAPHY L.C. Poullard Grady Carter CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Charlotte A. Jackson Helen Callier Lauren Poteat Mayor Sylvester Turner Noel Pinnock Ricki Fairley Shelondra Peavy Stacy M. Brown

METRO

City of Houston

HISD

CONTENTS

30

08 Education 08 How to Prepare for and Tackle Unexpected College Costs 09 Health Care The New Self Care 12 Great Ways to Keep Your Mind Sharp 13 Finances 13 Despite Dreams of Prosperity Despite Dreams of Prosperity 16 Health 16 Prostate Screening Is A Must 16 Health Tips: Treat Your Hair and Scalp With Care 18 Viola Davis Reveals Diabetes Diagnosis and Campaign to Raise Awareness

VBE

DBE

OUR SERVICES

04 Business 04 5 Reasons to Avoid Using Hope as a Strategy to Grow Your Small Business 05 How to boost your business by becoming a truck rental agent 06 Community 06 Cool Gift Ideas for Dads and Grads 06 How You Can Eliminate Food Waste 08 Is Greatness Really Contagious?

10 Three Sides, One Answer 11 Old Folks Saying/Did You Know?

22 Mayor Turner's Open Letter to Houston

HUB

20 Power Packed Almond Maple Granola 20 Tips for eating healthier this summer 21 5 Tips for for practicing self-care

14­-15 Cover Story 14-15 Maximizing the Power of Networking with Mr. D-MARS & Dr. George Fraser

24 Real Estate 14-15 24 Five Books To Inspire Green Thumbs 26 3 Tips For Creating Durable Summer Lawn 28 2019 Outdoor Living And Design Trends For Every Homeowner 32 Travel 32 Tires Keep America Rolling

ADVERTISING | MARKETING MEDIA | COMMUNICATION • Business Journal • Health & Wellness Journal • Community Journal • Black Pages Online Business Directory • Top 50 Black Health, Medical & Wellness Professionals • Top 50 Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs • Top 30 Influential Women of Houston • Top 25 Prime & Subcontractors for Diversity • Business Connection • Business Development • Business Consulting • Graphic Design • Photography • Printing • Web Design • Online & Email Marketing • Public Relations • Social Media • Advertising • Writing • Promotional Marketing

32 Technology 32 NCNW Hosts National GirlTech Town Hall and Forum 33 6 Smart Ways To Digital Declutter

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4 | June 2019 BUSINESS

Five Reasons to Avoid Using Hope as a Strategy to Grow Your Small Business

By Helen Callier Contributing Writer

I

t has been said thousands if not millions of times in the U.S., across North America and throughout the world that running a small business is challenging and is not for the faint hearted. From dotcoms that start out with lots of venture capital money to donut shops like Billy’s Donuts in Missouri City, Texas to owners with a thick business plan written by a high paying consultant, hope as strategy by itself is a poor one.

How do I know this to be true? Did I read about business struggles in a book? Did I learn about such challenges in a workshop? The truth is I’ve been there! When I first opened my business over 15 years ago, I like most other bright-eyed small business owners put on my best clothes, bought a stack of business cards with stationary and placed them on my desk with a box of hope that customers would be calling me soon. That never happened.

After twisting my ankles and skinning my knees from bumping against brick walls from hoping and wishing for customers to know that my business existed, I realized there had to be another way. As some months passed, I realized that I needed to change the situation in my business fast.

Hope was not working and my dream of becoming a successful small business was becoming a scary horror movie.

One morning, I looked at myself in the mirror and said, “Helen, you’re better than this situation! You are bigger than this business problem and you need help now!” So, I girded up my dress and got to work making phone calls to small business resources, began meeting with successful business owners and soaked up many free to low cost business workshops on various topics. I also consumed hundreds of business and personal development books to improve my business leadership skills since hoping was a failed approach. One key point learned (and applied) from Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill is the following.

There is a difference between WISHING for a thing and being READY to receive it. No one is ready for a thing, until he believes he can acquire it. The state of mind must be BELIEF, not mere hope or wish. Openmindedness is essential for belief.”

And from the QBQ, Question Before the Question book

by John G. Miller when faced with a problem and to avoid failure you “…have to fly this plane differently…” resonated with me and inspired me take an immediate positive shift in my small business.

In addition, based on industry statistics, only 4% of the small businesses in the U.S. generate $1 million in annual revenue. And while it is great to be in this group, the reality is as I write this blog many small business owners are thinking about throwing in the towel and quitting. To assist those that may be having thoughts of defeat, below are five reasons to avoid using hope as a standalone strategy to grow your small business.

and did not quit on their dream. This resulted in obtaining a medal in the Olympics. In your business, place a flag in the ground now, move forward in faith and never ever quit on your business dream of success. Tip: Make a commitment, develop and plan, shift gears when needed and never quit.

Hope is passive: Write what success looks like to you? Describe your picture of business success in detail. How many employees do you have? How does your office look? What city are you located in? Who are your ideal customers? How many customers do you need to achieve your revenue goals and to meet your lifestyle requirements? Tip: Write your vision in detail, focus and get moving toward your goals.

Hope can make you sad:

Hope lacks substance: Believe in your vision for your business and know that it is possible. Once you fervently believe, write your plan to go forward to make improvements in your business.

Tip: Believe!

Hope leaves you standing flat-footed: Make a firm decision – the word decide means to cut off; to make a clean cut from what’s holding you back and to move in the direction of your business dream and set goals. If you fail to make a conscious decision, know that you unconsciously decided to do nothing and that is what you will reap in your small business – nothing.

Tip: Decide or cut bait.

There are plenty of stories of new businesses opening like the owner of Billy’s Donuts Shop, Missouri City, TX that stand behind the counter wishing and hoping that a customer will come inside. Soon the feeling of sadness creeps in and the owner begins wondering did they make the right investment. Some stories like this Billy’s Donuts end well as a family member stepped up and started using his free social platform to send a tweet about fresh hot donuts at Billy’s to his already established followers. The result: Tweet goes viral, line of customers sticking out of the door and the cash register explodes with sales. Tip: What’s in your hand? What are your assets that you can use to resolve your problem and begin to grow your small business? What are your strengths?

In Conclusion Running a small business is rewarding and can create the kind of lifestyle you want to have and be able to make contributions in your community. If you are scratching your head attempting to figure out how to rise above your wishing and hoping strategy, reread the five reasons and helpful tips above and get moving toward your goals now.

If you have any questions about punting your hope alone strategy and developing a blueprint for your small business, you can contact me via Linkedin or connect on Facebook.

Hope is a weak foundation: There are hundreds of stories about Olympian athletes that in their heart knew that they were not the best athlete in their high school or college. What separated the Olympians from the chafe is that they made a commitment

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Source: Helen Callier

June 2019 | 5 BUSINESS

How to boost your business by becoming a truck rental agent

By d-mars.com News Provider

S

uccessful entrepreneurs are always looking for new opportunities to expand their business and increase their revenue, with minimal time commitment, overhead and expenditure. For business owners looking to grow their bottom line, becoming a truck rental agent can provide a profitable opportunity.

With approximately 2,000 agents across the country, Penske Truck Rental offers businesses this opportunity in the form of a customizable plan and additional yearround revenue stream.

What does it take to become a truck rental agent? First of all, a business would need a lot of ample space available for parking trucks. In addition, successful truck rental agents are also active within their communities and have an understanding of the rental business in general. Having an active business and social network in the area makes it easier for new rental agents to spread the word about their service and communicate what it can provide to both individuals and organizations in the surrounding community. But ultimately, the genuine desire to provide a convenient, affordable truck rental service to local consumers is the most important asset.

"We make the process easy for those who

are interested in joining the Penske team as a rental agent," says Kevin Kleckner, Penske's director of national consumer sales and programs. "If the business is the right fit, we take care of the back office support, perform regularly scheduled preventive maintenance on the trucks, and provide marketing materials and signage, leaving the business owner to focus on serving its customers."

In addition to the potential for an added year-round revenue stream, truck rental agents enjoy attractive commission rates (paid on a weekly basis), a minimal upfront investment and increased foot traffic to their existing business, along with unlimited profit potential.

"We have successful agents from all different business backgrounds. Car rental companies, RV rental companies and even party rental companies have all found success in adding Penske's rental fleet to their business," adds Kleckner.

With among the newest moving truck rental fleets in the industry, Penske Truck Rental provides do-it-yourself movers with clean, well-maintained and reliable rental vehicles. In addition, the company offers everything that consumers would need for a hassle-free move, from affordable moving and towing equipment to packing and moving supplies such as boxes, packing tape, mattress bags and furniture pads and much more.

Interested in learning more about becoming a truck rental agent? Visit PenskeTruckRental. com or call 1-800-GO-PENSKE for more information.

Source: BPT

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6 | June 2019 COMMUNITY

Cool Gift Ideas for Dads and Grads 2. Time flies.

S

Shopping for a frequent flier? For travelers, the gift of a connected timepiece will help them stay oriented as they make their way around the globe.

Pair the Edifice ECB900DB with a smartphone by simply pressing a dedicated Bluetooth connection button. This will access the correct time for the current location for over 300 cities worldwide and update with the latest time zone and Daylight Saving Time information. Users also have the capability to swap their specified home time and world time with By d-mars.com the press of a button, as well as update alarms and News Provider other time settings. By automatically syncing to a time server on the internet four times a day, with hopping for a dad or grad and need some this thoughtful gift, your recipient will never miss cool gift ideas to impress your recipient? a beat of their travels.

Check out these fun options:

3. Gamer’s paradise.

1. Gift that keeps on giving.

For a gift that keeps on giving, consider a subscription box that will deliver to your gift recipient’s doorstep, items that meet his or her hobbies, interests or taste. Whether it’s craft beers, hot sauce or ties, brand-new items each month will be a continual reminder of your love and admiration.

Gamers will love an upgrade to their set-up. One good choice, particularly for someone moving into a first apartment, is a LampFree projector from Casio’s SLIM series. Weighing in at just five pounds and only 1.7 inches thick, it comes equipped with a variety of innovative features at an affordable price and offers clearer colors and brighter images ideal for the visual world of gaming. An estimated 20,000

hours lifespan with minimal brightness degradation means this is a gift that will last. Each model is also fitted with a fully connectable interface, including three types of video and audio inputs, as well as HDMI, RGB and RS-232C terminals.

4. Take me out to the ballgame.

Whether it’s a local team or the major leagues, tickets to a game makes a great gift and a day out rooting for your home team is a fun way to spend time together. Make a day of it by bringing along the whole family.

5. Music inspiration.

Musical dads and grads just need the right equipment to get inspired and put together their own jams. For an affordable portable keyboard, consider Casio’s CT-X700, which features upgraded technology to faithfully reproduce the sound of acoustic instruments and appeal to musicians at all levels, while a fingering guide, lesson system and library of 100 built-in songs, makes this an especially good choice for beginners looking to learn at their own pace.

Source: StatePoint

COMMUNITY

How You Can Eliminate FOOD WASTE homes and their communities. Use these tips from WWF to get started:

By d-mars.com News Provider

A

large amount of food in the U.S. is never eaten.

However, there are many easy ways families and communities can eliminate food waste in their daily lives, while also protecting the environment.

Each year, more than 66 trillion gallons of water is used to produce food that is estimated to be lost or wasted. Wasted food represents about 8 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

More importantly, according to World Wildlife Fund (WWF), food production is the primary contributor to deforestation, forest degradation, and grassland conversion, harming wildlife and the habitats they call home.

“Finding harmony between agriculture and nature may be the most important social, economic, and ecological issue of this century,” says Pete Pearson, WWF’s senior director of Food Loss and Waste.

Bringing people together from the hotel and kitchen sectors, retail and food service sectors, as well as schools and farms, a report from WWF called “No Food Left Behind,” explores how to measure and reduce waste, from field to table. Food waste and loss is a huge environmental issue that everyone can do something about, in their

Shop Smart The choices you make at the supermarket matter.

Monitor what goes in and out of your fridge. Are you buying more than needed and chucking the rest into the garbage? Though great sources of nutrition, about 45 percent of all fruits, vegetables, roots and tubers are wasted, according to the FAO. Use the freezer! Consider making a weekly meal plan that includes frozen meat, seafood, produce and canned products (especially in the off-season) so that you can shop with a realistic sense of what you actually need and not feel pressure from items spoiling. Still left with excess? Compost, but work to reduce what goes in the compost bin!

It’s also important to shop for foods grown and raised sustainably. Look for eco-labels on packaging. For example, sustainably caught seafood means the fishery is taking steps to reduce by-catch (fish caught unintentionally) which allows marine wildlife populations to thrive long-term. When it comes to coffee, an eco-label might mean the product was sourced in an environmentally responsible way. Not seeing eco-labels at your store? Ask

your grocer to consider stocking shelves with brands working to eliminate wasteful production practices.

Get Schools Involved Schools can do their part to teach kids the value of food by introducing strategies for reducing waste. WWF is working with students and teachers, grades 5-12 in cities nationwide, to conduct food waste audits, and build a connection between food, wildlife and habitat conservation. The WWF Food Waste Warrior Toolkit is a free resource offering lesson plans integrating math, science and language arts that can be adjusted by grade level.

“Turning the cafeteria into a classroom allows students to immediately understand the impact the food system has on the environment, empowering them to make changes and to be tomorrow’s leaders on food waste reduction,” says Pearson.

For resources and information about food waste, visit worldwildlife.org/food-waste.

By doing our part and eliminating food waste, we can help save the land, water and energy upon which people and wildlife depend on to survive.

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Source: StatePoint

June 2019 | 7

KEITH “MR. D-MARS” DAVIS, SR. Excellence in Community Service

CARMEN HERRERA Phenomenal Woman

MARCUS DAVIS

Entrepreneur of the Year

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8 | June 2019 COMMUNITY

Is Greatness Really Contagious?

By Shelondra Peavy Contributing Writer

R

ecently, I understood this topic to be quite debatable, when I found myself in disagreement with one of my absolute favorite teachers (T. D. Jakes). While in the midst of one of his typically hot sermons, he emphatically uttered these words: “Greatness is contagious”. Of course, the congregation roared in agreement, and if I may be totally honest, I too had given an immediate nod of agreement… until I seriously thought about it.

Is greatness really contagious? Let’s be clear – I’m completely aware of the obvious and “topical” truths about the matter: It’s true that energy is transferrable…

It’s true that great people usually do have the magnetism, intensity, and the power to positively influence, inspire, and motivate others. And, the aforementioned facts are reinforced and essentially confirmed by King Solomon’s writings: “…He who walks with the wise will grow wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. (Proverbs 13:20).

I don’t disagree with any of those specifics. Yet, I referred to those facts as “obvious” and “topical”, because when we scratch beyond the surface, there are other not-so-obvious, in depth factors which cause me to say that greatness has much more to do with a person’s will and desire than it has to do with “contagion”.

In observing others, I’ve personally witnessed one thing: A fool (by definition) can frequent the company of great folk for years, but if he or she has no desire to become more than a fool, he or she will most certainly remain a fool.

In like fashion, another side of the coin points to individuals who feel immense worthlessness, incapability, overwhelming self-pity, or any other similar characteristics; when an individual feels those traits, they feel them ABSOLUTELY. In other words, these maladies are rooted in the core of that person and have likely grown like vines and choked the “life” out of them, leaving them merely “existing” as opposed to pursuing greatness.

That said, there is no great person in the world that can sashay into someone else’s brokenness and sprinkle greatness on them... unless, of course, the recipient of such goodness is willing and eager to make a positive change. Better than that, there have also been people in this world who were once shaped by their unfortunate circumstances and environments, yet they literally fought to escape the pit of self-pity or the valley of feelings of worthlessness. Just the same, there are those who stared adversity in the face and outright refused to drown in a sea of negativity and mediocrity.

And with this in mind, we have to know that the tenacity, hope, strength, courage, wisdom, will, and

desire to become a greater human being are all attributes which are truly derived from deep within the soul of a man (or woman).

From there, if a person then chooses to keep the company of great people, this would only become a matter of one person fanning the flames of another…

It’s about iron sharpening iron… It’s merely one great person cultivating the greatness of the next.

I say this because any individual who harbors the tenacity, hope, strength, courage, wisdom, will, and desire to become a greater human being is already headed towards greatness; even if he or she never comes in contact with greatness from his or her immediate surroundings. In like manner, for a person who is content with foolery, mediocrity, and/or failure, greatness could never be contagious.

Source: Shelondra Peavy

EDUCATION

How to Prepare for and Tackle Unexpected College Costs By d-mars.com News Provider

S

mart financial decisions can help your family make good college investment decisions.

Unfortunately, unexpected costs throw many families for a loop. To plan realistically, consider the following:

• Pad Your Budget Many college expenses are variable -- from fun stuff, like entertainment and trips, to the serious, like books, supplies and other educational fees. Pad your budget in case these costs are larger than anticipated.

17 percent appealed, with 58 percent of those parents successful in receiving more aid from the school.

• Stretch Book Budgets The cost of textbooks and supplies often surprise families. While the exact amount is unpredictable, the College Board reports that the average student spends $1,240 each year on course materials.

Purchasing used, renting or downloading textbooks electronically are all smart strategies for reducing costs.

• Look Beyond the Letter

• Grow Your Budget

Those receiving financial aid from their school should look beyond their Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Forty-three percent of parents of college students nationwide report paying more than their EFC, according to a recent survey by College Ave Student Loans and conducted by Barnes & Noble College Insights. The bright side? Of those families that received financial aid award letters,

Families surveyed were nearly split on whether a child helps pay for the cost of college -- 49 percent said yes, 51 percent said no. Having a child kick in can teach responsibility and grow your

overall budget, whether that contribution comes in the form of a part-time job or a work-study program. Another substantial way a student can help is by reducing or even eliminating housing costs and becoming a resident advisor.

Loans, for example, are available at competitive rates and feature a wide range of repayment options. Its customer-friendly experience -- from application through repayment -- takes some of the stress out of the equation.

• Borrow Strategically

• Control Loan Costs

If you need to borrow to pay for college, first take out federal loans in the student’s name, which carries special benefits, such as public service forgiveness and income driven repayment options not typically available on private loans.

When federal loans in the student’s name don’t cover you fully, determine whether private student loans or private parent loans may be right for you and your family. Those from College Ave Student

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You can reduce the overall cost of a loan by starting to make payments while in school, even if it’s only a small amount.

To see the impact that various repayment options have on total loan costs, use the student loan calculator available at collegeavestudentloans.com.

“Whether parents are advocating for more financial aid, helping create a budget or helping pay off loans, their support serves as a cornerstone in many student’s financial plans,” says financial industry veteran Joe DePaulo, CEO and cofounder of College Ave Student Loans.

“Being realistic and having a plan can help families face both the expected and unexpected costs of college.”

Source: StatePoint

June 2019 | 9 EDUCATION

HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

HEALTH CARE The New Self Care

By Noel Pinnock Contributing Writer

T

he late Senator Ted Kennedy called providing access to healthcare for all Americans "the great unfinished business of our society." He was correct, that is until March 23, 2010. With more than 216 legislatures on a Healthcare accord, the Healthcare Reform Act became the law of the land.

Whether you are businessperson or a citizen, this Healthcare Reform Act will definitely change the American landscape and diametrically affect the way businesses across this nation approach the healthcare, awareness, and the social well-being of their employee workforce. Personally, I have several employees who needs are very diverse and as their manager, I must be mindful of their needs and appropriate tasks and responsibilities accordingly. Sadly, many companies and organizations focus more on meeting the bottom line or maximize expenditures on grants thus leaving employees to meander and crumb for leave to try to beat the exhaustion of the general workweek.

In countries like Candida, healthcare is free and has been for years and now we are in a position to be on the frontier of providing employees a better alternative then simply dying from exhaustion or sickness on the sidelines. The City of Houston epitomizes a Health & Awareness Business Culture through providing employees with several benefits to include a floating holiday; which can be utilized as a rest day within a benefit year as well as a wellness day; which can be used by employees for well (wo)man doctor visits. Additionally, they allow time to exercise during lunch and short breaks. Of course, someone has to pay for these employee benefits but think about the long-term effects your business or organization will sustain if employees were not provided an opportunity to protect themselves from sickness or better yet seek medical treatment when the inevitable does occur. If you are a business owner, an executive, or manager, take a few moments to respond silently to one of these questions:

The Houston Independent School District located in the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center at 4400 West 18th Street Houston, Texas 77092 will accept proposals, until the stated date and time deadlines, in the Board Services Office, Level C1.

Project 19-03-02 – RFP/Workers’ Compensation TPA, support services & 504 Network – with a deadline of 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9, 2019. The Pre-Proposal Conference for this project will be in Conference Room 2E06 at the above stated address on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.

The solicitation for bids is available on the HISD website at www.houstonisd.org. To access, go to Departments, Purchasing Services, Bid Opportunities. The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, or, to accept the proposal that is most advantageous to the District.

• If you do not take care of our employees, how can your business/organization accomplish its mission and sustain or increase profits over time?

• How can you run a business if employees have high levels of burnout?

• How can we avoid hazards to our health if we are not aware of what is hazardous?

Again, late Senator Ted Kennedy said it best, “To those who cares that have become our concerns, the fight goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream never dies!” Promote a Health & Awareness culture in your business/organization because your employees’ lives hang in the balance and these resources, albeit scarce, assist you accomplish your business/organization’s mission work and sustain over time…not much rocket science here! #getatit!

Source: Noel Pinnock Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

10 | June 2019 COMMUNITY

By Charlotte A. Jackson Contributing Writer

I

t is a sad situation no matter how you look at it. Almost as soon as the shooting happened in Baytown early Tuesday morning, May 14, people were not only voicing opinions but attacking those who believed differently from them.

Many of those in the law enforcement community as well as their family, friends and supporters saw the situation as someone who was being disobedient. For many in the community, they felt that it was a case of harassment and unnecessary use of authority. Most of us have seen one of the videos of the event and there are others who have seen a second video. Did either of the videos show everything?

According to family and neighbors, the deceased was

known to all. Neighbors as well as those in law enforcement who had interacted with the woman were aware that she had some mental health issues. Law enforcement officers must yearly attend training on mental health and there are also specialized units that respond when an officer or 911 caller report an incident where there is someone in a mental health crisis.

No matter the amount of training or the amount of living with someone who lives with a mental illness, people never know how they will react if faced with a confrontation. There are planned protests to

draw attention to the situation and there are calls for an increased police presence while it these events are happening.

Is there a better use of people’s time and efforts? Is there a better use of law enforcement resources? The debates could last for weeks yet as someone who works for a law enforcement agency and as a mother of a son who has a dual diagnosis of sever bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia, I would like to invite each of you to stop and pray. Ask for direction as to what you can do to help make a difference.

I believe we must have an understanding of others.

Over the years, I have attended many workshops and presentations offered by The Center for Healing of Racism, as well as events hosted by Houston Interfaith Ministries which have taught be to open my mind that my way is not the always the right way and certainly not the only way to approach a situation. I have attended many workshops and special events hosted by SHAPE Community Center as well as by numerous houses of worship. In addition, NAMI (Nations Alliance on Mental Illness) offers many free educational classes as well as support groups for those interested in learning more about mental illnesses. In addition, check out the many offerings held by Crime Stoppers as well as by the different law enforcement organizations in our community.

There are monthly events such as Coffee With a Cop and Town Hall Meetings to get to know those who serve our community.

The key to understanding is learning that we all need to respect others and make a conscientious effort to treat others as we want to be treated. Be blessed and make a difference today.

Source: Charlotte A. Jackson

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June 2019 | 11 COMMUNITY

“You can catch more bees with honey than you can with vinegar” The Heffernan Solutions is a fortune 500 company located in New York. They have some of the most competitive careers in the country and is a very prestigious firm to be employed with. Karen is a recent grad with a lot of experience in software solutions. Upon graduation she landed a leadership role at Heffernan.

Karen was so excited, she quickly packed her belongings and headed to the big apple, optimistic about her new opportunity. When Karen arrived she immediately started her leadership training. Karen was very observant of the office staff and noticed how badly some of the other employees were treated by managers, and she became uneasy. Although she was new, the interaction in the office from earlier really weighed on her. She knew that in her new leadership role she would be sure to treat everyone with manners and respect, and she did just that. All of the employees adored her and jumped at opportunities to work with her because of her hard work and respectable reputation. One day the

DID YOU KNOW

head executive decided to walk the facility to greet everyone and noticed how drawn the administrative team had been to Karen. She paced a few moments watching their teamwork and was surprised by the things they were getting accomplished. Before the work day ended, the head executive pulled an employee aside and inquired about Karen. The employee replied, “She listens to all of our input and applies it to our projects, and not to mention she greets us every morning and respects our role, unlike some of the others. The executive was impressed! She immediately scheduled a meeting with Karen and offered her a promotion to teach others how to display effective leadership so all parts of the company can run smooth. Karen gladly accepted. The executive proceeded to ask her what was her secret, and she replied, “I can catch more bees with honey than with vinegar.” If you treat people kindly they are willing to follow your lead and respect you

REMEMBERING THE LEGACY OF

Director John Singleton

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor

Like a meteor, John Singleton, the youngest-ever Best Director nominee in the history of the Academy Awards, died on April 29 after a stroke. He was 51.

“An inspiration to us all. John Singleton, you will be greatly missed,” the Academy of Arts and Sciences said in a statement on April 29.

At age 24, Singleton became the youngest African American — and youngest person ever — to be nominated for an Oscar.

Nominated for Best Director for his 1991 film, ‘Boyz N the Hood,’ which was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay. The film would become a staple and a right of passage moment in the African American community.

“Time and time again, John drew upon his unique life experiences as a South Los Angeles native to skillfully showcase the African American experience in his highly acclaimed roster of films, which include ‘Higher Learning,’ ‘Poetic Justice,’ and ‘Baby Boy.’ John forced our country to reckon with the ills of our troubled history with the issue of race in ‘Rosewood,’” wrote Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) who was also a personal friend of Singleton.

“He brought new awareness to the realities and pain our community faced at the height of the crack cocaine epidemic

JANUARY 6, 1968 – APR IL 28, 2019 with his latest FX television series ‘Snowfall.’ All the while, John paved the way for future African American directors and filmmakers, and created opportunities for scores of young African American actors,” she added Singleton launched the acting careers of several young African Americans on his way to notoriety. They included Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, Cuba Gooding, Regina King, Janet Jackson, Taraji P. Henson, and Tyrese Gibson.

Singleton’s breakout film, ‘Boyz N the Hood,’ relayed a story that covered the territory of drugs, working class Black families and gun violence that many at the time were not ready for. Singleton’s work highlighted a jarring statistic: One out of every twenty-one Black American males will be murdered.

Currently, homicide remains the leading cause of death for black males between the ages of 15 through 34. And, according to research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2018, “Between 2008 and 2016, black men were more likely to die by guns in homicides.”

Singleton is survived by his mother, Sheila Ward, his father, Danny Singleton and his children Justice, Maasai, Hadar, Cleopatra, Selenesol, Isis, and Seven.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist and writer for NNPA as well as a political analyst and strategist as Principal of Win Digital Media LLC. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail. com and on twitter at @LVBurke

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12 | June 2019 EDUCATION

Great Ways to Keep Your Mind Sharp By d-mars.com News Provider

W

hen you think about exercise, you likely envision using the treadmill or lifting weights.

But every bit as important to your long-term health and wellness are activities that keep your mind sharp and your cognitive abilities strong and limber.

Here are several things you can do to help keep your mind sharp:

• Solve a Crossword Puzzle A crossword puzzle asks you to reach into your longterm memory bank to solve clues. You may be filling in boxes, but well-constructed crossword puzzles will require you to think outside the box, as sometimes clues are a bit trickier than they seem at first glance, relying on word play or double meanings to work. A relaxing way to unwind and concentrate, consider adding this ritual into your morning.

• Get More from Nature On your next nature hike, don’t check out mentally.

Set goals and keep your senses alert, paying attention to sounds, sights and smells. New tech, such as Casio

WSD-F30 Pro Trek Smart Outdoor Watch, can help.

The watch features apps to support your hike, including Location Memory to record information on trails and viewpoints along the way, as well as Moment Setter to notify you when you reach your targeted altitude.

• Learn a Language A multilingual brain works more efficiently, and it is never too late to pick up a new language. There are many languages apps available to help, some of them free, as well as more traditional taped audio lessons you can pop on while commuting to work or doing chores around the house.

• Make Math Fun Want to build your critical thinking skills and improve your ability to problem solve? Delve into mathematics with fun math puzzles found online. Free online software, such as ClassPad.net, includes resources to help you solve problems, from simple calculations to statistics, graphing and more.

SUMMER FUN

Source: StatePoint

• Get Sleep Sufficient high-quality sleep is one of the most fundamental ways to maintain a sharp mind and keep your brain healthy through the years. Between 7-9 hours a night is ideal for adults, according to the National Sleep Foundation. If you aren’t sleeping well, or feel foggy during the day, consider how to shift your evening routine to get more and better quality sleep.

From math puzzles to crossword puzzles to nature walks, prioritizing workouts for the mind will help you stay sharp.

Source: StatePoint

ACROSS

DOWN

1. 70s hairdo 5. Used for Chinese cooking 8. Part of URL 11. *____-and-slide 12. Cone-shaped quarters 13. Formerly known as dropsy 15. "Les Misérables" author 16. Hissy fit 17. Sink hole 18. *It varies widely in different regions 20. One from the Magi 21. Native American emblem 22. Lavatory, abbr.

23. Like #21 or #37 in this crossword 26. Borrower's warranty 29. Geological time period 30. Experienced sailor 33. Wraths 35. Turning abstract into real 37. Zippo 38. Carl Jung's inner self 39. It's considered abominable 40. Ticks off 42. Mightier than sword?

43. *Popular July 4th event 45. Climb Kilimanjaro, e.g.

47. Bigheadedness 48. Hawaiian veranda 50. Vegetarian's protein source 52. *It won't last long in the heat 55. Canada's favorite tree 56. UN civil aviation agency 57. Another spelling for #54 Down, sing.

59. Listens to #19 Down 60. Accepted behavior 61. Copenhagen native 62. Flower precursor 63. D.C. time 64. Church part

1. *Bonfire residue 2. Mess up 3. Capital of Latvia 4. Porto, to many English-speaking tourists 5. Painful expression 6. Poppy product 7. *In need of a breeze 8. Like Beethoven 9. Fail to mention 10. *A farmer's ____ 12. Sleeping sickness vector 13. Hoover's middle name 14. *Blast from past in movie watching 19. ____-boots 22. Car nut 23. Bald eagle's nest 24. Do like ivy 25. Yogurt-based dip 26. Cobbler's concern 27. Nonsense 28. Red Sea nation 31. Actress Hathaway 32. Mammoth site, e.g.

34. *Summer castle material 36. *Light bearer 38. Very, in music 40. Big fuss 41. Kidnapper's demand 44. Fits of shivering 46. *Noisy insect 48. El Pollo ____, pl.

49. Not together 50. Off-limits 51. Newspaper piece 52. Conifer 53. Like 2016 54. Ages and ages 55. Flash dancers 58. Born, in society pages

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June 2019 | 13 FINANCES

Despite Dreams of Prosperity

Many African Americans Not Financially Ready To Retire

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor

T

he nation’s leading public interest group providing seniors and others with information that empowers them to choose how they live, AARP, regularly publishes a retirement calculator that individuals and families can use to provide a personalized snapshot of what their financial future might look like.

One simply has to answer a few questions about household status, salary and retirement savings (such as an IRA or 401(k)), include information about supplemental retirement income (such as a pension or Social Security), and consider how long they intend to work to generate information that will inform their expected lifestyle as a retiree.

The tool is designed to help potential retirees determine the amount of money they’ll need to retire “when – and how – they want.”

Unfortunately for most African Americans, even the most sophisticated planning tools lead to the same result: retirement has fast become a pie-in-the-sky dream.

“As a whole, Americans are bad savers. But, I believe it’s worse for African American communities because they don’t have access to the right educational opportunities,” said Cory Chapman, the Managing Partner and CEO of EFC Wealth Management.

“Being raised by a single mom with three kids, I understand the struggle of just trying to pay the bills and get food on the table. Growing up, saving money was an afterthought and never discussed,” Chapman said.

A report published earlier this month demonstrated how African Americans, Latinos and other minorities will have a more difficult time calling it quits than white Americans.

The report, published on the financial website The Motley Fool, revealed that the troubling disparity in retirement readiness between white Americans and minorities can be explained largely by income and wealth disparities that persist throughout our lives.

“Caucasians didn’t lose as much wealth during the Great Recession and have recovered more of it, so white households now hold close to six times the wealth of

African American or Hispanic households,” the report’s authors said.

Median earnings for white households recovered from the recession by 2016, but earning levels for both black and Hispanic households remained below 2007 levels.

Caucasians now earn close to twice as much as minority households do, according to The Motley Fool.

“The African American community is skeptical when it comes to saving,” Chapman said.

“Growing up, we were taught by our grandparents that we couldn’t trust banks and we were better off burying money in the backyard,” he said.

Understanding how money works is actually getting worse with each new generation – black children aren’t learning basic life skills in school, Chapman continued.

“We need to be teaching children about planning strategies to generate wealth. Retired African American clients that come into my office are still just trying to make ends meet,” Chapman said.

“They don’t feel like they can save money when they are trying to put their kids through college and help them buy a home or car. They are forgetting about themselves

and their own retirement,” he said.

The most recent MassMutual State of the American Family Study found that there are differences in retirement planning among different cultural groups.

African Americans fall short on executing life-changing measures such as accumulating wealth, being better prepared for retirement and building up savings.

According to the American Family Study, 84 percent of

African Americans believe the American Dream means financial security; 78 percent in not living paycheck-topaycheck; and 77 percent in owning a home.

However, based on the study, many African Americans don’t have tangible assets needed to make those goals happen now.

The study revealed a disconnect between African Americans’ financial situations and their hope toward the future.

Some key findings from the survey: • Outside of retirement accounts, only 37 percent of African Americans own wealth-building products such as stocks and mutual funds.

• Only 35 percent believe they are doing a good job of preparing for retirement.

• 33 percent have less than one month of funds saved for a crisis and less than 25 percent have amassed more than six months’ of emergency savings.

• 58 percent are actively involved in educating their children on finances versus 48 percent of Caucasians.

Forty-percent rely on family members for information “The study shows African Americans want to improve their financial situations and are hopeful about the future,” Evan Taylor, African American market director for MassMutual, told Black Enterprise Magazine.

“At the same time, it sheds light on the financial struggles and inequities that the African American community continues to battle,” Taylor said.

“Those contradictions indicate a need for greater financial education and discipline for the whole family to achieve economic success. In fact, the biggest financial regret expressed by respondents was that they wished they had started saving and investing sooner,” he said.

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Source: NNPA

14 | June 2019

the Power of

WITH MR.D-MARS & D

To teach our peop and not a plantat maximize our fu

—Dr. G By d-mars.com News Provider

D

r. George C. Fraser has made it his life’s mission to lead and influence the black business community. He has been deemed a “networking guru” for his great work in teaching the power of networking and using influential relationships to build a career.

Keith “MR. D-MARS” Davis, Sr. experienced the teaching and mentoring of Dr. Fraser first hand. From attending the annual PNC to becoming a personal mentee of Dr. Fraser, MR. D-MARS has built his business on using the power of “relationship capital” to change and better himself and the community around him. He discusses this road to success in his debut book “Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest,” which includes a foreword written by Dr. Fraser himself.

Dr. Fraser and MR. D-MARS answered some questions about their relationship, the power of networking and attending PNC and how to use the tools you have through “Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest.”

he gave me his contact information. He encouraged me to keep doing research. I started going to his annual conferences and following him and reading his books, talking on the phone, getting advice…He really opened my eyes to a lot of things. He just had a lot of resources and data at his disposal that I was able to soak up.”

Dr. Fraser: “I liked Keith from the moment I met him nearly 15 years ago. He was a bit rough around the edges, but he had steel encrusted determination, overflowing creativity, street smarts and good old fashion mother wit.”

How did the two of you establish a personal mentorship?

MR. D-MARS: “I was telling him how impactful his speech was, and

What should people expect to PNC 2019?

Dr. Fraser: “A transformative, t

regarding business developmen development and access to the mos of Black professionals, business ow around the globe.”

Why should the community be this year’s event?

Dr. Fraser: “We will be giving birt

Citizens of Generational Wealth.

Declaration of Interdependence, historic…happening for the first tim MR. D-MARS: “You need to really changed my life. That is why it w foreword in my book. He had a diff the community forward, and if you the community. He gave me the righ use to this day to help the commun

How did you two get connected?

MR. D-MARS: “I remember when I was trying to figure everything out,

I just knew I could be more successful if I knew more people than anybody. I liked to meet people, but I didn’t understand the concept of relationship capital and the business of networking until I meet Dr. Fraser. I heard him speak and then began researching him and reading his books. Everything I was trying to do and everything I was thinking of, he put it in perspective for me, so I could understand the value of networking and building relationships and how it could really help grow a business.”

and the impact of that allowed m networking. From the first time I a great impact on me, and I was ab worked with.”

What sets this networking con Dr. Fraser: “I am the Guru of Netw

What kind of impact did Dr. Fraser have on your career? experience and training our people, MR. D-MARS: “He had a huge impact on my career because I learned was selected by Forbes Magazine

from him the true business of networking. And it really helped me grow,

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

Not To Be Missed in America.” No oth honored with that distinction. In 3

June 2019 | 15

f Networking

DR. GEORGE C. FRASER

ple to think like a nation tion.” Only then will we ull human potential.”

George C. Fraser

me to teach other people effective attended his conference, he had a ble to share that with the people I

billion in new business growth for the attendees, $1.5 billion black dollars recycled back into the community, 2,900+ new Black owned businesses started, creating over 3,000 new jobs, 4,900 hours of coaching and mentor sessions/hours, 50,000 attendees trained, etc.”

o experience and gain from the In what aspects do you hope to grow and improve this conference in years to come? training and coaching experience Dr. Fraser: “To teach our people to think like a nation and not a

nt, wealth creation, personal st powerful and “woke” networking wners and community leaders from

e in attendance at

th to a new Nation - FraserNation: We will have our own Preamble, Constitution and Flag…it will be me anywhere in Houston.” y listen. Collect the data. It helped was an honor for him to write the ferent perspective on how to move know me, you know I am all about ht tools and mechanisms that I still nity.”

nference apart from others?

working in Black America, 32 years’ e, they will learn from the best! PNC as “One of the Top 5 Conferences her Black conference has ever been 32 years, there has been over $1.2

plantation.” Only then will we maximize our full human potential.

Speaking of maximizing, how did Dr. Fraser have an influence on “Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest?”

MR. D-MARS: “I think some of the things I learned from him helped shape who I am. I now understand how important it is to get into different rooms and different circles and how to use relationships to better yourself and in turn, better the community. That is what I have always wanted to do, make my community better by helping businesses and people in the community. By learning some of his strategies, I was able to write this book.”

What did it mean to you to be involved with “Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest?”

Dr. Fraser: “To be asked to write a Forward for an important book is an honor by any measure. To do it for Keith “D-MARS” Davis, Sr., a mentee of mine for many years, is not only humbling, but gives me great

pride and a sense of real purpose regarding the moral and spiritual goals of my own life. Not only has Keith listened and internalized the guidance and lessons, he has passed on the knowledge to others, which in turn affected many other lives. His groundbreaking 20-yearold communication business, which pivots and requires masterful networking and relationship building skills, has not only succeeded at the highest levels, but has showcased Black excellence in greater Houston as it has never been done before. His new book “Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest” is not only a blueprint for success, not also generously shares the lessons he has learned. His path to greatness is clear and I’m ecstatic and fulfilled to be but a small part of that.”

To learn how to harness the true power of networking and maximize the skills in your own treasure chest, be sure to get your copy of MR. D-MARS’ book “Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest,” available now, and attend Dr. Fraser’s 2019 Power Networking Conference at the Hilton Americas in Downtown Houston, Texas, June 26-29.

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ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY! WWW.KEITHJDAVISSR.COM

16 | June 2019 REAL ESTATE

FIVE BOOKS TO

Inspire Green Thumbs By d-mars.com News Provider

W

hether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, it always helps to have a little guidance and inspiration.

These new books from DK can help you perfect your gardening game:

Cacti and Succulents How can you encourage your bunny ear cactus to flower and flourish? What’s the best method for propagating an Echeveria or Kalanchoe? What exactly are living stones, and where do they grow in the wild? “Practical Cactus and Succulent Book: the Definitive Guide to Choosing, Displaying and Caring for More than 200 Cacti and Succulents” is a great, exhaustive reference for cactus and succulent enthusiasts. An extensive illustrated plant directory profiles more than 200 succulent and cactus varieties, with instructions on how to grow each one, alongside facts and quirky stats about different plant families.

Back to Basics For those in need of some basics, “Beginner Gardening Step by Step: A Visual Guide to Yard Garden Basics,” details how to get your yard or green space under control and keep it that way. Do-it-yourself garden ideas and step-by-step photographs for everything from planting decorative climbers to growing fruits and vegetables, take the anxiety out of planting, potting, and pruning.

Year-Round Gardening Take the uncertainty out of your harvest with a DK bestseller, “The Kitchen Garden: A Month-by-Month Guide to Growing Your Own Fruits and Vegetables.”

In-depth crop planners show you when to plant and how to cultivate more than 60 herbs, fruits and vegetables, including kale, rhubarb, spinach, strawberries and apples. Month-by-month alerts help you guard against the season’s garden pests and diseases. Prioritize key garden tasks, learn crop rotation techniques and try step-by-step garden projects, such as preparing a seedbed and making your own compost bin.

Orchid Care Orchid care can be complex. Sort myth from fact with “Happy Orchid: Help it Flower, Watch it Flourish,” which offers a simple, step-by-step introduction to essential growing techniques, including how to plant orchids, what feed to give them and how to water and maintain humidity. Each profiled orchid lets you know exactly what’s needed for optimum growth, including where best to place them, how often they need repotting, how to prolong flowering and how to encourage reflowering.

Plant Propagation With hundreds of step-by-step tutorials, the new edition of “Propagating Plants: How to Create New Plants for Free” can be your go-to guide for clear and instructive propagation advice. How long do your seedlings need to germinate? What makes a healthy stem cutting? How do you know what type of rootstock to use when grafting plants? With more than 1,800 detailed illustrations and photos to refer to, you can find the answer to these questions and discover the experts’ secrets to perfect plant propagation.

This season, grow your gardening library and get inspired to grow beautiful and delicious things.

Source: StatePoint Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

June 2019  |  17

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18  |  June 2019 REAL ESTATE

3 tips for creating durable SUMMER LAWN * Water properly.

By d-mars.com News Provider

G

rass is a highly resilient plant, but even the healthiest lawn will require some TLC to help it keep up with the high-traffic summer recreation season. Follow these three tips for improved summer durability to make sure your yard bounces back quickly from whatever you throw at it - whether your activity of choice is a rowdy game of flag football or a leisurely backyard dinner party.

Instead of watering a little every day, water more deeply twice a week - aiming for a total of about 1 inch of water per week, including rainfall - to help the water penetrate the root zone and then dry out a little in between waterings to keep good oxygen in the soil

* Don't stress; cut less.

As a rule of thumb, when you mow your lawn you should never cut more than one-third of the grass blade height at a time. Scalping a lawn will cause stress, which can create problems all summer. To best protect your lawn before a high-traffic activity, mow at the tall end of the recommended range. For most grass species, this means increasing the mowing height to around 3 inches.

Leaving a little extra length will also provide more cushioning for the soil and your guests' feet.

* Fertilize correctly.

When your lawn starts to brown in the summer, don't throw fertilizer on it. Fertilizing in the spring and summer favors shoot and leaf growth at the expense of root growth, which is key for creating a healthy, hardy lawn. Feed your lawn twice per year (plan for mid-May and mid-September), with the spring application featuring slow-release nitrogen fertilizer to minimize excess growth. Still feel the need to fertilize?

Simply leave the clippings on your lawn after you mow.

This not only saves time, but can provide up to 25% of the lawn's fertilizer needs.

your lawn, avoid watering for two or three days beforehand, but then water immediately after. A drier lawn will help protect guests' shoes, better support furniture and other structures and minimize damage from heavy traffic - especially if you're playing yard games.

"A natural grass lawn creates the perfect setting for a whole host of outdoor activities for the entire family," said Bryan Ostlund, executive director of Grass Seed USA, a coalition of American grass seed farmers and turf specialists. "If you're lucky enough to have a grass lawn, use it! Spending time outdoors is good for both mind and body."

So take advantage of your green oasis and gather on the lawn to eat or play together. If you're looking for games, children's classics like tag or flag football might

system. This will create a resilient, low-water lawn with a strong root system that will thrive and require less watering during the hottest months. If you're planning to host a large gathering on

be the first activities that spring to mind, but a quick search on Pinterest will show that the possibilities are truly endless. Bring out the bubbles, Frisbees, Hula-Hoops and kites. Pitch a tent, spread out a blanket or just lie on the grass.

Whether you're playing, entertaining or relaxing, there are countless reasons to get out on your lawn, and a bit of maintenance will make sure your grass is up for whatever the summer may bring. With proper mowing, fertilization and irrigation, a healthy lawn can stand up to a surprising amount of traffic.

Source: BPT

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June 2019  |  19

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20  |  June 2019 REAL ESTATE

TREND WATCH 2019 OUTDOOR LIVING AND DESIGN TRENDS FOR EVERY HOMEOWNER Clean lines and contemporary style

By d-mars.com News Provider

utdoor living continues to grow in 2019 as homeowners dream of adding spaces that provide tranquility, connection and touches of nature.

More than just a home enhancement, these spaces are meant to inspire people to set digital devices aside and find moments of calm while making memories with friends and family.

Now is the perfect time to plan updates to outdoor living areas so as the seasons turn, you're ready to enjoy your outdoor space to the fullest. Joe Raboine, director of residential hardscapes at Belgard, offers his expert insight into top outdoor design trends of the year that you should consider for your home.

O

Modern lines are a top interior design trend and it is expanding into outdoor living spaces, offering a seamless visual transition. Contemporary style with clean lines,

Sustainability is king As more homeowners are prioritizing green living, outdoor designs that become a part of the local ecosystem are in high demand.

This could include planting to support pollinators and integrating edible landscape into the design. Water features are growing in popularity, used to add a tranquil element to outdoor spaces while masking unwanted sounds, such as traffic or other noise pollution.

Visualization of designs

Blurring of indoor and outdoor areas Beyond windows and patio doors, home designs are truly blending indoor and outdoor areas thanks to features like folding walls and collapsible screens. For example, imagine a family room that opens up completely to an outdoor patio for easy entertaining, made possible by retractable walls plus smart lighting and strategic heating and cooling sources for seasonal comfort. These types of integrated spaces make the backyard a one-of-a-kind extension of the home.

kitchens and fire features continue to be a top trend.

Kitchen additions like pizza ovens are reflective of the foodie movement, while fire features using gas fuel rather than wood are reflective of the desire for convenience, plus they are a good fit for many municipal regulations.

textures and shapes have taken over more traditional styles, particularly among younger homeowners. Modular, large-format pavers embrace this trend and are expected to continue to increase in popularity, with smoother textures gaining traction.

Monochromatic and "greige" tones The contemporary trend also leans toward monochromatic color schemes. Gray continues to be popular, with the growing trend of "greige" - blends of gray and beige tones - poised to take off in 2019. These muted hues blend seamlessly with the landscape, plus they allow homeowners to use strategic pops of color with furniture and flowers to create customized spaces that reflect their personalities perfectly.

Outdoor kitchens and fire features

Partnering with the right designer is key to achieving the outdoor space of your dreams.

More homeowners are asking for 3D designs in order to properly conceptualize a space before it is brought to life through construction. Belgard Design Studio can take a simple sketch with dimensions and a few photos and turn it into a 3D rendering or virtual reality experience so homeowners can see the true potential of their outdoor space.

Small footprint designs Outdoor living isn't just for homeowners with large properties. Houses with small footprints are adding impressive outdoor spaces in surprising places. This could be maximizing alleyway access, adding a courtyard to a small backyard, or shifting the focus by utilizing the front yard to create a patio and fireplace area. If you long for an outdoor living space, don't let space constraints limit your dreams.

These 2019 outdoor living trends, in effect, will prove to create a year full of innovative outdoor projects that fit the needs of every homeowner.

In an effort to make outdoor spaces an authentic extension of the home, livability is a priority. That means outdoor Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

Source: BPT

June 2019 | 21

AVAILABLE

NOW

One thing I am proud of is, for 20 years, I have kept my core beliefs,” Davis said. “I know that by holding on to those values, we have changed lives and helped people grow in business and in their personal lives.

It is all thanks to the people who supported us, people who saw we were good for the community.

— Keith “MR. D-MARS” Davis, Sr.

ORDER ONLINE NOW WWW.KEITHJDAVISSR.COM (713) 373.5577 Keith J Davis Sr.

@KeithJDavisSr

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22 | June 2019 COMMUNITY

MAYOR TURNER’S OPEN LETTER TO HOUSTON

Economic Opportunity Abounds at Houston’s OBO

By Sylvester Turner Houston Mayor

A

s mayor, I work to ensure that economic opportunity is available to everyone. Fortunately, our dynamic and ever-growing city Houston offers plenty of ways to earn a living. We see that in our unemployment rate of 3.2%, the lowest since 1981.

The City of Houston has a department whose mission is to share those job opportunities far and wide. It is even part of its name.

The Office of Business Opportunity partners with organizations across the city, state, and the country to develop and carry out programs that improve job skills, support start-up entrepreneurs and help contractors compete for contracts with the city for services, supplies and more.

Two programs stand out: Turnaround Houston! and the Lift-Off Houston Business Plan Competition.

Since 2016, Turnaround Houston! resource fairs have helped hundreds of Houstonians improve their lives by overcoming barriers to employment. Resources include job training programs, access to social services and connections to “second-chance” employers. Even things as simple as a haircut and business attire for a job interview are available, understanding the importance of a first impression to a potential employer.

This year, Turnaround Houston! expanded with the introduction of the Turnaround Houston Entrepreneurial

Program, which provides previously incarcerated individuals skills and resources to start their own businesses and provide for their families. In April, 13 individuals graduated from the first group. For more information, visit www.turnaroundhouston.org June marks the start of the Liftoff Houston Business Plan Competition. Business owners operating for less than one year will learn how to write business plans that will help them jump start their businesses. Then, in November, after several months of coaching, preparation, and refining a business plan, nine business owners will be selected from several hundred to compete in three categories: Product, Service and, Innovation. The winner of each category wins a $10,000 prize. Think Houston Shark Tank!

Deidre Mathis was one of three winners in the 2017 competition. I met her last year at the opening of her Wanderstay Hotel in the Museum District, which she started with the help of the $10,000 grand prize from the Liftoff competition. Since winning Liftoff, she was coined the first Woman of Color to open a US based hostel and has been interviewed by Forbes Magazine, USA TODAY, and Conde Nast Traveler. This year, she was awarded a Tory Burch Fellowship, earned Startup of the Year by Wanderful Network, and was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by the Urban League Young Professional Organization. She shared with me that her experience with the program and OBO helped her fix the holes in her business plan and open her hotel.

Now in its seventh year, the competitions have given

business owners opportunities to open enterprises like Wanderstay Hotel to a healthy bakery to a crowd funding site for education. They have provided Houstonians with new services, created jobs and expanded Houston’s economy.

For more information, visit www.liftoffhouston.com.

For more on the Office of Business Opportunity, visit: www.houstontx.gov/obo/ I have learned that if you take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves, and work hard toward obtaining your dreams, then you can achieve them. I encourage all Houstonians to pursue their dreams by exploring the opportunities mentioned above and the many others offered by the City of Houston and other organizations across this great city.

advertising

Source: Mayor Sylvester Turner

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24 | June 2019 TRAVEL

TIRES KEEP America rolling By d-mars.com News Provider

O

ff to work. Heading to the gym. Going to see the latest superhero movie ... again. Taking the kids to soccer practice. Road trip! Wherever you're driving to, the last things on your mind when you jump into your car are the tires.

Makes sense: To most, tires are nondescript, black and round, no big deal. Safe to say, tires get no respect. Think about it: What other parts of a car do we kick? Truth be told, tires are easily one of the most technologically advanced parts of a vehicle, influencing the braking, steering, comfort, handling, safety and fuel efficiency.

How important are tires? Well, they are the only parts actually touching the road and without tires, America stops rolling, literally. Just ask the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), a trade organization based in Washington, D.C. Among the many things they do - monitoring legislation to environmental

concerns - USTMA puts on National Tire Safety Week every year to educate folks on the vital role tires play in our lives every single day.

"USTMA does a fantastic job promoting tire safety and awareness," said Alan Holtschneider, director of marketing for Yokohama Tire, a longstanding USTMA member.

Yokohama has pitched in with "Tire Tips," an instructional 10-part video series created to increase consumer awareness and educate the public about a wide variety of tire-related subjects. "We designed the Tire Tips videos to be not only informative, but entertaining as well," Holtschneider said. "The idea is to really help consumers understand just how important tires actually are and help maintain them for optimum use."

Viewers can watch Tire Tips at https://www.facebook. com/pg/yokohamatire/videos/ and learn things like how to choose the right tire for your SUV/CUV, how to make your tires last longer, why speed ratings are so important, why you should rotate your tires, and when is a tire repairable?

Holtschneider said two of the most popular videos contain tips about keeping tires properly maintained: • Check tire pressure at least once a month - this takes about five minutes. Consult the vehicle's owner's manual or placard on the driver's door to determine proper tire pressure. Tire pressure should be checked when the tires are cold.

• Check your tread depth by placing a penny upside down into a tread groove. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, your tire's tread has worn down to the legal limit and you need to buy a new tire. Tires should be replaced when the tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch, the lowest legal limit. It's best to replace them before they reach 2/32 for optimal performance, especially in bad weather.

For even more tire care and safety tips, visit www. yokohamatire.com/tires-101 or https://www.ustires.org/.

Source: BPT

TECHNOLOGY

By Lauren Poteat NNPA Newswire Contributor

A

s the U.S. continues to push towards a more information-based economy, job opportunities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) have become more lucrative and necessary than ever.

However, according to the Pew Research Center, Black American workers still remain largely underrepresented in the STEM workforce, accounting for only nine percent of all STEM jobs—with Black females representing the lowest percentage of these statistics.

With a vision to drive more Black females into the fields of STEM, Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, the newly-elected president and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), recently lead a major National Town Hall with a special focus on Black millennial women and career development at the NCNW headquarters, located in Washington, D.C. “Our goal [with this meeting] is to further lead, advocate for and empower women of African descent and to provide our priceless and powerful young people an opportunity of inspiration, information and assurance as they go forward in life and do what it is that they know they need to, particularly in the fields of STEM, often underrepresented by African Americans,” Dr. Cole said.

“On the question of technology… I am not that woke,” Dr. Cole jokingly continued. “That is the question that my generation should be reaching out to the younger generations for, as we [the elders] begin to reach back and push the next generations forward.”

Creatively coined “GirlTech,” and deemed a necessary space for the “opportunity to meet education” by NCNW Executive Director Janis Mathis, the April 30th event brought together over a dozen Black female leaders in the fields STEM and welcomed keynote speaker, Natalie

NCNW Hosts National GirlTech Town Hall and Forum Madeira Cofield, founder and CEO of Walker’s Legacy and Foundation, a global platform for the professional and entrepreneurial multicultural woman.

“We are here to talk about women in tech, women in science, women in STEM, and so I thought about Madame CJ Walker, who was also a scientist,” Cofield said, of the first Black female self-made millionaire in the U.S., who specialized in Black haircare products. “But often times when we think about who she was, we don’t think about her being a chemist and a business scientist. We would be remiss to not think of her as being one of the top innovators of our time.”

“And so, I think it is important for us to begin the conversation with our real contributions, because that is our beginning and strength and not a beginning and weakness,” Cofield continued. “I think it’s very easy for people to begin ‘us’ at a point of ‘disadvantage,’ even though we have been innovators for so long.”

Following the keynote address, attendees were also allowed to partake in two specialized breakout discussions focused on telehealth/telemedicine, cybersecurity and data privacy.

Some of the speakers for these sessions included Global Health Access Institute Director, Dr. Clishia Taylor; Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Assistant Professor, Dr. Yvonne Commodore-Mensah; and National Cybersecurity Institute Program Director, Dr. Amelia Estwick, who helped segue guests into the National Town Hall.

With a theme of ‘inclusion and diversity’ in the STEM workforce, the National Town Hall featured guest speakers, including National Action Network Washington D.C. Bureau Chief, Ebonie Riley; U.S. House of Representatives

Technology Counsel, Meagan Sunn; and Black Women’s Roundtable Senior Technology Policy Advisor, Joycelyn Tate, who ended the event with a nationwide call to action and awareness.

“Diversity is what I call being invited to the dance and inclusion is being asked to actually dance,” Tate said.

“The reason diversity and inclusion are both important is because we have to be in the room as women and minorities in order to be able to see what’s going on, and we have to feel that inclusion, in order to make technology relevant. As it stands now, most technology is created by white men and is thus, often times not relevant to us. So, we must be in the room.”

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Source: NNPA

June 2019 | 25 TECHNOLOGY

6 SMART WAYS TO DIGITAL DECLUTTER 3. Get your family on one mobile plan

By d-mars.com News Provider

T

his time of year, as our focus turns to spring cleaning, there's an aspect of tidying up that most of us may be forgetting: our digital clutter. Women's lifestyle outlet How Does She partnered with Walmart Family Mobile to share some excellent technology tidying tips (say that five times fast!). From Christmas pictures that are still taking up memory on your phone, to hundreds of old texts that are eating up your gigabytes, to needless folders that make your computer desktop messier than a 10-year-old's room, there are plenty of things you can digitally declutter, and once you get started, you'll be amazed at how zen you'll feel.

1. Organize your photos Photos are notorious for taking up a ton of space, and can add up quickly if you don't regularly back them up.

To get started, find a free cloud-based service to help organize your pictures. As you upload, make sure to select "delete after uploading" to kill two birds with one stone and save a little time. No matter the method you chose, take the time to protect your photos and get them in order. You can even go one step further and make it a monthly routine to make your storage easier to maintain!

2. Delete old text Text conversations can pile up fast and take up valuable storage, especially if they contain images or videos.

There's no need to keep unimportant ones around. As you go through your messages, save only the vital conversations you'd need to keep as a record or for reference, otherwise, send them to the trash! For the messages with images and videos, use the advice in the first tip to stay organized and limit storage use. Take five minutes right now (that's all you need!) and pare down your texts.

With all the running around your family does, it's hard enough to keep schedules straight, let alone keep up with different mobile plans. Make it easy on yourself by getting the whole family on the same affordable plan.

Did you know Walmart Family Mobile has a multi-line family plan? You can get two Truly Unlimited lines with unlimited talk, text and high-speed data for less than $75 per month. (Video typically streams at DVD quality.)

And you can add more lines to suit your family's needs at a great bargain! Not only is this an amazing deal, but with Walmart Family Mobile you also get non-stop nationwide coverage on one of the nation's largest, most reliable 4G LTE† networks. It's great for busy families who are always on the go. You'll be able to keep in touch with your kids when they have practices, extra-curricular activities, are out with friends, and more.

How it works: Switching to Walmart Family Mobile is quick and easy. With no contract and no activation fees (awesome!), you simply pick a phone (or bring your own), pick a plan, activate and go. It's that simple. You can either head into your local Walmart store or check out MyFamilyMobile.com.

4. Tidy up your email The depths of some email accounts can be a dark and scary place. Email is a primary means of communication in the world today and there's nothing worse than not being able to find an important message when you need it. Tidy up your inbox by taking some time to delete all junk and trash messages, and then organize further by adding folders where you can store like-minded emails.

Work emails go in one folder, PTA emails in another, and so on and so forth.

make for a cluttered screen too. If you find yourself consistently scrolling left and right trying to locate an app, that may be a sign that you have too many, or just need a little organization. Pare down your apps by deleting the ones that you never use. Then move the ones you use most frequently to the first screen, leaving lesser-used apps toward the back. You can also group similar apps into folders to further clear up your screen.

6. Clean up your desktop Finally, find a quick 15 minutes to clean up your computer's desktop. Having rogue folders labeled "miscellaneous" and random icons cluttering up your screen can make it difficult to find what you actually need at a moment's notice. Once you sort through everything, you'll free up space and have a great new system in place to find files with ease.

So this season, when you're gearing up to spring clean your home, don't forget to digitally declutter too! To find out more about Walmart Family Mobile's unlimited plans and multi-line discounts, visit MyFamilyMobile. com or your local Walmart.

If congested, customers may notice reduced speeds vs T-Mobile customers that may be further reduced for small numbers of customers who use >40GB. † To get 4G LTE speed, you must have a 4G LTE capable device and 4G LTE SIM. Actual availability, coverage and speed may vary. During periods of congestion, Walmart Family Mobile customers may notice reduced speeds versus carrier branded customers. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.

5. Delete unused apps Apps not only take up your device's memory, but can

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Source: BPT

26 | June 2019

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HUB OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT

For more information about how to do business with the University of Houston, bid opportunities or to be kept abreast of events, workshops and seminars, visit www.uh.edu/hub or email us at hubevent@uh.edu THE HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS (HUB) Program at the University of Houston was established to identify and encourage HUBs to participate in the competitive bid process with the objective of increasing the number of contracts and subcontracts awarded to HUB vendors.

THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HUB PROGRAM is committed to expanding business opportunities available in order to promote the successful development of growing businesses, to have a positive impact on improving our local economy and to give back to our community.

We encourage solicitations from HUB vendors in an effort to award more contracts to those businesses.

WWW.UH.EDU/HUB

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