01.29.2026_Defender-e-FULL

Greek Legacies Safeguard Black Institutional Power

FEATURE

PROFILE

MELANIE LAWSON

SHAWN SIMMONS

The iconic ABC13 journalist bids farewell after 43 years.

The AKA Regional Director shares leadership lessons for all.

Volume 95, issue 15 January 29, 2026

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DN To the POINT

The original image of the arrest of Nekima Levy Armstrong and the doctored image posted by the White House on X. Credit: DHS/White House/X

Message from the Managing Editor earned well-deserved recognition. And in Because I am. Bone-tired. Spiritually a moment that feels both celebratory and exhausted. Every single day with this long overdue, acting legend Delroy Lindo administration feels like a new exercise received his first-ever Oscar nomination in rewriting reality in real time. From the for his role as Delta Slim, a veteran blues White House posting a digitally altered musician. Lindo has delivered masterclass image of the arrest of social justice activist performances for decades, so watching Nekima Levy Armstrong on X to the killing the industry finally say his name feels like of Renee Good in Minnesota, every day it a small correction to a very old oversight. feels like it’s something with this adminisHere’s hoping this season ends with him tration. And don’t even get me started on taking home the gold.

ReShonda Tate the latest killing of a man in Minnesota, an incident many of us watched unfold with our own eyes, fol- Carnival goes to Africa lowed almost immediately by a reframing that labeled him This week, Carnival Cruise Line announced major plans an “armed terrorist.” Never mind that he held a legal con- for the 2027/2028 season aboard the Carnival Sunshine, cealed handgun license. Never mind context, nuance, video, including first-ever visits to African ports. The new itineraror facts. The narrative machine kicked into gear, and once ies will include stops in Italy, France, Spain, and Montenegro, again, we were expected to accept a version of events that as well as in Northern African destinations like Tangier and didn’t match what we saw.

La Goulette. On paper, it’s a bold expansion for the 3,000-pasThis is the pattern now. Every day it’s something else. senger ship and a sign that Carnival is leaning further into Children used as political bait. Immigration enforcement destination-focused cruising for a growing, adventurous turned into a spectacle, with undertrained agents and for- customer base. mer extremist group members positioned as enforcers. Fear From a business standpoint, it makes sense. These sailings dressed up as policy. Chaos sold as strength. I’m still waiting feel like a natural extension of Carnival’s Journeys program, on the Make America Great Again part, because for a whole longer, more immersive trips designed for travelers who want lot of people, this moment feels smaller, meaner, and more more than the standard cruise loop. Africa is rich, historic, dangerous than ever. And the exhaustion isn’t apathy, it’s the and complex, and there’s no question these ports carry culfatigue that comes from having to stay alert at all times just tural weight and global appeal. to separate truth from spin.

But personally? It’s a hard pass for me. Maybe it’s the political climate. Maybe it’s historical memory that doesn’t turn Black cinema is having a off just because the itinerary looks pretty. All I can picture moment they can’t ignore is us stepping off the boat and ICE standing there saying, While politics keeps testing our collective blood pressure, “Welcome home!” Humor aside, there’s a real unease many Black filmmakers are out here doing the work, and the Acad- Black travelers feel right now about borders, documentation, emy finally had to acknowledge it. Over the past year, films and how easily narratives can shift once you’re no longer on like “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” didn’t just U.S. soil. Protecting your peace sometimes means knowing generate buzz; they dominated the Oscar conversation. When when to stay docked. nominations were announced, both films led the pack, with “Sinners” making history as the most nominated film ever ON THE WEB with 16 nominations. Ever-ever. Let that sit.

• Houston Black press lives on: Inside archives preserving This is especially sweet considering how some entertainresistance ment pundits tried to undersell “Sinners” early on, ques• Why self-discipline is a survival skill for Black tioning its reach and impact. Turns out, excellence doesn’t professionals need permission. In the Best Supporting Actress category, • Terrance’s Take: It’s business as usual in the NFL when first-time nominees Teyana Taylor and Wunmi Mosaku it comes to hiring Black head coaches Are we tired yet?

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DN News City Council approves stormwater funds to demolish buildings

By Tannistha Sinha

Houston City Council approved using $30 million from the city’s roughly $167 million stormwater fund to demolish 343 dangerous and abandoned buildings, a move Mayor John Whitmire described as necessary to curb illegal dumping and drainage problems.

City Controller Chris Hollins warned the decision could Hollins undermine fiscal oversight and violate the city charter.

The vote followed a tense public exchange between Whitmire and Hollins, with council divided over whether demolition qualifies as stormwater maintenance.

Controller raises legal and oversight concerns Hollins said his office flagged the proposal because it expanded an existing contract from

zero dollars to $30 million without what he called proper fiscal review. He argued stormwater funds can only be used to plan, build, and maintain stormwater-related programs and facilities, calling the demolition plan “illegal” and warning it would “gut the city charter.”

“Instead of engaging honestly with our office and working toward a legal solution, the administration repackaged that same work to evade the financial oversight of the controller’s office,” Hollins said, adding it could allow future administrations to bypass oversight.

Mayor pushes back, cites equity concerns Whitmire rejected that characterization, calling it offensive. He said the dangerous structures are concentrated in low-income and minority communities such as Sunnyside, Fifth Ward, and the Third Ward.

“If it was illegal, it would not be on this agenda,” Whitmire said. “It’s just wrong for the controller to try to assume the responsibility of the city attorney.”

City Attorney Arturo Michel said he was “confident” the city was operating within the law.

Public works argues ‘direct nexus’ Houston Public Works Director Randy Macchi argued there is a “direct nexus” between blighted buildings and stormwater issues, saying abandoned structures often become dumping sites. Debris, he said, clogs ditches and storm drains, worsening flooding.

Council divided on funding source Several council members agreed, including Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum, who cited debris-filled drainage systems as evidence. Others, including Council Member Abbie Kamin, opposed the plan, saying diverting stormwater funds risks neglecting core drainage infrastructure.

The ordinance ultimately passed by a 9-7 vote, allowing the city to proceed with qualifying demolitions using stormwater funds.

Mayor John Whitmire framed the stormwater-funded demolitions as a public safety and flooding mitigation measure, arguing the city must act decisively in long-neglected neighborhoods. Credit: Getty

TX Dems condemn detention of infants by ICE

By Gregory Stevenson

Two toddlers, a 5-year-old boy and 2-year-old girl, were in Texas detention centers after they and their fathers were detained by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Credit: Gemini AI.

In a statement issued recently, Texas Democratic Party Executive Director Terri Burke condemned the detention of 5-yearold Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, who are now being held in a Texas facility following what has been widely described as a deeply troubling arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), originating in Minnesota.

More recently, another Minneapolis father and his 2-year-old daughter were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and flown to Texas, despite a court order requiring the toddler’s immediate release.

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson says the 2-year-old girl and her father, identified as Elvis Tipan-Echeverria, were initially being held at a federal facility in Minneapolis. Their vehicle was pursued in a “targeted enforcement operation,” according to DHS. According to a CNN report, an affidavit filed by the family’s attorney says Tipan-Echeverria and his daughter had just returned home from the store and were inside their car when ICE agents entered the backyard and driveway.

The family’s attorney says Tipan-Echeverria tried to bring the girl to her mother, but the agents wouldn’t allow it. However, DHS claims federal agents tried to give the

toddler to her mother, who was in the area, but she reportedly refused to take her.

“No child belongs in prison,” said Burke, commenting on the five year old detained in Texas before news broke about the two year old being detained in the Lone Star State, as well. “We have seen the consequences of these tactics before in Texas, during the first Trump administration and again with the recent incident in Houston where a father was detained and his teenage son was harmed.

“Governor Greg Abbott’s rhetoric, along with that of U.S. Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, the talk of a ‘migrant border surge’ is inexcusable. Texas is not a sanctuary for these horrific inhumane practices.”

Burke and others have classified Texas as ground zero for the mistreatment of people, especially Black and Brown individuals, residing in the U.S., including immigrants and U.S. citizens.

“Texas must not be a place where this behavior is normalized. Texas Democrats call for accountability, transparency, and an immediate end to practices that terrorize communities and put innocent children behind bars,” Burke concluded.

Dozens of immigrant families protested behind the fences of a Dilley, Texas detention facility where the 5-year-old boy and his father were sent after being detained in Minnesota.

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DN News Section

Texas school takeovers Spotlight poverty, race, accountability

By Gregory Stevenson

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) last year moved to take over four school districts after six campuses received failing grades for five consecutive years, triggering a state mandate that allows the education commissioner to close schools or replace locally elected leadership.

The six campuses share striking similarities. Between 80% and 97% of students come from low-income households, far above the state average. Black and Hispanic students make up nearly all enrolled children, and large portions of students are considered at high risk of dropping out.

District interventions Under a 2015 accountability law, Education Commissioner Mike Morath must intervene when a school earns five straight F ratings. Since taking office, Morath has ordered two campus closures and seven district takeovers, arguing that persistent failure reflects ineffective governance that denies students a quality education.

Mike Morath Morath announced plans to replace school boards and appoint new leadership in Fort Worth, Beaumont, Connally, and Lake Worth. Beaumont and Connally each had two campuses meet the takeover threshold. Morath said the districts failed to make effective changes and showed widespread academic underperformance beyond the trigger schools.

Critics cite poverty, inequality Critics argue the accountability system disproportionately targets districts serving low-income Black and Hispanic students while overlooking deeper inequities tied to poverty, segregation, and limited resources.

Connally ISD Superintendent Jill Bottelberghe said many students face housing instability, transportation barriers, or must care for themselves at home.

“Not everybody gets a hot breakfast

What good is it to have moderately improved reading levels that come from a state takeover when the children are being called the N-word every day and cannot have a peaceful environment in which they learn and seek to grow?”

ANDREW HAIRSTON

TEA is being called out for unduly targeting poorer school districts of color for takeover. Credit: Gemini AI.

and mom taking them to school,” said Bottelberghe.

Additionally, students of color face disciplinary attacks on their natural hairstyles.

Most have endured lessons” that downplay or ignore their history. Many have reported incidents of overt racism.

“What good is it to have moderately improved reading levels that come from a state takeover when the children are being

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called the N-word every day and cannot have a peaceful environment in which they learn and seek to grow?” said Andrew Hairston, director of Texas Appleseed’s Education Justice Project.

Differing conclusions TEA officials maintain the A–F system fairly measures academic outcomes. An F rating means at least 65% of tested students

scored below grade level. While social factors matter, agency leaders say chronic academic failure requires intervention.

Houston ISD, taken over in 2023, is cited by TEA as proof state control can raise test scores.

Critics counter that teacher turnover, community distrust, and sustainability concerns remain unresolved. National research shows takeovers most often affect high-poverty districts, with mixed academic results.

Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Content Manager Terrance Harris

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Managing Editor ReShonda Tate

Culture/Lifestyle Reporter Laura Onyeneho

Special Assignments Reporter Tannistha Sinha Sports Terrance Harris Jimmie Aggison Video Editor Bryan Erdy

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DN Feature

Melanie Lawson Bids farewell after 43 years

By ReShonda Tate

Long before the city became the sprawling, multicultural hub it is today, Melanie Lawson was already watching, listening and learning how stories shape communities.

For more than four decades, Lawson didn’t just report Houston’s news, she bore witness to its growth, its grief and its greatness. Now, after 43 years at KTRK, ABC13, the native Houstonian and award-winning journalist is retiring, closing a chapter that helped define local television news for generations.

“I’ve been blessed to have a long and fruitful career in my hometown because people in the Black community felt they had a voice by trusting me to listen to their truths,” Lawson said.

That trust became the foundation of a career marked by service.

Lawson joined ABC13 in 1978 as an intern, stepping unexpectedly into an on-air role that would launch one of the longest tenures in Houston broadcast history. Over the years, she became a familiar presence on Live at 5 and Eyewitness News, anchoring coverage of hurricanes, elections, civil unrest and cultural milestones with calm authority and context.

She also hosted Crossroads, a public affairs program that created space for nuanced conversations around race, politics, faith and community, issues often overlooked or oversimplified elsewhere.

“It has always been important to me to not only cover our stories but also to speak for people who don’t have the platform to speak for themselves,” Lawson said.

I’ve been blessed to have a long and fruitful career in my hometown because people in the Black community felt they had a voice by trusting me to listen to their truths.”

MELANIE LAWSON

Raised in the early 1970s, Lawson was part of the generation that integrated schools such as Poe Elementary and Lanier Middle School.

She grew up watching Houston transform from a city defined by rigid racial divisions into a largely interconnected, multicultural nexus, a transformation she would later chronicle from behind the anchor desk.

From childhood homes on Wheeler Avenue, Rosedale Street and South MacGregor Way to the first house she purchased on North MacGregor, Lawson is, by her own description, a tried-and-true Third Wardian. She was raised not only by her family, the late Rev. William Bill Lawson and Audrey Lawson, but by a community that collectively believed in accountability, excellence and possibility.

“If I ever got in trouble in school, that walk home was incredibly long,” she said.

“Every adult between school and home had

At a recent NABJ Scholarship ball, Melanie Lawson donated $43,000 to scholarships for future journalists. Credit: ReShonda Tate

to come out and fuss at me. There was a real comfort in that. As long as you lived in a neighborhood where you saw great accomplishments, you believed that was something you could do, too.”

That belief carried her far beyond Houston.

A self-described “nosy” child, a trait she now credits as essential to good journalism, Lawson developed an early love for reading and radio. While other children played outside, she immersed herself in books and ideas.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Princeton University, followed by a joint law and journalism degree from Columbia University. After practicing First Amendment law on Wall Street for three years, Lawson returned home in 1982 at the invitation of a mentor to join Channel 13 Eyewitness News full time. She has remained a central figure in Houston media ever since.

Throughout her career, Lawson interviewed presidents, politicians, artists and activists. She spoke with civil rights leaders including Harry Belafonte, Jesse Jackson and John Lewis. She helped contextualize the cultural significance of Black sororities and historically Black colleges and universities during Kamala Harris’ vice presidential

campaign. She gave early interviews to Spike Lee and Tyler Perry and introduced Houston audiences to Joel Osteen as Lakewood Church prepared for its major expansion.

Yet Lawson has often said the most meaningful conversations weren’t with famous names.

“Sometimes it’s not necessarily the famous people,” she said. “It’s somebody very modest, humble and a part of the fabric of the city.”

That philosophy extended beyond the newsroom. Last month, Lawson donated $43,000 to support the next generation of journalists through the Houston Association of Black Journalists, reinforcing her lifelong commitment to amplifying voices that might otherwise go unheard.

“For decades — four to be exact — Melanie Lawson has been a beloved staple in the Houston community,” said Nakia Cooper, president of the Houston Association of Black Journalists. “She’s who viewers trusted. She’s who little girls and women looked up to. She’s who made Houstonians proud. By giving of herself yet again, she poured into the futures of young storytellers and reminded them how much she believes in them. HABJ will forever honor Melanie Lawson.”

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DN InFocus The Hicks family

Kim Hicks and her daughter, Tori.

The Greer Family

Mya Billingsley, ReShonda Tate, Morgan Billingsey and Tanisha Tate.

Shelley and Mecca Price

Donovan Campbell and his son, Dylan.

Stacey Frank & her sister, Tanya Tircuit Parker.

Benita Smith

Pat and Payton Tucker

Nina Wilson Jones

Greek Legacies Safeguard Black Institutional Power

By ReShonda Tate

In many households across the country, January isn’t just the start of a new year — it is the peak of “Founders’ Day” season. It is a season of history, reverence, and celebration, a time when the air is filled with the sounds of sorority and fraternity calls, the sight of vibrant colors, and the weight of a century of history.

But this season of celebration is unfolding alongside measurable influence. Over the past year, Black Greek Letter Organizations have collectively mobilized voter-registration and civic-engagement drives, raised millions of dollars for scholarships, expanded youth mentorship pipelines, and coordinated national service initiatives aimed at preserving Black political, economic, and educational power—underscoring their role not just as cultural institutions, but as organized engines of collective action.

And for a growing number of families, the “Divine Nine” is more than a college memory.

It is a family deed.

As Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs) continue to serve as the bedrock of Black professional and social life, a powerful phenomenon has taken hold: The Legacy.

These are families where membership isn’t a

choice made in a vacuum, but a torch passed from one generation to the next—ensuring that the blueprint for Black excellence, service, and leadership remains within the bloodline.

The joy I feel seeing A living archive of history The scale of this “bloodline” is staggering. my children fulfill Collectively, the nine organizations of the their legacy is National Pan-Hellenic Council represent an estimated four million members worldwide, unmatched.” forming one of the largest and most organized networks of Black professionals, civic leaders, educators, and political influencers in the country. Known collectively as the Divine Nine—Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.—these organizations have long cultivated leadership, scholarship, and a commitment to service, shaping communities across the nation.

That influence is not abstract. Across the country, Divine Nine chapters collectively log hundreds of thousands of service hours annually, fund scholarships that send thousands of

KIM HICKS

Black students to college, and serve as a reliable backbone for voter education, census outreach, and issue-based advocacy—particularly in moments when Black communities face policy threats or political erasure. For many members, legacy families help ensure that this institutional knowledge and organizing power is preserved, practiced, and protected.

Cassandra Joseph, a national officer with the National Pan-Hellenic Council describes legacy not as sentiment, but strategy. “Legacy membership isn’t about pressure or pageantry,”

she said. “It’s about continuity. It’s how we safeguard institutional memory, leadership training, and community commitment across generations. When families understand the mission early, the work doesn’t have to be re-taught—it’s already lived.”

Growing Up Greek

For many families, “growing up Greek” means watching service in real time. Long before they learn the secret handshakes or the history of the Divine Nine, children see their parents organizing voter initiatives, mentoring youth, and leading charity drives.

“The work becomes familiar long before the letters do,” notes Pat Tucker, a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., who made community service a mandatory part of her daughter Payton’s upbringing.

“The joy I feel seeing my children fulfill their legacy is unmatched,” says Kim Hicks, whose family represents a “House United” in service. Her daughter, Tori, followed her into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., while her son, Blake, followed his father’s path into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. “It confirms that we were the examples they needed to see,” Hicks says. “It’s an honor to

both parents to serve with our legacy children in the orgs we’ve loved for over 30 years.”

In some households, the connection is even more intimate. Rossana Deadrick, whose family legacy began with a great-aunt at Grambling State University, remembers the sorority hymn being a lullaby.

“Our mom used to sing the sorority hymn when she put us to bed,” says Deadrick, who is celebrating 50 years in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. this year. “I am the first of our third generation, and my three sisters also became AKA women. My daughter, our fourth generation, proudly carries on the tradition.”

Many members view membership as an emotional inheritance—one shaped by proximity, purpose, and the confidence that comes from seeing one’s parents lead.

Shelley Price, who joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in the Spring of 1989 at Southern University, viewed the sorority as a gift she wanted her daughter, Mecca, to open for herself. “I wanted her to be able to be a part of this sisterhood and to experience it in all its grandeur,” Price says.

That grandeur often spans the entire family tree. Nina Wilson Jones, also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, describes her family’s

pink-and-green story as a multi-generational bloodline that includes her sister, a charter member at the University of Florida, and her mother, who became a Silver Star member after retiring from a career in education.

“I didn’t realize how much of the sorority I had ingested and carried in life due to proximity all these years,” Wilson Jones says. For her, being initiated in 2021 wasn’t just about joining an organization; it was about completing the legacy.

“It’s flattering that he would choose to go a path that I did,” Greer says. “He was raised around it; everyone he called ‘uncle’ growing up were members. I get to experience both ends of it—as a son and a father—without him being prompted or prodded.”

Omega Psi Phi member Donovan Campbell added, “My son already makes me proud, but to now see him doing the work of Omega and helping carry the torch forward is an indescribable feeling.”

her, seeking membership was about a deeper bond with her mother and the “vanguards” who raised her. That bond now stretches into a fourth generation; Spooner’s great-niece, Jamé Marie Robinson, was pinned by her grandmother Gloria in 2024.

“In my chapter, there were so many women who were firsts,” Spooner reflects, citing pioneers like Dr. Dolores R. Spikes. “Those women were my surrogate moms, exemplars in professional life.”

Bridging boyhood to manhood

The ‘village’ pipeline

Why the legacy matters

The generational bond is equally transformative for Black men, where fraternity membership often serves as the bridge between generations of fathers and sons.

Felton Greer sits at the center of a three-generation lineage of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. his father was a Sigma, and now his son has followed suit. In a world that often seeks to disconnect Black men, the blue and white shield provides a permanent anchor.

The legacy often functions as a “village,” where the giants of Black history become surrogate parents. Cynthia A. Spooner traces her lineage back to 1950 at Southern University, where her mother, Gloria Dean Turner Spooner, was initiated by the legendary Dr. Jewel Limar Prestage, the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in political science.

“I grew up in a family of women who were service-oriented,” Spooner says. For

SHARE YOUR LEGACY PHOTOS WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA USING #DEFENDERGREEKLEGACY.

Beyond the pride and the colors aesthetics, generational membership strengthens the Black community in four distinct ways: • Community Pipelines: Creating built-in mentorship that spans decades.

• Cultural Continuity: Preserving rituals and history that are often excluded from mainstream textbooks.

• Representation: Ensuring Black children see leadership modeled within their own living rooms.

• HBCU Connection: Reinforcing the value of Historically Black Colleges and Universities as the birthplace of these movements.

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DN Feature

Black Wall Street reborn Movement builds collective Black economic power

By Tannistha Sinha

When people hear the phrase “Black Wall Street,” many think first of Greenwood, Oklahoma, the once-thriving Black economic hub destroyed in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

But for a growing network of Black entrepreneurs in Houston and beyond, Black Wall Street is not only history. It serves as an active blueprint for collective economic power and survival in a system that has long denied Black communities equal access to capital and opportunities.

Today’s movement Founded in 2015, the modern Black Wall Street movement was built on the idea of collaboration over competition, said Martel Matthews, co-founder and chief operating officer.

Drawing inspiration directly from Greenwood, the founders envisioned a digital ecosystem where Black business owners could share resources and scale, especially as commerce increasingly moved online.

“We had that same passion and wanted to connect us as business owners across the Black diaspora,” Matthews said. “We saw the world moving, with the internet, social media, Instagram, TikTok.” That lack of access remains one of the primary reasons Black Wall Street remains significant today.

Black entrepreneurs, Matthews said, often start with less capital, fewer connections, and limited generational business knowledge, barriers rooted in decades of exclusion. Creating a space explicitly designed to counter those disadvantages is not about exclusion, he emphasized, but equity.

Frank Perkins II, CEO and co-founder of Black Wall Street, traces that mission to his own experience trying to locate minority-owned vendors while working in government contracting. At the time, Black businesses were largely invisible within traditional chambers of commerce. Rather Frank Perkins II than accept that gap, Perkins helped build a platform to close it.

“We wanna circulate our dollars in our community,” Perkins said. “Not only does it help the business owner, but it helps the infrastructure, provides tools and knowledge for our kids that are going up behind us, and provides jobs.”

That emphasis on sustainability surfaced repeatedly throughout Black Wall Street’s 10th anniversary Legacy Weekend

Founded in 2015, the Black Wall Street movement centers on collaboration as a response to systemic exclusion from capital. Pictured: Marcus Bowers, Frank Perkins II, Leshawn Chambers, Desiree French and Martel Matthews.

Credit: Tannistha Sinha/Houston Defender

in Houston. Speakers described entrepreneurship as more than a hustle culture, comprising a long-term strategy for generational wealth and self-determination.

The unity in the movement For Donna Marshall Payne, a committee member often referred to as “Auntie,” the value of Black Wall Street lies in unity. She views it as a platform that brings together fragmented resources, such as mentorship and financing, so entrepreneurs do not have to navigate those systems alone.

“When you do things together, you get more done,” she said. “The Black Wall Street is about unity, unification of entrepreneurs all over the world.”

That collective approach also addresses a less visible cost of entrepreneurship – burnout. Dr. Danielle Griffin, an educator and business owner with multiple ventures, noted that many Black entrepreneurs enter business driven by a desire to serve, but often lack the necessary structures to protect their health, finances, and families.

“Oftentimes, that’s how we got into business, wanting to help and serve others,” Griffin said. “But we’re training ourselves, stressing ourselves out, running outta money, we’re burnt out, working multiple jobs, taking care of families, causing ourselves to have health problems. A lot of people want to get out of that cycle.”

Legacy, a recurring theme within the movement, is defined as assets and information passed forward. Matthews described legacy as ownership and preparedness, shaped by his own experience losing his

mother and realizing how little financial planning had been done.

“One of the main challenges you face as a Black-owned business is imposter syndrome,” he added. “You may be the first one in your generation to have the bold strength to step out on faith in God, to create something out of thin air. You walk into rooms, you don’t always feel as confident because maybe it wasn’t passed down to you from your mother, or from your grandmother, or from your dad. So, Black business owners need other people in other communities that can help us stand tall and stand strong and prosper and get from being a small business to a medium business to a large business.”

Entrepreneurs like Marcus Bowers, co-founder of Black Wall Street and owner of She’s Happy Hair, framed Black Wall Street as a bridge between traditional business models and the digital economy. Bowers credits his success, which has generated more than $100 million in revenue across various industries, to his understanding of data, forecasting, and online reach.

“You gotta change your mindset,” Bowers said. “A lot of people have the mindset of doing it for the money. They wake up and go get the bag. Whereas an entrepreneur, you gotta start doing it for the data too, because the only way that you’re gonna make the most money ever is by having some data to talk to people that’s not in front of you. Billionaires get billions of dollars, not because they’re talking to a billion people on Marcus Bowers earth in front of them.

They’re talking to a billion people online, and they’re sending a lot of emails and messages. Always be talking to your customers.”

Future of the movement.

CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICE Request for Competitive Sealed Proposals (CSP) Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 390 will accept Competitive Sealed Proposals for the Sheila Jackson Lee Administration Building Project. Proposals will be received until 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026, online only at https://epitomesystem.com/epitomeforms/mud390AdminBldg.php. No proposals will be accepted via email, fax, or hand-delivered. Interested Proposers should visit https://epitomesystem. com/epitomeforms/mud390Admin Bldg.php to obtain details for this project, which includes drawings and project specifications. Interested Proposers should email Roger Harris at projectmanager@hilldaypr.com for questions.

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DN Profile AKA REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Shawn Simmons Gives lessons in leadership

organizations are connected to what’s happening around them.”

So how does she manage the demands of corporate leadership and leading more than 15,000 women?

“Organization and a great support system,” she said without hesitation. “Everything is planned, everything is calendared.

And I have a phenomenal team, from my chief of staff to my protocol committee, who help keep everything aligned.”

By ReShonda Tate

Leadership has been in Dr. Shawn Emerson Simmons’ blood since kindergarten.

“I was the only girl in the class, and about six weeks later, they moved me out because I was intimidating all the boys,” she said.

“My mom always pushed her kids to do all things, to excel, to lead, and to value education. Leading others would be my ticket to experiencing great things.”

That innate drive has carried Simmons from her childhood classroom to the global boardroom as an engineering executive in Houston, and now to one of the highest leadership roles in Black Greek life. Simmons is the South Central Regional Director of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., representing four states - Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas - and more than 15,000 members.

“It’s an opportunity, not a burden,” Simmons said. “When you can galvanize that many women for a common good, whether it’s scholarships, economic development, or environmental action, the impact is immeasurable.”

Leading with heart

A lifetime of leadership

A proud member of AKA since her freshman year at the University of Oklahoma, when she joined the Kappa Psi Chapter in 1990, Simmons’ leadership journey in the sorority began early. She was selected as a 1991 AKA Leadership Fellow and later served as the National Second Vice President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).

Now a Silver Star and Life Member of the Xi Alpha Omega Chapter, Simmons has held numerous leadership positions within the organization, including chapter Basileus, where she helped establish the Ivy League Education & Charities Foundation, a 501(c) (3) entity that supports local educational initiatives.

Her leadership has also been recognized beyond the sorority walls. Simmons has earned honors such as Houston’s Most Influential, the Outstanding Women’s Leadership Award, the Mattelia B. Grays Leadership Development Award, and the Graduate Good Citizen Award. Professionally, she’s been celebrated with the University of Oklahoma Regents Award and the National Society of Black Engineers Golden Torch Award.

Balancing purpose and profession

Outside of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Simmons has built an impressive career spanning continents.

As Global Sustainable Procurement

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5 LEADERSHIP LESSONS

From Dr. Shawn E. Simmons 1. Listen more, say less.

“Leadership starts with observation. There are lessons all around you if you take the time to listen and learn before you speak.”

2. You can’t lead where you haven’t been.

“Every great leader starts by serving. Roll up your sleeves, do the work no one else wants to do — that’s where you learn what leadership really means.”

3. Organization is your superpower.

Between leading a 19,000-member region and

Manager at ExxonMobil, she leads supplier diversity, sustainability programs, and corporate social responsibility initiatives — work that, she notes, aligns closely with her service-driven values in AKA.

managing a global corporate role, Simmons credits her success to planning every detail and surrounding herself with a capable, trusted team.

4. Assume good intent and keep your joy.

“Don’t take everything so seriously. Laugh a little. Have fun. Approach others with grace — it makes leadership lighter and more human.”

5. Lead with faith and gratitude.

“No matter who’s in charge, He’s still on the throne. When I feel overwhelmed, I serve someone else. Service and gratitude keep me grounded.”

“There’s actually a correlation between what I do professionally and what I do in the sorority,” Simmons said. “Both roles are about community investment, social and economic impact, and making sure

For Simmons, leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about service.

“You can’t lead where you haven’t been,” she said. “Sometimes you have to roll up your sleeves and do the hard work that no one else wants to do. Every experience builds you for the next.”

She advises aspiring leaders, especially young Black women, to “listen more and say less,” adding, “Be willing to learn from those around you. Assume good intent. Laugh a little. Don’t take things too seriously, and have fun.”

That spirit of joy is ever-present. Known for her infectious smile and love for music, Simmons jokes that she’s often the one “leading the line dances” at events.

“Music, laughter, and connection — that’s what fills me up,” she said.

Faith, family, and forward movement

Married for 30 years to her “honey-do,” Philip Simmons, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, and mother to Jonathan and Jacquelyn — both Greek-affiliated — Simmons calls her family her “anchor.”

“My family and mentors have been my foundation,” she said. “They’ve supported every academic, personal, and professional dream I’ve had.”

And through it all, faith remains her guiding force.

“No matter who’s in charge,” she said, “He’s still on the throne. That’s number one.

My source comes from Him, not anybody else.”

As she navigates her current leadership role, Simmons is focused on unity, impact, and gratitude.

“This is not the time for ego or conflict,” she said. “We have to band together, resolve our differences, and move forward to make real change. When I get down or have a bad day, I go serve someone else. I write a thankyou note. I do something kind. That’s how I reset. Service keeps me centered.”

10 | January 29, 2026 |

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DN Sports UH GUARD

Embraces leadership role

By Terrance Harris

Over the years, University of Houston senior guard Emanuel Sharp has had to adjust to so much.

Bouncing back from a serious injury during his senior year in high school. Getting his mind right to compete once he was healed. Getting used to the college game.

Learning to take tough coaching from Kelvin Sampson. Being not just a scorer but a lockdown defender.

The biggest adjustment this season, however, has been becoming the counted-on leader of a talented but relatively young Cougars’ team. No longer can he sit back and play his game while Marcus Sasser, Jamal Shead, and L.J. Cryer handle all of the vocal leadership.

“It’s been a big step for me because I’ve never been in this position, having to lead younger guys like this,” Sharp said to the Defender during a recent one-on-one interview. “I’ve always been able to take a kind of backseat to other leaders of the team. But this year, I’ve kind of had to be on the forefront of really getting in their ears, positively and negatively.”

Sharp has clearly struck the right note and delivered the necessary messaging, as the tenth-ranked Cougars are again among the best teams in the nation and could be poised to make another run to the Final Four. UH has the talent on the floor with freshmen Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr. blending with a veteran group in the starting five and the leadership of Joseph Tugler, Milos Uzan, and Sharp to potentially win the Big 12 and make an NCAA Tournament run in March.

But Sharp’s preference is to stay in the moment and focus on what the Cougars University of Houston senior guard Emanuel Sharp has become a fan favorite around the Fertitta Center because of the big shots he has taken and his relentless play on the defensive end of the floor. Credit: University of Houston athletics.

“It’s exciting knowing that we are getting better every game in and game out. A month ago, we weren’t close to the defensive team that we are today.”

EMANUEL SHARP UH senior guard

University of Houston senior guard Emanuel Sharp has gone from a trusted sharp shooter to the Cougars’ leader on the floor and in the locker room.

Credit: University of Houston athletics.

need to do to keep getting better.

“That’s the thing, I don’t think we are even close to where we are supposed to be,” said Sharp, who shares the top two scoring spots this season with Flemings. “I don’t think we have shot the ball well in a single game, and this is supposed to be an offensive team.

That is the bright side, and our defense is getting better every single game. That’s really eye-opening for us to show that we have that much room to grow.”

Achieving this level of growth and understanding for Sharp has been a part of his journey, which began when he was born to professional basketball-playing parents – Derrick Sharp and Justine Ellison Sharp -- in Tel Aviv, continued in the United States, and has blossomed in his four years at UH. Sharp has gone from a silent assassin

player for the Cougars to a counted-on floor leader who still makes big shots, while also being the lockdown defender who takes on the toughest assignment each night.

Both Sampson and Sharp attribute his growth to his parents, who have taught him the game inside and out.

“He has got an awesome mother and father,” Sampson said. “Emanuel’s parents were professional basketball players, so he came in here with a huge advantage. They did a great job with him. I think that helped his transition.”

Sharp, a two-year starter for the Cougs, definitely agrees.

“It’s been great because I have two parents in my corner who know the game just as well as anybody,” said Sharp, who has citizenship in Israel, America, and Canada, where his

mom is from and starred collegiately. “I grew up in a basketball household. My dad played professionally, my mom played professionally. I grew up going to all of my dad’s games, so I lived eating and breathing basketball.

“I know what they went through, so I know what is expected of me here. What I have to go through, both of my parents have been through with adversity in their lives, and they have both become very successful.

So, I’ve taken that from them, and I apply it here every day.”

Their background and advice have also been instrumental in helping their son accept, absorb, and appreciate the sometimes tough coaching he has received from Sampson over the years and even now. Sharp credits Sampson for helping his game grow in ways he didn’t know were possible.

“It’s been a journey for sure. I feel like he is the greatest coach of all time, literally,” said Sharp, who was the Big 12 Tournament MVP last year. “The way he gets guys to reach a version of themselves that they couldn’t get to themselves is huge. His accountability and the standards that he has for everybody that walks in the gym – not just the players but the managers, the coaching staff, every last person leading up to himself – have the same standards, and I love that about him.

He doesn’t let anybody slide. He doesn’t treat anybody differently from others. We are all equal in his eyes.

“Learning from him, being able to be coached under him, learning how to take hard coaching … I feel like that has shaped me into the player that I am today. Learning how to brush stuff off my shoulders; because at the end of the day, he is giving a message that you’ve got to take the right way. So I’ve learned to take stuff the right way.”

ABOUT EMANUEL SHARP Position: Shooting Guard Height: 6-3 Class: RS-Senior Major: Integrated Studies Season numbers: Averaging 16.0 points per game, shooting 43% from the field, 39% from 3-point range, has 18 steals and three blocked shots Honors: John R. Wooden Award Midseason Watch List X: emanuelsharp

January 29, 2026 |

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| 11

DN Sports WESTSIDE GUARD

GARLYNN N GRANT Rises from doubt to dominance

By Jimmie Aggison

For most of her high school career at Westside High, Garlynn Grant was a steady, reliable, and consistent presence – a fixture in the starting lineup. But the toughest battle of her journey didn’t come as a freshman. It came much later.

After her junior season, a player used to hearing her name called suddenly found herself sitting more than playing. Her confidence suffered. In the uneasy silence of that summer, doubt finally crept in. Now, as a senior and the reigning District Offensive Player of the Year who has surpassed 1,000 career points, Grant’s story isn’t about how she arrived; it’s about how she fought to stay.

“When my minutes started to fade, I felt frustrated because I didn’t understand why,” said Grant.

Grant’s Houston Hoops EYCL 17U basketball team went 10-0 during the Nike sessions before lineup changes affected her playing time.

“We took our first loss, and it hurt because I believed if I was out there, maybe the outcome would have been different,” said Grant.

“I wondered where I went wrong to slip in the rotation, but then I realized it wasn’t anything I did or didn’t do; my role on the team was just different, and I had to be okay with that.”

The summer of 2025 was the most difficult for Grant mentally, as questions kept surfacing about where she might have gone wrong.

“I began questioning my abilities and started to believe maybe I was hurting the team more than helping,” said Grant.

Grant faced a mental struggle with feelings of isolation, frustration, and uncertainty.

For a player who had based her identity on being relied on, the silence from the scorer’s table echoed louder than any crowd.

However, Grant knew that her best hadn’t been shown yet.

“I knew I hadn’t peaked yet because there was still so much I could improve on,” said Grant. “With that in mind, I focused on what was in front of me. Minutes or no minutes, I knew I still had my senior season to look forward to.”

As Grant trained alone, some nights there were no thoughts, just her and the basketball, while on other nights, fears of needing improvement to stay on the court longer crept in.

Grant’s parents started to notice.

“It seemed to me she felt like she was running out of time to earn a spot at the next level,” said Grant’s dad, Derrick Grant.

“I used my struggles as motivation to keep going because it wasn’t the end; it was the start of a new chapter, a new version of myself that wouldn’t let my minutes or any other challenges break me mentally or physically,” said Grant.

During the summer of 2025, Grant attended camps at Stephen F. Austin State University, Houston Christian, and Baylor University, where she stood out and built confidence.

“As her parents, we were glad to see that when she was feeling down, she didn’t stay down; she kept pushing through, overcoming the mental hurdles of self-doubt and selfworth,” said Derrick.

Rock bottom isn’t permanent, especially for someone unwilling to remain there.

“I started talking to God more during those moments of uncertainty,” said Grant.

“I trusted his timing, and I turned to him in tough times because I knew he had a plan for me. As long as I keep my faith in him, everything will be okay.”

Derrick played a key role in lifting her spirits.

“He always uplifted me and encouraged me to keep going and be the best version of myself,” said Grant. “His constant reassurance was comforting. Knowing that I had him in my corner no matter what was enough to keep me going.”

The work didn’t earn applause, but it delivered results. In her senior season, Grant started to regain her position and her confidence.

“It felt like putting on a new pair of basketball shoes,” said Grant. “I felt like a new person. Transitioning from wanting to quit to averaging 19 points per game was the best feeling. It was a reminder that my training

ABOUT GARLYNN GRANT Class: 2026 IG: @garlynn_grant Twitter: @GarlynnGrant Position: Guard Height & weight: 5-feet-6, 130 pounds Favorite artist: J. Cole Status: Uncommitted Favorite subject: English

and hard work meant something.”

Past disappointment influenced her playing style during her senior season.

“I had something to prove not to anyone else but myself,” said Grant.

“I needed to remind myself that I am a good player and that I can push through hard times. I worked out harder for countless hours because I never wanted to be in that mindset of wondering if my game was good enough.”

But even with awards, the numbers told their own story. While competing in the 2025 HISD girls’ basketball tournament, Grant reached a milestone by scoring her 1,000th point.

“I could only accomplish this milestone because of the adversity I faced,” said Grant.

“Facing those challenges made me a better basketball player overall, and without those battles I wouldn’t be the player I am today.”

As the ball went through the hoop and the banner was raised, she immediately thought of her dad.

“He drives me all over town for all my workouts,” said Grant. “He travels with me everywhere for all my games. He works out with me in the driveway. Without my dad, I don’t think any of this could have been possible. His being there for me through it all and

pushing me through it means everything.”

Early adversity has influenced how Grant leads now.

“I’ve grown stronger mentally,” said Grant.

“As the senior point guard of my high school team, when I see a teammate struggling with the same issue I did, I can serve as that little extra push of encouragement, a crutch for those feeling uncertain. I know how to help now because of my experience.”

Grant didn’t lose herself when the lights dimmed; she reconstructed herself in the dark.

“I’m still standing, and I’m still pushing,” said Grant. “Beyond basketball, I would like to own my own rec center where kids can go and develop healthy habits. I want a space where kids can let loose, forget about all the negativity, and focus on the positive things. It’s important to me that people have somewhere they can turn to whenever there’s nowhere else to go.”

12 | January 29, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Profile HOUSTON POET

Kendryk Youngblood Builds community through words

By Laura Onyeneho

Houston native Keney Young-Odor, known in the poetry community as Kendryk Youngblood, has built a growing presence as a Christian spoken word poet, educator, and digital content creator. His work seamlessly blends faith, heritage, and personal experience, gaining traction both locally and online.

Young-Odor, the son of Nigerian parents, was raised in a home that emphasized faith, family responsibility, and cultural pride. He says those values naturally show up in his writing.

“I grew up in a household where you learned to take care of people and stay grounded,” he said. “That shaped how I see the world and how I write.”

The spark came in high school. One of his English teachers screened “Louder Than A Bomb,” a documentary about teen poets competing in a slam tournament. Seeing students his age using their voices in such a raw way struck him.

“It was the first time I saw poetry feel alive,” he says. “I wanted to take the craft more seriously.”

At the University of Houston (UH), he pursued a degree in biology, intending to launch his career in the healthcare field, but kept drifting back to the written word. He took so many poetry classes that he earned an English minor without planning to. That same curiosity led him to UH Coogslam, the university’s first competitive slam team.

In 2019, the team qualified for the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational national finals, placing fourth in their debut year.

“We were the underdogs,” he says. “That experience taught me how powerful a room full of young creatives can be.”

He carried that momentum into Houston’s poetry scene, performing in classrooms, churches, and open mics, right up until the pandemic shut the city down.

With the nation in lockdown and missing the energy of live audiences, he launched his YouTube channel, Youngblood Poetry.

What started as a small project grew quickly. His mix of poetry performances, reactions, and commentary on hip hop lyrics helped him build a community of more than 25,000 subscribers.

“I didn’t expect people to connect with the breakdowns as much as they did,” YoungOdor says. “It reminded me that poetry doesn’t have to be intimidating. People just need an entry point.”

His work now flows in many directions.

He has published in multiple journals,

served as a founding editor for Space City Underground, and collaborated with poets he once looked up to from afar. He teaches poetry to middle and high school students through the Houston nonprofit Karpe Diem Family. He also serves as a ministry leader for Urban Hymnal, a Christian creative collective.

Even now, as a full-time nursing student, he balances school, family, and art in a way that demands discipline, and doesn’t frame these challenges as setbacks.

He uses poetry to address issues he sees in healthcare, shaped by years of caring for his. As a nursing student, he says the overlap between art and healthcare is intentional.

“A lot of families feel unseen in medical spaces,” he said. “I write about that because I’ve lived it. Poetry lets me talk about the gaps in care, the inequities, and the way people fall through the cracks.”

His goal, he added, is to help audiences understand those experiences with clarity and compassion, both on stage and eventually in clinical practice.

Fortune McDonald, founder and president of Karpe Diem Family, first met him about three years ago at a church poetry event.

“It was an open mic poetry and gospel event,” McDonald said. “Right off the rip, I saw a genuineness about him, a sincerity about his desire to impact youth with his skill set as a writer and poet.”

McDonald said Young-Odor’s eagerness to get involved stood out immediately.

“When I talked to him about this workshop I was putting together, he was like, ‘I’m all ears, let’s do this,’” McDonald says. “And not just that initial excitement, he actually followed up. He was sincere about wanting to work with young people.”

McDonald noted that many students arrive unsure or uninterested in poetry but leave with a sense of ownership over their writing.

“He’s helped kids build confidence in their voice, and he’s very technical with the information he shares,” McDonald says. “They get both the literacy piece and the confidence at the same time. They relate to him because he has the energy they connect with, but he’s also skilled enough to teach them the craft.”

Keney Young-Odor specializes in spoken word and page poetry.

Credit: Kendryk Youngblood