Houston Defender: February 17, 2022

GEN

Z & VOTING IN FOCUS

How young people could shape elections

FEATURE

SYLVESTER TURNER

LORETTA WILLIAMS GURNELL

In an exclusive interview, the mayor talks about what it will take to get young people to the polls.

This STEM influencer is leading the way to help girls shine.

Volume 91, issue 15 February 17, 2022

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Texas A&M Player Development Coach and Assistant Recruiting Coordinator Sydney Carter. Photo: Sydney Carter Twitter

Message from the Reporter

@defendernetwork

Texas A&M coach under fire

was planned. But were they ready for it though?

Twitter trolls can add unpaid fashion police to This move comes as the NFL still faces scrutiny their resume because that is exactly the title they over race relation allegations from former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores. The NFL earned when they came for Sydney Carter, Texas can’t seriously think that they were going to take A&M development coach regarding one of her some of hip-hop’s legends as a peace offering for game day outfits. fumbling the ball? Let’s not forget they still profit Carter rocked an ivory turtleneck sweater substantially from the majority of NFL players paired with pink pleather pants and nude heels Laura Onyeneho who are Black. They need to do a whole lot more for a women’s basketball game and a pink ribif they say they are allies for the cause. bon symbolizing breast cancer awareness. The theme, though very intentional (and might I say stylish) was not enough for some people who criticized her for not wear- Whoopi is back! ing sideline appropriate coaching attire. Some called it “unAfter two whole weeks of suspension Whoopi Goldberg professional” while others stated if she wants to be respected returned to “The View” following the controversial comshe shouldn’t wear that. Excuse me? Who made these rules? ments she made and apologized for about the Holocaust.

How does this impact her performance as a coach? Women Upon her return to the show she said, “There is something will always have to prove themselves twice as hard in a male kind of marvelous about being on a show like this because dominated arena. This won’t be the last fashion statement we are ‘The View,’ and this is what we do. Sometimes we you will see Coach Carter in. So the haters might as well put don’t do it as elegantly as we could, but it’s five minutes to up or shut up! get in important information about topics.” This goes back to the debate on censorship and cancel culture. This show is Eminem honors Colin Kaepernick at Super Bowl about sharing perspectives on hot topics, and sometimes it’s Did you all watch Super Bowl LVI??? This year would not so pretty. How many times did we see Meghan McCain have been awesome if the Houston Texans or the New En- suspended for the many times she caused a ruckus on the gland Patriots (shout-out to Boston, the city of champions) show? Did we forget President Trump? If Whoopi made a made it to the big game, but nothing beats what the world mistake shouldn’t she have been corrected? What was the witnessed for the halftime show. I dusted off my chucks, point of the suspension? We all have the power to admit threw on my gold chains, brought out my CDs and vibed out where we did wrong and commit to doing better. to the star-packed lineup of Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem. Everything was ON THE WEB nostalgic especially when Eminem took a knee in honor of • Hear more from Gen-Zers on how they feel about voting. the silent protest of racial inequality and police brutality by • In sports…Terrance Harris looks at how Rori Harmon is Colin Kaepernick in the 2016 season. leading the UT Longhorns.

NFL representatives said they knew the rapper’s move • Read some tips for early cancer prevention and treatment.

February 17, 2022 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN News Aldine residents asked to take priorities survey Defender News Service

A protestor chants “Allow teachers to teach the truth” at a hearing opposing plans to ban the teaching of critical race theory in public schools. CRT has been a hot topic in secondary education, even though it isn’t taught at that level. Now Texas officials want it banned altogether. AP

Tx Lt. Gov. vows to ban critical race theory in colleges Defender News Service

The fight over the alleged teaching of critical race theory in K-12 Texas schools may soon be extended to state universities in Texas. Controversial Republican-backed bills against the academic discipline, which studies how race and racism have impacted social structures in the U.S., have had a chilling effect on how subjects about race and gender can be taught in school classrooms.

Pushback against such legislation has come in many forms, with one of the most recent examples being the University of Texas at Austin Faculty Council passing a resolution recently, defending the academic freedom to teach about race and gender justice and critical race theory. The resolution states that educators, not politicians, should make decisions about teaching and learning and supports the right of faculty to design courses and curriculum and to conduct scholarly research.

“State legislative proposals seeking to limit teaching and discussions of racism and related issues have been proposed and enacted in several states, including Texas,” the resolution states. “This resolution affirms the fundamental rights of faculty to academic freedom in its broadest sense, inclusive of research and teaching of race and gender theory.”

The passage of the resolution sparked a quick counter-response from Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who vowed in the

aftermath of the faculty’s vote to extend the existing K-12 ban on critical race theory to include public universities.

“I will not stand by and let looney Marxist UT professors poison the minds of young students with Critical Race Theory. We banned it in publicly funded K-12 and we will ban it in publicly funded higher ed. That’s why we creDan Patrick ated the Liberty Institute at UT,” Patrick tweeted.

State lawmakers approved GOP bills last year limiting classroom discussions of race and gender amid a conservative backlash against critical race theory, a framework of scholarship to examine racism. The Legislature has not, however, targeted the teaching of critical race theory and related topics in Texas universities.

UT FACULTY MEMBERS WEIGH IN ON DAN PATRICK’S DECLARATION.

Transportation, affordable housing, crime prevention, economic development and more are on the table as Harris County seeks diverse public input for the Aldine Region Comprehensive Study (ARCS). The study project focuses on consolidating several community improvement recommendations and plans that have been developed over the past 20 years to create a prioritized list of infrastructure projects for Harris County to implement.

The ARCS project area consists of the Airline Improvement, East Aldine, and North Houston management districts. Although the study is being led by Harris County with support from the office of Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, recommendations will also be included for parts of the study area that are within the City of Houston, including City Council District B, which is represented by Council Member Tarsha Jackson.

The project website features a survey that lets respondents review and prioritize the draft goals for the study. It will be available through the end of February.

During the first series of public meetings, Survey website which were conducted https://htx-arcs.com virtually via Zoom in late January, the team of county engineers and consultants leading the study project presented a detailed overview of their analysis of existing conditions in Aldine. Citizens who attended the meetings shared their perspectives on living and working in Aldine and offered several ideas for improving local transportation networks, affordable housing, parks, culture and economic development, safety, public health, and the region’s overall quality of life. Instant polls during the meetings also enabled attendees to rank recommended goals for the study in real time.

With input gathered from the meetings and the survey, the ARCS team is expected to come up with comprehensive recommendations for projects, programs, and policies for citizens to review and weigh in during another round of public meetings this spring. The final report and implementation plan are targeted for completion this summer, and it will be submitted to the Harris County Commissioners’ Court for a possible vote of approval.

Schedules and registration links for upcoming public meetings (dates pending) are available on the project website, along with video recordings of past public meetings, maps, a timeline of the study’s phases, and contact information for key members of the ARCS project team.

4 | February 17, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN News AT&T Free Internet Option for eligible households

By Aswad Walker

The Legacy Clinic in Montrose is among two Legacy locations in Houston offering the new injectable HIV treatments. Houston Public Media

New HIV injectable treatments are now available in Houston

By Houston Public Media

Legacy Community Health will be the first clinic in Houston to offer two new injectable HIV treatments.

The two treatments have different goals — Cabenuva works as an HIV treatment for adults, and Apretude is a prevention medication for adolescents and adults at risk of sexually acquiring HIV. The treatments were approved by the FDA last year, with Apretude receiving approval this past December.

Ruston Taylor, senior director of pharmacy clinical services & outreach at Legacy Community Health, said these treatments will help raise the HIV suppression rate in Harris County, which was at 57% in 2019, according to America’s HIV Epidemic Analysis Dashboard.

“An injectable like Cabenuva should help raise the suppression rate in Harris County,” Taylor said. “Apretude works on the other end of the fight, helping to prevent transmission to those who are HIV negative.”

The new treatment options will be alternatives to the more common HIV medication — a daily pill called PrEP. Maggie White, nurse practitioner at Wellness Bar

by Legacy, said that patients who might find it difficult to keep up with the pill will also see benefits in getting the shots.

“These drugs are a game-changer for folks who forget to take a daily pill, and people with gastrointestinal issues who have trouble with oral medications,” White said. “It will even help eliminate the unfortunate stigma

These drugs are a game-changer for folks who forget to take a daily pill... It will even help eliminate the unfortunate stigma around having a bottle of medication to treat HIV visible on the bathroom counter.”

Maggie White around having a bottle of medication to treat HIV visible on the bathroom counter.”

HIV patients will be able to find treatment in two locations: Legacy Montrose and Wellness Bar by Legacy. White said the goal for the treatment locations is to make the process as discrete and laid-back as possible for patients.

“We provide a wellness service,” White said. “It doesn’t feel like a doctor’s office or infectious disease clinic.”

Legacy currently accepts Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and most HMOs or PPOs. They will also have eligibility specialists available to discuss potential programs to help lower the cost of treatment services

ALERT

WOMEN TO WATCH

In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Defender is looking to highlight women breaking barriers in their respective fields. Nominate a deserving woman by emailing Reshonda@defendernetwork.com

AT&T is offering free internet to eligible households. Luis Silva, AT&T’s vice president and general manager for South Texas, who last month spoke with the Defender about his company’s Federal Broadband Assistance Program (the Affordable Connectivity Program), recently explained this latest offer and who gets to take advantage of it.

DEFENDER: How is this new free internet program different from the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP) you spoke on last month?

LUIS SILVA: It’s a new plan where participants have a hundred megabytes of speed on the internet, and utilizing the ACP which we talked about before, they receive a $30 credit which they can use and actually get this benefit and get internet service for free.

DE F E N DE R : S o, w h o’s eligible?

LUIS SILVA: Number one, people who live in public housing or receive SSI, and those who are 200% under the poverty level. If you are 200% under the poverty level, the program offers you $30 a month to help on your internet service or your broadband service or on your prepaid wireless service.

DEFENDER: How does this work? Is there something specific people need to do to sign up?

LUIS SILVA:

• Apply to the federal government’s national verifier for the ACP program that was approved by Congress. This is part of $14 billion that the federal government is going to use to help the infrastructure investment in JOBS Act which launched on December 31 of 2022.

• Go to ACPbenefit.org and you click on that link to determine if you’re eligible. And you get approved online.

• Once you get approved online, you get a number which is determined by the federal government, not by AT&T. Once approved, customers can call AT&T at 855-550-5211. We will verify their ACP approval and add the benefit to their number, according to their plan.

• If you already have the internet service, you can always call us and we can put you in that plan and you’ll receive your credit. If you pick this new plan, it costs $30 a month with a $30 credit.

So, you actually get free internet service.

• If you need more internet service, the program gives you $30 and you can pay the difference, but you’ll always get that $30 discount.

DEFENDER: Is this free internet available only for a certain time period?

LUIS SILVA: No. The way it works is as long as you qualify for that credit you get the $30 every single month.

VOLUME 91 - NUMBER 15 - FEBRUARY 17, 2022 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Managing Editor ReShonda Tate

Chief Development Officer Emelda Douglas

Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Education Reporter Laura Onyeneho

Creative Director Michael Grant

Sports Terrance Harris Jodie B. Jiles

Administrative Asst.

Stacey Palmer

Photographers Jimmie Aggison

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2020 copyright.

No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, Tx 77288

February 17, 2022 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN News TEXAS AFT SURVEY

66% of teachers want to leave classroom

By Laura Onyeneho

Nicolette Balough hoped to spend the rest of her career as a public school educator, but two years into the pandemic she has had second thoughts.

“I’ve built a career that I expected and hoped to carry on through retirement,” she said. “I’ve come to realize that it is unsustainable salary-wise, health and safety-wise especially in the past two years. But I’m quitting because of the health and safety concerns.”

Balough, a pre-k teacher for HISD, is just one of many Texas educators who opted to leave the profession as the pandemic lingers on.

The Texas Chapter of the American Federation of Teachers recently released a survey showing that 66% of the state’s educators said they have recently considered leaving their jobs. The survey, conducted in November, asked educators what would make them stay in public education.

“The fact that two-thirds of educators are thinking about quitting is really frightening.

In addition to long-neglected low wages and the stress of increasing workloads, the

45%

Want pay incentives (retention bonus, pay raise)

35%

Want changes to workload (fewer responsibilities)

8%

Want workplace safety improvements

omicron surge has created unbelievable chaos,” Texas AFT President Zeph Capo said during a press conference.

“Educators witness every day the devastating effects on our students when schools have staffing shortages. It’s only going to get worse unless teachers’ concerns are addressed.”

Capo shared a video testimonial of four teachers, Balogh being one of them, expressing their concerns about how the pandemic has and will impact the future of the public education system. She once started off

More Texas teachers consider quitting as pandemic continues.

with 26 students and had no physical way to social distance in the classroom and how such circumstances have left teachers in survival mode, burnt out and unable to emotionally attend to the needs of their students.

George Cuba, a math teacher assistant at Irving ISD said, “I’ve heard more in the last year; people just having breakdowns or heightened anxiety. In the beginning of the school year, I had a seizer the neurologist says as most likely due to stress…it demoralizes you.”

Capo said that Texas AFT will conduct community listening sessions this spring and summer across the state to develop solutions to the issue.

“Our message to leaders and politicians is: Listen to teachers, to school staff, to students, and to parents. We want to work together in developing solutions to the real issues in our school like safety, supporting students through a crisis, and retaining dedicated, qualified school staff members.”

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6 | February 17, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature

UH initiative seeks to level healthcare access

By Aswad Walker

The University of Houston has launched UH Population Health, a first-of-its-kind initiative to advance equity in Houston, the state of Texas and beyond through a holistic approach to health and well-being.

UH is taking a multifaceted, university-wide approach to reduce healthcare disparities and costs by addressing the full range of factors that affect health, such as access to nutritious food, healthy behaviors, the environment, the healthcare system and other key factors.

“I am so proud that the University of Houston has accepted the challenge to lead a national effort to improve health patterns and trends for everyone,” said Renu Khator, UH president. “This is a bold step forward for our university, for our students and faculty and for the various communities we serve and impact through our work.”

Dr. Bettina Beech, UH’s chief population health officer, has been charged with leading the initiative.

“We recognize that the United States spends more on healthcare than other wealthy

nations, but it has the worst health outcomes,” said Beech, who is also a clinical professor of population health in the Department of Health Systems and Population Health Sciences at the UH College of Medicine.

“We recognize that the U.S. has outstanding healthcare, but unequal access to those very systems of care. We also recognize that what makes us healthy is beyond healthcare, yet we under-emphasize those factors such as the environment, education, income and the context in which health behaviors occur. So, UH Population Health joins other long-standing initiatives at the university to address these issues through educational research and collaborative efforts to improve the health of populations.”

To Beech’s point, 70% of health outcomes are determined by those factors she mentioned, factors other than health care and genetics. But Beech is confident that UH is up to the task, in large part because of the current work of various UH initiatives via the school’s 16 colleges.

“Our College of Nursing recently launched a nurse-operated clinic for pop-

The University of Houston launches first-of-its-kind initiative to advance equity in Houston. AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger.

ulations who are unhoused. The new College of Medicine has a community mission to expand primary care and it’s delivered through underrepresented groups of future physicians,” Beech said.

“It’s very exciting to have an initiative that’s not a program, that’s not a center, that’s not an Institute, but truly infused throughout all units with the attention to not build a standalone, but to align with internal and external partners to collec-

tively tackle issues and positively impact population health in ways that we could not accomplish alone,” added Beech.

“Our goal is for UH undergraduate students to gain experience in population health in the way it aligns with their major, so that our graduates carry this knowledge into the workforce and become agents of change,” said Paula Myrick Short, UH senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.

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If you suspect human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888

February 17, 2022 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN InFocus FOCUS SOCIAL 2022 PRIMARY ELECTIONS

Low turnout projected Texans are heading to the polls for the 2022 primary, and voters will choose party nominees for statewide seats, including governor, and district-based congressional and legislative seats. Historically, voter participation in midterm primary elections is dismal in Texas, with less than a quarter of registered voters casting ballots most years.

What we can and can’t tell from primary turnout

The party that draws more voters in Texas’ open primaries is not a reliable indicator for who will win the general election in November.

“Turnout in the state for primary elections remains perpetually low. But this is

true regardless of Early voting election year,” said Until Feb. 25 Joshua Blank, the research director Election Day March 1 of the Texas Politics Project. “It’s not representative or indicative of what’s going to happen in the coming election cycle.”

In the 2020 presidential primary, more Democrats cast ballots than Republicans.

But in November, Donald Trump won by 5.6 percentage points in Texas.

Early voting numbers are also not predictive of total turnout. For years, early voting data reported by the state compounded confusion about overall turnout, because it only included data from the 15 counties with the most registered voters, including Harris County.

LEARN HOW REDISTRICTING COULD IMPACT VOTER TURNOUT

During the 2018 primary election, the state initially reported early voting data that showed more Democrats voted early than Republicans. But it was incomplete and when all counties were ultimately tallied; more Republicans had cast votes in the primary.

Primary voters tend to be more engaged in politics compared with the rest of the electorate, whether that involves news con-

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sumption or engagement with civic organizations, according to Blank.

Republican primary voters skew white and more conservative than the overall party, and Democratic primary voters skew whiter, more liberal and more suburban than the overall party, Blank added.

The Texas Tribune contributed to this report.

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DN InFocus FOCUS SOCIAL

Young people EXCLUSIVE

can shape the elections

By Payton Wilson

This is the fourth of several Defender Network articles that are part of Solutions Journalism Network’s Advancing Democracy initiative. Solutions Journalism provides readers with research on solutions to current problems, where they are being enacted, the challenges and opportunities those solutions provide and how readers can be part of those solutions. The initiative calls on participating media outlets to produce articles focused on issues that are threats to U.S. democracy and provide readers with initiatives aimed at “advancing” democracy.

A new generation of Americans is preparing to head to the polls – Generation Z. Born after 1996, most members of this generation are not yet old enough to vote, but as the oldest among them turn 23 this year, about eight million Gen-Zers will have turned 18 between the 2020 elections and 2022 midterm elections. And their political clout will continue to grow steadily in the coming years, as more and more of them reach voting age.

Unlike millennials – who came of age during the Great Recession – this new generation was in line to inherit a strong economy with record-low unemployment. That has all changed now as COVID-19 has reshaped the country’s social, political and economic landscape. That uncertain future has placed voting low on the priority list of some Gen-Zers.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner hopes to see more young people at the polls. He talked exclusively with the Defender about Gen Z and voting.

Defender: Why do you think voting isn’t a huge priority for some teens and young adults?

Mayor Sylvester Turner: I think people are

The generation defined Generation Z Born after: 1996* Milennial Born: 1981 to 1996 Age in 2020: 24 to 39 Generation X Born: 1965 to 1980 Age in 2020: 40 to 55 Baby Boomer Born: 1946 to 1964 Age in 2020: 56 to 74

Silent Generation Born: 1920 to 1945 Age in 2020: 75 to 92

1997 1996

1981 1980

1965 1964

1946 1945

1928 * No chronological endpoint has been set for this group.

“On the Cusp of Adulthood and Facing an Uncertain Future: What We Know About Generation Z So Far” PEW RESEARCH CENTER

still coming into their own. Number one, in most cases they will be voting for the first about the right to vote. I go to college camtime. And it takes time to fully take puses. In the last major election cycle, I did into account how voting and elections this challenge among Texas Southern, impact people’s lives. They will cerUniversity of Houston and Rice, giving tainly come to find that elections have out awards for who got more people out consequences and who you vote for is to vote, especially during early voting. highly important and that your vote is I try through my own social media to your voice. If you don’t like something interact with people as much as possible. then you have to exercise the right to I recognize that for most Americans, they Mayor vote. If you do like something and you get very little of their news from the major Sylvester want to preserve it, then you do actually television stations, so you have to go to Turner have to exercise your right to vote. So where they are. And we try to do that. We your vote is your voice. I’m optimistic try to be innovative. because we’re seeing more and more young people voting at an early age. And certainly in larger per- Defender: A lot of political discussion isn’t centages than when I was coming up. marketed toward younger audiences. It oftenDefender: As the mayor of a city as large as Houston, what’s your plan to get more of Gen Z involved in local elections?

Turner: I go to high school campuses and talk

MAYOR TURNER TALKS ABOUT GEN Z & VOTING

times feels forced. What do you think politicians can do to effectively appeal to young voters?

Turner: Be authentic. When you’re being “the

politician showing up just at election time,” they

Video: Mayor Turner speaks on how young people can become engaged in voting.

tune off to that. But people can judge sincerity. They can judge whether you are authentic or not, whether you’re talking a language that they can understand, or you’re talking a message that they can relate to, or talking about things that directly impact their lives.

So that’s important. And people want to feel like they know where you are coming from. All of that’s critically important. That’s why, even as an elected official, I consciously made a decision to continue to live in a home in Acres Home. Because no one then has to tell me about the life of people coming through neighborhoods like Acres Home. I grew up there, I was born in there, and I still live there to this very day. And in many ways, it makes a difference. So you just have to talk the language that people understand, and you have to have a good sense of where people are coming from, what their life experiences are, what’s real to them. And as they say, you’ve just gotta be 100 with them.

How to get young voters out

According to a study from Tufts’ University’s Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, galvanizing young people through social media on policies that matter to them, along with better lessons in civic engagement, is what will drive new voters to the polls.

Their study also found: • The pandemic is hitting home: 82% percent of Gen Zers say the COVID-19 pandemic has made them realize how political leaders’ decisions impact their everyday lives.

• Activism leads to voting: Young people who identify themselves as both conservative and liberal consider themselves activists —and recent studies show that activism makes them more likely to vote.

• College is a primary resource for voter engagement: 63% of students aged 18-21 typically learn about civic processes while attending college — whether from voter registration drives happening on campus or fellow students.

• Only 33% of 18-23 year olds are able to attend college full-time, which means there is a huge population of eligible young voters who historically have not had as much access to information and resources that will help them vote.

Defender: What would you like to leave young eligible and soon-to-be eligible voters with?

Turner: Oftentimes, young people will hear that

you are the leaders for tomorrow. Forget that, you’re leading right now. You don’t have to be 30, 50, 70 years old to lead. Quite frankly, you can be 14 and be a leader. You can be 18 and be a leader. You can be 25 and be a leader. And in many ways, it won’t be that older generation that will save us or move us forward. It will be that younger generation that will push us and be our conscious. So you claim your position.

They are one of history’s most racially and ethnically diverse generations and came of age in an era of increased digital communication through smartphones and social media, which is reflected in their political organizing.

From TikTok to Influencers, find out how digital media can play a role in getting young people out to vote.

10 | February 17, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN InFocus FOCUS SOCIAL

GEN Z AND VOTING

LET THE PEOPLE BE HEARD Despite the surge in young voters, there is still a large percentage who have yet to turn out. We asked some young people how they feel about voting?

“There has just been so much stuff in my life that I have been focused on, like school, track, and recruiting. I haven’t given voting any thought. My time is filled up by all of that and I will never vote uninformed on politics, so I first have to take the time to learn more.”

– Dominic Njoku, 18

“To be able to vote in my opinion is an act of democracy. By being granted to the right to vote it gives us as citizens the power to control who we appoint to lead us. Voting is one of the most simple, but impactful rights we as Americans are able to uphold.”

– Kristen Williams, 19

“I couldn’t wait to cast my first vote, but I was raised in a family that stressed the importance of voting. I have a lot of friends who could care less. I think it starts at home.”

– Alex Mavins, 20

“It’s ironic how millennials won’t vote, but will get on social media and Voice how much they hate our elected officials and leaders, yet they won’t get out to vote when it really matters.”

–Gerard Marc, 22

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“Voting is extremely important and I would love to have a say, but we have weights and practices on voting days. There is no time to go wait in lines and vote and make it to practice and class. I feel like we are set up for failure.”

– Jada Hill, 18

“Honestly, a big reason I haven’t taken the time to learn about voting and all is that it all just feels so fake and forced.

Like when Joe Biden went on ‘The Breakfast Club,’ it’s just weird and it turns me off of politics as a whole.”

– Chris Mayfield, 18

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GEORGE STRAIT with special guest

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GEORGE STRAIT

“I know they say every vote counts, but with so much voter suppression going on, it just feels like we’re fighting a losing battle.”

– Lauren Wilson, 19

RICKY MARTIN

KEITH URBAN

TIM McGRAW

MARSHMELLO

LUKE BRYAN KHALID

JOURNEY GWEN STEFANI

VOTING BY THE NUMBERS

36%

Young people now consider themselves politically active

31%

JON PARDI

Millennials and members of Gen Z make up the electorate

PARKER McCOLLUM

LOS TUCANES DE TIJUANA MAREN MORRIS

BUN B

KANE BROWN SAM HUNT

one million voters

CHRIS STAPLETON

for KING & COUNTRY

BRAD PAISLEY

DIERKS BENTLEY

registered by Snapchat in the 2020 election. 65% were Gen Z

71%

18-24 year-olds plan to vote in the Midterms

75%

13-39-year-olds like brands that encourage consumers to vote *Ypulse

Read more comments from Gen Zers on voting.

Buy Tickets Today! rodeohouston.com

CODY JOHNSON

February 17, 2022 |

| 11

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Health

A DEFENDER AND KELSEY-SEYBOLD CLINIC ALLIANCE

February is American Heart Health Month expect symptoms to occur like you see in movies or on TV where players dramatically clutch their chests and collapse. In real life, symptoms can be subtle and harder to recognize.

By GEORGE ADESINA, MD, MSPH, FACC

Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death for men and women in the United States.

Got your attention? Then please keep reading.

ANATOMY OF A HEART ATTACK Your heart is the hardest working muscle in your body. It needs a constant supply of blood, oxygen, and nutrients delivered by arteries. Should an artery become obstructed or blocked, heart muscle can begin to die within a matter of minutes: This is a heart attack.

Did you know that heart disease kills more women than breast cancer?

Symptoms for women are somewhat different than those associated with men.

Women don’t usually experience the type of chest pains commonly associated with men. This misconception can pose a health risk as women tend not to recognize their symptoms and delay seeking treatment. But for either gender, don’t

FROM THE DOC “Heart disease is the No.1 cause of death for men and women in the United States.”

Dr. Adesina is a renowned cardiologist at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic.

For appointments, call 713-442-0000.

FOR WOMEN, SYMPTOMS USUALLY INCLUDE: • Shortness of breath.

• Lower-chest discomfort often mistaken as indigestion.

• Heaviness or pain in arms or between shoulder blades.

• Nausea and dizziness.

• Sudden, unexplained jaw pain.

• Chest pain, though more subtle than in men.

FOR MEN, SYMPTOMS USUALLY INCLUDE: • Chest pain – may be mild or crushingly severe.

• Nausea or dizziness, often with profuse sweating.

• Shortness of breath.

• Rapid pulse or irregular heartbeat.

• Sudden, unexplained fatigue or weakness.

THE GOOD NEWS By reducing risk factors and knowing signs and symptoms, many types of heart disease are preventable. To help lower your risks: • Exercise regularly.

• Avoid tobacco use in any form.

• Commit to a high-fiber diet that’s low in saturated fats.

• Have regular medical evaluations that include checking your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and, if the physician feels the need, glucose levels. If so indicated, a cardiologist may be needed to perform additional tests to further assess your condition.

Now Scheduling VIRTUAL and IN-PERSON Appointments!

Whether you’re new to the Kelsey-Seybold family or a longtime patient, you have a choice of where you can safely get care. Call our 24/7 Contact Center at 713-442-0000 to schedule a same-day or next-day virtual Video Visit or, for non-respiratory illnesses, an in-person appointment at a Kelsey-Seybold Clinic near you.

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU 24/7/365

Your health and safety are our top priority. We‘re screening patients upon arrival for COVID-19 symptoms, checking temperatures, and following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Please remember to wear a mask or cloth face protection while visiting our clinics.

After-Hours Nurse Hotline 713-442-0000

24/7 Contact Center 713-442-0000

Learn More About Virtual Visits kelsey-seybold.com/virtual

Kelsey-Seybold welcomes new patients and accepts more than 50 health insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and these Medicare Advantage plans: KelseyCare Advantage, WellCare Texan Plus, Aetna Medicare Advantage, and Humana Gold Plus.

12 | February 17, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature

Workshop: Guide to a Good Divorce

By Laura Onyeneho

“I’ve been practicing family law for Going through a divorce is rarely about 37 years and the laws of divorce easy. The process for many can seem in Texas are slammed against women,” daunting and emotionally draining. For Yates said. “Women have to go in knowthose who experience confusion, anger, ing that the odds are stacked against depression or self-blame, those feelings you. I don’t think lawyers are empathetdon’t disappear once the divorce is fi- ic listeners and it’s frustrating for womnal. Those were just some of the waves en to go through a process and they feel of emotions Houston resident Juliette like they are not heard, so I came up Haegglund felt in the middle of her di- with this seminar to empower women vorce almost four years ago. to successfully navigate the divorce proShe met her ex-husband on a vacation cess through this holistic experience.” in Southeast Asia. She said during the The Guide to Good Divorce focuses honeymoon phase everything was as she on five key areas in which participants: imagined, until three years into the rela- 1. Acquire legal advice tionship she noticed a 2. Engage in divorce shift. She recalled one financial planning rough patch when she 3. Gain new life skills was abandoned by 4. Practice wellness her former spouse for 5. Create new comsix months when she munities was pregnant with The format of the her son. s e m i n ar i n c lu d e s “I felt like I lost experts in divorce, myself for a long financial planners, time and I had to therapists, Tibetan evaluate what I bowl meditation, and wanted out of life a community building and what truly matcomponent. It is also tered to me,” Haegstructured in a way to glund said. “So, by protect women with the time I got diabusive spouses. vorced I knew exactDivorce can impact ly how I wanted to an individual’s overall health and such physredefine my life but ical effects can go unI was not prepared addressed and unrecfor how stressful ognized. Research by and painful the dithe National Institute vorce process was. It of Health highlights was contentious and four risks for wommessy.” en: Higher economic Instead of dwellneed and restricted ing on her hardJuliette Haegglund, A Guide To earning capacities ship, she attended a Good Divorce attendee in the presence of seminar in Houston children; insufficient called the Guide to Good Divorce, which helped her learn child maintenance; disproportionate loss to successfully navigate her divorce in a of income, which is often not fully comsafe and healthy way. That is where she pensated by spousal maintenance; and met the founder Trey Yates, a board-cer- human capital deficits resulting from gentified family law attorney, who helped der specialization in the division of labor during marriage. change the trajectory of her life.

2022 GUIDE TO GOOD DIVORCE SEMINAR SCHEDULE • Saturday, April 30, 8:30 a.m. 2 p.m., Houstonian Hotel, 111 N. Post Oak Lane • Saturday, July 30, 8:30 a.m. 2 p.m., Houstonian • Saturday, Sept. 24, 8:30 a.m. 2 p.m., Houstonian

For more information, visit www.guidetogooddivorce.com

“After 30 years of marriage, my husband left me for another woman...I did not want my divorce,” said Carolyn, a program attendee in a video testimonial. “I didn’t know anything about the law, didn’t know what rights I had, what things I shouldn’t do...the first step to me realizing and taking charge my life...was going there [the program], to hear from other women and also getting a glimpse of what my legal journey was going to be.”

“As women, especially Black women, we are the caretakers and we put everyone first except for ourselves. There is so much stigma around divorce and I’m here to tell you that you aren’t a failure,” Haegglund said. “Because of this program I took my power back. I have a growing family...something my ex-husband didn’t want after our first child, and I bought a house that is child-friendly. I made the right decision.”

CLASSIFIED NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) is planning to issue the procurement documents listed in this advertisement.

IFB No. 4022000053: Rehabilitation of TWO (2) Curved Lanes at TMC Transit Center. Solicitation will be available on or about 02/08/2022. Prospective bidders/proposers can view and download these solicitations by visiting METRO’s website at https://www.ridemetro.org/procurement/ If you are unable to download the documents or are having difficulty, please contact Jamie Williams at (713) 739-3771.

AVAILABLE NOW!

This free Houston HIV Resource Directory can be mailed to you, picked up at our office, or you can download it to use on your PC, tablet or phone.

To request one by mail call: 832 927-7926 or email your mailing address to: feedbackRWPC@hctx.net RYAN WHITE PLANNING COUNCIL OFFICE OF SUPPORT 2223 W. Loop South, Suite 240 Houston, TX 77027 http://rwpcHouston.org

Project LEAP (Learning, Empowerment, Advocacy, Participation) is a free 17 week training course for individuals living with or affected by HIV. The purpose of Project LEAP is to train people to become active participants on local HIV planning bodies.

Topics covered include history of HIV in the Houston area, local HIV trends, services for people living with HIV and much, much more!

Classes are 4 hours on Wednesdays starting at the end of July; Participants can choose the morning class or evening class: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. -or- 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

A brief application and personal interview are required Depending on COVID restrictions, Project LEAP may be held virtually If you have questions about the program or would like to receive an application when they are released, please contact Diane Beck at 832 927-7926 or diane.beck@cjo.hctx.net RYAN WHITE PLANNING COUNCIL OFFICE OF SUPPORT

2223 West Loop South, Suite 240; Houston, TX 77027 Phone 832 927-7926 Fax 713 572-3724 http://rwpcHouston.org

February 17, 2022 |

| 13

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports

Sha’Carri Richardson

DOUBLE STANDARD?

Olympics denies Richardson claims Defender News Service

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has responded to track star Sha’Carri Richardson’s claims that there is a double standard at the 2022 Olympics when it pertains to drug testing.

Kamila Valieva — a 15-year-old Russian figure skater — was cleared to continue competing in the Winter Games following an appeal on the star’s interim ban after she failed a pre-Olympics drug test.

Richardson – who was banned from competition at the Tokyo Olympics after she tested positive for marijuana – took to social media to call out the Valieva case and demand “a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mine.”

She also claimed race played a factor in her suspension.

“Can we get a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mines?

My mother died and I can’t run and was also favored to place top 3. The only difference I see is I’m a Black young lady,” Sha’Carri tweeted.

Mark Adams, an IOC spokesman, addressed comparisons between the cases, per Yahoo Sports, and said, “You can’t talk about double standards in relation to Russian and American athletes, each case is individual.”

“Richardson’s positive doping test was discovered on 19 June, and the result was received before the start of the Olympics.

She was suspended for a month. There is nothing in common between these two cases,” Adams said.

“This games, which has not concluded, concerns an issue in December. She is in the centre of a lot of speculation. It must be very tough for her,” Adams added.

“We of course are in touch with the team,

Kamila Valieva

her welfare is the team’s first priority, and obviously we are very careful of that but there’s only so much that we can do.”

The decision to ban Richardson from the Tokyo Summer Games became a controversial topic online, and drew support for the sprinter from celebrities and fellow athletes. She was favorited to win gold in the women’s 100m in Tokyo before being banned.

In the Valieva case, the teen skater tested positive for a banned heart medication, trimetazidine, in December — but the results weren’t flagged until this month, just after she won gold in the ROC’s team competition.

The IOC has said different rules apply to minors, making Valieva a “protected person.”

14 | February 17, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports Texas Southern guard John Jones came off the bench to score 15 points on 5-of-5 shooting from behind the 3-point arc during the Tigers’ 68-65 win over Grambling State.

University of Houston forward Fabian White Jr. was named American Athletic Conference Player of the Week after averaging 21.5 points and 8.0 rebounds.

Rori Harmon leads UT Longhorns

By Terrance Harris

It’s not that she would have it any other way, but University of Texas point guard Rori Harmon can’t help but sometimes feel like it’s all just happening so fast.

With her sudden elevation has come responsibility, expectations and pressure.

“The biggest surprise to me is just coming into college and playing the minutes that I play and having the responsibility of the team,” Harmon said in a recent conversation with The Defender. “I knew it was coming but it came really fast and I have to hurry up and grow up and realize, `this is who I am and this is my responsibility.”

And by all accounts, the ultra-quick 5-foot-6 standout from Cypress Creek is handling all that is coming at her well. Harmon is playing 28.2 minutes per game while averaging 10 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists and has started 21 of the first 23 games she has played with the Longhorns.

The results on the court say she has been everything her reputation as a McDonald’s All-American and the 2021 Texas Gatorade Player of the Year said she would be. Harmon, a three-time Big 12 Freshman of the Week, was recently ranked as a Top 10 freshman in women’s college basketball by ESPN.

ABOUT HARMON Height: 5-foot-6 High School: Cypress Creek Accolades: McDonald’s AllAmerican, 2021 Texas Gatorade Player of the Year Basketball Idols: Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Maya Moore Quotable: “I loved Maya Moore for so long and I still do. She just had so much fire and she is so skilled and had so much power with everything that she did. And outside of the basketball part, she was an activist and fought for so many things. You would want to be like her.”

But Harmon is more focused and more excited about the rebuilding Longhorns women’s basketball team, which is ranked 16th in the country and is 17-6 and 7-5 in Big 12 play this season.

“Honestly, we are going to be a really good team, there’s no doubt about it. We are going to be really, really good,” Harmon said. “We are still learning.

“I will say it seems like we will get it some games and then some games it’s like, ‘where did it all go?’ but that’s not going to stop us. We are going to stay focused and go game-by-game. We will be alright.”

The team’s growth, as well as hers, has not been without some challenges and ups and downs. The 16th-ranked Longhorns started out the season with a bang, knocking off No. 2 Stanford. They’ve also had impressive wins over No. 7 Iowa State, No. 17 Texas A&M and coming into Wednesday’s game, they were riding a two-game winning streak, which included a win over 12th-ranked Oklahoma.

But Texas has also had some frustrating losses this season to Texas Tech, Kansas and backto-back defeats against Baylor.

“It’s a little frustrating, just knowing the potential of our team,” Harmon said. “We are not getting away with some of these wins that we should be getting.

“That just means for me that we have to step it up in practice, we have to stay locked in and buy into what we are doing more because obviously we still have our mental lapses and we need to minimize those.”

Sports Briefs HARDEN, MOREY REUNITED IN PHILADELPHIA

When former Rockets star James Harden was surprisingly traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Philadelphia 76ers last week, it meant a quick and uneventful ending to a Big 3 that was supposed James to compete for NBA Harden titles. Instead, Harden is now reunited with former Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who is now heading up the 76ers front office.

SWAC PRESEASON BASEBALL POLL RELEASED

The Prairie View and TSU baseball teams were picked to finish third and fourth in the SWAC West in the preseason poll. TSU IF Justin Cooper made the preseason All-SWAC First Team while Damaire’ PVAMU OF Damaire’ Smith Smith and P Victor Mendoza made the second team.

PVAMU BOWLERS CLEAN UP

PVAMU women’s bowler Crystal Cline was named SWAC Bowler of the year after finishing with the top average of 195.71.

Her teammate Asia Wren finished second (195.68) and Asia Wren was also named to the All-SWAC First Team. Stephanie Vasquez made the second team after averaging 189.83.

PVAMU coach Glenn White was named SWAC Coach of the Year after leading the Lady Panthers to their fifth regular-season championship in six seasons.

ROCKETS NOT AS ACTIVE IN TRADE MARKET

Many thought the rebuilding Rockets would be a major player as last week’s NBA trade deadline approached. There was speculation that star Christian Wood along with veteran guards Eric Gordon and John Wall would be moved. But all three remain on the roster.

February 17, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports YATES SF

QURAN MCKIN NEY A NATURAL BORN LEADER

By Jodie B. Jiles

If there is one thing you can say about Jack Yates basketball, it is that you will not touch the court if you don’t play defense.

And with a youthful group of primarily freshmen and sophomores this season, Yates returning senior small forward Quran McKinney has accepted the challenge of leading his team by example.

McKinney has a natural reach that makes him a shutdown cornerback when it comes to snagging steals in Yates’ notorious fullcourt press defense. Then, on the offensive side of the court, McKinney is an abovaverage slasher to the basket and a pick and roll manager.

When Yates head coach Greg Wise was asked what Quran adds to the roster, he said, “He has given us great leadership.

We’ve got so many young guys with us on our team and to have somebody that has been with us for four years is good for us.

“He has obviously picked up some of his dad’s traits who played quarterback at Yates and is now the football coach at Texas Southern University (Clarence McKinney).

I see some of those same leadership qualities in Quran when he brings it to the table.”

The Defender spoke with McKinney to discuss his style of play, smothering defense, keys to success and more.

McKinney rises above competitors for an above the rim bucket.

ABOUT QURAN MCKINNEY

Twitter: @quranmckinney11 Players He Studies: Lebron, Chris Paul, Stephen Curry and Trey Young Favorite Musicians: J. Cole and Jay-Z Favorite Subject: Math Shoutouts: “My Mom, my whole family and Black J.”

STYLE OF PLAY

“I just want to make plays for my teammates. I try to make plays for them and get my plays in quick so that we can get up and score easy.”

DEFENSIVE PRESENCE

“One thing about my defense is steals. I always get steals because of my height and my length that allows me to get steals anytime I like it when we need them the most.”

KEYS TO SUCCESS

“Execution, working as a team, communicating, and having fun.”

WIN OVER WORTHING

“All we had to do is execute. We have been lagging on that a little lately. But now we are getting our communication better since we are playing with a lot of freshmen and sophomores.”

PLAYOFF PUSH

“Everybody has to be all in. do they’re jobs and we will make it to the next round and the next round after that.”

McKinney breaks away for an easy layup in a blowout win over Worthing.

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16 | February 17, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature

SUPERGirls Shine participants visiting the State Capitol in Austin.

SUPERGirls Shine Foundation lights STEM path for girls

By Aswad Walker

SUPERGirls Shine Foundation is an organization/movement that is placing young girls on a trajectory towards knowledge of self, academic excellence and professional success.

Their founder, Loretta Williams Gurnell, is a wife, mother and self-described STEM influencer who is “committed to the impact and the work of exposing the disparities within marginalized, underserved, underrepresented communities, that are plaguing our communities with either food deserts, economic disparities, STEM education and opportunities in the workforce to STEM.” Gurnell granted the Defender an interview so our readers can learn all about what SUPERGirls stands for, who it serves and what activities its participants will engage in during the first half of 2022.

Defender: For those who don’t know, what exactly is the SUPERGirls Shine Foundation?

Loretta Williams Gurnell: It’s a pipe-

line for creating long-lasting talent and marketable professionals in the area of STEM who happen to be women. We are a strategic community partner with in-

dustries who are looking to diversify their pipeline with their professionals. We are a community partner with schools who are looking to advance opportunities for their students in the area of STEM. And we are a partner for philanthropic givers and those who want to share the wealth in areas and communities, which benefits the entire ecosystem

Defender: Is there a specific population you work with?

Gurnell: I love that question. So, I’ll be

transparent. At first, we thought we were super ladies who were going to change the world. If you would’ve asked me that then, “Oh, we have all girls.” Hmm. We quickly understood and realized we can’t save them all, but we can impact enough where we can teach them how to have the confidence, have the problem-solving and critical thinking skills that they themselves could go out and duplicate.

Our sweet spot is middle school because once we become a champion of

girls in middle school, when chemistry is changing in her body, she’s becoming aware who she is and who she is not, she’s trying to find her voice and her place in her own world, let alone everybody else’s world, so when we get in there, we champion around that middle schooler. Now, when she gets into high school, she has a little bit stronger footstool that she can stand on as she starts developing and exposing more into the STEM ideas to go into those college degrees. So, our sweet spot is middle school. Then, we impact that through the high school. And then it transforms when they become collegiates.

Defender: What are some 2022 SUPERGirls events you’re most looking forward to?

Gurnell: So 2022 is full and we’re start-

ing off with our Ladies and Girls LeadHers Tea that will be held at the Asian Society of Texas on February 19. It’s open to the general public for ladies and girls. Our

focus is commerce, community and culture. And it’s powered by Comerica Bank.

The next one we’re excited about is March 25, in Women’s History Month. It’s called our Learning to Earning. It’s powered by Chevron and held in The Ion. The beautiful thing about that is that it’s for upper-level high school and collegiates to come and learn and infuse conversation with leading women within the industries about their “learning to earning” potential so they’ll know what their degree is, what it can do and how much earning power it would bring for them. Now that’s hot. I’m excited about that. In the summer we have our Summer Shine Explosion where we’ll bring together and showcase our Super Girls.

We’ll also be able to raise funds for that.

Then our big event will happen on November 3 as our 10th celebration of SUPERLady Live Movement, benefiting our founding.

For more information, visit www.SupergirlsShine.com/contact.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SUPERGIRLS SHINE FOUNDATION’S FOUNDING, MEMORABLE PROGRAMS AND HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT IT AT DEFENDERNETWORK.COM.