04.02.2026_Defender-e-FULL

SHE'S GOT GAME Black women make impact in Houston sports

PROFILE

SPORTS

ALEXUS RHONE

TREMAINE JACKSON

The Houston artist embodies ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ spirit.

Volume 95, issue 24 April 2, 2026

The PVAMU football coach is prepping to go all the way next season.

facebook.com/defendernetwork twitter.com/defendernetwork

instagram.com/defendernetwork defendernetwork.com

FREE

2 | April 2, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN To the POINT Nick Cannon and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas (not pictured) are trending for their declarations of support for Donald Trump. Credit: Getty Images

Message from the Reporter adding Republicans “freed the slaves.”

He immediately positioned himself as In Houston classrooms, the state’s teacher politically independent. shortage is starting to feel very real.

“And honestly, I don’t subscribe to either A new report from the University of Housparty,” he said. “I rock with W. E. B. Du Bois, ton’s Education Research Center shows that when he said there’s no such thing as two Texas lost more than 5,000 teachers in 2024parties. It’s just one evil party with two dif25, while the number of students decreased ferent names.” by 252 over the same period.

This quickly sparked online debates, with Who is filling the gap? many users calling the remarks misinformed Per the study, uncertified teachers now and irresponsible. Others applauded him for make up 8% of the workforce across Texas (as his candid remarks.

Tannistha Sinha of 2024-25), up from less than 1% in 2019-20.

Meanwhile, “Chilli” is clarifying her stance Among first-year teachers, more than half entered class- on making donations to campaigns linked to Trump, following rooms without completing a formal training program, i.e., a The Independent report that said she made nearly $1,000 in the Educator Preparation Program (EPP). donations to Trump’s campaign in 2024.

In a district like Houston ISD, the largest in the state, UH Now, the singer says she was misinformed about where researchers found that the number of uncertified teachers her money was going. grew by over 1,900% since the state takeover, from just 106 “I WANT TO BE CLEAR: I am not MAGA and do not in 2022-23 to 2,122 in 2024-25. Meanwhile, the district lost support any of the many policies that are causing great harm over 9% of its teachers with standard certification. to the American people,” she wrote on Instagram. “I made In Houston, where the share of economically disadvan- a mistake too many make: I did not read the fine print. I taged students grew from 59% in 2016-17 to 60.4% in 2024- thought I was supporting causes against human trafficking 25, the impact is noticeable. and for veterans.”

A UH report found that over the past decade, campuses What started as celebrity chatter has turned into a whirlserving a student population of more than 75% economi- wind of debates and a snapshot of how fast celebrity moments cally disadvantaged students have had a lower proportion can turn political. of certified teachers.

At the same time, student needs are growing. More students HISD fast-tracks middle schoolers toward require bilingual support and special education services.

Algebra I by eighth grade While the teacher workforce remains majority white, that Houston ISD is making a big bet on math and starting share has declined over the past decade, dropping to about earlier than ever.

54.1% in 2024-25. The proportion of Hispanic teachers has Beginning this fall, all sixth- and seventh-graders will be grown to 30.2%, and the proportion of Black teachers has placed on an accelerated math track designed to prepare grown to 11.9%. Meanwhile, more than 70% of students are them for Algebra I by eighth grade. non-white.

“The sooner students get into Algebra I, the sooner that Overall, the data show a teacher workforce in transition. opens up additional pathways in high school to take advanced While Texas, and Houston in particular, continue to adapt to math courses and explore more career opportunities,” said staffing challenges, shifts in certification and demographics Tracy Fox, HISD’s executive director of math and science. are reshaping how school districts respond.

Per the non-profit, Good Reason Houston, taking Algebra I in eighth grade is linked with a higher likelihood of attainNick Cannon and Chilli make headlines again… ing a postsecondary credential and earning a livable wage but for something else this time in young adulthood.

Looks like comedian-producer Nick Cannon and singer This finding coincides with an increase in Houston-area Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas are trending again…but this time eighth-graders enrolled in the subject since 2023, when the they are not fending off dating rumors. state legislature passed Senate Bill 2124, which mandated Cannon recently shared his political opinions during an that districts implement advanced algebra pathways for episode of his web series, Nick Cannon’s Big Drive, in which high-achieving fifth-graders. he voiced support for President Donald Trump.

He was joined by model Amber Rose, who claimed that ON THE WEB Democrats “don’t care about Black people, don’t care about • KP George’s felony conviction leaves Fort Bend office people of color, and the Republicans do.” in limbo.

Cannon replied, “I agree with you 100 percent,” and called • Texas school voucher program draws massive demand the Democratic Party “the party of the KKK.” but few public students.

“They don’t care about people of color,” Cannon stated, • Is Houston the new spring break hotspot destination?

Uncertified teachers rise, school workforce shifts

April 2, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 3

DN News

More join Texas HUB lawsuit well as leaders from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Health and Human Services (HHSC), and the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC).

The plaintiffs argue that the harm is spreading across multiple agencies that have allegedly stopped complying with statutory HUB reporting, planning, and subcontracting obligations.

By ReShonda Tate

A coalition of minority- and women-owned businesses escalated their legal battle against the state, filing an expanded lawsuit to block what they describe as a “disturbing and unconscionable” dismantling of the Texas Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program.

The updated complaint, filed in Travis County state court, now challenges both a December 2025 emergency rule and newly proposed March 2026 regulations issued

by Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock. Plaintiffs warn that the state’s actions have effectively gutted a decades-old program designed to ensure fair access to state contracts.

The human cost of decertification

The impact of these changes is already being felt by small business owners across the state. The updated lawsuit adds new plantiffs, including truckers, childcare, construction firms, healthcare suppliers, and a trade association representing over 150 minority- and women-owned contractors.

A drastic reduction in opportunity

The legal challenge centers on a series of rule changes that have fundamentally altered the landscape of state contracting.

According to the filing, the Comptroller’s actions have: • Reduced the number of HUB-certified businesses in Texas from approximately 16,000 to roughly 500.

• Drastically restricted access to billions of dollars in potential state contracting opportunities.

• Exceeded executive authority by rewriting statutory definitions of HUB eligibility.

Seeking immediate relief

More businesses are joining a lawsuit over Texas’ dismantling of the HUB program. Credit: ChatGPT

“The Legislature created the HUB program, and the Comptroller is now trying — not once but at least twice — to dismantle it without authority,” said Alphonso David, civil rights attorney and co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs.

Expanding the legal net

The lawsuit has grown in both scope and defendants. In addition to Hancock, the complaint now names Adriana Cruz, executive director of the Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office (EDT), as

The plaintiffs are asking the court for a temporary injunction to immediately halt the emergency and proposed rules. They are also seeking the reinstatement of HUB certifications for all affected businesses while the litigation continues.

Co-lead counsel Adam Schuman noted that the state cannot “sidestep the Legislature” through a “misguided rulemaking process.”

“Every day these rules remain in effect,” David added, “more businesses are pushed out of opportunity and closer to shutting their doors.”

SNAP OVERHAUL

Sweets now banned on Lone Star cards

By ReShonda Tate

Millions of Texans now face a starkly different experience at the grocery checkout line, as the state implements sweeping new restrictions on what families can purchase with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

The shift, aimed at steering 3.3 million residents toward more nutritious options, marks a significant overhaul of how the Lone Star Card can be used for daily essentials.

Navigating the new restrictions

Under the updated guidelines from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), sugary snacks and drinks that were previously eligible are now off the table.

The changes, which stem from state legislation passed last year, target items that leaders argue contribute to poor long-term health outcomes.

As of April 1, the following items will no longer be covered by SNAP: • Sweetened Beverages: Any drink containing more than five grams of added sugar or any amount of artificial sweetener.

• Candy: Chocolate bars, sour candy, gum, and taffy.

• Coated Snacks: Nuts, raisins, or fruits that have been candied, glazed, or coated in chocolate, yogurt, or caramel.

While staple items like meat, dairy, and fresh produce remain eligible, shoppers are being urged to check Nutrition Facts labels carefully for added sugars and artificial sweeteners before reaching the register.

A policy for public health

State leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott, have framed the move as a necessary step in aligning government assistance with better nutrition.

“Texas is leading the way in aligning SNAP benefits with healthier food options,” Abbott said in a statement, noting the goal is to ensure families access food that supports their well-being.

The policy follows a state request approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2025, allowing Texas to become one of the few states to strictly limit specific food categories within the federal program.

The “Access Point” risk

However, the transition is not without its critics. Advocacy groups like Every Texan warn that the new restrictions—paired with proposed federal rules requiring retailers to carry more expensive perishable goods— could backfire.

The group argues that these dual requirements may force smaller community grocers to opt out of the SNAP program entirely, creating “food deserts” in neighborhoods that rely on them most.

“Adding requirements for expensive perishable items while simultaneously restricting SNAP purchases of shelf-stable items compromises millions of Texans’ health by risking their access points to food,” the group stated.

For households navigating these changes, some items that appear similar to restricted foods may still be allowed if they are intended for cooking, such as baking chocolate or cake decorations. Households are encouraged to stay informed through HHSC updates to avoid surprises at the point of sale

The new SNAP rules went into effect April 1. Credit: ChatGPT

4 | April 2, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN News COUNT INFLUENCES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Homeless funding at risk?

By Tannistha Sinha

More than 400 volunteers and outreach workers fanned out across Houston and surrounding counties last week, canvassing under bridges, in wooded encampments, along city streets and bus stops, for the region’s annual Point-in-Time (PIT) homeless count and survey.

Led by the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH), the count provides a one-night snapshot of how many people are experiencing homelessness across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties.

Results from the 2026 count will be released this summer.

The Defender went on a ride-along with the organization to understand the on-ground realities of addressing homelessness in Houston.

Cavazos and Villarreal noted that PIT counts are snapshots that can under- or overcount, so the system also relies on HMIS (Homeless Management Information System), a shared database used by providers to track clients’ pathways across agencies.

Both emphasized that Houston’s approach to addressing homelessness is due to regional collaboration among nonprofits and local government. Major barriers include mental and physical health needs, lack of affordable housing, and evictions, although evictions do not automatically equal homelessness.

They also extended support for the Housing First policy for permanent housing, but argue that the next phase must add upstream interventions, such as rapid resolution and improved discharge planning from jails and hospitals.

By the numbers According to the 2025 PIT analysis prepared by the University of Houston, 3,325 people were counted as experiencing homelessness, a slight increase of 45 individuals from 2024.

Of those, 1,282 people were unsheltered, living in places not meant for human habitation. That marked a 15.8% increase in unsheltered homelessness compared to the previous year.

The rise reverses a temporary dip and signals a growing need for outreach and housing solutions targeted toward those sleeping outdoors.

The 2025 data reveal stark demographic patterns.

Black individuals remained “significantly overrepresented”, making up 56% of the total homeless population, despite accounting for a much smaller share of the region’s overall population.

White individuals comprised 28%, while Hispanic individuals accounted for 12%.

On the ground during this year’s count, outreach workers said the numbers reflect what they see daily.

“I do see, unfortunately, a lot of young Black males. The African American population is experiencing homelessness quite a bit,” said Jeremy Sanders, an outreach worker at the coalition, during a ride-along interview. “Some come from incarceration, then

Stories behind the statistics For many surveyed, the path into homelessness ties to health and income.

Sanders and Urbina spotted two unhoused men on Highway 59 North. They asked them questions about the reasons for homelessness, abuse, disability, domestic violence, and other details.

The final results of the survey will be released by an epidemiologist in a few months.

Ryan (last name withheld for privacy) told outreach staff he lost his housing after his mother died. The combined Social Security income that once covered rent and food disappeared, leaving him unable to keep up with expenses. Wayman, another man, staying in his car, said he was waiting to see if he would pass a background check for a job he had lined up.

Survey data from 2025 mirrors those accounts. The report identifies family conflict, lack of income, and job loss as the most commonly cited causes of homelessness.

About 40% of unsheltered individuals reported it was their first experience of homelessness, while 89% entered homelessness while living in the Houston area.

About half of unsheltered individuals had no matching record in the region’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), indicating they had not yet engaged with formal services.

Outreach worker Jeremy Sanders says federal funding and PIT data shape Houston’s long-term homelessness response. Credit: Tannistha Sinha

try to reestablish their lives and don’t have the same fortunate opportunity to do so as quickly as others. Drugs play a part; some are already dealing with addiction.”

Discussing the mental toll of hearing the stories of those they count, Sanders and Jackie Urbina, another outreach worker, emphasized how quickly housing instability can happen: “One medical incident, one tragedy, one paycheck away.”

“They just really would like their story to be heard. It’s really hard not to be affected by them,” Sanders said. “Because we’re human too and we have our own stories.”

Funding and what comes next The PIT count and related data influence Houston and Harris County’s homelessness response and federal funding.

Renee Cavazos, vice president of the Homeless Response System, said the PIT count is required by HUD every other year, but Houston conducts it annually to better track trends and the service gap.

The results factor into HUD’s annual

NOFO (Notice of Funding Opportunity) scoring. If the PIT count increases, the region could lose points and potentially funding, while a decrease could improve scoring, though HUD does not fully explain its methodology.

The local Continuum of Care (CoC) receives about $70 million annually, the organization said.

“Our COC dollars have remained pretty consistent over the past two years,” Cavazos said. “We’ve actually grown our COC portfolio by about 25% over the past three or four years. We’ve seen additional dollars through HUD through the program.”

Catherine Villarreal, vice president of public affairs at the coalition, added that COVID-era federal dollars (CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act) boosted permanent housing efforts beginning around 2021, but those funds are winding down, reducing the number of people who can be housed compared with prior years.

“We have not been able to house as many people in ‘25 as we did in ‘24,” Villarreal said.

Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

VOLUME 95, NUMBER 24 - APRIL 2, 2026

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender News- paper 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 2025 copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher.

713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, TX 77288

Managing Editor ReShonda Tate

Content Manager Terrance Harris Community Reporter Aswad Walker Culture/Lifestyle Reporter Laura Onyeneho

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

April 2, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 5

DN News Christian Menefee argues that it’s time for a change in Congress.

Credit: Christian Menefee Facebook

Al Green, who has spent more than two decades in Congress, says now is not the time for change.

Credit: Al Green Facebook

Al Green, Christian Menefee Make their case to lead District 18

Christian Menefee: It doesn’t Wealth-building in a district in skilled labor jobs like plumbers, like The political fight over Texas’ new con- matter how much you go along to get still recovering electricians, like construction. The types of gressional map was supposed to reshape the along. What matters is your willingness District 18 includes working-class fami- jobs that if you work for a good amount of balance of power in Washington. Instead, it to stand up, to fight strategically, and it’s lies, small business owners, seniors on fixed time you can earn high six figures and be has reshaped Houston. going to actually deliver results for people. incomes, and communities still navigating able to raise a family. It means doing all we What began as a Republican-led redis- And that’s exactly what I did as County the aftershocks of inflation, storms, and eco- can to make college affordable. My basic tricting push to strengthen GOP Attorney, was figure out ways to nomic disruption. agenda is putting more money back seats has triggered an unexpected fight back against the Trump What specific federal in people’s pockets so that they Democratic showdown in the administration, against policies would you can afford and enjoy Amerheart of Black Houston. A the Abbott adminischampion to expand ica. The Trump adminisnewly redrawn District 18 tration, to make sure wealth-building tration and Republicans now places freshman U.S. we have clean air and opportunities for are running the opposite Rep. Christian Menefee water, to protect our Black Houstonians direction on that right and longtime incumbent voting rights, to protect - whether now and I plan to try to U.S. Rep. Al Green on the health care programs. through housing, rein them in and get policy same primary ballot.

That’s the type of fighting small business passes to put more money Menefee, who just took office spirit we need in Washingaccess to capital, back in people’s pockets. after winning a special election to ton, not performative fighting, federal contracts, Green: To increase Al Green Christian fill the late Rep. Sylvester Turner’s seat not cosmetic fighting for cosmetic workforce training, or wealth-building opportunities Menefee in January, is now running for a full reasons, but fighting that’s actually student debt relief? for Black Houstonians, we must term in a district made up largely of new going to yield results for the people who Menefee: There used to be address invidious discrimination voters under the revised map. Meanwhile, live in our communities. And I think I’m a time in this country where you could in the financial services industry and help Green, one of the most senior members of the only candidate that presents that. The work forever. But right now, people aren’t individuals achieve homeownership. To Texas’ congressional delegation, is seek- only candidate who will step in on day one able to do that. They’re still not making this end, I have introduced and sponing reelection after the Legislature recon- and be thoughtful, surgical in attacking ends meet. If something happens to their sored many bills in Congress, including figured his longtime district to lean more the administration and prohealth, it could set them back H.R. 166, the Fair Lending for All Act, Republican, prompting his move into the tecting the rights of the peofinancially a decade, and they’re a seminal piece of legislation that I have redrawn 18th. ple who live in our district. retiring much later. In some introduced to address discrimination in The Defender asked both candidates to Al Green: This race, at instances, they’re not retiring at lending. This legislation would impose make their final case directly to voters ahead its essence, is about who has all. What I’m going to do, every criminal penalties for discrimination in of Election Day. demonstrated the courage to single thing I can do, is to put lending and would require the Consumer confront President Trump more money back in people’s Financial Protection Bureau to establish The Why now — and why you? face to face as I have in pockets. That means increasing an Office of Fair Lending Testing to hold candidates District 18 carries a powerful public forms. The latest time the minimum wage to at least predatory institutions accountable. If we weigh in on legacy, from Barbara Jordan to occurred during the State of $15 an hour so that folks don’t are to help Black Houstonians and other delivering Mickey Leland to Craig Washington the Union event, while my have to work three jobs just to communities of color build wealth, we results in a to Sheila Jackson Lee to Sylvester opponent was campaignbe able to make ends meet.

It must root out this specific form of dispolarized Turner. It has long been a seat ing in Houston. I have the means fighting for health care for crimination. I am also a proud co-sponsor Congress. anchored in civil rights leadership courage to stand up to the every single person, single-payof Rep. Maxine Waters’ H.R. 6771, the and Black political power.

Trump crypto cronies that er universal health care so that Housing Crisis Response Act, a crucial bill Why are you the right leader are aligned with my opponent and nobody has to choose between putting that would provide $150 billion to build for this moment in Houston’s spending $1,500,000 in the Menefee food on the table and getting life-saving nearly 1.4 million affordable homes. This history, and what would you do Republican-funded campaign to defeat treatment. It means increasing the number bill would help address the racial wealth differently from your opponent me. When courage counts, you can of apprenticeship programs because right gap by investing in first-time, first-generain your first year in office? count on Al Green. now we have an extreme shortage of folks tion homebuyers, and it is long overdue.

By ReShonda Tate

6 | April 2, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 7

DN InFocus

SHE’S GOT GAME Black women making an impact in Houston sports

By Terrance Harris

Sarah Joseph Sarah Joseph didn’t really know what she was getting into when she first joined the Rockets organization as the Community Relations Director in 1994.

All Joseph knew was that she was being offered an opportunity that aligned with her career aspirations and was joining a franchise fresh off winning an NBA Championship.

“I didn’t know where this was going,” Joseph said. “I did d not even know this position existed. I really didn’t.”

But as Joseph had done in her previous career at Channeel 13, she jumped right in and made it her own and used her possition to positively impact the community by increasing the reacch of the Rockets’ organization.

Now, nearly 32 years and a few promotions later, Joseph iss one of the franchise’s more influential and recognized faces as thee vice president of community relations and events. Joseph spearh heads all aspects of the Rockets’ community initiatives, including seervice programs, fundraising, charitable partnerships and events, and youth outreach. Additionally, she works directly with Rocckets players in developing individualized programs for how theey get involved in the Houston Area.

Joseph joins Texas Southern Athletic Director Dr. Paula JJackson, Astros Foundation Executive Director and Astros Seniorr VP of Community Affairs Emelda Douglas and Prairie View Sen nior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator Aliicia

Pete as four Black women the Defender found to be impactful in Houston’s sports market in celebration of Black Women’s History Month in April.

“I absolutely enjoy it just by the mere fact of what I do is impacting this community, and that’s helping so many people,” Joseph said of her role. “It’s also being in sports. Sports are fun, at least at the Rockets. It’s been a ball to have this position.

“Our office is not a traditional office. Everything about it is fun.

But when it comes to the impact that we are making in the community munity, when y think you thi k of 30 years of being able to touch lives, to help the community, we take that very seriously.”

Since joining the Rockets in 1994, she has transitioned from community relations director to vice president of community relations and events. Joseph is one of the longest-tenured executives in the organization, starting out under the leadership of former owner Leslie Alexander and now working for Tilman Fertitta, who took over as the Rockets’ owner in 2017.

As the Rockets’ vice president for co ommunity and events, Sarah Joseph spearh heads all aspects of the Rockets’ community initia atives, including service programs, fundraiising, charitable partnerships and events, and a youth outreach. Credit: Houston Rocke ets

Emelda Douglas Emelda Douglas has spent her career at the intersection of philanthropy, leadership and community engagement.

As the executive director of the Astros Foundation and Sr. Vice President of Community Affairs for the Houston Astros, she took over last year from Paula McCann Harris, who led the Foundation for almost four years. Douglas is poised to take Houston’s beloved baseball team’s charitable arm to new heights.

With a background in nonprofit leadership and youth empowerment initiatives, Douglas has long championed underserved communities. Her vision for the Astros is clear: Expand the community programs with a focus on education, health and youth engagement while

increasing diversity in baseball.

“My initial focus is building strong community connections through meaningful stakeholder dialogue,” Douglas said. “We want to bring new initiatives with the most significant community impact. I’m particularly passionate about literacy and wellness programs for youth and women from marginalized communities.”

One of Douglas’ primary goals is increasing access to baseball for young athletes of color. Under her leadership, the Astros Foundation will maintain 23 City of Houston baseball fields in underserved communities and provide uniforms to over 2,000 youth at no cost.

Emelda Douglas is making a big impact as the executive director of the Astros Foundation and Sr. Vice President of Community Affairs for the Houston Astros.

Courtesy: Emelda Douglas

In Celebration of Black Women's History Month

Alicia Pete Alicia Pete has been involved with Prairie View in some capacity almost as long as she can remember.

She started out as a volleyball player for the Panthers, came back initially as the bowling coach, then became their highly successful volleyball coach before transitioning over to the administrative side, where Pete is now the senior associate athletic director/senior woman administrator.

In all, Pete has worked for her alma mater for nearly 30 years, where she has made a huge difference for the student-athletes.

Earlier this month, Pete was given the SWAC’s Game ChangeHer Award in recognition of her leadership, service and continued commitment to advancing equity and opportunity.

“Just giving back to the student athletes because I was a student athlete when we didn’t have as much,”

Prairie View Associate Athletic Director Alicia Pete was recently awarded the SWAC’s Game ChangeHer Award for her outstanding work as the senior women’s administrator.

said Pete, who guided the Panthers volleyball team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999 and was twice named SWAC Coach of the Year. “So my goal is to work with the student athletes as much as I can in mentoring and leadership and anything I can do just to get them on the right track.”

Pete’s impact on women’s sports at Prairie View is felt and appreciated by all on The Hill.

“She has touched everything at Prairie View athletics,” said Panthers’ softball coach Vernon Bland.

“I don’t think we would be in the places that we are without her. She is everybody’s go-to.

“I don’t know where we would be without her.”

Paula Jackson Last fall, Dr. Paula Jackson stepped into one of the most challenging situations of her career when she came aboard as the Texas Southern University’s interim athletic director after the school put its then Athletic Director Kevin Granger on leave of absence in the wake of sexual charges he faced.

Jackson has since steadied the ship and has focused on marketing, fundraising and her signature NIL initiatives. She recently facilitated her HBCU Masterclass, which she initiated while an administrator at Norfolk State University, on TSU’s campus.

Jackson is a veteran HB BCU administrator with over 25 yeaars of experience including stops at Lincoln University, Mississippi V Valley State, Hampton and Norfolk State. She is still under the interim m tag even though Granger has officcially been fired. But Jackson has mad de it clear

Dr. Paula Jackson, a veteran college administrator, stepped into the interim athletic director role at TSU last fall and immediately hit the ground running.

that she is serious about taking on the athletic director role at TSU, and as proof, she has relocated to Houston.

“Through her experience and dedication, Dr. Jackson has also expanded learning opportunities for our student-athletes and campus community in the rapidly evolving Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) landscape,” said TSU President James Crawford III. “That exposure is invaluable as we position Texas Southern University to compete effectively in this new era of intercollegiate athletics.

Equally important has been her steadfast advocacy for our student-athletes and their coaches.

Under her leadership, several of our programs have reached new heights.

8 | April 2, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature Harris County leads in Black maternal deaths

By Laura Onyeneho

Texas has long struggled with maternal health outcomes, but new data underscores a devastating reality for Black women, particularly in Houston’s backyard.

Racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes are well-documented. Harris County stands out as a particularly stark example, with high rates of maternal and infant mortality and maternal morbidity that often surpass both Texas and national averages.

This is striking given the county’s diverse population of nearly five million residents, including a significant Black demographic.

Dr. Ericka Brown, A local health authority at Harris County Public Health, says the crisis is rooted in longstanding inequities.

“The disparities we see in Harris County and across Texas reflect longstanding gaps in access, quality, continuity of care, and systemic inequities,” Brown said. “Black women are more likely to experience barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment, less likely to have their concerns taken seriously, and more likely to deliver in under-resourced settings.”

Brown said even in a region home to the Texas Medical Center, access remains uneven. Chronic conditions such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease, often shaped by inequities in preventive care, housing, and economic opportunity, further increase risk. She said that when those factors collide with gaps in care coordination, preventable complications become preventable deaths.

According to the 2024 Maternity Care Deserts Report from the March of Dimes, women living in counties without adequate maternity care face higher rates of preterm birth, low birthweight, and maternal complications. In emergencies such as hemorrhage, preeclampsia, or sepsis, longer travel times can mean the difference between life and death.

Importantly, many maternal deaths occur after delivery, often within the first year postpartum. In care deserts, follow-up appointments, mental health services, and cardiovascular monitoring are harder to access.

LaToyia Dennis knows that reality firsthand.

The maternal health advocate and founder of A Chance to Learn nearly died twice during her pregnancy journey. She miscarried five times. During one loss, doctors told her she arrived at the hospital just minutes before it would have been too late.

Later, when she became pregnant again, a hospital incorrectly told her she had miscarried and needed a dilation and curettage.

The disparities we see in Harris County and across Texas reflect longstanding gaps in access, quality, and continuity of care, as well as systemic inequities.

Credit: ChatGPT

“Because I was exhausted, I would have walked across the street and aborted my baby,” Dennis said. “An ultrasound later revealed my baby was alive.”

Dennis was eventually diagnosed with gestational diabetes and preeclampsia and delivered two months early. Days after returning home, her body began seizing and releasing fluid. Her blood pressure soared.

She survived, but years later, a physician told her that what she experienced is often fatal.

“She said, ‘I have never met anybody who has made it,’” Dennis recalled. “When your body starts releasing fluid, your organs are shutting down, and you are dying.”

Now, Dennis travels the country advocating for maternal health equity. She said one of the most persistent barriers Black women face is not being heard.

“It is as if we can tolerate this enormous amount of pain,” Dennis said. “You’re okay.

It’s going to pass. And lo and behold, you’re in preterm labor at 20 weeks.”

She also points to social determinants of health, such as food deserts, transportation barriers, and economic instability, that place women of color at greater risk. Cultural competency in health care remains inconsistent, particularly around conditions like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, which can have lingering effects beyond delivery.

“Many systemic changes and interventions are being implemented to address the Black maternal mortality crisis. This includes public health initiatives that promote awareness of the crisis and actions that must be taken, including culturally and timely access to care,” Brown said. “Policy reforms are in place, which aim to provide access to better care and health care services being covered

BROWN SHARES KEY ADVICE FOR WOMEN TO PROTECT THEMSELVES DURING PREGNANCY

under insurance.”

During the 2023 legislative session, Texas passed HB 12, extending postpartum Medicaid and CHIP coverage for eligible women, ensuring vital postpartum care services. This extension benefits enrolled participants by providing access to regular checkups, mental

health care, and treatment for special health needs and preexisting conditions.

For women navigating pregnancy now, Dennis urges preparation and persistence.

Have someone in the room. Ask questions until you understand. If a provider dismisses concerns, find another.

EZ TAG users get a 10% discount on Harris County toll roads.

Get your EZ TAG and keep it moving HCTRA.org · 281-875-EASY (3279) HCTRA.org · 281-875-EASY (3279)

April 2, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 9

DN Profile

Alexus Rhone Embodies artistic spirit

By Aswad Walker

Ask Alexus Rhone about her roots, and she’ll tell you without hesitation: “From South Park Village concrete grew this ‘Yellow Rose of Texas.’”

That grounding—equal parts Houston grit and Black Southern grace—runs through everything she creates.

An alumna of Willowridge High School and the University of Texas at Austin, Rhone is also seminary-trained and proudly claims membership in what she calls the notorious “first-born girlchild gang.”

“We don’t play. We get things done. We throw hands,” she says.

That mix of intellect, irreverence, and unapologetic Black womanhood has made Rhone a respected artist across multiple disciplines, including author, spoken-word poet, playwright, podcaster, director, and more.

Rhone built much of her artistic reputation in North Carolina and on national stages.

But what began as a pit-stop visit home has turned into a relocation and relaunch in Houston—one she approaches with clarity about who she is and what she offers.

“I am an artistic theologian and a master storyteller,” Rhone says. “I tell stories about the sweetness of Black girls and the compassion of Black women… Give me a mic and a stage. I got it. And I got you.”

Artistic theologian

Rhone’s self-description is deliberate.

“My art form is storytelling,” she explains.

“I attended seminary and have a Master of Arts in Theology. My intention was never to be in a pulpit, but to explore the presence—or perceived absence—of God in our lived reality.”

She explores those questions through varied story forms, some instructional, most not.

“I’m reverently irreverent,” Rhone says.

“I’m not for all audiences. But the ones I am for, I am loved, and loved well.”

That sensibility is rooted in her upbringing.

“One of the things that is real for Black women, particularly in under-resourced spaces, is the presence of God in the Black church,” she says. “But also the wiles of what we’d call the devil. I grew up in a single-parent household where the church was central.

And a lot of what I see in the public sphere, they got wrong.”

For Rhone, faith and struggle coexist.

“The ‘reverent’ part is loving God,” she says. “The ‘irreverent’ part is knowing that sometimes you’ve got to get your hands dirty.”

That refusal to be boxed in aligns with

Rhone’s creative inspirations: Nola Darling from She’s Gotta Have It and Claudine, portrayed by Diahann Carroll.

“It becomes a way of practicing perfect self-expression,” she says. “Do the thing that feels good and gets you the results you’re after.”

From author to multifaceted artist

Rhone has never claimed neutrality.

“What I wanted was to be successful with significance,” she says. “Alexus the artist began as Lex the writer.”

Her early mission focused on Black girls who had decided they hated reading.

“If a Black girl decides she hates reading, she’s cutting herself off from resources,” Rhone says.

She wrote what she calls gateway fiction, set in familiar places like South Park Village, Missouri City, and UT, so readers could see themselves reflected.

“If what’s on the shelf isn’t capturing them, I had to put something on the shelf,” she said.

In 2014, Rhone adapted her first book, Primitive Pleasures, into a poetry and dance stage production.

“Since then, I’ve been living the absolute dream,” she says, producing original stage works, digital storytelling, and screen projects. “I’m scaling up.”

Praise for Rhone

Audiences and critics alike have taken notice. Charlotte-based Star Robinson Russell calls Rhone “so boss in creating experiences that bring the curious and the courageous together.”

Theatre critic Serayah Silver describes

Rhone’s Ancient of Ways as “a practice in personal and generational healing,” praising how it invites audiences to “re-member our experiences of Black girlhood.”

Houstonian Demethra Orion recalls Rhone’s staged readings in Houston and Washington n, D.C. DC “I closed my m eyes and was literally watching a mind movie, m ” Orion said.

Love for Black B girls and women

At Rhonee’s foundation is devotion.

“I’m ideo ologically driven by my love for God d’s creation and my love for Black girls and Black women,” she says.

She insissts on nuanced reflections—mirrrors, not caricatures— affirming that Black women’s sweetness “is “ not syrupy” and their compassion n “is not foolish.”

“There arre so many ways people sho ould be in Alexus (Grace) Rhone was featured as an HMAAC 2025 Summer/ Fall guest curator.

Courtesy HMAAC.

Jesus, Jazz & Dessert Wine promo. Courtesy Alexus Rhone.

praise of Black women,” Rhone says, “for how we love, remember, and show up.”

There’s no doubt Rhone’s got to have it.

For more on her work, visit www.alexusrhone.com.

10 | April 2, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports

Prairie View coach Tremaine Jackson (middle), flanked by running back Chase Bingmon (left) and defensive back Eric Zachery (right), says spring practices have been intense and productive. Credit: Terrance Harris/Houston Defender

THE JOURNEY TO ‘FINISH THE FIGHT’

Prairie View begins Spring Ball

By Terrance Harris

Prairie View has 103 football players out at spring camp, and there is fierce competition at nearly every position.

That’s exactly what Panthers head coach Tremaine Jackson wants as he goes through his second spring practices on The Hill. But who his likely starters will be and what his two-deep roster will look like going into fall camp, and that everyone is healthy, isn’t all he wants to know about his team coming out of spring ball.

“Those things are normal. Everybody wants to be healthy,” Jackson said recently to the Defender. “But somebody has got to get hit. I need to see how people react after

This year is more direct.

Last year, it was more people not wanting to be here for real, not ready to play for us. So this year, it’s more we’ve recruited our guys to play for us.”

CHASE BINGMON PANTHERS RUNNING BACK

they get hit. I need to see who is going to do the hitting.

“We want to be known as a violent, physical football team. It’s only one way to find that out.”

It’s a fitting desire for a 2026 season that has already been dubbed “Finish the Fight” after the Panthers came so close to winning the program’s first national championship before falling to South Carolina State in the Celebration Bowl.

This spring is when the get-back has begun in earnest as Jackson and Panthers start the process of accomplishing all that they did in their first season together – winning the SWAC West title, winning the SWAC Championship, and making it to Atlanta with the Black college national championship on the line – with a couple of big differences.

“I didn’t do a very good job of saying we need to win in Atlanta,” Jackson said. “I said, `We’ve got to get there.’ I didn’t say we have to win there. So the gotta get there took off.

Now it’s, we gotta win there.”

This spring has been about preparing to take it to the next level. Jackson is quick to let you know how much better off the program is now than it was a year ago, when he started spring practices with 62 players, and half of the players quit before the 15 practices were exhausted.

Now Jackson has more players who fit what he is looking for, and he feels good about the progress that will be made between now and the start of fall camp in

August. And with the NCAA the transfer portal, including closing the spring transfer WHAT: Prairie Dez Thomas from Georgeportal window, it’s also not View Game town and Jaylen Pettway, as likely to see players movWHERE: who played for Jackson and ing on after spring practices Panther his staff at Valdosta State and are over.

Stadium is familiar with the system In addition to more comWHEN: April 17 and expectations. mitted players, the Panthers TIME: 6 p.m.

“We don’t need Tom also have more bodies to Brady. We need somebody work with along the offenwho is going to be a point sive and defensive lines, as guard and is going to distribwell as more depth at defensive back and ute the ball and not turn it over and make wide receiver. The increased numbers and good decisions,” Jackson said. “The earlier depth have allowed Jackson to shift their we can know, the better. But we are not going practice structure toward more 11-on-11 to make a hasty decision just to hurry up and time without fear of losing depth due to make a decision.” injuries.

But don’t expect Jackson to elaborate “That’s really valuable to these guys,” said much on who is winning the quarterback Jackson, whose most significant loss to the competition or what the QB depth chart transfer portal this offseason was leading might look like going into the fall. What receiver Iyzaiah Rockwell, who left for Sam he is more than willing to talk about is the Houston State after catching 74 passes for recent trip he and the staff, along with ath1,161 yards and eight touchdowns for the letic director Anton Goff, took to Boulder, Panthers last season. “Everybody looks good Colorado, to spend time with Colorado in shorts, tagging off of you. But somebody coach Deion Sanders and his staff. has got to get hit. So we have a lot of time in They talked a lot about football, but Sandorder to see that.” ers, who coached a few seasons at Jackson The most burning question is what is the State, also gave Jackson and his travel party plan to replace Cam Peters, who ran out of some insight into the business of football, eligibility at the end of last season. Jackson especially at the HBCU level. said he likes the group he has to work with “There is nobody in the country on any this spring. level, at any program that’s doing business Tevin Carter, who started a few games in ball like they are doing business in ball last season and played in others, is back, at Colorado,” Jackson said. “The amount of along with Tyler Nelson. And the staff has outside resources that they can command brought in a couple of new quarterbacks via is phenomenal.”

April 2, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 11

DN Sports

TYWAN COLLINS JR.

ABOUT TYWAN COLLINS JR. Class: 2026 IG: @ihoop.tywan3 Twitter: @Tywan_Collins Position: Point Guard Height & weight: 5-feet9, 155 pounds Favorite artist: Rod Wave Status: Uncommitted Favorite subject: Math

Becomes Cypress Creek’s all-time steals leader with 190

By Jimmie Aggison

For most possessions, the crowd watches the ball. Tywan Collins Jr. watches everything else.

The 5-foot-9 senior point guard at Cypress Creek High School doesn’t overwhelm opponents with size. He overwhelms them with anticipation. A twitch of the wrist. A lazy crossover. A telegraphed pass. In an instant, the ball is gone, and Collins is racing the other way. With 190 career steals, Collins set the new school record for most steals. He didn’t just make history. He built it, one calculated swipe at a time.

“Tywan mentioned he was closing in on the school record, so I reached out to the former head coach, Dan Troquet, who confirmed that he only needed one steal going into the game against Seven Lakes,” said Cypress Creek head basketball coach Samuel Benitez.

Benitez kept the defensive message simple heading into the matchup with Seven Lakes: Play hard, contain the ball, and rebound on the first miss.

As the third quarter came to an end against Seven Lakes, Collins had yet to record a steal.

Needing just one, he recorded two in the fourth quarter, etching his name into Cypress Creek history.

“I wasn’t thinking about the record at the time,” said Collins. “I was just focusing on making the play. When I realized I had broken the record, it hit me that all the hard work and preparation had really paid off.”

But Collins will tell you the 189th steal wasn’t about the moment. It was about the habits built long before that moment.

To steal a basketball from an equally talented opponent whose job is to protect it requires far more than luck. It demands skill, discipline, and preparation.

Collins’ ability to read a ball handler’s body language and body positioning helped him average 2.9 steals per game during his senior season.

“The hips don’t lie,” said Collins. “I watch hours of film to learn players’ rhythms and tendencies.”

That anticipation didn’t appear overnight.

For Collins, defense began as survival and gradually became identity.

As a 5-foot-8 undersized guard, Collins

was often overlooked and had to prove himself. That reality pushed him to lean into his defensive skill set.

“I had to find a way to get playing time,” said Collins. “My sophomore year, I was coming off the bench and had to prove I could hang.”

“His energy gets everyone hyped and ready to play,” said junior small forward Elijah Trahan, who has seen Collins’ intensity firsthand.

That edge translated into numbers this season, and those numbers became historic.

Collins’ senior surge began Nov. 22, 2025 while at the McDonald’s Texas Invitational Basketball Tournament, where he recorded 10 steals against Richardson High School.

“I just played hard and let them add up,” said Collins. “The steal feels great, but the assist afterward feels even more satisfying because I get to talk noise and get hyped in anticipation of another one.”

“I can’t put a number on how many points his defense creates, but Tywan definitely disrupts opponents’ offense with his on-ball presence,” said Benitez. “Every steal is a transition opportunity.”

During his senior year alone, Collins tallied 102 steals. Still, numbers alone don’t fully capture what makes him special. His impact often shows up in moments that never reach the stat sheet.

“Tywan’s ability to communicate sets the tone and culture defensively,” said Trahan.

“Once you mess up, he’ll talk to you about it and help you fix it rather than get down on you.”

“His willingness to play hard defensively is contagious to the team,” said Benitez.

“Defense is about toughness and a blue-collar mentality. Those are two principles we discuss daily. Taking charges, diving for loose balls, and sacrificing your body are part of TEAM defense. If one person is not doing their job, it will break us down.”

While Collins enjoys scoring, he takes even greater pride in shutting down his opponent.

“I like to set the tone for my teammates on defense,” said Collins. “At Cypress Creek, I want to be remembered as a player who never took days off because someone else

Cypress Cre eek senior Tywa an Collins Jr. (3) is kn nown for lockdown defense and causing disruption n for ball handlers. Credit: C Jimmie Agg gison/ Defender

was always working, and as a player who pushed his teammates past their breaking point, making that dog come out.”

For Collins, the answer isn’t complicated. Legacy isn’t about flash; it’s about consistency.

“Getting 190 steals is a source of pride in playing defense because defense is not about talent; it’s about effort,” said Collins. “As a 5-foot-9 guard, defense is what separates me from others. To all the younger, smaller guards, I would say stay consistent and never doubt yourself. I don’t currently have any offers, but I plan to go to college, study education, and ultimately become a coach so I can continue being around the game.”

Long after the final buzzer sounds and the gym empties, the steals remain etched into the record books at Cypress Creek High School. But for Collins, defense was never about numbers. It was about reading the game like a language that few others understand and speaking it fluently enough to change it.

“Records are meant to be broken,” said Benitez. “We have some younger dudes in the program who look up to Tywan. They have seen his work ethic on and off the court every day. What he has done for this program and the accomplishments he has earned along the way. I know he has motivated them to leave their own legacy.”

12 | April 2, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

Xfinity Mobile

Born ready to roam

Watch Jurassic Park with Xfinity

XFINITY INTERNET MEMBERS

Go faster

Get savings

Go farther

Unlock ultrafast speeds with WiFi PowerBoost.

Only from Xfinity Mobile.

Cut your mobile bill in half with 2 lines of Unlimited.

Get reliable WiFi where you need it and 5G everywhere else.

1-800-xfinity

xfinitymobile.com

Visit a store today

Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Xfinity Mobile requires Xfinity Internet. WiFi PowerBoost: Gig-speed WiFi with PowerBoost available via Xfinity hotspots and Xfinity Gateways (XB7 or XB8) to Xfinity Mobile customers only. Actual WiFi speeds vary and not guaranteed. Many factors affect speed, including distance from hotspot, congestion, personal device capabilities, equipment performance, interference, and speeds of visited websites. Cut Your Bill in Half: Savings comparison based on promotional rate for 2 lines of Xfinity Mobile Unlimited vs. 2 lines of T-Mobile Experience More, Verizon Unlimited Plus, and AT&T Starter (as of 2/10/26). Xfinity Mobile: $25 one-time activation fee/line applies. Equip., intl. and roaming charges, taxes and fees, including reg. recovery fees, and other charges extra, and subj. to change. Pricing subj. to change. $25/mo charge applies if Xfinity TV, Voice, or Internet not maintained. After premium data allowance, data may be temporarily slower. Reduced speeds after use of monthly data included with your data option. Data thresholds may vary. For Xfinity Mobile broadband disclosures, visit xfinity.com/mobile/policies/broadband-disclosures.

NPA401435-0046