04.03.2025_Defender-e-FULL

“This is Houston too” Overlooked civic clubs fight for equity, change

FEATURE

PROFILE

TINA KNOWLES

JOHN & MARIA WHITE

The mother of Houston’s most popular artist is returning to Houston with a new memoir.

The pastors lead Wesley AME in a season of transformation.

Volume 94, issue 24 April 3, 2025

facebook.com/defendernetwork twitter.com/defendernetwork

instagram.com/defendernetwork defendernetwork.com

FREE

2 | April 3, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN To the POINT

Black Restaurant Week was launched in 2016 to spotlight Black restaurant establishments. Credit: Laura Onyeneho

Message from the Reporter Black Restaurant Week celebrates 10 years

“New Amerykah Part Two,” she’s given us timeless work, and I have no doubt this next album will be the same.

Every year when Black Restaurant Week rolls around, I know one thing is for sure: I’m going to be outside enjoying some Amber Ruffin and the White House Correspondents’ Association great cuisine and my dollars will be put to good use. This is the 10th anniversary Weak Move of Houston’s Black Restaurant Week. What The White House Correspondents’ started with a handful of restaurants has Association canceling comedian Amber now expanded across the country, creatRuffin’s performance is yet another examing opportunities for Black-owned eateries ple of the Trump administration’s fragile Laura Onyeneho to thrive. Given how tough the restaurant ego at work. Ruffin, a sharp and hilarious industry has been since the pandemic, the commentator, was deemed too critical of affordable marketing and PR support provided by Black the president—so they axed her. And that was a completely Restaurant Week is not just helpful; it’s essential. childish move.

I love seeing businesses get the recognition they deserve The whole point of this dinner has always been to mix while serving up everything from soul food classics to journalism and comedy, poking fun at the political chaos of Afro-Caribbean fusion. Sure, I could cook at home, but the moment. But this move shows how deeply the Trump let’s be real—I’m taking full advantage of this celebration. administration fears being held accountable—even through Supporting these restaurants isn’t just about the food; it’s satire. It’s a dangerous precedent to set, and it exposes the about sustaining Black entrepreneurship and keeping our hypocrisy of an administration that dishes out attacks but culture alive through cuisine. can’t take a joke.

Censorship, even in the form of scrapping a comedy act, Erykah Badu’s long-awaited return to music is a slippery slope. This isn’t just about Ruffin—it’s about “You better call Tyrone” because Erykah Badu has some suppressing voices that challenge power. And that, more great news for her fans. The Texas-born singer hinted at a than anything, is truly unfunny. return to music, teasing her first new album after 15 years.

In a music industry that prioritizes virality over longevity, On the Web Badu has remained a force. And her collaborations with • Rep. Charlene Ward Johnson addresses education, jobs, hip-hop producer The Alchemist on this new album promBlack mothers in Texas House. ise something soulful and unexpected, and I’m here for • OpEd: Black Women, it’s time to wake up to our ecoit. And in good old Badu fashion, she will be making a nomic power. statement. Badu is one of those artists whose music isn’t • Carl Crawford’s evolution from MLB star to music just sound—it’s a whole experience. From “Baduizm” to executive.

April 3, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 3

DN News

HHS layoffs hit senior services hard

By ReShonda Tate

Significant staff reductions at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have led to job losses within programs crucial for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income families. The layoffs, particularly impacting the Administration for Community Living (ACL), have created uncertainty about the future of essential services, including Meals on Wheels.

“We aren’t just reducing bureaucratic sprawl.

We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in the press release.

“This Department will do more—a lot more— at a lower cost to the taxpayer.”

The Trump administration has embarked on a drastic reduction of the federal workforce.

HHS confirmed it had terminated 10,000 staff through a Reduction-in-Force (RIF), with

Black seniors are roughly four times as likely to experience food insecurity compared to white seniors. Courtesy Meals on Wheels.

another 10,000 expected to leave through early retirement or buyout schemes. The goal is to downsize the agency to 62,000 employees. Former ACL Director Alison Barkoff says approximately 40% of the agency’s staff received layoff

notices. ACL, which coordinates federal policy on aging and disability, funds programs that support senior centers and distribute 216 million meals annually through Meals on Wheels.

“There’s no way to have these RIFs and not impact the programs and the people who rely on them,” Barkoff said.

HHS had previously announced that ACL’s responsibilities would be redistributed within the department. However, this follows the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 proposal, which suggested ACL take on special education services after the potential dismantling of the Department of Education. The current plan for these responsibilities remains unclear.

Additionally, the entire staff of the Division of Energy Assistance was laid off, according to former employees Andrew Germain and Vikki Pretlow. This division administers the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which assists 5.9 million

low-income households with heating and cooling costs and energy efficiency improvements.

“Ultimately, I believe the program will crumble from within without the federal office there to manage it,’ said former fiscal director Andrew Germain. “You’re talking about individuals who rely on crisis assistance... to keep the power on, whether for a medical reason or some other potentially life-threatening purpose.”

Concerns have been raised about LIHEAP’s future, as funding is set to expire in September, coinciding with the onset of winter heating needs. Germain, who oversaw compliance monitoring, expressed uncertainty about the program’s continuation without federal oversight. He also addressed past scrutiny from Project 2025, which had pointed out a now-corrected “loophole” related to SNAP benefits. Congress allocated $4.1 billion to LIHEAP for the 2024 fiscal year.

HISD proposes budget allocations for 2026-27

By Tannistha Sinha

Expanding HISD’s Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 programs and adding 800 additional PreK seats with an additional $5 million

HISD Superintendent Mike Miles has proposed a $2.1 billion budget for the 2025-26 school year. During a recent budget meeting, Miles outlined new investments, Legislative Session updates and strategies to “get out of intervention status,” referring to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) takeover of HISD. The calculated trade-offs in the budget, set to be approved in June, require HISD to begin the next school year without jeopardizing its financial footing.

Board goals The action plan Miles presented is rooted in the board’s goals of: Improving the quality of education for which no additional funding was allocated

“We will always have some new teachers moving toward certification,” Miles said. “We think we’ll have fewer and fewer of those [uncertified teachers] but we are living in a certified educational deficit in the country and in the state of Texas. So we’ll probably always have an effort to improve teacher instruction.”

Currently, about 16% of HISD’s 13,000 teachers are uncertified and several have no classroom experience.

Miles said the focus will be on principals’ instructional feedback to teachers, improving HISD’s Independent Review Team (IRT) and emergent bilingual instructional strategies.

Principals and appraisers would have to pass a certification to evaluate teachers.

Miles said that while engagement campaigns and professional development would not require extra funding, implementing the TES will require more central office management.

Implementing a new Teacher Evaluation System (TES) that will receive an additional $1 million the next school year

Improving special education instruction, for which no extra funding was allocated

HISD’s board of managers approved a new teacher evaluation system to implement a pay-for-performance compensation plan.

HISD’s allocation of funding for this goal depends on whether more special ed students join the school district and if they do, the budget will increase, per Miles.

Kristen Hole, HISD’s chief academic officer, clarified that the majority of this budget allocation will be for teaching assistants to help reach the school district’s goal of having a 1:11 ratio of students to TAs. The remaining funds will be used for new classrooms, furniture, equipment and curriculum. Hole added that HISD is also investing in marketing resources to inform parents about Pre-K seat availability.

Improving systems and efficiency with an additional $10 million

Miles aims to achieve efficiency through transportation optimization, accuracy of HISD data with a data integration team and tracking KPIs, by decreasing cost and transit time per rider and launching internal dashboards to improve response times.

Taking the example of “chronically absent teachers,” Miles said there are now regulations around teachers who exceed PTO days, which the previous administration did not have.

4 | April 3, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN News

Rep. Ron Reynolds Texas State Leaders

Advocates for Black Texans

By Tannistha Sinha

With eight years in the Texas House of Representatives, Rep. Ron Reynolds (D-Missouri City, District 27) expects more opposition than ever from his Republican colleagues in passing legislation during the 89th legislative session.

He has filed 109 bills that confront Make America Great Again (MAGA) policies on school vouchers, DEI ban, health care and environmental justice that Reynolds believes disproportionately impact Black Texans.

Passing his legislation is challenging, which he attributes to Republicans’ fear of a far-right MAGA base that votes in Republican primaries. Although he has learned to “work relationships” and discuss bills from a “fiscal impact” perspective, Reynolds has noticed increased polarization.

According to Reynolds, the 2026 midterms will see a power shift in the House with a Democrat majority, when people are “sick and tired of these bad policies and vote out these MAGA extremists.”

On Education Reynolds filed several bills during the 89th legislative session that pertain to public education, including HB 3295, which seeks to offset the impact of the bill banning DEI (SB 17). He said since Texas universities implemented the anti-DEI policies, African American and minority students and faculty members have decreased, although the state has the largest Black population (nearly 4.3 million).

“I wanted to offer a solution of how we fix it, even though I know realistically the likelihood of me being able to pass it is probably 0.1%,” he said.

Reynolds added that he also strongly opposes HB 3, which will establish an education savings account program (vouchers) to use public funds to help pay for private schools. He pointed out that many families relying on aid will likely lose it, and that voucher programs will divert funding from public schools, disproportionately harming Black and Hispanic school districts that are already underfunded.

On Health Care Through HB 726 and HJR 61, Reynolds proposed Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, foreseeing difficulty in passing them. He said these bills are to ensure low-income people get treatment that otherwise costs “tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket.”

“When people don’t have access to healthcare, they don’t get that early detection more times than not,” he said. “It’s cruel to me that in this state, we continue to have partisan politics instead of prioritizing human health and dignity for people that can get healthcare regardless of their income levels.”

On Environmental Justice Several of Reynolds’ bills (HB 838, HB 853, HB 866, HB 3298) address environmental regulations and energy reform. He criticized the proliferation of concrete batch

State Rep. Ron Reynolds foresees challenges to passing his array of bills on health care, education and gun control, at the Texas Capitol. Credit: Getty

plants and other environmental hazards in Houston’s Black and Brown communities, stating that affluent, predominantly white areas are not targeted for such developments.

“These neighborhoods [Black and Brown] don’t have the ability to fight back. They don’t have the lobbyists,” he said.

He highlighted environmental justice issues, including higher rates of asthma and cancer clusters, especially near schools. Reynolds has filed legislation to prevent the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) from granting permits for unsafe plants in marginalized areas.

Committed to fighting for policies that benefit working-class Texans, Reynolds said he will continue advocating for his constituents and Texans.

“On our watch, we must be the resistance. We must be the agitators,” he said. “We’re not going to back down and let them walk over us and take us back to dark days.

We made tremendous progress in this country because of those people who took a stand…But if we’re not careful, many of those rights that we won will be lost.”

VOLUME 94, NUMBER 24 - APRIL 3, 2025 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles Managing Editor ReShonda Tate Content Manager Terrance Harris Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Culture/Lifestyle Reporter Laura Onyeneho Education Reporter Tannistha Sinha Sports Terrance Harris Jimmie Aggison Video Editor Bryan Erdy

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 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

April 3, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 5

Want fast WiFi at home and on the go?

Power a houseful of devices with fast, reliable Xfinity Internet. Plus, Xfinity Mobile with WiFi PowerBoost gives you ultra-fast WiFi where you need it most.

Xfinity Internet 300 Mbps + One Unlimited mobile line TOGETHER

$25

a month for one year

with no annual contract. Plus, get internet for $25 in your second year.

Save over $1,000 over Verizon and AT&T in your first year

Equipment, taxes and other charges extra, and subj. to change. Reduced speeds after 30 GB of usage/line.

Data thresholds may vary.

1-800-xfinity

xfinity.com

Plus, get your choice of a FREE 5G Phone with qualifying trade-in and new Unlimited Plus line

Visit a store today

Ends 4/21/25. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New Connect More 300 Mbps and Xfinity Mobile Unlimited customers only. Offer requires enrollment in both paperless billing and automatic payments with stored bank account. Without enrollment, the monthly service charge automatically increases by $10 (or $8 if enrolling with credit or debit card information). The discount will appear on your bill within 45 days of enrolling in automatic payments and paperless billing. If either automatic payments or paperless billing are subsequently canceled, the $10 monthly discount will be removed automatically. All other installation, taxes & fees extra, and subject to change during and after promo. After 12 months, regular rates apply to mobile service. After 24 months regular rates apply to internet service (currently starting at $79/mo). Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combinable with some other offers. Internet: Actual speeds vary and not guaranteed. For factors affecting speed visit www.xfinity.com/ networkmanagement. Mobile: Requires residential post-pay Xfinity Internet service. Line limitations may apply. For Xfinity Mobile Broadband Disclosures visit: www.xfinity. com/mobile/policies/broadband-disclosures. Actual savings vary and are not guaranteed. Savings comparison based on promotional rate of Connect More Internet and 1 Unlimited line vs. regular rates of Verizon 5G Internet and 1 Unlimited Welcome line, and AT&T Internet 300 and 1 Unlimited Starter SL line. Call for restrictions and complete details or visit xfinity.com. © 2025 Comcast. All rights reserved.

Offline_West $25x24 Connect More + XM + Comp Offer Ad_9.75x13 Houston.indd 1

2/26/25 9:36 PM

6 | April 3, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 7

DN InFocus

“This is Houston too” “N

Overlooked community civic clubs fight for equity, change

By Tannistha Sinha

eglect” is the word us e d to d e s c r ib e neighborhoods like Sunnyside, Northwood Manor, and Kashmere Gardens, based on comments from Houston civic club leaders of Black and brown neighborhoods.

Community leaders from underserved communities say they expect elected officials to consider the residents’ concerns shared during these meetings when making decisions about a district, whether allocating funds or providing resources for the underserved. However, these community leaders say there remains a gap in addressing their issues and in the communication between local organizations and city officials.

These neighborhoods also grapple with issues like gentrification and poverty.

“We’re being left behind,” Frederick Woods, president of Northwood Manor Civic Club. “This is what neglect looks like when you fail to plan for your most vulnerable residents, most impoverished residents ahead of time and communicate with them before a disaster happens…when the sun is out, and the skies are clear, and then a disaster happens, then it’s just chaos.”

Houston’s civic clubs have operated for generations, solving local issues through members’ volunteer work. These include community engagement, cleanups, beautification, collaboration with school districts, and developmental projects. These neighborhood-based organizations hold monthly meetings where residents voice their concerns among those they have known for years.

According to a study by Rice University’s Kinder Institute, four historically Black communities are facing gentrification: Fifth Ward, Third Ward, Independence Heights, and Sunnyside. The 77051 ZIP code in the Sunnyside neighborhood has the lowest median income with a 79.4% Black population.

“This is what neglect looks like…”

Woods has been a long-time resident of Northeast Houston. He is the fourth generation inhabiting the house his great-uncle owned.

As a community leader, he believes this area has been neglected for several years.

Seniors who are on fixed incomes grapple with a lack of quality food and home repair solutions. Credit: Tannistha Sinha/Houston Defender

Woods listed the lack of meeting places, gyms, quality grocery stores, and coffee shops as a few of the area’s residents’ needs.

He also highlighted the issues of abandoned homes falling to blight and illegal activities.

He said illegal dumping is also common in his neighborhood.

Today, Woods advocates for generators and supplemental warming and cooling centers for the northeast’s “historically neglected” communities. He added that centers like the Judson Robinson, Jr. Community Center, Northeast Multi-Service Center, Acres

Homes, and areas in District B with Black majority neighborhoods have a “history of neglect.”

“They’re stuck in a pattern of relief and rescue,” Woods said.

“This is Houston too…”

Keith Downey, the founder of the Northeast Houston Redevelopment Council and the president of Kashmere Gardens Super Neighborhood Council #52, said elected officials “don’t necessarily have to be right in what they’re saying to people,” but “a

community leader can never be wrong.”

Downey referred to the trust residents place in a community leader when addressing concerns. He suggests that city council members work alongside community members to cater to residents’ needs. He said residents have different needs, ranging from space heaters to reliable public transportation and quality groceries.

“No matter the administration in this country, federal, state, or local, whenever it comes to these communities, they never had the funding. They can’t ‘afford it,’” he said.

Downey reminded the city’s leaders that during Hurricane Beryl, the Kashmere Gardens multi-service center also lost power. The center was designed to address inequities and provide power and food, among other resources.

“A hurricane comes today or tomorrow, what’s the plan, and how has it been shared with communities and their leaders to know?” Downey asked. “Unfortunately, we are still trying to bounce back from storms that happened decades and decades ago...

This is Houston too, and these are taxpayers as well.”

Civic clubs advocate for neglected Black and Brown communities, addressing infrastructure, housing, public safety, and disaster preparedness while urging equitable resources and government accountability. Pictured: Sandra Martin (left) and Brenda Samuel (right). Credit: Tannistha Sinha

8 | April 3, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature Defender Book Corner

Tina Knowles returns to Houston with new memoir

By ReShonda Tate

Tina Knowles, renowned businesswoman, fashion designer, and mother to musical powerhouses Beyoncé and Solange, is set to release her memoir, Matriarch, on April 22, 2025. The memoir offers an intimate look into her journey from a spirited young girl in Galveston, Texas, to becoming a cultural icon and matriarch of a globally influential family.

“I have always been a storyteller, and it’s something I learned from my mother. When I had a family of my own, I beleived that my daughters needed to know where they came from in order to know where they were going. I’m not ready to share my story so that we can all celeberate these themes of strength, motherhood, Black pride and identity,” Knowles wrote on Instagram.

In Matriarch, Knowles delves into her upbringing as the youngest of seven siblings, her experiences navigating racial challenges, and her aspirations beyond her childhood surroundings. The narrative chronicles her entrepreneurial ventures, including the establishment of her groundbreaking Houston hair salon, Headliners, in 1986, and her pivotal role in guiding Destiny’s Child to international stardom. Additionally, she discusses co-founding the House of Deréon and her involvement with Cécred, Beyoncé’s

Tina Knowles will be in Houston on May. 5. Credit: Getty Images

haircare line.

“I am calling this book Matriarch because what inspires me is the wisdom that women pass on to each other, generation to generation. Even at 70 I am still learning valuable lessons - revelations that I wish that I would have had at 40 or even 20,” she said.

Houston readers will have the opportunity to engage with Knowles during her nine-city book tour, which includes a stop at the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land on Monday, May 5 (Kelly Rowland will host).

These events promise enriching conversations, with Knowles sharing insights from her memoir alongside special guests. Notably, former First Lady Michelle Obama is slated to join her in Washington, D.C., on April 30.

More information is available at TinaKnowlesBook.com.

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

RFP No. Doc1504579830: METROLift Eligibility Services. Solicitation will be available on or about 0325-2025. Prospective bidders/proposers can view and download these solicitations by visiting METRO's website at ridemetro.org/Open Procurements. If you are unable to download the documents or are having difficulty, please contact 713-739-6886 or email Contracts/Property Services at propertyservices@ ridemetro.org.

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD will be accepting proposals for the following: Pest, Termite and Bed Bug Services Specifications may be secured from The Harris Center website www.theharriscenter.org beginning Tuesday, April 8, 2025. The Harris Center utilizes Bonfire for their solicitations https://theharriscenter. bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities . A Mandatory site visit with vendors will be held at 2627 Caroline St., Houston, Texas, 77004 on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 9:00 AM. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFP is Friday, April 18, 2025. Proposals must be submitted by 11:00 a.m., Monday, May 5, 2025. Historically Underutilized Businesses, including Minority-Owned Businesses and Women-Owned Businesses are encouraged to participate. The Harris Center reserves all rights to reject any and/or all proposals, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interests and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.

April 3, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 9

DN Profile

John & Maria Mallory White

Lead Wesley AME in season of transformation

By Aswad Walker

Who says old dogs can’t learn new tricks?

Houston’s historic Wesley AME, just two years shy of 150 years old, is enjoying a “season of transformation” in the form of new pastors and a new location.

John White II and his wife, Maria Mallory White, are pastor and co-pastor, respectively, of the iconic congregation that for decades resided on Emancipation Ave. Transitions

Soon, Wesley will be a seriously southwest Houston congregation located at 12850 Cityscape Ave., Houston 77047, right off Highway 288 between W. Orem and Almeda Genoa.

The congregation is currently still holding its services at Brentwood Baptist Church since selling its Third Ward property to the City of Houston for the building of a gospel music museum. But the pastors hope to open the doors to their new sanctuary in mid-April.

The Whites made an even bigger location move, arriving in Houston from Florida.

John, a fifth-generation Floridian, met Maria, Ohio-born and Maryland-raised, at a funeral in Atlanta. The pair, both preachers’ kids, built a life that included Maria’s award-winning journalism career and then transition into ministry with her husband.

They’ve pastored multiple Florida churches.

But they’re enjoying their new hometown.

“Man, it’s a Pappadeaux’s on every corner,” answered John when asked what he likes most about Houston. “I’ve gained weight… because I keep going to Pappadeaux’s. It keeps calling my name; the gumbo.”

Maria loves Houston for a different reason.

“Houston is my newest and favorite example of a Chocolate City,” she said, referencing an old Parliament/Funkadelic song. “I like that brothers and sisters are thriving in Houston.”

We don’t wanna just help folks get to heaven, we wanna help them live in the kingdom of God here on earth, particularly in light of all the things that’s going on in our divided states of America right now.”

PASTOR JOHN WHITE II

Pastors John White II (l) and Maria Mallory White during one of their weekly post-sermon conversations with their congregants. Credit: Wesley AME.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WHITES AND THEIR NEW SANCTUARY.

And they’re getting that message across to the Wesley AME faithful, including longtime member Carl Davis.

“Rev. John F. White II and co-pastor Rev. Maria Mallory White bring a unique twist to Wesley AME Church’s rich legacy that will only empower us as a congregation spiritually,” said Davis, who is also a member of the AME Church’s national General Board.

“Their leadership will put us on the road to strengthen our faith and give service to the community.”

And Davis is not alone in his praise of Wesley’s new dynamic pastor duo.

“Our new pastors are taking us in a new direction,” said 102-year-old Wesley usher Juanita Williams. “They have a heart to help people by providing food, clothing, computers and more, to meet the needs of the community.”

Challenges

Maria also appreciates Houston’s diversity, which goes beyond merely Black and white.

But she especially appreciates what Houston offers the White’s two teenage sons (13 and 17).

“Houston is a good place for them to be as young Black men. I think I read somewhere Houston has the largest number of professional and college-educated Black men west of the Mississippi. That’s a blessing for our children to see that.”

Ministry focus

But the Whites aren’t merely appreciative of blessings received, they seek to be a blessing to their congregation and the Houston area.

John says “holistic” best describes their ministry focus.

“We don’t wanna just help folks get to heaven, we wanna help them live in the kingdom of God here on earth, particularly in light of all the things that’s going on in our divided states of America right now.”

Maria added, “[Kingdom living] is a huge focus of our ministry because we don’t want our lives to be separate, what you

do on your job, what you do in your club, what you do in your sorority and fraternity, oh, and then on Sundays, ‘I’m gonna go to church.’ We want people to know that the word can be alive and the power of the word that is promised in Christ Jesus is real and can be real in our lives.”

Maria sees the biggest ministry challenge as moving people beyond citing scriptures, creeds, and “church-speak,” and into an expansive experience.

“Saying. ‘I believe Jesus is a son of God and was raised from the dead,’ that’s beautiful, but that is limiting what God wants for us. I think the biggest challenge is to help people understand that religion is a relationship. Christianity is a relationship with the person of Christ through the Holy Spirit, and it’s dynamic.”

John envisions that dynamism playing out in words shared by one of his favorite authors, Washington pastor Mark Batterson – doing ministry out of imagination and not just out of memory.

“So, how do we do ministry out of imagination?

Our ancestors did ministry out of imagination. People with no education starting schools. People with no business savvy started benevolence societies,” said John, who seeks to facilitate that kind of ministry derived out of imagination and not just ministry out of memory.

Pastors John White II (right) and Maria Mallory White lead Wesley AME in relocation and transformative ministry efforts. Credit: Aswad Walker.

10 | April 3, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports TSU COACH

Cris Dishman Focuses on discipline, a mantra for spring football

By Terrance Harris

It was the second day of spring football practice, and second-year Texas Southern football coach Cris Dishman could be heard from the stands at Durley Stadium expressing his frustration with his players who didn’t follow the specific dress code of wearing black socks.

It might seem like a small thing on Day 2 of spring ball. But for Dishman, it’s about discipline, a major mantra during his second spring practice with the Tigers.

“We want guys who are going to be in the right place at the right time, guys who are going to listen to the coach. We can teach you everything else,” Dishman said to the Defender. “We want guys who don’t want to do their own thing. If we say black socks, they have black socks on. If we say buckle your helmets, their helmets are buckled.

“I’m looking for disciplined guys, guys with high football IQs, guys who are going to do what the coaches say.”

It’s the second go-around for the Tigers with Dishman and the more lenient Dish is gone.

Don’t get it wrong, Dishman is still about

Our players know how we coach.

They know we are hardass. We are going to be on them.

They also know we love them and that we are going to be with them and we want them to be great men first and foremost.”

CRIS DISHMAN TSU COACH

instilling values, promoting education and making his players know he cares about their total selves. But he is all about making sure they are on point in his second year of spring ball.

“Our players know how we coach, they know we are hardass, we are going to be on them,” said Dishman, whose team went 5-6 overall, 4-4 in the SWAC and eight points away from finishing with the program’s first winning record in decades. “They also know we love them and that we are going to be with them and we want them to be great men first and foremost.

“The difference, they understand the way we coach.”

Players have heard and adhered to the expectations and messages. Defensive tackle Syncere Massey played for the Tigers last season but he was still at Abilene Christian last spring. He heard what Dishman was like last spring and it’s nothing like the Dishman he is experiencing now.

“Last year, I heard they were a little more lenient because it was a new staff,” Massey said. “But now I can say, Coach Dishman is not lenient anymore. If you are getting into trouble, you are off the team. He is not wanting to give you more chances. This is a team and you have to sacrifice and he is more on it.

“He is not soft. He’s like, `We already went through this after that first year together.

Y’all know how I am so if you don’t want to be here, we are going to weed the ones out who don’t want to be here.’”

Defensive tackle Demarcus Thompson has the benefit of going through a second spring practice with Dishman and his staff so it hasn’t been quite the shock to his system that it might be for others.

“I would say it’s more comfortable for me with the coaches because I’m already familiar with the scheme and tempo,” Thompson said. “I would say for other guys coming in, it’s always going to be a little bit tough, but I feel like once they get here and go through spring, go through the summer and go through the little fall camp we will all get it together.”

The Tigers have 20 newcomers on the spring roster, comprised of transfer portal players and graduate transfers. The Tigers also lost a few players to the portal like tight end Jyrin Johnson, who landed at Bowling Green, defensive end Keelan Cox, who is

Texas Southern head coach Cris Dishman is pushing the Tigers to be more disciplined during his second spring practices with the team. Credit: Texas Southern Athletics (Instagram)

now playing for Sam Houston State, and defensive lineman Stephon Wright, who found a spot with UConn.

But right now, most eyes are on the quarterback position, where last year’s season-opening starter, KJ Cooper, is back after missing all but the season opener due to injury. Jordon Davis, a product of Fort Bend Marshall, played in five games last season as a redshirt freshman. Cooper and Davis are competing this spring after Jace Wilson, who started much of last season, graduated and is presumed to be looking to spend his last year of eligibility elsewhere.

“It’s hard to win games without a quarterback,” Dishman said.

On this particular day at practice, both quarterbacks had a great day with Cooper

and Davis both completing long passes for multiple touchdowns. But if one is ahead of the other, Dishman isn’t likely to say until the Aug. 30 Labor Day Classic against rival Prairie View.

“It’s still early, so I’m not going to say who is starting or not starting. We don’t have starters,” he said. “Everybody is trying to get better.”

For the players, it’s just exciting to see two quarterbacks out there competing.

“I feel like we are building a lot, we’ve just got our quarterback back so I feel like we can pick it up on offense because last year we kind of slacked, and the defense kind of picked it up,” Thompson said. “But overall, I feel like we’ve got a lot of new guys who can come in and help us out.”

April 3, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 11

DN Sports

Coach Franchelle Hill

Returns to Hightower, inspires track success

By Jimmie Aggison

Franchelle Hill’s journey from standout track athlete to coach has come full circle, and she’s now back at her alma mater Hightower High School, where she is making a significant impact on the girls’ track program.

“Coach Hill is motivating, supportive and a mentor both on and off the track,” said Hightower 100-meter sprinter Jocelyn Higgins. “She never lets me hold my head down for too long and always has the best advice in moments when I felt that I didn’t do my best. I’m grateful for her and wish we could have crossed paths sooner.”

A former star athlete herself, Hill’s return to Hightower has been marked by inspiring success, hard work and a deep connection to the legacy that shaped her athletic career.

As a high school sprinter, Hill made a name for herself in various events, including the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 4x100-meter relay, 4x200-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay. But it was her performance in the 100-meter dash that really stood out.

In the 100-meters, Hill ran 11.59 seconds, setting the Hightower High School record, which still stands to this day.

After competing in college at Texas State University, Hill began coaching track at Summer Creek and later Stafford High School. However, when the COVID-19 Pandemic hit in 2020, Hill decided to take a break from coaching. But as the pandemic subsided and a position opened up at Hightower High School, Hill knew it was time to return home.

“With the influence of my high school coach David Pollack, my collegiate coach Dana Boone and my father and youth coach Frankie Hill, I’ve always felt a calling to give back to the same program that helped me become the athlete and person I am today, said Hill.”

I’ve always felt a calling to give back to the same program that helped me become the athlete and person I am today.”

FRANCHELLE HILL HIGHTOWER TRACK COACH

Hightower girls 4x1 team pictured after a first place finish (from left to right) Coach Franchelle Hill, Lauryn Mayon (Junior), Oprah Dimson (Sophomore), Germani Carhee (Sophomore) and Jocelyn Higgins (Senior). Credit Jimmie Aggison/Defender.

Now back at Hightower, Hill is bringing her passion, knowledge and experience to the next generation of track athletes. She is committed to not only coaching but also inspiring and mentoring her athletes, especially the girls in the program.

“It’s incredibly meaningful to see these girls achieving success,” said Hill. “As a Hightower graduate, I feel so proud to give back to this program and help these athletes create their own legacy. Their growth and accomplishments make me proud—not just as a coach, but as someone who once walked in their shoes.”

Recently, at the 73rd Annual Texas Southern Relays, the Hightower girls’ 4x100-meter relay and 4x200-meter relay teams both captured first place, a major accomplishment for Hill and the program.

The girls’ 4x100-meter relay team clocked an impressive 48.14 seconds at the relays, though their season-best time remains 46.96 seconds. Meanwhile, the 4x200-meter relay team set a new personal record with a time of 1:42.48. While Hill is proud of these

accomplishments, she remains focused on improving the team’s handoffs and overall technique.

“Even with that achievement, our handoffs still need a lot of work,” Hill acknowledged. “There’s plenty of room to drop time, and we’re focused on improving our exchanges and getting stronger as the season progresses.”

The 4x100-meter relay team includes Jocelyn Higgins (Senior), Lauryn Mayon (Junior), Oprah Dimson (Sophomore), and Germani Carhee (Sophomore). The 4x200-meter relay team features the same runners, with Destinie Woodall (Senior) replacing Carhee.

Hill has high praise for all of her athletes, acknowledging their unique contributions to the team’s success.

“Jocelyn Higgins is our steady hand,” Hill said. “Her consistency and technical precision make her a reliable competitor, and she executes her races with discipline.

Lauryn Mayon is one of our most dependable runners, always giving 100%. She has

the endurance and smooth transitions that make her invaluable in relays. Oprah Dimson’s raw talent and fearlessness are a big asset, and she’s becoming a major force in our team. Germani Carhee is still young, but she already has the maturity and grit of an elite athlete. Destinie Woodall is a powerhouse with her explosive speed and competitive spirit. She pushes herself and her teammates to higher levels every race.”

One of the greatest challenges Coach Hill has faced since returning to Hightower is helping the track program reinvent itself.

Hightower has a rich history of competitiveness, and Hill is dedicated to bringing that mindset back to the forefront.

“Rebuilding a championship mindset takes time,” said Hill. “It requires getting the athletes to believe in both themselves and the process. Establishing a culture of discipline, accountability, and trust while pushing them to meet the high standards this program is known for has been a challenge—but also an incredibly rewarding experience.”

12 | April 3, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature THE SOFT LIFE ERA

Black women take back their health by stress-related illnesses, including hyperDr. Melanie Wilson-Lawson had to pump tension, anxiety and depression. The cultural the breaks on her life’s stressors for her health expectation to “push through” often prevents before embracing her version of a “softer them from seeking the care they need. lifestyle.”

Wilson-Lawson emphasizes how these A stage-three breast cancer survivor, societal pressures manifest in everyday life. she recalls how her diagnosis forced her to “For so long, Black women have been told reevaluate her life, set boundaries and prior- that rest is a luxury, that prioritizing themitize her well-being. selves is selfish,” she said. “But we are seeing “I had to do a deep dive into how this a shift—women are reclaiming their right to happened. Stress, overwork and self-sacrifice rest as an essential part of their health. Rest were all factors that contributed to my break- is not weakness; it is resistance.” down,” she says. “Now, I tell women—you She also says that the soft life movement don’t have to experience a breakdown to start actively challenges traditional narratives living in alignment with your needs. about Black womanhood.

Prioritize yourself now.”

“This movement forces us to Wilson-Lawson’s story is not deconstruct norms that have unique. For generations, Black been imposed upon us for genwomen have been praised for erations. Black women have A soft life is a lifestyle of comfort and relaxation with minimal challenges their resilience, ability to push been conditioned to endure and and stress. Credit: DragonImages/Getty Images through hardship and unwavweather every storm, but now we ering strength. But at what cost? are choosing to move differently,” content creator, has built her platform Adeyoju has encountered criticism for Increasingly, Black said Wilson-Lawson. We around self-love, wellness and the soft life embracing rest and ease over hustle culture.

Houston Lifestyle Creator women are rejecting are more intentional about movement.

“Some people see the soft life as laziness,” Tumi Adeyoju. the relentless hustle protecting our peace and “For me, embracing the soft life means not she explains. “But I tie it back to mental Credit Tumi Adeyoju culture and embracing embracing a new way of taking life too seriously. It’s about slowing health. Hustle culture has led to rising rates a new way of life—one living.” down, being present and prioritizing my self- of anxiety, depression, and even heart disthat prioritizes self-care, rest, The trend of Black women care and mental health,” she says. Adeyoju ease among Black women. We need to priorand overall well-being. This living a soft life on social media first began sharing her journey through blog- itize longevity and well-being over constant movement, coined the “soft has a long history in pop culture. ging in 2020, and as her audience grew, she work.” life,” is more than a fleeting Television shows like Girlfriends expanded into video content that resonated Wilson-Lawson also dispels the notion social media trend. It is a radand The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air deeply with young Black women seeking that the soft life is reserved for the financially ical shift in how Black women featured “bougie” women priori- balance in their lives. privileged. define success, health, tizing their needs, enjoying “Journaling has been a key practice for “Slowing down, prioritizing mental Inner Spirit Life Coach and happiness. luxury and being unapol- me,” Adeyoju says. “It helps me regulate my health and setting boundaries does not Dr. Melanie Wilson-Lawson.

Dr. Tondra L. Moore, Credit: Dr. Melanie Wilson- ogetic about it. This was emotions, set boundaries and check in with require wealth. The key aspects of the soft Executive Director of not encouraged in the 90s myself. Whether taking a day each week just life—intentionality and mindfulness—are Lawson Student Health Services when misogynistic stereo- for me, engaging in my skincare routine, or accessible to everyone. It’s about making a at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), types dominated, and representation of Black simply reflecting on how I feel, I create space conscious effort to live in a way that protects has observed firsthand the toll that the women in wealth positions was limited. for my well-being. your well-being, regardless of your socioeco“strong Black woman” stereotype takes on Now, this new generation is picking up While social media has significantly popu- nomic status.” young Black women. “With young profes- where the women of previous generations larized the “soft life” movement, critics argue As more Black women embrace the soft sionals, I see them struggle with work-life left it and is transforming this movement in that it often presents an overly materialistic life, the challenge remains to make it sustainbalance, believing they must do everything its way. view—luxury vacations, designer bags and able beyond social media trends. perfectly,” she says. “For students, many feel spa days. However, Black women embracing “It’s not just about treating yourself they carry their families on their backs, set- The deeper meaning of soft life the soft life emphasize that it is about much occasionally; it’s about fundamentally ting ambitious goals while neglecting their Tumi Adeyoju, a Houston-based lifestyle more than aesthetics. shifting how you approach your life,” Dr. Wilwell-being. We have to help them reframe son-Lawson explains. “That means advocattheir aspirations in a more sustainable way.” ing for mental health resources, normalizing The expectation of constant resilience has therapy and creating environments—both at LEARN WAYS TO ENJOY YOUR SOFT LIFE serious consequences. Research shows that home and in the workplace—that support Black women are disproportionately affected Black women’s well-being.”

By Laura Onyeneho