04.16.2026_Defender-e-FULL

PVAMU PRESIDENT

Tomikia LeGrande Sets sights on student success

NEWS

NEWS

TYLA SIMONE CRAYTON

DIST. 18 RACE

The owner of Sienna Wings is fighting for survival over a trademark dispute.

Volume 95, issue 26 April 16, 2026

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Political strategists discuss the ground game necessary ary to turn out voters.

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DN To the POINT NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; left, Christina Koch, mission specialist; CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist; and NASA astronaut Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, right, pose for a group photo after viewing the Orion spacecraft in the well deck of USS John P. Murtha, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.

The quartet splashed down Friday, April 10 at 5:07 p.m.

PDT (8:07p.m. EDT). Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Message from the Reporter prolonged beyond the time needed to comThere’s something beautiful about watchplete their “lawful purpose” and to wait for ing astronauts come home.

ICE. This effectively overturns a March 11 NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, VicHPD directive that gave ICE 30 minutes to tor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA arrive at the scene if a background check (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy revealed an immigration warrant during a Hansen splashed down at 8:07 p.m. EDT on stop and a sergeant confirms the warrant is April 10, 2026, off the coast of San Diego, valid. completing their nearly 10-day celestial Council members who supported the journey. ordinance framed it as a public-safety meaTheir journey around the moon, which sure. Councilmember Alejandra Salinas, took them farther than the Apollo 13 misTannistha Sinha who proposed the ordinance, said the goal sion did in 1970, has been an indelible mileto reduce cooperation with ICE was a “bare stone in the long history of mankind. minimum” move and a “positive step forward”. Others, like People across the globe cheered them on for their grit and Councilmember Julian Ramirez, a Harris County prosecuintelligence, but above all, their humanness. tor for more than 30 years, stressed that fear of deportation Koch being greeted at the door by her dog, Glover talking keeps people from reporting crimes, making the city less to his neighbors who gathered around his house to give him safe overall. a hero’s welcome, Wiseman naming a moon crater after his Councilmember Joaquin Martinez agreed but added that late wife Carroll, and Hansen making it back to earth just in the ordinance will not erase fear overnight and that more time to celebrate his wedding anniversary, remind us that community-police dialogue is needed. we are all united in our lived experiences.

Not everyone was convinced.

From space, they could not see the color of people’s skin.

Some council members argued the change is mostly symAll they could see was, as Glover puts it, a “spaceship called bolic, noting that only a small number of cases actually start Earth.” with HPD. Others worried it could undermine officer disIn Houston, a city that lives and breathes space explora- cretion or public safety. tion, the welcome felt more personal…there was relief behind “While we all want policies that promote safety and fairthe reunions I saw on screen. We went to bed knowing that ness, we are particularly concerned that placing a national a once unimaginable feat is now complete and mankind has spotlight on our city will create unsafe situations for our comtaken another “giant leap.” munity and exacerbate the pressure placed on law enforcement,” said at-large council member Twila Carter.

Governor issues threat after city council passes Immediately after the measure passed, Abbott, in a letter to immigration ordinance Whitmire, threatened to pull the $110 million in grant funds.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to pull $110 million in grant funds to Houston if the city did not revoke a recent HISD’s quiet campus closure immigration policy passed by the Houston City Council. In Houston ISD’s quiet closure of Harper Disciplinary Alterresponse, Houston Mayor John Whitmire wants to repeal native Education Program happened without much commuthe policy. nication from the school district.

“This is a crisis situation. The potential loss of state funding High school students from this school were moved to poses real challenges for the Houston Police and Fire Depart- another Secondary DAEP campus near Fifth Ward. ments and will impact public safety services across our city, This comes after HISD’s decision to consolidate 12 schools the 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations and the Homeland earlier this year.

Security Department,” he said.

But the decision to close Harper was not put before the The Houston City Council just passed a closely watched Board of Managers for approval. ordinance that will restructure how Houston’s police officers At the same time, disciplinary incidents have fluctuated, interact with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the district is trying to reduce suspensions while man(ICE) agents. aging growing needs among students already pushed out of The policy says that routine traffic stops cannot be traditional classrooms.

Welcome back, astronauts!

April 16, 2026 |

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DN News

Sienna Wings faces battle blocking growth

By ReShonda Tate

By any measure, Tyla Simone Crayton’s journey should be the quintessential American success story. It began at 14 with a vision in a home kitchen, followed by a viral “Shark Tank” appearance, and culminated in the opening of Sienna Wings.

But today, the 22-year-old entrepreneur is not focused on scaling her brand. She is focused on survival.

At the center of her struggle is a trademark dispute with Johnson Development, the developer behind the Sienna master-planned community in Missouri City.

The standoff has left her restaurant operating in the dark - literally.

The invisible storefront Drivers traveling down Sienna Parkway can easily miss the brick-and-mortar location. It is not for a lack of customers, but a lack of signage.

“We have thousands of customers that drive by… and they don’t know we’re here,” Crayton said.

The reason? There is no signage indicating that the restaurant even exists.

The Sienna Property Owners Association (SPOA) has denied Crayton’s request for exterior signage. The SPOA requires the agreement to be in place before approving any signage that includes the word “Sienna,” noting there are no exceptions, appeals, or allowances for temporary signage. In order to approve signage, the association said Crayton must sign a trademark coexistence agreement with the developer, meaning she must get their input whenever she uses the Sienna name. Without that signature, the restaurant remains hidden in plain sight.

For a small business, invisibility comes at a steep price tag.

“We’re not getting those casual customers,” Crayton said. “They can’t even have the thought, ‘Let me stop and get wings,’ because it’s not even an option to them.”

The price of permission The dispute hinges on the name “Sienna.”

While Johnson Development maintains it is protecting its intellectual property, Crayton argues the proposed agreement reaches far beyond branding.

According to Crayton, the terms would grant the developer oversight into core business decisions, including future expansions, branding changes, and the potential sale of the company.

“They could come in and ask for specimens of the product,” Crayton said. “If we wanted to sell or exit the company, we had

The Sienna Wings Missouri City location cannot put up signage due to a dispute over the trademark. Credit: ReShonda Tate

to get their permission.”

Johnson Development did not respond to requests for comment, but told another media outlet that contractual requests are not to punish, but to protect Sienna’s registered trademark.

For Crayton, who has already secured her own federal trademarks, the level of control feels like a surrender of the autonomy she worked nearly a decade to build.

“It’s an overbearing amount of control that we’re just not comfortable with,” she said. “And once we sign that document, we’re tied to it… even after we leave Sienna. We don’t need y’all still being attached to our business in that way.”

Ownership and autonomy The conflict touches on a sensitive nerve for Black entrepreneurs: The right to total ownership. Crayton has navigated the highs of national fame and the lows of rebuilding after closures and relocations.

“We’ve had days when we’ve only had three customers,” she admitted, noting the

weight of responsibility for her staff. “You still have employees that have families… bills that are due. It’s never you getting the bag. The bag comes to you last.”

Legal experts suggest the developer’s demands may cross a line.

A community rallies While the legal battle continues, the public has taken notice, and many customers have responded with their wallets. Community organizations and members have banded together to support the facility.

“We gathered our sorority sisters of Chi Omicron Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, to come out and show our support. The more we support them, the more we support the community,” said Deyen Greene.

Added Sharon Bibbs, “We wanted to support Blackowned businesses and to make sure they know Tyla Simone Crayton

that we’re here. When they have a struggle in the community, we have a struggle in the community.”

A petition supporting Sienna Wings has been signed by thousands.

“We’ve tripled what we usually would make in a week since the media coverage has started,” Crayton said.

However, Crayton knows that a temporary surge in “support” business is not a substitute for the structural legitimacy a permanent sign provides.

“People drive up… and now they’re like, ‘I don’t see a sign… is this a real business?’”

The David vs. Goliath reality Crayton’s fight mirrors a larger conversation about gatekeeping in business. She maintains she is not seeking special treatment, only the freedom to operate without strings that could tether her future growth to a third party.

“There are a lot of things I’d do differently,” she admitted. “Because this situation has soured what was such a beautiful thing for me.”

As she balances the pressures of leadership and the visibility of a public legal fight, Crayton remains steadfast. For her, the “Sienna” in her name is a destination she reached through grit, and she isn’t ready to let anyone else hold the map.

“One thing for sure,” she said, “the fight is far from over.”

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DN News

Retired HPD chief Troy Finner hired to head Mo. City police department.

MENEFEE VS GREEN Ground game strategies for voter turnout

candidates who are now unattached and Republican lawmakers did something in reachable. the summer of 2025 that Democrats had not When Republicans redrew the map last seen in two decades: they forced two Black summer, they folded much of Green’s forincumbents into the same congressional mer 9th Congressional District into the new district and had them go head-to-head for 18th, delivering a Fort Bend County base the Congressional District-18 seat in last that had supported Green for two decades month’s primary race. directly into contested territory.

The result of that March primary was “Al Green really made it into that runoff a 1,700-vote margin and a May 26 runoff because of Fort Bend County voters,” Gasthat could reshape Black political power in kin said. “They knew him. They are former Houston for a generation. Neither Congresscongressional district nine members.” man Christian Menefee, 37, nor CongressWhile campaigns wrestle with voter uniman Al Green, 78, cleared the 50% threshold Congressmen Christian Menefee (left) and Al Green will compete in a verses and precinct-level data, organizers on required under Texas law to avoid one.

Democratic runoff on May 26, 2026, for Texas’ 18th Congressional District. the ground are focused on something harder With the clock ticking, the question is Credit: U.S. Congress. to measure and, no longer who is the better candidate. they argue, harder It is who can get their voters back wasting resources by activating their Gaskin grew up watching her father pay to replace. to the polls weeks before Memoopponent’s base, and ensure every poll taxes out of pocket, $1.50 in 1952, a sum Joy Davis, senior rial Day, in a race both sides are messenger in the field delivers a that was equivalent to nearly $25 today, so field organizer with encouraging participation in. disciplined, consistent message. that Black men in Galveston County could Houston-based The forces working against For the Menefee campaign, exercise their right to vote. nonprofit Pure JusLearn about that outcome are well docuwhich has been running continuShe registered her first voters in 1966, as a tice, has been doing important mented. In Texas, runoff ously for nearly a year through college freshman at the University of Texas outreach in spaces details turnout typically falls by Pam Gaskin is a a special election and primary, at Austin, going door to door in East Austin most campaigns voters need half from the primary that member of the that infrastructure is already in as part of a sorority project that helped elect rarely enter, barberto know preceded it. According to League of Women place. For Green’s team, which the first African American to the Austin shops, nail salons, Houston Democratic strate- Voters of Houston and entered the primary race later, school board. Sixty years later, she is apply- gaming communigist Dallas Jones, more than a veteran voting rights the runway is shorter and the ing that same urgency to a race she believes ties, jail registration 50% of the voters who turned activist. Courtesy: urgency higher. will be decided by infrastructure. lines, and sports event parking lots. These out for CD-18 in March had Pam Gaskin Jones also points to a gen“The turnout is going to be low, period, are not just convenient locations. little to no Democratic prierational dimension neither the end, no discussion,” Gaskin said.

They are places where trust has been mary history, a surge driven in part by the campaign can afford to ignore. The nearly “It’s in May, it’s on a Saturday, it’s built over the years, where people high-profile U.S. Senate primary between four-decade age gap between the two men before a holiday.” speak freely and are more likely to Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico. When is a sociological variable that shapes how The runoff strategy, she actually listen. Her team’s conversathe energy driving those voters disappears, each candidate is perceived, who shows up explains, centers on repeated tions connect voting directly to the Jones warns, many of them will too. for them, and how each campaign must contact with confirmed supissues voters raise themselves, such “Those people aren’t necessarily communicate. porters, an aggressive chase as rising utility costs, health care coming back,” Jones said. “If they At the end of the day, the sin- of mail-in ballots, particularly access, housing, and public safety. are, it’s because a campaign did gle most consequential deci- among voters over 65, who Joy Davis, senior “Text messages and mailers are the work to bring them back.” sion either campaign will make turn out at higher rates than field organizer, good at awareness and basic inforThat work, Jones argues, is where it invests its turnout younger voters, and maximum Pure Justice. mation,” Davis said. “They are not had to start long before now. dollars. use of the 10-day early voting Courtesy: Joy really good at getting someone to He describes a winning runoff “You cannot afford to get that window to build a cushion Davis care.” ground game not as something Democratic wrong,” Jones said. “Fish where before Election Day. What fills that gap, she argues, you build in the final weeks, but strategist and your fish are.”

She warns against spending finite is authenticity built through consistency, as an operation either constructed Political Analyst It is a calculus that veteran resources on low-propensity voters who did showing up before the election, during it, during the primary or not.

Dallas Jones. voting rights activist Pam Gaskin not show up in March. The more produc- and after it is over. Young voters, especially, Campaigns must return to Courtesy Dallas has been running in her head for tive targets, she argues, are the persuadable Davis says, can identify campaigns that their identified supporters, avoid Jones/LinkedIn decades. voters, supporters of the eliminated primary arrive only when something is wanted.

By Laura Onyeneho

Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Content Manager Terrance Harris

Special Assignments Reporter Tannistha Sinha

VOLUME 95, NUMBER 26 - APRIL 16, 2026

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Community Reporter Aswad Walker

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.

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DN Feature Black Houston confronts stress crisis

By Aswad Walker

Chronic stress in Black communities is more than a personal struggle; it is a structural reality.

According to the National Institutes of Health, prolonged stress—driven by racism and discrimination—accelerates physical decline and fuels conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and depression.

In Houston, the concept of “weathering” is visible, where cumulative stress leads to premature aging, particularly among Black women. Meanwhile, Black youth navigate “adultification” and systemic pressures that compound psychological strain.

Historic Stress

Dr. Willie Mae Lewis, founder of the Women’s Resource Center, is among the experts highlighting “historic stress.”

“Stress is often described as the body’s response to pressure,” shared Lewis. “But for many African Americans and other disenfranchised communities, stress carries a deeper, historical weight. It is not only what happens today, but what has been carried across generations—rooted in slavery, segregation, systemic inequities, and lived experiences of bias and exclusion.”

This historical trauma often impacts how individuals perceive themselves and communicate with others. When this becomes “toxic stress”— chronic and unrelenting— it weakens the immune system and alters brain development.

Solutions and sovereignty

Addressing a structural problem requires both personal and community-based solutions.

Lewis believes healing is rooted in reclaiming one’s Black people of all ages narrative. are stressed out. Here’s “Healing begins with what experts and Black awareness and connecEveryday stressors Houstonians say works to tion—reclaiming identity, From economic insta- de-stress. Credit: Dwayne understanding history, bility to workplace disJoe/Unsplash. and nurturing the aligncrimination, the pressures ment of mind, body, and are layered. Krista Folade Madzimoyo, a sin- spirit,” said Lewis. “It involves intentional gle mother of three, identifies her job as her practices: staying present in the moment, primary stressor. building supportive relationships... and “I am currently underpaid and over- grounding oneself in faith or a higher worked... working to survive rising food purpose.” and gas prices,” she said.

Lewis also champions the power of the Other factors include “The Black Tax,” the community. financial expectation to support extended “Elders sharing wisdom with youth helps family, and microaggressions—subtle slights restore what was disrupted, while commuthat erode mental well-being over time. For nity unity creates strength where isolation Black men, the U.S. Surgeon General’s warn- once existed,” she added. ing on the “loneliness epidemic” is particHoustonians are finding unique ways to ularly relevant, as cultural expectations of cope. Madzimoyo visits the Emancipation silence can lead to dangerous isolation.

Park pool and free local concerts to unwind.

Danyahel Norris utilizes the gym to manage extreme pressure.

“I saw the opportunity to get a workout in and the chance to calm down as a double win,” shared Norris.

Tee V. uses time at home and work to destress.

“I go outside, sit in the sun, and reflect, do positive self-talk,” shared Tee V. Some brothers are luckier than others when it comes to job stress.

“As a truck driver and DJ, I’m lucky that my jobs allow me to do what I love and have time to reflect and energize,” said Claudell Cannady.

However, high-stress, low-reward jobs disproportionately held by Black men have been linked to increased mortality rates. Add to this the role of chronic stress as a potential trigger for Alzheimer’s disease, and the picture becomes even more alarming.

Vallery Bolden Rose says she walks at least 30 – 45 minutes daily, while Demethra Orion de-stresses by walking and golfing.

Whether through physical activity, breathwork, financial literacy, or intergenerational dialogue, Black Houston is beginning to confront the silent killer of chronic stress with a holistic, culturally grounded approach.

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DN To the POINT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

Tomikia LeGrande Sets sights g on student success

By Tannistha Sinha

Before she ever stepped into a university president’s office, Dr. Tomikia P. LeGrande understood something about power that does not show up on résumés.

It lived in the soil.

In rural Georgia, where her family worked land they had fought to own, she saw how access to property and education could shape generations.

Years later, sitting at the helm of Prairie View A&M University, that same understanding guides her. Talent can be found everywhere, but opportunity may not. Closing that gap, she believes, is the real work of higher education.

“I have this connection to history, legacy, and land for the production of not just food, but also generational wealth,” LeGrande said in a one-on-one interview with the Defender.

“I grew up in a family where love abounded, but opportunities were not always as prevalent in my neighborhood. That made me want to understand why opportunity was not as equally distributed as talent is in this world.”

Growing up

As a low-income, first-generation college student, that perspective would later guide her work in higher education.

At Savannah State University, where she studied chemistry, LeGrande’s trajectory shifted during a chance encounter with the university’s president, who asked about her future plans.

Her response, half-joking, was bold. She might want his job one day.

His reply stayed with her, “Prepare well and come get it.”

From that moment, LeGrande began building a career that blended student advocacy and institutional leadership.

She earned a master’s degree in chemistry from North Carolina A&T State University, where she also began recruiting students into graduate programs. LeGrande then earned a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Higher Education Administration from Texas Tech University. She went on to hold leadership roles at Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Houston-Downtown, and Winston-Salem State University, focusing on enrollment and

Under Dr. Tomikia LeGrande’s leadership, Prairie View A&M recorded its highest-ever enrollment and, for the first time in its history, a waiting list.

Credit: PVAMU

In Celebration of Black Women's History Month

Dr. Tomikia LeGrande, a first-generation college student who once jokingly told a university president she wanted his job, now runs one of Texas's most storied HBCUs. Credit: Clyde Jiles/Houston Defender

student success.

Now, as president of Prairie View A&M University, LeGrande aims to continue building on her past achievements and expand opportunities for students.

Leading PVAMU

LeGrande became president of Prairie View A&M in 2023, following the tenure of Dr. Ruth Simmons, who elevated the university’s national profile.

Now, LeGrande is focused on what she calls the institution’s “next level,” a vision outlined in the 10-year strategic plan, “Journey to Eminence: 2035.”

This comprises becoming a top-tier public historically Black university, achieving an esteemed research status, admitting more students, and ensuring graduation rates remain high.

Currently classified as a Research 2 institution, Prairie View aims to reach Research 1 status, an elite designation held by only one HBCU in the country, Howard University.

“Our faculty is committed to engaging in proactive and concerted efforts to increase our research contracts and grant amounts, while also graduating more students and expanding the types of research conducted on our campus,” said Dr. Magesh Rajan, vice president for research and innovation at PVAMU. “Their tireless efforts in securing funding, publishing impactful research, mentoring the next generation of scholars, and fostering innovation have been instrumental in maintaining our institution’s place among the nation’s top research universities.”

For LeGrande, prestige is only part of the goal.

“There are so many people in the state of Texas who think very highly of Prairie View,” she said. “But the further east you go beyond the Mississippi, and the further west you go beyond Arkansas, most people are not as familiar with Prairie View. We want to raise their awareness and deepen their perception to understand that excellence lives here.”

LeGrande added that more students entering

college over the next 10 years will be first-generation, lower-income, or from rural communities.

“That’s who Prairie View specializes in,” she said, with nearly 18% of Prairie View students coming from families who made about $20,000 or less per year. That figure comes from a New York Times analysis of economic and student outcomes at PVAMU.

particularly around resources and maintaining quality.

Balancing expansion with access remains a central tension. LeGrande has prioritized partnerships with community colleges to create alternative pathways for students who cannot be immediately admitted, ensuring access is not lost even when capacity is limited.

Growth brings both opportunity and pressure

A “culture of care" model

Under LeGrande’s leadership, Prairie View has seen a surge in demand, reaching 10,085 students in the fall of 2025, up from 9,821 in 2024 and 9,415 in 2023. For the first time in its history, the university has a waiting list.

“Having a waiting list, what does that mean?” she said. “It doesn't mean that you're trying to be ultra selective. It means that there is more interest in your institution than you can accommodate. That's a great place to be in.”

While that growth signals rising national recognition, it also introduces new challenges,

At the core of LeGrande’s strategy are student success and enrollment.

In fall 2024, Prairie View launched “PV Cares,” a comprehensive support model that assigns every undergraduate student to a three-person team: An academic advisor, a financial counselor, and a career coach.

The goal is to address barriers beyond academics, particularly for students navigating financial insecurity or unfamiliar systems.

“If you think about who we serve, providing access is not just opening the door; it is also about support inside and outside the

classroom,” LeGrande said. “Our faculty inside the classroom are constantly thinking about… how do they need to redesign their curriculum to make sure it's preparing students for the workforce of tomorrow, not just of today.

They are really intensely involved in thinking about artificial intelligence, about supply chain management, and other high-demand fields.

The financial component is especially critical. About 81% of Prairie View students graduated with debt in 2023, a reality LeGrande is actively working to change through increased scholarships and philanthropic investments.

“When a student gets a scholarship from the institution or from a donor, it says you believe in them,” she said. “It says that you believe that they are capable and that you're investing in them. That's a very powerful tool for a student who might be worried about whether they have enough. Intrinsic motivation is one of the most important factors for a student to have a push to a degree.”

Navigating politics

LeGrande’s presidency comes at a time when higher education, particularly public institutions in Texas, is facing increasing political scrutiny around curriculum and diversity initiatives.

Her approach, she said, is rooted in clarity of purpose.

“Politics to me is about how you manage competing priorities and alternative interests that may not have originated with you,” LeGrande explained. “In this climate, what I have said to our campus and what I say is that, as an institution, we remain committed to our mission…providing opportunity to advance.

When there are questions about DEI and limitations, I oftentimes go back to, can we still fulfill our mission with new restrictions? If

8 | April 16, 2026 |

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DN Feature TSU charts next century with Ascend 2030

graduates to lead the future of As Texas Southern UniverTexas and the nation. sity (TSU) approaches its 100th “Ascend 2030 is disciplined, anniversary in 2027, the instidata-informed, and designed for tution is reflecting on a cenexecution,” said TSU President J. tury of impact while laying the W. Crawford III. “It honors our groundwork for its future. The legacy while positioning TSU to university’s Board of Regents has compete, innovate, and lead in a unanimously approved Ascend rapidly changing world.”

2030, a comprehensive strategic The plan is organized around Crawford plan designed to guide TSU into four strategic priorities: its second century of service and influence.

Enabled by Technology, Powered by Founded during the era of segregation People: Integrating AI and advanced techto provide Black students access to higher nologies into academic and operational syseducation, TSU has long been a cornerstone tems. Student Outcomes Define Success: of opportunity and a key driver in build- Aligning degrees and hands-on learning ing Houston’s Black middle class. Over the with measurable career outcomes and decades, it has produced generations of completion rates. Advanced Urban Living leaders, from the trailblazing Barbara Jor- and Learning: Leveraging TSU’s Houston dan to legendary artist John Biggers and location to deepen industry connections and Grammy-winning singer Yolanda Adams. research partnerships. The Collaboration Corridor: Building an ecosystem linking A roadmap for the next century academia, philanthropy, and industry to To meet the challenge of renewing and accelerate innovation. expanding its impact, Ascend 2030 aligns To read TSU’s Ascend 2030 plan, visit academic excellence and operational effi- https://tsu.edu/about/office-of-the-president/ ciency around a central goal: preparing ascend-2030.php.

By Aswad Walker

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DN Profile

DEQUINA MOORE Brings Broadway home to Houston

By Laura Onyeneho

She warmed up her voice for an hour before sitting down to talk.

That single detail says everything about DeQuina Moore, the Houston-born actress, singer, dancer, and author, who stars as Sweet Sue in the Broadway national tour of Some Like It Hot that just left Houston.

When the show brought her back home in March, the greeting she received felt like the payoff to a career built on discipline, faith, and a love for this city that never faded.

“It feels like a Broadway debut every time,” Moore said of performing in Houston. “My family, my friends, my biggest fans show up and support.”

Getting here, though, was anything but a straight line.

Moore’s story begins with two Houston institutions that shaped her foundation. At The Ensemble Theatre’s Young Performers Program, she discovered that acting, singing, and dancing could be woven together into something greater, musical theatre.

She then earned a coveted spot at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where she says she became a professional before ever graduating.

“HSPVA was everything,” she said. “I learned everything I needed to know, not just on stage, but everything you needed to know off stage.”

That foundation earned her a scholarship to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, one of the most competitive performing arts programs in the country. Only 64 students are accepted each year nationally. Moore was among just four Black students in her class, something she calls “a literal gift from God.” Her Broadway debut came shortly after, as the original Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors. She calls that phone call – those tears, that screaming, that disbelief – her real “Mama, I made it” moment.

But the road to that call was paved with homesickness and

Actress DeQuina Moore stars as Sweet Sue in the Tony-nominated national tour of Some Like It Hot at the Hobby Center. Credit: Joan Marcus

uncertainty. Moore lived in New York because the business demanded it, not because she wanted to.

“I’m a Houstonian,” she said plainly. The city’s warmth, the way strangers say hello, she missed all of it. Every day in New York carried the quiet pressure of not knowing whether it would ever pay off.

“The competition there is so strong,”

she said. “You feel the pulse of that pressure.

Will I? Will I? Am I wasting my time?”

Moore has also learned that a performer must treat their body like an athlete. While simultaneously doing a Broadway run and recording an album, her voice gave out entirely; two torn vocal cords and undiagnosed severe acid reflux had quietly taken their toll. Now, she spends up to an hour warming her voice before every performance and another hour cooling it down

afterward. Eight shows a week leave no room for shortcuts.

“You’re not just an artist, you’re an athlete,” she said. “If you don’t get the right amount of rest, if you don’t drink a lot of water, you’ll lose it.”

As a Black woman in an industry that she says still doesn’t create enough opportunities for women who look like her, Moore cherishes every booking. The growing role of AI in entertainment adds a fresh layer of concern, especially for artists who haven’t yet had the chance to establish themselves.

“There are so many talented, gorgeous, smart Black women in this business that don’t get a shot,” she said. “That’s always been disheartening.”

Her mother, Darrizett Moore, has watched every step of the journey. She recalls DeQuina sneaking off to the school restroom to sing as early as second grade, often enough that her teacher had to go retrieve her.

The path to college was not without family debate. Her father, a law school graduate, had a different vision. It wasn’t until DeQuina performed a Shakespearean play in her senior year of high school that he finally conceded. “Okay,” he told Darrizett. “I guess she’ll be able to make a living doing this.”

Darrizett had her own hopes, too. She wanted DeQuina to attend Spelman College to begin a family legacy. But when they visited for an interview, DeQuina disclosed she had already been accepted to NYU’s competitive CAP 21 program. Even Spelman, with its acting, singing, and dancing conservatory, told them honestly, “We can’t top that.”

For parents of children with big artistic dreams, Darrizett encourages them to learn their children’s strengths and guide them in exploring their gifts.

“Find out what their passion is,” she said.

“You can’t force anyone to do something they don’t want to do. You want happiness and an overall well-lived life.”

As for what’s next, Moore is quietly working on her first book and promises the details will be worth the wait.

“I’ll put it out when I don’t care anymore about the names and the tea that I will spill,” she laughed. “Houston will be the first to know.”

In Celebration of Black Women's History Month

10 | April 16, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports

KIM DAVIS Blazes trail in Houston sports media

By Terrance Harris

For years, Houston’s sports market has only had room for one KD, and that’s Kim Davis.

So imagine the confusion last summer when another KD, who runs in NBA circles, moved into town and joined the Rockets.

Davis’ “The KD Company” nameplate has marked her spot in the Rockets’ media room this season.

“Some of the people I’ve worked with for years are like, ‘You work for Kevin Durant?’

I’m like, no, I’m KD. “He is the famous one. I’m the OG KD.” That’s classic OG KD: Quick-witted, unflappable, and able to put someone in their place with a smile and without them immediately realizing it. Davis has been playing the game and playing it well as a trailblazing Black woman, not just working but making an impact in Houston’s white-male-dominated sports media market for three decades.

What’s interesting, though, is that Davis never set out to blaze a trail or to fill a missing void. The Lamar High School and Texas A&M grad really just wanted to tell good stories.

“I always came from the side of wanting to tell really good stories and do really good interviews,” Davis said. “Some of those people, I guess, inspired me early. The more I got into it, then came someone like a Robin Roberts who I got a chance to see. But there weren’t a lot of women who worked in the business, which is why I went to print.”

But in true Davis fashion, she wasn’t going to stay in a box too long. Over the years, she has worked on-air for local affiliates of NBC, CBS, Fox, and ABC, and has done a stint on a BET sports talk show.

Today, Davis works for herself or takes on projects under her own The KD Company. You can catch her on her ground-breaking Chalk Talk

podcast, where she isn’t just talking sports but bringing listeners into the locker rooms of the Texans, Rockets, and Astros.

Davis is also six months into a new venture, Htown Sports Talk, co-hosted with Brad Gilmore, which airs on KIAH-TV (CW 39) on Friday nights at 10 p.m. And if that isn’t enough, Davis debuted her self-published novel, titled Sports, My Love Language … It’s Complicated, which highlights her triumphs and challenges of working in the news and sports business.

“It’s the doggish pursuit for excellence.

That’s what it is,” said Fox 26 Morning Sports Anchor Nate Griffin, who has known Davis since the 1980s. “And she has not allowed anyone to discourage her. She has found a way to find inspiration with the people with whom she works, with the people with whom she covers, and the stories that she covers.”

Pioneering radio personality and sports journalist Ralph Cooper has also watched Davis grow, thrive, and beecome one off the th most credible journalistss in the market, regardless of race or gendeer.

“I have nothing but resp pect for what she does and how she does it an nd how consistent it is with the podcast and then t the fact she took time to write a book k,” Cooper said.

“She wrote a book, she has been doing these broadcasts for 30 yeaars, and it’s all been positive.”

While Davis doesn’t neecessarily see herself as a trailblazer in the industry, she doesn’t shy away from iit either. Davis welcomes the idea that shee has made an impact in an industry thaat is often unforgiving to Black peoplle, and she embraces being an insspiration to those comingg behind her.

“If I am a trailblazer, then I hope that I’m doing it the right way

because I get a lot of young women who will call me sometimes, and even young men, and I appreciate, one, that they follow my work, either written or visual, or however they follow it,” said Davis, who served as the vice president of the Houston Super Bowl XXXVIII Host Committee. “And they want to work with me or hang out with me, and I always tell them, ‘Are you interested in learning the craft, because I can help you with that. Or are you interested in being a star?’

Unfortunately, that’s what a lot of people do nowadays. I can’t help you with that because that’s not my approach.”

Davis’ relationships with the people she covers, and her storytelling, made her a natural fit when CW 39, a network that doesn’t do a lot with sports, wanted to start a radiostyle sports talk show for its platform. This past fall, they teamed her with Gilmore, and the chemistry has been off the charts for two people who were strangers before their pairing.

Gilmore, whose background is in entertainment and professional wrestling, praises Davis as his safety net and guide in this relatively unknown space for him.

“To be a pioneer in Houston in general, let alone for women, let alone for women of color,” Gilmore said, “she has done so much for everybody individually. And to have the breadth of knowledge and experience she has had and brings it into this, the show wouldn’t exist without Kim Davis.

“Without Kim, we don’t have anything, seriously. She brings so much into this thing.”

While Davis is still out here fighting the good fight in a white-male-dominated field, she says the triumphs and challenges have made her who she is today. And if that’s being a trailblazer, then so be it.

“I guess that’s what it is. I’ve been willing to put in the work and to not be deterred,” she said.” Maybe some of that is me being really, really stubborn. I decided a long time ago that th t nobody b d else l gets t to t determine dt i what ht my future is or my career path is.”

Kim Davis, a native of Houston, has been a mainstay in the Houston sports media market for three decades and doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/ Houston Defender

In Celebration of Black Women's History Month

April 16, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

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WHEATLEY SENIORS Close high school basketball chapter

By Jimmie Aggison

For most of the night, the Wheatley Wildcats fought to keep their season alive.

Possession by possession, they chipped away at La Marque’s lead until they were within a single point in the closing seconds.

One more shot could have sent Wheatley back to the UIL 4A Division II state tournament for a second straight year.

Instead, a missed shot followed by a blocked putback led to a 68–67 loss and marked the final high school game for seniors Jeremiah Baskin, Herbert Goldsmith, Collier Coleman, and Kendarion Payne. In just seconds, a season built on resilience came to an emotional close.

“In the final seconds, the play was to get the ball in the far corner to (Collier) Coleman, but La Marque came out in a zone which prevented us from getting the shot off in the corner,” said Baskin.

With no timeouts left, Wheatley had to improvise.

“In the final possession, we were trying to get the ball clear and take a good shot,” said Wheatley head coach David Burrell. “La Marque’s defense did a solid job of disrupting, and of course, the opponents’ celebration began as our attempt was unsuccessful.”

When the buzzer went off, Wheatley’s time finally expired.

“I was very emotional,” said Payne. “I was hurt, disappointed, and I felt like I let my teammates down as we all wanted to make it to the state tournament.”

While the final play decided the game, Wheatley’s fight in the closing minutes showed the same resilience that defined their entire season.

“We were down throughout the game, but giving up wasn’t an option,” said Goldsmith.

As the offense struggled, Wheatley intensified its defensive pressure, playing man-to-man until the ball reached halfcourt before trapping the ball handler.

“As seniors, it’s important to stay composed because we’re the leaders of the team.

Younger players usually watch how we react in those moments,” said Payne. “If we stay calm and focused, it helps the entire team maintain their confidence and not panic.”

Wheatley High School seniors (from left to right) Herbert Goldsmith, Collier Coleman, Kendarion Payne, and Jeremiah Baskin at Butler Stadium during an HISD All-Star event. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender

As Wheatley’s defense tightened, the offense began to improve. Then, coach Burrell made two key adjustments that gave Wheatley an extra edge.

“We backed our defense up, allowing our guys to catch their breath, get a feel for the hostile environment, and get their legs under them as we prepared to cut further into their lead,” said Burrell.

After regaining its energy, Wheatley reverted to its fast-paced style of basketball, ramping up the pressure and consistently keeping La Marque on edge.

That late push nearly changed the outcome, but it also symbolized the persistence Wheatley demonstrated throughout a season that began with many challenges.

Wheatley finished third in District 20-4A behind tough competition from Booker T. Washington and Jack Yates, while also taking time to grow and develop.

“Our team felt overlooked heading into the playoffs,” said Baskin. “People didn’t have us making it past the second round, but we stayed together and fought as a team to prove everyone wrong.”

“In our eyes, we were always first,” said Goldsmith. “When we were overlooked, we

took it personally.”

“We were big on believing in ourselves despite what others outside of the program thought,” said Coleman.

“We knew we had the talent to compete for the playoffs,” said Burrell. “Our turning point came during the Winter Holiday tournaments, where we were successful against powerhouse teams from Louisiana and Greater Houston. This was a key measurement from last year’s team.”

Much of that growth stemmed from Wheatley’s senior class leadership and experience.

“Senior leadership involves taking responsibility, communicating on the court, helping younger players improve, and ensuring everyone stays locked in on the team’s goals,” said Payne. “Leadership isn’t just about scoring or being the best player; it’s about how you help the whole team succeed and stay cohesive.”

“The bond the seniors have on this team is deep,” said Goldsmith. “We grew together through AAU teams TESA (Texas Exclusive Student Athletes) and FYN (Fly Young Nation) as 17U, fought together, and all had each other’s backs.”

As Wheatley walked off the floor after losing to La Marque, the seniors realized their time playing together might be over.

“After the game, the first thing I told everyone was ‘keep your heads high, the future will always be great, do big things, I love y’all,’” said Baskin.

“His words were encouraging because he’s more experienced than we are, and he’s one of our best leaders,” said Payne.

Though the season ended in heartbreak, this senior class’s impact will continue to shape Wheatley basketball.

“This senior class will leave behind a legacy of discipline and positive culture that denotes the typical narrative of young men from the inner-city by the way they carried themselves in our program,” said Burrell.

“I hope the younger players understand that time really flies by; it doesn’t wait for anyone,” said Payne. “Stay humble in everything you do, work hard, be consistent, and dedicated.”

Wheatley finished just one point shy of returning to San Antonio, but the determination and leadership of Wheatley’s seniors ensured their season would be remembered for much more than the final score.

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Learn to Spot Early Signs of Parkinson’s

By SHONTE BYRD, MD

Parkinson’s Can Show Up in Subtle Ways Small changes in movement can appear slowly and may feel easy to brush aside, especially if you’re busy caring for family or working long hours.

Your steps may feel shorter during the day, or one arm may not swing as much when you walk. But if you’re over 50, early shifts like these can be linked with Parkinson’s and may be worth closer attention when they return over time.

Early Signs That May Show Up Parkinson’s disease is a long-term brain condition that affects cells that make dopamine. Dopamine helps your muscles move in a steady way. Early signs may include a hand that shakes when it’s resting, smaller handwriting, stiffness, or a softer voice. Sometimes these changes are blamed on stress, aging, arthritis, or an old injury, which

can delay care. These shifts don’t always mean Parkinson’s disease, but if symptoms return over time, a neurologist trained in movement disorders should review.

Steps You Can Take at Home Start taking action when movement symptoms keep coming back. Keep a short journal with dates, what you noticed, and how it affects daily life (for example: walking, handwriting, getting dressed, or speaking). If possible, record a short video of the tremor or walking change to show your clinician. Keep walkways and stairs clear so movement feels safer. Add night lights in hallways or bathrooms if moving around at night is harder. Ask someone you trust if they’ve seen new movement concerns that show up often and consider bringing that person to your appointment to help describe what they’ve noticed.

When To Get Help Call your doctor if you notice a new tremor in a hand or arm on one side, stiffness that makes daily tasks harder, repeated small shuffles when you start to walk, or balance trouble that leads to near falls.

It can help to: (1) bring a written list of symptoms and questions, (2) ask if a movement-disorders specialist visit is appropriate, and (3) request an explanation in plain language. A neurologist can review symptoms, check your movement, and follow changes over time. Regular visits can support safety at home and help you stay as active as possible.

Seek urgent care if you fall and hit your head or if sudden confusion appears.

Call 713-442-7025 or visit kelsey-seybold.com to schedule an appointment.

Shonte Byrd, MD, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Neurology Memorial Villages Campus

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