Houston Defender: April 19, 2018

FEATURE

WHY ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN SUFFERING FROM PTSD? P7

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Houston’s Leading Black Information Source

Volume 87 | Number 25

APRIL 19, 2018 |FREE

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NEWSTALK HISD Study shows students aren’t graduating from college

P2 NATIONAL ROSALIND BREWER Starbucks COO managing PR nightmare

P3 H.S. ZONE MARISSA MALDONADO Shortstop standing out at Northside

Unapologetically Black

BEYONCÉ MAKES HISTORY H PAGE 5

P11 TOP EVENTS

Derrick Johnson and Gary Bledsoe at the NAACP Let’s Talk event

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Financial info Special Edition The Defender presents its annual financial special edition and “dollars and sense” is a big part of it. Prepare for today and tomorrow by following a financial road map. Find out about your credit report and get the facts on payday loans.

Shaquem Griffin

Ready for NFL draft

A rare disease caused Griffin’s left hand to be amputated when he was 4. But that didn’t stop the aspiring athlete. And now, Griffin is expected to be a top pick in the NFL draft, which takes place in Arlington on April 26. Get the scoop on who’s expected to get picked up.

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DEFENDER | APRIL 19 | 2018

newstalk

Fewer HISD students college-bound, grads Defender News Services

A new study from Rice University reveals that fewer students from HISD are going to college, let alone graduating. The study by postdoctoral fellow Brian Holzman found that starting college immediately after high school was associated with higher rates of certificate, diploma and degree completion. Yet less than a third of HISD students earned any kind of degree or certificate within six years of high school, the report found. Holzman completed the study as part of the Houston Education Research Consortium from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, a local public policy think tank. The report looked at college enrollment and completion rates as well as salaries for three cohorts of HISD 12th graders between the 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 school years. These three years were before HISD implemented a college advising program. Holzman reviewed disparities in college enrollment and completion trends for the report. Among his findings: • For every 100 HISD high-school seniors, the report found, 19 completed a bachelor’s degree six years after high school. • Hispanic students disproportionately attended community colleges or technical and

vocational schools. • About two-thirds of Hispanic students did not enroll in college in the fall after expected high-school graduation. That figure was 26 percent for white students. • About 85 percent of students who made it to college stayed enrolled one year after they matriculated. “While long-term enrollment rates were quite high across the district, the completion rates were quite low,” the report stated. “Just 31 percent of students earned a postsecondary credential within six years of high school.” This matters because the higher degree an HISD student completed, the more money they earned seven years after high school, per the study. For example, the average annual wage earned by a student without postsecondary credentials was $27,889, while students with a master’s degree, doctorate or professional degree earned 9 percent more, or $52,691. On average, HISD students earned $31,615 in annual wages seven years after high school. Additionally, the study found that career fields held widely different wages for HISD students post-high school. An engineer made $63,103 on average, while a social sciences earned $32,925 on average.

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Educator, singer Ruth Campbell Stewart dies Defender News Services

Ruth Campbell Stewart, a former Texas Southern University music instructor and opera singer, has died at the age of 101. Services will be held Saturday, April 21 at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, 3826 Wheeler Ave. The viewing is at 10 a.m. and the funeral is at 11 a.m. After the service, the motorcade will pass by TSU’s Stewart-Rollins Music Building (which is co-named in her honor) for a salute by the Ocean of Soul Marching Band and other music students. Ms. Stewart was a native of Savannah, Ga. and studied voice, theory and music history at Columbia University. In 1949 she won a pivotal role in the premier production of “Troubled Island” presented at City Opera in New York City. In 1951 she was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to study Ruth Campbell Stewart in Rome. She arrived at TSU (then Texas State University for Negroes) in 1954 to teach voice and become director of the Women’s Glee Club. She co-produced various operas, including “Madama Butterfly,” “La Boheme,” “The King and I” and “Messiah” (Handel). She taught numerous students who went on to have successful careers in teaching and performing, including sopranos Faye Robinson and Gloria Harrison-Quinlan, Houston soprano April Sloan-Hubert and the late tenor Lionel Stubblefield. She served as regional governor of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and co-organized a singing group called the Men of Houston. Survivors include a sister, and other relatives.

localbriefs THE CITY OF HOUSTON PLANS TO ADD 50 miles of bike lanes over the next year. Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis is pledging $10 million of Precinct 1 funds to be used by the city for the project within one year. That is in addition to $5.5 million from the city itself. Ellis was joined at the announcement by Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Working together, we can better leverage scarce resources from governmental entities and the private sector and share our collective expertise to benefit the people who we serve in this region,” Ellis said……..HARRIS COUNTY PROPERTY OWNERS WHO

BELIEVE there is an error in the market value set by the appraisal district have until Tuesday, May 15 to protest the value of their property. The Texas Legislature moved the protest deadline to May 15 during the last legislative session. The previous deadline had been May 31. Because of property damage from Hurricane Harvey, some property owners will not receive their value notice until later this month. If that is the case, they will still have 30 days to file their protest, and that later protest deadline will be listed on their value notice. Visit www.hcad.org for more information …….. HISD MAGNET SCHOOLS AND OTHER

CHOICE PROGRAMS that still have open seats will be available to discuss options with parents at the Spring School Choice Fair on Saturday, April 21. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at Gregory-Lincoln Education Center (1101 Taft St., 77019) and will offer a glimpse of the many programs still waiting for students after the Phase 1 magnet deadline, as well as all other transfer options. The magnet application Phase 2 deadline is May 31. For more information on HISD’s magnet programs, including a complete list of important dates, visit http://www.houstonisd.org/ Page/133703.

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APRIL 19 | 2018 | DEFENDER

national

U.S.briefs HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS FROM A BLACK SCHOOL in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood took to the streets recently to protest gun violence and national media barely covered it. Teens from Miami Northwestern Senior High School marched from their school’s campus to a housing complex where four young people were shot over one weekend. Kimson Green, a sophomore at the school, and Rickey Dixon, an alumnus, were among those killed. Students chanted: “No justice. No peace. No violence in the streets.”.........A MICHIGAN TEEN WHO MISSED HIS BUS and started walking to school was nearly killed after knocking on a door and asking for directions. Brennan Walker attempted to trace the bus route on foot after he said he woke up late and missed the bus. He didn’t have a phone with him because his mother had taken it away as punishment and he got lost along the way. When he approached a house to ask for directions, a woman asked why “these people” were coming to break into her house, then a man inside opened fire. Investigators are looking into the matter…….. FEDERAL JUDICIAL NOMINEE WENDY VITTER has refused to say whether she agreed with the landmark civil rights case that desegregated U.S. public schools. During her confirmation hearing, Vitter, whom President Donald Trump nominated to become a federal judge in the Eastern District of Louisiana, would not say whether she believed the Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education, was correctly decided when Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) asked her about it. The New Orleans lawyer’s comments on segregation were not the only controversial moment of her confirmation hearing. A staunch opponent of abortion, Vitter also evaded Blumenthal’s questions about comments she’d made about Planned Parenthood killing more than 150,000 women a year. Vitter’s federal judgeship nomination is for a lifetime appointment.

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Starbucks Black COO says arrest video ‘sickened’ her Defender News Services In an attempt to thwart a full-blown public relations crisis, Starbucks COO Rosalind Brewer met with the two Black men arrested in a Philadelphia Starbucks for no apparent reason. Calling the arrests “reprehensible,” Brewer and CEO Kevin Johnson met with the men, personally apologized and pledged to add training for store managers on “unconscious bias.” “When I saw the video, it sickened me because I began to think about my son, who’s 23 years old,” said Brewer. “Secondly, I thought Starbucks experienced protests after the arrest of two Black men. about what he must feel because my neighborhood hangouts where anyone is son is the kid that gets up on Saturday welcome. mornings and goes to Starbucks. “The police should never have been ‘And then I look at [the two men called in this situation and we recognize arrested] and said, ‘Those are the kids that,” Brewer said. “This is just the beginwho hang out at my house when my ning of a lot of work that we plan to do son is home. That’s his crew; they together. We look forward to a very posilook just like that.’ And so this was tive outcome here.” deeply personal for me to figure out Starbucks stores are touted as “comwhat is going on here.” munity” hubs, where people often drop in The two men were arrested as to use the WiFi or chat with friends withthey waited for a friend to arrive. out necessarily buying anything. A store manager called police after “It would be easy for us to say that Rosalind Brewer they refused to order anything and this was a one-employee situation, but I declined to leave the store. The arrests were captured on have to tell you, it’s time for us to, myself included, video and quickly went viral on social media. take personal responsibility here and do the best that The incident is a major blow to Starbucks’ image, we can to make sure we do everything we can,” since the company has promoted its coffee shops as Brewer said.

Debate continues: Is Flint water crisis over? VOLUME 87 • NUMBER 25 APRIL 19, 2018 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Strategic Alliance Manager

Clyde Jiles Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Videographer

Jodie B. Jiles

Editors ReShonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writers Aswad Walker Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

Associated Press

Four years after the start of the water crisis in predominantly Black Flint, Mich. – in which the city’s water supply was poisoned with lead and biological toxins – Gov. Rick Snyder declared the crisis is over. But is this truly the case? The Michigan state government announced it would no longer supply free bottled water to Flint residents. Snyder claims that for nearly two years, Flint’s water has been the same or better than other cities in Michigan. The move by the governor comes over two years since Flint Mayor Karen Weaver and thenPresident Obama declared a state of emergency

in response to the human-created environmental disaster. In 2014, the Flint emergency manager appointed by Snyder replaced the city’s water supply from Detroit to the Flint River as a money-saving measure. Residents complained of bad-tasting and smelly brown tap water along with various health issues. Experts and some residents note improvements but suggest the crisis has not yet subsided. “From our perspective, certainly there is some encouraging news,” said Erik Olson of the Natural Resources Defense Council. “It does appear the lead levels are coming down from the testing that is being done. But the crisis is not over…”

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DEFENDER | APRIL 19 | 2018

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Mom says her kids adopted by ‘monsters’ Defender News Services

In 2006, Houston resident Sherry Davis lost custody of her three children, Devonte, Jeremiah and Sierra, due to a cocaine addiction. The children were taken by Texas’ Department of Family and Protective Services and temporarily placed with their aunt, Priscilla Celestine. However, in December 2006, the children were taken away from the aunt, even though she had no criminal record, a steady job at a hospital, had raised her own daughter and moved to a bigger house to accomodate the children. CPS took the kids because the children saw their biological mother, which was against court orders. In 2007, the aunt started filing several petitions. The attorney who represented Celestine at the time “agreed the children shouldn’t have stayed with their parents, but she thought the courts acted too rashly in removing them from their aunt.” She also said, “They have an aunt who I truly believe in my soul and in my heart would have made a difference in those children’s lives.” By 2009, Jennifer and Sarah Hart adopted Devonte, Jeremiah and Sierra while there was still a pending case on the aunt’s last appeal. (Hart reportedly had a 2008 child abuse charge that was overlooked). Davis, 48, broke her silence in an interview with The Oregonian, describing her heartbreak, how she lost her kids, and how she'd gotten clean with the hope of one day getting them back. Devonte, Sierra and Jeremiah were with their adoptive parents, Jennifer and Sarah Hart, and their three adopted siblings when an intoxicated Jennifer Hart apparently drove the family off a California

cliff last month. More details emerged after the deaths, including allegations that the children were starved by their mothers as punishment and secretly begged neighbors for food. Clarence Celestine, father of Jeremiah and Sierra, said he hasn't been able to sleep since he heard the news. He wants to leave every time someone mentions the crash and concerns of abuse that followed the children and their adoptive parents in three states. He wishes his sister, Priscilla Celestine, who fought to keep the kids when Davis lost custody, had been able to keep them. "I don't understand why they took the kids from my sister," said Celestine, 66. "And gave them to monsters," Davis added. What also tears at Davis and Celestine is had a local family law attorney who represented the kids' aunt in a failed custody bid not recognized the children in news reports, Davis believes she might never have known their fate. Davis said that even while she was using drugs, her children were well-fed, well-dressed and never neglected. Back then, she said, she was doing live-in care at least two days a week for work and housekeeping on the side to make ends meet. Today, Davis is an in-home care worker. She's married and said she's been clean for eight years. She never gave up hoping she'd one day reunite her family. Learning of her children's deaths – and of the abuse allegations that preceded them – has been devastating. "They're so quick to snatch [children] from people like us," she said, "but once they're adopted, they don't even check on them?"

Sherry Davis was the biological mother of one of the children killed and two missing and presumed dead in last month’s tragic California SUV crash. Clarence Celestine was the father of two of the children.

The bodies of Jennifer and Sarah Hart and three of their six adopted kids were found dead after their vehicle plunged off a cliff and into the ocean. Toxicology reports later showed that Jennifer Hart, the driver, was drunk.

Trump builds on Obama opioid policy Defender News Services Deep within President Donald Trump’s plan to combat opioid abuse, overshadowed by his call for the death penalty for some drug traffickers, is a push to expand the use of medication to treat addiction. Trump declared last month that “we’re making medically assisted treatment more available and affordable,” even as Congress was working to approve $1 billion for a new treatment grant program for opioids as part of the massive government funding bill. Not to offer such treatment is like

“trying to treat an infection without antibiotics,” new Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told the National Governors Association earlier this year. Experts have long argued that medication-assisted treatment should be the standard of care for people addicted to heroin and other opioid drugs. But acceptance lags. Cost is a barrier, as are government regulations. Some of the medications are opioids themselves and there’s no consensus on how long patients should remain in treatment. In its final year, the Obama administration pushed through Congress $1 billion

for opioid crisis grants to states. Of that, $500 million was to be released last year and the other $500 million this year. The 2018 spending bill provides another $1 billion, and the Trump administration says it will carry even more specific requirements for states to use treatment supported by clinical evidence, including medications. “The government is talking about treatment and medication-assisted treatment in a way that the government has never done before,” said Tom Hill, vice president of addiction and recovery at the National Council for Behavioral Health, which advocates for mental health and addiction treatment.

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APRIL 19 | 2018 | DEFENDER

entertainment

Beyoncé unforgettable at Coachella Festival

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Beyoncé donates to four HBCUs Defender News Services

Defender News Services

Beyoncé did more than just recognize Historically Black colleges and universities during an Beyoncé was not only the first Black electrifying Coachella performance. She is donatwoman to open at the annual California ing $100,000 to four HBCUs. music festival Coachella, she also historiOne lucky student from Tuskegee University, cally kicked off the festival by singing the Bethune-Cookman University, Xavier University, Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Wilberforce University will receive a $25,000 and Sing.” scholarship for the 2018 to 2019 academic year as That was amid a two-and-a-half hour part of her Homecoming Scholars Award Program. ode to HBCUs, HBCU halftime shows, marching bands, Black Greeks, a Destiny’s Child reunion, a dance-off with her sister Solange, a Jay-Z special appearance and a clear artistic history lesson on the ties between modern urban dance and classic jazz dance. In short, Beyoncé’s Coachella performance, known by many as #Beychella (and shouted out by DJ Khalid as Beychella midperformance), was not just entertainment; it was a show steeped in celebration of American culture. “Thank you Coachella for allowing me to be the first Black woman to headline,’ Beyoncé made history at the Coachella music festival. Beyoncé said of the 19th annual music festival before adding, “Ain’t that ‘bout a b—tch?” BAK, which some speculated was the Many are talking about the performance name of her next album. because they don’t understand it but appreciate But for others, it seems to mean the beauty of the black and gold and the pyramid B for Beyoncé followed by the backdrop. Or they do understand it and totally unpyramid, or delta, which references There was also a reunion with Destiny Child’s members Michelle Williams and derstand the use of black and gold and the pyramid the fourth letter of the Greek alphaKelly Rowland. backdrop. (Note: Look up Alpha Phi Alpha Fraterbet. Meanwhile, the K could stand nity to get an idea of the possible message behind for Knowles. The outfit could also white boots more traditionally worn by the drum major some of the visuals and colors.) simply be another nod to some of the gear worn by of a marching band, and the dancers rocking knee-high Additionally, social media users have been hav- students at HBCUs or worn by members of Black white boots more traditionally seen worn by majorettes ing a field day trying to interpret Beyoncé’s Greek Greek letter societies. during a halftime show of a HBCU, the clothing was an lettered yellow hoodie. It sported the Greek letters Essays could be written on the outfits alone. immediate attaboy to the glorious history of the HBCU for beta, delta and kappa. For some that might mean With Beyoncé rocking shaggy-haired knee-high system.

what’sup KERRY WASHINGTON’S time on “Scandal” is coming to an end this month and the actress is dishing on her next career moves. She said she might do “a little theater.” Washington debuted on Broadway as Susan in 2009’s “Race” and had done stage work four years earlier as an understudy in the West End production of “Billy Elliot.” With her experience, she’s no stranger to the demands of life under theater lights. “After you do a show where you’re doing 16-hour days and memorizing a new monologue every day, you’re like, ‘Yeah I want to say the same words for a few months,’”

Washington said, referring to “Scandal.” “Our show is so cool with the live-tweeting, but I miss being in the room. There’s something very communal about theater and being able to tell the same story,” she said…….TAMAR BRAXTON was supposed to be the opening act for her big sister TONI BRAXTON’S upcoming tour but she has been axed from the lineup before it began. According to TMZ, since Tamar’s soon-to-be ex-husband, VINCE HERBERT, is still her manager, promoters feel like their martial situation is bad for business. Their other sister, TRACI, was also slated to be on the

tour but she was taken off the bill last month. It was rumored that her being booted from the tour had to do with her bumping heads with Tamar over what she had to say about her estranged husband. Maybe Toni will find a replacement soon because her tour kicks off May 22…….After revealing her battle with bipolar disorder, MARIAH CAREY is now writing a memoir about her life. The mother of two went public with her condition, which she was first diagnosed with in 2001. Mimi is also working on her 15th album. No word on when her memoir will be released.

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DEFENDER | APRIL 19 | 2018

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Kendrick Lamar wins Pulitzer for music Associated Press

Kendrick Lamar won the Pulitzer Prize for music, making history as the first non-classical or jazz artist to win the prestigious prize. The revered rapper is also the most commercially successful musician to receive the award, usually reserved for critically acclaimed classical acts who don’t live on the pop charts. The 30-year-old won the prize for “DAMN.,” his raw and powerful Grammy-winning album. The Pulitzer board said the album is “a virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life.” He will win $15,000. Lamar has been lauded for his deep lyrical content, politically charged live performances, and his profound mix of hip-hop, spoken word, jazz, soul, funk, poetry and African sounds. Since emerging on the music scene with the 2011 album “Section.80,” he has achieved the perfect mix of commercial appeal and critical respect. The Pulitzer board has awarded special honors to Bob Dylan, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane and Hank Williams, but a popular figure like Lamar has never won

the prize for music. In 1997, Wynton Marsalis became the first jazz act to win the Pulitzer Prize for music. That makes Lamar’s win that much more important: His platinum-selling major-label albums – “good kid,

Kendrick Lamar

m.A.A.d city,” ‘’To Pimp a Butterfly” and “DAMN.” – became works of art, with Lamar writing songs about Blackness, street life, police brutality, perseverance, survival and self-worth. His piercing and sharp raps helped him become the voice of the generation, and easily ascend as the leader in hip-hop and cross over to audiences outside of rap, from rock to pop to jazz. He’s also been a dominator on the charts, having achieved two dozen Top 40 hits, including a No. 1 success with “Humble,” and he has collaborated with the likes of U2, Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons, Rihanna and Beyoncé. His music, with songs like “Alright” and “The Blacker the Berry,” have become anthems in the wake of high-profile police shootings of minorities as the conversation about race relations dominates news headlines. He brought a dose of seriousness to the 2015 BET Awards, rapping on top of a police car with a large American flag waving behind him. Lamar’s musical success helped him win 12 Grammy Awards. “DAMN.,” released a year ago, won five Grammys, including best rap album. The rapper, born in Compton, Calif., was hand-picked by “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler to curate an album to accompany the ubiquitously successful film, giving Lamar yet again another No. 1 effort and highly praised project.

FINANCIAL

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APRIL 19 | 2018 | DEFENDER

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Special Edition

things to know

ABOUT YOUR CREDIT REPORT

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Defender News Services

If you’re buying a car, shopping for insurance or trying to get a house or apartment, your credit report matters. Even if you’re job-hunting, more than half of all employers perform credit checks on potential employees. Since your credit history is so important, it’s essential that you understand what it entails. Here are 10 things to know:

Just as you probably wouldn’t loan money to a stranger, a finance company, retailer or bank won’t give you credit without knowing about your bill payment history, loans, debt or other financial information. That information is found in your credit report, which also shows where you live, where your work, whether you’ve filed for bankruptcy or have been sued. Credit reports help lenders decide whether to extend you credit and how much interest they will charge.

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Check your credit report regularly to make sure your financial accounts and personal information are accurately reported. You should avoid any unwelcome surprises before applying for a mortgage, car loan or credit card. Reviewing your credit report also helps detect identity theft and whether fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name. Errors in credit reports are not uncommon.

corrected after you’ve disputed them in writing, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at 1-855-411-2372 or www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/.

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A credit score is a number that rates your credit risk and helps creditors determine whether to give you credit and decide the terms you are offered. It is calculated based on your payment history, outstanding balances, credit history length, types of credit accounts and applications for new credit accounts.

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Equifax experienced a data breach last year that affected more than 145 million consumers. Hackers accessed Social Security and driver’s license numbers, addresses and birth dates. To see if you were impacted visit www.equifaxsecurity2017.com. If there are errors on your credit report write a letter and send it along with supporting documentation to the appropriate credit reporting agency. If the errors have not been

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If you’re wondering how long information stays on your credit report, in general, the consumer reporting agency must automatically delete information on adverse credit instances that are more than seven years old and any bankruptcies that are more than 10 years old. Those rules, however, do not apply to information provided for credit transactions involving a principal amount of $150,000 or more, underwriting of life insurance involving a principal amount of $150,000 or more, or employment of an individual with an annual salary of $75,000 or more.

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You are entitled to a free credit report from each of the three reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) once every 12 months. You can request all three reports at once, or space them out throughout the year. The agencies have established a single toll-free telephone number (1-877322-8228) and website (AnnualCreditReport.com).

A lender who denies you credit must provide you with the name, address, and telephone number of the credit bureau that provided the report.

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Using a range between 300-850, a credit score rating is: • 800-850, exceptional • 740-749, very good • 670-739, good • 580-669, fair • 300-579, very poor

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Applicants with the highest scores are at the top of the list for the best rates from lenders. Applicants with the lowest scores may be required to pay a fee or deposit, high interest rates or may not be approved for credit at all.

Improving your credit score significantly may take time, but it can be done. • Pay your bills on time. If you have a history of paying bills late, have had an account referred to collections or declared bankruptcy, it will probably impact your score negatively. • Pay down any outstanding balances. If what you owe is close to your credit limit, it will likely have a negative effect on your score. • Consider how many credit accounts you have and and what kinds of accounts they are. It is generally considered a plus to have established credit, but too many credit card accounts might have a negative effect on your score. • Beware of credit repair scams. Unscrupulous companies might insist that you pay them before they do any work, tell you not to contact credit reporting companies directly, tell you to give false information on credit or loan applications or promise a new credit identity to help you hide bad credit history or bankruptcy for a fee. Sources: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Experian, Federal Reserve Bank, Federal Trade Commission

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FINANCIAL

DEFENDER | APRIL 19 | 2018

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Life insurance

plays role in finances By TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE

People buy life insurance for many reasons, including ensuring that their beneficiaries have enough money to maintain their standard of living, paying burial expenses and outstanding debts, and meeting the requirement for business loans. Here is some advice: 1. Before you buy insurance, make sure the agent and company are licensed. Call the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Consumer Help Line at 1-800-252-3439 or visit www.tdi.texas.gov. 2. Beneficiaries are the people you designate to get the money from the life insurance policy after you die. The money is called a death benefit and is typically tax free to the beneficiary. You may designate one or more beneficiaries. 3. Whole life, universal life and variable life insurance can build a cash value you can use while you’re alive. If an agent or company tries to sell you a life insurance policy as a good investment, be wary. Also, don’t confuse life insurance with annuities. People often buy annuities for retirement because they can provide steady income over a long period. 4. Insurance companies use a process called underwriting to decide whether to sell life insurance to someone and how much to charge them. The company will consider these factors to decide the premium to charge: your age, gender, medical condition, whether you use tobacco and your hobbies and occupation. 5. Companies may charge you a higher premium or decide not to sell you a policy because of your potential risk. If a company won’t sell you a policy, keep shopping.

Major types of insurance

• Term life is typically cheaper and less complicated than permanent life policies. There are two types. Annual renewable term is a one-year term where the premium adjusts each year based on your age when you renew your policy. Level term is sold with term periods of five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 or more years. • Permanent life policies usually have higher premiums because they provide coverage for your entire life and

have other features. The main feature of most policies is a cash value or savings component that grows over time and may be withdrawn, invested or borrowed against during your lifetime. • Whole life is a variation of permanent life. The insurance remains in effect for your entire life unless you cash the policy in or stop paying premiums. The policy is guaranteed renewable so you never have to renew the policy. Premiums are fixed at the age you buy a policy. • Universal life is also a variation of permanent life. It allows you to choose the amount of coverage, the amount

of your premium, and the cash value you build. This policy also provides flexibility to change your premium payments and to make withdrawals or take a loan against the cash value. • Other types of life insurance provide only specific coverages or are sold in unique circumstances. They include: credit life, a type of policy that lenders offer; credit accident and health coverage, which pays the balance of a loan if you get sick or injured and can’t repay; and prepaid funeral insurance, a special type of policy to pay for funeral services in advance.

Message from the Publisher Planning a road trip is much easier these days with conveniences like GPS and MapQuest, but we can still get lost. There might be unexpected road construction, an accident or a distraction that will take us out of the way. Then we must regroup and continue to follow the map. The same holds true for managing your money. You need a road map to get you where you want to go and you must be prepared for detours along the way. This year, the Defender is once again pleased to provide readers with valuable information in the annual financial special edition. We take an in-depth look at planning for the present

and future with our centerfold titled “Following a financial road map.” In addition, we offer 10 things you should know about your credit report. We also help you understand life insurance and provide the answers to frequently asked questions about payday loans. Our partners – Cadence Bank, Capital One, Frost Bank and Wells Fargo – share their financial expertise as well. Money matters, regardless of how much you have in your bank account. Through planning and preparation, you can stay on track.

Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

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FINANCIAL

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APRIL 19 | 2018 | DEFENDER

3B

Little or no money down

Obtain an affordable home loan By CADENCE BANK

For potential homebuyers, coming up with a large down payment and the added expense of private mortgage insurance (PMI) – which protects the lender from default – can be a daunting task. The good news is a significant down payment might not be necessary to buy a home. Some mortgages are even available with zero percent down payment for homebuyers who qualify. These are referred to as 100 percent financing loans. Additionally, there are programs that exclude the PMI requirement. Consider these tips to obtain a mortgage with a smaller down payment: 1. Check into low down payment loans offered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). FHA home loans are the most common type of low down payment loans. Instead of loaning money, FHA insures private lender loans by commercial banks, and each lender sets their own rate and term. 2. If buying in a rural area and household income meets certain requirements, you may qualify

for a mortgage loan offering 100 percent financing. This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 3. Served in the military? Veterans can qualify for low or no down payment loans without the PMI requirement. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) guarantees loans made by private lend-

ers for military veterans, active duty military, reservists and spouses of deceased military who have not remarried. 4. Reap the rewards of good credit. Conventional home loans can sometimes be made with a low down payment for homebuyers who meet the bank’s qualification criteria. A relatively high credit score and stable job history are keys to eligibility for these types of loans. 5. Explore Cadence Bank’s Affordable Home Loan Program. Cadence offers a low or no down payment mortgage loan designed to help low- and moderate-income borrowers for whom it is difficult to save a large down payment. The Cadence Bank Affordable Home Loan Program offers up to 100 percent financing for borrowers who qualify, with no PMI requirement or loan origination fee. Visit Cadence Bank at www.cadencehomeloans.com to learn more about low or no down payment mortgage loan options. Cadence Bank, N.A. Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender NMLS#525022

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DEFENDER | APRIL 19 | 2018

Following a financial r Develop a plan today for more security tomorrow

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By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender

chieving financial security takes planning and preparation. It also requires a road map to help you achieve your goals while navigating potential rough spots along the way. Regardless of your income or occupation, you can make your plan work. In a Q&A with the Defender, Darryl Montgomery, Wells Fargo region bank president, Houston South, shared the recipe for success. Defender: Why is it important to have a financial plan or road map? Darryl Montgomery: Taking the steps to create a financial plan is one of the most important leaps you can make toward establishing a successful financial future. It is your “road map” that clearly defines the steps you need to take to successfully achieve your financial goals. For families just starting to plan their financial priorities, budgeting can be a balancing act: paying bills, saving wisely in the event of emergencies, and investing in anticipation of children’s college tuition or your own retirement. The desire for more “stuff” actually can contribute to a financial bind for families. In many cases, a lack of financial priorities leads to overspending, leaving too little money to cover expenses and savings. As a result, many individuals have little choice but to continue working into their retirement years. Your financial plan should be a true Darryl Montgomery picture of your current financial health and a realistic view of your goals (short-term, intermediate and long-term). Defender: What are the main steps in following a roadmap. Montgomery: 1) Start by planning your journey. Everyone should avoid the temptation to plow ahead with no plan, possibly because they think they don’t earn enough to save or because poor decisions have left their finances in such turmoil that they don’t want others, including family members, to know. You should never be embarrassed about what you make or the situation you are in. It might surprise people to know how many others are in situations similar to theirs. The worst thing you can do is nothing. Seeking help from a trusted financial advisor can help build your confidence, and most important, show you that you’re not alone on your financial journey. 2) Set goals, ask the right questions, and find someone to help you. Setting goals is critical to your financial well-being, and it starts with introspection and questions. For example, would you love to work into old age or do you want to retire early? Would you like to start a second career or own a business? How will you financially provide for your children’s college education? Is your dream house a near or distant possibility? At the heart of having an investment plan for your future is figuring out exactly what you want to achieve. Once you’ve answered these questions, you

can begin to weigh the three primary investment goals – growth, income and stability or protection of principal – to determine how to select specific investments that are appropriate for your investment plan. 3) Move saving up your priority list. Typically, when we budget, we budget all of the required obligations that we have – mortgages, car loans, utilities – and then we budget our discretionary spending. And whatever is left over, if anything, is what we save. Re-order your list (and priorities): Pay required household bills and then budget your savings, moving nonessentials to the bottom of the list. Defender: Do financial road maps vary depending on your income? Montgomery: Most individuals believe that you have to make

a lot of money in order to be well positioned to s or start your financial plan. It should be noted tha a good position to save or invest if your spending trolled no matter how much money you may ma age everyone to start saving and/or investing as e Starting earlier gives your savings and inves longer time to work for you. I recommend that y financial advisor so that they can outline effectiv to grow your wealth. A financial advisor will tak income, financial picture, and goals to give you o informed decisions. Don’t delay looking at possi you don’t think you make enough money. In add because you think you just don’t have enough m get started. Seek advice to better understand yo

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L EDITION

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road map

save money, invest, at you will not be in g habits are not conake. I would encourearly as possible. estment plan a you speak to a ve options or ways ke a look at your options to make ible options because dition, don’t delay money left over to our options. Your

Financial advice for any age

financial road map could look different then what you might have predicted. Defender: What is the best way to deal with “bumps and detours” along the way? Montgomery: Planning for your future can be confusing and intimidating even when life goes according to plan, but when you are faced with an unexpected “turn in the road” it can be overwhelming. Don’t allow those “short-term” bumps or detours to get in the way of your “long term plan.” For many people, the crisis has to do with crushing debt; for others, it may be a health emergency or an oncoming rush of retirement. Devise a plan to take on whatever your financial crisis is all about. Believe in your plan and believe in yourself. You have an opportunity to be proud of the fact that you made it through this temporary setback.

he Houston area for over 85 years

Whether you’re a recent college graduate or a retiree, having a financial plan is a must. Here are additional tips from Darryl Montgomery of Wells Fargo: • If you’re a young person just starting a career, live below your means. “It’s important to be very mindful of your wants versus your needs,” Montgomery said. “If you can maintain a frugal college student mindset the first two or three years after you get your first job, you may be amazed at how much money you can save and invest.” • Set money aside for emergencies. “I recommend keeping your emergency funds separate,” he said. “Try to accumulate enough money to cover three to six months of basic living expenses. Although it may not feel like it, it’s actually easier to accumulate this cushion now when you have fewer financial commitments than at any other time in your life.” • Start retirement savings with your first paycheck. “If you don’t take advantage of your company’s savings plan, you may be giving up an opportunity for “free” money,” he said. “Many companies provide 401(k) plans that offer employer matching contributions. At a minimum, we recommend you contribute enough to capture the full amount that your employer is prepared to match.” • Families with children should also prioritize needs over wants. Other advice for families includes set (or re-evaluate) your budget, safeguard against the unthinkable, plan for your child’s future, keep your own long-term needs a priority and speak with a financial advisor to become more knowledgeable. • It’s never too early to think about retirement, which is changing. “Retirees are living longer, fewer companies offer pension plans, and Social Security benefits may not be your primary source of retirement income,” he said. “That’s why it’s more important than ever to consider potential retirement risks, which play a primary role in planning your retirement income and expenses.” Montgomery said three risks are: 1. Longevity – With Americans living longer than ever before, it’s important to understand the risk of outliving your retirement savings. 2. Inflation – It lowers the purchasing power of your dollar, so be sure to factor inflation into your overall retirement saving goal. 3. Market volatility – Your investable assets may lose value if financial markets decline. “Other potential risks to your retirement income are the rising costs of health care, long-term care, and insurance coverage to supplement Medicare,” he said. • Older adults should plan their retirement budget by dividing expenses into three categories: Essential expenses, such as food, mortgage or rent payments, transportation, insurance premiums, taxes, health care costs and other expenses; discretionary expenses, such as entertainment, travel, recreation, charitable giving, and major purchases; and unexpected expenses, such as major health care needs, long-term care services and personal emergencies.

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FINANCIAL FINANCIAL

DEFENDER | APRIL 19 | 2018

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Help next generation succeed at

money management

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By DARRYL MONTGOMERY Wells Fargo

t is only a matter of time until today’s children will transition into adolescence and adulthood. As this transition happens, parents, mentors and family members should take advantage of every opportunity to help the next generation of adults develop important money management skills. The sooner parents and family members can have an open dialogue on how to establish good financial habits the better. Whether it’s a conversation about what to do with birthday money, how to invest a monthly allowance or best practices for managing a paycheck, good money skills may help reduce financial stress and the amount of future debt carried by adults. Knowing how to manage money early on can pave the way for future success by applying good spending habits, saving and investing for the future, and donating to charity. There are four steps that today’s adults can take to help increase a child’s likelihood of becoming proficient in financial management:

Provide resources or opportunities for children to earn money. An allowance for completing weekly chores or working part-time at a local small business can help a young person learn the value of money.

2 3

Create a budget. Breaking down expenses not only shows where money is spent, but also how it’s wasted.

Introduce the 50/20/30 rule of thumb. Apply half of all money earned into fixed costs (i.e. gym membership, entertainment subscriptions, another type of monthly expense), 20 percent into financial goals (i.e. college, new car, self-reward), and 30 percent into flexible spending (i.e. food, shopping, entertainment, day-to-day expenses).

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Build credit. Learn how to build and maintain good credit and understand how credit can influence or limit future financial opportunities. For more tips and resources visit Wells Fargo’s CollegeSTEPS blog, which features advice and guidance articles designed to help students and parents financially prepare for college and beyond. We can all take part in the effort to help ensure that future generations learn the set skills to make informed financial decisions and become financially successful. Darryl Montgomery is Wells Fargo regional bank president, Houston South.

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Helping them prepare for financial success It’s never too soon to teach the importance of saving, and to show our commitment, Wells Fargo has developed a free, financial education program to make learning about saving easy. Hands on Banking® helps take learning to the next level. To find out more, stop by and talk with a banker today, or visit handsonbanking.org.

© 2018 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. IHA-22228

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Get the facts about

payday loans office – in Texas the Consumer Protection Hotline is 800-621-0508 – for more information. You may also contact a legal aid attorney or private attorney for assistance. You can submit a complaint about payday loans with the CFPB online or by calling 855-411-2372. Q: Could I be arrested if I don’t pay back my payday loan? A: No, you cannot be arrested for defaulting on a payday loan. However, if you are sued or a court judgment has been entered against you and you ignore a court order to appear, a judge may issue a warrant for your arrest. You should never ignore a court order. If you get a court order to appear, you should go to court and provide any required infor-

Defender News Services

African-Americans are more likely to take out a payday loan than any other race or ethnicity. According to a Pew Charitable Trusts report, 12 percent of AfricanAmericans have reported taking out a payday loan, compared to 4 percent of white Americans. Here are frequently asked questions about payday loans from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a U.S. government agency that works to ensure fair treatment by financial companies. Q. Should I get a payday loan if I need money now? A. Before choosing to take out a payday loan, think about the costs you will pay, whether you want to borrow, and how you will pay back the loan. If you take out a payday loan, you will likely be charged a fee of between $10 and $30 for every $100 borrowed. A $15 per $100 fee is typical. So, if you have an emergency and need $300 today, you would have to pay back $345 in a couple of weeks, assuming a fee of $15 per $100 borrowed. If your budget is already tight, that may be hard to do. Q: I heard that taking out a payday loan can help rebuild my credit or improve my credit score. Is this true? A: Probably not. Payday loans generally are not reported to the three major national credit reporting companies, so they are unlikely to impact your credit scores. Most storefront payday lenders do not consider traditional credit reports or credit scores when determining loan eligibility. They also do not generally report any information about payday loan borrowing history to the nationwide credit reporting companies. However, if you don’t pay your loan back and your lender sends or sells your payday loan debt to a debt collector, it is possible the debt collector might report this debt to one of the major national credit reporting companies. Debts in collection could hurt your credit scores. Q: Can a payday lender garnish my wages? A: A payday lender can only garnish your

If you take out a payday loan, you will likely be charged a fee of between $10 and $30 for every $100 borrowed. A $15 per $100 fee is typical. wages if it has a court order resulting from a lawsuit against you. If you don’t repay your loan, the payday lender or a debt collector generally can sue you to collect. If they win, or if you do not dispute the lawsuit or claim, the court will enter an order or judgment against you. The order or judgment will state the amount of money you owe. The lender or collector can then get a garnishment order against you. Be aware that some payday lenders have threatened garnishment in order to get borrowers to pay, even though they do not have a court order or judgment. If that should occur, you may want to seek legal assistance. Contact your state’s regulator or attorney general

mation. Q: How can I stop a payday lender from electronically taking money out of my bank or credit union account? A: You can stop electronic debits to your account by revoking the payment authorization, sometimes called an “ACH authorization.” You have the right to stop a payday lender from taking automatic electronic payments from your account, even if you previously allowed them. If you decide you want to stop automatic debit payments from your account, here is what you can do: 1.Call and write the company. Tell the company that you are taking away your permission for the company to take automatic payments out of your bank or credit union account. 2. Call and write your bank or credit union. Tell your bank that you have “revoked authorization.” Some banks and credit unions may offer you an online form. 3. Stop payment. Even if you have not revoked your authorization with the company, you can stop an automatic payment from being charged to your account. 4. Monitor your accounts. Tell your bank or credit union right away if you see a payment that you did not authorize or a payment that was made after you revoked authorization. Federal law gives you the right to dispute and get your money back for any unauthorized transfers from your account as long as you tell your bank in time. For more information visit www.consumerfinance.gov.

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FINANCIAL

DEFENDER | APRIL 19 | 2018

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There’s wisdom in

managing your credit

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By CAPITAL ONE BANK

or the fifth straight year, Capital One is proud to sponsor this special section of The Defender and, through it, provide information to help readers and their families learn and practice effective money management. Among its many advantages, effectively monitoring and protecting your financial information and accounts can help you avoid becoming the victim of fraud and identity theft, put you in a better position to qualify for a loan or credit card, and determine what interest rate you pay. It also has never been easier – or more affordable – to control your credit. Here are some tips to help: 1. Once a year obtain a free copy of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus at annualcreditreport.com. If you notice something strange or suspicious, contact the lender to investigate the matter. 2. Sign up for a credit monitoring tool. Look for one that shows the factors that impact your credit score, so you can instantly find easy ways to improve

or maintain it. 3. Enable fraud alerts on your credit report. This still allows lenders to access your credit report, but requires them to take extra steps to verify your identity before issuing credit in your name. Second Look from Capital One is a digital and mobile alert program that helps flag unusual charges for cardholders. Also, if you choose to receive text alerts, ensure that your mobile phone number is up to date. 4. Sign up for purchase notifications. Many banks and credit card companies provide instant purchase notifications to let cardholders know when their credit card is used to purchase something. If you did make the purchase, you can make sure the merchant charged the correct amount. 5. Use different passwords for each of your accounts. Consider using a password manager to create complex, encrypted passwords for each site you visit. 6. Be suspicious of emails or phone calls asking for your information. Phishing is when a fraudster tries to contact you while claiming to be your bank, electric company or anyone else you might trust enough to share your personal information.

Working together for a

Better Future

INVESTED IN COMMUNITY Capital One® is committed to helping communities thrive. We’re empowering families through financial literacy and affordable housing, helping individuals bridge the digital skills gap and showing small businesses how to harness technology to grow and compete.

capitalone.com/investingforgood facebook.com/capitaloneinvestingforgood © 2018 Capital One. All rights reserved.

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Why Black women are suffering from effects of PTSD Defender News Services

Post-traumatic stress disorder usually invokes images of broken, injured soldiers returning from combat. But PTSD is not limited to the military. According to the American Psychological Association, “PTSD can occur in all people, in people of any ethnicity, nationality or culture, and any age.” African-Americans women are no exception. Researchers from Northwestern University recently studied African-American women living in a low-income Chicago community. They found that nearly 30 percent of the women with depression symptoms from the high-crime Southside neighborhood had PTSD, and 7 percent exhibited strong symptoms of the disorder. If one-third of AfricanAmerican women in some communities may be at risk, PTSD is an issue that should concern the African-American community. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH), PTSD can be diagnosed after a traumatic event. Outside of military combat, childhood physical abuse, sexual assault physical assault, being threatened with a weapon, car accidents, fires, natural disasters, violent crimes (muggings, robberies, etc.), and other “extreme or life-threatening events” can lead to PTSD. However, the NIMH cautions that not every person who is exposed to a traumatic event will develop PTSD. There are risk factors that make a person more likely to develop the disorder. The National Center for PTSD found that women may be at higher risk because they are more likely than men to experience trauma within trusted relationships or to suffer chronic violence. A trauma like domestic violence during a marriage or romantic relationship would

meet both criteria. A study from the University of Texas found that among nearly 2,000 couples, domestic violence was nearly twice as prevalent in the Black families. Statistics from the Department of Justice show that Black women are more likely than white women to experience domestic violence from the ages of 20-24, but not at other ages. Either way, African American women either face domestic violence at slightly higher or significantly higher rates than other women. Research from the Journal of Women’s Health found that low-income African American women who had experienced domestic violence not only had PTSD, but also had “strikingly high levels of PTSD symptoms.” Yet another issue must be considered: racism. Many researchers have made note of the connection between racism and trauma. A study from the University of Michigan stated, “Blacks are more likely to experience race-related stressors and oppression that can lead to increased feelings of victimization, which may also increase the risk for PTSD.” “PTSD is typically thought of as a response to a specific trauma,” Dr. Williams added. “Although a single life-threatening event motivated by racism qualifies as a trauma, most expressions of racism tend to be less extreme and more frequent than events typically considered traumatic. Thus, most cases of racial trauma are the result of repeated events, not unlike traumatization resulting from ongoing sexual harassment or bullying. “In these cases, chronic interpersonal events of a distressing nature occur with enough frequency that the victim begins to worry about future distressing events, resulting in hypervigilance, avoidance, and anxiety — all core symptoms of PTSD.

The National Center for PTSD found that women may be at higher risk because they are more likely than men to experience trauma.

classified REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS HISD BELLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL REBUILD Phase I Package 5100 MAPLE ST BELLAIRE, TX 77401 Turner Construction Company is the Construction Manager for the HISD Bellaire High School Rebuild Project. You are invited to submit your Lump Sum Proposal (LSP) for all labor, material, equipment, taxes, and other necessary items to complete the work in your trade for this project. The LSP’s are to be in strict accordance with the Plans and Project Manual prepared by PBK. The Phase I Work for this Project is defined in the Contract Documents and consists but is not limited to the following: new underground storm water detention system and associated storm water collecting system, new permanent electrical service and backfeed of existing building, new service yard pad, new utility services for the future building, rerouting of existing sanitary and water services for the existing science building, relocate existing chiller serving existing science building, install temporary boilers to serve the existing central plant during construction, installation of temporary parking area, installation of new concrete bus loop drive, demolition of a portion of existing buildings, selective demolition and installation of temporary portable classroom buildings. All Work must be performed and coordinated through Turner in strict accordance with Bellaire City and Houston Independent School District requirements, the Project Schedule, this RFP and the Contract Documents. In the event of a conflict, the most stringent requirement will prevail. This proposal shall be in strict accordance with the Packages contained herein, this RFP and the Contract Documents. However, cost saving suggestions are acceptable and encouraged and are to be submitted as voluntary alternates to the base plans and specifications. Proposals are to be in strict accordance with the Request For Proposal Manual and contract documents. Please refer to the Request For Proposal Manual for Instructions to Bidders, Insurance requirements, Proposal Forms, etc. Proposal documents may be downloaded from BuildingConnected. Contact Toni Cromer. 713 -358-8220 tcromer@tcco.com for access to Turner’s Building Connected site. All Subcontractors must complete Turner Construction qualifications. Please reference RFP for Pre-Qual Instructions. There will be one Pre-Proposal Meetings based on the scope of work we are bidding in this GMP Phase I. The Pre-Proposal Meeting will be held at the Turner Office. Phase I – Temp Parking & Site Detention – April 24, 2018 / 10:00am / Turner Office: 4263 Dacoma St, Houston, TX 77092 (Training Room) RFI’s must be submitted on the RFI Form located in the RFI folder (in BuildingConnected) on or before 12:00pm April 25, 2018. Proposals are to be submitted to tcromer@tcco.com or through BuildingConnected before 2:00 PM Tuesday May 1, 2018. They may also be submitted to Turner Construction Company, 4263 Dacoma St. Houston, TX 77092, Attention: Toni Cromer., or faxed to 713.840.8365. Turner Construction Company reserves the right to utilize the following evaluation criteria when reviewing the bids that are submitted: A) Subcontractor’s experience | B) Manpower | C) Equipment D) Financial capability/performance history/litigation history | E) Price F) Ability to meet the construction schedule | G) Project Approach | H) Safety record I) MWBE Plan, refer to Section 16 in RFP The bid will be awarded to the subcontractor which is determined to be qualified under the evaluation criteria mentioned above and based upon the Scoring Criteria & Subcontractor Selection Sheet in Section 1 Instruction to Bidders. Turner Construction Company may have discussions with qualified subcontractors to clarify the bid that has been submitted and to assure full understanding of and responsiveness to the bid solicitation. Turner Construction Company may negotiate with subcontractors that have been determined to be qualified in order to obtain a final and best offer. However, negotiations shall not alter the original scope of work as defined in the contractor’s original bid documents as provided by Turner Construction Company. Turner Construction Company will select the subcontractor which is determined to be the most advantageous to the successful completion of the Project based upon the evaluation criteria set forth in Section 1 Instruction to Bidders and need not necessarily accept the lowest subcontractor. The subcontractor whose proposal is determined to be the most advantages to the successful, timely and efficient completion of the Project, taking into account the evaluation factors, shall be selected. Upon selection of a subcontractor, the subcontractor will be required to sign the contractor’s standard subcontract agreement.

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DEFENDER | APRIL 19 | 2018

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PROM WINNER

Devin Williams of Alief Taylor High School is the winner of the Defender Experience: Prom Edition which includes limo service and dinner for four (4) at a prominent Houston restaurant. Congratulations Devin!

Ieshia Champs and her five children are celebrating her upcoming graduation from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. The photo has gone viral.

Single mom of five earning TSU law degree Defender News Services

A single mother of five is showing that perseverance is key to bringing your dreams to fruition. Despite having the odds stacked against her, 33-year-old Ieshia Champs will receive her law degree in May and her graduation photo has swept the Internet. Champs will graduate Magna Cum Laude from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law. In her viral graduation photo, she proudly stands next to her five children as they hold up signs that bear the words “I helped” and “We did it.” For Champs, the photo serves as a visual representation of overcoming all of the obstacles that were put in her path. Those obstacles included being in foster care as a child, later dropping out of school and becoming a teen mom. When she was pregnant with her fourth child, leaders at Ministers for Christ Christian Center in Houston encouraged her to return to school and get her GED so that she could pursue her dream of being a lawyer. In 2009, she experienced a house fire, getting fired from her job, and losing the father of two of her children to cancer – all while she was pregnant. She continued to push through and focus on her family and education. She earned degrees from Houston Community College and the University of Houston in paralegal studies. Champs credits her children for helping her make it through law school.

Let us know what you think about any of our stories! JOIN THE DISCUSSION! DefenderNetwork DefenderNetwork DefenderNetwork

classified Engineering & Design Consultant Services RFQ

Houston First Corporation requests Statements of Qualification from experienced civil and structural engineering firms to provide professional services and develop design documents for improvements at the George R. Brown Convention Center necessitated by TxDOT’s I-69 project. Please visit https://www.houstonfirst.com/do-business for full details.

Invitation for Bids Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. is soliciting bids for subcontractors and vendors for construction of control no. 0389-05-116, ETC on SH 146 at Red Bluff Rd to North of SH 96 that bids on May 2, 2018. Mail, fax, or email quotations to Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc., 1701 Directors Blvd, Suite 1010, Austin, Texas 78744 fax: (512) 707-0798 email: bbiisw@bbiius.com. DBE/HUB contractors are encouraged to submit bids. Plans and specifications are available to be reviewed at TxDOT Plans On-line: http://bit.do/dBJ5G E.O.E. For information contact Brian Ficzeri at (512) 707-0797.

The HARRIS CENTER for Mental Health and IDD (formerly known as MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY) will be accepting proposals for the following:

TEMPORARY STAFFING SERVICES PHARMACISTS AND PHARMACY TECHNICIANS Specifications may be secured from The Harris Center, Purchasing Services located at 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7281, The Harris Center website www.theharriscenter.org or the Electronic State Business Daily Site https://portal.cpa.state.tx.us/ beginning Wednesday, April 25, 2018. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFP is Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Proposals must be submitted to Purchasing Services, 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 by 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 22, 2018 in a sealed envelope marked "PROPOSAL - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL – TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018, TEMPORARY STAFFING SERVICES – PHARMACISTS AND PHARMACY TECHNICIANS". Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to Frances Otto, Buyer II and Sharon Brauner, C.P.M., Buyer III, via E-mail to frances.otto@theharriscenter.org cc: sharon.brauner@theharriscenter.org or fax at (713) 970-7682. 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.

Notice to Bid SpawGlass Construction Corp., Construction-Manager-at-Risk, is soliciting for subcontractor and supplier bids from qualified companies including Minority/Women Business Enterprises (MWBEs) for the Northside Health Center Renovation Project, located at 8504 Schuller Road, Houston, TX 77093. The project scope of work will consist of: Concrete (MED pads and Light Poles only), Metal Framing, Architectural Woodwork, Millwork, Thermal & Moisture Protection, Doors and Windows, Interior and Exterior Finishes, Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Security, Signage, Site Furnishings and Earthwork (Asphalt Paving). There will be an MWBE Outreach Event @ 1:00 PM Friday, April 20, 2018 immediately followed by a Mandatory Site Walk at the project site 8504 Schuller Road, Houston, TX 77093. Last day to submit RFIs will be Monday April 23, 2018 at 4:00 PM. Bids will be received until 2:00 PM on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. No proposals will be accepted after 2:00 PM. Bids can be faxed to 281-517-8282 or emailed to hou.estimating@spawglass.com. Questions regarding bonding, insurance requirements, or scope can be directed to Keith Girard, keith.girard@spawglass.com or Trey Daniel, trey.daniel@spawglass.com or phone 281-970-5300. Bid documents are available for review through iSqFt website (www.isqft.com) or upon request at SpawGlass' office located at 13800 West Road, Houston, TX 77041. City of Houston certified Minority/Women Business Enterprises are encouraged to bid.

The HARRIS CENTER for Mental Health and IDD (formerly known as MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY) will be accepting proposals for the following: RFP DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT (EHR/RCM) Specifications may be secured from The Harris Center, Purchasing Services located at 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; telephone (713) 970-7279, The Harris Center website www.theharriscenter.org or the Electronic State Business Daily Site https://portal.cpa.state.tx.us/ beginning Monday, April 23, 2018. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFP is Monday, April 30, 2018. Proposals must be submitted to Purchasing Services, 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 by 10:00 a.m., Monday, May 14, 2018 in a sealed envelope marked "PROPOSAL DO NOT OPEN UNTIL – MONDAY, MAY 14, 2018, RFP DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT (EHR/RCM)". Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing to Sharon Brauner, C.P.M., Buyer III and Nina Cook, MBA, CTPM, CPPB, Purchasing Manager via E-mail to sharon.brauner@theharriscenter.org cc: nina.cook@theharriscenter.org or fax at (713) 970-7682. 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.

The HARRIS CENTER for Mental Health and IDD (formerly known as MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL RETARDATION AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY) will be accepting proposals for the following:

PERSONNEL BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION SERVICES Specifications may be secured from The Harris Center, Purchasing Services located at 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074; teleThe Harris Center website phone (713) 970-7304, www.theharriscenter.org or the Electronic State Business Daily Site https://portal.cpa.state.tx.us/ beginning Thursday April 26, 2018. Pre-Proposal Conference scheduled for Thursday, May 3, 2018, 11:00 a.m., 9401 Southwest Freeway. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFP is Friday, May 11, 2018. Proposals must be submitted to Purchasing Services, 9401 SW Freeway, Houston, Texas 77074 by 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 24, 2018 in a sealed envelope marked "PROPOSAL - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL – THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018, “PERSONNEL BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION SERVICES”. Any questions pertaining to this solicitation should be addressed in writing attn: Marguarette Washington, Senior Buyer and Sharon Brauner, C.P.M., Buyer III, via E-mail to marguarette.washington@theharriscenter.org cc sharon.brauner@theharriscenter.org. The Harris Center reserves all rights to reject any and/or all responses to this proposal, to waive formalities and reasonable irregularities in submitted documents as it deems to be in its best interest, and is not obligated to accept the lowest proposal.

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APRIL 19 | 2018| DEFENDER

Pregnant woman competes in triathlon to promote health Defender News Services

What began as a desire to run 5K races throughout her pregnancy has grown into a love of completing longer and more challenging races for Dr. Alexia McClerkin. McClerkin is training to complete two races before the end of her pregnancy in June: the Divas Half Marathon Galveston on April 22 and the Bubble Run on May 26. “Initially, I started doing the races as a personal goal for myself to complete throughout my pregnancy,” McClerkin said. “Then it became a personal competition to see how I could do better than the last race, and my times started dropping. When that happened, it was motivation to push myself and go a farther distance.”. The chiropractor also serves as the official doctor of the Houston Roller Derby, educating women on various health and wellness topics related to pregnancy through her nonprofit, 9 Months of 5K. She hopes that her efforts will help inspire others. “When I would post on social media about my races and my times, people started messaging me about how I inspired them to go out and be active,” she said. “People would always say to me, ‘If she’s pregnant and doing this, so can I.’ The biggest thing that I have taken from this movement aside from staying fit throughout my pregnancy is motivating others; not just pregnant women, but women of all ages, and surprisingly, men. It has been worth every step and I plan to continue until my body says ‘no ma’am.’”

Chiropractor Dr. Alexia McClerkin is pregnant and physically active.

Some Spurs fans choose between team, president Texas Tribune

Sports fandom in 2018 can be complicated, particularly when athletes and coaches have no qualms about espousing their political views. For years, national politics either weren’t relevant in the sports world, or sports figures made a concerted effort to steer clear. But as athletes and coaches have become increasingly vocal on political and social issues, some fans have seen their ideological loyalties at war with their sporting interests. Since the presidential campaign, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has shared his disdain for President Donald Trump. He has called the United States “an embarrassment to the world” and the president a “soulless coward” and a “pathological liar.” The veteran coach is disgusted by comments he called “xenophobic, homophobic, racist, misogynistic” – “and I live in a country where half the people ignored all that to elect someone. That’s the scariest part of the whole thing to me,” he said after the election. That’s a lot to process, especially for those who consid-

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich (left) is an outspoken critic of President Trump.

ered themselves both Spurs fans and Trump supporters. While the city might lean blue, many of the surrounding communities and certainly the state as a whole are reliably conservative. While Hillary Clinton won 53.7 percent of the vote in Bexar County in 2016 (compared with Trump’s 40.4 percent),

there are a half-dozen military bases around San Antonio and no shortage of fans who felt Popovich personally attacked them and their views. “I often curse Pop for doing what he did,” said Bob Mulherin, a Spurs fan for more than 25 years. “He insulted more than half of the Spurs’ fan base, and no sign whatsoever of an apology.” Mulherin said Spurs games were once a family affair, but his wife and son want nothing to do with the team now. “It is sad that Pop basically told my wife and my son and me for that matter that we were fools for supporting Donald Trump,” he said. “What happens when someone calls you a fool? You avoid them.” Popovich seems unfazed by any backlash his commentary has spurred. “The organization has never said anything about any opinion that I might have,” he said. “Not one time.” The Spurs declined to comment on any effect Popovich’s comments have had on the team or its fan base, but others have noticed at least a minimal impact. Jason Minnix has been around the team for 20 years and hosts the afternoon drivetime show “The Blitz” on ESPN San Antonio radio. He said he has heard of fans canceling season tickets and sponsors bailing on the team.

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DEFENDER | APRIL 19 | 2018

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sports

Barkley, Griffin plan to fulfill NFL draft dreams

Saquon Barkley

By MAX EDISON Defender

The NFL draft begins on April 26 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The draft is a three-day activity where college players can fulfill a lifelong dream – playing professional football. With so much interest placed on the quarterback position (five QBs are projected to go in the first round), often, the best NFL prospects based on pure athletic ability are overlooked. Two of those prospects this year are Penn State running back Saquon Barkley and Central Florida linebacker Shaquem Griffin. ESPN draft experts Mel Kiper and Barkley, a Penn State running back, is the 2018 NFL draft’s top prospect. Todd McShay both agree that Barkley Griffin was born with amniotic band syndrome affectis the top college prospect in the 2018 draft. At 6-feet, 233 ing his left hand, causing his fingers not to fully develop. At pounds, Barkley passes the eye test. He is a total-package age 4, his mother found him in the kitchen, attempting to back who ran for 3,843 yards and 43 touchdowns and caught use a butcher’s knife to self-amputate his fingers due to the 102 passes for 1,195 yards in three seasons. pain. His parents scheduled an amputation the next day. Barkley is described as an explosive runner with a rare Griffin was a two-year starter at Central Florida and combination of size, speed, body control and competitiveness. a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection He displays bursts to turn the corner and runs away from Shaquem Griffin in each of those seasons. In 2016 he was the league’s pursuit when he catches daylight. He has the lateral quickness Defensive Player of the to make defenders miss in the hole and on the second level. Year with 92 tackles, 11.5 He shows good vision and patience running between the sacks, an interception and tackles in addition to a good feel for cutback lanes and open two forced fumbles. (His field instincts. Barkley takes care of the football. His career twin brother Shaquill also fumble percentage (0.5 percent) on offensive touches is excel- played at Central Florida lent and he didn’t fumble once despite 271 offensive touches and is a Seattle Seahawks in 2017. cornerback). Barkley put on a clinic at the NFL scouting combine. He At the combine, ran 4.4 seconds in the 40, bench-pressed 225 pounds 29 times Shaquem Griffin continued and his vertical was 41 inches. Despite the effort he doesn’t to blow scouts away with want the combine to define him. his overall ability. He used “I’m over this stage, running in shorts and sweatshirts,” a prosthetic hand to help Barkley said. “That’s cool and all, but I’m not a combine guy. put up 20 reps in the bench I want you to throw on the film and I want to show that I’m a press and then clocked a football player.” time of 4.38 seconds in the Barkley doesn’t spend a lot of time worrying about the 40, the fastest of any linedraft. backer in the history of “The draft is unpredictable, as you guys know,” he said. the combine. He initially Griffin, a Central Florida star linebacker (right), has defied odds by playing with one arm. “Whatever team drafts me, I’ll be truly excited. It’s an honor. wasn’t invited to the I don’t think about getting my name called number one. I just combine. NFL. He’s expected to be drafted in round think about getting my name called, period. That’s a moment At 6-feet, 227 pounds, Griffin has the abilthree. that you think about for the rest of your life. Whether you ity to play linebacker as well as safety. He has After his recent pro day workout, Griffin play two years or 12 years in the league, no one can take that physical limitations due to his hand amputadiscussed how far he’s come in the pre-draft from you.” tion, including getting off blocks and wrapprocess. For comparable reasons scouts are buzzing about lineping up as a tackler. But he’s fast, athletic and “I was a guy who was under the radar who backer Shaquem Griffin. If you’re not familiar with Griffin, instinctive enough to contribute on special they didn’t believe in at first but I feel like he’s the one-handed linebacker. teams and as a sub-package defender in the they’re starting to believe now,” he said.

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h.s.zone Northside star Maldonado follows in family footsteps By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender

Marissa Maldonado didn’t have to search far for motivation or inspiration to become an outstanding high school softball player. “My dad played baseball in high school, my older brother played baseball and I have an older cousin who played softball and earned a scholarship to college,” said Maldonado, a senior all-district shortstop and Offensive Player of the Year selection at Houston’s Northside High School. “It’s the sport that my family played and I’ve been playing softball since I was four years old. It has always been my dream to play and try to get a scholarship to college,” she said. Maldonado went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, a two-run home run, an RBI double and a RBI groundout to help propel Northside past Milby 12-8 and clinch a playoff berth out of District 20-5A. Teammate Lanie Amaro added a two-run triple and a bases-loaded walk as Northside improved to 9-3 in league play. “Marissa is a natural leader and she takes pride in working with some of our younger players,” said Northside head coach Will Warner. “She develops them and really drives them. She has a passion for softball and instills those values for the younger kids to see. “Having that kind of experience on the field has helped lead us to the playoffs and we’re really excited about that,” Warner said. “She hit the big home run tonight to help us win. We’re lucky to have Marissa on our team.” Maldonado, who attends the High School for Law and Justice and plays for the school she’s zoned to (Northside), had to rebound from a substantial injury suffered early in her high school career. “I tore the ACL in my knee late freshman/ early sophomore year so I was out for six-anda-half months and missed most of the season,” she said. “Since then I’ve done my physical therapy and strived to come back even stronger so that I can work for a scholarship.” “It’s my senior year and it’s amazing to qualify for the playoffs so that my team can

About Marissa Maldonado

Birth date – July 22, 2000 Birth sign – Cancer Favorite subject– Math Favorite food – Honey barbecue chicken strip sandwich World problem she would solve – Allow immigrants to seek a better life.

keep on going,” Maldonado said. “We have a strong team with great players and some of them are young so it’s an opportunity to show them how to improve for the future.” With two all-district selections and an Offensive POY award already in her hip pocket, Maldonado has been offered a softball scholarship to attend Laredo Community College. “It’s a two-year college so it’s not a four-year commitment,” she said. “It has the program I want for law enforcement and criminal justice. I want to pursue a career in law enforcement and they have a great program there. “I can also continue doing what I love and that’s play softball. That’s always been my dream since I was little,” Maldonado said.

APRIL 19 | 2018 | DEFENDER

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sportsbriefs Verlander Player of Week Astros pitching ace Justin Verlander was named MLB American League Player of the Week for the week of April 9-15. During the week, Verlander posted a 1-0 record and had a 0.60 ERA in his two starts. He struck out 20 in 15 innings pitched, allowing just five hits and two walks for an opponent batting average of .100. Verlander is off to a great start on the 2018 season, posting a 2-0 record and a 1.35 ERA in his first four starts of the season. This marks the seventh career AL Player of the Week award Verlander has earned. His last was in the 2012 season. Three Astros won AL Player of the Week awards in 2017: George Springer, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa.

Rockets team up The Houston Rockets and BBVA are teaming up to present the BBVA Compass Small Business Opportunity Contest. The contest gives small business owners a chance to submit their entry, detailing the nature of their operation, how they give back to the community and what they would do with the winnings in order to grow their business. The winning business will be awarded $10,000, lunch with Rockets executives and consultation sessions with bank and Rockets representatives. Other prizes include tickets to a future Rockets games next season and social media promotions on bank and team channels. For businesses to submit entries go to: nba.com/rockets/smallbusiness.

Wisdom, Elsik go to state HISD’s Wisdom High School boys’ soccer team punched its ticket to the Class 5A state tournament for the second time in five years with a 2-1 victory over Huntsville in the Region III-5A championship game at Turner Stadium. Senior Eduardo Salgado scored both goals, including the game-winner in the 73rd minute off a header. Wisdom trailed 1-0 when Salgado registered his first goal of the day in the 36th minute. Wisdom defeated A&M Consolidated 2-0 a day earlier in the region semifinals with Salgado accounting for both goals to finish with four in the regional tournament. Huntsville held off Waltrip 2-1 in the other 5A semifinal. Wisdom will face Aledo in the 5A state semifinals. “We’re resilient,” said Generals coach Fidel Andrade. Alief Elsik, the No. 1-ranked boys’ high school soccer team in the country according to USA Today, advanced to the Class 6A state tournament following a 2-1 win over Strake Jesuit in the regional title game at Abshire Stadium. Jose Umana and Layee Kromah scored for the Rams, who will draw Irving in this weekend’s 6A state semifinals. Local girls’ teams advancing to state include Memorial, Cinco Ranch and Kingwood Park.

Coaching vacancies exist

There have been 30 high school football head coaching vacancies in the Houston area this offseason and five of those jobs remain open. Klein Collins, Waltrip, Angleton, Cypress Springs and Stratford are still in search of head coaches. Jobs that have recently been filled include Kevin Hall at Manvel, Jim Rapp at The Woodlands and Klay Kubiak at Strake Jesuit.

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DEFENDER | APRIL 19 | 2018

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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com

topevents

HOUSTON BLACK LEADERSHIP FORUM……..The Greater Houston Alane Lillie, Sherry Browning, Paris Eley, Laurie Vignaud, Latoya Sadler, Black Chamber and the National Black MBA Association recently hosted its Rev. Reginald Lillie, Cynthia Cisneros, Dasean Jones, Carmen Watkins, 8th Annual Houston Black Leadership Forum featuring guest speaker Terry Carl Davis, Dr. Carolyn Jones Shabazz and many others..…….. ZETA PHI Watson. Watson’s message focused on “Moving the Needle for our Community BETA 70th ANNIVERSARY GALA……...The distinguished ladies of Zeta Through Black Excellence,” a word that spoke to the hearts and minds of Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. held their 70th Anniversary Gala featuring special guest attendees that included GHBC President Jeffrey D. Wallace, Courtney speaker Sheryl Underwood, the sorority’s 23rd international grand president. Johnson Rose, Errol Allen, Anthony Freddie, Vince Ryan, Maya Thornton, The Gamma Omega Zeta Chapter welcomed Breakfast Klub owner Marcus Maria Artiola, Jerome Love, Xavier Samuels, Jasmine Davis who served as the master of ceremonies for the event Turner, MC Khambrel Marshall and others……..LET’S that raised funds for scholarships. Along with a dinner and Defender TOP EVENTS entertainment, and the traditional Marching of the Doves, TALK NAACP……..The NAACP Houston Branch hosted More photos on defendernetwork.com its quarterly community gathering, Let’s Talk NAACP. attendees were inspired by the words of the one-of-aThis quarter’s event featured national NAACP President kind Underwood, a comedian, television host and actress. Derrick Johnson, Houston Branch President Dr. James Attendees included chapter President Dr. Sally Wickers, Douglas, NAACP Texas President Gary Bledsoe, and moderator Chauncey Sandra Phillips, Stacie Willis, Shayla and Aquila McGrew, Danielle Glover. Voter suppression, immigration reform, the current toxic political Christian, Kelcey McClatchie, Cherise Taylor, Dr. Tiffany Wilson, Nakishee climate, police brutality and much more were discussed by the packed house McGee, Bernadette Plummer, James and Margie Smith, Grace Woods, at Emancipation Park. Attendees included Yolanda Smith, Twila Dotson, Jessica Barnum and many more.

Errol Allen, Courtney Johnson Rose, Terry Watson, Jeffrey D. Wallace

Derrick Johnson, Gary Bledsoe

Sheryl Underwood, Diana Jordan

Maya Thornton, Maria Artiola

Carmen Watkins, Carl Davis, Laurie Vignaud

Marcus Davis, Dr. Sally Wickers

Jerome Love, Xavier Samuels, Khambrel Marshall

Yolanda Smith, Cynthia Cisneros

Danielle Christian, Kelcey McClatchie

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