05.07.2026_Defender-e-FULL

Mama's Lessons What our mothers taught us

NEWS

PROFILE

DR. JOE SAMUEL RATLIFF

KARLA BROWN

The Brentwood Baptist Church longstanding pastor has announced his retirement.

Volume 95, issue 29 May 7, 2026

facebook.com/defendernetwork twitter.com/defendernetwork

The longtime educator balances teaching and advocacy.

instagram.com/defendernetwork defendernetwork.com

FREE

2 | May 7, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN To the POINT CONCERTS While the office is technically nonpartisan, Quentin Wiltz was endorsed by the Brazoria County Democratic Party.

His opponent, Tony Carbone, was endorsed by several Republicans.

THEATER

Message from the Managing Editor GOSPEL

GALAS

Yeah, we have a calendar for Black Events.

check it out

But here’s the thing: We’ve never relied solely on the system to save us. The call now Pearland just made history. The elecis for collective action — not just showing tion of Quentin Wiltz as the city’s first up at the polls, but staying engaged in the Black mayor is significant on its face, process between elections. That means paybut the deeper story is what it represents ing attention to local races, understanding about a changing political and cultural redistricting battles, supporting advocacy landscape in a suburb long considered groups, and yes, using the same energy reliably conservative. Yes, the race was we bring to everything else in our lives to technically nonpartisan, but let’s not preprotect our rights. Because if history has tend party backing didn’t matter. Wiltz, taught us anything, it’s this: rights aren’t just ReShonda Tate supported by Democrats, edged out his taken — they’re often surrendered through opponent in a close race that drew national attention — not silence. And we can’t afford that. because of the margin, but because of the message.

In a county where Donald Trump carried a commanding What the Spirit Airlines closure signals majority just months ago, this outcome suggests something When a major airline like Spirit shuts down, it’s easy to more nuanced is happening on the ground. Voters are not think of it as just another business story — a company that always moving in lockstep with party expectations. They’re couldn’t keep up. But for many travelers, especially those responding to candidates, to messaging, to who they believe who rely on low-cost carriers, this is about access. For all will actually listen. And while turnout was low — just 13% of it’s negativity, Spirit was an option for many low-income — the implications are high. This wasn’t just about flipping flyers. And for some, it was the only option. a seat. It was about shifting perception. Pearland didn’t just The closure raises bigger questions about affordability in elect a mayor; it expanded the idea of who can lead in spaces travel and who gets left behind when those options disapthat haven’t always reflected the diversity of the people who pear. Budget airlines have long been criticized for fees and live there. The question now isn’t just what this means for no-frills service, but they also opened the skies to people Pearland — it’s whether this signals a broader shift across who otherwise couldn’t afford to fly. Without them, we risk suburban Texas. returning to a system where travel becomes less accessible, more exclusive.

What the SCOTUS ruling means There’s also the ripple effect — jobs lost, routes elimifor Black Voting Rights nated, and increased pressure on other airlines that may Let’s be clear: What we’re witnessing from the Supreme not be equipped or inclined to fill the gap at the same price Court is not just a court decision — it’s a continued unrav- point. For a city like Houston, where travel is tied to busieling. SCOTUS’s 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais didn’t ness, family, and opportunity, this matters. happen in a vacuum. It’s part of a steady erosion of the VotAt its core, this isn’t just about one airline. It’s about what ing Rights Act, one of the most hard-fought and hard-won happens when affordability disappears from essential serprotections in this country’s history. And once again, Black vices. Because whether we’re talking about flights, housing, voters are at the center of what’s being lost. or healthcare, the pattern is the same: When costs go up and The majority opinion, authored by Justice Samuel Alito, options go down, the impact isn’t felt equally. And that’s a reframes fairness in a way that ignores lived reality. It leans conversation we need to keep having — on the ground and into a version of constitutional interpretation that sounds at 30,000 feet. neutral but has very real, very unequal consequences. At stake are the maps that determine representation — who On the Web gets a voice, and who gets diluted into political silence. We’ve • OpEd: Can we care about our rights as much as we care seen this before. Every time protections are weakened, the about celeb drama? burden shifts back to communities to fight — harder, longer, • Five trends that Black women created. and with fewer tools.

• Terrance’s Take dives into the Texans minicamp.

A historic shift in Pearland signals more than a win

May 7, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 3

DN News BRENTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH

Dr. Joe Samuel Ratliff retires after decades of service

By ReShonda Tate

HISD Superintendent Mike Miles plans to convert two elementary schools into Future 2 K-8 campuses in 202627, integrating hands-on AI-focused learning each afternoon. Credit: Houston ISD Foundation

CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP

HISD bets on AI

By Tannistha Sinha

Superintendent Mike Miles said the Houston Independent School District is improving rapidly, but the future demands more skill-based transformation.

During the Houston ISD Foundation’s 2026 State of the District luncheon, Miles pointed to academic gains over the past two years.

Nearly 500 community leaders and partners raised more than $480,000 to “accelerate student achievement, support and retain outstanding educators, and expand pathways to college and career.”

“We fundamentally changed in just two years,” Miles said, citing that in two years, HISD went from 93 A and B-rated schools to 197. “That’s why we have a goal to have only A and B-rated campuses at the end of the following year. That’s not a pipe dream.”

Miles framed those gains as part of a broader effort to dismantle what he called a long-standing “zip code destiny” problem, which explains that a child’s academic outcomes are predicted by where they live.

Closing the achievement gap for Black and Brown students

Miles also highlighted gains in closing the achievement gap for Black and Hispanic students in HISD, using NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association) MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) data as an example.

He noted that in 2023, these students were starting well below national averages, but through the state’s intervention efforts, Black students grew by 13% in just two years in the median achievement

percentile in math.

Miles said Hispanic students showed comparable growth.

“The intervention has not hurt, despite some people out there, our highest performing kids,” he said. “Our highest performing kids are doing even better. But we have a long way to go. Not only do we have to close the achievement gap, but we have to get kids ready for the year 2035.”

Miles added that education today needs more than the ability to read and write.

He argued that the need is driven by the rise of artificial intelligence and the shift in workforce demands.

To build those skills, HISD has already introduced new instructional models.

“If you’re in my circles with former superintendents and other educators, a lot of people are talking about…It’s great that we’re transforming the school system. What are we doing to get ready for an AI-enabled world?” he said. “What is our responsibility for the kids? Is it just reading, writing, math, science? Is that our charge?”

AI-driven learning

To prepare students for an AI-driven world, he said HISD is expanding career and technical education (CTE) programs, including new investments in fields like cybersecurity, drones, and healthcare, as well as new CTE campuses set to break ground in the coming months.

A part of that effort is what Miles described as the “next evolution” of the district’s controversial reform model, the New Education System, into Future 2 schools.

These campuses will pair academic instruction in the morning with hands-on, realworld learning experiences in the afternoon.

Two schools, Gregg and Clemente Martinez elementary schools, will be converted to Future 2, K-8 campuses in the 2026-27 school year, as part of HISD’s consolidation plan. Students here will take courses focused on AI tools.

Miles acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead.

Despite academic gains, only about 17% of HISD graduates are currently earning a living wage, which he said underscores the urgency of preparing students for longterm economic success.

“Meeting this moment takes more than public funding alone,” said Miles, thanking the partnership with the HISD Foundation.

He also warned that broader trends, like the expansion of private school options and homeschooling, could further fragment public education and widen inequality, particularly for underserved students.

“More than 80% of students in this country attend traditional public schools and about 10% attend private schools, and the rest attend charter schools,” said HISD Foundation CEO Janicca Garcia.

“Yet, when you look at the outcomes, students who attend private schools are more likely to enroll in college, complete it, and ultimately earn more over their lifetimes.

And that raises an important question for us all. If the vast majority of students attend public schools, why weren’t public schools designed to provide every student with the same opportunities, supports, and resources to achieve the same outcomes?”

After years of spiritual leadership, community service and unwavering commitment to his congregation, Brentwood Baptist Church minister Dr. Joe Samuel Ratliff is stepping down, marking the end of an era for one of Houston’s longstanding faith leaders.

Ratliff, who has served as a guidi ng pre s e nc e at Brentwood Baptist Church for decades, announced his retirement to the congregation in recent weeks. His departure comes after a minis- Dr. Joe Ratliff try defined not only by preaching, but by outreach, mentorship and a deep investment in the surrounding community.

“After prayerful reflection and consultation with our leadership, I have decided to retire as Senior Pastor. During my time of illness over the past fourteen months, I have experienced God’s grace in profound ways. I am deeply grateful for your prayers, love, and unwavering support. The church stands on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, and I am confident Brentwood will continue to grow in unity and purpose. May the Lord bless you, keep you, and guide us forward. Brentwood will always remain the church where Christ is the main attraction,” he said in a statement.

Throughout his tenure, Ratliff became known for his steady leadership and his ability to connect faith with real-life challenges facing families in the community. From counseling parishioners through personal hardships to leading initiatives that addressed social and economic needs, his ministry extended far beyond the pulpit.

Church members say his impact has been both personal and lasting.

“Dr. Ratliff has been a fantastic generous leader at Brentwood. His legacy will live on and I’m grateful to have been a part of it for 44 incredible years,” said longtime member Jackie Fitzpatrick.

Under Ratliff ’s leadership, Brentwood Baptist Church expanded its role as a community anchor, hosting programs focused on youth development, education and outreach.

Read more about his retirement.

4 | May 7, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN News

What U.S. Dist. 18 voters want

By Aswad Walker

Local and national attention is fixed on the Democratic Primary runoff for U.S. Congressional District 18, where Congressman Christian Menefee faces Congressman Al Green. Regardless of who wins the right to face Republican Ronald Whitfield in November, residents are signaling that this race is about more than personalities— it is about priorities and accountability in a community facing urgent challenges.

Shaped by Travis McGee history—and redistricting The race follows a unique trajectory: Menefee recently won a special election to complete the term of the late Sylvester Turner. He now faces Green, a long-time representative of Dis- Joselyn Thomas trict 9 who was redrawn into District 18, where a majority of his constituents reside thanks to Republican-initiated state redistricting. While the runoff is a major political signal, voters are focused on whether the winner will finally confront long-standing local issues.

Infrastructure and flooding Infrastructure remains the most pressing concern. Travis McGee, an activist in Sunnyside and South Park, identified drainage as a top priority.

“Voters… want more funding for drainage,” McGee said, noting that flooding occurs “every other day… not just from storms.” He emphasized that “prehistoric infrastructure… due to decades of neglect… has to be updated.”

Joselyn Thomas of the Museum Park Neighborhood Association agreed, noting that rapid development has dangerously altered water flow.

“Once it rains, our whole lives are impacted,” said Thomas.

Environmental justice and public health Environmental hazards further burden the district. McGee pointed to an overconcentration of landfills and concrete plants contributing to poor air quality. Residents are calling for stricter federal regulation and long-term planning to protect the health of historically Black and working-class neighborhoods.

Crime prevention and housing On public safety, the call is for “prevention before detention.”

McGee advocates for vocational and trade programs to provide community stability.

Similarly, housing remains a flashpoint as gentrification intensifies. Residents are

Source: https://dvr.capitol.texas.gov/Congress/0/PLANC2308.

demanding “real affordable housing programs” and development that includes current residents rather than displacing them.

Food access and sustainability Chef Aubrey McCoy of Villa Kitchen highlighted the district’s struggle with food insecurity.

“A lot of people here… go hungry, and there’s a lot of food waste,” McCoy said.

He called for community-rooted networks and urban growing spaces to establish self-sufficiency.

Transparency and trust Across every issue lies a demand for responsive leadership.

“We would like transparency… and responsiveness,” noted Thomas, regarding basic services.

Artist Anthony Suber echoed this, stating, “People want someone they can trust. There are so many promises… and then it doesn’t get done.”

Source: https://dvr.capitol.texas.gov/Congress/0/PLANC2308. Created via Gemini AI.

Power and potential CD 18 is a multiracial district, containing sizeable Black (45.4%) and Latino (33.1%) populations. CD 18 is also made up of Anglo (13.5%) and Asian (8.6%) residents. CD 18 holds a massive Black political

Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

VOLUME 95, NUMBER 29 - MAY 7, 2026

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender News- paper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2025 copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher.

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

Managing Editor ReShonda Tate

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

legacy, encompassing the Third Ward, Fifth Ward, Kashmere Gardens, Sunnyside, and South Park. New neighborhoods in CD 18 include Hiram Clarke and parts of Fort Bend County, including Briargate and Chasewood. Acres Homes, a longtime CD 18 stronghold, is no longer part of the district.

The district represents one of the largest ecoAubrey McCoy systems of Black entrepreneurship in Texas, yet capital access gaps persist, and business survival rates lag due to systemic barriers.

City, county, and federal roles McGee noted that Anthony Suber many of the issues listed by CD 18 residents (flooding, housing, etc.) are first tackled at the city and county level. Still, he contends that a large portion of the funding for such issues, including public safety initiatives, came from funds secured by past CD 18 representatives.

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

May 7, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 5

DN Feature

Black mothers Bear burden of Postpartum Depression

By Laura Onyeneho

What is postpartum depression?

Carmen Knight Myles did not recognize Postpartum depression is a moderherself after her son was born. The Houston ate-to-severe mood disorder that can occur social innovator and digital creator, already immediately following delivery or up to a adjusting to new motherhood alone in a year after giving birth. Its symptoms extend new city during the height of the COVID- far beyond sadness and can include per19 pandemic, found herself staring at a sistent irritability, withdrawal from family, closet full of clothes that no longer fit a obsessive anxiety, difficulty bonding with body, or a self she no longer recognized. a newborn, and in serious cases, suicidal “I was really struggling with figuring ideation. out who this new person was. I felt like I Dawnestel Fodeibou, an international didn’t know myself,” said Myles, founder board-certified lactation consultant and of Mama Khronicles and a certified post- a certified public health professional with partum doula. “But I did not know how to the Harris County Public Health Maternal explain that to anyone.” and Child Health Program, has spent 12 Her silence was not weakand a half years working at the intersecness. For Black mothers in tion of infant feeding and maternal Houston and across the well-being. She knows that postcountry, that silence partum depression does not is a symptom of culalways announce itself clearly, tural stigma, systemic and that for Black mothers, it neglect, and a health rarely looks the way popular care system that has culture suggests. long failed to see them “It can show up in a lot of fully. different ways. Sometimes it’s Postpartum depression detachment. Sometimes it’s obsesis the most common complisive behaviors,” Fodeibou said. “We’re Carmen cation of childbirth, affecting Knight Myles looking at body language, the willingapproximately one in eight ness to participate in the care of oneself women in the United States, and in the care of the baby. It’s not so according to the Centers much the presence of stress. It’s how for Disease Control and it’s being managed.”

Prevention. Yet close Fodeibou personally experito 60% never receive enced a late pregnancy loss and treatment. Research a premature delivery during from the Maternal her first year in the field. She Mental Health Leaddescribed how her own grief ership Alliance and the deepened her resolve and her Icahn School of Mediclinical sensitivity. She recalls precine at Mount Sinai states paring to return to work after losing that Black women are twice as Dawnestel her son and wrestling with whether she likely as white women to experi- Fodeibou could face new mothers while managing ence postpartum mental health her own grief. Her faith, her family, and conditions, and half as likely to a determination to prevent other mothreceive care. ers from suffering alone carried her In Harris County, the forward. crisis is not a statistical abstraction. Public The weight of the cape health data show the Carleigh Joseph-Olivas county’s Black materentered this space almost by nal mortality rate accident. A licensed clinical reached 83.4 pregsocial worker, doula, and mennancy-related deaths tal health therapist specializing in per 100,000 live births mothers in recovery, she describes between 2016 and 2020, a herself as having been called to perinaCarleigh figure that has drawn national Joseph-Olivas tal work since childhood. The recovery attention and placed Houston space, however, found her. at the center of an urgent and long-overdue What she sees in her practice confirms conversation. that the “strong Black woman” trope is a clinical obstacle.

“We are strong, we are

BY THE Black women, we can overNUMBERS come anything. We handle the hard things,” Joseph-Olivas said. “And we often handle them alone. It’s almost women like a badge of honor to wear the superhero cape all experience the time. And then postparpostpartum tum, I am like, take it off. depression Take it off.”

She teaches her clients about postpartum care traditions from other cultures, of women in particular the first 40 days with PPD never observed in several counreceive treatment tries across Africa and Asia, during which a new mother’s feet are not expected to touch the ground. Meals are more likely prepared, the baby is held, Black women vs. and the mother is restored white women in body and spirit. to experience “It blows their minds,” postpartum Joseph-Olivas said. “They’re mental health like, well, that is not what it conditions is here. I got six weeks to get it together, and I have to go back to work. Because if I don’t pay these bills, who less likely else is going to pay them?”

Black women to A 2024 Health Affairs receive treatment study found that even after compared to white controlling for clinical facwomen tors, Black women consistently faced disparities in diagnosis and treatment access for perinatal mood disorders.

Joseph-Olivas urged families and community members to recognize the red Check out these flags that do not look like Houston-based sadness. Neglected hygiene. resources A mother consumed by guilt for taking an hour to get her hair done. A woman who sits among loved ones and still feels nothing.

“S ome t i me s we ignore the void,” she said. “She’s not crying, so there’s no postpartum depression there. But sometimes it’s just like I don’t Credit: feel anything.

CHATGPT So let’s pay

1 in 8

60% 2x

50%

attention to the wide range of signs that come.”

When there is no village

Myles, now nine months postpartum with her second child, launched a maternity support group called Mama Khronicles.

She had begun sharing her struggles on Instagram stories, the breast engorgement from a long commute back to work, the tears she could not explain to friends who did not yet have children.

She organized a meetup.

Four mothers at a park, no agenda, just conversation.

From that gathering grew a community of meetups, virtual events, and play dates.

She became a certified postpartum doula because her community kept asking questions she did not yet have the answers to.

Today, Mama Khronicles fills a gap the health care system leaves wide open.

“Community is important because motherhood is very isolating,” Myles said.

“And just by having other women to talk to who live in the same timeline as you, it makes so much of a difference.”

6 | May 7, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 7

DN InFocus

In

By ReShonda Tate

many Black households, motherhood has never been confined to biology. It is a legacy — shaped in kitchens, carried through conversations, and passed down in lessons that guide generations long after childhood ends.

Many women say those lessons — taught by mothers, grandmothers, aunties, and mentors — continue to shape how they live, parent, and move through the world.

“My mother taught me that God’s not going to hold you responsible for how people treat you, but He’s going to hold you responsible for how you treat other people,” said Ruby Larry. “So whatever you do, try and Ruby Larry treat everyone right.”

Those teachings, often rooted in faith and accountability, reflect a broader tradition in Black communities where mothers serve as both caregivers and cultural anchors — often doing so while navigating systemic challenges that shape how those lessons are formed in the first place.

Lessons in survival and independence For many, the guidance was practical, centered on discipline, financial stability, and self-sufficiency.

“Never spend all your money. If you only had a dollar, save a dime,” said Maurice Aurelle.

“Pay your bills first. There’s no play money if you owe on your bills that are necessary for your well-being,” said Jocelyn Dillard.

Vanessa Powell Pinnock said her mother’s example shaped her understanding of financial responsibility.

“She always lived below her means, saved and never seemed to run out of funds,” Pinnock said.

Others recalled lessons about independence that extended beyond finances.

“Get your own before you get it with a man,” said Jay Strand, describing advice her mother gave her early in life.

Cynthia Smalls said her mother emphasized education and discipline.

“The importance of education and the unmitigated value of independence,” she said.

“Both require discipline.”

Those lessons are often shaped by necessity.

According to the State of Motherhood: Black Mothering in America report, Black mothers are more likely to be heads of household and are about 20% less likely than white mothers to have a partner to share parenting responsibilities. Among younger mothers, the gap narrows — 87% of Black moms report having partners compared to 96% of white moms — but disparities remain.

Even so, researchers and advocates caution against framing single motherhood as synonymous with struggle.

As one analysis in the report notes, of the

Mama’s Lessons What Our Mothers Taught Us

Credit: Getty

When you’ve gained wisdom, it’s your responsibility to pass it on — whether people are ready to hear it or not.”

TAMI ALLEN Houston therapist, Allen Counseling Group, PLLC.

roughly 8 million single-mother households in the U.S., about one-third face poverty or food insecurity — but that still leaves millions of women successfully navigating parenting, careers, and households on their own terms.

The role of “other mothers” In many cases, those lessons did not come from a single source.

In Black communities, extended family and community figures often play a central role in raising children, a tradition sometimes called “other mothering.”

“Raise your children so other people will be able to love them too,” said Stephanie Bullock Ferguson, recalling her mother’s advice.

Vanessa Powell Pinnock said her mother’s example shaped her understanding of financial responsibility.

“She always lived below her means, saved and never seemed to run out of funds,” Pinnock said.

That communal approach is often not just cultural — it’s practical. The State of Motherhood report also found Stephanie that Black mothers are Bullock Ferguson less likely to rely on outside childcare than white mothers (66% compared to 83%), and when they do, they are less likely to receive enough coverage to support full-time work.

As a result, many families lean more heavily on informal networks — Tami Allen relatives, neighbors, and trusted community members — to fill the gaps.

Identity, boundaries, and self-worth Many women said the most lasting lessons centered on identity and self-worth.

Milika McCoy said her mother encouraged her to remain authentic during her teenage years.

“If I felt I had to change who I was to be friends with someone, they weren’t worthy of my friendship,” McCoy said.

Deborah Lewis said her mother taught her to be cautious in relationships.

“Trust should be earned, not freely given,” Lewis said. “Observe how people act instead of falling for their words.”

Other lessons focused on navigating social spaces.

“Move in silence. Silence speaks louder than words,” said Sabrena Harold.

“There’s a reason God gave you two ears and one mouth, so you can listen more than you speak,” said Kay Ford.

James E. Hudson said his mother warned him about gossip.

“A dog that will bring a bone will carry one back,” he said.

Evolving lessons across generations While many of these teachings remain consistent, some women say they are adapting what they learned to better reflect their own experiences and priorities.

Houston therapist Tami Allen said many Black families historically relied on unspoken, survival-based lessons — guidance rooted more in necessity than open conversation.

“There were just unspoken things that got passed down — like, make sure you keep some money on the side,” said Allen, who runs Allen Counseling Group, PLLC.. “But when it came to the bigger conversations — how to enter womanhood, how to prepare for your financial future, your career, relationships — those weren’t always talked about.”

For Allen, that gap meant learning many lessons the hard way.

“I honestly didn’t get a lot of lessons,” she said. “It’s been a school of hard knocks.”

Today, she believes that silence is exactly what needs to change.

Credit: ChatGPT

“I think it starts with getting uncomfortable and having the conversations,” Allen said. “We have to acknowledge that there’s a gap in communication — and then take responsibility for closing it.”

Drawing from both personal experience and her professional work, Allen said mentorship across generations is critical.

“One principle I live by is that older women are supposed to teach the younger women,” she said. “And we have to get more comfortable not worrying about how it’s received. When you’ve gained wisdom, it’s

your responsibility to pass it on — whether people are ready to hear it or not.”

That shift — from silent endurance to intentional teaching — reflects a broader generational evolution.

“What we’re seeing now is women trying to be more intentional,” Allen said. “Not just about survival, but about preparation — emotionally, financially, and relationally — in ways previous generations didn’t always have the space to do.”

That shift is reflected in broader data. The State of Motherhood report found that younger Black mothers are more likely than their white

counterparts to describe balancing career and motherhood as “empowering” and “optimistic,” and are slightly less likely to report burnout. At the same time, older Black mothers are significantly more likely to describe that balance as “frustrating,” highlighting generational differences in experience.

The emotional toll, however, remains.

“Even when we talk about legacy and strength, we also have to acknowledge the cost of that strength,” Allen said. “That’s why this generation is trying to redefine what it looks like.”

A legacy that endures For many, the lessons passed down by their mothers continue to shape their daily lives.

Lisa Dejoie said her mother’s guidance was rooted in faith.

“Mama always said, give it to God,” she said.

For others, the lessons remain a source of motivation.

Bestselling author William Fredrick Cooper said his mother’s final words continue to guide him.

“One of my mother’s biggest lessons was: Greatness is in you…

But you gotta figure it out,” he said.

Across generations, those lessons remain William Fredrick both personal and col- Cooper lective — a quiet inheritance carried into careers, relationships, and communities.

Many women say the legacy isn’t just what they were taught. It’s what they choose to pass on next.

“My mother may not be here physically, but everything she poured into me still is,” said Dionne Blacknell. “I carry her in the way I love, the way I lead, and the way I raise my daughters. Every lesson she gave me didn’t end with me — it lives on through them.

That’s how legacy works. It doesn’t stop. It continues.”

Read more life lessons.

8 | May 7, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature DATING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

RED FLAGS

By Laura Onyeneho

New Year’s Day is supposed to be a fresh start.

Triva Starks experienced a traumatic incident when her husband assaulted her while she was ill with the flu.

She had not gone out. She had not started an argument. Starks asked one question.

“Where have you been?” and that question put her life in danger. He beat her.

She recently posted the surveillance footage of the assault on Instagram, unedited and unfiltered. The internet watched in shock.

The Houston-area hairstylist, entrepreneur, and mother who goes by Nikki had been with viral sketch comedian Uncle Stanley Joe since she was 12. They had been married for 20 years. She knew his anger. She had learned to read his moods, to time her questions, to shrink herself to keep the peace. Triva “Nikki” Starks (Center) stayed in her abusive marriage for many None of it was enough that night. reasons, one being because of her children. Courtesy: Triva “Nikki” Starks “I always knew that I was going to eventually post the video to expose him,” Nikki said in an interview with the Defender Network.

Nikki’s message to survivors.

“And it was just not to expose him, it was also to help others who are dealing with domestic violence, and also to hold my feet to the fire to never go back.”

“Intimate partner violence, they’re required to turn over their income to The video Nikki posted was for many years, has typically the abuser,” Brown said. “So, just really exernot even the worst of it. It was disproportionately impacted cising power and control over the survivor. one of the “mildest” experiBlack women more than any Some of these are overlooked.” ences of abuse that she shared other demographic,” said Safe Horizon Vice President of Commuwith the public.

Chanica Brown, chief client nity and Digital Services Michele Richard Her story landed in the midservices officer at the Houston said physical escalation indicators are among dle of a month that has stunned Area Women’s Center (HAWC). the most dangerous and most overlooked. the country.

“This is just historically what we She identified stalking as a lethality escalator, Chanica Brown In April 2026 alone, Dr. Cerina see here at our residential campus.” including tracking devices hidden in vehicles Wanzer Fairfax, a Virginia dentist and In 2024, HAWC answered more or bags, shared passwords, and monitored mother of two, was killed by her estranged than 35,000 calls and more than 3,000 live phone activity. partner days after being awarded full custody chats. The center housed more than 900 sur“If two or more of these things are hapof their children. In Shreveport, La., a man vivors, including more than 400 children. pening at the same time, we urge survivors shot and killed eight children, seven of them to reach out to a service provider to talk his own, in what police called an entirely The warning signs through safety planning, especially if somedomestic incident. Coral Springs Vice Mayor most women miss one is considering leaving the relationship Nancy Metayer was tragically found shot to Experts say most fatal relationships have with kids.” death by her partner in her home. And the identifiable warning signs. Most survivors body counts continue to increase. were never taught to recognize them or were Why do survivors stay?

Black women across this country and conditioned to excuse them.

And why leaving is deadly right here in Houston are being killed by “The red flags that we most commonly The question survivors say they dread the men who share their beds, their children, see, the ones that are missed, really are sur- most is: “Why didn’t you just leave?” and their last names. And in most of those rounding power and control,” Brown said.

The answer is neither simple nor safe. cases, the signs were there long before the “Isolation is a big one. Isolation from fam“When you take the steps to leave, that is trigger was pulled. ily and friends, and that really tends to be a when you will end up murdered,” Nikki said According to the Institute for Women’s gradual progression.” plainly. She knows this firsthand. A cousin Policy Research (IWPR), over 40% of Black Brown described other hallmark behav- of hers was killed by her husband in Spring, women experience intimate partner violence iors, including constant criticism, financial Texas, after she sought a divorce. “So I’ve (IPV) in their lifetime, a rate significantly control, technology surveillance, and threats, seen domestic violence in my family, right higher than the roughly 31.5% for women whether directed at immigration status, chil- in front of me.” overall. This includes physical violence, dren, or a survivor’s employment.

Her daughters were the reason she stayed, sexual violence, and stalking by an intimate “And a lot of times we’ve seen too where and ultimately the reason she found the courpartner. the survivor has an income of their own, and age to leave.

“I want my daughters to be proud of me because I haven’t been a great example,” she said. “They kind of see me as a woman who’s not very strong when it comes to walking away from their dad in a very abusive situation and constantly putting them back in a cycle over and over and over again. I just want them, first of all, to trust me.”

Experts say the most dangerous time is when the survivor is leaving or has left.

Survivors leave and return to abusive relationships an average of seven times before leaving for good, with each departure carrying escalating risk. This is the time when the person causing harm is losing power over the survivor. If there is any time that a person is thinking about following through with femicide, the murder of a woman, it is that time.

Financial dependency is one of the most powerful barriers keeping women trapped.

“When I had no money, I knew for a fact that I could never leave him,” Nikki said. “What am I going to do? I don’t have the finances to provide for our children or myself.”

Nikki spent years quietly building financial independence as an entrepreneur, carefully assembling an exit plan while still in the marriage.

“I knew that I couldn’t leave without an exit plan. So I took years to build myself up as an entrepreneur and get my own money,” she said. “And once I got my own money, I was still there. But I didn’t know that my husband was not going to let me leave.”

Her advice to women facing financial dependency is to develop a plan for financial independence, such as saving money from an allowance or strategically managing bill payments. It is essential to develop an exit strategy, as financial dependence can lead to prolonged constraints.

Isolation, too, compounds the danger.

Nikki described projecting strength publicly while hiding abuse privately.

“Outside of the home, I’ve always tried to be this strong, courageous woman,” she said.

“People would say she was smiling through all of this, and we had no clue.”

The “strong Black woman” image is itself a barrier to survival. There is this stigma of being the strong, matriarchal person who holds the family together. Sometimes Black women feel the need to defend the family at all costs, which can mean protecting their partner.

Religion plays a significant and often silencing role. There might be some religious norms that may make it difficult culturally for Black women to feel like they can’t leave the domestic violence situation.

May 7, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 9

DN Profile

Karla Brown Born to educate, advocate

By Aswad Walker

Refreshing.

That’s the word that comes to mind when encountering someone whose impact is defined not by noise or self-promotion, but by humility, honor, and integrity.

In an era marked by hollow rhetoric and performative leadership, Karla Brown represents something far more enduring: quiet consistency, deep purpose, and service-driven action. Making a difference as an educator, nonprofit leader, and advocate isn’t something Brown performs. It’s simply who she is.

It turns out, she was made for this.

The 54-year-old native Houstonian from Sunnyside is a graduate of Worthing High School and Texas Southern University (TSU), with more than three decades of experience in education as both a classroom teacher and school administrator. This year, Brown is teaching kindergarten for the first time — a new assignment, but not a new mission.

For Brown, making a difference in people’s lives has always been the throughline, regardless of role or title.

groundwork for a career defined by courage and conviction.

Advocacy vs. administration

Brown has seen the education system from both sides — as a teacher and administrator. While she valued both roles, she ultimately found them incompatible with her moral compass.

“I enjoyed both, but the politics wouldn’t allow me to stay an administrator,” she said.

“Being an advocate and an administrator… they don’t go together.”

For Brown, advocacy means standing firm, even when it challenges authority.

“If I see something that’s not in the best interest of children, I don’t care who gives the command,” she said. “I’m going to do what’s best for children.”

Advocacy beyond the classroom

“I was born to be an educator,” Brown said. “My parents were educators… I’ve been around education all my life. It was in my blood already.”

Still, education wasn’t her first career choice.

“I wanted to go for more money, but my heart told me to go to education,” she said about the decision that laid the

That commitment extends beyond school walls. Brown works closely with longtime friend and fellow activist Travis McGee on several initiatives.

“We’ve worked on the Robin Hood Project and Houston and Beyond,” Brown said.

“We also work on voter engagement through Real Voters of Harris County.”

McGee also partners with Brown through her nonprofit, Providence on Southmore, Inc., which she founded in 2012 to help college students graduate.

“I saw a need for students getting assistance completing college,” she said. “Back in 2012, TSU’s six-year completion rate was around 15%. I wanted to do something to make a difference.”

Karla and Kayla Brown as toddlers.

Courtesy Karla Brown.

David, Kayla, Karla and Marjorie Brown. Courtesy Karla Brown.

Education in her blood

At a time in this nation when ‘leaders’ who do much to loudly belittle and destroy, Karla Brown quietly leads with dignity, humanity, and humility.

Credit: Aswad Walker

Brown’s service work also includes a grassroots effort called the Robin Hood Project.

“It’s not even an official organization,” she said. “We’re just a group of friends that get together monthly to feed the unhoused.”

know,” said her twin sister, Kayla Brown Hogans. “She has a true heart for people.”

McGee echoed that sentiment. “She’s selfless, dependable, and reliable,” he said.

Raised to serve

Service, for Brown, is not a slogan but a family legacy.

“My father always said, ‘If you see something that needs to be done, do it,’” said Brown of her guiding principle.

Additionally, her faith, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and close friendships reinforce that ethic.

“As an educator and advocate, I see so much on a daily basis,” Brown said. “It’s hard to not do anything.”

Those closest to Brown say her generosity is unmatched.

“Karla is the most generous person I

For young people drawn to advocacy, Brown stresses preparation and support.

“First, get you together,” she said. “Then make sure you have a tight circle… support is extremely important.”

Brown’s tight circle was formed early. She and her twin sister were both top students at Worthing, but chose to stay close to family.

“We were in the top 5%,” she said. “But Texas Southern was like another big family.”

At TSU, Brown joined Alpha Kappa Alpha and further solidified her commitment to service.

“It was one of the best experiences of my life,” she said.

Karla and Kayla Brown as Worthing HS majorettes. Courtesy Karla Brown.

Kayla and Karla Brown pose for Worthing High School graduation photo. Courtesy Karla Brown.

Advice for ‘generation next’

10 | May 7, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports

AdversityintoTriumph TSU baseball thrives under new leadership

By Terrance Harris

With so much still in front of them, the Texas Southern Tigers are playing some of their best baseball right now.

There are legit aspirations to overtake the dominant Bethune-Cookman squad for the SWAC championship if things fall right in this latter part of the season. But how the season is shaping up is nothing like its chaotic start when longtime coach Michael Robertson suddenly retired before the spring season began.

There was no press release, heart-toheart, or announcement that Robertson had decided to step down after 18 years.

It was just a dose of reality that the players had to deal with after returning to school from winter break.

“It was a big shock, but at the same time, last year and the year before, there were rumors because Rob was gone throughout the season,” said TSU pitcher Justin Mayes.

“So we weren’t really surprised, but at the same time, when we did get a new head coach, all of the pressure just released off the team.”

Enter Ely Gallego, who was brought aboard last year as the volunteer assistant coach and has a background as a Division III coach, as the Tigers’ interim head coach. Instead of the Gallego program taking a step back and getting stuck in a stagnant space, TSU has seemed to thrive under the freedom and trust that has come with Gallego’s leadership.

The Tigers (21-19 overall, 15-9 SWAC) sit in sixth place in the conference standings after dropping four straight games with six games remaining in the regular season.

“It’s been a huge change going from Coach Rob to Coach Ely,” said infielder Jonathan Trejo, a product of Langham Creek. “Different perspectives, different signs, different on the field.

“But I think it’s going really smooth. I think all of the guys are really liking the changes.”

The result has been increased production, especially at the plate, where the Tigers lead the league in batting (.319), home runs (42), slugging percentage (.484), and on-base percentage (0.440). The offensive production has been led by Christopher Chavez (.393 batting average, 35 RBI, and a .492 slugging percentage), Byron Robins .397 batting average, 9 home runs, league-leading

(l to r) Pitcher Justin Mayes, infielder Jonathan Trejo, and catcher Elijah Rodriguez have all played a big part in the Tigers’ success this season. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender

43 RBI, .714 slugging percentage, 33 walks), Miguel Morales (.382 batting average, 32 RBI, and .455 slugging percentage) and Trejo (.368 batting average, 8 HR, and 37 RBI), who all rank in the SWAC’s Top 10 in batting.

They have been solid on the mound with a rotation that includes Mayes (3.23 ERA) with a 5-1 record, a league-leading 69 strikeouts, and a No.2 SWAC ranking, Joshua Pena (4.58 ERA) with a 5-1 season mark, Joshua Prieto (5.40 ERA), and Jose Luccioni (6.00) with a 3-0 record.

If there has been an area of weakness, it has been on defense, where they have committed 50 errors.

Gallego, who came aboard with no idea of Robertson’s retirement plans, says overall that the 35 players he inherited have been a joy to work with.

“It helps when you have an older group of kids to be able to handle something like that,” said Gallego, who played at Sul Ross, spent some time in the minors, and then served as head coach at Sul Ross prior to coming to TSU. “They’ve adjusted well.

Not much has changed. Our offense is very similar, so it’s not a huge adjustment offensively.”

The fact that the players have adjusted quickly to Gallego’s more laid-back

approach to baseball and dealing with the ups and downs hasn’t been much of a surprise. Gallego set the tone as soon as he learned from interim athletic director Paula Jackson that he would be replacing Robertson for the season.

The message was clear about how to proceed.

“This is their career, this is their opportunity to play college baseball,” said Gallego, who isn’t focusing on his future but seems to desire the position permanently. “You only get four years to play this game. So, no matter who is sitting in this position, it’s not really about us. It’s about them and what they want out of their careers.”

The message seemed to sink in with the players.

“He lets us play freely,” said senior catcher Elijah Rodriguez, who transferred to TSU last year from Mary Hardin-Baylor. “We felt like a team before, not to speak down on the previous coach, but we felt very constricted in what we could do and always nervous.

“We were fearing to fail because we were going to be punished one way or another.

But Coach Ely is different. It’s kind of like we can play more freely. He lets us do more of what we can do and not as restricted, letting us just play and not holding us back either way.”

It’s a whole new team going into this season. We definitely have the chemistry outside of the field, and not just in the field. We get together after the field and go have lunch, go have dinner together to keep the chemistry going. I think the brotherhood is very strong here.”

JONATHAN TREJO TSU INFIELDER

May 7, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 11

DN Sports SURVIVE AND ADVANCE

Egypt Tyler

The jump that saved the season

By Jimmie Aggison

Six jumps. Five scratches. One chance to keep her season alive.

As the pressure for the Area meet mounted, Richmond Randle junior Egypt Tyler stood on the runway, knowing her margin for error had vanished. After placing second in the long jump, she scratched three of her first four attempts in the triple jump, recording a mark only on her second try. The jump, 36-feet-10, wasn’t her best. It didn’t need to be.

It was enough to survive. More importantly, it was enough to advance to the Regional meet.

“After my first few scratches, I was frustrated,” said Tyler. “However, I knew I couldn’t let it take over. I kept telling myself to stay calm and trust my training.”

For Tyler, the meet quickly shifted from what went wrong to resetting for the next attempt.

Knowing she needed one clean jump, she stopped overthinking and focused on staying controlled and consistent.

“Instead of trying to do too much, I trusted my steps and aimed to just get a clean mark on the board,” said Tyler.

After finishing the long jump, she was excited to have placed high enough to qualify for regionals. But the immediate transition to the triple jump took a toll.

“After six jumps in the long jump, her legs and ankles were fatigued, and it showed,” said Randle High School girls’ head track coach Raquel McNeal. “I could see her frustration early as she struggled to find her rhythm in the triple jump.”

That moment, balancing frustration, pressure, and execution, didn’t come out of nowhere. It was built over years of growth, doubt, and discovery.

Competitive as a gymnast from ages 5 to 12, Tyler was encouraged by her father, Clay Spears, to try track in seventh grade after he saw her natural explosiveness on the floor.

“At first, I wasn’t completely sure about it,” said Tyler.

Her gymnastics background quickly became an advantage, helping her develop body control, coordination, and explosive power.

“I already had a sense of how to move in the air and stay balanced, which made learning jumps a lot easier,” said Tyler.

What began as hesitation soon became steady progress.

Tyler’s freshman and sophomore seasons focused on building a foundation. As

a freshman, she jumped 37-feet in the triple jump and placed fifth at the Regional meet.

She also jumped 17-feet-2 in the long jump but didn’t advance beyond the Area round.

“My first trip to the Regional meet was exciting and motivating,” said Tyler. “It pushed me to realize the level I needed to reach to be more competitive, as everything felt bigger and more competitive.”

As a sophomore, she improved to 38-feet-1 in the triple jump and placed eighth at the UIL 5A state meet, a turning point in her development.

“I realized the triple jump played more into my strengths when I started seeing consistent improvement and felt more natural doing it compared to other events,” said Tyler.

That growing comfort translated into measurable progress, particularly in the technical rhythm and the execution of each phase.

“From her freshman to sophomore year, the most significant improvement was in her phases,” said McNeal. “She made significant strides in maintaining proper form and consistency throughout each phase of her jump.”

By her junior year, that steady progression culminated in a breakthrough: A 40-foot personal record in the triple jump and rankings number 11 in Texas and number 26 nationally, according to MileSplit.

“During my junior season, my confidence really improved,” said Tyler. “I started trusting my training more and stopped doubting myself during competition. Once that mental part clicked, everything else started falling into place.”

“Her ability to finish her jump is what truly separates her now from where she was two years ago,” said McNeal. “She’s much stronger and more controlled through each phase, and she carries that power through her landing.

The addition of Coach Taylor Rambo has also played a major role in her continued development.”

Yet rankings and personal records don’t guarantee anything when it matters most.

At the 5A Area meet, Tyler didn’t need perfection; she just needed to follow the sports’ simplest motto: survive and advance.

“Survive and advance means doing whatever it takes to move on, even if things aren’t perfect,” said Tyler. “It’s about staying composed under pressure and finding a way to succeed no matter the situation.”

In track and field, mental toughness in high-pressure moments is everything. After

Richmond Randle junior Egypt Tyler is all smiles after advancing to the Regional meet in both the long and triple jump events. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender

scratching three of four jumps, Tyler had just one mark to rely on.

Resetting mentally became essential.

“I take a moment to breathe, clear my mind, and not dwell on it,” said Tyler. “I remind myself that one jump doesn’t define the whole meet, and I focus on what I can fix for the next attempt.”

Looking ahead to regionals, her mindset remains unchanged.

“Going into the Regional meet, I expect to compete at my best and give full effort every jump,” said Tyler. “I want to improve my marks and continue advancing, but most importantly, I want to stay focused and confident.”

For McNeal, guiding athletes through those moments is as important as physical preparation.

“I focus on reinforcing belief and confidence,” said McNeal. “I remind them they’re capable and prepared for these moments. I encourage them to stay composed, visualize success, and avoid overthinking. Every athlete responds differently, so it’s important to understand each athlete’s needs in those situations and communicate in a way that connects with them.”

At the 5A Area meet, Tyler didn’t need her best jump; she just needed one. In a sport defined by inches and moments, that was enough to keep her season alive.

CLASSIFIED BID NOTICE The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD will be accepting proposals for the following: Agency Wide Moving and Storage Services RFP Specifications may be secured from The Harris Center website www.theharriscenter.org beginning Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The Harris Center utilizes Bonfire for their solicitations https://theharriscenter. bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities . A non-mandatory vendor conference meeting will be held via Lifesize at 2:00 p.m., on Monday, May 18, 2026. Deadline for prospective vendors to submit questions to this RFP is Friday, May 22, 2026. Proposals must be submitted by 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

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.

12 | May 7, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature

Tour de YES Promotes health, wellness, smoothies determine the consistency of their drink.

By Aswad Walker

On a mild spring day at the YES Prep North Central Secondary campus, the usual transition between classes is interrupted by a curious sight. Four stationary bikes are stationed outside the cafeteria, surrounded by a team in matching t-shirts. As students approach with curiosity, they discover Tour de YES, a creative initiative designed to tackle the nutritional and physical activity challenges facing youth today.

A menu for success

The mission of Tour de YES

Developed by YES Prep’s Child Nutrition Operations Department, Tour de YES addresses a stark reality: many students, particularly in Black and Brown communities, face significant wellness hurdles.

In Texas, one in four school-aged children is considered obese, and over 1.8 million children do not consume any vegetables on a typical day. Furthermore, only 23% of Texas youth achieve the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

Combining physical fitness with nutritional health, YES Prep’s Tour de YES is a hit with its students. Credit: Aswad Walker/Defender.

“We want to incorporate physical activity with nutrition,” explains Maria Carlos, manager of YES Prep’s Child Nutrition Operations Department. “A blender bike is a stationary bike that has a blender on it that

blends smoothies as students ride.”

The concept is simple: students choose from a variety of fresh fruit and vegetable recipes, load the ingredients, and pedal.

The speed and duration of their riding

The program offers several nutrient-dense options tailored to student tastes: Red Finish Fuel: Strawberries, raspberries, cranapple juice, and apple. Blue Scholar Success: Bananas, yogurt, blackberries, and blueberries. Green Success Boost: Coconut water, apple juice, pineapples, mango, and spinach.

Georgia Georgacopulos, a child nutrition specialist at the North Central campus, notes the importance of these ingredients. “I really like spinach. It’s a great source of iron,” she says. “For students who are still in a growth period, it’s very important for them to enjoy these kinds of nutrients.”

Overcoming hesitation

While some students are initially wary of the “green” ingredients, the interactive nature of the bikes quickly erased hesitation, and introduced many students to fruits and vegetables they found out they enjoyed.

We take care of the financing, so you can focus on growing.

There’s plenty to get done when running a small business. That’s why a Frost Business Loan includes more than just capital. From award-winning online banking tools to nationally recognized dedicated service, get all the banking solutions you need — and deserve.

Give us a call 24/7 at (800) 513-7678 or visit your nearest financial center to get started.

Exactly What You Unexpected

TM

FrostBank.com | Member FDIC