05.21.2026_Defender-e-FULL

Childhood Hunger Soars in Houston

NEWS

PROFILE

CHRIS HOLLINS

KENNEDY RYAN

The Houston Controller has some words of warnin ng for the new city budget.

Volume 95, issue 31 May 21, 2026

The New York Times bestsellling g author is changing the way Black women define romanc ce.

facebook.com/defendernetwork twitter.com/defendernetwork

instagram.com/defendernetwork defendernetwork.com

FREE

2 | May 21, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN To the POINT CONCERTS

THEATER

Candice Matthews and Quanell X confront Attorney Michael Phillips for allegedly using the N Word against a Black woman in open court in Brazoria County. Credit: Dr. Candice Matthews IG

Message from the Managing Editor GOSPEL

GALAS

Yeah, we have a calendar for Black Events.

check it out

The Read heard around the call her a “b*tch” as the exchange ended.

Internet Sadly, none of this is surprising.

Whew. Remind me to never end up on Black women journalists have long been the wrong side of Quanell X and Candice held to impossible standards: Be sharp, but Matthews because babbbbyyyy… the way not “aggressive.” Ask tough questions, but they verbally dismantled attorney Michael don’t make people uncomfortable. Rachel Phillips belongs in the “Read for Filth Hall Scott stood in that room and did exactly of Fame.” what journalists are supposed to do: Hold The confrontation has gone viral after power accountable. And for that, she allegations surfaced that Phillips used a became the latest target. racial slur toward a Black attorney during These attacks are not just personal.

ReShonda Tate court proceedings in Brazoria County. A They are attempts to undermine credibilvideo of the heated exchange went viral on social media, ity, silence scrutiny, and intimidate those bold enough to sparking debate over professionalism, accountability, and ask the questions others avoid. Maybe one day our political whether public shaming still has a place in modern activism. leaders will remember and respect that.

And listen… whether you agree with Quanell and Candice’s delivery or not, one thing is undeniable: They came with Houston’s moment to shine smoke and a deep sense of protection for their community.

In just one month, Houston will welcome the world as At one point, Quanell dared Phillips to repeat the slur the globe’s largest sporting tournament arrives in our city. toward him directly, declaring, “I’m gon’ make you taste my And beyond the matches themselves, Houston is preparing ancestors.” Now look, I don’t know if that’s scientifically pos- to make a lasting impression. sible. But in that moment? Quanell almost had me believing Downtown streets are being repaved, sidewalks expanded, ancestry could, in fact, become a physical experience. and international flags will soon line the city. Businesses are Humor aside, beneath all the viral clips and internet com- preparing for thousands of visitors, while organizers work mentary is something much deeper: Frustration. Black com- to ensure Houston is ready for its global spotlight. munities are exhausted by constantly being told to remain This moment is bigger than sports. For years, Houston calm, measured, and polished in the face of disrespect, while has fought against tired stereotypes while quietly becoming others are granted the freedom to offend, provoke, and dehu- one of the most diverse and culturally rich cities in America. manize without consequence.

Now the world gets to see what we already know: Houston No, the confrontation wasn’t pretty. Activism rarely is. is resilient, welcoming, and built on community.

But throughout history, every movement has needed What’s most encouraging is the intentionality behind the different kinds of fighters. Some negotiate quietly in board- preparation. Leaders aren’t simply hosting games. They’re rooms. Some organize strategically behind the scenes. And creating an experience that showcases the city’s culture, some stand flat-footed in front of cameras, making sure peo- accessibility, and pride. And Houston deserves this moment. ple understand there will be consequences for disrespect.

Between the construction crews, train schedules, and You may not always agree with the method. But you’ll downtown upgrades is something deeper: a city preparing never have to wonder where they stand. to introduce itself to the world on its own terms. Humanity loves waiting until the spotlight arrives to appreciate what’s Trump’s disrespect knows no end been there all along. Strange habit. But we’ll take it.

Donald Trump has once again reminded America how For once, the world won’t just pass through Houston. It’ll quickly Black women in journalism become targets when finally stop long enough to see us. they dare to question power.

ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott was doing her On the Web job when she asked Trump why he was focused on cosmetic • 15 women you should be following on Instagram. projects in Washington while tensions with Iran continued • Is reality TV a poor representation of the culture? to escalate. Instead of answering directly, Trump called her • Terrance’s Take: Black student-athletes should boycott question “stupid,” mocked her publicly, and appeared to SEC and others.

May 21, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 3

DN News

Terminal E at Bush Airport has been renamed in honor of late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Controller Chris Hollins warns Houston budget relies on ‘gimmicks’

By Tannistha Sinha

Houston City Controller Chris Hollins is sounding the alarm about Mayor John Whitmire’s proposed FY2027 $7.5 billion budget.

Currently on a “reality check” tour, Hollins said it is his sole mission to educate Houstonians about where their money will be spent in the upcoming year.

The math does not add up, the fees are not what they’re being called, the general fund balance is depleting rapidly, and Hollins the water fund is being systematically raided to paper over a structural crisis that City Hall refuses to confront, according to the city’s financial watchdog.

“It’s really disappointing the level of dishonesty, the gimmicks, the tricks, the hiding of the ball that’s involved in this proposed budget,” Hollins told the Defender. “And what’s even more disappointing about some of it is we called this stuff out last year. City council and the mayor ignored that advice then. We saw all of our predictions come true, and it cost the city well over a hundred million dollars just from those mistakes.

And now we’re seeing the same gimmicks put back in.”

Hollins, who serves as the city’s independently elected chief financial officer and taxpayer watchdog, is holding a series of town halls, from District B multi-service centers and Sharpstown to a bilingual event at a west side soccer club and Axelrad, a popular bar in Midtown.

He has also taken to criticizing Whitmire’s budget on social media through memes, drawing disapproval from council members, including Sallie Alcorn, the chair of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee.

Hollins said his office meets with the committee before public meetings.

“Over the past couple of years, we haven’t seen the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee approach these issues with a level of seriousness that they deserve,” he said. “I say

Acres Homes residents emphasized the importance of community engagement in the budget process.

Credit: Tannistha Sinha/Defender

that with a high degree of respect for the chair and vice chair of that committee. They also need to have the courage to, in these times, when the mayor is trying to put his thumb on them, when they might be threatened, when they might feel uncomfortable with the kind of conflict that comes with speaking truth to power.”

Where the budget stands now

Per city documents, the General Fund totals $3.16 billion, a decrease of $11.1 million from last year, largely due to the transition of Solid Waste operations out of the General Fund.

The FY27 budget ends with a fund balance of $273.8 million, or 10.5% of expenditures, well above the city’s 7.5% policy minimum.

“For years, Houston operated under constraints that put us at a disadvantage— without dedicated funding for solid waste,

without standard right-of-way charges, and under dual revenue caps,” Whitmire wrote in his budget message. “This budget begins correcting that imbalance.”

During previous budget cycles, Whitmire pledged that the city would not raise taxes until “waste, fraud, and abuse” were addressed, following an Ernst & Young efficiency study. Based on the study’s recommendations, the city identified savings, imposed a hiring freeze, restructured departments, launched a voluntary retirement program, and consolidated services.

A deficit that keeps growing

Hollins called attention to the budget deficit.

The city is currently operating under what he described as the largest deficit in Houston’s history, a figure that has worsened from $174 million three months ago to $210 million.

“Their spending is so reckless, and there are so many gimmicks that come to light over time, that it keeps ticking up and up and up,” he said.

Hollins’s presentation addressed what he called the systematic draining of Houston’s Combined Utility System, the water and sewer fund, to plug holes in the general fund.

Two simultaneous moves are underway.

First, the Whitmire administration is proposing to move solid waste (trash pickup) into the enterprise water fund and charge taxpayers $5 for the service. Whitmire said this will generate $116 million in General Fund relief.

Second, a new “Right-of-Way fee” of 5% of on-utility gross revenues would transfer an additional $104 million from the water fund directly into the general fund.

The two new revenue mechanisms would generate roughly $220 million in combined relief, per the Whitmire administration.

Black people deserve a food system that works for us.

SCAN TO TAKE OUR SURVEY

4 | May 21, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN News BEHIND THE CANDIDATES

District 18 power players

By Laura Onyeneho

Four elections. Seven months.

One congressional seat. That is the reality for the team behind U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee as his campaign takes on the May 26 Democratic primary runoff against U.S. Rep. Al Green in Texas’s redrawn 18th Congressional District.

Early voting for the May 26 runoff is underway and features a competitive race between two Houston Democrats: Menefee, 37, a former Harris County attorney, and Green, 79, a long-standing congressman of Texas’s 9th congressional district.

Menefee secured 46% of the vote in the March 3 primary, narrowly surpassing Green’s 44.2%, triggering a runoff election.

Behind every congressional campaign are the strategists, organizers, and advisors who rarely make the headlines but carry the weight of every decision made throughout this entire election process. The Defender set out to spotlight those faces on both sides of the District 18 race.

Building the machine

For Campaign Manager Jamie Stewart-Aday, a Rice University graduate who spent five years running campaigns across Texas before joining Menefee’s team roughly a year ago, the job is more relentless than most people imagine. He oversees three full-time organizers and 15 interns, coordinates consultants for direct mail and digital advertising, and manages every dollar the campaign spends.

“A campaign doesn’t happen on

your laptop,” Stewart-Aday said.

“It happens in the real world. Your job as staff is to represent your campaign well with all of the people who need to interact with it at every level.”

That philosophy extends to budgeting. Stewart-Aday said a campaign manager’s obligation is to “spend to zero.” Any money left in the bank at the end of the race represents voters who were not reached.

Senior Advisor Delilah AghoOtoghile, a nationally recognized Democratic strategist who has worked with Stacey Abrams, former Texas Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke, and former Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, brings a decade of organizing experience to the role. She first met Menefee while serving as chair of the African American Council at the Harris County Democratic Party, long before his congressional ambitions materialized.

“I think of my role as a utility player,” Agho-Otoghile said.

“Whether that means helping with donor outreach and fundraising or narrowing our targets for who we’re talking to on the ground, we are involved in a little bit of all of that.”

An unprecedented timeline

After former Rep. Sylvester Turner died in March 2025, Abbott waited 334 days before the district was represented again, a delay Democrats accused him of engineering to protect the Republican House majority when he

Campaign teams for Rep. Christian Menefee and Rep. Al Green are strategizing as the May 26 Democratic primary runoff is taking place in Houston’s redrawn 18th Congressional District. Credit: Gemini

redrew the district maps across the state. Menefee won the Jan. 31 special runoff and was sworn in Feb. 2, 2026. Republican redistricting then forced him into the newly drawn 18th District, where Green also landed after being pushed out of his longstanding district.

“Governor Abbott refused to call this election for a year and then insisted on a mid-decade redistricting that forced the congressman to run in four elections in seven months,” Stewart-Aday said. “Each of those elections is a brand new race with a brand new strategy.”

Agho-Otoghile added that post-election debriefs have been critical to staying sharp.

“If your strategy is the same every time, that is not a strategy,” she said. “You need to be adjusting to new conditions as they come.”

The Green campaign looks ahead

Rep. Al Green’s supporter in Houston. Courtesy: Rep. Al Green/Facebook

Green, who first won election to Congress in 2004, has represented Houston’s communities for over two decades. His team did not respond to an interview request and instead submitted an emailed response.

“Our campaign is implementing a strategy that will lead to victory, and we’ll be more than pleased to discuss this strategy after we have won. Thank you for the request.

We look forward to a lengthy discussion after the election.”

Rep. Christian Menefee’s senior advisor, Delilah AghoOtoghile, and the campaign manager (left), Jamie Stewart-Aday (right), share their experience in the election campaign. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender

VOLUME 95, NUMBER 31 - MAY 21, 2026 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles Managing Editor ReShonda Tate Content Manager Terrance Harris Community Reporter Aswad Walker

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

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2026 copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, TX 77288

May 21, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 5

DN Feature Houston Equity Fund ends, legacy continues

By Aswad Walker

The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity, also known as the Houston Equity Fund (HEF), has officially closed its doors, but its impact on Houston’s underserved entrepreneurs and nonprofits far outlived its five-year lifespan.

Established by the City of Houston in 2021 as a response to social justice inequities following the killing of George Floyd, the fund served as a bold experiment in targeted economic empowerment.

A roadmap for the future

The decision to sunset the fund was strategic. Having distributed its primary grant funding, the board sought to ensure its remaining resources left a permanent mark.

HEF’s final act was a $100,000 grant to KTSU 90.9 FM, Judge Vanessa intended to doc- Gilmore. Courtesy ument the fund’s Vanessa Gilmore. journey through radio programs and podcasts.

“We wanted to... lay a roadmap for the possible development of a similar fund in the future,” says Vanessa Gilmore, former U.S. District Court judge and HEF board member. “The purpose is to make sure... this information is available to the public... so that at some point in time... someone else will be able to replicate the program.”

Shifting climates

The closure highlights the volatility of social justice initiatives in a changing political and corporate landscape. Gilmore noted that their largest funder, Wells Fargo, was unable to continue support in the same capacity despite praising HEF as one of the best-run programs of its kind in the nation.

The board realized that raising the capital necessary to sustain high-level work was no longer feasible in the current environment.

Lives changed and businesses saved

The fund’s intervention served as a vital lifeline during and after the pandemic: • La Fecha Mexican Produce: Owner Felix Chavero used the funding to save a 30-year family legacy by purchasing essential inventory.

• Meek’s Vegan Pizza: Demetrius Walker utilized a grant to combat rising supply chain costs and keep his staff employed.

• Innovation: Keegan Harley (Ronin Art House) and Deepak Doshi (Doshi House) used grants to upgrade technology and roasting operations.

• Community Voice: Amazing 102.5 FM purchased state-of-the-art equipment to continue broadcasting community resources.

• Legal Access: Staci Childs Davis of Sunny s i d e L e g a l expanded her firm’s reach. “It allowed Sunnyside Legal to move beyond one client at a time and into a space where we educate and equip entire Staci Childs Davis. communities,” Courtesy Staci Davis said.

Childs Davis.

Lessons in stewardship

As HEF concludes, the board is passing down the “how-to” of its success. Key strategies included:

• High-Profile Leadership: Assembling a board with figures like former Mayor Sylvester Turner and astronaut Bernard Harris to build institutional trust.

• Integrity in Selection: Maintaining a “clean process” by distancing the board from grant selectors.

• Holistic Support: Recognizing that capital alone isn’t enough.

HEF hosted monthly “lunch and learns” covering accounting and grant writing.

“That information became as important, if not more important, than just giving them the money,” Gilmore recalled, “because they formed a real community where they... began to share information.”

While the fund is gone, the blueprint for equitable empowerment remains for the next generation to follow.

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

6 | May 21, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 7

DN To the POINT HOUSEHOLD FOOD INSECURITY BY NEIGHBORHOOD AREA, 2024

Despite various past and present efforts, like the Houston Food Bank’s School Market, Harris County now leads the nation in the number of food-insecure households, leading to huge numbers of hungry children.

Credit: Gemini AI.

When we heard about children eating out of McDonald’s dumpsters and seeing Third World poverty down the street from where I lived, God gave me and my husband the vision of doing Kid-Care.”

Percentage of residents experiencing moderate or high household food insecurity 25% or less (minimum 13.1%) 25.1% to 50%

CAROL DOE PORTER

More than 50% (maximum 80.4%) Source: Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research.

Childhood hunger HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM

By Aswad Walker

Imagine dedicating your life to feeding hungry children, only to watch that work collapse under allegations later proven false. Imagine learning decades later that the very community you once helped feed now leads the nation in the number of food-insecure households.

For Carol Doe Porter, that scenario isn’t hypothetical. It’s her story.

Porter and her late husband, Hurt Porter, founded Kid-Care in 1991. Their mission began years earlier.

Using their blue-collar salaries, the couple cooked and delivered meals to hungry children in apartment complexes across Houston. What started as a grassroots effort eventually grew into a nationally recognized nonprofit feeding hundreds of thousands of children annually.

But public allegations of fraud in the early 2000s prompted the state of Texas to shut down Kid-Care operations and triggered an IRS investigation. Though the accusations were ultimately proven false, the damage was done.

The organization’s reputation was shattered, and its growth was halted.

Today, nearly 25 years later, the Porters’ hometown faces a troubling reality: Harris County now leads the nation in food insecurity. And she understandably feels “some type of way.”

By the numbers

Just how serious is childhood hunger in

Houston and Harris County?

The numbers are staggering.

According to a report from the Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research, roughly 39% of Harris County households are food-insecure, meaning they lack reliable access to sufficient, affordable, and nutritious food. That’s nearly three times the national average (14%).

Researchers also found deep racial disparities. Food insecurity rates are highest among Black and Hispanic residents.

53% of Black households experience food insecurity

47%

of Hispanic households face the same challenge Rates are lower among white and Asian households, at 24% and 17% respectively

Food insecurity is especially prevalent in households earning less than $35,000

annually. Some neighborhoods—particularly the Greenspoint and Bush Intercontinental Airport areas—see rates approaching 80% of households.

“For the first time, we got a sense of how serious the issue is,” shared Luz Garcini, director of the Kinder Institute’s Center for Community and Public Health. “Which is pretty shocking.”

and Brown neighborhoods.

Rise and fall of Kid-Care

Long before these numbers dominated reports, the Porters were working to address the problem directly.

Beginning in 1984, they personally prepared and delivered meals to hungry children throughout the city.

Children bear the brunt “When we heard about of this crisis. children eating out of As of 2023, 24.6% of children McDonald’s dumpsters and in Harris County—about 306,140 seeing Third World poverty young people—were food insedown the street from cure, an increase from 20.1% in Carol Doe Porter, cowhere I lived, God gave 2019. That means roughly one founder of Kid-Care, points me and my husband in four children struggles with to a study that shows the vision of doing Kiduncertain access to food. while Kid-Care was at Care,” Porter said.

Rates are highest among its peak, hunger in Harris Once local media Black (34%) and Latino (25%) County dropped by 25%. executive Brad Levy children. began highlighting their Within Houston alone, nonprofit Children work, Kid-Care’s reach exploded. At its peak, at Risk estimates at least 88,000 children live the nonprofit served between 240,000 and one with food insecurity, including about 26,000 million meals annually. under the age of six who qualify for meal A food survey conducted by the anti-hundelivery services. ger campaign No Kid Hungry between 1993 These numbers are fueled in part by geogra- and 2000 found that hunger in Harris County phy. Houston contains more than 500,000 resi- dropped by 25% during the period when Kiddents living in food deserts, urban areas where Care was most active. affordable, fresh food is difficult to find—conThen came the controversy. ditions most common in predominantly Black In 2002, a series of investigative reports

accused Kid-Care of corruption. The allegations dominated local news coverage and led then–Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to file a lawsuit that shut down the organization.

The accusations were eventually disproven, but the Porters’ exoneration received far less attention.

“I believe without any arrogance that had we been given due process by Greg Abbott… they would have found out we were innocent and restored us,” Porter said, “and Harris County would not be number one in food insecurity.”

Local activist Dr. Abdul Haleem Muhammad agrees.

“There is no such thing as coincidence,” Muhammad said. “There is no doubt that Kid-Care was successful in mitigating child hunger. The destruction of Kid-Care… contributed to the shameful state of child hunger and food insecurity in Harris County.”

Porter believes the organization could have helped spark a national grassroots movement.

“What we were doing was putting the thought in people’s minds that there exists a Third World country in America,” she said.

“On the outskirts of beautiful homes, there are pockets of poverty. And we could do something about it.”

How did we get here?

The collapse of Kid-Care isn’t the only

factor behind the region’s hunger crisis. Policy and economic realities also play major roles.

According to a 2025 Houston Food Bank report, Texas has some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the country, alongside some of the highest rates of uninsured residents and diet-related diseases. Nearly five million Texans lack health insurance, and more than two million households statewide are food insecure. The result is a cycle of poor health, financial strain, and limited access to nutritious food.

Efforts to fight childhood hunger

Despite the grim statistics, numerous organizations are working to address the problem.

The Houston Health Department (HHD) operates programs such as WIC, which provides nutrition support for pregnant women and children up to age five. The Houston Food Bank runs several youth-focused initiatives, including Kids Café, which distributes meals and snacks through after-school programs and community partners.

“Kids Café focuses on food-insecure kids,” said Xena Hernandez, the program’s supervisor. “Sometimes that’s the last meal they get that day.”

Other grassroots groups are stepping in.

Helping Hands for the People, founded

by Alicia Rogers and Krystle Robinson,

provides meals to children in five underserved communities during critical after-school hours.

“We looked around and asked, ‘Who is feeding these kids now?’” Rogers said. “We decided we had to give something back to our community.”

Call to action

Despite the destruction of Kid-Care’s reputation, Porter never abandoned her mission. The nonprofit still operates today, feeding 30 to 50 families weekly with the help of volunteers and partners such as Whole Foods.

For Porter, solving childhood hunger requires both community responsibility and resources.

“America is the land of plenty,” she said.

“Some of us have plenty. What are you doing individually to make a difference?”

She also hopes individuals and corporations will support Kid-Care’s continuing work.

“Write checks to Kid-Care,” she said.

“We’re still a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.”

Meanwhile, Houston health officials urge families in need to access existing programs.

“Encourage pregnant women and families with children under five to reach out to our clinics or apply for WIC,” said Houston Health Department interim director Dr. Theresa Tran.

The Cycle FOOD INSECURITY

Limited access to nutritious food.

Lack of health insurance.

Effect

Effect

Medical cost leaves us less money for food.

Nutritional deficiencies.

Missed work cuts income.

Delayed care due to cost.

POOR HEALTH Increased risk of chronic illness.

Delayed care and complications.

The Spiral START Limited access to nutritious food and missed medical appointments due to out of pocket costs.

As health declines, emergency care becomes the only option, pushing families deeper into financial stress.

END Chronic conditions worsen, income decreases, and food insecurity deepens.

43%

of Texas families cannot afford the basics to live.

36%

of Texas households can’t manage three months of living costs in case of an income loss.

53%

of food insecure families are employed full-time.

Source: Houston Food Bank.

8 | May 21, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature

Dandelion Cafe Blooms through tough restaurant climate

By Laura Onyeneho

For the last decade, Dandelion Cafe has remained committed to serving the community and adapting to challenges as restaurants in the city close at an alarming rate.

Executive chef and co-owners JC Ricks and Sarah Lieberman have grown what began as a small Bellaire coffee shop in 2016 into a three-location breakfast-and-brunch institution, with outposts in Bellaire, on the Rice University campus, and in the Heights.

Their staying power is notable in a city where the restaurant industry is bleeding.

According to the Texas Restaurant Association, 88% of Texas restaurant owners are navigating higher food costs, 66% are seeing labor costs rise, and 52% have seen a drop in customer traffic.

Dandelion Cafe is not immune to those pressures. But it is still open, seven days a week, with scratch-made sausage grinding in the back and croissants coming out of the oven every morning.

“Not to sound pessimistic, but the big goal for 2026 is really to survive,” Ricks said.

“I think everyone right now is dealing with a lot, whether it is financially or just fear of what is going on in the world.”

From the kitchen to the community Growing up in a Liberian household, Ricks spent weekend mornings watching his mother work through elaborate breakfasts, oversized omelets, Hawaiian bread breakfast sandwiches, and plates that were both generous and made with care. Those early memories stayed with him.

Fried chicken sandwich with chipotle ranch, lettuce, tomato, and run it as a combo with lemonade and a bag of chips. Credit: Jimmie Aggison

Chef and co-owner JC Ricks runs Dandelion Cafe, a three-location Houston breakfast institution that has served the community since 2016. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender

After a year of studying international business in college, Ricks realized the classroom wasn’t clicking. He began asking himself, ‘What do I love to do?’ The answer always pointed to the kitchen.

“It kept leading me back to cooking,” he said. “And I was like, ‘ok, how do I make this a career?’”

A conversation during a visit to his cousin in Alabama turned into a laptop search for Houston culinary schools. Ricks toured three programs and chose San Jacinto College on the city’s east side, the farthest from where he lived, but the one where the instructors felt right.

From there, Ricks spent years working his way through fine-dining and corporate-dining kitchens, building technique and a repertoire that would later define Dandelion’s menu. He later worked with Underbelly Hospitality before Lieberman, who had opened Dandelion in 2016, brought him on in the

cafe’s second year to develop a food program after the departure of a kitchen manager.

“When I got here, I just kind of started revamping it a little bit,” Ricks said. “It went from like four to six menu items to like 20-something menu items within about a year.”

The food as philosophy The cafe takes comfort food seriously, builds it from scratch, and never cuts corners on the parts diners cannot see.

The team grinds its own breakfast sausage, bakes its croissants in-house, makes five or six proprietary spice blends, produces its own jams, salsas, and pastries, and does all of it across all three locations.

The cafe’s chicken and waffles earned citywide recognition in 2023 when it competed on “Good Morning America” and was named the best chicken and waffles in Houston, besting several longtime establishments.

The dish, a cornbread waffle topped with a fried chicken thigh marinated for 24 hours in a chorizo and Creole spice blend and finished with a whipped, spicy maple butter, has since become the cafe’s signature item.

But Ricks said the dishes he loves most are those that reveal the technique beneath.

“Our lemon blueberry French toast, I really love that dish because of just the technique that goes into it,” he said. “And biscuits and gravy. Our biscuits are really good, and that just kind of hits home for me too.”

Lesson learned to stay in business.

May 21, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 9

DN Profile

Kennedy Ryan Redefines romance for Black women

By ReShonda Tate

For years, the romance genre often asked Black women to settle for fragments of themselves on the page. Too often, they were relegated to the “best friend” trope, flattened into stereotypes, or presented in “watered-down” romances that failed to reflect the fullness of their lived experiences.

Then came Kennedy Ryan.

The New York Times bestselling author has built a literary empire by centering Black women unapologetically — exploring their vulnerability, ambition, trauma, healing, sensuality, and joy. While Ryan delivers the sweeping love stories readers crave, her work carries a deeper mandate: An insistence that Black women deserve to be seen fully.

Ryan was recently in Houston, hosted by Kindred Stories, as part of her tour celebrating her latest release, Score, a scorching second-chance romance that reunites a talented screenwriter and a world-class musician on the set of a Harlem Renaissance biopic.

Writing with intention

For Ryan, storytelling is a deliberate act of reclamation. By carving out a lane that didn’t exist i t when h she first started,

Credit: Getty Images

potential: “She writes love stories, but they’re also stories about healing and survival. You close the book feeling emotionally wrecked in the best possible way, but also empowered.”

Book influencer Casey Kelly agrees, noting that Ryan gives Black women permission to take up emotional space. “When people hear ‘romance,’ they think ‘boy meets girl.’ Not in a Kennedy Ryan book. These women are flawed, brilliant, messy, and real.”

Ryan also uses the genre’s popularity to weave in real-world themes like the CROWN Act and hair discrimination. “Romance is the most popular genre. It’s palatable and digestible—the perfect place to have difficult conversations,” she notes.

Building a purpose-driven brand

Ryan’s rise wasn’t overnight. A North Carolina native and the daughter of pastors, she initially considered journalism before realizing her heart wasn’t in day-to-day news.

Kennedy Ryan has hundreds of book lovers at all of her signings. Credit: She spent years writing for nonprofits and Kennedy Ryan FB family publications, refining a “voice” that would eventually become her strongest asset. she has redefined what “Happily Ever After” sold-out events, Ryan’s novels have become Even with her current success, Ryan looks like. affirmations for her readers. Her critically remains candid about the hurdles in the “I wantt Blac Bl ck women to be front and cen- acclaimed Skyland series publishing induster,” Ryan says. “I want us to see ourselves (Before I Let Go, This Could try. “I tell people all unambiguouslly… desired, chosen, and with Be Us) has resonated so the time, I feel like joyful outcomes. I never wanted to write sto- deeply that it is now headevery time I release ries that simplly entertained people and dis- ing to the screen. Ryan a book, I’m starting appeared. I waanted readers, especially Black recently signed a deal with over,” she shares, women, to feeel seen, valued, and worthy of Malcolm D. Lee (The Best noting that some epic love.”

Man franchise) and Uniretailers still hesitate This philo osophy has shaped a career versal Television’s Peato stock books cendefined by social awareness. Ryan’s novels cock to bring these stories tered on Black leads tackle issuess often absent from mainstream to life. despite proven sales. romancee, including chronic illness, Ryan understands the However, staying addictiion, racial injustice, and men- weight of this visibility. grounded in purtal heealth. Yet, even when navigating “There’s power in reppose over trends has the heavy, her stories never aban- resentation,” she says. paid off. Beyond the do on hope.

“When Black women see page, Ryan is a fierce “Love doesn’t exist outside of themselves centered in advocate for autism rreal life,” Ryan explains. “The tenderness, complexity, awareness and social tthings we survive, the systems and joy, it challenges the justice. For aspiring we navigate, the ways we’re limited narratives we’ve writers, her advice is shaped by identity and com- often been handed.” simple: KENNEDY RYAN munity—all of that comes “Your voice is MUST-READS into relationships. I want Transcending your brand. People my books to honor that the genre Score (New Release) connect with hontruth.”

To many, Ryan’s work esty and consisBefore I Let Go transcends the “romance” tency. Don’t chase This Could Be Us From BookTok F label. Houston reader what’s p opular. to the t big screen Alicia Freeman notes Build something Long Shot The response has been a cultural that Ryan’s books helped Th meaningful.”

Reel shift.. From viral BookTok praise to her rethink the genre’s Block Shot

10 | May 21, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports HOUSTON

TENNIS CLASSIC Largest Black tennis tournament offers more than swinging a racquet

festivities.

It’s Bl ack culture, with It’s always sold tennis at its out. Folks look epicenter. forward to this “It’s an expetournament. rience,” said Sharon EvansThere are tennis Brooks, who tournaments all has been the over Houston director of the and all over the Houston Tencountry, but nis Classic for they don’t have 10 years. “It’s the atmosphere not just tennis and the cultural racquets and significance and tennis skirts. It’s a full Black tenthe longevity nis experience. that this “It is comtournament munity, it is has.” culture, it is entertainment, A schedule of events for the Houston Tennis Classic, which officially kicks off May KEITH it is health-re22 and runs through May 24 at MacGregor Park. Courtesy: Houston Tennis Classic CORNELIUS lated and supported, and connections.” formerly known as the KTSU Clas- credits the doubling of partici- more than any of the other tournaLinda Griffin agrees that it’s all sic, was first presented by legendary pants to Brooks’s unique marketing ments we’ve ever attended.” of that and then some. She and Texas Southern Tennis coach Her- approach, sponsorships, and makKeith Cornelius, who is assisting her husband spend a good part bert Provost. ing the tournament an event people Evans-Brooks while also participatof the year traveling across the The tournament has grown from want to come back to year after year. ing in the tournament, describes the country to play in different tennis a few players playing on the courts This year, the Houston Ten- event as more of a family event in tournaments. in Provost’s backyard to now 430 nis Classic organizers had to turn which tennis happens to be played.

They might be in New York one participants from across the United down applicants because they had “This event is basically a tennis week, Indianapolis the States playing at both McGregor reached the capacity of the courts cookout. It’s a cookout where tennext, and may make Park and Memorial Park to accom- they have access to in the city. nis is played,” said Cornelius as he a quick hop over to modate the number of players.

“I don’t think Ken and I thought pointed to different parts of the tenAustin. But for Grifin, Former KTSU General Manager it would grow this large,” Eaton said. nis center. “Back over here, you will a native of Oklahoma George Thomas and John Wilker- “We always hoped that it would, but have the party going on over there City who now resides son later picked up the mantle, with each year with Sharon doing it, the on the practice court. You have all in Clear Lake, there is Ann Eaton and Ken Groovy taking tournament has grown.” of this green space where vendors nothing like the tour- over as the primary organizers.

Griffin also credits Brooks are set up, folks are listening to nament in her own “We just got together and wanted for the tournament’s contin- music, and massage tables.” backyard. to continue George Thomas’ path ued growth. There are parties, It all equates to what is expected “The fellowship,” said because everybody played, every- which include a Martha’s Vine- to be another epic weekend of tenGriffin, who has played body wanted to play. We all got yard-themed party right on the nis, good food, and festivities. in the tournament for along together. It was just like a courts at MacGregor on Saturday “It’s a Black tennis festival,” 15 years. “That’s what family, which it still is,” said Eaton, night, vendors, plenty of food, Evans-Brooks said. “We are lookbrings me back. I enjoy who still participates at 79 years networking, and important health ing to hit every part of your life: The the reunion of other old. “Ken and I just picked up the discussions. competitive part of you, the family players from other cit- mantle for him (Thomas) and con“This is the largest tournament, reunion/cookout vibe that we creies. There is nothing tinued the tournament, and it grew and we have so many activities,” ate, the supporting Black businesses like it.” and grew. “ Griffin said. “Sharon does a great through the number of small incuOfficial flyer for the Houston Tennis That was precisely Under Eaton and Groovy for job of getting sponsorships. Our bator Black businesses that will be Classic. Courtesy: Houston Tennis the intent when the 20 years, the tournament reached goody bags are awesome. All of outside, and we want to fill your Classic Houston Tennis Classic, as high as 200 participants. Eaton the activities that she plans out are stomach with good food.”

By Terrance Harris

SherriAnn Carroll has played in tennis tournaments all over the country, but there is just something different about the Houston Tennis Classic, played each year at MacGregor Park’s Homer Ford Tennis Center.

Unlike other tournaments, this one, with over 400 participants from across the country, is described as a tennis festival that feels more like a family reunion.

“The biggest thing to me is it’s majority African American,” said Carroll, who has played in the Houston Tennis Classic every year since 2019. “It gives us a chance to get together with others from Dallas and from Arkansas and from other areas. It happens once a year, and you find out what everybody has been doing, how everybody’s family is. It’s a great camaraderie among us.”

The Houston Tennis Classic returns to MacGregor Park, May 22-24, for the 32nd Annual installment of the largest tournament of its kind in the US. The three-day event centers on tennis, but it has come to mean so much more as participants begin arriving May 21 for the

May 21, 2026 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 11

DN Sports

MARQUEZ BARNES Summer Creek para-athlete overcomes

By Jimmie Aggison

One year after becoming Summer Creek High School’s first male para-athlete to qualify for the UIL 6A State Track Meet, sophomore Marquez Barnes returned, faster, stronger and more confident than ever.

After losing 65 pounds, transforming his body in the weight room, and earning a lighter, custom-fit racing chair, Barnes qualified for state again in the 100-meter, 400-meter, and shot put. But just days before Austin, his new chair developed alignment and frame issues at regionals and could not be repaired in time for state, forcing him back into the heavier, poorly fitted chair he had left behind.

“The new chair was a custom fit and much lighter than the old chair,” said Marquez. “I felt I could truly compete at a higher level with all the other top-performing athletes.”

“Seeing Marquez finally com mpete with equipment designed specifically for him meant everything to me,” said Marquez’s mother, Lavona Thomas. “It was emotional and rewarding to watch him compete comfortably and confidently with equipment tailored to his needs. It gave me hope for his future and showed me what is possible for him.”

Seeing Marquez’s determination and happiness reminded d his parents why they kept pushing forward despite every challenge.

For Marquez, the new chair was more than just upgraded equipment. It became the reward for months of work that transformed him into a completely different athlete.

“Losing at state broke me for a while, but it also forced me to look at myself honestly,” said Marquez. “I decided the first change had to be my health, and that decision changed everything after.”

Unhappy with his fourth-place shot put finish (21-feet-2), and sixth-place finishes in the 100 meters (22.02) and 400 meters (1:25.61) during his freshman season, Marquez dedicated himself to the weight room and entered his sophomore season 65 pounds lighter and significantly stronger.

“I am extremely proud of the progress I have made, both physically and mentally,” said Marquez. “This journey has pushed me in ways I never expected, and despite setbacks and challenges, I have continued to

Summer Creek sophomore Marquez Barnes and his race coach Dr. Dwight J. Smith prior to the 100-meter race during the Regional meet. Credit Jimmie Aggison/Defender

grow stronger and more determined. Physically, I have worked hard to improve my performance and endurance, and mentally, I have learned to stay focused, resilient, and motivated even in difficult moments.”

That newfound confidence quickly became visible not only in Marquez’s performance, but also in the way he carried himself both on and off the track.

“My confidence within myself has definitely increased, from the way I feel around people, speak in front of others, and see myself when I look in the mirror. I’m extremely proud of myself, and I won’t stop,” said Marquez.

That growing self-belief soon began translating into a more disciplined and strategic approach in competition.

“The thing that set Marquez apart this year from other athletes he competed against was his mental focus on becoming a smarter racer and paying attention to all the strategic details of racing,” said Marquez’s race coach, Dr. Dwight J. Smith.

By the time the regional meet arrived, everything seemed to be coming together for another breakthrough moment. Then the new chair began having issues, forcing Barnes to send it back to the manufacturer and leaving him with no option but to compete at the state meet in his older, heavier racing chair.

“When I learned the chair would not return before the state track meet, I felt devastated and frustrated,” said Marquez.

“I immediately thought about how hard I

had worked to prepare for this moment.”

Faced with another major setback, Marquez chose to stay focused, remain positive, and continue moving forward despite the disappointment.

“Racing in the old chair comes with several challenges beyond its weight,” said Marquez. “It was not designed to properly support my current needs. The chair affects my comfort, positioning, and overall performance, making it harder for me to compete at my full potential. There are also concerns about stability and added physical strain, which have affected both my confidence and performance while racing.”

Despite spending $9,431 on the custom chair, the equipment still failed to perform due to alignment and frame issues, forcing Marquez to send it back to the manufacturer just one week before the UIL 6A state track meet. t “Delivering the bad news to Marquez was extremely difficult,” said Lavona. “As a parent, it hurt to o know how excited and ho opeful he was, especiaally after waiting so long for the opportunity.

Seeing his disappointment was heartbreaking, but I also knew it was important to encourage him to stay motivated and not let this setback keep him from pursuing his goals.”

For many athletes, the setback could have easily become an excuse. But those closest to Marquez say perseverance has always defined him more than his circumstances.

“The future possibilities keep me motivated,” said Marquez. “I can see myself going far in this sport. I can see myself being number one.”

Marquez finished sixth in the 100 meters (18.73), fifth in the 400 meters (1:10.83), and third in shot put (23-1.50).

Marquez continues racing, knowing he may not have the same equipment advantage he trained with all season, but he remains determined to compete.

“I hope others who hear my story learn to ‘take one day at a time, keep pushing forward, put one foot in front of the other, and NEVER stop,’” said Marquez.

While the chair may have changed, Marquez’s mindset never did.

DEFENDER NETWORK

12 | May 21, 2026 |

DN Feature Houston line dancers step in the name of love

By Aswad Walker

Houston has long been celebrated as a global powerhouse of culture and industry.

It is a foodie’s paradise, the proud home of the Texas Medical Center, multiple championship-winning pro sports franchises, and, of course, the birthplace of Beyoncé.

Those in the know rank the Houston arts scene among the best in the country, bolstered by the fact that the Greater Houston area is considered the most diverse in the nation. With formidable green spaces, prestigious universities, and public art seemingly around every corner, the city’s vibrancy is undeniable.

However, a new rhythmic movement is wobbling and Electric Sliding its way into H-Town hearts. Houston is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the nation’s fastest-growing line dancing scenes.

To learn more about this expanding culture, the Defender spoke with members of several of Houston’s premier line dance teams about how they are stepping in the name of love, health, and community.

Introduction to the rhythm For many, line dancing starts as a simple hobby before becoming a lifelong passion.

Learn how local teams (like WBM--Wisdom, Beauty, Motion--seen here) and instructors have turned Houston into a national line dancing hub, emphasizing health and unity. Credit: Aswad Walker/Defender.

Nerissa Redo of D’Headliners discovered the art form at the Tom Bass Community Center while looking for a new activity.

“Ever since I found out about line dancing, I’ve been doing it,” she says.

Shaun Fulton, also of D’Headliners, has

been dancing for over 30 years but transitioned into teaching in 2011. Others, like Martha Allison of the Elusive Ladies and Gents of Houston, found more than just choreography in the steps.

“I used to take line dance classes... for one

whole year, I was going there every week,” Allison recalls. “It was also therapy for me... and I actually lost weight doing so.”

The scene continues to attract new instructors, such as Quintessa Haynes, founder of WBM (Wisdom, Beauty, Motion).

“I’ve been a line dance instructor for two years,” said Haynes, who’s got dance in her DNA. “I already liked to dance... I’m not sure how I tapped back into it in 2024, but I did.”

This draw isn’t limited to locals. Rachel Spruill, a Detroit native who moved to Houston four years ago, says, “I’ve been line dancing what feels like all my life from every city I’ve been in.”

Her fellow WBM member, Miss She She, echoes that sentiment of permanent belonging: “A friend of mine found the class and all of us joined—and I’m the one that’s still here.

I will be here forever.”

Breaking down the Houston scene

The Houston scene is a tapestry of different groups, venues, and styles. On any given Thursday at Liquid Smoke, you might find D’Headliners practicing to the latest hits.

“We’re about to do a great line dance by Cardi B called ‘Outside,’” says Redo.

PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTIONS EARLY VOTING

MAY 18-22

ELECTION DAY

MAY 26

This is your last chance to help choose who will be on the ballot in November. You can still vote even if you did not vote in the March Primaries.

Learn more at HARRISVOTES.COM BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE HARRIS COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE.