To thePOINT DN
Candice Matthews and Quanell X confront Attorney Michael Phillips forallegedly using the NWord againstaBlack woman in open courtinBrazoria County. Credit: Dr.Candice MatthewsIG
Message from theManaging Editor
TheReadheardaroundthe Internet
Whew.Remindmetonever endupon the wrongsideofQuanell Xand Candice Matthews becausebabbbbyyyy… theway they verbally dismantled attorney Michael Phillips belongsinthe “Readfor FilthHall of Fame.”
Theconfrontation hasgoneviral after allegations surfaced that Phillipsuseda racial slur toward aBlack attorney during courtproceedings in Brazoria County.A videoofthe heated exchange went viralonsocialmedia, sparkingdebateoverprofessionalism,accountability, and whetherpublicshamingstillhasaplaceinmodernactivism
Andlisten… whetheryou agreewithQuanell andCandice’sdeliveryornot,onethingisundeniable:Theycamewith smokeand adeepsense of protection fortheir community.
At onepoint,Quanell daredPhillipstorepeatthe slur towardhimdirectly,declaring,“I’mgon’makeyoutastemy ancestors.”Nowlook,Idon’tknowifthat’sscientificallypossible.Butinthatmoment?Quanellalmosthadmebelieving ancestry could, in fact,becomeaphysicalexperience
Humoraside,beneathalltheviralclipsandinternetcommentaryissomethingmuchdeeper:Frustration.Blackcommunities areexhausted by constantly beingtoldtoremain calm,measured,andpolishedinthefaceofdisrespect,while othersaregrantedthefreedomtooffend,provoke,anddehumanize withoutconsequence.
No,the confrontationwasn’tpretty. Activism rarely is. Butthroughouthistory,every movement hasneeded differentkindsoffighters.Somenegotiatequietlyinboardrooms. Some organize strategicallybehindthe scenes.And somestandflat-footedinfrontofcameras,makingsurepeopleunderstandthere will be consequences fordisrespect.
Youmay notalwaysagree with themethod. Butyou’ll neverhavetowonderwhere they stand.
Trump’sdisrespectknowsnoend
Donald Trumphas once againremindedAmerica how quicklyBlack womeninjournalismbecometargets when they dare to question power.
ABCNewscorrespondent Rachel Scottwas doingher jobwhensheaskedTrumpwhyhewasfocusedoncosmetic projectsinWashingtonwhiletensionswithIrancontinued toescalate.Insteadofansweringdirectly,Trumpcalledher question “stupid,”mockedher publicly,and appeared to
call hera“b*tch” as theexchangeended
Sadly, none of this is surprising
Blackwomenjournalistshavelongbeen heldtoimpossiblestandards:Besharp,but not“aggressive.” Asktough questions, but don’tmakepeopleuncomfortable.Rachel Scottstood in that room anddid exactly what journalistsare supposed to do:Hold poweraccountable.And forthat, she became thelatesttarget.
Theseattacks arenot just personal They areattemptstoundermine credibility, silencescrutiny, andintimidatethose bold enough to askthequestionsothersavoid.Maybeonedayourpolitical leaderswillrememberand respectthat.
Houston’smomenttoshine
In just onemonth,Houston will welcomethe worldas theglobe’s largestsportingtournamentarrives in ourcity. Andbeyondthe matchesthemselves, Houstonispreparing to make alasting impression
Downtownstreetsarebeingrepaved,sidewalksexpanded, andinternationalflagswillsoonlinethecity.Businessesare preparingfor thousandsofvisitors, whileorganizerswork to ensure Houstonisready forits global spotlight
This moment is bigger than sports. Foryears,Houston hasfoughtagainsttiredstereotypeswhilequietlybecoming oneofthemostdiverseandculturallyrichcitiesinAmerica Nowthe worldgetstosee what we alreadyknow: Houston is resilient, welcoming, andbuilt on community.
What’smostencouragingistheintentionalitybehindthe preparation. Leadersaren’tsimplyhosting games. They’re creating an experience that showcasesthe city’s culture, accessibility,andpride.AndHoustondeservesthismoment. Betweenthe construction crews, trainschedules,and downtown upgrades is somethingdeeper: acitypreparing to introduceitselftothe worldonits ownterms.Humanity loveswaiting untilthe spotlight arrivestoappreciatewhat’s been thereall along. Strange habit. Butwe’ll take it
Foronce,theworldwon’tjustpassthroughHouston.It’ll finallystoplongenoughtosee us
OntheWeb
•15women youshouldbefollowing on Instagram.
•Isreality TV apoorrepresentationofthe culture?
•Terrance’sTake: Blackstudent-athletesshouldboycott SECand others
ReShondaTate
Terminal E at Bush Airport has been renamed in honor of late CongresswomanSheilaJacksonLee
Controller Chris Hollins warns Houston budget relies on ‘gimmicks’ News
By Tannistha Sinha
HoustonCityControllerChrisHollinsis soundingthealarmaboutMayorJohnWhitmire’sproposedFY2027$7.5billionbudget.
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 thewaterfundisbeing systematically raided to paper over a structuralcrisisthatCityHallrefusestoconfront, according to the city’s financial watchdog.
“It’s really disappointing the level of dishonesty,thegimmicks,thetricks,thehiding of the ball that’s involved in this proposed budget,” Hollins told the Defender. “And what’sevenmoredisappointingaboutsome 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,anditcostthecitywelloverahundred 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 oftownhalls,fromDistrictBmulti-service centersandSharpstowntoabilingualevent atawestsidesoccerclubandAxelrad,apopular bar in Midtown.
HehasalsotakentocriticizingWhitmire’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.
“Overthepastcoupleofyears,wehaven’t seentheBudgetandFiscalAffairsCommitteeapproachtheseissueswithalevelofseriousness that they deserve,” he said “I say
that with a high degree of respect for the chairandvicechairofthatcommittee.They also need to have the courage to, in these times, when the mayor is trying to put his thumbonthem,whentheymightbethreatened, 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$3.16billion,adecreaseof$11.1million 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,
withoutstandardright-of-waycharges,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’shistory,afigurethathasworsened from$174millionthreemonthsagoto$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’spresentationaddressedwhathe called the systematic draining of Houston’s Combined Utility System, the water and sewerfund,toplugholesinthegeneralfund
Two simultaneous moves are underway
First,theWhitmireadministrationisproposing 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
Thetwonewrevenuemechanismswould generateroughly$220millionincombined relief, per the Whitmire administration
Acres Homes residents emphasized the importance of community engagement in the budget process. Credit:TannisthaSinha/Defender
Hollins
News DN District 18 power players BEHINDTHE CANDIDATES
By Laura Onyeneho
Four
elections. Seven months
One congressional seat That is therealityfortheteambehindU.S. Rep.ChristianMenefeeashiscampaigntakesontheMay26Democratic primary runoff against U.S. Rep. Al Green in Texas’s redrawn 18thCongressionalDistrict
EarlyvotingfortheMay26runoffisunderwayandfeaturesacompetitiveracebetweentwoHouston Democrats:Menefee,37,aformer HarrisCountyattorney,andGreen, 79,along-standingcongressmanof Texas’s 9th congressional district. Menefee secured 46% of the vote in the March 3 primary, narrowly surpassing Green’s 44.2%, triggeringarunoffelection
Behind every congressional campaignarethestrategists,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 spotlightthosefacesonbothsides oftheDistrict18race
Building the machine
For Campaign Manager Jamie Stewart-Aday, a Rice University graduatewhospentfiveyearsrunningcampaignsacrossTexasbefore joining Menefee’s team roughly a year ago, the job is more relentlessthanmostpeopleimagine.He overseesthreefull-timeorganizers and 15 interns, coordinates consultants for direct mail and digital advertising, and manages every dollarthecampaignspends
“Acampaigndoesn’thappenon
your laptop,” Stewart-Aday said “Ithappensintherealworld.Your job as staff is to represent your campaign well with all of the people who need to interact with it at everylevel.”
That philosophy extends to budgeting. Stewart-Aday said a campaign manager’s obligation is to“spendtozero.”Anymoneyleft 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,andformerPresidential candidate Hillary Clinton, brings a decade of organizing experience to the role She first met Menefee while serving as chair of the AfricanAmericanCouncilattheHarrisCountyDemocraticParty,long beforehiscongressionalambitions materialized.
“I think of my role as a utility player,” Agho-Otoghile said “Whetherthatmeanshelpingwith 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, Abbottwaited334daysbeforethe district was represented again, a delay Democrats accused him of engineeringtoprotecttheRepublican House majority when he
redrew the district maps across the state. Menefee won the Jan. 31 special runoff and was sworn inFeb.2,2026.Republicanredistricting then forced him into the newlydrawn18thDistrict,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 congressmantoruninfourelections in seven months,” Stewart-Aday said “Each of those elections is a brandnewracewithabrandnew 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,” shesaid.“Youneedtobeadjusting to new conditions as they come.”
The Green campaign looks ahead
Green,whofirstwonelectionto Congressin2004,hasrepresented Houston’s communities for over two decades. His team did not respond to an interview request andinsteadsubmittedanemailed response.
“Ourcampaignisimplementing 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.”
in the election campaign Credit:JimmieAggison/Defender
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
Rep. Al Green’s supporter in Houston. Courtesy:Rep.Al
Rep. Christian Menefee’s senior advisor, Delilah AghoOtoghile, and the campaign manager (left), Jamie Stewart-Aday (right), share their experience
Feature DN 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 closeditsdoors,butitsimpactonHouston’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 inequitiesfollowingthekillingofGeorgeFloyd,the fundservedasaboldexperimentintargeted economic empowerment.
A roadmap for the future
“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 “Thepurposeistomakesure 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
• 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)andDeepakDoshi(DoshiHouse) used grants to upgrade technology and roasting operations
Thedecisiontosunsetthefundwasstrategic.Havingdistributed its primary grant funding, the board sought to ensure its remaining resources left a permanent mark HEF’sfinalactwas a $100,000 grant to KTSU 90.9 FM, intended to document the fund’s journey through radio programs and podcasts.
The closure highlights the volatility of socialjusticeinitiativesinachangingpoliticalandcorporatelandscape.Gilmorenoted that their largest funder, Wells Fargo, was unable to continue support in the same capacity despite praising HEF as one of the best-runprogramsofitskindinthenation
Theboardrealizedthatraisingthecapital necessarytosustainhigh-levelworkwasno 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-yearfamilylegacybypurchasingessential inventory.
• Community Voice: Amazing 102.5 FM purchased state-of-the-art equipment to continue broadcasting community resources.
• Legal Access: Staci Childs Davis of Sunnyside Legal expanded her firm’s reach. “It allowed Sunnyside Legal to movebeyondone client at a time and into a space whereweeducate and equip entire communities,” Davissaid
• High-ProfileLeadership:Assembling aboardwithfigureslikeformerMayor Sylvester Turner and astronaut BernardHarristobuildinstitutionaltrust.
Lessons in stewardship
As HEF concludes, the board is passing down the “how-to” of its success. Key strategiesincluded:
• Integrity in Selection: Maintaining a “cleanprocess”bydistancingtheboard from grant selectors.
• Holistic Support: Recognizing that capital alone isn’t enough HEFhostedmonthly“lunchandlearns” 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
Staci Childs Davis. CourtesyStaci ChildsDavis.
Judge Vanessa Gilmore. Courtesy VanessaGilmore.
To thePOINT DN
Despite various past and present efforts, like the Houston Food Bank’s School Market, Harris County nowleads the nationinthe number of food-insecure households, leading to hugenumbers of hungry children.
Credit: GeminiAI.
HOUSTON,WE HAVEAPROBLEM
When we heardabout children eating outof McDonald’s dumpsters andseeing ThirdWorld povertydown thestreet from whereI lived, Godgave me andmy husband the vision of doing Kid-Care.”
Childhood hunger
By AswadWalker
Imaginededicatingyourlifetofeedinghungrychildren,onlytowatchthatworkcollapse underallegations laterprovenfalse.Imagine learningdecadeslaterthattheverycommunity youoncehelpedfeednow leadsthe nation in thenumberoffood-insecurehouseholds
ForCarol DoePorter, that scenario isn’t hypothetical.It’sherstory.
Porter andher late husband, Hurt Porter foundedKid-Carein1991. Theirmission beganyearsearlier
Usingtheir blue-collarsalaries, thecouple cookedanddeliveredmealstohungrychildren inapartmentcomplexesacrossHouston.What startedasagrassrootseffort eventually grew intoanationallyrecognizednonprofitfeeding hundredsofthousandsofchildrenannually. Butpublicallegations of fraudinthe early 2000s prompted thestate of Texastoshut down Kid-Careoperationsand triggeredan IRSinvestigation.Thoughtheaccusationswere ultimatelyprovenfalse,thedamagewasdone
The organization’s reputation wasshattered anditsgrowthwashalted.
Today, nearly 25 yearslater,the Porters’ hometown facesatroublingreality:Harris County nowleads thenationinfoodinsecurity.Andsheunderstandablyfeels“sometype ofway.”
Houstonand Harris County?
The numbersare staggering Accordingtoa report from theRiceUniversityKinderInstitute forUrban Research roughly39% of Harris County households arefood-insecure,meaningtheylackreliable accesstosufficient,affordable,andnutritious food.That’s nearly threetimes thenational average(14%).
Researchersalsofound deep racial disparities.Foodinsecurityratesarehighestamong Blackand Hispanic residents.
53% of Black households experience food insecurity
47% of Hispanic households face thesame challenge
Ratesare loweramongwhite and Asian households, at 24% and 17% respectively
especiallyprevalent in households earninglessthan$35,000
annually.Someneighborhoods—particularly theGreenspoint andBushIntercontinental Airportareas—see ratesapproaching 80% of households
“For thefirsttime, we gotasense of how seriousthe issueis,”sharedLuz Garcini,directorofthe Kinder Institute’s Center forCommunity and Public Health.“Whichispretty shocking.”
Children bear the brunt of thiscrisis.
As of 2023, 24.6% of children inHarrisCounty—about306,140 youngpeople—werefoodinsecure,anincreasefrom20.1%in 2019.Thatmeansroughlyone infourchildrenstruggleswith uncertainaccesstofood
Ratesare highestamong Black(34%)andLatino(25%) children
andBrown neighborhoods.
Riseand fall of Kid-Care Long before thesenumbers dominated reports, thePorters were workingto addressthe problemdirectly. Beginningin1984, they personallypreparedand deliveredmeals to hungrychildrenthroughout thecity.
Carol DoePorter,cofounder of Kid-Care,points to astudythat shows while Kid-Carewas at itspeak, hunger in Harris Countydroppedby25%.
WithinHoustonalone,nonprofitChildren at Risk estimatesatleast 88,000childrenlive with food insecurity,including about26,000 underthe ageofsix whoqualifyfor meal delivery services
Thesenumbersarefueledinpartbygeography.Houstoncontainsmorethan500,000residentslivinginfooddeserts,urbanareaswhere affordable,freshfoodisdifficulttofind—conditionsmostcommoninpredominantlyBlack
“Whenweheardabout children eating outof McDonald’sdumpstersand seeing Third Worldpoverty down thestreetfrom whereIlived,God gave me andmyhusband thevisionofdoing KidCare,”Portersaid
Once localmedia executiveBradLevy beganhighlightingtheir work,Kid-Care’sreach exploded.Atits peak, thenonprofitservedbetween240,000andone millionmealsannually.
Afoodsurveyconducted by theanti-hungercampaignNoKid Hungry between1993 and2000foundthathungerinHarrisCounty droppedby25%duringtheperiodwhenKidCarewasmostactive.
Thencamethecontroversy.
In 2002,a series of investigativereports
accusedKid-Careofcorruption.Theallegationsdominatedlocalnewscoverageandled then–TexasAttorneyGeneralGregAbbottto filealawsuitthatshutdowntheorganization.
Theaccusations were eventually disproven,butthePorters’exonerationreceived farlessattention
“Ibelievewithoutanyarrogancethathad webeengivendueprocessbyGregAbbott… they wouldhavefound outwewereinnocentandrestoredus,”Portersaid,“andHarris County wouldnot be number oneinfood insecurity.”
LocalactivistDr.AbdulHaleemMuhammadagrees.
“Thereisnosuchthing as coincidence,” Muhammad said.“There is no doubtthat Kid-Care wassuccessfulinmitigatingchild hunger.ThedestructionofKid-Care…contributedtotheshamefulstateofchildhunger andfoodinsecurityinHarrisCounty.”
Porter believes theorganization could have helpedspark anationalgrassroots movement
“Whatweweredoing wasputting the thoughtinpeople’smindsthatthereexistsa Third Worldcountry in America,”she said “Onthe outskirtsofbeautiful homes, there arepockets of poverty. Andwecould do somethingaboutit.”
Howdid we gethere?
ThecollapseofKid-Careisn’t theonly
factorbehindtheregion’s hunger crisis.Policyand economicrealitiesalsoplaymajorroles.
Accordingtoa2025HoustonFoodBank report,Texas hassomeofthe highestrates of food insecurity in thecountry,alongside some of thehighest ratesofuninsured residents anddiet-related diseases.Nearlyfive millionTexanslackhealthinsurance, and morethantwomillionhouseholdsstatewide arefoodinsecure.Theresultisacycleofpoor health,financialstrain,andlimitedaccessto nutritiousfood
Effortstofight childhoodhunger
Despitethe grim statistics, numerous organizationsare workingtoaddress the problem.
TheHoustonHealthDepartment(HHD) operatesprogramssuchasWIC,whichprovidesnutritionsupportforpregnantwomen andchildrenuptoage five. The Houston Food Bank runs severalyouth-focused initiatives,includingKidsCafé,whichdistributesmealsandsnacksthroughafter-school programs andcommunity partners “KidsCaféfocusesonfood-insecurekids,” said Xena Hernandez, theprogram’s supervisor. “Sometimes that’s thelastmealthey getthatday.”
Othergrassrootsgroupsare stepping in.
HelpingHands forthe People,founded by Alicia Rogers andKrystle Robinson
providesmeals to children in five underservedcommunities during critical after-schoolhours
“Welookedaroundand asked, ‘Who is feedingthese kids now?’” Rogers said.“We decidedwehad to give somethingbackto ourcommunity.”
Call to action
Despitethe destructionofKid-Care’s reputation,Porternever abandonedher mission. The nonprofit stilloperatestoday feeding30to50familiesweeklywiththe helpofvolunteersand partners such as WholeFoods.
ForPorter, solvingchildhood hunger requires both communityresponsibility andresources
“America is thelandofplenty,” shesaid. “Someofushaveplenty.Whatareyoudoing individuallytomakeadifference?”
Shealsohopes individualsand corporationswillsupport Kid-Care’scontinuing work
“Write checks to Kid-Care,” shesaid. “We’re still a501(c)(3) nonprofit.”
Meanwhile,Houstonhealthofficialsurge familiesinneedtoaccessexistingprograms
“Encourage pregnant womenand families with children underfive to reachout to ourclinicsorapplyforWIC,”saidHouston Health Department interimdirectorDr. Theresa Tran
Source:RiceUniversityKinder Institute forUrban Research
HOUSEHOLD FOOD INSECURITY BY NEIGHBORHOOD AREA, 2024
CAROLDOE PORTER
DandelionCafe
Blooms through tough restaurant climate
By Laura Onyeneho
For the last decade, Dandelion Cafe has remained committed to serving the communityandadaptingtochallengesasrestaurants in the city close at an alarming rate
Executive chef and co-owners JC Ricks and Sarah Lieberman have grown what beganasasmallBellairecoffeeshopin2016 intoathree-locationbreakfast-and-brunch institution,withoutpostsinBellaire,onthe RiceUniversitycampus,andintheHeights. Their staying power is notable in a city where the restaurant industry is bleeding AccordingtotheTexasRestaurantAssociation,88%ofTexasrestaurantownersare 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,withscratch-madesausagegrinding inthebackandcroissantscomingoutofthe oven every morning.
“Not to sound pessimistic, but the big goalfor2026isreallytosurvive,”Rickssaid “Ithinkeveryonerightnowisdealingwith alot,whetheritisfinanciallyorjustfearof 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.
Afterayearofstudyinginternationalbusiness in college, Ricks realized the classroom wasn’t clicking He began asking himself, ‘What do I love to do?’ The answer always pointedtothekitchen.
“It kept leading me back to cooking,” he said “AndIwaslike,‘ok,howdoImakethis acareer?’”
Aconversationduringavisittohiscousin in Alabama turned into a laptop search for Houstonculinaryschools.Rickstouredthree programs and chose San Jacinto College on the city’s east side, the farthest from where he lived, but the one where the instructors feltright.
Fromthere,Ricksspentyearsworkinghis waythroughfine-diningandcorporate-dining kitchens, building technique and a repertoire that would later define Dandelion’s menu HelaterworkedwithUnderbellyHospitality before Lieberman, who had opened Dandelion in 2016, brought him on in the
cafe’ssecondyeartodevelopafoodprogram afterthedepartureofakitchenmanager.
“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.”
Thefoodasphilosophy
The cafe takes comfort food seriously, buildsitfromscratch,andnevercutscorners onthepartsdinerscannotsee.
Theteamgrindsitsownbreakfastsausage, bakes its croissants in-house, makes five or sixproprietaryspiceblends,producesitsown jams, salsas, and pastries, and does all of it acrossallthreelocations.
The cafe’s chicken and waffles earned citywide recognition in 2023 when it competedon“GoodMorningAmerica”andwas namedthebestchickenandwafflesinHouston,bestingseverallongtimeestablishments. The dish, a cornbread waffle topped with a friedchickenthighmarinatedfor24hoursin achorizoandCreolespiceblendandfinished withawhipped,spicymaplebutter,hassince becomethecafe’ssignatureitem
ButRickssaidthedisheshelovesmostare thosethatrevealthetechniquebeneath.
“OurlemonblueberryFrenchtoast,Ireally 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 justkindofhitshomeformetoo.”
Fried chicken sandwich with chipotle ranch, lettuce, tomato, and run it as a combo with lemonade and a bag of chips. Credit:JimmieAggison
Chef and co-owner JC Ricks runs Dandelion Cafe, a three-location Houston breakfast institution that has served the community since 2016. Credit:JimmieAggison/Defender
Profile DN
KennedyRyan
Redefinesromance forBlackwomen
ByReShondaTate
Foryears,the romancegenre often asked Blackwomentosettleforfragmentsofthemselvesonthepage.Toooften,theywererelegatedtothe“bestfriend”trope,flattenedinto stereotypes,orpresentedin“watered-down” romancesthatfailedtoreflectthefullnessof theirlivedexperiences.
ThencameKennedyRyan
The NewYorkTimes bestsellingauthor hasbuiltaliteraryempirebycenteringBlack womenunapologetically— exploringtheir vulnerability, ambition,trauma, healing, sensuality,and joy. WhileRyandeliversthe sweepinglovestoriesreaderscrave,herwork carriesadeepermandate:Aninsistencethat Blackwomendeservetobeseenfully
Ryan wasrecentlyinHouston,hostedby KindredStories,aspartofhertourcelebratingher latest release, Score, ascorching second-chanceromancethatreunitesatalented screenwriter andaworld-class musician on thesetofaHarlemRenaissancebiopic
Writingwithintention
ForRyan,storytellingisadeliberateactof reclamation.Bycarvingoutalanethatdidn’t it h
w en she first started,
shehasredefinedwhat“HappilyEverAfter” lookslike.
potential:“Shewriteslovestories,butthey’re also storiesabout healingand survival.You closethe book feelingemotionally wrecked inthebestpossibleway,butalsoempowered.”
BookinfluencerCaseyKellyagrees,noting that Ryan givesBlack womenpermissionto takeupemotionalspace.“Whenpeoplehear ‘romance,’theythink‘boymeetsgirl.’Notin aKennedy Ryan book.These womenare flawed,brilliant,messy,andreal.”
Ryan also uses thegenre’s popularity to weaveinreal-worldthemesliketheCROWN Actandhairdiscrimination.“Romanceisthe mostpopulargenre.It’spalatableanddigestible—the perfectplace to have difficultconversations,”shenotes.
Buildingapurpose-drivenbrand
“IwantBlac ter,” Ryan say unambiguousl joyfuloutcom ries that simpl appeared I wa women, to fee epiclove”
“I tBlckwomentobefrontandcens. “I want us to seeourselves ly…desired,chosen,andwith es.Ineverwantedtowritestoly entertainedpeopleand disantedreaders,especiallyBlack el seen,valued, andworthyof
osophy hasshapedacareer cial awareness. Ryan’s novels softenabsentfrommainstream e, includingchronic illness, ion, racial injustice, andmenealth.Yet,evenwhennavigating heavy, herstories neverabanonhope
“Lovedoesn’t existoutside of real life,” Ryan explains.“The thingswesurvive,thesystems we navigate,the ways we’re shapedbyidentityandcommunity—all of that comes into relationships. Iwant my bookstohonor that truth.”
FromBookTok thebigscreen
Theresponsehasbeenacultural
.FromviralBookTokpraiseto
sold-out events,Ryan’snovelshavebecome affirmations forher readers. Hercritically acclaimedSkyland series (BeforeILetGo,ThisCould Be Us)has resonatedso deeply that it is nowheadingtothe screen.Ryan recentlysignedadealwith MalcolmD.Lee (The Best Man franchise) andUniversal Television’s Peacocktobringthesestories tolife
Ryan understandsthe weight of this visibility “There’s powerinrepresentation,”she says. “WhenBlackwomensee themselves centered in tenderness,complexity, andjoy,itchallengesthe limited narratives we’ve oftenbeenhanded.”
Transcending thegenre
To many,Ryan’swork transcends the“romance” label. Houstonreader Alicia Freemannotes that Ryan’s books helped herrethink thegenre’s
Ryan’srisewasn’tovernight.ANorthCarolinanativeandthedaughterofpastors,she initiallyconsidered journalism before realizingher heartwasn’tinday-to-day news Shespent yearswriting fornonprofits and family publications,refining a“voice” that wouldeventuallybecomeherstrongestasset Even with hercurrent success, Ryan remainscandidabout thehurdles in the publishing industry.“Itellpeopleall thetime, Ifeellike everytimeIrelease abook,I’mstarting over,” she shares, noting that some retailersstillhesitate to stockbooks centeredonBlack leads despiteprovensales However, staying grounded in purpose over trends has paid off.Beyondthe page,Ryanisafierce advocate forautism awarenessandsocial justice. Foraspiring writers,heradviceis simple:
“Yourvoice is your brand. People connectwithhonesty andconsistency. Don’tchase what’s popular. Buildsomething meaningful.”
Kennedy Ryan hashundredsofbook lovers at allofher signings Credit: KennedyRyanFB
HOUSTON
TENNIS CLASSIC
Largest Black tennis tournament offers more than swinging a racquet
ByTerranceHarris
SherriAnn Carroll has played in tennis tournaments all over the country,butthereisjustsomething differentabouttheHoustonTennis Classic, played each year at MacGregor Park’s Homer Ford Tennis Center
Unlike other tournaments, this one,withover400participantsfrom acrossthecountry,isdescribedasa tennisfestivalthatfeelsmorelikea familyreunion.
“The biggest thing to me is it’s majority African American,” said Carroll, who has played in the HoustonTennisClassiceveryyear since 2019. “It gives us a chance to gettogetherwithothersfromDallas and from Arkansas and from otherareas.Ithappensonceayear, and you find out what everybody has been doing, how everybody’s family is It’s a great camaraderie amongus.”
The Houston Tennis Classic returns to MacGregor Park, May 22-24,forthe32ndAnnualinstallmentofthelargesttournamentofits kindintheUS.Thethree-dayevent centers on tennis, but it has come to mean so much more as participantsbeginarrivingMay21forthe
festivities.
It’s Black culture, with tennis at its epicenter.
“It’sanexperience,” said Sharon EvansBrooks, who has been the director of the Houston Tennis Classic for 10 years. “It’s not just tennis racquets and tennisskirts.It’s afullBlacktennisexperience
“It is community, it is culture, it is entertainment, it is health-related and supported,andconnections.”
It’s always sold out. Folks look forward to this tournament There are tennis tournaments all over Houston and all over the country, but they don’t have the atmosphere and the cultural significance and the longevity that this tournament has.”
KEITH CORNELIUS
Linda Griffin agrees that it’s all of that and then some She and her husband spend a good part of the year traveling across the country to play in different tennis tournaments.
TheymightbeinNewYorkone week, Indianapolis the next, and may make a quick hop over to Austin. But for Grifin, a native of Oklahoma City who now resides in Clear Lake, there is nothing like the tournament in her own backyard
“Thefellowship,”said Griffin, who has played in the tournament for 15 years. “That’s what brings me back. I enjoy the reunion of other players from other cities. There is nothing likeit.”
That was precisely the intent when the HoustonTennisClassic,
formerlyknownastheKTSUClassic,wasfirstpresentedbylegendary TexasSouthernTenniscoachHerbertProvost.
Thetournamenthasgrownfrom afewplayersplayingonthecourts in Provost’s backyard to now 430 participantsfromacrosstheUnited States playing at both McGregor ParkandMemorialParktoaccommodatethenumberofplayers.
FormerKTSUGeneralManager George Thomas and John Wilkersonlaterpickedupthemantle,with AnnEatonandKenGroovytaking overastheprimaryorganizers
“Wejustgottogetherandwanted to continue George Thomas’ path because everybody played, everybody wanted to play We all got along together It was just like a family,whichitstillis,”saidEaton, who still participates at 79 years old. “Ken and I just picked up the mantleforhim(Thomas)andcontinuedthetournament,anditgrew andgrew “
Under Eaton and Groovy for 20 years, the tournament reached as high as 200 participants. Eaton
credits the doubling of participantstoBrooks’suniquemarketing approach, sponsorships, and makingthetournamentaneventpeople wanttocomebacktoyearafteryear
This year, the Houston Tennis Classic organizers had to turn down applicants because they had reached the capacity of the courts theyhaveaccesstointhecity
“Idon’tthinkKenandIthought itwouldgrowthislarge,”Eatonsaid. “Wealwayshopedthatitwould,but eachyearwithSharondoingit,the tournamenthasgrown.”
Griffin also credits Brooks for the tournament’s continued growth There are parties, which include a Martha’s Vineyard-themed party right on the courts at MacGregor on Saturday night, vendors, plenty of food, networking,andimportanthealth discussions.
“Thisisthelargesttournament, and we have so many activities,” Griffin said “Sharon does a great job of getting sponsorships Our goody bags are awesome. All of theactivitiesthatsheplansoutare
morethananyoftheothertournaments we’ve ever attended.”
KeithCornelius,whoisassisting Evans-Brookswhilealsoparticipatinginthetournament,describesthe event as more of a family event in whichtennishappenstobeplayed
“This event is basically a tennis cookout. It’s a cookout where tennis is played,” said Cornelius as he pointedtodifferentpartsofthetenniscenter.“Backoverhere,youwill have the party going on over there on the practice court. You have all of this green space where vendors are set up, folks are listening to music,andmassagetables.”
Itallequatestowhatisexpected tobeanotherepicweekendoftennis,goodfood,andfestivities.
“It’s a Black tennis festival,” Evans-Brooks said “We are lookingtohiteverypartofyourlife:The competitivepartofyou,thefamily reunion/cookout vibe that we create,thesupportingBlackbusinesses throughthenumberofsmallincubator Black businesses that will be outside, and we want to fill your stomachwithgoodfood.”
A schedule of events for the Houston Tennis Classic, which officially kicks off May 22 and runs through May 24 at MacGregor Park. Courtesy:HoustonTennisClassic
Summer Creekpara-athlete overcomes MARQUEZBARNES Sports
By Jimmie Aggison
OneyearafterbecomingSummerCreek HighSchool’sfirstmalepara-athletetoqualifyfor theUIL 6A StateTrack Meet,sophomoreMarquez Barnes returned,faster, strongerand more confidentthanever.
Afterlosing65pounds, transforming his body in theweightroom, andearning alighter,custom-fit racing chair, Barnes qualified forstate againinthe 100-meter, 400-meter,andshotput.Butjustdaysbefore Austin, hisnew chairdeveloped alignment andframeissuesatregionalsandcouldnot be repaired in time forstate, forcinghim back into theheavier,poorlyfitted chairhe hadleft behind
“The newchair wasa custom fitand much lighter than theold chair,”saidMarquez.“IfeltIcouldtrulycompeteatahigher levelwithall theother top-performing athletes.”
“SeeingMarquez finallycom pete with equipmentdesigned specificallyfor himmeant everything to me,” said Marquez’smother, Lavona Thomas.“Itwasemotional andrewarding to watch himcompete comfortably andconfidentlywith equipmenttailoredtohis needs. It gave me hope for hisfutureand showed me what is possible forhim.”
Seeing Marquez’sdetermination andhappiness reminded hisparents whytheykeptpushing forwarddespiteevery challenge
ForMarquez,the newchair wasmore than just upgraded equipment. It became therewardfor months of work that transformed himintoacompletelydifferent athlete.
“Losingatstatebrokemeforawhile,but italsoforcedmetolookatmyselfhonestly,” said Marquez. “I decidedthe first change hadtobemyhealth, andthatdecision changedeverythingafter.”
Unhappywithhis fourth-place shotput finish(21-feet-2), andsixth-placefinishes in the100 meters (22.02) and400 meters (1:25.61) during hisfreshmanseason, Marquezdedicated himselftothe weight room andentered hissophomoreseason 65poundslighterandsignificantlystronger.
“I am extremelyproud of theprogressI have made,bothphysicallyand mentally,” said Marquez. “This journeyhas pushed me in ways Inever expected,and despite setbacksandchallenges,Ihavecontinuedto
hadworkedtoprepare forthismoment.”
Facedwithanother majorsetback,Marquezchosetostayfocused,remainpositive, andcontinuemovingforward despitethe disappointment
“Racinginthe oldchair comeswith severalchallengesbeyondits weight,” said Marquez. “Itwas notdesigned to properly supportmycurrentneeds.Thechairaffects mycomfort,positioning,andoverallperformance,makingitharderformetocompete atmyfullpotential.Therearealsoconcerns aboutstability andadded physical strain, whichhaveaffectedbothmyconfidence andperformance whileracing.”
Summer CreeksophomoreMarquezBarnes and hisracecoach Dr.Dwight J. Smith prior to the100-meterraceduring theRegional meet. CreditJimmie Aggison/Defender
growstrongerandmoredetermined.Physically,Ihaveworkedhardtoimprove my performanceandendurance,andmentally, Ihavelearnedtostayfocused,resilient,and motivatedevenindifficult moments.”
That newfound confidence quickly became visiblenot only in Marquez’sperformance,but also in theway he carried himselfbothonand off thetrack
“Myconfidence within myself hasdefinitelyincreased,fromthewayIfeelaround people,speak in frontofothers, andsee myself when Ilookinthe mirror.I’m extremelyproudofmyself,andIwon’tstop,” said Marquez.
Thatgrowingself-beliefsoonbegantranslating into amoredisciplined andstrategic approach in competition.
“Thething that setMarquez apartthis yearfromotherathleteshecompetedagainst washismentalfocusonbecomingasmarter racerandpayingattentiontoallthestrategic detailsofracing,”saidMarquez’sracecoach, Dr.DwightJ.Smith
By thetimethe regional meet arrived, everything seemed to be coming together foranother breakthrough moment.Then thenew chairbegan having issues,forcing Barnes to send it back to themanufacturer andleavinghimwithnooptionbuttocompete at thestate meet in hisolder,heavier racing chair.
“WhenIlearned thechair wouldnot return before thestate trackmeet, Ifelt devastated andfrustrated,”saidMarquez “I immediatelythought abouthow hard I
mee . “Delivering the bad was extremely difficult,” parent,ithurtto andho cia
Despitespending$9,431 on thecustom chair, theequipment stillfailedtoperform duetoalignmentand frameissues,forcing Marqueztosenditbacktothemanufacturer justoneweekbeforetheUIL6Astatetrack t news to Marquez said Lavona.“As a oknowhowexcited opefulhewas,espeallyafter waiting so long forthe opportunity. Seeing hisdisappointment washeartbreaking,but Ialsoknewit wasimportant to encourage himtostaymotivatedandnotletthis setbackkeephim from pursuinghis goals.”
Formanyathletes,thesetbackcouldhave easily become an excuse.But thoseclosest to Marquezsay perseverance hasalways defined himmorethanhis circumstances.
“Thefuturepossibilities keep me motivated,”saidMarquez.“Icanseemyselfgoing farinthissport.Icanseemyselfbeingnumberone.”
Marquezfinishedsixthinthe100meters (18.73),fifthinthe400meters(1:10.83),and thirdinshotput (23-1.50).
Marquezcontinues racing, knowinghe maynothavethesameequipmentadvantage he trainedwithall season,but he remains determined to compete.
“I hope others whohearmystory learn to‘takeonedayatatime,keeppushingforward,putonefootinfrontoftheother,and NEVER stop,’”saidMarquez
Whilethechairmayhavechanged,Marquez’s mindsetnever did.
Feature DN Houston line dancersstepinthe name of love
By AswadWalker
Houstonhas long been celebrated as a global powerhouse of cultureand industry It is afoodie’sparadise, theproud home of theTexasMedicalCenter,multiplechampionship-winning prosportsfranchises, and, ofcourse,thebirthplaceofBeyoncé.
ThoseintheknowranktheHoustonarts sceneamong thebestinthe country, bolstered by thefactthatthe GreaterHouston area is consideredthe mostdiverse in the nation.Withformidablegreenspaces,prestigiousuniversities,andpublicartseemingly around everycorner, thecity’svibrancyis undeniable.
However, anew rhythmic movement is wobblingand Electric Slidingits wayinto H-Townhearts.Houstonisrapidlygaininga reputationasoneofthenation’sfastest-growinglinedancingscenes.
To learnmoreabout this expandingculture,the Defender spokewithmembers of severalofHouston’spremierlinedanceteams abouthow they aresteppinginthe name of love,health,andcommunity Introductiontotherhythm Formany, linedancingstartsasasimple hobbybeforebecomingalifelongpassion.
NerissaRedoofD’Headlinersdiscoveredthe artformattheTomBassCommunityCenter whilelookingforanewactivity “EversinceIfoundoutaboutlinedancing, I’vebeendoingit,”shesays ShaunFulton, also of D’Headliners,has
been dancingfor over 30 yearsbut transitioned into teaching in 2011. Others,like Martha Allisonofthe ElusiveLadiesand GentsofHouston,found more than just choreographyinthesteps “Iusedtotakelinedanceclasses...forone
wholeyear, Iwas goingthere everyweek,” Allisonrecalls.“Itwasalsotherapyforme. andIactuallylostweightdoingso.”
Thescenecontinuestoattractnewinstructors,suchasQuintessaHaynes, founderof WBM(Wisdom,Beauty,Motion).
“I’vebeenalinedance instructor fortwo years,”saidHaynes, who’sgot danceinher DNA.“Ialreadylikedtodance. I’mnotsure howItappedbackintoitin2024,butIdid.”
Thisdrawisn’t limited to locals.Rachel Spruill,aDetroitnativewhomovedtoHoustonfouryearsago,says,“I’vebeenlinedancingwhatfeelslikeallmylifefromeverycity I’vebeenin.”
HerfellowWBMmember,MissSheShe, echoesthatsentimentofpermanentbelonging:“Afriendofminefoundtheclassandall ofusjoined—andI’mtheonethat’sstillhere. Iwillbehereforever.”
Breaking down theHoustonscene
TheHoustonsceneisatapestryofdifferentgroups,venues,andstyles.Onanygiven ThursdayatLiquidSmoke,you mightfind D’Headlinerspracticingtothe latest hits.
“We’re abouttodoagreat linedance by CardiBcalled‘Outside,’”saysRedo.
PRIMARYRUNOFF ELECTIONS
Learn howlocal teams (likeWBM--Wisdom, Beauty,Motion--seenhere) andinstructors have turned Houstonintoanationallinedancing hub, emphasizing health and unity Credit:AswadWalker/Defender