Houston Defender: July 28, 2022

BURNED OUT TACKLING THE TEACHER CRISIS

FEATURE

CURTIS ‘50 CENT’ JACKSON The rapper, actor, and producer recently received a Humanitarian award for his investment in youth.

Volume 91, issue 36 July 28, 2022

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PROFILE

QUDISHAH MUHAMMAD

This soon-to-be UH grad, entrepreneur, mentor and gamechanger, talks about juggling it all. instagram.com/defendernetwork defendernetwork.com

FREE

2 | July 28, 2022 |

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DN To the POINT

Danielle Deadwyler portrays Mamie Till-Mobley and Jalyn Hall is Emmett Till in the movie “Till.”

United Artists Releasing

Message from the Managing Editor Establishment and Retirement Modernization Act would allow a president to nominate In commemoration of Emmit Supreme Court nominees every two years.

Till’s 81st birthday, a new trailer This would occur during the first and third for an upcoming biopic detailing years of their terms. Justice Clarence Thomas Till’s life, death, and his mother will immediately be moved to senior status Mamie Till-Mobley’s unfathomable if this bill is passed. Justices John Roberts resilience was released—and was and Samuel Alito would follow once they immediately met with polarizing hit the threshold in a couple of years. It’s a responses. lot more details behind the bill, which you This film is an opportunity to can read about at defendernetwork.com but ReShonda Tate educate people on the ugly realities we’re here for it and hoping it passes. of racism, which is especially timely If you’re questioning whether that’s really given the current climate and agenda of educational era- necessary – Thomas, the longest-tenured Justice, has been sure. The director, Chinonye Chukwu, said she was careful on the bench 30 years. More than 1.5 million people have to not show the actual violence so she wouldn’t traumatize signed a petition to get him off the bench. He’s dismanor re-traumatize audiences. She chose to tell the story tling rights like he’s removing lint because he knows empathically, as opposed to explicitly. there’s nothing anyone can do about it. This bill could Minutes after the trailer hit social media, people began change that. dismissing it as “Black trauma porn.” I get it. Hollywood has an affinity for stories of disenfranchised Black folks WE ARE NOT LIKE THEM and their plights—as opposed to stories of our successes.

I don’t know what Mark Ponder was thinking when he But come on….We watch Tommy take out twelve drug donned his red MAGA hat and headed to the nation’s capital dealers in “Power,” and glorify it on social media. We see on Jan. 6 to take part in an insurrection. But Brotherman is drive-bys, random murders, executions daily in film and now seeing firsthand that we are not like them.

TV, and we don’t see any of that as traumatic. But when Ponder, who is Black, received one of the longest senwe deal with the horrors of reality, it’s “too much.” tences thus far for his role in the terroristic riot (because There is enough out there to balance out the “heavi- that’s what it was). The federal government sought a ness” of films like “Till.” And if you’re like me, enjoy them 60-month prison term for Ponder in court this week, which for what they are (shout out to “P-Valley”). But don’t dis- he got, and the judge threw in three more months for good miss films like “Till.” It’s important that we realize that measure because he is seen on video attacking an officer. if you’re ignorant to history, you’re doomed to repeat it. His punishment is tied for the longest with the December sentence of Robert Scott Palmer, a Florida man who struck TERM-LIMITS FOR SCOTUS? HERE FOR IT Capitol Police officers with a fire extinguisher.

Did you know that five of the six conservative justices Out of 850 J6 defendants so far, the one with the longest on the bench were appointed by presidents who lost the sentence is the one Black guy. If this were a different case, I’d popular vote? And they are now racing to impose their be shaking my head. But….what y’all doing this weekend? out-of-touch agenda on the American people. And it’s ***shrugs*** #MakeAmericaGreatBehindBars nothing we can do about it.

Or is there?

ON THE WEB Houston Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is among • Local artists you need to know. the House Democrats seeking to pass legislation imposing • Check out our TOP 5’s....and weigh in.

18-year term limits regarding how long a justice could • Sports reporter Terrence Harris has the latest on the serve on the high court. The Supreme Court Tenure US’s efforts to #BringBrittneyHome.

LET’S REDEFINE BLACK TRAUMA

July 28, 2022 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN News Some local school districts, community colleges neglect inclusion

By Laura Onyeneho

Raymond Dugas surveys a large pile of trash left across the street from his property northeast of downtown Houston on Friday, July 8, 2022. Dugas says people have been using the space for illegal dumping for years. (Annie Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via AP)

FEDERAL INVESTIGATION

Illegal dumping in Houston may violate civil rights is focused on “fenceline communities” in office received no advance notice,’’ Turner The Justice Department is investigating Houston, New Orleans, Chicago and other said in a statement, calling the investigation illegal dumping in Houston, including dead cities that have been exposed to air and “absurd, baseless and without merit.’’ bodies and medical waste, that water pollution from chemiTurner said the city sets a priority to officials said is plaguing Black cal plants, refineries and other combat illegal dumping, “a practice that and Latino neighborhoods in industrial sites. we agree disproportionately plagues Black the nation’s fourth largest city.

Illegal dumpsites not only and Brown communities in Houston and The investigation will be led No one in the attract rodents, mosquitos many municipalities throughout the counby the department’s civil rights United States and other vermin that pose try.’’ The city has spent millions of dollars division and will examine should be health risks, but they can also to fight illegal dumping, Turner said, addwhether city police and other exposed to risk contaminate surface water ing that the problem is overwhelmingly departments discriminate of illness and and make neighborhoods caused by third parties who do not live in against Black and Latino res- other serious more susceptible to flooding, the affected neighborhoods. idents in violation of federal harm because Clarke said. They also can The Houston City Council doubled civil rights laws. lower property values, harm the maximum fine for illegal dumping to of ineffective Besides bodies, items solid waste quality of life and even reduce $4,000 last year, the maximum allowed dumped in majority Black management expected lifespans, Clarke and by state law, Turner said. The city also or Latino neighborhoods or inadequate other officials said. has installed surveillance cameras to include appliances, furniture, enforcement The Houston investigation catch and prosecute individuals and busitires, mattresses and even programs,’’ will focus on Trinity/Houston nesses responsible for illegal dumping and vandalized ATM machines, Gardens, a predominantly encourages city residents to call 311 to regAssistant Attorney General -KRISTEN CLARKE Black and Latino neighbor- ister complaints.

Kristen Clarke said at a news hood in northeastern HousMary Benton, a spokeswoman for Turner, conference. ton. Residents frequently complain about said she was “not aware of ” dead bodies “Illegal dumping is a longstanding illegal dumping there, Clarke said. being dumped anywhere in Houston. environmental justice issue, and like Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said During the first six months of the year, many other environmental justice issues, he was “stunned and disappointed to Houston residents called the city’s 311 line it often disproportionately burdens Black learn about the investigation” by the Jus- more than 5,400 times to complain about and Latino communities,’’ said Clarke, who tice Department. illegal dumping, that’s nearly as many comheads the department’s civil rights division.

“Despite the DOJ’s pronouncements, my plaints as recorded in all of 2021.

The investigation is the first publicly announced environmental justice action READ WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MARTHA CASTEX-TATUM since Attorney General Merrick Garland THINKS IS TO BLAME FOR THE ILLEGAL DUMPING. created an office of environmental justice within the agency in May. The new office AP

The Harris County Commissioners Court has set an August 11, 2022 deadline for community colleges and school districts to sign an agreement to conduct a multi-jurisdictional disparity study. Setting aside $2.5 million to cover nearly all of the cost of the study, Commissioners Court wants the educational institutions to implement a high-quality MWBE program if the study demonstrates a need.

The growing wealth gap Rodney Ellis reveals Black households have about 7 cents in wealth compared to $1 dollar for white households. In Harris County, Black household income is only 63% of white households.

School districts and community colleges are some of the largest government entities issuing contracts according to County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, “After all, these entities ask voters to approve billions of dollars in bonds for facility and technology upgrades. They should steward these resources equitably to not only improve education in the community but also create a bridge for economic opportunity.”

Mayor Sylvester Turner agrees, “We cannot close disparities across health, income and educational outcomes if economic opportunities are not equally available to everyone. I believe that local government entities have an obligation to steward public tax dollars in a way that reduces economic inequity to make progress toward closing the racial and gender wealth gap.”

Currently, five school districts and community colleges have signed letters of agreement to conduct the disparity study: Houston ISD, Alief ISD, Spring ISD, Houston Community College, Lone Star College The following districts and community colleges have not agreed to conduct the disparity study demonstrating their lack of commitment to diversity and accountability.

Aldine ISD Channelview ISD Clear Creek ISD Crosby ISD Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Dayton ISD Galena Park ISD Goose Creek ISD Huffman ISD Humble ISD Katy ISD

Klein ISD LaPort ISD New Caney ISD Pasadena ISD Sheldon ISD Spring Branch ISD Stafford MSD Tomball ISD Waller ISD Lee College San Jacinto College

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN News MONKEYPOX IN HOUSTON

Demand for more vaccines as cases rise Houston Public Media

The city of Houston and Harris County are asking the White House for more Monkeypox vaccines as the number of cases in the Houston area rises to 57.

In a recent press conference, Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said that as of now there are 47 cases in Houston, with an additional 10 in unincorporated Harris County.

The city received more than 5,000 vaccines, 1,500 of those were given to Harris County Public Health.

Turner said though case numbers remain low, they still need more vaccines to prevent a worsening public health crisis.

“If you wait too long then you’re chasing after a pandemic and in this case we don’t want to wait,” Turner said. “We’re asking the White House to send us more vaccines.”

Hidalgo said that the goal is not to scare people, but to make sure it is a different trajectory.

“WHO declared this a public health emergency. Texas has 183 cases, Harris County has 57 confirmed,” she said. “All have been men between the ages of 20 to 58.; the risk remains low in Harris County.”

Monkeypox can look like a pimple, blister, rash or lesion.

Some people experience fevers and headaches.

Hidalgo also said that monkeypox is not isolated to just one group of people, but can be contracted by anyone, and that the disease has spread out of Africa — a continent in which it is now endemic — in the past, but cases have not been this high.

“It already exists, there’s a vaccine already, the smallpox vaccine has been shown to work against monkeypox,” Hidalgo said.

“There are treatment options. The challenging news is it can cause areas of concern in immunocompromised, and children. Those unknowns are the concern.”

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner updates the community on the spread of monkeypox on July 25, 2022.

Texas facing juvenile justice crisis services to a county level to better serve the youth within their own communities.

“They do things that are stupid and that are law-breaking, but that doesn’t mean that they’re destined to be lifelong, repeat offenders. It doesn’t mean that they need to be institutionalized,” Merfish said. “We have to continue to ensure that we humanize them.”

By Alaina Bookman

A complaint from a public interest group is alleging that a staffing shortage at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) is having detrimental effects on the mental health and physical well-being of youth held in the facilities.

Texas Appleseed, a nonprofit public interest justice center, filed a complaint urging the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the rights violations of youth within the TJJD and its five facilities across the state. Under the Sunset Review, an agency can be abolished by the state legislature if it is found to be inadequate.

“Young people who are in this are being traumatized right now and their mental health is suffering. We already know that a lot of them have high or intense mental health needs,” said Brett Merfish, an attorney and director of youth justice with Texas Appleseed.

The staffing shortage has resulted in inadequate mental health and educational services, causing higher rates of suicidal behavior as the youth are reportedly isolated for as long as 22 hours each day. Over 600 youths are in the state care of TJJD. Further intake has been paused.

“I do think that these are the most vulnerable youth and a lot of times they are also in our foster care system.

They, unfortunately, become the forgotten children,” Merfish said.

Texas Appleseed is advocating for the closure of TJJD secure facilities after evidence of sexual assault, excessive use of force and the overuse of restraints were reported after the May 2022 Sunset Review.

Merfish said these continual and longstanding issues

VOLUME 91 - NUMBER 36 - JULY 28, 2022 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Managing Editor ReShonda Tate

Chief Development Officer Emelda Douglas

Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

are systemic.

“Black and Brown youth are profiled, probably by school resource officers and by police officers. Racial biases are within all of our systems in the United States,” Merfish said. “More kids who are Black and Brown are ending up in our juvenile justice system.”

Merfish said Texas Appleseed is working toward systemic changes in the juvenile justice system through preventative measures and by shifting rehabilitation

Education Reporter Laura Onyeneho

Creative Director Michael Grant

Sports Terrance Harris Jodie B. Jiles

Administrative Asst.

Stacey Palmer

Photographers Jimmie Aggison

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 2020 copyright.

No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, Tx 77288

July 28, 2022 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

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DN Feature

Humanitarian Awards honors Houstonians for generosity

FREE COVID VACCINATIONS

By Payton Wilson

The Houston Random Acts of Kindness Day recently hosted the annual event at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, honoring 10 Houstonians for their generous and selfless efforts, including the award-winning rapper, producer, actor, and entrepreneur, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson for his work with his G-Unity Foundation (which he founded in 2003).

His foundation launched an educational intervention program called the ‘G-Unit Business Lab’ in the Houston Independent School District to provide a year-long course on entrepreneurship to help shape the next generation of entrepreneurs in Houston.

“When you doing it big, you win these kinda awards: Houston Humanitatian Award. I’m proud of this, and my entrepreneurship program is doubling in size this year,” Jackson wrote on Instagram after the awards ceremony.

Other honorees included Dave and Laura Ward, Kenneth Li, Dr. Iresha Hillard, LeMarcus and Amber Newman, Dr. Carolyn Farb, Councilman Edward Pollard, Bishop Leroy J. Woodard Jr., Darryl and Linda Wischnewsky, and Alan Helfman. Caleb

Annual Houston Humanitarian Awards and RAK Day Founders David and Treveia Dennis with 2022 Humanitarian Awards Honoree Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson

Cook was honored with the Florene Ivory Dennis Historic Heart Award, and Amit Tandon received the highly distinguished National Humanitarian Award.

Award founders, David and Treveia Dennis have been about serving the people since the loss of their two young children several years prior to the couple beginning the Humanitarian Awards. Their loss inspired them to highlight local humanitarians in the Houston area because there were so many that helped them through their tough times.

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July 28, 2022 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Business Choose a physician who really listens

Better health begins with caring doctors

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By Jodie B. Jiles

In the aftermath of the heinous killing of George Floyd, a group of Houstonians came together to establish the Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity to create long term change in Houston’s minority community from a grassroots level.

“The genesis happened after the death of George Floyd,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner, who serves as Honorary Chair. “There was a lot of talk about defunding police, but I was hearing people saying we need to invest in communities that have been underserved and underresourced for decades.”

“We are hoping to help established businesses with sustainability, and new businesses get started and be successful,” added Fund President Thomas Jones.

Wells Fargo Vice President of Social Impact & Sustainability Arcy Munoz is adding to the pool with a $20 million

contribution from the company.

“The Open for Business Fund is a part of a roughly $420 million small business recovery effort to support diverse small businesses that have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that those that were affected by the pandemic will have the funds to get tangible assets to really quickly recover,” Munoz said.

The grant will give $10,000 to $65,000 to non-profits and small businesses so they can own more of their assets, such as property, equipment and technology. Candidates are encouraged to focus on one of the four pillars of the fund that include: Social and Racial Justice, Economic Development, Youth Empowerment and Education, and Community Building.

The application period runs Aug. 9-23.

Visit https://www.houstonequityfund.com for more information.

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DN InFocus FOCUS SOCIAL

BURNED OUT Tackling the teacher crisis

By Laura Onyeneho

T

eachers in grades K through 12 are more burned out than workers in any other industry, according to a new Gallup poll that finds 44% of K-12 employees report “always” or “very often” feeling burned out at work. That number climbs to 52% when looking just at teachers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projected that over the next decade, nationwide, there will be over 124,000 openings for elementary school teachers and over 77,000 for high school teachers each year.

Increased work duties during the pandemic, students with mental health challenges and political debates over masks and mass shootings are among the reasons educators say they are under unprecedented stress – and staffing shortages increase the pressure.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) found that 79% of preK-12 grade educators are dissatisfied with their jobs.

Randi Weingarten, AFT president called the teacher shortage situation “the worst I’ve ever seen.”

The AFT research result collected by an independent third party found that teachers’ sentiments toward education were worsened by pandemic challenges and increasing political wars in the last two years.

Weingarten shared that teachers did their best to power through the pandemic but were met with frustrations and lack of assistance from the system: “The pandemic teachers were amazing,” Weingarten said. “They moved to remote with many of them not having really good platforms. You could hear they engaged kids. Parents were very, very grateful. But what has happened is that the politics and politicians have really polluted what goes on with teachers right now.”

Furthermore, morale is at an all-time low as conspiracy theorists publicly attack teachers. Weingarten said teachers face “constant heckling, being called pedophiles, being called groomers, wondering whether whatever they said, whether they were going to be pulled into a principal’s office if they answered a kid’s question.”

Forty-percent of teachers expressed they would like to leave the profession within two years, given the depressing and hostile ambiance, according to Weingarten.

HOUSTON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS ADDRESS ISSUE

Teacher shortages continue to linger well before the upcoming school year and area ISDs are making plans to address the issue.

Houston ISD and Cy-Fair ISD are among Texas’ top three largest districts working to provide students with certified educators despite the shortage that could impact them this fall.

HISD’s website listed nearly 950 teacher vacancies, while Cy-Fair reported 678. With numbers that high, it is hard to ignore the reasons for the shortage.

According to a 2021 poll by the Charles Butt Foundation, there was a 10% increase from 2020 in the

number of teachers who considered leaving the profession for reasons that include work-related stress, feeling undervalued, excessive workload and low pay.

One way school districts are addressing the problem is by fixing the holes in the teacher pipeline.

Shortages are common in schools serving poor students where the turnover is high.

Trina Gaines was a kindergarten teacher in Pasadena ISD. She resigned and pivoted into the position as a college and career readiness advisor. After 13 years as an educator, she said the challenges she faced during the height of the pandemic were the last straw.

“I honestly didn’t have the emotional and mental bandwidth to return. I had to break my contract last year, she said. “From the outside looking in, teaching kindergarten looks fun, but it’s far from it. You are constantly assessing the students, changing curriculum to get students to read on a first-grade level. It was too much pressure, and no autonomy.”

She told the Defender that school districts should do a better job asking what teachers really want. Many want “the gift of time.”

“It would be great to be able to have the coverage for my class to leave for an hour during lunch to sit down and just be,” Gaines said. “As a teacher you have to choose between taking a break and getting things done for the rest of the day. I don’t have to worry about that anymore.”

The education profession also struggles to attract new talent. There is a sharp decline in teacher preparation programs which leads to districts hiring underprepared educators to fill in the gaps while increasing the demand on current teachers.

“You can only accomplish so much by throwing money at the problem. Teacher shortages are more complex than that,” said Dr. Beth Tuckwiller, associate professor and department chair of Special Education and Disability Studies at George Washington University.

FORT BEND ISD ONLINE CAMPAIGN RESULTS • Allow teachers to wear jeans (as long as they are professional).

• Remove limits on making copies.

• Make job-embedded professional development artifacts and campus support walks optional. (The two items concern yearly HR required evaluations and are used to demonstrate “proof of performance.”)

• Consolidate course codes at elementary school level to reduce number of grades entered into grade books.

• Limit special education students in certain general education areas.

• Increase stipend for teachers attending Reading Academy to $500.

TEACHER VACANCIES “Teachers need support, they need more qualified instructional assistance. There isn’t enough autonomy on how and what they teach and they are not respected as licensed learning scientists.”

DISTRICTS’ STRATEGIES

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) reports that since 2014, Texas saw about a 27% decrease in the number of newly certified teachers. Area school districts are developing strategies to address the issue.

HISD announced its Alternative Certification Program (ACP). It is dedicated to recruiting people who don’t have an education background in becoming fulltime teachers and is free for candidates who accept teaching positions with the district.

“We’ve had approval for this program for over 30 years…we go under the policies and procedures of the [TEA],” said LaShawn Porter, senior manager of HISD’s ACP. “Before you can go into a classroom, you need to have at least 150 hours of course work as well as pass the required exams to go into the classroom and our program prepares them for that...After the program we provide them with coaching, modeling, trainings on classroom management, on lesson delivery to continue throughout their entire year.”

Last month, HISD officials approved an 11% raise for teachers as part of a five-year strategic plan pitched

by HISD Superintendent Millard House II to keep the district competitive. The starting salary increased from $56,869 to $61,500. The ACP is implementing a competitive salary package of $61,500 with the school district offering up to $5,000 stipends for teachers in critical shortage areas.

In Fort Bend ISD, the district launched an online “ThoughtExchange” in January to address teacher morale and collected feedback from teachers to improve working conditions. The campaign is ongoing and more updates will be announced.

On July 21, the district held a special education hiring event seeking special education aides and certified teachers.

HISD

800 Cy-Fair

669 Fort Bend

275 Alief

452

10 | July 28, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN InFocus FOCUS SOCIAL LET THE PEOPLE BE HEARD

Teachers weigh in on why they’re leaving

By ReShonda Tate

returned the following school year as a substitute/tutor. It is now 9 years later and I am still a substitute/tutor only because I don’t have to deal with all the other stuff ! I can go home and relax each day!” - Stephanie Heard

The U.S. teachers shortage could be getting worse.

A recent report from the National Education Association (NEA) showed that more than half of teachers (55%) intend to leave the profession earlier than they planned.

The Defender asked teachers why they were leaving, or contemplating leaving the job they once loved.

“I just got out...like July 5. I just didn’t love it any longer. I loved my ‘nieces and nephews’ in high school, but they gave me 4 different courses, which is A LOT, and I’d never taught 3 of them. That’s stressful and they thought it was ok. It wasn’t. The last person in my department they gave 4 different class subjects to retired. And that’s what I told them when I left...those courses were not divided equitably even though you had more than 2 teachers able to teach those courses.” – Bridgette Wilkins “I left due to COVID-19. I was in a high contact class, self-contained special education class and in the fall of 2020, HISD had published no satisfactory room plan and I had asked all summer from campus to district level supervisor. I became personally ill 3 days prior to returning to campus and I resigned because my significant other had long haul COVID-19. HISD tried to have my teaching certificate revoked by TEA due to a late resignation. The investigator called and I sent my documentation and TEA called me back and said, ‘You’re good, be safe’.” -HrH Gold

“There are two things that no educator wants to experience: A child DYING and a child LYING. I had to constantly endure horrific lies told by a student because she was really covering up for what was happening at home and crying out for help. No educator wants to be put in a situation where it is your word against a student. I had lost so much working in this field because of crooked and dishonest admin. After the Uvalde TX incident where those teachers and students were killed, that was when I realized that that’s the only thing left to take was my life.

That finally did it for me. I am writing this in tears because I love teaching. But teaching stopped being fun. Now it’s work. Dreadful, stressful, grueling work.” - Davinia Gordon “After teaching exceptional education for 37 years, I decided that it was time to leave.

The amount of paperwork was increasing, too many behavior issues with students and parents, people that were not in the classroom telling me how to teach. I even went to the principal my last year and asked her if I was being ‘punked’ during the school year. I just got too tired to fight anymore. However, I

scholarships, and students want to act grown with child-like consequences. We are definitely missing education holistically and it’s sad.” - Robin Minniefield “After 13 years, a doctorate, and countless certificates I got tired of arguing with people about what was best for children. I got tired of being passed over for promotions in favor of “yes men”. I had seven years of admin experience and four in the classroom.

My principal had two years of classroom experience and they told me 8 was not qualified. I got tired of being belittled for knowing that having 25 pre-k students, 10 of whom have obvious behavioral issues with no aide is a problem. I got tired of spending my own money to buy basic things like pencils, markers, folders, and decorations for my class. If it weren’t for my friends who have donated shoes, coats, clothing, books, dictionaries, I wouldn’t have been able to do it. I got tired of being told that I could not fail children who did NO work. I got tired of being evaluated by people who had never looked at a child development chart. I could write a whole dissertation. I absolutely loved education, loved coaching and developing teachers, loved bringing out the best in kids, but I got tired of fighting a system that is not designed to teach our children to do anything other than be mediocre.” - DrIrileria Muhammad

“The pay doesn’t match the trauma these teachers endure from these disrespectful unruly kids … & the parents don’t make it better. They are right there with their kid. The behavior starts in Kinder & doesn’t end. It’s not worth it to these teachers anymore. Then you gotta add all the regulations, what you can & can’t do. NOT WORTH THE STRESS AND DEPRESSION.” - Sarai Phoenix Rose “Eighteen years in, planning to leave as soon as possible. The community expects the schools to do everything and the parents to do nothing. We are clothing them, feeding them, providing mental health, social skills etc. It’s hard to be good at one thing (education) when there are 500 things on our plate.

There’s no accountability for anyone but the schools. None for the parents, kids, community, social services/CPS, church, court system etc. We are underpaid and under appreciated and it’s physically and mentally draining. It’s actually starting to affect my health and I’m over it.” - Overton DeNae “Teaching has become a holding place.

Students are not being held to academic standards. We are forced to pass and push these unprepared babies up and out. The only concern is presentation. The board dictates unrealistic expectations, Admin wants ratings, Parents want silent sitters, and sports,

More teachers weigh in on why they’re leaving.

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature TSU eMPA program gets $15K to test Court Watch app

By Aswad Walker

Dr. Michael O. Adams, founding director of the Executive Master of Public Administration (eMPA) program at TSU, and eMPA professor Carroll G. Robinson, Esq., are the recipients of a $15,000 grant from the Criminal Justice REFORM Foundation (REFORM Alliance). The grant will help fund the participation of TSU in beta testing the REFORM Alliance Court Watch App this fall.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our students,” said Adams. “It provides valuable experience in tech, public policy and criminal justice, and students get a chance to provide direct input while gaining a deeper understanding of how critical data is in shifting public policy. We look forward to nurturing this partnership with the REFORM Alliance to create more opportunities for our students.”

The Court Watch App is an innovative solution to increase transparency within the U.S. judicial system. A first of its kind, the app creates a user-friendly access point, via a mobile phone, for everyday citizens to monitor America’s courtrooms. Throughout the fall semester, approximately 20-30 TSU students will attend court hearings

remotely and/or in person and provide weekly feedback in debriefing sessions to directly improve the app’s performance and content.

“This project is the kind of work Meek Mill that reflects the legacy of Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland because it is focused on the common good,” said Robinson. “Criminal justice reform is under attack, and to ensure justice is fair and balanced you need good data to protect the civil and constitutional rights of all who depend on the system.”

Adams agrees.

“Systemic racism in the criminal justice system remains one of the greatest threats to our democracy. From racial profiling to mass incarceration and the structuring of probation and parole program, the adverse effects on communities, and in some cases the families of our own students, hit close to home. At TSU, 80% of our student population is African American. Through the REFORM Alliance partnership, students will engage in transformative service

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research by helping to improve a mobile application that will be used by Americans from across the nation. This groundbreaking application will make civic engagement and oversight in the criminal justice system accessible in a way our nation has never seen,” said Adams.

Adams is also excited about the 30 internships created through this collaboration, and hopes to foster more partnerships that invite TSU students to be change agents.

“When I shared with Dr. Adams our ‘Internship 1,000 Initiative,’ a campaign to create 1,000 internship opportunities for TSU students, he was immediately onboard and looked at a way to support us,” said Dexter Maryland, TSU SGA president. “The SGA is excited to be a part of this collaboration as we move closer to our goal.”

“This internship will teach students the

power of data collection while giving them the opportunity to contribute to criminal justice reform and oversight nationally,” said Subria Lapps, principal at Transform Equity & Partnership Consultant. “Young people are inheriting a world where big data dominates decision-making in public policy, and opportunities that empower them to hold our institutions accountable are what we need more of.”

REFORM Alliance, an organization started by Meek Mill via a relationship he formed with New England Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft and Philadelphia 76ers minority owner Michael Rubin, aims to transform probation and parole by changing laws, systems and culture to create real pathways to work and wellbeing. For more information about the REFORM Alliance, visit ReformAlliance.com.

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DN Entertainment Houston artist changing concept through signature paintings

By Laura Onyeneho

It is said that there is a difference between doers and dreamers, those who live in fear and those who are risk takers, those who see the glass half empty and those who see the glass half full.

Houston artist Wayne Bell knows this experience all too well from his goal of aspiring to be a doctor to now becoming one of the most accomplished painters in the city.

The Defender took a sneak peak into the world of his abstract oil paintings, hidden gems tucked away in a sunlit studio in Midtown. With each swift stoke, Bell opened up about his self-discovery and much like his signature style of painting [cross hatching], his journey to fulfilling his nonlinear life’s purpose.

“I went to Morehouse to obtain a degree in biology, got ready to take my MCAT… I did not,” he said. “I ended up…getting a Bachelor of Arts degree and then moved to L.A. to pursue a career in acting.”

He credits his mother Tommacina for igniting his passion for the arts.

The Chicago native found himself as a child experimenting with the arts as he dabbled with drawing, building with Legos and painting with water colors. He couldn’t shake his love for art no matter what field he chose to dive into.

In between acting and bartending he developed his niche for oil painting and the concept of the cross-hatching technique. He described it as a “new movement” that allowed Bell to “flow freely on any given surface” and gives a type of exclusivity where you can’t find

his style anywhere else.

“When it comes to the [artistic] process, I’m really particular about space, lighting, layout, supplies, color…atmosphere,” Bell said. “My movement of work is called ‘atmospherism.’ It’s demonstrated in the feeling and overall vibration of my work itself. Going from lights to darks, depth, balance, symmetry, all of those concepts we learn about in the academia of visual arts is present in my work.”

Bell moved to Houston from Los Angeles in 2019. He saw the move as a great opportunity to be in an environment where people supported his vision as a Black artist.

He has since left an impressionable mark in some of Houston’s fine dining establishments, including Indigo restaurant where he ultimately walked away from working 9-5 completely.

“When I was working there , Jonny Rhodes and Chana his wife [owners of Indigo] ended up purchasing work from me and I hung it up in the restaurant and from the time I hung the painting until right now, I haven’t had to work,” Bell said. “March 2020, they shut down and converted into a farmers market type of store and while I was there, I was able to gather my own clientele, so when they reopened as a restaurant, people bought my work.

“My work is all about honesty.

I don’t want to be popular; I want people to feel my work and I want to change the concept of contemporary expressionism,” he said. “Art was the necessary step in the evolution of myself…it’s who I am.”

Photo: Jimmie Aggison

NOTABLE ART SHOWCASES

Houston artist Wayne Bell demonstrates live painting in his studio in Midtown. Jimmie Aggison

• First exhibition called W.A.T.E.R [What Are The Expectations of Rebirth] • Art work featured in Gallery Guichard for André Guichard in Chicago • Showcased painting on canvas and mirrors suspended in the air for the Trapeze, as part of a one-night-only black-tie fundraiser at the Lone Star Flight Museum and Hangar

Art allows me to transcend who I was before into a whole other space, because now I can create things that people can relate to and people can see themselves in.”

July 28, 2022 |

| 13

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Profile

Meet Qudisah Muhammad Scholar, entrepreneur, mentor, game-changer

By Aswad Walker

Houston, meet the young lady who’s about to take over the world. To describe native Houstonian Qudisah Muhammad as a force to be reckoned with is an understatement of gigantic proportions.

Not even 20 years old yet, Qudisah is a UH honor student who will be graduating in December, multiple business owner, middle and high school teacher and aspiring writer.

The Defender recently spoke with Qudisah to find out how she successfully juggles so many tasks while also preparing for the next stage in her journey.

Defender: Tell us about your experience as a UH honor student.

Qudisah: It can be a lot. But it’s all about time management.

I think in order to be an honor student, you have take 12 hours, which is four classes, and have to make all A’s. And then, in order to be magna cum laude, which is what I’m shooting for, you have to have at least a 3.8. So that means that you have to literally be on your P’s and Q’s with everything. But I think being a dual credit student and having taken college classes at the same time that I took high school classes taught me a lot about time management, because I didn’t want to neglect one. I wanted to excel at both.

Defender: How are you able to manage class time with operating a business?

Qudisah: I have a Google calendar that has “8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

work on this, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. work on this,” with a little time for a break and then I’m rolling onto the next thing. So, organization is key. I have literally everything written out, everything blocked off so that it’s dedicated to a specific thing. When I have a lot of moving parts in my life, I can become very overwhelmed very quickly. So, it’s important for me to literally write everything down and allot a time period for it and put myself on a schedule.

Defender: Where did the inspiration for the business come from?

Qudisah: I started my first business at 16 called Q Assist.

It was a virtual assistant business where I worked with busy business owners to help them remove tasks from their plate. I worked from home and it grew really quickly, and I was bringing in approximately multi-four figures every month and continuing to grow. But more than that, I just love being in business. I loved generating that business idea. I loved working the steps, even throughout all the hardship. I loved working the steps to actually build a business.

Ever since then, I’ve been interested in helping other people to do the same. I love working with children, as well. So, I decided, “Hey, it is summertime. Let me go ahead and launch this program where I can help youth start their own businesses, work the steps, start from the beginning and work until they have something that they can really be proud of.” Business builds self-esteem. It builds responsibility. It creates self-motivation, all of these qualities that you have to have as a human being.

Defender: What are your post-graduation plans?

Qudisah: One of my biggest passions is writing. That’s why

I’m getting my minor in English, because I love to write, as well.

I actually teach middle school and high school students writing at my alma mater, The Elevated Places. I absolutely love to write.

So, the plan is once I graduate, I’m going to apply to a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program to attain my master’s degree in creative writing. So, in addition to entrepreneurship, I’ll also be pursuing my master’s degree.

Qudisah Muhammad (in yellow) working with Young Entrepreneurs Academy participants.

READ MORE ABOUT QUDISAH.

14 | July 28, 2022 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports

SportsBriefs TSU MAKES CHANGE IN GOLF PROGRAMS LEADERSHIP

Texas Southern University head men’s and women’s golf coach Dr. Gary Grandison will not return for the upcoming season, TSU Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Kevin Granger announced. GranDr. Gary dison spent three Grandison seasons at TSU, including the past two as the head coach for both programs. Both teams won the 2022 SWAC Championship while the men’s program participated in a NCAA Regional.

PVAMU HIRES MIKE RICE TO LEAD GOLF TEAMS

Prairie View A&M University announced that it has hired former Florida A&M men’s and women’s golf coach Mike Rice to take over its programs. Rice led Mike Rice the Rattlers to the MEAC championship and a berth in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, which were firsts for FAMU. Rice also made history when the 2021 team earned the No. 1 ranking in the first-ever PGA Minority Collegiate rankings sanctioned by the PGA of America.

TEXANS TRAINING CAMP DATES OPEN TO PUBLIC

The Texans will have eight training camp practices that are free and open to the public. The dates are July 29, July 30, Aug. 2, Aug. 3, Aug. 5, Aug. 6. Aug. 9 and Aug. 10. The team began allowing fans to register for the free practice tickets on July 8, but there still may be some availability. Keep in mind that all of the general admission seats are not guaranteed and are based on availability that day.

All practices begin at 8 a.m. so get there early. For more information or to register for training camp tickets go to: https://www.houstontexans. com/tickets/training-camp.

TEXANS TRAINING CAMP RAISES QUESTIONS veteran free agents offensive guard A.J. Cann and offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi, who have both played under Warhop. That is in addition to several players who played significant snaps last season like fourth-year offensive lineman Tytus Howard, center Justin Britt, right tackle Charlie Heck and offensive guard Max Scharping. It will be interesting to see if Howard remains at guard or moves back to his more natural right tackle spot this training camp.

By Terrance Harris

As the Texans get set to open training camp on July 29, there will be considerable attention paid to the beginning of the Lovie Smith coaching era and the continued development of second-year quarterback Davis Mills.

And while those storylines are major, they are far from the only things to watch this training camp as the Texans look to break the recent trend of back-to-back four-win seasons.

The Texans’ secondary was among the worst last season and must make a major leap this season in year two of Smith’s Tampa 2 Defense. In the last couple of years, the Texans’ defensive line has undergone some major changes with the departures of stalwarts like J.J. Watt, Whitney Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney and forging a new frontier hasn’t exactly gone smoothly.

The offensive line seemed like a game of musical chairs last season and as a result, Mills and any other quarterback who took snaps were constantly under siege.

General manager Nick Caserio has been on a mission to remake the Texans roster since his arrival in 2021 and he has done some more targeted changes this offseason which he hopes will get the franchise on track.

Here is a glance at what to watch for as the Texans get set to embark on the 2022 NFL season.

Houston Texans’ Jonathan Greenard (52) reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/ Michael Conroy) CHANGES IN SECONDARY

If you wondered what the Texans’ greatest area of concern was coming out of the 2021 season, the remaking of the secondary this offseason tells it all. The team parted ways with three starters from last season, added five veteran members and two of their first three players drafted in the first and second rounds are in the secondary, including No. 3 overall pick Derek Stingley.

Smith and Caserio have improved the talent by drafting Stingley and safety Jalen Pitre along with the acquisitions of veterans like cornerbacks Fabian Moreau and Steven Nelson along

with safety M.J. Stewart. There will be plenty of competition for starting spots and playing time in this training camp.

SOLIDIFYING THE OFFENSIVE LINE

One sure way to make your rookie quarterback look bad is to have holes in your offensive line.

The Texans had plenty of those last season as the offensive line was plagued by injuries and inconsistent play across the board. But Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil is back healthy and veteran offensive line coach George Warhop has been brought in to right the ship.

The Texans have brought in

DEVELOPING DEFENSIVE LINE

It may be hard to believe based on how the defensive front has performed lately, but the defensive line use to be a staple of the Texans. It appears the Texans may be on the verge of a resurgence along its defensive line with a young core that includes the likes of defensive tackles Ross Blacklock and Ray Lopez along with defensive end Jonathan Greenard.

All three made some impressive strides last season, but each must improve even more at stopping the run and putting pressure on quarterbacks to give the secondary a chance. It all starts for this trio in training camp. The Texans also re-signed veteran defensive tackle Maliek Collins this offseason and also veteran defensive ends Mario Addison and Jerry Hughes as stop-gap solutions.

TEXANS RECEIVER JOHN METCHIE III OUT FOR SEASON WITH LEUKEMIA Texans rookie receiver John Metchie III has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and will likely miss the 2022 season.

Metchie III, 22, announced over the weekend that he has acute promyelocytic leukemia. Metchie said he is in good spirits. He has one of the most treatable forms of leukemia and the cure rate is 90% among centers specializing in APL treatment.

“Recently I was diagnosed with [APL], the most curable form of leukemia,” he wrote in a statement. “I am currently receiving great medical care, am in good spirits and I expect to make

a recovery at a later point in time.

“As a result of this diagnosis, I will likely not be playing football this season. My main focus will be on my health and recovery.”

Metchie was a second-round pick (44th overall) of the Texans in this past spring’s NFL Draft. He had been recovering from a torn ACL injury suffered at the end of last season at Alabama.

Last season, he had 96 catches for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns before his campaign was cut short by the ACL injury.

“John has overcome every challenge placed in front of him in his life with

toughness and determination, and we are behind him every step of the way in his fight against leukemia,” Alabama coach Nick Saban wrote in a statement.

“It’s a blessing that he is in a city known for great care and with an organization, the Houston Texans, who will be with him throughout this journey.”

Metchie was expected to add depth to a wide receiver corps that has locked in starters Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins.

July 28, 2022 |

| 15

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports ABOUT JONATHON “GONZO” GONZALEZ

ABOUT FABIAN RAMIREZ

Twitter: @gonzogonzalez02 Players He studies: Derek Jeter and Fernando Tatis Jr. Favorite musician: Don Toliver Shout-outs: “My parents.”

Twitter: @_favoo Players he studies: Jack Leiter and Christian Yelich Favorite musician: Gunna Shout-outs: “My dad and my mom for making me put the extra work in.”

MILBY PITCHER FABIAN RAMIREZ & SHORTSTOP JONATHON GONZALEZ

JOINING FORCES AT WHARTON COUNTY CC Jodie B. Jiles

Milby graduating senior pitcher and centerfielder Fabian Ramirez and shortstop Jonathon “Gonzo” Gonzalez are teaming up again on the collegiate level to play at Wharton County Community College before moving on to bigger and better things.

At Milby, the duo made strides on the mound, batter’s box and in the field of play to help establish Milby as one of the premiere HISD teams.

Ramirez has played the game since he was 4 years old and developed a change-up that can leave batters looking foolish at the plate. Gonzalez is a go-getter at shortstop, making the necessary sacrifices it takes to create some “SportsCenter” type plays in the infield.

The Defender spoke with the two Milby Buff alums to discuss their styles of play, keys to success, journeys ahead and more.

Style of play Ramirez: “Gritty. I get down, play hard and

leave everything out on the field.”

Gonzalez: “I’m pretty fast and would call myself more of a hustle player. You know I am not going to hit the ball out of the park a lot but I am shooting to center for singles, doubles and triples.”

Prefer playing pitcher or outfielder Ramirez: “As a pitcher the ball is in your hand and you’re dominating every pitch. hitting it is fun to hit.”

But with

Standout attributes Gonzalez: “I try to hustle and be a leader for these guys by working hard every day.”

Ramirez: “Just how hard I go. I am not going to let a ball fall down. I am going to dive and try everything in my power to get on base.”

Early start Gonzalez: “I started playing Little League

really young and when I was about 10 I started

playing select ball with the South Texas Sliders out of San Antonio.”

Ramirez: “I played with RBI and a lot of select teams in the Dixie League, and now play with the Houston Athletics.”

Keys to success Gonzalez: “God, working hard and building closer relationships with my team.”

Ramirez: “Hard work.”

Wharton County commitment Gonzalez: “When we went to tour I felt like it

was the best route for me out of the summer.

And after looking at the situation I was in I thought junior college was the best route for me and I can’t wait to get out there.”

Ramirez: “I had other offers but the coaches made me feel like I was at home.”

Advice to others Gonzalez: “Go for it. Don’t be afraid and play every game like it is your last,” Ramirez: “Put your work in every day and give it up to God.”

16 | July 28, 2022 |

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