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Volume 88 | Number 40 AUGUST 1, 2019 |FREE
NEWSTALK LINA HIDALGO leads county to settlement in bail practice suit
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THINGS TO KNOW FOR BACK TO SCHOOL
NATIONAL ELIJIAH CUMMINGS attacked by Donald Trump
P4 FEATURES KAMALA HARRIS plans to give $60 bil to HBCUs
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Dorothy Buckhanan
Simone Manuel
The former national president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. uses compelling storytelling and practical tips in her new book, “You Can Lead,” to walk readers through 30 leadership lessons gained from 30 years of experience.
The Olympic swimmer recently became the first American woman to sweep 50 and 100 freestyle at the world swimming championships. Her haul during the eight-day event included four golds and six silvers.
talks leadership
H PAGE 5
makes history
H PAGE 11
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Ulises Flores, Idaena Wade, Uncle Funky Larry Jones and Nissi Hamilton at the Sunnyside Health and Wellness Fair.
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Tentative bail lawsuit settlement reached Defender News Services
Harris County has reached a tentative settlement in its historic lawsuit over a bail system that put people in jail if they couldn’t afford to pay bail on misdemeanor offenses, like driving with a suspended license. County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced the agreement, signaling that people arrested on misdemeanor charges would no longer automatically be held in jail if they can’t pay bail. Most people with misdemeanor charges – about 85 percent – Bail reform will make Harris County’s misdemeanor criminal justice system fairer. would be released on personal could reschedule hearings if they miss their court recognizance bonds, meaning date. they wouldn’t have to pay a bail bond. w Court-appointed monitoring for a period of The controversial system that pitted poor time. people against the justice system has been subject Hidalgo said that the changes to the bail systo a lawsuit since 2016 and a federal judge ruled tem will make the county’s misdemeanor criminal it “unconstitutional” in 2017. justice system “fair for everyone, regardless of Other key parts to the tentative agreement their financial means.” include: “In addition, our community will be safer bew People with a bail hearing would receive cause defendants who show a propensity toward free legal counsel through the Harris County Pubviolence will be held and we won’t be tearing lic Defender’s Office. apart the livelihoods and families of low-risk w A judge would decide if certain cases need defendants before trial,” Hidalgo said. to be subject to bail, such as family violence If commissioners okay the deal, it would then cases, certain assault cases and people who have go to U.S. District Court Judge Lee H. Rosenthal violated court orders. for approval. Rosenthal ruled the county’s bail w Harris County would create an “open hours” system was unconstitutional in 2017. court where people facing misdemeanor charges
Kris Satterhwaite of Amazon and Mayor Sylvester Turner appear at the retailer’s local tech hub.
Amazon opens tech hub in Houston Defender News Service
The Bayou City didn’t get the online retailer’s second headquarters, but it’s now one of 18 cities with an Amazon tech hub. Amazon Web Services, or AWS, helps companies with their digital and cloud needs. It’s located at Citycentre, where the Katy Freeway meets Beltway 8. At the grand opening, Mayor Sylvester Turner said having the new hub shows that Houston has progressed after failing to get “HQ2.” “I mean the very fact that we’re here today and they’re opening this tech center indicates that it’s a winwin for both Amazon and the city of Houston,” he said. The mayor also called the opening “a leap” forward in Houston’s effort to become a top tech innovation city. “Quite frankly, you can’t have a strong ecosystem without having a strong presence by Amazon,” Turner said. “The very fact that they are expanding their presence here in the city speaks volumes.” Kris Satterthwaite, enterprise sales leader at AWS Gulf Coast, echoed that sentiment. “If you think about the talent we have here in the city, the innovation that’s taking place, I mean it’s really one of the best cities in the world,” he said. “So that’s one of the key reasons that we’re investing heavily in Houston and continue to expand.” Houston is the third city in Texas to get an Amazon tech hub after Austin and Dallas.
localbriefs AN OFF-DUTY HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY who once appeared as a bailiff on a television court show has been charged in his wife’s murder. Renard Spivey, 63, was booked into the Harris County Jail on a murder charge. Police arrived at his home on Briscoe in southeast Houston, and found Patricia Ann Marshall Spivey, 52, dead, and Renard Spivey with a gunshot wound to his leg. He initially told police it was an accident, but authorities say it was a “domestic disturbance” prior to the shooting. Police said the suspect called 911 and reported the incident as an accidental shooting……… MISSOURI CITY OFFICIALS ARE
APPLAUDING THE FACT that crime is down in the area. MCTX Police Chief Mike Berezin provided the department’s annual report, detailing operations from crime prevention efforts to community engagement and the open data initiative. Berezin said he is “impressed” with the excellence of the MCPD team, highlighting the fact that the department’s crime solve rate is at 28 percent, compared to the average of 17 percent for agencies statewide. MCPD is still one of the top agencies in the state when it comes to earning a “Re-Recognized Accreditation Status” and property crime, the most pervasive in the city, is down 16 percent..……TEXAS
CHILDREN’S HEALTH PLAN IS HOSTING its annual Back-to-School Fair at Macroplaza Mall, 171 Pasadena Town Square Mall in Pasadena, on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Families are invited to stop by to receive health screenings and vaccines, as well as backpacks and other goodies for their children. Eligible children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The Back-to-School Fair is free and open to the public. Community members in attendance have the opportunity to receive information about Texas Children’s Health Plan. For more details visit www.healthy4school.org or call 1-800-990-8247.
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President Donald Trump is accused of making racist remarks about Congressman Elijah Cummings and Rev. Al Sharpton.
Trump amps up his attacks against Sharpton, Cummings Defender News Service
President Donald Trump has turned his vitriol on civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton, in addition to his ongoing attacks against Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.). Trump called Sharpton “a con man” and “a troublemaker” and claimed that he “hates whites & cops,” after Sharpton tweeted that he was going to Baltimore following Trump’s weekend attacks. Trump recently posted what some view as racist tweets against Cummings and his majority-Black congressional district in Baltimore, calling it “a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess” and a “very dangerous & filthy place.” Trump later targeted “King Elijah’s Baltimore Fail,” blaming Cummings for crime in the city. A fierce Trump critic, Cummings chairs the House Oversight Committee, which is among several congressional committees investigating Trump and his administration. Trump has regularly unleashed attacks against people of color, particularly critics and opponents, though he denies being a racist. Sharpton responded to Trump’s recent attack. “I do make trouble for bigots,” he tweeted. “If he really
thought I was a con man he would want me in his cabinet.” At a press conference in Baltimore, Sharpton pointed out that many white lawmakers have attacked Trump, yet he has not referred to their communities as “infested.” In response to Trump’s attacks, Sharpton said, “He can say what he wants.” “I will keep making trouble for bigots,” he continued, noting his opposition against Trump’s previous raciallycharged actions, such as calling for the execution of the falsely convicted teenagers of color known as the Central Park Five in 1989 and promoting the birther movement against former President Barack Obama. Trump also claimed 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was “racist,” taking comments Sanders made in 2015 about poverty and income inequality out of context. During a visit to Baltimore after the death of Freddie Gray while he was in police custody, Sanders made the comparison to argue how the city illustrated larger economic inequality across the United States. “Anyone who took the walk that we took around this neighborhood would not think you’re in a wealthy nation,” Sanders said at the time.
Former Obama officials condemn Trump rhetoric Defender News Services
Nearly 150 African-Americans who served in the Obama administration co-signed an op-ed in the Washington Post recently, assailing President Donald Trump’s attacks on minority congresswomen in recent weeks. “We stand with Congresswomen Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib, as well as all those currently under attack by President Trump, along with his supporters and his enablers, who feel deputized to decide who belongs here – and who does not,” states the column, which listed each of the 148 co-signers. “There is truly nothing more un-American than call-
ing on fellow citizens to leave our country by citing their immigrant roots, or ancestry, or their unwillingness to sit in quiet obedience while democracy is being undermined.” The op-ed sought to place the rhetoric within a historical framework. “We’ve heard this before. ‘Go back where you came from. Go back to Africa.’ And now, ‘send her back,’” the former officials noted. “Black and Brown people in America don’t hear these chants in a vacuum; for many of us, we’ve felt their full force being shouted in our faces, whispered behind our backs…They are part of a pattern in our country designed to denigrate us as well as keep us separate and afraid.”
U.S.briefs THE KILLING OF A BLACK TODDLER in Milwaukee has led to controversy over the way a local newspaper included coverage of her death. A violent road rage incident claimed the life of 3-year-old Brooklyn Harris after she was struck in the head by a man firing into a car. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel later published a multiple-choice question in its news quiz, asking where the little girl was shot. A list of four choices using letters “a” through “d” followed. They were: “a playground,” “in her living room,” “the sidewalk in front of her house,” or “the back seat of her mother’s car.” Newspaper officials issued an apology……..A NEW HISTORICAL MARKER HONORING EMMETT TILL will be bulletproof and protected by security, following national outrage over a photo of three white college students posing with guns beside a bulletriddled memorial to the teenage torture and murder victim. The Emmett Till Memorial Commission said that the new sign – to be placed at the spot where 14-year-old Till’s body was pulled from the Tallahatchie River in northwest Mississippi in 1955 – will in some way acknowledge the many instances of vandals defacing the site. Till has been an icon of the Civil Rights Movement for over half a century. Details about the new sign’s design are still forthcoming, but the commission told NBC News that it will be 500 pounds and steel-reinforced. Visitors can also anticipate a gate and security cameras near the memorial soon, the group said……. POLICE ARE STILL TRYING TO DETERMINE THE MOTIVE behind a shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival on July 29 in Northern California. A gunman killed at least three people, including a 6-year-old boy, and wounded about 15 others. A law enforcement official identified the gunman, who was shot and killed by police, as Santino William Legan.
VOLUME 88 • NUMBER 40 AUGUST 1, 2019 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler
Strategic Alliance Manager
Clyde Jiles Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Photographers
Ray Carrington III Jimmie Aggison
Editors ReShonda Tate Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writer Aswad Walker Sports Jodie B. Jiles Engagement Manager Margo Williams Hubbard
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For digital subscriptions, visit www.DefenderNetwork.com/ subscribe. No paper subscriptions are available. All material covered by 2019 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
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entertainment
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Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson
Former AKA president shares lessons in book Defender: What are the top three things that you want readers to get from the book? Wilson: Number one, I want people to realize Long before she became the president of that everyone has some level of leadership potenAlpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the nation’s tial. Whether you acknowledge it or not, there oldest African-American sorority, Dorothy Buckis some level of leadership inside you. It’s just a hanan Wilson was showing the world that she was a matter of, do you develop it further and how do you proven leader. make sure that you’re effective at what you do. The The Benedict College graduate, who earned other point I’d like people to get is the fact that as an MBA from Clark Atlanta University, served as you’re coming into your own, you understand that a senior vice president at Goodwill Industries, where lot of what you experience in life affects you either she was responsible for a $25 million enterprise in positively or negatively in terms of being a leader. southern Wisconsin and metropolitan Chicago. Her And those experiences really do shape you in more personal and professional endeavors have equipped ways than you could ever imagine. her with leadership skills and strategies that she’s And finally, we all have contributions to make, sharing in her new book, “You Can Lead: 30 Life and in addition to leading yourself, always be aware Lessons to and conEmpower scious that Order “You Can Lead” the Leader DefenderNetwork.com we need Within.” to always https://dorothybuckhananwilsonbooks.com See photos from Houston book signing Wilson be on the has proven lookout her ability for opportunities to develop other leaders. I’m very to lead through challenges and develops those serious about paying it forward. We need to always around her by encouraging them to tap into their make sure that as we progress, we bring others along true leadership potential. with us and make sure there’s always that perpetuity She was recently in Houston to talk about the that’s in place. compelling stories and practical tips designed to a large, global organization, and I realized that Defender: Your Houston stop was packed. Do walk readers through 30 valuable leadership lessons people needed to hear from women like us who you plan to continue touring the country with “Yes, gained during her 30-plus years of corporate, nonhave had the extraordinary experiences of leading You Can Lead?” profit and civic experience. in the corporate arena, the nonprofit arena and civic Wilson: We are currently on tour with the book. Defender: Why did you decide to write “You arena. We needed to talk about what led us to those It was a nine-city tour initially. When I started the Can Lead?” positions and how did we get there. It dawned on book, I didn’t intend to publish a book. It was just a Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson: Coming out of me that a lot of experiences started from when I collection of my thoughts. But the project grew and office, it dawned on me that we learn these valuwas very young and served as building blocks that now that I’m out talking about the book, I’ve gotten able lessons on life, leadership or just in general. allowed me to turn out to be a pretty decent leader, a lot more requests to bring this to major cities in a I had served as international president of such I would say. major way. By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender
what’sup A new biopic on talk show host WENDY WILLIAMS is expected to take viewers on the roller coaster ride that has been her life. The Lifetime network movie will delve into Williams’ highs and lows on her journey to stardom, including her bouts with drug addiction. The movie will also focus on topics of sex, date rape and fat shaming. Entitled “Just Wendy,” the biopic will focus on Williams’ life from the ages of 10 to 55, covering her cocaine habit, sexual liaisons, fat shaming from her family and a story about being date-raped by a major music artist, a story that Williams is sharing publicly for the
first time. Produced by Williams and “Girls Trip” producer WILL PACKER, the biopic will also touch on Williams’ experience with racism and sexism in Hollywood, divulge details on her marriage and subsequent divorce……..MARY J. BLIGE is slated to star in a spinoff series of Starz’s “Power.” The “Real Love” singer made the announcement with the series’ creator/co-showrunner COURTNEY KEMP and executive producer 50 CENT. Talking about “Power,” Blige, a double Oscar nominee, said she can relate to the stories of the characters in the Starz original series, which premiered in 2014…….
KOBE BRYANT is taking a shot at creating books for young adults. The former NBA star will release a novel titled “Legacy and the Queen,” about a 12-year-old female tennis phenom who uses her special skills to save a magical kingdom called Nova. That book will be released on Sept. 3 through Granity Studios, Bryant’s multimedia company. Bryant is set to release a second book titled “Epoca: The Tree of Ecof” in November about two children who fight evil together. It has been over three years since the five-time NBA champ played his last professional hoop game, and he has focused on making strides in other areas.
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Tax-free we
Texas’ annual sales tax holiday is Friday, Aug. 9 throug Sunday, Aug. 11. You can buy most clothing, footwear, scho plies and backpacks (sold for less than $100) tax-free from a store or from an online or catalog seller doing business in th
things to know for back to school By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender
The back-to-school “to do” list can get stressful for both parents and children as the start of the school year quickly approaches. Between shopping, readjusting mindsets, registering for school, and squeezing some final moments of fun out of summer and more, parents can definitely get overwhelmed. Here are 10 tips for parents to have a stress-free start to this school year.
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Start establishing new routine “Parents should work now to normalize as much as possible,” says family therapist Shawn Lockridge. “Parents may have been a little lenient during the summer on bedtime and screen time. It’s important that children who have been staying up late, especially on video games, are given time to get back into the structure of school years.”
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Check your vaccinations With measles and other preventable diseases coming back, Lockridge encourages all parents to check with their health care provider, health department or school system on getting updated vaccinations. And don’t wait. “A lot of parents don’t think about vaccinations until right when school starts then they’re scrambling to try and get into the crowded doctor’s office,” Lockridge said. Common vaccinations include influenza, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), TDap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis whooping cough), meningitis and HPV (human papillomavirus).
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Get some sleep Adequate sleep is essential to a successful school year. That involves shutting off electronic devices, keeping weekday and weekend routines consistent and potentially installing black-out curtains to keep the room dark. “Kids need about 10 hours of sleep a day, which is more sleep than people realize,” Lockridge said.
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Get to know your kids’ teachers This one is self-explanatory but you’d be amazed at the number of parents who don’t bother. If you can’t make the orientations, make it your business to get up to the school during your child’s first week. Or at least connect via email.
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Be aware of the financial commitment There’s nothing like getting your back-to-school shopping out of the way, only to discover your child
needs $40 for a gym uniform, $30 for a lab fee, $10 for an ID, etc. Make sure you’re aware of all the expenses you will incur so you’ll be better prepared to tackle them.
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Be aware of extra-curricular activities Find out what are the extracurricular programs you can sign up for. Talk with teachers and school officials. The last thing you want is your child to be set on being on the football team, only to discover tryouts were three weeks ago.
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Get wardrobes organized Enjoy school-shopping with your child and involve them by giving them choices. That way you’ll avoid early morning fights over what to wear, especially if your children don’t wear uniforms. Organize your child’s clothes for the entire week. Pick every outfit out on Sunday afternoon and lay them out or hang them up for the week.
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Get a head start Prepare yourself for early mornings and prepare what you can the night before. Being ready for a school morning is the best thing that you can do to get your family off to a great start. It makes a HUGE difference (and cuts back on stress and chaos for the mornings).
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Plan some family time When all the busyness of school hits, it is nice to have some planned family time. Play a board game or take a trip to the park. Plan out menus Start your child’s day out right with a great meal. Plan out some easy, healthy, after-school snacks to fill your kids just enough until dinnertime. Parents should always have fruits and vegetables that the children eat prepared, washed and ready to go. Pre-made sandwiches for after-school snacks or for in-between activities are a great way to stay out of fast-food drive-thrus.
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things tea
We asked teachers how parent
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Buy supplies “Understand the things on the supply list are really necessary and that the list doesn’t hold a candle to what students really need throughout the year. Oh, and [know] that teachers spend a ton of their own money on your kids.” – NiaShante Ross
2
Follow the rules “Please make sure your children are in uniform every day, and bring their supplies daily. Yes, we purchase things for our classroom use, but we definitely side-eye some kids who come in to school with expensive sneakers, phones that are newer than ours, and the latest gadgets, but can’t seem to remember to bring a pencil or their schoolissued Chrome book or iPad to school. If you can’t afford supplies or uniforms, please let us know! Most schools have programs to help – Regina Cooper
3
It’s a partnership “[Realize] that it’s a partnership between the teacher and parent. We cannot do everything; you have to do your part. Hold your kids accountable for their actions.” – Roslyn Smith
4
Get to know us “Please make every effort to attend the open house so that we can meet and establish a relationship. Also, make sure that the school has your current contact information, and if you
see that th possible.”
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Sp
wi school to ments, or e your child emails, an week.” –
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Te th
school. T anybody to explain them at h at school please ex that fight and possi – Carrie
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Do lab
labels don’ the best se
defendernetwork.com • Servin
eekend Aug. 9-11
gh ool supa Texas he state.
In most cases, you do not need to give the seller an exemption certificate to buy qualifying items tax-free. The sales tax exemption applies only to qualifying items you buy during the sales tax holiday.
achers wished you knew
ts can help their students get off to a great start. Here’s what they had to say:
he school is calling you, please answer if ” – Cynthia Nelson
pend time with your child “You need to be spending time ith your child when they get out of o go over their homework, assignexams. You need to know the names of d’s teachers, have their numbers, have their nd check your child’s status at least once a Julion Mack
each your child to control heir anger “There are far too many fights at The students say, ‘My momma said if hit me, hit ‘em back!’ It’s very hard n that their momma is in charge of home, but we are in charge of them l. I would like to remind parents to xplain to their children the damage ting in school can do to their records ibly their futures in the long run.” Ruffin-Thigpen
on’t be concerned with the bel “Gifted, special education or remedial ’t define your child. Make sure they are in etting where they can perform academi-
cally.” – Donyella R. Manns
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Eat healthy “Pack a healthy lunch that will fuel your child properly for learning and sustain energy.” – Crystal BrownTatum
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Monitor cell phones “Set boundaries for your child’s phone usage at school and enforce that they operate within those guidelines. And by all means, do not call or text your child while they are in class. If there is an emergency, and you need to reach your child, call the front desk at the school and the message will be delivered to them in class.”– April Young
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Attendance is the law “Make sure you know the attendance policy, write notes, email or call to excuse your student within the appropriate time. If you get robocalls, or emails, call the attendance office or check in with teachers to make sure the notice is correct. Tardies can become absences if the student is more than so many minutes late depending on your district.” – Sherrill Jackson-Vaughan
ng the Houston area for over 88 years
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DEFENDER | AUGUST 1 | 2019
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Second Democratic debate focuses on race Defender News Services
Before the first Democratic presidential debate, former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign signaled that he expected to be attacked by the candidates trailing him in the polls but that Biden would essentially ignore all incoming fire. It was a classic front-runner approach. And it was punctured, hard and fast, by California Sen. Kamala Harris’ attack on Biden’s past opposition to federal busing policies. From the moment Harris told Biden, seemingly out of the blue, that “I do not believe you are a racist,” Biden’s candidacy suddenly looked much more vulnerable – even as he has maintained a lead in every poll – and Harris’ campaign had the viral, news-grabbing moment that it had lacked up until that point. In the wake of Harris’ atFormer Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris all want the Black vote. tack, Biden is changing course. were things in that bill that were extraordinarily Biden himself also questioned Booker’s re“I’m not going to be as polite this time,” bad,” Booker said. “For him not to have a more cord, when speaking with reporters in Michigan. Biden recently told supporters. comprehensive, bold plan to deal with this is “His police department was stopping and frisking It’s clear he meant it. unacceptable to me, especially because he is parpeople, mostly African-American men,” he said. Biden and his top advisers spent much of the tially responsible for the crisis that we have now.” In that same conversation, Biden also made past week sparring with and criticizing Harris, as Biden’s campaign fired back in a rare on-thean indirect jab at Harris. He questioned how any well as New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. record response. candidate could promise “Medicare-for-all” and Booker has campaigned on the idea of “radiKate Bedingfield, Biden’s deputy campaign pay for it without a tax hike on the middle class. cal love” and seems to be shifting more toward manager, pointed to Booker’s tenure as mayor “Come on! What is this? Is this a fantasy a strategy of tough love. He took a jab at Biden of Newark and his “zero tolerance” on crime. world here?” he said. on Twitter, following the former vice president’s “Booker was running a police department that The Biden-Harris and Biden-Booker sniping release of a criminal justice reform plan. was such a civil rights nightmare that the U.S. underscores the importance of Black voters in He described Biden as an “architect of mass Department of Justice intervened,” she said in a the Democratic primary; it’s impossible for any incarceration,” when speaking with reporters at statement. Democrat to clinch the nomination without gainthe NAACP convention in Detroit. The feds launched an investigation into the ing substantial support from African-American Booker was referring to Biden’s role as a Newark Police Department while Booker was voters. champion of the controversial 1994 crime bill, mayor and found vastly disproportionate numbers Black voters make up at least 10 percent of which critics and some experts say led to a disof pedestrian stops and arrests of Black residents, the Democratic electorate in more than half a proportionate number of African-American men as well as unreasonable use of force. Booker dozen states voting on Super Tuesday, which in being imprisoned. welcomed the inquiry when it was launched. “I’m 2020 will fall on March 3, just a month after the “I’m disappointed that it’s taken Joe Biden pretty relieved and enthusiastic about working primaries begin. In some states, such as Alabama, years until he was actually running for president with the Department of Justice,” Booker said at more than 50 percent of Democratic voters are to actually say that he made a mistake, that there the time. Black.
Harris proposal invests $60 billion in HBCUs Defender News Services
Sen. Kamala Harris has rolled out two policy plans aimed at closing the wealth gap for Black Americans. Harris said if elected president, she will invest $60 billion in historically Black colleges and universities and $12 billion in Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurship. She said she would also invest $2.5 billion in programs that train Black teachers, an addition to her earlier proposal to raise
teachers’ salaries. The presidential hopeful, a graduate of HBCU Howard University, described the proposal as “the next major planks in her Black agenda,” according to her campaign’s fact sheet. Of the $60 billion she plans to invest in HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions, Harris said she would put $10 billion toward school infrastructure to build classrooms, school labs and other facilities. The other $50 billion would be used to
create a competitive fund at the Department of Education to support science, technology, engineering and math education at HBCUs. The competitive fund would go toward scholarships, fellowships and research. The $12 billion policy proposal would be allocated to federal contracting programs that would help black business owners create businesses from the ground up. Harris planned to formally announce her proposal in a speech at the National Urban League conference in Indianapolis.
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Student debt weighs heavy on Black America Defender News Services
student debt. w Black bachelor’s degree graduates are unable to afford loan repayments at five times the rate of comparable white graduates. Black grads are also more likely to default than whites who never completed a degree. w After eight years of repayments, nearly one in four borrowers still owe more than half of their original loan balance. w Senior borrowers, ages 60 and older, together owed $66.7 billion in student debt in 2015. That same year, about 114,000 seniors’ Social Security benefits were seized for defaulted loans. w Additionally, parents who borrowed loans to help defray college costs often also delay retirement plans as they strive to eliminate debt. “Despite making regular payments, many African-American students who have attended college are disproportionately drowning in debt,” said Hilary O. Shelton, NAACP Washington Bureau director. “We urge policymakers to put an end to predatory for-profit programs that target communities of color and strengthen and boost federal funding for public institutions that provide quality higher education alternatives.”
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The NAACP recently added student loan debt to its 2019 agenda. Co-releasing a research report with the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), the NAACP added its voice and in the continuing public policy debate and dilemma wrought by $1.5 trillion of student debt. Titled “Quicksand: Borrowers of Color & the Student Debt Crisis,” the report examines how this unprecedented level of debt weighs heaviest on Black America. It also offers a series of reforms designed to free borrowers of all colors in a fair and equitable manner. “The student loan debt crisis puts deeply held beliefs like the value of hard work, the transformative power of education, and the ability to build wealth during one’s own lifetime into question,” states the report. “The balance sheets of millions of borrowers and this nation demonstrate that our current student debt system operates in direct contraction of these ideals.” Key findings include: w Today, over half of all families with Black heads of household aged 25-40 have
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DEFENDER | AUGUST 1 | 2019
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5th Ward juvenile justice program launched The program was recently launched in partnership with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. County DA Kim A new program in the Fifth Ogg says that currently about 100 students Ward is trying to decrease the number from Fifth Ward have cases brought to the of students from the area who end up in DA’s office through their schools every jail. year. The Center for Urban TransOgg said that in addition to cutting formation’s diversion program will down on punitive measures, it will be a offer mentorship, volunteer work and faster way to help at-risk students. community-based support services for “What we see in our juvenile justice 12- to 16-year-olds who commit crimes, system is we can’t push kids to develop except for cases involving gun violence properly by pushing them through a or sexual assaults. The program is Rev. Harvey Clemons system that takes a year to get out for designed to focuses on mentorship and community service, rather than having the children enter something they did at school,” she said. The program will be active on several HISD camthe court system. Defender News Services
puses, including Wheatley High School and Flemming Middle School. Rev. Harvey Clemons Jr. of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church said that the program is not meant to be soft on crime, but rather rebuild the community as a whole. “This is really about how we make our communities safer, while at the same time being more intelligent about the approach with how we deal with our children and our youths,” he said. The program will also focus on getting to the root of problem, added Kathy Payton, president of the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation. “If a kid is stealing, is there no food in the household?” she said. “And if there’s not food in the household, why? And how do we help the family overcome those barriers?”
Head Start helps shape futures of mom, son Defender News Services
Tasha Crockett and her son Christian both benefitted from Head Start as youngsters.
When Tasha Crockett was growing up in Livingston, Texas, her parents enrolled her into the Head Start program to help her obtain the social and academic skills she needed for school. Fast-forward to April 2008 when her son, Christian, turned 3 years old and was enrolled in the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) Head Start Program in Humble. “I knew I wanted him in the program because it’s family-centered, it helped me grow when I was his age and I knew it would help him, too, especially with his speech impediment and dyslexia,” she said. The program continued to shape her as a parent volunteer with the policy council. “I was going through a divorce at the time and participating with the Head Start Policy Council was life-saving by helping with the changes I was going through,” Crockett said. Her involvement with the policy council motivated her to go back to school to obtain a degree in social work. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of HoustonDowntown in December 2018 and will receive her master’s degree in May 2020 from Stephen F. Austin State University. As she was learning so was Christian because of the programs Head Start offered. He started speech therapy at age 2, and his therapist continued working with him during the two years he was at the Humble center. He is now a well-rounded middle student and his teachers have said they would have never guessed he had a speech impediment. HCDE Head Start is now enrolling children at its 15 centers. Visit https://hcde-texas. org/head-start/ or call 713-679-2510..
MD Anderson ranked No. 1 for cancer care Defender News Services
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was recently ranked No. 1 in cancer care in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Hospitals” survey. The institution has been named one of the nation’s top two cancer hospitals since the survey’s inception in 1990. “Our patients and their families count on us to deliver on our promise to end cancer, and we are so proud of our team of 21,000 exceptional employees for their dedication to our patients and
their families and our mission,” said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president, MD Anderson. “The No. 1 ranking carries with it the responsibility to be a leader in the cancer field, and we are continually striving for improvement.” In addition to MD Anderson’s No. 1 ranking for cancer care, its Head and Neck Surgery service was tied for No. 3 in the Ear, Nose and Throat specialty, Genitourinary Medical Oncology ranked No. 7 in Urology and Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine was ranked No. 22 in Gynecology. Areas rated as “High Performing” are
Gastroenterology & GI Surgery and Geriatrics. “Last year alone, more than 141,000 patients sought care from our team of experts,” said Stephen Hahn, M.D., chief medical executive, MD Anderson. “We thank our patients and their families for entrusting us with their cancer care.” For nearly 80 years, MD Anderson has joined in the global fight to end cancer. Through its efforts in patient care, research, education and prevention and its collaborations with experts across the country and around the world, it is changing the way in which cancer is treated.
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AUGUST 1 | 2019 | DEFENDER
sports
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HS Sports Editor Jodie B. Jiles is on vacation
Olympian Simone Manuel sets more records “The gold medal wasn’t just for me; it was for people that came before me and inspired me to stay in the sport,” she told the New During the FINA World ChamYork Times. “For people who believe pionship in South Korea, Olympic that they can’t do it, I hope I’m an inswimmer Simone Manuel won the spiration to others to get out there and 100-meter freestyle competition for try swimming. You might be pretty the second consecutive year and good at it.” made history in the process by setEarlier this year, she visting a new U.S. record. ited LeBron James’ I Promise Manuel, a native Houstonian, School in Akron, Ohio to talk with made it to the finish line in 52.04 students about water safety and seconds. She edged out Swedish encourage them to learn how to swimmer Sarah Sjostrom and Ausswim. In partnership with the Akron tralia’s Cate Campbell. She is the Area YMCA, she will provide all of second woman to win two consecu- Swimmer Simone Manuel of Houston set a new U.S. record in the students with swimming lessons tive world titles. The first woman South Korea. this summer. to do so was swimmer Kornelia She is also spreading awareEnder 44 years ago. ness about the high drowning rate It wasn’t the first time Manuel made history. In 2016 she became the first Black woman within the Black community and is working hard to reverse the alarming trend. “The to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming. Her impact goes far beyond the water. Manuel is big most important thing is saving lives more than winning gold medals. Representation on philanthropy and is on a mission to diversify swimis important,” she said. ming. Defender News Service
Serena Williams invests in maternal health startup “Mahmee is a digital maternal health care company that uses predictive analytics to provide personalized, on-demand support to new mothers The Black maternal health and infants,” Hanna said. “Women’s healthcare, crisis has been an ever-growing in general, is substantially under-regulated. This issue in the United States. Acis across the board. cording to a report released by the “Maternity is just the glaring error of it National Partnership for Women & all. There is so much work that we need to do Families, African- American women on postpartum depression and women’s mental in the U.S. are more likely to die health in general.” from pregnancy and childbirth than Williams is proud to back the growing women of any other race. company. Further research revealed that “I am incredibly excited to invest and Black women are more likely to expartner with Mahmee, a company that personiperience preventable maternal death fies my firm’s investment philosophy,” she said than white women. in a statement. Given the bleak data surrounding Tennis star Serena Williams is maternal death and injury rates, I believe that it is determined to address the alarming absolutely critical right now to invest in solutions trends. She recently invested in the Serena Williams, who experienced complications with the birth of her daughter Alexis Olympia, is concerned about that help protect the lives of moms and babies. maternal healthcare startup Mahmee, maternal health. “Mahmee’s data-driven approach is the right Black Enterprise reported. solution to one of the most significant problems in For Williams, the matter is was co-created by Melissa Hanna – connects patients with the system: that of fragmented care.” personal. She has been very candid about the complications healthcare providers so that they can develop a solid prenatal Williams has been dedicated to investing in the futures she endured while giving birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia and postpartum healthcare plan. of women entrepreneurs. In March, she joined forces with Ohanian Jr. in 2017. Mahmee provides expecting parents with a comprehenBumble to provide women with capital to start and further their She needed two surgeries after having a C-section due to sive dashboard that tracks the health of the mother and child. business ventures. a pulmonary embolism that had developed. The app – which Parents can also utilize the platform for educational resources. Defender News Services
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DEFENDER AUGUST 1 | 2019
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Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
topevents
PARTNERS IN PRIMARY CARE GULFGATE GRAND OPENING……… skills and confidence, in sports and life. Campers were taught by professional Partners in Primary Care celebrated the grand opening of two senior-focused athletes and coaches from basketball, soccer, football and lacrosse, offering primary care medical facilities in Houston, with the first taking place in Downtown valuable information on overall fitness and nutrition. Attendees included Danny East Houston and the second in Gulfgate Mall. Annual wellness exams, lab tests, Arnold, Jonathan Martin, Kynetta Moore, Iman Garrett-Price, Xavier Dixon, checkups and other primary care needs will be available to patients who will Don Jeffries, Darien Pruitt, Anilah Bell, Brenton Braxton, Nate Collins II have access to a board-certified doctor, behavior health specialist, social worker, and others ……..SUNNYSIDE HEALTH & WELLNESS FAIR ….. Houston registered nurse care coach, and clinical pharmacist Community College Sunnyside hosted its 2nd Annual Health & specially trained to treat seniors. Attendees at the Wellness Fair and Backpack Giveaway at the HCC South Campus Defender TOP EVENTS Gulfgate ribbon-cutting included Brian Garrett, Dr. on Airport Blvd. Majic 102.1’s Uncle Funky Larry Jones and More photos on defendernetwork.com Gonzalo Ramos, Lavetta Clark, Dr. Renata Zuniga crew broadcast live from the event that provided free health exams Rodriguez, Dr. Amy Kelleh, Gail Simmons, Barbara regarding blood pressure, diabetes, hearing, dentistry, mammograms Sandoval, Gail Venyah, Gina Pena, Jay Obendorfer, Rebecca Benitez and and more. There were also free backpacks given to school-aged children, and a many more……..EMANCIPATION PARK ALL SKILLS & EDUCATION job fair to boot. Attendees included State Sen. Borris Miles, Dr. Raechelle Kay, CAMP…….. The 2019 Emancipation Park All Skills & Education Camp was Raegan Kay, Desirae Wright, Aurelia Johnson, Dr. Jyron and Dolores Walls, powered by Plex and the Emancipation Park Conservancy. The event welcomed Percy and Kristal Pichon, Akilah Jarrett, Lisa Brooks, Rhonda Haralson and boys and girls ages 8-17 to a free camp that helped participants build their athletic more.
Cassy Nordness, Brian Garrett, Guillermon Padilla
Gail Venyah, Gina Pena
Kynetta Moore, Danny Arnold, Iman Garrett-Price
Danny Arnold and attendees
Ulises Flores, Idaena Wade, Uncle Funky Larry Jones, Nissi Hamilton
Desirae Wright, Aurelia Johnson
Hester Steels, Ernestine Edwin, Helen Leonard
Lawrence Thomas, Nate Collins II, Robert Jacob Torres
Natasha Butler, Drew Campbell, Brianna Butler, Macy Butler
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