FILMMAKER KEITH BEAUCHAMP FOCUSES ON EMMETT TILL STORY P6
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Volume 84 | Number 40 SEPTEMBER 3, 2015 | FREE
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OPINION SENFRONIA THOMPSON
helps Texas ex-offenders
P11 SPORTS WILLIE SIMMONS coaches PVAMU football
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Darren Goforth mourned by city
Rhonda Skillern-Jones
Houstonians are mourning the loss of murdered Deputy Darren Goforth. Read about the suspect in the case. Hear what President Obama said about the tragedy. See which Black leaders are condemning the killing and the political rhetoric.
School has started, and HISD Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones is offering insight into issues. Find out about her priorities. Learn what she says about underperforming schools. See the pluses and minuses of Superintendent Terry Grier.
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leads HISD board
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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 3 | 2015
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Houston mourns murdered deputy Houstonians from all walks of life have been saddened by the shocking murder of Deputy Darren Goforth, who was killed at a Cypress gas station on Aug. 28 while refueling his patrol car. More than $182,000 has been raised for the Goforth family on a GoFundMe account, and area residents have erected a memorial to Goforth at the site of the killing. Funeral services for Goforth will be held Friday, Sept. 4 at 11 a.m. at Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive. Shannon J. Miles, a 30-year-old Black man, was charged with capital murder in the case. His next court date is Oct. 5. Prosecutors said Miles approached Goforth from behind, and emptied his entire gun as he shot him. The motive for the murder is unknown. Miles has a criminal history that dates back to 2005 and includes an arrest in Austin in 2012 that resulted in Miles being sent to a mental hospital for several months. Goforth, a 10-year veteran of the Harris County Sheriff’s Department Shannon J. Miles death, was married and the father of two. President Obama called his widow Kathleen. “On behalf of the American people, I
Deputy Darren Goforth is shown with his family. His wife Kathleen received a call from President Obama.
offered Mrs. Goforth my condolences, and told her that Michelle and I would keep her and her family in our prayers,” Obama said. “I also promised that I would continue to highlight the uncommon bravery that police officers show in our communities every single day.”
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Local leaders condemn killing, ‘rhetoric’ as that used by the district attorney and sheriff further enflames an already volatile Three Houston Black situation.” leaders denounced the murShekira Dennis, coder of Deputy Darren Goforth founder of the Houston and criticized statements Justice Coalition, called the that implied the Black Lives murder “senseless.” Matter movement may have “Hopefully, justice will James Douglas influenced the killing. prevail and his murderer will Prior to Miles’ capture, face a sentence given by a Sheriff Ron Hickman and jury of his peers, unlike the District Attorney Devon injustice that’s been passed to Anderson held an emotional the families of Jordan Baker, news conference. Mike Brown, Tamir Rice “We’ve heard Black and countless others whose lives matter, all lives matter. martyred lives spawned a Well, cops’ lives matter, too,” movement toward liberty and Hickman said. “So why don’t justice for all. we just drop the qualifier and “With regard to those Shekira Dennis say ‘lives matter.’ ” condemning the #BlackAnderson referred to LivesMatter movement “warfare” on officers and the that’s building momentum need for the silent majority to toward justice reform across support law enforcement. the nation, we will continue “While we do not conto move the meter toward done the senseless killing of justice reform, and, against Deputy Goforth, we also do police brutality,” Dennis said. not condone the inflammaState Rep. Garnet Coletory statements made by both man said Goforth’s shooter Sheriff Hickman and District should be brought to “swift Rep. Garnet Coleman Attorney Anderson,” said justice” and added, “Our James Douglas, president of hearts and prayers go out to the deputy’s the Houston NAACP. family, colleagues, and friends.” “The insinuation by Sheriff HickDuring an interview with CNN, man that the Black Lives Matter moveColeman said it was unfortunate that ment played a role in the killing of Deputy Hickman tied the murder to the Black Goforth is not only inaccurate, but totally Lives Matter movement or anything that improper (especially in light of the fact has to do with police brutality since the that no established motive has been detershooter’s motive is unknown. mined at this time),” Douglas said. “That’s one of the challenges I’ve “Additionally, the reference by had with the rhetoric from our sheriff and District Attorney Anderson of “the silent D.A.,” Coleman said. “It really is politimajority” harkens back to President Rich- cal rhetoric, and just as they don’t like ard Nixon’s use of the term as a political political rhetoric of Black Lives Matter, wedge to divide the Black and white this creates tension as well and makes community. Inflammatory language such everybody more apprehensive.” By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender
localbriefs TEXAS’ NEW GRAND JURY LAW recently went into effect. House Bill 2150, authored by State Rep. Carol Alvarado and State Sen. John Whitmire, replaces the often criticized grand jury commissioner or “pick-a-pal” method of empaneling grand jurors with the random selection method. The new law will also give the presiding judge the ability to remove grand jurors who neglect their duty, and provides judges the flexibility to appoint up to four alternate grand jurors if needed. “Texans need to feel that their justice system is equally just for everybody and not selectively just for a few,” Alvarado said. She added that the task of implementing the reforms still lies
ahead. “I look forward to working with Sen. Whitmire and other advocates to rebuild and improve the trust between our community and the criminal justice system,” she said……..HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE will host the “It’s Not Too Late” Second Start Registration Fest on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Forest Campus, 6010 E. Little York Road. HCC is offering late start classes for potential students who need more time to enroll. Registration is still open for classes starting Sept. 21. College representatives will provide registration and financial aid assistance, career information, assessment testing and orientation updates. For
information visit hccs.edu……..HOUSTON AND HISD are serving as the 19th site for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts national arts education program, Ensuring the Arts for Any Given Child. The program will take existing resources from HISD, local arts organizations, the City of Houston, and the Kennedy Center and combine them to increase arts opportunities and provide high-quality arts education for 7,000 students at 11 schools. The schools include Atherton, Benbrook, Eliot, Hartsfield, Hines-Caldwell, Kashmere Gardens, Memorial, Mitchell, Scarborough, and Whittier elementary schools, and Hamilton Middle School.
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Truancy takes toll on Black Families NNPA News Service
$25,000 Apple STEM scholarships available
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NNPA News Service
he Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) has opened the application process for the Apple HBCU Scholars program to help the most valuable company in the world identify the next generation of highperforming leaders of color in technology. The program, which targets STEM majors attending HBCUs, includes a scholarship for up to $25,000 during the recipient’s senior year, a summer internship at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., career-development opportunities, and the chance to serve as a TMCF Diversity Initiative/Apple brand ambassador. Thirty students will be selected. The deadline for applications is Friday, Sept. 18. Eligibility requirements include: • Computer science, information science/technology, mathematics, and/or engineering (electrical, mechanical, computer science, or materials science) major
VOLUME 84 • NUMBER 40 SEPTEMBER 3, 2015
Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Advertising/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Online Editor ReShonda Billingsley Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila
Print Editor Marilyn Marshall
Multimedia Coordinator LaGloria Wheatfall Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
• Enrolled full-time at a four-year accredited HBCU • Classified as a junior, and not expected to graduate before May 2017 • Cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 • Prior internship experience strongly preferred • Prior leadership experience (e.g., participation in STEM clubs, campus organizations, etc.) Students will also earn the opportunity to participate in the Apple HBCU immersion experience in Cupertino during the spring of 2016 and access to an Apple employee for a unique mentoring experience. Denise Young Smith, the vice president of Worldwide Human Resources at Apple Inc., and a graduate of Grambling State University, said that the program is about exposing gifted students from HBCUs to careers in technology. The tech industry has recently come under increased scrutiny for its lack of diversity by civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and others after companies like Google, Apple and HP published data on the ethnic and gender diversity of their workforces. “We’re big believers that innovation will be strongest when talented people from diverse backgrounds are part of the creative process,” said Smith. “That’s why we’re so proud to be partnering with TMCF to help us find the next generation of innovators.” The Apple Scholars program is just one element of a $40 million partnership between TMCF and Apple that will include the development of a talent database for hiring managers, research grants for faculty members and investments in entrepreneurship programs. Johnny C. Taylor Jr., the president and CEO of TMCF, said the partnership will also involve serious discussions about how to make HBCUs more sustainable in the future. “[Apple] is absolutely convinced that if they want to solve their diversity challenge, they have to expand the schools that are producing the pipeline,” said Taylor. “Majority schools are not enough because everyone’s fighting for that same small pot of Black students.” For information visit tmcf.org/our-scholarships.
Truancy among Black students has far-ranging consequences, not just as a predictor for low academic achievement, but also for the long-term cost to American taxpayers, according to a new report by the Center of American Progress (CAP), a Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan think tank. Blacks students are twice as likely to be chronically absent from school than their white peers, and “because absenteeism often leads to dropping out of high school, it is not surprising that high school graduation rates have a similar pattern of racial gaps as absenteeism rates.” The report titled “The High Cost of Truancy” detailed the consequences of chronic absenteeism, identified students most atrisk and offered a number of state-level policies that demonstrated the ability to reduce truancy and keep students in the classroom. Carmel Martin, executive vice president for policy at CAP, said that as students across the country go back to school, the public needs to recognize that too many children aren’t showing up to school and many more who attend the first days of school won’t attend on a regular basis. “The lifelong impact of truancy is alarming,” Martin said. “It is a predictor of low student achievement, increased school dropout rates and can be a gateway to the school-to-prison pipeline.” Truant students often have little control over financial and medical issues or a stressful home life that can impact their ability to attend school on a regular basis. The report listed a number of family or community conditions that contribute to chronic absenteeism, including parents who do not highly value education, child abuse or neglect, a large number of household members, low parental education attainment, providing child care for younger siblings, teen pregnancy or parenthood and homelessness. Schools that fail to address bullying, have poor recordkeeping, or lackluster school attendance policies can also make it harder for troubled students to stay connected to the classroom. The CAP report recommended the adoption of a national definition for truancy, early warning systems to identify students at risk for falling behind in the classroom, and policies that work to increase parental and guardian engagement in the educational process at school and at home.
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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 3 | 2015 defendernetwork.com
Older adults encouraged to get flu vaccine By BOB MOOS U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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t’s that time of year when people come up with all sorts of excuses for not getting a flu shot. Often, though, the excuses catch up with them. So, for the benefit of the naysayers, let’s do a reality check and clear up some mistaken notions. “Why worry? It’s just the flu.” Every year, almost 300,000 Americans land in the hospital as a result of the flu and its complications, and more than 20,000 die from flu-related illnesses. Older adults should be especially wary. They will account for 60 percent of the hospital stays and 90 percent of the deaths. “I got a shot last year. I don’t need another.” Even if you were vaccinated last year, you still need another shot this year, since your immunity to flu viruses wanes after a year. Also, the types of viruses usually change from season to season, so a new vaccine is made each year to fight that season’s most likely strains. “I’ll do it later – like after the first of the year.” The flu season typically begins in October, peaks in January or February and runs
through May. If you wait too long, you only increase your risk of catching the flu. Now is the best time to get your vaccination. The vaccine will protect you within two weeks. “The vaccine will give me the flu.” If you’re concerned about a serious allergic reaction or some other medical condition that may make the vaccine unsafe for you, you should consult your doctor. Otherwise, it’s important to remember that you can’t get the flu from the flu shot. The vaccine is available at doctor offices, health clinics, public health departments, pharmacies, college health centers, many employers and some schools. If you’re enrolled in Medicare Part B, your flu vaccine won’t cost you anything, as long as your doctor, clinic or pharmacy agrees not to charge you more than Medicare pays. There’s no deductible or co-payment for the vaccination. Besides the standard-dose vaccine, adults 65 and older have the option of a higher dose specifically designed to address their agerelated declining immunity. However you choose to be vaccinated, don’t delay. You’ll be protecting not only yourself but also those around you. By avoiding the flu this season, you’ll avoid giving it to your family and friends.
Make your flu shot make a world of difference Your immunization helps provide a lifesaving vaccine to a child in a developing country.
From July 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016, for every immunization administered, Walgreens will donate $0.18 to the United Nations Foundation, up to a maximum donation of $2,000,000. For more information, go to Walgreens. com/GetaShot. Vaccines subject to availability. State-, age- and health-related restrictions may apply. ©2015 Walgreen Co. All rights reserved.
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Now, riding is as easy as 1-2-3: 1. Call METRO Customer Care at 713-635-4000 to see how your route is changing or to plan a trip. 2. Visit RideMETRO.org and compare your old route to the new one using our dual trip planner. 3. Take us for a test drive and experience it for yourself. Discover METRO’s New Bus Network, it’s a whole new way to ride.
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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 3 | 2015 defendernetwork.com
entertainment
Keith Beauchamp
Filmmaker focused onTill story
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By KAM WILLIAMS Special to the Defender
roducer Keith Beauchamp is no stranger to Emmett Till, the 14-year-old African-American teenager who was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955, after reportedly flirting with a white woman. It was his Emmy-nominated film, “The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till,” that prompted the U.S. Justice Department to reopen the case in 2004. Since the production, Beauchamp has worked closely with the FBI and its Civil Rights Cold Case Initiative, producing documentaries on other unsolved civil rights murders in his capacity as executive producer and host of Investigation Discovery’s crime reality series, “The Injustice Files.” Originally a criminal justice major at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Beauchamp left school to pursue justice for Till. He remains the only filmmaker to work closely with the Till family and is dedicated to sharing their heartbreak and their mission to advocate for change. Now, he has launched a Kickstarter campaign in support of “Till,” a feature-length drama he’s making about the teen’s life produced by Whoopi Goldberg. Here,
Beauchamp talks about the project. KW: What interested you in making a drama about Emmett Till, since you already did a documentary about him? KB: The documentary was my second vehicle to get the true story of Emmett Till out to the public. After gathering research, in 1998 I wrote a screenplay that was later optioned off by producers who had a deal with Showtime. Not knowing much about the industry, I felt that I gave my baby away because of the option period and the lack of interest in a Till film. The option eventually expired, but during that process I continued to travel to Mis- Emmett Till sissippi and around the country gathering information on the case. After I discovered vital information that I felt could be critical in the reopening of the case, I decided and was encouraged by Mother Mobley [Till’s mother] to pursue the documentary so we could use it as a stepping-stone to get the case reopened. After Mother Mobley’s passing
and before the documentary was finally released in theaters in 2005, the 50th anniversary of Emmett’s murder, I was already, behind the scenes, sharing the evidence I’d gathered with federal authorities and local officials…The Till feature will be my second chance to get the full and true story of Emmett Louis Till out to the masses… KW: Who do you want to star in the film? KB: Although we have not locked the title role as of yet, I’ve been thinking a lot about Taraji P. Henson. I’ve watched her career flourish over the years and when I saw her performance in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” it sealed the deal for me. But there’s also Kerry Washington and others that I believe could play the role well. KW: What message do you want people to take away from “Till?” KB: I want people to be inspired and understand that the fight for freedom and justice is a continuous one, despite the post-racial society concept that some of us want to believe. I firmly believe that this film will be a catalyst for change, just like the murder was in 1955. KW: Why did you turn to a Kickstarter campaign to underwrite the project? KB: We chose Kickstarter because I wanted to make a film for the people and by the people…Understand that we are not trying to break any Kickstarter records with a goal of just $50,000. Our main mission for using this vehicle is to allow the public participation in the making of this film, and to garner grassroots support, just like I had in the making of the documentary. For more information visit www.kickstarter.com/ projects/653510710/till.
Video of the Year. After accepting her MTV award, Minaj said, “And now back to this b---- that had a lot to say about me a lot in the press. Miley, what’s good?” Cyrus fired back with, “we all know how they manipulate” words during interviews. KANYE WEST, who received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, announced his political aspirations. West talked about the need for new ideas and people who believe in the truth. “And yes, as you probably could’ve guessed by this moment, I have decided in 2020 to run for president,” he said…….. TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY’S Heritage of Zion Singers, a group comprised primarily of TSU opera
workshop and university choir students, recently returned from a series of concerts of Negro Spirituals, gospel music and American jazz standards in Beijing, China…….. WILL SMITH stars in the sports drama “Concussion,” which hits theaters on Christmas Day. Smith will portray real-life forensic neuropathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu, who discovered a link between football injuries and early-onset dementia that could lead to death ……..FOREST WHITAKER will make his Broadway debut next spring as a drunken, smalltime hustler in Eugene O’Neill’s “Hughie.” Whitaker won an Oscar for portraying Idi Amin in “The Last King of Scotland.”
what’sup The Christian movie “War Room” made a surprise showing at the box office, earning $11 million dollars and coming in second behind “Straight Outta Compton” ($13 million). “War Room” tells the story of an African-American family that perseveres through prayer. It stars PRISCILLA C. SHIRER, T.C. STALLINGS and KAREN ABERCROMBIE…….There was plenty of drama during the recent MTV Video Music Awards. NICKI MINAJ, who won the Hip-hop Video award for “Anaconda,” called out MILEY CYRUS for comments she made in an interview. Cyrus said Minaj was a poor sport about not receiving a nomination for
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(PHOTO CTSY. ST. LOUIS AMERICAN)
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Rhonda Skillern-Jon
HISD SCHOOL By MARILYN MARSHALL Defender
School has started, and HISD is once again charged with educating the 215,000 students who comprise the state’s largest school district. As president of the nine-member Board of Education, Rhonda Skillern-Jones leads the official policy-making body of HISD. Skillern-Jones was elected president in January and her term ends this December. She is one of three African-American school board members. The other two are Trustee Wanda Adams of District IX and Trustee Paula Harris of District IV. Skillern-Jones represents District II, and schools in her district include Atherton, Hilliard, and Pleasantville Elementary Schools, and Forest Brook, Holland and Key Middle Schools. High schools in her district are Barbara Jordan, Kashmere, Mickey Leland College Prep Academy for Young Men, North Forest, Washington and Wheatley. Two of the schools in Skillern-Jones’ district, N.Q. Henderson Elementary and Fleming Middle School, were among five recommended for closure in 2014 by district officials, but were spared from closure following vocal community opposition. The Defender conducted a Q&A with Skillern-Jones to gain insight into pressing issues facing HISD in 2015-2016. Defender: As the new school year begins, what are your top priorities as board president? Skillern-Jones: 1) To increase student achievement. That is our primary responsibility and we must do a better job of educating all our students. It is not acceptable to only successfully educate a small portion of our student body. 2) To enact legislation that allows for more equitable distribution of resources, quality programming and choice availability. All children must have equal access to quality seats in their school of choice which should include their neighborhood school as well. Defender: The HISD schools named for Confederate officers is a
Background
• N ati ve H o u sto n ia n • E a rn e d b a c h e lo r’s in b u si n e ss a d m trati o n a n d in is m a ste r’s in c li n ic a l so c io fro m Texa s lo g y S o u th e rn U n ive rs ity • E le cte d to H IS D b o a rd in 2 011 ; se rv a s se c reta ry ed in 2 012 a n d 2 013 , fi rst v p re si d e nt in ice 2 014 • Re p re se nts H IS D o n Tex a s A ss o c iati of School B on o a rd s B o a rd o f D ire cto rs • S e rve d o n fi ve PTO/ PT A b o a rd s; le ti ve c h a ir o g is laf th e PTA C o u n c il • M a rr ie d w it h fi ve c h il d re n HISD Board of Trustees President Rhonda Skillern-Jones commented during the State of the Schools luncheon earlier this year. (HISD photo)
Congresswoman S opposition to clos
community conc and how will you Skillern-Jon the district the ab the process of cho and community a Defender: M school closings i last year on closi district’s criteria Skillern-Jon hood schools. It i the first signs of p children sitting in not vote for the o During my p area of town and tragic happened a not necessary. Defender: E public schools, a ceive failing grad the problem? Skillern-Jon benchmark. It is t does but as a pub the TEA ratings f [In terms of instance. Kashme year we said we h who has a proven am meeting with
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BOARD PRESIDENT SPEAKS
Skillern-Jones joined Washington High School students for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. (HISD photo)
Sheila Jackson Lee and Skillern-Jones spoke out in sing Fleming Middle School.
cern. What direction do you think HISD should take u lead the district in that direction? nes: I will bring to the September agenda a policy giving bility to rename those facilities. Subsequent to its passing, hoosing new names will begin. The school community at large will have the bulk of input in that choice. Many Black community members remain upset about in their neighborhoods. Considering HISD’s flip-flop ing some schools and leaving others open, what is the for closing schools in the Black community? nes: I do not and never have supported closing neighboris incumbent on us as a district to support those schools at problems. We should never allow a school to fail or the n it. I fought to keep my school off the closure list and did others. presidency, I have called a moratorium on closures in any hopefully the next president will do the same. Nothing as a result of not closing schools so far, so I would say it’s
Each year, Children at Risk releases its report card of and a number of historically Black HISD schools redes year after year. What is the district doing to address
nes: We use the Texas Education Agency Ratings as our the standard rating. I appreciate the work Children at Risk blic school district we respond to the data we compile and for our improvement plans. f addressing the problem], let’s take Kashmere for ere has been low performing for six years and so this had to do something drastic. We chose a new principal n track record in a like demographic market. Also, I h the NAACP and the Greater Houston Partnership on a
regular basis on bringing a community school type setting to Kashmere where we will invite in community organizations, partners, services and agencies to assist in providing support services for that school community. Literacy By 3 is a [district-wide] focus because it is my belief that literacy is a foundation of all the learning. Its mission is to have every child reading and writing with fluency by the end of grade 3. We put resource dollars into literacy intervention to provide not just library books in a library but in every classroom and they’re age-appropriate at grade levels. When the students test to see where their reading ability is, we provide books at the reading level for that child and they take those books home. We’re really focusing in on the vocabulary deficit and getting them double doses of reading. So there’s a push to shore up the reading foundation so we can build on those skills. Defender: HISD is currently building and renovating numerous schools. What are your plans to increase minority participation? Skillern-Jones: Contrary to the past and popular belief, we are at a 51 per cent minority participation rate and I am quite proud of that. [The racial breakdown is unavailable]. Defender: What is HISD doing to raise teaching standards? Skillern-Jones: We are currently training our teachers and leadership staff in several areas of professional development and in leadership. We also have a new Human Resources director who is busy ensuring we maintain a high standard at entry level. We have great teachers in HISD who need the support from leadership and the freedom to deliver quality instruction without being encumbered with red tape and burdened with the high stakes of testing. Defender: What are the pluses and minuses of Superintendent Terry Grier? What pointers do you give the community in interacting with him? Skillern-Jones: Dr. Grier is very innovative and unafraid to push the limits. We differ on the value of personnel turnover and school stability as well as the value of community input and participation. My best advice
he Houston area for over 80 years
Skillern-Jones appeared at a press conference for Project Safe Start, a collaborative between ministers, law enforcement and school officials. (HISD photo)
to the community would be to be collective with their input. Together we are powerful. Divided we cannot achieve our goals. We must all be on the same page. Defender: How is the district going to better engage the community related to school closings, increasing academic performance and school safety? Skillern-Jones: We hold frequent meetings in these areas so I encourage greater participation with collective, productive, research-based dialogue. There is value in participating in our “Your Voice” survey [conducted in May] which only has a 30 percent response rate. Finally, it is important tha ALL board members hear the collective community voice in these issues consistently and continually.
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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 3 | 2015
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business
Small businesses can help unemployed youth America’s current unemployment rate of 5.3 percent is the lowest since before the recession in 2008. However, recent numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics tell a different story for youth. Unemployment for youth ages 16- to 24 years old is 12.2 percent, with rates for Blacks at 20.7 percent, and 10.3 percent and 12.7 percent respectively for whites and Hispanics. Tameka Montgomery, associate administrator for the SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development, said small businesses are uniquely positioned to help address the issue of youth unemployment in America, while at the same time addressing their need for a ready workforce. “The SBA and Small Business Majority have joined forces to encourage small business owners to pledge to create job op-
portunities for young people as part of the SmallBiz4Youth campaign,” Montgomery said. “The national campaign helps bridge the gap between ‘opportunity youth’ and small businesses needing to fill key entrylevel positions.” She said “Opportunity youth” refers to the 6.7 million young Americans ages 1624 who are not in school and not working. The SmallBiz4Youth campaign attempts to address the unemployment rate of young people by asking small businesses to take
one or more of the following actions with a commitment to: • Increase hiring of opportunity youth • Expand internship or apprenticeship opportunities • Adopt work-based learning opportunities through mentoring and training • Partner with workforce boards to identify prospective youth for job placement • Partner with local nonprofits, career centers and community colleges to identify
opportunity youth to fill internships and/or entry-level positions; and • Work with suppliers to assess opportunities to hire, train or mentor opportunity youth “Any one of these efforts help to introduce young people to the business world, while helping them build the skills necessary to be successful in the workplace and beyond,” Montgomery said. For more information visit www. smallbiz4youth.com.
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opinion Help ex-offenders become
productive citizens
By STATE REP. SENFRONIA THOMPSON
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he road to recovery is an uphill battle for ex-offenders and their families. In an effort to assist ex-drug offenders in their pursuit to successfully comply with reentry guidelines, I authored House Bill 1267 that was passed as an amendment to Senate Bill 200. House Bill 1267 is designed to decrease the recidivism rate and ensure the existence of a support system that helps recently released men and women transition back into society without pitfalls. On Sept. 1, this amendment became effective and will provide ex-drug offenders in Texas with an opportunity to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It is a federal program administered by each state that provides assistance to qualifying recipients so they can buy food while participating in structured job search and training programs. Prior to the passage of this amendment, those convicted of felonies were prohibited from receiving SNAP benefits under the federal Clinton-era ban. This change makes Texas the 44th state to opt out of this federal ban. Under the new policy, ex-drug offenders will be able to obtain food stamps as long as they comply with the conditions of their parole and do not commit a second offense while receiving assistance. However, this amendment does not allow eligibility for cash help through welfare. When you consider the barriers to reentry – scarcity of job opportunities, court and parole fines and lack of training to qualify for jobs – you know ex-drug offenders will need assistance while they fulfill parole, training and work searches requirements to start a new life for them and their families. I’m grateful for the bi-partisan support that made it possible to give this community a second chance on their road to recovery. Here is wha the policy change means for Texans.
FUND PROGRAMS, NOT MORE PRISONS
Almost 30 percent of all the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s incarcerated individuals are referred for drug-related offenses. Without education, job skills, and other basic services, offenders are not likely to successfully transition back into society. The backlash about using SNAP’s federal funding to help ex-drug offenders road to recovery becomes invalid when you consider the cost of housing, feeding, and providing medical assistance to offenders, all while building more prisons to house more offenders. Texas is known for high incarceration and recidivism rates. But in 2006, Texas was faced with a decision to spend over $500 million on new prisons to support the projected growth of inmates, new and returning, or to come up with a better, more cost-effective solution. Texas made the smart decision to spend less money by funding a new reform system that included drug treatment programs; sanction facilities, a step lower than prison, aimed at getting repeat offender’s attention without locking them up; outpatient treatment programs for criminals sentenced to probation; and
specialized pre-trial diversion programs for those suffering from mental illnesses. And guess what happened? Recidivism dropped by nearly 6 percent to its rate last year of 22.6. The drop in repeat offenders is proof positive that funding programs and not prison is the right step to lower crime and create thriving communities.
OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT HANDOUTS
The lack of opportunity leads to hopelessness. Hopelessness makes people desperate. And desperate people either make or return to making regrettable decisions. This policy is an opportunity to adhere to guidelines and restrictions to help this community get a second chance, not endless chances, on their road to recovery.
POLICY IS NOT JUST ABOUT OFFENDERS
It is about providing a safer and more stable society for all. These offenders are people –people with families, some of who depend on them for basic needs, like food. I am pleased that my legislative colleagues joined me in providing an avenue for these vulnerable citizens, many who are mentally ill, veterans and single moms, to avoid the pitfalls that got them into the cycle of drugs and incarceration. By helping them, we not only help their children, and families, we make our society safer for all. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Senate Bill 200 Amendment could assist approximately 56,860 residents in the state currently on community supervision for drug offenses, plus those who have cycled out of parole. Houston State Rep. Senfronia Thompson represents District 141. She is the author of scores of reforms benefiting women, children, families and the elderly. Her office is constantly engaged in bi-partisan efforts to decrease the recidivism rate and ensure the existence of a support system to help recently released men and women smoothly reintegrate into society.
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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 3 | 2015 com
sports
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PVAMU football:
New coach, new beginning
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By MAX EDISON Defender
he Prairie View A & M Panthers finished the 2014 football season with a 5-5 record, 5-4 in conference play. Twenty years ago a .500 record would have been good enough to throw a grand parade through the heart of the campus, that’s how bad off the program was. That was then and this is now. Panther faithful have sipped the nectar of success and just being mediocre is not good enough on “the Hill.” With a new state-of the art football stadium and athletic complex coming on line in 2016, the Panthers felt it was time to move in a different direction at the top spot. They hired former Alcorn State offensive coordinator Willie Simmons to guide the program into the future. The Panthers’ record of 14-19 overall, 13-14 in SWAC competition over the previous three years cost head coach Heishma Northern his job. With Simmons they get a coach Willie Simmons is in his first year as head football coach at Prairie View A&M University. whose stock is ascending. Simmons was a key part of coach Jay Hopson’s staff at Whoever lines up under center will have his choice Alcorn that saw the Braves go from doormat to champion in of blue chip backs to hand off to. Redshirt senior Courtney just three years. A former Clemson quarterback, Simmons Brown was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2013 and senior Johnta has had successful stints at Clemson and Middle Tennessee Hebert, a preseason All-SWAC selection, was a 1,000-yard State. He is known in the industry as an innovative offensive rusher in 2014. mind. The offensive line will be Under Simmons, the anchored by preseason AllPanthers will adopt his SWAC performers Glen Haisley “seven F’s” philosophy as and Jordan Johnson. The Panther College football kicks the cornerstone of the prowide receiver group will be inexoff with a bang gram: faith, fundamentals, perienced and will have to grow fast, fighting, finish, family up fast to keep the defense from and fun. Johnta Hebert, a preseason All-SWAC selection, stacking the box to stop the run. “Winning is the byproduct of doing things the right was a 1,000 yard rusher in 2014. Junior Nick Pitre, and sophomore Rayshaun Givens, senior way,” Simmons said. “If you’re a Prairie View A&M Panther Keylon LaSalle and senior Patrick Gant will all be counted on to and you can do those seven F’s, you have a great chance to make plays. be successful.” If the Panthers are to have success in 2015, Simmons must The Panthers won the SWAC title in 2009 and their fans find a way to improve a defense that was, putting it nicely, very are anxious to have that experience again, but Simmons shies porous in 2014. away from predictions. The Panthers ranked eighth in the SWAC in scoring “We want to control what we can control,” he said. “It defense (35.3 ppg), 10th in total defense (463.6 ypg), 10th in would be great to look down the line and say we want to win rushing defense (217.2 ypg) and sixth in passing defense (246.4 a championship this year or next year or whatever the case ypg). Among the nation’s 121 FCS teams, PVAMU ranked may be. I talk to the team all the time. The faster we learn 106th in total defense and 107th against the run. to do those seven F’s together, the faster we’ll be able to First-year defensive coordinator Ralph Street has sevcompete for a championship.” eral building blocks. Sophomore lineman DeVohn Reed is a Simmons won’t find the cupboard bare at PVAMU. The preseason All-SWAC performer. Sophomore defensive back Panthers return 41 lettermen, six offensive and six defensive Damond Jackson (80 tackles) earned All-SWAC Second Team starters. They also feature four first-team preseason AllHonors as a true freshman. SWAC performers. Former Yates standout James Paul Bryant begins his junior Offensively, the Panthers will have to replace three-year season and brings experience to the linebacker group. Senior starter Jerry Lovelocke at quarterback. Expect former Lufkin safety Stephen Meighan and junior cornerback Foster Brown II standout De’Auntre Smiley (senior) to inherit the job with Damond Jackson, a defensive back, had 80 tackles and also will team with Jackson to provide leadership in the secondary. earned SWAC honors. strong competition from redshirt junior Trey Green.
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SEPTEMBER 3 | 2015 DEFENDER
h.s.zone
sportsbriefs
BTW’s Lavergne excels in all sports
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By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender
he might be the best all-around female athlete in HISD. Calling Booker T. Washington senior Cameron Lavergne a “jack of all trades,” however, would be an injustice. She doesn’t just participate in track and field, volleyball, basketball and softball. She excels in all of them. Lavergne’s talents were on full display in a recent girls’ volleyball tournament at the Marc Anthony Pavilion. With only six players and no reserves for head coach De’Aundra Thomas, Lavergne led her team into the tournament semifinals before the fatigue factor took its toll. “Cameron is our team captain and she brings the advanced level of the sport to our team,” said Thomas, currently in her first year as head coach at BTW. “She has the advantage of having played club ball and she’s shown me a lot already. “She has the motivation and determination to push her teammates and sometimes she gets frustrated because she wants to win so much,” Thomas said. “Having all that on her back is a lot, but she’s handling it. Cameron has the mentality that it’s a team sport and they are working together as a team.” For her play in the HISD tournament Lavergne was a consensus all-tournament selection. “She has the qualities of a great leader and knows how to lead her team the correct way,” Thomas said Lavergne knew what her role was on the
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defendernetwork.com Katy top-ranked area 6A school
volleyball team was going to be as the season began. “You’re only as strong as your weakest link so I knew that my role this season was to be the leader and the one that pushed us,” Lavergne said. “I try to motivate my team to be the best that we can be because if we’re all at one level we’ll be a better team.” Lavergne said she was proud of her team’s performance in the preseason tournament. “It’s the beginning of the season and we’re still working the kinks out,” she said. “The fact that we were able to come so far with a minimum of players is a credit to our athletic ability. “We may not all have the skills just yet, but we have the fight,” Lavergne said. “We have the will to win.” Thomas believes that a combination of a clear leader and teammates with a will to win bodes well for the Lady Eagles in the near future. “We’re excited about the prospects this season holds for us,” she said. “We plan to make the playoffs again and finish strong.” Washington will compete with the likes of Furr, Sterling, Wheatley, Navasota and Sealy in District 11-4A. Four schools will advance to the postseason. “I tell my girls that they have to be flexible,” Thomas said. “It doesn’t matter what position your coach puts you in. Just stand firm in that position and play that position. “If we are shorthanded, I believe my girls have the understanding along with the mindset and mentality to get the job done as a team.”
About Cameron Lavergne Birth date – Dec. 26, 1997 Birth sign – Capricorn Favorite subject – Math Possible career – Environmental engineer Solve a world problem – Childhood obesity Favorite color – Blue Favorite meal – Fettuccine Alfredo
TSU a Final Four host The NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee has approved the addition of Texas Southern University as a host institution for the 2016 Men’s Final Four. Along with the University of Houston and Rice University, TSU will be a key component in planning, organizing and executing the city-wide event to be held April 1-4. This marks the first time in the history of the Final Four that three institutions have collaborated to host the NCAA’s largest championship. “We are thrilled to have Texas Southern join University of Houston and Rice as tri-hosts for the next Final Four,” said Dan Gavitt, NCAA vice president of men’s basketball. “Texas Southern is a terrific school with nearly 90 years of history of providing a quality education to its students. Dr. John Rudley and his leadership team will be a tremendous asset to the NCAA and the city of Houston as we work together to stage one of America’s greatest sporting events.”
Riggins new PVAMU coach Auntwan Riggins was recently named as the new head baseball coach at Prairie View University. Riggins comes to PVAMU from the Warriors Baseball Academy in Houston. Prior to that, he spent 13 years with Houston’s Proway Baseball Academy as one of its instructors and coaches. Both academies train baseball players ages 7 through 18 years old, and can claim numerous players who went on to play NCAA Division I baseball among its alumni. “I’m very happy to bring him on as our head coach, and am excited about his vision for the baseball program,” said PVAMU Athletic Director Ashley Robinson.
Wheatley ends drought One of the most interesting storylines following the round of 2015 high school football season openers was Wheatley’s 14-6 victory over Yates. The last time Wheatley defeated Yates in football was in 1977. That same season was the last time Yates failed to qualify for the postseason. The Lions have made 37 consecutive playoff appearances, which is the longest ongoing streak in Texas covering all classifications. Could this be the year the streak comes to an end? In 1977 only the district champion advanced to the postseason. Now four schools from each district get a taste of the playoffs. Are there four schools in District 20-5A better than Yates? Madison and North Forest were the preseason favorites to win the district title. Yates was slated third with Sharpstown, Waltrip and Davis battling for the final playoff berth. Madison and North Forest also lost their 2015 season openers to Fort Bend Marshall and Dulles, respectively. Yates contributed mightily to its own demise against Wheatley with two first-quarter turnovers inside its own five-yard line that translated into a 14-0 deficit. Wheatley never scored after the first quarter. Yates travels to play Class 4A state champion Navasota on Sept. 4. Wheatley faces Kashmere Sept. 5 at Delmar Stadium.
Nag wins at nationals Trisha Nag of Clements High School won a silver medal (kata) and a bronze medal (kumite) at the recent 2015 USA Karate Nationals held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 3 | 2015 defendernetwork.com
Simeon Rice
Former NFL great makes directorial debut By KAM WILLIAMS Special to the Defender
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uper Bowl champion Simeon Rice is a three-time All-Pro defensive end who played in the NFL from 1996 to 2007. He began his career with the Arizona Cardinals, followed by stints with the Tampa Buccaneers (2002 Super Bowl winners), Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts. Born in 1974, Rice grew up in a small community on the South Side of Chicago. While in elementary school, he discovered his talent for drawing. Simeon Rice is the director of “Unsullied,” and Murray Gray is one of the stars. Though he loved art, football led age to the actions films that he loved watching as a him away from his growing fascination. He received a football scholarship from the University child. It recently debuted in theaters, and stars Rusty of Illinois where he became the Big Ten Freshman of Joiner, Murray Gray and James Gaudioso. Here, he the Year and a three-time All-American. talks about the film and more. After retiring from football, he enrolled at the KW: What interested you in attending the New New York Film Academy where he finished the short York Film Academy? Had you studied scriptwriting film, “When I Was King.” or filmmaking at the University of Illinois? Shortly thereafter, he co-founded Dreamline SR: What interested me was the ability to be a stoPictures with writer/producer John Nodilo and sold ryteller and creator. No, I didn’t study any level of film his first show to HBO. Next, he turned his attention to or entertainment in undergrad. making his directorial debut in “Unsullied,” an hom-
KW: How would you summarize the film in 25 words or less? SR: “Unsullied” is about Reagan Farrow [a track star]. On a way to a race, she is kidnapped by two psychos and thrust into a dangerous game of kill or be killed. KW: Who is your favorite director? SR: I don’t have one favorite. However, some of my favorites are Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Alfred Hitchcock and Antoine Fuqua. KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see? SR: I see a juggernaut. KW: Who loved you unconditionally during your formative years? SR: My parents loved me unconditionally growing up. I still live by their lessons – never half-do anything and keep God first. KW: What key quality do you believe all successful people share? SR: I believe all successful people have a determined mind. KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps? SR: Believe that anything is possible, find your passion, and then follow your dreams.
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SEPTEMBER 3 | 2015 D EFENDER
Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com
topevents
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BILL DUKE VISITS IMANI SCHOOL……..The Imani School recently CEO/Publisher Sonny Messiah Jiles, Mario Diaz, Marcus Brigance, Councilman welcomed Hollywood actor, director and author Bill Duke and the Duke Media Larry Green, Gerald Smith, Faye Media, TV Image Production, Anita Thomas, Foundation for a screening of excerpts from the documentaries “Dark Girls” and Jerry Sowells, Tiffany Williams, Triston Sutton, Elaine Barber, Vernita Harris, “Light Girls.” The self-reflection workshop also featured a discussion on colorism as Courtney Johnson Rose, Eroll Allen, LaMetrice Dopson, Derrick Wilison, Jarren well as poetry read by students. Duke ended the event with a book-signing and photo Small, R. Leigh Johnson, Theldon Branch III and James Donatto Sr. Congrats!........ opportunities for participants and guests. Those in attendance RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY PREMIERE included Imani Head of School Patricia Williams, Ben to the Defender’s own ReShonda Defender TOP EVENTS PARTY……..Congratulations Williams, Nicque Montgomery, Erica Babino, Kevin Murray, Tate Billinglsey, best-selling author of more than 35 books, who More photos on defendernetwork.com Bishop James Dixon, Uchenna Agu, Skylar Williams, Jyra celebrated the movie premiere of her novel “Let the Church Say See Events on KTRK Ch.13’s ‘Crossroads’ Pringle, Subi Farayibi, Ryann Jordan, Taylor Ferguson and Amen” with a party at Indigo Midtown. The BET movie, featuring with Melanie Lawson on Sunday Morning moderator Cai Flowers.…….GHBC PINNACLE AWARDS Regina King in her directorial debut, tells the story of a preacher’s NOMINEE RECEPTION…….. The Greater Houston Black daughter who strives to be more than an unwed mother. The event Chamber (GHBC) hosted a VIP Nominee Reception saluting a variety of Blackshowcased the movie trailer as well as Councilman Dwight Boykins presenting ReShonda with a day in Houston honoring her accomplishments. Those in attendance owned businesses at Mr. Peeples Restaurant in midtown. The reception announced the nominees for the GHBC’s prestigious African-American Business Achievement included Sonny Messiah Jiles, Dr. Miron Billingsley, Marilyn Marshall, Demetria Pinnacle Awards. The winners will be revealed at the Chamber’s 21st Annual Pinnacle Randle, John West, Tanisha Tate, Roshanda House, Coffy Gray, Dedrick Johnson and Sharmagne Taylor. Awards Gala on Oct. 10 at the Power Center. Nominees and guests included Defender
Bishop James Dixon, Erica Babino, Bill Duke, Nicque Montgomery, Patricia Williams, Uchenna Agu, Kevin Murray
Jerry Sowells, Anita Thomas, Tiffany Williams, Triston Sutton
Coffy Gray, Roshanda House, Tanisha Tate
Cai Flowers, Bill Duke
Subi Farayibi, Bill Duke
Theldon Branch III, James Donatto Sr.
Miron and ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Vernita Harris, Elaine Barber
Sonny Messiah Jiles, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Pat Tucker, Erin Anthony
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DEFENDER | SEPTEMBER 3 | 2015
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