09.04.2025_Defender-e-FULL (1)

Hurricane Katrina 20 years later: The Houston connection

PROFILE

SPORTS

LASHAWAN N NDA MOORE

DEMECO RYANS

The executive coach work ks to t elevate Black women.

The Texans coach is feeling the buzz as he heads into his third year.

Volume 94, issue 46 September 4, 2025

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DN To the POINT

Elon Musk’s Boring Company has proposed building $760 million flood mitigation tunnels under Houston’s Buffalo Bayou. Credit: Getty Images

Message from the Reporter Elon Musk’s $760M flood tunnel pitch raises eyebrows

As these laws take effect, Texans will be watching closely. For some, they represent overdue protections and reforms. For others, they mark troubling limits on rights and freedoms. The true impact will be measured not in rhetoric, but in daily life.

It seems Elon Musk’s Boring Company might soon be building tunnels in H-town.

Musk’s company has proposed constructing two 12-foot-wide flood mitigation tunnels under Houston’s Buffalo Bayou watershed for about $760 million, with Congressman Wesley Houston passes new rules on Hunt helping steer the pitch. homelessness Though far cheaper than the original Houston is drawing new boundaries for life multi-decade county-led tunnel plan –and on the streets, tightening the rules on where Tannistha Sinha much larger – some experts question whether people can exist in public. the scaled-down tunnels would be adequate for major floodIn recent weeks, the City Council has passed two measures ing events. Additional concerns include the Boring Company’s that reshape how pedestrians, panhandlers and people experilack of relevant experience, limited public transparency and the encing homelessness navigate public space. One bans sitting, bypassing of standard competitive bidding. standing or walking on narrow traffic medians, while another As extreme storms remain part of Houston’s future, this expands the city’s “civility ordinance” to bar sleeping or storing project proposes a novel but controversial approach to flood belongings on sidewalks in Downtown and East Downtown, resilience. now enforceable 24/7.

Per an investigation by local media, Musk and West have Fair enough. No one wants to see a pedestrian struck by a car. been pushing state and local officials to hire Musk’s Boring Co. But it is also fair to ask if the ordinance targets the city’s most to build the tunnels. visible poor, many of whom panhandle from medians because Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, whose staff met with Hunt’s there’s nowhere else to go. team during the legislative session, is open to the plan.

Supporters frame these laws as common-sense safety tools.

It remains to be seen how the plan plays out or how Hous- Council members backing the median ban say it could prevent tonians will receive it. Until then, it is imperative to follow how tragic accidents. Mayor John Whitmire and his team argue the the negotiations take place and who supports and objects to expanded homelessness ordinance is about outreach, not punishthe proposal. ment, pointing to the dangers of encampments and the promise of more shelter beds. They stress that fines and arrests are rare, Texans brace for new laws as they go into effect with most encounters aimed at connecting people to services.

On Sept. 1, Texas entered a new chapter under Gov. Greg Yet critics raise urgent questions. Will these ordinances simply Abbott’s sweeping agenda. The governor hails this session as push poverty and homelessness out of sight without addressing “one of the most consequential in Texas history,” but Texans root causes? Council members Tiffany Thomas, Letitia Plummer must pause and ask: Consequential for whom? and Abbie Kamin warn of unintended consequences: CrimiAbbott’s slate of laws doubles down on conservative prior- nalizing low-income residents, creating new cycles of warrants, ities. Bills like Senate Bill 2, which establishes a billion-dollar or ignoring barriers in shelters that keep people on the streets. school voucher program, promise “choice” while diverting public Houston prides itself on being a national model for reducfunds toward private education. Meanwhile, House Bill 2’s record ing homelessness. Yes, it is complicated. Many people living investment in teacher pay is overshadowed by measures like SB on Houston’s streets struggle with mental illness, addiction, or 12, which bans diversity training and mandates rigid parental trauma. The impact of these ordinances, whether they honor the control over curriculum. These moves may appease culture-war community’s legacy or undermine it, will hinge on what happens constituencies, but critics say they risk stripping classrooms of after they are enforced. And whether there is lasting investment inclusivity and autonomy. in housing, health care and human dignity.

The governor also touts new restrictions on abortion support, bail reform designed to project “tough on crime” credentials and On the Web fresh limits on “sister-city agreements between governmental • Houston drivers’ most ignored traffic violations. entities and foreign adversaries.” At the same time, legislation • Why are Black women suffering from PTSD? addressing water infrastructure and cyber defense reflects real, • Serena Williams sparks outrage with weight loss drug long-term needs. announcement.

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DN News Section 8 changes could hurt Black families in Houston

By ReShonda Tate

Black families in Houston may soon find stable housing slipping further out of reach as sweeping changes to Section 8, the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program, take shape under the Trump administration.

Amid a worsening national affordable housing and homelessness crisis, President Donald Trump’s administration is determined to reshape HUD’s expansive role providing stable housing for low-income people, which has been at the heart of its mission for generations. The proposed changes include a two-year limit on the federal government’s signature rental assistance programs.

While the Trump administration has not yet officially implemented any changes, Housing officials are on high alert. The administration’s proposed budget includes deep cuts to HUD rental assistance, including Section 8, with reductions projected to impact millions of families nationwide.

More than 3.8 million people could lose access to housing vouchers. Proposed time limits on rental assistance would also put

Advocates say proposed Section 8 changes could force families back into cycles of housing instability.

Credit: Getty

1.4 million low-income households at risk of losing their homes, many of them working families with children.

“We have been taking inventory of every program and found HUD’s rental assistance to be full of waste, fraud and abuse,” HUD Secretary Scott Turner said at a House

budget hearing in June. “It’s broken and deviated from its original purpose, which is to temporarily help Americans in need.

HUD assistance is not supposed to be permanent. It should be a trampoline, not a hammock and not a resting place.”

The changes would transform Section 8 from a guaranteed federal program into state-administered block grants, with less oversight and stricter eligibility rules. Families without seniors or people with disabilities could face a two-year cap on assistance.

Nearly 70% of current recipients would lose support under the new guidelines.

For Black families in Houston—who are disproportionately represented among voucher holders—the effects could be devastating. Many HUD-assisted families already earn less than $18,000 annually. Without rental support, they would face eviction, homelessness or relocation into substandard housing.

According to the Associated Press, New research from New York University found that if families were cut off after two years, 1.4 million households could lose their

vouchers and public housing subsidies — largely working families with children. This would lead housing authorities to evict many families, the report said.

A broad time limit would cause “substantial disruption and dislocation,” it said, noting the policy is largely untested and most of the few housing authorities to voluntarily try it eventually abandoned the pilots.

A break from HUD’s long-held purpose of helping house the poor could also jeopardize its contracts with private landlords, who say they’re already feeling the uncertainty as public housing authorities announce they’re scaling back in anticipation of the cuts.

Critics fear the restriction could derail those working towards self-sufficiency — defeating the goal time-limit supporters hope to achieve. Congress is on summer break until Sept. 2 and has until the Sept.

30 government funding deadline to finalize and pass a funding bill.

How the funding shortfalls goes beyond housing

City approves disaster recovery plan

By Tannistha Sinha

Houston City Council has approved a $314.6 million disaster recovery plan to address home repairs, power generation resilience, homeless services and debris management in the wake of the 2024 derecho and Hurricane Beryl. The measure includes a major amendment from Council Member Tiffany Thomas that shifts $50 million from the city’s Power Generation and Resiliency Program to double funding for housing recovery. It also allocates $100 million for housing recovery programs, increasing from the initial $0 allocation to $50 million following public outcry at community feedback meetings.

The plan includes: Planning: $200,000 Administration: $15.7m Houston program: $100m ($50m for single-family, $50m for multi-family housing) Power Generation Resilience Program: $101.3m Emergency Response/Public Safety Program: $15.3m Homeless Services Program: $41m Debris Repository Acquisition/ Development Program: 32.8m Vegetation Management/Debris Removal Program: $8.25m

A shift toward housing

It’s the right thing, it’s a holistic package, it’s not imbalanced and it’s the best decision with the funds that we have.”

- Council Member Tiffany Thomas Mayor John Whitmire called the process “a balancing act” between repairing damaged homes and preparing for the next disaster.

“We don’t have a good track record. We’re still addressing Harvey funding recovery funds,” Whitmire said. “So through relationships, hitting a restart button, we had to approach with what we thought our critical needs were…We’ve had a series of hearings.

We listened to the housing chair [Thomas] of this panel.”

The plan now heads to HUD for review and approval before the city gets reimbursed for any money spent.

Before the amendment, the plan set aside $30 million for multi-family housing repairs and $20 million for single-family home repairs. Thomas’ change increases both categories to $50 million each, directing more resources to residents still struggling to recover from the storms’ destruction.

“I have complete confidence in the housing department,” said Thomas, chair of Housing and Community Affairs. “Even when we have weaknesses in certain areas, we have to scale up and get ready for that. It [recovery funds] allows us to make deep investments longterm so we can be hyper-focused on recovery and response until FEMA gets in and we receive the next fund. It’s the right thing, it’s a holistic package, it’s not imbalanced and it’s the best decision with the funds that we have.”

To cover the increased housing allocation, Thomas’ amendment reduced the Power Generation and Resiliency Program budget from $151.3 million to $101 million. That program funds backup power systems for critical city facilities like multi-service centers, water treatment plants and emergency hubs.

Will the funds be equitably disbursed?

Thomas thinks so.

“With federal dollars, the good thing is that it comes with guidelines to meet certain census tracts that meet income eligibility,

Council member Tiffany Thomas told the Defender that proposing the amendment was the “right thing” to do. Credit: Tiffany Thomas’ office

which keeps us in integrity about who gets what and how,” she said. “The good news is we have a framework for going into these neighborhoods, these zip codes (LMI), to address those needs.”

Community reaction

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DN News

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez

Works toward reform in Harris County jail

By Tannistha Sinha

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez insists his mandate is simple: Serve everyone, even those who didn’t vote for him.

He won a third term last November with just over 53% of the vote, a narrow margin that underscores both the expectations and scrutiny now shadowing the leader of Texas’ largest sheriff ’s office.

“When I die, I want to die on empty, not because I’m tired, but because I used every skill and talent I was blessed with for the greater good of just trying to leave the world a better place than I found it,” Gonzalez told the Defender.

The Houston native recalls learning as a child that his father could not read or write and later, that his dad was once incarcerated in the very jail Gonzalez now oversees. That experience, he says, fueled his empathy and his fixation on navigators, systems and people who help others through complicated bureaucracies, from job applications to courtrooms.

If Gonzalez’s rhetoric leans humane, his third term is defined by difficult problems in local criminal justice: A jail under remedial orders and intense public pressure after a string of in-custody deaths.

State regulators have repeatedly cited Harris County for non-compliance. On June 30, 2025, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards issued another notice tied to deficiencies identified in late-June inspections. The Sheriff ’s Office also released a 17-minute video of 32-year-old Alexis Cardenas’ fatal encounter with jailers as he refused to leave upon release.

When I die, I want to die on empty, not because I’m tired, but because I used every skill and talent I was blessed with for the greater good of just trying to leave the world a better place than I found it.”

SHERIFF ED GONZALES

Challenges ahead Gonzalez said several inmates, disproportionately African American (~ 50%), battle mental and physical health issues like addiction, hypertension and diabetes, which makes hefty investments in the policing system crucial.

Gonzalez argues the jail’s medical and mental-health burdens are structural. Staffing and overcrowding have long driven costly inmate outsourcing to far-flung facilities, a practice he “fundamentally” opposes and wants to end as population and case backlogs ease.

“We don’t have a staffing issue,” Gonzalez explained. “We have a jail population issue.”

The “north star” of policing On the street, Gonzalez touts a measurable dip in violent crime in 2024 across homicides, robberies, aggravated assaults and gunshot victims, with similar trends continuing into 2025.

The county’s Holistic Assistance Response Teams (HART), clinician-led units that divert non-violent 911 calls away from deputies, are expanding with new funding and personnel, laying groundwork for 24/7 coverage.

“We’re expanding it [HART] thanks to the support of the Commissioners Court. But it takes leadership because if I wasn’t on board, it wouldn’t happen,” Gonzalez said.

Inside the jail, Gonzalez moved to make Harris County the first large Texas facility to require body-worn cameras on detention staff, a transparency step that began rolling out in late 2023 and ramped through 2024.

The policy now shifts to compliance and accountability.

The Sheriff’s portfolio is also colliding with new politics from Austin. Senate Bill 8, signed

by Gov. Greg Abbott on July 15 and effective Jan. 1, 2026, requires sheriffs in large counties to seek 287(g) agreements with ICE, formalizing jail-based immigration cooperation.

Gonzalez says HCSO will follow the law while maintaining community trust and prioritizing criminal activity over immigration status.

“We’re gonna follow the law,” he said.

“There are many laws that I may support and others that I’m not as supportive of, but at the end of the day, I can’t pick and choose. For me, ideally, we need some sensible immigration

VOLUME 94, NUMBER 45 - AUGUST 28, 2025 The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender News- paper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2025 copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher.

713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, TX 77288

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez’s initiatives include trauma-informed programming and partnerships aimed at rehabilitation inside the jail.

Credit: Clyde Jiles/Houston Defender

reform, which is what I’ve always advocated for. At some point, hopefully, the political will is there on the side of both parties to get something done in the future.”

Gonzalez does not deny the distance left to travel. But he returns, often, to the north star that propelled him from patrol officer to City Hall to sheriff: Treat people fairly, leave places better than you found them and refuse to look

away from the hardest problems.

“I reflect a lot on my faith and I don’t always talk a lot about it, but at the end of the day, there is a higher judgment as a God-fearing person,” he said of the legacy he wants. “It’s about, ‘Did I treat people fairly? Was my heart in a good place to sincerely try to do good and care for others?’ If that happens, then I think history will be good to me.”

Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Content Manager Terrance Harris

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Managing Editor ReShonda Tate

Culture/Lifestyle Reporter Laura Onyeneho

Special Assignments Reporter Tannistha Sinha Sports Terrance Harris Jimmie Aggison Video Editor Bryan Erdy

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DN Education

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas

Back-to-school

Mentors needed

By Aswad Walker

Back-to-school season is full of excitement—new teachers, fresh supplies and ambitious goals. But for many students, success depends on more than classrooms and textbooks. It often hinges on having someone in their corner.

“Back-to-school is a fun time of year.

Families are sending their kids off to school, and they have great expectations,” says Brian Ervin, vice president of programs for Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Lone Star. “It’s statistically proven that students who have mentorship are more connected to learning, they have better attendance and overall, their grades are improved.”

For Black boys in particular, the presence of a consistent, positive male figure outside the family can be life-changing. And in Houston, the need is urgent.

A critical need in Houston In Greater Houston, more than 750 youth are waiting to be matched with a mentor— over three-fourths of them boys of color.

“One of our biggest needs is men of color,” Ervin explains.

“To help get 750 youth off the waiting list, all we need you to do is step up and say, ‘I’m interested,’ and then my team will take you through the rest.”

The pro cess is simple: fill out an Curtis application, complete an interview and get paired with a young person based on shared interests.

“Surprisingly, it’s a very organic process,” Ervin says. “We want matches that are sustainable.”

This year marks the Ervin 75th anniversary of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston, a milestone the organization hopes inspires more community members to step up.

Benefits for youth (“Littles”) For mentees, called “littles,” the benefits are profound—better grades, stronger social skills, and a broader vision of life possibilities.

“At the end of the day, we can’t achieve what we can’t conceive,” says longtime mentor Anthony Curtis. “For me, it’s all about exposure, giving them opportunities to experience different things.”

From encouraging academic goals to introducing new hobbies, mentors can redirect a child’s trajectory. Ervin emphasizes, “It

really doesn’t matter your race, color, creed or gender. It’s really about the resources and opportunities you are given that can make or break your trajectory in life.”

Benefits for mentors (“Bigs”) While littles benefit, mentors—known as “bigs”—often say they get just as much from the experience.

“The bigs say they get more out of it than the littles sometimes because it’s such a rewarding process,” Ervin shares. “I hear that continuously.”

Curtis, who has mentored through BBBS since 2003, agrees. “I recognized what I could have benefited from when I was a young person that I really didn’t have,” he says. “Mentoring gives me the chance to be that person for someone else.”

Overcoming misconceptions Many potential mentors hesitate because they think they’re not “cool enough” or lack the time.

“A lot of times, people are intimidated because they say, ‘I don’t even know what I would say to the kid. I don’t know what I would do,’” says Ervin. “It really just takes you saying, ‘I want to step up and be a mentor.’”

Curtis adds, “It’s not something that’s very expensive. A lot of times, people think it’s going to cost them a lot of money. Just let them tag along when you’re doing what you do through the course of your day. And there are a lot of free things that you can do as well.”

Call to action Ervin believes the impact extends beyond individual children. “The more people we have in this mission who are going to pour back into the youth, the more we’re paying it forward, and it’s going to be best for our future.”

To learn more or sign up to mentor, visit www.bbbstx.org.

Ideas for mentor/ mentee activities.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED METRO FISCAL YEAR 2026 OPERATING & CAPITAL BUDGETS The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) is holding a public hearing to receive public comments on its proposed Operating and Capital Budgets for Fiscal Year 2026 (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026). The public hearing will be held at 12:00pm on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in the METRO Board Room on the Second Floor at 1900 Main Street in Houston, Texas 77002.

The public is invited to attend the hearing and provide comments in person. You may also join the hearing on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86046952015 or by dialing 346-248-7799 or 888-475-4499 (toll-free), Meeting ID: 860 4695 2015.

Participation on Zoom is only necessary if you want to provide comments virtually during the public hearing. Otherwise, you may view a livestream of the hearing online at RideMETRO.org/Livestream. A video recording of the hearing will also be archived on the same page.

A copy of the proposed METRO Fiscal Year 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets is currently available for review by the public on the METRO website at RideMETRO.org/PublicHearing and in the lobby of the METRO RideStore in the Lee P. Brown METRO Administration Building, located at 1900 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002.

PROCESS FOR PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENTS It is recommended that anyone wanting to make public comments at the hearing register as a public speaker with the METRO Board Office at least 48 hours in advance of the date of the hearing by calling 713-739-4834 or sending an email to BoardOfflce@RideMETRO.org, and providing their name, address and telephone number. If you pre-register, your comments will be heard first at the public hearing. Your name will be called at the appropriate time for you to make your comments.

Alternatively, if present in the Board Room you may provide public comments after the pre-registered speakers by raising your hand when called upon, by selecting the “Raise Hand” feature on the Zoom platform online or by pressing *9 if joining by telephone. Those calling in will automatically be placed on mute. After an unregistered speaker’s name or number is recognized, their microphone will be unmuted, and they will be able to provide their comments.

The public may also provide comments by email to: Budget.Book@RideMETRO.org or by calling METRO Customer Service at 713-635-4000 in advance of the public hearing.

LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE, ACCESSIBILITY, AND SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS Upon request, METRO provides free language assistance at METRO public hearings to help patrons who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English in accordance with its language assistance plan. METRO public hearings are also accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for language assistance and other accommodations should be directed to the Board Office at 713-739-4834 at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.

RideMETRO.org Call or text 713-635-4000

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DN People

Hurricane Katrina 20 years later: The Houston connection

I

By Aswad Walker

t has been just over 20 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, exposing the nation’s deepest racial and economic divides. While Katrina was an American tragedy, its most acute impact was felt in New Orleans. Yet, from Houston’s perspective, the story of Katrina—then and now—is a tale of two cities.

Houston became the landing ground for tens of thousands of displaced New Orleanians, reshaping the city’s demographics, culture and future. As filmmaker Ryan Coogler highlights in his new documentary Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time (2025), Katrina was more than a storm—it was a collision of policy failures, resilience and migration.

Long before Coogler, Spike Lee chronicled this reality in his 2006 masterpiece When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.

Today, two decades later, survivors, Houstonians and those who built new lives across Texas reflect on that defining moment.

2005

Christine Moline, seen here in 2005, had closed on her first home in New Orleans just days before Hurricane Katrine hit. Courtesy Christine Moline.

New Orleanians remember For many survivors, the memories of August 2005 remain seared into their spirits.

Trena Douse recalls that she didn’t want to evacuate at all.

“When we got the warnings about Hurricane Katrina, I didn’t think it was necessary to leave. I was willing to stay because all the years that we experienced hurricanes, it wasn’t that bad,” said Douse. Her brother convinced her otherwise. The family packed essentials, including vital records they kept ready after surviving a house fire years earlier, and fled New Orleans before the rain began.

But their journey wasn’t straightforward. After stopping in Baton Rouge, they pressed on to Port Arthur. There, they briefly stayed in a shelter—until it too was evacuated ahead of Hurricane Rita.

“We stayed in Marshall for about 60 days,” Douse remembered.

“Then we migrated to Houston.

The entire family migrated— over 50 of us.”

2025

Evacuated from New Orleans just ahead of Hurricane Katrina, Christine has lived and worked in Austin for 20 years. Courtesy Christine Moline.

For her son, Isaiah, the memories are even more haunting. Just 10 years old at the time, he was with his father, grandfather, brother and uncles. They were trapped in the Superdome before being bused to Dallas.

“The winds were whipping through everything, tearing stuff apart. I was scared,” Isaiah said. Eventually, rising floodwaters forced them to the roof of their Seventh Ward building before rescue arrived.

For others, the storm meant immediate upheaval.

Hiram Smith, a successful New Orleans event promoter, carried the burden of protecting his mother and sisters.

“It was the most devastating experience of my life,” he said. “Being the only male in the family at the time, I didn’t know where to go or what to do. Moving to Houston was a walk of faith.”

Smith drained his savings to sustain his fam- ily and keep hope alive.

“I didn’t care about money. I cared about survival,” he recalled. That survival instinct eventually birthed his Houston-based business, Hiram Style, a premier event design and management firm.

Meanwhile, educator and New Orleans native Christine Moline had just closed on her first home—after a grueling seven-month process—days before the storm.

“We always treated hurricanes like an evacuation vacation,” stated Moline. “But this time it was different.”

Moline evacuated, spending one night in Houston before heading to Austin, where she has lived ever since.

Houstonians respond For Houstonians, Katrina was an unexpected test of compassion, infrastructure and resolve.

Rachel Graham, then working in the office of Mayor Bill White, remembers the city’s rapid mobilization.

“When the levee was breached and the city

was underwater, I called my sister and said, ‘Oh my God, it’s all gone,’” Graham recalled.

Within days, she was tasked with helping co-lead Houston’s recovery operations.

She helped transform the George R. Brown Convention Center into a temporary city for the displaced.

“We set up a clinic, sections for men, women, children, and a space for the LGBTQ community,” Graham said. “We had a library, haircut stations, food and clothing.

It was all done in less than 24 hours.”

Graham’s children (daughter, 8, and son, 5) accompanied her to work daily. One day, Graham’s daughter offered a sobering reminder.

“She asked me, ‘Mommy, why don’t [the children survivors of Katrina] know where their parents are?’” Graham said, her voice heavy with the memory.

Community members also rose to meet the moment. SisterMama Sonya, an activist and healthcare advocate, organized a network of Black women to collect and distribute toiletries, diapers and food.

She later worked as a City of Houston case manager, listening to stories of survival and trauma. One still haunts her—that of her co-worker Keith, who, as a large man, had been forced to move bodies in New Orleans.

“He said he has to live with that,” Sonya said quietly.

For educators like Kathy Gunter, the crisis reshaped their roles.

“I remember seeing the videos, hearing Kanye say, ‘The president doesn’t like Black people,’ and thinking—why are they calling them refugees?” said Gunter.

Later, Gunter helped Katrina survivors, including Trena Douse and her children, adjust to Houston schools and life.

And for Houston faith communities, the moment was transformative.

Joyce Johnson of the Shrine of the Black Madonna remembered housing and caring for more than 150 evacuees.

“That experience was profoundly life-changing,” she said. “I had never been involved in anything of that magnitude in real time.”

New lives in Houston and beyond Two decades later, Katrina’s survivors live with both the scars and the resilience that storm demanded.

Trena Douse eventually settled in Dallas, though she still feels connected to Houston.

2005

Longtime educator Alieshia Baisy recalls the calling she had as a new teacher in Houston ISD to be there for her students who had escaped hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Courtesy: Aliesha Biasy.

2025

Twenty years later, educator Alieshia Baisy looks back 20 years on supporting Houston students impacted by the hurricanes.

Courtesy: Alieshia Baisy.

At the 20-year mark, Houstonians and New Orleanians who fled Hurricane Katrina reflect on that experience. Credit: MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images.

“This journey has brought out the character of triumph, resilience, confidence and not being fearful,” she said.

Her son, Isaiah, now lives in Houston but admits the trauma of Katrina shapes his choices.

“A lot of people ask me why I don’t move back. I tell them I don’t want to face the fear of starting over and going through that again,” shared Isaiah.

In Austin, Moline has flourished in tech, cyber-security and real estate, though her heart is tied to both cities. “Austin is perfect,” she said. “It’s close enough to visit friends in Houston and family in Dallas.”

For Smith, Houston became both refuge and launchpad. He built Hiram Style into a premier event firm, credited with designing all manner of events, corporate and otherwise. The Fountain of Praise church and its pastor, Dr. Remus Wright, gave him his first major opportunity to showcase his skills in Houston, which grew into a thriving business.

But he also gave back, creating the Fashion Lab initiative in New Orleans to inspire youth through design.

“I didn’t want to just leave the city,” Smith said. “I wanted to be a part of the rebirth, especially for our youth.”

For some Houstonians, welcoming New Orleanians has turned into a permanent shift in the city’s identity.

“My family members who came here never went back,” said Johnson.

“A lot of people never went back.”

Teaching through Katrina & Rita in Houston

By Alieshia Baisy

New Orleans native Trena Douse had to evacuate to flee Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Courtesy Trena Douse.

A 7-year-old Isaiah Douse is all smiles here, a few years before Hurricane Katrine forced his family to flee to the Lone Star State.

Courtesy Isaiah Douse.

In August 2005, my first year teaching in Houston ISD at Bastian Elementary in South Park, I was still learning how to be a teacher. Within weeks, two hurricanes — Katrina and Rita — would not only reshape the city I called home, but the teacher I was becoming.

Before Katrina made landfall, my teaching partner Mrs. Davis, a New Orleans native, was anxiously checking her phone for updates on her family. I had no real understanding of hurricanes beyond campus closures from my UH undergrad days. That changed on Sept. 1, 2005, after a University of Houston–Nebraska game.

Leaving the game, bus after bus rolled into what is now NRG Stadium. Children in tattered clothes, adults carrying plastic bags of belongings — the scale was overwhelming. My friend and I joined volunteers passing out water and helping direct families. We stayed for hours. By morning, some of those same children were in my classroom, carrying everything they owned. There was no time to learn how to be a “perfect” teacher; I simply had to be what they needed.

Less than three weeks later, Hurricane Rita threatened Houston. The city was unprepared, still focused on helping evacuees. When HISD finally called for evacuation, fear was visible on students’ faces. For some, it was the second time in three weeks they were leaving home with no clear destination.

The next year, I joined KIPP Liberation in Third Ward, led by a Houston legend, Tori Cofield, who had also helped open schools for New Orleans students. Our small team revamped lessons to reflect students’ identities, ran extra tutoring and made space for cultural traditions. Families brought king cake for Mardi Gras, bounce music for celebrations and a resilience that shaped the school’s spirit.

That year taught me that no amount of training as a 21-year-old could prepare me for this work. I had to rise to the occasion because the families trusted us completely.

Almost 20 years later, I still think of those students, including Tyrell, one of the giants from our founding class who recently passed away. His homegoing became a reunion — a moment to honor the bonds we built in those extraordinary years.

Watching the new HBO series on Katrina brings it all back — the chaos, the compassion, the urgency to act. We didn’t stop to ask for the whole story; we just showed up. And in Houston, we kept showing up, until those families felt safe enough to start again.

8 | September 4, 2025 |

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DN Feature

In 2021, creative solopreneurs LaGina R. Harris & Melissa Matos co-produced the 1st ever hybrid conference dedicated to destigmatizing & amplifying melanin mental health. Credit: Jimmie Aggison

(L-R) LPC Associate Denis Matos, Melanin Minds co-founders LaGina R. Harris and Melissa Matos, and Melanin Minds Board Member Dr. Jei Pearcey plan their annual mental health conference in Houston. Credit: Jimmie Aggison

Melanin Minds

Reclaims mental health for communities of color

By Laura Onyeneho

They didn’t meet face to face until 18 hours before launching their first mental health conference in 2021, but that didn’t stop LaGina R. Harris and Melissa Matos from building one of Houston’s most impactful wellness movements.

The two solopreneurs met on Instagram during the pandemic, connected over burnout and entrepreneurship and decided on a plan to create something they both needed but couldn’t find: A mental health space made by and for communities of color.

That idea became Melanin Minds, a nonprofit organization rooted in cultural relevance, intergenerational healing and mental health advocacy for Black and Hispanic communities. What started as a hybrid mental health event is now a multi-day, multicity experience supported by the Houston Texans YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters and a growing network of health practitioners, community leaders and families.

Houston was always the endgame for Harris. As a military kid with deep family roots in Fifth and Third Ward, she moved back to the city to build something lasting.

“Houston had to be the place,” she says.

“It’s the most diverse, dynamic city and we needed that energy for this kind of work.”

Matos, based in Los Angeles, first fell in love with entrepreneurship before discovering that the real need was deeper, healing.

“When I’m stressed, I stop eating,” she said. “When LaGina’s stressed, she overeats.

That’s where our conversation started, how our mental health shows up in our everyday lives.”

Healing that looks like us Melanin Minds now runs year-round programming grounded in five core pillars: Holistic healing, nutrition, relationships, mindset shifting and alignment. Each is designed to tackle the barriers communities of color face when seeking support, whether those are cultural stigmas, financial limitations, or a lack of representation in traditional therapy spaces.

Dr. Jei Pearcey, a psychophysiologist and military veteran, joined Melanin Minds after spending years searching for answers in his mental health journey.

“After serving in Operation Enduring Freedom, I saw a shift in myself I couldn’t ignore,” he says. “Trying to figure out what was going on in my own head led me to this work.”

That led him to study psychology and specialize in mind-body medicine.

“Mental health isn’t just about your thoughts,” he explains. “It’s about your environment, your nutrition, your faith, your joy.

One of the first questions I ask my clients is, ‘What do you do for fun?’ Most don’t have an answer.”

Pearcey now helps Melanin Minds integrate whole-person healing into its conference and year-round programming. From mindful eating sessions to his upcoming “mental fitness” workshop with retired NFL player Sammy Knight, he challenges attendees to think of their brains the same way they do their bodies, capable of training, strengthening and rest.

Video of a glimpse of Melanin Minds events.

HCTRA is doing more for mobility in our region - from toll roads to a new Ship Channel Bridge.

SCAN HERE OR VISIT HCTRA.ORG

September 4, 2025 |

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| 9

DN Profile

LaShawanda Moore Works to help women elevate

By ReShonda Tate

When LaShawanda Moore walks into a room, her presence is undeniable.

A Fortune 500 global leader turned executive coach, transformational speaker and founder, Moore has made it her life’s work to empower women to stop playing small and live out loud. With more than 350,000 Black women leaving the workforce this year alone, it’s a service that many believe is desperately needed.

Finding purpose in the pit Moore’s passion for helping women step into their power was forged in her own moments of struggle. Raised in Louisiana by a single mother, she witnessed firsthand what resilience looked like in the face of hardship.

Later, in her professional journey, Moore hit a wall of her own—losing sight of who she was and sinking into depression.

“It was almost hopeless for me,” she recalls.

“I lost myself completely—my strengths, my gifts, what I was here for. It was my husband who introduced me to Simon Sinek’s Start With Why, and that changed everything. Discovering my why is what allows me to do the work I do now. It’s how I press through fears and insecurities.”

That journey fuels her desire to help other women find their compass.

“Being clear on your why becomes your north star,” Moore explains. “It’s the lens you use to get centered again. Every human being should know their why, especially Black women. It’s what we lean on to make decisions and advance our gifts into the world.”

Pat Tucker, a lifelong friend-turned client, says Moore excels at helping women tap into their gifts.

Through her Elevate Success platform, LaShawanda Moore equips women with the tools to thrive in business, career, and life. Courtesy: LaShawanda Moore

When women rise, entire communities rise with them.

LASHAWANDA MOORE

“I’ve had the blessing of having beneffited from LaShawanda’s executive coaching. She guided me through one of the most ch hallenging times in my career. She doesn’t just talk about empowerment, she embodiees it.

Helping women succeed isn’t just her work, w it’s her life’s mission, and I’m gratefu ul to have experienced her support and wisd dom firsthand.”

Building platforms of empowerment Moore advances her mission through two powerful platforms: Elevate Succcess, her coaching and consulting business, and She Lives Out Loud, her nonprofit.

She Lives Out Loud is dedicated to helph ing displaced women—those who have lost jobs, faced personal crises or experien nced unexpected life changes—get back on their feet. The organization provides career woorkshops, mentorship programs, entrepreneeurial training and connections to resourrces many women otherwise could not afford.

“These women often have incrediblee talent and potential,” Moore says. “But tthey need a supportive environment and practical assistance to reignite their lives. That’s what we provide—support and empowerment to rebuild.”

The nonprofit works in tandem with Elevate Success, which focuses on life and business coaching, accountability and professional development. Together, they create a comprehensive network for women ready to step into their next chapter.

The need for programs like Moore’s is growing. Studies show that Black women are not only leaving the workforce at higher rates, but they also face disproportionate challenges in accessing resources to re-enter or advance. Many juggle caregiving responsibilities, financial instability and systemic barriers that stall career growth.

That’s why Moore believes her work is urgent. “We can’t afford to let brilliant, capable women sit on the sidelines because of lack of access or support,” she says. “When women rise, entire communities rise with them.”

Living out loud Her clients have gone on to launch busiFor Moore, “living out loud” is more nesses, secure promotions and even return than a catchy phrase—it’s a movement. It to school after years away. Nonprofit parmeans refusing to shrink into the back- ticipants have found renewed confidence ground, even when life has thrown its after career setbacks. hardest blows. It means confronting fear, “The transformation is incredible,” stepping into faith and embracing the Moore said. “Once a woman realizes she’s boldness required to lead in business, in not defined by her mistakes or her circumcommunity and in life. stances, she starts to dream bigger. And “Too often women, especially Black those dreams don’t just impact her—they women, are conchange her family, ditioned to play her workplace, and small—to stay quiet, her community.” shelivesoutloud.org to not ruffle feathWhen asked why elevatesuccess.co ers, to put everyone she believes she was else’s needs before put on this earth, our own,” she said. “Living out loud is about Moore doesn’t hesitate. breaking that cycle. It’s about showing up “I was put here to go through the hard fully and unapologetically, using your gifts things, to learn and then to teach,” she said. and walking boldly in your purpose.”

“I’ve always come out of hardships stronger, Moore has seen firsthand the ripple better. And I know now that my role is to effect when women embrace this mindset. use those experiences to help others.”

10 | September 4, 2025 |

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DN Sports TEXANS COACH

DeMeco Ryans Feels the buzz entering Year 3

By Terrance Harris

As far as Texans coach DeMeco Ryans is concerned, every season is different.

But as different as each year is, the mission and purpose are unchanged: Give Houston a team it can be proud of.

As Ryans enters season three at the helm of the franchise he once played for, Ryans’ rise has been nothing short of remarkable.

The excitement he feels now is matched only by the energy he has helped restore to Houston.

“It’s awesome to think about when we first got here to feel the excitement, to feel the buzz around the city, to see everyone excited about Houston Texans football,” said Ryans, who has already delivered back-to-back AFC South titles and a 2-2 playoff record in his first two years. “One of my main goals in coming back here as head coach was to bring great energy back to the city and get our fans excited about what we’re building.

“It’s not only about the team and the organization—it’s about the entire city. We want Houston to be proud of us, proud of what we do on the field.”

It’s been a miraculous emergence for Ryans as he gets set for Year 3 at the helm of the franchise he once played for and in the city he embraces as home. To say that Ryans is excited or enthusiastic for the season seems an understatement.

“It’s awesome to think about when we first got here to feel the excitement, to feel the buzz around the city, to see everyone excited about Houston Texans football,” said Ryans, who has led the Texans to back-to-back AFC South titles and a 2-2 record in the playoffs in his first two seasons on the job. “One of my main goals I set to accomplish in coming back here to be the head coach was to bring great energy back to the city, and get our fans and everyone around the city excited about what we are doing.

“It’s not only the team and the organization, it’s the entire city. We are doing this for the city and we want our city to be proud of us, proud of what we do out on the field.”

As with the beginning of most NFL seasons, the Texans’ expectations are high as they prepare for the Sept. 7 season opener at the Los Angeles Rams.

Will the Texans win a third-straight AFC South Division title?

Will they finally break through the AFC divisional round of the playoffs?

Are the pieces in place for third-year

DeMeco Ryans has put his stamp on the Texans for the first two seasons; now he is ready to take the franchise to the next level in Year 3. Credit: Getty Images

quarterback C.J. Stroud to become one of the elite NFL quarterbacks?

Could this be the year the Texans put it all together for a Super Bowl run?

So many questions. So many expectations.

It’s Ryan’s job to manage it all. But he has learned the art of delegating, which will be essential in such a critical year.

“For me, I feel like I’ve grown in a manner of, I’ve talked about this a lot, delegating more, taking more off my plate,” Ryans said to the Defender. “I feel like we’re in a really good spot as a team of just trusting more of my staff and people around me. I’ve got a really great staff. When it comes to that part of it, just being able to delegate more. I feel like I’ve evolved in that area.”

But Ryans, 41, has continued to be who he is at his core: a coach who exudes positivity

and upliftment toward his players. His players and everyone around him seem to feed off that energy.

“I think every day is intentional. Every day is urgent,” Stroud said of Ryans’ coaching style. “I think every day he’s done a good job of trying to push guys to that limit to where it’s going to be hard in those games. Personally, I don’t see a difference just because he’s been that way. But, I think that’s a good thing.

I’ll definitely say the other guys are starting to buy into him more.”

Ryans, one of five Black NFL head coaches, came to the Texans in 2023 with enthusiasm that permeated a cutting-edge coaching style and philosophy that gave the players a stake in the process. Over the past two seasons, he and general manager Nick Caserio have also formed a genuinely close connection, which

has allowed them to be in synch in ways that you don’t often see in the NFL. Their time together will likely forever be defined by their decision on draft night in 2023 to take Stroud No.2 overall and then trade back into the first round of the draft to take defensive end Will Anderson Jr. No.3 overall. Who does that? The brain trust of Ryans and Caserio.

They’ve seemed to be on the same page on every acquisition and move since.

“We arm wrestle,” Ryans joked. “No, we just get in the room and we talk it out. We talk it out.”

Read more of this story.

September 4, 2025 |

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| 11

DN Sports FUTURE HCU DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

Corbin Phillips Studies minds while dominating lines

By Jimmie Aggison

As a defensive lineman, Corbin Phillips’ job is to dominate offensive lines, but beneath the pads lies a sharp mind with a deep passion for understanding people.

The Cypress Lakes High School senior standout, who recently committed to Houston Christian University (HCU), isn’t just chasing sacks and tackles. He’s also pursuing a degree in psychology.

With offers from academically prestigious schools like Dartmouth, Phillips’ decision to combine college football with an intellectual pursuit shows he’s thinking far beyond the gridiron.

“During my recruiting journey, I was fortunate enough to build relationships with a lot of

coaches,” said Phillips. “The love I received from (HCU) defensive line coach Mark McMillan and the rest of the HCU staff made me feel like they were a true family.”

Although HCU is a private Christian university, location and player development were key factors in Phillips’ decision.

“My parents being able to attend all the home games was important as well as my development and being prepared for the next chapter of my life,” said Phillips.

Balancing academics and athletics wasn’t an easy decision, but Phillips understands the critical role education

plays in his future.

“I know without academics, I can’t play sports,” said Phillips. “I know that a strong GPA (grade point average) will be my gateway to living my dream of playing D1 football.”

Education has always been a cornerstone in the Phillips household. His maternal grandparents are alumni of Texas Southern University. His grandfather, Jimmy Graves, was a pharmacist and his grandmother, Jo Ree Graves, was an elementary school teacher.

“Both of my parents are alumni of Indiana University and my mom is a high school English teacher,” said Phillips. “Growing up, education was very important in our house.

It was like I was born into it.”

Phillips’ interest in psychology began after taking it as an elective during his junior year.

“I was interested in how the brain worked, along with people’s motives for doing things or their thought process,” said Phillips. “Studying psychology can help me become a better leader on the field. Knowing how people think can help me effectively encourage my teammates to be on the same page in order to dominate on the field.”

This insight helps Phillips manage the mental aspects of the game, including pressure, focus and overcoming setbacks.

“Some things in football are out of your control, but what I can control is how I react to that situation,” said Phillips. “If I lose a rep, I don’t shut down and feel bad for myself. I line back up and tell myself. Now you must win the next one.”

Cypress Lakes head football coach Tyrone Carter agrees that Phillips exhibits strong leadership and emotional intelligence qualities that align with his interest in psychology.

“Corbin notices when someone in the group is feeling left out or stressed and he takes the time to check in with them,” said Carter. “He listens without interrupting, asks thoughtful questions and helps people feel understood.”

That support extends beyond the field.

“He checks in on them after tough games or practices and he’s quick to send a motivating

text or offer to help if someone is struggling,” Carter said. “He also makes an effort to build genuine friendships outside of sports, inviting teammates to hang out, celebrating their successes and listening when they need to talk.”

Maintaining a 3.73 GPA while earning First-Team All-District honors requires discipline and time management skills that Phillips honed with support from his parents.

He structures his days similarly to a college athlete.

“During my first block of time, I wake up at 5:15 a.m.,” said Phillips. “That gives me time to stretch, shower, eat breakfast and leave for school by 6:40 a.m. My next block is school.

After school and practice, my evening block consists of a shower, a recap of my day with my parents and dinner. My last block of the day is homework or reviewing for any upcoming tests. My parents say breaking the day into blocks makes for a more productive day.”

Phillips believes sticking to this routine is the key to success, both academically and athletically. While his dream is to play in the NFL, he’s also thinking about life after football.

“My dream would be playing in the NFL,” said Phillips. “But if not, I would eventually come back to the game of football as a coach or sports psychologist and pass my knowledge of the game to young players in hopes of helping them reach their goals on and off the field.”

To younger athletes striving for excellence in both sports and academics, Phillips shares simple but powerful advice: “Never get comfortable with what you have,” said Phillips. “Always strive to be better tomorrow than what you were today.”

ABOUT CORBIN PHILLIPS

Class: 2026 IG: @99._problemz Twitter: @ CorbinPhil19 Position: Defensive lineman Height & weight: 6-feet-1, 275 pounds ds Favorite artist: Rod Wave Status: Committed to Houston Christian University Favorite subjects: Psychology, science Shout-outs: Coach Carter, Coach Tryon, Coach Munne and Coach Kolber

12 | September 4, 2025 |

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