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Healing in Houston

Blacks find paths to mental wellness NEWS

PROFILE

GREG ABBOTT

KYRA RÈ ÈNEL HARDWIIC CK

The governor of Texas is sending the National Guard d to Houston neighborhoods..

Volume 94, issue 51 October 9, 2025

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DN To the POINT

Oninda Romelus, the mother accused of killing two of her four children, once appeared on “Paternity Court.” Credit : Fayette County Sheriff’s Office; Paternity Court/Youtube

Message from the Managing Editor I-10 near the White Oak Bayou area will The case of 31-year-old Oninda Romelus be reduced to two lanes as TxDOT begins from Brazoria County is one of the most another phase of its $407 million elevation heartbreaking stories we’ve seen this year. project. The construction is expected to last Authorities say Romelus called 911 after until mid-2026, meaning years of backups allegedly shooting her four children — killand delays on one of Houston’s busiest ing two and critically injuring the other two. stretches of freeway. But as frustrating as it Deputies tried to save the children, but will be, this project is also designed to save a 13-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl were lives and property by reducing flood risks pronounced dead at the scene. An 8-yearthat have plagued this corridor for decades. old boy and 9-year-old girl were flown to My take? Let’s all pack our patience and ReShonda Tate a Houston-area hospital and are expected remember that short-term inconvenience to recover. often leads to long-term improvement. Houston’s growth Court records describe Romelus as paranoid and dis- isn’t slowing down — and neither is our traffic — so these tracted when questioned after the Oct. 4 shooting. Inves- infrastructure updates are critical, even when they test every tigators said she repeatedly glanced toward the door and ounce of our calm. But if you need me, I’ll be in the house told them she “couldn’t talk about it.” When pressed, she because I can’t stand traffic. reportedly said, “Instead of them doing it to me, I’m going to do it to them,” later adding, “Kill them all.” At one point, Diddy, Trump and the Pardon Parade she allegedly told deputies she hadn’t called 911 — she had Only in America does a former president casually mention “called the devil.” that Sean “Diddy” Combs — the same mogul facing serious Documents paint a haunting picture of a woman in deep charges — has asked him for a pardon, all while answering psychological distress, making incoherent statements and ref- questions about Ghislaine Maxwell. Trump told reporters erencing the supernatural. Romelus, who once made national he’d “look into it,” but admitted a pardon for Diddy is “more headlines after appearing on Paternity Court, had reportedly likely a no.” Still, the very mention of the request adds another struggled with motherhood. CPS confirmed prior contact bizarre twist to an already sensational story. Whether it’s with the family but has not released details. celebrity privilege, political posturing or just another headWhile we often ask how something like this could happen, line-grabbing moment, it’s hard not to shake your head at we should also be asking why didn’t we see it coming? Too how blurred the lines between power, fame and accountmany people in our communities are silently fighting mental ability have become. We can’t blame Diddy for trying for a illness — carrying pain, trauma and hopelessness behind pardon, but in the court of public opinion, Diddy’s reputation forced smiles. We need to pay attention to the mental health is already on trial — and no presidential pardon can fix that. of those we love.

A mother’s breaking point

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• Terrance’s Take: Houston Texans’ offensive vision becomes clearer.

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DN News Gov. Abbott launches repeat offender task force in Houston

By ReShonda Tate

Gov. Greg Abbott announced the creation of the Texas Repeat Offender Program, or TxROP — a new multi-agency task force aimed at cracking down on violent crimes committed by repeat offenders in the Houston area.

“We are putting violent repeat offenders on notice,” Abbott said during a recent news conference. “We are coming for you. We are going to target you, arrest you and put you behind bars where you belong.”

The governor said the initiative, a joint effort between the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Houston Police Department and federal law enforcement agencies, will focus on identifying, tracking and arresting individuals with histories of violent criminal activity.

“This is a Texas-sized effort by both the Texas Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement at every level,” Abbott said.

READ MORE ABOUT BAIL REFORM EFFORTS

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces the launch of the Texas Repeat Offender Program to target violent criminals in Houston. Credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images

“Our goal is simple: Every Houstonian deserves to walk the streets, take their kids to school, open their businesses, and go shopping or dining without fear.”

Under the plan, DPS will deploy assets from its Air Operations, Homeland Security

and Criminal Investigations divisions to assist troopers and local officers in field operations, intelligence gathering and covert enforcement. DPS Director Freeman Martin said residents can expect to see “an increased uniform presence and patrol operations in

high-crime areas.”

“These saturated patrols have proven effective at reducing crime in Houston and other Texas cities,” Martin said.

Abbott said he chose Houston as the starting point because of the city’s size and “historic relationship” between state and local law enforcement but added that similar task forces could expand statewide.

“It could be rural Texas, urban Texas, suburban Texas — we will look at every corner of the state to make sure we’re making it as safe as possible,” Abbott said. “What we learn here will help us create a national model for public safety in America’s largest cities.”

Abbott said he has spoken with Houston Mayor John Whitmire “at least a half-dozen times” about public safety and the need to drive down crime rates.

While some parts of Houston — including downtown and the medical center — have seen increases in certain crimes in recent years, most neighborhoods have experienced declines, according to reports.

Greater Greenspoint, for instance, reported nearly a 20% drop in crime over the past five years.

Black entrepreneurs face steep loan denials

By ReShonda Tate

The doors of opportunity remain locked for too many small-business owners.

A new LendingTree analysis reveals that Black-owned businesses faced the highest rejection rate for financing in 2024, with 39% of them denied loans, lines of credit or merchant cash advances. Hispanic-owned businesses followed at 29%, compared with just 18% of white-owned businesses.

Nationally, one in five businesses overall — 21% — were denied financing last year, nearly unchanged from 2023. But beneath the surface of that flat figure lies a stark disparity: Capital flows more easily to whiteowned companies, while Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs carry the heaviest burden of rejection.

Houston’s uneven playing field

The numbers hit especially hard in Houston, one of the most diverse and entrepreneurial cities in the country. According to the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce, the region is home to more than 120,000 Black-owned businesses — the fifth-largest concentration in the nation. Yet local surveys show those firms face unique barriers to accessing capital.

A 2023 Houston Small Business Ecosystem Report found that minority-owned companies in the metro area are twice as likely as

their white counterparts to rely on personal savings or credit cards to fund operations.

Many report being denied loans even when they present strong business plans and customer bases.

Who gets denied

The LendingTree study found that the size and age of a business also play a role. Firms with just one to four employees were denied 26% of the time — five times the rate of larger firms. Startups fared poorly, but even businesses with three to five years of experience faced the highest denial rate at 29%.

By loan type, SBA loans and lines of credit were the most difficult to secure, with nearly half — 45% — being rejected. That hits Houston’s small firms particularly hard, given the city’s reliance on SBA-backed programs during the pandemic recovery.

Community development financial institutions, often praised as a lifeline for underserved entrepreneurs, turned down applicants 34% of the time. Large banks followed at 31%.

An unsteady economy

The reasons mirror a turbulent economy.

High interest rates, inflation and an unsteady job market have made lenders more cautious.

“Inflation, tariffs, high interest rates and a slow job market are making things tough on

LendingTree says 39% of Black-owned businesses were denied financing.

Credit: Adobe Stock

small businesses and the customers they’re trying to attract,” said Matt Schulz, LendingTree’s chief consumer finance analyst. “With this uncertainty, banks pull back — as they tend to do in risky, unpredictable times.

Standards for lending to consumers and businesses have generally been tight for some time, and that’s unlikely to change soon.”

Local impact

In Houston, where minority-owned businesses contribute billions to the regional

economy, the impact is felt daily. Black entrepreneurs run a wide range of businesses, from restaurants and retail shops to logistics companies and tech startups. Yet without access to affordable capital, many find themselves unable to expand, hire, or even stay afloat.

Advocates are calling for solutions that include expanded microloan programs, targeted federal aid and stronger partnerships between local banks and community organizations.

4 | October 9, 2025 |

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DN News FORT BEND COUNTY LEADER SERIES

Vincent Morales Jr.

Steers Fort Bend growth with focus on infrastructure

By Tannistha Sinha

For Vincent Morales, Jr., Fort Bend County is not just where he serves, it is also where he resides.

Since 2011, the former Mayor of Rosenberg and now Precinct One commissioner has built a career on the simple motto of leaving the county in a better place than he found it.

Business owner to public office Morales’ path into public service began far from the Commissioners Court. After graduating from Spring Branch High School and attending the University of Houston, he started a landscape design company in 1978.

The company is still running today, he said proudly, noting that his son, Justin, manages the business, while his wife, Regina, handles operations.

He had not planned to enter politics.

“I did not go looking for this. It found me,” he said.

In 2010, Rosenberg’s then-mayor approached him about running for mayor.

Morales won, serving two terms as mayor.

His proudest accomplishment remains the city’s cost-effective, long-term sustainable water plan, which he attributes to the partnership with the Brazosport Water Authority.

He also worked with TxDOT to expand what was then U.S. 59 into today’s I-69.

“My passion and background are infrastructure,” Morales said. “To me, you have to have that for economic development, and it also improves quality of life.”

Managing explosive growth Fort Bend is now one of the nation’s fastest-growing counties. Morales, a Republican, acknowledges both the opportunity and the strain. Projections once pegged Fort Bend’s population at 1 million by 2027, but Morales says it’ll happen sooner.

“We’ve got to be able to manage that growth,” he explained. “You’ve got to have the infrastructure to stay ahead of that as much as possible so that people can get from A to B in a reasonable amount of time and safely. What comes along with improved infrastructure is also public safety.”

A budgeting philosophy Fort Bend’s rapid growth also puts pressure on its budget. This year, the Commissioners Court opted to hold the tax rate at $0.412 per $100 valuation, which is below both the no-new-revenue rate ($0.418) and the voter-approval rate ($0.429). Morales said that required caution.

“We’re actually not having any cuts in Precinct One,” Morales said. “We have been very careful to make sure that we stay within our means.”

When it comes to law enforcement raises, Morales said that a recent compensation study already brought deputies to competitive levels.

“If anyone checks my record, you’ll see that I’m very supportive of law enforcement,” he said. “We gave raises last year to bring people into a competitive environment.

The sheriff did come to the podium during the budget hearings this year and said that he was able to fill the positions he had. We cannot continue to keep raising the salaries.”

Infrastructure and flooding Morales often returns to infrastructure.

Voters approved an $865 million mobility and parks bond in 2023, and while road projects are still in design, parks are advancing.

“Some of these are a little bit over budget, just because of inflationary costs,” he said.

“That’s been our biggest struggle…trying to keep up with the inflationary costs. But as I said, we look for other resources instead of having to go back to the taxpayer for additional funds.”

He has also fought to secure outside funding, coordinating with TxDOT and the Houston-Galveston Area Council to secure $59 million for building Grand Parkway frontage roads, from FM 1093 to I-10 in Katy.

On flooding, Morales points to lessons since Harvey.

“Since Harvey, not only Precinct One, but the county as a whole, has improved due to our drainage department and flood mitigation,” Morales said. “If we had a Harvey, it would not be the same as it was back in ‘17.”

He warns, however, that erosion along the Brazos River remains a serious challenge, adding that 13 sites require erosion control to prevent the county from losing future property value.

In a polarized p o l it i c a l c l i m at e , Morales keeps a steady demeanor.

“I don’t feel that it is a very good representation to publicly argue,” he said.

“When I speak, it’s for a reason.”

Looking ahead, Morales hopes his years in office will be measured not by partisan fights but by progress.

Since Harvey, not only Precinct One, but the county as a whole, has improved due to our drainage department and flood mitigation. If we had a Harvey, it would not be the same as it was back in ‘17.”

VINCENT MORALES JR.

VOLUME 94, NUMBER 51 - OCTOBER 9, 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.

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DN InFocus

M

By Aswad Walker

ental wellness has always been critical for human survival and thriving. Still, for Black people—navigating generations of systemic racism, cultural erasure and everyday stressors—it is a matter of both healing and liberation.

The need for accessible mental health support is immense, and Houston is home to a growing network of individuals and organizations dedicated to meeting that need. From counseling and yoga to grassroots community circles and cultural healing spaces, Houstonians are building environments where wellness is not a privilege, but a right.

Counseling and connection Dr. Nic Hardy, a Houston-area psychotherapist and founder of Hardy Behavioral Health, stresses that while counseling is essential, it is not the only pathway to mental wellness.

“Being connected to a healthy community via relationships within the family, friends, whatever it is, we have to do life in community,” said Hardy. “Healthy rela- Dr. Nic Hardy tionships do wonders.”

Hardy also emphasizes physical activity as mental medicine.

“They say movement is medicine. The more you can get moving, the more you can get outside, get some sunlight… these small, simple things, when done consistently, have a profound effect on our mental health,” shared Hardy.

The ALLICE Collective Community is also at the core of the ALLICE Collective, founded by Dr. Allison Bates.

Understanding the barriers many face— such as lack of insurance, high deductibles or the stigma around therapy—ALLICE offers alternatives that make wellness accessible.

“We have our free community support groups,” said Bates. “We have a co-ed group on the first Saturdays, our Black men’s group on the third Saturdays, and our women’s group on Dr. Allison Bates the fourth Saturdays.

Then we also have lowcost counseling services, youth wellness initiatives and parenting workshops.”

For Bates, it’s not always about the therBrian Ellison apy room.

“It’s about the community. It’s about the energy. I always tell people you don’t necessarily need counseling at all times, but you do need community,

Healing in Houston Blacks find paths to mental wellness

Secunda Joseph

and you do need spaces where you can be vulnerable and express yourself and heal,” she added.

Through events like Dear Mama, recently held at the Blue Triangle Community Center, the ALLICE Collective provides conversation, advice, access to healthcare providers and most importantly, a safe space.

“People are happy to have a space where they can feel vulnerable, not judged and see that others are having similar experiences,” added Bates.

The Black Man Project The need for spaces where Black men can express emotions without shame or judgment inspired Brian Ellison to create the Black Man Project.

“I was working on a documentary in 2017, 2018, and I interviewed about 45 Black men and boys,” Ellison explained. “Ninety percent of those interviews ended in tears. Their inner boy got a voice. I realized there was so much more here, and I had to create the space that I was looking for. That’s how the Black Man Project was born.”

The nonprofit now provides group therapy, storytelling circles and community dialogues designed to give Black men and women tools for emotional expression and healing.

“Being in true community means you are in response to a call and a need,” Ellison said.

“If you’re listening, you hear the unheard tears of men and the women who are waiting for them to have a space to fall apart and be put back together. It’s a huge lift, and I’m thankful to be doing the work.”

THE 5 STRESSORS FOR BLACK MEN MONEY & FINANCES

Lack of economic opportunities and the inability to make ends meet

RACE & RACISM

Negative racial experiences from institutionalized, personal and internalized racism

JOBS & CAREER

Difficulties with finding, keeping and succeeding at a job or career

RELATIONSHIPS & FAMILY

Struggles in relationships with significant other, spouse, or family members and children

HEALTH & ILLNESS

Adverse health from lack of good diet, exercise and chronic disease Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, Mental Health and African Americans.

Perceived sources of stress and resilience of men in an African American community.

Progress in Community Health Partnerships.

Ellison’s own story underscores the power of community.

“I didn’t have a father, but I had many fathers—coaches, uncles. Both my parents were incarcerated, so I was raised by my grandmother,” recalled Ellison. “Growing up, I didn’t have the language for what I was feeling. But now, I want to expand the tools we have in our toolkit so we can express ourselves like everyone else—and that starts with being around people who can model that expression.”

Healing through yoga Beyond counseling and dialogue, physical practices such as yoga are helping Houstonians nurture both body and mind.

Secunda Joseph—entrepreneur, activist and host on All Real Radio—also teaches Kemetic Yoga, an ancient African form of the practice. She leads a community class at the Shrine of the Black Madonna Cultural and Events Center every third Saturday.

“It’s an intergenerational class, so the whole family can come,” said Joseph. “Yoga helps with our physical bodies, but it’s also holistic. It focuses on mind, body and spirit.

“Kemetic Yoga helps us to be present to ourselves, use our breath and movement to stimulate blood circulation in our brains, release endorphins and restore balance.

These practices are for everyone.”

Everyday mental wellness practices Personal practices, such as advocating for oneself, can make a difference alongside

professional support and community-based healing.

Carleigh Joseph-Olivas, a licensed perinatal social worker and maternal mental health therapist, shared a personal story.

“After having my baby, my in-laws came down,” Joseph-Olivas recalled. “My husband called and said, ‘My Carleigh mom said you hadn’t Joseph-Olivas been out of the room in like eight hours, and she’s hungry. She needs you to cook.’ I told him, ‘I don’t know where you got that from. I’m the one who needs to be cared for today.’ Sometimes we have to advocate Junelle Berry for ourselves, even with family.”

For some, finding a comfort zone is key.

Mat e r n a l h e a lt h advocate Junelle Berry re ca l le d her g randmother’s house as her Onyi Oriji-Dor place of restoration.

“During all three of my pregnancies, I ended up on what we called the love seat. That was my special little island where I was catered to,” said Berry.

And for others, asking for help—and letting go—is the real challenge. Behavioral health therapist Onyi Oriji-Dor explained: “If I ask

for help and give someone a task, I have an idea of how I want it done. But I’ve had to learn to let go and allow them to do it their way. The result will probably still be the same. That’s the struggle.”

Take action The takeaway is clear: healing doesn’t look the same for everyone. Counseling, support groups, yoga, storytelling or simply leaning on a grandmother’s love seat are all legitimate and powerful. What matters is seeking out community, listening to your needs and allowing yourself to heal.

Here are some things you can do to improve your mental health: Seek connection: Reach out to trusted friends, family or community groups.

Move your body: Walk, dance, stretch or try yoga—movement is medicine.

Advocate for yourself: Clearly express your needs, especially during vulnerable times.

Find safe spaces: Join support groups or healing circles to share openly.

Let go when possible: Ask for help and allow others to support you in their own way.

Create a comfort zone: Identify a place or activity that restores you, and return to it often.

In Houston and beyond, Black wellness is being reclaimed, restored and reimagined— one conversation, breath and safe space at a time.

Resources and more.

SIGNS OF DEPRESSION & MOOD DISORDERS AMONG BLACK WOMEN • Sleeping more or less than usual • Feeling out of control • Feeling worthless, hopeless or empty • Difficulty Concentrating

• Mood swings • Feeling disinterested or unable to enjoy things that usually bring pleasure • Increased or decreased appetite

Women of color make up

less than 5%

1 in 3

Black adults with mental illness receive treatment

of psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers available to treat patients

The Black community is more likely to experience socioeconomic disparities such as exclusion from health, education, social and economic resources, which may contribute to worse mental health outcomes.

Source: Hopkins Medicine, Infographic/Keshondra Shipp

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DN Feature Black athletes, artists turn talent into capital

By Laura Onyeneho

Black athletes and musicians are building billion-dollar brands, but too often, someone else owns the scoreboard.

Black talent fuels an entertainment economy worth $1.4 trillion globally, from soldout concerts to packed stadiums. Yet, all across the country, the people generating the revenue often see only a fraction of the longterm wealth. Endorsement checks get spent, careers end early and the businesses built on their backs are owned by someone else.

Successful business moguls like Lebron James, Shaquille O’Neil, Magic Johnson, JayZ, Beyoncé, Snoop Dogg, and 50 Cent all understand what is needed to create generational wealth beyond music and sports.

That’s the problem two insiders, investor Brandon Comer and music-finance executive Jennifer Horton, say must change if Houston’s rising stars are going to turn their influence into equity and generational power.

Comer, founder of Alterity Capital (managing roughly $3 billion and an investor in Black-owned Redemption Bank west of Houston), said the spark for this dialogue is the widening gap between who performs and who profits. His pitch is to stop aiming only at the sexiest assets, like team stakes and start

buying into the entire entertainment district surrounding the action.

“You don’t just build a stadium anymore.

It’s hotels, retail, food and beverage, tech, fan experience,” Comer said. “Athletes who help fill venues should own pieces of the companies that power them, concessions, merchandising, IT, hospitality and even the mixed-use developments next door. That’s the heart of Alterity’s venue opportunity fund.”

Comer shared his playbook with the Defender for athletes (and the entrepreneurs who support them) interested in long-term success beyond their careers.

Think like an institution. Treat your name as a business with a long-term plan.

Choose equity over cash when your living expenses are covered. Leverage your brand to negotiate equity grants for appearances and promotions. “Write a check and lend your brand,” he said, to earn a bigger seat at the table.

Build a real team. Contract negotiators and investment advisors do not have the same job. Hire specialists, keep learning enough to ask hard questions and don’t surrender decision-making.

Invest for the next chapter. Careers are short; habits should be long. Live on what you

Experts focus on sports business, entertainment finance, and the intersection of athletes, artists and investment in Black communities.

Credit: Getty Images

need and invest the rest in a diversified mix of traditional stocks and bonds plus alternative assets such as venue and ancillary developments with higher return potential.

The same ownership mindset powers Horton’s career. A Houston native who has spent two decades building artists’ businesses from L.A., Horton runs Matrix Equity Partners, which provides alternative financing, “growth

capital” to established artists and executives.

This is not starter money for those who see entertainment as a hobby.

“There has to be something to finance,” she said. “Proven demand, revenues and a clear path to repayment or negotiated ownership.”

Horton argues that the South and Houston, in particular, have long been ground zero for independent hustle. From Master P and Cash Money to Bun B and Scarface, the blueprint is entrepreneurship. What’s new is that entrepreneurship is no longer optional. Artists and managers are now the CEOs who build the structure.

Her advice for turning social media followers into assets includes: Measure conversion. Don’t confuse likes with buyers. Use pre-orders and countdown campaigns for merch or other branded products to test real demand before fronting inventory costs.

Own your data. When you sell directly, you collect granular customer info that major platforms won’t share. That database is a longterm moat.

Diversify income. Beyond touring and streams, pursue brand deals through emerging marketplaces and negotiate for data access whenever possible.

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DN Profile

el Kyra Rène

ck Hardwic

urs Empowers Black entrepreneu

By Laura Onyeneho

Kyra Rènel Hardwick built a reputation as a leader who tells the truth even when it’s hard to hear.

As the CEO of The Kyra Company, she has guided entrepreneurs and organizations across Houston to move beyond chaos and grind culture and toward systems that sustain growth. That work is rooted in her professional expertise and a personal journey that began in Detroit and brought her to Houston, where she has been for the past 16 years.

“I grew up watching people hustle to make ends meet,” Hardwick said. “But I also saw the cost, the stress, the burnout, the missed moments. That showed me we need a different model of leadership, one that allows everyone to thrive.”

Her upbringing instilled a sense of resilience that carried her into a 15-year corporate career, where she worked in operations, training and organizational structure. Those years gave her the technical skills to help businesses function more efficiently. Later, a period working with nonprofits showed her the power of community-centered impact.

Her career path shifted dramatically when a corporate restructuring left her without a role. What could have been a setback became a turning point.

“I didn’t want to build someone else’s dream anymore,” she said. “I wanted to help leaders build their own, with clarity, structure and strategy.”

That decision gave birth to The Kyra Company, where Hardwick carved out her niche as both strategist and coach. Her approach emphasizes the importance of sustainable systems, a clear departure from the hustle-obsessed culture that many entrepreneurs feel pressured to embrace.

“I’m not here to sugarcoat. If your business lacks structure, if your team is burning out, if you’re chasing growth without a plan,” she said. “I’ll tell you that straight. Because the goal isn’t just growth, it’s healthy growth.”

I didn’t want to build someone else’s dream anymore. I wanted to help leaders build their own, with clarity, structure and strategy.”

KYRA RÈNEL HARDWICK

The approach resonated quickly.

When she secured her first six-figure client, it wasn’t just a business milestone but validation that leaders were hungry for a different path.

“That was when I knew I was onto something,” Hardwick said. “Peop ple wanted more than just someone to ccheer them on. They wanted someone to givve them the tools, the structure and the accoun ntability to actually grow.”

For Shaughnna Blackmon, widelyy known as The Real Insurance Lady, that truth-telling approach has been transformative. Blackmon n leads the largest Obamacare-producing agency in the nation, but even with her company’s success, she aadmits the rapid growth created challenges.

“We were growing organically and d making a huge impact, but it was difficult to separatee ourselves from that start-up mindset,” Blackmon said d. “Kyra has been phenomenal in helping us shift our cu ulture, centralize our systems and bridge the gaps betweeen departments.

She brings the glue that connects everyything together.”

Blackmon has been in business siince the launch of Obamacare in 2010. She said her joourney is deeply personal. As an entrepreneur without health h insurance, she once delayed critical treatment for a kidney tumor.

Becoming her “own first client” showeed her the stakes of access and drove her to build a bu usiness that now serves communities others often overrlook.

“People couldn’t believe we were writing w hundreds of policies a week. They assumed we w were doing something wrong,” she said. “What Kyra heelped us do was formalize and professionalize what we’d already built so people could understand the legitimacyy of our growth.”

Stories like Blackmon’s are why Haardwick says her work goes beyond coaching. She sees herself h as a partner in helping business owners build caapacity and resilience, not just revenue. Houston, with h its vibrant and rapidly expanding Black entrepreneurrial community, has proven to be fertile ground for her vision.

“People think business is a zero-su um game, but it’s not,” Hardwick said. “There’s enough for everyone.

When we collaborate, we don’t just share resources — we multiply impact.”

That belief in collaboration inspiired one of her proudest recent accomplishments: Th he launch of the inaugural Smart CEO Summit at Texaas Women’s University. The event brought together founders, f CEOs and teams for a day focused on rethinkking leadership.

With themes like “Collaboration is Caapital” and “From Hustle to Flow,” the summit rreflected the very principles that Hardwick has lived l and taught throughout her career.

10 | October 9, 2025 |

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DN Sports

Chase Jenkins

Embraces quarterback comeback at Rice

By Terrance Harris

Chase Jenkins feels a sense of freedom as Rice’s quarterback, which he thought he would never have.

The redshirt sophomore has been given the latitude by first-year Owls’ coach Scott Abell to be the quarterback he was always meant to be, and that’s having the range to take advantage of his arm talent, athletic ability and instinctive decision-making.

Ironically, Jenkins never thought he would play quarterback again for Rice after being shifted to wide receiver last season by the previous coaching staff.

But Jenkins, a product of Alief Taylor, is glad to be back at quarterback and in a system that fully utilizes his athletic talents.

“Being able to be creative and also just being able to see the field ...,” Jenkins said.

“At one point last year, I wasn’t even on the travel squad. I know the type of talent that I’m blessed with, so it was a humbling experience.”

It has been quite the three-year journey for Jenkins, who came to Rice as a quarterback and actually got in some backup snaps as a true freshman. Jenkins was shifted to wide receiver by Mike Bloomgren and his staff last season to get his athleticism on the field consistently, rather than wasting his talent holding a clipboard the majority of games.

Jenkins saw and embraced the vision, but a shoulder injury in camp derailed what would have been his sophomore season, allowing Jenkins to take a redshirt year.

“I had no problem. I grew up … I didn’t start playing quarterback until my sophomore year in high school,” Jenkins said during a recent interview with the Defender.

“I grew up playing athlete or ATH. I went

Everything can’t go exactly how you want it and that’s what makes the story even greater.

Sometimes you have to go through some obstacles and pitfalls but you just trust God and just keep walking the course and don’t fall off.”

CHASE JENKINS

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Chase Jenkins has provided the Rice Owls with speed, athleticism and good decision-making in his first season as their full-time starting quarterback. Credit: Rice Owls Athletics

and played quarterback my sophomore year because the quarterback left and I was an athlete, so I was just trying to do what I could to help the team win.

“I started getting recruited at quarterback once I started playing.”

As it turned out, Rice’s passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach, Porter Abell, had briefly recruited Jenkins when he was an assistant for his father at Davidson. There was some familiarity when the new staff began reviewing the roster and evaluating the film of the players they had inherited.

“I recruited him for maybe a day. He obviously blew up and got some bigger offers,” Porter said. “I remembered him, I remembered his name and when we got this job, we kind of knew about him and when the head ball coach ended up getting the job, Chase was the first name I brought up because as a potential guy who could help us in that room, I knew he was already on the roster. “ Jenkins was surprised by the decision but was willing to do it if it meant helping his team.

“I didn’t throw the ball for like five months,” he said. “Then Coach Abell got here and he asked me to come play quarterback and asked me to throw. I hadn’t touched or thrown a ball at all, just because of the type of injury I had on my shoulder.

That’s why I say it was just God because I came out there and threw with no pain.

“So, that was not the plan. There was a lot of uncertainty at that time. They laid out the foundation and the plan and they asked me to come back and play quarterback. I feel like it was a blessing.”

While Jenkins played quarterback in situations as a true freshman for the Owls, he hadn’t started at the position since high school, and at times his inexperience has shown this season. But Jenkins’ speed, athleticism and ability to make the right reads have made it clear why the coaching staff went with him to the Gun-Choice Offense.

The Owls run their option attack out of the shotgun, which also opens up the passing game. He was at his best this season when he completed 10 of 16 passes for

87 yards and one touchdown and then ran for 124 yards and a score during the 38-17 win over Prairie View.

“We need a guy who is decisive, as any offense does. But in our offense, the quarterback is making a decision on 75% to 90% of the plays. Not just passing, but run game, as well,” Porter said. ”So they have to be decisive, they have to understand different fronts, definitely smart and they have to be tough. That’s something I’ve been incredibly pleased with him about.”

Although he wasn’t necessarily campaigning for it, Jenkins considers the shift back to quarterback a calling from above.

“At that point and time, I thought I was going to play receiver still, especially with what happened with me and my shoulder,” he said. “I thought I would be playing receiver from now on. But I couldn’t refuse. This was something that just came up. This is definitely God’s calling; Him telling me to come back and giving me another chance to come back and play quarterback.”

October 9, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

| 11

DN Sports

MERCI RUE GALENA PARK’S

Balances sports and science

By Jimmie Aggison

On the surface, Merci Rue’s life is i all movement, flying down the track, divin ng for a volleyball or cutting through defenderrs on the basketball court.

A triple-sport standout at Galena Park High School, she’s no stranger to chaasing wins and setting records. But once the uniforms come off and the arena quiets, MerM ci’s mind drifts far from scoreboardss and stat sheets. Instead, she finds herself pu ulled toward something older, deeper and timet less: The mysteries of ancient civilizations, the thrill of hidden artifacts and the possibility of one day becoming an archaeolo ogist.

That dream, unusual for a teenagerr juggling practices, games and homework,, first sparked in the sixth grade. It wasn’t b born on the court or in a classroom, but raather through the quiet influence of her mo other, who surrounded Merci with books and d videos about history and culture.

“I’ve always loved history,” said Rue. For Merci, archaeology wasn’t ju ust about dusty ruins. It was about uncovvering the truth.

“Books are good, but anyone can write something down,” said Rue. “Videos and artifacts give you a different level of connection. They make history real.”

Her mother, Lakeisha Clark, played a central role in nurturing that curiosity.

“I would tell her and her siblings everything I knew,” said Clark. “I could d see early on that she was going to surprise me by wanting to do something different. Even now, we still read books and watch videos together about ancient Egypt, trying to learn as much as we can.”

As a junior at Galena Park High School, balancing the physical demands of sports with an intellectual passion for archaeology hasn’t been easy, as Rue often finds herself pulled in several directions.

Depending on the season, her mornings often begin at 6:40 a.m. with early practice.

The rest of her day is packed with classes, followed by afternoon workouts that can stretch until 6 p.m. On top of that, she balances homework, family time and her personal passion for history.

Playing three sports year-round means

Galena Park junior Merci Rue (30) is a three sport participant, but also a history enthusiast as she plans to study to become an archeologist while in college. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender

her “favorite” often changes depending on the season.

“My favorite sport depends on the season,” said Rue. “Right now, it’s volleyball, but during basketball season, it might change.

That’s the best part about sports; there’s always something new to love.”

Each sport, she explained, offers a different lesson.

“Track is more individual; it focuses on being calm and pushing yourself,” said Rue. “Basketball is more physical because you’ll take hits, but you still have to stay calm when things don’t go your way. Volleyball

is all about communication. You can’t win without being in sync with your teammates.”

Those lessons stuck with her, shaping her character as much as her skillset.

As Rue’s passion for sports grew, so did her love of history. Around sixth grade, she found herself fascinated with questions about the past, what life was like in ancient civilizations and how artifacts could tell stories beyond textbooks.

“My mom would buy books and put on YouTube videos about ancient African civilizations, and I was always interested,” said Rue. “Seeing visuals sparked my imagination

in a way that just reading couldn’t. Even today, with a busy athletic schedule, I still make time to watch archaeology videos whenever I can.”

Until the day comes when she will have to choose between sports and history, Rue embraces the idea of doing it all. Sports teach her discipline, perseverance and teamwork, while history fuels her curiosity and desire to uncover truths that connect humanity across time.

As Rue explores college options, she’s determined not to give up either dream. She hopes to attend a university where she can play volleyball and maybe even compete in track and field throwing events while also pursuing a degree in archaeology.

“I can’t see my life without the two,” said Rue. Her current college desire list includes Oregon State, the University of Texas and LSU, all schools with strong athletic programs and respected academic offerings.

For Rue, achievements aren’t just about medals or grades. She hopes her journey inspires younger students, especially those with unconventional dreams.

“Keep going,” she said. “Even when it’s slow or gets hard, keep pushing. It will get easier.”

That mindset, she hopes, will leave just as strong a mark as her athletic accomplishments.

“When people think of my daughter, I want them to remember her as the girl with the big, contagious smile, always joking, always helping others when they were struggling and never judging anyone,” said Clark.

At Galena Park, Rue is known as the triple-threat athlete who can do it all. But to those who know her best, she’s also the curious student who can lose herself in videos highlighting historical events.

This is a reminder that young athletes don’t have to be defined solely by their stats or scholarships. They can also be dreamers, thinkers and future leaders in fields far beyond sports.

“In 10 years, I see myself working as an archaeologist,” said Rue. “But also coaching volleyball or maybe teaching history. I think I’ll always want to stay connected to sports somehow.”

12 | October 9, 2025 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature

Black creatives Sustain arts culture despite rising costs

By Laura Onyeneho

Houston’s Black artists say the cost of creating has never been higher. While the city has long prided itself on its vibrant arts scene, rising rents and limited affordable spaces are making it harder for many Black creatives to sustain their work.

Haitian artist Torrey Léger says the issue isn’t just about finding a wall to hang his work on; it’s about preserving the very culture and thriving in a space to challenge his creativity.

“I’ve been painting for about 10, 15 years,” Léger said. “At first, it was just a hobby, a way to relax. But as my skills improved, I realized this is something I’m truly passionate about. The last few years, I’ve been showing more, connecting with the art community here. Now I want to take it to the next level.”

Léger specializes in realistic portraits, often placing Black figures in cultural contexts where they are rarely imagined. One of his series, Clash of Cultures, reimagines Black subjects in roles traditionally reserved for European or Asian iconography, like a Black geisha or a Black Roman statue.

“What I try to capture is the beauty of Blackness,” he says. “And for me, the eyes tell the story. Every painting I do, the eyes are where the soul comes through.”

But sustaining that work hasn’t been easy.

To participate in shows, artists like Léger often have to pay fees out of pocket, sometimes without any guarantee of sales. And finding opportunities where Black artists and their creativity can be valued can be a struggle of its own.

“There’s still a lot of room to grow [in Houston]. Not only for the different venues and the events, but also to value the artists’ work themselves. A lot of people take selfies with it, but don’t take [it] seriously by buying and collecting artwork. Entry fees add up, too,” Léger said. “Sometimes there is a fee to be involved and curators have a lot of obstacles… getting the location… finding quality artwork… making sure people come out. There aren’t enough spaces and galleries who are open to artists of color.”

Léger balances art with a career as a mechanical engineer and dreams of becoming a full-time artist. But until then, he says that the dream is on hold.

“I’ve been told I should move to New York or Atlanta,” he said. “Those cities have collectors who value Black art more. And yes, I’ll travel to show there. But Houston is home. I want the same recognition and support right here.”

(L-R) Houston artists Chukwunonso Ofili, Torrey Legér, and Caleb Hernandez meet at True Love Studios in Houston, discussing upcoming arts and culture programs. Credit: Jimmie Aggison

Present stakes Houston is caught in what urban planners and arts advocates call the “artist gentrification cycle.” Artists are often the first to transform neglected neighborhoods into vibrant cultural hubs, which attract developers, wealthier newcomers and new businesses. However, the very artists who created the appeal are then priced out of the same neighborhoods they helped revitalize.

The effects of gentrification are increasingly visible in Houston’s creative economy. Housing costs, property taxes and commercial rents are squeezing out longtime residents and cultural anchors in historically Black neighborhoods.

This cycle is hardly new. Across the country, from New York to San Francisco, Black and BIPOC artists have historically been the first displaced in the wake of rising rents and property taxes.

Reports say Houston’s City Council reduced its public art funding by $10 million in 2024, scaling back an originally $25 million, five-year contract with the Houston Arts Alliance.

Barriers to entry Caleb Hernandez is the studio manager at True Love Studios, a collective space where dozens of artists create, collaborate and exhibit their work.

For many up-and-coming artists, the high costs of studio rentals, gallery fees and materials create an entry barrier that talent alone cannot overcome.

“This space keeps people from quitting art altogether,” Hernandez explains. “Here, artists find affordable studio rent, they share resources, they share community. Without it, a lot of us wouldn’t be able to keep going.”

Some artists argue that this problem limits Houston’s cultural growth. Without investment in local talent, the city risks losing its next generation of creative voices.

Other artists are using the power of collaboration to create long-term impact. One of the most visible is Battle of the Canvas, a live art competition created by multidisciplinary artist Chukwunonso Ofili. The event challenges artists to complete original paintings within 90 minutes before a live audience.

Ofili said the idea grew from seeing how difficult it was for artists to gain exposure in

traditional spaces. Ofili has been able to sustain his career as a full-time artist for years by tapping into community spaces like True Love Studios, which also serves as the host venue for his live art show.

“Caricatures, events, paint parties, I think I’ve finally entered credibility versus hustle.

I’m consistently getting booked… and putting up events because there is no event like this. I applied and I got two grants… Let Creativity Happen and City Initiative,” Ofili said. “When you get support like a grant, you are doing your vision the way you envisioned. Do what you can afford…make your mistakes and move on to the next level and lean into collaborations.”

His event has quickly gained traction, drawing crowds as diverse as the city. Ofili believes that such events are crucial for sustaining Houston’s cultural scene.

“We can’t wait for institutions to save us,” he said. “We have to create our own spaces and our own energy. If we don’t, the culture risks being erased.”

Learn about the various cultural resources in Houston.