TothePOINT DN
Message from theManaging Editor
City’s oldest soul food restaurant closes itsThird Ward doors
Aftermorethansix decadesofserving Houston’sThirdWard,theiconicsoulfood restaurantThisIsIthasofficiallyclosedits doors. Therestaurant shared thenewsin aheartfeltFacebookpost,thankingguests, vendors, staffand thecommunity for decadesofsupport
FoundedbyFrank andMattieJones in 1959 in Houston’shistoricFourthWard, ThisIsItquicklybecameaHoustonstaple, knownforitsoxtails,smotheredporkchopsandthatunmistakabletaste of home.The restaurant laterrelocated to the ThirdWard,whereitcontinuedtothriveunderthreegenerationsofthefamily.CelebritieslikeBeyoncéhavegracedit,as haveKellyRowlandandMichelleWilliams—Rowlandeven featured therestaurant in aPepsi ad spotlighting Houston businesses—andithasevenwelcomedFirstLadyJillBiden in2022.
Whilethe ThirdWardlocationhas closed,restaurant’s Humblelocationwillremainopen,asthefamilyfocuseson growth,rebrandingandinnovation.Andthelegacywilllive on:The founders’childrenare settoopenMikki’s Café at theBlodgettStreetlocationonOct.26,carryingforwardthe samespiritofhospitalityandcommunitythatmadeThisIs It astapleinthe community.
Medicare costsonthe rise
WhenMedicareopenenrollmentbeganOct.15,mostof thenation’s69million recipients immediatelysaw higher costsacrossthe board— from premiums anddeductibles to prescription drug prices.According to theCenters for Medicare&MedicaidServices,thestandardPartBpremium is expected to rise by roughly11% to $206.50per monthin 2026andtheannualdeductiblewillincreaseto$288.While thosenumbersmayseemmodest,expertswarnthehikeswill addupquickly,particularlyfor seniorsonfixed incomes.
Thebiggestchangesthisyearincluderisingout-of-pocket limitsand drug costs. Under theInflation ReductionAct, theannualcap forprescriptionmedications will increase to $2,100 in 2026. That meansthatwhile some clientswill be protectedfromrunaway prices,othersmay face steeper
copays,dependingonthe plan andcoveragetier.The averagedeductiblefor standalonePartDdrugplansisalsoexpectedto jump to about$615.
Adding to theconfusion,several major insurers,includingHumanaand UnitedHealthcare,arescalingbacktheirMedicare AdvantageandPartDofferingsinspecific regions. That meanssomeseniors may find theircurrent plansdiscontinuedor replaced with optionsthatprovide fewer benefits forahighercost.
TheKaiserFamilyFoundationreportsthatnearlyseven in 10 Medicare beneficiariesdon’t compareplanoptions eachyear—butthisyear,thatcouldbeanexpensivemistake. Expertsrecommendreviewingplanscarefullyand,ifpossible,loopinginadultchildrenoranadvisortohelpnavigate thechanges.Openenrollmentcontinues throughDec.7
TheStephanie Millschallenge haseveryone dancing
There’sa newtrend sweeping social media—and it’s provingeveryonehas aprice.The StephanieMills Dance Challenge hasfansbusting movesunder thelabel “backup dancingaspayment.”Whetherit’spayingbills,takingsomeoneshopping, buying acar or whatever,the dancersare providingcountless hoursofentertainment.Celebrities all across thecountry arealsojoining in. My bestie triedto recruitmeandIsaidnobecauseI’mnotadancer…untilshe offeredtopromotemynewbook.Let’sjustsayIdroppedit likeitwaslukewarmanddanceduntilmykneesgaveout… whichtheyquicklydid.Youcancheckoutmyattempt(anda fewofmyfavoritesfromthechallenge)atDefenderNetwork com. ButwhatIloveabout this trendisthatinaworld of chaosand sadness, it fillsmytimelinewithjoy.And I’m always down with that.
On theWeb
•Faith leaderscalledtoresurrect Houston’saffordable housing.
•Fivethingshappening in Houston.
•Terrance’sTake: PrairieViewcoach Tremaine Jackson backsuptalk with results.
This is It is closing itsThird Ward location after66years Credit: IG
ReShonda Tate
News DN
TSU alumni upset HOMECOMING CHANGES
ByReShondaTate
TSUPresidentJamesCrawfordannounced planstoendallhomecomingactivitiesthisyear at7p.m.,citingsafetyconcernsaftertworecent shootingsatJacksonStateandAlcorninMississippi,bothconnectedtohomecomingcelebrations.Onepersonwaskilledandseveralothers injured. Crawfordsaidnationaltrendsshow thatearlierclosurescanhelppreventincidents thatcouldjeopardizecommunitywell-being “HBCUhomecomingsarewell-knownfor celebration,pageantryandenduringhopefor continuedgrowth,progressandaccomplishment,”Crawfordsaidinastatement.“Butwe mustremainvigilanttomaintainthishistory andthisjoyousoccasion. The evaluation of
national trends andlocal data indicatesthat earlyclosure is an effective deterrenttoincidentsthatcouldcompromisecelebrationand safety.”
Thepresidentsaidallcampushomecoming activitiesonSaturday,Oct.18,2025,including tailgating,willendat7p.m.
“ItismychargetohostannualhomecomingsthatbringgenerationsofTigerstogether foryearstocome,”Crawfordsaid.“Nounwarrantedincidentcanbeallowedtojeopardize theabilityoftheUniversitytodoso.”
Whilethe university maintainsthatthe decision prioritizessafety, many alumni say theearlycutoffshowsalackofconsideration forthe communitythatsupportsand funds theevent.Lifetimealumni member Andrea Odomcalledthemove“theeasywayout.”
“Instead of runninginfearand shutting it down,add officers andgivesafetyplans and protocols,”Odomsaid. “Vendors have paid upwardsof$750 aspace to be thereall day andevening,andpeoplehavepaidfortailgate spacestoo.Thisdecisioncomesafterfinancial investmentshavealready been made.Unless thereissomeimminentthreat, this wasthe easywayout.”
Oneofthose frustrated over expenses is Ally Jackson, whowas coming from Dallas alongwithhersororitysistersfromtheDelta GammachapterofDeltaSigmaThetaatTSU.
“Welookforward each year to coming
YOU’RE INVITEDTOA PUBLIC MEETING
I-45 NORTHHOUSTON HIGHWAYIMPROVEMENT PROJECT(NHHIP) SEGMENTS 3B1& 3B2VIRTUAL MEETING THURSDAY,OCTOBER 30, 2025 5– 7P.M.
REAL-TIMEQUESTION&ANSWERSESSIONS
YOUMAY ACCESS THEPUBLICMEETINGBYVISITINGTHISLINK: WWW.VIRTUAL.NHHIPPUBLICMEETINGS.COM OR USETHE QR CODE BELOW.
homeandcelebratingwithourChapterSorors, pastandpresent,”Jacksonsaid.“Ourchapter hasspentmonthsplanningamemorabletailgate, andreceiving such shortnoticeforces us to change everything —fromvendors to catering to groupphotos. It’s trulyunfairto facethisdisruptionaftermonthsofdedication andpreparation.”
Addingtothe concernare reportsof potentialoutside agitatorstargeting HBCUs this fall.Acampaigncalledthe “Educate to LiberateTour,”backedbyconservativegroup TurningPointUSAanditsBLEXITinitiative, is planning stopsatseveral historically Black colleges during homecoming season.Critics havedescribedthetourasapoliticallycharged efforttoprovokecontroversyundertheguise of“dialogueandfreethought.”
“CrawfordisaNavyguysoheunderstands operationalriskverywell.However,asaleader
heismakingadecisionbasedonwhathisstaff is presenting him,”saidalumMicheal Hollins.“AsasafetyprofessionalIdontmindthe move as long as thedatasupportsthe decision.Iftheyarebeingproactivewithpredictive modelingitstilldoesn’taddup.Mostincidents occurbetween9andmidnightatcollegecampuses. Iwould be okay with an 8pmclosure with everything beingcleared outby9.The proposedtimeisextremelyconservative.”
CrawfordsaidTSUremainscommittedto preserving the“spirit of homecoming”while ensuringsafetyforallwhoattend.
“TheUniversityisworkingcloselywithstudents,alumniandeventorganizerstoensure thespiritofhomecomingremainsvibrant,”he said.“Music, fellowship andTiger pride will continuetothrivewithinaschedulethatprioritizescommunitywell-being.”
Still, many Tigers saythe newpolicyfeels likeanovercorrection
“Thestudentsandalumnineedtousetheir voicesonthisone,”Odomsaid.“Takeastand againstthis. We arethe ones whobuilt this legacy.”
As of presstime, PrairieViewA&M Universityhas made no planstoalter itshomecomingplans.
Join us to learnmoreabout theInterstate(I) -45North HoustonHighway ImprovementProject (NHHIP) –a transformative projectdesignedtoreducecongestion, enhancesafety, improvemobility, driveeconomicand community opportunities andbolster flood resilience across theHouston region
Thepublicmeetingwillfocus on thetwo NHHIPprojectsonwhich construction is occurring,Segment 3B-1 andSegment 3B-2,and thestatusofactivitiesand requirements under theVoluntary Resolution Agreement(VRA) between TxDOT andthe FederalHighway Administration (FHWA).A mapdepicting thefullproject limits,including each of thethree segments,isavailable at (www.txdot.gov/nhhip)
PROJECTLIMITS:
Theproject spansI-45fromI-69toBeltway 8North,including I-69 improvements between Spur 527 andI-45inHarris County, Texas. Thisencompassesthe reconstruction of thedowntownHouston freeway loop system,including I-45, I-69, I-10, andSH288. I-45 will be rerouted from thewestsideofdowntown Houstontorun parallelwithI-69and I-10 untilitexits thedowntownareaand continuesnorth
no laterthan4 p.m.,Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Please be awarethatadvance notice is required as some services andaccommodationsmay requiretimefor theproject team to arrange.
feedback canbesubmittedinany language by mail to: TxDOTI-45NHHIPOmbudsman,TxDOT HoustonDistrict P.O.
On the Ballot: WHO&WHAT
By TannisthaSinha
When Houstoniansheadto thepolls on Nov. 4, theirballotswillbeunusually crowdedfor an odd-year election.
From stateconstitutionalamendments to apivotal congressionalrace, voters will make choicesthatwillimpacttheir pocketbooks andneighborhoods.
HarrisCountyClerkTeneshiaHudspeth hasspent months urging residentstoprepare forthe upcoming election
“Yourvotematters.Our vote matters morethanithasevermatteredbefore,”she said during atownhallmeeting
17 stateconstitutional amendments
Themostsweepingportionoftheballot is statewide, featuring17proposedconstitutional amendments,the largestnumber inyears.Theycoverissuessuchasproperty taxes, homestead exemptions,childcare funding, educationmeasuresand disaster-recovery funds.
Harris CountyClerk Teneshia
ahead of the November election.
Credit:Getty Images
smallerjurisdictionsacrossHarrisCounty will hold electionsthisNovember. These includeHouston CommunityCollege trusteeraces,cityoffices,multipleschool district andutility district measures.
Schoolbondpropositions,inparticular, cancarry heavyfinancial implications Theytypically seek millions of dollarsfor building repairs, newschools andstudent programs.Hudspethstressedthe importanceofcareful reading.
BecauseHarrisCountyencompasses34 different entities andjurisdictions,sample ballotsvarywidely. Voters were encouraged to visitHarrisVotes.com to findtheir personalized ballot before headingto thepolls
Votinglogisticsand deadlines
The voterregistrationdeadline(Oct. 6) haspassed,butElectionofficialswantvoters to remember thekey dates:
Deadline to applyfor vote-by-mail
Sherecommends
Oneamendmentinparticularhasmajor implications forHouston:New funding streamsfor flood andstorm-related infrastructure.HarrisCounty’svulnerabilityto hurricanes andflooding makesthismeasureespeciallysignificantforlocalfamilies Hudspethemphasizedthatvotersmust“do theirhomework,”sincetheballotlanguage canbeconfusing sconsultingtheLeague rs’nonpartisan voters’ mplifieseachproposiclearsentences.
absencehas alreadymeant missed federal resourcesfor thenearly400,000registered voters wholiveinthe district,Hudspeth said
Credit: Hudspeth
gressional District election
anyHoustonians,the gh-profilecontest will pecial election in ConessionalDistrict18.The seat,leftvacantafter thepassing of Congresswoman Sheila JacksonLee and thenformerMayor andCongressman SylvesterTurner, has been without representation sinceMarch.That
Sixteencandidatesare running, making itoneofthemostcompetitivecongressional racesinthe nation this cycle. If no candidate wins outright in November,arunoff will be held in January2026, in accordance with Texaselectionlaw.Hudspethwarned voters that thetimingwas “anintentional game”bystate leaders, butshe promised HarrisCountywouldbepreparedforbackto-backelections
HoustonCityCouncil At-Large Position 4
CityofHoustonresidentswillalsodecide whofillsthe At-Large Position 4seaton City Council, vacatedbyCouncil Member LetitiaPlummer.Thisrace, like CD 18, features alarge field of candidates,giving Houstoniansawiderange of options.
ButHudspethnotedthatnoteveryHoustonian will seethisraceontheir ballot
Localjurisdictions,bonds,school boards
Beyond themarquee races, dozens of
Friday,October 24
Early voting period Oct. 20-31
Election Day Nov. 4
Harris County will maintain itscountywide voting system,meaning residentscan cast theirballots at anypollinglocation, whetherduringearly voting or on Election Day.AccordingtoHudspeth,approximately 70 early-votingsites and600 Election Day siteswill be open across thecounty.
Mail-in voting is also availablebeyond seniorsand thedisabled. Collegestudents awayfromhome,Houstonianstemporarily outofthe county andeligible voters in jail butnotconvictedofafelonycanallvoteby mail if they apply by thedeadline.
“Thetrendisforayearlikethis,wherethe turnoutistypically lowand we don’thave asmuchvoterinvolvement,isthatwhether youget involved or not, whetheryou cast your ballot or not, youare stillgonna be impacted by your pocketbook,”Hudspeth said.“Whichmeans youreallyneedtodo thehomeworkand payattention.”
Sports TerranceHarris
Jimmie Aggison
VideoEditor Bryan Erdy
InFocus DN
BlackHouston in 2050? ack Houston i
ThefutureofBlack Houstonisbeing made by theactions (orinactions)we engage in today.
By AswadWalker
Somuchofour energy is tied up in thechaos of thepresent. Project2025 andthe flood of reactionarypoliciesfeellikea firehose designed to drownus in “Whatnow?” despair.
Butthesevictoriesforthefarrightdidn’t happenovernight—theyweredecadesinthe making,rootedinlong-termplanningthat stretchesbacktoatleasttheReaganera(the 1980s)andeventoBarryGoldwater’s1964 campaign.
The lesson is clear: vision plus planning shapes thefuture. The question forusis— whatisBlackHouston’svisionof2050?How do we want ourcommunities to look in 25 years?
DemographersprojectthatTexas’spopulationwillnearlydoublebetween2000and 2050,withHarrisCountygrowingtoalmost eightmillion.TheGreaterHoustonregionis projectedtoreachover10millionresidents.
BlackHoustonians—already thelargest Blackpopulationinanystate—areexpected to double in size by 2050,increasingfrom roughly500K to 1.1 million. Thisgrowth will shapepolitics, education, economics, health andculture in profound ways
Political power
CarrollRobinson, former HoustonCity CouncilmanandTSUprofessor,seescontinuityand expansioninpolitical clout.
“The Blackpopulation in this stateis projectedto[reachroughly sixmillion by 2050]. We’llhavebotha largepocketof elderBlackfolksandabigpocketofyoung AfricanAmericans,”saidRobinson.“Politically,we’llstillhavethecloutwehavenow, maybeevengreater,especiallyastoday’s youngpeopleage up.Evenifwedon’t have amajorityinadistrict, Blackvoterswill remain thedecisivevote.”
JeVonTone,aTSUgraduatestudentand politicalorganizer,envisions even more
“Black voterturnout will be bigger in 2050thannow,”saidTone,headoftheTSU Democrats.“IseeHoustonbeingacitywith moreemployment,affordablehousing,kids leavinghighschoolwithcollege degrees andaBlackHoustonpoliticianrunningfor
Black Houston2050isnot as farintothe future as some think. Butwhatwill that futurelook like, especially in terms of political power, education, the arts and more?
Credit: ChatGPT.
Art st Raul O. Edwards is excitedabout thereshaping of funding organizations.
presidentofthe United States.”
Education &workforce
Alicia Neal executive director of theEEDC, stresses that Black Houston mustpreserve itshistory and culture
ForRobinson, educationremains the foundation
“We’ve gottomakesurenot just Black students, butthe entire system,ismodernized forthe innovation economy,”warned Robinson.“That meansAI, blockchain, criticalthinking—notjusttheoldassembly line model.”
Dr.ReaganFlowers,founderofC-STEM, sees hopefulsigns.
“Tohavethisbeautiful future forBlack people in 2050, it all starts with education,” said Flowers. “I recently watchedayoung AfricanAmericandirectorinHISDwho truly ‘getsit’—aligning STEM andproject-basedlearningwiththe future of work Thatgives me hope.”
%saying
Race andincomesocial classpredictions
H-GACpopulation estimates through2050
Dr.Reagan Flowers saysaligning STEM-based products with jobs is key.
Afro Futurist Jaison Oliver warns the ThirdWard and Fifth Wardsmaybe pushedout to the suburbs.
Shealsopointstonew opportunities blendingtradesand tech.
“I know youngpeoplemaking$65,000 ayearfromdrone licenses whileincollege We’llsee more of that—new jobs we can’t even imagineyet,but forthose skilledin problem-solving andcreativity, thefuture is wide open.”
Economics&entrepreneurship
Robinson believes generational wealth transferswillreshape theeconomic landscape.
“Mostofthe wealth rightnow is in the handsofgrandparentsand parents,”said Robinson.“As that shifts down,younger Blackentrepreneurs—whoarealreadymore entrepreneurial-minded—willdomuch more.I thinkyou’llsee amuchmoreprosperousBlackAmerica,evenwithroadblocks.”
The Arts &Afro-Latinx influence Houston’sculturalfutureisequally bright.RaulO.Edwards,founder of the FoundationforLatinAmericanArts,calls this the“season of artistic liberation.”
“Funding organizationshavereshaped theway they providesupport,” said Edwards, thefounder of Strictly Street Salsa, Houston’sfirstsalsa studio.“Black andAfro-Latinx artistsare no longer required to fit European aesthetics to get funding.Today,weseeartinformatsrooted inourowncultures.Thatwillonlyincrease in thefuture.”
Edwardsalsohighlightsthe growing Afro-Latinxpresence.
“For years, Afro-Latinxpeoplehad to identify as either Hispanic or African American.Now more areembracing the Afro-Latinxidentity,”heshared. “This
Former Houston City Councilmember Carroll Robinson envisions growing political clout forBlack Houstonin2050.
TSUgraduate student JeVonTone envisions a viable POTUS candidate emerging from H-Town
growthisinevitableandalreadyenriching Houston’sculturallandscape.”
Communityfutures
JaisonOliver,aneducator,organizerand Afro-Futurist, offersa“tale of twocities.”
“Ifwedon’t change course,by2050 BlackHoustonians in ThirdWardand Fifth Ward will be pushed outtothe suburbs,while investment flows into policingandjails,”saidOliver.“Butifwemove in theright direction, we’llsee hubs like RADO locatedinthe Eldorado,community gardens, freshfoodaccess, Riverside Hospital reopened,denserdevelopment, more public artand astrongersense of resilience.”
Alicia Neal,executive director of the Emancipation Economic Development Council,emphasizedtheneedforcultural
2Billionmorelearnersbetween nowand 2050
To create thefuturewewant Black Houstonians mustact today. Here arekey actions:
Developand sharea collectivevision
ImagineBlack Houston’s 2050,thenplanfor it
Prioritize education
Demand investment in STEM, trades and critical thinkingfor Black youth. Expandpolitical power Register, vote and support emergingyoung Black leaders.
Build economicstrength Buy Black,investinBlack businessesand prepare forgenerational wealth transfers
Preservecommunity spaces Fightdisplacement and use land trusts to keep legacy neighborhoods.
preservation
“Wehavetoacknowledge,recognizeand actively preserve ourhistory andour culture,” said Neal.“Legacy entities like Jack YatesHighSchool, celebrating100 years soon,are importanttoour future.Ifwe preserve what we have,Emancipationwill look amazing—thriving businesses,retail, bookstores,restaurantsandthatfrontporch communal feel we love.”
Global &local challenges By 2050, theU.S. will be “demographicallyblended,”withnosingleracialmajority. Houstonwillremainoneofthemostdiverse metros in theworld.But climatechange, automation andinequalityloomlarge Houston’schronic floodingand extreme weatherwilltestinfrastructure. The challengewillbeensuringgrowthdoesn’tcome at theexpense of Blackcommunities
Feature DN Hydro Farm brings relief to Acres Homes food desert
ByAswadWalker
If you’ve ever driven through Acres Homes, you know the resilience runs deep. You also know it’s one of Houston’s largest fooddeserts,wheregettingfreshproducecan feel like a cross-town scavenger hunt
But thanks to the Metallic Sunflower Foundation and its new hydroponic farm, thecommunityisnotonlygrowingfood—it’s growinghope,unityandself-determination.
“We’re empowering people to find a voice,”saidCCBrooks,founderoftheMetallicSunflowerFoundation.“We’renottaking fromtheeverydayperson Whatwe’redoing is giving back, cleaning up, feeding families andshowingpeoplehowtheycangrowtoo.”
Plantingrootsinpurpose
Thehydrofarmblossomedfromasimple question:Howcananonprofitsustainitself while feeding the people?
Brooks,alreadya“plantperson,”foundthe answer in hydroponics—growing produce without soil, in nutrient-rich water, two to three times faster than traditional farming.
A chance encounter with Marcus Powell of Hoots Smokehouse, who once ran a hydroponic setup behind his East End restaurant, gave Brooks the hands-on mentorship he needed
“WatchingYouTubeisonething,”Brooks explained “But if you really want to do this on a larger scale and make an impact, you needtolearnitright.Mr.Powellwasgenerous enough to teach me.”
Within months, the Metallic Sunflower Foundation was harvesting multiple plants and plans to add cucumbers, herbs, strawberries and additional leafy greens in the near future With each harvest, the nonprofitisbringingfreshfoodtoacommunity whereatriptothegrocerystoreoftenmeans a 20-minute drive.
Unity,cooperativeeconomics andcomingbackhome
Thefarmismorethanafoodsource;it’sa manifestationofBlackvaluesandKwanzaa principles in action
Cooperativeeconomics(Ujamaa)isalive inthepartnershipbetweentheMetallicSunflower Foundation and the Acres Home ChamberforBusiness and Economic Development(AHC),where Sheba Roy serves as community relations director and Farmers Market manager.
“One of our initiatives is to encourage folks to come back home to help,” said Roy. “Even if your family sold your grandma’s house, you can still bring your skills, resourcesandtalentsbacktoAcresHomes. That’sexactlywhatthispartnershipisabout.”
For Roy, the work is personal
“Prettysoon,wewon’thaveanythingifwe keepdependingonothers,”Brookssaid “This farm shows that we can create what we need ourselves. And we’re teaching people to start theirownhydroponicgardensathome,too.”
What we’re doing is giving back, cleaning up, feeding families and showing people how they can grow too.”
BROOKS
“It’s about fulfillment. Acres Homes has beenafooddesertfortoolong,”sharedRoy. “Where I grew up in Tomball, there were more stores than you needed Here, it can take20minutestogettothenearestH-E-B Thatseemsbydesign,andthat’swhywedo this—to make sure people here have what they need.”
Growingsolutions,notjust produce
Hydroponicsisn’tjustaboutfastercrops— it’saboutindependence Brooks,whoworked in logistics, has seen firsthand how fragile America’s food supply chain is
This teaching element ties directly to Kwanzaa’s principles of Purpose (Nia) and Creativity (Kuumba) By transforming shipping containers and vertical towers into green, thriving food systems, the Metallic Sunflower Foundation is reimagining what agriculture looks like in urban communities—and proving that innovation can be rooted in culture.
Feedingthefuture
Alreadyonitsfifthharvestsincelaunching inMay,thehydrofarmissparkingexcitement among local growers.
Farmers in Acres Homes are bringing seedsfortheFoundationtopropagate,ensuringtheircropscontinueevenoff-season.It’s
a circle of support, one that strengthens the entire community food ecosystem.
“When they see us, they’re excited,” said Brooks. “They know we’re not replacing them—we’re holding their place until they can come back stronger.”
Howyoucansupport
• Donate at themetallicsunflowerfoundation.org(one-timeortieredgiving,including corporate sponsorships).
•Sponsoratowertohelpprovideproduce for local families, seniors or schools.
•SupporttheAcresHomesFarmersMarket at www.AHCFarmersMarket.com.
• Volunteer for community cleanups and farm support—tools, wheelbarrows, water and safety gear are always needed.
As Brooks put it, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. If I can help oneperson,Icanhelpmany That’swhatthis farm is about.”
CC Brooks, founder of Metallic Sunflower Foundation, is all about empowering communities to be self-reliant in terms of growing and accessing fresh foods. CourtesyCC Brooks.
Sheba Roy
Geraldine Crossland
Turns life lessons into lasting art
By Laura Onyeneho
Geraldine“Gerry”RobinsonCrosslandstill carriesthevoiceofaneducatorattheageof85.
She is firm, direct and generous with her words, just as she was with the thousands of studentsshetaughtinHouston’sThirdWard
Now, as one of the featured artists in Texas SouthernUniversity’s12thBiannualTSUArt AlumniExhibition,herstorybridgestwolegacies:TheartistswhobuiltTSU’sreputationas acenterofBlackcreativityandthegenerations ofstudentssheinspiredasateacher.
BorninNewYorkCityin1940andraisedin Trenton,NewJersey,Crosslanddiscoveredher loveofartearly.Sherememberssewingdolls, drawing and painting as a child. Her middle school art teacher, Constance Berry, became a defining influence, showing her how care, encouragementandpreparationcouldchange astudent’slife.
“Shemadeyoufeelthateverypieceofwork was the most beautiful she had ever seen,” Crosslandrecalls.“Therewasneveranydoubt inmymindthatIwouldbecomeateacher.”
Before she pursued that dream, Crossland trainedindressmakinganddesignattheMaisonSaphoSchoolinNewYork Shemovedto Houston in the 1960s and, in 1973, enrolled at Texas Southern University to study art education.
There, she studied with two towering figures,Dr.JohnBiggersandCarrollSimms.She discoveredatraditionofartrootedinAfrican Americanexperienceandcommunityhistory undertheirmentorship
“I never saw Black art until I came to
amongBlackwomen.
Houston, toThirdWard, tothiscampus,”she says “It made me feel good as a person, as a woman It made me feel like I was supposed tobehere.”
Shegraduatedin1976andbeganteachingart atJackYatesHighSchool,wheresheremained forthenext29years.DuringhertimeatYates, shetaughteverythingfrombeginningdrawing to Pre-AP and AP Studio Art, even supervisingstudentteachersfromTSU,theUniversity of Houston and St Thomas University She becameknownforherhighstandardsandfor instilling confidence in students who often doubtedthemselves
“Nobodywastolaughatanybody’sproject,” sheexplains “Itwasaboutteachingthemhow toexpressthemselves,becomfortableandsell theirideas.”
Her students thrived under that approach Some won awards at city and state contests, while others went on to careers in art and education She still keeps scrapbooks of their achievements
“Forthemostpart,thesewerestudentswho camewithlittleself-confidenceandlowself-esteem,”shesays “Iwasdeterminedtohelpthem makeachangeandbecomewinners.”
Crossland’steachingwasneverseparatefrom thecommunity.Sheoftenconnectedlessonsto herstudents’realissues,suchasfamilystruggles, poverty and systemic inequities. She used art toprocessthoserealitiesandthatcommitment carriedoverintoherownartwork.
Thepiecesshecontributestothisyear’sTSU Art Alumni Exhibition show how deeply she tiesherpracticetosocialconcerns Onepainting, Some Mothers Don’t Get to Hold Babies, confronts the crisis of maternal mortality
Anotherunfinishedwork,WhentheKnee came the Noose, reflects on the murder George Floyd and the long history of racial violence She also paints quieter subjects,suchaschildrendaydreaming atawindow,ortwoducksswimming peacefully,asameditationonloveand harmony.
Dr AlviaWardlaw,curatoranddirectoroftheUniversityMuseumatTSU,says thealumniexhibitionispowerfulbecauseit combinesartistryandstorytelling.
“Whenwestartedtheexhibition,wewanted ouralumnitohaveopportunitiestoexhibittheir work Mostoftheyoungerartistshavegrown upinagalleryenvironment.Theolderartists didnothavethesamekindsofopportunities,”
Wardlawsays.“Thisshowbringstogetherclassic artists who studied with Dr Biggers and a younger generation and lets them learn from oneanother.There’sarealcamaraderie,abeautifulbrotherhoodandsisterhoodcommunity.”
WardlawcallsCrossland“anamazingstoryteller,”someonewhocanbringherlifeandart to vivid detail She has known Crossland for decades and sees her as embodying the TSU traditionofblendingartistrywitheverydaylife, balancingherrolesasteacher,mother,grandmotherandnow,elderstateswomanofthearts.
“It’s wonderful to see her continuing to do moreofherart,”Wardlawsays “Thisisreally oneofthestrongestbiennialswe’vehad.”
Crossland’slifehasalsobeenshapedbycaregiving After retiring in 2003, she devoted 16 years to raising and caring for her grandson, whounderwentakidneytransplantatayoung age.Onlyinrecentyearshasshereturnedfully toherart,findingtimeandspaceagainforher ownexpression.
“Artisourstory,”Crosslandsays “Visually, we can show how we feel, what we’ve experienced, and what our ancestors have endured. I’mjustgratefultostillbepartofthat.”
BID NOTICE
at ridemetro.org/Open Procurements. If you are unable to download the documents or are having difficulty, please contact 713-615-6125 or email Contracts/ Property Services at propertyservices@ridemetro.org
BID NOTICE
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR HDMD / RFP-251016 VIA FUTBOL FOR THE HOUSTON DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
The Houston Downtown Management District (the “Downtown District”) will receive Proposals to develop the comprehensive program for the "Via Futbol" temporary roadway conditions to connect FIFA World Cup fans and all Houstonians between key Downtown and EaDo destinations in Houston, Texas. Proposals will be received until 2:00 P.M. Central Time (CT), Thursday, November 6, 2025, by Cassie Hoeprich, Director of Planning & Economic Development at cassie.hoeprich@downtownhouston.org per instructions outlined in this project’s RFP document Proposals received after this time will not be accepted.
Beginning Thursday October 16, 2025, this project’s Request for Proposals (RFP) may be reviewed and downloaded from the Organization’s website: https://downtownhouston.org/do-business/procurement-RFP
Only queries or requests for information submitted via email will be addressed by the Downtown District Please submit written queries or requests for information directly to the Director of Planning & Economic Development Cassie Hoeprich at cassie.hoeprich@downtownhouston.org on or before 2:00 P.M. CT, Friday, October 31, 2025. Please note that telephone or mail queries or requests for information will not be addressed by the Downtown District
Additionally, a proposal pre-submittal conference via Zoom is scheduled for 1:00 P.M. CT, Monday, October 27, 2025. The link to the conference will be available on the Organization’s website: https:// downtownhouston.org/do-business/procurement-RFP
Based on the Proposals submitted, the Downtown District will identify and award the contract to a selected consultant via evaluation by a selection committee.
TSU alumna Geraldine
TheTSU alumni
exhibition showcases the work ofover35 artists whose vision has helped shape the
Sports
Sports KE
Isaih Bogerty,(L),isis athree-yearstarter and the leader of the Tigers’ linebackercorps.
MatthewCooks,(M), a ajunior college transfer from Tyler JUCO,has come in and had to fill the middle linebacker role that JacobWilliams held before his seasonending injury
At 6-foot-4and 245 pounds, CharlesGeorge Jr.,(R),isthe most physically imposing of the linebackertrio.
All PhotoCredits: Jimmie Aggison
TSULINEBACKER TRIO
ByTerranceHarris
TexasSouthernredshirtjuniorIsaiah Bogertymight notbethe most vocalguy all thetime, butheisreallyexpressivewhenit comes to howgood theTigers’ linebacker corpscanbethisseason
The Staffordproduct,however,isrealistic whenitcomestowhatittakesnotonlytoget therebutalsotoremainthere.
“I saythe best in thenation, thebestin theFootballChampionshipSeries.Wecan bethe best,but it takesusbeingconsistent daily,”Bogerty said in arecentconversation withtheDefender.“It’shardtoreachsuccess, buttostaythere is even harder.So we just have to stay consistent everyday.Stayinthe filmroomandpractice,notjusttocomeout hereandplayaround.Wearepracticingfora reason.Sowe’vejustgottogetbetter.”
TheTigers’ linebackertrioofsenior CharlesGeorgeJr.,juniorMatthewCooksand Bogertyhas been dominantthisseason, and it’s showinginthe numbersand production theyareputtingupastheseasonhitsthehalfwaypoint.Allthreerankinthetopsixinthe SWAC in tackles,withBogerty andGeorge rankingNo.1and No.3, respectively,while Cooksrankssixthintheleague
Bogerty, George andCooks,who are roommates, agreethattheir production is a testamenttothehardworkthey’veputinand theirgrowingconnectionandunderstanding ofeachother’sstrengthsandweaknesses.
“Ittooktimetolearnwhateverybodycan do,” said George,who,along with histeammates,headsintothisweekend’sHomecominggameagainst VirginiaLynchburg on a three-game winningstreak. “Now we are startingtotrustoneanother,knowwherewe
(18) and Isaiah Bogerty(2) have learned to playoff each othertobecome a dominant unitthisseason. Credit:Jimmie Aggison/Defender
It’s aproduction-basedbusiness, so I’msuper happywith theirproductionnow.I’m afan of production.But at thesame time,we’re notproduction-driven.The thingwetalkabout the most in ourroomisbeing able to processinformation.”
TSULINEBACKERS COACHDERRICK WILLIAMS
aregoingtobeandwherewearenotgoingto be.Soit’sjustknowing howtoplayoffeach otherbetter.”
Ittooksometimeforthetriotogetonthe samepage,especiallyaftertheirleaderamong thecore, JacobWilliams, went down with a season-ending injury in theseasonopener, leaving agap in themiddleofthe defense. Cooks,ajuniorcollegetransferfromTylerJC,
steppedinandhasfilledinseamlessly.
“Mecominginasthe newerguy,these guys have really helped me –kindofput me under their wing andgot me accustomedto it real quick,”saidCooks, whohas 44 tackles on theseason. “I feel like ourlinebacker group, everybodyisa brotherhood,everybodyknowstheirrole,andwealldoourpart.” Cooksplays primarilyatthe middle
linebacker spot,while Bogertyand George playmoreinspacewithcoverageresponsibilities, buttheyarealsointerchangeablebased on scheme.All threeare long andathletic, with Bogertyregistering at 6-foot-3 and230 pounds,Cooks is 6-foot-3 and215 pounds andGeorgeisanimposing6-foot-4 and245 pounds
Whilealotoftheirdominanceisattributed to their physicality andathletic ability, TSU linebackerscoach DerrickWilliams says it’s their abilitytothinkthrough thegameand processthatisthebiggestdifference
“They come to work everyday,theyare superintentional,andtheyareveryfocused, driven andtheyjustwanttoget better,” Williamssaidaftera recentpractice.“Theyare very smart. Theyknowa lot. Theywantto come outhereand play so that they cando itonSaturday.”
Their play as alinebackerunithas been instrumental in theTigershavingone of the topdefensesinthe SWAC this season.They rankintheTop5inoveralldefense,allowing 388.8yards pergame. Bogerty, athree-year starter, is averaging 8.8tackles pergame, Georgeisaveraging8.0stopseachgameand Cooksisaveraging7.3tackles.
Dishmanishesitant to pointout anyone group,butheseemedimpressedbythetrio.
“Our linebacker corpsisthe strength of ourdefense.Weknowthat,”saidDishman, whoseteamsitsinsecondplaceintheSWAC West with a3-3 overalland 3-1 conference record.“Buttheywouldn’t be thestrength of defense withoutour defensive front. Our defensivefrontisplayingprettygoodfootball We’vestill gotalot of football left. So at the endofthe year,wewillsee whereweare at.”
TexasSouthern’slinebacker trio of CharlesGeorgeJr(14), Matthew Cooks
Sports DN
KhylanDavis Practices patience,preparation as Quarterback
ByJimmieAggison
Formosthighschoolquarterbacks, sittingbehindastarter canfeellikea detourfromtheirdreams
Butfor Hightowerjunior Khylan Davis,thattimeonthesidelinebecame alaunchingpad
Nowinhis first year as thefull-time starter, Davishas emergedasone to watch,evidencedbyhis1,725totalyards and18touchdownsthrough just five games.His92%quarterbackrating(per MaxPreps) tellsone story. Butthe signaturecomebackwinoverpowerhouse Westfieldduringweektwotellsthereal one:Hightowerhasfounditsnextleader andhistimeisnow.
Last season,Davis wasjusta sophomorewitharocketarm andraw athleticism, waitinghis turn behind then-starter Camben Emanuel, nowat Army West Point. The patience wasn’t alwayseasy
“Mytoughestpartofwaiting behind Camben wasnever knowingwhenmy namewasgoingtobecalled,”saidDavis. “Iknewthatwhentheopportunitycame, thepressurewould be high andnot everyoneknewwhattoexpectfromme.”
Insteadofsulking,Davisstudied.He supportedEmanuel,learnedtheoffense andfocusedondevelopment,evenwhen thespotlightwasn’this.
“ThelessonItookfromwatchinghim runthe offense wasthe importance of decision-making,knowingwhereeveryonewas supposed to be andthe timing youmusthaveoncertainconcepts,”said Davis.“Also,theleadershipandcommunicationyouneedtoleadtheteam.”
ABOUT KHYLANDAVIS
Class: 2027
IG: @Yeathats_khy
Twitter: @TheKhylanDavis
Position: Quarterback
Height &weight: 6-feet-0,193 pounds
Favoriteartist: Moneydw,Yung
Al andLil Baby
Status: Uncommitted
Favoritesubjects: Math
Shout-outs: God, my family, coaches
Hightowerheadfootballcoach Cornelius Anthonyremembers Davis’ early dayswell
“Hecameinasasophomore just grateful to be on varsity,”saidAnthony “Hesawitasachancetowatch,learnand understand thenuances of thequarterbackposition.Hehadthestrongestarm on campus andwas an exceptionally giftedathlete physically,but he needed tomature.“OnceheembracedtheleadershipthatcamewithbeingQB1atHightower, we knew he wasgoing to break recordshere.”
That transformation didn’t happen overnight
“Atfirst,hewantedtofit in with teammatesmorethanleadthem,”said Anthony. “I kept tellinghim, ‘Khy,they alreadywanttobelikeyou.Imagine if you made doingthe rightthingcool.’ Eventually, throughguidanceand growth,hegot there. Now, he’s theone holdingothersaccountable.”
Whilemanyspent thesummer on vacation,Daviswassharpeninghiscraft with Mike West,one of Houston’sbestknownquarterback trainers.Thegoal: Turnrawabilityintorefinedexcellence
“SomeareasIfocusedonweremental toughnessand beingcomfortable being uncomfortable,”saidDavis.“Weworked on mechanics, footwork,accuracyand timing,allthelittlethingsyoucan’tperfectduringagame.”
Westquicklysawsomethingdifferent inDavis.
“Hisarmstrengthstoodoutimmediately;it’selite,”saidWest.“Butwhatseparateshimishiswilltocompete.He’lldo whatever it takestoput histeaminthe wincolumn.”
Davis’parentsnoticedtheshift,too
“Hetrained constantly,eventwice a dayonweekends,”saidLeonard Earl Davis,Khylan’sfather.“Afterlastseason’s playoff loss, he made apromise to take this team further. Andhe’sbackedthat upwithsacrificeanddiscipline.”
“Khylantookhis offseason training veryseriously,”saidMajoronneMonique Cook,Khylan’smother.“Heunderstood that notjustworking outand training wouldgethimhere,butalsonourishing hisbodywiththe correctfood. He had the entire housetrained in what foods toeat.”
Whentheseasonopened,Daviswasn’t justHightower’squarterback;hewasthe team’svoice
“He’shad acomplete180-degree transformation,”saidAnthony.“Administratorshaveevenmentioned howdifferent hisdemeanoris. He commands thehuddle, leadsfilm sessions,collaborates with CoachColeman on what he seesonthefieldandevenorganizes weekendworkoutswithteammatestoclean up areaswe struggledwithduringthe week.”
Some gamesdefine statsand then some gamesdefineleaders. ForDavis,thatmoment came in acomebackwin overWestfield.
With abonebruiseinhis back, Davisbrieflyexitedthegame.Butwhen histeamneededhimmost,hereturned.
“Itoldmyboys,‘Trustmeandbelieve in God, he will help us,’”Davis recalled “Wepracticeone-minutedrillseveryday, soweweren’tnervous.Wejustexecuted.”
Thatexecutionledtoagame-winning driveanda29-25statementvictoryover fanfavoriteWestfieldHighSchool.
“Hewasinsomuchpainthatwehad to take himout at first,” said Anthony. “Then outofnowhere,hemusters up thestrengthtogobackin, takescontrolandliterallyputsthe team on hisback. Cappingthe gameoffbyscoringthewinning touchdown. I’ve been part of some greatcomebacks as a coach,butthisonestandsout asthebest.Thewayhehandled that moment,withpain, pressure andthe game on theline, showed thekindofleaderand competitorheis.”
Hightowercurrently sits at 4-2overall andDavis is farfrom satisfied.
“Mygoals aretoimprove my film study, master theentireplaybook, be thevoicethisteamneedsandhelpus reachthe top,”saidDavis.“Adistricttitlewouldmeaneverything. We’vecomeupshort before andfor my first year as a starting quarterback, it wouldbeamazing.”
DN Health
Let’sEmpowerEachOther ToBeatBreastCancer
ByOMADAIDOKOOMOSEBI,MD
Breast cancer touches the livesofso many. By prioritizing health, promoting early detection, and workingtogether, we canreduce the impact of breast cancer and create healthier futures for everyone.
Working Toward Equity in Breast EquityinBreast Cancer Outcomes CancerOutcome
Black women areata higher risk of developing and dyingfrombreast cancer comparedtoother racial groups, according to the AmericanCancer Society. Thisdisparityunderscores the importance of increasing awareness, ensuring timelyaccesstomammograms, andfostering open conversations about risk factors. Early detectionand care cansavelives,and when women access resourcesearlier,outcomes improve dramatically.
StepsToTakeifYou’reatRisk
If you’re at an ageorhaveriskfactors thatincrease your likelihood of breast cancer,hereare ways to prioritize your health:
• Schedule Your Mammogram:ScheduleYourMammo Updatedguidelines recommend starting annual mammograms at age 40 formost women and earlier for those with additional risk factors. These screenings take just minutes butcan detectbreast cancer early, when treatmentismost effective
• Stay Informed: Talk to your doctor about your unique risk factors, including familyhistory and lifestyle, to create apersonalized preventionand detection plan.
• PerformSelf-Exams: rf Knowing what’s normal foryourbodyhelps you
recognizechanges early andget the care youneed.
HowCommunities Can SupportBreastCanSupport Breast Cancer Awareness Aw
Families,friends, andcommunities play avital role in reducing theimpactof breast cancer.Normalize conversations about health,remindlovedonesto schedule mammograms, andoffer practicalsupport like transportation or childcare. Smallgesturescan make abig difference in facilitating earlydetection andtimelycare.
StartTodayfor aHealthier Tomorrow aH lthier
ThisBreast Cancer Awareness Month, take thenextstepinprotecting your health or supporting those you care about.Whether it’s scheduling a mammogram, starting aconversation, or encouragingsomeone youlove, everyeffort counts.
Omada Idoko Omosebi,MD, is aFamilyMedicine physician caringfor patientsatRosenberg Clinic
Scan to viewher online profile
