















With all the madness going on in the U.S. and the world, we can be forgiven for feeling pessimistic at times regarding where we’re headed as a human species. White nationalism and anti-Blackness are on the rise globally. Women are losing their rights as human beings while old, white men (and the women who support them) strip women of their God-given agency. Black people have seen our “allies” leave us high and dry, even though they still worship Black athletes and entertainers for bringing joy to their lives. And the hyperwealthy are poised to remove all guardrails formed to protect Planet Earth, leaving the most important issue, our environment’s well-being, in a precarious state. Still, our best path forward is to be thankful. Living in a state of gratitude and thanksgiving opens people up to powerful and positive possibilities closed to us when we’re wallowing in the Sunken Place. Gratitude and thankfulness are superpowers because they supply us with hope. And if you didn’t know, hope is literally spiritual plutonium; it’s that powerful and necessary for our lives and our well-being. So, find your “why” to be thankful and extract all the joy and goodness out of it that you can. We need it.
Aswad Walker
local, state, federal and philanthropic sources and used for outreach, diversion, housing and shelter support. Of that, $25 million is said to come through city funds. Though the start date for this initiative hasn’t been announced, Whitmire’s team says once it is, everyone in the Houston area defined as homeless, a number which that team estimates to be roughly 3,200 within Harris, Ft. Bend and Montgomery counties, will be housed within 30 days. Stay tuned.
Houston’s Mayor John Whitmire recently announced his push “to end homelessness.” And though others have mentioned the difficulty of this issue, Whitmire responded, “It’s not a moon shot. It’s not rocket science. It’s us coming together.” Whitmire’s plan prioritizes “reducing the number of people sleeping on the streets” by making it illegal to sleep in public spaces at night, and doing so with the coordinated efforts of multiple city departments. The plan also involves creating 12 “civility zones” which are not places for the unhoused to sleep, but rather where they can seek mental health resources and get help with housing. The plan will rely on $70 million from
The calls from all corners of society for Black people to get over the Election 2024 loss are coming fast and furious. Some of those calls are from well-intentioned folk who contend dwelling on the Trump victory (and all the nastiness attached to it) will only do more damage to our mental and emotional well-being. But others making this demand of Blackfolk could not care less about our state of mind. They just want to gloat about their ability to re-elect someone with 34 felony convictions. A person who bragged that his actual “business plan” is to refuse to pay people who he contracted and then wait them out in court; A business “genius” with six bankruptcies to his credit; A U.S. president who attempted to overthrow the U.S. government… while still in office. But calls for Black people to move on aren’t being heard, because the angst Black people are still talking about is so loud and strong. Just check the response to the Defender Roundtables on this topic. I say there are no wrong answers regarding how Blackfolk proceed in this moment. We have the right and responsibility to find our own way.
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By Tannistha Sinha
Kashmere Gardens’ multi-service center will receive a permanent generator, priced at $899,000, which will be installed and operable within a year. Councilwoman Letitia Plummer had proposed a generator for extreme weather conditions in June as part of the FY2025 budget meeting when she put forth an amendment for a permanent generator for the neighborhood’s “resiliency hub”—the city’s only such center. The amendment passed with support from other members of the council.
“What became so glaring during our storms was the resiliency of some of our locations that people were actually referred to,” Mayor John Whitmire said during a press conference. “Today is an exciting time for the citizens of Houston because this is gonna be our new model.”
has a 20% lower life expectancy rate than any other community in Harris County,” Plummer said. “...This is a true resiliency hub with the new generator that we are providing the infrastructure needed to ensure that residents, especially seniors, and the most vulnerable populations, have a safe place to go during disaster.”
The contract with Enchanted Rock Solutions, was awarded with an 11% goal for M/ WBE participation, and will be monitored by the Office of Business Opportunity.
Angela Blanchard, the Chief Recovery and Resilience Officer for the city, announced that existing solar panels at Kashmere were repaired. Shell, an oil industry company, provided the additional funds for the generator site, she added.
to please approve the amount of money that is necessary so that we can move forward.”
District K Councilmember Martha CastexTatum said the council was in agreement about this agenda item and had been planning on approving it the next day.
After the approval of the generator, Stevenson said it would also serve surrounding neighborhoods before this model is implemented in other areas.
“We are grassroots people. We’re used to hearing, ‘Ms. Stevenson, I don’t know where to charge my phone’ or ‘All of my food is gone,’” she said.
Plummer also read out a statement from Keith Wyndel Downey, the “father of Kashmere Gardens” in his absence.
have somewhere to go in the City of Houston, and they need an address, and they do now.”
While the news of the generator placates residents’ demands for long-term solutions in the neighborhood, it will take a year for its benefits to reach Kashmere residents, which includes another winter and a hurricane season. Whitmire said his administration will provide reprieve through services and plans aimed at fixing these issues. These include scouring the city for available assets to serve as warming or cooling centers, Blanchard clarified.
Plummer said the community has struggled continually due to extreme weather conditions over the years and shared their plight before the council. She said fami lies in the area have faced repeated power outages and temperature fluctuations without resources for heat and cooling, which is “unacceptable.”
Joetta
“Their [residents] determination has brought us to this moment, and I think it’s important to state that the Kashmere Gardens community
Kashmere Gardens residents hailed this announcement as a win. Joetta Stevenson, the president of the Greater Fifth Ward Super Neighborhood #55, came to the last meeting to plead her case yet again for the generator.
“We would like that [resiliency] hub completed, and in order to complete it, it needs to have the generator that can generate power to that entire facility,” Stevenson said. “I’m tired, frankly, of going somewhere outside of my community far away in order to charge a phone or in order to stay warm. So I’m going to beg and plead with everyone on this council
“Storms are a part of our lives for the remainder of our lives, and we must be prepared for those storms when they take place in underserved areas, under-invested communities,” Downey wrote. “These storms happen on a daily basis in the lives of the people that are most vulnerable… If the weather is too cold or the weather is too hot, the community needs reassurance that they
“We will face other disruptions before we have generators installed in the two dozen or more places,” Blanchard said. “We know we need them. We’ve already been living without those and we’ve been doing workarounds.” Whitmire added that his administration will focus on underserverved communities in Sunnyside and the Heights, implementing plans on developing infrastructure.
“We’ve got our work cut out for us today as Kashmere has been neglected for my entire childhood,” he said. “Ultimately, the goal is to fix the entire city, as been said repeatedly.”
Kashmere Gardens: A neighborhood forgotten during climate disasters
By ReShonda Tate
Jo Ethel Campbell had no desire to ever learn anything about the internet. As an elderly woman, there was just too much she didn’t understand. But the Houstonian quickly discovered that in order to exist in America today, she needed to have digital skills. So she turned to SERJobs’ Workforce Resource and Training Center in Houston’s East End to help her out.
“I’m a very independent person. I get tired of asking people, can you show me how to do this? So I took it upon myself to go to this class that they had and I enjoyed it,” Campbell said. “And every time somebody says class, I go again. I’m just overwhelmed with knowledge of what the computer can do. You can make doctor’s appointments on them, talk to the pharmacist. It’s just a whole lot of stuff that I was afraid of when they say computer, but now I’m very comfortable with.”
Stories like Campbell’s are exactly why Comcast introduced its second Flagship Lift Zone in Houston. Designed to bridge the digital divide, this initiative includes a $500,000 grant to upgrade technology and expand programming, aiming to enhance digital and technical skills for thousands in the community.
The newly revamped Flagship Lift Zone, powered by Comcast Business, marks the first of its kind in Texas and joins a network of 54 Lift Zones across Houston.
“Lift Zones are about more than just providing free access to the Internet. They are about teaching people how to use the power of broadband to transform their lives and careers,” said Loren Hudson, senior vice president and chief diversity officer, Connectivity and Platforms at Comcast. “With this Flagship Lift Zone, SERJobs is set to make an even greater impact, helping thousands of Houstonians seize new opportunities.”
The Flagship Lift Zone features:
• 48 new computers (38 desktops and 10 laptops).
• Privacy pods for virtual job interviews, certification work, and meetings.
• Upgraded audio-visual equipment for training and conferences.
• Enhanced Wi-Fi access with additional seating.
• Refreshed conference rooms, tech labs, training spaces, and breakrooms.
This investment builds on Comcast’s decade-long partnership with SERJobs,
which has included over 1,000 donated laptops and tens of thousands of dollars in grants to expand digital training opportunities.
Sheroo
Mukhtiar, CEO of SERJobs,
highlighted the profound community impact of this initiative. “By providing access to essential digital literacy resources, this Lift Zone empowers individuals to thrive in the digital age and opens doors to workforce development and economic opportunities. Together, we can create a more inclusive and empowered community.”
Over the past three years, Comcast Texas has contributed more than $3 million in cash and in-kind support to over 60 Houston-area nonprofits, advancing its Digital Equity Network. This network equips individuals with the tools and skills to access better careers and explore opportunities in technology-related fields. Comcast’s network of digital equity partners helps people acquire computers, provides digital skills trainings and offers opportunities for community members to explore and train for careers in tech-related fields. They can also develop the kinds of digital skills that can help them pursue better careers and even launch and grow their own businesses.
Comcast’s Lift Zones are part of Project UP, a $1 billion initiative to expand digital equity and opportunity nationwide. Since 2020, more than 1,250 Lift Zones have provided essential internet access and skills training across the U.S., complementing Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, which delivers low-cost broadband to qualifying households.
For more information, visit www.comcastcorporation.com and www.serjobs.org.
By Aswad Walker
Though very little data exists on the exact number of Houstonians 21 and over lack a high school diploma, roughly 80% of people in the Houston/ Pasadena/Woodlands metro are high school graduates or higher. So, according to CensusReporter.org’s 2022 data, about one-in-five adults in the Greater Houston area lack a high school diploma. That reality comes with real-world economic consequences, which the Houston Public Library (HPL) and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) want to address.
TSLAC recently awarded HPL a $75,000 Special Projects Grant to expand its Career Online High School Program. The funding will provide scholarships to 40 new participants in FY25, enabling adults aged 21 and older to earn an accredited diploma online.
Applicants must have completed at least the eighth grade and pass a prerequisite
course with 70% or higher. To apply, potential students must take a brief survey to determine eligibility. The application deadline for scholarship funding is Dec. 30, 2024.
“Students who want to complete their high school diploma shouldn’t have to deal with the burden of extra costs,” said HPL Community Engagement Division Manager Mercedes Clarke. “These funds will allow more students to achieve this milestone and gain other opportunities.”
One of those “opportunities” is the chance to dramatically increase their earnings.
In the third quarter of 2023, full-time workers aged 25 and over across all levels of education had median weekly earnings of $1,172, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That amounts to roughly $61,000/year.
Here’s how various groups faired during that time period:
• Those without a high school diploma: $721 median weekly earnings ($37,500/year)
• High school graduates with no college: $905 median weekly earnings ($47,100/year)
• Workers with some college or an
associate degree: $1,012 median weekly earnings ($52,625/year)
• Workers with a bachelor’s degree and no additional degree: $1,499 median weekly earnings ($78,000/year)
• Workers with an advanced degree: $1,864 median weekly earnings ($97,000/year)
HPL’s program and the grant funding seeks to give individuals a head start on opportunities to earn more money.
The grant is part of over 40 awarded this year by TSLAC, funded through the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the Library Services and Technology Act.
“TSLAC is pleased to recognize and support the important work of Texas libraries in delivering innovative information services that strengthen local literacy, workforce and digital opportunity efforts,” said TSLAC Director and Librarian Gloria Meraz.
For more information about this program, please contact HPL’s community engagement and education team at 832-393-1737.
By ReShonda Tate
AsAfrican Americans continue to reflect on their place in this country, the holiday season offers a unique opportunity to focus inward, to celebrate the strength, history and traditions of our families.
It’s a chance to reclaim the holiday as a time for gratitude, storytelling and connection. In fact, preserving family stories is a powerful way to honor our roots and create a meaningful legacy for future generations.
“Everything starts in the home,” said Carl Smith, the Manager of the Family History Research Center at the Houston Public Library Clayton campus. “A lot of the problems we see in society could be mitigated by strengthening family bonds. A lot of younger people are discouraged about what’s happening in the world. But when you take time to talk to the other generations, you realize they went through hard stuff, too. So using family time as a bonding experience that the generations can participate in when you’re all together and you’re sharing some of those stories.”
According to Dr. Anne Fishel, co-founder of the Family Dinner Project, when it comes to Thanksgiving, “There’s a lot to think about and plan for before the big day, and it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture. The real meaning
of the day is thanks + giving.”
This year, instead of rushing to the TV or retreating to separate corners at family gatherings, why not make the time to create and preserve family bonds?
“The stories we tell about our culture, our past, and the people who came before us matter. They are the threads that weave our families together and pass on our values to future generations,” said Houston-based writer Michelle Aldo, who helps families create legacy books.
Research from the Family Narratives Lab shows that families who know and share their stories are closer emotionally and report stronger bonds. Stories help us understand one another, bridge generational gaps, and preserve the legacy of our ancestors. Thanksgiving, a day centered around gathering, gratitude and giving, is the perfect time to start.
Whether your table includes just a few people or a sprawling network of relatives and friends, make storytelling a centerpiece of your celebration. Here’s some tips from Aldo and The Family Dinner Project:
Start with “20 Questions”
Get everyone talking by playing a game of “20 Questions.” Ask questions like:
Where were you born?
How did you meet mom/dad/your best friend?
What’s your favorite childhood memory?
Encourage follow-up questions to uncover new details. Even if you’ve heard the stories before, there’s always more to learn. For example, you might discover that the Sunday church routine wasn’t just about worship—it was also about the best-fried chicken in town at Aunt Bessie’s afterward!
Turn gratitude into legacy
Do you already go around the table and name something you’re thankful for? This tradition can be expanded:
First Round: Share something you’re grateful for.
Second Round: Share a favorite memory from a past holiday.
Record the conversation using your phone or a video camera. These captured moments will be priceless for future generations.
Cook up some stories
Thanksgiving is synonymous with delicious food, and recipes often hold rich family histories. Ask about the origins of favorite dishes: Who taught Grandma her famous collard greens recipe?
What’s the story behind Uncle Joe’s cranberry sauce with a twist?
Asking for recipes—and the stories behind them—not only honors family chefs but creates a bridge between generations. Maybe this is the year you teach your kids how to make that treasured sweet potato pie.
Use TikTok challenges to learn more about family
One of the big things young families like doing now is recording TikTok “Most Likely To” challenges. Find some (or create your own) and have your elders play. Just be ready when you find out Grandma was “most likely to dance on the back of a pickup truck in a bikini.”
Play show-and-tell over dessert
Ask guests to bring a meaningful item that reminds them of their childhood. It could be a photo, an heirloom, or even a favorite toy. Over dessert, let each person share the story behind their item. Photograph or video these moments to preserve them.
Track your family’s health history
Thanksgiving is also Family Health History Day, making it an ideal time to create a health portrait. Or Christmastime, when lots of family members get together is a great time to answer those much-needed questions. Use the Surgeon General’s health portrait tool at https://cbiit.github.io/FHH/html/index.html to discuss family health patterns. This simple activity can provide valuable insights for ensuring a healthier future for everyone.
Create a paper trail
Ask family members to bring old photos, documents, passports, and scrapbooks. Take inventory of what everyone has, and make plans to digitize and organize these treasures. And if they don’t want to let go of them, take a picture of a picture. Start a family archive that can grow over time.
When it comes to Black families, holiday dinners can be vastly different from what you may see at traditional family gatherings. When the Pilgrims first celebrated Thanksgiving in 1621, we were probably left off the guest list. Therefore, many of our ancestors turned the celebration into our own - complete with our own set of rules.
The Defender has been examining these rules every year. Some change, some stay the same. But when it comes to Black family gatherings, there’s seldom a dull moment.
The number one thing Black folks ask when it comes to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, is “What’s for dinner?” While meals vary based on location and tradition, the tried and true Black holiday menus must consist of: Turkey: Duh. This may seem like a no-brainer, but especially with this new generation, some folks have tried to replace the good ol’ turkey with duck, veal, or gasp, chicken. If
you don’t have your turkey fried, baked, broiled or smoked, you’re just having Sunday dinner.
Dressing: Made from scratch. With cornbread. As a self-proclaimed Jiffy lover, now is not the time to break out of the box. Leave it for your red beans and rice next month. Also, please do not experiment with anything your grandmother would not have put in her dressing, this includes carrots, raisins, grapes or any fruit whatsoever. By the way, Stovetop is stuffing, not dressing.
Greens: Collards, turnips, mustard, cabbage, seasoned with ham hocks or bacon or neckbones is a must. My grandmother would slap me for even saying this, but IF you do pull out the canned greens, for the love of Baby Jesus, doctor those bad boys up. By the way, for the holidays, Kale does not constitute greens.
Mac & cheese: You MUST be battle-tested before you cook this. You need to have caught your mate cheating, pawned some things, disguised your voice when the bill collector called,
and had your kids give you major grief. You get my point. The bottom line is that holiday mac & cheese needs to be mixed with some life tears to truly count.
Side dishes: I don’t know who introduced those green beans with the onion strips, but just no. We need good ol’ fashioned side dishes. However, if you must experiment, do it with your side dish. Just don’t be mad if it’s the only dish untouched at the end of the dinner.
Gravy: From scratch. Not in a jar or package. Gravy-making is not for everyone. It’s okay to accept that it’s not your gift.
Dessert: Desserts do not count if they are storebought (the unanimous exception is Pattie LaBelle’s pies).
Paper products or canned cranberry sauce: The holidays is a time to recognize when cooking is not your gift. There is nothing wrong with being in the “Other” ministry during the holidays.
We asked readers to weigh in on their own written (and unwritten) Thanksgiving rules...
“Don’t argue with your mate at the table and not think we won’t ask y’all all kinds of questions later. This our business too now.”
-Dawn Jennings
For some, challenging old traditions can feel unsettling, but redefining your holiday gatherings doesn’t mean losing its essence. It’s about deepening its meaning by focusing on what truly matters—our stories, our bonds, and our gratitude. As Fishel notes, “When we gather for Thanksgiving, we’re gathering to express our deep gratitude for what we have and what we can share with others.”
“Don’t make to-go plates for your “man” who didn’t want to come meet us. If he can’t come say “HELLO” he don’t deserve to eat “FAMILY” food! And don’t make no to-go plates before everybody eat.”
- Kelly Rice
Visit https://thefamilydinnerproject.org/ thanksgiving/ for more information and ideas.
“Don’t bring an extra guest we didn’t know about or your feelings and theirs will be hurt.”
-Jackie Holton
“Don’t sit at the spades table if you don’t know how to play.”
“Do not let the newly ordained preacher, deacon or just saved person say grace.”
-Carolyn Samuel
“Cousins only pictures…. one with spouses and one without. Just in case someone doesn’t make it to next year.”
- Tamika McRae Turner
“Congratulations on your new path as a Vegan. Thanksgiving is NOT the day to assault our menu with your new lifestyle.”
- JD Scott Adams
“‘This Christmas’ will be played.. the original version or Silent Night by the Temptations.”
-Jodi Williams
By Tannistha Sinha
Houston is one of the country’s most diverse cities, making it a prime spot to highlight the growing interest in tech among professionals of color.
Johnnie Turnage, a co-founder of Black Tech Saturdays, which he started in Detroit with his wife, Alexa, says Houston’s diversity strengthens its communities and creates an atmosphere where professionals can hustle and pursue their ambitions.
Turnage, who recently held a networking event during AfroTech, a conference for Black professionals and leaders, says he’s excited to see more people focusing on the growing tech industry.
The community has long been underrepresented in the industry. While Black people comprise 14.4% of the country’s population, they make up only 7% of the computing workforce. This percentage also includes “computer support specialists” jobs. Among them, only 3.7% are in roles with large tech firms.
According to Pew Research, the share of Black STEM workers has remained unchanged since 2016. However, those who work in the field face racial and ethnic pay gaps that have widened in recent years. In 2016, the Black-toWhite earnings gap in the STEM workforce was 81%, the study says. Black professionals occupy 4.4% of seats in boardrooms.
These numbers decrease further for Black women. According to a research report from Accenture, women in tech make up 27% of the industry workforce, and Black women only 3%.
Turnage says many African Americans are often hesitant to participate in spaces where the community’s representation is low, leading people to misread their nervousness as underpreparedness.
“When I think about some of the barriers to tech, both for Black people and women, for all
Conference attendees agreed that these conferences highlight the city’s diversity and the growing interest in tech among professionals of color.
Credit: Houston Defender/Tannistha Sinha
people of color, and our struggles in breaking into it, it’s because the industry isn’t always built for us to belong,” said Turnage. “There’s a lot of othering…Black and Brown people, we don’t raise our hands for situations because we think we’re not prepared, we’re scared, we’re nervous. When you’re an extreme minority in a space, it creates an imposter syndrome in you that forces you to behave like you wouldn’t behave.”
Even when a trailblazer paves the way for future generations, they are soon forgotten. A classic example is the popularity of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Steve Jobs. However, very few know of Gerald “Jerry” Lawson, the “father of the videogame cartridge,” one of the few Black men in tech during the 1970s. As the Director of Engineering and Marketing for Fairchild Semiconductors, he created a gaming console that allows users could swap out games via cartridges. This innovation impacted giants like Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation.
Why networking events are important
Brandy Guidry, a consultant and third-generation STEM professional specializing in engineering, says her family background helped her ease into the field. She completed her studies
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at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and started off her career in intelligence at the Department of Defense. Before consulting, Guidry also spent eight years with General Electric in various roles, including product
manager and engineering productivity leader, among others. Most recently, she also helped build the Pearland Innovation Hub.
As a child, she naturally took an interest in computers and games. However, over her years in the industry, she has observed that Black women are still severely underrepresented in tech. She knew early on that she would be underrepresented whether she chose engineering or medicine. Growing up in Houston, amidst the oil and gas industry, she observed the dearth of women and women of color in these fields.
She attributes this dearth to a stigma surrounding a dogmatic and undersaid rule about what careers suit a Black woman.
“A lot of times, unfortunately, I am stereotyped to be an admin or marketing or teacher,” Guidry said. “A lot of people don’t see us in those careers. I’ve seen a lot of women mid-career, 10 to 15 years in, feel like they’ve plateaued because they can’t see somebody in the C-Suite. They feel that’s not a place for them.”
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By Laura Onyeneho
Joel Thompson is breaking new ground in the world of opera. As the first-ever fulltime composer in residence at the Houston Grand Opera (HGO), Thompson is embarking on a journey that combines his passion for storytelling, community engagement, and dedication to incorporating Black voices into the traditionally white-dominated space of classical music.
Thompson describes it as a “laboratory” where he can experiment with the intersection of his passions—music, community outreach, and service. “It’s just really exciting,” he says. “It’s almost like a place for me to figure out the exact role that composition will play in my life as an artist and balancing that with outreach and community service.”
Born and raised in the Black church, Thompson was deeply influenced by the strong connection between music and community. “Growing up in the Black church where music and communities are in a symbiotic relationship, I saw how music creates
that exists in traditionally Black spaces within the classical idiom,” he says.
One of the most anticipated projects in Thompson’s residency is his collaboration with Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton on a Juneteenth 2025 song cycle. This piece will spotlight the oral histories of Black Houstonians, providing a platform for voices that have often been marginalized in the classical music world. “I’m always interested in how this art form can create community and how community can shape this art form,” Thompson explains.
The project, which draws from the archives of the Gregory School and the Emancipation Park Conservancy, is part of Thompson’s larger effort to center Black voices in an art form historically dominated by Western European narratives. “Often, Black people don’t have voices centered in the classical space. It’s a cultural product of Western Europe and usually focuses on music from 1750 to 1900.”
elements of Black musical tradition into his compositions. “From my first piece, ‘Seven Last Words of the Unarmed,’ until now, I’ve been trying to figure out how to incorporate Black musical idioms into the classical music language.”
By using the oral histories of real Black Houstonians as the foundation of this work, Thompson is pushing the boundaries of opera. Mouton, a spoken word artist and opera librettist, has compiled 12 excerpts from those oral histories, transforming them into poems that Thompson is now setting to music. The song cycle will feature soprano, baritone, and piano. As Thompson describes, “It’s been a great experience working on these poems,
oms into the language of contemporary
cal styles is not new for Thompson, who has always sought to intertwine
One of his primary aims is to create art that resonates with people who don’t traditionally see themselves represented in opera audiences—particularly Black communities. “When one thinks of a classical music audience, it’s usually upper-middle-class to wealthy, white, and fairly old. And as someone who is the opposite of all those things, how can I create art that appeals to people who look like me?”
Houston Grand Opera and Emancipation Park Conservancy recently hosted a Coffee with the Composer event. During these events, community members are invited to provide feedback on his compositions, offering a rare opportunity for a dialogue between the composer and the audience. For
foundation of my craft is listening,” he says. “It seems counterintuitive since I’m creating the thing to be listened to, but I believe that listening is the foundation of my craft.” During a recent event, Thompson recalls an audience member suggesting an alternative rhythm for one of his pieces. “It was just great to see her tapping into her creative instinct as I shared. That sort of dialogue is really important to me—it awakens new ideas in myself.” His work not only pushes the boundaries of opera but also centers the experiences of Black communities, particularly those in Houston. As he prepares for the premiere of the Juneteenth cycle in June 2025, it’s clear that Thompson’s residency will have a lasting impact, both within the world of classical music and far beyond.
“Opera doesn’t have to be this distant, untouchable thing,” Thompson says. “It can be a canvas for us to explore who we are, and I’m committed to making sure that people who look like me know they have a place in this space too.”
When one thinks of a classical music audience, it’s usually upper-middle-class to wealthy, white, and fairly old. And as someone who is the opposite of all those things, how can I create art that appeals to people who look like me?”
JOEL THOMPSON
Houston Grand Opera recently announced that it has recruited Thompson to live and work in Houston as its first-ever, full-time Composer-inResidence, in a role that will aim to strength connections with Houstonians and their communities through opera. Credit: Houston Grand Opera
By Terrance Harris
L.J. Cryer has seen his college basketball career take almost every twist and turn
By Terrance Harris
It’s been interesting this season listening to firstyear Texas Southern coach Cris Dishman as he has figured out the nuances that come with Tigers’ football.
Some things are almost impossible to evaluate from the pre-employment curb.
We’ve heard Dishman react out loud to some of the special circumstances he faces while trying to turn around a program that hasn’t had a winning season in decades. His first shock was the not-socozy Air-B-N-B occupancy deal TSU has with Shell Energy Stadium and its two primary residents, the Dynamo and Dash.
You can visit but don’t make yourself at home.
The Tigers can’t get into Shell Energy Stadium for practices and their kickers must work around practicing on turf but playing on grass. Dishman, as a result, has sent out some low-key zingers, saying they feel like guests at home. The funniest was referring to the Shell Energy Stadium as “their cousin’s home stadium.”
The latest dose of reality—the lack of fan and alumni support at home games—has probably bothered the former Houston Oiler cornerback the most. Dishman looked up in the stands and saw few fans while his Tigers were on their way to an impressive 17-14 win in their home finale.
Dishman sounded off unprompted during his opening comments during the weekly SWAC Football Coaches Media Call.
“The most frustrating thing was to see not that many people in the stands,” Dishman said. “I think that everyone from Texas Southern should come out and support Texas Southern sports. Get in the stands and cheer these guys on.”
Dishman wasn’t wrong.
With a vast Houston alumni base, the support should be better for the Third Ward school.
Dishman delivered on his promise to improve the program when he took the job last January. The Tigers have been far more competitive and finished the season on a two-game winning streak. They ended the 2024 campaign posting a .500 record in the tough SWAC West with a 4-4 record and 5-6 overall after being picked to finish dead last in the division in the SWAC Preseason Poll.
But the return from the fans for what the Tigers have done hasn’t been there.
The former Morton Ranch product and Katy native started out at Baylor where he helped the Bears win a national championship his freshman season and later developed into a reliable player for Scott Drew the next couple of seasons. But last year, he decided to leave Waco and come closer home, opting to bring his talents to the University of Houston Cougars.
As expected, Jamal Shead and Cryer formed one of the most explosive backcourts in the nation. Still, it was also a culture shock to find his place in a new program and get used to playing for Kelvin Sampson and the constant tough love he delivers.
Fast forward to this season. Cryer, the Cougars’ leading scorer last season, learned to play through the noise while adapting to a new role as a team leader. His job now is to help young players get through what he dealt with last season.
Call it growth.
“I feel like each year in college, I’ve definitely matured,” Cryer said recently to the Defender. “I feel like even from last year, I took a step as far as my maturity level. Handling the coaching so that the younger guys can look at me and see that’s how you are supposed to go about things.”
More comfortable just playing his game, Cryer has evolved and is embracing his role as one of the team’s leaders, along with J’Wan Roberts and Emanuel Sharp. Cryer’s leadership so far has been huge in helping newcomers like point guard Milo Uzan, who transferred from Oklahoma this season.
“I feel like it’s really good for me. I feel like the next step to my game is to take the responsibility of leading the team,” said Cryer, who decided to come back for his senior season instead of pursuing the NBA after last season.. “I was always able to take a seat back to Jamal and other good guards and kind of just do my thing on the side.
“Now I’ve got to have more of a vocal presence and be more in that attack mode from the jump.”
It’s in contrast to a season ago when Cryer was trying to figure it all out while also trying to avoid Sampson’s equal-opportunity wrath. It wasn’t what Cryer was used to, so it took some time to adjust.
“I didn’t have a lot of tough days but I had some tough days for sure,” Cryer said. “You go home and you are like, `dang,
what have I gotten myself into?’
“But you have to get through those hard times to get to the other side to see some success. I’m happy I’ve gotten through all of that.”
After an impressive first season with the Cougars, who spent much of their first year in the Big 12 as the top team in the nation and made it to the Sweet 16, they are again one of the top teams in the nation (No.7 last week) and could be poised for a sixth-straight Sweet 16 appearance.
The Cougars will need their 6-foot-1 shooting guard to continue to elevate his game and leadership. After three games this season, Cryer and Roberts are tied as UH’s top scorers with each averaging 12.3 points per game.
While Sampson wants Cryer to be more aggressive on the court, he is excited about what he can bring to the program this
season. He doesn’t mince words at all. He believes in Cryer.
“LJ does a good job of making the right reads. I call it playing in traffic. If he drives the gap and the help defender comes, he always moves the ball.
“LJ has a quick release, so I told him to really focus on his window. When he has a window to get it off, it’s okay if it’s contested. That’s how much confidence I have in him as a shooter.”
In return, Cryer has a lot of confidence in his team, which returned four starters from last season. He doesn’t see any limits on what the Cougars can accomplish this season.
“I feel like we can accomplish anything that we want to accomplish,” he said. “We’ve got the depth, we’ve got a lot of older guys who have a lot of experience so I feel like the sky is the limit for us.”
By Jimmie Aggison
The Ridge Point Panthers have cemented their status as a dominant force in Texas high school football, capping off an undefeated season in 6A Region III District 20 and claiming their 10th district championship in the past 13 years.
With the playoffs underway, the team’s hopes for a deep postseason run rest heavily on the shoulders of their 5-foot-11 senior wide receiver Dane Jones.
“He’s dynamic and explosive,” said head football coach Rick LaFavers. “He’s a tremendous athlete. He might not be as tall, but he’s very strong and powerful. He has great hands, great range, and we’re trying to get the ball in his hands as much as we can.”
Jones has become a cornerstone of Ridge Point’s high-powered offense, which is led by senior quarterback and University of Houston commit Austin Carlisle. Together, they have formed one of the most dynamic duos in the state, propelling the Panthers to new heights.
game against Austin High School and a 151-yard effort against Hightower.
“I feel I’ve shown that I’m more than just an average receiver that runs routes,” Jones said. “I have the ability to rack up yards after the catch regardless of the defender guarding me.”
Although Ridge Point has had success this season, the Panthers are seeking redemption after last year’s early playoff exit, a heartbreaking 28-31 loss to Houston Lamar in the second round. That defeat has fueled the team’s determination, and with all its offensive pieces clicking, Ridge Point is poised for a deeper run.
“When Dane first came to Ridge Point, it was all about rebuilding,” said Carlisle. “We trained and worked on timing and routes all summer long to prepare for this kind of moment. Anytime I see Dane matched up one-on-one, everyone in the city knows what’s about to happen.”
Jones transferred to Ridge Point from Shadow Creek High School during his sophomore year, a move that initially raised eyebrows. However, a bond forged with Carlisle during a training session convinced him that Ridge Point was the perfect place to showcase his talent.
“Austin and I have the same trainer, Tim Boutte, so we built a relationship quickly,” said Jones, who has committed to TCU. “He told me his vision for our upcoming junior season, and with me being a wide receiver, it was a better situation for me to go to a program where the quarterback had more offensive control and enjoyed the passing game.”
Since then, Jones has been nothing short of electric.
A four-star recruit with elite speed, agility and route-running ability, he has dominated opposing defenses all season. He has recorded 961 yards and 16 touchdowns on 54 receptions, adding to his already impressive junior campaign, where he tallied 825 yards and 13 touchdowns. This season has been filled with multiple 100-yard games, including a 140-yard, four-touchdown
Off the field, Jones’s success has garnered national attention. With 19 Division I offers, he ultimately chose TCU over Missouri, Florida, Boston College and Houston. He cites TCU receivers coach Malcolm Kelly as a key influence.
“Coach Kelly has a proven record of putting receivers in the league, and I want to be a part of that,” said Jones. “TCU has always been solid since they’ve recruited me. I’ve built a strong relationship with the whole staff, and they have a plan for me and have shown me where I can be successful in their offense.
As Ridge Point continues its playoff push, the focus remains on the connection between Jones and Carlisle and their ability to lead the team to glory. Dane Jones has become the heartbeat of the Panthers’ championship aspirations with his highlight-reel catches, unmatched athleticism, and fierce determination.
Class: 2025
IG: @danejonesss
Twitter: @iamdanejones_
Position: Wide receiver
Height & weight: 5-feet-11, 175 pounds
Favorite artist: Destroy Lonely
Status: Committed to TCU
Favorite subject: Psychology
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