Houston Defender: September 2, 2010

September 2 – 8, 2010 | FREE

Volume 79 Number 45

www.defendernetwork.com

Metro jobs soon available

By ReShonda Tate Billingsley DEFENDER

Some unemployed Houstonians may soon be able to get back to work, thanks to a new Workforce Training Initiative WorkReady w i t h Houston Houston Individuals interested METRO. in learning more about The comthe program should prehensive call 713-652-7940. program, known as WorkReady, is the brainchild of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who’s been working with Metro since the referendum to expand the light rail system passed

By Maco L. Faniel DEFENDER

A

ll across the country, the unemployment picture is bleak and nowhere is that impact being felt more than in the Black community. Those who lost unemployment benefits are a small fraction of the larger jobless picture; as of June, 14.6 million Americans were without jobs. Houston’s unemployment rate crept below the national rate at 8.8 percent with about 250,000 unemployed, but this number is double for African-Americans with a 17.7 percent jobless rate in Houston.

“Unemployment has affected every sector of the community. Some markets segments have not been hit as hard, but everyone has been affected. We see lawyers, we see people with MBA’s, and we see unemployed college graduates just entering the work place. We see a plethora of those with marginal skill sets,” says Eric Goodie, Director of Workforce and Economic Development for the Houston Area Urban League, one of the many agencies assisting with job development, job training, and job placement of Houston’s unemployed.

After months of back “Unemployment has and forth, the senate affected every sector...we made the first move to see lawyers...people with extend unemployment benefits, and the House MBA's...unemployed college then followed. graduates...and those with President Obama marginal skill set.” signed the bill, extend- Eric Goodie ing unemployment benHouston Area Urban League efits to those who have been unemployed longer than six months until November 2010.

While this vote may help curb the effects of joblessness in the immediate future, 15 million unemployed Americans are still waiting for solutions and feeling the impact.

“The reality is there are not enough jobs to absorb the people that are displaced,” says Goodie.

Willie Marshall, a 49-year-old truck driver, has been unemployed over a year. He drove trucks in the home building industry, and when that industry went down his company closed the doors. Marshall has been driving trucks for over 20 years, but in 2009 the job requirements changed.

“Every day I’m looking for a job. I am sending my resume, calling, and whatever it takes to get a job. However, I ran into some problems because I did not have a TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) card that Homeland Security now requires. Most companies will not

Understand the System What are Unemployment Benefits?

Unemployment Insurance (UI) is insurance paid by employers to assist employees who become unemployed through lay-off, company closings, or shutdowns. It provides temporary financial help to qualified individuals, based on their previous earnings, while they are looking for other work.

Who’s Eligible?

Unemployment is determined by three requirements: past wages, job separation, and ongoing availability and work search.

Earned Wages • Must have earned wages within a base period - previous 12 months and before the filing quarter. (Ex. File on October 1, 2010 must have earned wages between January-March of 2010).

• Weekly unemployment benefits are based on the highest quar terly earnings within a base period.

• Weekly unemployment benefits will be 27% of all wages in the base period.

• Weekly benefit amounts are between $59 and $406 depending upon the wages you earned.

Unemployed due to no fault of your own • Laid off or terminated not because of work-related misconduct.

• Reduced hours • Quit for a well documented medical or safety reason

Ability to Work • • • •

Register online for work searches via www.workintexas.com Conduct at least 3 work searches every week Document work searches Apply for and accept suitable work

How to Apply?

Online: www.twc.state.tx.us/ui/uiclaim.html

★UNEMPLOYMENT, Page 10

Fortune 500 lacks minorities SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE LOUISIANA WEEKLY

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Democratic Task Force and the lone Hispanic Senator, has unveiled the results of his survey on women and minority representation among the senior management of Fortune 500 companies, as well as their use of minority and womenowned businesses in the contracting and procurement process.

The survey found that women Robert and minority repreMenendez sentation on corporate boards continues to lag far behind the national population percentages.

Menendez’s survey was one of the most successful of its kind, garnering input from 219 corporations on the ★MINORITIES Page 9

INTERVIEW

Ava DuVernay has arrived Ava DuVernay has worked in the world of film as a marketer and publicist for more than 14 years, forming DVA Media + Marketing in 1999. Her award-winning firm has provided strategy and execution for more than 80 film and television campaigns for acclaimed directors such as Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, Michael Mann, Robert Rodriguez, Bill Condon, Raoul Peck, Gurinder Chadha and Reggie & Gina Bythewood.

Yet, in 2008, Ava stepped behind the camera to make her feature film directorial debut with the criticallyacclaimed hip-hop documentary, “This is The Life.”

DuVernay, a graduate of UCLA and a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, is based in L.A. Here, she talks about her skyrocketing second career.

Kam Williams: Hi, Ava, thanks for another interview.

How have you been?

Ava DuVernay: Thanks, Kam. I always love talking to you. I’ve been good and busy!

★METRO Page 3

KW: Congrats on having three new productions going at the same time. Looks like you’ve really arrived!

AD: Appreciate that. It feels wonderful. I’ve wanted to direct for a long time, so working full-time as a filmmaker this year has been a dream come true.

KW: Tell me a little about each of them.

AD: Well, the first is a network project called “My Mic Sounds Nice.” It was commissioned by BET as their first original music documentary and explores the art and issues around women rappers. I interviewed 35 people, half of whom were female emcees like MC Lyte, Salt n Pepa, Roxanne Shante, Trina, Eve, YoYo, the list goes on. Commercially available music created by female hip-hop artists is a bit of a lost art form at the moment, and there are many theories as to why that’s the case. We attempt to explore the history and current state of ★DUVERNAY, Page 2

Click on Defendernetwork.com Weekend

Weekend

Monday

Joseph Phillips

Marriage

Farrah Gray

America: Still Talking About Race

Till Death Do Us Part?

Help Your Child Succeed as a Kid-Preneur

2

SEPTEMBER 2 – 8, 2010 | DEFENDER

DuVernay

continued from page 1 this issue in “My Mic Sounds Nice,” which premiered on BET on August 30 at 10PM. The second project is a concert film I directed for Essence and Time, Inc Studios chronicling the 2010 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. Did you know Essence Music Fest is the largest annual African-American gathering in the country? This year’s three-day fest was absolutely amazing, with everyone from Janet Jackson to Alicia Keys to Mary J. Blige to Jill Scott, to Earth Wind & Fire to Trey Songz! It was so much fun to direct. “TV One Night Only: Live from Essence Music Festival 2010” is now airing on TV One. And finally, the third film is another documentary that I’m directing for Essence about two New Orleans women who have overcome tragedy and adversity after Hurricane Katrina and its tragic aftermath. These women are truly breathtaking in their strength and faith. Look for that doc, currently entitled “Essence Presents: Faith the Storm” in October on TV One. KW: Which one has been your favorite to shoot?

AD: Oh wow. That’s like asking me to pick between my children.

I’d say “My Mic Sounds Nice.”

Sitting down and interviewing all those talented women artists, plus the excellent panel of experts, academics and journalists, was a rare treat.

KW: Which one was the most challenging?

AD: I’d say the Essence Music Festival, only because the Louisiana Superdome, where the concerts take place, is so massive.

There are so many moving parts.

So many acts and artists. The logistics were challenging, but the experience I wouldn’t trade.

Ava DuVernay is making a name for herself with her first network project, "My Mic Sounds Nice," a musical documentary on BET that explores the art and issues around women rappers.

KW: What’s up next for you?

AD: Next, I’m putting the finished touches on a narrative film I wrote and directed called “I Will Follow.” It’s an indie drama, starring Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Omari Hardwick, Michole White, Tracie Thoms, Dijon Talton and Beverly Todd. The film makes its world premiere as the official Closing Night selection of the Urbanworld Film Festival in New York this September.

KW: You are among a small group of working Black women filmmakers in Hollywood. What are your thoughts on the dearth of Black female directors?

AD: I think it’s a wonderful time to be a Black woman who makes films. It’s a good time to be an artist, period. Traditional models of making and consuming art are breaking down and being rebuilt. I find that to be incredibly exciting as a filmmaker and film marketer.

Then, you add being a Black woman to that? And to be among

all the amazing sisters who are telling stories right now is phenomenal. You have the vets like Cheryl Dunye, Kasi Lemmons, Julie Dash and Gina PrinceBythewood. Plus now, I’m happy to be amongst a new crop of sisters who are all making their first feature films independently right now. Dee Rees, Tina Mabry, Tanya Hamilton, Nzingha Stewart and Victoria Mahoney. It’s a beautiful time for us, in my opinion. I prefer to embrace this moment as a moment of empowerment, instead of moaning about the lack of this or problems with that. I’m making and marketing my films, by any means necessary, and enjoying life while I do so.

KW: You have a rare skillset, being an experienced marketer who has worked on major studio campaigns for movies like “Dreamgirls” and “Invictus.” How are you applying those skills to your own films?

AD: When I’m marketing a film,

whether its mine or someone else’s, I work with a great deal of strategy and elbow grease until the job is done. It’s pretty simple really. I just dive in and start digging.

Yes, I’m fortunate to know the in’s and out’s of a true studio-level marketing campaign. But really, anyone who is diligent and wellresearched can pull it off, too. Its easier for me, but it doesn’t make it impossible for others.

Filmmakers need to realize that their job isn’t done when they lock picture. We must see our films through. Studios no longer do this for a large percentage of films.

The odds that your film will get a major campaign are dim these days. So you must find and nurture your own audience and make sure your film has a life.

Filmmakers must learn this now, just as they learn to work with the camera or the actors. I find the marketing part of the process fun and fascinating. But I realize it’s a challenge for others, so I’m actual-

ly building a business model to assist Black independent filmmakers in getting their films into theaters, identify and speak to their audience. I’ll be talking more about that in a few months and I’m very excited about the possibilities.

KW: We’ll look forward to hearing all about that. Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

AD: Hmmm. I always find it fascinating to ask people, why they’ve chosen to live their life as an artist? Why be an actor, a singer, an author, a filmmaker?

I’ve heard such inspiring answers to that question.

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

AD: Good health and safety for my loved ones.

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

AD: Wow! Good question. I see a woman who is happy. Truly, it’s a very happy season for me at the moment.

KW: How do you get through the tough times?

AD: I remind myself that whatever is happening was meant to happen to me, at that particular time, for a specific reason. That it is meant to be, and that all will be well.

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

AD: Be passionate and move forward with gusto every single hour of every single day until you reach your goal.

KW: Anything else you’d like to add?

AD: Just that people can follow what’s happening with the films I’m working on via Twitter @AVADVA. KW: Thanks again, Ava, and all the best!

AD: Thank you, Kam, for the interview. I appreciate it a lot.

3

SEPTEMBER 2 – 8, 2010 | DEFENDER

Metro

continued from page 1 in 2003.

“This initiative will provide much needed job training and placement assistance for Houston’s workers who are seeking to acquire new construction-related jobs and expand on their existing skills,” Jackson Lee said.

Metro officials say they’re excited about helping bring jobs back to the Bayou City.

“In a time when many employers, especially in the transit industry, continue to downsize, it’s exciting that METRO is looking to put more people to work,” said George Greanias, METRO’s acting President and CEO. “We are proud to be a part of such a noteworthy program that will help individuals build a strong foundation to improve their development.

And we are very appreciative of the Congresswoman’s continued support in this effort.”

Program organizers are hoping that the new training program plants the seeds of economic and professional mobility to Houston’s workforce.

“Workready Houston will provide construction training for Houstonians who are interested in working on the MERTO rail project.

Participants will, at the end of training, receive a construction credential that they will be able to use for a lifetime.

So not only are we able to train Houstonians for this project...we are providing Houstonians an opportunity to acquire a career,” said Larry V. Green Esq., CEO HoustonWorks USA, which will manage the program with participants drawn from their large pool of candidates fitting the program’s profile, as well as from the community at large.

WorkReady is actually a part of the METRO Solutions plan, which included: a 50 percent increase in METRO’s existing bus service; nine new Transit Centers and nine new Park & Ride lots, as well as expansion and upgrading existing facilities; expansion of the METRORail line and commuter line components to include 72.8 miles of rail; and initiating of the first 10 years of construction.

Jackson Lee says it was important to her that a comprehensive job training initiative be a part of the METRO Solutions plan.

“I wanted to make sure that any plan that sought to improve our city’s transportation challenges must include an opportunity for Houstonians to develop and improve their construction related skills and obtain the much needed jobs these construction projects would provide,” she said.

When this plan was passed in 2003, the country was actually facing a slight recession and the unemployment rate in Harris County was at 6.5 percent. Nearly seven years later, the unemployment rate is at 8.2 percent in Texas and 8.8 percent in the Houston metropolitan area.

“We are still continuing to face one of the worst recessions and housing crisis our Nation has faced since the Great Depression, and the jobs and job placement assistance that will be provided by WorkReady Houston is critical to alleviating the current plight of the underserved and underemployed in Houston,” Jackson Lee said.

“WorkReady Houston, by providing much needed job training and placement assistance for Houston’s workers, will plant the seeds of economic and professional mobility to Houston’s workforce. “

Registration is now underway for the first course, a class to train and certify general laborers. Available in English and Spanish, this course introduces students to construction basics, such as safety procedures, construc-

tion math, hand tools, power tools and blueprints.

Candidates successfully completing the course will receive certification from the National Center for Construction Education & Research as a general laborer.

With other classes to follow, the job-training initiative supports the needs of Houston Rapid Transit and its subcontractors as construction continues on the METRORail expansion project.

In addition to training,

WorkReady Houston will offer job placement assistance—potentially on the METRORail construction project—and follow-up once a candidate is placed.

Participation in the program is free to qualified applicants,

but space is limited.

Individuals interested in learning more about the program should call 713-6527940.

4

SEPTEMBER 2 – 8, 2010 | DEFENDER

SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 2 – 8, 2010 | DEFENDER

5

Max Edison

on Sports

Stadium update Just in case you were starting to get a little antsy about when the new Dynamo/TSU stadium would begin construction, I’ve got an update for you.

The Dynamo expect to break ground on the stadium by the end of 2010 and play in the new venue for the first time in 2012. The club is currently working to complete its stadium lease with the Harris County/Houston Sports Authority and finalize deals with private financing partners.

“We are in the midst of negotiations with the Sports Authority and working closely with our banking partners to finalize our agreements,” said, AEG President and CEO Timothy J. Leiweke.

“Substantial progress has been made over recent weeks, and we are confident that these partnerships will be finalized soon. Our timeline is aggressive, and our focus is clear.”

The Dynamo have hired renowned firm Populous as the project’s lead architect, and the bid process is underway for a general contractor. ICON Venue Services, having successfully overseen the development of numerous soccer stadium projects and considered to be the leading organization in its industry, has been hired as project manager.

The stadium will seat roughly 22,000 fans and be the home stadium for the Houston Dynamo and Texas Southern football, with the opportunity to host other events, including but not limited to international soccer matches, United States national team matches, the NCAA College Cup, high school soccer matches, and ★EDISON, Page 6

Arian Foster

Jeremiah Johnson

Steve Slaton

Texans’ running back woes, have they been solved?

By Max Edison DEFENDER

T

here’s no question that the Texans have one of the most prolific passing attacks in the NFL. Matt Schaub is a Pro-Bowl quarterback and Andre Johnson is arguably one of the top two wide receivers in the world. With all that explosive fire power, there’s one thing missing, balance. In this case, balance comes in the form of a consistent running game.

Heading into their ninth year as a franchise, the Texans have had just two running backs rush for a thousand yards; Domanick (Davis) Williams twice, 2003 and 2004 (1031, 1188 yds.) and Steve Slaton in 2008 (1262 yds.).

The team has tried, but the list of names litter the scrap heap around Reliant Stadium. Ahman Green, Ron Dayne, Sam Gado and who could forget Jonathan Wells, just to name a few.

Veteran Texan running backs coach Chick Harris explains why an effective, consistent run-

ning attack is vital for the team to take the next step up the ladder of success.

“When you run the ball effectively you win,” Harris surmised. “You control the clock, it keeps the opposing defense off balance and wears them down. It also keeps your defense fresh and gives them a chance to be more aggressive when they’re on the field because they’ve had a chance to catch their breath. That’s the basis of a winning football team.”

In 2010 the winds of change seem to be blowing through the Texans camp. They drafted running back Ben Tate out of Auburn in the second round, the highest ever draft pick at the position (58th overall). Although Tate has been lost for the season with an injury, he had shown flashes that he can be a difference maker at the position.

Currently slotted as the #1 running back on the depth chart Arian Foster (6’1” 229 lbs.) has

given no indication that he’s about to relinquish his spot. Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee in 2009, Foster took full advantage of the opportunities afforded him at the end of last season. He rushed for 97 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown against the Dolphins on 12/27 and 119 yards on 20 carries and two TD’s in the season finale against the New England Patriots.

“Arian Foster has done a tremendous job for us,” Coach Harris explained. “He’s a 230 lb. guy who can run and catch the football quite well.

We like his intelligence. He’s able to pick up blitzes, knowing exactly where to go and who to block. Arian has a chance to grow, he’s got talent and we’ll get the best out of him.”

For Arian Foster, coming into the NFL undrafted after a productive college career has ★TEXANS, Page 6

Darrell Ardison

on H.S. Sports Seventy-six high school girls volleyball teams converged in the Houston area last week for the 2010 Pearland Volleyball Classic.

The three-day event featured Class 5A powers Arlington Martin, Amarillo, San Antonio O’Connor, Hebron and Round Rock along with defending 4A state champion Canyon Randall and top-ranked Lake Travis.

Cypress Woods came into the tournament with a perfect 15-0 record and won all three pool matches and Chloe Collins their first bracket contest before dropping a 25-22, 25-22 decision to Grapevine in the round of 16.

The Wildcats bounced back from their first loss of the season to close the tournament with three wins to earn ninth place. Cy Woods defeated upstart Pearland Dawson 2512, 25-21 in the finals of the ninth-place bracket.

Cy Woods is the topranked 5A school in the Houston area and ranked No. six in the state by lonestarvolleyball.com.

Remember the name Chloe Collins. She’s a sophomore setter for Cy Woods and longtime local high school journalist Steven Thomson ★ARDISON, Page 6

H.S. FOOTBALL

Big games this week

By Darrell K. Ardison DEFENDER

In only the second week of the 2010 high school football season, several marquee matchups are already on the docket.

North Shore at Eisenhower, Sept.

3, Thorne Stadium, 7 P.M. Both of these perennial powerhouses are coming off seasonopening losses and looking to get back on the winning track.

North Shore was embarrassed at home against highly-ranked Katy.

After scoring the game’s first points on a Reggie Bryant 17-yard touchdown run with 48 seconds remaining in the first quarter, the Mustangs never crossed the goal line again as Katy cruised to a 446 victory.

The Tigers limited North Shore to 186 total yards and the Mustangs turned the ball over three times.

“I was real disappointed,” said North Shore head coach David Aymond. “We had some breakdowns on offense and we didn’t play well on defense. Our defense was on the field for 38 snaps in the first half alone. That’s way too long.”

The loss was North Shore’s worst since 2004, when Westfield defeated the Mustangs 56-14 in an area-round playoff game.

In a battle of state-ranked Class 5A powers and played before a capacity crowd at Galena Park ISD Stadium, Katy would score 44 unanswered points after strug-

Hightower Hurricanes prepare for 2010 season opener against Eisenhower. gling offensively in the first quarter.

Donovonn Young’s 18-yard TD run with seven minutes remaining in the second quarter capped a 70yard, 13-play drive and the Tigers were off and running. The Tigers’ defense recorded a safety followed by a Colt Atwood interception that set up Young’s four-yard scoring run that gave the Tigers a 16-6 advantage at intermission.

Katy scored the final 28 points of the contest in the second half and came away feeling good about themselves. The Tigers had spent much of the offseason mulling their loss to Abilene in the Class 5A Division II championship game.

“I’m extremely excited for the kids,” said Katy head coach Gary Joseph. “It’s been a long journey back (from last year’s state title game) and I think we’ve gained the respect back a little bit.”

Meanwhile, North Shore will have to contend this week with Eisenhower quarterback James

Jones, who gashed Hightower for 184 rushing yards on 19 carries and five touchdowns along with 141 passing yards.

Jones rushed for four of his five TDs in the first half when the Eagles took a 32-29 edge into halftime after scoring 26 points in the second quarter.

The teams combined to score on the first six possessions of the game, with the Hurricanes emerging from the scoring frenzy with a 22-18 advantage with 8:24 left in the second quarter.

However, Jones would score on back-to-back 30-yard TD runs in the second quarter to give his team a 32-22 lead and seemingly control of the game.

John Parrham’s nine-yard TD run with mere seconds remaining in the second quarter gave Hightower the momentum back and the Hurricanes outscored Eisenhower 15-7 in the second half to win 44-39.

Hightower at the Woodlands, Sept. 3, Woodforest Bank Stadium,

7:30 P.M. Hightower had to replace a new head coach, 10 defensive starters and groom a new starting quarterback for its 2010 season-opening assignment against Eisenhower.

Now the Hurricanes must venture away from the friendly confines of Hall Stadium to face a juggernaut coming off a 44-7 victory over Monterrey Tech.

The Hurricanes have several factors working in their favor going into the second game of the season. The players were already familiar with new head coach Barry Abercrombie, who was a coordinator under former head coach Shane Hallmark.

After making some halftime adjustments, the Hurricanes’ defense limited Eisenhower to seven second-half points to preserve a five-point victory. New quarterback Bralon Addison threw for three touchdowns, rushed for one and supplied 304 total yards ★GAMES, Page 6

SPORTS

6

SEPTEMBER 2 – 9, 2010 | DEFENDER

Texans

Edison

created a burning desire to show he belongs and the newfound success has not diminished his desire.

“I’m hungry, that’s the way I came into the league and you got to stay that way,” Foster explained. “I think I’m a little more knowledgeable of the system. I felt more comfortable out there. I felt comfortable last year but it’s just, when you got a year under your belt, you get a little more used to the speed of the game. Not a lot of things (have changed). I still go out there and play like every play is my last and like it’s my first, too.”

A big back with an element of elusiveness, #23 describes his running style.

“I’m a downhill, one cut runner. I can make guys miss, but I’d rather just get up field and score as fast as possible. It allows you to pick where you want to go. It allows me to use my vision as an attribute, this system highlights that.”

Head coach Gary Kubiak is pleased at how his big back is handling his business.

“He has had a good camp. He’s looked really good,” Kubiak proclaimed. “You go back, and I know he didn’t have many touches, but he’s averaging over five yards a carry in the pre-season. He’s been doing some good stuff so he got extended carries tonight (against Dallas) and I love his condition. He can hold up and carry the ball a lot and he helps us in our pass plays. He’s got a chance to be a fine player. He’s really growing up and you know, he stepped up and said, ‘I’m ready to go this year.’”

The elevation of Foster has created a different role for former starter Steve Slaton. Slaton rushed for a franchise record 1262 yards as a rookie in 2008. In 2009 he added weight, developed fumblitis and rushed for only 437 yards in 11 games before injuries derailed his sophomore season.

The emergence of Arian Foster has changed Slaton’s role for the 2010 season.

“Not having to be the bell-cow is good for him,” Coach Harris suggests. “ Once he’s healthy he’ll be playing on special teams, nickel situations and I think it’s a great change up for us to have.”

high school football playoff games in addition to concerts, other championship sporting events, and special events.

PV Hoopers Go Pro Recently three former members of the Prairie View A & M men’s basketball team have moved on to the next level by signing professional contracts to play overseas.

Signing to play abroad is the trio of forwards Darnell Hugee, Dorian McDaniel and point guard Chris Jones. Hugee inked with inked with Saint Vallier Basketball Drome of France while McDaniel will play in Germany with Duesseldorf. Jones will venture to Slokavia as he signed a contract with BC Prievidza.

The trio played a major part in the resurgence of the Prairie View A & M men’s basketball program as they led the Panthers to their best records and back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time since 2003. Individually, Hugee capped off his career as the SWAC’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 while Jones earned allconference honors this past season after leading the team in assists. McDaniel led the Panthers in rebounding and ranked second in three-point percentage.

“I’m very proud of those guys and their accomplishments while at Prairie View A & M,” said head coach Bryon Rimm II. “When they signed with us several years ago, one of their goals was to play professionally and their dream has come true.

I’m happy I was a part of their life and look forward to watching them prosper as it shows the caliber of athlete my assistant coaches have brought into the program.”

Frazier Show Returns Attention Panther fans and alums, the “Gallery Furniture Coach Henry Frazier Show” resumes again this season airing on KNTH 1070 AM at 3 pm on Sundays. The hour-long show features PV and SWAC football Coach of the Year (2009) Henry Frazier. The show is a call-in format, cohosted by the voice of the Panthers, Leonard Moon.

continued from page 5

continued from page 5

Arian Foster

Jeremiah Johnson

“When you run the ball effectively you win....That’s the basis of a winning football team” – Texan running back coach

Chick Harris Steve believes the competition in the backfield ultimately makes the Texans a better team.

“It’s definitely a big thing. It’s not only helping us but the team, too,” Slaton shared. “It’s a competition every day. We’re just going out there competing and I think it makes things more fun. You know, you’re out there being challenged everyday and it’s going to help your team out.”

Foster concurs with Slaton that the competition is intense and the team is the eventual winner.

“You know every time you step on the field you have to bring your best, if you don’t there’s somebody right behind you or just in front of you that’s bringing theirs. At the end of the day we’ve all got the same logo on our helmets and we’re all trying to make this team better.”

Although Slaton is running second team, he knows exactly what he needs to do to show the brilliance of his rookie season.

“Just make plays. You’ve got to take advantage of your opportunities. Every opportunity I get, I’ve got to make plays and be on my P’s and Q’s.”

As productive as the running back competition has been, one minor element has slowed

Steve Slaton

down progress, fumbles.

“It’s frustrating because we coach ball security all the time,” Harris said. “Mentally people have to focus. A successful play is not how far you run, but if you continue to hold on to the football. Sometimes we get a little cocky and we do things that from a fundamental standpoint are not good for ball security. They have to burn it in their brain that protecting the football protects our football team.”

Fullback Vonta Leach thinks this year fans will be impressed with the quality of the running game.

“This is deepest I’ve seen us at running back since I’ve been here,” Leach observed.

“Reading all the press, they’re saying our weakest link is the running back position. We did struggle running the ball last year, so I think we have something to prove this year.”

From Leach’s perspective, whoever lines up behind him doesn’t change his approach to his job.

“My job remains consistent no matter who’s behind me,” #44 conceded. “If I go in there and do my job and offensive line does their job I think anyone of these guys (backs) is capable of hitting the hole and getting a 100 yards on any given Sunday.”

Pro-Bowl quarterback Matt Schaub understands and appreciates how the emergence of a quality running game helps take the Texans to another level.

“Well, that’s the key, is to be balanced and run the ball,” Schaub observed. “If we can continue to do that, we’ll be a good offense, an efficient offense. That’s the key to us taking the next step as a team, is to run the football, especially down in the red zone.”

Ardison

Games

continued from page 5 says Collins made one of the most amazing plays he’s ever witnessed earlier in the season against The Woodlands.

“She’s so athletic and ran to the corner of the net to make a play I’ve never seen before,” Thomson said.

“Collins is so good that she’s already committed to the University of Texas.”

After suffering their first loss of the season, Collins propelled the Cy Woods offense led by Daniela Arena, Sarah Nielsen, Sydni Schultz and Kayla Plengemeyer as the Wildcats finished with twogame victories over Magnolia and Dawson.

Corpus Christie King came to the Pearland Tournament for the first time and shocked perennial state powerhouse Hebron 25-23, 18-25 25-23 in the tournament championship game.

Dawson became a definite regional 4A contender by finishing 6-2 in the tournament

continued from page 5

Cypress Woods wins ninth-place trophy at 2010 Pearland Volleyball Classic.

with victories over Arlington Martin, San Antonio O’Connor and Round Rock before dropping a 25-23, 2522 decision to Flower Mound Marcus in the round of 16.

The Eagles opened play in the ninth-place bracket with a three-game win over Canyon

CLASSIFIED REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS Professional Services for Urban and Architectural Design of a Mixed-Use Retail Core Area for the Houston Downtown Management District (HDMD) HDMD is seeking Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) on which to base the selection of a professional design consultancy team for an Urban Mixed-Use Retail Project in downtown Houston. A team comprised of Urban Design & Architecture with Retail Specialization should comprise the team’s primary leadership. HDMD will serve as the client to the contracted design consultancy team.

The broad goal of the project is to develop an integrated urban design document which allows HDMD to pursue a shared vision with downtown stakeholders and public officials for a sustainable and vital mixed-use metropolitan core. The Scope of Work to be performed is the preparation and presentation of conceptual design documents to promote the revitalization- and retail-specific goals of the 2004 Downtown Development Framework, including identification of opportunities and challenges in the seventeen (17) block area of downtown’s Shopping District.

The submittal of a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must include a letter of interest and availability for prospective design consultancy teams. The SOQ should describe the composition of the assembled team and how various personnel, individual consultants and design specialists contribute to the team’s overall organization, management and skill set.The minimum SOQ submittal contents should include the following: statement of qualifications and interest; firm prospectus; identification of design team’s leader and,if different,the design team’s project manager; brief and applicable resumes for key personnel assigned to the project;relevant project experience where similar services were provided with successful implementation; three (3) letters of reference (minimum) from previous or current clients.

Utilization of certified Minority / Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) firms is a consideration of HDMD, but will not solely determine the preferred or selected design consultancy team.

Selections will be based on merit and qualifications.

From the pool of qualified design consultancy teams, a short-list of up to five (5) teams will be selected for a second-stage interview process on Thursday, October 7, 2010, in Houston, for which the design team’s lead and project manager must be available.Notifications to all submitting firms will be completed by Thursday,October 7,2010.HDMD authorization to engage the preferred design consultancy team will be processed at the monthly Board of Directors meeting on October 14, 2010. The anticipated conceptual design schedule is from November 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011.

A downloadable pdf-version of HDMD / RFQ-100917 is available at the HDMD website: http://downtowndistrict.org/Home/Procurement Qualifications are to be submitted in 8.5”x11”paper format (1 original plus 7 copies) and digitally as a locked Adobe Acrobat Reader (pdf) file.

Qualifications are to be submitted by 11:00 A.M., Friday, September 17, 2010, to: HDMD / Attn: Mr. Lonnie Hoogeboom / 909 Fannin, Suite 1650 / Houston,TX 77010.

Randall. Dawson then beat Martin again before falling to Cy Woods.

Outstanding ball control and defense led by Dawson specialist Danielle Sullivan along with consistent setting from Katie Haynie and Olivia Underwood enabled the

Eagles to compete with some of the state’s best offensive attacks.

Dawson head coach Lori McLaughlin said ball control and good serving aided her team a lot.

Sullivan was named to the all-tournament team.

in the season-opening victory over IKE. “All we did for the defense was simplified some things and just lined up to play football,” Abercrombie said.

“Addison is a special player and a super kid,” Abercrombie added. “He’s really stepping up and helping lead the team even though he’s just a junior.”

Another factor that could bode well for Hightower this week is that The Woodlands may be without the services of all-state running back Daniel Lasco, who injured an ankle and only played two series against Monterrey Tech.

“It is nothing serious. I just have to give it a week’s rest or so and I should be fine,” Lasco said.

In Lasco’s absence, new Highlanders starting quarterback Joseph Schneider passed for 253 yards and four touchdowns and The Woodlands’ defense limited Monterrey to 101 total yards.

Bay City at Yates, Sept. 4, Barnett Stadium, 6 P.M. Yates opened the season with a 30-19 victory over Booker T. Washington in the annual Booker-Bryant Classic at Delmar Stadium.

Tadarius Limbrick had four carries for 133 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Lions. Limbrick had TD runs of one and 58 yards. He also returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown. New Yates starting quarterback Rashad Jackson tossed an 18-yard TD pass to Tevon Robbins.

Bay City won state football championships in 1983 and 2000.

OUR HEALTH

SEPTEMBER 2 – 8, 2010 | DEFENDER

7

A Defender & Texas Children’s Hospital Alliance

Allergies and Asthma F

or children, the start of a new school year can also mean the beginning of fall allergy symptoms. Dust mites and mold both flourish in schools. And don’t forget chalk dust, which becomes airborne with the bang of an eraser and can easily trigger wheezing in children with asthma. Considering all of these potential allergens, it’s not surprising that researchers have noted a sharp spike in asthma symptoms among children during late September and early October.

Food allergies are also an issue during the fall. Going back to school means sharing a cafeteria with children who are eating peanut butter, eggs, milk and other foods that can be irritating — even life threatening — to kids with allergies.

In this issue, Texas Children’s Hospital provides insight into seasonal allergies, food allergies and asthma to help you give your kids a healthy start to a new school year.

Identifying allergies in your child Does your child sneeze a lot or often have a runny nose or itchy, watery eyes?

If so, you might suspect an allergy: About one in five U.S. children has allergies. Typically affecting the eyes, skin or upper and lower airways, allergies are caused by a heightened immune response to normally harmless substances from foods to mold spores.

“Allergies can be a year-round problem for children in Houston,” says Dr. Stuart Abramson, a physician with the Allergy and Immunology Clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital and assistant professor of Pediatrics and Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine. “Allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the nose), or ‘hay fever,’ is by far the most common allergy in younger children.”

Parents can recognize allergic rhinitis in their child by looking for symptoms such as sneezing, itching and rubbing the nose (which often has a nasal discharge that is thin and clear) with no fever.

“Diagnosis is key to helping control allergies,” states Abramson. “If you suspect your child has allergies, your child’s pediatrician can refer you to an allergist who can diagnose him or her by history, physical exam and various tests for specific allergens.”

When perennial allergic rhinitis is controlled, related conditions such as sinusitis, swelling in the nasal cavity and ear infections, are more easily ★IDENTIFYING ALLERGIES, Page 8

Diagnosing allergies is the key to controlling them.

The allergyasthma connection About 10 percent of children in the U.S. are diagnosed with asthma, an immune reaction in the airways that treats normally harmless substances as irritants and releases inflammatory chemicals that trigger the body’s response. While allergic responses are similar, they take place in a different part of the body. With allergic rhinitis, for example, the response starts in the upper airways, while asthma strikes in the bronchial tubes and lungs.

“Children with asthma are especially prone to allergies,” Abramson reports. “Although only about 50 percent of adults with asthma have allergies, 80 percent of children with asthma are allergic to one or more substances.”

Inhaled airborne substances are most likely to trigger asthma in a child. Cigarette smoke and smoke residue, as well as emotional situations, can contribute to asthma attacks. Dust mites can elicit both asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Older children may complain of chest tightness or pain.

At the first sign of an asthma attack, a child requires immediate attention. Patients and their families should work with their health care provider to create a written asthma action plan to help them deal with worsening asthma. While families often handle moderate symptoms, for more severe episodes they many need to make same-day visits to the pediatrician or the emergency room for safe, timely treatment.

Inhaled steroids usually are prescribed to treat asthma. For ongoing asthma that is not well

Mangaging asthma at school

Children with asthma are especially prone to allergies. controlled, the pediatrician may refer the child to an asthma specialist.

“Allergic asthma and rhinitis symptoms, such as sneezing, itching and wheezing, can be reduced by placing the child in an air-conditioned environment that cools and dries the air and reduces airborne allergen exposure,” says Abramson. “While it is not possible to completely prevent allergies and asthma in young children, genetic and cellular research holds the promise of greater prevention and treatment options in the future.”

About Texas Children’s Hospital Texas Children’s Hospital is committed to a community of healthy children by providing the finest pediatric patient care, education and research. Renowned worldwide for its expertise and breakthrough developments in clinical care and research, Texas Children’s is ranked in the top ten best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

For more information on Texas Children’s Hospital, visit www.texaschildrens.org.

With school underway, parents may worry about the best way for their kids to manage asthma or allergies at school. An asthma specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital believes the best defense is communication with teachers at the beginning of the school year.

“Houston’s semitropical climate means that pollen and mold spores are present year-round,” said Dr. Stuart Abramson.

“These substances, along with some indoor allergens and irritants, are major triggers of allergy and asthma symptoms, and kids may need preventive or treatment medicines while they are at school.

It’s a good idea for parents to have a conversation with the teacher or school nurse to discuss the child’s medications and what to do in case he or she Specialist says communication has symptom with teachers helps kids to manage • Discuss medications their asthma at school. that your child needs and when to give them, such as an inhaled bronchodilator.

• File a written action plan, developed with a health care provider, with the school.

• Give written permission for school officials to administer medications.

Parents also wonder if their child should participate in school sports if he or she has asthma. For the most part, the answer is “yes.”

“If children have asthma under good control using a proper treatment plan, they should be able to participate in any sport that they ★ASTHMA AT SCHOOL, Page 8

8

Identifying allergies

continued from page 7 prevented. A diagnosed allergy can be treated safely and effectively with medications such as topical nasal steroids and antihistamines. Inhaled corticosteroids, which treat both allergies and asthma, are sometimes prescribed.

For children whose allergies cannot be controlled by medication, allergists often recommend a program of immunotherapy, during which a child receives injections of increasing amounts of the identified allergen.

Immunotherapy takes five years or more, after which the child can tolerate the offending allergens.

Asthma at school

continued from page 7 desire,” said Abramson.

“However, some sports are more likely to trigger asthma symptoms than others. For some, swimming in a chlorinated indoor pool can be irritating. In long distance running, there is a lot of exertion and exposure to pollens and mold spores that can trigger an attack.

We recommend that kids with exercise-induced asthma use a bronchodilator 10-15 minutes before activity as a pre-treatment to prevent symptoms. We also recommend that children with allergies and asthma have a back-to-school health care visit to review a current management and activity plan before returning to school.”

OUR HEALTH

SEPTEMBER 2 – 8, 2010 | DEFENDER

What to know about food allergies Though food allergies are often over-diagnosed, about 5 percent of children have true allergic reactions to food. When dealing with food allergies, it’s important to know the basics so that you can help your child live a healthy life.

Here’s what you need to know.

What are food allergies?

Food allergies occur when the body’s immune system rejects certain foods as harmful. Your child may have a food allergy if she has any of the following allergic symptoms within two hours after eating certain foods: • Stomach ache or cramps • Breathing problems/wheezing • Swelling in the lips, tongue or mouth • Diarrhea or vomiting • Hives • Itchy red skin (especially eczema) • Runny nose Rarely does a child have a severe allergic reaction that may be life-threatening. Symptoms of such a reaction are a sudden difficulty breathing, sudden difficulty swallowing, weakness from a sudden fall in blood pressure (shock) or confused thinking. Never let your child try the food again if he or she had a severe reaction to it.

Children who have other allergic conditions, such as eczema, asthma or hay fever are more likely to have food allergies than children who do not have other allergies.

What causes food allergies?

Allergic children produce antibodies against certain foods. When these antibodies come in contact with the food that causes the allergy, there is a reaction between the antibodies and the food. This reaction releases chemicals, such as histamines, that cause the allergy symptoms.

Food allergies are also inherited. If one parent has allergies, each child has about a 40 percent chance of developing allergies. If both parents have allergies, the chance of food allergy rises to about 75 percent for each child.

Will my child outgrow a food allergy?

At least half of the children who develop a food allergy during the first year of life outgrow it by the time they are 2 or 3 years old. Milk and soy allergies are more often outgrown than others.

Although three percent to four percent of all babies have a cow’s milk allergy, less than one percent of them are allergic to milk for the rest of

Common problems could indicate food allergies.

Most common food allergies in children The following foods cause more than 95 percent of all food reactions: • • • • • • • •

Peanuts (and peanut butter) Eggs Cow’s milk products Soybeans and soy formula Wheat Fish Shellfish Tree nuts

their lives. Allergies to tree nuts, peanuts, fish and shellfish often do last a lifetime, however.

How do I treat a food allergy?

Avoid eating the food that causes the allergy.

This should keep your child free of symptoms. If your child is breast-feeding and is allergic to a food that you are eating, do not eat this food until your child stops breastfeeding.

Consider avoiding other foods in the same food group. Some children are allergic to two or more

foods. This happens most often to children who are allergic to ragweed pollen. These children often react to watermelon, cantaloupe, muskmelon, honeydew melon and other foods in the gourd family. Children allergic to peanuts may react to soybeans, peas or other beans.

Provide a substitute for any missing vitamins or minerals. Eliminating single foods from the diet usually does not cause any nutrition problems. If you eliminate a major food group, however, you will need to make sure your child gets all the nutrients he or she needs from other sources. For example, if you eliminate dairy products, your child will need to get calcium and vitamin D from other foods or supplements. Talk to your health care provider or a nutritionist about dietary supplements like vitamins.

Visit your health care provider. If you suspect your child may have a food allergy, your pediatrician can help diagnose the allergy with a skin prick test or blood test. Call 911 immediately if your child develops serious symptoms including wheezing, croupy cough, trouble breathing, lightheadedness or tightness in the chest or throat.

9

SEPTEMBER 2 – 8, 2010 | DEFENDER

African-Americans talk, text on cellphones more SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM TARGET MARKET NEWS

(NNPA) - According to a new analysis of cellphone usage

by The Nielsen Company, African-Americans spend more time on average talking and texting than any other ethnic group. The voice and text results are compiled from one year (April 2009-March 2010) of mobile usage data gathered by Nielsen, which analyzes the cellphone bills of more than 60,000 mobile subscribers each month in the United States.

Nielsen found that African-Americans use on average more than 1,300 voice minutes a month, compared to the next most talkative segment, Hispanics, which talk on average 826 minutes a month. Asian/Pacific Islanders logged on

average 692 talk minutes a month, followed by Whites, who use approximately 647 voice minutes a month.

Black consumers sent and received on average 780 SMS text messages per month, more than any other group.

Hispanics averaged 767 text messages. Whites were third with a monthly average of 566 messages, followed by Asian/Pacific islanders with 384 texts.

The Nielsen analysis also found that women outranked men (856 vs. 666) for minutes spent talking on cellphones.

Likewise women led in text messages over men, with 601 vs. 447.

While teens 18-24 text more that adults 25-34, cellphone voice usage is quite close (981 voice minutes for 18-24 and 952 minutes a month for those 25-34 years old.)

Minorities

continued from page 1 VOLUME 79 • NUMBER 45 SEPTEMBER 2 – 8, 2010 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Editor Von Jiles Associate Editor ReShonda Billingsley Art Director Cale Carter Columnist Yvette Chargois Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison Contributing Writers Aswad Walker Webmaster Corneleon Block The Houston Defender Newspaper published by The Houston Defender Inc. Company (713) 663-6996. The Defender audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscriptions, send $60.00 — 1 year, to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston, TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All materials covered by 2009 copyright... (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

Fortune 500 list and 71 on the Fortune 100 list. The study found minorities to represent a total of 14.5 percent of directors on corporate boards and overall have less representation on executive teams than they do on corporate boards.

Hispanics are least proportionately represented on boards and fared even worse on executive teams. They comprise 3.28 percent of board members and only 2.90 percent on executive teams, about one-fifth of the 15 percent they represent in the U.S. population.

Among minority groups, AfricanAmericans have the highest representation on boards compared to their population, but saw greatest decline in representation from boards to executive management teams, from 8.77 percent to 4.23 percent. Women on the other hand fared better on executive teams than on corporate boards, with 18.04 percent and 19.87 percent of representation respectively, but these figures still represent less than one-half of their proportion of the national population.

Senator Menendez and others also offered concrete recommendations, including the creation of a task force with select corporations, executive search firms, board members, and other experts to help companies move in this

direction.

“As Chair of the Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force, one of my top priorities has always been promoting and expanding diversity at all levels of our economic, political and social sectors, and the basic understanding that has resulted from this survey will help guide us in doing so,” said Senator Menendez.

“This report clearly confirms what we had suspected all along – that American corporations need to do better when it comes to having the board rooms on Wall Street reflect the reality on Main Street. We need to change the dynamic and make it commonplace for minorities to be part of the American corporate structure. It is not just about doing what’s right, but it’s a good business decision that will benefit both corporations and the communities they’re tapping into and making investments in.

That’s why I’m offering my recommendations and to work one-on-one with companies who want to move those numbers and company executives who want to make a difference in the community.”

This survey is one of the largest studies of women and minority diversity among corporate leadership with one of the highest response rates. A total of 219 Fortune 500 companies participated, including 71 Fortune 100 companies, making this one of the largest surveys

A new study found Blacks use, on average, more than 1,300 voice minutes a month.

on women and minority representation in corporate leadership ever. It requested the following information from corporations: 1) whether or not they have written diversity plans with targets, 2) data on diversity at the Board and executive management level, and 3) information on supplier diversity.

Most important findings of the survey and recommendations based on this data: Diversity on Corporate Boards • Women represent 18.04 percent of directors; one out of every five board members is female. The proportional representation of women on Boards is less than one-half of their proportion to the overall U.S. population.

• Minorities represent 14.45 percent of Directors; one out of every seven Board members is a minority.

Minorities represent less than half of the 35 percent of the population they comprise overall in this country.

• Blacks/African-Americans have the highest representation at 8.77 percent compared to their population, reporting a Board ratio of about 69 percent.

• Hispanics have one of the poorest representations on Boards. They comprise about 3.28 percent of Board members, one-fifth of the 15 percent they represent in the U.S. population.

Native-Americans made up about .04 percent of Board members, approxi-

•

•

•

•

mately five percent of their actual population. Diversity on Executive Teams (CEO and direct reports) Women represent 19.87 percent of Directors; one out of every five Board members is female. Although women fared slightly better on executive teams than on corporate Boards, they still represent less than one-half of their population.

Minorities overall have less representation on executive teams than they do on corporate Boards, representing 10.44 percent of executive managers, compared to 30 percent of their actual proportion to the U.S. population.

Blacks/African-Americans saw the greatest decline in representation from Boards to executive management teams, 8.77 percent to 4.23 percent. In fact, they went from about one out of every 11 Board members to one out of every 24 executive team members. When compared to population statistics, Blacks/African Americans on executive boards represented only about one-third of their U.S. population.

Hispanics/Latinos fare worse on executive teams versus corporate Boards at 2.90 percent, Asians and NativeAmericans do slightly better at 2.55 percent and .25 percent respectively.

10

Unemployment continued from page 1

even deal with you without this TWIC card. In 2009 they made the law, and in 2010 they made it mandatory for all truck drivers to get them.

During the time when I was driving, I did not have to have a TWIC card because I was not driving to ports or any other place where U.S. Customs is at, I was only delivering to apartments and homes. But now for me to get back into the workforce, I had to go apply for a TWIC card last week.”

Marshall’s unemployment benefits stopped at the beginning of June and it has been hard on him and his family.

“We were barely making it before the benefits stopped, now we are scuffling anyway that we can. I have been working since I was 15 years old, started in 1975, I served my country in the military, and the best thing that my country can do for me is slap me in the face when I am down and out. Nobody is just sitting at home, we are out here surviving.”

Unemployment is also having a social impact on people. Some of the jobless have found themselves at the end of ridicule from family, friends, and neighbors. One job seeker at the Houston Area Urban League, who has been unemployed since Hurricane Ike (Sept. 2008), did not want her name used because of the scorn she has received.

“It offends me, when you spend all day, from 8-5 looking for a job for more than a year, and someone comes back saying you are not trying to find one. When the unemployment you are getting is not enough to support your family. That is just crazy, what are they doing to help us get jobs, or create jobs. In my neighborhood a lot of people look down on you because you are not working. I just had somebody tell me the other day ‘Oh please, you mean to tell me you still haven’t found no job’. Until they can walk in your shoes, they have no right to make a comment like that,” she said.

Like many of the unemployed, that woman has had to reduce her social activities to zero because her resources go toward making ends meet. “We just had a family reunion, and I could not go. And there are other things I can’t do with my friends.”

There are countless numbers of unemployed people who are not receiving unemployment benefits, either because they were contractors,

SEPTEMBER 2 – 8, 2010 | DEFENDER

students who had never worked, or did not work long enough to qualify for benefits. Renee Brown fits this category. She graduated with her J.D. 15 months ago. Renee left Detroit for Houston, after her search for jobs in the legal field turned dismal. She moved to Houston in April, and has been staying in a transitional living facility every since then. Besides food stamps and $400 in child support, she and her daughter are making it on what she calls “grace”.

She has also had to turn entrepreneurial to earn extra cash.

“I have had to sale services that I can offer right now based on my previous skill set and degree. Right now I go to work with a small group of lawyers, I might get a little extra money if I bring in a case,” says Renee.

Chase Williams graduated from high school two years ago, and after a year of not finding a job he turned to crime, which led him to a felony and incarceration for aggravated robbery.

“When you don’t have anybody to put food in your mouth, you have to take care of yourself. I was on my own. I took a vacation from going to school. I was looking for a job every day, looking for a job was my full time job. But I could not find one.”

Now that he has a felony, his job options are even more difficult. But Chase says that he is still hopeful and that “I just keep on striving and praying.”

Though unemployment is a current issue, it has some long term consequences.

“It is a terrible business, especially for young people. If you can’t get a job or one for very low pay you start off with very low circumstances.

This is an economic recession that will probably not come back to what it was before,” says Dr. Stephen Klineberg, Professor of Sociology and Co-Director of the Institute for Urban Studies at Rice University.

Chase believes that if the unemployment problem is not fixed, especially for young people, that there will be some serious consequences, “the streets are going to be overwhelmed with homeless people, the prisons are going to be overfilled, we are going to go into anarchy. If you don’t give a dog food, the dog will try to eat you.”

Klineberg says that “We are in a new economy. The old go to college, get a job, and live from there no longer exists. You have to have continual learning. It is no longer employment security, no one will have employment security, the only security in the 21st century is employa-

bility.”

So, what do people need to do in order to compete in this new economy and to increase employability?

“First, people have to remain current. They have to remain abreast to emerging skills in the workplace. Skills and qualifications for the jobs that are being created and the jobs that they want.

They have to have the ability to articulate for the jobs that they’re seeking. Their skills have to be

up to par,” says Goodie.

“Education is critical. You did not need a lot of education before because of blue collar jobs.

What you earn is based on what you learn. If you can’t get a job, for god’s sake get an education, go to a community college. There is no guarantee that education will get you a decent job, but there is almost a guarantee that if you don’t have more education you want get a job,” says Klineberg.