Elite Newspaper 1-6-23

A Grand and Sparkling Gala

Presented by Kirk Myers-Hill and Abounding Prosperity, delivered by Patti

Labelle

On a two-day Celebration filled with a Gala and Brunch, this was a grand and welcoming event in these Difficult days of challenge and Need. This star-studded Diamond Embezzled presentation of Celebrity, Civic leaders, and Community Contributors. Abounding Prosperity and Kirk Myers Hill did a Splendid job of presenting all those factors together, with a backdrop setting at the Historic and Palatial Fairmont hotel ballroom’s decadent quaint, and beautiful setting for this Beautiful rendition of service and celebration, thank you Abounding Prosperity, for bringing such a delightful engaging holiday experience to the Dallas area.

On one of the days, Patti LaBelle brought down the house with some of her greatest hits, the second day they took us to church with LeAndrea Johnson, Kelly Price and the amazingly talented Grammy award winner Yolanda Adams who closed out the afternoon with one of her favorite Christmas songs. Kirk Myers Hill and Abounding Prosperity really brought the Holiday cheer to the DFW area. I mean nothings better than brunch and GREAT ENTERTAINMENT ALL IN ONE. Mr. Myers -Hill do exactly that.!

Holley v. Adams: Part II with Miles D. Peterson. See more about the case on page 3.

Texas Rangers and DelawareNorth 2023 Seasonal Employee Job Fair Scheduled for Saturday, January 7. Learn more on page 3.

Dallas Philanthropist & Advocate, Verna ThomasMelton, reveals new book. See more on page 4.

Washington, DC -01-05-2023The National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW) is excited to announce that prolific educator, community organizer, and civil rights advocate Dr. A. Lois Keith will serve as the NCNW’s new Chair of the Board, steering the organization’s vision into 2023 and beyond. Dr. Keith will be bringing her years of experience in leadership, advocacy, and education to guide the NCNW and ensure that the organization’s goals of promoting social justice, STEAM education, entrepreneurship, and health equity are further realized in the upcoming years

Dr. Keith, a Legacy Life Member and Bethune Achiever is actively involved in NCNW where she has dedicated so much of her life to its mission and its purpose. In 2016 at the NCNW’s 57th National Convention, she was honored to serve as co-chair of the event and she was elected to the position of National Vice President. She has served as the National Membership Chair at the pleasure of both Presidents Dr. Dorothy I. Height and Ms. Ingrid Saunders Jones.

Read about Garret Davis’ Unforgettable Play, a heartwarming stage play about caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease on page 6.

In 2022, she was appointed to serve again as Vice President. Dr. Keith was a member of the NCNW Transition Team and was a co-chair of the 60th Biennial National Convention. In addition, Dr. Keith has served as Executive Member-at-Large, member of the National Nominating Committee, member of the National Re-certification Committee, and National Assistant Secretary. Currently, she serves as co-chair of Membership and is a member of the President’s Circle. In her local DeKalb Section, she

Join Elite News at the “Round Table” every Monday-Friday and tune in with Debra Blair Abron’s podcast every Tuesday. WE are on- “Assignment.” Luby’s 5600 S. Hampton Rd. Dallas, TX, 75232 at 12 PM “High Noon.” In Honor of Building Communities, bridging the gap, working together, generational health, wealth, and wisdom. The best example is to be the example! Subscribe!

Watch INSPIRE Podcast every Thursday at 11 AM and follow them on social media platforms @MHORSC. Subscribe!

TELLING IT LIKE IT IS!

“The Spoken Word Is Like the Air, but the Printed Word Is Always There”

NCNW VOTED DR. A. LOIS KEITH AS THE NEW CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Address: 3155 S Lancaster Suite #210

Romans 8:28-29

Founder Dr. William “Bill “ Blair Jr. Sr. Publisher Emeritus Jordan Blair, Sr

E.

Photojournalist Jay Wayne and Titia Owens J. Wayne Owens Media Corp. Distribution Byron Sweat Have something to submit? Community Calendar: elitearticles@aol.com Stories: elitearticles@aol.com Contact Us! (214)3726500 or (214)775-9955

Holley v. Adams:

Part II with Miles D. Peterson

Last week I told you about Holley v. Adams at the trial level and the list of factors developed by the Texas Supreme Court to determine the best interests of the child in the suit. Now we’ll take a look at the case at the appellate level and see how those factors applied to Nanci Adams Holley’s appeal.

To review the Holley factors are a non-exhaustive list of factors that a Court uses to determine the best interests of a child in a family law suit. They are as follows:

1. The desires of the child;

2. The emotional and physical needs of the child now and in the future;

3. The emotional and physical danger to the child now and in the future;

4. The parental abilities of the individuals seeking custody;

5. The programs available to assist these individuals to promote the best interest of the child;

6. The plans for the child by these individuals or by the agency seeking custody;

7.the stability of the home or proposed placement;

8. The acts or omissions of the parent which may indicate that the existing parent-child relationship is not a proper one; and

9. Any excuse for the acts or omissions of the parent.

In Holley v. Adams the Court first

looked to how Mother’s conduct endangered the emotional wellbeing of the child. Father asserted that Mother’s emotional and physical abandonment was enough to satisfy this factor, the Texas Supreme Court disagreed. Citing a lack of evidence that the infrequency of her contact was enough to endanger her son’s emotional wellbeing. In addition to this, it was held that when she did visit her son, it did not endanger his emotional wellbeing. Next it was considered as to whether Mother’s arrest, commitment to the mental hospital, filing for bankruptcy, and second divorce rose to the level of emotional endangerment. Once again, the Court found that these actions brought no danger to the child’s emotional wellbeing.

The Court then looked into whether Mother had failed to adequately support her son. Considering the circumstances, it was quickly determined that there was no adequate support. Due the fact that she had only sent $100 over a period of five years to support her child, the Court would have a hard time finding otherwise. In response to this Mother contended that her duty to support had been excused. This is because Mother voluntarily gave Father custody so that her son would be properly supported and she was never ordered to pay child support. There was no question that the child was adequately supported by Father, and he never reached out to Mother for any additional support. Thus the Court found that Mother’s lack of support was excused.

Lastly the Court looked to the emotional needs of the child and found that there was an emotional relationship between the child and

Mother as well as members of Mother’s family. It was determined that these relationships should continue. In the end the Court decided that there was not enough evidence to warrant the termination of Mother’s parental rights. While Mother made her mistakes, the Court decided that it was in the child’s best interest that she remain in his life.

TEXAS RANGERS AND DELAWARE NORTH 2023 SEASONAL EMPLOYEE JOB FAIR SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 7

Job fair to take place on North Plaza at Globe Life Field from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT; Visit texasrangers.com/ jobs for more information

Arlington, Texas— The Texas Rangers and Delaware North Sportservice are partnering to host a hiring event for 2023 seasonal positions at Globe Life Field and Choctaw Stadium. The job fair will take place at the Globe Life Field North Plaza by Texas Live! on Saturday, January 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT.

Individuals 16 years and older interested in 2023 seasonal

TEXAS RANGERS AND DELAWARE

NORTH 2023

SEASONAL EMPLOYEE JOB FAIR SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY,

JANUARY 7

(CONTINUED)

Job fair to take place on North Plaza at Globe Life Field from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT; Visit texasrangers.com/ jobs for more information

be available in Lot B on the North side of Globe Life Field. Lot B is accessible from E. Randol Mill Road or Stadium Drive.

For more information or to apply for seasonal positions online, visit texasrangers.com/jobs.

DALLAS PHILANTHROPIST & ADVOCATE REVEALS NEW BOOK

the State of Texas, and assisted with the documentation and implementation of the First Food Bank for North Texas, appointed by two Presidents of the United States.

Mentored by so many of Dallas' Civic Leaders and Community Giants. Revealing and describing how individual aspects of identity, such as race and class, don't receive wide recognition and how these aspects must be told when discussing how people identify themselves and how they are identified and treated by others.

The Book FORWARD is written by; Allen R. Sullivan, Ph.D., Emeritus, Assistant Superintendent Office of Student Development & Advocacy Services Dallas Independent School District, and Marylyn R. Harris, RN, MSN, MBA, President -HARRLAND Healthcare Consulting, LLC; Founder and Executive Director, Women Veterans Business Center.

Honey B's Honesty, Integrity & Experience 20yrs

Day Care And Meal Plans

Available

Pet Obstacle Course

• Weave Poles

• Dogwalk

• Standard jumps

• Tunnel

• Tire jump

• Teeterboard To schedule your appointments give us a call @ (972)932-2237

We here at Elite News would love to do a feature on your restaurant in the Elite Newspaper, we ask that you allow us to sample an Entree and Dessert. Your restaurant gets great exposure as well as a newspaper to frame with a picture of your business. You will also have the opportunity to receive an award for Elite News “Mozelle Special” Best Restaurant in Dallas Award! Contact elitearticles@aol.com to submit!

positions are encouraged to attend the job fair to receive information on open positions, submit applications, and participate in onsite interviews and job screenings.

Seasonal positions open for 2023 games and events include:

Texas Rangers

• Concierge

• Guest Services

• Parking

• Promotions

• Raffle Seller

• Security

• Ticket Office Assistant

• Tours

Delaware North

• Concessions

• Culinary

• Fine Dining

• Retail

• Warehouse

Free parking for the job fair will

The DOCK BOOK SHOP will host a book signing for VERNA THOMAS- MELTON, "MY POWER IN THREE". Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, Time: 12:00 - 2:00 P.M. AT- Dock Bookshop - 6637 Meadowbrook Dr. Fort Worth, TX 76112 https://www.thedockbookshop. com/event/verna-thomas-meltonbook-event

Verna Thomas-Melton Founder and Director of Verna’s H.E.L.P. Foundation- a Fort Worth Native; writes her first book to tell her story "MY POWER IN THREE". An Authentic Spiritual Autobiography, which tells the Story Of a Black woman who assisted with Dallas' 1st Homeless Shelter, which is today the Austin Street Shelter; Changed the entire DISD - Special Education program throughout

• 2013 Houston and US SBA “Veteran Business Champion of the Year”

• 2013 President Obamas White House “Champion of Change

A FREE COPY will be mailed to every donor of $25.00 or more, to help the mission of the Verna's H.E.L.P. Foundation. At http:// www.vernashelpfoundation.org Please state their mailing address for correct delivery in PayPal.

For Additional Information Contact (214) 886-3530

Debra’s Bits and Pieces

Taste and Tell!

You pick em Sports Den “The Know It Alls”

THE BSA CAME OUT WITH A TIE THIS WEEK

THANK YOU TO DERIC “TREE” TAYLOR

Presented Carter RB with A Banner He Had Made for Him Honoring him for Being DW Carter first player to rush for 2329 yards

Texas has terminated Chris Beard’s contract three weeks after he was arrested and charged with a third degree felony for assault on a family member.

Casey Doc Blair Sponsored by the “Sports Den KnowItAlls”

Kevin Gilbert Makaveli Brown

2023 Hall of Fame Finalist

Glenn “Mecca” Robinson Sr

Irvin Byrom Reggie Pete Kruez Harley

The Unforgettable Play

disease while caring for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s. The story will showcase the emotional toll on families, while emphasizing the importance of early detection and treatment and the benefits of clinical trial participation.

If you need assistance today, the Alzheimer’s Association offers free 45-minute online e-Learning classes. With over 20 topics to choose from, there is something for everyone. Perhaps you are a caregiver seeking to increase your caregiving skills and confidence, or a friend wanting to understand how

to support a neighbor living with the disease, or a life-long learner looking to expand your personal knowledge. You might even be an educator seeking opportunities for your students to earn extra credit outside the classroom. Each course provides a personal certificate of completion that may be downloaded. By increasing community awareness about brain health, we might help to shift mindsets and reduce stigmas and myths surrounding this disease. Check out our complete catalog of classes at alz.org/training, or for more information call the 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.

The People’s Report: CHAOS IN REPUBLICAN PARTY by Leon

Prather,

The Progressive Watchman

More Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – an estimated 6.5 million Americans. Older Black Americans are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than White Americans. Black Americans are less likely to receive a diagnosis. Further, when they are diagnosed, it is typically in the later stages of the disease, when their medical needs are greater.

To help raise awareness of the impact of Alzheimer’s on Black American communities, Gdavis Productions and Films, LLC and the Alzheimer’s Association have joined together to create a new stage play titled, Unforgettable, which is coming to The Black Academy of Arts and Letters in Dallas on February 18, 2023. You can reserve your free tickets at www. unforgettableplay.com.

This dynamic and unique stage play shines a spotlight on how one family navigates this devastating

See the system is broke, it’s a clown show no matter whether it’s the republican or democratic party. They can’t get it together either, it’s a straight up clown show, and we the peeps are the audience. See both sets of clowns are all the same for they went with President Biden to send 100’s of $Billions to the little high heel shoe dope smoking Ukrainian Nazi who commits GENOCIDE/ ETHNIC CLEANSING yet we preach democracy. What a joke, in the streets we say money talks…, so they show their true colors. We need to get off this label of I’m a democrat or I’m a republican because when they get to the corrupt clown circus in Washington DC, they show their true colors of being one in the same; wolves in sheep clothing. We must see the whole picture instead of linear straight-line sight thought process.

See the republican party is run by fake conservatives RINOS (republican in name only). It’s all game, and we the peeps are just spectators watching the reality show game like the Jerry Springer Show; and we the peeps are hollering and waving our arms wildly shouting; Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! As they laugh all the way to the bank lining their pockets. Where are the republicans’ efforts to help the American peeps. Let’s look at some things, they have zero efforts to open back up the keystone pipelines which cripples our economy, brings on high-cost inflation, high utilities, high food which is us the peeps. Zero effort in

our overseas underworld dealings which also affects us the peeps; zero effort to protect our own borders but will redirect 100’s of Billions of funds to Ukraine when Russia has never done anything to us directly or indirectly. 95% of what our government says about Russia is a lie but yet they supplied 30% of our fossil fuels on the east coast. Something is wrong with the narrative told to the peeps. They direct funds to Ukraine because the Sons of Perdition with the bankers crave all the natural resources that Russia whose country expands 11 time zones has. Then we holla democracy when we don’t have democracy over here but in fact, we are an imperialistic Republic. No wonder the BRIC, Middle East and African nations have banded together against the USA. Case in point they have Neocon war monger Kevin McCarthy who represents California the most mismanaged broke state in the USA wants to be the new speaker of the house since the republicans control the house of representatives now. He is a big spender, he believes in big government, he believes in war, he is a liar and a deceiver which comes from within his own party, he is endorsed from the hated Trumpster and y’all think the Trumpster is loved. Everything in Washington DC is fake if their lips are moving they are lying. See McCarthy is a follower of the Sons of Perdition, and their job is to destroy America and bring America to its knees so they can bring on the ‘One World Government’ and ‘One world currency’ therefore he is a follower of the beast. See the Trumpster wants to be a ‘SWAMP DRAINER’ but you can’t put the biggest alligator in the swamp in charge and this is why McCarthy can’t get elected he is just a male Nancy Pelosi swamp monster of the republican party. See the whole system is broken and it’s time to bring on a 3rd party. In the end all the shenanigans go to everything else except the peeps of America who are collateral damage in a jacked-up system.

Y’all don’t want to know the truth because you can’t handle the truth; but America will not be great again, that ship has sailed as Babylon the

The People’s Report: CHAOS IN REPUBLICAN PARTY by Leon

Prather,

The Progressive Watchmen (CONTINUED)

great harlot is on her last legs as the implosion of the US Dollar is in full swing especially in this Cat 7 Cyclone, we are in. See what gets me is the Democrats are being honest in their intent to implode America, but the republicans pose as sheep, promise everything to their constituents to get their followers to vote for them then they take payment to the enemy; as MAN IS INHERENTLY EVIL; NOTHING IS SACRED AND EVERYTHING IS AT RISK AS TRUST IS BEING WASHED AWAY BY THOSE WE TRUST as now the curses of disobedience in Deuteronomy 28:1533 are upon are nation because our

The People’s Report: STUCK ON STUPID by

Leon Prather, The Progressive

Watchman

leaders who we trust in all areas of our lives have rolled with the Sons of Perdition, some in the open like nasty filthy roaches and some roaches still behind the walls still in the dark as they all came to lie, steal, kill and destroy. How long not long but the fall will be televised for all to see. Even if you don’t believe in prophecy, it’s all math, physics and history which the peeps don’t know. It is what it is until the peeps stand up and say enough is enough. America is following the same path of every fallen empire. We will see civil disorder in 2024 through 2026. Chaos is in the air and war is in the air just like in Greek Mythology Eris the god of chaos and Aries the god of war. The only thing missing is mythology does not have a god being broke, busted, and disgusted which is where these Bozo’s the Clowns are taking us.

President Biden and Congressional leaders of both democrat and Republican parties thinks we are stuck on stupid. They just do stuff, and they get no lip service from the peeps or mainstream media, so they do what they do tell us anything. no grease. Hope y’all know your taxes went up 16.4% this January 3, 2023. They actually want you to believe that they only raised taxes on “greedy” corporations, or on the “evil” oil, gas, and coal

industries… and that these taxes will in NO WAY affect regular, working people. SIKE!!! They just added 16.4 cent increase on all oil based products. Yes that includes the gasoline we put in our cars, add $16.4 cents to every gallon you put in your car. Y’all do know that effects your food that you buy from the grocery store, your electricity, your heating oil are oil based delivery systems. Hope y’all know inflation is a hidden tax too. Let’s all shout in unison rolls downhill, that’s where you and I come in.

Now they give these act catchy names like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Omnibus Bill. I think their main things that both parties can agree on is catchy names of bills that actually do the opposite of the name. Another thing they just doubled government expenditures to $1.7 TRILLION, this does not include off the book stuff. Guess who pays for all of this? We the peeps. Guess who gets no benefits out of all of this? We the peeps. Guess who gets to lie all day about inflation numbers of 2022? The government. How many of ya’ll know the actual inflation rate from

food to transportation and everything in between of 2022 was 32.4% that’s a 4X more than their lying numbers, say. No wonder you can’t come up and 2023 wasn’t even here yet. Let’s look at it this way, if you think about the economy as a big pie, taxes are the government’s slice. So, whenever the government raises taxes, they’re trying to make their slice bigger, which makes everyone else’s slice smaller. See they don’t produce anything like businesses do, they are just the apex predators on the consumer side they just consume and devour and produce nothing. No wonder everyone wants to get into POLITRICKS, It’s legal plunder without going to jail, that’s how they operate. In fact, they never tire of inventing new ways to raise taxes and blow your money on the most idiotic things imaginable. Now most peeps with half a brain know they do lot of talking about how they hate big business, how they hate the rich but actually the rich and business don’t pay taxes because of tax incentives and credits which most of us don’t have a clue. Therefore, the government tends to think of taxpayers as dairy cows; we exist to be milked. See they will never do a flat tax, that’s too simple.

Here's something else the government has purposely been lying about reporting 1.1 million peeps not working therefore the unemployment rate is much higher of what’s been reporting; therefore, the job market is much weaker than what’s been reported. In addition, Then the Cleveland Fed said this “the Feds entire inflation view is wrong” relying on core inflation. Then the ST Louis Fed says we are in a recession has 27 states that are reporting negative growth. However, President Biden says we have a strong economy. Even the Republicans can’t agree on a new leader of the House of Representatives as the war monger Neocon Kevin McCarthy has been turned back six times. No wonder President Biden can keep sending arms, missiles and money to Ukraine as WW3 is right around the corner. I guess we as a country are really stuck on stupid.

The progressive Watchman --

Leon Prather

The Progressive Watchman -Leon Prather

Love Field Community Meeting Scheduled for January 17 at Aviation Property Building

About 1600 Pennsylvania St. Philip’s Community Center

programming. In 1967, following the accidental traffic death of a toddler in the neighborhood, the educational thrust began in earnest with the establishment of a daycare center. Over the years, as the original church began to wane, the daycare and community center blossomed.

The next quarterly meeting of Dallas Love Field's Good Neighbor Program is Tuesday, January 17 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held live, in-person at Aviation's Foxtronics Building.

Neighbors are encouraged to register for the meeting by clicking here. Registration is NOT required to attend the meeting, but assists DAL staff in planning.

At the meeting, DAL staff will give updates on airport projects and community engagement opportunities. Attendees will be able to participate in a Q&A session and are encouraged to submit questions in advance at the time of registration.

If you have any questions, please call the Love Field Airport Operations Center at 214-6705683 during regular business hours to be connected to a team member. Staff can also be reached by emailing LoveFieldGNP@ dallas.gov.

Dallas Love Field Good Neighbor Community Meeting

Tuesday, January 17, 2023 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Aviation Foxtronics Building 3448 West Mockingbird Lane 2nd Floor Dallas, TX 75235 REGISTRATION LINK

active interest of the Episcopal Diocese and local African-American Episcopalians to start a black Episcopal church in South Dallas in the late 1940s. In striving to fulfill the needs of the local community, the burgeoning church began offering programs specifically targeted to meet the needs of area youth. In 1959, church members, neighbors, and the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas continued to invest in the community through the construction of a new gymnasium to accommodate community center

Today St. Philip’s Community Center is enriching and empowering lives of hundreds of families, through essential social services, and continues to serve as a beacon of light in a community where many residents face quality of life obstacles unlike most others within the city of Dallas. Our doors are always open to feed, educate, comfort, and encourage the people of this community that has, for many years, been plagued by the darkness of poverty.

Please take some time to learn about the programs offered through our Community Center and to see how you may be able to get involved in St. Philip’s Community Center…. You Belong!

New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church

411 N. Hampton Rd. Desoto, TX (469)297-4771

Sunday Worship

Sunday School: 9:00 A.M.

Morning Worship: 10:30 A.M.

Wednesday

Mens & Women Ministry: 7:00 P.M. Young Adults Ministry: 7:00 P.M.

Carver Height Baptist Church

2510 E.Ledbetter Rd, Dallas, TX 75216 (214)371-2024

Sunday Worship

Sunday School: 8:30 A.M.

Morning Worship: 9:30 A.M.

Wednesday: 7:00 P.M.

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church

444 West Ledbetter Dr. , Dallas, TX 75224 (214)374-0828

Early Risers Sunday School

7:15 AM

Morning Worship: 7:50AM Sunday School: 9:30AM Morning Worship: 10:30 Tuesday Night Bible Study 7:00PM

New Leaf Family Church

1707 St. Augustine Dr. Dallas, TX 75217

**order of services**

Tues- 12 Noon & 7pm BibleStudy

Sunday School: 8am Sunday Praise & Worship: 9:30am

St. Paul Baptist Church

1600 Pear Street

Dallas, TX 75215

Phone: (214)421-3741 Fax: (214) 421-3926

Sunday School

9:30AM Service Times 8:00am and 10:45 am

Marsalis Missionary Baptist Church

411 N. 2723 S. Marsalis, Dallas, TX 75216 (214)943-6007

Sunday School: 9:00AM

Morning Worship:10:00AM Prayer & Praise Worship: 7:00PM

www.marsalisavenuebc.com

New El Bethel Baptist Church

2023 Mouser Ln Dallas, TX 75203

Sunday Service

9:30 AM – Church School 11:00 AM- Worship II Mountain Top Experience Wednesday Services 12:00PM - Noonday Prayer 6:30M - Corporate Prayer 7:00PM -Bible Study

Saved By Grace Restoration Ministries

1700 NW 7th Street

Oklahoma City, OK 405 537 1061

Sunday Morning Prayer 10:00 AM Service 11:00 AM Mon-Sat 7:00 AM Bible Study Monday Night 5:00PM - 6:00PM School of Ministry 6:00PM - 6:30PM

Greater Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church

1010 Bayonne St., Dallas, Tx (214)744-1677

Morning Glory: 7:45AM Sunday School: 9:15AM Morning Worship: 10:30AM

Bible Study: 7:00PM

The “Exciting” Singing Hill Baptist Church 6550 University Hills Blvd, Dallas, TX 75241

Main: (214)375-5952

Fax: (214)371-1611

Sunday Worship: 8AM-10:45AM

Sunday School: 9:45AM

Wednesday Night: 7:00PM

Pilgrim

Rest Missionary Baptist Church

1819 n. Washington Ave., Dallas, TX 75204

Phone : (214)823-7308 Fax : (214)823.9720

Sunday: 10AM

Sunday School: 9AM http://www.pilgrimrestdallas.org/ Pastor Carlos D. Williams

Greater Emmanuel Baptist Church

2110 E. Eleventh St. Dallas, TX 75203 (214)942-0218

Sunday Service 10:00AM

Wednesday Daytime Bible Study/Prayer: 11AM Evening Bible Study/Prayer Dinner Served: 5:30 PM Prayer: 6:30PM Bible Study: 7PM Pastor Rev BurleyHudson

Friendship West Baptist Church

2110 E. 2020 W. Wheatland Rd. Dallas, TX 75232 (972)228-5200

Sun Morning Services 8:00AM & 10:45AM

Wednesday Bible Study 12:00PM & 7:00PM Pastor FrederickD.Haynes,

Divine Inspiration Missionary Baptist Church 4325 W. Ledbetter Dr, Dallas, TX 75233 (214)337-1713

Sunday School: 9:15AM Morning Worship: 10:30AM

Grace of God Baptist Church 601 N Hampton Rd, DeSoto, TX 75115

Phone: (972) 274-1074

Pastor Darrell W. Pryor Pastor Rev Daryl Carter

Pastoral Bible Teaching Class Pastor Rev Micheal D. Pryor

Pastor / Founder : Dr. Corey C. Toney / Clarette L. Toney-First Lady

Pastor Rev Lelious A. Johnson

Pastor Rev Terry White

Pastor Dr. Timothy J Brown

Pastor Rev Ned Armstrong

Pastor Dr. H.E. Anderson

Navigating Breast Cancer Treatment as a Black Woman

By Kaitlin Sullivan

When Asha Miller was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer 4 years ago, she couldn’t find the support she needed as a Black woman going through the experience. So she created it.

kitchen and asked what was wrong,” Miller remembers. “It was so surreal, it felt like a dark joke to say, ‘I have breast cancer.”

For years, she says, she had donned pink and participated in cheerful walks for breast cancer. Now that she had the disease, she found it was nothing to cheer about. Nor were these events particularly meaningful for her. “People think they know the breast cancer world because of these big conglomerates who organize races with names like Save the Tatas,” she says. “I did that before I had cancer.”

Bias, and a Dearth of Information for Black Women

What Miller wanted was a support group that she could relate to. But she couldn’t find one. She didn’t feel represented as a Black woman or in her emotions, or feel that she would be able to get the type of support she needed. Miller also wasn’t ready to hear other stories face-to-face yet, which she knew she’d experience if she joined a support group.

man.

“He was shocked by how I was treated,” she says.

When she started radiation, it burned the skin on her chest, causing her skin to peel off on her sheets. But when she searched for pictures of what radiation does to brown skin, she found only hundreds of photos of white skin with red marks. Even her doctors told her her skin would turn red, which isn’t the case for Black women.

“Mine was Black and my skin was falling off,” she says.

Miller didn’t have a person to turn to for answers.

Finding the Support She Needed Instead, she scanned social media and followed people from an organization called The Breasties she had heard about through a friend.

She found more people like her — who had dark skin like hers and who were sharing the real, raw stories of their cancer experiences. At a time when she wasn’t yet ready to hear these stories in person, she was able to read them online and relate to them in the privacy of her own space. “That was huge for me,” she says. “That’s when I felt safe in a community and seen and heard.”

On Instagram, she shares stories of her own experiences, such as learning to flush twice after using the bathroom while on chemo, to avoid anyone else coming into contact with the chemicals the body leeches while undergoing chemotherapy, as well as wiping down the shower and being careful about sweating for the same reason. She made sure people of color would have access to photos and information about what they could expect from cancer treatment, which she had a difficult time finding at the beginning of her own diagnosis.

Today, Miller is cancer free. In addition to building a community on Instagram, she’s on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee of The Breasties and encourages health professionals to educate themselves about structural racism in healthcare.

She’s also a regular guest on cancer-focused podcasts, speaks at conferences, and was the spokesperson who debuted Target’s mastectomy swimwear line. Most recently, she’s directing a film about body image issues and how others have learned to love their bodies after feeling betrayed by cancer.

Miller uses each medium as a way to change the breast cancer support landscape for the better.

A few years ago, Miller was speaking at the Stupid Cancer conference when she shared with those in the crowd — many who have had cancer or were currently going through it — her philosophy about the word survivor versus the word veteran.

Asha Miller doesn’t use the word survivor to describe her experience with stage 3 breast cancer. She uses the word veteran.

“I use the word veteran because it feels more authentic to me,” says Miller. “In our community, we are constantly getting phone calls or seeing on social media when another one of us passes away and we have to go back to that traumatic experience. Many of us are diagnosed with PTSD.”

Miller was diagnosed in 2017, when she was just 33 and in the best shape of her life.

When she found a tiny, almost undetectable lump under her right armpit, she didn’t expect it to be anything to worry about. When the doctor called with her biopsy results, she was stunned.

“At that moment I felt like I had lost my body. I completely detached. I hung up the phone and didn’t realize I had begun to scream until my 8-year-old son walked into the

And at that time, what Miller really wanted was to know more about what to expect from cancer treatment beyond a bald head. Chemo was difficult, and when she asked for help from the medical community, she was met with distrust and racism and accused of drug seeking.

The chemo drug Miller was on, called Taxol (paclitaxel), has a known side effect of bone pain. Taking Taxol along with other drugs for her cancer treatment made the bone pain even worse.

But when she brought this up with her oncologist, she didn’t believe Miller. Looking back, she wishes her doctor had taken the time to explain this to her, but instead, she accused her of fishing for addictive pain medication.

Miller had brought her mother to that meeting with her oncologist, knowing the importance of having an advocate. Other times she had brought her husband, who is a white

“There were certain Breasties in the community who were Black and when I started to follow their pages, I saw real photos of women of color and their radiation burns. When you turn to Google and you type in mastectomy scars or radiation burns, we don’t come up,” she says.

Shortly after that, she made the first in-person connection that shifted her perspective. She met a young breast cancer survivor who understood her particular sense of humor and didn’t make her feel that she had to put on a happy face. “She just sat with me and laughed with me when I made dark jokes because she was like, ‘I’ve made them, too,’” says Miller. Feeling that sense of comaraderie made her think that, if one person could do that for her, maybe she could do it for others.

She started an Instagram account, @dearcancer_itsme, to show people what going through cancer was actually like. She also joined organizations — such as The Breasties — that offer resources for BIPOC people who have breast cancer.

“I wanted to find pictures of people who looked like me, and know about what helped them when their hair started coming back,” says Miller.

After having her pain dismissed, Miller asked her radiologist to recommend a new doctor to manage her care. “I said I need someone who is a person of color and I need them to be straightforward with me,” she says.

It wasn’t until she started seeing a person of color that she started getting information about how cancer treatment may work differently in Black women — how they may cause different side effects and how those side effects are not uncommon.

“I had never heard any doctor specify that anything in my treatment would be different because I am a Black woman. I know that doctors are human, they make mistakes, but they also have their own biases so we have to keep that in mind. They don’t necessarily get taught in medical school about the different types of skins,” Miller says.

Creating the Community She Needed

At the end of the session, she overheard conversations throughout the room. People were referring to themselves as veterans, too.

“I started crying because so many people related to it,” she says.

Resources We Love

Not all resources are created equally, and no one organization is one-sizefits-all. If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer or know someone who has been, here are some organizations that stand out to us as being exceptional resources for women of color. They’re all great places to start.

The Breasties

The Breasties run the Pink Is Not The Problem Campaign, which Miller helped create. It takes on pink-washing (companies that make misleading claims about supporting cancer groups) in the breast cancer industry and helps people who want to donate make sure they know what their funds are being used for.

For the Breast of Us

Jasmine Dionne Souers and Marissa

For Your Health with Debra Blair Abron- “I’m No Doctor Or A Dietician’ But What I Learn I Will Share.”

Asha Miller with her daughter, Daniella (left), and her son, Darius.

Lauren Shelton Photography; Canva

Navigating Breast Cancer Treatment as a Black Woman

By Kaitlin Sullivan (CONTINUED)

Thomas created For the Breast of Us as an antidote to the issues they both faced fighting breast cancer — from diagnosis to remission. They have a growing archive of breast cancer stories from women of color that have shaped a community. The site also includes resources including a list of clinical trials for metastatic breast cancer.

Touch BBCA

Ricki Fairley is a triple-negative breast cancer thriver. She’s the creator of Touch, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance (BBCA), an organization that not only creates a community specifically for Black women battling breast cancer, but also engages with pharmaceutical companies, healthcare workers, and researchers to address the disparities in cancer treatment, research, and detection that undermine Black women’s survival.

Coils to Locs

Breast cancer veteran Dianne Austin started Coils to Locs with her sister after Austin realized there were almost no resources for natural hair wigs in the breast cancer space. Their goal is to ease the trauma of hair loss during cancer treatment and bring badly needed natural hair wigs to hospitals, clinics, and select wig shops.

Podcasts

Here’s a full list of breast cancer podcasts we think stand out. Asha Miller has been featured in episodes of several of our favorites:

• Sips With Survivors: Miller talks more about how and why she created new community in the breast cancer space.

• Dear Cancer, I’m Beautiful: Miller talks radical body love post-cancer.

• Interlude: Miller details her own experience with medical racism and discusses racism and biases that prevent BIPOC patients from getting the care they need.

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National Council of Negro Women is a Washington, D.C.based charitable organization making a difference in the lives of women, children, and families through a four-pronged strategy that emphasizes entrepreneurship, health equity, STEAM education, and social justice. Founded 86 years ago, NCNW has 330 community and campus-based

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