Houston Style Magazine Vol 33 No 16

Houston Style Magazine Magazine April 14, 2022 - April 20, 2022

Volume 33 | Number 16

Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication, Since 1989

Complimentary

Jesse Jackson

People of Color In America MUST Get Out and Vote!

State of Black America:

UNDER SIEGE – THE PLOT TO DISTROY DEMOCRACY

Jalen R. Green

Ready to Shed 'Rookie' Label With Houston Rockets

Marc H. Morial photo courtesy – National Urban League

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100 Black Men of Houston: Life After HS Sports

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Suits For Success Event Makes Big Impact

Mayor Sylvester Turner

One Safe Houston Plan to Combat Violent Crime

Style Haute Shots

N E W S | C O M M E N TA R I E S | S P O R T S | H E A LT H | E N T E R TA I N M E N T Support Black Owned Businesses

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Publisher Francis Page, Jr. fpagejr@stylemagazine.com Associate Publisher Lisa Valadez lisa@stylemagazine.com Managing Editor Jo-Carolyn Goode editorial@stylemagazine.com Social Media Editor/Videographer Reginald Dominique reggiedominique@me.com Sports Editor Brian Barefield

brian_barefield@yahoo.com Food Writer Alex Jack

alexandriajack1991@gmail.com NATIONAL WRITERS

Jesse Jackson jjackson@rainbowpush.org Roland Martin www.rolandmartin.com Judge Greg Mathis www.askjudgemathis.com

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Vicky Pink vhpink@gmail.com William Ealy Williamealy1906@gmail.com Mike Munoz artrepreneur91@gmail.com Robert Franklin editorial@stylemagazine.com

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April 14, 2022 - April 20, 2022

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COMMENTARY

PEOPLE OF COLOR MUST GET OUT AND VOTE!

By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer

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epublicans are already gloating about the elections coming this fall. With Joe Biden lagging in the polls, Trump's Big Lie rousing the Republican base, inflation distracting from the remarkable jobs recovery, Democrats look to be in trouble. Much can change in the months left before the election -and one central question is whether increased registration and voting among African Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans will begin to turn more districts and more states blue, particularly those in the South.

Here Georgia provides the model. In Georgia, a remarkable 95 percent of eligible voting age citizens are registered to vote. This is primarily the result of the state deciding to automatically register citizens when they obtain their driver's license.

(There are, sadly, still more than 250,000 citizens, disproportionately people of color, who are barred from voting because they are incarcerated or on parole or felony probation.)

In Georgia, over two-thirds of voting age citizens cast a ballot in the presidential election of 2020. Voter participation was up across lines of race and education. Over 60 percent of eligible people of color voted. That turnout was due in no small part to the year-round organizing that came out of the Stacey Abrams Georgia Project during and after her run for governor in 2018. The project mobilized efforts to reach voters in their homes, educate them about how to vote and what is at stake, and helped turn their vote out for the election.

Can that energy and program be replicated in other states where Black, Latino and Asian American voters can make a difference? Consider in Arkansas, less that 43 percent of eligible people of color cast ballots in 2020 (that was down from 52.9 percent in 2016). That compared to over 51 percent of non-college white voters casting ballots and nearly 72 percent of college educated white voters. Arkansas has the lowest turnout of any state in the union, and not by accident. As Janine Parry, a political science professor at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville,

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noted: "Arkansas for 200 years has designed a system to produce low voter turnout and that system has worked exactly as designed." Similar disparities were seen in South Carolina, where 52 percent of eligible people of color cast ballots in 2020 -- down from 63 percent in 2016, and elsewhere across the South.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) which traditionally has focused its money and energy on so-called "swing voters" while slighting its base voters, now says it has gotten the message. It claims it will run a multi-million-dollar effort to replicate the Georgia efforts of on-theground organizing, hiring local community organizers, launching targeted ad campaigns, as well as voter protection and education programs, and efforts to counter disinformation efforts that marked the last election.

Engaging those who are not registered or do not vote is not easy. They tend to be working people who are struggling to make ends meet and have little time or energy for politics. They also tend to be people who are skeptical about whether an election can make any different in their lives.

If successful, however, the effort can make a difference -- in both congressional and statewide elections, particularly in states in the South where participation has been low.

Republicans understand this. When Barack Obama's candidacies raised Black turnout significantly, Republicans at the state level, aided by Supreme Court decisions that weakened the Voting Rights Law, started passing laws to make registration and voting more difficult, targeting Black voters particularly. After the record turnout of 2020, that effort was redoubled -- with Republican legislatures passing laws to cut back on early voting, limit mail ballots, reduce polling stations, add various voter ID impediments. They did this even though the whiteBlack turnout gap has grown since Obama's last run in 2012. In 2020, that gap was the highest in a presidential election since 1996.

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Georgia gubernatorial Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams speaks during a campaign rally on March 14, 2022, in Atlanta Photo Getty

Traditionally, the turnout of voters that form the core of the Democratic Party base -- African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, single women, the young -- drops sharply in non-presidential election years, like 2022. That -- plus Biden's weak approval numbers -- are largely why Republicans believe they will sweep to control the Congress this fall.

If people of color react to the insult of targeted efforts to discourage our voting, if Democrats actually invest in community organizers and yearround efforts to engage the disengaged, if the young rally against those who ignore the threats posed by climate change, and spiraling college and health care costs, then unexpected turnout can change the course.

When Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act in 1965, he reportedly told aides that while this was the right thing to do, Democrats would lose the South for a generation. His prediction came true, for far more than a generation. The Republican Party

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anchored itself on white resentment in the South, perfecting race-bait politics to divide and distract working people, and voter suppression schemes to limit the voting power of people of color. Now however, the party of diversity is the majority party -- if its supporters are registered and come out to vote. If that happens, 2022 may just be the beginning of a new era of reform, rather than a turning away from it. jjackson@rainbowpush.org.

Follow him on Twitter @RevJJackson

For more information visit:

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3/28/22 6:27 PM

POLITICAL: ATTACKS ON VOTING RIGHTS AREN'T SLOWING DOWN AND BLACK AMERICANS ARE IN THE CROSSHAIRS

By Maya Brown, CNN.com – CNN/Stylemagazine.com Newswire

Voting registration stand is seen during the hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters congregate at the City Hall in 2020 in New York. (Getty Images.)

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ome Republicans and far-right groups' attacks on voting rights and American democracy are making it harder for Black people to achieve racial equality, according to a new report from the National Urban League.

The civil rights organization on Tuesday released its annual State of Black America report, titled "Under Siege: The Plot to Destroy Democracy."

Among other things, the findings showed the social and economic status of Black Americans; how African Americans felt about social justice issues; and revealed the various tactics that make it harder for Black people to vote.

Citing a record number of voters from communities of color using mail-in ballots and early voting, the authors say partisan politicians in state legislatures around the country have drafted bills and passed laws making it harder for Black Americans to vote and they see no signs of the effort slowing down.

"Historic voter turnout in the 2020 election sparked the beginning of one of the most insidious partisan attacks on voting rights in American history," the authors of the report write.

Marc Morial, the president and CEO of

the National Urban League, told CNN that without the right to vote for Black people, racial equity cannot be achieved.

"If we don't have the right to vote for officials who share the concerns of our community, we have no voice," he said. "We have no say and American democracy is undermined. We will fight to protect American democracy and the right to vote until hell freezes over."

Before 2020, absentee voting was neither controversial nor subject to legislative attack, according to the report.

"Republicans passed no-excuse absentee voting in Georgia in 2005." And as recently as 2019, broad bipartisan majorities expanded access to absentee voting in Pennsylvania. But "after 2020, the first year that nonwhite voters began relying on mail voting in large numbers, mail voting became the subject of intense and politicized scrutiny across America," the authors wrote.

In Georgia, for example, nearly 30% of Black voters cast their ballots by mail, compared to 24% of White voters — a reversal from past behaviors.

More than 1.3 million Georgians voted absentee.

In 2021, 19 states passed 34 laws making it harder for Black people to vote by making mail-in voting more difficult, imposing strict signature requirements and reducing polling place availability, according to the report. The report also reveals that this year, 18 states have already carried over at least 152 restrictive bills from the previous legislative session.

Combating the assault on voting rights should be the number one priority for Black Americans to ensure challenges and disparities that Black Americans face are dealt with from the ground up, Morial told CNN. The National Urban League worked with Benenson Strategy Group and conducted about 1,674 interviews online earlier this March among people living in the United States from ages 18 and older to get insight on the issues that Black Americans face.

The Urban League marked the report's release with a special launch event Tuesday that brought together the group's leaders, members of Congress, civil rights activists, as well as the next generation of leaders.

The civil rights organization chose to host event at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta because

they say Georgia is ground zero for voter suppression.

"Even with our rich civil rights legacy and progress, Georgia right now is ground zero for the fight to protect our democracy," Nancy Flake Johnson, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta said Tuesday. "We are embracing the task of re-educating voters on the power, the history, the privilege and the urgency of now for voting."

At the launch event, Mayor of Atlanta Andre Dickens stressed the importance of voting in the upcoming election.

"Our state was just one of 49 states where legislation was introduced over the last year that will restrict access to the ballot box," Dickens said. "Remember that it is imperative that we remain politically engaged and active. This is the way we will move our city forward."

For more information visit:

www.CNN.com

BUSINESS: CADILLAC CT5-V BLACKWING 120TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

By StyleMagazine.com Newswire

2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing 120th Anniversary Edition. All proceeds will be donated to benefit STEM education. (Photos Courtesy of Cadillac)

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his year marks the 120th Anniversary of the Cadillac brand. To celebrate, Cadillac is proud to expand the Collector’s Series with the introduction of the 2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing 120th Anniversary Edition.

The 120th Anniversary Edition is limited to 120 cars, each uniquely numbered with a year in Cadillac’s history. Car 1902, the first in this new Collector’s Series, represents the founding year of Cadillac.

The opportunity to own the first 120th Anniversary Edition raised $250,000 at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction. Cadillac donated the full hammer price to the SAE Foundation, whose goal is to increase access to world-class STEM experiences for students around the world. As they do with all charity sales, Barrett-Jackson waived all fees and commissions for the auction of Car 1902.

“Everyone at Cadillac is thrilled with this auction result. We proudly support the SAE Founda-

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tion and are grateful to Barrett-Jackson for providing this opportunity,” said Rory Harvey, vice president, Global Cadillac. “We will help create a new sustainability focused challenge for high-school students across the country, as well as provide hands-on immersive STEM learning for students in under-resourced communities.”

The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing 120th Anniversary Edition celebrates Cadillac’s 120-year heritage as an iconic luxury brand, with exclusive features that make each vehicle a one-of-one creation “The second edition of the Collector’s Series celebrates storytelling and craftsmanship for the discerning individual,” said Brandon Vivian, Cadillac executive chief engineer. “The 120th Anniversary of Cadillac is represented by unique content celebrating each individual year in the 120 years of Cadillac innovation.”

Henry Leland founded Cadillac in 1902, and his expertise in advanced machining revolu-

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tionized the auto industry to establish the brand as the Standard of the World. Through the decades, Cadillac defined new standards in design, technological innovation and quality to cement its status as an American luxury icon.

Bred to perform on and off the track Leveraging the brand’s championship-winning racing heritage to create the most track-capable Cadillacs ever built, the V-Series Blackwing models represent the pinnacle of Cadillac performance, technology and craftsmanship.

The CT5-V Blackwing is the most powerful and fastest Cadillac production model in history — with a top track speed of more than 200 mph — while the CT4-V Blackwing is the most powerful and fastest-ever Cadillac subcompact.

Under their hoods, the CT5-V Blackwing uses an upgraded and hand-assembled 6.2L supercharged V-8 rated at 668 horsepower (498 kW) and 659 lb-ft of torque (893 Nm), while an evolution of

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the Cadillac 3.6L Twin-Turbo V-6 drives the CT4-V Blackwing, rated at 472 hp (352 kW) and 445 lb-ft of torque (603 Nm).

Every V-Series Blackwing offers a standard six-speed manual gearbox or an available 10-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission. Both models also feature advanced, extensively track- and road-tested high-performance braking systems. The CT5-V Blackwing features the largest factory-installed brakes in Cadillac history, along with an available lightweight carbon-ceramic brake package that offers weight savings, durability and heat management

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STATE: BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, MEXICAN GOVERNORS URGE ABBOTT TO END INSPECTIONS THAT HAVE BOGGED DOWN BORDER TRADE

By Texas Tribune/StyleMagazine.com Newswire

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A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper inspects a commercial truck at a station in Brownsville. (Photo Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune)

he Biden administration on Wednesday criticized Gov. Greg Abbott’s deputization of state troopers to inspect commercial vehicles crossing the U.S.-Mexico border at selected ports — an initiative that has caused extensive delays and threatens the country’s pandemic-stressed supply chains.

“Governor Abbott’s unnecessary and redundant inspections of trucks transiting ports of entry between Texas and Mexico are causing significant disruptions to the food and automobile supply chains, delaying manufacturing, impacting jobs, and raising prices for families in Texas and across the country,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.

Psaki’s statement comes as Abbott is slated to have a meeting and press event with Samuel Alejandro García

Sepúlveda — the Mexican governor of Nuevo León, the state that includes a section of the border near Laredo — later Wednesday afternoon.

García said Tuesday that he had come to an agreement with Abbott that the governor would lift his extra level of inspections as long as no immigration violations occurred, according to KGNSTV. But an agreement with García’s state alone would provide little relief.

The Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge is the only commercial border crossing between Texas and Nuevo León. Other Mexican border states, such as Tamaulipas south of the Rio Grande Valley, Coahuila south of Del Rio and Eagle Pass, and Chihuahua south of El Paso, have many more commercial crossings with Texas.

A Tuesday letter from the governors of Tamaulipas and Coahuila — whose territories include large chunks of the U.S.-Mexico border — said the inspections “are creating havoc and economic pain on both sides of the border” and that “what we have today is a no-win situation for anyone.”

“This policy will ultimately increase consumer costs in an already record 40-year inflated market — holding the border hostage is not the answer,” the letter said.

Commercial vehicles crossing into the United States from Mexico are having to wait hours as a result of Abbott’s new initiative while state troopers are supposed to check each one that crosses select border ports. The state inspection of vehicles comes after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials

check them first at the port of entry.

The Texas Department of Public Safety has never checked every commercial vehicle entering Texas from Mexico, and it is unclear how thoroughly state troopers are inspecting the vehicles.

Earlier this week, commercial traffic halted at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge — the busiest trade crossing in the Rio Grande Valley, which handles $60 million to $70 million in American imports daily of produce and goods from Mexico — when Mexican truckers blocked traffic in protest of the inspections.

For more Information visit: www.TexasTribune.org

You can help prevent

CHILD ABUSE Be the voice for those who can’t speak up for themselves.

If you see or suspect ANY abusive behavior of a minor, call the Texas Family and Protective Services at 1-800-252-5400

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April 14, 2022 - April 20, 2022

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NATIONAL: NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE REPORT FINDS THAT THE STATE OF BLACK AMERICA – IS GRIM

By Michael Warren - APNews.com

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Civil rights leader Marc Morial speaks about the 2017 State of Black America report, in Washington. | Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo

hen The National Urban League re-

leased its annual report on the State of Black America on Tuesday, and its findings are grim. This year’s Equality Index shows Black people still get only 73.9% of the American pie white people enjoy.

In other words, more than a quarter of the American pie is missing for Black folks in order to achieve full equality enjoyed by white Americans.

While Black people have made economic and health gains, they’ve slipped further behind white people in education, social justice and civic engagement since this index was launched in 2005. A compendium of average outcomes by race in many aspects of life, it shows just how hard it is for people of color to overcome systemic racism, the civil rights organization says.

"These numbers change so little

and so slowly. What it tells me is that this institutional disparity based on race seems to be built into American society,” National Urban League President Marc Morial said in an interview.

The index shows not only that the median household income for Black people, at $43,862, is 37% less than that of white people, at $69,823. Black people also are less likely to benefit from home ownership, the engine of generational wealth in America. Census data shows Black couples are more than twice as likely as their white counterparts to be denied a mortgage or a home improvement loan, which leads to just 59% of the median home equity white households have, and just 13% of their wealth.

“In that area of wealth, we’ve seen almost no change, none, since the civil rights days,” Morial said. “The wealth disparity has gotten wider.”

Among dozens of health measures, one stands out: Life expectancy has declined slightly for African Americans, so a Black child born today can expect to live to 74.7, four years less than a white baby.

And lifelong inequities loom: Black wom-

en are 59% more likely to die as a result of bearing a child, and 31% more likely to die of breast cancer. Black men are 52% more likely to die of prostate cancer.

Overdoses afflict the races about equally, while white people are 55% more likely to drink themselves to death through cirrhosis or chronic liver disease. Among people 15-24, white people are more than twice as likely to kill themselves, while Black men are nine times more likely to die by homicide.

Educational gaps abound: Black and white preschoolers are roughly equally prepared, but the classrooms they enter are starkly different. Schools with more minority students are more likely to have inexperienced, less trained and even uncertified teachers. Fewer of these students are enrolled in the STEM classes that can lead to higher-paying jobs. Black students are less likely to graduate from college.

The index uses U.S. Justice Department statistics to chart social justice differences, noting that Black people have been more than twice as likely as white people to experience threats or uses of force during police encounters, and three times more likely

to be jailed if arrested. In 2020, they were 93% more likely to be victims of hate crimes.

Measuring civic engagement, the index cites 2020 census data showing that white people are about 5% more likely to be registered and to actually vote than Black people.

Morial chose to release the report in Atlanta, where a concentration of historically Black colleges have long represented high achievement among African Americans, in part because its survey shows a declining faith among young people that voting can make a difference. The Urban League is responding by launching a “Reclaim Your Vote” campaign.

“Georgia is ground zero for voter suppression," Morial said. The legislature’s actions after Jan. 6 have been sweeping in their aggressiveness to suppress the vote.

We've got to remain resolute, to push back against this. We cannot give in. We cannot give up.”

For more information visit:

www. APNews.com

LOCAL: HOUSTON NATIVE MERITORIOUSLY ADVANCED ABOARD OLDEST COMMISSIONED WARSHIP AFLOAT: USS CONSTITUTION

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Grant Grady, USS Constitution Public Affairs

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ouston, Texas, native, Petty Officer 3rd Class Jennifer Martinez was meritoriously advanced to the rank of third class petty officer aboard USS Constitution, April 5.

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April 14, 2022 - April 20, 2022

The Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP) allows U.S. Navy commands to promote their highest performing Sailors immediately in recognition of their superior performance.

“It was a very wholesome moment,” said Martinez.

Martinez has served in the Navy for one year and Constitution is her first duty station. She serves as an aviation structural mechanic.

Martinez is a 2020 graduate of North Shore Senior High School.

USS Constitution, is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855.

The active-duty Sailors stationed aboard USS Constitution normally provide free tours and offer public visitation to more than 600,000 people each year as they support the ship’s mission of promot-

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ing the Navy’s history, maritime heritage, and raising awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence.

USS Constitution was undefeated in battle and captured or destroyed 33 enemy vessels.

The ship earned the nickname of Old Ironsides during the war of 1812 after British cannonballs were seen bouncing off the ship’s wooden hull. .

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LOCAL: HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE’S BLACK COLLEAGUE NETWORK PARTNERS WITH TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY TO HELP STUDENTS DRESS FOR SUCCESS

By StyleMagazine.com Newswire

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HCA Houston Healthcare’s

n honor of Black History Month, members of HCA Houston Healthcare’s The Voice Black Colleague Network organized a professional clothing drive in February to support students attending Texas Southern University (TSU), one of the nation’s largest historically black universities.

All 13 HCA Houston Healthcare hospitals participated in the donation drive for new or gently used professional business attire that could be placed in TSU’s Dress for Success Clothing Closet, which allows students to shop for interview attire at no cost, easing the financial burden that might be felt by some to look and feel their best for internship and job interviews.

Over 1,000 new or gently used items were donated by HCA Houston Healthcare colleagues from across the Greater Houston area from Conroe to Pearland, including suits, ties, dress shirts, slacks, skirts, shoes and other accessories.

Several members of The Voice Black Colleague Network collected and sorted the donations and assisted in hand-delivering the items to the university on March 9. Items that did not fit the business attire requirement were donated to other local agencies.

“We are so proud of the numerous colleagues who rallied behind this effort and I sincerely thank The Voice committee leaders and volunteers for coordinating such a successful drive,” said Shannon Bradley, assistant vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at HCA Houston Healthcare. “Community engagement, mentorship and workforce development are key focus areas for HCA Houston Healthcare and this initiative allows us to address multiple goals.

These types of resources are essential to students’ overall success and I’m glad we can play a role in their professional development.”

“We are ecstatic about our partnership with HCA Houston Healthcare, which gives our students access, exposure

and internship and career opportunities,” said Andreaus Boise, TSU’s director of career and professional development. “TSU offers numerous healthcare-related programs including the College of Pharma-

cy and Health Services and our students get an opportunity to interact with HCA Houston Healthcare professionals through speaking engagements, resume-writing sessions and interviewing skills workshops. Students also learn about career pathways and are better prepared to apply for jobs with our partners because of the exposure to professionals and opportunities within their fields of study.”

TSU offers the Dress for Success Clothing Closet along with a Food Pantry in their Tiger Market, supported by the Dean of Students Office. The Dress for Success program launched right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, but quickly closed for nearly a year and a half due to the social distancing and other safety precautions put into place. TSU is located in Houston’s Third Ward, which has been classified as a food desert. Addi-

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tionally, many students are limited on resources to purchase new attire for internship and job interviews, which is why the Clothing Closet is such a helpful resource.

“TSU also partners with Dress for Success Houston and Career Gear Houston, but the on-campus store is extremely convenient for students who don’t have the time or the means to travel to those locations. This generous donation from HCA Houston Healthcare employees, helps keep the Clothing Closet wellstocked with a variety of items,” Boise added.

For more information visit:

www.TSU.edu

April 14, 2022 - April 20, 2022

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LOCAL: MAYOR TURNER AND CITY COUNCIL APPROVE HISTORIC PAID PARENTAL LEAVE POLICY FOR CITY EMPLOYEES

By StyleMagazine.com Newswire

Mayor Sylvester Turner, city council members and HOPE and SEIU representatives

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arking a historic day in the city of Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner and City Council unanimously approved a paid parental leave policy for municipal employees.

Beginning May 14, 2022, eligible employees can request paid parental leave instead of relying only on saved vacation time or unpaid leave after the birth or adoption of a child.

The new policy covers any person who has been with the City of Houston as a full-time employee for at least six continuous months before the initial use of the paid leaves

for prenatal, parental and/or infant wellness. Part-time and temporary employees are not eligible.

"All of our employees, male and female, can benefit from what we did today. By offering paid, prenatal, parental, and infant wellness leaves, the City of Houston will be able to attract and retain top talent while supporting families and children," Mayor Turner said. "As a father, I understand the importance of bonding with a newborn, and I also listened to the stories of employees who have struggled to balance work with the birth or adoption of a child."

The mayor extended his thanks to everyone who worked to create and pass the policy, including city council members, especially District C Abbie Kamin, who spearheaded the Houston Women's Commission, and Chief of Staff Marvalette Hunter. Mayor Turner also thanked Human Resources Director Jane Cheeks, Finance Director Tantri Emo, City Attorney Arturo Michel, and their respective teams. Members of HOPE and SEIU also supported the new policy.

"I want to acknowledge Mayor Turner for his leadership and the work of so many," said Councilmember Kamin. "Working women can be pregnant, be moms, and do anything. We have rights and needs, and we should not be afraid to seek accommodations. For far too long, there has been a stigma around the very real emotional, phycological and physical challenges of pregnancy that carry far beyond a delivery room. Today we're ensuring that no one has to choose between a paycheck and caring for themselves or their family."

"It is a great day in the city of Houston. We should

have done this many years ago. I congratulate the wave of women on the city council who rallied behind this issue and helped push us from the five-yard line and across the goal post.

This is a wonderful policy that will benefit not just women but all parents working for the City of Houston for many years to come." said Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Martin.

"These policies are good for the city, its employees, and their children. Paid leave is linked to better health outcomes for parents and children and the retention of employees.

In this case, what's beneficial for the City of Houston and its employees and their children is also good for employers and families in the city of Houston. The Women's Commission asks all employers in the city of Houston to follow this example and invest in its employees as the city has," said Beth Matusoff Merfish, chair of the Houston Women's Commission.

"As we work to build a 21st-century workforce, we must remain competitive and responsive to working families' needs. This policy, along with other progressive measures we are taking designed to capitalize on technology, creates a better work environment and paves the way for the city of Houston to lead the way in being a good place to work, stay and retire," Mayor Turner said.

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LOCAL: MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES ARE PART OF MAYOR'S ONE SAFE HOUSTON PLAN TO COMBAT VIOLENT CRIME

By StyleMagazine.com Newswire

M

Mayor Sylvester Turner photo courtesy of Quana Smith, Coalition for the Homeless

ayor Sylvester Turner and City Council passed three ordinances today that will allocate City of Houston American Rescue Act Plan (ARPA) funding into behavioral health programs that are intended to assist the Houston Police Department when handling mental health crisis calls.

The Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) and Crisis Call Diversion Program (CCD), Crisis Intervention Re-

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sponse Teams (CIRT), and Clinician Officer Remote Evaluation (CORE) are part of One Safe Houston, the Mayor's public safety initiative to combat violent crime and part of the City’s effort to allocate $21 million of funding into mental health and domestic violence prevention initiatives.

Mobile Crisis Outreach Team – an interdisciplinary mobile team comprised of psychiatrists, registered nurses,

April 14, 2022 - April 20, 2022

and licensed clinicians specializing in crisis intervention and rapid response. Within MCOT, there will be the Crisis Call Diversion Program, a 24-hour coverage program aimed at diverting mental health crisis calls that are non-criminal/non-violent to counselors and community mental health providers rather than sending first responders to investigate. (Approximately $12.6 million approved today) Crisis Intervention Response Teams – a specialized program that pairs a mental health clinician with a law enforcement partner. (Approximately $2.4 million approved today for Subrecipient Agreement between the City of Houston and The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD) Clinician Officer Remote Evaluation – a telehealth strategy for responding to mental health crisis calls using a tablet and a HIPAA-approved technology platform to connect a law enforcement first responder with a mental health clinician in the community at the time of the 911 dispatch. (Approximately $2.5 million approved today)

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“Widespread social anxiety and mental health concerns are serious factors contributing to the nationwide spike in violent crime,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “These ordinances will ensure that we have mental health professionals in place who can respond to situations involving a person with a mental health crisis. I want to thank City Council for approving these measures that will allow our city to have the proper resources available to fight against violent crime and continue our legacy of emerging as One Safe Houston.”

One Safe Houston is a comprehensive violence reduction initiative that links research-based strategies to improve public safety and reduce the harms caused by violent crime. To learn more about One Safe Houston, please visit www.houstontx.gov/onesafehouston/.

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April 14, 2022 - April 20, 2022

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CULINARY: BLACK RESTAURANT WEEK MOVES THE HOUSTON BLACK DOLLAR

By Alexandria Jack, Food Writer, StyleMagazine.com

Culinary Delights – Black Restaurant Week

H

ouston, we have officially wrapped up another amazing Black Restaurant Week here in the place where it all started. Started in 2016 by Warren Luckett, Falayn Ferrell, and Derek Robinson, Black Restaurant Week is "dedicated to celebrating the flavors of African-American, African, and Caribbean cuisine nationwide." Not only are they showcasing our diversity in food, but they are stimulating the movement of the black dollar. That movement is something that many of

us have been longing to see again.

Black Restaurant Week is a catalyst for both sides of the transaction by being a marketing avenue for black food businesses, especially the small and newcomers. It also holds this space as a directory to the black foodies and black food enthusiasts so that they can guide them on where to go. This is a very innovative tool for everyone to use. When you use the directory, you are also able to see reviews and narrow your search to food trucks or even by zip code. They allow black food businesses to simply register their business so that they can be seen. One way to become a household name is to play the marketing game. The team at Black Restaurant Week is making it simple for you to do. As a fellow food PR professional and writer, I can say what they are doing for black restaurants is genius.

Black Restaurant Week also gives back to the food community with Feed the Soul Foundation. Feed the Soul Foundation has a mission to "dismantle food injustice by working with marginalized entrepreneurs to ensure the local neighborhood restaurants obtain financial assistance, educational training, and equitable opportunities". Post- Covid, food businesses are still facing challenges currently and rebuilding, and through the Restaurant Business Development Grant Program they can receive assistants. In addition to financial help,

these businesses are able to get advertising and marketing training, business consultations, and more. Black Restaurant Week has also created HRVST Marketplace in partnership with Latin Restaurants Week, which is a digital storefront for marginalized communities. This will be another avenue to allow food vendors to showcase their products like spices or sauces.

In recent years, with the expansion of the black culinary world here in Houston we saw participation from food trucks like Chicken Headz (@chickenheadz_ htx), Gumbo Xpress (@gumboxpress), and Saucy Nosh (@saucynoshhtx). They also tapped into sweets too! So glad to see some of my personal favorite sweet eateries like Masterpiece Desserts (@masterpiecedesserts) and Lucy Pearl's Sweets (@lucypearlssweets) participating as well.

Black restaurant foodies were also able to vote this year in the Black Plate Awards. I am so excited to announce the winners of each category.

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SPORTS: ROCKETS' JALEN GREEN IS READY TO SHED THE 'ROOKIE' LABEL

By Brian Barefield, Style Sports Editor, StyleMagazine.com

Jalen Green Western Conference Rookie Of The Month

T

he media huddled around the Houston Rockets practice facility microphone, still laughing about rookie Alperen Sengun’s favorite English phrase he learned during his first year in the United States. Another young man walks in with a massive smile on his face and greets everyone in his presence.

Sidenote: The phrase Sengun learned was "FaSho," which translates into "For Sure" and was taught to him by teammate Josh Christopher.

That humbleness and smile have become a mainstay for Jalen Green during his

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rookie season with the Rockets. Despite the adversity he faced this season, such as an injury that kept him out of multiple games and a mini-shooting slump in late January.He never stopped smiling and remained confident that he would overcome the issues that plagued him.

That attitude, and, of course, his athletic ability, has general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Stephen Silas excited about the future "He can be a very good basketball player for sure," said coach Silas of Green in

April 14, 2022 - April 20, 2022

his exit interview with the media. "He will get stronger and more experienced. He will get better than he was this year, so that adds up to being a very good basketball player. " Most fans and teams around the NBA got an intense glimpse of what Green could become if he stays on the course he showed post-NBA All-Star break, particularly in March and April, when he averaged 22.6 points, 3.2 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game.

During that time, he also shot 48.4 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from three-point range.Those numbers were outstanding for that stretch and earned Green the Western Conference Rookie of the Month, as announced on Monday by the NBA after Green had finished his exit interviews.

Green, 20, knows that he has the talent to play in the NBA and recognizes that his stretch of scoring 30-plus points in six out of the last seven games, including a career-high 41 points against the Atlanta Hawks in the final game of the season, was something he can take into the offseason. Yet, his unselfishness and his yearning for team success will drive him to work harder in the offseason.

"I think we got a lot better," said Green of the Rockets team towards the end of the season. "You see, where our heart was at and how we approached every game these last

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seven or eight games."

As the Rockets rookie class that consists of Green, Aleren Sengun, Usman Garuba, and Josh Christopher graduates to be second-year veterans next season, one player from that group had already removed the "rookie" label from his mindset at the start of the 2021-22 NBA season.

"I really didn’t look at myself as a rookie. I felt like me going to the G League put me in the sophomore class," said Green with a smile.

As one labeled as a very hard worker by the Rockets' coaching staff, the second overall selection in the 2021 NBA Draft has one personal award that would solidify his first season in the NBA. Green expressed how satisfying it would be to be selected as a member of the 2021-22 NBA All-Rookie First Team.

"It would mean a lot," Green said of the honor. "That would make me very happy and show that the work has been working and how much I have improved from the beginning (of the season) to the end."

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2022

SEE MORE + PHOTOS AND EVENTS

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H 100 Black Men of Metro Houston: Life After HS Sports H The 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston hosted Life After High School Sports for high school athletes aspiring to play sports on the collegiate and/or professional level.

The event brought together the young athletes with active and retired professional athletes to have a REAL conversation about the opportunities in sports. Dawn Paul emceed the event that featured players from the Houston Dynamo.

2022

SEE MORE + PHOTOS AND EVENTS

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H Suits For Success Event Made A Big Impact H The Suits for Success team held an impactful mixer at Norton Ditto to benefit young male high school seniors. The 501c3 organization helps to mentor teen boys on life skills at inner city high schools. When the students complete the program, each receives a free suit, shirt, and tie for high school graduation and life beyond.

The AlliantGroup gave $3000 donation to the program. Some in attendance were City Councilman Edward Pollard, William Matthews, Lance Soders, Broderick Robinson, and Kevin Soders.

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April 14, 2022 - April 20, 2022

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2022

SEE MORE + PHOTOS AND EVENTS

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H Verizon Donates $300K To TSU For Social Justice and Economic Equity H

Mayor Sylvester Turner joined Verizon Foundation leadership at Texas Southern University for the announcement of the significant grant donation for the Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity. The funds will support the mission to enact transformative change by providing tangible resources to organization ad initiatives that empower communities of color. Furthermore, the funds will help entrepreneurship education at TSU and diverse-owned small businesses within the community. Some in attendance were Rose Stuckey Kirk, President of Verizon Foundation and Chief CSR Officer of Verizon; Thomas Jones, Board President, Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity; Stephanie Nellons-Paige, TSU Regent, Board Secretary of the Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity; and Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, Texas Southern University President.

2022

SEE MORE + PHOTOS AND EVENTS

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H Mayor Turner's: 11th Annual Family Day In The Park H

Mayor Sylvester Turner’s 11th Family Day was fun for everyone with entertainment on three stages featuring J. Paul Jr. and the Zydeco Nubreeds, Carver High School Performing Arts Students, Tiger Rock Martial Arts, Operation Get Fit and others. There were inflatable games, a rock wall, train rides, face painting, a senior tent, and Zoomobile. The Major League Baseball/Houston Astros Urban Youth Academy hosted youth baseball games. There was plenty of food including turkey legs, hot dogs, sausage on a stick, corn on the cob, nachos, popcorn and snow cones.

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April 14, 2022 - April 20, 2022

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