Houston Style Magazine Vol 34 No 51

Houston Style Magazine DECEMBER 21, 2023 – DECEMBER 27, 2023

Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication, Since 1989

Volume 34 | Number 51

Complimentary

Ben Jealous

Common Ground Is A Testament To The Power of Film To Make Change

TINA KNOWLES

Fire Chief Sam Pena

Shell Supports HFD Operation Stocking Stuffer Holiday Toy Giveaway

URBAN LEAGUE GALA:

LEGACY OF

LEADERSHIP H MERRY CHRISTMAS H MON. JAN 7th H HELEN STAGG: Passes The Torch to Kionta Carter

TAG US: #TeamStyleMag

Twitter: @HoustonStyle

Facebook: @HoustonStyleMagazine

A Legacy of Justice and Fairness In Harris County Law

#TEAMSTYLEMAG EXTENDS GODS BLESSINGS

ART: NATHANIEL DONNETT

Instagram: @StyleMagazineHTX

GREATER HOUSTON LGBTQ CHAMBER - JINGLE AND MINGLE

DA - Kim Ogg

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

CHINA BEFORE COMMUNISM

TAKE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS on a magical journey and discover new hope for the future! Going out to see Shen Yun’s elaborate stage production in person is an amazing lifetime experience. You are part of the magic.

Based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Shen Yun’s deeply moving and beautiful works are inspiring millions around the world. Powerful, uplifting, heartwarming, unforgettable—these are the words viewers use to describe their experience.

Dec 26–Jan 1  Jones Hall 2

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“This is the best I have ever seen.

It was so uplifting. It spoke to everything that is good in this world.”

—Glen Duncan, Grammy Award-winning musician

“Absolutely the greatest of the great!

You have to see it to believe it.”

—Christine Walevska, master cellist

“The spirit of hope, beauty and the blessing is a fabulous gift to us.

I want to go again! I have to bring as many people as I can.”

—Sine McKenna, award-winning Celtic singer

ShenYun.com/Houston | 877-663-7469 www.StyleMagazine.com 11/5/23 3:38 PM

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 Graphic Design /Layout Editor Cameron C. Lee thisiscam6@gmail.com Political Editor Burt Levine texascampaigns@gmail.com Sports Editor Brian Barefield brian_barefield@yahoo.com Arts Editor Kathleen Coleman kathleen@stylemagazine.com Food Writer Alex Jack alexandriajack1991@gmail.com TotallyRandie Totallyrandie@gmail.com NATIONAL WRITERS Jesse Jackson jjackson@rainbowpush.org PHOTOGRAPHERS Vicky Pink vhpink@gmail.com ADVERTISING/SALES Advertising Email advertising@stylemagazine.com MINORITY PRINT MEDIA, LLC, D.B.A.

Houston Style Magazine & www.StyleMagazine.com Phone: (713) 748-6300 • Fax: (713) 748-6320 Mail: P.O. Box 14035, Houston, TX 77221-4035 ©2023 Houston Style Magazine, a Minority Print Media, L.L.C. Company. All Right Reserved. Reproduction in whole or within part without permission is prohibited. Houston Style Magazine has a 2019 Audit

by Circulation Verification Council (CVC). Houston Style Magazine is a member of the Texas Publishers Association (TPA), Texas Community Newspaper Association (TCNA), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Independent Free Paper of America (IFPA), Association of Free Community Papers (AFCP) and Members of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP).

National Association of Hispanic Publications, Inc. (NAHP, Inc.), Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HHCC), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Latin Women’s Initiative (LWI), National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals (HAHMP), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), and Supporters of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP)

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December 21, 2023 - December 27, 2023

3

COMMENTARY

COMMON GROUND IS A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF FILM TO CHANGE HEARTS AND MINDS

By Ben Jealous, National Political Commentator

S

oil. It’s where our food comes from and the foundation of all life on land.

The way human beings have traditionally farmed in the modern era devastates the soil. It impacts the quality of the food that people and farmed animals eat, and thus our collective health. It’s not sustainable, vastly reducing the amount of farmable land available to us and our ability to continue to feed the planet.

There’s a solution. One that we need to consider carefully, that offers a path towards sustainability and environmental health. It’s called regenerative farming.

The recent documentary film Common Ground provides a groundbreaking look into this critically important crisis and how we can fix it with regenerative farming. Normally when I’m asked to watch the latest “environmental documentary,” I admit to being susceptible to that mild sense of dread we all get when we’re about to be presented with the problems of the world further solidified before our eyes. But Common Ground is anything but bleak. To the contrary, it offers desperately needed hope at a time when environmental degradation, the climate crisis, the extinction crisis, and threats to our natural resources are driving cynicism among even the most optimistic.

Common Ground explores how, as Gabe Brown, a Bismarck, North Dakota regenerative rancher featured in film, puts it, the current dominant system industrial agriculture, “is working to kill things,” while regenerative agriculture “works in harmony and synchrony with nature, with life.”

The status quo system of industrial agriculture abuses and degrades our soil with tillage, synthetic substances, monocultures – that is, the cultivation of just one crop in a given area – and not sequestering carbon. Regenerative agriculture, in short, doesn’t rely on these things. In contrast, it relies on methods that protect the soil and offers a sustainable, healthy alternative.

climate change.

The impact and influence of An Inconvenient Truth got an important cultural boost when the film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature of 2006. It would benefit all of us for Common Ground to gain similar recognition (for the Academy’s and America’s consideration).

To borrow a phrase from Woody Harrelson, “the one thing that’s keeping us all alive is that soil you’re standing on.”

Let’s get hopeful again about environmental solutions (including soil). Let’s work to find our common ground.

Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club, professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and author of “Never Forget Our People Were Always Free.”

Houston Style Maga Even before today’s high-tech agribusiness, industrial farming methods used by small and large farmers alike were causing devastation to our topsoil. Brown points out that the Dust Bowl of the 1930s wasn’t caused by drought alone but by “copious amounts of tillage.”

Common Ground uses historical examples in its storytelling that, as a lifelong student of history, I love. One highlight is a newly told account of the revolutionary agricultural genius, George Washington Carver (told by Leah Penniman, herself a farmer and author of the book, Farming While Black). While Carver is known in history books as “the peanut guy,” he was far more. Carver understood that to take farmers out of poverty, you had to build healthy soil.

Peanuts, it turns out, put nitrogen into the soil. Using peanuts and various techniques he developed by studying nature, Carver taught an entire generation of Black farmers how to farm in harmony with nature, like the indigenous peoples of America.

Common Ground also strikes an important chord in addressing climate.

Healthy soil has the potential to sequester tremendous quantities of CO2. From large

– AD PROOF –

12/14 and 21/2023 Project AD#117 2 You can •write to Ben Jealous

farms to urban gardens, the caretaking of soil can produce more profitable and more nutritious food and help mitigate the climate crisis.

The entertainment industry, through film and television, can be a powerful catalyst for change. It can motivate, enlighten, and inspire us to tackle daunting challenges.

“The slap heard around the world”

by Sidney Poitier’s character in 1967’s In the Heat of the Night was an important symbol of the right and need to stand up for Black dignity. And, of course, how can we forget the societal impact of the TV shows like All in the Family, The Jeffersons, and Good Times, created by Norman Lear – my dear friend who recently passed away at the age of 101.

Common Ground’s celebrity narrators open the film by passing on reflections in the form of a letter to current and future generations. One of them, Woody Harrelson, mentions that what viewers are about to receive are “hard truths.” I couldn’t help but think of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, which was instrumental in sounding the alarm and raising global awareness about

in care of this Newspaper or by website at: www.BenJealous.com www.StyleMagazine.com

LEGAL NOTICE

Project: 117 24-10-11 NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

LEGAL NOTICE

The Houston Independent School District is soliciting Request for Proposals (RFP) via the District’s electronic bidding portal. Proposers may login to view specifications and submit their responses at the following link: https://houstonisd.ionwave.net/ Login.aspx until 2:00 p.m. (CST) Wednesday, January 24, 2024, for the following solicitation for the following projects: 24-10-11 Database Tracking System for Student Non-Instructional Needs Pre-proposal conferences via Microsoft Teams will be held in conjunction with this RFP. Information regarding dates, times, and a link to join the meeting can be located within the electronic bidding portal under the “Event Details” tab specific to this solicitation.

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December 21, 2023 - December 27, 2023

5

Houston Politics: Upholding Integrity Amidst Party Primaries

By Burt Levine, Political Editor For www.StyleMagazine.com

DA Kim Ogg

I

n the dynamic landscape of Houston’s political scene, the spirit of bipartisanship is put to the test as the primaries approach. Esteemed public servants like Kim Ogg and Shawn Thierry stand at the forefront, navigating the complex waters where principle often clashes with party purity.

6

Kim Ogg: A Legacy of Justice and Fairness Kim Ogg, a figure synonymous with justice in Harris County, continues her lifelong political engagement, a journey that began under the tutelage of her father, Jack Ogg. Her career as Harris County’s leading prosecutor reflects an unwavering commitment to law enforcement and victim advocacy.

Despite some intra-party criticisms for her unbiased approach to corruption, Ogg remains steadfast, driven by a personal vow to champion crime victims – a vow deeply rooted in her family's experience and her role as a mother.

Shawn Thierry: Championing Families and Diverse Voices State Rep. Shawn Thierry’s Houston upbringing and diverse family background have shaped her into a leader attuned to the needs of families, seniors, and veterans.

Despite facing party critique for certain legislative choices, Thierry’s dedication to her constituents in her Texas House District remains unshaken.

Her advocacy for education, small busi-

December 21, 2023 - December 27, 2023

nesses, and homeowners underscores her commitment to the community’s well-being.

The Principled Stance Against Partisanship Both Ogg and Thierry, facing Democratic Primary challengers, exemplify the delicate balance between party allegiance and the duty to serve their constituents' best interests. Similarly, the integrity of Republican legislators like Briscoe Cain and Lacey Hull is under scrutiny as they grapple with the consequences of their principled stand on issues such as the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The Vote for Values As early voting looms (February 20 to March 1), the citizens of Harris and Fort Bend counties are called to reflect on the values that form the bedrock of their community.

It’s not just a vote for a candidate but a vote for the principles that will guide Houston into the future.

Closing Thoughts In the heart of Texas, the upcoming primaries aren’t just a political showdown; they are a testament to the enduring spirit of Houston’s

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community, striving for a governance that resonates with integrity, diversity, and a steadfast commitment to justice.

State Rep. Shawn Thierry

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December 21, 2023 - December 27, 2023

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2023

SEE MORE + HILTON AMERICAS - DOWNTOWN www.StyleMagazine.com

H HAUL 2023 Annual Equal Opportunity Day Gala H Dr. Judith Craven • Tina Knowles • Dr. Ruth Simmons • Rev. Bill Lawson • David Lesar H www.HAUL.org H Saturday, December 16, 2023 H Hilton Americas - Downtown H

Judson Robinson - President

Photos By Twice Media Photography

Eric Goodie - SVP

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H HAUL 2023 Annual Equal Opportunity Day Gala H Dr. Judith Craven • Tina Knowles • Dr. Ruth Simmons • Rev. Bill Lawson • David Lesar H www.HAUL.org H Saturday, December 16, 2023 H Hilton Americas - Downtown H

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December 21, 2023 - December 27, 2023

9

Houston Style Magazine Extend Our Desire For Gods Blessings Upon Your Families

By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher

W

e at the Houston Style Magazine would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere desire for God’s blessings upon you and your families. It is also a time to remind each of us why we have and celebrate Christmas.

This country, and most of our lives, were founded upon Christian principles that are at the very essence of this season. The fact that those of different faiths are allowed to exercise their religious beliefs does not negate that which many of us profess. Neither do we require others to acknowledge or share in our beliefs. This is the beauty of the Freedom of Religion Clause in our Constitution. But the differences in faith does not stop the Spirit of Christmas and here is the reason why.

The Gospel of John, recorded in the Bible at 3:16, states that: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The operative word is “gave”. It is the gift of Jesus that is responsible for the desire we all must “give” gifts. It is because that with the gift of Jesus to mankind came the Spirit of giving, which is released each time, we celebrate His birth.

The angel of the Lord that appeared to the shepherds that night over Bethlehem made

a pronouncement that we still feel each Christmas. The angel said: “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Consider that Christmas is the only time in the year that just about everything shuts down; it is the one time of the year that we see an outpouring of kindness not seen at any other time. That kindness is the “good will” toward men that the angel spoke of. It was that which the angels spoke of that caused what is called the Christmas Truce of December 24, 1914. It occurred when soldiers in the muddy trenches on the Western Front of World War I put down their weapons on both sides, stepped out of trenches, met each other face to face and sang Christmas songs because both sides missed being

away from their families. In some areas the truce persisted until after New Year’s Day. That same Spirit of Peace continues to settle on each Christmas season as God honors our recognition of the birth of his Son. There are still so many without food or shelter, especially this Christmas season with two major wars underway and a people by the thousands seeking shelter and refuge in our land. Those without the basic necessities and comforts so many of us have are knocking at our doors and so many of us are responding in every way possible. This is a time for us to be thankful for what we do have as opposed to complaining about what we want or don’t have.

To many, the stable at Bethlehem would be a welcomed shelter as compared to the

streets on which they sleep. For many of our families there are personal problems, an empty chair at a table because of a missing loved one, but we are still blessed and should find comfort in helping others through this dark time in their lives.

While many of us do not have the shelter, food or comforts that so many others have, yet we are blessed with health or family or the meeting of our basic needs, if not our wants. Our families might have their personal problems, or many of us have an empty chair at the table this season due to the pandemic or other tragedies, yet we are still blessed. Let us remember those who lost so much during the recent storms.

Let us seek ways to be of help to others and by doing so help ourselves.

We give thanks for those among us seeking to help and feed and shelter so many others. Let us commit to seeking what each of us can do to make a difference in the lives of others and by doing so participate in the gift that keeps on living.

May God bless and keep you, regardless of your circumstances. Let us offer up prayers of praise and thanksgiving and sing glory to God in the Highest as well as peace on earth and good will toward all men.

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10/25/23 10:47 AM

LOCAL: Shell Supports the Houston Fire Department's 'Operation Stocking Stuffer' Warms Hearts with Monumental Toy Giveaway

By Francis Page Jr. at StyleMagazine.com

A

s the sun rose over Houston, the Houston Fire Department's dedicated personnel, affectionately known as 'elves', were already bustling with activity in anticipation of the "Operation Stocking Stuffer" toy giveaway. This event, a cornerstone of community engagement, took place at Dick Graves Park and offered a beacon of joy to families across the city.

Commencing at 9 a.m. on December

16, 2023, the giveaway ensured that the holiday spirit was alive and well, with every car leaving with two bags filled with toys, all without the need for registration.

Year-round efforts culminated in this day of giving, reflecting the Houston Fire Department's commitment to service and the generous spirit of the local and global businesses that contributed. Fire Chief Samuel Peña's

S U NDAY JANUARY 7

Chief Sam Pena attendance was a testament to the importance of the event, offering interviews and a face to the department's dedication.

The drive-thru format of the giveaway ensured efficiency and safe-

ty for all involved, a logistical feat that underscores the department's capacity to serve the community in diverse ways.

This program, supporting over 20,000 children annually, has grown to become one of the largest community outreach programs in existence.

Houston Style Magazine commends the collective effort that made "Operation Stocking Stuffer" a resounding success, highlighting the event as a shining example of the holiday spirit that defines the Houston community.

For more information on the HFD Operation Stocking Stuffer program go to: www.OSSToyDrive.com/

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UNION STATION AT MINUTE MAID PARK

Proceeds will benefit the CFP Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers initiative and its Houston Loves Teachers program that provides support, inspiration and empowerment to local educators.

BUY TICKETS NOW AT CHAMPTASTE.COM www.StyleMagazine.com

December 21, 2023 - December 27, 2023

11

2023

SEE MORE + LIGHTIN’S GOOD TIMES - EAST DOWNTOWN www.StyleMagazine.com

H 2023 Jingle and Mingle – Holiday Celebration H Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber Of Commerce – Tammi Wallace - President

H www.HoustonLGBTQChamber.com H Thursday, December 14, 2023 H Lightin’s Good Times H

Tammi Wallace - President

Stephen Miranda

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December 21, 2023 - December 27, 2023

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Community Beacon of Change: Civic Heart Ushers in New Era of Leadership and Service Expansion

By Francis Page Jr. at StyleMagazine.com

H

ouston Style Magazine readers are set to witness a new chapter at Civic Heart Community Services, an institution that stands as a testament to the enduring legacy and progressive strides of the Black community in Houston's vibrant social tapestry.

Helen Stagg, after a transformative 23 years at Civic Heart, including a pivotal tenure as CEO, is set to pass the torch at the close of December 2023.

Kionta Carter, a seasoned non-profit leader with over a decade and a half of experience, will step into the role, poised to continue the organization’s impactful mission.

Under Stagg’s visionary leadership, the 34-year-old entity has remarkably increased its community investment by 247% since 2019, expanding its outreach with over 25 programs across 59 counties in Texas. These strides have been made possible through a network of grants, partnerships, and the commitment of a 75-strong culturally diverse workforce, bolstered by over 280 volunteers.

With its roots deep in community welfare, Civic Heart has been instrumental in diverting youth from the justice system, facilitating health

Kionta Carter

Helen Stagg

insurance access for families, combating HIV, preventing substance misuse, supporting the homeless, and mentoring refugee youth—a multifaceted beacon of hope for many.

2023 marked a period of transformative evolution for Civic Heart— not only did it undergo a rebranding

from the former 'Change Happens!', but it also transitioned its headquarters to the One Emancipation Center in the historic Third Ward in June, to better accommodate its growth and expanding services.

In preparation for Stagg's retirement, Carter has been diligently working

alongside her to ensure a seamless leadership transition, preserving the organization's integrity and commitment to the community. Both leaders are open to sharing insights into Civic Heart’s future directions and its ongoing contributions to the Gulf Coast region’s social landscape.

Carter, with her extensive background, including a tenure at the YMCA of Greater Houston, brings to Civic Heart an invaluable depth of non-profit expertise. Her operational and fundraising acumen, honed over 15 years, will be vital as she takes the helm of this organization, which operates with a $13 million annual budget and a reach that has grown to serve over 65,000 individuals through its expansive programs.

For those who wish to learn more about Civic Heart’s transformative impact on the community or converse with either Kionta Carter or Helen Stagg about the promising horizons ahead, the opportunity is warmly extended.

www.CivicHeart.org www.StyleMagazine.com

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December 21, 2023 - December 27, 2023

13

Campus Chronicles T

he Be An Angel gift distribution at Alief ISD proved to be a significant success. Appreciation is extended to Be An Angel and the dedicated volunteers who contributed to making this event possible for the district's Special Education students.

I

n collaboration with CYCLE Houston, five elementary schools within the Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) recognized second-grade students who achieved outstanding reading goals by presenting them with new bicycles and helmets. The memorable celebrations occurred on December 9, bringing joy to students, families, and all those in attendance. The SBISD schools involved in the CYCLE Houston partnership are

Edgewood, Spring Branch, Spring Shadows, Terrace, and Woodview elementaries.

BOOK YOUR EVENT! – CALL TO BOOK AN EVENT – (713) 446-4023 www.CCPI.org/site/3131gallery

L

ydia Golenko, a senior at Dobie High School, boasts her artwork showcased with pride in the Southbelt community! This is a tremendous honor for such a talented student. Lydia is not only an ex-

ceptional student but also a multi-talented individual. She excels as an AP student, a member of the varsity chamber orchestra, a 2023 rodeo finalist, a participant in VASE, and proudly identifies as a Longhorn!

For inclusion SUBMIT Your Education Event To: editorial@stylemagazine.com

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December 21, 2023 - December 27, 2023

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ART: Exploring the Cosmos of Blackness: Nathaniel Donnett's 'Dark Matter, Dark Energy, Dark Imaginarence' at Texas Southern University

By Kathleen Coleman, Arts Editor for www.StyleMagazine.com

T

he University Museum at Texas Southern University is thrilled to unveil "Dark Matter, Dark Energy, Dark Imaginarence," a pioneering solo exhibition by Houston's own Nathaniel Donnett. This multimedia journey transcends the traditional art space, inviting us to traverse the realms of the known and unknown through Donnett's eyes.

Donnett's oeuvre is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of Black creativity. Drawing inspiration from Ed Dwight's life, who reshaped his destiny in the face of racial adversity, Donnett's exhibition features a symphony of textiles, sculptures, installations, and soundscapes. It's a narrative that

weaves together the threads of Houston's Black neighborhoods' history and future through a backpack exchange initiative, fostering a tangible connection between art and community.

At the heart of Donnett's practice lies the concept of Dark Imaginarence—an artistic philosophy that marries everyday aesthetic theory with the fluid identity of Blackness. His works are not just objects of beauty but vessels carrying the weight of collective memory and witness to Black experience.

They prompt us to question the nature of our realities, urging a reflection on social constructs and the infinite

possibilities of abstract thought.

The exhibition is a canvas where the music of life plays in harmony with philosophical musings. Here, the irrational becomes a gateway to a world where every action holds significance, and every material whispers stories of existence. "Dark Matter, Dark Energy, Dark Imaginarence" doesn't just ask us to view art—it invites us to become part of it, to reimagine our narratives and find freedom within the confines of our reality.

Nathaniel Donnett, a visionary with deep roots in Houston's art scene, holds a BA in Fine Arts from Texas Southern University and an MFA from

Yale University School of Art. His accolades, including the prestigious 2024 American Academy of Rome Affiliated Fellowship and the 2022 John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, speak volumes of his commitment to pushing the boundaries of art and thought.

Join us at the University Museum to embark on this cosmic journey of self-discovery and transformation.

Engage with the art, participate in the dialogue, and let "Dark Matter, Dark Energy, Dark Imaginarence" redefine what you know about space, time, and the essence of being.

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