Houston Style Magazine vol 31 No. 3

January 16 – January 22, 2020

Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication

Volume 30 | Number 3

Complimentary

Jesse Jackson

New Hope for Pembroke Township

Cory Booker Why He Ended His Presidential Bid

Martin Luther King, Jr. Special Edition Follow Us #TeamStyleMag

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LIFE & LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

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January 16 – January 22, 2020

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12 Publisher Francis Page, Jr. Associate Publisher Lisa Valadez Managing Editor Jo-Carolyn Goode editorial@stylemagazine.com

6 Ways Your Smile Can Light Up The New Decade

Social Media Editor/Videographer Reginald Dominique reggiedominique@me.com

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Sports Editor Brian Barefield

NATIONAL WRITERS

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

PHOTOGRAPHERS VICKY PINK vhpink@gmail.com William Ealy Williamealy1906@gmail.com

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Mike Munoz artrepreneur91@gmail.com Robert Franklin editorial@stylemagazine.com

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Top 5 Signs You’re Overwhelmed as a

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January 16 – January 22, 2020

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COMMENTARY

New Hope for Pembroke Township

By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer equal justice. The final movement, which Dr. King knew would be the most difficult, was the movement for economic justice. Sadly, the war on poverty that was making great strides was lost in the jungles of Vietnam, and then abandoned under Ronald Reagan in 1980.

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cross America, there are pockets of poverty, communities that have been left behind or deprived of the basics needed to develop, like Pembroke Township, a small community south of Chicago along the Indiana border. In this community, one-third of the families live below the poverty line.

It is one of the poorest communities in the country, with a median income that is among the lowest.

In the 1860s, newly freed slaves -- Freedmen -- settled into the rich farmland of the region. It was a land of promise and of opportunity. During the Great Migration and the Great Depression, waves of black farmers settled here.

Land was still available for black farms in part because much of it was seen as marginal.

The land is so bad, the joke became, as

POLITICAL

Rev. Hezekiah Brady Jr., reported, “you can’t raise hell on it.”

Today, the residents of Pembroke Township are denied the hope that their ancestors once held. In Pembroke, residents lack heat and access to basic necessities. They are the victims of economic violence in many ways. They can’t develop basic infrastructure without capital investment. Investment won’t come without basic infrastructure. They face a Catch 22 all too familiar to poor communities in this country.

In recent months, this has begun to change for the 2,100 residents of Pembroke. Wi-Fi has come to the community. Now Nicor Gas is joining with local officials trying to work out a plan to bring natural gas to Pembroke. A secure source of energy would help kickstart other development -- and in turn create

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Dr. Martin Luther King always envisioned the civil rights struggle in three different movements or phases. First would come basic civil rights, the end of segregation. The Supreme Court and the Civil Rights Act of 1965 helped achieve that. Then came political rights: The Voting Rights Act helped move toward that.

It wasn’t just African Americans who profited, but women, young people and other minorities all made great strides to

What’s clear is that our current course won’t do it. Unemployment is low, but poor urban and rural communities still have not recovered. Communities like Pembroke won’t recover without focused energy. As Dr. King taught us, that will happen only if citizens organize and lead the way.

You can write to the Rev. Jesse Jackson in care of this newspaper or by email at jjackson@rainbowpush.org. Follow him on Twitter @RevJJackson.

Share this story online at stylemagazine.com.

He’s Out: Cory Booker Ends Presidential Bid BlackAmericaWeb.com/Associated Press

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emocrat Cory Booker dropped out of the presidential race Monday, ending a campaign whose message of unity and love failed to resonate in a political era marked by chaos and anxiety.

Cory Booker

jobs and generate hope. To bring energy to Pembroke will require regulatory changes, millions in investment and support from the business community, the residents of Pembroke, the state of Illinois and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Nicor has made a serious commitment. Now it is time to turn up the heat on the others to ensure that the residents of Pembroke have heat.

Now, as America suffers extreme inequality, a declining life expectancy, rising deaths of despair -- from alcohol, or drugs or suicide -- we need a new push for economic justice. It should focus on the pockets of poverty like Pembroke. It must engage the efforts of private enterprise and public and private resources.

Keystone legislation like that proposed

by Representative James Clyburn that would target federal spending to the communities that have been mired in poverty for decades, joining the urban and the rural poor, across regional and racial lines, as the focus for new energy and new hope.

His departure now leaves a field that was once the most diverse in history with just one remaining African American candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

Since launching his campaign last February, Booker, a U.S. senator from New Jersey, struggled to raise the type of money required to support a White House bid. He was at the back of the pack in most surveys and failed to meet the polling requirements needed to participate in Tuesday’s debate. Booker also missed last month’s debate and exits the race polling in low single digits in the early primary states and nationwide.

In an email to supporters, Booker said that he “got into this race to win” and that his failure to make the debates prevented him from raising raise the money required for victory.

“Our campaign has reached the point where we need more money to scale up and

January 16 – January 22, 2020

continue building a campaign that can win — money we don’t have, and money that is harder to raise because I won’t be on the next debate stage and because the urgent business of impeachment will rightly be keeping me in Washington,” he said.

Booker had warned that the looming impeachment trial of President Donald Trump would deal a “big, big blow” to his campaign by pulling him away from Iowa in the final weeks before the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses. He hinted at the challenges facing his campaign last week in an interview on The Associated Press’ “Ground Game” podcast.

“If we can’t raise more money in this final stretch, we won’t be able to do the things that other campaigns with more money can do to show presence,” he said.

In his email to supporters, Booker pledged to do “everything in my power to elect the eventual Democratic nominee for president,” though his campaign says he has no immediate plans to endorse a candidate in the primary.

It’s a humbling finish for someone who was once lauded by Oprah Winfrey as the

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“rock star mayor” who helped lead the renewal of Newark, New Jersey. During his seven years in City Hall, Booker was known for his headline-grabbing feats of local do-goodery, including running into a burning building to save a woman, and his early fluency with social media, which brought him 1.4 million followers on Twitter when the platform was little used in politics. His rhetorical skills and Ivy League background often brought comparisons to President Barack Obama, and he’d been discussed as a potential presidential contender since his arrival in the Senate in 2013.

Now, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has mastered the art of the selfie on social media. Another former mayor, Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, is seen as the freshest face in the field. Former Vice President Joe Biden has built a strong base of support with black voters. And Booker’s message of hope and love seemed to fall flat during an era characterized perhaps most strongly by Democratic fury over the actions of the Trump administration.

Read the full story online BlackAmericaWeb.com.

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January 16 – January 22, 2020

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1/15/20 12:20 PM

MLK SPECIAL EDITION Loving Your Enemies – Sermon by Martin Luther King Jr.

Delivered at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church – Montgomery, Alabama, 17 November 1957

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am forced to preach under something of a handicap this morning. In fact, I had the doctor before coming to church. And he said that it would be best for me to stay in the bed this morning. And I insisted that I would have to come to preach. So he allowed me to come out with one stipulation, and that is that I would not come in the pulpit until time to preach, and that after, that I would immediately go back home and get in the bed. So I’m going to try to follow his instructions from that point on.

I want to use as a subject from which to preach this morning a very familiar subject, and it is familiar to you because I have preached from this subject twice before to my knowing in this pulpit. I try to make it a, something of a custom or tradition to preach from this passage of Scripture at least once a year, adding new insights that I develop along the way out of new experiences as I give these messages. Although the content is, the basic content is the same, new insights and new experiences naturally make for new illustrations.

So I want to turn your attention to this subject: “Loving Your Enemies.”

It’s so basic to me because it is a part of my basic philosophical and theological orientation—the whole idea of love, the whole philosophy of love. In the fifth chapter of the gospel as recorded

by Saint Matthew, we read these very arresting words flowing from the lips of our Lord and Master: “Ye have heard that it has been said, ‘Thou shall love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.’

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.”

Certainly these are great words, words lifted to cosmic proportions. And over the centuries, many persons have argued that this is an extremely difficult command. Many would go so far as to say that it just isn’t possible to move out into the actual practice of this glorious command. They would go on to say that this is just additional proof that Jesus was an impractical idealist who never quite came down to earth. So the arguments abound. But far from being an impractical idealist, Jesus has become the practical realist. The words of this text glitter in our eyes with a new urgency. Far from being the pious injunction of a utopian dreamer, this command is an absolute necessity for the survival of our civilization. Yes, it is love that will save our world and our civilization, love even for enemies.

Now let me hasten to say that Jesus was very serious when he gave this command; he wasn’t playing. He realized that it’s hard to love your enemies. He realized that it’s difficult to love those persons who seek to defeat you, those persons who say evil things about you.

He realized that it was painfully hard, pressingly hard. But he wasn’t playing.

And we cannot dismiss this passage as just another example of Oriental hyperbole, just a sort of exaggeration to get over the point. This is a basic philos-

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ophy of all that we hear coming from the lips of our Master. Because Jesus wasn’t playing; because he was serious. We have the Christian and moral responsibility to seek to discover the meaning of these words, and to discover how we can live out this command, and why we should live by this command.

Now first let us deal with this question, which is the practical question: How do you go about loving your enemies? I think the first thing is this: In order to love your enemies, you must begin by analyzing self. And I’m sure that seems strange to you, that I start out telling you this morning that you love your enemies by beginning with a look at self. It seems to me that that is the first and foremost way to come to an adequate discovery to the how of this situation.

Now, I’m aware of the fact that some people will not like you, not because of something you have done to them, but they just won’t like you. I’m quite aware of that. Some people aren’t going to like the way you walk; some people aren’t going to like the way you talk. Some people aren’t going to like you because you can do your job better than they can do theirs. Some people aren’t going to like you because other people like you, and because you’re popular, and because you’re well-liked, they aren’t going to like you. Some people aren’t going to like you because your hair is a little shorter than theirs or your hair is a little longer than theirs. Some people aren’t going to like you because your skin is a little brighter than theirs; and others aren’t going to like you because your skin is a little darker than theirs. So that some people aren’t going to like you.

They’re going to dislike you, not because of something that you’ve done to them, but because of various jealous reactions and other reactions that are so prevalent in human nature.

But after looking at these things and admitting these things, we must face the fact that an individual might dislike us because of something that we’ve done deep down in the past, some personality attribute that we possess, something that we’ve done deep down in the past and we’ve forgotten about it; but it was that something that aroused the hate response within the individual. That is why I say, begin with yourself. There might be something within you that arouses the tragic hate response in the other individual.

January 16 – January 22, 2020

This is true in our international struggle. We look at the struggle, the ideological struggle between communism on the one hand and democracy on the other, and we see the struggle between America and Russia. Now certainly, we can never give our allegiance to the Russian way of life, to the communistic way of life, because communism is based on an ethical relativism and a metaphysical materialism that no Christian can accept. When we look at the methods of communism, a philosophy where somehow the end justifies the means, we cannot accept that because we believe as Christians that the end is pre-existent in the means. But in spite of all of the weaknesses and evils inherent in communism, we must at the same time see the weaknesses and evils within democracy.

Democracy is the greatest form of government to my mind that man has ever conceived, but the weakness is that we have never touched it. Isn’t it true that we have often taken necessities from the masses to give luxuries to the classes?

Isn’t it true that we have often in our democracy trampled over individuals and races with the iron feet of oppression?

Isn’t it true that through our Western powers we have perpetuated colonialism and imperialism? And all of these things must be taken under consideration as we look at Russia. We must face the fact that the rhythmic beat of the deep rumblings of discontent from Asia and Africa is at bottom a revolt against the imperialism and colonialism perpetuated by Western civilization all these many years. The success of communism in the world today is due to the failure of democracy to live up to the noble ideals and principles inherent in its system.

And this is what Jesus means when he said: “How is it that you can see the mote in your brother’s eye and not see the beam in your own eye?” Or to put it in Moffatt’s translation: “How is it that you see the splinter in your brother’s eye and fail to see the plank in your own eye?” And this is one of the tragedies of human nature. So we begin to love our enemies and love those persons that hate us whether in collective life or individual life by looking at ourselves.

A second thing that an individual must do in seeking to love his enemy is to discover the element of good in his enemy, and everytime you begin to hate that person and think of hating that

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person, realize that there is some good there and look at those good points which will over-balance the bad points.

I’ve said to you on many occasions that each of us is something of a schizophrenic personality. We’re split up and divided against ourselves. And there is something of a civil war going on within all of our lives. There is a recalcitrant South of our soul revolting against the North of our soul. And there is this continual struggle within the very structure of every individual life. There is something within all of us that causes us to cry out with Ovid, the Latin poet, “I see and approve the better things of life, but the evil things I do.” There is something within all of us that causes us to cry out with Plato that the human personality is like a charioteer with two headstrong horses, each wanting to go in different directions. There is something within each of us that causes us to cry out with Goethe, “There is enough stuff in me to make both a gentleman and a rogue.”

There is something within each of us that causes us to cry out with Apostle Paul, “I see and approve the better things of life, but the evil things I do.”

So somehow the “isness” of our present nature is out of harmony with the eternal “oughtness” that forever confronts us. And this simply means this: That within the best of us, there is some evil, and within the worst of us, there is some good. When we come to see this, we take a different attitude toward individuals. The person who hates you most has some good in him; even the nation that hates you most has some good in it; even the race that hates you most has some good in it. And when you come to the point that you look in the face of every man and see deep down within him what religion calls “the image of God,” you begin to love him in spite of. No matter what he does, you see God’s image there. There is an element of goodness that he can never sluff off. Discover the element of good in your enemy. And as you seek to hate him, find the center of goodness and place your attention there and you will take a new attitude.

Another way that you love your enemy is this: When the opportunity presents itself for you to defeat your enemy, that is the time which you must not do it. There will come a time, in many instances, when the person who hates you most, the person who has misused you most, the person who has gossiped about you most, the person who has spread false rumors about you most, there will come a time when you will have an opportunity to defeat that person. It might be in terms of a recommendation for a job; it might be in terms of helping that person to make some move in life. That’s the time you must not do it. That is the meaning of love. In the final analysis, love is not this sentimental something that we talk about. It’s not merely an emotional something. Love is creative, understanding goodwill for all men. It is the refusal to defeat any individual. When you rise to the level of love, of its great beauty and power, you seek only to defeat evil systems. Read the full speech online at stylemagazine.com

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FEATURE

Stop the Spread of Hate to Honor a King

By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor

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ove has many definitions. The Holy Bible describes it as patient, kind, protecting, trusting, hopeful, preserving, and without the capability of failing. Webster’s Dictionary also has several meanings of love. It is defined as something that commands admiration, passionate affection for someone, friendship, courtship, reverence to God, and gratitude. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”

Love, ultimately, is powerful when people take action to utilize its energy.

During his 39 years of life, King used the power of love to transform enemies into friends and violence into peace.

Love to him had a deeper meaning, a more personal meaning. King’s definition of love was based on a Greco-Christian term called agape love. Known as the highest form of love, it is the love of one’s fellow man. This fueled his mission of nonviolence in fighting for civil rights for all. Through love, King was able to impact change and bring us closer to his ideal world where everyone was seen as equals.

Sadly, the fight for all to be seen on the same footing in humanity is a battle we are still struggling with today. Coming from the top down, we have the Presi-

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dent of the United saying out loud what people he wants in America and it is not those from “sh**hole countries.” There are voter ID laws in some states that negatively affect minorities’ voice in the political process. Some police deem minorities guilty of crimes at a higher rate when they are racially profiled for everything from taking the life of someone to just breathing while Black. We live in a time where men sexualized women and it is thought of as a harmless admiration of her beauty since she was asking for it because she wore a short skirt, high heels, and smiled to say hello. Those are just some of the many examples of how racism and sexism are very alive and in practice today.

Acts like the above create enemies and fuel hatred. It lives because it festers and is passed on from one generation to the next. However, it stops when it is challenged and offered an atypical perspective. Like when King led the Montgomery Bus Boycott with a nonviolent movement to not ride the buses for 305 days resulting in the ruling by the US Supreme that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional. Or when he started the Birmingham Campaign to change one of the most racially divided cities at the time in 1963 to one where the municipal government changed Bir-

January 16 – January 22, 2020

mingham’s discriminatory laws. Or any of the countless other times when King made a conscious decision to not fight with his fists but to use the influence of his words and operate in love.

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you,” said King in his Love Your Enemies sermon in Montgomery, Alabama in 1957. According to King loving your enemies requires one to analyze themselves to see what arouses the hate response in others and to look for the element of good in those that speak hate. When those things are discovered you can then begin to discredit hate and transform your enemies.

Allow me to offer these suggestions as to how to show love in the midst of hate and honor a King. *Pray – Prayer should always be the first approach to any situation. Prayer has the power to change any situation in God’s timing. Pray for hate to end.

Pray for hatred to not be taught. Pray for those who believe and practice hate.

Pray for love to prevail. *Do Something for Someone in Need – Good deeds don’t have to be big and grand. It could be as simple as

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giving a friend a place to stay while they go through recovery. Buying a meal for someone who hungry. Sharing your resources with a friend who is experiencing financial difficulties. Just pay close attention to the people in your life. They could be suffering before your very eyes and too ashamed to ask for help. *Be Kind – This not only sounds simple. It is simple. Don’t dismiss the janitor cleaning the halls because you think you are above them. Treat all races of people with dignity and don’t disrespect them because of their race. *Teach the Next Generation to Love – A reason hate has lasted so long is that it continues to be taught. Children come into the world innocent with no thoughts of their own. They learn what they are taught from parents, mentors, the environment, and life itself. We have to be good stewards so children can learn the good and not the bad. If we can stop the teaching of hate we can start the lessons of love.

Adopting these practices not just on Martin Luther King, Jr. but every day of the year will bring peace to our society.

King’s dream of all of humanity seen equally will be more of a reality.

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MLK EVENTS Thursday, January 16

4th Annual MLK Concert: Houston Schiller Community Chorus 6:30-8:30pm at the Tracy Gee Community Center

This year’s concert celebrates the 100th birthday of the late William Warfield, baritone singer, teacher, and master in the art of poetic expression in both classical singing and poetry. This event is free.

Saturday, January 18 MLK Banquet – Envision Change: Act Now 7-9pm

The Galveston County Coalition of Black Democrats will honor Galveston community leaders. The keynote speaker will be Koretta Brown, Chairwoman of Alliance for a New Justice System.

Tickets are $25 and a table for 8 is $200.

4th Annual MLK Peace through PIE Social

10am-12pm at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church

Join us to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy as a peacemaker and his love of pie (Pecan was his favorite). This event is free.

The Youngest Marcher: A Day for Children in Honor of MLK Jr.’s Birth 8:30am-12: 30pm at Northside Episcopal Church

The day will include outside play, breakfast, the story of Audrey Faye Hendricks (a youth Civil Rights Activist), dance, singing, crafts, and lunch. This event is free for ages 4 to 11.

14th Annual MLK Youth Parade 12-1:30pm at Midtown at 1300 Holman Street

Grab the kids and head to Midtown for the MLK Youth Parade starting at San Jacinto Street & Elgin Street. This event is free.

Sunday, January 19

The WAY 2020 Teen Summit

1:30-9:30pm at Jones Memorial United Methodist Church

Jones Memorial UMC will host the WAY 2020 Teen Summit where teens (6th - 12th grades) will get the opportunity to grow on Sunday and give back on Monday through community service on MLK DAY!

Legacy: A Celebration of the Life Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 4-6pm at First Methodist Houston

Two of Houston’s oldest churches are collaborating together on a celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the heroes of the civil rights movement. The event will feature the churches’ combined youth, musicians, and choirs, and feature a collection of music historically connected to the civil rights movement and King’s life. Reverend Edward Jones, Senior Pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church will deliver the address.

19th Annual MLK Battle of the Bands Competition-Houston 3-6pm at Galena Park ISD Stadium

See which school will get top honors to be the best in the land. Tickets are $15.

Martin Luther King Food Truck Festival

12-7pm at 10739 Gulf Freeway

Come with your money and enjoy some great food. Plus there will be live music, art displays, street vendors, eating contests, and giveaways. Free tickets are available on eventbrite.com. This event is free.

Monday, January 20 42nd Original MLK Day Parade in Downtown 10am-12:30pm

The parade will take place in the Downtown streets near City Hall, starting at the intersection of Smith and Lamar Streets. This event is free.

32nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Breakfast 8am-10am at the Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel

Under the theme “Challenging the Present to Live the Dream”, Dr. George Fraser, Chairman and CEO of FraserNet, Inc. is slated to be the keynote speaker.

Tickets are $60.

MLK Day of Service, Transform Houston screens Brave New Films production of Suppressed: The Fight to Vote 6-8pm at the University of Houston, Agnes Arnold Hall, Auditorium #2

The film recounts efforts to prevent people of color from casting their vote in the 2018 election in Georgia.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. KING! “As we commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, we must continue to standup and to fight for what is right!

We will always stand with Dr. King’s dream and fight for our community!”

- Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Join me for the Townhall Action Meeting on the Cancer Clusters found in the northern sector of Houston.

Special Guest: Erin Brockovich, Environmental Leader & other U. S. federal officials and national leaders at Wheatley High School Auditorium 4901 Providence St. Houston, TX 77020 Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 7:00 PM

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January 16 – January 22, 2020

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EAT WITH STYLE Refresh Your Child’s Diet with Low-Sugar Options

By Family Features

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any families look to the new year as a time to reset their eating habits and focus on making healthier choices. However, adults aren’t the only ones who could use a menu refresh as children may also need to focus on healthier food choices.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed children consume an unhealthy amount of added sugar every day. Researchers found nearly all of the toddlers in their study ate an average of 7 teaspoons of added sugar daily – the equivalent of a candy bar. Additionally, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, excess sugar consumption can lead to an increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

“Small children have small stomachs,” said Courtney Hines, a nutritionist for KinderCare Learning Centers, which care for more than 165,000 children around the country every day. “You want them to fill up on nutrient-dense foods, not empty calories in the form of added sugar. When children consume lots of sugar, their palates get used to overly sweet flavors. They may not accept other, less sugary flavors or learn to appreciate the natural sweetness of a piece of fresh fruit.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against the consumption of added sugar for children under the age of 2. Children ages 2-18 should aim for less than 25 grams, or 6 teaspoons, of added sugar per day.

For families that want to cut down on the amount of added sugar in their diets, Hines recommends cooking more at home, relying less on processed, packaged foods and serving only water or milk for beverages.

Consider these low-sugar ideas for meal and snack times to help control the amount of added sugar you and your family consume.

Dip Smart Herbs, spices, citrus and fresh fruit add flavor without relying on the added sugars found in many popular sauces and dips. Consider making your own low-sugar alternatives at home so your family can still enjoy favorite flavors like these: Ranch Dressing – In a bowl, combine

option at KinderCare centers and in many homes, but even the healthiest whole-grain pancake becomes a plateful of sugar if it’s doused in syrup. Hines recommends these toppings that are sweet and savory without the added sugar: Nut butter or seed butter (such as peanut, almond or sun) and banana slices Warm fruit compote (mix of warmed berries) Applesauce (no-sugar-added variety) and cinnamon Nut butter swirled into plain yogurt; mix in 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract to add a sweet flavor Snack Sweet Opting for less added sugar doesn’t mean avoiding sweet snacks altogether.

These alternatives can still help satisfy those cravings: Applesauce with baked cinnamon pita triangles for dipping Toast topped with nut or seed butter, smashed banana and sprinkle of cinnamon Frozen fruit smoothies Plain yogurt topped with granola, nuts, seeds or fruit Apple slices with nut or seed butter For more ideas to introduce your children to healthy habits from a young age, visit kindercare.com.

mayonnaise, buttermilk, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper for a kid-tested, nutritionist-approved take on a favorite dip. Serve over salad or as vegetable dip.

Honey Mustard – Popular on a variety of sandwiches and as a dip or salad dressing, combining plain yogurt with milk, honey and regular or Dijon mustard can create a more family-friendly version.

Teriyaki Sauce – Perfect for serving with healthier options like lo mein, chicken wraps or fried rice, a homemade version can be created using water, soy sauce, honey, ginger, garlic powder and cornstarch slurry.

Swap Out Syrup Pancakes are a popular breakfast

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Tickets for the Friday performances go on sale Feb. 6 at 10 a.m.

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January 16 – January 22, 2020

11

HEALTH

A study 6 Ways Your Smile Can Light Up The New Decade

By Dr. Ana Castilla

M

Dr. Ana Castilla

any families look to the new year as a time to reset their eating habits and focus on making healthier choices. However, adults aren’t the only ones who could use a menu refresh as children may also need to focus on healthier food choices.

The dawning of a new decade prompts some people to self-reflect and set goals that go beyond New Year’s resolutions.

Where do they see themselves in 10 years? Perhaps another question they might ask is, What do they see now – literally, when looking in the mirror?

Does it reflect a natural, attractive, healthy smile?

Numerous studies have shown that a confident smile is often a bridge to success, strongly impacting others and creating a positive image of the smil-

er. On the flip side, oral health issues or crooked teeth can cause people to keep their mouth closed, betraying a lack of confidence. More adults today are pursuing orthodontic treatment to straighten their teeth or receive oral rehabilitation, and statistics show that self-esteem significantly increases as a result.

“Along with the health benefits of straight teeth is the increased self-confidence that comes with a beautiful smile,” says Dr. Ana Castilla, an orthodontist and author of the book The Smile of Your Life: Everything You Need to Know for Your Orthodontic Journey (www. castillaortho.com). “Improved self-confidence affects every aspect of your life – more ease in social situations, and better chances of success in school and work.”

Dr. Castilla says straight teeth and a confident smile can bring these six primary benefits for the long haul: Gum protection. Periodontal (gum) disease affects nearly half of U.S. adults aged 30 or older, and research shows a link between gum disease and the loss of bone and teeth. That can happen as a result of crooked teeth. “Red and swollen gums (side effects of gingivitis or periodontal disease) can result from crowded or malpositioned teeth since this makes them much more difficult to clean,” Dr. Castilla says. “Having

straight teeth and a good bite ensures that your dental hygiene efforts are more successful. Straight teeth and a resulting good bite also distribute chewing forces evenly so that there are no teeth that are hitting excessively hard, which can lead to gum recession and even loose teeth due to occlusal (bite) trauma.”

Easier cleaning, better overall health. Studies have shown a connection between oral health and overall health. The mouth is the entry point to the digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems and without proper oral hygiene, bacteria teeming in the mouth can cause disease. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, multiple studies have shown that gum disease is associated with heart disease and can even exacerbate existing heart conditions. Straight teeth are easier to keep clean and clean teeth contribute to overall health. “By simply aligning your teeth,” Dr. Castilla says, “all surface areas of the teeth will be easily accessible and can be brushed and flossed effectively.”

Better digestion. Teeth not aligned correctly affect chewing. “Not chewing properly consequently causes digestive problems, because more digestion has to be done in the stomach,” Dr. Castilla says. “That leads to not receiving full nutrition from your food.”

Mood elevation. “More studies are

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January 16 – January 22, 2020

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finding that positive thinking and a brighter attitude has a greater influence on our health and state of well-being,” Dr. Castilla says. “A smile causes your brain and others to react positively. The brain releases endorphins, dopamine and serotonin, the body relaxes, and our heart rate and blood pressure are lowered.”

Better job prospects. It’s well-documented that one’s appearance makes a difference in their ability to get hired.

Studies show a confident smile is central to an attractive appearance. “People with a straight smile are much more likely to get hired over someone with the same qualifications, but with a crooked smile,” Dr. Castilla says.

Consistent dental care. Those with poor oral health tend to put off dental visits because of embarrassment. “But deciding your oral health is important for the long run and having teeth you are proud of will bring you back for regular checkups,” Dr. Castilla says. “And it will incentivize you to maintain good habits.”

“It’s been shown many times that a smile connects people and leaves a lasting impression,” Dr. Castilla says. “The start of a new decade might be time to consider the long-term positives of consistent oral health accented by an attractive smile.”

SPORTS The Comeback 2

Houston Brings Back Old Memories For Oiler Fans After Losing to the Kansas City Chiefs In The AFC Divisional Game 51-31

By Brian Barefield, Sports Editor

I

n 1996, Bud Adams decided that his time was up here in Houston and moved the team to Tennessee. He had been battling the city for a new stadium and when he didn’t get it, he loaded the U-Haul truck and headed to Nashville.

In that truck was all the team history that had accumulated over the years since the team became a charter member in the

American Football League in the 1960s.

The first-ever AFL Championship victory. Gone. Their great run of success they had in the early ’90s. Gone. All the memories the fans created screaming out, “Love Ya Blue!” Gone Bye-Bye. One memory Oilers fans were happy to see go was the infamous 1993 AFC Wild Card game against the Buffalo Bills in which they blew a 35-3 lead and lost 41-38. I am pretty sure Bud had some help loading that one up as fans around Houston never wanted to be reminded of that game and thought they would never have to talk about it again when the Houston Texans arrived in 2002.

Fans felt a small form of redemption on the first weekend of the 2020 NFL playoffs as the Texans got revenge by defeating the Buffalo Bills in NRG and advancing to the divisional round against the Kansas City Chiefs. Although the Texans and not the Oilers had defeated the Bills, some former Oiler fans who still resided in the city took some pleasure in that win and thought they would never have to talk about, “The Comeback” game again.

Well, the fans were halfway right.

They would never have to talk about that game ever again because on this past Sunday the Houston Texans decided to follow in the footsteps of the previous regime (Oilers) and be on the

wrong side of history by playing in “The Comeback 2.”

Houston (11-7) lost to the Kansas City Chiefs (13-4) in the divisional round of the playoffs by a score of 51-31 in Arrowhead Stadium after blowing a 24-point first half lead. The Texans became the first team in NFL history to build a 20-plus point lead and lose by 20 or more points. Reigning 2018 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes led Kansas City to 41 unanswered points and eliminated Houston in their quest to be AFC champs where they would face the Tennessee Titans.

“I definitely thought we were going to have to score more than 24,” said Texans coach Bill O’Brien in a defeated tone after the game. “I think that they’re, obviously, a very explosive team and it just didn’t work out.”

One call coach O’Brien would love to have back was the failed fake punt at the Houston 31-yard line that the Chiefs sniffed out giving Mahomes a short field and setting up a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce to cut the lead to 10 points.

“We had that play ready for a variety of different teams and situations,” said the Texans safety Justin Reid, who was stopped short of the first down. “Credit to them, they made the play.”

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The Chiefs never looked back from that point as they took a 28-24 lead into halftime on their way to the aforementioned 41 unanswered points before the Texans would score a meaningless touchdown in the third quarter.

“The biggest thing I was preaching was, let’s go do something special,” Mahomes said proudly after the game.

“Everybody is counting us out. Let’s go out there and play by play put it out there.’ And play by play, we did what we were supposed to do.”

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson ended the game with 388 yards and two touchdowns while running for another in a losing effort.

Houston is 0-4 in the divisional round of the playoffs and this latest loss sends the team into the offseason scratching their heads wondering what went wrong. How can a team with so much talent bounce back from such an embarrassing defeat? Will not having first and second round draft picks for consecutive years hamper team growth?

Is Bill O’Brien the right coach to lead this team?

Texans fans will be wondering the same thing as they try to cope with the scar left from an old wound (Bills comeback victory in 1993) while tending to a bigger wound (Chiefs comeback 2020).

January 16 – January 22, 2020

13

EDUCATION

Top 5 Signs You’re Overwhelmed as a Principal

By Kimberly McLeod, Education Writer

1

You don’t walk the halls anymore.

You know that you should be visible, but if you leave the fire you are currently putting out, the building may burn down. Not just one room in the building, the entire building! The minute you put that fire out, you discover the embers from that fire started another one that is blazing right behind you. Sign number one that you are overwhelmed as a principal is that you are always in crisis mode and not in creation mode.

No one can thrive in a building that is constantly in crisis, day after day; year after year and fire after fire.

2. Kid here, kids there, kids, kids everywhere! Sign number two that you are overwhelmed as a principal is that the one occasion when you do walk the halls, kids are all over the place. You see two kids take bathroom breaks twice in ten minutes, kids running the halls, dragging slowly down the halls. Ummmm are they playing chase? Where is this entire classroom? They are supposed to be in this area by now. Wait, who is missing? Well find him! Why are we spending 30 minutes transitioning? Why is this student outside of the classroom on the floor doing work? With all this activity in the hallway, who is in the classroom actually learning? You open the door to a classroom and see sign number three.

3. The worksheet jungle. You walk in a classroom and examine all the walls

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and all you see are worksheets. This is an issue, but it becomes a crisis when you find that your best teachers have worksheet jungle fever also! Worksheets are falling out of kids desks like they have decayed. Worksheets on the walls, worksheets in the trash, worksheets stuffed in backpacks, worksheet scraps on the floor, worksheets taped to the board. The worksheet has become the primary stimulator for engagement and that stimulator is BORING. So as a result, sign number 2 just delivered another gut punch because all you see are that kids are here, kids are there, kids are just everywhere.

4. A classic sign you are overwhelmed as a principal is when you stop taking care of you. Sign number 4. You take care of everyone and neglect your own needs. Even when you are not at work, your mind is still there; and if your mind

January 16 – January 22, 2020

is there, so is the impact that stress has on your body. When self-care moves to the last thing on your list, you are overwhelmed. Even if your mind doesn’t know it, your body certainly does.

5. Instruction what is that? Now you know that your teachers have had PLENTY of professional development.

Plenty. Yet, when you peer into a classroom there is absolutely no sign that it transferred to the classroom. Sign number five that you are overwhelmed as a principal. You know what instruction should look like, but what you see in your classrooms is barely a distant relative. Teachers have gone completely off the grid and are doing their own thing; or they are recklessly executing the district/campus initiative. All are quickly burning out because nothing seems to be working. They feel like giving up

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and secretly, silently, in that place that no one can hear your thoughts, you feel like giving up too.

Don’t. Don’t give up. Principals don’t get overwhelmed because they don’t understand what to do; on the contrary, they know exactly what to do and they try to accomplish absolutely all of it – at the same time. You can’t. When you are ready to acknowledge that, then you are ready to revive your inner leader. Take a step back, assess your multiple problems on the campus and list every single one of them out. Then prioritize your list.

Pick the top three that are most critical and focus on just three. You’ll find that when you and your team master those, the others will follow without you having to do much work. Breathe, because your lungs need air and your mind needs a moment to slow down in order to catch up. You can do this, but take care you of you first.

Dr. Kimberly McLeod is a 25-year education professional and an expert consultant in the field of cultural responsiveness. To get more solutions on reaching, teaching and leading with a culturally responsive mindset, visit www.CreativeEnergy.co. Connect with Dr. McLeod on Twitter @mcleodkr, FB/drkmcleod, Linkedin/KimberlyMcLeod or email DrKMcLeod@gmail. com. Share this story online at www. stylemagazine.com

2020

RODNEY ELLIS CAMPAIGN OFFICE OPENING RODNEY ELLIS CAMPAIGN OFFICE

RODNEY ELLIS CAMPAIGN OFFICE OPENING

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICKY PINK

2020

s Harris County Commissioner for Precinct One Rodney Ellis has made great strides to advance the issues of the community and he is not done yet. Hence why he is running for a second term. He garnered support for his second run with the opening of his campaign office hosted by Senator Wendy Davis. Many community leaders and residents came out to support Ellis’s campaign for a better Harris County. Some in attendance were Representative Senfronia Thompson, Senator Carol Alvardo, Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Judge Lina Hidalgo, Judge Zinetta Burney, State Rep. Ronald Reynolds, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Terence Fontaine, Lloyd Gite, Winston Williams, and Kenneth Olive.

IT’S TEA TIME, LADY & GIRL LEADERS ASIA SOCIETY TEXAS CENTER

IT’S TEA TIME, LADY & GIRL LEADERS

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICKY PINK

ver 100 girls, their mothers, teachers and others from across Houston came together for the It’s TEA Time, Lady & Girl leadHERs hosted by the SUPERGirls SHINE Foundation. The gathering was a chance for the SUPERgirls with their SUPERLadies to learn about oil & gas, community development, technology, environmental services, education, and business. With keynote speaker Tiera Fletcher, the youngest Rocket Structural Design & Analysis Engineer, girls saw what leadership looked like, how to overcome challenges in male-dominated careers and what skills they could develop now to lead in STEM courses, careers, and communities.

Also attendees had a lesson on the African Dispora and experience a Japanese tea ceremony. Some in attendance were Loretta Gurnell, Cassandra Dodson, Bridget See, Karla Aghedo, and Paula McCann Harris.

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January 16 – January 22, 2020

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January 16 – January 22, 2020

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