Houston Style Magazine Vol 33 No 05

January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication, Since 1989

Volume 33 | Number 05

THE BIDEN PICK:

Complimentary

Jesse Jackson

Voting Rights Now!

REPRESENTATION MATTERS Written By Jo-Carolyn Goode

Kevin Lamarque-Pool/Getty Images; S. Todd Rogers/AP; Charles Dharapak/AP

Commissioner Ellis

Protecting Voting Rights for Texans

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CORONAVIRUS – US NUMBERS: Cases: 74,085,102 Deaths: 898,099 TAG US: #TeamStyleMag

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Top Chef- Cooking Reality Show Comes to Houston

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Unpresendented Investing in Homeless Population

Nicolas Jimenez

Comcast New Director of Government Affairs

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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January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

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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

PHOTOGRAPHERS

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

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Houston Style Magazine & www.StyleMagazine.com Phone: (713) 748-6300 • Fax: (713) 748-6320 Mail: P.O. Box 14035, Houston, TX 77221-4035 ©2021 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)

President Joe Biden said, a Black woman on the United States Supreme Court It's long overdue.

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January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

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COMMENTARY

VOTING RIGHTS NOW!

By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer C

an America be a democracy if a minority writes the rules to entrench minority rule?

Last week, Senate Republicans invoking the cause of "states' rights" united in a filibuster to block democratic reforms, including the effort to revive the Voting Rights Act. They were empowered to do so by the decision of two wayward Democratic senators - Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Krysten Sinema of Arizona -- to protect the filibuster, choosing obstruction over reforms they claim to support.

The 50 Republicans voting against democracy reform represent 41 million fewer voters than the 50 Democrats who support reform.

For African Americans, the Republican commitment to rig the rules for the minority is particularly ominous. "States' rights" was the cover story used by the Southern plantation class after the Civil War to suppress the Black vote and impose apartheid - legal segregation -on the South. Today, "states' rights" is used to justify systematic Republican efforts to make it harder to vote, particularly in urban areas with high numbers of Blacks and other people of color.

For African Americans, freedom, citizenship and the right to vote are inextricably linked. With the victory of the Union in the Civil War, the Civil Rights Amendments to the Constitution -- the 13th, 14th and 15th --were passed, freeing the slaves, requiring equal justice for all, and protecting the right to vote against discrimination. Those rights were trampled by segregation, an apartheid regime shamefully ratified by a reactionary Supreme Court. It took 100 years and the civil rights movement to end segregation and pass the Voting Rights Act once more enforcing the right to vote.

Now we witness a reaction once

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more. Once more, Republicans seek to suppress the vote. Once more they invoke states' rights to oppose federal efforts to protect this basic right.

Once more a tong of five right-wing Supreme Court Justices - ratified by a Senate ruled by the minority - acts to weaken federal protections for the right to vote.

The question now is what can be done about it. This is not a time for the wringing of hands, for giving up. It is a time to act.

The Biden administration still has statutory authority under what is left of the Voting Rights Act - as well as constitutional authority - to protect the right to vote. As attorney Gerald Griggs argued, the president could issue Executive Orders to empower the Justice Department to send in federal monitors in states that are sued by the Justice Department for violating the right to vote. The attorney general could file suit against states violating the Voting Rights Act and order suspension of all tests and devices that abridge the right to vote. The attorney general could use the enforcement power of the Voting Rights Act to prevent state officials from undertaking voter purges or efforts to impede the casting or tabulation of the vote.

These laws are on the books now. It is time to set up a special task force to ensure that they are enforced.

But judicial action is not sufficient. In the end, we won the right to vote - and passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965 - not because the Constitution demanded it, or the courts ordered it.

We won because people marched, demonstrated, and risked their lives to demand the right to vote. The Voting Rights Act was passed in the halls of Congress in Washington, D.C., but it was won on the bridge in Selma, Alabama. Lyndon Johnson and the Congress were reacting to a demand that could no longer

January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King tomb in the Sweet Auburn district. (AP Photos) be ignored.

We need street heat. Joe Manchin struts around Washington rationalizing his vote against support for families with children, against paid family leave, against lower prescription drug prices, against tuition free community college. He represents one of the poorest states in the union, in dire need of investment and reform. He needs to be reminded where he comes from - and who he is supposed to represent. We need street heat with a huge march in the streets in West Virginia.

And we need street heat on the anniversary of Selma. Pundits say people don't care about the right to vote. Republicans, they argue, can filibuster it and pay no price at the polls. To change that, citizens of conscience must mobilize once more - going back to Selma - and then across the 50 states to demand that the right to

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vote be protected.

The stakes are very high. Minority rule mocks democracy. It is corrosive, undermining the legitimacy of our government. It is destructive, allowing the few to pocket the gold while the many get the shaft. Now is the time for the majority to make their voices heard.

Voting rights! jjackson@rainbowpush.org.

Follow him on Twitter @RevJJackson

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January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

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1/14/22 2:03 PM

POLITICAL: BIDEN THANKS BREYER FOR HIS "DISTINGUISHED" CAREER ON THE SUPREME COURT

By Maureen Chowdhury, Adrienne Vogt, Aditi Sangal, Melissa Macaya and Meg Wagner, www.CNN.com

Justice Stephen G. Breyer, characteristically ebullient, spoke at the White House on Thursday. Credit Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times

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n announcing Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement from the court, President Biden commended his almost 28 years on the bench, calling him a “model public servant.”

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer reflected on his role during nearly his 30-year career on the highest court in the US — which he called a “complicated country” — praising the “rule of law” and ultimately concluding that he thinks the “American experiment” will succeed, in remarks from the White House announcing his retirement from the bench.

He began his brief remarks by thanking President Biden for his “terribly nice” introduction, before turning to what he said was the speech he gen-

erally gives to groups of high school students.

“This is a complicated country,” Breyer said. “There's more than 330 million people, and my mother used to say it's every race, it's every religion — and she would emphasize this — and its every point of view possible.”

“And it's a kind of miracle when you sit there and see all those people in front of you,” Breyer said.

“People that are so different in what they think, and yet they've decided to help solve their major differences under law.”

Breyer said that while people often “don’t agree,” the country is “based on human rights, democracy

and so forth.”

Breyer said that both Presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington both deeply believed in the "experiment" of democracy. He quoted the opening lines of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Breyer said he believes the next generation will make sure democracy endures.

"You know who will see whether that experiment works? It's you, my friend. It's you, Mr. high school student. It's you, Mr. college student. It's you, Mr. law school students. It's us, but it's you. It's that next generation, and the one after that.

My grandchildren and their children.

They'll determine whether the experi-

ment still works and, of course, I'm an optimist and I am pretty sure it will," he said.

"Does it surprise you that that's the thought that comes into my mind today? I don't know, but thank you," he said, closing his remarks.

Mr. Biden said he would name a successor by the end of February after a deliberate process, but he declined to answer questions about that process, saying that the day should be focused on Justice Breyer’s career.

For more Information visit:

www.CNN.com

NATIONAL: BIDEN COMMITS TO NOMINATING A BLACK WOMAN TO BE THE NEXT SCOTUS JUSTICE

By Ashton Jackson, www.CNBC.com

AP/Getty Images/ NC Judicial Branch

P

resident Joe Biden on Thursday affirmed his pledge to nominate the first Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying it was “long overdue." He praised retiring Justice Stephen Breyer as a model public servant and promised a nominee by the end of February.

Breyer joined Biden at the White House, a day after news broke of the 83-year-old’s upcoming retirement.

Since Biden took office in January 2021, he has focused on nominating a diverse group of judges to the federal bench, not just in race but also in professional expertise. He installed five Black women on federal appeals courts, with three more nominations pending before the Senate.

“I've made no decision except the one

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person I will nominate will someone with extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity," Biden said as Breyer stood by. "And that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court. It's long overdue."

By the end of his first year, Biden had won confirmation of 40 judges, the most since President Ronald Reagan. Of those, 80% are women and 53% are people of color, according to the White House.

Breyer’s replacement by another liberal justice would not change the ideological makeup of the court. Conservatives outnumber liberals by 6-3, and Donald Trump’s three nominees pushed the court even further to the right.

Biden has already met personally with at least one top nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51, Breyer’s former clerk worked at the U.S. Sentencing

January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

Commission and has been a federal trial court judge since 2013 in the District of Columbia. The two met when Biden interviewed her for her current post as an appeals court judge in the D.C. circuit, where she has served since last June.

Early discussions about a successor are focusing on Jackson, U.S. District Judge J. Michelle Childs and California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss White House deliberations. Jackson and Kruger have long been seen as possible nominees.

“He has a strong pool to select a candidate from, in addition to other sources. This is an historic opportunity to appoint someone with a strong record on civil and human rights,” said Derrick Johnson, the NAACP’s president.

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When Biden was running for the White House, he said that if he had the chance to nominate someone to the court, he would make history by choosing a Black woman. And he’s reiterated that pledge since.

Adding a Black woman to the court would mean a series of firsts—four female justices and two Black justices serving at the same time on the nine-member court. Justice Clarence Thomas is the court’s only Black justice and just the second ever, after Thurgood Marshall.

For more Information visit:

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January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

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NATIONAL: ANGELA BASSETT AND COURTNEY B. VANCE FILM TO DEBUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH

By Atiya Jordan, www.BlackEnterprise.com

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The docu-series will feature appearances from Dr. Bernice King, Debbie Allen, Valerie Jarrett, Lorraine Toussaint and more. (Photo Credit: Smithsonian Channel)

n honor of Black History Month, The Smithsonian Channel has revealed the official trailer of One Thousand Years of Slavery – The Untold Story, a four-part limited series produced

by Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance’s Bassett Vance Productions.

The Hollywood power couple is among the busiest and determined to produce great stories for the screen through their company. From an upcoming reimagining of The Preacher’s Wife to a historical series on the Tulsa Race Massacre, Basset and Vance are making things happen in 2022.

In collaboration with MTV, this latest project will premiere on Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the Smithsonian Channel and is set to air every Monday during Black History Month. One Thousand Years of Slavery – The Un-

told Story intends to uncover the truth of a 1,000-year story of slavery around the world, from Africa to the Caribbean and from New Orleans to Istanbul.

This special series will explore slavery’s lasting and personal impact on individuals and society.

With Vance himself narrating, the limited series will feature interviews and sit-downs from Black celebrities, community leaders, and historical experts, including Dr. Bernice King, Debbie Allen, Valerie Jarrett, Lorraine Toussaint, Soledad O’Brien, CCH Pounder, and Sen. Cory Booker.

They will commit to confronting their personal connection to slavery and its legacy today.

“We are honored to anchor our Black History Month content with this innovative, impactful docu-series that

unveils untold stories of resistance, power and human bondage on a global scale,” said Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer, MTV Entertainment Group. “In order to move forward, we must look back.

And, thanks to Courtney, Angela, our partners at Bassett Vance Productions and the extraordinary list of contributors, it is our hope to do just that.”

“The Smithsonian Channel and Smithsonian brand are known around the world as a trusted resource that makes history accessible for all.

We couldn’t think of a better outlet to tell this important and increasingly relevant history. We are incredibly proud to be part of this journey,” Vance shared with Shadow and Act. “As an executive producer on One Thousand Years of Slavery, Bas-

sett Vance Productions wanted to tell the globally comprehensive history of slavery,” said Bassett.

“Finding the right partner and audience who share common beliefs and values was absolutely imperative as we navigate a topic that still haunts us decades later. ‘One Thousand Years of Slavery’ stretches the canvas beyond the 400 years we’ve traditionally learned about, and I’m thrilled to bring this storytelling to life with Smithsonian Channel.”

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POLITICAL: COMMISSIONER ELLIS’ SUPPORT OF CONGRESS FOR HELP REGARDING MAIL BALLOTS IN TEXAS

By StyleMagazine.com

Commissioner Rodney Ellis (Photo courtesy of Commissioner Ellis Office)

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oting is a sacred right and among the most important hallmarks of our democracy. In Harris County, the State of Texas, and the nation, we have seen these fundamental rights stripped away from people.

I stand with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Congressman Joaquin Castro in their fight to protect

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access to voting nationally and in Harris County.

Our conservative state leaders have directly targeted our constitutional right to vote - es-sential for a functioning democracy. Texas Senate Bill 1 has added even more burdens for our citizens to overcome and infused chaos into the upcoming March 1 primary.

January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

As the pandemic surges on, over 15% of Harris County residents who qualify and need to vote by mail have had their applications rejected due to confusion caused by SB1. I welcome relief from the U.S. Department of Justice to prevent these applications from being disqualified for minor discrepancies.

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History will be on the side of those who work to make voting accessible, free, fair and safe for all voters.

For more Information visit:

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LOCAL: THE NEW SEASON OF ‘TOP CHEF’ WILL TRAVEL TO HOUSTON

By Jared Alexander, www.TheGrio.com

S

ince André Leon Talley, the former longtime Top Chef fans, rejoice! The popular reality competition series is back and heading to Houston, Texas for a brand new season.

The series is returning to Bravo this March with host Padma Lakshmi, head judge Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons. By bringing the competition to Houston, this season promises to immerse the contestants in “the ethnic diversity that has come to define Houston’s culinary identity.”

With Houston being home to the largest Nigerian population in the country, the show will challenge the chefs with quickfire Nigerian cuisine challenges, as well as having to put their own spin on Houston staples, like “BBQ, biscuits, queso and the classic Tex-Mex original, the fajita.”

The official description for the new season per the Bravo website reads: “Houston is home to infinite possibilities as the chefs create space-friendly dishes for former astronauts, and head out to the Gulf with Tom for an unforgettable fishing experience. Taking inspiration from Top Chef France’s most difficult challenge, Padma tests the chefs to create two dishes that look identical but taste

completely different. The competition’s signature challenge, Restaurant Wars, ups the ante with an open kitchen concept where the chefs must cook for a full dining room of guests, while also catering to an intimate tasting table for the judges.

From paying tribute to the state’s female trailblazers to hosting a block party fundraiser to preserve Freedmen’s town, the culinary showdown from 15 to 1 ‘Top Chef,’ is one for the history books. ” Some exciting contestants that we have our eyes on include Damarr Brown, a chef at the Virtue restaurant in Chicago. Having fallen in love with cooking by spending time with his grandmother in the kitchen, he went on to formalize his skills at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago.

Virtue was even named one of America’s Best New Restaurants by Esquire in 2019.

Ashleigh Shanti of Virginia Beach, VA also seems to be a promising competitor in the new season. She is the creator of Good Hot Fish, a fish fry pop up in Asheville, North Carolina. Per her official cast description, her cuisine, “honors Black foodways while also paying homage to her coastal Virginia upbringing where she stripped collard greens before she could walk.”

(Credit: YouTube screenshot) zation, Creativity Kitchen, which “works with Jackson Public Schools to provide more flavorful and nutritious meals for students as well as educate them about healthy eating and the skills and value of farm-to-table practices.”

Having earned a Bachelor’s in Marketing from Hampton University and studied Culinary Arts at Baltimore International College, Shanti has gone on to receive various awards including the 2019 Eater Young Gun. We also have our sights on Nick Wallace of Jackson, MS. Founder and Chef of Nick Wallace Culinary, Nick Wallace Catering, Nissan Café by Nick Wallace, and more, Wallace has served as executive chef “for some of the country’s largest and most prominent museums and hotels.”

He also has a nonprofit organi-

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January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

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THE BIDEN PICK:

REPRESENTATION MATTERS

By Jo-Carolyn Goode - www.StyleMagazine.com

DC Circuit Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, and federal court judge J. Michelle Childs are pictured.

Kevin Lamarque-Pool/Getty Images; S. Todd Rogers/AP; Charles Dharapak/AP

P

resident Joe Biden made many promises to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has commented Americans on the campaign trail in 2020. One that a Biden pick would be confirmed at an "all

of which was to ensure that appointments he made would reflect the diverse nature of these united states. A more specific nod to diversify was his commitment to nominate an African American woman to the Supreme Court. With the announcement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement, President Biden is posed to stand by his word and make history while doing so.

“I (have) committed that, if I'm elected as president and have the opportunity to appoint someone to the courts, I'll appoint the first Black woman to the court. It's required that they have representation now — it's long overdue," Biden said almost two years ago.

Beyond his stance to reaffirm his commitment to nominate a Black woman to the high court, President Biden has stayed tight lip as to who that woman will be. But that has not stopped the chatter about the decision in the politico universe. Senate

10

deliberate speed." Considering Amy Coney Barrett got confirmed in less than a month compared to the usual process taking two to three months, Biden’s pick should be appointed just as quickly.

A short list of nominees is already circulating; however, the White House has not distributed any official list. Usually, they don’t confirm anything until the president has conducted interviews and made his pick for the nomination. Once that is done, the nominee will go before the Senate Judiciary Committee for the most intense job interview ever when they review the nominee’s record and get their take on hot button issues that may come before the court. Top issues expect to go before the court include those on voting rights and abortion issues. All that is need for a confirmation to pass is a majority vote of the Senate. In the event of a tie, Vice President Kamala Harris will break it.

January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

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How fitting it would be to have the first African American woman vice president usher in the first African American woman court justice. That would be a beautiful day for America.

Since the retiring 83-year-old Justice Breyer was seen as a liberal judge, his ideal replacement will need to represent that and be rather young. The average age of those on the bench at the start of their term is in their late 40’s and early 50’s. Breyer was 54 when President Bill Clinton nominated him. Justices are serving longer than in the past so President Biden’s pick could have significant influence over the court for up to 40 years based on the average time that justices are serving today.

The White House Counsel Office had been anticipated the retirement of Justice Breyer and got started early making a list of potential nominees.

Some names that may be on their list is below.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson could be a Biden pick since she has already been interviewed

by Biden and gone through the vetting process when he appointed her to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. She could be easily pushed through Senate confirmations at a record pace. Jackson also once clerked for Justice Breyer, so her views are probably aligned with his.

Another potential pick with a history of Biden’s favor is Judge J. Michelle Childs. Biden nominated her to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, but her nomination remains pending. Her nomination could help with the elitist imagery of the Democrat party. Judge Childs is the product of a public education with no Ivy League college education. With that foundation, she has successfully navigated the legal world to serve as a state court trial judge, deputy director of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, and as a commissioner on the South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission.

The names of Circuit Judges Eunice Lee and Candace Jackson-Akiwumi might also be on the list. Both ladies have caught Biden’s eye. He nominated Judge Lee to the Second Circuit and Judge Jackson-Akiwumi was appointed to the Seventh Circuit.

Sherrilyn Ifill name has been talked about with her recent announcement of stepping down as President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

A confirmation of Anita Earls would take some work for the Democrats since she is 61 years old, and the party really wants to nominate some-

one having longevity on the court.

Whoever is picked will be walking in the shadows of the first African American to ever appear before the court, Samuel R. Lowery. In 1880, Lowery also was the fifth Black person and first Black Southerner to be admitted into the Supreme Court Bar. The new justice will also be standing on the shoulders of the great Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court. He is known for winning 29 of 32 cases he argued before the high court including Brown vs the Board of Education where he said racial segregation in public education was unconstitutional. Marshall served for twenty-four years. His successor would be the second African American on the bench, Justice Clarence Thomas. At the age of 73, he sits to be the most senior member upon the retirement of Breyer.

If Biden’s pick is not announced and confirmed quickly, the midterm elections may hold up the process if they tip in favor of Republicans.

Many have said how they would block a Biden liberal pick for a more conservative thinking nominee. The right pick by Biden could make the court shift from a more conservative view to a liberal perspective. In his administration, Biden has already appointed eight African American women as federal appellate judges with five of them already confirmed. His pick for the Supreme Court will be another historic appointment for his administration.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson eyed as potential replacement to Justice Stephen Breyer. (Kevin Lamarque/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

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SIGNS OF POSSIBLE SEX TRAFFICKING • • • • • • •

Not free to come and go Isolation from family or friends Changing residences frequently Hiding bruises, scars, marks or injuries Working excessively long or unusual hours Lacking access to basic needs or medical care Not in possession of money, ID or documentation

If you suspect human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888

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January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

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LOCAL: NICOLAS JIMENEZ NAMED DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR COMCAST HOUSTON By www.StyleMagazine.com

Nicolas Jimenez (Photo Courtesy of Comcast Corporation)

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icolas Jimenez has been named director of Government Affairs for Comcast’s Houston Region. In this role, Jimenez will be responsible for overseeing regulatory, franchising, and public policy matters across the entire region.

“I’m so excited to join the terrific Comcast team in our Houston region and continue to build on the excellent relationships we have with our

government and community partners,” Jimenez said. “My family and I are thrilled to now be part of America’s most diverse city and to a region known for growth, hospitality, and innovation.”

Before joining the Houston team, Jimenez led Comcast’s government affairs efforts in South Metro Denver and Southern Colorado. He also worked at Comcast’s Philadelphia headquarters,

where he served as national partnerships lead for Internet Essentials, Comcast’s signature community impact initiative aimed at helping income-constrained households get online. Jimenez is a passionate lifelong learner and community-oriented leader, who has a long history of development and paying it forward.

“We are excited to have Nicolas join our Comcast Houston team,” said Toni Beck, vice president of External Affairs, Comcast Houston.

“His expertise and background in government affairs, passion for digital equity and meaningful stakeholder engagement will be an invaluable asset as we deepen our connection with communities and customers, remain laser-focused on closing the digital divide and grow Comcast’s business in the Houston area.”

Jimenez replaces Melinda Little who was promoted to a government affairs role in the Company’s central division.

Jimenez is a graduate of Temple University, Fox School of Business. He is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, who enjoys volunteering and spending time with his wife and kids.

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LOCAL: CITY OF HOUSTON TO HOST TUITION-FREE BEZOS ACADEMY PRESCHOOL BEGINNING IN 2022 By www.StyleMagazine.com

Bezos Academy offer year-round, full-day programming, five days a week, for children ages 3-5 years old from low-income families. (Photo Courtesy of Bezo)

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oday, the City of Houston announced a 10-year lease agreement with Bezos Academy to open a tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschool in the Denver Harbor area to open in fall 2022.

Following consultation with multiple civic agencies and community organizations, this project came to

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fruition, including the Houston Health Department, The Mayor's Office of Education and the Mayor's Office of Complete Communities.

"Our partnership with the Bezos Academy in the Denver Harbor neighborhood will be a game-changer for many families. Un-

January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

derserved children will have access to education that inspires their creativity and challenges them to succeed in the classroom," said Mayor Sylvester Turner. "By focusing on underserved communities, we are ensuring that every child will have equitable opportunities for education that propels them to a meaningful and successful future."

"The partnership between Bezos Academy and the City of Houston supports the healthy development and successful childhood of some of our City's neediest children, and helps ensure that our future workforce will be prepared for the jobs," said Houston City Council Member Karla Cisneros. "We are helping women get back to work, and we are giving young children a good shot at a better life."

"When we look for partners to host Bezos Academy preschools, we try to find opportunities that meet more than just the educational needs of the child," said Mike George, President of Bezos Academy. "The City of Houston helped us identify a site at Denver Harbor that will situate our tuition-free preschool in the midst

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of residential support programs for families ranging from a food pantry to health education.

We couldn’t be more excited to join and support this community."

The Bezos Academy preschool will be located in the Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center at 6402 Market St., Houston, 77020. The school, to be named Bezos Academy Houston – Denver Harbor, will feature two classrooms.

The school will follow a full-day, year-round schedule and will be slated to open in Fall 2022.

Families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty limit with children aged 3-4 are eligible to apply. More information and an application to the lottery-based selection process will be posted at www.bezosacademy.org once the school opening date is set.

For more information visit:

www.BEZOS.org

LOCAL: CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY ANNOUNCE UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENT TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS By www.StyleMagazine.com

ly approved. The City of Houston plans allocate at least $35 million — including funds approved

by City Council today for a $6.2 million housing navigation center — and helped secure $26 million from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). The Coalition will raise additional funding for Phase 2 from private philanthropy, making it a public-private partnership.

Partnership with national initiative On Wednesday, the City and the County officially signed on to the House America Initiative. House America is a national partnership in which HUD and USICH invite local leaders to “use the historic investments provided through $100 million program will house more than 7,000 additional people by 2024 and build critical infrastructure to end homelessness The City of Houston and Harris County Join House ARP to address the crisis of homelessness through a Housing First approach by immediately re-housAmerica, a federal initiative to address the Nation’s Homelessness Crisis (Photo COH) ing and building additional housing for people “Everyone deserves access to a safe, experiencing homelessness,” according to a rehe Officials from the City of Houston, Harris County, and the nonprofit Coalition for the stable, and affordable place to call home. Access lease from USICH. This aligns with the approach Homeless on Wednesday announced a $100 to housing and shelter is a fundamental human that the City, County, Coalition, and community million initiative to house 7,000 more people right, yet we often treat housing as a commodity,” partners have been implementing successfully for experiencing homelessness and to make critical said Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rod- over a year. enhancements that will bring the region closer ney Ellis. “We have an opportunity to end chronic to ending homelessness. Federal COVID relief homelessness in our community. That’s why I am Success of Phase 1 of the Community COVID Housfunding will be used for the second phase of excited to support ongoing funding with the City ing Program the Community COVID Housing Program. The of Houston and proud that the County will continhousing initiative has already housed a record ue to invest in our homelessness system through number of people experiencing homelessness — the Community COVID Housing Program.”

“Although Houston and Harris Counmore than 7,000 people since Oct. 2020.

At the announcement, the City and ty just joined the 60+ communities part of House the County also officially signed on to the U.S. America, they’ve been following the spirit of the Department of Housing and Urban Development initiative,” said Anthony Love, Interim Executive (HUD)’s and the U.S. Interagency Council on Director, U.S. Interagency Council on HomeHomelessness (USICH)’s national House Amer- lessness (USICH). “They used federal funding ica Initiative. for the COVID homeless housing program to set “In Phase 1, we not only met our goal, goals and break new records. They permanently but we also beat it and did so in record time,” rehoused 5,000 people – a year before they expectsaid Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “We are ed. The House America community can learn from not resting on our laurels, together, we will do Houston and Harris County.”

“The Way Home, the local homeless more, and we must keep the momentum going.

Therefore, Houston and Harris County are dou- response system, continues to prove out how colbling down and once again partnering with the laboration among governments, nonprofits, and Coalition for the Homeless and fellow agencies philanthropy can provide long-term fiscally and to launch the largest and most ambitious homeless morally responsible solutions to homelessness,” initiative in the history of the City and County. said Michael Nichols, president and CEO of the Together, we can strategically utilize COVID-19 Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris related funding to turn the crisis of the pandemic County. into an opportunity to reduce homelessness further and save lives.”

Funding for Phase 2 of housing-focused pandem“By pulling together in the same di- ic response rection, Harris County and Houston are showing the rest of America how to get within striking disFirst announced in July 2020, the tance of solving an intractable issue like home- Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) lessness,” said County Judge Lina Hidalgo. “Our is a housing-focused response to the pandemic rapid deployment of creative, effective programs for people experiencing homelessness. Led by is changing countless lives for the better. This is the Coalition and implemented by about a dozen how we make our community stronger, more re- homeless service provider agencies, the CCHP silient, and prosperous for everyone.” pioneered the use of housing as a pandemic re“After a lifetime of working in public sponse. It has become a model for other cities and safety, I have focused on keeping our entire com- counties across the country looking to use federal munity safe for decades,” said Harris County Pre- funding for maximum impact for people expericinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia. “We chose encing homelessness.

Harris County intends to invest $35 to partner again with the City of Houston and the Coalition for the Homeless on the Community million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) Local COVID Housing Program because housing the Fiscal Recovery Funds in Phase 2 of the CCHP, homeless not only protects the homeless, it pro- with $29.5 million committed by Commissioners tects the broader community.”

Court this week on top of $5.5 million previous-

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Through the first phase of the CCHP, the partners of The Way Home — the local homeless response system — have been able to accelerate their work and have housed more than 7,000 people experiencing homelessness — or on the verge of homelessness — since October 2020. The number of people permanently housed through the CCHP exceeds the number of people housed in the two previous years combined.

The initial goal of Phase 1 the housing initiative was to house 5,000 people over two years. Since the official start of the CCHP in October 2020: More than 1,080 people experiencing chronic (long-term) homelessness have been housed in Permanent Supportive Housing, More than 3,180 people have been housed via Rapid Rehousing (short-term rental assistance and light case management services), And more than 2,780 people have been prevented from falling into homelessness via Diversion.

For a total of more than 7,000 people housed Oct. 1, 2020, to Jan. 11, 2022.

For more information visit:

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January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

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CULINARY: PLAN A VALENTINE'S DAY FOR YOUR FOODIE BAE!

By Alex Jack, Food Writer - wwww.StyleMagazine.com

Rosè Cheesecake

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ne of my favorite holidays that I look forward to all year is Valentine's Day! I love love.

Whether you are in a relationship, singles or you celebrate the infamous Galentine's, it's a special day for many of us. Even though Houston is not Paris, we are a city full of love with many places you can spend time with your foodie bae! Here are a few of my Valentine's picks that will make your day of love a day to remember.

For those wanting a luxury dinner for you and your bae, The Kitchen Finesser is the one to call. They are serving up a Sweetheart menu featuring items like Wagyu Tartare and Crab Stuffed Mushrooms for appetizers. Entrée options include Crispy Crab Crusted Salmon and Suya Crusted Lamb Chops. For dessert enjoy the Valentine's Day classics of Strawberry Shortcake or chocolate-covered strawberries. This isn't even the whole menu, but I know your bae would be so excited to eat an exquisite dinner like this! For more info please visit

Beef Tartare @thekitchenfinesser on Instagram and click the link in the bio.

Let's say bae wants an amazing meal but loves music too, head over to Cassandra's Louisiana Kitchen! Cassandra's will be having a fourcourse prix fixe Southern-inspired dinner prepared

by Chef J. Some of the menu items include Crawfish Cornbread Supreme and Cajun BBQ Shrimp for the appetizers. For entrees, you can have Snapper LaROUGE, which is a pan-seared red snapper with a white wine cream sauce topped with jumbo lump crab meat served over a bed of dirty rice. Another option is the New Zealand Lamb Chop that has a rosemary pomegranate glaze served with creole grits and asparagus. All of this amazing food while listening to the sweet sounds of The Lady Songbird Jinda. For more info please check out cassandraslakitchen.com.

Valentine's Day fall on a Monday this year and you have to work late. Not a problem! Sug-

Suya Crusted Lamb Chops (Photos A. Jack)

ar's Cajun Cuisine & Bar has you covered with a full menu and live music. Saturday night, February 12, they will be featuring R & B artist Elijah Blake.

Then on Valentine's Day, you can hear saxophonist Mike Phillips. Favorite things I love to eat at Sugar's is their Seafood Gumbo that is full of crab and shrimp with a dark roux. I also love their Fried Shrimp platter with sweet potato fries. The shrimp are HUGE! For more info and to RSVP, visit sugarscajun.com.

For those that want to cook a fancy meal at home but want something sweet, Masterpiece Desserts has the perfect addition to end the night off right. Home of the "World's Most Delicious Cheesecake", Masterpiece Desserts have a menu full of cheesecakes that include the classics like Turtle, Strawberry, or Cookies and Cream. Also try their premium flavors like their famous Sweet Potato Cheesecake, Rosé Cheesecake, or Bananas Fosters Cheesecake. Are you a vegan bae? Masterpiece

Desserts has you covered. They also have an amazing vegan cheesecake that has a pecan and cranberry crust. I'm not a vegan and it blessed me! For more info or to order online visit masterpiecedesserts. com.

I told yall, I had you covered for only the best places in Houston for your special bae. Even if you are a single bae, go out and have an amazing time in the spirit of LOVE! Love is a beautiful thing and so is your next meal on Valentine's Day! Keep Eating Local Houston!

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CULTURE: THE DIRTY SOUTH: CONTEMPORARY ART, MATERIAL CULTURE, AND THE SONIC IMPULSE

By CAMH and Kathleen Coleman, Arts & Entertainment Editor - wwww.StyleMagazine.com

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El Franco Lee, II (Photos courtesy of artist)

ontemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) is excited to present the groundbreaking exhibition The Dirty South: Contemporary Art, Material Culture, and the Sonic Impulse. Recently called one of the best exhibitions of the year and a tour de force by the Los Angeles Times, The Dirty South makes visible the roots of Southern hip-hop culture and reveals how the aesthetic traditions of the African American South. have shaped visual art and musical expression over the last 100 years.

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Echoing from New York to Los Angeles in the 1980s, the musical genre of hip-hop became, for many, the empowering language of the voiceless.

In the mid-1990s, Andr 3000 of the Atlanta-based duo OutKast, proclaimed, “The South got something to say!” Andr ’s clarion call shone a light into a centuriesold repository of rich Southern aesthetic traditions rooted in the fraught histories of this nation while centering the South as a vital contributor to the rich musical genre of hip-hop. While the ex-

January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

pression “Dirty South” is codified within the culture of Southern hip-hop music, it encompasses a much broader understanding of the geography, history, and culture of the Black South. The Dirty South explores the traditions, aesthetic impulses, and exchanges between the visual and sonic arts over the last century.

Featuring a multigenerational group of artists working across a wide range of media— including sculpture, painting, film, photography, and sound—The Dirty South presents more than 130 works and will span the entire Museum. The exhibition opens Thursday, November 4, 2021 and remains on view through February 6, 2022.

“CAMH is thrilled to present the virtuosic exhibition The Dirty South—those who have seen this ‘love letter to the South’ are enraptured by its depth, complexity, and bracing vision of music, spirituality, and Black life in our region,” said Hesse McGraw, CAMH Executive Director. “We believe The Dirty South will be particularly impactful given Curator Valerie Cassel Oliver’s history at CAMH and the centrality of Houston artists embedded throughout the exhibition. We look forward to welcoming audiences

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to this celebration of the essential contributions of artists to the resilience and joy of life in the South.”

“The confluence between the visual and sonic arts in the Black creative expression has long been recognized. What has remained elusive, particularly in the presentation of these forms, is the long trajectory of this exchange,” said Cassel Oliver. “Andr 3000’s iconic phrase, ‘The South’s got something to say,’ really sparks for me a meditation to dig deep and to understand how Southern hip-hop artists were shaping their identity within the bedrock of the landscape that they knew and the creative expression born from the history of that landscape. One then can not help but to see it in the longer arc and interplay between disciplines and genres that reflect the African American South.”

For more information visit:

www.CAMH.org

TRAVEL: LUBBOCK, TX IS THE PLACE TO BE!

By Reggie Dominique, www.StyleMagazine.com

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ne may think that there's not much happening in West Texas, but one has not stumbled upon Lubbock County. Like a diamond in the rough, once you Discover West Texas, there is no denying that the culture and all it embodies will have you wanting more.

Home to everything from award winning wineries, live music, a thriving business community, and an emerging new way of life, the City of Lubbock is boasts history makers, entrepreneurs, entertainers, creators and catalysts.

With its deep roots in ranching, winemaking and songwriting, Lubbock is the heart of West Texas. While shining light on its people who extend unmatched hospitality to visitors, Lubbock remains true to its origins in every way possible.

Of the many things, what makes Lubbock a resistant community is how it rose from the trail of debris after two devastating Tornados nearly flatten the city. The events of May 11, 1970 left a destructive path of 8.5 miles and damage an estimated $250 million, or about $1.7 billion in today’s dollars. The results of the that tragic day lead to death of twenty-six people.

Today, a memorial feature two 20-foottall walls to represent the paths of the tornados. The wall is inscribed with quotes, facts and the names of the victims and on the ground, bricks map out the roads and neighborhoods of the tornado's path.

Although the history that pours in to the community of Lubbock is vast, the events of the Lubbock Tornados played a huge part of mending Lubbockites together to gradually advance in extent.

With the constant evolving of the ‘Hub City’, its best to get a glimpse of Lubbock’s growth for yourself by staying at a number of their new hotels, dining at a fabulous restaurant, or frequenting a winery or cultural institution.

During my visit I had the pleasure to lodge at the Cotton Court Hotel. Owned and operated by the Valencia Hotel Group, the Cotton Court Hotel is just off of a side street among Downtown and is eye-catching with a trendy retro-style making this fairly new hotel give a vibe as if it’s been there for some time.

After check in, make your way across the courtyard lined with fire pits, outdoor games, and the amazing pool to your airy, hip room with

smart TVs, Wi-Fi, the coolest old school fridge and full bar. Side-note: try to get a second floor room; the featured high ceilings, exposed beams and sliding barn doors totally adds a special touch.

Located less than a mile from the bars and nightclubs in the Depot District it is easily accessible from I-27 and Texas Tech University.

And, if you don’t want to leave the property for nightlife entertainment, enjoy live music offered from 7 to 10 pm in the Courtyard on Fridays and Saturdays.

Amenities also includes loaner bikes and a relaxed restaurant/bar, plus a gym, on-site parking and breakfast.

To experience Lubbock first hand, you must know the musical history of the city. In the 1950s, a teenager born and raised in Lubbock sparked a revolution with his music, songwriting, and signature big framed glasses. Born Charles Hardin Holley on September 7, 1936, his parents gave him the nick name Buddy.

Buddy Holly developed an interest in music at an early age ranging from gospel, country, blue grass and rhythm and blues. Though his career and life were short, Buddy Holly created an innovative sound that influenced the direction of popular music for decades to follow.

One of the biggest honors in Buddy’s name is the Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences. Opened in January 2021, the state-of-the-art campus features are remarkable including two theaters, event space, a full-service bistro and a ballet academy all housed under one roof. Designed by internationally-renowned Diamond Schmitt Architects, both theatres feature an acoustic value of NC15, offering both renowned artists and young aspiring artists the opportunity to perform on state in a world-class venue.

Lubbock’s art scene has completely transformed the city’s taste by inspiring chefs to add color and imagination to dishes. Known for its traditional chicken-fried steak and famous Chilton cocktail, the city also serves up everything from Spanish Tapas to locally sourced upscale dishes.

For an ambience unlike no other, The Nicolette is where you want to feast. Whether you choose to dine in the courtyard, in the greenhouse, or indoors, the entire place is artful, yet simple and stunning. It is enough to make you feel cozy, relaxed and ready to eat a perfect meal, but it does not distract from the food, drinks, or company.

Described as a new destination for West Texas from Chef Finn Walter, everything from the fry bread with honey butter or the blue cheese bread, the starters are absolutely marvelous. With a focus on High Plans cuisine, the elegant menu is rooted in showcasing ingredients that are natural to the region.

The service of the Nicolette is how every dining experience should be. From firsthand experience, I noticed our meals, cocktails to desserts, were all perfectly timed. The wait staff are intelligent about the menu and have an intimate knowledge about the food; always reliable for a suggestion if you find yourself torn.

Also new in Lubbock is Burklee Hill Vineyards. Located in the historic Kress Building in downtown Lubbock, Burklee Hill pairs upscale dining with award-winning local wine. The owners Elizabeth and Chace Hill are Lubbockites, Red Raiders, entrepreneurs, foodies and wine lovers.

While staying at the Cotton Court Hotel, this is

a short and easy walk if you want to experience this beautiful venue. I would recommend starting with the Brussels sprouts paired with a crisp Pinot Grigio, then chose a Bruno Pizzette paired with a lovely Tempranillo. Everything from the waitstafffood - and wine is delightful!

Speaking of wines, did you know Texas is the fifth largest wine-producing state in United States? Close to ninety percent of the wine grapes grown in Texas are grown in the High Plains – located right in and around Lubbock. Boasting favorites like McPherson Cellars and Llano Estacado, it is easy to find a wine that’s perfect for your pallet. No matter where you go in Lubbock, you will be sure to find a tasting room with Texas personalities that are friendly, wholesome, pioneering and creative.

And just when you thought you could not fit anymore trendy findings in Lubbock, there is the Arts culture. Home to one of the finest arts districts recognized by the state, Lubbock loves art and music. The city encourages its visitors to enjoy fine arts galleries and print studios in the Lubbock Arts District. You can even learn more about Lubbock’s Legend Buddy Holly through art at the Buddy Holly Center.

Also, there is the Charles Adams Studio Project. CASP is a non-profit arts organization founded by gallerist Mr. Charles Adams with the support of a generous gift from Margaret Talkington.

CASP’s mission is to serve as a cornerstone in the Lubbock Arts District by developing and sustaining a working artists’ community that actively engages the public with the arts. From The Helen DeVitt Jones Printmaking Studio, The CF Foundation Metals Studio, the CASP Live/Work Studios and CASP A.I.R., CASP works to fulfill its mission by providing a creative environment for artists. Art is embodied in within CASP and their doors are always open to visitors. So, whether you want to take in beautiful art or become an artist, CASP is where you do it in Lubbock.

As you immerse yourself in the evolving culture of the “Hub City,” what you uncover may surprise you. Almost feeling like its off the map, Lubbock is truly one-of-a-kind, especially in Texas. Home to world-renowned artists, iconic musicians, state-of-the-art theaters, award-winning wineries and breweries and a diverse selection of cuisine, Lubbock, Texas holds an unexpected find around every corner.

Ideal for travelers from around world, and in the deep heart of every Texans, Lubbock’s West Texas charm and way of life that is rooted in the soil that grows 90 percent of all Texas wine grapes and nearly half of the nation’s cotton.

There are countless other reasons to visit Lubbock! With direct flights from Austin, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Houston, and Phoenix, to name a few, it couldn’t be any easier to experience firsthand why you should #livelovelubbock.

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Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences (Photos Perfect Publicity)

20-Foot Historical Tornado Memorial Wall (Photos Perfect Publicity

Reggie Dominique at Helen DeVitt Jones Printmaking Studio (Photos Perfect Publicity

Cotton Court Hotel

(Photos Perfect Publicity

Marcus Davis of The Breakfast Klub & Chef Reginald Scott (Photos Perfect Publicity

January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

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LOCAL: HOUSTON AUTHOR J. ELLE RELEASES HIGHLY ANTICIPATED WINTER READ ASHES OF GOLD

By Erynn Haskins, www.StyleMagazine.com

Sidney Poitier in front of the Apollo Theater in New York on Jan. 14, 1959. Sam Falk / The New York Times via Redux

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he forthcoming finale to her New York Times-bestselling YA "Wings of Ebony" duology, Ashes of Gold was released on January 11, 2022.

ASHES OF GOLD received a starred Kirkus review calling it "a masterful adventure," and it's been named one of Apple Books' Most Anticipated Winter Reads. J. Elle successfully coordi-

nated a donation of over 500 copies of the first book in the duology, WINGS OF EBONY, so that every student at Jack Yates High School in her hometown neighborhood of Houston's Third Ward could receive a copy.

Why and how do you approach portraying inner-city communities as places full of magic and power?

Inner-city communities are places full of “magic” and power. So the work I’m doing is really to help readers–who come to my story as a window–see what’s already there. Those who come to my stories for a mirror, I hope find the nostalgic richness of existence that we’re intimately familiar with.

Narratively, in Wings of Ebony, I specifically aimed to capture the capacity for the seemingly impossible through Rue. She’s up against a lot of odds and yet I want the reader to never once doubt her. Fear for her, worry for her, be scared for her, but root for her to win and believe she truly can. Rue’s story of magic is one of grit, tenacity and love. Wings of Ebony also reflects the strong sense of community, found family, and commitment to communal good found in communities like East Row, the fictional neighborhood where Rue is from. But even these delights in Wings of Ebony are a mere waft of the aroma to all the “magic” that undergirds inner-city communities like mine, the Third Ward of Houston, which I used as inspiration to create East Row. One story couldn’t possibly capture the full breadth of our gifts.

Ultimately, I hope my story’s success opens opportunities for more stories like it to find their way to shelves.

Tell us more about your unconventional path to publishing success as a debut author turned instant bestseller—and if/how you're coaching other authors toward their own success.

I learned to write on Twitter. I know how that sounds and yes I do have a Bachelor’s of Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin. But, I’d never considered pursuing writing as a profession until 2018. And I started that journey by joining Twitter. At the time, I had been watching iWriterly, an author YouTube streamer, who recommended Twitter as a place to find writing community. I joined that same day and searched hashtags for writers. I quickly (literally the same day) found other writers doing writing sprints (30–45-minute segments where writers write nonstop and check back in on Twitter for a 5-10 break before diving back in for another one). I didn’t understand scene structure, developing plots, character arcs, or any of that. However, after a couple months of engaging with this social community online, I’d managed to write 40,000 words of some fantasy story idea I had for an adult book. I quickly realized those words were the equivalent of the first pancake and tossed them. From there I sat down with a plan to outline a story and officially pursue traditional publishing. The story that came out (in 35 days) was Wings of Ebony.

Read the full story online at:

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LOCAL: DIVINC HOUSTON LAUNCHES 5G SPORTS TECH ACCELERATOR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VERIZON By www.StyleMagazine.com

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ivInc, the premier startup accelerator for people of color and women entrepreneurs, is proud to announce the launch of its first Sports Tech Accelerator made possible through support from title sponsor, Verizon.

DivInc’s 5G Sports Tech Accelerator in partnership with Verizon supports startups using

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technology to drive human performance, fan experience, the future of media, sports betting, esports, and gaming innovation. It was designed to identify and equip sports and esports startups with the resources they need to succeed.

“DivInc is extremely excited and proud to lead this sports innovation initiative because

January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

it represents the beginning of an unprecedented collaboration throughout Houston and Texas,” remarked Preston James, DivInc Co-Founder and CEO. “Houston is putting a stake in the ground to establish itself as a leading sports innovation hub in the US, and we’re making it authentically inclusive of underrepresented founders from the beginning, the way it’s a supposed to be.”

DivInc collaborates with professional sports and sports tech subject matter experts to serve as mentors, advisors, coaches, and investors to help cohort founders build businesses that are attractive to teams, leagues, and agencies. In total, 10 companies will be accepted to the 12-week program which will run from April through June 2022 and will take place at The Ion in Midtown Houston. Upon completion of the program, each participating company will receive $10,000

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non-dilutive seed funding provided by Verizon.

“Verizon is so pleased to continue its partnership with DivInc in Houston to support diverse and underrepresented founders, now expanding to the area of Sports Tech,” noted Carrie Hughes, Director of Social Innovation for Verizon. “We look forward to supporting innovators in this space, where Verizon has significant experience, and which has the potential to be transformed by 5G and leading edge technology.

Verizon will also collaborate with the DivInc team on programming and thought leadership initiatives throughout the accelerator.”

For more information visit:

www.DivInc.org

2022

SEE MORE + PHOTOS AND EVENTS

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H City of Houston and Harris County Unprecedented Investment H $100 million program will house more than 7,000 additional people by 2024 and build critical infrastructure to end homelessness The City of Houston and Harris County Join House America, a federal initiative to address the Nation’s Homelessness Crisis

2021

SEE MORE + PHOTOS AND EVENTS

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H Oscar McGarr Birthday Celebrations H Houston style Magazine are wishing this King Oscar McGarr THE MARKETING AND PROMOTION GURU All of God's Blessings and Overflowing Favor

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January 27, 2022 - February 02, 2022

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DON’T JUST KINDA TV

DIRECTV

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With NFL SUNDAY TICKET and DIRECTV local channels (CBS, FOX, NBC). Select int’l games excluded.

•

NFL SUNDAY TICKET APP: Stream NFL SUNDAY TICKET live—from anywhere—on your favorite connected devices.

Out-of-market games only. Select int’l games excluded

•

RED ZONE CHANNEL®: Never miss a touchdown from inside the 20. The RED ZONE CHANNEL® brings you the final yards of every scoring drive around league on one LIVE channel.

(Included with NFL SUNDAY TICKET MAX) Only available in HD.

CHOICE™ PACKAGE

185+ Channels

$

69

99* MO.

For 12 mos. + taxes and fees.

W/ 24-mo. agmt. Autopay & Paperless Bill req’d. Pay $74.99/mo. plus taxes until discounts start. Prices higher in 2nd year.

Regional Sports Fee up to $9.99/mo. is extra & applies.*

SIGN UP AND GET FIRST 3 MONTHS OF HBO MAX ™ INCLUDED! Subject to change.HBO Max auto renews after 3 months at thenprevailing rates (currently $14.99/mo.for HBO Max), unless you call to change or cancel. Req’s you to select offers. Access HBO Max only through HBO Max app or hbomax.com. HBO Max also includes HBO channels and HBO On Demand on DIRECTV. Online account registration required. Data rates may apply for app download/usage.

*$19.95 ACTIVATION, EARLY TERMINATION FEE OF $20/MO. FOR EACH MONTH REMAINING ON AGMT., EQUIPMENT NON-RETURN & ADD’L FEES APPLY. Price incl. CHOICE Pkg., monthly service and equip. fees for 1 HD DVR & is after $5/mo. autopay & paperless bill discount for 12 mo. Pay $74.99/mo. + taxes until discount starts w/in 3 bills. New approved residential customers only (equipment lease req'd). Credit card req'd (except MA & PA). Restr’s apply. *ALL DIRECTV OFFERS REQUIRE 24-MO. AGREEMENT. $19.95 ACTIVATION, EARLY TERMINATION FEE OF $20/MO. FOR EACH MONTH REMAINING ON AGMT, EQUIPMENT NON-RETURN & ADD’L FEES APPLY. Price incl. All Included pkg, monthly service and equip. fees for 1 HD DVR & is after $5/mo. Auto Bill Pay with Paperless Billing discount for 12 mos.

New approved residential customers only (equipment lease req’d). Credit card req’d (except MA & PA). Restr’s apply. DIRECTV ALL INCLUDED OFFERS: Ends 1/22/22. Available only in the U.S. (excludes Puerto Rico and U.S.V.I.). Pricing: $64.99/mo. for ENTERTAINMENT All Included; $69.99/mo. for CHOICE All Included; $84.99/mo. for ULTIMATE All Included; $134.99/mo. for PREMIER All Included for first 12 mos. only. After 12 mos. or loss of eligibility, then prevailing rate applies (currently $102/mo. for ENTERTAINMENT All Included; $122/mo. for CHOICE All Included; $151/mo. for ULTIMATE All Included; $206/mo. for PREMIER All Included), unless canceled or changed prior to end of the promo period. Pricing subj to change. $5/mo. discount: Must enroll in autopay & paperless bill within 30 days of TV activation to receive bill credit starting in 1-3 bill cycles. First-time credit will include all credits earned since meeting offer requirements. Must maintain autopay/paperless bill and valid email address to continue credits. No credits in 2nd year for autopay/paperless bill. Includes: All Included TV Pkg, monthly service & equipment fees for one Genie HD DVR, and standard pro installation.

Additional Fees & Taxes: Price excludes Regional Sports Fee of up to $9.99/mo. (which is extra & applies to CHOICE and/or MÁS ULTRA and higher Pkgs.), applicable use tax expense surcharge on retail value of installation, custom installation, equipment upgrades/add-ons (min. $99 one-time & $7/mo. monthly fees for each extra receiver/ DIRECTV Ready TV/Device), and certain other add’l fees & charges. See directv.com/directv-fees for additional details. Different offers may apply for eligible multi-dwelling unit and telco customers. DIRECTV SVC TERMS: Subject to Equipment Lease & Customer Agreements. Must maintain a min. base TV pkg of $29.99/mo. Programming, pricing, terms and conditions subject to change at any time. Some offers may not be available through all channels and in select areas. Visit directv.com/legal/ or call for details. 2021 NFL SUNDAY TICKET OFFER: Subject to change. Package consists of all live out-of-market NFL games (based on customer’s service address) broadcast on FOX and CBS. However, games broadcast by your local FOX or CBS affiliate, and select International games, will not be available in NFL SUNDAY TICKET. Games available via remote viewing based on device location. Other conditions apply. 2021 NFL SUNDAY TICKET regular full-season retail price is $293.94. 2021 NFL SUNDAY TICKET MAX regular full-season retail price is $395.94. Customers activating CHOICE Package or above or MÁS ULTRA Package or above will be eligible to receive the 2021 season of NFL SUNDAY TICKET MAX at no additional cost. NFL SUNDAY TICKET subscription will not automatically renew. Only one game may be accessed remotely at any given time. Compatible device/operating system required for online/mobile access. Additional data charges may apply. Visit directv.com/nfl for a list of compatible devices/system requirements. Short Cuts are available from midnight Sunday ET through midnight Wednesday ET via the NFL SUNDAY TICKET App. For full Mix Channel and interactive functionality, HD equipment model H/HR 21 or later is required. NFL, the NFL Shield design and the NFL SUNDAY TICKET name and logo are registered trademarks of the NFL and its affiliates. NFL team names and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Programming, pricing, promotions, restrictions & terms subject to change & may be modified, discontinued or terminated at any time without notice. Offers may not be combined with other promotional offers on the same services and may be modified or discontinued at any time without notice.

Other conditions apply to all offers. HBO Max: Access HBO Max through HBO Max app or hbomax.com with your DIRECTV log-in credentials. Compatible device or browser required. Use of HBO Max is subject to its own terms and conditions, see hbomax.com/terms-of-use for details. Programming and content subj. to change. Upon cancellation of your video service you may lose access to HBO Max. Limits: Access to one HBO Max account per DIRECTV account holder. May not be stackable w/other offers, credits or discounts. To learn more, visit directv.com/hbomax. HBO MAX is used under license. ©2021 DIRECTV. DIRECTV and all other DIRECTV marks are trademarks of DIRECTV, LLC. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

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