Houston Style Magazine Vol 31 No 19

Houston Style Magazine May 07 – May 13, 2020

Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication, Since 1989

CORONAVIRUS – US WEEKLY NUMBERS –

Volume 31 | Number 19

Complimentary

March 19, 2020 Cases: 10,442 Deaths: 150

March 26, 2020 Cases: 75,233 Deaths: 1,070

Jesse Jackson

April 02, 2020

Voting Is The Fundemental Basis Of Democracy

Cases: 226,374 Deaths: 5,316

April 09, 2020

HOME SWEET HOME

Cases: 455,876 Deaths: 16,314

April 16, 2020

Cases: 661,813 Deaths: 33,490

April 23, 2020

Cases: 854,722 Deaths: 48,412

April 30, 2020

Cases: 1,075,643 Deaths: 62,342

May 07, 2020

Cases: 1,278,341 Deaths: 76,052

Texas Re-OPENS Re OPENS

STAY SMARTHWORK SAFE COVID-19 Reports on State of Texas, Harris, Fort Bend Counties & City of Houston

Follow Us #TeamStyleMag

Twitter @HoustonStyle

Instagram @HoustonStyleNews

Facebook: @HoustonStyleMagazine

Rice COVID-19 Registry Houstonians With Coronavirus Chosing NOT To Being Tested

Governor Greg Abbott Expands Opening Of Businesses To Get Our State Economy Going

F RENTAL RELIE STIMULUS

STIMULUS: $15 MILLION FOR RENTAL RELIEF

OP-ED: STOP EXCLUDING PEOPLE OF COLOR The Warrior Class Of 2020

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

Texans Helping Texans Bringing us together during uncertain times.

To learn more go to heb.com/texanshelpingtexans 2

May 07 – May 13, 2020

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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

OP-ED: Stop Excluding People Of Color

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

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NATIONAL WRITERS

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

PHOTOGRAPHERS Vicky Pink vhpink@gmail.com

RICE COVID-19 REGISTRY: Houstonians Not Being Tested

William Ealy Williamealy1906@gmail.com Semetra Samuel semetra@artistikrebelcreative.com

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

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d.b.a. Houston Style Magazine & StyleMagazine.com Phone: (713) 748-6300 • Fax: (713) 748-6320 Mail: P.O. Box 14035, Houston, TX 77221-4035 ©2020 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 Members of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP)

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May 07 – May 13, 2020

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COMMENTARY

Voting Is The Fundamental Basis Of Democracy

By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer

T

he coronavirus does not discriminate, but people do. The coronavirus is not partisan, but politicians are. When we should be coming together to address a shared crisis, some are intent on driving us apart, and on exacting partisan advantage in the midst of the crisis.

Across the country, for example, Republicans are intensifying their efforts to make it harder to vote, with particular focus on suppressing the votes of African Americans and other minorities.

With the pandemic making in-person voting dangerous, Congress should move rapidly to provide the resources to help every state create systems for voting by mail. The first rescue package -- the CARES Act -- included some money for vote-by-mail programs, but far short of the sum that is needed.

Why not provide it? Republicans are worried that voting by mail may increase turnout, particularly among low-income and minority voters. Donald Trump voiced the fear, saying that “They had things, levels of voting, that if you’d ever agreed to it, you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.”

Trump made this statement in March, dismissing Democratic efforts to expand mail-in voting, make registration easier, and extend voting days.

Republican voters in states that already have widespread vote by mail support the program overwhelmingly. Some sensibly argue that vote by mail might actually help Republicans this fall, because older voters -- who tend to be more conservative -- are more likely to be reluctant to expose themselves to the virus by going to crowded voting places. But the Republican history -- grounded in the Southern base of the party that has always sought to suppress the vote of blacks -- makes them fearful of efforts to make voting easier for all.

In Wisconsin, we saw the deadly effects of that. Wisconsin Republicans in control of the state legislature blocked the efforts of the Democratic governor to allow widespread vote by mail in the primary. When state election officials were swamped by a staggering demand for absentee ballots, they refused

to extend the time for voting, ensuring that thousands never received a response to their request for a ballot.

At the same time, officials were slashing the number of voting precincts, worried they’d lack volunteers to staff them. In Milwaukee, the home of two-thirds of the black population in Wisconsin, the number of polling places was reduced from 180 to five. That guaranteed long lines that surely made it impossible for many still at work to vote and put those who did vote at risk. Fifty-two people who went to vote have since contracted the coronavirus.

Simultaneously, conservatives in Wisconsin have joined with Republicans to push purging of the voter lists. From 2016 to 2018, Wisconsin purged 14 percent of the voters on its voting rolls (the national average is about 7.6 percent). In the most recent round, state election officials sent out letters to 232,000 voters who would be removed if they did not respond. One in eight voters in Milwaukee were at risk of being purged.

Voters in black neighborhoods were nearly twice as likely to be flagged than those in white neighborhoods.

In Georgia in 2018, the Republican candidate for governor, Brian Kemp, was serving as the state’s secretary of state. He sought to purge 300,000 voters -- 4 percent of the electorate. 53,000 voter registrations were put on hold -- 80 percent were people of color.

Two hundred voting precincts were closed, predominantly in areas with large black populations. The Democratic candidate, Stacy Abrams, lost the race by a margin far less than the votes that were suppressed.

As she noted, “Especially in states like Georgia, where diversifying demographics have us on the precipice of transformative political change, we are

seeing Republicans employ voter suppression to limit who has access to the polls. Disproportionately, under GOP secretaries of state, this process affects Democrats, particularly in communities of color. The clear intention is to strip people of their right to vote.”

In state after state, conservative groups are suing states for force purges. The Trump Justice Department has piled on: a June 2017 letter went to 44 states saying it would review how the states were planning to “remove the names of ineligible voters.”

Purging voters, blocking vote by mail, requiring official voter ID, closing precincts, limiting early voting, limiting the hours that voting booths are open, blocking same day or automatic voter registration, gerrymandering to segregate the minority vote -- the list goes on.

Voting is the fundamental basis of democracy. Particularly in times of crisis, it is vital that the people’s voice be heard. The president and the modern-day Republican Party are convinced that if everyone votes, they will not fare well. Think about that.

Our last presidential election was marred by foreign intervention and WikiLeaks. We couldn’t stop that. But we should not steal from ourselves.

We cannot allow the coming election to be scarred by homegrown intervention and TrickiLeaks.

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.

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May 07 – May 13, 2020

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OP-ED: Stop Excluding People of Color In Enviromental Policies Protecting The Environmental Should Be About Protecting People – Regardless Of The Color

By Dr. Benjamin F Chavis, Jr., President, NNPA Newswire

P

rotecting the environment should be about protecting people, regardless of the color of their skin, their ethnicity or race, where they live or how much money they make. The fight to save our planet should be about ensuring a long and successful sustainable future - for everyone.

The deadly destruction wrought by the coronavirus pandemic has laid bare the harsh inequities in American society, disproportionately ravaging Black America and other communities of color, as well as individuals who were on the social margins long before the crisis.

The inequities have surfaced in obvious ways, including early data released by states showing that the virus is killing African Americans at disproportionately high rates, a disturbing trend that illustrates the substandard availability of health care in Black America.

The inequities have also surfaced in subtle ways, such as policy decisions that fail to reflect the needs and day-to-day realities of low-income communities and communities of color.

The irony is that many of these policies are well-meaning. But in some cases, they also have had troubling unintended consequences.

Consider the area of environmental policy. Protecting the environment should be about protecting people, regardless of the color of their skin, ethnicity or race, or where they live or how much money they make. The fight to save our planet should be about ensuring a long and successful sustainable future - for everyone.

Yet, there are many in the mainstream environmental movement who continuously overlook the needs and realities faced by some of our most underserved and vulnerable communities. That includes the mainstream environmental advocacy community’s push to enforce plastic bags bans in favor of

reusables, despite the fact that cardboard paper and other reusables pose a clear public health risk - especially for workers on the front lines of the pandemic response.

Why, for example, is it smart public policy to insist that grocery workers be exposed to reusable bags, when research shows these bags can be repositories of the COVID-19 virus?

The majority of these essential workers are low-income people of color who are disproportionately bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, dying from the deadly disease at twice the rate of white people.

Additionally, in New York, it is well-documented that a statewide plastic bag ban also disproportionately hurts Black and Latino-owned businesses and shoppers. Though there is an exemption in this ban for recipients of benefits like WIC and food stamps from paying the five-cent tax on paper bags, working-class people of color and low-income New Yorkers still must pay.

Some stores have been charging for both plastic and paper, and in some cases, more than five cents a bag.

Five cents might not seem like much.

But five cents (or more) per bag adds up, especially when one is living paycheck-to-paycheck, or, as is more likely at this moment, not working at all due to the financial toll of the COVID-19 crisis.

Some environmentalists have argued that opponents of the bag ban are trying to capitalize on the COVID-19 crisis by recommending a suspension of any bag regulations. Again, it appears that some mainstream environmentalists only use research data to support policies that reflect their privileged vantage point without respect to the impact of those policies on the underprivileged.

I coined the term environmental racism in 1982 while involved in the Warren County, NC protests against the digging of a PCB landfill in the heart

64% OF AMERICANS THINK ITS TOO EARLY

O

By Dana Givens, BlackEnterprise.com / StyleMagazine.com Newswire

ver the weekend, places like Myrtle Beach reopened its door for guests after South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced that he would be lifting the state’s mandatory stay-at-home order due to the COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, pandemic on Monday. Georgia also announced that businesses would also be able to slowly start reopening.

Despite the green light from their state governments, many Americans feel that political leaders are lifting the ban too soon.

A recent poll conducted

by Piplsay showed that 64% of Americans do not think that country is ready to lift the ban in May and

want social distancing to remain in place for some time. Forty-five percent disapprove of President Trump promoting clinical treatments that have not been fully proven to work by the CDC.

Many experts have come forward to give their predictions of when the viral outbreak will end and many have grim outlooks stating it would be several months before the country would be ready to lift the ban. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Warnings: Finding Cassandras to Stop Catastrophes, Laurie Garrett, gave her advice about the current pandemic. Her 1994 best-seller, The Coming Plague, predicted many scenarios as a

of a poor Black agricultural community. At that time there were some who thought that environmental issues were should not be considered as civil rights or as racial justice issues. There was in the past, and it continues in the current public discourse, a kind of arrogance by the privileged who think they know what is best for the underprivileged.

Today as the environmental justice movement has grown into a global campaign for change led by grassroots activists and leaders from people of color communities throughout the world, we all now know much more about the intersection between the issues of racial justice and environmental justice.

I recall vividly back in the late 1980’s when I co-authored and published the landmark study for the United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice: Toxic Waste and Race in the United States, the established environmental movement was unnerved that people of color would dare to do empirical research and define our own reality with respect to exposures to environmental hazards. Our national study proved that there was a deliberate link between race and the placement of toxic waste facilities in America.

In adherence to a blind devotion to a privileged ideology, some who call themselves environmentalists often neglect to take into consideration the dayto-day concerns of millions of low-income and Americans of color living in urban centers that are also communities that house hazardous sanitation sites, incinerators, rail yards, power plants and other environmental threats.

Some mainstream environmental groups consistently insist on pushing for policies that make life harder for people of color and poor communities, arguing that the hardship - if they recognize it at all - is a necessary price to pay in order to achieve their overall goals that those of privilege have exclusively envisioned as the standard for all others

to obey.

As the pandemic continues, we need to let go of high-minded ideological arguments and do everything possible to protect workers on the front lines - including grocery clerks and those who make deliveries. Some states have temporarily lifted their bans or eradicated them altogether. A number of grocery stores are bringing back plastic bags and telling customers not to bring their own reusable bags.

Due to the crisis, New York has twice extended non-enforcement of its plastic bag ban in the face of a lawsuit that challenges its constitutionality. This is not enough. The state should give essential workers and shoppers alike a sense of protection during the pandemic and bag the plastic ban altogether.

More often than not, these life-changing decisions are being made without the consultation or input from the affected communities of color. Close to 40 years later we still remain on the outside of these conversations, continuously overlooked by many in the mainstream environmental movement as well as in local and state governments.

There is an obvious divide between the members of the mainstream environmentalism movement and the environmental justice community, primarily made up of urban Black and brown people. Until both parties can come together and pay the necessary attention to the pervasive environmental concerns that our communities endure on a daily basis the rift will only deepen, if not completely fracture. Exclusion of people of color will not solve the nation’s or the world’s environmental challenges.

Dr. Benjamin Chavis is president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

result of the coronavirus outbreak

“I’m quite certain that this is going to go in waves,” she added. “It won’t be a tsunami that comes across America all at once and then retreats all at once,” said Garrett to the New York Times. “It will be micro-waves that shoot up in Des Moines and then in New Orleans and then in Houston and so on, and it’s going to affect how people think about all kinds of things.”

Garrett warns that Americans need to be ready for a new world as a result of the outbreak, stating people should let go of the idea of things going back to “normal.” “They’ll re-evaluate the importance of travel,” she continued. “They’ll reassess their use of mass transit. They’ll revisit the need for face-to-face business meetings. They’ll reappraise having their kids go to college out of state.”

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May 07 – May 13, 2020

Coronavirus Briefs. . .

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Expands Business Openings In Texas, Announces Surge Response Teams To Combat COVID-19

By StyleMagazine.com Newswire levels.

Beginning May 18, office buildings may open with the greater of five or less individuals or 25% of the total office workforce. These individuals must maintain appropriate social distancing. Gyms, exercise facilities, and exercise classes may also open on May 18, but must operate at 25% occupancy.

Locker rooms and shower facilities will remain closed, but restrooms may open. overnor Greg Abbott announced Non-essential manufacturing services that he will be issuing an Execu- may also open on May 18 but facilities tive Order to expand openings of must limit their occupancy to 25%.

These newly opened services certain businesses and activities. The Governor also announced new guid- are subject to recommended minimum ance from the Texas Education Agency standard health protocols outlined by (TEA) on graduation ceremonies and DSHS. These protocols will be available the creation of Surge Response Teams on the Open Texas webpage.

During the press conference, to combat any COVID-19 flare ups in Chief Kidd and Commissioner Wilson Texas.

“Texas is in a position to con- provided details on the newly formed tinue opening parts of our economy Surge Response Teams. These teams because of the efforts and determination are led by TDEM and HHSC and inof the people of Texas,” said Governor clude representatives from the the Texas Abbott. “Over the past month, Texans Military Department, DSHS, the Texas have worked together to contain the Emergency Medical Task Force, and spread of COVID-19 by following so- BCFS Health and Human Services.

TEA Commissioner Morath cial distancing practices and staying at home whenever possible. As we move also provided new guidance on class of forward, I urge all Texans to contin- 2020 graduation ceremonies for Texas ue following these social distancing school districts. The TEA is providing guidelines and the health standards we four different pathways for schools to have provided. With every Texan doing celebrate their graduating seniors, and their part, we will contain COVID-19, each district is at liberty to determine if we will unleash our entrepreneurs, and any of these options best serve the needs we will make it through this challenge and desires of their community: together.”

The Governor was joined for + Completely virtual ceremonies that the press conference by Texas Depart- take place entirely online, with the use ment of State Health Services (DSHS) Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, of videoconference or other technolTexas Division of Emergency Manage- ogies. ment (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd, Texas + Hybrid ceremonies, which consist Health and Human Services (HHSC) Acting Executive Commissioner Phil of a compilation of videos of students Wilson, TEA Commissioner Mike Mor- being recognized in person as they celath, and Adjutant General of Texas Maj. ebrate graduation in small groups.

Gen. Tracy Norris. + Vehicle ceremonies, in which stu Per the Governor’s announcement, wedding venues and services dents and their families wait in their cars required to conduct weddings may im- while other graduates are recognized mediately open. Weddings held indoors one at time with their families alongside other than at a church, congregation, or them. house of worship must limit occupancy to 25%. Wedding reception services + Outdoor in-person ceremomay also resume, but facilities must nies, which are currently permitted for limit their occupancy to 25% of the counties as follows: total listed occupancy. These occupancy + Between May 15 and May limits do not apply to the outdoor areas of a wedding reception or to outdoor 31, an outdoor ceremony may take wedding receptions. place in a rural county that has an at Beginning May 8, cosmetology testation as described in the Governor’s salons, hair salons, barber shops, nail salons and shops, and other establish- Report to Open Texas that remains in ments where licensed cosmetologists or effect 7 days prior to the ceremony. barbers practice their trade, may open, + An outdoor ceremony may but all such salons, shops, and estab- take place in any Texas county on or lishments must ensure at least six feet of social distancing between operating after June 1. work stations. Tanning salons may also Full details of the TEA’s reopen under the same limitation. Also graduation ceremony guidance starting May 8, swimming pools may can be found on the TEA website: open subject to certain limitations, inwww.TEA.gov cluding on their occupancy or operating

G

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Re-Opening States Will Cause 233,000 More People To Die From Coronavirus – According To Wharton Model Two-Hour Grocery Delivery Now Available

By Kristin Myers – Special To StyleMagazine.com, Newswire

N

ew data from the University of Pennsylvania suggests that relaxing lockdowns across U.S. cities and states could have serious consequences for the country’s battle to contain the coronavirus, which has infected over a million people while killing more than 66,000 people.

According to the Penn Wharton Budget Model (PWBM), reopening states will result in an additional 233,000 deaths from the virus — even if states don’t reopen at all and with social distancing rules in place. This means that if the states were to reopen, 350,000 people in total would die from coronavirus by the end of June, the study found.

Kent Smetters, the PWBM’s director, said the decision to reopen states is ultimately a “normative judgement that comes down to the statistical value of life.”

He explained: “That’s not a crude way of saying we put a dollar value on life, but it’s the idea that people will take risks all the time for economic

reward.”

That figure far surpasses estimates and models that the White House has cited from the University of Washington, which put the death toll at roughly 73,000 by the start of August.

The U.S. economy is reeling as statewide lockdowns have thrown 30 million Americans out of their jobs, and stoked a furious debate about how long the restrictions can remain in place.

Some states, like Georgia, are choosing to partially reopen, allowing businesses like restaurants, hair salons, massage parlors, and more to open again.

However, partially reopening would also cause the death toll to rise, the university’s data found. An additional 45,000 lives would be lost, according to Wharton’s Budget Model, bringing the U.S.’s death toll from COVID-19 to 222,000.

However, the policy of reopening states would provide a much needed economic boost, according to the model.

“Almost all net job losses between May 1 and June 30 would be eliminated,” the

report found.

Keeping stay at home orders in place would result in a growth contraction of 11.6% year over year, the data found, but opening the states would curb some of that decline somewhat, paring back the downturn to 10.1% year over year.

However, Wharton’s data found that the state lockdowns will result in a more dramatic increase in unemployment, boosting the total of unemployed to nearly 50 million. A partial reopening would partly blunt that impact, but not by much.

In a bright spot for the plan to open states, the PWBM projects that almost all net job losses would be eliminated.

The model aims to quantify the trade-off to the economic benefits of reopening states amid the coronavirus pandemic that has killed nearly 240,000 people worldwide, with some 60,000 deaths in the United States.

The PWBM shows that when

it comes to states’ plans to reopen their economies, not all states are created equal. One state’s decision could cause more damage than another.

If Colorado were to fully open, for example, the PWBM projected that by the end of June over 10,000 would die from coronavirus. That’s much higher than neighboring Kansas, where roughly 1,300 would lose their lives to COVID-19 under the same scenario.

And when it comes to economies, if Wisconsin stays closed, GDP would decline by 13%, compared to 10.8% in Maine.

“You may look at some states and say ‘You know what, they’re not ready to reopen yet,’” Smetters said.

Kristin Myers is a reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter.

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Kroger Delivers Fresh Roses and Snacks To Protecting Your Financial Health In These Uncertain Times Frontline Nurses At Texas Childrens Hospital

By StatePoint/StyleMagazine.com Newswire

By StyleMagazine.com Newswire

Y

esterday, in honor of National Nurses day, Kroger delivered hundreds of fresh roses and snacks to nurses at Texas Children’s Hospital.

“Nurses are on the frontlines, taking care of our families with kindness and compassion, and keeping our communities safe” said Joe Kelley, President of Kroger Houston. “We wanted to say thank you and show our great appreciation for everything our healthcare professionals are doing during this

challenging time.”

National Nurses Day, celebrated annually on May 6, celebrates the work, commitment, and dedication of our nurses across the nation.

More info, logon to: www.Kroger.com

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May 07 – May 13, 2020

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ith expected delays in bill payments, unprecedented layoffs, hiring freezes and related hardships, many Americans are facing new financial challenges.

“COVID-19 has impacted all industries and individuals from all walks of life,” says Rod Griffin, senior director of Consumer Education and Advocacy for Experian. “With all of these rapid changes, you might not be thinking about how your credit report may be impacted yet, but you likely will soon.”

As you adapt to life in this unprecedented time, the experts at Experian are sharing strategies and resources for protecting your financial health and credit history.

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• TALK TO YOUR LENDERS. Keep in mind, lenders don’t want you to fall behind on your payments any more than you do. If you’re facing trouble making monthly payments, contact your lender or creditor. They may have options for

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helping you cope with COVID-19-related financial hardships. For example, lenders can place your accounts in forbearance or deferment for a period of time.

• USE CREDIT AS A FINANCIAL TOOL. While debt is a problem, credit can be a financial tool that can help improve your overall financial health in the long run. As always, avoid making rash decisions when it comes to credit and your financial health.

• CHECK OUT RESOURCES. Use new educational resources that can help you protect your financial health in these uncertain times. For example, Experian is hosting a series of #CreditChat conversations surrounding COVID-19 on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. ET on Twitter.

The program covers important personal finance topics. The next several #CreditChats will be dedicated to items like methods and strategies for bill repayment, paying down debt, emergency financial assistance and preparing for retirement during COVID-19.

You can also visit Experian’s blog post, “COVID-19 and Your Credit Report,” for updated information pertaining to how COVID-19 may impact your creditworthiness. Additionally, the “Ask Experian” blog shares immediate and evolving resources on its COVID-19 Updates page. To obtain a free Experian credit report and other free services, enroll at Experian.com.

While staying safe and healthy should be everyone’s number one priority, it is also important to protect your financial health at the same time. Be sure to leverage all the resources available to you that can help you emerge from this crisis in good financial standing.

For More information go to: www.StyleMagazine.com

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May 07 – May 13, 2020

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4/1/20 7:08 PM

Houston’s City Council Approves Mayor Turner’s Proposed Rental Relief Program

F RENTAL RELIE STIMULUS

Program To Help 6,818 Struggling Houston Area Households

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By StyleMagazine.com Newswire

his week, the Houston City Council approved a $15 million rent relief fund to help Houstonians make their payments amidst the COVID-19 public health crisis.

The money for the program will come from the federal CARES Act and will be administered by the local nonprofit BakerRipley.

“The program provides much-needed assistance for our residents. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected constituents economically, forcing many to make tough choices,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “While this rent relief fund will help thousands of people, we know thousands more will need help. We are trying to do as much as we can with the little that we have.”

Beginning Thursday, May 7 at 10 a.m., landlords can begin enrolling on the program’s website. The portal will open to tenants beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 13.

BakerRipley will provide up to $1,056 of rental assistance per month to qualified low-to-moderate income people who could not pay their April and/or May rent.

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“BakerRipley is honored to continue our mission, with the City’s committed support, to meet the needs of some of our most vulnerable communities,” said Claudia Aguirre, BakerRipley President and CEO. “The BakerRipley Rental Assistance Program is a critical program for many neighbors who struggled before this crisis and have seen those struggles exacerbated in the face of COVID-19. Recovery starts now. It starts with each individual and organization across this region, doing their part to keep this city a welcoming center of opportunity. Thank you, Mayor Turner, for your continued leadership and work on behalf of this amazing and resilient City.”’

The landlords who agree to participate in the program will need to agree to certain terms:

• Waive all late fees, penalties, and interest for the two months.

• Allow tenants to enter a payment plan for any rent due in excess of $1,056.

• Rescind any prior notice to vacate

May 07 – May 13, 2020

and halt any prior eviction proceedings for the two months.

Renters must meet the following requirements:

• Live inside the city of Houston • Be late on residential rental payments for either or both the months of April and May

• Be current on their rent for all months prior to April 2020

• Affirm that their inability to pay is due to financial hardship resulting from the economic impact of COVID-19

• Have income less than 80% of the Area Median Income (approximately $40,000 for one person or $60,000 for a family of four) or qualify for one of the programs listed in the application (e.g. Medicaid, WIC, SNAP, Head Start, or VA Pension)

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The Houston Apartment Association estimates the rent relief program will help thousands of workers who have been laid off because of business closures.

“On behalf of our members, our staff, and especially our residents, I want to thank Mayor Turner and council members for their leadership in creating this vital program,” said Clay Hicks, Houston Apartment Association president. “Many of the nearly one million Houstonians who live in apartments have been unable to work – some since mid-March. This rental assistance program will help thousands of Houston apartment residents get caught up with April and May rent. And, in turn, it will help apartment properties to maintain thousands of jobs, including the maintenance workers that keep our properties running, and pay their property taxes that fund our schoolteachers, police officers, and firefighters.”

The program is expected to help at least 6,818 households.

More info visit: www.bakerripley.org

Most Houstonians With Symptons Are Not Being Tested, According To Rice University COVID-19 Registry

By StyleMagazine.com, NewsWire

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he vast majority of Houston-area residents who are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 are not getting tested for it, according to initial results of a survey from the COVID-19 Registry at Rice University.

In addition, more than 40% of households have lost income as a result of the crisis — and the economic impact appears to be much more severe among African American and Hispanic households than white and Asian American households.

The initial results showed a huge gap between the number of people with symptoms and the number of people being tested. Of respondents who have had a fever or felt feverish, only 10.5% have been tested, and of respondents who have recently developed shortness of breath, only 13.4% have been tested.

Between 7% and 10% of all households say they are having difficulty paying rent or other bills. Broken down by race, 16% of black households and 14% of Hispanic households say they have difficulty paying their rent,

compared to only 5% of non-Hispanic white households. Twenty-four percent of black households and 18% of Hispanic households say they are having difficulty paying bills, compared to only 8% of non-Hispanic white households.

Anxiety also appears to be a major issue, including among those on the medical front lines. Approximately 23% of respondents say they are exhibiting moderate to severe anxiety. Among that group, 22% are first responders or health care workers.

Initial survey results found that the overwhelming majority of residents are engaging in behavior such as social distancing and washing their hands frequently in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Registry is a community registry designed to track the health and economic impacts of the disease, with a focus on the Houston area, and provide health departments with real-time information on the virus’s spread over time and across neighbor-

hoods.

Approximately 4,000 Texas residents, the vast majority of whom live in the Houston region, have joined the registry and taken the survey. Respondents are not representative of the population at large. More respondents are filling out the registry survey every day, and follow-up surveys will be conducted every two weeks.

For more information on the registry, visit https://registry.rice.edu/covid19.

If I could do one thing, I’d have a daycare closer to work.

If you could do one thing for your community, what would it be? More daycare centers? More funding for Head Start? Completing the 2020 Census is a safe and easy way to inform how billions of dollars in funding flow into your community for hundreds of services.

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A SALUTE TO MOTHERS: MOTHERS:

The Warrior Class of 2020

By Dr. Jinneh Dyson, Special To www.StyleMagazine.com taneously making sure your own child is completing their work and not just playing Roblox.

We salute you.

To our military moms who have been deployed to help support and offer more aid to our healthcare professionals leaving once again your kids and families behind.

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By Dr. Jinneh Dyson

he days are long, and often with no specific start or end times.

No two days are the same, and while some make it look beautiful, it is typically messy for most of us.

From changing diapers to the neverending piles of laundry to managing parent-teacher conferences, pleading with picky eaters, stopping fights among siblings, googling answers to homework questions, wiping tears away at bedtime, and helping our little ones learn to dream bigger dreams. Being a mom is both one of the most precious gifts on this side of the earth and also one of the hardest jobs that many of us have ever done.

As we embark on Mother’s Day 2020, I can’t just celebrate this day as I have always done without first acknowledging the immense amount of anxiety and ambiguity that this holiday, especially this year, holds for many moms around the globe.

To essential workers who are courageously fighting on the frontlines.

You are standing brave and tall for others while reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety.

We salute you.

To our amazing teachers who are working diligently to move our kids to online platforms, while simul-

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We salute you.

To entrepreneurs, small business owners, and service providers who may be experiencing severe financial hardships in this season, while still pivoting and smiling to the world.

We salute you.

To mental health practitioners who are experiencing an abundance of new referrals, but who are secretly praying that their depression and anxiety remains intact.

We salute you.

And to the stay-at-home moms who have been rocking this space, but now feel a sense of overwhelm and uncertainty as playdates and field trips have temporarily come to an end.

We salute you.

And to mom’s everywhere who are parenting around the clock, with no breaks, no alone time (besides sitting in your car in the parking lot of Target), no date nights with your boo, or outings with your girls.

We salute you.

Motherhood. Parenting. This Covid-19 season is not easy; it is downright hard.

And a few weeks ago, I too felt overwhelmed and entirely burdened by this temporary “new normal.” But, here’s the thing, it’s okay to feel this and experience this, but we can’t stay there.

May 07 – May 13, 2020

So as your advocate and friend “in your head,” I want you to know that you are not alone and that you can and will get through this.

Here are a few daily mental

habits that have helped me over the years and thousands of ThinkUP friends around the world to not stay down: 1. PRACTICE GRATITUDE. It’s simple yet powerful. Research has shown that reflecting on things you are grateful for, in as little as 90 seconds, can shift your entire mood.

2. ELIMINATE YO-YO THINKING. Just like a yo-yo, our thoughts at times can go up and down. Stop this act of selfsabotaging and focus only on ONE thought.

3. SEEK SILENCE. There is something beautiful about disconnecting from the world, social media, the news, and the noise around us. Whether it is sitting in your car, taking a walk around your neighborhood, or camping out in your closet. You deserve this, and you need this. Allocate the time that you need to sit and be still.

4. MOVE YOUR BODY. I can’t express the vitality of daily movement, especially as it relates to reducing your cortisol levels (these are the stress hormones). 20-30 minutes a day can change your life. Not only can you potentially look better over time, but you will start to feel better in a shorter duration.

5. THINKUP! This is not the time to be consumed with doubts and negativity.

You must Think YOUR Way UP. You must think about what it is that you want to achieve, who you want to become, you must create it in your mind first, and then do ONE thing NOW that will help you get there. Remember, success is

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simply the sum of small efforts repeated over and over. Your job is not easy, but it is simple. You must win everyday. You must SEEK the possibilities and SEIZE the opportunities.

While we are not the “invisible heroes” that are paraded and celebrated across news mediums, nor do we desire such acknowledgment or attention, I do believe that we are a new class of unsung heroes.

We are apart of the Warrior Class of 2020.

We cry. We fight. We keep going. We may get tired. We may fall.

But we won’t fail. We were born and created for a time like this.

Wipe your tears. Grab your journal. Your running shoes….and create what you desire!

You got this…you can do this….I’m rooting for you…. Happy Mother’s Day Girlfriend, let’s conquer the world together!

I’ll see you at the table!

ThinkUP, Dr. Jinneh If you or someone you know has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, please consider the following: Call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger or go to the nearest emergency room.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255); En Español 1-888-628-9454 Crisis Text Line Text “HELLO” to 741741 Dr. Jinneh is an award-winning mental health advocate who travels the globe; teaching thought leaders how to think their way up. When she is not traveling the globe, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Anthony and their three ThinkUP kids.

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May 07 – May 13, 2020

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Returning To Work Post COVID-19 – Here Are Tips For Alleviating Concerns & Stresses As Businesses Re-Open

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eturning to work after six weeks under the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown can cause differing amounts of emotions – disbelief, fear and even anger – among workers, much like after a disaster.

But employers and co-workers alike can watch for signs of emotional impact over the coming weeks and months, to ensure everyone is finding their way back to a new normal, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist.

When states, cities and workplaces begin reopening, COVID-19 won’t be gone, nor will the concerns that surround it, said Miquela Smith, AgriLife Extension health specialist, Amarillo.

Some workers will gladly head back to their offices and places of business, while others will do so with trepidation, Smith said.

RETURNING TO WORK

Many Americans with management and professional occupations will be able to continue working from home, while those with service, production and maintenance-related jobs will have to physically return to work, she said.

Employees who can continue to work from home will inherently be at a lower risk of exposure to the virus compared to those who cannot.

This will disproportionately affect Americans with lower education levels because they are less likely to occupy professional and management positions that might allow them to work from home, Smith said.

“Minimizing employees’ potential exposure to COVID-19 must be a top priority,” she said. “The CDC offers resources on their website for businesses and employers to help them prepare to safely reopen. Reopening businesses will come with challenges and people will respond differently to being back at work.”

Some people may have lost loved ones or know someone who got sick, so it will hit close to home, Smith said. Others may have anxiety about returning to work safely; or about finding safe daycare for their children, who are not returning to school. Others will be tired of being at home and will welcome the opportunity to go about life as if

By StyleMagazine.com, NewsWire

nothing is happening.

“Each of our lives have been altered and directly impacted by this crisis,” she said. “Crisis situations affect people differently and just because a person is not responding to the pandemic in the way you think they should, does not mean they are unaffected. Returning to work after a pandemic is new territory for all of us, and we must have patience with ourselves and others while we navigate the process.”

EMOTIONAL STRESS AND WELL-BEING

for individuals to help facilitate a safe return to the workplace include:

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available

2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

3. Follow the policies and pro-

Employers and co-workers should watch for signs of emotional impact over the coming weeks and months.

Signs someone may be struggling in their return to the workplace include changes in performance and productivity, such as missing deadlines, calling in sick frequently, absenteeism, irritability and anger, difficulty concentrating and making decisions, withdrawal from work activity, and difficulty with work transitions or changes in routines.

Smith suggested employers will need to educate supervisors and managers to be aware of the signs of emotional distress, and to encourage staff to seek treatment when necessary.

One program that is offered by AgriLife Extension, Mental Health First Aid, teaches these exact skills. That program is in the process of being modified so it may be offered on a fully virtual platform soon.

“While each business will dictate how they come back online and what will be expected of their employees, it is important to remind them that support among colleagues can help employees work through difficulties,” she said.

Initially, it may also be important to reconsider travel needs, as employees, clients and other individuals may be hesitant to make business trips for some time. Consider postponing or canceling upcoming conferences and other meetings that require travel.

DO’S AND DON’TS UPON RETURNING TO WORK

cedures of your employer related to illness, cleaning and disinfecting, work meetings and travel. Continue to follow guidelines from state and local authorities for using face coverings in public spaces.

4. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in your work area, including keyboards, phones, handrails and doorknobs.

5. Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.

6. Inform your supervisor if you have a sick family member at home with COVID-19.

7. Avoid using other employees’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment, when possible. If necessary, clean and disinfect them before and after use.

8. Know what to expect of your-

with someone you trust is a healthy way to process this evolving situation.

9. Continue to take care of yourself. Eat well, get plenty of rest and exercise, spend time with those closest to you.

10. Take care of your children and your family. Parents could be concerned about their children’s well-being when they must return to work. Make sure your children know proper hygiene practices and let them talk about what is going on to help reassure them.

11. Seek help if you need to. If your feelings are too much to bear, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Mental health problems—in general and in response to a major event such as the pandemic—are real, diagnosable and treatable.

12. Know your rights and the COVID-19-related guidance that has been given for your specific industry by visiting the CDC website and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration website.

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self. You may experience a variety of emotions after returning to work, which is normal.

Texas Re-OPENS Re OPENS

Key messages Smith offered

Talking about your feelings

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May 07 – May 13, 2020

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