Houston mayor Annise Parker announced that she filed re-election papers last Thursday afternoon at her campaign headquarters located off Allen Pkwy.

“It’s an honor to serve the citizens of Houston; I am still excited to go to work everyday and I love the city even more with the experiences I’ve had,” said Parker who admitted that she still gets nervous when filing election paperwork though she has done the process eight times.

This comes as Parker made history as the first openly LGBT person elected mayor of a major American city alongside dealing with a first term that saw $100 million in budget cuts along with losing 747 jobs loses for Houstonians yet sees herself improving on her second-term if elected again.

“I’m going to be a better mayor in the second term because of what I’ve learned in the first term but I’m going to have that same passion and enthusiasm that I brought into office,” said Parker who compared her work and time in changing city bureaucracy to turning the direction of an ocean liner.

Former staffer for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and current night supervisor at the University of Houston Recreation and Wellness Center, Kevin Simms along with Amanda Ulman, of the Socialist Party are the only candidates to have filed papers to run against Parker.

Parker also took time to speak to the new class of her Parker Fellowship Program. The program has interns (better known as Fellows) do all the usual work interns during a campaign but participants are involved in intensive training on the operation of modern political campaign through activities such as fundraising, grassroots organizing and overall strategy.

“Instead of working for free, they’re going to go away learning about a campaign,” said communications director for Parker’s re-election campaign Sue Davis. “I’ve never seen a campaign do this.

According to field director for Parker’s campaign Maggie Nelson, ever single aspect of a campaign from finance to communications will be covered.

“A lot of kids including myself started interning as apart of a campaign so it gets them involved and an overall feel in what it is,” said Parker’s campaign re-election field director Maggie Nelson who interned for Hillary Clinton.

Parker herself hopes that the Fellows who participate in the programs will use what they learn to make a huge difference in the community.

“I’m really hoping that they take their skill sets and use them in the community and if they can get me connected to areas of the city that need help; that need works or where I as mayor can make improvements then we both can benefit,” said Parker.

University of Houston graduate student Kimberly Willis said that she joined the internship basically to have knowledge of what it is like to have a successful campaign.

“I just want to understand government at a city level along with the system of how a campaign is run,” said Willis.

Activist and founder of the National Black United Front died last Thursday from complications stemming from an episode of cardiac arrest last month.

“I considered Ester my friend, my mentor and my champion,” explained P.K. McCary as she was preparing King’s obituary on a laptop computer at S.H.A.P.E. Community Center off Live Oak. “If he could do something to help someone, he would do it.”

Born June 26,1943 in Magnolia Springs to Vergie Mae and David King, Ester Lee King graduated from Carverdale Junior-Senior High School in the Cypress-Fairbanks district in 1962. After leaving the Army, King would later enroll at Texas Southern University to become a social activist, his daughter Tandiwe Kone said in a report.

Along with working with organizations like Afro-Americans for Black Liberation and S.H.A.P.E. Community Center, King’s commentary on KPFT Houston radio programs including “Pan African Journal,” “Connect the Dots” and “Self Determination” was known for King’s outspokenness on various issues. He also supported many causes including environmental justice along with rights of workers, women and more.

“He wore his power as a tool and he used it as a force for good,” said P.K. McCary. “His story is not finished.”

King’s sister-in-law Cynthia King remembers being educated on his movement because of him.

“He was a great soul,” said King. “The first words that come to mind was civil rights when I first met him at a family gathering.”

“King was a true warrior for the people. He loved history and historic movies and he served as the Friends of Emancipation Park Movie Chairperson. King also evaluated political science students’ presentations at Texas Southern University and gave them feedback on their work along with historic comments. I will miss him for his conversations with me at the office and for his contributions to to the students I taught,” said Dorris Ellis, publisher-editor of the Houston Sun.

King leaves behind his wife of 41 years Leallia King, daughter Kone King, son Ahmed Sekou Toure King, and two grandchildren.

The wake will took place at The Shrine of the Black Modonna located on 5317 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Funeral proceedings took place the following day at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church located at 3826 Wheeler Str. with the repast following at the Live Oak S.H.A.P.E. Community Center as a way to celebrate his life.

August is African American Business month and The Houston Sun went to the only financial institution established for African Americans for an interview. Unity National Bank has made a name for itself as not only being the only African American owned bank in Texas but for being dedicated to serving the community for the last 48 years.

Existing in one form or another since 1963 when it received its charter as Riverside National Bank, the institution was started by a group of Houston’s elite professions of African descent who wanted something in their own community.

“They wanted to give access to capitol to small businesses and personal loans to those who qualified and otherwise wouldn’t have access to funds,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer John Scroggins.

The 1980s came along and Riverside National Bank went into recievership, was sold to a group of white businessmen and became Peoples Bank for a brief period. The African American community was in shock and worked to regain ownership of the bank. In 1989 was sold again to another group of African American businessmen, headed by Limas Jefferson. This is when Riverside National Bank would change to the now current Unity National Bank.

Unity National Bank would hit its new milestone in 2005 when businessman Kase Lawal would become majority shareholder of the bank. With the change in ownership came a new management team. The new chairman would become former mayor of Houston Lee P. Brown and Lawal became the vice chairman. Scroggins would be recruited from a high paying career at Wells Fargo to his position.

The reason Scroggins moved from an almost trillion dollar bank to a small community bank was simply to make a difference.

“It’s because I knew I could make a difference at Unity, more than what I could make at Wells Fargo,” said Scroggins. “I could really see the difference it would make in advising small businesses; especially African American, Latino, and woman owned businesses.”

When Scroggins came to Unity National Bank in January of 2006, the total assets of the bank were about $50 million. Now, the total assets stand at around $70 million along with an overly strong balance sheet. Scoggins also helped push for online banking, bill pay, credit card services, mortgage banking and merchant card services.

Along with City National Bank in New Jersey, Unity National Bank is the only black owned National Charter banks in America. With that ability, Unity National Bank has the ability to bank outside of the state of Texas and join the ranks of bigger banks like Chase and Bank of America which will help the bank accomplish its goal of being the biggest African American owned bank in the nation. Currently outside of the location of Blodgett Street, there’s a location in Missouri City area and one in the Pavilion shopping center in downtown Houston.

Unity National Bank serves the community through niche banking. This means that because they cannot compete with bigger banks due to size and numbers, the bank lends mainly to local businesses such as churches (along with other religious organizations), locally owned restaurants, and small government entities. In an effort to grow, the bank also has not ruled out acquisitions of other banks to coincide with its organic growth throughout the community said Scroggins.

According to Scroggins, local community businesses that have thrived while banking through Unity National Bank include Holman Street Baptist Church, Frenchy’s Chicken, Acute Machines, and Womack Development Company.

Local residents protest for the purpose of finding good jobs in Texas in front of Sen. John Cornyn‘s local office building recently on Memorial Drive around noon. The protest was organized by Joel Coon and Good Jobs for a Great Houston. The group pledge to continue such public actions until better jobs come to Houston.

Continue reading Good Jobs Great Houston holds another protest →

Special Assignment

SAN DIEGO – – Last week, a total of 518 young men started their first of 13 weeks of transformation, the initial phase of becoming a Marine. These young men arrived at San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot for a life-changing experience. The new recruits arrived on a traditional bus with their heads down, as senior drill instructor SSgt Brody V. Goldthwaite, 27, spoke loudly, almost shouting instructions at them. The recruits exited the bus quickly without speaking, heads now erect, eyes focused and hands to the side. Within minutes they were running in formation as their drill instructor barked more grueling instructions. Each recruit was required to line up on a yellow footprint which was their first lesson in learning to follow instructions. According to Goldthwaite, “the yellow footprint teaches new recruits how to stand properly.”
The drill instructor’s position is to remain the key to leading young men in their quest to earn the title “Marine” through demanding training, such as close order drills, physical training, academics, combat water survival, close combat skills, marksmanship instruction, and The Crucible. All recruits are given a chance to call home to leave a generic message. This is not a social call, but an opportunity to inform their families they have arrived safely to boot camp. One recruit was asked, “How did you feel calling home?” He mentioned, “It was the hardest thing for me to do. I heard my mom cry and she told me she loved me”. He concluded saying, “I’m glad I joined the Marines because I see that I have a future now.” The majority of the new recruits are young men who are 17 years of age and probably leaving home for the first time. You can hear their voice cracking as leave a bland message while the drill instructor is yelling at them to “Hurry up!”

For many years, young men from various walks of life, from different cultures and from different nationalities have joined the Marine Corps brotherhood. For example, Cpl Jenkins attended Worthing High School in Houston, Texas; he was an All-Star high school football player. According to Coach Williams, “The NFL wanted him, but now I understand why he made his choice and I’m very proud of him.” Cpl. Jenkins stated, “I joined the Marines because I saw my mother die and she told me to get out of this area. I promised her I would do better. I have no regrets in joining the Marines. My friends back home are always telling me how different ones have died from a shooting, gang related issues. They want something different and I tell them to join the Marines.” These young men are looking for growth, development, a since of being, education, mentorship, financial stability, a future and much more. The many stages they have to encounter in becoming a Marine are called TRANSFORMATION. The transformation process begins with recruiting, continues through recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depots in San Diego and Parris Island, and is sustained and reinforced throughout each Marine’s service. The Marine Corps is not changing the tried and true methods of recruit training, but enhancing those methods in pursuit of strengthening character and values. When Marines complete their service, they will return to society as better citizens than when America and their families entrusted them to the Corps.
The Marines continuously reiterates to recruits and fellow officers the core values of HONOR, COURAGE, and COMMITMENT. Honor guides Marines to exemplify the ultimate in ethical and moral behavior; to never lie, cheat or steal; to abide by an uncompromising code of integrity; and to respect human dignity. It is the quality of maturity, dedication, trust and dependability that compels Marines to act responsible; to hold themselves and each other accountable for their actions and to fulfill their obligations. Courage is the mental, moral and physical strength ingrained in Marines. It carries them through the challenges of combat and helps them overcome fear. Likewise, it is the inner strength that enables a Marine to do what is right; to adhere to a higher standard of personal conduct and to make tough decisions under stress and pressure. Commitment is the spirit of selfless determination and dedication found in Marines. It leads to the highest order of discipline for individuals and units. It is the ingredient that enables 24-hour a day dedication to Corps and country. It inspires the unrelenting determination to achieve a high standard of excellence in every endeavor.
The Marine Corps have enhanced recruit training by amplifying Core Values’ instruction and introducing The Crucible. A key element to the recent changes in recruit training is more time for the drill instructors to focus on character development with an emphasis on selflessness and teamwork. There are 37 hours of programmed instructions on core values. However, the most powerful values exchange may very well come from the increased one-on-one time with the drill instructors who teach and demonstrate values such as selflessness, determination, loyalty, and integrity. Once the senior drill instructor takes off his hat, he becomes more of a father figure to the young recruits to discuss sensitive issues such as sex, drugs, alcohol, stealing, and much more. After the round table discussion, the senior drill instructor transforms to his position; in his deep hard voice, he’s giving recruits instruction of what to do and where to go. The yelling and instructions did not bother them. One recruit said, “He graduated high school at 16 years old and at 17 his mom had to sign for him”. He also mentioned, “This experience has matured me and taught me how to be a man and handle my responsibility.” He has one year of college and plans to get married.
“The Crucible” is the manifestation of intangible values, training that has taken place earlier in recruit training. The Crucible is a grueling 54-hour evaluation of a recruit’s physical, mental, and moral fitness, both as an individual and a member of a team. This event takes place during the eleventh week of training. It is a series of eight events revolving around obstacles, warrior stations, movement courses, and reaction problems tackled over a grueling 40-mile course. To add to a rigorous course, they are sleep- and food-deprived, which is primarily designed to develop teamwork and camaraderie through shared hardship. At the end of The Crucible, each recruit is given the United States Marine Corps official emblem: The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. The emblem is composed of an eagle with its wings spread representing the United States of America. It is shaped like a globe showing the western hemisphere, and it represents world-wide service. The anchor on the emblem represents the Corps’ naval tradition. Each recruit is presented with the official emblem by their senior drill instructor. With this symbolic exchange, a young man or woman is now called a Marine for the first time. These are emotional times for each young man and woman because they are not just becoming soldiers; they are being transformed into Marines.