Category Archives: News

Education, Lifestyle, News

Abigail Fisher beats UT and makes ripples with affirmative action

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Abigail Fisher is a graduate of Lousiana State Univerity with a degree in finance. While earning that degree at LSU, Fisher took on the University of Texas- Austin in lawsuit based on a “no” for admission to the university.

In 2008, Fisher was denied acceptance to UTA and decided not to take it as a part of the college application experience. She alleged the school’s affirmative action policies are the reasons she was not accepted.

UTA admits the top 10 percent of students from every Texas graduating high school class, Fisher still found fault with the admission policy as she alleged that African- American and Hispanic students were let in due to the effect of racial diversity for the school.

Fisher did not fall into the top 10 percentile of her graduating class in Sugarland.

Her goal is for the Supreme Court to rule that it shall be illegal for the University of Texas-Austin to include race in admissions decisions.

Abigail Fisher won her case and UTA nor any other university will not be able to use race during the admission process.

Editorial, Lifestyle, News

Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis: Why I stood with Wendy

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Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, left, and Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, right, vote against a motion to call for a rules violation during Davis' filibusters of an abortion bill, Tuesday, June 25, 2013, in Austin, Texas. Davis was given a second warning for breaking filibuster rules by receiving help from Ellis with a back brace. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, left, and Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, right, vote against a motion to call for a rules violation during Davis’ filibusters of an abortion bill, Tuesday, June 25, 2013, in Austin, Texas. Davis was given a second warning for breaking filibuster rules by receiving help from Ellis with a back brace. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

State Senator Rodney Ellis

On Tuesday, I joined my friend and colleague Senator Wendy Davis as she engaged in a heroic and historic filibuster to protect women’s health in Texas. I could not be more proud of her and my fellow Senators as we helped defeat some of the most onerous women’s health restrictions in the nation. It was an incredible, awe-inspiring moment of passionate citizen action meeting incredible personal will and strength.

Senate Bill 5 was an unprecedented, unreasonable and unconscionable attack on women’s health. It would have eliminated access to reproductive services in all but 4 of Texas’ 254 counties in Texas and all but eradicated Texas women’s ability to receive constitutionally-protected health care services. Opponents of reproductive freedom want to make it virtually impossible for Texas women to seek safe, legal health care without facing the political consequences of trying to ban all abortions. It is a cynical, destructive but, sadly, effective strategy.

Rather than taking up issues that hard-working Texans want us to address, we are instead continuing the war on women by decreasing Texas women’s access to health care. Senate Bill 5 would enact some of the most restrictive limitations on reproductive freedom in the nation. They bring Big Government into what should be a very personal and private matter between a woman, her doctor and her faith, all under the Orwellian talking point of ‘protecting women’s health.’

Texas women deserve better.

During the original Senate debate on this bill, members in favor of harsh restrictions spoke eloquently about caring for the unborn, noting that these measures will increase the quality and standard of care. They, somewhat incredulously, argued that this anti-choice legislation has nothing to do with restricting a Texas woman’s right to control her own body. But let’s suspend disbelief for a moment and give proponents of further erosion of reproductive rights the benefit of the doubt and say they truly are concerned about women’s health. If that is sincerely the case, then the answer is shockingly simple: expand access to health insurance under Obamacare.

Yet they refused to accept all amendments or changes, including an amendment I offered which would truly improve the quality of life and health of Texas women and families.

This amendment would have made these anti-choice bills effective only if Texas expands Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. With approximately one in four Texans lacking insurance and about 16 percent of Texas children uninsured, this amendment could have provided health insurance to approximately 1.5 million additional Texans, including resources to improve access to quality care for women, infants and children.

Lack of adequate health insurance coverage makes it hard for Texas families to get the health care they need, and if and when they do it leaves them with large medical bills. In fact, study after study has shown that one of the best ways to protect and improve the health of women and babies – born and unborn – is by expanding access to quality health insurance. Having health insurance contributes to healthier mothers, healthier children, and significantly reduces infant mortality. In fact, women who lack insurance are more likely to have inadequate care, receive a significantly lower standard of care and are more likely to postpone or skip entirely needed care because they lack the money to pay for it. This has a serious impact on all Texans, especially our children.

The sad truth is that Texas is failing our mothers, failing our children and failing to focus on solutions that help all Texans, rather than narrow partisan interests. Texas women and families deserve better.

Business, News

Dorris Ellis, The Houston Sun publisher elected to NNPA 2013 board

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Dorris Ellis
The Houston Sun

National Newspaper Publishers Association 2013 Board Members SunPhoto/Dorcaus Robinson
National Newspaper Publishers Association 2013 Board Members
SunPhoto/Dorcaus Robinson

Houston Sun publisher Dorris Ellis has been elected to the National Newspaper Publisher Association national board Of Directors at its annual conference in Nashville, TN. June 2013

Dorris Ellis(left) stands with Judge Haynes after being sworn into the NNPA board.
Dorris Ellis(left) stands with Judge Haynes after being sworn into the NNPA board.
Community, Lifestyle, News

The crusade to end chronic homelessness in Houston

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Myra Griffin
The Houston Sun

The city wide initiative to end chronic homelessness has become a pressing issue for Mayor Annise Parker. On May 15, 2013, Parker gave a report on her findings from a survey taken as volunteers and herself canvassed the streets of Houston taking account of the homeless in order to see how they can service them.

More than a 160 volunteers, Council members Adams and Costello as well as the mayor went out surveying and chronicled each person according to their own specific needs and specific problems and history.
“We announced January 2012 we were going to have an intensive focus on homelessness in Houston and we are going to make a difference in homelessness. We intend to end chronic homelessness in Houston and we are going to put in place a three part plan to do that,” said Mayor Parker. “We have to have the resources in place first then the outreach and then what we hope to have a success placement for the chronically homeless in Houston.”

There are more than 8,000 people across the city that is homeless. The main focus is to place the chronic homeless first which is approximately 2,000 people.
“We are trying to identify and prioritize the most vulnerable homeless individuals and place them into permanent housing and provide services and treatments around that housing to make sure that we don’t make it easier, better or more comfortable to be on the street we make it possible and imperative that people get off the street,” said Mayor Parker.

Registry week deemed successful as the homeless were asked 33 questions off of a questionnaire that resulted in a list of 847 chronically homeless individuals classified and pin pointed so the city knows exactly who and where they are and what their specific needs and services.

“We did learn some things such as out of the 847 chronically homeless individuals interviewed 18% were veterans, 15% were women, 20% had been victims of some form of domestic violence, nearly half have identified mental health issues, nearly half suffer from one or more serious chronic health condition such as kidney disease, diabetes, liver failure, a third have been victims of a violent attack since becoming homeless and a third are employed despite sleeping on the streets every night,” said Mayor Parker.

Parker also rolled on with the statistics of how the homeless soak up city resources in the criminal justice and medical system. The city has received data that 50% of the homeless go to the hospital and emergency rooms for healthcare, 964 visits went to emergency room care in the last three months, 695 visits ended up as inpatient hospitalizations in the last year and 81% of the homeless have been jailed for unpaid tickets.

The information gathered, which was a part of Houston registry week that is encompassed with the national 100,000 homes campaign, has already gone into use by the Houston Police Department homeless outreach team and many other organizations. The goal is to access all 2,500 chronic and near chronic citizens in the very near future, according to the Mayor.

“We have started to place some of our most vulnerable into permanent housing with supportive services,” said Mayor Parker. “It’s not just hey we find you an apartment and give you a key and you’re good to go, you have to wrap services around it. We already have five we’ve interviewed and they will be in housing by the end of the week. We are continuing forward momentum on homeless veterans and our next goal is to house 300 more veterans in the next 80 days to go through the list identified.”

Mandy Chapman- Semple, the Mayor’s point person for the Homeless Initiatives in the city added more information as she thanked the Coalition for the Homeless, Health and Human Services and the Houston Housing Authority.

“The registry was just the first step in our three part plan and the next step is really about creating more supportive housing opportunity and really bringing the services to these units and individuals so they can stabilize long term in this housing,” said Semple.
The assessment used during the registry will now be used on a daily basis by homeless outreach teams so as they encounter individuals they didn’t find during registry week they will be assessed and placed according to their vulnerability and needs. The assessment will also be accompanied by their picture

The Housing Authority’s focus will be on finding the units and buildings and providing the housing subsidy. The services that accompany housing the homeless is the problem that still needs to be worked out.

“Homelessness is down one quarter and it’s not as simple as I just need a place to sleep,” said Mayor Parker. “We have shelters all across the city that isn’t always adequate in number for shelter with beds but there are options and opportunities.”

Services will be tailored to the problems of the individual and the most severe will be handled first. The city will not force anyone into an apartment. This is an opportunity for the chronic homeless to find stability in a residence and with supportive measures.

Community, Lifestyle, News

Mayor Parker announces 2014 city budget

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Myra Griffin
The Houston Sun

Mayor Annise Parker released the 2014 proposed $4.9 billion budget for the city of Houston on May 14, 2013 that will go into effect on July 1, 2013. Mayor Parker continues her emphasis on jobs and development, public safety, quality of life, infrastructure and fiscal responsibility as she maintains that the budget will not require a tax increase.

The budget has made provisions to finish restoring the services that were cut or rolled back due to the economic issues of the city. The city has also completely funded their Rainy Day Fund which is $20 million strong with a 7.5% allocated reserve which is above the 5% mandated amount, and pensions, health benefits and mandated pay increases for city employees are included as well.

“This budget proposal builds upon the progress of the last 3.5 years,” said Mayor Parker. “We’ve cut waste, made city departments more efficient and balanced every budget without raising taxes.”

Jobs growth is a national issue that always hits home first and Mayor Parker continues to work at providing employment opportunities for Houstonians as she will stay connected with Hire Houston First. According to city data, within the programs first year more than $139 million of city business was awarded to certified firms, sustaining more than 6,000 jobs. The city has attracted more than $2.2 billion of economic development since 2010, generated 250,000 jobs, exported approximately $300 billion in locally-produced goods and services and has issued permits for construction on nearly 74,000 single family homes.

Majority of the money looks to be heading towards public safety as the report shows that’s where two- thirds of the general fund budget will go.

“More than $2.2 million is included in this budget proposal to fund operations of the city’s new public safety radio project, which is improving the city’s capability to communicate with Harris County and surrounding jurisdictions when fighting crime or responding to natural disaster,” said the Mayor’s office.

Public Safety will include the creation of a Forensics Transition Special Fund to keep separate and account for the costs with the Houston Forensics Science LGC which has been under scrutiny for years about its methods and outcomes. This venture will help with the effort to establish an independent crime lab, and will push forward with the elimination of the DNA backlog. The city also will proceed to do more demolitions of dangerous buildings.

The city has added a General Fund line for the first time for infrastructure and the amount is $2.5 million which is representing approximately 2% average annual Capital Improvement Plan for Public Improvement Programs for infrastructure maintenance, renewal and replacement. The city has already invested $180 million has already been invested in drainage and street improvements. In the fiscal year 2014 additional progress on replacement f city information technology and fleet infrastructure which has been underfunded for years.

“These dollars will be used for upkeep to existing city facilities, such as libraries, community centers and neighborhood fire stations, to help avoid the deferred maintenance issues identified in the recent facilities assessment,” said the Mayor’s Office.

The quality of life for Houstonians remains a hot button issue and Mayor Parker in her efforts to clean up the city while going green, has doubled the houses that use single- stream recycling from 100,000 to 200,000. The first part of the expansion will start in July when 35,000 households will be added and then another 70,000 will be added later in the year. The stream recycling will be easier and convenient as all recyclables will go in one big bin. Mayor Parker emphasized the high priority for the planet but it will also be a long term financial investment and it will help preserve the landfills.

“The expansion will impact neighborhoods citywide rather than be limited to one specific area of town,” said Mayor Parker.

The city also prepares for the completion of the new adoption center, the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Control will include an increase in funding for $693,683. There will be progress made on the Bayou Greenways that will link parks and trails throughout the city and the budget will also include revenue for the Mayor’s initiative to end chronic homelessness in the city which has cost the city over a million dollars in the past.

Fiscal responsibility for the city remains on the minds of Houstonians as it affects the quality of the life they live within the city. The city is making the steps to have more transparency with their finances. They have included $676,000 for financial controls and audit capabilities.

“I feel like I spent my first term in office plugging holes in a leaky boat, but the boat stayed afloat and now we have the funds to take the boat and put up a new sail and I’m very excited about this,” said Mayor Parker.

The mayor’s financial plan is set and will begin in the middle of the summer. The Capital Improvement Plan for the fiscal years of 2014 through 2018 will coincide with the proposed budget and will have the same emphasis with infrastructure and public safety.

Education, News

The city of Houston and Texas Southern University sign an MOU to educate city employees

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Myra Griffin
The Houston Sun

Mayor Annise Parker and Texas Southern University have entered into a partnership with the Barbara Jordan Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs to allow city employees the opportunity to earn a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree.
The program will be a reduced course load offered at the E.B. Cape Center. The center serves as the city’s corporate university that provides a learning atmosphere for employees to enhance their job skills and performance. Mayor Parker has entered the city into this agreement as an investment in the employees so they can serve the citizens better.
“If they complete designated courses at the E.B. Cape Center they will have the opportunity to receive credit and enroll at TSU with a reduced course load. Once enrolled at TSU’s MPA program, up to 6 hours of classes taken at the E.B. Cape Center may be credited towards the 48 hours required,” said Mayor Parker. “The University will also wave the required internship because our employees are actively working every day hands on with the citizens of Houston. This is an offering that will enhance our employees to serve better and also a wonderful new partnership with TSU which turns out degree many people who work for the city of Houston.”
City employees can take up to 12 hours that they don’t have to pay for as long as they are classes that are inline with the E.B. Cape and MPA program.
Dr. Sonny Ohia, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research at TSU extended greetings from the university and on behalf of President Dr. John Rudley. He expressed his pleasure and excitement at the opportunity that TSU will be partnering the city of Houston.
“With the purpose of the university to be engaged in the community and to contribute to the community, what better way can we do that than by offering education to the city employees and to join with us and earn the academic credentials that will help create a better workforce for the city of Houston,” said Ohia.
Mayor Parker called up Dr. Michael Adams the Interim Chair of the Political Science department to the podium attributing him as a person who played a pivotal role in the collaboration. Adams came forward all smiles as he too is happy about the partnership between TSU and the city.
“We are indeed happy about this historic occasion to enter into a MOU with the city of Houston to provide an expanded education and professional training to city employees,” said Adams. “We are the only NASPAA, (National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration), accredited public administration program in the city of Houston so it means a lot to the city of Houston.”
Omar Reed, the Human Resources Director for the city of Houston and a graduate of Texas Southern spoke as a representative of the city and the E.B. Cape Center. Reed noted that the E.B. Cape Center offers a variety of courses for employees and that it’s a great opportunity to partner with TSU.
“We’re very excited about the opportunity to partner with TSU and continuing the services we offer at the E.B. Cape and give employees at the city and opportunity to continue to expand their educational endeavors and we look at it as an important partnership.”
This opportunity is only for those pursuing a Masters in Public Administration. Any city employee can partake in this opportunity but any other endeavors outside of the MPA will be an out of pocket expense and the city will not reimburse city employees for classes taken , they must be in accordance to the plan and agreement between E.B. Cape and Texas Southern University.

News

Senate shoots down gun reform legislation

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Gun reform supporters stand and rally together.
Gun reform supporters stand and rally together.

Myra Griffin
The Houston Sun

The fight for stricter gun laws on Capitol Hill is proving to be a steep uphill battle and the Obama administration has yet to see a victory. Gun rallies are taking place all over the country in hopes to make a social change with the violence that has been associated lately with guns.

Recently the Senate shut down the plan to extend background checks to online and gun-show sales. The vote tallied 54 to 56 leaving the bill six votes short of the 60 votes needed for it to pass. The proposal to ban rapid firing assault weapons failed in the Senate as well.

Americans are praying for “gunsense” as the death toll is rising and the families of the slain are crying out for justice and help. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has taken to the fight of gun law reform and wants the nation to see what gun violence has done to America, families and children.

“I think it’s intolerable that we don’t have an up or down vote,” said Congresswoman Lee as she rallied for some type of vote to be rendered earlier in April.

The types of guns that the public should possess gives way to the contrition that is making the debate a fiery one, being that assault rifles are under immense scrutiny.

“We need a vote to eliminate assault weapons as well as registration standards,” said Constable Walker. “Only law enforcement need assault weapons.”

Constable May Walker of Precinct 7 approves of universal background checks and anti- gun trafficking law.

The ideology of right and wrong is one of the biggest factors in the gun reform debate as the nation’s conscious feels it is wrong when children are murdered yet it is right that Americans should hold their rights of bearing arms in tact. Congresswoman Lee’s stance is regulation as she reminds the public of the victims of gun violence.

America is the most “gunned” country in the world. In 2011 there were 89 guns for every 100 Americans which would make one presume America would be a safer country yet it’s not.

Legislators urged by their constituents are pushing for sensible gun legislation that will ban assault weapons; diminish the use of multiple round clips and the closing of the gun show loopholes. With the recent tragedies of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newton, Connecticut, the theater massacre in Aurora, Colorado and statistics like 500 homicides linked to gun violence on the streets of Chicago in 2012, the American public have had lit fires that are burning under President Obama to make some type of reform with firearms.

With all the push for reform there are just as many if not more people who do not feel the same sentiment. The urgency for change is meeting opposition from legislators and organizations such as The National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA is fighting with all the fire power they have to keep the gun laws as is. In a statement released earlier in April the NRA said, that the amendment “would have criminalized certain private transfers of firearms between honest citizens, requiring lifelong friends, neighbors and some family members to get federal government permission to exercise a fundamental right or face prosecution.”

The battle is far from over as politicians on both sides of the issue are not going to back down. The issue filibustered in the Senate and made many angry while causing the public to rally for a decision.

April 17, 2013 the Senate shot down the President’s gun legislation leaving a large majority of the country bitter and looking for a new direction.

Community, Education, News

National Urban League releases State of Black America

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Myra Griffin
The Houston Sun

The National Urban League has released their analysis of the State of Black America, on April 10th which is a survey and statistical data of the economic and educational equality standards of African- Americans for the past 50 years in America.

President of the National Urban League Marc Morial along with Dr. Valerie Wilson, Economist and V.P. of Research Key Findings and Chanelle Hardy,Senior V.P. of Policy and Executive Director of the National Urban League Policy Institute, spoke with the Sun on the 50 year retrospect and top line findings for equality index that focus on problems and equality gaps seen between the black and white communities.

State of Black America and Education:
The high school completion gap has closed by 57 percentage points and there are triple the number of African- Americans enrolled in college today than in 1963. For every graduate in 1963 there are now five, 50 years later.

Fifty years ago, 75 percent of black adults had not completed high school. Currently, 85 percent of black adults have a high school education. At the college level, there are now 3.5 times more African- Americans between 18-24 years old enrolled in college, and five times as many black adults hold a college degree.

“We have closed the college enrollment gap at five times the rate of closing the unemployment rate gap,” said Morial.

State of Black America and Employment:
During the last 50 years, African- Americans remained twice as likely as whites to be unemployed and earn less than two-thirds the income of whites. In many ways, employment remains the biggest barrier to economic equality in America. The unemployment gap has only closed by 6 percentage points and through research the National Urban League saw a 2 to 1 unemployment rate gap that remained very persistent even as they factored in all the situations such as education, economic status, and geographic location.

“We have factored in people with different levels of education and what impact that has on employment opportunities,” said Dr. Valerie Wilson, Economist and V.P. of Research Key Findings. “For example African- American’s with a college degree are four and a half less likely to be unemployed versus an African-American without a college degree or diploma.”

The primary hurdle that the National Urban League feels African- Americans need to overcome is getting a job. Once that is done they believe that findings will show people with similar characteristics tend to have a level of income and economic status that is closer than it would be for both ethnic groups overall.

State of Black America and the Income Equality Gap:
With gains and educational attainment the capacity for African-Americans to climb the economic ladder is evident by the fact that the African-American poverty rate has been cut nearly in half since 1963 and it is also evident aamongst people with different levels of education. Looking in the terms of equality and the outcomes seen for blacks and whites at similar levels of education, age groups and the same region of the country; yet much less progress is seen in terms of closing the disparities between blacks and whites.

“Over time we have not seen the two groups come closer together in terms of economic well being in this country,” said Wilson.

On average, African- Americans enjoy less than three-fourths of the benefits and privileges offered to white Americans. Similarly, with an index of 75.4 percent, Hispanic Americans are experiencing only three-quarters of the full benefits that America has to offer.
Income inequality varies upon where people live, what kind of job they have, whether it is in the public or private sector how many earners are in a household and how that affects the income gap. The study found that based on where you live in the country effects your income. According to The National Urban League the income gap is smaller in the South and largest in the Midwest. Compared to people living in the suburbs to the city, income inequality is greater in the inner city and that’s between blacks and whites.

The Houston Sun posed the question to The National Urban League about why the income gap is smaller in the South than in the Midwest?

“It has a lot to do with the kind of industry and occupations people work in and the extent of the segregation in the workplace in terms of what occupation blacks versus whites are employed, the difference between the types of jobs are based more or less on the education attained in the different regions of the country varies,” said Wilson. “In the South the opportunities for people with a high school diploma or less versus those with higher levels of education and the types of jobs sought, you don’t see much disparity in terms of what they pay but in comparison to the Midwest the kind of occupations the people of the Midwest seek and the different racial groups there tend to find a larger disparity in what those types of occupations pay. It has to do a lot with the industry mixing, with the cost of living and overall levels of education, all of those play a roll in that income gap.”

The State of Black America and Poverty Levels
The anti-poverty efforts since 1963 has significantly raised the leading standards for African- Americans and the percentage of blacks living in poverty has fallen by nearly half (45%), and the percentage of black children living in poverty is down by more than one-third. The percentage of blacks living in poverty has decline by 23 percentage points and the percentage of black kids living in poverty has fallen 22 points.

The National Urban League has solutions for the problems they have noticed in their 50 year assessment of the State of Black America. Marc Morial noted the initiatives the NUL has been working on such as Jobs Rebuild America, which is a five year initiative by the National Urban League and its affiliates to train and help as many people get to work as possible. There will be ten programs under the banner of Jobs Rebuild America that include job training, entrepreneurship, and afterschool programs for teenagers. This will provide job training opportunities for thousands of people and will be available in up to 20 plus cities. The NUL will announce cities and the Jobs Rebuild America opportunities on May 20, 2013 at the Cleveland, Ohio Urban League. There will also be training for those previously incarcerated, training opportunities for older workers over the age of 55, leadership development opportunities for youth and teens, and a wide variety of measure that are designed to enhance financing for small business.

They are also two pieces of Federal legislation that are being introduced to Capitol Hill, The Urban Jobs Act and Project Ready STEM Act.
The Urban Jobs Act was introduced in the Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and in the House by Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA). The Project Ready STEM Act was introduced in the House by the Congressional Black Caucus Chair Marsha Fudge and they are still looking for a Senate sponsor.

“The way the programs would work it would actually provide funding to organizations like the National Urban League and other communities based organizations. Currently organizations are being hit in a serious way by the effects of the federal deficit reduction in Washington with the sequester and with the cuts there are fewer dollars available and fewer community members served; this will ensure that there is funding so those programs can be offered at the most robust level possible,” said Chanelle Hardy, Senior V.P. of Policy and Executive Director of the National Urban League Policy Institute.

The Urban Jobs Act
The Urban Jobs Act is designed to provide a stream of funding necessary support to a population that is largely unreached by current policy strategy. The population between 16 and 24 years- old that are not community college ready are underserved. The community college system has been the beneficiary of the administration’s focus dollars seeking to increase job readiness. This population is made up of high school drop outs, adjudicated youth, foster care and those who have aged out of the system and students who are not ready to benefit from community college programs. Many of these students are not the type to seek a college education at high cost so what we seek to do with the Urban Job Act is to promote a program that takes a multi disciplinary approach to benefitting the population which may include GED training, or other academic skills, mentoring, with a community service component that provides real world on the job training and a wage.

“The strategy for this workforce investment act has been under a reauthorization effort for many years and it is the most important part of job readiness legislation and funding in the congress and it has been awaiting much needed reauthorization for years and our goal is to get it inserted in that package of legislation,” said Hardy.

The Project Ready STEM. Act:
The Project Ready Stems Act is designed for underserved youth who need to be exposed to STEM careers. STEM careers are occupations that deal in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Challenges seen in equality index show that there is a high level of interest in our STEM careers in our community but the problem is the students are not able to take the appropriate course work needed so they have the option to pursue a STEM career at the college level and beyond. Project Ready Stem Act is a middle school enrichment program that buys exposure, training and preparation to the student so they can plot a path to those types of careers.

The National Urban League released their 37th edition of the State of Black America, Redeem the Dream: Jobs Rebuild America which also includes a commemorative Special Collection of essays that pay homage to the early freedom fighters in the civil rights movement. This Special Collection includes reflections from those who were in the civil rights and those who have picked up the torch and kept the fight alive. With 50 years in review tells a story of the past while laying out a roadmap for a promising future provided the work continues to be done.

News

Points of Light: 30 Women of Power and Purpose Breakfast

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The Houston Sun honored women of power and purpose on March 30th at the
Power Center for their Points of Light: 30 Women of Power and Purpose Conversations
over Breakfast event. This event was one of many to come to celebrate the paper’s 30 TH
anniversary is business.
Honorees and their guest filled up a beautifully decorated ballroom that
coordinated with the pearl theme of a 30th anniversary. The honorees were escorted arm
and arm into the ballroom by the men of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, while every one
looked on.
The Master of Ceremony was Fox 26’s anchor, Jose Grinan, Distinguished guest,
Mayor Annise Parker, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson spoke as well as Congressman Al
Green. Shuronda Robinson, a future heir of the company and daughter to the publisher,
welcomed all to the breakfast and presented history of the Houston Sun.
Tammie Campbell, an honoree for her work with the Honey Brown Hope
Foundation, loved the introduction by Robinson, the rich history of the paper and its
foundation. She was pleased to be involved and was thoroughly excited.
“It was like a royal event and I was elated. It was superb. For 30 years of
producing a printed paper it is incredible for African Americans for when we think back
there was a time when we were denied an opportunity to read or to write, it was against
the law,” said Campbell. “Then to have great people like the Robinson’s to come in and
recognize the importance of having a paper so we can tell our stories, it is incredible. So
to be honored at an event like that was an honor because the event itself was an honor for
our community as well.”
The fashion show truly kicked off the event as the Houston Sun models, T.J.’S
Modeling Troop & Ogle Cosmetology School ripped the runway with various styles from
hats to themed attire.
“The part I like the most was the fashion show. It was unique and it showed our
heritage in terms of what we have experienced in the past. It was entertaining,” said
Campbell.
Following the fashion show breakfast was served. During breakfast there was a
video of all the honorees that detailed them personally and professionally.
“It was awesome, the video, the fashion show, the food was excellent and the
people. The entertainment was out of sight,” said Veronica Deboest, an honoree for her
work as the Youth Director with Cuney Homes.
Honoree Gwendolyn Beavers, Owner and CEO of Wen’s Janitorial Inc. loved
the video of the honorees created by Ted Irving. She stated when she was filming her
interview she had no clue it would come out so beautiful.
“Ted did a wonderful job on the video, I want a copy for myself,” said
Gwendolyn Beavers. “While I ate my breakfast I couldn’t keep my eyes off the screen,
everything was top notch.”

After breakfast it was time for the presentation of the honorees. One by one each
honoree was called up and showcased. All of the women were able to see the people who
were being honored with them and see the works of one another.
“The experience gave me the reassurance to be strong, live honorably and with
dignity,” said Keiundra Jackson, an honoree for her work with Covenant House Texas.
“This makes me want to keep pushing to make a change.”
Honoree Vanessa Wade, Owner and CEO of Connect the Dots PR, was very
impressed with the venue and caliber of women present. She enjoyed the event as a
whole and expressed how pleased she was with the different types of professionals being
honored.
“It boiled down to the professional and not age. The mixture was good,” said
Wade.
Pearls were given to the honorees as gifts were given by the Houston Sun,
handmade paper cranes that were made out of the Houston Sun were given by honoree,
Sister Mama Sonya and proclamations from Congresswoman Lee’s office and State
Representative Ron Reynolds.
“The experience was humbling and overwhelming,” said honoree Lydia Brew. “I
am grateful for the personal gifts including artwork and the pearls.”
The honorees looked marvelous in their hats and gloves and smiled at their
accomplishments that led them to be honored. Many people reconnected and some made
new connections while the cameras flashed. After the event many people lingered as they
seemed very pleased with the breakfast.
“I thought the event was very professionally done and it was unique and I’m sure
all the women who were honored thoroughly enjoyed it as I did,” said Patricia Sullivan,
an honoree for her excursions all over the world.
The honorees were Debbie Allen, Naomi Carrier, LaShandra Hall, Kim Roxie,
Tammie Campbell, Lanora “Onney” Laws, Patricia Sullivan, Keiundra Jackson, Dr.
Jonita Reynolds, Theola Petteway, Thelma Joyce Todd, Cerendy Sias , Judge Maria T.
Jackson, Gayle Fallon , Vanessa Wade, Tarsha Hardy, Nicky Ferguson, Dr. Carol A.
Lewis , Sherry Browning , Kijana Wiseman , Lydia Brew , Monica P. Fontenot ,
Delmicia Joy Williams, Serbino Sandifer- Walker, Dr. Anjanette Wyatt , Veronica
Deboest, Gwendolyn Beavers, Dr. Edith Clark, Melanie Singleton, Sister Momma Sonya,
Keir Sylvester “Fiyah”, Attorney Jalene Mack, Fiona Robinson, Polly Turner and Judge
Alexandra Smoots- Hogan.
These women embody the power and purpose the world needs to keep thriving.
All of these women come from different sectors, geographic locations and backgrounds.
The Houston Sun celebrates their work and 30 years in business as well.

News

The Black Press Celebrates 186 Years

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Every culture has a history; a chronicle of their hardships and triumphs, a tabulation of the successful endeavors and a reminder of what happened to those prior. The African American race is no different yet their history had to find its own avenue to be recorded hence the emergence of the Black Press.

The month of March is Black Press Month and this year marks 186 years. The community, the ethnicity and the ties that bind African Americans to the rest of America, keeps the Black Press as an outlet to provide news and document the history, progression and struggle of the black man, woman and child in America.

History of the Black Press

In 1827, Samuel Cornish and John B. Russwarm started the first African-American periodical, The Freedom’s Journal. This periodical was started before the Civil War and ignited a spark in other Blacks to create their own papers as well. These papers served as a way to express abolitionism, liberation and rights for slaves and free Blacks, racial pride and a way to let other Blacks know what was going on within their community. The Freedom’s Journal ended circulation in 1830 but not before another circulation started which was Frederick Douglass’s, North Star.
As emancipation came for the African slaves and those free men and women became to inhabit and formulate urban areas, a circulation of Black newspapers began to influx and soon the Black Press was alive.
The Chicago Defender, Detroit Tribune, New York Amsterdam News and the Pittsburgh Courier became the voice and face of the Black community in America. In a time where the Black voice was not seen of importance to many besides Blacks, the Black Press allowed Blacks the avenue to get news and give news through their viewpoint.
Issues such as how Blacks were treated, discriminatory practices in hiring, housing and in retail, the Klu Klux Klan, police brutality, the Civil Rights Movement and also the good life Blacks were having has they built a life and culture after slavery in a harsh world around them.

Black Press Today

The African- American community still desires to have their own voice heard and there are hundreds of Black newspapers throughout the country. Although mainstream media has taken prevalence over community papers the presence and need for the Black Press is still felt.
There are Black papers still in business that date back over a hudred years like the Philadephia Tribune that started in 1884 or the Charolette Post that started in 1878, that are still going strong and a part of the Black Press. Regardless of the state of newspapers in America, over 200 newspapers service the Black community throughout the country.

Black Press in Houston
The Houston Sun, African-American News and Issues, Houston Defender, Houston Forward Times ,Houston Style ,Informer & Texas Freeman are all a African American newspapers that serve the Black community throughout the city of Houston. As a part of the Black Press each one of these papers have showcased the culture of African Americans in Houston, told the story that may not ever be told by the city paper, celebrates the struggle and identity that makes the Black community stand a part.
These papers have launched the careers of many journalist, gave a platform for numerous politicians and kept a community abreast of the issues surrounding them.
The Informer and Texas Freeman is said to be the oldest paper west of the Mississippi as it started in 1893, Houston Forward Times celebrates 53 years this year and The Houston Sun turns 30 years old in December. The business of the press is never a paling task and the Black Press’s job isn’t slowing down through the present day issues. If not now the job is evermore pressing.

As a rich legacy of good, bad, strong and enduring times, the history of the Black race hasn’t fallen on deaf ears. The Black Press has told the stories that will provide a record for all who wish to know about the issues of the world with an African American perspective.