By PAUL J. WEBER

Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO (AP) _ Congressional Texas Democrats returned from Washington on Monday to bash redrawn voting districts in federal court, testifying that the GOP-backed map discriminates by crowding blacks and Hispanics into shared districts despite a statewide surge in minority growth.

U.S. Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Henry Cuellar and Al Green each asked a three-judge panel to throw out the redistricting map drawn by the GOP-controlled Texas Legislature and signed by Republican Gov. Rick Perry this summer.

Hispanics accounted for two-thirds of Texas’ population growth the last decade. One by one, the elected Democrats testified the new map doesn’t reflect those gains and deprives Hispanics of a chance to elect their own representatives.

“Nothing is more satisfying to any minority group than having someone who looks like them represent them,” said Johnson, who was first elected to her Dallas district in 1992.

The Texas attorney general’s office began their defense later Monday, and made their first witness a Republican mapmaker who testified that the new map actually resulted in more districts with a majority of voting-age Hispanics than plans submitted by Democrats.

Gerardo Interiano, general counsel to Republican House speaker Joe Straus, said the new map gives Hispanics a fair chance to participate in the political process.

“More than ever,” Interiano said.
The prominent testimony from congressional members signaled that Democrats were winding down their case after more than a week of calling experts and minority leaders affected by the new map. They expected to rest later Monday after the scheduled testimony of U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.

The state contends the map is fair and maintains or increases the voting power of minorities.

Closing arguments are expected by the end of the week.

Texas received four new congressional seats following the last census, more than any other state, in wake of a population boom was overwhelmingly driven by Hispanics,

The new congressional map was drawn with the goal of protecting and possibly expanding the 23-9 majority enjoyed by Republicans in Texas’ delegation in Washington.

The Democratic lawmakers said the surge in Hispanic growth warranted those residents getting more representation in new districts. Democrats argue the Republican plan splits Hispanic and black communities, so that conservative white residents would be more likely to win seats in Congress.

Each of the congressional Democrats conceded Monday that the new map didn’t diminish their own chances of re-election. But they warned the new boundaries would create “tension districts” _ overcrowded minority districts split among blacks and Hispanics, and divided over which candidates to elect.
“It’s like throwing a few crumbs out there for them to fight over,” Johnson said.

Interiano said the new map was designed to give all incumbent lawmakers the opportunity to preserve their seats. Along the border, for example, the district of Republican state Rep. Aaron Pena was redrawn to try to include more GOP voters because Pena switched parties before the last session.

Interiano said that while the redistricting process was “member-driven” in the Legislature, not all plans submitted by lawmakers were legal. One Democratic plan to add another so-called Hispanic “opportunity district” in the Rio Grande Valley didn’t work, Interiano said, because it had the ripple effect of splitting counties further north in violation of the Texas Constitution.

Green, the Houston-area congressman first elected in 2004, said his district that currently has a plurality of black voters could be more evenly split with Hispanics under the new map. He said that by contrast, more than two dozen districts controlled by white voters are unlikely to change.

“It’s difficult to believe that it could happen by accident, the type of surgery that was performed,” Green said of the new map.

Under the Voting Rights Act, new Texas maps must be cleared by the U.S. Department of Justice to ensure the changes do not diminish minority representation. That case is pending in Washington.

WASHINGTON – One of 10 small businesses from around the country will be selected as the National Minority Small Business Person of the Year at the 29th annual Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week conference, hosted jointly in September by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency.

The MED Week conference will take place Sept. 27-30 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.

“We are happy to partner with MBDA on this year’s MED Week event to bring together accomplished minority small business owners, respected business leaders, federal agencies and top Fortune 100 companies to provide a lively, interactive framework for small businesses to learn critical tips on how to gain access to capital and federal contracts, how to expand their businesses and take their businesses global,” said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills.

The national winner will be chosen from 10 regional winners representing Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, Virginia, Texas, Kansas, South Dakota, South Carolina, Indiana, California, and Washington.

Regional award winners have businesses that offer services ranging from manufacturing of military and occupational uniforms and marketing and staffing services to the design and construction of office furniture and environmental services including wildlife habitats, wetlands development and naturalized landscaping.

MED Week celebrates the accomplishments of outstanding minority entrepreneurs and leaders and provides a platform for small, minority-owned businesses to learn about business growth strategies, receive premier training and networking opportunities.

“Minority businesses are a phenomenal asset to the U.S. economy in a variety of sectors, from manufacturing to hospitality services and everything in between,” said MBDA National Director David Hinson. “These firms create good paying jobs and boost economic growth in America’s communities. The businesses recognized through the MED Week awards program represent just a few of our nation’s brightest and most innovative minority enterprises.”

The conference will also include workshops on access to SBA’s lending programs, access to federal contracts through the Small Business Jobs Act, growing your business through social media and access to government contracts through federal Mentor-Protegé programs. The SBA will participate in a roundtable entitled, “Doing Business with the Government,” to discuss government contracting opportunities for small businesses. For more information on MED Week workshops, or to register for the conference, visit www.medweek.gov.

The theme for this year’s MED Week event is “Emerging Industries & Markets: A Blueprint for Success,” and will continue its focus on helping minority small businesses expand their operations and establish a presence in the global marketplace while helping them weather the

current economic climate in the U.S. There will also be a business expo and tradeshow and a Small Business Town Hall to discuss the Small Business Jobs Act.

In addition to announcing the national minority small business award winner, SBA will present the SBA Administrator’s Leadership award which recognizes the recipient’s tireless efforts and unwavering commitment on behalf of the nation’s minority small business community and the award for the 8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year.

The 10 Regional Minority Small Business Persons of the Year are:

REGION I REGION VI

Charran K. Fisher, President Armando A. “Rocky” Aranda Jr., President

Fisher Contracting Corporation MILCON Construction, LLC

Worcester, Mass. San Antonio, Texas

REGION II REGION VII

Oscar Quiles, President Elizabeth K. Harshfield, President

Pentaq Manufacturing Corporation Exhibit Arts, LLC

Sabana Grande, PR Wichita, Kan.

REGION III REGION VIII

Carlos Del Toro, President & CEO Jacqueline Nettleton, President

SBG Technology Solutions, Inc. Mountain Movers Construction, Inc.

Stafford, Va. Rapid City, S.D.
REGION IV REGION IX

Kenneth B. Canty, President & CEO Ricardo A. Lopez, President & CEO

Freeland Construction Company RAL Investment Corporation

Charleston, S.C. National City, Calif.

REGION V REGION X

Clyde D. Harris II, President Lorraine Kimberly Erion, President

Diverse Staffing Services, Inc. LKE Corporation

Indianapolis, Ind. Washougal, Wash.

For more details on this year’s MED Week conference, please visit www.medweek.gov.

The rate of HIV infection among African-American gay and bisexual men aged 18 to 29 increased 50
percent between 2006 and 2009, according to new data released by the US Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS at the CDC, said this
segment of the population was the only group to experience a significant increase in new infections
during that period. Speaking at a press briefing at the National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta on
August 16, Dr. Fenton said the rise took place even as the overall number of new HIV infections in the US
held steady at 50,000 cases per year.

Furthermore, the CDC estimated that nearly half of infected African Americans may be unaware of their
HIV status. CDC researcher Dr. Alexandra Oster called infrequent testing and low awareness “a major
concern,” with data indicating only 55 percent of this high-risk group is receiving adequate care. To
increase rates of HIV testing and awareness among African American gay and bisexual men, the CDC is
rolling out a new campaign called Testing Makes Us Stronger, which will feature messages posted in ads
as well as on social media and in outreach programs.

“It is increasingly clear that rapid testing for HIV should play a larger role in the overall strategy to
alleviate the suffering of at-risk populations as well as the population-at-large,” says Lawrence Siebert,
CEO of Medford, NY-based Chembio Diagnostics, a New York-based developer and manufacturer of
point-of-care diagnostic tests. “These rapid tests are capable of producing a result in as little as 15
minutes.”

Chembio’s two FDA PMA-approved, CLIA-waived, rapid HIV tests are marketed in the U.S. by Alere,
Inc. The company markets its HIV 1/2 STAT-PAK® and SURE CHECK HIV 1/2 line of rapid HIV tests
internationally to government and donor-funded programs directly and through distributors. Chembio
has developed a patented point-of-care test platform technology, the Dual Path Platform (DPP®)
technology, which has significant advantages over lateral-flow technologies. This technology is
providing the company with a significant pipeline of business opportunities for the development and
manufacture of new products based on DPP®. Specifically, Chembio has developed a rapid oral fluid HIV
test and also a Syphilis test which are now in clinical evaluation as part of the FDA approval process.

Additionally, Chembio is working on making its unique SURE CHECK HIV over-the-counter test available
for consumer self-testing, and foresees submitting it to the FDA for approval for this use. The privacy
and convenience of self-testing could encourage more individuals to determine their HIV status, and to
pursue treatment if it turns out that they are indeed infected.

For more information, please visit: www.chembio.com

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.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ San Francisco’s Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood has a new grocery store.

On Wednesday, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market became the first grocery store to open in the neighborhood in more than two decades.

Supporters tell the San Francisco Chronicle (http://bit.ly/nXoMoV) more residents will now have the option of buying fresh food. The historically African American neighborhood has previously been considered a food desert _ an area with limited access to affordable produce and other nutritious foods.

Community leaders say some residents would have to drive for miles for those items, making it easier to turn to fast food.

Fresh & Easy is a unit of United Kingdom-based retailing giant Tesco.

ATLANTA (AP) _ Morris Brown College has settled a nearly $10 million debt with the U.S. Education Department.

The college announced Tuesday that it had transferred money to the federal government to pay off the long-standing debt. The historically black college in Atlanta reached a settlement with the Education Department in April that $9.4 million in debt would be forgiven if Morris Brown paid off the remaining $500,000.

Education Department spokesman Justin Hamilton confirmed the department had received the payment but declined further comment.

The debt represents years’ worth of unused federal aid that the school was supposed to return to the government, financial abuse uncovered in a federal audit of the college’s finances between 1999 and 2004.

Morris Brown lost accreditation in 2003 over the financial problems and other issues.

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.