Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston holds Town Halls focused on health and safety during the “reopening” of Houston and the state
As part of its ongoing outreach to constituents during the Covid 19 pandemic, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston (BGCGH) held three virtual Town Halls last week to provide critical information about what parents (and teens) should know to keep themselves and their children safe in the midst of the “reopening” of Texas. Additionally, BGCGH hosted a Special Session via Zoom with community partners, staff and board members, including Ericka Brown, M.D.; Coca-Cola representatives and special guest speaker David Persse, M.D., Health Authority for the Houston Health Department, to discuss issues around safely reopening Boys & Girls Clubs for in-person programming this week.
Civil Rights and Community Groups Ask DHS to Halt Discriminatory Surveillance Grant Program
DHS ‘Countering Violent Extremism’ Program Based On Junk Science, Targets Vulnerable Communities
On Monday, a coalition of more than 60 civil rights and civil liberty groups and community organizations sent a letter to Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf asking him to end an anti-Muslim and deeply flawed $80 million dollar federal surveillance program, named Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP), and halt grants to implement the program across the country. Applications for the grant program are due June 17 and $10 million in grant funds will be disseminated in September.
HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan on death of former HISD student George Floyd
The Houston Independent School District community is deeply saddened by the tragic and unconscionable loss of former HISD student George Floyd, who attended Jack Yates High School. We send our deepest condolences to Mr. Floyd’s family and friends.
Chris Hollins Sworn In as Harris County Clerk
Today, Chris Hollins was sworn in as Harris County Clerk, replacing Dr. Diane Trautman, who resigned effective May 31. Under Hollins, the County Clerk’s Office will administer the July 2020 primary runoffs and the November 2020 general election, in addition to continuing to deliver critical services to Harris County residents. He deputized his staff today and immediately began to assess the status of current operations and readiness for the upcoming elections.
Targeting of Journalists by Police Threatens Freedom of the Press in America
Shot with rubber bullets, targeted with stun grenades, tear gassed, physically attacked, pepper sprayed and arrested. Cleveland even tried to ban the press from the city. This is journalism in America right now as reporters cover the unrest across the country following the murder of George Floyd. As journalists risk their safety and health to inform us all on the truth of what is going on in America’s cities, they are simultaneously being deliberately targeted by police.
Muslim Advocates Calls on MN Attorney General to Arrest and Charge All Officers Involved in George Floyd’s Murder
On Sunday night, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison was named as the lead prosecutor in the murder of George Floyd. Muslim Advocates has a long-standing relationship with Ellison, having worked with him as a member of Congress and as Minnesota’s attorney general. Today, Muslim Advocates is launching an action asking Americans to contact Attorney General Ellison and ask him to arrest and charge all officers involved in the murder of George Floyd. The following is a statement from Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera:
Family-commissioned autopsy says George Floyd's death was homicide
Preliminary results from an independent autopsy commissioned by George Floyd's family found that his death in the custody of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was "homicide caused by asphyxia due to neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain," according to a statement from the family's attorney.
Rice scientist goes deep to improve environmental tracers
Laurence Yeung wins NSF CAREER Award to study biosphere’s history
With the help of a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, Rice University geoscientist Laurence Yeung and his team intend to improve scientific analysis of oxygen isotopes recovered over the past few decades from Earth’s rocks, oceans and atmosphere.
World Sickle Cell Day is June 19th … Thanks to a Transplant, a North Carolina Student is Winning his Sickle Cell Anemia Battle
World Sickle Cell Day, which is June 19th, was created by the United Nations as a day to raise awareness of sickle cell at national and international levels. In creating this day of awareness the United Nations has recognized sickle cell disease as, “one of the world’s foremost genetic diseases.” The Brown family of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, knows all too well the challenges of this painful and debilitating disease. Their son, Kelvin Jr., has been battling sickle cell disease since he was diagnosed as an infant.
Minneapolis ex-officer who knelt on George Floyd's neck is in custody and charged with murder
The fired Minneapolis police officer seen in a video with his knee on George Floyd's neck has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, according to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.
Two PVAMU students earn top honors in The National HBCU Stock Market Challenge
Sophomore Victoria Baldwin finished first for top-performing portfolio in the trading competition.
An online trading competition proved to be a welcomed challenge for Prairie View A&M University students who entered the National Historically Black College & University (HBCU) Stock Market Challenge. The annual contest was sponsored by the HBCU Deans Roundtable and Harris-Stowe State University, in conjunction with Stock-Trak Inc, FactSet & Rise Display. They announced winners announced this week.
Unity National Bank Urges the White House to Provide More Assistance for Minority Owned Small Businesses Impacted By COVID-19
Unity Bank’s Atlanta Branch Hosted a Roundtable Discussion with Vice President Pence and Other Members of the Administration
Today, Friday, May 29, 2020, Unity National Bank N.A. held a roundtable discussion featuring Vice President Mike Pence, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and local recipients of the Small Business Administration’s Payroll Protection Program (PPP).
"Brave. Black. First." by Cheryl Willis Hudson, illustrated by Erin K. Robinson
Step right up. When you want to be first in line, that's what you have to do: get in place at the head, let everybody else queue behind you, and lead them forward. You might have to show them how it's done. You might have to show some responsibility. Or, as in the new book "Brave. Black. First." by Cheryl Willis Hudson, illustrated by Erin K. Robinson, you might have to take some big risks.
4 Ways to Help Nurses During the Coronavirus Pandemic
America's nurses are on the front lines of the fight against coronavirus, providing safe, quality, compassionate and nondiscriminatory care to those they serve, many of whom are doing so at significant risk to their own well-being.
Ways to Make Hearty Meals at Home with Pantry Staples
Stocking up on pantry essentials is a productive practice, especially as people across the country spend more time at home. However, having all those ingredients on-hand doesn't do as much good if you aren't sure how to use them or feel as if you're constantly whipping up the same dishes.
Amped Up and Ready
J.J. Watt holds press conference to talk to the about the 2020 NFL season
As sports fans in Houston and surrounding areas cling to the possibility of sports returning soon, one of the biggest superstars in “The H” held a press conference via Zoom to reassure fans that he is ready for the season. He also gave a little insight on what he has been doing since being quarantined during this global pandemic (COVID-19).
Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden Clarifies Message to Black America
Presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden clarified his message to Black America after the GOP, and others, seized on a remark he made in jest while wrapping up an interview with the famous Breakfast Club.
Breaking: CNN team arrested by Minnesota police on live television
CNN journalist Omar Jimenez has been taken into police custody during a live broadcast at the site of the protests in Minneapolis, after clearly identifying himself to officers.
Millions Show Selfishness By Not Social Distancing
How selfish can you be? There are 5.64 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide with the United States accounting for 1.72 million of them. Still you choose not to follow the rules. The US leads the world in the number of coronavirus deaths toppling over 100,000. Yet, still you choose not to follow the rules. Even though you know the coronavirus is a respiratory disease that is highly contagious and does not discriminate or show any mercy to those who are infected.
It's Time for Our Leaders to Act
We live in a time of bitter divisions. Today, even the wearing of masks has become a partisan question. Yet, as Memorial Day reminds us, this country has united before to meet external threats. The calamity that has been wrought by the coronavirus is the result of an external attack - this time by a virus rather than an armed enemy. It too should be a time of national unity, of rallying together to share the sacrifices, to help one another through the crisis, and to rebuild the country afterwards.
