All results / Stories / Jo-Carolyn Goode
Minority Lawmakers Unified in Call for Impeachment of POTUS
Only two Presidents of the United States have ever been impeached in history. And if democrats have their way Donald Trump will be the third. Ever since January 20th, Americans have been shocked, angered, applauded, confused, and gone through an array of emotions with Donald Trump at the helm of running our country.
H-E-B Partners With Local Couple To Expand Their Entrepreneurial Dreams
Hope is something that is sought when desperation sets in. The source of that anguish can be from all sorts of things. For Kim and L. J. Williams their sense of despair was from a health scare. During a time in their lives when they were the happiness celebrating the birth of their second child, they got hit with the news that Kim was prediabetic.
Elevating Southwest Louisiana: Welcome Richert "Ricky" Self and Jay Kumar to Visit Lake Charles Board of Directors
Visit Lake Charles proudly welcomes two distinguished leaders, Richert "Ricky" Self and Jay Kumar, to its esteemed board of directors. Their recent appointments underscore Visit Lake Charles' commitment to strategic growth and community engagement in Southwest Louisiana.
HBRW: Serving Up Black Businesses as the Main Dish
What to eat is a question that is becoming just as hard to answer as to where to eat. With the wide variety of offerings tempting our palates and the number of restaurants scattered throughout the city that question is increasingly more difficult to answer by the day. New restaurants are popping up everywhere with menus that blend cultures as well as taste, that it is a challenge to know about all the gems in our city.
Unicorn World to return to Houston April 27-28
Get ready to step into a world of magic and wonder as Unicorn World returns to Houston on April 27-28 for its second year in a row! Hosted at the George R. Brown Convention Center, this immersive and interactive event promises fun for all ages.
Fortis Academy Opens Doors for Student Success with CNA Program
Fortis Academy is ushering in a new era of career opportunities for Harris County students with the launch of its Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) class. The initiative empowers high schoolers on their journey to sobriety with comprehensive knowledge about the human body and practical skills in healthcare.
Houston PetSet & Council Member Mario Castillo Unite for Pet Welfare: Event Update
In a joint effort to combat Houston's homeless animal crisis and celebrate Love Your Pet Month and World Spay Day, Houston PetSet and District H City Council Member Mario Castillo had planned to host a transformative free Spay/Neuter and Parasite Prevention event on February 27, 2024. Regrettably, this event has been canceled.
Is There A Black Doctor in the House?
Where are all the Black doctors? They are hard to find. On average, about 5.7% of all the doctors in the US are Black according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Although enrollment of African Americans in medical school is on the rise, 5.7% is still low when considering that there are 66.1% of active physicians with a US Doctor of Medicine degree.Where are all the Black doctors? They are hard to find. On average, about 5.7% of all the doctors in the US are Black according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Although enrollment of African Americans in medical school is on the rise, 5.7% is still low when considering that there are 66.1% of active physicians with a US Doctor of Medicine degree. Looking back at the history of Blacks in medicine, it's easy to see why the numbers are so low. However, new data suggests that more black doctors are needed now than ever, and for some, it could mean the difference between life and death. On average, when put in a crowd of a diverse population with no identifying connections, a person will gravitate toward those of their own race. It's a natural behavior because people are more at ease with who or what they know. Generally, being of the same race is an easy commonality to draw towards. This same kind of thinking works in medicine as well. According to studies, Black Americans who have black doctors have more trust in them, practice preventative care, and ultimately live longer lives. "I think we as blacks relate more to people who look like us. Often, we have unspoken similar backgrounds that bring us to a common place of understanding when we have difficulties in our quests for higher education," said Dr. Creaque Charles, Pharm. D. at an accredited HBCU school of pharmacy. How to Improve Representation of African Americans in Medicine? The answer to that question lies in the problems that Blacks have with medicine. To understand the concerns, one must go way back in history to when enslaved men and women were forcibly brought over on ships to America. Those men and women were treated less than humans and stacked on top of each other like property. On that journey, they had to exist in deplorable conditions that were filled with human fecal matter, urine, and other forms of human waste. This resulted in them becoming gravely ill, and some died. None received medical care. The feeling continued when slave owners subjected their Black female slaves to forced sterilization to stop reproduction. Women were also exploited for their bodies to produce more strong slave labor. These women did not also receive any medical care. When the truth about an unethical experiment with Tuskegee men and Syphilis (dubbed the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis) came to light in 1972, prejudices grew.vDuring the era of the Civil War, Blacks were "doomed to extinction" by the medical community of the time, which thought the mental, moral, and physical deterioration of Blacks would send them to an early grave. The distrust of the medical community continues to this day as some doctors of other races may have prior biological beliefs about Blacks that can result in doctors thinking Blacks have a high tolerance for pain, so they may undertreat them for pain. Incidents like the above led some Blacks to believe that they receive better treatment than their own because they know the point of view from which they are coming. They understand it. "When people look at me and they can see themselves in me, that commonality serves as the foundation for a bond of trust," said Dr. Robbyn Traylor, chief medical officer of an urgent medical care clinic, who knows that any doctor can be excellent no matter their race. "There is a level of comfort that is understood and that can remain unspoken when brown and Black patients are treated by brown and Black doctors." A CNN article dives further into the issue of why there is not a surge of Black doctors. Those reasons include factors like the race being excluded from medicine, systematic racism, institutional racism, not being exposed to STEM or STEM careers as a child, and a lack of Black doctors as mentors are among the top reasons. History supports this when looking at the first Black person to earn a medical degree. Dr. James McCune Smith had to go all the way to Scotland to receive his degree in 1837 from the University of Glasgow. Dr. Traylor was fortunate as a child to be heavily exposed to the life of a Black doctor as both of her parents worked in the medical field. She was often at their heels as a child while they worked at one of the best trauma centers in the Texas Medical Center. "I was lucky enough to grow up in a community of people who made me believe that I had the intellect and attitude for medicine." Diversity Matters Diversity Matters After Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington enacted bans on affirmative action, the diversity of the medical schools in those states dropped by a third. Before Black students were wholeheartedly welcomed at these schools in the 1800s and 1900s, they had a choice of seven medical schools, according to research by the Duke University Medical Center Library and Archives. Now only two remain: Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. Black students are more likely to attend black medical schools to seek out those who look like them and have proven that their dreams are achievable. Future Black doctors want to attend schools where they don’t have to feel as if they don’t belong. They want to go to schools where they are encouraged to do well, and those who are instructors and mentors truly believe that THEY can do well. Dr. Tamiya Sam, who is a registered pharmacist and holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, knows that whether it is medical, pharmacy, dental, or nurse practitioner school, having a Black mentor matters. "The face of pharmacy is increasingly non-Black. I believe if there were more hands on and dedicated Black pharmacists who truly mentored Black pharmacy students, it would have a higher impact on their completion because they would serve as someone who has been there and genuinely wants to help them succeed." Rosa Terrance, DNP, APRN, GNP-C, agrees with Dr. Sam. "Mentorship absolutely matters and is influential in producing more providers of color. At all times, I make sure of two things: 1) I have a mentor who looks like me, and 2) I am acting as a mentor to someone else. There is a degree of comfort and trust that is birthed out of just being present with someone of your likeness in an otherwise underrepresented space." The Next Generation of Doctors African Americans have a responsibility to expose our children to all the world can offer them. African Americans have a responsibility as a race to step up and be mentors for brown and black children in all fields, not just the medical field. To improve race relations, Blacks must educate our non-Black counterparts. A change must come, and it must start now with each of us.
First Ladies Acting First Class
Upon their husbands answering the call to minister, preachers’ wives stood alongside their husband in a supportive role. Even when their husbands would further follow the path as a shepherd of God by heading a church, wives remained supportive in their new role as First Lady.
Money Talk: The Conversations Everyone Needs to Have
People tend to tiptoe around the subjects of politics, religion, race, estate planning, physical & mental health and finances. But why are so many silent on these very crucial topics. It is not as if not talking about them will diminish their importance or will make the need for the conversations to disappear from our life. In fact, not talking about finances just creates a larger problem. Stop skating around the issue of finances and start the money talk conversations that everyone needs to have during Financial Literacy Month.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid Named Best Hybrid SUV for Families by U.S. News & World Report
Toyota is proud to announce that the 2024 Highlander Hybrid has been honored with the title of “Best Hybrid SUV for Families” by U.S. News & World Report. This recognition reaffirms Toyota’s commitment to delivering unparalleled quality, innovation, and performance to families across North America.
Teacher Turn Comedian Eddie B
"I'm Already Professionally Developed: Straight From the Teacher's Desk," is a book about Eddie B’s journey as a teacher on the way to the creation of the videos “What Teachers Really Say” and how the idea turned into one of the biggest comedy tours in history. “I share my personal experiences in the classroom as well as my home life! It all ties into the issues and desires of teachers who want to see better days; the ones who are really passionate about changing the narrative of this profession. We deal with so much!” Eddie B commented.
Navigating the Depths of Depression: Understanding Clinical Depression and Seeking Support
Depressive episodes can be triggered by various life events, such as job loss, the death of a loved one, or financial struggles. Nobody is immune to these challenges, and while some emerge from depression more easily, others may require extended assistance. This is where professional help comes into play.
Unlock Financial Freedom: Join Us for "A Total Money Makeover" at First Colony Branch Library
Embark on a transformative journey towards financial freedom with Fort Bend County Libraries' First Colony Branch Library. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, March 12, as we unveil "A Total Money Makeover" workshop from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the library's Meeting Room, nestled within the vibrant community at 2121 Austin Parkway in Sugar Land.
Mental Health: Comprehending, Coping, and Conquering
More than a feeling of melancholy, anxiety, and disconnect, mental health encompasses your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Meaning it affects how you think, feel, and behave. Mental health can affect anyone, at any age, at any time. Nearly 44 million people experience mental illness yearly. Of those, 18% of them are children who experience at least one severe mental disorder according to reports. Good news is that mental health is treatable and preventable.
Stop the Spread of Hate to Honor a King
Love has many definitions. The Holy Bible describes it as patient, kind, protecting, trusting, hopeful, preserving, and without the capability of failing. Webster’s Dictionary also has several meanings of love. It is defined as something that commands admiration, passionate affection for someone, friendship, courtship, reverence to God, and gratitude. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” Love, ultimately, is powerful when people take action to utilize its energy.
Rainforest Cafe Celebrates 30 Wild Years of Adventure
Prepare for an epic celebration as Rainforest Cafe commemorates three decades of unforgettable dining experiences in its vibrant, tropical oasis! Guests are cordially invited to revel in the festivities and indulge in a delectable array of new menu offerings, throwback favorites, and irresistible promotions. With its iconic ambiance and a dash of fresh surprises, Rainforest Cafe promises an immersive dining adventure like no other.
METRO Welcomes New Board Members with Historic Diversity!
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO Houston) is proud to announce the appointment of its newest board members, ushering in a historic era of diversity and representation. Mayor John Whitmire's nominations have resulted in a groundbreaking increase in female leadership on the board, with the appointment of the first Vietnamese American woman and the first Hispanic female chair, Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock.
Get Ready for Gridiron Glory: 51st Annual Bayou Classic Tickets On Sale Now!
SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 2024 IN NEW ORLEANS
Excitement is mounting as the countdown begins for the 51st Annual Bayou Classic, a cherished tradition set to ignite the gridiron with fierce competition and boundless camaraderie. Presented by Procter & Gamble, this iconic event is slated to unfold on November 29-30, 2024, within the storied walls of the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tickets for this momentous occasion will go on sale starting Friday, April 19 at 10 am CST, marking the dawn of an unforgettable celebration.
Cultivating Success: Paris Williams' Journey from Seeds of Opportunity to Culinary Stardom
Opportunities in life are few and far between, so when one arises, seizing it is paramount. For high school senior Paris Jordan Williams, the future seemed uncertain until Prairie View A&M University presented her with an offer she couldn't refuse. The university, renowned as the "producer of productive people," extended a full scholarship to Paris on the condition she pursued agriculture. Little did she know, this gift would blossom into something truly rewarding.
