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Beyond Walls Gospel Radio (BWGR) Station Launches New Interactive Website for Listeners to Connect with Christian Music and Sermons During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Offers a Platform for Pastors and Artists to Gain Worldwide Exposure

In this scary and uncertain time, people are trapped at home practicing social distancing due to the new COVID-19 aka coronavirus pandemic. In most parts of the world, citizens are not able to attend their church services in a physical building. Not being able to worship, connect and interact with other church members can cause anxiety, depression and loneliness.

Houston Diamond Buyer Providing Quick Cash to Bridge Financial Gap

The Coronavirus/COVID-19 has Americans bracing for impact as the repercussions of “non-essential” businesses temporarily closing their physical doors are being felt where it hurts the most – the wallet. Diamond Buyers company is helping people get quick cash by offering high market prices to those selling fine jewelry.

D.L. Hughley and Friends to Headline First-Ever Virtual Comedy Show, ‘CEEK VR presents The Laugh Experience’

Comedy’s biggest names come together for a first-of-its-kind, livestream comedy festival, “CEEK VR presents: The Laugh Experience.” The star-studded series kicks off and will be live streamed online and in VR on Friday, May 1st, at 9:00 p.m. EST exclusively on CEEK.com and on the CEEK VR app (available in the App Store and Google Play) with sets from D.L. Hughley, Chris Spencer and more. To create an account, visit www.ceek.com to register.

Atlanta Public Schools Partners with I’m a Father F1rst to Deliver Free “Meals of Love” to Families in Need During COVID-19 Pandemic

Even though school is not in session, the lessons and love continue with an impactful collaboration between the Atlanta Public Schools and local nonprofit I’m a Father F1rst: The organizations are partnering to ensure families have access to nutritious chef-prepared meals. More than 500 students and family members in the Douglass and Washington High School districts have enjoyed food delivery since schools closed due to the pandemic in March.

Humble ISD Teams Up with Harris County Public Library to Modernize Reading and Literacy Through eBooks and Audiobooks

Shared goal to promote digital learning in the community

In this mobile age, technology has become increasingly valuable in supporting new generations of lifelong learners and readers. Now, Humble ISD and Harris County Public Library (HCPL) have formed an innovative new partnership using eBooks and digital audiobooks to modernize access to reading materials for students. This unique collaboration strives to promote literacy and digital learning by providing unprecedented access to both the schools’ and HCPL’s digital reading resources in one app. The combination of convenience, ease of reading on-the-go, and the inherent popularity of technology inspires students to learn anytime, anywhere.

Free Enterprise Project Introduces First-Ever Investor Toolkit

"Investor Value Voter Guide" Advises Conservative and Religious Investors How to Vote on 2020 Corporate Proxy Initiatives

HISD to broadcast virtual town hall meeting for students pursuing college

On Tuesday, April 28, the Houston Independent School District will broadcast a virtual town hall meeting to assist students pursuing postsecondary education options during the COVID-19 crisis.

The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation Launches Emergency COVID-19 Response Fund

Kroger and The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation aim to direct $10 million to local, state and national relief organizations

The Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation has committed more than $6 million to date to nonprofit partners addressing urgent COVID-19 response efforts, including:

The Center for Pursuit receives grant from Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund to assist clients in need

Joint effort between United Way of Greater Houston and Greater Houston Community Foundation

The Center for Pursuit, Houston’s largest not-for-profit organization serving adults with intellectual and development disabilities (I/DD), has received a grant from the Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund, a joint effort by United Way of Greater Houston and the Greater Houston Community Foundation. The first round of the fund will distribute $1.5 million among 30 nonprofit organizations with constituents who need urgent access to food and emergency financial assistance due to COVID-19.

Organizing and Town Halls

Upcoming events include sessions on "COVID and the Class of 2020 - Black Students' Transitions to College and Work" (New America Indianapolis, Apr. 21) and “Under the Blacklight Part Five” (African American Policy Forum, Apr. 22) on ways to protect the most vulnerable populations).

Political Studies & COVID-19

Last Wednesday, the Joint Center hosted an online briefing on accessible vote-by-mail and safe in-person voting for Black communities. The session explored safeguards to ensure an accessible vote-by-mail system that does not dilute Black votes (e.g., prepaid postage, a postmark deadline of Election Day, the ability for third parties to collect and return sealed ballots, and quick notification of and ability to remedy any signature matching issues—see this Brennan Center brief showing vote-by-mail racial disparities without these safeguards). Participants also discussed the need to maintain sanitized and uncrowded in-person polling places for those who choose not to vote-by-mail.

Interim COVID-19 Stimulus This Week, Larger Bill Possible Later

Right now, Members of Congress and the Trump Administration continue to negotiate a $450 billion “interim” COVID-19 bill that could be passed this week. The new bill could provide an additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses and nonprofits (the program ran out of funds last Thursday). House and Senate Democrats are pushing to direct some of the funds to minority-owned and rural businesses, and to add more for hospitals and enhanced COVID-19 testing capacity. The interim bill is smaller than the $2 trillion CARES Act signed in late March. For more, see the New York Times, CNN & Politico.

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The Hidden Pre-Existing Condition

With over 750,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States, state and local officials are beginning to acknowledge who is most impacted by the virus. For those of us who work to promote affordable housing and energy efficiency, it came as no surprise to learn that African-Americans are the hardest hit in this pandemic.

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Congressman Al Green and Fort Bend County’s Ninth Congressional District Elected Officials Hosted PPE Donation Drive

On Thursday, April 16, 2020, Congressman Al Green, Fort Bend County Judge KP George, Missouri City Mayor Yolanda Ford, and Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella hosted a personal protective equipment (PPE) donation drive. They released the following statement:

MCTX Call to Action: Residents Encouraged to Serve On Boards, Committees and Commissions; Apply Online @ www.missouricitytx.gov

City Council and staff value input and feedback from citizens and are seeking applicants for all boards, committees and commissions. When serving, residents will have a unique opportunity to participate in the governing process and to provide ideas and suggestions on public policy.

COVID-19 and Community Updates

The City of Houston made another huge stride this week and doubled our daily testing capacity from 1,000 to 2,000 individuals. This means that now the City is testing anyone who wishes to be tested. You or your family member can call 832-393-4220 where you will be provided a unique identification code and directions on where to go.

Beyond Walls Gospel Radio (BWGR) Station Launches New Interactive Website for Listeners to Connect with Christian Music and Sermons During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Offers a Platform for Pastors and Artists to Gain Worldwide Exposure

In this scary and uncertain time, people are trapped at home practicing social distancing due to the new COVID-19 aka coronavirus pandemic. In most parts of the world, citizens are not able to attend their church services in a physical building. Not being able to worship, connect and interact with other church members can cause anxiety, depression and loneliness.

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Houston Sailor participates in cleaning stations aboard U.S. Navy warship

Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Ricardo Trevino, from Houston, scrubs a door handle with HTH (bleach) aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). Makin Island personnel conduct a deep cleaning of the ship with HTH multiple times a day as part of coronavirus mitigation measures to ensure the health of the crew. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ethan Jaymes Morrow)

Social Distancing Shouldn’t Lead to Social Isolation

Even in the best of times, social isolation is a significant problem. In Texas, more than 1.5 million people over the age of 50 live alone and are at higher risk of social isolation, which is now magnified by the “social distancing” requirements across the country.

Harris, Booker, Colleagues Demand DOJ Provide Training to Combat Racial Profiling During COVID-19 Pandemic

U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Cory A. Booker (D-NJ) on Friday led a letter to Attorney General William Barr and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray demanding racial profiling training for all law enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter comes after reports of African American men being targeted by law enforcement based on the CDC’s guidance to wear face coverings.