Texas | North Dallas Gazette

TWU to celebrate grand opening of new Fitness and Rec Center

September 26, 2011 By NDG Staff No Comments

Texas Woman’s University in Denton continues its commitment to help students be healthier and more physically fit with the grand opening of the TWU Fitness and Recreation Center on Friday, Sept. 30 at 10:30 a.m.

“As a leader in health and wellness for the state, it is imperative that we offer students an array of services that promote healthy bodies, as well as healthy minds,” TWU Chancellor Ann Stuart said.

The 40,000-square-foot, $15.5-million facility includes a large cardiovascular exercise room with televisions mounted on most equipment, a weight room with more than 7,500 pounds of weights and dumbbells, four group exercise rooms, an NCAA-regulation basketball court that converts into two volleyball courts, an outdoor adventure area and a 30-foot indoor climbing wall with a 22-foot vertical rappelling station seldom found in a university fitness center.

The new Fitness and Recreation Center is located at the corner of Bell Avenue and Chapel Drive, south of the Stark and Guinn residence halls. The center is more than twice the size of the previous fitness facility.

“Every decision about the new building – including its design, location and the equipment chosen – was made with the motto ‘students first,’” John Cissik, director of TWU Fitness and Recreation, said. “It truly is a facility that students can be proud to call their own.”

TWU also will host an academic day on Friday, Oct. 7 to coincide with the Fitness and Recreation Center grand opening. “Exercise and Nutrition: Myths vs. Science” features nationally renowned speakers Catherine Jankowski, assistant research professor at the University of Colorado in Denver, and Roberta Anding, director of the sports nutrition section of adolescent medicine and sports medicine at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. The event is being underwritten by the Office of the Chancellor and President.

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: denton, health and recreation center, sept. 30, Texas, texas woman's university, twu

Food stamps for fast food in Texas?

September 14, 2011 By NDG Staff No Comments

Four states have allowed it, but debate goes beyond access

By Tonya Whitaker
NDG Staff Writer

While this is not a reality for the 3.5 million Texans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, it hails true for food stamp recipients in Florida, Michigan, Arizona and California. In these states, recipients are able to make food purchases at restaurants such as Subway, KFC and Taco Bell.

Yum Brands, parent company of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, have recently embarked on the lobbying the Kentucky legislature to allow its residents on SNAP to use their benefits for purchases at their restaurants. Critics of the move are skeptical of the vendor’s motives, claiming it is only attempting to cash in on government money. Given high unemployment and economic woes of last three years, individuals have less money to spend on fast food today. Others say it will only contribute to the growing obesity problem in this nation. Health and advocates for the poor say allowing SNAP recipients to spend their money in fast-food restaurants will benefit individuals who cannot produce home-cooked meals, such as the elderly, disabled, and the homeless.

Food of choice
Many are concerned about the idea of individuals on a government program using taxpayer dollars on a “luxury” such as dining at a restaurant might seem extreme. But the issue goes beyond economics. Some medical professionals in North Texas have no problem with states allowing SNAP beneficiaries to use their benefits at fast-food establishments, as long as nutrition education accompanies the policy.

“I don’t think there is a straight yes or no answer to this issue,” said Richard Kurz, dean of the School of Public Health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. “The issue needs to be considered thoughtfully before racing out to make a decision to do this.”

Kurz said if food stamp recipients in Texas are ever allowed to use their benefits in restaurants, the policy must incent people to make healthier food choice.

He said several fast-food restaurants now include healthier items on their menus. Those who purchase those items should be rewarded.

In south Dallas and areas in Fort Worth, for example, Kurz notes there are several food deserts. Food deserts – areas in a city without regular food areas or major food stores – usually possess convenience stores as the only source for grocery needs for its residents.

According to Kurz, the UNT School of Public Health and Paul Quinn College have worked together to develop community gardens in southeast Dallas. These are efforts to create better food choices for individuals in the area.

“It won’t solve the whole problem, but it is a start,” he said.

Registered nurse Tammie Beaumont, director of Methodist Weight Management Institute in Dallas, said those who are quick to say the food stamps/fast food restaurant mesh will lead to more obesity are mistaken.

“If you are going to make a poor choice you can make it in a grocery store too,” she said. “It boils down to nutrition education.”

Beaumont believes if Texas attempts to consider a similar policy, it should follow the model of the Healthy Incentives Pilot program. The Farm Bill of 2008 authorized $20 million for pilot projects to evaluate if incentives would encourage recipients to purchase healthier foods.

There should be minimal regulations regarding food choices, in Beaumont’s view.

“Implement a program with some type of reward or incentive system, along with education for those who receive the benefits. That would be beneficial. It would help the obesity problem if people who make better food choices.”

Have and have not

In some homes today, the ability or opportunity to enjoy a home-cooked meal is disappearing. For some SNAP recipients – especially the elderly, homeless and disabled – the ability to prepare a meal is rare.

Abigail Tilton is the program director of the social work program at Texas Woman’s University in Denton. Tilton said the states that have allowed recipients to use the their benefits on hot food are allowing the poor to gain some type of nutrition.

“I hope that governments are taking into consideration that it benefits those who are unable to cook, elderly, disabled, no electricity or gas in their home and homeless. Essentially, in Texas, the change would have to come from the business community.”

The associate social work professor has seen areas of Denton where food deserts exist. Tilton said stores with the ability to sell produce and leaner meats to individuals on SNAP – such as Wal-Mart and Kroger – are found in Denton’s more affluent neighborhoods.

Tilton said provisions in the food stamp program for the purchase of cooked foods have existed since the 1970s. For example, in the case of a natural disaster declaration, some individuals do not have access to their homes to cook meals. Therefore, the United States Department of Agriculture allows recipients to use their benefits to purchase prepared foods.

Stephanie Goodman, spokesperson for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, told the North Dallas Gazette “that is not something we anticipate in Texas” and food stamps for hot, prepared meals for all Texas SNAP recipients is not being considered in Austin. But, Goodman said the federal program does make an exception for someone who is homeless and a disability.

“No state is immune to the lobbying,” Tilton said. “I would not immediately scratch Texas off the list.”

Beaumont, Kurz and Tilton agree that extending the use of SNAP benefits would prevent individuals from going hungry. In addition, a program that includes nutrition education on the government’s part would curb unhealthy eating habits that plague some SNAP benefit recipients.

“For change to take place, it would have to come from the business community,” Tilton said. “As soon grocery stores that offer as vegetables, fruits and lean meats come to these areas, we will begin to see change in the eating habits of the residents in these communities.”

Filed Under: Community Spotlight, Feature Story, Health Tagged With: fast food, food stamps, KFC, McDonald's, SNAP, supplemental nutrition assistance program, Taco Bell, Texas, texas health and human services commission, united states department of agriculture, Wendy's

Irving Entertainment Center is essential to economic development

August 25, 2011 By NDG Staff 1 Comment

By Emily Cox
NDG Staff Writer

The Irving Entertainment Center will create 750 immediate jobs for construction, provide 2,000 long-term jobs, significantly increase tourist revenue and reduce property taxes with no citizen taxes used for development.

Despite all of the economic benefits, these are not reasons why the Irving Entertainment Center has made the news lately. A number of inaccurate claims have been levied against the Irving Entertainment Center and have weighed heavily on the public opinion of the project.

“The media attention on the Irving Entertainment Center is all one-sided,” said Anthony Bond, founder of the Irving NAACP. “We haven’t had a chance to set the record straight.

“We have a responsibility to give the public a chance to make Irving everything that it should be for its residents,” Bond said. “They need to know both sides. The Irving Entertainment Center is meant for every creed and color; rich and poor; friends; families and singles alike.”

The media has painted the Irving Entertainment Center as a potential threat to community and families. It is anything but that. It provides jobs, revenue and community connections. Bond envisions that it will be the new San Antonio River Walk or Fort Worth Stockyards. In short, it will be a place that families can enjoy for generations to come. It will be a place that Irving residents can be proud of.

In 2009, the Dallas Cowboys moved to Arlington, taking a significant portion of tourist revenue with them. According to Bond, this has resulted in Irving becoming an intermediary destination between the airport and Arlington. Without the Irving Entertainment Center, job growth and revenue is at a standstill for the residents and city of Irving.

The Irving Entertainment Center is poised to become a nationally recognized entertainment destination with an emphasis on landscaping, live music stages, water features, seating and shade outside with 3,600 parking spaces and a state-of the-art concert hall with a capacity of 7,500. Regardless of where one goes in the Entertainment Center, live music will be a primary theme. In addition, there will be 11 affordable restaurants that cater to diverse styles and taste.

The Citizens for Irving Entertainment Center – a newly established politically action committee – is urging Irving residents to take a stand for their city. The committee needs 6,000 signatures from Irving residents by mid-October to make Irving an exponentially better place to live and visit.

Irving residents, please contact Bond at 214-830-6719 or at aebond@yahoo.com to get the information you need to make your city a better community.

Filed Under: Latest News, Op Ed Tagged With: anthony bond, citizens for irving entertainment center, Dallas Cowboys, Irving, irving entertainment complex, irving naacp, Texas

A second chance: Richardson charter school graduates nearly 200 students

May 24, 2011 By NDG Staff 2 Comments

On May 19, the stadium-style seats at the Garland Special Events Center were filled with parents and other family members who beamed with pride for the 2011 graduating class of Evolution Academy Charter School. The graduates marched in to the traditional, “Pomp and Circumstance,” but for many, their stories of triumph and perseverance are not traditional at all.

When Dwayne Richards came to Evolution Academy in 2009, he was a sophomore and homeless after his mother was incarcerated. With determination, a loving aunt who took in him, and dedicated teachers and administrators, Richards, who was selected as senior class president, graduated with honors and is on his way to college. In the fall, Richards will enroll as a journalism student at Richland College, with plans to transfer to Southern Methodist University in the future. “Dwayne has been an exceptional student,” said Lynn McCall, student advisor. “He has a 3.39 grade point average, is ranked as No. 3 in his graduating class, and got a near-perfect score on the SAT, with a score of 1580.”

The graduation ceremony was a shining moment for Richards and his fellow classmates. Dezzerick Greer led the Pledge of Allegiance and Cindy Zermeno, senior class vice president, welcome the crowd. Michael John saluted his class as the salutatorian of the class of 2011 and Russell C. Jackson offered inspiring words as the valedictorian. “The potential of our minds is limitless,” said Jackson. “It’s up to you to make an impact in this world.”

W.L. Stafford, senior pastor of Fellowship Christian Center Church in Allen, encouraged the students in a moving keynote address.

“High school graduation sets the tone for everything else you will do in life,” Stafford said. “Class of 2011, you did it! Keep moving and keep improving!”

Several students and teachers were recognized for their achievements. Dankeyah Key and Renato Porter were recognized as Panther Award Recipients. Vernell Trigg, Jr., campus consultant and CEO of Cynergy Collaborative Consultations, awarded scholarships and book awards to several students, including a $500 Valedictorian Scholarship to Russell C. Jackson, $250 Salutatorian Scholarship to Michael M. John, and $100 Book Scholarships to Dwayne M. Richards, Adan C. Penaloza, Cindy Zermeno, Dezzerick J. Greer, and Lovell Q. Porter. Staff members who were recognized for five years of service include Shadé M. Badejo, Sherron D. Davis, Karen Easley, Tami Eli, Roger L. McNeil, Ty Andra Pogue, Gregory Trigg, Mariot Valcin Jr., and Tina B. Williamson.

The graduation was even streamed live through a partnership with InCommand Broadcasting. The graduation ceremony was broadcast live and available on-demand immediately after the ceremony and can be watched on any computer from anywhere in the world. This allows out-of-town friends, relatives and parents in active-duty military service to take part in this landmark event.

Evolution Academy was founded in 2002 by Cynthia Trigg, a school administrator with 19 years of experience.

“We are very proud of our students,” Trigg said. “We have high expectations and a rigorous curriculum. The seniors worked hard and have risen to the occasion.”

The mission of the Evolution Academy Charter School is to enable its students to achieve academic, social and career success. With its mission at the forefront, Evolution Academy has an academic offering that is unmatched by other public, charter, or private schools. With a low student-teacher ratio of 18:1, the progressive charter school is able to offer the one-on-one attention and instruction that many students need to advance them to the next level.

Evolution Academy is focused on providing vocational opportunities to equip its graduates with tangible skills that can be used in the real world. During the 2011-2012 academic year, the school will serve breakfast and lunch to all students, provide DART passes for transportation and will also offer music business courses where students will learn to write and produce music in the newly added state-of-the-art music studio.

Evolution Academy is a public charter high school, serving area students grades 9-12. The school offers two convenient sessions, Monday – Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. Open enrollment for the upcoming school year starts in June and classes begin on Aug. 22.

For more information, visit www.evolutionacademy.org.

Filed Under: Feature Story Tagged With: charter school, class of 2011, cynthia trigg, dwayne richards, evolution academy, richardson, richland college, Texas, w.l. stafford

Editorial: Irving ISD incumbents will represent all students

May 3, 2011 By NDG Staff 5 Comments

The Irving ISD races are worth a close watch. The challengers of current IISD Place 1 trustee Nancy L. Jones and Place 2 trustee Adrian “A.D.” Jenkins both are proponents of English immersion. This process differs from bilingual education in that English Language Learners comprehend English without the aid of their native language. In some cases, the students are distanced from their culture and linguistic background. In order to cut the fat out of their budgets, some school districts have considered eliminating expensive bilingual education initiatives and opting for cheaper immersion programs. The election of Steven Jones and Marilyn Gail Conder Wells to Place 1 and Place 2 trustee seats, respectively, could be the death sentence for bilingual programs and the board’s move toward a body that represents the district’s diverse population. Therefore, the North Dallas Gazette’s endorsement for Irving ISD Places 1 and 2 go to incumbents Nancy Jones and Jenkins.

Steven Jones wants to serve the best interest of those who want to continue to live in the 1960s and keep district the way it was. Recently, the Place 1 candidate came under attack for questioning a Hispanic Irving ISD staff member because of the way she pronounced her name. Personal attacks as a means to spew ignorance and disrespect is not warranted. Steven Jones is playing too much into the hands of politics, feeding the egos of those who fear the day when they are not the majority (that day has come), and lacks the competence to make the right decision to help children.

Steven Jones wrote in his candidate profile to The Dallas Morning News that he would “do everything … to make English the language of the IISD and ensure we give every student the number one tool to succeed in the United States of America – a mastery of the English language.” His comments beg to question Steven Jones’ ideology on a student’s right to a public school education. There is not a problem with teaching Spanish speakers English, but there is no justification in ordering a certain population to abandon their heritage, an attribute of English immersion programs. The endorsement of these programs is assimilation at its worst.

Second, the election of two more Caucasian school board members defies the importance of diversity on the board of a school district that is 70 percent Hispanic (IISD Superintendent Dana Beeden is an African American). In early 2010, a federal judge struck down a lawsuit filed by Manuel Benavidez that challenged the school board’s at-large election system. It is not hard to imagine that should the board revert to all Caucasian once again, another lawsuit will follow.

Incumbents Nancy Jones and Jenkins understand it is not representing a chosen few that helps the children of Irving ISD. Steven Jones and Wells have yet to comprehend division achieves very little. The board of trustees needs individuals who will embrace diversity, not sweep it under the rug. It also requires leaders who never forget doing what is best for all students is the desired end result.

Filed Under: Latest News, Op Ed Tagged With: a.d. jenkins, dana beener, english immersion, irving isd, irvng, nancy jones, school board elections, Texas

Free Texas tax prep is IRS-approved

February 17, 2011 By NDG Staff 1 Comment

By Deb Courson

AUSTIN, Texas – Free tax prep with no strings attached. That’s the offering at AARP Tax-Aide sites throughout Texas, where income taxes are prepared and filed by volunteers certified by the IRS. Those volunteers receive at least 80 hours of training and are re-certified every year. Some are retired accountants and executives, and others are accounting students getting hands-on experience.

Harold Wiggins has been a Tax-Aide volunteer since 1997.

“I enjoy working with numbers; I also enjoy helping the people out there. They really appreciate our help, and they need our help.”

One tax break volunteers are trained to look for is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). It’s a refund for lower-income taxpayers.

IRS spokesman Richard Panick says EITC checks can range from a few hundred dollars to more than $5,000.

“What we’re seeing is folks in unusual economic circumstances, who perhaps in prior years weren’t eligible for the credit. But because of setbacks they may have suffered because of the economy, they may not know that they’re now eligible.”

Tax-Aide was created to help lower- and middle-income taxpayers with returns that aren’t too complex. Taxpayers don’t have to be an AARP member or senior citizen to use the free service.

Information on Tax-Aide office locations is available by calling 888-227-7669 or online at www.AARP.org.

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: AARP, IRS, tax help, Tax-Aid, Texas

People in the News

December 2, 2010 By NDG Staff 2 Comments

Donald ‘Spider’ Willis

A new sport show debuted Nov. 28 in the North Texas area with a bird’s eye view of Cowboy Stadium and The Ballpark of Arlington. The show, “Sport Talk with Spider,” can be heard on the Fish Bowl Radio Network from 7 to 9 p.m. FishBowl Radio Network is an internet radio network which is the brainchild of Sammi St.John-Martinez ,a veteran radio personality with over 20 years experience. She opened FishBowl Radio Network L.L.C. in September 2009 after teaching at the American Broadcasting School.

The host, Donald “Spider” Willis, is the former co-host of Talking Sports with Roger B. Brown on KKDA 730 AM. For 11 years, he interviewed many celebrities, sport personalities, politicians and media executives. He is currently the media director for Drexel Media Group, a small public relations marketing firm that represents several clients in Dallas, Muncie, Ind., and Philadelphia. Willis has covered the NFL, NBA, Essence music festivals, college football and currently a high school correspondent for media publications.

The show will take phone calls, e-mails via Facebook, Twitter and the latest mobile phone technology. In-depth interviews with sports personalities, amateur athletes, and the everyday sport fan are planned.

“I’m extremely excited,” Willis said. “I have been looking for the right opportunity for some time now, and it came together with the FishBowl Radio Network family.

A segment called “Caught in the Web” will focus on issues in the world of sports that are not mainstream but do need to be address.

The Nov. 28 show featured three North Texas high school district athletic directors who talked about the playoffs, new rules changes, economics, re-alignment, and other topics. The guests were Goree Johnson of the Dallas Independent School District, Troy Mathieu of Grand Prairie ISD and Kevin Greene of Fort Worth Independent School District. The second hour featured Pittsburg Tribune-Review columnist John Harris Jr.

To suggest show ideas, contact Willis at dwillisdw@yahoo.com or 469-335-6668.

Jason Cole

Jason Cole, a resident of Lewisville, Texas, ended his first year in natural bodybuilding with the top win in his division — “Mr. Fitness Natural Olympia” in Reno, Nevada on Saturday, November 13.at the International Natural Bodybuilding Association Natural Olympia International Multi Sports & Expo at the Grand Sierra. Cole’s competition platform was “Stomping Out Obesity.”

The natural bodybuilding movement has grown in recent years and drug free athletes are receiving more exposure and opportunities than ever. The “Natural Olympia” is recognized as the most prestigious natural competition in the World. Winning an Olympiatitle is considered to be the highest accolade in the sport of professional bodybuilding.

At the Natural Olympia International Multi Sports & Expo, bodybuilders representing other countries came from: New Zealand, Africa, Australia, Argentina, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Canada, Albania, and Egypt. Bodybuilders from the USA came from the states of: Texas, California, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Florida, Indiana, Oregon, and Utah.

This latest victory was part of Cole’s successful year with the INBA. On November 6, Cole, a Master Certified Fitness Trainer who resides in Lewisville, Texas won 1^st Place for Male Fitness Natural Universe (Mr. Fitness Natural Universe) and 1^st Place for Male Sports Model Natural Universe. Cole also holds the 2010 International Natural Bodybuilder’s Association’s (INBA) “Mr. Fitness USA”, “Male Sports Model USA”, and Mr. Fitness Texas.

Cole is seeking teenage males between the ages of 15 – 17 who want to enter the sport of natural bodybuilding. He will train them and provide an opportunity for them to travel with him next year to compete in the teenage division of the INBA.

Innovation has been part of the INBA approach to become and remain the world-wide leaders in Natural Bodybuilding. INBA is the largest natural organization in the world promoting drug free competition in 40 countries and expanding through Europe and Asia. The association is approved and supported for international events by the U. S. Department of State.

INBA will continue its organic growth, reaching for greater heights and make the sport appealing by evolving, moving with the times. INBA creates more excitement for competitors, better events to make competing more rewarding.

Dr. Shelia S. Walker

Road Scholar is pleased to award the Asa Grant Hilliard III Award for Lifelong Learning to Sheila S. Walker, Ph.D. The award provides $5,000 toward a learning adventure offered by Road Scholar, and honors the late Dr. Asa Grant Hilliard III, world-renowned Pan-Africanist, educator, historian, psychologist, and advocate for learning through travel. Kathy Taylor, Associate Vice President at Road Scholar, presented the award on behalf of Road Scholar and the Hilliard family during the National Alliance for Black School Educators (NABSE) Annual Conference recently held in Fort Worth.

Walker, a cultural anthropologist and filmmaker, is the Executive Director of Afrodiaspora, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., that is developing a documentary series and educational materials about the global African Diaspora. In 2010 she co-produced a documentary, “Slave Routes: A Global Vision” for the UNESCO Slave Route Project, and published the edited volume, Conocimiento desde adentro: Los afrosudamericanos hablan de sus pueblos y sus historias (Knowledge from the Inside: Afro-South Americans speak of their Communities and their Histories), in La Paz, Bolivia. She also edited the volume, African Roots/American Cultures: Africa in the Creation of the Americas, and produced the documentary film, “Scattered Africa: Faces and Voices of the African Diaspora.” A longtime member of the Association for the study of African American Life and History (ASALH), Dr. Walker served as Director of the Center for African and African American Studies, and was the Annabel Irion Worsham Centennial Professor in the College of Liberal Arts, and Professor of Anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin. More recently she was the William and Camille Cosby Professor in the Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor of Anthropology, and Director of the African Diaspora and the World Program at Spelman College.

“Education and lifelong learning are crucial to African Americans,” says Dr. Walker. “I am thrilled to receive the Road Scholar Hilliard Award. Researching African American culture and its historical and contemporary links has been and continues to be my life project. Participating in a Road Scholar program to an area where there are little-known Afro-descendant populations — such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Turkey — would give me an opportunity to research these populations in advance so as to learn more about them during the program. I look forward to developing lectures and documentaries about my experience and sharing my newfound knowledge with my community and with others.” Road Scholar awards this competitive scholarship annually to an educator with at least 10 years of experience in education, who is a member of NABSE; a member of ASALH; is on the faculty of a Historically Black College or University; is a professor of African American studies; or is a supporter of lifelong learning. The scholarship provides an opportunity to experience a Road Scholar program anywhere in the world. “Through the Asa Grant Hilliard Award, Road Scholar recognizes the contributions of educators with a longstanding commitment to lifelong learning,” says James Moses, president and CEO of Road Scholar/Elderhostel. “We look forward to welcoming Dr. Walker on a Road Scholar learning adventure.”

Filed Under: Latest News, People in the News Tagged With: american broadcasting school, cowboys stadium, Dallas, don willis, dr. shelia s. walker, fishbowl radio, jason cole, lewisville, mr. fitness natural olympia, rangers ballpark in arlington, sports radio, Texas

The Color of My Skin touches on institutional racism

December 1, 2010 By NDG Staff 13 Comments

By Tonya Whitaker
NDG Staff Writer

In 2010, we would like to believe individuals are judged on the content of their character instead of the color of their skin. Rowlett teen JerrKelia “KeeKee” Bazile has taken on these issues in her sophomore book titled The Color of My Skin. Bazile, 17, who graduated from Sachse High School in 2010, recounts the good and bad experiences she witnessed during her time at the school. The book details her fight against the institutional racism she said existed at Sachse high. The end result was becoming one of the first black cheerleaders on the school’s varsity squad and status as an honor student. Bazile currently attends the University of Houston main campus.

Bazile boldy confronts institutional racism in her book. To allow the reader to sympathize with her battles, she references statistics and repeats the importance that Sachse is “83.1 percent white and only 4.6 percent black.” Bazile claims she witnessed racism from white administrators at Sachse who did not treat all students the same. In addition, she said black students were not encouraged to take advanced placement classes and scholarship monies went to whites with “similar or with less academic achievements as black students.”

After reading The Color of My Skin, especially the first few chapters, I thought the book was a gutsy move by Bazile. Racism is a taboo subject, and no one outside the reigns of an extremist group wants to admit publically they hold negative thoughts about a certain group of people. The oppressed tend to shy away from saying a word.

“I wanted my voice to be heard,” the soft-spoken Bazile said. “You really don’t hear young or older people speaking out about racial issues.”

I attempted to contact Steve Hammerle, principal of Sachse, to allow him to respond to Bazile’s accusations. I was referred to Reavis Wortham, director of communications for Garland ISD. Wortham said neither Bazile nor her parents have filed a formal complaint with the district regarding their accusations. Sachse high is a part of the Garland ISD.

“No one has brought their concerns forward. We have not seen this young lady (KeeKee) or her parents take the necessary steps to start an investigation. We always welcome patrons and students to voice their concerns; and we address any concern that parents and students have so we can benefit all district patrons to the best of our abilities.”
Wortham said Garland ISD has publicly recognized Bazile with its Evidence of Excellence award for the publication of her first book, The Piercing That Changed My Life.

Bazile dedicates the remainder of The Color of My Skin to her entrepreneurial endeavors and educates readers on cheerleading and famous celebs who took part in the activity. Can you imagine Samuel L. Jackson as a cheerleader? Bazile tells us that we can achieve anything in life, and she draws inspiration from her parents, Barack Obama and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. She reminds readers that sacrifice can make one uncomfortable but, in the end, it is worth all the stress.

“If you withstand the challenges long enough, you will find that your success awaits you on the other side of your mind.”

Filed Under: Lead Story Tagged With: garland isd, jerrkelia "keekee" bazile, rowlett, sasche high school, teen author, Texas, the color of my skin

Texas Scored Nine Out of Ten Key Indicators for Emergency Health Preparedness;

February 1, 2010 By NDG Staff No Comments

(NDG Wire) The seventh annual Ready or Not? Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism report, released by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), found that the H1N1 flu outbreak has exposed serious underlying gaps in the nation’s ability to respond to public health emergencies and that the economic crisis is straining an already fragile public health system.

Texas achieved Nine out of 10 key indicators of public health emergency preparedness. Overall, the report found that 20 states scored six or less out of 10 key indicators of public health emergency preparedness. Nearly two-thirds of states scored seven or less. Seven states tied for the highest score of nine out of 10: Arkansas, Delaware, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, and Vermont. Montana had the lowest score at three out of 10. The preparedness indicators are developed in consultation with leading public health experts based on data from publicly available sources or information provided by public officials.

“The H1N1 outbreak has vividly revealed existing gaps in public health emergency preparedness,” said Richard Hamburg, Deputy Director of TFAH. “The Ready or Not? report shows that a band-aid approach to public health is inadequate. As the second wave of H1N1 starts to dissipate, it doesn’t mean we can let down our defenses. In fact, it’s time to double down and provide a sustained investment in the underlying infrastructure, so we will be prepared for the next emergency and the one after that.”

Overall, the report found that the investments made in pandemic and public health preparedness over the past several years dramatically improved U.S. readiness for the H1N1 outbreak. But it also found that decades of chronic underfunding meant that many core systems were not at-the-ready. Some key infrastructure concerns were a lack of real-time coordinated disease surveillance and laboratory testing, outdated vaccine production capabilities, limited hospital surge capacity, and a shrinking public health workforce. In addition, the report found that more than half of states experienced cuts to their public health funding and federal preparedness funds have been cut by 27 percent since fiscal year (FY) 2005, which puts improvements that have been made since the September 11, 2001 tragedies at risk.

No.	Indicator	Texas	Number of States Receiving Points
*A “Y” means the state received a point for that indicator*
1	Purchased 50 percent or more of its share of federally-subsidized antiviral medications to prepare for a potential pandemic flu outbreak	Y	37 + D.C.
2	Submitted data on available hospital beds weekly for at least 50 percent of the facilities within the state to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during the 2009 H1N1 response.	Y	40
3	Public health lab has the capacity in place to assure the timely pick-up and delivery of disease samples on a 24/7, 365 day basis.	Y	37 + DC
4	Public health lab reports having enough staff to work the intense hours needed during an emergency, like H1N1 (five, 12-hour days for six to eight weeks).	Y	38
5	Tracks diseases through an Internet system used by the CDC.	Y	44 + D.C.
6	Identified the pathogen responsible for reported food-borne disease outbreaks at a rate that met or exceeded the national average of 46 percent (combined data 2005-2007).	Y	36 + D.C.
7	Meets the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) readiness criteria for medical volunteers during an emergency.		41 + D.C.
8	Requires all licensed childcare facilities to have a multi-hazard written evacuation and relocation plan for emergencies.	Y	20 + D.C.
9	Has a law or legal opinion in place to limit liability against organizations that provide volunteer help during emergencies.	Y	31 + D.C.
10	Increased or maintained level of funding for public health services from FY 2007-08 to FY 2008-09	Y	23 + D.C.
Total		9

“State and local health departments around the country are being asked to do more with less during the H1N1 outbreak as budgets continue to be stretched beyond their limits,” said Michelle Larkin, J.D., Public Health Team Director and Senior Program Officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Public health provides essential prevention and preparedness services that help us lead healthier lives — without sustained and stable funding, Americans will continue to be needlessly at risk from the next public health threat.”

The report also offers a series of recommendations for improving preparedness, including:

Ensure Stable and Sufficient Funding. The 27 percent cut to federal support for public health preparedness since FY 2005 must be restored, and funding must be stabilized at a sufficient level to support core activities and emergency planning. Increased funding must also be provided to modernize flu vaccine production, improve vaccine and antiviral research and development, and fully support the Hospital Preparedness Program.
Conduct an H1N1 After-Action Report and Update Preparedness Plans with Lessons Learned. Strengths and weaknesses of the H1N1 response should be evaluated and used to revise and strengthen federal, state, and local preparedness planning, including assessing what additional resources are needed to be sufficiently prepared. Identified gaps in core systems, including communications, surveillance, and laboratories much be addressed. In addition, continued surge capacity concerns, including establishing crisis standards of care, must be addressed.
Increase Accountability and Transparency. Federal and state health departments should regularly make updates on progress made on benchmarks and deliverables identified in the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act available to the public so they can see how tax dollars are being used and how well protected their communities are from health threats.
Improve Community Preparedness. Additional measures must be taken to reach out quickly and effectively to high-risk populations, including strengthening culturally competent communications around the safety of vaccines. Health disparities among low-income and racial/ethnic minorities, who are often at higher risk during emergencies, must also be addressed.

Score Summary:

A full list of all of the indicators and scores and the full report are available on TFAH’s web site at www.healthyamericans.org and RWJF’s Web site at www.rwjf.org. For the state-by-state scoring, states received one point for achieving an indicator or zero points if they did not achieve the indicator. Zero is the lowest possible overall score, 10 is the highest. The data for the indicators are from publicly available sources or were provided from public officials.

9 out of 10: Arkansas, Delaware, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Vermont

8 out of 10: Alabama, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin

7 out of 10: Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia

6 out of 10: Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming

5 out of 10: Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Maine, Washington

3 out of 10: Montana

Trust for America’s Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority. www.healthyamericans.org

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. Helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need—the Foundation expects to make a difference in our lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.