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Vol. 36 No. 48
Website: theaustinvillager.com
Email: [email protected]
Precinct 1 Constables Office
Co-Hosts Open House
RAPPIN’
Tommy Wyatt
Big Band
Flies
on Friday!
Are you one of those
people who are always saying
that there is nothing to do in
Austin , or that there is nothing for “grown folks” to do in
Austin.? If so, then you have
not been keeping up.
The James Polk Orchestra has been providing music
for the Austin community for
the last few months at the Monarch Event Center on Middle
Fisksville Road. The JPO band
provides big band sounds of
yesteryears. Dr. James Polk has
a passion for the music and has
been providing music for the
Austin community for more than
forty years.
In the 1960’s Polk led the
jazz scene in Austin, bringing
together some of the state’s and
country’s best musicians. They
were so popular that most of
them joined on with large bands
. Polk, himself, joined the Ray
Charles band and would tour all
over the world with Charles’ 17
piece band and the Raylette
singers. Most recently he was
the ban director for the Texas
State University Jazz Orchestra.
Polk has now created a
10-piece orchestra to provide an
outlet for Austin. He is being
joined in this endeavour by
some of Austin’s most talented
musicians, including Pamela
Hart, Tim Curry, Valarie Scott,
and Polk as vocalist. Other musicians are Charles Medearis,
Marcus Wilcher, Dan Torosian,
Michael Rey, Bob Meyer,
Randy Zimmerman, Glenn
Rexach, and Michael Stevens.
The next show is scheduled for Friday, May 8, 2009. The
doors open at 8 p.m. And currently they are being held once
per month. Get ready for the
Blues of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and
90’s and take your partner dancing.
***************
Early voting is now going on for the May 9 City Council election.. According to the
County Clerk, the first few days
have seen a larger than usual
turn out. Many believed that
this would be a very low key election, but apparently voters are
more interested than first believed. This election will be a
very pivotal one for the city, so
don’t be left out.
We made our endorsements a couple of weeks ago,
but for those who missed it,
here they are again:
Mayor - Carole Keeton
Strayhorn,
Place 1 - Chris Riley,
Place 2 - Mike Martinez
Place 5 - Bill Spelman
Place 6 - Sheryl Cole.
All of these candidates
need your support. Vote early,
and let’s see a large turnout and
then get ready to get involved
during the next coming months.
Vote and the Choice is
Yours!
Ever wonder what a
Constable does? Want to see
what a Constables Office
Looks Like? Come meet the
new constable and his staff at
their open house. Justice of the
Peace, Judge Richard Scott,
and Constable Danny Thomas, of Travis County Precinct 1 are co-hosts of the
event that will take place on
Saturday, May 2, 2009, form
10am to 2pm, at the Precinct 1
Offices, 1811 Springdale
Road.
Along with opening
their doors to the public, there
will be activities for the kids
(Moonwalks, Clowns, Balloons, Face Painting) and
Food (Hot Dogs, Chips and a
Phone: 512-476-0082
Fax: 512-476-0179
May 1, 2009
Statue Honoring Barbara Jordan
Unveiled on The University
of Texas at Austin Campus
Constable Danny Thomas
Drink).
It will not only be fun
for the whole family but educational as well.
For information contact
Constable Danny Thomas or
Chief Deputy Craig Howard,
at 854-7510.
Conference gives students
ideas needed for success
Barbara Jordan statue at UT. Photo by Thomas Wyatt
SPEAKERS—Judge Evelyn McKee speaks at the African
American Men and Boys and Women and Girls Conference at
Garcia Middle School. Photo by George E. Hardin
By George E. Hardin
Villager Reporter
Students “have a responsibility as young people
to work with each other, help
each other and encourage
each other,” said Nelson
Linder, president of the Austin chapter of the NAACP. He
was speaking at the 30th Afri-
can American Men and Boys
and Women and Girls Conference held at Garcia Middle
School, 7414 Johnny Morris
Road, Saturday, April 25.
Linder urged his listeners to
analyze every issue they face
before making a decision.
“Research it,” he said,
See Conference pg 5
AUSTIN, Texas — A
bronze statue of civil rights
champion Barbara Jordan
was unveiled April 24, on
The University of Texas at
Austin campus, following a
week of special events honoring the late congresswoman.
Jordan is the first female public figure so honored on the
university’s campus.
The ceremony began at
noon at the site of the Battle
Oaks, at 24th and Whitis
streets near the Texas Union.
The program featured a number of speakers, including
William Powers Jr., president
of the university, DeAnn
Friedholm, a friend of
Jordan’s, and student Dera
Barlow, Barbara Jordan
Statue Project co-chair. Other
program participants include
author and actress Anna
Deavere
Smith,
the
Innervisions Gospel Choir,
Longhorn Singers and The
University of Texas at Austin
Trombone Choir.
The statue, crafted by
artist Bruce Wolfe, is the result of a student-led initiative
that began with the Orange
Jackets, a volunteer and ser-
Students Compete for the Gold in Austin Area ACT-SO
Austin Area ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics) held its annual local ACT-SO Competition on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at the Boyd
Vance Theatre, Carver Museum and Cultural Center. More than 25 students from high schools
in Austin and the surrounding community participated in this competition. There were seven
(7) first place winners (gold medalists). These students will represent Austin ACT-SO in the
National Competition in New York City, where they will compete against more than 1000
young African-Americans for national scholarships and awards. Austin Area ACT-SO, sponsored locally by the Austin Branch of the NAACP, is a yearlong enrichment program for
African-American high school students that encourages and motivates them to develop their
talents and skills. There are 26 categories of competition. For more information, contact Polly
Street, Austin Area ACT-SO Coordinator, at 928-1390 or 497-4342. Gold Medalists pictured
are (left to right): Marissa Hayes (Oratory); Ashli Evans (Essay); Sammantha Johnson (Dance);
Jenelle Adetunji (Painting); Jordan Overton (Poetry); Denzel West (Drawing); and Shalnora
Worlds (Photography).
vice organization that is one
of the oldest student organizations on campus. Women
inducted into the Orange Jackets in 2002 noticed that
women were not represented
by the public art on campus,
other than by a statue of the
mythical Diana. Barbara Jordan quickly emerged as the
woman who symbolized the
vision and values of the institution and whose character and personal achievements—including the 17
years she spent as a professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs—made her an obvious choice for the honor.
“This statue project is a
an example of what can happen when we dare to listen to
our students and put great
trust in them—our campus
becomes a better place, a
more inspiring place because
of their efforts,” Dr. Juan C.
González, vice president for
student affairs, said.
The members of the
statue committee which includes faculty, staff and
alumni, in addition to students, have been dedicated to
the same vision—having Bar-
bara Jordan’s presence and
powerful words memorialized
on campus, to serve as a reminder of what is just and fair
in this world, according to Dr.
Sherri Sanders, deputy to the
vice president for diversity and
community engagement, and
director of the Barbara Jordan
Statue Project.
“That has driven many
of the decisions we have
made—from placement of the
statue underneath the Battle
Oaks, to our choice of quotes
by Jordan on the stelae surrounding the statue,” Sanders
said.
Dr. Gregory J. Vincent,
vice president for diversity and
community engagement,
noted that Jordan’s words are
an integral part of the sculpture.
“Jordan’s moving reflections on freedom, education
and civil rights will inspire
students, faculty and staff at
The University of Texas at
Austin for generations to come.
Her life and her efforts serve
as a reminder of why we continue to strive to create an environment of inclusive excellence here on campus.”
BARRY JOHNSON TO ADDRESS
STUDENTS DURING HT’S
HONORS CONVOCATION
(AUSTIN, Texas) — Barry
Johnson, former Walt Disney
Company, Sony Music, and
Black Entertainment Television
(BET) executive, and current entrepreneur, mentor, and leadership counselor, will render the
keynote address during HustonTillotson University’s Honors
Convocation. The program,
open to the public, will be held
Friday, May 8, 2009, at 10 a.m. in
King-Seabrook Chapel, 900
Chicon Street.
Honors Convocation is a
recognition of HT Honor Roll
and Dean’s List students as well
as those in honor societies, with
honor scholarships, and who
are members of Who’s Who
Among Students in American
Universities and Colleges. Top
ranking students in each major
are also recognized for their academic accomplishments. Those
students are: Biology, Jerrica
Anderson and Gail N. Maduro;
Business Administration,
Damian H. Spencer and Kemba
C. Valentine; Chemistry, Krystle
T. Clarke; Computer Science,
Mathew Bet and Jeffrey D.
Plummer; Criminal Justice,
Katriena L. Gentle; English, Jennifer M. Kizzee and Lee
Barry Johnson
Adrienne Ringer-Gibson; History, Scott L. Campbell and
Omar F. Silva; Interdisciplinary
Studies, Yolanda Fonseca and
Ashley M. Wright; Kinesiology,
Alfred C. Carter and Deanira S.
Monday; Music, James Andrew
Ward; Political Science, Thabo
A. Ramogogane; Psychology,
Kelli M. Bray and Janell M.
Gibson; and Sociology, Dawn K.
Shannon.
Twenty-five students are
included in the upcoming edition of “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities
and Colleges” and will also be
recognized.
Page 2/THE VILLAGER/May 1, 2009
EDITORIALS/COMMENTARY
Editorial, Commentary or Letter to the Editor Fax to 512.476.0179 Email to [email protected] Mail to 1223-A Rosewood Avenue, 78702
Shutting Down the Last Plantation
Harry C. Alford
NNPA Columnist
The United States Department of Agriculture has
been a recalcitrant and, at
times, an immovable object
when it comes to diversity
and modern views.
This massive 100,000
employee agency has a strong
history of outright racism. Its
views have been very southern and conservative in nature. At times the activities
over there have resembled
another nation far and away
from the US constitution and
the land of the free. President
Obama has promised change
and to change this giant is
going to take a massive undertaking.
We all know the plight
of the Black farmers with the
USDA. That is just one sour
side of the activities.
It appears that the President has made the correct start
in this mission. He has appointed former Iowa governor Thomas J. Vilsack to become Secretary of Agriculture.
Secretary Vilsack has made it
clear that change will indeed
come to USDA. The following
is part of a letter he sent to
each of the 100,000 employees of the agency:
“As you know, civil
rights is one of my top priorities. In the Departmental complaint system alone, more
than 14,000 complaints have
been filed since the year 2000.
Approximately 3,000 of these
complaints remain to be processed, and questions continue to be raised about
USDA’s handling of com-
plaints. I have said many
times that I intend to take definitive action to improve
USDA’s record on civil rights
and to move USDA into a
new era as a model employer
and premier service provider.
To be successful, all USDA
employees must be committed
to making USDA a model in
the Federal Government for
respecting the civil rights of
its employees and constituents. As Secretary, I will accept nothing less. USDA has
taken steps to address the
civil rights challenges that it
faces. I want to acknowledge
and applaud those employees across USDA who have
worked hard to improve the
Department’s civil rights
record. But we need to do better on these efforts and empower USDA employees to
move USDA into this new era
on civil rights.”
He then lays out a 14
point program that includes
settling the terrible lawsuit by
Black farmers against USDA.
They won but after nearly a
decade have not been paid.
This is long overdue. He ends
his three page letter via:
“While there is emphasis on
some of these items in FSA,
NRCS, and RD, I want to be
clear that this memorandum
applies to all of USDA, and
my expectation is that all
agencies will cooperate in
this effort and follow this new
direction. It is essential that
all agencies demonstrate their
commitment to these goals.
These are just the first
actions in a continuing effort
to ensure that the civil rights
of USDA constituents and
employees are respected and
protected. This is a new day
for Equal Employment Opportunity, program delivery,
and civil rights in USDA. I
intend to lead the Department
in correcting its past errors,
learning from its mistakes,
and moving forward to a new
era of equitable service and
access for all. With this effort
and with each USDA employee taking individual re-
sponsibility, we can and will
transform USDA into a model
organization.”
Now, that is true leadership. I was compelled to
write him and congratulate
him on his vision and have
pledge to support his efforts.
Not only is he talking it; his
actions demonstrate true commitment. He has appointed
the Honorable Dr. Joe
Leonard as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. Joe has
tenured at Operation Push,
Center for Civil Rights and
the Congressional Black Caucus. His reputation is superb
and this appointment indicates that things are really
about to change at USDA.
Please keep in mind that
the Department of Agriculture
just isn’t for farms. Any community with a population of
40,000 or less comes under
the jurisdiction of USDA.
The billions of dollars it
has in business loans, energy
projects and infrastructure
improvement, just to name a
few, should be made available
to all of us. They haven’t been
but now a new day is dawning.
Over 30 percent of the
employees of USDA are eligible for retirement. Many of
them, who cannot adjust to
diversity, will start to go. As
they leave, we should build a
reserve of applicants and fill
these vacancies with people
who have no problem with
equal opportunity.
It is truly a blessing to
be witnessing this radical
change right before our eyes.
Let us prepare to make this
transition in the name of our
children and grandchildren.
If you want to see the actual
letter of Secretary Vilsack you
can visit our website at
www.nationalbcc.org. A new
day is dawning and as we all
come together please remember: YES WE CAN!
Alford is the cofounder, president/CEO of
the National Black Chamber
of Commerce. Website:
www.nationalbcc.org.
Supreme Court to Consider Key Civil Rights Cases
By. Marc H. Morial
NNPA Columnist
In an America that
elected Barack Obama its first
African-American president
who appointed Eric Holder
as its first African-American
Attorney General, is there still
a need for civil rights protections?
All one has to do is look
at the current docket of civil
rights cases before the Supreme Court to realize the
answer to that question is a
resounding, ‘’Yes.’’
In several important
cases to be heard by the Court
this month, we find civil
rights under assault. How
the Court decides will not
only affect the lives of millions of African Americans,
it will clearly show us where
the nation stands in its commitment to equal opportunity
under the law.
In Northwest Austin
Municipal Utility District
Number One v. Holder, the
Court will decide whether to
uphold the Section 5 pre
clearance provision of the
Voting Rights Act, first passed
in 1965 and renewed by Congress in 2006. The Voting
Rights Act which eliminated
barriers to African- American
voting in southern states with
a history of racial discrimination.
A provision in that law
requires the affected states to
obtain permission from the
Justice Department if they
want to change their voting
procedures. Some of the jurisdictions covered by this ‘’preclearance’’ provision have
filed suit arguing that it is no
longer needed.
They claim ‘’The conditions that existed 30 or more
years ago…have long since
been remedied.’’
Recent attacks on voting
rights in the elections of 2000
in Florida and 2004 in Ohio,
as well as the use of arduous
identification requirements in
some states, clearly show the
need for stronger, not weaker,
voting rights protections.
The National Urban
League strongly supports the
continuation of Section 5. In
Ricci v. DeStefano the Court
will decide whether employers can continue to consider
race in seeking diversity in the
workplace. The case stems
from a suit filed by white
firefighters in New Haven,
Connecticut.
They claim it was unfair
for the city to scrap a 2003
promotions test after all 27
African American firefighters
who took it failed to qualify.
The Court could uphold the
traditional broad view favor-
ing workplace diversity or it
could apply a strict equaltreatment rule to civil service
tests.
The National Urban
League supports the African
American
firefighters
through a Friend of the Court
brief. Finally, in Cuomo v.
Clearing House Association,
the Supreme Court will rule
whether the Attorney General
for the State of New York has
the authority to investigate
the discriminatory lending
practices that have resulted in
a disproportionately high
number of high interest
subprime loans being issued
to African American and Hispanic borrowers.
As John Payton, President and Director-Counsel of
the NAACP Legal Defense
Fund, said ‘’This case presents the Supreme Court with
an ideal opportunity to address the root of our current
economic crisis. This will
place at the forefront the impact this crisis has and continues to have on minority
communities.’’
It is believed by many
that former President George
W. Bush weakened the Supreme Court’s commitment to
civil rights enforcement with
his appointments of conservatives: John Roberts as Chief
Justice and Samuel Alito as
the replacement for Sandra
Day O’Connor. The upcoming rulings may tell us how
hard we must fight in the coming years to ensure that the
nation does not turn its back
on civil rights.
The Villager, 1223 Rosewood Avenue, Austin, Texas 78702
(512) 476-0082
Fax (512) 4760179
Give an A for 100 Days
By. Julianne Malveaux
NNPA Columnist
In an era of instant spin,
there is no wonder that
people are grading President
Obama on his performance in
his first 100 days.
It is way too soon to
judge the three-month president, but if pressed to offer a
grade, I’d come back with an
A.
To be sure, there is much
room for improvement
around appointments, especially at the assistant secretary level. At the same time,
the Obama administration
has so hit the ground running
that we absolutely have to
applaud.
It took less than 60 days
for President Obama to pass
a stimulus package that will
jump start our economy and
create jobs. The dire state of
the economy may have
helped recalcitrant Republicans get off their dime, but the
aggressive posture of the administration made it clear that
stimulus is a top priority.
I frankly think the
stimulus should be larger and
stronger, and at the same time
understand the compromises
that have been made around
stimulus. This is an opportunity to applaud leadership.
On the issues that hit me
closest to home – educational
access and affordability –
President Obama is right on
time. Again, I’d have raised
the Pell grant to more than
$5350. At the same time, President Bush promised to raise
it to $5000 and never managed to do so in his 8 years in
office. I am hopeful that we
will see additional money
available for Pell and, again,
applaud the first step of getting those dollars up.
Similarly, President
Obama has tackled the issue
of student loan affordability,
suggesting that cutting the
middleman out of the loan
process is efficient and effective. Bravo! While the bureaucratic federal government can
probably not take on an additional task, if there is a task to
take on, financing our
nation’s education future is
one of them. Students deserve
a break in loan financing. T
he federal government has
made it possible for auto companies to offer zero percent
interest on cars. What about
zero percent interest on student loans?
President Obama went
to the mat on the issue of credit
affordability and the many
abuses that credit card companies rain on their customers. You sign up at one interest rate, and then when the
people feel like it, you get another one. You miss a payment for one card, and another card decides to penalize you for it. You are a day
late and you end up paying
double interest on your bill.
Our President has
warned credit card companies that they need to better
and be more consistent. Give
him high marks for taking on
an industry that is well supported by lobbyists. There is
likely to be splash back from
this one, and the President
has shown, in his first 100
days, that he does not mind
breaking eggs to make omelets.
I have been disappointed that the President
will not send US representation to the UN Conference
against Racism. I have also
been disappointed that matters of race have not been addressed by this administration. However, I am not prepared to put race on the front
burner of an evaluation of
this president.
Implicitly, he does lots
for race relations, just with
his presence. Additionally,
this may be an issue he will
tackle in his first year. I do
not think that having an African American president requires us to suspend critical
thinking, Obamnuts (the
people who are so nutty
about Obama that any minor
criticism is considered “race
traitorism”) notwithstanding.
At the same time, I think
it extremely appropriate to
“give due where due is due”.
Thus, my criticisms about
race matters do not deter from
the high marks I give this
administration.
What’s not to like in
this first 100 days.
There has been energy,
focus, economic acumen
(well, except for the appointment of Larry Summers as an
economic advisor), and balance. There has been the
equanimity in handling the
media and detractors. There
has been the “swagger” and
the leadership.
I think 100 days is too
soon to judge a President, but
on the basis of these first 100
days, President Obama has
earned the highest marks.
Dr. Julianne Malveaux
is President of Bennett College for Women. She can be
reached
at
[email protected].
From blood banking to the modern subway, from jazz to social
justice, the contributions of African Americans have shaped and
molded and influenced our national culture and our national
character.
Too Many WhiTe Males
Can’T Cope
A. Peter Bailey
NNPA Columnist
When reading and hearing about so many White
males, from teenagers on up,
going off the deep end during
the past 15 years, one is compelled to wonder what is their
problem?
White males are members of the most powerful,
privileged and ruthless special interest group in this
country. They have had
nearly one hundred percent
control of most of the major
financial, educational, medical, industrial, communication and entertainment corporations in this country
throughout its history, yet
they now whine because now
they may have lost 2 percent
of that pervasive control.
Politically quiet as it is
kept, for the first 150 years or
so of the United States’ existence as an independent country, the only people who could
vote were White males.
People should remember that
when listening to current day
politicians and pundits harping on denial of universal
voting rights in other countries. Any Black male who
challenged the White male’s
total economic dominance in
the 19th and most of the 20th
Century was subject, not only
to constant harassment, but
in numerous instances, to execution, most notably in
Tulsa, Oklahoma where a
thriving Black business district was destroyed by White
male
terrorists.
In the early part of the 20th
Century, courageous, Black
journalist, Ida B. Wells, had
to flee White male terrorists in
the Memphis, Tennessee who
objected to her coverage of the
lynching of three young Black
businessmen who were successfully competing with
White-owned businesses in
that city.
When White males commit atrocities such as killing
dozens of people by shooting
up schools, blowing up occupied buildings, slaughtering
members of their families, serial killings, etc. White male
academicians and journalists
talk pontificate about the pathology of those individual
White males.
However, those same
folks, when writing about or
discussing the much-too-high
homicide rate among Black
street males, in which the victims are usually other Black
street males (“you messing
with my woman so I stab you;
you moving on my drug-dealing turf so I shoot you; you
diss me so I cut your throat:)
focus, not on the pathology of
those individual Black males
but on THE PATHOLOGY
OF BLACK MALES. Which
raises the question. What is
more pathological - killing
someone for “being dissed”
or slaughtering your whole
family including small children, because of heavy in
debtedness? Another question that needs a thorough
examining is: Why are so
many members of the most
powerful and privileged special interest group in the country so often unable to cope?
Journalist/Lecturer A.
Peter Bailey, a former associate editor of Ebony, is currently editor of Vital Issues:
The Journal of African American Speeches. He can be
reached
at
[email protected].
The Villager Newspaper was founded in 1973 by T.L. Wyatt, and is a free
community service weekly, with a focus on African American news and newsmakers in Austin and surrounding counties.
The Villager is a member of the Texas Publishers Association (TPA),
National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and audited by the
Circulation Verification Council. For information call (512) 476-0082.
Mother/Daughter/Son
Luncheon at David Chape
Community
Opening Event
St. James Baptist
Church invites you to join us
on Saturday, May 2, 2009
from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
for the Community Opening
of the Santiago Christian
Bookstore. We can assist the
Church and Families through
offering, Bible, books, gifts,
CD’s, and special orders.
Mark your calendar for this
date. Please come and join us.
David Chapel cordially
invites you to share with us
as we celebrate the special
bonds of motherhood at our
annual Mother/Daughter/
Son Luncheon. Our theme is
“Tribute to Mothers”, Proverbs 31:28. The luncheon will
be held on Saturday, May 2,
2009 at 11:00 a.m. on the campus of Huston-Tillotson University in the Davage-Durden
Ebenezer
Woman’s Day
Musical
Student Union. Activities include a paprade of fashions,
drama product, and door
prizes.
Tickets are $12 for
adults and $6 for children
(ages 5-11) and are available
for purchase at David
Chapel. The deadline for
ticket purchase is Thursday,
April 30. Tickets will not be
sold at the door.
HUSTON-TILLOTSON
UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS TO
AWARD TWO HONORARY
“Praising God through
Song” is the theme of this
year’s Woman’s Day Musical
at Ebenezer.
The musical will be held Friday, May 8 at 7 p.m. at
Ebenezer Baptist Church, 1010
E. 10th Street, Austin, TX. The
public is invited to attend and
share in the music.
Dr. Marvin C. Griffin is pastor of Ebenezer.
Check us out on
our website and
look
for updates
www.theaustinvillager.com
(AUSTIN, Texas) —
Huston-Tillotson University
officials will award honorary
degrees to Actress Sheryl Lee
Ralph and Independent Colleges and Universities of
Texas, Inc. (ICUT) President
Carol McDonald during
Commencement Convocation
on Saturday, May 9, 2009, at
8:30 a.m. on the campus, 900
Chicon Street.
Ralph will receive the
Doctor of Humane Letters
(L.H.D.) for her humanitarian
efforts and work in theater
and the arts. McDonald will
receive the Doctor of Laws
(LL.D.) for her advocacy, commitment, and support of
higher education. She has
served as president of ICUT
since 1982 after working on
Sheryl Lee Ralph
education policy issues in
Texas Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby’s
office. Ralph, a Tony award
winner for her creation and
portrayal of Deena Jones in
the original “Dreamgirls,”
will also bring the keynote
address during the convocation.
The public is invited.
For more information, call
512.505.3073, or visit the Web
site at www.htu.edu. Guests
are asked to enter the campus
from Chalmers Street for
ample parking.
May 1, 2009/The Villager/Page 3
First-ever Lemonade Day Austin scheduled for
Sunday May 3
Business guru Dale
Carnegie said that when fate
hands you a lemon, make
lemonade. Children in the
Austin area likely haven’t
heard of Carnegie or that wellknown adage. Nonetheless,
they’ll be heeding his wise
advice.
On Sunday, May 3,
scores of kids will participate
in the first-ever Lemonade
Day Austin by setting up their
own lemonade stands
around Austin. The citywide
event—supported by the Entrepreneurs Foundation of
Central Texas and sponsored
by the Trilogy Employees
Foundation—is designed to
teach kids the skills that
they’ll need to succeed in the
future.
Kids still can register
for Lemonade Day Austin at
www.lemonadedayaustin.org.
Under the watchful
eyes of adult mentors, kids
who’ll be running the lemonade stands have set goals,
developed business plans,
established budgets and
sought investors. On May 3,
they’ll be serving their lemonade, practicing good customer
service techniques and learning about philanthropy. It’s
recommended that 20 percent
of the revenue from lemonade
sold on Lemonade Day Austin go to charities picked by
operators of the stands.
Each young entrepreneur received a free yellow
backpack filled with educational materials to help operate a successful lemonade
stand.
“Prepared 4 Life, a
Houston-based nonprofit organization, launched the
Lemonade Day program in
2007 to equip young people
with entrepreneurial skills.
Lemonade Day in Houston
has been a huge success, and
we plan to replicate that success in Austin,” Eugene
Sepulveda, CEO of the Entre-
preneurs Foundation of Central Texas, said.
Trilogy founder and
CEO Joe Liemandt said:
“Austin is honored to be one
of the four American communities where Lemonade Day
is expanding this year. It’s appropriate that Lemonade Day
be held in Austin, since Central Texas is a hotbed of entrepreneurship. “
DOUBLE “R” GROCERY
We cash ALL Tax Refund
Checks
HOSPITAL PHARMACY
Serving Austin since 1970
Let us Fill your next Perscription!
SAVE TIME
Check Out
Ask your doctor to call
your prescription in to us
and we’ll have it ready for you
when you get here!
2115 E. MLK Blvd.
512-476-7338
THE AIRPORT FLEE MARKET
Saturdays and Sundays
Austin, Texas 78702
www.PHRX.Net
450l East Martin luther King Blvd.
Open Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sat 9 a.m. - Noon
1149 Airport Blvd.
Visit the church of your choice on Sunday
David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church
2211 East MLK Blvd.
Office: 512-472-9748
Fax: 512-472-5399
Agape Baptist Church
In “The Centre” Bldg. F-15 7801 N. Lamar Blvd. (SE Corner of N Lamar and 183)
AGAPE is a chuch for all people. “Where Jesus Christ is Magnified and the love He exhibited is
Exemplified.” Come, receive God’s unconditional lovefor you. For there is no greater love!
Church Services
Sunday Services
Discipleship Training 8:15 A.M.
Sunday School
9:00 A.M.
Worship
10:00 A.M.
Rev. Joseph C. Parker Jr.
Pastor
Nursery services available
St. Peter’s United Methodist Church4509
Springdale Road 512- 926-1686 Fax 512-929-7281
We invite you to come and worship with us
Sunday Services
Worship
Sunday School
Worship Service
Rev. Jack C. Gause
Pastor
8:30 A.M.
9:45 A.M
11:00 A.M.
6:00 P.M.
Ebenezer Baptist Church
1010 East 10th Street 512-478-1875 Fax: 512-478-1892
Radio Ministry (KIXI 970 AM
TV Ministry (ACTV. Ch 32)
Bus Ministry
9:00 A.M.
9:00 A.M.
Call 512-478-1875
Sunday Services
Sunday School
10:00 A.M.
Worship Service
11:00 A.M.
WEDNESDAY Bible Study
6:30 P.M.
SATURDAY New
Rev. Lois Hayes, Pastor
Jesus is Coming Again
The church fellowship where everybody can be somebody!
Sunday Services
Sunday School
Morning Service
Wednesday Service
9:00-10:00 A.M.
10:00 A.M. -12Noon
7:00 - 8:00 P.M.
Floyd Fontenot, Sr., Founder Floyd Fontenot, Jr., Pastor
Imani Community Church
Davis Elementray Auditorium
5214 West Duval Road
Sunday School
9:00 A.M.
Worship Service
10:00 A.M.
•Power Hour Bible Study
6:30 P.M.
Imani Complex, 1st and 4th Wednesday
Imani Complex & Office,
11800 Mustang at Duval
Austin, Texas 78727
Rev. Dr. Jacquelyn Donald-Mims
AFRICAN ASSEMBLIES of GOD
CHURCH
A growing church ministering to African American and
other nationals
Come worship with us
Sunday Services
Worship Service
Sunday School
Discipleship Training
Worship Service
8:00 A.M.
9:00 A.M.
10:00 A.M.
11:00 A.M.
Wednesday
Rev. Marvin C. Griffin
Pastor
JOSHUA CHAPEL CHRISTIAN METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1006 Yeager Lane, Suite 102-A
Austin, Texas
4930 South Congress Avenue, C-302 512-750-4628 512-804-2537
Member Assimilation 10:00 A.M.
Wednesday
Evening Bible Study
Sunday
School
9:30 AM
Sunday Worship
11:00 AM
Mid-Week Service
Thursday: Praise, Prayer and Bible Study 7:00 PM
Call 454-1547 for Transporation
Website www.agapebcaustintx.org
Rev. H. Ed Calahan
Pastor
MaranathA Faith Center
Midweek Prayer Service
7:00 P.M.
Child Development Center
Ages 0-5 years
(Daily) 512-478-6709
Sunday Worship
Wednesday Prayer Meeting
11:30 A.M.
6:45 P.M.
Rosewood Avenue Missionary Baptist Church
1820 Rosewood Avenue, Austin, Texas 78702
(512) 476-8201 Fax (512) 476-5693
“Divine Enpowerment for Bold Ministries”
Weekly Services
Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.
Wed. Night Bible Fellowship 6:30 p.m.
Place of Worship
The Church of Glad Tidings 2700 Northland Dr. Austin, TX 78756
For more information, contact Pastor Jonah Ghartey
512-873-8103 [email protected]
Aligned with Matters
of Eternity
St Annie A.M.E. Church
1711 Newton Street
Austin, Texas 78704
Voice mail (512) 444-4509
E-mail: [email protected]
Sunday School
9:30 A.M.
Morning services 10:45 A.M.
Rev. Derwin D. Gipson, Pastor
Rev. Coby Shorter, III
Pastor
The Spencer & Ora Lee Nobles
“Hope Center” (512) 476-6722
We b s i t e :
w w w.rosewoodbaptistchurch.org
Mount Sanai Missionary Baptist Church
5900 Cameron Road
Austin, Texas 78723-1843
(512) 451-0808 (512) 302-4575 Fax
Web Site - www.themount.net
WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday Worship - 7:45 a.m. & 11 a.m.
Church School - 9:45 a.m.
Bible Studies - Mon, 6:30 p.m. & Wed., 12 noon
Wednesday Night Worship - 7 p.m .
“Ministries For Mankind” Luke 4:18
A.W.. Anthony Mays, Senior Pastor
Page 4/THE VILLAGER/May 1, 2009
Sponsorship
Available
Call for info
476-0082
Youth of Today. Hope of Tomorrow.
Volma overton Golf Tournament
provides scholarships
Jaylon Knighten
Campbell Elementary
On Saturday April 25 the
8 th Annual Volma Overton/
V.Christian Foundation Golf
Tournament was held at the
Jimmy Clay Golf Course in Austh
tin. The tournament was held to
raise money for scholarships to
be given to graduating seniors
that attend Reagan High School,
LBJ High School and Eastside
Memorial High School. There
were several ministers from
around the Austin area that participated in the tournament. I
interviewed my uncle Mr. Kelvin
Austin whose team actually took
1st place in the tournament. He
played with some of the members of Corinth Baptist Church.
Congratulations to Rev. Gary
Renfro, Mr. Ellis Austin (my
uncle’s dad), Mr. William Miller
and Mr. Kelvin Austin (my
uncle) for coming in 1st place.
Community input needed for
Falcon Pointe’s future
Alon Rodgers
Kelly Lane Middle School
The girls’ golf team won
the Bastrop Invitational
Championship at Lost Pines
and the boys’ team captured
3rd place.
Kelly Lane sent students to compete in the Texas
Alliance for Minorities in En-
gineering (TAME) State Competition in Math and Science.
Attending are Zoi Shortes,
Nancy Kha, Rini Sinha, and
Helen Kruse. Their sponsor is
8th Grade Math Teacher Mrs.
Annette Kelarek.
If you are interested in
discussing the City of
Pflugerville’s future, you are
invited to participate in group
interviews to be conducted at
the Falcon Pointe Resident’s
Club. Things you may want
to talk about are athletic facilities, streets and public
transportation, housing, arts
and culture or other ideas you
have for the community.
A citywide committee
will help with the study and
make recommendations to
the City Council.
People Project: Observing
people who act differently
Raven Wyatt
Kelley Lane
The title sounds interesting huh? Well I have an
AVID class and we are doing
a project. It’s really a question,
why do others outcast those
who don’t look and act like
you. Well I chose Mary Foster; everyone thinks she is a
no body, that she is weird, and
repulsive. That is why I picked
her. I’m really starting to connect with her.
I’ve realized if you take
the time out to get to know
someone then maybe they are
good people. You can’t judge
a book by the cover. Over the
pass weeks I have been taking notes, you know observing her. We hang out a little;
like have lunch, gym class,
and project partners.
Our project isn’t over
until the end of the cycle so
I’ll tell the results as soon as I
get my “A”. {Just Kidding}
Sponsorship AvailableCall for info 476-0082
Swine Flu is spread by
human contact
Lexus Wren
KIPP
Swine Flu! Never
heard of it until a few days
ago, well it hits Texas and
very close to Austin! Two
students near Austin had
confirmed cases of the swine
flu and school is temporarily
closing due to possible new
cases. State officials are investigating and has reported
that 3 are recovering fine.
In Mexico almost 70
have died of the flu while
many others have become ill
with the flu. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention have been asked for a
little over 37.000 courses of
antiviral meds. to help prevent spreading of the swine
flu.
Symptoms associated
with the flu are, fever, disorientation, stiffness of the
joints, vomiting and loss of
consciousness ending in
death. It is believed to be
spread between humans
through coughing or sneezing of infected people and
touching something with the
virus on it and then touching
their own nose or mouth.
Folks be careful! It
has been asked if you have to
cough do so in a tissue if you
can. Stay Healthy.
The Lady Hawks bring
home the medals
Toni Nelson
KIPP
Villager readers as
you may know early voting
has started, it will run until
May 5th and the big day is
May 9th. The Mayoral candidates are:
Brewster
McCracken, Josiah Ingalls,
Lee Leffingwell, Carole
Strayhorn and David
Buttross. The question is
Alonzo Black
Hendrickson High School
Led by five first
place
finishes,
the
Hendrickson high school
girl’s track team brought
home first place from last
week’s district meet. The
Hawks got two wins from senior Natasha Masterson, who
won the 300 meter hurdles
and the pole vault. Kaneisha
Jones took first in the high
jump.
Hendrickson
took
home the 400 and 800 meter
relay titles. Masterson also
took home second in high
jump and teamed with Tasha
Mayne, Kaneish Jones, and
Tiiana Allen- Hawkins to finish third in the 1600 meter re-
Tasha Mayne
placed second in the 800 with
teammate Cameo Bukner finishing fifth. Jazmine Tezino
took home second in 100
meter hurdles and teammate
Karissa Gravesmill took
fourth. Mayne placed fourth
and Allen-Hawkins came in
just behind at fifth in the 400.
Erica Greene took second in
the 300 hurdles and her teammate Asia Williams finished
sixth.
All sixth and ninth
grade male students need to
be screened for spinal deformities. Students will be
screened for two types of spinal deformities: scoliosis and
kyphosis. Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine is
twisted, causing misalignment of the upper body or
lower back. Kyphosis is an
exaggerated rounding of the
spine. Progression of these
two conditions can be corrected if detected early. Spinal
screening will be conducted
on campus during the school
day on May 4th through May
8th.
Austin High orchestra
gets “Superior” rating
The Stephen F. Austin
High School Orchestra program, under the direction of
Ana Maria Solis, recently
participated in the Buccaneer
Classic Music Festival, which
was held on Saturday, April
25 at the Texas A&M University/Corpus Christi Performing Arts Center in Corpus
Christi, Texas. The Austin
High
School
string
orchestra’s performance was
awarded a “Superior” rating,
receiving first division scores
from each of the three festival
adjudicators. Orchestra,
band, and choir programs
from throughout Texas and
other states participate in the
Buccaneer Classic Music Festival.
The Austin School District will hold high school graduation ceremoniesfor members of the Class of 2009 as follows:
Tuesday, June 2 Rosedale School 1 p.m. Rosedale Campus
Thursday, June 4 Anderson 3 p.m. Erwin Center
Austin 5:45 p.m. Erwin Center
Bowie 8:30 p.m. Erwin Center
Friday, June 5 Crockett Noon Erwin Center
Lanier 3 p.m. Erwin Center
LBJ/LASA 5:45 p.m. Erwin Center
McCallum 8:30 p.m. Erwin Center
Saturday, June 6 Travis 9 a.m. Erwin Center
Akins Noon Erwin Center
Garza 3 p.m. Delco Center
Eastside Memorial 5:45 p.m. Delco Center
Reagan 8:30 p.m. Delco Center
which of these Mayoral candidates will you vote for? Are
they talking your talk? Do
they have the same concerns
and dreams as you do?
McCracken wants to support
the live music scene in Austin and wants Austin to be the
clean energy leader. Lee
Leffingwell would like to create green collar jobs and focusing on local businesses.
Carol Strayhorn said one of
her top priorities for Austin
is to create a world class medical center, WOW! This past
weekend candidates spent
the time campaigning, shaking hands and attracting
votes. So readers ADULTS I
hope everyone will get out
and vote, I can’t wait to see
who the lucky candidate will
be. Toni Nelson
COBRA is looking for a
few good members
lay.
Graduation Dates Set for
Austin ISD’s Class of 2009
MYEC
May 9th is the big
election day for mayor
Jeremy Henderson
McCallum High School
COBRA stands for
Community of Brothers in
Revolutionary Alliance. It’s
a group/organization of minorities that discuss important issues that are happening in our country of things
happening in Austin. COBRA has been established at
McCallum for 2 or 3 years. We
are trying to keep it going by
getting more students to join,
who are going to take this organization seriously.
COBRA is heded and
supported by UT (University
of Texas). Dr. Foster, who
loves COBRA and is in
charge, enjoys expanding the
organization and getting
more student in.
COBRA meets every
Wednesday during advisory.
We talk about not just issues
in our country, but issues in
school. I’ve with COBRA for
two years and I have enjoyed
it. I’m onf of the chosel leaders and it’s an honor tobe one,
along with4 other chosen
leaders.
COBRA is about
working together and coming
as one group and helping
each other out. We want to
keep COBRA going for future
members to to come.
COBRA is not
somehting that you join and
only come when you want to
get out of advisory. You join,
because you’re taking it seriously and want to be a voice
and be a leader.
STRING AUDITIONS
2009-2010 SEASON
String auditions for the
2009-2010 Austin Youth Orchestra (AYO) program have
been scheduled as follows:
Monday, May 11, 2009
Stephen F. Austin High
School
1715 West Cesar
Chavez Street
6:00 P.M: Registration
6:30 P.M: Auditions
Membership in AYO is
open to all interested orchestra students from throughout
the central Texas area - public school, private school,
charter
school,
and
homeschool - and will be determined by the audition process. Students from schools
with orchestra programs
must be a member in their
school orchestra.
Audition material is a
solo piece or etude of the
student’s choice that demonstrates a maximum level of
ability.
Scales
and
sightreading may also be required. The audition registration form may be downloaded
and completed in advance of
the audition via the AYO
website
at
http://
www.AustinYouthOrchestra.com
(“Announcements” section).
If accepted into the AYO
program, there is a $100.00
per semester tuition fee for
each participating member. In
return for this nominal fee,
members will receive comprehensive and intensive orchestral instruction, including
regular performances at various venues of the highest
quality of literature.
The various orchestras
accommodate different levels
of experience, playing ability,
and age groupings:
Symphony Orchestra
(Grades 8-12), String/Full Orchestra (Fall and Spring Semesters)
Philharmonic Orchestra
(Grades 6-10), String/Full Orchestra (Fall and Spring Semesters)
Sinfonietta Orchestra
(Grades 4-8), String Orchestra
(Fall and Spring Semesters)
Intermezzo Orchestra
(Kindergarten-Grade 7),
String Orchestra (Fall and
Spring Semesters)
Concertante Orchestra
(Kindergarten-Grade 6),
String Orchestra (Spring Semester only)
For additional information, visit the AYO website or
contact: Thomas H. Waggoner,
Coordinator Austin Youth Orchestra463-9595
[email protected]
THIRTY-EIGHT CANDIDATES COMPLETE
HUSTON-TILLOTSON UNIVERSITY ’S
ALTERNATIVE TEACHER CERTIFICATION
The African Diaspors Section
By Tsoke (Chuch) Adjajon
Sentences Overturned for HIV/AIDS Educators
Special to the NNPA
from GIN
(GIN) – In a packed courtroom in downtown Dakar,
judges of a court of appeal this
week overturned the convictions of nine Senegalese nationals for homosexuality and ordered their release - a decision
welcomed by the UN and
rights groups.
The men faced prison
terms of up to eight years for
homosexual conduct. But
none of the men had been
‘caught in the act,’ defense lawyers said.
Part of a group involved
in HIV/AIDS education, they
were convicted of ‘’indecent
acts against nature’’ and membership of a criminal organization after their arrests in December at the home of a prominent gay activist in a Dakar
suburb.
‘’Homophobia and
criminalization based on a
person’s sexual orientation is
fuelling the AIDS epidemic,’’
UNAIDS Executive Director
Michel Sidibe said in a statement. ‘’I welcome today’s decision by the court of appeal to
release these men.
The eight-year sentence
was the highest ever to be
handed down in Senegal for a
homosexuality conviction.
Donors Must Help Rebuild Zimbabwe Thinktank Says
Special to the NNPA from
GIN
(AUSTIN, Texas) — Thirty-eight candidates enrolled in Huston-Tillotson University’s
Alternative Teacher Certification Program completed the yearlong training, internship, and
testing to receive their Standard Teaching Certificate for the State of Texas. The candidates, all
of whom are employed in school districts or private accredited schools, received their certification as teachers in Bilingual Education, Generalist EC-4, Generalist 4-8, English as a Second
Language, Mathematics 4-8, Physical Education EC-12, Social Studies 4-8 and 8-12, or Special
Education EC-12: The graduates are: Ryman Barnes, Cerrissa Bates, Moncheire Bedford, Ronald
Bell, Jessica Boone, Robert Brandhorst, Brian Braudrick, Soniette Bryant, Michelle Byers, Kristie
Carroll, Jaime Carvajal, Joshua Colvin, Claudia Del Castillo, Nhung Do, Stefanie Drake, Richard Fields, III, Steven Gradney, Tika Hill, Vicki Hollenshead, Robert Lee Hull, Phillip Ifera,
Mia Jacobs, Amanda Jobe, Jessica Kirdaldy, Edward Loomis, William Lyons, Joy Moore, Tanya
Moore, Katherine Redus, Graylon Roberson, Loretta Robinson, Teresa Terrazas, Roger Ugalde,
Joseph Vigil, Aursha Walker, Suzanne Wallace, Alethia Ware, and Maiana Westerfield. Pictured are some of the candidates with faculty Susan Browne, (third row, left).
Conference gives students ideas
needed for success from page 1
“process it, and think
about it before taking rash action.” Linder and Judge
Evelyn McKee of the Austin
Municipal Court were keynote speakers at the event,
which had as its theme “Am I
on Track to Graduate?”
“Don’t be overly
concerned with what people
say about you,” Judge McKee
said. “During the campaign
one of the candidates said
some nasty things about Mr.
Obama. But do you know
what he calls him now: Mr.
President. Deserve respect
and you’ll get respect.”
After the general session in the gym, workshops
were held for students and
parents. Topics of some of the
workshops for boys included
“Jumping Hurdles to the Finish Line,” “MANifest your
Destiny…the High Road is
Yours,” and “What Employers Want – Portfolio of Transferable Credentials.”
Girls attended sessions with such topics as
“Successfully Navigating the
Educational System” “Girls
Rule! You are the Queen of the
World You Create,” You Decide: Dress to Impress or Attract Some Mess,” and “Help!
There’s No Time to Study.”
The conference was sponsored by the Michael Lofton
Talk Show and a number of
other community organizations.
Dr. Helen Johnson,
principal of the host site, said,
“It’s wonderful to have the
Bill Spelman
May 1, 2009/THE VILLAGER/page 5
(GIN) – A new report
from the International Crisis
Group, a Brussels-based
thinktank, donors are urged
to help revive Zimbabwe’s
education, health and sanitation systems, which are all in
tatters after a decade of economic freefall.
Without immediate help
from donors, Zimbabwe’s
unity government is likely to
collapse, according to the
ICG.
‘’Zimbabwe should be
treated as a post-conflict society,’’ says the report entitled
‘’Engaging the Inclusive Government.’’ While it would be
May 15,
2009 will be
the 36th
Anniversary
of THE
VILLAGER.
Stay tuned
for upcoming
special issue.
‘’premature’’ to lift sanctions
against President Mugabe
and his closest supporters,
the U.S., Britain, other Western countries and the Southern African region should
work with the MDC and moderates in ZANU-PF ‘’to help
make the reform process irreversible.’’
But a website of Zimbabwean activists called donor
aid a long shot after the admission this week by
Zimbabwe’s central bank
governor that he took hard
currency from the bank accounts of private businesses
and foreign aid groups without permission, saying he
was trying to keep his
country’s cash-strapped
ministries running.
When will the interim
government start demanding
higher standards - and acting
on some of its promises? asked
the website Kubatana.
ACC
PEP SESSION—Michael Lofton rallies the crowd in positive
affirmations at the African American Men and Boys and Women and
Girls Conference. Photo by George E. Hardin
conference here at Gus Garcia.
It embodies all the things
we’re trying to get our students to do—the academic
achievement, character building and giving them confidence to go out and take control of their lives and be the
men and women we know
that they can be. We are just
so honored to have Michael
Lofton here, and Judge
McKee, she’s been a wonderful leader for us, and I can’t
say enough about president
Linder of the NAACP. What
would the community do
without him? Our students
and staff are happy to be a
small part of this program today.”
Johnson said she is
ending her first academic year
as principal at Garcia. “We’re
named for Gus Garcia, the
former mayor of Austin,” she
said. “We’re working very
hard to live up to his expectations and the expectations
of the community.”
Goals of the conference include the following:
—to foster academic
achievement and educational excellence by identifying and working to eliminate
the academic deficits exhibited by African-American
youth,
—to build working
partnerships between successful African-American
men and boys through educational workshops and
mentoring programs.
Andre W. Mathews
served as conference facilitator. Lofton made closing remarks and awarded door
prizes to attendees.
Sheryl Cole
Page 6/THE VILLAGER/May 1, 2009
The Rise of the State NAACP in Texas
The organizers of the
State Conference of NAACP
branches were not the first to
espouse the NAACP’s program of equal rights in Texas.
In 1918, four local branches
sprang up to join the El Paso
Carole Strayhorn
chapter established in 1915.
The Great War generated a
renewed racial awareness,
leading more Blacks to confront
discrimination.
NAACP memberships nationwide soared from 10,000
in 1917 to almost 80,000 in
1919. In December 1918, national board member Mary B.
Talbert toured Texas promoting Liberty Loans and organizing NAACP branches in
nine cities. By 1919 Texas had
become the Association’s
leading state with 7,046 members and thirty-one branches.
Several events that year,
however, revealed how far the
state actually was from harmonious race relations. In
July a Longview mob burned
Black homes and businesses
and beat a Negro teacher during “The Red Summer Riots”.
American Cancer
Center for American History, UT Austin Dl Number 01668 Hickman
(R.C.) Photographer Archive, 1949-1961, 1969 Thurgood Marshall, A
Maceo Smith (Center) and other (unknown).
Soon afterward the state attorney general subpoenaed the
Austin branch’s records to
scrutinize its right to conduct
business in Texas. When
NAACP National Secretary
John Shillady learned of the
impending challenge, he traveled to Austin to meet with the
appropriate state officials.
Shillady soon found himself
an unwelcomed visitor and
after sustaining verbal abuse,
a gang comprised in part of
local officials brutally beat
him. When the NAACP’s Vice
President protested this violent act, Gov. William Hobby
blamed Shillady and recommended that the organization
stay out of Texas.
By 1920, Texas lead the
nation in lynchings and
amid this atmosphere of fear,
many of the state’s branches
discontinued operations,
with only five remaining active by 1923. Yet Texas, as
William Pickens noted in
1932, “is a big territory with
big possibilities”.
In the late 1930’s an extraordinary group of Black
Texans began to organize and
direct the state’s civil rights
movement. As they revived
the five languid branches of
the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored
People, they built a statewide
organization, the Texas State
Conference of Branches.
Through this structure they
mobilized local branches and
coordinated their programs
with the policies and strategies of the NAACP’s national
office in New York. They also
planned and initiated lawsuits against racial discrimination in the areas of voting
rights, jury service, employment, housing, education,
and public accommodations.
One man whose vision
of a statewide NAACP organization was especially influential: Antonio Maceo
Smith. Not only was he instrumental in its development,
but he also spearheaded its
activities for two decades. A
gifted practitioner of the political arts of compromise and
consensus, he combined the
administrative talents of the
bureaucrats with the promotional skills of an insurance
executive. Confident and
charismatic, he was above all
an organizer.
Born in Texarkana in
1903, Maceo Smith was educated at Fisk University and
New York University, where
he received degrees in busi-
ness. Returning to Texas in
1929 after the death of his father, Smith moved to Oklahoma City in 1932. In January of 1933, he came to Dallas
to organize a life insurance
company. There he rejuvenated the Negro Chamber of
Commerce and played a major role in obtaining and directing Negro participation in
the Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas. By 1936 he
became secretary of the Dallas NAACP branch and the
Progressive Voters League.
Through these activities he
developed ties with key Negro leaders in Dallas and
other cities. Increasingly, he
thought in terms of statewide
organizations. From Smith’s
discussions with other Black
leaders came the decision to
organize the State Conference
of NAACP Branches in 1937.
The first conference of the
State NAACP convened at the
Moorland Branch of the Dallas YNCA on June 18 and
19th, 1937. Delegates came
from five branches: Houston,
Dallas, Waco, San Antonio
and Marshall.
Sources:Michael GilletteT he NAACP in T e xas
xas,, 19371957;Texas State Conference,
Twentieth Anniversary Souvenir
Booklet (1956); Mary White
Ovington, “I
iolence the
“Iss Mob VViolence
Texas Solution of the Race
Problem”.
Statement from Representative Coleman on the
Passage of Legislation that Would Create More
Tier One Universities in Texas
(Austin)— State Rep. Garnet F. Coleman (D-Houston) applauds the Texas House of Representatives for passing legislation
- House Bill 51- that would create more tier one universities in
Texas.
Rep. Coleman was a joint author to House Bill 51 by Rep.
Dan Branch, which would let seven public universities compete for
a new pool of state funds if they can attract major research grants,
major endowment gifts, and top research faculty and staff.
“Texas currently has only two public universities classified as tier
one institutions, even though we have the second highest population in the
nation,” said Representative Coleman. “We are lagging far behind
other states with similar populations.”
“Texas students deserve more nationally recognized research institutions,” said Representative Coleman. “The development of more top
tier universities would open up seats of excellence available for Texas students, and would make our state more nationally and globally competitive.”
May 1, 2009/The Villager/Page 7
Airport Opens Groundbreaking
Newsstand for Atlanta Daily World
By. Cynthia Post
Special to the NNPA
from the
AtlantaDailyWorld
ATLANTA (NNPA) The first Atlanta Daily World
newsstand has officially
opened at Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport.
The newsstand is located on Concourse C, one of
the Atlanta airport’s busiest
concourses.
With much fanfare and more than a few interruptions for security alerts
and other announcements the grand opening and ribbon cutting featured book
signings by authors Marvin
S. Arrington Sr. and Linda
Kenney Miller.
The opening of the airport newsstand marks another first in the Atlanta Daily
World’s rich history, said M.
Alexis Scott, publisher and
CEO of the Atlanta Daily
World.
It is the first Blackowned publication to have its
name on a commercial newsstand in an airport.
“This is a very exciting
opportunity for us,” said
Scott. “I know that my grandfather would be very proud,
and I know that his brothers
and sisters would be very
proud - in particular, his
EMPLOYMENT/BIDS/
PROPOSALS/PUBLIC
INFORMATION/
FOR SALE/FOR RENT/MISC
City of AustinPurchasing
OfficeAdvertisements04/27/2009
On October 2, 1995, a revision to the City’s MBE/WBE DBEs
Ordinance became effective. The Ordinance establishes new goals for MBE/
WBE or DBE Participation Bid/Proposal. Bidders are required to document efforts to solicit MBE/WBE or DBEs in the Compliance Plan. The
Goals for each project and the instructions and forms for the Compliance
Plan are included in the MBE/WBE or DBE Program Packet included in
the solicitation. For construction contracts, the MBE/WBE or DBE Program Packet is a separately bound volume of the Project Manual. ALL
BIDS AND COMPLIANCE PLANS NOT RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE
DATE AND TIME SET FORTH WILL BE RETURNED TO THE BIDDER UNOPENED. SPECIAL NOTICE: Solicitations issued on behalf of
the Electric Utility Dept. (Austin Energy) are no longer advertised in the
Austin American Statesman. Notices will be posted on the City of Austin
Purchasing website at: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/purchase
A. CONSTRUCTION ADVERTISEMENTS - ALL CONSTRUCTION SEALED BIDS addressed to the City of Austin will be
received PRIOR TO date and time indicated for the following project(s),
in the Reception Area, 10th FL., Ste. 1045, Office of Contract and Land
Management, OCLM, One Texas Center (OTC), 505 Barton Springs Rd.,
Austin, TX, then publicly opened and read aloud in the 10th FL. Conference Room, Ste. 1045, unless otherwise indicated in the advertisement. All
Bids received after the time set forth will be returned to the bidder unopened. The OWNER’s Official opening the Bids shall establish the time
for opening of the Bids. All Bid Deposits are refundable upon return of
documents within the specified time frame and in good condition, unless
otherwise indicated. UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, Project Manuals, Plans and Addenda may be obtained at the Office of Engineering
Design & Surveying, PWD, Ste. 760, OTC. First time bidders are encouraged to attend the pre-bid conference to assure their understanding of
Owner’s bidding and contracting requirements, particularly M/WBE Procurements Program requirements. Cashiers or Certified Check Payable to
the City of Austin or acceptable Bid Bond must accompany each bid.
Bidders will be required to provide Payment/Performance bonds as specified in the bidding documents. The City reserves the right to reject any and
all Bids and to waive any informality in the bids received.
Bidders must attend any Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference and are
encouraged to attend any non-mandatory Pre-Bid Conference to ensure
their understanding of Owner’s bidding and contracting requirements, particularly MBE/WBE Procurement Program requirements. If the Pre-Bid
Conference is mandatory the Bidder must arrive and sign-in within fifteen
(15) minutes of the scheduled start time of the meeting, otherwise the
Bidder will not be allowed to submit a Bid for the project.
1. PICKFAIR LIFT STATION DECOMMISSIONING (CIP 4480
2307 8280). IFB 6100 CLMC044. Pickup bid docs at OTC, STE 760,
Attn: Gabriel Stan 974-7151, after 4/27/09. A refundable deposit of $50 is
required. For info Joel Brundrett, 974-4080. A Vendor Conf will be held at
OTC, 10th fl ci conf room at 10:00A on 5/5/09. Offers due prior to
10:00A on 5/21/09. Compliance plans due prior to 2:00P on 5/21/09.
Offers will be opened on 5/21/09 at 2:00P.
2. REMAIN OVER NIGHT (RON) APRON PH. 1(CIP 4910
8107 3127). IFB 6100 CLMC039. Pickup bid docs at OTC, STE 760,
Attn: Gabriel Stan 974-7151, after 4/27/09. A refundable deposit of $100
is required. For info Tony Krauss, 974-7138. A MANDATORY Vendor
Conf will be held at ABIA, P&E building, 2716 Spirit of Texas, Austin, TX
78719 at 10:00A on 5/13/09. Offers due prior to 10:00A on 6/11/09.
Compliance plans due prior to 2:00P on 6/11/09. Offers will be opened
on 6/11/09 at 2:00P. SPECIAL NOTICE: A site visit will be available
immediately following the Pre-bid Meeting.
3. WEST CAMPUS WATER LINE IMPROVEMENTS(CIP 4480
2307 8726). IFB 6100 CLMC045. Pickup bid docs at OTC, STE 760, file
room after 4/27/2009. A refundable deposit of $50 is required. For info
Rohini Kumarage, 974-7127. A MANDATORY Vendor Conf will be held
at OTC 8th floor conf room at 3:00P on 5/6/09. Offers due prior to
10:00A on 6/4/09. Compliance plans due prior to 2:00P on 6/4/09. Offers
will be opened on 6/4/09 at 2:00P.
B. SERVICES AND SYSTEMS CONTRACTING. / C. COMMODITIES - Solicitations will be issued, and sealed bids or proposals
may be received at the Purchasing Office, Municipal Building, 124 W. 8th
St., 3rd floor, Room 308/310, telephone number (512) 974-2500, Austin,
TX until the dates and times specified on following item(s):
B. SOLICITATION SERVICES AND SYSTEMS
1. STA0204 MULTI-FAMILY HIGH-EFFICIENCY TOILET
(HET) REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. A Vendor Conf will be held at
Municipal Building, 124 W. 8th St. Rm. 310 at 10:00A on 5/13/09. Offers
due prior to 10:00A on 5/19/09.
2. STA0199 RE-BID REMOVAL, PURCHASE, AND REPLACEMENT OPERATOR/ACTUATORS EFFLUENT AND INFLUENT FILTERS. Offers due prior to 10:00A on 5/12/09.
3. SAP0115 REPAIR SERVICES FOR CASE HEAVY EQUIPMENT. Offers due prior to 12:00P on 5/13/09.
4. AMC0003
LANDSCAPING, MOWING, AND
GROUNDS MAINTENANCE FOR ROAD MEDIANS AND TRIANGLES (IFB BEST VALUE). A MANDATORY Vendor Conf will be
held at 9608 Decker Lake Road at 2:00P on 5/5/09. Offers due prior to
2:00P on 5/14/09.
C. SOLICITATION COMMODITIES
1. STA0205 24-MONTH CONTRACT FOR LIQUID FERRIC
SULFATE. Offers due prior to 11:30A on 5/12/09.
2. BKH0050 GREAT STREETS STREETLIGHTS AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL POLES (IFB BEST VALUE). Offers due prior to 11:00A
on 5/12/09.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN HEREBY NOTIFIES ALL OFFERORS
THAT IN REGARD TO ANY CONTRACT ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO THIS ADVERTISEMENT; MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES WILL BE AFFORDED EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO
SUBMIT OFFERS IN RESPONSE TO THIS INVITATION AND WILL
NOT BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ON THE GROUNDS OF
RACE, COLOR, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR DISABILITY IN
CONSIDERATION FOR AN AWARD.
brother, C.A. Scott, who
served as the publisher of the
newspaper for an unprecedented 63 years.”
Scott’s grandfather,
William A. Scott II, at age 25,
founded the Atlanta World
on Aug. 5, 1928. On March
12, 1932, the Atlanta World
became a daily newspaper,
and by lasting for decades in
that capacity, it became the
nation’s first successful
Black-owned daily newspaper in the United States in
the 20th century.
W.A. Scott II was felled
by an assassin’s bullet on
Feb. 4, 1934. He died three
days later at age 31. One of
CIT
ATION OF
CITA
PUBLICA
TION
PUBLICATION
THESTATEOFTEXAS
TO ALL PERSONS
INTERESTED IN THE ESTATE
OF ROBERT H. STRICKLAND
Deceased, No. C-1-PB-09000329 in Probate Court Number One
of Travis
County, Texas.
ERNESTINE J. STRICKLAND
The alleged heir(s) at law in
the above numbered and entitled
estate, filed on April 09, 2009, an
Application to Determine Heirship
in the said estate and request (s)
that said Court determine who are
the heirs and only heirs of the said
ROBERT H. STRICKLAND,
Deceased, and their respective
shares and interests in such estate.
Said application will be heard
and acted on by said Court at 10:00
o’clock a.m. on the first Monday
next after the expiration of ten days
from date of publication of this citation, at the County Courthouse
in Travis County, Texas.
All persons interested in said
estate are hereby cited to appear
before said Honorable Court at said
above mentioned time and place by
filing a written answer contesting
such application should they desire
to do so.
If this citation is not served
within 90 days after date of its issuance, it shall be returned unserved.
GIVEN UNDER MY
HAND AND THE SEAL OF SAID
COURT at office in Travis County,
Texas, on April 13, 2009.
Dana DeBeauvoir , County
Clerk, Travis County, Texas
Airport and concessions officials join Atlanta Daily World staffers for the ribbon cutting for the official
grand opening of the Atlanta Daily World newsstand on Concourse C at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Airport. They are (from left) Demetria Wideman, Department of Aviation; David Husack, Airport Retail Management; Marlene Coleman, a DOA concessions business development manager; John Cugasi, DOA; Cecelia Corbin
Hunter, ARM; Debi Crews, ARM; Bob Crews, ARM President; ADW Publisher M. Alexis Scott; Bill Swift,
ARM; Myrna White, DOA; Portia Scott, former ADW senior editor; ADW Managing Editor Maria OdumHinmon; and Marshall Taggart, DOA. Willie E. Tucker/WET Media Inc. photo.
his younger brothers,
Cornelius Adolphus “C.A.”
Scott, took the helm.
This is the first of three
Atlanta Daily World newsstands at the airport, and it is
part of a partnership with Airport Retail Management,
which operates 18 concessions at the Atlanta airport.
The company also operates
75 concessions in 25 U.S. airports.
Collectively, the local
and national partners with
ARM bring more than 90
years of airport concessions
owner/operator expertise.
The Atlanta Daily
World newsstand is experiencing brisk business since its
March 4 opening, said
Cecelia Corbin Hunter, managing partner of Airport Re-
tail Management.
“ARM is very pleased
and very excited to be opening this newsstand, on this
concourse, in this airport,”
said Corbin Hunter. “During
the last three weeks of operation, the Atlanta Daily World
newsstand has proven to be
our highest volume newsstand.”
The Atlanta Daily
World airport newsstand is
a signature, full-service newsstand providing reading materials, Atlanta-branded gifts
and souvenirs, health and
beauty aids, candy, snacks
and bottled beverages.
The Atlanta Daily
World is working in its temporary office space at the Airport Office Park as a result of
its business partnership with
ARM.
“We are thrilled and
honored to be part of this
project with ARM,” said
Scott. “We would like to express our deep appreciation
to ARM. They came to our rescue about a year ago this time
when the tornado struck
Atlanta and took the roof off
our building. They welcomed us with open arms
into some office space out
near the airport. They really
have been a wonderful partnership for us. We are eternally grateful.”
The newspaper is still
struggling to overcome the
overwhelming damages
from the storm that took the
roofing off the building located at 145 Auburn Avenue on March 14, 2008.
Request for Proposal
Round Rock ISD is currently accepting sealed bids and proposals.
Solicitation documents may be obtained from the RRISD web site at
WWW.roundrockisd.org under
“Vendor Information” or by Calling 512-464-6950.
Employment
Austin
Community
College
New Jobs for the
Week of 04/27/09
Testing Assistant
Cypress Creek Campus
40 hours per week, as assigned.
$2,239/Monthly
Job #0904013
Child Care Assistant
Eastview Campus
Monday – Friday, 8:45 a.m.
-5:45 p.m.
$2,239/Monthly
Job #0904014
Program Specialist
South Austin Campus
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m.
– 5:00 p.m.
$2,878- $3,598/Monthly
Job #0904015
Registrar
Highland Business Center
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. –
5:00 p.m., with occasional evenings
and weekends.
$4,050-$5,063/Monthly
Job #0904017
Apply at HR
5930 Middle Fiskville Rd.
6th Floor, Austin, TX 78752
Job Line (512) 223-5621
hhtp://www/austincc.ed
EEO/AA/M/F/D/V
Texas Lottery
JANITORIAL WORKERS
NEEDED
ISS Facility Services, Inc. has openings for supervisory, floor men, and
general cleaners for part-time
evening employment. Apply at ISS
Facility Services, Inc. Austin, M-F,
between 4-6 pm, 8101 Cameron
Road # 304. ISS Facility Services,
Inc. is an Equal opportunity Employer (EOE) and promotes a Diverse Workforce.
F or mor
e cur
more
currr ent
informationand how
y ou can ad
v er tise
adv
tise..
Call 476-0082
For inf
orma
tion call
informa
ormation
Gary W
ar
dian a
War
ardian
att (512) 350-1272
Page 8/ THE VILLAGER/May 1, 2009
Villager Sportsville
Central Texas Wolf Pack falls to New York team
By George Hardin
SportsBeat
What happens when
two police departments battle
one another? When it involved the New York Police
Department’s “finest” and
the Austin-based Central
Texas Wolf Pack it turned into
an overwhelming defeat for
the Wolf Pack football team,
with NYPD winning 34-0. It
was a sunny day at Toney
Burger Stadium on Saturday,
April 25, and the spirits of the
homestanding team were just
as bright, but their ability on
the field fell short of their enthusiasm.
The teams compete
as part of the National Public
Safety Football League
(NPSFL). To take part in the
league a player must be a law
enforcement
officer,
firefighter, corrections officer,
emergency medical technician/paramedic, or be on active duty in the military in a
related public safety career
field.
The New Yorkers, after being treated to a Texassized welcome celebration,
were first to score early in the
game and never gave up any
points as they marauded up
and down the field, breaking
through defense lines and
grabbing passes.
NYPD racked up 21
points in the first quarter and
by the time the teams broke for
halftime had upped that
number to 27. Police Chief Art
Acevedo, cheering the Wolf
Pack on from the sidelines,
said in a brief interview at the
half he hoped the team would
come back stronger for the final half.
Wolf Pack quarterback
Clint Dixon, a member of the
Austin Police Department,
completed 6 of 17 passes for
74 yards was sacked twice
and intercepted once. James
Doyle, with the Austin Fire
Department, tossed 3 passes
with no completions. Doyle
carried the ball for 63 net
yards and was followed by
Shawndel Tucker of the
Travis County Sheriff’s Office
who ran for a total of 13 yards.
Wide receiver Jermaine
Gaspard of the Austin Police
Department returned the kickoff 3 times for 54 yards. Chris
Jenkins of the Cedar Park Fire
Department punted 5 times
for 212 yards.
“It was a hard-fought
game,” said Anthony Curran,
head coach of the NYPD team.
“We felt like Central Texas
was going to give us a run so
we tried to do our best. We
have one more game against
the New York City Fire Department and the winner of
that game will probably move
on to the NPSFL championship.” He said he has been a
police officer in New York for
10 years. “I just want to thank
Chief Acevedo,” Curran said,
“the entire coaching staff,
players, everyone from Central Texas. They are a class
organization. They showed
us a wonderful time.”
“We played a very powerful team,” said Ron Phillips
of the Austin Police Department, head coach and general
manager of the team. They’re
one of the class acts of the entire league. They obviously get
to practice a lot. They give us
a benchmark to see where we
need to be. It was fun; the camaraderie that’s built here,
the relationship between the
two teams is great. We’ll go
—
E
H
O
N
R
HONOREE—Members of the Central Texas Wolf Pack, as well as players from the NYPD team, surround Ruth Bullock of the
Austin Police Department, as she is honored at the game at Toney Burger Stadium. Photo by George E. Hardin
out tonight, hang out and
have a good time.” Phillips
founded the Central Texas
Wolf Pack in 2005 and he led
the team to join the NPSFL in
2006.
During halftime, Precious and the Boys provided
a dance routine. Precious is a
member of the Capital City
Dancers, the group that performs at home games of the
Austin Toros.
As the game ended,
Ruth “Baby Ruth” Bullock of
the Austin Police Department,
the team president who is
known as the “Team Mom,”
was treated to a surprise
honor at the 50-yard line. A
26-year veteran of the force,
she expressed gratitude to her
co-workers.
Members of the Central
Texas Wolf Pack play for the
love of the game and raise
money during the season for
local charitable organizations.
High school star taking an
indirect aim at NBA
With pro scouts now
tracking younger and
younger players (sometimes
they begin watching kids in
middle school), the efforts to
jump into the pro ranks are
becoming more intense. The
basketball world is now
abuzz over the fact that perhaps the top high school
player in the United States is
going to skip his junior year
to play in Europe and come
back an present himself for
the National Basketball Association draft when he is eligible.
Jeremy Tyler, at age
17, has quit San Diego High
School with plans to play professional basketball overseas.
At 6 feet 11, he I has been
called the most outstanding
high school play to come
around since Greg Oden.
Tyler had been highly recruited and he had verbally
made a commitment to play
for Rick Pinto at Louisville.
Tyler had been projected as a
top choice, perhaps the No. 1
NBA draft pick for 2011 before he changed his mind.
Early indications are that
Tyler will play in Spain, although other European teams
have tried to sign him up. He
will be home schooled while
he plays.
Observers have said
Tyler’s move is biggest similar action since Kevin Garrett
went from high school to the
By George Hardin
SportsBeat
Jeremy Tyler
NBA in 1995 as the No. 5 draft
pick. Afterward, other stars
made the leap from high
school to the pro ranks, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron
James and Dwight Howard.
Showing concern, the NBA
passed a minimum age rule
after the 2006 draft, which
generally required an athlete
to play at least one year in
college. Ex-Longhorn Kevin
Bryant is one of the recent
notable who left college after
a year under that system.
Tyler averaged 27.8
points per game as a junior
but he said high school competition was “boring,” and,
he added, “It just wasn’t for
me.” Tyler’s father, James, told
a reporter, “It’s just a job. He
gets a chance to work the job
of his dreams and have fun
doing it. There’s kids leaving
to go to Iraq at age 18. They
took a job to serve their country. He’s going to play ball.”
Tyler said he had “ups and
downs” in high school but
said he would have been
qualified academically to
play at the college level.
Some of the loudest
protests are coming from college coaches and school administrators and NCAA officials who say a 17-year-old is
too young to be in the pro
ranks, especially abroad,
where most of the other players are age 20 or older.
Tyler has been
mentored by Sonny Vaccaro,
a former executive with a
sneaker company, who is
best known for signing
Michael Jordan in a Nike contract in the 1980s. He has advised a number of top-flight
players, including Brandon
Jennings, a point guard who
graduated from high school
in Los Angeles, skipped college and went on to play one
season of pro ball in Italy.
Jennings is projected as being
high on the list of NBA prospects when the draft takes
place in June. Vaccaro believes Tyler could potentially
make a six-figure salary but
adds the economic downturn,
which also is affecting Europe, could cause an earnings
decrease.
ON THE GO—James Doyle of the Central Texas Wolf Pack makes a run in an effort to escape
members of the NYPD team at Toney Burger Stadium. Photo by George E. Hardin
Welcome to the NFL, Longhorns!
Brian Orakpo - DE - Round 1 (Pick 13) - Washington Redskins
Roy Miller - DT - Round 3 (Pick 17) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Henry Melton - DE - Round 4 (Pick 5) - Chicago Bears
Chris Ogbonnaya - RB - Round 7 (Pick 2) - St. Louis Rams
o