Thoughts on Viernes…09302011

Met Two Civil Rights Icons Last Night…

I had the privilege of attending a great presentation last night at Lone Star College-Kingwood which featured two icons from the civil rights era, Houston’s Herbert Hamilton, Professor Emeritus at TSU, and Hezekiah Watkins, one of the youngest organizers at age 13 back in the day.

While Hamilton organized protests at lunch counters and businesses locally, Watkins was called to organize at an early age. Both provided amazing stories at what drove them to the movement. For Watkins, it was being arrested at age 13 and being put into detention at the notorious death row of Parchment State Prison-Mississippi. Their ultimate message:  We’ve come a long way, but we have a ways to go.

Congrats to Professor Raul Reyes of LSC-Kingwood and the leadership at LSC-Kingwood for putting on a great show, which was the inaugural event at LSC-K’s brand new Student and Conference Center.

The Jerry Eversole Era Comes to a Close…

There will be debates on whether he got off easy or not. Basically, he’s done. If we should be wishing for anything, it is stronger ethics policies for elected officials and candidates. But that’s probably asking too much.

Meanwhile, Judge Ed Emmett will announce the replacement on Monday.

The College Completion Agenda

For the longest time, I’ve argued that college recruitment efforts of Latinos will be fruitful only if we have the infrastructure to meet the needs of under-prepared college graduates which will be coming out of Texas’ under- and de-funded schools. Well, the College Board has released the results of a study that bolster my argument:

• Latino youth now represent the largest minority group in U.S. K–12 schools and are the fastest-growing segment of students.
• While there have been increases in college enrollments, Latino college completion stands at just 19.2 percent — far below the national average of 41.1 percent.
• Latino students represent the largest group of students dropping out of high school. In 2008, approximately one in five Latinos left high school before graduation.
• As of 2008, 45.1 percent of undergraduate Latino students required some remediation.

Congrats to Lolita and Yolanda…

After the first of several UCTCRadio.com Candidate Forums to be held, The host of This Week With Sylvia Garcia invited me to lunch and to visit one of the East End’s newest businesses– Sombrero’s Coffee Shop and More at 2910 Navigation. Let me tell you, Yolanda and Lolita offer up some really good sandwiches, excellent potato and chicken salads, coffees, among other delicacies and drinks. My favorite had to be the sombrero-shaped cookies. Along with the good food was some political platica and East End political celebrities walking in and out.

Sombrero’s is available for private parties and events, too. Check out this great business.

Mayor Needs Applicants for Boards

From the Twitter:  @anniseparker: I need applicants to volunteer for service on Houston boards and commissions. Contact jenn.char@houstontx.gov

Have a great weekend, folks!