INSIDER
Help this Local Group Deliver Meals to Houston Kids
Read full article: Help this Local Group Deliver Meals to Houston KidsKPRC 2 and Houston Life are partnering with Energy Transfer this month to highlight the local organization Kids Meals and their mission to make sure young kids in our communities have something to eat. It is basic but so important. Kids Meals delivers free healthy meals to children five and under, and they want your help to make Houston the first city to end childhood hunger.
The Free Education Opportunity this is Changing Lives Through the Power of Work
Read full article: The Free Education Opportunity this is Changing Lives Through the Power of WorkGoodwill maybe a great place to shop but did you know they also offer a number of free courses that help break down the barriers to employment. Houston Life's Melanie Camp has more on Goodwill Houston's EmployAbility program.
Gender, wage gap disparity in Harris County wider than national average; Latinas are at the bottom of pay scale
Read full article: Gender, wage gap disparity in Harris County wider than national average; Latinas are at the bottom of pay scaleThe gender wage gap in Harris County continues to grow, according to a University of Houston study.
Montgomery County YouTube production aims to break the strongholds of anxiety, depression, and suicide
Read full article: Montgomery County YouTube production aims to break the strongholds of anxiety, depression, and suicideLights, camera, and action with a goal to reverse a sad and disturbing trend.
Stronger Houston: Woman who lost more than 100 pounds inspiring others to get ahead of High Blood Pressure
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Woman who lost more than 100 pounds inspiring others to get ahead of High Blood PressureWhile high blood pressure is treatable, Dr. Malone says it’s one of the most common diseases he sees, especially in the emergency department.
Stronger Houston: Prison entrepreneurship program expands with new space in Houston
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Prison entrepreneurship program expands with new space in HoustonThe Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP) was created in 2004 to prepare soon-to-be-released inmates for life on the outside.
Stronger Houston: Houston logging some of nation’s highest HIV diagnoses; health officials hoping for vaccine in near future
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Houston logging some of nation’s highest HIV diagnoses; health officials hoping for vaccine in near futureThe southern part of the U.S. accounts for 51% of new HIV cases each year. This is according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some regions throughout the south also lag in providing HIV prevention services and care.
Stronger Houston: Small neighborhood grocery store opening in Second Ward helps residents get access to fresh, affordable food
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Small neighborhood grocery store opening in Second Ward helps residents get access to fresh, affordable foodEast of downtown Houston is a neighborhood seeing big changes. This is the Little Red Box Grocery Store.
Local Texas Teacher Named Teachers of Tomorrow Teacher of the Year
Read full article: Local Texas Teacher Named Teachers of Tomorrow Teacher of the YearShanekia Hall, is a Kindergarten Teacher at Ponderosa Elementary School in Spring, for as long as she remembers she has wanted to teach. She lost her parents early. At two her father died. Three years later, Shanekia’s mother passed after suffering an aneurism. Shanekia credits her teachers for inspiring her to success as a young woman and becoming a teacher herself is a way she says she can pay it forward.
Second-chance program launched by Harris County judges helps eligible misdemeanor offenders seal records
Read full article: Second-chance program launched by Harris County judges helps eligible misdemeanor offenders seal recordsA program developed by Harris County misdemeanor court judges is giving a second chance to eligible individuals to have their records sealed.
Cutting through inequities: Houston business owner inspiring next generation of diverse leaders
Read full article: Cutting through inequities: Houston business owner inspiring next generation of diverse leadersOutside of Madison High School in south Houston, if you hear buzzing mowers and weed whackers, Bryan Smart is likely the one behind the buzz.
Houston area minority developer working to bring affordable housing to Houston through new Wells Fargo program
Read full article: Houston area minority developer working to bring affordable housing to Houston through new Wells Fargo programAt a glance, the new up-and-coming housing development on Caroline st in Midtown looks like many other construction projects throughout the city, but there’s a unique story behind it.
TSU to provide free breast cancer screenings to more than 1,300 minority women
Read full article: TSU to provide free breast cancer screenings to more than 1,300 minority womenThe $1 million grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, allows TSU to provide free breast cancer screenings and other services to more than 1,300 Black and other ethnic minority women over a three-year period.
Houston non-profits awarded millions for work with homeless veterans
Read full article: Houston non-profits awarded millions for work with homeless veteransThe U.S. Department of Labor is dedicating $57 million in grants to organizations that help veterans experiencing homelessness find meaningful work and assist them in overcoming barriers in transitioning back to the workforce.
Stronger Houston: Tony’s Place helps LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness or unstable housing in Houston area
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Tony’s Place helps LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness or unstable housing in Houston areaThe organization provides everything from food, laundry, showers, access to medical care, education and employment opportunities to LGBTQ youth who may be experiencing homelessness or unstable housing.
STRONGER HOUSTON: 2 Houston non-profits merging to help people with disabilities
Read full article: STRONGER HOUSTON: 2 Houston non-profits merging to help people with disabilitiesThe Center for Pursuit is expanding its mission and its campus. The non-profit’s new space on the East End of Houston is providing new opportunities for people living with physical and developmental disabilities.
Stronger Houston: Non-profit working to reduce food insecurity
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Non-profit working to reduce food insecuritySince the beginning of the pandemic, there’s been a rise in the number of families – who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. A Montgomery County organization is working to help ease the need.
Stronger Houston: Inside UT Health’s High Risk Children’s Clinic
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Inside UT Health’s High Risk Children’s ClinicAccording to the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, less than 1% of children in the US are considered medically complex, but these children account for 40% of pediatric deaths and 54% of all pediatric hospital charges.
Early Childhood Behavioral Development could impact long-term health; free program to help mothers with children ages 0-3
Read full article: Early Childhood Behavioral Development could impact long-term health; free program to help mothers with children ages 0-3The Episcopal Health Foundation funds early childhood brain development for kids ages 0-3.
Stronger Houston: Program to help Houston’s homeless community sees major success during pandemic
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Program to help Houston’s homeless community sees major success during pandemicThe city of Houston, Harris County and a non-profit have been working amid the pandemic to reduce the number of people who are homeless and in emergency shelters.
St. Joseph Medical Center in Houston opens new Latino Health Center for Spanish speaking patients
Read full article: St. Joseph Medical Center in Houston opens new Latino Health Center for Spanish speaking patientsSt. Joseph Medical Center in downtown Houston aims to accommodate the Latino patient population and cut down on a national problem with non-English speaking patients facing higher rates of hospital readmissions.
Stronger Houston: Educators provides second chance for students in underserved communities
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Educators provides second chance for students in underserved communitiesStudents working for a second chance at getting a high school education are faced with a lot of challenges. Local educators are stepping up to help, addressing more than just their needs in the classroom.
Stronger Houston: Harris County partners with Black-owned bank for first relationship of its kind
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Harris County partners with Black-owned bank for first relationship of its kindThey are rejoicing in Harris County with historic news to tell. An institution that has been a major support to churches like Wheeler Avenue Baptist, restaurants, barber shops, and other businesses over seven decades is celebrating another milestone -- a first of its kind partnership.
Stronger Houston: Dyslexia School of Houston aims to help students with different learning needs
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Dyslexia School of Houston aims to help students with different learning needsA specialized Houston school opened its doors during the pandemic to help fill a literacy gap in the public school system.
Stronger Houston: Local church partners with United Way, Doordash to help feed those in need
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Local church partners with United Way, Doordash to help feed those in needEvery Monday at Brentwood Baptist Church on Landmark Street, a dozen or more volunteers flock to the parking lot.
Stronger Houston: Local attorney helps girls build self-confidence through mentorship program called ‘Girl Talk University’
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Local attorney helps girls build self-confidence through mentorship program called ‘Girl Talk University’A Houston area attorney just received a $10,000 grant from AT&T to continue helping young girls across the Houston area.
New Post Houston project celebrates everything that makes the city great
Read full article: New Post Houston project celebrates everything that makes the city greatPost Houston is set to host a Texas-sized grand opening. The downtown Houston development celebrates everything that makes the city great and puts a premium on all things local.
New UH College of Medicine clinic aims to help uninsured, close health disparity gap
Read full article: New UH College of Medicine clinic aims to help uninsured, close health disparity gapTexas has the highest number of uninsured people in the U.S. The uninsured rate in southwest Houston alone is 45%, that’s five times higher than the rest of the country, which stands at 9%.
Stronger Houston: Urban school program looks to bring equity to education, uplift minority students
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Urban school program looks to bring equity to education, uplift minority studentsThe Social Justice Learning Institute’s Urban Scholars program started over a decade ago in Los Angeles, but it is just now starting to make its mark in the Houston- area with the goal of empowering students of color through education to change their communities.
Stronger Houston: How one Houston woman is helping fight the stigma of HIV/AIDS
Read full article: Stronger Houston: How one Houston woman is helping fight the stigma of HIV/AIDSRight now, there are more than 1.1 million people in the United States living with HIV. Research shows the deep south has the highest rates of HIV diagnosis.
Alief asst. principal empowers, inspires boys and young men of color to aim high
Read full article: Alief asst. principal empowers, inspires boys and young men of color to aim highThe assistant principal at Hicks Elementary in Alief Independent School District is on a crusade to inspire and empower students, helping them to aim high not only through words but action, by creating a culture for success in and out of school.
Interfaith Ministries working to provide meals to seniors in need amid COVID surge
Read full article: Interfaith Ministries working to provide meals to seniors in need amid COVID surgeFood insecurity continues to be a growing and important issue across Houston. The pandemic has shined a light on some of the most vulnerable areas in the community.
Infrastructure bill could address past harms to Black, low-income neighborhoods caused by the interstate system
Read full article: Infrastructure bill could address past harms to Black, low-income neighborhoods caused by the interstate systemIt can be easy to forget as we travel the busy highways of Houston that homes once stood where many roads are now. But in the communities that were impacted by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, the memories and impact of displacement remain.
Third Ward residents express concern about gentrification, believe it could result in loss of culture and history
Read full article: Third Ward residents express concern about gentrification, believe it could result in loss of culture and historyResidents who live in the Historic Third Ward neighborhood said it’s changing.
Should reparations, or payments to descendants of enslaved Americans, begin in the Houston area?
Read full article: Should reparations, or payments to descendants of enslaved Americans, begin in the Houston area?Reparations or compensation to descendants of enslaved Americans has begun for families in a Chicago suburb, becoming the first American city to do so.
Hispanics, Latinos face challenges with mental illness
Read full article: Hispanics, Latinos face challenges with mental illnessPeople with mental illness in the Hispanic and Latino communities face challenges getting help, including a language barrier, a lack of health insurance, fear over immigration status or a cultural belief that mental illness is a weakness.
Stronger Houston: Bridging the unemployment gap for people of color
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Bridging the unemployment gap for people of colorBlack and Latina women are facing the highest unemployment rate among all women with 8.9 % and 8.5% respectively. The pandemic, Lane said, has only magnified those long-standing inequities. “So that means we’ve got to have better education, better opportunities for people of color,” said Judson Robinson, President & CEO of The Houston Area Urban League. The Turnaround Houston Initiative is set to take place online from Thursday, April 29th through Sunday, May 2nd. If you’re interested in looking for work and want information about jobs, call The Houston Area Urban League at 281-220-6012.
Stronger Houston: The COVID-19 crisis and it’s impact on Houston’s transgender community
Read full article: Stronger Houston: The COVID-19 crisis and it’s impact on Houston’s transgender community“The trans community is one of the most overlooked communities in times of disaster,” said Austin Ruiz, communications and marketing manger at The Montrose Center. AdWhen COVID-19 hit, The Montrose Center, which serves Houston’s LGBT community, saw a sharp increase in requests for help among Houston’s trans community. “We found there were a lot of community members, specifically trans community members, that do not feel safe to go to other social service agencies because they were afraid they’d be turned away or discriminated against because of their status as a trans community member,” Ruiz said. Through a foundation grant, Save Our Sisters United has been able to provide money for food, shelter, basic necessities and medication like HRT’s. She added that ongoing therapy sessions with her counselor at the Montrose Center continues to make all the difference in the world.
Volunteers needed: How to be an advocate for foster care children in our community
Read full article: Volunteers needed: How to be an advocate for foster care children in our communityRicketts and her non-profit organization train volunteers to advocate for children in foster care. “The number of children who have entered foster care in the last 12 months is 100% over this same year as last year,” said Ricketts. You don’t need any credentials.”CASA of Galveston County volunteers like Cassandra Sutton meet regularly with the children and advocate for their care. “Just to be that constant voice and constant face for children in foster care,” said Sutton. You don’t have to live in Galveston County to sign up to be a volunteer advocate.
Stronger Houston: Fifth Ward ‘transformation’ takes a village
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Fifth Ward ‘transformation’ takes a villageHOUSTON – If it takes a village to raise a child, the Center for Urban Transformation in Houston’s historic Fifth Ward is part of the new “village” headquarters. We are teammates, and we enjoy the work we’re doing,” said Henry Clemons, pastor at the nearly century-old Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in the Fifth Ward and one of the “village” leaders. Pleasant Hill Ministries, the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation, Houston Habitat for Humanity, Legacy Community Health and the Berg and Androphy law firm founded and sit on the Board of Directors for CUT. ”It’s not enough to deal with them in the courtroom and get them out of a particular legal system,” Clemons said. Those partners include: Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation, Houston Food Bank, Houston Furniture Bank and Salvation Army; Houston Public Library, Camp Cardiac, Workforce Solutions, Harris County Dispute Resolution Center; The Harris County DA’s Office, Legacy Community Health, Big Brothers Big Sisters, several churches and many others.
Stronger Houston: Efforts underway to end human trafficking
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Efforts underway to end human traffickingHOUSTON – January is human trafficking prevention month. There were 1,080 reported cases of human trafficking connected to Texas in 2019, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. What is human trafficking? As a child, she said she was a victim of sex trafficking by her own father and her mother knew about it. AdMore information:National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or humantraffickinghotline.org/Elijah Rising: www.elijahrising.org/United Against Human Trafficking: uaht.org/
‘We look out for each other’: Houston organization awarded $300K to help homeless veterans
Read full article: ‘We look out for each other’: Houston organization awarded $300K to help homeless veteransHomeless veterans. “I have to rate Houston, the city streets of Houston, to be some of the most dangerous streets,” Jones said. He found comfort, at least emotionally living alongside Houston’s other homeless veterans. Last year the TVC gave out $31 million in veteran-based grants in three service categories: veteran homeless prevention, financial assistance, supportive services. So he’s urging homeless veterans to reach out to HAUL for a hand up, not a handout.
Christian nonprofit filling the void of missing fathers in small town of Brookshire
Read full article: Christian nonprofit filling the void of missing fathers in small town of BrookshireBROOKSHIRE, Texas – The streets of Brookshire, a town of just about 5500 people in Waller County, are often slow and sometimes empty. The same can be said for many of their households that are empty of a critical segment of the population: fathers. Ninety percent of the children in Brookshire are being raised without fathers in the home. A Houston-based Christian nonprofit is planting roots in this community, in an attempt to cultivate stability and promising futures. A performance, part of Star Players, is a mentoring program for teenage boys through the hip hop ministry Eyes On Me.
Stronger Houston: Resources available for local Hispanic-owned businesses hit hard by pandemic
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Resources available for local Hispanic-owned businesses hit hard by pandemicAnother avenue Smith got help from was through a $2,000 grant from the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce after going through its Business Institute Program. Dr. Laura Murillo, the President & CEO of the Houston Hispanic Chamber, said a donor provided the organization with resources to provide grants. Murillo said many other businesses also took part in the Paycheck Protection Program when it was available through the SBA. For more information about the resources available to business owners, be sure to visit Houston Hispanic Chamber’s website and the SBA website. For a closer look at the survey done by the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs, visit UH website.
How Houston doctors are working to combat maternity-care deserts
Read full article: How Houston doctors are working to combat maternity-care desertsThe March of Dimes Maternity Care Deserts report looks at areas where mothers don’t have much access to obstetrics care. However, outside of those five counties, there’s less access, especially in rural areas. The data looks at the number of hospitals that provide obstetrics services, the number of obstetrics providers and the number of women without health insurance. Filling the gapChildren’s Memorial Hermann Hospital is working with physicians in rural areas to help fill the health care gap. Telemedicine has also been a game-changer for patients who live in rural areas.
March of Dimes working to address maternity-care deserts
Read full article: March of Dimes working to address maternity-care desertsMarch of Dimes working to address maternity-care desertsPublished: November 17, 2020, 6:07 pmThe March of Dimes is working to provide maternity care to people who live in areas where its not readily available.
How to get help with mental illness in Houston
Read full article: How to get help with mental illness in HoustonAngelina Hudson said she knows firsthand the struggle and the journey to get help. Long before the pandemic disrupted daily life, she struggled to cope with caring for her son Quentin, who was born severely autistic. ASK 2 LIVE: Join tonight’s Ask 2 Live discussion about mental health amid the pandemicIt changed Hudson’s life. In January, before the pandemic took hold, NAMI logged just 186 responses by phone or email to people needing help. It operates a crisis hotline for people who are in danger of hurting themselves or others, and an information line for all things COVID-19.
Survey shows significant barriers to good health for southwest Houston residents
Read full article: Survey shows significant barriers to good health for southwest Houston residentsHOUSTON – Families need food, affordable housing, safe neighborhoods and access to health care in order to survive. But many families in southwest Houston are facing the harsh realities from the COVID-19 pandemic and our economy. In the past five years, CHAT has been helping the community and focusing on the social determinants of health. And that’s why I said we cannot leave anybody behind if we want the success in Houston,” Dr. Siddiqui added. Siddiqui said there could be big improvements to the area and people’s health if elected officials stepped up.
Group works to combat ‘food deserts’ in Houston with gardening classes
Read full article: Group works to combat ‘food deserts’ in Houston with gardening classesHOUSTON – More than 500,000 Houstonians are living in “food deserts”-- parts of town where fresh, nutritious food are not immediately accessible. Thursday afternoon, Mattie Sterling took a virtual gardening class on Zoom, hosted by the Julia C. Hester House. The Hester House provided participants with fertilizer, soil and vegetable plants. A spokesperson for the Hester House said they’re trying to help neighbors be self-sufficient in areas that don’t have grocery stores. “You can just walk outdoors, pick it, clean it up and put it on.”The Hester House plans to have more of these classes.
Stronger Houston: Lone Star College program accelerating Latino student success
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Lone Star College program accelerating Latino student successHe’s enrolled as a student at Lone Star College North Harris and his campus job doubles as an internship. It’s called Mi Casa Es Su Casa and three years in, the school says it’s working. Excelencia in Education, an organization focused on improving access to education for the Latino community, awarded Lone Star College North Harris as its 2020 Example of Excelencia. Most students enrolled at Lone Star College’s North Harris campus grew up and still live in north Harris County. Shyness is a quality Tapia said most described her before Lone Star College.
Stronger Houston: Working to recruit more minorities for vaccine trials
Read full article: Stronger Houston: Working to recruit more minorities for vaccine trialsHOUSTON – A couple of big-name frontrunners in the race for a coronavirus vaccine, Moderna and Pfizer, began part of their experimental trial here in Houston. Black and Hispanic communities are not signing up for vaccine trialsAccording to the Texas Center for Drug Development, less than 8% of the participants in the vaccine trial in Houston are Black. “That’s why this is such an important part of making that happen," said Dr. Veronica Garcia Fragoso, senior clinical research investigator. In the Tuskegee study, researchers were only studying black men and they were not transparent with their study. “We value the time and travel,"said Dr. Lisa Holloway, clinical research investigator with TCDD.
Creating a stronger Houston through the power of literacy
Read full article: Creating a stronger Houston through the power of literacyHOUSTON – Houston is facing a literacy crisis. According to research from the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, one in three Houston-area adults can’t read or write beyond a fourth-grade level. Illiteracy has become a multi-generational issue impacting all areas of the economy, but there is a strategic plan in place to change Houston’s literacy landscape. Nearly 30% of Houston-area third-graders fail to meet the minimum reading standards. The goal is to enrich the lives of more and more Houstonians through the power of literacy.
By the numbers: Examining disparities within Houston’s transit system
Read full article: By the numbers: Examining disparities within Houston’s transit system40% of bus riders don’t have a carAccording to LINK Houston’s 2018 “Equity in Transit” report, 40% of local bus riders don’t have a vehicle to help them get around the city. 19% of bus riders use only public transportationThe same report found that 19% of people who ride the bus in Houston are using it as their only mode of transportation. According to a research article titled “Racism has shaped public transit and it’s riddled with inequities” written by Christof Spieler that was published by the Kinder Institute in August, 60% of local bus riders are minority. These services cater to suburban riders -- who drive to a location to catch a bus. Local bus riders have to catch the bus near their home and usually walk to a single stop.
Hundreds of HISD students are homeless and COVID-19 is complicating matters. How the district is trying to help
Read full article: Hundreds of HISD students are homeless and COVID-19 is complicating matters. How the district is trying to helpThe Houston Independent School District, like many large districts, is always looking for ways to help their homeless students and does so their Student Assistance Program. This year, HISD estimates there are about 7,700 students currently enrolled in the Student Assistance Program, but COVID-19 is complicating matters. According to HISD, one of the biggest hurdles in helping homeless students is identifying them. A study on homeless students from 2012-13 to 2016-17 by the Houston Education Research Consortium at Rice University found jarring statistics. The HISD Student Assistance Program estimates the 2018-19 identified homeless student graduation rate at 88%.
Ask 2 Live: Facing eviction? Here’s the advice our legal experts gave in our exclusive Zoom conversation
Read full article: Ask 2 Live: Facing eviction? Here’s the advice our legal experts gave in our exclusive Zoom conversationHOUSTON – As the economic crisis due to COVID-19 continues, more and more Houstonians are struggling to pay their bills, put food on their tables, and keep a roof over their heads. And to make matters worse, a new CDC moratorium is more confusing than helpful. But KPRC Channel 2 is here to help. Watch: Raising ‘good digital citizens’ and more from our Zoom conversation on cyberbullyingOur panel of experts answered questions to help people facing evictions. You can watch the entire discussion below:Resources from the conversationTexas HousersLone Star Legal AidEviction Defense Collaboration Hotline — (713) 982-7340Lone Star Legal Aid direct number — (713) 652-0077Access the CDC declaration forms in English, Spanish and VietnameseCDC suspende temporalmente los desalojos a inquilinos elegibles
Stronger Houston: With the census deadline looming, city leaders push for residents to get themselves counted
Read full article: Stronger Houston: With the census deadline looming, city leaders push for residents to get themselves countedMichael Cook with the U.S. Census Bureau said the aim to make sure that anyone who hasn’t responded to the 2020 census does so soon. On March 31, 2021, the Census Bureau will send redistricting counts to the states based on population changes. What is Stronger Houston? In our series “Stronger Houston,” we examine issues impacting people inequitably by race, gender, income, age, geography, religion, and other factors. We strive to not only raise awareness but also focus on solutions, resources available, and the people and groups working to reduce the disparity and ultimately create a stronger Houston.
These Houston-area groups rehabilitate, help former inmates to prevent re-incarceration
Read full article: These Houston-area groups rehabilitate, help former inmates to prevent re-incarcerationHOUSTON – The discussion around criminal justice reform in Harris County is complex and often heated. According to the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, more than 70,000 people return to the community from Texas prisons each year. More than 1 million people cycle through Texas county jails according to the Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University. Sydrena Tufts, 51, said the Success Through Addiction Recovery drug court, known as STAR, saved her life. “I had never completed anything in my life so completing the drug court program was very important for me,” she said.
Texas officials walk back $15 million proposed cuts to women’s and children's health services
Read full article: Texas officials walk back $15 million proposed cuts to women’s and children's health servicesA women’s health clinic in Texas. Credit: Stephen Spillman for The Texas TribuneNeed to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Texas’ Republican leadership asked the health commission to come up with cuts worth about $133 million in state funds. But in the initial plan, officials also suggested direct cuts to women's health and other programs, worth about 11% of the total reductions. A proposed cut of $3.8 million from women’s health programs would have left fewer Texans receiving birth control or cancer screenings, a budget document obtained by The Texas Tribune said.
Group aims to provide free legal help to Harris County families facing eviction during pandemic
Read full article: Group aims to provide free legal help to Harris County families facing eviction during pandemicIf you want to get help from Lone Star Legal Aid, you can start here: LSLA COVID Eviction Interview. According to research from January Advisors, from July 1 through September 9, a total of 4,988 eviction cases were filed in eight Harris County precincts. About 34% of those were filed in Precinct 5, which covers West Harris County. Total evictions in Harris County between July 1 and Sept. 9. (Courtesy of January Advisors) (KPRC)Evictions in Harris County Precinct 5 between July 1 and Sept. 9.
500K+ Houstonians live in food deserts with little to no access to healthy food and the problem has worsened due to COVID-19
Read full article: 500K+ Houstonians live in food deserts with little to no access to healthy food and the problem has worsened due to COVID-19Food deserts are areas where stores with healthy food options dont even exist. Food deserts in the Houston-area according to a map from the United States Department of Agriculture. The two often go hand in hand because it is food insecurity that will generally drive a food desert, said Brian Greene, President of the Houston Food Bank. We immediately saw both hunger and poor nutrition issues go up very quickly, said Brian Greene, president of the Houston Food Bank. Their mission is to combat food deserts and food insecurity.
This loan company was founded to help Latino immigrants. It has sued thousands of low-income Latinos during the pandemic.
Read full article: This loan company was founded to help Latino immigrants. It has sued thousands of low-income Latinos during the pandemic.That number of filings makes Oportun the most litigious personal loan company in Texas and one of the most litigious debt collectors in the state overall this year. But consumer advocates say the large number of lawsuits Oportun is filing raises the question: Under what circumstances are those repayments occurring? Oportun loan contract. Despite the near 67% interest rate in her clients loan, Oportun maintains that its average APR is 36%. Like Solis, several Oportun borrowers said the lawsuits against them came as a surprise.
New non-profit focuses on reaching survivors of domestic violence in Houston’s minority communities
Read full article: New non-profit focuses on reaching survivors of domestic violence in Houston’s minority communitiesHOUSTON – A new non-profit organization opened its doors in May and is working to reach more survivors of domestic violence in Houston’s minority communities. “What we’ve always known is minorities are disproportionally impacted by domestic violence,” said Carvana Cloud. She herself grew up in Acres Homes and experienced domestic violence as a child. You can also contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by using the discreet online chat function on its website or by calling 1−800−799−7233. In our series “Stronger Houston,” we examine issues impacting people inequitably by race, gender, income, age, geography, religion, and other factors.
Baker Ripley, largest Houston nonprofit, faces big challenges
Read full article: Baker Ripley, largest Houston nonprofit, faces big challengesClaudia Aguirre came to the United States with her parents when she was 8 years old. Now as she leads Houston’s largest nonprofit agency she says it her story is very much a part of the agency’s 112 year old legacy. That’s Baker Ripley.” From rent relief to ease evictions to feeding senior citizens, Baker Ripley is on the front lines during this pandemic. Find out more in this week’s Houston Newsmakers EXTRA with Claudia Aguirre and see the rest of her interview on this week’s Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall. Watch Houston Newsmakers Sunday mornings at 10:30amMore Information:Claudia Aguirre, President, CEO Baker Ripley· Website: https://www.bakerripley.org/· Phone: 713-667-9400· Twitter: @BakerRipley· Email: caguirre@bakerripley.orgGaby Rowe, Project Lead, Operation Connectivity· Website: https://www.growassociatesllc.com· Website: https://bit.ly/2PQW6Ko· Phone: 281-900-9717· Email: gaby@growassociatesllc.com]STRONGER HOUSTON, The Digital Divide, Reporter Re’Chelle Turner· Website: https://www.click2houston.com/topic/stronger_houston/
Tens of thousands in need of tech for online learning so they dont have to choose between education and health
Read full article: Tens of thousands in need of tech for online learning so they dont have to choose between education and healthBut making the choice of virtual learning can be challenging for some families who dont have access to a computer and internet. She said if they hadnt recieved devices from the school, she doesnt think she could have gotten a laptop for everyone. Its a new era for parents amid the coronavirus pandemic but not all families have access to digital devices and the internet-something thats much needed. I wish I could find word that was more enatic that critical because it is the essential bridge to learning, said Gaby Rowe. A device is now an essential need, a digital connection, thats key to making families and our community stronger.
REPORT: Coronavirus pandemic has unmasked the face of racism, inequities in Houston and the U.S.
Read full article: REPORT: Coronavirus pandemic has unmasked the face of racism, inequities in Houston and the U.S.The report concluded the pandemic unmasked the face of racism in the country. Local advocates: report casts light on inequalities worsened by COVID-19 in Houston-areaProtesters who marched for justice through downtown Houston following the killing of George Floyd referred to racism as a pandemic within a pandemic. Legacy Community Health operates several clinics throughout the Houston-area, serving patients who often go underserved or unserved in the healthcare center. There are certainly many barriers, said Dr. Chad Neimeyer, medical director of adult medicine at Legacy Community Health. Her job at Legacy Community Health is to look for ways to develop programming that integrates social work in medicine.
Bridging digital divide imperative to help at-risk Black and Latino teens as COVID-19 widens inequities, experts say
Read full article: Bridging digital divide imperative to help at-risk Black and Latino teens as COVID-19 widens inequities, experts sayHes enrolled in The Urban Enrichment Institute, an extra-curricular youth leadership and development program for young men deemed at-risk, located in one of Houstons poorest communities. The program was founded in 1984 with a mission to reach young boys in Fifth Ward. In our summer program, this was the first time we had the chance to initiate a virtual learning format with our summer program, Savage said. We start seeing differences in how African American and Latinx boys are performing in school, how they are treated in school. Have a space for all the stakeholders that are focused on Latinx and African American male youth, said Dr. Smith.
Houston Newsmakers highlights 2 new initiatives to address inequities, inclusion and bias within community
Read full article: Houston Newsmakers highlights 2 new initiatives to address inequities, inclusion and bias within communityKPRC 2 has launched the Stronger Houston, a series of reports that started this week focusing on how the inequities impact those who live in the Houston area. This week, the focus is on the disparity in the way COVID-19 impacts the communities of Gulfton and Bellaire. Nonprofit organizations around the community are figuring out a way to pivot to operate to continue to make a difference where its most important, said Reliant President Elizabeth Killinger. Symphony CEO John Mangum says while its not quite like being in Jones Hall the live stream production brings you right into the action. Jones Hall, Home of the Houston Symphony (Houston Symphony)
COVID-19 exposes major disparities between neighboring Houston-area communities Gulfton and Bellaire
Read full article: COVID-19 exposes major disparities between neighboring Houston-area communities Gulfton and BellaireHOUSTON The coronavirus pandemic has revealed wide income and health care disparities between two neighboring Houston-area communities Gulfton and Bellaire. Many Gulfton residents are struggling to make ends meet, but the community is looking at ways to curb this disparity. The Gulfton neighborhood is made up of mostly minorities with the latest demographic data revealing 69% of residents are Hispanic. But for Gulfton residents like Guillermina, she isnt so sure. In our series Stronger Houston, we examine issues impacting people inequitably by race, gender, income, age, geography, religion, and other factors.
EDITORIAL: Introducing KPRC 2′s Stronger Houston initiative
Read full article: EDITORIAL: Introducing KPRC 2′s Stronger Houston initiativeHOUSTON – As Houston’s first television station and after more than 70 years of broadcasting, KPRC 2 continues to work to serve our community. In our new initiative, Stronger Houston, we examine issues impacting people inequitably by race, gender, income, age, geography, religion, and other factors. These fault lines can create unfair divisions in our community. The goal is to expose the disparities affecting Houstonians, shine a light on the groups working to reduce the disparity and ultimately create a stronger Houston. If you have a story idea for us to cover as part of our Stronger Houston initiative, send it to storyideas@kprc.com.
QUIZ: Could you get an H-1B or H-4 visa to live and work in the US?
Read full article: QUIZ: Could you get an H-1B or H-4 visa to live and work in the US?The duration of an H-1B visa classification is typically three years but that can be extended to a maximum of six years. Here’s a basic quiz to determine whether you or your spouse could get an H-1B visa to live and work in the U.S.It’s important to note that this quiz is a basic one and there may be numerous reasons for someone to be awarded or not awarded an H-1B visa. What about qualifying for the H-4 visa? The H-4 visa is granted to the dependents of someone on an H-1B visa. The H-4 visa is more restricted and under that visa status, a person may study but not work.
What local lawmakers think about the plan for some immigrant spouses to lose their employment authorization
Read full article: What local lawmakers think about the plan for some immigrant spouses to lose their employment authorizationThere was perhaps only one other candidate vying for the same seat would truly understand the plight of H-4 visa holders on an intimate level. Reddy’s wife was briefly on the H-4 visa herself when they first got married. There were also several letters sent to the Department of Homeland Security by U.S. lawmakers from around the country asking that the EAD for H-4 visa holders not be revoked. “We urge you to maintain the rule allowing certain H-4 spouses work authorization.”KPRC (KPRC)Living in limboQUIZ: Could you get an H-1B or H-4 visa to live and work in the US? Living in limbo: A glossary of terms related to the H-4 visa and the US immigration systemLiving in limbo: How and why we covered this story
This woman from The Woodlands says company preyed on her desperation for a work visa
Read full article: This woman from The Woodlands says company preyed on her desperation for a work visaHis new bride had no choice but to apply for the dependent H-4 visa so they could be together. Meanwhile, they have to find an employer willing to sponsor their H-1B visa so they can then switch their visa status to one that would allow them to continue working. American employers were unwilling to hire her as they’d also have to sponsor her work visa. For one of Saisha’s friends, the frustration of being on an H-4 visa put a strain on her marriage. Industry leaders worry that workers on an H-1B visa would possibly choose to move out of the U.S. if their spouses were blocked from working.
How US and Houston’s economies would be impacted if work authorization is revoked for 100K Indian women
Read full article: How US and Houston’s economies would be impacted if work authorization is revoked for 100K Indian womenHOUSTON – Living in limbo is a continued in-depth series by KPRC 2 that delves into the challenges faced by hundreds of thousands of Indian women in the United States who stand to lose work authorization if President Donald Trump’s administration changes one rule. After a 2017 edict from President Donald Trump, the Department of Homeland Security issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to remove the employment authorization of certain H-4 visa holders. Eschoo co-authored the H-4 Employment Protection Act 2018 — legislation that aims to protect work authorization for H-4 visa holders. The benefit-cost analysis was conducted based on the answers provided to a survey by 4,708 people currently under the H-4 visa status. Living in limbo: A glossary of terms related to the H-4 visa and the US immigration systemLiving in limbo: How and why we covered this story
Out of time and choices: Woman struggles to find work while walking tight-rope of immigration system
Read full article: Out of time and choices: Woman struggles to find work while walking tight-rope of immigration systemHowever, her’s was an even tougher ordeal as she had to find an employer willing to sponsor her H-1B visa as well. This period is when a new employer prepares and files the complicated paperwork required for an H-1B visa application. But before Kalyani’s Houston-based employer could file her H-1B visa petition, the situation her family life rapidly changed. By then, employers were awash with rumors that work authorization for H-4 visa holders was going to be revoked. Living in limbo: A glossary of terms related to the H-4 visa and the US immigration systemLiving in limbo: How and why we covered this story
100K Indian women, many in Houston, could lose the ability to work if the Trump administration changes 1 rule
Read full article: 100K Indian women, many in Houston, could lose the ability to work if the Trump administration changes 1 ruleMore than 100,000 Indian women in the United States, many living in the Greater Houston area, stand to lose the ability to work if President Donald Trump’s administration moves forward with a plan to do away with their work authorization. One former Houston resident says just the threat of losing her work authorization made it difficult for her to find an employer willing to hire her. Data source: USCISThere was some opposition to allowing H-4 visa holders to work. Save Jobs USA claimed if H-4 visa holders were allowed to work, American workers, who already face competition from H-1B workers, would also face competition from H-4 visa holders as well. Since the 2017 executive order, DHS has repeatedly noted its intent to change the rule that allows H-4 visa holders to work.
Faced with desperate circumstances, nearly 2M people in Texas - including these Houstonians - wont see a stimulus check
Read full article: Faced with desperate circumstances, nearly 2M people in Texas - including these Houstonians - wont see a stimulus checkDoes she pay rent Wednesday or does she buy food for her 7-year-old daughter? About 17% of people in Texas are immigrants and nearly 35% of that group is undocumented, according to the American Immigration Council. In 2017, the number of undocumented immigrants in Texas was estimated at 1.8 million. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for most federal benefits. Editors Note: KPRC 2 has changed the names of the undocumented immigrants at their request.