Community

The George Floyd Act and Voting Yes for Proposition B

Published

2 years ago

March 22, 2021

Editor

By Mario Marcel Salas

We know that the San Antonio Police Officer’s Association used a racist arbitrator to keep a police officer on the force for calling a black man the “N” word, and we all know that they used a bag of tricks to get a bad cop reinstated after trying to feed a homeless man a dog poop sandwich. We also know that Marquise Jones was shot in the back by an officer that the police union wants to keep hired after many other violations, and we know that 52 years ago SAPD officers got away with murder in the case of Bobby Joe Phillips. We also know that Norman Cooper was tasered to death by SAPD officers in his home. We also know that Jesse Aguirre was killed by SAPD officers in much the same way as George Floyd in 2015. We know that Antoine Scott was killed by SAPD officers in 2016 under questionable circumstances, and we know that Charles Roundtree Jr. was killed in 2018 in an apparent botched attack. We also know that Darrell Zemault was killed by SAPD and officers stood around asking if other officers were ok with what took place. We know that Webb Boyd was killed in 1978 by Bexar County security officers (they were found guilty) and Michael Haskins was murdered without justice in 1980.

What about the dozens that have been killed while having no weapon and often shot in the back—these are hidden by a corrupt and racist association that uses a collective bargaining contract that is full of dirty tricks. Their contract allows bad cops to stay as active police officers thereby endangering the safety of our community. A union like this needs to go, and this is why so many signed a petition (over 20,000 registered voters) to remove the so-called “Police Association” on May 1^st during the city council elections. Early voting starts on April 19, and the church community sees that justice and civil rights can only be served by removal of the association that protects bad cops while corrupting the concept of “collective bargaining.”

In Austin, Texas this week hundreds of people from across the state will be going to testify how bad police officers are influenced by racists ideas and have abused blacks, brown, and even some whites across the state. The statewide action is being spearheaded by many black and brown local and state legislators and is expected to hear from families of victims murdered by bad cops in San Antonio. These statewide efforts will be asking for an end to “qualified immunity” a racist law that protests abusive officers, chokeholds, no knock warrants, and to hold these police unions accountable to the citizens they serve. Win or lose, the San Antonio Police Officer’s Association (SAPOA) is destroying itself by not negotiating in good faith. In fact, they are trying to deny the will of the people by trying to get the city to agree to a contract by next week before the April 19^th early vote.

The SAPOA is using a bag full of lies to sucker punch people into believing that the vote is for so-called “defunding” —it is not. They are lying about trying so say that police officers will lose their jobs—another use of bald-faced HOGWASH. The vote on May 1^st will be a vote cast for civil and human rights in San Antonio and the George Floyd Act at the state level will be another human rights effort that we all should support.

Business

Bexar County Couple Offers Counseling & Mentorship Program

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2023

Editor

Community-based counseling is happening at Ken-Lyn Consultants and Associates, a vision Dr. Kenneth Brown and Dr. Lynda Brown had years ago. The couple is now considered a family counselor and life coach duo.

Ken-Lyn has been serving Bexar County since 2017 and has grown almost immediately from serving 3-5 clients weekly to serving 50-70 globally. One of their greatest accomplishments is their continuous “5-Star” ratings. Amazingly, of the thousands of clients that have chosen to write a review, they all have shared the same sentiment.

Dr. Lynda Brown is a product of the East Side, where her father, Dr. Walter Duncan, served as one of the leading dentists to Black clients. Her mom, Dr. Joan Duncan, spent 40 years as an educator and professor. Dr. Kenneth Brown’s mom was an office manager, church leader, and pianist in Southern Maryland.

The Brown’s services have taken them to faraway places such as Australia, Dubai, Italy, Hawaii, and Alaska. They travel to perform workshops and officiate weddings all over the country. The Brown’s business partner, Tiana Hill, is an Air Force veteran like Dr. Kenneth Brown. A University of Texas at San Antonio graduate, Hill develops all website and software programming, mentors the youth, and is also a parent in the program. Ken-Lyn’s associates and partners are specialists in their fields, such as nurse practitioners, military human resources, special education professionals, attorneys, doctors, pharmacists, information technology specialists, movers, mechanics, realtors, credit recovery, insurance brokers, and many more.

Ken-Lyn’s vast array of services is “everything family.” Their youngest client is four years old, and their oldest is 86. They have assisted over 110 students to get into four-year universities, helping them earn over $5.2 million in scholarships. Their clientele is diverse, from local families simply trying to keep their child in school to West Coast entertainers, East Coast politicians, doctors, lawyers, police officers, active military and veterans. They also serve as educational advocates during 504/IEP meetings from the school conference room to the Texas Education Agency and the Office of Civil Rights as needed.

Ken-Lyn Consultants and Associates has been where undergraduate psychology students come to “cut their teeth” and learn how to run a practice and market their services. As of spring 2023, 80% of their undergraduate interns have come from UTSA. Interns serve in the tradition of “camp counselors” as they aid students within the Ken-Lyn mentorship program.

They say, “We monitor grades. We aid them with everything from hygiene, makeup application, grooming, and college prep to cleaning and organizing backpacks. We help our mentees to discover themselves, despite the possible odds and misunderstandings they may face daily.”

This spring, Ken-Lyn has a busy community schedule while serving clients daily:

Their office has recently expanded, and on March 23 at 6:30 pm, they will host a brief “Business Blessing Ceremony.” Dr. Otis Mitchell, pastor of Mt. Zion First Baptist Church, will officiate.
On Thursday, March 30, the six-week “12 Steps Toward Communicating Better” workshop will conclude at the Windmill Ice House at 2769 Nacogdoches Rd, featuring artist Elizabeth Holmes and the Ken-Lyn Communicators Band.
Their mentorship program will host female and minority pilots at the Boerne Stage Field, 100 Boerne Stage Airfield, on Sunday, March 26at 5 pm.
Other mentorship guest speakers this semester will include professionals in tech fields, professors, and adults who have turned their lives around for themselves and their families.
Every semester, students in their program will tour at least two colleges. This semester, they will visit Our Lady of the Lake University and Texas A&M University at College Station.

To learn more about Ken-Lyn’s services, visit (KenLynConsultants.com) or call 210-761-4345.

Community

Celebrating 100 Years – Saleta Rodgers

Published

3 weeks ago

March 5, 2023

Editor

On 26 February 1923, Saleta Wilson was born to Rev. Rufus and Odessa Wilson of San Antonio, TX. She was the second child of six siblings.

She attended pre-integration San Antonio Independent School District (schools: Cuney Elementary; Frederick Douglas Jr High and graduated from Phyllis Wheatly High School). Later she went to cosmetology school. Many San Antonians were grateful for her coiffeur skills.

A lot of her early years were spent at church, where the Wilson children learned Biblical teaching and developed a love of singing. Saleta was a member of Mt. Zion First Baptist, Friendship Baptist, and Mt. Pleasant Baptist churches. Her father organized Antioch Baptist Church in 1935; she was a charter member. He later organized Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in 1952, where she is a charter member and still attends today.

While serving in the military at Lackland AFB, Prince Rogers visited Antioch, where he met Saleta. In 1946 they united in matrimony. The union lasted until his death in 1989, almost 43 years. Upon completing his military service, the couple moved to Prince’s home, Mobile, Alabama, where two children were born, Kenneth and Jacqueline.

Saleta was an active part of the church community in Mobile. Along with her duties as wife/mother/sewing for herself and others, she united with Mt Sinai of Whistler, Alabama, and was active in their Sunday school, choir, and Mission Circle. The family returned to San Antonio after four years.

Following her parents teaching, “Don’t send them, Bring Them,” she made sure her children had a spiritual base for their lives. While working in the beauty shop, she accompanied her children at church and their various activities. Wednesday night Bible Study was a routine family engagement. At any baseball/football/basketball game, she could be found in the bleachers or somewhere in the area. This chaperoning continued with her grandchildren. She was an active PTA member. She was involved in home, neighborhood, church, and community and even worked the polls on election days.

Saleta is an excellent cook, but everyone’s favorite is her home-made dinner rolls. There are many fond memories of fabulous dinners with family and friends.

After retirement, Saleta worked as a substitute teacher for 14 years with SAISD.

She has opened her home for some who needed a place to live. Through sickness, pain, agony, headache, heartache, nursing, caring, and losses, Saleta has remained a devoted disciple of Christ. Through it, all of God’s business never suffered and was never cut short. As it gets late in her evening, her steps may be a little slower/shorter now, but she’s still about the Father’s business. She continues to believe “when praises go up, blessings come down.”

Black Life Texas

A Crowded Mayor’s Race

Published

1 month ago

February 24, 2023

Editor

By Chris Dawkins

Feb. 17 was the deadline for candidates to file their intentions to run for an elected office. Election Day in San Antonio is Saturday, May 6, 2023.

Below are the City of San Antonio Mayor and City Council candidates. In a later magazine issue, we will include other candidates for school boards and other municipalities.

If you are a candidate in Bexar County and would like to be included in future issues of Black Life Texas, please submit a (75 word) description of your candidacy to; (CandiCandidate@BlackLifeTexas.com).

Here are the San Antonio municipal candidates:

Mayor (10) Candidates

Christopher Longoria, Ray Adam Basaldua, Diana Flores Uriegas, Ron Nirenberg*, Michael Idrogo, Armando Dominguez, Gary Allen, Christopher T. Schuchardt, Michael Samaiego

District 1 (10) Candidates

Sukh Kaur, Ernest Salinas, Jeremy Roberts, Lauro Bustamante, Mario Bravo*, Kaitlyn Folk, Roberto Rios Ortega, James Matthew Duerr, William T. Lamar-Boone

District 2 (10) Candidates

Carla Walker, Edward Earl Giles, Jalen McKee-Rodriguez*, James M. Guild, Denise Gutierez, Denise McVea, Wendell Carson, Patrick Jones, Rose Requeneq Hill, Michael John Good

District 3 (4) Candidates

Larry La Rose, Phyllis Viagran*, Jayden Munoz, Erin Gallegos Reid

District 4 (3) Candidates

Adrian Rocha Garcia*, Gregorio De La Paz

District 5 (3) Candidates

Teri Castillo*, Arturo Espinosa, Rudy Lopez

District 6 (2) Candidates

Irina Rudolph, Melissa Cabello Havrda*

District 7 (5) Candidates

Dan Rossiter, Marina Alderele Gavito, Jacob Chapa, Sandragrace Martinez, Andrew “AJ” Luck

District 8 (2) Candidates

Cessario Garcia, Manny Pelaez*