Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Austin, Texas Permit No. 01949 This paper can be recycled Vol. 38 No. 15 Website: theaustinvillager.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 512-476-0082 Fax: 512-476-0179 August 27, 2010 Hogg Foundation’s Vicky SENATOR WEST CALLS ON BLACK GREEK Coffee-Fletcher is FRATERNITIES TO MENTOR Appointed to National Board AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH tal health, diversity and chil- youth,” said Senator West. dren, youth and families. “By uniting and partnering Coffee-Fletcher joined with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Hogg Foundation for we have the rare opportunity Mental Health in 2007, to make REAL change, the where she leads initiatives to kind of change that will infi- RAPPIN’ improve the mental health of nitely impact every genera- children and their families in tion to follow.” Tommy Wyatt Houston, enhance the men- Through a partnership tal health workforce, and with Texas Pan-Hellenic The lessons promote consumer, youth Greek organizations across of History and family involvement in Texas, Senator West is spear- mental health policies and heading a new statewide ini- I have been an active par- Vicky Coffee-Fletcher services in Texas. tiative to create a mentorship ticipant in the political process Program Officer She is a founding mem- pipeline for African Ameri- for many years. During the Vicky Coffee-Fletcher has ber of the Austin Area Afri- can students. The initiative Civil Rights Movement, we de- been appointed to the board can American Behavioral will target students from 3rd pended on the political system of directors of the National Health Professionals Net- grade through the completion to make things right. That was Leadership Council on Afri- work. She also has served on of their sophomore year of because many of the problem can American Behavioral the planning committee and college. that plagued the community Health. The council was as a presenter for the Central The pilot program is were unfair and unjust laws. founded in 2001 to provide Texas African American scheduled to begin in the People of good will leadership in building and Family Support Conferences Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex joined together to put pressure supporting behavioral health since its inception in 2000. in Fall 2010 and will bring to- on the politicians to make the systems that reduce dispari- The Hogg Founda- gether representatives from necessary change. President ties and contribute to optimal tion was founded in 1940 by the Big Brothers Big Sisters Lyndon Johnson told Martin health in African American the children of former Texas with numerous other service- Luther King that he could sign communities. Governor James Hogg to pro- based organizations. Big the necessary legislation or is- Coffee-Fletcher is a li- mote improved mental health Brothers Big Sisters will work sue a presidential proclamation censed professional counse- for the people of Texas. The State Senator Royce West with members of the areas’ to change the laws (tempo- lor supervisor and former foundation’s grants and pro- DALLAS - State Senator can American students and Pan-Hellenic Greek Council’s rarily), but it would not make a public administrator with 23 grams support mental health Royce West is calling to ac- the low graduation rates of “Divine Nine” who are cur- difference until the hearts of years of experience in com- consumer services, research, tion members of the black African American males in rently enrolled in an institu- Americans changed. munity-based social services, policy analysis and public Greek community to empha- the state of Texas. Members tion of higher education or are King proceeded with the including mental health, education projects in Texas. size the need for mentorship of the black Greek community members of a Greek-letter peaceful marches and demon- child welfare and education. The foundation is part of the as he brings attention to the will meet with Senator West alumni chapter. Their charge stration to show people of good She works with local, state Division of Diversity and growing number of African at the T. Boone Pickens will be to serve as mentors, or will how cruel the existing seg- and national audiences as a Community Engagement at American children on the Mentoring Hall of Fame in the “Goal Models,” to students regation laws were. The rest is, trainer and facilitator, focus- The University of Texas at waiting list of Big Brothers Big Big Brothers Big Sisters head- attending public school or as they say, history. ing on topics related to men- Austin. Sisters, including the number quarters at 450 E. John Car- who are currently enrolled in During those days, Texas of African American boys on penter Freeway in Irving, their freshman or sophomore was considered a Democratic Melissa Fontenette-Mitchell the list. Texas. The event is from 8:30 year of college. State. But, the party was divided Saturday, Aug. 21, a.m. until Noon. Senator West has asked between the conservatives and “Artist Opening” Senator West, a member of “The unique power of the Texas Education Agency liberals who were fighting for Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. our organizations can make (TEA), Texas Higher Education control of the party. Many Fontenette-Mitchell and a Texas Senator repre- significant change happen in Coordinating Board (THECB) Democrats said that the conser- prides herself on visually ex- senting District 23 (Dallas the lives of our African and Region 10 Education Ser- vatives were actually Republi- ploring and capturing life’s County) is formally reaching American children. We are vice Center to explore ways the cans and should join their own moments, small and large. out to local black Greek fra- the leaders in our community agencies may reasonably be able party. When they did, things Her photography collection ternities and sororities to ad- and it is our duty to answer to support the goals and objec- really changed. One reason is celebrates a rich diversity of dress the crises faced by Afri- the call of our most vulnerable tives of this mentoring initiative. that conservatives continued to unique subject matter includ- vote in large numbers while the ing landscape, nature, travel, liberals and moderates voting sports, and people in both percentages continued to de- color and black and white. cline. Fontenette-Mitchell’s As a result, the Republi- work is currently being fea- cans gained control of state poli- tured in a greeting card line, tics and have continued to ex- Melissa Fontenette-Mitchell and has also been selected for ercise that control. This is be- August 16, 2010 – Aus- editorial, print and web pub- cause progressive started try- tin, TX – Melissa Fontenette- lications. One of her photo- ing to appeal to the conserva- Mitchell has been selected to graphs was also chosen this tive element in the state and not exhibit at the opening recep- past year for the “Breathing the core voters of the Demo- tion of the African American Space” feature on Oprah.com cratic party. They have not been Cultural Heritage District in http://www. oprah.com/ successful in crossing that very The Bydee Art Gallery located spirit/Breathing-Space- th delicate line. at 1050 East 11 Street. The August/6 . She is a mem- Now Bill White is making opening reception will take ber of Women in Photogra- the same mistake. He is run- place Thursday, September phy and Photography In- nd ning away from the progressive 2 from 7:00PM – 9:00PM and dustry Professionals. element of the party hoping that the exhibit will run for ap- Fontenette-Mitchell they will trust him to do the right proximately one month. Mrs. lives in Round Rock with thing once elected. That is a Fontenette-Mitchell’s photog- her husband and two chil- SHIELA HENRY MEETS was excited to be in Austin 9 children in a family that gamble that many have taken raphy is one of a select few dren. Visit THE COMMUNITY--The at LBJ. “I will do good by your stressed education. They were and lost. White is so paranoid chosen and featured in the www.flickr.com/photos/ Austin community turned children,” she said. She went on told at an early age that “when about seeming to be progres- emerging African American lissiaz/ to view some of her artist’s exhibit. out to meet the new Princi- to say that “failure is not an op- you have an education, no one sive that he shunned President work. tion.” Obama when he came to Austin pal of LBJ High School, can extract it from your brain.” Senator Watson to Pronounce Austin Sheila Henry, Wednesday, Henry gave the crowd After her remarks, Henry on a fund-raising trip. A city some of her history. She said where the president has more a Community of Respect August 18 in the school caf- took the opportunity to mingle eteria. The crowd was large that she began her career in edu- with the guest and shake hands followers than any other city in want to ensure that people The Arc of the Capital and enthusiastic. cation in 1983 as a secretary and and meet each one of them. She the state. with disabilities have support Area, a nonprofit organization Henry was introduced later as a Special Education did not cut any conversation The presidents trip was and can maximize their oppor- committed to creating opportu- by Superintendent Meria teacher. She began her adminis- short. to raise money for the Demo- tunities. The September 1 event nities for people with intellec- Carstars- phen. She told the trative career in 1997. Light refreshments were cratic National Committee that will kickoff a campaign to eradi- tual and developmental disabili- crowd the crowd that she She said that she was 1 of served.