The Methodist Health System Joint Academy offers vital help in preparing both mentally and physically for joint replacement surgery while offering some of the latest minimally invasive techniques to restore mobility and quality of life with less pain and faster recovery time. Reports indicate that pre-surgical education directly involving patients and answering their questions helps speed recovery and achieves enhanced outcomes.

After scheduling hip or knee replacement surgery with an independently practicing orthopedic surgeon on the Methodist medical staff, joint replacement patients are invited to participate in the free Methodist Joint Academy. In the Academy, patients receive a two-hour course from caring, expert Methodist staff members who give them a preview and overview of what to expect – step-by-step – before, during, and after surgery. Patients are invited to bring along a family member or friend.

“This works just like a seminar or workshop that allows our patients to gain a real feeling of comfort up front about the joint replacement process before it happens,” says Jennifer Tullis, orthopedic coordinator at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. “It gives us a chance to prepare our patients in every way possible so they feel at ease and informed about their treatment, get acquainted with the hospital where they’ll be, and meet some of the staff.”

Held on the hospital campus, the Joint Academy offers a comfortable learning environment with a handful of fellow patients. The one-day program includes:
·         A concierge to greet and guide patients to the classroom
·         Priority access to required pre-op testing (at Methodist Dallas)
·         Express registration to eliminate delays on the day of surgery
·         Engaging classroom instruction about what to expect from pre-op, joint replacement surgery, and recovery— taught by Methodist Joint Academy clinical specialists
·         A tour of the orthopedic floor, designed specifically for the needs and comfort of joint replacement surgery patients
·         Discussion with a small group of fellow joint replacement patients to build camaraderie and provide motivation and support after hip or knee surgery
·         A free “uniform”– t-shirt and shorts with the Methodist Joint Academy logo
·         Opportunity to meet some of the multidisciplinary health care professionals who will be involved in the patient’s care
·         Free validated parking

Reports indicate that such pre-surgical education directly involving patients and answering their questions helps speed recovery and also achieves enhanced outcomes. It’s all done in a comfortable classroom setting where patients become “students.” Methodist shows them how best to regain their movement and gives them personalized service in feeling at home and ease for their stay.

“We keep the class groups small so that our Joint Academy patients get great personal attention, and have a chance to share and support one another,” says Cherie James, orthopedic coordinator at Methodist Charlton Medical Center. “We give them a great start for a speedy recovery.”

Painful hip, knee, and shoulder joints can rob a person’s freedom of movement.  Methodist Health System offers complete care for patients needing surgery to replace joints damaged by injury, deformity, or degenerative diseases such as arthritis.

To learn more about the Methodist Joint Academy at Methodist Dallas Medical Center and Methodist Charlton Medical Center or find an orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff of Methodist Health System, call 214-947-0044 or 1-866-584-8104, or visit www.methodisthealthsystem.org/jointacademy

Watch and Learn: Watch these animations to learn more about orthopedic procedures www.methodisthealthsystem.org/orthopedicanimations

On January 12, a massive earthquake struck the nation of Haiti, causing catastrophic damage inside and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince.  President Obama has said, “at this moment, we are moving forward with one of the largest relief efforts in our history — to save lives and to deliver relief that averts an even larger catastrophe.  In these difficult hours, America stands united.  We stand united with the people of Haiti, who have shown such incredible resilience, and we will help them to recover and to rebuild.”

The United States Government has mobilized resources and people to aid in the relief effort.  At the direction of President Obama, this is a whole-of-government effort, and USAID has the lead in this swift, aggressive and coordinated response.  Military personnel are playing an indispensable role in supporting this humanitarian effort, including making the logistics chain possible and distributing life-saving assistance.  Aid workers are working around the clock to deliver more aid more quickly and more effectively to more people in need.

Below, please find some key facts and examples of government actions to date.  All numbers below are accurate as of 2 p.m., Wednesday, January 20.

INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION
At the request of the Haitian government, the U.S. continues to coordinate America’s relief efforts with the United Nations and the international community.  We are coordinating closely with more than 30 nations and hundreds of NGOs to deliver food and water quickly throughout the country.

·         Tuesday evening, the President’s National Security Advisor convened a Principals Committee meeting with the Vice President, Secretaries of State, Defense, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, our Ambassador to the UN, the Administrators of USAID and FEMA, and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to discuss ongoing efforts and coordination.
·         Afterwards, Dr. Shah said the meeting was an opportunity “to take stock of the performance and to make sure we were doing everything we possibly could to accelerate our efforts and do even better by reaching more people in Haiti with needed and critical supplies of food, water, shelter, and other critically needed items like medical kids and access to medical services.”
·         Secretary Clinton spoke with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) President Moreno on January 19 about ongoing relief efforts.

HEALTH/MEDICAL
·         The USNS Comfort arrived in Haiti today.  The Comfort brings a hospital with a capacity for over 1,000 beds on board and has already started to receive patients by helicopter.
·         Department of Defense personnel have treated over 200 patients and supported the movement of more than 29,000 lbs of medical supplies to date.
·         As of January 20, more than 5,000 patients have been treated by Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) from the Department of Health and Human Services. .

AIRPORTS & PORTS
·         The airfield is open for 24/7 operations – 153 flights were expected for today.  The U.S. was using 38 of those slots.
o   U.S. Transportation Command reports that since commencing air operations, a total of 136 missions have been flown that have carried more than 2,400 tons of equipment and more than 1,900 passengers into Haiti.
·         U.S. Army/Navy dive teams with underwater construction teams continued to assess port structural damage with the goal of reopening as quickly as possible.
·         As of today, there are 20 U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard vessels and 51 helicopters deployed.
·         The San Isidro airfield in the Dominican Republic is now open for C-130 operations to assist in the Haiti relief effort.

SAFETY & SECURITY
·         The major focus of military efforts is establishing water distribution sites, and delivering fuel, food, and medicine.
·         As of January 20, approximately 11,500 military personnel (2,000 ashore and 9,500 afloat) are a part of the relief effort.
o   The BATAAN Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG)/22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit with 1,960 Marines and Sailors arrived and began moving forces ashore yesterday.  The Marines began relief operations in the vicinity of Leogane.
·         The Coast Guard has approximately 516 service members on site assisting with the Haiti recovery effort (24 ashore, 422 afloat, and 70 aircrew).  On January 19, Secretary Napolitano authorized the activation of up to 900 reserve U.S. Coast Guard service men and women in to (mission: replace those deployed on the Comfort? And to assist with port security?) .

EVACUATION & RESCUES
·         Evacuations:  The U.S. is conducting evacuations 24 hours a day.  88 American evacuees departed Port-Au-Prince this morning (1/20).  On January 19, 1328 were evacuated.  To date, more than 6,174 Americans have been evacuated.
·         Search and Rescue:  On January 19, Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams from Virginia Beach and New York rescued two children.  And a USAR team from Fairfax worked with locals as well a French USAR team to rescue a female Haitian who had been trapped for seven days without food or water in a supermarket in the Bois Verna neighborhood of Port-au-Prince.
·         Currently, 43 international USAR teams, comprised of 1,739 rescue workers, with 161 dogs, are working in Haiti.  6 of those teams are from the United States – with 511 rescue workers from Fairfax County, Los Angeles County, Miami, Miami-Dade, Virginia Beach, and New York.
o   To date, U.S. USAR teams have rescued 43 people from collapsed buildings, while international and U.S. USAR teams together have rescued a total of 122 people.

FOOD & WATER
·         U.S. military aircraft, helicopters, and vessels are giving the highest priority to the shipment of water.
o   152,000 liters bulk water and more than 165,000 water bottles were delivered yesterday (1/19).
o   The USS Carl Vinson is producing 100,000 gallons of potable water daily – 2,000 gallons were distributed yesterday.
o   Water tanks are being installed in each zone of the city.  Potable water is now available at 45 distribution points.
·         There are currently four established food and water distribution hubs and 190 distribution sites active and serving 96,000 people.
·         The U.S. Coast Guard has distributed a total of 38.5 tons of water (62,880 bottles ) to date.
·         Over the past several days, JTF-Haiti has distributed more than 400,000 meals/humanitarian rations and more than 600,000 bottles of water.
·         C-17 air delivery of food and water will resume Thursday (1/21) — approximately 15,000 water bottles and 14,500 MREs/Humanitarian Rations are slated for delivery.
o   The first C-17 air delivery was conducted Monday, consisting of 14,000 1-liter bottles and 14,000 packages of daily rations.
·         The vessel Americas departed Port Everglades today with 500,000 MREs, 290,000 liters of drinking water, 8,400 cots, 19,500 blankets, 41,800 tarps, 560 rolls of sheeting, and 70,000 comfort kits provided by FEMA, as well as medical supplies provided by USAID.
·         On January 19, two USAID/OFDA funded flights carrying emergency relief supplies arrived in Port-au-Prince.  Commodities included:
o   40,200 water containers that provide water for 80,400 people,
o   13,056 hygiene kits, which will serve 65,280 people,
o   200 rolls of plastic sheeting that will provide shelter for 10,000 people,
o   5 U.N. World Health Organization medical kits,
o   8 water bladders,
o   6 water purification units – each unit produces 100,000 liters of water per day and will provide water to a total of  60,000 people,
o   3 industrial air-conditioning units, and
o   1 generator.
·         As of January 19, total USAID/OFDA commodities delivered to Port-au-Prince included:
o   9 water treatment units to provide 900,000 liters of safe drinking water for 90,000 individuals per day;
o   71,000 ten-liter water containers to benefit 142,000 people;
o   nearly 24,500 hygiene kits to serve more than 121,000 beneficiaries;
o   700 rolls of plastic sheeting to support the shelter needs of approximately 35,000 people;
o   18 water bladders, each with a capacity of 10,000 liters, and
o   five U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) medical kits capable of supplying medical supplies for up to 10,000 individuals for a two-month period.

ADOPTIONS
·         As Secretary Clinton said today at the State Department, “We are coordinating closely with the Haitian government, the United Nations, our other international partners, and NGOs on the ground to ensure that aid reaches Haiti’s orphanages and that newly orphaned children are accounted for and cared for…We will also do everything we can to reunite the many children and families who have become separated in the aftermath of the earthquake.  And this is a crucial point: we have to be very careful not to exacerbate this difficult situation by removing children from Haiti who might have surviving family members.  We will not let red tape stand in the way of helping those in need, but we will ensure that international adoption procedures to protect children and families are followed.”
·         The State Department is heading up a joint task force with the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services to streamline this process and ensure that these families are united as quickly as possible while still ensuring that proper safeguards are in place to protect children in our care.
·         An interagency working group has been established to focus on the humanitarian needs of highly vulnerable children. And the Administration is also working closely with the many Members of Congress who are understandably very concerned about this process.

ASSISTANCE
·         As of today, in FY 2010, the U.S. Government has provided nearly $171 million in humanitarian assistance for the Haiti earthquake:
o   Secretary of Defense Gates signed the Haiti Disaster Relief Execution Order authorizing up to $20 million in humanitarian, disaster and civic aids funds,
o   USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) contribution of nearly $82 million,
o   USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) assistance valued at $68 million, and
o   USAID Dominican Republic (USAID/DR) health assistance valued at $1 million.

HOW TO SUPPORT RELIEF EFFORTS
We are all deeply affected by the devastation in Haiti. Our common humanity demands that we act, as does America’s leadership and deep ties with Haiti.  At the request of President Obama, former Presidents Bush and Clinton are coordinating private assistance and urging Americans to help at www.clintonbushhaitifund.org

·         Funding raised through Text Message Program (keyword “Haiti”, and short code number “90999″): $25 million from over 2.5 million people.
·         You can also contribute online through ClintonBushHaitiFund.org.
o   Text “QUAKE” to 20222 to charge a $10 donation to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (the donation will be added to your cell phone bill).
·         Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information (www.cidi.org).

Get Information about Friends or Family
·         The State Department has set up a web page that will serve as a clearinghouse for information on Haiti: state.gov/haitiquake, including a new tool, the “Person Finder,” to allow people to find and share information on missing loved ones in Haiti.

·         The State Department Operations Center has set up the following phone number for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747 (due to heavy volume, some callers may receive a recording).  You can also send an email to the State Department.  Please be aware that communications within Haiti are very difficult at this time.

·         The State Department has also partnered with the tech community to launch a free SMS relief information service to help people in Haiti.  The text message program allows people with service from Digetel and Voila to text their location and needs to a free short code: “4636.”  Since the initiative was launched on January 18, NGO partners have received over 2,000 messages, including on food distribution, missing persons, water.

·         Whitehouse.gov — The White House website continues to serve as a focal point for information for about the relief effort, including accounting for family and friends in Haiti and contributing to the relief effort.

With our nation’s first African-American president now in the White House, as well as the never-ending drama of black and white issues in popular culture, I figured it was a good time to revisit one of the most honest and insightful books on race relations that I’ve ever read, Rajen Persaud’s Why Black Men Love White Women.

Don’t let the incendiary title fool you: instead of it being an instruction manual on how to diss the sisters or giving credence to often-circulated and tired stereotypes, 2007’s Why…. intertwines the author’s own personal observations and experience with facts, percentages and thoroughly researched explanations behind the mindset and motivations of brothers who seem to trip over the sisters in the pursuit of non-blacks for love and companionship.

From his home in New York City, the day trader, filmmaker and lecturer peppered our chat with his explosive views on the recent Essence and Vanity Fair magazine cover controversies, his take on the Tiger Woods debacle and our duties to the young people in our lives to keep them from making some of the same racially-centered errors in life.

Lorrie Irby Jackson: A lot of subscribers were upset by Essence’s decision to feature New Orleans Saints football star, Reggie Bush, on their annual Black Love issue, since he’s very publically-dating the non-black Kim Kardashian. Why do you think they opted to feature him that manner?

Rajen Persaud: Well, Essence magazine is no longer a black-owned entity, it is now a Time-Warner product. So you can say what you want about them, but there certainly not interested in the plight and feelings of the black woman. They’re basically sending that message that they don’t care about black love in general.

RAJEN PERSAUD

When they used to talk about black love, the cover would include a black couple. So, their putting Reggie on the cover is is advertising for a refund, because the White Establishment wants a rebate on the money their paying these negroes. When the white women stop going with these entertainers and athletes, they get paid, and that’s a rebate to the white community, so it’s in their best interest. They used to get a ‘n*****’ rebate; jewlery, cars, dope, liquor, spending as much as they can in the white community, so that’s why they don’t mind advertising back to more whites. They’re not stupid.

I used to call Essence mag Oppressor. They used to have two columns, “Brothers” and “Interiors,” and practically every column was written by a woman claiming to be suffering at the hands of a black man.

In some way, shape or form the black man was the cause of all of her problems, and her evolution out of that problem, and it was always about a sorry negro who had problems with black women. I was wondering who were they talking to, and this was back in the 1990’s.

LIJ: How do you feel about the recent Tiger Woods Vanity Fair cover? A lots of blacks are of the opinion that this was the media’s way of portraying him as what they truly see him as—a thug.

RP: And they’re right. More importantly, they wanted to show you the field n*****, the one that chases white women. They wanted to show the big, black buck. Tiger Woods was the most emasculated man in the world of sports. Now with all of the reported activity with the white women, they finally got the big black buck image that they wanted to destroy him with. It’s the equivalent of that darkened OJ mugshot for the cover of Time Magazine. Now, Tiger is going to be fine from an athletic standpoint: some of his endorsements may split, but other companies needing a spokesperson will need his image, because it will generate interest in their product because of who’s endorsing it.

LIJ: Do you see the same for his marriage?

RJ: Whether they divorce or not, Elin should not be too upset, because the same reason Tiger cheated on her was for the same reason how a nanny could snag a billionaire, and that is Tiger Woods is suffering from self –hate that’s generated from a colonized mind. A colonized mind believes that everything outside of his black world is better than he is. Which is why he would go and marry his friends’s nanny.

He had his pick of the litter from black women, asian women, those with the same amount or more money, or just as educated or more educated, but he believed that a white nanny was the best thing he could get and that white nanny was the medication for that psychological malady of self-hate—-but she was only one dose, and he needed a couple of more spoonfuls.

Elin should thank her lucky stars that there was slavery, becasuee otherwise no one would know her name and she would be a broke nanny mopping floors in Sweden someplace. You find me a millionaire white athlete that’s married to a black maid, nanny, or even to a Jamaician home attendant. You can’t do it. And you couldn’t find me one among asians, Indians, or anyone else. Only with black men.

We have to ask ourselves the question if Tiger Woods had been a shipping manager at UPS/post office, would he have gotten Elin? She wasn’t even a nanny for a black golfer. This woman got paid off of the legacy of slavery, so even if they divorce, she shouldn’t be mad—just take the money and run. If she stays for any reason, it’s prostitution. And this could set a legal precedent that could end up in court. If a woman’s gonna stay with me for an hour and I’m paying her, there’s no difference between what Tiger Woods is doing and what I’m doing, because what he’s doing in that prenup is offering money for the amount of time she stays with him.

Lorrie Irby Jackson is a freelance journalist based in Dallas and has covered entertainment professionally for several years, writing many articles for The Dallas Morning News. Her e-mail address is lorrie.irby@gmail.com.

Edited by Shawn Williams

WASHINGTON, DC – Tomorrow in Baltimore, Maryland, President Obama will announce details of the Small Business Jobs and Wages Tax Cut, one of his new proposals to create good jobs in America.  In last night’s State of the Union Address, President Obama outlined a series of ways he will fight to create good paying jobs and continue our economic recovery.

One of these proposals, the Small Business Jobs and Wages Tax Cut, will put more Americans back to work by giving businesses – particularly small business – a tax cut for new hiring.  The new proposal will also provide tax incentives for businesses to expand wages for their employees.

Through the Small Business Jobs and Wages Tax Cut:

·         Businesses will receive a $5,000 tax credit for every net new employee that they employ in 2010.  The total amount of the credit for any one firm will be capped at $500,000, to ensure that the majority of the benefit is targeted at small businesses.  Start –ups will be eligible for half of the tax credit.

·         Small businesses that increase wages or hours for their existing employees will be reimbursed for the Social Security payroll taxes they pay on real increases in their payrolls.  This bonus would be based on Social Security payrolls, so it would not apply to wage increases above the current taxable maximum of $106,800.

·         Firms will be able to claim the credit on a quarterly basis, which gets money out to businesses quickly and provides and early incentive to hire and increase payrolls.

Washington, DC – Today, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will hold a meeting of the Middle Class Task Force, where they will lay out key investments for middle class families.  Today’s discussion will preview one of the key themes of the President’s State of the Union address, which include creating good jobs, addressing the deficit, changing Washington, and fighting for middle class families.

President Obama said, “We are fighting every single day to put Americans back to work, create good jobs, and strengthen our economy for the long-term. The additional steps laid out today focus on easing the burdens on middle class families who are struggling in this economy, and providing the help they need to get ahead.”

“Every day, middle class families go to work and help make this country great.  For a year, our Task Force has been hearing that they are struggling with soaring costs and squeezed family budgets.  These common sense initiatives will help these families cope with these challenges,” said Vice President Biden.

After traveling across the country the past year talking with families, caregivers, educators, students, seniors, as well as policy makers and experts, Chair of the White House Task Force on Middle Class Families Vice President Joe Biden will join President Obama to announce several recommendations of the Task Force.   These initiatives, borne out of the meetings, travel and work of the Task Force, are aimed at helping middle class families afford soaring child care costs; care for their aging relatives; cope with the challenge of saving for retirement; and pay for their children’s college tuition.

Since its creation one year ago this week, the Middle Class Task Force has held 11 meetings around the country and at the White House.  At these meetings, Vice President Biden heard from parents who were grappling with the costs of child care; students coming out of college drowning in debt; children of elderly relatives struggling to care for them; and workers who were barely able to pay their mortgage, much less save for retirement.

As a result of these meetings, conversations and feedback from around the country, the Vice President and the Task Force will propose several policy initiatives to help middle class families:

1. Nearly Doubling the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for middle class families making under $85,000 a year. This is accomplished by increasing their tax credit rate from 20% to 35% of qualifying expenses.  The value of the tax credit nearly doubles for all families making under $85,000 a year, and every family that makes under $115,000 will see their tax credit increase.

Additionally, for families struggling to join the middle class, the administration will provide a $1.6 billion increase in child care funding, the largest one-year increase in 20 years, to help an additional 235,000 children.

2. Limiting a student’s federal loan payments to 10 percent of his or her income above a basic living allowance. This will lower payments for hundreds of thousands of students, who are struggling to make ends meet coming out of college.

3. Creating a system of automatic workplace IRAs, requiring all employers to give the option for employees to enroll in a direct-deposit IRA.

4. Expanding tax credits to match retirement savings and enacting new safeguards to protect retirement savings, making it easier for families to plan for retirement.

5. Expanding support for families balancing work with caring for elderly relatives, helping them manage their multiple responsibilities and allowing seniors to live in the community for as long as possible.

The Task Force’s final report, and full recommendations, will be released in February.

Additional information about these Middle Class Task Force initiatives is included in the attached fact sheet.

About the Middle Class Task Force: The Task Force, Chaired by Vice President Joe Biden, is a group of top-level administration policy makers, charged with the mission of focusing on developing policies aimed at raising the living standards of middle-class, working families in America.

Since its creation on January 30, 2009, the Middle Class Task Force has held 11 meetings around the country and at the White House:

· February 27, 2009: Green Jobs (Philadelphia, PA)

· March 17, 2009: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and Middle Class Families (St. Cloud, MN)

· April 17, 2009: College Affordability (St. Louis, MO)

· May 26, 2009: Green Jobs (Denver, CO)

· June 23, 2009: Manufacturing in the 21^st Century (Perrysburg, OH)

· July 10, 2009: Health Reform Roundtable (The White House)

· July 16, 2009: AARP/Health Care Reform Discussion (Arlington, Virginia)

· September 9, 2009: Access to College (Syracuse, NY)

· October 19, 2009: Middle Class Recovery Through Retrofit (The White House)

· November 5, 2009:  Roundtable with Policy Experts  (Washington, DC)

· December 16, 2009:  Roundtable with Leaders in Manufacturing Sector (The White House)   

Members of the Task Force include: Vice President Biden, Chair; the Secretaries of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Energy, Treasury, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Agriculture; the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; as well as the Directors of the National Economic Council, the Office of Management and Budget, the Domestic Policy Council, and the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors.

To read reports released by the Middle Class Task Force, please visit: www.WhiteHouse.Gov/AStrongMiddleClass.

By Me

A talented cast brings Alice Walker’s classic The Color Purple to life on the stage of The Music Hall at Fair Park. Many felt that Steven Spielberg’s adaptation for the screen was as good as it gets, but since opening on Broadway in December of 2005, the play has proved otherwise.

The Color Purple is billed as “The Musical about Love” but I think it’s more of “A Musical about Survival.” From the moment I saw Celie and Nettie appear at stage right clapping hands, I leaned over to my wife and said “I’m already sad.”

But there wasn’t enough time for me to dwell on the Hell that Celie was about to endure, because immediately my spirit was lifted by the company performance of “Mysterious Ways.” For a moment I thought I was in church and it took everything in me not to stand up and start clapping my hands.

The play stands on its own, and I rarely found myself comparing it to the movie. But it was comforting to hear many of the famous lines that have been repeated over and over through the years:

You told Harpo to beat me?

All my life I had to fight….

You sho’ is ugly!

Until you do right by me…

When you think of all the horrible things that are a part of this story, you wonder why anyone would want to sing or dance at all. But the Tony Award nominated play brings laughs when they are needed and characters break into song at just the right time.

(SPOILER ALERT)

One thing I do appreciate about the play is that the male characters (namely Mister) have the chance to redeem themselves. Not that redemption is a must when it comes to art, but Spielberg’s Color Purple paints a God awful picture of Black men. Rufus Bonds, Jr.’s portrayal of Mister is at its best when the character is at his worst. But I still found myself enjoying the character getting his act together in the end. And Stu James’ Harpo was steady throughout, not the dithering coward on Spielberg’s screen, but more of a naive, henpecked, hard working brother.

Sofia is played by Felicia (Hell No!) Fields who earned a Tony nomination for her portrayal on Broadway. It’s obvious why she garnered such high praise. And Shug Avery is played by Angela Robinson, who is electric leading the entire company through “Push Da Button.”

But this is a play about Celie, and Kenita R. Miller is more than up to the task of leading the way. Throughout the night I tried to picture Fantasia in the role and it was difficult, maybe because the two actresses are so physically different. Miller’s vocals were amazing, and her solo “I’m Here” was a signature moment of the show.

Angela Robinson (C) as Shug Avery

The one negative of the evening came in the form of technical problems with the sound system. There was a crackle that came through the speakers on more than one occasion as some of performers spoke their lines during ACT II. But it wasn’t enough to take away from the enjoyment of the crowd. After the show, attendees (including us) sang the show’s praises in the halls out, out the doors and all the way to their cars.

The Color Purple has seven more performances, ending its Fair Park run on January 24th. Tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.com. If anyone asks if they should skip out and catch the show another time, I’ll have two words…..Hell No!.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the earthquake in Haiti, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is dispatching a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and has activated its partners, the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team and the Los Angeles County Search and Rescue Team.  The USAR teams will be composed of up to 72 personnel, 6 search and rescue canines and up to 48 tons of rescue equipment.

The USAR team will be accompanied by USAID disaster experts who will assist with assessments of the situation.

“This is a tragic situation and we will work alongside the Haitian government to provide immediate assistance in the rescue effort,” said USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah. “On behalf of the American people, I wish to convey our sympathy, thoughts and prayers to the people of Haiti who have been affected by this devastating earthquake.”

USAID will continue to provide additional support as needed.

For more information about USAID’s emergency humanitarian assistance programs, please visit: www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/.

The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.

The admission is free. There are no bouncers at the door and there’s plenty of room for those who want in. Hats are welcome (especially crowns sitting atop saintly heads) and three piece suits often lead the entrance through double doors.

But what about those wearing sneakers? How about jeans?

Dress codes are “strictly enforced” on the club scente, but what about at church? The old mantra, ‘come as you are’ is music to the ears of those who seek a change. So they go to the Lord’s house: some in jeans, some in sundresses, and maybe even in shorts. For those lost and trying to find their way in life, an inviting and safe place to worship can bring ease in the midst of transition.

Being accepted by a welcoming church family can make the new lifestyle easier for the weary and confused. But as the newcomer settles into membership, the same clothing worn before their change often become a source of ridicule that ostracizes them. Head shaking, stares, and whispers let the offending party know that something is amiss.

Who is to say exactly what should be worn behind chapel doors? In a society where fashion plays a major role, some of the closed mind rituals held by the “elders of the church” may frighten seekers away.

Drugs, excess drinking, sexual promiscuity, and depression, are just a few issues people in general are dealing with today. What they are wearing is the least of their worries. But the the real culprits -those doing the ostracizing- seem to differ.

A true desire to know the word should be enough to seek the Lord and all the help He brings. Not the correctly hemmed dress or the shiniest of church footwear. Some places of worship still hold on to man made rules that they treat as if they were “The Law.”

A thesaurus filled vocabulary, snag-free Berkshire pantyhose and Brooks Brothers suit (complementing the latest St. John knit) if not careful, could become mascots for the church. Granted, sagging pants which show boxers and blouses which give the eyes more than what they need to see should not be accepted. None-the-less, the person wearing the garments should be handled with care.

There is a proper way to handle dress codes in which churches have set in place. Maybe if older men and women would take the younger babes in Christ under their wing and help guide them in the right direction, a better outcome would suffice.

It’s not about the name brand of the clothes or the churchiest of church wear. Rather, it’s about being presentable and respectful in a place of worship. If jeans are worn, it doesn’t mean you are way down on your maker’s list. If a woman wears pants, it doesn’t mean she does not have a connection with God.

If we as spiritual Christians open our eyes to the person God is speaking to and through, instead of the outer man, just maybe the church would be a place to run to instead of from. When the need comes to talk about problems does arise, the church should be a shelter and safe haven. And the doors should be open to all.

Keshia Dawn is a student at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and author of the novel His Grace, His Mercy. She can be reached at keshia@dallassouthnews.org

Edited by Shawn Williams

DallasSouthNews.org is a nonprofit news organization based that focuses on news in Southern Dallas.

What Do You Want To Do Before you Die? That’s the premise of a new MTV Reality Show that will feature a local artist in their 2nd episode that is set to air later this month.

On Monday January 25th, MTV’s “The Buried Life” will focus on the story of Sam Fuller and his quest to reunite with a son he had not seen in 17 years. Dallas South News is teaming up with The Wolf Group to host a Buried Life Watch Party at 3900 Willow Street near Deep Ellum starting at 7:30 P.M (show starts at 9 o’clock). Sam Fuller will be the featured guest with a special appearance from another star of the episode.

Sam Fuller (L)

MTV’s “The Buried Life” centers around four young Canadians traveling across the world looking to mark items off of their “Bucket List.” While knocking out things they’ve always wanted to do, the guys also help others achieve some of their life dreams.

Trailer - MTV’s “The Buried Life”

On a trip through North Texas, the crew came across a gentleman selling his art near downtown Dallas. Dallas South News has chronicled the events that followed the initial meeting which have taken Fuller from living in a shelter to opening a studio in the Artists Quarters at the Southside on Lamar.

3900 Willow St.

But even after opening the studio in late November one thing remained: Sam had not yet met his son. But watching the trailer (which I showed Sam yesterday for the first time) it looks like Duncan Penn (one of the show’s stars) and his buddies may have just made it happen. But I guess we’ll have to find out for sure on the 25th.

Fuller will also have some of his work on hand at the watch party. I’d say secure your pieces while you can, because the exposure of this artist is about to take off.

Anyone interested in attending the watch party can RSVP to michael@dallassouthnews.org. More information will follow in the weeks to come.

Who: Dallas South News and The Wolf Group featuring Sam Fuller

What: Watch Party for MTV’s “The Buried Life”

Where: 3900 Willow Street in Dallas

When: Monday January 25th starting at 7:30 p.m. (show airs a 9PM)

Why: To support Sam Fuller and his art