THE AFRICAN AMERICAN NETWORK (TAAN)

Sidney Smith is the newly elected president of COMTO San Antonio.  He has been the Records Administrator in the VIA Operations Division for two years. He served VIA for just over two years as a Part-Time Bus Operator prior to being promoted. The new officers that will serve with Sidney are  1st Vice President Michelle Perales - Community Planner, VIA;  2nd Vice President Andre Trabue - Bus Scheduler, VIA;  Treasurer William Varnado - Safety Supervisor, VIA;  Secretary Mona Hazel - Secretary, VIA;  Parliamentarian - Johnny Martinez, Jr. - Professional Bus Operator, VIA.   All of them are in "ELECT" status through the end of May. Prior to coming to VIA, Sidney ran a successful field services company which served the financial services industry. These services included mortgage/home equity closings and residential insurance inspections. Sidney is a US Army veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm. He is currently completing an Associate of Applied Science De

In the wake of the new movement against racial injustice...Trayvon Martin's death has provided a platform to invigorate and awaken America and African American communities across the nation to stand for something once again.  I am proud to see the galvanization of our people.  Although we have our own set of beliefs and problems...the damage of institutionalized racism in our communities, in business, and in our schools has caused an awakening within the African American community to stand together, once again, and do something to improve our conditions and the conditions of our children. I can vividly remember the injustices that the African American men in my life experienced, when I was growing up.  I vividly remember, when I was in my early twenties, my boyfriend and I were travelling to Houston, Texas from San Antonio, Texas...both of us had to use the restroom, so we stopped at a nearby gas station...I was allowed to use the restroom, but the gas station attendant told my

by Laura Thompson A hoodie is a popular style apparel for young men...African American, Hispanic, Asian, White...young men...an apparel that is making hundreds of millions of dollars for manufacturers, designers and retailers, is also a symbolic apparel. To the young men, a hoodie represents style, coolness, hip...hoodies keep you warm in the winter and is often worn by young people with shades...baggy jeans and sometimes a cap.  When walking the streets onlookers may view young men that wear hoodies, as threatening, a thug, a criminal, a robber, as someone to fear. The irony is that hoodies are sold in major department stores, like Macy's, Dillard's, JC Penney's, Academy, Marshall's and many retail chains like Target, Wal-mart and more.  Most of these outlets are owned by non-minorities and certainly non-young people and yet the seller yields a high profit for selling hoodies.  So all these hoodies are sold to minorities in upscale department stores, prominent

by Laura Thompson I have been examining relationships lately...friendships, family, intimate, business, just all relationships that I have found myself associated with or involved in.  I have also observed relationships that others are involved in and in the process of getting involved in. Some people want to be in complete control of the relationship.  They want almost everything to go their way and want others to act in accordance to their wants and needs.  Then there are others who want to please everyone.  They want everyone to like them and will do anything to gain their friendship or love.  Both of these types of relationships are very unhealthy because there is no balance. Healthy relationships are give and take.  It's allowing others to be themselves, accepting the opinions of others, celebrating their differences and helping each other to grow. Relationships that always require you to give with nothing in return are very toxic.  It leaves the giver feeling unlo

Yesterday, I posted on my blog about not having time to educate and help those in need, but I accidentally updated it with another article...my bad!  I will pay closer attention to what I am doing next time...but for today...I would like to talk about our young men wearing their pants beneath their butts. Guys...I just despise it!  I want to respect you so badly, but when I can see your butts publicly displayed it makes it hard to me to show you the love and respect that I know you deserve.  There have been many reasons discussed that explains your actions, but I just don't buy it.  There have been statements made about the origin of the sagging pants, but that doesn't seem to bother the saggers one bit. Now I know that you should have a right to dress the way you please...I do agree with that, but you live in a world that reacts and responds to symbols and sagging pants are symbolic of negative responses, an unacceptable image and disgrace...maybe not to you, but to onlook

It’s no secret that women are big on entrepreneurship. But what’s not known is that although women start businesses at a high rate, many of those businesses don’t go above $1 million in revenue.  Inc.  spoke to a few successful women business owners to get their feedback on why many of their peers are not expanding and accelerating their businesses. Women need to take more risk When women think of businesses and entrepreneurship, they consider how that lifestyle will factor into their responsibilities as a mother and wife in the future. Those are serious concerns of course – however, those concerns may hinder how one projects growth and conceives of future development. “Liz Elting, CEO and founder of global language service provider TransPerfect, advocates another tack: Go for broke when you are young and have nothing to lose. Don’t worry about what your life will be like in 10 years. Dream big and follow your dreams. When your business grows, so do your options for work/life

Submitted by  Melody Mendoza  on February 28, 2012 – 6:58 pm 2 Comments Advertising CEO Laura Thompson speaks with students in Professor Bonnie Martin's class Feb. 21 in Room 353 in honor of Black History Month. She spoke about various pictures on MLK's past and home life that were in her documentry "Dreams Come True: A Living History," which highlights the struggles of African-American citizens in the United States. Photo by Abby Vega By Steven Zavala Contributing Reporter Students in Professor Bonnie Martin’s HIST 4361, African-American History, class viewed and discussed “Dreams Come True: A Living History,” a documentary bridging San Antonio to Civil Rights,  directed and produced by business leader and activist Laura Thompson. Thompson, the national chair president and San Antonio chapter president of Sistas in Business, was invited in celebration of Black History Month Feb. 21, which was open to students and employees. Throughout her car