Featured
Irving ISD and Texas A&M team to offer innovative program
NNPA NEWSWIRE — … the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found the percentage of children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years with untreated tooth decay is twice as high for those from low-income families (25 percent) compared with children from higher-income households (11 percent)
By Rachel Hawkins, NDG Staff Writer
In 2014, the American Dental Association (ADA) reported 64.6 percent of children under 18, visited the dentist every six months, 20.3 percent once per year, and 4.4 percent once every two to three years. 10.7 percent of parents said their children had not visited the dentist in the last few years.
As a result, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found the percentage of children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years with untreated tooth decay is twice as high for those from low-income families (25 percent) compared with children from higher-income households (11 percent).
Many parents are unable to take their children to the dentist because of no insurance to cover the extremely high rates, or their inability to find a suitable location. Therefore, their children are unfortunately forced to deal with the pains of cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. But fortunately, many institutions are trying to change this.
On Sept. 24, the Irving Independent School District (Irving ISD) renewed item 10 on their agenda: Consider Approval of Interlocal Agreement between Texas A&M University Health Science Center (TAMHSC) and Irving Independent School District for Student Dental Services. The program will start on Oct. 9.
The continuing partnership between Irving ISD and TAMHSC will offer a free dental exam and free dental sealants to children in third grade. The goal of the program is to place sealants on a child’s adult molars, apply a fluoride treatment to all teeth and identify existing problems that may need to be addressed by a local dentist.
This program was created by the Texas A&M College of Dentistry in 2016.
The dental services are provided by third-year dental students under the direct supervision of a certified dentist. The treatment is pain-free, and the students are excited to participate. When finished, the patients will receive a “goodie bag” containing a toothbrush, mini toothpaste, and dental floss.
“The program is open to third graders as this is when the child should have their adult molars,” Karyn Beauchamp, RN, Director of Clinic and Health Services for Irving ISD said. “The school nurse sends home a consent form, and if the parent would like their child to participate, they sign the consent form.”
The College of Dentistry provides the district with the dates of when the college is available to come to the campuses, and Beauchamp will work individually with the campuses to select those that want to participate throughout the district.
“We are in our second year of the program,” Beauchamp said. “This year we have already provided dental services to 144 students at four schools, and we are scheduled to visit five more schools by the end of November. At the four schools, we’ve already visited, 29 of the students have been identified as needing immediate additional treatment. In the 2017 school year, 405 students received dental care at 10 schools, with 78 students referred for additional dental care. The parents are very appreciative as they want to prevent dental problems for their child.”
The objective is to provide opportunities for families to have access to dental care. When students understand the importance of taking care of their teeth, they avoid dental pain and live healthier lives.
“Many students have never visited a dentist, and they do have tooth decay and pain,” Beauchamp said. “Some student miss days of school due to infection and potential extraction of teeth as a result. After the visit, many students are recommended for immediate additional treatment, and they are encouraged to see their community dental provider, or they are given information about the Texas A&M College of Dentistry clinic, where they may receive additional low-cost treatment if needed.”
Many healthcare plans do not include dental care, and many families must choose between one or the other.
“We teach dental care and the importance of dental hygiene to all students,” Beauchamp said “This program allows us to offer a free service for parents to understand the importance of dental care for their child and how protecting your teeth and preventing dental decay helps to lead a healthier life. We have many children who have not received dental care, and this program identifies dental problems early. This helps the financial burden placed on families who do not have dental insurance by providing necessary prevention of dental decay with the placing of the sealants on the child’s molars. As the child ages, the propensity for dental problems decreases.”
Featured
Headline: FAMU Homecoming Injuries, Discarded Ballots & Rising Holiday Costs 📱
A FAMU homecoming turns tragic, election ballots are found in a park, and inflation hits your holiday plans. Get the full story on Black Press USA’s Morning Show.
A FAMU homecoming celebration takes a troubling turn, with 12 people injured, including six children. Meanwhile, two bins of undelivered ballots are discovered in a Seattle park dumpster, raising questions about election security.
Plus, Thanksgiving dinner could cost families more this year, and soaring chocolate prices are putting a damper on Halloween candy sales.
From public safety and election integrity to the rising cost of everyday life, we’re breaking down the headlines and the stories impacting our communities.
Watch Black Press USA’s Morning Show for the headlines, the context, and the conversation behind the news.
#BlackPressUSA #MorningShow #BlackNews #FAMU #ElectionNews #CostOfLiving
Featured
Headline: FAMU Homecoming Injuries, Discarded Ballots & Rising Holiday Costs
From the FAMU homecoming tragedy to election ballot concerns and rising holiday costs, we break down the news impacting our communities. Watch the latest report.
A FAMU homecoming celebration takes a troubling turn, with 12 people injured, including six children. Meanwhile, two bins of undelivered ballots are discovered in a Seattle park dumpster, raising questions about election security.
Plus, Thanksgiving dinner could cost families more this year, and soaring chocolate prices are putting a damper on Halloween candy sales.
From public safety and election integrity to the rising cost of everyday life, we’re breaking down the headlines and the stories impacting our communities.
Watch Black Press USA’s Morning Show for the headlines, the context, and the conversation behind the news.
#BlackPressUSA #MorningShow #BlackNews #FAMU #ElectionNews #CostOfLiving
Featured
OTR @ Par 365
Thomas Jackson discusses his journey from pandemic golfer to the founder of Par365, a Roseville space dedicated to making the sport accessible and community-focused.
Thomas Jackson’s favorite part about being a Black business owner in Minnesota is the ability to create community, perspective, autonomy and authentic experiences.
On this episode of MSR On the Radar, Jackson joins host Damenica Ellis to talk about discovering golf during the COVID-19 pandemic and how that hobby became Par365, an indoor golf simulator, bar, restaurant and event space in Roseville that he and his wife opened in December 2023. Their mission was to make golf more accessible, more affordable and more approachable.
Jackson shares how breaking into the industry took marketing, local partnerships and social events, why intimidated newcomers needed extra encouragement, and the programming Par365 built in response, including Golf 101 sessions and a speaker series for middle and high school students. He also talks about moving from a corporate product development career to full-time entrepreneurship, balancing the business with family life, and his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: compress your vision into a minimum viable product and grow at a reasonable pace.
Listen to the full conversation.
Featured
OTR w LeBrent Speed
LeBrent Speed shares how his B3 Project is revolutionizing networking by prioritizing community impact and mentorship over simple sales.
LeBrent Speed founded The Better Black Business (B3) Project to intentionally combine commerce and community for Black entrepreneurs and authentic allies. Just over two years in, the professional networking program has more than 100 members and is expanding to other cities.
On this episode of MSR On the Radar, Speed shares how a licensed minister who always aspired to work in business became BNI’s first Black regional director, and why he saw a need for more intentional Black networking spaces. He explains B3’s founding principle of serving over selling, defines networking as the intentional pursuit of impactful relationships, and talks about his nonprofit, The Better Black Business Initiative, which trains Black youth, next-generation allies and justice-impacted people to become entrepreneurs.
Speed also discusses his first book, “The Transformation Code: 5 Keys to Transforming Your Life and Impacting the World,” and how it grew out of one of the lowest periods of his life.
Listen to the full conversation.
Featured
OTR w Terresa Moses @ Black Garnett Books
Terresa Moses shares her journey from social justice design to running Black Garnet Books. Discover how she builds community through storytelling and entrepreneurship.
Terresa Hardaway says her favorite part of being a business owner is the chance to intentionally build community. In 2017, she co-founded Blackbird Revolt, a design studio focused on social justice, anti-racism and abolition. In 2024, she acquired Black Garnet Books.
Blackbird Revolt helps government agencies, nonprofits and grassroots organizations with branding, animation, video and audio production, fabrication and other creative work. At Black Garnet Books, Hardaway uses storytelling to show what Black liberation looks like, curating Black and Brown authors and hosting events that center community.
She also shares how she adapted her bookstore during Operation Metro Surge, how her network gave her the confidence to become an entrepreneur, and her advice for anyone starting a business: have a plan, know who you are, and surround yourself with people who will remind you when you forget.
Hardaway is an associate professor of graphic design and director of design justice at the University of Minnesota’s College of Design.
Featured
Stay Focused: Make Your Vote Count This Election
Don’t let the headlines distract you from what matters. Watch Dr. Warren’s latest message on staying focused and making your voice count this November.
🗳️🚨 Don’t let the headlines distract you from what matters! Dr. Warren urges voters to stay focused, look beyond the political scandals, and make their voices count at the polls this November. Watch the full From the Desk of the Editor episode now!
#StayFocused #Election2026 #FromtheDeskoftheEditor #VoiceAndViewpoint
-
Black History1 week agoOP-ED: The Black Church Writes AI’s Next Chapter
-
Featured6 days agoTamiko Armstead | 2026 Lifetime Achiever in Education
-
Black History1 week agoPractitioners of African Traditional Spirituality Offer Ancestral Reverence Ritual Oct. 31
-
Black Press1 week agoOP-ED: If the ‘Cornell 7’ Were Black Men at an HBCU — America Wouldn’t Be This Sympathetic
-
Art1 week agoInside 820 S. Michigan: New Book Captures the Lost World of Ebony and Jet
-
Black Press1 week agoWhile Black Families Pay More for Power, Some Attorneys General Fight to Save High-Cost Coal

