Month: November 2025

By Francis Page, Jr.

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    November 20, 2025 (Houston Style Magazine) — In a moment that reflects both Houston’s heart and its global reach, IM Houston (formerly Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston) has received a $7,500 grant from the prestigious Texas Bar Foundation to expand its Refugee Legal Services program. For families arriving with hope in their suitcases and courage in their pockets, this support couldn’t be more-timely.

Each year, thousands of newcomers step onto Houston soil searching for stability, safety, and the promise of a fresh start. But before they can build a new life—find a job, enroll their children in school, or settle into a safe home—there is one hurdle they must clear: the often-complicated world of legal documentation. This is where IM Houston steps in, and where the Texas Bar Foundation’s generosity becomes a catalyst for transformation.

A Legal Lifeline When It Matters Most

Reliable legal guidance is often the very first lifeline a refugee receives. The Texas Bar Foundation’s contribution will power IM Houston’s ability to provide clear, accurate legal information and hands-on support with essential filings—services that pave the way for refugees to begin rebuilding their lives with dignity.

“Behind every case file is a parent striving to keep their children safe, an individual who left everything they know to begin a new life, or a family hoping to connect with community,” said Sheroo Mukhtiar, president and CEO of IM Houston. “We are grateful to the Texas Bar Foundation for supporting this vital work and helping ensure that refugees in our community have the resources they need to move forward with security and dignity.”

Houston’s Refugee Services: A Full Circle of Care

Legal assistance is only one pillar of IM Houston’s robust network of support. The organization surrounds its clients—each one legally documented—with a comprehensive roster of services designed to meet immediate needs and elevate long-term success. These include:

Cultural orientation and education pathways Employment assistance and workforce connections Medical coordination and transportation support Rental, food, and utility assistance Specialized programs for women and youth to build community, resilience, and confidence Last year alone, IM Houston served over 9,600 refugee clients. Nearly 2,000 individuals secured employment, marking the first steps toward independence and long-term stability. Countless families received essential resources, and hundreds engaged in enriching social programs that foster healing, friendship, and a deep sense of belonging.

Texas Bar Foundation: A Legacy of Impact

Since its founding in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $30 million to law-related initiatives statewide. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, it stands as the nation’s largest charitably funded bar foundation—proof of what happens when legal professionals use their influence to uplift communities.

The partnership between the Foundation and IM Houston is yet another example of how Texas institutions continue to step up for vulnerable families, especially in the Greater Houston area—America’s most welcoming city for refugees.

How Houstonians Can Support the Mission

IM Houston’s work is ongoing, expanding, and powered by community support. Those interested in championing refugee families—whether through donations, volunteerism, or simply spreading awareness—can visit imhouston.org.

About IM Houston

A dedicated United Way partner, IM Houston brings people of all faith traditions together to serve, uplift, and strengthen Houston’s diverse communities. Its programs include:

Meals on Wheels & Animeals — Delivering meals and love to homebound seniors and their pets Refugee Services — Providing documented refugees the resources needed for self-sufficiency Volunteer Houston — Connecting volunteers with nonprofits across the region Interfaith & Community Engagement — Fostering understanding, respect, and collaboration among people of all backgrounds Learn more at imhouston.org.

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Francis Page Jr
fpagejr@gmail.com
7139275444

By Judy Trinh

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    OTTAWA (CTV Network) — Faced with rising threats from competing states and climate change, the top military minds in the Canadian Armed Forces are drafting a plan to bolster the nation’s defences by creating a civil force made up of 300,000 volunteers.

The unclassified document was distributed by the Strategic Joint Staff, the internal group that provides military advice and analysis to Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan.

The details are outlined in a document with the title CDS/DM PLANNING DIRECTION – DEFENCE MOBILIZATION PLAN. The nine-page defence mobilization plan (DMP) document was dated May 30.

An ominous warning is embedded in the opening lines: “Rising threats fueled by accelerating technologies present urgent simultaneous and unparalleled challenges to Canada’s ability to defend itself. Global security has been dramatically affected by the rise of strategic competition among states combined with the growing frequency and intensity of natural disasters linked to climate change.”

The existence of the internal document was first reported by the Ottawa Citizen.

The plan calls for a “whole of society” approach, “in order to assure the defence of Canada against domestic threats ranging from low-intensity natural disaster response to high-intensity large scale combat operations.” The document states that the plan has to be “timely and scalable.”

It sets a target of boosting the number of reservists from 30,000 to 100,000 and recruiting 300,000 volunteers to join a supplementary force.

“It’s part of transformation and modernization efforts, which includes increasing our primary reserve and our supplementary reserve. We have to be prepared in times of crisis, whether it’s here or anywhere else,” said Carignan in an interview with CTV National News Chief News Anchor Omar Sachedina on Remembrance Day. “All Canadians will be invited to voluntarily serve.”

The document states that the supplementary force “should initially prioritize volunteer public servants at the federal and provincial/territorial level.”

Those who join the civil defence corps would face less restrictive age limits and meet lower physical and fitness requirements. Their training would be limited to five days per year to ensure accessibility.

In that short period, volunteers would learn skills such as shooting, moving, communicating, driving a truck and flying a drone, according to the mobilization plan. Canada’s civilian force would get medical coverage during training, but not pensionable benefits.

The mobilization plan was sent to 20 top Canadian commanders and admirals, including leaders at Norad and NATO, special forces and cybercom. The plan has not been approved by the government in its current form. However, Defence Minister David McGuinty says he supports the idea of a volunteer defence corps.

“The notion of having a civil force of Canadians ready and willing and able to serve their country is something that has been talked about for years in Canada. It’s something our allies are doing and pursuing very actively,” McGuinty said, pointing to both Finland and Sweden as examples for Canada to follow.

The two Nordic countries have hundreds of thousands of citizens who are trained to respond to both manmade and natural disasters. The volunteers help operate public and private bomb shelters and co-ordinate emergency responses at the community level.

CTV National News’ Genevieve Beauchemin recently reported on Sweden’s “total defence” strategy, which involves enlisting all citizens to prepare for war.

In response to a question from CTV News about the composition of a civilian force, McGuinty said he wants to see public servants join, but also “bankers and mechanics on the shop floor.”

But creating a civil force will be another challenge on top of the military’s current recruitment struggles.

The Canadian Armed Forces does not yet have enough soldiers to reach its “authorized strength” of 71,500 soldiers and 30,000 reservists. It still needs to recruit approximately 15,000 more people.

McGuinty says he’s optimistic the military will reach that target soon given the government’s new investments in defence.

“We just put $82 billion in the budget to strengthen our Canadian Armed Forces…there’s positive take up and recruitment is up 55 per cent from last year,” McGuinty said.

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ctvnews.caproducers@bellmedia.ca
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By Ivan Taylor

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    Miami-Dade (WFOR) — A man caught on surveillance video stealing merchandise from a jewelry kiosk inside a Miami-Dade shopping center is now the subject of a police search, and investigators are asking for the public’s help to identify him.

According to the manager of Glamour, the kiosk targeted in the theft, the crime was carried out by a man and a woman working together. While the woman distracted the salesperson, the suspect reached across the counter and grabbed a box of jewelry — valued at $8,000 – before slipping it into a bag and walking away.

The manager, who asked not to show her face, said the pair approached the kiosk on Tuesday morning.

Surveillance video captures repeated attempts A surveillance camera positioned above the booth captured the man looking around repeatedly before making multiple attempts to reach over the counter. After several tries, he managed to take the merchandise and leave. The woman he appeared to be working with stayed on the opposite side of the kiosk, engaging the employee.

“It should not happen — that’s terrible,” said shopper Nina Hudson, who also noted how surprising it was that no one noticed the theft. “It’s such an open mall, and no one saw it? It’s very sad.”

Nearby stores unaware of theft Employees at nearby stores said they were unaware that anything had happened until they learned the kiosk had closed on Wednesday.

Dorian Zarza, who owns a store just a few feet away from the kiosk, said the theft is troubling.

“You can see the man’s face clearly,” he noted. “It’s concerning, really. We believed these things wouldn’t happen here, much less so early.”

Kiosk targeted twice in one week The manager of Glamour said this is the second time in less than a week that the kiosk has been targeted, although the earlier incident was not nearly as costly.

She emphasized that the suspect did not act alone.

“The value of everything they stole was $8,000,” she said. “This affects not only the owner but the employees, too.”

Security officials decline to comment Security officials for the shopping center did not respond to requests for surveillance footage from other cameras in the mall.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office has been notified about the case but declined to comment.

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