During its founding, African Americans faced significant challenges, such as racism, discrimination and limited access to education, employment and political power.
Today, the Houston Defender Network is pivotal in advocating for social, economic, environmental and political justice for the African American community.
During her 40-plus years at the helm, Jiles has made significant changes placing emphasis on solution journalism, expanding community engagement through events and leading the digital transformation of the business.
She was the first Black woman to serve on the Greater Houston Partnership, a merger of the Chamber of Commerce, the World Trade Center and the Economic Development Council.
Although it is impossible to name all the team members, some stand out and are either still with us or have moved on to pursue their passions, such as Roland Martin, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Krissah Thompson, Ruben Dominquez and more.
In 2008 a new brand was introduced – the Defender Network, which elevated the legacy of ensuring relevance in today's media landscape and a commitment to justice on multiple platforms while promoting African American culture and history.
The Defender Network has been supported by various advertisers in health, finance, retail, and more, as they leverage the partnerships to establish a stronger relationship with the Black community.
Thanks to its staff, content, grants and many advertising clients, the Defender Network continues to evolve and maintain its status as a leading Black information source.