Houston’s Most Inspiring Stories

Every neighborhood in Houston has its own vibe, style, culture and history, but what consistently amazes us is not what differentiates the various neighborhoods but rather what they all have in common.  From the Fourth Ward to Sugar Land (and everywhere in between) we’ve been blown away by how many creative and talented people call Houston home.  Check out some of the inspiring stories we’ve discovered throughout the city.

Kevin Hopkins

I started this back in 2005 via computer training. The owner of the school took a liking to me, because of my past she told me nobody would hire me. So, explain to me that I should open my own business. She gave me 100 flyers for her computer training school and put a $400 dollars in my hand. Explain that I would receive extra $50 for every person that signed up for the school. I rode the public transportation for a few months handing out her ads. Read More>>

Caitlin Duckworth

As an artist, you often get asked where your love for your craft began or when you knew you would pursue the art. I think the heart of my story is that I was just a kid who really liked to sing. I was always singing to myself- singing to myself on the swing set, singing under my breath in class, singing loudly in the car and the shower. I sang to comfort myself, I sang to entertain myself, and I sang to understand myself. My best friend as a kid was my CD player, and I spent a lot of time in my room alone, just singing along to Britney Spears and hand-me-down NOW CDs. Read More>>

Herman Finley

Herman Lee Finley III was born on September 12, 1984, in Houston, Texas. He was the second oldest of 19 siblings from his father and the youngest of two from his mother. Growing up in a large family, Herman learned the value of community and support from an early age. He graduated from Jack Yates Senior High School in Houston in 2003, where he developed a passion for helping others. Initially pursuing a career in the arts, Herman attended the Art Institute of Houston to study interior design. However, his path took a significant turn when he found his calling in the healthcare field. He began his career at St. Hope Foundation as a Health Education Risk Reduction Coordinator, where he worked for 15 years, focusing on HIV prevention and health education. Read More>>

Christian Clark

So before I become I dj, i’ve always had a passion & love for music; since a child. I’ve been a music lover. I grew up singing, I sang in church. My family is very musically inclined. My cousin is a Grammy nominated artist. So music is in my blood. Read More>>

Natalia Balvin

It all started at the beginning of this year when I was looking for ideas to start a new business; I didn’t know what to do and my husband reminded me that I have a huge imagination and that I could use that for my business, and I did. I started Dalvin Studio with the desire of giving other people a place to let their imagination flow. Read More>>

Kiki Lauderdale

From a baby up until age 5, I had a wonderful loving and nurturing childhood surrounded by love. I was raised to believe in God and to talk to God about everything. A few days after I turned 5 My mother picked up and moved far away with a guy no one in my family knew. Immediately my life turned into a living hell as I became a victim of horrific (domestic violence) child abuse. Read More>>

Tianna Randle

Hi ! My name is Tianna Randle aka Speedy T! I am 23 Years YOUNG! I’ve been a student athlete since I was about 12 years old. I played volleyball, basketball, and ran track. My ultimate love ended up being track and field. I set records in my middle school highschool and college. In the meantime while going to a D1 college I picked up a side hustle that ended up being one of my favorite expressions, which is doing nails.  Read More>>

Lyric Spriggins

Not long after arriving in Miami, my world was shaken again when I was involved in a life-altering car accident. This marked the beginning of a grueling two-year journey through surgeries, physical therapy, and prescription painkillers, all in an effort just to compete again. Losing my mom and my athletic career in such a short time left me grappling with a deep sense of loss and uncertainty. I took a year off from school, stepping away from sports entirely. Read More>>

Kevin Flores

When I got out of the Navy I enrolled in college and started working with different mediums. I went to College of the Mainland and finished my bachelors at U of H. At that same time that I was in my first year of college I started my apprenticeship in Galveston, Tx. under Chano Zuniga. I’ve since worked in several different shops over the last decade learning from lots of great artists I’ve met in the process. I’ve managed to make my way to the Sugarland area and have been here for about a year now. Read More>>

Axel Cardenas

After high school, the harsh reality set in that paying for college wouldn’t be straightforward. As a Mexican immigrant, the scholarships and financial aid available to my peers were out of reach for me. So, I entered the workforce and found a knack for bartending, using it to fund my college journey. At first, things seemed promising—I was taking classes, earning money, and felt on track. But when my father lost his job, I became the sole provider for my family of five.  Read More>>

Gisel Barbareno Desir

However, it also faces challenges like poverty, inequality, and political instability. My parents are part of a beautiful culture community Called Garifuna , The Garifuna people take great pride in their unique cultural heritage and have worked to preserve their language, traditions, and history.They are so resilience,their cultural richness, and warmth have made them an integral part of the fabric of Central America and beyond. Read More>>

Subduer Dre

I started by taken the risk and believing in myself. Would it be cliché to say that is how everyone story starts? As a kid growing up I’ve always had a passion and ear for music. The genres of music would change with every family member I spent time with. Born and raised in Memphis, TN aka The City of Blues music was literally all around me. One day I had a mental switch from consumer to producer so I decided to buy a beat and left my thoughts, emotions, feelings, as well as my life experiences in the booth. I instantly fell in love with the process of writing and hearing myself in the studio. Read More>>

Saira Orozco

I started in the wedding industry at the end of my high school career. I was in an orginazation called FFA and I got my certified floral certificate thinking I can potentially do something with it in the future.My Ag Teacher at the time would take me with her to weddings and she would select students that had the talent to create arrangements so I learned a little bit there. However when I graduated High School in 2015 I went in to get my nursing degree. I ended up finishing half of what was required at Lone star College and dropped out due to realizing the career is not for me end of 2017. Read More>>

Donald Campbell

I started my company as a side business. My finances were struggling and I’ve always been good with cars. I lived in a 1 bedroom apartment and took what I had and made it grow Read More>>

Lori Olson

Four years ago, I packed up my family of four (plus adorable fur-baby) and moved from the midwest to North Houston, fully excited for our new chapter! But life had a series of unexpected plot twists I didn’t see coming, especially in the realm of making new friends and forming those oh-so-meaningful bonds. Read More>>

Evrim Utkutan

As an interior designer who has lived in Houston for 20 years, my experiences and passion for design led me to embark on my own entrepreneurial journey. The story of Kybele Decor began in 2019 as a result of this personal path and the drive to turn my dreams into reality, alongside my business partner, Gökçen. Together, we aimed to create modern furniture that blends functionality and aesthetics, setting a new standard in the industry. Read More>>

Sharimar Cruz

I started my journey with a fascination for capturing moments, thanks to my parents—especially my dad, who always had a camera in hand, and my mom, whose support and encouragement have been instrumental in my journey as an artist. Those early memories ignited my love for the art of photography. In high school, I asked my dad for my first professional camera, marking the beginning of my career path. I later pursued a BFA in Photography at Point Park University and then an MPS in Fashion Photography from the School of Visual Arts, where I refined my skills and honed my vision. Read More>>

Kimario Mcfadden

Once I received that treatment I knew exactly what I wanted to do after my football journey was over. This was the birth of Chilly Mac. Now Chilly Mac is the #1 Cryotherapy service provider in the Houston area. We specialize in mobile service in which we travel to you for treatment sessions. We have serviced a variety of athletes from the high school level all the way to the pros. Our Houston Texans clients include Tytus Howard, Laremy Tunsil and Tank Dell. We have also serviced additional elite athletes such as Tyreek Hill (NFL) and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (WNBA). Read More>>

Elizabeth Pennington, Lpc-s, Rpt, Emdr Consultant

We now have three “Basecamp” locations including Richmond, Magnolia, and Normangee Elementary School. We travel to clients homes, schools, and now local hiking trails, to make therapy comfortable and convenient. We are leading thew way in developing new protocols for combing EMDR and Nature-Based Therapy. We have a new, one of a kind opportunity coming in 2025. We are offering a Nature-Based Family EMDR Intensive weekend in January. As far as I am aware, this is another innovative treatment that has never been offered before. I would say that is our culture at Happy Camper; we provide highly specialized treatment in unconventional settings that aid in client’s outcomes. Read More>>

Christopher Smith

I first started in my Bestfr college dorm . I was sleeping on his couch . I Was trying to figure out what I was going to do to make money & was praying to god to show some type of sign of what he wants me to do . I remember falling asleep & had A dream of me cutting hair , An something said just start . I remembered I had took my moms trimmers and my dads clippers with me to school . Because i said i was going to start cutting my own hair . An that how I got started cutting . Read More>>

Andrea Sanchez

Artistically, I think my journey began pretty early on. I have always been inclined to follow some form of artistic endeavor from an early age. I can truly remember the very first time I started drawing, and that was in second grade. Although for most of my life I created art as a hobby, I always had a little voice in the back of my head that art was going to be my livelihood; and i held on to that. In 2020-2021 my life changed, just like it did for many of us. Read More>>

Alist (dre)

With fueling passion, DJ Alist immersed himself in the art of music production. Drawing inspiration from the innovative sounds of R&B legends and the pulsating beats of House pioneers, he honed his skills in the studio. His dedication and creative flair gives an edge to his sound that is unique to his style. Read More>>

Queen Phillips

I began writing poetry and journaling in high school, several years ago. As I matured, so did my content and style of writing. I self-published my first book of inspirational poetry in 1997. My inspirational writing evolved and I began writing articles and published in faith-based magazines. I launched my own faith-based website and starting blogging, which reached over 170 countries.. Read More>>

Harsh Mahadeshwar

2 months ago, i with my partner Priyadarsini Rajendran started an Indian Restaurant named Chingaari where we bring sizzling blend of Indian flavors, from the rich traditions of the North to the vibrant spices of the South. The idea started from the fact that we were missing traditional and authentic indian flavors in our city and we wanted to bring it to our community in Houston and pearland area. These are nostalgic food we used to eat growing up in our cities back in india. So far we are over whelmed by the love we are getting for the food across the town with 4.9 stars / 5 already Read More>>

Ginsa Michelle

Fast forward to November 2023, after decades of keeping this dream hidden, I decided to finally put those thoughts to paper and draft my first book. Romance has always been a favorite genre of mine to read, so naturally I set out to write a romance novel that had been living in my brain for weeks and weeks when it would come to me in frequent dreams as I was asleep (true story!). Read More>>

Pamela Page

In addition to perfect events, I also meet my clients vision VS my clients’ budget. I’m a professional with personality that can deliver the most memorable moment while listening to your budget and understanding your needs. I create simple wedding planning for couples on a mission to make every moment count. Page Designs & Events combines my knowledge detail designing and a full client experience. So, give us a call after having your intimate engagement so we can plan an affordable wedding for the modern Bride. Read More>>

Lilibeth Azua

I started my makeup journey in 2016 but didn’t start taking it serious until 2022 I decided to take a leap of faith and jump into lashing and brows back in March of this year (2024) it has took me some time to really take off as I am a mom of 3 amazing kiddos also a wife but I finally decided to take it serious and pour my all into the beauty industry. I do plan to expand pretty soon as well as I am an entrepreneur, I also carry two other small businesses under my belt. I’m very ambitious! But I do it all for my kids and the love I have for what I do and making others feel beautiful and happy with what I have to offer with my businesses. Read More>>

Kennedi Robinson

The feeling was such a reward to see someone be so infatuated with my work. Eventually, I began fully accepting clients in 2020. Here I am today, going four years strong with GoodGotGlam & I couldn’t be more grateful for all the love and support I’ve received from my clients. Whether it’s been me glamming for a wedding, photoshoot, or simply doing everyday makeup for someone, all the support hasn’t gone unnoticed and keeps me going in more ways one could ever understand. Read More>>

Jay Corine

I started off on social media just as a tool to connect with friends and old school classmates. Then I was introduced to YouTube by my best friend and that’s when my content creator journey began. I started off initially with a small following and things took off pretty fast. I have grown to love all my supporters and I have met some other pretty dope content creators throughout my time on YouTube. I plan to continue working to grow my following and continue connecting with all my genuine supporters. Me and the SQUAD are locked in for life! Read More>>

Blk Gurl Luxury

I began my journey as an artist directly out of college. Before graduating from high school I knew that I wanted to pursue a music career. I briefly shared my interest with some family and they didn’t take me seriously. I also knew that I wanted to experience going to college especially because it’s what my mother wanted me to do; as she got pregnant with me at the age of 16 and didn’t get to experience graduating from high school. I am a 1st generation college graduate. And that, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE FOR ME. Read More>>

Christiane Perkins

I moved to North Carolina from Ohio to retake cosmetic arts because I had let my license expire. I met some really awesome people and was able to attend cosmetic school for free. I did hair, worked the airline all while on section 8 a single mother trying to raise 3 kids and it still wasn’t enough! I told myself I was moving to Houston as it was always an aspiration to open a business here. I landed in 2019 and took off from there I started in my home doing hair, got a suite for two years then open my walk-in natural hair and wig boutique. Currently a full service salon with braiders, lash techs, nail techs, cosmetic artist and makeup services Read More>>

Roshunda White

Thankfully I Survived! However, my children and I are forever scarred by this tragic event. My husband was the provider. Imagine trying to heal yet worrying how things will work out financially. Certain program could not assist me; including Crime victims (even though they approved me)because they are a reimbursement organization. I didnt need a shelter. I had a place to stay, I had a vehicle, and of course if there are insurance policies that takes time.  Read More>>

Tim Qualls

You know I used to think that if I worked with you on something or hired you for something, that we would become real close, but that isn’t real life. I’ve found that you don’t need a ton of people to help you and guide on your journey. If you need a mentor, go out there and ask them. You have nothing to use. Maybe ask them to borrow some of their time and buy them a coffee, but don’t forget it has to be worth it for them as well. And once you find those people that are your team and your cheer leaders, don’t ever forgot to cheer them on, and invest in their lives as well. It will always be a two way street. Read More>>

D Rob

I’ve always enjoyed fashion in general. However my business is truly an idea that came to me just a few months ago. Something about the start of 2024 just led me to go big or go home for no reason. INFINITE ASR was an idea in March of 2024, by July I had ordered some samples, and on September 4th I opened up shop with a soft launch. It was truly wickedly fast but I fully embraced it. Read More>>

Annyra Mafulu

Each day, I use them to create beauty and bring joy to others which brings me joy, proving that even in the face of adversity, we can find our strength and purpose. Through my work, I am able to take care of my family. I don’t know where we would be if it wasn’t for my talent, turning what once was a source of shame into a symbol of resilience and love. This experience has taught me that our challenges do not define us, but rather, how we rise above them does. My precious hands have become a testament to the power of perseverance and the incredible impact we can have when we embrace our true selves. Read More>>

Nancy Potter

After a lifetime of writing, my passion culminated in the publication of my first novel, “Barbours Cut; Beyond the River’s Reach,” in September 2023. This novel, based on the extraordinary life of my great-grandfather, Capt. Clyde Barbour, was a story I always knew I would write. The process began in 1985, with interviews of my grandparents that I recorded on cassette tapes; my grandmother was Capt. Barbour’s daughter. I gathered all the family lore I heard growing up, the interviews I had recorded over the decades, and years of meticulous research to bring my family’s rich history to life. Every detail, every story, was worth the effort, despite the unexpected physical toll from spending hours reading microfiche and going over old papers and photos trying not to destroy them. Read More>>

Lisa Ma’ree

I remember vividly the trips we would take to visit my Aunt Mary Louise in New Orleans. She was an amazing cook and her potato salad was my favorite dish. It was always a family affair in NOLA, where we enjoyed each other’s company while having a delicious meal. Our Louisiana custom is to bond and express love with friends and family through cooking. I would call her often for advice on preparing food and she was very detailed with her instructions. It was a process, but I was committed to perfecting my skills. My aunt also taught me how to slow-cook meats at a low temperature for tenderness and flavor. Learning from skilled cooks is vital in mastering meal preparation. It takes time, cleanliness, attention to detail, choosing the correct spices, and monitoring the progress. Read More>>

Robyn Graham

I began my career in cosmetology, graduating at the top of my class with honors and earning scholarships to pursue advanced studies at PBA. In 1986, I completed Advanced Master Classes, including the Graduate advanced Division with the Redken Scientific School program, presented by PBA, along with a Master Aesthetic Skin Care course encompassing the Theory of Electrolysis. My studies included a rigorous internship at PBA, which included completing business classes at Point Park, building a solid foundation in both the creative and business aspects of cosmetology. Read More>>

Aliyah Ambrose

COCOBEAUTYLLC is a skincare brand that was created to make people feel good within their skin. A brand and lifestyle that makes you feel good and want to do better with managing time for yourself. Self-care is very important when it comes to your mental and physical health you will thrive. Thats what COCOBEAUTYLLC is all about. Read More>>

Trae Perry

My story is pretty interesting; I’ve been involved in the arts since childhood. Began experimenting with drawing and painting, which later on led to me discovering digital art, and ultimately deciding to pursue graphic design. Around the same time, I’m also playing instruments throughout elementary and middle school, which then led me to pursue rapping, due to my love for music. Throughout my 30 years of living, God has blessed me to create and collaborate with artists and entrepreneurs from around the world; and I’m nothing short of grateful for it. Read More>>

Ayo Jeremiah

You know, my journey really kicked off with a strong passion for technology and marketing, which naturally led me into the world of IT. As I dove deeper, I started noticing that many leaders and entrepreneurs were having a tough time growing their businesses online. That’s when it hit me—I could combine my tech skills with a focus on personal and business development to make a real difference. Read More>>

Annabela Nikolov

I specialize in acrylic paintings. I’d say I’m most known for my colorful funky and weird paintings. There are definitely some paintings I’m more proud of than others. And I’d definitely say that my love for colors sets me apart from others. Nowadays the paintings I see are more realistic or duller and darker colors and that expresses other peoples emotions and that’s perfectly fine! But I want my paintings to always express joy! Read More>>

Gregory Monette Jr.

I really got hooked when I partnered with my brother to purchase a 5-acre tract back in Beaumont to do my first land subdivide. We purchased the land back in late 2020, replatted it then sold it to builders and land buyers. I had no idea what I was doing but I learned a ton from the deal and knew that it was something I wanted to continue doing career-wise. I eventually learned about the Master’s of Land and Property Development program at Texas A&M and decided to enroll. Little did I know that enrolling in that program would guide me on a path of becoming a land developer and builder. Read More>>

David G. Daniels

The experiences and memories never leave you. The mental, emotional, and physical abuse at the hands of strangers never leaves you. My personal story mirrors the challenges faced by numerous foster youth who frequently lack the resources or the courage to speak up. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge my foster parents, Marvin and Geraldine Coleman, and my child advocate, Denise Allen, for their generous contributions of time, talents, and treasures. Their kindness has remained with me and propelled me through my darkest times to my now-brightest moments. Read More>>