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.

Ketki

After moving to the U.S., I found myself inspired to combine my passion for art with my love for nature, leading me to start a flower preservation business, The Art Karma. With 700 plus reviews Over the past five years, I’ve had the honor of preserving memories for over 1,500 brides, capturing the essence of their special days in beautifully preserved floral keepsakes. This journey has been an incredible blend of art, emotion, and craftsmanship, and I feel deeply grateful for every piece I create. Read more>>

Jaime Monica

So I bought a DTF printer and started my newest journey. Since then my business has continued to grow. I get to design custom shirts for special events and provide local boutiques with the prints they need to grow their businesses. I get to work some of the most awesome small business owners in the area! I still have my regular tumbler customers and I sell my own custom tumblers in The Collective in Downtown Conroe but the DTF business has given me even more opportunity for creativity. Read more>>

Tre Boughton

I started out like many of us do in customer service. Then I shifted into logistics. Nothing glamorous, but it paid the bills. Eventually, I packed up my life in Chicago and moved to Kansas City, Missouri, during a time when folks were calling my hometown “Chiraq.” It felt safer, but Kansas City was… quiet. A little too quiet. I stayed just over two years; felt like there were more cows than people, then moved again, this time to Fairview Heights, Illinois, just outside St. Louis. Read more>>

Michele Patton

I have to wear a respirator and work outdoors only until coloring which I do inside. Working with gourds is seen with skepticism, some say it is more of a craft and do not take me seriously while others see if no different than if I was still working in clay. In either case, I have to do what feels right to me and I will continue to make my creations with gourds. I do believe with time, as my work evolves, it will be seen with a new interest. Read more>>

Cody Jackson

Belle Aesthetics was founded in 2024 with a mission to raise the standard of care in the aesthetic industry. Our goal has always been to help clients not only achieve their aesthetic and weight loss goals but also feel more confident by enhancing their natural beauty. We offer a range of services including Botox, dermal fillers, laser treatments, non-surgical face and neck lifts, and men’s sexual wellness therapies. Read more>>

Nancy Khan

From break ins to slander, deformation of character, slander, and even a murder plot on my life. The Lord removed my kids n I in Jan 2024. We moved to Galveston, where I have always wanted to live and have a salon. I struggled for a year to heal from the trauma I experienced and all i lost in the process. FINALLY, God opened the door for me in Galveston. My salon opens June 1, 2025.. This will be a major success. The epitome of getting it out the mud, walking by faith and trusting God. He will forever be who gets all the glory! Read more>>

Marlon Martinez

One of the most pivotal moments in my journey was starting a team with my business partner, Marie Benavente. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into at first, but we learned quickly, and it’s been one of the most fulfilling experiences so far. Today, we lead a growing team of agents in both Houston and Austin—three in Houston and one in Austin—and we’re focused on serving a mix of luxury buyers, inner-city clients, and first-time homebuyers. Read more>>

Shalonvia Gundy

This placed a calling on me to not only be an authentic, qualified therapist but to begin training others. A therapist can only assist so many clients in a day and throughout their career, but as a supervisor, that same therapist can touch countless lives through those they’ve trained well. This was shared with me in my clinical supervision experience, and I took this responsibility seriously to help the field grow with quality providers and also to be a responsible gatekeeper, hopefully preventing harmful people with self-gratifying intentions from harming innocent clients. Read more>>

LATACHIE “SKY” ADKINS

In summer 2025, I took a major leap of faith and launched my talk show, The Latachie Ann Show: The Runway Diaries. The live taping was nothing short of inspirational — the turnout was incredible, filled with love, support, and anticipation. It was a dream come true to see a room full of people from all walks of life come together to celebrate purpose, passion, and perseverance. The energy was electric, and many guests shared how moved they were by the stories, the authenticity, and the empowering atmosphere. It confirmed everything I already knew — this show is bigger than me. It’s a platform meant to uplift, encourage, and remind people that their voice and story matter. Read more>>

Ricardo Perez

I’m 27 years old, happily married to my high school sweetheart, first-gen Mexican-American born and raised in Houston. Growing up, things weren’t super easy. I went to schools that didn’t really have much, and most of the time I felt like I had to figure everything out on my own. Being the black sheep in the family I thought differently, dressed differently, and honestly, just saw life a little sideways from everyone else. Read more>>

Colleen Russo

Since its inception, The HUB has gained strong community support. In 2022, the Hodges family donated the Galway campus, providing a stable foundation for continued growth and expansion. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, The HUB relies on the generosity of families, friends, and local foundations to sustain its mission of fostering personal growth and unlocking potential in neurodiverse individuals. Read more>>

LaMont Jones

From editorial-style headshots to high-impact portrait sessions, I help small businesses, designers, real estate agents, and more develop content that resonates with their ideal audience, crafting brand narratives that stand out on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and beyond. Read more>>

Kim Obialo

And that’s just it–everything I have and do has been symptoms of just doing what I love and trusting God through it all. It is unexplainable, but I love working with miracles. Pushing the needle has been my North Star. I always ask myself, “How can I make this meaningful?” with everything I put out. The Evolution of an Outfit is my favorite project, where I hosted conversational interviews with creatives while we shopping in streetwear and reselling stores. It was all produced by me–outreach, editing, planning, everything. As I wrapped up Season 1 in October, I have had a lot of time to reflect and learn. Read more>>

Marlo Saucedo

At the turn of the century my husband and I moved into a loft downtown. Outside my law tech job, I wrote for CultureMap and Houston Business Journal. The city’s history became newly fascinating. I created paper pieces of the skyline, drawing each building from facts like architect, height, physical address, and materials, with Houston’s history written in a lighter shade in the background. My first of many 77002-area exhibits was at Kaveh Kanes Coffee. Architects and lawyers with offices downtown bought pieces … and so it began. Read more>>

Robyn

Still, something didn’t feel quite right. I craved a more holistic and lifestyle-centered way of supporting others. At one point, I told my family I wanted to become a personal trainer to help people feel strong, healthy, and confident in their own bodies… not just treat them once they were sick. But my family was adamant that it would be a mistake, so I shifted again and enrolled in nursing school. Read more>>

Millicent Coins

When I entered, she was a graduating senior and passed the role to me when she left. Given this exciting task, I spent my breaks from school, back home shadowing my stylist to learn techniques to take back to campus. Not just for special occasions like semi-formal dances, prom, and graduation but, for many students in my community who lacked the experience, I was able to help with routine hair maintenance. Ironically thriving at this prestigious prep school also provided me with a unique opportunity to thrive as a stylist. Read more>>

Frieda Moeun

It definitely has not been a smooth road. There is so much conflicting information when it comes to education and learning in the bra fitting industry. I spent the first part of my career working in mainstream stores, and at some point, I realized that I was practicing and perpetuating some of these myths. Halfway through being an “expert” in my field, I had to relearn what I was doing in order to truly offer my services to everyone and every body type. I’ve since written a detailed training program that addresses many fitting issues that mainstream stores don’t ever touch. Read more>>

Felicia Pichon

Life is a precious gift, one we must cherish. In August 2021, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and by October, I attended my first breast cancer event as someone personally affected. It was there I learned the shocking reality: the survival rate for Black Indigenous Women of Color (BIWOC) was devastatingly low, and in Harris County—home to the world’s largest medical center—it was even lower than the national average, hovering at just 50%. Read more>>

John Ross Palmer

I always knew I was an artist since I was very young and I also remember my elementary art teacher telling me you can never make a living painting or doing art life goes on at 24. My father dies suddenly and I decide to be a full-time artist and I had some type of agent that showed my art to galleries in Houston and I remember one specifically saying we don’t want to see his art until he’s 40 it will change too much so I decided to open my own gallery, which I did at another part of the Heights sold that property then built my new studio on Heights Boulevard now I’m meant to other artists to help them be financially successful. I’ve been Portraits for US presidents and im in multiple public collections. Read more>>

Kristi And Diego Barragan

Our story started in 2012 as we met through a sports camp for people with disabilities. We began a friendship and also became aware that we both were attending the University of Houston. In 2019, we got married and we have put aside the stigma of limitations for people with disabilities. We both have successful careers. We have traveled all over the world and are determined to break barriers even if the world is not specifically suited for us. Read more>>

Sheri Ford And Sharon Presta

About six months in, my fascination turned into a mission. I wanted to understand the different materials, the best installation techniques, and how to make fairy hair last as long as possible. With no one to teach me, I turned to my hair clients—they became my models as I tested and refined the process. It wasn’t easy. There were countless late nights, frustrating trial-and-error sessions, and months of practice. But eventually, I was ready to go live. Read more>>

Karla Trice

Blossom Bar Houston began unintentionally, but beautifully. A close friend invited me to create a bloom bar for her business launch, simply because she knew I was creative and loved working with flowers. She gave me full creative control, and I poured my heart into that setup. To my surprise, it was so well received that I was booked for two more events immediately after. At the time, I didn’t see it as anything more than a fun favor, but my brother encouraged me to take it seriously. Read more>>

Vanessa Irving Igwe

Doubters thinking you can’t do it because you’re a woman, learning how to make yourself stand out in a market where people didn’t take you seriously. Read more>>

Gamma Vega

School was also a struggle since I had to prioritized education over everything else. During college I became to struggle with mental health issues that involved self-criticism, self- sabotage and depression. My worst enemy was myself when it came to the tiny mistakes I would do during shows and with music in general. I would go through dark episodes which I am lucky to have gotten out from. However I’ve come to the realization that progress is not linear, and there will always be struggles along the way, but knowing that the state you are in is temporary is always comforting enough to help me continue on with my dreams. Read more>>

Sophia Elise

When I had my big chop, the biggest struggle I had wasn’t a sudden change in texture, but not knowing how to style short hair. I always had decently long hair, but I didn’t properly prepare for learning how to style short hair. Before doing my big chop, I would watch hours of YouTube videos on natural hair. I got use to the look of the different curls and coil patterns, how to care for them, what products to buy, and even did porosity tests. Read more>>

Dai Henry

It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of the biggest struggles has been helping clients understand the true meaning of a budget. Many people come in with big visions, inspired by social media or celebrity events, but aren’t aware of how much goes into bringing those ideas to life, both in terms of time and cost. From florals to rentals, labor, logistics, and last-minute changes, throwing a high-quality event is expensive. Educating clients while still respecting their vision and constraints has been a balancing act, but one that’s helped me grow and improve how I communicate the value of what I do. Read more>>

Tracy Noël

Then came Lash123. My baby. I got the keys in March 2020, and twelve days before the city of Miami shut down due to COVID. It was meant to be a symbol of everything I had worked for, visibility, ownership, and beauty in motion. I invested deeply, poured in time and resources, and even through the closure, I kept building. Ultimately, I had to release that dream. And yes, it hurt, but I saw that chapter as a sharping phase. Read more>>

Sentilion

Sentilion was formed in 2014 by a group of friends in Highschool. They played together for about 2 years before going their separate ways early on in college. Fast forward to November of 2023, when founding members/best friends Irving Daniel Tabares (Danny Tabs) and Gabriel “GrayBlue” Sanchez decided to get back together and reform Sentilion into what it was meant to be. They eventually released their first single “Rebirth” on Mother’s day of 2024. After the release, both Danny Tabs and GrayBlue reached out to old band members from previous bands they’ve been in to join Sentilion and make it what it is today. Read more>>

Rose Campbell

On the business side, learning how to scale a nonprofit, apply for grants, and build trust with donors while staying true to the heart of our mission wasn’t easy. I didn’t come into this with a manual—I came into it with a calling. But through every setback, I reminded myself: if I could survive what I’ve been through, I can overcome anything. And today, those struggles have shaped a program that’s built not just on services—but on soul, strength, and lived understanding. Read more>>

Abiola Abbe

ABIBI Bridal was born after planning my own wedding while navigating a busy and challenging season of life. Sadly, my family also experienced the devastating loss of a loved one. I knew early on that I didn’t want to do it all alone, so I hired a wedding planner for my big day—and it was one of the best decisions I could’ve made. It allowed me to be fully present, to soak in every moment without stress, and to truly enjoy the start of this new chapter. That experience opened my eyes to the beauty of intentional planning and the importance of support—especially for multicultural couples who often don’t feel fully seen or celebrated in the wedding industry. Read more>>

Dr. Jerry Wallace

My experiences have allowed me to meet some impactful leaders as I have participated in several fellowships, leadership conferences, and educational programs with the goal to expose students and families to higher educational opportunities. In 2023, while serving as Dean of Student Services at a community college, the Mavericks of Distinction Program that I led received the President’s Award for most impactful student success initiative. The following year in 2024, I was recognized as the iSchool High of The Woodlands – Community Impact Leader, and was the Higher Education Administrator of the Year, awarded by the Texas Black Business Expo, featuring NFL Hall of Famer and TV personality, Shannon Sharpe. Read more>>

Roberto Stevens

Also in recent Times a beautification project for 100+ year old African American cemetery , we have fed the unhoused in the greater houston area , been on the radio for a dream I plan on completing some day in the near future. TFQLSINC. Is “Where visions are created” Part of our free time we give back to our community in all shapes of life. I have 2 beautiful children and a beautiful wife with a crazy dog. These are what have made me a great man today because the family you create is forever. Last but not least never end the fight to be who you want to be in this world. Find what you love and it will love you in return! Read more>>

Andrea & Darin Moore

Mind you, we knew nothing about this process and if it would even be possible to do. We were literally armed with an ideal and we knew we had a great product to sell, everybody loves Tacos! I decided our approach would be to partner with both agencies to at least try to make it happen or at the very least be able to educate our self on this process. Once that Partnership was formed, We were off to the races and the rest is History. Currently we are 7 years of running a successful food truck business and we operate 2 food trailers in the CSRA area. Read more>>