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.

Dr. LaCoñia Nelson

Wow! Well…my journey officially began on Valentine’s Day 2000, but my whole life has been by the grace and favor of God. Valentine’s Day 2000 was my first official day of being a full-time contract Special Education Teacher. I had recently graduated from college in December 1999, and after realizing that a BA degree in Psychology would yield no sustainable income, I decided to make substitute teaching into a full-time career. In my mind, it seems like the rest is history. Read more>>

Kelsei Luksa

I started my acting journey in 2022 a year after my first heart break, I was completely lost in life I had thought I knew where I would be but my life took me elsewhere. I struggle with daily anxiety and from time to time depression since I was at a really low point I started my first trial of therapy, my therapist at the time recommend I find things that make me happy and try new hobbies.  Read more>>

Naureen Ali

As a kid, I followed my parents into the kitchen every chance I got. Our immigrant family settled in Houston in the 1990s, and our meals were a fusion of Pakistani, East African, and British flavors. I’d watch closely as my parents chopped, marinated, and slow-cooked, carrying techniques passed down through generations. The kitchen has been a grounding and comforting presence for as long as I can remember.  Read more>>

Sandra Lee

The Beginning TDMEC was founded in February 2022 with a simple but powerful vision: to remove barriers to music education for underserved children in Dickinson, Texas and surrounding areas. Read more>>

Li Luo

When my son, Brendan Nie, was six years old, I enrolled him in piano lessons. We were fortunate to find an inspiring teacher who ignited his passion for music. I still remember Brendan saying he wanted to be a piano teacher, and that I could help him manage his music school. Read more>>

Cyrese Jezek

I started making jewelry in 1993. My husband traveled with his job and I had a three year-old and a one year-old daughter so I started doing it at night and grew to love it quite a bit. After doing it for a while, I started selling it in local craft shows in and around Houston and the Kingwood area. Read more>>

Bruce May

I majored in science at UH but when I graduated, I went to work in the business world, eventually migrating into video production in the 90s, writing, producing, and selling Television commercials and marketing videos. In 2003 I went to work for a company that had created an online streaming platform that was the first SaaS streaming service of its kind. Read more>>

Lacy Price

I learned to play mahjong a few years before COVID with a group of friends. We’d gather weekly, laugh, snack (drink), and slowly piece together the rhythm of the game. Then, during lockdown, we took it online. In the midst of all that uncertainty, Mahjong gave me a sense of control, making order out of chaos, quite literally. Read more>>

Adebimpe Oladesu

Hallberry Fashion is a glamorous boutique brand built on bold design, resilience, and reinvention: “Hallberry Fashion.” Most people walked past it, mistaking it for another vintage relic—but inside, something extraordinary was taking shape. Adebimpe, who believed fashion should be wearable art. Read more>>

Ivana Evans

I always knew as a little girl that I wanted to one day have my own dance studio! My senior year of college at Prairie View A & M University I started my own dance company Happy Feet Dance. My boss at the time at Kids R Kids Cole’s Crossing pushed the idea. Read more>>

Dean Theriot

My degree is in Exercise Physiology. When I started in the workforce in 1990, personal training was not widespread and very few people did it full-time. I was at The Hills Fitness Center in Austin when personal training really started to take of as a profession. Read more>>

LaTashia Kiel

Prior to 3rd grade if you had asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up my response was, ‘The 1st Black Woman President of The United States.’ However, I met someone who changed my life when I was in the 3rd grade. My grandfather who had Type 2 Diabetes had to have both legs amputated above the knee leaving him wheelchair bound. Read more>>

jae yeul LEE

I spent my childhood in Korea, and after graduating from university, I was given an opportunity that changed the course of my life. A Taekwondo master invited me to Houston, and that is where my journey in the United States began. Read more>>

James Caron

I started my career as a Meteorology Officer in the U.S. Air Force, where I led teams of over 30 personnel and supported high-stakes missions across the U.S. and overseas, including post-9/11 operations and hurricane relief efforts. That experience instilled in me the importance of precision, teamwork, and delivering reliable forecasts under pressure. Read more>>

Catherine Stewart

My story began in the woods of Georgia where I grew up being the outdoorsy wild child who learned to love nature and all of its living parts. I had a rough upbringing that made my escape into nature a beautiful and necessary coping mechanism. Read more>>

Natasha Wooden

We had just returned from our first ever family vacation to Disney World. I was enamored by the rides, the food, the atmosphere that changed from park to park that made me feel like I was in a different world! It was amazing minus the travel agent we hired. Read more>>

Tyler Campise

My name is Tyler Campise, and I’m the owner of Takes by Ty, a wedding and event content creation business I started about seven months ago. When I launched it, I wasn’t sure where it would lead, but it’s become something I truly love. For as long as I can remember, I said I was going to be a nurse. Read more>>

Rebecca Burley

How many kids want to be marketers when they grow up? Not that many, I imagine, but I did. Content marketing is what I always wanted to do with my life. And, I wanted to help people. Working two (sometimes three) jobs to put myself through college and graduate school, I never let anything keep me down. Read more>>

Aqunita Barnes

I started my companies Barnes Executive Services and Barnes Precision Bookkeeping and Taxes because I wanted to help people. I started in 2020 as a Notary Public and during the course of my notary duties, I talked with my clients and learned of other areas there was a need for help. Read more>>

Gracia & Adriana Villasana & Meignen

Adriana and I met over twelve years ago while volunteering. Through those years, we discovered our shared passion for education, service, and helping others grow. Without realizing it, we were building the foundation of what would later become our own project. In May of this year, we officially launched AG. Read more>>

Constance LeBlanc -Praylor

Constance Leblanc Praylor is a seasoned financial professional with over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry. Her career journey began in the banking sector, where she honed her expertise during her tenure at Wells Fargo Bank. She later transitioned into the mortgage industry, excelling as a Loan Processor with Miracle Funding Inc. Read more>>

Tarik Rever

I am a disabled model, influencer, social media marketer, singer songwriter, activist, and I also speak about spirituality. I know it’s a lot lol but there is so much to do in this world. Born Tarik Abdul-Alim in 1978, today I identify as non-binary and have try my best to be a voice for several communities—including women, children, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities. Read more>>

Keyah Seedanee

My journey as a Licensed Professional Counselor began when I graduated from the University of Houston-Clear Lake in 2016. I worked as a therapist at non-profit organizations, including 2 adoption agencies, for several years. I found that my passion was working primarily with children and families. Read more>>

Olivia Mendis

I’ve always carried a love for coffee with me. During my years as a flight attendant, I had the privilege of traveling the world, experiencing different cultures, and stepping into coffee shops in cities near and far. Each one had its own personality — some were cozy and quiet, others bustling and full of energy. But they all shared something special: they brought people together. Read more>>

Elizabeth Puente

I come from divorced parents, and for anyone who has been in that situation, you know how tough it can be. After my parents’ divorce, we lived with my grandfather for a while. When my mom was finally able to buy a house, we lived on a very tight budget. Read more>>

Craig Smee

My story really begins in South Africa, where I spent years leading in the banking and telecommunications industries. I learned early on what it means to guide teams through change, manage high expectations, and build systems that serve people well. At the same time, I was deeply involved in church leadership, which gave me a sense of purpose that went beyond just business results. Read more>>

Tina Stone

Since I was a child I’ve always loved to cook for people. I started making my own birthday party appetizers in my early teens. Life got busy as a young adult but always hosted holidays so I could share my dishes. Catering began with my son’s junior prom. It was a hit. Then years later a coworker asked me to cater her wedding! Read more>>

Arnita Pitts

I come from 3 generations of bakers. I would bake for my friends’ birthdays and various events. I always came with whatever their favorite baked good was. Then one day, a good friend of mine asked me to bake her birthday cake, and she would pay me. Read more>>

Jill Janszen

Oh boy!! Well, in order to make a long story somewhat short, my husband (who owns the business with me!) and I both met during culinary school in Austin, TX in 2014. Following culinary school, we both worked for some of the same companies and quickly realized that we enjoy working together and that we’re both very passionate about our work. Read more>>

Austin Nguyen

My story really starts with my family. I’m a first-generation American—both my parents immigrated from Vietnam after the war in 1975. When my grandparents arrived in Ohio, they didn’t know any English, but that didn’t stop them from finding ways to serve others. My grandfather, who had been a pastor in Vietnam, quickly set about building a church and pouring into his community. Read more>>

Sophia Holloway

I was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968, a year when America was grieving the loss of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. The streets were filled with unrest, and so was my home. My mother, a teenage Black woman, was raising four children alone by the age of 23. Read more>>

The Mother Talkers

The Mother Talkers is a Houston, TX band that brings a unique mix of rock, punk, and blues, delivering an electrifying sound that’s unmistakably original. When people go to a Talker’s show, they are taken into a sonic journey through the gritty streets of rebellion and the soulful depths of introspection. Our sound is both familiar yet refreshingly unique. Read more>>

Kyra Timmons

Throughout college, I never saw myself as a business owner. I craved a corporate job, and was so excited to take that path. I actually didn’t change that mindset until I traveled to Asia for about 6 months, and realized that once I got a job, traveling for long periods of time is not something I could easily do anymore. Read more>>

Richard Bonnin

My career began at Lamar University in Beaumont. Majoring in Mass Communication, I started as a sportswriter for the Lamar University Press. As a senior, I served as editor-in-chief, while interning as a reporter at the Beaumont Enterprise — a Hearst-owned daily newspaper. The Enterprise hired me full time after I graduated from Lamar. Read more>>

Kimberly Huff

I graduated from Abilene Christian University in 1988 and received a teaching certificate and began my career as a teacher. Having taught K-12th graders in both public and private education has helped shape my background and views of counseling children, teens, and adults. Read more>>

Howard Moseley

My event planning journey began back in college at UTSA. I can vividly remember always wanting to host events—but with my own unique twist. At the time, I didn’t even realize I was event planning. Many of the mistakes I made at 19 and 20 became valuable lessons that help me dodge bullets today. Read more>>

Rachael Wilson

My story really began, from an early age, with a love of creativity and communication. I discovered how powerful design and words can be when they work together, and that set me on a path to graphic design, copywriting, and marketing. Read more>>

Shawn Eierdam

Shawn Eierdam – Owner/Operator Tony Trejo – Owner/Operator Angela Caravello – Houston Operations Manager SHAWN: Common Cause began life as an idea 3 15 year olds had in a bedroom in little suburb outside Houston, TX. The idea was to pool the resources, which didn’t amount to much, of each of our collective bands into a record label to help each band get bigger followings. Read more>>

Eilis Zheng

When we relocated from Chicago in 2019, we fell in love with the Katy community. As we explored the area with our two kids, we saw a need for a place where parents and caregivers could take their kiddos to use their imaginations, express their creativity, and meet new friends. Read more>>

Maria Betancourt

In 2022, two women from different walks of life, cultures, and generations made a decision that would change their lives forever: to embark on a journey together. One was a professional massage therapist, with years of experience in the art of healing through touch; the other, a beauty and skincare specialist, passionate about aesthetics and wellness. What united us was not similarity, but difference. Read more>>

Kimbria Burton

My journey in healthcare began over a decade ago when I started working as a medical assistant. Those early days sparked a deep passion for caring for others and inspired me to pursue my nursing degree. Read more>>

Laurel Rush

My story starts in Seattle Washington after I graduated. I met my husband online. We got married and moved to New York City. I had no experience in the Beauty industry, but it was the only thing that I was really passionate about and great at. Read more>>

Laura Ramirez

My journey as a psychotherapist really began long before I ever earned a license or opened my practice. Growing up, I was always drawn to people’s stories — their struggles, resilience, and the ways they created meaning through life’s challenges. Read more>>

Kamryn McKinney

My love for dance started when I was around seven. My dad and I would watch James Brown movies and documentaries together, and that energy just pulled me in. I started performing little shows for my family, and my parents saw how much I loved it, so they put me in a school program. Read more>>

Tommie Rodriguez

My journey with Glow Up Lab began with a simple but powerful goal: helping people feel confident in their own skin. As a nurse with over 13 years of experience, I’ve always been passionate about combining medical knowledge with artistry to create real, lasting results for people. Read more>>

Kiet Duong

I started Crawfish Cafe with my wife in 2013 with a simple idea: to bring bold, flavorful Viet-Cajun cuisine to Houston and share a taste of both our Vietnamese heritage and our love for Cajun flavors. It started with one location and a lot of passion for creating food that was fun, unique, and full of flavor. Read more>>

Lorissa Stone

Childhood trauma and strict religion created a need to be loved and an intense desire to please in order to secure that love. Becoming a teen wife and mother further complicated and enhanced that dysfunction and pain. The belief that marriage would last forever offered security even if it was a painful kind of security. Read more>>

Brady Roberts

Brady always had a passion for fitness and found that helping others achieve their fitness goals was personally fulfilling. Therefore, he decided to pursue a degree in kinesiology and exercise science. In 2006, Brady graduated with honors from the University of Houston with a B.S. in Kinesiology and a minor in Health. Read more>>

Chris Tighe

I’ve taken a bit of an unconventional path into construction. I served 23 years between active duty and reserves as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy and also spent a decade as a police officer. While deployed to Afghanistan, I was tasked with overseeing the construction of an operations center at a forward operating base. Read more>>

Damita Allen

La’Dough Sweets was created from my love of baking for family and friends. The name itself represents my three wonderful children. The first three letters of the name La’Dough Sweets are the very initials for my children’s first names. The (L) represents my daughter Lea, the (A) represents my daughter Alexis, the (D) represents my son Denzel and the word Dough speaks for itself lol. Read more>>

Ashley Jennis

I graduated from college in 2018 and worked for an amazing PR company as my first job. At this time it was a big wave of small businesses needing social media help and that was my primary focus in my role. I absolutely loved it! After that, I went on to work in social media management until I started my own business in 2023! Read more>>

Joe Sansone

My name is Joe Sansone and I am the owner of RoseMary Horse Ranch and Ranch Sorting of America. In 2011 I sold my medical business after a very successful career and retired at the age of 49. Now with a previously rare abundance of free time, I decided to keep a promise he had previously made to my two young daughters. Read more>>

Dylan Meszaros

I have always been the creative type. Originally, I started with drawing and writing, but I have always been passionate about fashion. I began my sewing journey in my junior year of high school and have been rapidly improving ever since. Starting with menswear upcycling, my brand, DIVINE DISTORTION, has evolved into avant-garde and gothic designs for women. Read more>>

Habiba Musawar

My name is Habiba Musawar, wife of a very wonderful and supportive husband and proud mom of two boys. By education, I completed my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in Pakistan. During my last year of studies, I got married, and soon after my husband returned to the U.S. Read more>>

Austin McLeod

I was born in Jacksonville, Florida to a small family that consisted of me, my mom, and my older brother. Since early on in my childhood, I have always been an imaginative person. It started when I would constantly read books and watch movies or tv shows. I was always drawn in by unique stories and interesting characters like from Alice in Wonderland, Roald Dahl books, or Tim Burton’s movies. These things helped me escape to a different world in my mind and allowed me to play out different characters and stories.  Read more>>

Marzy Lo

My artist development has been a slow process–a majority of the battle was finding the confidence to just get started. Since I’ve released my debut EP, I’ve struggled most in supporting my dream as an independent artist, finding resources to make the art up to standard that I expect for myself, and learning new things. I’m grateful for the support that I’ve found along the way from my family, friends, and colleagues that I’ve met through music. Read more>>