Inspiring Stories from Outside the 610

Sidra Hashmani

MyKidsHQ began with the common experiences of many second-generation Muslim kids in America. Growing up we felt a noticeable void in the media —a lack of characters, stories, and images that reflected what we knew about our religion and culture. This absence wasn’t just limited to television; it extended to books, toys, and virtually all forms of children’s entertainment. It was as if our culture & deep-rooted religious values were invisible in the world around us.  Read More>>

Ty Beaver

Styled Holiday Décor did not begin like a typical interior decorating company. It was born in the heart & home of its founder and owner, Ty Beaver. As a self-proclaimed Christmas enthusiast, I have always been passionate about making holidays magical, especially Christmas. Every year, I would decorate my own home with unique and luxe Christmas tree designs, drawing the attention of family and friends. Read More>>

Mary McElligott

Brookside Village Farmers Market has been operating since October 2021. Located just south of Beltway 8, we are nestled in a rural neighborhood. We are a true farmers market, offering locally grown produce, eggs, honey, mushrooms, meat, roasted coffee beans, sauces/spices in addition to locally made crafts. We feature live music and various activities and educational programs as well. Read More>>

The Moment Makers FTC Robotics Team

The Moment Makers FTC Robotics Team is an all-girl FIRST Tech Challenge team with team members from Pearland and Houston. This is our third year competing, and we have advanced to the FIRST World Championship all three years, each year winning a prestigious judged award at this international level. This year, The Moment Makers is the only FTC team from the greater Houston area winning a coveted spot in the FIRST World Championship.  Read More>>

Roozbeh Ghasemi

I came to the US about 14 years ago and started pursuing my dream job, which is dentistry. I had my education from overseas. I have my MBA from there, and I was thinking I just need to pass the exams and take the pre-requisite courses in order to get into dental school. Sooner after comin here, I realized that I have to start over and go to college again and earn another degree to be competitive with other applicants. Read More>>

Oneyda Garza

I’ve always harbored a big dream, even while growing up in Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas. However, when our family moved to Brownsville, Texas, that dream began to take shape. My aspiration was clear: to further my education and pursue a career in business. Houston, Texas, seemed like the perfect place to fulfill that dream.  Read More>>

Seán Patrick Judge

I think the biggest challenge I ever faced was when living in New York and struggling to pay the bills by working 4 jobs, and then trying to have a theater career. I did a few plays while I was there, but it was tough going. Then, getting mugged and having to have my orbital bone, a broken nose, and some teeth repaired…all without insurance, made living there even more difficult. Read More>>

Allie Archer

Coming from a family of educators, I started out planning to pursue elementary education. Around my junior year of college, I started going to counseling when grief started to resurface from when my mom suddenly passed away when I was 12. My own personal counseling journey made me think: What would it be like to be in the other chair? Read More>>

Keshia Jones

Back in 2017, I started as a MUA in Houston, TX. In an effort to advance my skill set, I enrolled in Esthetics School in 2019. Here, I began to fall in love with skincare. I was able to clear my acne-prone skin and wanted to be able to help people who are suffering from acne to get clear. I immediately started working as an esthetician at a local Med Spa where I was able to garner invaluable skills and training to help me clear my clients.  Read More>>

Linsey Brewster

So, I moved to Cypress, Texas, 7 years ago from South Florida, and I noticed upon my arrival to Cypress, Texas, that there were not a lot of beauty supply stores in the area. I also had 7 kids, and getting to the beauty supply store was not easy, especially when it wasn’t close. So, I started thinking to myself about how I could this be easier for me to get my beauty supplies. So, I started planning and thinking of my idea. Read More>>

J Le

My story began with savings, a vision, a passion for helping others, and a desire to make a difference. Before pursing on this path, I worked at a dental office. Despite parental expectations for me to pursue a traditional career in medicine, I knew deep down that I wanted to chart my own course. Read More>>

Dr. Kerri-Ann Coombs

Dr. Kerri-Ann always knew from a tender age that her calling lay in the realm of healthcare. Growing up, she witnessed firsthand the profound impact that vision has on everyday living, spurring within her a deep desire to be part of the solution. Creating a brand that represents Vision and all aspects to Vision. Read More>>

Mark Semmelbeck

I studied engineering at Texas A&M University and worked first as a consultant and later as an independent operator in the oil & gas industry for 35 years. My father was an entrepreneur and college business professor and always encouraged me to look for opportunities to start my own companies. My wife, Roc’C, supported me to go out on my own shortly after finishing my PhD (while working full time) when our kids were 13 and 9.  Read More>>

Zephan Parker

My journey of art expression began with word art – graffiti over 25 years ago. Arranging letters in words, pushing them to the boundaries of their shapes and forms of expression. My style began to settle in as the urban hip-hop community embraced the classic styles of Ralph Lauren and other American designers as symbols of status. Here, the journey to a more modern western style began to unfold.  Read More>>