Meet Terence Narcisse | Foodie & Nonprofit Executive

We had the good fortune of connecting with Terence Narcisse and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Terence, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
“What will your legacy be?” That profound question was posed to me while sitting at the funeral of a close childhood friend. He had passed away a few days earlier at the age of 18 in a car accident. At that time, I had no idea what a legacy was or why it mattered. What I did know was that I wanted people to say nice things about me when it was my time to go. I spent the next few weeks thinking about what I could do to help my neighborhood. After a few community service projects, it became abundantly clear that there was a need for a community service organization. I was 18 years old, did not have the money, nor did I know anything about managing an organization. However, what I did have was an abundance of passion, natural curiosity, and a belief that I could change the world. So I founded Barrett Station Council, now known as East Harris County Empowerment Council (EHCEC). We mainly focused on simple projects to spread joy and happiness throughout the neighborhood. We later grew this to include back to school events and holiday initiatives. Twelve years later, EHCEC has seven employees, four contractors as it helps more than 3,000 households throughout East Harris County. Each day, we work to serve and support families and individuals who need it most. I would want people to remember that I worked tirelessly to ensure that East Harris County had resources and opportunities that are afforded to other communities throughout Houston. We are making East Harris County the best place to live, learn work and play. To learn more about our work, please visit www.ehcec.org.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am most excited about living my dream each and every day. I wake up, hop out of bed in the morning and get to help thousands of my neighbors each and every day. I am most proud of being able to grow an idea into a leading social impact organization. I got to where I am today by working with people who believed in me and support my dream. It was not easy but it is worth it! I overcome challenges by remembering what brought me to where I am and giving myself grace when I missed the mark. I want the world to know that you dont have to be rich or famous to make a difference. You just need passion, energy and creativity!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite spot in Houston is Discovery Green. The space is calming and allows me to connect with nature in a meaningful way. We would get food from Tacos A Go Go or Dot’s Coffe Shop in Houston. Some of the best things to do in Houston is to check out other communities and see what is going on in the neighborhood.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate this story to my parents and grandparents for all of thier love, support and encouragement along the way.

Website: www.ehcec.org
Instagram: ehcec
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tnarcisse/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ehcec
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ehcec
Other: https://www.khou.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/great-day-houston/east-harris-county-empowerment-council-ehcec/285-b1472257-db1e-4bd3-95e2-69f6a6300313 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/terence-narcisse-how-friend-s-death-changed-his-life-n1052976 https://www.click2houston.com/community/2019/12/23/sunday-conversations-terence-narcisse/