We were fortunate to catch up with some brilliant artists, creatives and entrepreneurs from throughout the Houston area and they share the wisdom with us below.

Dr. KayLa N. Allen-Young

The idea for Dear Mixed Girl® came from two powerful threads in my life—first, my lived experiences growing up as a mixed-heritage girl in Houston, and second, my academic journey focused on identity, leadership, and creating support systems that truly work for families. Read More>> 

Angelucho Bermudez

I still enjoy performing after 50 years in the business. I’m still strong physically and mentally. God has blessed me to stay very active at my age, and I still have the passion and drive to continue to perform. Read More>> 

Mia Salazar Bungard

Growing up with migrant parents—and now sharing my life with a Swedish-German family—I know deeply what it means to feel uprooted and how invisible we can feel. In modern society, we don’t need to move continents to feel like we’ve lost our tribe. And in multicultural realities, representation really matters, because the number of people who feel completely alone in this is only growing. Living abroad isn’t just “an adventure”; it’s a complex, ongoing process of adaptation that can take a heavy toll. Read More>> 

Mea Ware

Women. From my mom and Granny Fannie to icons like Fran Fine and Zelda Wynn, and to the countless beautiful women who have paved the way in fashion — you have been my greatest inspiration.

Fashion, to me, is not about fitting into a standard or allowing your body to be defined by anyone else’s expectations. Your body does not define who you are — it was uniquely designed for you. As we change, grow, and mature, our bodies evolve with us, carrying our stories, our strength, and our beauty. Read More>> 

Emily Martinez

The most important factor behind the success of my business is the military members and their families. Everything I do is built on their service and sacrifice. My business wouldn’t exist without the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting our nation, and the families who stand behind them. Their strength, resilience, and commitment are the foundation of my work, and I owe every success to them. Read More>> 

Michelle Jiron

Food! Food makes me happy! It brings people together. Enjoying a good meal with family and loved ones always brings joy to my heart. Having the ability to create dishes that are not only delicious but pleasing to the eye makes an incredible experience. I love seeing people take photos of their meals because it brings them happiness that they want to remember. Sushi is meant to be shared among friends. If you think of gatherings, Thanksgiving or Christmas, the meal is one of the happiest moments for everyone. Read More>>

Kathryn Grant

Since becoming a mom, I had to change my personal definition of “balance.” Instead of trying to give equal energy to everything at once, I’ve been more intentional about knowing what needs my focus the most in each season of my life. Maybe that means limiting the number of classes I teach, or taking on a certain number of real estate clients per month– giving me a chance to slow down and avoid the inevitable feeling of burn-out. All in all, I’ve gotten better at setting boundaries and carving out small moments of rest for myself. It’s definitely still something I’m working on, but now I approach balance with more intention and kindness toward myself than I used to. Read More>>