My grandmother was born in 1916 on the same red Virginia ground where her grandfather was born enslaved. She lived to one hundred and five. She carried the weight of what her family had been to my family, and what her family had been to itself, the way you carry a stone you cannot put down. When she died, the stone passed to me.
I went looking.
What I found was a paradox written in blood.
The man Thomas Jefferson called “the most learned and logical” of the founding generation was my fifth great-grandfather. In 1766 he wrote that Parliament’s fleets and armies might give it power, but not right. He wrote that shackles, however nicely polished, would never sit easy on free men. He was Jefferson’s cousin and political mentor. He helped invent the American argument.
He owned thirty human beings. In 1769, in Jefferson’s first session in the House of Burgesses, the young man asked his old mentor to do one brave thing: introduce a bill making it easier for masters to free the people they enslaved. Bland did as Jefferson asked. He was denounced as an enemy to his country. In Jefferson’s words, he was “treated with the grossest indecorum.”
He kept his thirty slaves. He died still holding them.
That is the strange courage of the founding. A man who understood that government without consent is tyranny could not break the shackles in his own house. He indicted himself with his own argument. So did Jefferson. So did every Virginia patriot who signed his name to natural rights while holding the title to another human being.
They wrote the creed anyway. They knew it would destabilize them. And the argument they could not finish was picked up by the people they would not free.
A hundred years later, the great-
THE SHACKLES OUR FOUNDERS WARNED US ABOUT
By Ben Jealous, National Political Commentator
great-grandson of the man they would not free left the place of his enslavement as a teenager and never looked back. He cobbled shoes. He preached. He kept a lighthouse on the same point of land where the patriot’s plantation once stood. In 1879 the people of Prince George and Surry Counties elected him to the Virginia House of Delegates as part of the most successful biracial coalition in the nineteenth-century South.
They abolished the poll tax. They tore down the public whipping post. They founded what is now Virginia State University. They rebuilt the colleges the war had broken. They funded free public schools for every Virginia child, Black and White. They built, for one bright moment, the Virginia the patriot could have written into law and would not.
The Danville Massacre of 1883 ended that coalition with bullets. The argument went unfinished again. It is unfinished still.
Read the grievances in the Declaration of Independence one more time. Standing armies in our streets without the consent of our legislatures. The military rendered superior to the civil power. Quartering armed troops among us. The protection of armed men, by mock trial, from punishment for murders committed against us.
Last June the President federalized California National Guardsmen and active-duty Marines and sent them into Los Angeles over the governor’s objection. A federal judge ruled it violated the Posse Comitatus Act. Patrick Henry warned of exactly this in 1788. He used almost the
same words.
The Fourth Amendment was written because British officers used general warrants — blank checks to search any home, any paper, any person. In 2024 the Fifth Circuit ruled that geofence warrants, which sweep up the data of everyone near a crime scene, are “modern-day general warrants” forbidden by the Constitution. The court named the colonial writs of assistance.
Section 702 of FISA lets the government query Americans’ communications — swept up in surveillance of foreign targets — without a warrant. The 1033 Program has poured seven billion dollars of military gear into ten thousand local police departments. Breonna Taylor was killed in her bed. Amir Locke was killed in his sleep. Both by officers serving no-knock warrants. Both, in the language of 1776, victims of armed troops quartered among us, protected from punishment by a mock trial.
This is not a left issue. It is not a right issue. Ron Wyden and Rand Paul wrote the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act together. The ACLU and Cato agree. The grievances are not partisan because the grievances are not new. They are the same grievances written in the same hand against the same kind of power.
The patriot understood the principle and could not live by it. His descendant lived it and was outvoted by force. My grandmother carried the weight of that unfinished business her whole life and never put it down.
It was unfinished in 1776. Unfinished in 1865. Unfinished in 1965. It is unfinished now. And it is ours to finish.
Ben Jealous is a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and former president and CEO of the NAACP.
Change did not tiptoe across Texas on Tuesday night. It arrived with thunder, lightning, and a ballot box big enough to shake the rafters from Washington County to West Houston, from Fort Bend County to the Texas Gulf Coast. By Wednesday morning, one message was unmistakable: Texas voters are not simply watching political change — they are driving it.
Across the state, incumbents, establishment favorites, and long-familiar political names faced a restless electorate ready for something new. In the Republican U.S. Senate runoff, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated longtime U.S. Senator John Cornyn, with the Texas Secretary of State reporting Paxton at 880,202 votes to Cornyn’s 497,702 with 99% of polling locations reporting. For Republicans, it marked a dramatic rebuke of old-guard leadership. For Democrats, it opened a fresh conversation about statewide opportunity, accountability, and the urgent need to organize for November.
But here in the Houston region, the political winds blew even harder.
In the newly redrawn 18th Congressional District, Christian Dashaun Menefee, 38, delivered one of the night’s defining victories, defeating longtime Congressman Al Green. State results showed Menefee with 32,819 votes to Green’s 14,370, with 95% of polling locations reporting. It was a generational shift in one of Houston’s most storied congressional seats. Green’s public service stretches back nearly half a century, including his time as a Harris County justice of the peace before his congressional career, but voters chose Menefee’s forward-facing campaign and coalition-driven message for this next chapter.
Menefee’s rise has been rapid, historic, and closely watched. First elected Harris County Attorney in 2020, he became both the first Black person and the youngest person to hold that office. After the death of Congressman Sylvester Turner, Menefee won the special election for the 18th District and now moves forward as the Democratic nominee for the full term. The race was also shaped by Republican-led redistricting, which altered Houston’s congressional map and forced a painful contest between two Democrats with deep Houston ties.
The theme was clear: voters honored the past, but they voted for the future.
In Texas House District 131, Staci Childs, an attorney and State Board of Education member, defeated Lawrence Allen Jr. State results showed Childs with 4,952 votes to Allen’s 3,080, with 92% of polling locations reporting. That race carried its own Houston history. Allen, a retired educator and former State Board of Education member, sought to follow the path of his mother, Dr. Alma Allen, who has long represented the district. But voters chose Childs, reflecting another local appetite for fresh leadership rooted in education, advocacy, and generational transition.
In House District 149, Dr. Darlene Breaux, president of the Alief ISD Board of Trustees, defeated incumbent Rep. Hubert Vo. The Texas Secretary of State reported Breaux with 1,347 votes to Vo’s 902, with 92% of
WINDS OF POLITICAL CHANGE PUSH ACROSS TEXAS IN EVERY AREA
By Burt Levine, Political Editor for www.StyleMagazine.com
polling locations reporting. Vo’s defeat ends a two-decade run in the Texas House, where he made history as one of the few Asian American legislators in Texas and the only Vietnamese American to serve in the Legislature. Breaux’s win, powered by her Alief roots and education-centered leadership, signals a new era for one of the most diverse districts in Texas.
Then came Harris County, where Dr. Letitia Plummer won the Democratic runoff for Harris County Judge over former Houston Mayor Annise Parker in a race that stretched late into the night and kept political observers refreshing results like Houstonians checking a storm radar. Plummer won 51.13% to Parker’s 48.87%, according to reported results, and will face Republican Orlando Sanchez in November.
Plummer’s victory was more than a political upset. It was a statement. A former Houston City Council member and the first Muslim woman elected to that body, Plummer built her campaign around a progressive message, community energy, and a belief that Harris County’s next leader must speak directly to residents who want government to move with urgency and heart. Should she win in November, Plummer would make history as Harris County’s first Black and first Muslim County Judge.
Sanchez, a former Houston City Council member and former Harris County Treasurer, won the Republican nomination, setting up a fall contest that will offer Harris County voters two very different visions for the county’s future.
Fort Bend County delivered its own fireworks — and a reminder that political transformation is not limited to Houston’s city limits.
Dexter McCoy, 34, a one-term Fort Bend County Commissioner, won the Democratic runoff for Fort Bend County Judge, defeating Rachelle Carter. He now advances to face Republican Daniel Wong, the current interim county judge, in November. If elected, McCoy would become one of the youngest county judges in Fort Bend history and the county’s first Black County Judge — a milestone that would reflect Fort Bend’s fast-changing demographics and rising civic power.
Fort Bend also saw Sonya Jones narrowly defeat former Judge Maria T. Jackson in the Democratic runoff for County Clerk, while Jeffrey L. Boney won the Democratic race for County Treasurer. April L. Jones narrowly held the lead in the Democratic runoff for Precinct 4 Commissioner, according to Community
Impact’s report of county data, with all results unofficial until canvassed. These races may not command cable-news drama, but they are exactly where democracy does its daily work: records, budgets, roads, neighborhoods, voting systems, and public trust.
And yes, Fort Bend voters had to show grit. A countywide electronic voter check-in problem caused delays on Election Day, though officials said voting machines and ballots were not affected and voters in line by 7 p.m. could still cast ballots. Democracy, as always, is not a spectator sport. Sometimes it requires patience, paperwork, and standing in line when the system hiccups.
From Paxton over Cornyn to Menefee over Green, from Breaux over Vo to Plummer
over Parker, Texas voters sent a loud message: seniority alone is not a shield, name recognition is not a guarantee, and every seat belongs to the people first.
For Houston Style Magazine readers, especially those who understand the long march for representation, these results should not be reduced to winners and losers. They are part of a larger democratic story. Communities that were once told to wait their turn are now organizing, voting, running, winning, and reshaping the table. The electorate is younger, more diverse, more impatient, and more aware that local offices can determine everything from storm response to school policy, from voting access to public infrastructure.
The work now turns toward November. Runoff victories are not finish lines; they are invitations. Candidates must build broader coalitions. Voters must stay engaged. Civic organizations must educate. Churches, chambers, unions, neighborhood clubs, student groups, and community newspapers must keep the lights on democracy burning bright.
Because Texas is changing — not someday, not slowly, not quietly. It is changing now, one precinct, one district, one county, and one determined voter at a time.
And in Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County, the winds of change are not just blowing.
They are organizing.
Houston's creative community just added another bright, shiny reason to take a bow.
KSRC Media Plus, the Houston-based media, advertising, and production powerhouse led by Kim Gagné and Cristina Kooker, has earned an impressive 12 honors in the 47th Annual Telly Awards, including five Silver and three Bronze awards for the Harris County Toll Road Authority’s “Keep It Moving” 2026 television campaign, along with one Silver and three Bronze awards for the locally loved digital series The Now with Cris.
For Houston, this is more than a trophy-case moment. This is a creative victory lap for a city that knows how to build, move, hustle, connect, and tell a story with heart.
The Telly Awards, one of the world’s premier honors for video and television across all screens, announced its 47th annual winners on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, after receiving nearly 14,000 entries from 55 countries—the most in the competition’s history. This year’s winners included major names such as Paramount TV, Warner Bros. Discovery, FOX Entertainment, Sony Music, TED, ABC News, Harvard Business School, and more.
That makes KSRC Media Plus’ 12-award achievement especially signifi-
HOUSTON’S KSRC MEDIA PLUS WINS 12 TELLY AWARDS, PROVING LOCAL STORIES CAN MOVE AT GLOBAL SPEED
By Francis Page Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
cant. In a global field packed with media giants, national brands, production studios, nonprofits, newsrooms, agencies, and digital innovators, a Houston-born creative team stepped forward and stood tall.
The award-winning HCTRA “Keep It Moving” campaign centered on what Houston understands all too well: mobility matters. Whether commuting to work, running errands, getting children to school, or crossing county lines for opportunity, transportation is part of the daily rhythm of life across Harris County. KSRC Media Plus transformed that everyday reality into a polished, people-centered campaign with
energy, clarity, and community purpose.
The creative team’s success shows that public-facing messaging does not have to be stiff, forgettable, or buried under bureaucratic fog. When done right, civic communication can be smart, stylish, accessible, and memorable. It can inform residents while still respecting their time, their intelligence, and their lived experience.
Meanwhile, The Now with Cris continues to shine as a digital showcase for Houston’s culture, business, events, and community flavor. Produced by KSRC Media Plus in partnership with FOX Local, the show highlights the exciting and dynamic happenings across Houston right now—exactly as the title promises. And let’s be honest: Houston has plenty happening.
From entrepreneurs and entertainers to neighborhood gems and cultural moments, The Now with Cris gives Houston another platform to celebrate itself without waiting for someone outside the city to “discover” what locals already know. This city has style, substance, soul, and stories for days.
“We are incredibly honored to receive 12 Telly Awards,” said Kim Gagné and Cristina Kooker of KSRC Media Plus.
“We’re deeply grateful to the HCTRA team for trusting KSRC Media Plus
with the ‘Keep It Moving’ campaign, and we’re equally thankful to everyone who has embraced The Now with Cris. Celebrating this city and its incredible people each week is something we truly love doing.”
Founded and led by two accomplished women with more than 65 years of combined media, advertising, and production experience, KSRC Media Plus has built its reputation on strategy, storytelling, and execution. The agency is known for turning client missions into compelling visual narratives—work that does not merely fill airtime but connects with real audiences.
In a media world where attention is precious and authenticity is everything, KSRC Media Plus continues to prove that Houston creativity belongs in the national and international conversation.
For Houston Style Magazine readers, this win is also a reminder that excellence is not always imported from New York, Los Angeles, or Atlanta. Sometimes it is produced right here at home, by women-led creative teams who understand Houston’s pace, personality, diversity, and drive.
KSRC Media Plus did not just “keep it moving.”
They kept it winning.
Kim Gagné & Cristina Kooker
PAXTON DEFEATS CORNYN IN TEXAS SHOWDOWN
By Lisa Valadez for www.StyleMagazine.com
Republican voters in Texas delivered a political earthquake Tuesday night, rejecting longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in favor of embattled Attorney General Ken Paxton in one of the most closely watched Senate primaries in the country. Paxton’s decisive victory capped off a bruising and deeply expensive Republican primary battle that had become a national proxy fight over the future of the GOP and the enduring power of President Donald Trump’s political movement. The race drew intense attention not only from Republicans, but also from Democrats eager to see which candidate would emerge to face Democratic nominee James Talarico in November.
Behind the scenes, congressional Republicans had reportedly urged party leadership to stay out of the contest altogether, wary that direct intervention could deepen fractures within the party.
But despite the avalanche of spending and establishment support behind Cornyn, Paxton prevailed by wide margins across much of the state, including in traditionally conservative counties that Cornyn had previously dominated in the March primary. The outcome immediately raised questions about whether Trump’s endorsement proved decisive in shifting traditional Republican voters further into the MAGA camp.
Paxton entered the race carrying years of legal baggage that opponents argued would make him vulnerable in a general election. During his tenure, Paxton faced a long-running securities fraud case stemming from a 2015 indictment over allegations he encouraged investors to buy stock in a technology company without disclosing he was being compensated by the company. Paxton reached an agreement with prosecutors involving restitution payments and community
Harris County’s 2026 midterm election is shaping up as democracy with a Houston heartbeat: diverse, determined, and ready for a Texas-sized plot twist. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026 , voters will help decide major federal, state, and county contests, including the closely watched race for Harris County Judge, where Democrat Letitia Plummer is set to face Republican Orlando Sanchez after a dramatic primary runoff season. Plummer won the Democratic nomination over former Houston Mayor Annise Parker , while Sanchez emerged from the Republican side,
The allegations ultimately fueled a dramatic impeachment effort by the Republican-controlled Texas House in 2023, where lawmakers accused Paxton of bribery, abuse of public trust, obstruction, and retaliation against whistleblowers.He was later acquitted on all impeachment charges. Additional controversies continued to shadow the attorney general, including a $3.3 million whistleblower settlement approved by the state in 2024, allegations of an extramarital affair raised during impeachment proceedings, recurring campaign finance scrutiny, and his nationally publicized legal effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in several battleground states.
Even so, Republican voters were unmoved by the controversies, embracing Paxton as a combative conservative closely aligned with Trump.
In a concession speech Tuesday night, Cornyn sought to unify Republicans ahead of the general election. “Congratulations to Attorney General Ken Paxton on tonight’s victory,” Cornyn said. “He has my full support and endorsement as the Republican nominee.”
Within minutes of the race being called, Talarico’s campaign released its first general election video titled “The People vs. Ken Paxton,” framing the November contest as a referendum on ethics, corruption, and the influence of wealthy donors in Texas politics.
The general election now sets up what is expected to become one of the nation’s most expensive and closely scrutinized Senate races, testing whether Texas Republicans’ embrace of Paxton’s brand of Trump-aligned populism can withstand a statewide general election campaign certain to focus heavily on his years of controversy and legal troubles.
ers, this election is about more than party labels. It is about flood control, public safety, healthcare access, transportation, county services, neighborhood investment, and who gets heard when decisions are made. In America’s third-largest county, the ballot is not just paperwork—it is people power. And in 2026, Harris County voters have one job: show up, speak up, and let democracy know Houston is still in the building.
Did You Register to Vote? www.HarrisVotes.com
service that allowed him to avoid trial.
He also became the subject of an FBI corruption investigation after several
former aides accused him in 2020 of using his office to benefit Austin real estate developer and political donor Nate Paul.
John Whitmire – Houston Mayor
Juan and Isela Garcia
Elizabeth Brock & Tasmina Lakhani
Photos By Farah Raza & Linda Toyota
Some celebrations entertain. Others educate. But the very best ones do something far more powerful: they remind a people who they are, where they come from, and why their song still matters.
On Sunday, June 14, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the NIA Cultural Center will proudly present the 5th Annual Emancipation Gospel Celebration Concert at the historic The Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston, Texas — the sacred shoreline city forever known as the birthplace of Juneteenth. The event is listed by The Grand 1894 Opera House for June 14, 2026, at 4 PM, and Visit Galveston also highlights the celebration as part of Galveston’s 161st Juneteenth Anniversary observances.
This year’s celebration promises an unforgettable afternoon where gospel music, Black history, community pride, and spiritual joy rise together in one mighty chorus. And in true Galveston fashion, the event does not merely mark a date on the calendar — it honors a defining moment in American history. Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Headlining the evening is Karen Clark Sheard, the four-time GRAMMY® Award-winning gospel powerhouse, multi-Stellar and GMA Dove Award-winning legend, and beloved member of the iconic
NIA CULTURAL CENTER’S 5TH ANNUAL EMANCIPATION GOSPEL
BRINGS GOSPEL ROYALTY TO GALVESTON, THE BIRTHPLACE OF JUNETEENTH
By Francis Page Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
Performing LIVE – Karen Clark Sheard, The Brown Four & Byron Cage
Clark Sisters. Known for her breathtaking vocal range, unmatched church-rooted artistry, and ability to make every note feel like testimony, Sheard brings more than music to the stage — she brings ministry, memory, and majesty.
Joining her is award-winning gospel artist Byron Cage, affectionately known as the “Prince of Praise.” Cage has long helped shape the sound of contemporary gospel worship, blessing congregations and concert halls with praise anthems that have become Sunday morning standards. His celebrated recording of “The Presence of the Lord Is Here” helped carry Praise and Worship music deeper into the heart of the African American church experience.
The celebration will open with the youthful and inspiring sounds of The Brown
Four, a gifted sibling group from Memphis, Tennessee. Featuring Daelin, Daniya, Deanna, and Davion Brown, the group reflects a new generation carrying forward the sacred tradition of gospel harmony — proving that the roots of faith music remain strong, fresh, and future-facing.
Adding to the afternoon’s significance, the NIA Cultural Center will present its Champions of Freedom Award, recognizing individuals whose work has made meaningful contributions to community empowerment, cultural preservation, and the ongoing journey toward justice. The award presentation is led by Sue Johnson, Executive Director of the NIA Cultural Center.
“The Emancipation Gospel Celebration is more than a concert — it’s a celebration
of our history, our culture, and our freedom,” said Sue Johnson, Executive Director of the NIA Cultural Center. “We are thrilled to welcome Karen Clark Sheard, Byron Cage, and The Brown Four to Galveston, and to honor those who continue to champion freedom and empowerment in our community.”
Alex Thomas, spokesperson for the NIA Cultural Center, added that the event reflects the unifying power of gospel music.
“This event is a testament to the power of music to unite and inspire,” Thomas said. “Bringing together such incredible artists in the birthplace of Juneteenth allows us to celebrate Black heritage in a way that is both uplifting and unforgettable.”
Tickets for the 5th Annual Emancipation Gospel Celebration Concert start at just $35, with proceeds supporting the NIA Cultural Center’s mission to uplift the community through art, culture, education, and engagement.
For Houston Style Magazine readers, this is more than a pre-Juneteenth concert. It is a call to gather. A call to remember. A call to rejoice. A call to stand in Galveston — where the news of freedom finally reached Texas — and let gospel music remind us that liberation has always had a soundtrack.
And on June 14, that soundtrack will be sung with power, praise, and purpose.
Fort Bend middle and high school students, get ready: your future is not waiting somewhere far down the road — it is pulling up to Houston City College with opportunity, imagination, 3D printing, prizes, games, lunch, and a powerful invitation to dream beyond the classroom.
On Friday, June 5, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Houston City College will host the 2026 Houston City College Teen Summit at the HCC West Loop Building, 1100 West Loop South, Houston, TX 77027, welcoming Fort Bend-area students for a day designed to spark curiosity, confidence, and career-ready ambition.
For decades, Houston City College has stood as one of the region’s great engines of access, affordability, and advancement.
Now, with its bold identity and growing mission, HCC is once again showing why it remains a cornerstone of Houston’s educational future. The Teen Summit is more than a student event — it is a launchpad for young people who are beginning to ask life’s most important questions: What am I good at? What career fits me? What kind of future can I build?
This summit answers with action. Students will have the chance to explore college pathways, connect with new ideas, learn about technology, engage in handson experiences like 3D printing, and dis-
HOUSTON CITY COLLEGE TEEN SUMMIT 2026 OPENS DOORS FOR FORT BEND STUDENTS TO DREAM BIGGER, BUILD SMARTER, AND LEAD NEXT
By Francis Page Jr., for www.StyleMagazine.com
cover that higher education is not just for “someday.” It is for right now. It is for the student who loves science, the student who is curious about business, the student who enjoys creating things, the student who has not yet found their passion, and the student who simply needs someone to say: You belong here.
And Houston City College is saying exactly that.
The event will also include prizes, games, lunch, and interactive learning, creating a welcoming environment where stu-
dents can see education not as pressure, but as possibility. In true HCC fashion, the Teen Summit blends inspiration with real-world exposure — the kind of experience that can turn a spark of interest into a career pathway, a college plan, or a lifelong dream.
For Fort Bend families, educators, and community leaders, this is an important opportunity to encourage students to step into spaces where their futures can expand. With Houston’s economy growing across healthcare, energy, technology, artificial intelligence, construction, business, and cre-
ative industries, today’s students need more than encouragement — they need access. Houston City College continues to provide that access with open doors and open arms.
Event Details
What: 2026 Houston City College Teen Summit
Who: Fort Bend middle and high school students
When: Friday, June 5, 2026, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Where: HCC West Loop Building, 1100 West Loop South, Houston, TX 77027
Highlights: 3D printing, prizes, games, lunch, student engagement, college exploration
Register: https://tinyurl.com/hcc-teensummit2026
Info Desk: 713-718-7130 or 713-7187398
Houston Style Magazine proudly encourages Fort Bend students and families to register, attend, and take full advantage of this forward-looking opportunity. The future belongs to those who prepare for it — and on June 5, Houston City College is helping students take that first bold step.
In an era when media ownership is no longer just about who tells the story—but who profits from the platform—BOMESI is once again stepping boldly into the spotlight.
The Black Owned Media Equity and Sustainability Institute, better known as BOMESI, has announced the official hosts and confirmed sponsors for its 2026 BOMESI Summit, a three-day gathering of media, entertainment, brand, advertising, and ownership leaders scheduled for Wednesday, June 3 through Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan. The summit will be hosted by NAACP Image Award–winning entertainer Dustin Ross and Amber Lee Forrester, founder and Chief Empowerment Officer of Quartz Wellness Collective.
For Houston Style Magazine readers, the message is clear: the future of media is not waiting politely in the lobby. It is walking through the front door, microphone in hand, business plan in pocket, and community impact on the agenda.
This year’s theme, “Mobilizing Culture: The $5.3 Trillion Opportunity for Media & Brands,” places real economic weight behind a conversation many diverse publishers have been having for decades.
According to BOMESI’s summit site, multicultural consumers represent a $5.3 trillion market opportunity, while less
CULTURE IS CAPITAL: BOMESI SUMMIT 2026 BRINGS MEDIA
OWNERSHIP, OPPORTUNITY, AND ECONOMIC POWER TO DETROIT
By Francis Page, Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
than 2% of advertising spend currently reaches diverse-owned media. That gap is not just a missed business opportunity—it is a cultural correction waiting to happen.
Ross, known as a host, writer, comedian, and producer, brings both charisma and credibility to the summit stage. Forrester, a Detroit native, adds an empowerment-centered lens rooted in wellness, entrepreneurship, and the business of storytelling. Together, the two hosts will help guide a national conversation around innovation, representation, ownership, and
monetization in the modern media economy. BOMESI also announced a growing roster of sponsors and partners, including Ben & Jerry’s, Nielsen, Press Forward, My Code, and OTTera Media Group, reflecting a wider coalition of organizations investing in the sustainability of diverse-owned media platforms.
The summit’s programming is expected to include keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops, networking opportunities, and strategy sessions focused on content creation, business development, advertising equity, audience growth, and the future of media entrepreneurship. Additional OTTera Media Group speakers include Ashley Ancrum, Director of Business Development for AdNet+; James DuBose, President; and Stephen L. Hodge, Chairman and CEO. Founded to create stronger pathways for independent, community-based, and diverse-owned media, BOMESI has built its work around three pillars: ecosystem, education, and economic empowerment.
That mission speaks directly to legacy publishers, digital creators, community journalists, filmmakers, podcasters, advertising leaders, and entrepreneurs who understand that cultural influence must be matched with sustainable revenue.
And Detroit is a fitting host city. With its rich history of Black creativity,
music, labor, entrepreneurship, and cultural resilience, the Motor City offers more than a backdrop—it offers a living case study in reinvention. BOMESI’s 2026 agenda includes sessions on data, deal flow, growth markets, infrastructure, investment, innovation, audience development, retail media, and connected TV.
For Houston’s media, business, civic, and creative communities, this summit carries a familiar truth: diverse media is not a side conversation. It is infrastructure. It is audience intelligence. It is cultural trust. It is the bridge between brands and communities that have too often been studied, targeted, and courted—but not equitably invested in.
As BOMESI co-founder and CEO DéVon Christopher Johnson stated, the summit is designed to celebrate “innovation and excellence” while building a more representative future for media.
Registration is now open for the 2026 BOMESI Summit at bomesisummit. org. For publishers, creators, marketers, and community leaders ready to turn cultural credibility into capital, Detroit may be the room where the next big deal—and the next big shift—begins.
For more info:
Houston business community is preparing for a milestone moment wrapped in purpose, progress, and unmistakable Pride. The Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce has announced Francisco Sánchez, Jr. as another Co-Chair of the 2026 Pride In Business – A Decade of Impact Celebration Luncheon + After Party, a signature event set for Friday, June 12, 2026, from 11:00 AM–1:30 PM CT, followed by the After Party beginning at 1:30 PM CT, at the Hilton Americas-Houston Grand Ballroom. The 10th annual celebration is expected to welcome 1,000 attendees, expanding the Chamber’s hallmark luncheon into a larger milestone experience that includes the Pride In Business Expo, awards recognition, networking, and an afternoon celebration of LGBTQ+ and Allied business and community leadership.
For Houston, this is not just another luncheon on the calendar. This is a decade-deep declaration that inclusion is good business, visibility is economic power, and opportunity grows stronger when every entrepreneur, executive, professional, and community leader has a seat at the table. The Chamber describes the 2026 celebration as a tribute to ten years of building a thriving LGBTQ+ economic ecosystem across Greater Houston—strengthening visibility, expanding opportunity, and championing
HOUSTON’S PR IDE IN BUSINESS CELEBRATION NAMES FRANCISCO SÁNCHEZ,
CO-CHAIR FOR HISTORIC 10TH ANNUAL “DECADE OF IMPACT” MILESTONE
By Francis Page, Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
inclusion for LGBTQ+ and Allied communities.
That makes the appointment of Francisco Sánchez, Jr. especially fitting. Sánchez brings a rare blend of public service, disaster recovery leadership, small business advocacy, and Houston-rooted civic commitment. Appointed by President Joseph R. Biden in January 2022, Sánchez served as Associate Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, overseeing the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience; multiple public bios note that he was the first non-banker and presidential appointee to hold that leadership role.
His work has not been theoretical. In moments when storms, floods, and disasters tested communities, Sánchez helped lead economic recovery efforts designed to support small businesses, families, and local economies. In May 2024, the SBA announced a Portable Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Houston for those affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding, with Sánchez quoted in connection with the outreach effort.
Now, as Co-Chair of the 2026 Pride In Business Celebration, Sánchez’s leadership connects national small business experience with Houston’s hometown spirit of resilience.
“I am proud to serve as a Co-Chair of the 2026 Pride in Business Celebration because this work is deeply personal to me,” Sánchez said. “Houston’s greatest strength is its people—our diversity, our resilience, and our willingness to create opportunity for one another.”
That message lands with power in a city that understands both celebration and struggle. Houston is an international business hub, a cultural capital, an energy powerhouse, and one of America’s most diverse metropolitan regions. But the real magic of Houston has always been its people—neighbors who build, rebuild, innovate, organize, and show up for one
another. Pride In Business captures that Houston DNA and places it under the bright lights where it belongs.
Sánchez emphasized that his service at the SBA reinforced a central truth: when barriers are removed and people are empowered, economies grow. “Pride in Business is about more than a luncheon,” he said. “It is about bringing people together, focusing on business, and creating the kind of economic opportunity that ensures Houston’s economy is strong and resilient.”
That is the heart of this 10th annual celebration. The Pride In Business Awards will honor LGBTQ+ and Allied businesses, leaders, and organizations driving economic inclusion, visibility, and opportunity across the region. New for 2026, the Expo expands visibility for Chamber members, while the After Party extends the milestone moment into a high-energy afternoon of connection and celebration.
In true Houston fashion, this celebration is bigger than a ballroom. It is a bridge—between legacy and future, entrepreneurship and equity, boardrooms and community rooms, Pride Month and year-round economic empowerment.
Francisco Sánchez, Jr.
Houston get ready to make room at the table — and maybe loosen the belt one notch. White Castle, the legendary family-owned fast-food brand that turned the humble square slider into an American cultural icon, is officially preparing to plant its flag in the Lone Star State with its first Texas restaurant at Grandscape in The Colony, north of Dallas.
As first reported this week in the Houston Business Journal, White Castle is scheduled to break ground on its North Texas location on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, with plans to open later this year if construction moves forward as expected. The new restaurant is planned as a roughly 3,400-squarefoot Castle at Grandscape, the booming entertainment, retail, and dining destination that has become one of North Texas’ most talked-about lifestyle developments.
For generations of Midwesterners, road-trippers, college students, night owls, and loyal “Cravers,” White Castle is more than a burger stop. It is a memory wrapped in wax paper. It is the scent of steamed onions, the comfort of a soft bun, the unmistakable bite of a square slider, and the kind of food folklore that somehow fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. Founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas, White Castle has long claimed its place as America’s first fast-food hamburger chain, building a national follow-
WHITE CASTLE BREAKS GROUND IN NORTH TEXAS, BRINGING A
CENTURY OF SLIDER ROYALTY TO THE LONE STAR STATE
By Lisa Valadez for www.StyleMagazine.com
ing around its small, square hamburgers and its now-famous “Crave” culture.
The Texas debut is not just another restaurant opening. It is a milestone more than 100 years in the making.
White Castle’s new North Texas location is expected to employ about 70 people, according to the company information shared in the Houston Business Journal report. That means new jobs, new training opportunities, and a little extra sizzle for a North Texas economy already known for attracting national brands, major developments, and ambitious retail concepts.
White Castle Chief Marketing Officer Jamie Richardson said the company selected Grandscape for its Texas debut
because of its destination appeal, welcoming community, and available space. That strategy makes sense. Texans do not simply “try” a new restaurant — they turn openings into events, create lines around buildings, post the first bite on social media, and tell cousins in three counties where to go next. Grandscape gives White Castle a big stage for a big Texas introduction.
The brand also arrives with a strong family-business story. White Castle remains family-owned and is led by CEO Lisa Ingram, carrying forward a legacy that began when Billy Ingram helped launch the company with a bold idea, a modest investment, and a belief that Americans would embrace a clean, consistent, affordable hamburger
experience. White Castle’s origin story famously began with small, five-cent hamburgers sold by the sack — the beginning of what became one of the most recognizable slider brands in the country.
And those sliders have history. In 2014, Time magazine named White Castle’s Original Slider the most influential burger of all time, a nod to the company’s role in shaping modern fast food and American burger culture.
For Houston Style Magazine readers, this North Texas opening carries a wider business lesson: legacy brands still grow when they listen to loyal customers, choose the right market, and honor the emotional connection people have with food. White Castle’s expansion into Texas shows that nostalgia, when paired with smart real estate and modern operations, can still drive fresh economic opportunity.
The Grandscape location also follows a familiar pattern. Another beloved Midwestern brand, Portillo’s, opened its first Texas restaurant at Grandscape in 2023 before expanding further into Dallas-Fort Worth and Greater Houston.
Houston's music lovers, downtown explorers, and summer nightlife enthusiasts can officially mark their calendars once again because the city’s beloved “Party on the Plaza” concert series is making its triumphant return — just one week later than planned. Due to recent weather concerns, the highly anticipated event originally scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026, has been officially rescheduled to Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the vibrant Plaza at Avenida Houston.
And trust Houston Style Magazine readers — this one promises to be worth the wait.
Presented as part of Houston’s wildly popular FREE concert series, the evening will feature an electrifying lineup headlined by the dynamic fusion sounds of St. Paul & The Broken Bones alongside the soulful Caribbean-infused artistry of Rodell Duff.
Soul, Swagger, and Southern Sound Collide
Fans of powerhouse vocals and emotionally charged live performances are already buzzing about the return of Alabama-based sensation St. Paul & The Broken Bones. Known for their explosive stage presence and deeply soulful sound, the band has steadily evolved into one of
HOUSTON’S BIGGEST FREE MUSIC PARTY IS BACK ON: PARTY ON THE
PLAZA RESCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MAY 30 AT AVENIDA HOUSTON
By Francis Page Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
FREE - Party On The Plaza - This Saturday!
America’s most compelling live acts.
Their latest self-titled album, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, dives into adventurous sonic territory while still preserving the emotional grit and Southern soul authenticity that made audiences fall in love with them in the first place. The band’s journey from Alabama roots to international acclaim has included performances alongside legendary artists such as The Rolling Stones, Lizzo, Black Pumas, and festival appearances at iconic global stages including Coachella, Glastonbury, and Lollapalooza.
Opening the evening is Houston favorite Rodell Duff, whose genre-bending style seamlessly blends Caribbean rhythms, soul, country, and classic rock
influences into a sound that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly original.
Born in Trinidad and raised in Houston, Duff’s musical roots run deep. His storytelling style and heartfelt performances channel the emotional authenticity of artists like Chris Stapleton while embracing the gritty energy of icons such as Bret Michaels and Nickelback. Houston audiences can expect a performance filled with passion, soul, and hometown pride.
Downtown Houston Continues to Shine
The rescheduled concert is yet another example of why Avenida Houston continues to serve as one of the city’s premier entertainment destinations. From concerts and conventions to sports celebrations and cultur-
al festivals, the district remains a centerpiece of Houston’s growing global profile.
Behind many of these experiences is Houston First Corporation, the organization responsible for promoting Houston as a world-class destination for tourism, entertainment, conventions, and international events. Through strategic investments in public programming and destination experiences, Houston First continues helping position Houston as one of America’s most exciting and culturally diverse major cities.
For Houstonians looking for the perfect way to celebrate the final weekend of May, Party on the Plaza offers the ideal recipe: incredible live music, downtown energy, unforgettable vibes, and the unbeatable price of absolutely free.
WHAT: Party on the Plaza – FREE Concert Series
WHEN: Saturday, May 30, 2026, 7:00 PM–9:30 PM CT
WHERE: Avenida Houston
HEADLINERS:
St. Paul & The Broken Bones Rodell Duff Houston, get ready — downtown is about to come alive once again.
