There smoke came down out of Canada last week. It turned the skies in Chicago and throughout the Midwest the color of dishwater. Then it kept coming south, until it drifted over a field across the river from St. Louis where the largest city north of what is now Mexico once stood.
Most of us were never taught it was there.
A thousand years ago, ten to twenty thousand people lived at Cahokia. They farmed corn on the bottomland, traded copper down from the Great Lakes and shell up from the Gulf and raised 120 mounds of packed earth one basket at a time, the largest a hundred feet high and fourteen acres at its base.
It was bigger than London. It was a city.
I have stood on top of them. You climb, and the ground keeps rising longer than you expect, and at the top the whole valley lies open underneath you, and eight miles west the St. Louis skyline stands up out of it. It is quiet up there. Grass and wind, and nothing at all to tell you what you are standing on. You have to be told. Then you look again, and the field is not a field anymore.
Cahokia rose in good years. Tree rings say it was founded during one of the wettest fifty-year stretches of the millennium, when the rain came on time and the bottomland gave back everything it was asked for.
Then the rains changed. Drought came after 1150. Around 1200, a flood big enough to swallow the farmland left its signature in the mud of a lake beside the city.
We can watch what happened next. They left it in the ground.
Around 1175, the Cahokians put a wall around the heart of their city, two miles of it, twenty thousand logs sunk in trenches five feet deep, with towers every eighty-five feet, the spacing a man needs
HUB Supplier Opportunity
COMMENTARY
SMOKE OVER CAHOKIA
A MILLENNIUM AGO, THE GREATEST CITY NORTH OF WHAT IS NOW MEXICO ROSE ON THE MISSISSIPPI. THEN IT EMPTIED. LAST WEEK, SMOKE FOUND IT AGAIN
By Ben Jealous, National Political Commentator
to cover his neighbor with a bow. They built that wall four times. Each time, they used fewer logs. There were fewer hands left to carry them.
Walls like it went up across the middle of the continent between 1200 and 1400. In a cemetery in the Illinois River valley, dating to about 1300, at least a third of the adults died violently. Scalped. Shot. Left where they fell. Farther up the Missouri, at a place called Crow Creek, a village dug a ditch and raised a wall to keep itself safe, and around 1325 at least 486 of its people were killed and buried in it, their bones showing they had been
Kiddom is bidding on Houston ISD Project 26-04-46 Instructional Curriculum Materials, Supplies, and Digital Resources. We are looking for possible HUB subcontractors to provide the following potential services.
1. Print production services to print Kiddom Texas Math books.
2. Catering services for professional development sessions.
3. Multimedia setup and support services for professional development sessions. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Carol K. Keller at rfp@kiddom.co by Friday, July 31st.
hungry long before anyone came. That was not Cahokia. Different people, different place. And no honest scholar will tell you the drought pulled the trigger.
But that is what hunger and fear look like when they last long enough. Why Cahokia emptied is still argued. And the story I was taught turns out to be false. It said the Cahokians cut down too many trees and flooded themselves out. Archaeologists went looking for that flood and could not find it. It had never been tested. It was only believed, because it flattered us to believe it.
The likelier answer is harder. The climate changed first. Then the pressures came together. The harvests got thin. The politics got mean. The trust wore out. Some families left, then more, and by 1400 the plazas were empty and the grass had come back over them.
That is the order of it. Climate change starts in the sky and the soil. Then it moves through food, fear, power and faith.
Columbus did not reach the Caribbean until 1492. He never saw Cahokia. Here is what those mounds say to me.
They say a people can build something so large a thousand years of weather cannot erase it.
They say the same people can be pressed until they wall themselves off from one another.
They say a people can walk away from all of it, and regather, and build again. They say all three things. They are the same mounds. Cahokia’s people did not vanish. They walked. They regathered. They built again. Dr. Andrea Hunter, who keeps the history of the Osage Nation, will tell you her people trace their ancestry to that world and are still here, in Oklahoma.
That is the hope. It is not a promise.
Last week the smoke drifted over the city you can see from up there, and over the city you are standing on.
Two things are still in that ground. The mounds they raised together. The trenches they dug when the trust ran out. We are building both right now.
Ben Jealous is a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and former president and CEO of the NAACP.
Houston Sunday heat was relentless, but so was the political energy surrounding State Rep. James Talarico as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate moved through three community-centered stops. From Dr. Letitia Plummer’s Harris County Judge campaign relaunch in Midtown to a packed town hall at Kingdom Builders Center in southwest Houston and a faith-community gathering at Community of Faith in north Houston, Talarico came prepared to do more listening than lecturing.
That distinction mattered. Many Black Houston voters supported Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett during the Democratic primary, and they were not interested in being treated as a dependable voting bloc whose support could simply be penciled in. Talarico acknowledged that frustration directly, telling attendees that the Democratic Party has too often assumed Black voters would automatically fall in line. His message was clear: trust must be earned, relationships must be maintained and political promises must arrive with receipts.
Talarico backed that pledge with a proposed $25 million investment in Black voter outreach—an amount he described as the largest commitment of its kind in modern Texas political history. He promised sustained engagement through community powerhouse Houston Style Magazine and other Black media, churches, historically Black colleges and universities, neighborhood leaders and local organiza-
HOUSTON TURNS OUT AND TURNS UP THE HEAT FOR JAMES TALARICO
tions. At Kingdom Builders, voters pressed him on voting rights, Black farmers, public education, immigration, maternal health, campaign staffing and support for Black candidates down the ballot. Some questions came wrapped in encouragement; others arrived with enough heat to compete with the Houston pavement. Talarico stayed, listened and repeatedly began his responses with “Thank you.”
By Burt Levine, Political Editor for www.StyleMagazine.com
Congressman Christian Menefee introduced his longtime friend while reminding the audience that democracy is strongest when candidates face difficult questions instead of avoiding them. State Rep. Lauren Ashley Simmons and Houston Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-
Tatum also helped welcome Talarico, while other elected officials attended in support. Simmons offered the day’s most memorable political seasoning, describing the nominee as a faith-driven fighter ready for the contest ahead.
Talarico’s biography fits naturally into his education-centered message. A former San Antonio middle-school teacher, he was first elected to the Texas House in 2018 and has built much of his legislative identity around public schools, affordable childcare and reducing healthcare costs. His Houston remarks emphasized strong neighborhood schools, lower household expenses and government that responds to working families rather than simply campaigning at them.
The numbers explain why national observers are watching. A June University of Texas/ Texas Politics Project poll placed Republican nominee Ken Paxton at 43 percent and Talarico at 42 percent—well within the survey’s margin of error. Federal Election Commission filings show Talarico reported approximately $68.6 million in receipts through June 30, with about $21.5 million remaining in cash. Fundraising, however, is not the same as votes, and Texas history provides a flashing caution sign: Lloyd Bentsen was the last Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas, winning in 1988, while Democrats last won statewide office in 1994. That history is exactly why Houston mattered. Talarico did not ask voters merely to oppose Paxton; he asked them to believe in a different direction for Texas. Whether that appeal becomes a history-making coalition will depend on organization, turnout and continued accountability long after Sunday’s microphones are packed away.
Early voting runs October 19 through October 30, followed by Election Day on Tuesday, November 3. The campaign calendar is tightening, the political temperature is rising, and Houston has made one thing unmistakably clear: no candidate should expect the Black vote without first showing up, listening closely and earning it.
James Talarico
Hobby Center Expands 2026-2027 Beyond Broadway Season
By Reggie Dominique for www.StyleMagazine.com
Some Hobby Center for the Performing Arts is expanding its popular 2026-2027 Beyond Broadway season after the original three-show subscription package sold out, prompting organizers to add second performances for two of the season's biggest attractions.
The expanded schedule comes in response to overwhelming demand for the concert series, which showcases some of Broadway's most celebrated performers in intimate Houston venues. Beginning Friday, July 24, the public can purchase new three-show subscription packages that include the added performances. Packages start at $89, with single tickets for all Beyond Broadway performances going on sale August 24.
The newly expanded lineup features television, film and Broadway star Tituss Burgess, six-time Tony Award-winning performer Audra McDonald, and twotime Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz.
Due to the intimate, 500-seat capacity of Zilkha Hall, second performances have been added for Burgess and Butz to accommodate demand. McDonald's appearance will remain a single engagement in the Hobby Center's 2,650-seat Sarofim Hall.
The Beyond Broadway series continues to gain momentum in Houston. According to the Hobby Center, subscriptions for the 2026-2027 season increased 166 percent compared to the previous season,
highlighting growing interest in live performances featuring Broadway's biggest stars.
The season opens with Tituss Burgess in Concert on October 24, with an added performance on October 25. Known for his roles in The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Schmigadoon!, Oh, Mary!, Moulin Rouge!, The Little Mermaid, and numerous other stage and screen productions, Burgess will perform an eclectic mix of Broadway favorites alongside music by artists including John Mayer, Shirley Bassey, Bette Midler, and selections from Porgy & Bess.
The series continues on January 16, 2027, with An Evening with Audra McDonald, marking the
acclaimed performer’s first appearance at the Hobby Center. The Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning artist will perform selections from Broadway, the Great American Songbook, and more, accompanied by Houston native and longtime music director Andy Einhorn. Closing the season on March 20, 2027, Norbert Leo Butz will present Broadway, My Way, with an additional matinee performance added due to demand. The concert combines personal stories with songs spanning Butz's acclaimed Broadway career, including music from productions such as The Last Five Years, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Catch Me If You Can, Wicked, and Big Fish. Butz has also appeared in television and film projects including Bloodline, Fosse/Verdon, Gladiator: American Sports Story, and A Complete Unknown.
Subscribers receive benefits including priority seating, discounted package pricing, a 10 percent discount on additional Beyond Broadway tickets, and exclusive presale opportunities for select Hobby Center programming.
For Houstonians eager to experience Broadway-caliber performances without leaving the city, the expanded Beyond Broadway season offers another opportunity to secure seats to one of the Hobby Center's fastest-growing performance series.
Three-show subscription packages are available beginning July 24 through the Hobby Center. Single tickets go on sale August 24.
Tituss Burgess by Nina Duncan Audra McDonald by Allison Michael Orenstein
Monday night’s Meyerland Area Democrats meeting offered a vivid reminder that democracy does not always enter the room wearing a pressed suit. Sometimes it arrives with tired eyes, a trembling voice and the worn-out shoes of someone who has spent days standing beside a grieving family. Other times, it walks in smiling, carrying the confidence of a candidate who kept knocking after the political establishment had already counted him out.
East Houston entrepreneur and community advocate Conchita Reyes and newly elected Pearland Mayor Quentin Wiltz delivered both sides of that democratic equation: righteous urgency and stubborn optimism.
Reyes spoke first, bringing the pain of Houston’s East End directly into the Meyerland gathering. As the mother of a deployed U.S. Navy sailor, she addressed the audience while the nation was absorbing the death of Army Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, a 19-year-old Carrollton native killed during an Iranian attack on a U.S. air base in Jordan. The news added another layer of concern for military families already carrying the emotional weight of deployment.
Yet Reyes’ message centered closer to home: the fatal July 7 shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Houston’s Magnolia Park neighborhood.
Salgado, 52, was a husband, father of three and construction-business owner whose
REYES AND WILTZ BRING LIGHT—AND RESOLVE TO MONDAY MEYERLAND MEETING
By Burt Levine, Political Editor for www.StyleMagazine.com
Conchita Reyes and Mayor Quentin Wiltz
death has generated protests, demands for transparency and sharply conflicting accounts of what happened. Federal authorities have defended the
agent’s actions, while passengers traveling with Salgado have challenged that version of events. Investigations and related court proceedings remain ongoing.
“Since Lorenzo Salgado’s murder two weeks ago, we haven’t slept,” Reyes told the audience, describing the exhaustion of advocates supporting the Salgado family and pressing public officials for answers. Her words reflected the anger and grief felt by many residents, even as the legal determination surrounding the shooting remains unresolved.
Reyes described Salgado not simply as a political symbol, but as a neighbor whose mornings looked familiar to working families across Houston: breakfast before sunrise, a lunch prepared by his wife and a day spent building a better future for his children.
Her voice cracked as she emphasized that people traveling to work should not have to fear being targeted because of their appearance, accent or neighborhood. Salgado’s death has produced widespread anxiety throughout Houston’s immigrant communities and renewed demands for transparency surrounding federal enforcement operations.
Reyes’ central challenge was unmistakable: concern must become civic action. Sympathy has value, but democracy requires receipts—and Election Day is where voters present them.
She urged attendees to remain watch-
ful, organized and prepared to carry their determination into the November 3, 2026, general election.
Wiltz then stepped forward, embraced Reyes and helped move the room from grief toward possibility. His trademark smile was not empty cheerfulness; it was the expression of a man who understands that hope becomes credible only after it has survived rejection.
In May, Wiltz made history as Pearland’s first Black mayor and the city’s first Democrat-backed mayor in decades. Although Pearland municipal elections are officially nonpartisan, his victory represented a significant political shift in one of Greater Houston’s rapidly growing and diversifying suburbs.
Official results showed Wiltz winning 6,020 votes, or 51.09 percent, against longtime Councilmember Tony Carbone’s 5,764 votes, or 48.91 percent. It was close enough to keep every campaign volunteer’s blood pressure interesting, but decisive enough to make history.
“I wasn’t going to give up,” Wiltz said, recalling how he continued knocking on doors and asking residents throughout Pearland to consider his vision.
TPOWERING THE FUTURE 2026 Energizes Houston’s Next Economic Frontier
he Houston Port Region plugged directly into tomorrow as more than 260 business, technology and energy leaders packed San Jacinto College’s LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy & Technology for the Economic Alliance’s “Powering the Future: Data Centers, Energy & Economic Growth.” The near-capacity Wednesday, July 15, 2026, gathering proved that artificial intelligence may live in the cloud, but powering it requires very real electricity, infrastructure, investment and collaboration.
Microsoft’s Valeria Teran and NRG Energy’s Mansur Masood opened
By Francis Page, Jr.
the conversation with perspectives on the intersection of data center expansion, technology and energy infrastructure.
A powerhouse panel featuring leaders from Calpine, Energy Edge Consulting, Prismecs, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors and Wood then explored energy supply, project development and investment opportunities across the Houston Port Region.
Moderators Chad Burke and Melissa Wolkenhauer kept the program moving with clarity, urgency and just enough spark to remind attendees that Houston does not merely watch the future arrive—we help build, power and finance
As media sponsor, Houston Style Magazine proudly celebrated an event that connected decision-makers, strengthened regional partnerships and positioned Southeast Harris County for the next wave of technology-driven economic growth. The takeaway was unmistakable: when Houston’s energy expertise meets AI’s appetite, opportunity is officially online.
To get involved with the future in AI and Energy, go to: https://allianceportregion.com/
Chad Burke - President and CEO
Melissa Wolkenhauer – Moderator
Valeria Teran - Microsoft
Thomas Shoenbein – Mayor of Pasadena - Selfie
Photos By Chris Ochoa & Mark McDonald
The title “Harris County Judge” can confuse anyone expecting black robes, a gavel and courtroom drama before lunch. In practice, it is one of Texas’ most consequential local executive offices. The county judge presides over the five-member Commissioners Court, oversees homeland security and emergency management, and helps set priorities for a government serving roughly five million people across 1,777 square miles. Harris County has 87 operating departments and agencies, more than two million residents in unincorporated communities and 145 languages spoken. The next judge must understand everything from flood channels and public hospitals to neighborhood roads and the language of trust.
That assignment helps explain why Dr. Letitia Plummer’s candidacy stands out. Plummer is a dentist, mother, entrepreneur and former Houston City Council member whose professional life has unfolded where policy becomes personal: healthcare offices, small-business decisions, community meetings and public hearings. Her biography reflects more than 25 years of business ownership, job creation and mentorship, beginning with dental service through Harris Health before she opened her practice in 2001. In a political era crowded with slogans, she brings something practical—a history of diagnosing problems before prescribing solutions.
Plummer’s story is stitched into Houston’s civil-rights and civic history. Raised in the Linkwood area, she grew up around conversations involving Black leadership and public responsibility. Her grandfather, Matthew Plummer Sr., was a civil-rights attorney and Harris County trailblazer. Houstonia reported that he became the first Black investigator in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and assisted Muhammad Ali during the boxer’s legal fight over military service. Her father became a dentist, while her mother brought East African, Yemeni and Indian heritage into a household where Arabic and Swahili mixed with Houston lessons about pride, resilience and service.
Congressman Mickey Leland, the family friend she called “Uncle Mickey,” also shaped her outlook. Plummer stuffed campaign envelopes as a child and listened as Leland discussed hunger, justice and overlooked communities. His humanitarian legacy showed her that public service must travel beyond speeches and into people’s lives. She later attended Spelman College and followed her father into dentistry. Her journey from dental clinics to government was an expansion of the same mission.
From the Dental Chair to City Hall
After advocating for stronger protections involving surrogacy and parental rights, Plummer entered electoral politics. She won Houston City Council’s At-Large Position 4 in 2019 and took office in January 2020, representing the entire city. Her election made her the first Muslim woman to serve on Houston City Council—a milestone fitting a city that increasingly resembles the world gathered around one table, occasionally arguing over the check but still together.
At City Hall, Plummer worked where health, safety and equity overlap. Her campaign record highlights efforts to improve inspections of dangerous apartment properties, address food deserts, strengthen
Dr. Letitia Plummer: A Community-Tested Vision for Harris County’s Future
Dentist, entrepreneur and former Houston council member brings people-first leadership to the Harris County Judge race.
By Francis Page Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
environmental-health advocacy in the Fifth Ward and secure a permanent generator for the Kashmere Gardens Multi-Service Center. During COVID-19, her Feed the Need initiative connected Houston chefs with seniors and food-insecure families. That is democracy at its most useful: not abstract or ceremonial, but arriving with meals, power and a plan.
Her public-safety work emphasized the machinery behind justice. Houston’s official American Rescue Plan Act reporting confirms that the Houston Forensic Science Center received $3 million in 2022 to train employees, outsource toxicology cases and reduce investigative backlogs. Plummer’s platform credits her advocacy with helping advance that funding. She also
supported mental-health crisis teams for appropriate nonviolent emergency calls—recognizing that a badge is not always the only tool needed when a family is in crisis.
A Historic Democratic Victory
Plummer entered the 2026 Democratic primary for Harris County Judge against former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, a formidable opponent with decades of experience and establishment recognition. Parker led the March primary but fell short of the majority required to avoid a runoff. On May 26, Plummer delivered the upset: official Harris County results show she earned 57,893 votes, or 51.10 percent, to Parker’s 55,395. The margin was narrow, but the message was broad. Neighborhood organizing and strong Black voter participation transformed an underdog candidacy into the Democratic nomination.
The victory placed Plummer in the November 3 general election against Republican nominee Orlando Sanchez, a former Harris County treasurer and Houston council member. It also positioned her to make history as Harris County’s first African American county judge. Yet symbolism alone will not repair a road, prepare a shelter or balance a budget. Her case rests on whether her experience and public record can become effective countywide administration.
A Four-Pillar Prescription for Harris County
Her agenda is organized around four pillars: emergency preparedness, affordability, healthcare and public safety. Proposals include expanding resilience hubs, making disaster information multilingual and accessible, strengthening flood-control accountability, supporting first-time homebuyers, simplifying business permitting, developing preventive-health partnerships and creating a “Justice to Workforce” model connecting incarcerated residents with training intended to reduce recidivism. It is an ambitious prescription grounded in the belief that prevention usually costs less—in dollars and heartbreak—than neglect.
As the general-election campaign intensifies, Plummer will face serious scrutiny. A Texas Ethics Commission complaint alleges campaign-finance reporting violations; the claims have not been adjudicated, and her campaign says it is reviewing its filings and will correct errors where needed. Transparency matters because public trust is not a campaign accessory—it is democracy’s operating license.
Dr. Letitia Plummer’s candidacy asks Harris County to consider leadership shaped by examination, listening and follow-through. She understands the boardroom, the waiting room and the community room. For voters seeking practical preparation with a people-first heartbeat, her campaign offers a distinctly Houston prescription: stronger systems, safer neighborhoods, healthier families and a county government that remembers every ZIP code belongs in the treatment plan.
More information or to donate, go to: https://www.drletitiaplummer.com/ www.DrLetitiaPlummer.com
TSU Welcomes the Class of 2030 with Historic New Student Pinning Ceremony
Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth to deliver keynote address as TSU alumni personally welcome the university’s newest Tigers
By Francis Page Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
Texas Southern University’s newest ‘Tigers’ are about to receive more than a pin. They are receiving a public promise that they belong to a proud academic family built to educate leaders, strengthen communities and change history.
On Saturday, August 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Texas Southern University will welcome the Class of 2030 during its New Student Pinning Ceremony at Sawyer Auditorium. TSU alumni are invited to volunteer and personally pin incoming freshmen, creating a memorable bridge between those beginning their Tiger journey and those already carrying the university’s legacy into the world.
That bridge matters. Founded in 1927, Texas Southern University grew from Houston Colored Junior College into one of America’s leading historically Black universities. Today, TSU remains deeply rooted in Houston’s historic Third Ward while preparing students to become engaged citizens, professionals and creative leaders locally, nationally and globally. In other words, the pin may be small, but the history behind it is heavyweight.
TSU’s alumni roll reads like a
Houston history lesson with extra swagger. Its graduates include trailblazing public servants such as Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland, along with leaders across business, education, entertainment and civic life. The pinning ceremony places the Class of 2030 into that continuing story—not as spectators waiting in the wings, but as the next generation expected to study hard, serve boldly and leave the institution stronger.
Adding even more Tiger pride to the ceremony will be keynote speaker Teneshia Hudspeth, Harris County Clerk and the county’s chief election official. Hudspeth is a TSU communications alumna and the first African American woman to serve as Harris County Clerk. She leads an office serving the state’s largest county, which surpassed 5 million residents in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2025 population estimate.
Hudspeth’s story is especially fitting for a ceremony centered on beginnings. Her public-service journey started as a Mickey Leland Congressional intern before she joined the Harris County Clerk’s Office. During nearly two decades there, she advanced through numerous responsibilities, including public affairs, voter outreach,
communications and chief deputy, before voters elected her county clerk in 2020.
Her climb was not a quick elevator ride; it was the staircase—one responsibility, one lesson and one earned opportunity at a time. That is a timely message for freshmen who may arrive at TSU with enormous dreams but without every detail mapped out. Hudspeth’s career demonstrates that preparation, persistence and service can turn an entry-level opportunity into historic leadership.
As chief election official, Hudspeth carries responsibilities tied to public trust, access and the orderly administration of democracy. Her presence also reflects TSU’s long-standing role in producing graduates who do more than earn credentials. Tigers enter courtrooms, classrooms, boardrooms, newsrooms, laboratories and public office ready to make their communities stronger.
The alumni volunteers will be equally important. By placing a pin on a new student, graduates are saying: “We see you. We welcome you. We expect you to succeed.” For first-generation students, students arriving from outside Houston
or anyone feeling those familiar first-day butterflies, that personal welcome can transform a large campus into a genuine community.
Houston Style Magazine readers and Houston-area TSU alumni are encouraged to show up in maroon-and-gray spirit and help the Class of 2030 begin boldly. The ceremony offers a meaningful opportunity to give back without writing a speech, chairing a committee or sitting through a three-hour meeting. Sometimes service is as simple—and as powerful—as placing a pin, offering encouragement and reminding a young Tiger that generations are cheering them forward.
More information on Texas Southern University: www.TSU.edu
Event Details
Saturday, August 15, 2026 • 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Sawyer Auditorium • Texas Southern University 3100 Cleburne Street • Houston, Texas 77004
Volunteer registration: Register to help pin the Class of 2030
www.TSU.edu
ALLIES IN HOPE’S 4TH ANNUAL HOPE FOR HOUSTON BALL MAKES HIGH FASHION A FORCE FOR HOPE THE CATEGORY IS HIGH FASHION—AND THE CAUSE IS HOPE
By Francis Page Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
Houston has never needed permission to dress boldly, give generously or turn a grand entrance into a meaningful statement. On Saturday, November 14, 2026, those signature Houston qualities will share the spotlight when Allies in Hope presents its 4th Annual Hope for Houston Ball at The Revaire, 7122 Old Katy Road. Beginning at 7 p.m., the black-tie evening will place fashion, philanthropy and purpose on the same runway under a fitting theme: “The Category Is… High Fashion.”
This is not simply another beautiful night on Houston’s crowded social calendar. It is Allies in Hope’s premier annual fundraising gala, gathering business leaders, philanthropists, advocates, civic champions and community visionaries to support programs serving individuals and families affected by HIV and related social challenges.
The evening will feature a cocktail reception, a VIP lounge for select guests, an elegant seated dinner, live entertainment, inspiring stories of hope and resilience, live and silent auction experiences, and fashion-centered surprises. In other words, guests should prepare to serve a look—and help serve the community.
Leading this year’s celebration are Honorary Chairs Mrs. Kristen and Rev. Dr. Alexander E.M. Johnson. Kenneth Gayle, Salvador “Sal” Serrano and Nicolas Serrano will serve as Co-Chairs, lending their influence, networks and commitment to an event designed to make generosity both visible and transformational. Their leadership reinforces the gala’s larger message: style may command attention, but compassion creates impact.
Returning once again as an official media sponsor, Houston Style Magazine (HSM) is proud to support the 4th Annual Hope for Houston Ball and the life-changing mission of
Allies in Hope. Through its print, digital and social media platforms, HSM will help amplify the evening’s message of compassion, community and action—encouraging Houstonians to attend, sponsor, donate and stand together in the effort to end the HIV epidemic across Greater Houston. This continued partnership reflects HSM’s longstanding commitment to highlighting organizations that transform generosity into hope and create healthier, stronger communities.
That impact rests upon more than four decades of Houston history. Founded in 1982 as AIDS Foundation Houston, the organization was Texas’ first AIDS service organization. It launched a community hotline in 1983, opened its first residential housing program in 1984, established the Stone Soup food bank in 1985 and began Camp Hope in 1996.
In 2023, AIDS Foundation Houston became Allies in Hope, adopting a name intended to reduce stigma, remove barriers to care and reflect a future in which people living with HIV can receive treatment, dignity and support without being defined by an outdated diagnosis. The new name also speaks to solidarity—the belief that Houston can stand together, in hope, until
the epidemic is ended.
Today, Allies in Hope works toward a clear mission: ending the HIV epidemic in Greater Houston while advancing a vision of a community where HIV is rare, stigma-free and met with equitable access to care. Its services reach far beyond a clinic door, including HIV and STI testing, PrEP care, rapid-start treatment, prevention education, prison outreach and reentry assistance, supportive housing, food access, youth programming and case management.
The organization currently reports serving more than 6,000 community members, with 3,966 patients receiving testing, PrEP or other health services. Its published impact also includes 285 residents affordably housed, 1,671 people served through the Stone Soup Food Pantry, 186 youth-camp participants and a 98 percent participation rate from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Wall Talk, an education initiative addressing HIV, sexually transmitted infections and sexual violence.
Those numbers explain why the Hope for Houston Ball matters. A ballroom may sparkle for one evening, but the funds raised can support testing, treatment, housing stability, food assis-
tance and the human reassurance that no neighbor should face a health challenge alone.
The gala transforms glamour into an instrument of care—proof that a tuxedo, a gown and a generous heart can belong in the same ensemble.
Guests and supporters have several ways to step into the story. Individuals may join the Host Committee and become ambassadors who help expand attendance, ticket sales and community engagement. Businesses, family foundations and civic partners may become sponsors, receiving event visibility, VIP benefits and seating opportunities while investing directly in essential community programs. Supporters unable to attend may still make a tax-deductible donation through the official fundraising campaign.
Houston, the assignment is clear: arrive elevated, give boldly and remember that hope is always in season. At the 4th Annual Hope for Houston Ball, the category may be high fashion—but the cause is human dignity, healthier families and a future where HIV no longer defines or divides our community.
Event Details
Saturday, November 14, 2026 • 7 p.m.
The Revaire 7122 Old Katy Road Houston, Texas 77024
Official Hope for Houston Ball Information
Purchase Tickets • Join the Host Committee • Become a Sponsor
H HOUSTON TOWN HALL – James Talarico H
HJames Talarico Faces Houston Voters in Candid Town Hall
ouston welcomed Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico to the Kingdom Builders Center on Sunday, July 19, 2026, for a spirited community town hall centered on listening, accountability and Black voter engagement.
Hundreds filled the southwest Houston venue, greeting Talarico with cheers and a “Take Back Texas” chant following introductions by U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee, State Rep. Lauren Ashley Simmons and Houston City Council Member Martha Castex-Tatum.
For more than 90 minutes, Talarico
By Francis Page, Jr.
faced supportive comments, sharp questions and candid concerns about voting rights, public education, Black farmers, diversity initiatives, campaign representation and support for Black candidates. The conversation occasionally grew tense, but the candidate remained onstage, extended the program and continued answering questions.
Talarico acknowledged that Democrats cannot win statewide without showing up for, investing in and listening to Black communities. He also pledged $25 million toward Black voter outreach, describing it as a historic investment in Texas politics.
The Houston stop was less campaign rally than civic examination—and that made it meaningful. Voters did not offer automatic applause or easy approval; they demanded specifics, respect and results. Talarico left with encouragement, scrutiny and a clear message: Black Houston is listening, organizing and expecting candidates to earn every vote.
James Talarico - Candidate For US Senate
James Talarico & Traci Gibson
Alma Allen, James Talarico & with Rodney Ellis
James Talarico & Lauren Ashley Simmons
Photos By Burt Levine & Lisa Valadez
Houston grocery map is getting two bold new pins—and families from Humble to southwest Houston may want to bring their shopping lists and their appetites.
Joe V’s Smart Shop, H-E-B’s value-focused grocery format, is expanding with two new 57,000-square-foot stores scheduled to open in 2027. Construction is already underway at 19611 US-59 near Interstate 69 in Humble, where the first location is expected to open in early 2027. A second store at 1227 W. Orem Drive near Highway 288 and the City Park community is planned for late 2027.
For Houston-area families balancing grocery budgets, busy schedules and growing households, this expansion is more than another retail announcement. It represents affordable food, neighborhood convenience and a significant employment boost. Each store is expected to hire more than 200 Joe V’s Partners, creating more than 400 new jobs with training, competitive pay, benefits and opportunities for career and leadership development.
That is the kind of economic recipe Houston understands: combine investment, employment and affordable groceries, then serve it family-style.
Launched in 2010, Joe V’s Smart Shop was designed to lower operating costs and pass those savings directly to customers—known affectionately as “Smart Shoppers.” The brand now employs more than 2,700 Partners across 14 stores in the Houston and Dallas areas. As a proud H-E-B media partner, Houston Style Magazine recognizes this expansion as another example
H-E-B’S
JOE V’S
SMART SHOP DOUBLES DOWN ON HOUSTON WITH TWO NEW STORES
– MORE THAN 400 JOBS AND FRESH SAVINGS COMING IN 2027
By Francis Page, Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
of H-E-B planting long-term roots in the communities it serves.
Both new locations will introduce something especially flavorful: they will be the first Joe V’s Smart Shops to feature H-E-B South Flo Pizza. The graband-go concept will offer handcrafted pizzas prepared fresh in-house daily. Translation: shoppers may enter for bananas and leave with dinner handled. That is not impulse buying; that is strategic meal planning with melted cheese.
The stores will also offer home delivery, extending their reach beyond the checkout lane and into surrounding neighborhoods. Inside, customers can expect fresh produce delivered daily, in-store-cut meats, chicken and seafood, freshly made tortillas and breads, Sushiya selections prepared daily, Asian grill favorites, H-E-B Meal Simple options and an expansive selection of Latino cheeses.
The value headlines are hard to miss. Joe V’s plans to continue offering three pounds of bananas for $1, bolillos at eight for $1 and family-friendly Joe V’s Bundle boxes starting at $20. Those seasoned-meat boxes can help stretch a household menu across several meals—an increasingly welcome advantage when families want quality without watching the grocery receipt perform gymnastics.
Beyond food, the new stores are expected to carry dairy and frozen items, seasonal merchandise, cookware, small appliances, toys, personal-care products, baby essentials, nutritional supplements and over-the-counter medications. Convenient self-checkout lanes will help keep traffic moving, while home delivery will provide another option for seniors, working parents and customers with limited transportation.
Historically, H-E-B’s growth is one of Texas’ great business stories. Florence Butt opened the C.C.
Butt Grocery Store in Kerrville in 1905 with a $60 investment. From that modest beginning, the company grew by staying close to its customers, respecting its Partners and treating community service as part of the business—not an afterthought.
Today, the San Antonio-based company reports more than $50 billion in sales, over 455 stores in Texas and Mexico, and more than 175,000 Partners serving millions of customers in more than 300 communities.
For Houston, the new Joe V’s stores continue a familiar story: H-E-B invests where people live, work, raise families and build futures. Humble gains a major grocery destination and hundreds of employment opportunities. The City Park and Highway 288 area gains a fresh-food retailer designed around value and convenience. Both communities gain another doorway into the H-E-B family.
Job seekers should begin watching the official Joe V’s Smart Shop careers portal as employment opportunities are posted. Applicants can search hourly, management and salaried career openings, with Spanish-language job listings also available.
The message is simple: two stores, more than 400 jobs, fresh food, lower prices and pizza coming straight out of the oven.
Houston, that sounds like a smart shop—and an even smarter investment in our communities.
Houston, knows how to put on a show, and this August the city’s performing arts community is once again giving audiences a reason to rise, applaud and bring a friend. Houston Theater Week returns for its fifth annual celebration August 24–30, 2026, offering buy-one-get-one-free ticket deals for performances across the upcoming arts season.
Presented by Huntington National Bank and supported by Houston First, the weeklong promotion is designed to make live entertainment more accessible while strengthening the theaters, artists and creative professionals who keep Houston’s cultural spotlight shining.
The full 2026 lineup and participating venues are expected to be announced closer to the event, but the invitation is already clear: save the date, watch for the official offers and be ready to move when ticket sales open. Eligible performances will span theater, opera, dance, Broadway-style productions, musical performances and other cultural experiences throughout the city.
Since its launch in 2022, Houston Theater Week has grown from a promising new idea into one of the city’s most anticipated arts promotions. The first campaign united local arts organizations around a simple but powerful goal—remove the cost barrier, invite more people into the audience and remind Houston that live performance belongs to everyone.
The results have been impressive. In 2025, the promotion reportedly generated more than 43,000 ticket sales across approximately 400 performances, setting a new record and demonstrating that Housto-
HOUSTON THEATER WEEK RETURNS AUGUST 24–30 WITH BOGO TICKETS AND A CITYWIDE ENCORE FOR THE ARTS
By Francis Page, Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
nians are eager to support the arts when access and affordability take center stage.
Those numbers deserve more than a polite golf clap. They show that a BOGO ticket can become much more than a discount. It can turn an ordinary evening into date night, introduce a child to the magic of the stage, reunite friends for a musical or encourage a first-time patron to experience opera, ballet or professional theater without worrying about paying full price for two seats.
The impact also extends beyond the cur-
tain. Every ticket supports a larger creative ecosystem that includes actors, musicians, dancers, directors, playwrights, choreographers, designers, stagehands, technicians, costume makers, ushers and administrative teams. A theater night can also support nearby restaurants, parking facilities, hotels and small businesses that benefit from increased activity in Houston’s arts districts.
Houston Theater Week has historically included both major institutions and smaller community organizations, giving audiences the opportunity to
explore familiar favorites and discover hidden gems. That variety is part of the excitement. One evening may feature a Broadway touring production, while another could introduce audiences to a local playwright, an intimate chamber concert or a bold contemporary dance performance.
While the official 2026 list is still developing, theatergoers can begin planning by visiting the Houston Theater Week page and checking current calendars at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts and Alley Theatre. Patrons should carefully review each offer’s eligible dates, seating levels, promotional codes and restrictions before completing a purchase.
For Houston families, couples, students, seniors, arts lovers and adventurous newcomers, this annual celebration is an invitation to try something different. Buy the drama and get the comedy. Buy the orchestra and bring someone who thinks symphonies are only for movie soundtracks. Buy one seat and give the second to a young person whose imagination may be changed forever.
So mark August 24–30, 2026, in bold. When the curtain rises on the fifth annual Houston Theater Week, Houston will once again prove that the best seat in the house is even better when someone you care about is sitting beside you. That is truly a standing-ovation-worthy opportunity for the entire Houston community.
More Theater Week – Houston information: 2026 Theater Week
Sakenaut Festival Brings Tokyo’s Neon Nightlife, DJ TSÜBEE and Unlimited Sake to Houston
Japanese DJs, anime-inspired entertainment and the popular “nomihoudai” tradition take over West Houston on July 25
Houston, prepare to trade the familiar glow of the Bayou City skyline for a splash of Akihabara neon. On Saturday, July 25, Sakenaut Festival will transform Power Station Bar & Lounge into a Tokyo-nightlife-inspired playground where sake flows, game controllers, glow and two Japanese DJs keep the celebration moving from afternoon into the early morning.
Presented by TOKYO STORY, the 21-and-older experience runs from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. at 1809 Eldridge Parkway, Suite 101. Organizers describe Sakenauts as an anime-inspired festival blending sake, cocktails, music, games and social connection. Guests can choose among three-hour sessions or a limited all-day pass, with official ticket listings ranging from $49.99 to $99.99 at publication time.
The schedule is built like a night in chapters. Session One runs from 2 to 5 p.m.; Session Two follows from 6 to 9 p.m.; and the late-night DJ experience takes over from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. A separate, limited Megami Maids add-on brings kawaii maidcafé interactions, photo opportunities and anime-inspired hospitality into the mix, giving cosplay and convention fans another reason to charge their phones and practice their best camera-ready pose.
The headline attraction is “nomihoudai,” Japan’s popular all-you-can-drink format. The Japan National Tourism Organization explains that many izakaya offer timed nomihoudai plans featuring drinks from a designated menu. Houston’s version places sake and sake cocktails at center stage, but the smartest accessory remains moderation.
Valid government-issued identification is required, and guests should arrange a designated driver or rideshare before the first “kanpai.”
Sakenaut Festival is not simply pouring beverages; it is pouring atmosphere. Japanese drinking games, Nintendo Switch play, anime-friendly visuals and a limited-capacity setting are designed to make the
By Francis Page Jr. for www.StyleMagazine.com
lounge than another crowded bar night.
It works for longtime sake enthusiasts, curious first-timers, couples seeking an unconventional date and friend groups ready to replace the usual weekend routine with something more electric.
DJ SENNA raises the voltage even higher. Her official biography identifies her as a Japanese hardstyle DJ ranked No. 1 in Japan, No. 3 in Asia and No. 19 worldwide by DJaneTop. It also credits her as the first Asian woman to officially perform at Defqon.1 in 2024. Her international résumé includes appearances connected to Ultra Taiwan, Ultra Japan, Ultra Beach Bali, S2O New York, S2O Japan, Amsterdam Dance
Event and World DJ Festival. In other words, Houston is not getting background music; it is getting festival-grade horsepower.
The timing also feels culturally right. Japan remained part of Houston’s summer conversation after its dramatic 2–1 World Cup loss to Brazil at Houston Stadium on June 29.
Japan led at halftime before Brazil rallied and won in stoppage time, yet the Japanese team earned praise for its progress and resilience. A few weeks later, Sakenaut Festival offers another opportunity for Houstonians to engage with Japanese culture—this time without a scoreboard and with considerably more Nintendo.
TOKYO STORY itself was created to serve as a bridge between Japan and the United States. According to the organization, founder Yo Shimizu’s inspiration grew after introducing visiting Texans to Akihabara’s food, technology and pop-culture energy. Sakenauts continues that mission by combining Japanese tradition with a modern American nightlife format rather than placing culture behind glass. This is participation, not observation.
For Houston, a city fluent in cultural fusion, the concept feels perfectly at home. We mix cuisines, languages, neighborhoods and rhythms before breakfast. Sakenaut Festival simply adds rice wine, hardstyle and glowing Tokyo flavor to the recipe.
So, arrive curious, dress with a little anime-nightlife imagination and prepare to play, sip and dance responsibly. From the first chilled pour to the final DJ set, Sakenaut Festival aims to make West Houston feel several time zones away—without anyone needing a passport.
Kanpai, Houston. The neon is calling. Answer with style.
Event Details
Saturday, July 25, 2026 • 2 p.m.–2 a.m. Power Station Bar & Lounge 1809 Eldridge Parkway, Suite 101 • Houston, Texas 77077 Ages 21 and older with valid government-issued identification Official festival information and ticket options are available through TOKYO STORY.
