Houston Style Magazine Vol 36 No 36

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Publisher Francis Page, Jr. fpagejr@stylemagazine.com

Associate Publisher Lisa Valadez lisa@stylemagazine.com

Managing Editor

Jo-Carolyn Goode editorial@stylemagazine.com

Social Media Editor/Videographer Reginald Dominique reggiedominique@me.com

Graphic Design /Layout Editor Cameron C. Lee thisiscam6@gmail.com

Political Editor Burt Levine texascampaigns@gmail.com

Contributing Editor Amanda Edwards @AmandaKEdwards

Sports Editor Brian Barefield brian barefield@yahoo.com

Arts Editor Bianca Elam biancaelam777.be@gmail.com

Food Writer

Alex Jack alexandriajack1991@gmail.com

TotallyRandie Totallyrandie@gmail.com

NATIONAL WRITERS

Ben Jealous info@benjealous.com

Jesse Jackson jjackson@rainbowpush.org

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Vicky Pink vhpink@gmail.com

ADVERTISING/SALES

AdVertising emAil advertising@stylemagazine.com

MINORITY PRINT MEDIA, LLC, D.B.A. Houston Style Magazine & www.StyleMagazine.com Phone: (713) 748-6300 • Fax: (713) 748-6320 Mail: P.O. Box 14035, Houston, TX 77221-4035

©2025 Houston Style Magazine, a Minority Print Media, L.L.C. Company. All Right Reserved. Reproduction in whole or within part without permission is prohibited. Houston Style Magazine has a 2021 Audit by Circulation Verification Council (CVC). Houston Style Magazine is a member of the Texas Publishers Association (TPA), Texas Community Newspaper Association (TCNA), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Independent Free Paper of America (IFPA), Association of Free Community Papers (AFCP) and Members of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP). National Association of Hispanic Publications, Inc. (NAHP, Inc.), Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HHCC), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Latin Women’s Initiative (LWI), National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals (HAHMP), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), and Supporters of Greater Houston Partnership(GHP)

More than 800 new laws are about to take effect in Texas, and they are set to bring sweeping changes to the state’s education systems, water infrastructure and more.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed 1,155 bills that came out of the regular legislative session, including over 200 laws that went into effect immediately such as the school cellphone ban, the abortion ban clarification, property tax cut and increased oversight over the energy grid. Meanwhile, some won’t activate until next year or until voters approve constitutional amendments in November, such as stricter bail policies and a $3 billion dementia research fund. In addition, there are 140 bills that the governor didn’t take action on, including 34 that took effect immediately.

Most, however, started on Sept. 1, the traditional date for laws passed during the regular session. Here are some notable measures that will soon take effect:

Senate Bill 1 lays out the state’s new $338 billion two-year spending plan, with over 70% of the budget being reserved for education and health and human services.

Senate Bill 2 created one of the country’s largest school voucher programs, allowing parents to pay for their children’s accredited private school tuition or other education-related expenses with public tax dollars.

House Bill 2 provides about $8.5 billion in new money to public schools, as districts across the state tackle long-running challenges following years of stagnant funding. From this pot, more than $4 billion will go toward raising educator’s pay.

Senate Bill 10 requires the visible display of the Ten Commandments on donated posters that are at least 16 by 20 inches in public school classrooms, which are attended by around 5.5 million students in Texas.

Senate Bill 12 extends the ban on diversity, equity and inclusion policies to K-12 schools.

Senate Bill 13 gives parents and school boards more power over what stu-

MORE THAN 800 NEW LAWS WENT INTO EFFECT IN TEXAS THIS MONTH

dents can access in public school libraries.

Senate Bill 37 gives politically appointed regents more power over public universities. It will also create an office that can investigate universities for failures to comply with state laws.

House Bill 33, authored by Republican state Rep. Don McLaughlin who was mayor during the Uvalde school shooting, will require law enforcement agencies across Texas to establish crisis response policies.

Senate Bill 7 creates a framework for funding water projects through the Texas Water Development Board and providing oversight over them, amid a broad effort to

tackle the state’s looming water crisis.

Senate Bill 15 allows for certain single-family homes to be built on smaller lots. In particular, the law will ban big cities from requiring these homes to sit on more than 3,000 square feet of land, if they are being constructed in a new subdivision that is at least five acres in size.

Senate Bill 17 bans governments, companies and individuals who legally reside in China, North Korea, Russia and Iran from owning land and properties in Texas.

Senate Bill 33 bans cities or counties from using their money to support residents seeking abortions outside Texas.

House Bill 46 expands the state’s

medical marijuana program to include patients with chronic pain, traumatic brain injury and Crohn's disease.

House Bill 229 defines man and woman based on biological reproductive systems and apply that definition across the state code.

Senate Bill 835, titled “Trey’s Law,” bans and voids the use of nondisclosure agreements in sexual assault and human trafficking cases.

Langston University Marching Pride
Photography By Cameron C. Lee

Words and life experiences shape identity and reveal values. For Donald John Trump, those words have long been distilled into a singular mantra: win at any cost. Born into privilege, Trump never knew what it meant to be denied opportunity, face discrimination, or live without wealth.

As the fourth child of German immigrant Frederick Christ Trump Sr. and Scottish immigrant Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, Donald J. Trump inherited a world where money defined worth. By the age of eight, Trump and his siblings were effectively millionaires, thanks not to achievement but to their parents’ aggressive tax avoidance strategies. In the Trump household, financial maneuvering was more than business—it was survival, status, and power.

The family empire was built on real estate development catering to single families and war workers. Long before Donald became president of the Trump Organization in 1971, his father had faced repeated Senate and state investigations for unethical profiteering. Together, father and son faced their own federal lawsuit when the Justice Department accused them of violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against Black renters.

Trump’s worldview was reinforced

DONALD TRUMP’S SECOND TERM: A PRESIDENCY DIVIDING AMERICA THROUGH POLICY AND

Donald Trump - President of the United States

by his father’s lessons, who reportedly called him “king” and “killer.” The result was an elitist posture that elevated profit and dominance over fairness, often at the expense of people of color. Today, as president once again, Trump governs with those same values—leaving America more divided than united.

Eight months into his second term, Trump’s policies reveal an unmistakable pattern: the dismantling of civil rights protections and systemic supports for marginalized communities. Critics argue these actions are not simply administrative but

racially motivated, undermining decades of progress.

Dismantling DEI Initiatives

On January 20, 2025, Trump signed an executive order terminating all federal Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) programs. Protections, funding, and representation efforts were eliminated, with the administration framing DEI as “divisive” and unnecessary..

Weakening Civil Rights Enforcementt

Trump’s administration reduced the capacity of federal agencies to challenge systemic discrimination, leaving fewer safeguards for marginalized groups.

Voting Restrictions

Plans for stricter voter ID laws and limits on mail-in voting threaten to disproportionately affect communities of color.

Job Cuts and Economic Disparities

Led by Elon Musk, the Department of Government Efficiency initiated sweeping cuts in federal agencies like Education, HHS, and Veterans Affairs—agencies with large Black workforces. These cuts directly endanger Black economic stability.

POWER

Education Rollbacks

Houston Style Magazine readers love a good page-turner and a good conversation. Between our thriving indie book community, a nationally watched political landscape, and a Theater District built for marquee moments, Houston is the perfect stage for stories about power, policy, and possibility.

MEREDITH JOHNSON:

Is Rewriting How Houston Talks Transit – And Who It’s For

Houston is a city that moves with purpose— by car, by rail, by bus, and, increasingly, by a shared vision of access. At the center of that vision is Meredith Johnson METRO’s EVP for Communications. Her mandate is as big as Houston itself: build trust, tell the truth, and make mobility personal.

A Trailblazer with Texas Roots

Johnson’s résumé reads like a masterclass in public-interest storytelling, rooted in a childhood shaped by public servants who inspired in her a love for Houston and commitment to its future. She was born and raised here by a family chock full of Houston Firefighters (her grandfather was Deputy Chief). Before METRO, Johnson built Shepherd Strategy, advising clients across real estate, energy, healthcare and construction, on how to communicate clearly when it matters to the public and stakes are often high. She previously directed communications for the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, supported policy reform efforts across the country as Executive Director of the Citizen Leader Alliance,

and brought a policy insider’s eye from roles with KBR and the office of Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson during her service in the Texas Senate.

A proud University of Texas at Austin graduate (Hook ’em), Johnson is as committed to service as she is to strategy: a Life Member and active volunteer with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo ™, past board service with Easter Seals Greater Houston, a Citizens for Animal Protection Honoree, and leadership in community events that celebrate firefighters, veterans, and Western heritage. This fall, she takes another forward step as a leader in the Center for Houston’s Future program—proof that her focus isn’t only on today’s riders but tomorrow’s region.

From “Announcements” to Accountability

When Johnson arrived, METRO’s communications machine already answered calls and posted alerts. She’s elevated it into something more ambitious: a unified, proactive, people-first

goal is the same: respect people’s time, anticipate questions, and show how their feedback shaped the outcome.

The Human Side of Mobility

Ask Johnson about her favorite part of the job and she won’t name a campaign; she’ll name people. The student making class on time. The nurse catching a 6 a.m. shift. The man who can get home with frozen groceries because of METRO’s new service, microtransit. Her communications north star is simple and profound: choosing METRO should be easy. Bringing Public Engagement and Communications under one roof has supercharged that mission. Ideas move faster. Language is plainer. Messaging is consistent. And the riders—our neighbors—get what they need more easily.

Turning Friction into Forward Motion

Change is hard—especially when it moves your bus stop or shifts your schedule. Johnson doesn’t sugarcoat that reality. Instead, she uses it. Each concern becomes an opportunity to explain, to demonstrate stewardship of public dollars, and to connect the dots between shortterm inconvenience and long-term benefit. Her posture—equal parts humility and backbone—is how you transform public information into public confidence.

What’s Next

With her selection to the Center for Houston’s Future, Johnson joins a cohort focused on shaping the region we’ll hand to our children—one where equitable access to jobs, healthcare, education, and culture is not a slogan but a system. In that future, METRO isn’t just moving people; it’s unlocking opportunity.

Fast Facts: Meredith Johnson

• Title: EVP for Communications, METRO

• Focus Areas: Press, public engagement, marketing, partnerships, internal communications

communications engine. Under her umbrella now live media relations, public engagement, marketing, partnership promotions, and internal communications. The change sounds technical; the impact is human.

Her team’s job is not simply to “get the word out” but to listen early, act transparently, and explain the “why” behind every detour, route, or construction zone. That clarity—especially during METRO’s transformation under METRONow—turns complex operations into understandable choices. As Johnson will tell you, “Transit is a lifeline, and lifelines require trust.”

Trust as Infrastructure

Houston’s growth demands more than concrete and steel; it demands confidence. Johnson’s approach to crisis communications and reputation management is designed to strengthen that confidence before, during, and after change. Whether it’s a neighborhood meeting about a project, a campaign to promote new service, or a rapid-response update during a hurricane, the

• Specialty: Crisis communications, reputation management, stakeholder and government relations

• Civic & Community: HLSR Life Member; Easter Seals Greater Houston Board; CAP Honoree

• Education: B.S., U.T. at Austin

• Next Up: Center for Houston’s Future program (Fall 2025 cohort)

Why this matters for Houston

Houston Style Magazine readers know that mobility is about families, paychecks, and possibilities. In Johnson, METRO has a leader who treats communications like a public service—because it is. If a city’s character is measured by how easily its people can reach their dreams, Houston’s story is moving in the right direction

Meredith Johnson – METRO's Executive Vice President for Communications

Houston Style Magazine is honored to serve as a media sponsor for one of the most influential gatherings in the energy and business landscape — the 16th Annual Gulf Coast Industry Forum (GCIF), hosted by the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region.

For sixteen years, GCIF has stood as the premier stage where vision, innovation, and collaboration converge to shape the future of the Gulf Coast’s thriving energy corridor. This year’s highly anticipated event takes place at the Pasadena Convention Center, 7902 Fairmont Pkwy, Pasadena, TX 77507, welcoming industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators dedicated to ensuring the Houston Port Region continues its global leadership.

A Forum That Defines Progress

The Houston Port Region is far more than an economic hub — it is the beating heart of America’s energy, petrochemical, maritime, and logistics industries. Its reach extends globally, providing unmatched access for goods, services, and

HOUSTON STYLE MAGAZINE PROUDLY SPONSORS THE 16TH ANNUAL GULF COAST INDUSTRY FORUM

opportunities.

From Port Houston’s groundbreaking supply chain investments to pioneering sustainability and carbon capture projects, the Gulf Coast Industry Forum is where conversations ignite, partnerships are forged, and bold ideas evolve into actionable strategies.

As the 16th Annual GCIF convenes, attendees can expect dynamic discussions, future-focused insights, and networking opportunities designed to empower businesses and communities alike.

Houston Style Magazine: Championing Voices That Matter

As Houston’s most widely read weekly publication and the leading voice for diverse communities, Houston Style Magazine proudly aligns with the Gulf Coast Industry Forum’s mission of growth, innovation, and inclusivity. Our role as a media sponsor reflects our commitment to keeping Houston and Harris County residents informed, connected, and inspired.

We believe that when industries

thrive, communities flourish. Supporting GCIF allows us to highlight the visionaries shaping tomorrow’s economy while amplifying Houston’s role as a global leader in energy and commerce.

Why This Event Matters

For businesses and professionals across the Gulf South, GCIF is not just a conference — it’s a gateway to new opportunities. Attendees will explore:

• Energy transition strategies that balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.

• Port Houston’s global impact, connecting local businesses to international markets.

• Innovations in petrochemicals, maritime, and logistics, driving workforce development and community investment.

With a packed agenda beginning at

9:00 AM CT (following early networking from 7:00 AM), GCIF promises to deliver unmatched value for leaders and changemakers committed to a more resilient and prosperous Gulf Coast.

Join the Conversation

The 16th Annual Gulf Coast Industry Forum is more than an event — it’s a movement of ideas, opportunities, and leadership. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, policymaker, or community leader, this is where you need to be on Thursday, September 18, 2025.

Pasadena, Texas — Thursday, September 18, 2025, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM CT (Doors open at 7:00 AM)

Houston's jazz scene is about to experience an electrifying night under the stars as DACAMERA proudly presents the Isaiah J. Thompson Quartet at Miller Outdoor Theatre. This free performance is more than a concert—it’s an invitation into the soulful, sophisticated, and deeply moving world of one of today’s most compelling young pianists.

A Rising Jazz Powerhouse

Isaiah J. Thompson has been hailed by All About Jazz as “a compelling composer and a powerhouse performer… one of the leading pianists of his generation.” With a touch that is both mature and imaginative, Thompson embodies what Jazziz calls “state-of-the-art jazz.” NPR adds that he represents “a rare combination of talent, creativity, humility, and honesty.”

His career skyrocketed with his recording debut on Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Handful of Keys alongside Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Since then, Thompson has released several acclaimed recordings as a bandleader, including his most recent masterpiece, The Book of Isaiah: Modern Jazz Ministry. Each performance blends technical brilliance with heartfelt emotion, making him a must-see for both longtime jazz lovers and newcomers alike.

THE ISAIAH J. THOMPSON QUARTET BRINGS STATE-OF-THE-ART

JAZZ TO HOUSTON’S MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE

DACAMERA’s Mission: Connecting People Through Music

This performance is part of DACAMERA’s mission to inspire communities through music that transcends boundaries. Their programs build bridges between genres, art forms, cultures, and eras—reminding us that music is not just performance, but conversation. With the Isaiah J. Thompson Quartet, audiences will experience jazz as both timeless tradition and living innovation.

Free Music for All – Rain

or Shine

Yes, the performance is free! Tickets for covered seating (up to 4 per person,

BAYOU CITY ART FESTIVAL

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ages 16+) will be available beginning Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 10:00 AM via DACAMERA’s website. Additional tickets will also be available in person at Miller Outdoor Theatre’s box office starting one hour before showtime. And for those who love a picnic-style experience, remember that open seating on the hill is always available—no ticket required.

This event is made possible in part by support from the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, ensuring that worldclass jazz remains accessible to everyone in our community.

A Can’t-Miss Houston Night Out

Grab your friends, bring a blanket, and prepare for an unforgettable Friday night in the heart of Hermann Park. Whether you’re a seasoned jazz aficionado or someone seeking a perfect evening of live music under the Texas sky, the Isaiah J. Thompson Quartet promises to deliver an exhilarating performance that embodies both tradition and innovation.

�� Our shows go on rain or shine—so let the rhythm lead you!

��Event Details:

Date & Time: Friday, September 5, 2025 | 8:00 PM

Location: Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030

Tickets: Free, available online September 4 or in person one hour before showtime

Presented by: DACAMERA

✨ Houston Style Magazine invites our readers to mark their calendars and celebrate the artistry of Isaiah J. Thompson and DACAMERA’s commitment to cultural excellence. This is more than a concert—it’s Houston’s soundtrack to late summer.

Isaiah J. Thompson

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED METRO FISCAL YEAR 2026 OPERATING & CAPITAL BUDGETS

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) is holding a public hearing to receive public comments on its proposed Operating and Capital Budgets for Fiscal Year 2026 (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026). The public hearing will be held at 12:00pm on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in the METRO Board Room on the Second Floor at 1900 Main Street in Houston, Texas 77002.

The public is invited to attend the hearing and provide comments in person. You may also join the hearing on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86046952015 or by dialing 346-248-7799 or 888-475-4499 (toll-free), Meeting ID: 860 4695 2015. Participation on Zoom is only necessary if you want to provide comments virtually during the public hearing. Otherwise, you may view a livestream of the hearing online at RideMETRO.org/Livestream. A video recording of the hearing will also be archived on the same page.

A copy of the proposed METRO Fiscal Year 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets is currently available for review by the public on the METRO website at RideMETRO.org/PublicHearing and in the lobby of the METRO RideStore in the Lee P. Brown METRO Administration Building, located at 1900 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002.

PROCESS FOR PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENTS

It is recommended that anyone wanting to make public comments at the hearing register as a public speaker with the METRO Board Office at least 48 hours in advance of the date of the hearing by calling 713-739-4834 or sending an email to BoardOfflce@RideMETRO.org, and providing their name, address and telephone number. If you pre-register, your comments will be heard first at the public hearing. Your name will be called at the appropriate time for you to make your comments.

Alternatively, if present in the Board Room you may provide public comments after the pre-registered speakers by raising your hand when called upon, by selecting the “Raise Hand” feature on the Zoom platform online or by pressing *9 if joining by telephone. Those calling in will automatically be placed on mute. After an unregistered speaker’s name or number is recognized, their microphone will be unmuted, and they will be able to provide their comments.

The public may also provide comments by email to: Budget.Book@RideMETRO.org or by calling METRO Customer Service at 713-635-4000 in advance of the public hearing.

LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE, ACCESSIBILITY, AND SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

Upon request, METRO provides free language assistance at METRO public hearings to help patrons who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English in accordance with its language assistance plan. METRO public hearings are also accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for language assistance and other accommodations should be directed to the Board Office at 713-739-4834 at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.

RideMETRO.org

Call or text 713-635-4000

ChatGPT’s parent company, OpenAI, says it plans to launch parental controls for its popular AI assistant “within the next month” following allegations that it and other chatbots have contributed to self-harm or suicide among teens.

The controls will include the option for parents to link their account with their teen’s account, manage how ChatGPT responds to teen users, disable features like memory and chat history and receive notifications when the system detects “a moment of acute distress” during use. OpenAI previously said it was working on parental controls for ChatGPT, but specified the timeframe for release on Tuesday.

“These steps are only the beginning,” OpenAI wrote in a blog post on Tuesday. “We will continue learning and strengthening our approach, guided by experts, with the goal of making ChatGPT as helpful as possible.”

The announcement comes after the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine filed a lawsuit against OpenAI alleging that ChatGPT advised the teenager on his suicide. Last year, a Florida mother sued chatbot platform Character.AI over its alleged role in her 14-year-old son’s suicide. There have also been growing concerns about users forming emotional attachments to ChatGPT, in some cases resulting in delu-

PARENTAL CONTROLS ARE COMING TO CHATGPT

‘WITHIN

THE NEXT MONTH,’ OPENAI SAYS

sional episodes and alienation from family, as reports from The New York Times and CNN have indicated.

OpenAI didn’t directly tie its new parental controls to these recent reports, but said in a blog post last week that “recent heartbreaking cases of people using ChatGPT in the midst of acute crises” prompted it to share more detail about its approach to safety. ChatGPT already included measures, such as pointing people to crisis helplines and other resources, an OpenAI spokesperson previously said in a statement to CNN.

But in the statement issued last week in response to Raine’s suicide, the company said its safeguards can sometimes become unreliable when users engage in long conversations with ChatGPT.

“ChatGPT includes safeguards such as

directing people to crisis helplines and referring them to real-world resources,” a company spokesperson said last week. “While these safeguards work best in common, short exchanges, we’ve learned over time that they can sometimes become less reliable in long interactions where parts of the model’s safety training may degrade. Safeguards are strongest when every element works as intended, and we will continually improve on them, guided by experts.”

In addition to the parental controls announced Tuesday, OpenAI says it will route conversations with signs of “acute stress” to one of its reasoning models, which the company says follows and applies safety guidelines more consistently. It’s also working with experts in “youth development, mental health and human-computer interaction” to develop future safeguards,

including parental controls, the company said.

“While the council will advise on our product, research and policy decisions, OpenAI remains accountable for the choice we make,” the blog post said.

OpenAI has been at the center of the AI boom, with ChatGPT being one of the most widely used AI services with 700 million weekly active users. But it’s been facing increased pressure to ensure the safety of its platform; senators in July wrote a letter to the company demanding information about its efforts in that regard, according to The Washington Post. And advocacy group Common Sense Media said in April that teens under 18 shouldn’t be allowed to use AI “companion” apps because they pose “unacceptable risks.”

The company has also grappled with criticism around ChatGPT’s manner and tone in interactions; in April it rolled back an update that made the chatbot “overly flattering or agreeable.” Last month, it reintroduced the option to switch to older models after users criticized the latest version, GPT-5, for its lack of personality.

Former OpenAI executives have also accused the company of paring back safety resources in the past.

Houston has long been celebrated as a global powerhouse in medicine and business, but its cultural heartbeat is pulsing louder than ever. The city’s artistic landscape has evolved into a dynamic force that rivals major art hubs across the country. This rise is no accident—it has been powered by community spaces turned creative incubators, increased sponsorships, and a contemporary arts movement that resonates deeply with Houstonians and beyond.

At the heart of this momentum are minority artists, especially African American and Latino creatives, whose vision has enriched the city’s cultural fabric with depth, resilience, and authenticity. From the groundbreaking legacy of Project Row Houses in the Third Ward to the Houston Museum of African American Culture’s ongoing commitment to amplifying Black voices, these artists have shaped Houston into a city where art sparks conversation, challenges perceptions, and reflects lived experience. Their contributions are not just local—they reverberate nationally and globally, affirming Houston as a hub of creativity and innovation.

Now, Houston is preparing to take center stage with the arrival of Untitled Art Houston 2025, one of the most anticipated art fairs in the world. Best known for its celebrated Miami Beach edition, Untitled Art is expanding to Texas for the first time with a

HOUSTON SET TO SHINE AS UNTITLED ART LAUNCHES FIRST HOUSTON EDITION IN 2025

boutique, invitational fair at the George R. Brown Convention Center from September 19–21, 2025. Curated by Founder Jeffrey Lawson, Houston Director Michael Slenske, and Executive Director Clara Andrade, the fair will bring together a mix of global and regional perspectives, presenting a powerful showcase of innovation, diversity, and artistic excellence.

Texas-based participants in the Main Sector include Sicardi | Ayers | Bacino, Moody Gallery, McClain Gallery, Inman Gallery, and Barbara Davis Gallery (Houston), along with notable exhibitors from Dallas, Monterrey, and internationally. They will join the lineup, affirming Houston’s rising profile in the international art market. Untitled Art will also spotlight emerging talent through its expanded Nest sector, a platform offering subsidized booths to reduce barriers for underrepresented and up-and-coming artists.

“This is a moment when all of Houston’s top museums are in expansion mode and currently offering some of the most dynamic programming in the nation,” says Michael Slenske, Director of Untitled Art Houston.

The fair will also feature architectural innovation through a new partnership with the Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, ensuring a thoughtfully designed experience for exhibitors and visitors alike. Cultural collaborations will extend across the city, with partnerships involving MFAH, CAMH, the Menil Collection, Asia Society Texas, and the Rothko Chapel—the latter also benefiting from a percentage of ticket sales. Adding to the excitement, Special Projects will highlight both local and international voices. Among them, Rick Lowe Studio’s “Prologue (2025)” will spotlight five emerging Houston-based artists, while the Houston Museum of African American

Culture (HMAAC) will present Street Campaign (2025) by El Franco Lee II, honoring his late father, Commissioner El Franco Lee. Untitled Art will also launch the Houston Artist Market, curated by Adam Marnie of F Magazine, offering a retail-style platform for local artists and collectives to connect directly with the public.

Houston is uniquely positioned to host an event of this scale and significance. The inaugural edition of Untitled Art Houston 2025 is more than just an art fair; it is a celebration of the city’s creative energy, its artists of color, and its place as the cultural and culinary capital of the South.

For more info, visit untitledartfairs. com.

GREAT EDUCAT RS THE HEART OF LEARNING STARTS WITH

Nominate a deserving teacher, counselor, principal, early childhood learning center, school board or school district.

Created in 2002, the H‑E‑B Excellence in Education Awards was designed to honor and thank outstanding public school professionals. Through this program, H‑E‑B awards over $780,000 annually to deserving educators who go the extra mile to serve their students and communities.

To submit a nomination or application, go to HEBLovesTeachers.com

Deadline for nomations September 30

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