Your Houston

Your Houston is a grassroots non-profit. Our primary focus is on Quality of Life issues that affect all Houstonians. We connect with other local leaders and non-profits, however large or small, all working with the singular goal to improve the city of Houston.

So, what is a Quality of Life issue? Well, I’m glad you asked! QOL issues are the ones we all face and make an impact on or have the potential to disrupt our daily lives. Flooding from hurricanes and thunderstorms, ease of transportation across the city, and transparency within our local government just to name a few.

Gloria Zenteno is the inspiring founder and president of Barrio Dogs, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing pet homelessness and overpopulation in Houston's East End, where she was born and raised. Seeing the neglect and abuse of animals inspired her to make a change. Gloria's focus is on education and community outreach, empowering her neighbors to take care of animals and instilling a belief in health equity for both humans and their four-legged companions. Her work has earned recognition and awards, including the 2015 Hispanic Heritage Award in Education and the 2019 Good Neighbor Award from the Houston East End Chamber. Barrio Dogs, Inc. 

On this episode we speak with Cathy Britton from Urban Harvest about the various ways they try to bring healthy fresh produce to areas of Houston. Cathy shares how to double your EBT/SNAP benefits at their markets. 

The Urban Enrichment Institute - UEI (formerly the Fifth Ward Enrichment Program Incorporated -FWEP) is a youth leadership and development program for at-risk males, ages 12 - 19, strategically located in one of Houston's most economically depressed neighborhoods. Shawn DeVaughn joins us to talk about the UEI program and its impact in Fifth Ward.

On this episode we speak with Samara Rosen, Manager of The Center for art and Photography at Celebration Company. We discuss Celebration Company and highlight the ReelAbilities Film & Art Festival. An event that uses the arts as a vehicle to promote inclusion and amplify the voices of people with disabilities locally and nationally.

Today we speak with Cindy Tessler, Avenue CDC Vice President of Programs and Operations, about various homeownership programs and services available to the public.  

This episode is special edition of the Your Houston podcast. We feature our recently held live event on infrastructure funding lessons learned. We hear from Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, and Your Houston Truman Scholar Mike Floyd. After their remarks Houston METRO, the City of Houston, CenterPoint Energy, and the Houston-Galveston Area Council participate in a panel discussion on their experiences obtaining infrastructure funding for local projects. 

We are thrilled to be joined by Gracie Saenz of LULAC Council #60 to discuss Latino history in Houston and the historic LULAC Council # 60 clubhouse she is working so hard to save.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month we speak with Houston Community College Trustee and CEO of the Tejano Center for Community Concerns Dr. Adriana Tamez. Dr. Tamez shares with us the numerous resources available to those interested in continuing their education with the Houston Community College. Programs available include workforce development, reskilling training, and college courses and certificates. 

We speak with organizers from Stop TXDot I-45 to discuss the proposed highway reconstruction project and the major implications it has for quality of life issues for Houstonians throughout the city.