Informing, Inspiring & Connecting Successful Women

Since 2004

E-NEWS EDITION

Published Bi-Weekly

JUNE 24, 2026

Vol. 1, No. 6

Red-hot and

true-blue

July has always been a big month for our family — one full of important days, all worthy of major

celebrations! The Fourth of July, of course, is the biggie, but so too is the day before!

July 3rd is the day my parents got married. And, July 3, 2007 was especially significant. On that day, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Sadly, it was to be their last one together — my mother passed early the following year.

My parents getting married on a Fourth of July weekend was fitting. Their feelings

for each other mirrored perfectly their feelings for our country. As loving partners and

devoted patriots, their passion was red-hot and true-blue!

A decorated veteran of two wars, my dad was a flag-flying American who always took his citizenship seriously. A display case full of medals, as well as three Presidential Citations, are evidence of that.

My mother was much the same. Her commitment to our country started when she was 17 years old, with an entry-level position at the Pentagon. Over the years, this farmer’s daughter from Arkansas distin-guished herself too.

At 20, Mother was named Miss Naval Air Reserve. As such she enjoyed many unique and historic opportunities - like being asked to christen the Goodyear Blimp Enterprise before its initial flight.

Mother spent her entire career in Civil Service, climbing up the ranks, earning dozens of service awards and accolades and retiring after nearly 40 years of dedicated service to our nation.

When I was growing up, our family always celebrated my parents’ anniversary and Independence Day in grand style. On July 3rd, cakes, cards and gifts were part of the scene, but so too were three little girls scurrying around amidst manic activity. Patience prevailed, though, as our parents led us in silly renditions of “Yankee Doodle Dandy” — while staying keenly focused on prepping for the Fourth.

I remember grocery store runs to pick up hot dogs, buns and watermelon, and Dad firing up the grill. I remember decorating our bikes for the kids' parade in the neighborhood, and Mother sewing Betsy Ross-inspired costumes of red, white and blue. I remember lighting sparklers galore and going to see the fireworks after dark. All such fun and all things from which endearing memories were made.

For my parents, the yearly traditions of the season — their season — were the best and most meaningful ways to celebrate.

And, for me and my family, they still are!

Beverly Denver

Publisher

Annual Fourth of July event to be best ever

Keith Urban to headline great

day of family entertainment

Mayor John Whitmire and the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Special Events are proud to announce the return of the City’s official Fourth of July celebration, Freedom Over Texas, with an electrifying lineup and exciting additions for 2026.

Headlining this year’s celebration is global country superstar Keith Urban, joined by opening acts Collective Soul and Los Lonely Boys. The event returns to Eleanor Tinsley Park on July 4, bringing a full schedule of live entertainment, family-friendly activities and a spectacular fireworks finale along Buffalo Bayou.

“Freedom Over Texas is one of Houston’s most exciting traditions, and this year, we’re making it bigger and better. We’re proud to bring an incredible lineup to our city for a Fourth of July celebration unlike any other,” said Mayor Whitmire. “As we mark America’s 250th anniversary, this event is more than a celebration. It is a reflection of the spirit, unity and pride that define our community. Families, friends and visitors can expect an unforgettable experience that showcases the energy and heart of Houston.”

Headliner Keith Urban is one of the most celebrated artists in country music, with four Grammy Awards, 13 CMA and more than 11 billion global streams. Known for high-energy, genre-blending performances and chart-topping hits like “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” “Somebody Like You" and “Wasted Time,” Urban’s live shows are widely regarded as some of the most dynamic in the industry.

Joining him is Collective Soul, the multi-platinum rock band behind iconic hits like “Shine,” “December” and “The World I Know,” bringing a high-energy, nostalgic performance to the main stage. Rounding out the lineup is Los Lonely Boys, the Grammy Award-winning Texas trio known for their signature “Texican rock & roll” sound. With their breakout hit “Heaven” and more than two decades of music, the band continues to captivate audiences with a blend of rock, soul and roots influences.

Following the live performances, the celebration will conclude with a dazzling fireworks display presented by Thomas J. Henry Law.

New this year, Freedom Over Texas will introduce Futbol Park, a dedicated space celebrating the global excitement of soccer. This area will be located in Sam Houston Park where fans of all ages can gather and enjoy the energy with soccer-themed games and activities, food vendors, photo moments and plenty of seating and large outdoor screens.

GUEST COMMENTARY

Daughters of the

American Revolution far more than lineage society

by Pamela Rouse Wright

Joining the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) was a decision rooted in both my heritage and a desire to serve. My grandmother encouraged me to become a member so that when I moved to Houston, I would have an opportunity to form lifelong friendships. Like many members, I was initially drawn by a personal connection to my ancestors, but I quickly discovered that DAR is far more than a lineage society.

Through its mission of historic preservation, education and patriotism, DAR safeguards the physical reminders of our nation’s founding and ensures that the men and women who secured American independence are not forgotten. Equally important is DAR’s commitment to education, civic engagement and support of our active military and veterans.

As America approaches the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, DAR’s mission is more urgent and relevant now than when founded 135 years ago, in 1890. The 188,000 members across the country and abroad are leading commemorative events to encourage communities to reflect on the principles of liberty, courage and resilience that define our nation.

Honoring those who came before us establishes the foundation to invest in generations yet to come. Patriotism is not simply remembering history. Patriotism is actively participating in the ongoing story of our country. And yes, my grandmother was correct: because of DAR, I have friendships that span the nation and reach across the world. Service, shared history and sisterhood can truly change a life!

Pamela Rouse Wright is a philanthropist, jewelry designer and co-owner with her husband, Jack, of Wright Pawn & Jewelry in Houston. She is a longtime member of Houston's Lady Washington Chapter of the DAR and, after serving in numerous local, state and national leadership roles, she served as the President General of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution from 2022 to 2025 - only the second Texas woman ever elevated to that high office.

Upcoming

Events

June 25

Leadership Houston.

Annual Meeting.

Turkish Cultural Center. 6 p.m.

June 26

World Cup.

Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia.

Reliant Stadium.

7 p.m.

June 29

World Cup.

IC vs. 2F.

Reliant Stadium.

12 noon

July 3

Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays.

Daikin Park.

7:10 p.m.

July 4

Red, White & Blue at the Zoo. All Day.

July 4

World Cup.

W73 vs. W75.

Reliant Stadium.

12 noon

July 4

Freedom Over Texas. Eleanor Tinsley Park.

3-10 p.m.

July 4

Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays.

Daikin Park

6:10 p.m.

July 4

Red, White & Bloom. McGovern Centennial Gardens.

8 to 11 p.m.

July 5

Houston Astros vs.

Tampa Bay Rays.

Daikin Park.

2:30 p.m.

*****

Save these

fall dates.

September 18

El Centro de Corazon's "Making A Difference" Luncheon at Hotel ZaZa.

September 25

Mission of Yahweh Gala at River Oaks Country Club.

September 26

Houston Arts Alliance Gilded and Golden Gala at Thompson Hotel.

September 26

Cattle Baron's Ball at Hilton Americas.

'Red, White & Bloom' set for night of July 4

Celebrate the Fourth of July surrounded by beautiful blooms, festive fun and one of Houston’s most beloved fireworks displays!

Go see “Red, White & Bloom” on Saturday, July 4, from 8 to 11 p.m. in the McGovern Centennial Gardens at Hermann Park for a fantastic summer evening.

This year is extra special as we mark America’s 250th birthday with a celebration packed with birthday party vibes!

Visitors will enjoy enjoy free treats, family-friendly activities, music, lawn games and more before the night wraps up with a spectacular view of the fireworks show from Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Bring a blanket, gather your friends and family, and stroll through the vibrant garden spaces before settling in for the show, starting about 9:45 p.m.

Complimentary food items will be offered while supplies last. And, additional food vendors will be offering items for purchase at a location near Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Red, White & Bloom is free and open to the public.

^{HOUSTON WOMEN WHO MADE HISTORY}

JULIA B. IDESON

(1880–1945) 

Julia Bedford Ideson was the first head librarian of the Houston Public Library. She served in that role for 42 years (1903-1945), leading a predominately female library staff.

Ideson was born on July 15, 1880, in Hastings, Nebraska to parents John and Rose Ideson. When she was 12, the family moved to Houston. Later, in 1899, she graduated from Houston High School, then went on to enroll at the University of Texas. She intended to become a teacher, but she changed her mind in her second year, studying library culture instead.

During her time at the Houston Library, Ideson was involved in many political and social issues. In February 1919, she traveled to France to manage a library established there for American soldiers. She was also one of the creators of the Houston Open Forum, which brought invited speakers together with Houston residents to discuss controversial topics. The Forum ran for 12 years, from 1926 through 1938. In 1938, Ideson served on a committee to evaluate Houston's charter.

In 1951, the Houston City Council voted to name the main library in honor of Julia Ideson. Her name was carved over the front door of this building as a lasting tribute to her tireless work.

The Julia Ideson Building is now a City of Houston Protected Landmark, a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark, a Texas State Archaeological Landmark and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

NOTEWORTHY

Independence Hall at Houston Christian University

honors promise of our nation's founding documents

Since 2022, on the campus of Houston Christian University, there has been an outward and visible sign of a commitment to honor our nation's founders, teach the importance of constitutional government and work together to uphold the promise of our nation's founding documents.

Independence Hall at HCU was a gift to the university from people who believe in passing down our constitutional culture to the next generation. While the building honors our nation’s past, it is dedicated to our nation’s future.

This iconic building and the adjacent classroom buildings provide a beautiful addition to the HCU campus where discussions take place about what it means to be a free people, the responsibilities of a republican government and explore how best to understand and improve the human condition.

The Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty offers a self-guided audio tour for visitors and students. All can use their smartphone to scan a QR code and then listen to the narrators describing the significance of each room and providing background on the many paintings and portraits in the building. Listeners will learn about the history of the American founding, the mission of the Center and the importance of the historic rooms and individuals highlighted on the tour.

The tour was developed and implemented by Eleanor Barton, director of the Museum of Southern History, and Dr. Chris Hammons, director of the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty. The building is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the week (closed on weekends). There is no admission charge and no fee for the self-guided audio tour.

BUSINESS NEWS

KINDER INSTITUTE REPORT

Homebuilding continues, but residents

struggling to keep up with rising housing costs

Houston has long staked its reputation on growth, ample housing and opportunity, but that status is under strain. The region added more than 30,000 multifamily units last year, outpacing single-family construction, but residents are struggling to keep up with housing costs.

Retreating Homeownership: The share of Harris County households living in a home they owned fell in 2024 by the largest amount in a decade, as more residents opted to rent.

Rent squeeze: More than half of renter households are cost-burdened: 52.6% in Houston and 51.2% in Harris County, the highest figures ever recorded for both areas.

Insurance Spikes: The median annual home insurance premium jumped 17% in Harris County and 13% in Houston in a single year — rising faster than home values.

Concentrated Evictions: Harris County sees roughly one eviction filing for every 10 renter households, and the burden is highly localized. In eight neighborhoods, mostly suburbs beyond Beltway 8, that rate spikes to more than one in five.

Flood Risk: Following the Federal Emergency Management Agency's first comprehensive flood map update for Harris County since 2007, nearly 30% of housing units in the city of Houston would be in a floodplain.

HOUSTON WOMEN MAKING SMART MOVES

Sheetal Asodia, CPA, and senior audit manager at Doeren Mayhew, has recently been recognized with a 2026 Emerging Leader Award.

Jamie DiGulio, CPA, joins Doeren Mayhew Advisors LLC as a principal in the Tax Group, bringing nearly 20 years of public accounting experience.

Daniela Fletcher, CPA, has recently joined Doeren Mayhew Advisors LLC as a principal in its Tax Group.

Laura Hernandez has recently joined Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. as a project manager in the firm’s Houston office.

Kaci Howell of Weaver, an accounting and consultancy company, has recently been appointed as a partner in its Valuation practice.

Geeta Kelkar, CPA, has joined Doeren Mayhew as a senior manager in the Tax Group, bringing nearly 20 years of experience.

Connie Simmons Taylor has joined Seyfarth's Houston office as partner in its Real Estate department.

Danielle Taylor has joined Weinstein Spira as the new director of Human Resources with 24 years of HR experience in senior leadership roles.

Carmen Watkins has been named CEO of The American Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast, bringing decades of nonprofit experience.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Houston Public Library celebrating World Cup

with 'The Art of Soccer' exhibit til August 1

Houston is hosting FIFA World Cup 2026™ this summer, and the Houston Public Library is celebrating by bringing "The Art of Soccer" to Central Library. The exhibition is being presented in partnership with the Sports Authority Foundation. 

Houston-area businesses participating in this campaign were paired with local artists to decorate 36-inch soccer balls, which are displayed around the city. Funds raised through this campaign go directly towards the FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston™ Host Committee's legacy programs, which include providing club soccer access to underserved youth in the community, minimizing environmental impact through sustainability programming and protecting human rights.

Image above courtesy of the Sports Authority Foundation

Shining Stars Guild hosts special event June 4, presents two checks to Stageworks Theatre

The Shining Stars Guild celebrated an outstanding year of supporting the performing and visual arts in Northwest Houston during its annual "Curtain Call" luncheon, held June 4 at the George H. W. Bush Community Center.

Approximately 100 members and guests attended the event, which highlighted the Guild's ongoing mission of "raising funds with fun," while showcasing local artistic talent and its community partnership with Stageworks Theatre.

Guests enjoyed a catered lunch while learning more about the Guild's contributions to Stageworks and its educational programming.

A lively Seussical-themed fashion show provided one of the afternoon's highlights, with Guild members modeling styles from Scruples Boutique alongside appearances by Dr. Seuss-inspired characters, including the Cat in the Hat and the Grinch. Stageworks Theatre performers also entertained attendees with previews from the organization's upcoming 2026–2027 season.

The afternoon concluded with the presentation of two checks from the Shining Stars Guild to support Stageworks Theatre's professional productions and summer children's camps.

Shown in the photo above are Stageworks Theatre Acting Director Josh Harbour and Stageworks Board President Amy Welch (center) as they accept checks for $40,000 for Stageworks productions and $6315 for their youth acting academy. Presenting the checks are Cathy Gauthier (left) and Kim Bell, Jeannette Nickell and Sandra Loyd.

HEALTH & FITNESS

TAI CHI WALKING

Slow-Motion Workout for Balance and Strength

by Sandra Gordon

Picture this: You’re walking past a park and notice a group of people moving in unison, taking slow, deliberate steps as they gently shift their weight from one foot to the other, as though carefully crossing a frozen lake.

What may look too slow — and easy— to qualify as exercise is actually a prescription for better balance and strength in as little as 10 minutes per day.

Welcome to Tai Chi walking, an ancient form of fitness that’s currently having a moment, fueled by a growing number of social media posts and YouTube videos touting its health benefits.

What is Tai Chi Walking? Tai Chi walking is a form of Tai Chi, the traditional Chinese exercise that has existed for more than 1200 years, which involves traveling forward and back through 24 forms in a semi-squatted position.

“Tai Chi walking forms the foundation of the majority of traditional Tai Chi postures,” says Wei Liu, PhD, a Tai Chi instructor and research director of the Human Performance and Rehabilitation Research Lab at UT Health San Antonio’s School of Health Professions.

Tai Chi walking concentrates on sequentially performing roughly 18 of the 24 Tai Chi postures.

With Tai Chi walking, you’ll move through each posture slowly, with knees slightly bent in a crouching gait, with one foot on the ground at a time.

“Because you’re moving in a semi-squat, you’re using gravity to work your muscles and joints,” Liu says. "Each step is intentional, requiring coordination between your ankles, knees, hips and core muscles."

Slow doesn’t mean easy.

Unlike regular walking, which most of us do automatically without much thought, Tai Chi walking requires you to pay close attention to how you shift your weight, position your feet and maintain your balance with each step.

"Tai Chi walking challenges balance in ways that ordinary walking does not,” Liu says.

“When we walk normally, we quickly transfer our weight from one foot to the other, with both feet on the ground. In Tai Chi walking, that transition happens much more gradually. You’ll spend five to six times longer balancing on one leg while carefully shifting your body weight,” he says.

That extended weight shift forces your muscles and nervous system to work harder to maintain stability. The upshot?

Benefits of Tai Chi Walking

Lui’s research suggests that Tai Chi walking can provide a host of health benefits, including better balance. Falls are a major health concern for older adults. Tai Chi walking may help by training the body to respond more effectively by challenging your sense of balance. The slow transitions between steps challenge your ability to remain stable, helping you become more aware of where your body is in space.

“As you practice shifting weight, balancing on one leg and coordinating multiple muscle groups, you build skills that can carry over into everyday life,” Liu says. "For example, if you unexpectedly step onto a slippery surface, your body may be better prepared to make quick adjustments and regain stability."

Holding Tai Chi’s semi-squat positions engage the muscles of the thighs, hips and lower legs.

“You’re working against gravity,” says Wei. “The muscles have to support your body weight throughout the movement. The result is a gentle but effective strength workout, especially for the muscles that help keep you upright."

Unlike high-impact activities, Tai Chi walking places relatively little stress on the joints while encouraging coordinated movement through the ankles, knees and hips. The practice emphasizes controlled movement rather than speed, helping to sharpen participants’ coordination among posture, balance and movement during daily activities.

One of the most unique aspects of Tai Chi walking is the mental focus it requires. Because the movements are slow and deliberate, you can’t simply go on autopilot. You have to pay attention to every step.

That combination of physical movement and mental concentration is one reason Tai Chi walking is often described as a moving meditation, focusing your attention on the present moment with openness and curiosity to provide a mindset reset.

Tai Chi walking doesn’t require special equipment. Here’s a simple way to try it at home:

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.

• Bend your knees slightly into a comfortable semi-squat.

• Shift your weight slowly onto one foot.

• Lift the opposite foot and place it gently in front of you.

• Transfer your weight gradually to the front foot.

• Repeat on the other side.

Move slowly enough that you remain aware of every part of the weight transfer, paying close attention to every step. As you get used to it, try doing Tai Chi walking with your eyes closed to make it more challenging. Lei recommends doing 10 minutes of Tai Chi walking throughout the day, such as when you wake up and before bed. The key is consistency rather than intensity.

Sandra Gordon is a freelance journalist, specializing in health and fitness topics, and a longtime contributor to Houston Woman Magazine.

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Houston Woman Magazine was launched in March 2004. Since its beginning, its mission has been

to inform, inspire and connect successful women. E-News is now being published

every other Wednesday as an extension of its special printed issues.