In a world that often overlooks the experiences and struggles of intersex individuals, one organization stands at the forefront of creating awareness, advocating for change, and empowering the intersex community. The Houston Intersex Society, led by the passionate and dedicated Koomah, has made remarkable strides since its founding in 2012.

The Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Arts Network and Fund, affectionately known as BANF, has announced a transformative investment of $6 million over the next three years. The announcement was made during an awards ceremony where 25 2023 BANF Artist Awards recipients were celebrated. Each deserving awardee was granted a remarkable $20,000.

The timing of the BANF grant was ideal, providing the necessary support to sustain and expand VCSA’s existing programs. This includes the highly anticipated Viet Cultural Fest, which serves as a platform to showcase the remarkable heritage and talent of Vietnamese American artists.

An average of 45,000 people flee persecution, war-torn nations, and natural disasters yearly. Houston welcomes 30 of every 1,000 refugees that the United Nations resettles, making it an essential hub for immigrants worldwide.

As a performer, Stacy was aware of the universal power of music and dance to communicate a story that could resonate with audiences of all backgrounds. This understanding led to the creation of Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective, an agency that employs creative dance to convey narratives of beauty and bravery.

With Houston being the epicenter of human trafficking for sexual exploitation, it didn’t take much for students, non-binary people, community leaders, academics, survivors of domestic violence, and recent immigrants to Houston to come together to perform the song during the Women’s March of 2020 on the doorstep of City Hall.

Having been created to fill the void of limited programming and support for LGBTQ+ communities of color and their allies, the T.R.U.T.H. Project has made possible a safe space for individuals to express themselves and seek guidance and support that often proves to be life-transforming or even lifesaving.

When looking to the future, Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy has a clear goal and a path: Have Freedmen’s Town be recognized as a heritage district that changes how we think about emancipation and becomes the center of the Story of Freedom.