We were fortunate to catch up with some brilliant artists, creatives and entrepreneurs from throughout the Houston area and they share the wisdom with us below.

Jamie Cooper | Community-builder, Creator, Connector, Collaborator, Cannabis Connoisseur and Outdoor Enthusiast

I wanted to combine my two passions: Skiing and cannabis. About a decade ago, I spent a number of years working in the ski industry in Colorado. After realizing I would have to take a significant pay cut to land the job of my dreams with Vail Resorts, I had to make the difficult, but responsible, decision to leave the life I loved. But then several months ago, I was feeling this pull to get back into the ski industry, to the point I was willing to leave cannabis. All of a sudden, it dawned on me that I could combine the two by hosting ski and ride events for cannabis consumers. That’s when I launched ZAprès. Après is the French word for “after”. In the skiing and snowboarding culture, you partake in an Après event when you go and have a drink at the bar after a day of skiing or riding. Zaza is a slang term for cannabis. That’s why my company is called ZAprès Events. Instead of getting drunk after skiing, we indulge in a safer, alternative option that helps with all of that soreness after a long day on the slopes. Read more>>

Onyx Fujii | Onyx Fujii, LCSW // therapist, supervisor, consultant, and co-director of Kintsugi Therapist Collective

Kintsugi Therapist Collective (KTC) began in conversation between me and fellow disabled therapist, and dear friend, Asher Pandjiris. During the pandemic, the challenges we had already been experiencing as care workers navigating the extractive dynamics of the mental health industrial complex, fighting to sustain our chronically ill bodies, felt beyond repair. And yet, we ourselves and our children to provide for, and a glimmer of the dedication and reverence we both hold for our clients and our vision for what clinical practice should be — or what it could become. Read more>>

Kate Casanova | Sculptor & Professor

I’ve tried to quit making art in the past and it never sticks. I’m happiest when I’m creating and so I’ve structured my life so that it supports my need to make things. Read more>>

Carolyn Love, PhD |

When my daughter was small, I said I wanted to raise my child in a way that she could think, problem solve, and feel good about herself. Someone who, even if she were not my daughter, I would love because she was a great person. Read more>>

Jennifer Mariposa” Young | Nonprofit Founder & Metaphysical Reader”

Surrounding myself with high-quality people and not compromising on that has been the best decision I’ve made for both my nonprofit and my spiritual business. From recruiting talented and passionate nonprofit board members to carefully selecting clients for big events, seeking out professionalism and caring people have been vital to my success. I might be my own boss but I can’t do business without a community. Read more>>

Rachel Raya | Brand & Web Designer

A value that matters most to me is authenticity. I truly believe in providing the best service for my clients. From customer service to deliverables, I aim for my clients to feel confident, happy, and to exceed their expectations. I am honest and want to ensure my clients are happy, I remain true to myself and to the clients I choose to work with. Read more>>

Eric Moya | Bodymindspirit Therapist

Anything that is smuggling in a notion of toxic individualism at its core.

There are a lot of ideas out there that reinforce the idea of the individual over interdependence and interconnection. It can be difficult to spot at times, but many ideas contain an individual-reinforcing core. An example would be the idea of manifestation. Imagine what you want and manifest it, so the idea goes. That idea may initially appear to be attractive and empowering, but it’s really not. It’s reinforcing an idea of individual willpower over a complex environment. The cost of smuggling in that individual-over-environment foundation is further isolation from others, and ultimately blames the owner of the thought when the observer-independent world behaves differently. Read more>>

Kendall Knowles | Aerial arts studio owner and instructor

As a professional aerial arts performer and studio owner for over 20 years my biggest concern for everyone is safety and the high dangers of aerial arts. SociaL media has been a big inspiration for circus arts getting so popular in the United States. How do I hang an aerial point in my home? This is by far the most common question I beta d it’s deeply concerning. Read more>>

Kendrick Cowdery | Visual Artist

My end goal is to continue to evolve the process of creation. If you’re doing it right, the process of making art and creating new visual ideas is the end goal. While that may seem a bit lofty, it simply means that my goal is to continue making art, coming up with new ideas, working with individuals and communities, exploring new ways to express myself and keeping the visual impact of my work invigorating. Read more>>

Marie Zeledon | Mindfulness and Transpersonal Counselor, Reiki Master, Crystal Bowl sound facilitator, Intuitive Coach

After years of a successful career as a fashion designer in New York City, I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue my passion for mindfulness and transpersonal counseling. Despite the financial security of a six-figure salary, I knew that my true calling lay in helping others and promoting mental wellness. It was a difficult decision to leave behind the stability of my former career, but I was committed to starting anew and establishing myself in a completely different industry. It has been a challenging journey, but the rewards of following my heart and positively impacting people’s lives have been immeasurable. Read more>>

Alexa Hapgood | Owner & Founder of Roaming Roots LLC- Ecological Garden Design & Foraged Botanical Art

A decade ago, I found myself in my mid-twenties with a prosperous and relatively prestigious career in fine wine sales. The career ticked off the boxes of what our society would consider success, but unfortunately, and quite inconveniently it was leaving me progressively feeling more depressed and unfulfilled by the day. I felt a deep calling to get my hands on plants– to learn how to grow more of my own food, to learn more about gardening to support wildlife, and to create sustainable and beautiful art in partnership with nature which could both teach and inspire others. Read more>>

Brian Newsome | Executive Director of Fostering Hope

I grew up in an upper-middle class suburban home with two loving parents. My grandparents were a part of my life as well. I never experienced a time in my life when I didn’t feel loved or protected. When I attended school, it was with an expectation of good things, and a worldview that people are inherently good. I knew bad things happened, but only on an intellectual level. Read more>>

Baylie Brakebill | Owner & Stylist at The Hair Den

Having a healthy work life balance is huge for me! One of the reasons why I decided to go to cosmetology school in the first place was because of my hairstylist in high school. I would trade getting my hair colored for babysitting her kids and I loved seeing how flexible she could be in her career. Once I started out and for years to follow it was not flexible at all. I would stay late, feel pressured to come in on my off days, couldn’t travel like I dreamt of, and because of this I wanted to quit. Once I found my salon in Littleton I went into it a little differently and probably more pushy with my time off because I thought back to why I got into this in the first place. Still it took years for me to find my perfect balance. Now, that I own my business, I have found that some weeks I can work a little more or feel comfortable taking extra time off without having the anxiety that can usually come with it. I try telling myself that we work to live, not the other way around. When I give myself the time to workout in the morning, be with my husband and family/friends on the weekends/evenings, walking my pups, traveling a few times a year or even just being able to clean my home, I feel fully refreshed, happy and ready to be at work! Read more>>

Veronica Burke | Artist

Well, this is a great question! My balance has definitely changed over time. I started teaching myself how to paint when my kids were 3 and 1. After they went to bed, I would devote a couple hours to learning as often as I could. I think most people struggle with “I will start when…” or “when my kids are…then I will…”. I just got sick of waiting. Your identity changes in and throughout motherhood. I wanted something that was truly me. My family comes first so I paint and run my business in the margins. As they grow and change my work life balance changes. I adjust and have to be intentional about my time. They are only young once and I don’t want to miss it, but I also want to pursue my dreams. I think you can have both! Read more>>