Gracie Cavnar has experienced quite a bit in her life that lead up to launching her own non-profit organization in 2005.  From walking catwalks as a model to designing buildings and homes in architecture school, this multi-purpose woman has done it all.  Afterall, she doesn’t quite understand the phrase, “I can’t.”

So you can imagine when creating stuff from scratch, she’s pretty resourceful.  Centered around her most loved passion and a chance to help the young community, this wonder woman started a public charity from scratch based on an idea and a personal vision about how to solve a problem.  Executing every step from the legal paperwork and structure to the fundraising and program design, Gracie started Recipe for Success, a 501 C3 non-profit dedicated to combating childhood obesity by changing the way children understand, appreciate and eat food in a fun and adventurous way.

This month marks a milestone for Chryl’s long and life-changing experience as a volunteer with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training Program.  On September 27, Coach Chryl will lead a team of ten dedicated cyclists, who have spent selfless hours raising more than a combined $70,000 to help stop blood cancers from taking more lives, to Hawaii for a 100-mile bike ride.  For Chryl, climbing mountains has been a common feat, but now it’s safe to say she has moved them.

About ten years ago, single mom Chryl, took a much needed vacation to Telluride for some skiing. There, after meeting a group of guys who were preparing for a five-day bike journey across Iowa, the idea of becoming a cyclist began to swirl in Chryl’s head.  Despite a not-so-athletic confession of being a “suburban soccer mom who toodles around the neighborhood with her children on a bike with fat tires, a fat seat and a derrier to match,” Chryl actually took up spinning classes shortly after her trip which left her only wanting more.

“I would like to think that I have a lot going on – different layers that aren’t apparent at the surface,” explains native Houstonian and author, Quinn Holladay. Every woman has an identity comprised of her many facets, all of which should be celebrated. Empowering a woman “is not about choosing between these different facets, but creatively finding a balance for all of them,” she continues. Both firefighters and survivors by nature (one taking on the demise of a 30 year marriage head-on and the other beating cancer into remission for more than 25 years), Quinn’s grandmother (also named Quinn) and mother were a strong feminine influence that helped shape the woman’s voice we hear written today.

Yet, Quinn’s unique and refreshing worldview isn’t just the result of two, but many individuals and experiences.

Whether she is wearing her hot pink Tahari suit with pink BCBG shoes and Furla purse to match or her crisp firefighter uniform, Alison Stein is not a woman you want to get in the way of. Her father always encouraged her to keep moving up in life, and since then, Alison has been “hurdling some huge roadblocks” in the male dominated field and has worked her way up to Chief Investigator in the Nation’s third largest fire department. She might not have been graceful, but none the less, she cleared the hurdles to victory with passion and style.

Even though no one in her “feminist” family told her to sit pretty because only men could be firefighters, Alison felt a bit awkward walking into her first shift more than 15 years ago. Despite the resistance, the determined fighter demanded respect and competed for rank. Instead of settling for the token promotions created and reserved by minorities but not respected by anyone else, Alison surpassed expectations by scoring at the top of every promotional exam she took. Thirteen years after walking into her first fire department shift, she was hired as the chief investigator of the department, an almost impossible position to earn, male or female.

With a soulful sound reminiscent of a woman who has experienced all that life has to offer, you may be surprised to learn that Nina Diaz of the San Antonio-based band, Girl in a Coma, is actually only 21. With lyrics telling the story of a man whom she wants to “break apart and put together again,” the song “Simple Man” was written when Nina was just 15 years old.  It reflects the thoughts of a woman who has loved deeply.

Busy entrepreneur, mother and passionate world traveler Ivonne Hallard says that “home” keeps her grounded these days. Amidst her many achievements, activities and interests, when the stress of running a business keeps her up at night, it’s her nine-year-old son, Jordan, who pulls her back down to earth.

After growing up in places around the world (Chile, Switzerland and Puerto Rico – just to name a few), Ivonne developed a passion for traveling—and for cuisine. “My father was a huge influence on me,” she says. “He loved to cook. Some of my best memories [are] cooking with him in the kitchen. He encouraged me to discover new foods from each country we traveled.” Ivonne confesses that, “the charge I got from traveling still keeps my passport well-worn today!”

After years of struggling with her weight, in her late 20’s Ivonne decided to throw-out every crazy diet she had ever tried, and she started to “self-educate on dieting, exercise and nutrition in a healthy, forgiving way.” Her hard work paid off, losing more than 40lb and keeping it off for over 16 years.

Home is much more than a roof over your head and place to kick-back after a hectic day at work; it is the essence of comfort, security and peace. So, where is home?  For some it comes in a visit to the neighborhood where they grew-up, while others look in a box of old photographs, discover it in a conversation with relatives or find it in the aroma of familiar foods reminiscent of days past.

Anna (Ann) Economou-Clarke, a first generation Greek-American and a University-level instructor, found home in the innocent eyes of her oldest son. Just a toddler at the time, her son was still testing-out his first words, consistently uttering “each charchar” time and time again.  “He knew that home was in each other,” she explains. “Home can be found in every single person’s eyes if we allow ourselves to see each other.” Ann will never forget that tender moment and she understood her tiny son’s message; family makes a home.

Today, Ann teaches graphic design at the University of Houston; where she has found her calling in helping students find their inner voices. Even with very limited knowledge and experience in the beginning, Ann is able to touch her students; helping them to bring their personalities and ideas to life.   

When you meet Maria Palacios you instantly feel her energy. She is a woman, mother, lover, writer, poet, activist, karate queen, Goddess on Wheels, and a "Frida." She calls herself a Frida because she can relate to the life of the artist Frida Kahlo, who was also a polio survivor.

Maria has been writing since she was four years old. She remembers being so bored that she asked her mother to teach her something. Her mother taught her the alphabet and the very next day she was reading the newspaper. She realized that once she knew what the letters meant she could read and write. Writing became an outlet for her.

I told myself, "I can't walk, but I can write."

"Besides, walking is overrated," she adds.

Maria Palacios was born in Ecuador forty-three years ago at a time when there was a fear of vaccines, because children were inoculated with the real virus instead of a synthetic form. Her mother didn't have her vaccinated and she acquired the disease when she was eight months old.

After that she lived in many different places: Ecuador, Brazil and Mexico City. Her mother was in search of a cure for her daughter. She has been through thirty surgeries in her life that started at age four and ended when she was nineteen.

Jennifer Decker’s life reminds me of the movie I once saw that made me ask, “what would my life have been like if…?” She probably never thought she’d be where she is today, but, with a dash of imagination, a few unconventional life choices along with a slice of ambition, Jennifer is right where she should be.  While she admits she hasn’t figured out the recipe to life, she is very content and proud as the Co-Founder and Artisic Director of a local, award-winning underground theater group, Mildred’s Umbrella Theater.

Lizbeth Ortiz has a unique style that comes across in her art.  She is among the unlikely percentage of people who personally lived through both the Mexico City earthquake in 1985 and the 9/11 attacks in 2001.  Both events helped shape her style as an artist.  Living in Mexico and experiencing the earthquake brought vivid colors and emotion to her work, while 9/11 inspired her to once again to pursue and showcase her artistic talents publicly. In 2008, her work was chosen to be the official artwork of the Latin Grammys, held in Houston last Fall.

Born in Mexico City, Lizbeth is the daughter of a third generation “bracero” and originally moved to Houston at the age of 2.  Her parents decided to move back to Mexico to open a restaurant when she was 9 and Lizbeth had to quickly take on the challenging task of assimilating to academic classes in Spanish and a new life in Mexico.

Did you know what you were destined to become in high school? Whitney Henderson did! She can thank a crafting exercise, her lovely mother and a bottle of wine for her professional artistic success.

One summer day in 2007, Whitney had just arrived back home after a four-year stay in Florence, Italy when it all came together. Looking for a place to begin a new series of paintings, Whitney found herself at her family's house with a blank canvas anxious to do something creative.

On January 20, 2009, 1.8 million people gathered at Potomac Park to witness the first bi-racial President of the United States of America take his oath. People traveled across the nation to witness one of the most historical moments of the decade, and among the citizens, politicians and celebrities stood 17-year old Kylie Fuqua, bundled in a scarf and jacket, taking in every emotion of that memorable morning.

Taking the journey to Washington D.C. was not feasible for many Houstonians, but Kylie is fortunate enough to be involved in various school organizations. Every year, Austin High School selects Juniors/Seniors for the annual trip to Washingotn D.C. sponsored by an organization called “Close-Up” This year however, was a trip to Washington like no other. Because of the importance of this year’s trip, the seats were limited to a group of 20 students. The day began at 2:30am as they prepared to make their trip to Potomac Park to get a close view of the inaugration. After standing in below freezing temperatures for 10 hours, Kylie and her classmates were honored to recieve a complimentary tour of D.C. They got to visit some of our nation's most famous museums and historical sites.

Nicole Bouchier, aka “Claudia Van Damage”, picked up a pair of rollarblades one day not knowing how they would change her life. When Nicole put them on her feet for the first time, a spark in her ignited.  Today, Nicole is a proud team member for the Houston Hard Knocks, an all-star Roller Derby travel team. 

Being a member of the Hard Knocks has been an important goal-setter Nicole’s life. While some of her friends grew up following the crowd and doing what was trendy, Nicole was always on a different wavelength, setting personal goals and standards. One way or another, she was always a Derby girl at heart, and this is truly what makes her so skirt!

Nicole's refreshingly original attitude has a lot to do with her life alongside her family. Nicole's family is made up of strong women, so she has always had to live up to certain standards. There were moments of occasional disagreements, but like most families, the tough times helped them grow stronger as a family. Her best friend has been her mother because she has always pushed to her do what feels right and be her own person. Both her wit and sassiness came from her mother's touch.

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