High Notes

After scoring on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ single mom Christina Wells is making her next move.

Christina_3869

Donning a knee-length pink dress, glasses and a super-short blonde hairdo, Houston native Christina Wells — a registered nurse and single mom — gripped her microphone and stared out into the crowd. Chasing a childhood dream she had all but written off, the singer breathed nervously into the microphone, nodding her head as if to reassure herself — “I’ve got this” — and then letting loose. From the moment the first few notes of her rendition of “I Know Where I’ve Been,” from the musical Hairspray, filled the auditorium, the crowd of America’s Got Talent was cheering and on their feet. A star was born. 

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Art+Culture

The Equalizer

In ‘This Is My Body,’ first-time author Cameron Dezen Hammon reconciles feminism with faith and family.

Anna Sneed
Cameron Dezen Hammon photo (c) Anna Sneed

Houston has its fair share of churches — mega ones, hipster ones, ones held in coffee shops or at schools. Cameron Dezen Hammon knows the scene all too well, and this month, the writer releases her memoir on the subject, This Is My Body. She’ll appear on Oct. 22 at Brazos Bookstore for a launch party and Q&A led by her friend, Rice professor and author Lacy Johnson. 

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Art+Culture

Aspire to Inspire

A group of artisans breaks down perceived barriers to create one-of-a-kind accessories — and opportunity.

NickSewing

Custom beaded necklaces, engraved leather keychains and gifts galore! These items weren’t created by high-end jewelers or lifelong craftsmen, but by the talented artisans at Aspire Accessories, a program of local nonprofit Social Motion Skills that trains and enables individuals with autism and other special needs to learn transferable job skills and earn a living wage. In just a few years, Aspire has grown from a two-person team with a single product to a full-blown biz launching new initiatives and employing more artisans than ever. 

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Business+Innovation