Elevating our clients voices in the community is central to Tahirih’s mission of creating a more compassionate society where immigrant women and girls receive access to legal protections they deserve. Tahirih will be forever grateful to our 2014 partnership with the artists and members of Vox Culture.
Anne Chandler
Houston Director of Tahirih Justice Center
More about Tahirih Justice Center
Working with Vox Culture has been fantastic. From November 2012 to February 2013, the Vox Culture team worked with our school to raise awareness of our students’ goals and literacy efforts. The increased awareness as a result of Vox’s work has pushed our fundraising results far beyond (more than triple!) what our original goal was. Alissa, Irena, Viktor, and Andrew were all dedicated to getting the project done in the best way possible. They photographed all of our students, created custom bookmarks for our Read-a-Thon, and produced a YouTube video to highlight our efforts. They were very responsive to feedback and worked hard to make sure our school was getting just what we wanted and needed. This project has been very significant for our students and we couldn’t be more grateful for Vox’s work.
Dane Roberts
6th Grade Social Studies Teacher of KIPP Sharpstown College Prep
More about KIPP Sharpstown Read-a-Thon
On behalf of Our Global Village, I want to express our most profound thanks for the Vox Culture’s undertaking of a fantastic trimester with our local project, The Community Cloth. The trimester was a hit with refugee artisans, we learned trends for the upcoming fall season, how to make the coolest bracelets and we had a blast at the Interwoven Mixer. We are so happy that we all made new friends. Thank you for helping us spread the word about the refugee community here in Houston and all of their beautiful strengths and talents.
For Our Global Village the trimester further set out the powerful impact of our efforts on the lives of not just the artisans but the lives of those in their communities and the greater community at large. Through your help we have scaled another step towards achieving part of our basic goal and mission to empower refugee women in a new realm.
Thank you so much!
Roxanne Paiva
Executive Director of Our Global Village and Co-Founder of The Community Cloth
What do you get when you get a group of fun folks together of all ethnicities working on a common learning task???
Right....and what happened was laughter, groans....brilliance, challenge, comraderie, ice breaking, asking for help, learning that you are learning impaired, LOL, aren't alone and bond with a room full of strangers.
The entire time I spent making designer bracelets let by Vox volunteers was a blast...and if it hadn't been for the kindnesses, repetitions by our able 'teacher crafter'....I'd have been carried off in a straight jacket. I was amazed at how kind others were to help untangle 8 ft. of string...remove knots and how quickly some attendees just got it and others, like me, moaned, laughed, snacked my way through my beading anxieties....it was worth every bit of time I spent laughing and happy I wasn't being graded or anyone'depended on me to produce to support a family.
My follow up calls from my guests...."well, my family starved"....LOL. My other guest completed
my project. I will forever be appreciated of an afternoon attempting to create beauty with a room FULL of kindred spirits to benefit others.
Belinda Postman-Kaylani
Houston-Galleria Rotary Club Director and New Generations Chair
Building unity of ideas and information by working with others on projects serves our better interest. Creates a space where something can happen. Something unexpected. Something wonderful. A movement of ideas generating opportunities. Building bridges into difficult areas. accessing deeper understanding. appreciation. respect. The gift of our land. A great teacher. Holding a current of feeling made available by working a bounty of plenty. A wider community building unity through purpose and deeper meaning. A fertile beginning in a journey to plenty.
Vox culture venture into a fertile build out brought life to a land base solution generating urban farming. Vox Culture is a diversity of people with brilliant ideas. Look forward to a future of many shared spaces.
Joe Icet aka "Farmer Joe"
Founder of The Last Organic Outpost
When the beach clean-up event was first proposed, it caught my interest within seconds. As often as I am saddened when I tell people how dirty Galveston beach looks, how could I not want to help?! Having just finished organizing a successful scrapbook-making party with my small group for our leaders, I felt that I could take the part, so I stepped up and asked to take the lead role. I was given some pointers and a list of items to be completed and I took it from there. It was somewhat of a shock for me to organize something so massive; I’m used to organizing events for a dozen people, not forty people! It was challenging at times, but everyone was so supportive and flexible. I got encouraging emails from people that really lifted my spirits.
My favorite part of the event was...Kolaches!!
I'm kidding...I think my favorite part was the applaud I got when I arrived at the warehouse and how high-spirited everyone was. The party just kept on going as if the storm didn't occur. Knowing I did that...I brought people together and made an event happen. That joy, accomplishment, and satisfaction...that's my favorite.
Linda Fox
Vox Core Team Member
Beach Clean-up & BBQ Coordinator
Vox Culture, you are our Superheroes! Thank you for all of the countless hours and effort that you put into throwing the Superhero party for the children at The Salvation Army Family Residence. Even though I was not able to attend the party I have heard from multiple employees and children what a success it was. We have never had another organization or volunteer group throw a party that was anywhere close to the magnitude of your Superhero party! Your love and dedication to our children was evident through everything you did! Thank you for providing such a wonderful memory for the children who attended your party and for making them feel special!
Alicia Ashdown
Case Management Supervisor of Salvation Army
The party was such a big hit with the kids. The way you and your group incorporated some of the daily skills needed in life with being a superhero was pretty neat. The kids really enjoyed themselves and I even found myself getting into it as well. Thank you for coming and I hope to see you again.
Tiffany Grant
Staff Member of Salvation Army
“My favorite part was the costumes” (Hailey wore her costume for three straight days after the party, including to school) - Hailey, age 5
“I loved the toys and the pencils. Thank you!” ~ Ayana, age 5
“My favorite part was jumping over the buildings” ~ Timothy, age 11
Vox Imprint is a branch of Vox Culture that was created so that we could "make an imprint on our world through homemade crafts". In December, we participated in our first event at the Justice Market, hosted by the Not for Sale Campaign. Vendors gathered there to sell fair trade and ethically made items.
We started building our booth by asking crafty people to donate their time and creativity to create crafts to be sold at the Justice Market. We weren’t sure if we would have enough people to participate. Or even if we’d given people enough time to create anything. But the response we received was overwhelming. Everyone who came forward to create was excited to see their craft have a positive impact on their community.
I learned from this experience that people love to create. Whether it’s homemade cards or hand knit items, creating is a gift and a passion. But when you can take that gift and create something that will do good for others, that brings you JOY.
All proceeds from the sales were split between two organizations: Vox Culture and SEARCH Homeless Services.
thank you!
Julie Tien
Vox Volunteer
{A Message to the Volunteers}
Just wanted to say THANK YOU again for the hard work, creativity, and thought that you & the volunteers poured into the holiday party at Jackson Hinds Garden! Throughout the party and even this morning, residents have been absolutely RAVING about the party. Here are some comments that the residents shared with me:
- One woman started tearing up and shared that she was overwhelmed by how far people went to make this such a great party.
- Another man who painted an ornament (it turned out beautifully and got many compliments) said he’d never done anything like that before. I teased him and said maybe he found his next career.
- One woman couldn’t stop laughing during the dancing, and said that this made her day.
- I overheard some residents saying as the volunteers were leaving, “these people were so nice and sweet.” I think that speaks to the compassion and heart that volunteers brought into their interactions with residents.
- The front desk monitor said, “my compliments to the chef” and wrote an incident report to the property manager about how organized and well-run the party was.
There’s so much more I can pass on with you and rave about, but these are just a representation of how appreciative the residents were. If not for my commitment to confidentiality, I could tell you so much about what certain residents have been going through, and how much of a refreshing and healing quality this party and the volunteers’ presence brought to them.
Phoebe Wong
LMSW, Jail In-reach, SEARCH Homeless Services
As the lights in Vox's art gallery dimmed, the Ad Deum Dance Company set a somber mood for the event with a modern dance performance, "Innocence Not Lost", based on the true story of a trafficking survivor. Their artistic take on human trafficking embodied the sheer gravity of this experience on the human psyche, and their graceful movements and anguished expressions gave me chills as the small ensemble danced in synchrony to drum beats and low ominous music.
Human trafficking is not a easy topic to discuss. Because it touches on so many hot-button issues like immigration, pornography, domestic violence, foster care, homelessness, foreign policy, etc., it becomes a challenge to know where to start to end human trafficking on a local, national, and international scale. For me, that starting point is further awareness about local human trafficking and the different organizations working on anti-trafficking initiatives in Houston. By examining some of the pitfalls in collaborative efforts and advocating for a greater public education on the unknown scope of trafficking in our city, I hope that the Vox community will be able to take the issues presented in "Pack and Deliver" and channel it towards improving the lives of those trafficked in Houston and beyond.
As a student filmmaker, I greatly appreciated the opportunity to present my work to the Vox Culture community. Working with Alissa, Judy, Ted, and many others to create this film screening event has taught me more about my own process in filmmaking and discussing social justice issues with a larger audience. I look forward to participating in future events with Vox! Salsa night anyone?
Erica Fletcher
Researcher / Filmmaker of "Pack and Deliver"
2011 marks a very exciting year for Vox Culture as we gain new momentum to rebuild our infrastructure, grow our creative community and extend our impact on lives around the world.
In the Speak Hope Mixer alone, what I've loved most is witnessing each person's passions and talents unveil -- from the detail on desserts, brushstroke on canvas to large conceptual ideas such as the Hope Tree, it has been inspiring to see people's heart and signature on each element.
Here at Vox, we want to help you discover these gifts and provide avenues for you to share what you love with others.
Vox sees YOU in our future. Join our community today!
Alissa (Kit) Chan
Executive Director (May 2011 - June 2013), Vox Culture
On March 11th, 2011 The Tsunami That this generation will always remember, Struck Japan. Words Cannot Describe What took Place. Obviously This Brought Out A lot of emotion world-wide. With Everything so connected in these times, it is was even more apparent that we are all ONE.
With this oneness comes a even greater urge for one's self to do something with this emotion. Transcend it into something positive. So on April 9th 2011 a Community of Caring Individuals came together to bring awareness, Send Love, and Donate energy and money for the people of Japan! This wouldn't Have Been Possible without VOX CULTURE!
I, Joshua Pena, Have Nothing But Praise For the Culture of Vox! I was introduced to them by my friend Jacob. We know each other through another Culture Called HIP HOP. Specifically through one of the 4 elements of Hip Hop, BBOYING! And Fortunate for me (And the community) He is a wonderful individual whom works with VOX. We all came up with the idea to Bring Both of Our Cultures Together and do our part to help out our brothers and sisters in Japan. BBOYING is Very big in Japan. A Lot of people our very passionate about it across the ocean and right here in Texas. Just another example at how we are all ONE! This is something, that I think, Vox Culture Also Transcends. So it was only right that our 2 Cultures Met!
The event Turned out Amazing! So many people came out to Support and Danced all Night! Little Kids, Big Kids, Boys, Girls, Black, White, Brown, all under one roof! Enjoying Music and the Dance Floor! A lot of Families Came out to just watch and support! So many new individuals where shown and introduced to a new culture they probably knew nothing about! It Felt Like One Big Family even though it was some of these peoples first time to meet! Vox Also had the Million Crane Project going on! A Japanese Tradition that promises a Wish for all the Cranes Made in Good Faith!
At the End of the Day, I believe, Around $2500 was donated from the Event! The Vibe and Energy was beautiful, and was all in the name Of Japan! A Sincere Thank You Vox Culture! I am Truly Inspired!
We are all ONE!!!!!!!!!
Joshua Pena
BBoy (Break Dancer) of The Havikoro Crew
Human for Sale was an intense experience, designed to help participants understand the reality of the problem of human trafficking here in Houston, and to support Houston Rescue & Restore Coalition's (HRRC) human trafficking awareness week.
HRRC headed up the start of the event, by taking participants on a bus tour around Houston. The buses took people through seemingly regular neighborhoods as HRRC staff members pointed out to participants how to identify red flags of places potentially imprisoning trafficking victims.
The tour ended at the Vox Warehouse. With such a dark issue, the Vox Core Team and a group of greatly compassionate volunteers had wrestled long and hard with how to help participants experience (and ultimately live out) Hope in our world. And out of it emerged our reflective focus: “What does it mean to be fully human?”
The space was filled with stories and conversations of ways regular people could become a part of the voice and work in ending this problem of modern slavery and in restoring pieces of life and humanity. There was a wall of agencies to volunteer with, a station to write representatives, beautifully hopeful art, video testimonies of survivors, a monologue of the victim's experience, fair-trade food and shirts, and a colorful mosaic where people could write their thoughts and reactions and add their stories to the larger patchwork of our human story together. There was a lot to take in. But the event was as informative as it was deeply moving (I hope). And it was an honor for me to be a part of creating it and hosting it.
Judy Feng
Vox Volunteer
As soon as I walked into this event, I knew I was in for some serious social awareness. Upon entering the building, I was given a bottle of dirty water, and asked to walk along a path to the main hall where I stacked the bottle on a mound of similar bottles, and then was given a clean one.
Participating in such a demonstration pushed my thoughts and feelings onto the whole water issue thing. I didn't feel a sense of guilt for the clean water I have, so much as I felt a sense of indignation that others around the world, no better or worse than me, didn't (and still don't) have access to the same simple thing I have access to on a daily basis - good, pure water. I contemplated on the issue, thinking how outrageously wrong the reality of the world was, as I walked through the gallery of art setup for the event.
I'm not the most sociable of fellows, so after viewing many of the art pieces, I found a nice secluded spot, where I was treated to a continuous loop of TED videos on matters pertaining to water inequality. The video that most struck me was one of a water well that was made into a kind of merry-go-round contraption that allowed children to draw water from the well by playing on it. That, to me, was such a neat, creative idea, a cool way of approaching the problem.
Overall, I appreciated the efforts of Vox to attack such an important societal issue from several angles - art, information, and interactivity. And while I didn't have anything to do with the preparation for the event, I did help with the cleanup if that counts for something.
Aguilar Elliot
Event Participant
New Location was an exciting time for Vox. After putting on mobile events and smaller gatherings, we planted roots and welcomed folks to our new space. The warehouse started a new chapter for Vox, as it allowed us to have a larger space for creative expressions and new possibilities.
New Beginnings created some lasting images that are still in the warehouse today. TK Ahn, Morris Molina, and Ayad Fadel, three very talented Vox artists, created live art during the event. Each created a different piece, but it was beautiful to watch them transform a blank canvas into striking images. Everyone also enjoyed great music from Olivette.
At Vox, I feel like we are always evolving and adapting. So as part of the new location, we asked everyone to tell us what they cared about. Answers spanned the spectrum from the environment to global poverty; human trafficking to the water crisis. When I look back, it's awesome to see that Vox later focused on many of these issues.
So continue to give us your feedback and tell us what you care about - and let's partner together to make it happen.
Christine Liang
Vox Volunteer
One of the most memorable Vox Culture events I attended was Vox Pop. I loved the Vox Pop event because one of the issues that I care most about is homelessness. I am a part-time Vox volunteer, full-time social worker who works with homeless folks, so it was special - and different - to walk into a such a positive, creative space dedicated for these two days to a cause so close to my heart.
Earlier that year, several Vox folks and friends attended an exhibit at Diverse Works Art Space featuring photographs of Houston's homeless people. We immediately thought of our upcoming Vox event, and invited the photographer, Ben Tecumseh DeSoto, to participate in Vox Pop. He brought some of his photographs to show, and spoke at the event about the passion behind his art. Vox Pop also featured a local rising young musician, Ira Perez, who performed both days, and a number of visual artists, such as Matt Crnkovich, Jennifer DeDonato, and Saida Fagala, who displayed and sold their artwork.
What was perhaps the most personally memorable for me, however, was when Joseph Benson, a staff member from SEARCH, spoke at the event. Joe's story always touches me when I remember it, because he was a former client of SEARCH before he was an employee. Years ago when Joseph was homeless on the streets of Houston, SEARCH staff helped him to get back on his feet and he ended up coming on staff with the organization!
Homelessness can be a daunting to think about. It's a complex issue that is a consequence of dismal forces: poverty, broken social systems, substance abuse, domestic violence, to name a few. It can feel enormously hopeless for the people who find themselves without a place to call home, as well as for the people who try to help them. I appreciated that Vox Pop didn't make light of the issue, but also brought awareness to it in an accessible way that emphasized what can be done to help.
I came away from the event fueled by its creative and compassionate energy. This, to me, is what Vox Culture is about: retelling people's stories and injustices in thoughtful, innovative ways that evoke a sense of hope, a belief that the average person can become an advocate and help to change things for the better.
Phoebe Wong
LMSW, Jail In-reach, SEARCH Homeless Services
Our first Vox Culture event was called the Global Café. During the creation of this event, I was asking a couple of questions. What will become of all the diversity that we seen in Houston? Can we combine diverse voices in a way that will produce something good?
I lived in neighborhood that was quickly growing in ethnic diversity, but this was not something everyone appreciated. In fact, some people reacted very poorly to the presence of different cultures and told “my people” to go home. Here in Houston, I believe we have an opportunity for things to be different.
There were two causes that were on my mind in early 2008. The first was the need of a local elementary school. Because of Hurricane Katrina, a number of families from New Orleans relocated to the Westchase area of Houston. The upheaval and the change was proving a challenge for education. So, I made an appointment to meet the staff of the school. They let me know about a couple of opportunities - students needed uniforms and they couldn't afford them and many of them needed mentors after school hours. This was something we could do. The second need I was thinking about was the plight of the global rural poor. Through deforestation and slash and burn farming, many people have become stuck in a cycle of poverty. A group called Floresta (renamed Plant with Purpose) was taking this issue head on and making a real difference. This was another cause we could easily support.
The first Global Café was meant to be a mixture of art, music, food and the causes mentioned. It was designed to be a celebration where people could enjoy culture while learning some simple ways to help others. By all standards we were eclectic. We had coffee and frozen yogurt. We had fine art and crafts. We had an Asian hip hop artist and indie singer songwriters. And we were meeting in a ballroom full of crystal chandeliers. The crowd was equally eclectic, from native Houstonians to people who grew up on the other side of the globe.
Looking back at our first event, I think our team did a great job pulling together such diverse cultural elements. From all the feedback we received, it worked. Some of the relationships that began at that event have shaped what we have become today. That, I would say, is what I have taken with me from Global Café - new friends.
What will become of all the diversity in Houston? We're hoping for something good. Vox Culture is continuing to find a unique way forward through a mixture of arts and advocacy and we hope you'll be part of it.
Ted Law
Founder, Vox Culture