Houston P. A. hosted by Laurent

There are over 1 billion people who need eye care and OneSight is building vision centers around the world to help them. They have built permanent, sustainable clinics which train and employ locals in countries like The Gambia, Rwanda, South Africa, China, Vietnam and many more . The result is that the solution becomes locals helping their own neighbors. OneSight also sends technicians and doctors...

The Gary Sinise Foundation, founded by the famous actor, helps our veterans and first responders with a variety of great programs that will give you hope! As America remembers its heroes of 9/11, I tell you how one of them was Betty Ong. Before she died, Betty Ong showed uncommon courage. She helped authorities identify the terrorists who murdered her and the rest of the passengers on her plane. S...

Tom Hardwick is a consulting curator of Egyptology for the Houston Museum of Natural Science where they're world-premiering "Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs" opening on November 20, along with a newly renovated Hall of Ancient Egypt. Tom spends a lot of his time in Cairo and we talk about what it's like arranging big installations like this one. This is a major new event from the HMN...

The Galveston Bay Foundation started an oyster shell recycling program to repair and preserve Galveston Island's oyster shell reef. They've harnessed the help of seafood restaurants to pick up their used oyster shell and clean them up (in the sun). Then, once they are clean, oyster shells are returned to the bay to replenish the reef. www.galvbay.org Training service dogs and the amazing things th...

Jeffrey Campbell is the chief program officer for AIDS Foundation Houston. They just launched START Now, their rapid start anti-retroviral treatment project. It's designed to link people diagnosed with HIV to the right care and treatment medication within 7 days of diagnosis. It's an ambitious program they launched in the middle of the pandemic and their goal is none other than ending the HIV epid...

Oli Mohammed is the founder and executive director of The Houston Furniture Bank. They are celebrating 29 years of service and despite the pandemic, they opened a new store in the Woodlands. It is estimated that 300,000 children in Houston are sleeping on the floor or sharing a bed. We feel the main problem is awareness, even amongst our political class. Oli explains how their program Adopt a Fami...

John Bartlett is The Children's Museum of Houston's science educator a.k.a. "Lead Geek” and he has a thing for meteorology. We therefore talk about the incredible weather system we live under and we talk about reopening the Children's Museum of Houston so kids can have some fun learning a ton of stuff at one of the safest and coolest places in town. Flow Works is flowing, the big tower can be clim...

Doug Suggitt is the executive director of the Periwinkle Foundation which supports children suffering from cancer. They organized medically responsible camps so children fighting cancer can get out, lift their moral and have a bit of a normal life. Periwinkle works with Texas Children's Hospital and they also support siblings and parents who are also going through a traumatic experience. We discus...

Barry Ward is the executive director of Trees For Houston. They've been giving trees away to Houstonians since 1983 – for free! All you have to do is go to their website and they'll help you get the right tree for your property and they'll even help you with planting and care. The idea is simple: native species of trees are resilient, shade-giving guardians. We discuss how they're great for water...

Cissy Segall Davis is the managing director Miller Outdoor Theatre. They're online at www.milleroutdoortheatre.com and you need to see the list of awesome acts they're welcoming back to the stage. After being closed for the pandemic, The Miller is bringing back free shows (all Miller shows are always free) including: The Houston Symphony, Bobby Rush, The Ernest Walker Band, Fly Dance Company and t...

The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is in need of blood donation and I explain why it's all right to give after getting the vaccine – it's safe for everyone and you should do it. If you've been sick, I explain why your plasma can be life-saving. www.giveblood.org We have an animal population control problem in Houston and Houston PetSet has established Pet Transports to the Mid-West where animal...

Walter Ulrich is the CEO of Medical Bridges, an organization which distributes medical surplus material to crisis-stricken places around the world – or in the US when a pandemic hits. They're like a strike team sending invaluable help in the form of medical equipment and supplies and sometimes, technicians and doctors. They also accept individual donations. You can donate wheelchairs, beds or dial...

Jacque Daughtry is the executive director of Literacy Now. She explains that school closures have caused children to fall behind academically, especially very young children. It's like they've had a year-long "summer slide". Literacy Now helps little kids catch up on their reading level. They hire teachers to tutor very small groups so that each child can get personal attention. They also work wit...

Becky Lao is the Executive Director at Archaeology Now. We discuss the connection between Egyptology and Agatha Christie (whose husband was an archaeologist). They are having a talk with an Egyptologist beamed in from Cairo in May and you can go to their website to watch it from any device for free. They also have tiny lectures on Youtube that make for quick bites of history. They also have real e...

Nelly Quijano is a McDonald's Houston owner and operator and one of the founders of the McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship Program. HACER = Hispanic American commitment to education resources. We discuss the clever ideas Nelly and her colleagues used to raise funds (back in the mid-80's) and how the McDonald's corporation came in to match their fundraisers, turning it into a national success th...

Dirk Van Tuerenhout is the curator of Anthropology for the Houston Museum of Natural Science. They opened two new exhibits: Pompeii and Bodyworlds. They're scheduling safe-distanced ticket entries to keep capacity at safe levels. Dirk is a great storyteller and Pompeii is one of the best stories in human history. The city both destroyed and preserved by a volcano eruption is as crazy-interesting a...

Allison Rosen is a survivor of colorectal cancer and a member of the Colon Cancer Coalition and the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. She was diagnosed in her 30s and since recovering, she has been advocating for early detection. She stresses the importance of getting a colonoscopy at 50 but that people who have a history of cancer in their families should have it at 45. There are non-invasive take-at-h...

Kevin Hattery is the president and CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Greater Houston (aka BGCGH), one of our great non-profits that never let up helping the community. When the pandemic struck, they kicked into high gear so kids in Houston could keep up with their schoolwork and stay in contact with their peers – which was perhaps what was most important. With a remarkably small army of volunteers, Boys...

Becky Lao is the executive director of Archaeology Now so I get an opportunity I love: to talk about history, teaching history and experiencing history through their programs. They have a great series of micro-lessons and longer lectures on their YouTube channel. Educators should check out their Time Travelers Educator's Materials packets on subjects like Rome, the Maya and Egypt. There's also the...

Emilee Whitehurst is the president and CEO of the Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC). Their multi-lingual staff is about to decentralize its operations to bring help closer to those who need it most. Emilee explains how with the help of a huge grant from the City of Houston and matching donations and various reinvestments, HAWC will open locations strategically placed around Houston to help women...

Kelly Young is the CEO of Career and Recovery Resources, one of the non-profit that had to make a lot of changes to keep serving our community during the pandemic. They provide counseling for anyone transitioning to a new job like military veterans. They are able to help deaf and mute people communicate in order to find services and jobs. They also help people overcome substance addictions. With a...

Timothy Williams is the chairman of the board of Because Education Matters, Inc. He is also the General counsel of the Pro Se Legal Studies Institute, a Paralegal Program which helps to fund Because Education Matters. They are going to launch a mobile legal clinic program. People may not even have to step out of their cars to get legal advice on questions such a drafting a will and other probate c...

John Willis is MIAT College of Technology Houston campus president. They offer programs in Airframe & Powerplant Technician Program, Wind Energy and more. These skilled trade are for high-demand employment fields and MIAT Houston also helps its student find a job. They're having great success and riding a new wave of respect for these types of training programs. They're producing high quality cand...

Steve Lufburrow is the president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Houston. They are celebrating 75 years of service to Houston which is a beautiful landmark. For 75 years, they have helped people prepare for a successful career. Whether they are transitioning out of the military, working their way out of a terrible situation or even needing a second or third chance coming out of prison, Goodwill...

Theresa Piña is the vice president of operations for the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, one of the coolest non-profit organizations in the USA. Their Commit For Life Program which encourages people to donate blood regularly is brilliant success. During the pandemic, they're making their mobile blood centers even safer and they're encouraging people to host virtual blood drives. So they keep ada...