Mike Yawn teaches at Sam Houston State University. In the past few years, he has taught courses on Politics & Film, Public Policy, the Presidency, Media & Politics, Congress, Statistics, Research & Writing, Field Research, and Public Opinion.
He has published academic papers in the Journal of Politics, Political Behavior, Social Security Quarterly, Film & History, American Politics Review, and contributed a chapter to the textbook Politics and Film.
He also contributes columns, news analysis, and news stories to newspapers such as the Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express News, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Stamford Advocate, Greenwich Time, Huron Daily Tribune, Laredo Morning Times, Beaumont Enterprise, Connecticut Post, and Midland Reporter Telegram.
Yawn is also active in his local community, serving on the board of directors of the local YMCA and Friends of the Wynne. Previously, he served on the Huntsville's Promise and Stan Musial World Series Boards of Directors.
In 2007-2008, Yawn was one of eight scholars across the nation named as a Carnegie Civic Engagement Scholar by the Carnegie Foundation.
If it’s the Fourth of July in Huntsville, you know community members will be coming out to Kate Barr Ross Park to see what the City has in store. With a full house expected in the Park, LEAP Ambassadors arrived early to assist Parks and Recreation–under the supervision of Penny Joiner and Kristy Wheeler–with the large undertaking of entertaining the community.
Parks does this program annually, but it is a lot to put on. There is face-painting, bouncy houses, a dunking booth, a mechanical bull, balloon artists, a watermelon-eating contest, and a selfie station.
Filled with altruistic motives, LEAP Ambassadors did do a couple of test runs on the mechanical bull and in the bouncy houses…just to ensure the equipment was working properly.
At work time, we got down to business. At the information booth, LEAP Ambassadors were responsible for passing out wristbands and parental waivers for those wanting to participate in any of the games and the watermelon eating contest.
Local celebrities such as Aron Kulhavy (City Manager), Sam Maisel (Assistant City Manager), Penny Joiner (Parks and Rec Director) and Greg Mathis (Fire Chief) took turns sitting in the hot seat to get dunked! Taking advantage of the local figures’ goodwill, many people took the opportunity of using their hands to hit the target.
One of the crowd’s favorite events, and my personal favorite, was definitely the watermelon eating contest. The sight of all the participants digging their face into the watermelon was amusing.
This can be quite competitive…
One of our own, Ingrid Cuero…
…was brave enough to participate in one of the contests held. Although she didn’t win, she wasn’t afraid to get messy and demonstrated great sportsmanship!
And this was only one of the festivities!
The other activities proved just as fun for the participants.
Of course, the bouncy house was a fan favorite…
….including of at least one LEAP Ambassador…
And probably the biggest hit was the mechanical bull.
For good reason!
And we can attest to that!
Thanks to the great staff at Parks and Recreation, and support from Huntsville Police, Fire Department and the larger community, this was an enjoyable and memorable Fourth of July.
A lot of us are from larger cities, and it is particularly gratifying to see how welcoming Huntsville is. We are all proud to become more a part of the community, and this made it even more memorable to spend the day volunteering!
Thank you to the Parks and Recreation Staff for allowing us this opportunity and to the Huntsville community for coming out and being a part of things!
A little over two years ago, President Joe Biden announced the United States of America’s intent to withdraw from the Afghanistan War; our longest standing war in history. The aftermath of this cataclysmic event has been felt around the world, but no more so than in Afghanistan itself.
The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston (WAC) is widely known for bringing in big names and esteemed speakers. However, the panel for this past Wednesday was by far one of our favorites. One of LEAP’s goals is to broaden our knowledge of, and establish relationships with, the various departments on campus. For this event in particular, we had the privilege of having Major General David Glaser, Chief Strategy Officer for SHSU, join LEAP on our trip to Houston. General Glaser was a career military officer, and he offered us not only insights into the Afghanistan conflict, but also a unique perspective on the University’s strategic plan. On our drive down, we were able to ask General Glaser questions about his career and what it means to undertake a strategic plan for a large organization. He happily answered our questions, and asked a few of his own about our experiences at SHSU!
The event was hosted at the Asia Society of Houston, a beautiful contemporary structure that mixes Asian and American architecture influences.
While the architecture was certainly captivating aesthetically, its construction is equally admirable. The Asia Society is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified building. LEED certified buildings are green structures that are environmentally conscious in terms of reducing its carbon footprint and its water and energy conservation.
We arrived early so that we could participate in the social hour held before the program, and we were glad we did ! We had the opportunity to meet Jalil Shahkar, who works closely with General Sami Sadat. After a friendly introduction, we were able to take a photo with both General Sami Sadat…
…and Lt. General Khoshal Sadat, who would both be sitting on the panel later that evening.
Indeed, the social hour gave us the opportunity to interact with many people and represent SHSU, something we watched General Glaser do as well!
Chief Programs Officer Ronan O’Malley began the program by formally introducing the panelists for the evening: Green Beret and Executive Director of the 1208 Foundation, Thomas Kasza; Lt. General Sami Sadat, the final commander of the Afghan Special Operations; and Lt. General Khoshal Sadat, a former Deputy Minister of the Interior.
The audience then watched three clips from the 2022 documentary, Retrograde. These clips set the tone for the evening in three parts…
…before the end, which was Biden’s announcement of withdrawal and the suddenness of evacuating Afghanistan; the fall, which was the effects on Afghan troops after the abrupt loss of the United States’ support; and the chaos of the evacuation itself, which the panelists was not fully captured in media/governmental reports.
Both General S. Sadat and General K. Sadat spent their entire adult lives in war.
By virtue of their promotions near the end of the war, they were poised to be able to make major shifts in the war’s direction. The military effort, however, was terminated by the Americans just as they emerged in these leadership roles. The new leaders simply ran out of time.
While the outcome of the war and the implications of the U.S. withdrawal are grim, General Sami Sadat still has hope for Afghanistan for three reasons, in particular: (1) the Afghan people are against the Taliban, (2) the surrounding regions, such as Iran and Pakistan, are against the Taliban, and (3) Afghanistan, according to the panelists, will not allow or bring back corrupt politicians.
Thomas Kasza added a fourth hope, which was the absence of Americans. He noted that the presence of a perceived “Western Invader” provided life and ammunition (literally and figuratively) to the Taliban. The absence of the US may be, he hoped, “removing the fuel from the fire.”
This experience was humbling. Many Americans, including ourselves, are not aware of the realities of life under the Taliban today. Through this panel, we were better able to comprehend the present injustices and how United States legislation played a role in them.
Something that resonated with the entire group was a statement made by General Sami Sadat: “…We are alive. We have military training, we have soldiers, we have good friends in America, and we are combining everything we have to save our country.”
WAC’s Jahan Jafarpour wrapped up the evening, providing additional information about upcoming WAC events–which we hope to attend!
In our typical LEAP fashion we try to dine at locations similar to our country of topic. Unfortunately we are unable to find traditional Afghan cuisine, but we did get to experience Lebanese food! There is an added layer of connection for the group Wednesday. Our own Olivia is half Lebanese, so naturally, questions regarding our dinner selections were directed towards her!
Mary’z offers a wide variety of new and great flavors. We started with that in mind, and ordered different dips and hummuses for the table. General Glaser noted that some of the best food he’s ever had was in the company of Afghan commanders. We were able to converse over dinner about the night’s event, and what we learned. Despite growing up during the war, much of the information was new to us.
Our meal selections ranged from Lebanese pita pockets, chicken and beef shawarmas, and beef kabob. We also ordered a variety of different sides, including more hummus, fafa beans, cauliflower, green beans, and baba gahanoush. We all enjoyed our selections, but we enjoyed the company more!
We were also eager to try their various types of Baklava, which proved to be interesting and rewarding!
On behalf of the LEAP Ambassadors, we thank WAC for continuing to host educational programs and allow us such opportunities as this.
We are also especially grateful to General David Glaser for joining us. It means a lot to have administrators support our efforts, and the presence of an expert on the Middle East and strategy added to our education immensely.
There are many “must-sees” in Chicago, and while I was there for three weeks, most of my time was devoted to taking classes at the Chicago-Kent College of Law, so I had to pursue my many must-sees judiciously and leave a few out. But I can say with certainty that if the Art Institute of Chicago isn’t on your must-see list, it should be.
It is a majestic building, a beautiful classic building. And while I was amazed by the intricate exterior architectural elements, I was completely blown away by the artwork on the interior.
I have heard of people spending hours in an art museum, but I never thought I would spend five hours in an art museum. But I did. There was a lot to see, and I still didn’t see at all.
With all of that art, it is difficult to highlight only a few. But Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks is one of those.
Hopper has always been difficult for me to identify, but I certainly recognized this painting, with its emphasis on loneliness and isolation in the middle of a presumably large city.
And if you haven’t seen Nighthawks, you have likely seen images or replications of Georges Suerat’s Sunday on La Grande Jatte. In fact, in my old apartment, I had a jocular version of this painting featuring characters from The Office. The real painting is much better, if perhaps less humorous.
In one of the featured exhibits, Van Gogh and the Avant-Garde: The Modern Landscape, they featured the studies of Sunday on La Grande Jatte, amongst other impressionist works. This is where I was lucky to see the different versions of the sketches and the number of changes they underwent for the final version. Although Seurat’s style departs somewhat from impressionism, I did particularly like this painting after I saw how it all came together.
Other favorites of mine included the Chagall windows, a work by the ever-present Henry Moore, a Calder sculpture, a study of a work by Calatrava, and a piece by the wonderful Georgia Okeeffe.
Interestingly, I saw the larger versions of Calder’s and Calatrava’s works in Chicago… The Calder sculpture is 53-feet high!
BUT . . .however long I spent in the Museum, I had to make time for at least one sculpture outside the Museum: the Bean. Formally called “Cloud Gate,” this iconic sculpture by Anish Kapoor is one of Chicago’s key tourist attractions, and I confess I spent much time exploring its smooth, reflective surface, with selfie camera in hand!
To recognize a few of the newly elected officials in Huntsville Texas, the Walker County Republican Women (WCRW) hosted an event to provide the community updates on County business. Numerous citizens braved the heat to learn about county goings-on, and it was nice to be able to catch up with community leaders after working the session in Austin.
We were able to catch up with County-Court-At-Law Judge Tracy Sorensen…
L-R: Morgan Robertson, Judge Tracy Sorensen, and Ingrid Cuero
…and WCRW President Renee Lunsford…
L-R: Morgan Robertson, Ingrid Cuero, and Renee Lunsford
WCRW served a fantastic dinner, perfect for summer! Dinner consisted of hot dogs, burgers, and, of course, all the fixings. Morgan and I were eager to jump in and help serve dinner so that the current volunteers could indulge in the yummy dinner as well.
Photo Courtesy Jeff Murski
President Renee Lunsford then introduced the four elected officials who would be providing updates: County Commissioner Precinct 4 Brandon Decker; County Judge Colt Christian; Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 Randy Jeffcoat; and District Clerk Leslie Woolley.
Brandon Decker, County Commissioner for Precinct 4, began by mentioning how a Transportation Report is in the works so that County officials may learn how to best accommodate Walker County’s growth. His focus is to work alongside the Mayor to make Walker County and the City of Huntsville better places for its residents.
Colt Christian, County Judge, noted how everything in his new role is a new experience for him. For the 100th day of being in office, Judge Christian held a county employee lunch appreciation. Judge Christian said many wonderful things about his staff and the dedicated employees of the County. He also hosts coffee hour every morning in his office so that county residents may come to him and discuss what they wish to see or address concerns. For non-coffee drinkers, Judge Christian also hosts ice-cream hour at 3! He would like to add more community involvement in the County. Judge Christian also spoke on one of the larger aspects of his job: the budget. “There are about 9 million dollars’ worth of wants in the County, but only about 2 million to do it with.”
Randy Jeffcoat, Justice of the Peace, discussed the number of civil and criminal cases in Walker County, and how the courts have to keep up with the pace of proceedings.
Leslie Woolley, District Clerk, said that her first six months in the office has gone smoothly. She implemented new jury software (purchased by prior District Clerk), which allows potential jurors to answer a few questions ahead of time to save time on jury days. On the first grand jury in January, District Clerk Woolley worked closely with the DA and district judges to make proper decisions in the court room. She also worked with Rep. Kacal’s office to provide “goodies” for jury appreciation.
SHSU also graciously donated 6 tablets to the county. District Clerk Woolley made clear how grateful she and her colleagues were for receiving these tablets. She also made it clear that she is actively seeking new ways the County may partner with SHSU for the improvement of both entities.
After the official updates concluded, Morgan and I were able to mingle with our community members and even meet new friendly faces!
Jeanette Riley is Representative Kyle Kacal’s, District Liaison and spent some time speaking with us and District Clerk Woolley on her experiences.
L-R: J. Riley (with Rep. Kacal’s Office), M. Robertson, District Clerk L. Woolley, and I. Cuero
I was able to introduce Morgan to my boss, Jeff Murski, who is the district representative for Congressman Pete Sessions. Mr. Murski has taught me much about the federal government in my internship with Congressman Sessions.
On behalf of the LEAP Ambassadors, we would like to thank the WCRW for allowing us to volunteer and be part of this event!
One of the LEAP Ambassadors’ beloved bookstores for murder mystery enthusiasts is Murder by the Book, where we had the opportunity to meet the wonderful author Wendy Walker at her book signing. Known for her psychological thriller novels, she is currently on a book tour for her latest release, “What Remains.”
To dive deeper into the book and explore Wendy Walker’s background and writing techniques, Dr. Ashley Winstead, also an author, was on hand to moderate a discussion. Dr. Winstead, as it turns out, was an excellent interviewer.
The inspiration behind Walker’s book was a tragic shooting at King Soopers in Colorado in 2021. This event sparked ideas for the plot, which the author was able to expand and feature a female detective faced with the difficult decision of saving one life at the cost of taking another.
Although the book has intense moments, the structure alternates intensity with more contemplative and investigative elements. According to Walker, this technique was employed to add depth to the narrative, give readers a break from the intensity, and to explore deeper themes.
Walker also drew on her background in family law, which gave her insight into trauma, human nature, and family dynamics. These themes are prevalent throughout the novel, and Walker added additional layers of psychological drama, which, in her words, she “geeks out” over.
During the Q&A period, LEAP Ambassador Olivia Discon asked whether it was surreal to hear your characters’ voices portrayed by actors on audiobook after months of imagining what the characters’ voices, inflections, and verbal mannerisms.
Following the formal event, we had a chance to chat with Ms. Walker and Dr. Winstead. We reminded Ms. Walker that LEAP students had attended one of her book talks in 2017!
So, we enjoyed another photo with Ms. Walker–and, this time, with Dr. Winstead as well. Perhaps we’ll do the same at her next release!
Merus Grill
Michelle Cardenas
After getting our books signed and taking selfies with author Wendy Walker, we headed to Merus Grill in Uptown Houston for dinner. For starters, we indulged in perfectly fire-grilled artichokes and a delicious Avocado Bomb. We were all very big fans of the flavor combinations, and we were eager to dig into our main entrees.
Yvette had the Southern Salad, and Professor Yawn and Stephanie split the Grilled Trout meanwhile Ingrid, Oliva, and I ordered the Old Fashioned Cheeseburger.
Following our main entrees we decided to partake in a sweet treat by ordering the Carrot Cake and “The Very Best Chocolate Cake” served with vanilla ice cream. The dishes and dessert were all very delicious and satisfied all of our expectations.
After sharing a couple stories and conversing at the dinner table we parted ways and concluded yet another successful LEAP event.
The Wynne Home has been very active this month, hosting many wonderful artists and speakers from the community to raise cultural awareness and highlight some of the wonderful talent we have in town. And this week, the Wynne Home featured Grady Hillman and his 1984 award-winning film “Lions, Parakeets, and Other Prisoners,” depicting the complexities of incarceration through poetry.
Many of our city’s key figures were in attendance; Sarah Faulkner, the Cultural Services Director for the City of Huntsville; Tammy Gann, the Economic Director, City Manager Aron Kulhavy, Dr. Ralph and Mrs. Linda Pease; Dr. Carolina Crimm; Kristie Stevens, a writer for the Huntsville Item; and Cheryl Spencer and Dr. Joe Kirkland.
Professor Mike Yawn started off the night with an astounding anecdote, recounting one of his only memories as a sixth-grader, a bomb threat at his school. The students were moved to a safe location, where a poet was brought in to entertain the 1,600 restless, rowdy, and unruly children during the delay. That poet, hired at the time by Linda Pease, was in fact Grady Hillman! Funnily enough, Hillman could not only recall that day, but he wrote a poem about the entire endeavor– and he happened to have that poem with him! He asked Yawn to recite this poem, and the two of them relived that day more than 40 years ago, adding in commentary as appropriate. As an audience member, I felt very lucky to have witnessed such a moment.
Hillman introduced the critically-acclaimed docu-drama’s background, of course, highlighting the city of Huntsville. The film depicts the Walls, Wynne, and Eastham Units, centered around a poetry class Hillman lead in our local prisons.
Consisting pieces of poetry written and reenacted by Hillman’s students, the film captured the emotions of an incarcerated person’s experience, transcending the class meetings altogether. The title of the film is even a reference to two of poems read during the film in which two animals, lions and parakeets, are assigned to their respective cages. I must admit, my favorite detail within the film was its rhythm, which made both the dialogue and the poetry all the more profound. One of the most special parts of the night was when the credits started rolling, with the audience members seeing the names of longtime friends in the community.
Hillman concluded the night with an informational on his newest book, “Arts in Corrections: Thirty Years of Annotated Publications,” an annotation on the arts and education programs in the prison system, which is on sale at the Wynne Home.
Interestingly, in 2012, Hillman suffered a stroke that left him unable to write, read, and speak. After doing intensive therapies to regain those abilities, he has, he noted, become an editor of his own work. Going over his life’s activities and curating them, and the presentation of “Lions, Parakeets, and Other Prisoners” is part of that process. We were fortunate to be a part of it.
After the event, Hillman was generous enough to sign books. When I went to get my book signed, we had the opportunity to speak about the culture of each individual prison. Having visited 16 prisons from 1981-1984 alone, Hillman noted that his experiences were each unique to the prison. He did note, since he began the writing courses in Huntsville, that within the first year working there he knew most of the problems within the prison, the second year he knew how to solve the problems, and within the third year the problems changed, and he couldn’t even recall the initial problems.
It was truly a pleasure to get a glimpse into the immense experience and talent of Grady Hillman. We were further reminded of just how rich and deep the culture of Huntsville possesses, appreciating just how special of a time we all shared reflecting on it.
After a long night of planning and work, the LEAP Ambassadors began their second day of the retreat. Our plan was to go to the Stark House in Orange, but an event they were hosting precluded tours, so audibled and went to….
Tyrrell Park
By Ingrid Cuero
Starting off our second day strong, we headed to Tyrrell Park in Beaumont, Texas to reinforce our technical skills in outdoor photography. After familiarizing ourselves with a few of the photography basics, such as the exposure triangle, we had the ability to focus on the subjects of our photos as opposed to how to capture them.
Delving deeper into our understanding of photography, we realized the importance of patience when working with wildlife and its unpredictable nature. Although the park featured a large marsh, it turned into a beautiful scene of illuminated waters with alligators, interesting landscapes, and stationary, singing red-winged black birds.
With the adjusting of our camera settings, we were able to capture some beautiful pictures of Purple Gallinules, Egrets, Ibises and Swallows.
I was able to get a great shot of a Great Blue Skimmer, its translucent wings appearing ever-so-slightly against the lily pads.
Many, if not all LEAP Ambassadors walked away with pictures they were proud of, becoming acclimated to the qualities of a good photo. We thoroughly enjoyed the chance to work at different points of the day with various creatures to truly improve our skills.
The Stark Museum
By Olivia Discon
After a trip to Tyrrell Park, where we took photographs of a new frontier (for us, that is), we traveled to the Stark Museum to gain deeper knowledge of early Western art. Upon arriving in Orange, Texas, we spotted, by chance, a James Surls piece on Lamar-Orange’s campus! We took advantage of this unique opportunity and snapped a couple selfies and photographs in front of the piece.
It didn’t take long to realize the prominence of the Stark name in this town, as we passed by the Lutcher (Stark) Theater and the massive, historically preserved Victorian family home. The Stark Home gave the group a sense of great anticipation for the museum!
We were able to see the lavish, custom Ford Model-Ts that William Henry Stark drove almost immediately after entering; giving us the impression that this museum would have an extensive and captivating collection. However, we hadn’t anticipated how true that was!
To our surprise, some of the first works we looked at in the Western Art gallery were of the same birds we took pictures of at Tyrrell Park, all done by John James Audubon!
Some key figures of the Western art movement are Frederic Remington, Albert Bierstadt, and Thomas Moran, all of which were featured in the American Western gallery.
We were able to experience some introductory Bierstadt pieces yesterday at the MFAH, but the opportunity to immerse ourselves in a specific niche of art history was incredible. Morgan especially enjoyed “White Mountains, Mount Adams”…
…a study of mountains done with oil paint on cardboard, as well as John James Audubon’s personal copy of “The Birds of America” prints.
A work that resonated with Ingrid was “Indian Women Playing Ball on the Prairie” by Seth Eastman, providing an undertone of unfounded commentary for the time period. The painting depicts a swap of gender norms, depicting the women playing lacrosse, and the men idly chatting and spectating the game. The gallery had several amazing pieces that highlighted the allure of the unknown, further romanticizing the idea of westward expansion.
An artist we enjoyed thoroughly without encountering his work before was William Herbert Dunton; a Western artist with several black and white paintings on display. Yvette preferred “The Landing of the American Troops Near Guanica”, and I enjoyed “My Son–My Only Son–is a Coward”. Both pieces had incredible depth and shadowing, which enhanced the emotional and imaginative value of the paintings within the gray-scale.
The Indian American exhibit was another favorite of the LEAP Ambassadors, which was of great interest to Western artists in their own exhibition. However, the innate diversity of Native American art was mesmerizing in its own right. The oil paintings, textiles, and sculptures had an enthralling vibrancy about them, which provided a great contrast to the black and white gallery wall of the Western Art exhibition.
While we weren’t able to take a picture of the painting, we were able to see a Georgia O’Keeffe “Gerald’s Tree”! Consisting of a dying cedar tree on a Western landscape in New Mexico, the highly notable appearance pleasantly surprised us.
What stood out to me the most was a traveling exhibition on display: “Hunting Pictures from the Collection of the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation”. Game hunting was considered a sport of nobility for upper class citizens to indulge in during the 1700’s, as prohibition laws surrounding hunting were relenting over time. This is reflected in the portraiture of the elites of society, as several paintings included hunting dogs and hunted game alongside the subject.
This museum, as Professor Yawn noted during the visit, has an impressive collection relative to the size of the town. The subject matter allowed us to gain insight into the historical perspective of some early explorers and indigenous people who essentially founded one of America’s first art movements, leaving us with a newfound appreciation for the era and its artists.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge
By Yvette Mendoza
Continuing our adventure through the coastal wetlands of East Texas, we embarked on our next voyage to Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. It was a treat to observe how our knowledge of the animals expanded, connecting the ones we saw in Tyrrell Park with those that soar high above the marsh and lurk in the swamps of Anahuac, Texas.
While swatting away insects that seemed particularly drawn to the LEAP group, we took care not to disturb the stunning butterflies we came across. We also encountered numerous Blue Skimmer Dragonflies and Green Dragonflies, which gracefully posed for our photographs, showcasing their vibrant colors and crystal-clear wings.
Apart from these airborne creatures, we also marveled at the birds. The sheer number of Snowy Egrets flying overhead, searching for food and shelter in the coastal region of Texas, left us mesmerized. Similar to the egrets, we had the opportunity to capture the beauty of the Great Blue Heron.
This Heron stood out from the rest, as it confidently stood up at the post, and was ready for its close-up and unafraid of our cameras. We were fortunate to observe the Red-Winged Black Bird frequently, with its vibrant red dots on each wing, as well as the Common Gallinule. We even witnessed a mother Gallinule walking alongside her young in the swamp.
After encountering many of the local birds and some of their key characteristics such as beak type and coloring, we began to build our repertoire of identifiable birds.
We quickly learned to distinguish the White Ibis from other soaring birds due to their curved beaks and bright red faces. For instance, their beak shape is specialized for catching fish or breaking nuts.
Transitioning from birdwatching, we took a drive around the park, marveling at the reflection of cattails in the swampy green water. Our eyes were keen not only on the flying animals, but also on the most fearsome residents of the water – the famous alligators. Witnessing over 15 alligators at Anahuac Wildlife Refuge was truly astonishing. Additionally, we spotted turtles and ducks leisurely living their lives in the water, unaware that they could become the alligators’ next meal.
To conclude our nature walk, we strolled along a boardwalk that rose above what used to be a marsh filled with water. Now, it lay as an enormous dried-out muddy pool beneath us. Though unexpected, the view was undeniably stunning and too captivating to miss to finish off our adventure with the perfect sunset selfie of the LEAP Ambassadors!
The time has come for the LEAP Ambassador’s summer retreat! The organization prides itself in its forward-thinking nature, which is done to maximize our education and serve our community with intent and efficiency. This retreat was also something of a microcosm of our larger efforts, stressing broad-based and experiential learning.
Phoenicia’s Speciality Foods
By Ingrid Cuero
With a long day ahead, Professor Yawn, Stephanie Fors, Olivia Discon, Michelle Cardenas, Yvette Mendoza, Morgan Robertson, and I met for lunch to fuel ourselves at Phoenicia Specialty Foods: A Mediterranean market that houses many delicacies, including deli, cheeses, and desserts. It is more of a grab-and-go eatery, so there were many people coming in-and-out as we looked and picked out our choice of foods. This was many of the group’s first time visiting the market, and for some members, it was the first time having middle-eastern food!
Olivia decided to eat a Lemon Chicken Soup with Pasta Pesto Salad.
Both Michelle and Morgan decided to get the Specialty Shawarma Wrap, Michelle having chicken and Morgan having lamb.
Yvette decided to get the regular Lamb Shawarma dish with veggie grape leaves as her side. I stayed with the classic rice, beans, and grilled veggies as my side, with an additional zucchini soup to top things off.
We took the time to catch up after a few weeks of summer break between us, sharing our summer activities and some laughs throughout.
After sharing some pastries, which consisted of baklava, lemon custard, and cookies, planned out the day in a bit more detail, and we were ready to take on our day!
Betty Moody Art Gallery
By Yvette Mendoza
After indulging in Phoenicia’s, our bodies fueled and ready, we set off for our first destination: the Betty Moody Art Gallery. The moment we stepped inside, we were captivated by the awe-inspiring artwork on display…
…and to our delight Ms. Betty Moody was there, and she graciously offered to give us a personal tour.
Each art piece came alive as Ms. Moody passionately explained the work’s intricacies. As we entered through the main entrance, our attention was drawn to the collection by Andrea Rosenberg. Ms. Moody skillfully unraveled the hidden depths and artistic techniques behind Rosenberg’s floral paintings, revealing the significance of every brushstroke. From the choice of Japanese rice paper to the spontaneity and simplicity that belied years of experience, it fascinated us to discover the immense skill required to create such seemingly effortless abstract flowers.
We witnessed this contrast in two paintings placed on opposite sides of the faller – an exquisitely delicate blossom alongside a vibrant explosion of colors behind a boldly outlined orange flower.
We have learned of Rosenberg’s painting method, using thumbtacks to hang her canvases on the wall at a height convenient for her stature, and then getting to work. Often working quickly, Ms. Rosenberg can fill even large canvasses quickly.
Ms. Moody’s generosity extended beyond technical explanations; she also shared the rich histories behind many of the pieces, some of which she had in her own kitchen and bedroom adjacent to the gallery! Each piece held a profound connection to the past, including sculptures and artwork spanning thousands of years from Roman culture to the present.
Among the treasures was a calamari serving platter crafted from walrus tusk, artfully shaped into adorable seals, each possessing its own unique value.
As we delved deeper into her collection, we encountered various art styles, from a signed Campbell’s soup can symbolizing the Pop Art style by Andy Warhol, to sketches by her dear friend and talented artist Luis Jimenez, known for his remarkable sculptures of mustangs and his skill in sketching classic cars.
Lastly, Ms. Moody showcased the remarkable silver jewelry crafted by her beloved husband, Bill Steffy, which, while distinct from pop art or drawing, exuded its own allure, featuring beautifully designed metal skulls and silver jewelry that she was wearing.
Our gratitude to Ms. Moody is such a great amount. Every item she owned or curated in her art gallery possessed a profound meaning, and she concluded our visit by emphasizing that she doesn’t think of art as an investment, but rather simply thinks of it as a way of life.
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
By Michelle Cardenas
Our third stop was the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, which was my first ever visit to a museum! We entered through Olafur Eliasson’s yellow-casted walkway, “Sometimes an underground movement is an illuminated bridge” to begin the experience.
Professor Yawn took Olivia, Ingrid and I on a tour through the museum, highlighting the various art periods, their historical significance, and key artists of each era. Starting with the Realism art movement, we had the opportunity to view a gallery that encapsulated the art world before the invention of the camera; resulting in a desire to capture life in extreme detail and realism. Olivia particularly enjoyed “Sheerness as seen from the Nore” by Joseph Mallard William Turner.
Personally, I was attracted to a Jacques Raymond Brasscassat piece titled “A Bull Fight”.
We progressed through time and expanded on the influence of technology on art.
The introduction of photography brought a sense of liberty to artists; allowing them to create works that were a reflection of their personal perspective as opposed to objective relativity.
Many artists like Claude Monet began to develop new techniques, particularly impressionism.
The Impressionist era was followed by even more new techniques and styles, suggesting that ideas really do beget ideas. And we learned about pointillism and fauvism, which redefined what society considers a masterpiece. A piece that Ingrid enjoyed was “The Bonaventure Pine” by Paul Signac, which features the technique. When you look closer, you are able to see color theory at play!
We then got to the early 20th century, where I got to see my first Picasso painting, “Le Rameur” or “The Rower“.
Both Pablo Picasso and George Braque are accredited for inventing a technique called Cubism, a movement utilizing geometric shapes to create a painting that can be seen from several angles.
We ended our tour with some American art pieces, many of which focused on the American dreams of westward expansion, highlighted through dreamy landscapes and featuring Native Americans. Here I discovered one of my favorite artists of the museum; Albert Bierstadt. The early American landscapes were breathtaking and captured the allure of the unknown frontier.
Before we left, we had the pleasure to visit Yayoi Kusama’s “Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity“, an immersive experience in which a subtle, fleeting burst of light comes and goes. Kusama, who is known for her work with polka dots, uses a similar assortment of lit lamps that are infinitely mirrored. The experience was both beautiful and incredibly thought provoking.
Special Exhibits: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, Pixel Forest and Worry Will Vanish
With the MFAH possessing some beautiful Impressionist-era pieces in their general gallery, Morgan and I were treated with a special exhibit that had both Impressionist and Post Impressionist works on display! We were able to see works by Cezanne, Renoir, Cassatt, and even a Van Gogh, called “The Rocks”. We were both delighted to have experienced such renowned pieces in person.
We also had the privilege to attend a truly immersive experience: Pixel Forest and Worry Will Vanish by Pipilotti Rist. This captivating installation consisted of crystal-like neon balls hanging from the ceiling, creating a breathtaking visual spectacle through a stunning light show. Stepping into this immersive environment felt like traversing the threshold into an enchanting and surreal realm, where reality blended seamlessly with imagination.
Thanks to the many opportunities the LEAP Center provides to expand one’s cultural awareness, I was exposed to new concepts and artists I was otherwise unfamiliar with. If a trip to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston taught me one thing, it was that art is extremely reflective of the world events occurring within that time period. It was an excellent opportunity for us to familiarize ourselves with these classic masterpieces!
High Island
By Ingrid Cuero
After experiencing a day filled with remarkable works of art, it was time to hone in on our own craft: photography! A major focal point of our retreat is to ensure that each ambassador has the opportunity to develop a well-rounded knowledge of the world around them, which includes nature. With that, we traveled to High Island in Galveston just before sunset to practice our photography and, we hoped, to spot some wildlife–which we did, almost immediately!
Upon arrival, I saw three bunnies having dinner on the far side of the park. Taking slow steps into their direction, I went to them and captured a few photos before they took notice and fled the scene. Michelle was able to get an even closer photo!
We then walked onto the trail to the lake, where we spent most of our time. Some would say outdoor photography is its own beast, as you must adapt to the unpredictable conditions of nature to get a perfect shot. As many of us on the trip are familiarizing ourselves with the inner-workings of photography, this was a perfect way to apply what we have learned so far.
We had plenty of opportunities, as the landscape was filled with birds, turtles, and alligators, along with a beautiful sunset before us.
During this time, we tried to educate ourselves about the many species of birds we captured (by camera, of course). A few breeds of birds that we saw included the Roseate Spoonbill, the Great Egret, and the Little Blue Heron. Mating season for these birds is between April and May, so we saw many nests with baby birds secured in them.
Professor Yawn explained to the group some interesting information about male birds in real time! Male birds, we learned, can be very territorial, leading to physical fights against other birds, and we saw many such examples of this type of behavior.
And with that, the LEAP Ambassadors ended a successful first day on their summer retreat! We had a fun-filled day focused on challenging ourselves to take initiative on the concepts we can improve on.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 