Civic Engagement – Page 14 – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Deep in the Heart of Texas

by Michelle Moya

March 2 holds a important place in the heart of Texans, being both Sam Houston’s Birthday and Texas Independence Day. This year, the Huntsville community celebrating these milestones on March 1, with much preparation going into the day of celebration. But it was a particularly special day of celebration for me: It was my baptism as a Texan! I was born in Florida, but with a deep love for the Lone Star State and a current Texas resident, this event helped me make my Texas roots official.

Preparing for the Celebration

The Huntsville Lions Club is ever ready to beautify the community, and the LEAP Ambassadors are always prepared to help the Huntsville Lions Club. On holidays and other special days, the Lions Club puts out flags alongside the city streets, and, of course, Sam Houston’s Birthday is a special day in Huntsville!

So, at 6:15am, the Lions Club as well as Chrissy Biello, Olivia Discon, Jack Hammock, Olivia McCaughan, and Professor Yawn arrived bright and early to the Walker County Courthouse, where they placed Texas flags along the path of those engaged in “March 2 the Grave.”

It was a great way to lay the groundwork for what would become a fun filled, Tex-ified, day.

Gibbs-Powell Home

As part of the festivities, Olivia and Chrissy paid a visit to the beautiful and historic Gibbs-Powell Home, which hosted a brief coffee reception before the March 2 the Grave tradition.

Gibbs-Powell House in Spring (Photo by Dena Shipley)

We had the opportunity to explore the carefully preserved interior and admire some fine artifacts–such as a stereoscope, a grand piano, and the Gibbs and Powell family Bibles.

We even had a brief chance to sneak a peek upstairs, which once housed college students—arguably one of the best dormitories one could imagine!

Though our visit was short, it was an excellent start to the day, allowing us to deepen our understanding of Texas history through this incredible site in our community.

March 2 the Grave

The day continued with a solemn and patriotic march from the Old Main Pit on the Sam Houston State University campus to the Oakwood Cemetery. This is a tradition that has been around a very long time…

The roads, buildings, and attire have changed over the years, but the tradition remains.

It was a great way to bring different aspects of the community together…

…while also metaphorically connecting the town and gown…

Grave-Site Ceremony

Following the march, the community comes together at Sam Houston’s grave, in a ceremony that begins with the Texas and United States’ pledges.

The ceremony began with a warm welcome from community leaders, including:

Walker County Historical Commission Chair: Scott Collier
City of Huntsville Mayor: Russell Humphrey
County Judge (Walker County): Colt Christian
Vice-President of University Advancement: Matt Bethea
Hello Huntsville Host: Rob Hipp
Sam Houston Descendant: Lindsey Hughes

This celebration highlighted the enduring spirit of Texas and its people. Their words resonated with pride for Texas and Sam Houston’s historical significance.

One of the most touching moments came when Lindsey Hughes, a descendant of Sam Houston, discussed what it means to be a Texan. Hearing the words of someone with such a personal connection to the great Texas hero added a personal layer of meaning to the celebration, a connection that was particularly emphatic when she closed with the words, “If you want something done, ask a Texan.”

Long-time resident Tom Rogers then provided the audience a fascinating account of the event’s history, reminding us all why we gather each year to honor Sam Houston and Texas’ Independence in what is likely the oldest cultural tradition in Huntsville.

A Texas Baptism

The highlight of the day, at least for me and 80 others, was being baptized a Texan. This event is a unique and cherished tradition in the heart of Huntsville, with many people traveling from all around Texas to get baptized. For me, being “baptized as a Texan” was the culmination of years of admiration and a deep-seated feeling that Texas was truly my home. The baptism consisted of water sprinkled across my forehead by Liz Patton (whose late husband, James Patton, was a long-time County Clerk for Walker County and the unofficial historian of the County), symbolically washing away my out-of-state origins and christening me as a true Texan. Although I was born in Florida, my heart has always belonged to Texas, and now I have the certificate to prove it!

This event does a wonderful job of honoring the legacy of Sam Houston. Houston’s influence on the state of Texas is immeasurable, and his life exemplifies the spirit of Texas: bold, independent, and dedicated to freedom.

Thanks

A huge thanks goes to the committee that organizes this event each year. The committee consists of representatives from the Walker County Historical Commission, the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library, the City of Huntsville’s Travel and Tourism Office, and the Downtown Business Alliance. This is a large undertaking, and they did it well–which should be no surprise. If you want something done, ask Texans!

Happy Birthday, Sam Houston, and Happy Independence Day, Texas!

Celebrating Sam— the Capitol Way!

by Olivia Discon

To celebrate the legendary Sam Houston’s birthday, Sam Houston State University (SHSU) puts on a fabulous annual event to honor the former president of Texas and to bring light to the great things going on at SHSU.

Organized by the President’s Office, under the leadership of the incredible Tabitha Shanley, Jennifer Alexander, and Dr. McCartney Johnson, the LEAP Ambassadors have been fortunate to assist at the event over the years.

A number of Texas representatives, senators, legislative staff, and key figures, along with SHSU alumni, are invited to take part in the celebration in our state’s capital.

Although Houston’s actual birthday is March 2, we celebrated a bit early, a function of scheduling obstacles and venue selection. Speaking of which, the event was held in a stunning historic home, a perfect for networking and catching up with those who care greatly about our university.

President White briefly took the stage to pay tribute to Sam Houston, the man, acknowledging that while he may not be the conventional hero, it was his wit, passion for others, and brilliance that made him a true leader.

As LEAP students, we strive to exemplify the values of our university: service to others, doing things the right way, and having fun while doing it. Sam Houston had one maxim: “…do right and risk the consequences.”

This is also, of course, an appropriate principle for Sam Houston State University, whose mission it is to offer accessible, high-quality. The years go by, seasons change, but the value of education lasts a lifetime and, through the impact of generational transfer, even beyond.

Friendships also can last a lifetime, and the friendly, hospitable culture of SHSU was on full display.

For us, this meant deepening ties to our fellow students, the SHAIP interns, who were enjoying the event after a day’s work at the Texas Capitol.

Even better, we had the opportunity to reconnect with former LEAP and Junior Fellow alumni, seeing generations of the LEAP Center at Sam Houston shine.

The program has fundamentally changed lives, shaping not only the communities we serve as LEAP Ambassadors but also those we impact beyond. LEAP and SHSU cultivate public servants, and this event was a powerful reminder of that.

State of the City 2025

by Olivia Discon

On an annual basis, the City of Huntsvillle hosts its “State of the City” address, covering ongoing projects, accomplishments, and future aspirations. On February 25, 2025, community stakeholders gathered to learn just what state our city was in.

The City Secretary’s Office truly outdid themselves this year, taking a different model to the event than in years past. Hosted earlier on in the day, the event had a fantastic turnout. Several community friends, including Michelle Spencer and Tracy Stoudt, were in attendance, along with city staff, directors, and city council.

With a Posting of the Colors by SHSU’s Police Department, the presentation immediately started with what our city’s mission is: Community, mutual respect and reverence for our country, our state, and our city.

The Mayor of Huntsville, Russell Humphrey, took the stage to both welcome the audience, allude to the many incredible and important projects happening within the city, and…

introduce our newly appointed City Manager, Scott Swigert, who was in attendance. We had the opportunity to hear his excitement to serve in this new capacity, and we look forward to him, as a community, to having him serve as a leader. His term begins on March 17, 2025.

Sam Masiel, who has been serving as our Interim City Manager, went on to deliver the State of the City presentation. Covering the I-45 expansion, City Hall construction, and other infrastructure projects, Huntsville is absolutely and positively heading in the direction of growth. And sustainable growth, at that!

Mr. Masiel also covered the housing market in our city, along with other finance and budgetary updates, reflecting the intentional but conservative nature of the city’s budget and the incredible services provided.

In all, the 2025 State of the City address highlighted Huntsville’s progress and the exciting things ahead.

Preparation, Representation, and Legislation: Interning in Austin

Michelle Cardenas

With eight students working in Austin or Washington, DC this spring, the LEAP Center at SHSU helped prepare the students for their legislative marathons!

For the students departing their homes and SHSU also means saying goodbye to family, friends, and our lovely campus in Huntsville. This session, there will be seven interns in Austin: Cinthia Villarreal, MaKenna Mcdaniel , Sarah Isett, Saara Maknojia, Sarah-Hope Parohl, Lupe Centeno, and, of course, myself. There will also be one intern in DC, Israel Gallego (and numerous interns in Huntsville…but that’s another blog).

We kicked off our preparation at the Texas Capitol, dressed in our suits and ready for headshots. No matter how many times we see the beautiful pink building, we are always in awe, and the fact that the Capitol is our office until June 2 is even more unbelievable.

We took photos around the Capitol grounds as well as inside on the Senate floor and the famous rotunda.

We had a great time talking, smiling, and learning as we posed for photos and walked around.

After wrapping up our headshots, we headed to Love Supreme Pizza for lunch. Professor Yawn had arranged a meet-up with SHAIP alumni, including Lexi Gonzales, Melva Gomez, Emily Johnson, Sadie McLaughlin, Spencer Copeland, and Oscar Aguilar. It was such a privilege to get to know these alumni and hear about their experiences interning at the Capitol. They shared tips, advice, and encouraging words about navigating our professional careers and this new chapter in our lives. We are incredibly thankful for this group of alumni for taking the time out of their day to help guide us.

Our Segway tour guide started by giving us some riding dos and don’ts before letting us practice. Some of us caught on quickly…

…while others (me, definitely me, once again) needed a bit more time to get the hang of it.

At one point, I was convinced I’d end up with my Segway in a bush, but thankfully, I managed to avoid disaster. Once we got rolling, though, it turned out to be an incredibly fun experience.

We stopped at several spots, including the Capitol grounds and some well-known restaurants downtown.

It was a great way to see the city and get excited about our new home for the next few months.

After the tour, we returned to our starting point, and I was pretty happy to be back on solid ground. It had been an incredible day—from connecting with alumni to exploring Austin on Segways.

We’re all beyond excited to get to work and learn as much as we can during this session. Representing Sam Houston State University is a huge honor, and we can’t wait to make our mark at the Capitol just like previous Bearkats have.

TSUS Puts “Fun” in “Fundraising”

Each legislative session, the Texas State University System hosts a Gala that raises funds for its member institutions. This year’s Gala honored staff in the Texas Legislature and featured Brad Paisley, who provided much merriment over the course of the evening. On hand to assist were the SHAIP Interns, who, after working a long day in the TX Legislature, helped check-in a record number of attendees, and then enjoyed the evening!

Chancellor Brian McCall introduced the event…

…providing an overview and humor while introducing guests. Regent Charlie Amato also said a few words, before encouraging guests to eat, drink, and be merry–advice the guests took to heart.

For most of the SHAIP interns, it was their first time at the Moody Theater / Austin City Limits, and just being there was a bit of a history lesson.

And, of course, the students had a chance to experience some of that history while listening to Brad Paisley.

The real treat and lessons, however, came in the chance to meet people who attended the event. This included spending time with President White and Dr. McCartney Johnson…

…meeting former Speaker of the House–and member of the Presidents Circle–Gibb Lewis…

..and meeting or reacquainting ourselves with LEAP Alumni and just getting to know each other better.

For TSUS, it was a great way to elevate the profile of the System and its member institutions, highlighting the many ways the institutions benefit the state of Texas and raising money for students.

The event was a great success, which of course was to be expected, given that it was overseen by Vice-Chancellor Mike Wintemute, Derrick Alexander, and Malu Gonzalez. The event, and the people involved, provided a great introduction to Austin and the Austin City Limits to the SHAIP interns.

Around the World (Affairs Council) with the State Department

by Olivia Discon

With a new president in office, evolving policies, and shifting global dynamics, it’s more important than ever for LEAP Ambassadors and friends of LEAP to gain a broader understanding of our country’s role in world affairs. What better place to do so than at an event hosted by the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston?

This time, however, WAC hosting in a different place: a coffee shop, Mercantile, which offered an intimate, cozy Q&A-style event, a fitting backdrop to the conversation, given the current era of navigating through “concepts of a plan.”

The discussion featured former Ambassador of Madagascar Michael Pelletier and Professor Richard Sindelar, both bringing expertise in diplomacy and global affairs, offering key insights into what to watch for during the Trump administration.

The conversation covered a broad range of topics, from USAID and foreign aid, to the ongoing competition between global superpowers and the shifting forces shaping diplomacy today. Naturally, Elon Musk’s name came up more than once, not always in a positive tone.

Despite their diplomatic backgrounds, the panelists’ responses were candid—so much so that they frequently found themselves apologizing for being undiplomatic. It was a great chance to hear honest perspectives from experts who have navigated the complexities of global affairs and studied them deeply. While the conversation may have felt a tad pessimistic, it was an invigorating event to attend.

Mala Sichuan Bistro

by Michelle Moya

LEAP has become my passport to global cuisines, taking me from the platters of Ethiopia to India and the delicious sausages of Germany. Tonight, after an insightful day at the World Affairs Council event, our culinary compass pointed us toward Mala Sichuan Bistro.

The restaurant’s ambiance enticed us in upon entering with classic Chinese architectural components such as hanging lanterns and Chinese art on the wall, creating an authentic environment. While the background music seemed out of place, the meticulously chosen artwork and carefully curated interior design choices transported us right into Chinese culture.

Our appetizer spread showcased Sichuan’s bold flavors. The red oil dumplings emerged as my personal favorite, especially because the oil provided a touch of spice.

Everyone bravely ventured into the Fuqi Feipian, commonly known as “Husband and Wife Lung Dish.” Although the dish traditionally contains slices of beef heart, tongue, and tripe, lung is not always used, and it was not clear what the exact ingredients of this dish were. I especially wouldn’t know because I avoided it…

Then we decided to get sour and spicy wontons, rounding out our starter selection, which I enjoyed a lot, mentioning again, due to their hint of spice.

Our main courses reflected the diversity of Sichuan cuisine. Jack ordered the Peppercorn Chicken, Olivia got the Shredded Beef with Seasonal Vegetables, while my Pickled Pepper Fish Fillet arrived in a creamy sauce perfectly balanced between richness and the sharp heat of red chili.

Macey kept it classic with fried rice, while Professor Yawn took our server’s suggestion—the Jiggling Pork Belly, a dish that lived up to its interesting name.

The best part wasn’t even the food. It was sitting around the table and chatting, making this an educational adventure. In the ever-expanding anthology of LEAP dining experiences—Mala Sichuan Bistro? Definitely one for the books.

Combatting Food Insecurity with Art at the Wynne Home

by Olivia Discon

Over the past couple of months, the LEAP Ambassadors have had the opportunity to contribute to one of Huntsville’s most impactful community events: Empty Bowls. This annual event supports the community by combining art, creativity, and a shared commitment to helping those in need.

The Empty Bowls Fundraiser

Empty Bowls involves a series of activities promoting the arts which culminate in a fundraiser for the Senior Center, a local non-profit that, among other things, combats food insecurity.

With grants that provide clay to the Wynne Home, local community members–under the tutelage of skilled ceramicists–create bowls; they then gather again to glaze the bowls; and then the community comes together to purchase soups (donated by local restaurants), obtain a commemorative bowl, and support the local Senior Center.

Creating Our Bowls

Under the guidance of instructor Leara Phillips, we created nine ceramic bowls as part of the Empty Bowls project. For many of us, it was our first time working with clay, and Leara made the process both accessible and enjoyable.

Glazing Our Bowls

After our bowls were put in the kiln, we went in shifts (necessitated by the fact that some of us are in Austin doing internships; and others are in Huntsville) to the Wynne Home, where we glazed and painted our bowls.

One of the many pleasant aspects of this process is getting to meet or reengage with people. For example, we (Cinthia and Saara) had a chance to meet Dr. Maria Botero, who is a professor of Philosophy at SHSU, while also spending time with our instructor (Dakota Dube) and other community members.

Supporting the Community

The beauty of Empty Bowls lies in its ability to bring the community together. It’s not just about making or purchasing a bowl; it’s about creating something tangible that supports a larger mission. Each bowl symbolizes community service and the art of paying it forward, reminding us that small acts of kindness can have a profound impact.

Our student group is honored to be part of this initiative. This semester, we’re looking forward to helping with the painting process and assisting at the event on March 5. We hope everyone will come to the Wynne Home on March 5 between 11am and 2pm to purchase a lunch ($15), pick out your souvenir bowl, and support some great causes!

City Fellows: LEAP Offers a New Type of Internship Program

In the fall, summer, and spring, the LEAP Center opens up internship opportunities to all SHSU students. These internships are paid, come with a modest scholarship, and provide unique professional development opportunities.

The program is called “City Fellows,” because students are placed primarily–but not exclusively–with the City of Huntsville. The students may work for Huntsville Main Street, the Wynne Home Arts and Visitors Center, Economic Development, Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Development Services, the Huntsville Public Library, or in the non-profit sector, with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club, CASA of Walker County, the Old Town Theatre, or the like.

Students can earn anywhere from 3-6 hours of academic credit in these positions, while also working on a project-based job. Examples may include helping to plan Scare on the Square, assist with a hiring fair, developing a marketing plan for an office, or putting together a fundraising plan.

Moreover, students have the opportunity for extensive learning. Not only do students learn on the job, but a couple of times a month, they engage in professional development activities. Over the course of the semester, these include (1) leading a tour of their work environments and discussing their class project…

(2) going on a tour of Eastham-Thomason Park to learn about the environment and tax base;…

(3) touring the Huntsville Police Department…

(4) learning Parliamentary Procedures…(5) volunteering in the community…and

(6) presenting to community officials about their work.

The program is designed to meet real needs in the community, while also allowing students to develop needed skills for their own careers and the workforce more generally.

The program begins accepting applications on April 1 for the summer; August 1 for the fall; and November 1 for the spring. Students can learn more here. Government offices, non-profits, or law firms can contact Professor Mike Yawn at mike.yawn@shsu.edu.

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