We love these charitable spinoffs of television competition shows (Dancing With the Houston Stars, for example) and the latest to hit H-Town was the Houston Museum of African American Culture's "You've Got Talent" entertainment at the museum's "We Are Culture" gala.
The partying began at the Ensemble Theatre where comedian Eddie B served as emcee of the competition that featured singer Amir Bellamy, the Urban Souls Dance Company and the Ensemble Theatre Young Performers as well as audience contestants Kimberly Mayberry and Jarod and Kierra Hunter. Selecting their faves among the contestants were honorary chairs La Tesha and Danieal Manning of the Houston Texans and gala chairs Jennifer and Willie Miles and Viet Hoang.
Once the competition was completed and the festivities ended, stalwarts moved on to HMAAC headquarters for the Bombay Sapphire Rush Philanthropic after-party where another competition of a sort took place — that of artwork to represent HMAAC at the Scope Art Fair in Miami. Artist Alton Cooper was chosen from 20 entries, selected by jurors Chicago gallerist Andre Guichard and local curators Ryan Dennis and Sally Frater.
The culturally-minded crowd included Audrey and the Rev. Bill Lawson, KTRK Channel 13 news anchor Melanie Lawson, Port Commissioner Theldon Branch and wife Ester, City Council candidate Carolyn Evans Shabazz and husband Malik Shabazz, Gaynell Drexler, Gina Carroll, Al and Kim Odom, Annette and Arthur Bracey, Common Ground founder Ahmad Islam, Roni Jackson, HMAAC board members Elmer Rogers and Cindy Parris, HMAAC CEO John Guess Jr. and Felicia Shaw of the San Diego Foundation.
Willie and Jennifer Miles, from left, with Viet Hoang at the HMAAC Gala.
