Seeing Pink

Inaugural Pink Ribbon Parade sculptures revealed; set to embark on journey toraise awareness

Artists, donors, survivors, and dignitaries stand by the ribbons
Photo by Whitney Radley
A ribbon by artist Kermit Eisenhut
Photo by Whitney Radley
Mayor Parker addressed the crowd
Photo by Whitney Radley
Ms. Betsy, Hailey, and Isabella by their ribbon, "Butterfly Kisses"
Photo by Whitney Radley
MD Anderson Cancer Center IBC Research and Clinic
Photo by Whitney Radley
Artist Kermit Eisenhut and Amy Waltz with their Waltz Warriors ribbon
Photo by Whitney Radley

The scene outside of City Hall on Tuesday morning was literally and figuratively rosy.

Artists, sponsors, breast cancer survivors and beneficiaries gathered at the Reflection Pool for the kickoff of the inaugural Pink Ribbon Parade, sponsored by the Breast Health Collaborative of Texas. It was an opportunity for involved parties, government representatives, the media and the public to see the fruits of their labor for the first time: More than a dozen painted ribbon sculptures that will parade across Texas to raise awareness for breast health.

Each 7-foot-tall ribbon serves a dual purpose for breast cancer awareness and fundraising. Artists and sponsors collaborated to embellish their sculptures, and at the event, the Breast Health Collaborative presented each team with a portion of a $38,000 check — which the teams, in turn, donated to a chosen recipient.

One ribbon was sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's IBC Research Program and Clinic; another by Pinot's Palette; another by young artists Isabella and Hailey, who along with their art teacher, Ms. Betsy, painted a sculpture entitled "Butterfly Kisses" in honor of Isabella's mother, Amy, a breast cancer survivor. Other artists included local talents Kermit Eisenhut and Hahn Tran.

"This project symbolizes the great collaborative spirit in Houston and throughout Texas," said Lyn Widlaski, the collaborative's executive director.

The ribbons will travel next to Tour de Pink at Prairie View A&M, then to the Susan G. Komen Houston Race for the Cure, and finally to the 7th Annual Breast Health Summit. At each location, the ribbons will serve as reminders of and testaments to the strength of breast cancer victims.

State Representative Sarah Davis, Mayor Annise Parker and City Council Members Ed Gonzalez, Al Hoang, Melissa Noriega, Oliver Pennington and Brenda Stardig were among the crowd.

"Let's all join together for a healthier Houston," said Parker, "and let's all join together to fight breast cancer."

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Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”