Shelby's Social Diary
Raising the bar for girls: Women leaders serve as inspiration
If the young women of Houston couldn't find inspiration in the Girls Inc. 14th annual "Strong, Smart and Bold" luncheon, they probably won't find it anywhere — for the Hilton Americas-Houston ballroom was packed with power females.
Mayor Annise Parker was guest speaker. Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia was at the head table. U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore, fresh from swearing in 1,600 new citizens, sat nearby. Attorney Sofia Adrogué and District Judge Caroline Baker Hurley were honorary chairs along with their young daughters — Sloane and Schuyler Adrogué Gustafson and Grace Elizabeth and Emma Hurley. Channel 13 news anchor Melanie Lawson served as emcee.
All across the room, women who succeeded in life long before Girls Inc. began making its mark in Houston served as enviable examples to the sprinkling of accomplished teens joining the luncheon crowd. National board member and attorney Melanie Gray, the Port of Houston's Argentina James, television sports reporter Lisa Malosky, former Channel 13 news anchor Minerva Perez and Channel 13 morning anchor Sharron Melton and loads more were there.
Mayor Parker gave the keynote address showing her more playful and inspirational side, after fearlessly putting forth a stringent city budget proposal only the day before.