TikTok has become the meeting ground for people to share some seriously relatable, niche content. One community that has blossomed and reinspired an entire generation to start reading again is “Booktok.” “Booktok” is the coined name for content on the app dedicated to sharing book recommendations and ratings from fellow bookworms. Millions have participated in trends such as sharing their top five books of all time and listing books everyone should read in their twenties. Thanks to “Booktok,”

Encanto is a colorful tale of family, has deep undertones Encanto is the latest animated film to be released by Disney in November 2021. It’s a colorful tale of a matriarchal Latin family who inherited mystical powers after escaping persecution. The protagonist, Mirabel, isn’t blessed with a magical gift like the rest of the Madrigal family, but when their power starts to fade, she must step in to help preserve the paradise they created. The matriarchal structure of the Madrigal family is qui

Black women have long carried the burden of society’s judgement of them as mothers, professionals and regular people. Now, the same style choices Black women were ostracized for are the latest fashion trends. The kinky and curly hair types of Black women have birthed a plethora of creative styles that are meant to protect their hair from damage while still appearing neat.

Posted Nov. 9, 2020 — As a mother of a daughter with special needs, Shelley Townsend understands the importance of finding a supportive community and useful resources. She’s made helping families her life’s work. She serves as the director of Families CAN, a grant-funded program housed in the University of Houston College of Education that helps families of children with disabilities. “I develop a relationship with these families because I’m someone who has walked in their shoes,” Townsend sai

Posted Oct. 28, 2020 — Tierra Harris, a first-year teacher at Houston ISD’s Woodson Leadership Academy, said she has turned to her former UH classmates for support during this time. Harris was part of Teach Forward Houston, a special program at UH that prepares HISD graduates to return to the district as teachers.

Posted Oct. 13, 2020 — As an instructional designer, Velvette Laurence regularly helps professors at the University of Houston College of Education enhance their courses to keep students engaged. When COVID-19 forced all classes to go virtual in the spring, Laurence’s support became even more important. “It’s a challenge, but the benefit is instructors are learning to be more flexible,” Laurence said. “This online environment has helped them get to know their students on a more personal level.

All college students dream about securing a paid position in their career field as soon as possible postgraduation. Jaelynn Walls, 21, saw her dreams come true even earlier when the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) offered her the Andrew W. Mellon Curatorial Fellowship in July 2019.

The newest generation of professionals are faced with a dilemma when it comes to entering the workforce: visible tattoos. Tattoos are often seen as unprofessional by employers, but this narrative is outdated and young people are ready for it to be thrown out. In a 2012 USA Today article, senior attorney advisor at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Justine Lisser said that employers are allowed to ban visible tattoos as part of their dress code. The only exception being religious beli

Kamala Harris as VP does not guarantee a win for people of color Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s selection of Kamala Harris as his running mate has left young Black voters with mixed feelings about the election. A vice president educated at a historically Black university could offer a new perspective in the White House, but her policies thus far don’t completely align with the views of young Black liberals. It’s hard to know whether to celebrate this as a win or prepare to be le

The historic Third Ward, home to the vastly diverse UH, has been receiving what some would consider a much needed update. Natives call it gentrification. Having a university in a large city like Houston comes with the complicated issue of housing. Cities don’t have the same access to open land for development as small towns. UH is not immune to this. With a growing student population, the demand for housing increases annually. As a result, overpriced apartment complexes are erected less than a