Vote for Houstonian of the Yr

For the second 12 months working, Houstonia is naming a Houstonian of the Yr. Impressed by Time’s iconic Particular person of the Yr, our annual award shines a highlight on the people—and in some instances, teams—who embody Houston’s resilience, creativity, and drive.

This metropolis is brimming with individuals who make it higher each single day. Some combat for safer streets or extra inclusive areas, whereas others deliver tradition and neighborhood to the forefront via meals, advocacy, or public service. These are the Houstonians whose work caught with us lengthy after the headlines pale.

And identical to final 12 months, we’re placing the selection in your palms. As a substitute of choosing a winner ourselves, we’re asking readers to forged their vote. Who deserves to be known as Houstonian of the Yr 2025?

Bike Houston, pedal-powered changemakers

Though not technically a person, Bike Houston is a collective making a significant affect on Houston’s streets. Government Director Joe Cutrufo and Program Director Robert Grobe lead the motion, collaborating with native officers and companies to advocate for infrastructure that makes biking in Houston safer and extra accessible. The group additionally shares assets on a variety of matters, together with security legal guidelines, path closures, bike registration, and neighborhood journey guides, whereas internet hosting memorial rides for victims of hit-and-run accidents all through the town. Extra not too long ago, Bike Houston was talked about in leaked textual content exchanges between Mayor John Whitmire and then-advisor Marlene Gafrick, with Whitmire referring to the group as “bullies” that “ignored the affect of bikeways on the neighborhood.”

Jessica Callahan, accessibility advocate

This Houstonian has two passions in life: Braille transcription and meals. Regardless of its world-class restaurant scene, few eating places in Houston at the moment present accessible menus to visually impaired diners. Callahan has raised the problem in a number of native Fb eating teams, which has gained traction and raised native consciousness. She’s already beginning to see some success: Metropolis Cellars HTX’s Daniel Wolfe and Kerry Paul of KP’s Kitchen have each dedicated to making a extra inclusive eating expertise.

Victoria Elizondo of Cochinita & Co., culinary changemaker

As a recipient of the Deferred Motion for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Victoria Elizondo is aware of that her success as chef-owner of Cochinita & Co. means one factor: She has to make use of her platform for advocacy. Because of assist from organizations like FIEL (Familias Inmigrantes y Estudiantes en la Lucha), an immigrant-led group that helps people acquire entry to increased training and promotes social justice, Elizondo has efficiently hosted occasions to assist her East Finish neighborhood change into acquainted with their rights throughout unsure occasions.

Dr. Peter Hotez of Baylor School of Medication, vaccine warrior

Few Houstonians are as carefully tied to public well being as Dr. Peter Hotez. As codirector of Texas Kids’s Hospital Middle for Vaccine Improvement, he has spent a long time tackling uncared for illnesses whereas additionally waging a public battle in opposition to vaccine misinformation. His regular presence through the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic made him one of many metropolis’s most recognizable figures, revered for talking out publicly whereas difficult misinformation. In 2025, as vaccines stay a flashpoint in nationwide debates, Hotez continues to prioritize analysis, instructing, and advocacy—holding science, reality, and Houston on the heart of the dialog.

Stephen Klineberg of the Kinder Institute, range visionary

Houston’s range is considered one of its main factors of satisfaction, however how precisely did we first uncover that the town stands out as probably the most various in the USA? That might be the doings of sociologist and demographics knowledgeable Dr. Stephen Klineberg, the founding director, now professor emeritus, at Rice College’s Kinder Institute for City Analysis. Yearly since 1982, he and his college students have performed the Kinder Houston Space Survey, which tracks tendencies equivalent to ethnicity, nation of origin, faith, family revenue, and different elements to offer essentially the most complete view of Houston life potential.

David and Dara Landry of Class Bookstore, literacy advocates

Because the house owners of Class Bookstore within the Third Ward, this husband-and-wife duo has been on the forefront of selling literacy at a neighborhood degree. One in three Houston-area adults meets the {qualifications} for practical illiteracy, which they deal with by being open later than most retail institutions and providing a shelf filled with free books to maximise accessibility. Class has additionally change into a hub for selling Black tradition, artwork, and thought in the neighborhood, with all kinds of poetry nights, lectures, guide launch events, meetups, and even puppet reveals on its calendar.

Councilman Edward Pollard, District J trailblazer

As the town consultant for District J, Edward Pollard was elected to the Houston Metropolis Council in 2019 and reelected to serve in 2023. Throughout his tenure, Pollard has created Houston’s Meals Insecurity Board, initiated the Police Transparency Dashboard, and launched morejobshouston.com, an internet site offering job-related assets and employment alternatives. Extra not too long ago, Pollard spearheaded the town’s latest gown code ordinance and introduced plans to launch a number of packages, together with a beautification initiative and a specialised police patrol. Inside District J, Pollard has made headlines for holding Mayor Whitmire and the town accountable for pending pension funds for over 349 municipal retirees.

Shawn Singh (@Shawnthefoodsheep), eating scene amplifier

This viral Houston eating fanatic has considerably expanded his following previously few months. With a slew of video sequence highlighting Houston’s Michelin picks and various restaurant scene, Singh has change into a fixture throughout Houston social media and a transparent supporter of the town’s restaurant scene. Apart from sharing meals and life updates, the influencer has been vocal about his experiences with racism in Houston, even responding to xenophobic feedback with charity donations.

Tammi Wallace of LGBT Chamber of Commerce, equality champion

The cofounder, president, and CEO of Better Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce is a resilient and brave member of our metropolis’s neighborhood. Throughout Satisfaction Month in 2025, Tammi Wallace traveled to Tel Aviv to be taught concerning the native LGBTQ+ neighborhood and the challenges it faces. Issues shortly turned scary when she, together with different delegates from world wide, discovered herself within the midst of a world battle. Following a prolonged cross-border journey, Wallace made her approach safely again to Houston, however the journey served as a reminder of what it means to be a devoted chief combating for equality.

Rep. Gene Wu, quorum breaker

Texas Consultant Gene Wu made nationwide headlines this 12 months after main Texas Democrats to interrupt quorum in protest of the Trump-backed, Republican-led efforts to redraw districting maps. Wu, alongside different Democrats, staged a walkout and traveled to Chicago in an try to delay votes for the redistricting. In August, Texas Governor Greg Abbott filed an emergency petition with the Texas Supreme Court docket, concentrating on Wu and looking for to take away him from workplace. Although the movement to redistrict Texas ultimately handed, Wu and the Dems noticed important assist from Houston through the combat.