Stories from our district — community voices, businesses, and the people shaping the International District.IMD Blog
Latest articles
Refugees grow & sell seasonal flowers to support non-profit projects
Plant It Forward Farms has long been known for selling weekly boxes of fresh and flavorful local produce farmed by refugees through its Farm Share program. Now you can add more color and sweet smells to your “farm…
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Here comes a dazzling new community center for Alief
The long-awaited Alief Neighborhood Center is nearing completion, as a team of design professionals, construction workers and City of Hou…
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Young Asian sausage makers set sights on Houston and the nation
Two hours before closing time, the pork and salted egg yolk sausages that Katy Truong and Steve Ong make on site were sold out for the da…
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Shop warms customers’ hearts with freshly made pressed meats
A steady stream of customers flowed through the Duc Huong storefront one recent day between lunch and dinner time, picking out traditiona…
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Immigrant artist’s passion for inclusion is uncontainable
Artist Matt Manalo has made his mark on the Alief community – literally – through his passion for art and inclusion. In 2019, he boug…
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New Vietnamese cafe in Alief takes a road less traveled
When some Asian food businesses along Chinatown’s Bellaire Boulevard bloom into popular crowd-pleasers, they open a second or third sto…
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Educator’s mission reflects his past hardships
Meet Kendrick Deon Thomas, assistant principal at Hicks Elementary School in the Alief Independent School District. The native of Shrevep…
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Center Bistro: Tasty fare for all, training for Alief ISD students
What’s for lunch? How about Beef Bourguignon — slow-roasted beef tenderloin in a demi-glace served with whipped potatoes, sautéed …
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Malaysian bubble tea chain’s first U.S. store arrives
It may be the Asian Year of the Tiger, but at Daboba bubble tea in the International Management District, you can come face-to-face with …
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School garden is grounds for learning, eating and an award
Youngblood Intermediate fifth and sixth graders dig in the dirt to harvest sugar snap peas and red beets they grow from seed. For the las…
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A Hot Team comes to the rescue when residents spot a hot mess
Debris and trash can take a toll on quality of life and the spirit of a neighborhood. Wouldn’t it be great if there were someone you co…
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Alief private school changes the success formula
Thinking outside the box comes naturally for Vy Tan Hoang Van, who has built a stand-out private school in Houston that rethinks the appr…
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Retiree dedicated to service wins Texas award for aiding SW Houston families
Madan Luthra of Houston was a child refugee when he first learned about selfless service to others. Born five days after the 1947 partiti…
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