Houston has no shortage of game-changers. Every year, the Defender has the privilege of spotlighting several, and 2025 was no exception. Credit: Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network.

As is true every year, 2025 offered Defender readers scores of incredible profile articles celebrating Houstonians doing great things. However, there were so many dynamic Bayou City change agents that choosing the Top 5 was impossible. Instead, here are five categories of 2025 Defender Profiles, listing some of Houston’s amazing sisters and brothers who received the Defender spotlight.

National players

Courtesy Taylor Polidore Williams.

The Defender was honored to catch national influencers. One of those was the illustrious John Hope Bryant, who generously shared his financial expertise and advice. Two other national stars possessed Houston roots. Kendrick Sampson of Insecure fame and Taylor Polidore Williams (Beauty in Black, Snowfall, Black Lightning), spoke about their careers, activism, future projects, and H-Town memories.

Locals with national reach

D. Simmons. Credit: Jimmie Aggison.

Houstonians being able to flex their influence beyond the Bayou City is nothing new. This year, the Defender was able to catch up with clothing designer D. Simmons just before he made his New York Fashion Week debut. La’Torria Lemon took a break from award-winning PR work to make her debut on an OWN series. There’s also Damian Valentine, who has curated a national audience via his work with Young Kings Organization, a non-profit organization that mentors young men. And don’t forget the Black Sports Moms, a dynamic duo of Lachauna Edwards and Andrea Odom. Their advocacy for their own children birthed a national movement.

Millennials and younger

Ashley Small. Credit: Aswad Walker.

Millennials and younger people in Houston were busy making it happen in 2025. Chef Joseph Boudreaux is setting Houston’s already dynamic food scene on fire with his unique burgers. Taylor Davis represented the Lone Star State well in this year’s Miss USA Pageant. There was nothing small about Ashley Small’s impact in the PR space. And RoShawn Evans of Pure Justice continues to fight the powers that be while inspiring others to join the struggle.

Gen Xers

Courtesy Dr. Jeannie Jacobs.

Let’s not forget Houston’s Gen Xers. The Defender sure hasn’t. Dr. Jeannie Jacobs pivoted from medicine to building a successful lifestyle brand. Houston transplants John and Dr. Maria Mallory White are providing decisive pastoral leadership for Wesley AME. Photographer extraordinaire Vicky Pink celebrated her 60th birthday and 20 years of excellence in photojournalism. Blue-collar brother Christopher Flix is providing a model for fatherhood. And the Defender’s own photojournalist, Jimmie Aggison, is impacting the lives of youth via his counseling and advocacy work.

Elders

Clarice Freeman. Credit: Aswad Walker.

The most distinguished honor the Defender received in 2025 was having the ability to sit with elders and share their stories with our readers and website visitors. TSU’s own Dr. James Douglas provided a litany of advice for those with ears to hear and eyes to read. And he’s still doing what he loves, teaching law at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Another elder with deep TSU roots, Geraldine Crossland, shared tales of her past and present art legacy. The esteemed Howard Jefferson shared his unique brand of how to impact and influence people. And Houston treasure Clarice Freeman offered advice on how to live a long life.

I'm originally from Cincinnati. I'm a husband and father to six children. I'm an associate pastor for the Shrine of Black Madonna (Houston). I am a lecturer (adjunct professor) in the University of Houston...