Joy Sewing

Every child deserves to experience joy. Unfortunately, too many children are burdened by generational poverty, crime and other societal issues that they never have the experience of the joys of childhood.

The Year of Joy was founded with the mission to provide joyful educational, cultural and confidence-building experiences for children from Houston's underserved communities.

Since December 2016, more than 1,000 area children, ages 5 through 16 have experienced joyful events through the Year of Joy, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Year of Joy is a registered trademark. (Photo credit; Houston Chronicle)

PROGRAMS & EXPERIENCES

Figure-skating development

• The annual Year of Joy Holiday Ice Skating Party at Discovery Green. The event is sponsored by H-E-B and Hearst Media, in conjunction with the Discovery Green Conservancy and Ice Rink Events.

• Year of Joy Figure Skating Scholar Program. Launched 2021.

  
  

  Girl empowerment

• Urban Nutcracker brunch and performance at Hobby Center with 25 teen girls

• Cuteheads holiday tea party, featuring the "Joy" dress for five deserving girls

• "Ooh La La" brunch, macaroon-making workshop, art lesson and etiquette class

  
  

  Year of Joy literacy project:

• School reading and animal literacy program with “Ava and the Prince: the Adventures of Two Rescue Pups" children's book. Nearly 100 book signings, school appearances and events across Houston, San Antonio and Colorado.

• Ongoing book readings and story times at schools in underserved communities.

  
  

  Arts & STEM experiences for school children

• "A Wrinkle in Time" movie screening and brunch with actress Storm Reid

• Back-to-school tech workshops in partnership with Microsoft

  
  

  College students

• Designer Platform Houston, co-produced with Project Runway winner Chloe Dao to support and empower emerging fashion designers from Houston Community College and Art Institute of Houston.

• Scholarships for Texas college students to attend professional conferences during the pandemic.

Year of Joy Holiday Ice Skating Party at Discovery Green

This annual holiday event is Houston’s only free ice-skating event for children from underserved communities.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Texas Conference for Women - Target's Storytellers Contest

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, Year of Joy has expanded its focus to help college students virtually. In September 2020, the Year Of Joy, which was recognized by Target's Storytellers Contest for the Texas Conference for Women's virtual conference and provided free registrations for area college students.

The students were:

• Nautica Richard, Prairie View A&M University

• Aireyon Mouton, Ashford University

• Taylor Bass, Prairie View A&M University

• Anie Eshiet, Texas Southern University

• Kayla Starr Simmons, University of Houston

• Asia Battles, Clark University

• Rian Wilson, Texas Tech University

NABJ / NAHJ Convention fellows

Year of Joy sponsored seven college students to participate in the National Association of Black Journalists and National Association of Hispanic Journalists virtual convention in 2020.

The students were:

• Rian Wilson, Texas Tech University

• Jhair Romero, University of Houston

• D’antae Johnson, Prairie View A&M University

• Kiyana Akins, Texas Southern University

• David Butler, Texas Southern University

• Chandrelle Lazard, Texas Southern University

• Mark Stanely, Texas Southern University

All made possible with donations from Mary Benton, Mark and Annie Mulligan, Karen Warren, Maria Reeve and Kathrine Schmidt. We also paid for 2020-21 membership dues to NABJ/NAHJ for four students.

PAST EVENTS

Wonder Woman
Bowling Party
at Bowlmor

Some 30 girls from HYPE Freedom Schools and other area schools thought they were just going out for an afternoon of bowling. When they arrived at Bowlmor, they were given red capes, then they walked the red carpet into a private party area. There were all kinds of tasty Wonder Woman-themed food and treats, a face-painting bar, a photo booth, inspiring spoken-word poets and much more. It was a day of girl power. Read more.

'A Wrinkle in Time' movie screening and brunch with actress Storm Reid

A Wrinkle in Time" star Storm Reid makes a stop by City Hall today meet with students from Young Women's College Preparatory, Peck Elementary and Mayor Sylvester Turner. See video.

'Hidden Figures'
Movie Night at iPic

To celebrate the inspiring "Hidden Figures" movie about three African-American women who were trailblazers at NASA, we invited 60 area girls for a special movie night at the luxury iPic theater at River Oaks District. They were treated to popcorn, drinks and the movie. Guest speaker was Noreen Khan-Mayberry, the world's first space toxicologist.

Ooh La La French-Inspired Brunch and Etiquette Seminar at Artisans Restaurant

At Artisans Restaurant in Midtown, Paris Williams studied her plate of macarons she had just created.

Too pretty to eat, she thought.

So as she listened to restaurant owner and chef Jacques Fox share his love for French cuisine and culture, Paris had another thought: Just maybe one day, she'd go to Paris to see for herself.

Read more

Urban Nutcracker Brunch with Performance at Hobby Center

Holiday fairytales should start with snow, even in Houston. That's exactly what happened for 20 area girls who were treated to a Nutcracker brunch at Le Chateau Bistro and Lounge on Southmore earlier this month. The girls are scholars in Hype Freedom School.

Read more.

Designer Platform Houston with Chloe Dao and Joy Sewing

It was a little idea Houston designer and Project Runway winner Chloe Dao and I dreamed up to support and empower emerging fashion designers from Houston Community College and the Houston Art Institute. We wanted to do a simple fashion show to expose Houston to these super talented designers.

We never imagined we'd produce a free New York-styled fashion show with 16 designers and 400 guests in THREE weeks. Read more.

Cuteheads Holiday Tea Party with the ‘Joy’ Dress

It’s easy to slip into the abyss of predictable red-and-green winter wonderland decor for a children’s holiday party. That’s why Houston fashion designer Esther Freedman, owner of Cuteheads children’s wear, wanted to try something different. Something sophisticated and timeless, yet still fun for a girl. Freedman created the “Joy” dress ($62 at cuteheads.com) and teamed up with Year of Joy for a fun holiday experience for a group of deserving girls.
Read more.

Sponsors

Help bring more joy!

The Year of Joy depends on generous sponsors and donors to make these joyful experiences for children happen. Your investment helps create solutions and makes a difference. It's also tax deductible. Click to donate via PayPal. To learn more or provide financial or in-kind support, please contact yearofjoy1@gmail.com.