LOCAL Houston | The City Guide April 2018 | Page 4

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR THE OPENING SHOT Welcome to the first-ever Family Issue of LOCAL Houston magazine. With no prior pattern to follow, I was a little concerned about how it was going to turn out, but as usual, I was very pleasantly surprised with the final product. I feel like we finally unleashed the full knowledge and data banks of monthly contributor Sarah Gish, who tells us all about upcoming camps and programs for kids throughout Houston as only an expert can. Neil Bush sat down with me to talk about his mother, the literacy crisis in Houston, and how his family (along with thousands of local volunteers) is mobilizing efforts that promote the love (and necessity) of reading. Beth Levine takes us inside Project Row Houses’ Young Mothers Program – a group of houses that are dedicated to a limited number of mothers who receive subsidized housing, childcare and access to a series of workshops that enhance their skills as individuals and parents to help them achieve self-sufficiency. And then my favorite – Dr. Gail Gross – opens up about her new book that guides readers through the grief process after the loss of a loved one or the experience of a major life transitions. Gail lost her daughter 27 years ago, and “The Only Way Out is Through” details not only her own (and her family’s) grieving processes, but lays out strategies for getting through, and getting to wholeness again. They talk about families of origin, and families of choice. I’d like to thank my LOCAL Houston “family of choice” – my co-workers, our writers, photographers and monthly contributors – for making the first LOCAL Family Issue one of our best efforts yet. Thank you all, and thanks for reading. Tim Moloney editor-in-chief BEHIND THE COVER Rroject Row Houses' Young Mothers Residential Program offers subsidized hous- ing, education and life skills to qualified participants, who live on-site in the com- plex. Here, residents and cover stars Joidan and Jair Felix strike a pose on a beautiful Spring day for photographer Collin Kelly. AT EASE. Houston's Staiti/Reisner family relaxes at home, circa 1918. Photo provided by the Heritage Society (www.heritagesociety.org) from the Permanent Collections of the Staiti/Reisner family photos. 4 L O C A L | 4 . 2018 4 . 2018 | L O C A L 5