Society

Society Interfaith Ministries Tapestry Gala Delivers

Guests enjoy "Dine In with IM" during the pandemic.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: INTERFAITH MINISTRIES PRESIDENT AND CEO MARTIN B. COMINSKY WITH HIS WIFE TERRY ALL SET TO DINE IN WITH IM; INTERFAITH MINISTRIES BOARD CHAIR FRANKLIN J. HARBERG, JR. ENJOYING THE VIRTUAL TAPESTRY GALA; COMINSKY DELIVERING MEALS TO GUESTS; STAFF PACKAGING MEALS TO GET THEM READY FOR THE DINE-IN AND VIRTUAL EVENT.

INTERFAITH MINISTRIES (IM) FOR GREATER HOUSTON CELEBRATED ITS ANNUAL TAPESTRY GALA WITH A VIRTUAL EVENT AND AN EXTRAORDINARY MEALS ON WHEELS

EXPERIENCE. Interfaith Ministries President and

CEO Martin B. Cominsky made the call to quickly pivot the originally scheduled Tapestry Gala event from an in-person gala to a virtual event at the onset of the Covid-19 stay home/work safe order. Utilizing the staff’s home-delivered meals expertise, Interfaith Ministries’ team of drivers delivered an exquisite dining experience for guests to enjoy at home, similar to what they do for 4,300 homebound seniors in the Meals on Wheels program, now weekly as a part of their response to the pandemic.

With many thanks to presenting sponsor Shell, they hosted 400 supporters online raising more than $525,000 for Interfaith Ministries’ four areas of service to the Greater Houston community:

Meals on Wheels/Animeals, Refugee Services,

Interfaith Relations and Community Partnerships and Volunteer Houston. H

Roots, Rules and Ruse in the City

Houston authors highlight history and diversity.

PROPHETIC CITY: HOUSTON ON THE CUSP OF A CHANGING AMERICA

by Stephen L. Klineberg (Released June 2, Hardcover $17.69, Kindle $10.99, amazon.com)

Author Stephen Klineberg is a demographics expert, sociologist, founding director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research and a professor at Rice University. His book draws upon over three decades of research spotlighting Houston's changing economic, demographic and cultural diversity. It provides fascinating examples of both the progress, and sometimes the shortcomings of our city described as a "microcosm for America's future." He introduces readers to a fascinating mix of diverse populations he calls "new Americans" that include: a family who moved to Houston from Mexico in the early 80s, a young man born to Indian parents in an affluent Houston suburb who becomes a doctor and a man struggling after losing his job when his company downsizes, just to name a few.

MEMORIAL

by Bryan Washington (Released October 27, Hardcover $24.30, Kindle $14.99, amazon.com)

Named a "most anticipated book of the season" by the Wall Street Journal, Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning and more, author Bryan Washington weaves a fascinating and funny story about family in all its strange forms. Washington was born and raised in Houston and has a MBA from Rice. His new novel revolves around the lives of Mike, a Japanese American chef at a Mexican restaurant, and Benson, a Black day care teacher, living together in Houston. When Mike finds out his estranged father is dying in Japan, he flies across the world to say goodbye and discovers revealing truths about his family and its history along the way. Meanwhile back in Houston, Mike's Japanese mother was just arriving for a visit with her son, but instead must form an immediate, hilarious and eventually meaningful relationship with Benson.

SEX AND VANITY

by Kevin Kwan (Released June 30, Hardcover $11, Kindle $9.99, amazon.com)

The beloved writer of the bestselling Crazy Rich Asians returns with another novel illuminating the plots and passions of the over-the-top wealthy. Author Kevin Kwan, moved from Singapore to Houston with his family when he was 11, graduated from Clear Lake High School at 16 and earned a BA in Media Studies at the University of Houston. In his newest book, a young woman named Lucie finds herself torn between two men, the WASPY fiancé of her family's dreams and George Zao, whom she works hard to resist. Lucie is the daughter of a blue-blooded New York father and an American-born Chinese mother. Throughout the book, readers see her struggle between two cultures challenging contrasting biases from both. Readers are treated to a first-class ticket on the characters' decadent vacations, including the island of Capri where the story begins with a lavish wedding. Later it's on to their life of the rich and famous in the Hamptons before returning home to Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. —Laura Jackson