Our Leadership
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
INNOVATOR, TRAILBLAZER, CHANGE AGENT
MICHELLE L. BONTON, M.ED
Michelle Bonton is a native Houstonian, veteran educator, entrepreneur, and a self-described “broke philanthropist” who believes in giving her time, talent, and resources to impact the community for good. As a public servant in education for 30 years, 15 of which were in senior leadership, Michelle impacted the lives of thousands of children and their families. Building on her training and leadership, she founded Kaleidoscope Youth Development Services (KYDS) Inc. in 2006 and led the organization for 13 years. At the time of her retirement in 2019, KYDS, Inc., had a 14 million dollar budget and employed nearly 200 people, most of whom were people of color.
Director of Artistic Programs
STACEY ALLEN
Native Houstonian, holds a BA in Dance from Sam Houston State University and a Master of Arts in Cross Cultural Studies. She most notably performed with Urban Souls Dance Company. She also taught dance in a multitude of sectors including public schools for over 10 years. Stacey's choreographic perspective is to create works that are culturally competent and incorporate social justice and activism and embrace non-traditional theatergoers and strives to create community through public art.
Stacey co-founded Pretty Cultured wherein the development of "Movement Passport" began. Pretty Cultured also co-created several dance pieces relating to the African Diaspora. Founding and leading Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective is the intersection of motherhood, movement, education, and more.
Notable work includes “Formed in My Grandmother’s Womb” as a part of Project Row Houses’ Round 50: Race, Health, and Motherhood (2019), "A Single Thread Weaves a Future" as part of Fresh Arts’ SpaceTaking Residency (2021) and “The Fairytale Project” at Discovery Green (2022.) Stacey Allen is currently a Project Freeway Fellow with Diverse Work (22-23.)
In her first year serving as the Director of Artistic Programming at Anderson Center for the Arts, she has curated "Salvation" and "Shear Elegance" for FOTOFest and "Ebony Love Letter." Also under her direction the Artist in Residency program has launched.
Community Engagement & Operations Manager
KRISTINA ZATOPEK
Kristina is a lifelong resident of East Harris County. She attended Cimarron Elementary, North Shore Middle School, and North Shore Senior High School. She recently graduated with her MS in management and leadership from Western Governors University. Kristina is the first person in her family to complete a Master’s degree. She is actively involved in multiple projects and organizations throughout the North Channel community.
Kristina looks forward to using her skills and knowledge to make our communities stronger by bridging social and civic gaps.
Her personal philosophy comes from her favorite quote from Camus, “In the midst of winter, I found there was within me an invincible summer”.
Our Board Members
Randy Snyder
Randy Snyder has been with San Jacinto College, North Campus since 1997. During this time, he was the Director of Bands; founded the Summer Music Camps; oversaw the University Connection; served as an advisor for Phi Theta Kappa; currently Co-Chairs the SJC Fine Arts Council; and, since 2014 has been the Fine Arts Dept Chair serving the Art, Child Development, Education, Music, and Speech programs. Randy is honored to serve as a board member of the Harris County Cultural Arts Council. Snyder earned degrees from Stetson University, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Houston.
Randy is a trumpet player and has been a member of the jazz trio “Scotch and Soda” for over a decade. Snyder is a published composer and member of ASCAP. Before moving to Texas, Randy was a high school band director for eight years in Florida. He is married to Ana Lucia Sorondo Snyder, and they are the parents of three sons.
Barbara Gaston
Barbara has a passion for helping and assisting others. She is currently employed at Grace Cathedral Church of Houston as the Church Administrator. She is also a director with Harris County Municipal Utility District # 344 and a licensed health and life insurance agent with Church Solutions Insurance and Financials. She is a certified church consultant and notary public.
Barbara has worked for over 16 years for Chase Bank in various positions. She also served on the former North Forest Board of Trustees for nine (9) years and held various offices, including board president. Barbara was born and raised in northeast Houston and remains active in the community and schools. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Houston Downtown. She is married to Lindsey Gaston, Jr., and they are the parents of three sons, Brandon (Tiffany), Brian, and Roland Gaston, and the grandmother of Serenity and Trinity Gaston.
Chevelle Wilson
An HR Technology professional with over 25 years of experience. She excels at building high-performance teams designed to deliver value. During her career, she has overseen multi-million-dollar implementations across multiple industries. She is passionate about the work that she does in ensuring that organizations have systems designed to deliver scalable solutions that meet future objectives.
Chevelle is a two-time graduate of Texas Southern University, in Houston, Texas. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Airway Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Management Information Systems. She went through at least ten interviews prior to graduation, failing many of them, until she received her first job offer. It wasn’t until many years later while working in Human Resources and seeing very qualified people not obtain job offers simply because they did not interview well, that she decided to launch Coaching for Success.
Coaching for Success is more than mock interviews and interview techniques. It is personal coaching geared toward the individual. Interview coaching identifies the individual’s areas of weakness and provides proven tools, knowledge, and skills to overcome those weaknesses. Chevelle works with each client until they are ready to shout, “Coach! Put me in!”, which has become her signature phrase. In addition to her professional success, Chevelle is a community service advocate as an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc., as well as a published author. She wrote a book called Coffee with The Guys, a collection of conversations between herself, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, whom she affectionately refers to as “The Guys”!
Bridgett Holden
To date, Bridgett S. Holden is the Principal Owner of Houston based Public Relations Firm, SHE Bridges PR (SBPR), whose slogan matches its purpose of “Bridging the Gap Between You and the Media!” Bridgett has evolved her company by strategically branding her clients in the industries of Fashion, Beauty, Entertainment, Sports, Nonprofits, and Politics. She has successfully secured Brand Placements for her clients via media outlets through television, radio, print, and podcasts on International, National, Local and Digital platforms! Always keeping on trend to grow her company, Bridgett became certified with the City of Houston, The Port of Houston, METRO, the State of Texas and the Federal Government in 2016; qualifying SHE Bridges PR to do business with local/state and government entities as an MBE, WBE, SBE, HUB and WOSB Minority Owned Business. For the past 21 years, Bridgett has successfully managed the roles of being a business owner, entrepreneur, volunteer, board member, speaker, cohost on several podcast, host of her own podcast, Bridge Talk TV Podcast, Content Creator, YouTuber, Fashion Enthusiast, and an active participant in the Houston community. In 2009 Bridgett was named volunteer of the year by the West Orem YMCA for leading the board in their Capital Campaign and exceeding their fundraiser goal of $50,000 to the tune of $64,000. has served on the Men of Style Steering Committee which raised funds to find a cure for Sickle Cell Anemia and has served on the Texas Drowning Prevention Alliance Board which brings awareness to local communities around drowning prevention. Bridgett currently serves on (and is a member) of the Houston Association of Black Journalists (HABJ) Board as VP of Public Relations which raises scholarships for college students majoring in Journalism. She is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), serves on the Dreams UnleaSHEd She Networks Board She Networks, a nonprofit organization whose Mission & Vision is to grow and develop young ladies for holistic success as the Social Media Chair. She is often seen on Fox 26’s Isiah Factor Uncensored as a commentator lending her expert opinion on various news stories from a PR perspective. Bridgett is a proud mom of one son (Kamren) who is currently getting his MBA in Criminal Justice at the University of North Texas. Bridgett’s philosophy in life is to be intentionally happy every day because Peace is Priceless!