William S. Matthews

Two months ago, three brothers accepted the responsibility of planning our chapter's Leadership & Planning Retreat. Last week, we had the privilege of seeing that vision come to life.

Over two days, brothers traveled from across Texas to Houston for a weekend centered on leadership, strategic planning, brotherhood, and preparing our chapter for the future. Watching months of planning unfold into such a meaningful experience was incredibly rewarding.

I'm especially grateful for my planning teammates, Patrick Udoewa and Len Ross. Thank you for your commitment, countless planning calls, and willingness to do whatever was needed to make this retreat a success.

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing community partners:

Microsoft for hosting us in an incredible space.
Jason's Deli
Original ChopShop

Gimmie Shugar & More LLC
Intelligence


Your generosity helped create an experience our brothers won't soon forget.

One of the highlights of the weekend came at the close of the retreat when the chapter voted unanimously to bring next year's Leadership & Planning Retreat back to Houston and asked our committee to lead the planning once again. My heart is full.

Leadership is service. Service is teamwork. And weekends like this remind me that when people come together with a shared vision, incredible things can happen.

Already looking forward to next year.

❤️🤍 Achievement Through Leadership. Brotherhood. Impact.

💼 Kappa Alpha Psi

One of the things I appreciate most about Houston is our ability to bring the world together.

Today, I had the opportunity to join the FIFA World Cup Houston Host Committee and community partners for "Return to the Pitch," a special event celebrating an unforgettable chapter in Houston's history.

While I didn't make it to one of the matches, stepping onto the very pitch where the world's best competed—and where history was made—was an incredible experience.

Beyond the excitement of the tournament, what stands out most is the collaboration it took to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world. From volunteers and sponsors to public servants, nonprofit leaders, businesses, and community organizations, it was truly a citywide effort.

Thank you to the FIFA World Cup 26 Houston Host Committee for the invitation and for helping showcase the very best of our city. For my client and good friend, Pamela, for entertaining my shennanigans.

Here's to the partnerships, memories, and momentum this event leaves behind. Houston continues to prove why it's one of the world's great international cities.

What a wonderful way to celebrate Juneteenth ✊🏾

I had the privilege of attending Congressman Christian D. Menefee ceremonial swearing-in and celebratory brunch at the University of Houston. It was great catching up with longtime friends, making new connections, and celebrating such an important milestone for Congressional District 18 - where I'm a proud resident.

Congressman Menefee gave an inspiring message about leadership, service, and the importance of representation. As someone who has spent much of my career working in government, nonprofits, and community engagement, it meant a great deal to witness another generation of leadership stepping forward.

Although I wasn't able to grab a photo with the Congressman (the line was long!), I was grateful to reconnect with friends, enjoy the celebration, and simply be present for this historic occasion.

✨Seeing another generation of leadership step into public service reminds young people across our community that there is a place for them at the table. ✨

This morning, I had the opportunity to attend the Ribbon Cutting and Public Art Kickoff for the Friends of Columbia Tap enhancement project in Houston's historic Greater Third Ward

As a proud graduate of Leadership Houston Class # # , it was inspiring to see the impact of Leadership Houston Class XLIV as they partnered with community stakeholders to bring this vision to life. The project includes public art installations, beautification efforts, restored infrastructure, fundraising initiatives, and community engagement efforts designed to honor the rich history and culture of the Columbia Tap Trail and the surrounding community.

I was especially proud to be there in support of my business partner, client, and friend, Adam Weaver, along with Jaque Gonzales and the entire Leadership Houston Class XLIV team. Their commitment to servant leadership, collaboration, and community impact was on full display.

I am also proud that The Property Store was able to support this important community initiative as a project donor. Investing in projects that enhance neighborhoods, celebrate local history, and create meaningful public spaces aligns with our commitment to strengthening the communities we serve.

Leadership Houston continues to demonstrate what is possible when leaders from diverse industries come together to tackle meaningful projects that leave a lasting legacy for our city.

Congratulations to Class XLIV on a successful kickoff and for creating an impact that will benefit Houston residents and visitors for years to come.

We wrapped up the school year with our NEXTGEN GENTS graduating seniors during an end-of-year celebration filled with encouragement, reflection, laughter, and a lot of proud moments.

Several of these young men will be first-generation college students this fall, attending schools like Houston Christian University, Texas State University and The University of Texas at Austin — and that is something worth celebrating.

One student told us:

“Because of this program, I wanted to do better in school and be a better example for my younger siblings.”

Another shared how much it meant to consistently see positive male role models showing up and pouring into them.

The future is incredibly bright for these young men. We’re proud of every single one of them.

📲nextgengents.org

Each student received a professional NEXTGEN portfolio as they prepare for interviews, internships, college, and life beyond high school. While it may seem like a simple gift, moments like these build confidence, pride, and preparation.

One of the most meaningful moments of the day was welcoming back two alumni, Sam and Von, who returned to encourage the younger students and speak about their own journeys after graduation. Sam is now attending Texas Southern University and Von is attending Prairie View A&M University while also helping manage our social media presence. Seeing former students come back to pour into the next group reminded us that the mission is bigger than one semester — it’s about building a lasting pipeline of mentorship and leadership

This is why NEXTGEN exists.

Special thanks to our mentors, supporters, alumni, volunteers, and community partners who continue to pour into these young men. The impact is real, and we’re just getting started.

✨Exposure changes trajectories. ✨

Yesterday, I had the privilege of taking 30 high school juniors and seniors from NextGen Gents to Frost for far more than a field trip.

This was about access.

Too many young people are preparing to enter adulthood without ever receiving practical education around budgeting, credit, banking, and money management. While financial literacy is still too often absent from traditional curricula, we are committed to helping fill that gap.

Our young men participated in a financial literacy Jeopardy challenge (and yes—they were fiercely competitive), engaged bank leaders, explored internship pathways, and experienced a professional corporate environment many had never seen firsthand.

A special thank you to Richard Mann for personally spending time with our students, answering thoughtful questions, and modeling leadership in a way that mattered.

And special appreciation to Erika Jones and the entire Frost team for opening your doors, feeding our students, sharing career pathways, and reminding these young men they belong in rooms like these.

This is why mentorship matters.
This is why exposure matters.
This is how pipelines are built.

Proud of our NextGen Gents scholars, and grateful to our board members Ashley Johnson Hill, Alphonso Anderson, and partners who showed up to support them.

Last month, I had the opportunity to sit down with Marcus Texada on The Truvix Podcast, and it turned into one of the most honest conversations I’ve had about business, leadership, and family.

As a third-generation real estate investor, I share the journey of joining the family business (not entirely by choice at first!) and eventually helping lead the modernization of a company that started four decades ago.

If you’ve ever worked in a family business or thought about legacy leadership, this conversation may resonate.

🎧 Listen to the Podcast https://youtu.be/c8OwCNfsbpo?si=YVuoIT4BxwO3Ozc9

Last week, I was able to give 40 young men I mentor something special: access.

At Houston City Hall, they were recognized during the Black History Program, proudly wearing commemorative shirts sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Thomas. They were joined for a group photo by Comptroller Chris Hollins and Houston Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans — a moment that affirmed visibility and possibility.

The day continued at Pillsbury, where Adam Weaver and his team hosted our students on the 20th floor for a thoughtful panel discussion and lunch. The format encouraged meaningful dialogue about career paths, education, and leadership — not just what these young men can become, but who they already are.

Exposure changes trajectory.

Grateful to our civic and corporate partners who understand that representation, proximity, and preparation matter.

Rodeo Season Loading. . . 🤠✨

Honored to attend the Houston Chapter of The Links, Incorporated Boots & Bling Scholarship Fundraiser — an incredible evening supporting education and opportunity for deserving students.

An incredible evening centered on scholarships, service, and legacy — because access to education is always worth investing in.

Special shoutout to the lady in red, Tiffany Thomas — table host, Link, and connector extraordinaire — for the invitation. This makes the third community event we’ve attended together this week. When purpose-driven leaders stay active, impact multiplies.

Grateful to show up in spaces where culture, philanthropy, and opportunity intersect.