Join the Bellaire Braeswood Democrats on August 10 at the Ragin Cajun, with featured speaker Chris Hollins, Houston City Controller. Hollins was elected as Houston’s Chief Financial Officer in 2024. As Houston’s Controller, Hollins provides oversight of a budget exceeding $7 billion and manages the City’s $6 billion investment and $15 billion debt portfolios. Prior to his service as City Controller, Hollins led the 2020 elections effort in Harris County as County Clerk, gaining national acclaim for protecting and expanding voting rights. Hollins’s innovations – which included drive-thru voting, 24-hour voting, online mail ballot tracking, and tripling the number of early voting centers – led to record voter turnout despite the ongoing global pandemic. Hollins holds a Bachelor of Arts with Phi Beta Kappa honors from Morehouse College and completed a joint program with Yale Law School and Harvard Business School, earning both his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees.

When: Monday, August 10 Time: Dinner Social begins at 6:30 pm, Program begins at 7pm Where: Ragin Cajun, 4302 Richmond Ave

Please RSVP here: https://mobilize.us/s/BzoSvg

TIME: SATURDAY, JULY 4                       LOCATION: BELLAIRE, TX 77401

8am to 12 pm

There will not be a regular public May meeting for the Bellaire/Braeswood Democrats. Members check your email for further information. See you in June!

Join us for a discussion with Rogene Gee Calvert and Nabila Mansoor who will present a snapshot of the multicultural political environment of our city and state at the Bellaire Braeswood Democrats meeting on February 9th. Ms. Calvert is the board chair of the Asian Texans for Justice ACTION FUND and is currently on the boards of the OCA-Asian Pacific Advocates, Houston 80-20 Asian American PAC and the Memorial Park Conservancy. She is a principal at Outreach Strategists, an award-winning public relations agency working with hard-to-reach communities, and was chief of staff for Houston’s Mayor Pro Tem Gordon Quan and director of personnel and volunteer initiatives for Mayor Bill White. Ms. Mansoor has spent the last several years working to improve political awareness in underrepresented communities. She is the executive director of Asian Texans for Justice and ATJ Action Fund, two civic engagement organizations committed to uniting, organizing, and supporting the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) community in Texas. Nabila is also the president of the Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition. She holds a law degree from University of Houston Law Center.

This is a timely presentation, coming the week preceding Chinese New Year and the first days of Ramadan and Lent.

When: Monday, February 9

Where: Hickory Pit BBQ, 6601 S. Rice, Bellaire, Texas 77401

Time: Dinner social at 6:30, program at 7:00

Bellaire Braeswood Democrats February 9th meeting · Mobilize

January 2026 – Monthly Meeting

Please join us for an engaging discussion with Neil Aquino on Monday, January 12, 2026.
Neil is the founder of Houston Democracy Project. He works to empower local Democrats and democracy advocates as we confront an authoritarian challenge in Texas and the nation. Many people know Neil through his organizing of the weekly protests at John Cornyn’s office.

When:  January 12, 2026

Time:  Dinner Social begins at 6:30pm, Program begins at 7pm.

Where:  Rajin Cajun, 4302 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX

Mobilize Link:  https://mobilize.us/s/nGBl

Join us for an engaging discussion with Representative Ann Johnson on the proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution that are on the ballot November 4. There are 17 proposed amendments which can be viewed at www.votetexas.gov. The Texas Constitution imposes strict limits on the ability of governing bodies to act without voter approval, so the constitution is frequently amended. Rep. Johnson will also update us on the situation about re-districting our Congressional districts. She has been an eloquent and highly visible speaker about the Greg Abbott/Donald Trump efforts to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives by redrawing the boundaries of congressional districts to make them more favorable to republicans, perhaps adding five more republicans and taking away five democrats. We are very proud of her (and of Rep. Gene Wu) and look forward to hearing from her about this.

Please RSVP:  https://mobilize.us/s/sF0dgp

When:  Monday, October 6, 2025 – Dinner social begins at 6pm, Program begins at 7pm. Please RSVP.

Where: Ragin’ Cajun – 4302 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77027

Please join us for an engaging discussion with Shellie Hayes-McMahon, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes.

Shellie Hayes-McMahon will discuss the recent news briefing on Planned Parenthood and women’s healthcare. You can view the briefing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPRTOz58pvA.

Shellie Hayes-McMahon (she/her) is the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes. She is an unapologetic advocate for reproductive rights and justice. Shellie is committed to movement-building through radical transparency, inclusion, and accountability.

Shellie has more than 20 years of cross-sector professional leadership experience. She joined the PPTV team in 2021 as the Deputy Executive Director of Operations and Development, responsible for fundraising, budget strategy, compliance, and human resources functions. Before joining PPTV, she served as the Operations Director for Annie’s List, managing the organization’s ongoing operations to ensure the execution of its mission to elect Texas women to office.

Shellie is dedicated to building community and is a leader at organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, where she is the chair-elect of the board of directors – the first black woman to hold the position. She also serves on the Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute and Lift Collective boards. Shellie is a respected leader in progressive politics in Texas. She is a former candidate, the outgoing President of Black Austin Democrats, Treasurer and Senior Advisor of the Williamson County Democratic Party, and long-time Democratic Precinct Chair.

Shellie is a long-time resident of Austin, Texas, and enjoys travel, gourmet cooking, yacht rock, and spending time with her husband of 23 years and two sons.

When:  Monday, September 8, 2025.  Dinner Social begins at 6pm / Program begins at 7pm.

Where:  Ragin Cajun, 4302 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77027

Please RSVP here:  https://mobilize.us/s/Ms8l0A