An Inspirational Luncheon with Gabrielle Bernstein Miracles Now - The Women's Home Celebration

By Catalina Campos

The Lester & Sue Smith Foundation hosted a luncheon as part of their annual Luncheon Series supporting The Women’s Home on Friday at The Houstonian Hotel, Club, and Spa. Hundreds of women and men gathered to honor the WholeLife Award Winner, Natasha Jones, and to listen to New York Times best-selling author Gabrielle Bernstein speak on addiction, recovering, and her new self-help book, Miracles Now.

Natasha Jones and Ruchi Mukherjee

While there were many inspirational speeches given by keynote speakers, many were moved by the trials and tribulations of the award winner, Natasha Jones, as she reaffirmed the fact that hope is possible despite many hardships with her touching speech. Jones struggled with a difficult childhood that led her to a life of drug and alcohol addiction and after possibly facing a six month sentence, she completely changed her life around. Since then Jones is enrolled in college, has a car, a fantastic job as an apartment complex manager, and was recently selected out of 1,100 families to receive a Habitat for Humanity Home. Embracing the positive impact, Jones proved to the luncheon guests that despite the obstacle, despite the addiction, recovery can only bring success to your life. Her empowering speech is the symbol that drives The Women’s Home to persistently continue to change the lives of many disadvantaged women.

Keynote speaker, Gabrielle Bernstein also spoke about her past with addiction through her association with nightclub and restaurant owners in New York City. Bernstein reminded us all that addiction is a common problem, whether it’s as serious as drug and alcohol, or as trivial as collecting knick knacks for art projects. Bernstein, a regular on NBC’s Today Show and featured on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday, empowered guests with strategies to overpower any addictions in their lives.

The event also honored local philanthropist Mandy Kao, for her involvement in the community, who very strongly believes that “when you help a woman, you help her entire community, and education is the key”, says Kao.

While the luncheon was a success, with its philanthropic mission driven by heartwarming speeches Lights Camera Action Houston Society News spotted a wide array of beautifully dressed women such as Houston blogger, Melissa Chou Yan, in an asymmetrical white ASOS skirt with Prada mules. A ton of pastels shades seemed to be the hot topic, especially with mint green. Splashes of bright colors was the trend. Friends supporting The Women’s Home luncheon were: Deborah Duncan (Emcee), Chau Nguyen Todd, Bridgitte Lee, Azra Rauf, Rita Garcia, Laura Max Nelson, Escarle Silva, Alex Blair, Cindi Rose, Farida Abjani, and many others.

Catalina Campos is a recent graduate of the University of Houston receiving her B.S. in English Literature with a minor in India Studies. She has previously worked at Free Press Houston, UH’s official radio station, and a literary press and aspires to one day work for a Condé Nast publication. Catalina is set to depart to Germany shortly as a participant of the prestigious Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals continuing her studies at a German university and hopefully interning for Condé Nast Deutschland.