.png)
MY PORTFOLIO
I’m a multimedia journalist, content strategist, and digital storyteller who centers community, culture, and creativity. From breaking news at KPRC 2 to brand-building content for Black Enterprise and Calm & Co., I bring stories to life across platforms—on air, online, and in real time. Whether covering protests, spotlighting Black-owned businesses, or producing engaging Reels, my mission remains the same: to amplify voices that matter.
BLACK ENTERPRISE
Offers a candid yet celebratory reflection on this year’s Essence Fest. Despite critiques of disorganization and dwindling sponsor activations, Smith captures the joy, Black-owned business highlights, soulful performances, and culture-driven experiences that made the annual event in New Orleans unforgettable. From SOKO MRKT shopping gems to star-studded Superdome tributes, her reporting blends on-the-ground insight with cultural context.
Spotlights how chef and entrepreneur Ope Amosu is reshaping the city’s dining scene. The story chronicles ChòpnBlọk’s journey from a food hall concept to a full-service restaurant in Montrose, celebrating West African flavors, Black-owned spirits, cultural design, and community engagement. Through food, design, and storytelling, Amosu bridges heritage with innovation—offering a flavorful, fast-casual model for modern diasporic dining.
Introduces Skinovatio Houston — the first Texas franchise of the national medspa brand and proudly Black woman-owned by Shawna B. The post highlights the spa’s tailored, non-invasive beauty treatments designed for all skin tones and textures, signaling a powerful move in inclusive wellness and luxury skincare. With facials, body contouring, and results-driven services, Skinovatio is redefining beauty for Houston’s diverse community.
Craving a no-fuss, affordable brunch in Las Vegas? YOURWAY Breakfast + Lunch is your go-to spot. This family-friendly eatery serves up fresh, made-to-order meals just the way you like them — every time.
Spotlighting Lolo’s Chicken and Waffles, a Black-owned soul food franchise founded by Larry “LoLo” White and inspired by his grandmother’s home cooking. Known for its made-from-scratch dishes like greens, yams, and catfish, Lolo’s has five locations across Arizona, Nevada, and Texas.
Meet Kathy Leslie, co-founder of Shugga Hi Café in Nashville, a Black-owned, women-led restaurant that serves up soul-filled meals and Southern hospitality. Created with her late sister Sandra, the café offers classics like chicken, waffles, and fish — and a beloved Sunday brunch buffet. Beyond the food, the café feeds over 1,000 people in need weekly, continuing a legacy of love, service, and community.
BISNOW
Explores how social media and experiential design are reshaping the hospitality industry in her standout feature, "Instagrammable Moments In Retail Design Were On Trend Even Before Instagram Was Born." Published by Bisnow Houston, the article highlights how bars and restaurants like 77 Degrees and Saint Arnold Brewing Co. intentionally incorporate bold visual elements—neon signs, murals, swings, and skyline views—to boost organic marketing and customer engagement.
Spotlights Queen Cora Coleman—a world-touring drummer turned sustainable developer—who is transforming Houston's construction scene. Blending creativity, resilience, and family legacy, Coleman’s firm, Building Simple Inc., uses repurposed shipping containers to create hurricane-resistant, eco-friendly homes and commercial spaces
Breaks down the shifting tides of the coworking industry following WeWork’s explosive IPO revelations. Through insight-packed interviews at Bisnow’s Houston State of Office event, Smith explores how landlords, developers, and coworking leaders are reevaluating financial models, leaning into flexible management agreements, and redefining what the future of coworking looks like beyond WeWork.
Highlights the wave of revitalization finally reaching one of Houston’s most diverse and overlooked neighborhoods. From a long-awaited $58M community center to renovated shopping centers and a senior living facility designed with cultural sensitivity, Smith captures Alief’s cautious optimism.
Documents the shifting tides of the coworking industry following WeWork’s explosive IPO revelations. Through insight-packed interviews at Bisnow’s Houston State of Office event, Smith explores how landlords, developers, and coworking leaders are reevaluating financial models, leaning into flexible management agreements, and redefining what the future of coworking looks like beyond WeWork.
Investigates how Houston’s commercial real estate leaders are responding to rising flood insurance premiums in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Through interviews with developers, insurers, and industry experts, she examines shifting risk models, evolving floodplain regulations, and why—despite growing costs—many property owners remain undeterred in their development plans.
Reflects on the life and legacy of Ed Wulfe, the visionary behind some of Houston’s most iconic retail and mixed-use developments. Through tributes from industry leaders and civic partners, the piece honors Wulfe’s decades-long commitment to revitalizing underserved communities, transforming the city’s built environment, and mentoring the next generation of real estate leaders.
KPRC 2
Unpacks a heated legal battle between the restaurant’s co-owners. Through court filings and countersuits, the piece reveals a power struggle over ownership, accusations of mismanagement and misuse of company funds, and the high-stakes tension behind one of Houston’s most popular Black-owned food brands.
Documents the devastation and resilience in the wake of Hurricane Ida’s landfall as a Category 4 storm. Through live blog updates, Smith captures the urgency of rescue missions in flood-stricken communities like LaPlace and Norco, where families were pulled from attics and waded through thigh-high water seeking safety.
From shocking scandals to disappointing records, 2020 ushered in a wave of change across the city’s athletic landscape. Coaches and general managers were fired, stepped down, or walked away—each departure marking the end of an era and the hope of a brighter future for fans hungry for wins.
On the five-year anniversary of Sandra Bland’s tragic death in a Waller County jail, calls for meaningful police reform continue to grow across Texas. Bland’s death sparked the landmark Sandra Bland Act in 2017, which aimed to improve jail protocols and officer training but fell short of addressing systemic racial profiling and police accountability.
Trailblazing Houston journalist and transgender rights activist Monica Roberts passed away at 58 due to a medical emergency. As the founder of the award-winning blog TransGriot, Roberts transformed how the media reports on trans lives—especially Black trans women—highlighting both their struggles and triumphs.
Spotlights a faith-based coffee shop founded by brothers Ricardo and Ian Wilson. Rooted in Genesis 1:31, Day 6 Coffee blends spirituality, family legacy, and entrepreneurship—offering specialty drinks, pastries, and a collaborative space for creatives. More than a café, the shop honors their late brother’s dream while uplifting Houston’s local business community.