Porch Talk - Civic Engagement: What's at Stake for Our Communities?

Porch Talk: Civic Engagement: What's at Stake for Our Communities?

Join us on September 24 | 6–8 PM for an evening conversation about the changing political landscape and how we can stay empowered through civic engagement. Panelists Shea Jordan Smith, Dr. Coretta Mallet-Fontenot, and Carmela Walker will explore the critical link between our votes and the preservation of the historical, communal cultural spaces we have built together.

We will examine how to foster greater inclusivity by identifying the voices and pressing issues often missing from our civic engagement discussions. Additionally, we will share practical strategies for conveying the importance of voting and capturing attention in a crowded landscape, while discussing our responsibility to act as leaders who move the needle forward for the next generation.

Parking is available at 1300 Victor Street.

ABOUT OUR PANELISTS

Dr. Coretta Mallet-Fontenot

Dr. Coretta Mallet-Fontenot has a career that spans 27 years as an educator in Houston
Independent School District. Dr. Mallet-Fontenot holds multiple certifications in Curriculum and
Instruction, grades 1-12, including Elementary, Secondary, and English as a Second Language. She has served in various leadership positions in the community, including NAACP Houston Branch Executive Committee Member and, as an extension of this role, the Political Action Committee Chair. During her tenure, the PAC Committee sponsored debates, attended No Kings Rallies, and served as a Deputy Voter Registrar. Dr. Coretta has also served as a Precinct Chair, HOA Board of Directors, Water Control and Improvement District 89. She is a former Chair of the Houston Federation of Teachers Committee on Political Education and is a Texas AFL-CIO delegate working to elect its endorsed candidates up and down the ballot. The alignment of these positions has helped identify candidates for political office who support union and educator values.

Carmela Walker

Since 2006, Carmela Walker served in various capacities at The Houston Area Urban League. In 2012, she acquired her master’s in public administration from Texas Southern University's Executive MPA program, where she became a Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP), to learn more about policies integral to Texas state matters during the 83rd legislative session in 2013, under the late Congressman Sylvester Turner. Currently, Carmela Walker has produced 3 short films, a podcast - The Arc of Democracy: Reading Between the Lines during the height of Texas 2025 mid-decade redistricting fight to highlight economic developmental impacts
through partnering roundtable events with clients, and legacy leaders; coordinates civic engagement workshops with university faculty at TSU/PVU and their scholars through the Center for Social Justice Education's Advocacy U Program. In partnership with The Urban League of Texas, HAUL's Center for Social Justice Education program supports constituent advocacy training and activities to address state-led concerns. As a capacity-building change agent, she focuses on tracking legislation, promoting civic activity to protect voters within the nonprofit space, while addressing concerns through resource sharing within the Houston community at large.

Shea Jordan Smith

Shea Jordan Smith is a Houston-based communications strategist, digital organizer, content creator, and political commentator whose work sits at the intersection of civic engagement, public policy, media, and culture. A native Houstonian, Shea has spent more than a decade working to make government and politics more accessible and engaging, particularly for Black communities, young people, and communities too often left out of the political process. His experience spans local, state, and national campaigns and organizations, including work in political communications, digital strategy, voter engagement, relational organizing, and public affairs. Shea has helped develop and execute communications and organizing strategies for candidates, elected officials, advocacy organizations, and civic initiatives across the country. In Houston, he has remained closely engaged with the issues shaping the region—from voting rights and local government accountability to transportation, housing, public safety, economic opportunity, and equitable access to public resources. He is also a frequent political and cultural commentator, using social media and traditional media to translate complex political issues into conversations that are accessible, timely, and relevant to everyday people. His commentary has appeared on local and national television, including ABC, CNN, CBS, NBC, FOX, and Spectrum News. Shea earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Public Relations from the University of Houston and has pursued graduate studies at Texas Southern University. At the heart of his work is a belief that civic engagement should extend far beyond Election Day—and that communities are strongest when people understand not only what government is doing, but how they can influence what happens next.