LCAHouston Magazine Summer 2019

LIFEBYTES
MAYOR OF
HOUSTON
UNVEILS THE
BRIGITTE &
BASHAR KALAI
PLAZA OF
RESPECT
More than 200 people
from various faiths and
ethnicities, along with
the Mayor of Houston
Sylvester Turner, gathered on a gorgeous
sunny day on April 2, 2019 to unveil
the Brigitte & Bashar Kalai Plaza of
Respect in the heart of Midtown.
Interfaith Ministries (IM) Board of
Directors Chair Shaukat Zakaria and
Immediate Past Chair Paula Sutton
welcomed guests and introduced Mayor
Sylvester Turner. Turner thanked IM
and its supporters for creating a place to
celebrate the city’s rich diversity and to
educate the community about the many
faiths in Houston. IM CEO Martin B.
Cominsky then addressed guests and
thanked the Kalais for making the Plaza
of Respect possible as a symbol of the
heart of Houston in the heart of Houston
that will host and bring diverse groups
together to foster respect, dialogue and
service. He also recognized the major
sponsors who were instrumental in
making the Plaza possible specifically
Brigitte and Bashar Kalai, Patti
and Richard Everett, the Clark and
Charlene Thompson Foundation, and
Shell.
In summer 2013, Interfaith Ministries
took a bold step into the future when
it moved from its previous offices and
made its new home in the heart of
Midtown at 3303 Main Street. IMGH’s
location has the following entities located
within a 3 mile-radius: The Museum
District, Rice University, the Texas
Medical Center, downtown Houston,
Photos By | Quy Tran
2019 LCAHouston.com
Plaza Ribbon Cutting
Minute Maid Park, the Toyota Center,
the George R. Brown Convention
Center, and key institutions such as the
University of St. Thomas, University of
Houston, and Texas Southern University.
Major bus and light rail lines cross
within a block of the building.
IMGH sought not only to be convenient
and strategically placed, but also to
be a heartbeat of the city, a symbol of
service and faith, that people who may
not believe alike or think alike can love
alike, that these differences can be a
source of strength. And now, what was
once a plain and serviceable patio has
become a beacon of hope, a beautiful
space dedicated to learning, dialogue,
and community.
“The Plaza of Respect stands for the next
generation to hear their stories being
inspired by the hard work and dedication
and to learn about their faith and the
faiths of others, and to encourage and
challenge the wisdom of the crowd,” shares
Bashar.
Bashar and Brigitte Kalai are the
principal donors for the Brigitte &
Bashar Kalai Plaza of Respect. A
successful businessman, prominent
philanthropist, and member of Houston’s
Muslim community, the Kalais saw in the
Plaza a worthy project of tile and stone,
of glass and metal, and of inspiration
and dedication. The Plaza was initially
designed by Gensler’s Ryan Marchesi
and Kristopher Stuart, and generously
completed by PBK Architects.
Dan and Susan Boggio
Brigitte and Bashar Kalai
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