Brooke Summers-Perry
Co-Founder / Director of Operations
As the real estate market boomed, I was topping out as a mom, design director, and mentor for a teen service-learning group. When all three roles were blossoming, I could no longer thrive in any of them. Something had to give. I didn’t see quitting my day job as a choice. I was the higher income earner in the house. Parts of me were at odds with the others.
In 2007, I crashed right before the market did.
I turned inward. I needed to craft a better life. I read the Art of Happiness six times. I consumed the self-help section at the bookstore, took parenting and personality classes, and participated in workshops and practice groups. I was redesigning my life. When I shifted my life from surviving back to thriving, I wanted to share the practices. I wanted to remove the barriers, the reading volumes of theories and hours of lectures. I began integrating and simplifying practices.
Now, in various settings, facilitating and practicing with folks as young as six and as old as 96, we raise our self-awareness and self-acceptance. We get more realistic with our expectations and develop healthier boundaries. We find and use our voices and discover ways to bring our best selves to each of our roles and relationships without having to switch on and off or compartmentalize our values.
Chase Summers-Perry
Co-Founder / Director of Creative Media
During my transition from Senior High to College, I had landed on pursuing graphic design, marketing, and communications at the University of Houston. After getting the basics out of the way and trying out the dorms my freshman year I had a desire to always move up; to always improve. During that time it felt hard to focus on school, deliver pizzas, and have a social life. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, who I wanted to be, or what job I possibly wanted. Brooke has always been the person to go to and we just so happened to find time in the mornings to get out of the house and walk a couple miles almost every week. We started out wanting to exercise together and getting connected. We quickly saw just how much we shared a desire to make positive change in the world.
Kiara Carter
Director of Creative Programming
Kiara has been an artist and educator for over 5 years. She has taught workshops and classes throughout Houston and Galveston. Although originally from Waco, the food alone would make her want to call Houston her home. Wherever she is her greatest joy is to see her community grow and thrive. As an artist, she knows that creativity cannot happen without risk and that can be intimidating. But when we create from in a safe and play-filled environment, some of our greatest works emerge.
geoffrey wheeler
Facilitator
I met Brooke in the world of architecture, where I resided for almost 30 years. I had been growing increasingly dissatisfied with the industry of architecture since approximately 2004. This industry fostered the angry and competitive side of me, constantly comparing myself to others and relying heavily on the expectations that I had been carrying around for years. In 2016 or so, I began attending Brooke’s small group practices, while she was still trying to figure out how best to share this concept far and wide. This was a small part of my life at the time, but it provided just the type connection I was apparently longing for. I became her number one frequent flyer, because clearly, I couldn’t get enough.
In 2020, being let go from what would be my last corporate architecture job initiated my current phase of transformation. I was already on my journey to my most authentic self, but the Universe hit the fast forward button in 2020. I have been traversing through much loss and introspection, to this day. Letting go of old modes of operation steeped in expectations and judgements. Finding the peace of mind and balance that I have always wanted. Joining We Practice Life as a facilitator was as natural as breathing. I know with all my heart that this is what I am meant to be doing with my life.
Geo Vision Art
Geo Vision creates colorable and shareable art for individual or group practice of presence. All images are hand drawn, from my world of intuitional abstraction. I offer coloring books as well as individual pages for PDF download. I believe this flexibility of product will allow for the use of as many types of mediums as possible. Individual pages can be printed on any type of paper that your printer can handle. Opening the door to your individual self expression through the therapeutic art of coloring.
jay stailey
Facilitator
Jay Stailey is an author, storyteller, labyrinth facilitator and builder, leadership and life coach, and international sojourner who worked a side gig as a school administrator in the Houston area for 35 years. The skills that he learned about the power of story inform the work that he does while coaching individuals and teams, as well as his labyrinth work as a liminal guide. His work and expertise dovetail into the We Practice Life team members’ special skills to create radically innovative pathways to personal growth.
Jodie gonzalez
Facilitator
Jodie Gonzalez (LCSW) is cofounder of JAH Grief Services, which offers grief support to those who have experienced the death of a significant person in their lives. Her book The Healing Tree: A Guidebook for Navigating Grief, offers an opportunity to use writing and mindfulness-based activities after a loss. Jodie holds a masters degree from the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston. As a licensed clinical social worker in Texas, she spent almost ten years working as a hospital and hospice social worker, and four years as the director of community education for a non-profit bereavement center in Houston. Jodie continues on her own grief journey following the deaths of her sister and brother-in-law in 2004.
michael martin
Facilitator
Michael Martin is a visual and performing artist, born and raised in Houston Texas. Graduating 2017 from the University of Houston Downtown, Michael holds a Bachelor's degree in Humanities with a double minor in Visual Art and Philosophy. Since 2015 Michael has collaborated and worked with MECA Houston in their Sunburst Summer Arts Camp, after school Visual Art program and special events as a teacher for visual arts, Kendama and a youth mentor. Additionally Michael has worked closely with the Japan America Society Houston (JASH) to bring Kendama programming, performance, and competitions to Houston and across Texas. Michael is the founder of the Houston Kendama Meet-up and the Board Secretary for The Sweets Kendamas Foundation. Michael is a Kendama performance artist and Certified Kendama Sensei. Combining a love for painting, mosaics, color theory and the portrait, Michaels Work centers around identity,mental health, and self growth
kelly penrod
Facilitator
When I worked as a College Coordinator at Rice University, my main role was guiding students on their academic journeys. It was fulfilling, but it also made me aware of the challenges some students faced, especially with addiction issues. In 2004, driven by empathy and a desire to make a positive impact, I made a significant career change to become a drug and alcohol counselor obtaining my LCDC, leaving Rice to work at treatment centers.
As I immersed myself in counseling, I noticed crucial missing elements in the rehabilitation process – effective communication skills and daily doses of creativity. So, I took action. I sought knowledge from experts in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and started teaching these vital connection skills to my clients, making their recovery more comprehensive. Additionally, I introduced a weekly creativity exercise, like crafting birds from plastic bottles and attaching heartfelt notes outlining their dreams and goals.
Another significant aspect of my counseling approach is rooted in logotherapy, helping individuals discover deeper meaning and purpose in their lives. Beyond my professional life, I extended my commitment to nurturing kindness and creativity to my granddaughter from the moment she was born. I genuinely believe passing on this legacy enriches lives and leads to meaningful experiences and relationships that can change destinies.
Helping others gain important life skills means a lot to me. I'm all about equipping people with kindness, good communication, and creativity – stuff that really makes life better. It all started back at Rice and now it's become my mission to make a positive difference in people's lives, one act of kindness and one burst of creativity at a time.
Today, I continue with my counseling to those who are dealing with addiction. As well as creativity coaching, helping those who are beginning a creative journey. You can find me either in my office at www.kellypenrod.com or in my studio at www.arttankstudio.com, and on Instagram @pen2win.