7 questions with ... Sophia Bouey

“I think that’s one of the things I’m passionate about is finding the purpose in people and connecting them,” she said. “So, if I have a conversation with somebody, it will click in me, ‘Oh my gosh, I just had this conversation (with somebody else), and I wonder if they know this person,’ and then I try to connect, and I like to connect that. That’s fun, because you always want to have someone that can meet you at your purpose.”

And Bouey is ready to meet the Southeast Texas community at whatever purpose is needed most at any given time – be it for arts and entertainment or charitable organizations in need of volunteers.

Related: A closer look at 409 Family

It’s not only beneficial to her, but to her family, including husband Gavin and children Hayden and Abigail.

Being part of the Southeast Texas community and active in events is not just about her; it’s also about being a model for her kids – a kind of experiential blueprint of how to make your own life, find what you love and make friends independent of what is handed you through social media, work or school.

“Let’s try to find something to entertain ourselves, and not just be entertained by something,” is Bouey’s philosophy.

That’s what makes involving herself and her family in the community so critical to Bouey’s broader view of what it takes to establish a strong foundation both within one’s family home as well as within one’s broader community home.

It’s for her children, but it’s also for everyone’s children growing up in the same streets, same schools and with the same publicly-sourced opportunities to learn and grow.

They can move, they can go, they can grow and they can thrive.

Bouey’s hope is that her children and others will have a model for how to be an active participant in their own life and in the lives of community members whose happiness and growth is so intricately intertwined with their own.

We asked Bouey seven questions about that pursuit and her love for Beaumont:

Related: Jasper works with community literacy

Q: When did you come to Beaumont and how is it you came here?

A: We moved here about four years ago from Arizona, but my roots are here.

I was born in Lake Charles. I didn’t grow up here, but my grandpa moved to Beaumont back in the early ‘90’s. He brought the Golden Triangle Home Show down this way, and then my mom ended up working for him and moved here, so we visited frequently growing up.

I moved to Las Vegas when I was 16 years old and lived there with my dad – I ended up going to high school there and cosmetology school there. That’s where I met my husband, and then from there we’ve moved quite a bit around.

He’s from the West coast, I’m from the South, but we met in Las Vegas, so his family is more Arizona, California; my family is Louisiana, Texas.

We moved to Houston for a bit, and that’s when I got into ministry – children’s ministry – and from there, we moved to be closer to his family (when she was pregnant with her son Hayden. While in Arizona, their daughter Abigail was born.)

That was where community really blossomed, in Arizona.

Some seeds were planted in our hearts when we lived in Houston, but we really saw it take off when we lived in Arizona and saw what could happen when community comes together and what can develop from that.

And I had his family, but it’s not necessarily like I was really close to them per se, but that’s when really family was our community of people.

So, our hearts were aligned to come back here to Beaumont, because my family’s all here.

I’m half Hispanic and half French – my Hispanic side is all in Louisiana and my French Cajun side is here – all of them.

And so, that’s how we got here.

My mom and my sister picked our house before we even moved here. They were in Vidor.

When we moved here, we had it on our hearts that family foremost was what we really wanted to focus on, because they were all here. But then also we wanted to plant into our communities and use what we had learned and what we had experienced (from past home bases).

Related: Tropical Depression Imelda in photos

Q: If someone came to you and said I’m thinking about moving to Beaumont or I got a job offer, what would you tell them to help them understand why it might be a good move for them and their family?

A: Actually, this kind of happened to me. My high school friend from Las Vegas -- just from (seeing Bouey’s posts) on Instagram and our involvement in the community - reached out to me and was like, ‘I’m looking for this. I’m tired of the big city. I’m tired of the noise. I’m looking for something smaller, and you look like you have so much fun.’

I think it’s a mentality thing.

Coming here, we really never wanted to live in a smaller place.

My husband is from San Francisco, then moved to San Diego. I was in Las Vegas, then we lived in the Phoenix area and in Houston.

We’ve seen the opportunities there and been involved in them, so moving here, that’s what I was kind of afraid of.

So, it was really my mission to find what (was here) and change the mentality; because it’s not necessarily that I had to live here, but I get to live here, so I need to find ways and different outlets to plug in and then advocate for those.

I know the mentality is that there’s nothing to do here or that it’s boring, but goodness, it’s not true.

Especially during the past four years, it’s been so explosive. And I will say that during the pandemic, Dani and Jo (Danielle Sutton and JoAnna Truncali) who created 409 Family, were posting things, different little outlets.

They created this community, and I was like, ‘Okay, it’s out there, and I want to plug in.’

I always say Beaumont has a heartbeat, and sometimes, if you put your ear to the ground, you can hear that beat, and when you look up, you can see those people who are making those movements, and they’re hard workers, but they’re joyful.

They’re excited, and that gets you excited, and then you’re like, ‘How can we keep going?’

And before you know it, you’re running this race and fighting this good fight, and you’re having fun doing it, and you can’t help but just be excited for all the things that are coming.

There are so many people behind the scenes that are doing such incredible work, and it’s exciting – it’s really exciting.

When you’re on a mission, you see like-minded hearts that are on that mission.

And there are so many people within our community that are so eager and that just want to be that for this place.

We were created to fellowship. We were created to be there and to be a people supporting one another in love and to pour into each other. And to me that’s the driving force.

But (for new people coming here), I’d just ask them what their interests are and what moves you – what are your passions?

It’s so easy to go to work and then go home – go home, take care of your kiddos. But let’s find out what your passions are and how we can incorporate those into your life with what’s going on around here.

The non-profits giving opportunities for volunteering or the events that are happening that incorporate the community in whole or even the museums  – oh my gosh, the museums we have are all incredible and they’re all right close.

When we first moved here, we were very much into art, and they have the Family Art Day (at AMSET), and that was a given for us, and then they have the Jefferson Theatre $5 movies. Nowhere in the world could you go into a 1900’s early classical theater and watch these classical movies -- it’s an experience, and for $5? We have to take advantage of this, because it’s just an opportunity to have an experience like this.

Q: Why is it important to you to be involved in community groups, like 409 Family?

A: I am a contributor to 409 Family, but about a year ago I was quoted as saying, “I just go wherever I’m needed,” and I didn’t realize the true meaning of that (until later), because if there’s a calling I’m there – whatever you need, you let me know. I’m just kind of multi-faceted. I have done so many things, and I feel so blessed in my experiences.

But I think it’s all about highlighting the different people in our communities.

It’s not just one person or heroic suite – it’s tiny little things to create these experiences or fill the voids.

Right now, I’m with McFaddin-Ward as their assistant educator. Reanna (Hofpauir) – she’s the current educator. We found ourselves at the same events at the same time, and I was just going, because I was another body to service the community. My whole approach is - anything tangible in art that we can take a moment to come together and breathe and create – that’s just what I love. And she was there at every one of those (events) and in different parts of our community. And this last one, she was like, ‘could you incorporate these things into one of our programs?’ So we actually have a thing we’re doing for St. Patrick’s Day  - a Tea and Talk.

Q: How would you like to see Beaumont grow from this point?

A: I think that this is a very exciting time, but I think that a lot of those seeds have been planted maybe even long ago and they’re finally starting to sprout and even grow; and some of them have been growing very well.

And there are some people that have ideas that I think are wonderful ideas – like revamping the downtown area to make it more commutable.

Honestly, I feel like everything that people are doing right now is to work toward a better Beaumont, and I’m just there to support it – to come alongside, to get the word out, sharing your experiences. There are so many people that have these ideas and dreams – like small businesses.

I’m a huge advocate for supporting our local businesses and trying to incorporate into your daily life, because there are so many to support around here.

I think there’s just a momentum going, and everyone’s jumping on board, and they’re really supportive of one another. It’s such a close knit (community group), that when we do have an idea, we reach out and say, ‘Is this gonna interfere, or what do you think about this, or how can you come alongside?’

Everyone’s so receptive to that.

Q: What is your response when you hear people say ‘Beaumont is boring and there’s nothing to do here?’

A: I say I can’t keep up. I honestly say, ‘Let me share resources with you, because I cannot keep up.’

And if they’re like, ‘Well, what do you mean?’ I say, ‘Let me share my resources with you.’

And I think that’s really important – for us all to share resources with each other so that way we can really just change the narrative.

Like, go exploring, go adventuring – that’s a huge thing for us – we’re very adventurous people and we go to Village Creek and kayak and we stop on the sand bars and go swimming.

I love nature -- that’s what fuels me.

My resources are visitbeaumont.com, 409Family; but then, once again, (you have to ask people). ‘What are you into? What do you like?

Youre’ a runner? There are the Sea Rim Striders.

Let me give you an outfitter (if you like the outdoors), or if you like music, go to the Logon.’

There’s just so much to do on so many different levels.

Q: You’ve been involved with organizations and events in many parts of the Southeast Texas community, like the Fall Festival last year in Charlton-Pollard. Why is it important to be involved in community outside of your personal experiential zone?

A: This area is a gumbo pot.

I think diversifying our experiences with different parts of our community creates empathy, creates education, creates conversation, creates relationships and support. What Thira Simons is creating with her group Augusta’s Angels -- she is a non-profit, (and) what she is doing is not highlighted, but she helps children that have deceased or incarcerated family.

My number one is advocating for the children, basically. We’re building a place for them.

The more that they see us going into these different situations and helping these organizations or these different communities, the more they’re going to have the courage to do that, too.

So, it amplifies needs, and it amplifies intentions. Like, you get to hear stories, and that’s important too.

There’s always a story, and behind every story there’s intention and purpose, and I love hearing that.

I think that’s what connects us and builds that relationship (between different parts of the community).

Even if I can only offer words of encouragement, or something to pass on, there’s always connection there, and that’s so important.

Q: What’s you favorite thing about living in this area?

A: My absolute favorite? – I have two, possibly three.

My absolute favorite is my family, because me and my family – my brothers, my sisters, my mom – we’re very close, and I didn’t have that for a very long time.

It was always really hard to see them going to the Texas State Fair together or a party and I wasn’t there, because I’m in Vegas or I’m in Arizona.

Now I do get to (be there), and I don’t take that for granted, and what’s fun is getting them to branch out too and go to new places.

Sometimes it’s hard to get people out of their comfort zone, but it’s just about connecting and building people’s strength up.

My second favorite is just the community – the people – they’re so diverse and have so many strengths and stories and so many dreams, and they’re working toward so many incredible goals, and I just thrive off of it.

I love it.

It gets me emotional.

Every time I support a local business, or take the time to share a story with somebody or take the time to listen to a story, I think, I’m supporting somebody who sat and said, ‘I’m gonna try to do this,’ and then they have the courage to do it and then they actively did it and now here they are. And I’m like – that’s big.

Whether you’re a business, or an artist or a writer – you have to pursue something that you have the courage to see it through.

And I am a cheerleader for that – I love seeing people’s dreams come true. It’s really exciting.

Community, art and music just hold up all these connections, and they become a tapestry of my story, and I love being able to pick pieces of that fabric and say – ‘oh my gosh, this piece and this piece would be great together.’

That’s why I love being so connected to nature – it is an eco-system – (the pieces of that system) help each other to work in the cycle, and it takes care of itself.

Bonus Q: Describe your ideal day in Southeast Texas.

A: Twelve-year-old son Hayden pipes in before Sophia has a chance to respond. “Walking through a garden with butterflies and seeing mushrooms and flowers,” he said.

”And taking pictures,” added 7-year-old sister Abigail. “Non-stop pictures,” Hayden said.

Yes, I do take a lot of pictures (and post them to social media), but it has a purpose, Bouey said.

As long as there’s intentional purpose behind something, I’m on board.

I want to model being intentional about our day.

Being outside, that’s where I get my inspiration, and that’s what feeds my soul. That’s what makes me rejuvenated – spending the day outside.

I love the way the trees move and the sounds, and I’m just a curious person, and I love to photograph what inspires me.

Yes there’s a lot going on, and it can be exciting, but I also like returning home and finding some sort of balance in my home life and home base and making sure that we’re good on this front, because our home front and foundation is so important to me.

I feel like we’ve done a really good job with the rhythm of our home, and that was in reflection when we got displaced during the flood. Yes, we weren’t home, but the rhythms of our home happened even when we were at my sister’s house.

That was a perfect example to me of when you do take the time to put in some foundational rhythms, it doesn’t matter where you are, it creates resilience and a sense of home.

Home is very important to me.

And so if this Beaumont is going to be home to me, I’m going to make the best of it, and I’m going to incorporate experiences and diversity, so when they (her children) look back, they won’t be thinking, ‘Oh mom moved us here;’ they’ll be thinking, ‘Oh, that was really cool.’

 kbrent@beaumontenterprise.com

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