By Francis Page Jr.
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June 1, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Houston, prepare for an evening where elegance meets impact, where white attire becomes a statement of unity, and where the business of good government gets a well-earned spotlight. Women Professionals in Government, widely known as WPG, will host “An Evening of Elegance and Excellence” on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 6:00 PM CT, bringing together civic leaders, public servants, community advocates, professionals, and friends for a signature Summer Social designed to raise funds for scholarships, community service grants, and WPG’s continued mission-driven work.
The 2026 Summer Social will feature Harris County Administrator Erica Lee Carter as guest speaker—an especially fitting voice for an organization dedicated to advancing women in government and public policy. In February 2026, Harris County Commissioners Court appointed Carter as County Administrator, making her the first African American woman to hold the position; she officially assumed the role on March 9, 2026, overseeing county operations, strategic-plan implementation, and coordination across departments.
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For Houston Style Magazine readers, this is more than a social event. It is a celebration of leadership, legacy, mentorship, and the bright future of women shaping public service in Harris County. Founded in 1981 by Mary Dipboye, a University of Houston graduate with a master’s degree in public administration, WPG was created to build a network where women in government could gain knowledge, sharpen skills, and support one another’s career growth.
Today, that mission continues with purpose and polish. WPG describes itself as a nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization organized for charitable, educational, and social welfare purposes. Its mission includes building support networks for people interested in government and public policy, providing career-growth knowledge and skills, offering scholarships to young women pursuing government and public-policy degrees, and supporting agencies serving women and children.
That mission comes alive through WPG’s year-round work. The organization meets monthly from September through May, excluding January, creating a forum where city, county, state, and federal professional women—and men who work in or with government—can gather, network, and hear from community leaders. WPG also provides two scholarship opportunities annually for young women pursuing degrees in government and public policy, while also offering grant funding to other charities serving women and children in Harris County.
The 2026 Summer Social carries that tradition forward with style. Guests are encouraged to wear white, giving the evening a crisp, celebratory feel worthy of the Harris County Ceremonial Courtroom. Admission is $50 for members and $60 for non-members, with sponsorship and donation opportunities helping strengthen WPG’s scholarship fund, community-service grants, and operating support.
Carter’s presence adds a powerful contemporary note. Her public-service résumé includes experience across local, state, and federal government, nonprofit work, service as an elected Harris County Department of Education trustee, and a term representing Texas’s 18th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2024 to 2025. Harris County’s announcement also noted her work on economic opportunity, voting access, budget management, afterschool programming, the CROWN Act as county employee policy, and support for minority- and women-owned businesses.
In a city where public service often requires both grit and grace, WPG’s Summer Social reminds Houston that government is not just buildings, budgets, and board meetings—it is people. It is the professionals who keep services moving, policies improving, communities connected, and doors opening for the next generation.
And yes, this is also a networking event. Bring the business cards, bring the confidence, and bring the white outfit that says, “I came to support excellence—and I understood the assignment.”
Event Details Event: Women Professionals in Government Summer Social — “An Evening of Elegance and Excellence” Date & Time: Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 6:00 PM CT Location: Harris County Ceremonial Courtroom, 201 Caroline Street, Houston, Texas 77002 Attire: Members and guests are encouraged to wear white Admission: Members $50; Non-Members $60 More Information & Tickets: Visit WPG Houston online at wpghouston.com
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Why Houston Should Attend Attend because scholarships matter. Attend because women in public service deserve support. Attend because mentorship changes careers. Attend because grants to organizations serving women and children strengthen Harris County. Attend because an evening in white can help create a brighter future.
From monthly luncheons to scholarship opportunities, from leadership development to community giving, WPG has spent more than four decades building a civic table where women are not simply invited—they lead. Since 1981, WPG has played a role in advancing women professionals through networking, skill-building, and knowledge-sharing, while also supporting women students committed to public-service careers.
Houston, this is the kind of evening where elegance is not just what guests wear—it is what the organization represents: excellence in service, dignity in leadership, and a commitment to lifting women and children across Harris County.
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Kierra LeeKIELEESTYLE@GMAIL.COM4096658446
Courtesy: EPPD
