Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs

MOCA Staff Bios

Gracie Chavez is the founding Music + Cultural Tourism Officer for MOCA. She designs strategy for municipal support of Houston musicians and the music industry. She leads the Houston Music Advisory Board and their work in the growing local music economy. She is also responsible for engagement across Houston's Cultural Districts.

Gracie is a native Houston musician who parlayed her journalism background and musical talents into leading up Bombon Texas, a popular Latin music collective and record label. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Houston with a focus on Mexican American Studies.

Theresa Escobedo is the first-ever Civic Art Program Manager for the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA), She relies on over 13 years of experience coordinating and executing civic programs and projects designed to activate public spaces and to give artists the opportunity to impact neighborhood experiences through creative place-making and social inquiry.

Theresa also maintains an artist's studio at El Rincón Social, an artist's collaborative/warehouse studio and exhibition venue.  She studied at the University of Houston and received a Bachelor Degree of Architecture in addition to a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design with a focus on community planning.

Necole S. Irvin leads MOCA, the office that guides the City’s cultural investments with policies and initiatives that expand access to arts and cultural programs in the community. Her extensive experience as a leader and strategic thinker was the driver to the redesign of the city’s art grant system.

Necole is a philanthropic professional with legal, art, public health, cultural, policy and international experience and works to advance the quality of communities and long-term sustainable change.  She is a Houston transplant, an avid photographer, and her educational background includes an MPH and JD.