Vanessa D. Gilmore
Every day is a new beginning
Chronology
Early Life
Community & Public Service
Community & Public Service
1956 Born in St. Albans, New York
1960-1965 Spent early life living in the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa
Served as a member of the Montgomery County, Maryland board of education Council on Instruction
Started college at Hampton University at age sixteen.
1977 Launched first career as fashion buyer at Foley’s department store, Houston, TX
1979 Began law school at the University of Houston
Community & Public Service
Community & Public Service
Community & Public Service
1985 Elected President of the YWCA of Houston
1991 Appointed to the Texas Department of Commerce board of directors.
1993 Became chairperson of Texas Department of Commerce and chairperson of Texans for NAFTA
1994 Sworn in as United States District Judge, Southern District of Texas (at the time, the youngest sitting federal judge in the
1985 Elected President of the YWCA of Houston
1991 Appointed to the Texas Department of Commerce board of directors.
1993 Became chairperson of Texas Department of Commerce and chairperson of Texans for NAFTA
1994 Sworn in as United States District Judge, Southern District of Texas (at the time, the youngest sitting federal judge in the United States)
1997 Received Woman on the Move Award - Texas Executive Women
1998 Elected to board of trustees of Hampton University
2002 Received University of Houston Alumni Organization Distinguished Alumna Award
2008 Named one of Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women
2015 Elected to board of Trustees of the River Oaks Baptist School
2017 Elected to board of Directors of First Tee of Houston
2017 Named one of Thirty Most Influential Women in Houston
2019 Elected to the board of directors of Texas Children’s Hospital
2020 Elected to board of directors of DePelchin Children’s Center
Personal Life
Community & Public Service
Personal Life
2001 Became a mother at age 44
2008 Published first book - “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up”
2010 Published “A Boy Named Rocky - A Coloring Book for the Children of Incarcerated Parents”
2012 Published “Saving the Dream”
2014 Became President of son’s business, the Sleepover Bed Tent Company.
2014 Published "Lynn’s Angels - The True Story of E. L
2001 Became a mother at age 44
2008 Published first book - “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up”
2010 Published “A Boy Named Rocky - A Coloring Book for the Children of Incarcerated Parents”
2012 Published “Saving the Dream”
2014 Became President of son’s business, the Sleepover Bed Tent Company.
2014 Published "Lynn’s Angels - The True Story of E. Lynn Harris and the Women Who Loved Him"
2015 Started Voices by Vanessa
Books
Children of the incarcerated are more likely to face incarceration themselves without intervention. This book helps these children deal with the anger, isolation, sadness and guilt they feel when they lose a parent to incarceration. It is designed to be used by parents, teachers, counselors and caregivers.
(available for purchase from the author)
This book proves that it is possible to be a judge and have a sense of humor too. From hilarious tales of flirting criminals and fighting lawyers to heartwarming stories of mentoring young girls, we see it all through the eyes of the judge.
https://www.amazon.com/YOU-CANT-MAKE-THIS-STUFF/dp/1453569510
This fiction novel alternately explores the life a young boy lives growing up with his birth mother and the life he might have lived with his adoptive mother. It asks readers to consider how each mother's dream impacts her life the life of her son and the lives of other people he meets on his life journey. https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Dream-Vanessa-D-Gilmore/dp/1469126931
E. Lynn Harris was an American author who had ten consecutive books on the NY Times best seller list. For most of his adult life, he had a core group of women friends that he referred to as "Lynn's Angels" because they loved and accepted him for who he was. This book explores the concept of voluntary kinship and challenges us to recognize the importance of invented families.