We’re a family of four including our black Portuguese Water Dog. We’re also among the legions of relatively recent transplants to Austin, though Texas (and even Austin, specifically) have played big roles in our lives.

Doniece, a UT Austin alum, grew up in the Rio Grande Valley where we’ve spent countless summers and holidays with her family. As a child, our daughter, Tamasen, developed a deep affinity for this state. We used to play a game we called ‘where in the world would you be if you could go there now?’. She always picked Texas. And Sadik, a native San Franciscan, hatched the idea for our move here to be closer to the Doniece’s parents who are winding down.

We’re a mix of cultures, talents, and passions that include a big-ticket commercial and civil rights litigator who’s a fantastic handyman and a singer/songwriter at heart, a social entrepreneur who converted public transportation buses into showers and toilets on wheels for the unhoused and who once ran with the Olympic Torch, a soon to be senior in high school who’s an incredible artist with the spirit of a poet and the heart of a healer, and our fur baby, Snow, who fancies himself as a guard dog, which quickly falls apart the moment the door opens and he manically wags his tail trying to entice the visitor to shower him with love.

And while we realize Husoval sounds Seussean, it fits us, which is why I think Austin suits us so well. We’re more than happy to help keep it weird.

Why the Foundation?

Together we’ve experienced the beauty of neighbors coming together in joy and sorrow. We’ve seen disaster strike and neighbors rally to rescue and support each other. It’s a thing of beauty. There’s no doubt it’s been a part of Southwood from the beginning, and it’s something we want to be a part of and help deepen.

We look forward to getting to know you, neighbor!