Why those who need the census most may also be those it threatens. As a Latina whose family comes from the western border of Texas with Mexico, I have always felt the tug of two identities. The calling to civic duty runs generations deep in my family, so when the 2010 census questionnaire landed in […]
Monthly Archives: October 2019
Using science and evidence to drive investments in early childhood
How research reinforces the importance of high-quality early childhood education. The vitality of Houston depends, in part, on the aptitude of the next generation to achieve success. Houston needs a capable workforce that can handle the challenges of an ever-changing global economy, and the factors that shape the capacity of our future workforce depend on […]
It’s “Okay to Say™” that you or a loved one have a mental illness
How evolving perspectives on mental health lead to more effective treatment and prevention. I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could! As a new Houstonian and the new Executive Director of The Hackett Center for Mental Health, I am honored to join the Understanding Houston initiative to address important […]
The 21-Year Gap
Exploring how life expectancies vary across Houston-area neighborhoods. Houston is home to the world’s biggest medical center, which includes the largest children’s hospital, the nation’s top-ranked cancer hospital, and internationally recognized pioneers in research and medicine. Yet, if you drive less than five miles southeast of the Texas Medical Center, you will find clusters of […]
Houston native and community activist for the temporarily homeless
Sharon Johnson: Aspiring — temporarily homeless — graphic designer There are 3,938 homeless men, women and children in the Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend counties, combined, according to the 2019 homeless count by the Coalition for the Homeless. And as of now, Houston-native Sharon Johnson is one of them. Johnson, 57, was born and raised […]
College student, voting rights activist
Cristina Camarillo: Dreamer — Aspiring Voter Every American citizen remembers their first time voting and the sense of pride that comes with making your voice heard. But for Cristina Camarillo, her first trip to the polls meant speaking for her entire family. As the daughter of two immigrants from Mexico and the younger sister of […]
Archiving the Asian-American experience
Anne Chao: Manager, Houston Asian American Archive — Adjunct Lecturer in the Humanities — Rice University Since 2010, Rice University’s Houston Asian American Archive (HAAA) has chronicled the oral history of Houston’s Asian American community. “Houston has the eighth largest Asian American population in the country but does not have an oral history archive to […]
NAMI executive director, advocate for a broader perspective on mental illness
Neal Sarahan: Doctor — Ally — Advocate for mental illness Annual physicals are a natural rhythm in a modern adult’s life, but nearly 15% of Americans haven’t had contact with a health care professional in the past year. Mental-health check-ups are even less common. Approximately, 1 in 5 adult Americans experiences mental illness in a […]
Business manager, multi-county commuter
Ryan Stough: Manager — Parent — Commuter As a six-year Houston resident, Ryan Stough has become all too familiar with one of Houston’s biggest headaches: long commutes. As a Pearland resident, Ryan’s job as a general manager at a Houston-area Mister Car Wash Lube Center requires him to commute across two counties each day. And […]
Kindergarten teacher, advocate for early childhood education
Blessy George: Advocate — Early Childhood Educator As a kindergarten teacher in Harris County, Blessy George has had a first-hand view of the impact early childhood education can have on a child’s academic future. “At the end of kindergarten, there are high expectations from the students,” George said. “A lot of times, my struggling students […]