Every November 11th, cities, towns, and communities across our country come together to pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served in the armed forces. Veterans Day is a solemn occasion, a day when we pause to reflect on the sacrifices made by our military personnel and express our gratitude for their …
Continue reading “Honoring Veterans: Shaping Our Future by Remembering Our Heroes”
On October 6, 2022, Fort Bend County residents convened at Long Acres Ranch in Richmond, TX, to learn, engage, and explore ways to solve some of the county’s most significant challenges. At this event, Understanding Houston shared key data highlighting Fort Bend County’s strengths and challenges. Guests also heard from representatives from Fort Bend County …
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Early voting for the November 2 election in Texas has begun. The right to vote is an essential cornerstone of the fabric of American democracy. The first article of the U.S. Constitution states that the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are to be determined by popular vote, however voting in the U.S. is not …
Continue reading “Greater Houston Area Sets Record Numbers in 2020 Voter Participation”
As the largest ethnic group in the region, Houston’s Hispanic community has left an indelible impression in our communities — both past and present. From indigenous roots spanning the Americas and those with African ancestry, to early Spanish-speaking settlers and present-day community pillars, Houstonians who identify as Hispanic/Latino have shaped our region in fundamental and …
Continue reading “Hispanic Heritage Month: Celebrating the Hispanic Population in Houston”
In Houston, Black and Hispanic students on average lag between 3.0 and 3.6 years behind white students, as if they were absent for a quarter of their K-12 schooling.1 Pause here, re-read the previous sentence, and let that sink in for a moment. This problem is compounded by the fact that the groups that lag …
From advocating for children and immigrants to creating businesses to expanding access to the arts and community services and beyond, these Houstonians are creating a better future for our region Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month was initially established as AAPI Heritage Week to last the first 10 days of May. This timeframe …
Where we live profoundly affects nearly every aspect of our lives, including the quality of education we receive, the availability of good-paying jobs, access to high-quality healthcare and fresh food, and more. One year into the pandemic, it is also evident that the neighborhood we live in influences our chances of catching COVID-19 and getting …
Continue reading “Examining the effects of environmental inequity in Houston”
From protecting green spaces to fighting for gender equality and beyond, these are the women creating a better future for our region Every March, the United Nations sets a theme for Women’s History Month, and the theme for 2021 is “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”. This theme celebrates the …
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In the Houston area, there are neighborhoods fewer than 15 miles apart in which the average life expectancy differs by 21 years and future income differs by $50,000 for low-income children. The disparities may exist in the present, but their roots run deep through our region’s history. More than 90 years of discriminatory federal, state, …
Continue reading “Exploring the Legacy of Redlining in Houston”
This Transit Equity Day, we would like to acknowledge and thank Janis Scott for her unceasing commitment to improving and preserving public transit access for all Houston-area residents. Janis truly embodies the values central to transit equity. A Rice University graduate and a native Houstonian, Janis has been riding the bus all her life. She …
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