Houston is known for many things — its sprawl, being the global energy capital, its infamous traffic, its world-class arts institutions and its inspiring levels of diversity, to name a few. But as a vast region that spans 9,500 square miles, no one piece of conventional wisdom about Houston applies to our whole region. Making …
Continue reading “How to make the most of Understanding Houston”
Evictions are on the rise in Houston. As the Covid-19 pandemic and economic downturn continues to batter Texas and the Greater Houston region, millions of families are wondering how they’re going to be able to pay the bills. According to a recent Census Bureau survey, 37% of adults in the Houston metropolitan area either missed …
Continue reading “Evictions during COVID-19 across Greater Houston”
Fellow Houstonians, we are one month into the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Experts predict another above-average hurricane season this year — meaning we could see more storms active in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Coast. Indeed, the beginning of the season has already been very active. Houstonians have experienced the devastation and loss from six …
Continue reading “After six federal disasters in five years, why do we not fully prepare?”
Mother nature has shaken us to the core. Everything we thought we believed and valued is being challenged and tested. She is calling our selves to ourselves. She is moving us toward introspection and self-reflection, to self-forgiveness, to self-love, to forgiveness for the greater good, to unconditional love through accountability via our individual character and …
Continue reading “Stand Together: A Call to Action from Houston Coalition Against Hate”
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Houston’s business community so drastically that no company is too big — or too small — to feel its effects. Even the healthiest businesses have found themselves in need of emergency assistance to stave off layoffs or permanent closure as a result of plummeting levels of consumer spending, stay-home …
Continue reading “COVID-19 Recovery and the Ongoing Challenges Facing Houston Entrepreneurs”
The strength and substance of our communities at their best are defined by what we do during times of turmoil. Houston is a do community. In times of peace and crisis, we work together and strive to make Houston a more vibrant place. Our strength is also defined by the words and perspectives we offer …
Continue reading “Words of Unity: 14 Texas Voices Inspiring Hope in Our Region”
Back in October when the world was blissfully ignorant of something called “COVID-19,” Understanding Houston featured a blog on the importance of the 2020 Census from Frances Valdez, Executive Director of Houston in Action. In her blog, Ms. Valdez highlights the importance of counting each individual living in the region and explains the challenges associated …
Continue reading “The Importance of the Census in COVID’s America”
Neighborhoods matter. Where we live has a profound impact on our lives in ways we don’t always understand. Maps and dashboards that provide quality-of-life data at the neighborhood-level are a key piece to the puzzle of understanding communities. Understanding Houston focuses on county-level data to measure how the region performs overall and across time, but …
Continue reading “Seven Neighborhood-Level Data Tools to Know and Use”
COVID-19 has upended lives around the globe, and Houston is no exception. We continue to hear the worst is yet to come, but it’s difficult to fully comprehend what that means or take proper action without context. To mitigate the effects of this global public health crisis in our region, we must understand the scope …
Continue reading “COVID-19’s potential impact in Greater Houston, by the numbers”
From political leaders and activists to landscape-shifting scientists, musicians and astronauts, the contributions of Black changemakers are embedded in Houston’s identity. And looking forward, there’s no sign of that changing any time soon. More Houstonians have access to health care, more is being done to protect our air quality, and more of our most vulnerable …
Continue reading “Making Houston History Today: 6 Black Changemakers you Should Know”
