Welcome to The Channel
Houston Endowment
We envision a vibrant region where all have the opportunity to thrive.
Today is a special day for Houston Endowment. Not only is it the day we launch our first ever newsletter, amplifying the incredible work of our grantees, but it is also the Foundation’s 87th anniversary.
Our founders, Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones, left an indelible legacy in our city — so much so that Mr. Jones earned the nickname “Mr. Houston.” Among his many achievements, perhaps the most significant for our city was his role in establishing the Houston Ship Channel. The Ship Channel could not have happened without Jones’s bold vision and his creation of a strong public-private partnership. It connected Houston to the sea, spurred commerce, and set the stage for what Houston is today.
It seems fitting that this newsletter, which we hope connects you to our work and that of our outstanding partners, makes reference to the Joneses and the growing, thriving city they helped create. ?
When the Joneses founded Houston Endowment in 1937, they recognized that they couldn’t predict the future challenges their community would face, and thus?the Foundation’s charter contains very few restrictions. Throughout its history, the Foundation has remained dedicated to improving the quality of life for the people of Greater Houston, but our work has continuously adapted to meet the most pressing needs of Houston’s residents. Today, we seek to improve public education, increase civic engagement, strengthen the region’s arts sector, and enhance its greenspaces—and we also stand ready to address emerging challenges and opportunities when the Foundation can have significant impact. ?
We know that the complex issues that Houston Endowment addresses cannot be solved by any organization working alone. We will only achieve our goals by working in partnership with others who want to find solutions. Working together in alignment, sharing our learnings, and contributing our individual strengths and perspectives, we are better able to drive positive change in our community. ?
Each month in The Channel, we'll highlight?some of the incredible and inspiring work being done to strengthen our region. We hope you’ll continue to read along as we share how Houston Endowment is driving toward our vision of a vibrant community where all have the opportunity to thrive.
All the best,
Ann B. Stern
President and CEO
Celebrating citizenship efforts one year after campaign’s launch
One year after the launch of Naturalize Now, Houston! , community members across the region celebrated citizenship and the success of local efforts to boost naturalization for eligible immigrants. A case study, Naturalize Now: How to Increase Naturalization in Your Community, highlights Houston’s approach to increasing naturalization rates and offers best practices for other regions seeking to replicate those efforts.
Why it matters: In Greater Houston, about 360,000 lawful permanent residents are eligible to apply for citizenship every year, but less than 10% complete the process because of a range of barriers. When eligible individuals do become naturalized citizens, they unlock opportunities for greater stability and prosperity through the right to vote and better access to jobs. Those benefits extend beyond the family unit : If 100 percent of eligible people in Greater Houston became citizens, wages would grow by more than $900 million, boosting the region’s economy and tax revenue.
Who’s working on solutions: A public-private partnership, supported by the City of Houston, Harris County, Houston Endowment, National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA), Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative (HILSC), New Americans Campaign (NAC) and other nonprofit organizations, is strengthening the support system for eligible-to-naturalize citizens by addressing language barriers and connecting people to low-cost legal services and financial assistance for application fees. In the year since the partnership launched:
Other Civic Engagement News
Monday, Oct. 7: Last day to register to vote
Monday, Oct. 21: First day of early voting
Friday, Oct. 25: Last day to apply for a ballot by mail
Friday, Nov. 1: Last day of early voting
Tuesday, Nov. 5: Election Day
Amid historic teacher shortage, apprenticeship programs show promise
As the 2024-25 school year began, the state’s teacher shortage dominated headlines with the news that nearly one-third of new hires lack certification . Students?lose up to four months of learning with an uncertified educator, according to a Texas Tech University study, which offers?state policymakers a roadmap for building a stronger teacher workforce.
How we got here: A number of compounding issues have led to this surge in uncertified teachers: Pathways to teaching have changed; teachers feel underappreciated and undervalued; and districts need more resources to implement high-quality teacher prep programs.?
Who’s working on solutions: Grantee Brazosport Independent School District offers a paid teacher apprentice residency program to aspiring educators, enabling them to earn a bachelor’s degree and teacher certification. Texas Tribune reporter Jaden Edison traveled to Freeport Intermediate School to meet first-year teacher Amanda Garza-McIntyre, who welcomed her first class of eighth-graders after completing this innovative program .?
“I don't know that I would have fully committed to going into teaching without knowing that I had that training and that preparedness to walk into a classroom and feel confident,” she told the Texas Tribune.
Other Public Education News
Grantee US Prep is convening stakeholders to address?the shortage of well-prepared teachers in our region by:
领英推荐
On the horizon: A higher profile for Houston’s arts scene
Houston Endowment’s funding strategy supports a diverse mix of organizations from large institutions to grassroots groups ensuring the arts remain a powerful driver of community engagement and economic growth. In the coming weeks, you’ll hear?more about an effort to elevate the arts sector by bringing together Houston’s seven cultural districts. Speaking to the City Council Arts and Culture Committee recently, Houston Endowment Program Director Bao-Long Chu and Marci Dallas, founder of Cultural Launch, outlined the potential of this effort to pool resources, create joint initiatives, and advocate for cultural preservation and celebration across the city. Catch the full conversation from HTV .?(It starts at the 46:05 mark.)
Other Arts and Parks News
Reviving Third Ward’s Riverside Hospital
This month, officials broke ground on a project to transform the shuttered Riverside General Hospital into a health care and community hub for Third Ward, the Houston Chronicle reports . (free link)
A little history: Riverside opened in 1927 as Houston Negro Hospital, the first local nonprofit hospital for Black patients and one of the only places where Black physicians were allowed to practice in Houston at that time.?Many in the community were born there and had ties to the hospital — either through its health care services or its role as a community center.
Its closure in 2015 due to financial and legal troubles left a hole in the community and a huge gap in access to care.
How it came back: Riverside’s second life was possible thanks to collaboration from elected officials, philanthropy, private sector leaders, and Third Ward residents.
In 2017, then-State Rep. Garnet Coleman, who represented Third Ward, shared his vision for Riverside Hospital to reopen and bring primary care and other health services back to the community. Over the next year, with support from Rep. Coleman and then-Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, Houston Endowment worked with hospital trustees, legal and real estate experts, and lienholders to enable Harris County to acquire the site out of bankruptcy and to develop plans for the building’s future operations and financing. Ultimately, Harris County purchased the hospital with a grant from Houston Endowment in spring 2018.
What’s next: Today, under the direction of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, the county continues to lead this work. The Riverside campus will eventually house a clinic, headquarters for ACCESS Harris County (a holistic care program that serves the most vulnerable community members), and a new headquarters building for Harris County Public Health.?
Grantmaking Spotlight
$450,000
Awarded to League of Women Voters Texas to enable the organization to partner with local chapters to print and distribute nonpartisan voter guides in Greater Houston.
Round of Applause
KIPP Texas Public Schools?began a landmark new school year celebrating 30 years of educating students.?KIPP has grown from a single classroom to a network of 32,000 students .?
We were thrilled to sponsor The Texas Tribune Festival?earlier this month.?Here are some festival highlights .
Did You Know?
Thursday, October 10 is World Homeless Day. Houston has made progress in reducing homelessness, but it requires coordinated efforts to?sustain the momentum , the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board reports.?(free link).
We Recommend
With fall upon us, try recipes from Catholic Charities’ recently released?International Recipe Book , which has 17 recipes from nine countries. It’s published through the organization’s Refugee Resettlement Program, which offers critical services to eligible government-approved refugees from all backgrounds.
The Spott
Sharing news from Houston Endowment headquarters, overlooking Spotts Park
After two baby trees fell down in Spotts Park during Hurricane Beryl, members of our team, above,?got to work replanting them. Want to learn more about planting trees in your neighborhood? Visit grantee Trees for Houston , where you can volunteer for a community project or request trees to plant. Sign up for their newsletter to stay updated on upcoming events.
Through The Channel , you’ll get a look at how collaboration with our partners brings this mission to life. Each month, you’ll learn about trending news within our strategic priority areas of civic engagement, public education, arts and culture, and parks, as well as other emerging opportunities. Subscribe now to stay in the know.