Tag: community

Houston Matters

Program Connects Rice University with Fifth Ward to Reduce Poverty

Posted on · Five years ago, Rice University launched a program to connect students with organizations in Houston's Fifth Ward. The primary goal of the Community Bridges program is to sustainably reduce poverty in the area, which community leaders describe as impoverished. One of the organizations Rice is partnering with is Small Steps Nurturing Center. It's a preschool […]

Houston Matters

Houston Sun Founder Discusses How Community Newspapers Have Changed in 30 Years

Posted on · The Houston Sun will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in December. The community newspaper targets the African American demographic in Houston. We talk with its founder and publisher, Dorris Ellis, about the history of the paper and the changing role of the community newspaper in an evolving media age.

Houston Matters

What Do You Get Out of Volunteering?

Posted on · It’s worth noting that more than 20,000 volunteers have kept the largest rodeo in the world running for the last three weeks, as they do every year. Volunteer Houston estimates about 200,000 to 300,000 people volunteer around the city annually between their organization, the Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Houston Food Bank and the United […]

Houston Matters

How Religious Orgs Balance Community Service & Proselytizing

Posted on · We discuss how religious organizations throughout Greater Houston often find themselves engaged on two fronts: supporting their own congregants with services and events based on their particular religious beliefs, and providing services to the community at large, based on the moral convictions of the congregation, regardless of whether those served hold similar religious views. Along […]

Houston Matters

Wearable Art: Exhibit Chronicles Years of Intricate Junior Forum Skirts

Posted on · If you’ve ever Googled the phrase “volunteering in Houston,” you’ll find hundreds of organizations that you can connect with. One of the oldest though — and a solely female volunteer group — is the Houston Junior Forum. It’s been around for 67 years with a focus on helping kids and senior Houstonians — all while […]

Houston Matters

State of Community Newspapers in Houston

Posted on · We’ve heard about the woes facing publishing – notable newspapers have shifted to online services, reducing or eliminating their print editions. Long-standing magazines have ceased publication. But as major papers and magazines scale back or disappear, how are Houston’s local community papers doing? Are they picking up the slack? Expanding? Surviving? On this edition of […]

Houston Matters

Program Teaches HS Students About Starting a Business

Posted on · Houston Community College have begun an innovative program, in partnership with the Young Entrepreneurs Academy – or YEA. The program is designed to show students how to start their own business. Two dozen students at Alief’s Taylor High School are participating. They’ll launch some sort of business or social movement this school year. By the […]