Kinder Institute for Urban Research

🏫A new Kinder Institute report breaks down how rapid demographic shifts are transforming public education — and why districts need better data to plan for the future.

Preparing for Future Enrollment in Public School Districts: Population Change, Births, and Mobility in the Houston MSA | Kinder Institute for Urban Research From 2005 to 2023, the Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area experienced tremendous population growth, but the impact on school districts has been uneven. While some are grappling with an influx of students, others are shrinking and facing tough budget cuts and building closures.

📈The Houston region is still growing at a healthy clip — even with birth rates flattening, domestic migration slowing and immigration policies changing.

But new population estimates published by the Census Bureau show several subtle shifts in where and how Houston’s population is evolving after years of unrelenting growth across the region.

Houston’s population keeps growing, but new Census data reveals notable shifts | Kinder Institute for Urban Research Greater Houston is still growing at a healthy clip — even with birth rates flattening, domestic migration slowing and immigration policies changing.

In a new Urban Edge commentary, Luz Garcini of the Kinder Institute’s Center for Community and Public Health shares her perspective on Houston’s food insecurity problem and the collaboration needed to address it.

40% of Houston households are food-insecure. These key actions will help close the gap. | Kinder Institute for Urban Research When I think about food, I’m filled with a deep sense of pride and gratitude grounded in my cultural identity as a Mexican immigrant. But that wasn’t always my story.

🏘️ Houston’s build-to-rent market is growing quickly, but proposed federal legislation could discourage developers and disrupt the sector. Urban Edge explores what that could mean for local renters, homebuyers and developers.

📊 Despite Houston's reputation for diversity, about 40% of Asian residents reported that they or someone they know recently experienced discrimination, often in everyday spaces like stores and workplaces. Urban Edge breaks down the new Kinder Institute survey data, exploring the types of bias residents face and who is most affected.

Anti-Asian discrimination persists in Houston, survey data shows | Kinder Institute for Urban Research For Jen, a Korean American living in the Houston area, anti-Asian bias is a continuing reality at her workplace, the grocery store and other everyday settings. 

The Kinder Institute’s Center for Community and Public Health, in partnership with the University of Houston, the Alzheimer’s Association and The Health Museum, invites you to “Memories of My Grandfather,” a Spanish-language mini telenovela and community conversation about dementia.

If you have a family member experiencing memory-related changes or dementia, are a caregiver or health care professional, or simply want to learn more about available resources, please join us!

📅 Saturday, March 28

📍 The Health Museum

🗣️ Conversation in Spanish

🔗 Register: https://thehealthmuseum.org/events/abuelo/

Únase al Museo de la Salud para un programa matutino especial que presenta Recuerdos de mi Abuelo, una minitelenovela creada para generar conversación sobre la demencia en las comunidades latinas y después de la película, quédense para participar en una discusión. El programa está completamente en español. 🎬🎤

La asistencia al programa es gratis. Agradecemos especialmente al Kinder Institute for Urban Research y a CARMA. 🌟

⭐ Texas plans to change how some high school postsecondary readiness metrics are weighted, tying more credit to benchmarks that better predict college success and higher wages. Urban Edge breaks down what that could mean for schools, students and equity.

How Texas plans to tie school accountability grades to college success, job wages | Kinder Institute for Urban Research Under Texas’ academic accountability system, all measures of high school graduates’ postsecondary readiness are counted equally. Districts and schools get the same amount of points toward their A-through-F grade for students who ace the SAT, earn an associate degree or nail down a manicurist cer...

Many Houstonians are coping with feelings of loneliness and disconnection, especially the region’s young adults.

Kinder Institute research confirms that loneliness is a regional challenge with measurable, lifelong impact:

🔹 Young adults ages 18 to 29 reported the highest average loneliness scores

🔹 Residents earning less than $35,000 a year were more likely to feel less connected and report lower social support

🔹 Loneliness, connectedness and social support were stronger predictors of life satisfaction, sense of purpose and self-efficacy than race, income or age

This week, the Houston Chronicle published an op-ed on the topic by Ruth López Turley of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Nory Angel of the American Leadership Forum Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter, Stephen Ives of the YMCA OF GREATER HOUSTON and Brian Greene of the Houston Food Bank.

They explain why connection should be a civic priority and how cross-sector collaboration can help strengthen belonging across the region.

Houston is too lonely. Let’s fix that. A new Kinder Institute study shows that loneliness is widespread here — and worst for people ages 18 to 29.

Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research has received a transformative $55 million grant from the Kinder Foundation to expand its work improving lives, policy and services across Houston.

The funding will support long-term research and partnerships addressing key issues such as housing, education, economic mobility and health. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4rTtUH6

⌛ It’s the final hours of the 24-Hour Challenge! Help us finish strong for our Community Bridges students and partners. Your last-minute gift can be the one that puts us over the top.

Give now and make an impact: https://www.givecampus.com/s/sc0ske