Appreciation for Houston: A Synthesis of Appreciative Inquiry Interviews
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to those who generously shared their voice and passion for Houston. Your dedication and enthusiasm contribute immeasurably to the vibrant spirit and unity of our community. Thank you for making Houston a better place for all.
62 Foundation Donors | 28 Nonprofit Leaders | 10 Philanthropic Leaders | 9 Community Leaders
In the spring of 2023, Greater Houston Community Foundation (the Foundation) engaged more than 100 community leaders through an appreciative inquiry process. Appreciative inquiry is a collaborative, strengths-based approach that focuses on engagement through a positive lens to assess strengths, opportunities, and aspirations. Ultimately, the goal is for participants to co-create and promote a hopeful and generative vision of our future. This collaborative approach allowed us to acknowledge the strengths of our community and discover how to leverage those strengths to create a more vibrant, thriving Houston region.
The purpose of these interviews was to help inform the direction of the Foundation’s inaugural High-Impact Grantmaking initiative. Admittedly, our sample size is small – reflecting 100 donors and philanthropic leaders, as well as colleagues across nonprofit, business, and government sectors. These individuals were invited to engage with us because of their close or loose connection with the Foundation and our earnest desire to listen and learn from them as we embarked on a new effort. During these appreciative inquiry interviews, participants told us what they love about Houston, their vision for our region’s future, potential barriers to achieving that vision, and the strengths of our community that could help us overcome these challenges.
We were deeply inspired by what we heard throughout this process and wanted to share it with others, which is why we synthesized the interview responses for all of you.
What we Love About Houston
Four themes emerged above all others: our diversity, our welcoming atmosphere, our vast opportunities, and our generosity.
Diversity was the primary theme indicated throughout the interviews. We love that Houston hosts communities and cultures from all over the globe. From the languages our children hear on the playground to the restaurants we frequent, and the parades and celebrations we attend, Houston’s greatest asset is the diversity of our population.
While Houston is a large region with regards to both people and physical space, our devotion to a sense of community knits us together. Our diverse population is undergirded by a strong sense of welcoming that people feel from their communities. The second most popular theme in our interviews was the open and friendly atmosphere that Houstonians co-create. Houston balances our Southern hospitality with an earnest willingness to welcome new neighbors, fostering the diversity and the openness that define our region.
Beyond our openness, Houston embodies the opportunity and possibility necessary to create the lives we envision. Many of our interviewees lauded Houston’s vibrance and active growth as the pillars supporting vast social and economic opportunities. Houstonians value our capacity to provide opportunities to our residents as a space for innovation and identity, which we explore with our “can-do spirit” acknowledged by numerous interviewees. Houstonians embody this kinetic energy with entrepreneurial initiatives, problem-solving skills, humble but hard work, and an “ambitious, not presumptuous” mindset. This combined attitude results in an energetic drive: Houston “wants to see progress; it wants to be great.”
Many people cited Houston’s relative lack of national notoriety, acknowledging that people’s preconceptions of Houston vastly undersell our lived experience; one interviewee called this our “low-key, stealth vibe of ‘great.’ But…if you know, you know.” We all love our unparalleled medical industry, expansive and improving green spaces, distinguished arts scene, professional sports teams, and exceptional higher educational institutions. Further, compared to other metropolitan areas, multiple interviewees offered Houston’s affordability as a unique aspect of our regional experience—despite overall increases in the cost of living. As one individual put it, “Anything you can do or get in NY, you can get here for better and for cheaper!”
Lastly, but certainly not least, about a quarter of our respondents volunteered Houston’s spirit of generosity and our philanthropic community as leading facets of our excellence. Houstonians generously share not only their wealth, but also their time, expertise, and connections with others. Our region would not be the same without our culture of philanthropy, and we at the Foundation are deeply honored to be a part of it.
Houston’s Future
We hope to see a Houston that is more sustainable and equitable, home to better education, transportation, and green spaces, and emphasizes region-wide collaboration.
Many of our interviewees believe that our diversity, economy, and geography perfectly position us to chart a path toward equality and environmental sustainability, which could serve as a model for other cities that seek to do the same. We know the next big storm is a matter of when, not if, and we want to be prepared to face the effects of climate change—interviewees specifically support the reduction of air pollution, the transition to greener energy production, and a proactive infrastructural design to help Houston weather both the better and worse days to come. Climate change is a global issue, and we would like the future to bring substantial improvements to our sustainability, in hopes that Houston can be a leader for other communities.
Our interviewees indicated that Houston needs to address inequality in the region; almost half of our respondents identified that some Houstonians have not had the same access to opportunities and resources as others. We love the diversity of our region and simultaneously acknowledge that disparities exist. Our interviewees advocated for people of every demographic dimension to have access to high-quality and affordable healthcare, transportation, and education. Interviewees also championed meaningful employment and representation in our public spaces and government for all Houstonians. Our diverse region can only reach its highest potential when each member of our community can reach theirs.
Our interviewees voiced belief in education as the greatest contributing factor to the goal of equality. With careful consideration and prioritization of resources, education can be an impactful investment into our society that ensures Houston’s progress for generations to come. Providing high-quality education to all of Houston’s youth could address other disparate outcomes in health, income, and opportunity so that, as one interviewee puts it, “it [would] not depend on your ZIP code to determine your future.”
We want to see Houston continue to be a region of vast opportunity that draws people here for both business and culture. Accompanying this growth, we feel the need for infrastructural initiatives, specifically around transportation, to accommodate our bustling population. Numerous people envisioned Houston as a walkable region in the future with improved public transit. The addition of more methods of transportation offers benefits in accessibility, sustainability, and, of course, our universal goal—less traffic!
Further contributing to Houston’s walkability, Houstonians want to see more intentional and well-maintained green spaces in Houston. With the beautiful renovation of Memorial Park and Discovery Green’s recent 15th anniversary, we feel inspired to continue the improvement of Houston’s wildlife and parks system—in a way that is accessible to all Houston residents. From providing more space to commune during the pandemic to positively contributing to mental health, our green spaces not only beautify but profoundly enrich our region and our communities.
The last big theme indicated in the interviews was a hope that Houston would replace political tensions and tendencies for conflict with an encompassing spirit of collaboration. Numerous interviewees spoke of the idea that to achieve any of the above visions of Houston’s future, we must not work against one another, but leverage our power and resources collectively and in coordination to help our region thrive.
Our Region Has Challenges to Overcome
While we all want to see Houston’s success in the future, our region faces many challenges in the present that act as barriers towards our visions.
In accordance with high-quality education being a priority for Houston’s future, about one-third of our interviewees feel that Houston’s current education system is one of our largest barriers to flourishing. Houstonians have concerns regarding the safety of their children, the relative segregation of schools, the lack of experiential learning or technological training, and the general divestment from public education. Many voiced that these struggles in the education system lead to fewer opportunities and less equitable outcomes for Houston’s future residents and workforce, thereby harming Houston’s hopes for progress in numerous realms—social, economic, political, and beyond.
To no one’s surprise, Houston faces many issues with transportation. Most interviewees that indicated transportation as a key issue cited Houston’s car-dominated infrastructure which limits our walkability and hinders those without vehicles, disproportionately impacting low-income residents. We do not boast a public transit system as comprehensive as those in regions of a similar population, and our urban-suburban sprawl presents a growing challenge in the accessibility of employment, education, community spaces, cultural events, medical care, and other necessities for the interconnectedness of our residents.
The most identified barrier to a vision of Houston’s future is the condition of our political climate—at all levels—which heavily impacts other concerns regarding our region’s education and transportation. Many people noted the party polarization on a national scale, while others remarked on the disparity between state and city agendas and ideologies, and still others discussed civic engagement in the region and county.
Regardless of the specific sector, nearly half of our respondents view the ineffectual nature of political divisiveness as a primary challenge to our region’s progress.
Relatedly, many of our interviewees feel frustrated by not only a lack of political cohesion but an overall lack of regionwide coordination. Many articulated that while we have a generous philanthropic sector, numerous nonprofits, innovative economic energy, and involved governance, we struggle with “fractured, uncoordinated efforts” that hinder us from achieving our full potential. Further, a lack of leadership in certain issue areas or a void of strategic planning can result in duplicative or incongruous initiatives that do not utilize resources effectively, thereby limiting our capacity for meaningful impact.
Houstonians Possess Immeasurable Strengths
Despite our region’s challenges, Houstonians know better than most that where there’s a will, there’s a way—and our region is not short on will.
Houston is a region of bustling business. The economic diversity of industry and occupational offerings provide Houstonians with vast opportunities to be involved in their careers and communities and to make lives for themselves here. Our interviewees cited the number of postsecondary institutions in Houston, touting the possibilities for higher education to expand Houstonians’ capacities and skillsets to engage in the economy of today and tomorrow.
A standout phrase in our interview responses, Houston’s “can-do spirit” inspires us to stand strong and resilient in the face of our challenges. From our penchant for entrepreneurial endeavors to our belief that we can have a positive impact on our communities, our interviewees see in their fellow Houstonians a drive to strive for a better region for all.
Though we acknowledge the challenges in our midst, we have an unwavering will to overcome them in the hope of creating a brighter tomorrow for ourselves, our fellow residents, and the next generation. Many interviewees noted that this mindset, though intangible, is an undeniable strength to leverage when encountering barriers to our region’s success.
Our deep care for our region and its success also motivates Houstonians to give generously to the causes and organizations that they believe affect meaningful change. More than one-third of our interviewees praised Houston’s philanthropic sector and generous population as an invaluable strength as we look to the future. Our region has both the resources and the will to strategically direct significant funding to local programs that tirelessly exercise the innovation and resilience that define our region.
Take Action
How do we work collaboratively to leverage our region’s strengths to reach our collective vision for the future?
Greater Houston Community Foundation is bringing together the best minds, hearts, ideas, and evidence to make a collective community investment that leads to a lasting impact. The Foundation is listening to trusted partners and community residents to our new annual grantmaking opportunity.
We cannot do this work alone. How can you get involved?
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Are you a community, nonprofit, government, philanthropic, or business leader with expertise or experience in issues related to economic mobility? We want to hear from you. Please contact our Community Impact team to help us increase our diversity of perspectives.
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Contact Tyler Murphy, Senior Advisor of Charitable Solutions, to learn more about how you can give to the Community Impact Fund or attend a donor program.
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Learn More
The Foundation’s Community Impact work is an extension of how Greater Houston Community Foundation shows up for Houston. As Houston continues to grow and evolve, so will the Foundation.
Houston’s growth is a testament to its grit and resilience. A bustling metropolis known for its diversity, entrepreneurial spirit, and generosity, Houston has long been a hub for innovation and progress. As the region grows and evolves, we face increasing challenges that undermine our ability to create and maintain a thriving region for all. From natural disasters to limited access to high-quality education and economic opportunities, Houston’s residents are striving and many of them, struggling, to build a better future for themselves and their families. We believe their challenges, Houston’s challenges, can only be addressed by strategic philanthropy, cross-sector collaboration, and innovative solutions designed in partnership with the community.
Looking ahead, our collective focus within our community centers on Community Impact. Spanning nearly three decades, the Foundation has nurtured deep-seated relationships that allow us to honor donor intent and drive significant positive shifts alongside our partners. We help grow effective philanthropy by connecting donors to the causes they care about and providing excellent stewardship of assets entrusted to us. Our Community Impact Fund expands our collective reach to fuel new strategic investments to make Houston a more vibrant region for all. The Community Impact Fund embodies the heart of our community, where neighbors come together to enact lasting, impactful change.
Fueling Strategies to Address Community Needs
