COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS LUNCHEON: THE PULSE OF OUR REGION

Description

THE PULSE OF OUR REGION - INSIGHTS FROM THE HOUSTON AREA SURVEY
📅 Thursday, October 9, 2025
🕙 11:30 AM - Registration and Networking
🕙 12:00 - 1:30 PM - Program
📍 Location: Hilton Houston Plaza/Medical Center
6633 Travis St., Houston, TX 77030

PANEL DISCUSSION

For over four decades, the Houston Area Survey has tracked the changing attitudes, concerns, and demographics of the Greater Houston region, offering invaluable insight into the shifting social, economic, and political landscape of our city.

Whether you're a business leader, policymaker, nonprofit professional, or community advocate, this conversation will give you data-driven context to better understand our region—and how we can all work together to shape its future.  Join us to learn about what Houstonians are thinking about key issues like the economy, public safety, education, and equity.

📊 What do the latest survey results reveal about the priorities and concerns of Houstonians today?

🌍 How are demographic and cultural shifts shaping the future of the region?

🧭 How can business, civic, and nonprofit leaders use this information to drive change?

💼 What do the survey insights mean for businesses navigating a rapidly changing Houston?

FEATURED PANELISTS

Katherine Perez Researcher Kinder Institute for Urban Research	Dan Potter Director of the Houston Population Research Center Kinder Institute for Urban Research	Dylan Simburger Research Analyst Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Katherine L. Perez is a Researcher in the Center for Community and Public Health at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Sam Houston State University and a B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Long Beach. Her research focuses on addressing the health and mental healthcare needs of underserved communities, with a focus on maternal health through a biopsychosocial lens.	Dan Potter directs the survey work from the Houston Population Research Center at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University. This includes overseeing the Greater Houston Community Panel (GHCP), a longitudinal study of nearly 10,000 adults in Fort Bend, Harris, and Montgomery counties. The GHCP also includes the Kinder Houston Area Survey, which is the longest-running survey of any major metropolitan area in the country. Dan earned his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Virginia.	Dylan Simburger is a research analyst with the Houston Population Research Center at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University. In his current role, Dylan is part of the team that develops, programs, administers, and analyzes data from the Greater Houston Community Panel. His work focuses on survey design and socio-demographic analysis to better understand social inequality and lived experiences across the Houston region. Dylan has his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Arizona.

MODERATOR

We are honored to have Professor López Turley moderate what will be an insightful conversation with her colleagues.

Ruth López Turley
Director
Kinder Institute for Urban Research

Professor López Turley directs the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University, which brings together data, research, engagement and action to improve lives. In 2011, she founded the Houston Education Research Consortium (HERC), a research-practice partnership between the Kinder Institute and 11 Houston area school districts, representing over 700,000 students. Read more.

Don't miss this chance to dig into the numbers, explore trends, and connect with others who care deeply about Houston’s future.

This quarterly event is designed to foster open dialogue and civic engagement around the issues and topics that matter most.

🌟 Space is limited—register early to save your seat! 

About the Kinder Institute

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research, celebrating it's 15-Year Anniversary this year, is an interdisciplinary research organization at Rice University in Houston. The institute’s vision is prosperity for all, where everyone has an opportunity to contribute to Houston’s success and share in its opportunities.  

The institute focuses on the intersecting issues of housing, education, economic mobility, health, and population. Research initiatives are housed under five research centers.

Using a research-practice partnership model, the Kinder Institute advances the public good by working hand in hand with government agencies and social services organizations that are positioned to solve critical challenges facing the nation’s fifth-largest and most diverse metropolitan area. In this model, projects are jointly developed with long-term partners who contribute their insight and expertise.

Founded in 2010, the Kinder Institute was endowed with a $15 million gift from Houston philanthropists Richard and Nancy Kinder. Today, the institute receives its funding from grants, corporate sponsorships, individual donors, and an endowment.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

This event is made possible by the generous support of our Community Conversations Luncheon Sponsors.

Visionary Sponsor

Changemaker Sponsor

Connection Sponsors

Media Sponsors

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