Presenting findings from the 45th Kinder Houston Area Survey
Registration at 11 a.m. | Luncheon at noon
The 2026 Kinder Institute Luncheon and Survey Presentation returns April 27! Join civic leaders, community members and researchers for a first look at the Kinder Houston Area Survey, one of the nation's longest-running studies of a metropolitan area.
Drawing on the voices of nearly 10,000 residents across Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties — home to nearly 1 in 5 Texans — the survey offers key insights into the lived experiences, perspectives and priorities of our region. Findings help guide meaningful action on Houston’s most pressing urban challenges.
Your support matters. Funds raised through the luncheon ensure the Kinder Institute’s partner-driven research remains a public good, freely accessible to all. Contact kinderdev@rice.edu with any questions.
Stephen L. Klineberg Award Honoree
At the luncheon, Charles C. Foster, chairman of Foster LLP, will receive the 2026 Stephen L. Klineberg Award.
A nationally recognized immigration attorney, Foster has devoted his career to expanding opportunity, advising U.S. presidents and helping shape a more inclusive approach to immigration. As honorary consul general of Thailand, he has strengthened cultural and economic ties with Southeast Asia. His service on nonprofit boards reflects a genuine commitment to community and to improving lives across the region. That dedication was notably demonstrated in his role securing the freedom of Houston Ballet dancer Li Cunxin, a story later brought to life in the film “Mao’s Last Dancer.”
About the award: Named for the institute's founding director, the Stephen L. Klineberg Award honors individuals who have made a lasting impact on Greater Houston. It has been presented to Ric Campo (2025), Dr. Marc L. Boom (2024), Mayor Sylvester Turner (2023), Dr. Anne Chao (2022), Robert Eury (2021), the Rev. William Lawson (2020), Jeff Hines (2019), Angela Blanchard (2018) and Tom Bacon (2017).
