Where the individual and policy collide, our health research and coverage seeks to document and improve.

Latest Urban Edge Stories

In its 10th year, Community Bridges projects confront ever-apparent inequalities in Houston

The inequality that exists across Houston neighborhoods has perhaps never been more evident than it has over the past year. 

Community Bridges
Feature Story
: Jun 3, 2021
Education, Health, Housing, Urban Disparity

Surveying Houston’s progressive shift through 40 years of data

Houston, a quintessentially free-enterprise, anti-government city, is increasingly recognizing the critical role of government in strengthening the safety net, expanding opportunity and building resiliency, according to the Kinder Houston Area Surveys.

Downtown Houston in 1977 and today
Kinder Institute Research
: May 27, 2021
Demographics, Economic Development, Education, Governance, Health, Housing, Hurricane Harvey, Immigration, Urban Disparity, Urban Planning

Maternal deaths are public health and health equity problems. They’re also preventable.

The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. is rising, and Black women have the highest risk. Extending access to postpartum health care would prevent deaths.

Perspective
: May 26, 2021
Health, Urban Disparity

Latest Research

Kinder Houston Area Survey: 2021 Results

For the past four decades, Rice University’s Kinder Houston Area Survey (KHAS) has been tracking the changing attitudes and beliefs of Harris County residents. The 2021 survey summarizes the most consequential changes and their implications for public policy initiatives going forward. It also explores in what specific ways and to what measurable extent have residents been personally impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic shutdown and growing awareness of systemic racism.
Report: May 11, 2021
COVID-19 and Cities, Demographics, Economic Development, Education, Governance, Health, Housing, Hurricane Harvey, Immigration, Placemaking, Transportation

A Bottom-Up Infrastructure Strategy for American Renewal

This report identifies infrastructure priorities identified by local and regional leaders around the nation. Conclusions provide an important set of guideposts about priorities the new administration should take into account in crafting a national infrastructure strategy.
Report: Feb 10, 2021
COVID-19 and Cities, Economic Development, Education, Governance, Health, Housing, Transportation, Urban Planning

Texas Flood Registry 2020 Report

This report includes updates on Harvey’s long-term impact and recent findings about the health and housing effects of the May 2019 storms and Tropical Storm Imelda.
Report: Aug 25, 2020
Health, Housing, Hurricane Harvey

Experts

Head shot of Tony Brown

Tony N. Brown

  • Kinder Fellow
  • Professor of Sociology, Rice University
  • Associate Director, Kinder Institute’s Urban Health Program
  • Founding Director, Racism and Racial Experiences (RARE) Workgroup
713-348-3242
Profile
Head shot of Rachel Kimbro

Rachel Kimbro

  • Kinder Fellow
  • Professor of Sociology
  • Founding Director, Kinder Institute Urban Health Program
  • Rice University
713-348-4265
Profile
Head shot of Loren Raun

Loren Hopkins

  • Kinder Fellow
  • Chief Environmental Science Officer, Houston Health Department
  • Professor in the Practice, Statistics, Rice University
Profile
Katherine B. Ensor

Katherine Bennett Ensor

  • Kinder Fellow
  • Director, Kinder Institute Urban Data Platform
  • Noah G. Harding Professor of Statistics
  • Rice University
713-348-4132
Profile

Related Initiatives

Urban Health Program

The program facilitates research, education and community outreach on urban health issues, broadly defined. It also brings together faculty and community affiliates from institutions across the Houston area who focus on the social determinants of health.