Social and Economic Disparity

"Ban the Box" Movement Gaining Momentum in Texas

A growing number of communities are enacting policies designed to prevent ex-felons from being blackballed from work.

When Black Lives Matter Protesters Take to the Streets, It's Part of a Long History of "Infrastructural Citizenship"

Protesters, in the 1970s and today, turned to the streets to force conversations into the public eye.

Why Is It So Hard to Improve American Policing?

The techniques associated with "democratic policing" reforms are well-known. But they bump up against political and financial realities of the 12,000-plus local police agencies across the U.S.

How Houston Stacks Up On Transit Equity

A new collection of data from all of the country's major transit systems sheds light on important trends.

The Shifting City: Houston's Unequal History of Racial Change

This report provides a comprehensive look at the evolution of the Houston area’s racial/ethnic composition on a small geographic scale.

New Housing Trust Fund a Small Step Against Growing Affordability Gap

A new HUD program will help address housing affordable issues, but it may be only a drop in the bucket.

As Inequality Rises, So Does Support for Government Action

More and more Houstonians say the government should play an outsized role in reducing inequality.

What's the Big Deal About Houston's New Street Lights?

The new bulbs are causing some criticism. But we need to look at the bigger picture.

Houston Disparity Atlas

A set of maps that capture Houston's segregation as well as concentrated opportunity and disadvantage.

6 Ways to Make Downtown Houston More Pedestrian Friendly

Urban planner Jeff Speck told city officials exactly what they need to do to make downtown more walkable.

Salvation Army Aims to Address Poverty’s Data Vacuum

For all the resources and attention paid to combating poverty, the whole endeavor suffers from relatively limited lack of data.

Ferguson, Occupy Wall Street, and the rise “Infrastructural Citizenship”

Since WWII, public infrastructure has played a pivotal role in public debates.

Austin Wonders if Social Impact Bonds Can Cure Social Ills

The financing tool has been widely touted, but recent setbacks have raised questions about its future.

What A Poll Of Mayors Reveals About The Uneven Economic Recovery

Businesses are expanding and property values are rising. But demand for food, shelter, and affordable housing is increasing too. What does that disconnect mean for American cities?

What the 1960s Can Teach Us About How Segregation Affects Aspirations

As schools become more homogenous, historic surveys of black students offer insights