Houstonians’ views on social issues, the biggest challenges facing the region and more findings from the 2024 Kinder Houston Area Survey were presented at the Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research’s annual luncheon at the Hilton Americas in downtown Houston May 20.
Mistress of ceremonies Samica Knight, a news anchor and reporter at ABC 13 (KTRK-TV) in Houston, warmly welcomed attendees to the event, followed by an invocation from Chris Seay, pastor at Ecclesia Houston. Knight returned to the stage to introduce Rice’s Howard R. Hughes Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Amy Dittmar, who remarked on the importance of the Kinder Institute to Rice and the city of Houston as well as Rice’s commitment to research and innovation.
“Together, we — all of us in this room — are working to make Houston a leading city in our nation,” Dittmar said.
Dittmar also recognized Houston Mayor John Whitmire, who was originally scheduled to speak at the luncheon but was unable to attend as he leads recovery efforts following the catastrophic storm that affected much of the city May 16.
Following Dittmar’s remarks, Knight returned to the stage to offer a tribute to 2020 Stephen L. Klineberg Award recipient William A. Lawson, an esteemed civil rights champion, cherished community leader and founding pastor of the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. Lawson died May 14.
“With his passing, Houston and the nation really has lost an incredible friend and a pastoral leader,” Knight said. “Reverend Lawson’s reach extended well beyond the church he founded, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, and we remember the civil rights icon, and we are so very, very grateful for his impact in Houston and the nation.”
Following Knight’s remembrance of Lawson, she and Dittmar presented the 2024 Klineberg Award to Houston Methodist CEO Dr. Marc L. Boom for his outstanding leadership in health care. Boom said he was humbled to accept the award.
“Being acknowledged with an award named after Stephen Klineberg, somebody whose lasting impact I deeply, deeply admire, holds immense significance to me,” he said.
Following Boom’s remarks, Knight introduced Kinder Institute Director Ruth N. López Turley, who shared highly anticipated highlights from the 2024 survey.
“This year, the Kinder Houston Area Survey focuses on the Houston of tomorrow,” Turley said. “And there is no better place to think about the future than Houston because the nation’s future happens here. In fact, the nation’s demographics projected for the year 2050 are already here in Houston.”
Following her presentation, which included Houstonians’ views on energy, housing, the economy, artificial intelligence, crime and safety and more, Turley thanked attendees for their support of the Kinder Institute’s work.
“We rely on your support to keep this work going and expanding and having an impact,” she said. “So I implore you to take this information and use it, and if there is anything else that we need to be doing to inform your efforts to improve our community, let us know.”
The full survey findings are online at https://kinder.rice.edu/research/kinder-houston-area-survey-2024-results.