While the issues of racial inequity and systemic racism are not unique to Houston, we have an opportunity as Houstonians to lead the way in reforming broken systems, partnering with communities, offering support and removing barriers. We often speak with pride of Houston being "America’s most diverse city." Now we must work to make Houston "America’s most inclusive and open city", one that does truly offer "opportunity for all." The Partnership and the 900 member companies and institutions we represent are committed to this endeavor.
One Houston Together is a data-driven effort of 100+ businesses, institutions, and nonprofit organizations to advance people of color into senior management roles, increase racial diversity on corporate boards, and grow spending with Minority Business Enterprises.
Houston Regional Equity and Inclusion Assessment
The regional assessment is an important tool for business planning and advancing progress on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). Please click the link for key findings, a list of 2023 participants, and the interactive industry dashboard.
Houston has joined the national Best Place for Working Parents® partnership, offering real-time designations to businesses of all sizes whose family-friendly policies qualify through a first-of-its-kind, 3-minute online self assessment.
Houston Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Impact Analysis
This report is a joint effort of the Greater Houston Partnership’s One Houston Together and the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC). The following tables summarize the economic impact of HMSDC-certified Minority Businesses Enterprises in the nine-county Houston MSA. While there are many other MBEs throughout the region, HMSDC data is used as a proxy to estimate the growing economic impact of MBEs across our region.
Racial Equity Principles
The Partnership’s Racial Equity Principles are a framework to communicate the Houston business community’s pledge to reforming systems of bias, strengthening underserved communities, advocating inclusion, and removing barriers to achievement. Although many businesses have made their own individual statements and pledges, this unified approach sends an important signal about the Houston business community’s collective commitment. The Principles articulate how the Partnership and individual businesses can commit to advancing racial equity within their organizations and throughout our community.
Racial Equity Committee
In 2020, the Partnership established a board committee to guide the organization's actions in addressing racial equity and racial justice issues in Houston. The mission of the Racial Equity Committee is to harness the collective commitment and resources of Houston’s businesses and institutions to advance bold solutions to strengthen Houston as the most diverse, inclusive and equitable city in the United States.
This committee operates at the level of our two other “board-member only” direction-setting committees, the Public Policy Steering and Economic Development Steering committees. The committee is currently co-chaired by Gretchen Watkins, President of Shell Oil Co., and Melanie Johnson, President and CEO of Collaborative for Children. Click the link below for the full roster of committee members.
Download this PDF for an overview of the activity and goals of the Partnership's One Houston Together effort.
Defining and understanding systemic and individual racism.
How does race affect the educational opportunities afforded to individuals and communities in the Houston area? What can we do to ensure quality education is accessible to all?
A look at why race-based disparities remain in outcomes, access, cost and quality of care.
Today, a person’s zip code remains one of the best indicators of their health and wealth. But there are renewed efforts to close the gaps in equity in our region’s communities.
What can individual companies and the broader corporate community do to help eliminate racial disparities?
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conversations
The Greater Houston Partnership presented Houston House during the 2021 SXSW virtual conference. The event featured candid conversations around a series of topics including innovation, the future of energy and DEI.
Key Articles
10 Proven Actions to Advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Bain & Company
Bain’s research finds evidence that 10 specific tactics—some common, others underused—are particularly effective at advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
Amplified Calls for Racial Equity Need Amplified Responses, Boston Consulting Group
Despite efforts to promote equity, many employees say companies haven’t done enough. Creating an equitable environment goes beyond hiring a diverse team—and benefits the entire company.
Getting Serious About Diversity: Enough Already with the Business Case, Robin J. Ely and David A. Thomas, Harvard Business Review
This argues that to fully benefit from increased racial and gender diversity, organizations must adopt a learning orientation and be willing to change the corporate culture and power structure.
Leading on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, PwC
Learn how a DEI data focus can help corporate directors oversee DEI progress.
The Curb-Cut Effect, Angela Glover Blackwell, Stanford Innovation Review
Laws and programs designed to benefit vulnerable groups, such as the disabled or people of color, often end up benefiting all of society.
A look at the Houston population by race, ethnicity, age, education and other factors.
The Kinder Institute examines gaps in income, educational attainment, neighborhood services and other metrics and their impact on opportunity.
Understanding Houston aggregates data across multiple sources to provide an accessible, one-stop platform for understanding key quality of life issues in Houston’s three most populous counties.
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