Texas Southern University recently unveiled a community hub in one of Houston’s historic African American neighborhoods, Third Ward, dedicated to addressing public health, affordable housing and community wellness, according to a university news release.

 

The Institute for Urban Public Health and Housing will provide community members with a 6,000-square-foot space built to strengthen housing advocacy, hold conferences and workforce training, support faculty-student research and more.

 

The center will provide:

  • Opportunities to build partnerships with grassroots organizations and housing advocates to improve access to affordable housing;
  • Hands-on training and programs to support the next generation of health care workers;
  • Year-round mentorship for K–12 students to strengthen academic success;
  • Access to community wellness activities, clinical forums and health care seminars;
  • A centralized technology-enabled space for community engagement and collaboration.

 

“The Institute for Urban Public Health and Housing embodies Texas Southern University ’s mission to serve as a catalyst for change,” said vice president for research and innovation Michelle John, PhD, in the release. “By linking research, education and direct community engagement, Texas Southern University is ensuring that our scholarship translates into real-world solutions for Houston’s most pressing challenges.”

 

The center was established with a $2 million grant secured by the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee through the Health Resources and Services Administration. She and House Minority Leader Hakeen Jeffries (D–N.Y.) announced the funding in 2023.

 

Located in the newly renovated W.R. Banks Child Development Center Community, university officials hope the center will serve as a model for urban-focused research and community engagement across the country.

 

“This new space is our next chapter of partnership, where we’ll train leaders, conduct groundbreaking research and implement programs that uplift our communities,” Jometra Hawkins-Sneed, executive director of the African American Health Coalition, told the Houston Chronicle.