At the onset of the Census work, the Houston in Action initiative boasted over 50 member organizations and 80 participating organizations that included academic and research organizations, foundations, non-profit organizations, and other civically engaged entities across Houston and Harris County. These members and partners are dedicated to the long-term work needed to promote community leadership and break down systemic barriers to civic participation so that every resident, regardless of social identity, has equal opportunity to participate and have a meaningful impact on civic life. Beginning in October 2017, Houston in Action convened stakeholders to form its membership and guide them through an extensive planning process which resulted in a common agenda, goal setting, and defining our vision to create a civic life in Harris County where every person and each institution plays a powerful role in shaping a just and vibrant community.

From this work, the initiative had earned a few early wins including: 

1) producing the 2018 Houston Civic Health Index that resulted in the selection and prioritization of community of focus; 

2) hosting a dynamic convening of diverse grassroots leaders and members in 2018 to where they built a common understanding from sharing and learning from one another; 

3) planned and executed civic participation activities with youth and the general public in the form of events and social media. Coordinated Houston in Action members also engaged in canvassing and media efforts in the Latinx and Asian community, and developed materials for Spanish and Vietnamese language audiences; and 

4) the unveiling of “Take Action Houston: Policies Affecting Civic Engagement in Houston and Texas” research that summarizes current systemic barriers to civic participation that has informed our priorities and work. 

As a result of the role Houston in Action was already playing in the community, they were well-suited to support Harris County and the City of Houston in creating and convening the Complete County Committee as well as leading their own parallel efforts. 

These meetings provided, in total, Houston in Action coordinated and facilitated 47 planning meetings for 8 Complete Count Committee meetings with an average of 73 participants at each meeting. Additionally, Houston in Action facilitated 13 Community-based and Health Subcommittee meetings hosting 190 participants from 139 organizations. It is through these meetings that a diverse set of partners from across a variety of sectors and with divergent missions, came together to unite behind a single cause. This is only achieved after the tedious work of building a common understanding of how an incomplete Census count negatively impacts each sector of society.

In addition to their work in Houston and Harris County, Houston in Action was actively involved in the state efforts around getting an accurate count by participating in Texas Counts, a state-wide collaborative effort serving as a partner, connector, and hub for regional Get Out the Count efforts in Texas. Houston in Action’s work is held by many as exemplary and cutting-edge and our work provided guidance to surrounding counties, like Fort Bend, Montgomery and Galveston.