The Rededication of Historic Emancipation Park

Buffalo Soldiers Houston presentation of Colors.

On June 17, during Houston’s annual Juneteenth celebration, Emancipation Park was rededicated in front of thousands of Third Ward residents. KHOU’s Len Cannon and ABC 13’s Melanie Lawson emceed the affair, which officially commemorated the historic park’s $33.6 million renovation.

Continue reading “The Rededication of Historic Emancipation Park”

MFAH breaks ground on Nancy and Rich Kinder building

Groundbreaking for the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building. From L to R: Chris McVoy, architect; Anne Duncan, vice chair, board of trustees; Nancy Kinder; Gary Tinterow, MFAH director; Richard D. Kinder, chair, board of trustees; Steven Holl, architect. Photo by Wilson Parish.

On May 31, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston broke ground on the Nancy and Rich Kinder building for modern and contemporary art. The 165,000-square-foot structure is part of the 14-acre redesign of the Museum’s Susan and Fayez S. Sarofim Campus. 

Nancy Kinder, president of the Kinder Foundation, and Rich Kinder, chairman of the Kinder Foundation and chairman of the MFAH board of trustees, marked the occasion with shovels in the ground alongside Anne Duncan, vice chair of the board of trustees; Gary Tinterow, director of MFAH; and Steven Holl and Chris McVoy, the building’s architects.

Continue reading “MFAH breaks ground on Nancy and Rich Kinder building”

“From Rendering to Reality: The Story of Buffalo Bayou Park”

Buffalo Bayou Partnership has proudly debuted From Rendering to Reality: The Story of Buffalo Bayou Park, a chronicle of and homage to the history, people, and vision behind Buffalo Bayou Park.

With a grant from the Kinder Foundation, the 100+ page, years-in-the-making book captures the legacy of the park in a beautiful and informative coffee table book. Readers will hear from those instrumental in Buffalo Bayou Park’s inception and completion, and enjoy stunning photography of the park’s most beloved offerings.

From Rendering to Reality: The Story of Buffalo Bayou Park can be purchased at Buffalo Bayou Park’s Visitor Centers at The Water Works and Lost Lake or online at buffalobayou.org.

Taking Houstonians’ pulse on traffic, crime, immigration and more

Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research released its annual Kinder Houston Area Survey on May 1. Among the findings was this point of pride for our city: the majority of Houston residents would choose to stay in the Bayou City even if given a choice to move. The 36th annual survey also revealed that traffic continues to be the dominant concern, people are less worried about crime, and are increasingly supportive of immigration and gay rights.

To read more about Houstonians’ views on life in the Houston area, crime, jobs and education, demographics, and social issues, click here.

How A $10.7 Million Grant Will Improve Education In Houston

Ruth N. López Turley, Director of Houston Education Research Consortium

How can Houston’s education pipeline produce a strong workforce?

What’s the best way to address segregation facing Houston-area schools?

How can we improve bilingual education in one of the most diverse parts of the country?

And how can we develop programs that serve all students in metro Houston, even as the region faces rising levels of concentrated poverty?

Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research will explore the answers to those types of questions, and more, thanks to a $10.7 million, seven-year grant from the Kinder Foundation announced today. Continue reading “How A $10.7 Million Grant Will Improve Education In Houston”

Rain Underground: Buffalo Bayou Park’s Cistern welcomes its first installation

Digital rendering of 2iPM009 for Rain: Magdalena Fernández at the Houston Cistern by Jean C. Giallorenzo; Courtesy of M. Fernández.

When Buffalo Bayou Park opened in October 2015, few features were more anticipated and buzzed about than the Cistern, an underground cavernous structure featuring 200 slender, 25-foot high concert columns. Its size and reminiscence of the ancient Roman cisterns in Istanbul demanded something grand be done within it. To date, more than 16,000 visitors have experienced the space.

Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) chose to honor the Cistern and its historical significance – it was originally a City of Houston water reservoir built in 1926 – by repurposing it to become a grand space to house an ambitious program of changing art installations.

The first such installation opens December 10, 2016. Continue reading “Rain Underground: Buffalo Bayou Park’s Cistern welcomes its first installation”

Downtown illuminated: winter art at Discovery Green

"Firmament" by Christopher Schardt. Photo credit: Katya Horner for Discovery Green.
“Firmament” by Christopher Schardt. Photo credit: Katya Horner for Discovery Green.

Discovery Green has become known for its exceptional public art installations, especially in the wintertime. This year, the 12-acre downtown park is presenting two new installations: Firmament, a vibrant canopy of LED lights by acclaimed Burning Man artist Christopher Schardt, and Enchanted Promenade, towering, colorful peonies by TILT, a French light art and design studio. Both installations were possible through a grant from the Kinder Foundation.

Continue reading “Downtown illuminated: winter art at Discovery Green”

One year later: the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy

The University of Missouri’s Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy (KICD) was established in October 2015. The Institute promotes excellence in interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship about American constitutional and democratic principles, history and traditions.

One year later, we celebrate what the institute has already accomplished to further this mission. Milestones from 2015-2016 include: Continue reading “One year later: the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy”

Exceptional Houston-Area Teachers Honored and Granted Collective $240,000

The 2016 KETA Award winners with Rich and Nancy Kinder (far left).

Twelve (12) Houston-area school teachers were honored with the Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award and a collective $240,000 at a reception on September 24. Teachers from KIPP Houston Public Schools, YES Prep Public Schools, the Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, and two Teach for America alumni each received grants of $20,000. See below for video of the respective schools honoring their 2016 KETA winners.

Current and past winners shared their stories and gratitude at the awards dinner. Each acknowledged the influence their own teachers had in shaping their passion for education.

The Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award was established in honor of Edna C. Kinder, who taught special education students in Cape Girardeau, MO. The awards recognize innovative and results-oriented teaching and to raise public awareness of the importance of effective and committed teachers.