The Change Lab and Listen First are deeply aligned in mission and method. Both believe that systems change begins with relational culture—and that connection across difference is both a practice and a movement. Listen First provides vital infrastructure and national amplification for bridge-building work already happening in communities like ours.

LISC Houston is the local office of the national nonprofit Local Initiatives Support Corporation, which supports community development in underinvested neighborhoods. LISC Houston partners with local leaders, residents, and organizations to amplify grassroots power, grow economic opportunity, and support equitable development. Their mission is to equip communities with the capital, strategies, and relationships needed to thrive—on their own terms.

All In Together (AIT) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization advancing women’s civic and political leadership across the United States. Founded in 2014, AIT empowers women from all backgrounds—regardless of political affiliation—to become confident and effective advocates in their communities, workplaces, and public life.

With a deep commitment to equity and democracy, AIT brings civic education and leadership development directly to communities that have been historically excluded from power, especially women of color, rural women, and those in low-income and underrepresented regions.

Founded by New York Times columnist David Brooks in 2018, WEAVE: The Social Fabric Project is an initiative of the Aspen Institute working to address America’s crisis of broken trust and social fragmentation. Born out of a national listening tour and guided by a deeply relational ethos, WEAVE exists to support people who prioritize connection, community, and belonging in their daily lives.

From neighborhood leaders and faith organizers to barbers, coaches, and volunteers, WEAVE uplifts these “weavers”—people who stitch their communities together through acts of trust and care. WEAVE supports them through storytelling, skill-building, funding, and connection, helping foster a culture that values relationships as much as results.

The Eviction Lab, founded by sociologist Matthew Desmond, is the first nationwide database of eviction records in the United States. But more than just a research initiative, it’s a powerful act of truth-telling — putting numbers to the reality that millions of Americans are pushed from their homes each year, often invisibly.

New Leaders Council (NLC) – Houston is part of a national movement to build a pipeline of inclusive, equity-driven leaders committed to making a positive impact in their communities. Focused on training emerging leaders from underrepresented backgrounds, NLC Houston brings together changemakers across industries—nonprofit, business, government, and grassroots organizing—for a dynamic fellowship experience rooted in values, strategy, and service.

The Rothko Chapel is an iconic, interfaith sanctuary in the heart of Houston that serves as both a place of spiritual reflection and a platform for transformative action. Founded in 1971, it was envisioned as a sacred space where people from all walks of life could come together across lines of religion, race, nationality, and ideology. Today, it stands at the intersection of art, spirituality, and human rights—hosting programs, dialogues, and performances that invite deep reflection and inspire social change.

Compassionate Houston is a volunteer-led nonprofit dedicated to fostering empathy, unity, and social connection across Houston’s diverse communities. Founded in 2011 and inspired by the global Charter for Compassion, the organization promotes compassion as a practical tool for individual well-being and civic renewal. Through programs in education, the arts, mindfulness, and community service, they invite Houstonians to live compassionately in public and private life.

MENTOR is the national voice of the youth mentoring movement. For over three decades, they’ve worked to close the mentoring gap by fueling quality, accessible mentoring relationships for young people across the U.S. MENTOR believes all youth should have access to the support and guidance that caring relationships provide—especially those facing systemic barriers.

Results for America helps governments at all levels—federal, state, and local—make better decisions and get better results by using evidence and data. Since 2012, they've been building a movement around the idea that public dollars should go to programs that are proven to work. Their team includes former policymakers, data scientists, and civic innovators who offer practical tools and training to embed outcomes-based thinking into government systems.

One Houston is a coalition of community members, schools, faith institutions, and nonprofit partners working to build civic power for social justice across the Greater Houston area. Through grassroots organizing and leadership development, One Houston empowers everyday people to take action on issues that directly affect their lives—from education equity and housing to voter access and public safety.