When parents have good child care, they can go to work. When they can go to work, Houston's businesses run better. That's why child care is part of how our city works.

But many home-based child care providers struggle. They don't have money saved for emergencies. They don't know how to run the business side of child care. They can't get loans like other small businesses can.

What the Pilot Program Did

• Gave money to 30 home child care businesses

• Taught owners how to run their businesses better

• Helped them prepare for storms and emergencies

• Tracked what worked and what didn't

• Learned lessons to help more providers

Why Belonging Matters

Families sign up their kids for swim lessons or sports not just to learn skills, but to make friends and feel like they belong. Seniors come for exercise classes and stay to talk over coffee. People walk through our doors for programs, but they stay because they feel seen and supported.

Recent research shows that feeling connected to others is more important for success than age, race, or income. The Y uses this information to create programs that bring different generations together and help people feel less alone.

Every child, in every neighborhood, excels in a world-class public school and thrives in the Houston of tomorrow.

An education backbone organization partnering with Houston-area school districts to accelerate progress by increasing the number of children succeeding in high-quality learning environments.

Why It Matters
Access to quality education is directly tied to civic participation, economic mobility, and systemic equity. By focusing on the physical and financial infrastructure of schools, Civic Builders helps communities transform vacant buildings, underutilized lots, and scarce resources into thriving centers of learning. This work addresses structural inequities, particularly for low-income, Black, and Hispanic families disproportionately affected by lack of access to quality facilities.

This act isn’t just adorable — it’s a model of connection and belonging. In an age of increasing classroom detachment, Ms. Shabir rebuilt trust and identity, one handcrafted doll at a time. Plus, the story reminds us that simple, thoughtful actions can profoundly impact civic culture, community respect, and human dignity.

It all begins with an idea.