Early February marks the publication of The Texas Metropolitan Blueprint, which lays out a five-year policy agenda to ensure long-term prosperity and competitiveness for the state’s 26 metropolitan areas—home to 90% of the Texas population.
What makes Texas cities, both large and small, so appealing to the millions of people moving here? And how can we collaborate to address key challenges such as housing affordability, transportation and mobility, economic development, public safety, and ensuring a reliable water supply, all to help our cities thrive?
Join us on Wednesday, March 5, at the A300 Special Events Center at the University of Houston-Downtown for a daylong event celebrating what makes Texas cities so special and considering the urgent policy action needed during the 2025 Texas Legislature to help our cities’ growth and success over the next five years and beyond.
We'll hear from lawmakers, civic leaders, policy advocates, economic development and placemaking experts, and those working with community stakeholders to make sure they have a role in shaping their city’s future.
Lunch will be provided by The Texas Tribune. Food options will be available for those observing the Lenten season.
PS: Earn CPE credits by attending this event! Through a partnership with the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), teachers earn continuing professional education (CPE) credit by attending these events in person, watching live online, or watching on-demand later.
PARKING: Parking is not provided. The UHD Visitor Parking garage is available on a first come, first served basis at 201 Girard Street. Guests will have to self-pay $10 for single entry.
There is also City of Houston self-pay metered parking at zone #47802, located directly across the street.
Once parked, guests should use Entry 1 or 2 to access the building and follow directional signage to check-in.
Opening panel: The Texas Metropolitan Blueprint
• Sherri Greenberg, professor of practice and fellow of the Max Sherman Chair in State and Local Government at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin
• Steven Pedigo, professor and director, LBJ Urban Lab, University of Texas at Austin
• Pablo Pinto, professor, Hobby School of Public Affairs; director, Center for Public Policy, University of Houston
• Moderator: Joshua Fechter, urban affairs reporter, The Texas Tribune
Second panel: Housing
• Caroline Cheong, associate director of housing and neighborhoods, Kinder Institute for Urban Research
• Nicole Nosek, chair, Texans For Reasonable Solutions
• José “Chito” Vela, Austin City Council member for District 4
• Moderator: Joshua Fechter, urban affairs reporter, The Texas Tribune
• Thirty-minute conversation with Blueprint co-author Sherri Greenberg on artificial intelligence and Texas cities. Moderated by Matthew Watkins, editor-in-chief, The Texas Tribune
• Thirty-minute conversation with Blueprint co-author Pablo Pinto and Maria Paula Perez, research associate, Hobby School of Public Affairs, University of Houston, about climate change and the future of Texas cities. Moderated by Matthew Watkins, editor-in-chief, The Texas Tribune.
Third panel: Mobility and transportation
• Jay Blazek Crossley, executive director, Farm&City
• Patrick J. Kennedy, planner and urban designer; Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) board member
• Caroline Mays, director of planning and modal programs, Texas Department of Transportation
• Moderator: Paul Cobler, politics reporter, Houston Landing
Lightning talk
• Molly Morgan, associate vice president, Texas state director, The Trust For Public Land
Closing panel: Economic Development (more speakers to be announced soon)
• Steven Pedigo, professor and director, LBJ Urban Lab, University of Texas at Austin
• Romanita Matta-Barrera, chief business advancement officer, greater:SATX
• Roberto Ransom, director, economic development department, El Paso County
• David Saenz, senior education advisor, Fort Worth Mayor’s Council on Education and Workforce Development
• Moderator: Giselle Rodriguez Greenwood, lead editor, Houston Landing
Email us at events@texastribune.org
The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
Saucedo-Herrera is the president and CEO of greater:SATX, a regional economic partnership charged with growing and diversifying the eight-county San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA. During her seven-year tenure at the helm of San Antonio’s economic development team, greater:SATX has secured over 23,000 jobs for the region through recruitment and expansion projects that include work with Ernst & Young, Victory Capital, Navistar and Aisin.
Kamerlander is president and CEO of the Greater San Marcos Partnership. He formerly served as director of Lockhart Economic Development, where he developed the city’s first economic development strategic plan to promote Lockhart as a destination for job creation and investment. The successful program saw the development of a LEDC-owned 75 acre-acre industrial park housing Lockhart’s most recent announcement, The Ziegenfelder Company, a frozen treat manufacturer. The project included a $46 million investment and is creating 100 new jobs.
Latson is the CEO of Opportunity Austin. Previously, he founded and served as executive director for ARMA, the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association, a business group focused on strengthening the advanced manufacturing community through advocacy, workforce development and networking. Latson is also a member of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Semiconductor Taskforce.
Packer is president and CEO of the New Braunfels Chamber, a membership organization representing more than 1,600 businesses. The chamber advocates for sound public policy, serves as the destination marketing organization for New Braunfels and manages Confluence, a public-private economic development initiative.
Cisneros is chair of the infrastructure investment firm American Triple I. He is also vice chair of the board of directors and equity owner of Shank Williams Cisneros & Co. LLC and principal of Siebert Williams Shank & Co. LLC. He was mayor of San Antonio from 1981-89 and secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton from 1993-97.
