Houston’s public school system has had its fair share of drama over the last year. There’s a need for affordable education, but not all institutions are afforded the same benefits. This is where Good Reason Houston comes in. Its goal is to improve the quality of education across 18 school systems through advocating for student-first policies, conducting research to identify areas for improvement, and working with involved parties to ensure implementation. The organization also created Houston Loves Teachers, an outreach group that shows support to the backbone of the learning system: educators.

STEM Bridges Houston provides help for people pursuing higher education degrees, creating avenues to expand access in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields. The nonprofit does this through college planning services, field trips, seminars, tutorials, STEM research, internships, scholarships, and more. The best part? The services are not limited to postgraduates. STEM Bridges seeks to build the foundations as early as possible, providing aid to those as young as elementary school–aged kids.

Creative fields are just as important as other educational interests, and Young Audiences Arts for Learning Houston prioritizes fostering this passion for kids. Created in 1956, this nonprofit has grown to support kids in the arts across 51 school districts in the Houston area and 14 Texas counties. From after-school services and professional development opportunities to theater workshops and spoken word performances, this group does it all—even training in the culinary arts and puppetry (how cool!). We can thank this organization for making sure H-Town’s artistic spirit lives on in our youth.

Home to millions of immigrants, the Houston area has plenty of resources that provide the legal support needed by many. Advocates for Immigrants focuses on destigmatizing asking for and receiving aid, offering social and legal services to low-income immigrants including help with visa applications, sharing victim rights education, providing emergency funds, and connecting people with relevant resources and parties.

Acclimating to a new country can be very difficult. FAM Houston tries to make the change easier by creating bonds between immigrants and the local community. Working with immigrants and refugees from all walks of life in the area, this woman-created and -run nonprofit is focused on easing the transition through several programs like a women’s empowerment group and a community farm. The organization also organizes a program called Pajoma, a Swahili word for “together,” where newcomers are paired with local families to foster relationship-building.

By prioritizing equal access to legal aid and representation, the Galveston-Houston Immigration Representation Project tries to create a more resilient and diverse community. Cofounded by 2024 Houstonian of the Year finalist Chiqui Sanchez Kennedy, the organization provides services to low-income immigrants dealing with all types of cases including asylum, DACA, defense removal, temporary protected status, and more. The nonprofit also has programs serving survivors of sexual and human trafficking, as well as immigrant children and youth.

A women-led nonprofit that serves the hospitality industry, I’ll Have What She’s Having raises awareness and funds for women in the field through mentorship, education, and community relationship-building. The group also provides abortion and health care resources that include connecting users to the right places, counseling, doula services, and physical fitness programs. The organization also hosts events with access to free preventative care such as cancer screenings, vasectomies, IUDs, checkups, and more.

When it comes to maternal mortality, Black mothers are often more at risk. This nonprofit was founded in 2013 to address this issue. Shades of Blue Project offers maternal and mental health resources to Black and brown birthing people, including support groups, therapy sessions, job placement, and more. The group also hosts community baby showers for those one to six months postpartum, mental health walks, and several webinar series. Shade of Blue’s Journal Fund (created thanks to the sales from the self-care journals the organization sells) goes to helping the organization restock its inventory of resources for mothers who have experienced infant loss, whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, or otherwise.

Serving adolescent girls and underserved women in the Houston area, the Women’s Fund provides services that teach resilience and expand public health access. From health education classes and clean living workshops to preventative health seminars and conversations with medical professionals, the organization’s range of provisions for women and girls in the area is lengthy.