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By Peter Beard Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast region are a microcosm of the forces transforming U.S. regional economies. These forces have profound implications for a region’s ability to grow its economy and compete globally.  The dynamic transformation from industrial economies to technology-enabled, knowledge, and innovation-based economies is accelerating the shift in the skills … Continued

Léon Harmel, a successful 19th century French industrialist, recognized the dignity of workers — all workers. As an employer, he provided just wages, safe working conditions, housing, and retirement and health benefits when neither regulations nor competition for labor required them. His example inspired a papal encyclical that explored the connection between humanity and work. … Continued

By Roy Spence In the United States, every generation is called to do whatever it takes to leave the next generation with a country that is safer, stronger, and more united. These days, it can certainly feel like we are on the path to not living up to that calling. At a moment when Americans … Continued

By Jade Estrada I can recall the time in my eighth grade science class when I had to dissect a sheep’s eye. My teacher, Mrs. Griffin, instructed us to carefully make an incision through the sclera. As I held my breath to minimize the fishy, rotten odor of the eyeball and moved the scalpel back … Continued

By Kathleen deLaski For many decades, community colleges have served as beacons of inclusivity for their regions and the most important public institution designed to offer economic mobility to the 60 percent of the adult population that has no college degree. But the drop off in learner demand tells a changing story.  The enrollment declines started slowly … Continued