Each year at the CEC we focus on a few strategic initiatives related to our mission of fostering dialogue about environmental issues in the Houston Gulf Coast region. Since it’s already March, it’s past time to let you in on what’s going on.

This year we are undertaking three strategic initiatives. The first of these is to begin planning the next generation of the Houston Environmental Center (or HEC2, to give it an acronym). In the summer of 1998, under the leadership of David Crossley and with funding from the DuPont LaPorte plant and the Houston Endowment, CEC opened the first-ever Houston Environmental Center at 3015 Richmond. Today we have no space left and more groups asking for room.

Now we’re moving toward creation of a Houston Environmental Center that not only provides a place for non-profit groups to achieve the synergies that come from officing together, but also serves as a model of environmental development and construction for our region, with its unusual climate and energy requirements.

The second strategic focus is to provide a bridge between the environmental community and other strong communities in Houston. We believe that more intense interaction between environmental groups and the business, religious, educational, and minority communities could have profound positive results.

The business community is ready for messages about how environmental improvement in Houston can make recruiting top talent easier. Members of the religious community are asking their congregational leaders about spiritual environmentalism. Working with the educational community (both K-12 and higher education) is a critical part of creating a new generation of leaders that are sensitive to Houston’s environmental challenges. And when our environmental work is informed and supported by minority communities, we have a much greater chance for success.

The third strategic focus is to improve our use of technology to meet our mission. The CEC had one of the first local environmental websites in 1994, and our new weekly e-mail Environmental News Update has become very popular. But there is still much work to be done in using networked technology to spread environmental news and messages further and faster to those who want to hear them.

As always, the CEC likes to partner whenever possible to meet its mission.
We are looking for partners for each of these three initiatives — Houston Environmental Center 2, connecting with the business, religious, educational, and minority communities, and using technology. Call the office today if you’re interested: 713-524-4232.