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Cougars and Houston Area Math Program
 
 
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Community Surrounding the University of Houston



To understand CHAMP and its mission, it is important to be familiar with the communities surrounding the University of Houston, including the Third Ward, Sunnyside and the East End.

The University of Houston lies within the Third Ward, a predominantly African-American community that is adjacent to several African-American and Hispanic neighborhoods. As stated in the Wikipedia article on the Third Ward, the area has a number of dilapidated buildings and rundown shotgun shacks, and it suffers from poverty, crime, unemployment, and recreational drugs. The Third Ward / Sunnyside area is among the lowest income neighborhoods in America as well as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in U.S., with 1 out of every 11 people the victim of a violent crime each year (compared to a Houston average of 1 out of every 102 people each year).

In the face of these problems, a slow restoration process began in the late 1990s as artists began moving into the Third Ward and surrounding areas, and more small businesses were opened. In the 2000s, a number of homes were renovated, townhouses appeared in the area across the freeway, and programs such as Project Row Houses continued to improve the living conditions in the area.

Continuation of this economic growth and improvement in living conditions requires a viable K-12 school system for the children of these neighborhoods. This provides a unique opportunity for the University of Houston to partner with local schools and work with educators to improve the quality and availability of education in our shared community.

It goes without saying that the Third Ward, Sunnyside, and other nearby neighborhoods are home to numerous hardworking Houstonians, many of whom have worked for years to improve and revive the area. At the same time, it is important that the University of Houston, as a major constituent of this community, takes an active role in its development and revitalization. With the recent accomplishments in the University, and its elevation to Tier One status, the University of Houston has a great deal to offer, and it is currently poised to reach out to the surrounding neighborhoods.

In recent years, numerous academic institutions in urban regions have reached similar conclusions, and worked successfully to reconnect their urban campuses with the surrounding neighborhoods. One example is the University of Chicago, which is currently in the midst of a redevelopment effort in a blighted retail district near its historic Hyde Park campus. Another example is Syracuse University, an urban institution that began working in 2007 to develop a dilapidated working-class neighborhood where Thomas Edison once lived and worked.

By looking beyond the bounds of the campus and engaging the surrounding high schools, the University of Houston has the opportunity to improve our shared community, educate the next generation of its residents, and connect with our neighbors through our collaborations. The University of Houston has always had a strong commitment to serving Houston and educating its residents. Consequently, the University of Houston's involvement in the local community is not a corollary to its vital educational mission; it is central to it. It is important for us all to realize that success for the surrounding neighborhoods is success for the University of Houston, and that we are stronger if we work together toward achieving our shared goals.



ADDITIONAL ARTICLES ABOUT THE THIRD WARD