Center for Houston's Future Scenarios 2040 

 

More vivid and dynamic than forecasting or visioning, scenarios are stories that describe plausible futures. Research based, scenarios rely on a comprehensive analysis of data and community perspectives to understand how the powerful driving forces that affect our world and the choices we make right now could affect our region’s future.

In 2009, the Center for Houston’s Future embarked upon Scenarios 2040, the largest public-interest, business-led, regional scenario project in the country. Two scenarios were developed. They describe different worlds we might face in the year 2040, and will be used to generate wide public discussion to help individuals,organizations, businesses and government entities identify relevant opportunities and potential risks while exploring their options and responses to different potential futures. These scenarios will help us learn how to protect and nurture what we value, and achieve a workable balance between competitiveness and sustainability.

The Journey

Through retreats, learning journeys, interviews, workshops and meetings, our 30-member all-volunteer Scenario Building Team developed a thorough understanding of our region as it presently exists. Based on this “Picture of Now,” and an exploration of the factors that will have the greatest impact on the future, the team constructed two plausible stories - Playing to Win and Learning to Live. These scenarios describe distinctly different realities in which we might someday find ourselves living and working.

Our region, in 2040, could be like this...View the Scenarios 2040 trailer:

 

The Scenario Building Team

The Scenario Building Team was a diverse volunteer group from across the region comprised of architects, teachers, doctors, bankers, lawyers, social workers, students, artists, small business owners, scientists and planners, representing businesses, governments, universities and non-profit agencies. Over the last two years, they have steadily contributed more than 2000 hours of work.

• Ovidio Barillas, HCC student 
• Carolyn Bates-Jackson, U.S. Vets Initiative 
• James Calaway, Calaway Interests 
• Sheryl Dacso, Seyfarth Shaw, LLP 
• Sasha Dela, Artist & co-owner of Skydive 
• Irma Diaz-Gonzalez, Employment & Training Centers, Inc. 
• LeTosha Gale, M.D., Zoe Life Wellness Center
• Ayesha Ganguly, Center for the Healing of Racism
• Robert Harriss, Houston Advanced Research Center
• Lynne Humphries, Allen Boone Humphries Robinson, LLP 
• Guy Robert Jackson, Chambers County Representative
• Laura Jaramillo, Wells Fargo Bank 
• Michael Jhin, formerly with St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System 
• Harris ‘Shrub’ Kempner, Kempner Capital Management, Inc. 
• Raymond Lewis, UTMB School for Health Professions
• Emily Smith Llinas, Montgomery County Health Department 
• Charles Mbacha, IQPlus Services LLC 
• Tracye McDaniel, formerly with the Greater Houston Partnership 
• Bill Neuhaus, Studio Red Architects 
• Neena Newberry, Newberry Executive Coaching & Consulting, LLC 
• Dennis Odell, Liberty County Representative
• Immy Papadopoulos, Attorney 
• Mary Ruth Rhodenbaugh, former County Commissioner, Brazoria County 
• Graciela Saenz, Saenz & Associates, P.L.L.C 
• Jesse Saldivar, Shell Oil Company 
• Sr. Damien Marie Savino, University of St. Thomas
• Scott Van Beck, Houston A+ Challenge 
• Margaret V. Robinson, MCV Consulting 
• Arti Vir, Appliance Desk 
• Chuck Wemple, Houston Galveston Area Council

Professional Assistance

Barbara Heinzen, a London-based strategist and scenario planner, facilitated the work of the scenario team.

Todd Gentzel, Chief Strategist and scenario planner at Houston-based Yaffe Deutser, developed, designed and produced the scenarios.

Roll out

The scenarios were first introduced to a group of about 300 at our Scenarios 2040 Gala in October, 2011. Since then, we have presented to various groups in the region at public response workshops.

To view some of the responses from workshops we've held in the community, click below...

The scenarios were shared with the region's media on March 22,2012 as we prepare to build greater awareness around the Scenarios and the issues they raise. An interactive web platform that allows and encourages a full range of stakeholders to engage with the scenarios will be developed later this year.

For more information on these workshops, or to have one at your business or organization, click HERE.