July 1, 2025 — The Houston Area Urban League proudly hosted its Advancing Opportunity Luncheon on Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Hilton Americas-Houston, drawing a sold-out crowd of 320 guests. The luncheon served as a powerful convening of business, education, and civic leaders committed to shaping a more forward-looking Houston.
This year’s program featured an engaging panel discussion moderated by Mario Castillo, Chancellor of Lone Star College, with esteemed panelists Ryan Phillips, Paula Harris, Elizabeth Brock, and Steven Kean. The conversation explored the theme “The Future of Opportunity”, with thoughtful dialogue around mentorship, business, technology, transportation, communication, infrastructure, and education — all essential to ensuring Houston’s continued growth and competitiveness.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher, Chancellor of Houston Community College, who emphasized the importance of access, preparation, and innovation in creating real opportunities for the next generation.
The program opened with remarks from Judson W. Robinson III, President and CEO of the Houston Area Urban League, who shared:
“Houston is projected to finish 2025 with over 3.5 million payroll jobs, setting a new record for the region. After losing nearly 360,000 jobs during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, our recovery has not only been swift — it’s been historic. The Greater Houston Partnership projects 75,000 new jobs will be created this year alone.
But with that growth comes a responsibility — to ensure that everyone has the tools, access, and support to participate in this evolving economy. That’s where the Houston Area Urban League comes in. Through our workforce development programs, we’re not just preparing individuals for jobs — we’re helping build a pipeline of skilled, diverse talent that keeps Houston competitive and positioned to remain a world-class city.”
Adding a special moment of excitement to the afternoon, Southwest Airlines, the event’s Title Sponsor, surprised one lucky guest with (2) round-trip airline tickets to any destination Southwest flies.
The Advancing Opportunity Luncheon is one of HAUL’s two major annual fundraising events. Proceeds support the League’s year-round work in workforce development, education, housing, entrepreneurship, health, and advocacy. The next signature event will be the Equal Opportunity Day Gala, taking place on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Hilton Americas-Houston.
For more information about the Houston Area Urban League or to support upcoming events, please visit www.haul.org.
