21
February
2020
|
10:50 AM
America/Chicago

Walk2Vote, Candidate Meet & Greet Highlight Day of Civic Engagement

Summary

By Mike Emery

The University of Houston-Downtown set the standard for civic engagement when it launched Walk 2 Vote nearly a decade ago. And in recent years, the twice-a-year stroll to the polls has been complemented by a Candidate Meet & Greet featuring roundtable discussions with candidates running for local, state and national offices.

This spring, UHD continues its tradition of motivating Houstonians to (literally) exercise their right to vote one step at a time.

Both Walk2Vote and the Candidate Meet & Greet are scheduled for Feb. 26 on campus.

The day of civic engagement will kick off at 9 a.m. with the Candidate Meet & Greet in UHD’s Milam Room (A300) hosted by the Center for Public Deliberation.

Scheduled candidates include those running for:

  • U.S. Senate
  • U.S. House Districts 2, 8, 9 and 18
  • Texas House of Representatives
  • Texas Senate
  • State Board of Education
  • Texas Railroad Commission
  • Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees
  • Harris County District Attorney
  • Harris County Sherriff
  • Harris County Commissioner Precinct 1 and 3
  • Harris County Tax Assessor
  • Justice for Court of Appeals
  • Judges for District Court
  • Texas Supreme Court.

A complete list of participating candidates is available online.

Following roundtable conversations with candidates, attendees will assemble on UHD’s South Deck for entertainment, refreshments and to prepare for Walk2Vote. Presented by UHD’s Student Government Association, the Walk2Vote celebration begins at noon with the actual procession to downtown polls at 1019 Congress Ave.

About the University of Houston-Downtown

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.

U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.