Texas Demographic Conference

Data.census.gov Virtual Workshop

Experts from the U.S. Census Bureau will host a 2.5 hour virtual interactive workshop on the basics of accessing data from the data.census.gov application. Registration is required and space is limited.

Conference Welcome

State of the State: Texas Demographic Trends and Characteristics

Lloyd Potter, PhD, Texas State Demographer

Keynote Address: Aging, Dementia, and the Care Gap: How population trends are shaping the demand for care and delivery systems in Texas

Jacqueline Angel, PhD, Professor, LBJ School of Public Affairs, Wilbur J. Cohen Professor of Health and Social Policy

Examine how rapid population aging, declining caregiver availability, and increasing dementia-related care needs in Texas are creating a widening gap between demand and capacity, highlighting urgent pressures on care systems and the need for scalable policy solutions.

Breakout 1: Texas' Future in Numbers: County Population Projections and Beyond

Helen You, PhD, Senior Demographer and Interim Director, Texas Demographic Center

Take an inside look at how the Texas Demographic Center projects future population change across Texas counties. Explore our county-level population projections and get a sneak peek at the special projections derived from them, including labor force and household projections.

Breakout 2: Rural Texas, Reimagined: Data and Tools to Build Rural Assets and Capacity

Kelty Garbee, PhD, Executive Director, Texas Rural Funders

Evan Wolstencroft, Program Manager, Texas Rural Funders

This session explores new USDA research and Texas demographic trends to examine how philanthropy and data-driven asset mapping can help rural communities make a compelling case for investment amid ongoing population decline.

Breakout 3: Water Supply Planning: A Medium-Sized Utility Perspective

Robin Gary, One Water Coordinator, New Braunfels Utilities

Explore how a fast-growing Texas community plans for a reliable water future in this interactive tabletop session where participants will examine water supply strategies, demand forecasting, and the complex decisions required to balance growth, drought, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability.

Plenary Session: Understanding Growth in Central Texas: Data, Trends, and Local Perspectives

Moderator: Kara Joyner, PhD, Professor and Director of the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research (IDSER) at UT San Antonio

Ishmael Harris, Mayor, City of Bastop

Kaleen McHugh, Planning and Economic Development Coordinator, Capital Area Council of Governments

Lila Valencia, PhD, Demographer, City of Austin

Central Texas’s continued growth is experienced differently across communities and roles. In this plenary panel, leaders from local government and regional organizations bring distinct perspectives on how they use demographic data to understand population trends, plan for infrastructure and services, and respond to emerging issues—offering a multifaceted view of the region’s evolving landscape.

Breakout 1: The State of the Nonprofit Sector in Texas: Trends, Impact & Community Realities

Millicent Boykin, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, OneStar Foundation

Stephanie O'Banion, Director of Statewide Initiatives, United Ways of Texas

Explore the latest statewide and regional data on Texas nonprofits to better understand the sector’s size, economic impact, and emerging challenges and opportunities, and gain practical insights to strengthen advocacy, strategic planning, and resource development efforts.

Breakout 2: Texas Economic and Revenue Trends: Current Insights & Projections

Tetyana Melnyk, PhD, CGFM, CTCM, Director, Revenue Estimating Division, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Learn up-to-date insights on Texas's economy and revenue, discuss how these factors influence future growth, and explore the Comptrollers' role in the State's budgeting process.

Breakout 3: The American Community Survey: What’s New and What’s Next

Nicole Scanniello, Assistant Division Chief for Communications, American Community Survey Office, U.S. Census Bureau

Valeria Alvarez, Research Data Analyst, Texas Demographic Center

Join the U.S. Census Bureau for an overview of the American Community Survey (ACS) and recent updates and learn how the Texas Demographic Center uses the ACS to respond to data requests and highlight demographic trends in Texas.

Breakout 1: 2030 Is Closer Than You Think: Strengthening Census Data Starts With LUCA

Angela Broyles, Founder, President & CEO, Texas Census Institute

Richard Wade, Deputy Executive Administrator, Texas Geographic Information Office

This session explains how early engagement with the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) program can improve census accuracy, funding, and representation, drawing on lessons from Texas’ 2020 undercount and current pilot efforts. Participants will gain practical strategies to identify missing addresses and start preparing now to strengthen their community’s count for 2030.

Breakout 2: Disaster Recovery: A Coordinated Effort between Government and Philanthropy

Taylor Wolter, Director, Rebuild Texas, OneStar

Courtney Goss, State Voluntary Agency Liaison, Texas Department of Emergency Management

Join leaders from the Rebuild Texas Fund and the Texas Department of Emergency Management to explore how demographic data shapes equitable, long-term recovery strategies that help disaster-impacted communities rebuild stronger for the future.

Breakout 3: From Insight to Action: How the Texas Workforce Commission Is Reimagining Labor Market Data

Gabriel M. Guzman, Manager, Economic Analysis Unit, Texas Workforce Commission

Learn how the Texas Workforce Commission’s participation in the Data User Insight Academy led to the creation of an innovative new Tableau dashboard that enhances how labor market information is shared, explored, and used for decision-making across Texas communities.