HOUSTON — Sept. 16, 2025 — Impact Hub Houston, an impact incubator and accelerator dedicated to helping people create solutions and build businesses that address the world’s most pressing challenges, is excited to announce that we will be fiscally sponsoring The Change Lab to accelerate StepUP, a strengths-based platform that helps neighbors turn care for community into action. Built with local partners and Houston’s can-do energy, StepUP meets people where they are guiding them from curiosity to confident participation with right-sized steps they can complete in 1 to 60 minutes. In their first-round of fundraising, StepUp aims to raise $75,000 by Oct. 31, 2025.
“We’re excited to fiscally sponsor The Change Lab as they bring StepUP to life! The vision for the platform is to invite people into a process that can often feel daunting for many. The platform is designed to make civic engagement more accessible and approachable, showing people that even the smallest actions can make a meaningful difference in our communities.” — Michelle Avalos, Co-Founder and Deputy Director, Impact Hub Houston
What StepUp Does
A 60-second quiz routes people to one of six starting pathways: Democracy, Basic Needs, Health, Education, Environment, and Community. Then, based on their results, StepUP guides them through three engagement levels:
- Level: On the Couch — fun, easy content that sparks curiosity.
- Level: Off the Couch — simple checklists and local activities to plug in.
- Level: Use Your Superpower — tools for direct action and leadership.
Open StepUP and jump in—or take the quiz. Every activity is time-tagged (1 minute to 1 hour+) so people can match their time to a useful step, check it off, and see what’s next. Americans spend more than three hours a day on their phones. StepUP channels a few of those minutes into real world connection and progress.
“StepUP starts with what people already have—care, curiosity, and five spare minutes. When neighbors feel seen and have a clear first step, they don’t just participate; they build belonging that lasts.” — David A. Brown, Founder, The Change Lab, and Impact Hub Houston Member
Why It Matters
Most people want to connect across differences and feel a responsibility to do so; what’s missing are easy, welcoming opportunities. StepUP lowers the barrier so people can move at their own pace, building on existing strengths and relationships.
By the numbers
- Most Americans are interested in connecting across differences but lack opportunities (More in Common, 2025).
- People spend more than three hours daily on their phones (Consumer Reports citing Gallup).
What We’re Building Next (with community partners)
- A growing Opportunity Center of quick, ready-to-use actions
- The StepUP quiz that routes people to the right starting pathway
- Partnerships with Houston organizations and neighborhoods
- Games and interactive features that celebrate progress
- Clear, welcoming content, with accessibility and Spanish options (Spanish rollout begins Q4 2025)
Help Make it Happen
The Change Lab is raising $350,000 to build StepUP and expand capacity. The first-round goal is $75,000 by Oct. 31, 2025.
Individual Supporters: Every contribution helps fuel this vision. For example, with $10, you become an Opportunity Backer, funding one new activity in the Opportunity Center (On the Couch / Off the Couch). A $50 gift makes you an Opportunity Builder, supporting five new activities co-designed with local partners. At $100, you become an Opportunity Champion, funding ten new activities with full production and rollout. With $500, you step in as a Tech Builder, advancing the platform’s core integrations, accessibility, and analytics.
Major Gifts: For those able to give at a higher level, major gifts unlock deeper impact.
- $10,000 — Research & Community Insights: Listening sessions, user research, prototyping, and evaluation.
- $25,000 — Platform Infrastructure: Content production, Spanish-language expansion, hosting, and security.
- $50,000 — Pilots & Partnerships: Citywide activations, partner mini-grants, and rigorous measurement.
All donations are tax-deductible and directly support building StepUP. To give, visit: https://app.betterunite.com/thechangelab
StepUp Goals
In its first year, StepUP aims to reach 25,000 Houstonians. That’s about 0.5% of the region’s population. From there, the vision is to grow across Texas and ultimately share the platform with nonprofits nationwide. To measure progress and ensure accountability, impact will be tracked through completed activities, pathway engagement, and partner-verified community actions.
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Project’s Media Contact
David A. Brown
The Change Lab — [email protected]
A Center for Community
https://www.thechangelab.net
About The Change Lab
The Change Lab is a center for community. We design tools and experiences that help people move from feeling unsure about civic life to feeling connected and confident—starting with belonging and building pathways that make civic life easier to step into.
About Impact Hub Houston
Impact Hub Houston is a locally rooted, globally connected 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to inspire, connect, and empower impact innovators, leaders, and supporters. We work alongside 130+ Impact Hubs in 68 countries around the world to support and accelerate changemakers tackling the world’s most pressing challenges. Through a vibrant community, collaborative partnerships, inspiring events, and transformative programs, we empower people to turn their ideas into solutions with scalable impact for a more just and sustainable world.
For more information: Email [email protected] and visit https://houston.impacthub.net.
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Sources (full links)
More in Common — The Connection Opportunity: Insights for Bringing Americans Together Across Difference (2025)
https://moreincommonus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/The-Connection-Opportunity_More-in-Common_2025.pdf
More in Common — Press Release: Most Americans are interested in connecting across difference, but lack opportunities
https://moreincommonus.com/press_release/new-report-from-more-in-common-reveals-that-most-americans-are-interested-in-connecting-across-difference-but-lack-opportunities-to-do-so/
Consumer Reports — 8 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Cell Phone Screen Time (cites Gallup)
https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/cell-phones/simple-ways-to-reduce-your-cell-phone-screen-time-a1120466770/
