Few have an understanding – and appreciation – of Houston like Christopher Knapp. A lifelong Houstonian, Chris embraced diversity as long as he can remember.
His father David, a career banker at Fannin Bank, took the then-relatively unheard of steps of actively seeking Spanish-speaking clients in the early 1970s. The younger Knapp often visited cousins in Mexico while growing up, developing a world view at a relatively early age. It’s helped him excel in his business as co-founder, principal and CEO of Chilton Capital Management, one of the city’s leading independent investment firms.
A sense of community and making the most of one’s opportunities really resonate with Chris. In fact, that’s what led to his initial involvement with Neighborhood Centers.
"What struck me at first - and very powerfully - was that Neighborhood Centers shows people how to help themselves," he said. "That’s very in tune with the culture of Houston. If you look at the city over many years, it’s been very driven by entrepreneurial spirit. And that’s reflected in how Neighborhood Centers helps people help themselves, which falls very clearly into self-realization and self-empowerment."
Among other attributes, Chris appreciates how Neighborhood Centers has adapted to the evolution of Houston and its residents over the years… whether they came from across the state or around the world.
"If you arrived in this city 100 years ago, it was a very compressed area. People found community and support by finding others who spoke the same language or shared the same affinities. Today to arrive in a city such as this is so overwhelming. Many people come from smaller towns or cities where there was a strong feeling of a neighborhood, so no matter how difficult their own individual circumstances, there was a feeling of community. And I think what Neighborhood Centers has done is to recreate that environment in the community centers so they really become a neighborhood for these people."
Chris is involved in a lot of projects that he hopes will move Houston toward his vision of a more connected city, with better transportation and ample public parks. He is a firm proponent that "seeing is believing" – especially when it comes to how Neighborhood Centers treats anyone who walks in the door. It’s one of the reasons he’s chosen to invest in the agency’s general operating fund.
"Descriptions or stories are sometimes compelling on paper, but I think for some people it’s not until they personally experience something that it really comes together," he said. "It’s important for people to take that time – a half an hour or an hour – to see for themselves. I think exposure’s really critical, and if people would take the time to visit one of your community centers, I think it would really touch them in a personal way."