10 Houston Twitter Pages You Need to Follow

HOUSTON, TX- Houston is a living laboratory of culture and vitality. Something is happening at every second of every day in Space City that isn’t happening anywhere else, which makes staying connected to the goings-on of the Houston community a necessary enterprise, be it through your local Patch or this list of the 10 Twitter accounts that Patch readers in the Greater Houston area are invited to follow:

• Houston Neighborhoods: The Houston Department of Neighborhoods's programs and initiatives focus on city code enforcement and compliance, citizen assistance, gang and juvenile delinquency prevention and public awareness, youth leadership development, volunteerism, international communities and the needs and concerns of residents with disabilities. The department's Mow-Down Program, an initiative conducted in partnership with Keep Houston Beautiful, supports the maintenance of eligible, overgrown lots with the participation of volunteers from the community.

• METRO Houston: The mission of METRO Houston is to deliver safe, reliable and affordable public transportation to the Greater Houston area and its residents. Current projects include the Bus Shelter Program and the Harrisburg Overpass.

• Houston ISD: The Houston Independent School District is the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh largest in the U.S., serving approximately 215,000 students at 283 campuses. Its Board of Education comprises nine trustees elected from separate districts. The district offers a number of opportunities for the advancement of its students, including magnet programs, Parent Student Connect (allowing parents and students to have mutual access to class, calendar and grade-related information) and STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness), tests that measure whether or not students are on track for graduation and ready to successfully pursue college, workforce training and careers.

• Visit Houston: The Visit Houston Twitter account is a relationship between residents and their community, regularly announcing and offering information about things to do in the Houston area, restaurants to visit, nightlife options, hotel rates and travel-planning tips, promoting Houston as a premier tourist destination.

• City of Houston: Local municipalities might be the smallest form of government, but they have the most impact on the lives of the people residing within their regions. Following the city's official Twitter account allows Patch readers to catch live-streaming conferences with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, special occasions and events centered on area small businesses; citizen polls for city-wide celebrations; open invitations to community planning; hiring announcements and other opportunities.

• Houston Police: The mission of the HPD is to enhance residents' quality of life by working with the public to prevent crime, enforce the law, preserve peace and provide a safe environment, and such efforts are illustrated throughout the department's Twitter feed: calls to the public in assisting with missing persons or suspects at large, press releases and other public statements, safety tips, donations and other gestures of appreciation from members of the community, school visits and other notices.

• Harris County OHSEM: Harris County's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is residents' best source for timely, accurate information during and after emergencies. The office's Twitter feed offers live weather updates, preparedness tips, demonstration of testing on new equipment, pet safety information, road closures and other material, with a main website that provides additional details on hurricanes, power outages and sustainability, schools, traffic, floods and industrial matters so as to further literature to the region.

• YMCA of Greater Houston: The Y prides itself as a cause-driven organization that invests in the children neighbors throughout the Greater Houston area with 32 locations. Branches offers virtually endless opportunities for members and nonmembers alike, including camps, child care, sports programs, swimming lessons, youth and family programs and annual events, such as the free Discover Your Super Powers conference on Nov. 12 for middle school and high school students and the Turkey Dash on Nov. 24.

• Houston Arts Alliance: The Houston Arts Alliance is the city's designated local arts and culture agency, with a Twitter feed that draws attention to the alliance's ongoing blog, the Creative Economy Salon (happening throughout November), open calls for ideas on community art projects, invitations to public, alliance-hosted events, new programs, webinars and other details.

• Houston Health Department: Quality healthcare—through informational literature, seminars and conferences, free clinics, affordable plans, outreach programs and other means—is the Houston Health Department's premier priority. The department seeks to use traditional public health services in accompaniment with innovative methods in order to meet the community's present and future healthcare needs. The HHD is the first health department in Texas and the second in a large U.S. city to earn national accreditation.

Another account you should be following? The Houston Patch, to be sure. Follow Houston Patch and get breaking news alerts, and take advantage of Patch's free calendar feature.

Do you know a local organization in your community worthy of some extra media attention? You can always Spotlight a Local Community Organization and get featured on Houston Patch for free.

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