Our Town: KPRC 2 shares the stories of the Sunnyside community

Sunnyside, Historic Houston Community (Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.)

HOUSTON – Houston is ‘Our Town,’ and there is so much to celebrate in our neighborhoods. KPRC 2 is invested in the community and continues to show those lovely hidden gems, showcase solvable problems affecting the entire city, and talk to the folks who make ‘Our Town’ special.

We’re committed to visiting 10 communities in Houston.

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We started out with ‘Our Town: Alief/Westwood.’ For our second stop, we’re talking about ‘Our Town: Sunnyside’.

See our full coverage of Sunnyside below


Thursday morning, KPRC’s Joel Eisenbaum showed us how the more than 100-year-old Sunnyside neighborhood was born out of racism and segregation and how the community thrives while facing continued hardships.

Our Town: Sunnyside’s history and residents today who are making a difference


One of the community struggles deals with food insecurity. The Sunnyside area has limited access to fresh food options. KPRC’s Andy Cerota linked up with the owner of Ivy Leaf Farms to share what they are doing to get healthy food in the community.

SEE ALSO: Our Town: Urban farmer fights to end fresh food crises, insecurities in Sunnyside community


On KPRC 2+, KPRC’s Amy Davis spoke with Council Member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz about concerns over building permits and how deed restrictions can red-tag a build. The two will also chat about water customers continuing to feel ‘DRAINED’ over high-priced water bills.


KPRC 2′s Moriah Ballard was on the KPRC 2+ livestream after she visited Butter Funk Kitchen, a staple in the Sunnyside community. Moriah sat down with the owner, Aaron Johnson, who says he’s excited to showcase his delicious recipes to the Sunnyside community. She also tasted the food and gave it a rating - similar to the one Keith Lee did when he visited the area.

Have you tried ‘Butter Funk Kitchen’? Keith Lee rated it, and so did KPRC 2... Check it out


One of the stops we’re featuring is along Sims Bayou.

Houston Parks Board will show us why one of the best views of the city is on top of a hill they’re redesigning with state-of-the-art bike trails.


At noon, our KPRC 2 Anchors Lisa Hernandez and Andy Cerota were live at the Sunnyside Health and Multi-Service Center.

Lisa spoke with residents about the explosion of the stray dog population in the area while focusing on what you can do to get them spayed and neutered.

We also introduced a long-time Sunnyside resident who has watched the stray dog population explode while the City does nothing. One person who lives nearby helps trap and transport dogs.

Believe in yourself Sunnyside mural (Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.)

For our 3 p.m. KPRC newscast, Lisa and Andy spoke to folks from the Houston Health Department about their commitment to improving healthcare access for the underserved community of Sunnyside.

The anchoring duo then focused on the Civic Clubs of Houston, sharing how they play a role in your community when you don’t have an HOA.

One story that’ll warm your heart is how one rescue dog in the Sunnyside area became a beacon of hope, providing much-needed therapy to Houston’s youth.

KPRC’s Candace Burns reported on the newly named Sunnyside NES school and what parents can expect.


After that, we held a deeper conversation with a Texas State University Professor on the history of Sunnyside.

While in Sunnyside, we noticed the bright smiles coming from all of the residents. KPRC’s Chief Photojournalist Byron Nichols shows us how Poindexter Dental saw a need to help its community and cemented itself with a three-generation practice.

‘This is for the future generation’: Three generations of Black dental professionals thrive in Sunnyside community


If you’re from the neighborhood, you know about the Solar Farm going in.

KPRC’s Gage Goulding has an update on the project and how you can get hired in the industry.

Largest urban solar farm in the U.S. ready to break ground in Sunnyside

At 10 p.m., KPRC’s Rilwan Balogun investigated the disconnect between Houston’s permitting office, developers, and civic clubs. See the issues many in the community are having because of the lack of communication, and who has oversight on projects outside of HOAs.


You can find complete coverage of ‘Our Town’ here.

Once we wrap up the day, folks 18 miles north should get ready because our next neighborhood will be ‘Our Town: Acres Homes.’


About the Authors

As an Emmy award-winning journalist, Jason strives to serve the community by telling in-depth stories and taking on challenges many pass over. When he’s not working, he’s spending time with his girlfriend Rosie, and dog named Dug.

Award-winning TV producer and content creator. My goal as a journalist is to help people. Faith and family motivate me. Running keeps me sane.

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