The Future of Raising a Family

As part of the Future of Texas series in partnership with Texas 2036, this episode explores what it really takes to raise a family in Texas today — and what must hold up over the next decade if the state wants to remain a place of opportunity. In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail is joined by Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and A.J. Rodriguez, Executive Vice President of Texas 2036, for a wide-ranging conversation about the policies, pressures, and quality-of-life factors shaping family life across Texas. The discussion begins with a simple but important question: if Texas wants to remain the best place to live, work, and raise a family, what does that actually require in practice? Parker and Rodriguez argue that the answer goes far beyond economic headlines. It includes affordability, maternal and infant health, access to quality education, child care, safe neighborhoods, housing, and the everyday experience of whether families feel like they can build a stable and hopeful future here. A major focus of the episode is how growth is reshaping Texas. As cities like Fort Worth continue to add residents at a rapid pace, leaders are being forced to ask whether the state’s success is truly working for Texas families — especially those who have been here for generations. Parker emphasizes that city government must stay focused on the basics while also addressing long-term quality-of-life issues, while Rodriguez brings a statewide lens to how those same pressures show up across Texas. The conversation also covers: • Why family well-being should be central to long-term Texas policy • Maternal and infant health challenges in Texas and North Texas • How simple interventions can improve outcomes for mothers and babies • Why child care affordability has become a major barrier for families • The importance of early childhood education as an economic issue • Housing affordability, infill development, and middle-income opportunity • The role of local government in supporting quality of life • How education and postsecondary attainment drive long-term prosperity • Why family-sustaining wages matter for choice, stability, and mobility • The balance between rural and urban needs in the future of Texas Parker also highlights Fort Worth’s efforts to improve maternal health outcomes, support neighborhood revitalization, and expand opportunity through education and workforce pathways. Rodriguez underscores that if Texas wants to preserve its economic momentum, it must invest just as seriously in human infrastructure as it does in roads, water, and broadband. The episode closes with a clear message: the future of Texas will not be measured only by growth, but by whether families can afford to stay, thrive, and see a path forward for the next generation. Through the Future of Texas podcast series, Texas 2036 brings together diverse perspectives as we explore the opportunities and challenges facing our state over the next ten years. The views expressed in this program are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Texas 2036, its staff or its Board of Directors. 00:00 — Introduction to the Future of Texas series 00:29 — Why raising a family is central to Texas’s future 00:52 — Guests introduced: Mayor Mattie Parker and A.J. Rodriguez 01:28 — Balancing public service, motherhood, and leadership 03:02 — Why families matter to the Texas miracle 06:08 — Growth, migration, and whether Texas is working for Texans 07:47 — Quality of life and what families actually want 09:49 — Maternal and infant health in Texas 12:13 — Fort Worth’s maternal health coalition and practical interventions 15:05 — Health, education, and quality of life beyond birth 19:08 — Education, workforce pathways, and family prosperity 23:14 — Defining quality of life for Texas families 25:28 — Affordability, child care, housing, and health care pressures 28:34 — Housing affordability and local policy challenges 35:06 — Early childhood education and child care as economic policy 43:50 — Rural and urban family needs across Texas 49:35 — A long-term vision for Texas families 51:19 — The one metric that matters most by 2036 Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks