Our Texas chapter has been busy at work delivering on several issues this year already! See what opportunities are coming up for you to take action on and engage with us this summer & beyond!
Our 2024 Texas Progressive Governance Academy (PGA) took place in March in San Antonio, TX! The PGA is a project with the State Innovation Exchange (SiX), re:power and Local Progress to build and develop the leadership and governance skills of progressive state and local elected officials across the country.
Our Texas PGAs are a critical tool to recruit new members and deepen our cross-state strategies.
This year, we were graciously hosted by our partner, the San Antonio Alliance, Local 67, where we had one dozen attendees – nearly half of whom were proud Texas public school board members! If you’re interested in attending a future PGA, you can email tbenavides@localprogress.org.
đź“ś LPTX Members Take A Stand Against Operation Lone Star & SB4
In March, our LPTX Organizing Committee members El Paso County Commissioner David Stout, San Marcos Councilmember Alyssa Garza, and LP National Board Member and former El Paso Councilmember Alex Annello joined immigrant justice advocacy groups in Austin to rally for an end to Operation Lone Star.
Border Network for Human Rights, ACLU of Texas, the Texas Civil Rights Project, and other statewide partners have been leading the response to SB4 – the harmful legislation that would permit local and state law enforcement to arrest and detain people they suspect to have entered Texas from another country without federal authorization.
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Our Local Progress Texas members are committed to protecting their constituents from the dangers of harmful anti-immigrant sentiment and racial profiling and will continue to follow the lead of partner organizations as the fight to end Operation Lone Star continues.Â
🌟 Fighting for Texan Reproductive Rights & Justice
Our members continue to organize efforts to fight for Texans’ reproductive rights. They first organized an amicus brief back in November 2023, in partnership with the Public Rights Project, to support the Center for Reproductive Rights’ litigation in the case of Zurawski v. Texas.Â
This February, our members sent a letter to demand clarity and guidance from the Texas Medical Board (TMB) on the scope of the state’s medical emergency exception under its extreme abortion ban. TMB issued guidance later in March that failed to lay out clear definitions for what constitutes a medical emergency and thus, leaves Texan providers and pregnant individuals in a perpetual state of uncertainty.Â
LPTX members will continue to coordinate with our partners to engage with TMB as they renew their calls for better guidance that will give patients and medical providers the clarity they deserve and need.
In April, our partners at Planned Parenthood Texas Votes celebrated 10 years of reproductive rights advocacy in Texas! City of Austin Councilmembers Vanessa Fuentes and Zo Qadri, and Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza joined PPTV to commemorate their 10th anniversary!
⚡️ Register Today for Our 2024 National ConveningÂ
#LP2024 is happening this summer in Oakland, CA on July 25-27! After doing it up big in St. Louis last year, we’re thrilled to be headed to the West Coast this Summer 2024. Registration is open–you don’t want to miss the event of the year! Reach out if you didn’t receive your invitation via email!Â
🎉 Welcoming our new LP Board Members!Â
This April, our LP National Board welcomed new members and new leaders. We are excited to have New York City Councilmember Tiffany Caban, Essex County Commissioner A’Dorian Murray-Thomas, and Chicago Alderwoman Maria Hadden join our national board. A big congratulations also goes to Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marciela Nicholson, who is our new co-chair!Â
đź’– Building the Nuestro Caucus
Our Nuestro Caucus webpage is live! Nuestro Caucus will have several opportunities for you to engage in the coming months and throughout the year. These opportunities will include the potential for LP members to apply to join the Leadership Committee or attend our Nuestro Caucus in-person session at our 2024 National Convening! If you’re interested in learning more and joining us in Oakland, email Tannya!
🧰 Resources & Opportunities
In other news, here are some of our newest resources:
- New Messaging Guide: Welcoming & Supporting New ArrivalsÂ
- New Policy Memo: Rental Price FixingÂ
- New Policy Memo: Cash for Communities
This year, we’ve planned an incredible series of Policy & Strategy Primers, which are virtual learning sessions designed especially for new members and newly elected folks. Up next are our sessions on Local Budgets & Finance and Governance & Oversight Tools – you can register for these and other upcoming sessions here.
