Welcome to our first LPTX State Download of 2025! Allow me to re-introduce myself this new year – I’m Tannya Benavides, your Texas State Chapter Manager.
In 2025, we have big goals for our Texas chapter and we hope you are ready and excited to join us as we take collective action to deliver on our agenda for economic, racial, and gender justice in the great state of Texas! Read ahead to learn about opportunities for you to engage with our network of 100 members and 50+ alumni who are organizing to fight for a better future in Texas!
 Organizing Committee & Partner Strategy Meeting
In January, our LPTX Organizing Committee members – led by our Co-Chairs, El Paso Commissioner David Stout and Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam Bazaldua – came together with immigrant justice, public education, and labor partners Workers Defense Project, Every Texan, Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), ACLU of Texas, and Immigrant Legal Resource Center to discuss rapid response on mass deportations, planning for legislative session, long-term strategy to decriminalize and decarcerate Texas, and different local policies to intervene in the arrest-to-deportation pipeline.
 LPTX Austin Network Meet & Greet
Alongside our retreat and partner strategy meeting, we brought together over 30 attendees for a Network Meet & Greet at Better Half Coffee & Cocktails, where we welcomed newly elected officials in the Central Texas region and partners. Better Half is a member business of the Good Work Austin Coalition, which was a leader in the fight for paid leave and fair wages for food industry workers. A big shoutout goes to our partners at Mano Amiga, for helping sponsor our light bites!
Juan Miguel Arredondo– San Marcos Independent School Board Trustee and member of our LPTX Organizing Committee– is the first openly gay elected official in Hays County and the youngest elected official, elected at 24 years of age. During his nine-year tenure on the school board, he has championed transformative initiatives in public education, including universal free breakfast and lunch, and securing a district-wide $18 minimum wage.Â
Miguel is proud to say that, under his leadership, the district established an Early College High School, giving students the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school. He also helped launch a dual enrollment program at Texas State University. Additionally, he supported the district’s first mariachi program, celebrating cultural heritage and providing new opportunities for students in the arts.
Beyond policy, Miguel has dedicated himself to changing the culture in public schools—fostering an environment where every employee feels valued, especially bus drivers, child nutrition employees, office staff, and the many others who keep schools running every day. Miguel is a leader to his young constituents and a leader within our Local Progress network!
❤️ Fund our Communities. Protect our Neighbors.
Congress is soon expected to consider H.R. 32 – the “No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities” Act – a bill that would force localities and states to choose between facilitating mass deportations or losing otherwise unrelated health, education, transportation, and other local funding. This bill is a blatant attempt to scapegoat immigrant communities and punish localities that stand up for them. We need local electeds to take bold action—this means speaking out, rallying your communities, and holding your members of Congress accountable. Check out our Fund Our Communities Digital Toolkit and accompanying talking points.
Please also add your name to our sign-on letter for state and local officials to demand Congress reject this harmful and divisive bill.
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💪🏾 Public School Strong Training Series
Our partners at HEAL Together have kicked off Solidarity 2025 – an eight-week training series designed to equip activist parents, educators, school board members, students, and allies to unite against the attacks on public education outlined in Project 2025. The training series is part of the Public School Strong campaign and is designed to empower participants to advocate for students, schools, and communities at local school boards and beyond. Participants will gain critical insights into federal policy proposals, actionable strategies for mobilizing around shared values, and tools like model policies, school board resolutions, and organizing lessons. Register here.
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đź“Ł Communications Resources for YOU
Need a quick brush up on interviewing best practices before an interview? Want to engage with your community on social media, but not sure what platform is best for you? Check out LP’s new Communications Tools & Guides!Â
From the full-time city council member to the part-time school board member, every local elected official uses communication tools. But not all members and staff have the same resources and knowledge at their disposal to take advantage of news cycles, viral moments, or respond to bad faith attacks. The above resources are now live, so you can build confidence and skill using communications tools at your own pace!
Have additional questions or need 1:1 comms support? Reach out to helpdesk@localprogress.org to get in touch with the comms team!
🏡 Your New Caucus Home
Introducing our one stop shop for caucus events! Trying to remember when that next Women’s Caucus meeting is? Looking for the link to complete your Pride Caucus Survey? Look no further! This link will continuously be updated with all upcoming Caucus events and asks so that you can constantly refer to it and make sure you’re up to date on when your next caucus meetings are.
On the calendar for March
- 📆 Pride Caucus Listening Session – Tuesday, March 4 at 12pm ET/9am PT
- 📆 Black Caucus general membership meeting: Wednesday, March 12 at 7pm ET/4pm PT
- 📆 Nuestro Caucus general membership meeting: Monday, March 24 at 5pm ET/2pm PT
- 📆 Women’s Caucus general membership meeting: Thursday, March 27 at 5pm ET/2pm PT
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⚡️ National Convening Registration OPEN for Members & Alumni!
Join us in Chicago on July 10-12! We’re bringing together Local Progress members, partners, and movement allies from across the country for a weekend of strategy building, peer learning, and leadership development – complete with dozens of workshops, sharing sessions, community spaces, and site visits! As local elected leaders in this moment, we must continue organizing in our communities and across the country. And in the face of hostile state and federal actors that have shown us they will only govern for the wealthy few, it is our moral responsibility and democratic duty to govern for everyone. That’s why we are proud to share the theme for this year’s convening: Organize Together. Govern for All. Members, check your email for your invite and register by March 3 for an Early Bird Discount!
We are organizing a partners pipeline briefing to connect the existing movement pipeline to support the transition from candidate to elected as they step in these new roles to lead and govern. During this briefing, partners will:
- Learn about LP and the Impact Lab’s network and our strategic framework.
- Learn about the impact of LP and the Impact Lab’s work.Â
- Gain an understanding of how they can support the movement pipeline from candidate to governance.
