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This week, Texas Impact’s Substack blog features two guest posts. Both pieces are by accomplished, insightful writers who are faithful advocates and leaders in their communities. Both have compelling personal stories, both are Baptist women…and both are members of Texas Impact.
For me, Mara and Judy exemplify the vital work Texas Impact members are doing across the state. They are individuals who have discovered that sharing their own stories alongside other individuals with equally unique and vital stories helps keep our democracy strong.
Another way to keep our democracy strong is to stay informed about how it works. New election laws that passed in the regular legislative session will take effect before the November election, and legislators are proposing additional changes in the special session that starts on July 21. Rebecca explains the new laws and previews what additional legislation is on the table.
Also in the blog this week, Becca provides a comprehensive analysis of how partisan conflicts, siloed decisionmaking, short-sighted budgeting and other factors contributed to the catastrophic impacts of the recent Hill Country flooding. As lawmakers convene in special session, they have another opportunity to prepare our state for future climate change impacts and other natural disasters.
The legislature is coming back for another round, but most Texans aren’t sure what happened in the session that ended in June. Folks in North Texas can get a full briefing at this half-day event hosted by Arapaho United Methodist Church, co-sponsored by Texas Impact. The event will focus on next steps for faith communities, including preparing for the November constitutional election. Be sure to register by August 4th (and with a reasonable sense of urgency as seats are limited.)
In other news this week, Texas Impact is hiring a Hunger Advocacy Fellow (HAF)! The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) sponsors HAF positions in ELCA State Public Policy Offices (SPPOs). The full-time, 12-month fellowships are a great opportunity for leadership development and faith formation for young adults seeking experience working for peace and justice. Hunger Advocacy Fellows work on a range of issues including poverty, hunger, climate, health, and immigration policy. We’re very much looking forward to meeting all those who are interested in this dynamic and transformative position. Learn more
This special session will be a 30-day sprint, and the agenda is packed with substantive issues impacting the lives of Texans across the state. You can count on Texas Impact to get you timely alerts on opportunities to engage. We hope we can count on you to follow the lead of our guest bloggers this week and share your story.
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