Courage for Community

your weekly update from Texas Impact

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People of Faith Working for Justice

WATCH: Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde reflects on faith and the common good at Democracy Forward’s “Together for Democracy” conference January 29, 2026

Dear {name},

This week, I’ve been following up on all the connections and content I picked up at Democracy Forward’s annual convening, “Together for Democracy,” which was January 28-29 in Washington, D.C. The conference included some really amazing speakers, and opportunities to network with colleagues from around the country.

This year’s theme was “Resilience, Resistance, and Reimagining.” Over the next couple of weeks, I’m planning to share my reflections on these thematic elements, and how we can put them into practice—and for me, the common thread is courage.

WATCH: Texas State Representative Gene Wu tells Skye Perryman about the risks and rewards of Texas House Democrats’ breaking quorum at Democracy Forward’s “Together for Democracy” conference January 29, 2026

A number of the speakers at the conference described their experiences of taking risks—of deliberately stepping into a situation that left them vulnerable or afraid—to defend and advance democracy. From Bishop Mariann Budde’s sermon at the 2024 presidential inauguration, to New York Attorney General Letitia James’s defense of the rule of law, to Texas Rep. Gene Wu’s leadership of the Texas House’s 2025 anti-gerrymander quorum break, speakers highlighted the connection between individual acts of courage and the strength of the community, describing their particular efforts as part of a larger story.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James discusses the rule of law with MSNOW’s Eugene Daniels at Democracy Forward’s “Together for Democracy” conference January 29, 2026

Brené Brown reminds us that the root of the word “courage” is “heart.” Brown reminds us that courage is about the personal choice to speak or act from the heart. When we see public figures take big actions that we identify as courageous, then courage feels foreign or unattainable. But the courage required to engage in honest conversation about a tough topic or to call a legislator to express your opinion—or even to cast a ballot in an election—is no less courageous. Your community needs your courage.

No one can be courageous for you, but Texas Impact is here to support you. We hope the resources we provide equip you for courageous civic leadership—whether that means taking a big step like running for office, or a small step like sending a postcard encouraging a neighbor to vote. We hope our programming mobilizes you to connect courageously with your community and help make Texas a more just and loving place for everyone.

Love,