ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Economic justice refers to the way we design the systems through which each person earns a living; enters into contracts; exchanges goods and services with others; and otherwise produces a material foundation for their physical sustenance. Economic justice is the area of public policy where tension between “charity” and “justice is most often apparent. The world’s faith communities share deep commitment both to the charitable alleviation of suffering stemming from imperfect economic systems, and to policy advocacy for realignment of those systems to achieve justice.
EDUCATION
People of faith continue to be essential advocates for an adequate and equitable system of public education so that every child has the opportunity to fulfill their human potential.
HEALTH
Some health outcomes have genetic origins, but to the extent health-promoting and disease-preventing conditions and services are available to some people in the community, they should be available equitably.
POVERTY
In 2020, Texas’ overall poverty rate was 13.6%, placing the state 40th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 3. 8 million Texans were poor in 2020. White Texans experience poverty at a far lower rate than other groups: 18.7% of Latino Texans, 18.6% of African American Texans, 15.1% of Native American Texans, and 9.2% of Asian American Texans were poor in 2020, compared to 8.0% of White Texans.
NEWS + UPDATES
Comment Period is Open for Abortion Ban Rule
The Texas Medical Board’s proposed rule clarifying Texas’ abortion ban exception is open for public comment. The public comment period will last at least until the Board's next...
March 5: Where Do We Go From Here?
For ten years, the Texas Legislature has been a divided body. The extreme wing of the Republican Party controlled the Senate and the traditional wing of the Republican Party...
Tell the Texas Medical Board: No Guessing Games on Emergency Abortions
Next Texas Medical Board Meeting: March 21-22, 2024 Courts, doctors, and patients all are asking the Texas Medical Board to clarify when a threat to the life of the mother...
Reproductive Health Policy
Reproductive Health Policy Texas has a long history of short-changing women's health, especially for women of color and low-income women. Recent extreme bans on abortion...
Texas Public Schools Are Still Safe for Every Faith
Since last summer, our members have been urging their local school boards not to create a “new school chaplain program” as required by SB 763. Overwhelmingly, Texas school boards...
Texas’s March Primaries: What’s at stake
Texas’s March Primaries: What’s at stake The future of public education in Texas will be decided in the party primaries. The next month is particularly crucial. ...
UPCOMING EVENTS
Events
PROGRAMMING
Ep. 343 Modern Plagues
This week we are joined by Emily Bourgeois, Community Organizer of RAC-Texas, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism—one of Texas Impact’s member institutions. We always enjoy working with Emily across a range of policy issues, including…
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Ep. 342 No Shade to the Polar Bears
This week we are joined by Texas Impact’s Climate Action Fellow, Becca Edwards, to help prepare for Earth Day on April 22. Becca has been meeting with many congregations talking about climate change, liberation theology, how communities of faith can…
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Ep. 341 All the Feels
This week we say goodbye to maybe our closest friend of the show, who has been on the program more than any other guest. Texas Impact announced last week that Advocacy Director Joshua Houston would be leaving soon to take a new position with Caritas…
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