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
Austin Starbucks Makes Union History
A local Austin Starbucks made history last Friday by becoming the first Starbucks in the Lone Star State to unionize. The 45th and Lamar location officially won unionization by...
Remember Medicaid?
Remember Medicaid? Back in the distant, misted past of 2019, access to affordable health insurance was a constant legislative campaign, with Texas Impact and our partners in the...
Starting the Conversation on COVID and Vaccine Hesitancy
We were thrilled to host two conversations with Dr. Julie Boom, director of Texas Children's Hospital's Immunization Project, on COVID and vaccine hesitancy. Here's Dr. Boom's...
COVID and Faith: Prayers for Community Health
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Cara Cook on Climate Change and Health
Registered nurse Cara Cook, Program Director for the National Association of Nurses for Healthy Environments, explains how climate change is hurting human health—and jeopardizing...
Dr. Peter Hotez: Texas COVID Update
National infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, in a frank, informal...
UPCOMING EVENTS
Events
PROGRAMMING
Ep. 415 COP and Go: Updates from the Global Climate Summit
This week we turn our attention to the other side of the globe as we welcome Texas Impact’s Climate Action Fellow, Rev. Dr. Becca Edwards to the program. Becca recently returned from the 29th UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP), the global…
Read MoreEp. 414 Turn, Turn, Turn
Well… we had an election… and we know folks have lots of feelings, and we are going to talk about feelings today. But, in addition to that, we are going to talk about how the election impacts Texas, and we are going to talk about what Texans of…
Read MoreEp.413 Every Day: Civility and Compassion for Community
Election day is almost upon us! You have heard us talk for years about Texas’ low voter turnout and how that impacts public policy. If you are listening to this before election day, you have a chance to do something about that. Many of us are…
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