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
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...
Policy Primer: Public Utilities and Public Health
Light and Life: Using the Public Utility Commission of Texas Sunset Review to Safeguard Texans' Health and Wellbeing a primer by Texas Impact sponsored by Methodist Healthcare...
Cyrus Reed on Climate Change and Winter Storm Uri
Cyrus Reed, Ph.D. Conservation Director of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, explains the connections between climate change; the failure of the Texas electric grid...
After 2021’s Winter Storm, Grid Uncertainty Continues
In February 2021, the Texas electric grid experienced one of its biggest reliability challenges from the impact of Winter Storm Uri. This storm left millions of Texans without...
Building Back Better: What’s in the Federal Budget Reconciliation Package
Congressional budget committees have concluded their summer work, and are recommending a package of budget measures that would improve conditions for families and communities...
UPCOMING EVENTS
Events
PROGRAMMING
Ep. 420 (Don’t) Forget Paris
This week, we are excited to welcome Texas Impact’s Climate Action Fellow, Rev. Dr. Becca Edwards, to talk about the President’s recent executive action, once again, removing the US from the Paris Climate Agreement. There has been a lot…
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Ep. 419 Reflections from the Celebration of Public Witness for the 89th Legislature
Since 1973, Texas Impact has hosted a service or celebration of public witness on the south steps of the Texas Capitol in conjunction with the opening of the Texas Legislature. This year, the Texas Legislature convened Tuesday, January 14, and so the…
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Ep. 418 New Year, New Resolve
We hope you all had a meaningful and relaxing holiday season and a great start to the new year; it is about to get busy and your advocacy will be critical in the next few months. We know a lot of attention will be paid to what is happening in…
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