Our votes have power. That’s why lawmakers, desperate to hold onto power, have tried so hard to take away our freedom to vote and silence the voices of Black, Brown, and young Texans. But if we will it, our local government has the ability to fight back and enact reforms which protect and expand voting rights, secure our elections, and provide transparency and accessibility to all Texans. When we are all able to freely and safely cast our ballots, we can address the real issues we want to focus on. Together, we can push our leaders to guarantee our votes, then hold them accountable to take action for a clean and healthy future enriched with funding, resources, and public safety to support our thriving communities.

From the El Paso deserts, to the East Texas Piney Woods and the Energy Capital of Houston, Texans deserve clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and a healthy environment to support us. Pro-climate city leaders and school districts can do their part to lower and limit pollution, bring locally-produced energy from the wind and the sun into our communities, create good-paying green jobs, build a future that values people over profits, and provide for healthy and clean learning environments for our youth.

Mass incarceration has become a national crisis and Texas is ground zero, holding one of the biggest jail populations in the country. Low-income residents and people of color are also disproportionately impacted by law enforcement, making reform efforts not just about limiting the amount of people behind bars, but also about addressing racial injustices in our state and creating true public safety that includes mental healthcare, rehabilitative services for the vibrant communities we deserve. Young people are pushing for a future beyond incarceration and beyond policing. We are demanding the rebuilding of a Texas that cares for us, funds our futures, where our rights are respected, and where every one of us can live full and healthy lives, no exceptions.