Grassroots Leadership Blog

Just a few weeks ago, when all eyes were on them, Austin City Council took the first steps toward investing in communities’ health and wellbeing instead of policing. However, when they thought no one was watching, they handed the Austin Police Department more than $1.7 million in state grants last Thursday—and they plan on giving APD more money. Read more about What happens when elected officials think no one’s watching?

On Thursday, May 14, 2020, 14 community groups sent a letter to Harris County Judge Hidalgo and Commissioners expressing their gratitude in passing the Harris County COVID-19 Relief Fund as well as offering their support in bringing it to reality. Read below:

County Judge Lina Hidalgo

Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Precinct 1

Commissioner Adrian Garcia, Precinct 2 Read more about 14 community organizations send letter to Harris County Commissioner Court regarding creation of COVID-19 fund

Over the past years, our team has successfully prepared for and responded to crises, and we’re good at what we do — from reuniting women detained at the notorious T. Don Hutto detention center with their children, to responding to ICE raids in our community, to working with communities as they navigate the criminal legal system. Read more about As COVID-19 reaches Austin, here's how we are taking care of our community and ourselves

Texas is the most incarcerated state in the most incarcerated country in the world. There are more than 1,000 immigration jails separating thousands of people from their loved ones, and a wealthy few profiting from the incarceration of Black, brown, and poor communities. For decades, the solution to dealing with people who are targeted by unjust laws has been incarcerating, punishing, and criminalizing those communities. Read more about Grassroots Leadership: A year in review