Grassroots Leadership Blog

I took a tour of the Harris County Jail Mental Health Unit. Here’s what I found.

April 23, 2018 by Latasha Taylor

The Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) operates the nation's fourth-largest jail, with an inmate population approaching 9,000. (Jail Mental Health Initiatives)

     At Grassroots Leadership, we advocate and organize against private prison, detention centers and behavioral health treatment centers.  Diverting those with mental health concerns from the criminal justice system into community treatment programs. Ultimately, those with mental health issues are not diverted but instead forced into a failed criminal and mental health system — especially in Houston, Texas. Read more about I took a tour of the Harris County Jail Mental Health Unit. Here’s what I found.

Donna Red Wing, Rest in Power

April 17, 2018 by Bob Libal

Today, Grassroots Leadership is mourning the loss of Donna Red Wing, who passed away yesterday after a battle with cancer. 

Donna was Grassroots Leadership's second Executive Director, serving the organization in that capacity between 2010 and 2012. Before that, she was a long-time board member and supporter of the organization.  Donna had a long career as trail-blazing organizer and national figure in the LGBT movement including serving in leadership roles at the Interfaith Alliance, Human Rights Campaign, and Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Read more about Donna Red Wing, Rest in Power

What your donation to our work means to us

March 5, 2018 by Bob Libal

We are overwhelmed by the support we received during Amplify Austin on Friday. We are happy to share that we met our $10,000 goal. We couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you! Those donations will ensure that we are able to keep organizing for the long haul and fighting back against criminalization right here in Texas. For example, did you know the Travis County Commissioners Court is actually considering spending $97 million on a new jail? Read more about What your donation to our work means to us

Welcoming Ari Luna

February 28, 2018 by Bob Libal

 

Grassroots Leadership is excited to welcome Ari Luna as our new Administrative Associate!

Born and raised in Central Texas, Ari holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Ari joins us with 6 years of experience providing specialized support to non-profit organizations in Austin, Texas. They are excited to support our organization and staff in their fight to eliminate incarceration, deportation, and criminalization. Read more about Welcoming Ari Luna

Things are just as bad as we feared at a “civil commitment center” in Texas

February 26, 2018 by Cate Graziani

This private prison facility in West Texas once incarcerated prisoners from Idaho. Ever since Idaho canceled the contract with GEO Group in 2008, the county has been desperate to fill the facility that had become a money pit for local taxpayers.

I hate to say we told you so. In this case, I really, really hate it.

An exposé in the Texas Observer this month confirmed everything we feared about the Treatment Industrial Complex (TIC), a term we use to describe private prison companies’ scheme to expand their revenue by exploiting new markets in healthcare, treatment, and re-entry. Read more about Things are just as bad as we feared at a “civil commitment center” in Texas

Miembros de la comunidad luchan por la liberación inmediata de Laura Monterrosa / Community members rally for Laura Monterrosa's immediate release

February 25, 2018 by Bethany N. Carson

El domingo 25 de febrero, miembros de la comunidad se reunieron frente al Centro de Detención T. Don Hutto para mostrar su apoyo por Laura Monterrosa, una mujer inmigrante que ha estado hablando sobre el abuso sexual que sufrió a manos de una guardia en el centro de detención. Read more about Miembros de la comunidad luchan por la liberación inmediata de Laura Monterrosa / Community members rally for Laura Monterrosa's immediate release

Welcoming Sulma Franco to the immigration team // Bienvenida a Sulma Franco al equipo de inmigración

February 23, 2018 by Alejandro Caceres

Grassroots Leadership is pleased to welcome Sulma Franco as our new Sanctuary Organizer! Grassroots Leadership was invited by Sulma to help with her sanctuary campaign in 2015 when she was at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Austin.

¡Grassroots Leadership se enorgullece en darle la bienvenida a nuestra nueva Organizadora de Santuario, Sulma Franco! Sulma invitó a Grassroots Leadership a apoyar su campaña de santuario en el 2015 mientras estaba en santuario en la iglesia First Unitarian Universalist en Austin. Read more about Welcoming Sulma Franco to the immigration team // Bienvenida a Sulma Franco al equipo de inmigración

Welcoming Development Coordinator Natalia Thompson

February 20, 2018 by Bob Libal

Grassroots Leadership is proud to welcome Natalia Thompson as our new Development Coordinator. 

Natalia has been organizing and fundraising for migrant, economic, and racial justice for over a decade. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Natalia holds a B.A. in Ethnicity, Race, and Migration and in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Yale, where she organized with MEChA de Yale.  Read more about Welcoming Development Coordinator Natalia Thompson

Welcoming Josue Damian-Martinez to the Immigration Team

February 20, 2018 by Sofia Casini

Join me in welcoming Josue Damian-Martinez as the new Immigrant Rights Advocate Intern. Josue will be leading groups during visitations at the Hutto Detention Center. Visitors will also hear from Josue often, as he will be sending out Friday resources and support visitation volunteers in organizing for real change at the Hutto Detention Center. 

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