The Newsletter of the Deeds Not Words Community

November 12, 2021 | Deeds Digest No. 199

Hey #Changemakers,

This year, the Texas legislature passed many restrictive laws impacting young people all across our state. Ranging from HB 25 (an anti-trans bill aimed at excluding students from school sports) to SB 8 (the 6-week abortion ban)— extreme and oppressive laws are now a new reality in Texas. The worst part is, these policies do not represent what we as young Texans want for our future.

Young people are the future and we need our voices to be heard. Young people deserve representation and we know that our needs can be acknowledged if we are collectively demanding change. And our power has become even more clear in recent years. 

In 2020, the youth voter turnout in Texas was unprecedented, casting over 1.3 million early votes at the end of the early voting period. During the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people in the United States quit their jobs in a matter of months. The federal minimum wage is still $7.25 per hour and student debt is at an all-time high.  Many young people made their voices heard during the legislative sessions this year, speaking out against these outrageous and harmful bills. 

This pivotal time displays the urgency that many young people feel about preventing more damage to society and the environment because it would end up being our responsibility to fix in the future. 

As the Earth continues to deteriorate, the mentality of “leaving the mess for the later unlucky generations” has started to change. People are realizing that the unlucky generation is not that far away anymore. We know that it is important to start addressing these problems now, and we are using all of our power to shape the future for the better. Youth activists are changing the world by taking the lead on issues including reproductive rights, voting rights, climate change, and much more. 

This gives me hope because young people are demanding a voice in shaping our world and our future for the better. I want to thank you #Changemakers for your hard work and important role in fighting for what’s right.

Anna Li,
Deeds Policy Intern

We’re back on our blog! Read our new post where our Digital Intern Alysa Sides breaks down how the progressive movement has both failed and succeeded in representing young people. Don’t forget to Follow us on Medium for more!

Have you watched our latest Deeds Debunks episode? 👀 ☕ Our redistricting duo spill the TEA on what happened with redistricting in Texas, so sit down with a warm drink and catch up on this important issue affecting us for the next decade. Click here to watch!

We are so excited to be part of the DORF World art exhibition, with the community event happening this Saturday! ‘Own It, Examine It and Confront It Head On’ addresses rape culture, survivor justice, and healing. Our founder Wendy Davis will be speaking alongside other #Changemakers this Saturday, Nov. 13th. Check out DORF’s Instagram for more details and join us!

The beautiful limited edition screenprint by our art director @edithvalledesign is available for purchase here with part of the proceeds donated to Deeds Not Words. You can also support the work of our interns which will be for sale at the show— get a sneak peek on our Insta! 

*TRIGGER WARNING: exhibit content includes sexual assault, nudity, and violence*

Michelle Wu And Other Historic Firsts In The 2021 Elections 

One thing has been made clear now that the dust has settled on another election cycle: change is here. Michelle Wu has become the first woman ever elected to be the mayor of Boston. Her win also made her the very first person of color to be in that seat. Meaning, for 200 (that’s two-hundred) years, only white men have held the mayoral seat in the city of Boston. Electoral politics is finally catching up to reality. Her historic win, as well as the wins of others across the country, indicate an era of true reflective representation in local, state, and national politics.

Here’s more of what's inspiring us…

New Evidence: Texas Residents Have Obtained Abortions in at Least 12 States That Do Not Border Texas 

Since Texas’s SB 8 was signed into law, Texans are being forced to flee the state when seeking abortion care. Beyond the surplus of Texans seen in the four bordering states, 11 other states across the country (and D.C.) have experienced an increase in visiting Texans at their abortion clinics. Texans who need an abortion are bearing the economic brunt of traveling out of state for healthcare. For those who cannot swing going out-of-state financially, the near-total abortion ban in Texas has cornered many into very limited options in making the next step of their future.

Here’s more of what has us fired up…

Austin: Testify at the State Board of Education!
 

It's critical that the SBOE hear from as many people as possible before board members vote on new science standards that must address climate change and health textbooks that cover sex education.

If you can make it in person on Nov. 16 and/or Nov. 17th for the hearings, please register to testify now! The registration window will close this Friday at 5 p.m. CST.

Click here now to pledge to testify and you’ll automatically be sent instructions on how to register and a comprehensive guide to testifying. Thank you to our friends at Texas Freedom Network for leading us on this important action!

 

#Changemaker of the Week: Lauren Morton

Our campus organizer Lauren at the University of Houston has been doing amazing work, hear what she’s up to below! 

“This semester, Deeds at UH is doing a capstone project on safe sex and reproductive rights. Through our Halloween ‘condomgrams’ and partnership with UH Wellness we promoted preventative care by giving students free condoms and STD testing. We are also having an abortion access week where we share information about SB 8, how to access abortion care, and encourage students to get involved in the legislative process by voting and testifying. We also thank the Indigenous Awareness Association and Student Feminist Organization at UH for partnering with us to educate students on types of feminism in indigenous, latinx, and various other communities. 

We're super excited for next semester where we be launching our political theory book club along with our brand new committee system, with the five initial committees being: Medical Advocacy, Accessibility on campus, Civic education, Mental Health, and Sexual Assault/ Reproductive Justice. Deeds at UH will also be expanding our voter registration and civic education campaigns into the third ward community. None of this great advocacy work could be done without the Passion and hard work of our executive board and members. To stay up to date, please follow us on Instagram @deedsatuh!

We see you, Changemaker! 👏

Deeds Not Words is galvanizing the power of young Texans across the state, training the next generation of women leaders, and creating an impact through our legislative work. Your support allows us to continue pursuing our mission of a more equitable future! 

🎉 Support our Changemakers 🎉
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Deeds Not Words
PO Box 6009
Austin, TX 78762