The Newsletter of the Deeds Not Words Community
March 20, 2019 | Deeds Digest No. 138
Hello #Changemakers! 

Here at Team Deeds, we encourage #Changemakers like you to draw upon the power of your personal stories to help change minds in halls of power.  That's because, too often, policymakers stuff themselves into opposite corners of the ring and come out swinging with preconceived and dug-in notions rather than with listening ears and hearts.

The past few days have been a vivid reminder for me of why our stories (YOUR stories) matter so very much.  I've sat in on numerous committee hearings with our young advocates, listening with awe and pride as they share personal reasons that legislators should support or oppose various pieces of legislation.  They've shared experiences of assault and the accompanying failure of their schools and/or the criminal justice system to support them.  They've shared experiences with family members who experienced post-partum depression and why we should all focus on better supports for new mothers.  They've shared experiences of their need for mental health supports in their schools for reasons that are deeply personal to them.  They've shared experiences of vital support they've received from women's health centers that have allowed them to better plan their futures and therefore their opportunities. 

Most importantly, through the sharing of personal stories, these #Changemakers have deepened understanding.  They've opened minds that were previously closed.  And they've shifted thinking in a way that will result in the passage of important policies, reflective of their lived experiences and needs.

I'll admit to having shed some tears this past week as I observed the courage and commitment of the young women who have taken on these tough fights and, in the process, reminded me of the power we each possess.  You inspire me, #Changemakers.  Keep moving your stories forward.  And we older folks will commit that we'll do our part to keep learning from you.  Every. Single. Day.

Much love,
-wendy
 
#TeamDeeds is gearing up for our Advocacy Day on March 27th! We will be bringing our #Changemakers and Deeds members from across the state to the Texas Capitol to advocate for our FEM-Z agenda.

Our FEM-Z agenda stands for
  • Freedom from Sexual Assault
  • Economic Opportunity through Fair Pay, Affordable College and Reproductive Autonomy
  • Menstrual Equity; Maternal Mortality and Mental Health
  • all powered by Generation Z-- that's you!
Join us and learn how the legislative process works; be a part of a youth-led rally with our legislative champions, and visit offices to advocate for bills that you're passionate about!  Come for some or all of it, but we hope you can definitely join us at the rally which runs from 11-1 on the South steps of the Texas capitol.

It's still not too late to register: https://sign.deedsactionfund.org/advocacyday/

See you at the Capitol!

Claudia Yoli Ferla
Director of Student Outreach and Organizing
Imposter Syndrome: A pervasive feeling of self-doubt, insecurity, or fraudulence despite often overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

As we work with our #Changemakers, we often hear them admit to doubts about their abilities and worthiness to sit at the table. It's something we even experience ourselves!

Imposter Syndrome can affect all of us -- no matter how prepared or long your resume is. Hear some advice from real #BossLadies on how to deal with and overcome it.

Here's more of what's inspiring us...
Serena Williams is often considered the greatest athlete, regardless of gender, in the world. Her ability to consistently dominate an individual sport even led Nike to crown her the greatest EVER in 2016.

Despite Williams's undeniable ability, there's still an enormous pay gap between male and female athletes. It's time for equal pay for equal work to hit the court, the playing field, the pool, the golf course and everywhere else women show up to compete.

Here's more of what has us fired up ...
Howdy #Changemakers!!

Yesterday afternoon the Texas Senate State Affairs committee voted favorably on SB 22, a bill that would interfere with a local community's ability to contract with reproductive health care providers if they provide abortions as any part of their work or are affiliated with a provider who does. Naturally. We are against this bill.

In 2011, the state of Texas removed all funding from Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers even though there was already a prohibition on spending those dollars on abortion and even though the funding was providing contraceptive care, STI screens and treatment, cancer and diabetes screens and more, which is bad enough. SB 22 would do further harm by prohibiting local communities from contracting to replace needed services that were lost or threatened after the state withdrew it's funding.  An example impact would include the forced termination of a lease agreement that Planned Parenthood has with the City of Austin to provide services from a building currently owned by the City for $1 rent per year.  That facility currently provides needed healthcare services to women and men throughout the City, particularly those in marginalized neighborhoods.  If this bill passes, that lease would come to an end, and the clinic would close.  Interestingly, this facility doesn't even provide abortion care -- not that there'd be anything wrong with that if it did.

So how can you show your support for local autonomy and women's healthcare providers?  Go here in order to: Contact your legislator and demand that they protect providers like Planned Parenthood who provide access to life saving healthcare, including safe and legally protected abortion care.  SB 22 will now be heading to the full Senate for a vote and will then be heard in a House committee.  We'll keep you in the know about the progress of this and other bills that we are watching if you sign up for our Legislative Alert's here.

While you're at it, you may also want to show your support for Rosie’s Law, HB 895, which would restore Texas Medicaid coverage for abortion care for low-income Texans.  It's been referred to the House Human Services committee, where it's not likely to even receive a hearing.  But we've never counted the power of our voices out before and we're not going to start now.  Support our friends at the Lilith Fund  who've been an instrumental advocate for Rosie's Law by going here and calling the Chair of the committee: Rep. Frank to tell him that this bill DESERVES a public hearing and the women it would support DESERVE this healthcare.

Andrea Reyes
Policy and Advocacy Coordinator

This Week's #Changemaker:
The Turtle Mountain Youth Council

With 1/3 of teens and young adults in the Turtle Mountain, Indian Reservation living in poverty, a group of local students decided to take matters into their own hands to improve the future prospects of their peers.

Created 14 years ago, The Turtle Mountain Youth Council works to combat drug abuse, unintended pregnancy, and suicide rates amongst teens by ensuring they have a voice at the table. Through meeting with reservation leaders and state officials, these #Changemakers are working to find solutions to issues that most affect the youth reservation community -- including voting access!

The Turtle Mountain Youth Council proves that your movement doesn't have to be nationwide to have an impact. Sometimes the best way to make change is by looking within your community and working to improve it, one person at a time.

We 💜 you, Turtle Mountain Youth Council! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
In 2017, our Deeds Not Words' trained student activists PASSED 7 pieces of legislation in the Texas Capitol to prevent sexual assault, protect survivors and end human trafficking. In this legislative session, our goal is to galvanize the power of even more students to enact real change in their communities, but they need your support!
 
Donate >>
Share
Tweet
Forward
Unsubscribe from this list     Update subscription preferences

Copyright © 2016 Deeds Not Words, All rights reserved.
Deeds Not Words
PO Box 6009
Austin, TX 78762