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Hey #Changemakers,
One of my first experiences with advocacy was helping register students to vote and working as an organizer to build a chapter of Deeds Not Words on my college campus. I remember being so fired up about the potential for young Texans to change our state for the better as we grew into our power— and I'm here now because I still believe in that power.
Like many young people though, I can understand how difficult it can be to engage with advocacy or causes we care about when we're juggling school, work, or just trying to find our own path. Not to mention, when state leaders intentionally make processes inaccessible to us. However, one thing I realized was that policy decisions actually impacted my present and my future in literally every way possible. I realized that if I didn't stand up for abortion rights, all plans for my future could be thrown off with one unintended pregnancy. I realized that if gerrymandering and voter suppression had a grip on elections, democracy could never truly represent me.
Most importantly, I realized that we can't count on someone else to step up or lead us into the future. We are the leaders we've been waiting for. There were plenty of times when I felt intimidated asking people if they're registered to vote or felt small when I was the only young person providing testimony on a bill. Yet the more I pushed myself out of my comfort zone (with the support of the amazing team at Deeds), the more I realized those feelings are exactly what maintains the status quo. They try to intimidate us, outcast us, and make us feel small— but change only happens when we break through the barriers and make our voices heard.
Texas is literally at a critical moment that will make or break our futures right now. We are waiting for another special session and census data for redistricting, not to mention that for now, on Sept. 1, an unprecedented abortion ban is set to go into effect, which could make accessing care and providing resources even more difficult for Texans. Our voting rights are still up in the air as we face a national battle against voter suppression, which would disproportionately affect Black and brown voters. And even our ability to learn history in schools is being attacked. Don't sit by as our rights get taken from us!
If you care about your future, NOW is the time we have to step up, Changemakers. Because when we do, there is no stopping our power.
In Solidarity,
Parnia Razi, Deeds Not Words Digital Manager
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