The Newsletter of the Deeds Not Words Community

Hola amigxs,

This year’s political cycle is shaping up to be as contentious as ever — and with no women at the top of the ticket — our work at Deeds feels more important than ever.

At Deeds we’re training young people — women, male allies, folks in between and outside the binary, to be our next leaders. They’re students and young people of color from all across Texas who are putting in the work to make our communities better and stronger everyday. Today they’re our #Changemakers, but I know that one day they’ll be on our ballots. 

And because every great leader needs a platform, let me tell you about the work they’re doing RIGHT NOW:

• Registering, educating, and turning out their peers to vote for representatives up and down the ballot–- by the way 50% of candidates running this cycle are women! 

• Leading our YOUth Count campaign to ensure that every young person in Texas is counted in the 2020 Census. Like duh, we deserve fair representation. 

• Getting ready to draft and pass local ordinances in communities across Texas, and exercise our policy-making power! 

• Working on community Capstone Projects across the state, focusing on issues such as freedom from sexual assault, reproductive justice, menstrual equity, LGBTQIA equality, immigration reform, climate change, and gun violence! 

I can’t tell you who will be president in 2021— but I can tell you that one day you might see one of our #Changemakers in the White House. 

Help us fight back against voter suppression and invest in these incredible young people and the work they’re doing to organize their communities. Donate, join a chapter, or attend one of our in-house census trainings. 

There is SO much we can do together to ensure our voices are heard. 

YOUth Power, 
Claudia Yoli Ferla 
Co-Executive Director 

These LGBTQ+ Candidates Made History On Super Tuesday
 

No matter what you thought of the Super Tuesday results, it is truly inspiring to see so many LGBTQ+ folk running for office in 2020. There were 78 LGBTQ+ candidates on the Super Tuesday ballot, 43 out of which managed to win their primary election and several others heading into a runoff. 

In a day and age where marginalized communities are constantly ignored and oppressed, it is exciting to see people from all across the board fighting to represent their communities. So here’s a shout out to these remarkable individuals!

More than ever, we need to elect individuals from all backgrounds, who are passionate about uplifting marginalized people and being a voice for them in government.

Here’s what’s also inspiring us:

• Providence Student Union Organizers Are Trying to Fix Their Broken School System
• Congresswomen Barbara Lee & Jackie Speier Talk About Protesting The SCOTUS Abortion Case
• 33 Quotes For Women’s History Month 2020 To Lift You Up

#Changemaker of the Week: 
Parnia Razinobakht

This week, our Changemaker of the Week goes out to Parnia Razinobakht, our Campus Organizer at the University of Houston! 

“I chose Deeds to help evolve my community leadership because they work hard to make sure we are supported and have everything I need to make my work and chapter successful. Deeds has been incredible in allowing me to express my ideas and visions for change in my community while providing tangible mentorship and resources to make them a reality. I've been able to start a new chapter at the University of Houston, bringing in different members from our diverse campus to organize our power towards affecting change on issues we care about. As students, our power is often underappreciated, but when we come together we can do great things such as collecting books to donate to local prisons and educating our community on criminal justice issues/mass incarceration.” — Parnia 

We see you, Changemaker!