Everywhere we turn, we see images that make us fearful for our country. We see a corrupt failure of a leader instigating violence and refusing to protect Black Americans, while celebrating our suffering over Twitter from the comfort of the White House.
What inspires, uplifts, and motivates us is knowing not only that the Texas Democratic Party can be an agent of change, but that change is informed by leaders who are fighting for their communities right now.
For months, the Texas Democratic Party has been planning a virtual convention to bring Democrats across the state together. Over the course of the past few weeks, we have filmed panels on healthcare, voting rights, education, the Labor movement, women's rights and so much more. This week, a combination of live and pre-recorded content will be streamed for the first time on our Texas Democratic Convention website.
During the Texas Democratic Convention this week, you will hear from a number of strong Black voices in the movement for change. They will share their expertise with Texans across the state, and speak to the issues facing our communities.
Virtual Convention Kickoff
Join Texas Democratic Party Vice-Chair Dr. Carla Brailey as she kicks off our week-long Texas Democratic Convention. She will be speaking to the Democratic movement we have built here in Texas, and how Republican policies and their inadequate response to the COVID-19 pandemic have failed Black Texans.
WHEN: 12:00 PM CT
The Future of Healthcare in Texas, Sponsored by the Texas Medical Association
Medical professionals Dr. Gary J. Sheppard and Dr. Carla Ortique discuss the state of healthcare in Texas, as well as the changing healthcare landscape as a result of COVID-19. They speak to the disparities in our healthcare system, address Black maternal mortality rates, and discuss how Black Texans are at an inherent disadvantage when it comes to accessing affordable healthcare.
WHEN: 2:00 PM CT
Women Doing the Work, Sponsored by Annie's List
Tarrant County Commissioner Devan Allen and Annie's List Executive Director Royce Brooks discuss the challenges women of color face. They speak to their professional journeys, their mentors, and their political work empowering Black women across Texas.
WHEN: 12:00 PM CT
Workers and Their Stories
Join President, UNITE HERE Local 23, Marlene Patrick-Cooper, National Vice President, AFGE, District 10 Cheryl Eliano, and Legislative Director, CWA, Derrick Osobase as they discuss the labor movement in Texas.
WHEN: 1:00 PM CT
The Fight to Protect and Expand the Vote
During our panel on voting rights and voter protection efforts in Texas, the President of the Texas NAACP, Gary Bledsoe, discusses how Republicans have sought to dilute the voting power of Black Texans, and how Democrats are fighting back.
WHEN: 2:30 PM CT
Democratic Veterans: Serving Veterans, Winning the Veteran Vote
Texas Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign Director Brooklynne Mosely discusses her service in the Air Force, as well as how she's spearheading our game-changing coordinated campaign as a Texas Democrat.
WHEN: 3:30 PM CT
Earning the Black Vote
Join Black leaders, educators, and activists, Chair of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats Carroll Robinson; Managing Partner at Next Wave Strategies Shekira Dennis; President of the Texas Black Women's PAC Tracy Scott; and Democratic nominee for Texas House District 94 Alisa Simmons, as they discuss the Black vote in 2020, how Republicans have failed their local communities, and how we can continue taking action to ensure our institutions and our politics are inclusive, representative, and hopeful.
WHEN: 1:00 PM CT
Building an Equitable Future Through Education
Black educators and leaders at the forefront of our education system Texas Representative, District 131 Dr. Alma A. Allen; Vice Chair, Texas Democratic Party Dr. Carla Brailey; and the President of Paul Quinn College Dr. Michael Sorrell discuss the disparities in our education system, as well as the path towards a more equitable education platform.
WHEN: 3:30 PM CT
Art & Activism
Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Patrisse Cullors joins fellow artists to discuss the role and responsibility of the artist, to movements and policy change.
WHEN: 8:00 PM CT
Young Voters and the Future of Democratic Politics
Young Black community leaders and activists Political Director, MOVE Texas Raven Douglas, and Associate Judge, Travis County Aurora Martinez Jones, join the Texas Democratic Party to discuss the future of Democratic politics across the country, and how campaigns can do a better job of mobilizing young communities of color.
WHEN: 12:00 PM CT
A Conversation with the 2020 Statewide Democratic Judicial Slate
Democratic nominee, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3 Judge Elizabeth Frizell and Democratic nominee, Texas Supreme Court Place 7 Judge Staci Williams discuss the future of the court system in Texas, and how Democrats can replicate the gains made during the 2018 election to elect a more diverse, inclusive slate of judges and justices in November.
WHEN: 1:30 PM CT
Saving Texas: The Movement to End Gun Violence
Calandrian Simpson-Kemp, a Member of the Everytown Survivor Network, speaks to the movement to end gun violence in Texas as well as the pain this epidemic has had on communities across the nation.
WHEN: 2:30 PM CT
Featured Session: Texas Democrats and Our Growing Movement
Brooklynne Mosely and Cliff Walker discuss the evolution of the Texas Democratic Party, and how our movement has changed going into the 2020 election. We speak about our organizing infrastructure, and the ways in which we're energizing communities across Texas.
WHEN: 3:30 PM CT
Eimaral Sol, Artist
Colin Allred, U.S. Representative for Texas' 32nd Congressional District
Marc Veasey, U.S. Representative for Texas' 33rd Congressional District
Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. Representative for Texas' 18th Congressional District
Rhetta Bowers, Texas Representative, District 113
Kamala Harris, U.S. Senator and Former Democratic Candidate for President
Chris Hollins, Harris County Clerk and Texas Democratic Party Finance Chair
Hakeem Jeffries, U.S. Representative & Chair, House Democratic Caucus
Al Green, U.S. Representative for Texas' 9th Congressional District
Royce Brooks, Executive Director, Annie's List
Eric Johnson, Dallas Mayor (Invited)
Sylvester Turner, Houston Mayor
Royce West, Democratic Candidate for the U.S. Senate
Senfronia Thompson, Texas Representative, District 141
Dr. Carla Brailey, Texas Democratic Party Vice Chair
All the speakers listed above will be sharing their expertise with Texans across the state, and speaking to the issues facing our community: racism, a discriminatory education system, lack of access to healthcare, and our court system that seeks to disenfranchise Black Americans. They will speak to the critical space we hold in the labor movement, the power of Black women, the influence we wield at the ballot box, and so much more.
Democrats are fighting for more than a notch on a scoreboard. We are fighting for our lives. For those whom we love. For the liberation of all peoples.
We hope that you'll join us.
Thank you,
Texas Democrats
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Paid for by the Texas Democratic Party (www.txdemocrats.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. |
