For many, summer is a time for family vacations, breaks from work, or maybe even trips with their faith community. With all that is happening in the world around us, it might also be a chance to check out and stop paying attention to the news for a few days to decompress.
I hope you had a chance to take a break. Our family has found a few moments this summer, with our oldest preparing to begin college this fall. But the implications of our current policy realities continue, even when we are less attuned. I was on a church trip when I received a text from a bishop about a statement they were releasing about the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. I had completely missed that tragic news while away. I had to watch the press conference Texas Impact hosted, featuring Texas faith leaders responding to the killing, from a Whataburger parking lot near the airport because my flight was delayed coming home from another trip.
While many of us have taken some time away this summer, the world around us has continued to make clear that our policy realm needs an intervention. And faith voices need to get loud in demanding change.
To quote one of my favorite presidents in an iconic scene from the greatest television show ever made, President Josiah Bartlet from the West Wing, “Breaks are good… but, break’s over.” (Apologies for some language)
Many claim that Labor Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff of the general election campaign season. But if we really want our civic life to change, Texans of faith must be organized, energetic and loud, and preparing to do that work doesn’t begin on Labor Day.
Earlier today, our faith leaders gathered at the Capitol to encourage Texans of faith to put in the resistance work necessary to change unjust systems. The press conference focused on immigration and enforcement actions, but the same effort is needed for every one of our issues at every level of government.
There will be some who will focus on the national aspects of the November elections. There will be a lot of discussion about federal issues and federal races. Some are even beginning to speculate about the 2028 presidential race. But many of us lived together through the legislative sessions in 2025. I talked with many of you about the need for accountability on a wide range of issues at the state level: vouchers in public schools, Christian Nationalism run amok, gun policy, climate policy, reproductive health, voting rights, the assault on LGBTQ+ rights—to name just a few.
Texas Impact’s team members do incredible work to track and engage on these issues and more. You know the harm that comes from bad public policy. The leadup to this November is a great opportunity for you to share what you have learned and inspire your community to join you in talking with candidates about your issues and voting for candidates that share your values.
There will be plenty of press coverage about federal issues and federal races, and I don’t want to minimize the importance of those issues and races. But I hope team members can highlight state and local issues that impact their communities and draw attention to the races that impact your advocacy in the Texas Capitol. Let’s dream about the legislative session our communities need in 2027 and do the work required to make that dream a reality.
As I say on the Weekly Witness podcast most weeks, Texas Impact has the tools for you to get involved. You can help by inviting your networks to attend Texas Impact’s Ready. Set. Go! events across Texas.
Texas Impact, in partnership with a diverse network of interfaith voices from across the state, is convening a series of events bringing together people who are done watching from the sidelines.
These are half-day civic engagement trainings built for faith communities, advocates, and anyone who’s ever asked, “What can I actually do?”
Through keynote speakers, hands-on workshops, and grassroots strategy sessions, you’ll leave with real tools for legislative advocacy, community organizing, and leadership development.
We invite you to register and promote the Ready. Set. Go! events below for these fantastic opportunities to connect with the Texas Impact team and continue planning your civic engagement work for this fall.
August 1 in Denton
August 2 in Dallas
August 22 in San Antonio
September 27 in Houston