Center for
Social Justice
& Education
Empowering Communities. Changing Lives.
AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCACY U
2024 CSJE ADVOCACY U SPRING COHORT
Center for Social Justice and Education
Advocacy U - Spring 2024
Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern University
Since its inception more than 50 years ago, the Houston Area Urban League has been an invaluable asset to our city, providing important economic assistance, education, and employment resources to Houston’s minority communities. To fulfill our mission and help address racial inequities, injustice and related civic engagement education and civil rights navigation, HAUL established the Center for Social Justice and Education. The amplification of advocacy, education services and programming to meet the needs of underserved communities is critical to the continued economic growth and quality of life for all Houstonians.
The Center’s services are based upon the increased need for community advocacy and facilitated through a Social Justice University component. Services allow HAUL to provide a more comprehensive response to the current climate families are encountering and equip them with the tools they need to become real time advocates. The Advocacy U program supports community engagement through modules where participants are led through a practice that examines the various challenges facing their communities. This community engagement process will provide participants with the resources and partnerships needed to foster civic engagement and leadership development.
As a vehicle for equity, the Center will offer experiences that build awareness, develop leaders, and accelerate change among individuals, teams, and groups as we seek best and next practices in the social justice space. The Advocacy U Program will provide virtual workshops on Declaration of Independence: The American Constitution- New Freedoms or Status Quo, Party Politics and Redistricting, Emancipation Proclamation, and the 13th Amendment; Illusions of Freedom, Civil Liberties verses Civil Rights, Federalism Defined: States’ Rights or Authoritarianism, The Politics of Race in the American Psyche, American Culture in the Age of Terrorism, Democracy and War, Perceptions of Race in the Age of Obama, Black Freedom and Citizenship. The experience includes a combination of Lecture and Workshops, Peer-to-Peer, Hands-on activities, and Group Discussions
SPRING 2024 ADVOCACY U COURSEWORK
Speaker: Dr. Ronald Goodwin, Professor at Prairie View A&M University
Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution: New Freedoms or Status Quo - Virtual - 1/30/2024
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/UGPIQ4LyIls?si=zVHIpLfT38V6DyKp
The CSJE is honored to feature Dr. Goodwin Prairie View Professor of American History who will discuss Thomas Jefferson’s Declar/ation of Independence, it’s structure, justification behind the revolution and how the impact through our struggle for freedom relates to current political freedoms today.
Speakers: Dr. Coliette Gaston, Professor at Prairie View A&M University
Civil Liberties vs. Civil Rights - Virtual -2/6/2024
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlAu4dsHpQU&t=7s
Civil Liberties are freedoms guaranteed through the US Constitution to protect everyone from oppression (ex. freedom of speech), while civil rights are legal rights that protect individuals from discrimination (ex. employment discrimination). This virtual activation will explore the differences between civil liberties and civil rights, the laws that govern them and characteristics designed to protect the laws interpreted through the federal legislature established by the federal government.
Speakers: Dr. Alex Goodwin, Professor at Southwestern University
Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment: Illusions of Freedom - Virtual – 2/13/2024
Video Link: https://youtu.be/zEWA8GpEgLs?si=vCyc9Jwfv_E70tnM
In 1863, The Emancipation proclamation freed enslaved peoples in the Americas only in confederate states, but the 13th Amendment was responsible for making it a national policy. This activation will analyze the proclamations limitations - as it did not end slavery but will explore how it transformed the union states and layered levels of execution through terms and conditions that challenged the outcry for freedom as those freedoms are still challenged today.
Speaker: Yannis Banks, Texas NACCP Committee Chair
Party Politics and Redistricting - Virtual 2/20/2024
Video Link: https://youtu.be/zEWA8GpEgLs?si=WbodFgcaO9_7AAaW
Political loyalty is important to predict election outcomes. Gerrymandering (also known as redistricting) continues to be a vital component in the voting process to disempower democratic leaning voters who live in predominantly urban areas. In this segment, you will learn about what redistricting is, how the process disenfranchises communities, and impacts social determinants within our daily lives.
Speakers: Dr. Larry Weeden and Dr. Craig Jackson, Professors at Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Federalism Defined: States’ Rights or Authoritarianism - Virtual 2/27/2024
Video Link: https://youtu.be/SeUhvd9h0P8
The distribution of power allows states to share their power with the national government. In principality, each state has their own constitution where each can exercise its power to choose, for example, what kinds of ballots to use or voting procedures foundational to elections decided by our national government. In a time when policies have become weaponized, this virtual will look at how states are utilizing their power, patterns of ideology(beliefs) and how it has centralized/decentralized political power.
Speakers: Dr. James Douglas, Michael Adams, Merline Pitre, Professors at Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Texas History – African American & Latino History - Virtual 3/5/2024
Video Link: https://youtu.be/hf0Wj4DCRwg
Within Texas, African American’s and Latino’s made a huge imprint on the economic development of the land. Slavery was the catalyst and Texas plantation owners obtained free labor because of it. After seceding from Mexico, the revolution in 1836 made Texas an independent nation for 9 years until 1845. How did interim sovereignty effect the profitability of the state and to what degree did African Americans who fought during the civil war impact those conditions? This activation will explore the state of independence to further promote economic gains at the expense of human capital.
Speakers: TSU, Dr. Craig Jackson, Professors at Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Democracy and War - Virtual 3/19/2024
Video Link: https://youtu.be/bECOCmAas-Y
Democracy and War affects our political liberation. As democracy takes applied force from the table, war polarizes to establish negative determinants that often dismantle civil rights through political influence. It is diametrically opposed to liberation and serves as an imminent threat to our nation state. We will explore how human rights have been defended throughout history, the significance of its effects and military mobilization that produces negative consequences and conflict in our quest to seek social sovereignty.
Speaker: TSU, Dr. James Douglas, Michael Adams, Dr. K C Morrision, Carroll Robinson, Professors at Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Perceptions of Race in the Age of Obama - Virtual 3/25/2024
Video Link: https://youtu.be/LxC4_y8yRJY
Over the years, race relations have been strenuous particularly during times of political transition. Parallel to the powershifts was an increase of racial tension that spawned aggressive acts throughout our nation. The Obama presidency, through a slow deterioration of antics and efforts to marginalize communities, capsized due to the political environment created by nationalists’ rhetoric to further racial division. During this virtual class, we will examine rapid social change, how the toxic political climate influenced behavior and how it insighted hostility within our current political environment questioning equality today.
Speaker: TSU, Dr. James Douglas, Michael Adams, Carroll Robinson, Professors at Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Changing the Face of Civil Rights - Virtual 4/2/2024
Video Link: https://youtu.be/UZ2oPUBAovI
During the virtual, professors will discuss civil rights over the course of U.S. history. In the United States, persons who either did not own property, enslaved or a women could not vote. Only free men or men who owned property could do so. This conversation will unpack information about the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment, reconstruction, and segregation. What happened to the rights of African American? How did gains from the 50’s and 60’s become marginalized? What happened to the seed(s) of affirmative action having resulted in the regression of our civil rights today?
What is the Center for Social Justice & Education?
The Center for Social Justice Education and Advocacy examines racial inequities, and political, economic, and social issues that impact our Houston community.
Our Mission
To strengthen civic engagement through education and empower our local, underserved community to address systemic challenges.
Your donation can make the difference.
Be a catalyst for change
The Center for Social Justice and Education’s sole purpose is to create more conscious advocates. We welcome you to join us and see how you can be a catalyst for change in the community. Contact us to become the advocate your community needs today.
Key Focuses/Pillars
The Center for Social Justice and Education (CSJE) will focus on key issues that directly impact those that live throughout the city. Below you will find some of the most pressing issues that the CSJE will address.
SUCCESS STORIES
Racial Equity For All
Racial equity is one of the most important pillars that we will uphold. We will provide a formidable foundation for all participants and make sure they understand the importance of working towards a more equitable, inclusive, and educated society. By acknowledging our differences, we can be closer towards securing a more equitable environment that makes it possible for all individuals, especially those from underserved communities, to succeed from a personal and professional standpoint. Racial equity is one of the most important pillars that we will uphold. We will provide a formidable foundation for all participants and make sure they understand the importance of working towards a more equitable, inclusive, and educated society. By acknowledging our differences, we can be closer towards securing a more equitable environment that makes it possible for all individuals, especially those from underserved communities, to succeed from a personal and professional standpoint.
Racial Equity in the Workplace
Talented professionals, particularly those of color, are negatively impacted by a workplace that does not offer a safe and equitable environment. This makes it much harder for them to succeed. It is essential for business leaders to produce effective solutions to eliminate these barriers. The corporate leadership workshop/pillar will highlight the importance of opportunity, equity, and the need for bias elimination. Through the power of civic engagement, we will produce an effective process that business leaders can utilize to create a more equitable workplace. Some of the methods that business leaders will incorporate into their respective workplaces include identifying and developing practices that disrupt social inequities in professional environments. We will welcome thought leaders, change agents, and other expert individuals to help business leaders produce processes that ensure all professionals within an organization can thrive, which ultimately elevates business performance and secures organizational growth.
Police Reform
We believe police reform begins at the local level. We want to encourage participants to become educated on the efforts that the HAUL Center is producing to reform the criminal justice system and the way policing is conducted. This is to ensure that community members can trust, build and maintain relationships with law enforcement officials. We will work towards investing in our communities and listen to their concerns regarding the state of policing. Some of the ways in which HAUL is addressing law enforcement issues include advocating for an Independent Police Oversight Board, training, and investigating and learning some of the best practices from across the country to ensure our community members can regain confidence and improve upon relationships with law enforcement officials.
The Power of the Vote
Throughout our nation’s history, there has been a coordinating effort to disenfranchise voters of color, particularly Black Americans, from having access to the voting booth. The most recent election has demonstrated the power of voters in our community, highlighting the importance of voting overall. The Center will encourage community members to understand the voting process through various mechanisms. First, we will encourage community members to understand the importance of our two voting entities, the Harris County Tax Assessor and the Harris County Clerk. We will also help community members understand the role of an Elections Administrator. This recently appointed role oversees the county’s elections operations as well as the administration of local state and federal elections in Harris county. Voting empowers individuals and their communities. Through this pillar, we will empower community members that their voices matter, and the best way to raise such voices is through the power of the vote.
Executive Priorities
The Center for Social Justice and Education advocates for programming that benefits Black and other marginalized communities. For the 2023 Texas Legislative session, HAUL created a white paper that addresses issues of the Power to Vote, Education, Economic & Workforce Development, Public Health, and Housing. To see the full white paper, please visit the link. READ MORE
Key Programs
To empower the community, we have created a combination of workshops and series to ensure community members can understand the importance of social justice through education. Education is vital to spread the word about social inequities and help the community become well aware of current issues that directly impact the lives of many individuals in the city.
News
Houston Area Urban League Lawsuit Challenging S.B.1 Heard in Federal Court
[San Antonio, Texas] – Today, the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas began the first day of trial in a case challenging S.B. 1, a Texas law that targets voting access. The case is comprised of five lawsuits, including Houston Area Urban League v. Abbott which was filed in 2021 by the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), Reed Smith LLP, ArentFox Schiff, and The Arc on behalf of the Houston Area Urban League (HAUL), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Arc of Texas, and Jeffrey Lamar Clemmons, a poll worker.
The lawsuit argues that S.B. 1 violates the First, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by targeting and burdening methods and means of voting used by voters of color. Additionally, the plaintiffs argue the law violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act by imposing voting barriers that will discriminate against voters with disabilities and deny people with disabilities full and equal opportunities to participate in the state’s voting programs. Click here to view the full article.
Trial begins over Texas voter laws that sparked 38-day walkout by Democrats in 2021
SAN ANTONIO – A trial began Monday over a sweeping Texas voting law that sparked a 38-day walkout by Democrats in 2021, part of Republican efforts across the U.S. to pass new voting restrictions following President Donald Trump’s false claims of a stolen election.
The lawsuit was brought by a coalition of voting rights groups after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the changes into law. It is unclear when U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez might rule in the trial, which could last weeks. Click here to view full article.
Texas Omnibus Voter Suppression Law S.B. 1 Will Be Put to the Test at Federal Trial
“Today, more than 50 Democratic members of the Texas House left Austin…not because we want to — it breaks our heart that we have to do it — but we do it because we are in a fight to save our democracy. The nationwide Republican voter suppression efforts are coming to a crisis point in the state of Texas right now.” Click here to view full article.
What’s at stake in the long-awaited trial over Texas’s sweeping 2021 elections law
The GOP-backed Senate Bill 1 added voting restrictions that plaintiffs claim unfairly impacts voters of color. Click here to view full article.
Federal Court in Texas Hears Lawsuit Challenging S.B. 1, State Law Targeting Voting Rights
[San Antonio, Texas] – Today, the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas began the first day of trial in a case challenging S.B. 1, a Texas law that targets voting access. The case is comprised of five lawsuits, including Houston Area Urban League v. Abbott which was filed in 2021 by the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), Reed Smith LLP, ArentFox Schiff, and The Arc on behalf of the Houston Area Urban League (HAUL), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Arc of Texas, and Jeffrey Lamar Clemmons, a poll worker.
The lawsuit argues that S.B. 1 violates the First, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by targeting and burdening methods and means of voting used by voters of color. Additionally, the plaintiffs argue the law violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act by imposing voting barriers that will discriminate against voters with disabilities and deny people with disabilities full and equal opportunities to participate in the state’s voting programs. Click here to view the full article.
Houston Area Urban League Stands With National Urban League In Commending U.S. Justice Department Prosecution Of Former Memphis Police In Tyre Nichols Case
The Houston Area Urban League (HAUL) and our President & CEO, Judson Robinson III, join the National Urban League in commending the U.S. Justice Department’s indictment of the former Memphis Police officers involved in the tragic death of Tyre Nichols in January. Tyre Nichols’ life mattered, and his memory will continue to drive our commitment to justice and fairness for all. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family of Tyre Nichols and all those affected by this senseless tragedy. We stand with them in their pursuit of justice. Click here to view the full article.
Houston Area Urban League Stands Firm: Condemning Hate and Uniting Against Division Following Tragic Hate Shooting
Uniting Against Racism and Hate: Houston Area Urban League Mourns Tragic Dollar General Shooting Amidst Ongoing Fight for Inclusivity and Equality in Houston
We condemn racism, hate, and those that stir these pools of intolerance and division. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families during this difficult time as we mourn the tragic and preventable shooting at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville over the weekend. Click here to view the full article.
Commentary: Proposed bills in Texas attack local communities
Texans are witnessing one of the most extreme, authoritarian and discriminatory legislative sessions in years.
Bills moving through the Legislature would make Texas law dramatically more anti-immigrant; radically reduce the power of local governments, courts and prosecutors; diminish, criminalize and encourage interference with voting rights; and even impose extreme authoritarian views about what can be taught in classrooms and books that can be read in school libraries. Click here to view full article.
Reintroduction of the Freedom to Vote Act in the 118th Congress
The Freedom to Vote Act is a critical transformative legislative package that would create national standards to protect our freedom to vote, combat the influence of big money out of politics, block partisan election subversion, and guarantee that congressional districts are drawn to give fair representation for all. Click here to view the Partner Toolkit.
Advocacy U (Community Track)
To empower our community members, we have created Advocacy U. Because knowledge is power, we have created workshops to help the community become more politically aware. Advocacy U includes series and workshops on Community Organizing, City Structure and Politics, County Structure and Politics, State Structure and Politics, and the Legislative Session. These informative series and workshops will help individuals succeed in achieving political and social justice efforts and endeavors to elevate their communities. Each of these sessions will be supported by a HAUL Community Advocate with the guidance of a subject matter expert in their respective fields.
Advocacy U (Youth Track)
Advocacy U will provide a youth track, coming Fall 2021, to empower the youth and ensure they understand that their voices will play an important role in the future of our communities. More specifically, we will provide the youth with a creative space to inspire them to advocate for their respective communities and address the most pressing community issues. From workshops on police interactions to gaining knowledge regarding our political process at the local levels, we will influence the youth to become active participants that will bring about necessary change in their lives.
Advocacy and Education in Houston
Upcoming CSJE Events
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