The Spark Change Project Teen Facilitators Discover the Power of Advocacy, Deliver Powerful Testimonies at the Texas State Capitol on Issues Affecting Teen Girls Today.
Since the beginning of the cohort, the 2023 Spark Change Facilitators, teen girls of color who are hired part-time by The Spark Change Project (SCP) to find their own activist voices and galvanize a wider network of peers to develop a policy agenda, have been working diligently on tracking, researching, and testifying on proposed bills during the current 88th Legislative session.
The Spark Change Project is a Central Texas collaboration between The Excellence and Advancement Foundation and Girls Empowerment Network, which aims to empower, inspire, and train the next generation of female activists of color here in Central Texas. Read about how we got started.
Read along the powerful testimonies that these incredible young advocates have delivered and are planning on delivering at the Texas State Capitol.
“…for one in five teenagers, they miss school due to a lack of access to menstrual products. That may sound like a statistic but I want you to imagine what it’s like to be one of those girls who don’t have access to these necessary products. There is blood everywhere, people are staring at you and all you feel is shame due to a biological process that is the foundation of creating life”
“ I want you to imagine what it’s like to be one of those girls who don’t have access to these necessary products. There is blood everywhere, people are staring at you and all you feel is shame due to a biological process that is the foundation of creating life”
These powerful words resounded at the Texas State Capitol as Spark Change Facilitator Shub, testified to the House Public Education Committee in favor of Bill HB4199 authored primarily by Representative Lulu Flores and which proposes to put menstrual products in Texas bathrooms free of charge for public school students. The office of Representative Lulu Flores extended the invitation to testify to Girls Empowerment Network. Shub was the only high school student to testify along with a representative from Texas Menstrual Equity Coalition.
Shub continues her testimony by sharing statistics about the financial implications that menstrual health products have on girls who need it most, "every school year, a girl has to be able to come up with at least $85 dollars to have proper access to menstrual health products.”
Her testimony ended with a clear call to action for the committee, “I urge all of you to think about the positive effects that you could be having on girls who don't have access to basic menstrual products. You could be putting them back in the school system and making sure they live a life where they don't ..have fear of their period. You all have the power and I urge you to use it for supporting this bill.”
Although it is now too late for the bill HB4199 to pass this session, it is the first time a bill of this nature has ever gotten a hearing at the Texas House.
A Powerful Testimony on the Importance of Hairstyle Autonomy: Spark Change Facilitator Kyra testifies in favor of HB567
Spark Change Facilitator, Kyra testified to the Senate State Affairs on May 8th on the Senate floor in favor of HB567, the CROWN Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of hair texture or protective styles associated with race. The CROWN ACT is primarily authored by Representative Bowers and Senator Miles.
Her powerful testimony touched on the importance that her hair has for her self-esteem and spoke to meaning that her hair holds as part of her history, culture and identity.
“I care about this bill deeply as I am a black woman who deserves the autonomy to style my hair how I please. If this bill is passed, students of color all across the state of Texas will be able to feel safe going to a school environment and feel like this state stands by their sides
Kyra continues her testimony sharing a story about an interaction with a peer regarding her hair that even after four years continues to have an effect on her.
“For a while, I felt like I had to change my hair to feel comfortable. One day at school, I had straightened my hair and while going to the bathroom a girl stopped me and said “your hair looks better kyra! you should keep it that way!” This hurt because I felt as though someone was telling me I should change myself to fit in and that it was better if I was something I was not. “
“I am proud of who I am. I take ownership of my braids. I urge you to pass this bill out of committee.”
Kyra urged the committee to pass the bill with these powerful last words: ‘“I am proud of who I am. I take ownership of my braids. I urge you to pass this bill out of committee.”
Bill HB567 is currently on the way to the Governor’s desk. A monumental moment as it has been years in the making. Join our action alerts here to learn how to contact the governor for this bill and other important bills on the way to his desk!
Spark Change Facilitators, Genesis & Brianna Continue to Track Bills Ahead of the end of the Texas Legislative Session
Spark Change Facilitators, Genesis and Brianna continue the work of researching, tracking, preparing testimony, and knocking on doors of representatives for bills that they feel passionate about. Although their bills have not made it far enough along in the process to give them an opportunity to testify at the Capitol, they are still showing up in places of power and raising their voices for mental health and healthy relationships.
This past Tuesday, May 16th Brianna and Genesis visited the Capitol to make stops at key offices to try to get the bills a hearing in the Senate Education Committee and Senate State Affairs Committee. Their conversation with offices were impactful in helping urge lawmakers to give the bills a hearing before the last day of session on May 29th.
Genesis is focusing on HB 98, authored by Representative Moody and Representative Garcia and which would allow administration, provision, and Medicaid reimbursement of mental health or behavioral health services provided to certain public school students.
Brianna is focusing on bill HB 2095 which gives survivors of sexual assault more information about protective orders so that they can make informed decisions on whether they want to request them in court cases.
Spark Change Facilitators Brianna and Genesis continue doing the work to get bills they are passionate about a hearing. This week they visited over 15 offices at the Texas State Capitol to meet with key staff members putting in over 4,000 steps - steps towards the right direction for sure!
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Our policy priorities are driven by the girls we serve. We seek to equip youth with civic knowledge, advocacy skills, and a critical awareness of how their voice can contribute to social change. By listening intently to youth stories of the issues they confront in their daily lives and partnering with them to find policy solutions, we hope our priorities reflect the lived experiences of youth today.
Upcoming Spark Change Project Events
For girls interested in learning more about advocacy and civic engagement, the Spark Change Project also hosts a Spark Change Camp for girls in grades 6 – 12 to be held Wednesday, June 7 to Friday, June 9, 2023, from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas. Registration is open!