The Texas 88th Legislative Session: A Monumental Step Forward for Girls Empowerment Network’s Investment in Advocacy
The Texas 88th legislative session (22-23) which convened on January 10th and and adjourned on May 29 2023, was monumental for Girls Empowerment Network regarding both the level of investment in advocacy as an organization and bills that will deeply impact the lives of youth across Texas.
Girls Empowerment Network is proud of our policy team and Spark Change Project Teen Peer Facilitators who used the power of advocacy to create a better Texas for the youth we serve. Together, they took action on 53 bills related to our policy priorities of mental health, safe and supportive schools, healthy relationships, and equity. Through their advocacy, our Spark Change Facilitators and our advocacy team solidified relationships with legislators who asked for their input on multiple bills and asked for invited testimony on 3 bills.
Girls Empowerment Network and Spark Change Project are Recognized on the Floor of the Capitol
Representative Claudia Ordaz honored the Spark Change Project with resolution HR 461, you can watch the video of this resolution on our YouTube Channel. Girls Empowerment Network expanded into grassroots advocacy, building a team of 109 adults and the youth who care about them to take action on bills during five strategic advocacy and action alerts. High-impact bills we supported included HB 567, the CROWN act that now prohibits discrimination based on hair texture of protective hairstyles in Texas. SB 133, known as the ‘No Kids in Cuffs’ bill which prohibits physical and chemical restraints on students under the age of 10, and SB 379, which eliminates taxes on menstrual products and diapers in Texas.
Girls Empowerment Network opposed bills such as SB 14 which prohibits gender affirming healthcare and HB 900 which removes sexually explicit books from schools but due to broad language could remove important books related to identity and sex education for youth who access to that information. Girls Empowerment Network staff and advocates also provided support to youth and families as they navigated the complicated feelings surrounding these bills.
Girls Empowerment Network Facilitator, Angela Montijo, LMSW led a coping-skills session at the Texas State Capitol with parents and allies ahead of the the hearing of SB14.
“The weight of it all is quite heavy [at the Capitol] but the parents and allies in the room expressed so much gratitude. By the end of the session, the air wasn’t so thick, bodies were less tense, and smiles and hugs were shared.”
We are proud of our work this legislative session, and we will continue to support policies that promote girls' well-being so they can thrive in achieving their goals and advocating for a world where girls are unstoppable! If you’re interested in becoming a member of our grassroots advocacy team, be sure to join our advocacy and action alerts. Please reach out with any questions or feedback to our Policy Team.
Girls Empowerment Network Highlights During this Session Include:
As an organization, Girls Empowerment Network took action on 53 bills
10 testimonies: 5 written testimonies and 5 verbal testimonies
3 invited testimonies
Five strategic action alerts, sent to our team of 109 youth and the adults who care about them
Action alerts were related to actions for 6 high-priority bills and actions against 6 high-priority bill
Registered support at the Capitol for 21 bills
Registered against at the Capitol for 7 bills
Office visits/ office meetings/ Calendar committee visits on 10 bills
4 sign-on letters with organizational partners
One resolution filed honoring Girls Empowerment Network – HR 461
Member of five active coalitions: Texas Coalition for Healthy Minds, Youth Mental Health Workgroup, Education Justice, Texas Menstrual Equity Coalition, No Kids in Cuffs
The Spark Change Project Empowers Texas Teens to Advocate for Issues They Care About in Their Community
The Spark Change Project (SCP), a Central Texas collaboration between The Excellence and Advancement Foundation and Girls Empowerment Network, aims to empower, inspire, and train the next generation of female activists of color here in Central Texas. SCP centers a group of girls of color as leaders, who gain a part-time job, find their own activist voices and galvanize a wider network of peers to develop a policy agenda. Read about how we got started.
Spark Change Project Highlights During this Session Include:
15 office visits and more than 4,000 steps walked for HB 98 (school mental health) and HB 2095(protective orders for survivors of domestic violence)
Testimony on three bills: HB 45 (cultural curriculum), HB 4199 (menstrual products in schools),and HB 567 (CROWN act)
Connections to other organizations - SCP Teen Facilitator, Kyra speaking at Austin Area Urban League Day of Action and SCP Teen Facilitator, Genesis interview with KVUE speaking out on the Teen Mental Health Crisis.
71 youth in attendance on Spark Change Day
“The Power and Promise of Youth Advocacy: a Conversation with Female Changemakers" panel including Representative Josey Garcia, Representative Lulu Flores, and Representative Claudia Ordaz panel
19 power chat volunteers from key advocacy organizations and political leaders in Texas
11 attendees at Spark Change Camp, three full days of insightful speakers, advocacy lessons, and connection
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. Learn more by visiting our Policy & Advocacy page.