The Texas Progressive Policy Institute (TPPI) is a communications and engagement consultancy dedicated to advancing social equity and civic participation within the African American community. Through its BlactivateUSA initiative, the organization coordinates a national network focused on turning policy research into direct community action. The provided documents outline a dual-track model that allows civic organizations to partner through fee-for-service educational agreements while offering individual members the chance to earn income as independent contractors. To protect nonprofit integrity, TPPI maintains a strict separation between institutional partnerships and these private sales roles, which involve promoting membership services. Furthermore, the guidelines establish rigorous ownership and non-solicitation rules to ensure that all data and engagement insights remain the exclusive property of the institute. This framework aims to build economic resilience and political influence without compromising the legal status or mission of collaborating groups.

Jasmine Crockett already has most of the Black community's enthusiastic support, but that does not mean the rest of the Democratic Party automatically will. This is a 4-alarm-fire alert to every candidate running for office this election cycle across the country. Let’s unpack why. Full episode available to paid monthly members of the Texas Progressive Policy Institute for African American Engagement.

Is it structural neglect or the lack of courageous discourse from candidates that's causing the widening chasm between the Democratic Party and its Black base? Listen to this lively debate between our hosts, Queensly Billups and Damon Tucker, who offer differing opinions on what has to be done to re-engage and to rebuild trust with Black voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. (SPOILER ALERT: It's BOTH!)

The provided text is an excerpt from a podcast script for BlactivateTheVote2026, an audio series produced by the Texas Progressive Policy Institute for African American Engagement. This episode, titled "Why Most Candidates Lose Black Voters Early," serves as a guide for political candidates and consultants focusing on the critical role of African American voter engagement in 2026 competitive races.

Full episode available FREE to those considering membership.

There are meaningful reasons why Black people move collectively in the ways we do. Here is a glimpse into what the workplace experience looks like for many African Americans. We hope it offers insight and encourages deeper understanding. When we engage each other with authenticity and care, everyone benefits.

The Judicial Leadership & Learning Lab (JL3) is a statewide civic development and judicial innovation program created by the Texas Progressive Policy Institute for African American Engagement (TPPI). Designed for Texans ages 15 and older, JL3 cultivates the next generation of jurists, court administrators, policy thinkers, community advocates, and justice reform innovators. The Lab provides a structured, culturally fluent space where participants learn how the courts work, identify barriers to fairness, and design solutions that strengthen equity and public trust in the Texas judiciary.

At its core, JL3 is a training ground for future judicial leadership, especially within communities whose voices are often excluded from decisions that shape daily life. Through justice hack-a-thons, mock judicial review, intergenerational collaboration, and real-world problem solving, JL3 equips participants to think critically, lead ethically, and reimagine the systems that administer justice in Texas.

In this episode, we walk through the Texas Progressive Policy Institute for African American Engagement’s newest policy brief on the unemployment crisis impacting Black communities. Our discussion sounds the alarm on Black joblessness, which has soared to 1.8M jobs lost in just 11 months--more than twice the natinal average of whites--and how this disparity produces concentrated harm in housing, food access, family stability, credit, and mental health. We explain how these outcomes are not the result of individual failures, but of long-standing and newly enacted policy decisions by the current adminstration to intentionally target and to weaken economic security in Black communities.

In this episode: Our hosts introduce listeners to the mission of the Texas Progressive Policy Institute for African American Engagement and explain what makes TPPI different from traditional think tanks or policy organizations. Instead of focusing on white papers or political strategy, TPPI operates as a civic engagement consultancy that helps policymakers, candidates, and civic leaders build the skills needed for genuine, culturally fluent engagement with African American communities.

The conversation walks through the purpose behind TPPI’s Cultural Fluency Lab, a dedicated space where members can safely test messaging, ask questions, and practice engagement without fear of judgment or missteps. The hosts discuss how this approach fills a long-standing gap in political outreach and helps leaders show up more confidently and authentically in the communities they serve.

Listeners will also hear why TPPI does not endorse candidates and how its mission, vision, and values guide the Institute’s commitment to serving leaders who want to engage responsibly, grow in cultural awareness, and strengthen trust across diverse constituencies.