Unconventional Journalist

Policy is key to equitable sewer infrastructure, and Kourtney with Bayou City Water Keeper joins me to discuss Houston's pending water crisis due to poor sewage infrastructure. We discuss Bayou City Water Keeper's lawsuit, the current state of the sewage infrastructure, and the movement to make tangible policy changes to prevent further water privatization and another water crisis.

The Flint Water Crisis has not gone away. They are still in crisis, and it has become so normalized that there are water crises across the United States. Houston residents in poorer, divested parts of the city are already getting sick from poop water. Coalitions of community members in the city are working to fix the issues they live in and create an equitable sewage infrastructure before it completely crumbles.

Justice in the Sewers Hub

Standardized testing is used as a tool to fire teachers and close schools to move towards the privatization of education. Houston CVPE has put together resources to explain why this movement is important and how you can get started.

I'm in my teaching era!

My former professor who now teaches at A&M invited me to speak to his media editing students. My friend at Rice, who oversees their radio station, invited me to speak to his radio reporting students.

I needed to rehearse and here's the audio for my rehearsal. Thanks for being part of this process.

Illegal child labor continues to increase in the United States, with kids as young as 10 years old working at McDonald's. Efforts to weaken child labor laws are also increasing, and not just in the red states.

Here are the articles I referenced in today's report.

Over 100 Kids Were Illegally Employed in Dangerous Meat-Packing Plant Jobs

Child labor investigation spreads to meatpacking, produce companies in 11 states

Over 300 minors found working at 3 McDonald's franchisees: Department of Labor

Fast-food giants overwork teenagers, driving America’s child labor crisis

Illegal child labor is on the rise in a tight job market

Child labor remains a key state legislative issue in 2024

Tyler with Build Galveston joins me to discuss a recent housing policy win in Galveston.

Food Not Bombs received their 91st ticket this week for feeding houseless people. They posted about the legal updates.

Recently, Red Rose Media reported about ex-Food Not Bomb volunteers issuing allegations against the group for sexual harassment and overall lack of accountability. There still hasn't been a formal response from Food Not Bombs about these allegations or accountability measures that will be taken.

Get more prep tips here.

Learn more about community hubs, a long-term plan for keeping you and your neighbors safe, here.

Tomball Community Fridge is asking for donations for their fridge, blankets, jackets, and other warm items. Follow them on Instagram.

Edit: Free Store event is canceled.

"On Wednesday January 3rd, Eight 1st Precinct Constables Of Harris County came to a food sharing service of Food Not Bombs to serve a warrant to a member in attendance. After their arrest, Jerrode Brown better known as JB was upset and called out to the cops to put away their tasers as there was no threat. The police had been pointing their weapons in the faces of civilians who were rightfully upset because the warrant was for Brazoria County and it is not normal procedure for Harris County to carry out this arrest. One officer lost their cool and decided to chase and tackle JB to the ground for expressing their need for safety. During the altercation the officer fractured his wrist and and another officer put a taser to his spine at point blank range and tasered him for 12 seconds even though he was already on the ground. " - more info on JB's fundraiser page.

Police have given Food Not Bombs 86 tickets for feeding the houseless, and continue to escalate.

Cash Assistance for Harris County Residents

You may qualify for $500/month from Harris County! The application period starts on January 8, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 11:59 p.m. on January 26, 2024. Apply here.

Free Store

550 McKinney St, Sunday, Jan. 7, at 7:30 pm.

Come bring things to grab, donate, or trade. Learn more here.

Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP)'s Loyce and Mitchelle join me to discuss their work in Houston to create networks of safety for Black LGBTQIA+ migrants who have forcefully left their homeland.

BLMP Programs and Information

BLMP Links — including fundraiser and signing up for newsletters

Paul White Re-Entry Fund

Mitchelle

Mitchelle (she/her) is an educator turned environmental advocate based in Houston, Texas. She currently works as a Senior Outreach Associate for the Environmental Protection Network (EPN) and partners with communities dealing with environmental racism, including but not limited to those dealing with lead in water, petrochemical facilities, and land restoration. In this position, she has developed profound relationships with communities and has become personally involved in their struggles. 

Mitchelle also has been working with TBME (Texas Black Migrant Ecosystem Coalition) over the last year to formulate a space that caters and advocates for black migrant experiences. She hopes the emerging coalition will affect change in a state that is hostile to immigrants and especially black migrants. 

Mitchelle is also a poet, and her work has been featured in Atlanta Review, and she has performed at Write About Now Poetry. Her work discusses gender violence, immigration, and Black identity. She sees a strong connection between justice and storytelling. It is her belief that while policies fight for a better future, storytelling ensures we heal from our past. 

Loyce

Loyce (she/they) is a Tanzanian-born storyteller, facilitator, and organizer based in Houston, TX. Their work interrogates Black Diasporic histories, and seeks to center how oppressed people build power.

Loyce's writing has been featured on Button Poetry, Write About Now, Badilisha Poetry, Fields Magazine and PBS. They also founded a creative writing and performance initiative for East African youths called Paza Sauti.

Loyce currently serves as the co-lead for the Houston Hub of Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP). Through this work, Loyce has curated spaces to support Black queer migrants and advocate for Black migrant justice.

Healthcare workers in Houston are organizing for Palestine.

Bissam and Okarys with Healthcare Workers for Palestine - Houston join me to discuss their movement to send medical supplies and their upcoming rally at Ben Taub Hospital.

There are many petitions you can sign - see here.

Upcoming rally to join:

Dec. 9, 2023 at 1pm behind Ben Taub Hospital

🗣️CALLING ALL HOUSTON HEALTHCARE WORKERS🗣️: Come rally with us in Hermann Park by Lamar Fleming St. (behind Ben Taub Hospital) next Saturday, December 9th, at 1 PM! We will be featuring guest speakers, educating passersby about the ongoing genocide in Gaza, Palestine, and honoring the lives of healthcare workers that were tragically lost due to Israel’s killings. Bring your flags and keffiyehs and show Houston that healthcare workers here support a ceasefire and the liberation of Palestine! 🇵🇸
Information on parking can be seen in slide 2! Free parking is available at the Sam Houston Monument (Lot A), in front of the Houston Zoo (Lots G and F), across the street (Lot H), and near the Miller Outdoor Theatre (Lots E and D).