April 1, 2024

Newsletter

Happy Spring!

Please note: our newsletters contain a lot of links to make viewing the source easier - just click on images or linked text to explore

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Women's History Month
• TDP Talking Points
• 2024 Election Year Dates and Deadlines
• Texas Freedom to Read
• State Convention - Register and Book Your Hotel!
• Democratic Events Around the County
• Joe and Kamala's Corner (click on an image to open)
• Tweets (click on an image to open)
• Texas Blue Store
• Democratic Party Calendar of Upcoming Events
• Other Groups and Community Events

This newsletter is published on or about the 1st and the 15th of every month.

Email content for consideration to communications@mcdptx.org

no later than 3 days before publication.

March - Women's History Month

(yes, we are a bit behind but we believe women should be celebrated every day!)

We have so many heroines who came before us and who walk with us.

In 1978, a group of women educators and activists in Sonoma County, California, frustrated by the erasure of women's narratives in educational materials, kick-started what would become Women’s History Month. We all know of the many, many women who have continued to fight for the rights of women and others – they are all heros.  As are the many of us who quietly everyday lead by example and actions to fight for equality for all.

Here are some women heroes from throughout history who may not even known or thought they were heroes. But their existence and strength helped bring us to where we are today! Still fighting and leading. 

Midland Minnie - the Paleo-Indian woman whose skeleton was found near Midland years ago. She is the oldest person whose remains have been found in this state.

Angelina the Caddo - Angelina was chief of the Caddo for over 30 years and was regarded as a very wise woman. Circa 1770s. Angelina County is named for her.

Candelaria - the Curandera who was the only medical provider inside the Alamo. She tended the injured all during the battle. She was an old lady who was born in San Antonio and she bravely stayed through the battle tending the injured. Later Texas gave her a pension out of respect for what she did there.

Senora Alvarado - another Tex Mex. She managed to sneak more than 20 condemned prisoners-of-war out so they were not executed by Santa Anna.

Emily Morgan - born a slave in Louisiana. She became a spy and kept Houston informed of Santa Anna's movements. She was exceptionally beautiful and there are existent drawings of her. Houston freed her and then he and others financed her going into the hat shop business in the 4th ward where she did well as a hat shop owner.

Madelleine - partner of pirate Jean Lafitte. She ran the pirate market when Jean was at sea. She was said to be an excellent businesswoman in the running of the pirate's market on Galveston.  She died in a hurricane in 1818 when a ceiling beam fell and hit her on the head. Jean never left her side. He loved her so.

Naduah the Comanche - began life as Cynthia Parker but was taken in a raid by Comanches when she was 4 yrs old and raised as a Comanche. She married Peta Nacona and with him had three kids. One day when she and other young Comanche women were out picking berries she was involuntarily rescued. They killed all her companions and spared her because she had blue eyes. She had her newborn baby with her. They took her to the white camp and there they tried to make her be white but she had lived more than 30 years as a Comanche and did not want to. She was a Comanche wife and mother. She loved her husband and kids. That ended badly for them all. Still her oldest son became a great chief.

Obedience Smith - colonist who first settled the Montrose area of Houston and later added to her property most of what became southwest Houston. She was a woman alone who was a successful farmer. She was NOT obedient.

Wilhelmina Joaquin - Owned the largest goat farm in the world for a while.

There are so many Texas women who have excelled one cannot list them all but they all should be remembered.

Thanks to Mary Silcox for contributing this information!

Happy #ArabAmericanHistoryMonth!This month, we celebrate the cultures, heritage, and vast contributions of Arab communities here in Texas.

On this Eid al-Fitr, Texas Democrats continue to stand in solidarity with the millions of Palestinian civilians who are suffering through forced famine and displacement. The time for a ceasefire is now. #EidMubarak

The facts don’t lie: President Biden is the only presidential candidate you can trust to lower medical costs for Texas families.

Big news, Texas! 📣The Biden administration has fueled our state's future with a massive $150 billion investment. Say hello to new funding for semiconductors, renewable energy, better roads, clean water, and high-speed internet (just to name a few) all across the state!

Unlike Donald Trump, who was the worst President for jobs in modern history, President Biden has led the charge on strengthening Texas’ economy. In fact, the unemployment rate dropped from 6.9% in 2020 to just 4% now in 2024 thanks to our President 🤩

Democrats are delivering a massive, bipartisan border deal.

Cruz and Trump are trying to shut it down so they can take advantage of the border crisis in their reelection campaigns.

Mission

Texas Freedom to Read Project supports, connects and mobilizes parent and community member led initiatives fighting for student rights and against censorship and book bans in Texas.

Vision

Texas Freedom to Read Project strives to defend, protect and preserve the rights of every Texan, especially public school students, to freely read and access information and ideas.

An Update on Montgomery County Public Library

We are disappointed, unsurprised & undeterred

Texas Freedom to Read Project stands with over 1200 Montgomery County public library patrons, staff and supporters who petitioned the Montgomery County Commissioners Court to reject a policy that removes librarians from the reconsideration process for challenged children, YA and parenting books in the Montgomery County Memorial Library.

Librarians are experts in balancing the unique needs, values and first amendment rights of their communities and should always have a voice, and a vote, when books are challenged.

We are disappointed, unsurprised and undeterred by the outcome of today’s vote in Montgomery County. We are actively working with community members to identify their options and will support them in whatever steps they choose to take next to defend the freedom to read in Montgomery County.

A message from Teresa Kenney, Montgomery County Memorial Public Library supporter and owner of Village Books in the Woodlands...

Thank you to everyone who showed up and/or spoke up at Commissioners Court against the proposed Reconsideration of Library Materials policy.

We unfortunately did not have the votes, with two commissioners (Robert Walker and Matt Gray) and Judge Keough voting for it and Commissioner Charlie Riley voting against it. Commissioner Noack was not at the meeting.

Unfortunately, I felt the vote was rushed as the commissioners seemed to have a lot of questions about the policy or did not understand the extent of the power it provides to the Citizens Review Board.

Today, I'm not sure exactly what the next steps are. But I do know that there will be next steps. Please reach out to me at the bookshop (Village Books) and we can discuss further and keep up-to-date on strategies.

As an aside, as of Wednesday night, we have 1,327 signatures on the petition. You guys were great! Thank you!

Teresa Kenney

The 2024 Texas Democratic Convention is coming soon, y'all! 🤠🌟

Texas is THE battleground of battlegrounds, and this June, I’ll be joining Democrats from across the state in El Paso to rally and organize for November.



Visit TexasDemocraticConvention.com to learn more! #TXDems24

For the 2024 Texas Democratic Convention, we're excited to offer exclusive discounted rates at 4 El Paso hotels within blocks of the convention center!

Don't wait, book your hotel at TexasDemocraticConvention.com now!



We'll see y'all in El Paso! 🤠🌟 #TXDems24

This speaker line up for the Convention is amazing!!

Click here for the Convention website with information about the agenda, how to be a delegate and everything else you need to know!

Democratic Party Activities Around the County

psst: you're missing a lot of fun if you aren't joining us!!

Blue Magnolia met on March 13th for a St Patrick's Day celebration at Lone Pint Brewery in Magnolia.

We had a great turnout, live music, incredible food and lots of fun.

Thanks to Susan Shofkom for making this happen and for spending hours cooking amazing ribs and cabbage! Thanks to Alice Hull for making traditional Irish shortbread and soda bread! Thanks to Rudy Quiroga for entertaining us. And thanks to everyone who joined us and brought food and good cheer!

We had an amazing Convention on March 23, 2024! We will send an eblast in the next week or so with news from the Convention and thanks to all our volunteers, committee chairs, silent auction donors and purchasers, candidates, attendees and delegates. Stay tuned!!

Tweets!

Blue Texas Store

Visit headquarters or Facebook to shop and check out what's available. Thanks to Judy Trosvig for the creation of the Blue Texas Store and of many of the beautiful items available in it!

Pizza and Politics

Thursday, April 4⋅1:00 – 3:00pm

Monthly on the first Thursday

Location:

Lone Star College Montgomery, 3200 College Park Dr, Room G112, Conroe, TX 77384, USA

Description:The goal of the Pizza and Politics Club is to provide students and the community with a place to share and discuss political topics, issues, and events.

The Pizza and Politics Club will also serve as an arena for members and the community to gain new knowledge, raise awareness, and develop relationships that fosters healthy thinking, information sharing, and debate while striving to leave a positive impact through dialogue.

Contact: Michael Devoley (Advisor), Ernest Dupree (Advisor), and Kevin Fritze (Advisor)

Democrats & Progressives of Montgomery County Area Meetup

Attend a Morning Coffee/Breakfast

Second Saturday of the month -

Saturday, April 13, 2023, at 8:30 am

The Whistle Stop Cafe

11133 Interstate 45 S · Conroe, TX

Hosted by Karen Cavanagh.

RSVP

Attend a Wednesday Evening Meetup - Dinner with Friends

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Cafe Express Woodlands

3091 College Park Dr Ste 290

The Woodlands, TX 77384

RSVP

Recurring meetings, and related events



THU APR 4 - LWV HOT TOPIC: CRIME & SAFETY, 11:30am, Mia’s Table, 18450 I-45

TUE APR 9 - MOCO COMMISSIONERS COURT, 9:30am, 501 N. Thompson 77301

TUE APR 9 - LS GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION BOARD, 6:00pm, 655 Conroe Park N

TUE APR 16 - CONROE ISD BOARD, 6:00pm, 3205 W. Davis Street, Conroe 77304

TUE APR 16 - CONROE ISD BOARD, 6:00pm, 3205 W. Davis Street, Conroe 77304

THU APR 18 - WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD, 6:00pm, 2801 Technology Forest Bl.

TUE APR 23 - MOCO COMMISSIONERS COURT, 9:30am, 501 N. Thompson 77301

WED APR 24 - WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD, 6:00pm, 2801 Technology Forest Bl.