Student Action: Apr 21, 2023
It's the end of the semester and we are so grateful for all of your support!
Thank you for your interest in civic engagement. We hope you’ll take what you learn here and spread the word to your friends and family!
Opportunities
Common Cause Texas is offering spots in their Democracy Fellowship program this summer! 15 hr/wk from June 5 to August 5 with a monthly stipend of $1000. Apply now!
College grads & grad students! Rep. Donna Howard’s office is offering a General Policy and Administrative Aide position that would start before the end of this legislative session with the opportunity to continue. Check out the job description and application details here!
If you have an unpaid internship, apply to the Theodore H. Strauss Civic Internship Award for an opportunity to get $2000 this summer!
Election Information
The FAC is a polling location for this election!
First Day of Early Voting in Person: Monday, April 24, 2023
Last day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (received, not postmarked): Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Last Day of Early Voting in Person: Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Election Day: Saturday, May 6, 2023
Student Action on Food Insecurity: From Campus to City Hall
By: Sarah Batson
As a senior at UT Austin, I have often heard from my peers that as students who are still learning so much and exploring the world before they enter their careers and put down roots that they don’t have a place within the wider political community of voters and leaders in Austin.
However, the issues that students can see in their campus community and the solutions they pursue are applicable to the community beyond campus as well. It has been inspiring to see students take action and speak up about food insecurity on campus, and I believe that they should be guided by these same concerns when voting for local elected officials.
Austinites include UT Austin Students and the issue of food insecurity that affects UT students is also prevalent in the broader community. Here at UT Austin, the 2022 Food Insecurity Action Team (FIAT) report found one-third of surveyed students said they don't have reliable access to affordable and nutritious food. According to recent 2021 projections from Feeding America, the total population of individuals experiencing food insecurity in Austin is 177,300. Community organizations and activists are calling for action from both campus and city leaders.
Action on this issue has taken many forms. The Food Insecurity Action Team advocated for students to reach out to their city council members in the summer of 2021 to express their support for the creation of a food system plan for the Austin community.
In 2022, Austin City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes passed a resolution, “aimed at addressing food insecurity in the city by increasing the frequency of bus routes leading to grocery stores and creating maps that identify healthy food options on bus routes, among other initiatives.” This resolution was inspired by the work of students at St. Edwards University seeking to find policy solutions to food insecurity in their community.
Most recently, collaboration between FIAT and student assembly members led UT Austin Student Government’s President and Vice President to initiate a pilot program with the Dean of Students and UT Parking & Transportation to provide free transportation to the nearest HEB for students.
These policies show the power students have as advocates on important issues impacting their campus and city community. Many times issues facing students and issues prevalent in the wider community are the same. Civic engagement by students can bridge this gap and lead to progress that benefits students and all Austinites.
Students have a voice when they vote on campus and when they vote in local elections. They should feel confident that positions they come to over their time on campus can guide them when they make choices in electing local leaders.
Interesting Articles
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Texas House moves to expand Medicaid coverage to new moms for a year after childbirth
As the legislative clock ticks, Houston language advocates angle for a committee hearing
Thank You!
We are so grateful for the unwavering support of our subscribers this semester! Our newsletter this semester has covered a variety of topics from the Winter Freeze to City Council and the Texas Legislature. We hope that our Civic Notes this semester have reinforced TX Votes’ mission to encourage civic engagement and voter education.
We are looking forward to continuing our newsletter next semester!
- TX Votes Digital Committee Spring 2023 (Sarah Batson, Aaron Lurin, Asha Ayyar)
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