Center for
Social Justice
& Education
An Unspoken Truth: The Journey Towards Social Justice is Ever Enduring
The journey towards justice, social and economic equity, maybe an arduous undertaking, but with great people, strategy, and hope, all is possible. At HAUL, we are committed to working together and developing solutions that affect the lives of those in our communities who are striving for a better future, a better tomorrow. To further strengthen our efforts in empowering communities, we have dedicated our time and resources to create the Center for Social Justice and Education here at HAUL. We are committed to inform our communities through the power of education and make it possible for the most vulnerable to live with limited constraints by protecting their civil rights and liberties, among others.
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Be a catalyst for change
The Center for Social Justice and Education’s sole purpose is to create more conscious advocates. We welcome you to join us and see how you can be a catalyst for change in the community. Contact us to become the advocate your community needs today.
Key Focuses/Pillars
The Center for Social Justice and Education (CSJE) will focus on key issues that directly impact those that live throughout the city. Below you will find some of the most pressing issues that the CSJE will address.
Racial Equity For All
Racial equity is one of the most important pillars that we will uphold. We will provide a formidable foundation for all participants and make sure they understand the importance of working towards a more equitable, inclusive, and educated society. By acknowledging our differences, we can be closer towards securing a more equitable environment that makes it possible for all individuals, especially those from underserved communities, to succeed from a personal and professional standpoint. Racial equity is one of the most important pillars that we will uphold. We will provide a formidable foundation for all participants and make sure they understand the importance of working towards a more equitable, inclusive, and educated society. By acknowledging our differences, we can be closer towards securing a more equitable environment that makes it possible for all individuals, especially those from underserved communities, to succeed from a personal and professional standpoint.
Racial Equity in the Workplace
Talented professionals, particularly those of color, are negatively impacted by a workplace that does not offer a safe and equitable environment. This makes it much harder for them to succeed. It is essential for business leaders to produce effective solutions to eliminate these barriers. The corporate leadership workshop/pillar will highlight the importance of opportunity, equity, and the need for bias elimination. Through the power of civic engagement, we will produce an effective process that business leaders can utilize to create a more equitable workplace. Some of the methods that business leaders will incorporate into their respective workplaces include identifying and developing practices that disrupt social inequities in professional environments. We will welcome thought leaders, change agents, and other expert individuals to help business leaders produce processes that ensure all professionals within an organization can thrive, which ultimately elevates business performance and secures organizational growth.
Police Reform
We believe police reform begins at the local level. We want to encourage participants to become educated on the efforts that the HAUL Center is producing to reform the criminal justice system and the way policing is conducted. This is to ensure that community members can trust, build and maintain relationships with law enforcement officials. We will work towards investing in our communities and listen to their concerns regarding the state of policing. Some of the ways in which HAUL is addressing law enforcement issues include advocating for an Independent Police Oversight Board, training, and investigating and learning some of the best practices from across the country to ensure our community members can regain confidence and improve upon relationships with law enforcement officials.
The Power of the Vote
Throughout our nation’s history, there has been a coordinating effort to disenfranchise voters of color, particularly Black Americans, from having access to the voting booth. The most recent election has demonstrated the power of voters in our community, highlighting the importance of voting overall. The Center will encourage community members to understand the voting process through various mechanisms. First, we will encourage community members to understand the importance of our two voting entities, the Harris County Tax Assessor and the Harris County Clerk. We will also help community members understand the role of an Elections Administrator. This recently appointed role oversees the county’s elections operations as well as the administration of local state and federal elections in Harris county. Voting empowers individuals and their communities. Through this pillar, we will empower community members that their voices matter, and the best way to raise such voices is through the power of the vote.
Executive Priorities
The Center for Social Justice and Education advocates for programming that benefits Black and other marginalized communities. For the 2023 Texas Legislative session, HAUL created a white paper that addresses issues of the Power to Vote, Education, Economic & Workforce Development, Public Health, and Housing. To see the full white paper, please visit the link. READ MORE
Key Programs
To empower the community, we have created a combination of workshops and series to ensure community members can understand the importance of social justice through education. Education is vital to spread the word about social inequities and help the community become well aware of current issues that directly impact the lives of many individuals in the city.
News
Commentary: Proposed bills in Texas attack local communities
Texans are witnessing one of the most extreme, authoritarian and discriminatory legislative sessions in years.
Bills moving through the Legislature would make Texas law dramatically more anti-immigrant; radically reduce the power of local governments, courts and prosecutors; diminish, criminalize and encourage interference with voting rights; and even impose extreme authoritarian views about what can be taught in classrooms and books that can be read in school libraries. Click here to view full article.
Advocacy U (Community Track)
To empower our community members, we have created Advocacy U. Because knowledge is power, we have created workshops to help the community become more politically aware. Advocacy U includes series and workshops on Community Organizing, City Structure and Politics, County Structure and Politics, State Structure and Politics, and the Legislative Session. These informative series and workshops will help individuals succeed in achieving political and social justice efforts and endeavors to elevate their communities. Each of these sessions will be supported by a HAUL Community Advocate with the guidance of a subject matter expert in their respective fields.
Advocacy U (Youth Track)
Advocacy U will provide a youth track, coming Fall 2021, to empower the youth and ensure they understand that their voices will play an important role in the future of our communities. More specifically, we will provide the youth with a creative space to inspire them to advocate for their respective communities and address the most pressing community issues. From workshops on police interactions to gaining knowledge regarding our political process at the local levels, we will influence the youth to become active participants that will bring about necessary change in their lives.
