In recent years, democracy reformers across the U.S. have been pushing back against state-level practices that undermine the ability of ordinary Americans to make their voices heard and ensure that government is responsive to their needs. But while battles over partisan gerrymandering and voter suppression have received wide attention, there’s also a growing effort to counter another threat to democratic values: state preemption. This is a practice in which state legislatures limit local authority, blocking the ability of cities, counties and towns to enact laws and make decisions that reflect the views and priorities of their residents. Fighting the widespread abuse of state preemption is an important way for foundations and major donors to build the civic power to defend democracy, while still operating within the realm of 501(c)(3) advocacy. Weaponizing a Legal Concept To be clear, preemption is an inherently benign legal doctrine that says one government can overrule a lower-level government’s authority. But the last decade has seen a dramatic surge in the scale and scope of state preemption bills—affecting issues as varied as environmental protections, firearms regulations, labor and employment standards, civil rights, public health, and more—that are designed to stifle local democracy. … While both Democrats and Republicans use preemption to achieve political objectives, as a general rule, the biggest losers in the recent spike in preemption have been urban, racially and ethnically diverse localities with progressive agendas (i.e., minimum wage hikes, fracking and soda tax bans, gun regulations, and nondiscrimination ordinances like the North Carolina “bathroom bill”). … Getting More Strategic In 2015-2016, funders interested in advancing a wide variety of local policies began investing in statewide polling around preemption, and the Open Society Foundations supported comprehensive legal research to figure out what recourse remained to cities and advocates confronting state interference. The Local Solutions Support Center (LSSC) was founded by a network of funders and policy allies as a hub of learning and coordination around preemption. … By 2016, funders had rolled out a multi-pronged strategy to fight preemption that included investing in grassroots organizing, communications, legal guidance, and policy education. For example, groups funded by the Open Society Foundations, LSSC and other funders helped stop state preemption of paid sick days— which had already been passed in three Texas cities. Key to their success was investing early in organizational capacity and grassroots organizing far in advance of the 2019 Texas legislative session. Early investment allowed grantees like Faith in Texas to train staff and build their leadership base to fight preemption throughout 2018 to prepare for a legislative fight over preemption in 2019. General support allowed Texas-based organizations to fight preemption across issues and levels of government. Long-term investment allowed grassroots organizations to boldly advocate for local ordinances that were likely to trigger preemption, while also building their capacity to defend those ordinances once they came under attack in the state legislature. Excerpted from Inside Philanthropy. Read the full article here.
Akilah Wallace Named Philanthropist of the Year by YBGB Institute
Faith in Texas Executive Director Akilah Wallace has been named the 2019 Philanthropist of the Year by the Young Black and Giving Back Institute (YBGB). YBGB strives to educate, inspire, and empower young black professionals, influencers, social entrepreneurs, and activists to effectively invest in changing their communities through philanthropy. “Thank you to YBGB Institute for this recognition and to everyone who thought highly enough of me to take time to vote,” said Wallace. “This honor is a meaningful testament to my commitment to increase our collective investments in the betterment of those who deserve God’s best––everyone. I am determined to empower those most directly impacted by social injustice to help fund the liberation of all people.” Wallace is deeply passionate about philanthropy, especially in communities of color. Since 2013, with the launch of #BlackDFWgives, she has worked diligently to raise the platform for philanthropy education and mobilize the next generation of philanthropists of color. In 2017, Wallace founded HERitage Giving Fund at Texas Women’s Foundation, the first black giving circle in Texas. Before most recently stepping into her role as the executive director, Wallace led fundraising efforts for Faith in Texas as the director of development. “You don’t have to be wealthy to make a difference,” Wallace added. “Our efforts may look different, but every time we help someone other than ourselves, we ARE being philanthropic. As people of faith, giving is what we do; we do it often, and most importantly, from our hearts.” The YBGB Institute aims to convene the nation’s most impactful young, black professionals and equip them with tools and resources for effective leadership in order to produce sustainable and innovative solutions to their communities’ most pressing issues.
Faith in Texas in Medium: Will Other States Follow California’s Flip from Red to Blue?
There is no shortage of progressive grassroots organizations in Texas. The Industrial Areas Foundation has been at for decades, and Texas Tribunecounts more than 100 organizations in its grassroots directory. Efforts to handcuff conservative Christianity and the Republican party are being countered by organizations such as Faith in Texas, whose agenda includes voter engagement, ending unnecessary incarceration, and bringing working class communities into economic policy discussions.
