January Advisors

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Maine leads the nation in voter turnout. But there is a ballot initiative this fall that will change everything. A partisan-led voter ID proposal would impose some of the strictest standards in the nation, disenfranchising students in the cities and older people in the country. I know that it *feels* like voter ID is no big deal. After all, we should have free and fair elections. But statistically, voter impersonation at the polls is less likely than getting struck by lightning. Meanwhile, the consequences of this proposal mean that tens of thousands of people won't be able to participate in the future. To really have free and fair elections, we need facts. So I ran the numbers, did the research, and built some maps. Mainers can decide for themselves what they want their democracy to look like.

We had a fantastic time celebrating My Connect Community-Sharpstown/Gulfton at their annual holiday party! This organization does incredible work supporting the residents in the Gulfton/Sharpstown neighborhoods of Houston. We are proud to be their partner. Looking forward to another great year of work in 2025! PS. If you’re looking for a great organization for your year-end giving, you can’t go wrong with Connect Community!

The Texas Legislature opens its doors next month. Ready to see what your representatives are really up to? Already, they are filing thousands of bills covering every imaginable topic. But if this session is anything like the past, our lawmakers will be easily distracted with nonsense. Harmful, disturbing nonsense. Want to know if your rep is focused on real issues like infrastructure and education, or just chasing headlines? I built these maps for you. Click their district. Judge for yourself. https://lnkd.in/gk5ct6DS

The Purpose Built Communities convening in Wilmington, Delaware was incredible. The WRK Group is building houses, schools, businesses, and infrastructure throughout the city. It so inspiring. But what stood out the most were all the smart, successful people who came home to Delaware to invest their time and effort in the neighborhoods where they grew up. There are acres of diamonds in our own backyards. It was also great to learn about so many great community organizations like NERDiT NOW and REACH Riverside Development Corporation. And, of course, to meet other purpose built community quarterbacks like Amplify GR, Blueprint 15, Northside Development Group, and Seventy Five North Revitalization Corp. Many thanks to My Connect Community-Sharpstown/Gulfton for letting us join in the fun!

I had a great time at KleinCamp, a news-focused unconference at Temple University sponsored by Technical.ly. It's a weird time to be discussing the news, especially after such an exhausting year. But I really appreciated hearing Steven Levy's nuanced take on LLMs, and Christopher Wink's impromptu analysis of news business models. And I was once again reminded that going to school at Temple helped refine my values and shape my purpose at work. I left the event feeling inspired and frustrated, which, for me, tends to be the perfect cocktail for creativity.

Millions of people are eligible to clear their criminal record in Texas, but there are roadblocks. There are 1,000+ collateral consequences for having any type of criminal activity on your record. This includes legalized discrimination in employment, housing, education, and so much more. Working with Texas Appleseed, we identified several ways that Texas can make it easier to clear records, just by improving the data that we use. https://lnkd.in/gAwv5szZ

According to new FEMA estimates, the number of structures at risk for flooding in Texas is THREE TIMES HIGHER than we previously thought. Grateful to see our work with Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas featured in National Geographic. https://lnkd.in/gmmVMVVw

In North Carolina, they're calling for an eviction moratorium after Hurricane Helene. But disasters have a sneaky way of increasing evictions, long after the water is gone. After Hurricane Harvey slammed Houston, we saw something weird. At first, evictions actually went down. But then they went up considerably in the years that followed. Some apartments that got flooded saw evictions jump by 29% over the next few years, compared to similar apartments that didn't flood. When disaster strikes, we need to do everything we can to help people immediately. But we also need keep an eye on housing issues down the line. It's not just about the next few weeks or months - we've got to think years ahead to really help folks get back on their feet. https://lnkd.in/gyc7rJq2 https://lnkd.in/g_9UaUX8

“You need information,” Steven Duble said. “There’s nobody filling that gap. There’s no lawyer that’s gonna take that case. Legal aid doesn’t have enough staffing to cover it all.”  Lots of respect for Judge Duble and others who are working hard to provide access to justice during a years-long eviction crisis. https://lnkd.in/gm2Rs524