When FORWRD got going in the early days after Trump’s second inauguration, we didn’t realize that what we were ultimately doing was protecting our own mental health.

You remember how it felt. We were all living with such awful feelings — a mixture of grief, fury, isolation, and defeat. From our very first meeting in February 2025, we found out that getting together, staying connected, and finding things to do helped us feel better.

Twenty months in, MAGA Republicans are the ones feeling defeated and furious. And we’re facing the best political conditions for change that Texas has seen in generations.

Now it’s time to do everything we can to make the most of this moment! Make the calls, walk the blocks, run up the score as much as we can. Make this an extinction-level event for authoritarians, grifters and racists!

We’re planning a convening this Sunday that will leave you feeling motivated, connected, and ready to take specific action. It’s the perfect self-care ritual to prepare for a transformational midterm season!

We’ll get to hear from political veteran Jen Palmieri, who has been traveling across the South to listen to communities affected by Trump’s policies.

We’ll also hear from Caitlin Rourk, the candidate running in TX-10 (Mike “AWOL” McCaul’s old district, remember him?). Caitlin’s opponent is Elon Musk’s lawyer — and was KEN PAXTON’S lawyer when Paxton was trying to overturn the 2020 election. Was he engineered by his AI-backers as the perfect villain for this election cycle?!

This is an R+10 district, according to the Cook Political Report, but a 10-point seawall may not be enough to stop the blue wave that’s building. We’re excited to hear from Caitlin how we can jump in … because what we do in the next few weeks can make a difference!

One thing that won’t change? We’re smarter and stronger together. Please join us and bring your friends!

IF YOU’D LIKE TO DO MORE ….We’ll be collecting personal hygiene items to support our immigrant neighbors. If you are able, please bring one of the following high-demand items:

And if you’d like to help make the meeting run smoothly — set up, check in, bring drinks, clean up, etc. — we’d love to have you. Sign up here.

Last week’s fiesta in San Antonio was incredible!

Cruz and Olivia Ortiz were the perfect hosts, and the San Antonio community came out to celebrate the power of art — especially art with punch and courage — to make change.

It’s one thing to say “we’re going to celebrate art and community.” It’s quite another thing to witness people scooping up t-shirts and tote bags, connecting with each other, and committing to a common goal: electing Katy Padilla Stout and other common-sense, community-first leaders.

Here’s somethingthing we all learned: if you’re going to plan a party, make sure Edie Rogat and Jennifer Parks are involved. They thought of EVERYTHING — even the custom-printed cookies!

FYI: We’ll be selling prints on Sunday if you’d like to pick one up.

Next, we’ll head to Eagle Pass on October 3 for Maverick County Halloween Market Day.

EXCITING NEWS: We’ll be installing a billboard in Maverick County with a new piece of KATY art by local artist Yocelyn Riojas. If Yocelyn’s name rings a bell, you might remember that Trump labelled her work in the Smithsonian “divisive” and demanded that it be removed.

We’ll share a photo of Yocelyn’s billboard with you as soon as it’s installed. And if you feel like taking a weekend road trip to Eagle Pass, we’d love to have you!

Trump’s deportation goons pulled out their guns on Sunday afternoon and shot Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez, a 28-year-old DoorDash delivery driver.

Now the victim is being held in a detention facility with a bullet still lodged in his back. He hasn’t received the medical care he needs and is in extreme pain.

This is a fast-moving situation, but here are some things we can do:

Here is the link to the fundraiser set up to support WIlber and his family through this crisis.

Call the Austin Police Department (512-974-5000) and encourage them to open an independent investigation that will be reviewed by the Travis County District Attorney’s Office — not ICE or the feds.

Contact the City Council, Travis County Commissioners, and Mayor Kirk Watson (512-978-2100) and encourage them to keep ICE out of our public parks, clinics, rec centers, and hospitals. They’re armed and dangerous — it’s a matter of community safety.

Call Sheriff Hernandez (512-854-9788) and ask her to reject the invasive, dangerous, and violent tactics ICE is using.

Dell Seton didn’t just release Wilber with a bullet still lodged in his back — they also kicked his wife and his attorney out of the hospital twice while they were trying to get answers. Call them (512-324-7000) and file a complaint.

DoorDash could stand with its employees in the face of these violent attacks. Instead, they’re staying silent and forcing their immigrant workforce to bear the violence with no support. Here’s a toolkit that helps you cancel your DoorDash account.

Our friends at Indivisible Rosedale Huddle will be protesting every Wednesday morning, 8-9 am, at Lamar & Rundberg. Details here.

We all know we can’t trust ICE, DHS, or the Trump regime to tell the truth or do what’s right — so we need to keep paying attention as this situation develops. Wilber’s attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, is sharing updates on her Instagram.

(note: you can see the full FORWRD-TX calendar here.)

For Wednesday, September 23rd 🕶️ 🕶️ 🕶️

Events with a 💜are shared from FORWRD members!

Recurring Events 

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Large Group Voter Registration and Relational Organizing Opportunities:

There are nearly daily events happening with two Texas orgs for people who want to jump in and help get voters registered and connected before November: