Texas Joint Caucus Forum: Forging the Future

CPA and the Texas AFL-CIO organized a successful forum for 30 legislators and staff of the Texas Mexican American Legislative Caucus and the Texas House Legislative Black Caucus on May 29 in Austin. At the Texas Joint Caucus Forum: Forging the Future, participants discussed network building strategies, implications of current federal and state legislative proposals, and opportunities to build coalitions for Texas electoral races. CPA Southwest Regional Director Jesse Romero presented an overview of CPA and, with Andy Hernandez, former President of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project and author of several books on Latino politics, provided information on coalition strategies among communities of color. Leaders of both caucuses agreed to work in partnership to establish a joint legislative agenda for 2003, and to educate and mobilize their constituencies during the 2002 election cycle. CPA will continue to work with members to identify progressive policy solutions that both groups can embrace.