Year: 2026

HOME > 2026

TOP statement on the passing of former Texas State Representative Garnet Coleman of Houston

September 25, 2026

Brianna Brown, Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project (TOP), offered the following statement:

“Our hearts are heavy to hear of the passing of former State Representative Garnet Coleman. A steadfast public servant and supporter of our organization’s mission since its inception, TOP staff and members offer our sincerest condolences to his loved ones.

“Rep. Coleman was a fighter for all communities across Harris County — especially those historically marginalized — being a staunch defender of the rights of his constituents. 

“From affordable healthcare access, to public education, to community-driven urban redevelopment, his command of the issues impacting everyday working Texans was undeniable, earning him a Community Champion Award from our organization in 2014.

“A vocal advocate for health reform particularly, his efforts were instrumental during the rollout of the Affordable Care Act in Texas, as he was a fierce backer of Medicaid expansion for our state.

“Rep. Coleman’s presence and strong leadership in Houston will be deeply missed.”

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HOME > 2026

Putting our health first: TOP launches statewide organizing campaign to lower healthcare costs, increase accessibility, and boost quality of care for all Texans

September 23, 2026

HOUSTON – The Texas Organizing Project (TOP) publicly launched a new organizing campaign aimed at overhauling healthcare in the state at a press conference Tuesday, Sept. 22, in the heart of  Houston’s Medical Center. The statewide campaign is rooted in TOP’s unwavering stance that healthcare is a human right, and that access to quality, affordable healthcare is a racial and economic justice issue.

Fighting for healthcare justice isn’t new to TOP. For over a decade, the group has engaged with over a million Black and Latino Texans across the state on issues including healthcare quality, access, and affordability. The nonprofit has hosted clinics to inform communities about the Affordable Care Act, targeted the over 1 million Texans that fall in the Medicaid expansion gap, championed policies to improve maternal health outcomes for Black women, and secured an expansion of Ben Taub Hospital in Houston earlier this year.

“Yes, we’ve been winning policies to make people’s lives better at the local level, but we know overhauling this system is so much bigger and will require a different kind of fight,” said Brianna Brown, TOP Executive Director during the press conference. “This is why TOP is launching our statewide campaign today – because in every corner of this state, Texans are being hurt by a system that puts corporate profits over our health.”

Earlier in September, TOP and community allies won an expansion of Harris County funds to support people going through a mental health crisis with alternatives to policing – highlighting the intersections between healthcare and other issues that impact Texans’ daily lives.

“How is it that in the year 2026, in the wealthiest and most powerful country, we have a system of healthcare that continues to leave far too many working people in medical debt and without the quality treatments they need?” said Synnachia McQueen, a Houston TOP member who has seen multiple doctors in hopes of treating a foot issue that months later is still undiagnosed. “So that’s why I’m raising my voice with my TOP colleagues here today. Because guess what? If we stay quiet, nothing changes. I’m not about to allow that to happen. I have a foot I need repaired and loved ones to spend time with.”

Joe Bolivar, a San Antonio TOP member who works as a home health provider, yet isn’t eligible for health insurance through his job, added: “Without any form of health insurance, it can be intimidating to go to the doctor for a routine check-up because of the cost. Even if you have insurance and are in need of medication or a procedure, there’s still this lingering uncertainty of, “will my insurance even cover this?”” 

Texas is home to 5 million uninsured people, the most of any state in the U.S., and with healthcare and affordability on Texans’ minds, TOP’s new campaign asks the question: “How do we improve health outcomes for all Texans – no matter age, race, gender, or where you live?”

Teresa Cox, a Dallas TOP member and health insurance broker who underwent triple bypass heart surgery this year, shared: “We are the patients walking through these hospital doors. We are the policyholders paying the premiums.We are the families buying the prescriptions. We are the workers whose paychecks help finance this healthcare system. This system cannot function without us. And when we understand that, organize around that, and stand together around that, we become a force that cannot simply be ignored.”

Rounding out the slate of press conference speakers, Dr. Audrey Nath, a Houston neurologist and healthcare advocate, stated: “We cannot continue with the status quo; it is killing us. As Americans, we are proud to fight for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And for there to be life, healthcare must be a right.”

View the livestream and access photos from the event.

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HOME > 2026

TOP celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15, 2026

Andrea Osorio, TOP member in San Antonio, provided the following statement:

“Our state and nation would not be the same without Latinos. Our contributions to the United States – cultural, economic, political, and more – are vast and span centuries. We care about our families, our communities, and our collective future.

“While certain politicians try to divide us, pit us against other communities, and strip us of our rights, we Latinos continue to organize for a better tomorrow rooted in justice, humanity, and shared prosperity.

“Our voices will be heard and our movement will not be stopped.”

Julio McCall, TOP member in Houston, added:

“At TOP, we understand our fates as Latinos are linked with those of our Black brothers and sisters. As an Afro-Latino who has for years called this country home, I know this connection full well, as it is my lived experience.

“This is the power of solidarity and how vital it is to our shared strength, especially at a time when Latino, Afro-Latino, and Black communities are being targeted by government budget cuts and regressive policies that seek to diminish us.

“That’s why no matter what country we’re from, the color of our skin, or the language we speak, we always have been – and always will be – stronger together. And through working together and learning from one another, there is nothing out of our reach.”

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HOME > 2026

Texas Organizing Project, partners provide legal relief to Dallas area residents at free expungement clinic

September 14, 2026

Groups come together to help eligible community members clear old charges

The Texas Organizing Project (TOP) held its first-ever Dallas expungement clinic Saturday, Sept.12, at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, with nearly 250 people in attendance. A total of 87 eligible participants were seen by legal professionals during the clinic, giving many peace of mind knowing they will have old charges removed from their criminal record.

“This clinic was about more than clearing records, it was about clearing barriers,” said Dr. Doshie Piper, Restorative Justice Coordinator at TOP and the lead of the organization’s Right2Justice campaign centered on legal reform. “For eligible participants, we are investing in actually clearing those records and removing barriers to employment, housing, economic stability, and full participation in their communities. This is what Right2Justice looks like. This is what a path to liberation looks like.”

TOP allies Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP), ACLU of Texas, CN Initiative provided helpful resources during the clinic, with Easy Expunctions conducting direct assessments with attendees who qualified to have their records cleared.

“Events like this show what is possible when legal support and community-based resources come together in one space,” said Brenda Piloya Todwong, Founder & CEO, CN Initiative. “For CN Initiative, it was especially meaningful to connect with people not only seeking resources, but also looking for ways to stay engaged, give back, and be a part of their community.”

Christopher Rivera, Criminal Legal Program Senior Advocacy Manager at TCRP, added: “The need for these services are apparent, and it’s organizations like TOP who are ensuring that our residents rights are being restored after they have served their time. The city and county need to step up and offer more records clearing clinics to help people get back on their feet.”

To learn more and get involved in TOP’s Right2Justice legal reform efforts, contact Dr. Doshie Piper at dpiper@organizetexas.org.

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HOME > 2026

TOP commemorates the power of Texas workers this Labor Day

September 7, 2026

Christina Quintero, member of Texas Organizing Project (TOP) in Houston, shared the following statement:

“Today is a bold reminder that it’s our labor, the work of everyday people, that drives this state and nation forward in every way possible. 

“As workers, our collective power is invaluable, and no politician — from city hall to the White House — will ever strip us of the dignity that’s inherently ours.

“No matter your age, race, gender, where you’re from, or who you pray to, we as Texans know our worth, and we are worth so much more than what anti-worker elected leaders who are beholden to billionaires would have us believe.

“It’s these same billionaires who want us divided and distracted, because they recognize that when workers rise together and stand united, we can override their influence to win the future we want.”

Pearline Harper, TOP member in Dallas, added:

“This administration is a mess, and the cost of living is only increasing. From crippling our economy with tariffs, to decimating the federal workforce, Trump and MAGA officials are as anti-worker as ever.

“It’s up to us to continue to show up and send a message that there is power in numbers through collective action — including our votes. When we show unwavering solidarity, our political power is unstoppable.

“Organizing alongside allies, nothing will stop our push for the fair treatment all working people deserve.”

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HOME > 2026

TOP demands justice after ICE’s murder of Houston community member Lorenzo Salgado Araujo

July 11, 2026

Christina Quintero, Houstonian and longtime member of Texas Organizing Project (TOP), shared the following statement:

“ICE’s murder of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo once more shows how the agency under Donald Trump has become a lying, killing hate-machine whose sole purpose is to advance MAGA’s white nationalist agenda.

“A family is without a hardworking, loving father and Houston is without a proud community member because of this rogue agency that must be dismantled. 

“Video footage and eyewitness testimony directly contradict the Department of Homeland Security’s official account of what happened.

“A person’s immigration status – no matter their race, nationality, or language they speak – should in no way ever give anyone credence to shoot and kill.”

“TOP joins community partners in grieving with Lorenzo’s loved ones, and in demanding an immediate, fully-independent, and transparent investigation into his murder at the hands of ICE.”

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HOME > 2026

Dallas residents voice concerns, gain insight, and explore organizing solutions at data center film screening and discussion 

June 12, 2026

Local groups bring community members together and host a panel on the impacts of data centers 

Texas Organizing Project (TOP), Sunrise Movement Dallas, Southern Sector Rising, and Downwinders at Risk held a film screening and community discussion on data centers Thursday, June 11 at the historic Texas Theatre in Dallas.

A boom in new data centers across the U.S. is reshaping local energy grids, water systems, and land use. This fast growth is often happening with little public information about the long-term impacts new data centers could bring for nearby residents. High power bills and water use are common, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that data centers will have impacts far beyond that, with real consequences for the health of communities.

Quotes from the following event speakers:

David Villalobos, TOP Political Director and event emcee: 

“Texas is the fastest-growing data center market in the nation, and with reports of health, infrastructure, and resource concerns stemming from the building of these centers, people are uneasy right now. Texans want to know what this means for the future of their families.”

KeShaun Pearson, Executive Director of Memphis Community Against Pollution:

“A virus is spreading throughout the country, depleting our drinkable water, taking up the land that should be for our families and ecosystem. We all should be concerned about how data centers are affecting our world and our health. We continue to see elevated respiratory illnesses because of their over reliance on fossil fuels. Our collective future depends on our collective resistance.” 

Danny Cendejas, Campaign Specialist with Media Justice:

“Our communities need clean air and water, as well as the right to determine what’s best for our futures. Big Tech corporations are threatening these rights though, with dangerous and extractive data center expansion. Resistance is growing, and the people of Texas are demanding an end to Big Tech’s plans, while calling on public officials to step up for communities and the rights of our people.”

Kendra Seawright, Women’s March Rural Organizer:

“Across the country, proposed data centers are putting an enormous new strain on local water supplies, electric grids, public infrastructure, and family budgets. Tech companies call it progress, but too often they reap the profits while our communities are left to bear the costs. We are demanding transparency, accountability, and real public input before rural communities, working families, and women are forced to absorb the consequences of an industry they were never given a voice in shaping.”

Photos and video from Thursday’s event can be found here.

HOME > 2026

TOP commemorates Pride Month 2026

June 1, 2026

Group honors the invaluable contributions of Black & Latino LGBTQIA+ trailblazers

The following statement is from Brianna Brown, Texas Organizing Project (TOP) Executive Director, recognizing Pride Month this year:

“As we start Pride Month, we remember its origin as an uprising against systemic police violence, and honor the invaluable role that LGBTQIA+ people of color have played — and will continue to play — in the fight for justice and the shaping of our collective liberation.

“There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives,” said renowned author Audre Lorde, highlighting how for Black and Latino Americans, the pursuit of LGBTQIA+ liberation intersects with the struggle for racial justice.

“Texas is the epicenter of attacks against our LGBTQIA+ communities because our state’s far-right officials – at the behest of Donald Trump – continue to stigmatize and spew lies about those who identify as LGBTQIA+. This targeting is especially felt by transgender Texans and their families, through the spread of hateful rhetoric and dehumanizing policies.

“Despite their vile efforts, Republicans will never defeat us or deter us from living the rich, fulfilling lives we all deserve to live. The vibrant spirit of our communities is dauntless and unstoppable.

“Each and every day, TOP is proud to reaffirm that LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights, and no amount of manufactured MAGA outrage and misinformation will ever change that.”

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HOME > 2026

TOP PAC endorses James Talarico for U.S. Senate

May 29, 2026

Grassroots powerhouse backs Talarico to defeat Trumpism and deliver for working-class Texans

TOP PAC has been organizing Black and Latino Texans for more than 15 years. We have built power in communities that the political establishment has long ignored, and we have changed what’s possible in this state. Today, we’re putting that power behind James Talarico for U.S. Senate.

Brianna Brown, Executive Director of the Texas Organizing Project, said:

“This endorsement is about more than a candidate. It’s about what kind of Texas we’re fighting to build. James Talarico gets that. He’s willing to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us to stop Trump’s destructive agenda, lower costs for working families, and transform our state so every Texan has a real shot at a good life, no matter their age, race, gender, or nationality.

“Across the South, Republican-controlled states are passing laws designed to strip power from Black voters and communities of color. Jim and Jane Crow didn’t disappear. They got rebranded. And here in Texas, Ken Paxton has spent years perfecting that playbook. He is a white nationalist grifter and the living embodiment of corruption in Texas politics.

“Talarico is the fighter we need to go toe-to-toe with Paxton and MAGA. But this race isn’t just about stopping them. It’s about delivering real change for the millions of Texans drowning under the weight of gas prices, healthcare costs, groceries, housing, and childcare. Our politics are in service to our organizing. And with every door knock, we get closer to a Texas that belongs to all of us.

“Win, lose, or draw, with every action, we are closer to self-determining our future.”

Christina Quintero, TOP leader from Houston, added:

“The record-breaking primary turnout we saw in Texas this March didn’t come out of thin air. It’s the result of years of relentless get-out-the-vote work, election cycle after election cycle, building the kind of progressive political infrastructure that doesn’t vanish when the cameras go away. Just look at the 1.5 million Texas voters our BlackTOP electoral programs have engaged with between 2022 and 2024.

“We’ve brought hundreds of thousands of Black and Latino Texans into this movement. We’ve helped elect people-powered leaders who have passed policies that actually improve lives. And now we’re going all in to send Paxton packing. He has attacked our communities, restricted our freedoms, and undermined our democracy long enough. This midterm, we’re leaving everything on the field.”

James Talarico, State Representative and U.S. Senate candidate, said:

“I am honored to earn this endorsement, and I want to be direct: I do not win this race without working-class Black and Latino Texans. Full stop. They have the most to lose if we fail, and the most to gain if we win. TOP has spent over 15 years building the kind of deep, trusting relationships with those communities that no campaign can manufacture in a few months. That infrastructure is irreplaceable.

“Winning Texas means meeting people where they are. In their neighborhoods, at their doors, in their language. TOP does that work better than anyone in this state. I am committed to earning the trust of every community TOP organizes with, and I will spend every day between now and November proving that this campaign is fighting for a Texas for all.”

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HOME > 2026

TOP PAC celebrates endorsed candidate wins in Texas Democratic Primary Runoff

May 27, 2026

Grassroots group scores wins in Harris, Ft. Bend, and Bexar County

Brianna Brown, Executive Director of the Texas Organizing Project (TOP), shared the following statement on TOP PAC’s success in the Texas Democratic Primary Runoff:

“TOP PAC launched a rigorous candidate screening process at the end of 2025 with the goal of endorsing primary candidates who fully understand the gravity of this political moment and unwavering in their commitment to defending our communities, enshrining our freedoms, and fighting MAGA extremism ― all while transforming our state into a place where Black and Latino Texans can thrive. Fast forward to now, we are thrilled to see four of our endorsed candidates cross the finish line as victors in these runoffs.

“We congratulate Congressman Christian Menefee (for TX-18), County Commissioner Dexter McCoy (for Fort Bend County Judge), Councilwoman Dr. Letitia Plummer (for Harris County Judge), and Adrian Reyna (for Texas HD 125) on their hard fought runoff wins, and look forward to powering them to victory this November.

“TOP PAC’s Get-Out-The-Vote canvass team hustled this March primary, contributing to the record-breaking early vote totals that swept Texas. Our March program knocked on 110,000 voters’ doors in predominantly Black neighborhoods in Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Fort Bend, and Tarrant counties, informing Texans not only about our endorsed candidates, but about our need to take collective action on issues affecting our daily lives ― from how higher costs are hurting families, to how our healthcare system under Donald Trump is failing us, to how we must defend immigrant communities against dehumanizing attacks from our own government.

“Our voter engagement work is critical in connecting issues like these to the ballot box and, ultimately, the officeholders who we elect and work to hold accountable. This is how we create a true Texas that looks like us, reflects our values, and uplifts each and every person ― regardless of age, race, gender, income, faith, or ZIP Code.”

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