Our Mission

The Texas Organizer Lab is a cross-movement, multi-generational space that aims to create and enhance collective trust, skills, and strategic capacity between value-aligned, progressive organizers and advocates across Texas. Through ongoing opportunities for collective learning, strategy, and belonging, Lab members co-develop strategy and strengthen their organizing craft. Participating in this space will necessitate a commitment to fostering a joyful community across Texas, engaging in mutualistic learning experiences, co-developing strategy, and growing our organizing skills in community to transform our state for the better.

Vision

The Texas Organizer Lab envisions a statewide community of organizers that is deeply rooted in trust and hope, connected across time and space, and well-resourced to effect shared strategies for abolition and liberation across Texas. Collaborative efforts within and by the Lab will be guided and informed by six markers for strategic capacity: 

  1. Diversity

  2. Knowledge

  3. Learning Practices

  4. Motivation

  5. Trust

  6. Hope

Shared Values for Collaboration

The Lab is an anti-racist, anti-capitalist, and anti-carceral space, and we will hold one another accountable to address racism, sexism, queerphobia, transphobia, ableism, classism, and all other forms of violence and harm.All members must abide by the following shared values for collaboration. Prospective members must commit to abiding by the following values prior to and as a prerequisite for joining the Lab.

  • Abolition. A commitment or an authentic openness to commit to the abolition of carceral systems, borders, the dismantling of capitalism, and all interlocking systems of oppression like ableism, classism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia. 

  • Restorative Justice. A commitment to prioritize trust, curiosity, connection, and forgiveness over judgment, punishment, and isolation.

  • Journey Aligned. The capacity to accept non-closure, to move slowly in a space that seeks to build shared analyses across regions and across Texas the State. The member must have an understanding and acceptance that the practice of being in an organizing community is the end-result, not necessarily affecting powerful cross-movement strategies.

  • Commitment to building and engaging in community

  • Committing to step up and step back for the benefit of the group.

  • Creating a visible resistance against the state. 

  • Prioritizing resistance with joy.

  • Working through an intentional and intersectional lens.

  • Accept that organizers come and go as their capacity allows.

Help us build the lab!

The Lab is committed to intentional, scaled growth to maintain a safe and curated experience that grows at the speed of trust among the membership. To that end, the Lab will invite a select number of prospective members to apply on a quarterly basis. Submit this form to help us build the next generation of Texas organizers in the space!

Nomination Form