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Chair: Ginger Blair
Deputy Chair: Kimberly Valdez
Secretary: Carmen McZeal
Treasurer: Natalie Ward
Sergeant At Arms: Marc Meyer
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Click on the Contribute button to help turn Montgomery County Blue!
Please consider becoming a sustaining member at $10 per month (or more!).
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Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters
704 N. Thompson St. #195
Conroe, Texas 77301
936-703-5841
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Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters Hours
Hours of operation: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Monday through Friday
Due to the continuing spread of COVID, our policy now is for staff and visitors to comply with social distancing guidelines and masks are optional. To reach us, call MCDP headquarters at 936-703-5841 or email office@mcdptx.org. For urgent matters outside of office hours, please text 713-256-1420 or email chair@mcdptx.org.
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June 1, 2023 Newsletter
Pride Month
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Please note: our newsletters contain a lot of links to make viewing the source easier - just click on images or linked text to explore
IN THIS ISSUE:
History of and Information about Pride Month
Save the Date – July 6, 2023 – TDP Chair Gilberto Hinojosa
Blood Drive – June 22, 2023
From TDC - Talking Points on Impeachment, Guns and Message
Volunteer to Help Your Precinct
County Executive Committee (CEC) Report
Commissioners’ Court Report
Memorial Day Observance
We Need a Veterans’ Outreach Chair
4th of July – Get Involved
County Non-Profit Spotlight - The Assistance League of Montgomery County
Democratic Party Events Around the County
Legislative Update
Training, Education and Activism Resources for Democrats
Joe and Kamala's Corner (click on an image to open)
Tweets (click on an image to open)
Blue Store - Show Your Commitment to Democracy!
Democratic Party Calendar of Upcoming Events
Other Groups and Community Events
This newsletter is published on or about the 1st and the 15th of every month.
no later than 3 days before publication.
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HISTORY OF PRIDE MONTH
On a hot summer’s night in New York on June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village, which resulted in bar patrons, staff, and neighborhood residents rioting onto Christopher Street outside. Among the many leaders of the riots was a black, trans, bisexual woman, Marsha P. Johnson, leading the movement to continue over six days with protests and clashes. The message was clear — protestors demanded the establishment of places where LGBT+ people could go and be open about their sexual orientation without fear of arrest.
Pride Month is largely credited as being started by bisexual activist Brenda Howard. Known as ‘The Mother of Pride,’ Brenda organized Gay Pride Week and the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade a year after the Stonewall Riots. This eventually morphed into what we now know as the New York City Pride March and was the catalyst for the formation of similar parades and marches across the world.
Speaking of the rainbow flag, it was actually gay politician Harvey Milk who asked a talented designer friend, Gilbert Baker, to design an all-encompassing symbol to take to San Francisco’s Pride March in 1978. Sadly, Harvey Milk was assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone on November 23, 1978, in San Francisco City Hall by Dan White, a disgruntled former supervisor who was angry at Milk for lobbying against having him reappointed on the Board of Supervisors.
Bill Clinton was the first U.S. President to officially recognize Pride Month in 1999 and 2000. Then, from 2009 to 2016, Barack Obama declared June LGBT Pride Month.
The New York Pride Parade is one of the largest and most well-known parades to take place, with over 2 million people estimated to have taken part in 2019.
To read more about events, historical timeline, and the discrimination faced by our LGBTQ+ neighbors, click here.
For more information about The Woodlands Pride and the Pride Summit scheduled for June 10th click here. And follow them on Facebook!
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Un Día Sin Inmigrantes
A Day Without Immigrants
The Montgomery County Democratic Party stands in solidarity with the general strike planned for today in Florida in reaction to new anti-immigrant legislation. Dubbed “Un Día Sin Inmigrantes” (A Day Without Immigrants), this day will be recognized nation-wide. Rallies are planned across Florida, as well as in Texas (Houston and Fort Worth), California, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Illinois.
Imagine a day in Texas without immigrants and their future generations. Consider, if you will, what that would look like in Montgomery County. So much of our economy rests on the shoulders of immigrant workers, regardless of their legal status. As Democrats, we support all the human race in their pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.
Organizers of the various events are asking participants to bring everything they need for the day and to leave the area sparkling clean to avoid any negative rhetoric about immigrants. If you see these groups and have time to participate, they welcome allies. You may also voice your support with your car horn if you are driving by. They need our support as they protest years of oppression in the workplace.
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SAVE THE DATE!
JULY 6, 2023
GILBERTO HINOJOSA
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MEET THE TEXAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Gilberto Hinojosa, the Texas Democratic Party Chair will be travelling to Montgomery County on Thursday, July 6th, to meet with us directly and personally to give us his opinions on the Legislative Session that just ended in Austin, Special Sessions that are planned, the Impeachment of Ken Paxton by the Texas House of Representatives, our real progress toward turning Texas Blue, and any and all other matters that are of concern to us here in our own County.
Please save the date! There will never be a better time to speak directly to the Party Chair. Our concerns are his concerns. You can be there to shake his hand and look him in the eye and ask him to personally carry your issues forward.
Watch this space for more information. His decision to visit us is concrete proof that Montgomery County makes a difference to the State and is coming of age!
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IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN!
One pint of blood can save three lives! And you can be that hero!
Come to the Coat of Many Colors Blood Drive on June 22, 2023 3:00 pm to 7:30 pm so you can come after work. The bus will be parked outside our building on Thompson Street.
Blood Drive Details:
Date: Thursday, June 22
Time: 3:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: Donor Coach in the Parking Lot of 704 N. Thompson St, Conroe, Texas 77301
GOAL: 10 Successful Donations
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Make your appointment by clicking here
- Share your appointment online to encourage others
- Each successful donor gets a free beach towel!
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Weekly Talking Points
Message from
Gilberto Hinojosa
Chair, Texas Democratic Party
As the 88th legislative session has drawn to a close -- and as we monitor the proceedings for the first called special session -- now is the perfect moment to reflect on the progress our Democratic legislators fought for, and on the challenges that lie ahead. Though this session was awful, and brought pain to so many of our allies, I have hope in the future, and believe in our collective power as Texas Democrats to ensure that future legislative sessions don’t replicate the harm brought by the 88th.
Over the course of session, Texas Democrats delivered several monumental wins for Texas families:
- Rep. Rhetta Bowers’ HB 567 -- the CROWN Act -- will prohibit race-based hair discrimination in Texas workplaces, schools and housing policies.
- Rep. Toni Rose’s HB 12 will expand Medicaid to new moms for 12 months after the birth of their child.
- Our Democratic legislators passed powerful election bills like HB 315, HB 357 and SB 477, making it easier for voters to cast their ballots by mail, and allowing elections to be more accessible for voters with disabilities.
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Volunteer to Help Your Precinct!
Please contact us to talk about what is involved in being a Precinct Chair or in helping your Precinct Chair. There is a lot of support for Precinct Chairs and that support is getting stronger. You will not be going it alone; but you will make a huge difference in our County, State and Nation.
If your precinct already has a Precinct Chair, they would love your support and help. Reach out to them. They also need to know they are not alone in their work!
You may find out whether your Precinct has a Chair and who your Precinct Chair is by going to the Secretary of State website. Or contact us and we'll let you know!
To talk with someone about how you may help, email office@mcdptx.org or call Headquarters at 936-703-5841.
If you are ready to apply for a Precinct Chair vacancy, please download, print, and complete this application form, and submit it to us by U.S. mail, email as an attachment to office@mcdptx.org, or drop it off in person at 704 N. Thompson St. #195, Conroe, TX 77301. If you have never visited Headquarters, it would be great to meet you!
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County Executive Committee (CEC) Report
May 18, 2023
The last CEC meeting was held on May 18, 2023. A quorum of CEC members was present with a total of 33 Democrats attending.
Ginger Blair, the Chair, reported on two important recent events. First, she reported on a meeting of The Democratic Club of The Woodlands to which Erica Lawrence, President, invited us. April Prim conducted the meeting in Erica’s absence. Ginger made a PowerPoint presentation and distributed Montgomery County Democratic Party information to the group. There were about forty folks there. Most were from our group and the rest from The Club. All the precinct chairs and elected representatives introduced themselves.
The presentation focused on the ways the Party is different from allied groups in that the Party is established under State law and is subject to Texas Election Law, the State Ethics Commission, the By-Laws of the Texas Democratic Party, and more. It also focused on the ways that the local county parties and allied groups work cooperatively throughout the state, especially in getting out the vote.
The second important event Ginger reported on was a recent call from the Texas Democratic Party Chair, Gilberto Hinojosa. Ginger discussed the activity here in Montgomery County, particularly the texting and calling we had been doing regarding pending legislation, and our other County events. Chairman Hinojosa said he had been informed that there were bipartisan efforts against school vouchers and that we should continue making calls against SB8 and SB9. Ginger invited him to come to Montgomery County soon for a speaking event.
Natalie Ward, Randall Cade, and Lore Breitmeyer Jones reported on our financial condition at the end of the first quarter of 2023 and focused on the need for continued fundraising efforts.
Randall Cade has agreed to focus his efforts on building a stronger sustaining member base and explained the strategy that we will begin making calls right away. Lore Breitmeyer Jones will focus her efforts on fundraising events. She is planning to roll out another event in July. The Final Friday Fish Fry event was a success.
Gordon Lopez, Chair of the Latino Outreach Committee reported that his group is planning to hold a Fiestas Patrias celebration in Heritage Park in Conroe on September 17, 2023. The last Fiestas Patrias event that was planned for 2019 had to be cancelled because of the outbreak of the COVID epidemic. He asked the group to be prepared to help support this important Outreach event with manpower and donations when the time comes.
Ginger Blair reported on the success of the Democratic Dames Dining for Democracy on behalf of Bea Rouse who was unable to attend. She said that each of the meetings so far has been a resounding success with lots of interest being shown in volunteering and in growing the group.
Several other Outreach Chairs reported on their group’s activities. Jay Stittleburg asked for a budget of $480 for the LGBTQ Outreach Committee to reserve two booths for the Woodlands Pride Festival and Kim Valdez asked for a budget of $600 for the 4th of July Parade. Both requests were approved.
The next meeting of the CEC is August 24th.
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COMMISSIONERS' COURT REPORT
By Ginger Blair, Chair
A Few Quick Notes
I attended the May 23, 2023, County Commissioners’ Meeting this week and a couple of items caught my eye. First, there seems to be a long-standing issue about how much money is being paid to court approved interpreters who are assigned to assist at trials and hearings. The rate was increased in December when it became clear that interpreters outside of Montgomery County felt they were not being paid enough to travel to Conroe for jobs. Since then, the County has been able to hire interpreters when needed, but some of the Commissioners do not agree with the amount being spent and are looking for ways to decrease that expense. Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack and Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Walker have been authorized to work together to study the issue of court interpreter pay and see where costs can be cut.
The second major issue that caught my attention was a proposed land swap between the County and the Howard Hughes Development Corporation. Under the proposal, which seems to be pretty much a done deal, the Howard Hughes Corporation would receive the current South Regional Library and South County Community Center property, and the County would receive the Grogan’s Mill Village Center space. While this seems to be a reasonable proposal, very few details were discussed in the public meeting. But, according to a news release from Commissioner Noack and other comments at the meeting, the Grogan’s Mill Village Center property would provide permanent spaces for a new library, community center and for The Woodlands Farmer's Market. The space for early voting and early voting parking would also be much larger than current space allows.
Comment was made during the meeting about the group holding signs outside the building as the meeting was beginning. Under the “Citizen’s Comment” portion of the agenda, I explained that the group was there to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the school shooting in Uvalde on May 24, 2022. The Commissioners were gracious and thanked me for reminding them of that awful event.
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MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE
MAY 29, 2023
CONROE, TEXAS 2023
SPONSORED BY The Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission
Ginger Blair, County Chair, and Laura Jones, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives District 8 represented the Democratic Party at the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission’s Observance of Memorial Day at Veterans Memorial Park in Conroe on Monday morning, May 29, 2023.
The event was attended by over one hundred veterans who were honored with a performance by the Conroe Symphony Orchestra Brass Quartet, a local bagpiper, several cannon shots, and speeches by local dignitaries. May we never forget those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our Country.
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WE NEED YOU!
Kevin Price, our Veteran’s Outreach Chair, has had to resign because of new work and family obligations leaving us without a Chair for this important group. There are several important upcoming events including the 4th of July Parade. If you are a Veteran, can you please join us as Chair? There is already a core of strong committee members who are ready to pitch in to help and we promise you that your efforts will not be forgotten.
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4th of July Parade
Volunteer Recruitment
Can you believe it's time to start planning for the July 4th parade? MCDP has always had a strong presence at this community parade; and 2023 will be no different!
Please consider working on the July 4th Parade Committee. Reach out to Kim at deputychair@mcdptx.org or 714-600-0545 to get more information and to join the planning fun!
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County Non-Profit Spotlight
Each month in 2023, we will share information about non-profit resources in Montgomery County in hopes that those in need receive assistance and to make everyone aware of the great resources in our county.
This month we feature:
The Assistance League of Montgomery County
In the heart of Texas lies a remarkable organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families in need. The Assistance League of Montgomery County, Texas (AL), a non-profit volunteer organization, has been making a profound impact on the community since its establishment. Through their unwavering commitment and compassionate initiatives, the Assistance League has become a beacon of hope and support for those facing challenging circumstances.
The Assistance League was founded in 1985 with a mission to transform lives and strengthen the community. Since its inception, the organization has grown exponentially and now boasts a diverse group of dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to uplift those in need.
AL operates a 900-square-foot Thrift Shop in downtown Conroe. Their first year was spent organizing a new philanthropic program, Prime Time Treasures, for senior citizens to sell their crafts and earn a little extra cash to enhance their quality of life. The founding members also cleaned out their closets and kitchen cabinets to stock the Thrift Shop with goods to sell.
Philanthropic Programs:
The Assistance League operates several philanthropic programs. These programs focus on areas such as education, clothing, and the overall well-being of children, families, and senior citizens. Some notable initiatives include:
Operation School Bell®: Providing underprivileged students with new school clothes, shoes, and supplies. By ensuring that children have the necessary tools for learning, the Assistance League empowers them to thrive in their education.
Assault Survivor Kits®: Recognizing the critical support survivors of assault require, the Assistance League assembles and distributes personal care kits. These kits offer comfort and practicality, symbolizing the organization's commitment to assisting individuals in their healing process.
Senior Outreach: The Assistance League recognizes the unique challenges faced by seniors, particularly those who may be isolated or living on limited resources. Through their Senior Outreach program, they provide companionship, essential items, and support services to enhance the quality of life for older adults.
Caring and Sharing: A program that strives to reach out with a helping hand to the homeless and the disadvantaged residents of Montgomery County by providing them with basic needs items.
Fans for Friends: Providing new box fans in the summer and blankets in the winter to disadvantaged seniors and individuals who suffer from the extreme summer heat and the cold winters in Texas.
Scholarships: Through a variety of scholarship opportunities, barriers to continuing education are removed through Assistance League’s Scholarship Program, and adults of all ages are given the opportunity to obtain a higher quality of life through education.
Volunteerism and Community Engagement are at the core of the Assistance League's success and its dedicated team of volunteers who selflessly contribute their time, skills, and resources. Through their commitment, they make a tangible difference in the lives of those they serve. The organization actively encourages community engagement, fostering a sense of unity and shared responsibility in addressing the community's challenges.
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Democratic Party Events Around the County
psst: you're missing a lot of fun if you aren't joining us!!
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Silent Vigil for Uvalde Victims
On Tuesday, May 23, a group of Democrats met at Montgomery County Headquarters at 8 in the morning to walk quietly from the headquarters to stand in silent vigil in front of the County Commissioners’ Court Building to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. The group stood silently as the Commissioners filed into the building for their regular meeting. The group consisted of Pat and Frannie O’Grady, Brian and Natalie Ward, Fritz Houston, Parras Dumlao, Janice Williams, Pete Fusco, and Ginger Blair.
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Blue Magnolia
We had a great time at 5 de Mayo restaurant in Magnolia on May 24th. Each meeting brings more neighbors who have found out they are not alone!
Join us on June 14th for our next evening social at 5:30 pm. We will be at Sauced Up a new wood-fired pizza restaurant located at 36825 FM 1774, Magnolia, TX 77355.
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YOU REALLY MISSED A GOOD ONE!
Final Friday, May 26, 2023
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Pictured above on the left, is Gala Korolyk, our featured Final Friday Speaker with her delicious, homemade “Baked with Love” 7 Layer Honey Cake, from the Ukraine that she shared with us.
And pictured on the right, is Gala Korolyk with her hero and our hero, President Joe Biden.
Gala shared her experiences in Ukraine since her childhood including multiple incursions by Russia over that time. She particularly focused on the devastating and ongoing War in Ukraine that is happening right now. She told the personal heart-rending stories of three of her friends who are trying to support three small villages that have been demolished and left behind without any resources for the small population of elders who are trying to support and care for the wounded, the young, and the orphaned who remain.
You may watch the YouTube videos she shared with us at the links below and you can contribute directly to her friends who are working for the people by contacting them at the email address shown here. You can be sure your contributions will be going directly to a good cause.
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Women of MCDP
Next Meeting:
June 4th from 2 - 4 pm
May was Mental Health Awareness Month, and we will be shining a light on the stigma, self-care, boundaries, and more for our meeting to be held June 4th from 2-5 at Christie Moran's home in Montgomery.
We will be enlightened on our journeys by our speaker, Joni Comeaux, LPC, LCDC.
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Legislative Update!
By Fritz Houston
MCDP Intern
Fritz has become a valuable member of the MCDP Team and regularly will be contributing to our newsletter about happenings in the Texas Legislature. Watch this space for new developments.
The 2023 Texas legislature has concluded. Over 5000 bills were filed and only a portion of those ended up passing both the House and the Senate. While a complete overview of all the bills filed is impossible, we can go over the most important and controversial and where they ended up.
The most important of these to pass is HB1, the Budget Bill. This bill lays out how and where the $32.5 Billion surplus would be spent. Over half of this bill will see the budget go towards property tax reforms to increase exemptions for homesteads of under $70,000. This bill also has the largest amount set aside for Education in Texas history with $9.2 Billion set aside to address special education services, increased teacher compensation, and school safety.
Another success is the passage of HB12 which expands postpartum Medicaid. Medicaid will cover newborn children for another year after their birth. This expansion falls in line with many other US states with Texas being the 39th to enact such policies.
HB1500 and SB28 both provide money for large infrastructure improvements in Texas. HB1500 is set to improve the power grid to prevent another disastrous winter. SB28 is set to improve coastal flood prevention in expectation of more disastrous hurricanes as global warming continues to increase storms.
Multiple bills have been passed to get rid of diversity and equity at Texas colleges such as SB17 which bans DEI offices in all colleges, SB15 which bans trans athletes from participating in college sports, and SB18 which restricts tenure at universities for professors.
While many bills which have been killed have been sad failures, SB8, SB9, and HB100 have proven too unpopular to support. All these bills would have created or assisted in the creation of a voucher system for private school transferees and would effectively defund public education. Enough broad anger against these bills so desired by Gov. Abbott and State Sen. Creighton has convinced the House of Representatives to kill them.
Overall, the 88th legislature can be seen as a mixed bag of failures and successes. Many broad bipartisan bills were passed to expand infrastructure, increase funding for schools, and expand Medicaid. But the main successes come from stopping broadly unpopular Republican bills. For real positive progress to be made in the legislature, currently extremist Republican seats must be flipped to Democrat in order to save Texas. Our representatives and senators can only delay for so long. Gov. Abbott is expected to call a special session to get all his failed objectives to pass in a second attempt. If you want to figure out how to make changes, work to convince your neighbors, volunteer for Democratic challengers, and most importantly vote in 2024.
Fritz Houston
MCDP Intern
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Training, Education and Activism Resources
Sign up now!!
Wealth and Poverty - A unique opportunity to sit in on a class at UC Berkeley by Robert Reich, an American professor, author, lawyer, and political commentator. Class 7 ( How to make America fairer? From pre-distribution to redistribution) and Class 8 (Inequality and the macroeconomic mess)
The Campaign for Our Shared Future fights for equitable, anti-racist programs, practices, and policies that sustain schools and ensure opportunity for every child and a brighter future for us all. There are great talking points provided on this website.
Red Wine and Blue - Red Wine & Blue provides everything women need to successfully organize in their communities and beyond.
The States Project - We fuel majority-making campaigns for state lawmakers who will defend our democracy, safeguard our individual freedoms and improve lives.
Texas Freedom Network - The 2023 Texas Legislative Session is here! Join us in letting our state’s leadership know that we will continue fighting for our freedoms today, tomorrow, and forever. Click here to get in the fight!
National Democratic Training Committee (NDTC) has virtual training opportunities for all Democrats. Go to https://traindemocrats.org/events/ to sign up for any of their trainings.
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JOE and KAMALA'S CORNER !
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Lots of new and great items to show your commitment to Democracy and support MCDPTX!
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Event Calendar - For more details, click on the image and follow link to the MCDPTX.org website; click on the date to view event.
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Other Groups & Community Events |
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TUE, JUNE 20 - CONROE ISD BOARD, 6:00pm, 3205 W. Davis Street, Conroe 77304
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Come early and enjoy the food at MoCo Food Hall. We meet in the upstairs room to the right. This group is a followup to the study of the 1619 Project. We are utilizing The White Allies Handbook for discussion |
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DEMOCRATS AND PROGRESSIVES OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Morning Breakfast MEETUP
Saturday, June 10, 9:00 am
11133 Interstate 45 S · Conroe, TX
Hosted by Karen Cavanagh
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CAN YOU ATTEND?
The Woodlands Pride - Talking With Pride Summit 2023
Sat, Jun 10th 2023 at 8:00 AM CDT · By The Woodlands Pride
The Woodlands Pride is excited to present its inaugural summit, Talking with Pride, on June 10th, 2023. During the Summit, you will hear from various speakers and panels discussing mental health, small business, advocacy, and more pertaining to the LGBTQ+ community.
The all-day event begins at 8:30 a.m. at Sam Houston State University – The Woodlands Center, 3380 College Park Dr., Conroe, TX 77384, with ticket prices ranging from $100 for adults and $50 for those under 22.
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Paid for by the Montgomery County Texas Democratic Party, www.mcdptx.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. |
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