From house meetings to the stage with The Demand List
The Demand List’s first meetup in Houston, November 8, 2026.
If you had one minute with someone taking office in January, what would you ask them to change? On Sunday, neighbors named Medicaid expansion, online voter registration, clearer parole decisions and a fair shot for Black-owned businesses bidding on public contracts. Thank you to everyone who joined us or reached out to help.
Next full-group call · Sunday, November 15
We’ll meet online at 3 p.m. Central to compare possible house-meeting dates, make partner introductions and plan the December program. RSVP for the virtual meeting. We’ll use the email you provide to share joining details.
What we’re making and who’s doing what
House meetings. Our goal is at least four in the next month. The Houston Campaign School, Houston Justice and the Texas Federation of the People Foundation each plan to host. Dajauneke Minor of Sistah in the System offered to host on the Northside. We also discussed a possible Acres Homes session with Rain Eatmon.
Listening-session toolkit. Durrell Douglas, Angel Carroll and Corisha Rogers will prepare common prompts and paper and online ways to collect residents’ answers. Angel also offered communications and criminal justice research support. Juli McShay offered the Campaign School’s help with civic education.
Churches and community partners. Rue Robb will lead outreach to church social justice ministries. We’re inviting neighborhood groups and organizations already working on these issues to host or introduce a partner.
Survey coordination. Durrell and Cherrelle J. Duncan, president of NFBPA Greater Houston, will coordinate with the existing Greater Houston Black Community Nonpartisan Agenda survey so the house meetings can build on what residents are already sharing.
Public report and tracker. We’ll organize residents’ asks by the city, county or state office that can act. The report will tell people where to take each ask. The tracker will show what officials do during the Texas legislative session.
Saturday, December 19 · Community stories onstage
Original monologues will bring the house meetings back to the community in residents’ own terms. A survey can count how often an issue comes up. A performer can show what it feels like to live with it.
ShaWanna Goffney is helping plan the production. Writing as ShaWanna Renee Rivon, she created You Are Cordially Invited to Sit-In about the 1960 sit-in led by Texas Southern University students. Read her Alley Theatre bio.
Karla West secured an offer of space from the Mack Performing Arts Collective (MPAC). Kevo Arts also offered his studio and is holding it for the afternoon. The planning team will confirm the venue and start time.
Five filed bills to discuss
These proposals, filed for the 2027 session, give us a starting point. Residents will shape the final Demand List.
Voter registration. HB 150 by Rep. John Bucy III would allow online registration. HB 127 by Rep. Maria “Lulu” Flores would require registrars to identify which part of a rejected application needs attention.
Medicaid. HB 101 by Rep. Bucy and SB 31 by Sen. Judith Zaffirini would expand eligibility under the Affordable Care Act if voters approve a constitutional amendment.
Wages. HB 132 by Houston Rep. Armando Walle would set the state minimum wage at $15 an hour or the federal minimum, whichever is higher.
Before the November 15 call
RSVP for the full-group call. Bring a possible date if you can host.
Offer to host or introduce a partner. Tell us which neighborhood or issue you’d like to bring into the conversation.
Add your demand at TheDemandList.org. Name one change and what it would mean for you.
Our $10,000 fundraising goal supports the house meetings, the December monologues and public follow-up during session. Donate to The Demand List and see the public total.
