IN THIS EPISODE:
- Host Khambrel Marshall sits down with Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, who says more work needs to be done in Texas and nationally to secure reproductive rights for all women.
- In honor of George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush, a new book “Witness to Dignity” tells a story of their faith and devotion to one particular church right here in Houston, as told by their Reverend.
On the front lines
Voting rights are in danger and so are the reproductive rights of women. That’s some of what Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (D) 7th said on this week’s Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall. She is the Whip of the Pro-Choice Democratic Caucus in the House of Representatives. She says the work that needs to be done nationally and in the state of Texas.
“There was a poll that came out last Summer from the University of Texas that said only 15% of Texans support the state of the law right now as it is in Texas, which is a total ban on access to abortion,” she said. “So it’s very important that our voices are heard in Washington about what’s happening here and that we’re working to protect the right to access abortion.”
In a wide-ranging interview she talks about her role on the newly formed Regional Leadership Council to follow up on bills passed in the last congress to make sure they’re implemented, her efforts to push down barriers and against laws that she says limit voting access, and much more.
Featured book in the Celebration of Reading for the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation
Reverend Russell Levenson, D.Min, is the Rector at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston. If the name sounds familiar, it was the home church of former President George H.W. and Barbara Bush.
In his capacity as their pastor, Reverend Levenson was accepted as a family member by the Bush family and was with the former president and Mrs. Bush in the final years and moments of their lives. So powerful was the connection and the experience that Reverend Levenson said he felt compelled to let the world know about their uncommon faith and love for family.
“Barbara used to say when all the crowds are gone and the dust settles, the only thing remaining is faith, family friends,” Rev. Levenson said. “And at the end of life, a lot of the crowds go away, all the dust settles and then you see how important those things are and what I was able to witness.”
It is a riveting series of vignettes of love, faith, and family in action by the President and Mrs. Bush and shows a side of the former first family that many certainly have not seen or heard about.
More about his book here in this week’s Houston Newsmakers EXTRA here.
Focus on Literacy
The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation continues to impact thousands of Houstonians who can’t read.
Julie Finck, Ph.D. is the President & CEO of the foundation and says partnerships with other organizations like the University of Houston are making a big difference.
“Six years ago we started a program with them called Cougar Tutor program,” she said. “And the foundation has been supporting over 30 tutors each year providing over ten thousand hours of services to children in third ward schools.”
Find out how you can help support the organization and the Celebration of Reading here.
For more information on this week’s Houston Newsmakers
· U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D), 7th Congressional District
· Website: https://fletcher.house.gov/
· Julie Finck,, Ph.D. President & CEO, Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation
· Website: https://www.bushhoustonliteracy.org/team
· Reverend Russell J. Levenson, Jr. D.Min, Author, Witness to Dignity
· Website: https://www.stmartinsepiscopal.org/clergy/the-rev-dr-russell-j-levenson-jr/
· Website: https://www.russlevenson.com/