What We’ve Done So Far
Projects from 2019-2020
Sunrise Dallas Launches!
December 2019, we officially launched the Dallas hub for Sunrise. We gathered as a community at the Wild Detectives to collectively envision what a Green New Deal could look like for Dallas, accompanied by some local musicians and a vegan corn dog truck!
CECAP
At the beginning of 2020, Dallas unveiled its Comprehensive Environmental Climate Action Plan, or CECAP- which was an important step in the right direction! However, the plan falls woefully short of the Paris Climate Agreement emissions reductions targets, and leaves out key racial, social, and economic justice initiatives. In response, Sunrise Dallas joined in a coalition with other environmental and social justice groups like Texas Campaign for the Environment, DSA, and several labor unions. Together, we organized several large demonstrations, set up one-on-one meetings with lawmakers, and helped write 100 pages of policy proposals called the Dallas People’s Climate Action Plan.
Electoral Work
Throughout the 2020 election cycle we threw down for a green new deal. We met with local candidates and got them to sign on to the Green Texas Act (a Texas version of the Green New Deal) and the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge before endorsing their races. We hosted dozens of events including phone banks, text banks, and lit drops for our endorsed candidates. In the Primary election, both of our endorsed candidates won against their moderate democrat opponents. Following in the General Election, three of our endorsed candidates won a seat in the Texas House of Representatives: Jasmine Crockett, Ana Maria Ramos, and Terry Meza!
Delegates to the DNC
We sent 6 of our members as National Delegates to the Democratic National Convention, where we were able to vote in favor of progressive policies. Progressives were even able to get things like Medicare For All and the Green New Deal onto the Texas Democratic Platform
Solidarity
When the Movement For Black Lives mobilized this summer, Sunrise made it a priority to stand in solidarity. The summer of 2020 was an opportunity for our hub to learn how to be good allies by showing up for protests and demonstrations, making banners, supporting groups like Our City Our Future who reimagined what public safety could look like by putting together a “People’s Budget”, and continuing to have conversations about Justice, Equity, and Anti-Oppression within the hub.
Community Support
Shoutout to groups like Oak Cliff Veggie Project, Harvest Project, Keep Dallas Beautiful, Feed The People, and more who created such awesome opportunities for our hub members to volunteer! From rescuing and distributing healthy produce, to building compost piles and gardens, to cleaning up White Rock lake, to helping get folks registered to vote- we were able to serve the community in so many meaningful ways because of these local organizations.
#CountEveryVote
In order to make sure the 2020 Presidential Election remained accurate and fair, we joined a coalition of local activist groups and put together two “Count Every Vote” events. This coalition was our introduction to incredible allies like Texas Organizing Project, Working Families Party, Indivisible, Dallas Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DAARPR), Texas Rising, TX Poor People’s Campaign, and more.
…and that was just our first year…
As we usher in a new president, our work has only just begun! 2021 is Year One of the “Decade of the Green New Deal”, and we need YOU to make it happen. Sign up below to join us!
Join A Meeting
We would love to meet you!
Our general meetings are on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 6:30pm
Sign up for our Newsletter
We’ll keep you up to date on volunteer opportunities, current projects, and important local news. (Don’t worry, we won’t spam you! We send a newsletter every other week or so, on a “needs to” basis)
