About Us
Our Principles
Black and Brown communities are facing a growing threat of racism and policies meant to undermine our dignity and humanity. This moment in history calls out for allyship and partnerships across multiple communities to understand and confront this challenge together. It is in this context that we have organized Black Brown Dialogues on Policy where BBDP is a big intergenerational and intersectional tent comprised of black and brown people and non-black and brown allies to address issues of mutual concern.
Although we focus on Black and Brown communities disproportionately affected by structures of inequality and prejudiced minds, we are cognizant of shared experiences with other groups, including working-class, European-origin persons and our Gen Z youth toward whom injurious legislative action is getting directed. Underlying this work is an opportunity to gain mutual trust and understanding as we learn and work together for the common good.
Our Mission is to create a collaborative partnership to advance equitable and inclusive public policies affecting our communities; curate and facilitate a series of forums to engage, educate and inform the larger community on policy agendas and initiatives; identify and engage potential non-black/brown allies to stand in the breech with us; and establish a Black and Brown Response Network to speak out against negative incidents directed toward our communities.
The purpose of BBDP is to uplift and empower marginalized communities of color through collective action and advocacy. As members of communities that have been historically marginalized, we recognize and emphasize the importance of building upon the legacies of black and brown coalitions to continue building towards a more equitable and just future:
- We seek to uplift and center people of color in our journey towards racial justice.
- We prioritize building an intergenerational and intersectional community that fosters a sense of belonging and solidarity in our black and brown communities.
- We honor and celebrate black and brown diversity within our communities
- We recognize the diverse experiences, traditions, cultures, and voices of our communities, and honor the collective history of joy, oppression, sacrifice, and labor of justice-minded persons that have come before us.
- We believe that community should be the foundation of our racial justice efforts. Our ultimate goal is to create true freedom for all by building a more equitable and just world.
- Gary Bledsoe, Esq., Texas NAACP Chair
- Colette Phillips, Founder, President and CEO, Get Konnected!
- Angela Valenzuela, Ph.D., Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy; Director, Texas Center for Education Policy, University of Texas at Austin
- Emilio Zamora, Ph.D., History Department, University of Texas at Austin
- Junichi Lockett, Ph.D., Policy Postdoctoral Fellow University of Texas Austin Institute for Urban Policy Research and Analysis
- Alberta Phillips-Bledsoe, Austin journalist who worked for 32 years as a reporter and editorial writer at the Austin American-Statesman, covering state government and higher education
- Danielle Clealand, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Mexican American and Latino Studies and African and African Diaspora Studies, University of Texas at Austin
- Lana Husband, founder of lhdigitalmedia.com
- David Cruz, Media Director for National LULAC
- Carlos Alberto Martinez, BBDP Social media director
- Tony Diaz, Executive Director, Nuestra Palabra
- Liana Lisa Lopez, Multimedia Communications Professional, Houston, Texas
- Luis Sebastian Santana, Broadcast Television Creative
- Jocelyn Sargent, Ph.D., former Exec. Director, Hyams Foundation, Boston
- Roque A. Aguon, Jr., Council on Media Literacy, Civic Participation & Cultural Education
- Daniela Padilla, UT-Austin Education Policy and Planning Masters Student
- Julianna “Jules” Collado, UT-Austin Education Policy and Planning Masters Student
- Lia Rosen, UT-Austin Education Policy and Planning Masters Student