United Methodist Women Visit Legislators

Longtime Olney resident Gail Spears participated in the 2019 Texas United Methodist Women’s Legislative Agenda Conference in Austin. The United Methodist Women Leaders and the Texas Impact staff welcomed guests upon arrival. After an overview of Advocacy, Rev. Yvonne Coon Snelson—Sr. Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Georgetown—led worship service followed by the Keynote speaker, Jenifer Sarver with Sarver Ministries.

Jennifer has almost 20 years of experience in media relations, crisis communication, speechwriting, coalition building, media and presentation skills training. Sarver specializes in helping clients develop a narrative that effectively conveys their core values while she prepares them to deliver their message effectively.

Other topics on the agenda included economic inequality, climate justice, criminalization of communities of color, maternal and child health.

The legislative priorities in each area entailed discussions about increasing funding for public education, fully funding full-day prekindergarten statewide; reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Texas by 25 percent by 2030; increasing accountability, transparency, and state oversight of state spending on border security; and, ensuring comprehensive health insurance coverage for all Texans including expansion of Medicaid.