Indivisible Oak Cliff is a nonpartisan group, based in Oak Cliff, Texas. We started in January 2017, after the Inauguration, the Women’s March, and the release of the Indivisible Guide.  

Our mission is supporting the values of inclusiveness, the freedoms codified in the Constitution, respect for human rights and dignity, and the peace and well-being of future generations; and opposing government actions and officials who disregard these values.

We founded the group with passion but limited knowledge, so it took some months to get our footing, but following the interests of our members, we are now focused on voter registration and education. This gives us hope for the future, and something concrete to do when all the phone calls and marches just feel like shaking our fists at nothing. The only thing politicians can’t ignore is votes. It is our power, so we are putting the power of IOC behind it.

Among our current initiatives:  

• Partnering with Battleground Texas in the community, including Dallas ISD high schools.
• Partnering with the Dallas County Community College Student Voter Project at Mountain View.  

Both of these are established programs with well-tested curriculum and protocols that involve visiting classrooms and interacting with students in order to register first-time voters and create long-term voters.

• Block walking.

We will be offering training and plan to start walking in September, to talk with neighbors about their concerns and issues of interest. We anticipate that as the 2018 elections heat up, many of our members will bring these skills to individual campaigns.

• Monthly educational meetings focused on speakers.

Speakers have or will include representatives Rafael Anchia and Mark Veasey (who will speak at our July 31 meeting). Members have also presented programs on SB-4, the “show me your papers” law; and how to meet with your members of congress. We welcome suggestions and volunteers for future programs.

• Motivating members to remain engaged and active individually.

We also encourage members to call, march, and use resources such as Resistbot by creating community around these actions. Monthly happy hours help strengthen that community. (And let us blow off steam.)

Many people are overwhelmed and depressed by the state of the nation, and fear that any action is futile. The people in power are hoping we will succumb to those feelings.  We cannot. The best remedy is to go out and DO SOMETHING.  Look into the eyes of a dreamer at a protest against SB4, visit with a member of congress staffer and realize that he is worried about what you might do, or register a new voter. DO SOMETHING to nourish your hope and faith in our country. We actually do have power, no matter how dismal the moment.

Yours in solidarity,

IOC Leadership