Building Peace Through a Moral Economy
At the Houston Peace and Justice Center, we know that there can be no peace without economic justice. Our Economic Justice Working Group is rooted in a universal truth: Every human being deserves dignity, security, and the chance to thrive. We are redesigning an economy that prioritizes people and the planet over profit—because systems that leave millions behind cannot sustain peace.
We Are an Inclusive Movement
We welcome Houstonians of all backgrounds, creeds, and political affiliations. Whether you’re a longtime activist or new to the fight, you belong here. Our only requirement is a shared belief in this moral imperative: We must take care of one another and our planet by meeting everyone’s basic needs to the best of our ability.
Guided by Solidarity, Locally and Globally
We work in collaboration with movements bigger than ourselves, including:
– Sunrise Movement Houston Hub (youth-led climate justice),
– Root Cause (Houston’s mutual aid and systemic change collective),
– Income Movement (championing Universal Basic Income),
– Poor People’s Campaign (a national moral revival for equity),
– Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and Counties for a Guaranteed Income (local-to-national UBI advocacy),
– Guaranteed Income Community of Practice (sharing solutions for economic security),
– Gerald Huff Fund for Humanity (automation and UBI advocacy),
– Basic Income Earth Network (global UBI research),
– Texas Housers (advocating for fair housing and equitable communities),
– Houston DSA (democratic socialists organizing for worker rights and justice),
– Food Not Bombs (sharing free meals and fighting food insecurity),
– Grassroots efforts like the General Strike (worker-led economic justice),
– And our sister working groups at the Houston Peace and Justice Center (advancing interconnected struggles for human rights and environmental justice).
Our Vision for a New Economy
– Universal Basic Income (UBI): A guaranteed floor of economic security to empower individuals and communities.
– Living Wages for All: Ensuring no one working full-time lives in poverty.
– Health Care as a Human Right: Quality, affordable care for every person.
– Worker Power: Strengthening unions, cooperatives, and worker-owned enterprises.
– Just Transitions: Retraining and support for workers displaced by automation or outsourcing.
– Fair Taxation: Corporations and the wealthy must pay their share to fund schools, housing, and green infrastructure.
– Democracy Without Dollars: Removing corporate money from politics to amplify everyday voices.
– Education for Liberation: Free, quality education from pre-K through college and trade programs.
– Local Resilience: Building self-sufficient communities through sustainable, locally-owned businesses.
– Community Care Networks: Cooperatives for food, child care, elder care, and health care.
– Mutual Aid and the Gift Economy: Supporting grassroots efforts that prioritize sharing, solidarity, and collective care over profit.
Why This Work Matters
Economic justice is the foundation of peace. When people struggle to afford food, housing, or medical care, instability grows. When wealth and power are hoarded by a few, democracy crumbles. We are not just fighting for better policies—we’re building a new operating system for society, one that aligns with our deepest values: compassion, equity, and collective care.
Join Us
If you believe in an economy that leaves no one behind, join our coalition of dreamers, doers, and disruptors. Together, we can create a Houston—and a world—where everyone has the freedom to live, grow, and prosper.
To volunteer or get involved, fill out the form here!