2009 Highlights
2009 TCADP Highlights and Accomplishments
January
- TCADP Founder David Atwood published Detour to Death Row
- Distributed TCADP 2008 Annual Report to Texas Legislators
- House Bill 682 (abolition bill) filed by Rep. Jessica Farrar
- Sponsored two interns from St. Edward’s University (Austin)
- Hosted open house for local members (Beaumont Chapter)
February
- Held Annual Conference: Raising Our Voices for Abolition (Austin)
- Established formal partnership with Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation (MVFR)
March
- Organized first-ever TCADP Lobby Day at the State Capitol
- Arranged testimony for hearing on House Bill 682 in front of Capital Punishment Subcommittee of the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee
- Featured in event with Thomas Cahill, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and David Atwood at Riverside Church in New York City to promote Cahill’s new book, A Saint on Death Row, the story of Dominique Green (executed in Texas in 2004)
April
- Distributed copies of Detour to Death Row to all Texas Legislators
- Organized a 200-minute vigil with Amnesty International to protest 200th execution during Perry Administration (Houston)
May
- Launched The Woodlands Chapter
- Participated in the National Conference on Restorative Justice (San Antonio)
- Participated in the Annual Conference of the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church (The Woodlands)
June
- Hosted first statewide conference call for TCADP members (Topic: Update on the 81st Legislative Session)
- Held reception with Witness to Innocence (Dallas Chapter)
- Coordinated events around the state to mark 200th execution during Perry Administration
- Sponsored play and silent auction (Austin Chapter)
- Attended Annual Meeting of the South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ (Austin)
July
- Distributed Double Tragedies, a new report from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Murder Victims’ Families for Human Rights (MVFHR)
- Began bilingual vigils at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (El Paso Chapter)
August
- Participated in National Black Police Association Annual Conference (Dallas)
- Reviewed and updated TCADP 2008-2013 Strategic Plan
September
- Hosted conference call for members (Topic: Working with Murder Victims’ Family Members)
- Sponsored one intern from St. Edward’s University
- Addressed the Church Women United Conference (Dallas)
- Responded to New Yorker article on Cameron Todd Willingham
- Resumed Brazos Valley Chapter meetings
October
- Launched the Race to Heal Initiative
- Kicked off new chapter in Odessa
- Held house party with Judge Charles Baird (Houston Chapter)
- Participated in the Texas State NAACP Convention (Austin)
- Organized meeting to reinvigorate the San Antonio Chapter
November
- In partnership with MVFR, hired a National/Texas Organizer
- Sponsored five-day “Witness to Injustice Speakers’ Tour” with death row survivor Juan Melendez in the Rio Grande Valley
- Coordinated Interfaith Prayer Service (Huntsville)
December
- Marked one year with TCADP Executive Director Kristin Houlé
- Released 2009 Annual Report
* Hosted conference call for members (Topic: 2009 Annual Report)
**TCADP also hosted/participated in more than 100 film showings, meetings, speaking events, and conferences, as well as dozens of chapter meetings and vigils around the state throughout the year!
