This is it. You have ONE SHOT. Like Frodo throwing the ring into Mount Doom (don’t hate. It’s a classic.), you have one opportunity to do right for all of Houston/humanity and toss that ballot in that box. Voting is a hard-earned right—something that gives you the ability to use your brain and your heart to choose a path for your community. YOU get to stand in that booth, alone, and select what matters to you, having your voice heard by your government.

Isn’t that something? We love to be engaged in our city and what the future has in store for all of us. As a woman-owned, 99% female agency and as a group of citizens concerned with what’s best for our city, we are voting YES ON PROP 1. This is an issue that affects the future of Houston with the ability to offer protection to 15 classes of citizens in our city from discrimination. This ordinance is about what Houston is at its core—a place where people from all races, genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations and nationalities can come together and thrive—and there’s a lot more that bathrooms at stake. Actually, bathrooms have nothing to do with this—THANKYOUVERYMUCH.

There is simply too much at stake to stay chained to your desk and let election day pass you by. Get up, get out and get voting. For your neighbors. For Houston. For yourself.

Not sure what’s on the ballot? Here are some links to get you started:

Houston Matters crash course on the election

A special thanks to Nicky Davis and KPFT for the mural artwork, and January Advisors and The League of Women Voters Houston for your partnership on the #VoteHOU GOTV campaign.

Get Your Ass To The Polls: November 3rd is the Day to #VoteHOU

Voting for a chance to make a change in your community

#VoteHOU

Regular

You simply can’t get away from Star Wars right now. New footage in the trailer! Cute kids fighting stormtroopers in their backyard for a Duracell commercial! R2-D2 trash cans! There’s just so much for the fandom to fan over.

Frankly, Star Wars is a BIG DEAL to a lot of people. They camp outside of movie theaters and pack the halls of Comic-Con to catch a glimpse of their favorite characters and talk shop with other fans. It’s a community that’s built around the love of something creative, magical and epic.

It’s clear that J.J. Abrams is a fan, too. From LOST to Star Trek to the newest installment of the space opera spectacle about to descend on the world, he seems to really embrace the spirit, mystery and excitement that these communities bring forth. Even cooler, he uses his considerable influence and celebrity to give back in a big way.

You may have seen #ForceForDaniel fly across your screen at some point in the last few weeks. That hashtag is more than an homage to everyone’s favorite film franchise, it was a rallying cry to bring Star Wars to a terminal cancer patient, Houstonian Daniel Fleetwood, whose last wish was to see the film before he left this earth. On October 30th, Ashley, Daniel’s wife, tweeted an image that called out in the night like the Force across the galaxy, binding people together for this one big wish: To see Star Wars and to see it early.

The effort took off, bringing in support from Luke Skywalker himself, actor Mark Hamill. Also joining the effort: John Boyega (Finn), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) and Bad Robot Productions (J.J. Abram’s Production Company)—in addition to thousands of other fans across the globe. And it worked.

On Thursday, November 5th, J.J. Abrams, Disney and Lucasfilm held a private screening in Daniel’s home. The following Tuesday, Daniel passed away.

It’s just a movie, right? Just a couple of hours of lightsaber battles and familiar faces flashing across the screen, right? I mean, that’s cool they helped that dude, but….

What’s meaningful about this is that people who are rallied around a common idea, whether it be an epic tale or the plight of homeless teens, do a heck of a lot of good. These fans were brought together by the idea that they could help make something kind and wonderful happen for a fellow human being, and they did it. Every tweet, every message, every use of the hashtag helped bring this victory home to Daniel and his wife, who got to share a special moment of comfort as he lived out his last days.

What we do matters. What we do online and off is important. You have the chance each day to do something to make someone’s life better. Use the Force for good.

Taking the opportunity each day to make a difference for others

Use The Force. For Good.