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Punam Kaji talks to Jessica Huynh, running for District Court Judge (331st) in Travis County. Have you studied your full ballot?  In addition to Governor and state wide offices, there are many Judges on the ballot!  Jessica talks about the importance of having understanding and empathy for the people who enter the courtroom, and her experience as an Asian American attorney and candidate.   Read more about her campaign on her website here. Learn more about WiseUp TX, volunteer, or donate on our website. The WiseUp TX podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and the WiseUp TX website. Also tune in on Radio Azad – download the app or 104.9 FM in Dallas. WiseUp TX is non-partisan and does not support any candidates or political party.  But, we love to hear from South Asian candidates, and other candidates who want to talk to our South Asian followers! WiseUp TX interviews candidates who (1) reach out to us (2) are running in regions with Asian population density and/or (3) are of South Asian descent. For the general election, WiseUp TX makes an effort to reach out to key opponents

Punam Kaji talks to Joy Diaz running for Governor of Texas as a Democrat.  She talks about the importance of being pragmatic and unifying.  She reminds our listeners that it is so important to come out and vote in this Primary! Learn more about Joy by visiting her website here.   Learn more about WiseUp TX, volunteer, or donate on our website. The WiseUp TX podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and the WiseUp TX website. Also tune in on Radio Azad – download the app or 104.9 FM in Dallas. WiseUp TX is non-partisan and does not support any candidates or political party.  But, we love to hear from South Asian candidates, and other candidates who want to talk to our South Asian followers! WiseUp TX interviews candidates who (1) reach out to us (2) are running in regions with Asian population density and/or (3) are of South Asian descent. For the general election, WiseUp TX makes an effort to reach out to key opponent

Punam Kaji talks to Dr. Suleman Lalani, a candidate for Texas State House in Fort Bend area (suburbs of Houston).  This is an Asian Opportunity  district, meaning census data showed a substantial Asian population in this area!  Dr. Lalani talks about much needed reforms to healthcare and education, and the importance of voting for the Asian community. Learn more about Dr. Lalani on his website. Learn more about WiseUp TX, volunteer, or donate on our website. The WiseUp TX podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and the WiseUp TX website. Also tune in on Radio Azad – download the app or 104.9 FM in Dallas. WiseUp TX is non-partisan and does not support any candidates or political party.  But, we love to hear from South Asian candidates, and other candidates who want to talk to our South Asian followers! WiseUp TX interviews candidates who (1) reach out to us (2) are running in regions with Asian population density and/or (3) are of South Asian descent. For the general election, WiseUp TX makes an effort to reach out to key opponent

Punam Kaji talks to Donna Imam, running for the United States House of Representatives.  She is running as a democrat in the 37th District, which covers a good portion of Austin, Texas.  Among other things, Donna talks about how she would tackle the increasing cost of living in Texas, including housing prices.  She shares how her last run for the U.S. House helped turnout a large base of voters, and how she hopes to inspire people to come out and vote in the Primary and the Midterm this year.  Read more about her campaign on her website here. Learn more about WiseUp TX, volunteer, or donate on our website. The WiseUp TX podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and the WiseUp TX website. Also tune in on Radio Azad – download the app or 104.9 FM in Dallas. WiseUp TX is non-partisan and does not support any candidates or political party.  But, we love to hear from South Asian candidates, and other candidates who want to talk to our South Asian followers! WiseUp TX interviews candidates who (1) reach out to us (2) are running in regions with Asian population density and/or (3) are of South Asian descent. For the general election, WiseUp TX makes an effort to reach out to key opponents.

Punam Kaji talks to Manpreet (Monica) Singh, running for Judge of the Harris County Civil Court at Law #4.  Monica shares her journey as a court room lawyer, an activist  for organizations like Sikh Coalition and ACLU Texas, and now as a candidate for Judge.  She talks about her roots as a Houstonian, and a South Asian.   Read more about her campaign on her website here.   Learn more about WiseUp TX, volunteer, or donate on our website. The WiseUp TX podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and the WiseUp TX website. Also tune in on Radio Azad – download the app or 104.9 FM in Dallas. WiseUp TX is non-partisan and does not support any candidates or political party.  But, we love to hear from South Asian candidates, and other candidates who want to talk to our South Asian followers! WiseUp TX interviews candidates who (1) reach out to us (2) are running in regions with Asian population density and/or (3) are of South Asian descent. For the general election, WiseUp TX makes an effort to reach out to key opponents.

Punam Kaji talks to Charlie Gearing, a democratic candidate running for Texas State House District 114 (East Dallas). Charlie is an attorney who has dedicated much of his time to volunteerism and service work. Charlie talks about why Texans need medicaid expansion, the importance of education, and how we can all get more involved in the process this election season. Learn more about Charlie on his website. Learn more about WiseUp TX, volunteer, or donate on our website. The WiseUp TX podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and the WiseUp TX website. Also tune in on Radio Azad – download the app or 104.9 FM in Dallas.  WiseUp TX is non-partisan and does not support any candidates or political party.  But, we love to hear from South Asian candidates, and other candidates who want to talk to our South Asian followers! WiseUp TX interviews candidates who (1) reach out to us (2) are running in regions with Asian population density and/or (3) are of South Asian descent. For the general election, WiseUp TX makes an effort to reach out to key opponents.

Punam Kaji talks to Jinny Suh, a democratic candidate for Land Commissioner.  She explains what the Land Commissioner does - including its role in education and the environment. She is a community organizer, parent, attorney and small business owner.  She founded Immunize Texas, a grassroots network dedicated to supporting pro-vaccine legislation. She talks about being an Asian American woman  running for statewide office.  Learn more about Jinny Suh on her website.   Learn more about WiseUp TX, volunteer, or donate on our website.  The WiseUp TX podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and the WiseUp TX website. Also tune in on Radio Azad – download the app or 104.9 FM in Dallas. WiseUp TX is non-partisan and does not support any candidates or political party.  But, we love to hear from South Asian candidates, and other candidates who want to talk to our South Asian followers! WiseUp TX interviews candidates who (1) reach out to us (2) are running in regions with Asian population density and/or (3) are of South Asian descent. For the general election, WiseUp TX makes an effort to reach out to key opponents.

Areeba Amer talks to Salman Bhojani, a democratic candidate running for Texas State House District 92 (Mid-Cities of DFW).  Salman is a former City Councilman of Euless, a South Asian American and a small business owner. In this episode, he shares his passion for local government and more!  Learn more about Salman on his campaign website, here.  Learn more about WiseUp TX, volunteer, or donate on our website.    Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and the WiseUp TX website. Also tune in on Radio Azad - download the app or 104.9 FM in Dallas. WiseUp TX is non-partisan and does not support any candidates or political party.  But, we love to hear from South Asian candidates, and other candidates who want to talk to our South Asian followers! WiseUp TX interviews candidates who (1) reach out to us (2) are running in regions with Asian population density and/or (3) are of South Asian decent. For the general election, WiseUp TX makes an effort to reach out to key opponents.

WiseUp TX Podcast Host Punam Kaji recaps everything we covered in 2021!  It was quite a year, kicking off with the inauguration of the first woman, Black, and South Asian person to be Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris.  Then, we focused on local elections before taking a summer break. The fall podcast season focused on laws that came out of the Texas Legislative Sessions, and the creation of new maps (redistricting).  In this episode, Punam focuses on why 2022 is a BIG election year (Governor, Congress, and Texas Lawmakers are all up for re-election).  Punam asks you to reflect: How will you get involved in 2022?  Let's make it a year for record-breaking South Asian voter turnout.  Let's vote all the way down the ballot as informed voters!   Thanks for listening and enjoy the holidays.  Tune back in 2022 for much more!  WiseUp TX is a nonpartisan nonprofit and does not support any candidate or political party.

Hear from Prerna Bhat, a member of the TX AAPI Redistricting Coalition, who testified six times in front of the Texas Legislature to advocate for voting maps that will keep the growing Asian community together and not dilute the power of the APA constituency.  During a special legislative session, Texas lawmakers created and passed new voting maps for Texas House Districts, Texas Senate Districts, and US Congressional Districts.  This only happens once every ten years, after new data from the census is collected.  The census showed that 95% of population growth in Texas came from community of color, but the new maps result in more majority-white districts.  Find your new district using this Texas Tribune article.  WiseUp TX is a nonpartisan nonprofit and does not support any candidate or political party. 

October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but organizations like Daya (Houston) provide resources to domestic violence survivors in the South Asian community year-round.  Pam Otal is a WiseUp TX board member and the Outreach & Volunteer coordinator for Daya (Houston). On this episode, Pam joins host, Punam Kaji, and shares how domestic violence impacts the South Asian community, and what orgs like Daya are doing to educate the community to help solve the issue and assist survivors in need.  South-Asian Centric Domestic Violence Resources: Daya - Houston   Chetna - DFW  Awaaz - San Antonio  AFSSA - Austin  Learn more about WiseUp TX here.  WiseUp TX is a non-partisan non-profit and does not support any political party or candidate. 

Hey friends! Early voting is happening right now thru October 29, and election day is Nov 2nd.  What are we voting on?  Amendments to the Texas Constitution, plus there could be some local elections and local propositions on your ballot.  Tune into this short episode and learn about the 8 Propositions amend the Texas Constitution that you will find on your ballot.  Punam Kaji and Areeba Amer break it all down in less than 20 minutes.  WiseUp TX is a nonpartisan nonprofit and does not endorse any candidate or political party. Learn more about WiseUp TX here.

This summer, Texas lawmakers passed new voting laws.  In this episode, WiseUp TX podcast host Punam Kaji interviews Louis Bedford, a voting rights attorney. He explains the impact of the changes in voting laws. Also learn about redistricting (the drawing of maps), a process that only happens every 10 years. Hear about how these changes to the voting process in Texas could impact communities of color like the South Asian community.   WiseUp TX is a nonpartisan nonprofit and does not endorse any candidate or political party. Learn more about WiseUp TX here.  

Hear Fawaz Bham talk about his work with the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program assisting people in need during the Covid-19 Crisis and DFWROS mentoring a refugee family from Afghanistan.   Fawaz is a real-estate and capital finance attorney focusing on commercial real-estate transactions at Hunton Andrews Kurth. Fawaz serves on the firm’s pro-bono committee and devotes time to several pro-bono efforts such as launching and leading the Dallas Attorney Volunteer Program’s virtual legal clinic platform, leading the small business clinics in the Dallas area and volunteering at the DBA Legal Lines. He was also named 1 of the 20 Most Inspiring Leaders of 2020 by the Dallas Business Journal for his pro bono service accomplishments and community advocacy. Learn more about DFWROS here. Learn more about the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program here. 

WiseUp TX Board Members Punam Kaji, Azra Siddiqi, and Areeba Amer discuss the key events of the Texas Legislative Session (and special sessions) including Texas laws on Critical Race Theory in education, changes in election law that limit drive-thru voting and more, the expansion of gun rights in Texas, and the abortion ban. Oh, and what ever happened with the electrical grid after the ice storms? This episode touches on ALL that AND the on-going redistricting process.   WiseUp TX is a nonpartisan nonprofit and does not endorse any candidate or political party.

Cydnei Drake is running for school board in Carrolton Farmers Branch Independent School District.  This School District covers a number of DFW suburbs, including Carrolton, Farmers Branch and some of Addison, Coppell, Dallas, and Irving.  In this episode, Cydnei talks about the need for equity and and cultural competency in school leadership and her decision to run to address that issue.  CFBISD elections are on May 1, 2021, along with the other municipal elections.  Do your part and vote!   Learn more about her on her website here.   WiseUp TX is a nonpartisan nonprofit and does not endorse any candidate or political party.

Alexander Cornwallis is running to be on the school board of Prosper Independent School Board.  Prosper is a suburb in North Dallas, and Alexander decided to run to represent the South Asian community on the board and also bring attention to the need for a greater focus on technology in education and STEM for all students.  Prosper ISD and other municipal elections take place on May 1.   You can learn more about him here.  WiseUp TX is a nonpartisan nonprofit and does not endorse any candidate or political party.

Diana Saleh wants to bring a fresh perspective to Arlington City Council as a young professional, a Palestinian American, and a Muslim woman. Diana discusses the rich diversity of the populous city of Arlington, TX. She shares her desire to make the city more equitable, starting with creating an accessible campaign through language translation. Arlington City Council elections are on May 1, 2021. Early voting has already begun and runs through April 27. You can learn more about her here.   WiseUp TX is a nonpartisan nonprofit and does not endorse any candidate or political party.

Rafat Jilani has worked with children for 30 years in schools as a special education teacher and a school psychologist.  Now she is running for Fort Bend Independent School District, Trustee Position 6. Fort Bend’s population is widely diverse, including a significant South Asian population. Jilani believes the board should reflect the diversity of the District. She talks about how she is suited for the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic because of her background in psychology. She says by helping the kids, she can help shape the future of our nation. Fort Bend ISD elections are on May 1, 2021. Learn more about Rafat on her website. WiseUp TX is a nonpartisan nonprofit and does not endorse any candidate or political party.

Brody Mulligan is running for School Board Trustee in the Hurst Euless Bedford School District (HEB ISD). This area in the mid-cities of DFW has a substantial South Asian community, and Brody reached out to the WiseUp TX Podcast to talk to our followers. He has experience as an educator and a founder of a non-profit about government policy reform. In this episode he shares how he would improve education by expanding pre-K, school lunches, and giving more practical training to students. HEB ISD elections are on May 1, 2021. Learn more about him on his website. WiseUp TX is a nonpartisan nonprofit and does not endorse any candidate or political party.