Tonight we talked with John Woods, a graduate student in Molecular Biology and Dana Duncan, a Masters student in Social Work, both of whom are advocates with Students for Gun-Free Schools. We spoke about Senate Bill 1164 and House Bill 1893 in the Texas Legislature, both of which would allow conceled weapons on college campuses. John talked with us about his personal experience as a student at Virginia Tech during the shootings and we spoke about the negative impact this bill could have on the safety of college campuses. Those who are interested in lobbying against about these bills should visit the Texas legislature's website: www.legis.state.tx.us, find their representatives' and senators' info and contact their legislators. Because these bills are currently stuck in the House Calendars Committee and the State Affairs Committee, those who oppose the bills can also contact Senator Duncan, the State Affairs Communications Chair at 800-322-9538 or 512-463-0128 and Representative Brian McCall, House Calenders Committee Chair at 512-463-0594. Students, be sure to have your parents call too, because these representatives would like to hear from parents of college students about the impact of this bill. Members of Students for Gun-Free Schools will be meeting tomorrow speak with legislators. If you would like to join them, please come meet them on the South Steps of the Capitol (call Cecil at 512-431-6016 for more info). Students for Gun Free Schools also has a Facebook page and a Twitter account.

Tonight we are going to have Leslie Diaz and Audrey Sherman, two Masters students at the School of Social Work on the show. Leslie and Audrey will be talking with us about the Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition (http://www.austinirc.org) which they have been writing class presentation and community collaboration analysis about. The AIRC is a grassroots, action-oriented coalition of immigrants, students and allies, as well as labor, faith and community organizations. Members of the coalition work for the promotion of human rights and racial, gender and economic justice and for the achievement fairness for all immigrants.
The AIRC will be hosting a rally/march on May 1st (TOMORROW!!!) where advocates for immigrants' rights will be joining together to support immigration reform. Please come out and support the AIRC!!!!!

Tonight on Upstream, we had Rene, a caretaker and volunteer at Resistencia. Reistencia is so much more than a book store. The store has been home to Red Salmon Press since 1983, which publishes community newletters, neighborhood newpapers, and leaflets. Red Salmon Arts is a Native American/Chicano based organization. Resistencia also started SOY, Save Our Youth, which was one of the first literacy programs in Austin to serve youth in correctional facilities. SOY is a unique and empowering program that focuses on pride in cultural heritage.

Tonight is the first show in the Tara and Emily dynasty!!! We welcome all you free thinkers, activists, and organizers to a semester of expanding your mind and being a “thinking human being!” It’s gonna be a fun ride.

This Thursday, we had three amazing women on the show. We focused on services available to Muslim families experiencing domestic violence.

Andrea Albalawi is the Program Development Director for the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children. She shared information on the new foundation and its work to cultivate healthy families, and serve survivors of abuse, in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. The foundation recently opened the country's first licensed shelter.