For immediate release
January 6, 2011
Contact: Mona Lisa Chambers, Vice-Chairman, TxFRO
Tel: 281-701-1696
Fax: 713-772-1804
Email: monalisachambers@aol.com
Web site: www.txfro.org

HOUSTON — The Texas Federation for Republican Outreach (TxFRO) today announced its first 2011 initiative, the Texas Republican Historically Black Colleges & Universities Initiative (TRHBCUI) to support the founding of student Republican clubs at 7 Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU’s) in Texas.

Bill Calhoun, Chairman of TxFRO said, “We have a responsibility to recruit and train the next generation of Texas leaders and many of them will be found at HBCU’s in Texas. What we’re doing is what other Republican auxiliaries within our party have done. They targeted specific voter groups, such as women and reached out and encouraged them to participate.”

First up is Texas Southern University in Houston, (TSU). “Our club has been approved and has met all the qualifications to become a student organization here at TSU thanks to the help of Dr. Ford,” said Amber Walker, Acting President of the Young Republicans of TSU.

This is not the first chapter of College Republicans at TSU. “I applaud Amber Walker and her colleagues for having the courage to reactivate a chapter of which I once served as chairman. With hard work and truth on their side, they will be able to show their fellow students the benefits of being a part of the majority party in Texas. I wish them success as they move forward,” said Justin Jordan, former TSU College Republican Chairman and former Chairman of the Texas Federation of College Republicans.

The TSU club will be affiliated with the TxFRO and a charter member of the Texas College Republicans (TCR).

Chairman Calhoun went on to say, “I appreciate the support given these students by President Dr. Rudley and members of his administration who believe that campus political diversity fosters new approaches to solving problems in society.”

The club’s faculty advisor is Dr. Robert L. Ford, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Center for STEM Education and Outreach. ”What you (TxFRO) are doing is implementing the outreach model of connecting our students to real-life, real-time experiences that can make a difference in their lives and in the communities that I subscribe to”, said Dr. Ford.

The club members will travel to Austin to witness the Swearing In ceremonies of the 82nd Legislature, January 11, 2011.

The 82nd Session will mark the first time since 1985 that a Republican African American will be seated in the Texas House. Former Lubbock Representative Ron Givens, the last Republican African American to serve in the Texas House has been invited to attend.

Representatives-elect, James White HD12, a graduate of Prairie View A&M University and Stefani Carter HD 102, a Harvard University graduate are expected to meet with club members. They are the only 2 African Americans among the 22 freshmen who will make up the 101 member Republican House Caucus.

The other 6 HBCU’s are Prairie View A&M in Prairie View, Huston-Tillotson in Austin, Paul Quinn in Dallas, Texas College in Tyler, Wiley College in Marshall, and Jarvis College in Hawkins.

“The Texas College Republicans are proud to join the Texas Federation for Republican Outreach in their effort to identify and recruit conservative voters across the state. “Together TCR and TxFRO are proving that the conservative values of limited government, fiscal discipline, and personal responsibility are universal,” said Justin Till, Chairman of the Texas College Republicans.

The initiative is based on the “service leadership” model where leaders of tomorrow are introduced to public policy leaders of today. The students will get opportunities to intern, volunteer, compete for scholarships, and perform community service in areas of public policy and politics for which they have a passion.

“These young people will have to pay for and live with the solutions of tomorrow that are being made by the leaders of today from both parties. Therefore, it is right to get them involved in the process and in the debate about the size and scope of their government,” Chairman Calhoun said.

“It is a priority for the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) to reach a new generation of young people especially at Historically Black Colleges. I look forward to working with Bill Calhoun and the Texas Federation for Republican Outreach in accomplishing this goal,” said Steve Munisteri, Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas.

TxFRO identifies non-traditional Republican voters, specifically African American conservatives and invites them to affiliate and participate within the Republican Party.

The TRHBCUI is funded through the Patron’s Club. To learn more, click here