By Jordan Goodrich
Last weekend, thousands of Texans (advocates, policymakers, students, organizers, researchers, and industry leaders) came together in downtown Austin for TribFest - the Texas Tribune’s annual festival of thought leadership and Texas pride. For three days, the conversations were big, relevant, and deeply Texan. I attended panels and speeches spanning the future of our grid, the rising cost of living, how we protect our water, and what it will take to build a state and a future that works for everyone.
And those were just a few of the many important and inspiring topics covered over the jam-packed weekend!
For me, the most inspiring part of TribFest wasn’t the stages or the spotlights - it was being in community with so many of our current, and potential, coalition partners and community members. Everywhere I turned, I found people working on the same problems from different angles: community organizers, energy innovators, water experts, affordability advocates, artists, local leaders, and youth-driven nonprofits pushing Texas policy and priorities forward.
In a state as large and diverse as Texas, cross-industry and cross-community partnership isn’t optional. The conversations happening in the hallways and lounges were proof. When environmental groups compare notes with public health researchers, or when energy experts hear from working Texans about the crushing cost of living, or when artists imagine new ways to engage communities in climate issues, something powerful happens. We start building a future that recognizes the diversity of our communities, the beauty of our uniqueness, and the interconnectedness of our work.
TribFest also offered a rare moment of accountability for industry leaders who spoke on the big stages and participated in panel discussions. It was clear that many of the major corporate players were there to sell products and sell a narrative. But Texans aren’t easily swayed by a polished pitch. Attendees repeatedly saw through the marketing spiel and pushed for real answers: How will these developments actually benefit our communities? How will huge, taxpayer-funded energy subsidies be used? Who carries the risks, and who gets the rewards?
As executives and lobbyists made their cases for new nuclear projects and fossil fuel energy investments, audience members kept returning to the issues Texans face every day: reliability, affordability, environmental impacts, water scarcity, and long-term accountability. The questions were all rooted in lived experience - because Texans have to live with the consequences of corporate actions every day.
That’s the power of public dialogue. Being on a stage - face-to-face with the people impacted by these decisions - forces a level of transparency that is pretty uncommon. We hope industry leaders heard what Texans were saying loud and clear: We want solutions that protect our communities and our environment. Not corporate profits.
Overall, TribFest was a reminder that Texas is full of smart, passionate people ready to build a resilient, affordable, and better future. When we come together across sectors and experiences, we can create real change - and hold those in power accountable.
I’m already looking forward to next year, and I hope to see even more community voices, local leaders, and environmental advocates on stage. Because the conversations that shape Texas should reflect the people who call it home.