Newsletters
June 2022
Wherever you live in Indiana, whatever the color of your skin, and whatever’s in your wallet, there’s no denying that the past few years of our lives have been shaped by unprecedented and disruptive events. From the pandemic to the overdose crisis to the most recent Supreme Court decisions, many of us feel isolated, angry, and deeply uncertain about what the future holds for ourselves and our loved ones. While we cannot predict what’s going to happen, we know that the only way we can make the future is by acting together.
To protect our families we must do what we know has worked in the past: come together across our differences, deepen our relationships with one another, and build real community. That’s why we’ve spent the last month holding local listening sessions across Southern Indiana in New Albany, Seymour, Columbus, and Bloomington. Creating the future we deserve starts with talking with our neighbors and listening to what they need and want for their families.
We are celebrating! ALL Hoosier Congresspeople (Democrats AND Republicans) voted to support the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act (MAT Act). The MAT Act will make it easier for doctors to prescribe life-saving medicine to those seeking treatment for drug use, and save lives by reducing preventable overdose deaths. It is a step towards removing barriers to treatment as well as the stigma and shame that often prevents recovery.
We won this victory by acting together as chapters and a statewide organization. Hoosier Representatives from both parties co-sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives. When the bill came up for a vote in the House, the call went out to all members, including statewide members from the Greater Indiana Chapter and the Moms of Hoosier Action (MOHA) chapters, to call and email their legislators. Because Hoosier Action leaders (led by the local ORV and Jackson County chapters) worked together to move Senator Mike Braun, he co-sponsored the bill in the Senate where it moves next. To get “yes” votes from the entire Indiana House delegation is a huge win for us as it shows that ORGANIZING WORKS!
Let’s Get The MAT Act Across the Finish Line
By working together, we can get the MAT Act through the Senate and signed into law. You can help make Indiana a place where all of us can get the treatment we need by emailing Senator Braun and Young today to ask them to champion the MAT Act. Go to hoosieraction.org/matact.
BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY CHAPTER
The Bartholomew County Chapter held a powerful Community Dinner about our housing crisis at the local community center in Columbus on June 23rd! We had 30 community members join us to share our stories and the truth about everyday families’ housing struggles in Columbus, and to begin envisioning what we need to see changed in our community to improve access to safe, quality, affordable housing!
Come join our work! Contact organizer Stephanie Zhang at stephanie@hoosieraction.org.
Next chapter meeting: July 14th from 6pm-8pm (ET)
[Pictured below: No community dinner is complete without children playing in the backyard!]
JACKSON COUNTY CHAPTER
The Jackson County Chapter held a community Cookout Conversation on June 18th to discuss substance use, overdose and mental health. We listened to our neighbors about how the overdose and mental health crisis has impacted their lives.
We shared a meal, our experiences and thoughts, and learned how we can act together for a brighter future.
Our next chapter meeting is July 14th from 6-8pm (ET). If you’re interested in joining the conversation, contact organizer Laxmi Palde at laxmi@hoosieraction.org.
MORGAN COUNTY CHAPTER
The Morgan County Chapter continues our summer outreach through door knocking and conversations. During this listening campaign so far, we heard people talking about clean-up of toxic sites in the community, access to affordable housing, and the need for more resources for mental health and substance use.
Our next Morgan County Chapter Meeting will be on July 6th from 7:00-8:30 pm ET at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Martinsville, IN. If you would live or work in Morgan County and would like to join, please contact Tasha Coppinger at tasha@hoosieraction.org.
OHIO RIVER VALLEY CHAPTER
The Ohio River Valley chapter held an in-person training session on June 23rd to learn more about how the failed drug war has impacted Hoosiers, and how we can end it by taking action together.
The next ORV Chapter Meeting will be July 7th from 6:30pm-8:30pm at the Park Christian Church, 2231 Green Valley Rd, New Albany, IN 47150. If you live in Floyd, Clark or Scott counties and would like to be part of the ORV chapter or have any questions, contact our organizer Will Stauffer at will@hoosieraction.org.
MOMS OF HOOSIER ACTION (MOHA) CHAPTER
On June 30th, the Moms of Hoosier Action hosted a community event to make meaning around the recent Supreme Court decision on Roe v Wade. If these past couple years have taught us anything, it’s that you never know when #SomeoneYouLove might need your help someday.
Watch & share this video & join the Moms of Hoosier Action as they lead our reproductive justice work during an Action Party on July 20th from 6:30-8:30pm at the Bloomington office. Contact organizer Eva Bell at eva@hoosieraction.org for more information.
GREATER INDIANA STATEWIDE CHAPTER
This month the Greater Indiana Chapter learned about Medicaid and its impact on the most vulnerable Hoosiers. Greater Indiana Chapter leader Aubrey Kearney led a discussion on the importance of Medicaid for healthcare access for the most vulnerable, how Medicaid works in our state and who it directly and indirectly impacts. The Greater IN Chapter will continue to use Medicaid surveys in our outreach to surface stories from Hoosiers who are navigating access or who are most vulnerable to losing their health coverage when the Covid state of emergency expires. We will continue to push back against Power Accounts and the paperwork requirements that “churn” people out of Medicaid and healthcare access. Take and share our Medicaid survey: hoosieraction.org/medicaid
Join us for our Greater Indiana Chapter Meeting on Sunday, July 24th from 3-5pm for our next virtual chapter meeting to meet other members across the state. If you would like further information, contact Michelle Higgs at admin@hoosieraction.org.
REGISTER for all upcoming events at: www.hoosieraction.org/events
Upcoming Events
7/6 Morgan County Chapter Meeting
7/7 ORV Chapter Meeting
7/12 Hoosier Action Orientation
7/14 Hoosier Action Annual Public Board Meeting
7/14 Bartholomew County Chapter Meeting
7/14 Jackson County Chapter Meeting
7/19 Action Party: Medicaid
7/20 MOHA Action Party
7/24 Greater Indiana Chapter Meeting
7/28 Power Comms Training: Narrative Workshop
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Sign up today to become a monthly dues-paying member using the button below. Together, we can make Indiana a place where all Hoosiers, no matter their zip code or the color of their skin, can thrive.