Newsletters
May 2022
Whether we come from big cities, small towns or rural communities, in these turbulent and uncertain times, we need community more than ever. We all need spaces where we feel like we belong and there are people walking beside us on the uncertain road ahead.
This summer we are deepening our commitment to build community in the seven counties with Hoosier Action chapters and across the state online with our Moms and Greater Indiana chapters.
THE MAT ACT
This month we celebrated a HUGE victory: the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, a federal bi-partisan bill that makes it easier for doctors to prescribe life-saving medicine to those seeking treatment for drug use, passed out of committee and should be on the floor for a vote next month! Over the past year, we have worked hard to line-up bipartisan Hoosier legislative support for the MAT Act and today was a BIG step forward because of the support of Hoosiers like you.
Over the last two years, more of our neighbors and loved ones have died from overdoses than ever before. These losses are a tragedy: unnecessary and completely preventable. BUT, by working together, WE can get this bill signed into law to save lives and allow Hoosiers to have access to basic treatment in their hometown.
You can help pass this bill by using our email form to contact your member of congress to ask them to vote in support for the MAT ACT: go to https://www.hoosieraction.org/matact
This has only been possible because of the AMAZING leadership of everyday Hoosiers who:
Met with Rep. Trey Hollingsworth, a co-sponsor of the MAT Act, to strategize and partner with him to move other members of the congress.
Met with and MOVED Senator Mike Braun to become a co-sponsor of the MAT Act in the Senate
Talked to thousands of Hoosiers to let them know about the importance of the MAT Act and moved them to take action with us.
Because of this work, we are one step closer to a world where Hoosiers have access to the care they need to live healthy lives! Whether we are Black, white, or brown, all of us deserve to be able to get the care we need to get and stay well.
BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY CHAPTER
This month the Bartholomew County Chapter held our first ever Walmart Parking Lot Canvass with leaders Pam and Diane! At the canvass, we talked to our neighbors about their experiences with housing in Columbus.
As always, we held our chapter meeting on the second Thursday evening of the month. This month we were joined by three new community members, and advanced our work towards improving quality, affordable housing in Columbus. Join us at our next monthly chapter meeting. Contact Stephanie Zhang at stephanie@hoosieraction.org for details.
Our chapter is hosting a Community Dinner & Conversation on Housing on Thursday, June 23rd at the Anderson Community Center (formerly Eastside Community Center: 421 McClure Rd, Columbus, IN 47201). We want to bring 30 people together to share and connect on our housing experiences, vision what Columbus could look like if all families and community members had a safe, stable, affordable roof over our heads, and take action to fight and win real change. If you’re a community member, if you’ve struggled with housing, or if you want to see a thriving Columbus where all of us have a safe home, we want YOU to join us at our community dinner!
JACKSON COUNTY CHAPTER
Calling all Seymour and Jackson County residents: join our Jackson County Cookout Conversation: Substance Use, Overdose, & Mental Health in Our Community on June 18 from 2-5pm (ET). We are listening to learn how the overdose and mental health crisis has impacted our neighbors. You’re invited to join us to share a free meal, share your experiences and thoughts, and learn how we can act together for a brighter future. Location TBD. If you’re interested in joining, contact organizer Laxmi Palde at laxmi@hoosieraction.org.
MORGAN COUNTY CHAPTER
Our Morgan County Chapter met on May 4th to advance our plan for the summer. We discussed issues impacting the community, shared stories about our lives, and took action. This month we kicked off an 8-week listening campaign!
We knocked on doors in Martinsville on May 14th, and 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 (ORV) chapter had an energizing listening session Wednesday, May 25th! We visioned together what our community could look like, the problems we are facing, and the action we need to take to change it! Shout out to Mickey’s in New Albany for hosting us!
On June 23rd, we will be hosting a War on Drugs Training for the community. In 1971, President Nixon first declared the War on Drugs, and we’ve been living in the consequences ever since. What have been the impacts? Are our communities safer? We will explore the history together and learn how we can create a state where ALL people have safety and dignity and opportunity, no matter their relationships to drugs.
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
Calling All Moms!
Are you a mom, dad or caregiver? Be sure to join our statewide Moms of Hoosier Action (MOHA) Chapter. If you have any questions or would like further information, please reach out to our Moms Organizer Eva Bell – eva@hoosieraction.org.
GREATER INDIANA STATEWIDE CHAPTER
On Sunday, May 22nd, we launched our Greater Indiana Chapter to represent our members who live outside of our geographic chapters! We believe that coming together from diverse backgrounds, locations, and interests is what makes Hoosier Action, and our chapter especially, powerful. Our goal: we want to connect Hoosier Action members from places like Gary and Terre Haute to local chapter members in Seymour and other local chapters to increase our shared power and bridge the isolation we sometimes feel.
Over the next six months we will be exploring what that looks like in practice through:
Monthly Online Chapter Meetings: we plan to meet on the 4th Sunday of each month (where a holiday falls on that weekend, we will meet on the 3rd Sunday).
Monthly Online Action Parties: we will host one Action Party each month that will partner with a local chapter. Usually this will look like a texting party where we will text into their community and surface individuals that would like a local organizer to follow up with them.
Monthly Online Trainings: From, “Know Your Rights” trainings to how to become a more powerful communicator to political education, we look forward to joining the wider Hoosier community for monthly training opportunities to become more equipped to take powerful action.
In-Person Outreach Opportunities: we will partner with a local chapter to attend, where possible, local canvassing (door knocking) campaigns. This is the single most effective way to connect with community members and learn first hand how issues are directly impacting fellow Hoosiers.
In-Person Events: sometimes having a large number of Hoosiers at the statehouse communicates the most power. At other times, having a strategic group of Hoosiers, aligned across issues and constituencies, communicates the most power. Our chapter uniquely brings both and, when partnered with local chapter work, builds the power we need to move legislation in our state.
We also discussed the vision for Hoosier Action in 2022 and beyond and explored how the Greater Indiana Chapter can become a place of safe community and real action. We look forward to furthering this discussion over the coming months.
Join us for our Greater Indiana Chapter Meeting on Sunday, June 26th 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
6/12 Hoosier Action Orientation
6/16 Powerful Communicators Training
6/18 Jackson Co Cookout Conversation: Substance Use, Overdose, & Mental Health in our Community
6/21 Action Party: Medicaid
6/23 Columbus Community Conversation & Dinner: Our Housing Crisis
6/23 The War on Drugs 101: New Albany
6/26 Greater Indiana Chapter Meeting
SUBSCRIBE to Mondays with Michelle (weekly text updates)
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