Newsletters
November 2021
Legislative Session 2022 Begins
This month we are celebrating a powerful return to the Statehouse for Organization Day! On November 16th we brought over 40 leaders from across 15 different state senate seats to the Statehouse to welcome our legislators back to work, and make certain our Recovering Forward Agenda is front and center for the 2022 legislative session. Over the course of the day, we met with 26 different legislators or legislative assistants–including all 18 of our top priority legislators!
“When I ask you, ‘What Kind of Action?’, you tell me, ‘Hoosier Action!’” – Organizing Director Tasha Coppinger leads members in a rousing Hoosier Action chant in preparation to talk to their legislators!
We provided everyone with training on how to talk with legislators, and then broke into teams for scheduled and unscheduled meetings with our elected officials. We met in the hall, in offices, and on the 3rd floor atrium in front of our Hoosier Action tables. We then met with Tyler Ness, Governor Holcomb’s legislative director, to share our stories and ask for the Governor’s support on our agenda to care for Hoosier health, homes, and environment.
Organization Day marked the official beginning of the 2022 legislative session, and we are just getting started. We’ll be back every single week during the session because we know that NOW is the time for us to pass policies which reflect our values and will ensure that all Hoosiers, regardless the color of our skin or the money in our pockets, are able to fully recover from the pandemic and move forward together.
Here are TWO ways you can hit the ground running in January:
•Register for our upcoming Indiana Legislative Session Training on December 16th! At this training we will have two breakout rooms: in one room we’ll hold a legislative session 101 training for those totally new to the state legislature; in the other room, we’ll hold a training on advocacy and strategy at the Statehouse for those with previous experience or training on the legislative session.
•Subscribe to the Weekly News Updates (via email and text). This will provide you the most up-to-date information as bills move through the legislative process.
Weekly Updates
Sign up for weekly legislative session text and email updates – a Friday afternoon summary of what happened during the week. Stay informed and take action!
Spotlight on Our Recovering Forward Agenda
Over the course of the last month Hoosier Action member leaders have been working to shape our values into our policy priorities for the legislative session. During October and early November, our leaders have met with over a dozen legislators and policy experts to discuss our key issues and develop our Recovering Forward legislative priorities:
Caring for our families by
Ensuring accessible and affordable childcare by permanently ending Childcare and Development Fund (CCDF) co-pays
Making certain childcare providers and early educators are stable and supported
Removing barriers to quality, affordable healthcare by improving the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP)
Saving lives and ending the overdose crisis by
Increasing access to naloxone, the life-saving antidote to opioid poisoning
Supporting evidence-based solutions to reduce harm and prevent overdoses
Removing barriers to care and recovery for those struggling with substance use
Protecting Hoosier homes by
Reforming the eviction process to keep more Hoosiers in their homes and bring landlords and tenants together
Creating a repair and refund program which allows tenants to keep their families and homes safe
Reducing barriers to housing by creating opportunities for eviction expungement
Cleaning up our water, air, and soil by
Cleaning up toxic pollution which is making Hoosiers sick
Banning harmful contaminants which can poison our water, air, and soil
Taking responsibility for the current impacts of climate change in Indiana and preparing our state to meet the challenges of the climate crisis
JOIN OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION TEAMS
As we move forward into the legislative session, our chapters are focusing on key issues and looking for members interested in issue-specific work especially outreach and story collection.
Childcare and healthcare: reach out to Moms organizer Eva Bell at eva@hoosieraction.org
Overdose: organizers Laxmi Palde and Will Stauffer would love to connect and for you to join them! You can email them at laxmi@hoosieraction.org and will@hoosieraction.org
Housing: reach out to organizer Stephanie Zhang at stephanie@hoosieraction.org
Environment: connect with organizer Tasha Coppinger at tasha@hoosieraction.org
Membership Committee: grow our membership across the state; imagine ways to foster a culture of organized people PLUS organized money (aka dues) and build power. Contact Michelle Higgs at admin@hoosieraction.org
Research Committee: Enjoy research, data and analysis? Are you skilled in writing white papers? If you enjoy research and learning about power mapping, our research team is always looking for new members. Contact Tracey Hutchings-Goetz at tracey@hoosieraction.org.
Vax Talk
Safety is not taboo: how to talk with loved ones about the COVID-19 Vaccines, no matter your stance. As the holidays approach, we can expect to plan and visit with loved ones, including some folks who have made a different choice than yours about the the COVID-19 vaccine (Dec. 5th 3pm-5pm ET)
Annual Meeting
December 11th, 11am-3pm
Statehouse Library, Room 211
315 W Ohio St. Indianapolis, IN
(Paid members only)
Vax Talk
Safety is not taboo: how to talk with loved ones about the COVID-19 Vaccines, no matter your stance. As the holidays approach, we can expect to plan and visit with loved ones, including some folks who have made a different choice than yours about the the COVID-19 vaccine (Dec. 5th 3pm-5pm ET)
Hoosier Action’s Annual Meeting will be held at the Statehouse Library in Indianapolis on December 11th from 11am – 3pm. Members will be gathering to celebrate the past year’s accomplishments and shape the coming year priorities, including ratifying newly established Chapters.
The Annual Meeting is open to all active dues paying members. If you currently do not pay dues or your membership has lapsed, join today [use the Join Us button below] and then register for the Annual Meeting so you can help shape the organization.
We are so excited to be a part of Krista Detor’s holiday concert on December 3rd streaming live from Nashville, Tennessee! Krista is a phenomenal singer-songwriter, and this year teams up with five-time Grammy winner Victor Wooten. Victor is a founding member of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and plays widely. Recently, Rolling Stone listed him as one of the Top 10 Bassists of All Time! Half of all ticket proceeds will be given to support the work of Hoosier Action!
REGISTER:
12/15 Action Party: Membership: Organized Money 6:30pm-8:00pm ET
CALENDAR: UPCOMING EVENTS IN NOVEMBER & DECEMBER:
11/25-26 Thanksgiving (office closed)
12/3 Hundredth Hill Holiday Show (benefit concert for Hoosier Action)
12/5 VaxTalk Webinar
12/9 Action Party: Membership (Organized Money)
12/11 Annual Meeting, Indianapolis
12/16 Legislative Session Trainings 101 & 202
12/24 – 1/2 Office Closed for the Holidays
Fund Our Work
Our work would not be possible without contributions from Hoosiers like you. Dues-paying members fund and drive our work. Become a dues-paying member of Hoosier Action for just $5 a month to fund the future of Indiana!
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.
