Newsletters
September 2021
As we bring our Hey Hoosier! Summer Basebuilding Campaign to a close, it’s time to celebrate all that we’ve accomplished:
We built TWO new chapters in Bartholomew and Jackson counties.
We developed dozens of new leaders, bringing Hoosiers into political action who’ve never taken it before.
We reached out to over 90,000 Hoosiers and held over 10,000 meaningful conversations with everyday people about what they need and want for our state. We listened deeply, and are using what we learned to chart the course ahead.
We launched our Hey, Hoosier! outreach program on May 15th to hold thousands of conversations with rural and small town Hoosiers about what they need to recover from COVID-19 and how they think American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds should be used in their communities. Over the course of the spring and summer, Hoosier Action organizers and leaders have held over 10,000 conversations on the doors, via text, on the phone, and at community meetings. As we shift to fall, our chapters move into local campaigns and begin preparing for the 2022 legislative session. This means more training and deeper coordinated engagement between local chapters and our growing statewide at-large membership base.
We’re excited to announce the formation of TWO new chapters: our Bartholomew County Chapter in Columbus led by organizer Stephanie Zhang and our Jackson County Chapterin Seymour led by organizer Laxmi Palde. Over the summer, we expanded our existing bases in Morgan County and the Ohio River Valley (Clark, Floyd, and Scott counties). Our statewide base, the Moms of Hoosier Action, has also grown to encompass childcare providers.
On September 2nd, the Bartholomew County Chapter hosted a chapter meeting and Know Your Rights Training for Renters on September 2nd featuring Michaela Wischmeier from Prosperity Indiana and followed by a Q&A panel with Adam Mueller from Indiana Legal Services and Aida Ramirez from Columbus’s Human Rights Commission. We were also joined by Mindi Goodpastor and Rayanna Binder from IHCDA, who talked about how to apply to the Indiana Emergency Rental Assistance program. During the chapter meeting, we discussed what we can do as everyday community members to make change and find solutions to the issues we’re experiencing as a community.
Here are some resources from the presentations:|
Indiana Emergency Rental Assistance or call 2-1-1 to apply
Indiana Legal Services or call (844)-243-8570
Columbus Human Rights Commission email humanrights@columbus.in.gov or call (812)-376-2532
On August 31st, International Overdose Awareness Day, the Ohio River Valley Chapter shared their stories and invited everyone to take action to end the overdose crisis in Indiana. International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.
Morgan County Chapter members continue to spread the word about the need for increased testing and remediation on the Superfund sites in Martinsville. Read the latest update from the Martinsville Reporter-Times.
The Moms of Hoosier Action Chapter (MOHA) organized a Know Your Rights Training: Medical Debt and Healthcare Affordability Q&A with Marshal Allen. Check out the video for some great ideas and advice for fighting back against medical debt. When MOHA held their chapter meeting on Sunday, September 12 they looked ahead to the 2022 Legislative Session, and determined childcare and medical debt should be some of their key issues moving forward.
ARP Explained
Hoosier Action contributed to the publication of The American Rescue Plan Explained.The American Rescue Plan (ARP) included groundbreaking changes to the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) with direct benefits to Indiana.
Hoosier Action Leaders Share Their Stories
Throughout the summer, we held lots of meetings with legislators, including Sen. Mike Braun and Sen. Todd Young. (See our August Newsletter for those updates.)
Members Cody Kenney (Columbus Chapter) and Mary McCloskey (Ohio River Valley Chapter) shared their stories to over 2300 fellow Hoosier during a Town Hall with Sen. Bernie Sanders (chair of the Senate Budget Committee) in West Lafayette.
TAKE ACTION WITH US!
Texting Bonanza!
Mark your calendar for Texting Thursdays:
9/16 Texting: Healthcare
9/23 Texting: Housing in Columbus
9/30 Texting: Healthcare
10/14 Action Party: Building Power through Organized Money
Sign-up for a texting shift in-person or online on September 29th to demand Hoosier health be put ahead of corporate wealth. (In-person texting shift location(s) TBA soon.)
Save The Date
(more details to come)
11/11 Legislative Session 101
11/19 Organizational Day at the Statehouse
Welcome Aubrey
Aubrey Kearney joins the staff of Hoosier Action.
This fall she will be launching a training course on how to talk with loved ones about the vaccine – no matter the stance. This training is informed by real conversations we have been having on the ground with people about what’s been hard and feeling so distant from neighbors at a time when we need each other more than ever. We can’t wait to learn more and use new skills to strengthen relationships that have gotten strained over the last months.
“Keep an eye out as trainings open up – don’t worry, you’ll be able to take the training before you see that loved one at the Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner tables!” ~ Aubrey
Attention Members…
Stay updated weekly with Mondays with Michelle. Our Member Engagement Manager, Michelle Higgs, has launched a weekly text update. If you are a member and would like to subscribe to her list, please email her at admin@hoosieraction.org.
JOIN OUR TECH & RESEARCH TEAMS
Do you have experience with app development, technical support, or databases and the desire to improve our state? Join the Hoosier Action Tech Team today! Sign up here and reach out to Nate at tech@hoosieraction.org with any questions.
Hoosier Action Resource Center (HARC) is looking for people to join their Research Team. If you love research, writing, and data analysis, contact Tracey (tracey@hoosieraction.org) to learn more about the Research Team.
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 by clicking 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.