Newsletters
Winter 2020 Newsletter
This winter may be cold, but we’re meeting it with fire! Since November, Hoosier Action members have been to the statehouse five times, Washington DC once, and held multiple organizing meetings across Southern Indiana. Check out what we’ve been up to this winter, and learn what’s coming up in February!
Last Month
We Fought Hard for the Pregnancy Accommodation Bill
$3 million dollars: we learned on Monday that that’s what it takes to buy off Indiana Senators to get them to vote against pregnant Hoosiers, new mothers, and babies.
That’s the campaign contributions made to our State Senators and Representatives by the Indiana Manufacturing Association and the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce in 2019 alone. And that’s what just effectively killed the Pregnancy Accommodation Bill. On Monday evening, our Senators didn’t choose life, they chose profits.
When we heard that the bill was under attack on Friday, YOU mobilized. In 48 hours we
Reached out to 7,000 Hoosiers across the state
Delivered over 150 constituent calls into 14 Senate Districts
Gathered 200 signatures from people of faith from 7 counties
Generated over 100 direct constituent emails
Organized Monday’s day of action with little preparation
Hoosier Moms Listening Session
The Hoosier Action moms hosted a listening session on January 30th at the Banneker Community Center. Moms shared their experiences and discussed what’s getting in the way of thriving families in Indiana.
Building Power in New Albany
We have been hard at work during the legislative session. Sara and Will have been knocking on doors and meeting new people in December and January to talk about our HOPE agenda!
Hoosier Moms & a Hoosier baby!
Email will@hoosieraction.org if you want to join in on the New Albany door knocks!
Martinsville Community Members Gather to Talk Action
Our Morgan County chapter held a dinner in Martinsville with 25 community members to discuss the contamination issues in town and what action we can take as a community to get it cleaned up! We wrote postcards to our representatives about our HOPE agenda, asking them to pass legislation for transparency around environmental contamination.
The People’s Day of Action
On Wednesday, January 15th, we took the HOPE Agenda to the Statehouse! 75 Hoosier Action members and supporters from 17 counties were present for our press conference and day of action. We began the day by announcing our focus on Health, the Opportunity to thrive, Prosperity, and the Environment, and unveiling a slate of bills that would make real changes for everyday Hoosiers. At the press conference, Hoosiers from across Southern Indiana shared their stories, and called on our legislature to act.
After the press conference and a training by organizer Will Stauffer, teams visited their legislators in their offices, in the halls, and in in elevators. We were backed up outside of the statehouse by our fellow Hoosier Action members, friends, families and neighbors who contacted their legislators and shared the event as it was unfolding on social media.
The People’s Day of Action was an unprecedented on, and and a significant step to building the Indiana we deserve.
Hoosier Action and the Indiana Recovery Alliance Train in DC
In December, Hoosier Action and the Indiana Recovery Alliance attended the Overdose Crisis Cohort Convening in Washington DC. We learned about harm reduction and reducing the stigma of drug use, as well as how the War on Drugs, which unfairly blames people of color and low-income people, harms all of us. We also got a chance to stop by Senator Todd Young’s office and talk to him about passing the CARE Act, which would provide funding to states to combat the overdose crisis.
Upcoming Events
Join us for member meetings across the region next week as well as Take Action Tuesdays for the rest of the month!
Uplands Chapter meeting Sunday, February 9th from 3:00-5:00 pm at our Monroe County Office (1461 W. Bloomfield Road, Bloomington). Come for HOPE Agenda updates and upcoming opportunities to meet legislators in-district. We’ll also chart our path forward into the spring. Email marybeth@hoosieraction.org for more information.
New Albany Chapter Meeting Tuesday, February 11th at 6:00 pm at the Central Christian Church (1315 E Spring St, New Albany). We will discuss the legislative update and our in-district meeting with State Senator Ron Grooms. Email will@hoosieraction.org for more information.
Hoosier Action Moms Meeting Wednesday, February 12th from 6:00 pm -7:30 pm at our Monroe County Office (1461 W. Bloomfield Road, Bloomington). Email eva@hoosieraction.org for more information.
Morgan County Chapter Meeting Thursday, February 13th from 6:30-8pm at St Mary’s Episcopal Church (1109 E Morgan St. Martinsville, Indiana). Email tasha@hoosieraction.org for more information
Statewide Medicaid Advisory Council Meeting, February 27th from 3:00 pm– 5:00 pm Indiana Government Center South, Conference Room B. Email eva@hoosieraction.org for more information.
Uplands Chapter Weekly Take Action Parties on Tuesdays 6:00-8:00 pm at Monroe County Office (1461 W. Bloomfield Road, Bloomington) email georgann@hoosieraction.org for more information.