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 w•ant 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.
Resources From the Presentations
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.
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.
Cody Kenney shares how the receiving the Child Tax Credit positively impacted his family.
Mary McCloskey shares how she learned to navigate filing for unemployment…and then proceeded to create a Facebook group to share her knowledge with over 9000 fellow Hoosiers.
Members joined together at Mickey’s in New Albany on July 24. We spoke with neighbors about the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and asked how they thought the money could best benefit New Albany.
TAKE ACTION WITH US!
Our September texting bonanza is underway. Mark your calendars for texting Thursdays:
•9/16 Texting: Healthcare
•9/23 Texting: Housing in Columbus, IN
•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.)
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
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 Research and Tech 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! 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.
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!
Visit hoosieraction.org and sign up today to become a monthly dues-paying member. Together, we can make Indiana a place where all Hoosiers, no matter their zip code or the color of their skin, can thrive.