Join us for our monthly breakfast meeting at the Village Deli at 7:30am this coming Friday, February 1, as we kick off Black History Month in the city of Bloomington and at Indiana University. Our featured speaker will be Dana Black, Indiana State Democratic Party Deputy Chair for Engagement and President of the Indiana Stonewall Democrats.
Dana grew up in Indianapolis, where a childhood spent attending Beaulah Missionary Church instilled the values of charity and caring about members of the community. After graduating from North Central High School, she went on to receive a B.S. in Information Systems from Indiana Wesleyan University and an M.B.A. with an Information Technology focus from Southern New Hampshire University. In addition to her work with our state Democratic Party engaging communities, working with candidates and elected officials, and spreading the Democrat message to all 92 counties, Dana has volunteered for Minority Engineering Programs of Indianapolis (MEPI) for 8 years helping to prepare girls and other minority students for post-secondary education in the STEM fields.
She'll speak about her personal journey into political activity, developing and hosting "Turn Left" (Thursdays at 6:00 pm), traveling around the state, and visiting every single county. She has a powerful message about public service, and about women of color. And she'll probably take questions too!
We're fortunate to have Dana Black as our speaker. This is a breakfast not to be missed.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Announcements
Events
Action Items
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Declaration of Candidacy for the 2019 Municipal or Town Elections:
Filing a declaration of candidacy for nomination in the 2019 municipal primary began on January 9. The deadline for declaring as a candidate is Friday, February 8 at noon. Forms are available in the Voter Registration Office on 7th and Madison, where one would file for this election.
Spread The Vote and Project ID looking to start a Bloomington Chapter:
Amanda Noell, Indiana State Director of Spread The Vote and Project ID, has been diligently working to get active chapters established in communities across Indiana. Currently in the midst of a state tour, STV/PIR launched in Evansville over this past weekend and will be launching in East Chicago, Fort Wayne, and Muncie, next weekend with New Albany and Indianapolis to soon follow.
Now, Amanda has her eye on Bloomington! To start a chapter, a local community organization must partner with Spread The Vote/ProjectID, a volunteer must take on the responsibility of being a Chapter Leader, and a couple of people to become ID volunteers. You can register all the voters you want, but in a voter ID state like Indiana, if voters don't have an ID, being registered doesn't matter. ID volunteers are paired with a person who needs an ID, a client. Volunteers are trained to go through the process of helping clients get their social security card, birth certificate, and then their ID. And Spread The Vote pays all of the associated fees!
If you are interested in becoming a part of Spread The Vote and Project ID here in Bloomington, email [email protected] today!
Media links for Evansville Launch:
https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/local-news/-spread-the-vote-launches-evansville-chapter/1729404606
http://www.14news.com/2019/01/27/spread-vote-looks-start-chapter-evansville/
EVENTS:
Thursday, January 31, 2019, 5:30 pm
City of Bloomington Black History Month Kick-Off
Bloomington City Hall
Come together as a community for the kick-off of Black History Month. The City of Bloomington commemorates National Black History Month with a tribute and celebration of empowerment, “Reclaiming Our Time,” inspiring us to reflect on the ways historical wrongs are being corrected, and the spaces the Black community has created to celebrate culture, history, and community. This community celebration will feature a conversation between Dr. Dionne Danns and Judge Valeri Haughton. A reception will begin at 5:30 pm followed by the program at 6:30 pm.
Friday, February 1, 2019, 7:30 - 8:30 am
Democratic Women's Caucus Monthly Meeting
Village Deli, 409 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington
Friday, February 1, 2019, 7:30am - 9:00am
Annual IU Bloomington Legislative Forum and Breakfast
Kelley Dining Room, Virgil T. DeVault Alumni Center
Presented by the Monroe County Chapter of the IU Alumni Association
This annual forum allows alumni the chance to meet and hear from area legislators about the issues affecting Bloomington and the State of Indiana. A complimentary breakfast will be served.
The forum will be moderated by Associate Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education, Kurt Zorn, with remarks beginning at 8 a.m. and will last until 9 a.m. Legislators in attendance will be announced nearer to the event.
Utilize the link below to register: IU Bloomington Legislative Forum and Breakfast
Friday February 1, 2019 5:00 - 7:00pm
Campaign Kickoff Reception for Nicole Bolden for City Clerk
Grazie Italiano
Join hosts Rachel Kearney, Melanie Payne & Sue Wanzer, and Shelli Yoder & Josh Perry for a campaign kickoff reception for Nicole Bolden’s re-election as Bloomington’s City Clerk.
Saturday, February 2, 2019, 9:30 - 11:00 am
League of Women Voters Legislative Update
Bloomington City Council Chambers, Showers Building, 411 N. Morton St., Bloomington
State legislators representing Monroe County will discuss developments in the Indiana General Assembly session that opened on January 3, 2019. Following their opening comments, they will welcome questions and concerns from the audience. The public is invited. The updates offer residents an opportunity to gain a window into the actual work of governing, and an encouragement to take a more active role in following and voicing their opinions about bills making their way through the General Assembly.
Saturday, February 2, 2019, 3:00 pm
Moms Demand Action Monthly Meetup
Monroe County Public Library, Room !B, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington
Join Bloomington Moms Demand Action for their monthly meeting, including discussion of survivor support.
Sunday, February 3, 2019, 1:00 - 5:00 pm
Reception and film premier for Reverend Marvin Chandler: Open to the Moment
Reception, 1:00 - 2:30 pm, Monroe County Historical Society Museum, 202 E. 6th St., Bloomington
Film, 3:00 pm, Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington
The Reverend Marvin Chandler taught himself to play the piano at age four and later became a jazz pianist who was inducted into the Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame. He was minister of Second Baptist Church in Bloomington, active in the civil rights movement, and was a negotiator during the Attica prison riots in New York. His love of music, his ministry of the Gospel, and his quest for social justice shines throughout his life. There is no charge for the movie, but attendees are asked to donate non-perishable food items for the Hoosier Hills Food Bank.
Before the film, the Second Baptist Church is hosting a reception from 1:00 - 2:30 pm at the Monroe County Historical Society Museum. This is a Black History Month event and A Gudaitis Film Production.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019, 9:30am - 1:00pm
Moms Demand Action Advocacy Day at the Indiana Statehouse
Indiana State Library, 315 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis
The Indiana Legislature is about to return to session and Moms will be there to make sure legislators know from YOU, their constituents, why they should support common sense gun bills in Indiana. After an initial meeting at the Library the group will move to the State House to meet with legislators. RSVP here.
Sunday, February 17, 2019, 3:00pm
NOW Chapter Meeting
Bloomington City Hall
A discussion on gerrymandering and redistricting reform featuring Guest Speaker Julia Vaughn, Common Cause Indiana Policy Director.
Redistricting reform is critical for a reflective democracy and to ensure everyone’s vote counts. They will discuss actions each of us can take to have an impact.
Then stay after Julia speaks to learn what Monroe County NOW committees are up to and how you can get involved.
ACTION ITEM(s):
TAKE ACTION ON REDISTRICTING REFORM!
Senator Greg Walker has set February 4th as the hearing day for SB105, his bill to create a set of redistricting standards. Although the bill is not ideal, it does provide a legislative vehicle in play, which is of utmost importance. Unfortunately, Senator Ruckelhaus's citizens redistricting commission bill (SB91) has not yet been scheduled for a hearing, so if you haven't contacted Senator Walker yet, please do so ASAP at [email protected]. Here's a suggestion for your message, but please feel free to use your own language:
"Senator Walker, Thanks for your leadership on redistricting reform and for bringing back your bill to create redistricting standards—that's an important part of reform. But it's even more important to create a citizens redistricting commission to sever the conflict of interest that exists when legislators draw the lines. Please give SB91 a hearing."
After you send your email, urge your family and friends around the state to do likewise.
Time is running out... The maps will be redrawn after the 2020 Census, and WHO does the redrawing and HOW is of critical importance.
BECOME A DWC MEMBER or RENEW your membership!
The DWC is dedicated to inspiring, recruiting, training, supporting and funding women to increase the number of progressive, pro-choice women in the political arena. We ALL help with this mission, together, collectively. Make sure you have full rights and privileges of membership.
Only $20 for one year’s membership.
Join online here: https://democraticwomenscaucus.nationbuilder.com/membership
THEN ~~~
Consider your involvement in the DWC.
If you were thinking about running for the Steering Committee and didn't, consider taking another role in the DWC.
Are you good at planning events? Do you have ideas for a good program for a lunch or breakfast or cocktail hour meeting? Can you manage social media? A website?
Committees on membership, fundraising, programs, communications, endorsement, recruitment and training, and nominating are open for members as well as the steering committee members. It's all of us working together in support of candidates and women AFTER they are elected that make this organization strong.
Please consider joining one of the committees!
Send a note to [email protected]
Do you have news items? Send your items of interest to us at [email protected]
Deadline for MMN is noon on Sunday.
Paid for by DWPAC - Democratic Women's Political Action Committee
Democratic Women's Caucus
http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/