Community Forum for Economic Justice

A Statement by Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer, President of the Indiana Coalition for Public Education

Presented at a recent press conference addressing future educational legislation at the Indiana General Assembly which reconvenes in Indianapolis on January 9th:

SO WHAT DO KIDS NEED?

As we head into a budget session this January, we must ask ourselves how we can best support Indiana's children and prepare them for a bright future. As all good educators, we must start with where the child is and go from there.

Indiana ranks 31st in the country in terms of children's overall wellbeing. The American Academy of Pediatrics sounded the alarm last year when they declared a national mental health crisis for our children. Indiana is 26th in the nation in terms of mental illness rates and access to care. Our domestic violence rates are above the national average. Our child abuse rates are twice the national average. We know that these overall well being statistics are disproportionately affecting our children of color and children from other historically marginalized communities. We also know that the effects of the pandemic had a serious and continued effect on these many concerns for our kids.

Book Study: Braiding Sweetgrass

The Community Forum for Economic Justice Presents a Book Study of:

Braiding Sweetgrass

INDIGENOUS WISDOM, SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND THE TEACHINGS OF PLANTS

By Robin Wall Kimmerer

Book Study Leader: Dr. Monica Tetzlaff

For more information, Download Braiding Sweetgrass flyer-2022 with link

Sept 8: Public Forum on School Choice

This event will be held via Zoom. For more information, please email sjc.cfed@gmail.com

HHR-Action Needs Volunteers

HHR-Action is an organization of housing advocates who understand that safe and accessible housing is a basic human right.  We believe that housing that requires more than 30% of a family’s income is not accessible to that family and that housing tainted by lead, mold or other health hazards is not safe for that family.  We also believe that families and individuals should not be excluded from apartment buildings, housing developments, or neighborhoods because of racial, ethnic, or economic discrimination.

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS

"Our members continue to have a presence inside St. Joseph County Small Claims Court on Monday mornings, when eviction hearings are held, to provide resources to tenants facing eviction on the free legal and financial resources that are available. In addition, we have begun tabling outside court, at the corner of W. Washington St. and Lafayette in downtown South Bend, in order to reach even more people with these valuable resources. We are excited to partner with Attorney Nell Collins of the Volunteer Lawyer Network, who will be joining our table in outreach to tenants needing legal assistance.

We need your support to continue this exciting expansion! Volunteers are needed for our tables both inside and outside the courthouse, Monday mornings between 8:30 and 12:30, for as short as one- or two-hour shifts, depending on your availability. Please email hestowe@gmail.com if you can dedicate any of your time to this. Volunteers will be trained and assigned a "buddy" from our experienced team. We hope you will join us in this fulfilling work!"

Women's Reproductive Rights

HAVE YOU CONTACTED YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND SHARED YOUR VIEW ABOUT WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS?

 

The Indiana General Assembly has rescheduled it special session for July 25, when legislators will respond to the recent Supreme Court decision on women’s reproductive rights.  We have the power to affect that change — with our voice and our vote!  Don’t miss this chance to contact our elected representatives, whether or not you voted for them. It’s more than an opportunity; it’s a responsibility.

 

Below are instructions about how to reach the legislators who represent our community as well as information that has been prepared by the St. Joseph County Health Department.  The Health Department, in a June 30, 2022 press release, issued a statement including the following.

 

"As a public health department, part of our role is to inform and educate our community on how policy decisions impact public health.  It is our understanding that the Indiana General Assembly is considering whether to maintain or modify Indiana’s current exceptions to abortion during pregnancy.  The St. Joseph County Department of Health believes that women, their partners and families, and medical professionals must maintain the authority to make the judgement surrounding the need for termination of a pregnancy under exceptional circumstances to protect the lives of women and prevent an increase in maternal morbidity and mortality.  We have contacted the elected officials who represent St. Joseph County at the Indiana Statehouse to share this view.  We also encouraged their support for other public health interventions such as access to affordable healthcare including prenatal care, family planning, and other social supports which determine the overall health of women of reproductive age and can decrease the need for abortion.

 

 

USE YOUR VOICE, 

 

A list of all IN representatives in the House is here: https://www.citact.org/sites/default/files/2022-Indiana-State-Representatives-1.pdf

A list of all IN senators in the IN State Senate is here:  https://www.citact.org/sites/default/files/2022-Indiana-State-Senators.pdf

http://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/  site will help you find your legislator if you do not know who they are.  

 

Thank you for advocating for a woman’s right to choose.”

Download SJC Dept of Health. Maintaining Exceptions to Indiana Abortion Law. JUNE 2022.SDixon

 

Download SJC Dept of Health. Health and Well Being of Women and Families. Policies. JUNE 2022. SDixon

 

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July 12: HHR-Action Meeting

HHR- Action

Is an organization of housing advocates who understand
that safe and accessible housing is a basic human right.
 
We believe that housing that requires more than 30% of a family’s income is not accessible to that family.
 
We believe that housing tainted by lead, mold or other health hazards is not safe for the members of that family.
 
We believe that families and individuals should not be excluded from apartment buildings, housing developments,
or neighborhoods because of racial, ethnic, or economic discrimination.
 
PLEASE JOIN US IN OVERCOMING BARRIERS PREVENTING RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY FROM ACHIEVING THEIR RIGHT TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE HOUSING.
 
Next meeting: Tuesday, July 12, 2022, 7 PM. via Zoom
For a link to the meeting: Email sjc.cfed@gmail.com

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May 1: Jobs, Incomes, and Unions in South Bend

Jobs, Incomes, and Unions in South Bend:

Seizing New Opportunities to Promote

a More Just Economy

Sponsors include:
The Community Forum for Economic Justice
Higgins Labor Program, University of Notre Dame
Civil Rights Heritage Center, Indiana University SB

Join us for an important May Day conversation
focusing on the following questions:

• What are people, especially the working poor, experiencing locally?
• What do we make of all the talk of labor shortages, rising wages,and increasing inflation?
• Do the current union campaigns at Amazon, Starbucks, and across the nation suggest a revival of organized labor?
• What should local labor advocates do right now to promote a more just local economy?

Panel members include:

Juan D. Constantino Lara, Executive Director, La Casa de Amistad

Maria Garza, President, United Auto Workers, Local 5

Bridget Schippers, Campaign Director, Raising the Standard Notre Dame

Brient Thomas, Service Employees International Union Healthcare
    (Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas)

Lauren Smyth, Vice President of Mission Advancement,
    United Way of St. Joseph County

Where?      Civil Rights Heritage Center,

    &           1040 West Washington St., SB

When?       Sunday, May 1, 2002, at 3 p.m.

                  Indiana University Policy: Masks are encouraged,

                        but are optional.  For those who desire to attend

                        virtually, use the following link: https://iu.zoom.us/my/crhciusb

Jobs, Incomes, and Unions in South Bend

 

SAVE THE DATE: MAY 1, 2022

 

The Community Forum for Economic Justice, Higgins Labor Program at the University of Notre Dame, and Civil rights Heritage Center at Indiana University of South Bend present

 

"Jobs, Incomes, and Unions in South Bend: 

Seizing New Opportunities to promote a More Just Economy"

 

Civil Rights Heritage Center, 

1040 West Washington Street, South Bend

Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 3 p.m.

 

Join us for an important May Day conversation focusing on the following questions:

• What are people, especially the working poor, experiencing locally?

• What do we make of all the talk of labor shortages, rising wages, and increasing inflation?

• Do the current union campaigns at Amazon, Starbucks, and across the nation suggest a revival of organized labor?

• What should local labor advocates do right now to promote a more just local economy?

 

Panelists will be announced soon!

Mar 29: Book discussion of Standing Up: Tales of Struggle

The Community Forum for Economic Justice presents:  A Book Discussion

Standing Up: Tales of Struggle
Stories about the Social Justice Movement that inspire and encourage!

On Tuesday, March 29th^th 6:00- 8:00 PM, Dr. Darryl Heller will interview the authors of the book Standing Up by Ellen Bravo and Larry Miller (Brooklyn, NY: Hard Ball Press, 2022).  Followed by a general discussion. 

Click HERE to register and receive Zoom link

Ellen Bravo, a women’s rights activist, was the founder of the Milwaukee Chapter of 9 to 5 and the director of   Family Values @ Work.  Larry Miller, a union organizer and an education activist, was an editor of Rethinking Education and the President of the Milwaukee School Board.

As they stand up, slow down, form unions, leave an abusive relationship or just stir up good trouble, the characters in this multi-generation novel entertain and enlighten, make us laugh and rage, and encourage us to love deeply, that we may continue the fight for justice.  The book details the joy -- the enormous satisfaction of watching people stand up for themselves, the friendship and love, the ever-growing community, the delight of being present when people grow their power and bring about real change.

 

 

Public Input Requested for St. Joseph County Comprehensive Plan

St. Joseph County is asking for public participation to develop a comprehensive Plan for the County. The comprehensive plan provides a guide to the County Commissioners, Council, Area Plan Commission, staff, development community, and residents regarding the type, location and intensity of development and redevelopment within the unincorporated County. It also describes an aspirational vision and goals; recommendations related to future land use, transportation improvements, quality of life initiatives, open space preservation, and economic development efforts; and implementation priorities.   Public input sessions are on March 23, 29, and 31. March 23, 2022 5:30PM-7:30PM Presentation starts at 5:35pm followed by group discussion In-Person Meeting, St. Joseph County Public Library Main Branch, 304 S Main Street, SB March 29, 2022 5:30PM-7:30PM Presentation starts at 5:35pm followed by discussion Virtual Meeting (Zoom) www.zoom.us/join Meeting ID: 816 5271 4387 March 31, 2022 11:30AM-1:30PM Open House Come and go at your leisure In-Person Meeting, St. Joseph County Public Library Main Branch, 304 S Main Street, SB March 31, 2022 5:30PM-7:30PM Presentation starts at 5:35pm followed by group discussion In-Person Meeting,  New Carlisle Olive Township Library, 408 Bray Street, New Carlisle   For more information, go to https://reasite.mysocialpinpoint.com/plansjc