Welcome to a supplemental edition of the Greater Lafayette Indivisible newsletter. Here are the things that have popped up since the main edition of our newsletter a few weeks ago.
Greater Lafayette Indivisible is a pro-democracy, local grassroots organization that is committed to fighting for progressive policies, registering American voters, and demystifying congressional advocacy. Our goals include holding our elected officials accountable to constituents rather than to their national political party or outside interests, increasing voter participation, and promoting justice, equality, and inclusion. We were established in 2017 and are part of the national Indivisible movement.
As a reminder, our newsletters imagine that activism is like a waterway that builds in intensity. In addition to calls to action, we’ll also provide information about upcoming events and opportunities to foster community, good news, and places in which we’re finding inspiration.opportunities to foster community, good news, and places in which we’re finding inspiration.
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Ripples (small direct actions)
- Food Finders Food Bank urgently needs volunteers at the Fresh Market Food Pantry (2451 Greenbush St, Lafayette) on Wednesday, August 20, Thursday, August 21, and Friday, August 22. You can find more information and job descriptions of the available shifts here.
- The Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine (“PVM”) needs help stocking their food pantry with non-perishable food and hygiene items. The PVM Food Pantry was created to quietly and respectfully help anyone in our college who may be facing food insecurity. You can browse their Amazon Wishlist and send items directly to the pantry. “Your generosity supports more than meals — it supports well-being, dignity, and community. Thank you for being part of what makes PVM a place that cares.”
- The Lafayette Urban Ministry (“LUM”) Food Pantry meets needs that others don’t—distributing essential non-SNAP items like toilet paper, soap, shampoo, and detergent to 175 families every week. They can’t keep up with demand without your help. You can drop off donations or have them shipped directly to LUM by purchasing from their Amazon wishlist.
- Willowstone Family Services is having a “dine to donate” event on Wednesday, September 3, from 5-8 pm at Arni’s at Market Square (2200 Elmwood Ave, Lafayette). Arni’s will donate 20% of all sales to Willowstone if you show them this Facebook post when you check out.
Willowstone Family Services, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization serving Lafayette. Their mission is to strengthen mental health and families to build a resilient and connected community through programs and services on prevention, intervention, and preservation. - As authoritarianism and fascism are on the rise in our country, supporting reliable independent news is an easy way to resist. Kayla recommends supporting The Guardian. You can contribute toward their work here.
Rush (action at the county level)
- We still need volunteers to help with voter registration at the following events:
- We’ll be at OUTFest on Main Street in Lafayette from 4 pm to dusk on Saturday, August 16, and we’ve broken that down into 2 shifts: 4-6 pm and 6-8 (-ish) pm. You can sign up for one or both shifts on Mobilize. We will be outside, so please dress accordingly and bring plenty to drink (we will have our pop-up tent for shade).
- The last Mosey Down Main Street of the season is on Saturday, August 30, and we’ll be there to talk to folks about voting and civic engagement. We have broken down the Mosey into 2 shifts: 6-8 pm and 7:30-9:30 pm. You can sign up for one or both shifts on Mobilize. We will be outside, so please dress accordingly and bring plenty to drink (we will have our pop-up tent for shade).
If you’ve never registered voters before and are feeling intimidated, please know that we always have at least 2 people at each location, so you will always have someone experienced with you who will show you how to do it and be available to answer any questions that come up. And for longer events, you can volunteer for shorter shifts if you can’t stay the entire time.
- We All Belong Greater Lafayette is offering a de-escalation training on Thursday, August 21, at 6:30 pm at First United Methodist Church (1700 Mitch Daniels Blvd, West Lafayette). Led by Diane C. Reis, MD, MPH, attendees will learn practical skills to safely de-escalate conflict in protest settings, including recognizing early signs of rising tensions, identifying when and where intervention is possible, and applying strategies to reduce the risk of violence. Pre-registration is not required.
Rapids (action at the state level)
- The ACLU of Indiana has a petition to tell Governor Mike Braun to reject the plan to hold up to 1,000 immigration detainees at Indiana’s Miami Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in Bunker Hill, Indiana. You can sign the petition here.
- Greater Lafayette Immigrant Allies is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, August 20, at 7 pm called “The Current State and Future Outlook of Immigration Detention in Indiana.” “In this webinar, leaders of Greater Lafayette Immigrant Allies and other groups will give an overview of the current state of immigrant detention in Indiana, as well as organizations like Indiana AID and the Midwest Immigration Bond Fund that support those caught up in the system. We will share information about where and in what conditions people are currently detained, how the system works, what we can expect in the future, and what we can all do to keep families together and fight the unjust detention of people in our state.” You can register here to attend.
- Mark your calendars for a demonstration at Congressman Jefferson Shreve’s office in Greenwood on Sunday, September 7, from 5:30-7 pm. Titled “Build Housing Not Concentration Camps,” this event is being organized by Indivisible Central Indiana, Progressive Democrats of America, and Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance (IUYA). You can find more information and sign up to attend on Mobilize.
Opportunities to build community
- Indivisible is hosting a book discussion on Wednesday, September 17, from 6-7 pm at Second Flight Books (2122 Scott St, Lafayette). We’ll be discussing the book “Lessons from Cats for Surviving Fascism” by Stewart Reynolds. You can find more information and RSVP on Mobilize.
- Don’t forget to check the website Take Action Greater Lafayette for upcoming events and ways to get involved!
Good news
- Mark your calendars for “Hanna Fest” on Saturday, September 6, from 12-4 pm at Columbian Park (1915 Scott St, Lafayette). The family-friendly event is hosted by The Hanna Community Center and will feature music, games, vendors, food, and resources from local organizations. Watch for more information on their Facebook page.
The Hanna Community Center’s mission “is to enhance the well-being and quality of life for under-resourced and underserved community members. [They] are dedicated to celebrating the rich traditions of Greater Lafayette while preserving the culture, heritage, and history of African Americans and minority groups in Tippecanoe County. By fostering inclusive spaces for connection and dialogue, we strengthen community ties, amplify voices, and promote social equity.” - Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance (IUYA) is launching Indy Rapid Response to verify reported ICE sightings to help people defend their rights and live without unnecessary fear. You can find more information and take action here.
- The New York Times has reported that “through the Every Kid Outdoors program, any fourth grader can get a pass that admits their entire family into national parks, preserves, or historic sites for an entire year, for free.”
If you have an organization, an event, or a bit of good news that you’d like us to include in a future newsletter, please email [email protected]. For general questions, please email the Steering Committee at [email protected].
Past editions of our newsletter can be found on our website: lafayetteindivisible.com
As always, you can donate toward our efforts here or by donating cash at our next in-person gathering. Donations are used for expenses such as voter registration booth fees, supplies, and administrative costs. Thank you for your continued support!