ICO Newsletter - 12/18/24
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See you in January!
Heads up: we’re taking a holiday break. There will be no newsletter next week (Christmas Day) or the week after (New Year’s Day), but we’ll see you again on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Gulp.
We know that folks here are committed to their values and eager to take action to heal the world and push back on harmful, toxic, and criminal behavior from the top. You want to #DoSomething!! We do too. We are equally committed to finding meaningful actions for you to take and ways to engage. Please stay tuned. We’re also here to support you in whatever like-minded projects you take up.
As we mentioned last week, we’re planning a big meeting, most likely in late January or early February, to welcome and orient our many new members, but also to re-engage the members of this large and diverse group! Please be on the look-out for a ‘Save-the-date’ notice.
ICO Supporting Community Organizations
There’s still time to donate to three of these fundraisers!
MidOhio Food Collective Indivisible Central Ohio Team ($456/500 so far)
Indivisible Central Ohio Fundraiser for Abortion Fund of Ohio ($360/500 so far)
Kaleidoscope Youth Center: Indivisible Ohio Gives Back ($573/500 so far)
CRIS: Goal exceeded! ($2010/1500!!) This fundraiser is closed, but we may still ask for specific things to help “our” refugee family, arriving Thursday and moving into their new digs on Friday!
Thank you for your amazing generosity!
Look closely at the image above. That is what I call going above and beyond! Amber Decker put together a wishlist for Christmas gifts and necessities for our family and one other, and out of the 76 total items she included, you all purchased 78!! (Not quite sure how that’s possible, but that’s what the list says!)
Not only that, but ten individuals helped us with cash for groceries and Target cards for the young adults in the family. We’ve also had many donations of kitchen items, clothing, and other necessities. You guys are the best!
Once the family arrives and settles in, we will ask their permission to share photos and more info with you. We will also probably ask for help with specific items once we are better acquainted with what they need. Needless to say, we are massively grateful and overjoyed to be doing something concrete to make life better for at least a few people as they make a difficult transition.
Take Action to Stop a Bill Harmful to Immigrants
TODAY (Wednesday, December 19) is probably the last day of session, so make sure to make these calls right away.
HB 547 – Limit Housing Tax Credits to Projects that Verify Immigration Status
HB 547 would prohibit the Ohio Housing Finance Agency from awarding a state low-income housing tax credit to a housing project unless the project owner takes action to ensure tenants are legally present in the U.S. This would have immediate, negative impacts:
Landlords won’t offer housing to people who might be immigrants.
Every landlord with low income housing will have to audit / prove tenant legal status.
Create lots of red tape, big government.
What can you do now?
Contact these members of the House Economic and Workforce Development Committee and share the talking points above:
Brian Lorenz, chair – 614-644-6711; rep60@ohiohouse.gov
Nick Santucci, vice chair – 614-466-5441; rep64@ohiohouse.gov
Terrence Upchurch, ranking member – 614-466-7954; rep20@ohiohouse.gov
Upcoming Events (Calendar view)
Thursday, 12/19/2024: Let's Talk About It. Election Debrief & What's Next with Progressive Turnout Project and Postcards to Swing States, 8pm, via Zoom. “While our efforts to prevent Trump's election fell short by an estimated 229,766 votes in three states, the collective actions of millions of people made the difference in many important races across the country. From the US Senate, to the US House, to control of state legislatures, the 40.3 million postcards we mailed, 5 million doors we knocked, and 1.1 million relational contacts we made led to many important victories.” Register HERE.
Sunday, 12/22/2024: St Stephen's Christmas Cares, Unions Share Distribution, 2-4:30pm, 1500 E 17th Ave, Columbus. [This event is fully booked!]
Saturday, 1/4/2025: Indivisible Westerville, Ready for Trump 2.0, Westerville Public Library, meeting room B, 1:30pm. Join us as we gather to relaunch Indivisible Westerville for the Trump 2.0 era. We will: review the new Indivisible Guide and general plans for Resistance 2.0; provide an update on the effort to pressure Westerville City Council to protect targeted groups from the Trump agenda and discuss next steps; get an update on regional plans from Indivisible Central Ohio.
Tuesday, 1/7/2025: Support Protecting Vulnerable People from Trump, 229 Huber Village Boulevard, Westerville, 7pm. Join us at the first 2025 meeting of the Westerville City Council to continue to lobby members of council to pass a policy that will help to protect vulnerable members of our community from abuses by the Trump administration. In addition, come show your support for the potential conversion therapy ban that council will be discussing. Note the new location of the City Council meeting.
Mia for the OHCentral Team
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Find us at our website indivisiblecentralohio.org. Follow us here and on our public and closed Facebook pages to stay current with all our activities. Add our Indivisible Central Ohio Google Calendar so you can follow all our events. You can also follow us on Threads, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube.