ICO Newsletter - 1/8/25
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Doing Good on January 20
We’ve heard rumors that a bad thing will be happening in Washington DC on January 20 (you’ve probably heard them too – something to do with an insurrectionist felon being inaugurated President?). But as we all know, every single one of us has the power to take action to help and heal. Let’s fight back by showing the power of goodness on 1/20. After all, it’s Martin Luther King Jr Day!
We put a poll up in our Facebook group asking what positive actions folks are planning to do on 1/20. Please help boost the post by taking the poll. If you know of other service opportunities, you are welcome to add them as a new option in the poll.
If you’re not on Facebook (we get it), here is a list of the options we have found so far. All of these take place on Monday, January 20. (Additional educational opportunities listed in the calendar section below.)
Upper Arlington Progressive Action: MLK Jr. Day of Action Food Drive, 11am-1pm, Tremont Rd. Library parking lot, 2800 Tremont Rd. (the library is closed that day). Food will be donated to the Clintonville Community Resource Center Food Pantry. (See list below of desired items.) You can also drop off checks made out to CRC Food Pantry. If you can’t make it on Jan. 20, drop off boxes for your donations will be available from Jan. 13–20 at these locations:
5055 Francisco Pl. (43220);
1858 Guilford Rd. (43221);
2000 Malvern Rd. (43221);
4284 Braunton Rd. (43220).
2025 MLK Day of Youth Service, 12–3 p.m., Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th Ave., Columbus (free event, but requires registration). See details & register for a shift HERE. Also see MLK Day Open House information – same time and location.
City of Columbus MLK Day March. Leaves the Lincoln Theater, 769 E Long St, Columbus, at 3:30pm. Celebrate and honor the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the annual City of Columbus MLK Day March and Program. The event is free and open to the public.
See you in February!
Plans are afoot for a big member meeting in early February. We’re still one hair short of “Save the Date” because we’re waiting on confirmation from the venue before we begin to ask for sign ups. But it is likely to be the afternoon of Saturday, February 8, or possibly Sunday, February 2. Do you think it will be as big as our very first meeting, in January of 2017 (pictured above)? Who knows!
The meeting will be a chance to orient new members and re-energize “old” members. We’ll have opportunities for training, action, and to get plugged in to our on-going work. Watch this space for updates, coming soon!
ICO Supporting Community Organizations
Last chance to contribute! We reached and exceeded our goals on 3 out of 4 of these fundraisers. Very impressive. You all are the best.
MidOhio Food Collective Indivisible Central Ohio Team ($734/500 so far)
Indivisible Central Ohio Fundraiser for Abortion Fund of Ohio ($460/500 so far)
Kaleidoscope Youth Center: Indivisible Ohio Gives Back ($574/500 so far)
CRIS: Goal exceeded! ($2100/1500!!) This fundraiser is closed, but we may still ask for specific things to help “our” refugee family. Thanks to all for your amazing generosity so far.
Take Action Against Release Time for Religious Instruction (RTRI)
The Ohio legislature recently passed HB 8 (the “Parents’ Bill of Rights”), which includes an amendment requiring school boards to adopt a Release Time for Religious Instruction (RTRI) policy or to adapt an existing policy within 90 days after the bill becomes law. The RTRI amendment benefits LifeWise Academy, a well-funded and growing off-campus program for children during the school day.
Please email your local school board members. Ask them to consider these issues when creating or adapting an RTRI policy:
Liability. How can the district ensure it won't also be named (as facilitating the LifeWise program) in a lawsuit resulting from an accident?
Background Checks. Does LifeWise properly vet staff members?
Infractions. How would teachers and parents report RTRI violations, and what will the consequences be?
Read and learn more about LifeWise and help spread the word in your community about the problems with the “Parents’ Bill of Rights.”
The stated goal of the founder of LifeWise Academy is to disrupt the public school day.
Here is a growing list of unanswered questions about LifeWise and RTRI.
Upcoming Events (Calendar view)
Thursday, 1/9/2025: Thursday Action Group Meeting, noon-1:30. Please join us for an informal catch up Zoom meeting. Join the call HERE.
Saturday , 1/18/2025: The People’s March: TOGETHER, WE RISE, 12-3pm, Goodale Park, 120 W. Goodale St., Columbus.
Monday, 1/20/2025: 40th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Breakfast, 7:30-10am, Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St., Battelle Grand Ballroom, Columbus. Cost: $50. Keynote speaker: Dr. Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins. Click HERE For details and to reserve a seat.
Monday, 1/20/2025: Westerville – Dr. MLK Jr. Breakfast Celebration, 8:30–10:30am, The Medallion Club, 5000 Club Dr., Westerville. Cost: $35 - $400. Theme: “Creating the Beloved Community, Even When We Don’t Agree,” featuring Kenston Henderson Sr., speaker. Details HERE.
Monday, 1/20/2025: Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Learning at Capital University, 9am-4pm. Featured speaker will be Rep. Dontavius Jarrells. Click HERE for details and registration.
Monday, 1/20/2025: Delaware County Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration 2025, 10–11:45am, Hamilton-Williams Campus Center. Details and tickets HERE.
Monday, 1/20/2025: Upper Arlington Progressive Action: MLK Jr. Day of Action Food Drive, 11am-1pm, Tremont Rd. Library parking lot, 2800 Tremont Rd. (the library is closed that day). Food will be donated to the Clintonville Community Resource Center Food Pantry. You can also drop off checks made out to CRC Food Pantry. If you can’t make it on Jan. 20, drop off boxes for your donations will be available from Jan. 13 – 20 at these locations: 5055 Francisco Pl. (43220); 1858 Guilford Rd. (43221); 2000 Malvern Rd. (43221); 4284 Braunton Rd. (43220).
Monday, 1/20/2025: Martin Luther King Community Celebration, 11am, Worthington United Methodist Church, 600 High St., Worthington. Keynote address by journalist Dana Tyler. Those attending are asked to bring canned food items for the Worthington Resource Pantry. Refreshments to be served following the program. More info HERE.
Monday, 1/20/2025: We Fight Back March, noon, Ohio Statehouse. Sponsored by PSL Columbus (Party of Socialism and Liberation).
Monday, 1/20/2025: 2025 MLK Day of Youth Service, 12-3pm, Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th Ave., Columbus. Free event, but requires registration. Click for details and to register for a shift.
Monday, 1/20/2025: City of Columbus MLK Day Program and March, 3:30 at the Lincoln Theater, 769 E Long St, Columbus.
Tuesday, 1/21/2025: Testfyin’ Tuesdays: 2025 Edition, 6-8pm, The Paddock Pub, 1005 Richardson Rd., Groveport. Join us for a monthly social/political dinner, where we write to legislators or voters, or plot and plan more events about issues we care about! Sign up HERE.
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.