ICO Newsletter - 2/12/25
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That was not a webinar!
This newsletter is devoted to follow up from the Indivisible Central Ohio 2025 Kickoff Meeting we held this past Saturday, 2/8, at the UU Church – and what a meeting it was! Thanks to all who worked so hard to make it happen (official thank yous below) and to everyone who showed up, those who watched online, and to everyone who TRIED to show up but were squeezed out. We are all fired up!
The gathering was a great opportunity to come together and dig into the ways that we can take action to fight for our democracy, stand up for what we believe in, and work to protect the most vulnerable among us. Indivisible Central Ohio stands behind our LGBTQ+ community members, our neighbors who are immigrants and refugees, people of color, women, and all other groups being targeted by this vicious and destructive “administration.”
If you missed the meeting, don’t worry. Here’s a fantastic video put together by Scott Spears, plus many links below to everything else you need.
The Meeting – what you need:
Meeting handout with links to your reps and all kinds of good information. Please take a look as this has links to actions, sign ups, and more.
Essential follow up:
Whether or not you attended the meeting, please complete this follow up survey to say what topics/areas you are interested in connecting with and learning more about.
Follow up interest form ← THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LINK! Fill this out to be connected with the folks who were at each of the tables.
Folders where tablers will add content (not all the content will be there right away, but it should be soon)
Just for fun:
Photos from Paul Becker and others (feel free to add your best!)
Looping slide show for the meeting intro that we couldn't show properly!
PS: If you attended the meeting and had not registered prior or did not get a chance to check in, please complete this very short form so we have a complete list!
What’s Next?
Our planning team is meeting and planning what’s next! We know you are eager for action and want to push forward. Please watch this space and the Facebook group for updates!
All the tabling groups will be following up with you. Apologies if it takes a minute. We’re drinking from a firehose and doing our best! If you have a specific question, feel free to email us at indivisiblecentralohio@gmail.com.
Thank you!
The THANK YOU portion of this newsletter could extend for pages, but here are a few really important ones: The First Unitarian Universalist Church! They went above and beyond in every respect and we are deeply grateful, especially Becca and the amazing AV team who kept calm in a tricky situation. Thank you! Thank you to the videographer (Scott Spear) and to the photographers, the set up and clean up crew, the wonderful childcare providers, and everyone who brought treats and other donations. Your generosity is appreciated!
Thanks to the presenters (Mia Lewis, John Gatiss, Rachel Coyle, Sara Sampson, Heather Lauderback, Ann Shroyer, Maria Ramirez and Jamille Jones) and to the following tablers!
Federal Advocacy: Meryl Neiman, Benita Kahn
Statehouse advocacy: Rachel Coyle, Debby Cooper, Lisa Voigt, Janine Midgen-Ostrander
Local gov advocacy: John Gatiss, Mary Klain, Heather Lauderback
Vouchers Hurt Ohio: Linda Wagner, Maureen Reedy, Betsy O’Brochta
Anti-RTRI: Sue Miller, Jim Collier
Repro Justice: Sue Haidle, Lauren Vermilion, Ana Martinez
Moms Demand Action: Tiffany Murray, Laura Robertson-Boyd, Sandra Fiehrer, Susan Taylor
Protecting immigrants: Maria Ramirez
ACLU: Alice Faust
CRIS: Flannery Rokeby-Jackson, Teresa Gibson
Activism Tactics: Sara Sampson, Michelle Lerner, Tiffany Rumbalski
Rapid Response & Communications: Amber Decker, Colleen Crook
Voter registration: Jackie Bird, Carol Cruikshank, Ann Shroyer, Kelly Dufour
Pint-sized Protesters: Jamille Jones and friends
Allied Local Groups: Thanks to all who joined!
NOTE: If you are interested in connecting on any of these issue areas or topics, be sure to complete the Follow up interest form.
Thanks to everyone who donated food, household & personal hygiene items at the Kick-off! The folks at the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resource Center were VERY appreciative of your generosity! In addition, four large bags of extra cookies and treats went to Star House.
Are you subscribed to the Rooster?
At the meeting we announced a discounted price of $15 for Indivisible members for an annual subscription to The Rooster. Never heard of the Rooster? It’s an unconventional, in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the (corrupt) inner workings at the Ohio Statehouse. Definitely worth a read! Use this QR code to sign up:
A reminder:
Sign up HERE to sign our Rapid Response Readiness Pledge. This is an opportunity to be notified when we’re hitting the streets. If and when we decide to have a big protest rally in defense of our country and constitution, you will be the first to know. This is likely to be an email, but could possibly be a single text.
Sign up HERE to get Action Alerts via email in your inbox. We will email you with scripts and contact information when your calls or emails are urgently needed. It might be once or twice a week—probably less. We’ll also post these calls to action on the group’s Facebook page, but this is a way to make sure you don’t miss the important stuff.
A reminder: Download the “5 Calls” app for super easy daily calls
Go to your App store and download the 5 Calls app (or go to the link to use it on your computer). The app has calls to action complete with suggested scripts, and puts you through to your correct reps. This week we URGENTLY need calls to oppose Trump’s very worst nominations:
RFK Jr for Secretary of Health and Human Services
Kash Patel for Director of the FBI
Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence
Make an arrangement with an “accountability partner” to encourage you to make your daily calls!
NOTE: After you have made your calls, take 10 seconds and record the call HERE in our Action Report. Use this form every time you reach out to an elected! Bookmark the link for future reference – or find it in the "About" section of the Facebook group.
Take Action this Week: Call to Oppose this Bad Educational Bill!
SB 34 – Enact the Historical Educational Displays Act
SB 34 would require every public classroom in Ohio to display at least one text from a list of nine documents, including the Ten Commandments. See Ohio Senate bill would allow public schools to display the Ten Commandments | NBC4 WCMH-TV and Ohio Republican proposes unconstitutional push for public schools to display the Ten Commandments.
What can you do now?
Contact these members of the Senate Education Committee to ask them not to support this bill:
Andrew Brenner, chair - 614-466-8086; brenner@ohiosenate.gov
Louise (Bill) Blessing, vice chair - 614-466-8086; blessing@ohiosenate.gov
Catherine Ingram, ranking member - 614-466-5980; ingram@ohiosenate.gov
NOTE: After you have made your calls, take 10 seconds and record the call HERE in our Action Report. Use this form every time you reach out to an elected! Bookmark the link for future reference – or find it pinned at the top of our Facebook group page.
Ideas and Inspirations for You
Haven’t called Dave yet?
Contact State Attorney General Yost at 1-800-282-0515.
Here’s the script: Hi. My name is [ ] and I’m calling from [community] in Ohio. I am greatly concerned about Elon Musk’s hostile takeover of our government and having access to our personal information. I know attorney generals in other states are organizing to file suit. I’d like to know what Attorney General Yost is planning to do to protect Ohioans from this illegal intrusion.
Upcoming Events (Calendar view)
Wednesday, 2/12/2025: Fair Districts All Volunteer Huddle, 6pm, via Zoom. At the Huddle we’ll take a look at what’s ahead in 2025 for redistricting in Ohio. We’ll touch on local Ohio redistricting efforts (recent and upcoming).
Thursday, 2/13/2024: Thursday Action Group Meeting, noon-1:30. Please join us for an informal meeting. We will discuss recent events, what we’ve been doing to push back, and what we can do now (hint: a whole lot!). Join the Zoom call HERE.
Saturday, 2/15/2025: How We Can Affect the Statehouse, 2:30-5pm, hosted by Southeast Progressives of Franklin County and Fairfield County. Kick off our 2025 journey with Meredith Lawson-Rowe, newly elected state representative for House District 5! Our guest expert Rachel Coyle will discuss what's going on in the Ohio Statehouse and how small actions you take, combined with the direct actions of other activists, can make a big difference in your community. Indivisible More info and registration HERE.
Tuesday, 2/18/2025: Westerville City Council, Vote YES on a Conversion Therapy Ban, 6:30, 229 Huber Village Blvd, Westerville. Join us to support passage of a conversion therapy ban. This council meeting is scheduled as the third reading and FINAL VOTE for the ordinance. Note that this council meeting will be at the Westerville Police HQ on Huber Village Boulevard. Doors open at 6:30 pm with the meeting starting at 7:00 pm.
Wednesday, 2/19/2025: Calling all Budget Baddies! 6-6:30pm. Join OWA Action Fund and Policy Matters Ohio for “Part 1: What is the state budget?” to discover how the Ohio Budget impacts each of us IRL. Tune in while you’re making dinner or doing laundry. RSVP here.
Thursday, 2/20/2025: Community Conversation: Advancing a Humanizing Narrative Around Immigration, 12-1:30pm with leaders from Ohio Immigrant Alliance, Haitian Community Help & Support Center, Mauritanian Network for Human Rights in US, and OPAWL -- Building AAPI Feminist Leadership (moderated by Ohio Voice). You will leave this webinar with a better understanding about public opinion on immigration, how the current narrative often dehumanizes immigrants, and how it should change — from the perspective of immigrant leaders. Leave with key points you can make in media interviews and letters to the editor, social media posts, and conversations with elected officials — and around the dinner table. Info and register here.
Saturday, 2/22/2025: Ramp Up for Repro Columbus in person training, noon. This training from Abortion Forward will further acquaint you with political advocacy tactics, repro lingo, and help you find the best way to get involved. Every month, we dive into movement ecology, abortion messaging, the current landscape of abortion access, and provide next steps for you to take action!
Thursday, 2/27/2025: Candidate Forum for City Council and School Board, 6:30pm, New Birth Christian Ministries, 3475 Refugee Rd, Columbus. Sponsored by Columbus Stand Up. Come out and hear from candidates for Columbus City Council and Columbus School Board who would like to earn your vote! Register here.
Monday, 3/24/2025: Save the Date: An Evening with Loretta Ross, 5-6:30pm. The FREE Center is thrilled to welcome academic, feminist, and activist Loretta Ross. Ross is a cofounder of SisterSong and Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, and is one of twelve women credited with coining the phrase and framework “reproductive justice.” Learn more 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.