ICO Newsletter - 9/3/25
Canvass this weekend for Community Safety
We’ve talked about the Columbus Safety Collective (CSC) before – that’s the group working to get a measure on the ballot in the city of Columbus to establish a non-police emergency response team for mental health crises.
The best time to collect signatures is NOW! (Good weather makes a huge difference.) You are invited to join ICO & CSC volunteers this Saturday as they knock doors and gather signatures.
When: Saturday, September 6, 10:30am
Where: 1101 Bryden Rd, Columbus
Please enter through the back door of the church (via the alley off Ohio Ave). Parking available on Ohio Ave and Bryden Rd. Once inside, go up the stairs, take a right in the lobby, and you’ll find the training room and campaign office.
RSVP HERE
What to Bring: Fully charged phone; comfortable walking shoes; a friend!
We’ve Got You Covered: Water; canvassing supplies & literature; campaign swag
Volunteers with Indivisible Central Ohio have been absolutely essential in the signature collection efforts to date – and we’re still going! In addition to this weekend’s canvass, you can find additional places to collect signatures below:
More sign ups at this Mobilize link
Get booklets and training:
ICO Office hours: Mondays, 5:30-6:30pm, Global Gallery, 3535 N High St.
CSC Office hours: Thur, 6-7pm & Sat, 10:30am-noon, Old First Presbyterian Church, 1101 Brydon Road.
For info or materials outside of regular office hours contact Jackie Bird (jackieoep@gmail.com) or Cheryl Grossman (cherylrsgrossman@gmail.com).
Pressuring Mike Carey – Up Next: On Air
The ICO Billboard group has been working to get 2 new billboards up in early October, west of Columbus, targeting folks in Mike Carey’s district. The plan is to have these up for 2 months while folks are enrolling in the health exchange and finding out what the BBB has done to the price of their healthcare. The group is looking to expand to radio ads next. If you have experience in writing copy for ads or in communicating with radio stations, the billboard committee would love to have you join us! Join the team HERE. Donate HERE to help us put up additional billboards.
Carey Doesn’t Care Candlelight Vigil
Speaking of pressuring Carey, the ICO Carey Committee organized a great candlelight vigil last week in Schiller Park, right in front of Mike Carey’s residence. Thanks to the 100+ folks who turned out on a weeknight evening! Check this short video and photo album.
RALLIES & PROTESTS
Every week there are rallies and protests all over central Ohio! You can follow what’s happening in the Events section of our website, indivisible central ohio.org. Also check mobilize.us/indivisiblecentralohio/ for all our Indivisible Central Ohio events.
New and Notable
Thursday, 9/4/2025: Say Something, Rally the Community, 4:30-5:30 PM, Grant & E Livingston Ave, Columbus. Bring your signs, your voice, and a friend and say something about how you are feeling about the current state of affairs in this country. Planned for every other Thursday! Register HERE.
Saturdays in Hilliard: Hilliard Pop-Up Protest, 9:30am, Cross Creek Park, 3311 Hilliard Rome Rd, Hilliard. Weekly pop-up protest. Bring your signs and join us! Register HERE.
Tuesday, 9/9/2025: Pickerington Stands up for Democracy! 4:30-5:45pm, Steak ‘n Shake, 1780 Hill Rd N, Pickerington. Join us for a rally on SR 256! Register HERE.
Weekly rallies
Wednesdays downtown: Wednesday Husted and Moreno Protest, 12-1pm, 200 N High St, Columbus. Senators Bernie Moreno and John Husted are supporting the fascist takeover of our democracy. Let's hold them accountable to the people and taxpayers of Ohio. Their offices are both at 200 N High St, with lots of public visibility! Register HERE.
Thursdays: Grandview Rush Hour Rally, 4:30-6pm, alternating sites, Grandview Heights. Join us in standing up for our future and protesting the Trump administration’s reckless economic policies that put profit over people.
Every other week at Grandview Avenue & U.S. RT 33, beginning 9/11. Sign up HERE.
Every other week at Grandview Avenue & West 5th, beginning 9/4. Sign up HERE.
Saturdays in Delaware: Protest in Delaware, noon to 1 PM. Let’s protest together and let folks know that we are tired of all the shenanigans.
Saturdays at Easton: Rally to Protest Musk, Oligarchs and the Power Grab! 4:30-5:30 PM, Easton Tesla Dealership. Join the weekly Tesla Takedown protest! Even driving by and giving us a supportive honk is appreciated! Register HERE.
Tuesdays in Worthington: Rush Hour Rally, 4:30-5:30pm, intersection of Route 161 and High St., Worthington. Join us to deliver our message of resistance to commuters. Organized by the Worthington Area Democratic Club and Westerville Progressive Alliance. Signup & parking info HERE.
Join the Overpass Army!
More and more highway sign protests are popping up all over Ohio. You too can join the anti-Trump fun! Upcoming dates are 9/3, 9/5, 9/9, and 9/12 (every Tuesday and Friday) from 4:30-6pm. Details, directions and sign up are HERE. We have the signs and flags. You bring the manpower!
** This week only, we’re trying out highway signs over I-270 on Davidson Bridge Road, Wednesday, 9/3, 4:30-5:30. Sign up HERE. **
FYI you are also invited to attend a Highway Sign Making Party, Thursday, September 4, 6-8pm at the Northwest Library, Aster Study Room, 2280 Hard Road. More info and sign up HERE.
This week’s Actions!
1. Sign up to ask local businesses to protect immigrants
Sign up now to join this ongoing team project to visit businesses in your neighborhood and ask them to step up to protect immigrants. We’re headed out (in groups at first) to ask business owners and managers to post signs that declare their support for their immigrant neighbors and opposition to ICE. We’re also asking them to create a private area for employees that ICE cannot legally enter without a signed judicial warrant. These are simple steps that businesses can take to protect their employees from ICE and make all immigrants feel welcome in our community. Sign up here! Once you sign up, you will be contacted by someone from Indivisible Central Ohio to get you onboarded into the team. Questions? Reply to this email. Thank you for signing up!
2. Demand that ICE be barred from the courthouse
While the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas had issued new rules prohibiting immigration arrests within the courthouse grounds and courtrooms altogether, the Franklin County Municipal Court has not followed suit and had stated that they will continue to allow ICE officials in to detain and arrest people in the building. It is critical that the Municipal Court remain free of ICE so that people can take care of their day-to-day business safely. Call the Franklin County Courthouse at 614-645-8214, and urge the Court to prohibit ICE from entering the Courthouse!
3. Demand that the congressional budgeting process is bipartisan
Contact Husted (614-369-4925) and Moreno (614-469-2083) and let them know that they will own the government shutdown if they do not commit to a bipartisan funding process. We expect our tax dollars to fund families, not fascism. America knows MAGA Republicans control the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives. If party leaders prioritize Trump’s authoritarian wishlist over keeping our government functioning, it’ll be Republicans who are held responsible for a shutdown and the pain that follows.
4. Recall the Ohio National Guard troops from DC!
If you haven’t yet made your voice heard, please email the governor at this link, or call him at any of these numbers: 614-466-3555, 614-644-4357, 937-285-6185. You can also make a call to ask your Reps NOT to support Trump’s DC takeover!
Write Postcards for a Local (and Indivisible) Candidate!
If you are wanting to write postcards for a local candidate, we have packets on the porch at 437 Piedmont for John Gatiss, running for Westerville City Council. He’s one of the founding members of Indivisible Central Ohio (back when it was Indivisible Ohio District 12). Cards for John can also be found at 151 Central Ave in Westerville. If you’re in Westerville, John also has yard signs available by filling out this form.
ICO Gives Back: Volunteer and Donation Opportunities
Donate!
Whether it’s $5 or 50, we’re hoping you’ll join the Indivisible Central Ohio fundraiser for World Central Kitchen’s work in Gaza. Many thanks to everyone who has already donated and helped us reach $3,500 towards our initial goal of $5,000. Please share the link so your friends and family can join us.
Volunteer!
Columbus Food Rescue can use your help! Rescuers are essential in diverting good food from going to waste and delivering it where it’s needed most. Volunteer sign-ups are done in this app, with the schedule of available rescues there. Volunteer FAQs can be found here. In addition to rescuing food, there are opportunities in Ro’s Kitchen, where food donated by the greater Columbus community is transformed into healthy, fresh, and tasty meals. There are also opportunities with the Veggie Van Pop-Up Markets. So many opportunities to have an impact in the community!
Hats off to Jackie Bird!
On Monday (Labor Day), Jeni’s Ice Cream and Indivisible Central Ohio came together to raise money for CRIS, Community Refugee & Immigration Services. The event was organized by Indivisible super-volunteer Jackie Bird (in the blue shirt, next to Angie Plummer, CEO of CRIS). Hats off to Jackie for this fun and successful event!
Lots of ICO members and CRIS friends and family came out, and we raised around $500 in three hours. Cheryl Grossman and Ann Shroyer also collected signatures for the Columbus Safety Collective initiative. A good time was had by all! Many thanks to Jackie, Cheryl and Ann, and everyone who came out to support a good cause.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Upcoming Events (Calendar view)
Thursday, 9/4/2025: Thursday Action Group, 12-1:30pm, via Zoom. Join us as Meg Galipault from Knox County shares with us the many exciting things that are happening in more rural areas of central Ohio. Zoom link. Passcode 668287.
Thursday, 9/4/2025: Back-to-School Briefing: The State of Ohio Public Schools, 6-7:30, via Zoom. At this virtual briefing from the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, you’ll: learn who Parents United for Public Schools is and how we’re building a movement of families across Ohio; get the latest updates on the state of public education funding, policy, and the real experiences of students and parents; connect with other parents and advocates who care about making schools better for all kids; hear a clear path to action: starting or joining a Parents United chapter in your local school district. This is more than an update - it’s a call to action. Register HERE.
Thursday, 9/4/2025: Sign Making Party, 6-8pm, Northwest Library, Aster Study Room, 2280 Hard Road. We need volunteers to help cut out giant alphabet letters from foam board. We'll provide the template and boards, please bring sturdy kitchen shears or a utility knife for cutting. More info and sign up HERE.
Thursday, 9/4/2025: Westerville City Council Candidate Forum, 6:30-9pm, Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel, 409 Altair Pkwy, Westerville. Join Gatiss for Westerville volunteers and supporters at the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Westerville City Council Candidate Forum! Wear your campaign t-shirts and come cheer on John at the highest-profile council candidate forum of the campaign! (See more about the meeting HERE.) Register HERE.
Saturday, 9/6/2025: Summer Social for Abortion Access, noon, Land Grant's Gravity Park, 424 W Town St, Columbus. Join the Abortion Fund of Ohio for a summer's end celebration for abortion access! We'll have pickleball, tarot reading, snacks, games, raffles, and lots of free repro health supplies (Plan B, condoms, pregnancy tests). This event is free to anyone with a monthly donation to Abortion Fund of Ohio, and has a sliding-scale donation for general entry.
Sunday, 9/7/2025: Muskingum County Women Democratic Club Clip and Sip event, 5-7pm, Kristin Baughman's "Curly Girl Farm", 2444 S. River Rd, Zanesville. Join us to pick bouquets, and arrange them. Vases provided if you need one. Wine and appetizers will be served. $35. RSVP to Amy Nern, 740-704-5489. Pay at the event.
Sunday, 9/7/2025: Reset, Voices of a New Columbus, 2:30pm, Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center, 546 Jack Gibbs Boulevard, Columbus. This youth-led candidate debate features candidates for one open Columbus City Council seat and three open Columbus City School Board seats. Organized and led entirely by young people, the event centers youth voices and gives voters — especially those under 25 — a chance to hear directly from candidates about their vision for Central Ohio’s young people, though people of all ages are welcome to attend. Free tickets are available HERE, and we encourage students, teachers, and families to register in advance. To make the event even more exciting for young attendees, we’ll be hosting a raffle exclusively for people under 25, where participants will have the chance to win a Nintendo Switch 2. Get informed, get inspired, and get ready to vote this November!
Sunday, 9/14/2025: Rise Up and Sing Together, 7-8:30pm. Whether you sing, play an instrument, or just love the idea of connecting with like-minded people through music, join us to discover the power of singing together to build community. Location provided on registration.
Tuesday, 9/16/2025: Testifying Tuesdays, 6-8pm, La Matraca Mexican Grill & Cantina, 5000 Gender Rd, Canal Winchester. Join the Southeast Progressives of Franklin County for a monthly social/political dinner, where we write postcards to legislators or voters, or plot and plan more events, about issues we care about!
Wednesday, 9/17/2025: Fair Maps Day! 10:30am-12:30pm, Trinity Episcopal Church, 125 E. Broad St, Columbus. As Ohio politicians begin redrawing Ohio’s congressional map, we're coming together to remind them that the people of Ohio will never stop fighting for fair maps and fair representation! Join with voters from every Ohio Congressional District as we raise our voices in support of fair maps. If you hate gerrymandering and care about fairness, this event is really important! Please add it to your calendar now. Register HERE.
Wednesday, 9/17/2025: Hunger Network Happy Hour, 4:30-7pm, Thunderwing Brewing, 2419 Scioto Harper Drive, Columbus. Join the Hunger Network in Ohio to Network with others passionate about ending hunger, learn about HNO’s work and how you can support our effort to end hunger in Ohio! (lite refreshments will be provided, alcoholic and alcoholic drinks available for purchase.
Thursday, 9/18/2025: Redistricting 102: Testimony Training & Storytellers Workshop, 6-7pm, virtual. Join the Equal Districts Coalition for hands-on training on how to craft powerful testimony and share your story to influence the redistricting process. Register HERE.
Saturday, 9/20/2025: ICO End of Summer Picnic, 5-8pm, Hoover Sailing Club. Join your friends or meet new ones at Indivisible Central Ohio's end of summer picnic! All are welcome to join us at the beautiful Hoover Sailing Club in Westerville. BYOB. ICO will have veggie and regular burgers and trimmings. Bring a side, salad, dessert or drink to share! Please register so we can make sure we have the right amount of supplies!
Sunday, 9/21/2025: Standing Shoulder to Shoulder in the Face of Racial Division, 4PM, Central Christian Church, 1504 Villa Road, Springfield. Join the Coalition of Clark County Women and a lineup of excellent speakers to discuss being effective allies to our BIPOC and immigrant communities.
Mia & Linda for the Indivisible Central Ohio Team
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