Community News
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Sex ed, DEI, parent rights: New Indiana social-issue laws dictate what schools must and can’t do
By Aleksandra Appleton | May 16, 2025, 1:39pm CDT For years, Indiana lawmakers tried but failed to change how schools handle issues related to race, sexuality, parental rights, and more. In 2025, they finally succeeded. As the Trump administration advanced conservative priorities through executive orders and other moves, state lawmakers have banned schools and teachers from implementing certain concepts about…
Indiana is one of 17 states suing over a federal law that protects students with disabilities
Dylan Peers McCoy Feb 17, 2025 Indiana is one of several conservative states asking a Texas court to declare unconstitutional a 52-year-old federal law that offers crucial protection for people with disabilities, including students. Conservative attorneys general in 17 states filed a lawsuit in September that they say aims to reverse a Biden-era regulation from the U.S.…
Indianapolis nonprofit offers free home repairs to low-income seniors, people with disabilities
Abriana Herron January 27, 2025 After living in her Martindale-Brightwood house for nearly 60 years, Peggy Bills said her home needed a lot of repairs. “It was in bad shape,” she said. “It really was. If you’ve been in a house 59 years and never had nothing done, you can imagine what it was like.”…
Harris previews presidential campaign priorities, women’s rights focus in Indy speech
July 24, 2024 | Cate Charron Vice President Kamala Harris previewed her presidential campaign’s focus on women’s reproductive rights and social and economic equality during her remarks Wednesday afternoon at the Zeta Phi Beta Inc. Grand Boule conference in downtown Indianapolis. In a 15-minute speech to the historically black sorority, Harris largely referred to herself and her…
SCOTUS declines to hear appeal of Indiana couple who lost custody of transgender child
By Lauren Chapman On March 18, 2024 The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of an Indiana couple who said their transgender daughter was wrongly removed from their care. They said their child’s removal was because of their religion, but lower courts disagree with that claim. The case itself focuses on the Indiana…
Report: Indiana ranks low in affordable, available housing units
By Violet Comber-Wilen By March 15, 2024 A new report shows Indiana has only 34 affordable and available rental units for every 100 extremely low-income households in the state. The report, The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, also shows that nearly 26 percent of renter households are extremely low-income. Housing advocates and organizations gathered Thursday to discuss…
Gary Housing Authority tears down $1.5 million downtown Gary affordable housing apartment building that was recently built but never occupied
By Joseph S. Pete On March 24, 2024 Gary has been plagued by thousands of blighted vacant buildings over the years. The Steel City has been renewing efforts to knock down abandoned buildings. Starting last week, construction workers have been tearing down a prominent new midrise apartment in downtown Gary that was recently built but…
Indiana Lawmakers in Standoff on Antisemitism Bill Following Changes Sought by Critics of Israel
Disagreements among Indiana lawmakers could stop passage of a bill aiming to address antisemitism on college campuses, leaving Indiana students and professors uneasy as divisions surrounding the ongoing Israel-Hamas war deepen By Associated Press On March 6, 2024 Disagreements among Indiana lawmakers could stop passage of a bill aiming to address antisemitism on college campuses for the second year…
Church in small Indiana town wipes out $4.1M in medical debt for 3,000 families
By Haley Miller On March 6, 2024 A church in Odon, Indiana, helped wipe out $4.1 million in medical debt for nearly 3,000 southwest Indiana families — more than double the population of the congregation’s own town. “God can do anything,” Micah Stephen, Odon Christian Church senior minister, said. “Even a small church in rural…
Indiana nears law allowing more armed statewide officials at state Capitol
Four statewide elected officials in Indiana including the attorney general and secretary of state would be able to carry handguns in the Statehouse under the bill. By Isabella Volmert On Match 7, 2024 Four statewide elected officials in Indiana including the attorney general and secretary of state can carry handguns in the state Capitol under a bill…
Local Organizations
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P.A.C.E. (Public Advocates in Community Re-Entry) - Since 1968, PACE (formerly Offender Aid & Restoration) has been aiding in the successful transition of individuals who are released from incarceration back into their community. Ex-offender services include mental health and substance abuse counseling and group therapy, career and financial guidance, and education.
The Julian Center -The Julian Center is the largest organization supporting victims of domestic and sexual violence in the state of Indiana. They provide an enormous array of programs to heal, empower and protect more than 6,000 survivors annually.
Second Helpings - Second Helpings rescues prepared and perishable food from wholesalers, retailers and restaurants -- preventing unnecessary waste. That rescued food is used to create 3,500 hot, nutritious meals each day that are distributed to 70 social service agencies that feed people in need. The Second Helpings Culinary Job Training program trains disadvantaged adults for careers in the foodservice industry. This helps eliminate hunger at its source. More than 500 adults have graduated from this program, and Second Helpings alumni are now working in Central Indiana as cooks, executive chefs, business owners and culinary instructors. We're more than a soup kitchen or a food pantry - we're a community kitchen.
Little Red Door Cancer Agency - Little Red Door Cancer Agency reduces the physical, emotional, and financial burdens of cancer for medically underserved residents of central Indiana through direct services, navigation, and community outreach and education.
Christel House International - Founded in 1998, Christel House International works to help children around the world break the cycle of poverty and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their societies. Christel House alleviates poverty through education. Christel House builds and operates high social-impact learning centers in impoverished neighborhoods, which provide: quality education, nutritious meals, regular health care, life skills training and character development, as well as parent and community outreach. Children are taught the importance of caring, sharing and making a difference.
Indianapolis Urban League - The Indianapolis Urban League’s mission is to assist African-Americans, other minorities and disadvantaged individuals achieve social and economic equality. The Indianapolis Urban League employs a five-point strategy tailored to local needs: Education and Youth Empowerment, Economic Empowerment, Health and Quality of Life Empowerment, Civic Engagement and Leadership Empowerment, Civil Rights and Racial Justice Empowerment.
Kheprw Institute - Kheprw Institute is a community organization that works to create a more just, equitable, human-centered environmentally sustainable world. We do this by cultivating the leadership capacity of youth and young adults, engaging them in working to improve their community and supporting community empowerment.
Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership - Affordable and sustainable housing initiative. The vision of INHP is that every person in Indianapolis should have the opportunity to live in a safe, decent and affordable home in a vibrant neighborhood.
Earth Charter Indiana - Earth Charter Indiana exists to inspire and advance sustainable, just and peaceful living in Indiana by promoting the values and principles of the Earth Charter. 1. Respect and care for the community of life. 2. Ecological integrity. 3. Social and economic justice. 4. Democracy, non-violence and peace.
Indy Hunger Network - The food system that feeds the hungry is large and complex. The goal of the Indy Hunger Network is to create a system that ensures anyone who is hungry can access the nutritious food they need.
Upcoming Events
2024 Symposium on Neurodiversity
The University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma is excited to host Dr. Temple Grandin, alongside Tim Herbel, as the keynote speakers for the 2024 Emerson-Wier Liberal Arts Symposium focusing on neurodiversity, a derivative of our annual Speaker Series.
FREE Black History Month Through Film at Belle Isle Library
Features OETA’s documentaries that delve into black history in Oklahoma, from Langston University, which opened even before Oklahoma became a state, to the trailblazers of Oklahoma’s Civil Rights movement, such as Roscoe Dungee, Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher, and Clara Luper.
“The Fairytale Project”
A dance performance about the love between two African-American slaves and how they discover their roots in the free colonies of East Texas. It is both informative and moving.
UCLA Luskin Lecture: Barbara Ransby
Noted writer, historian and activist Barbara Ransby will explore the inter-institutional space of ideas and organizing, linking research and scholarship to communities and movement-based work.
Empower Run 2024
The Empower Run is a 3.1 mile long family-friendly race open to participants of all ages and abilities, including runners, walkers and strollers. Funds raised by the 2024 Empower Run will provide access to free representation and legal services to low-income survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and help secure #JusticeForSurvivors.
41st Upton Sinclair Celebration
In 2024, we’re looking forward to honoring the contributions of organizers and activists who are paving the way for social justice progress in Los Angeles—from fighting for the creation of a new Youth Development Department focused on care not punishment, to advocating for eviction protections for millions of struggling tenants—or securing a ban on toxic…
North Texas Food Bank – Pack & Box
Millions of meals are distributed through our programs and Feeding Network each year. Volunteers participating in the Pack and Box opportunity will work together in an assembly line to package the boxes/bags of food that are distributed to our neighbors through our programs and our Feeding Network. This opportunity is ideal for individuals or groups.…
Qigong For Peace
Join us for this 2-hour Live Webinar, Qigong For Peace, on Saturday, Feb. 10th, 2024. David J. Coon, will share Qigong Exercises, Guided Meditations to Experience Inner Peace, and a Medical Qigong Lecture on the benefits of a regular Qigong practice.
Comedy for Peace
Comedy for Peace is an incredible comedy show with Muslim and Jewish comedians, founded in March of 2019 in New York City. Comedy For Peace is an accessible, funny, fun, and meaningful show that brings diverse, Interfaith communities together with the belief that we can make a difference through the art of comedy.
Local Hero Spotlight
Members can nominate a local hero for recognition on their local LoveJustice.com city page!
Anyone and everyone can make an impact, and at LoveJustice we believe that they deserve to be recognized for their good, necessary work!
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