House District 94 update for the week of 7/18
Read Aloud Guest for Freedom Schools Program
I had the wonderful opportunity to join the IU Indianapolis Freedom Schools program for the second time as a “read aloud guest.”
The Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools program is a six-week summer literacy enrichment program for K-12 students. The program is designed to prevent reading loss over the summer, foster self-esteem, cultural awareness and increase children’s love of reading.
I was also so glad to welcome this group of students to the Statehouse the following week to continue our discussion about civic engagement and following your dreams!
AES Facility Tour
It takes a lot to power this city. I appreciated the opportunity to tour the AES Indiana facility and learn more about what it takes to keep the lights on in Indianapolis!
Vital Voices Global Fellowship
In case you missed my exciting update, I am honored to be part of the 2024 Vital Voices Global Fellowship alongside some of the best and brightest female leaders across the world. Among the members of this program are CEO’s of international companies, founders of organizations and public officials in various levels of government in their countries. This fellowship focuses on bringing women together to foster collaboration and harness the collective potential of women in leadership positions.
We live in a global economy, and it is essential for leaders at every level to collaborate with people around the world. The Vital Voices Global Fellowship will allow me to help bolster Indiana’s standing on the world stage by creating relationships with leaders in nations across the globe.
I look forward to bringing the experience and knowledge I gain from this fellowship back to the Indiana General Assembly as I fight to improve the lives of Hoosier women and girls. For more information on the Vital Voices Global Partnership or Fellowship program, click the link here.
Military Family Relief Fund Back to School Program
Hoosier military veterans with dependent children may qualify for assistance with back to school supplies and other expenses for K-12 and college students. As the daughter of a veteran, I know firsthand how much families can be impacted. I encourage all who are eligible to apply for this program. Applications are open from July 15 to August 30! Click here for more details!
Weigh in on how Indiana uses Federal Electric Vehicle Funding
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is inviting Hoosiers to give their feedback on how the state should spend federal grant money to grow Indiana’s electric vehicle (EV) charging network.
IDEM, in partnership with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and Drive Clean Indiana (DCI), plans to apply for funding for both corridor and community EV charging enhancements through Round 2 of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Grant Program.
Hoosiers can visit GOEVIN’s website, goevin.com through July 24, 2024, to learn more and complete an online survey to identify priorities and projects to include in Indiana’s grant application.
Round 2 of the CFI program will provide up to $1.3 billion to deploy publicly accessible EV charging along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) and local communities across the U.S. corridor projects must be located within 1 mile of a designated AFC; community projects can be located on any public road or publicly accessible location.
Additional information is available on the GOEVIN website at goevin.com/programs-and-incentives. Information on the page includes:
An overview of the goals and objectives of Indiana’s statewide CFI Grant Program;
Links to key aspects and requirements of FHWA’s CFI Grant Program;
A timeline of key milestones for the RFI and statewide application development; and
A link to the online survey.
Hoosiers are highly encouraged to review available information before taking the survey.
Eagledale July Activities
CenterWell Eagledale Senior Primary Care has a variety of events planned for the month of July! See the calendar below for the full list of activities. To RSVP or for additional information, call Athena Salisbury at 317-625-8356. The location is 4525 Lafayette Road.
Indiana Justice Project eviction record sealing clinic
Friday July 19, the Indiana Justice Project is holding a free walk-in clinic to help seal eviction records. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Indianapolis Interchurch Center (1100 W. 42nd St, Krannert Hall, Indianapolis, IN 46208).
If you have faced eviction in the past, you should not repeatedly punished by carrying that around with you as you apply for housing. Whether you fell upon hard times and couldn’t keep up, or the eviction was unfair, you can apply to have that removed from your record. Learn more at the event tomorrow or visit indianajusticeproject.org.
Indianapolis Children’s Museum to host Mandela exhibit
From the end of June to January 2025, the Indianapolis Children’s Museum is hosting Mandela: The Official Exhibition. Nelson Mandela was an activist, lawyer and politician in South Africa from the 1950s to the 2010s. Mandela was the first president elected in a fully representative, democratic election and he was the first black head of state.
Nelson Mandela first achieved national attention as an anti-apartheid activist. Apartheid was South Africa’s system of institutionalized racial segregation. It was similar to Jim Crowe laws in the Southern United States. However, South Africa’s apartheid system lasted until 1994. Mandela was instrumental in tearing down this system of racism and inequality.
I encourage you to visit the Indianapolis Children’s Museum and see the exhibit dedicated to this famous freedom fighter. For more information, you can visit childrensmuseum.org/exhibits/mandela.
