House District 94 update for the week of 4/12
Black Maternal Health Week
April 11 through April 17 is Black Maternal Health Week, and I want to take a moment to highlight this incredibly important issue. The most recent data from the CDC shows that the rate of maternal mortality is 2.6 times greater for Black mothers than for white mothers. Indiana has the third highest maternal mortality in the nation, with Black women making up 13% of all live births but 21% of maternal deaths.
Starting a family as a Black woman in Indiana should not be scary, but unfortunately, it is. This crisis in our state is caused by a multitude of policy failures, inadequate funding, and implicit bias in the health care system. My colleagues in the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus and I have proposed numerous solutions that the Republican supermajority in the legislature has ignored for years.
Black Maternal Health is one of my top priorities in the legislature. Next year, and every year I have the privilege to serve the state of Indiana, I will continue to fight for policy solutions that end the suffering caused by the Black Maternal Health crisis in our state.
To all Black mothers and future mothers, I say this loud and clear: Your health matters. Your voice matters. Your life matters.
Last week, I was honored to speak to the Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis. At this event, I talked to a lovely group of our senior citizens about the 2024 legislative session, new laws that impact seniors, and how to vote in the primary.
Indiana Black Legislative Caucus Town Hall
Pleased to announce that the IBLC townhall series is officially starting tomorrow, April 13 at 12 p.m. in Lawrence. Come join me and my fellow Black legislators at the Government Center Public Assembly room located at 9002 E 59th St. in Lawrence. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to hear us discuss the 2024 legislative session, ask questions, raise concerns, and share your thoughts on future legislation. I hope to see you there!
Community Wealth Building Day
Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Central Indiana Realtist Association is holding a free Community Wealth Building Day in partnership with Sanders Temple Church of God in Christ. The event will take place at Kennedy King Park Center, 601 E. 17th Street. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn more about homeownership and building wealth. PLUS there will be free food, childcare, prizes and more.
CVS Pharmacy Intern Tuition Assistance Program
CVS pharmacy announced new programs this week to support the next generation of pharmacists. Starting in June, the CVS PharmD tuition assistance program will be available to all eligible CVS pharmacy interns and consists of a $20,000 award per year. Additionally, the CVS Health/American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Community Pharmacy Health Equity Aware will grant $21,000 to 21 students facing financial barriers to becoming completing pharmacy school.
This is a great opportunity to allow those who may not be able to afford school on their own to pursue a noble career as a pharmacist. For more information, click the link here.
Intern for the Marion County Youth Violence Prevention Coalition
The Marion County Youth Violence Prevention Coalition is looking for summer interns! If you are looking for hands on experience in community organizing and helping to make Indianapolis a safer place, MCYVPC is the place for you! The internship will run from Jun. 4 to Jul. 8, is 15 hours a week at $15-$20 an hour. Looking for applicants ages 16-25. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 5. Click here for more information.
Indy Free Tax Prep
Tax season is almost upon us. There is no way around it, taxes are complicated. Compiling documents, completing forms, spending hours waiting and even forking over large sums of money for help. For households that make $66,000 or less in 2023, United Way of Central Indiana has a free tax prep program for taxpayers to get assistance and file for free. This program runs through mid-April. Keep more of your hard earned money and take advantage of the Indy Free Tax Prep!
United Way is joined by the IRS, corporate partners, dozens of community organizations and hundreds of volunteers to conduct this program. Since 2015, volunteers have prepared more than 44,000 tax returns, helping people get more than $40 million in federal refunds!
FAFSA Help
Whatever path you choose after high school, – certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree – filing the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the best way to help you pay for it. The FAFSA opens doors to Indiana’s $400+ million in financial aid, and billions of dollars in federal aid.
If you’re a current college student, don’t forget to file every year by April 15! Even if you’re not sure if you will enroll in college, you should still file the FAFSA to make sure you're covered for next year. Visit FAFSA.gov to get started.
If you need help filing, there are resources to help:
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s Outreach Coordinators are available to assist students and families in the filing process. To send a direct message to your region’s Outreach Coordinator, visit www.learnmoreindiana.org/contact.
Hoosier families can also access free FAFSA help through INvestEd by email (outreach@investedindiana.org) or phone at 317-715-9007. ¿Necesitas ayuda en español? Llame 317-715-9007.
The U.S. Department of Education provides email and live chat assistance for FAFSA filers as well as a helpline at 1-800-4-FED-AID.
Sincerely,