Women matter. We find new solutions to old problems. We care about children, education, health and jobs with living wages: the future of Indiana. We are 51% of the population, and when women vote, women win.
American Promise Pre-Screening
Join GreatSchools for a free sneak peek at the award-winning documentary “American Promise.” This film provides a rare look into the lives of two middle-class Black families as they navigate the ups and downs of parenting and educating their sons. A Q&A with the filmmakers and a student star of the movie will follow the 120-minute screening.
The event is presented in partnership with 100 Black Men, the National Council on Educating Black Children, Teach Plus and The Mind Trust.
When: Thursday May 23, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM EDT
Where: Indianapolis Central Library 40 E St Clair St, Indianapolis, IN
Space is limited! Click on the link below to RSVP.
https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=mb9saemab&oeidk=a07e7f4rcn83bc6702f&oseq=a01bphg62ghom
Girl Rising Screening in Indianapolis
The groundbreaking documentary that follows the lives of 6 girls around the globe who rise in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles is coming to Indianapolis!
Where:Castleton Square 14
6020 E 82nd St
Indianapolis, IN
When:Thursday, May 30th 2013 at 7:30pm
More information: http://gathr.us/screening/3958
Thank You
Dear friend,
Thank you for supporting the 51% Club in 2012, and being part of the effort to encourage women to vote.
The goal of the 51% Club was simple and measurable - bring women back to the polls in 2012 who voted in the Democratic primary in 2008 but did not vote in 2010. Reach each of them three times with a personal message about why they should vote.
The name 51% Club reminds us that women are the majority of the population. When Women Vote, Women Win.
Thanks to you and to the boundless energy and leadership of our Director Katie Blair, 51% Club reached its goal. You contacted 183,000 women three times each by phone, written note, at events, through Twitter, Facebook and the media.
Katie Blair’s final report is linked below. It summarizes the accomplishments of 51% club and provides the exit poll results from Election Day. 51% Club volunteers operated phone banks in 64 counties and reached women in 92 counties. We had 900 donors and volunteers. On Election Day Donnelly led Richard Mourdock 53 to 41% among women. And John Gregg let Mike Pence 52 to 47%.
Analysis of the voter file from Election Day will soon be available. As we learn from the numbers of women who voted we will share that information.
2013 is not an election year and our priorities will change from getting out the vote. Let’s keep talking, working with other groups of women to share goals and align efforts and build a state that’s helps families and communities prosper.
Again, thank you for 2012. Onward.
Sincerely,
Sarah Riordan, Ann Stack, Betty Cockrum, and Kathy Davis
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2sqx5ZnoTp2c2swS2dNczZwUzg/edit?usp=sharing
Shirley Chisholm was the became the first African-American woman elected to Congress and the first major-party black candidate for President of the United States.
Kathy Davis: Voices of moderation, speak up
Across the country on Election Day sprang voices and signs of social acceptance from young people, gay people, women, immigrants of many decades, and people with disabilities. America has, and will continue, to change. Americans are seeing the relationship between equal opportunity and economic opportunity.
Indiana excludes voices and talent at our own peril. About eight hours after election results were in I heard Kevin Brinegar, head of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, on NPR radio. He was rejoicing the Republican super majority in the Indiana State Senate and House of Representatives. Kevin proclaimed this administration and legislature will be good for business. I wonder. Despite campaign promises to work for jobs, I fear an Indiana leadership team that works for some and not for others.
Kevin may envision the rate at which Right to Work legislation would have passed the upcoming super Republican dominated General Assembly. One company, a large employer in my home town, is likely liquidating, tripling the salary of the CEO and blaming workers for company failures. Pundits were speculating they might look for a right to work state. Is defunding an advocacy for working people a top selling point for Indiana, given where we need to go?
What else from the Republican 2010 and 2011 General Assembly was pro business? I hope you are familiar with what came up; I won’t go through the list of proposals. To me, many represented a small world view and mean-spiritedness that is not what I experience as Hoosier Hospitality. Without a Democratic voice in the General Assembly we will need a drumbeat from citizens, community, and business leaders advocating for the factors that create economic opportunity.
How will we hold elected leaders accountable to their campaign promises – a focus on good jobs? Who will stay tuned and stand up? I ask our leaders in manufacturing; life sciences, distribution, information, agriculture, and education to be on alert.
The 21st Century economy will be powered by folks who value inclusion, acceptance and science. Indiana must seize the road ahead. Reverse, even holding back, is not a plan.
Openness to truth, seeking the facts of our reality, will get us there fastest. We are best off when we work with what is real, get through the sticky wickets, and get excited from operating and succeeding in the big, forward-looking picture.
Changes in people, climate, and the way we share information are coming fast. The changes in communication and access to knowledge are immense and powerful and growing almost like Moore’s law. Information management has yet to make it back to Indiana’s list of target industries.
Let’s welcome the people, businesses and jobs we want to attract. Career-making jobs; technology jobs; spirit building jobs that help Indiana play in a global economy.
Governor Elect Pence’s plan for Indiana - where fewer than half of our students graduate - includes restoring high school vocational education. I loved my technical drawing class. Many remember shop class fondly. The vocational jobs of today, though, are different.
Whether students pursue a vocation or college degree, they need a full complement of language, math, and science courses in high school. Then they will need more skills - beyond high school - to grow and build things in the dawn of the information age.
Let’s start introducing students to career options in 5th grade, offer curriculum that support many paths. But not expect high school will be enough to prepare us for jobs anymore.
Let’s keep current this session, talk with legislators and keep Indiana focused on true prosperity for all. Design our health care, education system, tax code and infrastructure to boost our economy. Keep faith and know we need all people to make it happen.
-Kathy Davis
Former Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
Co-founder, 51% Club
This piece was originally published in the December 1 issue of the Indianapolis Business Journal.
We did it!
We won some and we lost some, but one thing is for sure: Women made the difference on Election Day. We phone banked tirelessly, knocked on doors, raised money, wrote letters and had each other’s backs.
“We’re all in this together. That’s how we campaigned, and that’s who we are.”- Barack Obama
Thank you for your hard work. I am proud of the women and men who have supported this effort. We couldn’t have done it without you.
The election is over, but we aren’t going anywhere. We are the 51%.
Sincerely,
Katie Blair
Executive Director, 51% Club
When women vote I get a seat in the car, NOT on the roof.
When women vote, the GOP and America are never ever getting back together.
When women vote, equality wins!
