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Serendipitously aligned with the LWV Unite & Rise 8.5, we launched our Democracy Lives in the Light 18-month campaign to carry us through elections in 2026. (You may see the PDF of the presentation at lwvin.org/convention).

The campaign will take all of us working in concert. We believe that this is the first time Indiana has developed a cohesive plan involving all Local Leagues as well as the State League. A call for volunteers for the Task Force went to all Local League leaders in December 2024. Since there are no elections in Indiana in 2025, we are using this time to develop strategies, materials, and person power, intensifying development and outreach locally during summer 2025.

In line with LWVUS Unite and Rise 8.5, we estimate we need to activate 178,000 Hoosiers’ voices out ofIndiana’s voting eligible population of 5,071,615 million.We have Leagues in the 17 largest counties that contain 71% of the registered voters in Indiana. We can do this!

Key to our Democracy Lives in the Light campaign is communications. A new Board member who teaches communications will be coordinating a statewide social media team that should include someone from each local league. We have also engaged an intern with considerable social media experience to work with the social media team. We encourage League members to share social media posts from LWVIN, LWVUS, and other local Leagues on their Local League social media to expand League visibility.

You will be hearing more about the campaign, your roles, and the shareable resources through communications with your Local League. Stay tuned!

PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP

LWVIN advice to NEW CITIZENS: If your legitimately issued Indiana driver’s license is not up for renewal yet, you will need to present your citizenship certificate to your county voter registration office before voting in future elections. Take the time to present your citizenship certificate to your county voter registration office as soon as possible after July 1, 2025

HERE is the LWVIN statement in English. Share it with immigrant communities or new citizens. For the statement in Haitian Creole click here. And for the statement in Spanish click here.

INFORMATION USEFUL IN THESE TURBULENT TIMES:
ON NONPARTISANSHIP

At our core, nonpartisanship is not just a policy — it’s a bedrock principle that defines who we are at the League of Women Voters. As a membership organization committed to empowering voters and defending democracy, we do not support or oppose political parties or candidates. Our focus has always been, and will continue to be, on the issues that matter to our communities: ensuring fair elections, protecting voting rights, and strengthening our democratic institutions.

Those who believe our positions on issues align us with parties are mistaken, but they may challenge us nevertheless. LWVUS offers some messaging guidance:

https://www.lwv.org/league-management/talking-points/nonpartisanship-messaging-guidance

LWVUS also offers safety guidance for rallies and protests:

https://www.lwv.org/league-management/advocacy-litigation/protest-safety-guidance

Pat Parker often performed her poetry at bookstores and coffeeshops. Photo courtesy Sinister Wisdom

FORGOTTEN FOREMOTHERS
Profiles of lesser-known heroines in the fight for women's rights

PAT PARKER

Pat Parker was born Jan. 20, 1944, in Houston, Texas. She was the youngest of four daughters born to Marie Louise and Ernest Nathanial Cooks. Mother Marie worked as a domestic servant and father Ernest—also called “Buster”—was a tire retreader. The family lived in poor conditions of the Third Ward.

“Parker grew up on the outskirts of Houston, one step away from the projects,” wrote activist, friend, and fellow poet Judy Grahn in the introduction to “Movement in Black,” a collection of Pat’s poetry published in 1978. “She is one Texan who never brags about her state.”

In the poem “Goat Child,” Pat wrote her own biography. Indeed, much of her poetry is autobiographical, so her words will oin us through the journey of her life. As you’ll read, no one can say it quite how Pat said it.

You can read this entire article HERE.

Kathryn S Gardiner