Over 300,000 individuals expected to take a Stand Against Racism

Friday, April 26, 2013

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

University of Southern Indiana Amphitheatre

Free Admission. All are welcome.

Activities: Proclamation by Mayor Lloyd Winnecke; Remarks from Diane Clements (Human Relations Commission), Indiana State Representative Gail Riecken, USI Student Leaders, and YWCA officials; Vocal Performances; and community pledge against racism.

OPEN MIC Night DETAILS

Date: Friday, April 26, 2013

Times: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Location: Arts Council of Southwest Indiana

Cost: Free Admission. All are welcome

Activities: The Open Mic Night theme is race, racism, social justice and cultural diversity. Performers are invited to call 422-1191 to register!

(Evansville, IN) Join the YWCA and the University of Southern Indiana and take a Stand Against Racism with a rally from 11:30 to 1 p.m. Friday, April 26, in the University Center Amphitheatre, located outside the University Center on the USI campus.

The rally will include comments from a variety of local officials, including Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, who will read a special proclamation; Erika Taylor, CEO of the YWCA; Diane Clements of the Human Relations Commission; State Representative Gail Riecken; and Danyelle Granger, assistant vice president of Diversity and Foundation Program Officer at Old National Bank. Representatives of various USI student groups will speak and Designed by Grace, USI’s gospel choir, will perform.

Stand Against Racism is a nationwide movement that was initiated by the YWCA of Trenton, New Jersey in 2008 in order to raise awareness that racism still exists in our communities and that it can no longer be ignored or tolerated.

“Our objective is to bring together organizations who believe, like we do, that united we can eliminate racism,” Taylor said.

The USI Social Work Department’s Center for Social Justice Education and the USI Office of the Provost join the YWCA to sponsor this event as community partners.

In case of rain, the event will be moved to the Eagle’s Nest in University Center West.

That evening, the YWCA, USI Center for Social Justice Education, and Arts Council of Southwest Indiana will present an Open Mic Night from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Arts Council’s Bower-Suhrheinrich Foundation Gallery. Artists will incorporate the topics of racism, race, social justice, diversity, or multiculturalism into their performances. Call the YWCA at 812/422-1191 if you are interested in performing.

Both events are free and open to the public.

The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. The Evansville YWCA is a member of the YWCA of the U.S.A., the oldest and largest women’s membership movement in the country.

Over the years, YWCA programs have changed to meet the evolving needs of women and girls. In 1979, the YWCA opened the first domestic violence shelter in Evansville. Other current programs include a Transition Housing Program for women in recovery, Emergency Shelter for homeless women and children, an after-school and mentoring program, called Live Y’ers, for at-risk girls in grades 3 through 12, Summer Fun day camp for school-aged children, and a Food Pantry station. Special programs and events for the general public are also offered. Visit www.ywcaevansville.org for more information.

YWCA 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline • 866-367-9922

There will be a special meeting of the Common Council of the City of Evansville,

Indiana, on Monday, April 29, 2013 to discuss the proposed new downtown hotel and the proposed Indiana University Medical School in Evansville. This meeting is open to the public and will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Room 301 of the Civic Center, 1 N.W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

There will be a special meeting of the Common Council of the City of Evansville, Indiana

on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 for presentation of the Johnson Control Contract.

This meeting is open to the public and will begin at 5:00 p.m. in Room 301 of the Civic Center, 1 N.W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

INDIANAPOLIS – We have a few days left in the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly.

The Speaker of the House says we may get done a few days before our April 29 deadline, and negotiators already are working overtime on the one bill we must pass this session—a biennial state budget.

Updated revenue projections now indicate our state’s financial picture is improving a little and we are collecting more money than before, but there still are substantial differences in the things I feel must be addressed in this session: helping the middle class first and reinforcing traditional local public schools.

Right now, most of the attention is focusing on tax relief for Hoosier families…or at least what those in charge call tax relief.

What are their solutions? Let’s review:

The governor is calling for a 10-percent cut in state income taxes, which means about $4 a week if you’re making around $50,000 a year.

House Republicans don’t want to cut state income taxes at all.

Senate Republicans advocate a 3-percent cut in state income taxes…which means about a buck a week in savings.

It’s a shame that a final answer will come from somewhere in the vicinity of those proposals. I say it’s a shame because House Democrats have a better idea about giving middle class taxpayers a break. Let me review that plan:
•A 15-percent state income tax cut for Hoosiers making less than $25,000.
•A 10-percent state income tax cut for Hoosiers making between $25,000 and $50,000.
•A 5-percent state income tax cut for Hoosiers making between $50,000 and $100,000.
•A 2.5-percent state income tax cut for Hoosiers making between $100,000 and $200,000.

Look at all those plans and you tell me: which does the most for folks like you?

What was done about creating jobs for Hoosiers? Let a headline from a newspaper in northern Indiana tell you: “Pence signs ‘jobs bills’ that create no jobs.”

Let me remind you again…expanding affordable healthcare in Indiana would create 30,000 new Hoosier jobs and provide healthcare insurance coverage for 400,000 more Hoosiers.

Since I like to end these reports on a positive note, let me tell you about a major announcement made last week designed to help provide relief for people struggling to pay their mortgages and facing foreclosure.

The Hardest Hit Fund will make more than $180 million in federal funds available for homeowners who can no longer afford their mortgages because of:
•Unemployment or loss of a job;
•Underemployment or a major reduction in income;
•Substantial reduction in income due to the death of a family member;
•Significant non-elective medical expenses, procedures or emergencies; or
•Being called up for military service.

To get more details about the Hardest Hit Fund, call toll-free 1-877-GET-HOPE or visit www.877GetHope.com.

EVSC Now Offering Expanded Academy to Grades K-12

The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation Virtual Academy has expanded its online curriculum offerings from high school to now offer curriculum for kindergarten through eighth grades. Enrollment is now taking place and an informational meeting is planned for Thursday, April 25 so parents can learn more.

The Information Session is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Southern Indiana Career & Technical Center, located at 1901 Lynch Road. Anyone interested in knowing more about the EVSC Virtual Academy and its class offerings for students in grades K-12, should plan to attend.

The EVSC Virtual Academy currently is offered to students in grades 9-12, but has recently expanded into the kindergarten through eighth grade arena and will utilize Compass Learning software for students who enroll full-time and for blended instruction in EVSC’s K-8 schools. Already in place for high school students is the Apex online curriculum.

While there will be no registration or tuition fee for full-time students from both inside Vanderburgh County and outside who enroll prior to the official September enrollment date; there will be a $50 registration fee and a $50 tuition fee per month of enrollment for those enrolling after that time.

Compass Learning is an industry leader and has a long history of working with elementary and middle school curriculum and first introduced computer curriculum in the 1980s. The curriculum meets Common Core standards and will provide reports and data for students, teachers, and parents working with home school options. The high school Virtual Academy began during the summer of 2010 and has seen tremendous success rates of completion and expansion to now offer Advanced Placement courses.

For additional information about the EVSC Virtual Academy go to www.evscschools.com/evscva, or contact Director Janet Leistner at 812-435-0939 or by email at janet.leistner@evsc.k12.in.us.