September 2021 Newsletter

New Maps will be Drawn

Redistricting Reform has been one of the hot button issues lately. Redrawing the maps happens once every 10 years using the census data, and determines how congressional and legislative districts will look for the next decade. Indiana is growing more racially diverse, and the redrawn maps should encourage representation in the statehouse that looks more like Hoosiers. Our democracy is at stake, especially if partisan gerrymandering took hold of the process. 

All IN for Democracy, a Redistricting Reform coalition comprised of community and faith-based organizations including IMAN Associates, has been demanding the Indiana General Assembly to draw fair maps, hold public testimonies and run a transparent process. Hearings have been scheduled for the next couple of weeks and we urge our members to attend and testify in favor of fair maps. Here is the schedule: ​

To keep the pressure on legislators, the coalition is planning the following events:

• The coalition will hold a webinar on Monday, Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. EDT to update people on the redistricting process in the legislature and help them prepare testimony. Here's the registration link: Webinar Registration - Zoom  
• The ICRC will be meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 14th at 7 p.m. to pick the winners of the mapping competition.  You can enter this competition by submitting a congressional, legislative or community maps. Instructional videos can be found on the portal:  Indiana Redistricting Portal (indiana-mapping.org) 
• The coalition will hold a rally on the 16th at 1pm at the Indiana Statehouse (Washington Street steps). You can learn more about the rally and register here: Facebook event.

On September 1st, the coalition held a faith leaders press conference to urge legislators to follow their faith while drawing new maps. Imam Michael Saahir, of Nur-Allah Islamic Center, uplifted the Muslim voice in his call for fair maps. He underscored that any effort to draw unfair maps is "an act against the will of our creator."

You can watch the press conference on our facebook page. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for the latest action alerts and updates on Redistricting Reform. 

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Indiana Receives Afghan Refugees

As Indiana welcomes Afghan refugees in Camp Atterbury, we are thrilled to see the outpouring of support of Hoosiers and community organizations. Many organizations stepped up their operations to provide immediate and long term support to the evacuees. Muslim Alliance of Indiana took the lead on this initiative and has been organizing efforts with mosques and other community partners.
Feeling the urge to help? Check out the different ways you can support them through Muslim Alliance of Indiana.

Red Cross is playing a critical role in securing the immediate needs at Camp Atterbury. You can support the Afghan families by making a monetary donation here. 

Once the resettlement process begins, in-kind and monetary donations to Exodus Refugee Immigration are encouraged to help out with housing and supplies. You can help out with those long term needs here.