November 2021 Newsletter
League of Women Voters of Brown County
Just a Note
By Shari Frank, LWVBC President
Love Wins Over Hate
“Love Wins Over Hate” – a KPBS documentary - depicts some extremists and white supremacists who overcame their hate and became activists in healing divisiveness. https://www.kpbs.org/news/kpbs/2020/10/13/kpbs-presents-love-wins-over-hate-documentary-form
In the documentary, individuals who “recovered” tried to figure out what had caused them to join an extremist group and perpetrate hate in the first place. Many had suffered dysfunction, trauma, or abuse in early life. Joining extreme groups gave them a “family,” a sense of belonging. It provided a focus for their pain and hate. Extremist groups targeted “others” based on skin color, religion, or sexual orientation. They carried out horrific acts of abuse and violence. Until…. a significant experience penetrated their hate bubble and caused each to question the “world” they’d adopted, and they began to seek a way out. Some had been members of extremist groups for 7 or more years before they found their way back.
In each recovery, there was some sort of trigger that made them want to change. Some described an unexpected connection on a personal level with a member of a group they had previously demonized; or kindness from a stranger or friend, the birth of their first child, or something that made them think there’s got to be a better way to live, without so much hate and violence. Their journey to a new life was not easy. Each found a mentor who helped them work to “come back,” to abandon false stereotypes, and to embrace differences rather than hate “others.”
I was so moved by each person’s testimony. They faced head on the harm they had inflicted on others. No denial. But facing the wrongs they’d committed, they felt compelled to work hard to make amends. They were determined to make up for past harms and work to make things better however they can.
These stories give me hope, so I wanted to share. But also, I see parallels in this extremism and the extreme divisiveness we’re experiencing in politics. It’s a reminder not to label people and instead to try to look for the humanity in all.
It makes me feel optimistic that truth will win over lies, fairness will win over abuse of power. And we just have to keep working in that direction. And keep our focus on the good, not the bad; focus on the love, not the hate.
It encourages me to keep looking for ways to right wrongs, to find the connection that changes minds. In the context of the League, that includes continuing to speak up for our democracy, fair representation, and voter rights. The Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act provide the protections we need to end voter suppression tactics that disproportionately affect the very same human targets of extremism. Let’s keep up those phone calls and emails and stories about who is affected by barriers to voting and gerrymandered districts. Maybe your story will be the one that provides an emotional connection to trigger our legislators to do the right thing to make equity in voting a reality! See page 12 with contact information to advocate for voting rights laws.
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Redrawing Brown County Council District Maps
During the October 20 meeting of the Brown County Commissioners, Commissioner Diana Biddle discussed the need to redraw the district map for the Brown County Council due to changes in population within Brown County realized with the 2010 Census. Commissioner Biddle offered one proposed map, but encouraged the public to study the issue, current Census data, and offer alternative map proposals.
The Board of the LWVBC took advantage of that opportunity. We wrote an email to the Commissioners recommending a map that creates districts to keep communities together to provide better representation. We also wrote a guest column, published in the Democrat newspaper: https://bcdemocrat-in.newsmemory.com?selDate=20211103&goTo=A04&artid=1
Criteria for redistricting for County Council Districts is spelled out in legislation. It includes keeping population equal, keeping townships whole, keeping districts compact, and not breaking up precincts. Exceptions can be made, when unavoidable, to meet other criteria. So, which criteria do you think are most important? Having districts that keep townships whole and represent communities (such as keeping lakes area in one district, forest areas in one district, business areas in one district)? But then there’s the equal population requirement. Should townships and communities be split up to try to make population more equal? Both are mandated and both are important. But, with the current precincts, which can’t be split, it is impossible to get equal population in districts. So maybe it’s acceptable to have a little higher population deviation if it provides better community representation and keeps more townships whole within districts.
Does it make more sense to keep Hamblen Township whole in one district? And Jackson Township whole in one district? And to keep districts more square and compact rather than spread out in odd shapes like a big “L,” reaching to north and south boundaries, then west to east?
Compare the tables below.
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Map 1: BC County Commissioners Proposal
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District 1
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District 2
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District 3
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District 4
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Precincts Contained
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H1, H3, J2
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H2, J1, J3
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W1, W2
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J4, W3, VB
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2021 Population
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3548
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3936
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3701
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4290
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Map 2: LWVBC Proposal
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District 1
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District 2
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District 3
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District 4
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Precincts Contained
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H1, H2, H3
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J1, J2, J3, J4
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W1, W2
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W3, VB
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2021 Population
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4470
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3938
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3701
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3366
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Follow Up Information on Redistricting: At the November 3 meeting of the County Commissioners, two additional proposed maps were put forward by County Clerk Kathy Smith.
We still don’t know the formula required by Indiana for calculating population deviation at the county level. However, LWVBC did find a formula at redistrictingonline.org (https://redistrictingonline.org/basics-equalpopulation/). Using this formula, we can compare population deviation of the two proposed maps.
- Map 1 Proposed by Commissioners: 19.1% Population deviation
- Map 2 Proposed by LWVBC: 28.5% Population Deviation
The high population deviation is a concern. But LWVBC believes the improved representation of keeping townships and communities together as proposed in Map 2 offers more benefit than reducing population deviation by 9% but breaking up all townships except Van Buren.
DePauw University conducted a study of Indiana counties in 2011-12. The study shows population deviation between county council districts is “all over the map.” https://www.indianalocalredistricting.com/ The study states population variation should not exceed 10% between districts in one county. It’s unclear whether this 10% criteria are cited in any law for county districts. Ten percent is cited for state requirements of maximum population deviation, but even then, exceptions are allowed for good reason. The DePauw study shows population deviations as low as 1% and as high as 92%, with many under 10%, many over 10%, over 20% and over 30%. From this study, it isn’t immediately clear how well districts keep townships whole, or whether they violate those redistricting criteria to get closer to population equity.
LWVBC plans to work on getting additional information regarding legal requirements for redistricting county council districts. Meanwhile, we see a lot of value in keeping communities together for representation, so have proposed a map that does this. We also feel it is important to look at ways to modify precincts to facilitate creating districts that improve population equity and still represent communities. We’ve recommended Commissioners start this process sooner than later and use a citizen redistricting commission to help get public input on what’s important to Brown County citizens.
The Commissioners’ deadline to vote on district maps has not yet been publicized. It appears the Commissioners plan to vote on selected maps at their next meeting, 11/17, 2 pm. We’d love to hear your thoughts on what you think is important in the County Council redistricting. Please share your ideas. And let the Commissioners know what is important to you. Contact the League at browncountylwv@gmail.com.
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LWVBC Board Activity
Notes from the November 8 LWVBC Board meeting:
- The Board discussed the November 1 presentation hosted by the League about the U.S. refugee settlement program and how community members can help. The Board voted to make a monetary contribution to Exodus by matching up to $500 in contributions from League members and others interested in donating. The article on pages 5-7 has more information.
- The Board voted to add our name to the Alting Climate Resolution, joining LWVIN and many local leagues and organizations in supporting legislation to Confront the Climate Crisis. Please see the article on page 11 for more information.
- The Nashville Human Rights Advisory Council will provide its final report to the Nashville Town Council on November 18 at 6:30 pm.
- The Board voted to collaborate with the Brown County Democrat in 2022 to produce the Democrat’s Connections publication in lieu of the League’s Who’s Where booklet.
- The DEI Committee reported a virtual workshop is being offered in partnership with the Bloomington League entitled “Disagreement into Dialogue.” More information to come.
- Membership Committee: Co-chair Laurie Teal reported the League has a new member: Alex Miller. Welcome to the League!
- The new LWVBC Health Committee has met once. Committee chair Cathy Rountree reported to the Board the committee’s intention to become more familiar with national and state League policies and initiatives, The committee feels its focus will be on local health policy and goals previously set by LWVBC. A high priority for committee members is understanding services for behavioral healthin Brown County, especially substance use disorder.
- The League has registered for a one-day virtual bootcamp for website development on Wednesday, December 8. Any League member can participate; if interested, contact Laurie Teal at teal.family@icloud.com. If you know anyone interested in helping with the League website, this is a great opportunity for learning about website development and to help LWVBC.
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LWVBC Hosts Virtual Presentation on U.S. Refugee Program
The Brown County League hosted a virtual presentation on November 1 to provide current information on the refugee program in the U.S. The speaker, Dr. Elizabeth Cullen Dunn, isthe Executive Director of the Refugee Support Network. Dr. Dunn also serves as a board member at Exodus Refugee Immigration, a federally authorized resettlement agency.
Dr. Dunn covered a lot of information about the needs of refugees and asylum seekers who may be resettled in the US. Also discussed were internally displaced and evacuees, each with their own set of issues, including Temporary Protective Status for evacuees that provides no path to citizenship and can be revoked regardless of how many years affected people have been in the US. Violence and threat of violence is a common denominator that leads people to have to uproot themselves and abandon their home and families.
| Some Highlights: The refugee program in the U.S. is out of date, leaving a lot of needs unmet. Nonprofits working with refugees were severely decimated over the last four years with one-third of the groups out of business, and those remaining left with reduced staff. They are working hard to revamp to meet the current needs, especially of the influx of Afghans, Somalis and Rohingya. |
Lessons from Germany: The U.S. has very limited numbers of refugees allowed in annually and provides only very short-term support (90 days), much of which is in the form of a loan that must be paid back. By contrast, Germany has a strategic program, where refugees agree to go through extensive civics education and job training, providing 5 years support, helping integrate them into society and employment. This fills gaps that Germany has in needs for employees in trades and technology. In the U.S., nonprofits such as Exodus work hard to provide the extensive support refugees need, including introductions to basic daily life such as electricity and appliances.
Camp Atterbury:Dr. Dunn recently spent two weeks at Camp Atterbury after the arrival of Afghan refugees. A few of her comments follow.
Dr. Elizabeth Cullen Dunn has done research with displaced people in the Republic of Georgia, Greece, Germany, and the U.S. She recently spent two weeks volunteering with the Red Cross to help Afghan evacuees in Camp Atterbury, IN. Dr. Dunn’s research focuses on forced migration, including extensive work with refugees and internally displaced people. Her latest book examines refugee camps and their impact - No Path Home: Humanitarian Camps and the Grief of Displacement. For more information: https://geography.indiana.edu/about/faculty/dunn-elizabeth.html
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Calling all Members and Friends
Help us Raise $1000 in Donations
to help Exodus resettle Refugees
LWVBC will match up to $500 in donations
Toward a $1000 donation
To donate, send a check payableto LWVBC by 12/31/21
PO Box 74, Nashville IN 47448.
Put EXODUS in the Memo
Thank you!
If you prefer to donate directly to Exodus: https://www.exodusrefugee.org/donate/
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DEI Committee Notes
The DEI group is continuing to read Uprooting Racism. The author, Paul Kivel, gave a list of authors who analyze intersections of race, gender, and class. These are women of color, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, multi-cultural. We each took a few names to research and report back at our next meeting on Monday, November 15, at 7:00 pm. We also plan to read Section III: Being Allies.
Section I & II of Uprooting Racism reiterated prior learnings such as:
- Understanding systemic and structural racism, vs. interpersonal racism/personal acts.
- Recognizing there is no scientific basis to the concept of whiteness and that the color of skin tells us nothing about a person’s culture, character, origin, etc.
- Racially derogatory words and pictures need to be recognized and challenged to try to identify and replace with neutral words (e.g., find alternatives for: Chinese fire drill, white lie, black magic, Indian giver, and on and on.)
- White people receive benefits without “seeing” them (“affirmative action for whites”), e.g., networks and connections and job benefits.
- White fragility – i.e., getting personally defensive when racist practices, words, or actions are pointed out, rather than appreciating that it has been pointed out and looking for what can be done to improve the situation.
In 2015, women made 80 cents/dollar men made; African American women made 64.5 cents, and Latinas 56.5 cents. Racism amplifies sexism, and women of color are disadvantaged more severely with the combined effects. People with disabilities, LGBTQ, trans, and others face discrimination from multiple directions (p.43), compounded by racism.
Kivel says numbers don’t tell the story (e.g., how far we’ve come). We must keep asking “Who is still excluded?” “Who remains unseen?” “Who is still exploited?” “Democracy means the inclusion of all people in the process of making the decisions affecting their lives.” “Fighting racism means extending democracy to include all people of color and moving beyond a black-white – or even a simple white / people of color focus” (p. 116-117).
All League members are welcome to participate. Contact the League at browncountylwv@gmail.com for more information. The Committee meets via Zoom the first and third Mondays at 7:00 pm.
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League Board Meetings Have Moved to Evenings
In an effort to accommodate the varied schedules of League members and friends, the LWVBC Board of Directors has begun holding its virtual monthly meetings in the evening. The next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 13, beginning at 6:30 pm.
President Shari Frank will send an email reminder, including the Zoom link, to all League members and friends. Non-members are also welcome; email Shari at browncountylwv@gmail.com if you are interested in attending.
We hope you can join us!
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Remembering the Words of Chief Tecumseh
LWVBC recognized Indigenous People’s Day October 11, 2021. Thanks to LWVBC Board member Cathy Rountree for the suggestion of sharing with readers some words from Shawnee Chief Tecumseh.
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“The being within, communing with past ages, tells me that once, nor until lately, there was no white man on this continent; that it then all belonged to red men, children of the same parents, placed on it by the Great Spirit that made them, to keep it, to traverse it, to enjoy its productions, and to fill it with the same race, once a happy race, since made miserable by the white people who are never contented but always encroaching.
“The way, and the only way, to check and to stop this evil is for all the red men to unite in claiming a common and equal right in the land, as it was at first, and should be yet; for it never was divided but belongs to all for the use of each.For no part has a right to sell, even to each other; much less to strangers---those who want all and will not do with less.”
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November is Proclaimed National Native American Heritage Month
“The United States of America was founded on an idea: that all of us are created equal and deserve equal treatment, equal dignity, and equal opportunity throughout our lives. Throughout our history — though we have always strived to live up to that idea and have never walked away from it — the fact remains that we have fallen short many times. Far too often in our founding era and in the centuries since, the promise of our Nation has been denied to Native Americans who have lived on this land since time immemorial. “
Read the rest of the proclamation here:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/10/29/a-proclamation-on-national-native-american-heritage-month-2021/
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Essay Contest Winner Participates in Podcast Interview
Source: Brown County Democrat online 11/2/2021: http://www.bcdemocrat.com/2021/11/05/student-interviewed-by-podcast-about-winning-essay-contest/
“Simone Smith, a local home school student, won a League of Women Voters essay contest in April and was recently interviewed on a podcast about her win.
“The essay question was: ‘Do current districts and redistricting process in Indiana reflect democratic principles? Why or why not?’ Smith, now a senior, won $200 after her essay was chosen out of 12 other entries by the Retired Teachers Association.
“Smith was interviewed by an LWV Bloomington Monroe County Civics podcast on Oct. 8, which aired earlier this month.
“Smith ‘exemplifies youths’ awareness and engagement in the issues of today, as well as faith and hope for the future,’ said LOWV Brown County President Shari Frank.
“Essays were judged anonymously by members of the Brown County Retired Teachers Association. The contest was developed in conjunction with former Brown County Middle School We the People teacher Michael Potts and Brown County High School history teacher Emily Lewellen.
“Lewellen recently was named the 2021 Indiana History Teacher of the Year by Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
“The podcast, Civic Conversations, is available online to listen atwww.lwv-bmc.org/podcastsandwww.wfhb.org/category/civic-conversations/.
“Read Smith’s essay online at: bcdemocrat.com/2021/06/04/students_win_cash_with_essays_on_redistricting-6/.”
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2022 Essay Contest Launches November 29
A committee of members of League of Women Voters of Brown County are working with middle school and high school educators to launch the next annual Essay Contest. The contest will run from November 29, 2021, until January 28, 2022.
The prompt for the upcoming Essay Contest is: “We do not have government by the majority,” wrote Thomas Jefferson. “We have government by the majority who participate.” Jefferson and other founders understood the importance of civic participation, yet today America’s voter turnout is increasingly low. What factors play into this lack of participation and what can or should be done to increase voter turnout in Indiana?
Students in grade 8 and grades 9-12 – from public, private, and home schools – are encouraged to participate. The Essay Contest will again be judged anonymously by members of the Brown County Retired Teachers Association.
The League will award $950 in prize money to the winners of the Essay Contest. Contributions to help fund this project are always welcome. If you would like to donate, please send your check payable to LWVBC to PO Box 74, Nashville IN 47448. Put “essay” in the memo line or leave it blank to allow funds to be applied as needed to any program.
The League’s website will soon have details on the Essay Contest. Go to www.lwvbrowncounty.org for more details.
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New Nurse-Family Partnership Begins Services in Brown County
Source: Susi French, RN, Nurse-Family Partnership Program
“Nurse-Family Partnership is now available for eligible pregnant individuals in Brown County. IU Health Community Health, the program's local sponsoring organization, is thrilled to join the Brown County community and support first-time families throughout pregnancy and early parenting.
“Nurse-Family Partnership is an evidence-based national program that pairs an eligible expectant mom with their own registered nurse during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy. Nurses provide individually tailored education, coaching and resources at regular visits in the client's home or other chosen location. The regular visits continue throughout pregnancy and until the child turns two. There are three main goals of Nurse-Family Partnership: healthier pregnancy, healthier baby, and improved life course and self-sufficiency of mother.
“Participation is voluntary and no cost. Eligibility requirements include low-income (eligible for Medicaid, WIC, SNAP, or TANF), first time pregnancy with no history of live birth, pregnant for 28 weeks or less, and willingness to commit to long-term program with collaboration with a personal nurse.
“Susi French is the NFP registered nurse for Brown County and is ready to begin working with new families now. Feel free to reach out to Susi or Amy Meek, the IU Health Nurse-Family Partnership Supervisor, for questions, to request brochures and referral forms, or if you have an eligible client you would like to refer.”
IU Health Nurse-Family Partnership Phone: 812-353-3200 Fax: 812-353-3135
Susi French-sfrench1@iuhealth.org Amy Meek -ameek1@iuhealth.org
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Compelling Data That Vaccines Keep Us Safe
Fully vaccinated people should still wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission – and Brown County continues to be rated a high transmission area https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view|Indiana|18013|Risk|community_transmission_level
COVID-19 Vaccine Indiana:If you are age 5 or older, you can get a vaccine. https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/vaccine/index.htm
Flu Season is Here:Don't forget to get your flu vaccine this season. Vaccinating against different diseases at the same time is not new. COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines may be administered on the same day:https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/files/21_COVID%20vaccine%20update%209-15.pdf
Additional Resources:
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Updates from LWVIN
Source: www.lwvin.org
•LWVIN supports CCC: Confront the Climate Crisis (CCC)is a grassroots organization of high school students fighting for climate justice in Indiana and was launched a little more than a year ago by a group of West Lafayette High Schoolstudents and has expanded to include students in Evansville, Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Fort Wayne, Gary, Hammond, Carmel, Alexandria, Kokomo, and more.
State Senator Ron Alting will be introducing both a climate resolution and a climate bill in the upcoming Indiana General Assembly to implement the work of the high school student group.
CCC has asked organizations to sign on to support these measures in the upcoming IGA.
On their website they note a coalition with other high school student groups and organizational partners, i.e., Yellowwood Youth, Alexandria Tree Huggers, NWI Youth Climate Council, Indiana Climate Coalition, Boiler Green Initiative, Purdue Student Sustainability Council, Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter, Earth Charter Indiana, Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light.
LWVBC Voted to sign on as a local league to support the Alting Climate Resolution, along with many other local leagues and organizations.
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Updates from LWVUS
Source: www.lwv.org
• November 3, 2021: “Yesterday, 60 activists — some as young as 13 —were arrested in front of the White House, including Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s granddaughter Yolanda King. While it is exciting and inspiring to see young people actively standing up for what they believe in, it is heartbreaking to watch them march for the same rights their grandparents marched and died for only 58 years ago.No More Excusesis not only about protecting our democracy now, but also protecting it for future generations, so that they will not have to rally for the same rights another 50 years from now.
“As we fight for voting rights, elections continue. Many states held elections on Tuesday, some with record turnout. As we continue our fight to protect voting rights, we must double down on our efforts for voter registration and voter turnout. When America votes, Americans win, and LWV is an extremely important organization for educating, registering, and turning out the vote. We must continue to turn up the heat.”
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Keep Calling. We Want Voter Protections.
Ask Senators Braun and Young: Pass the Freedom to Vote Act
and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
- Contact Senator Todd Young: Indianapolis (317) 226-6700 or D.C. (202) 224-5623.
Or send an email through his website: https://www.young.senate.gov/contact/email-todd
Or mail: 185 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510
- Contact Senator Mike Braun: Indianapolis (317) 822-8240 or D.C. (202) 224-4814.
Or send an email through his website: https://www.braun.senate.gov/contact-mike
Or mail: 374 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510
Why should we keep working to pass these Voter Protection laws?
The Freedom to Vote Act improves voter access, election security and election integrity, including redistricting reform with specific standards to prevent gerrymandering maps in favor of one party.
Brennan Center Fact Sheet:https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/freedom-vote-act
The John Lewis Voting Rights Actrestores protections gutted in the 1965 VRA by the Supreme Court:
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/why-senate-must-pass-john-lewis-voting-rights-act ; https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/fight-voting-rights-moves-senate
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Help us work for a more perfect democracy
Join the League of Women Voters of Brown County!
Annual Membership Dues*:
$50/Individual $85/Couple
$20/Friend of the League (non-voting)
*Membership Scholarships available
Email for more information: browncountylwv@gmail.com
To join or to send a donation,
Mail your check payable to LWVBC,
PO Box 74, Nashville IN 47448
Please include your name, address, phone, and email
Want to volunteer?Help with voter registration?
Advocate for voter rights?Advocate for natural resources, etc.?
We welcome your participation!
Email the League at browncountylwv@gmail.com
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Government and Board Meeting Calendar
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GOVERNMENT AND BOARD MEETINGS
PLEASE NOTE:Meetings may be in person and/or virtual.
See links below to check days/times.
Brown County Election Board:
First Tuesdays of the month, 2 pm, Salmon Room
• December 7, 2:00 pm(check for possible changes)
• January 4, 2:00 pm(check for possible changes)
Brown County Commissioners:
First and Third Wednesdays, 2 pm, Salmon Room (check website for zoom link)
• November 17, 2:00 pm
• December 1, 2:00 pm
• December 15, 2:00 pm
Brown County Council:
ThirdMondayof the month, 6:30 pm, Salmon Room
• November 15, 6:30 pm(check for possible changes)
• December 20, 6:30 pm(check for possible changes)
Brown County Health Board:
Bi-monthly, third Tuesday, 5 pm
•November 16, 5:00 pm(check for possible changes)
•January 18, 5:00 pm(check for possible changes)
Nashville Town Council:
Third Thursday of the month, 6:30 pm
•November 18, 6:30 pm(check for possible changes)
•December 16, 6:30 pm(check for possible changes)
Note: for all government and advisory board meetings and to verify times,
please check the Brown County government calendar:http://www.browncounty-in.gov
or the Brown County Democrat:www.bcdemocrat.com
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LWVBC BOARD MEETING
LWVBC Board meetings are held the
second Monday of each month
December 13, 6:30 pm(via Zoom)
January 10, 6:30 pm(via Zoom)
League Members, Friends,
and the public are welcome
To participate in the meeting, contact League President Shari Frank at browncountylwv@gmail.com
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