tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37522372176977901772024-03-13T16:22:39.229-04:00Garden. Table. Community. Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.comBlogger651125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-90513065377552118692023-02-07T13:05:00.001-05:002023-02-07T13:05:46.816-05:00Kids Cook: Potato Soup<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(100, 88, 68);">Every Wednesday the Hub hosts </span><span style="border: 0px transparent; caret-color: rgb(100, 88, 68); list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kids Cook, </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(100, 88, 68);"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a weekly drop-in opportunity for our youngest community members to join us in preparing a delicious, easy meal while learning essential kitchen skills.</span> </span></span></span></h2><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(100, 88, 68);"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kr3nfBR_EMUAOmjpBUE7xVI9LWyYs5YQW3dKUjlwSC7RRwpN9oE4y-Ww80D1OHfHJ86w5Kycfs57hlq7DHRTaSFYsLz3Nngm3sHW1LTHe5DErFPMinKsLLN31cLW-LZLRtZaxfMd7q7e5du4FpwLAb4d6W0NmRr_9B7iweMCPICpGudNyuXXCmzjQg/s150/52661514183_e0cd2a78ac_q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kr3nfBR_EMUAOmjpBUE7xVI9LWyYs5YQW3dKUjlwSC7RRwpN9oE4y-Ww80D1OHfHJ86w5Kycfs57hlq7DHRTaSFYsLz3Nngm3sHW1LTHe5DErFPMinKsLLN31cLW-LZLRtZaxfMd7q7e5du4FpwLAb4d6W0NmRr_9B7iweMCPICpGudNyuXXCmzjQg/s1600/52661514183_e0cd2a78ac_q.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro; font-size: x-small;">One of the young chefs <br />practicing his knife skills</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(100, 88, 68); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">This month Georgia, our Youth Educator, led the group through the steps of making a simple and tasty potato soup. Georgia demonstrated safe and effective knife skills and soon everyone was chopping potatoes and carrots like true chefs! While chopping, one young chef announced that when he grows up, he will be opening his own potato restaurant!</span><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(100, 88, 68); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(100, 88, 68); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(100, 88, 68); font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(100, 88, 68);"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">For this recipe, there is the option of adding roasted green chilis for an additional kick for more adventurous eaters!</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P8x2EnKKBojZ4cS9QNd0tyOiRfp-_DOwOjrWDPQLIWadql_wQJ1SAbnONN8N2oXQQZ_GuDlkN3NScrgrxP2Dg7LyLPYPKBAQ8yfLMi0M-u9-KEcXEK_JhRUMf6ioSPSHd-t2U50z48I8xY58Xik7gzUU66K-OSyn8vVHgWPJ2RW-ypX8UX-Z6mxnWA/s150/52636708576_01c6bdbdb0_q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P8x2EnKKBojZ4cS9QNd0tyOiRfp-_DOwOjrWDPQLIWadql_wQJ1SAbnONN8N2oXQQZ_GuDlkN3NScrgrxP2Dg7LyLPYPKBAQ8yfLMi0M-u9-KEcXEK_JhRUMf6ioSPSHd-t2U50z48I8xY58Xik7gzUU66K-OSyn8vVHgWPJ2RW-ypX8UX-Z6mxnWA/w200-h200/52636708576_01c6bdbdb0_q.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(100, 88, 68); font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Potato and Green Chile Soup </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Deborah Madison)</span></span><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">2-4 long green chiles or poblano chiles<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">2 Tablespoons oil<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">1 large onion<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">2 teaspoons teaspoon ground coriander<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">1 teaspoon teaspoon ground cumin<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">1 garlic clove, minced<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">2 large russet potatoes or 10 smaller potatoes (about 2 pounds)<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">Salt and pepper<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">2 cups chicken stock or water<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">Sour cream (or Greek yogurt) to finish<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">Chopped cilantro to finish</span></span><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">Step 1<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">Roast the chilis, allow to cool, peel and chop coarsely.</span></span><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">Step 2<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">Dice the onions. Heat the oil in a wide pot and add the onions cooking over medium-low heat until softened, about 4 minutes. </span></span><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">Step 3<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">While the onions cook, peel and dice potatoes into 1 inch pieces. Add the garlic, cumin, coriander, potatoes, chilis and ½ teaspoon salt. Cook together for a few minutes then add the water or stock. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to a simmer.</span></span><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">Step 4<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Source Serif Pro;">Cook, covered until the potatoes are completely softened, about 25 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Mash or puree about half of the potatoes. Serve with sour cream and cilantro, if desired.</span></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-255aa1db-7fff-a9f0-da24-61e4f30685c5"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p>Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-84963751922327274982021-05-05T18:02:00.006-04:002021-05-06T12:48:27.967-04:002021 Indiana Legislative Session<p>Last fall as MHC’s voter registration efforts wrapped up, a team of Hub community members and staff turned our attention to the upcoming Indiana legislative session, and the power it has to impact Hoosiers’ lives. With the session now at its end, team members made space to reflect on this year’s work and challenges, as well as the hopes we have moving forward. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u9KpEl1d2Yo/YJMT8X-PnKI/AAAAAAAABj0/moild5gdEtAIKPz7ChM5HHHRr3Ukv0NmwCLcBGAsYHQ/B5363FF5-1731-4EC3-8CDB-F9DD56F1303B.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u9KpEl1d2Yo/YJMT8X-PnKI/AAAAAAAABj0/moild5gdEtAIKPz7ChM5HHHRr3Ukv0NmwCLcBGAsYHQ/B5363FF5-1731-4EC3-8CDB-F9DD56F1303B.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>As with past years, the work began with the team members collectively picking bills to support based on shared priorities, MHC’s values, and relationships with community partners across the state. This session we chose to work on four bills; We supported legislation that would have ensured reasonable pregnancy accommodations in the workplace, preventing pregnant Hoosiers from having to choose between their jobs and their health. We supported a bill to raise the minimum wage, for both hourly and tipped-wage workers. We supported legislation that would have reformed redistricting rules and prevented partisan gerrymandering. And we supported a bill that would have protected Hoosiers from predatory lending by capping the annual percentage rate on small loans. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>Our legislative work, like everything else in the past year, was shaped by COVID-19. Instead of monthly, open Hub Dinners in person, we met as a small team bi-weekly over Zoom. Instead of chatting with folks in the pantry, we text-banked and shared information online & through the grocery line. And instead of going up to Indy to offer testimony in person, we sent letters to legislators, reaching out by mail and email to share our perspectives. Though we felt connected to each other through these meetings and recognized the power of working together, the overall process felt more distanced and difficult than past years. We both felt less connected with each other than when sitting down over a meal, and felt that it was more difficult to connect with legislators. In the words of one team member, “it felt like there was a really tough wall sitting up there in Indy,” - one that we couldn’t breach through all the new barriers COVID created. </p><p><br /></p><p>Changes from COVID also made the frenzied pace of the legislature and the amount of deeply important legislation moving through the Statehouse difficult for us to keep up with. Team members faced a collective frustration that there was so much happening this session beyond what we were able to look at - pieces of legislation we would have supported with more energy and ones we deeply opposed - but our capacity was more limited this year. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F0MAhIk32F8/YJMS178xXkI/AAAAAAAABjs/K_tY4A_8r8Y54GB2BCEjf2Z5STaTPfziQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1900/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-05-05%2Bat%2B5.48.46%2BPM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="1900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F0MAhIk32F8/YJMS178xXkI/AAAAAAAABjs/K_tY4A_8r8Y54GB2BCEjf2Z5STaTPfziQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-05-05%2Bat%2B5.48.46%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Other challenges from the session felt familiar to past years. For one, the feeling that legislators weren’t listening to the needs of community members & constituents, even when we worked together and with community partners, which led to a desire for legislators that community members felt represented them more fully. We saw that racism is still deeply embedded in our legislative system, as Black legislators were booed on the chamber floor while speaking about their experience of discrimination. We saw the continued deep power imbalances that are built into legislative structures, like bills languishing in committee without being brought for hearings because of committee chairs failing to call them forward. Team members noted legislative priorities that felt hurtfully amiss, like passing legislation to confirm popcorn as the official state snack, while failing to consider and pass bills that would have meaningfully helped community members. And overall, a collective sense that like many systems surrounding us, the legislative process of decision making feels deeply disconnected from the people most impacted by those decisions. Team members worried about this disconnection being replicated again and again, both in our community and across the country. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>Despite these challenges, we found hope as well. In the broken systems we encountered, we saw opportunities for change, and chances to make our community and state a better place for ourselves and our loved ones. In seeing our bills fail to pass this year, we committed to redoubling our efforts next legislative session. And in naming the ways that the past year has disconnected and isolated us, we committed to connecting more deeply with more community members over the next year, in part by restarting monthly Hub Dinners open to all, though still virtual for now. To that end, we invite you to join us every third Tuesday of the next several months for a virtual Hub Dinner, in the hopes that next year at this time we can be reflecting together, but also celebrating new relationships, new shared skills, and maybe even newly passed legislation. </p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Monthly Hub Dinner Facebook Event:</b> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/782618889306985/">https://www.facebook.com/events/782618889306985/</a></div>Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-36624045521493625152020-12-13T14:53:00.004-05:002020-12-17T14:53:30.858-05:002020 Election Community Debrief <div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2zR2_dD7IyI/X9ZpJInYvCI/AAAAAAAABhY/bWYTpFkrz9kH1nkm5kl9BfdkFESxPVAEgCPcBGAYYCw/s500/50594875632_9ed6b6650e_e.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2zR2_dD7IyI/X9ZpJInYvCI/AAAAAAAABhY/bWYTpFkrz9kH1nkm5kl9BfdkFESxPVAEgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/50594875632_9ed6b6650e_e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>For the past four election cycles, the Hub has offered voter registration to patrons & community members in an effort to help make voting more accessible for all. We know that access to food is and always has been political; programs and policies like SNAP & WIC, public charge rules, minimum wage, TANF, healthcare, housing, and more all influence people’s ability to get the food they need. We offer voter registration because we want to make sure our community has a voice in decision-making on those issues. <p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">Though this election cycle looked very different - no chatting & checking registrations over coffee in the pantry, no helping folks fill out an absentee ballot form, no dropping off filled-out forms at Election Central - we still managed to connect with community members about the in’s and out’s of voting both before and after the election. 470 voter registration packets, 10 online voter registration help sessions, one dedicated 6-person voter registration team, 3 petitions to expand voting rights, and many conversations later, here’s what we heard from patrons and community members about their experience of registering and voting this year; what worked, what didn’t, and what changes might make a difference for next time around. </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b>Community & Ceremony </b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In the general election, more community members we spoke with voted in person than by mail. While they were at the polls, folks noted that the sense of community they felt and the ceremony of voting in person were both valuable to them. Chatting with other people in line, going to vote with friends, getting assistance from poll workers, meeting candidates, getting a ride from friends to the polls, and a general feeling that people were going the extra mile to be helpful, civil, and kind to one another meant a lot. In addition to human connection, the ceremony of voting in person was important to many - things like getting their voting sticker, voting at the same polling place they always have, and recognizing their election workers. </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b>Expanded Vote-by-Mail & General Accessibility </b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eT2bCBhmZss/X9ZsVyf7k0I/AAAAAAAABhg/CuABT935uNEOUR7YEuF5NCrw8eYWNK8WwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/50563926432_ea3a4a96dc_c.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eT2bCBhmZss/X9ZsVyf7k0I/AAAAAAAABhg/CuABT935uNEOUR7YEuF5NCrw8eYWNK8WwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/50563926432_ea3a4a96dc_c.jpg" /></a></div><br /> Several other positive notes centered on moments of increased accessibility this election cycle. While most people we spoke with voted in person, some who did vote-by-mail requested their absentee ballot online through the IndianaVoters website portal, an option that was available for the first time this year in Indiana. Along similar lines of expanding access to voting-by-mail, folks flagged that the availability of no-excuse absentee voting in the Primary was useful and appreciated, as well as Monroe County mailing out information on absentee voting to all registered voters. Patrons were dismayed that the same communication and availability wasn’t extended to the General Election. <p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>People also noted some bright spots when it came to physical accessibility this election cycle - things like having chairs & tables to offer seated voting, poll workers checking in with senior voters about their physical needs, and allowing voters with disabilities to bypass long lines. </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b>Suppressive Infrastructure & Rules </b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sadly, alongside the positive reports, we heard about barriers that made voting difficult for community members, and in some cases, altogether impossible. We heard that patrons faced wait times at the polls varying between 10 minutes and more than 2 hours, with times being notably longer for those who chose to vote early. The long lines combined with (and likely a result of) having only one location option for early voting deterred some who were interested. One patron noted that she drove to the early voting site 5 times, and each time realized the line was too long for her to wait in. Though she was able to vote the day of the election, it’s not difficult to imagine that others with similar experiences may have been discouraged entirely. Additionally, we heard that despite the availability of free rides on Bloomington Transit during Election Day, transportation still posed an issue for patrons. </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Beyond infrastructure barriers, other patrons noted that some voting rules and restrictions made voting inaccessible for them. For example, one patron told staff that due to COVID forcing job, housing, and life changes for him this year, he had failed to register by the deadline (set a month before the election) and so was unable to vote. Another patron was unable to vote because under Indiana’s rules, she did not qualify for an absentee ballot, but with two children with auto-immune conditions at home, she felt unsafe visiting the polls in person and so was forced to opt out of voting entirely. Several community members also voiced concerns about the US’s continued use of the Electoral College, and that they would prefer to see that system dismantled. </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SkDsDNaI2D4/X9Zshg1nDbI/AAAAAAAABhk/21QhlKa6wC05x2ZfZo9Kr2g01Iw63jlrgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/50563045973_cb255160b3_c.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SkDsDNaI2D4/X9Zshg1nDbI/AAAAAAAABhk/21QhlKa6wC05x2ZfZo9Kr2g01Iw63jlrgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/50563045973_cb255160b3_c.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b>Information Gap </b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Other barriers stemmed from lack of information or confusion on voting rules and procedures. In a<br /> year when uncertainty has plagued many (if not all) aspects of life, voting was no different. Patrons reported being unsure about whether there was free transportation to the polls, facing difficulty finding information about candidates, uncertainty about whether early voting was bound by the same rules as absentee voting, and general anxiety about what the polls would be like with regards to COVID-19. </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b>Perennial Problems </b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And lastly, folks experienced impediments to voting in many ways that felt familiar to past elections. As with past years, we heard that making a voting plan that accommodated work schedules was hard. That folks were anxious about whether they'd been purged from the voting rolls. We heard that there was dismay with the tone of politics, a feeling that the candidates didn’t represent voters, and concerns about the use of corporate money in politics. And that people were concerned about not only their own ability to vote, but their friends, family, and neighbors’ too; people reported concerns about the disenfranchisement of incarcerated people, concerns about how rural voters would get to the polls, or whether polling places were really accessible for community members with disabilities. </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><b>Recommendations For Future Elections </b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Given all that we heard this year, we would offer the following recommendations for future elections. Some call State legislators and elected officials to take action, others are focused on the Federal level, and still others are geared towards what we can do as individuals and a community. </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b>Interpersonal</b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Normalize and engage in conversations with friends, family, and neighbors about voting plans</li><li>Urge elected officials to expand voting rights and infrastructure immediately, to improve the next election cycle</li></ol><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b>Community</b> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Strengthen community norms around voting, and support intersectional local efforts to offer voter registration, clear information about elections, and help getting to the polls </li><li>Build new community narratives that help increase the ‘ceremony’ of early voting and absentee voting as much as voting day-of</li><li>Ensure that polling places are physically and logistically designed & set up with inclusivity, accessibility, and equity in mind</li><li>Continue and expand the investment of County resources towards outreach to all registered voters in advance of every election</li><li>Invest more heavily in early voting infrastructure</li><li>In the absence of state or federal action to make Election Day a holiday, conduct community-wide outreach to workplaces, urging them to provide paid time off for employees to go vote</li></ol><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b>State</b> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Expand the availability of no excuse vote-by-mail to all Hoosiers permanently </li><li>Strengthen civics education in Indiana schools </li><li>Change regulations to allow voter registration up to and on Election Day, as well as exploring options for automatic voter registration </li><li>Restore voting rights for incarcerated Hoosiers</li><li>In the absence of federal action to make Election Day a holiday, name election day a statewide civic holiday, and create state legislation requiring employers to ensure paid time off work for employees to go vote</li></ol><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b>Federal</b> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Establish Election Day as a national holiday</li><li>Pass Federal legislation requiring all states to restore voting rights to incarcerated individuals </li><li>Provide Federal funding to help states implement strong voting infrastructure with an emphasis on equity and accessibility </li><li>Engage in nationwide narrative building that frames voting as as a right guaranteed to all, and an opportunity to build collective power </li></ol><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-89961723386763132722019-04-26T11:00:00.003-04:002019-04-26T11:00:54.273-04:00April 2019 Updates<h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">As April is ending, we are in the swing of garden season! We have had several work dates that have allowed us to be super productive in the garden and our plants to be thriving thanks to some rain too. We have held a few workshops including a very successful Tamale Workshop tag teamed by Alissa and Thomas. We had our yearly Garden Youth Service Day where Bloomington high schoolers came in and assisted us with reorganizing, cleaning, and mulching different areas of the Hub. We are grateful for the great turnouts for our several events throughout April and looking forward to many more as the weather continues to get better and better. Here are some pictures from some of these great events!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-43026569110902782562019-03-29T10:25:00.000-04:002019-03-29T10:25:00.483-04:00Garden Planning Workshop 2019<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">On March 25, 2019, The Hub hosted a garden planning workshop where Erika, our garden coordinator, taught participants how to properly plan their gardens. She highlighted the different techniques, different types of soil, and how to prioritize your space. Participants were able to plan their gardens based on an in workshop worksheet and learn how to keep their gardens thriving whether it be through preventing pests or how to plant based on what kind of sun access they get.</span></h3>
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Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-19463112760863103672019-03-29T10:22:00.000-04:002019-03-29T10:22:01.462-04:00Vegetables and Cooking Workshop 2019<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">On March 18, 2019, The Hub had the nutrition and garden teams collaborate to host a workshop on different ways to use vegetables in cooking. We displayed vegan and vegetarian options that are not just salads and really fun ways to incorporate vegetables into your meals. Participants were able to pick the recipe they focused on and were able to do each recipe on their own in groups which allowed for interactive learning to yield the best results for recreating in their own home kitchens!</span></h3>
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Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-30575119950486222722019-03-08T11:02:00.001-05:002019-03-08T11:02:38.932-05:00Seed Starting Workshop<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">On Monday, March 4, 2019, we had one of the beginning steps to our garden season which was seed starting. We taught patrons what to look for with tools for seed starting and what we use for planting. Erika demonstrated what desirable soil looks like, planting techniques, and different ways to use household items to garden. The group was able to interact with soil and make their own "newspaper pots." If you are interested in getting more involved with our workshops, call Alissa at (812) 339-5887</span></h3>
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Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-28714046705127533572019-03-01T10:44:00.002-05:002019-03-01T10:44:34.382-05:00February Workshops<h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">This month, we had a couple workshops for patrons, volunteers, and community members to join us for. The workshops were Things on Toast and Cooking and Growing Microgreens. In Things on Toast, we explored different options and toppings to spice up your toast and new ingredients to learn how to use. The participants were able to each make their own dish and then we had a delicious taste test at the end.</span></div>
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For the Cooking and Growing Microgreens Workshop, Alissa and Erika teamed up to teach participants how to grow their own microgreens and new ways to use them in cooking. Not only were participants able to harvest their own microgreens, but they also were able to use them in recipes and taste test them at the end of the workshop.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-56873133452504574302019-02-06T10:59:00.003-05:002019-02-06T10:59:38.325-05:00MHC Advocacy Up In Indy! <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Near the end of January, Hub community members trekked to Indianapolis for the Senate Committee on Financial and Insurance’s hearing on SB 104</b> </span>- a bill to cap the APR rate on predatory payday loans at 36% instead of the current 391%. The hearing included the author’s presentation of the bill, testimony in support of the bill, and testimony in opposition of the bill. Hub folks had lots of thoughts about the experience!<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">There was the good, like seeing the process firsthand and working alongside other Hoosiers invested in restricting predatory loans. </span></b><br />
<b>Chuck Roldan:</b> “I was impressed by the credentials of everybody who talked. The Institute for Working Families person, Erin Macey, had everything - a compelling, complete line of thought.”<br />
<b>Joelle Parker</b>: “I’m glad I went, I haven’t been before.”<br />
<b>Lilly Bryant</b>: I was proud to go up to the statehouse where they make all the important things happen. Walking into the room up there made me proud also to be in a country where us women have a voice and choices to help with these bills.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">But there were also frustrations, some about the committee process, and who it is and isn’t accessible to.</span></b><br />
<b>Laxmi Palde</b>: “It speaks volumes [...] just seeing that most of these legislators are older, and male, and white and they’re talking about something that affects communities and demographics different from that. Seeing the lawmaking process in action was pretty sad. That was the first time when I was like maybe I should run for office in the future.” <br />
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<b>Joelle</b>: “They divided up the testimony to where we said ours, and then the other side did. The last say is the one they’re going to remember the most. I wish we had a different pattern - one presents, then the other, then you can present after or at least get a minute to say something back.”<br />
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<b>Chuck</b>: “There was a gap in terms of personal testimony. There wasn’t anybody [who had used a payday loan] in the room. I imagine that a lot of Hoosiers who have taken out loans probably wouldn’t be able to take off a random tuesday at 1pm and drive an hour to Indy.” <br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">...And some frustrations about what seemed to be social norms in the committee meetings.</span></b><br />
<b>Chuck</b>: [Committee members] were hanging out on their phones.<br />
<b>Laxmi</b>: and leaving the room...one guy was falling asleep.<br />
<b>Joelle</b>: I complained when I got home about the guy from my county getting up and leaving - it seems disrespectful.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Hubsters also had thoughts about the content of testimony and committee members’ questions. </span></b><br />
<b>Chuck</b>: There was a line of questioning that was really concerned about a gap in services that could occur if payday lenders were barred from the state. [...] I guess that’s one way of looking at it. I kept thinking that it’s the same way that when you open up a bag of potato chips, you’re never less hungry - it doesn’t even fill the gap. And also another way of framing it, is that the gap that Senator Bohacek was talking about has a name - and that name is poverty. It’s much bigger than this. [...] Payday loans are a part of the larger poverty tax that we inflict on low income people.”<br />
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<b>Joelle</b>: They acted like the government was going to have to pick up for everybody, making it into a socialist thing. But that’s not really true. We have things that [...] could be a solution to fill the gap. I think that we just need to focus on that.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Another big surprise? The level of information committee members seemed to have about the bill. </span></b><br />
<b>Chuck</b>: One thing i was kind of surprised by, a lot of the people on the committee were just wanting to learn.<br />
<b>Joelle</b>: It’s hard to believe that they just don’t even know the laws that are impacting their constituents so harshly.<br />
<b>Laxmi</b>: A lot of them were asking basic questions well into the meeting that were answered very early on.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Hub folks also noted that there were recurring misconceptions brought up about who uses payday loans. </span></b><br />
<b>Chuck</b>: One person [offering opposition testimony] used the phrase ‘unbankable’ population, which makes sense if you’re talking about states where people don’t have to have a bank account to open a payday loan. But Indiana has the regulation that you have to have a bank account [to take out a payday loan]. It’s also such a loaded word. It’s like ‘good for nothing people.’<br />
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<b>Joelle</b>: They said they were going to go buy drugs with the money, instead of things like ‘I’m going to bury my dad.’ The reality of it is that really horrible things are happening to people like, ‘I’m six months behind on my rent and they’re kicking me out tomorrow.’<br />
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<b>Laxmi</b>: They asked questions like ‘What is the profile of someone who would take on a payday loan?’ [...] That kept coming up. Where are these payday loans or lenders concentrated - is it in communities where there are lots of drugs? It was sad that it had to be a part of the conversation. That seemed to be the preconceived notion.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">When asked if they wanted to rebut anything else that had been said, or wished something had been brought up, Hub folks noted the following. </span></b><br />
Chuck: The gap comment. They [payday loans] don’t even fill the gap!<br />
<b>Laxmi</b>: And some basic fact checking! They kept bringing up [...] that people can’t take out multiple loans, but they’re sort of working around the reality.<br />
<b>Chuck</b>: Yeah...you can take one, and your partner can take one. And they kept on talking about the modal number of loans that people take out as two - they didn’t talk about the mean or median, which I felt would be more useful. The middle-of-the-road payday borrower takes out how many loans? That might be a useful statistic to know.<br />
<b>Joelle</b>: But it also only takes one of those to completely destroy you at 400% apr. That would be my rebuttal.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And last but not least, Hub folks had this advice for folks considering going up for a committee hearing. </span></b><br />
<b>Chuck</b>: Don’t count on the legislators to know anything about the bill. Maybe prepare two testimonies - one for experts and one for novices, and you’ll quickly see which one you need - probably the one for novices.<br />
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<b>Joelle</b>: Dress up to the nines, as best you can. Get straight to the chase - tell them something very startling for your first thing, and how it affected you personally. Just talk about that and have it be from the heart, because that’s what affects them. If there’s any way that you could communicate, ‘how would you feel if it was your brother, your mother, your grandfather - you - who had this happen to them?’ And then that brings it home to them.<br />
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<b>Laxmi</b>: Know that you bring a unique perspective that won’t be heard otherwise in that room, and using that to your advantage. And carefully crafting your words so that they’re as impactful as possible.<br />
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Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-1652096197933263332019-01-24T10:15:00.002-05:002019-01-24T10:15:27.632-05:00Sourdough Bread Workshop 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">On January 23, we had an awesome workshop where we demonstrated how to start a starter for sourdough bread and how to shape it to then cook. We had a great turn out and an even better taste test. Thanks to those who joined us, be sure to look out for our next workshops 'Things on Toast' and 'Growing and Cooking with Microgreens.' We hope to continue to get everyone involved in these events so spread the word!</span></span></div>
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Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-3137434725620497272019-01-22T13:02:00.000-05:002019-01-22T13:04:18.627-05:00MLK Day of Service 2019<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Yesterday we held our annual MLK Day of Service. We had a great turnout of about 50 volunteers who helped deep clean the pantry and set up for the spring 2019 gardening season. We are so grateful for all the hard work the volunteers put in and all the work they were able to get done. In addition to that, we introduced several upcoming advocacy events that we are looking for more community members and volunteers to join. If you are interested in learning more about that, we have an upcoming Hub Dinner on Tuesday February 5th from 6-7:30. Feel free to stop by, grab some food (vegetarian- friendly), talk through several current state- level bills, and get training from our friends at Hoosier Action on how to “Hustle.” No experience necessary- for additional questions contact Hannah at </span><a href="mailto:community@mhcfoodpantry.org" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">community@mhcfoodpantry.org</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> or 812-355-6843. We hope to see you there!</span></span></span></h2>
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<br />Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-59865183349956673672019-01-09T16:38:00.000-05:002019-01-11T14:08:07.703-05:00TANF: Why Changes to this Outdated Program are Vital<br />
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At the Hub, we believe that access to healthy food is a basic human right. In addition to our work in the food pantry, community gardens, and kitchen, the Hub's advocacy program looks at the root causes of hunger and supports policies that help community members get the food they need. This year, MHC advocacy interns dove into researching the TANF program (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), sometimes better known as cash assistance. This program, which has enormous potential to help community members access much-needed financial support, has a complicated history in Indiana. To learn more, keep reading!<br />
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<b>About TANF</b></h3>
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TANF is a safety net program designed to help families achieve self-sufficiency through programs such as child care and cash assistance, contingent upon fulfillment of specific work requirements from both the state and federal government. </div>
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TANF is federally funded through block grants, which <span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">means that states are given a bulk sum of money that they have the flexibility to use as seen fit. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">When it was established in 1996, supporters of this structure said that states would use this flexibility to redirect funds from cash welfare to longer-term programs to promote self-sufficiency. In TANF’s early years, this was the case. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, over time, states (including Indiana) redirected large portions of TANF funds to other purposes, such as filling state budget holes. Even during the Great Recession, when this program was all the more necessary, these funds were not redirected to the core welfare reform services that are meant to provide safety nets for families in crisis; instead, budgets were cut.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cash assistance is </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">one of three of these core welfare reform services. In 2016, only 6% of TANF funds in Indiana were spent on cash assistance, down from 29% in 2001. To be clear, 50,000 families in Indiana experience deep poverty, yet fewer than 8500 received cash aid.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">In stark contrast, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a staggering $96 million</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">32% of TANF funds</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">were allocated to a vague category labeled “Other.” Representatives from the Indiana Institute for Working Families said they investigated and were unable to acquire information regarding what expenditures constituted this category. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">States set their own eligibility requirements for </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">receiving TANF benefits. In Indiana, work requirements to receive TANF benefits are not flexible. <b>This prevents families who face barriers to consistent employment from receiving assistance. </b>For example, families and individuals experiencing mental and physical impairments, substance abuse, domestic violence, learning disabilities, problems with housing, childcare or transportation might be unable to fulfill the work requirements and thus don’t qualify to receive benefits.</span></div>
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States also have <span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">the flexibility to set benefit levels. According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, <b>TANF benefit levels are not high enough in most states to lift a family of three above the poverty line.</b> This is telling, considering that TANF’s ultimate objective is to help families achieve self-sufficiency.</span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-0491c5b6-7fff-0fd4-d0c7-4b949fcfe233"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From 2015 to 2016, only 7 out of 100 Hoosier families in poverty received basic assistance through TANF, compared to 45 out of 100 families in poverty from 2003 to 2004. Furthermore, since its establishment, the program has not been adjusted for inflation. Benefits, around $288/month for a family of three, have lost more than ⅓ of their value. Structural revisions to this outdated program are long overdue. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The appalling data about TANF is only the tip of the iceberg. We must remember what the inability to access vital support does to families</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">it keeps them in a cycle of poverty that is, for many, economically impossible to escape. Thousands of families in deep poverty are unable to seek healthier lives, food, and opportunities; the way TANF </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">works right now, benefits are out of reach for American families who need it the </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">most</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take Action</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">A TANF bill that would adjust the income eligibility requirements to make benefits more accessible has made an appearance in the IGA session for the past two years. Though it received hearings, it never made it to a full floor vote. But the upcoming year could be different with enough community support. According to the IIWF, state legislators are working to raise income eligibility levels for TANF from 16% of the federal poverty line to 50%.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you or someone you know, has experience with TANF or other safety net programs (SNAP, Section 8, CCDF, etc), you can share your story with the Indiana Institute for Working Families (IIWF) </span><a href="http://incap.org/iiwf/takeaction.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">IIWF is also collecting signatures in support of legislation to raise eligibility and benefit levels for TANF. Sign on <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqLYwvOd7mQkcZ9fCVqFnUlGp8e_5x4FpeMtrG0bTP7zij1g/viewform" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Update: The TANF bill (Senate Bill 440) has been filed as of January 10! Find out more <a href="http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2019/bills/senate/440" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-71617984088752693492018-10-01T17:01:00.004-04:002018-10-02T16:17:56.820-04:00Andy Fisher Talk: Are Food Pantries Really the Answer?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This blog post was written by Jessica McKinney, the 2018-2020 SPEA Fellow.<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Instead of fighting hunger, shouldn’t we be preventing poverty?” - Oscar Wilde</span><br />
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<br />On September 5th, 2018, The Hub co-hosted a conversation with Andy Fisher, author of Big Hunger. In his book, Fisher outlines how the emergency food system, once a stop-gap for individuals and families in need, has become a fixture in communities across the US. Andy spoke about a variety of topics pertaining to <a href="http://www.feedingamerica.org/take-action/advocate/federal-hunger-relief-programs/the-emergency-food-assistance-program.html">emergency food systems</a> that connect back to his book, but one question really stuck out. <br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Do food pantries really “solve hunger”?</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1SizBitiduc/W7PRZj_NwvI/AAAAAAAABS4/YJkO8zmwz5s37uHcY2lhSEZgdMCoJBWwwCLcBGAs/s1600/30827025184_94df201766_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1SizBitiduc/W7PRZj_NwvI/AAAAAAAABS4/YJkO8zmwz5s37uHcY2lhSEZgdMCoJBWwwCLcBGAs/s320/30827025184_94df201766_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Andy answers with a firm No, stating in his talk, “Charity is not a bad thing, but it is a BandAid to the real problem.” He argues that we are only temporarily fixing a small part of a bigger picture issue that society doesn’t want to acknowledge. This argument is not one that is dominant in emergency food systems right now, but individuals and organizations, like The Hub, want that to change. By inviting a speaker like Andy to talk about these issues, a conversation can finally start on how to shift towards long-lasting change. Janet Poppendieck, author of Sweet Charity? Emergency Food and the End of Entitlement, also pushes for more than surface level solutions, saying that food pantries were made, and the majority to this day are still used, to combat immediate, short-term hunger. Long-term problems should not be met with short-term solutions -- which, then, begs the question, what should we be doing instead to try to solve hunger? <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">As Andy put it, “We all know this intuitively... a can of beans isn’t going to solve hunger, it has become a BandAid on what has become stage four cancer in our society.” </span></div>
<br />Instead of looking at hunger as a surface level issue, we should be analyzing the systematic barriers that lead to people being hungry. Andy asserts that “Hunger is a symptom of poverty” and that, “African Americans tend to be at higher rates of food insecurity than Whites…[and] Women, especially single moms, tend to have higher rates of food insecurity.” It isn’t a coincidence that these groups are in poverty more than others; Karen Washington, a community activist, says that it’s clear that the real reasons for women and people of color are the most impoverished are systematic, in nature. The country and its government were founded on sexism and racism, and barriers have been set in place for decades against women and people of color that have caused these two groups to be the most impoverished. <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/this-is-what-happens-after-a-neighborhood-gets-gentrified/432813/">Gentrification</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/03/28/redlining-was-banned-50-years-ago-its-still-hurting-minorities-today/?utm_term=.4e29aec27057">redlining</a>, <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/07/01/racial-gender-wage-gaps-persist-in-u-s-despite-some-progress/">lower wages</a>, <a href="https://www.guernicamag.com/karen-washington-its-not-a-food-desert-its-food-apartheid/">food desserts</a>, and <a href="https://www.legalmomentum.org/women-and-poverty-america">lack of a social safety net</a> are only some examples of these barriers. <br /><br />So now that we’ve acknowledged that poverty is a result of systematic powers, what can we do to end it? Different people have different answers, but The Hub suggests bottom-up change. We invited Andy Fisher to Bloomington, IN because we know, and advocate, that food insecurity does not exist in a vacuum. This issue contains multiple factors that have to be considered when making a call to action to prevent poverty and, in effect, prevent hunger. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">For any who went to the talk or maybe a few of you after reading this, you might be thinking to yourselves, This brings up a lot more questions than solutions! Don’t worry! We get that and want to direct you into a place of determination and action, instead of the bottomless pit you are looking down. </span><br />
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The Hub hosts a monthly dinner to connect community members and offer space to discuss food access, housing, healthcare and more. Join us for an upcoming Hub Dinner to connect with neighbors and friends over a delicious meal, dig into tough discussions, and take action together. Our next meeting is October 22nd and the food is always great (If we do say so, ourselves)! Please check Facebook for other dates, going forward.</span><div>
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Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-30210865005437988002018-02-09T12:36:00.002-05:002018-02-09T12:37:24.548-05:00Reflecting on Coffee Talk and Community<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;">This blog post was submitted by the Hub's Advocacy Intern, Zahra Bhoy.</span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-7431a010-7ba3-4518-7024-b39e192f8498"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve been interning at the Hub for about a month now, and it seems like every time I go in to work, I fall more and more in love with the place. From interacting with fellow interns and Hub staff at implicit bias trainings to collaborating with community members at meetings for the Food and Farm Coalition, I’ve constantly been learning and being exposed to different ideas. However, I’d have to say that some of my favorite moments at the Hub have been interacting with patrons during my Friday coffee talk. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A coffee talk is basically when an intern from the Hub offers coffee or tea to patrons in the pantry and talks to them about anything from upcoming advocacy events to how their day is going. I’m not going to lie, when my supervisor Stephanie first told me I’d have to conduct weekly coffee talks, I was a little scared. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Would people walk right by me and ignore me? What would I talk about? Would people hate me because I made really bad coffee? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7431a010-7ba4-3992-b941-269b2882ba6c"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Needless to say, I was freaking out about nothing. For my first coffee talk, I decided to make tea instead of coffee (pretty hard to mess up boiling water, right?), and it ended up being so much fun! I guess I was expecting the hour to be filled with a bunch of small talk and conversations about the weather, so I was surprised when patrons actually wanted to talk to me about what was going on in their lives. I’d offer a simple “Hello, would you like a cup of tea?” and we’d end up in a long-winded conversation about how two patrons were in the same college class 20 years ago. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7431a010-7ba4-5cb4-95be-e0d55e35fe1e"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">I also love people watching, so even if I wasn’t engaged in a conversation with someone, it was still fun to watch the daily bustle of the pantry and overhear conversations of patrons making plans to get coffee or bickering over everyday things. One of the Hub’s main beliefs is that building communities and support networks is vital for combating food insecurity, and it was so cool to witness how the Hub was building a community right here at the pantry. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7431a010-7ba4-7e36-7e86-cdf9200ceab5"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Interning at the Hub has been an awesome experience so far, and I’m so excited to see what the Hub has in store for the next few months. </span></span></span><br />
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Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-28606580351466653232018-01-31T11:25:00.000-05:002018-01-31T11:28:55.330-05:00The Indiana General Assembly is in Session!<span id="docs-internal-guid-cb6ca4bd-4d0c-8673-d333-b2f5877f28b0"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While much of the news is centered on the United States Congress and the federal budget, Indiana’s General Assembly is currently in session, proposing laws that will go into effect as early as July 1st, 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Indiana General Assembly (IGA) is a bicameral legislative body, similar to the U.S. Congress. It consists of a House, with 100 members serving 2-year terms, and a Senate, with 50 members serving 4-year terms. A major difference between the IGA and the Congress, is that Indiana runs on a 2-year budget cycle. We are currently in the middle of our budget cycle, and so the IGA is in a short legislative session, running from January 3rd-March 14th, 2018. Although this is a short session, many of the proposed bills will have quite an impact on Hoosiers across the state.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the most important bills for those dealing with food insecurity is </span><a href="https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2018/bills/senate/11" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Senate Bill 11</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, “Eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance.” This bill would remove a restriction that prevents certain individuals convicted of drug offenses from receiving SNAP benefits (food stamps). Indiana is one of only four states that does not allow these individuals to receive SNAP benefits. </span></div>
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<a href="https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2018/bills/senate/232" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SB 232</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, “Access to nutritious food program,” would establish a program under the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, with the goals of “</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(1) distribution of fresh and nutritious food; and (2) education in food preparation and nutrition in food deserts.”</span></div>
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<a href="https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2018/bills/house/1285" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HB 1285</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> calls for stricter eligibility and identification requirements for those who receive SNAP benefits or Medicaid from the Family and Social Services Administration of Indiana. The bill proposes identity verification at least four times a year, as well as work requirements for receiving certain funds. The IGA will have a committee conduct a summer study on these possible changes and their cost. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Other bills of interest...</span></div>
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<a href="https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2018/bills/senate/418" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SB 418</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, “Bias motivated crimes,” would be Indiana’s Hate Crime law. In response to events around the country and the world, it is time Indiana took a stand to protect those from being discriminated against for the race, religion, or sexual orientation. It would also require all crimes of this nature to be reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This bill has support from the leading legislators and will likely be enacted.</span></div>
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<a href="https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2018/bills/senate/93" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SB 93</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> / </span><a href="https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2018/bills/house/1390" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HB 1390</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, both of these bills deal with fair and equal pay. These bills would make it illegal to pay discriminate wages, based on sex, race or national orientation for the same job. If passed, the Indiana Civil Rights Commission would have jurisdiction over complaints.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><a href="http://share.indianachamber.com/media/pdf/HowABillBecomesLaw08.pdf" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Indiana Chamber of Commerce</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> provides a wonderful resource about the process of how bill proposals become law.</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> To follow current proposals and proceedings consider joining </span><a href="https://pingthepeople.org/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ping the People</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Receive daily updates on the bills you care about.</span></span>Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-58147973276653493692018-01-03T17:00:00.002-05:002018-01-03T17:03:10.193-05:00Food and Farms Coalition Call Out<br /><br />One of the major pieces of legislation that will be on the docket in 2018 is the Farm Bill, a comprehensive, multi-year law that governs the agricultural and food programs that undergird our entire food system. Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and will be instrumental in drafting a Farm Bill that works for all Hoosiers. We appreciate that Joe Donnelly took the time to meet with emergency food providers in Lafayette this November, as part of his listening tour of Indiana concerning the 2018 Farm Bill. During this listening session, we spoke about the fundamental need for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in Indiana, where food insecurity is still increasing.<br /><br />On December 5th, Senator Donnelly sent a message recapping his takeaway from this tour. In this email, he stated support for a host of commodity agriculture programs, biofuels and rural community investments, but nowhere did the Senator mention SNAP, or family farms. These are notable omissions; SNAP makes up about 80% of the Farm Bill funding and Indiana has over 40,000 small farms, which are struggling to make ends meet while bringing nutritious food to our communities. <br /><br />SNAP is in real trouble in this political climate. The tax bill that recently passed will increase the federal deficit drastically, and republican lawmakers have stated that they are now looking to create substantial budget cuts in coming years to social safety net programs, including SNAP, in order to address this shortfall. SNAP cuts would be devastating to local economies, and to the 1 in 8 Hoosiers that depend on SNAP to eat. Nearly 75% of SNAP benefits go to households with children or someone with a disability. These children require healthy food to learn and develop into productive citizens and SNAP is by far the most efficient tool that we have to fight hunger in the US. Food Banks and private charities can only provide 5% of the groceries that hungry Americans need. Government nutrition programs provide the rest.<br /><br />We need to work with Senator Donnelly to shape a Farm Bill that supports the small farmers and sustainable farming practices that are vital to local food security in Indiana, and to the health of our rural communities. The Center for Disease Control finds that farmers and agricultural workers are 5 times more likely than other kinds of American workers to commit suicide. The rural communities that depend on the health of small farms are suffering. These communities instead need a Farm Bill that prioritizes the success of diversified family farms, the needs of agricultural workers and the health of the land itself. They also need the localized economic boost that SNAP spending creates. According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service, every $5 of SNAP benefits spent generates $9 of localized economic activity. Decreasing SNAP spending in Indiana will further depress the economies of Indiana towns. <br /><br />At the Hub, we know that our entire community is affected by the food industry; as workers, as eaters, as food stamp recipients. That's why we can't ignore the upcoming reauthorization of the Farm Bill. So, we are launching the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/283473522156728/">Food and Farms Coalition</a> (FFC) to organize for a smart Farm Bill. The FFC includes the Hub's Advocacy Working Group and Hoosier Action, working together with small farmers, SNAP recipients and those concerned about the food system. We need to make sure that the Senate hears the voices of Hoosiers too long ignored. If this includes you, join us on Tuesday, January 9th at 6:30pm at Sacred Heart Church, 615 N Fairview St. to build power!Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-72328739528264071712017-11-27T12:14:00.001-05:002017-11-27T12:14:14.540-05:00Launching the Food and Farms CoalitionAt the Hub, we know that our entire community is affected by the food industry; as workers, as eaters, as food stamp recipients-- that's why we can't ignore the upcoming reauthorization of the Farm Bill. As a result, this year we are launching the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/283473522156728/" target="_blank">Food and Farms Coalition</a> (FFC) to build power! The FFC includes the Hub's Advocacy Working Group and Hoosier Action, working together with small farmers, SNAP recipients and those concerned about the food system.<br />
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<a href="https://www.hoosieraction.org/" target="_blank">Hoosier Action</a> launched in April 2017 to build the political power of Indiana's working families through robust community organizing. They take on campaigns around economic and social issues that impact everyday people across the region.<br />
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The <a href="http://mhcfoodpantry.org/what-we-do/advocacy/" target="_blank">Hub's Advocacy Working Group</a> aims to address the issues of poverty and injustice that lead to food insecurity. Our core issues are food security, affordable healthcare, and affordable housing. The Food and Farms Coalition will launch our first Farm Bill campaign.<br />
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The Farm Bill is a congressional bill that re-authorizes every 5 years or so, and it dictates how much funding will go to food and agriculture programs in the U.S. Our current Farm Bill is going to be expiring on September 30, 2018, so there are some changes that may occur. We want to provide as much information as we possibly can on this year's Bill so that everyone can benefit from it, working together to ensure the Bill is fair to agriculture workers and buyers and all those affected by food insecurity. <br />
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Our Indiana Senator, Joe Donnelly, sits on the Senate Agriculture Committee, which works directly on the Senate's version of the Farm Bill. As his constituents we need to let him know what we think, and how he can best represent us. <br />
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Let's work together to stay informed, raise our voices and work toward a strong, healthy Farm Bill. The Food and Farm Coalition will meet monthly, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/283473522156728/" target="_blank">please join us</a> tomorrow, Tuesday, November 28th at the Hub from 6pm-8pm to get started!<br />
<br />Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-79058259810159415062017-11-20T14:10:00.000-05:002017-12-19T14:22:15.952-05:00Cuts to Food Stamps<br />
<b><br />“SNAP has helped me out several times in my life. In college, it's how I ate. Now, I use it to help me buy food since I live paycheck to paycheck.” -SNAP recipient, Hub patron</b><br />
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<b>In March, President Trump proposed $193 billions dollars in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps. </b>These massive cuts would be a drastic blow to one of the most effective hunger and poverty prevention programs in the United States. A program that has:<br />
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<li>Lifted millions of households out of poverty: SNAP kept 10.3 million people out of poverty in 2012, including 4.9 million children.</li>
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<li>Helped families put nutritious food on the table.</li>
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<li>Promoted long-term health and well-being, especially for children.</li>
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<li>Provided a valuable safety-net, both during economic downturn and natural disasters.</li>
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<b>In Indiana:</b><br />
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<li>It kept 224,000 Hoosiers out of poverty, including 111,000 children, per year between 2009 and 2012</li>
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<b> How will these cuts affect Hoosiers in Monroe County? </b><br />
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In Monroe County, over 25,000 community members experience food insecurity - the second highest rate of food insecurity in the state of Indiana. Of those families and individuals, nearly 8,000 receive SNAP benefits, and it serves as a valuable resource for putting food on the table. <br />
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If these funding cuts go into effect, thousands of Hoosiers will no longer be able to afford a healthy diet. Nearly 75% of SNAP benefits go to households with children or have someone with a disability. While we would hope these would be the last groups to be affected by any changes, there is no guarantee when such a large sum of money is involved. If federal funds are cut, we will be unable to count on the state of Indiana to fill the gap with a tight state budget.<br />
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<b>If SNAP benefits got cut...“[i]t would make it harder to pay the bills on time. Either a bill wouldn't be paid or I would sacrifice food for bills. I make less than what I owe. I am very fortunate to have found resources for food from my friends, from growing my own food, and from organizations like the Hub, but many people in a worse situation really struggle. They will get very low quality food if enough food at all.” </b><br />
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<b>Sources:</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.snaptohealth.org/snap/the-real-benefits-of-the-snap-program/">https://www.snaptohealth.org/snap/the-real-benefits-of-the-snap-program/</a> <br />
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<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/snap_factsheet_indiana.pdf">https://www.cbpp.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/snap_factsheet_indiana.pdf</a> </div>
Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-78248766689966415772017-11-01T12:31:00.001-04:002017-11-01T12:31:32.359-04:00Building Social Inclusion at the Hub!<i>Submitted by Advocacy Intern Meagan Wilson. </i><br />
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Last night, the Hub got together with <a href="http://www.btccbloomington.org/" target="_blank">BTCC Bloomington</a> to discuss social inclusion in the Bloomington community!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lY0hF_5mpdU/WfnWKHlKqgI/AAAAAAAABSA/5CfzU_dTZPcIxymP0FYkLVP8h6UDhuhYQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_4398.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1364" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lY0hF_5mpdU/WfnWKHlKqgI/AAAAAAAABSA/5CfzU_dTZPcIxymP0FYkLVP8h6UDhuhYQCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_4398.jpeg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our ideas about the current reality of social <br />
inclusion in Bloomington</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ne8TYP4SI-c/WfnX0SedOFI/AAAAAAAABSI/xjrfRFEdtgITjve5ez1gf4GMNeBEjc2bACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4400.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1565" data-original-width="1600" height="312" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ne8TYP4SI-c/WfnX0SedOFI/AAAAAAAABSI/xjrfRFEdtgITjve5ez1gf4GMNeBEjc2bACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_4400.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gaging the amount of progress made on social issues <br />
in Bloomington</td></tr>
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Social inclusion is a topic of vital importance here at the Hub. Promoting social inclusion is one of our foundational beliefs, and we want to foster it in the community as much as we can. Bloomington still has a long way to go in terms of racial, gender and income equality, but it isn't too late to start making progress.<br />
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We understand how much social inclusion can impact our patrons and friends -- oppression and inequality are the cornerstones of poverty and food insecurity. That's why in every community, it's <i>so</i> important to build inclusivity. We want to build support networks, change systems, start conversations and look out for one another.<br />
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During the talk, we discussed big picture ideas for fostering social inclusion: raising the minimum wage, bridging the gap between Indiana University's campus and the city of Bloomington, and investing in infrastructure so as to provide low-income individuals affordable housing. However, these aren't all that you can do for helping create a more socially inclusive community; sometimes, grassroots changes can make just as big of a difference as big picture ideas. Start talking to your neighbors, reach out to people who might need help, and stand up for your community in everyday situations. Encourage education and compassion. If everyone contributes to our vision of a more socially inclusive community, it could become a reality sooner than we think.Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-87432836440870949282017-10-23T10:11:00.000-04:002017-11-01T12:24:22.814-04:00Food Day 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Hub is celebrating our annual Food Day celebration, complete with an urban agriculture demo, a canning demo, kid-friendly activities and lots of pie!<br />
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Food Day is a national celebration of food, focusing on health and fairer food policies. The idea behind food day is simple: promoting healthier, affordable and ecofriendly food for all Americans. With our country's resources, there's no excuse for underfed or unhealthy populations. Food Day also highlights one of Mother Hubbard's central mantras: food is a <i>basic human right</i> that everyone should have easy access to.<br />
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You can take Food Day as an opportunity to change your perspective on food policies, start eating healthy, or begin educating yourself on food justice. Everyone is welcome to join our celebration, so feel free to bring your friends and family too!<br />
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We want to celebrate food in all its glory. That's why we're coming together as a community, discussing issues, and enjoying a delicious slice of pie at our Food Day!</div>
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Join the event on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/116037112415078/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.<br />
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We're looking forward to seeing you there!</div>
Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-19279636022838759182017-10-09T11:33:00.003-04:002017-11-01T12:24:22.790-04:00Need to enroll in the ACA? <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At the Hub, we know that access to affordable healthcare is vital to those experiencing food insecurity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Because of recent budget cuts, enrollment for the Affordable Care Act has become more difficult this year due to the lack of <a href="http://www.npr.org/2017/10/08/556465507/enrolling-in-the-aca-is-a-little-harder-this-year" target="_blank">regional health directors' involvement</a>. Spreading the word for ACA enrollment has been a struggle for a lot of government officials, so we at the Hub wanted to help in any way that we can in raising awareness for the specific dates you can enroll.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This year, enrollment is open from <b>November 1st to December 15th. </b>According to <a href="https://getamericacovered.org/resources/" target="_blank">Get America Covered, </a> 8 out of 10 qualify for financial help, with premiums starting from $50 to $100, and there could be even more savings for individuals who can't afford these options.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Unfortunately, heathcare.gov will be <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/22/news/economy/obamacare-open-enrollment/index.html" target="_blank">taken down</a> from midnight to noon every Sunday, so if you're wanting to enroll, this site can't be used at those times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This link can direct you to a list of Certified Navigators in Monroe County, who can help you choose a health care plan: <span class="s1" style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 15px;"><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RgUYmVmheNrnR3ET3U7-FgubfKNY1NT0qBQdexBEHDHGbZuOPHnHKYMYF12iYmThp5WpEwILE0SkedWCsm5pm30PbhxBy6T9W7HuGrfjr_y0G2wfWvESJpxcgRD9ldEI7Z5g0wlKFoV05ChE5fY0_nBInlw-8i1tMJSpbSm33_LFeSus9nsCwym4XYIf1XXho1gphy6oE_g=&c=IGQjymc7rUN3Ar0QRWife2eQ6hqd625GHSw_pzLwyoai6auIoPqoUg==&ch=tSOzqipUrlId9hFG7TjbfXByBW57zRoNcDxxMUXwxkGx47FUDJmb8Q==">https://bloomington.in.gov/health/insurance</a></span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 15px;">.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br />
<span class="s2"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Or you could contact <b>Nancy Woolery at 812-349-3851</b> or <b>wooleryn@bloomington.in.gov.</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s2"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="s2"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Another local resource you can use is Covering Kids and Families of South Central Community Action Program (SCCAP). You can contact <b>Katie Rodriguez</b> for help with enrollment at <b>812-339-3447</b>, or at <b>katherine@insccap.org.</b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For a full list of local resources, go to </span><span class="s1" style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 15px;"><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RgUYmVmheNrnR3ET3U7-FgubfKNY1NT0qBQdexBEHDHGbZuOPHnHKYMYF12iYmThp5WpEwILE0SkedWCsm5pm30PbhxBy6T9W7HuGrfjr_y0G2wfWvESJpxcgRD9ldEI7Z5g0wlKFoV05ChE5fY0_nBInlw-8i1tMJSpbSm33_LFeSus9nsCwym4XYIf1XXho1gphy6oE_g=&c=IGQjymc7rUN3Ar0QRWife2eQ6hqd625GHSw_pzLwyoai6auIoPqoUg==&ch=tSOzqipUrlId9hFG7TjbfXByBW57zRoNcDxxMUXwxkGx47FUDJmb8Q==">https://bloomington.in.gov/health/insurance</a></span><span class="s2" style="font-size: 15px;">.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="s2"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It's important that everyone has access to health care, and you can help people become aware of the current policies by sharing this information with those who may not know about them. Help us spread the word about enrolling for the ACA this year!</span></span></span></span><br />
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Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-81069698143492335822017-07-28T16:15:00.002-04:002017-11-01T12:24:22.802-04:00Local School Board Responds to Demands to End Lunch Shaming<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mother Hubbard's Cupboard joined the <a href="http://www.hhfoodbank.org/" target="_blank">Hoosier Hills Food Bank</a>, the <a href="https://bloomington.in.gov/boards/status-of-black-males" target="_blank">Commission on the Status of Black Males</a>, and many other organizations, commissions and individuals in calling on the <a href="https://www.mccsc.edu/" target="_blank">Monroe County Community School Corporation </a>(MCCSC) to end their lunch shaming practices, and change their policy on lunch debt collection. You can read more about our efforts on this issue <a href="http://gardentablecommunity.blogspot.com/2017/06/lunch-shaming-call-to-action.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://gardentablecommunity.blogspot.com/2017/06/lunch-shaming-call-to-action-school.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Following the <a href="http://catstv.net/government.php?issearch=yes&webquery=&minyear=2016&minmonth=07&maxyear=2017&maxmonth=07&meeterid=category-M" target="_blank">June School Board meeting</a>, when many spoke out against the policy of giving students with unpaid lunch debt an alternative meal (thus stigmatizing them and making them accountable for debt that their parents owe), MCCSC Superintendent Judith DeMuth called a meeting with those who had made public comments at the meeting. At that meeting, Hattie Johnson, MCCSC's Director of Nutrition Services announced the details of DeMuth's new lunch debt policy, which did away with the alternative meal, and took the students completely out of the school lunch debt collection process. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the July School Board Meeting on July 25, the new policy was officially approved by the school board, and passed unanimously.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">All of us at The Hub are pleased with the outcome, and proud to have been involved in this effective campaign about such an important issue.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What's next?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">While we are thrilled to see this destructive policy removed from our local school system, these sorts of lunch shaming policies persist across the nation. Support <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">the <span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bipartisan federal</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">legislation, </span><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1064" style="background-color: white; color: #ff5700; text-decoration-line: none;">the Anti-Lunch Shaming Act of 2017</a> </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by signing Feeding America's </span><a href="https://secure.feedingamerica.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app223b?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=362&autologin=true&s_src=E17656AEN&utm_medium=email&utm_source=owned&utm_content=enews4_text&utm_term=advocate&utm_campaign=June_eNewsletter&NONCE_TOKEN=F472816ACA153951395F7B225FF50984" style="background-color: white; color: #ff5700;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">petition</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to urge congress to support this legislation. You can also write <a href="http://act.commoncause.org/site/PageServer?pagename=sunlight_advocacy_list_page" target="_blank">to your representatives</a> at the statehouse, and at the national level, to let them know your views on these policies, and urge them to take action to put an end to them. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A huge thank you to all of those who participated in the Hub's Advocacy Working Group, and to everyone in the community who stepped up and spoke out on this issue. Our voices can make a difference.</span></span><br />
<br />Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-43314058717769017312017-07-14T12:49:00.000-04:002017-12-06T10:50:00.180-05:00Cute Food!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Summer is the season for patty pan, zucchini, yellow crook neck and other tasty summer squash. Gardeners often have an abundance of these beauties to share with friends and neighbors, and our pantry produce section is bursting with a variety of summer squash. Kids Cook participants had the chance to try a fun way of preparing patty pan squash this week. Patty pan has a similar texture and flavor to zucchini, but its squat and rounded shape makes it ideal for stuffing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We prepared a savory rice filling and parboiled the squash beforehand, then the kids hollowed out the squash with a spoon. After filling with the rice mixture, and placing the "caps" on top, they go in the oven for 20 minutes or so, until piping hot. The kids enjoyed the rice in its own edible bowl, and you can too! Check out the recipe <a href="https://gardentablecommunity.blogspot.com/2014/07/rice-stuffed-patty-pan-squash.html" target="_blank">the recipe</a> and try it tonight!</span>Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-57861292062016263872017-07-03T12:02:00.000-04:002017-12-06T10:50:00.218-05:00Make your own sandwich bread!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.1pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; mso-outline-level: 2; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545051; font-family: inherit , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14px;">Looking for a fast, easy meal to put together? Versatile and classic, sandwiches are a quick and cost-effective way to put together a meal during the week. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #545051; font-family: inherit , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Baking your own bread at home for sandwiches has a lot of benefits! Commercially prepared breads often have higher levels of sodium compared to home-baked breads and have</span></span><span style="color: #545051; font-family: inherit , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/whole-grains/" target="_blank"> lower levels of vitamins and minerals</a> due to a production process that strips the bread of some of its nutrients.</span></span><span style="color: #545051; font-size: 14px;"> They also include various preservatives and artificial ingredients. When baking your own bread, you can avoid preservatives, high sodium, cross-contamination, and insure you get </span><i style="color: #545051;">all</i><span style="color: #545051; font-size: 14px;"> of the nutrients. Baking your own <a href="https://www.thespruce.com/cost-of-bread-baking-vs-buying-bread-1446664" target="_blank">bread is also super cost-effective</a> when compared to buying from the store!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #545051; font-size: 14px;">When choosing a sandwich bread, whole wheat is a nutritious and delicious selection. Most individuals need between 6-8 oz of whole grain a day (3-5 oz for children 8 years and younger). Whole wheat is an example of a </span><a href="http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyEating/HealthyDietGoals/Whole-Grains-and-Fiber_UCM_303249_Article.jsp#.WU1HQbLyvIU" style="font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">recommended whole grain as opposed to refined grains</a>,<span style="color: #545051; font-size: 14px;"> such as refined breads and white rice. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #545051; font-family: inherit , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 15px;"><a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/WholeGrainsTipAdviceGuidance.pdf" target="_blank">Whole wheat also has more fiber</a> than most breads, which will keep you feeling full for a longer period of time in between meals!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #545051;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">You can try <a href="https://gardentablecommunity.blogspot.com/2014/07/whole-wheat-sandwich-bread.html" target="_blank">the recipe we used in our sandwich bread workshop.</a> You might like it so much you'll want to work it into your weekly routine. </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished products from The Hub's winter breadbaking workshop</td></tr>
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Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752237217697790177.post-48222306264250637432017-06-28T12:49:00.002-04:002017-12-06T11:04:36.220-05:00Lunch Shaming Call to Action: School Board Meeting Follow Up<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">As many of you have been following, last night was the School Board meeting addressing the school lunch debt or “lunch shaming” policy. An impressive number of parents, students, organizations, and city commissions attended and made statements. We were proud to have representatives from Hub staff, CEO Amanda Nickey and Nutrition Coordinator Kayte Young and from the Hub Advocacy Working Group, Thomas Vanderplough and Celestina Garcia. In many ways, Celestina sent the most powerful rallying cry for the policy to be changed, you can hear her statement by clicking the link below. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was so much news coverage of last’s night’s School Board Meeting, we decided to compile it for you here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://catstv.net/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Watch the video coverage of the last night’s board meeting: click on MCCSC School Board 6/27</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(public comment at 1:10:00-2:13:00)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/media/celestina-garcia-speaks-about-school-lunch-shaming/video_57f56704-5ba3-11e7-865e-4b6d870e5809.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Herald Time’s Video of Celestina Garcia’s Testimonial</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/news/local/mccsc-s-demuth-pledges-to-revise-lunch-policy-after-input/article_a90f99b8-1e12-5f14-9f35-f21dc2efe7f5.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MCCSC's DeMuth pledges to revise lunch policy after input at school board meeting</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/mccsc-reconsider-controversial-lunch-shaming-policy-122473/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MCCSC To Reconsider Controversial ‘Lunch Shaming’ Policy</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8HWGWPP" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Indiana Public Media’s Survey on the current School Lunch Debt Policy</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kayte Young will be speaking about the issue on this Friday June 30th’s </span><a href="http://indianapublicmedia.org/noonedition/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WFIU Noon Edition</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next Steps for concerned citizens: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr. DeMuth will be reworking the policy to present at the July board meeting. Contact Dr. DeMuth </span><a href="mailto:jdemuth@mccsc.edu" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or find information for district leadership </span><a href="http://www.boarddocs.com/in/mccsc/Board.nsf/Public?open&id=board" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and share your ideas for a new policy. Read more here: <a href="http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/news/local/superintendent-welcomes-input-on-mccsc-meal-debt-policy/article_451532df-af50-58f1-8605-ccc961ad41fe.html">Superintendent welcomes input on MCCSC meal debt policy</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Share your concerns with the public by writing a </span><a href="http://ww.heraldtimesonline.com/forms/index_l.php" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">letter to the editor</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Attend the next School Board meeting to hear about the new policy being proposed. Details: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday, July 25th at 6pm</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at the MCCSC Administration Building at 315 E. North Drive, Bloomington, IN 47401</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As mentioned in the meeting, there is bipartisan federal legislation, </span><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1064" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the Anti-Lunch Shaming Act of 2017</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, addressing the issue of lunch shaming. Feeding America has a </span><a href="https://secure.feedingamerica.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app223b?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=362&autologin=true&s_src=E17656AEN&utm_medium=email&utm_source=owned&utm_content=enews4_text&utm_term=advocate&utm_campaign=June_eNewsletter&NONCE_TOKEN=F472816ACA153951395F7B225FF50984" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">petition</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> you can sign to urge congress to support this legislation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hub is so proud to working with those in our community who believe that all should have access to food in a manner that upholds the dignity of all involved. If you would like to join the Hub’s Advocacy Working Group, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">contact </span><a href="mailto:stephanie@mhcfoodpantry.org" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stephanie Solomon</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span>Mo Hubbardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315055352938555773noreply@blogger.com0