Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute

For these reasons, the inaugural “Voice of Community Action Award” goes to TRI-CAP Director and IN-CAA Board Chair, Joyce Fleck.

She provided heartfelt lead testimony in a statehouse hearing on medical debt, persistently sought the Governor's support, and ensured that her new Congressman went on the record in support of Community Action.

🏆There are many in our #CommunityAction family who have been strong advocates this past year. We’re so incredibly grateful to all of you! Last week at our Indiana Community Action Association state conference, we honored one person who truly went above and beyond.

We're back with a new five-week challenge this summer that's designed to help you understand all the news happening around federal and state budget changes -- and you'll leave equipped with the tools you need to make your voice heard! Register at tinyurl.com/GetInvolved25

Representative Clere also has the unique honor of being a two-time Institute award recipient. Thank you, Representative Clere, for your service to Hoosiers!

Our team has had the pleasure of working with Representative Clere on a wide range of issues. As Co-Chair of the Indiana Skills2Compete Coalition, Representative Clere brings together business, labor, and nonprofit leaders to support pathways to opportunity for Hoosiers.

🏆State Representative Ed Clere received a "Champion of Economic Opportunity" Award from Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute last week. During his tenure, Representative Clere has consistently spoken up on behalf of the most vulnerable Hoosiers.

One down, one to go! Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Medical Debt Know Your Rights training yesterday, and if you haven't already, be sure to register for the one we are hosting next week: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members." Senator Pol holds our state accountable for how we treat our most vulnerable Hoosiers and for that, we honor and thank him!

Among other accomplishments, this year, he not only authored and successfully passed a bill that requires employers to allow their employees the ability to attend their children's IEP meetings, but he also authored a #paidleaveforall bill.

🏆State Senator Rodney Pol Jr. received a "Champion of Economic Opportunity" Award from Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute last week. Senator Pol is a trailblazer.

We give our deepest gratitude and thanks to Senator Alting and encourage him to keep fighting for the little guy!

This year, he ensured that payday lenders were not given more avenues to take advantage of those in financial distress and spoke out on behalf of one of the most vulnerable in our communities across the state - our unhoused and homeless neighbors.

🏆 State Senator Ron Alting, Indiana Senate GOP, received a "Champion of Economic Opportunity" Award from @incap.bsky.social last week. Sen Alting has consistently shown deep care for "the little guy" throughout his many years as a statesman, representing what it truly means to be a Hoosier.

➡️Follow the Institute to see who else received a "Champion of Economic Opportunity" Award this year.

Part of the mission of #CommunityAction is to inspire hope. We're grateful to Representative Summers for inspiring hope yesterday, today, and for years to come.

In a meaningful moment for Institute policy fellow Roshawn Neal, Rep Summers and other members of the Black Legislative Caucus passed a resolution designating May as #LupusAwarenessMonth, bringing light to the experiences of those with chronic conditions & bringing hope to a new advocate.

She has fought for safe and healthy pregnancies, postpartum supports, quality, affordable childcare, and protections for those struggling with medical debt. In a state that desperately needs to improve maternal and infant mortality rates, this advocacy is critical.

Representative Vanessa Summers received a "Champion of Economic Opportunity" award from the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute last week. Representative Summers lifts her voice to hold her colleagues in the statehouse accountable to the most vulnerable – including mothers & young children.

Plus, for the first time, we offered a "Voice of Community Action" award to someone from our network who went above and beyond to advocate for Hoosiers. Tag someone you think deserves to be celebrated for their advocacy below!

Which legislators are 'Champions of Economic Opportunity?' At the Indiana Community Action Association annual conference last week, #TeamInstitute staff presented awards to four outstanding state legislators. Be sure to follow us this week to learn about who we selected and why they were chosen!

Time is running out to register for our July 30 Know Your Rights training on strategies to prevent and limit the damage of medical debt. This workshop will feature a presentation and Q&A, designed to empower individuals to act on their medical debt rights. Register today at buff.ly/3hb25Fn

Stay cool, stay safe. Call 2-1-1 to find cooling centers open in your community. @in211 community navigators are available to provide you with updated locations and hours of cooling centers in your area or visit IN211.org

CFPB Consumer Complaint Database just surpassed 10 million complaints graph

The #CFPB Consumer #Complaint Database just surpassed 10 million complaints.

2025 has seen the most consumer complaints out of any year, despite it only being July.

Less oversight of #financial firms causes more harm to American consumers.

On #TaxTuesday, we take on the assumption that state budgets are a zero-sum game. Instead, funding choices reflect policy decisions. Learn more from our blog: institute.incap.org/instituteblog

Medical Debt Know Your Rights Through a partnership with Health Foundation of La Porte, the Institute is offering two FREE online workshops to educate community members on how to navigate medical debt. Individuals with medical…

Our upcoming Medical Debt Know Your Rights workshops have been featured in the news not once but TWICE. Don't forget to register today at institute.incap.org/medical-debt-know-your-rights, or read the articles about our project at dailyjournal.net/2025/07/20/i... and www.wbiw.com/2025/07/17/i...

A FOOT IN THE DOOR? Advocates hope Gov. Braun may support creating a commission as he says housing is key to Indiana’s economic future - THE INDIANA CITIZEN By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen July 18, 2025 Just as a new report is highlighting that two-thirds of Indiana’s largest occupations are paying less than what workers need to cover rent, Gov.…

Thrilled to have our Policy Analyst Lauren Murfree quoted alongside partners from Prosperity Indiana and the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition in support of Gov. Braun considering a housing commission. Read the full article here: indianacitizen.org/a-foot-in-th...

Through a partnership with Health Foundation of La Porte, the Institute is offering two FREE online workshops to educate community members on how to navigate medical debt. Learn more and register at institute.incap.org/medical-debt...

Indiana’s Skills2Compete Coalition brings together a bipartisan group of state legislators as well as education, business, labor, and non-profit leaders with the aim of developing a skilled workforce (pictured here, from our May gathering at the National Skills Coalition summit).

#TeamInstitute stayed busy today:
-Planning a summer Get IN-VOLVED series
-Setting up #garnishment interviews
-Answering reporter questions about Buy Now Pay Later products
-Writing questions for a legislator panel at our state conference
-Sending invites to a virtual session on dads & #paidleave