How Indiana organizers built immigrant community power in 2021

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This year was a tremendous year for organizing in Indiana. Starting with a small core team, Cosecha Indiana aimed to grow the capacity of our movement in a sustainable, powerful way.

We ended up accomplishing more than we ever imagined.

Cosecha Indiana organizers at Gary/Chicago International Airpot in July, launching the 300-mile “Walk for Licenses” to Indianapolis

One main goal we had this year was to seed and develop new Cosecha “circles” in different cities in Indiana. Through Facebook lives, Cosecha encuentros, solidarity trainings, ally/comrade space learnings, and Cosecha 101 trainings for partner groups, we helped develop new immigrant and ally leaders to support our organizing.

We also continued a focus on mutual aid work that we started in 2020 to support our undocumented community affected by the ongoing pandemic, including support with Cosecha’s national Undocumented Worker Fund and e-learning spaces for families with financial support.

Here are some other organizing highlights from 2021:

• We organized a kermes that raised over $3,000 to secure housing, food, transportation for undocumented families in Indiana to participate in Cosecha’s national May 1 march in Washington, DC — where we joined immigrant workers and families from across the country to demand Papers, Not Crumbs from President Biden
• We participated in Hispanic Heritage Month Outreach by tabling at various community events to connect with our community about Cosecha and the organizing we do
• We walked 300 miles across 11 cities in Indiana as part of the “Caminata por Las Licencias” or “Walk for Licenses”, marching rain or shine to raise support for the Licenses for All bill. Lack of access to driver’s licenses is a top issue for undocumented immigrants in Indiana. (Check out local media coverage of this march to learn more!)

Marching through Logansport, Indiana during a rainstorm on day 4 of the 11-day, 300-mile “Walk for Licenses”

• Building off the momentum of the Walk for Licenses, we now have Cosecha circles in Northwest, IN and Bloomington, IN and more coming soon. These circles have participated in campaign trips to the Indiana statehouse and banner drops.
• Finally, we have focused on leadership development and support for the immigrant organizers who are the heart of Cosecha Indiana. Through team retreats, we strategize together, decompress, and strengthen the relationships of our team.

What’s next?

Currently, Cosecha Indiana organizers are honoring the incredible work we did in 2021 by taking intentional rest. Early in 2022, we will be planning campaign work and projects for the new year.

In particular, we’ll be growing capacity of our Licenses for All campaign with a community assembly in January. The beginning of the year in Indiana is an important time to show the power of the community and push the legislature to finally pass the Licenses for All bill! We will train community members — of all ages! — to join the fight to drive without fear.

You can support Cosecha Indiana’s work by making a one-time or monthly donation to Movimiento Cosecha. These funds directly support immigrant organizers in the form of stipends, materials, trainings, and other critical resources for local and national campaigns.

Chip in now to support undocumented organizing in Indiana in 2022 →