One of our major goals is to continue fundraising efforts for African Americans running for office, on the state local and federal level. What could we accomplish if we had more money? Could we reach more new members? Could we sponsor campaigns to influence policy? Could we support field efforts that get more African Americans elected? The sky is the limit!
Launch political engagement and advocacy training
How do you get more people engaged in something that they don’t know about? If we want to increase engagement and eventually black voter turnout, we must educate our community on what’s possible.
How does the precinct committeeman role impact turnout? How does the black community have more influence in who gets put on the ballot? How are candidates selected? What are the basics of running a campaign? How are bills made? How do we advocate for issues that affect our community?
IDAAC’s political engagement and advocacy training will be designed by our members with campaign, advocacy, and legislative experience. Trained IDAAC members will deliver the program to audiences of partner organizations who have missions that overlap with IDAAC’s.
Increase the number of Precinct Committee candidates
The precinct committeeman (PC) role is one of the most overlooked, yet most powerful positions in party politics.
A precinct committeeman is the first entry-level elected position in politics. Not only do precinct committeeman staff and effective polling place every primary and general election, they also control a voting bloc. PC’s can build a relationship with voters in their precinct and get out the vote like no one else. PC’s can be a communication link between elected officials and constituents so citizens receive better service. PC’s are the first to be considered for future elected office. PC’s are the sole voters to decide who fills certain vacated seats. PC’s vote on the county-wide slate of candidates as a county convention delegate, and lastly they are ideal candidates to become state convention delegates.
PC’s have the power to help a candidate win or lose a nomination or a campaign. This is a key role for blacks to have as we seek more influence for our issues.
IDAAC’s goal is to identify people who will file to be on the ballot to become a PC. We will drive filings through outreach within IDAAC’s political engagement and advocacy training program.
This initiative will build a bench of black candidates from the ground up.
Bill watching & communicating legislative priorities
If IDAAC wants more African American’s to get involved in the political process, our community must know when, where and how to show up. One of the main avenues to advocate for issues that impact the black community and African American vote is at the statehouse.
IDAAC will continue our comprehensive bill watching and advocacy program that will engage African Americans in the legislative process and advance our electoral and social issues.
The issues include laws that involve, but are not limited to, voting rights, criminal law, racial profiling and hate crimes, education, healthcare, supplemental assistance, food access, family law, public access law, and personal finance.
A committee will be established by IDAAC’s president to watch and read the bills introduced in the 2017 session. The committee will confer with our members who are legislators about potential action steps for bills that are of high importance and are progressing to passage. Action steps may include contacting legislators, testifying in committees, letters to the editor, issuing position statements, and more. Action steps to support to refute bills will be communicated to IDAAC members monthly at the membership meetings and through a legislative updates email.
Get Involved with
Indy IDAAC
As an organization, IDAAC has chapters across Indiana. The Indianapolis chapter serves all of central Indiana, and is the largest chapter in the state. Our regular meeting is on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 11 a.m., at the Julia Carson Government Center.
