Friends,
Spring brings lots of issues to consider in Bloomington: our new “CDFI Friendly City” announcement of an innovative Bloomington model to attract important investments from community development financial institutions in our city and our people; groundbreakings for affordable housing, the new economy of the Trades District and Cook Medical’s major expansion; resolution of the armored vehicle for our community; our city’s 200th birthday on April 11th; and a powerful remembrance of the assassination of Martin Luther King, 50 years ago this month.
In this message, I want to focus on another issue. One that always brings smiles to Dawn and me, and energy and hope for the future. Every two years, we host a fundraiser in our home for the IU College Democrats, to help them have resources to do all the great work they do: registering new voters, hosting debates and forums, training young advocates, organizing volunteers forcountless campaign, building progressive momentum altogether.
We all are asked all the time for contributions to campaigns and causes, and I certainly encourage generous giving. Let me say this about the College Democrats: I think no one does more with a dollar than they do. That is, I guarantee you that your donations really go a long way with these creative, frugal, future-oriented leaders.
So, for this month, I want to encourage you to celebrate the fact that there are so many smart, dedicated, thoughtful, caring, progressive young people in our midst – soon to spread out in the world to make good things happen.
We can boost their efforts. We can accelerate their impact. We can encourage them.
If you’d like to join us, please feel free to come to our house on Tuesday evening, April 24th between 7 and 9pm for a dessert pot-luck fundraiser to support the IU College Democrats. Bring a donation or dessert or both. (You know college students will welcome desserts to take with!) If you can’t join us, consider a donation, of any size, to support the IU College Democrats and our future. You can send it to our home (635 S. Woodlawn Ave, B’Town 47401), made out to the IU College Democrats.
You’ll be energized and inspired by these exceptional young folks. Thanks for all you do too.
Democratically Yours,
John
Ps: Some upcoming city events may interest you: Wed. April 11th is the actual 200th birthday of Bloomington, and there will be a ceremony at City Hall from 5 to 6:30pm with fun and history; and Friday, April 13th is a public report-out from the Urban Land Institute’s week-long intensive review of potential future uses for the 24-acre current Hospital site, from 9 to 11am, also at City Hall.