Thursday, November 14
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Broadway United Methodist Church
609 E. 29th St.
Purchase tickets here! For those unable to attend, donate or sustain here!
This event is organized by the Indianapolis Liberation Center, of which IDOC Watch, FOCUS Initiatives LTD., and Free Shaka Shakur are member-organizations.
We want to celebrate the incredible year of progress we’ve made together and are excited to invite everyone to our first annual fundraising dinner.
In the year since we opened the doors to the new Indianapolis Liberation Center on October 5, 2023, the Center and our member-groups have organized or hosted 191 in-person actions–from protests, rallies, and book launches to art openings, plays, press conferences, and community gatherings.
When three organizations and a dozen highly-dedicated leaders decided to make the leap into our new location on 18th and Meridian, we had no computers or chairs, microphones or desks. We didn’t have a phone number or email address, let alone the ability to pay more than a deposit and the first few months of rent.
Instead, we had an unwavering belief in our people and the collective knowledge that Indy needed a truly independent, progressive organizing space to unite existing organizers and struggles and create new fighters, groups, and coalitions. Every one of our community supporters, financial sustainers and donors, partners, allies, and volunteers are responsible for the Center’s ability to not only survive but grow into a real force capable of winning concrete victories for Indy’s oppressed, exploited, and marginalized.
In addition to an exciting program hosted by Leon Benson–who spent 25 years unjustly imprisoned by Indiana–the evening includes dinner and a silent and live auction. The live auction features:
- Original artwork by Vernon T. Bateman
- A tarot-card reading for a group of two-six people
- Original artwork by Jauston Huerta (Co-Director/Producer of The Pendleton 2: They Stood Up)
- A two-hour session with a professional photographer for family or group photos, professional head-shots, etc.
- A personalized five-part study session/class on a jointly-selected text in the revolutionary tradition for two-six people
- A virtual visit with New Afrikan Political Prisoner Shaka A. Shakur, and more!
The silent auction includes a variety of individual items and baskets, including one-hour sessions with a massage therapist, book bundles from Dream Palace Books and Coffee and Tomorrow Bookstore, Palestinian study materials and merchandise, and key texts and posters from the Black struggle.
By the end of the night, we want to raise at least $30,000 to hire a paid staff-person to help coordinate the Liberation Center. This position will not replace their volunteer work. Now that we’ve grown to incorporate nine member-organizations (and our first affiliated-organization), this will take us to the next level.
This is ambitious but an entirely possible goal if we unite. You can start now by:
- Joining our Sustainer Program;
- Making a donation;
- Purchasing something from the Liberation Store
- Buying a ticket for you and others today
Featured photo: A fundraiser ticket with logos of member-organizations of the Indianapolis Liberation Center.