Monthly Archives: February 2023

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Madrigal named chief of staff for Bloomington mayor

Josefa Madrigal will become chief of staff for Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton. (Courtesy of City of Bloomington)

Josefa Madrigal, a former Bloomington police officer and current city employee, will become chief of staff Friday for Mayor John Hamilton.

Madrigal has lived in Bloomington for 20 years and is originally from northwest Indiana. She graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree and later worked as a police officer for the IU and Bloomington police departments. She has served as a domestic violence survivor’s advocate. For the last six years, Madrigal has served as the Latino Outreach Coordinator for the Department of Community and Family Resources.

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Support for Turkish and Syrian families after earthquake

Many in our community are so impacted by this devastating earthquake that has destroyed so many homes, with a horrible loss of innocent and precious life. 

I suspect many of you, are like me, we struggle with how to help,  what can we do. 

We have many Turkish and Syrian ancestry people in Bloomington, restaurant owners and others.   Many other residents, lived in Turkey after they fled violence in their home countries, and have great affection for this beautiful country.   We have families who live here, but earlier, came from Syria, this war-ravaged country, and are restarting their lives, working to raise their children in safety.  

So, how can we help.   Here are two suggestions.  Both refer to a gofund me site.   

1 –  from the IU faculty

Dear friends of CSME.      We are heartbroken by the tragedy in southern Turkey and northern Syria.  The extent of the devastation and suffering are difficult to comprehend.  It is hard to know how to help from here, but we’d like to urge you to contribute to a local fund-raising effort.      The Turkish student community here in Bloomington has created a GoFundMe page with a goal of raising $50,000.  

The money raised will go to AHBAP, a well-known, trustworthy, and transparent Turkish non-profit organization that has been actively working in the distribution of earthquake relief.  Please click the link below to donate.        Any contribution makes a difference.  So please help if you can.

Fundraiser by Selahattin Akkas : Indiana Aid for Earthquake Relief in Turkey (gofundme.com)

2- From a local restaurant owner:   that refers to the same site. 

You might have heard of the recent devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Words fail to adequately describe the pain, suffering, and destruction this earthquake  caused. I just talked to a friend of mine here in Bloomington, he told me that two thirds of his relatives are dead, there are a few who they can not reach, and the survivors are left with nothing and out in the street in freezing temperatures. The rescue efforts and sources are inadequate.       The members of the Turkish Community in Bloomington  are working hard to raise funds for the victims and survivors of this earthquake.   

The name is Indiana Aid for Earthquake Relief in Turkey.      https://gofund.me/55956d8e

There are, of course, many international organizations that are mobilizing support for these desperate families. 

Red cross,  Red Crescent,  International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, etc. 

Please hold up these families in your prayers, and provide support if you can

Thanks and best wishes

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Bipartisan bill allows undocumented Indiana students pay resident tuition for college

Students in Indiana without citizenship or permanent U.S. residency could finally pay the same tuition for state colleges and universities as classmates, instead of the much more expensive out-of-state or international rate.

Proposed bipartisan legislation would make it easier for undocumented students who complete their K-12 education in Indiana to access higher learning, said Sen. Blake Doriot (R-Goshen), one of three bill authors, instead of a future with scant opportunities.

“This problem has come to us, not from what the state of Indiana has done, but what the federal government has failed to do,” Doriot said Wednesday during the Senate Education and Career Development Committee. “We have not been able to get together and find a clear pathway to citizenship and we are addressing children, young adults who want to further themselves.”

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