John Lewis' "Good Trouble" Lesson is more important than ever; Join us at Kan Kan Cinema, May 8th for "John Lewis: Good Trouble"

“John Lewis: Good Trouble” -Presented with Women4Change at Kan Kan Cinema

“When I was growing up, my mother and father and family members said, 'Don't get in trouble. Don't get in the way.’ I got in trouble. I got in the way. It was necessary trouble.” —John Lewis

As an Arts, Culture, and Activism Kickstarter, we’re championing the art and labor of changemaking by featuring the life and legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis, May 8th, 2024, at the 6:30pm screening "John Lewis: Good Trouble," at Kan Kan Cinema.

We invite you to join us to chronicle the late Congressman John Lewis, a towering figure in the civil rights movement and a tireless advocate for voting rights. Through archival footage and interviews, the film offers a powerful testament to Congressman Lewis's lifelong commitment to social justice and his unwavering belief in the power of nonviolent protest.

In 2024, voting will take center stage as we prepare for the gubernatorial and presidential elections. It is more crucial than ever for us to come together as a community, educate ourselves on the issues, and exercise our right to vote. 

About the event

Movie screening- $15

Full VIP Experience (panel discussion and refreshments) -$30

The VIP panel discussants include: 

Moderator

  • Angie Carr Klitzsch, CEO, Women4Change Indiana

Panelists

  • Samantha Bresnahan, Senior Advocacy Specialist at ACLU

Samantha Bresnahan is the Senior Advocacy Specialist for the ACLU of Indiana. Samantha is passionate about educating Hoosiers on how to participate in the legislative process and why their voices matter.

As the Senior Advocacy Specialist, she works closely with members of the advocacy team to develop and implement the ACLU of Indiana's legislative and advocacy priorities and to support and strengthen their volunteer activists.

  • Julia Vaughn, Executive Director of Common Cause Indiana

Julia Vaughn joined Common Cause Indiana in 1995 and is responsible for policy development, lobbying, grassroots organizing, and coalition building in the Hoosier State. She previously served as director of health policy for the Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana and as director of Count Us IN, a project sponsored by the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities to increase political participation by Hoosiers with disabilities. Julia has a degree in telecommunications from Indiana University.

  • Senator Andrea Hunley

A lifelong Hoosier, Sen. Andrea Hunley moved to Indianapolis after graduating from Indiana University to pursue her first teaching job. She taught English on Indy’s west side in one of the largest high schools in the state. She then went on to serve for 10 years as principal of an award-winning K-8 Indianapolis Public School.

Sen. Hunley earned a Master’s Degree in Language Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education from Indiana University. She holds a PK-12 School Administrator license, license to teach middle and high school English, and a license to teach English as a New Language.

Originally from Fort Wayne, Sen. Hunley was in the foster care system and adopted at a young age. Supporting our vulnerable children and families is a priority for her.
Sen. Hunley has experienced the joys and challenges of small business ownership and the importance of the creative economy with her husband of 15 years, Ryan, who is the Owner/Art Director of Second Street Creative.

Sen. Hunley enjoys biking on the Cultural Trail with her husband their two school-age children. As a proud one-car family, they are privileged to live within walking distance to work, school, shops, and a convenient bus route.

Purchase Your Tickets Here:

https://www.goelevent.com/Kan-KanCinemaandBrasserie/e/JOHNLEWISGOODTROUBLEPRESENTEDWITHWOMEN4CHANGE

Did you know?

Did you know that in the 2022 midterms, Indiana ranked 50th in voter turnout? And in the 2020 presidential election, Hoosiers were 47th. Despite these worrying statistics, Governor Holcomb signed HB1264 into law this legislative session, which may function to make it more difficult for eligible Americans to vote. Notably, 17 local voting rights groups, including Women4Change, opposed this bill as they feared it would increase voter suppression.

“John Lewis: Good Trouble” uses archival footage and interviews to detail the life and achievements of John Lewis. Among other things, Lewis was one of the original Freedom Riders, a co-founder and chairman of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), a congressman, and one of the “Big Six" leaders of the civil rights movement. He organized sit-ins at segregated restaurants and was arrested many times for causing what he called “good trouble”.

Inspired by Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., Lewis was committed to social justice and non-violence. On March 7, 1965, He led a 600-person march advocating for equal voting rights in Selma, Alabama. This infamous day became known as Bloody Sunday as police officers brutally attacked marchers with tear gas, batons, and bullwhips. Lewis was hospitalized alongside more than 50 other marchers. Bloody Sunday sent reverberations throughout the country and soon after more than 80 American cities held protests. This chain of events eventually led to the signing of the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 1965. 

W4C recommendations on what to read and what to watch as we look for ways to make necessary changes in our communities with a little good trouble of our own:

To read:

Making Good Trouble - John Lewis

To watch:


2024 is a crucial voting year with both gubernatorial and presidential elections. At this event, you will learn more about the life and legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis, voting rights, and voter suppression. We believe this event will inspire you to make your voice heard in the 2024 elections and encourage others to do the same. 



Women4Change is a registered 501(c)3 corporation and your gifts are tax-deductible. Have questions about the process? Contact Aimee West at aimee@women4changeindiana.org and to make a donation through Donor Advised Funds, please contact us.

Women4Change Indiana
1100 W 42nd Street Suite 215
Indianapolis, IN 46208
United States  

References

Biography.com. (2021, January 12). John Lewis. Biography. https://www.biography.com/political-figures/john-lewis

Hayden, C. (2020, July 19). Remembering John Lewis: The power of ‘good trouble.’ The Library of Congress. https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2020/07/remembering-john-lewis-the-power-of-good-trouble/

Julia Vaughn. (2024, February 29). Anti-Voter Bill HB1264 will cost taxpayers, hurts new voters. Common Cause Indiana. https://www.commoncause.org/indiana/press-release/anti-voter-bill-hb1264-will-cost-taxpayers-hurts-new-voters/

Ray, R. (2020, July 23). Five things John Lewis taught us about getting in “good trouble.” Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/five-things-john-lewis-taught-us-about-getting-in-good-trouble/

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. (2020). John Lewis. National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/individuals/john-lewis

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