CAJE
Congregations Acting for Justice and Empowerment
Background
What is CAJE?
Since 2004, CAJE has ensured the implementation of positive changes in areas such as Healthcare, Education, Housing, Job Access, Public Transportation, and Suicide Prevention, and more. We are a multi-issue organization that has come together to act on the root causes of community problems in the belief that united, we can be a powerful force for improving the quality of life and business climate for the entire tri-county area. We empower “everyday citizens” to act on behalf of themselves to bring about long-lasting systemic change.
Current Membership
CAJE is managed by Lead Organizer Yvonne Martin and an executive board representing our member organizations. Our group is made up of 27 faith-based organizations, representing over 8,000 people in southwestern Indiana.
First Presbyterian Church of Evansville
Bethlehem United Church of Christ
Cleaves Memorial CME Church
Corpus Christi Catholic Church
Holy Rosary Catholic Church
Islamic Society of Evansville
Nazarene Baptist Church
Patchwork Central
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
St. Wendel Catholic Church/St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
Tri-State Hindu Temple
All Saints Catholic Church
Central United Methodist Church
Community of Christ Church
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
St. Peter’s (Highland) United Church of Christ
Mt. Olive Galilee Baptist Church
Old North United Methodist Church
St. Benedict Cathedral
St. Lucas United Church of Christ
Sts. Mary & John Catholic Church
Unitarian Universalist Church of Evansville
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Zion Missionary Baptist Church
Independence Baptist Church
Bethel United Church of Christ
About CAJE
Staff
Lead Organizer: Yvonne Martin
Contact
info@greaterevansvillecaje.org.
(812) 760-3700
PO Box 18172
Evansville, IN 47719
What we do
Our Impact
Read more about our impact in Evansville below.
Opioid Epidemic
Since 2014 countless lives have been saved in the city of Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Warrick County, and Posey County, due to CAJE’s three-year push to equip all local first responders with the opioid overdose antidote Narcan.
Affordable Housing
Mayor Winnecke followed through on his 2021 Action commitment and allocated “seven figures” ($5,000,000 for 2022 – which was approved – and another $5,000,000 for 2023) into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. In addition, he allocated $500,000 for 2022 as a line item in the budget, which was also approved by City Council.
Dual Diagnosis
CAJE got the city to allocate $4 million for a pediatric and family behavioral and mental health unit (Dual Diagnosis campaign). This unit is open and operational accepting children diagnosed with Autism and Mental Illness for treatment all in one single location.
Jail Diversion
In 2015, CAJE identified the need for a jail diversion program in Evansville. The city committed to allocate $600,000 ($300k in ’22 & ’23, respectively) towards operating expenses for the Evansville Diversion Center. This center is open and operational helping divert community members in crisis to the correct services.
Addiction
In 2012, CAJE got Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, County Council President Tom Shetler, State Senator Jim Tomes, County Prosecutor Nick Hermann, Judge Wayne Trockman, and Drug Treatment Court Director Larry Paul to form a working group to find funding for expansion of drug treatment court in the county. Drug treatment court is a proven method for lowering criminal recidivism and drug addiction, but had been severely understaffed in Vanderburgh County, resulting in long waitlists. The working group created by CAJE leveraged $1 million for the expansion of drug treatment court, resulting in a 20% expansion of the number of participants in the program annually.
Gun Violence Intervention
In 2021, CAJE pushed for the city to enter into a partnership with the National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC) to work to reduce gun violence in Evansville. Gun violence has dropped 62% in 2023 alone!