Shackleford celebrated as Woman of Influence
State Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis) was one of 25 Indianapolis women honored by the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) today during the newspaper's “Women of Influence” celebration. The event highlighted Indianapolis from various fields of work for their “outstanding achievements and impact on the community.”
An elected Representative since 2012, Shackleford is currently chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus and Ranking Minority member of the Public Health Committee. During her tenure, she spearheaded the launch of Indiana’s first telemedicine pilot program (HB 1258) in 2014. It allowed patients to meet with their doctors through the internet, improving the state’s overall health and lowering the cost of care. Additionally, Shackleford’s HB 1152 in 2018 was signed into law, which created a traffic amnesty program to help Hoosiers who have lost driving privileges to get back on the road more quickly through reduced fees.
And most recently, she co-authored HB 1006, which passed unanimously in 2021. The bill, a top priority for the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, defines the use of chokeholds during arrests as lethal force and penalized officers for intentionally turning off body and vehicle cameras. The bill also made it easier for the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board to decertify officers found violating regulations and requires officers to undergo de-escalation training.
“It's such an honor to be recognized by the Indianapolis Business Journal, but a bigger honor still to be able to serve the people of Indiana,” Shackleford said. “Whether it's by speaking out and advocating for change or by passing legislation that enhances the quality of life for Hoosiers, I feel very blessed to be in a position where I can help our communities thrive.
“The most important thing we can do as women in leadership is to build up the next generation of young women to take the helm. As we continue to defend a woman's right to bodily autonomy and work to create a more equitable state, I plan on not only speaking up for my constituents, but amplifying the voices of young women who are too often left out of the conversation. I'm very grateful to the Indianapolis Business Journal for honoring myself and the other 24 women making a difference in the community, and I hope this inspires more women to use their spiritual gifts to make an impact on their communities.”
All of the recipients of IBJ's “Women of Influence” will be featured in the October 28th edition of the newspaper.