Upcoming events
CCI Action Plant Sale Fundraiser
Our tenth (and final*) year! As always, the (Friday &) Saturday of Mother's Day Weekend. Organic veggie starts from several local growers, mostly heirloom varieties. Also, herbs, prairie plants, Iowa wildflowers, and other hearty yard perennial plant divisions. This year we have house plants, too!
View Plant Sale inventory here
This much-loved community event was started in 2014 by long-time CCI member Ben Zachrich after realizing, as he began growing starts for his garden, that he could turn his passion for gardening into a way to help his community. "With the plant sale, there's a shared enthusiasm between everyone who supports the sale. Whether it's getting healthy veggies or beautifying their yard, we're bringing people together to address systemic failures and support CCI, and one another."
To date, in the span of 10 years, the sale has netted $17,723. In this final year, we're hoping to get that total over $20,000!
Invite your friends and plan to join us for this great fundraiser sale. If you have veggie starts, yard or house plant divisions, or one-gallon pots to donate, please let us know by replying to this email or calling Katie at Iowa CCI 515-255-0800.
For timely updates, please check out our Facebook event.
*If you're interested in continuing the plant sale fundraiser tradition, reach out to ben_zachrich@yahoo.com.
"People Power is How We Win!" Summer Meeting
Register today for our Summer Meeting on Saturday, August 10! It’s our annual event that brings together the CCI community from across the state—rural and urban, young and old, newly activated and seasoned leaders.
Together, we’ll get grounded in the moment, celebrate your work over the past year, get updates on our issue campaigns, and chart our path forward for an Iowa that puts people and the planet first. (And, we’ll be in community after a tough legislative session and eat good food!)
And, true to form, we’ll have a great line-up of guest speakers who’ll get us energized and challenge us to think big. Our keynote speaker this year is James E. Ford, Executive Director at the Center for Racial Equity in Education. James is a world history teacher, public school champion, and understands how education has always been the frontline of social change and is a fundamental pillar of a democratic and civil society.
The basics:
Saturday, August 10, 10am – 3pm (Coffee & registration begin at 9am)
FFA Enrichment Center on DMACC Ankeny campus (1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy, Ankeny, IA 50023)
Ample and accessible parking available
Detailed program coming soon
Phone Bank for Chelsea!
Please join us for our phonebank on Tuesday, November 7 from 4:00-7:30 p.m. at the CCI Office! Election Day is TODAY, so we're making sure people have a voting plan to vote for our endorsed candidate Chelsea Lepley!
We are holding an in-person phonebank at the CCI Office, located at 2001 Forest Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311! Training and snacks will be provided!
Sign up for in-person phone bank here!
OR
Phone Bank for Chelsea!
Please join us for our phonebank on Monday, November 6 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the CCI Office! We will encourage folks to vote for Chelsea and then help them with their voting plan.
We are holding an in-person phonebank at the CCI Office, located at 2001 Forest Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311! We are encouraging folks to vote for our endorsed candidate Chelsea Lepley for Des Moines City Council Ward 2. Training and snacks will be provided!
Sign up for in-person phone bank here!
OR
Canvass for Chelsea!
Help us introduce CCI Action's endorsed candidate Chelsea Lepley to the community by knocking doors!
CCI Action Fund has an exciting announcement: we're endorsing Chelsea Lepley’s campaign for Des Moines City Council! You might know Chelsea – She’s been heavily involved in Ward 2, where she's running. Can you commit one door canvassing shift this weekend? Haven’t knocked doors before? No problem! Each shift will start with a canvass training that will get you prepared.
We’ll meet up at the CCI Action HQ
2001 Forest Ave, Des Moines
Phone Bank for Chelsea!
CCI Action has endorsed Chelsea Lepley for Des Moines City Council Ward 2! Help us tell members about it by making calls.
We are calling folks in Ward 2 to let them know about our endorsed candidate Chelsea Lepley for Des Moines City Council Ward 2. Training will be provided
Phone Bank for Chelsea!
CCI Action has endorsed Chelsea Lepley for Des Moines City Council Ward 2! Help us tell members about it by making calls. We are calling folks in Ward 2 to let them know about our endorsed candidate Chelsea Lepley for Des Moines City Council Ward 2. Training will be provided
Canvass for Chelsea!
Help us introduce CCI Action's endorsed candidate Chelsea Lepley to the community by knocking doors!
CCI Action Fund has an exciting announcement: we're endorsing Chelsea Lepley’s campaign for Des Moines City Council! You might know Chelsea – She’s been heavily involved in Ward 2, where she's running. Can you commit one door canvassing shift this weekend? Haven’t knocked doors before? No problem! Each shift will start with a canvass training that will get you prepared.
We’ll meet up at the CCI Action HQ
2001 Forest Ave, Des Moines
Two shifts available for Oct. 21, click on them below to sign up!
Phone Bank for Chelsea!
CCI Action has endorsed Chelsea Lepley for Des Moines City Council Ward 2! Help us tell members about it by making calls.
We are holding a virtual phonebank on Zoom! We are calling folks in Ward 2 to let them know about our endorsed candidate Chelsea Lepley for Des Moines City Council Ward 2. Training will be provided
Canvass for Chelsea!
Help us introduce CCI Action's endorsed candidate Chelsea Lepley to the community by knocking doors!
CCI Action Fund has an exciting announcement: we're endorsing Chelsea Lepley’s campaign for Des Moines City Council! You might know Chelsea – She’s been heavily involved in Ward 2, where she's running. Can you commit one door canvassing shift this weekend? Haven’t knocked doors before? No problem! Each shift will start with a canvass training that will get you prepared.
We’ll meet up at the CCI Action HQ
2001 Forest Ave, Des Moines
Des Moines City Council Candidate Forum
Join us for CCI Action’s Des Moines City Council Candidate Forum with Josh Mandelbaum, Mayoral candidate; Connie Boesen, Mayoral candidate; Rob Barron, Ward 1 candidate; Chris Coleman, Ward 1 candidate; Jason Bennell, Ward 4 candidate.
When: Wednesday, October 11th from 6:30PM-8:00PM
Where: Des Moines Public Library, Central Library Meeting Room #2 1000 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Why: At CCI Action, we believe in doing politics differently. We know that change only comes from the bottom up, and that those impacted by the issues we face should be the ones determining the solutions. We will ask all the candidates where they stand on the issues that are important to CCI Action members and the people of Des Moines.
Canvass for Chelsea!
Help us introduce CCI Action's endorsed candidate Chelsea Lepley to the community by knocking doors!
CCI Action Fund has an exciting announcement: we're endorsing Chelsea Lepley’s campaign for Des Moines City Council! You might know Chelsea – She’s been heavily involved in Ward 2, where she's running. Can you commit one door canvassing shift this weekend? Haven’t knocked doors before? No problem! Each shift will start with a canvass training that will get you prepared.
We’ll meet up at the CCI Action HQ
2001 Forest Ave, Des Moines
Sign up for door knocking Oct. 7
Phone Bank for Chelsea!
CCI Action has endorsed Chelsea Lepley for Des Moines City Council Ward 2! Help us tell members about it by making calls.
We are holding a virtual phonebank on Zoom! We are calling folks in Ward 2 to let them know about our endorsed candidate Chelsea Lepley for Des Moines City Council Ward 2. Training and snacks will be provided.
Sign up for the in-person phone bank here!
Can’t be with us in Des Moines? Sign up to phone bank on Zoom here!
Canvass for Chelsea!
Help us introduce CCI Action's endorsed candidate Chelsea Lepley to the community by knocking doors!
CCI Action Fund has an exciting announcement: we're endorsing Chelsea Lepley’s campaign for Des Moines City Council! You might know Chelsea – She’s been heavily involved in Ward 2, where she's running. Can you commit one door canvassing shift this weekend? Haven’t knocked doors before? No problem! Each shift will start with a canvass training that will get you prepared.
We’ll meet up at the CCI Action HQ
2001 Forest Ave, Des Moines
Sign up for door knocking September 30th from 1-4pm.
Phone Bank for Chelsea!
CCI Action has endorsed Chelsea Lepley for Des Moines City Council Ward 2! Help us tell members about it by making calls.
We are holding a virtual phonebank on Zoom! We are calling folks in Ward 2 to let them know about our endorsed candidate Chelsea Lepley for Des Moines City Council Ward 2. Training and snacks will be provided.
Sign up for the in-person phone bank here!
Can’t be with us in Des Moines? Sign up to phone bank on Zoom here!
Summer Membership Meeting
Register today for our Summer Membership Meeting on Saturday, August 19! It’s our annual event that brings together the CCI community from across the state—rural and urban, young and old, newly activated and seasoned leaders.
Together, we’ll get grounded in the moment, celebrate your work over the past year, get updates on our issue campaigns, and chart our path forward for an Iowa that puts people and the planet first. (And, we’ll be in community after a tough legislative session and eat good food!)
And, true to form, we’ve got a great line-up of guest speakers who’ll get us energized and challenge us to think big. (More on them below.)
The basics:
Saturday, August 19, 10am – 3pm
(Coffee & registration begin at 9:30)Colby Park Community Center, Windsor Heights, IA
(6900 School St, Windsor Heights, IA 50324)Ample and accessible parking available
$20 registration fee to help cover food and other costs associated with the event
Detailed program coming soon
Our Guest Speakers//What we'll dig in on:
CLEAN WATER & CLIMATE with Silvia Secchi, a University of Iowa professor of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences and Public Policy who calls herself an “informed agitator.” She’s been a fearless truthteller (great on Twitter!) and ally on our clean water and the CO2 pipeline campaigns.
RACIAL JUSTICE with Lori Young & Harvey Harrison, long-time CCI members who lead Just Voices Iowa, an ally who produces important research and reports on police accountability issues in Des Moines.
IOWA ELECTIONS with Jon Green, a rural Johnson County Supervisor, and Glenn Hurst, a Minden City Council member (and past candidate for U.S. Senate). They’ll discuss campaigning and governing on a progressive platform in rural Iowa. (Iowa Senator Sarah Trone Garriott had to cancel to attend a funeral.)
POLICY MAKING with Chris Neubert, Budget Analyst for the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry committee. He’s also a former CCI organizer who served on Sen. Bernie Sanders’s Senate staff.
AND, ISSUE ORGANIZING UPDATES with awesome CCI Action leaders from across the state like Berleen, Kim, Veola, Evan, Laural, Zoie, Tom & Cherie. :)
If you’re looking for some inspiration and community—especially after that legislative session we just had? We’d love to have you join us.
When: August 19, 2023 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM (registration & coffee at 9:30)
Where: 6900 School St Colby Park Community Center Windsor Heights, IA 50324
Open House & Meet CCI's New Director
Have you ever wanted to see where the magic happens at Iowa CCI? Our walls tell a story, and we just had a cleaning day - so we're ready to welcome you in! It's also a great chance to meet and celebrate our new Executive Director Lisa Whelan.
The staff and board could not be more excited about Lisa’s ability, commitment, and love for Iowa CCI. She's an organizer in her heart and soul. Come to our open house to meet Lisa and check out our power place! We'd love to see you!
Date: Saturday, July 15
Time: 9:30 - 11:30am - Open house style, with a short program
Place: Iowa CCI office, 2001 Forest Avenue, Des Moines, 50311
What to expect: Coffee & pastries (including handmade specialty Laos coffee and tea drinks from a board member!), conversation with Lisa, tour the headquarters, and socialize with CCI folks.
This event is for CCI members, the community, and anyone interested in building progressive, people-fueled power in Iowa.
Your RSVP helps us plan for the day. Thank you!
One Iowa LGBTQ Training
In the wake of a record legislative session of anti-LGBTQ policies and rhetoric, CCI Action is excited to be partnering with One Iowa to bring you their LGBTQ 101 Training.
One Iowa provides education and advocacy to improve LGBTQ lives and One Iowa Action, their 501(c)4 organization, is working hard to promote policies that protect LGBTQ Iowans.
Join us on June 8 at 6pm for a virtual training session where you will learn about:
LGBTQ identities and terminology
The social effects of the gender binary
Best practices for conversations with and about LGBTQ individuals
CCI Action believes that Iowans of all identities, abilities, and backgrounds deserve a place in our state where they feel safe, accepted, and supported.
Fundraiser Plant Sale
As always the Saturday of Mother's Day Weekend. Organic veggie starts from several local growers, mostly heirloom varieties. Also, herbs, prairie plants, Iowa wildflowers, and other yard perennial plant divisions. Order online, pick up and pay in person Friday, May 12 from 3-6 pm or Saturday, May 13 from 8-1 pm.
VIEW THE INVENTORY HERE, and PLANT RESERVATION FORM HERE.
Invite your friends, and plan to join us for this great community event and fundraiser hosted by Des Moines area CCI members.
If you have yard or house plant divisions to donate, please let us know ASAP by replying to this email or calling 515-255-0800 so we can add them to the order form.
Fundraiser Plant Sale
As always the Saturday of Mother's Day Weekend. Organic veggie starts from several local growers, mostly heirloom varieties. Also, herbs, prairie plants, Iowa wildflowers, and other yard perennial plant divisions. Order online, pick up and pay in person Friday, May 12 from 3-6 pm or Saturday, May 13 from 8-1 pm.
VIEW THE INVENTORY HERE, and PLANT RESERVATION FORM HERE.
Invite your friends, and plan to join us for this great community event and fundraiser hosted by Des Moines area CCI members.
If you have yard or house plant divisions to donate, please let us know ASAP by replying to this email or calling 515-255-0800 so we can add them to the order form.