This week in Iowa organizing…

Written By Guest User

Over 125 of you helped us take our Clean Water Fight up a notch last Thursday in Des Moines and Clear Lake and I couldn't be more excited - thank you!!

We're in this fight because Iowa has over 10,000 factory farms that produce over 22 billion gallons of toxic liquid manure. Manure that is dumped untreated onto farm fields across the state and runs off into our waterways. That ain't right!

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can create and enforce strong regulations for factory farms - but we need your help! Take a minute to add your name to our request to meet with them in August by clicking here.

EPA needs to hear firsthand from everyday Iowans about how factory farms impact us, our loved ones and our environment. The more people urging them to meet with us will help make that message clear.

With summer officially underway, it sure would be nice to recreate in our lakes, rivers and other waterways. Let alone know the water we're drinking is safe for us, our children, and loved ones. Thanks for being in this critical fight with us!

Keep reading for more upcoming events, ways to take action, a cat supposedly reading a book, and more!


Matthew Covington (he/him)
Strategic Operations Director

Take action 

This Wednesday: June 28 - Legislative Session Debrief & Look-ahead 

The 2023 legislative session was a flurry of activity and the dust is still settling. Whereas some bills passed have already gone into effect, some (like the one to kick people off Medicaid and SNAP benefits) will take effect July 1.

It's a lot to process. But we're not ones to sit back and let Gov. Reynolds and legislative leaders' destructive agenda for Iowa go unchecked. Our loved ones and communities deserve better, and now is the time to organize.

Join us for a 'Legislative Session Debrief & Look-ahead' meeting Wednesday, June 28 @ 6:30pm.

We'll come together over Zoom to:

  • review key legislation that was passed, and unpack how this is part of a long-term agenda pushed by corporate power,

  • provide space to process what these policies could do to the people and places we love, and

  • discuss ways we can reach more everyday Iowans, take action locally, and harness the fight-back energy we'll need going into the next legislative session.

Register to join us on June 28 here!

This Thursday: June 29 - take action for our climate in Council Bluffs 

Everyone deserves clean air, clean water, and a habitable environment. Coal-burning power plants endanger those rights for all of us. Especially in the communities where they reside.

Join Iowa CCI and the Buffalo Rebellion coalition in Council Bluffs for an evening of community-building and climate action inspiration on Thursday, June 29th from 6:30-9:30pm at the River's Edge Pavilion.

At this event we'll discuss the negative impacts of coal plants, the benefits of transitioning to clean energy, and ways to take action to reverse the climate crisis.

Here's the agenda:

6:30 Doors Open + Free Dinner (provided by Heirloom Foods, vegan and veggie friendly)
7:00 - 8:30 Program + Discussion
8:45 - 9:30 Live Band (Luke and the End Times)

The solutions to the climate crisis already exist. Now is the time for mass action to protect the people and places we love.

Iowa CCI's Clean Water Fight summer - attend a meeting in July (or August 3) near you! 

At Iowa CCI, we believe clean water is a human right. And it's why we're calling for a Clean Water Fight this summer to highlight the need to crack down on factory farm polluters.

This August the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to respond to a legal rule-making petition from Iowa CCI and ally organizations demanding they enforce the Clean Water Act (CWA) for factory farms in Iowa.

CWA permits create higher standards for factory farms, track their pollution, and provide the ability to shut repeat offenders down!

Here are ways you can take action in our Clean Water Fight:

They dump it, you drink it. We won't stop until they clean it up!

July 15 - 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!

Updates

Donate to CCI's 'No CO2 Pipeline' campaign 

This summer and into the fall, CCI members are organizing and making noise to protect our communities and the environment from corporate pipeline profiteers. And you can help. 

Donate to our No C02 Pipelines campaign today! We'll send you our new bumper sticker (in the photo above).

Polling shows 78% of Iowans are with us in opposition to these greenwashing pipeline schemes. That includes Democrats, Republicans, and everyone in between. That's a BIG DEAL!

Together we’re creating an inescapable ‘whose side are you on’ moment that's forcing legislative leaders to respond.

In areas where the pipeline crosses, we risk irreversible harm to soil, plants, animals, and public health. Wherever we live, this issue affects the things we care deeply about: clean water, the health of our communities, combatting climate change, and leaving a habitable world for our kids and grandchildren.

Join with us as we make a stand for ourselves and our fellow Iowans and the places we love. Donate today!

Are you a book club person? 

We have two great books by Iowa author's we want to read as part of our summer Clean Water Fight. We're looking for 3-5 volunteers to work with our membership team to help think through and plan what a summer and fall book club could look like for CCI. Is that you? If so, please email katie@iowacci.org and we'll be in touch!

August 19 - CCI Action's Summer Membership Meeting 

On August 19 you'll want to be in the Des Moines metro to reconnect with friends and meet other CCI Action members from across the state for a day of information, inspiration, and action.

And we're excited to begin announcing featured speakers for the day!

  • Sarah Trone-Garriott, a faith leader, high-profile State Senator and progressive champion at the Iowa Statehouse

  • Sylvia Secchi, a well-known University of Iowa professor, fearless truth-teller and ally on clean water and CO2 pipeline issues

  • Lori Young, a long-time grassroots leader on racial justice and police accountability issues

  • Jon Green, a Johnson County Supervisor working to put people before profits and communities before corporations

At this day-long meeting, we'll hear updates about our top-tier issue organizing campaigns, educate ourselves on some Iowa history and deepen connections with key allies in our fight for justice, and enjoy some good, local food! Full program and speaker lineup coming soon.


Register today to save your spot!

We're hiring - application deadline this Friday 

We are looking for a new Community Organizer to join the Farming & Environment team. 

Come work with our outstanding people and planet first staff!

Apply by June 30. More info/apply here. 

What We're Reading

These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!

Guest User
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