This week in Iowa organizing…
Tomorrow will serve as another reminder that the Iowa GOP is Governor Kim Reynolds' party with the special legislative session she called for tomorrow to restrict abortion access in the state.
We saw examples of her influence throughout the recent legislative session - ramming through a massive private school voucher scheme, attacking public school teachers and LGBTQ youth, to blocking bipartisan legislation to hold CO2 pipeline profiteers accountable.
7 years into her tenure, Reynolds has consolidated her power and is enacting her agenda, oftentimes despite polling that shows what Iowans truly want. To me, it's both a reminder that "absolute power corrupts absolutely", and that Reynolds' agenda is not a done deal or set in stone.
And most importantly I'd say it's a reminder to keep organizing, to keep building community and meeting people where they're at, and take action on a vision for Iowa where we're all welcomed, supported, and encouraged to pursue our dreams. Reynolds had a plan and acted on it over the years, we need to do the same.
So please read on for ways to take action this week and plug into an event near you. Onward,
Matthew Covington (he/him)
Strategic Operations Director
Take action
Tomorrow, Thursday, and more! Join us for CCI's Clean Water Fight!
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's how you can take action in our Clean Water Fight:
Join us in Oelwein on July 11, Nevada on July 13, Decorah on July 20, or a statewide virtual meeting on August 3 to learn more about this campaign and take action
Check out our website to share your clean water story and other updates on our campaign!
They dump it, you drink it. We won't stop until they clean it up!
This Wednesday, July 12 - take action for our climate in Sioux City
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 Sioux City for an evening of community-building and climate action inspiration on Wednesday, July 12 from 5:45 - 7:45pm at Aalfs Downtown Library.
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:
5:45 - Doors Open + Dinner (by Indigenous chef Anthony Warrior, owner of Warriors Palate)
6:00 - 7:30 Program + Discussion
7:30 - 7:45 - Networking
The solutions to the climate crisis already exist. Now is the time for mass action to protect the people and places we love. We hope to see you July 12!
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 Lao 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!
July 16: Let's talk housing policy Dubuque
Policy is everyday people's business! For the past two months we've been hitting the pavement and surveying residents of Dubuque on the issue of housing with this survey.
Next, on July 16th from 1-2:30pm we're going to meet at Carnegie-Stout Library to go over the results of the survey and start creating people-driven policy to move on a city and county level. You can confirm you're coming by registering here!
When we last met as a large group we started to create our vision for housing in Dubuque where:
Everyone has a home
Every home is safe and dignified
Unresponsive landlords will not be welcome, and
The city and county will protect tenants
It's going to take everyday people in the driver's seat of policy creation to realize this vision. We hope to see you July 16!
July 22: documentary screening - A Decent Home
While inflation stays high and wages stagnate, many Iowans are feeling crunched when it comes time to pay rent. For years, manufactured houses have been a solution for low and fixed-income folks, but corporate greed has started to smell money in the places people call home.
Join us at the Running Deer shelter at Scott County Park on July 22nd from 7:00-9:00pm for a discussion on affordable housing and a screening of the 2022 documentary, A Decent Home.
A Decent Home follows the lives and organizing efforts of mobile home owners across the country in their fight to protect the communities they live in from large corporations that attempt to purchase the land they live on and raise rent to unaffordable rates in the span of months.
Come hang out July 22 at the park for this inspiring doc and some CCI-style fun!
August 19 - CCI Action's Summer Membership Meeting
On August 19 you'll want to be in the Des Moines metro for our annual Summer Membership Meeting.
At this day-long event, we'll reconnect with friends and meet other CCI Action members from across the state for a day of information, inspiration, and action. While we'll revisit the distant and recent past, we'll also use our time together to chart our path forward.
And we'll hear from home-grown Iowa talent sharing their perspectives and challenging us to think big and shake things up:
Sylvia Secchi, a 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
Bernie Sanders Chief of Staff Misty Rebik and Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee staff Chris Neubert (both former CCI organizers!)
It's never been more important to be together, especially after the state legislative session we've just had. Join us August 19 to be in community with fellow CCI members to celebrate the victories we've achieved together and make plans for the future of CCI and the state we love so dearly.
Register today to save your spot!
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
Des Moines police start issuing drivers written warnings. Here's what you should know [Des Moines Register]
Moms for Liberty is part of a long history of rightwing mothers’ activism in the US [The Guardian]
'A lot of fear': Rent hikes across the country mean eviction notices for many Americans [USA Today]
Costs soar for Iowa's school voucher plan [Bleeding Heartland]
Here's who controls the $50 billion opioid settlement funds in each state [NPR]
Landowners say no to Summit Carbon Solutions easements; eminent domain may be enforced [The Fence Post]
Yusef Salaam, wrongfully convicted member of Central Park Five, won New York City Council primary [Axios]