This week in Iowa organizing…

Written By Guest User

On Saturday, I was at the CCI Action office with fellow members digging in on the pillars of movement politics and the importance of electing people from our communities and our movement.

It was a timely and fitting reminder that who is in office, at all levels, matters and that elections are a key way to advance our issues. There's a lot on the line for our people and planet, and we need elected officials that represent and co-govern with us - not big corporations and wealthy donors.

So if you haven't made a plan to vote yet - do. We're just over a week out from the Nov. 7 elections. If you requested an absentee ballot and haven't mailed it in yet, I wouldn't risk it and instead hand-deliver it to your county auditor's office. And don't assume your polling place is the same as in previous years. You can check your polling place, registration status, and more here.

For the people and places we love,

Matthew Covington (he/him)
Strategic Operations Director

Take action 

This Wednesday and Saturday - hit the doors or phones for a people's champion!

At CCI Action we believe in doing politics differently. That means using elections to advance our key issue campaigns and supporting candidates who believe, like we do, that we need to put people and the planet first, and supporting candidates who understand that change comes from the bottom up.

That’s why we’re excited to announce our endorsement of Chelsea Lepley for Des Moines City Council Ward 2!

Lepley (they/she) has been organizing with her neighbors and with CCI Action for many years to uplift the voices and the stories in her community, and we know she’ll take that energy into office with her.

Early voting began on October 18. If you want to elect a people's champion, help us get out the vote this week by making calls or knocking doors:

November 14 - 'Dear IUB...' letter delivery!

Thousands of Iowans across the state oppose CO2 pipeline projects because they:

  • are dangerous and potentially deadly,

  • use technology that has consistently failed to reduce carbon emissions,

  • extract billions of gallons of water per year, and

  • rely heavily on public money, and put millions of dollars in the pockets of CEOs like Bruce Rastetter. 

We've collected over 500 signatures on this letter opposing the pipelines, now it's time to deliver it to key decision makers! Will you Join us on Tuesday, November 14 12-4pm?

The Iowa Utilities Board, the Iowa DNR, and the Governor's office need to do everything in their power to stop these proposed pipelines. We will meet at the Iowa CCI HQ at 2001 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA. Sign up here!

CCI Action 2023 Year End Campaign -- join us!  

Our year-end campaign is our week-long, power building party! It's our biggest fundraiser and membership drive of the year and is critical to growing CCI Action's membership.  

This Nov. 27-Dec. 1 members and staff will be working together to raise much needed funds for 2024, renew current CCI Action members, and ask new people to join our movement. 

Here are two fun and important ways you can participate: 

  • Help us get out the mail! The week of November 13, we’ll be assembling mail together here at the CCI office in Des Moines. We'll have a mail assembly station set up where you can drop in, chat with staff and other volunteers, enjoy some food and help us complete the largest piece of our year-end fundraiser! We'll have structured shifts, but the hours will be flexible. Reply to this email if you can help!

  • Get on the phones! We'll be on the phones calling fellow members all five days of the campaign. In Des Moines, we have two shifts daily Mon-Thurs from 12-3pm and 5-8pm, and a 12-3pm shift Fri Dec 1. This year we'll also have phone banks in Mason City, Dubuque, and Iowa City! We hope you will join us in person at one of these locations to enjoy hospitality and community. Calls are a great way to connect with members across the state, renew their membership, and raise funds to do the work. To join a phone bank, you can sign up online here. Any questions, contact kim@iowacci.org.

BONUS! Fundraising volunteers will receive this year's limited-edition CCI Action swag. 

Save the date!

January 23, 2024 - The People's Lobby Day!

The 2023 state legislative session was a whirlwind of activity and, let's be honest, not that great for our people and planet. It seems Gov. Reynolds is dead set on furthering the agenda of her corporate donors and out-of-state special interests at the expense of our neighbors, communities, and places we love.

But we're not ones to back down or throw in the towel. That's why we're going back en masse to 'the People's House' on Tuesday, January 23 next year!

Join CCI members and other Iowans from across the state for a day of citizen lobbying, taking action, and reminding our elected officials they work for us, we the people.

Stay tuned for more details on what to expect, but in the meantime let us know if you're interested in joining by registering 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
Previous

Thank you from Chelsea Lepley
Next

This week in Iowa organizing…