This week in Iowa organizing…
In case there was any doubt, WE LOVE THE IOWA CCI COMMUNITY!
You're engaged and involved and take action with each other for our people and planet. And you do this out of love, despite the challenges or political winds facing us. That takes guts, conviction, and a deep sense of compassion.
Thanks for all you do to make CCI a tough and tenacious people's organization. This work - of challenging corporate power, rising up for what's right, and building community rooted in love - is a marathon, not a sprint.
Let's keep at it, together. Onward,
Matthew Covington (he/him)
Strategic Operations Director
At the statehouse
Reynolds triples down on hate, we ramp up pipeline fightback
Last week saw Gov. Reynolds yet again flat-out bully trans kids and public school teachers. On Thursday, she filed a bill in the legislature to censor books, fine teachers, and "re-train" teachers who dare to cross her. Then she was off to D.C., telling attendees at the Cato Institute her school voucher plan will essentially bully public schools into teaching what she wants them to teach.
On another note, last week we ramped up our campaign to stop the CO2 pipelines with nearly 50 of you on Zoom! We talked about Senate File 101, which would ban the use of eminent domain by hazardous liquid pipelines.
Check out where your Senator stands and take action to keep this issue hot in the public and at the statehouse here! Just under three weeks are left until the first legislative funnel, meaning Senate File 101 must pass out of the Commerce committee by the date in order to still be alive for debate.
Remember - Democrats don't just represent Democrats and Republicans don't just represent Republicans. Elected officials represent all their constituents, no exceptions.
Take action
Tomorrow - join us for cookies and calling on Valentine’s Day!
We are looking for volunteers to come help us spread some love tomorrow! We are holding a Thank-A-Thon phone bank from 1-6 PM at our office in Des Moines. Drop in to decorate a sugar cookie, socialize with staff and other volunteers, and help us call and show our appreciation for all the people who make CCI such a powerful force for good!
We will be making easy calls to thank folks that have been involved with CCI recently, and we expect to leave a lot of voicemails. Whether you only have time for a cookie and a couple of calls, or you plan to hang out with us all afternoon, we would love to see you on the 14th!
To RSVP, or if you have any questions, please give us a call at (515)255-0800 or email toby@iowacci.org. (This helps make sure we have enough snacks for everyone.)
P.S. If you want to help out but can’t make it in to the office, reach out and we can talk about remote options!
This Wednesday (Feb. 15) - housing justice for Dubuque renters
Roach infestations. Mold run rampant. Stolen rent payments. Disgusting, right? Well that's what CCI members have been hearing during recent canvassing of rental housing in Dubuque.
Tenants deserve safe and clean housing, and landlords who treat them with dignity. If you're in the Dubuque area this Wednesday at 6pm, join us and some of these renters to brainstorm ways we can take action together!
We need a Dubuque where everyone is guaranteed a good, quality, affordable home, but some of these big landlords and management companies aren't investing in their properties.
Feb. 20 - no CO2 pipelines in Buchanan and Fayette Counties!
While we feel the impacts of climate change ramping up in Iowa, large corporations that have significantly polluted our air, land, and water are scrambling to find “solutions”—false ones— to cover up the environmental damage they inflict on our state.
What these greenwashing, money-hungry corporations fail to tell us is that CO2 pipelines are dangerous, don't solve climate change, and bolster industries that capitalize off dirty energy and destructive agricultural practices.
But we're not ones to just stand by, and the pipeline resistance continues to grow! If you live in Buchanan or Fayette County, join us Monday, Feb. 20 in Fairbank to fight back!
At this meeting, we'll present information on CO2 pipelines proposed in Iowa, hold space for community discussion surrounding pipelines, and offer chances to take action and plan next steps to bring CO2 pipeline projects to a halt.
More information and RSVP here!
Join us on Zoom Feb 21 for Civic Love
Iowa CCI is excited to continue this social experiment crafted by the National Public Housing Museum that a CCI board member brought to our attention.
As organizers, the work we do to reach a lot more people across the state in increasingly polarized times takes "compassionate conversations" - which simply means sharing and listening. People - and these types of conversations to build relationships for social change - are the heart of everything we do.
For that reason, 36 questions for Civic Love seems like a great fit for our work. We hope you'll join us on Zoom and give it a try.
Tuesday, February 21
6:00 - 7:30pm
Free!
Read more and RSVP here.
March 10 & 11 - Candidate Leadership Training for our people and planet
We know that the legislators at the Statehouse putting forward bills like school vouchers and proposals to take food away from Iowans don't serve us or our neighbors, they serve corporate interests. It's clearer than ever before that we need folks like us - folks who share our values and our dream for a better Iowa - in elected office.
That's why we are holding our first Candidate Leadership Training on March 10th and 11th. We’ll cover everything you need to know to run a successful campaign grounded in building people power to win on our issues. This training is for prospective candidates, campaign workers, and CCI Action members committed to building base through elections.
Application deadline is this Friday, February 17, and can be accessed here. Questions? Email kbiechler@iowacci.org
Become a Sustainer - Get this Mug
Giving a monthly donation is an automatic, easy-on-your-budget way to ensure that your membership is always current and that CCI Action has the steady resources to keep organizing to do politics differently to put People & Planet First - for us and for future generations. Sign up today!
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
The Right Ideas and the Wrong Policy [The Daily Yonder]
Where Do Railroad Workers Go from Here? [In These Times]
Iowa lawmakers should listen to Dani and Weaver [Cedar Rapids Gazette]
Election deniers lost in 2022. What to do next to protect democracy [Bleeding Heartland]
Iowa Grad Student Workers Deserve Real Raises [Iowa Starting Line]
How worker ownership builds community wealth and a more just society [Waging Nonviolence]