This week in Iowa organizing…
Last week we learned of the passing of longtime CCI member Chris Robinson.
Chris was a fearless truth teller and never backed down from challenging the powers that be and holding them to account. For those that had the privilege to know him, I'm sure each and every one of us has a story (or dozens) about him boldly speaking truth to power.
Your voice and presence will be greatly missed Chris. Rest in power our friend and comrade.
In Chris' memory, let's keep up the fight for racial, economic, and social justice for the people and places we love,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
Member spotlight
Jenny Turner
Polk County
What got you involved with CCI? What keeps you engaged/motivated? Who are you fighting for?
"All the issues CCI fights for are important to me but education is the nearest and dearest to my heart right now. I’ve been a school speech therapist for 20 years, mostly through our AEA system.
When I moved back to Iowa in 2007 from Dallas, I was amazed at how much more of a difference I could make here with lower caseloads and more autonomy to use my clinical judgement. I have watched that change over the years with the gutting of our unions, the force-feeding of vouchers onto a state where the vast majority of kids go to excellent public schools, funding that hasn’t kept pace with inflation, cuts, and disrespect and demoralization of our teachers who simply try to teach the truth and make all kids feel welcome.
I was so excited to have CCI start working on education issues I was jumping up and down. We’ve been meeting lots of people and other education advocacy organizations, national and local, fighting at the state legislature, and we’ll be organizing across the state to work with school boards and the majority of Iowans who want our public schools honest, equitable, safe, and fully funded.
There is so much energy and enthusiasm to stop the billionaires who are pushing this and their lapdog politicians like our governor. I’m inspired by people getting involved who haven’t been, and by the amazing efforts in other states like Nebraska and Tennessee to keep vouchers out of their states.”
Take action
August 10: CCI Action's Summer Meeting!
Reconnect with old friends and make news ones on Saturday, August 10 in Ankeny for our annual Summer Meeting! If you’re concerned about CO2 pipelines, public education, clean water and more, this is the event for you. We’ll have fearless truth tellers, issue-based workshops, and tasty, local food!
What: “People Power is How We Win” Summer Meeting
When: Saturday, August 10, 9am – 3pm
Where: FFA Enrichment Center, DMACC campus in Ankeny
Registration: $35 – register today to save your spot here!
Our keynote speaker this year will be Dr. James E. Ford, founder of the Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED) based in Charlotte, NC. More information, featured speakers, and RSVP here!
**Volunteers needed - We're looking for a few extra hands in the office Thursday from 3 - 5pm to help assemble packets and roll up t-shirts in preparation for our big event on Saturday. If you can help, please email katie@iowacci.org. Thanks!**
**If you already registered for the Summer Meeting, you should have received a confirmation email. Let us know if you didn't, we want to make sure we've got you marked down as joining!**
August 10 (part 2): calling all pie makers!
The silent pie auction at our Saturday, August 10 Summer Membership Meeting is a delicious and fun way to raise funds to help cover the costs of the event and serve up a slice of people and planet first justice all year long.
Are you interested/available to make and donate a pie? If so, please reply to this email or email katie@iowacci.org to let us know what type of pie!
Pies can be delivered to our headquarters in Des Moines on Friday, August 9, or dropped off at the event between 8:30-9:30 am on Saturday, August 10. We can accommodate pies that need refrigeration, too. Thanks!
August 13: Mitchell County Conservation - say NO to Summit
Bruce Rastetter’s Summit Carbon Solutions’ greed has no bounds. They may stop at nothing to make a buck at the expense of our health and environment. One clear example is unfolding in Mitchell County.
Summit has requested survey access through Nelson Paradise, a public wildlife area that is home to rare and threatened plants and animals, where they want to push through their hazardous CO2 pipeline.
Join us in person at the Milton R. Owen Nature Center in Osage on Tuesday, August 13, at 7:00pm when the Mitchell County Conservation Board will vote to deny or approve Summit’s request. Join CCI and members of the community to make your voice heard!
RSVP here to let us know you’re coming.
August 14: Our future is Now - the progressive vision for 2025
Project 2025 makes it clear that the coming election is about a fight for our families, our freedoms, and our future.
Join U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Sulma Arias and People's Action members from across the country to discuss what we can do to meet everyday Americans’ urgent needs and rebuild the American dream for poor, working, and middle-class people.
Jayapal chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), which recently released their Progressive Proposition Agenda, a framework to expand access to health care, housing and education, protect the environment, strengthen democracy and defend fundamental rights in 2025 and beyond. Join to learn more on August 14 at 6pm CDT here!
Des Moines city officials - hire a new Police chief to set a new culture
For 7 years now, we've been calling on Des Moines to do more to combat racial profiling and to be responsive to the needs of our communities, especially those often neglected.
Current Des Moines Police Department chief, Dana Wingert, will be retiring soon. This is a chance to set a new direction for Des Moines, and that's why we believe the city should be listened to when considering its next police chief.
Add your name to our petition calling on the city of Des Moines to be proactive in involving the community in its search. Then join us on August 15 at 6pm to determine our next steps to see this over the finish line. Seating is limited, RSVP here!
August 20: get ready for Summit's informational meetings
Summit Carbon Solutions will be holding pipeline informational meetings between August 26 – September 20 for phase two of their proposed route. Click here for dates and locations. To learn more about what these informational meetings are like and what you can do to prepare, join us on August 20 at 6:30 PM.
What: An online meeting to learn more about Summit’s informational meetings
Where: Join us by calling in on your phone or via computer
When: Tuesday, August 20 from 6:30 PM – 8 PM
Why: If you want to get ahead of the game and learn more about what these informational meetings will look like this meeting is for you. CCI members will share what these meetings have looked like in the past and together we’ll brainstorm what questions to ask, and what comes after the informational meetings
How: RSVP to join us by calling 515 282 0484 or click here.
August 27 & 28: Public School Strong Iowa
We believe that every child – no matter their zip code, background, race, gender, identity, or ability – has an equal right to a quality education. That means fully funding our public schools, urban and rural, and it means we need local school boards free from partisan politics.
And it's why we're part of Public School Strong - a national movement of parents, teachers, students, and community members pushing for honest, equitable, safe, and fully-funded public education. Join us online to learn more and discuss ways to take action to defend and strengthen Iowa’s public schools!
Water Talk
Let's talk about water! Below we have a selection of some stories that caught our eye relating to water quality and ways to take action for our water.
Articles of interest:
18 Iowa beaches are not recommended for swimming this week after high E. coli, algae tests [Des Moines Register]
Carter Lake fined for inadequate stormwater precautions [Iowa Capital Dispatch]
Volunteer water quality monitoring is important!
Since April, we've heard from our guest speakers that citizen science matters. Efforts to help monitor Iowa's water quality are an important part of getting to the clean water we deserve. Thank you for testing water with us - we appreciate the work this group is doing!
We continue to encourage testing your drinking water. If you have had or do have a reading of 10 mg/L or higher at the tap - inform your water provider right away. EPA has set an enforceable standard for nitrates in drinking water at 10 mg/L. All public water supplies must abide by these regulations. Refrain from drinking water with higher levels.
**Note for testers** The Clean Water Hub has a new email invite feature to get testers connected to their organizations. If you receive an email with the subject line - You've been invited to a Clean Water Hub organization - please click on the Iowa CCI link in the email to log in and connect your account.
We hope you can join us for our next call on Thursday, August 29th at 5 pm! RSVP here to get the Zoom information.
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
With 2024 campaign growing intense, watchdogs warn of election threats [Iowa Capital Dispatch]
Challenging the power of corporate meatpackers (by CCI's Barb Kalbach) [Marshalltown Times Republican]
UAW rips 'corporate greed' of John Deere as mass layoffs follow $43 billion in stock buybacks [Common Dreams]
As the Great Salt Lake dries up, it's also emitting millions of tons of CO2 [NPR]
As Iowa's maternity care deserts continue to grow, doctors say the state's new abortion ban will only make matters worse [CNN]