This week in Iowa organizing…
On Friday, CCI staff took some time for what we called a "staff fun day" to laugh, play games, and recharge for the work ahead. I of course am totally fine with having not won the puzzle competition, cribbage, and several other games that were played... next time coworkers!
But we're back at it. There's lots of ways to take action for clean water, housing, the freedom to read (and a book club!), and more in the coming weeks! Please read on for more.
For the people and places we love,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
Take action
June 6: CO2 pipeline informational meeting
Did you know there’s a hazardous liquid pipeline proposed to go through Ida County?
Summit Carbon Solutions wants to build 1,000 miles of CO2 pipelines in Iowa, including Ida County, and plans to connect to two ethanol plants-Poet and Quad County Corn Processors.
Join us on Thursday, June 6 at 7pm in Ida Grove for an informational meeting to:
Learn about the CO2 pipeline projects and how they impact Iowans.
Hear from impacted landowners, including presenter Jan Norris
Ask questions and share your concerns
More information and RSVP to join us here!
June 8: Teach Truth day of action in Iowa City!
Join our allies in Iowa City as we face down attacks on our public education!
For the past three summers, teachers rallied across the country to speak out against anti-history education bills, receiving national media attention and providing a counter narrative to the well-funded attack on public education, libraries, students, and honest curriculum.
Come and hear from a speaker lineup that includes students, teachers, and community members who believe in the value of being honest about our history.
Kim Reynolds's actions to expand private school vouchers, ban books, dismantle our special AEAs, and more are all part of a coordinated national effort to keep us divided. But we know when we work together across our differences, we accomplish great things for ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities.
June 8 from 2:30pm - 6:30pm in Iowa City at College Green Park. More info can be found here!
June 10: Solidarity with Iowa's immigrants & refugees
Join Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice and community members to send a strong public message against the anti-immigrant law, SF 2340 and in solidarity with Iowa’s immigrant and refugee communities.
The first court hearing to block SF 2340 from taking effect will happen at 9am on Monday, June 10th at the federal courthouse in downtown Des Moines (123 E Walnut St. DSM).
A small group of community members will be inside to witness the hearing, while a larger group will hold vigil outside during the proceedings. A report on the proceedings will be given after the hearing ends.
For more information, contact us at 515-255-9809 or info@iowammj.org
Dubuque moves on community-owned housing
Last week the City of Dubuque submitted an application to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a grant to purchase two mobile home parks and create a community land trust. Over 50 mobile home residents and CCI members were there testifying in favor of this proposal.
For years, residents of Table Mound and Terrace Heights mobile home parks have been fighting back against unjust rent hikes from their out-of-state corporate owners. Since Table Mound was first bought in 2017, lot rent more than doubled while basic maintenance was neglected and infrastructure improvements ignored. HUD can help stop this bleeding.
But it's not a done deal, and that's where you come in. Please sign our petition to HUD encouraging them to approve Dubuque's application. We want to show HUD that Iowans from all across the state support this and know what benefits Dubuque can benefit other communities in our state.
Kicking off June 20: Barons Book Club
Nearly 400 of you joined us in March and April for a book talk with CCI member Austin Frerick and his debut book Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America's Food Industry. Now, let's talk about it!
Starting June 20 we'll be hosting a book club over Zoom to dive deeper into Austin's book. Sign up to join us here!
We'll meet 3 times to discuss specific chapters of Barons. Join us for one or all of them! The discussion will be different each time (and the author may join us as well)!
RSVP today to stay in the loop! You can purchase the book or find audio book details on Austin's website here.
June 27: Safe Drinking Water Act webinar
Iowa CCI has signed onto a legal petition with the Iowa Environmental Council (IEC) asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take emergency action to protect our water.
After legal action from local groups last year, the EPA investigated Minnesota’s Karst Terrain and determined that action was needed to protect public health due to nitrates in the drinking water.
Join us on June 27 at 6:30PM to to learn more about this legal petition and discuss ways to get involved in the fight for clean water. RSVP to join us here!
Save the Date
August 10 - CCI Action's "People Power is How We Win" 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!
Our theme this year is “People Power is How We Win." Here’s the basics:
What: “People Power is How We Win” Summer Meeting
When: Saturday, August 10, 9am – 3pm
Where: FFA Enrichment Center, DMACC campus in Ankeny
Who: CCI members, supporters, and folks from across the state ready to take action for our people and planet
Registration: $25 early bird rate until July 31 ($35 beginning Aug. 1) – register today to save your spot here!
Our keynote speaker this year will be Dr. James E. Ford. Dr. Ford is an award-winning world history teacher, community leader, and founder of the Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED) based in Charlotte, NC. He knows that attacks on our education aren’t new, but also believes in the power of people to rise up and fight for strong public education systems that prepare all students for their future and our communities.
More details and speaker announcements coming soon!
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:
Headed to the beach? Three in Iowa aren't recommended for swimming this week [Des Moines Register]
With data centers and drought, Iowa studies aquifers [Cedar Rapids Gazette]
Iowa fertilizer spill impacting Missouri's water, kills thousands of fish [KSDK.com]
We learned so much on our monthly call last week!
Thank you to everyone who joined our call last Thursday with Jason Palmer of the DNR and CCI member Julie Duhn from Hardin County. We heard a TON of fascinating science!
If you didn't make the Zoom, here's what you missed:
The DNR started weekly testing of beach water for harmful bacteria and toxins. They sample on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, collecting data that gets analyzed and reported out on Fridays.
Bacteria lives in the sand too! The DNR does extensive mapping and bacteria testing of the sand on the beaches.
E. coli is the bacteria indicator of choice and it exists in lots of places. The risk is primarily at the edge of the water where these bacteria thrive.
The DNR faces significant challenges to mitigate the multiple issues with Iowa's water.
Our water stories are important. Julie shared her compelling story of Pine Lake and continued efforts to save the state park she has loved since childhood.
It's the time of year when Iowa's water quality issues become glaringly apparent with the lack of recreational fun because of so many impaired lakes and rivers. We need to keep building our collective power and keep getting louder about the science of Iowa’s polluted water.
If you are not testing water with Iowa CCI, please visit our website to learn more and request a test kit!
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
Groups argue in federal court for local control of pipeline routes [Iowa Capital Dispatch]
What a leading epidemiologist says you should know about the bird flu [Barn Raiser]
How "Party of Destruction" is hurting Iowa's public schools [Bleeding Heartland]
University of Iowa sets the First Amendment aside when reacting to protest [Des Moines Register]
The sign of 'freedom' [Between Two Rivers]