This week in Iowa organizing…
We saw another week of mixed headlines, water restrictions in central Iowa, devastating news to the north of us in the Twin Cities, and coast to coast resistance to authoritarianism that impacts us all.
It can feel heavy and overwhelming, and it's a lot. Yet it is also a call to organize, speak truth to power, and build community because we're all in this together. That's why I was encouraged to hear some highlights from CCIers who took part in our first book club of the year last week on June 11.
Folks read and discussed "The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World" by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Here's some quotes members lifted up that seem incredibly relevant to our current moment:
As it happens, abundant empirical evidence attests to the fact that we humans lean as much toward cooperation and generosity as we do toward self-interest under circumstances when we are not coerced by outside forces. - p. 45
I want to be part of a world where wealth means having enough to share. - p. 91
I've long believed that the ones who have more joy win. Maybe this levels the power differential... We have joy and justice on our side. - p. 103
In joy and resistance, let's keep bending the arc of the moral universe toward justice,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
Update
Less than favorable news happened recently on the CO2 pipeline front, with Governor Reynolds vetoing HF 639 and the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals siding with Summit Carbon Solutions over local control.
While unfortunate, these actions do not deter our work or belief that people-power can and will win out. Despite the court's ruling, counties can pass ordinances based on safety considerations, and public opinion is not on Summit's or Reynolds' side.
Iowans across the state will continue to fight to protect the people and places we love from Summit's pipeline regardless of Reynolds, the courts, or the outcome of a possible special legislative session.
Take action
June 17: CCI open house/ice cream social
Come by the office TOMORROW for homemade ice cream, meet and mingle with the CCI community, get issue updates and learn how to plug in. We can’t wait to welcome you!
We'll be here ready to welcome you Tuesday, June 17 between 4-6pm at the CCI headquarters (2001 Forest Ave in Des Moines).
What to expect:
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!
Short Program & Issue Updates at 5:15 pm
Tour the headquarters and socialize with fellow CCI members
Click here to let us know you’re coming!
June 19: "We're not dead yet" town hall
The "big, bad, horrible bill" now sits in the U.S. Senate awaiting their changes before being sent back to the House. Despite Sen. Ernst's assertion that "we all are going to die," we don't need to as a result from drastic cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs.
This Thursday at 6:30pm in Ankeny, Friends of Bernie Sanders and others will hold a town hall to discuss the bill and what we can do to push back. Sen. Ernst has been invited but unlikely to show, however Laura Belin from Bleeding Heartland will be there to dig in on how this bill would hurt our communities and why we need to fight back.
More details and sign up to join here!
June 22: Fundamentals of organizing training
Given recent news, you may be feeling overwhelmed, angry, depressed, or even powerless in the face of what’s happening. And those feelings are real.
But those feelings can also be a call to rise up, take action, and build local power to make our communities more welcome, just, and democratic. That’s why we hope you’ll join CCI members in Dubuque on June 22.
We’ll be holding a Fundamentals of Organizing training on Sunday, June 22 from 10AM-4PM. Together we’ll cover:
How to analyze the power of decision-makers
How to decide what issues to fight on and how
How to build power with your neighbors and community
And more skills to organize our communities and win big changes!
Register now to reserve your seat! Lunch will be provided!
June 24: Zoom w/ Jennifer Berkshire
What can we do to reverse the cuts to our public schools and make Iowa a leader in education again? Let's talk about it!
Join fellow CCI members and renowned author and podcaster Jennifer Berkshire on Tuesday, June 24 at 6 pm on zoom and help us connect the dots about the moment we’re in and what we can do about it!
We’ll hear from Jennifer and what she’s seen and learned from other states, and we’ll share the latest on our Public School Strong school board resolution petition campaign and other ways to take action over the summer. Sign up to join us here!
June 25 & 28: local 50th meet-up celebrations
It's our 50th! To celebrate, we want to connect with as many past and present members as possible. You're invited to join us for an informal, fun and interactive gathering to celebrate and be in community with other great CCIers who've been involved over the years.
Wed, June 25 - North Central Iowa celebration and social
We've been doing some really great work together in North Central Iowa over the past year and a half. We'll get updates and celebrate the local work to stop CO2 pipelines (hopefully including a win at Osage city council June 23) and Katie Bryan, CCI Membership Director will lead a short interactive CCI history exercise. 5:30-7:30pm, NIACC campus in Mason City. There will be pizza! RSVP here.
Sat, June 28 - Adair-Madison area celebration and social
Lisa Whelan, our Executive Director, and board member Barb Kalbach will lead an interactive story telling exercise of when CCIers stopped a giant factory farm in the area. Come to reminisce, reconnect and meet other great CCI community members -and you can explore the beautiful gardens, prairie, and walking paths at the historic Wallace Farm. 9:30-11:30am, Wallace Farms in Orient. There will be zucchini cake! RSVP here.
Water Talk
Nitrate pollution is impacting all of us
Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW) customers joined several other communities across the state with restrictions on water use. Last week, CIWW enacted the first-ever lawn watering ban to ensure they can deliver safe drinking water amidst high nitrate concentrations. The utility has been running their nitrate removal system for more than 50 days straight, at $14,000-$16,000 a day! Read the CIWW announcement here.
This latest development in Iowa’s water crisis is not surprising. Our state’s leaders have chosen to reject meaningful action for decades. But here’s something WE can all do: ask candidates running for office what they will do to protect our precious water resources from big ag pollution.
Todd Dorman of the Cedar Rapids Gazette writes, after asking Rob Sand three times and not getting a clear answer, “Voters who care about water need to press them for answers. Let them know this is not a back burner issue.” We agree! And so does Chris Jones - Fight For Your Life – because politicians won’t fight for it.
Join CCI’s Citizen Science – click here for more info and to order a Nitrate Watch test kit. Our water testing crew meets on the last Thursday of the month. Click here to get registered for our next monthly Zoom on Thursday, June 26 at 5pm.
THEY dump it. WE drink it. WE won’t stop until THEY clean it up.
Save the Date
Sign up today! CCI's 50th Anniversary Convention
Our annual convention is the one time of year when CCIers come together from across our issue campaigns and from across the state to connect and get recharged for the work ahead.
It's our 50th, so we're going back to a two-day event! You don't need to attend both days, but we hope you do!
Friday, July 25 from 6-10pm - we'll celebrate 50 years of organizing with food, a short presentation, music, and community.
Saturday, July 26 from 9am-4pm - we'll have a powerful panel, skill building workshops, and inspiring guest speakers to talk about our future and the work ahead.
Click here to register today for this amazing celebration!
Learn more about our speakers and workshops (and hotel blocks for out-of-towners) at iowacci.org/CCI50 or call 515-255-0800. We'd love to see you there! You don’t have to be a member to attend.
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
Juneteenth is about the truth some Americans keep trying to bury [Chicago Sun Times]
Breaking: Unprecedented 2-year global study shows that glyphosate causes multiple cancers at doses previously deemed "safe" [Organic Insider]
How do you measure corporate power? Count the marines in LA [America's Undoing]
He once rebuked billionaires for not paying enough taxes. Now this historian says we need 'moral ambition' to fight tyranny [CNN]
"No Kings Day" protests turn out millions, rebuking Trump [Strength in Numbers]