This week in Iowa organizing…
We hope you all had a good weekend and observance of Juneteenth. Among many things, as Rodney Coates writes, Juneteenth "offers an important reminder that true freedom must also include the right to an education."
True freedom also includes the right and ability for all eligible voters to safely and securely cast a ballot. As you may have heard, attempts at election intimidation have already begun in Ohio, Minnesota, and elsewhere in a deliberate attempt to control the outcome of the upcoming election.
Those desperate to cling to power want us afraid, isolated, and divided. We will not be intimidated. The more we show up together in public and exercise our rights and freedoms, the safer we are.
We're committed to fight misinformation and intimidation and to protect our sacred right to vote. The people and places we love are worth it. It's something we'll dig-in on and gear up for at our July 25th statewide convention in Des Moines. More on that and other ways to plug into the work below.
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
Take action
June 22 & July 11: Public School Strong meetings
Fifteen school boards have passed our Public School Strong (PSS) resolution demanding the legislature fully fund public schools with a 5% increase in state aid. It also calls for an end to a private school voucher program that has cost Iowa taxpayers more than $1 billion in its first four years.
Will your district be next? Join other Iowans at our next Public School Strong orientation tonight at 7 p.m. on Zoom (register here).
Are you the parent, grandparent, or guardian of a child in public school? Then join us at the CCI office on Saturday, July 11 to share your experiences and concerns, and discuss what we can do together to ensure an honest, equitable, and robust public education for all students. RSVP to join us here.
June 23: Statewide Data Center Organizing Call
Data centers are making headlines across the country, and everyday people are standing up in state after state to protect their communities, land, and water. Including here in Iowa.
CCI members overwhelmingly said this is an issue they're worried about. And, we’ve been hearing from people across the state who are concerned about AI data centers expanding in their area.
Join us on Tuesday, June 23 at 6:30PM for a statewide Data Center Organizing Call to learn more. Register here!
When we come together to demand better for the people and places we love, we have the power to build the state we want to see.
July 25: Building the Iowa We Need statewide convention
Our convention is the one time of year when the CCI Action community gathers from across the state and issue campaigns to connect, celebrate, learn, strategize, and reenergize for the work ahead -- including this year’s midterm elections.
The election is critically important, and Iowa may very well hold the key to who controls the U.S. House of Representatives. And our eye is on the prize of the long-term, transformative changes we need.
It's been hard to watch as lawmakers have spent the last decade tearing down years of hard-fought progress one brick at a time. And in this we have real opportunity to re-envision and rebuild a much better Iowa and country.
Click here to register today! $25 early-bird registration includes speakers, workshops, lunch and more.
Whether you're a longtime member, newly engaged in our work, or looking for a boost of inspiration - this event is for you!
Water Talk
10 beaches were designated as not recommended for swimming over the weekend, up from 8 just last week. And as Central Iowa Water Works second ever lawn watering ban continues - a necessary measure to ensure safe drinking water - notices have been sent (but no fines) to those not adhering to the restrictions. But we have to ask, why no requirements or fines for those polluting the water upstream?
Join CCI’s water testers! For more information or to order a free test kit, you can visit CCI’s Nitrate Watch Water Testing page.
The water testing crew meets on the last Thursday of the month to share information and discuss what we are seeing in our data. Our next Zoom is this Thursday, June 25, at 5pm. Click here to register.
Articles of interest:
Iowa DNR is ordered to gauge water quality of Bloody Run Creek [Radio Iowa]
What is Central Iowa Water Works' water use plan? [KCCI]
Chris Jones leads fearless campaign against Big Ag [Barn Raiser]
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
USDA claims SNAP fraud is rampant. Here are the facts [Civil Eats]
How tech's midterm beating is shaping its 2028 playbook [Politico]
The private school choice boom leaves behind many kids in public school [AP]
They're uninsured after Obamacare became too costly. And they're far from alone [CBS News]
Report: nearly 80% of ESA funds went to students already in private schools [Decorah News]