This week in Iowa organizing…
Happy Easter to those who celebrated it, and rest in power Pope Francis.
Amid rising anti-immigrant sentiments and rhetoric in recent years, Pope Francis used his platform to urge people to welcome the stranger. He also called on society to bridge the gap between the rich and poor, and for wealthy countries to better protect the environment for current and future generations.
This is in pretty stark contrast to what many are expecting this week from the Trump administration. Nonprofits across the country are preparing for executive orders or other actions aimed at curtailing environmental and human rights work - including threats to revoke nonprofit status.
Strong leaders in a democracy don't lash out at those they disagree with through fascist power grabs and blanket assaults on civil society. Weak tyrants do. Everyday people from all backgrounds, beliefs, abilities and identities benefit from strong democratic institutions and a vibrant civil society.
Organizations like CCI were built for moments like these, and we'll keep fighting for the people and places we love. We're in this for the long haul, and we won't back down.
Onward,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
At the Statehouse
Two weeks left?
The legislative session is scheduled to end on Friday, May 2. But the question is will they?
Lawmakers' per diem expenses will end on May 2, perhaps motivating them to adjourn by then. Even before the session started there was talk about more property tax reform, but with two weeks left there are some doubts if they'll get to address it still this year.
Given what has, and equally so has not, been accomplished so far this legislative session, we may have been better off had they just not gavelled in back in January. The silver lining of this session may just be Bayer's "Cancer Gag Act" not getting passed - if we stay vigilant! Keep contacting your state legislators on this and other issues, and check to see if there's a legislative forum coming up in your area.
Take action
April 21, 26 & 30: do you see yourself on your local school board?
One of the tools we have to protect public education is our school boards. We know that in order to win fully funded, honest, and equitable education, we need folks who share our values and responsive to their communities sitting in those seats. People just like you!
If seats like school board members didn't matter, groups like Moms for Liberty wouldn't be working so hard to take them over. That's why we’re holding a candidate training series for folks who are interested in running for their community’s school board, or for folks who are interested in helping others run.
This training will be a three-part series over Zoom on April 21, 26, & 30. Each 2 hour session will build on the previous session. Register here!
April 22: The Jungle screening
This Earth Day, join us for a community screening of a new documentary exposing the industry fueling Iowa’s water crisis: factory farms.
About 'The Jungle': Unraveling centuries of greed and exploitation in America’s meat industry, this modern-day take on Upton Sinclair’s shocking 1906 novel calls into question the profiteering of ecosystems and reveals how indigenous knowledge may hold the key to creating an equitable food system for both people and the planet.
This screening will be at Varsity Cinema in Des Moines Tuesday, April 22 at 7pm. You can purchase tickets to join us here.
April 24: water quality meet-up in Cedar Falls
The correlation between cancer and nitrates in our water is hard to ignore. Testing for nitrates in our water is easy and free – it just requires time and a little dedication.
Meet with others in the Cedar Falls area who are interested in Iowa water quality and participating in nitrate testing with others in 2025!
When/Where: We'll meet in the upstairs meeting room at the Cedar Falls Library, 524 Main St, on April 24 from 4-5PM, with an option to participate in a zoom following the meeting from 5-6PM with others in the state who are involved as well.
Bring: Your curiosity and a neighbor, and a small sample of your tap water or local stream water in a clean sealed container to test if you can. We'll provide simple refreshments.
April 28: Public School Strong orientation
Iowa’s public schools were once top ranked but we’ve fallen behind because of chronic underfunding and poor leadership. But we're fighting back through our Public School Strong campaign to win honest, equitable, safe, and fully-funded public schools.
Here's two ways you can plug in:
Join our next Public School Strong orientation session on Monday, April 28 at 6pm over Zoom. RSVP here!
Collect signatures to urge your local school board to pass a resolution calling on the Governor and legislature to fully fund our public schools at a 5% annual increase and to phase out private school vouchers. Learn more and add your name here!
Everyday Iowans know that strong public schools are a cornerstone of our communities and democracy. By organizing in our neighborhoods and at local school board meetings, we can create positive, common sense solutions to address the real issues our schools are facing.
CCI's spring sustainer drive - 50 for our 50th!
We're at 33 new Sustainers so far! 66% to our goal - THANK YOU! Could YOU help get us to our anniversary goal of 50 new monthly givers before April 30?
Now is the time to become a CCI sustainer! Our community-led campaigns are more important than ever, and it’s critical that we fund the work ourselves. People power is how we win back the Iowa we deserve.
Here’s why CCI Sustainers make such a difference:
It’s revenue we can count on. We know these donations will come in each month.
It gives us flexibility to seize moments and take on emerging organizing campaigns. More importantly, it also allows us to plan, to be forward-looking, and to be strategic.
It builds our strength. Member contributions, especially monthly pledges, mean we have more control over our work and take powerful positions and action.
Click here to become a CCI Sustainer today! It’s easier on your budget, your time, and you make an impact all year long.
Bonus -- sign up as a new sustainer today and we'll send you our "People Power" wool socks.
Join our monthly Zoom this Thursday
CCI’s Citizen Scientists will gather online for our second monthly meeting of the 2025 season. Click here to get registered for our Zoom on April 24 at 5pm.
Last Wednesday we hosted a Regional Team Building meeting online to develop this community of practice, connect water testers in regions, and discuss how and where to strategically target outdoor water monitoring. We are excited to see at least 3 teams building and several other partnerships among water testers across the state. Thanks for all the great enthusiasm about collaboration for testing and data collection!
As we saw yesterday, spring rain is here and more is in the forecast. It is time to be testing for those baseline nitrate numbers! Learn more about this citizen science and order your Nitrate Watch test kit here!
Thanks for caring about and taking action for Iowa's water!
Save the Date
Plant sale fundraiser for CCI Action
Well, we thought last year was our final year...but here we are again! Ben couldn't help himself with planting seeds, and we've got a new crew helping out AND a new host location.
As always, it's held the (Friday &) Saturday of Mother's Day Weekend. Organic veggie starts from several local growers, mostly heirloom varieties. Also, herbs, prairie plants, Iowa wildflowers, and other hearty yard perennial plant divisions.
Plant inventory and reservation form will be posted soon! The Facebook event is the best way to get updates.
Early bird registration open for CCI's 50th!
We're hammering out the details, but we know we're turning 50 this year! We've got the Iowa Events Center reserved for July 25 & 26, and we want to see you there!
Save the date and stay tuned in the coming weeks for more details - it'll be good! Know you'll be joining us regardless of the details? Then get the "early early bird" rate by signing up here 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!
Iowa's school chaplain bill and Christian Nationalism [Bleeding Heartland]
How the $1 billion Texas school voucher program could have a nationwide ripple effect [The 19th]
Why the Greenpeace trial is a lesson for us all [Barn Raiser]
Pope Francis was an amiable mold breaker in the Vatican [Jacobin]
States push Medicaid work rules, but few programs help enrollees find jobs [KFF Health News]