This week in Iowa organizing…

Written By Katie Bryan

I hope you all had a good Memorial Day weekend. Sadly, this past weekend seems to becoming the unofficial start of beach closure season for Iowa.

Let's be clear - geese aren't to blame, our toxic waterways are overwhelmingly the result of factory farm runoff. But by talking with more folks and highlighting corporate ag's role in making so many of our natural resources unsafe, we'll build the pressure needed to spur meaningful action by our local elected officials.

Speaking of elected officials, the "big, bad, horrible bill" in D.C. is now in the Senate's hands. If you haven't yet, please call or email Senators Grassley and Ernst, as they'll have a say in whether or not more than 3 million Americans will lose their SNAP benefits.

More ways to take action and plug into the work below!

 

Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director

 

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Tonight - May 27: Public School Strong

Our Public School Strong campaign is spreading across the state! We were in Keokuk at the beginning of May to ramp up the fight for fully funded public schools in the southeast corner of the state. And back in April, a CCI Public School Strong leader presented to a group in Wright County. An article about that meeting in the Clarion Wright Co. Monitor ended with:

"In the face of education and property tax policies that risk leaving small communities behind, it may be the quiet voices in the corners of rural rooms that rise up to shape Iowa’s future.”

Here's ways you can plug in and "rise up to shape Iowa's future":

  • Join our Public School Strong orientation session on Tuesday, May 27 at 6pm over Zoom. School is about to be out for the summer, but our work doesn't stop. RSVP here!

  • Collect signatures urging your school board to pass a resolution calling on the legislature to fund public schools at a 5% annual increase and phase out private school vouchers. Learn more and add your name here! 

May 29: Hear from Dr. Martin St. Clair on our monthly Zoom

Click here to get registered for Thursday, May 29 at 5pm

We are excited to have Dr. Martin St. Clair joining as our guest speaker. He works at the University of Iowa dividing his time between the CHEEC and IIHR Hydroscience & Engineering programs. He has a lot of experience with water quality monitoring, and we can’t wait for you to hear from him. 

If you're reading this, you are invited to join other Citizen Scientists on May 29 to hear from this committed water warrior. If you are not currently testing water with CCI, Dr. Marty might change your mind! Get registered here!

Resources:

 

June 11: first book club read of 2025

We invite you to join us for a book club discussion on Wednesday, June 11 on Zoom. This time we picked The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by bestselling author Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Elizabeth Gilbert writes, Kimmerer is “a great teacher, and her words are a hymn of love to the world.” The Serviceberry is an antidote to the broken relationships and misguided goals of our times, and a reminder that “hoarding won’t save us, all flourishing is mutual."

Sign up for the June 11 book club here. RSVPing is the best way to stay in the loop and get updates as we get closer to the date.

 

June 14: Teach Truth day of action

Join local non-profits and community organizers on June 14 at Chauncey Swan Park in Iowa City to stand up for Youth and Truth! There will be lots to learn and enjoy – live music, speakers, snacks, swag, a banned book exchange, kid’s activities, and more!

Across the country policy makers and corporate power are pushing laws to criminalize teaching honestly about U.S. history and to restrict students’ ability to ask questions and engage in critical thinking.

To protect young people’s right to learn — and by default protect the future of democracy and justice — we need to expose this authoritarian agenda and be visible in our defense of teaching people’s history. More information here.

 

June 17: CCI open house

Have you ever wanted to see where the magic happens at Iowa CCI? Come by our Open House!

We love to show off our headquarters AND we are getting jazzed about our 50th anniversary celebration in July! RSVP to our open house and come check out our power place. 

National Sheriffs' Association - stop bullying our local sheriffs

You've probably heard the news - Dubuque County Sheriff Joe Kennedy took a stand for his community by refusing to sign a 287(g) agreement with ICE. He cited concerns over cost, jail space, and limited resources. His decision wasn’t about politics — it was about protecting public safety and local autonomy.

But the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) is pressuring law enforcement across the country. NSA Executive Director Jonathan Thompson sent a letter warning sheriffs that if they don’t sign a 287(g) agreement by May 28, their jurisdictions could be labeled “sanctuary” under a Trump executive order — opening the door to funding cuts and political retaliation.

This is a coercive tactic that undermines local control, invites civil rights violations, and risks costly litigation. Our allies at Escucha Mi Voz Iowa are encouraging folks to email the NSA CEO urging him to stop pressuring sheriffs like Joe Kennedy - take action here.

 

Save the Date

 

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. 

Read more about the event and sign up to join us here.

Coming from out of town and need a hotel for the night? We've booked a block of rooms at the Comfort Inn & Suites in downtown Des Moines. Click here to book your room or call them at 515-282-5251 and use the code: Iowa CCI

 

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 reinvents summer meals for kids. The easier option would have been better [Des Moines Register]

  • Progressives need to stand up for LaMonica McIver [The Nation]

  • Scientists find DNA proof of swine feces in North Carolina homes [Sentient Media]

  • Public schools that refuse to follow Trump's DEI directive are now in the crosshairs [USA Today]

  • Systems are crumbling - but daily life continues. The dissonance is real [The Guardian]

Katie Bryan
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This week in Iowa organizing…