This week in Iowa organizing…

Written By Katie Bryan

Happy Cinco de Mayo everybody, and remember it's not the same as Mexican Independence Day. Up in Canada, it's also Red Dress Day, something we could honor, reflect upon, and take action to address here in the U.S.

And of course, last week wasn't all about May baskets, as this past Thursday was International Workers' Day. Here in Iowa on May Day, public school teachers and community supporters across the state rallied against cuts to public education and in support of fully funded public schools.

Let's take the momentum of this history and the call of this moment to keep loving, keep fighting, and keep organizing.

Let's get to it,

 

Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director

 

At the Statehouse  

Session overtime showdown

Lawmakers enter overtime at the statehouse today, with property tax reform and coming to agreement on the state budget the big ticket items left before adjournment.

Last week, 12 Republican Senators took a stand, saying that they would oppose any proposed budgets until the CO2 pipeline issue is debated and voted on. Those 12 Republicans combined with the 16 Democratic Senators would be enough votes to pass meaningful legislation if it is brought to the floor.

Senate President Amy Sinclair and Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, as leadership, have the ability to bring this issue to the floor. Take a minute to email them today and urge them to bring up HF943 and HF639, as passed by the House, for debate before the end of session.

On another note, Bayer is taking advantage of the legislative session going into overtime to try and sneak their Cancer Gag Act through. Iowans have spoken loud and clear - we don't want Bayer writing the rules in Iowa, so please keep contacting your state Representative on this issue.

 

Take action

 

May 9 & 10: CCI Action Plant sale fundraiser

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.

Peruse this year's inventory here

Place your reservations here - Preorders close at end of day Wednesday

The Facebook event is the best way to get updates. (We're looking for donations of quarter and half gallon pots!) 

 

May 27: Public School Strong orientation

Our Public School Strong campaign is spreading across the state! Just this past week, we were in Keokuk 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, where an article about the 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 next 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 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! 

Weigh in on Medicaid work requirements

Back in April, Governor Reynolds requested a waiver from the federal government to impose burdensome work requirements for Iowans on Medicaid expansion (the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan). Her proposal would require people on this Medicaid plan to work 100 hours a month, be in school or job training, or be caring for a person with disabilities.

There are exceptions, but it's still a bad proposal that will kick people off of Medicaid. An overwhelming majority of adults on Medicaid are already working. What Reynolds won't say is that people will lose coverage through onerous reporting requirements or lost documentation.

Two public hearings remain, and Iowans may submit written comments by May 15 by emailing QIMP_Public_Comment@hhs.Iowa.gov and putting "1115 Work Requirement Amendment" in the subject line. More info can be found here.

 

Join us May 29 for our monthly Zoom

Thanks to everyone participating in CCI’s water monitoring campaign. Our Citizen Scientists recorded 164 nitrate tests in the Clean Water Hub for the month of April! Great job getting out there to test and record the data!

The water testing crew meets on the last Thursday of the month. We will have a guest speaker join us for May. More details to follow. Click here to get registered for our next monthly Zoom on Thursday, May 29 at 5pm.

Resources:

Pay attention to local alerts like this one! Maybe even amplify them on your social media channels - Wastewater enters Boyer River near Denison.

Thanks for caring about and taking action for Iowa's water! 

June 11: first book club read of 2025

We're back with another installation of Iowa CCI's book club. This time we picked The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, the latest book by bestselling author Robin Wall Kimmerer. And we invite you to join us for a book club discussion on Wednesday, June 11 on Zoom. 

Elizabeth Gilbert writes, Robin Wall 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.”

We offer up this book to the CCI community, in this turbulent time, as a thought-provoking pause and breath of fresh air. A communal meditation on "Another World is Possible," if you will.

Let us know you're in! 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.

 

We're hiring!

Iowa CCI is looking to hire Community Organizers who have a strong desire to meet people where they are at, move people to action, help CCI build our people power, and win on issues.

Learn more and how to apply at iowacci.org/jobs

 

Update

 

We did it! We got to 50 new Sustainers - THANK YOU!

We set a big goal of 50 new Sustainers for our 50th anniversary - and you showed up BIG. Thank you!!

CCI relies on our people power. Your financial contributions expand our ability to organize for the people and places we love.

Given what's happening nationally and at our statehouse, our community-led campaigns are more important than ever. And, as grantmaking shrinks, it's more critical than ever before that we fund the work ourselves!

It's not too late to sign up and get a pair of our snazzy People Power wool socks. Click here to become a CCI Sustainer today! 

 

Save the Date

 

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!

  • 'We are not illegal humans': Hundreds march in Iowa City in support of immigrants [Little Village]

  • Congressman Nunn must protect Medicaid (by CCI Board President Jenny Turner) [Jefferson Herald]

  • No warrant, no constitution: Trump's shock troops seize our judiciary [The Hartmann Report]

  • The governor shouldn't referee what is, or isn't, secret [Stray Thoughts]

  • Iowa lawmaker follows Trump intimidation playbook with letter to migrants group [Des Moines Register]

Katie Bryan
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This week in Iowa organizing…