This week in Iowa organizing…
On Saturday, over 70 folks joined CCI Action and Food and Water Action for our People's Candidate Forum in Davenport. Secretary of Ag candidate Chris Jones, 1st District candidate Travis Terrell, and U.S. Senate candidate Zach Wahls answered questions from everyday people about how they would tackle the issues Iowans are facing if elected.
Folks told their stories about how they've been personally impacted by the decisions our state and federal leaders are making. And they pressed the candidates for specific solutions to the issues facing us like breaking up Big Ag, fighting back against private school vouchers, and ensuring healthcare is a right for all.
We know if we want real change, that starts with elected leaders listening to us. And that includes elected leaders at all levels of office, like local school boards. Shout out to the Calamus Wheatland Community School District for becoming the 14th school district to sign onto our Public School Strong resolution last week!
Let's keep at it, read on for more,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
At the Statehouse
When will it end?
We're entering the second week of overtime for the legislative session, and it's not clear if we'll see adjournment by week's end.
It appears the House and Senate have come to agreement on state budget matters, but not on property tax reform. Still in limbo are matters relating to eminent domain and the proposed CO2 pipeline, as well as what (if anything) lawmakers will do to address Iowa's water quality.
A reminder that you can find your legislators and their contact information here.
Take action
Tonight - April 27: Public School Strong orientation
14 school boards have passed our resolution calling on the legislature to fully fund public schools at 5% and phase out private school vouchers. Will your district be next?
Full funding for public schools starts at the school board level and we invite you to join other Iowans to our next Public School Strong orientation on April 27 at 7 pm on zoom (register here).
At this meeting folks will learn more about what’s behind the attacks on public education, the purpose and goals of Public School Strong, and receive a free PSS t-shirt!
CCI water testers in the news, join our call this Thursday
Check out this excellent news story by Iowa Capital Dispatch: Here's why Iowans say they volunteer to test lakes, rivers for nitrates.
The piece follows three Iowa CCI members as they test waters in their areas. The piece includes why they each decided to test, video of them taking a sample, and charts of their testing data over time. It's worth five minutes of your time - seven minutes if you watch the videos, too. A huge shout out to Ryan, Paul, & Barb - and other CCI testers.
Interested in joining CCI's water monitoring program? For more information or to order a free test kit from Nitrate Watch, visit CCI’s Nitrate Watch Water Testing page.
Join our community of practice: The CCI water testing crew meets on the last Thursday of the month to share information and discuss what we are seeing. Our next Zoom is April 30 at 5pm. Click here to register.
May 1: May Day Strong rallies
On May 1, 2026, workers, students, and families rally, march, and take action across the country to demand a nation that puts workers over billionaires, with many refusing business as usual through No School. No Work. No Shopping.
Join our allies at ISEA and attend one of their events, find other events nearest you here.
May 18: Healthy Water, Healthy Iowa orientation
It's become more and more apparent that Iowa is facing a crisis when it comes to our health and water, yet our lawmakers continue to fail to meet the moment with many of them compromised by the influence of big ag and corporate interests.
That's why we want you to join us for our Healthy Water Healthy Iowa Orientation on May 18th @6pm on Zoom!
We'll be discussing the history of corporate ag consolidation and how it has manufactured our current crisis, as well as our plans to pass resolutions protecting water at the local level, elevating health and water during the midterms and continuing that momentum into the 2027 legislative session.
Sustainers rock (our socks)!
Thank you for a successful monthly sustainer drive. If you ever wondered how these small, budget-friendly donations add up, here's what that looks like: 59 of you helped us raise $985 in new monthly sustainer pledges. Over a full year, that adds up to $11,820! That's some people-power in action. Thank you.
2026 is a big year. Contributions from our members, especially our monthly sustainers, help us stay independent and give us flexibility to put resources where they are needed most.
Thank you to those who started or increased a sustainer pledge, our longtime monthly sustainers, and to the 15 members who helped us phone bank last Thursday (and those who answered their phones!). ❤️
The mini-campaign is over, but there's still time to sign-up or switch - click here.
Save the Dates
Plant Sale Fundraiser
May 8 & 9, Des Moines: As always, this member-led fundraiser is 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.
Cciaction.org/plantsale for updates
CCI Action Summer ConventionSaturday, July 25, 10am - 4pm
Grandview College, Des Moines
Join us for our annual gathering where we come together from across the state and across issue campaigns to refresh, learn, plan, and recommit to the work ahead.
Details and registration coming soon!
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 provides tired non-answers for dreadful water quality [Des Moines Register]
Nearly one-fifth of Americans are consuming water with high levels of nitrates [Inside Climate News]
I may not be Catholic but the pope speaks for me on this [Rekha shouts & whispers]
Class dealignment hasn't gone away [Jacobin]
In Wisconsin's CAFO counties, glyphosate monitoring gaps threaten groundwater [Wisconsin Watch]