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Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund

, 

WOW.

Like, for real. The numbers are still being finalized, but I've been told that several hundreds of you generously chipped in to our year-end fundraising campaign. So much so that we exceeded (how much? I don't know, they're not telling me!) our goal of $75,000 in one week.

Thanks to all of you who gave, the members who participated in individual fundraising goals, those of you who shared our posts on social media, and more. You made the last week fun, engaging, and deeply meaningful.

This is humbling, inspiring, and a call to enter 2024 tough and tenacious, speaking truth to power, and holding decision-makers accountable. We're excited and ready, in large part because of folks like you supporting this work with your time, talents, and treasury.

And with the 2024 legislative session just around the corner (and a new Des Moines City Council), we've got work to do. But we're undaunted and ready. Let's do this, together.

 

Onward,

 

Matthew Covington (he/him)
Strategic Operations Director
Take action 
photo showing people holding signs about clean water at the Iowa captiol
December 7 - Save Iowa's Water campaign kickoff

We believe in a food and farm system that works for everyone- for workers, farmers, eaters, and the environment! And the legislative session is a powerful tool used to pressure our elected official to do what’s right for people and planet.

That’s why we've partnered with our friends at Food and Water Watch to introduce meaningful legislation that would regulate factory farm pollution under the Clean Water Act by giving the state the power to require and enforce NPDES permits.

Join us this Thursday Dec 7, 6:30-8:00pm on zoom for a 'Save Iowa's Water' campaign kickoff meeting to learn more and take action. And, we'll be joined by Dr. Silvia Secchi!

We’ll ground ourselves in the current reality of the statehouse, be in community with others fighting for clean water in Iowa, and learn about the organizing we'll do with legislation being introduced in the upcoming session. Join us this Thursday at 6:30pm to plug in and drive the work for clean water in Iowa and beyond!
photo showing CCI members at the statehouse and text promoting December 12 webinar
December 12 - preparing for the 2024 legislative session and 'The People's Lobby Day'!

The 2023 state legislative session was a whirlwind of activity and, let's be honest, not that great for our people and planet.

Governor Reynolds may be dead-set on furthering the agenda of her corporate donors and out-of-state special interests (plus in-state special interest Bruce Rastetter...) - but we're not buying it and we're not going away! We're going back to 'our house' to remind Reynolds and lawmakers they work for us, we the people.

January may seem a ways away, but it'll be here before we know it. There's two things you can do with other members to help us get ready for the legislative session and show up in a powerful way:

  • Join us online on Tuesday, December 12 @ 6pm for a 'legislative session preview'. We'll get grounded in key dates for the 2024 session and brainstorm ways we can make our presence felt by lawmakers from the moment the session begins until the moment they gavel out to adourn
  • Join us in-person on Tuesday, January 23 @ 11:30am for our 'People's Lobby Day' at the statehouse! CCI members and other Iowans from across the state will gather at the capitol for a day of citizen lobbying, taking action, and reminding our elected officials they work for us!
image showing a black man being handcuffed by police and text about December 14 webinar
December 14 - justice delayed is justice denied
Our racial justice team has spent years pushing for changes to the policies, procedures, and culture of the Des Moines Police Department. After two 3rd party reports, and over six years of organizing, city council meetings, and hard work, we're ready to see things cross the finish line!

Join us Thursday Dec. 14 at 6:30pm on Zoom to get re-grounded in the history of policing and our racial justice work, and brainstorm ways to head into the new year - and with a new Des Moines City Council - making some noise.

RSVP to attend online here!
photo showing a stream and logos for CCI and Nitrate Watch on each side
Test our waters! 

Are you curious about your tap water? What about the local stream or river? Is swimming allowed in the lake near you?

Iowa CCI has partnered with Izaak Walton League and their Nitrate Watch program to facilitate citizen water testing. It's super simple and we are excited to launch this people powered program!

What does that look like? Community driven science with our own water testing and data collection!

  • Step One: Click here to order your testing kit from Nitrate Watch! This will come with 25 testing strips and instruction cards to help guide you through testing. 
  • Step Two: Figure out your testing and monitoring plan. What water do you want to test and how often? Here is a link to the Nitrate Watch Monitoring Plan worksheet. This is a helpful resource for making your testing plan.
  • Step Three: Conduct some water tests! On your tap water and any local or favorite waterways. 
  • Step Four: Log your data into the Clean Water Hub database.
  • Step Five: Join our call with Heather Wilson of Nitrate Watch on Dec 6. She will go through the program, demo data entry, and answer questions about nitrate testing. Click here to register for the 12/6 call with Nitrate Watch.

In clean water book clubs and meetings, we had several people ask about doing their own water testing. We are excited about the partnership with Nitrate Watch to help meet that request. We hope you will join us to test water and collect data!
Updates!
photo showing person holding sign in front of Iowa capitol reading "voters decide"
Des Moines - let Voters Decide!

Connie Boesen was elected to become the next Mayor of Des Moines on November 8, meaning her current at-large seat with two years left in the term will be open beginning January 8. 

Following the election, some people were saying there would be a special election in March to determine who fills Connie's vacancy. That decision has not been made yet.

The Des Moines City Council can either call for a special election or appoint someone to fill Boesen’s seat – without public input. We believe the City Council should let democracy do its job and let voters decide by holding a special election.

If you live in Des Moines, keep an eye on your mailbox this week as we're sending out a petition so folks can collect signatures demanding the council hold a special election - with enough signatures, we can force a special election even if the city council doesn't want to hold one.
What We're Reading

These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!

  • The reason Iowa Regents caved on diversity, equity and inclusion [Iowa Capital Dispatch]

  • GOP pushes Social Security 'death panel' after years of tax cuts for rich [Common Dreams]

  • Dependable schools require dependable maintenance [Bleeding Heartland]

  • On climate, Joe Biden should realize that being better than Trump is the easy part [Jacobin]

  • Punishment or prevention? The critical role of police oversight boards for public safety [Cedar Rapids Gazette]
Movement Art
a Native person riding a skateboard up to a box with a slip of paper, text that reads 'Vote"

From @culturestrike: "Voting is one of the many powerful tools we can use to disrupt the status quo and build new worlds for our community. Whether we’re fighting for Trans-inclusive healthcare or working to get public lands back into the stewardship of Indigenous leaders, voting cannot be overlooked.

What new worlds are you envisioning?"

Art: @paige_pettibon and @plain_to_sea
JOIN/DONATE ❤

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund
2001 Forest Ave
Des Moines, IA 50311-3229
515-282-0484 . www.cciaction.org
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