DSM SURJ hopes that you have a happy holiday season. Here is what we have been up to:
Published on December 15, 2023 by Carrie Gosnell
Saturday, August 5: We joined LULAC, NAACP, Iowa Federation of Labor, to commemorate the 58th Anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
We have been working on a project to move our membership list to Every Action, which will:
- Save us money (give more back to the local neighborhood)
- Allow us more engaging and efficient ways to communicate with our members.
- Get us more integrated with National SURJ.
We co-sponsored candidate forums hosted by NAACP Des Moines prior to the November elections.
- Tuesday, October 10 @ Corinthian Baptist Church: Des Moines City Council Special Election Ward 1
- Thursday, October 12 @ Union Missionary Baptist Church: Des Moines City Council Wards 2 & 4
- Tuesday, October 17 @ Corinthian Baptist Church: Des Moines Mayor & Des Moines City Council At-Large
- Tuesday, October 24th @ Urban Dreams: Des Moines School Board
Iowa CCI Racial Justice Team update
We FINALLY received the 21st Century Policing report in November. It again reinforced all of the changes we have been asking the city council for, including the formation of a Community Review Board. We believe that this is one of the most critical items we can push for, because this review board can continue to push on the concerns of the community and for follow up to the Public Works LLC and 21st Century Policing reports and recommendations. Change is slow, but we are making progress.
Iowa Coalition for Collective Change – financial support
Throughout the year, we have been financially supporting Iowa Coalition for Collective Change (ICCC) for any expenses that have come up since they lost their funding and shut down operations. The process of completing all audits and completely shutting down the 501c3 organization has been long and tedious and will continue for likely 6 – 9 more months. Because of your contributions, we can support the outstanding obligations as these tedious proceedings continue. Thank you.
Book Club Readings to end 2023
July 27th – Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by Adrienne Maree Brown
September 21 – Pleasure Activism by Adrienne maree brown; Breathe by Imani Perry
November 30 & December 2 –
November 30 & December 2 –
- You Have to Be Prepared to Die Before You Can Begin to Live by Paul Kix
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates