Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
National People's Action | |
Website | iowacci.org |
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Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI, Iowa CCI, occasionally ICCI) is a membership-based grassroots organization dedicated to community organizing in the state of Iowa.
CCI is a
History
CCI was formed in 1975 by a group of ministers in Waterloo, Iowa who felt Iowa needed an organization to fight for social justice issues. CCI began by focusing mainly on neighborhood-level organizing, but soon grew into a statewide organization. Early issues addressed by CCI members included misuse of public funds, slum landlords, and the practice of redlining. Notable victories from the 1970s included the establishment of the Peoples Community Health Clinic in Waterloo, passage of the statewide Iowa Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, and the state Neighborhood Revitalization Law.[2]
As Iowans faced the Midwest
CCI made national news in August 2011 when members questioned Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney at a soapbox appearance at the Iowa State Fair, leading Romney to respond, "Corporations are people, my friend." Video footage of this remark was picked up by media outlets as an indication that Romney was out of touch with ordinary Americans.[5]
Campaigns
CCI members continue to organize against
As of 2015[update] CCI has been organizing around four issues: Farming & Environment, Immigrant rights, Fair Economy and Clean Elections.[6]
ICCI exposed the state’s failure to protect
Recognition
John Nichols of The Nation named CCI the "most valuable grassroots advocacy group" of 2009.[10]
CCI was featured on the final episode of Bill Moyers Journal, where the group was described as "advocates for the people."[11]
References
- ^ "Iowa Independent". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
- ^ "Iowa CCI in the '70s - Iowa CCI". Archived from the original on 2017-01-24.
- ^ "Iowa CCI in the '80s - Iowa CCI". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
- ^ "Iowa CCI in the '90s - Iowa CCI". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
- ^ The Washington Post
- ^ "Iowa CCI issues". Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. n.d. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
- ^ Hugh Espey (8 June 2014). "Iowa View: DNR needs tougher clean water rules". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
- ^ Perry Beeman (18 August 2011). "Environmental groups sue EPA, move to take water quality authority from Iowa DNR". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
- ^ "Iowa – still not enforcing the Clean Water Act, a timeline". Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. n.d. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
- ^ The Nation
- ^ "Bill Moyers Journal . Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) | PBS".