Iowa

Moms are working in Iowa to fight for clean air and a stable climate. We host events, share information about what’s going on, and create opportunities for mothers to talk to their legislators about their concerns. Please join us in Iowa, and let us know about your priorities.

5,647

members in Iowa

How we’re making a difference in Iowa

Iowa Moms Respond to Covid-19

As we cope with the Covid-19 response in Iowa, Moms Clean Air Force is cancelling our in-person April events. Keeping our families safe is our top priority.

Hope will not be cancelled. We are stronger together, and a better future for our children keeps us motivated. All staff are working from home. We are meeting with each other and our lawmakers virtually, and we are exploring ways to best support Iowa communities, especially those for which Covid-19 is an extreme hardship. Read how our moms and families across the country are coping with Covid-19 here.

But as the science shows that breathing polluted air can worsen the impacts of Covid-19, the EPA continues to push forward dangerous proposals that weaken lifesaving pollution regulations. For the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we are asking that everyone take this Earth Day action from home: Join Moms Clean Air Force in demanding that EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler must go so that EPA can do its job and protect the health of our children and communities.

Iowa Moms take action.

Here’s what we’ve been working on in the Hawkeye State!

Iowa Moms Clean Air Force and Ecomadres members march at the Iowa Climate Crisis Parade, Des Moines, February, 2020.

Iowa Moms and Clean Air Kids meet with Senator Chuck Grassley at the annual Play-In for Climate Action, Washington DC, July 2019.

Members of Moms Clean Air Force Iowa meet with Senator Joni Ernst at the July 2016 Play-In for Climate Action, Washington DC.

Ecomadres

Launched in September 2018, the Ecomadres program brings Latina moms together to address issues of clean air, climate, and toxics that affect the health of Latino children and families. Ecomadres is a collaboration between GreenLatinos and Moms Clean Air Force.

The program provides comadres with reliable information and solutions through online resources, articles, action tools, and on-the-ground events. Our inclusive community empowers and lifts up the voices of comadres for the benefit of our families and communities. Ecomadres has a vibrant network of state-based field teams and allies across the country.

We host cafecitos around the country that provide opportunities for the communities to discuss air quality and climate change.

Iowa Ecomadres join cafecito in Des Moines, August, 2019.

Moms & Mayors

Our Moms & Mayors program connects moms with their mayors and local leaders to improve children’s health and build resilient communities. We educate, empower and mobilize Moms in their hometowns to work with their local elected leaders to implement clean air strategies, reduce toxins in the community, and take action on climate change. We also train Moms to join boards and commissions and urge them to run for office.

Community Rx

Moms Clean Air Force is committed to exposing environmental injustices in the African-American community by taking a stand against environmental discrimination, holding legislators accountable for lack of resources, educating communities on their rights and their issues, standing with impacted communities, and fighting for clean air and climate solutions to promote healthy children and healthy communities.

Through our environmental health justice program Community Rx, our goal is to advocate, educate, and amplify through partnering with impacted communities and environmental justice organizations on events and resource development. We hold Table Talks around the country, casual gatherings that organize, motivate, and activate volunteers, partner with churches to use our “Breath of Life” Bible Study, and provide information on environmental health issues in African-American communities.

Baby Power

Our Baby Power program educates and engages expectant and new moms on our issues with the message that every baby has the power to make you want to change the world.

In the fight against dangerous warming, there is a lot at stake for Iowa.

Without drastic climate action, scientists predict that Iowa will have 85 days over 90 degrees each summer by the end of the century, compared to the current 22 days per summer. Iowa will also have over a month of days with temperatures over 100 degrees. These rising temperatures put Iowa families at risk from heat-related illness and death, especially outdoor workers, older adults, and young children who are more vulnerable to extreme heat.

Iowa’s 86,104 farms are also at risk. Iowa ranks second in the country for exports of agricultural products, and rising temperatures could cripple this important industry. Increased heat both threatens crops as well as allows pests to live longer each season.

We are transitioning to renewable energy.

One third of Iowa’s electricity generation is powered by wind– the second highest share of any state in the country. With two fifths of Iowa’s electricity powered by renewable resources, largely wind supplemented by solar and biomass, Iowa’s renewable energy future is bright.

Despite this progress, Iowa still relies heavily on coal. 45% of the state’s electricity is powered by coal, the state’s largest energy source. As one of the top five states in energy use per capita, transitioning to renewable energy would drastically reduce dangerous climate warming greenhouse gases.

Past Events

April 2020

On April 22, Ecomadres and Corazón Latino hosted a virtual Earth Day Cafecito: “Clean Air, Coronavirus, and the Latino Community.” Moderator Karina Martinez spoke to Iowa organizer, Karin Stein, Arizona organizer, Columba Sainz, and Nevada organizer, Cinthia Moore about coronavirus, the Latino community, and how advocating for strong protections from air pollution has changed during the pandemic. Watch the video here.

March 2020

On March 9, Iowa Organizer, Karin Stein, presented about the Ecomadres program at the “Latino Day on the Hill 2020” at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

February 2020

Moms Clean Air Force Iowa hosted two panels during the weekend of February 15th– Regenerative Farming and Carbon Sequestration in Fairfield, Iowa and Climate Change and Health Care in Des Moines, Iowa.

On February 1, Moms Clean Air Force and Ecomadres members from across the state of Iowa marched in the Climate Crisis Parade with over 50 environmental, civic, justice, and faith groups in downtown Des Moines to spotlight the urgent need for action on climate.

January 2020

Iowa Field Organizer, Karin Stein, attended a town hall with Cindy Axne.

December 2019

Moms Clean Air Force/Ecomadres hosted a cafecito in Des Moines. Staff from the office of Cindy Axne attended the event.

Iowa Field Organizer, Karin Stein, participated in a panel focused on climate change at the annual Iowa Farmers Union convention.

November 2019

Moms Clean Air Force/Ecomadres tabled and spoke at a musical Dia de Los Muertos program to celebrate the arrival of monarch butterflies in Mexico and to underscore the importance of fighting against climate change.

October 2019

Moms Clean Air Force Iowa tabled at the Called to Climate Action Statewide Gathering– an Interfaith Gathering for Climate Action with keynote speaker Dr. Katharine Hayhoe.

Moms Clean Air Force hosted a tour of Singlespeed Brewery in Waterloo, a sustainably run Iowa business. Attendees discussed the importance of transitioning to 100% clean energy across the entire economy and about what their communities are doing to become more sustainable.

On October 17, 2019, Iowa Field Organizer, Karin Stein, and Ed East hosted an Environmental Workshop at Latinx Youth Summit. Through a drum circle and South American panpipe activity, participants explored the interconnection of issues and brainstormed the ways in which we can all work in favor of clean air and against climate change in our communities.

Members of Moms Clean Air Force Iowa met with the staff of Senator Grassley to discuss the importance of transitioning to a 100% clean economy to protect the health of Iowa’s families and children.

On October 7, 2019, Iowa Field Organizer, Karin Stein, hosted a read-in of Señorita Mariposa at the Newton Public Library with Iowa Congressman Wes Breckenridge.

Moms Clean Air Force Iowa attended the University of Iowa Extreme Weather Symposium in Des Moines.

September 2019

Iowa Ecomadres tabled at Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival in Des Moines.

Iowa Moms and Clean Air Kids from around the state supported the Global Climate Strikes on September 20th in Des Moines, Iowa City, Fairfield, and Vinton.

August 2019

Moms Clean Air Force Iowa hosted an Ecomadres cafecito in Des Moines.

Iowa Field Organizer, Karin Stein, hosted a booth at the Iowa State Fair to discuss the work of Moms Clean Air Force and the Ecomadres program.

July 2019

Members of Moms Clean Air Force Iowa attended the sixth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.