BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//CiviCRM//NONSGML CiviEvent iCal//EN
X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Chicago
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Chicago
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20260904T114500
END:DAYLIGHT
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:CiviCRM_EventID_304_080d65cf61140f3d593e6e46cfbace10@interfaithallianceiowa.ourpowerbase.net
SUMMARY:Intersections (with lunch) | Faith\, Freedom\, and
the Future of Our Public Libraries
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:
\n \n Faith\, Freedom\, and the
Future of Our Public Libraries
\n \n Sam Hel
mick
\n President\, American Library Ass
ociation
\n \n ______
_______________
\n \n SEPTEMBER 4\, 2026 | 11:45 A
M – 1:00 PM
\n St. Paul's United
Methodist Church\, Cedar Rapids
\n
** in-pers
on event **
\n \n
\n 
In an era dominated by hyper-part
isan content and "noise\," public libraries remain
essential sanctuaries for authentic community con
nection\, intellectual freedom\, and the shared ri
ght to read. In September\, Intersections explores
how modern political attacks on public libraries
threaten not only our democratic institutions but
also the core tenets of religious freedom and civi
l dialogue. Grounded in a commitment to fiscal res
ponsibility\, institutional transparency\, and fai
th-led community stewardship\, we will discuss how
diverse voices can unite to safeguard libraries a
s vital spaces for all Iowans.
\n \n
\n You may make your reservation to attend in-person
(with lunch) by clicking on the "Register Now" bu
tton.
Four boxed lunch
options are available: turkey & swiss on c
iabatta\, roast beef & cheddar on wheatberry\, Gre
ek Mediterranean wrap (vegetarian)\, and garden ve
ggie salad\; boxed l
unches are $15 each. You must pre-order
and pay for your lunch by 12:00 PM on Tuesday\, S
eptember 1. Late orders or walk-in requests for lunch will
not be available.
\n \n <
span style="font-family:Arial\, Helvetica\, sans-s
erif\;">If you have any issues registering\, pleas
e email info@interfaithallianceiowa.org or call
515.279.8715.
\n \n
\n ABOUT OUR PRESENTER
| Sam Helmick (they/them) is a lifelong Iowan wit
h over two decades of dedicated service in the lib
rary field\, currently serving as the President of
the American Library Association and the Communit
y and Access Services Coordinator at the Iowa City
Public Library. A former President of the Iowa Li
brary Association and the current Chair of the Sta
te of Iowa Library Commission\, Sam’s leadership i
s deeply informed by their Christian faith and a s
teadfast commitment to the intersection of religio
us freedom\, intellectual liberty\, and robust pub
lic stewardship. Their advocacy focuses on defendi
ng the right to read\, resisting administrative ov
erreach\, and ensuring that public institutions re
main resilient\, inclusive\, and transparent space
s of grace and discovery for communities across th
e state and nation.
\n \n
\n Inters
ections is a monthly gathering of the Interfai
th Alliance of Iowa in Cedar Rapids. It's an oppor
tunity to learn\, to participate in civil dialogue
\, and to discuss issues at the crossroads of reli
gion and politics.
DESCRIPTION:\n \n \n \n Faith\, Freedom\, and the Future of Ou
r Public Libraries\n \n \n Sam Helmick\n \n Presid
ent\, American Library Association\n \n \n \n ____
_________________\n \n \n \n SEPTEMBER 4\, 2026 |
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM\n \n St. Paul's United Method
ist Church\, Cedar Rapids\n \n ** in-person event
**\n \n \n \n \n In an era dominated by hyper-part
isan content and "noise\," public libraries remain
essential sanctuaries for authentic community con
nection\, intellectual freedom\, and the shared ri
ght to read. In September\, Intersections explores
how modern political attacks on public libraries
threaten not only our democratic institutions but
also the core tenets of religious freedom and civi
l dialogue. Grounded in a commitment to fiscal res
ponsibility\, institutional transparency\, and fai
th-led community stewardship\, we will discuss how
diverse voices can unite to safeguard libraries a
s vital spaces for all Iowans.\n \n \n \n \n You m
ay make your reservation to attend in-person (with
lunch) by clicking on the "Register Now" button.
Four boxed lunch options are available: turkey & s
wiss on ciabatta\, roast beef & cheddar on wheatbe
rry\, Greek Mediterranean wrap (vegetarian)\, and
garden veggie salad\; boxed lunches are $15 each.
You must pre-order and pay for your lunch by 12:00
PM on Tuesday\, September 1. Late orders or walk-
in requests for lunch will not be available.\n \n
\n \n If you have any issues registering\, please
email info@interfaithallianceiowa.org (mailto:info
@interfaithallianceiowa.org) or call 515.279.8715
(tel:5152798715).\n \n \n \n \n ABOUT OUR PRESENTE
R | Sam Helmick (they/them) is a lifelong Iowan wi
th over two decades of dedicated service in the li
brary field\, currently serving as the President o
f the American Library Association and the Communi
ty and Access Services Coordinator at the Iowa Cit
y Public Library. A former President of the Iowa L
ibrary Association and the current Chair of the St
ate of Iowa Library Commission\, Sam’s leadership
is deeply informed by their Christian faith and a
steadfast commitment to the intersection of religi
ous freedom\, intellectual liberty\, and robust pu
blic stewardship. Their advocacy focuses on defend
ing the right to read\, resisting administrative o
verreach\, and ensuring that public institutions r
emain resilient\, inclusive\, and transparent spac
es of grace and discovery for communities across t
he state and nation.\n \n \n \n \n Intersections i
s a monthly gathering of the Interfaith Alliance o
f Iowa in Cedar Rapids. It's an opportunity to lea
rn\, to participate in civil dialogue\, and to dis
cuss issues at the crossroads of religion and poli
tics.\n \n
CATEGORIES:Event c3
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
DTSTAMP;TZID=America/Chicago:20260904T114500
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260904T114500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260904T130000
LOCATION:1340 3rd Ave SE\n St. Paul's United Methodist Chur
ch\n Cedar Rapids\, IA 52403\n
URL:https://interfaithallianceiowa.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=304
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR