FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
4126 Ingersoll Ave, DES MOINES

in-person and virtual options

How do we ensure everyone can eat?

Presenter: Luke Elzinga, Policy and Advocacy Manager, DMARC

Food Insecurity is impacting a growing number of households, including in Iowa. Nearly 11% of Iowans (1 in 9) and 15.4% of Iowa children (1 in 6) face food insecurity. 10.8% do not know where they will find their next meal, including 110,500 children. Polk County alone comprises 15% of the state’s food insecure population, with over 19,000 of them children.

There is disagreement between some politicians and those who do the hard work to resolve hunger in our state regarding funding of food programs in Iowa, including whether to access federal funds for the Summer EBT program.

Who is responsible for ensuring all people have enough food to eat? What is the best way to ensure no child goes hungry? And what is Iowa’s responsibility, especially as a state with an abundance of resources and revenues? Is it just a matter of worldview and political will?

Join us for Crossroads to learn more about the rising rate of food insecurity in Iowa, who is impacted, and the solutions that really could work to ensure every person has access to the food they need, including our children.

There are three ways to attend Crossroads. Registration is required for all three:

• Attend in person (with lunch) by clicking here. Four bag lunch sandwich options are available for $15 (new price): turkey, roast beef, ham salad, and vegetarian. You must pre-order and pay for your lunch by 12:00 PM on Wednesday, September 18. Late orders or walk-in requests for lunch will NOT be available.
• Attend in person (no lunch) by clicking here. There is no cost for this option, but we do need your RSVP to ensure we have enough seating.
• Watch via YouTube by clicking here. This virtual presentation will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

Crossroads is a monthly gathering of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa in Des Moines.

This summer and early fall, Executive Director Connie Ryan is leading a number of community conversations around the GOD & COUNTRY documentary and the topic of Christian nationalism. Movies and discussions are free and open to the public. We'll add other events as they arise.

• Thursday, SEPTEMBER 12: 6:30 PM
  First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, 1800 Bell Ave, Des Moines
  Movie screening
• Monday, SEPTEMBER 16: 6:30 PM
  First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, 1800 Bell Ave, Des Moines
  Discussion
• Thursday, SEPTEMBER 26: 6:00 PM
  Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation, 2622 Lincoln Way, Ames
  Movie screening and discussion
• Sunday, OCTOBER 6: 2:30 PM
  First Congregational United Church of Christ, 361 17th St SE, Cedar Rapids
  Movie screening and discussion
• Sunday, OCTOBER 13: 2:00 PM
  St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 2410 Melrose Dr, Cedar Falls
  Movie screening and discussion
• Tuesday, OCTOBER 15: 6:00 PM  *NEW SHOWING*
  Ankeny Presbyterian Church, 317 SE Trilein Dr, Ankeny
  Movie screening and discussion

Would your house of worship or community group like to be a co-sponsor of one of these events at no cost? Contact Connie Ryan for more information.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
ST. PAUL'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1340 3rd Ave SE, CEDAR RAPIDS

in-person and virtual options

Mariam Girls' Club for Muslim girls

Presenter:
Viana Qadoura, Founder and Director, Mariam Girls' Club

After being subjugated to oppression and marginalization in the United States for many years, Viana’s story began by reclaiming the narrative and using it as fuel to transform a whole community through her youth advocacy and activism. Carrying the “triple-trouble” identity (a Muslim, an Arab, and a Woman) has led her on a personal journey to resist bigotry and stand up to racism by finding a spot for the Muslim youth within the big community, and by creating a platform for them to feel seen, heard, and worthy of their identities. These youth are the lifeline of our community — they are the torchbearers and the ones to create positive change in the world around us. Mariam Girls’ Club was founded to correct the past, change the present, and aim for a better future.

There are three ways to attend Intersections. Registration is required for all three:

• Attend in person (with lunch) by clicking here. Three boxed lunch options are available: turkey, ham, and vegetarian; boxed lunches are $15 each (new cost). You must pre-order and pay for your lunch by 12:00 PM on Tuesday, October 1. Late orders or walk-in requests for lunch will NOT be available.
• Attend in person (no lunch) by clicking here. There is no cost for this option, but we do need your RSVP to ensure we have enough seating.
• Watch via YouTube by clicking here. This virtual presentation will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

Intersections is a monthly gathering of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa in Cedar Rapids.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
6:00 PM
ISLAMIC AND EDUCATION CENTER: EZAN
6206 Douglas Ave, DES MOINES

Join the community at Ezan: Islamic and Education Center for the observance and celebration of "mawlid" ("mevlud" in Bosnian), the birthday of Prophet Muhammad' (pbuh). At the event, the community will recount the life of, recite Quranic verses and poetry involving, and sing hymns about the life of the Prophet (pbuh).

Men and women should be covered to ankles and below elbows; women should also cover hair. (A scarf is fine.) Shoes will be removed upon entering the building.

Questions? contact Tim Knepper tim.knepper@drake.edu

The "Meet My Religious Neighbor" series is sponsored by CultureALL, Des Moines Area Religious Council, The Comparison Project, and Interfaith Alliance of Iowa.