THURSDAY, MAY 29
5:45 PM reception | 6:45 PM dinner & program
THE MEADOWS EVENT CENTER
1 Prairie Meadows Dr, ALTOONA

We are so excited to host SISTER SIMONE CAMPBELL for this year's award celebration!!

Sister Simone Campbell (Roman Catholic Sister of Social Service) is a religious leader, attorney, author, and recipient of a 2022 Presidential Medal of Freedom – the United States’ highest civilian honor. She has extensive experience in public policy rooted in the lived experiences of people at the economic margins of society. In addition to being an Emerson Elder with the Emerson Collective, Sister Simone co-leads “Understanding US” focused on political healing. For 17 years she was executive director of NETWORK, Lobby for Catholic Social Justice and leader of Nuns on the Bus. Her healthcare policy work was seminal in passage of the Affordable Care Act. Sister Simone has received numerous awards including the “Defender of Democracy Award” from the Parliamentarians for Global Action. Prior to Washington, this native Californian did state advocacy and for 18 years was the founder of the Oakland Community Law Center. Her two award winning books are A Nun on the Bus (2014) and Hunger for Hope (2020).

FRIDAY, MAY 2
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
ST. PAUL'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
same church, new event space (see below)
1340 3rd Ave SE, CEDAR RAPIDS

in-person and virtual options

Insights into the 2025 Legislative Session

Senator Art Staed (D – Cedar Rapids)
Rep. Aime Wichtendahl (D – Hiawatha)

It’s been a no good, very bad legislative session in 2025. So many bad, harmful ideas – some of which made it all the way to the Governor’s desk.

What made it all the way through? What got hung up by partisan politics or other reasons? What does Iowa’s future hold? And what is it like to be part of the legislature in these times?

Join us for the last Intersections luncheon of the season along with Senator Art Staed and Rep. Aime Wichtendahl as they share their expertise and insight from the Golden Dome.

Please note: The church is undergoing renovations, during which time we will meet in the Gathering Space. Enter the Second Avenue doors, go up the stairs or take the elevator to the second floor. Once there, take a left and you will arrive at the Gathering Space. For those who know the building, this is across from the sanctuary.

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: smoked turkey, ham & swiss, and vegetarian wrap; boxed lunches are $15 each. You must pre-order and pay for your lunch by 12:00 PM on Tuesday, April 29. 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 online presentation will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

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

FRIDAY, MAY 16
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Waveland Hall
4126 Ingersoll Ave, DES MOINES

IN-PERSON ONLY (no virtual option)
Registration required. NO WALK-INS.

Showing up for Iowans: An invitation to Rep. Zach Nunn

On Thursday, April 3, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa held a press conference urging Representative Zach Nunn to Show Up for Iowans. We delivered a petition with 458 signatures asking him to hold a town hall meeting open to the public during Congress’ spring break. We did not hear back from Rep. Nunn and to our knowledge, he has not held a town hall open to the public.

And so, we are providing a time and location, making it as easy as possible for him to Show Up for Iowans.

Rep. Nunn has been invited to be the guest speaker at our Crossroads luncheon on May 16. Our message to Rep. Nunn is we hope he will Show Up for Iowans to talk with his constituents at the monthly event created and designed as a means to hold civil dialogue on important issues.

The invitation has been sent and we await Rep. Nunn’s reply.

If Rep. Nunn does not Show Up for Iowans at Crossroads, we will hold the town hall anyway. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to share what issues are of interest and concern to them – in Iowa and nationally. But that is not all. Part of our time will focus on creative solutions and actions to hold our elected officials accountable and reclaiming our democracy in these difficult times. The conversation will be non-partisan and will not include the election or defeat of candidates.

We hope you will join us in-person at Crossroads in May, whether Rep. Nunn shows up or not. It’s an important conversation.  

There are two ways to attend Crossroads on May 16. Registration is required for both. Again, no virtual option this month and no walk-ins.

• Attend in person (with lunch) by clicking here. Four bag lunch sandwich options are available: turkey, roast beef, ham salad, and vegetarian; brown bag lunches are $15 each. You must pre-order and pay for your lunch by 12:00 PM on Wednesday, May 14. Late orders or walk-in requests for lunch are not be available.
• Attend in person (no lunch) by clicking here. There is no cost for this option, but we do require a reservation.

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