FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
Plymouth Congregational Church
Waveland Hall
4126 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines

in-person and virtual options

Vote! A legacy for the ages

Mary Riche
Women's rights advocate

The ballot box was the original "glass ceiling." Women finally shattered it when the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution guaranteed them the legal right to vote.

That remarkable seven-decade struggle for women's suffrage, led by many extraordinary leaders – especially Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul, and Carrie Chapman Catt – transformed American democracy, even though that history is often omitted or barely mentioned in textbooks and classrooms.

Discover how these women's personal lives shaped their public leadership, and how their courage, strategy, and determination gave us a legacy, reminding us that the right to vote is both a privilege and a responsibility. Today, it's up to all of us to use that power – and vote.

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: turkey, roast beef, ham salad, and vegetarian. You must pre-order and pay for your lunch by 12:00 PM on Wednesday, September 16. 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 must have your RSVP to ensure we have enough seating.
• Watch via YouTube by clicking here. This online presentation will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

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

Ahead of the midterm elections, the Interfaith Alliance (national) is launching The Vote Is Sacred 2026: a nationwide effort to protect our democracy and mobilize people of faith to vote.

In early October, Interfaith Alliance will be on the road with The Vote is Sacred bus tour, with stops in Des Moines, Grinnell, and Cedar Rapids. Mark your calendars and make plans to join us! 

• Tuesday, October 6, at 7 PM.
  Grace United Methodist Church, 3700 Cottage Grove Ave, Des Moines.
• Wednesday, October 7, time TBA.
  Grinnell College, The Vote is Sacred Pizza Party! Students and everyone welcome!
• Wednesday, October 7, at 6:30 PM.
  St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1340 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
ST. PAUL'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1340 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids

in-person and virtual options

Iowa's cancer crisis

Kerri Johannsen
Senior Director of Policy and Programs, Iowa Environmental Council

Iowa has the second highest cancer incidence rate in the nation and is one of only three states where the rate is rising. While the U.S. has a declining overall cancer rate, Iowa's is sharply increasing. More than 170,000 Iowans share the experience of living with a past or current cancer diagnosis, and many more have lost loved ones to cancer. The “Environmental Risk Factors and Iowa’s Cancer Crisis” project was developed by the Iowa Environmental Council and The Harkin Institute based on feedback from hundreds of Iowans who are asking: What makes Iowa an outlier for cancer? What is unique about our state?

Kerri Johannsen, an author of this report who serves as Senior Director of Policy and Programs with the Iowa Environmental Council, will present findings on pesticides, nitrate, PFAS, and radon, and their associations with cancer in Iowa. In addition, she will share actionable ways you can get involved in the movement for change.

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

• Attend in person (with lunch) by clicking here. Four boxed lunch options are available for $15: turkey & swiss on ciabatta, roast beef & cheddar on wheatberry, Greek Mediterranean wrap, and garden veggie salad. 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.
• Attend in person (no lunch) by clicking here. There is no cost for this option, but we must have 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.

Join Interfaith Alliance and partners for a six-part webinar training series (August 25–September 30) designed to support you in meeting this moment: from de-escalation at the polls, to a showcase of volunteer opportunities, and trusted-messenger and Vote411 training.

Each virtual training begins at 6:00 PM Central Time.

Here’s the lineup of webinars.

• AUGUST 25 recording: Faith In Elections Playbook with Protect Democracy and Interfaith America 
• SEPTEMBER 2 recording: Do’s and Don’ts for Houses of Worship 
• SEPTEMBER 9: Faith-Based Campaigns for Democracy Faith-Based Campaigns for Democracy with NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism, and Sojourners 
• SEPTEMBER 15: The Vote Is Sacred - Trusted Messenger Training with League of Women Voters
• SEPTEMBER 23: The Vote Is Sacred - De-escalation & Bystander Intervention at the Polls with Faith in Action
• SEPTEMBER 30: The Final Stretch - Get Out the Vote (bus tour virtual launch)

Interfaith Alliance Know Your Rights: ICE, Houses of Worship, & RFRA training module. We encourage you to train up for faithful resistance. Watch here.

Watch the webinar series and get trained up for faithful resistance. Because in 2026, the vote is sacred, and democracy needs people of faith.

“Our vote is our power.
Through our votes,
elections make our voices heard.”

– League of Women Voters

We couldn’t agree more! Voting is power and one of the most important ways to be heard in a democracy. Ensuring everyone eligible can vote is critically important. It is work that Interfaith Alliance of Iowa is committed to support.

Are you registered to vote? Check your voter status to ensure you are listed as an "active" voter. 

If you need to register to vote or you know someone in Iowa who is not registered to vote, Iowa’s Secretary of State website has the updated voter registration form on its website. Just print it, fill it out, sign it, and return it to your county auditor by October 19.

Check out more details about voting in Iowa at the Secretary of State’s Iowa Voters Pocket Guide.

Remember these important dates to vote this year in Iowa:

• Request an absentee ballot 
• Wednesday, October 14: Early voting begins. Absentee ballots mailed by county auditors. Early in-person voting at county auditor offices.
• Monday, October 19: Last day to submit absentee ballot request to county auditor.
• Monday, October 19: Last day for new voters to register to vote (online, by mail, or in person at county auditor’s office). Same day registration available on Election Day.
• Monday, November 2: Early voting ends.
• Tuesday, November 3: 2026 General Election. Bring your ID to your polling location! Iowa allows same day voter registration. Absentee ballots must be received by county auditor by 8:00 PM or can be surrendered at election polling location.

Our elections need you!

It takes many people to ensure our elections remain free and fair and, truthfully, just so they operate smoothly. In Iowa, there are two ways you can be part of elections on Tuesday, November 3, and ensure our elections are successful: you can volunteer to be a poll worker or a poll watcher.

POLL WORKER
Why be a poll worker? Poll workers ensure our elections run smoothly and that every voter has the ability to vote. Learn more about what poll workers do and how to get involved.

Apply to become a poll worker by contacting your county auditor or through the Secretary of State website. Visit https://sos.iowa.gov/auditors to find your county auditor.

POLL WATCHER
What does a poll watcher do? A poll watcher is a person who has official permission to be at the polling place on election day or in the room where absentee ballots are counted before the polls close. Poll watchers represent a political party or campaign. To become a poll watcher, contact either political party.

Iowa GOP
Contact the local county GOP organization to volunteer as a poll watcher.

Iowa Democrats
Contact the local county Democrat organization to volunteer as a poll watcher. Democrats also have an on-line poll watcher training. Click for more information and to register to attend.

Below are ideas for how you can get in good trouble!

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR U.S. SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES

Senator Joni Ernst
(202) 224-3254 (https://www.ernst.senate.gov/contact)

Senator Chuck Grassley
(202) 224-3744 (https://www.grassley.senate.gov/contact)

Representative Marianette Miller-Meeks (1st Congressional District)
(202) 225-6576 (https://millermeeks.house.gov/contact/offices)

Representative Ashley Hinson (2nd Congressional District)
(202) 225-2911 (https://hinson.house.gov/zip_authentication?form=/contact)

Representative Zach Nunn (3rd Congressional District)
(202) 225-5476 (https://nunn.house.gov/contact/offices/)

Representative Randy Feenstra (4th Congressional District)
(202) 225-3193 (https://feenstra.house.gov/contact/offices)