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Empowering Iowans of faith and conscience to take bold and just climate action. 

 
A message from our executive director, Deaconess Irene DeMaris

Growth & Gratitude

Years ago, my mom talked about growth being like a block of wood being sanded. It’s not always comfortable, sometimes it’s necessary, yet the more we grow as people the more authentic we become.

To be human is to continually seek to live into our most authentic selves so we can help others and creation create a more beloved community and world. And at Iowa IPL we get to do this work together.

If I could pick a theme for the past year for Iowa IPL, it would be one of growth.

A year ago, we said goodbye to our former executive director as he was appointed to a position at the USDA. As we continued to run Faith Farms & Climate, it was clear there we needed someone with a farming background to really take it to the next level. In June, we brought Elston Tortuga (they/them) on board as our first rural faith organizer. Around the same time, we said goodbye to our first program associate Alli Parker (she/her) as she moved to Idaho. 

As we sprinted into fall, it was time to start looking for our next program associate and last week Ren Mattson (they/them) started as our new program associate who will be focusing on development and communications. You can learn more about Ren by reading their bio and first blog post. Please give Ren a warm Iowa IPL welcome by reading their words and sending them a message!

Growth this year has been both with our staff and Iowa IPL. Just as humans are continually growing into our best selves for the world, so is Iowa IPL. And we are just at the beginning of this new chapter. Thank you for growing with us. From myself and our Iowa IPL team, we are so grateful for our supporters like you.

 

National Farmers Union Women's Conference

Last weekend, I arrived in Nashville, TN to attend the National Farmers Union Women’s Conference. The conference focused on co-operation and interdependence, reflecting the reality that farming is a communal effort and centering the female experience of working in ag.

I Look Outside My Window

i look outside my window at all there is to see

the clouds, the sky, the buildings, the leaves on every tree

and think of how amazing creation truly is

and just how much there really is for all of us to miss

Miss Called To Climate Action? Watch online!

On October 29th we had our fourth annual Called to Climate Action event! We talked about climate anxiety and how to move through it to take climate action. Young climate activists from around the state shared their work and what gives them hope. We hope you take the time to watch and reflect.

 

Your financial support empowers Iowans of faith and conscience to take bold and just action on the climate crisis. Together we are transforming our communities, our state, our country, and our world.

 

Iowa IPL is an affiliate of Interfaith Power & Light. If you are not yet subscribed to the IPL national newsletter, click here to sign up to find out how you can take part in national level climate advocacy.

Iowa Interfaith Power & Light
505 5th Ave. Suite 333 | Des Moines, Iowa 50309
515-216-4895 | www.iowaipl.org

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