AFSC Iowa

Occupy the courts rally, soapbox, and Raging Grannies concert

Sherry Hutchison and the Raging Grannies

Sherry Hutchison and the Raging Grannies

A member of WILPF and Des Moines Valley Friends, Sherry Hutchison performs with the Raging Grannies at a 2011 AFSC-sponsored peace-through-art event in Des Moines.

Friday, January 20, 2012 - 4:30pm

Please help commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the Citizens United decision which OK'd unlimited corporate donations in political campaigns. For more info: WILPF Des Moines.

Panelists Address Civil Rights and Occupy

Jesse Jackson and Kathleen McQuillen

Jesse Jackson and Kathleen McQuillen of AFSC from 1996

In this 1996 file photo, the Rev. Jesse Jackson stands with Kathleen McQuillen after an economic justice forum in Des Moines. Kathleen is the program coordinator for AFSC Iowa. For a slidewshow of photos from a 2011 progressives forum featuring Jesse Jackson, click here.

How would you feel if you were asked to fill in for Jesse Jackson on a civil rights panel? Kathleen McQuillen, AFSC Iowa Program Coordinator, knows the feeling and describes it as “humbling.”

Jesse Jackson and John Nichols on Progressivism

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Jesse Jackson and John Nichols on Progressivism

Rev. Jesse Jackson and John Nichols of the Nation magazine enjoy a wide-ranging conversation on the history and current reality of the progressive movement in the United States. This pre-caucus forum was held at First Unitarian Church in Des Moines, Iowa on December 30, 2011.

Paricipatory Democracy Training

Thursday, January 12, 2012 - 3:00pm

Iowa Move to Amend is sponsoring a Paricipatory Democracy Training for a petition campaign to abolish corporate personhood, end corporate rule and create a democracy that works for all of us. Ben Manski will conduct the training.

To register for this free training or for more info, contact IA.MoveToAmend@gmail.com or 515-210-7928.

Occupy and the Church

Thursday, January 12, 2012 - 6:30pm

What is the role of the church in the Occupy movement?  Occupy has shined  a glaring light on the shameful and crippling wealth disparity in this country. This wealth disparity does not stand alone; it creates as well a democracy disparity.

What does this have to do with the church?  Please join in a discussion of these issues. Leaders for this discussion are Jeffrey Weiss, (Catholic Peace Ministry) and Kathleen McQuillen (American Friends Service Committee).

Students Take Messages of Peace to the Presidential Candidates

Students Beyond War and Santa Claus

Students Beyond War and Santa Claus take messages of peace to presidential campaign offices in Des Moines. For a slideshow of photos from the action, please click here.

Students Beyond War brought messages of peace and lumps of coal to four presidental campaign offices in Des Moines on a cold, sunny day before Christmas. The high-schoolers called upon all the presidential contenders to move "toward a civilian economy and away from perpetual warfare."

The students found Mitt Romney's and Newt Gingrich's offices locked, but were able to speak with campaign staffers for Barack Obama and Michele Bachmann. KCCI TV in Des Moines filed this report.

People's Caucus set for December 27 in Des Moines

Occupy Des Moines

Occupy Des Moines in front of the State Capitol

Iowans gather in front of the state capitol to Occupy Des Moines in October 2011. For a slideshow of images, please click here.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011 - 7:00pm

[From an Occupy Des Moines newsrelease 12/15/11] - Occupy Des Moines will stage the first-in-the-nation "Occupy Iowa Caucus" - otherwise known as the "People's Caucus" - on Tuesday, December 27th from 7:00-10:30 pm, pre-empting the political parties January 3 Iowa Caucus....

Kathleen McQuillen on Occupy Des Moines

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Kathleen McQuillen on Occupy Des Moines

What's the relationship between Occupy Des Moines and AFSC? How are nonviolence trainings, co-led by AFSC, affecting this new movement, and how might people of faith play a role in lifting up shared concerns about the vast disparity in wealth and political power in the U.S.? Are we witnessing the birth of a new form of participatory democracy?

Occupy Des Moines Occupies the Democrats

Occupy Des Moines Outside the Iowa Democratic Party Office 12-19-11

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Click photo to view slideshow.

Images available on Flickr

On December 17-18, 2011, Occupy Des Moines forced the closure of President Obama's re-election headquarters. On December 19, 2011, eight members of Occupy Des Moines were arrested following a sit-in at the offices of the Iowa Democratic Party. Protesters were calling for President Obama to veto a massive war bill which codifies the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens.

On December 17-18, 2011, Occupy Des Moines forced the closure of President Obama's re-election headquarters. On December 19, 2011, eight members of Occupy Des Moines were arrested following a sit-in at the offices of the Iowa Democratic Party. Protesters were calling for President Obama to veto a massive war bill which codifies the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens. Occupiers also voiced opposition to the proposed tar sands oil pipeline, Obama's retreat on a millionaire's tax, and cuts in Pell Grant funding for students.

Hawkeye Vision 2012: Caucusing for Working Families

Tuesday, January 3, 2012 - 10:00am

http://www.facebook.com/events/302526243102048/

Presented by the Americans for Democratic Action Education Fund.

Please join us for a political roundtable featuring key leaders who will offer the progressive viewpoint on the important issues facing working families and the role those issues will play in the 2012 elections.

Who we are

AFSC is a Quaker organization devoted to service, development, and peace programs throughout the world. Our work is based on the belief in the worth of every person, and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice. Learn more

Where we work

AFSC has office around the world. To see a complete list see the Where We Work page.

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