So the election happen and we are all still waiting for the outcome. For some odd reason, I felt like I needed to hold off on sending out this Dispatch until it was all decided. I am not sure why? I knew going into the voting booth, that one way or another this election isn't going to solve the problems most people are facing right now.
That's why our work is necessary in the first place. Those of us who aren't drinking the red or blue kool-aid already know that the we the people are going to have to come up with our own answers. Our ICMA foods projects are worthwhile and important, but we also need to remember that we organized because we know that people whose needs are not being met, are not able to actively participate in activism.
The results of our recent needs survey has illuminated some of those roadblocks. Over 90% of the people who responded indicated that they couldn't afford evening childcare or transportation. Probably the least surprising response came from over 50% who responded saying they are working two or three jobs to keep a roof over their heads and just don't have time. There are not enough people actively participating in the collective to address these broader issues, yet.
Those kinds of projects are going to require engaging our membership and collaborating with other leftist groups in Iowa City. For example, in October we teamed up with the Iowa City Tenants Union and were able to get sleeping bags and winter gear out to most of the unhoused folx on our lunch routes. In November we are really going to work on reaching out to other like-minded community organizations, so we can talk about how we build a better future, together.
