| Immigration Action Network |
VOLUNTEER WITH THE IMMIGRATION ACTION NETWORK The NE Iowa Immigration Action Network (IAN) is building a Community Defense Plan to support immigrant neighbors during and after ICE activity in our area. Volunteers are needed for a range of roles — providing rides, interpreting, emergency financial assistance, and connecting families to resources. No experience necessary. To learn more and sign up, complete the IAN Volunteer Form: Click to sign up |
Next Scheduled Meeting: March 26, 2026, at 7:00 pm
UCC Church
209 W Broadway St, Decorah
Masking Optional
SPOKESPERSON TRAINING
MONDAY, MARCH 10 | 10:00 AM–NOON | ZOOM
Do you want to communicate more effectively about immigration and immigrants’ rights? Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice is offering a free two-hour Spokesperson Training via Zoom on March 10. Learn how to change the narrative around immigration, how to speak to the press, and how to protect the privacy of neighbors while supporting them. Your congregation can also host a shared viewing.
Register ahead of time via Zoom: Click to register.
Call Marty Steele, 563-419-6163 with questions.
Meet and Greet with Secretary of State Candidate Ryan Peterman
1:00-2:00 PM. The Landing, Decorah
Ryan is a former Navy helicopter pilot running for Secretary of State to protect our right to vote, strengthen our small businesses, and restore honor and integrity to the office. Come hear about Ryan’s vision for Iowa and ask him questions!
CONSTITUTIONAL OBSERVER TRAINING MONDAY, MARCH 16 | 7:00 PM
T-Bocks Upstairs Event Room, Decorah
What should you do if you witness ICE activity in your community? The Immigration Action Network presents Constitutional Observer Training with Nick Olson and Kate Rowe of the Land Stewardship Project and Minnesota Rural Caucus of the Immigration Defense Network. Learn your legal rights, safe observation practices, and how to be prepared
Questions: Marty Steele, 563-419-6163.
Winneshiek County Democratic Convention
March 21st Door open 9:00. Convention starts 10:00. Ends about noon.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, Decorah
Join Lindsay James for an afternoon of conversation!
We’ll gather Saturday, March 21st at 2:00-3:30 pm at the home of Valerie Hershfield, 709 Franklin St., Decorah, for a meet and greet with Lindsay James, Democratic Candidate for U.S Congress! Contribution not required for entry. But we would like to know if you are planning on attending.
PLEASE RSVP to [email protected]
Lindsay is a mom, chaplain, and an Iowa State Representative running to restore accountability and integrity back to DC. Democrats need to flip just 3 seats to take back the House. While Republicans are gerrymandering maps across the country, flipping this seat is crucial.
Hosted By: Tim and Shawna Wagner, and Valerie Hershfield
When: Saturday, March 21st | 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Where: The home of Valerie Hershfield, 709 Franklin St., Decorah
If you cannot attend but would still like to support Lindsay’s campaign, please go here: https://www.lindsayforiowa.com/
SUNDAY MARCH 22 Winneshiek County Democrats – Fundraiser
PIVO BREWERY EVENT HALL – CALMAR
Great drinks, food, live music with Jeni Grouws, and so much more! (Rumor has it Paul Wermers, Spillville, will be making his famous smoked meats for this party! YUM!)
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Plan to bring a ton of your friends!
An afternoon filled with great live blues music with Eric Berg, Lloyd Bolz and Mark Stumme and JENI GROUWS!
There will be both live and silent auctions of great art and experiences.
Also, Paul Wermers famous smoked BBQ, with sides and dessserts!
More details to come!
(If you have artwork of your own, or that you have collected, and wish to donate to this fundraiser, contact Ruth Jenkins at 319.504.5128.)
We need to raise funds so we can have a Winn. County Democrats Office Space all summer and into the 2026 Midterms!
An Art Auction has been added.
You can join in the excitement of the event by donating a piece of art (yours, or from your collection) today! Our amazing arts committee led by Ruth and Tonya will be coordinating all of the pieces that will be available to bid on later in the spring. We are looking for art of all kinds: prints, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, and wearable art. Let us know if you would like to make an art donation by replying to this message!
If you are able to make a cash donation in advance of the fundraiser, we welcome you to give as generously as you can. Funds will be used to open our office later this spring, to create joyful literature for events and parades, to help advertise the importance of voting, and to bring good democratic cheer to our neighbors in the form of colorful window displays, posters, and postcards. Thank you for anything you are able to give! Whether it’s $25, $250, or $2,500 – every donation means so much. Later in February, we will share more details about an innovative fundraising method where you can request your own personal fundraising link to share with your networks – you’ll be able to bundle small-dollar donations and help us build our base!
More updates coming. Watch this space!
THE BIGGEST MARCH EVER TO HAPPEN IN NE IOWA!*
NO KINGS DAY III – WE MARCH!
Saturday March 28 – NO KINGS III MARCH/PARADE!
MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW…(but probably about Noon-2pm, parade/march down Water St from Riverside Drive to the Carl Selland Wayside Park on 5th Ave on the west side of town. For those who cannot walk that far, just be on the Lief Erikson bridge as usual at noon and wait for the rest of the marchers there!) This march is planned as part of the nationwide NO KINGS III Day, and may prove to be the largest one day march in U.S. history! October 2025 saw over 7 million march nationwide with over 2,700 events. We need to reach about 12 million this time, to reach 3.5% of the total population.
The 3.5% rule is a concept in political science that states that when 3.5 % of the population of a county protest nonviolently against an authoritarian government, that government is likely to fall from power.
Read more about the 3.5% rule here:
This will be a HUGE march right down the center of Water Street and ending at the Carl Selland Wayside Park on 5th Ave, on the other side of the Lief Erikson (College Drive) bridge. Watch for more details coming soon!
* In October 2025 there were over 2,700 NO KINGS II events nationwide, with over 7 million participants! The goal for 2026 is over 12 million participants! We hope to have 1500 – 2000 gathered in Decorah that day! Let’s do this!
Iowa 2nd District Democratic Convention
May 2nd
Location: TBD
Iowa State Democratic Convention
June 13th
Location: TBD
If you are concerned with what is happening to our neighbors to the north in Minnesota and are looking for ways to help, go to:
SUPPORT FOR MINNEAPOLIS – DIOS HABLA HOY CHURCH
With the help of over 3,600 volunteers, this church has been delivering 900 boxes of food/supplies each day to families and individuals who are sheltering in their homes for fear of ICE illegally kidnapping them and sending them away from their families, regardless of legal documentations.
If you would like to donate check or cash, please contact SHIRLEY VERMACE at the College Drive Bridge Saturday (tomorrow) or drop off your Cash or Check donations at Blue Heron Knittery during business hours, they are closed on Mondays..
Please make checks out to: DIOS HABLA HOY CHURCH
WEEKLY BRIDGE RALLY! (43 weeks strong!)
Noon to 1:00pm EVERY SATURDAY
Leif Erikson Bridge (College Drive Bridge)
Dress warmly. Bring a sign of your own, or choose from the extras available! We are at the point of making a decision as a country, and we all know what it is:
DEMOCRACY or Authoritarianism?
Join Us!
Rallies at Effigy Mounds
We will hold a peaceful demonstration in support of the National Park Service and its employees, focusing on the cuts to staff and funding in the agencies of the Department of the Interior and others under the Trump administration and the MAGA Republicans in the various state and local governments.
We will gather at 10:00 am on Sundays and demonstrate for about two hours.
We can continue to discuss the vision of this group and any plans for next steps.
We will gather in the pedestrian walkway of the parking lot at the Effigy Mounds National Monument to show our support. Some sign-making materials will be available, though it would be great if you could bring your own or the materials to make one.
Show up.
Stand up.
Speak up.
Resist.
Repeat!
Build a community of support and power!
-Scott Boylen, organizer
Donations are appreciated to help the immigrant community. Contacts for groups who assist:
•Neighbors Helping Neighbors: https://decorahucc.org/neighbors/ local group for crisis help
•Path to Citizenship: https://immigrationneia.org/donate/ legal and transportation help
•Catholic Charities: https://catholiccharitiesdubuque.org/donate legal services
•Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice: https://www.iowammj.org/ legal services
•Decorah Food Pantry: https://decorahpantry.org/give direct food supplies
•Drop-down menu for Neighbors Helping Neighbors(above), Legal Aid, Food for Families(Guatemalan Basics):
https://decorahuccbreezechms.com/give/online
We thank your group for reaching out to our Community Food Pantry and asking what items are needed, particularly in this uncertain time of possible SNAP benefit interruption.
Our Community Food Pantry has incredible community wide support and we appreciate all this community does to assist us in addressing the issue of food insecurity in NE Iowa.
Items our Community Food Pantry can always use and are often difficult to resource from the NE Iowa Food Bank:
- Peanut butter
- Cereal (ideally healthier brands: Cheerios, Rice based, etc.)
- Cans of fruits, vegetables, beans
- Cans of soup.
- Canned meat: tuna, salmon, chicken
- 1 pound bags of rice
- Fresh or Instant potatoes
- Butter
- Meat, ground: chicken, pork, beef in 1 pound packages.
- Cash donations. We can often make bulk purchase deals for eggs, milk, etc.
We know there are concerns about the unknowns around this unprecedented situation facing the food insecure in our community. Our Pantry staff, volunteers, and community partners have built a supportive network over a long period of time, and throughout the area, to support families in need of food assistance. Your group’s willingness to join us in this work, particularly now, reflects the goodness of our community here in NE Iowa. Thank you!
Drop Donations 12:30 – 4:30 Monday, Wednesday, Friday
12:30 – 7:00 Tuesday, Thursday
Please contact the Decorah Community Food Pantry at this email with additional questions or for more information.
Matt Tapscott, Director
Decorah Community Food Pantry
| Indivisible Northeast Iowa A local chapter of the nationwide Indivisible Movement, headquartered in Decorah, Iowa, but serving a larger area of the Driftless region. This local group will utilize the Indivisible Guide to resist the unconstitutional and immoral agenda of the Trump administration. The Indivisible Guide is a compilation by former congressional staffers of the best practices to make Congress listen to us. Links below: https://www.facebook.com/groups/indivisibleneiowa/ https://x.com/indivisibleneia |
Reliable News Sources
During these uncertain times we need news sources we can trust. Below is a list some of those sources.
Name Website
The Guardian theguardian.com
Heather Cox Richardson heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
The Economist economist.com
The Atlantic theatlantic.com
The Contrarian contrarian.substack.com
Smart News smartnews.com
Joyce Vance joycevance.substack.com/
1440 join1440.com
Red, Wine, and Blue redwine.blue
Apple News apple.com/apple-news/
Iowa Starting Line iowastartingline.com
Bleeding Heartland bleedingheartland.com
Iowa Capital Dispatch iowadispatch.com
To donate to the Neighbors Helping Neighbors charity fund, which helps local immigrant families with various needs, go to this site:
Neighbors Helping Neighbors – Decorah UCC
Please note: When you have accessed the site, which is the Decorah UCC, please change the first pull-down menu choice to “Give to Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund.”