Big thanks to Claire, Roger, and Lilli this week for helping RSFIC with our mission to help neighbors get organized! They hosted groups in our space and helped support a neighborhood event! Learn more about volunteering. Also, shout out to Houses into Homes for letting us use a reclaimed table in our space :)

Systemic Perspective

Iowa City has a document called the "Comprehensive Plan." It has legal power because buildings and activities have to match it before they are allowed.

The Comprehensive Plan marks areas where it would be illegal to start a coffee shop, or other areas where no one can build homes, and other areas preserved for nature or factories or public areas. If we want to become a more industrial town, the comprehensive plan should say where to build more factories. If we want denser housing, the plan should say where we want it.

The plan becomes a systemic force, influencing decisions across the entire community for decades into the future. It has the power of setting the default for city development. Everything in the plan is easy to make happen, everything not in the plan is hard to make happen. Over years, that systemic force accumulates a massive impact.

The plan is being updated right now. So how do we make sure the new version says what we want? Who actually gets to write this thing?

Compare to the School District

The school district has been in the news a lot for our sudden scrutiny of their finances. Almost none of us paid much attention to their finances before (myself included)!

Now consider: the Iowa City government spends more money and also plans the future infrastructure of our whole town. Steering the comprehensive plan is one of the most powerful levers our city councilors have, and it's the perfect time for them to press it. Are we, the public, paying any more attention to this than we were to school finances?

If you voted for a city councilor for a particular cause, now would be a great time to follow up with them and ask them what they are doing to make sure that cause is represented in the new plan. If you care about local businesses, you could ask how your councilor is making sure they are prioritized over global businesses. If you care about housing, you might consider asking what the new plan will change from the old plan to affect quality affordable homes. If you're wondering about education, ask for the council's view on how the plan will affect the school district or private schools.

Personally, my question is "how are you steering the comprehensive plan so our town becomes more resilient to global changes outside our control like AI, climate change, trade routes, energy prices, and others?"

If you have a question or idea but don't want to write a councilor about it, you can also fill out RSFIC's anonymous survey just to get a little taste of political engagement :D

Programming Support for Culture-Shifting Leaders

Folks who are working to make change face backlash from all corners - powerful companies, governments of all levels, our neighbors, and even our own families. But the one thing we can plainly see is that change is necessary: our mainstream culture is destroying the earth. So, we can be confident that we are right that we all need some big things to change.

Almost all our programming at RSFIC is aimed at supporting people doing the hard emotional work of cultural change. Here are some upcoming opportunities to join us in solidarity:

Sip 'n Hang  Every Wednesday, 9-11 am, at Zoetic on the south side. I make it to about half of them. I personally just put a recurring calendar event on my calendar to remind myself about this one. Makes it easy to pop by when I can.  We just hang out without fear of gaslighting or condescension. Sometimes we compare notes, share ideas, or just reaffirm our sanity to each other.

Stories of Community SATURDAY, May 30th, 12:30 PM at FilmScene Chauncey I messed up the date last week, it's Saturday May 30th at 12:30. But we'll still be celebrating three new stories of folks making change in Iowa City, and feeling a little more sense of community ourselves. Refreshing :)

Launch Party Thursday, June 4th, 5:30-7:30 PM at RSFIC, 1927 Keokuk We're developing a new program with some trusted partners around town. Come hear all about it - plus tacos, pizza, and music!

 

And some literal grass-roots civic engagement

Last night Michal & I attended the EarthMind book launch. Fred & Jen have been working on righting Iowa City's relationship to nature for many years, and they are redoubling their efforts with a new book and series of events.

If you're feeling anxious, stressed, sick, or any other version of unhealthy, EarthMind can help you think about small, achievable steps you can take to take a nature-based approach to a healthier life. There are a bunch of their events coming up - surely one of them will work for you!

Click here to zoom in and see classes through October

 

And at RSFIC, we're having our Garden Day the morning of Saturday, May 15th. We have a lot of weeding and other cleanup to do, and a lot of proactive gardening and other ways of making the yard a powerful gathering space.

 

Peace,

Riley

Co-founder of RSFIC

 

PS: Fun fact, y'all clicked last week's wheel of mystery FIVE TIMES MORE than when I just tell you "hey, obviously you should learn more about the Bike Library <> EarthMind event tomorrow." RSFIC tries to use techniques like that for solidarity. Please be aware that many companies use these techniques to drive us apart for profit. Subtle shaming is the basic skill that anti-social media platforms use to corrupt our social fabric!