April 2019 Economic Equity Business
SURJ connects with businesses owned by people of color and indigenous people to create awareness of these enterprises in our larger membership. Know a business we should support? Please email Kathy.
Fat Tuesday Cajun Restaurant / Catering
Owner: Steven James
6112 SW 9th St, Des Moines, IA 50315
Phone: (515) 285-3552
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 11 AM to 9 PM, Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FatTuesdayRestaurant/
Menu: places.singleplatform.com
Order: grubhub.com, seamless.com
Fat Tuesday has the best Cajun food around! For the last ten years, Des Moines has enjoyed this unassuming, Mardi Gras-themed spot, featuring Creole and Cajun cuisine & homey soul food, plus beer and wine and the best catfish in town. Catering services are also available. Check it out!
Activities announced by accountability partner Iowa Commission on Latino Affairs
Wednesday, April 17 6:00 pm -8:00 pm. Latinx Forum. The Basement of the Social Club. 900 Mulberry St, Des Moines.
The Latinx Forum will consist of a moderated panel of 4 local Des Moines Latinx leaders who represent high school, college, young professionals, and working professionals.
The panel will be moderated by Sonia Reyes-Snyder, the Executive Officer of the Iowa Office of Latino Affairs and will consist of the following community leaders:
- Claudia Schabel, President of Schabel Solutions
- Jesus Lizarraga Estrada, Assistant Director of Admissions at Iowa State University
- Cecilia Martinez, Senior at Simpson College/ Program Coordinator at the Office of Latino Affairs
- Yahriel Salinas-Reyes, Senior at Valley High School
This forum will focus on telling the story of the Latinx community Des Moines through their own words, specifically the barriers, challenges, and opportunities facing this population, and to connect a local face to national issues facing the Latinx community. Facebook invite here.
Save the Date: Warren Morrow Music Festival on July 20, 2019. Artists announced just last week! More information on the Des Moines Latinx Music Festival and Tickets here.
Next stops on anti-racial profiling ordinance
April 15, 5:30 pm. Iowa CCI Racial Justice Team. Iowa CCI Office 2001 Forrest Ave. Plan next steps for keeping this issue hot. They need our support! If you’d like to attend please RSVP to sharon@iowacci.org.
On March 25th more than 100 people attended the Des Moines City Council meeting to press the City Council on why there had been no report (as promised) in March in response to the anti-racial profiling ordinance proposed by the Iowa CCI Racial Justice team back in November 2018. Speakers from CCI spent an hour at the end of the meeting challenging the city to take their experiences of racial profiling seriously and to affirm that policy isn’t enough – laws are needed. As a result of this pressure, the Mayor asked the city manager to revisit the proposals and to consider making them law.
Read more about the meeting in this Des Moines Register article.
https://iowacci.ourpowerbase.net/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=33243&qid=4526559
Upcoming SURJ Meetings
Sunday, April 21st: NEW EDUCATION ACTION & Immigration Action Group will meet. Newcomers welcome.
Education Action 4/21: Move the needle on racial justice in Des Moines Public Schools
The Racial Justice in Education Group met on March 17 and we began plotting several initiatives relative to Des Moines Public schools. Our mission: To work on issues identified by students of color as urgent within school building. Over the next few months, we build an advocacy network to grow community partnerships with CORE students in DMPS. You are needed – support this youth-led vision for equity and justice. If you want to join the group but can’t make the next meeting please reach out to dsmsurj@gmail.com.
Immigration Action Group: Support asylum seekers with DSM SURJ Immigration Action Group
Immigration Action Group. The Immigration Action Group met on March 17 where we heard from Mike and Karen Lauer about their experience sponsoring two young women from Central America seeking asylum in the US. The focus of our work over the next few months will be raising money for legal fees and work permits for asylum seekers Danna and Karla. If you want to join the group but can’t make the next meeting please reach out to dsmsurj@gmail.com using this link.
Newcomers, returnees and longtime participants always welcome. DSM SURJ meetings are the first and third Sundays of each month, 6-8 pm at Drake University. Childcare provided. All meetings held at Medbury Honors Lounge at Drake University at 6:00 pm. Park in the Olmsted Center Parking Lot located at 2875 University Avenue.
Sunday, May 5th. Dialogue on cultural appropriation facilitated by ISU Sloss Center’s Equity and Social Justice Coordinator Janae Due. Please join us in dialogue as we explore this important topic.
