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Des Moines - Door Knocking

Vote people first!

Vice President Biden signs the bus!

By Sister Jan Cebula, OSF

September 17, 2014

Des Moines, Iowa: “Vote people first! Vote people first!” shouted the folks gathered at Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement as our bus pulled up. Stepping off the bus to cheers was both humbling and energizing. The moment captured what we’re really about. Joining together, encouraging one another, to do what we really care about: putting people first.

We’d already had quite a morning! Day One of Nuns on the Bus was one huge swoosh of energy! We were all swept up in the surge emanating from people passionate about what counts.

And who could be any more passionate than Simone Campbell to get us going at the kick-off rally on the steps of the capitol! Moved by the stories of people she’s met across the country, she ignited the energy and urged us on. Vote people first! Not money, not power, not politics. Vote people first! We the people. We the voters.

Vice-president Joe Biden took the stage and addressed the crowd about the widening income gap and the danger this presents to democracy. And about the power released from people who combine conscience with passion. Energy swirled around.

Afterward, he hopped on the bus and rode with us to the café where we had lunch. Along the way he continued to share with us his knowledge about world affairs, his passion for putting people first. At lunch we all sat around one table and he talked about his faith, the church and shared personal stories about the important influence women religious had had in his life. As he left, he took time to greet everyone there, taking time to talk with each. Another simple reminder to put people first.

Then we joined the ICCI folks for an afternoon of door knocking, going out in pairs to talk with people about the importance of raising the minimum wage and voting. As soon as we mentioned raising the minimum wage, a connection was made. Stories poured out about people working hard and not being able to afford housing and food. “Nobody can support themselves on the current minimum wage.” They all signed cards pledging to vote!

All along the way, we’ll be asking people to declare “I am a voter!” and sign a pledge to vote. If they take the pledge we’re inviting them to sign the bus. They’ll be riding along with us on the bus. All of us together declaring “Vote people first!”

Reflections from the Iowa Nuns on the Bus

September 17, 2014

What a day! Because we had such a high emotion and jam-packed day today (events with Progress Iowa, Iowa CCI, and of course our kickoff with Vice President Biden), we decided that we would all offer a few words of reflection how we are feeling after 24 hours of being Iowa’s “Nuns on the Bus”:

“Collaborative effort of the religious women of the upper Mississippi valley has been significant for me for some time. The opportunity to broaden this experience by being one of the sisters riding the bus is truly meaningful. What a cause we are promoting—each coming from our unique perspective for the good of “We the People,” the 100%! A highlight of the day was today during door-knocking with Iowa CCI, when an African-American woman answered her door, immediately affirmed the need for raising the minimum wage, and stated that she would definitely be voting in the November election.” – Sister Marge Staudt, OSF (Sioux City)

 “My highlight of the day was knocking on doors and hearing excitement for raising the minimum wage. This was in a poorer neighborhood; people were so grateful and happy! It was heartwarming that two new young voters signed the voter pledge and committed to supporting a raise to the minimum wage.”
– Sister Gwen Hennessey, OSF (Sioux City)

 “Our first day was filled with memorable and energizing moments. How will I ever forget… the warmth, the ease, the message and affirmation of Vice President Joe Biden?! And then to have the honor of sitting next to him for lunch, what a joy! After VP Biden ‘signed’ our bus and departed we visited the offices of Iowa CCI, where we experienced their special work. Our message of Democracy and the importance of inviting all to vote was proclaimed and affirmed.” – Sister Mary McCauley, BVM (Dubuque)

“Morning prayer: having come together less than 24 hours before our prayer time, I was moved by the strong sense of one-ness of community. How special it was to come together from our various communities and to feel so accepted and a part of the mission facing us. VP Joe Biden: The gathering at the Iowa Capitol was energizing. The people were quite welcoming and responsive to the messages incorporated. Having lunch as we did with the VP was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He’s something else! Such a delight! Door knocking: Going door to door talking to people about voting was a highlight that touched my heart more than I expected. The realization that these are the very people we are reaching out to and wanting justice for made the experience so REAL and stressed to me the importance of such contacts.” – Sister Bea Snyder, CHM (Davenport)

“The first day of the Nuns on the Bus 2014 was amazing. We opened our rally with a bank of press and about 500 people, and 10 nuns all joining together to lift up the need for people to triumph over "big money" by voting. There are so many moments that jump out of my memory, but perhaps the one that stands out is Vice President Biden meeting with people in the crowd and hearing their stories, hugging and kissing them. It was politics up close and personal and all about the bus trip. We share a commitment to the people of our nation and need to do the hard work of democracy. I was touched when the Vice President said to us that we underestimate the impact that we have on people and our world. I realized it is so true. We are just trying to do our mission and have this amazing moment to lift up the hope of our nation. It made me so grateful to be used by the Spirit in this moment!” – Sister Simone Campbell, SSS (Washington, DC)

“It was exhilarating to see our crowd of supporters and friends greet us as we began our journey.  Hearing Sr. Simone's faith-filled urging of all of us to vote for the 100% and being able to include the crowd in community building was a humbling experience. VP Joe Biden's gratitude to the sisters and the witness of his values as a public servant was a moving experience.  And finally to personally get to ride the bus with him, eat lunch with him, hearing his stories and his broad knowledge of church and world was an emotional spiritual high for me.” – Sister Elaine Hagedorn, CHM (Des Moines)

“Wow!  We are nearing the end of our first exciting, grace-filled day on the bus!  It started with prayer together this morning and a sharing of our hopes, anxieties, trust and sense of "togetherness" as we embark on the journey together "for the people"!  We arrived at the Iowa Capitol on this glorious sun-filled day for what turned out to be an uplifting experience of extended community.  300+ people of our state came to support "the nuns" and our work -- as we came to support "the people."  The presence of VP Joe Biden was a highlight of the event as he traveled from D.C. to be with us, affirming our efforts to lift up the marginalized and encourage folks to use their power to effect change by voting.  A special delight was his riding the bus with us to a little local diner where we "broke break" together for an hour and a half.  The afternoon included canvassing low-income neighborhoods in Des Moines, talking and listening to ordinary struggling families and encouraging them to register to vote.  The final event of a very full day was a fundraiser for Progress Iowa where we met some lovely activists and made new friends.  As we journey onward tonight to Council Bluffs our bodies are weary but our hearts so full of gratitude for all the good people whose lives we have touched this day ... prayers for each of them and a lifting of the burdens they carry.” – Sister Jeanie Hagedorn, CHM (Des Moines)

“The most impressive experience for me today was the realization of the breadth of style, knowledge and interests of Vice President Biden. From the stage, at the rally, he spoke with great knowledge, very intellectually and compassionately about a range of issues, from immigration and finance to the experiences of people who desperately need the raising of the minimum wage. He was formal, while 'homey."  At lunch, he spoke more to faith and his upbringing, his interactions with Popes, and of the history of issues in the Church. He has read and studied from Church documents and from secular histories of the same -- and is at ease speaking from where his heart and his intellectual pursuits have merged. What a gift to be able to experience.

Today at our rally, a small business owner, Laura Comito, spoke eloquently of the interdependence of employers, employees and supply chains, with their employees. As she is able to hire, they will do more work, requiring purchase of more materials, supporting their suppliers. If the minimum wage is raised, they will have more customers, be able to produce and sell even more of their artwork. It seems so simple and so logical - it is a wonder that so many can't see it.

Vice President Biden raised similar patterns at the macro level. Added to the mix are the tax loopholes that allow devastating impacts on the economy by corporations that take advantage of them. One escalating practice is the buyback of stock shares, forcing values to rise, and distributing them to upper management in lieu of salary, allowing them to contribute less to the common good in taxes.

Each example points up the need for the 100% to support and hold sacred the 100%.” – Sister Marge Clark, BVM (Dubuque/Washington, DC)

“The word of the day for me is energy. It was amazing to be part of the swirl and be swept up in the energy released today by people committed to equality and the common good—Simone Campbell, Joe Biden, the people gathered at the Capitol, at Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, and Progress Iowa. Together, we can make a difference” – Sister Jan Cebula, OSF (Clinton/Kansas City, MO)

“What a day! The kickoff of Nuns on the Bus, of all the amazing sacred events with the people of faith committed to creating a society where everybody matters. My favorite activity was knocking on doors and meeting folks who instantly without hesitation supported the increase of the minimum wage and without hesitation said ‘I am a voter!’ The wisdom of the workers can lead us to justice.” – Sister Kathy Thornton, RSM (Cedar Rapids/Omaha, NE)

“How humbling to have the people at the rally so excited to see us and welcome us with open arms. VP Biden’s attention to every person he met was impressive. He didn’t leave the restaurant until every waiter, child, customer had their pictures taken with him or got his autograph. Our morning prayer set the stage for a day where the Spirit presence with us was so evident.” – Sister Richelle Friedman, PBVM (Dubuque/Washington, DC)