We are here to help. The Iowa Department of Human Rights (DHR) brings strength to Iowa's rich heritage. Our three divisions - Community Action Agencies, Community Advocacy and Services, and Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning - work to reduce cultural, social, and economic barriers to opportunities for Iowans to succeed. Thank You! Life as we know it has changed in 2020. During the pandemic, we adapted to a "new normal" for work, school, business, going out, and socializing. Virtual meetings have become a new way to connect. Online learning is the new classroom. Food is delivered or picked up curbside. We developed new habits of wearing masks, social distancing, and washing our hands. Everyday life has changed in many different ways. Through this experience, we've seen communities come together to protect and support each other. We would like to thank our staff; Commission, Board and Council Members; and all of our partners and stakeholders for their work in keeping Iowans safe, healthy, and informed in 2020. Thank you for your dedication and commitment in supporting our mission. Can employers require employees to get vaccinated? A common question that has been asked is whether employers can require employees to get vaccinated. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has updated its technical assistance page What You Should Know about COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and other Equal Employment Opportunity Laws. Notably, Section K provides guidance and considerations for employers when developing vaccination policies. Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines With the COVID-19 vaccines on the horizon, you may have questions about the benefits of getting vaccinated, how the vaccines work, types of vaccines, its safety, possible side effects, and how to continue health and safety practices. Here are some facts about the COVID-19 vaccines. You can get further explanations of these facts on the CDC's website.
Holiday Ask Wear a Mask As COVID-19 cases continue, we will have to make some tough decisions about the way we are celebrating the holidays. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges everyone to stay home this holiday season to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The safest way to celebrate is at home with the people you live with. Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19. This holiday season, we join the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health in their HolidayAskWearAMask campaign and encourage everyone to wear a mask, watch your distance, and wash your hands wherever you choose to celebrate. Together we can make this a safe and healthier holiday. Travel may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others this year. We encourage families to celebrate virtually or with the people you live with as the safest choice this holiday season. New U.S. Citizenship Test The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has revised the civics portion for the 2020 naturalization test. For applications filed after December 1, 2020, the 2020 version of the civics test will be given. For applications filed before December 1, 2020, the 2008 version will be given. The civics portion tests your knowledge of U.S. history and government. The USCIS website has a civics practice test, information on what to expect, tips for studying, and a study tool app. USAHello has helpful tools and citizenship test questions and answers in translated languages to help you prepare. Check out their website for additional resources. Iowa Emergency Solutions Grant CARES Act The Emergency Solutions Grant program helps prevent households from becoming homeless due to eviction, and assists Iowans experiencing homelessness to quickly regain rental housing. Examples of assistance available to eligible individuals include rent and utility payments, including in arrears, legal assistance, application fees, security and utility deposits, moving costs, case management and credit repair. All financial assistance is paid directly to landlords and service providers The assistance will remain available until all funds are exhausted or September 30, 2022. For assistance and eligibility, call the Housing Recovery help line at 1-833-739-0065 or use the Regional Coordinated Entry Contact Finder to find a service agency in your area. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps qualifying low-income Iowa homeowners and renters pay for a portion of their primary heating costs for the winter heating season. The application period is November 1, 2020 - April 30, 2021. Customers who qualify for LIHEAP are protected from having their natural gas and electric utilities disconnected from November 1 to April 1. Applications are taken at your local community action agency. Anyone facing disconnection at any time should contact their local community action agency for assistance. To find your local agency, visit https://humanrights.iowa.gov/dcaa/where-apply, or contact the Iowa Department of Human Rights (DHR) at (515) 242-5655 or 1-800-351-4659. LIHEAP information is available in multiple languages on the DHR's website. COVID-19 Language Resources American Sign Language Videos-CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-Resources for Limited English Proficient Populations Congolese Health Partnership Videos Coronavirus, State Website Crescent Community Health Center-Marshallese Language EMBARC Ethnic Minorities of Burma and Advocacy and Resource Center Hawaii Office of Language Access-Youtube Iowa Department of Human Rights-Language Access Iowa Department of Public Health Iowa Spanish Helpline 515-344-3936 Multi-Lingual Hotline 1-877-558-2609 Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa Test Iowa-Free COVID-19 Testing (Spanish available)
0 Comments
Rotary Club of Fairfield
Date Changed for Christmas Parade: Join us on Wednesday, 12/23 Annual Christmas Parade in Fairfield (Originally scheduled for 12/24) The Rotary Club of Fairfield will be hosting their Annual Christmas Parade on Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020. The parade will begin at 5pm at the Iowa National Guard Armory on West Stone Avenue. The parade will follow its usual route, ending at Central Park at approximately 6pm - 6:15pm. Santa's elves will have candy bags to toss to families. Santa will greet families and will be handing out 2020 Christmas ornaments on the west side of the square; this year, children will not be sitting with Santa. Families and individuals are encouraged to socially distance and wear a mask. Christmas Parade route:
🎄🎁 Congratulations to our Holiday Chamber Bucks Giveaway Winners! 🎁🎄
This week, the Chamber held a drawing for five $50 winners and one $500 winner for the Holiday Chamber Bucks Giveaway. Entries for the giveaway were accepted Monday, November 23rd, through Monday, December 14th, 2020 at participating Chamber Member businesses. Congratulations to Jim Pace (entry placed at Everybody's Whole Foods), Sue Millard (entry placed at Two Eagles Native Designs), Taryn Mottet (entry placed at Chickadee), Ginger Wenger (entry placed at Goodwill), Shauna Snyder (entry placed at Adela's, Brown's Shoe Fit, Thymely Solutions), and our $500 winner Jolene Wimmer (entry placed at Two Eagles Native Designs)! Happy Holidays! Thursday, December 17, 2020
Join the First Day Hike Challenge in Iowa State Parks DES MOINES – The Iowa DNR and Travel Iowa invite Iowans to participate in the 2021 First Day Hike Challenge to ring in the New Year through the digital State Park Passport. The challenge takes the place of traditional guided hikes due to COVID-19. “We are looking for ways to encourage both outdoor fun and social distancing,” said Todd Coffelt, Bureau Chief of Parks, Forests and Preserves. “First Day Hikes are a popular tradition in state parks, and the passport is a great way for people to enjoy winter hikes on their own or with their families.” With the First Day Hike Challenge, park visitors can check into any of the more than 50 participating state parks on the passport from Friday, Jan. 1 through the end of Sunday, Jan. 3. Every check-in will qualify for a prize drawing of a 2-night stay at a 2-bedroom cabin at Lake Darling State Park near Brighton. Restrictions will apply on the cabin stay, with reservation fees and other business rules applying. Visitors can go to as many parks as they wish during the weekend -- every check-in counts as a contest entry. Additionally, visitors will find trail suggestions and directions from park staff under the “More Info” tab for each park entry on the passport. Last year, more than 4,300 people participated in hikes on New Year’s Day across Iowa. Hikers can expect to be surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature in winter, and experience spectacular views, beautiful settings and the cultural treasures offered by Iowa’s State Parks. Participants should dress for the weather, including warm, sturdy boots for winter conditions. For more details on First Day Hikes in Iowa’s State Parks, and to find links to sign up for the Parks Passport, visit www.iowadnr.gov/firstdayhikes. We are here to help. The Iowa Department of Human Rights (DHR) brings strength to Iowa's rich heritage. Our three divisions - Community Action Agencies, Community Advocacy and Services, and Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning - work to reduce cultural, social, and economic barriers to opportunities for Iowans to succeed. Federal Eviction Moratorium Ends December 31 Reminder: The CDC's moratorium on nonpayment evictions ends on December 31, 2020. The Order protects renters who meet certain requirements and who sign a declaration form and give it to the landlord. Please note that evictions can take place if certain terms of the lease are broken. Late fees can still be charged, and the obligation to pay rent remains. The process and requirements around the moratorium and evictions can be complex. For information on how to take advantage of the moratorium, visit Iowa Legal Aid's website. If you are unable to pay your rent, here are some resources on rental assistance, housing, and other help.
Iowa Emergency Solutions Grant CARES Act The Emergency Solutions Grant program helps prevent households from becoming homeless due to eviction, and assists Iowans experiencing homelessness to quickly regain rental housing. Examples of assistance available to eligible individuals include rent and utility payments, including in arrears, legal assistance, application fees, security and utility deposits, moving costs, case management and credit repair. All financial assistance is paid directly to landlords and service providers The assistance will remain available until all funds are exhausted or September 30, 2022. For assistance and eligibility, call the Housing Recovery help line at 1-833-739-0065 or use the Regional Coordinated Entry Contact Finder to find a service agency in your area COVID-19 Vaccine The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with federal, state, and local partners to distribute a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the FDA has rigorous scientific and regulatory processes in place to facilitate development and ensure the safety, effectiveness and quality of COVID-19 vaccines. As people get vaccinated, there are additional systems to conduct ongoing vaccine safety monitoring. The CDC recommends that people continue to wear masks, wash hands, social distance, and practice other health measures during the pandemic and after getting a vaccine for the best protection from getting and spreading the coronavirus. Additional information about the COVID-19 vaccine planning can be found at the following links: COVID-19 Surcharges Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is warning Iowans to watch for "COVID-19 surcharges", or fees that businesses are charging to offset the cost of personal protective equipment, increased cleaning or other costs related to the pandemic. Attorney General Miller cautions businesses in passing along expenses to the consumers and advises that businesses should clearly disclose or display surcharges before any service or purchase. If you believe a business’s fee is unfair or hidden, contact the Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. For ways to file a complaint, click here, or call 515-281-5926 (in Des Moines area) or 888-777-4590 (outside of the Des Moines area). Beware of Scams! During the pandemic, scammers are using fake emails, texts, social media posts, robocalls, and impostor schemes to steal your money, personal information, or commit identity theft. With COVID-19 vaccines on the horizon, scammers are making fraudulent claims about preventative treatments and early access to the vaccine. Do not open messages or links that look suspicious or unfamiliar. Do not give your Social Security number, bank account, passwords, credit card number, or other personal information to anyone who calls or sends you emails and texts. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers advice on how to avoid a scam and and how to report them. The FTC also has information for consumers in multiple languages at ftc.gov/languages. IRS Accessible Resources The Internal Revenue Services is working to make their products more accessible. People who need an alternative tax product can download it from the Accessible Forms and Publications page. The page contains resources on disability related products, American Sign Language videos, braille, and more. To request Braille or large print copies, call the IRS at 1-800-829-3676. Qualifying tax payers may also contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 1-877-777-4778. You can still get your first stimulus payment if you missed the 2020 deadline The deadline to register online for the first stimulus payment has passed, but you may still be eligible to receive a payment through the Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2020 taxes in 2021. For eligibility guidelines, visit www.irs.gov/eip. Mental Wellness during the Holidays We are living through difficult times, and the stressors of 2020 can impact our mental health. Taking care of your health and maintaining mental wellness is important, especially with the holidays approaching. Here are some resources to help manage stress and stay healthy.
DART Reduced Fare Programs Did you know that the Des Moines Are Regional Transit Authority (DART), Iowa's public transit agency, has Reduced Fare Programs? Eligible residents include adults 65 and older, persons with disabilities, students, veterans, and refugees. For more information and the application process, visit https://www.ridedart.com/fares/reduced-fare-programs. COVID-19 Testing COVID-19 testing appointments at Test Iowa locations are filling up. Before heading to a Test Iowa site, complete the assessment first at testiowa.com and schedule an appointment to be tested at any location. Call Test Iowa with questions about testing: 515-575-2131 or 844-844-1561 (toll free), 8 am - 8 pm seven days a week (except Holidays). In addition to Test Iowa locations, coronavirus tests are available at Hy-Vee, select pharmacies like Walgreens, and some medical/health centers. Call ahead or visit their websites for more information, hours, and to make an appointment. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps qualifying low-income Iowa homeowners and renters pay for a portion of their primary heating costs for the winter heating season. The application period is November 1, 2020 - April 30, 2021. Customers who qualify for LIHEAP are protected from having their natural gas and electric utilities disconnected from November 1 to April 1. Applications are taken at your local community action agency. Anyone facing disconnection at any time should contact their local community action agency for assistance. To find your local agency, visit https://humanrights.iowa.gov/dcaa/where-apply, or contact the Iowa Department of Human Rights (DHR) at (515) 242-5655 or 1-800-351-4659. LIHEAP information is available in multiple languages on the DHR's website. COVID-19 Language Resources American Sign Language Videos-CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-Resources for Limited English Proficient Populations Congolese Health Partnership Videos Coronavirus, State Website Crescent Community Health Center-Marshallese Language EMBARC Ethnic Minorities of Burma and Advocacy and Resource Center Hawaii Office of Language Access-Youtube Iowa Department of Human Rights-Language Access Iowa Department of Public Health Iowa Spanish Helpline 515-344-3936 Multi-Lingual Hotline 1-877-558-2609 Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa Test Iowa-Free COVID-19 Testing (Spanish available) Previous Newsletters November 25, 2020 November 13, 2020 October 30, 2020 October 16, 2020 October 2, 2020 Archives Register now for 2021 ISU Community Food Systems virtual event Feb. 12
Two pre-conference virtual workshops also offered Feb. 5 The 7th Annual ISU Community Food Systems Event will take place Friday, February 12, 2021! Due to COVID-19, this event will take place entirely online, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Register for the conference here. Cost is $20 and registration closes Feb. 5. This year’s event will focus on Retail and Leadership Within Community Food Systems, lifting up best practices around the nation in all community food systems areas. Join us to learn, engage, and discuss ways to promote community engagement, collective action and food systems projects. The agenda includes a morning keynote from three food entrepreneurs: Todd Manly of Mutiny Island Vodka and Karla Fennessy of Quality Food (St. Croix, US Virgin Islands) and Taufeek Shah of Lola’s Fine Hot Sauces (Des Moines). Two afternoon breakout sessions will cover three topics: business and organizational tools, community food access and minority-owned business strategies. Pre-conference sessions Feb. 5 A Local Food Leader Train the Trainer workshop ($200 for new certification, $100 for recertification) and Iowa Retail Initiative Champions session ($85) also will be offered virtually on Friday, February 5. Register for your choice of these sessions here. Registration closes Jan. 29.
Need more information? Contact Bre Miller at millerb@iastate.edu. UScellular Fairfield - 12 Days of Giving Sweepstakes To celebrate the opening of our new store, UScellular Fairfield is excited to announce our “12 Days of Giveaways” sweepstakes! Every day from December 12th through the 23rd, we will be giving a different prize to one random winner! To enter, follow our UScellular Fairfield official Facebook page, like the daily post with the announcement of that day’s contest and prize, and fill out a quick entry form (entry link provided on each daily post). Additionally, everyone who signs up for our daily contests will be automatically entered into our Grand Prize drawing- $599.99 in UScellular Fairfield credit that can be used towards any product or service offered at our store! Good luck! Our official facebook page: www.facebook.com/uscellularfairfield Participants must be a resident of Iowa and at least 18 years of age to enter. For complete sweepstakes rules and details, please view our Official Rules Form here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w0yJlKHkEtFuCIiCtZULwG5d9DjzqJ7o/view?usp=sharing December 2020 Newsletter Applications Now Open for 2021 Keep Iowa Beautiful Scholarships Keep Iowa Beautiful will award three $1,000 scholarships to Iowa high school seniors in 2021 who plan to enroll in an Iowa college or university. The scholarships are in honor of three pioneers in Keep Iowa Beautiful’s 20-year history: Bob Byers, William Fultz, and Gerald Schnepf. The Byers scholarship is supporting high school students who plan to enroll and study environmental science, community development, landscape architecture or architecture (historical emphasis) or community planning and sustainability. The Fultz scholarship will be awarded to a senior planning on studying communications, public relations and/or marketing. The Schnepf scholarship will be awarded to a senior who has a record of community service and a desire to continue to support and contribute to the enhancement of the place they live and work. College programs could include community & regional planning and volunteer management. Keep Iowa Beautiful is proud to continue supporting Iowa students. Since the founding of the scholarship program, Keep Iowa Beautiful has awarded $48,000 to 58 students. Applications are due February 12, 2021 with notification in March. Keep Iowa Beautiful 20th Anniversary Photo Contest—Deadline Approaching! Have you entered the KIB 20th Anniversary Photo Contest? Don’t wait! The deadline to submit your photo(s) is Friday, December 18th. Every year, Keep Iowa Beautiful aims to raise awareness of Iowa’s rural and urban beauty with our Annual Photography Contest. To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of our founding this year, Keep Iowa Beautiful has created an EXPANDED photo contest that includes cash awards totaling over $2,000! We’ve also introduced FIVE new categories to the contest:
For contest rules and details, and to submit your own photo, visit our website. We can’t wait to see Iowa’s beauty through your lens! Every Day is “Iowa Recycles Day” Last month, Governor Reynolds proclaimed November 15th as Iowa Recycles Day—a recognition of the work of Keep Iowa Beautiful and The Iowa Recycling Association and their commitment to the health and sustainability of Iowa. To read the Governor’s proclamation in full, you can find it here. The Governor’s proclamation affirms the state’s commitment to statewide recycling efforts, but at Keep Iowa Beautiful, we believe EVERY DAY should be Iowa Recycles Day! You don’t have to wait for November 15th to make a difference in your own community. Remember—reducing, reusing and recycling waste is vitally important to ensuring a cleaner, greener state for future generations. Do your part and help us celebrate Iowa Recycles Day every day! Wheatland and Calamus Selected for Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program Calamus and Wheatland, two communities in Clinton County, are two of 10 Iowa communities that have been selected to participate in the Iowa’s Living Roadways community Visioning Program in 2021! The award-winning program integrates technical landscape planning and design techniques with sustainable community action to assist community leaders and volunteers in making sound and meaningful decisions about the local landscape. The Community Visioning program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Transportation in partnership with Iowa State University Landscape Architecture Extension and Trees Forever. Congratulations to Calamus and Wheatland on being selected for this unique community improvement program! Milo’s New Signage Gives the Town a Fresh New Look Milo’s Hometown Pride Committee unveiled their new community sign last month! The new signage could not have been completed without a collaborative community effort. Milo HTP received funding from nearly 10 other partners, including the Warren County Philanthropic Partnership, Warren County Economic Development, and the City of Milo. Congratulations to the Milo Hometown Pride Committee for bringing a fresh, new look to your community! For more updates, follow Milo Hometown Pride and Warren County Hometown Pride on Facebook! Farragut Hometown Pride to Receive Awards for Leisure Hall and Public Library Improvements The Farragut Community Endowment Fund through the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa is pleased to award $750 to Farragut Hometown Pride and the City of Farragut for Leisure Hall and Farragut Public Library improvements and extra supplies for protecting the public from COVID-19. Previous projects the Farragut Community Endowment and the Fremont County Community Foundation have funded include: Main Street Beautification with banners (pictured below), benches and decorative pots; City Park improvements with painting, the zip line, and the half-court basketball court (pictured below); computers at the Public Library and the Little Free Library. All totaled, these grants, equal $38, 315 to the City of Farragut, the Farragut Public Library and Farragut Community to promote Hometown Pride over the past four years. Beyond its grant programs, the Fremont County Community Foundation partners with the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa to assist charitable organizations in creating a permanent fund that addresses changing, vital community needs. To inquire about donating to the Farragut Community Endowment Fund, please contact Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458 or stacey@omahafoundation.org. Or you may contact any member of the Fremont County Board: Jonna Loewe, Lindsey Carter, Staci Shearer, Teri Emberton, Tim Inman, or Darynn Ruiz. You Can Stop Litter! When you see litter happening on Iowa’s roadways from a vehicle, Call 1-888-665-4887 Please provide as much detail about the incident as possible:
Call 1.888.NOLITTR (1-888-665-4887) to report littering from a vehicle. Social Media Submissions Keep Iowa Beautiful wants to share your community’s good news! Are you proud of a completed project in your town? Do you want to show off a new mural in your downtown? Did you host a fun, exciting event for your community? We want to know about it! Click on the button below to share short descriptions of events, projects, or news from your town! You can include pictures and captions as well. Keep Iowa Beautiful will share your post on our social media! Your Support Matters!
Keep Iowa Beautiful is a non-profit organization and, as such, relies on your support to ensure the success of our environmental education and community outreach programs. Donations will help KIB's efforts to support our community. Any amount is valued and appreciated. Donations can be made online or checks can be mailed to our office: Keep Iowa Beautiful 2910 Westown Pkwy #302, West Des Moines, IA 50266 The Fairfield Art Association announces the 2021 annual Membership Show with a format of “PICK YOUR CANVAS”. Artists will be given the choice of five different canvas styles to work on in any permanent or mixed medium. The canvas sizes include: 16”x16”, 11”x14”, 12” x 12”, 6” x 12”, or four 6”x 6” canvases and are provided by the FAA.
This year’s event has a few changes due to COVID, with the exhibit opening in the Main Gallery at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center on Friday, February 5th. The show will continue until the end of March. An awards and membership event will be announced when it can take place. In addition to four cash awards, a People’s Choice vote will be held throughout the exhibit. Requirements remain the same as in the past and include; being a current adult FAA member, one entry per person, no frames, art must be original and for sale with regular 30% commission to FAA. Entry fee of $15 includes the canvas and should be paid when picking up the canvases and filling out the participation form. Canvas pick up begins December 7 at the FAA studio, Mon – Friday from 11 am – 4 pm. You can pick up an entry form and Guidelines when you get your canvas. Delivery of the completed artwork is due by January 27 during the same studio hours. Any questions can be directed to Suzan1252@aol.com These dates give artists a chance to get through the holidays with time to spare and work on their entry. “We are all getting antsy being at home, and as it gets colder and harder to get out, a new creative project is just what we need! Participating in this year’s membership show actually gives artists almost two months to create their entry. January is a fresh start and nice time to get back to doing art,” Says Suzan Kessel, FAA Volunteer Director. While the FAA has been in hibernation to the public, there has been much going on. The Main Gallery has been completely repainted, and the exhibit “Mark Shafer Retrospective” is now on display. The Gallery is open to the public during FACC Business Hours Mon – Friday 9 – 5 PM. All visitors must wear masks and practice distancing. The FAA Sales Gallery has also had a thorough cleaning and art reset and new works added. In the Hallway Gallery is art by Jessica Kirby. Last Years "Membership Traveling Exhibit" has been rolling along according to schedule – from Washington, to Muscatine, to Albia and now in Burlington. |
Archives
June 2022
|