The Project

In 2021, the Iowa Environmental Council and Drake Community Press partnered to tell the story of water quality and environmental justice in Iowa through the lens of environmental science and policy, creative writing, and philosophy. The project created a space for a new type of dialogue among Iowans and advances the conversation around Iowa's evolving environment. 

The Book

The resulting book, Sacrifice State: Iowa Voices on Environment & Justice, speaks to the current and amplifying issues of environmental conditions in the state, while highlighting the unique beliefs and experiences of those who were interviewed. Our hope for this book is to create a sense of unity, even despite the conflicting opinions and beliefs in this book, as the underlying environmental conditions affect us all. 

Artwork from Madai Taylor, a mixed-medium artist residing in Fort Dodge, are displayed at the beginning of each chapter. Taylor's work explores the fundamental, enigmatic themes of human rights, connection, and personal growth. The pieces showcased in this book use soil samples from Iowa, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Arizona to call attention the complexity of the soil. Taylor's use of soil is especially significant in this book as interviewees share their connections to Iowa's land, their ancestral roots, and their impacts on the natural environment.

With a minimum donation of $35.00 ($41 to include shipping) or greater to the Iowa Environmental Council, you can order a copy of Sacrifice State: Iowa Voices on Environment & Justice. Your donation will help to support IEC's increasing work on environmental justice across the state. For those who order now, books will be shipped directly to you or available for pick up at IEC's office.

Who Benefits

In addition to supporting IEC, the organization will donate 5% of proceeds generated by book donations to two Iowa organizations as a demonstration of IEC's commitment to environmental justice:

• Johnson County-based United Action for Youth, whose SPARK! program provides active engagement for youth to help them find their passion and prioritizes opportunities for youth facing barriers to participation in activities that spark their interest such as youth of color, LGBTQ+, and/or low socioeconomic status; 
• the Honor Native Land Fund, which supports the Land Back fund of the Great Plains Action Society fund, a campaign that seeks to empower the Indigenous-led group to acquire land in Iowa for activities such as starting a Native urban garden, to reclaim first foods, or to reMatriate prairie in Iowa. 

For questions, to discuss carrying the book in your local bookstore, to request a book for a local library, or other ideas, please contact Sarah Howe at howe@iaenvironment.org. Make a donation below to secure your copy of the book today!