Council Bluffs -

By Sister Mary McCauley, BVM

September 18, 2014

By 9:00 a.m. on Thursday morning the “Nuns on the Bus” arrived at New Horizon Presbyterian Church in Council Bluffs, IA.  We were greeted warmly by a number of Mercy and Notre Dame Sisters from Omaha, as well as supportive and curious residents of Council Bluffs.

Sister Claudia Robinson, the Director of Interfaith Response welcomed us.  A number of the people present were long-time volunteers for this service agency, whose major goal is to prevent homelessness.

Sister Simone then introduced the Iowa Bus Riders, explaining the reason for this ten-state tour.  Those assembled resonated with the focus of our tour…that we are about living the Constitution…that our bus ride is about “We the People have the Power!  We the People have the privilege and responsibility to vote!”

Following Sister Simone’s comments we entered into a Town Hall process.  Through honest and at times  hesitant sharing those gathered identified the following issues as issues of concern:

• Gap between the rich and the poor
• Unemployment
• Violence in society
• Too much government
• Power of big money
• Polarization…hence the need to dialogue across party lines
• Lack of communication and openness to those who do not share similar views/values

Our dialogue led us to action.  All present were invited to sign the “I am a Voter” pledge cards and in turn, to invite family, members of their faith communities, and neighbors to do the same.

Finally, all present were then invited to “sign the bus” assuring their presence with us through the entire ten-state tour.