Summer fundraisers to benefit Iowa City’s Center for Worker Justice

IOWA CITY — The Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa is hosting three fundraisers this summer to help continue its advocacy work for low-wage workers in Johnson County in areas that include higher minimum wages, civil rights in the workplace and affordable housing.

The fundraisers take place from 7 to 11 p.m. Tuesday, July 25 and Aug. 22 at The Mill Restaurant, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City. Attendees can enjoy dinner and drinks while listening to music by Tropicante, an Iowa-based Latin quartet.

Funds raised go toward the organization's general budget, said Rafael Morataya, executive director of the Center for Worker Justice, 940 S. Gilbert Ct., Iowa City.

Morataya said organizers hope to incorporate a celebration of culture through the musical performance.

'Our goal is to integrate the music with the community and raise money,' Morataya said, adding organizers hope to draw up to 200 people to the event on Tuesday.

Tropicante — led by Karin Stein, who lives near Grinnell, and Waterloo native Ed East, who was born in Panama — features a mixture of sambas, merengue, contemporary pop and other styles.

'You can never have enough fun with cultural diversity,' said Stein, who is originally from Colombia.

The band will be performing at all three of the summer fundraisers.

The fundraisers also provide organizers with a chance to promote the Johnson County Community ID on the second anniversary of its instillation, said Sergio Awan, president of the Center for Worker Justice.

'The community ID, it's something that needs to be talked about and something we need to get our residents,' Awan said.

In 2015, Johnson County became the first city in the Midwest to approve the use of the community identification card throughout out the county.

While a community ID can't be used to receive state services — such as obtaining voter registration or a driver's license — it can help card holders open a bank account, get prescriptions from a pharmacy or obtain a library card, Morataya said. Proponents say the ID offers a level of dignity and sense of security, since card holders are more likely to notify police of any criminal activity when they have photo identification.

Awan said the Johnson County Community ID is meant for any residents without formal identification, including international students and immigrants who are undocumented.

Johnson County is also launching a redesign of the community IDs that officials from the Center for Worker Justice intend to promote at the July 25 fundraiser, Awan said.

The county began issuing the new IDs on May 19 and they include important details, such as emergency contacts and allergy information. Any card with the old design will be valid until its expiration date, according to information at johnson-county.com.

Tickets for the fundraisers are $10 for those who show their Johnson County Community ID and $15 for others. Tickets are available at the door, at the Center for Worker Justice or online at cwjiowa.salsalabs.org/dancewithcwjjune27.

[naviga:h3 style="padding-left: 30px;"]IF YOU GO

What: Fundraisers hosted by the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa

When: 7 to 11 p.m. Tuesday and again on July 25 and Aug. 22.

Where: The Mill Restaurant, 120 E Burlington St., Iowa City.

Cost: $10 for those with a Johnson County Community ID, $15 for others.

Details: Evening includes dinner, drinks and music by Tropicante, an Iowa-based Latin quartet.

Info: cwjiowa.org

l Comments: (319) 368-8536; michaela.ramm@thegazette.com