What is DSA?
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is the largest socialist organization in the United States. DSA’s members are building progressive movements for social change while establishing an openly democratic socialist presence in American communities and politics. At the root of our socialism is a profound commitment to democracy, as a means and end. As we are unlikely to see an immediate end to capitalism tomorrow, DSA fights for reforms today that will weaken the power of corporations and increase the power of working people. For example, we support reforms that:
- decrease the influence of money in politics
- empower ordinary people in workplaces and the economy
- restructure gender and cultural relationships to be more equitable.
We are organizers and activists committed to democracy as not simply one of our political values, but our means of restructuring society. Our vision is of a society in which people have a real voice in the choices and relationships that affect the entirety of our lives. We call this vision democratic socialism - a vision of a more free, democratic, and humane society.
We are socialists because we reject an international economic order sustained by private profit, alienated labor, race and gender discrimination, environmental destruction, and brutality and violence in defense of the status quo. We are socialists because we share a vision of a humane international social order based both on democratic planning and market mechanisms to achieve equitable distribution of resources, meaningful work, a healthy environment, sustainable growth, gender and racial equality, and non-oppressive relationships.
What is Central Iowa DSA?
Central Iowa DSA is run by its members and activists who are working together to build a democratic socialist organization for the Central Iowa area. We are working against the oppressive capitalism system in its many forms. We see these oppressions - economic inequality, patriarchy, and white supremacy, to name a few - as interlinked, intersecting, and inseparable. Our campaigns and working groups do work in a variety of areas locally, including labor, queer liberation, international solidarity, and political education.
I want to know more before getting involved!
Email us at centraliowademsocialists@gmail.com to:
- Sign up for a 1:1 meeting with a current DSA member to learn more about the organization and how you can get involved
- Sign up for our email and text list
- Check out our events calendar to learn about upcoming events, including DSA information sessions
- Check out our working groups and current actions through the tabs on our website!
I want to join!
Join CIDSA!
You can sign up to be a DSA member through the DSA national website. Signing up for a monthly membership, rather than a yearly membership, ensures that a greater portion of your monthly dues will come back to our chapter each quarter as part of our dues share from the national organization. Your dues help fund a variety of local activities, and becoming a member also gives you voting rights at our meetings.
Have you moved recently?
Fill out the chapter change request form if you have recently moved to or away from Central Iowa. National DSA will process your address change and send your dues share to your new local chapter.
I’m not part of the Central Iowa area! Can I still join?
DSA regulations don’t prohibit members from joining any chapter they wish to join. However, in order for your dues share to be sent to the Central Iowa chapter, you need to fall in our residence zone. Check here to find out if your zip code is covered by Central Iowa DSA. If you don’t fall under the geographical area of a DSA chapter, you can still register as an at-large member.
I’m in high school! Can I still join?
Anyone is welcome to join DSA, regardless of age. However, for younger members there is also a national Youth DSA (YDSA) organization. If you are interested in starting a chapter at your school (high school or university), reach out to us or the national YDSA organization. Currently there is no YDSA chapter in Central Iowa.
What else is going on at the national level?
National DSA has a variety of committees, working groups, and other bodies, including elected national leadership, that any member is eligible to participate in! Here are some of them:
National Labor Commission Housing Justice Commission International Committee Green New Deal Trans Rights & Bodily Autonomy National Electoral Commission Abolition Working Group Afrosocialists and Socialists of Color Caucus Disability Working Group Mutual Aid Working Group Queer Socialists Working Group Religion & Socialism Working Group Design Committee Political Education Committee Tech Committee
And more!