The Iowa City Starbucks strike, which began in early December of 2025, ended on December 24 of 2025, making it the longest strike in the store’s history. While the store re-opened its doors following the strike, the workers are still fighting and encouraging consumer participation to ensure Starbucks meets their demands.

“We started a new campaign called Delete the App,” said Scheppmann, offering one way consumers can help support baristas. “So we’re asking people to delete the Starbucks app from their phone.”

By deleting the app, Starbucks customers affect the company’s revenue while not directly harming the workers.

There are plenty of other ways to support the strikes, too. The Starbucks Workers United website— which provides plenty of useful information on the strikes and how to get involved– encourages consumers to sign the “No Contract, No Coffee” pledge and boycott Starbucks until the workers’ demands are met.

Even though the practices causing the strikes remain, Starbucks workers maintain high morale. For one thing, workers know they have been noticed. With hundreds of stores closed for weeks (if not months), Starbucks cannot remain unaware of the situation.

Many of the strikes have also set records. The Iowa City strike lasted three weeks, making it the longest strike in the store’s history. For workers like Scheppmann, this record is a point of pride.

 “It feels good,” Scheppmann said. “My grandpa was a teamster, so he always had a healthy love for striking. I definitely feel that as well.”

And if there is no progress? Then the strikes will continue. But Scheppmann doesn’t worry about that– the community will support the striking baristas no matter what.

“The Union community in Iowa City is always down for a strike, whoever it is,” said Schepmann. “They’re always ready to support someone exercising their rights.”

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The night kicked off with a triumphant fanfare in the IMU main ballroom. The space was lined with decorated pillowcases honoring past and current Dance Marathon patients. Opening performances included the Iowa cheerleaders and Hawkeye Marching Band. A group of doctors from the Stead Family Children’s Hospital led the crowd in a chant: “Kids Can’t Wait.”

Micah Marasch, 12, said Dance Marathon was a bright spot during his cancer treatments. His father Marek said DM volunteers played with Micah in the hospital and, in Micah’s words, “gave me something to do.”

“It made me happy,” Micah said. Micah expressed excitement for Saturday’s talent show, in which he planned to play Imagine Dragon’s “Believer” on his trombone, by memory.

After receiving a Rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosis in November 2017, Micah has been in remission since fall 2018. This fall will mark his five years of survivorship. When Dance Marathon patients (“kiddos”) reach five years of survivorship, they get to walk across the stage at the Big Event in a cap and gown. This year’s “Kiddo Graduation” took place on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 4, and 18 year-old Bailey Kotz was among the honorees.

“I just love being able to come here,” Bailey said about Dance Marathon. “It’s just a special place, I look forward to it every year.” Bailey’s mother, Ashlea, said her favorite part of the Big Event was meeting other families affected by cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, over 9,000 children younger than 15 will receive cancer diagnoses this year. However, thanks to new medical advances, the 5-year survival rate is now 85%.

In addition to honoring cancer survivors, Dance Marathon remembers all the DM patients who died of cancer. A hallway on the third floor was lined with candles labeled with names of the 286 children who died of cancer, but are still “forever dancing in our hearts.”

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