Des Moines Community Impact & Relations

09/01/2026

We appreciate everyone who joined us last Friday for the Refugee Experience Simulation! This event was hosted in partnership with the Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa (RACI), Lutheran Services in Iowa, Evelyn K. Davis Center For Working Families, and RIAS. Special thanks to Stephanie with RACI for facilitating and the volunteers from LSI and the CIR team for making it happen!

Participants were guided through an immersive and thought-provoking opportunity to learn about migration and refugee settlement process. The simulation utilized scenarios written and created by Central Iowa residents with lived experience about fleeing home, followed by a group reflection and discussion. These meaningful opportunities are designed to build empathy and foster a deeper understanding of the experience that many refugees may go through.

08/17/2026

The Des Moines Youth Advisory Board will be meeting on Tuesday, August 18 at 6:00 p.m. at the T.M. Franklin Cownie City Administration Building - City Hall (1200 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309). The meeting will be held in meeting room 2W78, on the 2nd floor, behind the information/security desk.
The agenda will be available to view here: https://bit.ly/YAB_Agendas

🌟Joining us at City Hall for the meeting?
Free parking is available in the 1200 Mulberry Parking garage (entrance at 13th and Mulberry) until March 15. Skywalk access to the building is available from the third floor of the parking garage.
Metered parking is available around the building, and bike parking is available near the Locust Street entrance. Public transportation is available via DART. Visit the link above to learn more.
Enter through the Locust Street entrance or use the skywalk and follow posted signage.

08/05/2026

Join us on Friday, August 28 for a Refugee Experience Simulation, as part of our Collective Impact Learning Series! ✨

Hosted by refugee resettlement and refugee-serving organizations, this simulation offers participants a brief, immersive, and simulative opportunity to learn about migration and refugee settlement process. Participants will be taken through scenarios written and created by Central Iowa residents with lived experience about fleeing home, followed by group reflections and discussion.

📍 Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families (1171 7th St, Des Moines, IA 50314)
🕙️ 10 - 11:30 a.m.
🔗 Register at DSM.city/ImpactEvents

This is merely a simulation and not intended to minimize the severity of the experience refugees go through.

**UPDATE: Tickets for this event have sold out. To be added to the waitlist, please contact [email protected].

07/31/2026

There's still time to nominate a neighbor who has made a positive impact on the Des Moines community! ❤️

The City of Des Moines Neighborhood Champion Awards seeks to uplift the outstanding work being done by Des Moines residents and neighborhood leaders and express the City’s appreciation for their involvement and commitment. These awards are intended to be community-based, given in various categories such as:
- The Innovative Leader Award
- The Impact-Maker Award
- The Community-Builder Award

Awards are open to all Des Moines residents. Nominations close today, July 31, 2026. Awardees will be announced in October 2026, during the Neighborhood Champion Awards ceremony. Learn more and submit a nomination at DSM.city/ImpactEvents.

07/30/2026

Join us on Friday, August 28 for a Refugee Experience Simulation, as part of our Collective Impact Learning Series! ✨

Hosted by refugee resettlement and refugee-serving organizations, this simulation offers participants a brief, immersive, and simulative opportunity to learn about migration and refugee settlement process. Participants will be taken through scenarios written and created by Central Iowa residents with lived experience about fleeing home, followed by group reflections and discussion.

📍 Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families (1171 7th St, Des Moines, IA 50314)
🕙️ 10 - 11:30 a.m.
🔗 Register at DSM.city/ImpactEvents

This is merely a simulation and not intended to minimize the severity of the experience refugees go through.

07/29/2026

The City of Des Moines - Government budget exercise closes this week. With both an English and Spanish option available, City leaders want to gather as many resident responses as possible to understand the needs and wishes of our community.

With an estimated $12 million budget shortfall due to several changes in state property tax legislation, city leaders have already identified administrative changes that will save $6.43 million. However, City leaders want your input on the remaining budget gap.

Public services will be impacted, so take a few minutes to fill out the budget exercise at DSM.city/BudgetCalculator and have your voice heard.

The City of Des Moines is facing a budget shortfall following several changes to Iowa state property tax legislation. Utilize this tool to identify your priorities as we work through service levels.

07/29/2026

Our Youth Advisory Board members are preparing to support KADI - Knock and Drop Iowa at the Nehemiah Project Community Giveback Event on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, as part of their Help a Neighbor Initiative!
This event is focused on supporting families and students in our community as they prepare for the upcoming school year. The event will provide 500 backpacks to local youth, along with free food, music, barber services, and more!

We are excited to see our youth leaders step up, serve their community, and help make a positive impact. 💪

07/27/2026

Do you have a neighbor whose efforts have made a positive impact in the Des Moines community? Nominate them for a Neighborhood Champion Award! ⭐

The City of Des Moines Neighborhood Champion Awards seeks to uplift the outstanding work being done by Des Moines residents and neighborhood leaders and express the City’s appreciation for their involvement and commitment. These awards are intended to be community-based, given in various categories such as:
- The Innovative Leader Award
- The Impact-Maker Award
- The Community-Builder Award

Awards are open to all Des Moines residents. Nominations are open through July 31, 2026. Awardees will be announced in October 2026, during the Neighborhood Champion Awards ceremony. Learn more and submit a nomination at DSM.city/ImpactEvents.

07/24/2026

Join us on Tuesday, July 28 for a free, virtual training presented in partnership with Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV)!

Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and human trafficking often face significant barriers to obtaining and maintaining safe housing. Understanding the housing protections available under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) equips advocates and service providers with the knowledge needed to better support survivors in having access to stable housing.

This training is designed for advocates, case managers, housing professionals, and other service providers who work with survivors of violence.

🔗 Register here: https://icadv.coalitionmanager.org/eventmanager/trainingeventregistration/create/364

We look forward to your participation and to strengthening our collective efforts to support survivors through increased knowledge of housing protections.

07/23/2026

The Des Moines Human Rights Commission will be meeting on Thursday, July 23 at 4:30 p.m. at the T.M. Franklin Cownie City Administration Building - City Hall (1200 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309). The meeting will be held in meeting room 2W78, on the 2nd floor, behind the information/security desk.

View the agenda here: https://bit.ly/DMHRC_Agendas

🌟Joining us at City Hall for the meeting?
Parking is available in the 1200 Mulberry Parking garage (entrance at 13th and Mulberry). Skywalk access to the building is available from the third floor of the parking garage.
Metered parking is available around the building, and bike parking is available near the Locust Street entrance. Public transportation is available via DART. Visit the link above to learn more.
Enter through the Locust Street entrance or use the skywalk and follow posted signage.