Resources

Foundational Resources

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4 Equity Tool

21 Day Equity Challenge

CEOs Commitment to Racial Equity and CEO Blueprint for Racial Equity

Employers 4 Equity Playbooks

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Central Iowa Data Dashboard Resources

 

OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY- ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

The following list comprises a set of organizations and initiatives aimed at fostering economic opportunity.  By actively engaging with these resources, individuals and communities can empower themselves to overcome barriers, enhance financial well-being, and unlock the doors to a brighter economic future. Whether through education and skills development, entrepreneurial support, access to capital, or policy advocacy, these resources offer a diverse array of pathways towards economic growth and prosperity for all.  

 

Sample Organizations, Resources and Initiatives  

 

Organizations & Resources    

• Central Iowa Works – United Way of Central Iowa 

• Children and Families of Iowa  

• Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families  

• Financial Empowerment Center 

• Future Ready Iowa  

• Greater Des Moines Partnership  

• HOPE Agency Des Moines  

• Iowa Center for Economic Success  

• Iowa Department for the Blind  

• Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services  

• Iowa Workforce Development  

• Lutheran Services of Iowa (LSI)   

• One Economy Financial Development Corporation 

• Project Iowa  

• Proteus  

• WeLIFT Job Search Center 

 

Initiatives   

• Center at Sixth 

• Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit  

• Nuestro Iowa – Iowa Latinx Project   

• One Economy - The Directors Council   

• OpportUNITY Adult Education & Employment – United Way of Central Iowa   

• Spark DSM Minority Business Incubator  

  

OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY- HOUSING

The following list comprises a set of organizations and initiatives aimed at fostering housing access and stability. By actively engaging with these resources, individuals and communities can empower themselves to overcome barriers, secure stable living conditions, and unlock the doors to a brighter housing future. Whether through affordable housing programs, shelter support, rental assistance, or housing policy advocacy, these resources offer a diverse array of pathways towards housing stability and improved living conditions for all.   

 

Sample Organizations, Resources and Initiatives  

 

Organizations & Resources  

• Anawim Housing  

• Central Iowa Regional Housing Authority  

• Central Iowa Shelter and Services  

• Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency 

• Habitat for Humanity of Central Iowa 

• HOME Inc. DSM  

• Homeward  

• IMPACT  

• Iowa Homeless Youth Centers (IHYC) 

• Neighborhood Finance Corporation 

• Polk County Housing Trust Fund  

 

Initiatives  

• Here We Grow – Capital Crossroads 

• Improving Our Neighborhoods (ION) 

• Nuestro Iowa – Iowa Latinx Project   

• OpportUNITY Housing - United Way of Central Iowa  

• One Economy - The Directors Council   

• Redlining in Des Moines  

 

OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY- SERVICES

The following list comprises a set of organizations and initiatives aimed at accessing key resources. By actively engaging with these resources, individuals and communities can empower themselves to access to key services. cultural representation in elected and appointed capacities?   Whether through public transportation enhancements, free or reduced cost internet access, or policy advocacy, or seeking cultural representation in elected and appointed capacities, these resources offer a diverse array of pathways toward fostering equitable access to services.  

 

Sample Organizations, Resources and Initiatives  

 

Organizations & Resources    

• Creative Visions 

• DART Bus Service 

• Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)  

• Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) 

• Easterseals Iowa 

• Ellipsis 

• Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center (EMBARC) 

• Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families  

• Families Forward 

• IMPACT 

• Iowa Bureau of Refugee Services (IBRS) 

• Iowa Homeless Youth Centers (IHYC) 

• Latino Political Network   

• Link Associates  

• Lutheran Services of Iowa (LSI)  

• Monsoon Asians and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity   

• Nissa African Family Services  

• Oakridge Neighborhood 

• Polk County Services 

• Proteus 

• Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa 

• St. Vincent de Paul Des Moines 

• Urban Dreams 

• Young Women’s Resource Center 

 

Initiatives  

• Nuestro Iowa – Iowa Latinx Project   

• One Economy - The Directors Council   

• OpportUNITY New Iowans – United Way of Central Iowa   

• OpportUNITY Transportation – United Way of Central Iowa  

  

OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY- PUBLIC HEALTH

The following list comprises a set of organizations and initiatives aimed at fostering public health. By actively engaging with these resources, individuals and communities can empower themselves to overcome barriers, enhance their overall well-being, and unlock the doors to a healthier, more equitable future for all. Whether through access to healthcare, preventative measures, healthcare policy advocacy, or addressing issues like health insurance, reducing infant mortality, and extending life expectancy, these resources offer a diverse array of pathways towards improved public health and well-being in our communities.  

 

Sample Organizations, Resources and Initiatives  

 

Organizations & Resources   

• Broadlawns 

• Community Health Needs Assessment 

• EveryStep   

• Iowa Community HUB 

• Iowa Healthiest State Initiative 

• Healthy Birth Day, Inc.  

• Knock and Drop Iowa 

• Meals on Wheels   

• MercyOne House of Mercy 

• Mindspring Mental Health Alliance 

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Iowa 

• Orchard Place 

• Polk County Behavioral health & Disability Services 

• Primary Health Care (PHC) 

• Proteus 

• UnityPoint Health – Everly Ball 

• Youth and Shelter Services (YSS) 

 

Initiatives   

• Nuestro Iowa – Iowa Latinx Project   

• One Economy - The Directors Council   

• OpportUNITY Food Insecurity – United Way of Central Iowa  

• MercyOne Grow, Baby, Grow

 

OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY- EDUCATION

The following list comprises a set of organizations and initiatives aimed at fostering education. By actively engaging with resources, individuals and communities can empower themselves to overcome barriers, enhance their overall well-being, and unlock the doors to a more equitable and promising educational future for all. Whether through improved access to quality education, students having a concrete plan following high school graduation, preventative measures to address learning disparities, education policy advocacy, or tackling issues like chronic absenteeism, dropout rates, third-grade literacy, graduation rates, and college completion, these resources offer diverse pathways toward advancing educational success in our communities.  

 

Sample Organizations, Resources and Initiatives  

  

Organizations & Resources    

• Al Exito  

• ArtForce Iowa  

• Avenue Scholars 

• Big Brother Big Sisters of Central Iowa 

• Boys & Girls Club of Central Iowa 

• By Degrees Foundation 

• Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) 

• Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families – Y-EcCL   

• Genesis Youth Foundation   

• iJAG  

• Iowa Congolese Organization and Center for Healing (ICOACH)  

• Jewels Academy  

• Oakridge Neighborhood 

• Pi515  

• Skilled Trades Academy – Central Campus 

• Starts Right Here 

• TRIO: Upward Bound, Talent Search, & Student Support Services – Iowa State University 

• Urban Dreams 

 

Initiatives  

• Nuestro Iowa – Iowa Latinx Project   

• One Economy - The Directors Council   

• OpportUNITY Education – United Way of Central Iowa  

  

OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY- JUSTICE

The following list comprises a set of organizations and initiatives aimed at addressing justice issues. By actively engaging with these resources, individuals and communities can actively engage in the relationship between poverty, race, and justice. Whether through easier access to data, training, policy advocacy, or addressing issues like disparities in arrest rates, these resources offer a diverse array of pathways toward improving well-being and promoting social equity in our communities.  

 

Sample Organizations, Resources and Initiatives  

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Organizations & Resources  

• ACLU Iowa 

• AMOS Institute of Public Life   

• Creative Visions 

• Iowa Legal Aid  

• Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice    

• Just Voices  

• Urban Dreams 

• Volunteer Lawyers Project – Polk County Bar Association 

• Youth Justice Initiative 

 

Initiatives   

• Let’s Talk – AMOS  

• OpportUNITY Re-Entry – United Way of Central Iowa  

• Safe & Thriving Youth Initiative – United Way of Central Iowa 

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The the initatives and organizations above serve as a sample of resources for organizations to refer to when working to advance equity initiatives. Do you have resources to add to this list? Email additions to capitalcrossroads@capitalcrossroadsvision.com