For the past two weeks, 120 students from 6 middle schools (Harding, Hiatt, Meredith, Callanan, Weeks, and McCombs) in Des Moines Public Schools came together each day to partake in Minorities on the Move. We had an incredible time meeting so many young people in our fabulous little city. Special thanks to the United Way for sponsoring us!
If you’d like to support these young people, come to our free show on August 1 at the Temple for Performing Arts or donate here!
It isn’t everyday you meet someone as passionate and supportive as Adam Hammes, founder of Urban Ambassadors. While creating our final project for Hip-Hop: Rhetoric or Rhyme, we were searching for people in our community who had created their own non-profit organizations from scratch. Our dear friend Ciji of Recycle Me Iowa raved about Adam, and he was gracious enough to speak with our kids about his experience and come back after their organizations were created to sit on our “grant panel.” To top it all off, he wrote this incredible article articulating our class to a “t.” If you’d like to read the article, click here!
It’s pretty amazing what a little energetic reciprocity can do for a community. Thank you, Adam, for building us up. We are grateful for you.
On Thursday, May 9, students from past cohorts of Minorities on the Move toured 5 middle schools in Des Moines Public Schools to recruit students for this summer’s program! Minorities on the Move will expand to 7 middle schools in the district, serving 140 young people, thanks to a generous grant from United Way of Central Iowa. Check out highlights from our magical tour below!
Hoyt Middle School
McCombs Middle School
Weeks Middle School
Callanan Middle School
Meredith Middle School
DJ WolfPack – “Respect the Pack”
Davonte
Deontae “DJ WolfPack”
Julio
Brionna
Callie
Co-emcees Duncan & Chyanne
On Saturday, our dear friend JayO Ansah, owner of JAYTEESApparel, hosted a pancake fundraiser for his 4th annual Ansah Classic and RunDSM. Our poets shared their truth for pancake lovers and people passing by, and the talented Jami Graves captured some beautiful moments (pssst…to view more of her curious pictures, click here!).
Thank you for supporting the youth of DSM!
POWER!
Snapping = Love.
We are brave new voices!
Finn: Future Poet
Always look up.
Gettin’ free on stage at TEDxYouth@DesMoines!
The crew.
Puttin’ in work before the show.
The docket.
We are brave new voices!
Our beloved Hatte taking a moment before her solo performance.
Julio & Davonte.
Mia & Torianna.
Our first annual Des Moines Teen Poetry Slam was a huge success! Congratulations to the 14 participants from Harding, North, Hoover, and Roosevelt. To read about this spectacular night, click here!
Special shout-out to our first ever Grand Slam Champion, Leah Waughtal. Get free, girl!
(Photo courtesy of Jon Lemons, Des Moines Public Schools)
We would like to send extra energetic reciprocity to Emily Genco from Des Moines’ Juice for her write-up on RunDSM. If you’d like to read the article, click here!
Harding Middle School, Hip-Hop: Rhetoric & Rhyme, and poets from Movement 515 were featured on an IPTV anti-bullying special!
If you’d like to watch the 6-minute clip, click here.
We are excited to announce RunDSM we were awarded the Phyllis Yager Memorial Commitment to Diversity Award via the University of Iowa College of Education!
To read more about this humbling honor, click here.
