Priority I | Youth Centered
Our work in priority 1 is centered on youth and includes our Pathways, Heroes, and ArtForce Everywhere programs. Pathways and Heroes offer after-school art workshops and support for youth who are underserved and marginalized. Using healing-centered engagement strategies, artist mentors and staff practice art with youth in a way that fosters culture, agency, relationships, meaning and aspirations–all practices that lead to healing and flourishing.
Workshops are based on young people’s individual interests and encourage them to find their creative voice. Recognizing the need for wraparound support, staff also work with youth to make sure their needs are met and they are on track to graduate from high school.
AFI staff member applying henna on a youth participant
AFI staff member sitting with youth
Youth artists working on a mural at Hoover High School
Our Programs
PATHWAYS PROGRAM
Legacy Program est. 2012
The Pathways program provides youth who are involved in juvenile detention and family court with art experiences.
In 2023 we served 130 youth in this program.
HEROES PROGRAM
Legacy Program est. 2016
The Heroes program provides youth who are immigrant, refugee or first-generation youth with art experiences.
In 2023 we served 309 youth in this program.
ARTFORCE EVERYWHERE
Through our ArtForce Everywhere program, we meet youth where they are.
In 2023 we served 173 youth in this program.
Youth Served in 2023
Numbers are listed as percentages.
Priority II | Youth Advocates
Our Youth Advocates services focus on training adults working with youth and the broader community
on J.E.D.I. principles of justice, equity, diversity, and intersectionality and how to apply Youth Mental Health First Aid so that adults can foster the supportive, strengths-based, culturally affirming environments young people need to heal from trauma and thrive in school and in other institutions. ArtForce Iowa staff conduct professional development sessions for teachers, present at social justice and education conferences, and offer art workshops to nonprofit agencies to support individuals who interact with youth in our community.
“Building relationships with students is important. Coming from a perspective of healing instead of trauma informed might be a better way to view interactions with students. Art and music incorporation can be helpful for students who are challenging. I will work on ways that I can implement art and music, and more relationship building.”
“I learned a lot of different self-care techniques to use with my
students. I also learned a lot great strategies I can use with my staff and students. I plan on connecting with my counseling team and sharing the learning we did to support our students’ social and emotional needs.”
“I came away with several specific activities I can lead students to engage in that will help to create a safe, inclusive classroom environment.
I also was reminded of the importance of self-care when caring for others.
I would highly recommend getting ArtForce more involved with leading teacher and admin workshops in Ankeny!”
Our Trainings
We feel it is important to let you know that all workshops build on each other.
Authenticity/Values Affirmation Pt 1-2
Identify core values at the personal level and align practices with personal mission while exploring ways to move forward in community while collectively honoring each other's values and missions.
Building Trust Workshop
Lay the framework for cultivating spaces centered in safety and trust in order to do deeper work.
Cultivating Psychological Safety
Explore mood regulation for yourself and others while remaining aligned with personal and community values.
Language Bias/Implicit Bias/MicroAggressions/
MicroInequities
Explore how biased language can unintentionally alienate people. Surface and unpack language choices concerning different groupings, and develop awareness on how social and structural norms may be harmful.
Healing Centered Engagement
Explore current brain research concerning early childhood trauma and developmental trauma, and experience practices based on Dr. Sean Ginwright's "Healing-Centered Engagement".
Connect with us to learn more about the trainings we offer and about pricing.
Priority III | Strengthening Communities
Our Youth-Centered and Youth Advocates programs are supported by our efforts to strengthen communities, so young people live in places that provide strong social support and access to resources and opportunities. Activities include: #KNOWJUSTICE, a May event that elevates stories of strength and resilience from individuals whose stories are often not told; and fee-for-service projects that give youth a chance to become working artists and build community connections.
#KNOWJUSTICE: Credo
“What do you believe?”
“How can you honor your value?”
“How can you live in your value?”
These reflective questions were the inspiration for this years’ exhibit. #KNOWJUSTICE: Credo embodies the values and beliefs of youth in Central Iowa. The word 'Creed' is derived from the Latin word credo, meaning 'I believe'. This exhibit shares the values and beliefs of the youth artists of ArtForce Iowa, and how they will pursue their beliefs through their actions.
Foundational questions like these can help provide guidance and direction when presented with the challenges that we encounter in our daily lives.
Masks created by AFI youth artists
Creed cards created by AFI youth artists
#KNOWJUSTICE: Legacies
The stories we tell are what we remember.
They shape our understanding of our communities and our world.
They become our history.
#KNOWJUSTICE: Legacies aka The Legacy Collection is about archiving and elevating the many voices that make up our state.
These are stories that are shaped by our community and belong to our community.
By knowing our history, we can learn from our past, celebrate our heritage, and work together for a brighter future for all Iowans.
We would love for you to share your legacy with us. We believe that ordinary stories are worth sharing and uplifting.
This will be the final #KNOWJUSTICE exhibit.
Join our legacy and share your story.
Our Studio
ArtForce Iowa now has a video production unit that you can hire for your video production needs. We can capture an event or create a powerful narrative to help tell your story. We believe telling stories leads to stronger communities. We want to work with other like-minded groups and organizations in our community so that young people can live in places that provide strong social support and access to resources and opportunities.
Top left to right: Event photography by ArtForce Iowa, behind the scenes of ArtForce Iowa recordings, marketing photos done by photorgraphers in our studio.
Our Services
Fee-for-service projects take place throughout the year and gives youth an opportunity to share their talents and develop new connections.
Most importantly these opportunities, foster relationships between the community and the young people. Fee-for-service projects are selected with a focus on creating an ecosystem through art that strengthens community connectedness through art curation, healing-centered arts-based workshops, graphic design, videography and photography.
Top left to right: Commissioned piece for Restoring Hope’s annual bike ride, shoes designed by youth artist Z for Girls on the Run, youth artist works on bike station for DSM Street Collective.
Bottom left to right: shoes designed collaboratively for Girls on the Run, jersey design for Iowa Wolves, commission art piece for board member at Mid-Iowa Health Foundation
Art Curation
Healing-Centered Arts-Based Workshops
Graphic Design
Videography
Photography
Income
All numbers listed in the chart are shown as percentages.
Grants and Contributions
Expense
All numbers listed in the chart are shown as percentages.
Expenses
Program Services
Our Champions
Bravo of Greater Des Moines
Attorney General’s Office
of the state of Iowa
Crime Victim Assistance Division
United Way of Central Iowa
Anonymous Donors
Our Partners
Ankeny Community Schools
Bureau of Refugee Services
Des Moines Public Schools
Drake University
DSM Street Collective
Easter Seals
Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Iowa Public Health Association
Iowa Wolves
Peace Tree Brewing Co. Des Moines Branch
Polk County Decategorization
Proteus
Octagon Center for the Arts
West Des Moines Community School District
Our Friends
Des Moines Community Foundation
First Realty Cares Foundation
Restoring Hope Foundation
To all the individuals who donated and supported us throughout the year, a warm thank you.
We appreciate your support.
Together we can continue to create opportunities for youth to transform through art.
