Programs

  • Program 1 [2024]

    ADVOCACY & DIRECT ACTIONS - Plans and executes direct actions (marches, rallies, protests) as well as researches, follows and lobbies for or against legislations and encourages calls to action and engaging elected or other local leaders around issues important to BIPOC. In December 2022, DSM BLM Collective (the CLTV) received a grant for the purpose of educating and advocating to end juvenile fines and fees in Iowa, which concluded on June 30, 2024. Work for this grant included developing and publishing a guide to removing school resource officers (SROs), which was done in collaboration with the National Center for Youth Law and the Community Empowerment Law Project. The CLTV also met with state lawmakers to discuss how best to introduce and pass legislation to end juvenile fines and fees at a state level. The CLTV also completed its subgrant work with the State Green New Deal Network, collaborating with the Buffalo Rebellion on CO2 pipeline Teach-ins, protests, and other events. The CLTV helped plan and execute the 2023 Iowa Climate Justice Summit in Des Moines, gathering those actively working in environmental justice, along with students and other interested community members, together to receive updates on current issues pertaining to environmental justice in Iowa and how to take collective action against them. Other non-grant related actions included providing water, food, housing and other essential assistance to unhoused individuals in Des Moines during a three-day extreme heat wave, and hosting the fifth annual Juneteenth celebration, the annual collaborative May Day Potluck and Festivities, and the annual collaborative Fourth of He Lies Community Potluck. Organizers also attended several conferences and trainings that inspire and prepare them to continue their advocacy work including the 2023 Iowa Summit on Justice and Disparities in Ankeny, the IJAN Fall Conference: The Movement to Reform Youth Justice in Cedar Falls and the 2023 Debt Free Justice Youth Convening Convention in Washington, DC. For the first year, organizers also participated in the 4th Anniversary of George Floyd's Death "Rise and Remember Festival" in Minneapolis. (Duplicated Count) = 2,663
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $74.3K

  • Program 2 [2024]

    COMMUNICATIONS - Plans and executes campaigns and shares informative content and calls to action on social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the DSM BLM Collective's Webpage. Secures and coordinates television, radio, podcast and in-person interviews as and when opportunities arise. Persons Benefited (Duplicated Count) = 40,550
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $3K

  • Program 3 [2024]

    CULTURE & EDUCATION - Plans and executes inclusive, community-focused events in addition to hosting educational webinars and in-person educational functions, often combined with and supporting topics central to Advocacy & Direct Actions. While this program was largely dormant this fiscal year to enable the organization to focus on its Advocacy-focused grants, the CLTV began sharing information regarding missing Black persons in Iowa, who often do not receive the same amount of attention as missing white people. When our organizers heard about a missing Black child or adult, they sought out as much information as was available and connected with the family of the missing person. When needed, they would create a flyer with the person's photo and information and distribute the flyer on social media as well as hang up physical copies in the community. CLTV organizers also developed a relationship with a local school (Moore Elementary), and made classroom visits to speak with students about ways to use poetry and art as a form of advocacy and protest for issues the students are passionate about. Persons Benefited = 42
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $2.9K