Website: Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families (evelynkdaviscenter.org)
Mission: The Center is a partnership between the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, The Directors Council and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). Along with a grocery store located in the same building complex, the partnership is providing solutions to three crucial needs identified by local residents: workforce training, employment opportunities and grocery and retail services.From its location in the heart of Des Moines, Iowa, the state’s capital city, the Evelyn K. Davis Center is helping many Central Iowans build their educational and job dreams. This first-of-its-kind center is a beacon for those looking for educational, job training and career opportunities by delivering these workforce services. We’re preparing many Central Iowans to find their life’s calling as successful, working Iowans.
Location: Des Moines (47 miles from Grinnell College)
Needs: The Evelyn K. Davis Center has multiple programs with volunteer needs:
- Financial Empowerment Center: assistance with workshops for small businesses or personal finance, workshops on tax savings, hosted in multiple languages. Creative minds wanted for developing and hosting new workshops
- Tutor Heroes and Y-Excl (Youth Excel into Careers & Leadership): Tutor Heroes work with students from Des Moines Public Schools (these tutoring oppportunities can be remote)
- Adult Education works in the Newton Correction Facility and Mitchellville Prison, providing support and education for re-entering
- Toys for Tots: this is our 6th year, in 2021 we served 600 families (well over 1000 toys!), and we are one of the largest distribution sites for Toys for Tots in the state. 5 days of intense service need in December, including assisting with our drive-up system where bags of toys are delivered to cars.
- Translation and media: Translating our materials (educational materials, pamphlets, workbooks) into different languages including Spanish and Swahili
- Database and survey projects in support of our clients
- Website review
- Journalistic Outreach and Documentation: compiling testimonials and stories, conserving oral history
- Men on the Move: pop-up events for the career closet where men who have been selected for job interviews have a personal shopping experience
- Connecting clients to essential resources such as distribution of personal hygiene items, sometimes there are last-minute needs for food and clothing distribution, clothing drives.
Volunteers:
- One-time events: yes
- Ongoing: yes
- Groups possible? yes
When is service needed: year-round
Number of hours: Flexible hours, as much or little as is possible for the volunteer
Modality:
- In-person: yes
- Hybrid in-person/virtual possible: yes
- Fully virtual possible: yes
Background check required: Yes, for tutoring and any other contact with clients under the age of 18
Vehicle needed: no
Training supplied: Brief orientation to EKDC which is supplied via an online link, also as needed orientation is scheduled one-on-one with appropriate program leaders
How to apply: via application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1LSGLPo8M1kQMRqZgL-Ayhpw-6Y5fHry-J09uwb9KK0c/viewform?edit_requested=true
Contact: Joy Esposito, 515-697-7700, jnesposito@dmacc.edu
Operation information: Programs: Financial Empowerment Center, Job Development, Y-EXCEL (Youth Ecel into Careers & Leadership), Men on the Move (a career clothing closet), Workforce Training Academy, Opportunity Passport, Small Business Solutions Center, Education, and Parenting
Address: 1171 7th Street Des Moines, IA 50314
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