Change Course

Change Course Change Course is a tuition-free career and personal development program in Des Moines, IA for those in need of a second chance.

08/12/2026

Our leaders practiced answering challenging questions, building confidence, and presenting their best selves. Every interview brought them one step closer to new opportunities and career success!

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible volunteer interviewers: Kelli Pace, Dave Kester, Darwin Rouw, Ivan Guerra, Jordan Atterberry, Payten Page, Yvonne Wailes, Mark Young, Chris Miller, Charles Causey, Chris Barfels, Dave Schwartz, Nicole Keuper, and Jean Pierre. Thank you for generously sharing your time, encouragement, experience, and valuable feedback with our leaders. Your support makes a meaningful difference!

Want to help create more opportunities like these? On September 11, American Idol finalist Clark Beckham is bringing his unmistakable voice and musicianship to Central Iowa for a special concert benefiting Change Course. 🎶

Join us for an unforgettable evening and help empower leaders on their journeys toward lasting change!

There is HOPE in this city!

08/10/2026

Introducing Phoenix, our newest class of Change Course leaders!

Here’s a behind the scenes look at Professional Headshot Day, where our leaders stepped in front of the camera with confidence, professionalism, and purpose.

A special thank you to Man on the Move and Dress for Success for helping make Professional Headshot Day possible. Your support helped our leaders look and feel their best!

Welcome, Phoenix! We can’t wait to see how high you rise.

There is HOPE in this city!

08/04/2026

American Idol Clark Beckham is coming to Des Moines for an unforgettable night of live music supporting Change Course!

Join us Friday, September 11, at NorthPoint Church in Johnston and experience the voice, soul, and musicianship that made Clark a national favorite.

Tickets are $15 each or $20 for two.

Bring someone with you and help more people discover the work of Change Course.

Get tickets NOW at https://clarkbeckham.eventbrite.com

There is HOPE in this city!

This is the story of Emma, a participant currently enrolled in The Elites 2026 class, in her own words:My story began wi...
08/03/2026

This is the story of Emma, a participant currently enrolled in The Elites 2026 class, in her own words:

My story began with a fight. I was born weighing just two pounds and spent my first three months in the NICU, with little human contact as doctors worked to keep me alive. As I grew older, I experienced abuse, trauma, and challenges no child should have to endure. Those experiences led me through treatment facilities, detention, psychiatric hospitals, and eventually addiction. There was a time when I lost all hope, believed my life had no purpose, and even tried to end it all.

But my story did not end there.

Recovery gave me a second chance. I chose to fight for myself, for my children, and for the future I never believed I deserved. Today, I am more than two years clean and sober, pursuing a career in healthcare through Change Course, and building a life filled with hope, purpose, and resilience.

Every obstacle I have faced has become part of my testimony. If my journey proves anything, it is that your past does not define your future. No matter where you come from or how many times you have fallen, healing is possible, hope is real, and it is never too late to rewrite your story.

There is HOPE in this city!

This is the story of Shauntez, a participant currently enrolled in The Elites 2026 class, in his own words:My name is Sh...
07/30/2026

This is the story of Shauntez, a participant currently enrolled in The Elites 2026 class, in his own words:

My name is Shauntez Coffer, and I was raised in Waterloo, Iowa, between two very different worlds. My mother’s side of the family emphasized church, athletics, hard work, and family, while my father’s side exposed me to drug dealers, gang activity, and crime. By my early teens, I had started smoking, drinking, skipping school, and selling ma*****na. I eventually left for Job Corps, where I earned my high school diploma and a Material Handling certificate, but after returning home, I went right back to selling drugs. Over the years, I progressed to harder drugs, experienced multiple arrests and prison stays, and became focused on money, partying, and violence. After being shot by someone I trusted, I became even more guarded and deeply involved in the drug trade.

Even while I was making money, I began feeling empty and knew I was meant to do som**hing more meaningful with my life. I felt God drawing me back to prayer, Scripture, and church, and soon the lifestyle I had relied on began falling apart. After moving to Des Moines, I struggled to find steady work and eventually received a five-year sentence following my third OWI. By God’s grace, I was accepted into an OWI treatment program, completed parole, and began working again. Still, I felt trapped in jobs with no opportunity for growth. Remembering that my parole officer had told me about Change Course, I decided it was time to stop repeating the same patterns. I am now fully committed to building a real career, finding my purpose, and living the life God has been calling me toward.

There is HOPE in this city!

This is the story of Steven T., a participant currently enrolled in The Elites 2026 class, in his own words:Growing up, ...
07/28/2026

This is the story of Steven T., a participant currently enrolled in The Elites 2026 class, in his own words:

Growing up, my mom worked hard to provide for us, but her schedule also gave me a lot of freedom. After I smoked my first blunt, my life began moving in a different direction. Weekends with my dad exposed me even more deeply to drugs and the street lifestyle. He was a well-known dealer and taught us how that world worked from an early age. Those environments caused me to grow up quickly and believe I was more mature than I really was. I became a father at 16, but after years of betrayal, abuse, and broken trust, my family fell apart. I began drinking heavily to cope with everything I had lost.

Music had always been my escape, and it eventually took me to places I had dreamed of reaching. Unfortunately, the business side went badly, and I found myself back in subsidized housing, feeling like I had wasted my only opportunity. Alcohol gave me the false feeling that I was in control, but through faith and conversations with God, I began finding myself and looking forward. Today, I’m a father of four, sober from alcohol, and still working to quit smoking. My dad’s passing motivated me to stop wasting time, and Change Course is helping me pursue a career and build a future I can be proud of.

There is HOPE in this city!

This is the story of Chasity, a participant currently enrolled in The Elites 2026 class, in her own words:I grew up in a...
07/24/2026

This is the story of Chasity, a participant currently enrolled in The Elites 2026 class, in her own words:

I grew up in a home where instability was normal, and from a young age, I believed survival meant hustling however I could. I became a mother at 14, and at 17, that mindset led to my first arrest for prostitution. I later fell into m**h addiction and spent the next several years cycling through jail and prison while my mom cared for my children. When I was 23, I finally asked a judge for help, and that decision led me to Bridges of Iowa. Getting sober changed my life, and my youngest son gave me the determination to never go back.

Today, I’m blessed with a husband who never gave up on me, a family worth fighting for, and a new opportunity through Change Course. I’ve stopped using ma*****na, committed to improving my mental health, and started building healthier habits. I’m pursuing a career in phlebotomy because I want more than survival—I want stability, purpose, and a future where my children never have to experience the struggles I did. My goal is to make my family proud and finally complete som**hing that changes our lives for generations.

There is HOPE in this city!

5 more Allies needed!Our Kappa 2026 May Class is coming together, and we’re looking for five more volunteers to walk alo...
04/30/2026

5 more Allies needed!

Our Kappa 2026 May Class is coming together, and we’re looking for five more volunteers to walk alongside Change Course participants in their new lives through meaningful relationships.

The commitment is simple:

• Mondays from 6–8 PM
• One Saturday retreat
• A heart for people and a willingness to be present

Our Allies do more than help. They show up, build trust, and love their neighbors well.
Help us fill these final spots this week.

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/BYY1wDNf9LZws69T8

There is HOPE in this city!

Address

1912 6th Avenue
Des Moines, IA
50314

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+15157796108

Website

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