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Project Iowa Project Iowa is a workforce initiative that equips participants with the skills necessary to advance to career track, living wage jobs with benefits.

We’ve made the decision to cancel this year’s Locker Wars, scheduled for October 13.As we looked at the time and logisti...
10/01/2026

We’ve made the decision to cancel this year’s Locker Wars, scheduled for October 13.

As we looked at the time and logistics needed to deliver the kind of event our community has come to expect from Project Iowa, we determined that canceling this year’s event was the right decision.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who was ready to be part of Locker Wars this year—our sponsors, donors, Locker Captains, volunteers, ticket holders, vendors and friends. Thank you for showing up for Project Iowa and for believing in our work. 💚

While we won’t be gathering for Locker Wars this October, there is plenty ahead at Project Iowa, and we’re excited about what’s next.

Thank you for being part of our community. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

💙 Welcome, YouthWorks Class of 2027! 🎉Our feeds have been filled with back-to-school photos—new backpacks, first-day smi...
09/03/2026

💙 Welcome, YouthWorks Class of 2027! 🎉

Our feeds have been filled with back-to-school photos—new backpacks, first-day smiles, and the start of another school year. Around Project Iowa, back to school also means something we're pretty excited about: a new cohort of YouthWorks interns is beginning their journey!

We're thrilled to welcome the YouthWorks Class of 2027!

Over the coming year, these students will step into professional workplaces, build new skills, make meaningful connections, explore career possibilities, and discover more about themselves and what they're capable of.

There will be new experiences, challenges, successes, and plenty of growth along the way. We're grateful to the employers, mentors, partners, and supporters who will help make those experiences possible.

To our newest YouthWorks interns: welcome! We're excited to get to know you, cheer you on, and watch where this year takes you.

Here's to a great year ahead. Your YouthWorks journey starts now! 💙🎉

YouthWorks Spotlight: Meet Alex!This year, Alex completed his YouthWorks internship in the accounting department at Fede...
09/02/2026

YouthWorks Spotlight: Meet Alex!

This year, Alex completed his YouthWorks internship in the accounting department at Federal Home Loan Bank, giving him the opportunity to experience a professional workplace and see firsthand what a career in accounting can look like.

When asked why he chose to participate in YouthWorks, Alex shared: "I joined YouthWorks because it seemed like it would be an interesting experience working in a professional environment."

One of the valuable parts of YouthWorks is giving students exposure to careers and workplaces they may not otherwise experience while still in high school. Internships allow students to see how different departments operate, learn from professionals in the field, and begin discovering the types of work and environments that might be a good fit for their future.

For Alex, that meant stepping into the world of accounting and gaining experience that will help him make more informed choices about what comes next.

Congratulations, Alex! Thank you for being part of the YouthWorks Class of 2026. We're proud of everything you've accomplished and hope you'll carry this experience with you into whatever comes next!

Congratulations to AMOS on 30 incredible years of bringing people together, lifting up community voices, and creating me...
09/02/2026

Congratulations to AMOS on 30 incredible years of bringing people together, lifting up community voices, and creating meaningful change! What an amazing milestone and what a powerful showing of community with 1,200 citizen leaders gathered together. We are grateful for the important work you continue to do across Central Iowa and beyond. Here’s to the next 30 years of building relationships, strengthening communities, and making sure every voice has a place at the table!

Been out of the workforce for a while? Your skills didn’t disappear while you were away.The experience you’ve gained at ...
09/02/2026

Been out of the workforce for a while? Your skills didn’t disappear while you were away.

The experience you’ve gained at work and in life still has value. Sometimes, it just takes a little help recognizing those strengths and figuring out where they fit today.

Project Iowa's Cultivating Careers can help you rebuild confidence, refresh your job search skills, and explore opportunities that fit where you are now.

Cultivating Careers is offered at no cost. Learn more at https://projectiowa.org/what-we-do/cultivating-careers/

YouthWorks Spotlight: Meet Vick!This year, Vick completed her YouthWorks internship with the Great Outdoors Foundation, ...
09/01/2026

YouthWorks Spotlight: Meet Vick!

This year, Vick completed her YouthWorks internship with the Great Outdoors Foundation, where she gained real-world experience, developed professional skills, and built new relationships along the way.

Vick first heard about YouthWorks from fellow classmates at her school and decided to give it a try.

"I joined YouthWorks because I had heard good things about it from people at my school and thought, why not? I knew I would have the opportunity to learn real-life skills that I could use in the future, but I also realized I would get to meet new people and build connections."

YouthWorks isn't only about learning how to succeed in the workplace. It's also about learning how to communicate, work with different people, build relationships, and become comfortable in new environments. Those connections and experiences can be just as valuable as the skills students develop on the job.

Vick embraced those opportunities throughout her time with the Great Outdoors Foundation, building experience and relationships that she can carry with her wherever she goes next.

Congratulations, Vick! Thank you for being part of the YouthWorks Class of 2026. We're proud of how much you've grown and can't wait to see the connections and opportunities that are still ahead!

YouthWorks Spotlight: Meet Ywar Hay!Ywar Hay came into YouthWorks with a goal: she wanted to become a teacher. Her inter...
08/31/2026

YouthWorks Spotlight: Meet Ywar Hay!

Ywar Hay came into YouthWorks with a goal: she wanted to become a teacher. Her internship with Willkie House gave her the opportunity to put that interest into action by working directly with children and gaining experience in a field she hopes to pursue.

"The reason I joined YouthWorks was because it was a great opportunity for me to gain teaching skills since that's what I want to do in the future."

Throughout her internship, Ywar Hay had the chance to build relationships with the kids, learn by doing, and experience firsthand what it means to work with young people. She even created a fun video sharing some of those experiences and the impact the kids had on her.

One of the goals of YouthWorks is to give students the opportunity to explore a career before taking their next steps after high school. Sometimes that experience opens the door to a new possibility and sometimes it confirms you're already headed in the right direction.

And the good news? Ywar Hay still wants to become a teacher!

Congratulations, Ywar Hay! Thank you for being part of the YouthWorks Class of 2026. We're proud of everything you've accomplished and can't wait to see the difference you'll make in the lives of your future students! 🎉

YouthWorks Spotlight: Meet Raquel!This year, Raquel completed her YouthWorks internship with HOME, Inc., one of Project ...
08/30/2026

YouthWorks Spotlight: Meet Raquel!

This year, Raquel completed her YouthWorks internship with HOME, Inc., one of Project Iowa's nonprofit partners, where she gained hands-on experience working in a mission-driven organization.

When asked why she chose YouthWorks, Raquel shared: "I joined YouthWorks because I wanted professional work experience and a feel for what type of work environment I wanted to be in."

Finding the right career isn't only about discovering what you want to do. It's also about learning where and how you do your best work. YouthWorks gives students the opportunity to experience real workplaces, learn from professionals, and begin identifying the environments, roles, and organizations where they can see themselves thriving.

Raquel's experience at HOME, Inc. gave her the chance to build professional skills while experiencing firsthand what it's like to work for an organization serving its community.

Congratulations, Raquel! We're proud of everything you've accomplished through YouthWorks and hope this experience has brought you one step closer to discovering the workplace—and future—that's right for you!

Address

4801 Franklin Room 106
Des Moines, IA
50310

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+15152801274

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