I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa (IMMAWII) 2006-2008 – HISTORY & OVERVIEW

I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa was founded in 1998 in response to a national PBS and Blackside Productions challenge for communities to develop programs highlighting African American arts and culture to connect with their February 1999 national broadcast of the “I’ll Make Me a World” mini-series.  A core group of Iowa volunteers embraced the challenge and created their own vision, IMMAWII.

IMMAWII delivered with a day-long schedule of African-American arts and culture presenters and exhibitors at the State Historical Building on January 30, 1999. With a headlining national artist and a broad range of musicians, actors, singers, storytellers, visual artists, soul food and exhibitors, the anticipated crowd of 300 became a realized audience of over 1000 patrons. IMMAWII was lauded for filling a niche that impacted so many lives and championing the fact that African American history is all Americans’ History and all Iowans benefit in knowing this.

Since then, with the assistance of the community, collaborators and supportive sponsors IMMAWII has been able to expand programming to include Educational Outreach activities, Education Day and collaborative touring projects. Attendance has consistently grown; the two days of programming attract over 15,000 people from across Iowa and throughout the Midwest and IMMAWII impacts many others through its outreach and strong publicity. (Sponsors are continually recognized through out IMMAWII programming and publicity.)

IMMAWII Key Programs

Friday, January 25, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Polk County Convention Complex Des Moines, Iowa

Featuring IMMAWII Black History Game Show competition for students
Free to the public 

Friday, January 25, 2008
Time: 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Mercy Conference Center    Fundraiser presented by IMMAWII Advisory Board

Educational 
Outreach

Continuous
- Educational Resource Packets on African-American arts, culture and history for schools, libraries
- Targeted communities for Touring Collaborative Art Exhibit

IMMAWII Educational Outreach involves community libraries, museums, art centers, schools and community students and adults who, supported by IMMAWII, develop programs, including presentations by African-American community leaders and exhibition of the collaborative art project.

I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa
1620 Pleasant, Suite 225
Des Moines, IA 50314
www.worldiniowa.org            

Betty C. Andrews, Executive Director
515-288-7171 / 515-729-2969
bettycandrews@yahoo.com            

Jacquie Easley, Board President            
515-643-4200
Jeasley@mercydesmoines.org

I'll Make Me a World in Iowa is grateful for the involvement of over 100 volunteers who drive the many elements of the project by participating in the following areas:

IMMAWII Collaborating Organizations include:  Friends of Iowa Civil Rights, Inc. (also serving as IMMAWII fiscal agent), Iowa Civil Rights Commission, African American Heritage Museum and Cultural Center, Commission on the Status of African-Americans, Creative Visions, Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Links, Inc.,

Des Moines Public Schools - Community/Adult & Continuing Education, Iowa Public Television, Division of Department of Cultural Affairs, Ft. Des Moines Memorial Park & Education Center, Metro Arts Alliance, National Black Child Development Institute – Des Moines, NAACP., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Polk County Diversity Alliance, Partners in Economic Progress (PEP), State Historical Society of Iowa, Public Library of Des Moines, VSA arts of Iowa, Urban Dreams, Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), Central Iowa Blues Society, Outside In:  African-American History in Iowa 1838 – 2000, Black Ministerial Alliance, Zeta Phi  Beta Sorority , & Des Moines Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.