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Des Moines Area Community College Enrollment Services (DMACC) recognized that they needed help enhancing and expanding their efforts to reach, recruit, and increase the post-secondary access for students from Des Moines Public Schools, which is the most diverse and underserved student body in the state. Recognizing they had a capacity gap – as their main recruiting practices within the Des Moines Schools at that point were limited to the services provided by their Career Advantage Advisors – they partnered with Public Allies Iowa and were matched with Ally Rayna Gonzalez-Soto.

Reflecting on Rayna’s service, Dr. Ahmed Agyeman (DMACC’s Director of Community and Global Engagement) stated, “Rayna went above the expectation. In addition to designing a communication plan, she designed brochures and presented the information to families, community partners, and our Cabinet.” Furthermore, Rayna also re-engaged and developed new partners in the community and worked closely with DMACC’s CRM Specialist to create a dashboard that she used to work with students and families.

Not only did Rayna successfully help DMACC address key capacity needs, but as a result DMACC has decided to host an additional 3 Allies. As for Rayna, she’s completing another year of national service as Contruction Crew Leader with Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps.

Disclaimer: Des Moines Area Community College and the Evelyn K. Davis Community Center serve as administrators for the Public Allies program in Iowa.

Project IOWA’s mission is, “To serve as a bridge between underemployed persons seeking living wage careers and employers seeking workers; thereby transforming lives and benefiting communities.” In 2018, Project IOWA needed assistance integrating their job training program with Central Iowa Services and Shelter’s (CISS), so that both programs could provide better direct services to program participants and ultimately help move them to financial stability.

Working with Public Allies Iowa, it was determined that an Ally was needed to assist Project IOWA and CISS in assessing their program structures, including the processes and requirements of each program, in order to create an integrated training program with multiple pathways for participants to gain employment. To help make this happen, Project Iowa was matched with Public Allies Iowa member Max Sawyer. During his 10 months of service, Max not only completed comprehensive assessments of existing programming (PI & CISS), but also assisted staff with development and implementation of the new integrated employment program.

Not only did Project IOWA report a “Improved level and/or quality of services” as a result of Max’s capacity building efforts, but they are also continuing their partnership with Public Allies Iowa for another year. Their Ally this year? Well, that would be none other than Max, returning to complete his second term of service with Public Allies Iowa.