Project Iowa

The countdown is on — Locker Wars is back for Year 3!
Get ready for an evening full of mystery, laughter, and friendly competition. Bid on surprise lockers packed with treasures (and a few hilarious curveballs!) all while supporting Project Iowa’s mission to connect people with purpose and meaningful careers.

October, 13 from 5:30-8 p.m.

Tickets are going fast - grab yours now!
https://donorbox.org/events/960859/steps/choose_tickets

Make an Impact! By participating in Locker Wars, you’re supporting Project Iowa's mission to enhance workforce development in our community. Let’s unlock potential together!

https://donorbox.org/events/960859/steps/choose_tickets

💙 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 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 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 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, 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!