dsmWeekly - January 1, 2025

PEOPLE & COMMUNITY

News Changemakers: Cultural Leader Newcomer Awards
Each time we hang up a new calendar, the dsm team reflects on the past year and recognizes the people and stories that have shaped Central Iowa.

With our colleagues at the Business Record, another Business Publications Corp. publication, we're proud to announce the second annual News Changemakers Awards to honor the people and organizations making headlines in business and culture. Finalist nominations were accepted from readers of both publications, and the winners were selected by BPC leadership.

Below are the recipients of the Cultural Leader Newcomer Awards, which recognize individuals who are either new to the community or in new positions of leadership in their organizations and have already and will continue to make significant contributions to the community.

Read the full list of 2024 Changemakers online.

Deidre DeJear, president and CEO, Oakridge Neighborhood

The 2022 Democratic nominee for Iowa governor and business owner succeeded 20-year Oakridge Neighborhood CEO Teree Caldwell-Johnson after she died in March. DeJear assumed the role in September. The nonprofit serves families and diverse communities with housing and other support services, aiming to create pathways to personal and economic empowerment. Oakridge is Iowa’s largest affordable housing community. A graduate of Drake University, DeJear is the owner of Caleo Enterprises, an agency working with clients on developing and implementing financial education and small-business development throughout Iowa. DeJear serves on the boards of the city of Des Moines Housing Services, the Directors Council and the Wright Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation and as board chair of Healthy Birth Day. Other community involvement includes starting and continuing to support Back 2 School Iowa. DeJear was recognized by the Business Record as Emerging Woman of Influence in 2019 and a Forty Under 40 in 2018.

Napoleon Douglas, artistic director, Pyramid Theatre Co.

An actor, singer and entrepreneur, Douglas stepped into a new role at Pyramid Theatre Co. in 2024 — artistic director. He succeeded Tiffany Johnson, Pyramid’s co-founder, who now works for Bravo Greater Des Moines. The theater company focuses on plays written by well-known and emerging Black playwrights. Douglas has a bachelor’s degree in theater from Drake University and an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University. His theater credits include performances across the country in “Dreamgirls,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Five Guys Named Moe.” In addition to his work with Pyramid, he also sings jazz at Noce and serves on boards for various local organizations, including City Voices, which focuses on music education.

Julia Franklin, director, Mainframe Studios

Franklin completed her transition from community investment specialist at Bravo Greater Des Moines to director of Mainframe Studios in December 2023. She is now leading the biggest nonprofit art studio building in the country, which opened in 2017 on the north side of downtown Des Moines. At Bravo, Franklin managed a $4 million annual grant program for more than 85 arts and culture nonprofits in Central Iowa. Previously, she taught art at Graceland University in Lamoni, where she helped guide the construction and operations at the Helene Center for the Visual Arts. She also managed the Anderson Gallery at Drake University. “First and foremost, I think the job is to take care of the artists and the building to ensure that we’re meeting our mission to provide affordable workspace for creatives,” Franklin told the Business Record in March. “That’s my day to day: Is the building safe, are artists safe, do they have what they need to thrive?”

Mashal Husain, incoming president, World Food Prize Foundation

Husain played a key role in growing the World Food Prize Foundation over the last 26 years, including managing the $30 million renovation of the Des Moines Public Library building that turned into the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates. She will assume the organization’s presidency after retiring President Terry Branstad officially leaves the post on Jan. 31. Husain, currently chief operating officer, will become the foundation’s fourth president — and fifth overall leader. She was born and grew up in Pakistan, later moving to Tanzania, Manila and Bangkok before coming to the U.S. Husain moved to Des Moines in 1999. She worked at Blank Children’s Hospital and later at Principal Financial Group before joining the World Food Prize in 2008.

Alissa McKinney, executive director, Above + Beyond Cancer

McKinney had been active in nonprofit development in Iowa and Texas for more than 24 years when she was named Above + Beyond Cancer’s new leader in February. While at the UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Foundation, she served as the senior director of development and director of development for Blank Children’s Hospital for 18 years. She managed the endowment and annual capital campaign for the health system’s nonprofit charitable arm, as well as the popular Festival of Trees & Lights event. McKinney also serves as an Iowa 4-H Foundation trustee, Ballet Des Moines Capital Campaign committee member and is on the Board of Christian Stewardship at Plymouth Church.

Wes Mullins, executive director, Capital City Pride

After Mullins was named executive director of Capital City Pride earlier this year, he told dsm magazine that one reason he applied for the job was its year-round effort to promote four main themes: education, health and wellness, families and community. He has some new ideas, including programs for LGBTQ seniors, but plans to round out his first year before making any major changes. “In bigger cities, Pride is already sort of locked in,” he said. “I chose the job here because I saw a vision for something that’s still being built, something that I could help flourish and shine.” Mullins, 44, grew up in a conservative church in eastern Tennessee and struggled with being gay as a teenager. He eventually came out to his parents and experienced a turning point as a grad student in theology in Abilene, Texas, where he visited the LGBTQ-affirming Metropolitan Christian Church and realized his faith and sexuality weren’t mutually exclusive. He transferred to the divinity school at Texas Christian University, graduating at the top of his class. He served as a pastor in Oregon, Colorado, where he met and married his husband, Kevin, and Missouri. In all three states, he helped advocate for same-sex marriage. He officiated Missouri’s first same-sex wedding in 2014.

Song of Siam plans to perform Friday at Mainframe Studios. (Photo: Thai Association of Iowa)

BEST BET

Celebrate the first First Friday at Mainframe

The residents of a few teeny-tiny islands in the Pacific Ocean rang in the new year first, a full 20 hours ahead of folks here in Des Moines.

So there’s a certain logic that the year’s first First Friday open house at Mainframe Studios will celebrate the culture of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Pop in from 5 to 8 p.m. to enjoy live performances by the Happy Dancing Club and Song of Siam; enjoy goodies from Sarinade, Bubble Tea Kups and MMMBap; and see an array of handmade goods from Little Crafting Panda and various cultural organizations associated with the Iowa Asian Alliance.

At the open house, you can also check out the inaugural color photography exhibition from a multimedia collective known as MASS, the Midwest Artists’ Space and Services. As always, the monthly themed showcases are a bonus, an addition to the 180 studios where more than 200 local artists make paintings, photos, sculpture, clothing and more.

Speaking of new years, the lunar Year of the Dragon will soon make way for the Year of the Snake, starting on Jan. 29. Many of the approximately 75,000 Iowans of Asian descent, including more than 24,000 in Polk County, will celebrate the transition with various traditions to promote health and good fortune.

The Week Ahead

Dome After Dark and Botanical Blues (6-10 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Sunday): Ready for a tropical getaway? At the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, stroll through colorful lights during Dome After Dark every Friday night through March 28. Or listen to live music during the Botanical Blues series every Sunday through March 30, starting this weekend with Major Blues and the Mugshots.

Global Migrations: Caribou (10:30 a.m. Saturday): Did you know that “caribou” and “reindeer” refer to the same species? Both males and females grow antlers, but only the females retain them through the winter (which means most depictions of Santa’s sleigh-pullers are female). You can learn all kinds of fun facts at a free, family-friendly presentation at the Jester Park Nature Center in Granger. Stick around afterward to see a few of the real deal.

Military history tours (11:30 a.m. Saturday): Every Saturday morning, docents lead free, hourlong tours at the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum at Camp Dodge in Johnston. The museum honors the heroic service of all Iowa veterans, from the start of statehood to the present.

“Follies: A Night of Broadway with Napoleon Douglas” (7 p.m. Saturday): One of dsm’s News Changemakers (above) headlines a concert at Noce with a high-octane jazz band led by Jeff Danielson. Read more about Douglas’ remarkable career, which started at the Corinthian Baptist Church and Roosevelt High School, zigzagged around the country and brought him back home.

Weary Ramblers (2-5 p.m. Sunday): The rootsy folk duo otherwise known offstage as Chad Elliott and Kathryn Severing Fox sing a few tunes at the Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming.

Beam me up: Leaders from across Central Iowa signed a steel beam during a ceremony earlier this month at a new portion of the Des Moines International Airport. The Des Moines Airport Authority and the Weitz/Turner construction team co-hosted the event to mark the closing of its structural phase. "This event serves as a historical record of those who were involved in funding and constructing the new terminal,” airport authority executive director Kevin Foley said in a prepared statement. “Decades from now as the building grows and evolves to serve the needs of Iowans, this beam will demonstrate the community effort it took to achieve this once-in-a-generation project, cementing a legacy for all of those involved on this project." Following the completion of structural steel in January, the construction team will focus on completing the building structure with the exterior scheduled to be complete by the end of summer 2025. The new airport terminal is scheduled to open in late 2026.

Pictured: Des Moines International Airport Executive Director Kevin Foley, who plans to retire in April. The airport authority has hired assistant executive director Brian Mulcahy to be his successor. (Photo: Weitz Co.)

dsm unveiling: Hear those Iowa Wolves howling? They’re excited for their basketball game on Jan. 13, right after we unveil the January/February issue of dsm. Come join us 5-7 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena. (Regulars, take note: This is a Monday and registration is required, since dsm guests will get to stick around for the game.)

Gal pals: The Rollins Mansion is hosting a Galentine’s Party on Feb. 7 to “raise a glass to friendship, fun and all the fierce women who light up your life,” according to the online invitation. Tickets are on sale now.

Play ball: It’s never too early to think about baseball. The Des Moines Downtown Chamber of Commerce recently announced that it will be featured at the Iowa Cubs season opener on March 28, when attendees can learn more about the chamber and its initiatives. Set your countdown alarms: The first pitch is at 7:08 p.m.

Dr. Adreain Henry spoke at the 90 Ideas in 90 Minutes event last fall. (Photo: Duane Tinkey)

PEOPLE & COMMUNITY

One good idea: 'Keep asking questions'
At the Business Record's annual 90 Ideas in 90 Minutes event in September, Iowa leaders presented their best ideas, big and small, that can be applied to any organization.

Each speaker shared useful insights, but one of the stories that stuck with us came from Dr. Adreain Henry, president of Mercy College of Health Sciences. He focused on the value of connections, courage and curiosity — just three of the nine C's he wrote about in the published round-up.

The following passage about curiosity is a lightly edited excerpt from his spoken remarks, which you can watch in a recorded video.

The average 12-year-old asks approximately 45 questions per day. I should know, because I have a 12-year-old. A few weeks ago, my 12-year-old asked me, “Dad, would you be happy if I bought my own car in high school? The Army veteran in me said, “Yes, sir.”

Then he asked me, “Dad, are you going to buy me a car when I get to college?” I said, “No, sir. You don’t need two cars.”

Now, the average 15-year-old asks approximately 25 questions per day, and I should know, because I have a 15-year-old.

Between the ages of 40 and 50, the average adult asks approximately six questions per day.

So you can all spot a trend: The number of questions we ask decreases as we get older.

But then something miraculous happens when we get into our retirement years. The number of questions we ask begins to increase again. We begin to ask questions like “Where are my keys?” And “Have you seen my phone?” You guys know what I’m talking about.

So the moral of the story is: We enter school as question marks. We graduate as periods.

Keep asking questions.