EVENTS
4th Annual Winter Wraps
Every donation made a meaningful impact. Many families cannot provide these essentials, and your support ensured our children had what they needed to stay healthy, comfortable, and ready to learn. Your kindness reminded our students that their community truly cares.
Thank you for showing up, giving generously, and helping us wrap our children in health, warmth, and love. Together, we strengthen our community—one winter wrap at a time.
Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) Event
August 2, 2025
BCDI Iowa, in collaboration with NBCDI, recently hosted an interactive and innovative group conversation with families who use Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) child care. Reimagining Child Care brought together Black parents and child care providers to explore and reimagine the FFN child care landscape.
Throughout the event, we heard directly from Black families and FFN care providers, gaining deeper insight into the vital role trusted family members, friends, and neighbors play in the nurturance, care, and development of young Black children. Participants engaged in meaningful discussions, shared powerful personal stories, participated in hands-on activities, and engaged in imaginative exercises that examined current narratives, policies, and lived experiences.
This project centered the voices and visions of Black communities by exploring:
• What FFN child care looks like in Black communities beyond research and data that often miss our true stories
• The cultural and social strengths that uniquely support Black children, families, and FFN providers
• Collective visions for a future where FFN care is valued, supported, and has the needed resources
Moving beyond traditional focus groups, we embraced Afrofuturist explorations—blending art, storytelling, and culturally rooted methods—to create space for sharing lived experiences as research. This event was a vibrant celebration of the legacy, creativity, and brilliance within Black Family, Friend, and Neighbor care.
NATIONAL BLACK CHILD DEVELOPMENT WEEK
JUNE 9TH - JUNE 13TH
National Black Child Development Week (NBCDW) is a yearly initiative led by the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) that centers Black children, uplifts their voices, and celebrates their brilliance.
This year's theme, "Afrofuturism: The Future Looks Like Us," invited communities to imagine bold, joyful, and limitless futures shaped by Black children themselves.
BCDI Iowa's Mary Daily Lange wanted to ensure our children's faces were seen and their voices heard—spotlighting the brilliance we witness every day and amplifying it during NBCDW. We interviewed each child about the future they envision, and they offered powerful insight into their dreams, hopes, and possibilities.
WHY IT MATTERS
NBCDW is more than a campaign - it's a movement. It's a call to honor Black childhood as sacred, celebrate our children's creativity, and reimagine the systems that shape their lives.
Black children deserve systems designed with love, equity, and imaginations. That's how we build a future worthy of them.
2nd Annual Read to Succeed Luncheon
On Saturday, April 5, 2025 -- BCDI-Iowa hosted our second annual Read to Succeed Luncheon. Wow! What a major success! Seeing more than 100 King Elementary School students, their principal, Renita Lord, family, and community members at the Polk County Senior Citizens Center was heartwarming. Additionally, we were very pleased that elected officials attended: Our mayor, Connie Boesen; Iowa State Senator Izaiah Knox; Iowa House Representatives Heather Matson and Rob Johnson. Des Moines Public School Board members Dr. Skylar Mayberry-Mayes, Jenna Knox, and Maria Alonzo showed up to support and celebrate the children we serve at King. Finally, BCDI-Iowa reading volunteers who tutor King's third graders in reading provided support to the children.
- The community met and visited with our National Black Child Development Institute leaders, Rev. Terrance McKinley, Vice President of Movement Building and Strategy, and Kerron Kalloo, Director of Community Engagement, who spent three days with BCDI-Iowa members, stakeholders, and community members.
- The King Elementary School choir, a highlight of the event, delivered a stellar performance, beautifully singing three songs, including the Negro National Anthem.
- King's children played an interactive game, Who Am I? The audience had to guess the right book author based on the clues they gave. An adorable kindergartener recited the poem, "Hey, Black Child!” Two local Black children's book authors autographed books for students. The children took home books, toys, and gift cards.
- One of the highlights of the event was the healthy, nutritious meal served to all in attendance. This meal, complete with a variety of fruits and vegetables, not only nourished our bodies but also underscored our commitment to promoting health and well-being in our community.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Plymouth United Church of Christ, whose generous donation was instrumental in making the Read to Succeed Luncheon a resounding success.
Photos from the 2nd Annual Read to Succeed Luncheon
Counted Out Community Film Screening
In celebration of Pi Day (3.14), BCDI Iowa presented a special screening of the documentary film "Counted Out". The viewing was followed by break out groups consisting of teens, parents and community leaders. The conversation focused on problems and challenges surrounding the overall feelings about math, how it is taught in schools and the barriers to success students face. Our discussion was facilitated by Author, columnist, and podcaster Rachelle Chase and our panelists were:
- Rev. Dr. Jonathan Whitfield, Pastor of Corinthian Baptist Church
- Rob Johnson, Iowa State Legislator
- Greg Kehrier, Board president of You Discover Math, Houston, Texas
- Dwana Bradley, Former teacher and DMPS school board member, Publisher of Urban Experience Magazine
- Dr. Skylar Mayberry-Mayes, DMPS school board member
The Film “Counted Out” investigates the biggest crises of our time — racism, political polarization, economic inequity, a global pandemic, climate change — through the unexpected lens of math.
Counted Out Film Trailer: https://youtu.be/M5a2la9WTtY?si=E7vSsulJpNpGJinP
Learn more: www.countedoutfilm.com
Special thanks to our sponsors:
Here's what you can do:
- Learn to use your voice to effect change
- Prepare to advocate at school board meetings
- Learn to de-bunk myths about math literacy
Learn ways to support:
- math students
- parents of math students
- math teachers
- Join BCDI Iowa!
- For more information , please go to our membership page.
Additional Resources:
BCDI-Iowa’s founding president, Dr. Anita Fleming-Rife, and member, Robin Jenkins, were among the village leaders who attended NBCDI’s National Network Training Institute in Atlanta, GA October 16th - 19th.
