What I've learned: Central Iowa community involvement
- Brianne Sanchez
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
How do you mark a personal and professional milestone? I complete three volunteer board terms this year and bought a piece of artwork from Mary Jones to celebrate wrapping up what feels like a "capstone" trifecta of community engagement.
When I moved to Des Moines, Iowa, for a newspaper internship, I felt an energy around transformational changes taking place. The recently cleared Western Gateway was a flat greenspace that hosted a buzzy music festival and then became the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. Boutiques were finding a foothold in the East Village (I moved here when RAYGUN was still called SMASH), and locals who followed each other on a new app called Twitter got together IRL at bars and bookstores.
It was the 'raucous before the caucus' of '08, when the former Blockbuster (now Eatery A) served as the Obama campaign headquarters. My beat was focused on the "young professional" scene, not politics, but a sense of possibility permeated conversations with the civic leaders and up-and-comers I met. I bought a house here, married a co-worker, and blogged about it all.
Putting down roots in Des Moines, I called myself an "Iowan by Choice." In doing so, I pursued the opposite of the nomadic lifestyle I thought I wanted when I first started J-school at Mizzou. Earning a master's degree in public administration further reoriented me away from my early goal of becoming a travel writer. My love of exploring destinations didn't fade, but my new mission was to make Central Iowa worth visiting, and to create opportunities here for my neighbors.
I changed careers and had two kids, investing a huge amount of energy in co-founding a nonprofit sector-specific professional group (now BridgeDSM) and helping organize TEDxDes Moines events. I was invited to join the boards for The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand, the Des Moines Public Library Foundation, and our community's transportation safety advisory committee. Those volunteer roles involved countless early-morning meetings and unpaid duties galore, but I feel like I made an impact. Just this past week, we dedicated two new murals and hosted a series of art events that I shepherded as committee chair.
Finishing my terms this year feels bittersweet. Honestly, I'm ready for a "service sabbatical" that will open up more time to focus on building my business. (Which, in a twist of fate, has brought me back around to travel writing and other exciting projects!) But I know the work is not done. Recent restrictions to city revenue put leaders in a hold-the-line position during a tug-of-war to fund essential services, rather than dream about what's next. I'm setting my alarm for early morning budget hearings to advocate for our library.
As I wrap up this chapter of service, here's what I know:
Showing up makes a difference.
Buy the event ticket. Treat yourself with items from local shops vs. online retailers. Vote.
Local organizations need your engagement.
Set up a recurring donation to a local cause you care about. Pick up a volunteer shift. Advocate on the issues. (Even if it means attending a 7:30 a.m. meeting at City Hall.)
Civic leadership doesn't require a specific job title.
You do not need to be a C-suite type to make a meaningful contribution, from the PTA to United Way. That's not to say there are not power dynamics to navigate, or that you'll never feel frustrated by decisions. It's tricky to know when to step up and when to step away.
Giving back is a great way to meet incredible people. Short-term stints home-hosting international visitors turned strangers into friends. Committee collaborations and event planning introduced me to visionaries and doers who make magic happen (often on tiny budgets!)
With so much that feels out of control at the national and global level, consider thinking and acting locally. You can make your block beautiful.
There's really no "finish line" to this marathon, but it's time to pass the baton.
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