Community & Volunteering

Federal immigration agent raids may have faded from the headlines, but not from many people’s minds. In northwest Iowa, community members are stepping up to help immigrants living with uncertainty.

We meet Henry Menniga, a remarkable young resident of Des Moines who was awarded the National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Award for his work promoting voter education and community service. Henry and his mom, Molly, talk about the start of his civic interests, a mock election when he was 4. Then, we talk with University of Iowa law scholar Josephine Gittler about why she drafted legislation that is now law, requiring Iowa high schoolers to pass the U.S. citizenship test. And, Iowa State University's Karen Kedrowski and Kelly Shaw discuss the new Center for Cyclone Civics. The center aims to increase civic education and engagement at the university level. (This episode was originally produced Aug. 4, 2025.)

What began as a way to bring the community together during COVID has become a tradition six years strong. Two sisters have organized volunteer bakers and delivery drivers to make sure everyone can eat a homemade pie on Thanksgiving.

A University of Northern Iowa professor is helping local men find community and purpose in retirement through a global initiative that’s the first of its kind in the state.

Thirty-six percent of adults could not name all three branches of government, and 95% could not name all five freedoms protected under the First Amendment. On today's show, efforts for better civic education, starting with a new high school requirement.

Across Iowa, funding cuts to the national service agency AmeriCorps ordered earlier this year by the Department of Government Efficiency are leaving gaps in nature conservation, youth education and community outreach programming. The cuts have eroded trust with the young people who sign up with AmeriCorps to serve their communities.