Community Partners
Beaverdale Fall Festival
Over 40 years ago, Beaverdale merchants started a fall event called Beaverdale Days, featuring sidewalk sales, carnival rides, music, beer tents, and a parade with an Oktoberfest theme. Cold weather moved it to September, and it became the Beaverdale Fall Festival. Around the same time, Holy Trinity Church hosted its own September event with food, rides, beer tents, and a road run. In the late 1970s, the two groups merged efforts, sharing the parade and planning. In 1991, the festival joined the Beaverdale Neighborhood Association, then became independent in 2000. In 2020, we became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Though canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, the festival has returned stronger than ever, thanks to our amazing neighbors, sponsors, and guests!
Capital City Pride
Capital City Pride is a 501(c)(3) organization focused on building a safe, strong community for all queer people to enjoy with their friends, families, and supporters. Our vision is to create a community where the presence and contributions of LGBTQ+ people are welcomed and celebrated, intolerance and injustice are challenged and defeated, and the civil rights of all people are valued and respected.
Iowa Safe Schools
All students need a safe, supportive atmosphere in which they can learn, including students that are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ). Unfortunately, bullying, harassment, and discrimination against LGBTQ students occurs often in our schools. In fact, 74.1% of LGBTQ students were verbally bullied in the past year because of their sexual orientation. As these students face verbal and physical harassment, educators, policy makers, parents, and other students are often hampered by the lack of quality information and resources to protect LGBTQ students. That’s where Iowa Safe Schools comes in. We provide comprehensive support, victim services, resources, and events for LGBTQ and Allied youth.
Pride Sports League
We are proud to provide safe recreational, social, and networking opportunities through sports to the LGBTQ+ community and allies in Central Iowa. At this time, Pride Sports League is only for those 18 years or older.
Raise the Bar Initiative
We are a local Des Moines non-profit focused on serving girls and women in our community. Our focus is to help them build strength physically, mentally and emotionally. The tools we use to do that are strength training, honest conversation and community building.
Become a Member
Membership in the Chamber is an investment in the growth of your business and in Iowa’s LGBTQ-owned and allied business community.