This past weekend, Des Moines was a powerful display of what it means to lead, serve, and thrive as a community. The NAACP Des Moines Branch was proud to support and celebrate two iconic African American organizations whose work continues to uplift our people locally and nationally.
🌿 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated – 95th Mid-Western Regional Conference
With the theme “Soaring Across the Finish Line in Service,” the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha brought elegance, purpose, and power to the Des Moines Metro. NAACP members were honored to support their public opening ceremony, where Black Women 4 Healthy Living, our 2022 NAACP Des Moines Non-Profit of the Year, received well-deserved recognition for their outstanding community work.
We also joined in the celebration at their step show, sneaker ball, and other dynamic events throughout the weekend. It was a joy to witness such a vibrant expression of sisterhood, service, and leadership.
⚖️ Iowa National Bar Association – 45th Midyear Conference of the National Bar Association
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Bar Association—founded by legal pioneers including NAACP Des Moines Co-Founder S. Joe Brown and Gertrude Rush, Iowa’s first Black woman attorney and a founding force behind the NAACP Iowa State Conference.
Our members participated in powerful conversations, including the session “Courage to Confront: A Proactive Solution-Oriented Approach to Withstanding Challenges to DEI.” We proudly supported our Legal Redress Co-Chair David Walker, who received the prestigious Heman Sweatt Award,
and celebrated local trailblazers at the Gertrude Rush Awards Gala, where Judge Odell McGhee, Judge Romonda Belcher, and Attorney Roxanne Conlin were honored for their contributions to justice.
This weekend was more than a series of events... it was a reflection of our mission in action: to Live. Work. Thrive. We are grateful for the opportunity to stand with and for our community, continuing the legacy of those who came before us while building the future we all deserve.
To all who made this weekend possible and meaningful, we thank you. And to our members—thank you for continuing to show up, speak up, and rise up for equity and justice.
Victoria Henderson Weber
President | NAACP Des Moines