Africa fest is an annual celebration of African arts and culture in Iowa. Iowa is home to African immigrants from many different countries, ethnic and linguistic groups, and cultures. Africa Fest performances and vendors showcase some of the cuisines, musical traditions, fashions, and art of the African groups who call Iowa home. The African Festival strives to create connections between African immigrant groups and Iowa neighbors, fostering a more inclusive and culturally-enriched state.

Donate to this Endeavor through Bloomerang.

Antelope Lending Library, founded in 2012, is an independent, non-profit bookmobile library working to overcome barriers and provide full and equal access to information and ideas in our community.  All materials are lent on a no-fees basis, so access is always free, no matter what.

Brink is an in-print literary journal that champions writing and art created on the edge. By publishing the hybrid, cross-genre work of emerging and established creatives who often reside outside traditional artistic communities and disciplines, Brink celebrates experimental, nonclassified forms that resist strictly delineated borders and embrace a plurality of possibilities.

Grounded in the understanding that death is a natural and inevitable part of life and that acceptance of that reality can contribute to living a more compassionate and meaningful life in the present, the Death Collective of Eastern Iowa is dedicated to cultivating a more death-positive approach to end-of-life experience and care. We host community conversations, provide cultural and educational events, and offer access to non-medical supportive end-of-life care with certified death doulas and our network of community partners.

Donate to this Endeavor through Bloomerang.

Engaged Early Education is a nonprofit organization aimed to improve access, resources, and support for early childhood education in the Johnson County area. We focus on creating a network of educators with local resources and leaders who are interested in the success and joy of our community's youngest members. 

Donate to this Endeavor through Bloomerang.

EntrePartners is eastern Iowa's home for community building through entrepreneurial events and resources. They run a number of introductory programs and social events designed to make ideas real. They're the folks behind coffee and conversation at Iowa City Open Coffee each Wednesday morning from 8-9 am, Startup Weekend Iowa City every July, Startup Weekend Iowa Online each January, and partner with the Iowa City Area Development Group and The University of Iowa in hosting 1 Million Cups, a structured forum for new entrepreneurs on Wednesdays from 9-10 am.

Mission: To give everyone, regardless of background, the opportunity to make their ideas real.

Vision: The strongest community is built through entrepreneurship.

Extant Relatives seeks to improve the relationship between humans and "herps" (reptiles and amphibians) using a community-friendly, scientific approach to hands-on experiences and education. Whether considering a snake in the garden or a beloved pet in the house, Extant Relatives stresses the importance of strong scientific inquiry, ecological conservation, and ethical herpetoculture (keeping reptiles). Keep an eye on our website for upcoming classes, community events, and partnerships.

Donate to this Endeavor through Bloomerang.

A non-profit arts organization, Iowa City Poetry builds community through a shared love of poetry. We host adult poetry writing workshops, teen spoken word workshops and performances, a monthly reading series, a monthly open mic, a fees-free poetry library, and annual community-wide poetry events. In this way, we share the wealth of literary resources in Iowa City, a UNESCO City of Literature and home to the Iowa Writers' Workshop, with writers of all ages, incomes, identities, and experience levels.

The LENA Project works to encourage environmental awareness and action. Inspired by a group of local preschool children wanting to "Help the Earth be the best Earth," the LENA Project was formed to carry on their mission. LENA stands for Less/Empower/Notice/Act. We encourage Less wasteful consumption, we hope to Empower people to use their voices, we encourage people to Notice their environmental impact, and to Act in small ways for our earth. 

Through storytelling, art, education, and community projects, LENA aims to connect individuals to the environment and to one another. It will take all of us, from all backgrounds to heal the Earth. Together we can take necessary steps towards an environmentally sustainable future for all. 

Donate to this Endeavor through Bloomerang.

LGBTQ Iowa Archives & Library is an LGBTQ community archives and lending library for the state of Iowa operating out of Iowa City. Their mission is to collect, preserve, and share the history of our community throughout the state.

Donate to this Endeavor through Bloomerang.

The endeavor's first production was THE MACHINE STOPS, a new opera by local composer John Lake. The opera premiered at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts on July 30, 2022. Cecile, who wrote the libretto, received her MFA in Nonfiction Writing from the University of Iowa as well as her MFA in Poetry from the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop.  

The Quire is a not for profit mixed voice chorus comprised of individuals from the LGBTQIA2S+ community and its allies. The goals of The Quire are to entertain, inspire, unite, uplift, and educate its audiences throughout Eastern Iowa, while fostering a community spirit and safe space for LGBTQIA2S+ community members. The Quire debuted in 1995 at the Iowa City Pride Talent Show, and, still rehearsing in Iowa City, Iowa, the ensemble now premiers two major concerts, runout advocacy workshops throughout the Eastern portion of the state, and pride events annually to advocate for and celebrate the queer community.

Donate to this Endeavor through Bloomerang.

The Writers' Rooms is a non-profit organization focused on providing a free, safe environment to all writers. Our various writing groups called Rooms are geared toward supporting the needs of the community. Whether you're looking for a social gathering to meet writers, a safe LGBTQIA+ space, a lesson-based genre Room, or just a quiet place to work on your craft, we're here to support you. Each year we also publish an anthology showcasing poetry, short stories, photography, art, and graphic novels by members of our community.  We're Writers Helping Writers.

Donate to this Endeavor through Bloomerang.