801 University Ave., Unit 3, DSM, IA 50314 Main Phone: 515-697-7700 info@evelynkdaviscenter.org

M–TH: 8:00am–6:00pm F: 8:00am–5:00pm SAT: 8:00am–1:00pm SUN: CLOSED

COMMUNITY CALENDAR | FEBRUARY 2017

FEBRUARY 1NCRC Test: 8:45am–1:00pm, Appt. Needed Secrets to Success: 10:00am–11:30pm FEBRUARY 2WTA Q&A Session: 9:00am–12:00pm, Appt. Needed Digital Literacy (Advanced): 1:00pm–3:00pm FEBRUARY 6NCRC Test: 9:00am–1:00pm, Appt. Needed Digital Literacy (Beginner): 2:00pm–4:00pm FEBRUARY 7Financial Fitness Boot Camp: 5:30pm–7:00pm FEBRUARY 8NCRC Test: 8:45am–1:00pm, Appt. Needed Secrets to Success: 10:00am–11:30pm FEBRUARY 9WTA Q&A Session: 9:00am–12:00pm, Appt. Needed Digital Literacy (Advanced): 1:00pm–3:00pm FEBRUARY 11MLK Youth Summit: 9:00am–2:00pm FEBRUARY 13NCRC Test: 9:00am–1:00pm, 4:45–8:30pm Appt. Needed Digital Literacy (Beginner): 2:00pm–4:00pm

FEBRUARY 14Financial Fitness Boot Camp: 5:30pm–7:00pm FEBRUARY 15NCRC Test: 8:45am–1:00pm, Appt. Needed Secrets to Success: 10:00am–11:30pm FEBRUARY 16Digital Literacy (Advanced): 1:00pm–3:00pm FEBRUARY 17Closed: In Service Day FEBRUARY 20NCRC Test: 9:00am–1:00pm, 4:45–8:30pm Appt. Needed Digital Literacy (Beginner): 2:00pm–4:00pm FEBRUARY 22NCRC Test: 8:45am–1:00pm, Appt. Needed Wednesday Hiring Day: 9:30am–1:00pm FEBRUARY 23Digital Literacy (Advanced): 1:00pm–3:00pm FEBRUARY 27NCRC Test: 9:00am–1:00pm, 4:45–8:30pm Appt. Needed Digital Literacy (Beginner): 2:00pm–4:00pm

PICK UP YOUR FREE CALENDAR FOR 2017 What was your New Year’s resolution for 2017? If it involves improving financial habits, saving for future endeavors, or maximizing your financial outcomes, this is just the calendar for you. Each month provides informative tips and tricks to help you reach your financial goals.

Stop by the Evelyn K. Davis Center today and pick up your free 2017 calendar from the Financial Capability Network!

IN THIS ISSUE a Make The Most of Your Tax Refund!

a Achieving Greater Success: Testimonials

a MLK Day Youth Summit in February?

a EKD Receives Award at I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa

a Save the Date: Masters Business Happy Hour

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP NEWSLETTER | FEBRUARY 2017

Achieving Greater Success...

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FINANCIAL FITNESS BOOT CAMPGet your money clean for 2017! Sign up for this dynamic four-week workshop and take the reins on your journey to financial wellness! Workshops include: Financial Planning, Money Management, Budgeting, Credit Repair, and Loan Management. Next sessions: March 7, March 14, March 21 and March 28. For more information, please call 515-697-1450 or visit www.fcn-dm.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY

SECRETS TO SUCCESS, GET HIRED/STAY HIRED February 1, 8, and 15, 10:00am-11:30am Evelyn K. Davis Center; Series of workshops designed to finesse your interviewing skills and enhance your understanding of how to maintain employment. Workshops will also prepare you for the monthly hiring event. Cost: Free

APPLICATION DAY, HIRING EVENT February 22, 9:30am-1:00pm Evelyn K. Davis Center; On the 4th Wednesday of each month, various employers will be on-site to hold mock and open interviews for interested applicants. Job developers will be available to assist with preparing professional resumes, and Men on the Move will also be on-site to make sure you are dressed to impress. Cost: FREE

MLK YOUTH SUMMIT February 11, 8:30am–2:00pm Elim Christian Fellowship Church; Designed to teach youth that tomorrow's possibilities greatly depend on today's decisions. Volunteers needed; RSVP preferred. Breakfast and lunch provided, as well as transportation for DMPS districts. Cost: Free

BOTANICAL GARDEN’S EDUCATIONAL POP-UPS Feb. 4, 11:00am-2:00pm) – Fonds and Fiddleheads: A Fern Exploration. Feb. 25, 11:00am-2:00pm – Art with Leaves Botanical Garden; Educational stations will be set up the first Saturday of the month, and a hands-on botanically-inspired craft on the fourth Saturday. Each designed to educate and inspire. Cost: Free with regular admission; registration not required

BOTANICAL BLUES Botanical Center; Every Sunday for the month of February, escape the cold and enjoy a couple hours of rhythm and warmth. Concert line-up: February 5: Super Blues Sunday—Tina Haase-Findley and Brandon Findley February 12: Eastside Brothers February 19: “Blue 2” Bob Dorr and Jeff Petersen February 26: Brian Holtz and Grover Kirkman of the Brian Holtz Band Cost: Free with general admission

MASTERS BUSINESS HAPPY HOUR March 2, 4:30pm–6:30pm Location TBD; discover the many benefits of joining a chamber of commerce, and enjoy an evening of networking with other entrepreneurs while promoting your products and services to other businesses in Des Moines. Cost: Free

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TAX REFUND!Now is the time of year when everyone is eager to receive their W-2s so they can prepare their tax returns. Before you splurge with your tax refund, ask yourself this question: Is what I’m about to do with this tax money going to benefit me and put me in a better financial position? If the answer is no, I challenge you to rethink your plans for your tax refund. Let’s talk about ways that you can use your tax refund to benefit your financial situation.

Alleviate Debt: One way you can wisely use your tax refund is by paying down debt. Do you have a pile of credit cards and just can’t seem to get them paid off? Are you receiving those annoying calls from collection agencies? If so, then using your tax refund to pay off your debt is the best way to go.

By paying off your credit card balances and any collections you might have you not only reduce your debt (and the weight off your shoulders) but improve your credit score as well.

Invest: If you have a home mortgage or a car loan then another smart way to use your tax refund is to pay down these big-ticket items. Owning a home or a car, free and clear, should be everyone’s ultimate goal. What better way to do that than by using your tax refund money towards the balance (principal) of the loan.

If you are looking to purchase a home in the next year then I encourage you to use your tax refund money towards the down payment.

Save: A great way to use your tax refund would be to start a “rainy day” fund. Life’s mishaps happen to all of us

and what better way to handle them then by being prepared with some money saved up? You won't have to sweat it the next time your engine or brakes go out, because having a rainy day fund makes those

situations easier to deal with.

Plan Ahead: Has it been a dream of yours to have your child go to college? If so, consider using your tax refund to start a college savings account for your child so they won’t have to take out any student loans.

Call today and set up an appointment to sit down with a personal financial coach and discuss a personalized plan on the best way to use your tax refund.

—Canesha Funderburke, Personal Financial Coach, at the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families.

WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUR TAX REFUND?

ACHIEVING GREATER SUCCESS: TESTIMONIALS A risk worth taking: Leroy Johnson, a native of Columbus, Georgia for most of his life, is a proud father of two young men, ages 12 and 17. Four months ago, Johnson decided to make his way to Des Moines, Iowa, in search of greater opportunities for employment and higher wages.

Upon arriving in Des Moines, Johnson found himself homeless and was experiencing difficulty with finding permanent placement. That’s when he was referred to the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families.

Clair Rudison, Job Navigator at the Evelyn K. Davis Center, helped Johnson prepare a professional resume. Johnson also attended the Digital Literacy classes offered at the Center, where he received a lot

of assistance with online job searches from Talmadge Keown, Digital and Social Services Specialist.

The Center had managed to connect Johnson with temporary work, but he had yet to find something permanent. Finally, with the support and assistance from

several staff members, Johnson got the break he had so patiently been waiting for. He attended the monthly job fair at the Center and met with one of the employers participating in the event.

“Melody Riley, administrator at the Evelyn K. Davis Center was so helpful, and personally introduced me to Bea Cisler, Recruiting Specialist at Hy-Vee,” said Johnson.

He aced the interview and began his training the following week!

When asked about his experience with the Center, Johnson expressed his appreciation for working with such positive people who are genuinely concerned want to help.

“The overall experience was perfect,” he said.

JOHNSON EXPRESSED HIS APPRECIATION FOR WORKING WITH SUCH POSITIVE PEOPLE

WHO ARE GENUINELY CONCERNED WANT TO HELP.

Left to Right_ Dwight Jackson, Leroy Johnson, and Bea Cisler

SAVE THE DATE: MASTERS BUSINESS HAPPY HOURFinancial Capability Network and Empresari@s at the Des Moines East+South Chamber of Commerce would like to invite business owners to attend a networking event to learn more about the Masters Business Bootcamp.

On Thursday, March 2, discover the many benefits there are of joining a chamber of commerce, and enjoy an evening of networking with other entrepreneurs while promoting your products and services to other businesses in Des Moines.

Appetizers and refreshments will be provided during the event. Make sure to come prepared with your business card and elevator speech!

Location TBD. For more information and to register visit Evelyn K. Davis Center’s Facebook page or call 515-697-7700

MLK DAY YOUTH SUMMIT IN FEBRUARY?

EKD RECEIVES AWARD AT I’LL MAKE ME A WORLD IN IOWA

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Evelyn K. Davis Center is collaborating with Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS), YMCA, and other sponsors, to host a day of service, fun and learning for the kiddos.

Due to inclement weather, the original date for the MLK Day Youth Summit was postponed until a later date: Saturday, February 11. Even though this day of service was postponed I think we can all agree that Dr. King’s legacy was meant to be carried on throughout the remainder of the year. And what better way to render this than to hold this event in February, Black History Month.

Various workshops will be offered that will not only provide students with fun activities but also a lasting impression, applicable to many of life’s lessons.

The Youth Summit will still be held at Elim Fellowship Church, at 525 E. 9th Street, from 8:30am–2:00pm. Transportation will be provided for DMPS students, as well as a complimentary breakfast and lunch. Participants who register will receive a free t-shirt on the day of the event.

Approximately 30-40 volunteers are needed in order to make this event run as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

For more information, please visit Evelyn K. Davis Center’s Facebook page or call 515-697-7700.

On Saturday, January 28, the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families received an award at the 19th annual I’ll Make Me a World, Celebration Day at the Iowa Events Center.

I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa (IMMAWII), an annual enrichment celebration of African-American culture and arts, is a diverse collaboration of Iowans, highlighting contributions through education, awareness and preservation.

This year the Evelyn K. Davis Center was nominated as one of the three 2017 Heritage Legacy Honorees. Dr. Marvin DeJear, Director of the Evelyn K. Davis Center, gladly accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award for connecting the community to jobs and economic stability.

DR. KING’S LEGACY WAS MEANT TO BE CARRIED ON THROUGHOUT THE

REMAINDER OF THE YEAR.