Joseph Jones, left, at Kathmandu Restaurant in Windsor Heights, which serves Nepali and Indian fare, one of his recommendations at our first-ever Inclusion virtual event last week.
Last week, we hosted our first dsm Inclusion: Discover Diverse Des Moines virtual event, asking community leaders where they go to experience diversity in Greater Des Moines. Here are a few fun and somewhat unexpected spots they told us about.
Give. Gifts With Intention: This female-owned business in West Des Moines, which started as a pop-up shop in a basement just a few years ago, sells all kinds of gifts, including jewelry, books, furniture and more. A percentage of its sales goes toward local charities. “It is one of my favorite shops,” said Marta Codina, region bank president with Wells Fargo and a panelist at the event. “For me, when I was growing up, gift giving was big in my family. Not big gifts, just meaningful gifts. That’s what I find when I go to Give.”
Harmony Park: If you’re itching to make some music, Harmony Park in Windsor Heights is the place to be. It features instruments that anyone can play. Panelist Joseph Jones, director at Drake University’s Harkin Institute and a City Council member in Windsor Heights, says the park is “an inclusive environment. We wanted our city to have something there where we could meet the developmental, emotional and social needs of children, regardless of physical ability.”
C Fresh Market: This grocery store is stocked with international foods and was named the “Best Independent Grocery Store in Iowa” by USA Today in 2019. There’s also a restaurant inside, if you want to try some of the fare for yourself. Panelist Lauren Patrick, a dentist with University Dental Group, said, “I love that they have amazing produce. … I love just going there and trying things I never have before.”
To see all the locations our panelists suggested, watch the full replay or clips from the event here.
