Creative Futures

Photo: Jami Milne

Writer: Kendra Esau

On any given afternoon, children in SEEDS might be learning ballet, building a custom bike, sketching out a business plan or testing out any number of other creative skills. Founded in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Des Moines nonprofit expands access to arts and enrichment opportunities for Black and brown youth.

Co-founder Dontreale Anderson traces the idea for SEEDS back to 2016, when he was working in after-school programs and noticed a shift in the questions students were asking.

“They were curious about things like, ‘What does it take to buy a home?’ ‘What does it take to own a business?’ And these were sixth- and seventh-graders,” Anderson said.

The questions stuck with him and became the foundation for what SEEDS would grow into, an organization built around the same young people who inspired it. Its mission is simple: Be there for the kids.

That mission exists in a landscape shaped by inequity. Research shows the median revenue of nonprofits led primarily by white leaders is 54% higher than that of BIPOC-led organizations, limiting access to resources for the communities they serve.

Des Moines has a thriving arts scene, but barriers to access and a lack of representation keep many Black and brown youth on the margins. SEEDS aims to close that gap through “culturally affirming programming in dance, visual arts, storytelling and entrepreneurship.”

Rooted in partnership

Many SEEDS programs are powered by partnerships, including collaborations with Ballet Des Moines and the Oakridge Neighborhood. Together, the organizations provide ballet classes, performance tickets and opportunities for students to participate in Ballet Des Moines’ annual “Nutcracker,” all at no cost to families.

Anderson credits Ballet Des Moines’ instructors and outreach team with creating a lasting impact and “genuinely investing in the futures of the dancers they serve.”

“This partnership has expanded opportunities for our participants and connected them with professional dancers who have become trusted mentors,” Anderson said. “It reflects the heart of SEEDS’ mission: to help youth thrive through the arts.”

While ballet is one of SEEDS’ most visible offerings, the organization also emphasizes hands-on skills building beyond the studio.

Through its Bike Club and Custom Bike Workshop, students ages 13 to 18 learn mechanical and entrepreneurial skills by designing and building their own bikes. Following last year’s lowrider bike workshop, which explored both the cultural history and craftsmanship behind the style, SEEDS plans to launch a BMX-focused program later this year. The workshop will feature local BMX legend Kittie Weston-Knauer, 77, the oldest female BMX racer in the country.

Looking ahead, Anderson hopes others in the community will step up to help SEEDS and other youth-focused organizations around town.

“To sustain and grow these programs, we will need strong community support, not only for SEEDS but for local programs across the Des Moines metro, such as the B.Well Foundation, Hip Hope Inc., Oakridge Neighborhood after-school program and the Willkie House,” he said. “At a time when significant resources have been pulled from the nonprofit sector and the future of funding for youth-centered work remains uncertain, organizations like ours continue to serve as a vital bridge between academics and real-world life skills for young people.”

Photo: Rajaa B.

Contributor Kendra Esau is a copywriter in Des Moines. When she’s not writing you can usually find her thrifting or checking out new businesses around the city.