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Monsoon February 2026 Direct Service and Community Outreach Report

Monsoon February 2026 Direct Service and Community Outreach Report

Posted by Ann Nguyen on March 9, 2026

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Monsoon United Asian Women of Iowa

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Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity is a community-based organization aimed at eliminating violence in the API community. #monsooniowa

Youth community members gathered for an interactiv

Youth community members gathered for an interactive dance workshop on Friday, January 31 at SEEDS Dance Studio in Des Moines. Dance instructor Victoria Rivera-Alvarez led the group through movement and creative exercises in a fun, supportive space. The workshop gave participants a chance to build confidence, strengthen their bodies, and express themselves through dance.

The event was hosted by Monsoon’s Violence Prevention Program (VPP) as part of its youth community offerings.

📷 Kate Bailly

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#MonsoonIowa #YouthViolencePreventionProgram #PreventionWork

Neighbors and friends gathered to practice qi gong

Neighbors and friends gathered to practice qi gong on Saturday, Feb. 7 at Franklin Library in Des Moines. Participants helped wake up their bodies by learning to balance their yin/yang energies through movement.

This is a part of Monsoons Community Wellness Offerings, a free monthly series open to all ages.

📷 Audri Lu-Uhlken

Monsoon is adding drop-off sites to collect nonper

Monsoon is adding drop-off sites to collect nonperishable food and hygiene items to support Monsoon’s Community Food Pantry, a community-led pantry providing culturally specific food and spices to families across Central Iowa.

We are proud to link arms with these API-owned businesses to partner in mutual aid, redistribution and collective care for our communities.

📍 Drop-off Locations:
@gooddaydsm
@kravegym_dsm
@creme_dsm
@5boroughbagels
@hotorimarket
@dsmflea
@readinginpublicbooks

Interested in supporting? Donate cultural nonperishable food or hygiene items to Monsoon’s Main Office or to one of the locations listed above.

For more information on supporting or accessing the pantry, contact Audri Lu-Uhlken at audri@monsooniowa.org or call Monsoon’s office at 515-288-0881.

🎨 Artwork and Flyer created by: Linzi Murray

Caring for our kūpuna means creating space for joy

Caring for our kūpuna means creating space for joy, learning, and connection 🧡
Join us at Kupuna Care Days—monthly gatherings honoring API elders and community care.

📆 Second Tuesday of the month
🕛 12–1:30 PM
📍 Franklin Avenue Library

Free and open to the public. Translation and transportation available upon request.

For more information, contact Violet Baccam at violet@monsooniowa.org

📣 Due to weather conditions, this event has been r

📣 Due to weather conditions, this event has been rescheduled 📣

The Beauty of Imperfection is a hands-on Energy Circle gathering that uses paper craft inspired by kintsugi to explore healing, resilience, and repair. Through creative activity and guided conversation, participants will reflect on gendered violence in Pacific Islander homes and consider pathways toward collective care and wellbeing. No prior crafting experience is needed, and all materials will be provided.

𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: Saturday, January 31, 2026
𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄: 11:30am - 1:30pm
𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: Maquoketa Public Library
(126 S 2nd Street, Maquoketa, IA)

For more information, contact Danya Albert at danya@monsooniowa.org

Join us for an open conversation exploring the rea

Join us for an open conversation exploring the realities of immigration and deportation in our communities. We’ll hear from those who’ve lived through these experiences and those advocating for change, reflecting on loss, resilience, and the vision for a more just future. Led by Rekha Basu, a long-time Iowa journalist, this dialogue is part of Shouts & Whispers with Rekha: A Series of Conversations with Rekha Basu.

𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: Thursday, January 29, 2026
𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: Grace Methodist Church
(3700 Cottage Grove Ave, Des Moines, IA)

For more information, email contact@monsooniowa.org.

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#MonsoonIowa #ShoutsandWhispers #CommunityConversation

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