12 Jan 2018

I'll Make Me a World in Iowa - Join Us for Our 20th Anniversary Jan 20, 26, & 27

By Iowa's African American Festival
Des Moines... Lorenz Tate, Carl Thomas and Kurtis Blow headline the 20th Annual I'll Make Me a World in Iowa on January 20, 26 & 27. Iowa's African American Festival delivers three powerful cultural events to heat up your January: The Embracing Excellence Gala, Education Day and Celebration Day.  All events take place at the Iowa Event Center.  Free Admission.  
This year the festival--with Iowa State University as the presenting sponsor--is celebrating 20 years of highlighting African American Art's Culture and Contributions.  Attendees will experience an all-star line-up of headliners, as well as a host of Iowa's most talented jazz, gospel, classic, blues, R&B, dramatic, and poetic performers. 
After 20 years of success, I'll Make Me a World in Iowa continues to blaze full speed ahead. Iowa's African American Festival presents three very powerful cultural events: the 
Embracing Excellence Gala will be held the evening of Saturday, January 20, 2018.  Dinner, dancing and entertainment by one of the pioneers of hip hop-Kurtis Blow-will be the order of the black tie evening.  
Education Day brings together some of the best and brightest students from Iowa's middle and high schools to show their knowledge of black history.    
The festival's crowning event, Celebration Day, hits the scene on Saturday January 27, 2018 in downtown Des Moines, Iowa.  Performance headliners Larenz Tate and Carl Thomas will woo the crowds; exhibitors will display their wares; Iowa artists will show just what the Hawkeye State has in great talent; videos and exhibitions on culture will engage and inform.
This award winning celebration has truly become a diversity anchor for the state. Admission to both Celebration and Education Days
 is free Tickets to the Embracing Excellence Gala, which serves as fundraiser for the festival, are $75.  Everyone is welcome because African American history is every American's history.  
Past IMMAWII headliners include Boris Kodjoe, Morris Chestnut, Shemar Moore, Kenny Lattimore, Blair Underwood, Vivica Fox, Montell Jordan, Howard Hewett, Malcolm-Jamaal Warner, Hill Harper, Victoria Rowell, Lynn Whitfield, Bev Smith, GregAlan Williams, Giancarlo Esposito and Ruben Studdard.
Local Events

Author

anon

Rick Martin

Support the River Cities' Reader

Get 12 Reader issues mailed monthly for $48/year.

Old School Subscription for Your Support

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Old School Subscribe now.



Help Keep the Reader Alive and Free Since '93!

 

"We're the River Cities' Reader, and we've kept the Quad Cities' only independently owned newspaper alive and free since 1993.

So please help the Reader keep going with your one-time, monthly, or annual support. With your financial support the Reader can continue providing uncensored, non-scripted, and independent journalism alongside the Quad Cities' area's most comprehensive cultural coverage." - Todd McGreevy, Publisher

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Amy Alkon Advice Goddess, Real Astrology, Red Meat cartoon and RCR Crossword every week?) 

* indicates required

View previous campaigns.

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.

 
 

Meetings Calendar

Kids Calendar

Eat & Drink Calendar