Celebrate Women's Achievements at Events Throughout March

Women’s History Month events are taking place across Greater Des Moines (DSM) to showcase the contributions and achievements of women.

Greater Des Moines Chamber Events for Women’s History Month

Waukee Wake-Up

Meet Mayor Courtney Clarke and help Waukee YP celebrate Waukee’s first female mayor. The Wake-Up Waukee event will take place on Wednesday, March 6 at Waukee City Hall where you can enjoy coffee and networking from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.

2024 Mentoring for Women

The West Des Moines and Clive Chambers of Commerce are holding the 2024 Mentoring for Women Summit presented by Wellabe and featuring 100 mentors on Friday, March 8 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., with networking, mentor sessions and a cocktail reception. Register by Tuesday, March 5 for the event taking place at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Altoona. The cost for members is $65 and $75 for nonmembers.

Breaking Barriers – A Celebration of Women in Business Luncheon

FuseDSM will hold the Breaking Barriers – A Celebration of Women in Business Luncheon to showcase women’s achievements across industries on Thursday, March 28 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino. The cost to attend is $35 for members and $40 for nonmembers.

Other Greater Des Moines Chamber Events Throughout the Year

Connecting for Women

Join the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, April 4 from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.at the Grinnell Mutual Conference Center for Connecting for Women, an event designed to bring women together for networking, coaching and mentoring. The event will continue Thursday, April 18 at a location still to be determined.

I Am Uniquely HER!

The Grimes, Johnston and Waukee Chambers of Commerce will host the I Am Uniquely Her event at Simpson Barn in Johnston on Thursday, April 4 from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., with a 3 – 4 p.m. social hour. This event will include lunch, speakers, a self-defense course and, for a small $15 fee on top of registration, headshots for those interested. The cost for members to attend is $35 and $45 for nonmembers. Register now so you don’t miss out on appearances from Iowa Secretary of State Paul D. Pate, Jackie Schmillen and more.

Women’s Empowerment Breakfast

Join the Urbandale Chamber for a Women Empowerment Breakfast Presented by Buttercream Cookie Dreams at West 48 in West Des Moines on Wednesday, April 17 from 8 a.m. until Noon. The event will include networking, breakfast and more. The cost to members is $35 and is $50 for nonmembers.

Mentoring for Women

In Ankeny, John Deere sponsors the Mentoring for Women event on Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. This event will take place at The District Venue in Ankeny.

Other Women’s History Events in Greater Des Moines This Month

Des Moines Public Library Programming

Children are invited to the Central Library Children’s Area to learn about women making history Friday, March 1 through Saturday, March 9 during I Spy: Women Making History. At the Forest Avenue Library, children can take part in the Super Heroines Scavenger Hunt Tuesday, March 12 through Saturday, March 16. Finally, the South Side Library will hold a Women’s History Month Scavenger Hunt from Monday, March 18 through Saturday, March 30.

National Women in Construction Week Events

National Women in Construction (NAWIC) Week in DSM takes place Sunday, March 3 through Saturday, March 9. NAWIC Week includes coffee and conversations, a community volunteer event, jobsite tour and more.

Carrie Chapman Catt: Warrior for Women Program

Head to the State Historical Museum of Iowa for a showing of “Carrie Chapman Catt: Warrior for Women”, a documentary on Iowa suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt. The event will take place on Saturday, March 16 from 1 – 2:30 p.m.

Women in the Woods with Wine

Register for this 21+ event where you can get outside with other women and learn about the natural world. Women in the Woods with Wine will explore the Wolves and Wild Lands exhibit at the nature center and include a virtual program with Education Specialist Jules Wilkinson. The event will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 at Jester Park Nature Center in Granger, and the cost is $15.

Women’s History Month Celebration with the Iowa Wolves

Join the Iowa Wolves and Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa (GSGI) on Friday, March 29 at 7 p.m. to celebrate Women’s History Month at Wells Fargo Arena. Tickets are just $10 and proceeds from public ticket sales go to GSGI.

YWRC Empower Gala

The Young Women’s Resource Center (YWRC) will hold the YWRC Empower Gala on Saturday, April 13 at the Hilton Des Moines Downtown, with proceeds going to support local girls and young women.

Resources for Women in DSM

There are many organizations for women and girls in DSM that support arts, education, volunteerism and more. For women interested in supporting the arts and education in Des Moines, the Des Moines Women’s Club holds both Art Exhibition Days and Club Days throughout the month. Interested in helping build a better DSM? Junior League of Des Moines will help you meet other women interested in volunteering and improving the DSM community. If you’re a female business owner in the region, consider membership with the National Association of Women Business Owners in Iowa, or NAWBO Iowa. In March, NAWBO Iowa events will hold two events, including “Coffee & Conversation” on Friday, March 8 and “NAWBO Iowa Women, Wine & Wisdom” on Thursday, March 28. And for those interested in sparking innovation and creativity in the next generation of female STEM professionals, check out the Girls in Science events through Science Center of Iowa, including the Girls in Science Festival, Meals with Mentors meetups and SciGirls Camps throughout the summer.'

You can find a full listing of organizations for women and girls in Iowa here.

Greater Des Moines (DSM) welcomes diverse talent to the region. As one of the fastest growing business communities, inclusion and attracting diverse talent in the workplace is a key strategy of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Learn more here.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership calendar of events is a one-stop resource for activities taking place throughout the region. Find networking information for Greater Des Moines (DSM) businesses or events specific to Downtown DSM.