Media Highlights

Iowa First to Proclaim a ‘Month of Opportunity’

by Des Moines Register   •  

Jason Clayworth, Reporter

Iowa on Thursday became the first state in the nation to proclaim a month in dedication of a national movement promoting economic mobility.

Gov. Terry Branstad, who signed a proclamation designating February as “Opportunity in Iowa” month, used it as an opportunity to further stress the need for strong education and promote job creation across the state.

“An economy that benefits everyone depends upon everyone working together to accomplish those important goals,” Branstad said to a group of about 35 Iowa civic and community leaders in his office.

The movement is known as Opportunity Nation. It’s a national coalition of non-profit organizations, social entrepreneurs and  business leaders coming together with a non-partisan agenda to enhance opportunity and economic mobility.

A few of the Opportunity Iowa sponsors include AARP, Character Counts in Iowa, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa, Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates and United Way. The partners will sponsor events and outreach activities as a way to focus on ways to improve people’s lives.

Rob Denson, president of Des Moines Area Community College, and Barry Griswell, CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and retired chairman, president and CEO of Principal Financial Group, serve on the Leadership Council of Opportunity Nation.

“Every once in a while an idea an idea, a concept, a movement captures your imagination. Captures your attention,” Griswell said.

More information can be found online at: OpportunityIowa.org

Read more at the Des Moines Register. 

 

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