Revealing untold stories

The stories we tell are what we remember.

They shape our understanding of our community and our world.

They become our history. 

But only a few stories are told. 

Many Iowans don’t know about the role the Hmong people played in supporting the U.S. during the Vietnam War and that Iowa was the first state to offer resettlement to refugees from Southeast Asia. We don’t talk about how immigration has enabled our agricultural economy to thrive. We hear statistics about the challenges people of color experience, but we don’t listen to stories about falling in love or the significant contributions they have made to Iowa’s communities. 

We need a different way to collect and remember our history. 

Every year since 2015, ArtForce Iowa has created a month-long celebration of social justice in art. #KNOWJUSTICE aims to elevate the voices of young people who have survived horrific injustices and childhood trauma. In 2021, ArtForce Iowa launched The Legacy Collection project to gather, preserve and share a collective history of Iowa through Iowans’ stories. These stories will be captured in a variety of forms, such as recorded interviews, essays, songs, animations, art, or journals. The stories will then be shared in these ways: 

  • A website that is free to the public and easy to explore through keywords and categories

  • Books that capture a collection of stories under a theme

  • Lesson plans for K-12 classes

  • Discussion guides for groups to use

The Legacy Collection is about archiving and elevating the many voices that make up our state so we can expand and reshape dominant narratives that perpetuate harm and oppression. We want to support our educators in using these stories as they talk about our history and our culture with the next generation. These are stories that are shaped by our community and belong to our community. By knowing our history, we can learn from our past, celebrate our heritage, and work together for a brighter future for all Iowans. 

Our Contributors

Christine Her

she/her // Copywriter + Editor

Christine Her is the daughter of Hmong refugee parents from Laos. She graduated from East High School and pursued her B.A. at Drake University studying Creative Writing, Philosophy and Political Science. She is a Mid-Iowa Health fellow and a part of the Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA) Equity Diversity Inclusivity (EDI) Community Task Force and a serving board member. She is also a member of the Iowa ACES 360 Steering Committee, Drake University’s Community Engagement Advisory Council, the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines’ Nonprofit Leadership Cohort Advisory Committee and the Business Record newsroom’s Racial Equity Advisory Board. She is a cultural architect who is highly motivated to interrupt social and systemic injustices with hope and art while helping others rise in their own power and lean into their purpose.

Emma Parker

she/her // Designer

Emma is a visual artist with a talent for envisioning collaborative projects. She graduated from Iowa State University with a BFA in Studio Art with an emphasis in printmaking. She is a firm believer in the power of the arts and self expression, and that all young people should have the opportunity to create. Through the act of creating people are able to reflect and better understand who they are. Emma values growth, because it is through growing that we continue to learn who we are and our role in this world.

Claudia Kyalangalilwa

she/her // Writer

After immigrating to Des Moines at a young age from Kenya, Claudia began school at Riverwoods Elementary School and then was a student at Weeks Middle School. An East High School graduate, Claudia attended the University of Iowa and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies as well as a Human Rights certificate.

Claudia strives to serve as an advocate for young people in the Heroes Program, building collaborations within the community as well as serving youth directly. Claudia believes it to be important to uplift healing spaces and aspires to continue on a path that disrupts systemic inequities preventing us from envisioning as well as enacting our fullest potentials.

Tyler Gates

he/him // Filmmaker

Tyler is a filmmaker with a passion for justice. Born in Cedar Rapids and educated at the University of Iowa, Tyler gravitates towards film, writing and animation. The son of a Filipino immigrant, Tyler respects the work it takes to learn about a culture that is one generation removed. Tyler wants to create media that engages and inspires people to envision a better world.

Kamaura Kim

she/her // Photographer

Kamaura is a photographer and fiber artist who previously served 3 AmeriCorps terms with ArtForce Iowa. Born and raised in Des Moines, Kamaura spent a lot of time within the Hmong and Cambodian communities doing traditional Khmer /Kuh-My/ dancing, and performing with her local church's worship team. She hopes to use her passions of adventure and photography to highlight refugee/immigrant, and youth stories in her community. Authenticity is her #1 value, as she believes it's important to come as you are and not morph into society's standards.

Keezeng Lee

he/him // Designer

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Keezeng is a second generation Hmong-American and a former ELL (English Language Learners) student. He has previously served his community in Minnesota and has continued to do so in Iowa. After joining RISE AmeriCorps and serving with his host site, ArtForce Iowa, his passion for the arts was reinvigorated. He continues to practice traditional art and aims to grow in the graphic design field. With his #1 value being beauty, he wants to share the beauty of his community with the world. Keezeng continues to create art and believes he can always improve to bring out the beauty in his art.