Organizations You Can Support to Help Improve Equity and Justice in the Iowa City Area

By
Katie
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Iowa City and its surrounding communities are home to several nonprofits and organizations working to provide services that improve equity and justice. These include — but are not limited to — providing resources, housing assistance, and other essential services.

For people looking to make a difference right here in the Iowa City area — consider making a financial donation or volunteering your time to one of these organizations. Also, please leave the name of an organization you’d like to see added to this list in the comments.

Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa

The Center for Worker Justice unites low-wage workers in Eastern Iowa across race and immigration status to achieve social and economic justice through education, direct service, and community alliances. This organization works to improve workplace conditions, civil rights, access to education, and the need for affordable housing.

CommUnity

CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank, formerly The Crisis Center of Johnson County, is a volunteer-driven organization that provides immediate and non-judgmental support for individuals facing emotional, food, or financial crisis.

HACAP

The Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP), Inc., serves six counties including Johnson County. HACAP provides a variety of anti-poverty programs and collaborates with community partners. Services include a food reservoir, healthcare resources, utility assistance, and more.

HAVlife Johnson County

HAVlife works to prevent Lost Potential™ in area youth by providing financial support to Johnson County based organizations that offer arts, music, and athletics programming to kids ages 10 to 15 years old.

The Housing Fellowship

The Housing Fellowship is the only private, non-profit organization that provides permanent affordable rental housing in Johnson County.

Humanize my Hoodie

Co-founded by Andre Wright, a fashion designer and graphic artist based in Iowa City, this organization works to empower Black people to stand up against racial injustice. The organization uses the Humanize My Hoodie sweatshirt, as well as educational tools, to arm marginalized communities with innovative ways to uplift humanity.

IC Compassion

IC Compassion equips people at their point of need to move out of poverty and inspires them to be of service to others. Resources include immigration services, food assistance, refugee counseling, and more.

Iowa City Free Medical and Dental Clinic

The Iowa City Free Medical and Dental Clinic (FMC) believes affordable health care is a basic human necessity and strives to provide the widest range of medical and dental services possible to people in the Iowa City and surrounding communities who would not otherwise have access to care.

Iowa Legal Aid

Iowa Legal Aid is a nonprofit organization providing critical legal assistance to low-income and vulnerable Iowans who have nowhere else to turn.

Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity

Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity works to provide affordable housing solutions in Johnson County — among several other eastern Iowa communities.

Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County

Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County is a community based, family-centered human services agency offering programs for children and families in area schools and neighborhoods including Broadway, Pheasant Ridge, and Breckenridge, in Iowa City.

Shelter House

Since 1983, Shelter House has provided safe shelter and helped people improve the quality of their lives as they move beyond homelessness.

United Action for Youth

United Action for Youth (UAY) is a nonprofit organization which has been supporting young people and families in Johnson County and surrounding areas since 1970 through prevention and intervention programming.

These are just a few of many organizations working to better Iowa City and its surrounding communities. What organizations did we miss?

Katie
Katie
Katie is a spouse, mother, and professional communicator. She became acquainted with Iowa City as a student at the University of Iowa, earning degrees in Journalism, Political Science, and most recently her MA in Strategic Communication. Katie and her husband met and fell in love in Iowa City, deciding to never leave. Their family can often be found eating their way through downtown, walking their dog in City Park, or cheering on their beloved Hawkeyes at live sporting events.

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