#theIOWAVE

Melissa Merrifield

Get ready to ride the wave of excitement at #theIOWAVE event - a fun-filled gathering celebrating the Iowa Nice and Kindness.

Des Moines' Downtown Farmers’ Market

Welcome to #theIOWAVE!Come join us at the Iowa State Fairgrounds for a day filled with music, food, and fun!We’re kicking things off on August 17th with a grassroots Kindness campaign We believe that if we start small, with simple gestures such as smiles, waves, and even eye contact, we can continue to build back our communities. Like many, I grew up in a small, tight-knit community – the kind where everyone would wave to everyone, even if they didn’t know them. Over time, I have increasingly sensed that the feeling of community I grew up with has seemed to disappear, even more so after the COVID pandemic. Research certainly seems to support that idea as many studies have shown increasing levels of loneliness and depression, as well as decreases in institutional trust, civic participation (attendance at local businesses and events, volunteerism, etc.), and in-person social interactionWe believe that if we start small, with simple gestures such as smiles, waves, and even eye contact, we can continue to build back our communities. Research shows that simple, small gestures can build recognition-based ties that reinforce neighborhood cohesion, trust, and overall community belonging. The resulting neighborhood cohesion (a measure of the degree of connectedness, reciprocity, and trust among neighbors) has been linked to a range of positive health behaviors and physical health outcomes, including lower risk of depression and cardiovascular disease, increased physical activity, and higher self-rated health. This individual health and happiness also leads towards a stronger collective health that boosts local economies.On that day, we’ll gather a group of supporters to wear matching #theiowave shirts (design attached) and spend an hour or two walking the fairgrounds, smiling and waving at fairgoers and iconic attractions. We'll be accompanied by videographers and photographers to capture authentic moments of connection. These visuals will form the foundation of our first social media campaign and awareness video.

Agenda

Meet at Tonic and Pick up Shirts 

Spread Kindness across the Downtown Farmers Market 

Social Hour & Networking  at Tonic 

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

#theIOWAVE

More events from Melissa Merrifield

Discover more events from Melissa Merrifield, from Community to other experiences you might love.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Des Moines and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.

#theIOWAVE

More events from Melissa Merrifield

Discover more events from Melissa Merrifield, from Community to other experiences you might love.

You might also like...

Browse more events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Des Moines and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.