They Say It Takes a Village — That’s Why We Started MAEVE Des Moines
We all know how hard it can be to make friends as an adult, especially when you have kids. Let’s face it: parenthood can be isolating and overwhelming at times — even more so if you just had a baby or are new to the area.
While Des Moines has its fair share of online “mom groups,” a group of six moms in the metro realized there was a large gap when it came to in-person support and social events for all families — not just moms. In December 2022, that group got together via Facebook Messenger with a single goal in mind: create a “village” for all who parent in the area.
That’s how MAEVE Des Moines was born.
Filling a crucial gap
MAEVE Des Moines is the first Iowa chapter of MAEVE, a non-profit organization with more than 35 chapters across the U.S. that seeks to empower all who mother in support of one another and their communities. MAEVE stands for Motherhood, Alliance, Equity, Village, and Empowerment.
Our official chapter boundaries include Des Moines city limits (50311, 50321, 50312, 50310, 50309, part of 50313, 50316, 50317, 50320, 50315), Valley Junction (50265), and part of Pleasant Hill (50327), but anyone with ties to Des Moines and the surrounding communities through work, school, childcare, or anything else is free to join our chapter.
How we support local parents
We have a variety of events and programming available for members, including meet-ups, holiday parties, field trips, age-based playgroups, moms’ and parents’ night out, community service opportunities and events, educational workshops, and more. Many of our events are open to the public, and potential members are welcome to attend up to two events before officially joining.
What makes us different
Some parenting groups are only for moms of young kids or moms who stay at home. MAEVE Des Moines is dedicated to creating a supportive environment for parents from all walks of life — single parents, working parents, stay-at-home parents, foster parents, grandparents, and LGBTQIA+ parents.
Inclusivity
We welcome anyone who participates in the act of “mothering” or caretaking regardless of familial role, gender identity, or sexual orientation. We believe that every journey in motherhood is unique and valuable and are dedicated to supporting all parents in the area no matter where they are in their journey.
Equity
We also don’t require membership dues, and instead, use a unique approach called equity pricing for member contributions and donations. One of our core values is equity, and we firmly believe that finances should never prevent parents from receiving support and connecting with other parents in their community.
Equity pricing on a sliding scale of $0-100+ increases accessibility and removes the burden for those who might be experiencing financial hardship. When everyone contributes according to their own available resources, it ensures accessibility for all and helps our chapter provide the maximum benefit to our members and the community we serve. This system does involve compassion and an understanding that those who choose to give more will be offsetting those that may not be able to donate.
Ready to get involved?
We started MAEVE Des Moines to help our city be a kinder, more welcoming place for families of every type and variety. We hope you see the value in this new kind of parenting organization and look forward to meeting you at an event soon!
You can join our chapter in just a few minutes by going to our website:
- Click on “Join”
- Fill out your membership details on wearemaeve.org (this is also a liability waiver for events)
- Submit an annual membership contribution if you’re able (via Venmo or PayPal)
- Watch your inbox for an email welcoming you to MAEVE!
Interested in leading your own MAEVE chapter?
Our mission is to support other parents who want to take a leadership role in their community by forming a chapter for their neighborhood or suburb. The MAEVE model works best with “hyperlocal” membership, with each chapter covering an area of around 40,000 residents. If you’re interested in forming a chapter for the west side of Des Moines, Waukee/Grimes/Johnston, Saylorville/Ankeny/Polk City, or Norwalk, send us an email!
To learn more about MAEVE Des Moines, check out our website. You can also follow us on Facebook or on Instagram.
