Multicultural Development Center of Iowa
Multicultural Development Center of Iowa (MDC Iowa) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to serve communities in Iowa by providing equitable access to training, tools, mentors, inclusive economic development, and financial support.
MDC Iowa's vision is to see a world where every individual has the support to visualize their future and has the tools and support to pursue that goal regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or gender.
There are currently four main initiatives to serve local communities in Iowa which include:
- STEM Factory: a Common Core Standards-based training program for students ages 9 to 99 interested in gaining real-world, hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills. The purpose of the program is to improve diversity in STEM through focused outreach, project-based learning, economic support, democratized mentoring, and to help create degree and career pathways for minoritized people that are historically underrepresented in STEM.
- INCubate: a BIPOC Business Accelerator and Entrepreneur Incubator program that provides intensive training designed to accelerate the growth and development of new and existing minority-owned businesses in Iowa.
- MDCI Connect: a mentoring program providing high school students and young adults with a mentor that provides coaching, motivation, advice, and support in a structured platform designed to meet the individual needs of the mentee.
- the_collective: a cybersecurity boot camp training program designed to build interest in young students and adult learners from communities of color and low-socioeconomic households.