Cultural Resources
IFAPA Trainings
IFAPA offers trainings on cultural connections. View the IFAPA Training Schedule to find upcoming dates and locations for these free training classes.
Transracial Parenting in Foster Care and Adoption: Strengthening Your Bicultural Family
IFAPA has created a publication for people parenting tranracially. This guidebook was created to help parents and children in transracial homes learn how to thrive in and celebrate their bicultural family; and for children to gain a strong sense of racial identity and cultural connections. VIEW BOOKLET
African American Resources
Juneteenth Celebrations - held every June
Juneteenth is an African American cultural event that commemorates and celebrates freedom from slavery. Juneteenth commemorates the historic events of June 19, 1865 when African slaves in Galveston, Texas learned, 2 1⁄2 years after the fact, that the Emancipation Proclamation had freed them. Juneteenth is observed locally and nationally as a day of reflection, empowerment, and preparation for future challenges.
I'll Make Me a World in Iowa Celebration - held in Des Moines every January
www.worldiniowa.com
African American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa (Cedar Rapids)
This museum offers exhibits on the history of Africans and African Americans in the United States, with an emphasis on Iowa. The museum has permanent and changing
exhibit and hold special events throughout the year. www.blackiowa.org
Iowa Commission on the Status of African Americans
www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/saa/index.html
Kulture Kidz
An interactive zone for kids to learn about African American culture.
www.aakulturezone.com/kidz/abc/index.html
Harambee Village
A program of the North American Council on Adoptable Children. Harambee Village provides services for African American children and their adoptive, foster and kinship families. www.harambeevillage.org
Association for the Study of African American Life & History
www.asalh.org
Footsteps: Celebrating African American History and Achievement
This online magazine celebrates the heritage of African Americans and explores their contributions to our culture. www.footstepsmagazine.com
National Black Child Development Institute
NBCDI’s website includes information on membership, public policy, resources, and a calendar of upcoming events. www.nbcdi.org/
Black Alliance for Educational Options
BAEO has members and local chapters nationwide working to increase quality educational options and to empower families to meet their children’s needs. www.baeo.org
Asian American Resources
Asian Heritage Festival - Des Moines
The annual Asian Heritage Festival is held in Des Moines. The festival features food, music, dance, games and traditions of many Asian cultures. There will be fashion shows and talent contests as well as crafts and historic demonstrations. www.celebrasian.org
National Korean American Service and Education Consortium
This national organization seeks to educate and empower Korean American communities nationwide. www.nakasec.org
Asian Nation
Asian-Nation provides an informational resource on the historical, political, social, economical and cultural elements and issues of today's diverse Asian American community. www.asian-nation.org
Latino Resources
Iowa's Latino Heritage Festival - held in Des Moines every September
www.latinoheritagefestival.org
Hola Center - Des Moines
www.holacenter.org
Hispanic Online Latino Links
This site includes information on culture, entertainment, politics, reference materials, and other Internet sites. www.hispaniconline.com
Latino Link
Entertainment news, foods, and other hot topics for the Latino community can be found on this site. www.latinolink.com
Native American Resources
National Indian Child Welfare Association
The public policy section of NICWEA’s website provides information on how specific child welfare laws impact Indian children. The site also provides links to other information on Native American culture. www.nicwa.org
Association of American Indian Affairs
AAIA promotes the welfare of American Indians and Alaska Natives by supporting efforts to sustain and perpetuate their cultures and languages; protect their constitutional, legal and human rights, and natural resources; and improve their health, education, and economic and community development. Scholarship opportunities are available on their website. www.indian-affairs.org
National Indian Education Association
NIEA supports traditional; Native cultures and values, promotes Native control of educational institutions, and strives to improves educational opportunities and resources for Native people in the United States. www.niea.org
NativeWeb
This site contains over three thousand links to various aspects of Native American culture and history. www.nativeweb.org
Multiracial Related Links
MAVIN Foundation
A national organization that builds healthy communities that celebrate & empower mixed heritage, people and families. Their project explore the experience of mixed heritage people, transracial adoptees, interracial relationships & multicultural families.
www.mavinfoundation.org
Cultural Competence Website
This site contains information, resources, and links to other sites, provided by the Center for Effective Collaboration and Practices. www.air.org/cecp/cultural
Rainbow Kids
An International Adoption on line magazine. Contains photolistings, relevant articles, and personal adoption stories. www.rainbowkids.com
Cultural Retail Websites (toys, books, hair products)
JamboKids
JamboKids celebrates cultural diversity and promotes positive character development in children ages 3-8 with a unique line of multicultural dolls, fun games, storybooks and downloadable resources for parents and educators. www.jambokids.com
Snapaholics
This website sells skin & hair care products. www.snapaholics.com
Curls Hair Care
Hair care products for multi-ethnic women and girls. www.curls.biz
Dolls Like Me
This website sells multicultural toys, dolls, books and hair care products. www.dollslikeme.com
Transracial / Transcultural Adoption
Identity Needs of Children Placed Cross-Racially/Culturally
Capabilities of Persons Who Parent Cross-Racially/Culturally
