VIOLENCE FREE IOWA
NEWS AND EVENTS

2026 Dia de Los Muertos Community Celebration

SAVE THE DATE!

The 2026 Dia de Los Muertos Community Celebration is set for Saturday, October 31, 2026 - Halloween!

We are very excited to partner with the Capitol Park Neighborhood Association and several community organizations for a day filled with culture, rememberance, art, music, food, and community connection.

Saturday, October 31, 2026
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Carver Elementary School, 705 E. University, Des Moines

More details, performances, activities, and vendor information coming soon!

LEARN MORE and SIGN UP HERE TO VOLUNTEER

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Each October, people across Iowa and the nation come together to recognize and support those impacted by intimate partner violence during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM).

Your support — whether as an advocate, ally, or community member — matters deeply. Together, we can shine a light on the realities of domestic violence and take action to ensure safe, thriving futures for all. Because, #Every1KnowsSome1 affected by domestic violence.

LEARN MORE

#PurpleThursday

#PurpleThursday is October 15, 2026!

Also known as #WearPurpleDay, this is a day to stand together, honor survivors, and show our commitment to ending domestic violence.

Here’s how you can participate:

Wear Purple
Raise Awareness
Share on Social Media – Post your purple look with #PurpleThursday and #DVAM2026
Get Involved – Invite friends, family, and colleagues to join in

By wearing purple this Thursday, we remind survivors they are seen, supported, and not alone.

Applications open Oct. 1 for the Alice Barton Scholarship Program!

Applications will be accepted Oct. 1 through Dec. 1, 2026!

The Alice Barton Scholarship Program helps empower survivors through education and job training. Survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other violent crimes can apply for annual scholarships of $2,000. The funds may be used to pay for tuition, books, and fees for classes, and a portion may be used to pay other expenses which support the survivor’s education and job training efforts, such as child care or transportation.

LEARN MORE

Meet Violence Free Iowa: The Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence

For more than four decades, the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) and the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault (IowaCASA) provided statewide leadership to a shared network of victim service provider organizations through trauma-informed training, coordination, and policy change. This work strengthened sexual and domestic violence victim services across the state and unified individual organizations, cross-sector partners, and policymakers in addressing the needs of survivors.

Earlier this year, their boards and leadership announced a collaborative decision to centralize coalition responsibilities at ICADV, including training and education, technical assistance, and policy advocacy representing victim service provider organizations across Iowa.

Now, that work moves forward under a new name – Violence Free Iowa: The Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.