• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home State Government

Local Rap Artist’s Non-Profit Receives Grant to Help At-Risk Youth Graduate

Starts Right Here, founded by local rap artist Will Keeps, received a $50,000 grant from Amerigroup to provide enhanced education support for at-risk youth.

Iowa TorchbyIowa Torch
July 28, 2021
in State Government
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Local Rap Artist’s Non-Profit Receives Grant to Help At-Risk Youth Graduate

William Holmes aka Will Keeps

ADVERTISEMENT

DES MOINES, Iowa – Starts Right Here, a non-profit organization founded by local rap artist William Holmes, aka Will Keeps, received a $50,000 grant from Amerigroup to provide enhanced education support to help at-risk youth obtain high school diplomas. 

RELATED POSTS

Reynolds announces a state budget surplus of $1.83 Billion

Pate, county auditors urge Iowans to seek trusted sources for election information

Reynolds, Governors demand ‘honest, accurate’ information about relocated illegal immigrants.

Amerigroup’s funding will educate, equip, and empower young people living in disadvantaged and oppressive circumstances with the opportunity to receive tutoring and mentoring, take advantage of school assemblies and on-site classroom curriculum and management. 

Starts Right Here works with at-risk students in grades K-12 in Des Moines, 70 percent of whom are minorities, to provide an effective educational alternative that improves outcomes for those enrolled. The organization uses fine arts, music, programming, and various other methods to break down barriers that the organization asserts are leaving students in central Iowa disenfranchised, forgotten, and rejected.

The funding was announced on Tuesday at Starts Right Here in Des Moines with Starts Right Here Founder, President, and CEO Will Keeps (Holmes), Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa Department of Human Services Director Kelly Garcia, State Medicaid Director Liz Matney, and Amerigroup Plan President Jeffrey Jones.

“I am thrilled with the partnership Starts Right Here has developed with Amerigroup Iowa,” Keeps (Holmes) said. “This is a company that truly cares about the welfare of at-risk youth in Iowa, and I am so grateful for their financial commitment to the mission of Starts Right Here. We will be able to reach greater heights during this upcoming school year thanks to this funding.”

“Will Keeps is changing lives through Starts Right Here, providing young Iowans with an opportunity to rise above challenging circumstances through hope, purpose, and determination,” Reynolds stated. “This grant from Amerigroup will magnify the incredible work his organization does on a daily basis. I am so pleased to see these two organizations come together as they work to serve Iowans.”

The Reynolds administration has prioritized creative solutions to help at-risk youth, including educational choice and encouraging community-based interventions, such as Starts Right Here. In May, Reynolds signed the charter school expansion bill at Starts Right Here.

“Starts Right Here takes an innovative and inspiring approach, creating a supportive environment for our local youth,” Garcia said. “I’m delighted to see Amerigroup Iowa has partnered with Starts Right Here. I deeply appreciate Amerigroup Iowa for this funding commitment that will assist Starts Right Here in empowering at-risk youth to reach their mental, emotional, physical, and economic potential.” 

ADVERTISEMENT

IA Health Link is Iowa’s Medicaid managed care program overseen by the Iowa Medicaid Enterprise at the Iowa Department of Human Services. The program serves more than 700,000 Iowans eligible for Medicaid services.

Amerigroup Iowa, the largest and longest-running private health plan in the IA Health Link program, partners with local organizations to serve at-risk youth across the state to empower them to reach their highest potential.

“Amerigroup Iowa is proud to partner with Starts Right Here to provide resources for at-risk youth that will lead to a productive and healthy lifestyle,” said Jones. “This funding will aid in the development of our local youth by enabling emotional and social support as they set out to achieve their goals and reach their highest, most productive self.” 

Keeps (Holmes) shows Gov. Kim Reynolds Starts Right Here’s recording studio.
Tags: AmerigroupIA Health LinkIowa Department of Human ServicesKelly GarciaKim ReynoldsLiz MatneyMedicaidStarts Right HereWill Keeps
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Vacancies on Iowa State Board of Health Present Policymaking Challenges

Next Post

Reynolds, Hinson Criticize CDC Guidance That Says Vaccinated Should Wear Masks

Iowa Torch

Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans.

Related Posts

Reynolds signs bill phasing in 3.9 percent flat tax
Opinion

Hendrickson: Reynolds wants more tax cuts

September 28, 2023
State Government

Reynolds announces a state budget surplus of $1.83 Billion

September 28, 2023
Reynolds, GOP Governors Press Biden on Border Crisis
State Government

Reynolds, Governors demand ‘honest, accurate’ information about relocated illegal immigrants.

September 20, 2023
Study: $1,702 Collected in Property Taxes Per Capita in Iowa
Local Government

New report says Iowa’s property taxes are 10th highest in U.S.

September 14, 2023
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa.
Opinion

Schmitt: Strong Women Leaders Work For Iowa. They Can Work For America Too.

September 13, 2023
State Government

Reynolds on new COVID restrictions: ‘Not on my watch’

August 30, 2023
Next Post
Reynolds, Hinson Criticize CDC Guidance That Says Vaccinated Should Wear Masks

Reynolds, Hinson Criticize CDC Guidance That Says Vaccinated Should Wear Masks

Iowa House Committee Passes Bill Eliminating Tenure at Regent Universities

Iowa Board of Regents Approves Tuition Increase at State Universities

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Constitutional amendment clarifying gubernatorial line of succession clears first hurdle

March 25, 2022

Iowa Legislature Approves Second Redistricting Map

October 29, 2021
Iowa’s Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.6 Percent in October

Iowa Workforce Development Report Suggests Economy Will Begin to Grow in 2022

August 28, 2021

Popular Stories

  • What If There Is a Tie Vote in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District?

    Pate, county auditors urge Iowans to seek trusted sources for election information

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • New ad features DeSantis plan for southern border

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Feenstra: 33 Trillion reasons to restore fiscal responsibility in Congress

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Hendrickson: Reynolds wants more tax cuts

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reynolds announces a state budget surplus of $1.83 Billion

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.