Wayne Ford represented part of Des Moines in the Iowa House and is the founder of the nonprofit organization Urban Dreams.
Opening scene
During Urban Dreams’ 40th Anniversary Celebration on July 30, 2025, the organization unveiled a commemorative plaque in my honor in the Urban Dreams Community Courtyard on 6th Avenue — the same neighborhood where my journey in Des Moines truly began. This event brought together former and current staff, clients who have benefited from Urban Dreams’ programs, directors past and present, community leaders, elected officials, and other friends from across Iowa.
It was more than just a celebration of my past work; it was a public reaffirmation of my recommitment to Des Moines, the state of Iowa, and the causes that have defined my life.
Humble beginnings in Washington, D.C.
I am originally from Washington, D.C., and a proud graduate of Ballou High School. Growing up in the nation’s capital during turbulent times shaped my understanding of resilience, injustice, and community survival. Those experiences would later fuel my passion for urban revitalization and inclusion.
First steps in Des Moines
When I came to Des Moines, my very first job was as Youth Program Coordinator for Greater Opportunities, Inc. This position gave me direct contact with the “hood”—the type of people I grew up with in Washington. It was here that I began building my street credibility, understanding firsthand the needs and struggles of the community I was called to serve.
Shortly after, I became coordinator for the Model City Recreational Center around 1982. These roles laid the foundation for the work that would define my career.
Founding Urban Dreams
I founded Urban Dreams on June 19, 1985 at the corner of 6th Avenue and Forest Avenue, then recognized as one of the most dangerous corners in Iowa, plagued by prostitution and drug trafficking. Many thought the area was beyond saving—but I saw potential.
From the start, Urban Dreams stood for second chances. I was one of the first leaders in Des Moines and in Iowa to openly hire ex-offenders, making it clear to the community: if I was going to help turn this community around, I would need all types of people—including those who had been to prison and come out determined to make a difference.
By the grace of God, I myself had avoided being caught or killed when, as a youth, I ran with friends robbing buses. Two of them—part of my own gang—ended up incarcerated. I vowed that if I was given the chance to live a better life, I would never forget where I came from.
Urban Dreams’ statewide footprint and growth
At our height, Urban Dreams operated four offices across Iowa and one in Jefferson City, Missouri. We had a staff of 51 people and an annual budget of over $2 million.
Urban Dreams became one of the major anchors in the largest turnaround of a once-blighted neighborhood in Iowa’s history. Today, the 6th Avenue corridor has seen over $1 billion in redevelopment and counting. Even Des Moines’ old City Hall—once located on 6th Avenue—is being renovated into a restaurant and apartment complex.
At one time, Urban Dreams was one of the largest landholders on 6th Avenue, bequeathed a sizable amount of property that we sold to the neighborhood association, which later sold it to an investment group that developed a multi-million-dollar project for small Brown and Black businesses.
A model for nonprofit succession
When I stepped down as Executive Director, John Forsyth, then CEO of Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, worked with me to design a succession plan that ensured Urban Dreams would not lose momentum.
Today, Izaah Knox, who later became a state senator, carries the torch. Urban Dreams is now housed in a multi-million-dollar building in the same neighborhood, setting a high standard for nonprofits in Des Moines and across Iowa. The succession plan we created could serve as a national model for how nonprofits can transition leadership without losing their mission or impact.
Wayne Ford with Izaah Knox
National and legislative impact
Beyond Des Moines, I served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1996 to 2010, authoring the landmark Racial Impact Statement legislation that has influenced more than 40 states. (Editor’s note from Laura Belin: Marty Ryan wrote a good post about efforts to pass that landmark bill, authored by Wayne Ford and enacted by a Democratic trifecta in 2008.)
I also co-founded the Emmy Award-winning Brown & Black Forums of America, the nation’s oldest presidential forum focused on issues affecting people of color. The Brown & Black Forums stand as a testament to Iowa’s unique role in shaping presidential politics while amplifying diverse voices.
Family legacy
My son Ryan Ford is a Internationally known and recognized multicultural businessman, entertainment and sports consultant. He is a proud graduate of Roosevelt High School and a member of Roosevelt’s Hall of Fame.
Ryan Ford with the plaque recognizing his father’s work
I am equally proud of my two grandchildren, Faven and Styles. Just as I passed my values, vision, and commitment to Ryan, I know he will pass them on to his children. They will carry forward both his legacy and mine.
Recommitment and closing reflection
As I stand at this point in my life, I feel reborn in my mission. I am prayerfully considering whether my next chapter will be a return to politics, an expansion of my nonprofit leadership, or scaling my LLC consulting work to help other cities achieve what we have in Des Moines.
Whatever path I take, my focus remains on equity, economic development, and building lasting institutions that serve the public good.
I thank Almighty God for the blessings, vision, and favor He has bestowed upon me—and I know that my best is still yet to come!.. Hallelujah.
All photos provided by Wayne Ford and published with permission.