Featuring Appearances by

Will Keeps

Will Keeps is a rapper and former gang member. After being beaten almost to death at age 15, Will moved to Des Moines where he began performing and mentoring youth. In a world where violence and hate are far too common, Will believes it takes an entire community to make positive change.

Jen Carruthers

Jen Carruthers, founder of Drag King DSM, is a hustler who enjoys anything that makes Des Moines cooler and more inclusive. Originally from Illinois, Jen has been in Des Moines for 16 years and considers herself an unpaid advocate for the city she's grown to love!

Li Zhao

Li Zhao lived in China for 25 years before moving to Holland, the U.K. and the U.S. With decades of international trade experience, Li is a top China expert in Iowa. She has received the Passport to Prosperity Award, the Governorâ€™s Volunteer Award and was named to The Business Recordâ€™s Forty Under 40 list.

Brad Biren

Brad Biren is a senior associate at the Johnston Martineau law firm. Heâ€™s a New York City transplant from a family of Holocaust survivors and a proud Hawkeye. He lives and works in Des Moines with his Iowa-born husband, two dogs and a very fat monitor lizard.

Clemen Wilcox

Clemen Wilcox is the founder of Clemen Wilcox and Associates and Everything-Spanish. An entrepreneur, Clemen hopes to be a link between the Anglo and Hispanic cultures in Iowa. She is an active volunteer and board member of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens and the Latino Center of Iowa.