Blake Clyde

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Blake Clyde Des Moines Neighbor, arts administrator, and Civil & Human Rights Commissioner. Working for a fair and welcoming city where we all have a say.

Sharing life in DSM and the things worth showing up for.

A Saturday well spent around Des Moines!Started my morning at Des Moines Public Library checking out the Community Suppo...
10/10/2026

A Saturday well spent around Des Moines!

Started my morning at Des Moines Public Library checking out the Community Support Advocates annual art exhibition, featuring the incredible work of local artists with disabilities and mental health conditions. There are some seriously talented folks in our community, and these are just a few of my favorite pieces!

The exhibition runs through November 2, so there’s still plenty of time to stop by and see it for yourself.

Then spent the afternoon making the rounds to Little Free Libraries across Des Moines, delivering books courtesy of the Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission and Annie's Foundation.

I’m a big believer that everyone deserves opportunities to experience art, discover new stories, and see themselves represented in the world around them. Happy to spend a little of my Saturday helping make that happen!

Spent some time Sunday knocking doors with my friends at the Iowa Unity Coalition for Tony Thompson for Iowa and my frie...
10/04/2026

Spent some time Sunday knocking doors with my friends at the Iowa Unity Coalition for Tony Thompson for Iowa and my friend Kendra for Iowa!

I believe in these two, and I know how deeply they care about Iowa’s future. From protecting our water and public schools to making life more affordable, the outcomes of their races are so important for the people who call Iowa home.

These seats matter, and there’s too much at stake this November to sit on the sidelines. Happy to spend a gorgeous October day helping get them elected! Check them out!

10/04/2026

Apparently, Des Moines is good enough to help foot the bill for imaginary steel mills in SE Iowa, but not good enough to make decisions for our own neighbors. 🤪

After weeks of rain and gloom, Des Moines finally gave us a gorgeous afternoon for the Downtown Des Moines (DSM) End of ...
10/03/2026

After weeks of rain and gloom, Des Moines finally gave us a gorgeous afternoon for the Downtown Des Moines (DSM) End of Summer Block Party!

Old-school tunes playing, fantastic food, neighbors out enjoying the sunshine, and a snow cone that clearly made my entire day.

There’s something very special about having spaces where people can come together, get to know their neighbors, and simply enjoy being part of a community.

I want more of this for Des Moines. More opportunities to connect, more life in our neighborhoods, and more reasons to get out and enjoy the city we call home.

Big thanks to the Downtown Neighborhood Association for a lovely afternoon!

Latino Heritage Festival Iowa brought a whole lot of color to a very gray Des Moines afternoon.I loved getting to wander...
09/26/2026

Latino Heritage Festival Iowa brought a whole lot of color to a very gray Des Moines afternoon.

I loved getting to wander around, run into friends, take in the music and culture, and eat some incredible food. Events like this are one of my favorite reminders of just how many communities, traditions, and stories make up Des Moines.

And the fruity pebbles churro from mamichurroscreamery was as incredible as it looks! 😋

Such a fun morning at the Beaverdale Fall Festival Parade! Great weather, great people, plenty of dogs, and one of my fa...
09/19/2026

Such a fun morning at the Beaverdale Fall Festival Parade! Great weather, great people, plenty of dogs, and one of my favorite Des Moines neighborhood traditions. 💙

Gray days are made for the library.I spent part of mine at Central today, and this little “Dancing in September” display...
09/18/2026

Gray days are made for the library.

I spent part of mine at Central today, and this little “Dancing in September” display made me smile. This is what I love about our libraries. You can read, learn, work, make something, bring your kids, use a computer, meet your neighbors, or just sit somewhere warm and welcoming without being expected to spend a nickel.

That’s also why the news this week makes me so sad. Beginning November 1, Central and Franklin will lose Sunday hours after a $750,000 funding cut, at a time when Des Moines is already being forced to make difficult decisions about basic city services and families are struggling.

Libraries aren’t an extra. They’re part of the fabric that makes a city feel like a community. And on a dreary day like today, there really isn’t anywhere I’d rather explore!

Such a great afternoon at the Multicultural Festival at Evelyn K. Davis Park!Great food, beautiful performances, and an ...
09/12/2026

Such a great afternoon at the Multicultural Festival at Evelyn K. Davis Park!

Great food, beautiful performances, and an absolutely perfect September day to be outside enjoying one of the things I love most about Des Moines: how many cultures, traditions, and communities make this city what it is.

08/11/2026

Des Moines has enforced civil rights locally since 1951. That’s on the table now.

The city’s budget survey included eliminating civil rights intake and enforcement. If that goes, your complaint goes to the state, an agency with 27 people for all three million Iowans.

Contact your council member and tell them we need civil rights enforcement here in Des Moines, not offloaded to the state. The budget isn’t written yet!

08/08/2026

A budget survey is only as good as the questions on it.

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Des Moines, IA
50301-50340-50310

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