Our news section is dedicated to sharing pertinent information about these key issue areas, stories about individuals affiliated with and affected by policies in these areas, as well as news about The Harkin Institute itself.
November 13 | From DC to Iowa: How Policy Shifts Will Impact the Disability Community
Event Information Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025 Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. *Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Location: Tom and Ruth Harkin Center (2800 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA, 50311) & Zoom Livestream Cost: Free, but registration is required. Accommodations:...
read moreNovember 8-9 | A Taste of ReelAbilities Des Moines 2025
Event Information Date: November 8-9, 2025 Location: Tom and Ruth Harkin Center (2800 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311) Des Moines Art Center (4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312) Cost: Free! Registration is required. Accommodations: Live-captioning in English...
read moreAdditional Resources for the 2025 Harkin Retirement Security Symposium: Inclusive Long-Term Care Policies and Supports
References The Direct Care Workforce State Index. (2025). PHI National. https://www.phinational.org/state-index-tool/ Dychtwald, K., Fulmer, T., Morison, R., & Terveer, K. (2025, July). Your Company Needs an Eldercare Policy. Harvard Business Review....
read moreOctober 8 | Iowa Waterways Report: Training Session for Viewing Parties
Event Information Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025 Time: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Location: Zoom* *Attendees will receive a Zoom link closer to the day of the event Cost: Free, but registration is required via Eventbrite Accommodations: American Sign Language and...
read moreNovember 12 | The Heartland at a Crossroads: Bold Voices on America’s Rural Future
Event Information Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. CT Location: Tom and Ruth Harkin Center (2800 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA, 50311) Accommodations: American Sign Language (ASL) and live captioning (CART) will be provided. Any...
read moreOctober 28 | Data in Action: New Findings from the National Training, Education and Workforce Survey (NTEWS)
Event Information Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CT Location: Zoom Webinar Cost: Free, but registration is required via Zoom Accommodations: American Sign Language interpretation and live-captioning (CART) in English will be provided for all...
read moreOctober 16 | Harkin Retirement Security Symposium 2025: Inclusive Long-Term Care Policies and Supports
Event Information Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025 Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET Location: KFF's Barbara Jordan Conference Center (1330 G St NW, Washington, DC, 20005) Virtual Live Stream (Link will be sent to virtual attendees before the event) Cost: In-person -...
read moreThe Harkin Institute selects Craig Owens as new Executive Director
The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement and Drake University are proud to announce that Craig Owens will serve as the next Executive Director of The Harkin Institute. As Executive Director, Owens will advance the Institute's work of delivering...
read moreSeptember 17 | Roadmaps to Retirement 2025: Global Lessons and Paths Ahead
Event Information Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Time: 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. Networking lunch from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Location: Tom and Ruth Harkin Center (2800 University Ave., Des Moines, IA 50311) YouTube Livestream Cost: Free, but registration is required via...
read moreOur Water, Our Future: A Look at the Central Iowa Water Quality Report – Additional Resources
Our Water, Our Future: A Look at the Central Iowa Water Quality Report was the first official presentation of findings from the Central Iowa Source Water Research Assessment (CISWRA) report—a groundbreaking scientific study that provides the most comprehensive...
read moreMedia and Communications Contact:
Kathryn Kuckelman
kathryn.kuckelman@drake.edu
515-271-1895
The Harkin Institute serves as resource not only for information on Sen. Tom Harkin’s career, but also for valuable insight and expertise on the policy issues to which he devoted his career, including wellness and nutrition, retirement security, labor and employment, and people with disabilities.
Address: 2800 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311
Phone: (515) 271-3623
Email: harkininstitute@drake.edu
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.