IMMAWII delivered with a day-long schedule of African-American arts and culture presenters and exhibitors at the State Historical Building on January 30, 1999. A core group of Iowa volunteers embraced the challenge and created their own vision, IMMAWII. Now celebrating its 25th year, I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa was founded in 1998 in response to a national PBS and Blackside Productions challenge for communities to develop programs highlighting African American arts and culture to connect with their February 1999 national broadcast of the “I’ll Make Me a World” mini-series. I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa (IMMAWII) is a diverse collaboration of Iowans, which highlights African American arts, culture and contributions through education, awareness and preservation during an annual enrichment celebration and with continual educational outreach.
