Our Stories
For over 55 years, Oakridge Neighborhood has been changing lives through stable housing and responsive programming for residents and others in the community.
There are many stories of success. Here are just a few of our #OakridgeStrong stories.
Jermaine Woods: In the Business of Making Memories
Jermaine Woods was just a baby when his family moved out of Oakridge Neighborhood, but he found his way back in an unexpected way. The Connection Former Vice President – Youth Education & Engagement Vernon Johnson, or “Mr. Vern” as he’s lovingly known, is a...
Finding a Creative Home: Jack and Spencer at Oak Studio Teen Tech Center
Jack Marren, 25, first heard about the Oak Studio Teen Tech Center through Momentum, a free art program for individuals with disabilities or mental health conditions. Music drew him in. "I write songs, and I had always wanted to record my music," Jack says. Since...
From Des Moines to Demo Day: Kiera Shadd’s Journey at Oak Studio Teen Tech Center
For Kiera Shadd, walking into Oak Studio Teen Tech Center at Mainframe Studios wasn't exactly planned. The Waukee High School senior found her way there through a friend, Kelsey, who knew Emmett Phillips, the Teen Tech Center's Career Pathways Facilitator. “She...
Oakridge Neighborhood’s Cynergy Development Receives $950,000 in Community Foundation Grants
Des Moines, IA, July 30, 2026 – Oakridge Neighborhood has been awarded $950,000 in grants from the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines to support Cynergy, a mixed-use workforce housing and wellness project designed to expand access to quality housing while...
Shakila’s Story: Finding Home at Oakridge Neighborhood
When Shakila Zabihee arrived in the United States in 2022, she came with little more than hope and her young son. Fleeing Afghanistan through Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where her family spent nearly a year in a humanitarian city, she landed first in Virginia before being...
