EMPOWERING
LEADERS

LIFE LEADERS

FAMILY LEADERS

CAREER LEADERS

FREE career training. Land a new career in just 6 Months.

Change Course Icon

Change Course

FREE TRAINING TO GET YOU ON THE PATH TO A NEW CAREER

Change Course is a career development program that provides training in highly sought-after skills along with leadership and personal development, to give people in Des Moines a way to stop living paycheck to paycheck and launch a career.

Affordable, effective, and short-term career training is almost impossible to find. Change Course has identified highly sought-after careers in our community. We offer free training and pay you to start a new career in as little as four months. Students who have completed the program in other areas of the country are earning on average more than $18 per hour in jobs with upward mobility and full benefits, including health care and paid vacation time.

Freedom Awaits

Change Course graduates complete the program with a new job skill, a livable wage career, and a strong sense of community and support. After graduation, Leaders join the Alumni Association where they will receive continued services, including financial coaching, professional development opportunities, and the opportunity to give back to future Leaders.

The Heart of Change Course

LEADERSHIP JOURNEY

Leaders apply and are accepted into a six-month-long program broken into three phases.

Icon representing personal and professional growth

GROWTH

The first 6 weeks of the program is dedicated to personal and professional growth. We don’t just want Leaders to land a job—we want them to be the best version of themself, so they can find a career that lasts!

Icon representing professional certification

CERTIFICATION

Leaders work to complete a professional certification or pre-apprenticeship course in their selected career track.

Icon representing professional landing job with their skill set

LAND THE JOB

Once Leaders complete the certification stage, they graduate the program by landing a job in their career track. We’ll work to connect them with employers and jobs that fit their skill set.

Tools for Development

  • One-on-one coaching sessions
  • 100+ hours of personal development
  • Up to 35 life and career skills taught

If you’d like more information regarding Change Course, click the button below.

CAREER PROGRAMS

A better future awaits our leaders after they complete their chosen six-month career training program. Change Course offers 35 life and career skills that can be adjusted according to the need of the Des Moines area job market. Our corporate partners keep us informed of the skills they look for in good job candidates as their needs change.

CAREER PROGRAMS

A better future awaits our leaders after they complete their chosen six-month career training program. Change Course offers 35 life and career skills that can be adjusted according to the need of the Des Moines area job market. Our corporate partners keep us informed of the skills they look for in good job candidates as their needs change.

Energy Career with Change Course

Energy

Medical admistration

Medical Administration

Semi driver with CDL (Commercial drivers license)

Commercial Driver (CDL)

Information Technology (IT) Worker

Information Technology

Customer Service Representative

Customer Service

Construction Trades - Electrician working on building

Skilled Trades

Administration Assistant

Administrative Assistant

Certified nursing assistant (CNA)

Medical Healthcare

Culinary Services - Future Course

Culinary Services

Animal Care - Future Course

Animal Care

Customer Service Representative

Customer Service

Animal Care - Future Course

Animal Care

FREE career training with Change Course. Land a new career in just 6 Months.

If you’d like more information, click the button below.

Our Instagram Feed

Exciting event! Our CEO, Joseph, will be one of five Iowans sharing a personal story of how they overcame something monumental in their lives at the next @dmregister Des Moines Storytellers Project event. The event will be held on Oct. 22 at historic Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines.

In its seventh season, the Des Moines Register's Storytellers Project is dedicated to the idea that oral storytelling and journalism have the same goals: Serving and reflecting a community while fostering empathy.

Joseph and the other participants will tell their stories live on stage without notes and from their hearts.

There are very few tickets left - click the link in our bio to get tickets to the event before they sell out!
We’re so excited to announce our newest corporate partner, Branstad & Olson Law Office. Their values align with Change Course. Defense attorneys that work to give second chances to those in difficult circumstances. Along with providing meals at our Monday night family gatherings, they have also recommended our program to many of their clients. Thank you to Christine, Torrie, David and the entire Branstad & Olson team for joining our mission of empowering people out of poverty.
Introducing: Change Course Auto Detail! We are a Des Moines-based mobile auto detailing company focused on quality of service and the betterment of our communities.

Every time you book with us, not only are you getting the best quality auto detail in Des Moines. All proceeds go towards supporting Change Course, our career and personal development nonprofit organization created to alleviate poverty in the lives of individuals and families in need of a second chance.

Our promise to you: you'll get the best service in Des Moines, and you can take pride in knowing that every time you hire us, you’re helping someone in need.

To book, to to the link in our bio and use code SUPPORTHOPE at checkout for 20% off your first mobile detail!
We brought the Gamma Class to volunteer at @mealsfromtheheartland today and we had a BLAST! Along with @johndeere, we packaged over 90,000 meals for people in need overseas. We are so proud of our participants and the joy they bring to serving others!
Headshots are done and we're on to the skills track portion of the program! This week, we start mock interviews, and start moving towards getting these beautiful people into their new careers and lives. We are so proud of each one of you, all your hard work is paying off!

Huge thank you to @betsydeglopper for the headshots!
We'd like to introduce you to the Change Course Delta Class of 2024. These incredible people are dedicated to changing not only their lives, but their communities and families as well. They encourage each other and show up every morning ready to put in the hard work.
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: We just launched two new service companies—and 100% of the proceeds from each will go towards supporting the work of Change Course: Change Course Cleaning and Change Course Auto Detailing!

Change Course Cleaning is a full-service commercial cleaning company. We provide a wide variety of commercial cleaning services to companies big and small. Our job is to create a safe, healthy corporate environment so our customers can focus on what’s important: their work. With over 80 years of combined commercial cleaning experience, our staff has unmatched expertise in commercial cleaning and keeping your facility disinfected and safe for your staff and guests. Go to the link in our bio to schedule a free consultation!

Change Course Auto Detailing is a full-service mobile interior auto detailing service. If you’re looking for a Des Moines-based mobile detailer that will deliver amazing results for price, quality and customer service—and want to take pride in knowing 100% of the profits of your service go to helping those in need— then we’re the company for you. Our detailing packages are tailored to your specific needs, and the quality is guaranteed! 

We want to give you 20% off your first interior auto detailing service for any size vehicle! Use code SUPPORTHOPE when you book online to take 20% off the entire cost of your first detailing of one or more vehicles! Go to the link in our bio to schedule your first detail.
It's the start of our third week with the Delta 2024 Class, and we are having a blast! These people are dedicated to making real changes in their lives and communities. There is so much in store for all of them! We will be starting our email newsletter again this week with more details and day-to-day activity, so if you're not subscribed, send us a message and we'll get you signed up!
Delta 2024 class starts today!! We are so excited for what is in store for all of these incredible people!
You're invited to our FREE neighborhood BBQ at Change Course! We want to introduce ourselves to our new neighborhood, and we figured that food and games are the best way to do that. Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of delicious food, music by Pulse 101.7FM, and an opportunity to tour our facility and find out more about what we do here at Change Course. This in-person event is the perfect opportunity to stop by, fellowship with neighbors, and enjoy some good food in the sun. Don't miss out on this chance to connect with the community and have a great time. It's all ages - bring your families! Games, food, and good fun. Please stop by!
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Change Course is a FREE career and personal development program in Des Moines, Iowa built to provide a safe space for people ready for lasting change. Through our program, they learn about themselves and grow in the areas they are skilled in, find new careers and change their lives.
It's official - the ribbon has been cut! After months of hard work, our facility and staff are ready to serve our community and those in need of second chances. Our next class starts July 8, and we couldn't be more excited to get it going. God is good — there is HOPE in this city!
Today, come join us at our brand new location for a special event celebrating the beginning of great things to come here in Des Moines. We will showcase our new facility and all the exciting things we plan to do here. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be performed by @fusedsm, and Polk County Attorney, Kimberly Graham, will speak!

FOUNDING SPONSORS

Foster Group - Change Course Founding Sponsor
Emerge Academy logo with bird
Foster Group - Change Course Founding Sponsor
Shindler Anderson Goplerud and Weese PC Logo
Foster Group - Change Course Founding Sponsor

DON’T MISS A BEAT