Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines is home to the Iowa Hall of Pride, a series of interactive computer kiosks, exhibits, and games that tell the story of Iowa's people and their achievements. Thanks in part to The Write Place, Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) is now a feature at this one-of-a-kind tribute to Iowans.
A project of the Iowa High School Association, each high school in the state has the opportunity to showcase itself via interactive computer displays. The Hall of Pride's one-of-a-kind setup gives schools and organizations like SOIA the ability to upload articles, photos, and video clips to the HOP system through the Internet. The end result is a kind of online yearbook that is shared with HOP visitors and can be updated at any time.
SOIA recently set out to make its story available to Hall of Pride (HOP) visitors as well. The organization's key role is to encourage achievement in Iowa's intellectually disabled makes it a logical addition to the high-tech museum.
Gathering photos and information and organizing it all to fit the HOP module's format can be a daunting task, but it is a task uniquely suited to The Write Place. "The Write Place did work initially on one school's module and did an outstanding job! I was so impressed I asked them if they would like to offer their services to other schools around the state. To date they have done work for approximately 25 different schools, and in every case, the work they do is exemplary," said Jack Lashier, director of the Iowa Hall of Pride.
When Special Olympics Iowa needed a partner to work with to get their HOP module up and running, Lashier was happy to send them to The Write Place.
Write Place staff member Kathie Evenhouse does most of the company's hands-on HOP work. "I enjoy working through every school's photos and writing and organizing it all for the HOP," she said. "But working with the Special Olympics Iowa material was especially fulfilling."
The final module puts the spotlight on the athletic achievements of hundreds of brave and gifted Iowans.
Evenhouse traveled to Des Moines from Pella, where The Write Place is located, for the reception when the Special Olympics Iowa Hall of Pride module was unveiled. "I was touched to have been part of spreading Special Olympics message of empowerment."
