Raise The Bar Initiative

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Des Moines, IA
Raise The Bar Initiative

It is our mission to educate and provide opportunities for every woman to develop strength. Strong women build strong communities!

We do this by creating experiences that support physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

06/22/2026

Please join us in welcoming Jeanine Buckingham to the Raise the Bar Initiative Board of Directors! 💜

Jeanine brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the hospitality industry through her work with Orchestrate Hospitality, along with a deep personal appreciation for the power of strength training.

After being introduced to strength through athletics at a young age, Jeanine rediscovered its value later in life while managing an autoimmune disease that impacts joint function. Her firsthand experience has reinforced the important role strength plays in supporting mobility, independence, and overall quality of life.
A longtime supporter and volunteer of RBI, Jeanine is passionate about ensuring women of all ages and backgrounds have access to the education, community, and opportunities they need to build strength and confidence.

We're excited to have her perspective, experience, and passion helping guide RBI into the future. Welcome, Jeanine! 💪

06/16/2026

A strong bench press starts long before the bar leaves the rack 💪

Join us for our Intro to Bench Press Seminar and learn:

✔️ Why the bench press is a full-body movement
✔️ How to build pressing strength with dumbbells
✔️ The key muscles and positions that support a strong, safe bench
✔️ How to properly set up and use a bench press
✔️ The fundamentals of barbell bench press technique

📅 This Saturday | 12:00–1:30 PM
📍 1430 Locust St., Suite 102 | Des Moines
💵 $25

Whether you're brand new to lifting or looking to build confidence with the bench press, this seminar will help you develop a strong foundation and better understand the movement.

👉 Reserve your spot today: https://www.raisethebarinitiative.com/store/p/intro-to-bench

06/11/2026

IT'S OFFICIAL! 🔥

Women’s Barbell Classic 2027
📅 April 24, 2027
📍 Horizon Events Center

One day. Hundreds of athletes. Thousands of pounds lifted. Countless moments of courage, confidence and community.

Whether you're stepping onto the platform for the very first time or returning to chase a new goal, WBC is more than a competition—it's a celebration of what happens when women and girls discover just how strong they really are.

We can't wait to fill Horizon Events Center with the energy, excitement, and support that makes the Women’s Barbell Classic unlike anything else.

Gather your teammates. Set your goals. Start your training. Stay tuned for registration info coming soon! 👀

06/09/2026

Missed our first Intro to Squat Seminar? You're in luck — we're bringing it back this weekend! 💪

The squat is one of the most important movements for building strength, confidence, and independence both in and out of the gym.
Join us and learn:

✔️ Why squatting matters for everyone
✔️ How to build a strong foundation using dumbbells (box & goblet squat)
✔️ What muscles and mobility play a role in a strong squat
✔️ How to safely set up a rack
✔️ The basics of squatting with a barbell

Whether you're completely new to strength training or looking to improve your technique, this seminar is designed to meet you where you are and help you build confidence under the bar.

📅 Sunday, June 14
⏰ 12:00–1:30 PM
📍 1430 Locust St., Suite 102 | Des Moines
💵 $25

Spots are limited, so don't wait to register!

👉 Reserve your spot here: https://www.raisethebarinitiative.com/store/p/intro-to-squat

06/05/2026

The Des Moines Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting nominations for Nonprofit of the Year, and we would be honored to have your support.

This past year marked an exciting new chapter for Raise the Bar Initiative as we opened the doors to our first gym in downtown Des Moines. What began as a vision to create a welcoming space where women and girls could build strength, confidence, and community has quickly become a place where connections are formed, goals are achieved, and lives are changed.

As a new member of the downtown community, we've been inspired by the support of neighboring businesses, organizations, and community leaders who have welcomed us with open arms. In turn, we've been proud to contribute to the vibrancy of downtown by creating opportunities for education, connection, volunteerism, and wellness through our programs, events, and community partnerships.

From empowering girls through Barbell Club and serving women through our HERoic partnerships to hosting our largest Women's Barbell Classic to date, RBI continues to create opportunities for women and girls to discover just how strong they are—both inside and outside the gym.

If RBI has made an impact on you, your family, your organization, or our downtown community, we would be grateful if you would consider nominating us for Nonprofit of the Year.

Thank you for helping us build stronger women, stronger connections, and a stronger downtown community. 💙

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdV0dgF0gs6-aRbow9va5WUIC2GK5BNJ5zdKennxkHcwo4kGQ/viewform

05/29/2026

We're thrilled to be partnering with the The IOWA Foundation to offer our second year of youth camps this summer! 🤩 Designed for 7th to 12th grade girls, participants will learn proper weight lifting techniques and methods to set themselves up for success in the gym. An added bonus? Developing invaluable life skills, fostering confidence and resilience! We are offering sessions June 15th through June 25th in Des Moines and Bondurant. For more information visit the link below! 💪

https://dmps.revtrak.net/Community-Ed-Classes/ #/list

05/27/2026

Behind every successful Women’s Barbell Classic are people working tirelessly behind the scenes to make it all happen — and this year, we are incredibly grateful for one of those people.

This year’s WBC was our biggest event to date, and we truly could not have done it without Isaac Vandersee. From serving as a project manager for our team in the months leading up to the event to helping navigate the countless details that come with an event of this scale, he poured in so much time, energy, and care to help make WBC a success.

When asked why he chose to get involved with RBI, he shared:

“I was introduced to Raise the Bar and Abbie through a work event touring their space. I was inspired by the mission of helping people feel more comfortable and confident in spaces that may have once felt intimidating. Staying active in the gym has always helped me feel my best, so it’s meaningful to support an organization that creates those same opportunities and experiences for others.”

Thank you, Isaac, for believing in our mission and for the countless hours you gave to help create an unforgettable experience for hundreds of women this year. We are so grateful for you. 💜

05/26/2026

Join us in welcoming Jade Dilliner to the Raise the Bar Initiative Board of Directors! 🏋️‍♀️💜

Jade’s connection to RBI started as an athlete at the Women’s Barbell Classic, grew through volunteering, and expanded into coaching through our HERoic program — making her journey with RBI especially meaningful. Her passion for mental health and the connection between physical and emotional well-being brings a valuable perspective to our organization. We’re excited to have Jade continue making an impact in this new role!

05/23/2026

We’re excited to welcome Kayla Burkett to the Raise the Bar Initiative Board of Directors! 💪

Kayla is passionate about building strong communities, creating meaningful connections, and helping people thrive — values that sit at the core of RBI’s mission. Her perspective on strength, resilience, and well-being makes her an incredible addition to our board as we continue expanding opportunities for girls and women to grow through movement and community. We’re so glad to have Kayla on the RBI team!

05/22/2026

Join us in celebrating 35 years of community! 🎉

We’re excited to be part of a special open house celebrating 35 years in business for Meyer Chiropractic and Performance !

Stop by to connect with local health and wellness businesses, meet members of the community, and help celebrate a business that has been making an impact for more than three decades.

Plus, there will be a raffle fundraiser benefiting Raise the Bar Initiative, helping us continue to create opportunities for girls and women to build physical, mental, and emotional strength through community and connection. 💜

Come say hello, support local, and celebrate together!

📍 2020 Grand Ave, Suite 200, West Des Moines
📅 Saturday, May 30th
⏰ 11:00A - 2:00P

RSVP at the link below! 🔗
https://go.meyerchiroandperformance.com/35thanniversaryrsvp

Address

Des Moines, IA
50309

Website

https://www.raisethebarinitiative.com/

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