The new “Future” mural on the north wall of the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families was dedicated Friday in honor of former Principal Financial Group CEO and former Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines President J. Barry Griswell. Photo contributed by the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines

Under gloomy skies and intermittent raindrops, a neighborhood and local business leaders came together to look to the future.

They gathered under blue tents in the parking lot of the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families on Seventh Street Friday to celebrate the completion of a mural titled “Future,” painted by local artist Jill Wells with the help of fellow artist Marissa Hernandez.

The mural was dedicated in honor of former Principal Financial Group CEO J. Barry Griswell, who was critical in the creation of the Evelyn K. Davis Center during his time as president of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. It was also a chance to remember the center’s namesake who opened the city’s first day care center for at-risk children near downtown to serve working families, and who developed the state’s first day care certification program with Iowa State University.

The Evelyn K. Davis Center opened in 2001 as a partnership among Des Moines Area Community College, United Way of Central Iowa and the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, which commissioned the mural. It provides a one-stop shop for individuals seeking employment, job skills, education and other services to improve their financial stability.

The ceremony featured a panel of speakers who touched on the legacy of Griswell and Davis, the work of the center and what they hoped the community would take away from the mural, located on the center’s north wall.

Dr. Richard Deming, board chair of the foundation, said Griswell’s “heart for giving and passion for community would not let him retreat into retirement” after he retired from Principal in 2008.

Griswell died June 5, 2020. He was 71.

Deming said Griswell’s leadership at the foundation led to transformational change in the community.

“And along the way he transformed all of us who were privileged to work with him,” Deming said.

He said commissioning the mural for the Evelyn K. Davis Center was a natural step to honor Griswell’s legacy.

“Barry’s spirit is so alive in the piece that Jill has masterfully created,” Deming said. “The power of connection, of education and working together to overcome adversity were some of Barry’s core beliefs.”

Other speakers included Ahmed Agyeman, director of the Evelyn K. Davis Center, DMACC President Rob Denson, Kristi Knous, foundation president, Bobbretta Brewton, a member of the center’s advisory board, Mary Chapman, vice president emeritus at DMACC, and the artist, Jill Wells.

The artist
Jill Wells is an Indianola native and Drake University alumna. She said some of her inspiration behind the mural came from her grandfather, who encouraged her to dream more.

“Having a conversation about dreaming to start the mural off I thought was absolutely pivotal,”  she said during the ceremony. “Growing up as a young girl in Indianola, Iowa, there wasn’t a lot of what I thought looked like me or sounded like me around me. So when I created this piece I really wanted to have it be as diverse as possible, and I think representation in our community is absolutely vital for our community to thrive and for other young individuals to not give up on their dreams as well.”

After the ceremony, Wells said the words of her grandfather were woven throughout the mural.

“He’s my father figure, and he and I have had moments like that before,” she said. “There was a time at Drake where I wanted to quit and I was crying in the car, and he was like ‘No, we’re going to go back in here and do this.’ He’s been a constant support, and it’s not just my life, but he’s played that role in a lot of other lives, his own children, my son, my sister and my brother. Having that support, I’m not sure I ever would have pursued any dream without that in my life.”

Wells, whose 13-year-old son VIncent stood nearby, said she hopes the mural brings about a sense of change for those who see it, and provides connection for people who may feel they don’t belong.

“I hope individuals do feel seen and feel heard, that it’s a spot in their heart, in their day where they feel a sense of peace,” she said. “There’s something that happens when you feel acknowledged and you don’t feel dismissed.”

What’s her favorite part of the mural?

It’s tucked away on the east wall, around the corner from the prominently displayed Future wall. It depicts a man wearing a graduation cap and gown embracing a small child.