DES MOINES, Iowa — The nonprofit Urban Dreams is honoring its founder and celebrating 40 years during the season’s final Summer on Sixth event Wednesday evening.

Wayne Ford said he founded Urban Dreams in 1985 with the goal of transforming the neighborhood.

In 1983, Bishop Maurice Dingman, the head of the Des Moines Diocese, was kidnapped on the north side of Des Moines by Sixth and Forest Avenues. Ford said this area was known as one of the most dangerous places in Des Moines at the time. He wanted to change the community’s fate, and he decided to do that with Urban Dreams.

He started by opening the Community Courtyard on Sixth and Forest Avenues. This is a place where everyone in the community is welcome to be. Today, it has a water fountain and outlets for people in need.

Since the courtyard was created, the nonprofit has continued to add programs for the community, including a food pantry that serves 2,000 people monthly, the largest substance abuse program in the state, and several youth programs.

One of their programs for the youth is the Summer Youth Employment program. This summer, 28 children are involved and help host Summer on Sixth, weekly events that take place in the courtyard that bring the neighborhood together. They have live music and free food.

Ten years ago, Ford appointed a new executive director for Urban Dreams, Izaah Knox, who is also the State Representative for District 17.

Knox said on Wednesday, Urban Dreams is celebrating 40 years of service in the community during the season’s final Summer on Sixth event, but they will also honor Ford for his efforts.

“He’s been tried and true, treating people with dignity, respect. Homeless people hang out here [at the Community Courtyard]. He loves that. People that are down on their luck hang out here. That’s fine. That’s what it’s made for. But we also program it 15 times a year with bands and music and kids and fun and face painting. Like that’s what he wanted. To mix the community, not gentrify or kick anybody out, but treat everybody as that they can come in here and hang out,” said Knox.

Urban Dreams created a plaque that now sits in the courtyard with Ford’s name on it.

“I didn’t put him in there to give me anything. I put him in that job because he was good not to acknowledge me. My name speak for itself. So I got the phone call and [he] said ‘Wayne we’re doing something for you,’ It brought tears to my eyes. It was full circle,” said Ford.

Summer on Sixth will kick off at 5 p.m. at the Community Courtyard with the dedication to Ford. The event will go until 8:30 p.m.

Roughly two weeks ago a driver drove into the courtyard and caused some damage, as seen above. Knox said it’s about $12,000 worth of damage but he’s hopeful it will be fixed by the end of the year.

Despite the damage, Knox said there shouldn’t be any disruption to the season’s last Summer on Sixth event.