NAMI Greater Des Moines cuts ties with state, national organization, announces new name Leader of NAMI Iowa says new local affiliate will be formed Thursday, March 11, 2021 9:31 AM The Greater Des Moines affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness has ended its affiliation with NAMI Iowa and the national NAMI organization, in a move the former local affiliate’s leaders say will better enable the local organization to serve and represent Greater Des Moines communities. Michele Keenan, who has led NAMI Greater Des Moines as its first full-time executive director since July 2016, will continue as executive director of the newly incorporated organization, MindSpring Mental Health Alliance. The group’s leadership, staff, volunteers, membership and programs it has developed outside of NAMI’s programs will largely remain the same, Keenan said.