CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
FALL | WINTER 2015
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CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
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CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION Veridian members featured Front row: Amy Second row: Tyler, Jennifer, Philip, Ajay Third row: Lori, Anthony, Jim
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FROM THE EDITOR I
t’s Fall 2015, and our thoughts look toward
Cedar Valley by providing stories of those who
the continued activities this community
have overcome odds, opened their arms to help
generates each year.
others, or those who have decided to settle here
Another successful Cedar Valley Pride Fest
is behind us, as well as numerous summer
Nancy Newhoff Editor
We feel this is important. Diversity provides the
festivals that highlighted the many talents of this
Cedar Valley with a big-city feel in a small-town
community.
setting. It makes us all more rounded and better
Welcome to another edition of Cedar Valley Inclusion, a publication dedicated to highlighting the diversity of the Cedar Valley. This publication highlights some area Burmese
people, and should be held up as a source of pride. Enjoy these wonderful stories. If you have story ideas of other people or programs that help
weavers, a young woman who is leading the
promote or showcase the diversity of our area,
efforts of immigration reform, a Middle Eastern
please send me a note or email: Nancy Newhoff,
dance troupe and a bowling alley that is working
P.O. Box 540, Waterloo, IA, 50704, or nancy.
with disabled kids.
newhoff@wcfcourier.com
We love to produce this twice-yearly publication because of the great stories we find and tell about the diversity and inclusion in this community. We are dedicated to celebrating the diversity in the
4 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
because of the acceptance we provide.
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
CONTENT 15 PAYING IT FORWARD
8
Together We Play benefits children with disabilities, others.
TRADITION RECLAIMED Burmese women practice their cultural tradition of weaving.
18 HUMAN RELATIONS
Kathy Oakland prepares teachers for diverse classrooms.
20 FAMILY FRIENDLY
Bosnian immigrant serves as director of Family & Children’s Council.
11 MIDDLE EASTERN DANCE
Troupe uses belly dancing to gain confidence and explore cultures.
CedarValleyInclusion.com | 5
32 FEMININE WILDS DNR program lets girls hone their outdoor skills.
34 FIELD OF DREAMERS Immigration activists grow their volunteer network.
24 BOWLING THEM OVER
Cadillac Lanes offers fun and excitement to children with disabilities.
26 SHOEBOX PROJECT
Rotary Club program sends aid to impoverished Nicaraguan children, families.
36 WATER WINGS
Waterhawks adaptive water-skiing clinic gives participants thrilling ride.
28 CAPOERIA COMMUNITY
Martial arts-infused dance builds bodies, hearts and community.
Publisher David A. Braton Editors Nancy Raffensperger Newhoff Melody Parker Project Manager & Advertising Sales Sheila Kerns (319) 291-1448 sheila.kerns@wcfcourier.com
6 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
Contributing Writers Meta Hemenway-Forbes Holly Hudson Tim Jamison Pat Kinney John Molseed Jim Offner Andrew Wind CJ Hines Christinia Crippes Emily Eppens
Graphic Designers Amanda Hansen Michelle Seeks Contributing Photographers Brandon Pollock Matthew Putney Tiffany Rushing Courtney Collins
A publication of The Courier, Waterloo-Cedar Falls.
www.cedarvalleyinclusion.com
worth
making a difference Wartburg students make the world better.
Kwabena Owusu-Amoah ’15 GHANA
Madison promotes solutions to social problems. Kwabena and Anne are building health clinics in Ghana.
Madison Stumbo ’15
BOONE
Anne Epley Birtwistle ’16
MASON CITY
How’s that for extra credit?
Worth It. | www.Wartburg.edu
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CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
TRADITION RECLAIMED MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor
I
Burmese women able to resume cultural tradition of weaving
n the front room of an east Waterloo home, four master weavers gather to practice their craft. All are Burmese immigrants who, after years in refugee camps, have been able to resume the traditional art thanks to the support of several Cedar Valley organizations. “Many of them were unable to bring their tools, their looms, with them” to America, said Alicia Soppe, a program with MATTHEW PUTNEYmanager / Courier Photo Editorthe Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center. 8 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
“Because of the language barrier, many of the older refugees have taken a back seat to the younger ones who have an easier time learning English,” Soppe said. “Being able to weave again, and teach their daughters and granddaughters, allows them to take a leadership role again.” Through the EMBARC, Soppe has been instrumental in helping the weavers reclaim their tradition, Kathy Oakland gathering support from the the Northeast Iowa Weavers & Spinners Guild and the American
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION Association of University Women. “We met with them and committed to support them,” said guild member Cindy Harris. “We donated some yarn and raised money to buy more yarn and material for looms. “You know, a weaver in one group can really connect with a weaver on the other side of the world and work together. We have a lot in common,” Harris said. The American Association of University Women also raised money for the weavers. Since getting started, the weavers have sold their wares at two fundraisers at World’s Window in downtown Cedar Falls And at 220 E. Fourth St. in Waterloo. “Our first fundraiser, we sold out of everything,” Soppe said. “It was a huge success. The weavers made a little income and raised money to buy more materials.” The technique the women use is backstrap weaving, where the lengthwise, or warp, threads are stretched from a post or tree to a wide belt the weaver wears around her waist. The warp threads are stretched and separated with tools so a weft thread can be passed through them again and again to create the fabric. One of the master weavers, Kyawt Mu, has been practicing her art for more than 40 years, learning from her mother when she was growing up in Burma. After fleeing the bloody civil war that overtook her country, Mu lived in a Thai refugee camp for 20 years. There she made clothing and school bags for her children. She was able to resettle in Iowa two years ago. “I don’t want to forget my culture,” she said through an interpreter. “I want my daughters and granddaughters to know how to weave.” The center, which opened an office in Waterloo in September, offers support to the refugees as they transition to life in Iowa. “While many (refugees) move to Waterloo ... for jobs at Tyson, there are still some who are struggling with unemployment and the social isolation of being home-bound,” Soppe said. “Many are middleaged and older women who are marginalized by our economic system but possess amazing skills as weavers. “Imagine coming to a country where everything is new,” she said. “You can’t drive a car, you can’t work. That’s why it is so important to connect these women with weaving again.” Now the group turns out scarves, skirts, bags, belts, blankets and more out of fine thread in beautiful hues on the 10 looms the group has had designed and built. Another weaver, Ku Mo, models a traditional
Kayah wrap-around skirt in bright reds and yellows. “Every single piece is different,” said Soppe. “It takes about a day to make one scarf.” The next hurdle for the group is to begin sharing their weaving skills with others. “We hope to have classes for the public as well as the young Burmese women starting in August,” Soppe said. “We are really excited to do classes where the elders will be teaching the young women again in order to maintain their cultural traditions.” Text | HOLLY HUDSON
CedarValleyInclusion.com | 9
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CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
PRAIRIE MIDDLE EASTERN DANCE
Belly dancing troupe combines confidence, culture and exercise COURTNEY COLLINS / Courier Staff Photographer
T
he Prairie Rose Middle Eastern Dance Troupe is determined to instill the art of confidence within the hearts of their peers while still getting a good workout. Middle Eastern cultural dances, often referred to as belly dancing, have always intrigued Helen Harton. The current director of the Prairie Rose Troupe currently teaches her classes at the YWCA in Waterloo, but has taught classes at the University of Northern Iowa and the Cedar Falls Recreation Center. She said the classes are a great way for her students to grow confidence while learning about other cultures. “I took belly dancing classes when I lived in Florida, and when I moved to Iowa 18 years ago I continued taking classes but there weren’t any in this area,” Harton said.
Seeing the need, Harton started teaching belly dancing classes 13 years ago. A few year later, the Prairie Middle Eastern Dance Troupe was formed and began performing at community events. The troupe meets once a week on Mondays, unless before performing at an event, in which they may meet more often. “Belly dancing is a way to enjoy dance and move your body. However, girls learn so early about body image, they just don’t feel good about themselves or how they look,” said Angie Fuller, a student of the troupe. “Well the history around belly dancing show sthat it doesn’t matter how old you are or what body shape you are. It’s just a great way to enjoy dancing with yourself and friends.” The troupe ranges in ages from 9 to 80. Harton said CedarValleyInclusion.com | 11
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION she has seen mothers and daughters try the dance classes together. Girl Scout troops have also been given the opportunity to take a class from Harton to learn about body acceptance and Middle Eastern culture. Though the common name for Middle Eastern dance classes are belly dancing, the troupe members said that students should wear whatever makes them feel most comfortable with their bodies. The term for belly dance, “raks sharqi,” translates to dance of the east. “It didn’t get its name from the way we dress,” Fuller said. “It got its name from the ethnicities it came from.” There are many styles in belly dancing, ranging from the more traditional to modern. The two main techniques used are the cabaret style, which is closer to the original cultural dances, and tribal style. The dance troupe mostly uses cabaret style, Egyptian moves and techniques, although they are open to trying other moves they learn from other performances.
MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor 12 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
“I really appreciate that Helen stays true to the cultures,” said Anne Carlson, a student. “You learn a lot about various Mideastern cultures that you might not otherwise learn about.” Students are encouraged to find or make their own costumes for the community dances. The troupe puts on a special workshop every April and performance for the community, which is their main event for the year. In addition, they perform at many Black Hawk County festivals and participate in workshops around the state. “We come for the dance, we stay for the sparkle,” laughed Sue Harden. Many students come to Harden to ask for assistance with their costumes. “We love performing for any audience that will appreciate us and have as much fun watching us as we are while performing for them.” Text | EMILY EPPENS
Previous page: Helen Harton, from left, Sue Harden and Angie Fuller, Below: Helen Harton leads a dance class.
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The Cedar Valley Business Monthly is designed to be a forum for the exchange of ideas among members of the Cedar Valley Business community. It is published as a guide for entrepreneurs in search of insights from other business community participants who face the same challenges in nurturing their enterprises.
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CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
PAYING IT FORWARD Tyler Green’s, Together We Play, benefits children with disabilities BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer
W
atch one. Do one. Teach one. Learning by Doing. Keep it Simple. Make it Fun. All those are watchwords for Tyler Greene. He learned some of that as an Eagle Scout
Tyler Greene
and he’s trying to impart it on teachers, instructors in families giving young people with disabilities a chance to have fun and recreate with other kids. Greene is a graduate of West High CedarValleyInclusion.com | 15
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION School in Waterloo who attended Hawkeye Community College and the University of Northern Iowa, where he graduated with a degree in sociology. Since April, he’s been a representative for Together We Play, an initiative of the Inclusion Connection, an 11-year-old organization benefiting people with disabilities in employment, school, living accommodations and other aspects of daily life — including recreation. Greene, who has cerebral palsy, benefited from the program himself as a 12 year old, participating in recreational activities. “They helped me do karate and Boy Scout camp,” he said. He can attest to the value of the program, works with families of disabled youth and coaches and trains recreational program staff on how to include the disabled in their recreational programs — and educate other kids in those programs to be accepting and inclusive. Among his clients are Living History Farms in Urbandale and the city of Cedar Falls and its recreation programs. “They provide advice and guidance and are just a great resource as far as trying to think up the best way to devise quality programs and opportunities for everybody,” said Brock Goos of the Cedar Falls Recreation Center. Greene provided training for day camp counselors working with elementary school kids, on how to promote positive behaviors. Greene is a resource, Goos explained. “Say we have an autistic child that comes in, for example, who wants to take swimming lessons. We can contact that organization, meet with parents or guardians and our swim instructors, and figure out what works well; what’s going to be the best scenario to teach.” For his Eagle project, Greene produced a DVD which can be viewed on the website, iamtyler.org. He also did work with the Waterloo Schools prior to becoming affiliated with Together We Play in April. He’s still under contract with the Waterloo Schools, as well. “I was really excited to take on that role, since I know the benefits personally,” he said. “I’ve given presentations, I’ve done some consultation work. I’ve worked with parents who want to get their kids included in recreation. “My job is kind of two-fold,” Greene said. “I
16 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
work to try to get agencies to partner with us so we can give them resources to include all kids. I work with families and parents who want to have their kids included. I will talk to people through training, talk to families, whatever we want to do.” Part of his job is to re-energize the program and build up Together We Play’s client base. “We are hoping to get as many as we can,” Greene said. Past clients have included Camp Adventure and the School of Music at UNI, the local YMCA and YWCA, the Hearst Center for the Arts, the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois and Westminster Presbyterian Church, as well as the City of Waterloo Leisure Services. “I love it,” Greene said of his job. “I’ve been part of a couple of other inclusion campaigns in the past,” on a national level while in high school, in addition to the DVD he did for his Eagle project. “The goal is to include all kids no matter what their abilities are,” Greene said. “All kids deserve to be included in life, especially in recreation with other kids — going to camp, sports, whatever they want to do, and not be limited by physical or cognitive disabilities. And to give the staff resources to know how to provide the best services so all kids can be successful. I think people have been pretty receptive so far.” Individuals interested in Together We Play may contact Greene at togetherweplay. inclusion@gmail.com. Text | PAT KINNEY
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CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
HUMAN RELATIONS
Kathy Oakland prepares teachers for diverse classrooms MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor
18 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
Kathy Oakland
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
E
veryone has their own story to tell. University of Northern Iowa education majors in Kathy Oakland’s human relations class are learning how to hear those stories before they head into today’s increasingly diverse classrooms. “Life is human relations,” said Oakland, 66, who has been teaching future teachers at UNI for nearly three decades. “When you go into a school and teach, you’re not just teaching content,” Oakland said. “You’re teaching human beings. “You don’t know them. You don’t know their lifestyle. You don’t know if they’re rich or poor. You don’t know what their home life is like or where they’ve been in their life,” she said. “As a teacher, how do you deal with that?” Iowa requires teaching majors to meet human relations standards to identify and compensate for situations like racial stereotyping or bullying based on sexual orientation and to acknowledge the wide diversity among their students. Oakland has found the UNI campus and the Cedar Valley community — a mix of races, ethnic groups, religions and generations — to be an excellent laboratory. Oakland’s students hold a class exchange with international students in UNI’s Culture and Intensive English Program, where they learn about different cultures and values and, perhaps, make new friends. But one of Oakland’s more notable class projects extends beyond the campus boundaries. SAGE UNIversity, which Oakland founded last year, brings together her human relations students with seniors living at NewAldaya Lifescapes for one hour each week. Named after NewAldaya resident Eddie Sage, but also short for “senior acquire generational experiences,” the program enriches the lives of NewAldaya residents and provides a cross-generational learning experience for the students. “I have 90 students, and we’ve matched them up one-on-one with an elderly person who lives two blocks from campus,” Oakland said. “We’ve seen some of the best relationships ever formed. ... One of the students said the experience renewed the passion in her life.” SAGE UNIversity uses the book “Gratitude — Affirming One Another Through Stories” by former UNI professor Len Froyen to help initiate the discussions between the students and seniors. “Essentially they grow relationships through sto-
rytelling,” Froyen said. “The kids get so excited about it because they see their own stories in the stories of the NewAldaya people.” Froyen said Oakland is the perfect person to help steer SAGE UNIversity. “Kathy is a very exuberant person,” he said. “She has a very quick and effective way for building relationships. She’s good at getting people together and helping to appreciate one another.” Oakland also brings the community to her classroom through a number of guest speakers with expertise on topics such as immigration, religion, race and poverty. “I’m Kathy Oakland from Story City, Iowa. Caucasian, Lutheran, Norwegian. What do I know about diversity?” she said. “I don’t, but I know people who do.” She was thrilled with the idea her class will be held in an area of the campus library where students not enrolled in human relations also might benefit from the speakers, who include three sisters from the African country of Rwanda who hold a special place in Oakland’s heart. Oakland met Nancy Umuhire 11 years ago at Nazareth Lutheran Church. The 20-year-old UNI student had escaped the genocide in Rwanda that claimed the lives of her mother and brother. Umuhire, with help from Oakland and many others at the church and UNI community, not only graduated from UNI but was also her class commencement speaker. Two of Umuhire’s sisters eventually made it to the U.S. too, earning degrees from UNI. “I am Mama Kathy,” said Oakland, who unofficially adopted the sisters during their time at UNI and decorates her office with gifts from Rwanda. The YWCA of Black Hawk County honored Oakland this year as a nominee for the annual Women of Persimmon award, which is designed to recognize those who work to eliminate racism and empower women. Oakland said her motivation in preparing UNI teacher’s to better relate to their future students sits firmly in a frame on her desk, which holds a photograph of her four grandchildren. “Why do I do what I do?” she said. “One of them might be their teacher, and they better be good.” Text | TIM JAMISON
CedarValleyInclusion.com | 19
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
FAMILY FRIENDLY
Former lawmaker and Bosnian immigrant leads Waterloo agency
MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor
V
Vanessa McGuinness, right, talks about car seat safety with Maria Manwet, Victoria Reh, 3, Maria Reh, and Yin Yin Tun.
anessa McGuinness sat on the floor in the front room of a Waterloo home, surrounded by a variety of car seats for children. An infant-sized training doll was placed nearby for the imminent presentation. McGuinness, a family service coordinator with Family & Children’s Council of Black Hawk County 20 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
Inc., was leading an in-home training session on car seat safety for a group of Burmese women. Observing the presentation was McGuinness’ new boss, Anesa Kajtazovic. Kajtazovic, a former Iowa legislator and Bosnian immigrant, is about a month into her stint as executive director of the nonprofit organization.
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION “I am very passionate about the cause,” she said. “Our mission is to prevent child abuse and strengthen families. Our staff, volunteers and board members work toward that. It’s been a good transition for me.” One of Kajtazovic’s first priorities is meeting the organization’s technology needs. “I found out on my fourth day on the job that there were problems when my computer froze up,” she said. “Our server is decades old. I just completed a grant request for our technology needs. Data and keeping records is a huge part of our job.” The car seat safety training session — offered in conjunction with EMBARC, the Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center — is a good example of what Kajtazovic wants to perpetuate and build upon through the council. “We want to develop our relationships with other organizations and serve the community,” she said. The council already works closely with a number of community groups — ranging from Head Start and Operation Threshold to Lutheran Services of Iowa and local hospitals — and offers a variety of programs for family members. One of those programs, Baby and Me, offers parents an opportunity to meet other parents of newborns, add to their parenting skills and interact with their children in a variety of activities such as music, yoga and massage. Another program, Wise Guys, focuses on fathers and young men. For McGuinness, car seat safety is close to her heart. “When my daughter was about 3 months old, she was in her car seat when I took a sharp corner at a busy intersection,” she said. “I was terrified. I had no place to pull over. I realized her car seat had been wrong the whole time. I found out later the car seat
Anesa Kajtazovic, right
we were using was not compatible with my car.” Experiences like McGuinness’ are not uncommon. At a recent Baby and Me class, she offered to check the car seats of the parents in the group. “Ten out of the 11 were incorrect,” she said, “whether it was because the car seat had expired, loose straps or just installed incorrectly.” Another of McGuinness’ duties includes visiting with parents of newborns at Allen Hospital and Covenant Medical Center. “Going to the hospitals and visiting is exciting,” she said. “It’s really tough having a new baby whether it’s your first or your third. Every baby is different. We just want to give the parents the resources they need to be successful.” “We visit well over 600 families a year in the hospitals,” Kajtazovic said. Another staffer visits area elementary schools, a program that reaches 8,000 students, Kajtazovic said. “I think we are unique in the community in the number of people we serve,” she said. “Whether it’s group-based or in-home, we just focus on specific needs, and there is no charge. “We are focusing on engaging as many people as possible and spreading awareness.” Text | HOLLY HUDSON
Burmese community members Yin Yin Tun and Maria Manwet. CedarValleyInclusion.com | 21
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
DIVERSITY Black Hawk County’s population is
85.6%
White
according to the 2010 U.S. Census, only four of Iowa’s 99 counties are more racially diverse: Buena Vista, Crawford, Woodbury and Polk.
Ancestry
11.4
%
(single or multiple) German: 37.8% Irish: 14.5% Other: 47.7%
9.7
%
Population 5 years and over with a disability
Civilian Veterans
51.1
%
Female population in Black Hawk County
Native: 95.6% Foreign-born: 4.4% Naturalized citizen: 37.6% Not a citizen: 62.4%
Language spoken at home Other: 1.8%
92.7% English 4.0% Spanish
Educational attainment High school graduate or higher: Bachelor’s degree or higher: 22 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
90.6% 25.8%
1.1%
Asian and Pacific Islander
1.8% Other
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
IOWA ECONOMICS
$49,427 Median household income
Individual poverty status:
12.8% 6.9%
Per capita income:
$25,667
Median family income:
$62,821
Family poverty status (2011):
8.1% 38.4% Families below poverty level
Individuals below poverty level
Individuals 65 years and over below poverty level
Families with female householder, no husband present, with related children under 18 years below poverty level
CVAlliance 57518 1/2
CedarValleyInclusion.com | 23
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
BOWLING THEM OVER Cadillac Lanes honored for its outreach to children with disablities COURTESY PHOTOS
Children of all abilities and backgrounds served by Cadillac Lanes’ youth program
“N
o One Sits on the Bench” has been a rallying cry at Cadillac Lanes as long as Jenni Roth can remember. Indeed, in leading a long-established youth program at the Waterloo bowling alley, Roth said he takes the slogan literally. Everyone is welcome. That includes kids with disabilities. “It’s a good blend of all ages, ability and a lot of different schools,” Roth said. “It’s not the same kids you’d see at school every day.” The program has been running for more than three decades. In a typical year 10 to 15 percent of the young participants have some sort of physical, mental or behavioral disability, Roth said. “We have several that have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and this has been a positive step for them to be involved,” Roth said. Last spring, Cadillac received a Diversity/ 24 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
Inclusion Award from the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber for the success it had achieved in its come-one-come-all youth program. “The award is the greatest tribute I can think of,” said Roth, who participated in the youth program herself when she was a child. “To see everyone embrace that means more than I can say.” Reaching out to kids of all abilities and backgrounds was a dream of Adrian Erickson, Roth’s late father and longtime co-owner of Cadillac Lanes. Erickson died in May 2014, but business partner Milt Horak continues the program enthusiastically, Roth said. “My dad in the last few years of his life really was reaching out into the community to make sure everyone could be part of our family,” Roth said. Cadillac accommodates everyone, with bumpers and ramps on lanes, where needed, so kids with
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION disabilities can roll right alongside friends who don’t face the same challenges, Roth said. She talked about young Christopher Scott, one of the program’s “bumper bowlers,” who has participated in the program regularly, even though a stroke at birth limited his ability to walk and use his left arm. Roth said the youngster moves around with the help of a walker and has learned to bowl on his knees. He more than compensates with his desire to compete, Roth said. “Next to hockey, it’s the thing he loves most,” Roth said of the young bowling protégé. Christopher’s dad, Scott Schmidt, expressed his appreciation in a video tribute the Alliance & Chamber shared with the audience at its annual awards ceremony last spring. “It’s nice to have the opportunity to be able to be in a sport,” Scott Schmidt said in the video interview. “He has limitations to be able to do certain stuff. To be able to get out and intract with other children and be able to do stuff is great.” Participation in Cadillac’s youth program has been a physical boon to Christopher, as well, his dad said. “It helps to build up his strength in his back and just concentration and using his muscles, and it’s sort
of like therapy,” Scott said. The youth program runs roughly parallel to the school year and will begin anew after Labor Day, Roth said. “That has always been my dad’s philosophy and his way of thinking,” Roth said of Erickson’s desire to include everyone. “It’s one of those things that drew him into bowling when he was a teenager. You don’t have to be athletic or in tip-top shape to be able to bowl. You can young or you can be 85. It’s lifelong activity. You can do it for fun, and you can be competitive with it. It’s enjoyable and has no limitation.” Text | JIM OFFNER
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CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
Rotary Club program sends aid to impoverished Nicaraguan children, families, new mothers
S
teve and Liz Thorpe still remember the moment at the 2001 Rotary International Convention when they first learned about the Children of the Dump. “It was the faces of children looking for a morsel of garbage that could sustain them for one more day. Father Dessey insisted if we could educate these children, we could change their lives. The philosophy that education can break the cycle of poverty has sustained Rotary’s efforts after 14 years,” said Steve Thorpe, who was club president-elect at the time. Marco Dessey an Italian missionary, and Frank Huezo, a native Nicaraguan living in Houston, explained how Hurricane Mitch left 2,000 people homeless in Chinandega, Nicaragua, in 1998. People had to scavenge for food in the town dump. Dessey and other partners opened a school next to the dump, promising children a hot meal. That was enough for the Thorpes to organize the Shoebox Project. They enlisted churches, schools, businesses and 20 Iowa Rotaries to fill shoeboxes with toys, clothing, toiletries and other items. The
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COURTESY PHOTOS
SHOEBOX PROJECT
project now also includes bicycles, dehydrated food, sewing machines and layette supplies. Help from Rotary Clubs in the United States and Ontario, Canada, have not only sustained the project but helped it grow. Mission Headqarters at Chinandega include a school, next to new store; vocational classrooms in wood and metal-working, sewing, computer training and candy making. A women’s shelter for pregnant and new mothers opened in 2003. The club began providing layettes, which include cloth diapers, towels, shampoo and other baby items. Now the site also houses a school for blind children, fine arts academy, 20-bed hospital with two operating rooms and dialysis unit and an auditorium and museum. Since 2002, more than 500 ton of shoeboxes, bikes and other supplies have shipped from Waterloo to Chinandega. “God has had His hand on our shoulder throughout this project,” Steve said. “This work has changed thousands of lives as well as our own.”
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION Another influential project, began by Rotary International in 1985, was the fight to eradicate polio, still prevalent in 125 countries. In Waterloo, attorney Chuck Swisher, Rotarian and partner in Swisher & Cohrt law firm, agreed to lead the campaign to raise money. Swisher, a polio survivor, died before fundraising began. Another partner at the firm, Doug Oberman, also a polio survivor, took over. “Our goal was to raise $24,000 to help with inoculations,” Steve said. “At the end of May, Doug announced we had raised $48,000. What a feat!” Oberman who uses the equivalent of an iron lung every day to stay alive, speaks throughout the country and around the world about the importance of eradicating polio. Polio now exists in only three countries. “In the past seven years, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation teamed up with Rotary to match everything we raise each year. In 30 years, Rotary International has raised $2 billion to eradicate polio. We are so close,” Steve said. Text | CJ HINES
Rotary support helps provide food and other items for children and their famlies.
One Schumacher Way . Denver, IA 50622 800–779–5438 . www.SchumacherElevator.com CedarValleyInclusion.com | 27
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
CAPOERIA COMMUNITY Martial art-infused dance builds bodies, hearts, community COURTNEY COLLINS / Courier Staff Photographer
A
martial art form born of oppression more than 500 years ago, capoeira today is about freeing the mind and building bodies and community. “It demands a lot,” said instructor David Pratt. “The training itself will build you up, but capoeria, spiritually, is a community and a culture.” Pratt, with Cordao de Ouro Academy, teaches classes at Heinz Dance Academy in Cedar Falls. “Disguised in Dance: The Secret History of Capoeira” describes it as “a martial art infused dance.” It was created by West African slaves brought to Brazil by Portugese colonists. The colonists forbade the slaves from celebrating
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Capoeira instructor, David Pratt, studies his students’ techniques.
West African customs and practicing martial arts. “Capoeira is thought to have emerged as a way to bypass these two imposing laws. Hidden in the musical and rhythmical elements of the form, violent kicks were disguised as passionate dance movements, and its combination of a mixture of West African cultures saved it from being identified as an attempt to preserve any specific tradition. As such, capoeira came to life as a survival tool, not only of self-defense, but also of cultural identity,” according to “Diguised in Dance.” For Pratt, capoeira was, at first, simply a new experience. He saw a flyer in a window and attended
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
his first class in 2005 at the YWCA. He was hooked. “Your confidence grows and you build as a person and part of a community,” said Pratt, a security guard at John Deere. At a recent evening class, Pratt helped fellow instructor Alan Huynh lead students through choreographed fight movements. After a series of warm-ups and form drills, the students gathered in a circle. Some played traditional African instruments. Pratt led them in African song. Two by two, the students met in the circle center for “play” — a choreographed sparring in which little or no contact is made. The sparring partners shake hands before and after each artful bout. “Our philosophy is to teach a lifestyle and a culture,” said Huynh, 30, who also teaches capoeira at the University of Northern Iowa. “There’s all kinds of symbolism attached to this. We gather in a circle, and the positive energy gets trapped in the circle.” Colin Johnson, a UNI senior, began attending capoeira classes three years ago to connect further with his African-American heritage. He is now president of the UNI Capoeira Club. For Pratt, who plans to keep teaching, training and advancing, “capoeira is a way to explore new things. But the core is about community. No matter where life takes me, it will be about the culture and community.” Text | META HEMENWAY-FORBES
David Pratt, right, ducks as Colin Johnson kicks during practice CedarValleyInclusion.com | 29
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
NATIVE AMERICANS
3
Number of American Indian areas in Iowa, which include the Omaha, the Sac and Fox/Meskwaki, and the Winnebago. The Sac and Fox/Meskwaki Settlement is the only one in Iowa with residents, totaling 1,062 in 2010.
There are
297 Black Hawk County
24.5% The poverty rate for Iowa American Indian and Alaska Natives families in 2011. The corresponding rate for Iowa is 12.8%.
residents who identified themselves as Native American or Native Alaskan in the 2010 U.S. Census, which represents about 0.2% of the total county population. Statewide, only 0.8% of the population is Native American.
604
The number of American Indian and Alaska Native-owed firms in 2007.
ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER Iowa’s Asian population by group as of 2011: Asian Indian, 22.6%; Chinese, 17.7%; Vietnamese, 13.8%; Korean, 12.9%; Laotian, 8.1%; Filipino, 5.1%; Nepalese, 3.3%; Hmong, 2.5%; other Asian, 14.0%
The median income of Asian households in 2011 was $55,034 in 2011 while the median income of native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders was $69,622. Those exceed the statewide annual median income of $49,427 for that year.
$$$
Black Hawk County is home to 2,276 Asian residents, based on the 2010 U.S. Census. That is 1.7% of the total population.
30 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
The poverty rate for Asians in Iowa was
16.9% in 2011, compared to 12.8% for the state as a whole.
There were
66,595
Asian residents in Iowa in 2011, or 2.2% of the total state population. Iowa’s Asian population grew 54.4% between 2000 and 2011.
IOWANS W/DISABILITIES
SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY
342,642
The number of people in Iowa in 2011 who have some kind of disability. They represent 11.4% of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population.
IS A
GROUP
Disabilities by Type in Iowa: 2011 Cognitive difficulty Self-care difficulty Population 5 years of age and over
EFFORT.
4.4%
Population 5 years of age and over
2.2%
Ambulatory difficulty
5.9%
Population 5 years of age and over
Independent Living difficulty
4.8%
Population 18 years of age and over
Vision difficulty Total population
1.6%
We’re committed to the success of credit unions and their members.
Hearing difficulty Total Population
3.6%
$16,135
And to improving the Cedar Valley area in which they live. Learn more at cunamutual.com/community
Median earnings for Iowans age 16 and over with disabilities with earnings in 2011. The median earnings for Iowans age 16 and over with earnings in 2011 without disabilities is $29,533.
33.5% Percentage of people 65 and older in 2011 with a disability, the highest of any age group.
CORP-1221083.1-0615-0717 ŠCUNA Mutual Group, 2015 All Rights Reserved.
CedarValleyInclusion.com | 31
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
TIFFANY RUSHING / Courier Staff Photographer
Megan Thul, center, shows Emma Rosonke and Erica Bruns how to tie fishing line to hooks.
FEMININE WILDS
DNR program lets girls hone outdoor skills for lifelong enjoyment
Katie Probasco, Shayla Timm and Trinity Ellsworth are among participants 32 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
T
he girls sat at picnic tables, hunched over with knives in their gloved hands, focused and listening intently to their mentors who hovered nearby. While a few anxious moments developed — evidenced by statements like, “Oh, my God, it’s still alive,” and “It’s really slippery” — most of the young ladies seemed confident as they cleaned and filleted a variety of fish. “Perfect. Great job,” said Terry Blank, as his ward carefully cut her way through a bluegill. “Look at that,” he said proudly. “We’re gonna need another fish over here.” Blank was one of several members of the Cedar Valley Walleye Club volunteering at the Outdoor Journey for Girls at Hickory Hills Park. The session was the last day of the three-day program that introduces girls 12 to 15 years old to outdoor skills. The program is offered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources with Iowa Women in Natural Resources and Pheasants Forever. This was the fourth year Cedar Valley Walleye Club members offered their expertise. “It’s a fun deal,” Blank said. “It’s great seeing young people involved with fishing. “And they’re doing a great job. There are a couple of girls that I wouldn’t be afraid to give them a fish and say ‘Go clean it.’” The girls got to try out their new abilities on carp, suckers, bluegill, bass, northern pike and walleye. “These are skills they can use all their lives and introduce their kids to,” Blank said. “It’s a great program. We need more like it.” Karen Osterkamp, a fisheries biologist with the DNR, has been involved with the Outdoor Journey program since 1993. Thursday she was offering instruction on casting — telling the girls about the difference between closed-face, spinning and fly fishing reels and demonstrating different techniques. Soon the girls grabbed rods, spread out and tried their hands at casting, aiming for Hula Hoops and plastic fish spread out on the grass. Later they would get the chance to test their new skills on the lake. “It gives girls the basic information they need for a lifelong activity,” she said of the fishing session. “It’s a great, inexpensive way to spend time with family members. It’s a good pastime for young girls. My daughter started when she was 12 and she turns 23 soon and she still fishes.” While the final day of the program focused on fishing — equipment, casting, identification and regulations and cleaning and preparing — Day
1 featured orienting and compass, camping and survival, canoe and water safety, muzzle loading and fur harvesting. The first part of Day 2 introduced the girls to firearm safety, guns and ammunition; wildlife identification and care conservation and management; and hunter responsibility and ethics. On day 3 participants were instructed in firearms shooting, archery and safety trail. Dinner that night included wild game and fish sampling. Lori Eberhard, park manager at George Wyth State Park, also assists with the Outdoor Journey program. “This program has been going for 23 years,” she said. “The best thing about it is some of these girls have never been exposed to the outdoors. They get their experience through Wii or xBox, not the real thing. It is really important to get people out there, especially young women. “They love it,” she said. “At first they are a bit timid, quiet and some are homesick. By the third day, we see an amazing transformation. “Personally, this is a nice refresher. It reminds me why I got into the field in the first place.” As the program was winding down, the girls listened to a number of speakers who have careers in areas ranging from conservation and parks to fisheries and law enforcement. Cousins Emilee Steimel and Ali Jochumsen, both 12 and from Hudson, each enjoyed learning about firearms and cleaning fish the best, though they both admitted to being apprehensive in the beginning. “I was a little nervous about the shotgun,” Steimel said, “but they teach you the safety of what you’re doing and enforce it in a good way.” Both girls said they would like to pursue outdoor activities in the future. “I would love to be a chaperone here,” Steimel said. “I love nature,” Jochumsen said. “I would like to do this. It’s really fun and interesting.” Outdoor Journey is offered three times a year — in June and August at Springbrook Conservation Education Center in Guthrie Center and July at Hickory Hills. For information, go online at www. iwinr.com.
Text | HOLLY HUDSON
CedarValleyInclusion.com | 33
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
FIELD OF DREAMERS
BRANDON POLLOCK/ Courier Staff Photographer Above, members of the Assembly for Civil Rights march with advocates
Monica Reyes
Immigration activists grow their volunteer network to raise awareness S
isters Monica Reyes and Nilvia Brownson were literally just two Dreamers with a simple dream. The pair had recently received temporary legal status in the United States thanks to an executive order from President Barack Obama when they launched a social media group aimed at helping others to make use of the benefits provided by the order. Three years later, Dream Iowa is growing exponentially in both size and scale as they recruit more people join the fight for comprehensive immigration reform. “It started as mostly Dreamers and getting some sort 34 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
of Dream Act going again,” Brownson, 22, said, referring to the federally proposed Development, Relief, and Education for Minors Act that was never adopted but gave birth to the term for minors brought to the United States illegally that want to become citizens. “Now, it’s become more of an everyone sort of group. It’s still titled Dream Iowa but we want people to know it’s not just for the Dreamers, and we want to keep families together, and that’s our ultimate goal. That means Dreamers, parents of Dreamers, non-Dreamers. It means everything.”
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION It means that the volunteer group, which has now candidates that they are Americans in every sense but grown to more than 300 members, is aiming to get their documentation. enacted a pathway to citizenship for the estimated “There are some people, like with any other issue, that 11.5 million unauthorized immigrants living, and often are extremely against it, and will do a lot of Internet working, in the United States. bullying and whatnot, but then there are a lot of people Reyes, 24, brought up in New Hampton with her sister that are in the middle that are finally, for the first time, and now living in Waterloo, said part of what launched seeing a face in front of the issue and are hearing our the group to prominence was simply her going public stories for the first time and are realizing that we’re just with her story. Reyes confronted U.S. Rep. Steve King, like them,” Reyes said. R-4th District, in New Hampton during a town hall about She continues, “We’re plain Janes and Joes, that we a year ago after he had made controversial statements grew up here in the United States, debating between about unauthorized immigrants. Cyclones and Hawkeyes, going to the Iowa State Fair, CNC instructor Jerome Amos Jr., “Iowa is finally getting onstanding the works map with in Orintheo regards going to fairs in the summer, the county fairs, all of these Campbell to immigration. Postville, that was a huge raid. things that any other Iowan has done.” Marshalltown, that was another big raid. Pastor Max. But While Reyes says she’s seen a better understanding in the past I don’t think that undocumented immigrants of immigration issues, Dream Iowa activists recognize had really been a part of the story and our side had never there’s a long way to go to dispel the myths. really been told,” Reyes said. “And part of it was because Brownson, for example, is married to an American of fear, obviously.” citizen so can now apply for citizenship here, but she said After Reyes found success in sharing her story — she people don’t understand that there’s a steep cost to that and her sister were brought to the United States from and that there is no “line” for her to get in. So, she said Mexico by a mother who was fleeing an abusive partner when people say lawbreakers should go to the back of — she continues that as one of the strategies to raise the line when seeking a pathway to citizenship, there’s awareness and fight for immigrants’ rights. no such thing. Thanks to Obama’s 2012 order Deferred Action for And Dream Iowa has heard too loudly and too clearly the comments from Republican presidential contender Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, people like Reyes live in less fear of sharing that story. But Brownson who has Donald Trump that Mexican immigrants are rapists, criminals and involved with drugs. Especially when they a year-old daughter Sophia and is married to Henry Brownson, an American citizen, reminds that as an know their reality. “People surely do support him and his views, and order, it can be revoked after Obama leaves office, putting families like hers in just as much risk as before. it’s probably because they have not been exposed to our community and if they’re extremely supportive (of Because of DACA’s critical importance, and what it would take to get a federal immigration package passed, his views), they are just plain old on the wrong side of history,” Reyes said. people like Reyes have focused on sharing their stories with politicians in power, like King, or those hoping to be, In exposing people to the immigrant community, Dream Iowa is first trying to broaden the American like the bevy of 2016 presidential candidates now racing through Iowa ahead of the caucus. understanding of their experiences but it’s also aimed at empowering others to share their immigrant story. One “Iowa is a very important state, and I consider myself an Iowan, so as an Iowan, I’m going to be asking questions way they’re seeking to accomplish that is an 11-minute that affect my family, that affects our future,” said Maria documentary with Dreamers who are sharing their Gonzalez, a recent addition to Dream Iowa whose family coming-to-America tale. settled in Marshalltown after coming to the United While there is a range — some were old enough to know their family’s status, others found out when they States from Mexico. Gonzalez, 26, a bilingual assistant teacher in tried to get a job or go to college — the story is the same Marshalltown, also notes that while the Dreamers, and in their desire to become Americans. recipients of DACA, cannot vote, they are people with a “I do feel like the more that people come out and talk, that fear starts to leave,” Gonzalez said. “I think more family and network here in the United States. “Right now, one of our biggest things that we’re working people that are undocumented are showing those that on … (is) growing the numbers, growing the allies, but are in this country what immigrants are really about.” also, talking to a lot of candidates, because I feel like a lot of them, most of the time, don’t realize that our brothers Text | ANDREW WIND and our sisters and some of our aunts or uncles, they can all vote,” Gonzalez said. “They forget that.” Along with that reminder, Dream Iowa is informing CedarValleyInclusion.com | 35
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
WATER WINGS
Waterhawks’ adaptive water-skiing clinic gives participants thrilling ride A
blast of full throttle, and Ed Burroughs, Tarissa Hagenow and Amanda Ruehs, up to their necks in water, begin to move. A half second later, a wobble and a splash. Pilot Dean Weber circles the boat, they untangle ropes, organize skis and try again. Throttle up, splash down. The group makes a few more attempts. Then Burroughs, 27, finds his center. He and his assistants pop up and take off across Eagle Lake near Evansdale. They turn and pass by the dock. Balanced and comfortable now, Burroughs calls for more speed. Hagenow drops her tow rope and is gone. Ruehs pulls off to a safe distance, and the wake belongs to Burroughs. He cuts outside into smooth, undisturbed water, skimming the surface with his left hand. Burroughs hops in and out of the wake but catches
36 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
an edge. His adventure ends with a spectacular face-plant. “I don’t even know what happened — ‘No, it’s over!’” he said later. “It was like balancing a teeter-totter on a water bed,” Burroughs added. He came from Des Moines on Monday to join about a dozen other people at the lake who rely on wheelchairs. Each wanted to water-ski, to muscle their way up and to feel the spray on their legs and face. “This is to give folks an opportunity to do something maybe they’ve never done before or used to do before their injury,” organizer Gary Gilles said. He is a certified therapeutic recreation specialist with Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare at Covenant Medical Center. Gilles worked with colleagues and with volunteers representing the Waterhawks Ski
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION Team, which provided skiers and a boat and donated fuel for the day. The adaptive water-skiing clinic, a daylong session each summer, has been running for about 20 years, according to Gilles. “We’re so blessed to have the Waterhawks team to do this, for us and for them,” said Bev Abbott, a registered nurse in Covenant’s rehabilitation department. Abbott rode in the boat as a precaution should one of the skiers have a problem. She has worked many of the annual clinics and admitted enjoying the assignment. “I get so excited. It’s just so awesome to see them participate in an activity like this,” Abbott said. Gilles noted accepting the challenge can be intimidating. “It can be. And sometimes their injury might be because of water — diving into a shallow area — so for them, getting back into the water can be scary,” he said. Mary Guerin could tell her 15-year-old son, Ben, was a bit nervous Monday. The family traveled from Cuba City, Wis., so Ben, a wheelchair athlete, could test the water. Ben was born with spina bifida, a congenital birth defect. “He’s always talked about trying this, but he’s never had an opportunity. So this is good. We were
ready,” Mary Guerin said. “He used to swim when he was little like a fish, but he’s kind of gotten away from it,” she added. Like a cork, Ben popped up on his first try and later gave his mom a smile when he got back to the dock. “It was fun,” Ben told her. Burroughs lost the use of his legs, has no feeling below mid-chest and no control over his abdominal muscles — the end result of a car crash. “No drugs, no alcohol. I just fell asleep on the way to school — cruise control is not autopilot,” he said. Though outgoing and an adventurer, Burroughs conceded some reluctance to accept the Waterhawks’ invitation. “Initially, I was really nervous I wouldn’t be able to do it,” he added. Burroughs had a couple of other concerns as well. He doesn’t like taking help, preferring to manage on his own. Burroughs also thought he might be strapped into the ski’s seat. “I was kind of hesitant to do it. I’ve been invited for years,” Burroughs added. After his successful run, Burroughs was a convert. “God, that was fun. I definitely want to go again,” he said. Text and Photos | DENNIS MAGEE
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Tyson Fresh Meats cares about the Cedar Valley Tyson Fresh Meats is proud to support growth and prosperity in the Cedar Valley. We are committed to contributing to the local economy and to making a difference in our community through job opportunities, employee benefit programs, our diversity, and the many rewarding partnerships we enjoy throughout our community.
©2013 Tyson Foods, Inc. Tyson is a registered trademark of Tyson Foods, Inc. 5027824
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2701 Midport Blvd. Waterloo, IA
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CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
LATINO OR HISPANIC
22.7 is the median age of the Latino population in 2012. the median age in the state of Iowa is 38.1.
The number of Iowa residents age 5 and older in 2011 who speak Spanish at home. Among those who speak Spanish at home, 56.0 percent say they speak English “very well.�
113,951
Estimated Latino population of Iowa as of July 1, 2012,
The percent of Iowa Latino population with no health insurance coverage in 2011
since 2000.
The corresponding rate for all Iowa is 8.9 percent.
91.6%
The number of Latinos living below the poverty rate was
162,894
5.3 % of total statewide population.
13.7%
32.6%
in Iowa in 2010 compared to 12.6% for all Iowans.
Estimated Latino population of Iowa as of July 1, 2012,
Percentage of Latino population under age 5 as of July 1, 2012. Latinos have a higher concentration of preschoolers among the population than any other race or ethnic group.
Hispanic or Latino group breakdown in Iowa as of 2011:
Mexican 77.9% Puerto Rican 4.2% Cuban 1.1% Guatemalan 4.7% Salvadoran 4.4% All other Hispanic or Latino 9.7%.
25.4%
Median annual income in 2010 for Latino households was
$33,295 compared to statewide average of $47,427.
29,428
The number of Latino families in 2011 who resided in Iowa.
32.8%
of those are responsible for grandchildren under 18 years of age. This compares to 42.8 percent for the United States. 3,584 The number of Latino grandparents in 2010 living with their own grandchildren.
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CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
AFRICAN-AMERICANS 94,028
52,328
The 2011 African-American population in Iowa. African-Americans constitute 3.1% of the state’s total population. In 1980, African-Americans made up 1.4% of the state’s total population.
The numeric change in the African-American population from 1980 to 2011. This is a 125.5% increase for the period.
168,721 The projected AfricanAmerican population of Iowa as 2040. According to Woods & Pool Economics Inc., AfricanAmericans will constitute 5% of the state’s total population.
16,097
The number of African-American families in 2011 who resided in Iowa. Of these families, 69.5% include their own children under 18 years of age.
10.4%
72.6
%
increase in the number of African-American families in the state of Iowa from 1980 to 2011. 40 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
Percentage of the AfricanAmerican population under age 5, in 2011. African- Americans have a higher concentration of preschoolers among the population than the state as a whole (6.5 percent). In 1980 the percentage of the AfricanAmerican population under age 5 was 10.9.
20% of African-American families with children who live with both parents in 2011 compared to 70.1% for the state of Iowa. In 1980 this percentage was 41.7 compared to the state of Iowa’s 83.6%.
CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
LOCAL FESTIVALS CINCO DE MAYO The event showcases Hispanic and Latino culture. It takes place at Lincoln Park and downtown Waterloo.
COURIER FILE PHOTOS
IRISH FEST Irish culture is celebrated in Iowa in downtown Waterloo and is held annually during the first full weekend of August.
NORTH END ARTS & MUSIC FEST This annual event, held in late August, celebrates the arts and culture of Waterloo’s north end, the historical starting point for many of the ethnic groups that came to Waterloo.
CEDAR VALLEY PRIDEFEST In August in downtown Waterloo, the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of Eastern Iowa is highlighed in a positive manner to promote acceptance, understanding and equality.
JUNETEENTH It’s an annual, multi-day event in mid-June. Juneteenth marks the freeing of the last slaves at the end of the Civil War.
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CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
RESOURCES JESSE COSBY NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER www.jessecosby.org The Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center provides community-based and culturally competent services to individuals and families in need of assistance and serves as the coordinating link between the greater community and available resources. 1112 Mobile St., Waterloo 232-1793
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CENTER OF HAWKEYE COMMUNITY COLLEGE The Martin Luther King Jr. Center is a neighborhood center that provides educational opportunities for the community. The center has a state-of-theart computer lab that is open to students and the community. 515 Beech St., Waterloo 296-4440
THE ARC CEDAR VALLEY NAACP www.naacpblackhawk.org Meetings are held at 7 p.m. the fourth Thursday of every month at the Jesse Cosby Center. 112 Mobile St., Waterloo 232-7150
BOSNIAN CULTURAL FOUNDATION www.bosnianculturalfoundation.org The Bosnian Cultural Foundation is a nonprofit organization in Waterloo that is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Bosnian and BosnianAmerican culture, traditions and artifacts. 242-1623
WATERLOO COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS www.ci.waterloo.ia.us/humanrights The Waterloo Commission on Human Rights is an organization committed to addressing and redressing all forms of discrimination. 620 Mulberry St. 291-4441
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL MUSEUM AAHCM is a boxcar museum whose mission is to promote greater knowledge of the African-American community in the Cedar Valley through the collection, preservation and interpretation of the historical past. 1320 E. Fourth St., Waterloo
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www.arccv.org The Arc’s mission is to advance the total well-being, dignity, individual potential and rights of people with intellectual and related developmental disabilities and their families. 232-0437
SPECIAL OLYMPICS www.soiowa.org Special Olympics is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Special Olympics offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round training and competition in 26 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. There is no charge to participate in Special Olympics. (515) 986-5520
NORTH STAR COMMUNITY SERVICES www.northstarcs.org North Star is a private, non-profit rehabilitative services agency providing adult day services, employment services and supported community living services so individuals with disabilities are better able to live enriched lives in our communities. 3420 University Ave., Waterloo 236-0901
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF NORTHEAST IOWA INC. www.gwneia.org 2640 Falls Ave., Waterloo 234-4626
EXCEPTIONAL PERSONS INC. www.episervice.org EPI was created to facilitate and coordinate the development of local activity centers for people with disabilities. 760 Ansborough Ave., Waterloo 232-6671
BLACK HAWK CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING www.blackhawkcenter.org Centers for Independent Living are private, nonprofit corporations that provide services to maximize the independence of individuals with disabilities and the accessibility of the communities they live in. Serves Benton, Bremer, Black Hawk, Butler, Grundy counties. 312 Jefferson St., Waterloo 291-7755
IOWA DEPARTMENT FOR THE BLIND www.blind.state.ia.us Iowa Department for the Blind offers specialized, integrated services that blind and severely visually impaired Iowans need to live independently and work competitively. Department services and programs include a library for the blind and physically handicapped, vocational rehabilitation services, independent living rehabilitation services, the adult orientation and adjustment center, business enterprises program, an aids and devices store, and public education and in-service training. Waterloo Branch 3420 University Ave., Suite A, Waterloo 226-3352 Compiled by Holly Hudson
Waterloo Commission on Human Rights
“Celebrating over 49 years of protecting human and civil rights and fostering economic development and growth�
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CEDAR VALLEY INCLUSION
COM M UNI TY COMM Diversity describes the rich differences that people bring to the University of Northern Iowa community. UNI celebrates the unique contributions of each person and prepares students to thrive in a diverse, global environment.
uni.edu
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