Cedar Valley Inclusion
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Cedar Valley Inclusion
Veridian ... Treats me like family Values my point of view Focuses on my needs Takes the extra step for me Makes banking easy
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Cedar Valley Inclusion
Veridian members featured Front row: Amy Second row: Tyler, Jennifer, Philip, Ajay Third row: Lori, Anthony, Jim
Visit veridiancu.org/inclusion to hear how we’re building connections with our members. CedarValleyInclusion.com | 3
Cedar Valley Inclusion
FROM THE EDITOR W elcome to another edition of Cedar Valley
Inclusion, the Courier’s special publication
dedicated to the diversity of the Cedar Valley,
published twice a year.
In our spring 2015 edition, we bring you the stories of businesses and proprietors who go the extra mile to bring diversity to their workplaces. We feature a woman who is overcoming the odds to run her own business. We talk to a group of international women who have made the Cedar Valley their home and show how they bring their diversity to share with others. This publication is one of my favorites to produce because it gives us a chance to feature people in our community who might otherwise not be newsmakers. This magazine gives us a chance to step outside of hard news and get a deeper look at the Cedar Valley through its rich diversity. As I have said before, diversity is important to the Cedar Valley. It provides the area with a big-city feel in a smalltown setting. It makes us all more rounded and better people, and should be held up as a source of pride. Thank you to all that agreed to be a part of it. If you know of stories of others that would be good to feature, please drop me a letter or email: Nancy Newhoff, P.O. Box 540, Waterloo, 50704, or nancy.newhoff@wcfcourier.com
Nancy Newhoff Editor
4 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
Cedar Valley Inclusion
14 STARTING TO CLICK
8
International women find friends, support in Cedar Valley.
APPLAUSE
North Star theater productions give performers a chance to shine.
18 COMMON GROUNDS
East High launches student-run coffee shop.
20 INTERNATIONAL ROOTS
InVision reaches into other cultures for expertise.
11 KEY TO SUCCESS
Kryton employee communicates excellence without the gift of speech.
CedarValleyInclusion.com | 5
Cedar Valley Inclusion
32 INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
Foreign students thriving at Upper Iowa University.
24 REMOVING BARRIERS
Lalaina Rabary works to build a welcoming community.
26 UMARU BALDE
A different accent on Latino services.
34 A FOOT IN THE DOOR
Program bringing more minorities into the manufacturing field.
36 QUESTIONING FAITH
Atheists search for acceptance in Cedar Valley.
28 BARRE NONE
Wheelchair is no barrier for dace teacher.
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 Melody Parker Meta Hemenway-Forbes Holly Hudson Tim Jamison Pat Kinney John Molseed Jim Offner Andrew Wind Mike Anderson Christinia Crippes
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
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:
90.6% 25.8%
1.1%
Asian and Pacific Islander
1.8% Other CedarValleyInclusion.com | 7
Cedar Valley Inclusion
APPLAUSE North Star theater productions give performers a chance to shine
COURTESY PHOTOS 8 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
Scenes from 2013’s ‘Peter Pan.’
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R
uss Hamilton can’t resist talking about his swashbuckling role as Captain Hook in “Peter Pan” two years ago. “I liked hearing the crowd laugh, clap and cheer when something happened,” he says, describing his star turn when the North Star Players presented the musical at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. Now he’s been cast as the tiger Shere Khan in the June musical, “The Jungle Book.” “The tiger fits me,” he says with a deep growl. Then he smiles, “I don’t get out much, so it’s something fun to do and entertain people.” Kylie Paton, who will play the Indian rock python Kaa, is practicing hissing when he speaks, and Lee Robinson is pleased to be cast in his favorite role — a bird. “I get to wear a nose. I like the costumes,” he explains. Amy Powell will make her stage debut as Akela, the wolf. “I’ve seen the other plays before, but I’ve never been in one. I’m a little nervous, but excited. I can’t wait for my mom to come and watch me.” The actors are members of an ensemble cast featuring nearly 100 clients at North Star Community Services, as well as staff and volunteers. Veteran director Greg Holt has been at the helm since 2008. Previous productions have included “Alice,” “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” and “The Wizard of Oz.” For each production, there is a dress rehearsal and public performance in a single day, following several months of rehearsals. Producing and performing in a theatrical production every two years allows adults with a wide range of disabilities to show off their skills and talents both on stage and as crew members, says Jodie Muller, North Star director of development and public relations. “They have a lot of hidden talents, and we have some really good singers. The musical is like any other fullscale musical, and Greg is fantastic. He’s like a rock star to the participants,” she says. Haley Krall, Day Habilitation Services manager and stage manager, describes the shows as “impressive. It’s not just ‘let’s put on a play.’ Audiences are blown away by the production values and the performances. The performers love talking about their roles.” Roles are cast by North Star staff, and Holt adds more characters so anyone who wants to participate has an opportunity to shine. For “Jungle Book,” he’s added spiders, butterflies, monkeys, elephants, birds, wolves and other animal characters. Experienced local actors fill the lead roles, and volunteers shadow North Star actors so they don’t need to memorize lines. Actors also must learn to rely on and trust each other. Cast as the vulture Zippy, Sandra Marbles enjoys the whole process, particularly working with other actors. “It’s fun to do. I just like it,” she says, adding that she
played a pirate in “Peter Pan” and a witch in “Oz.” Holt sets the bar high for production values. “The show has to look good on the Great Hall stage. Visually we want the stage to captivate the audience.” Krall and her mother, Diane Fineran of Denison, sew most of the costumes, and New Hartford artist Bill Close volunteers his time and skill to build and paint the stage sets. Working with the performers – some who are nonverbal, others who use wheelchairs – is an organic process. “You have to be perceptive. You can’t just force your vision on them. If they like something, they show it. If they don’t want to do something, they’ll show that, too. They’re very demonstrative,” Holt explains. Initially, he was surprised by the love and passion the North Star actors displayed. It’s those unreserved responses that result in authentic and sincere performances. “My goal is to build a safety net so they can embody their roles and be comfortable on stage. They’re nervous, but they have a good time, and the result, I hope, is a wonderful and memorable experience.” On a personal level, the director finds the experience “affirming. It’s wonderful to see how the community embraces these actors. It’s their moment to shine, to be stars and to be like any other performers. They beam – there’s radiance in their demeanors. “The pay-off isn’t just the final product, but the very tangible love and feedback from the community. You see the support from family and friends, and everyone gets caught up in the show. Ultimately, it’s just good entertainment,” the director maintains. Mueller agrees. “I remember Russ Hamilton telling me that he liked to ‘put on a costume, go on stage and forget I have a disability.’ To me, that speaks volumes about what this experience can do for people.”
Text | MELODY PARKER
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KEYS TO SUCCESS
Kryton employee communicates excellence without the gift of speech
MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor
C
ory Troyer can’t speak, but he communicates plenty. Troyer, 28, was born without three of the 12 nerves that control his lips, tongue and soft palate. It rendered him, for all practical purposes, unable to speak. As a result, he said, verbal communication “is one of the biggest challenges” in his job as laser operator at Kryton Engineered Metals in Cedar Falls. It’s a challenge, but it’s not insurmountable. “With God’s help, I know it is possible to overcome any barriers that have stood in my way,” Troyer said, communicating, as he often does, via a keyboard. The job is challenging enough for anyone without a disability, said Kevin Harberts, Kryton’s CEO. Indeed, Harberts noted that Troyer was hired three years ago to be a janitor. But Harberts said he noticed something special about
Cory Troyer
Troyer early on. “Our place never looked so good after he got done cleaning,” Harberts said. “I saw something in him.” It didn’t take Harberts long to realize his young employee was destined for more responsibility. “We decided to move him to one of our laser machines and taught him how to run that,” Harberts said. “He’s probably been over there a year or longer.” It’s not an easy job, and it requires some communications skills, Harberts said. “At first, I’m sure, my supervisor thought I had lost my mind,” Harberts said. “It was a challenge on the communications side of it, but he’s got an iPad so he can write out stuff.” Training on the laser machine took a bit longer, perhaps, Harberts acknowledged. “But he just knocks it out of the park,” Harberts said. “He runs more than he has to every day.” CedarValleyInclusion.com | 11
Cedar Valley Inclusion
That’s something Harberts had come to expect early on, long before Troyer took on his new responsibilities. “Whatever he did here, he just did it with excellence,” Harberts said. “He’d take stainless steel polish and polished the sink in the break room every night. We didn’t tell him to do that; he just did it. The guys just throw their junk in there and it’s always really a sad sight. But, the next day, it would be spotless.” Troyer, a Waterloo native and resident, said it just comes naturally to him. “I would describe my work ethic as hard worker, on time all the time, and will do whatever is takes to get the job done,” Troyer said. “This work ethic I learned from my family, especially my parents, Tim and Brenda Troyer.” Brandie White, human resources director at Kryton, said Troyer has won over the respect of all of the company’s approximately 70 employees. “I don’t think there’s one person here who wouldn’t do something for Cory if he asked,” White said. “When he started as a custodian, he went above and beyond anything we expected. He was cleaning railings that never had been cleaned before. Everything was in pristine condition. He also earned the respect of all the other
MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor 12 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
employees, as well.” Troyer said his written communications skills played a role in his home life, as well. “I got married May 31, 2014, to my beautiful wife, Rebekah,” he said. “We happened to meet online two years ago, even though we only lived two short hours away from each other.” Meeting Rebekah online was facilitated the couple getting to know each other, given Cory’s verbal communication limitations, he said. “When I told Rebekah about my speech problem, she was completely understanding,” he said. “I learned that she loved me — and still loves me — the way God made me and for the man I am today because of my speech problem.” Kryton figures into the couple’s long-term plans, “My plans for the immediate and long-term future would include continuing to grow in the Kryton family, starting a family, becoming a business owner (longterm future), and doing whatever God has for me to do,” he said. Text | JIM OFFNER
Cory Troyer
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r. ve
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of Northeast Iowa Established in Waterloo/Cedar Falls in 1956
Fo
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COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
319.287.9106 www.cfneia.org
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STARTING TO CLICK International women find friends, support in Cedar Valley
MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor
E
very gathering of the Cedar Valley International Women’s Group is a reunion, a meet and greet, a language lesson, a cultural etiquette class or a therapy session. And oftentimes, it’s all of the above. Their two monthly get-togethers — one for morning coffees and one for after-work dinners — bring together a handful to several dozen women who are either from foreign countries or lived abroad before moving to Northeast Iowa. The events’ only formalities are a posed photo of the group and a small gift giveaway. Everything else is anything goes. While it sounds like nothing more than the usual social gatherings taking place all across the Cedar Valley, with perhaps a more worldly flavor, the women in the group make clear that it’s so much more. “You do feel loved,” said Marina Bekavac, who is from Croatia, but has lived the last 17 years in Iowa.
April Plassman
“To me, it was a miracle to find the group. I was so lonely,” said Sandra Flikkema, who is from the United States, but had trouble making the adjustment to Iowa life after living abroad for several years. She adds, “It’s like finding your tribe.” “For me, I can say it just helps me find friends,” said Isabel Bayer, an Ecuador native who relishes meeting other Spanish speakers at the gatherings and speaking in her native tongue. She also enjoys learning about other cultures. Part of the reason that the group members feel such a strong connection is because they’re all joined by being outsiders, in their own way. Though welcomed in the community, the members had reason to seek out and come to a meeting of the Cedar Valley International Women’s Group. For some, it was difficult to break through the cliques of Iowa natives to find friends they really clicked with. Others needed practical guidance for fitting into the American Midwest. Others sought CedarValleyInclusion.com | 15
Cedar Valley Inclusion
out fellow outsiders to find their “tribe.”
Building the tribe
The Cedar Valley International Women’s Group was formed nearly five years ago by April Plassman, a Pennsylvania native who had lived internationally before settling into Cedar Falls in 2007. The mission was to simply smooth the transition for women who are new to the community, or who have returned from living abroad. Plassman said the only requirements for the group are being a woman and having an interest in or experience with the international community. Plassman said she started the group to “make sure these ladies are taken care of, because they’re important. And they need, to me, to be made to feel … like they have a place where they can have that support.” Members say they’ve gotten help — or helped others — with everything from finding family doctors to explaining cultural quirks of the Midwest to choosing extracurricular activities for their kids to simply engaging in conversations about life. Plassman has never advertised the group, and it doesn’t have a website. Instead, every woman who comes to a gathering hears about it from a friend. It has all grown by word of mouth. It hasn’t made it difficult for members to find out about the group. “I hunt out these types of groups,” said Pam Windeknecht, an American who has moved across the country and world 11 times with her husband who works at John Deere. Windeknecht isn’t alone in that — either in being a wife of a John Deere employee or hunting out these support groups. In fact, Plassman thought of forming the group after finding similar ones that were specifically for Deere families living abroad. She expanded that idea, realizing that there is a larger community of international women living in the Cedar Valley.
attitude,” Ohrt said. “She’s amazing for putting this together.” Though only for women, the group does hold an annual event each summer that brings together all of their families. It’s described as “chaotic,” but a lot of fun. Their connections are clear in that the group meets for an allotted time during their get-togethers, but they often run long, as members continue to stay, chit-chat and enjoy the warmth of others. “I think that it’s a good idea to bring the international women into one community, and just feel like a family,” said Sunshine Yang, a member who is Chinese but has lived in the United States for many years. Text | CHRISTINIA CRIPPES
Becoming a family
Plassman said the first gathering of the international women’s group had 17 women show up for a Monday morning coffee, but the second one dipped to six. Today there is a core of between 60 and 80 women who regularly attend either the morning coffees or evening dinners, or both. Those women represent 51 countries. Miriam Ohrt, a native of Mexico who has lived in Cedar Falls for the past eight years, said it’s a credit to Plassman that the group thrives. “April is amazing. April has a very positive 16 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
Marta Drescher, right, of Brazil hugs Marina Bekavac at a Cedar Valley International Women’s Club get-together.
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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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COMMON GROUNDS
East High launches student-run coffee shop Photos by BRANDON POLLOCK/ Courier Staff Photographer
S
leepy-eyed students at East High School can now get a morning jolt at the school’s new coffee shop. East Daily Grind, which opened a little over a month ago, offers coffee, tea, hot chocolate and several flavors of cappuccino to students and staff looking for a warm pick-me-up. Senior Martaysha Jones handed over $2 on a recent morning for her daily cappuccino fix. “I come in here a lot. I love it. I really like to support 18 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
them,” she said. Monica Iliff’s special education students are responsible for the shop’s daily operations. Their duties include everything from inventory and cleaning to being cashiers and baristas. “They have been involved every step of the way,” Iliff said. East Daily Grind is the brainchild of the East High Leadership Task Force, which formed in fall 2013. The task force aims to expose students to the
Cedar Valley Inclusion
Paige manages the shop’s social media accounts. It was the students who decided, based on surveys they created, what would be served at the shop. Boyer has even drafted a new survey he’ll distribute soon to determine what cold drinks and food items will be served when the weather warms up. “That was something that was important to us,” Denton said. “We needed the kids to be engaged. We really wanted the kids to have some say and some input. If it’s just a bunch of adults going ‘blah, blah, blah,’ they tune out. Here, they have ownership.” East Daily Grind has turned out to be a huge hit with students and staff. In just a month, sales have far exceeded Iliff’s wildest expectations. “Business has been really good,” she said. “Yeah, caffeine is great,” Boyer said, smiling. Joseph Burris delivers coffee from the East Daily Grind.
business world and teach them valuable work skills. “In our first few months of meetings, we were trying to identify student needs,” said task force member Carrie Denton. “We invited student leaders to come to the meeting to help identify those needs. What do you guys want? We don’t want to give you stuff that isn’t useful to you. It came up that West (High) and Expo have coffee shops. If they can do it, why can’t we? Once we got the idea, it just took off.” Local businesses got behind the project, donating time, money, products and services to get the coffee shop up and running. Regions Bank, East High’s Partner in Education, donated $500 in start-up costs, and the manager of a local restaurant spoke to the students about standards of cleanliness in a food service operation. The rest has been the determination and elbow grease of students and staff. Mornings at the Daily Grind are a flurry of activity as a line forms outside the second-floor shop’s doors. Iliff runs a tight ship, making sure her students stay on task. On a recent Thursday, senior Kaliyah Jones busied herself with cleaning duties in between phone orders for classroom deliveries. Barista Alex Boyer, a sophomore, prepared drinks as senior Malik Morgan worked the cash register. Their grades are based on customer service and teamwork. “The biggest things students are learning is customer service and being professional with each other,” Iliff said. “Far and away, the work ethic I have seen has been really amazing. Anybody would want to hire one of these guys. Iliff’s students, along with a number of other students, have been involved with the Daily Grind from the ground up. The coffee shop’s logo and menu were designed by students, and co-op student Hailey
Text | META HEMENWAY-FORBES
Haley Paige CedarValleyInclusion.com | 19
Cedar Valley Inclusion
INTERNATIONAL ROOTS
InVision reaches into other cultures for expertise BRANDON POLLOCK/ Courier Staff Photographer
B
From left to right, Roland Ganter, Xianli Zeng, Ivan Vlatchev and Zhivko Radev.
uilding designers often borrow ideas from a global treasure chest of architectural visions. InVision, a Waterloo-based architectural firm, seems to take that concept a step farther, since it has brought in a number of its key personnel from other parts of the world. “It was not really a strategic plan, but we have people for various reasons end up around the Cedar Valley, and we were able to use that as a resource,” said Eric Ritland, a partner in the firm that was founded in 1914 in Forest City and has been based in Waterloo since 1945. It helps that Iowa State University is the only school in the state that offers an architectural degree and associated programs, Ritland said. “So, we sometimes get students as interns directly out of ISU and perhaps more often end up in Cedar Valley for other reasons, whether their spouse gets a job in the area or some external force brings them to the area.” As a result, InVision has a number of employees 20 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
with international roots. Designer Roland Ganter is from Germany. “He travels, I’d say, once a year to Germany, so he stays connected there,” Ritland said. “He’s a great designer. He brings a lot of interesting talent and is involved heavily in the design of projects, modeling.” Ganter had practiced in New York, where he gained expertise in historic preservation, Ritland said. Xianli Zeng, an intern architect who brings sophisticated graphics and software expertise to the staff, is from Chongqing, China. “She makes the deliverables out of our office look amazing, not only with architectural design but graphics that support to showcase our work and share with clients,” Ritland said. Zeng helped the staff ring in the Chinese New Year Feb. 19 by giving a noontime presentation on the holiday and bringing in some sample foods from her homeland. Zeng studied architecture for five years in China, earning an undergraduate degree there in 2010.
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Later that year, she enrolled in Iowa State’s graduate architecture program. She earned masters’ degrees in architecture and community and regional planning and came to InVision in June 2014. She credited the firm for having “strong community responsibilities” and a strong reputation in health care- and education-related projects. “Its work not only provides excellent structures but, more importantly, helps build a more livable community, because I believe architectural design is more than drawing a building,” she said. Zeng said she also donates her talent to Community Main Street in Cedar Falls. As for cultural balance at InVision, Zeng says she gets as much as she gives. “Each of us will share our cultural stories to the office,” she said. InVision has two employees from Bulgaria. Ivan Valtchev, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, was born in Bulgaria and moved to the U.S. with his family as a child. “He’s very strong with health-care clinical design and is fully immersed in health-care projects,” Ritland said. Valtchev has developed strong working relationships with clients, Ritland said. “Clients love him; they like his mannerism, the way he ‘gets it,’ and that’s a direct quote from one,” Ritland said. That likely is a result of his international background, Ritland speculated. “I think maybe from his background, he’s tightened his sensitivity to communication,” he said. “That could possibly be a skill that was developed that way.” Valtchev said his global background has served him well. “As a foreigner, I have been exposed to more cultures, different people and different ways of doing things,” he said. “This diversity, I think, has definitely given me a broader view of the world.” Valtchev said his Bulgarian background has helped him strengthen his relationships around InVision, too. “I think people in our office enjoy hearing a different language once in a while; I’d like to think it makes their everyday work experience a bit more pleasurable,” he said. “I always get the question ‘How do you say this in Bulgarian?’” Zhivko Radev, another InVision employee from Bulgaria, was a practicing architect there when he emigrated. “He worked a couple of different odd jobs and
landed with us,” Ritland said, noting that Radev is “in the twilight of his career” and, therefore, won’t spend the time necessary to obtain architecture licensure in the U.S. But, he’s valuable to the staff, as is, Ritland said. “He offers assistance in the drafting of projects.” Another staffer, Kellen Pacheco, is American – from Hawaii – but he also brings a global spin to the firm. Pacheco was a summer intern in 2014 and he’s coming back full-time as a graduated internarchitect. “He grew up on the volcano in Maui, and his dad was a tradesperson, so he grew up around construction and went to college on the Mainland and ended up at Iowa State University, and now in Waterloo,” Ritland said. InVision has about 50 employees, including 25 in Waterloo and 25 more in its Des Moines office. Indeed, the company’s international flavor embraces the Des Moines office, with Cristina Rodriquez of Puerto Rico and Millie Stevens of Venezuela there, Ritland noted. Text | JIM OFFNER
Invision 1/4 V 40752
OUR PEOPLE ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SUCCESS. Diversity is one of our strengths as an architecture, planning and interior design firm. Our team members come from across the ocean and down the street to bring unique perspectives that give shape to the communities in which we serve.
303 Watson Powell Jr. Way, Suite 200, Des Moines, IA 50309 ph: 515.633.2941 fx: 515.633.2942 501 Sycamore Street, Suite 101, Waterloo, IA 50703 PO Box 1800, Waterloo, IA 50704 ph: 319.233.8419 fx: 319.233.9772
invisionarch.com
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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
Cedar Valley diVersity aNd
iNClusioN PartNershiP awards
Strengthening Cedar Valley Business through the promotion of effective diversity and inclusion practices.
For outstanding contribution by a business or organization for leadership in creating and strengthening an environment of diversity and inclusion in the workplace culture, business practices and in the community. Awards will be presented each year at the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber Annual Celebration.
• Webinars • Awards •
2015 Nomination Deadline October 31, 2015 Presented at Annual Celebration Spring, 2016 Find out more at www.cedarvalleyalliance.com
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• Summit • Multicultural Receptions •
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REMOVING BARRIERS
Lalaina Rabary works to build a welcoming community
BRANDON POLLOCK/ Courier Staff Photographer
F
or the record, there are no penguins in Madagascar. But if the birds ever really made it to the island nation off the east cost of Africa, as they did in a popular animated movie, you can be sure Lalaina Rabary would hope they receive a warm welcome. The 26-year-old Cedar Falls resident, whose family emigrated from Madagascar when she was a toddler, has a passion for helping outsiders and those marginalized by society. Through her job at VGM’s People for Quality Care division, Rabary helps disabled residents get the services they need. In her free time, she joins other young professionals in the Cedar Valley to welcome immigrants, lobby for social justice and seek ways celebrate local diversity. “I’m an immigrant, and I know how hard it is,” Rabary said. “I watched my parents and their journey of just being so frustrated — trying to learn English, trying to figure out social services, having a disabled son. 24 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
Lalaina Rabary
“We were really helped out by the church and the most kind-hearted individuals,” she recalled. “I feel it’s kind of my obligation, but a good one, to pay it back and start welcoming others I know are going through that too.” Rabary’s family moved from Madagascar to Illinois in 1989, where her father was going to graduate school. During that time, her brother was born with CHARGE syndrome, a complex pattern of birth defects, surviving thanks to multiple surgeries and prayer. The experience led Rabary’s father to become a pastor and brought the family to Iowa, where she attended Maquoketa Valley High School in Delhi. She later graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly with a degree in communication arts and a minor in intercultural studies. Rabary’s job at VGM in Waterloo includes advocating for patients with disabilities. “It’s really personal to me having a brother with disabilities,” Rabary said. “I can understand the
Cedar Valley Inclusion
frustration trying to coordinate services.” While she has served on several volunteer boards — ARC of the Cedar Valley, Cedar Valley Community Support Services, Rotary Club of the Cedar Valley — Rabary has also spearheaded other efforts. “I take up a lot of mini projects when I find some inspiration,” she said. “Then I call all my friends and say, ‘Do this with me.’” In 2013, that included helping to organize Cedar Valley Welcoming Week, a week-long initiative getting residents to sign a pledge to support an influx of refugees moving to the area. “We saw the rising refugee population and wanted to do something about it,” Rabary said. “We went door-to-door throughout the communities that a lot of the Burmese population lives in, and we asked their neighbors to sign a welcoming pledge.” More recently she has collaborated with the Waterloo Commission on Human Rights on voter registration drives in minority communities and to research restoring voting rights those with criminal pasts. “I believe voting is a basic human right to American citizens and want to educate and encourage people to be part of their community by making their voice heard through their vote,” she said. Rabary also is active at Prairie Lakes Church in Waterloo, which focuses on social justice issues. It’s a drive she gained after watching TV footage of the riots in Ferguson, Mo. “I was crying; it was very hurtful,” she recalled. “I wanted to know why this was happening. The United States is still deeply divided. There needs to be unity.” Wendy Knapp, communications director for the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber, has seen Rabary’s passion through their work together in the Rotary Club. “In every aspect of her life, professional and personal, Lalaina is either removing barriers for people or inviting them in,” Knapp said. “And she goes beyond the formalities of inclusion. She actually gets in there and builds relationship with the marginalized, meets practical-personal needs and creates ways to make change.” Despite the challenges, Rabary believes there is a synergy in the Cedar Valley to create an inclusive environment. “I hope when people hear ‘diversity’ and ‘inclusion’ they don’t get upset or scared,” she said. “It’s a good thing. It brings money into our community, makes people feel welcome, and it’s just the right thing to do.” Text | TIM JAMISON
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KIDS ARE SO TECHNOLOGY-INCLINED AND, AS AN ENGINEER, YOU CAN BRANCH INTO ANY CAREER PATH... UKAKU KALU
UMARU BALDE
A different accent on Latino services
Photos by BRANDON POLLOCK/ Courier Staff Photographer
U
maru Balde breaks a lot of stereotypes — and he does it with a smile. He recalls at least one instance a Latino client of the Black Hawk County YWCA comes in for services. They peek into Balde’s office and see a black African instead of a fellow Latino. The first question they may ask, Balde said, is “Habla espanol?” “Umm, si,” Baldi replies, grinning and casting a sideward glance. But that’s not the only one. The native of Portuguese Guinea in west Africa, a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, has a command of several languages. “And a little English,” he deadpans. Balde is the new assistant director of Latino services at the Black Hawk County YWCA. Among his many duties is teaching English to a number of individuals from a variety of nationalities and native tongues. He also does a lot of one-on-one work. 26 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
Umaru Balde
In addition to Spanish, Portugese, French and English, he knows Hebrew, some African dialects, Mandarin Chinese and Urdu, common in Pakistan and among Indian Muslims. That can put people of various cultures at ease, Balde said. But he also jokes that because of his multilingual background, he may be privy to some private family conversations he doesn’t necessarily want to hear. After graduating from University of Northern Iowa, he lived for a time in Riverside, Calif. where an adopted uncle lives. Balde worked for a smaller social service agency there in a variety of capacities. But eventually he returned to the Cedar Valley. “I was doing the same thing in Riverside and a lot of people recommended me to try it,” Balde said of the YWCA. “It was a bigger city, but the organization was kind of small. Riverside has more than 500 agencies, and they all compete for the same grants.” The YWCA had a larger base clientele by comparison.
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“I was born in Portuguese Guinea,” but he’s well traveled. “I lived in several places. I ended up in Egypt for eight years and Israel for three years, and I came here as a student.” His adopted uncle is an American Jew who brought him to America. “I went to California first, but found it was way cheaper” to live in Iowa, he said, and the agricultural setting appealed to him. “A whole lot of corn,” he joked. Hawkeye Community College proved an attractive initial educational venue. It was easier for an international student to enroll at a community college. “I went to community college here at Hawkeye Community College, and I transferred to UNI,” where he graduated. He’s settling into his new position at the YWCA. “I like it. This is what I wanted to do, having a lot of fun.” In Iowa, “people are a little more open to socializing” across cultures. Also, he said “I’m comfortable with anybody speaking any language. It’s a very comfortable place. Here the culture is quite similar to where I came from in my home country” in terms of socialization “in social activities and how people
meet you and greet you,” regardless of nationality. He’s been able to help people with daily struggles. For example, he assisted a French-speaking man at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids who was having trouble retrieving his luggage. While, he’s still learning the ropes, he wants to see more people utilizing YWCA services. Making people more aware of the agency’s services is one of his goals. Text | PAT KINNEY
Umaru Balde helps Nyamah Kollie of Waterloo with her English.
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BARRE NONE
Wheelchair no barrier for dance teacher Jackie Heinz TIFFANY RUSHING/ Courier Staff Photographer
V
isitors entering Heinz Academy for the Performing Arts are greeted with the normal trappings of a dance studio. Various sizes of leotards hang on a bar, ballet slippers dangle from hooks on the wall and a top shelf holds an assortment of trophies. What may be unexpected is the studio’s owner28 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
Jackie Heinz
instructor, Jackie Heinz, who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy and has used a wheelchair since childhood. “I don’t see myself as being different,” Heinz said. “I haven’t accomplished anything out of the ordinary. We all have struggles along the way, barriers we have to get through. Mine are no greater than
Cedar Valley Inclusion
anyone else’s. It’s all how you deal with them.” Heinz is the middle child of three. Her siblings also have the progressive disease. “It is onset from birth,” she said. “They noticed it in my older brother when he was about six months old and saw it in me when I was born. “I was able to walk up until the fifth-grade,” Heinz
said. “Then I had spinal surgery, and I’ve been in a wheelchair ever since.” Despite her disability, Heinz, 34, from Independence, has led a largely “normal” life. She graduated from high school and attended the University of Northern Iowa, hoping to become a teacher. When required to take a personal wellness course, she chose dance. “I really enjoyed it,” she said of participating in the class, wheelchair and all. She enjoyed it so much she ended up changing her major to health promotion with a minor in dance. Before graduating, Heinz was accepted into a summer dance program in Maine. “I had done a lot of traveling with family and friends prior to that,” she said, “but it was probably the first time I was away by myself for that amount of time.” In 2008, Heinz purchased the dance studio from Ranae Keane-Bamsey – the instructor for that initial required dance class she took in college. The academy, with locations in Cedar Falls and Independence, boasts about 175 students and five instructors, in addition to Heinz. The academy offers everything from ballet and jazz to hip hop and capoeira, a Brazilian martial art. As owner, Heinz’s duties include bookwork, hiring, firing and teaching. She puts in 10 to 12 hours most days. “There are challenges,” she said, “but they aren’t anything more than normal business owners have to face. “I just think that anything is possible if you are inventive,” Heinz said. For example, Heinz created a special table and gloves so she can lead tap dancing classes. “I just dance with my hands instead of my feet,” she said. “What I enjoy most about working with kids is they’re still very open-minded with no stereotypes,” she said. “They don’t question how Miss Jackie is going to do something. They see me doing it.” “I’ve had a lot of these kids since they were 3 years old,” she said. “I like to think they won’t question other people with disabilities when they are adults.” Text | HOLLY HUDSON
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
I 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.
24.5%
604
The poverty rate for Iowa American Indian and Alaska Natives families in 2011. The corresponding rate for Iowa is 12.8%.
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.
Cedar Valley Inclusion
IOWANS W/DISABILITIES
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.
Disabilities by Type in Iowa: 2011 Cognitive difficulty
4.4%
Population 5 years of age and over
Self-care difficulty 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%
Hearing difficulty Total Population
3.6%
$16,135 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.
A Commitment to the Community Our employees are proud to live and work in such a vibrant community. Together with our friends and neighbors, we are committed to building a brighter future for all.
33.5
%
Percentage of people 65 and older in 2011 with a disability, the highest of any age group.
Common Purpose. Uncommon Commitment.
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MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor
From left, Roberto Mardones Cruz, Spain; Henrique Bonati, Brazil; Julia Chueiri Genovezzi, Brazil; Pratima Singh, Nepal; and William Kenney, Minnesota but has Irish citizenship.
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR Foreign students thriving at Upper Iowa University
I
n the midst of a small town in an otherwise homogenous part of the state, Upper Iowa University has built an international community on its campus. Those students, hailing from 31 countries, helped to swell enrollment at the Fayette campus to 1,024 this fall. “Our enrollment this year is the biggest it’s been 32 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
in 45 years,” said Ismael Betancourt, vice president for international programs. International students account for about 20 percent of the total. There are 196 international students on campus compared to 160 last year. Countries most heavily represented include Nepal, Japan, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Venezuela and Mongolia.
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Nepal, which had several students in past years, has the highest concentration of international enrollment now at the university. Betancourt said the number of students grew with the help of a recruiter, which Upper Iowa used in Nepal for the first time. Nepalese student Pratima Singh arrived on campus in January to begin her masters in business administration. She worked as a physical therapist for 11 years in her home country after earning her first degree in India. Singh needed the MBA because she wants to open her own rehabilitation center. “I heard here the management program is best,” she said. “The environment here is very peaceful.” Singh and other students also said Upper Iowa offers a friendly atmosphere. “It’s easy to get to know people,” said Brazilian student Julia Chueiri Genovezzi. “They are interested in getting to know you.” She transferred to Upper Iowa this fall as a junior, coming from a big city in her native country. “I wanted to go abroad for college,” said Chueiri Genovezzi, noting she was a high school exchange student in a small Alabama town. Junior Roberto Mardones Cruz, who is from Spain, also had an earlier American exchange student experience. His was near Clinton in Camanche, Iowa, and he is still in contact with friends from that area. “I wanted to come to this area because I came here for high school,” he said. Chueiri Genovezzi and Mardones Cruz both said Upper Iowa further enticed them by offering the best scholarships. After Henrique Donati, another Brazilian student, attended a basketball camp in Florida during high school, he wanted to return to the U.S. for college. “Upper Iowa was the only NCAA college that gave me a scholarship,” he said. Donati played for his first two years but is no longer part of the team. “We have a pretty generous scholarship package,” acknowledged Betancourt, that includes four tiers of financial aid ranging from $17,000 to $5,000 depending on a student’s grade point average. There are also scholarships targeting transfer students. There are, of course, other factors foreign students must consider even if the financial aid is a draw. Donati, who is from a city of 23 million people in Brazil, faced “culture shock” when he arrived in Fayette. “Coming here is the opposite of everything I experienced (growing up),” he said. “I have never seen snow before I came here. I just knew everything was going to be white.” But during the past three
years he has adjusted to life at Upper Iowa. Getting used to a small Iowa town and university is necessary even for some Midwestern American students. Junior William Kenney came to Fayette from Minneapolis. Like many of the foreign students, he was attracted by the financial aid Upper Iowa offers. “I have three older siblings, and they’re all in debt,” he noted. “So, I just went with the school that gave me the biggest scholarship.” However, he appreciates the campuses’ international flavor and the ease with which study abroad opportunities are made available to students. “My scholarship transferred to my study abroad that I did last semester,” said Kenney. Through Upper Iowa’s program, he was provided housing and a meal plan while studying in Milan, Italy. Students he was in classes with from other universities often had to arrange their own housing and meals. Some differences from back home are hard to get used to, no matter what, though. Mardones Cruz, who hails from a mountainous region of Spain, complains that “Iowa is so flat.” He laments not being able to find the level of downhill skiing available in his native country. On the other hand, he noted, without skiing there is one less distraction. “The best thing about Upper Iowa is it’s so easy to study,” said Mardones Cruz, noting the lack of a mall and limited entertainment options. “It’s so easy to get the grades I want.” He’s even been able take additional courses each term to finish his degree this spring, a year early. Because Fayette is such a small town, Upper Iowa brings special events to the university to provide some entertainment options to students. That includes performers, from comedians to bands. It also arranges transportation for trips to Walmart, malls and ethnic grocery stores or restaurants. In Fayette, university officials have talked with the local grocery store about stocking more foods that are familiar to international students. In Upper Iowa’s cafeteria, an international cuisine corner has been added with a Mongolian grill and a basket of spices to make the American fare more palatable for foreign students. For Singh, all those factors and more add up to a supportive community. “I have this feeling it’s a family away from family,” she said. “So, no homesickness.” Text | ANDREW WIND
CedarValleyInclusion.com | 33
Cedar Valley Inclusion
A FOOT IN THE DOOR Photos by BRANDON POLLOCK/ Courier Staff Photographer
Mark Cyrus
Program bringing more minorities into the manufacturing field
W
hen Orlando Williams enrolled in the Minorities in Manufacturing program, it opened up a whole new world to him. Students in the four-month class at Hawkeye Community College’s Metro Center are taught the basics of computer numerical control machining. They learn to operate machines like mills and lathes, which are used to design and create components that are assembled into products during the manufacturing process. Typically, these machines are now computerized, so programming is an essential part of the training. “I used to always wonder how these parts are made,” said Williams, who finished the class in February and earned a certificate in CNC machining. The program required the use of math skills. That presented some challenges for Williams, particularly when it involved geometry concepts. But “most of it I could get right then and there.” Williams also discovered math’s utility outside of the classroom. “I just love the way you use math to design things,” he said. “I just never thought I could use math like this.” He added, “I think it was an excellent program, because It helped me find out something new about life.” The program, funded through a federal grant, provides 34 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
the training at no cost. It focuses on racial minorities and women, particularly those who are using Metro Center services like taking adult basic education classes or earning a high school equivalency diploma. Williams was unemployed and working on the equivalency diploma when he first learned about Minorities in Manufacturing. However, after earning the diploma, he enrolled in the two-year police science program on Hawkeye’s main campus. He switched gears after talking to an acquaintance who had completed the CNC class. Williams realized two years of college — potentially while not making any income from a job —would be hard on his growing family, which includes two toddlers and a soon-to-be-born baby. “I figured this program would help me get a job much sooner,” he said. “I decided maybe this would be a good start for me and my family.” While in the class, he got a job with a company that provides assembly line workers for John Deere. But he’s seeking a position that will use his newly acquired certification. Ka-Te-Dra Purifoy found a job at Viking Pump in Cedar Falls shortly after earning her CNC certification through the Minorities in Manufacturing program in September. Purifoy isn’t currently using those new skills
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CNC instructor Jerome Amos Jr., standing works with Orintheo Campbell
in the job — where she was first a forklift driver and now works in the shipping department — but said she’ll bid on one of those positions when they open up. “It helps you to get in the door,” she said. “That’s what this class did for me. It’s changed my life, that’s for sure.” Purifoy saw a story in The Courier about the Minorities in Manufacturing while recovering at her mom’s home from a broken ankle and applied to get into the program. She had lost her job at Twin Cities Tanning, in the old Eagle Ottawa plant, more than a year before. Like Williams, she had some worries about the math involved in the CNC class.
Mike Fristo sets up a CNC mill for a project.
“Having to relearn the math, I thought it would be a big challenge,” said Purifoy. However, “it came to me pretty quickly. Anybody can do this if they put their mind to it.” The program and the job it led to are a “blessing” for her. “It was a good option for me, because it was a career path,” said Purifoy, noting she could find a CNC machinists position that lasts the rest of her working life. “It opened up a lot of doors that I was not aware of.” Text | ANDREW WIND
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QUESTIONING FAITH Atheists search
for acceptance in Cedar Valley
MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor
J
osh Adams didn’t grow up in a religious home. “I maybe went to church, aside from weddings and funerals, maybe three or four times growing up,” he said. Although he didn’t conclude he was an atheist until he was an adult, Adams’ history of questioning religious doctrine goes back to early childhood when, at age 5, he colored Noah’s hair blue at his Lutheran daycare centers. Told Noah’s hair wasn’t blue, Adams questioned how anyone could know for certain. Later, as he considered his world view, studied the Christian Bible, he decided religion didn’t need to be a part of his life. “It didn’t really click with me,” he said. “It went against the rudimentary knowledge of science I have.” For Adams, not having religion wasn’t a 36 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
Atheists Brock Rozich, left, and Josh Adams, right.
replacement for religion, something people of faith, including his in-laws, had trouble understanding. “Often absence of religion is equated with a religion,” Adams said. That perception is one many Cedar Valley atheists say they encounter. Other misconceptions include the idea that atheists are inherently immoral and are anti-religion. “I liken it to the Red scares, the ‘they walk among us’ attitude from 1920s and again in the 1950s,” said Brock Rozich, a University of Northern Iowa graduate student. Rozich is an atheist who is researching perceptions of atheists. Some of his studies show people described as atheists are more likely to be perceived with scorn and less empathy than people who identify themselves as non-religious. “Even though they essentially mean the same thing,” Rozich said. “Preliminarily, we can say that
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label has a negative connotation.” A 2006 University of Minnesota study found distrust for atheists in a study of 2,000 random respondents. When asked what group of people did not share their vision of American society, atheists were the top response with 39.5 percent of
WE’RE PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY. IT’S JUST A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW. JEFF KURTZ
respondents naming them. Also in that study, 47.6 percent of the people responding said they would disapprove of a child’s wish to marry an atheist. “Prominent people, including elected officials, publicly denigrate atheists with relative impunity,” Rozich said. “If you said some these kinds of things about any sect of any religion, you’d be rightly labeled a bigot.” For Rozich, these findings justify some of the fear he had while growing up in a Catholic family in Pennsylvania while not believing in God. For years, Rozich felt isolated or that something was wrong with him. He later found others who weren’t religious. Rozich realized non-religious people came from all walks of life — across all ethnic groups, socioeconomic statuses and professions. Yet broad, sweeping generalizations are made about atheists. “It’s a non-collective group,” he said. “I wanted to learn more about that perception.” Because the group crosses so many demographics, some atheists say they find that perception baffling. “I have a code of ethics and a sense of morality,” said Jeff Kurtz, executive director of Main Street Waterloo. “I think there’s a sense of right and wrong the pervades humanity — don’t hurt anyone, don’t cheat, don’t steal.” Like Rozich, Kurtz grew up in Catholic family. He was a devote Catholic and even considered a career in the clergy. After much soul searching and questioning, he chose to not be a part of any religion. “It wasn’t a flick of a switch,” he said. “It was a gradual acceptance that things didn’t add up after intensely examining these questions.”
That doesn’t mean he found answers to all his questions. “It’s not like I declared, ‘there is no God,’” he said. “For me, it’s a choice to not actively believe.” Kurtz was somewhat reluctant to publicly talk about being an atheist. Other people declined to be identified for this article. Kurtz and others pointed to public perception of atheists as a reason. For Kurtz, reminding people that atheists are active members of the community was important to him. “We’re part of the fabric of the community,” he said. “It’s just a different perspective, a different point of view.” For some atheists who feel they are unable to express that part of their lives, Adams co-founded a online social group, the Cedar Valley Atheists. The group also has occasional real-life meetings. His purpose for creating the group isn’t to recruit people to atheism or denigrate religion, but to give people a forum where they can be themselves. Some people participate solely for socializing. Others come get advice on personal issues such as how to deal with family members who are distraught over a person’s choice to not participate in religion or how to guide children who are curious about faith. “I’m not agenda-driven,” Adams said. “These are good people and we share a lot of the same values.” Text | JOHN MOLSEED
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.
Cvbusinessmonthly.com
cvbusinessmonthly.com
Cedar CedarValley ValleyBusiness Businessmonthly monthly June July 2014
1
CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY
MARCH 2015
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To be part of Business Monthly Contact Sheila Kerns 319-291-1448
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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
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Embracing Diversity Building Our Workforce
www.hawkeyecollege.edu 38 | CedarValleyInclusion.com
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.
CedarValleyInclusion.com | 39
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
Cedar Valley Inclusion
MILITARY & VETERAN STUDENT SERVICES • JUMP START C E NTE R F O R M U LTI C U LTU R AL E D U CATI O N • TRiO
U N I N AT I O N A L C OA L I T I O N B U I L D I N G I N S T I T U T E LG BTQ C E NTE R • STU D E NT D I SAB I LIT Y S E RV I C E S CLASSIC UPWARD BOUND • ETHNIC STUDENT SUPPORTERS CAMP ADVENTURE • WOMEN’S AND GENDER STUDIES STUDY ABROAD • REACHING FOR HIGHER GROUND
Diversity Inclusion describes the rich differences that people bring to the University of Northern Iowa community. UNI strives to celebrate the unique contributions of each person and prepares students to thrive in a diverse, global environment through these initiatives and many more.
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Cedar Valley Inclusion
We asked for your advice and then we took it.
We asked 100 community leaders and citizens to help us identify the most important health needs in the Cedar Valley. Without exception, they said we all need better, faster access to behavioral health physicians, nurses, counselors, services and facilities. We took that advice. Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center and UnityPoint Health – Waterloo now have affiliated to help meet those needs. We are working together to coordinate physical and mental health services for our patients. It won’t be quick or easy, but it’s the right thing to do. Thank you for helping us get started.
The point of unity is you.
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