From The Mustard Seed, Winter/Spring 2013

CMC’s Immigrant and Refugee Coordinator, Greg White, facilitates a monthly Immigrant Concerns Meeting to collaborate with Eastern Iowa organizations to address the needs of the local immigrant/refugee community. At the January meeting, Dr. Mark Grey, from The Iowa Center on Immigrant Leadership and Integration at the University of Northern Iowa, shared that Iowa has seen a tremendous growth and diversification of the immigrant population over the last five years. Proof of this growth comes from the American Communities Survey (ACS), which stated that in 2011, 13,345 people moved to Iowa from “other nations.” This influx is particularly noticeable in the Cedar Rapids Community School District where K-12 students represent over 30 languages. We also see this diversification at CMC, where in FY12, active students represented 51 countries.

Since 2008, the immigrant/refugee population of Africans, Southeast Asians, and Polynesians has boomed. This shift from primarily a Latino immigrant population presents unique challenges to those serving immigrants/refugees. Dr. Grey said, “There are many more groups and languages coming to Iowa now. Many languages can’t be identified easily.” These languages include Kirundi, Karenni, Nepali, Lao, Dinka, Yoruba, and Zapotec. This causes problems for immigrants and refugees when they engage public institutions such as schools and hospitals, or when they encounter first responders. Translation services struggle to keep up with the growing needs of a diversified immigrant population. These issues are discussed at the monthly Immigrant Concerns Meetings. The more CMC understands the issues and the services available in the community, the better CMC responds to the changing needs of immigrants/refugees.

According to the ACS, 30% of immigrants/refugees speak English “not well,” or “not at all.” The CMC Adult Basic Education Program seeks to address this lack of English through the best practice of 1-on-1 tutoring. In a recent survey of our students, 67% of respondents agreed that CMC English classes helped increase their involvement with their children’s educational activities. One hundred percent of respondents agreed that CMC English classes helped them communicate in their daily lives. CMC’s ABEP program is vital to the integration (and physical safety) of the diverse and booming immigrant/refugee population in Cedar Rapids and Iowa.