Immigration


  • Young Nepali Restaurant Owner Embodies Iowa’s Refugee Community

    All journeys are different, but when for some reason you are forced to leave your country, then grow up in yet another country and finally find success there, your story becomes one of survival and resiliency. Life has not been easy for Thakur Neupane, 30, yet when you meet him, his smile and personality can…


  • No Love, No Tacos: A Marshalltown Man’s Fight For Justice

    Signs of solidarity for the Black Lives Matter movement and other underrepresented communities have popped up in yards all over the country. The signs have come about as a show of public support from those who either live, understand or empathize with the BLM struggle. One of the popular signs reads: “Black Lives Matter. No…


  • Des Moines Volunteers Angered By What They Saw In Cedar Rapids

    The derecho hit Iowa hard and fast. From downed trees damaging houses and losing power for hours, even days, Iowans are slowly recovering from yet another crisis. Unfortunately, as it often happens, the storm hit already vulnerable communities the hardest. As with most natural disasters, nobody has control over the devastation, but our elected officials…


  • From COVID To Derecho, Iowa’s Refugee Community Struggles To Hang On

    Nduwimana Kanumba’s entrance into the world was rough. At five days old, a derecho tore through his family’s Cedar Rapids apartment, ripping off their roof and bringing debris crashing down onto his crib. His mother suffered a gash on her shoulder during the storm while protecting him in her arms. She and Kanumba’s two older…


  • Meet The Young Women Of Iowa’s Charreadas (Mexican Rodeos)

    Immigrants always bring a part their home country with them. In years past, immigrants were told by their parents to speak English and assimilate. Newer generations of new Iowans share their heritage openly and proudly. We bring our suitcases full of dreams, carrying our culture with us. As parents, we want our kids to learn…


  • Blanca’s Light Shines From Guadalajara To “El Fogón” In Iowa

    There are different ways to describe successful people. For most, success is defined by how much money a person may have. For me, it has more to do with achieving your goals and finding happiness with what you do. So in my list of successful individuals I include a special, smart, driven, and kindhearted immigrant.…


  • Blanca’s Light Shines From Guadalajara To “El Fogón” In Iowa

    There are different ways to describe successful people. For most, success is defined by how much money a person may have. For me, it has more to do with achieving your goals and finding happiness with what you do. So in my list of successful individuals I include a special, smart, driven, and kindhearted immigrant.…


  • Blanca’s Light Shines From Guadalajara To “El Fogón” In Iowa

    There are different ways to describe successful people. For most, success is defined by how much money a person may have. For me, it has more to do with achieving your goals and finding happiness with what you do. So in my list of successful individuals I include a special, smart, driven, and kindhearted immigrant.…


  • Excluded By Iowa Task Force, Minority-Owned Businesses Push On In Pandemic

    Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an executive order June 18 establishing the Governor’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board. The announcement reads: “The Governor’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board assembles an impressive group of business leaders to propel our recovery efforts forward and position Iowa for growth. Iowans will be at the center of this effort as we continue…


  • A Latino Father, Teacher, Coach Prepares For School Return

    If you meet Salvador “Chava” Aguirre, 48, you will instantly like him. He has that easy-going personality and once you get to know him better, you want to become his friend. Knowing Chava for many years, I would say that his heart is as big as his height, 6 feet 7 inches tall. He is…