Great Plains

• P&G Disaster Relief is activating to support recovery efforts in Omaha, Nebraska, in collaboration with Walmart and Matthew 25: Ministries, an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization.
• A Tide Loads of Hope Mobile Laundry Unit, powered by Matthew 25: Ministries, will provide free, full-service laundry to affected residents and responders.
• People can bring clothes (up to two loads per household) to be washed, dried, and folded free of charge.
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  Powerful tornadoes and storms struck the Great Plains, resulting in loss of life, injuries and damage to homes and communities.

• Wings over Water, produced with the support of Ducks Unlimited Canada, is a captivating 45-minute documentary about North America's unique Prairie Pothole region and the wildlife that makes their homes there.
• The film will remain available for school group bookings from Earth Day until May 31, 2024.
• Narrated by Academy Award-Winning actor Michael Keaton, Wings Over Water was filmed on location in a marvelous and unique natural habitat.
• "We believe that educational and entertaining films like Wings Over Water can captivate the next generation of conservation leaders."

• Situated amongst over 150 acres on Coal Creek Peak and surrounded by more than 1,200 acres of open space, Canyon Pines offers an architecturally diverse opportunity for homeowners and architects alike.
• "The unique topography of Canyon Pines presents a challenging design opportunity and creative outlet for firms who want to build amongst like-minded visionaries," says Debra Wyatte, SVP of Community Experience, Canyon Pines Development Company.
• "As we integrate with the modern design community in Boulder and Denver, other firms approached us with their desire to showcase concepts as well.
• The unique topography of Canyon Pines presents a challenging design opportunity and creative outlet for firms who want to build amongst like-minded visionaries.

• Many people picture cornfields: the Great Plains of the American heartland.
• Together with colleague Amy Weismann, we aim to build connections with this population and learn from African immigrants’ experiences as they resettle in Iowa.
• Despite their contributions to the region’s labor force, African immigrants across the Midwest are often overlooked and sometimes struggle to access resettlement services.

From Africa to Iowa

• As of 2019, around 2 million Black immigrants from Africa were living in the United States – a number that has tripled since 2000.
• The number of African migrants and asylum-seekers apprehended at the southern border of the United States has also increased as people look for alternatives to Europe.

• According to the Migration Policy Institute, around 30,000 of the 3.2 million people in Iowa were born in Africa.
• Some newcomers are attracted to the region because of economic opportunities, especially in meatpacking plants.
• Some of the refugees first arrived in other states, including California and Michigan, before making their way to Iowa.
• Refugees and immigrants are eligible for short-term aid with groceries, cash assistance, medical care and English classes.

Safe − and sacred − places

In interviews, most immigrants are grateful for friends, family, colleagues and the staff of the secular nonprofit and government agencies who help try to make their stay in Iowa comfortable. However, religious organizations also fill gaps in many arrivals’ new lives – not only with goods and services, but spiritually and socially.

• Religious groups also organize food drives for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• One interviewee recalled, “It was snowing, and this elderly woman saw me and my baby around the church.
• She helped me so much.” Religious places are also used as safe spaces for African migrants’ stories, highlighting the problems they are facing as individuals and as a community, and thinking of ways to proffer solutions.
• A few congregations also open up their spaces for African attendees to hold cultural events and get-togethers with familiar music and food.

Change ahead

• Many of our interviewees complain about lack of assistance from the government during the assimilation process and advocate for additional support such as more citizenship education for newly resettled immigrants.
• Yet, they are confident that with time, Iowa will diversify, making it feel more like home: a state where they can put down roots, worship among friends and even access African foods such as “ugali” cornmeal, pilau and jollof rice.

Osamamen Oba Eduviere is affiliated with Refugee Alliance of Johnson County. Brady G'Sell is affiliated with the Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson County, IC Compassion and the Refugee Alliance of Johnson County.