A “Center for New Americans”


Nick Wuertz | Director of Refugee Community Services, Lutheran Services of Iowa

The Idea: We should create a welcome center or “Center for New Americans” that helps bring together resources and information that will help immigrants and refugees in the Des Moines community get settled, build skills, regain careers and contribute to our community. It will help Des Moines grow the skills of workers already here in the community as well as attract additional foreign-born populations to come to Des Moines. The Center would include English classes, vocational training, citizenship classes, small-business incubators, ethnic community-based organizations and other existing service providers who could provide a one-stop shop to help newcomers in our community thrive. >