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Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE Quarterly Updates Copyrighted J uly 31, 2023 City of Dubuque Work Session - Bottom # 02. Special Meeting ITEM TITLE: Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE Quarterly Updates SUMMARY: Alex Baum from the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque will be presenting a quarterly report on both I nclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE, including information from the Immigration Community Assessment. SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: ATTACHMENTS: Description Type Memo Staff Memo Staff Memo Staff Memo Presentation Supporting Documentation Equity Profile Supporting Documentation I mmigration Assessment- Executive Summary Supporting Documentation I mmigration Assessment- I mplementation Guide Supporting Documentation I mmigration Assessment- List of Recommendations Supporting Documentation Immigrant Workforce Research - MIT Supporting Documentation Dubuque THE CITY QF � All-Meriea Ciry DLT B E ; . � . � �� MaSt� Z�C� aYd t�Q Mt55ZSSZ Z zoa�•zoiz•�ai3 YP pp za��*zai� TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney SUBJECT: Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Quarterly Update - Work Session DATE: July 25, 2023 Economic Development Director Jill Connors is sharing information for the July 31, 2023, Work Session at 6:30 PM., Alex Baum from the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque will be presenting a quarterly report on both Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE, including information from the Immigration Community Assessment. CB:sv Attachment cc: Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager Jill Connors, Economic Development Director Dubuque Economic Development Department THE CITY OF �' S0 West 13th Street All•AmericaEiry Dubuque,lowa 52001-4864 U� � �;��'` r,N � ` Office(563)589-4393 TTY(563)690-6678 1 I I�' http://www.cityofdubuque.org Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2017*2019 TO: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney FROM: Jill M. Connors, Economic Development Director SUBJECT: Community Foundation Quarterly Update — Work Session DATE: July 25, 2023 At a July 31, 2023, Work Session at 6:30 PM., Alex Baum from the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque will be presenting a quarterly report on both Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE, including information from the Immigration Community Assessment. � � � � � ��'r'� 0.r� • • � • . ■ • • . • . 7 -� _ - ■ ' / � � �}.�.�. ;-; 1 I'�I �I�� . f � . _ � � � _- :�:�, ; :: , ,� ��- W,,�,y� ,�� Inclusive Dubu ue & Pro ect HOPE ,� _ �� y�� q � � �'� a �L ��', f . �' + k ��f �� , '� �� i�I l�. �� '� �` � � ' �� ` ��'�� 3 �� '�� •�� f �� :�� :~ �� '� �� _ - Dubu ue Cit Council Jul 31 2023 ___ � ry �� ; . �� 1�� :��-�:� a y I y , .,;,�—�, ,� � � q�.��'.' � � ,�� 4: � �► 1' � �� f_ --=---,� ;� �.-- � �� . ,, �',� . . � , � ,� _ 1� �nE � yypI, , .-,. 1 ' - - � � -.��•,_. � � " � w f�l� , � 1 + y��11'+1�� ' _ r,- -�-�� ,-� � - � . � �r�3' 'i _' _ i . �� ,.-"� � `•�� '� j j ' , - � �� .i� ' `- -.• ^.r - '��r�r_,r,.�.� � \\ �� '�" �y�. . �,F 7�;�,. _ ', 'i, ; - j � ,� � : :- �:__,� � � � :� , � i `�. , �:y 5-.� 'c �' � �°'�' . . , . .. �p - r�� t i � _. '�_ _ '� ,.I.., ' _ ��r,� _ � .�`'"„�, ' �_` " .� Y =— ---� � __. .�„�� iL;.� � ,,,, —^ ! �-- � �: .--� �. r-�" ��,�� _ � �N � � ,_ +_ I � � r ! `��{� � � 1 R �� - _ - �� : � �� :�� ,� � — � - �i ! -� V - ` � , � � � ` � - � � � � �� , � - . - - - . ��. - _ _ :�� - - _, • • • � • • • �� Community Foundation OF GREATER DUBUQUE � � � 1 1 1 €�,,� • First Equity Profile in 2015 i s��13'� • • • -`�r c . �� M�x of. . - � r �'. __ "- J� ��` , -� • Knowledge dissemination r. ��' �. `� � .�. `� , � � �� • Knowledge collection ' �_�� ' � ' � � � _ ` � `.�� . .•� _•.i.— .. � �� ' 'M c':, ,.,, . r = .. . . . ; • � ��'",. � ��:.•� / � -__' Several components = � - � , =- - �r - _ - � .r`- ��.�`��y��3_. �. -- __ __ �' � . �: • Publicly available data � =' � � . • • ��- Expert insight , .�,� . � �,�. . �* • Su rveys � - �,� ,� � Y ,_ � � • Communit conversations �' �`�"1, y � ,, • 7 focus a reas � Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE ��` � Se tem ber . Housi n � � � ctaber . . llllorkforce & Econom ic 1111e11- bei n � €�,,�,:s ��3�,. ��i�� No�ember Edu �ation � � -� �� an uar H � alth & Welln �ss � y :� _�� . . ; �� Februar Arts & � ulture �: � Mar� h � Safe Nei hb � rhoods � A ri L ': Trans ortation � p Data Panel �oll ��ti � n Discussion >>. � �ommur� it �ommur� it �� Y Y .�'gEE �on�ersations Sur►►e . y �- , .. � _ To i � � Sna shot � .. _. _ � -g�.R .�� .,�.r, � �. � ' MEDIA "� � !`' � ' _ M Community Fo�ndation �. i. � �_o�r C.:n�r�r.. nf Grcater DuBuque ' . � • ._ - ' - _ _ ! � _' - - . �� _ �►r k� 1 � �: ` presenY " ��y �` _ �i��,�� q . - - , L - , ,f. �;, .,� Make Dubuque 8efter: - snarero�rinp��ano�� -- �� -�' � .W �t�`- �' � -- LET'S TALK ABOUT H4USING �K-'��SYOK7';�7TO\ � .� - i N llt:131:�l�, � �� ' lsY of 7 DiversiYy,Equrty and lnc7usion topics. s , � r� � Take a brief,anonymous ��•:- - . , What:A panel discussion with honest conversation about "�,fyl � housing challenges survey to share your � ,f _ �'�' , i� � experiencesand help us � --- -- �-� 1,' _ . S1�€ Why: To exchange ideas and provide resources to help build Dubuque's new ��e J u!e � �� Ir i'� - individuals and communities create change - i:�,lj�.' � Communiry Equity Prq6ile. � � - �;i� Who: All who want to have their voice heard and listen M1 J �._ ..1.+,. . ��i --.,., . . . to the conversation �'�� " —� -` �� o�. � � - _ I� August 31, 2022 � Steeple Square _ _�_ ��' �` � � � . . . ►�j � I01 E.15th Sf.1 Dubugue ' ,i�,��i �. �, �_iri�,�,i�� ✓� 5:30-7:30 p.m. �,�_ � _� .; - a- C_,� �.� _ � • �� s ��-�� _ � � . F, :� � - ..� ,,� . � �� = � . Let's 7a Ik About r~ � ` � ��' D�d You safe Neighborhoods Fo nd t�on � � �'�`� � ��_ � Kn ow? Tues.,March 27,5:30-630 p.m. MulEicultural FamflyCenter �� r,�� / �� / � �r Thurs.,March 23,5:30-630 p.m. Key City Creative fl� I . �' � 1 The number of women Tues.,March 26,5:00-6:30 p.m. PresentatEon Lantern Cenrer ',t,�_'__ �: � Bmplpy2d in art5,cultur2 Wed.,March 29,5:40-6:30 p.m. Clarke University ,� and media in D�buque is • i�°se°�°°ieR°°""""^�ry�°s"�"a°} more than dou6le the ' ��°` , DetaiEs at dbqfoundation.orgleq�ityprofile number af inen? � � �'n� ,��' However,men in the � ! �� . i,� 1!8/omoethanwomen. \ r J I I � � ' ��"�'�� ,�'S�J� o g ' � r � inn JAH+N1n�1V l, � .�,��a I es, n � h � ��-1a��a.�ia>;��,i�yfT a�rt,sanddour 0 .❑O � ' " �0� �y �:`F.. �. . �� .�Psr '��y � � � � '^ � - cultureeq¢itY :c if:' � � ,, •�' . � snapshat. �p._ , {f ,�: � . � � � � 'L �'��.n�' I �� Ii , ddqfoundation.argfequf[yproffle U� ��r,c / � . � . . _ . �/ . �'.' ,' . . . � ' '��F 6 F�;��t.' . .y' . I �� , � Y '� ' Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE � � � � � � _'. Monthly panel discussions hosted . . �� in partnership with TH Media Panel discussion attendees r �"gEE . �' "", " ' " �- - Community Conversations held Community Conversation Surveys completed attendees � . . - . - � . . - . . � . - • � aa a • Culmination of e uit � � -- �� Owner Occupied vs.Renter Occupied ��r,: ''��11}r � � � � �d�nf Uiiliur�ue � ��t;i•� O e Il� � Previous Equiry Profile Current Da. , !� � ��- � � yox �� -� `�� r.�.. • Data VVa I k ' 13� � 3°a,_ �� o � � � � �� , �� -�-� Data put up around space . . . ; 35:., �r In I ntit ti n °�� k • c u d e s q u a a ve a d , �oo; q ua l itative d ata �� - � ��+ �' A � � _ _._.....�� .� . . ..,,,:o„ =� . ,�" ;�, \ • Opportunity for - r ::� . � �� , � _� conve rsation . � � zU_.1, � � � y� r� �, Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE Demographic Composition - Race and Ethnicity City of Dubuque - 1990 to 2020 D•�°�D 1.6% 3.8% O.a9/� 0.6% 1.24k 2.4% ��; 0.19�0� 4.0% b.3% i=��3i�� 0.5°/6 �%i;� D.0%- — 97.8% 1.0% — - 96.15% 91.739�0 9.3%� - R5 13% �� 1.8%.� � 1._ � 4.49/0 -- _;, __ r. �.. �� ' 1990 2000 2010 2020 . . ; �� : Asian � Black Latino � Nati�e American Pacific Islander Some other race Two or more races White 5ource: U.S. Census Bureau Com m u n ity Foundation OF GREATER DUBUQUE • • • � vers � � n u u ue €�,,� • "When we bring diverse coworkers in, we are generally found i��''�� ' Our issue is we need more." ��1� to be very accommodating. �� . . . �� • I feel there needs to be more educat�on on divers�t to not �.� y, � [be] left in ignorance. Bullying, discrimination occurs because _��. ��- � ' some are ignorant of the world outside their community." � �: • In 2015 and today, community members say that Dubuque needs to do better offering diverse cultural events and sharing information with d iverse aud iences. Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE Chronic Absentee Rate by Race, Ethnicity, Socio-Economic Status, and Disability Dubuque Community School District � 2Q1$-2019 2021-2022 AI I 5tudents 12.4% L/.4"/0 ��,��,, � Asian -10.1% �-!�,r3�:� 10% ��:i•i ' �� Black 30.9�/0 �^ b 7.7% �� v 1$.3/0 =� Hispanic 36.8% _ ,�. �� Nati�e Ameri�an ��0 � 34,9% ��"'' Pacific Islanders . . � 79.5°r �r White 8.6% �; �18.6% 16.5�/a Two or mare races 36.8°/o Low Socio- 21.1% Economic 5tatus 45.8% Student with 19% Disabilities 47 h��^ 0�/a 10% 20°/a 34% 40% 50% b0°/n 70% 80% Chronic Absenteeism refers to when a student misses at least 1096 of the year`s schoo!days Source:lowa Department of Public Education-https://www.iaschoolperfarmance.gov/ �� Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque m ac on u en s an eac ers • "The mental health of students can not be met with ONE €i's� counselor for 200 + students." �� r-,� • "Our school system is doing he best it can with the limited �� amount of resources our state le islature ives to them." � g g _��. ��_ � • " I reall worr about the kids I send on to hi h school." � y y g �: • "All educational systems across our country are evolving. Teachers have multiple roles that are demanding and often outside of their job description." Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE Po�erty Rate by Race and Ethnicity - City of Dubuque Prer►ious Equity Profile Current Data Asian - 3.7% Asian 19.6�/o z�.8� Black - 9.1 % �� ,:'.�f�3�;. {'�;�•i — Black ��I�� 57.9% 51.7% 0 � � Latino - 26.4 /o � ---1.6°/a Previous Current � �' "� Latino Data Data 53.1°/a l 3.4% �'� Lessthan 50� Native 77 �� o� ■ ofthe po�erty � qmerican + / •/ % N ative level American 78.695 25.2°i6 - Less than 1003'o PqCIfIC �� ' � fl� � of the po�erty + 66.�%* fl� Pacific level �r ' 55g� Islander 668� Islander k Less than 125� 5ome ofthe poverty Some other 2�66�o other race 3��,a le�el + �.0% race Two or ' ---z.65b — more TWO OI" 47•7°� races 1z.z�/o — 3� .�% more races 4J95--- ---4.79b White ,6� 14,2% White - 0.7% 80% 70°/a 60°/a 5D96 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 0°/a 1 D% 2fl% 30% 4fl% 50% 60% 70% 80% Source:American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates:2013 and 2020 �� Comtnunity Foundation of Greater Dubuque over an e — o €��,� � . - � � � . . - i=��''�� Asian 10.6% 8.2 % - 2.4 % �� Black 43.4 % 29.6% - 13.8 % _� _;�_ '�� Latino 13.4 % 14. 1 % + 0.7% � _��. � � � Native American 25.2 % 0% - 25.2 %* �� '� Pacific Islander 66.8 % 50.9 % - 15.9% Some Other Race 35.6% 28.4 % - 7.2 % Two or More Races 12. 1 % 18. 1 % + 6.0% White 1 1 .2 % 10.8 % - 0.4 % ro ress • "I think Dubuque still has a way to go to be equitable and inclusive. €i�;� There are some good things happening but it will take time and �:� r , � �� educat�on." � � � �� . . . �� • We have more [qual �ty �ob] options than 20 years ago when I '�� moved to Dubu ue but 'enou h?' I don't believe so." � q , J _��. . . ; �� • Positive: Changes have been made - the Multicultural Family �� Center, Northeast lowa Community College, Presentation Lantern Center. As a community we are doing the best that we can. • The culture of Dubuque: Impacted by our racist history, but we are moving forward . Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE • • u � en u u ue n erna � ona . . � m es � va _ .�� - � I�4fk�1i' �t � I _ . _ �Y_..--�. .�m.-.,. .. — €i�s� � �3 � . ^ _ _��, - '- �'_�' �'I � r��„+�`- :•�. �� —��i�t.- �. ^� ' � 4_ �i, o:.J � �� r��j�_,�� _ �\ �` � � � J � .__ .� ✓� . J t �� - �=i w�� :e f, ;� � �� , , r --. .,._a��,��',. T " r�i"~I ��1�''i �.i� � `'f 1-T_1_i. "i - �1 . �---�.�.� • � ,g+�� r� � �� } �—� � �.� - � "�-� ___ I ' - �� ° k-a..r "v' � _ —"'� _ �J7`"' �+`'' _ � —� j r�� - --� �w u �.. � } �.-_..I �./// . - • � •: �� ' E � � _ �Y � ' • J �I� '� � '•„'y'��- , J�\� G. ��Yr` _ 'rI�� 1 1 � � ��y� �=1 — _ r..�-.P + �!� ^��iy . 1 ^ _ µ� � �� ` ; ay v • nr q - y � �� . " ��,� �� `!� _ �� r � � � r:� _ �� ,� ,, � ,�� r � _ � . - -- , ,�. _ y � -+E.� — 1� ~ V' � -� 4 :� - � �l '` , . - - �: - I � _ .��,k .�.S:_ — _ :3 ��-_ _ � .:�.. � I . 'li _ .. '"1 %'" . _-__` _ ._ -' - =r . . , �::�1 . ___ - - _ _ - - :1. .;,�-. Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE • • nc us � ve u u ue ee � n _'�y�_ .�'a •�T„ _ 'w...e,.. ' - . I � �, , — �:��! �� '..�t'��'T�.. ,H � ^�. ., � III��.�� 4, �i1s�_��_ _ � � -� ' . - � ..•1�,. .. � �¢ Y^I.I'i . . � � � . �� , ��`" �� .�, � .,�,f� „p- �f�t� � :. • � ;e,i� � �, i ",�,ra� — � � .,t �,� �� _t � _ � - - , - _ @� Q � _ �� . r � q �y.� 3, � � .I � � .. ' I,�� --y t� ey � - . � ,� � �1 .,,�'. � � — .q.'1 �. �f'� _ 'f��-, �� _ 1 ��___ k _ ,� 'I' � __ �� _ . ��' �� _ •r �� r - r�`� s � '`� � � �'�m �� - ...� ' � � � DREAM lowa envisionsa state - . '�� '� � - �-- - �� T�� i � � '` � � � where immigrantfamiliesfrom , "� � � - '�.�i�,,,y 4 -�` " ti,�r.��. p. ,'� 7.7Zh � tiA: - - �_ _ '` diverse ethnic backgrounds ��`' � `-� ' have access to opportunities �� ,I . � •� � � � �, ,�. � , fr rwh. � 't .�� o go t � � �✓""� -' .a+ � t: i � , �" �� - ,�- ` �- _ 1 , ► ,eA� � � ir,��I � � Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE \\ ��.,� � �\ �� <k'� � ��' .�.�. Rural Equity Network � o1n Us for a � �� S�uss�o„ _ , J . � �� `� Inclusion ,. � ��; �� ree vent1 �� p �� ; � � , �;. . ��¢�� i �hrou h � Inclusive Dubuque is proud to host members of � �' `` ' � �� , ' �� -� . ":,., � �� }��F � �f�R �� aith � � � � �� for an opportunity to learn about their work in �``r ` � ��:. � �, ��° ; �;.:� �i -�� €�� UbU ue and across lowa. a ''�';. ' ` `` ` Join us for a �irtual panel discussion on i: ��3�i q �.. ' ��' the role religious institutions play in � � a,., `t helping foster inclusi�ity in rural areas. �'=- Thursday, August 3 �uest Speakers � �'� },•_ � ' Wednesday, August 2 `� 5:00 - fi:30 p.m. �►'ryuko Maun �•�.. Muftilinguaf Advocate& _; ; 11:30 - 1:40 p.m. � NICC Tawn Clock C�nter Commurrity 0utreach Worker � ;, � �� Classroom #1Q6A Dan aAlbert -�-�'^� ` � G u e s t P a n e l i s t s Y �� '� Campus Program Associate �', � , Sr. Kathleen Grace —�-�• 700 Main St. � • ; "'� Sisters o{St. Francis of Dubuque �❑ 'r�❑� � ' � � 1 Sr. Carol $esch �r �� 5can to � �'� �,�� Ragister ��., : ��,' N; Srsters o{St. Francis of Dubuque �"' ��_ - � � �'• for FreQE -�y��:y +n; _ _- � p�� ,., � Crys�al Duffy � {'' '� &�"��'j',�`•"�� __ Zibrary Director, Postville Public Library � ; �. — _.. ;� Questions? �. , � .,4 j .� ,f, . - � - - - . ' - . - Email Clara Lopez Ortiz at � � _ . • � '' clara�dbqfoundation.org � � , ___'�: � � Questions? Email Clara at � � _ 1 �� _ l � � i � � - '�A;�.._ �^��w.,� : � claraQdbqfoundation.org Community , /�, � _ -�� - - __ = _ - �� Foundation � � 1 - -�-� � Community oF�REATE� o�B�Q�E - � . 1 �> ----_ ___ _ Foundation � ,. ,. , l. , . aF GRenrea oueunuE • • • • • • �� Community Foundation OF GREATER DUBUQUE • • • mmi ration ommunit ssessment J Y � . , , , ��.� €�� . � i:�;,--;. Community � �� :+'t Foundation � ` • � " • � -�� `! ��I� OF GREA7ER PUBUQUE ��'- !` __ .. ■IE �� 1 Y i� Q� � . - ^ �� I M M I G RATI D N i �� e• �� :T � _� . �� F. _ e` ��. COMMUNITY . � � ;�� ;� �,� �� ASSESSMENT � _ � � � f Executive Summary � ,ti � �� ` �� . . � r ' 4. 7.,�� Prepared by. � . �r Alez Ba�m �„ �k � 'rA � $� - ��-- � � _� � � _$;�y°"d��.. .. �� ,, .. �� 1 ;u � r � ��,�:� � - i . 1�'i ''i��• '�� ,, � � .t 1_ � � _'R� � � o_ a . � ix€tif �i '�� . . - - - - . � � � • 1 �_- _ '} � �' � :�: +-�� / /`' �v � ! '`�,. i ,� �� l --� -� Presentation � Title • • • �� Community Foundation OF GREATER DUBUQUE Figure 1 : �umulati�e migration - Dubuque [ounty International Migration — Domestic Migration 1.25K 1K 750 �oo / , / 25Q � a -25Q -50Q -75Q 2Q10 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Source: U.S. Census Population Estimate data. Available at: https://www2.census.go�/programs-surveys/popest/ Figure 2: [umulative migration - lowa International Migration Domestic Migration 80K � 60K 40K 20K - 0 -20K I I -40 K 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 201$ 2019 2020 2021 Source: U.S. Census Population Estimate data. Available at: https://www2.census.go�/programs-surveys/popest/ • • e ea � or ur e � on Opportunities Barriers t��'A�� ,'��;�{ • • ��I�I�1�� D n a m i c G rowth • H i h e r ove rt :.._ y g p y � � � . . � �=:�� Diversity Underemployed _x.�� i "" �� • Entre reneurshi and • Academic challen es p p g '�= workforce . • - Disconnect from larger �:-. • Youth and families community Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE Pa�►erty Rat� - �ity of Du�uque A�ian Black Latin� Native Ameritan PaCifiC Islander 5�me Other Rate Twa or More Races White �a�, 60% �o�, 5D.9°�o Pacific Islander , � �o� � . 29.6°Io BlaCk 3U45 �8.4°�� Some Other Race 7n�, 18.1°/a Two vr Mare �� 14.�°lo Latino �a% � 1D.8% White 8.2°/a Asian a� �n,� �0,3 za,a �a,� zo,� �o,� zo,s �0,9 �Q�o �a�, ❑�/o Natiue American*�*** Saurce; American Community Survey, 5-year Estimates ' ! . • ' i � . � ' . � . i " � Racef Ethni�ity Hou�ehold Per Cap�ta All hous�holds $58,f�91 $3�,4�9 American Indiar� and Alaska NatiWe - $1�,131 Asia n $�4,01� $Z7,455 Black or Afritan Ameritan $35��94 �15,33� Hispanic or Latino origin �71,4�9 $19,7z� Nati�e Hawaiian and �ther Patific Islander $��,58� $9,874 Same other race ��5�94� $�3,910 Twa ar more race� ��6,1b1 $1�,7G5 White $�1,�9� �34,�1� • • ore � n - orn es � en s • 240% h i he r rate of ove rt Du bu ue Count €�,,� g p y � q y� ,:s ��3�,. �;i„i �� << • '� � � Earn less than Nat� ve Res� dents � lowa � _�..� . , o � �� Men. 83 /o �� • Women: 81 % _��. . . ; �r � • Hi her ercenta e makin less than 35 000 a ear �:� $ . g p g g , y � lowa � • 25 .7% �native� vs. 36. 1 % �foreign born� Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE • • • �� Community Foundation OF GREATER DUBUQUE • • • mmi ration ommun � t ssessment • Started in Immi ration Forum - - � g ,.� ''" �31� �� 1 ' €��s�' �� *'� ��l� • T� �'��a�i}'.}ryl� ��,� -_ , � • Need to act collect�vel — `�� y . ,� �,: ��: '� �. �.� _�,� . �.� �' � ��; shou I d sta rt w�th assessment � . � ,� �� . :� ��' • B e a n i n 2 1 x� - �`` � � 0 9 �� -�'� �� g _ . fi � ,� _ �, a - • Durin andemic \� � gp tc • �7 �r j �,- • Act� ve assessment _ :. � = .�: � �. _',�- � Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE `_�� • • ro ec s a n ccom � s men s • All of Us Dubuque • Housing Response 'f;,A�� i= �:�;�. ��1�� • C o v i d - 1 M e d i c a I a n d • I m m i ra n t F o o d ;,,_ 9 g � � - -� Vaccine Information Distri ution _:: .:�z "�� Distri bution �� • MarshalleseCommunity '�- � • Guardianshi Website Connector �:-. p • Guatemalan Volunteer • Marshallese Health Fund Mentor • And More . . Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE • a rs a ese ommun � t onnector . . _ _ _ . . ��'"A�� • ' �; •� ��I�I 1�`.; .� : ___ �_�� .- � . F ��{�� w � �� + �� • I _ � � y .`, I � F � �� + L �t z L�� • ` _ ra` � � � 1 L�.-•"'rl {��: L �i y• � 4' _ . _ � . `_'^� �� y� ` F. � .�� _x.��^ti?. , t.�' . � '�� l .••� Y� ��. �� T �� ` i �} F M1 � y � • * � r..� � �' Y�� e�s �*��. �N �_ — — _� . � � �* . � _ �:;�„�,�: , ti ,� �� i . � _ � � r�, � � � f � � �.__ �� ,� � 'r � . f . � _ 'ry, �- .� .. - � .1 �. ., . � -- + - � ,' � . . � � � '��r �l + -� ��t '•' � "�J n `,r y �' �l� � � i� � ? k .� _ �'� � J_*M1�•� * � • �+';�,�.�� f,+ _� ��.� �,•': �� , r��-*. R r` •� � �'�� ' � �' - � ' . ,Y � .,�t � ' �M1 . '� � � �� • - � .��'t � �� 4 '•�.��r� � . ti �{'. r • r � � ' i . ' .�,��. ~�' • . r r ay .C� r �� .N�. ' �'�.' '�I:n »iih3: • '.r., tr . Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE • a rs a ese ommun � t onnector r :--� � . . - - - . . LTnit�i oint Health �:: � Visiting Nurse Association � ��`�'`�;:';i -• �.. � �- . ��I�I�1�`.' .� : __- �_�� - y . � - � -= �: � �� ..� vi�i� � � �� ; � �, i � � � �� THECITYflF ` . #r . L��' • �• h� � � �� I• ��.-•`�l �'�' L 'i _ y '�� 4 _ . _ � . �� `_::� �� ` � .'� �LJ� E s . - �, � � �� _::-:�R , t.� . � � � r .:.� - . � yy ��,� w� � J � i �� ' �� } '•FM1 -'� Y � — � � �a� . i � •� 1 � � . �.� �� y� �_ � �. _ Masterpiece on t�e Mississippi � ary , � �:�,� * , �� '- � �� - � � � r , � . � � � � . � � �-__ �� . �_ � � f � � _ � 'r � . f i � _ 'ry, �- .ti .. - r � 4 1 � , . ' " - � � ,' � + . • r ' � �'�rr l + -� A��i � � '•' � "�J n `,r y �' �l� � � i� . } k .� _ �'� � � + � } J_*M1�.� * � ' - �� R � F�" ��3/ � - � �� - ' � � � �. �,t • ''}• - � • , x � ..�i , , �• �� - . � „ • - � .:-''t ' � � �. �� =�� Co m m u n i ty r r -� � . ti . :��-=�� - . � Foundation , ; Ly • y *r' ; �,�;J' � �` QF GREATER DUBUQUE � ��'.' •��:n i;iih3: • '.r., tr . Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE • Exe � uti �� u m mar • r I � � � � � �� I � � � � I � � �� I � � � Re � � ar� h Re � rt � . . List � Re � omm � n ations • Exe � uti �� u m mar _ , _ • r I � � � � � �� I � � � � I � � �� I � � � . . . . . . . . � Re � � ar� h Re � rt � � w � � � r � * r � • � List � Re � omm � n ations I r� tr� d u cti o n � n � i n � �ollaborat� or� � � � or Build i n � on nections with � a � u . . . � m m i rant � o m rr� u n i � i es � 1ssu �e � Faci � � Immi rant � ommunities � Methodology Prajects and Accamplishments Immigrant Populatians in ■ � � the Re ivn Capacity and Power Buildin � • ■ ' ! . / ■ ■ � Dutreach � � � ` � / Na�igat�rs : . � . � . Cultural Events . / � r � � � Case Management � Education and Yvuth Suppart � � • Health � � � � + Housing � Legal Assistance Tr�n�lation and Inter retatian Workfarce and EmpLoyment L CanVene a High-Level �e�elop an Online Immi�rant Pisc�ssivn vf Immigrativn ` Adwcate Farum r con�wc�v�ne��mm�e•ane3r�c�ns Fccueea � L n Specific�er�l�ssu to Ne�arger I o Imm�rint-SuppartCommuMy - �� _ r Esta6lish an immigran� - �_ Genter I� Establish 1 � Support Community ,I � � - � GommunaL5paces J 4rganizing • ❑iversify PfavideTran5lafedMaterial5 LacawCu�nacm.slnporldaMlWNora � OutreachEtforts andinterpretationServices `I wrcnaH�ceneen�eienofimmi�renee I �� I�� _ ��• � � ( use aes�Pracx�cec wr i..cludlnE r Take a 2Gen I�cWdelmmlerants�vvorcaganlrsnone L Immi�vrc[wnmu�iryN�mh�n"n � in�¢yur rnopti.�yc MeeLnl6 � R pprvath ' • • Support Immigrant Cultural ; DeveLop Relatlonshlps with Events Immigrant CommWnities _�. • '■ ' . _ . I Engage International � � Support Youth I • - St�dents Pr6gramming �n go i n g C o l la b o rat i o n ! Build Case Management ,I Ir �Facilitate I t "Ne[works" � 6ac ro�nd Checks Build Capadty in Immigrant I I 9evelPp a Guardianshlp Prowide Tirensportation Communities � l We6site Support • r � I Nii�oc�ay��ess��als n•tJ O�M1e�SUR ' r used on irnnigron sniden�s � B u i l d i n g C o n n e ct i a n s w i t h Suppart Early Cnildhopd �IOe a00�[io�alw�rwFo�ce Ce�elopme�[' � Achie�e Greater Optinnz for Immigrant Youth i�u.atemzlan � Reading � � u��:«��-��n��u��o�x] I �epresentation in Classrvvms Engage international CoLlege Immi rant �ommunities _ �_ S`��`$ � g Ir Hire Ad�ditional � � Pm�ide Funds fnP llnco�ered �I I` Prvvide JI Navi a[ors Medical Ex enses Brain Heal[h Services / � . f • �� T❑ra�slaxion and Interpr¢kat`on � I Advocate forAffordabLe, 1 � Provide Additional7rainings �I �f Practice Outrsach to ' Is s u e s Fac i n g Quality Housmg � ❑n Tenanis Rights Landlords I Form an Imrnigrant Hvusing Prpvide Suppart for I . ■ AllyCoalition � Mortgages Im m i r a n t C�m m u n i t i�s � I` Connect with I ymigration 1 f Pro�ide Sp ppog inr Fees& 'I De�elop a Guardianship � Attorne s J L Cam Le[in Forms We6site � 8uild Trust with Local Law Aduncate for an Inde endent Issue Communit 9ased 10 Enfvrcement �mrnigration Caurt Systern J �Cardsy ) Ir compensece comm�ni[y uem�ers for l I Nire ,I I unGxe Aveaeole Nstlonal ano state I ira�slat�ar.a�tl �terprp[atlo� ` pdditional Na�i�ators Tranelatlon aM intarvretabwrvsemces I ! � � CreateaLocaLTranslation � pffe�Basic nterpretatlon pfferTralningforMedical - � ' • I� and Interpretation�atabase �_ Training � Translation and Interpretation i�� Offer Training{or 9rain Health �� Make lJse of Translation �I • • - • 7ranslation and interpretation [ 7echnology • � ' �= � Adopt a Natural Helper ,I � ndd ua��qaws,s�ccese coacnes,e�a � Program I �mmiprant oucreach sta�` � �ffer Additional Non-English � Implement a RISE � �a�da addroa�lwo*r�rco vawo�ma�r '� workforce Training optians AmeriCarpse vrogram oP°°�'Fu`„�m�,g„vfl„`;�m M;,t�c�aum'�� • • • • • • • �� Community Foundation OF GREATER DUBUQUE • • • u � � n onnec � ons €�,,� • Barriers can create a disconnect between ,:s ��3�,. ��i�i • • • • �� ..,� immi rants and local or anizat� ons ---- g g -� �� • Lan ua e culture lack of trust etc. � .- g J , , , � _��. . . ; �� • This d isconnect reatl reduces the a bi I it of �: g y y immi rant o ulations to access resources and g p p . serv� ces Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE • • • u � � n onnec � ons €��,�i=s ;lj�• ��! • • • � • � • � • — .�, � • • �� '� �� . . � �r fi �; • • • • • Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE • • • u � � n onnec � ons €��,�i=s ;lj�• ��! • • • � • � • � • — .�, � • • �� '� �� . . � �r fi �; • • • • • Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE • • • a ac � an o�er u � � n €�,,� • Area where Dubuque is weakest i=s ;lj�• ��i�� • Amazin communit artners but . . . � g yp , � `��1 :ti?ti."!,'i ` -" „'.�• -�-� , -i . �1�x�"1l.,� ��: .,��,r'{;_". . • . �� `i. '4+i� j.:'+ � - .� • U n a �d .�,� - {�:��:- �::- . -:_: . . �. , . � . f�.�� . p * ��, , ; � �. ' y:• `,� ,��#� .�+�:: �� T�='.��; � "�' �'��`; �� „ --�... _. ��.: ; ;�� ;,.. �:�•. + _ . = i . -f. � • Untrained . �Y� .` �:� `�J� J. s� 'r �5- . �ICI{:;: .r�}' . l f � -�'• �� `�x:' �4�.:,,t� '�. *-4i ,:. d.� .y x !� ,�-. �� t � r _ •� ' � .. 1 ' p" : , . ', , � ," M .'� � r i�. _ • -•«e'" � ; +�y Y�y .f '�`�naA .s,._a _�-� • Limited Resources ��`, , ��:,�.,{ �� .��r��..� . �� --+,: �� r �' �: ��;r._.�"� 5 . . �� F 5�' .r'� I� '' F. o'LT- � S:�. � �-L��t�.'k;-'. .. . `f� �� _. �.' � t:.��5..� _ �� • Lack of connections authorit - - -�� - : �� :-�: � �` - �� r. �' ��?�. ; / y _ � .�. �: �_�� . -�- -� . �_s . � • y. � Y �� J� � _s .^%u� Creates l 1 ', � �� ` �� F�i �, � _ � ...�� - -- , -� �� ,- � - : r. �: • Bottlenecks � � � - � � �� ,d' r �r� _: r � #+ �z - � �� 1�.� l3" ;n. �vfe, - '•. ,4 r b �� • _• • • I • 5� ��r;� �� . Key individua risk . ��, ,, - � r . • Lack of representation ; , i'�'�"�p �� -�- � j ��f�;. �� - , ��'�'��`'' ��..,;4.,;.a�,r�,� � � �� „rt,._.,�. y� �;:¢:� � ��,r�r� �� , •.rr ,;. . . , , ,1,� .��in::�+��y.i�ar�•''; w. ;�'..!• �i`:' . . . , . . .,,r�-.` �...� ��±i�. ;,� i��'v.r. � • � ,. :�.s:,'•.a�':, . ,. r'`,'�••.,�'^�d :�' �''a i.. .a. w..":-:-.,�.: .f, ' i;. . .Y4 � � . , i,,.t+ 'S` ' ;�+��,:a� - �.r�:� . , . '�'�' ':'i•� :i'a�*'�'�'1��.';;r- 5� ;�'..i�...., ��"i'� �,'�' ' � "� 'c� ' �A�ei�:i;..'.. , .:S•,y�� y�.r�,.,.. Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE ��.$-�t��nr;�=� ��•;b.,,..:�:;::..�_;' . .;'ti:�'�;'+�::t,�:,,�•..� ; �� .�,:.,;:�,..;..�,,.� ..::.:�� •;-;:,;;:b,,;�,,�,•-, � .s ,'�` .�af:"' �•� �_� "tif �f , `. sx} �:,��rta"S.�s�c� ,.'�4;` _r } �,�`+: ',y!S.. �;. '"-�� F�1'SF�� . ik+� �.f.t�'k��.i'.�,.:i:'r�.:r.�.F._:.�``��.!•' ur��i�' � � - � .��r� . . . �i� ��`�^�!'.:��:1G��4'- �.-.:��t��.1�:r�'��'.:''�� • • • a ac � an o�er u � � n €��,�,:s ��3�,. �� ,.,,�, - _ - . . . . . . . _ • - Support �ammunity � • r r � � � � � � � r � � • -,� _ ' � C'��Cl I Z I n� _ ,�. �� . . , -�-� Estab �ish an Immigrant Estab�ish . . ; �� C� nter �a m m u n al �paces �: ■ . ■ . . . . - . - . , . . _ • • • a ac � an o�er u � � n , . . . . €��;� on t ust u � re at � ons � s an cu tura i"��3�� I �� now e e or t ose w o ave ower _� _:�_ �� :� _�� . . ; �� : . u � owe r o r t ose w o a ve r ti n i n t r n eaos sa cuua owe e • • • • �� Community Foundation OF GREATER DUBUQUE � ' CASE - LEGAL • MANAGEMENT _ ASSISTANCE � /I ►� EDUCATIDN AN D �■ , TRANSLATI � N AND Y� UTH SUPPORT S' I NTE RP RETATI 0 N H EA LT H IN� RKF � RCE AND EM PL�YM ENT ► H � USI NG • � • � • • � - . nv n B tt r T th r mmitt Establish a Guatemalan Co e e a e e oge e Co ee , Mentorship Program - Create and Support a Sustainable Create an Expanded Marshallese >>_ Immigrant-led Nonprofit Organization Student Group �� r .�'gEE Train Community Members in Medical �"- . Adopt a Natural Helper Program - Translation and Inter retation , ,.. p � _ , , , , Provide Employer Toolkits Hire Additional Navigators , and Assistance Invest in Additional Case Management Engage International College Students and Provide Support & ��Networks" Workforce Supportto International Students Pr i Em r T it n i t n ov e p oye oo s a ss s a ce €�,,� • Immigrants are among our fastest growing populations ,:s ��3�,. �� • Immigrants are often underemployed _� _:�_ �� . . :� Low unemployment — ava � lable �obs _��. . . ; �� : • Yet local employers continue to struggle to hire and retain members from immigrant populations Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE IT P rtn r i a es p • MIT Sloan School of Business — USA ��---� - - -0-� €� _ _ _ _ - �=s�,r,;-� � � ��i� La bs ��,� _ � � �_, �_ .� ��.� -� -� - - �� _ � , � �-��=; • Graduate students come to �� = � �-�,,� -� ::� �� .- . � � f �� ,�� _��, Dubuque for research - a ,. ;� � � : � f '.,'(�� 4�* � _—�" r � -P''�r�� -A ..I �— l�Y;� � • ` d � 'f �� • To ic: How can Dubu ue heI Iocal �� , �� -� ��'�' p q p _._ � ` � ` � � . m I r t t r h i r n r t i n �� -� '� � ' � e poyesbee ead ea . � � immi rant em Io ees P -- `. g p y �� -��- � , '� ,!''� .�-��,1 f�'. iS".. _�': �„�;' '.y.�v�•- !r �,_. �; .- ��• �r� r'" ' � ; .� �,=F _ �A��-`��- Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE � �'��"��'"�g� ' • • m IT Fin in o e o s gs €�,,� • Immig rant employees ,:s ��3�,. �:i•i �� • Want a merit-based a roach .�, p p � _..� . � �.�� Lack of cultural competency �� , � � � • Businesses �� '` • Strong desire to recruit�retain immigrant community members • Disconnected from community • Different needs within companies (CEO vs. HR) Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE P t nti ti n oe a ouos €�,,� • MIT: Case studies ,:s ��3�,. �� • Build cultural competency of employers _� _:�_ �� . :� • Must be useful for ALL of business _��. . . ; �r • CEOs different from HR or supervisors �: • Most effective if it is a community capacity Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE • • �� Community Foundation OF GREATER DUBUQUE � ' ! ' / . � / . / _ _ GENERAL SUPP� RTERS STRATEGIC SPECIALIZED � n oin ��Llabarati � n Immigration Largest population Fgrum � � � � � � � Many can't meet on a regular basis . ► - ► � � n oin ��Llabarati � n Immigration Largest population Fgrum � � � � � � � Many can't meet on a regular basis . ► PIHP Aduisory Group N�cessary for focused Dubuque Unidos ' ' * projects Limited scflpe � n oin ��Llabarati � n Immigration Largest population Fgrum � � � � � � � Many can't meet on a regular basis . ► ■ PIHP Aduisory Group N�cessary for focused Dubuque Unidos ' ' * projects Limited scflpe trate ic o a oration g €�� Systemic issues require a collaborative solution �=s�,r,�,. �� -� -�� -� Prvblerns �. �� -�-� 1} Scope . . ; �� : 2} Power Imbalance trate ic o a oration g €�� Systemic issues require a collaborative solution �=s�,r,�,. �� -� �� Problerns Model �� Project based -�-� 1} Scope . . ; �� . �} Both big goals �: 2} Power and smaLler project� Imbalance 3 Immi rant } g participation 4} I nfo rm Large r community 5} Abi lity to respond trate ic o a oration g €�� Systemic issues require a collaborative solution �=s�,r,�,. �� -� . �� Prvblerns Model Recommendativns �� } Project based ��"'' �� SC�� Con��ne a High-Le�el . . � '�� . �} Both big gaals ❑is�ussian of Immigration � �; 2} Power an d s m a�le r p roj ect� ❑e�elQp an online �mmigrant I m balan ce Ad�a�ate Forum 3} I m m igrant participation • - - - - � - - - . - - 4} I nf�orm Larger Cannect �ther Immigrant Groups Facused co m m u n i ty on Specific-Le�el Issues to the Larger Immigrant-5upport Community 5} Abi lity to respond n n B tt r T t r mm itt o ve e a e e oge e o ee €�,,� • Regula r meetings a imed at strateg ic colla boration ,:s ��3�,. �� • Focus on a set number of projects at a time _� _:�_ �� . . . . . . . . :� Prior�t�ze imm �grant part�cipat�on _��. . . ; �� , Best practices �: • Intentiona I focus • Provide facilitation and backbone support Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE � � � � � � ^ � • � � f � � � f • � � � f � r • - . - - i • • . ■ LORAS � "-�' ij� �f�$o � Advocates � � �I� r .: . , � � . � � R � , � � � � , , � • Immigrant . = ; = . � r • Community Members ' - + � �. ��-�� . �-� � ��C _ : - • - � � ` A` �i �tl � 1 T � 1 i T I � � , � � � � �'� � �' �,�� Service Providers � a `°RAS I � �� #380 � � '��'�/ � �� . � J \ � \J. �� • • . IMMIGRATI4N F� RUM • • • " " Create and Support a Sustainable • . � � , . , . Immigrant-led Nonprofit Organization f - • - Establish a Gua�emalan Mentorship _ - BETTER TQGETHER COMM , Program � - , � � Train Community Members in Medical Translation and Interpretation � Implement a RISE _ . � � _ • � - AmeriCorps Program � • � �' Immigrant Participation Subcommittee n n B tt r T t r mm itt o ve e a e e oge e o ee €�,,� • Moving forwa rd with Better Together Committee ,:s ��3�,. �� • Participation interest from approximately 50 stakeholders _� _:�_ �� . . :� F� rst meeting scheduled for early August _��. . . ; �� : • Tied closely to Project HOPE Dubuque City Council � Inclusive Dubuque and Project HOPE � � � �, � � � . � • � � � r � � ,_... _ - ,� - - = a , _ , _� � �}. . ; ;; . . �_ - '�.��;�' r�, " a � - - � �� / I�� 1w_`W/,�r ' ; �:. �`� . .��, f� ` � �� 1 �y�� 1�'�� — _ — � r�� _ � � � ��, `��#'�'� _ � �� .� �� ;�I I��."F . r�t 1.� ;� y� � ��`.�� i��-, � � .��, � ��, �� _. . �3 T H K Y �� ,�, ��: �f �o � �� .�� _ r� w ��. �� : _ • ____ Iy w �� ,� , � � � ,,� '� �� .�� ,_ .,;�—�. /:� � ��.,� � � ,��•,/,� ��4 `� � � �� .. ��I . �_ �`-�+� ;� ��:�.�-- � � � ��'� � ��.> ;� �,� � � 1 ti �` • - ��"-�-tir ;� i � �- . ._ .,. . w �IC'=��, . . ,� 1�'_ �� 1Y�, M <'�*. e�-"'�� '� �.� ., . �5�i � \-" � , .�,�`� . • �� `�� ._ ' � d bqfoundation.org y�R � �f ;� , �, - 1 � � r ,�,. �, _ - �:�'__; � �� . . i 6� ' y�.� 'c I u . � � �y�. � .� --- �� _ ��°°°^.�..,. � _ -_ �_� � _ �� 563 .588 .2700 .� .��- - - - � �� ,� �� ,:�� - _ _ .� �_ �' � , . ��' :�� ,� � — � - �i ! -� V - ` � , � � � ` � - � � � � �� , � - . - - - . ��. - _ _ :�� - - _, Median Wage by Nativity and Gender, 2021 I owa Total � Native � Foreign born Foreign born; Naturalized citizen � Foreign born; Not a U.S.citizen 60K �. , . 50K . � :� ,, , , ; „ .�, 40K � 30K 20K 10K 0 Male Female Source:ACS 202 9 5-Vear Estimates �/25/2023 Terms are those used by the Census eureau Annual Earnings by Nativity, 2021 I owa Native Residents $1 to �9,999 or loss $10,000 to $14,999 I I I $15,000 to $24,999 $25,000 to $34,999 $35,000to �49,999 �'� $50,000 to $74,999 $75,000 or more 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 209�6 229�6 249�6 269�6 289�6 Foreign-Born Residents $1 to �9,999 or loss $10,000 to �14,999 �' $15,000 to $24,999 � �� $25,000 to $34,999 $35,000 to �49,999 � •'� $50,000 to �74,999 � � I I � � � $75,000 or more 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20% 22% 249�6 269�6 289�6 �/25/2023 Source:ACS 2029 5-Vear Estimates; Terms are those used bythe Census Bureau CVCItYVIVt RESOURCES AN D OPPORTU N ITI ES . . . ...requires a baseline understanding of its dismantling barriers to resources, improving key strengths and opportunities for improvement. health and well-being indicators, and generally How are diverse communities succeeding in our helping build a Dubuque where all people can community? What challenges do they face? The thrive. Community Equity Profile is a way to measure Our goal today is for local leaders to draw what is and is not working for the people of insights from this updated profile and use this Dubuque. knowledge to approach Dubuque's challenges In August 2022, we set out to update Dubuque's with the same thoughtfulness and eye toward Equity Profile, which we first published in 2015. equity as in past years. The reason for doing this was simple: Dubuque We welcome you to take a journey through our had changed dramatically. Community Equity Profile. The region's population grew in number as well as in its racial, ethnic and cultural diversity. The most significant public emergency in generations — the COVID-19 pandemic — and national attention on issues of racial equity led leaders to seek greater understanding of how the lives of people from diverse backgrounds are shaped by systems like education, housing and health care. The time had come for an Equity Profile that reflected life in Dubuque in 2022-23. The first iteration of the Equity Profile led to numerous community initiatives aimed at 1 IVI V K C 1 1'1 A Irl J V J 1 TH IS SU M MARY. It is a process that uncovers how diverse groups TABLE OF CONTENTS are affected by various systems. The process to update to the 2015 Equity Profile Demographics 4 began in August 2022 with the training of volunteers to facilitate community conversations Housing 6 over seven months. These conversations, each of which focused on a different topic, helped Workforce & Economic Well-being �0 glean insight from community members as they Education 14 shared their perspectives, stories and experiences. In addition, we distributed online Health & Wellness �$ surveys on each month's topic. Through a partnership with TH Media, publisher Arts & Culture 22 of the Telegraph Herald newspaper, we kicked Safe Neighborhoods 26 off each month with a panel discussion featuring a data presentation and Q&A with community Transportation 3� leaders. These discussions were held at Steeple Square and streamed online. Finally, we collected publicly available data to provide context for the community's input. This summary provides an overview of the data and community feedback, shedding light on what disparities exist among Dubuque's diverse communities and also highlighting what is working. We invite local leaders to use it as an evolving tool that guides decision-making. 2 To understand the experiences of diverse populations in Dubuque, we need to know just who calls Dubuque home. We have collected current demographic data that provides context for the information contained in the Equity Profile and provides an overview of how Dubuque has changed over time. After you explore these statistics, read on to view snapshots on each topic. Population Growth Dubuque County/State of lowa Dubuque County State of lowa 20% O o �02,818 N u 15% c N �� 3,357,879 o io�ro � � °' Source:Total o ulation data 2000-2020 � 5°io 89,231 P P °�' 2,929,067 from the U.S. Dept. of Commerce.All � data 2025-2040 are projected by Woods o% &Poole;residential population as of 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 July 1 . ....................................................................................................................................... Age Composition City of Dubuque, Previous Equity Profile vs. Current Data 19&under 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 6U-6N . , . , �. •'• Previous Equity Profile Current Data � . :• Source:American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates:2013 and 2020 4 CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS Demographic Composition - Race & Ethnicity City of Dubuque Asian Black Latino Native American Pacitic �s�ander Two or more races White 0.6% 0.6% 2.4% 0.27% 0.6% 0.1% 40�0 �0.5% 97.8%\ 1.1% r1.8% 9' \ 1990 2010 1.6% 0.2% 3.8% 0.37% 1.2% � �0.'°" � �1.3% 0.7°\ 6.3% r1% 1.2\ r4.4% '•, �. .�,., I .•� I 85.13% 2000 2020 Source: U.S. Census Bureau . ....................................................................................................................................... Population by Race/Ethnicity, 2010 - 2020 Percent Change in Population by City of Dubuque Race/Ethnicity, 2010 - 2020 City of Dubuque Race/Ethnicity 2010 2020 Asian 659 690 Asian Black Bla�k 2,302 3,745 �atino 160.1% Latino 1,383 2,22Q NativeAmerican Pacific Islander Native American 155 223 Two or more races White Two or more races 1,018 2,648 6z��io White 52,869 50,794 43.9% Source: U.S. Census Bureau 4.��i� � _� 5 AFFORDABILITY Housing is considered affordable when costs do not exceed 30% of the household's income. TH E DATA ►Nearly 50% of Black households in Dubuque spend over 50% of their annual income on housing. ►Since the previous Equity Profile, the number of households at 0-30% of the area median income increased by 22%, but the number of affordable units for this population decreased by 25%. FROM THE SURVEY ►45% of renters said they either agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, "In my current living situation, I have concerns about insufficient funds." WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING �A theme that emerged was that people feel Dubuque is missing affordable housing, especially starter homes. �Participants said that when IBM came to town, rents increased. However, rents have stayed high even though IBM has left. Housing Affordability by Income Group Housing Cost Burden City of Dubuque City of Dubuque �Household5 �Affordable Units ■ Less than 30%of income on ■30-50�/a of income on 15,000 housing housing More than 50%of income on housing 11' 10 000 ''" � � 5,000 , � Asian Black Hispanic Native Other Pacific White American Race Islander � � Source:CHAS Data Set,2014-2018 0-30%AMI 30-50%AMI 50-80%AMI >80%AMI AMI stands forArea Median Income Source:CHAS Data Set,2014-2018 • •• - - -• • . ..-. - • . � � � • � � � : • • • - Housing 7 FAIR ACCESS Fair access means all people have equal opportunity to be considered for and find resources related to rental units, purchase of property, housing loans and property insurance. THE DATA Owner Occupied vs. Renter Occupied ►Only 9% of Black households own their home, City of Dubuque compared to 63% for the entire population. ►While home ownership forAsian households grew ■owneroccupied RenterOccupied by 17% since the previous profile, ownership for Asian � Hispanic households fell by 16%. Black � FROM THE SURVEY � ►80% of respondents who identify as Latino, Black or Hispanic Middle Eastern and North African strongly agreed that they had experienced bias, discrimination or NativeAmerican exclusion in Dubuque related to housing. At the OtherRace •'� same time, 54.5% of respondents who are renters either agreed or strongly agreed. Pa�;f;�,s�a„de� ►When asked whether it would be easy for them to ,� access services to assist with the process of looking White . for a home, 60% of renters disagreed or strongly ooro z5oro 5ooro �5oro �000ro disagreed, compared to just 23% among all respondents. Source:CHAS Data Set,2014-2018 WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING �Participants indicated that there is not enough housing for people with mobility and accessibility concerns. ►Landlords and tenants both say they experience a " ••• • language disconnect; this is particularly prevalent " • •• ••• • among international students. " ' ' � � • - � � • • ►Some participants shared that it's easier for renters � � � � _ to find affordable, quality housing if they have a � personal relationship with a landlord. . ....................................................................................................................................... HOMELESSNESS & SECTION 8 THE DATA WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ►There were over twice as many homeless ► Dubuque needs more students in the Dubuque Community School transitional housing to support - - " - District during 2021 than there were in 2018 (IA its unhoused population. ' "' " ' Dept. of Ed). - � � � . .... . ►During the first half of 2022 there was an � .� . , . , � average of 54 housing vouchers "on the street" . � per month, compared to an average of 5.5 from the first half of 2015 (HUD). Housing 8 QUALITY THE DATA Access to Quality Housing ►78% of people making less than 50% of the area City of Dubuque median income are experiencing at least one of HUD's 4 identified housing problems: the four housing problems identified by the 1. Lacks complete kitchen facilities Department of Housing and Urban Development 2. Lacks complete plumbing facilities (graph to the right). 3. More than one person per room 4. Cost burden greater than 30% (affordability) FROM THE SURVEY ►The physical condition of their home was the most Affordability comprises 89.7% of the problems in identified concern for respondents of the survey, Dubuque. including 36% of all respondents and 67% of renterS. �None of the 4 housing problems ■1 or more of the 4 housing problems 3,000 WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ►"It is important that the community works together to raise the floor of what is considered acceptable for affordable housin Z,000 g „ ►From a resident living at a mobile home park: "It is embarrassing to live in this type of housing." i,000 o ■ ■ 80-100%AMI 50-80%AMI 30-50%AMI 0-30%AMI • � AMI stands for Area Median Income � � �� Source:CHAS Data Set,2014-2018 • • • � • • •• • . ....................................................................................................................................... Themes and comments from conversation attendees �In 2015 and today, people noted a lack of accessibility � to housing resources, which creates a barrier to obtaining a house. • �In 2015 and today, people said there is an absence of affordable rent in Dubuque. • � . • ►Tensions exist between landlords and tenants around issues of property maintenance and also due to discrimination and cultural differences. � � � Suggestion: Establish a way to encourage education, collaboration and communication among landlords, tenants and community members seeking housing. Landlords and renters agreed that this could help break down barriers. Housing 9 DIVERSITY IN THE WORKFORCE THE DATA WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ►Both the percentage of Dubuque's workforce ►Many people commented that while Dubuque is that is Black and the percentage that is Pacific making strides to be more inclusive in its Islander have more than doubled since the workforce, there is still a lot of work to do. previous Equity Profile. �Respondents felt that opportunities for international students were limited. FROM THE SURVEY ►While only 14.2% of all respondents felt their workplace was not equitable or inclusive, that number was 50% for Black respondents, 26% for women (compared to 7%for men), and 43% . . � . . _ _ _ for people with a disability (compared to 12% .-.. - . _ .. . . . . without). - � • • � . . ►Nearly 40% of respondents agreed that they had "" � ' ' experienced bias, discrimination or � � " exclusion in Dubuque related to employment. ' ' ' " 75% of individuals with disabilities agreed, as did the two respondents who are veterans. Workforce Composition by Race/Ethnicity and Gender City of Dubuque Pacific Islander .5% Asian Latino 1.8°/a 2% I I Two or I more races - I / 2.3% •• • Black Native 3'8% American �WOmen Men .3% Some other race .5% . •�, �, Source:American Community Survey, 5-year estimates:2020. Latino is considered by the Census to be an ethnicity, not a race,so numbers will add up to over 100%. Workforce& Economic Well-Being 11 UNEMPLOYMENT & POVERTY Poverty Rate by Gender and Age Poverty Rate by Race & Ethnicity City of Dubuque City of Dubuque � Asian •��''' Under 18 years 33.1% 20.5% � Black , 51.7�Yo 18-64Years � 1.6% Latino � 15.5% 13.4�/0 0% 65 Years and Native � American Older 25.2� 14.9% � Pacific Islander � � 66.8gb Male � � Some other race 35.6°� 13.6% � '2.6% Two or more � races Female �Z.z�o .4.7% 19.1% White � 14.2% ■Less than 50%of■ Less than 100%of Less than 125%of .Less than 50%of■ Less than 100%of Less than 125%of the poverty level the poverty level the poverty level the poverty level the poverty level the poverty level Source:American Community Survey, 5-year Estimates: Source:American Community Survey, 5-year Estimates: 2020 2020 THE DATA WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ►Since the previous Equity Profile, every racial and �Respondents identified transportation, child care, ethnic group's unemployment rate declined or poor internet access and a lack of financial remained the same except the Black community's, knowledge as key barriers to employment and which increased 12.6%. moving out of poverty. FROM THE SURVEY ►When asked what was the most important issue . , � . . _ ��_ they faced in Dubuque related to their economic - . . - - . situation, respondents selected "unemployment" . - - . - • � the least (2%) of any available option. • • • • - ►Respondents with lower incomes were more • ""• confident in their ability to find organizations that offer employment services, with 92% of those making less than $50,000 a year agreeing, compared to 58% of those making more than $100,000 a year. Workforce& Economic Well-Being 12 INCOME & CAREER ADVANCEMENT THE DATA Median Household Median Earnings by ►While Dubuque's median household income has Income by Race/Ethnicity Gender increased over 23% to $54,938 since the previous City of Dubuque City of Dubuque Equity Profile, the median household income for Black households is just $12,068. All races& g54,938 Male $49,499 ethnicities FROM THE SURVEY Asian $59,659 Female $37,817 �"Equitable pay" was identified by 29% of respondents as the most important issue they face Black $12,068* Source:American in Dubuque as it relates to their economic Community Survey, 5-year situation, making it the most frequently chosen Latino $60,250 Estimates,2020 option. Insufficient health and retirement benefits Native Earnings are for full-time, $17,452 year-round workers with and career advancement (both 21%) were the next American earnings. most common choices. Pacific Islander $34,338 WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ►"I don't earn enough on a single income to live in othes�ace $82•958 decent housing. The messages of equity and inclusion that my employer sends do not always Two or $49,423 ring true in actuality." more races �In a Spanish-language community conversation, white 557,063 individuals felt that it was more difficult for them � � � to advance in their career compared to their white Source:American Community " ' ' ' ' " " colleagues. Survey, 5-year Estimates,2020 "' � *2019 data substituted for � • � � • missing 2020 data � ' ' • • • - •-•• - . ....................................................................................................................................... Themes and comments from conversation attendees ►Gender discrimination —such as different expectations � - � - ; � � ; of how women should act in the workplace—and ageism are still prevalent. • ►There are little to no resources and education opportunities for employers about hiring immigrants. � Suggestion: Focus on earn-and-learn pathways to allow � � � for development and advancement. � � � Workforce&Economic Well-Being 13 STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT THE DATA Students Proficient in Reading ►64% of all Dubuque Community School District Dubuque Community School District students are reading at grade-level.That number drops to 46%for students of low socio-economic status, 32%for Black students, and 11%for Pacific All students � �� Islanders. •� '� ►Between the 2019 and 2021 school years,the �, graduation rate at Dubuque public high schools Asian , �� dropped from 88.45%to 81.91%. ►In 2021,the graduation rate was 69.1%for Hispanic Black � students, 65.9%for students of low socio-economic status, and 56.1%for Black students. Hispanic � �' FROM THE SURVEY •,' �95% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that PaCifiC ' �' "Student success in the classroom" was a concern, Islander �, making it the No. 1 issue in the survey. '� White ►60% of respondents disagreed or strongly '� disagreed with the statement"I am confident our �� .,� schools are meeting the needs of students;' Two or more � including 69% of parents and 73% of educators who races . . , responded. Low socio- ,. �, economic status - �, WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ►From an educator: "I really worry about the kids I Students with � ��' send on to high school. Most of my students fail a disabilities � "� lot of classes,yet still move on without the skills they Third -graders • �' need to succeed." only • � �"Our school system is doing the best it can with the limited resources our state legislature gives them" �2018-2019 � 2021-2022 Reading proficiency by the end of third grade is a key indicator of high school graduation and future academic achievement. Source:lowa Dept. of Public Education • .. � • . •- --• Education 15 . - .- ... . � � - . - - - DIVERSITY • • �-•- • ••- . . TH E DATA ►Nearly one quarter of Dubuque Community School District students are from minority populations. �The percentage of students who are Pacific Islanders has nearly doubled since the previous Equity Profile. Student Demographics by Race & Ethnicity Dubuque Community School District FROM THE SURVEY Hispanic ►Two-thirds of respondents agreed or strongly agreed 4.a°io that the had concerns about discrimination in Native y Black American Pacific �U�'JUC�U@�S SChOO�S. Asion 9•i% Oi 1%sl2a�d�r 0.9/o ►39% of respondents said they had experienced bias, \ Two or discrimination or exclusion in Dubuque related to more races preschool and K-12 education or education-related 5.9°io services. This number jumps to 57%for respondents who identify as "Hispanic, Latinx or Hispanic Origin" and 100%for parents of children with disabilities. - WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING �"We need to improve services and opportunities for students with disabilities." �"I don't think schools understand the needs of students with diverse backgrounds." Includes pre-Kstudents Source:lowa Dept. of Public Education,2021-2022 school year . ....................................................................................................................................... EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT THE DATA Income by Education and Gender �The average annual earnings for women with a City of Dubuque bachelor's degree ($41,114) is less than the average annual earnings for men with only a high school Lessthan high� diploma ($42,528). school graduate ' High school ' FROM THE SURVEY graduate� � ►76% of respondents either strongly agreed or equ�i allen�cy) agreed that their community offers quality higher education/post-secondary opportunities. However, Some college or associate's respondents with advanced degrees were the most degree likely to disagree or strongly disagree (18%). WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING Ba�degree ►"I stayed for college/university here because of the quality education. " Graduate or �"Most of the schools are religious-affiliated, and professional degree since I'm not Christian, I experienced discrimination during undergraduate years." �Male � Total Female Source:American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates,2020 Education 16 STUDENT & TEACHER WELL-BEING THE DATA Chronic Absentee Rate ►Between the 2018-19 and the 2021-22 school Dubuque Community School District years, the percentage of students chronically absent more than doubled from 12.5% to 27.4%. All students� ■ 2018-2019 �During August and September 2022, 419 students 2021-2022 visited the new Brain Health Retreat Rooms at Asian� Hempstead and Dubuque Senior high schools. Black � � FROM THE SURVEY ►80% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their children feel a sense of belonging at their schools. Hispanic� � ►81.1% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed Native� that they had concerns about bullying in school. American WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING Pacific Islander ► Teachers have multiple roles outside of their job description. They need to be compensated White� financially for their demanding job." ' ►"The concept of a neighborhood school for pre-K Two or more� and later is important! Ours has buddy groups, races ,,;�, student of the month recognition, events, etc." Low socio-� economic status . ;�, Students with� disabilities w� . - - - Chronic Absenteeism is when a � � � � student misses at least 10%of � "' school days. •• - •• Source:lowa Dept. of Public ' •' ' ' Education . ....................................................................................................................................... Themes and comments from conversation attendees ►Pacific Islander high school students said they feel � � � misunderstood and that there is lack of connection between their parents and school administrators. • ►In 2015 and today, people expressed the need for representation of diverse populations among school stafF. � � � � �A cultural shift in how educators are perceived has caused an exodus of teachers. � � � ►Some attendees indicated that they feel racial discrimination continues in high schools, both in peer-to-peer interactions and with educators. �With technology more prevalent in education, are teachers properly trained? Suggestion: Build networks that support the personal and professional well-being teachers. Education 17 H EALTH & CONTRI BUTI NG FACTORS THE DATA �Dubuque County reported higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 2021 than in 2014(see charts below). ►In Dubuque County,the rate of infection for chlamydia increased by 40% between 2014 and 2021, while the rate of infection for gonorrhea nearly tripled during that time period. FROM THE SURVEY �61% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they had concerns about"Hospitals and Clinics;' which was one of the lowest rated concerns in the survey. However,this number rose to 100%for individuals with chronic illnesses that require ongoing accommodations. �76% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they receive quality health care from their provider. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING �"My first surgeon discounted the severity of my pain for months before I left to find another surgeon. I believe this was because of my race." �"Dubuque County Health did a GREAT JOB getting information out during the pandemic. I am proud of the dedication of local health care leaders" Percent of Population - Chronic Disease Percent of Population - Contributing Factors Dubuque County Dubuque County �2014 � 2021 �2014 2021 1 • �'� �� COPD Cardiovascular Diabetes Heart Binge Not Overweight Smoking Disease Disease Drinking Exercising Source:lowa Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System(BRFSS):2014&2021 "Percent"refers to rate of response from individuals who completed BRFSS survey and are not weighted. "Overweight"refers to responents who are overweight or obese, meaning having a Body Mass Index greater than 25. The COPD number includes chronic obstructive pulmonary • � • • " disease(COPD), emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. - ' • Health &Wellness 19 BRAIN HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE THE DATA Percentage of Population - Depression �According to the lowa Behavioral Risk Factor Dubuque County Surveillance System, approximately 38% of Dubuque respondents had at least one day in the past 30 with poor brain health. FROM THE SURVEY ►The three largest areas of concern identified in the survey were "Brain (Mental) Health Treatment" (89% agreed or strongly agreed), "Use of Other ■zo�4 zoz� Substances [not alcohol or tobacco]" (89% agreed or strongly agreed), and "Access to Substance Abuse For how many days during the past 30 Treatment" (81% agreed or strongly agreed). days was your mental health not good? Dubuque County �Over 59% of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed that it is easy to access brain health 14-q qDays services. �, WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING �"My copayments for mental health counseling are so � . � high that I don't go as often as I'd like because it's 2021 � ., _ . - not afFordable." -• • • • . . . Source: BRFSS:2014 and 2021. "Percent"refers to rate of response from individuals who completed BRFSS survey and are not weighted. . ....................................................................................................................................... FOOD INSECURITY FROM THE SURVEY ►Approximately one-quarter of respondents (24%) disagreed that fresh and healthy food is accessible. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ►"Downtown is a food desert, plus the cost of food is increasing." Food Insecurity Rate and Child Food Insecurity Rate Dubuque County - • � Child Food Insecurity Rate � Food Insecurity Rate 20% • • � � • • - 15% 10% 5% Source:Map the Meal Gap, �o�o Feeding America, 2013-2020 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Health &Wellness 20 AFFORDABI LITY & ACCESSI BI LITY THE DATA Percent of Uninsured Population by Race & Ethnicity �Since the previous Equity Profile, City of Dubuque the percentage of Dubuque's Total population that is uninsured fell � from 7.2%to 4.1%. That includes Asian �'� a drop of over 10%for the Pacific Black � �, Islander population. However, the percentages of Dubuque's Black and �at"'o � `"'" Latino population that are uninsured Pacific rose by 1.1% and 6.1%, respectively. isiander Two or more � ►The percentage of women in races Dubuque who are uninsured fell wnite � from 6.2%to 2.6% since the last Equity Profi�e. Source:American Community Survey,5-year estimates:2021. Note:Data for Native Americans and "Some other race"were not included due to low samples sizes providing unreliable data. FROM THE SURVEY �32.5% of respondents either disagreed or strongly disagreed that it is easy to access health care in Dubuque. This number rose to two-thirds among all respondents making less than $25,000 a year. �12.5% of respondents disagreed that health care would be accessible to them if they were currently looking to obtain it. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ►"Not all providers take all insurance. For example, those with Medicaid must travel more than an hour to see a physician who is an OB/GYN." �"I was shocked by how long it takes to get in for maternity care. No one gets in before second trimester, including people with miscarriage and prior ectopic who need early confirmation of location." . ....................................................................................................................................... Themes and comments from conversation attendees ►In 2015 and today, community members experienced � � long wait times to access health care. ►The pandemic has worsened low health care personnel • numbers.There is a lack of information about having a healthy diet. • � . • ►More support is needed for addiction services, especially for inpatient care and detox. There is still a stigma towards people who get help. � � � �Many attendees said they feel Dubuque has a limited number of specialists and doctors. Suggestion: People need more accessible information about healthy cooking and budgeting for groceries. Health &Wellness 21 AVAI LABI LITY THE DATA Types of Establishments �The number of arts, entertainment and recreation Nonemployer, Dubuque Metropolitan Statistical Area establishments in Dubuque decreased by over 15% since the previous Equity Profile. However,the number of �Current�ata � Previous Profile "nonemployer" arts offerings has increased, with the number of independent artists, writers and performers Independent �� growing by 30%. artists,writers and WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING performers � �85% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed that o 50 100 150 200 there are opportunities to attend art events in Dubuque. ►28% of survey respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed Museums, that information about cultural events in Dubuque is historical sites available and accessible.This number jumped to 40°/o for and simi�ar institutions respondents 61 and older. ►Survey respondent: "Dubuque 365 is great and most of o � 2 3 these organizations also use Facebook to publicize. People who say there is 'nothing to do' really aren't paying . attention:' Performing a rts companies � 0 10 20 30 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ECNSVY Nonemployer Statistics,2012 and 2019 Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Dubuque Metropolitan Statistical Area Number of Establishments Paid Employees Annual Payroll �•' � • • ' • ' . .... - 75 2,000 $40M � • • • •� . � � � • • • • 1,500 $30M � 50 1,000 $20M 25 500 $10M 0 0 2013 2020 2013 2020 2013 2020 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns,2013 and 2020 Arts&Culture 23 DIVERSITY TH E DATA ►The number of women employed in arts and culture occupations has increased significantly since the previous profile, with women now making up an estimated two-thirds of all positions. However, median wages have become much more uneven, with men in arts and culture occupations making, on average, 18% more than women. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ►Less than 9% of survey respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed that their cultural traditions and celebrations are accepted in Dubuque. ►25% of survey respondents said they had experienced bias, discrimination or exclusion in Dubuque related to arts and/or culture, though several respondents clarified that they had witnessed it but not experienced it personally. ►Survey respondent: "There needs to be easy access and greater attention to traditions of other cultures who live among us and around the world. We need to learn about them so we can support and benefit from the many colors and textures of the patterns of our world." People Over 16 Employed and Median Earnings for Individuals in Arts, Design, Entertainment and Media Occupations, by Gender Dubuque County Previous Equity Profile (2014) Current Data (2021) �Male Female Number of People Employed Number of People Employed Arts,design, ' Arts,design,� entertainment, entertainment, sports and media sports and media occupations occupations 0 100 200 300 400 500 0 200 400 600 Median Wage Median Wage ,,, ., � ,� All Occupations All Occupations Overall [Overall Median [Median €Wage — - Wage Arts,design, '•'� Arts,design, • "' entertainment, entertainment, sports and media sports and media occupations occupations $0 $10K $20K $30K $40K $50K $0 $20K $40K $60K Source: U.S. Census Bureau,American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates for 2014 and 2021 Median Earnings are for the full-time,year-round employed population 16-years-old and over �• � • • • •��• . Arts&Culture 24 ACCESSI BI LITY WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ►78% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Dubuque offers opportunities to learn about the traditions of other cultures, with only 17% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing. However, respondents were divided by income: 40% of those earning less than $50,000 a year disagreed, compared to only 5%for those making over$50,000. ►77% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their cultural traditions were accessible and easy for them to practice in their community. ►Only 16% of all respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed that if they were looking for arts and culture resources, it would be easy for them to access those resources. However, for respondents with a disability or chronic condition, that number increased to 43% (compared to 7%for individuals without a disability). ►Survey respondent: "I live downtown, north side. Adults and disabled people here have little access to art events. I don't drive, and the intersections in the winter are close to impassable." ►Survey respondent: "My exclusion has been class-based. I have attended arts events where I am not 'a member' and have been treated like an unwelcome guest." . � . . - � • � � • • � .-.. - . . � . � • � . ....................................................................................................................................... Themes and comments from conversation attendees ►In 2015 and today, community members said Dubuque � ' � ■ needs to offer more diverse cultural events and share information with diverse audiences. • ►When sharing information with young people about potential careers, such as at career fairs, the arts are . underrepresented. � ►Some people do not feel comfortable attending certain art events because: � � � o Many events are geared toward families. o The cost can be prohibitive. o Minority groups do not feel welcome. �The shift toward ofFering more online arts and cultural events has been successful. Suggestion: Encourage arts and cultural events in settings that are accessible to a broad segment of the population, such as the farmers' market and local businesses. Arts&Culture 25 IS DU BUQU E SAFE? THE DATA Violent Crime Incidences ►While violent crime incidences increased by over 67% since the Compared to Violent Crime previous Equity Profile—due to a rise in domestic and neighbor Offenders Unknown to the Victims disputes—the number of strangers committing violent crimes City of Dubuque actually fell during that time. ►With only 9.7% of violent crime offenders being unknown to their � 2014 2021 victim, Dubuque has one of the lowest rates of violent crimes ZSo 3o committed by strangers of comparably sized cities in lowa. For example, Davenport's rate is the highest at 26.2%, while Des Moines' is in the middle at 14.5%. 200 �o WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING lso ►Only 7% of survey respondents disagreed that Dubuque is a safe place to live, and only 11% disagreed that their neighborhood was a safe place to live. '°° �75% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they 10 feel safe when traveling to other neighborhoods in Dubuque. So �43% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they had concerns abouttheir personal safety in their neighborhood, including 50% of women respondents. �N„mberofv�oie�c Numberof5trangers �"I have lived in New York and Washington, D.C.There are Crime Incidences CommittingViolent Crimes unsafe places in those cities. Dubuque is a safe city." ►"I don't live in [the] Central Curve area, but it is not safe at night. I would not choose to live there." Offenders of Violent Crimes by Relationship to the Victim - 2021 City of Dubuque �Known to Victim Relationship Unknown Stranger Number of Violent Crime Incidents per 1,000 People City of Dubuque 4 3.7 3.7 3.4 3 2.8 2.6 23 2.2 2.4 2 1 �� 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Source:FBI National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), accessed Source: F81 National Incident-Based Reporting through the Crime Data Explorer,2021 and 2014. U.S. Census Bureau, System (NIBRS), accessed through the Crime American Community survey,5-Year Estimates for 2021 and 2014 Data Explorer,2021 and 2014. Safe Neighborhoods 27 EMERGENCY RESPONSE & I NTE RACTION TH E DATA ►At 69%, Dubuque's clearance rate—the rate at which cases are closed —for violent crimes is the highest of any similar sized lowa cities reviewed for this profile and is 22% above the national average. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ►82% of survey respondents either disagreed or strongly disagreed that they had concerns about contacting emergency services, such as EMTs or the fire department. ►While only 11% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they had concerns about contacting the police for service, 22% had concerns about interacting with the police. However, 100% of the respondents who identified as having lived for more than 20 years in Dubuque disagreed or strongly disagreed about having concerns around interacting with the police. ►"I have concern[s] about inequity in police response and ensuring my fellow community members are safe when police respond." ►Participants in the community conversations reported they were concerned about calling emergency services because of the cost of ambulance transport. Clearance Rate of Violent Crimes by Location ■2014 ■2021 •-�• - � • • - 69% _ • - •• - 61% • ' - • 57% • • ' • 53% 53%54% 49% 48% 47% 44% 45% 45% 46% 42% 42% 38% 38% 39% 36% 35% 34% 29% City of Ames Cedar Council Davenport Des lowa City Sioux Waterloo �Nest Des United Dubuque Rapids Bluffs Moines City Moines States* Source: FBI National Incident-Bsed Reporting System,Accessed Through the Crime Data Explorer,2014 and 2021. For U.S. Data:FBI National Incident-Based Reporting System,Accessed through Crime in the United States Report,2014 and 2019. *2019 data used for U.S. Clearance Rate due to lack of 2021 data. Safe Neighborhoods 28 VIOLENT CRIMES THE DATA Disparity Between Rate of Black Offenders �In Dubuque, Black individuals are 16.5 times more and Rate of White Offenders by Location likely to be identified as an ofFender in a violent crime than a white individual. This is down from 45 �2014 �zo�� times more likely during the previous equity profile, c�tyor but it remains one of the largest disparities in �Dubuque similarly sized cities in lowa. � � lowa WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING � Ames ►37% of survey respondents said they agreed or strongly agreed that they were concerned about � Radids discrimination as it relates to safe neighborhoods, � p while 37% disagreed or strongly disagreed (26% � `BiUffs� neither agreed nor disagreed). �Davenport ►24% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that � they had experienced bias, discrimination or � Mo�es exclusion in their neighborhood. � �"Dubuque is extremely economically stratified. � �°`"ac�tY Money is the dividing factor. Those residents with , � . money and financial security live in safer �s�o�X cty neighborhoods." �yyaterloo �West Des � Moines Source:FBI National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), accessed through the Crime Data Explorer, 2021 and 2014. U.S. Census Bureau,American Community survey, 5-Year Estimates for 2021 and 2014. lowa results are multiplied by the Percent of the Population covered by agencies reporting to NIBRS(2021: 91%;2014:98%). . ....................................................................................................................................... Themes and comments from conversation attendees ►In both this year's conversations and 2015's, women � � � � � � � expressed concern for their safety. �Alcohol use is a growing concern. Attendees • mentioned driving under the influence, especially downtown, as a specific issue. • � • Suggestion: Attending events outside your own � neighborhood can help with overcoming stereotypes and perceptions. � � � Safe Neighborhoods 29 MODES OF TRANSPORTATION THE DATA ►79% of workers living in Dubuque commute to work alone by car, truck or van. �The percentage of workers living in Dubuque that work from home grew from 3% since the previous Equity Profile to 8%today. FROM THE SURVEY ►74% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that bicycle safety is a concern, making it the most frequently identified concern in the survey. ►55% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they were concerned about the condition of sidewalks in their community. This includes 75% of the respondents who identified as Asian, Black or Latino, and 100% of respondents who identified as having a long-term disability. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING �"Challenges to finding parking downtown can be a barrier for both visitors and workers." �.- � . . - . - � • • •• • • • - .. - � • • . . - . . . Percent of Workers Living in the City of Dubuque that Use the Listed Means of Transportation to go to Work . .�� 2014 *All other means of transporation �2021 �, Carpooled-car, truck or van ,� Worked from �� home ., � '�� Walked ��, 1 '� Public �' transportation (excluding taxi� Drove alone-car, All other means of truck or van transportation* Taxi,motorcycle, 0.5% or other means Source: U.S. Census Bureau,American Community Survey, .1% 5-Year Estimates for 2021 and 2014. '0.4% Workers refers to workers aged 16 years and older. Bicycle I 0.3% Transportation 31 PV BLIC TRANSPORTATION . . . . - Means of Transportation to Work by Race and Ethnicity . , :� . ,� � City of Dubuque 24% 20% 15°/a 21% 5% 50% 12°/a 7% 1%— 2%— —1°/a " 88% 7% 17°/a 8% 79% 80% 8% '�' 17°h 9% 68°/a 59% 55�/0 50�/0 Asian Black Latino Native Other Pacific White American Race Islander Previous Current Source: U.S. Census Bureau,American Community Survey, Report Report 5-Year Estimates for 2021 and 2014. Only measures workers � Car,truck, or van -drove alone � aged 16 years and older. "Other transportation"may include � Car,truck, or van-carpooled taxi, motorcycle, bicycling, walking, or working from home. Data may be much less reliable for racial and ethnic groups � Public transporation (excluding taxi) with smaller populations. Other transporation TH E DATA ►In Dubuque, Asian and Black workers are approximately eight times more likely to take public transportation to work than the population as a whole. FROM THE SURVEY ►40% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that their community offers quality public transportation, while 40% disagreed or strongly disagreed. 20% selected "neither agree nor disagree." ►58% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that public transportation routes were a concern, and 53% agreed or strongly agreed that public transportation hours of operation were a concern. However, only 12.5% believed the cost of public transportation was a concern. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ►"Safety on public transit is [my] #1 concern; [I] do not feel safe. [We] need more access points in the city. Routes do not cover all parts of our city." ►"No city buses go to the Key West area. A Table Mound resident needs to walk about 40 minutes (2 miles) to reach the closest bus stop on South Grandview." ►"[Quality public transportation] seems to be everywhere." ►Survey respondents said a lack of options for college students makes them miss out on community activities and some internship/work opportunities. Transportation 32 ACCESSI BI LITY & AF F O R DA B I L I TY Po erty Level sporation to Work by THE DATA City of Dubuque ►Workers in Dubuque living below 150% of the �Car,truck,or van -drove alone Other transporation poverty level are four more times as likely to use �Car,truck, or van-carpooled �Public transporation public transportation as those living at or above (excluding taxi) 150% of the poverty level. ►7.8% of households in Dubuque have more workers living in the household than available vehicles. This ��' —1% is down from 8.5% during the previous Equity Profile. „� �, �� FROM THE SURVEY ►62.5% of respondents either agreed or strongly ��' agreed that equal access and opportunities for people with disabilities was a concern in Dubuque. ►52% of respondents either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement, "If I were looking for transportation, it would be EASY for me to ACCESS services." 75% of respondents who identified as Asian, Black or Latino strongly disagreed with this statement. Below 100%of 100%-149%of At or above 150%of WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING the poverty level the poverty level the poverty level ►Regarding whether Dubuque ofFers quality public Source: U.S. Census Bureau,American Community Survey, transportatlon: ��Quality yes, but accessible, no.�� 5-Year Estimates for 2021. Only measures workers aged 16 �"Do not know how to access public options." years and older. "Other transportation"may include taxi, motorcycle, bicycling, walking, or working from home. . ....................................................................................................................................... Themes and comments from conversation attendees ►Many people are averse to riding the bus due to fear, . � . � . � � anxiety and discomfort. These feelings arise from myths about and a bad reputation around bus transportation. • �Public transportation should connect with nearby towns, grocery stores and other centers of activity. ►Current bus schedules aren't convenient for students, � � � � impacting their achievement. ►In 2015 and today, people said the lack of quality � � � public transportation limits employment options due to a lack of employment centers within walking distance of bus routes. Car ownership, which can be an expensive barrier, is often necessary to access jobs. ►A lack of parking options downtown creates a barrier for workers and visitors. Suggestion: Study and adjust bus routes to allow for more direct and frequent connections with centers of activity, such as shopping areas, schools and workplaces. Address issues and perceptions related to safety on public transportation. Transportation 33 • • • � - - - - � ' • • . • • . • �� ... . .. . . Immigration has played a critically important role in shaping the demographic reality of the region. Dubuque County's foreign-born population grew by more than 75% between 2010 and 2021, accounting for nearly 20% of the county's population growth during that time. The foreign-born population accounts for 46% of the total population growth in the city of Dubuque, and 97°/o in the Community Foundation's seven-county region' in Northeast lowa.z Immigrant individuals and families play a prominent and important role in the community and are crucial in keeping the region vibrant. Immigration has driven economic growth, entrepreneurship, and public service, as well as an increase in the diversity of cultures and viewpoints, adding to the richness of the region. At the same time, there are barriers that prevent immigrant residents from thriving as they should. Research for this community assessment found that many immigrant populations face disproportionately worse outcomes than the general population when seeking access to services, quality job opportunities, and academic success. Foreign-born individuals in Dubuque County are more than twice as likely to live below the poverty line,3 and English language learners in the Dubuque Community School District and the Western Dubuque Community School District are four times less likely to be proficient in reading or math than the student body as a whole.4 The Community Foundation's aim in undertaking this community assessment is to capture the experiences and priorities of immigrant communities, as well as those of local service providers and advocates working most closely with immigrants in order to identify key assets in the region, highlight pressing needs, and propose potential models for communities to consider implementing. This Executive Summary Report serves as a condensed overview of the Immigration Community Assessment Implementation Guide, which can be found at www.dbqfoundation.or�/pa�es/immi�ration-community-assessment. ' The Community Foundation serves the following counties: Allamakee, Clayton, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, and Jones. 2 American Community Survey, 2021 and 2010 5-year estimates.Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 3 American Community Survey, 2021 5-year estimates. Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 4 lowa School Performance Profiles, 2022. Available at: https://www.iaschoolperformance.�ov/ECP/Home/Index?y=2022 1 Key Findings While this assessment investigated a wide range of issues, the key findings of this research can be broken down into three primary areas: � Ongoing collective work on immigration • Building connections with immigrant community members • Issues facing immigrant communities This section will summarize the findings in each of these areas. A fuller discussion and recommendations for consideration are available in the Implementation Guide. Ongoing Collective Work on Immigration The barriers faced by immigrant communities are often systemic in nature. By working in partnership and as part of a structured effort, immigrant leaders, local organizations, government agencies, community activists, and other key stakeholders can address systemic challenges. Forming this type of strategic collaboration presents two major challenges. First, with immigrant communities facing such a wide range of issues, it is difficult for any coordinated effort to handle such a broad mandate. The second challenge relates to confronting the power imbalances and language/cultural barriers that immigrant participants may face. To best meet these challenges, communities should implement a model of collective impact designed around achieving five key goals: 1. Be able to convene stakeholders, carry out initiatives, and demonstrate real progress. 2. Pursue both long-term goals dealing with systemic issues and smaller projects that address pressing needs. 3. Include the participation and leadership of immigrant community members and follow best practices to ensure their full engagement. 4. Keep the larger community of stakeholders informed about issues and progress. 5. Maintain an ability to respond to new challenges and opportunities as they arise. Building Connections with Immigrant Communities The challenge that most defines the difficulties faced by immigrant communities in the region is a lack of connection to the larger community. Being disconnected from local systems, customs, and institutions increases feelings of isolation and reduces individuals' ability to access resources and services. Immigrants face barriers related to language, culture, socioeconomic status, and trust that often work to marginalize them within the region. Local organizations and stakeholders struggle to build connections to immigrant populations because they lack the relationships and linguistic/cultural knowledge to conduct successful outreach and service provision in these communities. Taken together, these barriers to connection can have substantial impacts on the ability of immigrant populations to benefit from local resources. Research for this report uncovered the following examples of these impacts: 2 • Immigrants are less likely to seek out services. • Service providers struggle to identify immigrant families to serve, conduct follow-up with immigrant clients, or effectively refer immigrants to other services. • Even when accessed, services have a reduced impact on immigrant clients. This means that despite the effectiveness of local services, the ability of immigrant communities to successfully utilize them will remain limited as long as these barriers to connection exist. This assessment focuses on four main concepts for removing these barriers: • Building tapatity and power within immigrant communities, providing immigrants with additional influence and resources to advocate for their communities. • Improving outreach from social service providers, helping them connect more effectively to a greater number of immigrant families. • Increasing navigation services at key agencies and organizations to help immigrant populations better utilize existing services. • Expanding cultural offerings designed to help the larger community understand and build connections with local immigrant communities. Issues Facing Immiarant Communities In the course of this assessment it was necessary to explore a large breadth of subjects. Below is information and recommendations on seven different issue areas: 1. Case Management: The case management provided by service providers, smaller nonprofits, and volunteers is crucial for helping immigrants navigate complex local systems. However, the lack of formal case management systems, and a widespread reliance on untrained volunteers, creates serious vulnerabilities within the community. 2. Education and Youth Support: Many children from immigrant communities struggle with academic achievement. The entire community, and notjust local schools, should prioritize providing these young people with improved educational programming. 3. Health: While the expansion of health-care services for immigrant populations has been a major success in recent years, there remain important gaps in these services, particularly in the areas of brain health, translation, and financial support. 4. Housing: Many immigrant families are especially vulnerable to the housing shortage impacting the region. Language, cultural, and trust barriers often further limit their access to available housing. While additional low-cost housing is the primary solution to these challenges, there are a number of strategies that advocates and service providers can undertake to support immigrant communities. 5. Legal Assistance: Immigrants in the United States face a complex system of legal requirements, ranging from burdensome forms and fees to the need for legal representation. While addressing many of these issues requires changes on a federal level, local stakeholders can also support immigrants in meeting legal requirements. 6. Translation and Interpretation: Because language gaps are such a prevalent issue for immigrant communities, providing more resources for translation and interpretation, and creating more formal systems around accessing those resources, is crucial for connecting immigrants to services. In particular, specialized medical, legal, and counseling interpretation is needed. 3 7. Workforce and Employment: Immigrant populations are key contributors to the region's economy, but they are often underemployed and disconnected from high- quality jobs. Improving connections to workforce development programs and developing a capacity to help employers better hire and retain immigrant employees could provide significant benefits for families and local businesses. Priority Recommendations This assessment provides over fifty recommendations, and local stakeholders will need to decide which to prioritize to best address their communities' needs. To assist with this process, the following list offers ten recommendations that can have large near-term impact. 1. Convene a Better Together Committee One of the key needs identified during this research is having a coordinated and strategic effort between local stakeholders to address issues affecting immigrant communities on a systemic level. A recommended method of ineeting this need is through a Better Together Committee, which is a dedicated group of immigrant leaders, community advocates, service providers, government officials, and other stakeholders, who meet regularly to generate concrete progress on systemic issues impacting local immigrant communities. Issues raised in this assessment are often too large for any single organization to tackle, whereas the collective efforts of a Better Together Committee hold the potential to effect real change. 2. Create a Sustainable Immigrant-led Nonprofit Organization During this research, community members frequently expressed the need for the development of immigrant-led nonprofit organizations focused on serving and advocating for their communities. Such organizations can help to overcome connection barriers while providing leadership opportunities for immigrant community members. Potential benefits of immigrant-led nonprofit organizations include immigrant members being paid for serving and advocating for their community, additional resources and decision-making authority being centered within immigrant populations, the creation of visible points of contact for other local organizations looking to engage with immigrant communities, and a more formal and trusted structure through which community members can elevate concerns or needs. 3.Adopt a Natural Helper Program Natural Helper programs connect key volunteers with local institutions, provide them with training and resources for answering questions, and then compensate them for their involvement. These programs have been found to give many participants a greater sense of belonging within their communities and strengthen their connection to local organizations and service providers. Natural Helper programs also can help identify leaders for additional civic participation, such as taking roles on boards or advisory committees. A version of this model is currently being piloted by the Northeast lowa Community College (NICC), who is compensating individuals to connect community members to job training programs. 4 4. Recruit Additional Navigators Understanding and accessing support systems can be extremely challenging for immigrant families who struggle with language barriers, unfamiliarity with local systems, and the fear of cultural or societal stigma. Navigators are individuals employed by service providers to help community members access services. The best navigators are trained in the requirements of service systems and come from the communities they serve, meaning they have the language and cultural knowledge to effectively connect with immigrant families. By leveraging trust and relationships within immigrant communities, navigators can help ensure that a greater number of people are able access important services. 5. Invest in Additional Case Management Support & "Networks" Social service organizations, smaller nonprofits, and volunteers often play a key role in providing case managementto help immigrantfamilies navigate unfamiliarsystems and access resources. However, the current environment of case management in the region raises serious issues, such as a lack of training, a risk of burnout, and the potential for predatory behavior. One solution is to invest in case management capacity, which could involve hiring additional case managers at local service providers that work with immigrant communities, as well as better resourcing the small nonprofits that often handle case management. Another option is to link a series of organizations and volunteers into case management"networks." Because these networks connect immigrant families to multiple organizations and individuals, they provide a more robust support system and wider access to knowledge and resources. 6. Reinstate the Guatemalan Mentor Program The Guatemalan mentor program, previously a partnership between the Dubuque Community School District, NICC, and the Community Foundation, with additional support from Catholic Charities and a private donor, was created in response to the challenges that unaccompanied Guatemalan minors face in local schools. A Guatemalan mentor who spoke Ixil (the most commonly spoken dialect in Dubuque) was placed in a local high school, where they supported Guatemalan students during class and served as an important point of connection between the school and the students and their families. Where too often there had been a lack of communication, this mentor elevated challenges, passed along information, and helped create mutual understanding. 7. Create an Expanded Marshallese Student Group One of the more successful initiatives in the region aimed at immigrant youth in the past several years is the Pacific Islander Club at Hempstead and Dubuque Senior high schools. Expanding this group, or creating a similar group open to all students but focused on the priorities of the Marshallese community, would empower immigrant youth to take an active civic role by undertaking projects of their own design and aimed at benefitting their community. This student group would partner with local organizations to raise awareness among students about issues that are important to their community, support student involvement in the development of programming around those issues, and supply venues for 5 carrying out that programming. This club could also be leveraged to provide academic support, a way to engage Marshallese youth and other young people around Marshallese culture, and a means for connecting more young people to local organizations. 8. Train Community Members in Medical Translation and Interpretation One significant gap in the region is the availability of licensed medical interpreters and translators, especially for languages like Marshallese that are not commonly spoken in the United States. Many health-care providers employ certified medical translators to correctly translate the technical terms used by staff. However, in many instances these interpreters are not available, and so providers rely on untrained community members for interpretation. By offering local immigrants access to medical translation and interpretation training and certification, the region can improve the quality of care provided to non-English speakers as well as compensate local community members for providing a valuable service. 9. Provide Employer Toolkits and Assistance The region could do more to equip local employers with the skills and resources to successfully hire and retain immigrant employees. There have been several recent instances where local employers made efforts to hire immigrants, only to struggle with retention of those employees. Employer expectations may not align with the realities of life for immigrant workers. To assist employers with hiring and retaining immigrants—and to ensure that immigrant employees are able to thrive and succeed professionally—the Dubuque region should develop toolkits and/or a consulting capacity to help businesses improve their systems, institute new practices, and gain connections to local immigrant populations. 10. Increase International Student Retention Dubuque's higher education institutions are a major asset for the region, and their international students are a valuable part of the community. However, there are barriers that limit the ability of international students to build long-term careers in the region, including insufficient support for navigating legal requirements and a disconnect from larger regional life and culture. The region should work to help retain international students by establishing a resource to help students and businesses build connections and navigate the legal requirements for continued employment. Arts and culture organizations should also conduct outreach to international students to help build a connection to the larger community. Conclusion Immigrant communities are important drivers of demographic, cultural, and economic growth, and if current trends continue, they will play an even larger role in building the vibrancy of local communities. Yet this growth will remain limited as long as the barriers described in this assessment constrain immigrant families. By working collaboratively to build relationships and address systemic barriers, this region can create a more welcoming home for everyone who resides here. A truly successful community is one where everyone—no matter who they are, where they come from, or what they look like—is able to thrive. 6 y�: � � � � '� ' ,'� . • � �� - . • � 'i r _ . _N _ _ ��. `�� {1M.� ;� �� l � � .` R� �� - . . ► . �ti- MS,•d�" ��- . �� 1•�� -• i. � ' •�� 5' ,. .� �r ' � �, �# — � � y,. � � , ' . J T . . .v �.h�. �' _ � ; 1 �_ _ ;. , , . . _ . y � a � , :�,r� ° , ,�� + 1 �� } . _ - }� , . :�` :. + r, _ �' , . � � �. � . + � �� • .. ., � ' � � � , � � � � :�:� _ • A'� � ��i AN�V � � , ��- � *�Th . NUAL � —�' �� 1►�' �► ,�VHA � :. � � �� . �. � MMUNITY �1t' i ARCH 2O23 w •� � � � � ` • � � �� ,, � _ �ommunity � 11l��d#l.Q�'1. � . . �� Immigration CommunityAssessment An Implementation Guide for the Communities of Dubuque and Northeast lowa March 2023 For More Information, Contact: Alex Baum Director of Advocacy, Data, and Learning (563) 588-2700 alex@dbqfoundation.or� About the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque envisions a vibrant and inclusive Dubuque region where everyone can thrive. Since 2002, the foundation has inspired people to give back to their community and turned this generosity into lasting change across our region, increasing access to resources and opportunities that help all people succeed. With its affiliate foundations across the seven-county Dubuque region, the Community Foundation charts clear paths forward that address complex social challenges, from academic achievement to economic opportunity. The foundation is committed to engaging, listening to and learning from all corners of the community to understand its most pressing needs today and tomorrow—and then building the partnerships and assets necessary to address them. Generosity and collaboration fuel everything the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque does, and everyone has something to contribute. Visit dbqfoundation.org to learn about the many ways the foundation is building a strong, thriving Greater Dubuque for all— and how you can donate your time, talents, and dollars to transform our region. �1� �� Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Special Thanks and Acknowledgements This community assessment would not have been possible without the financial support and dedicated leadership of the Dubuque Religious Sisters Collaborative, which is composed of representatives from the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Sisters of St. Francis, and the Sisters of the Visitation. The support and leadership of Dubuque's women religious enabled this research to take place and continue to inspire our community to come together to create a more welcoming and inclusive region. This community assessment was also made possible by the support ofthe Greater Dubuque Development Corporation and Northeast lowa Community College. These two organizations enabled this research through their support and leadership and worked as committed partners over the past three years to serve our region's immigrant families. We would like to thank the City of Dubuque for its generous funding of Project HOPE and Inclusive Dubuque as well as Connecting Communities in the Americas for its grant to provide additional research on mapping social networks of local immigrant communities. This research was directed and overseen by the Immigration Community Assessment Steering Committee. In addition to their oversight, the Steering Committee also took the opportunity to drive important local efforts to support immigrant populations, utilizing their knowledge and resources to collaboratively make a difference for local populations. In appreciation of their work and leadership, the individuals who served on the Steering Committee are recognized below. Immigration Community Assessment Steering Committee Gisella Aitken-Shadle, Northeast lowa Community College and City of Dubuque Office of Equity& Human Rights Fr. Tom Ascheman, Divine Word College Alex Baum, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Catherine Caitlin, Tri-State VIATS Sr. Judy Callahan, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mark Dalsing, City of Dubuque Police Department Kristin Dietzel, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation Shawna Domeyer, Crescent Community Health Center Paul Duster, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Collins Eboh, City of Dubuque Office of Equity& Human Rights Ryan Feller, City of Dubuque Housing & Community Development Department Sr. Kathleen Grace, Sisters of St. Francis iii Nicolas Hockenberry, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation Shirley Horstman, Dubuque Community School District Jaquelin Hunter, Multicultural Family Center Joe Kennedy, Dubuque County Sheriff's Department Coni LaBarbera, Sinsinawa Dominicans Kelly Larson, City of Dubuque Office of Equity & Human Rights Dr. Liang Chee Wee, Northeast lowa Community College Clara Lopez Ortiz, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Dr. Neil MacNaughton, University of Dubuque Sr. Rita Menart, Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ry Meyer, Catholic Charities Yazmin Miranda, Crescent Community Health Center Ann Morris, Crescent Community Health Center Sergio Perez, Loras College Sarah Petersen, Multicultural Family Center Art Roche, Pacific Islander Health Project Megan Ruiz, Presentation Lantern Center Suzie Stroud, Crescent Community Health Center Taj Suleyman, Dubuque Community School District We are deeply grateful to all the local partners, advocates, businesses, and residents who participated in this assessment, providing valuable information and connections. These individuals and organizations continue to drive the daily work in our region that creates real change in the lives of our immigrant families. We would like to thank all the organizations throughout lowa and across the country who have been valuable sources of information. Their work serves as an inspiration for the efforts in our region and the recommendations of this research. Thank you to the Community Foundation's Board of Directors, whose leadership and guidance has made this assessment possible. Most of all we want to thank the members of immigrant communities who have been so gracious with their time and effort. Throughout this research we have been humbled by the kindness, generosity, and leadership of these individuals and families. It is their input and priorities that lie at the center of this research. But beyond that, it is witnessing their tireless and selfless dedication to serving their communities and our larger region that has shaped our belief about the future we can achieve. We hope this assessment plays some part in capturing their vision for our region and providing support to their goals and ongoing efforts. iv Table of Contents INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................1 Methodology.............................................................................................................................................3 Immigrant Populations in The Region.......................................................................................................7 PacificIslanders.....................................................................................................................................7 Latin os...................................................................................................................................................8 GuatemalanMayans...........................................................................................................................10 SoutheastAsians.................................................................................................................................11 Chinese................................................................................................................................................11 Refugees..............................................................................................................................................12 ONGOING COLLECTIVE WORK ON IMMIGRATION .....................................................................................13 The Proposed Landscape of Collective Work Around Immigrant Needs and Assets..............................14 1. Convene a High-Level Discussion of Immigration...........................................................................15 2. Develop an Online Immigrant Advocate Forum .............................................................................16 3. Convene a Better Together Committee..........................................................................................18 4. Connect Other Immigrant Groups Focused on Specific-Level Issues to the Larger Immigrant- SupportCommunity............................................................................................................................22 BUILDING CONNECTIONS WITH IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES...................................................................23 Capacityand Power Building ..................................................................................................................26 Outreach .................................................................................................................................................27 Navigators...............................................................................................................................................28 CulturalEvents........................................................................................................................................29 ISSUES FACING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES..............................................................................................30 CaseManagement..................................................................................................................................30 Educationand Youth Support.................................................................................................................33 HeaIth......................................................................................................................................................36 Housing...................................................................................................................................................38 LegalAssistance......................................................................................................................................40 Translation and Interpretation ...............................................................................................................42 Workforceand Employment...................................................................................................................43 CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................................46 APPENDIX A: CCA MAPPING REPORT..........................................................................................................47 v INTRODUCTION Immigration has played a critically important role in shaping the region's demographic reality. Over the past decade domestic migration has declined significantly for Dubuque County, with more people leaving for other parts of the country than moving here (see Figure 1). The trend has been even more Figure 1: Cumulative migration- Dubuque County stark for the state of lowa overall (Figure Internalional Migration Domeslic Migration 2). However, international migration has SK been a key driver of growth for the __--- __--- - -- region.' Dubuque County's foreign-born �K - population grew by more than 75% 5�� __-------- between 2010 and 2021, accounting for �--- nearly 20% of the county's population ° increase during that time. The foreign- 5.��, born population accounts for 46% of the total population growth in the city of -,K Dubuque, and 97% of the total ��'` " `°-` ��' `��' `� ' z�,ti �o'� " � Z�,G �oZ� Z�`' population increase for the Community Figure 2: Cumulative migration- lowa Foundation's seven-county region2 in internationaiMiyra:ic�, oc„eslicMigra�ion 80K Northeast lowa.3 These numbers don't include the U.S.-born children of �°K ---- ---- immigrants. a��K _ _- -- - - What the numbers do show is how crucial �°K - -" immigrant populations are to the region's o --"� vibrancy and richness. In education and ___ health care, entrepreneurship and public ��K service food art and so much more '°K � � � � xoio za n zoiz zoia zoia �ois zoie zo n zoia zoia xoza zozi immigrant individuals and families are Source: U.S. Census, Poaulation Estimates playing a prominent and vital role in the community. Immigration provided an important boost to communities, driving both economic and population growth, as well as an increase in the diversity of cultures and viewpoints. And yet, at the same time barriers exist in local communities that hamper the ability of immigrant residents to thrive as they should. Whether in terms of access to services, family- sustaining job opportunities, or academic success, research found that many immigrant populations face disproportionately worse outcomes than the general population. Foreign- ' U.S. Census Population Estimate data.Available at: https://www2.census.�ov/pro�rams- surve�s/popest/ 2 The Community Foundation serves the following counties: Allamakee, Clayton, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, and Jones. 3 American Community Survey, 2021 and 2010 5-year estimates.Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 1 March 22, 2023 born individuals in Dubuque County are more than twice as likely to live below the poverty line as the general population,4 and English learners in the Dubuque Community School District and Western Dubuque Community School District are more than four times less likely to be proficient in reading or math than the student body as a whole.s While this is certainly not true for every individual and family, there is enough evidence to suggest that local systems are not serving immigrant families as they should, and communities are not as welcoming to immigrants as they could be. It was in response to the growing recognition of this situation—that immigrant communities are vital to the region's future yet face significant systemic barriers to their own success—that the Community Foundation was commissioned to conduct an assessment. The goal was to capture the experiences and priorities of immigrant communities, as well as the local service providers and advocates working most closely with them. From these learnings, the Community Foundation identified the region's key assets, determined pressing needs, and proposed models for communities to consider implementing. It is important to note the experiences and needs of immigrant communities are far too numerous to capture in this report. While many important issues will not be included in this guide, its aim is to address some of the biggest concerns, and to put forward potential models for continued engagement that will help the region respond to new issues as they arise. One area the assessment and this guide do not address is the "legality" of an immigrant's status. The Community Foundation does not condone or advocate any violation of U.S. law. The assessment instead focuses on how best to enable local immigrant residents to thrive, irrespective of their authorization. Many immigrants face complex and unclear circumstances regarding their documentation. For example, most unaccompanied minors in the region have open immigration court cases and an established pathway to temporary residency, a green card, and eventually, U.S. citizenship. But with a backloaded immigration system causing court cases to sometimes take two or three years, these unaccompanied minors may be living in Dubuque for a significant time without authorization, but with the explicit knowledge ofthe U.S. government. Asylum seekers, mixed-status families, foreign students, and many other individuals may face similar ambiguity. For these reasons, the aim in this research was to focus on creating a welcoming environment and improving connections and services for all immigrant families, instead of trying to advocate for changes to federal immigration laws or make designations of legal status. In addition, this implementation guide generally is not directly concerned with discussions on how to increase or decrease immigration. Such discussions usually revolve around federal immigration policy and legislation, which is largely outside the scope of this work, which instead focuses on how to create a welcoming region where all residents are able to thrive. 4 American Community Survey, 2021 5-year estimates. Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 5 lowa School Performance Profiles, 2022. Available at: https://www.iaschool performance.�ov/ECP/Home/I ndex?y=2022 2 March 22, 2023 By implementing policies and programs that enable everyone to succeed and belong, the region will become a more vibrant, growing, and desirable community. This guide is divided into four primary sections. • The first is this introductory section, which will include a review of the methodology of the community assessment, a description of programs and accomplishments that have already been undertaken in conjunction with this assessment, and a discussion of some of the relevant immigrant populations that were involved in this research. • The second section will outline potential models for ongoing collaborative engagement around the needs of immigrant populations and making the region a more welcoming place to live. • The third section will look at how to improve connections between immigrant populations and the wider community, which is one of the key overarching issues identified through the assessment. • The final section will look closely at more specific issues and service areas, and will cover case management(including transportation), education and youth support, health, housing, legal assistance, translation and interpretation, and workforce and employment. In these sections, the Implementation Guide will also list recommendations local communities could pursue to leverage the opportunities and address the barriers discussed in this guide. Each of these recommendations is detailed more fully in the Immigration Community Assessment: List of Recommendations document. This document, an Executive Summary document, and other relevant materials are available at www.dbqfoundation.or�/pac�es/immi�ration-community-assessment. Methodology This community assessment was conducted across a three-year period between 2019 to 2022. An Immigration Community Assessment Steering Committee was formed as part of the process to help provide direction and oversight to the effort.b Research was focused primarily on immigrant populations within Dubuque County, as well as in Jackson County, Clayton County, and Allamakee County. However, because the needs of immigrants in the region are rarely contained within geographical boundaries, additional interviews and research were conducted within other parts of Northeast lowa, Southwest Wisconsin, and Northwest Illinois. In consultation with the Steering Committee, it was determined that the following items would comprise the focus of the assessment: 1) Elevating the voices of immigrant community members to determine relevant experiences and regional priorities; 6 A list of Steering Committee members is given in the Saecial Thanks andAcknowled�ementssection. 3 March 22, 2023 2) Identifying assets within the region that can be used to help meet those priorities and serve as a foundation for creating a more welcoming region; 3) Highlighting gaps in service and other needs that are impeding the ability of immigrant families and communities to thrive in the region; and 4) Recommending potential models and programming that may address the issues and opportunities raised by the research. Because of challenges in connecting with immigrants, as well as identified best practices for collecting information, direct conversations with immigrant members and local stakeholders were prioritized over surveys or other research options. As such, information gathering was conducted primarily through interviews and focus group sessions with immigrant community members, service providers, other local stakeholders such as government officials and immigrant advocates, and organizations and advocates from outside of our region. The research also included collecting publicly available data and conducting a relationship mapping exercise as part of a grant funded by Connecting Communities in the Americas. However, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in lowa in March of 2020 led to a significant change in how this community assessment was conducted. This change was conducted with the approval of the Steering Committee and the support of the sponsors for this research, whose understanding and commitmentto serving the community inspired the direction of this work. This was partly because the need for social distancing significantly impacted the ability to conduct in-person interviews and focus groups with immigrant community members. While some interviews were still conducted over the phone and through teleconferencing, the primary means of gathering information and feedback from immigrant communities was heavily disrupted. But more importantly, the needs and challenges brought about by the crisis became a much higher priority than conducting observational research. Connections were built during the first part of this project, putting Community Foundation staff in a position to provide valuable support to the local response to the pandemic. The focus was therefore turned to working with immigrant community leaders and other trusted partners to help address the urgent needs brought on by the pandemic. As a result of these circumstances, it was no longer sufficient to identify and research problems for inclusion in this report; instead, it became necessary to take a more active role and work with community partners to develop a more immediate solution to the need. Therefore, much of the information shared in this assessment was gathered with the perspective and insight of a practitioner experiencing barriers and opportunities firsthand. While this is not a standard method for conducting such an assessment, it offered a more intimate understanding of the key challenges that ultimately inform the recommendations in this report. One result of this change in approach has been an increased appreciation of the tremendous assets that exist within the region. During the height of the pandemic, and in its aftermath, the work of service providers, local officials, volunteers, advocates, and other individuals has 4 March 22, 2023 been truly inspiring to witness. Their investment and dedication to serving the community is remarkable, and over the past two years it has saved lives. But the work of immigrant community members during this period has made the greatest impression. Members of these communities—many of them unpaid volunteers—have been critical to local efforts. They have accomplished things that defied the most optimistic expectations. Working hand-in- hand with these community members has demonstrated to the Community Foundation what valuable assets they are for the region. To recognize this work, and to offer additional transparency for the reader, the list below outlines of some of the projects and accomplishments that have been conducted in connection with this community assessment. Projects and Accomplishments Connected with the Community Assessment All of Us Dubuque: A coalition of dedicated community partners launched a messaging campaign during the Covid-19 pandemic that highlighted the service of diverse community members to the region and listing local and national resources. The campaign can be seen at www.allofusdubuque.com. Covid-19 Medical and Vaccine Information Distribution: As part of the City of Dubuque's Equity Immersion Committee and Covid COFA Working Group, local organizations helped with coordinating medical and vaccine information development and distribution for immigrant populations. Covid-19 Medical Gear Distribution: Numerous local partners and individual volunteers helped to distribute masks and other medical gear during the Covid-19 pandemic. Federal Funding: Local and regional organizations worked together to pursue federal grants focused on workforce and translation services in support of immigrant groups. Guardianship Website: Catholic Charities, the Multicultural Family Center, and the Community Foundation partnered to move towards the development of a website for helping to inform and recruit local community members to serve as guardians for unaccompanied minors. More information can be found under Deve%p a Guardianship Website in the Legal Assistance section of the List of Recommendations document. Guatemalan Volunteer Mentor: Through a partnership between the Dubuque Community School District(DCSD), Northeast lowa Community College (NICC), and the Community Foundation, with additional support from Catholic Charities, an Ixil-speaking Guatemalan woman was hired to serve as a part-time mentor and teacher's assistant to Guatemalan students at Hempstead High School. This was the first Ixil-speaking individual regularly working with students at DCSD. More information can be found here: https://dbqfoundation.or�/news/brid�in�-needs-�enerositv 5 March 22, 2023 Projects and Accomplishments Connected with the Community Assessment (Continued) Housing Response: Local partners including the Community Foundation, Catholic Charities, the City of Dubuque, Dubuque for Refugee Children, Presentation Lantern Center, Resources Unite, and Tri-State VIATS came togetherto respond to housing challenges facing immigrants. These challenges include evictions of immigrant families and policy changes from local landlords that restrict the ability of immigrants to obtain housing. Immigrant Food Distribution: With the start ofthe Covid-19 pandemic, food insecurity became a major concern for many local immigrant communities. In partnership with immigrant community members and local organizations like the City of Dubuque, DCSD, Latino Empowerment and Development(LEAD), Presentation Lantern Center, Project Rooted, Resources Unite, and Tri-State VIATS, among others, the community worked to coordinate regular, culturally appropriate food deliveries to families in need. Marshallese Connector at the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA): A partnership between the VNA, the City of Dubuque, the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, and the Community Foundation funded a Marshallese Connector position at the VNA aimed at helping Marshallese community members navigate local systems during the pandemic. This position has since become a long-term, grant-funded position. Marshallese Health Fund: The Marshallese Health Fund was launched by a concerned local physician, Dr. Mark Janes, to support Marshallese families during the pandemic, many of whom were facing mounting medical bills with little or no insurance. The Fund is now hosted at the Community Foundation and is administered in coordination with committed nonprofit partners in Dubuque. More information can be found here: https://dbqfoundation.orc�/aivin�-center/dubuque-marshallese-health-fund Marshallese Reading Day: The Community Foundation, Monsoon, and the Carnegie- Stout Public Library partnered to host a Marshallese Reading Day for local families aimed at encouraging reading and connecting families to the library. Marshallese Women's Group: The Community Foundation and other partners provided support for the establishment of Kora Im An Kol (KIAK), a Marshallese Women's Group serving the Marshallese community. NICC Community Connector Model: An advisory team under the direction of Northeast lowa Community College helped to develop a new pilot program to train and compensate individuals from underserved populations (including immigrant groups)for connecting members of their community to job training opportunities. Additional information can be found under Adopta NaturalHelperProgram in the Workforce and Employment section of the List of Recommendations document. 6 March 22, 2023 Immigrant Populations in The Region Dubuque County is home to a wide variety of people from different backgrounds and cultures. Data from the Census Bureau suggests that Dubuque County residents immigrated from over fifty countries across the world.'The stories of each immigrant family are unique and varied, as are those of their communities and cultures. This richness is a tremendous asset to the region and elevating and exploring these stories should be a rewarding part of its collective identity. It also means that this guide could not possibly capture the realities of each of these different heritages and identities. Even adequately explaining the experiences and traditions of any specific group is well beyond its capabilities. Any description of local immigrant groups will be largely incomplete. However, it may be valuable for readers to be presented with some background information about certain groups within the region. With this goal in mind, the following section will look at some of the local immigrant populations who had findings that extended from the immigration community assessment. Each section will focus on providing a brief description, important findings that may be of relevance to local stakeholders, and/or areas of concern warranting future research. Pacific Islanders The region boasts one of the largest Pacific Islander populations in lowa. While this population comes from a number of different countries, the majority are Marshallese. The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a nation composed of more than 1,100 islands and islets located in the Pacific Ocean. The Marshall Islands has a complicated and difficult history with the United States. Colonized by the Japanese in the early 1900s, the Marshallese Islands were then occupied by the U.S. during World War II. In the years following the war, the U.S. conducted a total of sixty-seven nuclear weapons tests within the Marshall Islands. This significantly impacted the ecosystem of the Marshall Islands and led to major health problems for residents due to the increased radiation.$ In large part as a recognition of these events, the U.S. and the Marshall Islands signed an agreement called the Compact of Free Association (COFA) in 1982, which has governed the relationship between the two countries since. Due to their status as COFA migrants, Marshallese citizens can freely travel, live, and work in the United States without needing a visa. This status has allowed many Marshallese families to move to Dubuque in recent decades, making the Marshallese the fastest growing population in the county. However, COFA migrants still face several legal and administrative barriers, including not being eligible for federal services such as SNAP benefits or cash assistance. 'American Community Survey, 2020 5-year estimates for Dubuque County. Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ $ Susanne Rust, "How the U.S. Betrayed the Marshall Islands, Kindling the Next Nuclear Disaster," LA Times, November 10, 2019, https://www.latimes.com/proiects/marshall-islands-nuclear-testin�-sea- level-rise/. 7 March 22, 2023 Another significant group of Pacific Islanders in the region is the Pohnpeian population, residing primarily in Maquoketa. This population is smaller than the Marshallese population and differs from it in a number of important ways, including in language and culture, and in the social structure of the community. However,these communities also share many similarities in their experience, and have an important social and cultural connection. While this guide provides more input from the Marshallese population, there are a number of instances where comparisons are drawn, and lessons learned, regarding the experiences of the Pohnpeian community. The Marshallese in Dubuque have a network of relationships and social connections that are an impressive asset to both the community and to the region. However, these networks are not always understood by the larger community. For example, there are currently seven Marshallese churches operating in Dubuque, and previous efforts to funnel support through only one of these churches have produced resentment and dissatisfaction among other parishes. During focus group sessions, some Marshallese expressed that they would not feel comfortable attending a meeting or workshop held in a different church. More information about the Marshallese network of relationships can be found in a mapping report conducted by the Community Foundation that is included under Ap,nendixA. As the Pacific Islander community grows within the region, Pacific Islander groups and culture are also becoming more visible. The inclusion of a Marshallese boat in an exhibit at the National River Museum and Aquarium, the growth of Pacific Islander organizations such as Monsoon, the establishment of the Marshallese women's group Kora Im An Kol (KIAK), and a number of other recent achievements have been important for the area. This type of growth and greater visibility should be supported by the larger community. This guide aims to highlight several possible ways of doing so. Latinos Dubuque's Latino/Latina/Latinx(hereafter referred to as "Latino") population is the largest immigrant community within the region. It also represents a wide variety of individuals with cultural roots in over a dozen countries and territories across the Americas and the world. This diversity makes Dubuque's Latino community culturally rich, as well as complex and virtually impossible to summarize. Latino and Hispanic are also considered to be ethnicities by many data collection agencies (like the U.S. Census Bureau), meaning that there are many Latino people in the community who also have racial identities including white, Black, indigenous, among others. The large number of nationalities, races, and other identities within the Latino population is part of what makes it such a vibrant community. However, during interviews, many individuals within that community expressed uncertainty about their full cultural and social identity and how it relates to the categories used in reports such as this. 8 March 22, 2023 Terminology: Latino, Latina, Latinx, Latine, Hispanic, etc. Residents of Dubuque from Latin American and other Spanish-speaking regions use a variety of terms to refer to their ethnic identity. These include Hispanic and Latino, which are sometimes used interchangeably, though Hispanic usually refers to someone who is descended from Spanish-speaking populations, while Latino refers to someone descended from Latin American communities. In addition, Spanish nouns often have a gender. A male-identifying person of Latin American descent is frequently referred to as a "Latino," while a female-identifying person is a "Latina." A group that may contain both male and female individuals is often referred to by the male "Latino." Some people prefer to be referred to as "Latinx" or"Latine," which removes the gender of the word to make it more inclusive. The preferred term will vary from individual to individual, and best practice is to generally ask each person which term they prefer. This report will use the term "Latino"to refer to this community because this is the most widely recognized and used term within the region. This decision was made to try to make this guide as accessible as possible to the greatest number of people. The Community Foundation does want to highlight the importance of using inclusive terminology and is committed to trying to engage all members of the community using their preferred identify. The Latino community is also one of the most prevalent immigrant communities in rural areas within the region. Many smaller towns and agricultural communities often have Latino populations that play an important local role both culturally and economically. Creating a more welcoming and connected environment has become a bigger focus for many of these places, as many rural Latinos still face barriers to becoming fully connected within the community. Research for the community assessment has also identified a distinction within the Latino population that creates important considerations for local stakeholders and policy makers, namely that there is a notable socio-economic separation within the Latino community. This includes a more financially secure population composed of a frequently multilingual professional workforce with closer connections to Dubuque organizations and institutions, as well as a lower-income population that is less likely to have English language skills, is more marginalized within Dubuque, and often lacks connections to formal institutions. This separation can also be seen along generational lines, with younger individuals and those who are second-generation immigrants being more likelyto speak English and have connections to institutions. The relationships between these two socio-economic groups are highly complex and not always clear, and families may contain individuals that fit into both categories. However, the distinction, as imperfect as it is, is useful for identifying the differences in how these two groups access important information, resources, and services. Many Latinos of a lower socio- economic status have faced numerous barriers to building trust with local individuals and institutions, which frequently results in a lack of connection to formal service providers. This 9 March 22, 2023 community is one ofthe most likelyto operate without interacting with more formal institutional channels, staying "in the shadows" and engaging with service providers only in emergency situations. Language availability was often a big driver of distrust, as many Latino individuals feel less willing to engage with institutions that only operated in English. These challenges are explored more in the mapping report included under AppendixA. Guatemalan Mayans The Guatemalan Mayan community is one of the quickest growing populations in Dubuque. While many of these individuals consider themselves Latino and share similarities with other individuals with ethnic or cultural roots in Latin America, it is important to address this population separately due to their unique circumstances. These Guatemalan migrants come from indigenous Mayan tribes, each of which has many distinct cultural traditions, histories, and languages. Many Guatemalan Mayans arrive in the United States not speaking English or Spanish, but instead one of over twenty Mayan dialects. The most spoken among residents in Dubuque are Ixil, K'iche' (Quiche), and Q'anjab'al (Kanjobal). This population is composed of relatively recent arrivals in Dubuque compared to other immigrant groups, with most having arrived after 2010. The Census estimates that the Guatemalan population grew nearly eight- fold between 2010 and 2020,9 and the increase in the Guatemalan Mayan population (a subset of all Guatemalans) was likely even more dramatic. Throughout this guide, the Guatemalan Mayan community will often be discussed separately due to the unique challenges and opportunities they face. Many Guatemalan Mayans come to Dubuque as what are called "unaccompanied minors" or "unaccompanied children."To be designated as an unaccompanied minor by the U.S. government, the individual must be under eighteen years old, not yet have an immigration status, and have no parent or legal guardian with them.10 Most of these unaccompanied minors will arrive at the U.S. border and be interviewed by border officials, before being given transportation to Dubuque and being released under the supervision of a "sponsor" (often a relative or a neighbor from Guatemala who is now living in Dubuque). The minor is then assigned an immigration court case where it is determined whetherthey will be granted temporary resident status (usually with what is called Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, or SIJS"), and thus putting them on the road to obtain a green card and eventually citizenship. Unfortunately, in recent years the wait times for hearings on SIJS have increased from months to two, three, or even four years. As such, these unaccompanied minors face a number of challenges trying to navigate the legal system and access resources and services in Dubuque while they wait. Many ofthese challenges, along with potential opportunities, are discussed more fully in this report. 9 American Community Survey, 2020 and 2010 5-year estimates for Dubuque County. Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 'o Generally,this happens when an immigration official determines that the child has been abandoned or neglected by at least one of their parents. " SIJS is discussed more in the section on LegalAssistance. 10 March 22, 2023 While many Guatemalan Mayans are more recent arrivals in Dubuque, a group of individuals who arrived as unaccompanied minors have now been in the region long enough to become more established. Several have received their green cards and U.S. citizenship, and one family recently obtained a mortgage and bought their first home. This growth means that there is the potential for a group of more secure Guatemalan Mayans who may be able to serve as visible, well-connected leaders for their community. As discussed later in this report, several Guatemalan Mayans have already begun taking more active and public roles, including one woman working with Ixil-speaking students in the Dubuque Community School District and another group partnering with a local nonprofit to help maintain a community garden. More details about the Guatemalan Mayans and their connections to formal institutions are discussed in the mapping report included in AppendixA. Southeast Asians The Census' 2021 American Community Survey estimates that there are over 400 foreign- born individuals that originate from Southeast Asia in Dubuque County, including from countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Indonesia. This group includes a wide range of nationalities, cultures, and languages, with individuals in different professions and living in different parts of the community(about 26% live outside the city of Dubuque).12 Some local service providers in Dubuque are concerned that there may be a group of Southeast Asian immigrants who are more marginalized and less connected with available services. Some of these individuals may work at massage parlors, nail salons, or other service businesses. Dedicated outreach to these populations is not as common within the region, and there has been less effort locally to do dedicated translation for Southeast Asian languages. Very little information is available regarding the needs and challenges faced by this community; further research and outreach to this group is important. Chinese The 2020 American Community Survey estimates that there are over 230 foreign-born individuals originating from China in the city of Dubuque.13 There are also many students who come from China to learn at Dubuque's colleges and universities. One aspect of this population, highlighted through this research, is its community's success in hosting cultural events and other services. An example is the Mandarin Ministry in Dubuque, run out of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, which has hosted an annual Chinese Lunar New Year celebration, taught Mandarin and ESL classes, and provided other opportunities for Dubuque residents to engage with aspects of Chinese culture. Their ability to do this without widespread sponsorships from local nonprofits and city organizations focused on 'Z American Community Survey, 2020 5-year estimates for Dubuque County and City of Dubuque. Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 13 American Community Survey, 2020 5-year estimates for City of Dubuque. Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 11 March 22, 2023 multiculturalism, but instead primarily in partnership with the Westminster Church, is a valuable model to consider for cultural engagement. Refuaees While the term "refugee" is often used in a general way to refer to immigrants who have come to the U.S. after fleeing violence and oppression, the term also refers to a legal status given to some immigrants. It is important to discuss briefly how they are similar to and distinct from "asylum seekers,"who also come to the U.S. fleeing violence and human rights violations. The primary difference between the two statuses is where the designation takes place. Refugees generally receive their designation outside of the U.S. from a trusted organization like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The U.S. then accepts a limited number of refugees to be resettled into the U.S., with the placement usually done by a refugee placement agency. Asylum seekers, on the other hand, receive their designation insidethe U.S. Asylum seekers generally present themselves to a U.S. Border or Customs official, go through an initial determination of whether they have a credible fear of persecution, and if it is found that they do so then go through an immigration court case to determine whether they should receive asylum. Often these individuals are released into the U.S. to await their court date, though in recent years U.S. policy has had asylum seekers at the border with Mexico wait for their case in Mexico. There are a number of families in the region who have members that have come to the U.S. as refugees. However, the local organization that had previously provided refugee placement services for the area, Catholic Charities, ended its refugee resettlement work in 2017 due to the decrease in refugees being admitted to the U.S. on a national level.14 Since that time, Dubuque has not had a refugee resettlement agency placing refugees in the community. In 2021 and 2022, in response to the influx of refugees from Afghanistan to the United States, a number of individuals, churches, and nonprofit organizations worked to settle Afghan families in Dubuque and provide them with services. At least two Afghan families have been resettled in Dubuque so far through sponsorship from local churches and collections of private individuals. Additional conversations and discussions have been held regarding Ukrainian refugees. It appears that unless a refugee resettlement agency begins operating in the region again—eitherthrough the opening of new services orthe expansion of a nearby agency such as the Catherine McAuley Center15—refugee resettlement will likely take place through private sponsorship. 14"Dubuque Group Ends Refugees Resettlement program," KCRG-TV9, December 20, 2017, https://www.kcr�.com/content/news/Du buque-�rou p-ends-Resettle-Refu�ees-pro�ra m-- 465360773.html. 's The Catherine McAuley Center: https://cmc-cr.or�/. 12 March 22, 2023 ONGOING COLLECTIVE WORK ON IMMIGRATION Addressing the barriers faced by immigrant communities poses major challenges. Difficulties navigating local systems of education, employment, and healthcare are exacerbated by additional barriers related to language, cultural differences, legal status, and a lack of familiarity with existing institutions. These problems are not insurmountable, but they must not be taken lightly, and should be tackled in full partnership with representatives from immigrant communities. Many of the issues addressed in this guide are simply too large for a single organization to undertake. However, by working in partnership as part of a structured effort, immigrant leaders, local organizations, government agencies, community activists, and other key stakeholders can address larger, systemic challenges. This approach, known as collective impact, is currently used in the region to address issues ranging from workforce development to early childhood reading. Forming this type of strategic collaboration faces two major challenges: 1. "Immigration" has such a large scope and covers so many areas that it will be difficult for any collaborative effort to make actual progress or move strategically. This guide covers issues ranging from education to healthcare, from translation to workforce development. Such a broad mandate would make it extremely difficult to see real achievement on important issues. 2. Collaborations must include the participation of immigrant community members. However, barriers include language differences, scheduling and childcare challenges, and power imbalances among participants. "Power imbalances" refers the very natural differences in experience and comfort felt by, for example, a Latino community volunteer and the local chief of police when both sit down for the same meeting. While not intentional, these power imbalances are very real and need to be taken into consideration if the collaborative effort is to be effective. This section attempts to outline a collective impact model that will allow for strategic engagement around immigrant community needs while also addressing these two challenges. Communities in the region should consider all of the recommendations in this section, keeping in mind that certain pieces should be changed or discarded based on the location and the participants. No single vehicle is perfectly designed for all communities, but hopefully this guide will offer a valuable starting point. The model described below was designed to achieve five key goals: 1) Be able not just to convene stakeholders, but also carry out projects and initiatives. Members of immigrant communities participating in large, collaborative efforts can often feel discouraged by a lack of tangible results. Collective work should 13 March 22, 2023 not only be concerned with sharing information but should also attempt to achieve visible and worthwhile accomplishments. 2) Be able to pursue both long-term goals and smaller projects. If this collaborative effort is to achieve tangible results while also strategically addressing systemic issues, it should be designed to be able to carry out projects of different scope and ambition. 3) Include the participation of immigrant community members.Addressing systemic issues cannot succeed without the direct participation and leadership of the communities being impacted. Collaborative efforts should include members of immigrant populations in a thoughtful way that can maximize their participation. 4) Keep the larger community of stakeholders informed about important issues. The region has a large number of people who are committed to creating a more welcoming place for immigrant families. The collaboration should strive to keep these individuals informed about and engaged with the work that is being done. 5) Maintain an ability to respond to new challenges and opportunities.The challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of being flexible enough to respond to the changing realities that face local immigrant populations. The Proposed Landscape of Collective Work Around Immigrant Needs and Assets Local collaborative work around the needs of immigrants has rarely been solely monopolized by one committee. Groups of community leaders, advocates, and service providers have met around issues ranging from specific concerns about migrant rights or Marshallese health, all the way to the large-scale Immigration Forum meetings that led to the community assessment. The diversity of these collaborations is beneficial for the region and should be encouraged. But they can also be more effective when connected together, helping to ensure that all of those working to address the systemic issues facing immigrant communities are aware of what others are doing, and are not working at cross purposes. With this in mind, this guide views the landscape of strategic work around immigrant needs in terms of three levels: 1) High level: Throughout the region there are many individuals who are eager supporters of immigrants but may not have the ability or inclination to meet monthly as part of a regular committee meeting. There is a need to create a space where all community members interested in supporting immigrant groups can engage and provide value at a high level. a. Recommendation: A large group meeting ofthose interested in immigration (such as the Immigration Forum in Dubuque)should continue to meet once or twice a year, creating an opportunity for a large group to come together, learn, and discuss. b. Recommendation: An online web forum should be established so that stakeholders can ask questions, have discussions, and share activities. 14 March 22, 2023 2) Mid level: This level recognizes the need for a collaborative effort that can drive the region's strategy to meet the needs of immigrant communities. This level will consist of opportunities for committed stakeholders to meet more regularly and tackle larger issues. a. Recommendation: Convene a Better Together Committee to meet regularly to pursue large and small projects. 3) Specific level: There will still be a need for people to gather together to focus on specific issues, orthe needs of particular immigrant groups. Meetings ofthese groups should be encouraged but should then be connected back to the mid- and high-level conversations, to help ensure better coordination. a. Recommendation: Other groups focusing on immigration (Pacific Islander Advisory Group, Cafe Latino, etc.) should be encouraged to keep meeting, but a framework should be established to connect them to the Immigration Strategy Committee and/or the online web forum. The following pages will provide more detail on each of these four recommendations in the order listed above. While each recommendation could have a positive benefitforthe region, the priority should be on the third recommendation Convene a Better Together Committee, described on pa�e 18. Committees like this will be most impactful for driving systemic change for immigrant populations in the region. 1. Convene a High-Level Discussion of Immiaration There is an important role to be played in offering the larger community of immigrant supporters an opportunity to discuss issues, learn about events, and build relationships. Facilitating this type of discussion can be very valuable for connecting with organizations that may not be focused on providing services to immigrants; developing relationships with passionate individuals who may want to volunteer; and building opportunities to elevate immigrant voices. Having a broad convening such as this can also allow more focused groups at the mid and specific levels to share information and successes with the larger population. In addition, this kind of community forum is important for shifting mindsets around immigration. It allows for a more visible and approachable point of engagement for the general community and can be very useful in creating a more positive narrative about local immigrant populations. Such a meeting should occur consistently once or twice a year. Making sure that this meeting occurs annually, instead of just as a one-time event, provides some consistency in meetings and discussions. These meetings should follow formats that are generally open to the public and make use of videoconferencing technologies, allowing for more participation. Such an event may not require a paid coordinator and could be run by a collection of volunteers or service providers. For smaller communities or towns interested in this kind of strategic work, it may not be necessary to have both a high-level convening and a mid-level convening (see Convene a 15 March 22, 2023 Better Together Committee on pa�e 18). In this case, community members can review both options and select which seems most appropriate for their area. Models to Consider: • In Dubuque, in January of 2018, the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary convened the first Immigration Forum event, a large meeting of different immigrant leaders, advocates, service providers, and other key stakeholders. The Sisters continued to host the meeting once every six months, providing updates on recent activities and address specific issues. Discussions from the Immigration Forum led to the development of the community assessment. • In 2020, Los Angeles County began hosting an annual immigration summit. The summit is a collaboration between the California Community Foundation, the USC Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration, and the Council on Immigrant Integration.16 A similar annual summit, though perhaps on a smaller scale, could be adopted by rural communities. 2. Develop an Online Immigrant Advocate Forum Multiple stakeholders expressed the need for greater communication and access to information on issues relevant to immigrant communities. However, many also felt that common forums for sharing information were not always accessible. Meetings used primarily used for reporting on current activities as opposed to reaching joint decisions can be an inefficient use of time given busy schedules. Communicating through email can also cause frustration. Mass emails are not conducive to extensive conversations, do not facilitate multi- lingual discussions, and clog up inboxes. A proposed solution is an online forum where individuals and organizations can share upcoming programming, ask questions, and provide a written explanation of the laws and policies that impact immigrants. Such a site would be highly beneficial for a community, as it would facilitate ongoing discussion and records regarding a variety of topics important to immigrants, as well as a notice board for available programming and services. It could also allow for translation of discussions into different languages, facilitating participation from immigrant communities in a way that email might not. However, such a system comes with challenges that need to be considered. The following outline presents the most challenging, as well as potential ways to address them. • Moderation and Security: Hosting an online forum discussing issues surrounding immigrant communities poses a number of risks, both from well-meaning individuals and people with harmful intent. Advocates or service providers might accidentally provide sensitive information about vulnerable immigrants in the forums. In addition, 16"15t Annual Immigration Summit,"#LA Together,California Community Foundation,January 13,2020, http://lato�ether.or�/2020/01/13/1 st-annual-immi�ration-summit-the-future-of-immi�rants-in-los- an�eles/. 16 March 22, 2023 having a public online forum could enable predatory or disruptive behavior. These security risks could damage the trust that is necessary for effective engagement with immigrant communities. o To provide an additional level of security, the forum would need to be monitored and moderated by at least one trusted individual, but potentially more. This person would oversee reviewing content and blocking information that could be problematic. Ideally this position would be held within an organization to ensure consistent application and funding to maintain the oversight. o Any community launching such a site should consider making it restricted, and only allowing individuals who are known or verified to join. While this may limit the number of people able to view and share content, it would also provide additional security. o Community guidelines for discussion should be drawn up and clearly posted to prevent users from accidentally revealing sensitive information. • Engagement: The impact of any online tool would be measured by the level of participation from local stakeholders. If such a forum is not robustly utilized, it would be a waste of resources and ineffective. Getting people to use a new tool, and return to the site frequently, can be very challenging. o A community should not undertake such a forum without some commitment to key stakeholders to utilize the site. o Part of the responsibility of the moderator(s) of the site should be to regularly post new content to make the site valuable. Without frequent and useful updates users will not have a reason to regularly visit the site. • Reach: Some key individuals will not regularly access the site, and others may not know about it. If the site is the only place to find community information on events and services, it could exclude some people. In addition, for many immigrants, accessing and navigating an online forum can be challenging, especially if it is written in a language other than their own. o A moderator for the site may want to regularly share key posts or pieces of information through other channels, such as a newsletter, Facebook, or other forms of social media. o Funding should be set aside for translating important posts into languages frequently used by local immigrants. Models to Consider: • The Inclusive Dubuque Facebook page and newsletter regularly shares information about upcoming events related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. While not the same kind of forum, it does allow for sharing key pieces of information. o https://www.facebook.com/InclusiveDBQ/ • Private Facebook groups, such as the "lowa Science of Reading" group composed of educators focused on literacy, also create an opportunity for people to hold discussions about different topics while providing additional security. 17 March 22, 2023 • If the hosting organization is looking to leverage additional technology to facilitate community discussions, there are digital platforms designed to solicit community feedback on questions and initiatives. Examples include Zencity Engage, an online tool used by public entities to garner public input. o https://zencity.io/solutions/zencity-en�aqe-collaborative-community-input/ 3. Convene a Better Together Committee The primary recommendation for furthering strategic work on issues affecting immigrant communities is to launch a Better Together Committee. This would be a collective effort aimed at bringing together a wide range of immigrant leaders, community advocates, service providers, government officials, and other stakeholders to meet regularly to discuss systemic issues impacting local immigrant community members. With a dedicated group of participants meeting regularly, and connecting to the broader community of immigrant supporters, larger systemic needs can be effectively addressed. But such a committee would again run into the two main challenges referenced above: 1. "Immigration" has such a large scope and covers so many areas that it will be difficult for any collaborative effort to make actual progress. 2. The collaboration must include the participation of immigrant community members, while avoiding participation barriers and power imbalances. To help address these and other concerns, consider adopting some or all of the following recommendations in order to better facilitate the committee's work. Focus on a Set Number of Projects at a Time On account of the large scope of issues a committee may cover, meetings can be dominated by reporting and questions, leaving little time to make progress on actual strategies. The committee should therefore be structured around activities, not reporting, and should identify specific projects for the collective to work on advancing. This will not only narrow the focus of the committee, thereby addressing the problem of scope, but will also help provide a real sense of progress for both committee participants and immigrant communities. Making real, tangible gains through specific activities will go a long way toward demonstrating the committee's value to immigrant communities, who might otherwise dismiss it as a series of meetings lacking substance. Under this model, the committee will decide on one large project to pursue. This project will serve as the central effort of the committee, and will not only provide focus, but will include specific measurements or deliverables on which to base progress. Once the large project has been completed (likely after several years of effort), the committee will vote on a new project. Examples of large projects include: • Immigrant power/leadership - Establishing an immigrant center, creating a series of sustainable nonprofits representing immigrant communities, etc. 18 March 22, 2023 • K-12 education - Reaching a certain level of proficiency for ELL students or for students from immigrant groups, creating a best-in-state support system for immigrant/migrant students in schools, developing a new structure for immigrant parents to have increased engagement with educators, etc. • Case management- Establishing an effective, trusted, and sustainable case management system so that immigrants with questions/needs have their issues addressed safely and effectively. The committee will also establish three to five subcommittees aimed at specific, smaller projects. This will enable progress to be made on smaller needs, while still keeping the committee informed. These should be projects that can be completed in a shorter amount of time and which have a dedicated group of inembers who are willing to drive the progress for the project. After a smaller project is finished, the committee will decide on a new project to pursue. Examples of smaller projects include: • Building a translator management database • Developing a guardianship website • Creating a Marshallese student group • Launching an immigrant leadership program • Developing toolkits for employers looking to hire immigrants Finally, the committee will also leave time to discuss important issues or address new problems and opportunities. One of the benefits of having stakeholders meet on a regular basis is the ability to deal with new challenges as they arise. Conversely, normal reporting of stakeholder events and activities should primarily be done outside of committee meetings, either through notes or through an online forum (such as the one discussed in Deve%p an Online lmmigrantAdvocate Forum on pa�e 16). This is so that stakeholders can still share upcoming events and activities while leaving committee time for discussion of progress on projects and new concerns and opportunities. Encouraae and Enable Immiarant Partici�ation Language barriers, differing work schedules, power imbalances among committee members, and other issues all act as barriers to full immigrant community participation in the committee. This is a challenge for most committees, where it is easier to identify ways for service providers or government officials to meet than it is to get community representatives to sessions. Yet this will be such a critical need of the Better Together Committee that its structure should be designed specifically with this challenge in mind. To help address this need, the committee should adopt some or all of the following tools for facilitating immigrant community participation: 1. Translation/Interpretation: Allocate funding to translate meeting notes into other languages and to provide interpretation forthe meeting. Translating meeting notes will allow a wider group of immigrants to follow the committee's progress. Providing interpretation makes the meeting more welcoming and will allow more community members to be able to effectively participate in the meeting. 19 March 22, 2023 2. MentorTeams: Provide participants with the option offorming "mentorteams"to help with comprehension and participation. These teams will consist of two people, or a small group of individuals, and will help pair new participants with a trusted and more experienced committee member who can help facilitate engagement and participation. The teams should be composed of individuals with shared languages, and preferably the team members should have an existing trusted relationship. These teams will help participants to better engage with the committee in the following ways: a. During committee meetings: i. Translating difficultto understand concepts ii. Explaining discussion points iii. Identifying other committee members b. Following committee meetings: i. Holding debriefing sessions where team members can: 1. Ask questions about the committee's work, 2. Share ideas they felt unable to express at the committee meeting, 3. Report on issues that need to be elevated to the committee leadership, 4. Gain additional insight about participation in collective impact committees. These teams can also provide members with additional support to help with leadership development and power building. Through the support ofthe partner team, less experienced members will hopefully become increasingly comfortable with the committee, allowing for more natural participation. 3. Immigrant Connection Subcommittee: Designate one of the subcommittees to be an ongoing group that evaluates whether the committee is effectively enabling immigrant participation. This subcommittee will review how well different immigrant communities are able to participate in the committee and propose changes or outreach if there are any gaps. Having an intentional and ongoing focus on immigrant participation can help sustain momentum on the issue. 4. Weekend/Evening Sessions: Hold some committee meetings during evenings or weekends so that more community members (and not just nonprofit staff) can participate. It can often be a challenge for community members to attend meetings that take place during normal work hours. Identifying different times can help alleviate these problems. a. It may be the case that holding sessions during the evenings or weekdays may prevent other committee members from participating as well. In one of its first meetings, the committee should consider whether to: i. Have all meetings take place on an evening or weekend; ii. Have every other meeting be outside of normal work hours; or iii. Designate some meetings as being outside of normal work hours, such as one every quarter. b. For meetings taking place on the weekend and evening, the committee should provide childcare to help facilitate community member participation. 20 March 22, 2023 5. Use Hybrid Meetings...: With the rise in teleconferencing technologies, often the best way to engage with immigrant populations is by taking a hybrid approach that allows for both online and in-person attendance. Some immigrants struggle with access to online resources and may most easily be able to attend in person. Due to transportation barriers, others may be much more likely to attend if there is an online option available. 6. ...But Prioritize Meeting Face-to-Face: However, even though teleconferencing may allow for more participation, meeting face-to-face can be extremely valuable for building trust and helping humanize the meeting participants. While most meetings should have hybrid options, the committee should also try to have all members meet face-to-face occasionally in orderto encourage relationship building. 7. Engagement Practices: The committee should consider utilizing meeting practices that better facilitate participation, especially by individuals who may speak English as a second language, such as: a. Having presenters include visualizations with their presentation to facilitate engagement with English language learners. This could involve the use of pictures or icons in presentations, graphic facilitation to help with notetaking, or other visual strategies. b. Having people sit at round tables where they can face each other instead of in straight rows, which can help to create better engagement between participants. c. Using online tools that allow attendees to participate without needing to speak, such as voting response tools, online white boards in multiple languages, etc. d. Having someone from an immigrant community facilitate the session. e. Conducting activities that help humanize the participants, making them individuals instead ofjust theirjob position or community affiliation. Establish Leadershia The committee will need an individual or individuals who can schedule and facilitate the meetings, conduct follow-up, engage with subcommittees, and carry out other functions necessary for the committee to move forward. While the decision on who should lead the committee will depend on the specific region and participants involved, here are two potential options: 1) If funding is available, a coordinator could be hired to help lead the work and ensure that all the activities of the committee advance as planned. This person could also participate in all subgroups and help facilitate other recommendations made in this section. The ideal would be for the coordinator to come from, or have trusted relationships with, at least one immigrant community in the region. a. The Immigration Community Assessment Steering Committee recommended that this position not come from a direct provider of services to immigrants, but instead from a "neutral" organization (such as local government, a funding organization, etc.). This is because the coordinator might prioritize or be seen 21 March 22, 2023 to prioritize activities or discussions that best serve the needs of the service provider, instead of the interests of the committee as a whole. 2) The committee could also elect a leadership group that would be responsible for coordinating the committee. This group should have multiple members to relieve the pressure on any individual member. The leadership team could also have limited terms to allow for shifting leadership and a greater distribution of responsibilities, as well as allowing for more leadership opportunities from members of different immigrant communities. The strong preference should be given to the first option. Having an organization that serves as the "backbone" for the committee and that has the resources to provide facilitation and help drive the agenda will make the committee much more sustainable and effective. Having an organization involved will also create greater stability during leadership transitions. Furthermore, if the leadership or facilitator for the committee is a funded position with organizational support, the risk of the collective effort failing, or losing traction, will be greatly reduced. 4. Connect Other Immiarant Groups Focused on Specific-Level Issues to the Larger Immigrant-Support Communitv Because of the number of issues facing immigrant communities, it is unlikely that the Immigration Strategy Committee will be able to effectively address them all. There will always be a need for interested individuals and organizations to work togetherto address a specific issue, or to help support a specific population. In addition, it is inappropriate to insist that the activities of groups focus on immigrant populations should all be subsumed and combined into one committee. Many people come together to pursue their interests and passions about certain topics, and that kind of engagement should be encouraged and supported. Collaborations like the Pacific Islander Health Project Advisory Group, Cafe Latino, and the Covid COFA Working Group are extremely important, and will continue to be so. To make these groups most effective and to prevent two groups from unintentionally working on the same activities, an effort should be made to have at least one participant of each group also participate in or be connected to the Immigration Strategy Committee (see Convene a Better Together Committee on pa�e 18). This would be a good task for the leaders of the committee, who could work to identify active groups and then find ways to ensure there is a consistent line of communication to the committee, which could then be shared with the larger immigrant support community. Having these groups connected to an online forum would also be a valuable way to maintain contact and frequent communication (see Deve%p an Online lmmigrantAdvocate Forum on pa�e 16). 22 March 22, 2023 BUILDING CONNECTIONS WITH IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES Perhaps the challenge that most defines the barriers faced by immigrant communities in the region is the lack of connection to the larger community. This is not particularly unexpected, as many of the great assets brought by immigrants to lowa—such as diversity in thought, culture, experience, etc.—can be isolating as well. A lack of familiarity with systems, customs, and institutions not only serves to increase a feeling of disconnect from the larger community, but may also create a real and significant barrier to accessing resources and services. Addressing this lack of connection increases the effectiveness and reach of existing programs and services and is crucial for helping develop the civic pride, collective action, and leadership of immigrant populations. Interviews with immigrants and advocates have identified several ways that this disconnection manifests: • Language differences: Immigrants who are not fluent in English can face significant challenges accessing information, signing up for services, and providing input to community organizations. These challenges are only reinforced by the lack of resources nationally for languages such as Marshallese and Mayan dialects, and by the fact that many Mayan dialects are primarily spoken and not written (which is also true to a lesser degree for Marshallese). • Lack of familiarity with institutions: For many immigrants, a lack of understanding and connection to common institutions and organizations can lead to challenges accessing available resources. For example, an immigrant family's lack of familiarity with their local hospital, and American hospitals in general, could lead to a lack of preventative care, overdue bills, inaccurate diagnoses, and other avoidable issues. • Lack of familiarity with systems: The challenges listed above are often compounded when there is a lack of familiarity with an entire system, such as the local healthcare, education, or criminal justice systems. Navigating systems can be a daunting task for any individual in the region, but the difficulty is frequently exacerbated when the system is unfamiliar or different than a similar system in the individual's country of birth. • Cultural differences: Cultural differences and an absence of cultural understanding frequently widens feelings of disconnect and separation from services. Examples include differences in Pacific Islander conceptions of time, which can lead to missed appointments, and how many Marshallese youth avoid eye contact with elders as a sign of respect, which can lead to challenges during job interviews. • Fear of doing something wrong: For many immigrants, their unfamiliarity with local institutions and systems may lead to fear that they will somehow mess up or do something wrong. This fear can be rooted in social or cultural attitudes ("I don't want to upset people or look foolish") or concern over legal repercussions. Either way, it 23 March 22, 2023 can lead to individuals not engaging with systems or not actively expressing questions or concerns in order to avoid any potential conflict. • Geographic disconnect: For immigrants who are new to a region or a city, they may first gain familiarity with areas that they frequently visit(their home neighborhood, where they work, the local school, etc.). While this is likely true for any new resident of an area, it can feel especially true for immigrants moving from another country. This can mean the geographic distribution of resources can have a much bigger impact on how often immigrants access those resources. For example, if an immigrant family lives in the Dubuque's West End neighborhood, but a resource is located in the Downtown neighborhood, that family may not know of the resource or may not feel comfortable accessing it. • Lack of relationships: The reality of the region is that relationships frequently play a significant role in providing access to everything from jobs to housing to local information. While immigrants often have strong relationships with those within their own community, a lack of ties to the broader Dubuque population can increase the barriers to accessing services and resources. • Lack of Trust: One of the biggest sources of disconnect leading to an inability to access resources is low levels of trust. Immigrant communities frequently have trust concerns with local organizations that are not based within their community, generally due to a lack of relationships, cultural unfamiliarity, and at times legal and safety concerns. This disconnect also works in the opposite direction, posing significant disadvantages for institutions and service providers looking to engage with immigrant families: • Language: An absence oftranslation or interpretation services can often make it difficult for service providers to successfully reach immigrant communities and to effectively communicate. • Culture: A lack of cultural competence on the part of organizations can also lead to significant communication barriers. An example discussed in the Workforce and Employmentsection on pa�e 43 relates to employers. Cultural misunderstandings may limit hiring opportunities and lead to higher employee turnover. • Homogenous view of population: In some instances, organizations have viewed immigrant communities as homogenous, without understanding the internal dynamics and relationships that may be important for effective communication and services. For example, support for the Marshallese community targets some of the Marshallese churches, but not all of them (there are currently seven Marshallese churches in Dubuque). This can limit the reach of programming and may cause resentment. This issue is discussed more in the immigrant mapping report included in A,n,nendixA. • Limited information and data on immigrant groups: Local data on immigrant groups is extremely difficult to obtain. Not only is there limited information, but often sources that do exist(such as the American Community Survey) may be inaccurate and frequently undercount immigrant populations. 24 March 22, 2023 • Lack of relationships: Institutions that do not have strong relationships with immigrant communities often struggle with program implementation. Establishing these relationships can be difficult. • Difficulty with follow-up: Even when organizations can connect with members of immigrant communities, follow-up meetings and conversations are often difficult to schedule and hold consistently due to the barriers discussed above. This creates additional separation, limits the ability of programs to be effective through sustained engagement, and does not allow for trust to build between the individual and the organization. These barriers are often compounded by the challenges of poverty in ways that are specifically relevant for immigrants. Foreign-born residents of Dubuque County are nearly two-and-a-half times as likely to be below the poverty line as native-born residents of the county."There is evidence that the lack of resources and stresses associated with poverty can lead to isolation and challenges fully accessing resources.18 In addition, the "scarcity mindset"that can result from poverty may limit people's ability to pursue available services, especially more aspirational opportunities focused on the future.19 Taken together, these barriers to connection can have a substantial impact on the ability of immigrant populations to engage with local resources. Immigrants will be less likely to seek out services, and service providers will have a much more difficult time identifying immigrant families to serve. Communication, cultural, and trust barriers also limit the ability to follow-up with immigrants and make providing referrals significantly more difficult. Even when immigrant residents can access services, the level of disconnect may make them less impactful than otherwise would be the case. This means that no matter how effective local services are, immigrant communities' ability to successfully use these services will always be limited if this lack of connection exists. This guide will focus on four main ways to establish and maintain connections with immigrant communities. • The first is capacity and power building within immigrant communities, providing members of those communities with additional influence and resources to advocate for their communities. "American Community Survey, 2021 Five-Year Estimates, for Dubuque County. Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ '$ K. Samuel et al, "Social Isolation and its Relationship to Multidimensional Poverty," Oxford Deve%pmentStudies(2017): ISSN 1360-0818, https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/116624/2/Manuscript%252010-16%5B1%5D.pdf; Emily Cuddy and Richard V. Reeves, "Poverty, isolation, and opportunity," Brookings lnstitution(March 31, 2015), https://www.brookin�s.edu/blo�/social-mobilitv-memos/2015/03/31/povertv-isolation-and- oaportunit�; Annie Lowrey, "The Time Tax," TheAtlantic, July 27, July 2021, htt�s://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/07/how-�overnment-learned-waste-vour-time- tax/619568/. 19 Ben Fell and Miles Hewstone, "Psychological perspectives on poverty,"Joseph Rowntree Foundation (June 4, 2015), https://www.�rf.or�.uk/report/psycholo�ical-perspectives-povert� 25 March 22, 2023 • The second is improving outreach from social service providers, helping them connect more effectively to a greater number of immigrant families. • The third is improving navigation at key agencies and organizations to help immigrant populations make better use of existing services. • And the fourth is through expanded cultural offerings designed to help the larger community understand and build connections with local immigrant communities. Capacity and Power Building This section describes activities and programs that could increase the capacity within immigrant communities so they may better serve members of their own communities and advocate for their needs. There are two primary reasons why this capacity and power building is the initial option to be discussed. First, providing resources to individuals and groups that already possess community relationships and cultural and linguistic knowledge eliminates some of the major barriers preventing effective delivery of services. In addition, members of immigrant communities are often best equipped to understand the needs and priorities of their own populations. Putting greater decision-making ability and authority in the hands of immigrants increases the likelihood of community buy-in and support for initiatives. The second reason to prioritize capacity and power building is that it is frequently the most overlooked and lacking strategy of the four identified in this guide. Much of the focus of social service providers in the region has been on outreach to immigrant communities: "How can we reach more immigrants?", "What are the names of people in need of help?", "How do we build a relationship with immigrant leaders?", etc. While these are questions local organizations should be asking, they are, at best, only half of the story. Outreach is about trying to get organizations with resources access to immigrant groups. But outreach alone does not create resources and power within immigrant communities, thereby enabling those communities to connect their members to service organizations and advocate on their behalf. Service providers in the region place immense value on immigrant leaders, usually volunteers, who are the first point of contact for outreach, translation, etc. But despite being recognized as crucial connectors, the region has very few formal structures through which to equip and empower immigrant leaders and community members. Resourcing the assets that already exist within immigrant communities is perhaps the most impactful action that can be done to improve the support given to immigrant populations. The reality is that very few resources in the region are dedicated to centering power within immigrant communities. And there are very few organizations that are led by immigrants and designed to directly serve immigrant communities. Most of the organizations that do exist, such as Latino Empowerment and Development(LEAD) and Kora Im An Kol (KIAK), have small budgets and are sustained entirely by volunteers. During the Covid-19 pandemic in Dubuque, the incredible work carried out by members of immigrant communities was largely done by untrained volunteers, who worked to support their communities despite their day 26 March 22, 2023 jobs, not because of them. Small organizations and individual volunteers will always be critical to the work done in support of immigrant populations. But identifying ways to increase capacity within those populations will help improve their effectiveness and limit vulnerabilities. It is also the best way to ensure that the work being done aligns with the priorities of immigrant populations and has their support and participation. To ensure that the work being done in the region aligns with the priorities of immigrant populations and has their support and participation, consider the following recommendations: • Create and Support Immigrant-Led Nonprofit Organizations • Establish an Immigrant Center • Adopt a Natural Helper Program • Establish Communal Spaces • Support Community Organizing Outreach The Dubuque region is generally rich in resources, with effective programs and valuable services readily available to help improve the lives of residents. However, reaching those residents, and especially immigrant families, can pose significant challenges. Many organizations struggle with establishing communication channels with local immigrant communities. During this research, service providers commonly commented on the frustration they feel when it comes the challenge of effectively encouraging immigrants to access local systems. The task of determining how best to connect with immigrant populations can seem daunting, and many organizations never make initial inroads, instead prioritizing projects that seem more achievable. Developing a set of best practices for outreach can help address these issues by focusing the organization's efforts and identifying processes for carrying them out. While this may require additional allocation of resources (hiring new staff, initiating special projects, etc.), very often just taking the initial step of adopting more effective practices removes connection barriers. In fact, this research shows that simply committing to increased outreach can lead to meaningful outcomes. Local organizations can start the process of building relationships by considering the following recommendations: • Diversify Outreach Efforts • Provide Translated Materials and Interpretation Services • Locate Connectors in Residential Areas with a High Concentration of Immigrants • Include Immigrant Support Organizations in Regular Meetings • Use Best Practices for Including Immigrant Community Members in Meetings • Take a 2Gen Approach 27 March 22, 2023 Navigators One of the most imposing barriers facing residents of the region is the challenge of navigating support systems. Understanding what step to take next, how to fill out a form correctly, or who to call for help can be extremely difficult for many people, and especially lower income individuals.20 For immigrants these problems may be compounded by a lack of familiarity with local systems, language challenges, and a cultural or societal fear of being seen as causing problems. Some immigrants may simply avoid seeking services instead of dealing with the potential for failure and humiliation. Hiring additional navigators, especially at organizations or government departments that regularly serve immigrant communities, can be an extremely beneficial way to improve engagement with local populations. Navigators are individuals employed or hired by service providers to assist community members with accessing services. The best navigators are those that are trained in the requirements of service systems and that come from the communities they serve, providing them with the language and cultural knowledge to effectively help. These navigators can leverage trust and relationships within immigrant communities to make sure that a greater number of people are able access important services. Excellent examples of valuable immigrant navigators already exist within Dubuque. These include community health workers at Crescent Community Health Center, paraprofessionals at the Dubuque Community School District, family navigators at Child Health Specialty Clinics, and staff at the Northeast lowa Community College. Many other organizations, such as institutes of higher education in the area, also have staff that, while not navigators, frequently serve a navigator role. Several navigator positions were also created as a result of collaborations connected with this research, including the Guatemalan Mentor program and the Marshallese community connector at the Visiting Nurse Association (see Projects and Accomplishments Connected with the CommunityAssessmenton pa�e 5). This is by no means an exhaustive list of navigators in the region but is meant to be provide examples of existing navigators who are members of local immigrant communities. While hiring navigators is an undoubtedly powerful tool for helping improve access to services for immigrant populations, this role should not be seen as a substitute for capacity and power building. Navigators are meant to move forward the mission of the organization they work for and follow the direction of their(usually non-immigrant) managers and bosses. This is a very valuable and necessary part of how service organizations in our region work, and navigation plays a critical role in helping to provide equitable access to systems. That said, it should not be seen as a replacement for advocacy and power building within immigrant communities. 20 The challenges of navigating government support services is discussed in Annie Lowrey, "The Time Tax," TheAtlantic, July 27, 2021, https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/07/how- �overnment-learned-waste-your-time- tax/619568/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/07/how-�overnment-learned-waste- your-time-tax/619568/. 28 March 22, 2023 An example of previously recommended program that can fulfill some of the roles of a navigator position is the Natural Helper program. While this is not a substitute for having a paid staff position dedicated to navigation, training, and compensating immigrant volunteers to help members of their communities navigate systems can increase access to services. The NaturalHelperprogram is described in more detail in the List of Recommendations document. Cultural Events Cultural activities are not often discussed in relation to providing services. Art and culture can be useful mechanisms for facilitating service provision, in addition to being an important part of long-term relationship building that leads to greater connectivity. Celebrating immigrant culture through artwork, performances, festivals, and other mediums helps build appreciation and understanding and creates a more welcoming and inclusive environment. Facilitating more cultural events also meets a need that is frequently expressed by immigrant communities in the region. Many older individuals and parents are concerned about preserving and passing down their culture to future generations. For example, during focus groups with Marshallese community members, many people expressed concern that Marshallese children were becoming less connected with their island culture and language. Immigrant respondents also frequently expressed a desire to share cultural traditions with the larger population in the region. Community members also expressed a desire to have support from the larger community in meeting these two goals. To that end, the following recommendations can be undertaken to encourage and facilitate cultural events: • Support Immigrant Cultural Events • Develop Relationships with Immigrant Communities • Engage International Students • Support Youth Programming 29 March 22, 2023 ISSUES FACING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES Immigrant populations are extremely valuable contributors to local culture, workforces, and communities. Many immigrant families also experience a range of needs, from language to legal, healthcare to housing, and education to entrepreneurship. All of these factors will vary from individual to individual and community to community. Given the breadth of the needs and assets within local immigrant communities, this section is not intended to be comprehensive. Instead, it will attempt to address some of the major gaps and opportunities that exist in various issue areas, and provide direction for future work and collaboration. It is only through consistent engagement and work that any of these areas can be adequately addressed, and this section of the guide is intended to provide some basis for local stakeholders to move forward on that engagement. This section will focus on seven different issue areas. • Case Management • Education and Youth Support • Health • Housing • Legal Assistance • Translation and Interpretation • Workforce and Employment Case Management One of the biggest challenges facing new immigrants in the region is simply navigating unfamiliar systems. Accessing services can be a confusing and laborious process for many people in the region, but immigrant families face additional difficulties, including language barriers, unfamiliarity with local institutions, and a lack of social connections. For many immigrants, having a case manager who helps with navigating local systems can be an immense benefit. The case manager can identify services, make connections to providers, help with paperwork and other requirements, highlight needs that the immigrant may not have known about, and provide enough knowledge to help their client be successful and comfortable utilizing local systems. Those providing case management within the region are often critical for helping with transportation as well, enabling immigrant families to physically access the resources they need. Case management services will differ substantially in terms of how formal and extensive the support is that they provide. Social service organizations may staff trained social workers who provide case management for clients. Other organizations may employ community 30 March 22, 2023 connectors, community health workers, coaches, and other navigators with cultural and language skills to help immigrants identify needs and connect to services. A number of small nonprofits and volunteer organizations also conduct extensive case management work, often undertaken by unpaid staff. And very frequently, untrained volunteers, community leaders, members of faith communities, and other individuals with a personal (but not professional) connection to the family will serve in this role, helping to navigate systems and act as advocates. While ideally all case management would be handled by paid and trained staff, the reality in the region is that individuals and organizations from all of these categories will likely be necessary for the foreseeable future. Special recognition should be given to those smaller nonprofits and volunteer community members who play a case management role for immigrants, including those among the most marginalized in the region. These volunteers and nonprofit staff, many of whom receive little to no compensation for their services, frequently move mountains in support of their immigrant neighbors. Without their committed and dedicated work, the system of support for new immigrant families would be untenable, and many immigrants would fall through the cracks. Volunteers within immigrant communities also play an enormous role in case management, often in ways that go unseen and unrecognized within the larger community. One of the reasons for the region's reliance on volunteers is a lack of established support for new, non-refugee immigrants who come here. Throughout the United States, refugee resettlement organizations are generally responsible for settling new refugee families into a community, providing them with housing, helping with job searches, and offering other valuable services during that initial period. These organizations receive federal funding to provide these services and support. However, since 2017 the region has not had a refugee resettlement agency, with the Catherine McAuley Center in Cedar Rapids being the closest organization in lowa. Also, refugee resettlement generally only refers to immigrants designated as refugees, and doesn't apply to asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, COFA migrants, or many of the other new immigrant arrivals who come here. This means that local nonprofits serving new immigrants generally do not receive federal funding for case management, but instead rely on the work of volunteers and other funding streams in order to provide services. Most new arrivals (outside of university students) are initially welcomed to the community and connected to services by small nonprofits or volunteers. While these groups and individuals often do excellent work helping immigrant families and should be commended for their efforts, this situation does raise serious issues: • Lack of Training: Many community members who work to support immigrant families have little experience with the systems they are helping navigate, or the regulations in place. This is especially true for members of immigrant populations who are assisting those in their own communities, as they may only have recent or infrequent knowledge of how to access services. This can increase the difficulty of obtaining those services, making the process more laborious, less efficient, and potentially less successful. 31 March 22, 2023 • Challenges Sharing Knowledge: When volunteers or smaller organizations do learn how to engage with a system or access a service, they may not be able to effectively share that knowledge with other volunteers. This leads to a situation of"re-inventing the wheel," where multiple, disconnected advocates each struggle to figure out the solution to the same problem. • Missing Relationships: A wealth of resources are available within the region; however, those resources can be difficult to identify and access. While larger and well- established organizations face problems understanding the landscape of service providers, it is even more challenging for small nonprofits and volunteers, who may have limited relationships with institutions and service providers. This may cause those volunteers to lean heavily on the few relationships they do have, potentially missing other resources and reducing what services are available. And if an immigrant family only has one individual providing case management, this may result in limited options for important needs like jobs, housing, and legal assistance. • Damaged Relationships: In addition to a lack of relationships, damaged relationships, due to interpersonal conflicts or an absence of trust, can also interrupt the case management process. Two individuals may have a falling out, or argue over an important issue, or simply have a serious miscommunication that leads to a broken partnership. This is especially challenging within immigrant communities, where well intentioned service providers may exacerbate a problematic situation due to a lack of cultural understanding. Damaged relationships between advocates and community leaders can lead to additional challenges and ultimately lead to a decline in services for immigrants. While these problems can arise with larger organizations, the use of professional and paid staff and clearly defined procedures governing behavior and supervision are frequently used tools to avoid serious, lasting damage to relationships. • Risk of Burnout: Advocates and other individuals that support immigrants are often at high risk of burnout due to the need that exists, the complex challenges facing immigrants, and the very personal and emotional reactions that are elicited by some immigrants' stories. There have been numerous examples in the region where advocates who feel overwhelmed by their work find it necessary to leave and focus on other priorities. This can be especially true when people in a community identify one person (often with language skills) as a key connector. This risk for burnout can be more pronounced in volunteers because their case management work comes separately from their job, leaving less time, little to no compensation, and a lack of support from coworkers or other institutional mechanisms. • Key-Individual Risk: Having case management handled by an individual or a small organization also makes it more likely that a support network will fall apart if anything were to happen to that individual. Ifthe important individual becomes burned out or sick, or moves to a different job or region, immigrant families may be left without trusted connections or navigational support. When the immigrant's relationship is with an organization instead of a volunteer, this risk can be mitigated, and there can be relationships with multiple staff inembers as well as a system for replacing the lost capacity. 32 March 22, 2023 • Risk of Mistakes: While many volunteers are well-meaning and committed advocates, they may be untrained and have only a limited understanding of important issues. This raises the possibility of unintended but serious mistakes. If a volunteer gives improper advice (such as on legal or medical situations), this can potentially have a major impact on immigrants and even lead to problems for the larger community. In other cases, the desire of volunteers to advocate for immigrants may put them in conflict with the policies and requirements of local institutions. Because established organizations should provide training and have policies handling oversight and liability, the risk of a serious mistake becomes less likely and less impactful. • Risk of Predatory Behavior: Unfortunately, not all volunteers will be well intentioned. Given the marginalized and vulnerable position of many immigrants, and especially immigrant youth, the risk posed by predatory individuals is a real concern that the region should take seriously. Often immigrants, including immigrant minors, rely on volunteers (who may be virtual strangers)for everything from financial support to being driven long distances for legal hearings. Many volunteers do not undergo background checks or regular supervision when they begin providing support to immigrants. Taken together, these challenges decrease the effectiveness of immigrant support services, and leave open the risk for significant problems. The following recommendations offer potential pathways to address these issues: • Fund Additional Case Management Support • Build Case Management"Networks" • Facilitate Background Checks • Build Capacity in Immigrant Communities • Develop a Guardianship Website • Provide Transportation Support Education and Youth Support The percentage of youth under the age of eighteen in Dubuque County who have at least one foreign-born parent rose from 2.33% in 2010 to 6.42°/o in 2020 (see Figure 3). During a period when the number of young people overall in Dubuque County has slightly declined, the number of these children has nearly tripled. If the region's demographics continue to move in the same direction, immigrant families will make up an even larger portion of the region's population. Enabling these young people to thrive will have positive future ramifications as they become the next generation of parents, workers, and leaders. Interviews and focus group sessions have identified the benefits that immigrant children and youth bring to the community. These include, but are not limited to: 33 March 22, 2023 • Cultural diversity and Figure 3: Percent of population with foreign-born creativity: Immigrant youth parents- Dubuque County bring different perspectives and backgrounds to a 35 � zo7o �zozo community, helping to generate new ideas and 3J` expose other young people to ?.5 different ways of thinking. L'. Evidence suggests that diverse classrooms can have ' S'� important cognitive, social, �� and emotional benefits for all students in the classroom.21 °'' • Hard working: The hard work �;.. Bnth Fnreic,r 5nrr One Nati�,•e Gne-oreirn Bnrn One Parent-Foreign Born and dedication of immigrant youth may best be Source: U.S. Census, Population Estimates demonstrated by local Guatemalan unaccompanied minors, many of whom attend school while also working to supportthemselves and theirfamilies. • Cultural navigation: Many immigrant children already act as important cultural navigators fortheirfamilies, often serving as interpreters, advisors, and connectors. • Civic engagement: Immigrant youth have expressed a strong interest in leading activities to help benefit both their local immigrant communities and the wider population where they live. Recent examples from Dubuque include the involvement of youth in the planning of the Latinx festival and the Marshallese Manit Day celebration and presentations carried out by the Pacific Islander Club at Hempstead and Senior High School. • Desire for education: Many immigrant families cite education as one of their primary reasons for coming to the U.S., and to Northeast lowa. • New community opportunities: The work done by immigrant youth has already created new events and other cultural opportunities that otherwise would not be available in the region. This helps make the region a more welcoming place for diverse populations, enables cross-cultural connections, and increases the cultural richness and variety of local offerings. In short, young people from immigrant communities have significant potential to provide ongoing leadership for the region. However, a number of barriers disproportionately impact students from immigrant communities. One of the largest issues involves language skills, as English language learners can struggle to engage with curriculums taught primarily in English. This is particularly true for students who may have come to the U.S. already facing an education gap, especially high school students who may have only had a few years of formal 21 Amy Stuart Wells et al, "How Racially Diverse Schools and Classrooms Can Benefit All Students," The CenturyFoundation, February 9, 2016, https://tcf.or�/content/report/how-raciallv-diverse-schools- and-classrooms-can-benefit-all-students/ 34 March 22, 2023 education. Feelings of disconnection between immigrant students and their schools, teachers, and the rest of the student body can also impact academic success. Students have expressed feeling that their school "isn't for them" or is not a key part of their future career aspirations. These barriers can significantly impact academic achievement. English learners score more than fifty percentage points lower in both reading and math proficiency than the general student body at both the Dubuque Community School District and the Western Dubuque Community School District. Only 11.3% of Pacific Islander students in Dubuque are currently reading at grade-level proficiency, and four-year graduation rates are nearly 13% lower for Hispanic students than the general population, and over 54% lower for Pacific Islanders.22 For older immigrants, this often leads to greater disparity in educational attainment. Foreign- born individuals in Dubuque County over the age of twenty-five are more than four times as likely to not have graduated high school as is the native-born population. At the same time, a greater percentage of the foreign-born population has a bachelor's degree or higher than does the native-born population. Despite the high level of academic achievement among many immigrants, over a quarter of the population above the age of twenty-five has still not achieved a high school diploma or equivalency.Z3 Responsibility for improving educational outcomes for children from immigrant communities should be a priority for the community as a whole. By encouraging greater connection between immigrant families and the general population policymakers and stakeholders can positively impact academic achievement for immigrant children across the region. The following list of recommendations should be considered to support this goal: • Hire Paraprofessionals and Other Staff Focused on Immigrant Students • Establish a Guatemalan Mentorship Program • Create an Expanded Marshallese Student Group • Support Early Childhood Reading • Provide Additional Workforce Development Options for Immigrant Youth • Achieve Greater Representation in Classrooms • Engage and Retain International College Students 22 lowa School Performance Profiles, 2022.Available at: https://www.iaschoolperformance.�ov/ECP/Home/Index 23 American Community Survey, 2021 5-year estimates for Dubuque County.Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 35 March 22, 2023 Health Healthcare for immigrant Figure 4: Change in insurance premiums from 2010 communities has been one of the value by coverage type- lowa most prominent areas of focus in the region, and for good reason. ��—s'"g'e —P'us°"e Fa""'y While there is some evidence ,�� that the average immigrant is ,�.� actually in better health than the �k _ native-born resident in the United - States,24this is counterbalanced �k �� by challenges accessing the healthcare system. For many �� immigrants, unfamiliarity with the � ' � 10�k system (and sometimes distrust of it) may lead to individuals °�k avoiding visits to care providers. -10�k saia zuis su22 zaia zuia zois 2a16 sai� luis 2ai9 2a2a It is not uncommon in immigrant communities for individuals to see a healthcare practitioner only when they are experiencing a medical emergency, a situation that often leads to higher costs and more serious conditions that could have been avoided through preventative visits and treatments.zs This is compounded by the rising cost of healthcare (see Figure 4), which may discourage immigrants without employer-supplied health insurance from making hospital visits. In Dubuque County, it is estimated that over 24% of foreign-born individuals are uninsured, compared to just 3% of the native-born population.zb Health-care concerns have been even more prominent for the region's Pacific Islander population, for whom advocacy around health care has been an ongoing struggle for much of the past twenty years. Due to a myriad of historical factors—ranging from the testing of nuclear weapons on the Marshall Islands to dietary changes caused in part by colonization, nuclear contamination, and environmental disruption—the Marshallese population is at elevated risk for many of the leading causes of death in the United States. For example, it is estimated that adult Marshallese in the U.S. experience more than four times the incidence of diabetes than the general U.S. adult population.27 These challenges have been compounded 24 Ken Terry, "Immigrants Healthierthan Native-born, ButAdvantage Fades," WebMD, July 13, 2021, https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-�uides/news/20210713/immi�rants-healthier-native-born-advanta�e- fades. 25"State's Undocumented Immigrants Use Fewer Health Services than U.S.-born Residents," UCLA CenterforHealth PolicyResearch, May 5, 2014, https://healthpolicy.ucla.edu/newsroom/press- releases/pa�es/details.aspx?NewsID=186. 26 American Community Survey, 2021 5-year estimates for Dubuque County.Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 27 McElfish PA, Rowland B, Long CR, Hudson J, Piel M, Buron B, Riklon S, Bing WI, WarmackTS. "Diabetes and Hypertension in Marshallese Adults: Results from Faith-Based Health Screenings." J RacialEthn Health Disparities. Dec 2017;4(6):1042-1050. doi: 10.1007/s40615-016-0308-y. Epub 2016 36 March 22, 2023 by federal policies around health insurance. From 1986 to 1996, Marshall Islanders living in the U.S. as COFA migrants (see pa�e 7)were able to enroll in Medicaid and Medicare under federal law. However, in the 1996 Welfare Reform Act, COFA migrants were not listed as eligible for these two benefits (many advocates believe this was simply due to oversight). That meant that many individuals at elevated risk for serious medical conditions lost access to their health insurance. It is estimated that in 2020 nearly 30% of Dubuque County's Pacific Islander population was uninsured.Z$ This finally changed at the end of 2020, when the U.S. Congress reinstated Medicare and Medicaid access for the Marshallese and other COFA migrants.29 After years of hard-fought advocacy, this news was greeted with tremendous relief by local Marshallese communities. This result shows the value of continued advocacy and speaks to what Pacific Islanders and their allies were able to accomplish. Since that time, local care practitioners such as Crescent Community Health Center have worked to sign up uninsured Marshallese families for these benefits, helping to get dozens of individuals improved access to medical care. This last effort points to one of the important assets that has been a notable success for the region: the outreach of care providers to immigrant communities. While one of the most prominent findings of this research is the lack of connection between immigrant communities and existing support systems (see pa�e 23), within Dubuque, healthcare providers have been some of the most successful organizations in building trusted relationships with immigrants. • Crescent's Pacific Islander Health Project has been recognized for its impressive work serving the Pacific Islander community in the region, and they employ community health workers focused on Latino and other specialized populations. • The Visiting Nurse Association employs a community connector serving the Marshallese population who provides both navigation and outreach. • Monsoon has been scheduling numerous community conversations with Asian and Pacific Islander communities to discuss health issues related to gender-based violence. • Child Health Specialty Clinics'family navigator serves the local Pacific Islander population. • MercyOne and UnityPoint have conducted extensive free testing programs at immigrant community celebrations and in their residential communities. • And a collection of partner organizations and community leaders met under the facilitation of the City of Dubuque to help with emergency efforts focused on immigrant populations during the Covid-19 pandemic. This level of outreach and service within the health-care space was cited by immigrant communities during focus group sessions as an important reason for coming to the region. Nov 1 1. PMID: 27837454; PMCID: PMC5426989. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.�ov/pmc/articles/PMC5426989/ 28 American Community Survey, 2020 5-year estimates for Dubuque County.Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 29 Diamond, Dan. "How 100,000 Pacific Islanders got their health care back." Politico. 1 January 2021. Available at: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/01/marshall-islands-health-care-453215 37 March 22, 2023 Although these successes should be recognized, gaps in service for immigrant populations continue to exist, especially for those who may not be able to have medical expenses covered through insurance. For example, brain health30 services are a major gap within the community. And medical interpretation continues to be an outstanding need. The following recommendations provide some potential opportunities to help address these and other challenges the community faces. • Hire Additional Navigators • Provide Funds for Uncovered Medical Expenses • Provide Brain Health Services • Offer Training for Medical Translation and Interpretation • Offer Training for Brain Health Translation and Interpretation Housing Quality, affordable housing continues to be an ongoing need throughout the region, with an estimated 40% of renter-occupied households in Dubuque County spending 30% or more of their income on rent.31 The estimated number of renter-occupied households decreased between 2015 and 2020, despite a growing population throughout the county.32 lowa only has forty-six affordable and available rental homes for every hundred extremely low-income renter households.33 For low-income families especially, being able to identify affordable housing that does not have significant safety or structural problems can be a challenge.34 In 2022, the East Central lowa Association (ECIA) conducted a housing needs assessment for the City of Dubuque found that there was a high and unmet need for housing units within Dubuque, and concluded that the city should be designated as a distressed housing community.3s 3o The Community Foundation uses the term "brain health"when talking about conditions related to a person's psychological and emotional well-being. This is to work against the stigma often associated with the term "mental health." 31 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2014-2018 Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy(CHAS)dataset.Available at: https://www.hud user.�ov/PORTAL/datasets/cp.html 32 American Community Survey, 2015 and 2020 5-year estimates for Dubuque County.Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-�rofiles/ 33 Andrew Aurand et al, "The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes," The NationalLowlncome Housing Coalition, March 2020, https://reorts.nlihc.or�/sites/default/files/�ap/Gap-Report 2020.pdf. 34 Grace Nieland, "Assessment: 'Housing Crisis'Apparent in Dubuque," Te%graph Herald, July 9, 2022, https://www.tele�raphherald.com/news/tri-state/article 82a82dec-4923-5fba-8ee3- fb396780c125.html. 3s"Dubuque Housing Needs Assessment," EastCentrallowaAssociation, April 2022, https://www.�reaterdubuque.or�/media/userfiles/subsite 90/files/DubuqueHousin�NeedsAssessmen t 04-2022.pdf. 38 March 22, 2023 Many immigrants face barriers to Figure 5: Percent of population that is foreign obtaining quality housing. Due to born and that lives in renter occupied housing by limited social networks race and ethnicity- Dubuque County and lack of familiarity with �:Fc•re:gr Bc-� �o Rent2�Dc��i�iec housing systems when first � 3- arriving here, many -d' immigrants rely on � �� ;;h:cz housing recommendations from �r'`ricanlndianor "'�� tiative,7laskan friends or family. This can ' ..:,;�r�Jo!e Fa�es� produce a limited number of options, often resulting �,d�k� in immigrant populations living in the same ^�sCar:i��rL3tre � neighborhoods or S�ire Dther Ra-e apartment complexes (this is also likely due, in part� ��cificlslzn�e• � to immigrants wanting to � live nearfriends and l�� family). This can be �- 1�=: �C: . . - . i�: iu: �. 3�=: 904 exacerbated by language Source: U.S. CensusAmerican CommunitySurvey challenges, preventing some 20205yearestimates immigrants from finding certain options or connecting with available resources. A lack of a credit history or a steady source of income can also factor into an immigrant's ability to find stable housing. Many landlords struggle with renting to immigrant families. This may be due to a requirement for social security numbers or other forms of ID for background checks, difficulties with communication, or a larger discomfort working with immigrants, perhaps stemming from cultural differences or a lack of familiarity with those populations. At times, anti-immigrant biases may lead landlords to avoid renting to immigrant families. Taken together, these barriers create risks and challenges for many immigrants, such as limiting the pool of available housing or forcing immigrants to take lower-quality or more expensive options than might otherwise be necessary. It could also lead to overcrowding, especially if immigrant families live in multi-generational households or share housing with other families due to low income or a lack of options. These barriers can result in landlords having significant leverage over immigrant tenants, who may not be able to advocate effectively for themselves, easily move to another living space, or feel comfortable reporting issues to government authorities. This scenario poses the risk of unfair price increases and other exploitative practices. These additional barriers increase the risk of situations where individuals may lose housing and be unable to find a suitable replacement, placing many immigrant families in a vulnerable position. 39 March 22, 2023 There are many examples of individuals and organizations in the region responding to these challenges in positive ways. In several cases individual residents have come forward to offer housing options to vulnerable families, including in rural areas where housing shortages have become a major issue. Volunteers and organizations have also served as advocates for immigrant families, helping to negotiate with landlords and resolve unexpected issues. Collective approaches have seen some benefits as well. In 2021, the Community Foundation, the City Housing and Community Development Department, and a number of nonprofit organizations came together in response to a rapidly developing situation where a group of immigrants were losing their housing after new management instituted a stricter background checkthat required a Social Security Number. After convening, the City of Dubuque revised its housing background check form to provide other ways of accessing information, and representatives from the City met with the new management group to explain the situation and provide the new form. These and other examples, including the recommendations that follow, reflect the many important efforts that take place throughout the region to address housing challenges for immigrant communities: • Advocate for Affordable, Quality Housing • Provide Additional Trainings on Tenants Rights • Coordinate Outreach to Landlords • Form an Immigrant Housing Ally Coalition • Provide Support for Mortgages Legal Assistance The legal requirements for staying, living, and working in the community are among the persistent challenges immigrant families face. This is true for recent immigrants pursuing Special Immigrant Juvenile Status or an asylum case, college graduates looking to work at local businesses, COFA migrants trying to demonstrate their ability to travel and work in the U.S., and long-term residents working to receive their U.S. citizenship. Meeting these requirements can be confusing, expensive, and time consuming. A 2013 analysis by the American Action Forum found that U.S. government agencies have generated over 234 different government forms related to immigration, leading to an estimated 98.8 million paperwork burden hours each year at a cost of approximately $30 billion in costs to immigrants and businesses.36 Immigration court cases have also faced an immense backlog. For example, in one of the region's closest immigration courts, located in Omaha, Nebraska, the average court case takes 1,265 days, or over three and a half years, to be completed.37 36 Sam Batkins, "The Intersection of Immigration and Regulation,"American Action Forum,April 2013, https://www.americanactionforum.or�/insi�ht/the-intersection-of-immi�ration-and-re�ulation/. 37 Syracuse University TRAC Immigration System for FY23, accessed December 19, 2022. Available at: https://trac.s�r.edu/phptools/immi�ration/court backlo�/court proctime outcome.ph� 40 March 22, 2023 Correctly navigating these forms Legal Requirement Example: I-94 Forms and legal requirements can have major implications for Because the variety of legal needs is far too great to immigrants, determining whether list here, an example might provide some insight into they can work, receive benefits, the challenges immigrants and advocates face. As become citizens, or even stay in COFA migrants, Marshallese immigrants are free to the country. Having access to travel, live, and work in the U.S. without needing a help and support with these visa. The document that provides this authorization is requirements can be a major an I-94 Form, which is a piece of paper individuals benefit. In 2022, individuals receive on arriving at the U.S. and that has historically applying for asylum were more been stapled to the individual's passport. If this form is than twice as likely(50%vs. 22%) lost(not uncommon given how it is attached to the to have relief granted if they were passport), it needs to be replaced. Forms received represented by an attorney.38 A after April 30, 2013 are available online, but those 2019 study from the Immigration received prior to that date must be obtained by Policy Lab at Stanford University completing Form I-102 at a cost of$445 (plus $85 for found that when the fee waiver biometrics). process for applying for Obtaining a hard-copy I-94 has proved exceptionally citizenship was simplified, it led difficult. In Dubuque, a coalition consisting of to approximately 73,000 people immigration attorneys, social workers, city officials, per year becoming citizens who and other nonprofit representatives have worked to otherwise would not have obtain I-94s through I-102 submissions, Freedom of applied.39 Information Act requests, and conversations with Locally, nonprofits and volunteers USCIS and Customs & Border Patrol officials. Because have been incredibly valuable in paper documents may be filed in government helping immigrant community buildings under long-unused systems, frequently members fill out forms and apply requests come back without success. Some advocates for everything from a new have suggested taking a bus full of Marshallese to the passport to U.S. citizenship. Local nearest border so they can reenter and receive a new colleges and universities also form, but this raises fears of immigrants being dedicate a significant amount of detained and not allowed to return. time and resources to helping These forms are crucially important for Marshallese students navigate the individuals, allowing them to freely work and travel in immigration system so they can the U.S. Simply replacing a lost form can be a time- study in Dubuque. These efforts consuming and expensive process with only a partial are enormously important given chance of success. the complexity and challenge associated with immigration statutes and requirements. 38 Syracuse University TRAC Immigration System for FY22. Including all relief granted.Available at: https://trac.svr.edu/phptools/immi�ration/asvlum/ 39 Vasil Yassenov et al, "Standardizing the Fee-waiver Application Increased Naturalization Rates of Low-income Immigrants," Proceedings ofthe NationalAcademyofSciences, 1 16, no. 34(August 20, 2019): 16768-16772, https://www.pnas.or�/doi/10.1073/pnas.1 9059041 1 6. 41 March 22, 2023 While many of the changes and reforms that would help simplify the legal system must be enacted on the national level and are therefore largely outside of the scope of this guide, there are other measures that can be undertaken on a local level, as detailed in the following recommendations: • Connect with Immigration Attorneys • Provide Support for Fees and Completing Forms • Develop a Guardianship Website • Build Trust with Local Law Enforcement • Advocate for an Independent Immigration Court System • Issue Community-Based ID Cards Translation and Interpretation For those with limited English skills, Dubuque can often be challenging to navigate and feel unwelcoming. Many local organizations also struggle to serve immigrant families with limited English proficiency. Contributing to these difficulties is the fact that several of the most prominently spoken languages in the region, including Marshallese and Mayan dialects, are not commonly spoken or translated in the U.S., and therefore few national and state-level resources are able to help with interpretation. This situation is not unique. Addressing needs for individuals speaking these languages has been a major difficulty for many regions across the country. Dubuque's ability to provide translated documents and interpretation improved in many ways during the Covid pandemic. This was because of a more concerted effort from individuals to reach out to those who have language skills. There was also a much larger recognition of a very important point: Whenever possible, people who provide interpretation or translation should be paid for their efforts. The ability to speak a different language is a valuable skill that is difficult to master, and those who have that skill should be compensated for their work. An additional barrier has been the need for specialized translation and interpretation. Health care providers and legal organizations often utilize technical language that, if interpreted incorrectly, can cause harm to immigrant families. Many institutions require interpreters with certain training or specialization to ensure that technical terms are translated accurately. Due to limited capacity in the region, often there are no available interpreters with the required training and certification. This means that interpretation may not meet necessary standards, and organizations (such as hospitals) may not be able to compensate community members who do provide translation. In some cases, children are relied upon to translate for their parents, a troubling reality given that it might involve important technical information or serious medical diagnoses. Providing translation and interpretation has become more important with the arrival of new refugees from countries like Afghanistan and Ukraine; the lack of translation and 42 March 22, 2023 interpretation services severely limits our region's ability to engage with these new arrivals. While it will be challenging to provide universally available translation and interpretation, the following recommendations will help create additional resources and increase availability: • Compensate Community Members for Translation and Interpretation • Hire Additional Navigators • Utilize Available National and State Translation and Interpretation Services • Create a Local Translation and Interpretation Database • Offer Basic Interpretation Training • Offer Training for Medical Translation and Interpretation • Offer Training for Brain Health Translation and Interpretation • Make Use of Translation Technology Workforce and Employment When immigrants have been asked why they came to this region and what they like best about it, "good jobs" is one of the most frequent responses. Job opportunities are a huge attractor for immigrants to the region, and high-quality, well-paying jobs are among the best ways of retaining immigrant families. Yet, despite the attractiveness of local job openings, many local immigrants are currently underemployed and are working in low-paying occupations compared to other available positions. In lowa, median earnings are over$9,700 less per year for foreign-born men compared to their non-foreign-born counterparts, and over$8,100 less for foreign-born women.40 These lower wages may limit an immigrant family's potential for climbing out of poverty. Because the region offers significant opportunities for workforce training and higher education, there are a number of avenues that immigrants can follow to improve their employment, leading to economic advancement and improved livelihoods. This combination of available jobs and training options can work as a strong incentive for immigrants to come to this community, and then stay in order to pursue better career opportunities. The availability of workforce is one of the most persistent concerns for local employers. According to Greater Dubuque Development Corporation's 2022 Skills Gab Analysis, the Dubuque Metropolitan Statistical Area's number of available jobs is projected to outpace the working age population over the next ten years. In addition, the top six industries in the region are currently facing a skills gap, and several key occupations are lacking a local pipeline of available workers.41 And while the unemployment rate in Dubuque County has returned to near its pre-pandemic rate, the labor force has fallen by approximately 1,200 40 American Community Survey, 2021 5-year estimates for lowa. Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 41 "Greater Dubuque Region 2022 Skills Gap Analysis." GreaterDubuque Deve%,nmentCorporation, 2022, https://www.�reaterdubuque.or�/media/userfiles/subsite 90/files/GDDC- NICC 2022 SkillsGap WorkforceBreakfast.pdf. 43 March 22, 2023 since 2019.42 With over 1,400 jobs available on AccessDubuqueJobs.com as of December 2022, many companies are in need of workers in order to meet current demand or to expand their businesses. Part ofthe decrease in laborforce may be due to a decrease in immigration, as immigration rates have declined significantly since their peak in 2016.43 Being better able to connect immigrants to family-sustaining careers helps resolve both the needs of immigrant families and employers. Many immigrants face limited work options due to a lack of education, resources, and connections. These limited options often lead to underemployment, where the individual takes a lower paying job that doesn't fully utilize their skills and can even result in exploitative working conditions. Providing wider access to job opportunities can boost individual earning potential and improve working conditions. From the perspective of employers, immigrants can be a much-needed solution for persistent workforce shortages, as these communities are some of the fastest growing populations in the region. Between 2010 and 2021, Dubuque County's foreign-born population grew by more than 75%, which was responsible for nearly 20% of the county's population increase.44 In the city of Dubuque, the Pacific Islander population nearly tripled between 2010 and 2020, making it the fastest group population in the city.4s Many immigrant communities have incredibly strong networks that would be a huge asset to any company looking to find additional employees. The better the community is at connecting immigrant populations to high-quality employment and supporting them through the hiring process, the more attractive the region will be to those immigrant populations as word-of-mouth travels. However, several barriers to successfully employing immigrants in the region exist. Many immigrants rely primarily on referral networks within their immigrant community to find job opportunities, which can severely limit their options. Challenges in connecting employers and service providers with immigrant communities means that often many of the excellent resources available in the region are not utilized. For a deeper discussion of these connectivity issues and possible solutions, see the section titled Building Connections with lmmigrant Communities on pa�e 23. Another major challenge is that in many cases the community has not done enough to equip employers with the resources and knowledge to successfully hire and retain workers from immigrant populations. Employers have reported making the effort to hire from an immigrant community, only to lose those employees shortly after. This is often because employer 42 Labor Force data for October 2022 and October 2019 from lowa Workforce Development.Available at: https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.�ov/local-area-unemplovment-statistics 43 Bill Conerly, "Drop in U.S. Immigration FurtherTightens Labor Market," For.bes, April 28, 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/bi Ilconerlv/2022/04/28/i mm i�ration-verv-low-despite-border- controversy-contributin�-to-ti�ht-labor-market/?sh=677fb6b92e30. 44 American Community Survey, 2021 and 2010 5-year estimates for Dubuque County.Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 45 U.S. Census decennial census, 2020 and 2010 for City of Dubuque.Available at: https://data.census.�ov/ 44 March 22, 2023 expectations do not match with the realities of life for immigrant community members. This could be for many reasons, such as: • A lack of translation of materials, safety instructions, etc. in the employee's native language. • Policies or procedures being not well suited for matching with an employee's culture or needs. Examples include: o Employees violating strict rules around being late due to transportation challenges, cultural differences around scheduling and time, difficulty with access to other services like childcare or health care, etc. o A company using a web-based or email-based onboarding portal for new employees that is challenging for immigrant employees. o Immigrant employees being uncomfortable raising concerns or questions through normal communication channels (like telling a supervisor) and quitting out of fear or frustration. • Differences in culture around appearance or demeanor. For example, many employers have been unimpressed by young Marshallese people not making eye contact during interviews, even though avoiding eye contact with an elder can be a sign of respect in the Marshall Islands. • The commitment of CEO's or c-suite staff to hire from immigrant communities not being taken up or understood by other staff(HR staff, supervisors, etc.). While these issues can be addressed, some employers are uncertain about how to get started. The prospect of translating materials, altering procedures to fit with different cultural norms, and making other necessary changes can be a daunting task that requires a degree of cultural insight. Many employers struggle to do this on their own and may also be concerned about not understanding the legal issues that can come with hiring immigrants. All of this can lead to missed opportunities to match immigrant employees with potential high-quality employers. The following recommendations have the potential to alleviate some of the challenges around immigration and workforce needs: • Develop Employer Toolkits and Assistance • Adopt a Natural Helper Program • Add Navigators, Success Coaches, and Immigrant Outreach Staff • Offer additional Non-English Workforce Training Options • Implement a RISE AmeriCorps Program • Provide Additional Workforce Development Options for Immigrant Youth (Workforce Engagement for Guatemalan Unaccompanied Minors) • Provide Workforce Supportto International Students 45 March 22, 2023 CONCLUSION The interviews, focus group sessions, and field work done for the community assessment highlighted what a valuable asset immigrant communities are for the region. They are important drivers of demographic, cultural, and economic growth, and if current trends continue, they will play an even larger role in building the vibrancy of local communities. Yet this growth will remain limited ifthe barriers described herein constrain immigrantfamilies. The region has done impressive work in recent years to reduce these barriers and better empower immigrant communities to succeed, but there is still work to be done. Communities should come together to work collaboratively on these issues. Many of the challenges discussed in this report are simply too large to be addressed without a strategic partnership of key stakeholders and committed advocates. And at the center of this partnership must be immigrant leadership: this must be the engine moving the work forward, as well as the north star aligning it with the priorities of immigrant families. The accomplishments in the region over the past three years, despite the challenge of an unprecedented global health crisis, demonstrate that communities can achieve a great deal when working together. The priority for this strategic work will need to be growing connections between immigrant communities and the larger population. These relationships are necessary for the effectiveness of whatever collective action is taken to address the challenges in the region. And to best facilitate these connections, the focus should be on building power and capacity within immigrant communities. Having well-resourced immigrant leaders working on behalf of their communities is a major need in the region, and one of the best means of raising the effectiveness of local services, outreach, and partnership. It will be a challenge for any collective effort to adequately address the scope of needs that are impacting immigrant families. The hope is that this implementation guide will provide direction, both for the short-term and for future efforts and objectives. As work is done to address the needs in one area, it will also produce rippling benefits that help alleviate other barriers as well. By building a framework for effective collaboration, local communities will be better prepared to respond to the next crisis or opportunity that impacts the region. Byworking collaborativelyto build relationships and address systemic barriers impacting immigrant families, this region can create a more welcoming home for everyone who resides here. A truly successful community is one where everyone—no matter who they are, where they come from, or what they look like—can thrive. 46 March 22, 2023 APPENDIX A: CCA MAPPING REPORT Understanding the internal communication channels of immigrant groups can be extremely valuable for local stakeholders and community leaders. By effectively tapping into these networks, organizations can more easily provide services to immigrant populations and can better reach segments of those populations that may previously have gone unserved. Improving engagement in this way also helps prevent mistaken assumptions that can lead to breakdowns in trust, such as an over- reliance on a small number of immigrant leaders that may not represent all of their community. This report will seek to provide insights into how information is shared within three of Dubuque's largest immigrant populations with the goal of helping local stakeholders identify opportunities for improved communication and avoid potential pitfalls. The research conducted for this report focused on three primary immigrant groups: Dubuque's Marshallese, Latinx, and Guatemalan Mayan communities. Research was primarily based around one-on-one interviews and focus-group sessions with immigrant community members and local service providers. In addition, a relationship network mapping exercise was conducted with members of the Marshallese community in order to identify key connectors within the community. This research produced findings related to both the internal networks of immigrant communities and how these communities often interact with local service organizations and government institutions. While each of the findings are specific to the individual population being studied, this research identified four recommendations that apply more widely across different immigrant populations: 1) Avoid treating immigrant populations as monolithic, as there may be groups and relationships within these communities that play an important role in determining communication channels. 2) Prioritize hiring multilingual immigrant community members as navigators to help increase access to resources and services. 3) Service organizations should work to ensure that relationships between immigrant community members and staff also exist between the immigrant individuals and the organization as a whole, as this will help ensure that the relationship doesn't disappear if the staff inember leaves their position. 4) Community stakeholders should work to foster connections between different immigrant groups, as there remains a lot of potential for collaboration on advocacy and information sharing. This research was made possible due to a generous grant from Connecting Communities in the Americas. 47 March 22, 2023 Introduction Over the past three years, the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque has been involved in conducting an Immigration Community Assessment for the region around Dubuque, lowa. This assessment has involved interviewing members of immigrant populations, service providers, and other key stakeholders in order to develop an understanding of assets in the region, elevate the needs and priorities of immigrant communities, and identify precedent models that the region could consider implementing. One of the findings of the assessment has been the importance of understanding communication channels and relationships within local immigrant communities. The larger Dubuque population at times has the tendency to view immigrant communities as monolithic - as one single block of similar and well-connected people. This has led to situations where service providers and other stakeholders identify specific leaders or connectors to serve as a primary point of contact for the entirety of their community. A small number of individuals may receive information or resources for the entire population or may be seen as being able to represent the community on larger decisions or programs. Evidence from the assessment suggests that this does not always reflect the reality for these communities. A highly visible individual or leader might only represent a portion of a population and may be limited in their ability to connect with some families and individuals given the internal dynamics of the community. Connectors may also become overexposed or overused, leading to burnout and other negative consequences. Conversations with immigrant populations have highlighted examples of this previously taking place in Dubuque, leading to unanticipated problems and setbacks. The purpose of this research is to try to provide additional information on the internal structure and communication channels within some of Dubuque's largest immigrant populations. While fully mapping communication channels and relationships from multiple immigrant communities is beyond the scope of this research, the aim is to provide insights that will help local stakeholders better understand how to share information and resources with immigrant communities more equitably. This report will then offer several recommendations that Dubuque and other similar communities could consider for improving interactions with immigrant communities. This research was made possible by a generous grant from Connecting Communities in the Americas (CCA), an initiative dedicated to facilitating connections between community foundations across the Americas. Their leadership and support around issues facing transnational migrants has been critical in making this work possible. 48 March 22, 2023 Immigrant Populations in Dubuque Dubuque is home to a wide variety of people from different backgrounds and cultures. Data from the Census Bureau suggests that Dubuque County residents immigrated from over 50 countries across the world.46 This level of diversity means that local immigrants cannot be easily categorized, and it can be difficult to draw conclusions that accommodate their significant differences in experience and background. For this reason, this research focused primarily on three of the largest immigrant groups within the Dubuque region: the Marshallese community, the Latino/Latina/Latinx community (hereafter referred to as "Latinx"),47 and the Guatemalan Mayan community. The Marshallese Community Dubuque boasts the largest Marshallese population in lowa, and one of the most significant in the United States. Residents of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which is a nation composed of more than 1,100 islands and islets located in the Pacific Ocean, are able to freely travel, live, and work in the United States without needing a visa due to an agreement called the Compact of Free Association (COFA). Their status as COFA migrants has allowed many Marshallese families to move to Dubuque in recent decades, making the Marshallese the fastest growing population in the county. However, COFA migrants still face a number of legal and administrative barriers, including not being eligible for federal services such as SNAP benefits or cash assistance. Latinx Community The Latinx population in Dubuque County represents a wide variety of individuals with cultural roots in over a dozen countries and territories across the Americas and the world. This diversity makes Dubuque's Latinx community culturally rich and very complex. There is also a significant socio-economic separation within the community. 46 American Community Survey, 2020 5-year estimates for Dubuque County.Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 47 Residents of Dubuque from Latin American and other Spanish-speaking regions use a variety of terms to refer to their ethnic identity.These include Hispanic and Latino, which are sometimes used interchangeably, but Hispanic often refers to someone who is descended from Spanish-speaking populations, while Latino refers to someone descended from Latin American communities. In addition, in Spanish nouns often have a gender.A male person of Latin descent is frequently referred to as a "Latino," while a female is a "Latina." A group that may contain both male and female individuals is often referred to by the male "Latino." Some people prefer to be referred to as "Latinx" or"Latine," which removes the gender of the word to make it more inclusive.The preferred term will vary from individual to individual. For this research, we will use the term "Latinx"to try to include as many groups as possible, although we acknowledge that many individuals do not recognize the term, and that the most commonly used terms are"Latino" and "Hispanic." 49 March 22, 2023 This includes a more financially secure population composed of a frequently multilingual professional workforce with closer connections to Dubuque organizations and institutions, as well as a lower-income population that is less likely to have English language skills, is more marginalized within Dubuque, and often lacks connections to formal institutions. This separation can also often be seen along generational lines, with younger individuals and those who are second-generation immigrants being more likely to speak English and have connections to institutions. The relationships between these two socio-economic groups are highly complex and not always clear, and families may contain individuals that fit into both categories. However, the distinction, as imperfect as it is, is useful for identifying the differences in how these two groups access important information, resources, and services. This research will primarily focus on the lower socio-economic Latinx population, due to the increased barriers that exist between this group and local services. Guatemalan Mayan Another sizeable and quickly growing population in the region immigrated to Dubuque from Guatemala. These Guatemalan migrants come from indigenous Mayan tribes, each of which has many distinct cultural traditions, histories, and languages. Many Guatemalan Mayans arrive in the United States not speaking English or Spanish, but instead one of over twenty Mayan dialects. The most commonly spoken among residents in Dubuque are Ixil, K'iche' (Quiche), and Q'anjab'al (Kanjobal). This population is composed of relatively recent arrivals in Dubuque compared to other immigrant groups, and a substantial number have come to Dubuque as unaccompanied minors. While this community shares many similarities with other individuals with ethnic or cultural roots in Latin America, for the purposes of this research they are considered a different population due to their unique circumstances and communication networks. Methodologies For each immigrant population, this research relies primarily on interviews and focus group conversations with members of that immigrant community and with service providers who work closely with that community. These interviews were used to gain information on how community members build connections within their community and with service providers, allowing them to access important information and resources. Interviews and focus group meetings were either conducted in English or utilized an interpreter. Interpreters were generally recruited from within the local community, which both created a greater sense of comfort with the research and was often necessary due to the challenge of finding reliable, professional translation services for less commonly spoken languages such as Marshallese or Ixil. 50 March 22, 2023 In addition, the research team conducted a relationship mapping exercise with Marshallese community members using human-centered-design principles. This exercise had immigrant community members draw maps showing their relationships to two resources in their lives: 1) Connectors - Defined as the sources that connect the respondent to help and information. This can be a person, an organization, or even something like a social media site orthe local newspaper. 2) Change Makers - Defined as the source the respondent goes to when there is a problem in their community they want to see fixed. Again, this could be a person, an organization, or something like a social media site or newspaper. By asking respondents to map out these relationships, the research aimed to better understand how respondents received information, how they connected to important local services and resources, and how they best engaged in civic projects and problem-solving for larger community issues. Participants were also asked whether they served as Connectors or Change Makers for others within their community. Relationship mapping sessions were held at local immigrant churches following services, which allowed the research to be conducted at locations frequently utilized by immigrant communities and where large groups were already gathering. Due to the presence of families, the reliance on interpreters to help respondents with limited English proficiency, and the need to complete the sessions within a reasonable time frame, the research method was designed to be relatively simple and easy to understand. Respondents were provided with prompts to help illustrate people who might be Connectors or Change Makers in their lives. These prompts used example taken from interviews and focus group meetings to help make them more relatable to the respondents. A list of prompts used can be found in A,n,nendixA. Because this research was done in a large group and involved writing down relationships and connections, many of the Latinx and Guatemalan immigrants felt uncomfortable taking part in this research. Therefore, this exercise was only conducted with members of the Marshallese population, focusing on parts of the community that have been less commonly represented in community-wide initiatives. Research Findings Due to the uniqueness of each of the immigrant populations involved in this research, these findings have been separated into three sections focused on each group. Cross-cutting findings that were relevant to all of the populations will be highlighted in the Conclusions and Recommendations section. 51 March 22, 2023 Marshallese Due to the size of the population, their legal status, and their connection to local organizations, the Marshallese were the most willing to participate in this research, and especially in the relationship mapping exercise. This section highlights specific findings from the mapping exercise, and then incorporates this into findings from the focus groups and interviews. lntra-Community Connections Connections within the local Marshallese community are extremely important for the sharing of resources and communication. This was highlighted by the relationship mapping exercise: • Over half of all Connectors and Change Makers identified were Marshallese. • When a specific person was identified, either by name or job title, it was a Marshallese person 85% of the time for Connectors, and 72% of the time for Change Makers. • Within the Marshallese community, some individuals stood out as key leaders: o Two Marshallese women made up 33% of all mentions for Connectors. o These two plus another individual comprised 45% of inentions for Change Makers. • At the same time, in addition to these three another 29 Marshallese individuals were identified as either Connectors or Change Makers. This suggests an intense reliance on certain leaders combined with broader social connections throughout the Marshallese community. • While it was not explicitly detailed throughout this research, it appears that one Marshallese leader in particular was routinely identified despite being unaffiliated with the respondents' church or being a close relative. This individual was designated as a Change Maker by nearly one-third of the respondents. This research corresponds with findings from interviews and focus groups. Many Marshallese have large families in Dubuque, and consider extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.)to be very close and nearly comparable with parents and siblings. These family units are a major source of information and connection. Church communities also play a large role in Marshallese life, and while there are connections between the churches, they are not always trusted partners. In focus group sessions, some Marshallese stated that they would not always feel comfortable attending events, workshops, or trainings held in one of the other churches. In addition, Marshallese who do not attend church often feel excluded by programs that rely on churches as key connectors. The community is still able to host events and celebrations that span across multiple churches, but communication can sometimes be challenging. 52 March 22, 2023 Marshallese organizations or groups were not as frequently mentioned during the research, though this may be changing. The non-profit organization Monsoon, a state-wide organization staffed in Dubuque entirely with Pacific Islanders, has recently gained much more traction with its programming in the region. And just prior to the writing of this report, a new Marshallese women's group named Kora Im An Kol (KIAK) formed in order to help coordinate community involvement and leadership among Marshallese women. These two groups have the potential to further alter the dynamics of Marshallese intra-community networks. Connections to lnstitutions There is a large variance in how well the Marshallese community is connected to local institutions. The relationship-mapping research found that institutions might be identified by the organization itself or by a specific staff person (like a doctor or teacher). Staff were identified as a "person" in this analysis, but were also associated with their organization for analysis of institutional connections. Findings include: • Organizations were the second most likely category to be identified as Connectors or Change Makers, behind individuals (see Figure 1 on pg. 15). • Health-care providers were the most commonly identified organizations (see Figure 2 on pg. 15), but were much more likely to be listed as Connectors (20% of all Connectors)than Change Makers (5% of all Change Makers). o Crescent Community Health Center was the most frequently listed health-care provider, identified by half of the respondents, followed by the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) at 35%. o There was a large degree of overlap between the health-care organizations, as nearly every respondent who named a health-care organization also listed Crescent. • Schools also received a significant number of inentions (6% of all Connectors and 10% of all Change Makers), and were the only organizations to be listed an equal number of times as a Connector and a Change Maker. • 30% of respondents also referenced the City of Dubuque, a person affiliated with the City (such as the mayor), or a City department (such as the police). o However, the City was identified much more frequently as a Change Maker (11% of all mentions)than as a Connector(1%). • The Community Foundation was listed by 25% of the respondents, and private companies were listed by 15%, most frequently as a Change Maker. The prevalence of health-care providers as Connectors matches the findings from interviews and focus groups, as many Marshallese families have established regular relationships with local health organizations. This is in large part due to the additional effort many of these organizations have made to engage with the Marshallese community. Crescent, the VNA, and Child Health Specialty Clinics were the most frequently named health organizations, and all three have hired Marshallese staff to 53 March 22, 2023 serve as community connectors. This points to the importance of having navigators and members of the community on staff in service organizations. Other Sources The research also asked about other sources that served as Connectors or Change Makers for the Marshallese, such as online sources, newspapers, television, etc. Understanding how members of the Marshallese community received news about their region and expressed their own desires for change could offer important avenues for future engagement. The results from the relationship matching exercise include: • 45% of the respondents listed "Facebook" as a Connector within their circle, and an additional person listed "Safari" (a web browser) as a Change Maker. This suggests a substantial online presence for many Marshallese, especially as a means of getting information. • Only one respondent listed "newspaper," and another said "the news." During several interviews, Facebook was identified as a potentially effective means of communication with the Marshallese community. During the early months of the Covid pandemic, Facebook was used as a contactless means of engaging with a large number of Marshallese families very quickly. The most effective messages on social media tend to be written in or include wording in Marshallese. Latinx Within the Dubuque region, trust was perhaps a larger and more defining barrier for the Latinx community than for any of the other communities involved in this research. Especially for the local Latinx population of a lower socio-economic status, concerns about the ability to trust individuals and institutions often resulted in a lack of connection to formal service providers. Dubuque's Latinx community was the most likely to operate without interacting with more formal institutional channels, staying "in the shadows" and engaging with service providers only in emergency situations. Language availability was often a big driver of distrust, as many Latinx individuals felt less willing to engage with institutions that only operated in English. This lack of trust was often true even for documented immigrants and those with permanent legal status. This is partially because concerns with formal institutions frequently extend beyond immigration status, and because even after securing a green card many immigrants can face significant legal risks. While this is certainly not true for every member of the lower socio-economic Latinx community, it has led to many in the community being marginalized and disconnected from social service providers. lntra-Community Connections 54 March 22, 2023 Within the lower socio-economic Latinx community, relationships between families and among family members is very important. Often certain families will have a leadership role in the community and will serve as a primary connector, especially for families that are new to the region. These local leaders often help to resolve challenges that might otherwise have been addressed by more formal institutions or by service providers. However, several respondents noted that within the lower socio-economic Latinx community, nationalities can be very important. Tensions between nations and pre- conceived notions about other Latin American countries may impact relations between immigrant families. In addition, biases based on skin color can also play a significant role in shaping relationships and communication networks. These internal dynamics create an additional level of complexity and challenge that is not always visible from outside the Latinx community. Connections to lnstitutions This lack of trust in institutions means that many families have limited connections to local organizations and service providers. For example, a number of respondents reported Latinx families visit hospitals or other medical providers only in an emergency. The relationship with specific organizations can also change quickly if people don't feel comfortable or welcome. In Dubuque County, there were numerous reports of families changing which church they attended based on where they felt comfortable, with the addition of a regular Spanish mass or the institution of new policies perceived as less welcoming being enough to compel families to travel long distances to find a more agreeable service. The strength of relationships within the Latinx community also plays an important role in determining connections to institutions. Decisions made within Latinx community networks about whether an organization is welcoming or not carry a lot of weight in determining whether individual families connect to those organizations. One type of institution that does often play a stronger and more consistent role as a connector are local schools. These can often be an important source of information and support for Latinx families, especially in families where children are relied upon for their English language skills. This was seen most frequently in schools that have dedicated Spanish-speaking staff who focus on community outreach. High-l/olume Connectors An issue that was raised several times during interviews related to situations where one person from the Latinx community - usually employed by a local organization - became identified as a trusted connector. In these cases, word spread that a specific individual could be relied upon to connect community members to services and help navigate local systems. These situations frequently led to the connector becoming 55 March 22, 2023 "burned out" and feeling overwhelmed by the number of requests for assistance that they received. This often resulted in the connector leaving their position or seeing their role as a connector significantly reduced. When a highly utilized connector such as this leaves their position, it often takes time for the organization to find a replacement (if they are able to find a Spanish-speaking replacement at all). The time that lapses between the original person leaving and the new hire arriving frequently leads to Latinx community members becoming disconnected from the organization. Often, though not in all cases, immigrant families form their connection with the individual connector instead of with the institution, which can make it difficult to maintain relationships or trust with those institutions once the person has left. Because of this, highly utilized connectors often represent a "key-person risk," meaning that their absence can be a significant setback for providing access to information and resources for the Latinx community. Guatemalan Mayan The Guatemalan Mayan community is much more recently settled in the Dubuque region, with many of the individuals immigrating after 2010. A large percentage of the Dubuque population came to the United States as unaccompanied minors. This means that they arrive younger than 18 years old, often without a parent in Dubuque, but with a more consistent pathway to permanent legal status. Upon arrival in Dubuque, many of these individuals are paradoxically both highly reliant on current residents for connections and information while also being surprisingly self-sufficient, paying their own way without significant financial support. This means that for the many basic needs such as housing and work, Guatemalan Mayan communities often operate in very closely connected networks. However, for access to other services like medical care and education, there can be numerous barriers facing Guatemalan Mayan immigrants that often require dedicated help from a small group of committed volunteers. lntra-Community Connections Many Guatemalan Mayans who come to the United States live in what are sometimes called "ciudades espejo," or "mirror cities," where migrants from the same small town or region in Guatemala reconstitute their communities in the U.S. This means that many of the new Guatemala Mayan arrivals to the Dubuque area have some connection with another local resident, often a relative or neighbor from their region in Guatemala. These connections are key to becoming established within the community: finding a place to live, somewhere to work, and a basic orientation to living in Dubuque. However, new arrivals are frequently expected to be largely self- sufficient in terms of covering costs and meeting needs. This means that a larger connection to social service systems often remains unaddressed within the Guatemalan Mayan community. 56 March 22, 2023 Connections to lnstitutions Guatemalan Mayans face even greater barriers than most immigrant groups in Dubuque when it comes to establishing connections to social service systems and organizations. Key reasons for this include an extreme lack of translation and interpretation services for Mayan dialects in the region, the relative newness of the population, and a much lower familiarity with engaging formal service institutions (especially in the case of unaccompanied minors). Respondents in interviews have cited numerous challenges making meaningful connections for Mayan Guatemalans with educational institutions, workforce organizations, medical facilities, and other service providers. There are a limited number of strong, direct connections between Mayan Guatemalans and most formal service organizations. What connections do exist are generally facilitated through small nonprofits or local volunteers who provide navigation, case management, and/or transportation services for local immigrants. Many of these organizations focus the majority of their work on Guatemalan Mayans, and often on unaccompanied minors specifically. They help register individuals for school, arrange for medical appointments, drive minors to immigration court hearings, provide food and furniture in times of need, and carry out a host of other important activities to help immigrants navigate local systems. These individuals and small nonprofits are often a critical and highly utilized connector between Mayan immigrants and the larger social service system. However, the prominent role of volunteers and small nonprofits has had unintended impacts. These include: • Volunteers or nonprofit staff making problematic decisions or providing questionable advice, frequently due to misinformation or to a lack of a formal governance structure that might be present within a larger organization; • Disagreements between volunteers and smaller nonprofits leading to splits that may restrict Guatemalan Mayan access to services; • The potential for key-person risk, as one ortwo individuals can be responsible for a large number of connections between immigrant communities and service providers. Potential Future Changes As discussed above, one of the notable features about Dubuque's Guatemalan Mayan community is its relative newness within the region. The Census estimates that the Guatemalan population grew by nearly eight-fold between 2010 and 2020,48 and the increase for Guatemalan Mayans (a subset of this group) was likely even more 48 American Community Survey, 2020 and 2010 5-year estimates for Dubuque County.Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 57 March 22, 2023 dramatic. But as time passes, an initial group of Guatemalan Mayans are beginning to become more established in Dubuque. This includes individuals receiving their green cards and U.S. citizenship, and one family has even obtained a mortgage and bought their first home. This growth means that there is the potential for a group of more secure Guatemalan Mayans who may be able to serve as visible, well-connected leaders for their community. Through a collaboration between the Community Foundation, Northeast lowa Community College, and the Dubuque Community School District, an Ixil-speaking individual was hired to work with Guatemalan students at the local high schools for the first time. A local nonprofit has established a community garden that is largely operated and maintained by Guatemalan Mayans. And other members of the community are showing a strong interest in continued education and growing their economic prospects. These changes could have a significant impact on the relationships and connections that exist within the Guatemalan Mayan community and which connect them to formal service organizations. Conclusions and Recommendations While these findings show three very distinct and complex social groups, there are several recommendations for local stakeholders and leaders that apply across all of the listed populations. 1) Do not treat immigrant communities as monolithic: This research indicates that the internal relationships within immigrant populations can be complex, and there may be multiple communication networks existing simultaneously within each community. Whether it is due to the difference between Marshallese churches or the national dynamics within the Latinx community, intra-population connections and relationships can be important drivers of effective communication. Local stakeholders should be cautious about relying exclusively on one communication channel or community leader, as this approach may fail to reach everyone in a population and may even create further problems or feelings of mistrust. Organizations and stakeholders should also continue to strive to better understand the internal networks of immigrant communities, helping to elevate new connectors and change makers. 2) Prioritize the hiring and training of navigators: Navigators can be an effective tool for helping local immigrant populations develop trusted relationships with local organizations. By hiring a multilingual individual from an immigrant population specifically to provide outreach and support to their community, organizations can build effective relationships and communication channels with populations that might otherwise go unserved. The effectiveness of this approach was demonstrated in the relationship mapping exercise, 58 March 22, 2023 where 71% of all references to organizations as "Connectors" were regarding organizations that employed Marshallese community members in navigator roles. Interviews and focus group sessions also highlighted how critical these individuals can be for accessing needed services. Prioritizing the hiring of navigators on a community level can also produce several other benefits. Having multiple navigators within a region can help reduce the potential for navigator burnout. In addition, the more navigators there are serving a population, the greater likelihood that those navigators will be connected to different internal communication networks. And by paying immigrant individuals to serve the needs of their own communities, less reliance is placed on untrained volunteer leaders, which can improve the quality and resilience of service channels. 3) Work to transfer relationships to institutions: While navigators can serve as valuable connectors for immigrant communities, they can also increase the possibility of"key-person risk." If a community's relationship is with the navigator and not the organization employing that individual, there is a greater probability that the relationship will break apart if that navigator leaves their position. This has been seen in Dubuque most frequently with the Latinx community, and it can be difficult to repair those relationships due to the time and effort required to find and train a new navigator. To help avoid this problem, organizations with a navigator should build additional connections between clients and the institution itself, or with other staff. By establishing this additional trust and redundant channels of communication, organizations can help maintain their relationship with immigrant community members even if a staff person were to leave their position. While this can be challenging, it can also help prevent the need to start from scratch whenever a key staff person leaves their position. 4) Foster connections between immigrant groups: This research did not encounter many strong connections ,betweenthe largest immigrant populations. It was rare for members of an immigrant community to reference members of a different immigrant group as connectors or change makers. An exception to this is within the Latinx community, where Latinx individuals often form connections and relationships despite the nationality of their family's country of origin. But even here there are challenges, as well as limited connections between the Guatemalan Mayan community and the larger Latinx community. Stronger connections between immigrant groups could be valuable. Many immigrant populations have similar goals—such as access to better translation services, housing support, and legal services—and collaboration between 59 March 22, 2023 immigrant groups could help with both advocacy and sharing information. There are a number of organizations in the Dubuque community that have helped to foster cross-cultural connections between immigrant groups, such as the Presentation Lantern Center, Inclusive Dubuque, and the Multicultural Family Center. Expanding these activities, and focusing specifically on developing formal relationships and communication channels that can lead to improved collaboration, could produce real benefits for immigrant communities. The aim of these recommendations—and the information shared about Dubuque's largest immigrant populations—to help improve communication channels and increase access to information and resources. While this research is not exhaustive, the additional insights may identify potential opportunities for stakeholders and leaders looking to improve relationships between immigrant communities and local institutions. Continuing to learn more about the dynamics of immigrant networks will help the region avoid repeating past mistakes. And by helping immigrant populations better partner with existing service institutions, individuals and organizations can help Dubuque can become a more welcoming place. 60 March 22, 2023 Figures Figure 1: ConnectQrs and Change Makers Identi�ed by Type af Entity 3.196 $.b°� � Group 25 Zqo 5ervice � Drganization Persvn 63,29'0 Nate:Servi�es rnostfrequently referta types of inedia,such as newspapers ar sa�ial media. Figure Z: Dubuque�rganizativns as Percent vf Identified Connectors and Change Makers i2� ��.3,� � Child Health ;„ 5perialty �� Clini�s s.� � ciry $� � Community Folindation � Crescertt {gb 5� � � Hospitals 5chaol �•. �VhfA 495 29h �, � . o.e: Ogfi 61 March 22, 2023 Prompts Used as Part of Relationship Mapping Sessions The following definitions and prompts were used by researchers and provided to interpreters in order to help facilitate the sessions: Part 1 - Connectors "Who are the 'Connectors' in your life?These are the sources that connect you to help and information. It can be a person, an organization, or even a thing like Facebook or the newspaper." Prompts: 1) "If something broke that needed to be fixed—a part of your car, a piece of furniture, an appliance—and you didn't know where to go to find someone to fix it, who would you ask?Who would know who you should call?" 2) "Ifyou had some kind oftrouble—maybe difficulties with your landlord, problems with a hospital bill, or an issue with the police—and you didn't know what to do, who would you ask for help?" 3) "Who tells you the news about what is happening locally in Dubuque, in your neighborhood, or in your community?Who is the connector that usually lets you know when something new is happening?" 4) "Think now about other people who serve as 'Connectors' in your life. Who or what else might play this role for you?" Part 2 - Chan�e Makers "Who are the 'Change Makers' in your life?These are the sources that you go to when there is a problem in your community that you want to see fixed. It can be a person, an organization, or even a thing like Facebook or the newspaper." Prompts: 1) "If there was something new that happened at you or your child's school that you didn't like and you wanted to get it changed, who would you talk to?" 2) "If there was a new rule passed in the city that you didn't like—maybe higher fines, a new law about how late a celebration can go in a public park, or regulations that mean your favorite restaurant has to close down—and you wanted to get this rule changed, who would you talk to?" 3) "If you had a great idea about how to make your community better—such as fixing a street sign, holding a cultural event, or starting a new City service—and you wanted to make it happen, who would you talk to?" 4) "Think now about other people who serve as 'Change Makers' in your life. Who or what else might play this role for you?" 62 March 22, 2023 � � �� _ � ,� /; �� t w�✓ �i�� /'" �v. ■ � � � � � :� -�.'° ,� � .�_ /� ��+ `' - . : , �� . ,�_ a ',4. '-.- :-a,.-�� • .`�%�:., i' , � r , � I .;a. � '�'� ..�. � 1�' - .� _ :/' . � � � � . ,,,,�� V � � / � - � '� � • 1 k �1 . � � ''� � � � AA� ti .��'\ �� `�� 1 ,� � � � � � ■ . '� h1-k _ _ � 3 � � � � ■ �� r- �.:r � � � �� ,_ I,, . � ��=. � - �7_� � � . • r �_, � . • � • �Li�'rr" � INTRODUCTION The following pages provide detailed descriptions of the recommendations discussed in the Immigration Community Assessment Implementation Guide. For a description of the methodology, achievements, and key findings of the Community Assessment, please see the Implementation Guide. This document is broken down into four main sections, each listing the corresponding recommendations identified in the Implementation Guide: • Priority Recommendations: This section includes brief descriptions of ten priority recommendations that key stakeholders should consider implementing. • Ongoing Collective Work on Immigration: This section discusses recommendations for continued strategic work to address larger issues and opportunities related to local immigrant populations (Recommendations 1.1 through 1.4). • Building Connections with Immigrant Communities: This section outlines how to improve connections between immigrant communities and local service providers, cultural institutions, and the local population at large. The recommendations are broken down into four subsections: o Capacity and Power Building (Recommendations 2.1.1 through 2.1.5) o Outreach (Recommendations 2.2.1 through 2.2.6) o Navigators(Recommendation 2.3.1) o Cultural Events (Recommendation 2.4.1 through 2.4.4) • Issue and Service Recommendations: This section discusses some of the primary needs and opportunities related to specific services within the region. The recommendations are broken down into seven subsections: o Case Management(Recommendations 3.1.1 through 3.1.6) o Education and Youth Support(Recommendations 3.2.1 through 3.2.7) o Health (Recommendations 3.3.1 through 3.3.4) o Housing (Recommendation 3.4.1 through 3.4.5) o Legal Assistance (Recommendations 3.5.1 through 3.5.6) o Translation and Interpretation (Recommendations 3.6.1 through 3.6.8) o Workforce and Employment(Recommendations 3.7.1 through 3.7.7) Some recommendations are replicated in different sections of this document. This is done to improve navigation for individuals looking for recommendations on a specific topic. A note under each recommendation indicates when it can be found in any other sections of this document. 1 PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS This assessment provides over fifty recommendations for the region to consider in regard to the key findings listed above. While each of these recommendations has the potential to benefitthe region, local stakeholders will need to decide which to prioritize in orderto best address their own communities' needs. To assist with this process, the following list offers ten recommendations that can have large near-term impact for all communities. Recommendation 1.3: Convene a Better Together Committee One of the key needs that was identified during this research was the importance of having a coordinated and strategic effort between local stakeholders to address issues affecting immigrant communities on a systemic level. A recommended method of ineeting this need is through a Better Together Committee, which is a dedicated group of immigrant leaders, community advocates, service providers, government officials, and other stakeholders, who meet regularlyto generate concrete progress on systemic issues impacting local immigrant communities. Issues raised in these meetings are often far-reaching and too difficult for any single organization to tackle, whereas the collective efforts of a Better Together Committee hold the potential to effect real change. Recommendation 2.1.1: Create and Support a Sustainable Immigrant-led Nonprofit Organization During this research, community members frequently expressed the need for the development of immigrant-led nonprofit organizations focused on serving and advocating for their communities. Such organizations can help to overcome connection barriers while also providing leadership opportunities for immigrant community members. Potential benefits of immigrant-led nonprofit organizations include immigrant members being paid for serving and advocating for their community, additional resources and decision-making authority being centered within immigrant populations, the creation ofvisible points of contact for other local organizations looking to engage with immigrant communities, and a more formal and trusted structure through which community members can elevate concerns or needs. Recommendations 2.1.3 and 3.7.2: Adopt a Natural Helper Program Natural Helper programs connect key volunteers with local institutions, provide them with training and clear resources for answering questions, and then compensate them for their involvement. These programs have also been found to give many participants a greater sense of belonging within their communities and strengthen their connection to local organizations and service providers. It is also a good way to identify leaders for additional civic participation, such as taking roles on boards or advisory committees. A version of this model is currently being piloted by the Northeast lowa Community College (NICC), who are compensating individuals to connect community members to job training programs. 2 Recommendations 2.3.1, 3.3.1, and 3.6.2: Hire Additional Navigators Understanding and correctly accessing the support systems in the region can be extremely challenging, especially for immigrant families who also struggle with language barriers, unfamiliarity with local systems, and the fear of cultural or societal stigma. Navigators are individuals employed by service providers to help community members access services. The best navigators are trained in the requirements of service systems and come from the communities they serve, meaning they have the language and cultural knowledge to effectively connect with immigrant families. By leveraging trust and relationships within immigrant communities, navigators can help ensure that a greater number of people are able access important services. Recommendations 3.1.1 and 3.1.2: Invest in Additional Case Management Support & "Networks" Social service organizations, smaller nonprofits, and local volunteers often play a key role in providing the case management needed to help immigrant families navigate unfamiliar systems and access the services and resources they need. However, the current environment of case management in the region raises several serious issues, such as a lack of training, a risk of burnout, and the potential for predatory behavior. One solution is to invest in case management capacity within the region. This investment could involve hiring additional case managers at local service providers that can work with immigrant communities, as well as better resourcing the small nonprofits that often handle case management tasks. Another option is to link a series of organizations and volunteers into case management"networks." Because these networks connect immigrant families to multiple organizations and individuals, they provide a more robust support system and wider access to knowledge and resources. Recommendation 3.2.2: Establish a Guatemalan Mentorship Program The Guatemalan mentor program, previously a partnership between the Dubuque Community School District, NICC, and the Community Foundation, with additional support from Catholic Charities and a private donor, was created in response to the challenges that unaccompanied Guatemalan minors were facing in local schools. A Guatemalan mentor who spoke Ixil (the most commonly spoken dialect in Dubuque)was placed in a local high school to support students. The mentor supported Guatemalan students during class, and served as an important point of connection between the school and the students and their families. Where too often there had been a lack of communication, this mentor elevated challenges, passed along information, and helped create mutual understanding. Recommendation 3.2.3: Create an Expanded Marshallese Student Group One of the more successful initiatives in the region aimed at immigrant youth in the past several years is the Pacific Islander Club at Hempstead and Dubuque Senior high schools. Expanding this group, or creating of a similar group open to all students but focused on the priorities of the Marshallese community, would empower immigrant youth to take an active civic role by undertaking projects of their own design and aimed at benefitting their 3 community. This Marshallese group would partner with local organizations to raise awareness among students about issues that are important to their community, support student involvement in the development of programming around those issues, and supply venues for carrying out that programming. This club could also be leveraged to provide academic support, a way to engage Marshallese youth and other young people around Marshallese culture, and a means for connecting more young people to local organizations. Recommendations 3.3.4 and 3.6.6: Train Community Members in Medical Translation and Interpretation One significant gap in the region is the availability of licensed medical interpreters and translators, especially for languages like Marshallese that are not commonly spoken throughout much of the United States. Many health-care providers employ certified medical translators to make sure that they can correctly translate the technical terms used by staff. However, in many instances these interpreters are not available, and so providers rely on untrained community members for interpretation. By offering local immigrants access to medical translation and interpretation classes, and by helping them get certified in this area, the region can improve the quality of health care provided to non-English speakers as well as compensate local community members for providing a valuable service. Recommendation 3.7.1: Provide Employer Toolkits and Assistance The region could do more to equip local employers with the skills and resources to successfully hire and retain immigrant employees, thus creating an additional barrier for immigrant residents seeking high-qualityjob opportunities. There have been several recent instances where local employers made efforts to hire from immigrant communities, only to struggle with retention of those employees. Employer expectations often do not align with the realities of life for immigrant community members. To assist employers with hiring and retaining members from immigrant communities—and to ensure that immigrant employees are able to thrive and succeed professionally—the Dubuque region should develop toolkits and/or a consulting capacity to help businesses improve their systems, institute new policies and practices, and gain connections to local immigrant populations. Recommendations 2.4.3, 3.2.7, and 3.7.7: Engage International College Students and Provide Workforce Support to International Students Dubuque's higher education institutions are a major asset for the region, and their international students are an important and valuable part of the community. However, there are a number of barriers that limit the ability of international students to build long-term careers in Dubuque, including insufficient support for navigating legal requirements and a lack of connection to larger regional life and culture. The region should work to help retain international students by establishing a local resource to help students and businesses build connections and navigate the legal requirements for continued employment. Arts and culture organizations should also conduct targeted outreach to international students in order to help build a connection to the larger Dubuque community. 4 ONGOING COLLECTIVE WORK ON IMMIGRATION 1.1 Convene a High-Level Discussion of Immiaration There is an important role to be played in offering the larger community of immigrant supporters an opportunity to discuss issues, learn about events, and build relationships. Facilitating this type of discussion can be very valuable for connecting with organizations that may not be focused on providing services to immigrants; developing relationships with passionate individuals who may want to volunteer; and building opportunities to elevate immigrant voices. Having a broad convening such as this can also allow more focused groups at the mid and specific levels to share information and successes with the larger population. In addition, this kind of community forum is important for shifting mindsets around immigration. It allows for a more visible and approachable point of engagement for the general community and can be very useful in creating a more positive narrative about local immigrant populations. Such a meeting should occur consistently once or twice a year. Making sure that this meeting occurs annually, instead of just as a one-time event, provides some consistency in meetings and discussions. These meetings should follow formats that are generally open to the public and make use of videoconferencing technologies, allowing for more participation. Such an event may not require a paid coordinator and could be run by a collection of volunteers or service providers. For smaller communities or towns interested in this kind of strategic work, it may not be necessary to have both a high-level convening and a mid-level convening (see Convene an BetterTogetherCommittee on pa�e 7). In this case, community members can review both options and select which seems most appropriate for their area. Models to Consider: • In Dubuque, in January of 2018, the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary convened the first Immigration Forum event, a large meeting of different immigrant leaders, advocates, service providers, and other key stakeholders. The Sisters continued to host the meeting once every six months, providing updates on recent activities and address specific issues. Discussions from the Immigration Forum led to the development of the community assessment. • In 2020, Los Angeles County began hosting an annual immigration summit. The summit is a collaboration between the California Community Foundation, the USC Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration, and the Council on Immigrant 5 Integration.' A similar annual summit, though perhaps on a smaller scale, could be adopted by rural communities. 1.2 Develop an Online Immigrant Advocate Forum Multiple stakeholders expressed the need for greater communication and access to information on issues relevant to immigrant communities. However, many also felt that common forums for sharing information were not always accessible. Meetings used primarily for reporting on current activities as opposed to reaching joint decisions can be an inefficient use of time given busy schedules. Communicating through email can also cause frustration. Mass emails are not conducive to extensive conversations, do not facilitate multi-lingual discussions, and clog up inboxes. A proposed solution is an online forum where individuals and organizations can share upcoming programming, ask questions, and provide a written explanation of the laws and policies that impact immigrants. Such a site would be highly beneficial for a community, as it would facilitate ongoing discussion and records regarding a variety of topics important to immigrants, as well as a notice board for available programming and services. It could also allow for translation of discussions into different languages, facilitating participation from immigrant communities in a way that email might not. However, such a system comes with challenges that need to be considered. The following outline presents the most challenging, as well as potential ways to address them. • Moderation and Security: Hosting an online forum discussing issues surrounding immigrant communities poses a number of risks, both from well-meaning individuals and people with harmful intent. Advocates or service providers might accidentally provide sensitive information about vulnerable immigrants in the forums. In addition, having a public online forum could enable predatory or disruptive behavior. These security risks could damage the trust that is necessary for effective engagement with immigrant communities. o To provide an additional level of security, the forum would need to be monitored and moderated by at least one trusted individual, but potentially more. This person would be in charge of reviewing content and blocking information that could be problematic. Ideally this position would be held within an organization in order to ensure consistent application and funding to maintain the oversight. o Any community launching such a site should consider making it restricted, and only allowing individuals who are known or verified to join. While this may limit the number of people able to view and share content, it would also provide additional security. 1"1St Annual Immigration Summit,"#LA Together, California Community Foundation,January 13, 2020, http://lato�ether.or�/2020/01/13/1 st-annual-immi�ration-summit-the-future-of-immi�rants-in-los- an�eles/. 6 o Community guidelines for discussion should be drawn up and clearly posted to prevent users from accidentally revealing sensitive information. • Engagement: The impact of any online tool would be measured by the level of participation from local stakeholders. If such a forum is not robustly utilized, it would be a waste of resources and ineffective. Getting people to use a new tool, and return to the site frequently, can be very challenging. o A community should not undertake such a forum without some commitment to key stakeholders to utilize the site. o Part of the responsibility of the moderator(s) of the site should be to regularly post new content to make the site valuable. Without frequent and useful updates users will not have a reason to regularly visit the site. • Reach: Some key individuals will not regularly access the site, and others may not know about it. If the site is the only place to find community information on events and services, it could exclude some people. In addition, for many immigrants, accessing and navigating an online forum can be challenging, especially if it is written in a language other than their own. o A moderator for the site may want to regularly share key posts or pieces of information through other channels, such as a newsletter, Facebook, or other forms of social media. o Funding should be set aside for translating important posts into languages frequently used by local immigrants. Models to Consider: • The Inclusive Dubuque Facebook page and newsletter regularly shares information about upcoming events related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. While not the same kind of forum, it does allow for sharing key pieces of information. o https://www.facebook.com/InclusiveDBQ/ • Private Facebook groups, such as the "lowa Science of Reading" group composed of educators focused on literacy, also create an opportunity for people to hold discussions about different topics while providing additional security. • If the hosting organization is looking to leverage additional technology to facilitate community discussions, there are digital platforms designed to solicit community feedback on questions and initiatives. Examples include Zencity Engage, an online tool used by public entities to garner public input. o https://zencity.io/solutions/zencity-en�aqe-collaborative-community-input/ 1.3 Convene a Better Together Committee The primary recommendation for furthering strategic work on issues affecting immigrant communities is to launch a Better Together Committee. This would be a collective effort aimed at bringing together a wide range of immigrant leaders, community advocates, service providers, government officials, and other stakeholders to meet regularly to discuss systemic issues impacting local immigrant community members. With a dedicated group of 7 participants meeting regularly, and connecting to the broader community of immigrant supporters, larger systemic needs can be effectively addressed. But such a committee would again run into the two main challenges referenced above: 1. "Immigration" has such a large scope and covers so many areas that it will be difficult for any collaborative effort to make actual progress. 2. The collaboration must include the participation of immigrant community members, while avoiding participation barriers and power imbalances. To help address these and other concerns, consider adopting some or all of the following recommendations in order to better facilitate the committee's work. Focus on A Set Number of Pro�ct at a Time On account of the large scope of issues a committee may cover, meetings can be dominated by reporting and questions, leaving little time to make progress on actual strategies. The committee should therefore be structured around activities, not reporting, and should identify specific projects for the collective to work on advancing. This will not only narrow the focus of the committee, thereby addressing the problem of scope, but will also help provide a real sense of progress for both committee participants and immigrant communities. Making real, tangible gains through specific activities will go a long way toward demonstrating the committee's value to immigrant communities, who might otherwise dismiss it as a series of meetings lacking substance. Under this model, the committee will decide on one large project to pursue. This project will serve as the central effort of the committee, and will not only provide focus, but will include specific measurements or deliverables on which to can base progress. Once the large project has been completed (likely after several years of effort), the committee will vote on a new project. Examples of large projects include: • Immigrant power/leadership - Establishing an immigrant center, creating a series of sustainable nonprofits representing immigrant communities, etc. • K-12 education - Reaching a certain level of proficiency for ELL students or for students from immigrant groups, creating a best-in-state support system for immigrant/migrant students in schools, developing a new structure for immigrant parents to have increased engagement with educators, etc. • Case management- Establishing an effective, trusted, and sustainable case management system so that immigrants with questions/needs have their issues addressed safely and effectively. The committee will also establish three to five subcommittees aimed at specific, smaller projects. This will enable progress to be made on smaller needs, while still keeping the committee informed. These should be projects that can be completed in a shorter amount of time and which have a dedicated group of inembers who are willing to drive the progress for the project. After a smaller project is finished, the committee will decide on a new project to pursue. Examples of smaller projects include: 8 • Building a translator management database • Developing a guardianship website • Creating a Marshallese student group • Launching an immigrant leadership program • Developing toolkits for employers looking to hire immigrants Finally, the committee will also leave time to discuss important issues or address new problems and opportunities. One of the benefits of having stakeholders meet on a regular basis is the ability to deal with new challenges as they arise. Conversely, normal reporting of stakeholder events and activities should primarily be done outside of committee meetings, either through notes or through an online forum (such as the one discussed in Develop an Online ImmigrantAdvocate Forum on�aae 6). This is so that stakeholders can still share upcoming events and activities while leaving committee time for discussion of progress on projects and new concerns and opportunities. Encouraae and Enable Immiarant Partici�ation Language barriers, differing work schedules, power imbalances among committee members, and other issues all act as barriers to full immigrant community participation in the committee. This is a challenge for most committees, where it is easier to identify ways for service providers or government officials to meet than it is to get community representatives to sessions. Yet this will be such a critical need of the Better Together Committee that its structure should be designed specifically with this challenge in mind. To help address this need, the committee should adopt some or all of the following tools for facilitating immigrant community participation: 1. Translation/Interpretation: Allocate funding to translate meeting notes into other languages and to provide interpretation for the meeting. Translating meeting notes will allow a wider group of immigrants to follow the committee's progress. Providing interpretation makes the meeting more welcoming and will allow more community members to be able to effectively participate in the meeting. 2. MentorTeams: Provide participants with the option offorming "mentorteams"to help with comprehension and participation. These teams will consist of two people, or a small group of individuals, and will help pair new participants with a trusted and more experienced committee member who can help facilitate engagement and participation. The teams should be composed of individuals with shared languages, and preferably the team members should have an existing trusted relationship. These teams will help participants to better engage with the committee in the following ways: a. During committee meetings: i. Translating difficult to understand concepts ii. Explaining discussion points iii. Identifying other committee members b. Following committee meetings: i. Holding debriefing sessions where team members can: 1. Ask questions about the committee's work, 9 2. Share ideas they felt unable to express at the committee meeting, 3. Report on issues that need to be elevated to the committee leadership, 4. Gain additional insight about participation in collective impact committees. These teams can also provide members with additional support to help with leadership development and power building. Through the support of the partner team, less experienced members will hopefully become increasingly comfortable with the committee, allowing for more natural participation. 3. Immigrant Connection Subcommittee: Designate one of the subcommittees to be an ongoing group that evaluates whether the committee is effectively enabling immigrant participation. This subcommittee will review how well different immigrant communities are able to participate in the committee and propose changes or outreach if there are any gaps. Having an intentional and ongoing focus on immigrant participation can help sustain momentum on the issue. 4. Weekend/Evening Sessions: Hold some committee meetings during evenings or weekends so that more community members (and notjust nonprofit staff) can participate. It can often be a challenge for community members to attend meetings that take place during normal work hours. Identifying different times can help alleviate these problems. a. It may be the case that holding sessions during the evenings or weekdays may prevent other committee members from participating as well. In one of its first meetings, the committee should consider whether to: i. Have all meetings take place on the evening or weekend; ii. Have every other meeting be outside of normal work hours; or iii. Designate some meetings as being outside of normal work hours, such as one every quarter. b. For meetings taking place on the weekend and evening, the committee should provide child care to help facilitate community member participation. 5. Use Hybrid Meetings...: With the rise in teleconferencing technologies, often the best way to engage with immigrant populations is by taking a hybrid approach that allows for both online and in-person attendance. Some immigrants struggle with access to online resources and may most easily be able to attend in person. Due to transportation barriers, others may be much more likely to attend if there is an online option available. 6. ...But Prioritize Meeting Face-to-Face: However, even though teleconferencing may allow for more participation, meeting face-to-face can be extremely valuable for building trust and helping humanize the meeting participants. While most meetings should have hybrid options, the committee should also make an effort to have all members meet face-to-face occasionally in order to encourage relationship building. 7. Engagement Practices: The committee should consider utilizing meeting practices that better facilitate participation, especially by individuals who may speak English as a second language, such as: 10 a. Having presenters include visualizations with their presentation to facilitate engagement with English language learners. This could involve the use of pictures or icons in presentations, graphic facilitation to help with notetaking, or other visual strategies. b. Having people sit at round tables where they can face each other instead of in straight rows, which can help to create better engagement between participants. c. Using online tools that allow attendees to participate without needing to speak, such as voting response tools, online white boards in multiple languages, etc. d. Having someone from an immigrant community facilitate the session. e. Conducting activities that help humanize the participants, making them individuals instead ofjust theirjob position or community affiliation. Establish Leadershia The committee will need an individual or individuals who can schedule and facilitate the meetings, conduct follow-up, engage with subcommittees, and carry out other functions necessary for the committee to move forward. While the decision on who should lead the committee will depend on the specific region and participants involved, here are two potential options: 1) If funding is available, a coordinator could be hired to help lead the work and ensure that all the activities of the committee advance as planned. This person could also participate in all subgroups and help facilitate other recommendations made in this section. The ideal would be for the coordinator to come from, or have trusted relationships with, at least one immigrant community in the region. a. The Immigration Community Assessment Steering Committee recommended that this position not come from a direct provider of services to immigrants, but instead from a "neutral" organization (such as local government, a funding organization, etc.). This is because the coordinator might prioritize or be seen to prioritize activities or discussions that best serve the needs of the service provider, instead of the interests of the committee as a whole. 2) The committee could also elect a leadership group that would be responsible for coordinating the committee. This group should have multiple members in order to relieve the pressure on any individual member. The leadership team could also have limited terms to allow for shifting leadership and a greater distribution of responsibilities, as well as allowing for more leadership opportunities from members of different immigrant communities. The strong preference should be given to the first option. Having an organization that serves as the "backbone" for the committee and that has the resources to provide facilitation and help drive the agenda will make the committee much more sustainable and effective. Having an organization involved will also create greater stability during leadership transitions. Furthermore, if the facilitator for the committee is a funded position with organizational support, the risk of the collective effort failing or losing traction will be reduced. 11 1.4 Connect Other Immiqrant Groups Focused on Specific-Level Issues to the Larger Immigrant-Support Communitv Because of the number of issues facing immigrant communities, it is unlikely that the Better Together Committee will be able to effectively address them all. There will always be a need for interested individuals and organizations to work together to address a specific issue, or to help support a specific population. In addition, it is inappropriate to insist that the activities of groups focus on immigrant populations should all be subsumed and combined into one committee. Many people come together to pursue their interests and passions about certain topics, and that kind of engagement should be encouraged and supported. Collaborations like the Pacific Islander Health Project Advisory Group, Cafe Latino, and the Covid COFA Working Group are extremely important, and will continue to be so. To make these groups most effective and to prevent two groups from unintentionally working on the same activities, an effort should be made to have at least one participant of each group also participate in or be connected to the Better Together Committee (see Convene a Better Together Committee on pa�e 7). This would be a good task for the leaders of the committee, who could work to identify active groups and then find ways to ensure there is a consistent line of communication to the committee, which could then be shared with the larger immigrant support community. Having these groups connected to an online forum would also be a valuable way to maintain contact and frequent communication (see Develop an Online ImmigrantAdvocate Forum on pa�e 6). 12 BUILDING CONNECTIONS WITH IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES Capacity and Power Building 2.1.1 Create and Su�port a Sustainable Immigrant-Led Nonprofit Organization One important way of building capacity within immigrant communities is to support the creation or development of an immigrant-led nonprofit organization focused on serving and advocating for immigrant communities. This would allow immigrant community members to be paid to serve their community (instead of only doing it as volunteers), would create an official point of contact for local organizations looking to engage with immigrant communities, would place resources and decision-making authority within immigrant communities, and would develop a more formal structure for community members to be able to elevate concerns or needs. Such an organization would greatly help in overcoming connection barriers while also providing leadership opportunities for immigrants. This was also a need that was frequently identified by immigrant community members during interviews and focus group sessions. Such an organization would also serve a different role than immigrant staff within other service providers (see Navigation section), or organizations led by non-immigrants who advocate for and support immigrants (see Outreach section). Both of these assets are crucial for immigrant communities to be able to thrive within this region, and they have done much of the heavy lifting in recent years. But navigators are limited in their ability to make choices about the allocation of resources and are constrained by the decisions of their organizations. And organizations not centered in immigrant communities may struggle to truly understand and advocate for community needs, and may face cultural, linguistic, and trust-based challenges. An immigrant-led nonprofit would help fill a gap that exists within the current framework of service organizations. But creating an immigrant-led nonprofit organization also raises several questions. The first of which is whether to have an organization supporting just one immigrant population (such as a Marshallese-led organization that advocates for Pacific Islanders), or a pan-immigrant organization that seeks to address the needs of multiple populations. Throughout interviews and focus group meetings, immigrant community members have been divided on this answer, with some wanting to create as inclusive an organization as possible, and others interested in working to build support and advocacy for just their community. Both options have strengths and drawbacks, and identifying which option is the best will depend on the local situation and the circumstances around its creation. For groups looking to launch an organization, it will be important to consider: 13 • Who are the leaders within immigrant communities who are helping drive the creation of this nonprofit, and what are their interests? • What funding is available, and what type of program is it best suited to support? • What assets are available to help with the creation of the program? • What is the makeup of the immigrant populations in the area, and what kind of connections exist among different immigrant communities? • Which option are immigrant community members most interested in launching? Generally speaking, it will likely be organizations focused on the needs of a specific immigrant community that are the most likely to be created and will see the most buy-in from within immigrant communities. For a potential pan-immigrant organization option, please see Immigrant Center on the next page. There are also organizations already in existence within this region that could be expanded to help fill this need. This expansion would have the advantage of not needing to develop an entirely new entity from the ground up. Three potential options within Dubuque include: 1. Latino Empowerment and Development(LEAD): This nonprofit helps connect Latino residents with educational resources, food, personal protective equipment, and other necessities. It is currently run entirely by volunteers and has a minimal budget. 2. Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidary: This statewide nonprofit serves victims/survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Within the past several years Monsoon opened a Dubuque office staffed by local Pacific Islander community members. Monsoon's mission is important and should be a focus on their work, but there is the possibility that with support from the community they could expand to help incorporate other services and additional advocacy. 3. Multicultural Family Center(MFC): The MFC serves as a welcoming and safe place for Dubuque families, focusing on building unity and success through diversity, equity, and inclusion. The MFC's director, Umaru Balde, is an immigrant fluent in ten languages and dialects. The breadth of the MFC's mission and it's position as part of the City of Dubuque may make it difficult to meet all of the priorities expressed by immigrant communities for this research, but its current work does help fill part of this role, and there is the potential for further expansion of programming and representation. Whether through the creation of a new organization or the expansion of an existing one, any immigrant-led nonprofit will need: • Long-term financial and political support from the community; • A clear understanding of the organization's purpose and mission; and • Support from a wide cross-section of its immigrant population (not only having support from one parish, etc.). 14 Models to Consider: • Monsoon: It the short amount of time Monsoon has had an office in Dubuque, their impact has grown significantly. They have become an effective bridge between the Pacific Islander community and other local service providers, and have become involved in a variety of programming like hosting cultural events and supporting literacy for Marshallese youth. Monsoon's trajectory and development could be a valuable model to consider for creating other immigrant-led organizations. o https://monsooniowa.orc�/ • The Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center(EMBARC): lowa's first and only refugee-led service provider, EMBARC's ultimate goal is to create opportunities for all refugees in lowa by removing barriers and fostering equity and inclusion. o https://www.embarciowa.orc�/ 2.1.2 Establish an Immiqrant Center A potential avenue for creating an immigrant-led nonprofit organization would be the development of an Immigrant Center, such as the Clarkston Community Center(see models to consider). This organization would serve as a central meeting area and service center for immigrant populations, offering translation, services, support, and potentially even recreational opportunities. It could also serve as an important communal space for immigrant groups (see Recommendation 2.1.4 Establish Communal Spaces in this section). This nonprofit organization, run and staffed by immigrants, would provide many of the advocacy and connection services discussed above, while also serving as a key access point for resources. Recreational and technology facilities- such as soccer fields, basketball courts, computer labs, a convention hall, etc. - could help create a positive and safe space for immigrants to congregate, building trust and familiarity that could help increase the effectiveness of service delivery. This recommendation has the downside of requiring a significant investment in terms of the building and grounds for the Center. Being able to create a facility that can be used as a gathering place and access point for services and delivery will require space, money, and time. If grant funding (such as through federal infrastructure funds or other opportunities focused on construction or refurbishment of spaces) could be utilized, that would make this option much more feasible. Even with such grants, this recommendation may require a larger amount of financial support to cover the facilities and the cost of staff to run the site. There are existing organizations within Dubuque that already play some of this role and could see their capacity expanded to address some of these elements. Two prominent examples are: • The Presentation Lantern Center: The Lantern Center serves as an immigrant welcome center, and provides advocacy, English tutoring, and additional support for immigrants. 15 • Multicultural Family Center(MFC): The MFC supports families from diverse cultures and backgrounds, and especially has programming for youth. The MFC also has a large indoor space that can be used for events. The current director of the MFC, Umaru Balde, is himself an immigrant and speaks more than ten languages. Neither of these organizations have stated the desire to try to take on the role of an immigrant center with their current resources, and both would need significant additional investment in orderto do so. Models to Consider: • Clarkston Community Center: Clarkston, outside of Atlanta Georgia, has been one of the leading refugee resettlement communities in the U.S., with 43% of its residents being foreign-born. The Clarkston Community Center caters to these individuals, offering event space and a variety of refugee related programs. o https://clarkstoncommunitvicenter.orc�/ • Immigrant Welcome Center: The Immigrant Welcome Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, provides programming for immigrants and refugees, partner organizations, and the larger community. The Immigrant Welcome Center also runs a Natural Helper Program (see Natural Helper Program below). o https://www.immi�rantwelcomecenter.orc�/ • Sudanese Community Center: The Sudanese Community Center in lowa City provides services related to education,job searching, culture, sports, and other community- focused issues for the local Sudanese population. o https://www.sudanesecommunitycenter2000.or�/index.html 2.1.3 Adopt a Natural Hel�er Proqram This recommendation also appears as Recommendation 3.7.2 under Workforce and Employment One of the key assets located in this region's immigrant communities are dedicated volunteers. Many of the key leaders, connectors, and translators working to support immigrant communities are volunteers who put in long hours to help improve their communities. They are often trusted both by community members and local nonprofit organizations, and serve as a key point of outreach and input. These volunteers should be acknowledged and celebrated for their work. Yet such reliance on volunteers is not ideal. Rarely are they compensated for their efforts, which means that they often work otherjobs to support themselves, leaving limited time to help other community members, attend meetings, etc. Many are also untrained regarding the systems and institutions they are connecting to and may lack information about how best to efficiently direct other immigrants to services. These factors create bottlenecks around connections between immigrant communities and service organizations and increase the likelihood of misinformation and navigational challenges. 16 One program that has been successful in helping address some of these issues is a "Natural Helper" program. In a Natural Helper program, key volunteers (who are usually multilingual) are trained on local systems and services and are often provided with greater access to local resources and important connections. They are also compensated for their participation in this program, which might include stipends, recognition, and certificates or credentials from local educational institutions that can be valuable for their careers. The volunteers then agree to remain a part of the program for a period of time (often at least a year) after receiving their trainin g. Natural Helper programs connect key volunteers with local institutions, provide them with training and clear resources for answering questions, and then work to compensate them for their involvement. These programs have also been found to give many participants a greater sense of belonging to where they live and a sense of connection to local organizations and service providers. It is also a good way to identify leaders for additional civic participation, such as taking roles on boards or advisory committees. Establishing and resourcing a natural helper program can provide a more formal structure to the frequent work done through immigrant volunteer leaders and can improve the services provided through those leaders. It also helps recognize and compensate dedicated volunteers, which can increase their satisfaction and participation and encourage others to step into leadership roles. Natural helpers could be particularly beneficial for connecting immigrants to workforce opportunities, as demonstrated by a new local pilot program (see "Models to consider"). Models to consider: • Northeast lowa Community College (NICC) is currently developing a pilot program aimed at training and compensating individuals from underserved populations so that they can connect members of their community with job training opportunities. This includes working with members of immigrant populations. The NICC pilot program, which is still in development, goes beyond many other models listed in this report by providing stipends for trainings and financial incentives for each individual who is successfully connected to an NICC program. The combination of empowering individuals to serve their community and compensating them for their time and effort is an exciting design that should be supported by the community. • City of Portland, ME- Office of Economic Opportunity: The City of Portland runs a Natural Helpers Leadership Program that trains Natural Helpers to better support their communities. The program provides participants with a stipend, and partners with the University of Southern Maine to provide everyone with a credential (previously a certificate, now a "badge"). o https://www.portlandofo�portunity.com/natural-helpers • Immigrant Welcome Center: The Immigrant Welcome Center in Indianapolis utilizes a Natural Helper program. o https://www.immi�rantwelcomecenter.or�/aet-involved/volunteer/ 17 • Welcoming America Community of Practice: Welcoming America has previously launched a community of practice to provide additional support to communities developing Natural Helper programs. o https://docs.�oo�le.com/document/d/1 Cyeet08scAunaLQCpmObCeb�N21nP LWPSwuF NjDwYI/edit# 2.1.4 Establish Communal Spaces Repeatedly during discussions with local immigrant members (and especially Marshallese individuals), respondents raised a desire for a communal space for their community. Physical gathering space can be a very valuable tool for building a sense of community, for celebrating culture, and for having an easily identifiable space for holding meetings or learning about services. Parks and churches have served this purpose within the region, but the former are outdoors and may not be amenable to meetings, and the latter can be exclusionary, especially if a community has multiple faiths and churches. For example, many Marshallese community members stated they would not feel comfortable attending a meeting or workshop located in a Marshallese church to which they did not belong. Immigrant communities have used local spaces for celebrations and meetings, such as restaurants, convention spaces, meeting halls, and nonprofit meeting spaces(including at the Community Foundation). However, many community members do not feel a sense of ownership over these spaces, and there may be a lack of comfort or familiarity with those locations. This has repeatedly led to questions about where to hold trainings, information sessions, and important meetings. Utilizing an unfamiliar or untrusted space may result in lower attendance and challenges in establishing follow-up meetings. Identifying easily accessible, safe, and inexpensive indoor spaces that immigrant communities can regularly utilize could produce valuable benefits. If the space were accessible to multiple immigrant communities, that could also have the advantage of helping improve service provision and building connections between immigrant communities. If the space could also be used for celebrations, sporting events, and more informal gatherings, it could also be a valuable way of attracting younger immigrants to participate in programming. One of the challenges sited in the past for the Pacific Islander Club at Dubuque's Hempstead and Senior High Schools was the lack of space for meeting outside of the schools, especially a space that was attractive to the students (meaning that had basketball and volleyball courts). Building or purchasing a collective space could be an option, but would require resources, and may be most practical in combination with something like an immigrant center described under Recommendation 2.1.2 Establish an Immigrant Center on pa�e 15. A less resource intensive option would be if there was a local organization that was interested in utilizing their facilities as a communal space for immigrant communities. Being able to do this successfully would require significant work and dedication on behalf of the organization - simply saying "immigrants are welcome here," is not sufficient. Some steps to consider are: 18 • Holding frequent and recurring events for immigrant populations. Often in order to build trust and familiarity with an immigrant community, it is important to establish consistency and a commitment to a long-term arrangement. It may take many months of holding an event or a meeting before a significant number of people become comfortable with the meeting and begin to attend. • The organization may want to invite members of immigrant communities to help decorate the space to make it feel more comfortable, but to also help establish a feeling of ownership and welcome. • Transportation (and parking) may be a consistent challenge, especially if the space is not located near residential areas that are frequented by immigrant groups. • If the organization is for-profit or if the space requires a fee, raising funds to help offset the costs may be an important step the community can take. Models to consider: • Clarkston Community Center: The event space at the Clarkston Community Center, which is focused on serving largely refugee and immigrant populations, allows for a consistent space for weddings and celebrations along with informational meetings and service provision. o https://clarkstoncommunitycenter.or�/rental/ • Pacific Islander Health Project Community Education Classes: The Community Education Classes put on by Crescent's Pacific Islander Health Project present a good model for how organizations can build trust and a relationship with an immigrant community. At first, attendance of the classes was limited. But by conducting the classes consistently every month in the same space, word soon spread that these were valuable and reliable classes that community members could depend on being available, and participation increased significantly. 2.1.5 Su�port Community Organizing Increasing the ability of immigrants to advocate for their own needs is an important part of building immigrant capacity and power. During focus groups and interviews, many immigrants expressed frustration that they did not feel like they had a voice in local decision making. While creating more opportunities for input is an important part of addressing this issue, improving the capacity of local immigrant communities to organize and advocate for their needs is also critical. Developing the tools for successful advocacy is not always an easy process. Community organizing can be one effective means of helping improve advocacy within immigrant populations. By engaging with communities and helping create democratic systems for collaboration around important issues, those communities can gain a greater ability to influence local public policy. However, community organizing has not recently been a common practice within the region, and there are not many organizations currently focused on it, especially not with immigrant communities. 19 By funding and providing training to immigrants on advocacy techniques like community organizing, there may be a potential to build capacity within immigrant populations to more fully engage with local decision making. This, combined with additional opportunities for input, can enable immigrant communities to more consistently address issues that are important for their populations. Models to consider: • CASA: As part of its work supporting and advocating for immigrant families, CASA carries out community organizing programing aimed at developing collective leadership to advocate for immigrant needs. o https://wearecasa.or�/pro�ram/community-or�anizinc�/ • lowa Migrant Movement for Justice: Within lowa, the lowa Migrant Movement for Justice (which recently formed from the combination of two organizations: American Friends Service Committee lowa and lowa Justice for Our Neighbors) carries out community organizing to do advocacy at the state and local level. o htt�s://www.iowammj.ora/ Outreach 2.2.1 Diversify Outreach Efforts One important idea to consider when conducting outreach to immigrant communities is to intentionally diversify the number of community connectors that are used for outreach. It is valuable to intentionally build multiple contacts within an immigrant community and to regularly maintain communications with each individual. There are several reasons for this: • Immigrant populations are usually not monolithic, and community leaders may not represent the entire community. An example of this is Dubuque's Marshallese community, which has seven different Marshallese churches. Sometimes communications or services conducted through leaders in one church would not reach all of the congregations in the community. This has the potential to reinforce feelings of resentment and division within an immigrant population. It is important to understand what these divisions might be, and work to build relationships with different groups within a community. • Reliance on only one community connector can create key person risk, where if anything happens that makes that person unable to effectively serve as a connector, it could significantly hinder communication with the population as a whole. • Providing information through multiple sources reduces the amount of work any one connector needs to do. This is important when working primarily with volunteers, as volunteer burnout can be a significant issue. 20 Models to consider: • Mapping Research: The networks and connections of three of Dubuque's larger immigrant communities -the Marshallese, Latino, and Guatemalan Mayan populations - are discussed in more detail in a mapping report conducted by the Community Foundation that is included underAppendixA ofthe Immigration Community Assessment Implementation Guide. 2.2.2 Provide Translated Materials and Interpretation Services Translating documents into locally spoken languages can be one of the most effective ways of improving outreach to immigrant communities. Translated documents are not only easier to read for individuals for whom English is a second language or not spoken at all, but it also shows a desire to engage with immigrant communities and to invest resources into relationship building. Translated signs and documents can create a more welcoming environment for immigrant communities and building additional trust. Interpretation can also be important for meetings that immigrants attend. It is important when conducting outreach to immigrant groups to have a reliable interpreter arranged beforehand. Whenever possible, organizations and service providers should also compensate translators and interpreters, and not solely rely on volunteer services. The ability to speak multiple languages is a valuable skill, and local community members should be fairly compensated for the service that is provided. For more information on recommendations related to translation and interpretation, see the Translation and Interpretation section on pa�e 64. 2.2.3 Locate Connectors in Residential Areas with a High Concentration of Immiarants An underappreciated barriers creating disconnect between immigrant populations and the larger community is geographic separation. Immigrant families in this region usually live in different areas than service providers, who may not be based in residential districts. Because transportation is an issue for many immigrants, and because trust is frequently developed through regular interaction instead of understanding and being confident in systems of support, this geographic separation can prevent immigrants from accessing services. Decentralizing access by locating connectors to services within neighborhoods where immigrants live can be a way to address some ofthese issues. By establishing a connector or service provider within a residential community or frequently trafficked area, making it feel welcoming, and staffing it with someone from the neighborhood who knows and is known by the community, service providers can avoid transportation challenges and increase trust. If these individuals have cultural knowledge and language skills relevantto local immigrant groups, it will only further improve connections with immigrant communities. 21 2.2.4 Include Immigrant Support Organizations in Reqular Meetinqs Coordination among service providers can be a valuable tool for increasing outreach to immigrant communities. There are many organizations that engage regularly with immigrant communities and can provide valuable insights and connections for collaborative efforts. While these organizations are limited, and therefore will not be able to attend every meeting, their experience and relationships can be a valuable addition to ongoing discussions. 2.2.5 Use Best Practices for Including Immigrant Community Members in Meetinqs One of the most effective ways to connect with immigrant communities and to gain input into collective decision making is to invite immigrant leaders and community members to meetings and discussions. However, sending out invitations is not always enough to facilitate successful participation. Meetings designed for government officials, nonprofit staff, or business leaders may not be conducive to immigrant participation. In addition, it is important to recognize the power dynamics that may be present in your meeting and that may limit communication. Inviting an immigrant community member to join a meeting with the chief of police or the CEO of a major company may create a dynamic where that community member is unable to freely express themselves. While this situation is not always avoidable, recognizing it and taking steps to mitigate any issues will serve to better promote immigrant participation. Below is a list of some best practices that may be valuable for facilitating immigrant participation in meetings or activities: • Provide Translation/Interpretation: Providing translation and interpretation services will enable the participation of immigrants that do not speak English as their primary language. • Make the meeting attion fotused: Many immigrant community members(especially those that are volunteers and are not attending as part of theirjob) are more likely to come it the meeting is focused on the development of programming, instead of only sharing information. • Connect the meeting to another desirable service: Combining a meeting or information session with another service that immigrant community members are interested in can help increase attendance. If immigrants are already planning to participate in a nutrition class, a legal clinic, or a church service, holding the meeting in combination with this existing event will be more convenient and increase participation. • Include follow up: Outreach to immigrant individuals should continue even after they attend their first meeting. Demonstrating that a meeting will be held consistently by regularly reaching out to that person about future meetings can be important for building trust, and therefore sustained participation. 22 • Invite immigrant-facing social service providers to attend, and ask for their help: Organizations that work closely with immigrants have important connections, cultural knowledge, and established trust with immigrant communities. Their partnership in hosting meetings can make those meetings much more effective. • Make someone from that community a facilitator: Asking a member of the immigrant community to facilitate the meeting can make other immigrants more comfortable while also addressing language and cultural knowledge concerns. Doing this will require first building trust with that facilitator, as well as making sure that they feel trained and supported in their efforts. • Utilize flexible times and locations: Meetings that work best for staff at service providers may not be the most convenient for immigrant community members. Holding meetings after work hours or on the weekends and at more convenient locations will allow greater immigrant participation. • Use "hybrid" meetings: Including both teleconferencing and in-person meetings can allow for the greatest amount of immigrant participation. While some community members may have limited access to the internet, others who face transportation or child care may only be able to attend if the meetings have an online option. • Provide compensation and food: An immigrant individual's time is valuable, and if they are being asked to attend a meeting, compensating them for their involvement can be important. This could involve a stipend, but even providing a meal can build trust and make immigrants much more able to participate. • Provide child care: Providing child care at the premises, or making the meeting family friendly, can be important for allowing many immigrants to participate in meetings. • Visualization tools: For individuals for whom English is not their primary language, prioritizing the use of images and icons over written words can help facilitate more participation. Tools such as graphic facilitation can be effective at helping engage immigrant audiences. • Breakout groups, more informal setups: Large and formal meetings can discourage some immigrant community members from voicing opinions and concerns. Utilizing breakout groups, smaller discussions, and seating arrangements where participate sit face-to-face or around tables can create a more welcoming environment for some community members. 2.2.6 Take a 2Gen A�proach One effective way of conducting outreach to immigrant families is by engaging multiple generations of those families at the same time. Two-generation (2Gen) programming does not focus exclusively on children or adults but considers the family as a whole in order to utilize a more holistic approach. Engaging immigrant families can be a valuable technique for several reasons, including: • Some immigrant families live in multigenerational households and frequently involve multiple generations in decision making; 23 • It builds connections to social services for multiple individuals at the same time, instead of requiring different interactions or multiple appointments; and • It enables the leveraging of diverse skills within the family, such as linguistic or cultural knowledge. Models to Consider: • The Aspen Institute compiled a series of reports and webinars investigating the use of 2Gen practices with immigrant and refugee families. The series covered four main topic areas: cultural competency, growing language skills, working with immigrants of different legal status, and building trust with families. o https://www.aspeninstitute.or�/pro�rams/community-strate�ies-�roup/famil� economic-success/2ai/ Navigators 2.3.1 Hire Additional Navi ag tors This recommendation also appears as Recommendation 3.3.1 under Health and 3.6.2 under Translation and Interpretation One of the most imposing barriers facing residents of this region is the challenge of navigating support systems. Understanding what step to take next, how to fill out a form correctly, or who to call for help can be extremely difficult for many people, and especially lower income individuals.z For immigrants these problems may be compounded by a lack of familiarity with local systems, language challenges, and a cultural or societal fear of being seen as causing problems. Some immigrants may simply avoid seeking services instead of dealing with the potential for failure and humiliation. The addition of navigators can be a major benefit for helping resolve these issues. Navigators are individuals employed or utilized by service providers to help assist community members with accessing services. The best navigators are those that are both trained in the requirements of service systems and come from the communities they serve, providing them with the language and cultural knowledge to effectively help. These navigators can leverage trust and relationships within immigrant communities to make sure that a greater number of people are able access important services. Hiring additional navigators, especially at organizations or government departments that regularly serve immigrant communities, can be an extremely beneficial way to improve engagement with local populations. 2 See the following link for an article discussing some of the challenges of navigating government support services: Lowrey,Annie. "The Time Tax." The Atlantic. 27 July 2021. Available at: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/07/how-�overnment-learned-waste-�our-time- tax/619568/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/07/how-�overnment-learned-waste- your-time-tax/619568/ 24 Excellent examples of valuable immigrant navigators already exist within Dubuque. These include community health workers at Crescent Community Health Center, paraprofessionals at the Dubuque Community School District, family navigators at Child Health Specialty Clinics, and staff at the Northeast lowa Community College. Many other organizations, such as institutes of higher education, also have staff that, while not navigators, may frequently serve a navigator role. Several navigator positions were also created as a result of collaborations connected with this research, including the Guatemalan Mentor program and the Marshallese community connector at the Visiting Nurse Association (see Projects and Accomplishments Connected with the CommunityAssessment in the Implementation Guide). This is by no means an exhaustive list of navigators in the region, but is meant to be provide examples of existing navigators who are members of local immigrant communities. However, while hiring navigators is an undoubtedly powerful tool for helping improve access to services for immigrant populations, it should not be seen as a substitute for capacity and power building. Navigators can serve an important role, but still are meant to move forward the mission of the organization they work for and follow the direction of their(usually non- immigrant) managers and bosses. This is a very valuable and necessary part of how service organizations in this region work, and navigation plays a critical role in helping to provide equitable access to systems. But it should still not be seen as a replacement for advocacy and power building within immigrant communities. The role of navigators is especially important in healthcare. Health services can be an intimidating experience, especially if there are language and cultural barriers. Misinformation about medical issues can be common, especially during a health crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic. Understanding what information is correct or how to best engage with complex systems like insurance or medical billing can be very difficult for community leaders and volunteers that are supporting immigrant families. Having a trusted individual who is knowledgeable about health-care systems and paid to assist members of their local community can be a huge asset. Health-care providers and related organizations should consider creating more navigator positions staffed by members from immigrant communities, such as community health workers or community connectors. An example of previously recommended program that can fulfill some of the roles of a navigator position is the Natural Helper program. While this is not a substitute for having a paid staff position dedicated to navigation, training and compensating immigrant volunteers to help members of their communities navigate systems can increase access to services. The Natural Helper program is described in more detail in Recommendation 2.1.3 on pa�e 16. Cultural Events 2.4.1 Su�port Immigrant Cultural Events One of the most direct methods for developing cultural connections between communities is through supporting immigrant cultural events. These events allow the wider public to gain a better understanding and appreciation for different cultures, creating a greater sense of 25 empathy and knowledge regarding immigrant populations. Cultural events can also be an empowering experience for immigrant communities. And hosting a larger number of immigrant celebrations and performances creates a greater diversity of events in the community, making this region richer and increasing the number of available experiences for residents. Helping support, organize, market, and fund immigrant cultural events can be beneficial for creating greater cultural connection. Welcoming America has created a field scan of different art and cultural events used to support immigrant cultures. The report identified four key strategies: 1. Bridging newcomers and longer-term populations 2. Elevating cultural traditions as assets 3. Engaging newcomers and other allies in civic processes 4. Co-creating spaces that reflect identity Each of these strategies, when conducted in partnership with members of immigrant communities, can be valuable ways for arts and culture organizations to support immigrant populations.3 A number of examples exist at the local level of support for immigrant cultural events. These include, but are not limited to: the support of Marshallese Independence Day each year in Dubuque, the Marshallese boat exhibit at the National Mississippi River Museum &Aquarium, the annual Latinx festival in Dubuque, a planned Cascade Latino Welcoming Event, and other programs that are hosted in the region. 2.4.2 Develop Relationships with Immiarant Communities One of the primary challenges identified by arts and culture organizations is the difficulty in establishing deep relationships with immigrant communities. This lack of connection can severely hamper any ability to develop new cultural programming or invite increased immigrant participation. For arts and culture organizations looking to build relationships with immigrant communities, here are some recommended best practices that may enable improved outreach: • Repeated Engagement: Building trust is critical for developing new relationships, and one of the best ways to do this with immigrant populations is through repeated contact. This not only builds familiarity, but also demonstrates that the organization is interested in providing ongoing support and a longer-term engagement. Any organization looking to conduct outreach should plan on multiple meetings and repeated conversations on a consistent schedule. With limited resources and capacity 3 Arroyo, John C. "Bridging Divides, Creating Community: Arts, Culture, and Immigration."ArtPlace America, LLC and Welcoming America. 2020. Available at: https://welcomin�america.or�/w� content/uploads/2021/01/artplacefieldscan- artsandculturestrate�iesforimmi�ration final 10 05 20 sin�lepa�es.pdf 26 for local organizations, this is often a much more difficult proposition than it may first appear. Organizations should be aware ofthis before planning outreach. o The Creatives Cafe hosted by the City of Dubuque (where arts and culture organizations regularly set up space to engage with diverse artists from across the city) is a good example of a repeated engagement that is looking to establish long-term relationships with diverse communities. • Leverage Partnerships: Developing partnerships with immigrant serving organizations and groups can be an effective way for arts and culture organizations to begin building contacts and relationships of their own. In addition, partnering with other arts and culture organizations can be a tool for reducing the difficulty of building long-term connections with immigrant communities. If arts and culture organizations are looking to set up repeated and consistent events with an immigrant community, sharing funding, scheduling, and engagement responsibilities among several organizations can help make this a more feasible prospect. • Meet Immigrant Communities Where They Are: There are generally a number of barriers that might keep members of immigrant communities from attending events or meetings that help build relationships. Helping to reduce these barriers can make meetings much more accessible. Considerations include: o Holding meetings in locations that are familiar to immigrant communities or that are located near where they live. Inviting immigrants to travel to a downtown office location may generate only a limited response. If it is necessary to choose a space further away from residential areas, providing transportation can be helpful. o Choose times that are more feasible for immigrant community members. Evening sessions or weekend sessions are often better alternatives for people who may not be able to take time off between 9:00 and 5:00. Additional services like child care can also help families attend. o Food is an important element of many cultures and is often included by many immigrant populations as a part of gatherings. Providing food, especially culturally appropriate food, can be a valuable way to get people to come and to make people feel welcome. o Providing translation can create a more inclusive environment and can increase the number of community members who are able to engage in the event. • Provide Something of Value: While many immigrants may be interested in engaging with arts and culture organizations, for some it will be difficult to take time off from a busy schedule unless they see an immediate benefit in the meeting. Some successful examples of how organizations can provide this value include centering the meeting around a topic that immigrant community members want to see moved forward (such as how to help immigrant youth engage with cultural traditions) or partnering with other organizations offering desired services (such as legal assistance or connections to job opportunities). 27 2.4.3 Enqaqe International Students This recommendation also appears as Recommendation 3.2.7 under Education and Youth Support In addition to a general support for immigrant cultural events, arts and culture organizations also have opportunities for targeted outreach to specific communities. Interviews and discussions during the Community Assessment point to international college students as one of the key groups on which organizations should focus. International students are often eager to engage with new cultural offerings, but their unfamiliarity with their new home and barriers like expense and transportation can often keep them from seeking out local opportunities. The region would benefit from this population developing closer ties with local arts and culture organizations. Helping attract and retain talented international students and convincing them to make this region their long-term home will significantly benefit the local economy, culture, and community. Outreach to this population should involve partnership between arts and culture organizations and local higher education institutions, with a specific focus on connecting to international students (or at least students who are new to Dubuque). Making the opportunities easily accessible and highly visible will be important for students who are trying to adjust to a new home. In addition, reducing barriers like transportation or the cost of attendance and arranging events at times that are the most convenient for students will be important for making programming successful. Doing this could lead to great long-term benefits as international students build a relationship with the local community. 2.4.4 Support Youth Programming Arts and culture organizations can also play a major role in supporting programming for immigrant youth. These can be great opportunities to engage with young people, develop future connections, and help meetthe priorities of immigrant populations, namely helping young individuals retain immigrant traditions and culture and helping build connections between immigrants and individuals from the wider community. Local school districts, the Multicultural Family Center, the Presentation Lantern Center, and other immigrant-focused organizations have connections with immigrant children that could be leveraged for additional programming. For a description of a potential educational program that could partner with arts and culture organizations, please see Create an Expanded Marshallese Student Group on pa�e 36. 28 ISSUES FACING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES Case Management 3.1.1 Fund Additional Case Management SuppOrt One of the most straightforward solutions is to provide funding to build professional case management capacity within the region. If there is a greater paid, trained, professional workforce helping support immigrant families in accessing services, it will lead to better outcomes for immigrant families while helping alleviate many of the problems discussed above. This can be accomplished by expanding existing case management capacity within local organizations, creating new case management positions focused on immigrants at established providers, and increasing the funding provided to smaller nonprofit organizations that are currently conducting case management for immigrant families. Being able to create a well-funded professional system that is able to provide case management for all new immigrants to a community would take a significant amount of resources and likely a major shift in mindset within the region. While this is a worthy goal and would result in major benefits for immigrant populations and the community as a whole, this may be difficult to achieve in the near term. However, any increase in the capacity for professional case management would have a positive impact on immigrant communities. 3.1.2 Build Case Management "Networks" Many of the major challenges that are listed in the introduction to this section can become most apparent when there is a single person responsible for case management. A potential solution involves an immigrant family being supported by a "network" of individuals and organizations working together. This concept is designed to make sure that immigrants who may need more case management support(recently arriving families, unaccompanied minors, linguistically or culturally isolated families, etc.)would become connected with four to five individuals and organizations that would help with case management. This network would communicate with each other, relay knowledge and information, and share responsibility for supporting the individual. Members of the network could also work collectively on necessary case management tasks, like helping with transportation. There are several reasons for using a small network to help conduct case management. Having multiple contacts for an immigrant family builds in redundancy, helping reduce the dependency the family may have on any one individual. It also may reduce burnout and allow for access to a wider range of knowledge and connections, as a greater number of 29 individuals are involved in support. And it creates a more formal mechanisms for local stakeholders to provide volunteers with training and resources. While there are a number of different models that could be used or adapted for this type of network, there are several important considerations that should be highlighted for creating this type of program: • While many of the models listed below only use individual volunteers as part of the network, there are advantages to networks containing both volunteers and staff from local organizations. For example, staff could leverage formal training and institutional support, while volunteers may have greater flexibility outside of work hours. • Having a local organization coordinate these groups could be very beneficial and would help with organizing volunteers and providing long-term stability. A coordinating organization could also provide volunteers with training, resources, referrals, and other important supports. o Some funding would likely be necessary for a host organization to coordinate case management networks. • Being able to run background checks on volunteers can help make sure that volunteers are well-suited to the role, especially if they are helping provide case management for children. This could be a role played by a coordinating organization. See the next recommendation (Background Checks)for additional information. • Incorporating individuals from within the immigrant population should also be a priority, as it leverages the skills and relationships of that individual for case management efforts. At the same time, including that individual as part of a larger support network will help with burden sharing and build greater connections for that immigrant volunteer within the larger community. Models to consider: • The Sponsor Circles program is used to help with the resettlement of Afghan and Ukrainian refugees in the United States by having groups of people sponsor those refugee families and provide them with support and some case management services. A similar system could be used for non-refugees. o https://www.sponsorcircles.orc�/ • The Capital Area New Mainers Project connects 3-4 local volunteers to serve as a Family Mentor Team in support of new immigrant families. Family Mentor Teams go through background checks and some training, with helping with transportation being a big part of their responsibility. o https://www.newmainersproject.orc�/ • The Dubuque Circles Initiative was a program that connected a group of volunteer allies with a low-income individual in order to provide support and help break the cycle of poverty. The program was run by the City of Dubuque but eventually ended. Elements of the program could be adjusted to help serve immigrant families. While the Dubuque Circles Initiative is no longer in operation, a related program focused on poverty is Circles USA. o https://www.circlesusa.or .c�/ 30 3.1.3 Facilitate Background Checks An unfortunate but real risk when talking about volunteers working from a position of power and authority with immigrants, and especially immigrant children, is the potential for predatory behavior. Criminal background checks can be a valuable tool for helping to limit this risk. Organizations that utilize volunteers in situations where they may have unsupervised access to immigrants, and especially children, should consider conducting background checks to help reduce risk. Examples include volunteers who provide case management, mentoring or educational tutoring, and transportation. However, background checks also cost money and require staff time to gather the volunteer information and carry out a check. For smaller organizations with limited time and budgets who are desperate for more volunteers, requiring background checks may be a major difficulty. Communities should consider creating a funded resource, perhaps located at a government office or larger nonprofit organization, that smaller organizations could access to help run background checks on volunteers. Making this service centrally located and free to use would greatly reduce the barrier to running background checks. 3.1.4 Build Capacity in Immiqrant Communities One effective way to improve case management is by creating additional resources and capacity within immigrant communities that can help support newly arrived immigrants. Through building capacity within immigrant populations, individuals and organizations with existing relationships and language/cultural skills can be equipped to help other members of their community navigate local systems. The following are a list of interventions described elsewhere in this report that could be relevant for improving case management: • Support the creation or expansion of immigrant-led nonprofits to allow them to take on more case management work(see Immigrant-led Nonprofit Organization on pa�e 13). • Create an Immigrant Center that could provide additional support to new immigrant families (see Immigrant Center on pa�e 15). • Develop a Natural Helper program that trains and compensates immigrant volunteers, allowing them to provide case management support for other immigrant families (see Natural Helper Program on pa�e 16). • Consider locating connectors and individuals with case management skills in communities where many immigrants live (see Connectors Located in Immigrant- Heavy Residential Areas on pa�e 21). • Hire additional navigators in important organizations who can help take on case management duties or support others in their case management work(see Navigators on pa�e 24). 31 3.1.5 Develop a Guardianship Website This recommendation also appears as Recommendation 3.5.3 under Legal Assistance Upon arriving in lowa, many unaccompanied What is Guardianship? minors move forward with their immigration court case by applying for Special Immigrant Guardianship in SIJS cases is not always Juvenile Status (SIJS). This status provides the well understood, partly because the term minor with a legal residency status in the U.S. "guardian" often means different things in and opens a pathway to applying for a green different situations. In this case, the card and eventually citizenship. As part of guardian's role is to make sure that the applying for SIJS, the minor also becomes minor's well-being is being addressed involved in a juvenile court proceeding that and to report back to the court on any makes determinations that are important for issues. The guardian does not have any SIJS. As part of this process, the juvenile court financial responsibility for the child, nor will also appoint a guardian for the minor to does the child need to live with the help ensure that the child's needs are being guardian (though there have been met. Guardians can play an important role in instances where this has happened). The helping unaccompanied minors access guardian's job is to try to help figure out services and navigate unfamiliar systems. solutions for financial, housing, and other issues the minor might face, not to take However, because there is not a formally care of those issues directly. So, if the established system for identifying guardians, unaccompanied minor accidentally this can often cause issues. It is generally the damaged school property and needed to responsibility of the minor and their advocates pay the school back, the guardian would to identify a person willing to be a guardian. be expected to help figure out a solution This often results in the minor's attorney, a but would not have to cover the payment nonprofit staff person, or a volunteer soliciting themselves. Anyone interested in help from people they know in order to becoming a guardian or learning more secure a guardian. should speak with a qualified legal This can lead to two issues. The first is that the professional for more precise information. minor and their advocates are unable to find an acceptable guardian before the minor ages out of the juvenile court system, thereby undermining their ability to apply for SIJS. In lowa, guardianship must be established before the minor turns 18, and judges may be unwilling to grant guardianship if the minor is getting close to that age. If it takes a long time to find an appropriate guardian for the minor, it may pose a significant problem for their immigration court case. Informal systems based on personal networks may draw from a smaller pool of potential guardians. The second issue is that this informal system of nonprofit staff/volunteers requesting help from their acquaintances sometimes leads to under-prepared guardians. These guardians may not adequately understand what guardianship entails and may be less committed to being a guardian, but instead may agree to the position out of necessity or as a favor to the person making the request. In some instances, individuals have been pressed to serve as guardian to multiple minors. Having guardians who are not fully committed to being 32 guardians and who do not fully understand what being a guardian entails is a disservice to both the guardian and to the minor. A solution proposed by service providers in the community is to create a more formal system where potential guardians can submit their names to a website hosted by a local organization. This website would provide information on what being a guardian entails and other important considerations, and would allow potential guardians to submit their name and contact information. This would add them to a list that could be accessed by immigration attorneys looking for a guardian forthe unaccompanied minorthey are representing. Such a system could also include: • A background check to help ensure that potential guardians are appropriately screened; • Testimonials to show the experiences of others who have served as guardians; • Training programs, support groups, and other resources to help better support guardians in their new role; and • Other services aimed to help the guardian or minor. Such a system would provide a better process for referring people who are interested in being a guardian, helping to increase the pool of available guardians. It would also help ensure that potential guardians understand what they are signing up for and would reduce the pressure on nonprofit staff and volunteers to always seek out new guardians whenever one is needed. In addition, creating trainings and resources for guardians would improve the help they provide to minors as well as connecting with local social service organizations. Models to consider- • In Dubuque, the Multicultural Family Center(MFC) has been in conversations with Catholic Charities, the Community Foundation, and other advocates about hosting a guardian website. The language and content for the website would be developed by immigration attorneys and other support organizations, while the MFC would conduct background checks and hold the list of potential guardians. Immigrant advocates could then refer potential guardians to the website in order to gain more information and to submit their information. The MFC could also then offer services and opportunities both to the guardians and to the unaccompanied minors. o The guardian list would only be accessible to immigration attorneys representing a minor seeking SIJS to help protect the privacy of those on the I i st. After multiple discussions with statewide organizations and advocacy groups, this research has not identified another website serving this role within lowa. It could be a model to be used by other lowa communities. 33 3.1.6 Provide Transportation Su�port Transportation remains one of the most frequent needs met by small nonprofits and volunteers providing case management services. This is because those families and individuals most at need of case management services are also the most likely to not have reliable modes of transportation. This is especially true for unaccompanied minors and asylum seekers that may have ongoing immigration court cases. The closest Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) office for the region in located in Cedar Rapids, and the closest immigration courts are in Omaha, Nebraska and Chicago, IL, meaning that immigrants regularly need to travel for hours to make mandatory check-ins and immigration court dates. Yet many of these immigrants are also ineligible for a driver's licenses and may not be able to afford long-distance transportation. In addition, these immigrants regularly need local transportation services for everything from medical appointments to parent-teacher conferences. It is often volunteers and small nonprofit organizations that fill this void by providing hours of transportation support. This makes finding drivers one of the largest volunteer needs within the region. The community should work to encourage additional volunteers to help with transportation, especially since there are limited non-car options available for consistently getting to appointments. But because transporting vulnerable immigrants, and especially minors, can create serious risks, it is also important to invest in additional resources for conducting background checks(see Facilitate Background Checks on pa�e 31). In addition, organizations and government offices should consider the creation of more formal transportation options for immigrants and the expansion of public transport to help meet important needs. Models to consider: • Regional Transit Authority(RTA): The RTA in Region 8 provides transportation services in Delaware, Dubuque, and Jackson Counties. Establishing a formal RTA program for arranging transportation for immigrants needing to go to medical appointments or other important meetings could be a valuable way of reducing the pressure on volunteers. However, additional work would need to be undertaken to make this a service regularly utilized by immigrants, including translation, easy financial assistance, and coordination with local nonprofits to help create consistent and reliable usage. o https://www.rta8.or�/AboutUs/about us.cfm • The Tri-State VIATS and Dubuque for Refugee Children are two of the organizations in Dubuque that most frequently provide volunteer transportation services to local immigrants. 34 Education and Youth Support 3.2.1 Hire Paraprofessionals and Other Staff Focused on Immiqrant Students Feedback from parents, educators, and students seemed to show the value of having paraprofessionals, mentors, and other staff in the schools focused on supporting English language learners. It is especially valuable to have staff that share the cultural and linguistic identities of immigrant populations. Having individuals at local schools who have linguistic and cultural knowledge can be a major benefit for students being able to learn and to understand how best to succeed at school. These staff also serve as connectors for parents, utilizing their existing relationships to build bridges between the schools and families, which can be valuable given the importance of parent engagement in a child's education. And staff can also provide immigrant children with a role model demonstrating to students that they can succeed at their studies and find a good job that gives back to their community. This is especially important because some interviews indicated that certain populations of immigrant youth (such as, but not limited to, unaccompanied minors and girls living in rural areas) were at a higher risk of giving up on aspirational thoughts around education, and instead focusing on maximizing immediate earnings at lower paying jobs. Many schools are limited in which staff they are able to hire, and there are teacher and staff shortages at many of the schools throughout the region. Most schools cannot simply increase the number of staff that serve immigrant youth without significant changes in funding, state policies, etc. With that in mind, beyond simply increasing the number of staff serving immigrant students, this report recommends: 1) Schools consider language ability, cultural knowledge, and connections within immigrant communities as highly valuable when hiring new staff. 2) Local leaders and other stakeholders should advocate for increasing funding and support for students from immigrant families and English Language Learners. 3) Community members and partner organizations could pursue creative solutions to helping provide additional mentoring and educational support for immigrant youth. An example of such a program is discussed in the next recommendation. 3.2.2 Establish a Guatemalan Mentorship Program In early 2021, the Dubuque Community School District, NICC, and the Community Foundation partnered together to create the Guatemalan Mentor program, with additional support from Catholic Charities and other local organizations. This program was created in response to the challenges facing unaccompanied Guatemalan minors in the Dubuque Community School District. Many come to Dubuque speaking almost no English and very little Spanish, but instead Mayan dialects such as Ixil, K'iche', and Q'anjab'al. A majority of these students struggle in school as they try to learn both English and Spanish while also studying math, history, and other subjects in a language they don't fully speak. Mayan dialects are infrequently spoken in the United States, and so it can be very difficult to find 35 interpreters. In addition, many of the dialects are traditionally more of oral instead of written languages, and so there are few translated books or documents available for students. All of this creates a challenging learning environment for Guatemalan students. The Guatemalan Mentor program was designed to help this situation by having a Guatemalan individual who speaks Ixil (the most commonly spoken dialect in Dubuque) placed into one ofthe high schools in orderto help support Guatemalan students. However, the program experienced a problem because the School District was unable to hire the Guatemalan individual due to insufficient educational credentials. In order to address this challenge, the Community Foundation provided a grant to NICC, who hired the individual to serve as a volunteer mentor at the School District. At the same time, the individual took HSED classes at NICC with the goal of receiving her high school degree, and then potentially being hired by the School District full time. The mentor had a significant impact on Guatemalan students and was able to provide additional help and support to them during class. Perhaps even more importantly, the mentor was able to build an additional connection between the school and the students, elevating challenges, passing along information, and helping create mutual understanding where there normally would have been a lack of communication. The School District was very pleased with the additional assistance, and the Guatemalan mentor expressed pride in being able to support students. She continued in her position through the beginning of 2022. Continuing programs such as this would provide a lot of value for both schools and immigrant students. Being able to place people within local schools and pay them for their work provides and increased level of engagement and support for students who otherwise struggle in an unfamiliar environment. Additional funding should be raised to support this type of project. 3.2.3 Create an Expanded Marshallese Student Grou� Note: This recommendation resulted from a collaboration between Crescent Community Health Center and the Community Foundation as part of an effort hosted by the National Association for Community Health Centers. One of the successful initiatives in the past several years aimed at immigrant youth has been the Pacific Islander Club at Hempstead and Dubuque Senior high schools. Operating as primarily an afterschool club for Pacific Islander students, the group has had several positive effects. It has given students a sense of identity and belonging, whereas sometimes immigrant students feel disconnected from school due to cultural or linguistic differences. It has enabled students to participate in larger activities, such as the students putting together a presentation about the Marshall Islands, followed by a meal with Marshallese food. And it has provided a place for students to gather after school and study, play music, and engage in other productive activities. Feedback from both Marshallese students and parents was very positive, with some asking for the Club to be expanded to middle school children as well. 36 While the Pacific Islander Club is limited in terms of its scope and resources, it also shows a potential opportunity: immigrant youth taking a civic role in supporting their own communities. Empowering immigrant youth to serve their own communities can produce a number of important benefits: 1) Provides young people with additional outlets for meaningful and compelling activities, which could improve their schoolwork, build knowledge and connection with their city and communities, and create a structured and engaging opportunity for students outside of school. 2) Leverages individuals with cultural knowledge, linguistic skills, and existing relationships with immigrant communities to help produce positive programming. 3) Develops connections between young immigrants and local colleges, nonprofits, and other organizations that might support the work. This can be very important for helping develop the next generation of immigrant leaders and allowing them to network with key stakeholders. 4) Allows for data and information collected by local organizations about immigrant communities to be given back to immigrant communities for their own use. 5) Provides an avenue for potential benefits for students that can help their academic and work careers. The most obvious example is as a tool for building resumes and college applications, but could potentially include scholarships or access to leadership events for some students. One of the most straightforward options for developing this type of group in Dubuque would be to build off of the success of the Pacific Islander Club and create a student group focused on working to supportthe Marshallese community. Such a program would be structured so that local organizations would provide the students with information and data about issues that are important to the Marshallese community, support for developing programming of the students' choice around those issues, and venues for carrying out that programming. Crescent Community Health Center has explicitly stated its interest in providing data and support to the students, and other organizations have expressed their interest as well. During this research, several ideas for projects were raised that give examples of the kind of activities that this kind of group might undertake: • Students film Marshallese language videos about important health issues, and those videos are played on waiting room televisions at Crescent or other health-care facilities (with English subtitles). • Students create a presentation or performance of Marshallese culture, which is then hosted for both the Marshallese community and the larger population at local venues. • Students learn how to cook nutritious meals, and then either lead classes for Marshallese families or post videos online under a new website. For any communities that decide to develop a program like this, there are a few additional points that should be considered: • Having a location to hold sessions will be important, especially if any specialized equipment is necessary(like video cameras). Holding meetings outside of school 37 property may be the best option, though this would likely require the need to organize transportation. • This kind of program would gain more support from students, parents, and school officials if it also created time for activities outside of the main project, such as help with studying or recreational activities. For example, it was thought that more Marshallese students would be interest if there was also an opportunity to play basketball together after the meeting. In Dubuque, the Boys and Girls Club (which has a gymnasium) expressed interest in supporting more Pacific Islander youth. • During the research, both immigrant families and local stakeholders strongly believed that the group should be open to the wider public, and not just immigrant students. While the group could still focus on issues directly connected to the immigrant community, having students from different backgrounds, races, and ethnicities all working together on the project would be a huge benefit for building connections between students and helping the project impact the wider community. • The program would likely require one or more adult leaders who could help direct activities, make connections with local organizations, and supervise what was taking place. This could potentially require raising additional funding. • This program could potentially be replicated for many different immigrant populations, or for non-immigrant populations as well. A similar group could be developed for serving the Black community, Asian community, or another specific population. If initial implementations of this type of student program are successful, then stakeholders may want to consider piloting groups focused on other communities. 3.2.4 Su�port Early Childhood Reading Early childhood reading proficiency is one ofthe most important indicators of a student's educational outcomes. 3rd grade reading proficiency is a leading indicator predicting high school graduation and career success. Students not proficient by the end of 3rd grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, while 88% of students who do not earn a high school diploma were struggling readers in 3rd grade. This is in large part because 3rd grade is around when students shift from learning to read, to reading to learn.4 The Covid-19 pandemic had a major impact on students throughout the region in terms of reading proficiency, but the impacts are especially troubling for children from immigrant families. At the end of 2021, only 9.42% of English learners in the Dubuque Community School District were reading at grade level proficiency, almost half the rate in 2019 prior to the pandemic(18.34%). 54.46% of Hispanic students were reading at grade-level, as were 4 Weyer, Matthew and Jorge Casares. "Pre-Kindergarten-Third Grade Literacy." National Conference of State Legislatures. 17 December 2019. Available at: https://www.ncsl.or�/research/education/pre-kinder�arten-third-�rade- literacv.aspx#:�:text=Casev%20Foundation%20found%20that%20students,struc�c lin�%20readers%20 in%20third%20�rade. 38 only 12.18% of Pacific Islanders.s Supporting early childhood reading education for these students will play a major role in their long-term educational outcomes. Unfortunately, there are additional barriers that immigrant students face when it comes to reading proficiency. English language learners may struggle with reading and need additional support and practice to gain proficiency in a second language. But on top of that, some immigrant populations in Dubuque and the surrounding region also speak languages that are less frequently spoken in the U.S., resulting in fewer available books written in those languages. There are few pieces of children's literature written in Marshallese and Mayan dialects, limiting how well non-English-speaking students and families can engage in literacy activities. On top of that, Marshallese and most Mayan dialects come from traditionally oral traditions. Reading in these languages may not be a familiar or common practice among many people within the community. This is especially true of Guatemalan Mayans, many of whom are most proficient at reading in English or Spanish, since Ixil and K'iche' are not commonly written dialects. These challenges, taken with the disconnect from institutions and organizations that many immigrant families face, mean that promoting reading proficiency in immigrant populations is a difficult challenge. One of the best ways to try to improve literacy for immigrant children is by engaging directly with families and social networks. Due to the limits facing schools and the barriers that already exist, local stakeholders should reach out to immigrant families and leaders to create a larger engagement in a child's education. In addition, many immigrants live in multigenerational homes, meaning that parents, siblings, grandparents, and other relatives may be available to help support a child's education. Involving key community leaders in educational efforts has also produced results (see models to consider). A concerted outreach to families may be the best means for engagement on reading proficiency. Local stakeholders should also support the creation of more bilingual resources and their availability in schools, libraries, and other locations. The Community Foundation has produced a children's book titled "Be a Healthy You! in Dubuque"that has been translated into both Spanish and Marshallese,b and there are lists online of other books that are written in Marshallese.' Having more books available that immigrant families can take advantage of is an important part of encouraging growth in literacy. Communities should also consider dedicated literacy efforts focused on specific immigrant populations. While adding multilingual texts to existing literacy programs is an important step, utilizing specific teaching techniques and practices aimed at immigrant groups could produces the greatest results. The "models to consider" section includes potential techniques for Marshallese students that could be incorporated into a program. 5 lowa School Performance Profiles, 2019 and 2021.Available at: https://www.iaschoolperformance.�ov/ECP/Home/Index 6 For more information, see: https://dbqfoundation.or�/news/new-childrens-book-be-a-health�you-in- dubuque '"Marshallese children's books." Marshallese Manit. (www.marshallese-manit.ora). Available at: https://marshallese-manit.orc�/post-librar�jukle/marshallese-childrens-books/ 39 Models to consider: • The Pacific Islander population in Maquoketa has seen success by having strong community engagement for the education of their children. Local leaders are highly involved with the school district and participate regularly in conversations with school principals and parent-teacher conferences. This level of involvement has produced much better educational outcomes for students, and could be a valuable model to replicate, especially in areas with smaller communities with strong social connections. • Melanie Carbine is a Doctoral Student in Multilingual Education and Literacy, Culture, and Language Education at the University of lowa who has experience teaching in the Marshall Islands and expertise in educational techniques for Marshallese individuals. She considers the following techniques as possible strategies for improving literacy for Marshallese youth: o Accessing a collection of bilingual Marshallese basal readers (textbooks used to teach reading) currently being developed in the Republic of the Marshal Islands. o Emphasizing cooperative participant structures where children work in groups to read or write together(such as taking turns reading). o Utilizing storytellers and incorporating storytelling in reading and writing. o Incorporating oral presentations into literacy work(she notes that Marshallese are known as the speechmakers of the Pacific). o She has had successtranslanguaging atthe high-school level, meaning teaching in both English and Marshallese and having students utilize both languages in their work. o She is also working on developing family literacy kits, Marshallese children's books, a book of nursery rhymes, Marshallese/English magnet letter sets, and audio books. • The 2Gen approach detailed by the Aspen Institute of engaging multiple generations in an immigrant family could be a valuable tool for helping build literacy. This approach is discussed more in Recommendation 2.2.6 on page 23. o htt�s://www.aspeninstitute.orc�/proarams/community-strate�ies-�roup/famil� economic-success/2ai/ 3.2.5 Provide Additional Workforce Develo�ment Options for Immiqrant Youth (Guatemalan Unaccompanied Minors� This recommendation also appears as Recommendation 3.7.6 under Workforce and Employment Providing immigrant students with clear pathways to family-sustaining careers should be a priority. Enabling immigrant students to pursue education and training that will connect them to high-paying, qualityjobs will be a powerful driver in improving the livelihoods of immigrant families and boosting local economic growth. With immigrant populations being 40 some of the fastest growing demographics in the region, it is critical that young people are able to be quickly and seamlessly connected to good jobs. A population that should receive specific attention is local Guatemalan Unaccompanied Minors. A recent change now allows individuals with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) - a temporary status often pursued by Guatemalan unaccompanied minors -to get work authorizations. This is an important change, as it will allow many of these individuals to financially support themselves while they continue their court case. Because many of these individuals will be under the age of 18, it is very important that the community should engage with them and support them around work and career opportunities. Connecting these individuals to safe and well-paying jobs, as well as training and education that can lead to good career opportunities, is important for supporting this population and helping to provide a sustainable economic future. Some local organizations (including NICC, the Dubuque Community School District, and Tri- State VIATS) are already working on how to best engage and support these students. This work should be continued, with an emphasis put on skills training programs for those students who are struggling to get their high school degree. Previous education levels can vary significantly for unaccompanied minors who come to Dubuque, and so helping connect those who are struggling with good career opportunities is important. There are also other potential options that should be considered when it comes to developing education and workforce training programs for these SIJS recipients: • Pair the unaccompanied minors, and especially girls who may face greater barriers to obtaining well-paying career opportunities, with appropriate mentors in their field of study. For example, if Guatemalan girls are considering NICC's welding program, connecting them with a female welder from a local business who can provide additional support could provide a valuable asset in helping the participant complete their training program. • Utilize a "Guatemalan Mentor" position to help focus on career opportunities for students still in school. The Guatemalan Mentor position is described in more detail on pa�e 35. A challenge for this community will be to help these SIJS recipients, many of whom are still in high school, to balance the need to work with the need to study for school and improve their English. An area for future consideration would be designing a "fellowship" or work program where students were paid a living wage, learned a skill on the job, and were provided with time and support for schoolwork and/or English lessons. Such a program would need a strong host organization and would likely require additional financial support. 3.2.6 Achieve Greater Representation in Classrooms As immigrant populations continue to increase within the community, it is important that school environments are welcoming places for those students. A large part of this is students being able to see themselves reflected in the learning and curriculum that is taught in 41 schools. Research indicates that representation of children in toys, books, media, and the classroom can have a significant impact on their development and well-being.$Yet frequently immigrant populations are significantly underrepresented in textbooks, literature, and school curriculums. Schools across the region have made strong efforts to increase welcoming efforts for immigrant students and include greater representation in curriculum and materials. But a significant gap still exists. Schools should work to include classroom decorations, reading materials, celebrations, and other efforts that reflect the growing diversity within the community. This can be as simple as making sure there are Latino dolls at a preschool or celebrating Marshallese Constitution Day near the end of the school year. Making sure immigrant students feel recognized and represented in school will not only make them feel more welcome but may result in improved educational outcomes. Models to consider: • Sioux City, lowa, has one of the highest percentages of students from immigrant families of anywhere in the state. As a result, they have done a lot of work adapting their school district to be welcoming and support immigrant students. o https://hechin�erreport.or�/diverse-future-of-the-midwest-has-alread� arrived-in-one-iowan-school/ 3.2.7 Enga4e International College Students This recommendation also appears as Recommendation 2.4.3 under Cultural Events Interviews and discussions during the Community Assessment suggest that connecting international college students to cultural organizations should be a focus for the region. International students are often eager to engage with new cultural offerings, but their unfamiliarity with their new home and barriers like expense and transportation can often keep them from seeking out local opportunities. The region would benefit from this population developing closer ties with local arts and culture organizations. Helping attract and retain talented international students and convincing them to make this region their long-term home will significantly benefit the local economy, culture, and community. Outreach to this population should involve partnership between arts and culture organizations and local higher education institutions, with a specific focus on connecting to international students (or at least students who are new to Dubuque). Making the opportunities easily accessible and highly visible will be important for students who are trying to adjust to a new home. In addition, reducing barriers like transportation or the cost of attendance and arranging events at times that are the most convenient for students will be $ Barga, Arianna. "The importance of children's representation in literature and media. Humanium. 22 March 2022. Available at: https://www.humanium.or�/en/the-importance-of-childrens-representation- i n-I iteratu re-a nd-med ia/ 42 important for making programming successful. Doing this could lead to great long-term benefits as international students build a relationship with the local community. For more information about international student retention and H-1 B visas as part of workforce development, see pa�e 78. Health 3.3.1 Hire Additional Navi ag tors This recommendation also appears as Recommendation 2.3.1 under Navigators and 3.6.2 under Translation and Interpretation One of the most imposing barriers facing residents of this region is the challenge of navigating support systems. Understanding what step to take next, how to fill out a form correctly, or who to call for help can be extremely difficult for many people, and especially lower income individuals.9 For immigrants these problems may be compounded by a lack of familiarity with local systems, language challenges, and a cultural or societal fear of being seen as causing problems. Some immigrants may simply avoid seeking services instead of dealing with the potential forfailure and humiliation. The addition of navigators can be a major benefit for helping resolve these issues. Navigators are individuals employed or utilized by service providers to help assist community members with accessing services. The best navigators are those that are both trained in the requirements of service systems and come from the communities they serve, providing them with the language and cultural knowledge to effectively help. These navigators can leverage trust and relationships within immigrant communities to make sure that a greater number of people are able access important services. Hiring additional navigators, especially at organizations or government departments that regularly serve immigrant communities, can be an extremely beneficial way to improve engagement with local populations. Excellent examples of valuable immigrant navigators already exist within Dubuque. These include community health workers at Crescent Community Health Center, paraprofessionals at the Dubuque Community School District, family navigators at Child Health Specialty Clinics, and staff at the Northeast lowa Community College. Many other organizations, such as institutes of higher education, also have staff that, while not navigators, may frequently serve a navigator role. Several navigator positions were also created as a result of collaborations connected with this research, including the Guatemalan Mentor program and the Marshallese community connector at the Visiting Nurse Association (see Projects and 9 See the following link for an article discussing some of the challenges of navigating government support services: Lowrey, Annie. "The Time Tax." The Atlantic. 27 July 2021. Available at: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/07/how-�overnment-learned-waste-�our-time- tax/619568/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/07/how-�overnment-learned-waste- vour-time-tax/619568/ 43 Accomplishments Connected with the CommunityAssessment in the Implementation Guide). This is by no means an exhaustive list of navigators in the region, but is meant to be provide examples of existing navigators who are members of local immigrant communities. However, while hiring navigators is an undoubtedly powerful tool for helping improve access to services for immigrant populations, it should not be seen as a substitute for capacity and power building. Navigators can serve an important role, but still are meant to move forward the mission of the organization they work for and follow the direction of their(usually non- immigrant) managers and bosses. This is a very valuable and necessary part of how service organizations in this region work, and navigation plays a critical role in helping to provide equitable access to systems. But it should still not be seen as a replacement for advocacy and power building within immigrant communities. The role of navigators is especially important in healthcare. Health services can be an intimidating experience, especially if there are language and cultural barriers. Misinformation about medical issues can be common, especially during a health crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic. Understanding what information is correct or how to best engage with complex systems like insurance or medical billing can be very difficult for community leaders and volunteers that are supporting immigrant families. Having a trusted individual who is knowledgeable about health-care systems and paid to assist members of their local community can be a huge asset. Health-care providers and related organizations should consider creating more navigator positions staffed by members from immigrant communities, such as community health workers or community connectors. An example of previously recommended program that can fulfill some of the roles of a navigator position is the Natural Helper program. While this is not a substitute for having a paid staff position dedicated to navigation, training and compensating immigrant volunteers to help members of their communities navigate systems can increase access to services. The Natural Helper program is described in more detail in Recommendation 2.1.3 on pa�e 16. 3.3.2 Provide Funds for Uncovered Medical Expenses The expansion of Medicaid has done a lot to help cover medical expenses, and there are other existing systems for helping with uncovered costs. Hospitals often provide significant financial support to uninsured individuals, providing care even if there is no expected payment. And many nonprofits and government offices provide additional funding to help with medical bills, often raised through grants, donations, or the allocation of government funding. This means that there are many existing services that can support individuals with uncovered medical costs. However, many of these services have specific requirements and limitations, and understanding which are applicable can be challenging. Funding sources may not be available due to: • The nature of the cost(if it was a cost like transportation that came outside of the hospitals system), 44 • The residency status of the individual (only green card holders or U.S. citizens are eligible for some funding), • The income level of the individual, • Whetherthe individual had any outstanding bills or had been helped bythe program before, • If the procedure is considered "necessary" (for example, Dubuque for Refugee Children has needed to raise money from supporters for clients to have their wisdom teeth removed); and • Other considerations that might determine whether an individual is qualified for that funding. Due to the confusion that exists around these different support services, having trained navigators available to help immigrant families can be very important for ensuring that funding is accessed regularly and efficiently(see the previous recommendation). In addition, the gaps in funding mean that there are many expenses that regularly go uncovered within this region. These outstanding costs can create serious problems for immigrants such as delayed treatments or rising medical debt. Many nonprofit organizations, such as the Presentation Lantern Center, raise funds to help provide emergency support for medical needs. However, these funds are often limited and cannot cover all costs. Communities should consider creating pools of collective funding designed as a funding option of last resort for immigrant medical costs. Allowing nonprofit organizations and other service providers to apply for these funds on behalf of immigrants could improve access to care and reduce medical debt. It is important than any collected funding option is designed in a way that it does only cover those uncovered costs, as otherwise it would be simply replacing the work of already existing funding sources, instead of its intended purpose of benefiting immigrant families. Models to consider • The Marshallese Health Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque provides funding to help cover otherwise uncovered costs incurred by Marshallese families related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Fund provides support with medical bills, housing and utility assistance, and other important costs through partnership with trusted nonprofit organizations. The Fund was launched by Dr. Mark Janes, a local pulmonologist concerned about the toll Covid-19 was taking on members of the Marshallese Community. o https://dbqfoundation.or�/aivin�-center/dubuque-marshallese-health-fund 3.3.3 Provide Brain Health Services While this region has made significant progress in providing health-care services to immigrant populations, one area where major gaps still exist is with brain health services. A recent Brain Health Needs Assessment, commissioned by Dubuque County and the Mental 45 Health and Disability Services of the East Central Region and conducted by the Community Foundation, found that: 1) There was a significant lack of counseling services within Dubuque County, leading to few available slots and long wait times throughout the region; and 2) An even larger gap exists for immigrants and individuals whose primary language is not English.'o Counseling is a very personal and sensitive practice, requiring trust between the counselor and the patient. This means that many practitioners in the area are understandably uncomfortable with holding counseling sessions across languages and cultures. Advocates and nonprofit organizations struggle to find brain health services for immigrant individuals, even when they are able to provide translation. This lack of services is in addition to the cultural taboos around brain health in some immigrant populations, where counseling and treatment for brain health needs are seen as something a "crazy" person would do, and not as a legitimate issue requiring medical diagnosis. This means that for many immigrants, challenges like stress, anxiety, and depression often go untreated due to either an unwillingness to seek treatment or because of insufficient available services. Being able to fully address the brain health needs of immigrants would necessitate addressing the larger challenges around a lack of general capacity. This would require a significant increase in resources and effort, and is outside the scope of this research. However, there are several potential programs that can help address some of the needs around brain health for immigrants through more targeted interventions: • Recruit additional practitioners serving immigrant communities. The most straightforward way to address this gap is to increase the number of practitioners that serve immigrants. Hiring additional counselors with language skills and the cultural competency to work with individuals from other populations will increase the availability of services for immigrants. Hiring counselors that look like or come from the same background as immigrant populations can also provide value, as it can help immigrants feel more comfortable accessing services. • Train existing practitioners. There are a number of brain health practitioners in the region who can provide training to improve local capacity to serve immigrants. Dr. Naomi Ford at the lowa Refugee Counseling Center in lowa City has offered to provide training to interested practitioners, and other trainings may help provide additional capacity. • Group Brain Health Sessions. Due to the reluctance of some immigrants to seek formal brain health services, holding free group sessions focused on trauma or other issues may be a more accessible option. Providing a less formal, free group session in the individual's first language can help address some brain health needs and serve as an onramp to more extensive services. For an example, see the Beyond Trauma program under"Models to consider." 'o The Brain Health Needs Assessment is available at: https://dbqfoundation.or�/pdf/resources/Dubuque Countv Brain Health Needs Assessment 2022. � 46 • Additional support to students. The region's local schools have been doing an impressive job in offering additional brain health support to students in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is important the school officials make sure that these services are accessible and usable by immigrant students, and that those students feel that the services are available to them. Models to consider: • The lowa Refugee Counseling Center in lowa City, which is housed by the nonprofit organization IC Compassion, provides both individual and group counseling services for immigrants and refugees. They also provide additional counseling and immigration related services such as assessments for asylum proceedings. o https://www.iccompassion.or�/refu�eecounselin� • The Beyond Trauma (also known as ESPERE) program uses a restorative justice model to help adult immigrants who have experienced trauma. Beyond Trauma classes, which are conducted by the group Adelante Mujeres in Oregon, use a group model that works with individuals over a series of sessions. There are individuals in Dubuque with experience providing this service in Spanish to Latino men and women. o https://www.adelantemuieres.or�/bevond-trauma 3.3.4 Offer Trainina for Medical Translation and Interpretation This recommendation also appears as Recommendation 3.6.6 under Translation and Interpretation One significant gap in this region is for licensed medical interpreters and translators, especially for languages like Marshallese that are not commonly spoken throughout much of the United States. Many health-care providers require certified medical translators to make sure that they can correctly translate the technical terms used by staff. However, in many instances these interpreters are not available, and so the providers rely on untrained community members for interpretation. At times, young children have been asked to provide translation when there is no other readily available option. Not only is this potentially inappropriate and could lead to significant mistranslations, but in many cases health-care providers are unable to compensate non-certified interpreters. This region, and especially locations like Dubuque where languages are commonly spoken that do not have readily available translators, should work to develop the support process and funding to help interested community members become certified for medical interpretation. Courses and tests can be expensive and take extensive time, so it will be important to have individuals who can assist with navigating systems and funding to help cover costs. While the best process and programs may vary from area to area, the following is an option that communities could consider: 47 1. The Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters(CCHI)" offers several accreditations that are accepted by many health-care providers. a. For Spanish, Mandarin, and French, CCHI offers its Certified Healthcare Interpreter(CHI) certification. b. For other languages (such as Marshallese), CCHI offers its Core Certification Healthcare Interpreter(CoreCHl) certification. Due to the big lack of interpreters for less commonly spoken languages, this report will primarily discuss the CoreCHl. 2. Applicants for the CoreCHl and CHI certification must meet the following requirements: a. Be at least eighteen years of age. b. Have received a high school diploma or equivalent from any country. c. Be able to demonstrate proficiency in both English and the language of interpretation. This can be done with: i. A high school diploma or equivalent from a country that teaches in the language; ii. Successfully passing a language proficiency test from a reputable testing organization; 1. A list of suggested English language testing options are available at the CCHI site.1z a. The TOEFL Essentials test provided by ETS allows for remote testing online.13 2. Sites such as Language Testing International (LTI) offer widely accepted language proficiency certificates.14 a. LTI does not currently appear to offer language testing in Marshallese. For Marshallese, the Avant STAMP WS test is available and accepted by CCHI.'s iii. Other options are listed in the CCHI Candidate Examination Handbook.16 d. Completion of a minimum of 40 hours of training (not experience) in health- care interpreting." See "Models to consider" below: 3. The CoreCHl examination includes $210 worth of fees. The CHI Examination includes an additional $275 offees. " www cchicertification.orq 12"Frequently Asked Questions."CCHICertification.org.Available at: https://cchicertification.or�/certifications/fac.�/ 13"TOEFL Essentials Test Resources."ETS.org. Available at: https://www.ets.or�/s/toefl-essentials/test- takers/ 14 htt�s://www.lan�ua�etestin�.com/ 's https://avantassessment.com/stamp-ws 16 For more details, see the CCHI Candidate Examination Handbook, available at https://cchicertification.or�/uploads/CCHI Candidate Examination Handbook.pdf. "A list of potential training programs are listed here: https://cchicertification.orc�/prerequisite- pro�rams/ 48 Models to consider: • Heartland Regional Genetics Network provides a medical interpretation training for Marshallese interpreters that fulfills the 40-hour requirement. Several community members have taken part in this training. o https://www.heartlandcollaborative.or� 3.3.5 Offer Traininq for Brain Health Translation and Interpretation This recommendation also appears as Recommendation 3.6.7 under Translation and Interpretation Separate from medical interpretation and translation, brain health18 or counseling interpretation requires additional training and commitment for an interpreter. Due to the personal nature of counseling services, an interpreter may become a major participant in any session. Any interpreter would need to have additional training on how to properly participate in counseling sessions, how to correctly interpret for the brain health specialist, and how to operate ethically and confidentially during the sessions. Trust is a key component of this kind of interpretation, so finding the correct, committed interpreter can be challenging. It is recommended that any effort to recruit translators for counseling sessions be coupled with training and a very thoughtful recruitment process. For more on brain health services for migrants and immigrants, please see pa�e 45. Models to consider: • The lowa Refugee Counseling Center in lowa City holds counseling sessions for refugees and other immigrants. As part of their counseling sessions they use interpreters who are trained by the Center. Dr. Naomi Ford, who runs the Center, is able to provide trainings for interpreters on how to be successful interpreters for brain health sessions. Dr. Ford could be contracted to provide training sessions for community members who are interested in serving as translators. o This training should be accompanied by a training of counselors or brain health providers as well. Both the counselor and the interpreter should understand their roles and how to work cross culturally. o https://www.iccompassion.or�/refu�eecounselin� • The Marjorie Kovler Center, a Chicago-based program providing trauma-informed care to survivors of torture, has previously offered training sessions for interpreters. o https://www.heartlandalliance.or�/pro�ram/mar�orie-kovler-center/ • The National Council on Interpreting in Health Care has produced a working paper titled "A National Code of Ethics for Interpreters in Health Care."This document provides useful information for potential translators and service providers regarding interpretation for brain health. '$The Community Foundation uses the term "brain health"when talking about conditions related to a person's psychological and emotional well-being. The reason for this is to fight against the stigma often associated with the term "mental health." 49 o The manual can be accessed at: https://www.ncihc.or�/assets/z2021 Ima�es/NCIHC%20National%20Code%20 of%20Ethics.pdf. Housing 3.4.1 Advocate for Affordable, Qualitv Housinq One of the most direct avenues for increasing access to housing for immigrant populations is to improve housing access for everyone in the community. The deficit in quality, affordable housing is a larger regional challenge, and without addressing it more broadly any immigrant-specific initiatives will be less effective. This means that organizations and individuals that support immigrant populations should also advocate for an increase in quality housing for low-income families. Models to consider • The Dubuque Equitable Poverty Reduction and Prevention Plan lists a number of potential recommendations for improving overall housing affordability and quality, including enacting a source of income ordinance, training resident housing inspectors, and increasing funding for legal representation for residents facing eviction. Recommendations regarding Section 8 and Housing Choice Vouchers generally only apply to immigrants who have received their green card or citizenship. o https://www.cityofdubuque.or�/povert�prevention 3.4.2 Provide Additional Traininqs on Tenants Rights One of the effective ways to push back on unfair or exploitative housing practices is to empower immigrants to be able to advocate for themselves. Residents are better able to protect their interests when they understand the law, what options are available, and who they can turn to for assistance regarding housing issues. While a number of tenant rights trainings have been conducted in this region, there is still a lack of knowledge and confidence among many immigrant groups. Providing interpretation or presentations in other languages would also improve immigrant advocacy. Experts looking to provide trainings should consider ways of improving outreach into immigrant communities (see the section on Outreach on pa�e 20). Models to consider: • The lowa Legal Aid Fair Housing Project has provided trainings on tenants' rights aimed at immigrant communities. o https://www.iowale�alaid.or�/issues/housin� • The organization Centro Legal De La Raza offers both immigrant rights and tenant rights services, allowing them to help immigrant families across multiple areas. Tenant 50 rights trainings include both "know your rights"trainings as well as clinics that allow attorneys to learn about a tenant's situation and provide advice and referrals. o https://www.centrole�al.orc�/ 3.4.3 Practice Outreach to Landlords One housing challenge facing immigrants is the smaller pool of landlords who show or clearly communicate a willingness to rent to immigrant families. Landlords may feel uncomfortable renting to immigrants due to language concerns or a lack of understanding about an immigrant's culture or legal status. Others may be willing to rent to immigrants, but have little connection with immigrant communities and are unknown by those populations. Because many immigrants may not trust an unknown landlord or may be afraid of discrimination or a hostile reception, they may rely on using only landlords they know and not pursuing new housing opportunities. These circumstances limit housing options available to immigrants, forcing them to utilize more expensive or lower quality options. Advocates, nonprofit organizations, and government officials should conduct outreach to local landlords regarding renting to immigrant families. By having advocates and other allies make connections with landlords willing to rent to immigrants, it will create a growing pool of potential housing options which will increase household availability, quality, and affordability. This would also provide an opportunity for education on immigrant issues, reducing the concerns of landlords over renting to immigrant communities. And it would give advocates an opportunity to provide a simple screening of landlords, allowing them to quickly identify any landlords who would be particularly unwelcoming of immigrant tenants. While this kind of outreach could be done informally by volunteers, utilizing a more formal program connected with local housing departments or nonprofit organizations may allow advocates to contact a greater number of landlords and provide greater reassurance to landlords concerned about renting to immigrant tenants. Models to consider • The City of Dubuque's 2019 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice report identifies targeted outreach and education of landlords unwilling to accepted Housing Choice Vouchers as one of its priority actions. A similar effort could be used with landlords around renting to immigrant families. The report also recommends implementing communication and trust-building activities for landlords and tenants such as "Meet and Lease" events. Similar events could also help build trust between potential landlords and immigrant tenants. o https://www.cityofdubuque.orq/DocumentCenter/View/44569/City of Dubua ue 2019 Analysis of Impediments • The International Rescue Committee launched a messaging campaign to tenants regarding the benefits of renting to refugees and Afghan evacuees. o https://www.rescue.or�/announcement/landlords-rentin�-refu�ees-and- af�han-evacuees 51 3.4.4 Form an Immigrant Housinq Ally Coalition As noted in the previous recommendation, some landlords may be reluctantto rentto immigrants. This could be due to a lack of cultural understanding, concerns about language barriers, uncertainty about an individual's immigration status, doubts about the individual's ability to maintain a consistent income, or a host of other concerns, whether grounded in truth or not. One of the underlying causes running through each of these concerns is an absence of trust, often brought on by preconceived notions about immigrants or inexperience with that community. While this trust can be built over time through exposure and relationships with immigrant individuals, the initial barrier can make it difficult for landlords and immigrants to reach an agreement. There may be an opportunity for advocates and allies to play a role in improving trust between landlords and immigrant tenants by serving as references and supports for immigrants. Having a coalition of volunteers or organizational staffthat engages from the beginning with a landlord on behalf of an immigrant and that provides assistance during initial negotiations could be a major support to an immigrant looking to move into an unfamiliar location. Connecting a landlord with a team oftwo orthree individuals or organizations who can help with translation, communication, and assurances about concerns like legal status may make that landlord more willing to work with immigrant families. This support can also continue after the immigrant has moved into the new housing, providing additional advocacy and communication. For example, the coalition could work with the landlord if the tenant falls behind in rent, help explain new policies to the immigrant family, or negotiate in the case of a conflict or issue. This could provide the tenant with additional support and advocacy and reassure the landlord that the tenant will be reliable. Models to consider • Advocates for domestic violence survivors sometimes work with landlords in order to create partnerships that help survivors find housing and reduce the risk of conflict or eviction. Many of the strategies utilized by these advocates could potentially be valuable to advocates for immigrants as well. Safe Housing Partnerships provides a strategy guide for survivor advocates working with landlords, and Violence Free Colorado provides a toolkit that includes suggestions for engaging with landlords. o Safe Housing Partnerships: https://safehousinc�partnerships.or�/sites/default/files/2020- 10/Landlords Evictions En�aaement NASH 1.pdf; o Violence Free Colorado: https://www.violencefreecolorado.or�/w.� content/uploads/2018/09/Toolkit-for-Addressin�-Housin�-Barriers-for-Victims- of-Domestic-Violence-updated-9.2018.pdf • While this kind of support can be done by one individual or organization, it may be valuable to have a coalition of individuals and organizations work together. Multiple contacts would provide additional reassurances for landlords, reduce the burden on any one advocate, and help avoid any key-individual risks. See the section Case Management "Networks"on pa�e 29 for a possible model for this type of program. 52 3.4.5 Provide Su�port for Mortgaqes Support for home ownership is also a major need among certain immigrant communities. While the small numbers in question make it difficult for Census Bureau estimates to give exact numbers, data seems to indicate that a minority of immigrant families own their own home. For example, between 2015 and 2020, the American Community Survey estimated than anywhere from 22 to 0 Pacific Islander households in Dubuque were owned by the occupants.19 Within the past year, a Guatemalan Mayan individual became one of the first in her community to obtain a mortgage and purchase a house. In lowa, 50% of foreign-born households are owner-occupied, compared to 72%for the native population.20 Home ownership is a powerful goal for residents in this region, not only because of the stability and homelife benefits that it can bring, but also because it provides families with an opportunity to build equity in their homes. With immigrant's living in poverty at more than two times the rate of the native-born population,21 this avenue of building assets could be valuable for accumulating long-term wealth. However, immigrants often face challenges obtaining mortgages due to poor credit history, debt, limited relationships with financial lenders, and other barriers. Immigration status can also be a significant challenge. Supporting immigrants with accessing mortgages and with home ownership will help create that financial growth and increase retention of immigrant families within this area. Both immigrant support organizations and financial institutions should consider strategies to increase home ownership among immigrant populations. Models to consider: • The Tri-State VIATS and other Dubuque-area partners raised money to help a Guatemalan woman make a down payment for a mortgage to buy a new house. This kind of financial support can be beneficial for helping overcome initial hurdles for accessing financing. • The International Institute of St. Louis provides multiple supports for immigrants looking to buy a home. These include trainings, such as a housing workshop that explains different loans, and a homebuyer's training course. They also offer Individual Development Accounts, where participants save money towards an asset purchase, and funds are matched by funding provided by the United Way and Office of Refugee Resettlement. For first-time home buyers, they can receive a 3:1 match of up to $8,000 total, as long as they stay involved in the program for 6 to 24 months and participate in training at the Institute. As part of the process, the Institute also helps them access a secured loan for their home purchase. o https://www.iistl.or�/ 19 American Community Survey, 2015 through 2020 5-year estimates.Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 20 American Community Survey, 2020 5-year estimates.Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 21 American Community Survey, 2021 5-year estimates.Available at: https://www.census.�ov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/data-profiles/ 53 • The Resurrection Project developed TRP Lending, a non-profit mortgage lender in Illinois that is aimed at providing mortgages to low- and moderate-income households that may lack access to conventional financing. Financial products offered to immigrants have low monthly payments and no requirements to pay for private mortgage insurance, among other benefits. O https://resurrectionproject.or�/affordable-mort�aae-lendin�/ Legal Assistance 3.5.1 Connect with Immiqration Attorneys One of the valuable assets in this region is the presence of attorneys who can represent individuals in immigration court proceedings. Both through immigration lawyers at organizations like Catholic Charities and Path of Hope and through dedicated private attorneys who represent immigrants in legal proceedings, the legal advocacy in the region provides an important service to local immigrants. As Figure 1 on the next page shows, of counties in lowa with at least 100 immigration court cases currently pending (as of June 2022), Dubuque County had the second highest rate of representation at 69.6%. This doesn't necessarily show the full need for immigration legal services (due to immigrants not pursuing cases because of a lack of representation), but does give a sense of the amount of legal representation provided compared to other counties in lowa. This support is extremely valuable for ensuring that immigrant community members are able to be represented in immigration court, or at the least to receive a consultation about their case. Yet this level of support can be precarious. In rural communities a sudden influx of new immigrants with court cases can overwhelm the available representation, and the loss of even one attorney(due to moving, illness, etc.) can leave a community understaffed. In addition, due to the importance of legal activities that take place outside of immigration court(such as submitting I-94 forms or applying for citizenship), there is almost always a need for additional legal capacity for immigrants. Because ofthis, the region should place a priority in ensuring that there is sufficient access to quality legal services for immigrants. If such services become scarce, it is very possible that immigrants will face worse outcomes in court, or that immigrants will rely on unethical attorneys or those without adequate training in immigration law for their legal needs. 54 Figure 1: Rate of Representation in Immigration Court by Individual's Count of Residence (Minimum 100 case) - lowa � - . . - � • - � . - . - - . - - - . - . - - - . Crawford County 390 306 78.5% Dubuque County 102 71 69.6% Emmet County 120 83 69.2% Woodbury County 1,328 898 67.6% Hamilton County 203 133 65.5% Wright County 398 260 65.3% Muscatine County 121 77 63.6% Marshall County 137 86 62.8% Black Hawk County 340 213 62.6% Wapello County 290 179 61.7% Johnson County 634 390 61.5% Sioux County 732 441 60.2% Dallas County 308 180 58.4% Polk County 2,501 1,457 58.3% Linn County 419 234 55.8% Pottawattamie County 151 83 55.0% Scott County 136 71 52.2% Allamakee County 192 100 52.1% Clarke County 100 52 52.0% Franklin County 133 69 51.9% Buena Vista County 291 150 51.5% Source: University of Syracuse TRAC System - https://trac.syr.edu/ Models to consider: • A nonprofit organization called Vecina connects volunteer attorneys to immigration court cases, providing the attorneys with additional mentoring and training on immigration law as well. This increases the capacity of pro-bono legal services for immigrants while ensuring that lawyers have some training in immigration law and avoid doing anything that may harm their client. o https://vecina.orc�/ • The New York Immigrant Family Unit Project is working to provide a publicly funded lawyer to every detained or incarcerated immigrant in the state. Immigrants are generally not provided with a public defender for immigration court cases or deportation hearings. o https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/22463009/biden-new-york- immi�rant-access-lawyer-court 55 3.5.2 Provide Su�port for Fees & Completinq Forms As detailed above, the amount of paperwork involved in navigating the immigration system is significant and can act as a major challenge for immigrant families and a disincentive for pursuing necessary help and services. The same is true of the fees required for immigrant applications. In addition, making mistakes or omissions on a form can lead to that application being rejected.22 Being able to provide support for immigrant families looking to make legal applications can make those applications both more feasible and more successful. Both volunteers and staff at local organizations provide support with filling out forms. Volunteers from within immigrant communities and the larger pool of immigrant activists frequently play an important role in helping prepare documentation for immigration submissions due to the unmet need that exists within the region. While their efforts should be celebrated, at times the informal nature of their work means that the process can be inefficient(because they are dealing with new paperwork they have not seen before) and may possibly lead to errors or mistakes. A better option will usually be a more formal volunteer program (where volunteers can be given training or guidance on how to fill out forms), or paid staff and social workers assisting with documents. Having dedicated resources who are compensated for their work available to help with paperwork can be a major benefit for immigrant communities. For more information on navigators, see the Navigator section on pa�e 24. An additional need identified during the course of this research is around fees for family members who have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE). Individuals in detention face significant costs, such as fees for telephone calls. Maintaining communication between a detained individual and their family can be very important, but many immigrants are unable to afford these calls, especially when they are isolated from their community.23 During the Covid-19 pandemic there were several efforts by local volunteers and organizations in Dubuque to raise money to help with costs and fees for immigrant families with a member in detention. Being able to help with fee payments, either by fully covering them or reducing the amount, can have a major impact on the well-being of immigrant families. In this region this has both been accomplished by organizations utilizing grant funding to cover costs, and by fundraising to create a pool of money that can be accessed by immigrant families. Communities should consider organizing and growing a pool of available funding to help low-income immigrants cover fees. 22 For example, see"Insider alert: No more room for error in visa applications?"Boundless Immigration. 27 November 2018. Available at: https://www.boundless.com/blo�/insider-alert-no-room-error-visa- a�plications/#:�:text=USCIS%20announced%20a%20new%20policy,effect%20on%20September%20 1 1%2C%202018. 23 Najmabadi, Shannon. "Detained migrant parents have to pay to call their family members. Some can't afford to." The Texas Tribune. 3 July 2018. Available at: https://www.texastribune.or�/2018/07/03/separated-mi�rant-families-char�ed-phone-calls-ice/ 56 Models to consider: • Crescent Community Health Center employs both social workers and community health workers who can work with members of immigrant communities on issues like I-94 completions or passport renewals. Crescent also utilizes grant money to help offset the costs of these filings for immigrant populations. o https://crescentchc.orc�/ • The Presentation Lantern Center has a fund that is replenished annually through donations that is aimed at helping cover fee costs for citizenship applications or other immigration-related applications. o https://thelanterncenter.or�/home/ • The Mission Asset Fund in San Francisco provides 0% interest loans for immigrant application fees like citizenship, green cards, or DACA. This provides immigrants with financial support and allows them to rebuild credit history as they repay the loan. o https://www.missionassetfund.or�/immi�ration-pro�rams/ 3.5.3 Develop a Guardianship Website This recommendation also appears as Recommendation 3.1.5 under Case Management Upon arriving in lowa, many unaccompanied minors move forward with their immigration court case by applying for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). This status provides the minor with a legal residency status in the U.S. and opens a pathway to applying for a green card and eventually citizenship. As part of applying for SIJS, the minor also becomes involved in a juvenile court proceeding that makes determinations that are important for SIJS. As part of this process, the juvenile court will also appoint a guardian for the minor to help ensure that the child's needs are being met. Guardians can play an important role in helping unaccompanied minors access services and navigate unfamiliar systems. However, because there is not a formally established system for identifying guardians, this can often cause issues. It is generally the responsibility of the minor and their advocates to identify a person willing to be a guardian. This often results in the minor's attorney, a nonprofit staff person, or a volunteer soliciting help from people they know in order to secure a guardian. This can lead to two issues. The first is that the minor and their advocates are unable to find an acceptable guardian before the minor ages out of the juvenile court system, thereby undermining their ability to apply for SIJS. In lowa, guardianship must be established before the minor turns 18, and judges may be unwilling to grant guardianship if the minor is getting close to that age. If it takes a long time to find an appropriate guardian for the minor, it may pose a significant problem for their immigration court case. Informal systems based on personal networks may draw from a smaller pool of potential guardians. 57 The second issue is that this informal system What is Guardianship? of nonprofit staff/volunteers requesting help from their acquaintances sometimes leads to Guardianship in SIJS cases is not always under-prepared guardians. These guardians well understood, partly because the term may not adequately understand what "guardian" often means different things in guardianship entails and may be less different situations. In this case, the committed to being a guardian, but instead guardian's role is to make sure that the may agree to the position out of necessity or minor's well-being is being addressed as a favor to the person making the request. In and to report back to the court on any some instances, individuals have been issues. The guardian does not have any pressed to serve as guardian to multiple financial responsibility for the child, nor minors. Having guardians who are not fully does the child need to live with the committed to being guardians and who do guardian (though there have been not fully understand what being a guardian instances where this has happened). The entails is a disservice to both the guardian and guardian's job is to try to help figure out to the minor. solutions for financial, housing, and other issues the minor might face, not to take A solution proposed by service providers in care of those issues directly. So, if the the community is to create a more formal unaccompanied minor accidentally system where potential guardians can submit damaged school property and needed to their names to a website hosted by a local pay the school back, the guardian would organization. This website would provide be expected to help figure out a solution information on what being a guardian entails but would not have to cover the payment and other important considerations, and themselves. Anyone interested in would allow potential guardians to submit becoming a guardian or learning more their name and contact information. This should speak with a qualified legal would add them to a list that could be professional for more precise information. accessed by immigration attorneys looking for a guardian forthe unaccompanied minorthey are representing. Such a system could also include: • A background check to help ensure that potential guardians are appropriately screened; • Testimonials to show the experiences of others who have served as guardians; • Training programs, support groups, and other resources to help better support guardians in their new role; and • Other services aimed to help the guardian or minor. Such a system would provide a better process for referring people who are interested in being a guardian, helping to increase the pool of available guardians. It would also help ensure that potential guardians understand what they are signing up for and would reduce the pressure on nonprofit staff and volunteers to always seek out new guardians whenever one is needed. In addition, creating trainings and resources for guardians would improve the help they provide to minors as well as connecting with local social service organizations. 58 Models to consider: • In Dubuque, the Multicultural Family Center(MFC) has been in conversations with Catholic Charities, the Community Foundation, and other advocates about hosting a guardian website. The language and content for the website would be developed by immigration attorneys and other support organizations, while the MFC would conduct background checks and hold the list of potential guardians. Immigrant advocates could then refer potential guardians to the website in order to gain more information and to submit their information. The MFC could also then offer services and opportunities both to the guardians and to the unaccompanied minors. o The guardian list would only be accessible to immigration attorneys representing a minor seeking SIJS to help protect the privacy of those on the I i st. o After multiple discussions with statewide organizations and advocacy groups, this research has not identified another website serving this role within lowa. It could be a model to be used by other lowa communities. 3.5.4 Build Trust with Local Law Enforcement One of the common misconceptions about immigrant populations is that they are frequently responsible for increases in crime. A 2020 study found that immigrants (both undocumented and documented)were much less likely to be arrested for violent crimes, drug offenses, and property crimes than the general population.24 This agrees with earlier studies on arrest rates of immigrants25 as well as evidence that halting refugee resettlement26 and increasing deportation27 does not reduce property or violent crime rates. The most recent data from the University of Syracuse Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) database shows that a majority(70%) of individuals in immigrant detention in the summer of 2019 had not 24 Moyer, Melinda Wenner. "Undocumented immigrants are half as likely to be arrested for violent crimes as U.S.-born citizens."ScientificAmerican. 7 December 2020.Available at: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/undocumented-immi�rants-are-half-as-likely-to-be- arrested-for-violent-crimes-as-u-s-born-citizens/ 25 Nowrasteh, Alex. "Illegal immigrants and crime-Accessing the evidence." Cato Institute. 4 March 2019. Available at: https://www.cato.or�/blo�/ille�al-immi�rants-crime-assessin�-evidence 26 Masterson, Daniel, and Vasil Yasenov. "Does Halting Refugee Resettlement Reduce Crime? Evidence from the US Refugee Ban."American Political Science Review, vol. 115, no. 3, 2021, pp. 1066-1073., doi:10.1017/S0003055421000150. Available at: https://www.cambrid�e.orc�/core/iournals/american- political-science-review/article/does-haltin�-refu�ee-resettlement-reduce-crime-evidence-from-the-us- refu�ee-ban/E1 1 1764FC700841 C5E5FD3FAA2A6BE8C 27 Flagg, Anna. "Deportations reduce crime?That's not what the evidence shows." The New York Times. 23 September 2019.Available at: https://www.nvtimes.com/2019/09/23/upshot/deportations-crime- study.html 59 been convicted of a crime, and approximately 10.7% (or less than 6,000 nationwide)were designated as having a serious criminal conviction on their record.28 Yet a deficit of trust between Figure 2: Individuals in detention by most immigrant populations and law serious criminal conviction,June 2019- U.S. enforcement may result in challenges that can impact a community. If immigrant populations are unwilling to speak with law enforcement, it could preventthem from providing 15.6� �Level 1 Crirne information about other crimes. A �Level2Crim.e lack of familiarity with local laws �Level3Crime �No Conviction and miscommunication with law � enforcement can also lead to some immigrants getting into avoidable 7°� legal trouble. In interviews several law enforcement personnel expressed a desire to improve - communication with immigrant Source: TRAClmmigration and Customs Enforcement populations and explain common Detention—Available: issues in orderto reduce these types https://trac.syr.edu/phptools/immigration/detention/ of problems. There have also been instances within Dubuque County of law enforcement officials targeting or even seeking to intimidate immigrant communities. This kind of activity, even if it does not directly lead to arrests, can have a chilling effect on immigrants of all immigration statuses. Fear of increased police presence can undermine participation in social services and other programming, and may create a significant setback to efforts to build connections between immigrant populations and the larger community. In smaller and rural communities, even the actions of a single law enforcement official can have a major impact on a community's relationship with its immigrant populations. For these reasons improving the rapport and communication channels between immigrant communities and law enforcement can have significant benefits for the community as a whole. Potential options for programming include: • Hosting information sessions for immigrant communities about common legal and public safety issues. • Hosting listening sessions where immigrants can provide feedback to law enforcement about questions and concerns. o While these sessions may focus on specific immigrant communities at different times, they should be made available to as wide an audience as possible 28"Decline in ICE detainees with criminal records could shape agency's response to Covid-19 pandemic."Syracuse University TRAC Immigration System. 3 April 2020.Available at: https://trac.s�r.edu/immi�ration/reports/601/ 60 (especially regarding authorization status) and should be held repeatedly and consistently to increase immigrant trust in the process. • Establishing an immigrant advisory group to help provide input and direction to law enforcement bodies, as well as key points of contact within the community. • Developing, with the assistance of inembers of immigrant communities, a clear and publicly visible protocol for how to use city and/or county resources when required to assist federal immigration authorities. Outlining policies can be an effective way to build additional trust with immigrant communities while reducing the potential for miscommunication. • Adopting clear rules for when and how local officers can inquire into immigration status. This can give better direction to officers about how to use their discretion to ask about immigration status and can increase trust with immigrant communities. Models to consider: • In lowa, the police department in Storm Lake has had success in conducting outreach to immigrant populations and building trusted channels of communication. o https://www.washin�tontimes.com/news/2019/oct/5/storm-lake-police-chief- wa nts-i m m i�ra nts-to-fee I-w/ • The Immigrant Legal Resource Center put together a series of recommendations for Texas law enforcement offices designed to help improve policies and practices when working with immigrant populations. o https://www.ilrc.or�/sites/default/files/resources/2019.08 ilrc movin� texas f orward final.pdf • The National Immigration Forum's program titled Bibles, Badges and Businesses for Immigration Reform engages with law enforcement leaders(as well as business and religious leaders) around issues concerning immigration and immigration reform. o https://immi�rationforum.or�/landin� pa�e/bibles-bad�es-business/ 3.5.5 Advocate for an Independent Immigration Court System One common misperception about immigration is that the immigration court system is a separate and independent court system like other U.S. courts, such as district courts where criminal charges are filed or U.S. Tax Court. Instead, immigration courts are part of the executive branch and the Department of Justice, serving under the Attorney General instead as part of the judicial branch. This has raised several concerns regarding how well immigration courts are able to effectively provide justice to immigrants. Such concerns include: 1) Their placement under the executive branch can make them highly susceptible to political influence, with court decisions changing dramatically depending on who is 61 the Attorney General. The American Bar Association has stated that, "Our current immigration court system cannot meet the standards to which justice demands."z9 2) This system leads to dramatic disparities in the outcome of immigration court cases based on where the court is located and who is serving as a judge.30 3) Legal representation is not guaranteed, and therefore whether an immigrant is able to obtain an immigration attorney to represent them in court has a significant impact on whether the immigrant can secure a successful outcome.31 4) Legal standards for immigration judges are significantly different for judges in other court systems. For example, immigration judges are not required to have previous experience with immigration law.3z These and other concerns have led many advocates to push for the U.S. to change the immigrant court system to an independent system within the judicial branch of the government. Such a change would have an immense impact on local immigrants who are participating in the immigration court system, could reduce the expenses associated with immigration court(such as finding representation for immigrants), and would allow immigrants and immigrant support organizations to have a greater degree of confidence in court outcomes. In addition to advocacy, highlighting the current state of the immigration court system may help the general public better understand the barriers facing recent arrivals. The argument to reform the immigration court system is highlighted in a 2019 report from the American Bar Association that states, "In light of the fundamentally changed nature of the threat to the immigration court system, the overall conclusion of this Update Report... is that the current system is irredeemably dysfunctional and on the brink of collapse, and that the only way to resolve the serious system issues within the immigration court system is through transferring the immigration court functions to a newly-created Article I court." 29"ABA urges Congress to create separate immigration courts."American Bar Association. July 2019. Available at: https://www.americanbar.or�/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2019/07/aba-ur�es- con�ress-to-create/ 30"2019 Update Report,Volume 2 - Reforming the immigration system: Proposals to promote independence, fairness, efficiency, and professionalism."American BarAssociation Commission on Immigration. March 2019. Pg. 64(UD 2-5). Available at: https://www.americanbar.or�/content/dam/aba/publications/commission on immi�ration/2019 refor min� the immi�ration system volume 2.pdf 31 Markowitz, Peter, et al. "Accessing justice: The availability and adequacy of counsel in immigration proceedings."New York Immigrant Representation Study. December 201 1. Page 3. Available at: https://�usticecorps.or�/a�p/u ploads/2020/O6/New-York-I mmi�rant-Representation-Studv-I-NYI RS- Steerin�-Committee-1.pdf 32 Rappaport, Nolan. "How many of our immigration judges are amateurs at immigration law?" The Hill. 23 November 2020. Available at: https://thehill.com/opinion/immi�ration/527104-how-manv-of-our- immi�ration-�ud�es-are-amateurs-at-immi�ration-law/ 62 3.5.6 Issue Communitv-Based ID Cards One additional barrier facing many immigrants is needing to obtain a valid photo ID to access services. Photo IDs can be necessary for everything from qualifying for government programs to applying for utility services to receiving medical care. They can be especially important when working with law enforcement agencies and emergency services. But for many immigrants, obtaining valid photo ID can be challenging. Regulations and requirements in lowa can make it difficult to obtain a driver's license. This is certainly true for undocumented immigrants or those still waiting for their immigration court case, but can also be true for documented immigrants as well. For example, Marshallese residents who need to replace their I-94 form are unable to get a driver's license until it is replaced. Given the difficulties residents have faced receiving an updated I-94, this can limit those individuals' ability to obtain a valid photo ID (for more on I-94s, see the informational box in the Legal Assistance section of the Immigration Community Assessment Implementation Guide). Several communities have worked to resolve this problem by issuing community-based photo IDs. These IDs are not a replacement for a driver's license but can provide residents access to services and resources from which they otherwise might be excluded. There are many models of ID cards (see "Models to Consider" below), but all generally involve local agencies, businesses, and other organizations agreeing to utilize the ID cards as acceptable forms of identification for services. Community-based ID cards can also often be useful for other populations that may struggle to obtain valid photo ID, including elderly people, formerly incarcerated individuals, and people experiencing homelessness. Experience from other community-based ID programs shows that it is best to develop the cards to be useful for as wide a population as possible. This not only makes them more ubiquitous and more widely accepted, but can help avoid any stigma that cards might be "only for immigrants" or "only for the homeless." A community-based ID card could be a valuable addition for Dubuque and for other communities in the region. With a broad enough coalition of government departments, nonprofit organizations, and businesses supporting the cards, it could provide real value to immigrant groups and to entities like law enforcement and emergency services. There are a number of different models for these type of community-based ID card systems (several of which are located below), and a further analysis and discussion of these systems would be necessary to identify which would best meet local needs. Models to consider: • The FaithAction ID program is run by FaithAction International House across several states, including the Central lowa Community ID Card Program in Story County and Marshall County, lowa. The program is focused primarily on immigrants with limited legal status. This program is run by a nonprofit organization in close cooperation with local churches and law enforcement agencies. o https://www.policeforum.or�/assets/CommunityBasedlD.pdf o https://sites.�oo�le.com/view/communityid/home?pli=1 63 • The Johnson County Community ID card is a card issued by the local government in Johnson County, lowa. While it has many similarities to the Central lowa program, a key difference is that the card is administered by the County Auditor's office. o https://www.iohnsoncountviowa.�ov/communitvid • In Texas, San Antonio and Houston use "Enhanced Library Cards" as community- based ID cards. The ID cards include the individuals photograph, address, and date of birth. Basing the card out of the local library system creates several advantages, including connecting the card to an important public resource, utilizing an existing infrastructure for ID cards, and helping avoid stigma surrounding the ID cards. o https://�uides.mvsapl.or�/enhancedlibrarvcard O The following links go to two videos regarding the San Antonio library card in En�lish33 and Spanish.34 Translation and Interpretation 3.6.1 Compensate Community Members for Translation and Interpretation The first recommendation has less to do with increasing the availability of translation and interpretation in the region (though it may help in this regard), and more to do with making sure that those who provide translation and interpretation are fairly compensated. Knowing more than one language is a valuable skill, and individuals who use that skill should be paid for their services whenever possible. It may not always be appropriate or practical, but it is a best practice that should be considered the norm in this region. Doing so not only helps those community members who volunteer their services, but also encourages additional immigrants and multilingual people to offer their services. One common problem for both interpreters and organizations is an uncertainty around how much these services should cost. Many factors go into this calculation, including the experience the individual has, any technical requirements, the necessary timeline for the translation, etc. The appropriate value will also likely change over time. However, a good template may be that used by the City of Dubuque. For translation and interpretation, they provide: • 19 cents per word for written translations, • 25 cents per word for translations that must be completed in 24 hours or less, and • $30 per hour for interpretations or making short videos. These numbers should be reassessed in future years, as appropriate compensation for 2022 may be inadequate in the future due to inflation and other rising costs. 33 Video available at: https://voutu.be/JLmbxF4nsPg 34 Video available at: https://voutu.be/n1 ki8CPJUwM 64 3.6.2 Hire Additional Navigators This recommendation also appears as Recommendation 2.3.1 under Navigators and Recommendation 3.3.1 under Health One of the most effective ways for organizations to ensure available translation or interpretation is to hire staff from within immigrant communities who can serve as navigators. Navigators help resolve one of the most imposing barriers facing residents of this region: the challenge of navigating support systems. Understanding what step to take next, how to fill out a form correctly, or who to call for help can be extremely difficult for many people, and especially lower income individuals.35 For immigrants these problems may be compounded by a lack of familiarity with local systems, language challenges, and a cultural or societal fear of being seen as causing problems. Some immigrants may simply avoid seeking services instead of dealing with the potential for failure and humiliation. The addition of navigators can be a major benefit for helping resolve these issues. Navigators are individuals employed or utilized by service providers to help assist community members with accessing services. The best navigators are those that are both trained in the requirements of service systems and come from the communities they serve, providing them with the language and cultural knowledge to effectively help. These navigators can leverage trust and relationships within immigrant communities to make sure that a greater number of people are able access important services. Hiring additional navigators, especially at organizations or government departments that regularly serve immigrant communities, can be an extremely beneficial way to improve engagement with local populations. Excellent examples of valuable immigrant navigators already exist within Dubuque. These include community health workers at Crescent Community Health Center, paraprofessionals at the Dubuque Community School District, family navigators at Child Health Specialty Clinics, and staff at the Northeast lowa Community College. Many other organizations, such as institutes of higher education, also have staff that, while not navigators, may frequently serve a navigator role. Several navigator positions were also created as a result of collaborations connected with this research, including the Guatemalan Mentor program and the Marshallese community connector at the Visiting Nurse Association (see Projects and Accomplishments Connected with the CommunityAssessment in the Implementation Guide). This is by no means an exhaustive list of navigators in the region, but is meant to be provide examples of existing navigators who are members of local immigrant communities. However, while hiring navigators is an undoubtedly powerful tool for helping improve access to services for immigrant populations, it should not be seen as a substitute for capacity and power building. Navigators can serve an important role, but still are meant to move forward the mission of the organization they work for and follow the direction of their(usually non- 3s See the following link for an article discussing some of the challenges of navigating government support services: Lowrey, Annie. "The Time Tax." The Atlantic. 27 July 2021. Available at: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/07/how-�overnment-learned-waste-�our-time- tax/619568/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/07/how-�overnment-learned-waste- your-time-tax/619568/ 65 immigrant) managers and bosses. This is a very valuable and necessary part of how service organizations in this region work, and navigation plays a critical role in helping to provide equitable access to systems. But it should still not be seen as a replacement for advocacy and power building within immigrant communities. The role of navigators is especially important in healthcare. Health services can be an intimidating experience, especially if there are language and cultural barriers. Misinformation about medical issues can be common, especially during a health crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic. Understanding what information is correct or how to best engage with complex systems like insurance or medical billing can be very difficult for community leaders and volunteers that are supporting immigrant families. Having a trusted individual who is knowledgeable about health-care systems and paid to assist members of their local community can be a huge asset. Health-care providers and related organizations should consider creating more navigator positions staffed by members from immigrant communities, such as community health workers or community connectors. An example of previously recommended program that can fulfill some of the roles of a navigator position is the Natural Helper program. While this is not a substitute for having a paid staff position dedicated to navigation, training and compensating immigrant volunteers to help members of their communities navigate systems can increase access to services. The Natural Helper program is described in more detail in Recommendation 2.1.3 on �aae 16. 3.6.3 Utilize Available National and State Translation and Interpretation Services Sometimes accessing national and state services can be the simplest way to communicate with immigrant populations. For example, many organizations in this region (such as hospitals) utilize LanguageLine Solutions36 to have consistent access to interpretation services for clients. These options can be valuable resources, especially for organizations that require frequent translation and interpretation services. However, they can also be expensive, and interpretation is generally considered most effective when it is done in-person. Having an interpreter from the community that is known to the client can also be valuable for building trust. So while these options should be utilized as needed, it is also important for communities to develop local resources for interpretation and translation. Some potential options that are available include: • Language Line Solutions (www.lan�ua�eline.com) offers a wide variety of languages for interpretation, and includes the use of technology like teleconferencing. • Capital Linguists (www.capitallin�uists.com) provides translation and interpretation services, including in Marshallese and several Afghan languages. 36 www lan�ua�eline.com 66 • The lowa Interpreters and Translators Association, Inc. (www.iitanet.ora/) is an organization with a membership of accredited lowa-based interpreters and translators, and includes a directory of interpreters and translators. 3.6.4 Create a Local Translation and Interpretation Database As discussed above, there is often a local need for interpreters and translators who can be available to assist in different situations. There are currently a number of individuals in this region who provide these services, some of whom have specialized skills like training in medical translation. While most of these individuals do not have the accreditation to be listed and used by organizations as a licensed translator or interpreter, they still provide incredibly valuable services on a regular basis. Yet it would be a significant benefit if these translation services became more standardized and easily accessible. Currently in many parts of this region, if someone needs translation or interpretation, they either reach out to one or two community members they have a relationship with, or else contact local organizations looking for referrals. This can lead to certain individuals being overused, or challenges if a regularly used interpreter is not available. It can also result in reliance on interpreters and translators of poor quality or who may struggle with more technical interpretation. In addition, outside of institutions that have set policies around payment for translation and interpretation, many organizations and individuals are uncertain about rates and the other details that are relevant for hiring a translator or interpreter. This can lead to informal agreements that may not include fair-market rates, or any compensation at all. It can often mean that the translators and interpreters may have very little training or understanding about what is required of a translator and interpreter, which could lead to issues. A possible way to lessen these issues is through the development of a centralized database that lists translators and interpreters as independent contractors. This list could contain names, contact information, languages, translation specialties (medical, legal, etc.), and any special requirements that translators and interpreters may have. It could also be displayed publicly or be available through contacting the host organization. The site could also list expected interpretation and translation rates, as well as guidelines about rush requests, work over the weekend, and other additional factors. Such a database would likely require a lead organization that would host and maintain this site, adding and removing interpreters as needed. This effort may require funding both for the site and for the staff person directing the work. The host organization may also have several additional responsibilities, including: 1) Briefly screening new interpreters to make sure they had sufficient language skills to be interpreters (this could be something with which other interpreter/translators on the list could assist). 2) Serving as a place for responses or complaints in case there are issues with a specific interpreter or translator. Any host organization should remember to set a policy about this that all interpreters and translators will understand (such as a three strikes policy). 67 3) Providing training, either through staff or selected volunteers, for new interpreters looking to be part of the database. This would help provide each of the interpreters with additional support, and would help them with some difficult issues, such as: a. Rates b. Rush jobs/weekend jobs c. Setting agreed upon products d. Possible certification and other advancements e. Basic invoices/other documents people may need Models to consider: • The City of Dubuque is putting together a list of local translators and interpreters that it will place on its Equity and Human Rights website. • This research was unable to identify other community-based databases of local interpreters and translators constructed in exactly this manner. However, the following are examples of some ways in which this database could operate: o The lowa Interpreters and Translators Association, Inc. is an organization with a membership of accredited lowa-based interpreters and translators, and includes a directory of interpreters and translators that includes languages spoken. ■ www.iitanet.ora/ o The University of lowa Human Subjects Offices provides a list of translators in the lowa City-Coralville area who were willing to have their contact information shared with investigators. ■ https://hso.research.uiowa.edu/list-translators-iowa-city-coralville 3.6.5 Offer Basic Interpretation Traininq While the most important part of translation and interpretation is being able to speak multiple languages, there are other skills, pieces of knowledge, and ethical considerations that are important for being an interpreter. Often when community members interpret, they may do things that often feel very natural, but can create confusion and misunderstanding. For example, they might modify what one person said in an attempt to make it more understandable, or they might try to answer questions separately without translating. While in some cases these decisions do not cause problems, in others they might lead to misinterpretation and significant issues. One option is for communities to develop a short, basic training regarding interpretation and translation. While there are many national trainings on interpretation that should be considered (see the next section, Medical Translation and Interpretation), these may not be necessary for community members who regularly volunteer to provide translation or interpretation. A shorter training by someone familiar with translation and interpretation could provide valuable guidance to amateur interpreters. Such a training could also be included in the previous recommendation, Local Translation and Interpretation Database. 68 3.6.6 Offer Training for Medical Translation and Interpretation This recommendation also appears as Recommendation 3.3.4 under Health One significant gap in this region is for licensed medical interpreters and translators, especially for languages like Marshallese that are not commonly spoken throughout much of the United States. Many health-care providers require certified medical translators to make sure that they can correctly translate the technical terms used by staff. However, in many instances these interpreters are not available, and so the providers rely on untrained community members for interpretation. At times, young children have been asked to provide translation when there is no other readily available option. Not only is this potentially inappropriate and could lead to significant mistranslations, but in many cases health-care providers are unable to compensate non-certified interpreters. This region, and especially locations like Dubuque where languages are commonly spoken that do not have readily available translators, should work to develop the support process and funding to help interested community members become certified for medical interpretation. Courses and tests can be expensive and take extensive time, so it will be important to have individuals who can assist with navigating systems and funding to help cover costs. While the best process and programs may vary from area to area, the following is an option that communities could consider: 1. The Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters(CCHI)37 offers several accreditations that are accepted by many health-care providers. a. For Spanish, Mandarin, and French, CCHI offers its Certified Healthcare Interpreter(CHI) certification. b. For other languages (such as Marshallese), CCHI offers its Core Certification Healthcare Interpreter(CoreCHl) certification. Due to the big lack of interpreters for less commonly spoken languages, this report will primarily discuss the CoreCHl. 2. Applicants for the CoreCHl and CHI certification must meet the following requirements: a. Be at least eighteen years of age. b. Have received a high school diploma or equivalent from any country. c. Be able to demonstrate proficiency in both English and the language of interpretation. This can be done with: i. A high school diploma or equivalent from a country that teaches in the language; ii. Successfully passing a language proficiency test from a reputable testing organization; 37 www.cchicertification.ora 69 1. A list of suggested English language testing options are available at the CCHI site.38 a. The TOEFL Essentials test provided by ETS allows for remote testing online.39 2. Sites such as Language Testing International (LTI) offer widely accepted language proficiency certificates.4o a. LTI does not currently appear to offer language testing in Marshallese. For Marshallese, the Avant STAMP WS test is available and accepted by CCH1.41 iii. Other options are listed in the CCHI Candidate Examination Handbook.42 d. Completion of a minimum of 40 hours of training (not experience) in health- care interpreting.43 See "Models to consider" below: 3. The CoreCHl examination includes $210 worth of fees. The CHI Examination includes an additional $275 offees. Models to consider: • Heartland Regional Genetics Network provides a medical interpretation training for Marshallese interpreters that fulfills the 40-hour requirement. Several community members have taken part in this training. o https://www.heartlandcollaborative.or� 3.6.7 Offer Training for Brain Health Translation and Interpretation This recommendation also appears as Recommendation 3.3.5 under Health Separate from medical interpretation and translation, brain health44 or counseling interpretation requires additional training and commitment for an interpreter. Due to the personal nature of counseling services, an interpreter may become a major participant in any session. Any interpreter would need to have additional training on how to properly participate in counseling sessions, how to correctly interpret for the brain health specialist, and how to operate ethically and confidentially during the sessions. Trust is a key component 38"Frequently Asked Questions."CCHICertification.org.Available at: https://cchicertification.or�/certifications/fac�/ 39"TOEFL Essentials Test Resources."ETS.org. Available at: https://www.ets.or�/s/toefl-essentials/test- takers/ 40 htt�s://www.lan�ua�etestin�.com/ 41 https://avantassessment.com/stamp-ws 42 For more details, see the CCHI Candidate Examination Handbook, available at https://cchicertification.or�/uploads/CCHI Candidate Examination Handbook..�df. 43 A list of potential training programs are listed here: https://cchicertification.orc�/prerequisite- pro�rams/ 44 The Community Foundation uses the term "brain health"when talking about conditions related to a person's psychological and emotional well-being. The reason for this is to fight against the stigma often associated with the term "mental health." 70 of this kind of interpretation, so finding the correct, committed interpreter can be challenging. It is recommended that any effort to recruit translators for counseling sessions be coupled with training and a verythoughtful recruitment process. For more on brain health services for migrants and immigrants, please see pa�e 45. Models to consider: • The lowa Refugee Counseling Center in lowa City holds counseling sessions for refugees and other immigrants. As part of their counseling sessions they use interpreters who are trained by the Center. Dr. Naomi Ford, who runs the Center, is able to provide trainings for interpreters on how to be successful interpreters for brain health sessions. Dr. Ford could be contracted to provide training sessions for community members who are interested in serving as translators. o This training should be accompanied by a training of counselors or brain health providers as well. Both the counselor and the interpreter should understand their roles and how to work cross culturally. o https://www.iccompassion.or�/refu�eecounselin� • The Marjorie Kovler Center, a Chicago-based program providing trauma-informed care to survivors of torture, has previously offered training sessions for interpreters. o https://www.heartlandalliance.or�/pro�ram/mar�orie-kovler-center/ • The National Council on Interpreting in Health Care has produced a working paper titled "A National Code of Ethics for Interpreters in Health Care."This document provides useful information for potential translators and service providers regarding interpretation for brain health. o The manual can be accessed at: https://www.ncihc.or�/assets/z2021 Ima�es/NCIHC%20National%20Code%20 of%20Ethics.pdf. 3.6.8 Make Use of Translation Technoloav Recent years have seen impressive developments in new technology that assists with translation and interpretation. As the technology continues to improve, it will be important to look closely at new products to understand how they can fill existing gaps. However, for the near-term at least, it is also important to not let pursuit of new technology products draw attention away from developing local interpretation and translation capacity. This research was not able to identify a technology that is satisfactorily able to address all of the needs of local communities and organizations, especially when it comes to speaking Marshallese or Mayan dialects. Translation technology can be a useful tool, but attempts to treat it as a panacea should be viewed skeptically until additional research and pilot programs demonstrate their true utility. 71 Models to consider: • The City of Dubuque is currently conducting a review of LanguageLine45 usage within the City, and with external partners. Findings from this assessment could provide valuable translation support options for local organizations, especially with Spanish. • Several organizations and individuals in Dubuque have begun piloting the use of Timekettle translation earbuds. These earbuds provide interpretation for two people wearing the earbuds, allowing them to talk back and forth without needing to have an interpreter present. At the time of this writing, the earbuds do not support translation for the Marshallese language or Mayan dialects. While this report cannot currently state whether these will be valuable tools for local service providers and other stakeholders due to a lack of experience with the devices, local partners should share their experiences to determine what role they these earbuds could play in the community. o https://www.timekettle.co/ Workforce and Employment 3.7.1 Develop Employer Toolkits and Assistance To assist employers with making the needed changes to their business procedures so they can better hire and retain members from immigrant communities, the region should develop toolkits and/or a consulting capacity to help with changes and recommendations. This capacity could then be used by interested employers to institute new policies and practices and to gain connections to local immigrant populations. It would also help create work environments where immigrant employees can thrive and be successful. And by making the changes at the employer level, it reduces the reliance on individual employees gaining the necessary skills to be more employable (language skills, "soft skills," etc.). It may be easier and less resource intensive for one employer to adapt their policies than for a dozen potential employees to significantly improve their English skills, for example. Examples of the services and benefits offered by the toolkit/capacity include: • Directions for how to modify job postings, safety manuals,job instructions, and other important documents into different languages. • Analysis of how a company might be able to successfully pair a bilingual employee with several other employees who are not proficient in English. • Education on unknown cultural differences that could cause friction if not identified. • Suggested changes in policies or procedures that will limit immigrant employee attrition. • Recommendations for communication plans and other policies to help ensure that needed changes are adopted throughout the business. 45 www.lan�ua�eline.com 72 • Explanations of legal or document requirements, and how the business can best support their new employee in these areas. It is likely that the details of the toolkit or training would need to be specifically tailored to the immigrant group in question (recruiting employees from the Latino community is different than recruiting from Afghan refugees). NICC has some ability to do this kind of work with local businesses, but a more extensive and formal capacity should be developed that local employers can utilize. Models to consider: • Several local employers have already successfully made some of these changes and could serve as excellent templates for any toolkit. Examples include: o Guttenberg Industries in Garnavillo successfully revised their policies and processes in order to hire from the local Latino community. o Hormel Foods and other food processing companies have had success in Dubuque employing Marshallese workers. o During focus group sessions, both Romper Stompers Child Care Center and Miracle Carwash on Dodge St. were identified as good at working with Marshallese employees. 3.7.2 Ado�t a Natural Hel�er Proqram This recommendation also appears as Recommendation 2.1.3 under Capacity and Power Building One of the key assets located in this region's immigrant communities are dedicated volunteers. Many of the key leaders, connectors, and translators working to support immigrant communities are volunteers who put in long hours to help improve their communities. They are often trusted both by community members and local nonprofit organizations, and serve as a key point of outreach and input. These volunteers should be acknowledged and celebrated for their work. Yet such reliance on volunteers is not ideal. Rarely are they compensated for their efforts, which means that they often work otherjobs to support themselves, leaving limited time to help other community members, attend meetings, etc. Many are also untrained regarding the systems and institutions they are connecting to and may lack information about how best to efficiently direct other immigrants to services. These factors create bottlenecks around connections between immigrant communities and service organizations and increase the likelihood of misinformation and navigational challenges. One program that has been successful in helping address some of these issues is a "Natural Helper" program. In a Natural Helper program, key volunteers (who are usually multilingual) are trained on local systems and services and are often provided with greater access to local resources and important connections. They are also compensated for their participation in this program, which might include stipends, recognition, and certificates or credentials from 73 local educational institutions that can be valuable for their careers. The volunteers then agree to remain a part of the program for a period of time (often at least a year) after receiving their trainin g. Natural Helper programs connect key volunteers with local institutions, provide them with training and clear resources for answering questions, and then work to compensate them for their involvement. These programs have also been found to give many participants a greater sense of belonging to where they live and a sense of connection to local organizations and service providers. It is also a good way to identify leaders for additional civic participation, such as taking roles on boards or advisory committees. Establishing and resourcing a natural helper program can provide a more formal structure to the frequent work done through immigrant volunteer leaders and can improve the services provided through those leaders. It also helps recognize and compensate dedicated volunteers, which can increase their satisfaction and participation and encourage others to step into leadership roles. Natural helpers could be particularly beneficial for connecting immigrants to workforce opportunities, as demonstrated by a new local pilot program (see "Models to consider"). Models to consider: • Northeast lowa Community College (NICC) is currently developing a pilot program aimed at training and compensating individuals from underserved populations so that they can connect members of their community with job training opportunities. This includes working with members of immigrant populations. The NICC pilot program, which is still in development, goes beyond many other models listed in this report by providing stipends for trainings and financial incentives for each individual who is successfully connected to an NICC program. The combination of empowering individuals to serve their community and compensating them for their time and effort is an exciting design that should be supported by the community. • City of Portland, ME- Office of Economic Opportunity: The City of Portland runs a Natural Helpers Leadership Program that trains Natural Helpers to better support their communities. The program provides participants with a stipend, and partners with the University of Southern Maine to provide everyone with a credential (previously a certificate, now a "badge"). o https://www.portlandofo�portunity.com/natural-helpers • Immigrant Welcome Center: The Immigrant Welcome Center in Indianapolis utilizes a Natural Helper program. o https://www.immi�rantwelcomecenter.or�/aet-involved/volunteer/ • Welcoming America Community of Practice: Welcoming America has previously launched a community of practice to provide additional support to communities developing Natural Helper programs. o https://docs.�oo�le.com/document/d/1 Cyeet08scAunaLQCpmObCeb�N21nP LWPSwuF NjDwYI/edit# 74 3.7.3 Add Navigators, Success Coaches, and Immiqrant Outreach Staff A local success story around workforce development is NICC's Success Coach model, which utilizes people with relationships and lived experiences to connect to underserved populations and help them navigate workforce development programs. NICC has recently worked to bring on Success Coaches and other staff focused specifically on extending this model to immigrant population. This use of navigators has found success for a number of local health-care organizations, and has the potential to create a similar benefit for workforce programs. Models to consider: • lowa State University Extension and Outreach has employed Latino staff who work as navigators supporting immigrant entrepreneurs in rural communities. o https://www.extension.iastate.edu/communities/latino-business-and- community-development 3.7.4 Offer Additional Non-English Workforce Traininq Options One existing bottleneck for many immigrants looking to gain additional skills is the reliance on English proficiency to take workforce training courses. While some workforce trainings are offered in languages other than English, many are not. This can be a significant limitation for immigrant jobseekers, as it requires them to first successfully take English language courses before they can be upskilled for employment. But gaining proficiency in English can take time, and for immigrant members who have multiple other responsibilities like working or raising a family, gaining the necessary English skills can seem like an impossible task. Being able to offer trainings in languages other than English can allow immigrants to gain new skills and education without first relying on them completing English proficiency classes. However, to ensure that participants who graduate from these programs are successful, this should be paired with the recommendation EmployerToolkits and Assistance on pa�e 72. Models to consider: • The technology company EnGen focuses on providing language instruction for potential workers that is centered around their area of study. The goal is to focus on developing the language proficiency needed to be employed in that position, instead of a broader English proficiency. o www.�etEnGen.com 75 3.7.5 Implement a RISE AmeriCorps Program The AmeriCorps46 program has provided local institutions (including the Community Foundation) with additional support from hard working graduates interested in helping meet community needs. Recently, EMBARC in Des Moines has begun administering another AmeriCorps program called RISE AmeriCorps,47 which is focused on pairing AmeriCorps "members"who are immigrants with non-profits that serve immigrant communities. The program is primarily focused on education and workforce development, and provides AmeriCorps members with a living allowance as well as some funding forfuture education. A program like this could be a great way to utilize young people with language skills to help serve local immigrant communities. However, implementing this program in Dubuque could raise several challenges, which would be important to consider before pursuing this program: • The RISE program often recruits members from around the state with appropriate language skills to be able to engage with immigrant populations. In Dubuque, this would be most useful for engaging with Spanish-speaking communities. However, because of the relative scarcity of people around the state who speak Marshallese and Mayan dialects like Ixil, any program focused on the Marshallese or Guatemalan communities might be best served by identifying a candidate from within Dubuque. • The compensation for the RISE program is focused primarily on providing a living allowance, totaling a maximum of$19,000 for the year, with the potential for a $6,000 scholarship for future education. This compensation may not be enough to attract many local immigrant young people, who often face intense pressure to earn a living and supportthemselves orfamily members. Additional compensation options should potentially be considered, including: o Publicizing the position to make it more prestigious. o Connecting the position to potential future employment, or creating numerous opportunities for networking and building connections with local employers. o Host organizations are able to provide "retention bonuses" or"performance bonuses"that could help increase the compensation and make the position more attractive. 3.7.6 Provide Additional Workforce Enqaqement Options for Immiqrant Youth (Guatemalan Unaccompanied Minors� This recommendation also appears as Recommendation 3.2.5 under Education Providing immigrant students with clear pathways to family-sustaining careers should be a priority. Enabling immigrant students to pursue education and training that will connect them to high-paying, qualityjobs will be a powerful driver in improving the livelihoods of 46 https://americorps.�ov/ 47 https://www.embarciowa.or�/services/rise-pro�ram 76 immigrant families and boosting local economic growth. With immigrant populations being some of the fastest growing demographics in the region, it is critical that young people are able to be quickly and seamlessly connected to good jobs. A population that should receive specific attention is local Guatemalan Unaccompanied Minors. A recent change now allows individuals with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) - a temporary status often pursued by Guatemalan unaccompanied minors -to get work authorizations. This is an important change, as it will allow many of these individuals to financially support themselves while they continue their court case. Because many of these individuals will be under the age of 18, it is very important that the community should engage with them and support them around work and career opportunities. Connecting these individuals to safe and well-paying jobs, as well as training and education that can lead to good career opportunities, is important for supporting this population and helping to provide a sustainable economic future. Some local organizations (including NICC, the Dubuque Community School District, and Tri- State VIATS) are already working on how to best engage and support these students. This work should be continued, with an emphasis put on skills training programs for those students who are struggling to get their high school degree. Previous education levels can vary significantly for unaccompanied minors who come to Dubuque, and so helping connect those who are struggling with good career opportunities is important. There are also other potential options that should be considered when it comes to developing education and workforce training programs for these SIJS recipients: • Pair the unaccompanied minors, and especially girls who may face greater barriers to obtaining well-paying career opportunities, with appropriate mentors in their field of study. For example, if Guatemalan girls are considering NICC's welding program, connecting them with a female welder from a local business who can provide additional support could provide a valuable asset in helping the participant complete their training program. • Utilize a "Guatemalan Mentor" position to help focus on career opportunities for students still in school. The Guatemalan Mentor position is described in more detail on pa�e 35. • A challenge for this community will be to help these SIJS recipients, many of whom are still in high school, to balance the need to work with the need to study for school and improve their English. An area for future consideration would be designing a "fellowship" or work program where students were paid a living wage, learned a skill on the job, and were provided with time and support for schoolwork and/or English lessons. Such a program would need a strong host organization and would likely require additional financial support. 77 3.7.7 Provide Workforce Su�port to International Students Dubuque's higher education H-1 B Visas institutions are a major asset for the region, and the international H-1 B visas are one of the primary ways that immigrants students who study there are an with a bachelor's degree or higher are able to gain important and valuable part of authorization to work for U.S. companies. To sponsor this community. Being able to an immigrant for an H-1 B visa, a company must retain those students and have demonstrate that they are unable to fill the position them work and live in the region through non-immigrant candidates and must go should be a local goal. However, through a lengthy application process. H-1 B visas can there are a number of barriers lead to permanent legal residence (green cards). that limit the ability of Only 85,000 H-1 B visas are made available each year. international students to build In FY2023 the U.S. government received 483,927 long-term careers in Dubuque. In registrations, meaning that only 17.6% of registrations addition to a frequent disconnect Were met by the available cap space. Completing H- between international students 1 B visas also appears to be more challenging for and the larger Dubuque smaller communities. In an analysis of FY2021 H-1 B community, the process for visa activity in the U.S., Dubuque accounted for less granting graduating students a than 0.002% of H-1 B worker activity, or 6.33% of what work visa to work for Dubuque �„�ould be expected given the size of the population. companies (most commonly the H-1 B Visa) can be challenging to complete, often requiring the assistance of an immigration attorney. Many companies who would be interested in retaining international students are unable to do so because of the complicated process orthe fees that are involved. On top of this, only a certain number of H-1 B visas are released each year, meaning that students and companies that do go through the process are not guaranteed to be successful.48 Establishing a local resource focused around retaining international students could address some of these issues. Such a resource could help support international students, assist businesses with navigating the H-1 B process, and work to create connections between international students and local employers. Potential areas offocus include: • Building relationships with international students and connecting them with local businesses and local cultural activities. • Advocating for increased use of OPT authorization and providing information to both students and businesses interested in this option. o The Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows a student graduating with a bachelor, masters, or doctoral degree to work full-time in the United 48 Numbers for number of FY2023 H-1 B registrations are available https://www.uscis.�ov/workin�-in- the-united-states/temporarv-workers/h-1 b-specialtv-occupations-and-fashion-models/h-1 b-electronic- re�istration-process. FY2021 visa activity rates were calculated using number of total worker positions for H-1 B visas from the LCA Disclosure Data for FY2021, available at: https://www.dol.�ov/a�encies/eta/forei�n-labor/performance 78 States for up to 12 months for a non-STEM49 degree holder or 36 months for a STEM degree holder. While 12 months is a limited time frame, this pathway allows for a much easier connection for graduating students and businesses, as well as creating time for students to access a longer-term visa through the H-1 B process or another route (such as marriage or family petitions). • Providing resources and advice to businesses looking to hire international students, such as referrals to immigration attorneys to help with the H-1 B process. • Granting funding to help cover fee costs for either students or businesses that may be otherwise discouraged from pursuing an H-1 B visa. Such a resource could be provided by a government entity or a local organization focused on workforce development or immigration. It could also potentially be provided by a collaborative group of organizations - including those focused on education, workforce, and immigration - in order to develop collective resources and a shared expertise. Models to consider: • The Michigan Global Talent Retention Initiative (GTRI) has dedicated staff that work to retain international students in the state. GTRI engages with both employers and students, promotes awareness of opportunities, and works to create a welcoming environment for international students within the local business community. o https://�lobaldetroitmi.orc�/atri/ • The St. Louis Mosaic Project is a collective effort that builds partnerships with businesses, universities, and other key stakeholders in orderto connectforeign students with local businesses. o https://www.stlmosaicproject.orc�/ 49 STEM refers to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. 79 �. - _; . � � �: � - �.• " ' . . �, �'-. . .. . . , . ;��::.- :. _ � .� ;� � � . '� �� •x� ��: "~_;�:`� � , , .: ��r `,, .. . . . .. . . ' ��€•�.: , . .:� �.oy� � i E-. ' y't,�:F t � . .. �o—s` ' uCi=' . . . - .4-Y:��:'�;, . 'i.3 fi �h. . . r��. _ . . �q �' ' .;.s, v �:}'yy 4r. ...�. . . . `i,Txi . ' •.'�,yi: `��y`yaL v .3-'I _ '.'� . . �' .'v�lt.. �'q� � . �5 �"�� k, ;}.�s� �� . �' �/�`� ... � � y�r�i:r . . .> . . � 'ti� � � . � ". . . � . 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' . �/� .' �~ . � —� ' / �\ � ' � - / � , � � r � � G � 1 ` � 1 �J � � � � , � . .. . � . � MARIAMA NDIAYE �� - I MINDI CHEN � � � APRIL 26 , 2023 Y ��k1t'+�iL`TI�I,I,��Y+� r �� . .'�4�M � 7 .�5 � Thank ou to the Communit Foundation of Greater y y Dubu ue the e o le of Dubu ue and Ale x Baum for q � p p q � the ir ho s it a lit uidanc e and c ollab orat ion . p Y� g � H • Our Approach • Background on Dubuque � �-�� f � i � • I nsi hts �� - � g -�x: , . � � � � • Case Studies � � . �.�- � { � � �► . . . . � � � J • Insight from May 12th Business Equity Council � � ��-�=::_.�� t�� : �-�. ,, � ,.�� ,� i . � � . . • Le al Framework �} � � � l : :�} � � , �,,1�r► �:, t ��.., g � ,�� ,�,��,, �,�. , �. � � � �r��.(,. . � ■ ■ •,� � 1 ��°� � ,� • Pro osal on Immi rant Entre reneurshi �►�' � # j � '� - p g p p �� '� �,�� , � �� . " =4.•_ �� Understand the challenges faced by immigrant employees and job seekers in Greater Dubuque , IA. � .- . Identifyhowemployers andlocalagencies canbettersupportthe success of immigrant employees . �r� .� �. " =4.•_ �� 1 . Assess the needs of immigrant communities in Northeast lowa as it relates to employment. 2 . Understand local employers ' succe s s e s and challenge s when hiring , training , and retaining immigrant talent . 3 . Outline strategies to help community stakeholders build a more inclusive employment environment for all to thrive . Highlight a few case studies of local community members that have deployed strategies to create more inclusive work environments . ��r� .� • Peoble know what t1� Pv nPP �I and want . The Greater Dubuque . . . � commun �ty knows �ts commun �ty best and we are here to help elevate � �-� . . . . i � the local vo�ces and sh � ne I � ht on the solut�ons alread resent but � � �� - � g yp . -�x: , � � � ■ y_. overlooked . � � . .�- � { � � �► . . . . � � ,J / � �_ _ �-�_, � �� -�.�: . . . . . . ��► � i� . • What is ood for immi rant communities is ood for the broader �} � 4 � � � ; : :w}:i � , 1 � 1.: ..� ..�.A. � g g � �► , � . .�, ��,��► ��- • ��'� ��,,,,1'!��,�'r"� � .� communit . �►�' � # j � '� y ��, �'� �,�� , � �� • There is great diversity within the immigrant community. Immigrant communities are ��ot a monolith . -----rg- ��.-� � - - � � � f�+'r-1, - � _ • - �_��-� _ .},:-. . 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O.n��._. ` U.5% 'i.r, .�=`t ..� 7.39i 7.846�� 7.35'.:.__ DUBUQUE AT A GLANCE "A�� 9�o zoao ao�o zoza � Unemployment Rate : 3.7% ` Curre n t P op u 1 a t io n: 9 8 ,718 ��a� .B�a�k .��a NdtiUC Am2riCdn �Pa�ifc islander Some pther ra[e TWa o�mo�ra�es Wh�t� IVIlI1�i1�� C��'C�U�]S }J� P�IC�t1� Of Po�ulation - �:`ity af'Dubuqu� Primary Language Spoken at Home : English �',° — Two or ivlore Races — Bfack ar African Foreign Born population: 2 .7% � 0 .7% �m��'��" HiSp�r�iC Or �3f° Latino — -- ASI�Ci Bachelor's De ree or Hi her - Po ulation 25 } ��fs`�`�3f�� g g p --- ��t��,�� - --- . ..- � �v�t�� Years and Older: : 3 2 .6 % � 2 .8 % ��° - �rQ#her�acific - ESi�nder — 5ome�ther Race Americ�n Indi�n Means oftransportation to work: 79 % drive �¢,6 ��.��k� ��t�� 2010 2fl11 2072 201� 201� 201� 2016 20t7 2078 alone 7% carpool � .Sarr�•r�e: L'.S, �P��SI15' �Ffl"�'C1�1 -_�Il�f�l'1C[7�J CTD�f�?lflf?7lfl'.S#fl't'E'1' (TOP)CFGD:COMMUNITYEQUITYPROFILE:DUBUQUEDEMOGRAPHICS (2022) "WORKFORCE DATA."DATA AND RES OURCES I GREATER DUBUQUE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, (BOTTOM) "DEMOGRAP HICS."DATA WALK 2 0 2 0,COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF BUREAU, U.S. CENS US. US CENS US BUREAU, GREATER DUBUQUE DATA S OURCED FROM US CENCUS BUREAU � � � � � �----�. _ � _ . , : , , ' .. , � Indu�tr� f�rth� �i�rilian Err��l��d P�pulati�n 1� lf�ar� and ��r Historicalpopulativn Year Pop. ±°��, in �ubu�u� �it�� ubu�u� ��unt�, I�v�r� �� 1� �S 5U 3,108 — Educatior�al �enrice�, �ealt� care �r�d �ocial a��ist�r�ce �8B� �3,00� +318.3°l0 Nlanufacturing 18�� 8,4�4 +4�.8°l0 Retail trade - �88� 2�,2�4 +3T.�°/a �rt, entertair�mentF recreatior�, accorr�odationFfood �89� 3�,3�1 +20.�°I� Profe��ion�l, �cientiific, rnar�agement, and administrative 19D4 36,29� +19.7°l0 Finance and in�uranceF �nd real estate ar�d rental and lea�ir�g 1�14 38,�94 +6.1°l0 �ther �ervice� � 1�2� 3�,141 +1 .7°IQ Construction � 193� 41 ,G7� +�.5°I� Tran�port�tion and warehou�ing, and utilitie� � 194� 4�,892 +�.3°IQ I�U�ole�ale trade � 195� 4�,G71 +13.2°I� Publicadmini�tration � 1�8� �6,806 +14.�°Io I r�fo rmatio r� � 1�� ,30� +10.1°lo �griculture, forestry, fi�hing and hunting, mining 1 198� �2,3�4 +0.1°l0 1�9� ��,��8 -�.8°l0 0,00°� 5,00°� 10,00� 15,00� �0,00� �5.00� �0,00� 2�0� �7,G86 +0.3°Io 2U 1� �7,G�7 -0.1°/o SOURCE: UNITED STATE CENSUS BUREAU 1 �p�� g,�g� +�.��I� Sour�e; "U.S. Census webs�te" -�', Unit�d States Cen�us Bureau. Retrieved 2�2D-03-29, i : � � - : , , .� � � � � _ � � ; A� � -- __ ____ _ _ _ _ _ ___; ° � .� � E , C , ry I } ' ! � 1 � ` � � � � �� ` � � Q► �/�� _ � ; _ 3 � � 1 � ` � � � �` f ' �� IDEA HUB � � � !�-,` f � � rr t � � - ♦ �NORI� w .. � + � ` � � ,� ., � � � � � i :� 4 j .� � � � � - __ ___ .._ .__ � _ --- --- - - - t � � ` - - - _ _ _ _ _ __ _ �..,.,,...,�-�:��-�--,�-... - - - _ - - �...�..._. - IN S IGH T S & DEL LE S _„ � � � � � � � � ' . . • _ , . . . . , - � . � - . , - .. .� . . ��': =:'�- - --- ' _ ��„�;:�' - • , �w ' _ _ _�. � �� . ti - ;�. � - , _ � �..� iI \ ' ;;, ,� , , �� ,,� � :� • There is a great barrier reintern�etation and , . . . . . . • The existing staff become defacto Mentors and translatior from recruiting to hiring to training S� pport for incoming staff of similar ethnic/cultural to retaining - including verbal for those who , , background may be �Il �terate • Many do not feel comfortable voicing , • There is a need for greater transparency on harassment, or clear biases in their fellow employees upward mobility in the company - people want or senior leaders a transparent merit -based approach • There is a fear around working with undocumented immigration status (including loss of paperwork) � ' . . • _ , . . . . , - � . � - . , - .. .� . . ��': =:'�- - --- ' _ ��„�;:�' - • , �w ' _ _ _�. � �� . ti - ;�. � - , _ � �..� iI \ ' ;;, ,� , , �� ,,� � :� • Many rely on �nA rar nAr hni icAhnlrlt0 get t0 WOrk • There is still difficulty finding quality jobs , because public transportation is a challenge, and when they apply - they do not hear especially given various shifts back • Quality housing is scarce andhousinq instabili� is • The lack of Cultural Competency amongst com mon Employers and strict rules make it difficult to stay • • � � \ ' ;;, ,� , , � �\��, .�� • There is a strong desire to understand how to better • Each team hasdifferent prioritie _. with recruit and retain immigrant community members HR seeking to protect the company, and driven by growth needs CEOs seeking to get as many bodies as possible • Disconnectec from the community and potential employees • There is a strong 'ack of translation services - costly, specific languages not and knowledge building are still in available early stages for many corporations - - - .0 _ - J� ' � . r.-� .�f�' /R • • ' ' ' � , " .' , .. � 'r� �� _ -, -� . . - : -� -� . : . -_ �;:=� ��. _ } � -. _ _ . . . . _ _ 4��. . . _ . �. _ . , : , � � �� .�� • There is a robustnonprofit ecosystem that often • Local agencies are committed to supporting communicate with each other employees �olistica� i� � . Meanwhile, employers tend to focus on or�site needs. • Employers do not act as collaboratively nor as holistically as the local organizations • Employers lackcultural competency and lack knowledge regarding the legal system • Most interactions come from employers seeking quick wins but • Employers should understand what their employees need and work with local nonprofits to briage tne gap Was there an insight that particularly struck or resonated with you`? IN S IGH T S & DEL LE S _„ � � � � � � , . , . � - i �� F �,,+'�, .'�. --�-� �°,i ``�, "'""• • Have dedicated employee both knowledgeable around language and cultural acquisition that can serve as Coaches to new . � � , � �t� �{�t ti ; � � hires and stay with them for weeks - �`� '` • Build a softskills course to su ort em lo ees- NICC has created a16 hoursoftskills course Bri hts ace �� {#�''` � ��► p p p Y � g p 1�►,� �. � ,� ,.....�. � �' �►��!� ��► . ��►'� � ��"""'' ,�'� :� Work between employers and nonprofits to tap into existing referral systems ��,� �� _ � �� ''��t� �� • Utilize the CFGD Business Equity Council as venue for peer exchange to hear how employers are tackling �� • Pay, train, and support Community Champions who can help serve as liason between Community Members, Cultural ` Organizations, Nonprofits, and Employers • Adapt training/EL classes at the Community School District and Northeast lowa Community College to the actual employers' needs - �4 • Provide language training certification to bridge translation gap around Marshallese, Spanish, and Guatemalan Mayan � x i , . • Provide Empathy training for HR and employees �' • Conduct a Legal review with Catholic Charities and HR leaders �""�� t : �� '.�,,,0.�"'�..�A • Create food-centered cultural exchanges � �_� � • Develop a carpooling system to support employees coming in on 2nd and 3d shifts F . �� Build a pathway for entrepreneurship for immigrant community members �, .t `,�� f ��,.- �►.�,,'�, ,'!�1�,�, ' '!�►1'�M�tl�t#r�► ,�� ,� l`��'` ��' ° � �► � � �� Which among the community ide a s doe s your org anizat ion p art icularly want t o run with? IN S IGH T S & DEL LE S _„ � � � � � � . . , . , . �� . ��t�� -�- � � . ; I�� ABOUT Guttenberg Industries , Inc . Location : Garnavillo, IA ; --_ � Industry: Manufacturing ��_1---�- � � � � . . _ ��,��E�� .��T��.� ��'�• I Ownership : private , second-generation family business �-------- * '�'''' . Business : provides high-precision custom plastic injection _ _ _ . �� moldin and related services to customers '� �� ' �'� �` r � �' g _ • _ , ,_ Employees : �140 employees :� � - _ � ' _ - _�:.,,�.,, . -. Operations : three shifts on a 24/5 basis � � / � �L�� \� �,, �� , :�. ��:��. - -� - - . � - f�+j�-`: • _ - _-_� - `� • Addressin lan ua e barriers in a lication � � : g g g pp - . i � . , .. . . ;i . � '-;4'' �' . . ... . a n d tra i n i n rocess � � gp 2 . Add ressi n lack of clarit arou nd rowth g y g tra ' ector in a com an erformance , a J Y p y p p y i ncreases romotion ` , p . - �- � `� � ��. ��t�� -�- � � . ; I�� CATALYST SOLUTION RESULT • Challenges finding talent • In 2013/2014 Actively recruited • 20% Latino Workforce • Would get a lot of applications and hired first bilingual (Spanish • Low turnover but they were not fully and English) employee to serve as • 5 bilingual employees/trainers complete or hard to a bridge o bilingual employees were understand . Management • Translated targeted ads and trained as a bridge in realized that these applicants internal opportunities (Spanish addition to regular might not speak or be fluent in and English); Interviews in Spanish responsibilities ; paid a English were made available premium • Trained and compensated • Actively working on bilingual staff for additional translating working responsibilities. Each shift has a documents to reduce bilingual staff inember language barriers at work • Yearly performance/pay appraisal • No tolerance policy around harassment - ��t��r�� .� � �� I�� . �::�� ,�. . � �� + Short-term Medium-Term Long-term Create Language Navigator role paid to Ensure that each shift has an employee Translate job opportunities and job mentor, support, and train new non- that can be a language bridge for the applications. English proficient staff (and matched by team. language). Formalize review and promotion procedures. Post these procedures in the office and communicate how the firm promotes and rewards employees. Acknowledge additionalresponsibilities, Translate and make accessible work Translate HRmaterials into various such as language translation, certain related documents (machinery guides, languages. employees may be taking on and handbooks, company policies, company compensate/show appreciation. news). Ensure employees and job seekers have , equal access to information regarding - -- <� opportunities,pay, promotion, and performance measurement. ��. --^■.�. -,""'�r► % AN DERSEN W I N D O W S & D O O R S ABOUT � � Anderson Corp Location : Dubuque, lowa with headquarters in �- ` �� _�� Bayp ort MN � � � � -� - � � � �� -�=�{_�� . Industry: Manufacturing - - - - _ __ _ _ __ ___ _ _ _ _ � � l � . ��} � � � r- -�it�r{"�]�� - -1'� _l,- _ '_. .__. 4 �� Own e r s h ip : p riva t e la rg e c o mp a ny foun d e d in 19 0 3 �� - _„ n "�'_� �� - � � ��-�� 1� �� - _��:�� 1� � °�� • w,�P��. , + � ��r'� �� Bus ine s s : s erve customers acros s the new ��.�� °�� .��s� =* . �� -=� '�','�� - �__„��-� , �� .� � � _ . . . . =- � '�� --�'1!"'� ,�: residentlal home lm rovement and li ht commercial � �� - - -�-� �� p g �.P, . ., :.. � �� . �� :,�� F _ - - � � -:, -}� _ � - � , � �� b u ild in s e c t o r �-- �` ��`ti "�'� � � �' {�- ��` ;� �-� � r �, „� _ ��- �� '��_,�`� ';:-�� - g ' � � .r-� � .�- I y+��;,1�i�1� _ '- � . _� ��:.: � - � �; - - _.� �y�; ��f ; - _ � Employees . �13 ,000 + employees across 3 0+ �� i. � � �, �. � �� _�� y. � .��-� � �.� -`"1. �' . . :+�� . .��ri. .�� ' .:=. . - - ``� - �.A:_ '•1 '-�••� I . ;�.s:, lo c a t lo n s �� . - - -.::�: :.;:�. �� -.��,�. , •� - . .�� . - ;�. � �.� � � f._�.. '^+'a',:--" �;� :''��" _ � . '"•��;Sp; ,_ - .. ��ak:`.�y �= ` . •' ' � .��r. O erations : three shifts on a 24/7 basis x� �� : - .-:- �w��: ��. �� =��-�� `�` � � � �° �� p '�:--_.:�:�. :� „ �- � _. \ � AN DERSEN w � n, 00ws & 000Rs i_-.._. :� �. -j. �'`.��i r � • . I+-1jr'�: � � _ �4 - -'\ .�� -�`� 1 . Bu i Id i n overal I i nfrastructu re to su ort ��,l:;_�: . . g pp �� . -_:i _ . . . .. . ��. - �, . -4'• rf_. � _.�. 4 mar inalized communities across teams to be � � g s uc c e s s ful in the work la c e p 2 . Creatin i elines for advancement and gpp rowth of immi rant em lo e e s and while � g g p Y _ �-- s u ort in re c e nt 1 hire d immi rant s p p g Y g `� � ��. --^■.�. .,"�r► % AN � ERSEN W I N D O W 5 & D O O R S CATALYST SOLUTION RESULT • Began with new American • Redesigned new employee orientation through the lens of an • Retention Rates range employees and expanded English language learner, adding many visual elements. from 86% - 100% for to a growing Deaf Redesign resulted in an ESL workbook that became the basis onsite English class workforce for customer onsite English classes begun in 2020. The graduates • Andersen quickly realized program now supports low / no English literacy employees. • At one plant in they need to build Scaling program to 6 sites. particular, 33% of infrastructure to support • Created Language Navigator role to guide employees Team Leads are employees through first 9 weeks of employment bilingual new • Many supervisors • Leveraged "Language Survey" results to understand Americans, and 25% of benefitted from concentration of languages spoken across production lines Supervisors are supporting the acquisition and different shifts. Placed new employees where a shared bilingual of a plant in Garland , TX language could be leveraged for training and building • Many initiatives are where workforce was very community. just beginning to come diverse and many to Dubuque plant languages were spoken ��. --^■.�. .,"�r► % AN � ERSEN W I N D O W S & D O O R 5 S OLUTION • Pipelined bilingual talent off shop floor into entry level Training roles • Hired Learning & Development professionals at most manufacturing plants to build training syste m s • Leveraged technology tools like nois�suppressing headsets with outfeed to large display screens for start-of-shift meetings • Trialing on-demand video remote interpreting and the MS Translator App to support improved communication between hearing supervisors and deaf employees on of#shifts • Hosted cultural competency courses for plant leadership teams in Hmong 101 and Karen 101 • Continued to scale 10 Employee Resource Networks to build community and support across the country � - AN DERSEN W I N D O W 5 & D O O R S � . � r {a' �'t�;`f 1� i' � � Short-term Medium-Term Long-term Create Language Navigator role paid to Ask the question "what might help you?" mentor support, and train new non- Invest in on-site English Language or "whatever you need just let me know" to ' English proficient staff (and matched by Literacy courses tailored to the job e mp loye e s language) Use Language Survey tool or through conversation to understand comfort with Cultural 101 sessions held by staff or Hire a Learning &Development Specialist English and if they will need a Buddy on community members their shift Translate HRmaterials and marketing , - materials into various languages with the -- <� Revisit current hiring and training Redesign entire hiring and training support of those from different cultural protocols with those of different protocols with those of different � backgrounds - to provide culturally nationalities to understand gaps nationalities to understand gaps competent messaging and provide support for those who cannot read efficiently Which of these efforts do you see your organization being interested in exploring ? IN S IGHTS FROM MAY 12 TH BUS INES S E UITY C OLTNCIL P RES ENTATION Business communities ' immigration employment efforts have not been as successful as desired in Dubuque region Need to see the value ofinvestment both short -term and long -term (notably short -term) Need forpractical actionable successful examples that can be learned from Need for coaching/TechnicalAssistance for companies trying to increase immigration employment Need forpeer-learning on the how companies have been able to progress How to support CEOs struggling NOW with investments that may not be actualized for months/years ? The challenges ofbusinesses must be centered when framing this conversation on immigration employment The Dubuque region does not have a go-to nonprofit that is coordinating and centralizing efforts to support immigrant employment The lack of one -stop shop or centralized location leads to lack of ownership or fragmented efforts The business community is not plugged in to strategic partnerships with the non-profit community Business community doesn't know who to go to to even find a translator if they wanted to hire one Need for local Community Champions that can act as a Resource Group/bridge between Employers and Immigrant communities (being worked on now by the City Equity Director and NICC seperately) - stipend involved IN S IGH T S & DEL LE S _„ � � � � � • . � . . , . , . �� . � FR ME RK • . Im m i r at ion � Em lo m en t u ick Th in s t o Kn ow OTHER IMMIGRANT NONIMMIGRANT DACA - Allows path to permanent residency K1- STUDENT - for kids that arrived EWI (Entered Without Family-based visa. Each country has a limited amount. Receive visa to be Inspection). Have an EAD (Employment Immigrants from Mexico for example may wait decades. a full-time student in the Authorization Document) on average, weight can be 20+ years. Eligible to become USA. F1 visas have 12 months of a Green card Holder. Receive a EAD (Employment temporary employment during and MARSHALLESE - Allowed under US/Marshall Authorization Document) post completion related to their Island Compact to come. The only REFUGEE- Studies. documents needed to come and to work is Received permission to come to the US after a long and an I-94 and their ID from their country. arduous process; usually coming from a refugee camp. WORK - Granted a Refugee Travel Document which allows you to Employer must file with USCIS before Humanitarian Parolee - Allowed to come immediately work. Eligible to come a Green card Holder. employee arrives: learn more here under urgent crises overseas without a visa, such as recent waves of Afghans and ASYLUM- Ukrainians. Have a 2 ear EAD Em lo ment Arr' t r h in ti n kin r t ti n t f f r f TOURIST B1 OR B2 - , , y � p y ive h oug spec o see g p o ec o ou o ea o Authorization Document) prosecution for race, religion, nationality, membership in a temporary visa for those visiting particular group, or political opinion. These are limited. It will either for work or for leisure. You are take 7-10 ears. The nearest court is in Omaha NE. There are not granted an Employment TPS (Temporary Protected Status) - y " Authorization document. Currently in the US and have continued only 3 judges and the denial rate is 96%-98%. One can residence in the US but a national of a apply for an EAD after your application is processed (which country designated for TPS. can take 4+ months. S IJ S - special Immigrant Juvenile services when an EW I unaccompanied minors is then sponsored by someone who vouches for them. in the US . They have to prove that Those who enter the US without inspection they were abused, neglected or abandoned, and then find and without paperwork. These individuals do a guardianship. Once granted, can receive an EAD 1 year not have the legal right to work in the USA. later. Max age is 18 in lowa although 21 federally. i : � � - : , , .� � � � � _ � � ; A� � -- __ ____ _ _ _ _ _ ___; ° � .� � E , C , ry I } ' ! � 1 � ` � � � � �� ` � � Q► �/�� _ � ; _ 3 � � 1 � ` � � � �` f ' �� IDEA HUB � � � !�-,` f � � rr t � � - ♦ �NORI� w .. � + � ` � � ,� ., � � � � � i :� 4 j .� � � � � - __ ___ .._ .__ � _ --- --- - - - t � � ` - - - _ _ _ _ _ __ _ �..,.,,...,�-�:��-�--,�-... - - - _ - - �...�..._. - - �- _ �------ _ . � � : r, � ,.;_ . __ � � ..� " EVEN ADVO C ATE S �5� S OMETIlVIE S S WAYED BY THE NATIONAL MEDIA N TIVE CONCERNIl�TG IlVIMIGRATION, FOCUS Il�TG MORE ON THE NEEDS AND CHALLENGES OF THE IMMIG T AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES THAN ON THE � 11��1�1 l� 1 t� � �11�11J 1�� U U l�l;�t' U Ll�l �� TH AT TH O S E IN DNIDUALS AN D C O MMUN ITIE S P O S S E S S . " . . �___.� � 1.�� . � _ ,1.�___.�_��._ , , � �� .�l.�� ,1 . � ___. � � 1 . � 1.��. �___. . ��.� � 1.�___.1 . � , ti �___. . � � � � � �1.�� ,1 . - 0. 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" �� Cre at e a s e ns e of c ommunit owne rs hi and :��: � .� � Y p ,... . e Ll lt 111 a C lt 's w e 1 c o m in in it ia t ive . � �� q y y g �� 4 I�� ..�' ` � ' �'.. - - , -� - - - IMMIGRANTS ARE IN 2015, 2 8 % OF - - - " MAIN S TREET IN 2 0 17 , ALMOS T 2 X AS „ IMMIGRANT LIKELY AS THE BUS INES S ES NATIVE- BORN WERE OWNED BY OWNED � P OP ULATION TO IMMIGRANT � BUS INES S ES HAD S TART A NEW ENTREPRENEURS ' S ALES OF $ 1 . 3 TRILLION BUS INES S � � � � - � � � _ �� _ �� - ��. � --J �� .;/ - - - -- � IN 2 0 19 , THE S HARE OF � - � � IMMIGRANTS BRING ENTREPRENEURS WHO IMMIGRANT- THEIR FOODS , ARE IMMIGRANTS WAS OWNED LANGUAGE, 2 1 . 7 % DES P ITE THE BUS INES S ES CULTURE, GOODS , S HARE OF EMP LOYED AND S ERVICES , IMMIGRANTS IN THE 8 . 0 MILLION ADDING A RICH US P OP ULATION ONLY P EOP LE IN 2 0 17 . DIVERS ITY TO BEING 13 . 6 % COMMUNITIES . � _ -.� - - - - CHALLENGES PROVIDE SUPPORT ACTIONABLE NEXT STEPS • Personal and professional • Assistance with administrative • Ensure resources and relationships / Network procedures for business setup information is accessible in • Language and cultural barriers • Entrepreneurship training multiple languages and access • Limited access to capital , often • Legal advice and counseling for points because of a lack of credit history complying with tax regulations, � Organize a cohort of community • Less familiarity with local laws labor laws, social security business leaders to develop an and regulations for small obligations, and immigration immigrant entrepreneurship businesses • Mentoring and coaching in initiative • Potential distrust of government business networks to help build � Assemble relevant nor�profits, and local agencies social capital local agencies, and professionals • Assistance with raising start -up with relevant experience to capital advise on startup business development � Identify and aggregate sources of ca p i ta I !± --^,wl� C OMMUNITY DEVELOP MENT MODEL: � � ,` .� . .- NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOP MENT CENTER, MINNEAP OLIS / S T. P AUL C ON TEXT S O LUTION RE S ULT NDC has been assisting aspiring • Community partners market NDC • NDC has trained over 4 ,5 00 entrepreneurs and activating training as their own and host entrepreneurs since 1993 . commercial corridors in low-income , classes in the neighborhood. This • Provided over $ 11 million in loans to immigrant , and minority neighborhoods allows NDC to connect more business owners with limited in Minneapolis/St . Paul since 1993 . naturally with residents already in access to traditional capital. the community partner's network. • Focuses on personal empowerment , NDC works in target neighborhoods and • NDC provides a fully integrated, one - rebuilding neighborhoods . relies heavily on community partners stop shop for entrepreneur training , • Half of NDC entrepreneurs use within those neighborhoods (e .g . a small business consulting , formerly vacant buildings . community development corporations , microfinance , and business • 82 % ofNDC-assisted businesses schools , faith-based organizations , incubation. hire neighborhood residents . social service agencies , etc .) to attract • NDC's microenterprise development � local residents with the vision and programs are offered in s � .� . . . � enthusiasm to launch a business within languages (English, Spanish, Arabic , ,� � � � �,, , their neighborhood. Hmong , Vietnamese , and Somali) � -� � !± --^,wl� S ERVIC E IN TEGRATION MODEL P RO GRAM: � � .'` .� . .- MIS S ION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, SAN FRANCISCO C ON TEXT S O LUTION RE S ULT The Mission Economic Development • Free tax preparation is often the • In 2013 , MEDAreceived an Agency (MEDA) is a neighborhood first point of contact . $ 8 00 ,000 grant from the U.S . service center that is designed to be • Through the single intake process , Department of Health and Human a one -stop shop for residents of San MEDA staff can build trust and Services to launch a revolving loan Francisco 's Mission District - two learn about clients ' aspirations and fund for small minority businesses thirds of whom are Spanish- needs . This information allows staff • Since that time , 41 loans have been speaking , to direct clients to different packaged, amounting to nearly support services and identify those $ 700 ,000 to support 3 6 new MEDAprovides various support interested in entrepreneurship . businesses in the district . services including financial literacy, • MEDA enrolls aspiring homeownership , computer literacy, entrepreneurs in a six-week free tax preparation, and small business -training course , provides in 1 m nt n in in i i a liz a hin � bus ess deve op e . o go g d v du ed co c g � � and potential housing in a business ,, � � � � incubator. � �� ___ _� � TRAINING / NETWORK CAP ITAL / RES OURCES • Economic Development Department • Low and Moderate IncomeOwned , • Greater Dubuque Development Corp . Business Assistance Grant • Northe a s t Iowa Community Colle g e • lowa M icro Loa n • Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce • Dubuque Main Street . � � ; • Empower • The Innovation Lab � � , - - • lowa Venture School • East Central Intergovernmental Association • SCORE (ECIA) LINK CITY OF DUBUQUE S MALL BUS INES S RES OURCES Make resources accessible (language , platform, place) to all community members . � � :�r��r� �� • Speak to existing immigrant business owners and • Identify and assemble relevant nor�profits, local understand their experience starting their business in agencies, and professionals with relevant experience to Dubuque advise on startup business development. • Ensure resources and information is accessible in • Identify sources of capital for local small business multiple languages and access points entrepreneurs • Organize a cohort of community business leaders to develop an immigrant entrepreneurship initiative � ,� � �( t��.'A ' .` ' � � �4'. . f. . � ' _ .k . , • � �"' � . . � . t . . . 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