For Immediate Release: February 10, 2009
Contact: Kerry Koonce: (515) 281-9646
Printer Friendly PDF VersionNew Iowan Centers Celebrating 10 Years Of Assisting New Iowans
Des Moines, Iowa – For 10 years, New Iowans Centers have been offering one-stop services to help deal with the multiple issues related to immigration and employment. Through the coordination of local, state and federal service providers, the centers provide a seamless service delivery system for new Iowans.
“All Iowans are affected by the changes that come with immigration,” said Elisabeth Buck, Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “New Iowan Centers are designed to help businesses, communities and newcomers adjust to those changes.”
With 12 locations across Iowa, New Iowan Centers assist newcomers with a wide range of services that include community and employment information, language training or citizenship classes.
Businesses and communities can benefit from the cultural diversity training, retention programming and relocation information that the center provides. New Iowan Centers also have the Rosetta Stone language software to help with language training.
Jojo Bautista moved to Charles City, Iowa from the Philippines. He came to the New Iowan Center after having several miscellaneous jobs in the area. Although Bautista had earned a computer science bachelor’s degree in the Philippines and completed all the coursework for a master’s degree as well, somehow all of this education and work history was lost in the translation. He didn’t know how to get a job in his field and was only being referred to local factory jobs.
After working with an outreach specialist at the local New Iowan Center, he was able to find an opening as a software engineer at a local company. He received help preparing his cover letter, online application and interview preparation. After a 4-hour interview, Bautista was offered the position.
This is just one of the many success stories from the New Iowan Centers. For more information, please visit
www.iowaworkforce.org/centers/newiowan/ or contact Iowa Workforce Development at (800) 562-4692.
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