Establishing Partnership to Engage Minority and Culturally Diverse Audiences
Beverly Berna & Tara Nelson, AmeriCorp VISTA

Situation:
The diverse population in Dubuque is growing at a steady rate, but the resources are not keeping pace to serve these newcomers. Extension can provide outreach services, resources, networking opportunities and empowerment techniques.

Extension professionals need to understand the history and culture of new audiences and that means interacting with respected new leaders and engaging in outreach.

Response/Results:
Collaboration now exists between Dubuque Extension and following groups as we move ahead to open a Multicultural Family Center……

• Back on Track, NAACP, and Immigrant Rights Network are collaborating in an effort to improve and strengthen all three programs. By using the Multicultural Family Center as their home, these three organizations will gain a staff to answer phone calls and provide resource/referral information about the groups/programs. In return, the Multicultural Family Center will gain a relationship with those participating in the three organizations.
• St. John’s Lutheran Church will collaborate with the MFC by providing space for larger events that the Multicultural Family Center cannot house. This church is currently serving as meeting place while we prepare the Multicultural Family Center’s goals and mission, location and resources.
• Northeast Iowa Community College’s Downtown Centers are offering their services at the Multicultural Family Center. The NICC Center provides ESL and GED classes including the materials and staff at no charge to participants. We are also working to establish some student (6th to 12th grades) resources as well.
• The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) has expressed interest in providing outreach services at the MFC as needed. One health fair was held at St. John’s Lutheran for the Marshallese and Hy-Vee gave away $10 food coupons and as a collaborative event reached 60 individuals. The VNA would like to reach the Hispanic males in Dubuque.
• Dubuque Community Y, Youth Specialist, has been a collaborative partner throughout the development of the Multicultural Family Center concept. This African-American role model is interested in working with the Center’s youth and transporting them to the Community Y for various activities. Interest has also been expressed to establish a youth committee.
• John Deere’s Multicultural Awareness Committee has vocalized their support of the Multicultural Family Center and will contribute in-kind donations of carpet, desks and other center supplies and are interested in becoming volunteer mentors.

Other organizations where the Dubuque County Extension is continuing to work cooperatively is the Presentation Lantern Center (Language Mentors for Women) and Hispanic Ministries. We will continue to ensure there is no duplication of services and that the newly developed Multicultural Family Center belongs to the populations it serves.

Contact:
Beverly Berna, Family Life Specialist
14858 West Ridge Lane
Dubuque, Iowa 52003
Phone 563-583-6496 Extension 18
Email bberna@iastate.edu