Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
Dubuque is a community whose inhabitants are overwhelmingly of Irish and German ancestry. Many of our residents have been in the community for generations, and have limited contact with people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. In recent years, Dubuque has seen an increasing population of color, such that today one in every nine children in our public school system is a child of color. The Multicultural Family Center is seeking innovative ways to build cross-cultural collaboration and civic engagement around issues of diversity as well as facilities for families, youth and the downtown neighborhood residents.

Response:
The Multicultural Family Center is open from 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Friday plus 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. During these regular hours, students receive after school Homework Help, families receive free internet access, web cam and computer tutoring in both, English & Spanish, family programming as well as community informational services and referral. In addition to these regular hours, EFNEP provides nutrition education on Mondays, ESL classes on Tuesday & Thursday mornings by the community college staff, and immigration and tax assistance on Thursday & Friday eveenign for Spanish speaking clients.

The Center is also serving as the contact address and meeting location for the local chapter of the NAACP. With the personalities that are associated with and volunteering at the Multicultural Family Center , there is an incredible wealth of experience and knowledge in regards to diversity issues and cultures. Cultural education and ethnic celebrations are being sponsored to expose community individuals to different cultures and traditions; while providing education and fun.

Impact:
A total of 1,982 volunteer hours were logged this year at the Multicultural Family Center . During the 2006-2007 program year, 312 (unduplicated) new clients with 47% African American or Black, 26% Hispanic, 25% Caucasian, and 2% Pacific Island or Marshallese came through the Multicultural Family Center door. Total contacts were 7,884 with youth (3,312 or 42% female and 3,232 or 41% males) and adults(867 females or 11% and 473 males or 6%) . Second year of operating funds was $44,292 from Community Development Commission plus matching donations and cash contributions of $38,791 for a total budget of $83,083.

Examples of Multicultural Family Center projects include: beginning computer classes, weekly coffee socials and culture days, parenting series entitled "Guiding Good Choices" and weekly family field trips. Special events such as Spanish First Time Homebuyer workshop was held on Saturday, June 2 with 5 participants from 4 households as well as president of Chamber of Commerce of Columbia who attended with his mother. One family is in the process of purchasing their first home as a result of this workshop. Summer programs were held for youth (582 contacts) at the adjacent Prescott school playground from 9 a.m. to 12 noon with lunch being served and then programs from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. daily at the Center. Topics included Gizmos and Gadgets, Global Friends, Story Theatre , Planet Protectors, Kids Spanish, etc. A break dance and hip hop troupe was formed as well as 3 on 3 basketball league for older teens and pre-teens. Evenings in the Multicultural Family Center are reserved for families and adult computer time.

Contact:
Beverly Berna
Dubuque County Extension
14858 West Ridge Lane
Dubuque, IA 52003
563-583-6496
bberna@iastate.edu