Iowa International Center
The Iowa International Center (previously known as the Iowa Council for International Understanding) is a non-profit organization based in Des Moines, Iowa.
History
The organization was founded in 1938 based on the work of volunteers assisting World War II refugees. During the 1940s, the organization sponsored educational visits for Panamanian students.
The organization joined the National Council for International Visitors in the 1970s, placing it for the first time in a national network of agencies to receive and schedule international visitors from the United States Information Agency. Over 4,000 international guests have visited Iowa through this program.[1]
The organization's current name, the Iowa International Center, was adopted in 2011.
Current operations
Education
The Iowa Student Global Leadership Conference
The Iowa Student Global Leadership Conference (ISGLC) is an annual conference that brings together Iowa youth and international exchange students studying in Iowa high schools for a leadership institute in Des Moines. The focus of the conference is to examine key global issues that will affect the world in the future. Participating Iowa students work in partnership with international students to recommend actions and solutions for the future, and to discuss ways youth can address issues of concern in their countries. The next conference will be held in February 2011.
Pioneer-ICIU International Dialogue Series
ICIU, in conjunction with Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. facilitates a monthly conversation on international issues with experts in various fields, which are designed to explore the interdependent relationship between global events and local actions. This series of lunchtime presentations focuses on a wide variety of international and cultural issues ranging from world hunger and human rights to world peace and cultural diversity.
Passport to Prosperity: A Celebration of Iowa's Immigrants and Refugees
Each September since 2001, ICIU has hosted this event to honor people who were born outside of the United States and made outstanding contributions to the community after settling in Iowa. The food and entertainment provided at the dinner and awards ceremony reflect the countries of origin of the honorees.
Interpretation and Translation services
The Iowa Council for International Understanding has been providing interpretation and translation services in the state of Iowa for over thirty years. With over 100 interpreters and translators in more than 40 languages and dialects, ICIU works with companies, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and individuals.
International Visitors
Community Connections
The Community Connections Program, managed by the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and administered by World Learning, is designed to promote public diplomacy through the exchange of cultural ideas and values among participants, U.S. families and local community host organizations. It seeks to establish and strengthen links between U.S. communities and communities in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
For the first Community Connections Program of FY 2006-2007, ICIU was chosen to host 11 citizens from Azerbaijan to learn about American agriculture. Most recently, ICIU hosted 9 agriculture professionals from Turkmenistan to learn about livestock technology.
International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)
The International Visitor Leadership Program is an international exchange program that seeks to promote public diplomacy through programs that reflect visitors’ professional interests. IVLP is sponsored by the US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
ICIU is one of approximately 95 CIVs in the U.S. participating in the International Visitor Leadership Program. ICIU’s most popular visitor programs include agricultural-related issues, the media, judicial affairs and education.