Urban refugee term under fire in Cedar Rapids region
Officials and clinicians challenge the label urban refugee calling it stereotype laden. The Cedar Rapids Iowa City area study notes families labeled as refugees face misperceptions about crime and poverty, while advocates urge viewing them as American families pursuing improvement.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Frank Gluck
Gazette
Virgil Gooding
Foundation 2
Cedar Rapids
Iowa City
Gooding
Jonathan Narcisse
Des Moines
Iowa
Narcisse
The
Gazette Project
Compas
Sion
Ed Meade
Chicago
Meade
Press Box
Cedar Rapids African-American churches aid new residents
African-American newcomers from Chicago seek a welcoming church community in Cedar Rapids. Mount Zion Baptist Church, with about 500 members, exemplifies active spiritual support, while notes on fragmentation and outreach reflect varied experiences among the city’s black churches and leaders.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cindy Hadish
Lyle Muller
Gazette
Chicago
Lonnie Jordan
Mount Zion Baptist Church
Eighth St. SE
Jordan
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
Mount Zion
Betty Daniels
America
Daniels
Bethel A.M.E
Linda Winston
Jane Boyd
James Toney
Shekinah Glory Baptist Church
10Th St
Toney
Dallas
Nigeria
Brian Ray
the Gazette
University of Iowa
Aaron McLeod
Raleigh
N.C
Gooding
W.E.B.) DuBois
Frederick Douglass
Malcolm X
Martin Luther King
Foundation 2
Monthly dinners replace defunct Cedar Rapids diversity task force
Cedar Rapids formed a Community Diversity and Tolerance Task Force in 1999 under Mayor Lee Clancey but it faded under Mayor Paul Pate. Louise Wozniak Lorenz notes ongoing programs like Dinner At Our House foster cross cultural understanding. About 150 attendees join monthly dinners on the first Monday. A racial reconciliation group grew from the task force as the Civil Rights Commission handles about 95 formal complaints annually.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
The
Gazette
Cedar Rapids
Lee Clancey
Paul Pate
Lorenz
Newcomers face culture shift and racism in Cedar Rapids
The Cedar Rapids community grapples with immigrant and urban black arrivals adjusting to Iowa. Leaders stress social support, mentors, and education outreach as families juggle multiple jobs and face racism, while schools help at risk students adapt to a new educational culture.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa
Broadway Center
Freeman
Virgil Gooding
Foundation 2
Cedar Rapids
Cedar
Gooding
Scott McNabb
University of Iowa
Iowa Association of Alternative Education
Iowa City
McNabb
Kholece Wells
Michelle Edwards
Fourth Avenue
McKinley Middle School
Johnson Elementary School
Johnson
Susan Lagos
Slayton Thompson
Ethnic makeup debate as Iowa City contrasts with Chicago
The piece quotes Daniels urging personal responsibility amid claims Iowa City offers better quality of life than Chicago but less diversity and bustle. It notes new Iowans may stay brief or settle long term and cites Gazette staffers Kristophere Owens and Lyle Muller on the investigation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa City
Ed Meade
Press Box
Meade
Chicago
Iowa
Also Mentioned on This Page
Frank.gluck
Gazettecommunications.com
State of
Blacktowa
Kristophere’ Owens
Cindy
Hadish
Lyle.muller
Gazettes
Sns.com
Rev
Diversity Task Force
Louise Wozniak Lorenz
Tion Group
Civil Rights Commission
Wells
Thompson
Edwards
Gazettecommunications
Cindy.hadish
U.S. Census
Bu Bureau
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