Greene County residents are going to have an opportunity Tuesday evening, Aug. 9, in Jefferson to learn first-hand how the northwest Iowa town of Storm Lake, over the past 30 years, experienced rapid diversification of its population, overcame significant challenges and turned into one of the fastest-growing, most vibrant and prosperous rural communities in the state.
“Nueva Vida en Greene County,” the diversity initiative launched last November by the Greene County Development Corporation, is sponsoring the program “The Storm Lake Story” on Aug. 9, at the Greene Room at Wild Rose Casino in Jefferson.
“We hope people here will put this event on their calendars and attend,” said Chuck Offenburger, of Jefferson, who is chairperson of the steering committee for Nueva Vida. “It’s a chance to listen to several people who lived and led the Storm Lake story describe it, and to ask them questions, too. We so appreciate their willingness to travel to Greene County to help us as we begin diversifying here.”
A half-dozen Storm Lakers who have been deeply involved in their community’s great change will be in Jefferson.
The panel will include Dr. Stacey Cole, superintendent of the very diverse Storm Lake Community Schools; Sara Huddleston, one of the most widely-known Latinas in the state who has worked in banking, social services and law in addition to having served on the city council in Storm Lake; and Mark Prosser, recently retired after serving more than 30 years as the chief of police in Storm Lake.
In addition, there will be a Latino owner of a Storm Lake business and one or two students at Storm Lake High School.
The discussion will be moderated by Offenburger and Carlos Arguello, a native of Carroll now living in Grimes, the consultant contracted by GCDC to lead the diversity planning and work here.
GCDC launched the initiative specifically to address the serious workforce shortages at the major manufacturers and other large employers in Greene County. In addition, the economic development group hopes the county will experience what other diverse communities across rural Iowa have seen in recent decades – overall population growth for the first time in a century, related growth of school enrollments, and growth of retail business, too.
This program is being held as a result of the work by four work & study groups formed this summer to help current residents of Greene County learn about the Latino culture, and to understand how life here will begin changing as we welcome more people and become a more diverse community.
Those four sub-committees are focusing on Cultural History & Integration; Food, Arts, Music & Culture; Interfaith Activities; and Soccer Events & Facilities.
There are several more public programs and events coming later this summer and through the fall.
Persons who want to become involved or get more information can contact Offenburger by email at chuck@offenburger.com or by phone at 515-370-2659 (cellular).
