~by Denise O’Brien Van for the Greene County Historical Society
Over the past 140 years, immigration from other countries to Greene County mirrors what’s gone on throughout the United States, says Chuck Offenburger.
He will tell the story of immigration to the local area at a 2 pm program on Sunday, Jan. 15, at the Greene County Historical Museum, 218 E. Lincoln Way in Jefferson. Admission is free, and the public is invited.
In case of inclement weather on Sunday, the program will be postponed a week to 2 pm Sunday, Jan. 22.
“The waves of immigration to the U.S., Iowa and Greene County have reflected trouble spots throughout the world for the past 140 years,” says Offenburger. “That was the big story 140 years ago, and it’s a big story today.”
Immigrants continue to come to the U.S because of the nation’s promise and freedoms that don’t exist in many other countries, he adds. “People come because they believe that if they do honest hard work, they can live successful lives.”
“Immigrants built this country,” Offenburger says. “And now, rural areas like Greene County are again looking to immigrants to help with economic growth and redevelopment.”
Questions from the audience and tales of own families’ immigrant experiences will be welcome during the presentation.
Offenburger is the former Des Moines Register columnist known as “Iowa Boy.” He recently moved to Jefferson from an acreage south of Cooper. He’s been active with the Historical Society for the past decade. And he is chair of the steering committe for the Greene County Development Corporation’s diversity initiative, which launched in fall 2021. Nueva Vida en Greene County seeks to grow the county’s population and workforce by attracting newcomers and their families, with a focus on Latinos, to become permanent residents.
Mikki Schwarzkopf of Jefferson assisted Offenburger in research for the program.
