“Welcome” is something LSI has been expressing to refugees since World War II. LSI’s Immigrant and Refugee Community Services continue to welcome Iowa’s newest neighbors by providing education, family services, and economic development programs to help them get started on their path to citizenship and building a new life in Iowa.
Questions? To learn more about making a donation or in-kind gift, contact Nancy.Strutzenberg@LSIowa.org
For general inquiries, contact Refugee@LSIowa.org
Programs
The Global Greens program serves individuals who were farmers in their home country and want to return to agriculture and food production. Produce from Global Greens is available for purchase every summer at the Global Greens Farmers’ Market.
This LSI program empowers former refugee women as they open small businesses as child care providers.
This program provides connections to community resources, social, and educational activities to help former refugees age 60 and above as they transition to life in the U.S.
We provide classroom instruction and tutoring for former refugees as they prepare to take their U.S. Citizenship Exam.
The Refugee Immigrant Guide (RIG) program supports refugee and immigrant families involved with the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) or Juvenile Court. As a community partnership of four organizations, RIG bridges the gap between families and the courts. Learn more
As an officially designated resettlement agency, LSI partners with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) to provide resettlement services in Iowa. Learn more
LSI’s family reunification services are designed to ensure immigrant children are safely reunited with their guardians or sponsors in the United States, and then continue to be successful in their home and community. Learn more
Pick up a basket of our farmers’ freshest produce every week when you join the Global Greens Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
English as a Second Language (ESL) classes help individuals learn to speak, read, write, and listen in English, and hone in on American culture and life skills.
Our goal is to help individuals successfully enter the healthcare and hospitality industries. This program partners with local business and community leaders to provide contextualized training that builds refugees’ English communication skills and industry-specific workplace skills.
We work with area financial institutions to support former refugees through matched savings and financial education as they save for purchases — home, auto, business, or school — that will help build their new life in the U.S.
Therapists, interpreters, and multi-lingual community advocates support individual and family goals for mental health care in a clinical setting. Services are designed in an integrated way, considering the mind, emotions, body, health, social support, community service needs, spirituality, lifestyle, and relationships. Learn more
LSI Immigrant and Refugee Community Services, along with several partner organizations, is connecting business owners with resources. Focusing on businesses owned by immigrants, refugees, and underrepresented populations, this project will support up to 600 diverse small businesses over two years by providing counseling, technical assistance, and support in accessing up to $5 million in small business relief. Learn more
LSI provides trauma-informed, culturally appropriate support to foreign-born survivors of human trafficking. Services are available for both adults and minors. Learn more