A ‘home’ for immigrants, refugees: What’s in store for Polk County’s Global Neighbors?

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The master plan for Polk Country´s planned refugee and immigrant center, Global Neighbors, includes classrooms, a computer lab, and clinic services. Provided By Polk Country
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By Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register

Des Moines, IA-With the long-awaited sobering and mental health crisis center open, Polk County officials are turning their attention to its next-door neighbor ― a refugee and immigrant welcome center.

Crews are renovating the building at 1900 Carpenter Ave. in Des Moines to make way for Global Neighbors, a hub for immigrants and refugees to access basic resources they need to find stability and adjust to their new life in the United States.

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Mak Sućeska, manager of operations for Global Neighbors, told the Des Moines Register the goal is for the center to become a place of support for the most vulnerable community members.

“When we talk about this work and the people it’s impacting, we’re talking about individuals who are coming from the most dire situations just wanting to survive, wanting to provide a better life for their families and hopefully have an opportunity to thrive,” Sućeska said.

The master plan for Polk Country´s planned refugee and immigrant center, Global Neighbors, includes classrooms, a computer lab, and clinic services. Provided By Polk Country

Here’s what to know about Global Neighbors.

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What is Global Neighbors?

Sućeska said resources for immigrants and refugees broadly exist across the county and state, but can be spread out and not easily accessible.

Global Neighbors is meant to be a one-stop-shop for immigrants and refugee communities to access everything from English language or citizenship classes, career development, driver education, or green card clinics.

Ultimately, Sućeska said the idea is to establish a space where people can feel at home, build relationships and establish roots in their new community.

“When we talk about what home means and what those supports look like, we are really trying to establish a sense of structure and systems to help people successfully integrate into their new communities through a lens of culturally appropriate services ― primarily when we talk about the different backgrounds people are coming from, but also what languages they speak and what cultures they represent,” he said.

What refugee groups have arrived in Polk County?

Sućeska said Afghans and Congolese from the Democratic Republic of Congo have been the two largest refugee groups resetting in Polk County over the past four years.

The county also has had many Ukrainian arrivals. Other demographics are Burmese, Bhutanese, Somali, and Eritrean.

International Rescue Committee’s Des Moines office, for example, has welcomed more than 800 refugees to the area since opening in June 2022.

Anecdotally, Iowa has always been a popular destination for secondary migration ― a second or third stop for someone who already has resettled in the United States, Sućeska said.

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Why did Polk County choose the Carpenter Avenue building?

Similar to the building at 1914 Carpenter Ave., which now houses the Polk County Life Services Center, the future welcome center location already is county owned.

Additionally, the spot northwest of the city’s downtown core serves as an ideal location for the center because of its proximity to a bus line, ethnic community-based organizations and nonprofits, Sućeska said.

What services, amenities will be available at Global Neighbors?

Much of the planning for the facility has been done in conversations with ethnic community leaders and refugees, Sućeska said.

“We wanted to make sure that we did right by the community,” he said.

The facility will provide space to ethnic-based community organizations, who are either at capacity or don’t have a headquarters of their own, to provide resources such as English language and citizenship classes or career counseling.

The center will offer a computer lab where organization leaders and volunteers can teach digital literacy classes to new arrivals.

Officials also are planning for shared offices that can be used to conduct meetings, Broadlawns clinic services, and spaces to accommodate larger cultural celebrations.

How will art play a role at the center?

Factors such as lighting, color and art at the center have been topics of discussion with community members, Sućeska said.

Community members want a bright space that isn’t depressing and doesn’t look like another government building, he said.

Sućeska said the team aims to place art that is representative of those being served, such as a possible metal tree sculpture to represent life and strength. Planners also are considering murals and colors that can help people feel safe and welcomed.

The master plan for Polk Country´s planned refugee and immigrant center, Global Neighbors, includes classrooms, a computer lab, and clinic services. Provided By Polk Country

What could center hours be?

The center’s regular hours will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. But Sućeska said depending on programs and services, there will be room for fluctuating hours to meet community needs.

What is the cost of the project?

Officials did not provide a cost estimate. Sućeska said much of the work will be done in-house and the county is seeking grants to help with funding.

What is the timeline of the project?

Sućeska said the team is gutting and demolishing the structure, and overhauling the HVAC system and plumbing before they start renovating.

Sućeska said the goal is to complete the project by the end of 2025.

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