The RIVER ARC

A heartfelt thank you Karen Showalter for Auditor and Gabbi DeWitt for taking the time to share such important information with our non-English speaking community about the voting process.
From voter registration to early voting, they walked us through the steps and explained the different positions up for election, from Governor to county judges.
What made their presentation especially meaningful was that they did not simply share information; they also gave attendees the opportunity to practice and become more familiar with the voting process. This hands-on experience helped make the information more accessible and gave participants greater confidence in preparing to vote.
This kind of civic education is especially important for immigrant and refugee communities. Many newcomers are still learning how the American electoral system works, including how to register, when and where to vote, and the roles of elected officials. Providing clear, accessible information helps remove barriers, build confidence, and empower eligible community members to participate meaningfully in civic life.
Thank you Karen and Gabbi, for helping make civic education accessible and empowering our congregation to become more informed and engaged members of the Cedar Valley community.
An informed community is an empowered community, and every eligible voice matters!

Information is one of the greatest needs in our refugee and immigrant communities. Accurate information empowers us to make informed decisions and exercise our civic rights.

Please join us for a heartfelt and informative presentation on the election process and how to participate.

Let’s learn together, ask questions, and ensure our voices are heard.

We are incredibly grateful to the Cedar Valley Interfaith Council for supporting immigrant leaders as we build this historic platform—Cedar Valley Immigrant Community Alliance (CVICA). ❤️

The Cedar Valley is a wonderful place to live, with many resources and opportunities. Yet, for many immigrant and refugee families, these resources can feel out of reach because of language barriers, cultural differences, and unfamiliarity with American systems.

I know this personally. As an immigrant, I have experienced these barriers myself. One example is our school system. The American education system is very different from the system I grew up with in Congo. Sometimes, as parents, we can feel lost—not because we are not educated or do not care about our children, but because we were educated in a different system.

So how do we make sure immigrant children have the same opportunities to succeed?
Through advocacy, education, understanding, and partnership!

When parents understand the systems their children are navigating, they become empowered to support their children’s success. And when schools and organizations better understand the cultures, languages, and experiences of immigrant families, they can build stronger bridges.
That is why CVICA was created.

CVICA brings together immigrant community leaders from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds to identify the barriers our communities face—and, most importantly, to brainstorm solutions that consider language, culture, and literacy.

There is an African saying: “One finger cannot wash the whole face.” 🤝🏾

We cannot do this alone! We welcome organizations, agencies, faith based community, School, individuals and immigrant leaders across the Cedar Valley to join us, share what they are seeing, and help us build a Cedar Valley where every family—and every child—has the opportunity to thrive.

Together, we can turn barriers into bridges.
❤️
Contact: CVICA-IOWA.ORG

💙 Grateful for Community Partnership! 💙

A heartfelt thank you to Amazon Cedar Falls for generously donating cleaning products to The River ARC for distribution to families in our community.

Your generosity helps us meet practical needs, strengthen families, and remind our community that we are stronger when we support one another. 🙏🏾

Thank you for helping us build bridges and empower families! 💙

A special thank you to Indivisible Iowa Black Hawk County for inviting me today to share about The River ARC and the work we do in our community.

Immigrant and refugee families face many barriers as they build their new lives in America. Bridging these gaps requires community members who are willing to listen, learn, and advocate.

One of the most meaningful ways to advocate is to invite us to the table, listen to our experiences, and give us the opportunity to share our voices.

Thank you for creating space for The River ARC and standing with immigrant and refugee families. Together, we can build bridges and strengthen our community.

📚 Understanding the American School System 🇺🇸

Last week Wednesday, we had a great turnout for our presentation on understanding the American school system! We were grateful to learn from an immigrant parent who works in the school system and personally guided her three children—from kindergarten all the way to master’s degrees.

Parents learned about:
✅ School grades and age levels
✅ The importance of parental involvement and homework support
✅ Tutoring and school resources
✅ GPA and how to monitor academic progress
✅ The importance of talking with teachers and school counselors
✅ Planning for college and careers as early as middle school
✅ Using technology to stay connected with the school
✅ Encouraging children to participate in sports and other activities

The biggest message was simple: Parents don’t have to know everything, but they need to stay involved, ask questions, and walk alongside their children throughout their educational journey. ❤️

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to this meaningful conversation! Together, we can help our children succeed. 🌟