Cultural Competence Professional Learning and Community Involvement Opportunities for Staff

This year amongst the many internal cultural competence events the Agency will hold such as lunch & learns, the internal poverty simulation, new staff orientation presentations, office meeting presentations and the annual diversity days, the Agency will also support some additional events. Staff will be allowed time to attend one of these events if interested, with their supervisor’s approval. Please note that these events are will all be held in Des Moines; however, regional opportunities will be identified this fall.

Meals from the Heartland (This event is after work hours therefore supervisor’s approval is not needed)
Since 2008, a group of Heartland employees has volunteered at the Meals from the Heartland event to prepare packaged meals to send to developing countries. This year a Heartland group will volunteer from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Friday, September 3. Interested people can register for the event through the Universal Registration system using Activity Number IN0093-9999-1101. The event will be held at Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines. If you are unable to participate with the Agency’s team on September 3, please feel free to check the Meals from the Heartland website for other options. Registrations for the Agency’s team will close on August 27, 2010. For more information about Meals from the Heartland go to http://www.mealsfromtheheartland.org.

Race Exhibit at the Science Center of Iowa (Supervisor’s approval needed)
This exhibit explores the issue of race and racism in the United States. The thought-provoking exhibit addresses these highly personal topics from three different perspectives: science, history, and everyday. For more information about the exhibit visit http://www.sciowa.org/aspx/Explore/ExperiencingSCI/TravelingExhibits.aspx. Interested Heartland staff members are encouraged to form a small group and attend the exhibit. The Agency will allow two hours for staff to attend this event. Tickets cost $8.00 (please mention that we pay group rate) and each person will be responsible for purchasing his/her own ticket. This traveling exhibit will be at the Science Center until September 6, 2010.

Immigration Forum (Supervisor’s approval needed)
Heartland AEA is proud to sponsor, in collaboration with Des Moines Area Community College, an Immigration Forum that will help participants understand the educational challenges and rewards facing immigrants, refugees and educators around the state of Iowa. The forum will be held on October 5, 2010, from 2:45-5:15 p.m. at the DMACC Urban Campus, in Building 1, and will be a part of the celebration commemorating the Urban Campus's 30th anniversary. The forum will include a keynote speaker and a panel of experts who will share facts about immigration and implications for Iowa educators. The forum facilitator will be Rekha Basu, columnist at the Des Moines Register. Admission is free.