IowaWINs (Iowa Welcomes Immigrant Neighbors) celebrating 10 Year Anniversary.

IowaWINs (Iowa Welcomes Immigrant Neighbors) welcomes supporters and the general public to a 10-Year Anniversary Celebration featuring Rev. Craig Mousin, an accomplished attorney, professor, author, and ordained minister who has dedicated over thirty years to ministry and justice for immigrants and refugees. The presentation will take place at the Chapel Auditorium, 629 N. Main in Mount Pleasant, on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 3 p.m. The presentation is open to the public and all supporters are welcome to attend.

Following the presentation, participants may cross the street to the Belle Center for refreshments and a variety of “breakout” sessions, where people may engage in conversation with Rev. Mousin and others on topics that are significant in the life of IowaWINs and Iowa communities. IowaWINs is happy to recognize the contributions and good will that have supported this organization in serving immigrants and refugees in our communities over the last 10 years.

Prior to these events, IowaWINs will hold their Annual Meeting at 11 a.m., in The Belle Center. This meeting will focus on 2025 accomplishments and what is envisioned for the future. Again, the meeting as well as all the events are open to the public.

ABOUT IowaWINS

Ten years ago, in September 2015, IowaWINs was born from compassion. Originally formed by the First Presbyterian Church of Mount Pleasant as a response the Syrian refugee crisis, the organization emerged when community members wanted to sponsor refugee families but found that changes in federal guidelines prevented direct resettlement to this area at that time.

Rather than abandon the mission of welcome, IowaWINs pivoted to creating meaningful bonds across communities. The organization began hosting International Dinners, bringing neighbors together to share food and stories. They organized film screenings to educate the broader community about immigrant experiences, fostering understanding and empathy throughout Mount Pleasant. The community responded enthusiastically to these opportunities.

Everything changed on May 9, 2018 when an ICE raid devastated the local immigrant community. IowaWINs became the centralized source for information and organization after the raid, stepping up to provide immediate support for affected families. The organization coordinated networking efforts, connected families with legal support and helped fill the gaps left by this traumatic event. This support was possible due to the immediate donations from community members, churches, and people from across the U.S. who wanted to support these families in time of crisis.

Moving beyond crisis response, IowaWINs recognized the need for sustained community support. Based on a needs survey conducted with immigrants by a bilingual and culturally competent consultant, a new vision for future services became a reality with the opening of The Welcome Home Center in 2024 to serve all residents seeking connection to community services and offering bilingual services for Spanish speakers. The center provides resources tailored to fit the needs of those who walk in, from language assistance to job placement services.

Today, The Welcome Home Center remains busy supporting newcomers through comprehensive programming. They conduct workshops on legal rights, help parents to prepare legal documents to protect their families, and provide health care navigation assistance. English Language Learning classes continue to breakdown barriers and build bridges.

IowaWINs is also a co-sponsor with PFLAG for TapestryFest. The third annual festival was held in Central Park in July of 2025 featuring music, food and friendship from over a dozen cultures represented in Mt. Pleasant. In addition, The Welcome Home Center hosts monthly celebrations focusing on traditions, food and information on one or more specific cultures represented in Mt. Pleasant.

As IowaWINs celebrates its tenth anniversary, we demonstrate that when communities choose compassion over fear, when neighbors choose connection over division, remarkable things happen.