IowaWINs honored among notable members of history

MT. PLEASANT — IowaWINs (Iowa Welcomes Immigrant Neighbors) of Mt. Pleasant was presented with the Davenport Diocese’s Pacem in Terris “One Among Us” Justice Award April 21 along side the noteworthy Peace and Freedom Award presented to Sister Norma Pimentel.

IowaWINs is a nonprofit serving the Mt. Pleasant community since 2015.

The stand alone commission of the First Presbyterian Church was first formed in response to the Syrian refugee crisis, but gained significant momentum when they became the centralized source for information and organization after the ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raid May 9, 2018.

“Mt. Pleasant had always had a history of welcoming refugees,” former IowaWINs chair and current Nutrimos treasurer Tammy Shull said.

According to Shull, during the ICE raid 32 Mt. Pleasant men were taken from their place of work, and IowaWINs set to work immediately supporting the immigrant community emotionally, physically, legally, and financially.

IowaWINs was honored with the “One Among Us” award due their involvement with both the Syrian refugee crisis and rapid response to the 2018 raid.

“People who seek justice and work for the dignity and basic human rights of others are actually doing the work of peace building, the Pacem in Terris award winners among them,” the Davenport Diocese literature of the award states.

The “One Among Us” award was created in 2017 and designed to be awarded to a person or group within the Davenport Diocese that were building peace in the community.

The Davenport Diocese stretches as far west as Marion all the way north of Clinton and down the eastern state border.

IowaWINs still is working with the Mt. Pleasant area immigrant community and they are still supporting those effected by the ICE raid.

To get involved, community members can buy freezer meals prepared by the Nutrimos group, volunteer their time to cook, or reach out to members of either organization to gain more information.

The umbrella of the Pacem in Terris awards began with the Peace and Freedom Award in 1964 with a posthumous presentation to John F. Kennedy.

Some of the other Peace and Freedom Award recipients include Mother Teresa (1976), Cesar Chavez (1992), and the Dalai Lama (2019).

Many of those awarded made the trip to Iowa to receive these awards, including Dr. Martin Luther King, JR. in 1965.

Sister Norma Pimentel of Rio Grande Valley Catholic Charities was awarded the 2022 Peace and Freedom Award due to her work immigrants since 1980.

Her work includes notable efforts at the border currently.

Pimentel was also named one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2020 in Time magazine.

According to Shull IowaWINs is honored to be among those already presented with this prestigious award.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com