On Sunday, June 16, we partnered with the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council (ICFRC) to host the first annual Global Connections Summer Gathering and Potluck. Alongside ICFRC, the International Rescue Committee, the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa, the African Community Network of Iowa, IC Compassion, the Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson County, and other local organizations, we welcomed our eastern Iowa community to gather, share food, and form connections.
Our Program Intern, Berkley Barnett, recounted her experience at the potluck, highlighting its dual purpose of networking and community empowerment. In her words, it was very successful in being “an opportunity for people who are globally minded” to “share a space that was welcoming”. One organization in attendance that Berkley wanted to bring attention to is the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which recently opened an Iowa City office in December 2023. She found that they, alongside the other refugee aid associations present and the African Community Network, were incredibly valuable in helping her and other community members connect with the African refugee and immigrant populations in eastern Iowa.
She mentioned a memorable interaction with the Galls, a couple who served in Botswana with the Peace Corps. While talking with Berkley, Mr. Gall compared the individualist and collectivist cultures of the U.S. and Botswana. He discussed how many Americans would suggest that the people of Botswana wanting to go to America should just save money and go, neglecting the unspoken obligations that people in collectivist cultures like Botswana have to their communities, discouraging them from leaving in such a way. Berkley commented on how interesting it was to see this perspective shared among some other picnic attendees who had immigrated to eastern Iowa from Africa.
The main feature of the potluck was, of course, all the food that was brought and shared. Although she says it was hard to choose, Berkley’s favorite was the apple couscous, with a unique sweet and savory flavor. She also gave a special mention to the Nigerian dough balls brought by the Goshits, saying how cool it was to see that Peace Corps members who had served in African countries recognized the dish. She emphasized how seeing pasta salad and Nigerian food on the same table was really reflective of our organization and our interactions with all our partners. “We are the pasta salad, connecting with all the other foods on the table.”
Next year, Berkley hopes for the potluck to go beyond networking, becoming more of a space for community discussion and a ‘friendship meeting.’ She envisions future potlucks having more people gathering to celebrate the diversity of our community, simultaneously learning about the different local organizations that exist to promote international interactions.
We are so thankful to have been able to be part of this space for exchange and look forward to participating in the next iterations of this Global Connections Summer Gathering and Potluck!
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