The Catherine McAuley Center is hosting its second annual Immigration & Business Luncheon, a “celebration of the contributions of refugees and immigrants in our business community and workforce,” according to its website.
“Success in business depends on a reliable, responsible, documented, and diligent workforce, and it can be a challenge to recruit and retain such a workforce,” said Haley Flenker, Resource Development Manager with the Catherine McAuley Center, in an email to the CBJ. “The Catherine McAuley Center strives to provide services that lead to quality placements for refugee and immigrant clients and lasting relationships with local employers.”
The luncheon will take place from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Cedar Rapids, 1200 Collins Rd NE. The Catherine McAuley staff will lead two panel discussions from 9-11 a.m. on creating inclusive workplaces, and perspectives from immigrants and refugees on their employment experience since coming to the U.S. The luncheon and award ceremony will follow at 11:30 a.m.
Dr. Dau D. Jok, the executive director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for West Des Moines Community Schools, will be the keynote speaker. His foundation, the Dut Jok Youth Foundation, has served more than 2,100 youth in three countries and is currently active in South Sudan, his motherland.
Ms. Flenker said the response from last year’s event was overwhelmingly positive, with over 100 attendees and current and former clients in attendance. “We got a lot of great feedback,” she said, “attendees at last year’s event included representatives from more than 10 businesses and a number of other organizations, the City of Cedar Rapids, and the City of Marion, and other community members and supporters.”
Last year’s award winners included:
- Welcoming Workplace Award – Large Company: GreenState Credit Union
- Welcoming Workplace Award – Small Company: ImageFirst Healthcare Laundry Services
- Emerging Employee Award: Susan Abel
- Outstanding Business Leader Award: Maria Gonzalez, El Super Burrito
- Young Entrepreneur & Leader Award: Nkurunziza Dieudonne
Nominations for the Immigration & Business Awards are due by Friday, Jan. 12. To be considered for eligibility, nominees must be employed or have a place of business within a 100-mile radius of Cedar Rapids.
To find out more or to register, visit https://cmc-cr.org/immigration-business-luncheon/.
