A Network for Economic Integration of Immigrants: Supporting Latino/as in Des Moines, IA

Abstract

Iowa has become a new gateway destination for Latinos/as, demonstrated by a five-fold increase in the Latino/a population in the state since the 1990s. The Latino/a population has become the largest minority group in Iowa and the state has benefited from the influx of this population given existing demographic trends that include brain drain, aging populations, and shrinking communities. This growth has led to the development of Latino/a entrepreneurship and businesses, creating commercial niches with high potential for economic development and revitalization in Iowan communities. However, the distribution of Latinos/as in the labor force remains concentrated in low-wage sectors of the economy. The lack of state and federal involve-ment to facilitate the economic integration of Latinos/as in the receiving communities partially explains this concentration. In order to overcome the public sector non-action status, the efforts to promote economic integration is shifting to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Using a context of reception framework, which refers to the existing modes of integration at the receiving locations, my research studies the formal nongovernmental actors that contribute to the integration of Latinos/as in the City of Des Moines. A qualitative approach was used to examine four overall research questions: 1) Who are the formal NGO stakeholders involved in the network of support for economic integration? 2) What are the NGOs currently doing to assist with the economic integration of the Latino/a population? 3) How do the NGOs perform with regards to provision of services and opportunities? and 4) Do the NGOs collaborate and form partnerships within the network? This paper focuses on the third question by examining the services provided to support economic integration. A segmented assimilation approach was used, focusing on the societal level of the reception context. By examining the existing network of support, which was influenced by the reception context, the study concluded that the societal mode of incorporation was not sufficient to contribute to producing a strong network of support. Recommendations include strengthening public sector involvement in a culturally sensitive way in the network of support for the Latino/a population; expanding jobs and mobility services and opportunities; and improving access to services by simplifying and expanding qualifications. A multistate conference about integration of immigrants Proceedings of the 13th Annual Conference Latinos in the Heartland: Growing Together in New Destination Areas www.cambio.missouri.edu/Library/ Keywords: Latino, economic integration, nongovernmental organizations, multi-sector mobility, qualitative, new destinations