We bring Iowans and Ukrainians together
to exchange talents, resources, stories, and most importantly, smiles.
Since October of 2022, with an outpouring of community support, we have successfully sponsored and assisted ten Ukrainian refugee families with entry into the United States and integration into our beautiful state. All newcomer families are doing great and have found new homes and happiness in Iowa.
How we got started
Who we are
Located in Clinton County, Iowa, IA nice is a community-driven nonprofit made possible through a network of generous volunteers and donors. The organization does not receive federal funding and has no paid staff.
How the program works
Integration is a journey we take, hand-in-hand, with displaced families. From assistance with legal entry into the United States to financial independence, our experts and the IA NICE community are there with advice, resources, and encouragement every step of the way.
The original mission was to help families enter and settle in the United States. Today, due to immigration policy changes made by the Trump administration, the mission is to help them stay and work in the communities that welcomed them.
Contact your elected official and ask them to keep Ukrainians in Iowa safe.
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IA NICE provides information about the opportunity to sponsor Ukrainian Families in need, helping through the matching process and connecting families, obtaining government approval to serve as a sponsor, and educates sponsors and their newcomers with resettlement and integration activities once they arrive.
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Our program provides financial support to newcomers, primarily in the areas of temporary housing and living expenses, during the first few months of resettlement while newcomers obtain work authorizations, steady employment, public benefits, and housing.
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IA NICE collaborates with local individuals and organizations to create a welcoming, warm and supportive community where newcomer families feel safe, appreciated and celebrated for their courage and independence as they strive to make Iowa their new home. We also work to connect families with local agencies and resources to support their resettlement.
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We work to network and collaborate with local businesses to identify employment matches with newcomers and assist local businesses with required HR filings necessary to hire legal immigrants.
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IA NICE works closely with local schools and administrators to plan for the arrival and education of school-aged children arriving with English as a second language with the goal of providing high quality educational opportunities.