Dec. 12, 2024 – When Nyota Chantal, Maria Mukeni, and Zawadi Nsanzimbabazi greet patrons at the Opportunity Center at Ladd Library, they can welcome them to the library not just in English, but in French, Swahili, Lingala, Kinyarwanda, or Kirundi.
The women are new members of the library’s team, serving as RIVA AmeriCorps members. RIVA – Refugee & Immigrant Voices in Action – is a grassroots coalition that places volunteers with community organizations like the Opportunity Center to increase economic opportunities for people and economic growth in the state.
With the Opportunity Center’s focus on helping people build their job skills and advance their careers, RIVA AmeriCorps was a perfect fit.
Opportunity Center Program Coordinator Erin Maeder has seen increasing numbers of patrons looking for help, and many are refugees and immigrants still learning English. Maeder uses translation software when she can, but having native speakers of additional languages on the team makes a big difference.
Chantal is serving as Employment and Community Outreach Navigator at the Opportunity Center. Born in Tanzania, she moved to the United States when she was about 11 and speaks Swahili. Her parents are from the Democratic Republic of Congo; the family moved to Tanzania as refugees before immigrating to the United States.
She said her experience gives her empathy for others who are new to the state.
“I only spoke Swahili when we first came here,” she said. “It was very challenging, trying to learn English."
She said many of the patrons who come into the Opportunity Center are surprised and gratified to meet someone who speaks their language.
“They are happy to have found someone who can help them translate,” she said. “A lot of people say they’ve been looking for a job for a while now, but there was no one to help them.”
Mukeni, who is the Employment and Community Resources Navigator, speaks French and Lingala. She worked for the library previously as a shelver, but stopped because the schedule conflicted with taking care of her children. She said she was excited when she saw this opportunity to return.
“Being from Africa myself, I can help my community in a language they can understand well,” she said. “They’re really comfortable, and they open up so we can know how to better help them.”
Chantal said their help extends beyond job assistance.
“People come in for help finding a job, and we start talking. Often, during the conversation I find out they need something else we can help with,” she said. “We help people to apply for jobs, but also food assistance, Medicaid, we help register students for school.”
Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mukeni moved to Iowa in 2016. She and her husband moved to Cedar Rapids because they knew someone here, but they didn’t originally intend to stay in the state. That changed when they fell in love with the community.
Word about the RIVA partnership has quickly spread through the local community of Congolese and East African immigrants in Cedar Rapids.
“People are so happy. They’re shocked to see someone from Africa, from Congo, serving here,” Mukeni said. “At first there were just a few coming, but now it is increasing.”
The Opportunity Center team are working on ways to expand their outreach. They have already started weekly English Conversation Groups, where English speakers and English learners come together to talk and practice language skills. The groups are held at Ladd Library on Wednesdays from 6-7 pm.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Chantal said. “Here at the Opportunity Center, it doesn’t matter where you came from, if we speak the same language or not. We help everybody.”
OPEN+ Magazine
A version of this article was originally printed in the winter 2024-2025 edition of the library's OPEN+ magazine. Look for the magazine at both library locations or area Hy-Vee library drop boxes, or read the digital version here.