Some two thousand Iowa mayors, chambers of commerce and local economic development leaders are getting books on immigration in the mail this month. Author Mark Grey is an anthropology professor at the University of Northern Iowa. He says Iowa is at a critical crossroads. Grey’s book is called “Welcoming New Iowans — A Guide for Citizens and Communities.” Copies are being mailed to many people across the state thanks to a federal grant. Grey says it’s a guidebook that details how immigration is key to helping Iowa’s social and economic growth. Grey realizes many of the Iowa mayors and other officials will tend to resist the changes the book advocates through immigration, which he says is natural. The entire handbook is also available free over the Internet at the following site: “www.bcs.uni.edu/idm/newiowans”.
