The Iowa Council for International Understanding (ICIU) was formed
in 1938 by a group of volunteers to assist immigrants fleeing the
war in Europe. In 1941, a group of community organizations sponsored
a Panamanian student's trip to Iowa. This venture led to the formation
of the Pan American Board of Education. In the 1940's, this organization
sponsored 150 college students from Panama and changed its name
to the Iowa Children's Institute of Language and Culture. Elinor
Robson was hired as the director.
In the 1950s, the leaders of the Children's Institute decided that
building a cultural and international awareness was a task that
needed a broader objective, and again, they changed the name of
the organization to the Boards of International Education (BIE).
Throughout the 1960's, the organization invited Iowa international
students to come to Des Moines for two days of sharing cultural
experiences with one another and local citizens. In 1968, an annual
international Food Fair was established which lasted until 1993.
In 1961, the BIE joined United Way and continued to focus on counseling
international students and providing interpreters on an informal
basis.
The group was comprised of volunteers with one paid, part-time director.
In 1968, Elinor Robson, the first director, retired and in her place
the BIE hired Dorothy Towne, who served the organization on a part-time
basis until 1978. In the early 1970's the name changed again to
the Des Moines Area Council for International Understanding.
The Council's translation service became actively engaged in both
emergencies and business work. The annual Food Fair continued to
be the major fund raiser. The Council was also supported by United
Way and memberships.
In 1976, the Council joined the National Council for International
Visitors, placing it for the first time in a national network of
agencies to receive and schedule international visitors from the
United States Information Agency. Over 4,000 international guests
have visited Iowa through this program.
In 1978, Thomas Grouling was hired to be Executive Director and
served the Council until June 1992. The current name, Iowa Council
for International Understanding, was adopted by the Board in December
1992 and in January 1993, Ann Schodde was hired as a full-time director.
Michele Soria, hired in January 2001, served as director until January 2006. Valerie Grimsley began as director in May 2006 and served until December 2007. Dr. Judy Conlin began in March 2008 and is the current Executive Director.
The location of the organization has been the Shops Building in
downtown Des Moines, 1941-1968, Drake University 1968-1985, the
World Trade Center 1985-1990, Hotel Fort Des Moines, 1990-1994,
Savery Hotel 1994-1996 and in the Hotel Fort Des Moines 1996 to
the present.
Throughout the organization's history, the many volunteers who
provided leadership and time to the organization always believed
the Council should be dedicated to international understanding between
Iowans and the rest of the world. To this end the Council currently
administers a variety of programs which aim to connect Iowans with
people, ideas and cultures from around the world.
