On Tuesday, December 14th, John Ashby of Grinnell spoke to a group of Mayflower Community residents about CoSI, Community Support for Immigrants. The program was part of the Mayflower Residents Association monthly education series about events of local interest.
John holds a masters in divinity from the Theological Union, Berkeley CA, and a masters in business from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He is involved with CoSI, the organization focused on providing a safe environment for the integration of immigrants living or working in central Iowa, particularly Grinnell, Tama, and Brooklyn.
Per its mission statement, CoSI promotes a welcoming, respectful, and safe environment for immigrants living or working in central Iowa. They supply information about the resources available to immigrants in our community as well as some assistance, while working to build bridges of trust, mediate attitudes of divisiveness around the topic of immigration, and reduce the impact of an immigration enforcement incident on the social fabric and economic well-being of the community. CoSI also provides a humanitarian safety net for workers and families who live with the anxiety of possible disruption of family life, separation from minor children, detention, and potential deportation.
Shown in photo: Gerry Guenther (left), MRA Forum Chairperson, hosts John Ashby (right) as he speaks about CoSI.
— Bob Mann, Mayflower Sales & Marketing Director