Hanson said increasing communication would help eradicate prejudice.

Andres Perez suggested welcome packets for new residents.

Some sort of center where the staff speaks various languages would help, Lorena Perez said.

The New Iowan Center is for anyone new to Iowa, not just Latinos, according to Ball.

“When Andres and I moved here, we already spoke English but we didn’t know about the New Iowan Center,” Lorena Perez said.

Hanson wondered if real estate agents could be on the front line in telling new residents where to find pertinent information about the community.

A Web site that allows the user to select a language could improve communication, according to Jon Elbaum. “One click” and all the information would be displayed in the selected language.

The Diversity group, which also included Dan Stroda, said some of their strategies were billboards that promote the city in more than one language, promoting events aimed at diverse groups at Bridge View Center, study circles and writing positive letters to the editor as soon as they see the newspaper has printed a negative letter that attacks some subgroup.

The next strategic planning session will be 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at Bridge View Center.

Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com.