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The Iowa Council for International Understanding (ICIU) knows exactly what it means to be hospitable. Every year this nonprofit donates energy, volunteers’ time and even opens homes to international visitors seeking to gain greater understanding of American culture.

Just recently, ICIU hosted a group of 10 Ukrainians who were in Iowa studying camp management and program development for summer camps for at-risk youths. This one-on-one interaction is vital when developing strong diplomacy, said Judith Conlin, executive director of ICIU.

“That’s bringing citizen diplomacy back abroad, because when the Ukrainians left, they said, ‘We love America and we love Iowa and we want to tell everybody,'” Conlin said, “and so several people ask, ‘How do you get any better citizen diplomacy than that?’ and I don’t really know.”

But being hospitable is just one facet of the organization’s efforts. Even though ICIU is responsible for planning itineraries for hundreds of international visitors and leaders every year, it also serves as one of Des Moines’ most skilled translating and interpretation operations.

With paid translators that know more than 30 languages, ICIU translates for the courts, social services agencies, hospitals and even interprets court documents and state documents.

“The courts tend to prefer ICIU for their translations, and we have a very high standard for allowing the interpreters or translators to work for us,” Conlin said.

ICIU’s translation and interpretation services, provided on a fee-based basis, were used during the Hy-Vee Triathlon.

Additionally, ICIU provides a 24-hour emergency translating service that is free for people to use. ICIU was given a grant from United Way of Central Iowa that allowed it to provide this service free of charge for clients such as domestic shelters and hospitals requesting immediate translation.

Another important aspect of ICIU is its educational and advocacy efforts. The organization hosts a multitude of forums, symposiums and events aimed toward enhancing awareness and increasing education.

Its next event, which will take place on Sept. 27, is its 2008 Passport to Prosperity: A Celebration of Iowa’s Immigrants and Refugees. Conlin said that it’s events like these that shine a positive light on immigration, in spite of all the negative news coverage.