.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} About nine years ago, I didn’t know where Des Moines was. Frankly, I didn’t even know how to spell it, or that the “s” was silent. In all honesty, I was only vaguely familiar with the name and knew the place existed somewhere in the Midwest, but was otherwise quite clueless.

Now, almost a decade later, I have not only chosen to make Des Moines my home, I am PROUD to call it my home, and frequently sing the praises of this wonderful city to big-city dwellers in Chicago and Atlanta.

I have to admit, being a “big city” urbanite myself, it wasn’t exactly easy moving to Des Moines. Growing up in Africa and Southeast Asia, I thrived in my “nomadic” lifestyle as we moved from one country or continent to another. “Diversity” was my middle name as I learned to appreciate different cultures and ethnicities, religions and languages. The world was a small place in my young eyes.

Though I can’t say I can offer the same degree of cultural diversity to my child as he grows up here, I can say with great confidence and pride that Des Moines has a LOT of potential and we ARE getting there!

As businesses and employers across many industries choose to grow roots in Des Moines and Iowa, and as they focus on bringing greater cultural and ethnic diversity into the workplace, I am convinced that we can look forward to working alongside people of diverse backgrounds and nationalities in the years to come.

As I explored Iowa’s past cultural heritage, I learned that our state has enthusiastically welcomed immigrants from the beginning. Back in 1869, the Iowa Legislature established a Board of Immigration to attract immigrants to Iowa. With 65,000 copies of a book, “Iowa: The Home for Immigrants,” published in five languages, the board presented opportunities for a new life here in Iowa:

“To all Working Men, who live by honest toil, and would thereby contribute their part toward the development of a free and prosperous state;

“To all Landless Men and Women, of both the Old World and the New, who desire beautiful homes in the fairest portion of the green earth;

“To all Good Men and Women, who aspire to independence, either for themselves or their children after them, and who will contribute, either of mind or muscle, to carry Iowa forward to her grand and glorious destiny, this little book, with the information it imparts, and the counsel it gives, is respectfully offered …”

Today, as a new generation of immigrants from around the world makes Iowa their home, this philosophy continues to empower them just as much as it empowered people back in 1869. According to Des Moines Core magazine, 60 percent of Iowa immigrants have Hispanic heritage, primarily from Mexico. The remaining 40 percent come from various regions, including Bosnia, Southeast Asia, and most recently Africa’s Sudan, Somalia and Liberia.

Witnessing new immigrant communities, I take great comfort in learning about organizations like the Iowa Council for International Understanding, which has helped immigrants for several decades in their transition to Iowa.

Other groups continue to be equally dedicated to cultural diversity. I applaud the efforts of organizations like the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Diversity Committee and the Iowa Asian Alliance that work hard at promoting inclusive corporate cultures and fostering economic and community development of various ethnic communities.

Walking through the skywalks in downtown Des Moines, I find great pleasure in seeing individuals of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds who have opted to live and work in Des Moines.

Weird as it may seem, it brings me tremendous joy to occasionally hear a foreign language being spoken on these skywalks, and somehow I feel at home.

I witness a more international mix of employees, coming to Iowa from halfway around the world. Curiosity and appreciation, understanding and awareness for a more global presence is increasingly apparent, as I observe a rise in the number of international stores selling African and Asian handicrafts and artwork, and as I see a growing number of ethnic restaurants emerge and thrive in our community.

In the face of increased globalization, encouraging and embracing a “world” perspective becomes a “must do” on our task list.

I urge all of us to continue doing our share in understanding and promoting multiculturalism and diversity, whether it’s in the corporate arena among colleagues or within our individual households among our children and family members.

As we continue to bridge the cultural gap and embrace cultural diversity, the world may become a small place for our children as well.

Mashal Husain is director of strategic development in the health division at Principal Financial Group Inc.