Iowa town translates its diverse population into a majority Latino city council

When people drive into Iowa’s first majority Latino city, the first thing they’ll see is a building with an enormous mural. It declares ‘you belong here,’ on the left. ‘Tú perteneces aquí in Spanish on the right.

Two-term city councilman Jose Zacarias meets his old friend Tar Macias outside about a block away. They chat about the history of the town as they make their way up the street bundled in hats, jackets and gloves. Macias has been delivering his bilingual newspaper Hola Iowa to the town for about 20 years.

“Okay this is Main Street," Zacarias gestures to the long pathway of businesses.

Macias points to a building, "The coffee shop we were at, correct me if I’m wrong, this used to be a pharmacy?"

Zacarias answers yes without delay.

https://www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2022-01-14/iowa-town-translates-its-diverse-population-into-a-majority-latino-city-council