Ames community members formed ideas to help strengthen relationships with new residents. The Action Forum on Wednesday summed up several months of discussion about how to best welcome new members of the community.

Members of the Ames Community Conversations on Diversity attended the meeting to present suggestions of ways to help newcomers adjust. The ideas culminated into six main categories.

Multiple groups suggested continuing the Conversations on Diversity meetings. If the meetings were to continue, they would become a regular, theme-based event. Each meeting would feature a topic of discussion about diversity within the community. One resident said that if the meetings continued, more effort should be made to include Ames residents of varying socioeconomic backgrounds. Some felt that the meetings needed to have a more inviting atmosphere to attract the residents whom the meetings were designed to help.

“One of the things that we noticed in our group was that we really didn’t think we had a good cross-section of the community,” said Mike Lazere, resident of Ames and Ames High School teacher. “We’re all essentially college-educated, middle, upper-middle class, in the same mindset.”

Three groups suggested starting a “Welcome Wagon” which could be rented out for block parties. The wagon would be rented for a night to help organize block party supplies and then would be returned afterward. The block parties would help new residents meet current members of Ames and help them feel more at home.

“We do have community-wide events. The Octagon Arts Fair comes to mind. When you have an event like that, it doesn’t really get you to know your neighbor,” said Art Weeks, director of the Ames Public Library. “You tend to stay within your immediate family or group that you’re with, so a mechanism would have to be put in place for meeting the broader spectrum of the community.”

Setting up a paid position on Ames City Council to represent diversity issues was suggested. The new member would not vote on council issues, but could bring a focused view to council discussions.

Organizing a WelcomeFest for Ames residents was also suggested. The Ames WelcomeFest would be similar to the ISU WelcomeFest, providing food and activities. The Ames WelcomeFest would allow new and current residents to meet community members.

Residents proposed furthering communication about Ames to new residents. One group proposed a new community group called United Ames, which would advertise the city with shirts and billboards to help foster a sense of belonging among residents. Another group suggested creating a newspaper column focused on diversity in Ames. The column would feature stories about residents with diverse backgrounds. Residents also emphasized the need for a comprehensive list of Ames businesses and agencies. A current list exists at the Ames Public Library, but has not been widely advertised. A more advertised list would help new residents find out about businesses and agencies, such as United Way, in one location.

A new group titled Education First was suggested. The group would help coordinate volunteers with tutoring and after-school activities.

“For example, when I lived in Indianapolis, I worked for a company where they actually coordinated volunteers making a one-year commitment,” said Nikki Thompson Frazier, Ames resident. “[Volunteers] left work at three o’clock and got to go volunteer with middle-school and elementary-school kids.”

One group suggested an outreach program. Members of the Ames community would sign up to be visited by members of the Ames community. The program was focused specifically on the elderly and families on welfare.