Mission
IRIS, INC WAS ESTABLISHED BY FORMER IOWA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BOB ANDERSON IN 1993. THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND PEACE BY CONNECTING IOWA TO COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE. IRIS CONDUCTS MANY PROGRAMS WHICH BRING STUDENTS, JOURNALISTS, BUSINESS PEOPLE, EDUCATORS, AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS FROM AFRICA, CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE AND ASIA TO IOWA. WHILE IN IOWA, THE INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS STAY WITH IOWA FAMILIES, STUDY IN IOWA SCHOOLS, INTERN IN IOWA BUSINESSES, AND BECOME INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. WHEN THEY RETURN TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES, THEY TAKE WITH THEM NEW IDEAS AND STRATEGIES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE ADVANCEMENT. THEY ALSO RETURN HOME WITH NEW FRIENDSHIPS AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICANS AND OUR DEMOCRATIC WAY OF LIFE. IRIS ALSO LINKS IOWANS TO THE WORLD BY FACILITATING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND ARRANGING FOR TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES FOR IOWANS. ALMOST ALL HAVE BEEN FUNDED BY THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT.