Community Resilience and Crisis Management Models in the United States: A Project for Poland

Global Ties Iowa was honored to welcome a delegation from Poland for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project “Community Resilience and Crisis Management Models in the United States: A Project for Poland" from September 9-13, 2026. The delegation included 10 participants who worked in an array of professions across sectors, including: firefighters, city councilors, primary school headmasters, culture center directors, nonprofit board members, and more.

Welcome to Iowa

The delegation arrived in Iowa City on September 9 and traveled to Holiday Inn Coralville where they were welcomed by Board Co-Chair Lynn Ouedraogo and volunteer Rohit Dalal. The group spent the rest of the day resting and preparing for their packed days in eastern Iowa.

Security and Emergency Management

The delegation’s first meeting was on Thursday, September 10 with Dave C. Wilson, Director of Johnson County Homeland Security & Emergency Management Agency. The Johnson County Homeland Security & Emergency Management Agency is the official local government body responsible for preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies, while coordinating resources and ensuring community safety. Following this meeting, the delegation traveled to University Hospitals and Clinics to meet with Eric Nurnberg, Director of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Emergency Management Program. Together, they discussed the program’s preparations for emergency management as a university entity and public facing medical facility, as well as coordinating healthcare response during community emergencies.

Military and Emergency Responses to State Emergencies

On Friday, September 11, the delegation started their day meeting with the Iowa National Guard. The Iowa National Guard responds to domestic emergencies, reconstruction missions, overseas combat missions, and other needs. Natural disasters are the most common reason for state call-ups of the Iowa National Guard, with recent mobilizations that included responding to tornadoes and flooding in Iowa. With Brigadier General Kappelmann, Captain Greene, Major Dundee, and Tina Shaw, Legislative Liaison for Government Relations, with a welcome from Lieutenant Colonel Hunter of the Iowa National Guard, this meeting focused on the role of the military in responding to state emergencies and military-civilian cooperation. After this meeting, the group traveled to Coralville to meet with Coralville Police and Fire Departments with volunteers Amanda Potterfield, Eddy Djagou, and Ellen Osinska. With Anthony Detwiler of the Coralville Fire Department and Coralville Police Department, the group discussed emergency communications, information sharing, and coordination across jurisdictions, as well as local fire and emergency services preparedness.

Cultural Visits and Iowa Table Dinners

Saturday, September 12 kicked off with a visit to the Herbert Hoover Museum. The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is located in West Branch, Hoover’s birthplace, where the group enjoyed touring the museum and learning about Hoover’s roles in organizing food relief and humanitarian work. After the museum, the group had free time to explore Iowa City before their Iowa Table Dinners.

For this delegation, Ashley and Matt Laux and Amy Alice Chastain hosted the visitors for a delicious meal and fun conversation. Ashley and Matt Laux live with their children Althea and Audrey, and Ashley works at the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities at the University of Iowa while Matt is a chef, stay-at-home-dad, and artist. The Laux household enjoyed sharing a meal with three delegates, and Amy Alice hosted the rest.

Afterwards, the group headed back to their hotel to pack and prepare for their early departure the following morning to continue on their program in Milwaukee.

Thank You

Throughout the week, the delegation engaged with local leaders and organizations such as Dave C. Wilson, Johnson County Homeland Security & Emergency Management Agency, Eric Nurnberg, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Emergency Management Program, Tina Shaw, BG Kappelmann, LTC Hunter, Maj. John Dundee, Capt. Greene, Iowa National Guard, Anthony Detwiler, Coralville Fire Department, Coralville Police Department, and more. Additionally, thank you to volunteers and Iowa Table Dinner hosts Amanda Potterfield, Eddy Djagou, Ellen Osinska, Lynn Ouedraogo, Rohit Dalal, Ashley and Matt Laux, and Amy Alice Chastain. Your commitment to citizen diplomacy helps us continue connecting the world and the heartland.