The Iowa United Nations Association is a state affiliate of the United Nations Association of the USA. It is a non-profit organization that seeks to connect Iowans to global issues by connecting families to the world through educational programming for youth and adults, emergency and annual humanitarian relief drives, and unique celebrations of global interconnectedness.

President of the Iowa United Nations Association, Jim Olson, has been a hardworking and influential member in Iowa chapter for five years. Jim also works as the Acting Executive Director of IUNA running the day-today operations including their programs, relations with their chapters, publications, fundraising, and office administration.

The mission of IUNA is to communicate, educate, and advocate for constructive U.S. leadership in the United Nations system. Jim and their volunteers are able to carry out this mission by conducting school programs; this includes the Iowa High School Model United Nations and the Iowa Youth Symposium on the United Nations. They also host public events such as lectures and panels, advocacy with the public and members of the Iowa congressional delegation, and activities that engage Iowans in the humanitarian work of UN agencies.

“Our two priority topics this year are climate change and refugees,” said Jim.

According to Jim, United Nations Association is so important because, “We are maybe the only organization helping Iowans understand the robust international organizations are important for Iowa as well as for the world. We live in an interdependent world. Children, youth, adults; voters, taxpayers, citizens need to know that.”

Jim works in the UI campus chapter location. Here, they work with UNA members to engage students in special volunteer events such as the upcoming Hike to Help Refugees taking place on April 23.

On a campus where there are so many organizations and groups to become involved in, it has become a challenge for IUNA to be heard and seen. But through social media and programs designed to engage younger Iowans, they are making progress.

One of the ways that IUNA has gotten students involved is through GenUN, UNA-USA’s youth initiative. This group is composed of around 510 Iowa students under the age of 25. Although they operate independently from the other chapters of UNA, but work and collaborate with them.

Other organizations on campus, unaffiliated with IUNA have created partnerships in programs and causes. UN Foundation & IUNA and student organization, immUNITY have partnered up through their mutual support for the Shot@Life program, meant to encourage and provide immunizations for children. Through educating and fundraising, these organizations strive to gain support for the cause and help save lives.

One of Jim’s proudest moments was visiting Sen. Chuck Grassley in the Washington Office. According to Jim, the Senator greeted him with a friendly, “I know who you are! You come every year!”

As a whole, the organization reached one of their proudest moments on October 23, 2015 at an event at Drake University in Des Moines. It was a culmination of a series of eight community forums leading up to the UN’s climate summit in December.

With programmatic plans set to continue to link climate action in Iowa with the recently concluded Paris Climate Agreement, and to build awareness and raise funds for the work of UN agencies in helping refugees and other victims of war and oppression, IUNA continues their educational programming and humanitarian fundraisers.

They’ve set organizational goals to strengthen their presence throughout the state, especially in Western Iowa where we are largely non-existent, and expand their membership and financial base.

Students can become a part of GenUN by visiting Unausa.genun.org

For more information on Iowa United Nations Association and their events, please visit www.iowauna.org