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NEWS RELEASE

04-18-01

Contacts:
Linda Bigley, Linn County Extension Education Director, (319) 377-9839
Judy Isaacson, Extension External Relations, (319) 398-1272
Carol Meeks, Family and Consumer Sciences, (515) 294-0860
JaneAnn Stout, Family and Consumer Sciences, (515) 294-0863
Kevin Brown, News Service, (515) 294-8986

ISU 'STRENGTHENING FAMILIES' PROGRAM TO VISIT
CEDAR RAPIDS APRIL 24

AMES, IOWA -- Richard Seagrave, interim president of Iowa State University, and other university officials will visit Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, April 24, as part of the university's yearlong celebration, "Strengthening families to become the best." The celebration focuses on Iowa State's efforts to strengthen family units and individual family members through education, outreach and research.

Dwight and Deb Hughes, Cedar Rapids, will be the host family for the visit. The Hughes family -- including his parents Dwight and Hazel -- will be honored at an alumni reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 23, at the Science Station, 427 First St. SE, for their support of Iowa State University. The reception is free and open to the public.

Dwight received a degree in horticulture from Iowa State in 1970. His family owns Dwight Hughes Nursery.

The first stop on the Cedar Rapids visit will be an 8:30 a.m. meeting with Norm Nielsen, president of Kirkwood Community College, on partnership programs between the two institutions.

The group will visit Linn County Day Care at 10:30 a.m. This event is by invitation.

At 11:30 a.m., the ISU group will meet for an invitation only lunch with local community leaders at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. The group will discuss local initiatives that impact families in Linn County.

The public is invited to join in several events at the United Way of East Central Iowa, 1030 5th Avenue S.E., from 1 to 3 p.m. John Brandt, executive director of the Linn County Department of Human Resources Management, will welcome the Iowa State group. Seagrave will speak and Lu Barron, a member of the Linn County Board of Supervisors, will proclaim April 24 as "Strengthening Families Day" in Linn County.

Willis Goudy, University Professor of sociology and coordinator of census services, will present "Demographic Changes in Linn County and the State of Iowa -- Potential Impacts on Family-Focused Agencies, Organizations and Local Government." The talk is based on initial 2000 Census data.

An open house hosted by the Family Resource Center will be at the Marion Family Resource Center, 3279 7th Ave., Marion, from 3 to 5:15 p.m. Local Headstart families and area media will be recognized at a program. Following, Carol Meeks, dean of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, will speak.

For more information, contact Judy Isaacson, Extension External Relations, at (319) 398-1272.

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