Passport to Prosperity
A week of events and celebrations recognizing immigrants and refugees for their outstanding achievements in their communities.
2023 Passport to Prosperity Gala
October 6, 2023
Dinner and Program have sold out.
We still ask for your support. Every dollar donated is equally matched up to $25,000, doubling your impact to support immigrants and refugees in Iowa.
Meet Your 2023 Honorees
The amazing people listed below were nominated for their significant contributions to their communities right here in Iowa. Through their stories, you'll read about acts of kindness, bravery, and determination. The success they've achieved so far is only the beginning.
Tricia Gabriel
Liberia
Tricia Gabriel is the co-founder of Genesis Youth Foundation (GYF) along with husband Sam Gabriel. She has been one of the driving forces of engaging the children of refugee and immigrant families in academics, sports, dance and the arts in order to “level the
playing field” for them and their families. In addition to serving as the programming and arts director of GYF, Tricia has worked as a full-time nurse. Tricia is from Monrovia, Liberia where her family’s tribe was targeted by rebels. They fled to a government military base, moved to a
refugee camp in Ivory Coast, and arrived in Des Moines via a refugee program.
Boaz Nkingi
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Boaz Nkingi is Founder & President of the Iowa Congolese Organization and Center for Healing (ICOACH). Nkingi was born and raised in the village of Vyura in Democratic Republic of the Congo. He lost 7 family members in a 2004 attack on the Gatumba refugee camp Burundi. He and his remaining family later resettled to the U.S., eventually coming to Iowa to reunite with other cousins. As a refugee, Nkingi is familiar with the steep learning curves that come with adapting to a new country and a new education system. As a result, Nkingi and his family founded ICOACH in 2017 to be a space of healing, connecting, and navigating life for Congolese and people of other nationalities/ethnicities.
Sabrina Sartori Rocha Chouinard
Brazil
Sabrina Sartori Chouinard is a Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LISW, CCT. After 15 years of extensive experience in the clinical psychology field in Brazil, Chouinard immigrated to the US with her young son, enrolled in English language classes, earned a Masters in Social Work, and became certified in the latest and most effective treatments in trauma. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Sabrina participated in a pro-bono outreach program, soon inspiring her to open an outpatient program for anorexia nervosa, where she is still treating immigrants today.
Antonio Kioko
Kenya
Mak Suceska
Bosnia
Mak Suceska is the State Refugee Coordinator for the State of Iowa. In a harrowing escape, Suceska and his family fled war and genocide in Bosnia and eventually settled
in the United States. Mak has over 13 years of experience in non-profits and state government, working to assure that refugees have access to the same opportunities he was granted by his parents hard work. Mak has been an advocate for updating Iowas policies to allow more foreign-educated Iowans secure a US high school education without having to repeat classes. He is committed to growing Iowa’s Ethnic Community Based Organizations, helping newcomers adjust to life in the US, while honoring their heritage, and is instrumental is coordinating statewide collaborations.
Meet Your 2021 Honorees
The amazing people listed below were nominated for their significant contributions to their communities right here in Iowa. Through their stories, you’ll read about acts of kindness, bravery, and determination. The success they’ve achieved so far is only the beginning.
Saturday Oct. 1st
Monday Oct. 3
Wedensday Oct. 5
Thursday Oct. 6
Peace Tree Brewing
6:30 pm
Peace Tree Brewing
6:00PM
Friday Oct. 7
6:30PM Social
7:00PM Dinner & Program
Des Moines Botanical Garden
Thank you to our 2022 Sponsors and Donors that helped us celebrate the 20th anniversary of Passport to Prosperity
Contact Patricia Grote, pgrote@iowainternationalcenter.org with any questions
Nominations are closed for 2023
Do you know someone who has made a significant and positive impact in their community?
These impacts could be economic, social, or cultural as long as they’re within the state of Iowa.
To qualify for the award, nominees must receive TWO letters of support, and must be available to receive the award on October 6th at our formal event.
Deadline to submit a nomination is April 26th, 2023
Questions? Reach out to Patricia Grote
pgrtoe@iowainternationalcenter.org
Thank You to our 2023 Sponsors and Donors!
Thank you to all that helped us celebrate the 20th anniversary of Passport to Prosperity!
A big thank you to all of our sponsors and donors that made this past year a great success.
Meet Your 2021 Honorees
The amazing people listed below were nominated for their significant contributions to their communities right here in Iowa. Through their stories, you’ll read about acts of kindness, bravery, and determination. The success they’ve achieved so far is only the beginning.
Interested in showing your support for our global community by sponsoring this event?
Contact Pat Grote
pgrote@iowainternationalcenter.org
