Iowa Public Television

On Sunday, April 15 at 3 p.m., Iowa Public Television and the Iowa Asian Alliance will host a special sneak preview screening of a new documentary, A Promise Called Iowa, at Iowa Public Television headquarters in Johnston.

The documentary, which was produced by Iowa Public Television, tells the moving story of how Southeast Asian refugees became Iowans. In 1975, Governor Robert D. Ray opened Iowa’s doors to people fleeing from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The effort to resettle these refugees came down to one family, one church, and one community at a time. Iowa was unique in its open door policy for these refugees, and the implications for those refugee families – and for those who sponsored them – continue to be felt today.

The public is welcome to attend this free preview screening. To reserve a seat, or for more information, viewers may call 515-242-3146.

A Promise Called Iowa makes its debut on statewide Iowa Public Television on Monday, April 23 at 8 p.m.