The Soultown! Volume III: Issue 10 OCTOBER 2019 | Page 12

FEATURE
In the past 30 days, The Soultown has asked The Million Dollar ? to random readers across the country via
social media. The target ages are 18 and up. The careers vary between business owners, engineers, web
developers, retail workers, teachers, and homemakers. Our research produced the following responses.
Why Would You Leave Iowa?
My son was failing in school and dropped out. Within less than a year of us moving he
finished his GED and became a certified electrician technician through a trade school. Even with
us facing some major challenges. It also helped him to see more people that looked like him
teaching him and mentoring him and showing him how to use his skills to improve his life. No
offense to anyone but there is more to mentoring than sports. Yes everywhere has their issues
but the mindset shift is priceless. And that is something I couldn’t find back home.
I know I saved my son’s life and kept him out of Black Hawk County Jail.
If it wasn’t for my mom I would have been gone
a long time ago. But have to take care of her.
I feel I can do better elsewhere.
Opportunity and exposure to things that are more
aligned with my personal, professional, cultural and
intellectual interests. To be fair, I think that may be why I
might leave any state, though...so Iowa is no exception.
Why would you stay? Cost of living, crime is low,
education is good. The grass isn’t always greener.
To get a better job and to have more social
opportunities.
To be near my adult children.
When I lived in
Waterloo/Cedar Falls most of the people I met
said they were looking for an opportunity to
leave the area. Here in the Ozarks, most people
are transplants from other states. Their common
response is, “I always wanted to live here!”It’s a
nice change.
My daughter left for a few reasons but I think
limited thinking, dirty looks or ignoring her, people
reaching out touching her hair without asking,
segregated diversity, no opportunities for her.
I left to create more opportunity for myself and
my children. So far it is working.
Oct. 2019 • The Soultown International Magazine • Celebrating 2 years • Connecting Our Cultures to Our Cyber & Conscious Communities • thesoultown.com
12