Rosa Mendoza was born in Texas and raised in Florida in a hardworking migrant family. Her parents spent their days in the fields, picking citrus and other crops to provide for their children. In 1975, they traveled to Illinois for the summer to pick tomatoes and stayed in a camp in Muscatine, Iowa. Two years later, in 1977, Rosa’s sister had surgery and needed help caring for her children. Rosa’s parents sent her to Iowa to assist and that decision changed her life forever.
It was there that Rosa met her husband and chose to make Iowa her home.
Today, Rosa is a proud mother of four, grandmother to fourteen, and great-grandmother to two. Out of her seven siblings, Rosa is the third oldest. While most of her family remains in Texas, Rosa and her niece still live in Iowa. Rosa describes herself as a God-fearing woman whose faith is her foundation. “My faith is my favor,” she says.
Finding Her Calling
For 13 years, Rosa worked in production at Heinz USA. But five years before leaving the company, she felt a stirring in her heart. She knew she wanted to do something more, something that would allow her to serve her community. Unsure where to begin, Rosa decided to go back to school while continuing to work full-time on the third shift at Heinz.
During this time, Rosa also began volunteering in the community. Her days were full: wife and mother in the morning, part-time college student and volunteer by day, and full-time worker by night.
Eventually, the long hours began to take a toll on her health. Her doctor advised her to slow down, saying, “You’re doing too much. Your body can’t take it, you need to quit something.” Rosa chose to stop volunteering, but she continued working and pursuing her education, trusting that God would lead her in His time.
A Prayer Answered
Two years later, Rosa’s prayer was answered. One Wednesday, exhausted and discouraged, she prayed, “Lord, I can’t take this anymore. Just put me in a place where I can serve You.” That Sunday, she ran into the program coordinator from the Multicultural Center, who told Rosa, “I’m so glad I ran into you! I’ve been looking for you.”
The coordinator explained she was moving back to Texas because of her husband’s health and said, “You’re the only volunteer who shares my vision for this community. If you want the job, it’s yours.”
Rosa submitted her resume on Monday, interviewed on Tuesday, and started working on Thursday. She has now been with the Diversity Service Center of Iowa for seven years and counting.
Faith, Strength, and Service
Rosa’s journey has not been without challenges. She has faced racism and discrimination firsthand. She recalls walking into stores where people would stare or tell her, “You don’t belong here, go back to Mexico.” She’s been escorted out of buildings for not having an appointment, even after leaving messages that were never returned.
Rosa believes her name on the caller ID, “Rosa Mendoza,” was part of the reason.
But instead of letting those experiences harden her heart, Rosa used them as motivation. When she joined the Diversity Service Center, she knew she was exactly where she needed to be, to make a difference. “We care about people, no matter what color you are,” she says. “If you have a need, we’re going to assist you.”
To Rosa, diversity means being inclusive. It brings strength, perspective, and humanity to every community. One of her proudest moments came when a client from Liberia was finally reunited with her children after 19 years apart due to financial struggles and immigration delays. Rosa witnessed the mother’s overwhelming joy and knew in her heart; this is why we’re here, to reunite families and bring peace to people’s hearts.
Making a Difference
Under Rosa’s leadership, the Diversity Service Center of Iowa (DSCI) continues to grow. On March 1, 2025, the organization celebrated its 24th anniversary, assisting 214 families through immigration processes and impacting 686 individuals across Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.
The center also supports senior citizens through translation, case management, and meal programs, serving hundreds of meals and providing free transportation to those in need.
Rosa hopes to see the center become a bridge between the community and local government. She believes understanding and communication are key to unity:
“When we’re close-minded, we don’t take time to understand each other. Social media divides us, but we need to be united, not divided.”
Even during financial challenges, Rosa has witnessed God’s faithfulness. She recalls moments when she worried about how to pay staff, only to receive a $10,000 donation the very next day. Through every trial, her motivation remains the same: her faith, her family, and the people she serves.
Legacy of Love and Leadership
Rosa hopes to be remembered as a woman with a big heart, someone who always went the extra mile for others. She often stayed in the office until 9 o’clock at night to make sure clients had all the documents they needed before important interviews.
Her advice to others is simple but powerful: “Volunteer.”
“Volunteering shapes who you are. It gives you a caring heart and helps you understand the people in your community.”
Rosa lives by this quote from Cesar Chavez:
“The end of all education should surely be service to others. We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community.”
For Rosa Mendoza, that quote isn’t just a belief, it’s her way of life. Through her faith, compassion, and unwavering commitment, Rosa continues to be a light of unity and service in Iowa and beyond.
