Mission
The Community Ambassador Program (CAP) is a network of diverse community members representing and serving as a voice and connection point, advocating for their community in partnership with the Coralville Public Library (and the City of Coralville). In this role, a CAP member will assist in improving the availability and accessibility of public resources.
Meet Your Community Ambassadors
Samira Abdalla
CAP Coordinator
English, Oromo, some Swahili & Amharic
Samira Abdalla is Coralville’s Community Resources Navigator (CRN). She helps individuals and families access resources that are available in the community. Samira connects library visitors who face challenges—like economic, language, and cultural barriers—to local programs and basic needs like food, health, transportation, housing, and material goods.
Samira also works with the Coralville Community Food Pantry and other community partners to develop a Community Ambassador Program.
Samira is a recent Masters of Public Health graduate from the University of Iowa. Samira’s family is originally from Ethiopia, and she has called the Coralville/ Iowa City area home since 2007.
Klaus Nsende
English
Jessica Ortiz
English, Spanish
Jessica is a physician and was born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She is married and has two kids. She has been living in Coralville for 16 years. Currently, she is teaching Medical Spanish at the University of Iowa. She also teaches Spanish as a volunteer at the Iowa City Senior Center and is the Co-president of the Iowa City International Women’s Club.
Rehab Karar
English, Arabic
Hello, my name is Rehab. I am originally from Sudan. I studied civil engineering in Sudan University for Science and Technology, I have also attained an Associate’s of Art degree from Kirkwood community college. I work as a para educator at Coralville Central Elementary. I have been a Coralville resident for three years and have two daughters. I am a new community ambassador and I am happy to be part of the community ambassador team. I am hoping to help community members who need it and connect them with resources in Coralville.
Rob Rogers
English
Hi I’m Rob Rogers first moved to Coralville in the early ’80s
I have five kids, four of whom I mostly raised by myself and four grandkids. I’ve worked as an industrial mechanic, an automotive mechanic, behavior disorder counselor and even had my own small building maintenance company with a contract with University of Iowa. So if you need something fixed call me before you spend your money. I’ve been volunteering in my community since my kids were little. Years ago bullet volunteer of the year by the University of Iowa School of the Wild Program, once on HACAP commission, former Coralville firefighter and recently vice chair of the Coralville Food Pantry. Just to name a few. So for me it’s a real honor to be teamed up with all of you and I look forward to helping and learning a lot.
Mallory Petsche
English
Hello, my name is Mallory, and I am passionate about education! I currently work at Kirkwood Community College as a program director and am a graduate student at the University of Iowa studying educational policy and leadership. If you or someone you know is interested in starting college or has questions about school, I would be happy to connect you to helpful resources in our community.Â
Jensy Vasquez
English, Spanish
Jensy Vasque is fluent in Spanish and English and has experience working with diverse groups of people in the community. Jensy works for the Iowa City Schools District as a paraeducator.
Jensy joined CAP to help people in our community and be the bridge that connects people to vital resources. As once a newcomer to Coralville, Jensy understands the challenges of adjusting to a new environment and wants to be a resource and support system for other newcomers.
