Voice of the Valley: Meet Angie and Laura

“We are all walking this journey of life together, and in my opinion there is no better place to be than the Cedar Valley.”

For longtime friends Angie Koop and Laura Dove, a cup of coffee can do much more than start the day.

At Joyful Java in Dike, every cup offers an invitation to slow down and grow your connection to the community around you. For Angie and Laura, those everyday connections reflect something much bigger: the kind of community that has shaped both of their families for generations.

Their paths here, however, began differently.

Angie grew up in Webster City, IA and first experienced the Cedar Valley after marrying her husband, Steve, in 1993. She expected something similar in size to the town where she grew up. Instead, she discovered a much larger area with more to experience than she had imagined.

“I was surprised with the size of the Cedar Valley, being larger than I had anticipated, and with so many fun things to do!” Angie said. “I hadn’t been to Cedar Falls/Waterloo growing up, so the first time I experienced the Cedar Valley was when I got married and moved to the area.”

The couple initially lived in Denver and Parkersburg before settling at their rural New Hartford home in 1996. But for Steve’s family, the connection to the area goes back much further.

Steve’s grandfather came to New Hartford from Germany and purchased a nearby farm. Angie says Steve’s father remembers his parents speaking only Low German until he began kindergarten. Today, their grandchildren are the fifth generation of the Koop family growing up in the Cedar Valley.

For Angie herself, it didn’t take generations for the area to feel like home.

“Living in the Cedar Valley felt like home right away. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming and getting involved with other young moms (at the time) helped me to make lifelong connections. We are still friends to this day!”

While Angie discovered the Cedar Valley as a young adult, Laura’s story has always been rooted here.

Her ancestors came to the area from Denmark, and members of her family opened and operated Bruhn Meat Market on Main Street in Cedar Falls. Her grandparents and parents graduated from Dike High School, while both of her grandparents lived and farmed in Grundy County.

Laura eventually attended LaJames College on Main Street in Cedar Falls and continued her education at the University of Northern Iowa. She later opened Tangos A Salon in Cedar Falls, a business that remains there today. Her husband recently retired after 43 years with Hy-Vee in Cedar Falls.

Those deep family connections have continued into another generation. Laura’s daughter and daughter-in-law teach in the school district, her son coaches basketball at Dike-New Hartford High School, and her grandchildren attend school in the area.

“I have always lived in the Cedar Valley and would not want to live anywhere else,” Laura said.

That shared appreciation for the place they call home eventually became part of the story of Joyful Java.

Together, longtime friends Angie and Laura opened Joyful Java. For both women, the business has become another way to participate in the community that has played such a large role in their lives.

Joyful Java regularly supports area organizations through fundraisers and donations. Local businesses are invited to hold pop-up events at the shop, giving them another place to connect with customers and grow. The coffee shop also hosts a monthly Mats for the Homeless gathering, where participants weave mats for people experiencing homelessness.

For Laura, seeing people show up for one another is at the heart of what makes the Cedar Valley special.

“When you live in a supportive community, you are humbled by how people show up for you. Whether it’s by entering our coffee shop doors or by being there for each other when life struggles knock you down, we are all walking this journey of life together. In my opinion, there is no better place to be than the Cedar Valley.”

Angie has experienced that support firsthand through Joyful Java.

“We’re especially grateful for the way the community has supported our coffee shop. People from Cedar Falls, Waterloo, and surrounding communities continue to make the drive to spend time with us, and that support is something we never take for granted.”

The support Angie and Laura have received through Joyful Java reflects the same spirit of service that has long shaped their lives here. The relationships formed there are part of a much longer history of community involvement for both families.

Before opening Joyful Java, Angie worked as a school social worker with Central Rivers Area Education Agency, serving local schools. Steve taught at Dike-New Hartford High School before retiring and continues to serve on several Butler County boards. Angie serves with the Dike-New Hartford Dollars for Scholars organization, and the couple attends Prairie Lakes Church in Cedar Falls.

Away from work, both families have found plenty of reasons to enjoy the place they call home.

Angie and Steve spend time on area bike trails and at George Wyth, and fall often means supporting UNI volleyball. Their daughter played volleyball at UNI, giving the family a particularly close connection to the program.

“Our daughter played volleyball at UNI and the support for UNI is unmatched compared to other schools. The facilities at UNI and support from the fans is truly special.”

For Laura, community sports have also been woven into family life. Her children participated in activities throughout Dike-New Hartford and the Cedar Valley, and today her son coaches basketball at the high school. Her family also enjoys fishing, walking, and camping in the area.

Now both Angie and Laura are watching another generation begin to experience many of the same things.

Angie and Steve have young grandchildren, with another on the way, while Laura’s grandchildren are between the ages of three and five, with two more on the way. For both families, staying in the Cedar Valley means seeing those roots continue to grow.

For Angie, that continuity is one of the biggest reasons she has chosen to remain here.

“I want the next generation to experience the same goodness – the friendships, traditions, opportunities, and genuine support that has made this place such a special home for our family.”

Laura describes her connection in similarly personal terms.

“My faith, my community and my family are what are most important to me.”

Their stories may have begun differently. One discovered the Cedar Valley as a young adult and quickly found a sense of belonging. The other grew up surrounded by generations of family history here. Today, their friendship and Joyful Java have given those stories a shared gathering place in Dike.

Together, they are continuing a legacy of community connection, one cup of coffee at a time.

For Angie, there may be no better endorsement than the words she hears from her husband Steve whenever they return from traveling.

“In fact, every time we return from a vacation, my husband inevitably says, ‘That was fun but I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.’”

For Angie, the meaning of home can be found in the roots her family has planted here and the way people continue to show up for one another.

“I live in the Cedar Valley because it’s home – a place where five generations of our family have put down roots, where lifelong friendships are made and where community truly means showing up for one another.”

Ana Hernandez Eveland: A Voice of the Valley

For Ana Hernandez Eveland, the Cedar Valley was supposed to be the next stop after growing up in a small Iowa town. Instead, it became the place where she would build a career, put down roots, and find a community of her own.

Ana lived in Mexico until she was seven, when her family moved to Charles City, Iowa. She stayed there until 2017, when she moved to the Cedar Valley to attend the University of Northern Iowa.

Coming from a community like Charles City, the Cedar Valley initially felt like it was going to be a big change.

“Coming from a small town like Charles City, I had some fear about how big the Cedar Valley would feel compared to what I was used to,” Ana said. “I worried it might feel more impersonal or harder to connect with people.”

Those concerns didn’t last long. After arriving, Ana found that many of the qualities she appreciated about growing up in a small town were still present throughout the Cedar Valley. The friendliness she expected to leave behind was found immediately in everyday interactions.

“I was surprised to find that same friendliness I grew up with was still here, whether it’s walking into a store or being out and about in the downtown areas!” she said.

She also discovered a community that was more diverse and engaged than she initially expected. As she became more involved, the Cedar Valley began to feel less like the larger community she had worried about and more like a place where she could make an impact.

That connection grew stronger as Ana built her career and relationships throughout the region. Today, she works as a Community Inclusion Strategist through Veridian Credit Union and as a Realtor with Vine Valley Real Estate—two roles that allow her to connect with people and help them work toward important goals in their lives.

“I love my career as Community Inclusion Strategist through Veridian Credit Union and as a Realtor with Vine Valley Real Estate,” Ana said. “Being able to connect with people and help them work toward their goals is something I truly value.”

For Ana, that work is especially meaningful because it allows her to help people navigate important financial and homeownership decisions while also bridging language barriers.

“Through Veridian Credit Union, I help individuals reach their financial goals, and through Vine Valley Real Estate, I help people reach their homeownership goals,” she said. “Being able to bridge the language barrier in both of those fields is something I’m truly passionate about.”

For Ana, it was no longer a question that the Cedar Valley felt like home. As she and her husband, Gunnar, looked to the future, the question became whether the Cedar Valley was where they wanted to build their future.

Around 2020, the two began talking about buying a house. By then, they had careers they enjoyed and had become increasingly connected to the community around them. The more they thought about it, the clearer the decision felt.

“We both had careers that we truly enjoyed, and the more involved I got with the community, the more we realized the Cedar Valley was the right place to settle down,” Ana said.

Today, some of her favorite parts of living in the Cedar Valley are found outside of work. She enjoys walking and running on the area’s trails, kayaking, and supporting local restaurants and small businesses. For Ana, there’s always another corner of the community to discover.

“I love getting outside to walk/run on the trails, kayaking, and supporting local restaurants and small businesses,” she said. “There’s always something new to explore!”

Those experiences have helped shape her understanding of what makes the Cedar Valley special. It’s a place where she can pursue a career she loves while staying connected to the people and businesses around her.

And after initially wondering whether a larger community would make it harder to connect, Ana has found the opposite to be true. The relationships she’s built here have become one of the reasons she continues to stay.

“I’ve built amazing friendships and connections thanks to the Cedar Valley!” she said.

Those connections are a big part of what makes Ana want to keep investing in the community. Through both of her careers, she has found opportunities to help people navigate major milestones and work toward a future that fits their goals.

What began as a move to attend college has become something much more lasting. The Cedar Valley gave Ana the opportunity to build a career she loves, develop meaningful relationships, and create a home alongside her husband.

“I live in the Valley because it’s given me the chance to build a career I love, a community I care about, and a home where I can truly make a difference.”

Stephanie Detweiler: A Voice of the Valley

I am a Boomerang. Not in the literal sense (a curved throwing tool that comes back to you when you throw it), but in the metaphorical sense. I am someone who left the Cedar Valley to explore, grow, and see the world. I lived in other places (Los Angeles, the Quad Cities and Chicago) but I always knew I would come back because the Cedar Valley is my home and the place I wanted to build my family. I just needed to experience other things before I settled back here.

There are so many other people who live in the Cedar Valley and had similar experiences. They left to go to college, live in a big city, travel, see the world, and experience different cultures, but then they also came back home.

We are called “Boomerangs.”

When I moved back home 14 years ago, the biggest thing on my mind was, “How am I going to find a job that I love and that uses my talents?” I knew we were a heavy manufacturing community, but that wasn’t where my passion was. Fortunately, I was really lucky to find a job I loved in human resources, which eventually led me to Grow Cedar Valley.

I would guess there are many people from the Cedar Valley who moved away and would love to come back, but they have the same question I did 14 years ago: “What kind of career can I have in the Cedar Valley?”

That’s exactly why the Population Study mattered.

I had the opportunity to serve as the project manager for the Cedar Valley Population Study over the past year and a half, and it became one of the most meaningful projects of my career because I have lived this experience myself.

Through the study, we found that many young people are leaving for cities like Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Chicago, and Minneapolis because they are looking for stronger career opportunities, higher wages, and more options for growth. Our consultants interviewed hundreds of former residents, many of whom actually wanted to stay in the Cedar Valley. But the most common reason they left was simple: they didn’t believe they could find the opportunities they were looking for here.

That should matter to all of us.

Because this community has so much to offer. We have incredible employers, innovative industries, and people who genuinely care about making this region better. Part of the challenge is visibility. Many people simply don’t realize the opportunities that already exist here.

But the study also challenged us to think bigger. If we want to attract and retain more people, we have to continue evolving. We need more high-paying career opportunities, more innovation, more technology, and more pathways for people to grow professionally without feeling like they have to leave to do it.

And honestly, I believe we can do that.

One of the most encouraging parts of this process was seeing how many people care deeply about the future of the Cedar Valley. There are creative, passionate leaders across this region who want this community to thrive and are willing to work together to make it happen.

The Population Study gave us more than research or data. It gave us direction. It gave us a shared understanding of where we need to go and what kind of community we want to become.

A place where people can leave, grow, explore, and experience the world if they choose to, but still see the Cedar Valley as a place worth coming home to….just like me.

Maoko Umeda: A Voice of the Valley

“Life here feels comfortable, and I feel like I can be myself.”

Maoko Umeda never expected Iowa to feel familiar.

Before moving to the Cedar Valley, she had spent most of her life in Kanagawa, Japan, a region located about two hours from Tokyo by train. When she learned she would be relocating to Cedar Falls through the Japan Outreach Initiative – a joint program by the Japan Foundation and the Laurasian Institution that promotes Japanese culture across the United States – she admits she knew very little about the place she would soon call home.

“To be honest, I had never heard of Cedar Falls when I was first told I would be coming to Iowa,” Maoko said. “At that time, I simply hoped that I could enjoy my two-year term and make the most of the experience.”

Assigned to the University of Northern Iowa as a Japanese Outreach Initiative Coordinator, Maoko arrived in the Cedar Valley prepared for a cultural adjustment. What she did not anticipate was how quickly the community itself would become one of the most meaningful parts of the experience.

At first, everyday life in Iowa felt dramatically different from what she had known in Japan.

“I was surprised that there are no trains, how wide the roads are, and how vast the cornfields are,” she said. “Most of all, I was truly surprised by how kind and welcoming people are.”

That warmth became foundational as she adjusted to life in a new country, language, and culture.

“I think it started to feel like home after about a year,” Maoko said. “At first, I couldn’t speak much English and everything felt new and overwhelming, so I was always a bit nervous. Over time, the warmth of the people here made me feel at ease.”

Through her work at UNI, Maoko helps share Japanese culture throughout the Cedar Valley by organizing workshops, educational events, and community programs with local organizations including libraries and art centers. All the chances she had to share her life and culture became opportunities to find her own sense of belonging here in the Cedar Valley.

“Through those opportunities, I was able to connect with many people in the community, who have been incredibly kind and supportive,” she said.

For Maoko, one of the defining characteristics of the Cedar Valley is the way community spaces naturally bring people together. She has grown to love exploring local events, spending time in libraries and art centers, and simply enjoying the quiet rhythms of Cedar Falls.

“I also love simply taking walks and appreciating the peaceful atmosphere of Cedar Falls,” she said. “It gives me time to reflect and recharge.”

Living in the Cedar Valley has also reshaped her personally and professionally. Experiencing American culture firsthand challenged her to adapt to entirely new ways of communicating, working, and connecting with others.

“Before coming here, I had lived my entire life in Japan, so the values, work style, and ways of interacting with others were all very different from what I was used to,” Maoko said. “These new experiences have made me more flexible and open-minded.”

The experience has also inspired her future goals. After returning to Japan later this year, she hopes to continue building bridges between the two countries and cultures that have shaped her life.

“These experiences inspired me to pursue a future where I can help connect Japan and the United States,” she said.

Although her current program is scheduled to end in July, leaving the Cedar Valley will not be easy.

“Life here feels comfortable, and I feel like I can be myself,” Maoko said. “I truly hope to come back again in the future.”

For someone who arrived in Iowa without expectations and thousands of miles away from home, the Cedar Valley ultimately became something much deeper than a temporary assignment. It became a place of belonging.

“I Live the Valley because it is a place where people welcome you with warmth, and where I found a sense of belonging far from home.”

— Maoko Umeda, Japanese Outreach Initiative Coordinator | University of Northern Iowa

A Voice of the Valley: Simon Campbell

“What we didn’t expect was how quickly this community would make us feel like we belonged here and that we had something to give.”

Hi, my name is Simon Campbell, and this is why I Live the Valley.

My family moved to the Cedar Valley in 2022. My wife and I, along with our two young daughters, were stepping into a new season, drawn here by two things: an opportunity to serve at Prairie Lakes Church and a desire to live closer to family. We have siblings who had already landed in the area, and we wanted our girls to grow up enjoying their cousins, aunts, and uncles as a part of everyday life.

We moved here to be closer to family. What we didn’t expect was how quickly this community would make us feel like we belonged here and that we had something to give.

The Cedar Valley is the kind of place that invites you into the story right away. It draws you in and gives you a sense of ownership and impact early. We weren’t treated like outsiders trying to find our place. Any way we looked to get involved through church, school organizations, community events, or local initiatives – our contribution was welcomed. There’s something powerful about living in a place where your presence matters right away.

I love that I get to work for a church that carries that same spirit.

Prairie Lakes Church exists to be a “no matter” church: no matter who you are, where you’ve been, what you’ve done, or what’s been done to you – God loves you, and you can look for him at Prairie Lakes. And that’s not just something we say, it’s something we live by. You can feel that the moment you walk through the doors. As a multi-site church of seven campuses, we’re committed not only to serving this region but to covering the state with churches, creating communities where people can look for God no matter what.

It’s not lost on me that the heartbeat behind that mission feels very Cedar Valley. Outward-facing. Community-minded. Willing to invest beyond itself.

Outside of work, we’ve fallen in love with the everyday rhythms of life here. We live near the downtown district in Cedar Falls, and on summer evenings, we often just step outside and go wherever the live music takes us. It feels like there’s always something happening: festivals, markets, concerts – tons of great reasons to get out and try something new. The downtown districts in both Cedar Falls and Waterloo create spaces where people actually linger. You’re increasingly greeted by familiar faces, invited into conversations, and you really start to feel known.

We love being outdoors, too. Having a state park woven right into the midst of our community makes it feel like you’re only ever a few steps away from nature at any time. We’ve loved exploring the extensive trail systems from behind strollers, then scooters, and now family bike rides. I even commute to work by bike in the warmer months. We fish the local waters, rotate playing at all the parks, and take full advantage of the green spaces that make this area feel both connected and wide open at the same time.

One of the unexpected joys for me has been doing some content creation work to support Live the Valley. There’s something special about capturing the heart of a community while you’re still learning to become part of it yourself. Through the lens, I’ve seen firsthand the culture and commitment to community that define this place.

We came here for family and an opportunity, but we’ve thrived because this place invites you to belong, to contribute, and to build something meaningful. Our experience has cultivated a quiet sense of pride that makes us eager to answer the question, “Where are you guys living now?”

The Cedar Valley isn’t just where we moved.

It’s where we’re planting roots.

And that’s why I Live the Valley.

Simon Campbell