Fort Wayne, IN (April 4, 2023) — The Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation (MLDF) announced today Amani CEO Ewelina Connolly is one of 25 participants selected for its Class VI Fellowship. Connolly will be the sole representative from Allen County.

Connolly will now participate in a two-year, curated program with monthly convenings and coursework focused on state issues including the economy, education, healthcare, and civil society. The competitive selection process included 137 applicants representing 28 countries. The announcement can be viewed here: [www.mdlfindiana.org/stories/classviannouncement]www.mdlfindiana.org/stories/classviannouncement

Connolly joined Amani in 2009, serving as Clinical Director and COO before being promoted to CEO in 2021. Under Connolly’s leadership, Amani served nearly 2,000 immigrants and refugees through its clinical programs in 2022.

The agency also advanced its Welcoming Fort Wayne initiative, which advocates inclusion for a growing community of local immigrants and refugees and promotes cultural competency to the community at large.

“As the CEO of Amani, I have the privilege to be at the forefront of critical conversations focused on both the many challenges impacting immigrants and refugees, and the opportunities our diverse community has to offer to the economic and overall development of Allen County,” said Connolly. “I am honored to bring my learned experiences to advance these conversations on the state level and bring awareness to the unique considerations of culturally-diverse communities.”

The MLDF Fellowship was established in 2017 to create a statewide network of change agents who are actively working to make Indiana the best place to build a future. Fellows are selected based on their demonstrated leadership, entrepreneurial spirit and alignment to the Foundation’s core principles of individual liberty, personal responsibility, and the importance of private enterprise.