Howard Chapman, Residents, and Organizations Honored for Work to Create a Welcoming Community
Fort Wayne, IN (September 20, 2024) – Three Individuals and one organization were honored this morning for their work to make Fort Wayne a community that welcomes everyone, especially immigrants and refugees.
The 2024 Welcoming Fort Wayne Awards took place this morning at 8:30 a.m. at Ceruti’s Summit Room. Winners include Kun Yekha, Gaby Aleman, Fort Wayne Chinese Families and Friends Association, and Howard Chapman.
The Lifetime Achiever Award was presented to Kun Yekha. Kun Yekha was active in the prodemocracy movement in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, and became a political refugee in Thailand because of his activism. In 2002, he received an opportunity to come to the United States through a journalism internship in Washington D.C. and successfully obtained asylee status. For more than 20 years, he has been a leader in the local Mon community.
Gaby Aleman was honored with the Emerging Leader Award. Aleman, one of the lead pastors of Iglesia Principe de Paz, established Ayuda a tu prójima Fort Wayne, a Facebook Group that aimed to foster unity within the community and connect individuals with vital resources. In the past 8 years, the group has grown to a membership of 27,300. Through this platform, she continuously advocates for the Spanish-speaking immigrant population, encompassing crucial areas such as housing, furniture, clothing, and medical care.
The Welcoming Organization Award was presented to the Fort Wayne Chinese Families and Friends Association. Founded in 1983 by a small number of Chinese immigrants from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Mainland China, the organization’s mission has been twofold: first to preserve Chinese culture and traditions among the local Chinese community, and second to serve the wider community through collaboration and outreach. Each year, the association hosts community celebrations of traditional Chinese holidays such as Chinese New Year, Mid-autumn Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival.
In addition to the annual awards, Amani Family Services presented Howard Chapman with the inaugural Amani Ambassador of the Year Award. This new award category was created to recognize community leaders who have directly impacted the organization and have greatly contributed to making the community a better place.
Chapman is a distinguished attorney and philanthropist whose impact on the community spans more than 50 years and touches every corner of Fort Wayne. His efforts extend to education, healthcare, the arts, and our multicultural community. Chapman’s leadership helped Fort Wayne form its first sister city relationship with Takaoka, Japan in 1977 and his commitment to building a welcoming community continues to this day.
"We're thrilled to recognize the individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for immigrants and refugees in Fort Wayne," said Ewelina Connolly, CEO of Amani Family Services. "The Welcoming Fort Wayne Awards are a chance to celebrate the shared values that make our community a place where everyone feels at home."
Welcoming Week will end with the opening reception for the “Works of Welcome” exhibition, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University of Saint Francis. Local high school students were invited to explore the immigrant and refugee experience in greater Fort Wayne and capture these stories in works of art. Art from this project will be displayed at the University of Saint Francis’s Rolland Art Center from September 21 through October 13. Learn more: https://amanifamilyservices.org/works-of-welcome
Welcoming Week is made possible by our following sponsors: Presenting Sponsors – Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, Advocate Sponsors – Google, Bowen Health Center and NIPSCO/NiSource Charitable Foundation, Supporter Sponsor – St. Joseph Community Health Foundation and AnCor and Welcomer Sponsors – Ivy Tech, Neighborhood Health, Old National Bank and Liechty Media