Welcoming Fort Wayne Launches Community Plan to Improve Immigrant Inclusion

Amani Family Services in partnership with Greater Fort Wayne Inc. and Downtown Fort Wayne launched the Welcoming Fort Wayne Plan this afternoon at the Allen County Public Library-Main. Read the plan here.

The Welcoming Fort Wayne Plan is the result of participating in the Gateways for Growth Initiative, in which Amani, Greater Fort Wayne Inc. and Downtown Fort Wayne received funding in January 2023 to work with technical advisors and local consultants to gather the latest impact data available on immigrants and refugees living and working in Fort Wayne-Allen County.

Briana Broberg, Midwest Regional Manager for Welcoming America, Allen County Commissioner Nelson Peters and Stephanie Crandall, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the City of Fort Wayne, made remarks during the announcement. Crandall, on behalf of Mayor Henry, said that the city will be in support of the next phases of the plan which include pursuing a Certified Welcoming designation through Welcoming America. The requirements for certification are considered to be the standard of excellence in creating culturally inclusive communities. 

 

“We are a community that prioritizes quality of place and belonging for all,” said Amani CEO Ewelina Connolly. “We are a community that understands that true welcoming requires intentional and collective work to translate welcoming attitudes into actions, policies and networks, and in doing so, we continue to trail blaze and set peace for the rest of our state. Today, we are proud to share that after a yearlong process of collecting and analyzing data, learning from the voices of our community members, and engaging in strategic conversations with top community leaders and champions across industries, we are now ready to share what we believe needs to become a blueprint of welcoming for our community.”



The document outlines goals, recommendations and strategies needed to create more equitable access in four focus areas: Connected Communities and Public Safety, Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, Civic Engagement, and Education. The next phase of the plan will be aligning committed stakeholders to the implementation of action items and receiving a formal Certified Welcoming designation.



To learn more about the plan, go to www.amanifamilyservices.org. The plan can be downloaded from Amani’s homepage.  

 

Amani would like the following funders for the ongoing support: St. Joseph Community Health Foundation investing grant match dollars to support the Gateways for Growth collaboration; the James Foundation and Old National Bank for their early investment into the Welcoming Fort Wayne initiative; Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne for investing in the future of Welcoming Fort Wayne. This past fall, the foundation awarded Welcoming Fort Wayne a $200,000 multi-year grant to support the deployment of Welcoming Fort Wayne Plan. This grant was made possible through the Richard D. Waterfield Charitable Fund and the Richard Dallas & Marni McKinney Waterfield Charitable Fund.

 

A special thank you to Greater Fort Wayne Inc., Downtown Fort Wayne and the supporting organizations who have participated in the Gateways for Growth Steering Committee.

 

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Amani Family Services is a local nonprofit organization serving more than 2,000 individuals from around the world. Learn more about Amani Family Services at www.amanifamilyservices.org.

Amani Family Services Awarded $120,000 through the Health First Allen County Initiative

Last week, the Allen County Department of Health announced Amani Family Services as one of several local organizations who will receive funding to help bolster the resources supporting the health and well-being of Allen County residents.

Amani Family Services has been awarded $120,000 to strengthen the agency’s work in substance use prevention. The funding will expand current programming and allows Amani to hire an additional staff member to support intervention services and prevention education. Amani is currently the only agency providing these services exclusively to immigrants and refugees.

"We are grateful to play a critical role in the Health First Allen County initiative.  There is an increased need for culturally-competent substance use prevention education in our community, and the funding provided through Health First Allen County will assist Amani in meeting the overall needs of our clients and will help address the vulnerabilities that surround substance use disorders," says Amani CEO Ewelina Connolly. "Amani's programming is uniquely customized to respond to the current needs for our community and after nearly 18 years of service, we are a trusted provider and cultural broker for community partners. We are thankful to Allen County Department of Health for investing in services that support our immigrant and refugee community."

Learn more about Health First Allen County here.   


Refugee Health Collaborative Awarded $1 M from IU Health

 Fort Wayne, Ind. – Indiana University Health recently awarded $1 million over three years to the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation to develop the Refugee Health Collaborative, a partnership of the St. Joe Foundation, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Amani Family Services, International House, Double Up Indiana, the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health and the IU Health primary care office of Dr. Cho Mar Aung.  

The collaboration of community leaders and partners will work together to help Burmese refugees meet their needs for physical and mental health services, case management, transportation, healthy food, job training and housing.

“We are grateful to receive this significant investment in improving the health and wellness of refugees in the greater Fort Wayne area,” said Meg Distler, executive director of the St. Joe Foundation. “We look forward to working with the talented staff of all our partners to overcome cultural and language barriers so we can welcome refugees and help them make our community home.”

Information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shows that as many as 80 percent of new refugees experience mental health challenges, especially trauma related to violence in their home country. Many have health conditions such as anemia and poor nutrition due to living for extended times in refugee camps. Almost all experience language and transportation barriers when arriving in the United States. (https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/index.html)

When refugees visit the office of Dr. Cho Mar Aung, Refugee Health Collaborative staff will provide screening to assess their needs outside of traditional physical health services. The refugees will be referred to a variety of culturally competent services, including case management, mental health counseling and more. Staff will assist the refugees in applying for benefits such as Medicaid, WIC and SNAP.

Catholic Charities will provide initial screening, case management, and mental health services. Amani will provide case management and mental health services. International House will connect refugees with trained volunteers who can assist with transportation to medical and other appointments. Double Up Indiana will provide access to culturally appropriate produce that can be purchased at reduced prices using SNAP (food stamps). IU Fairbanks School of Public Health students will assist in program evaluation. The St. Joe Foundation will coordinate services, handle grant administration and form a refugee advisory council comprised of Burmese residents who are already established in the community. 

“IU Health is committed to helping make Indiana one of the healthiest states in the nation. The Community Impact Investment Fund lets us look beyond the walls of our hospitals to address the social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to poor health, shortened lives and higher health care costs. This year’s grants connect IU Health to additional community partners who share our desire to make a positive difference in the lives of Hoosiers,” said IU Health President and CEO Dennis Murphy.

The grants come from the $200 million Community Impact Investment Fund (CIIF), which is administered by the IU Health Foundation to address key social and environmental factors that impact people’s health outcomes.

This investment strengthens the network of local agencies committed to immigrant and refugee services in Fort Wayne.

"International House is very grateful to join with these amazing organizations to partner with IU Health on this incredible endeavor to ensure that quality healthcare is accessible to our refugee and immigrant friends on the southeast side of Fort Wayne,” said Heather Morris, Director of Operations & Outreach.

There are many barriers that may prevent immigrants and refugees from seeking care directly from physicians. This partnership allows for a more robust response.

“We are proud to be a part of the Refugee Health Collaborative,” said Dan Florin, CEO of Catholic Charities. “As the resettlement agency in Fort Wayne, this partnership will allow us to expand the health services we are currently providing to refugees and ensure barriers are removed from obtaining continued health support and transportation.” 

In addition to addressing barriers, the Refugee Health Collaborative will serve as a model in delivering culturally competent mental and physical health care based on the latest impact data.

"Through the Gateways for Growth Community Survey deployed earlier this year, we now know New Americans in our community are twice less likely than local residents to access healthcare directly from a doctor's office because of many barriers, including cultural and language barriers," said Amani CEO Ewelina Connolly. "This collaboration is aimed directly at alleviating those barriers and supporting the continuum of services for Burmese residents by providing patients with casework and mental health supports that address determinants of health in a more complete way."

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About the partners:

 

About IU Health’s Community Impact Investment Fund

The $200 million Community Impact Investment (CII) Fund was established by IU Health in 2018. Administered by the IU Health Foundation, the CII Fund will support non-profit organizations in addressing social determinants of health in our communities and to achieve IU Health’s goal of making Indiana one of the healthiest states in the nation.

 

About St. Joseph Community Health Foundation

The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation is sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and invests in programming and operations that improve the health and well-being of vulnerable residents in Allen County. www.sjchf.org

 

About Amani Family Services

Amani Family Services is a local nonprofit organization serving 2,000 individuals from around the world. Learn more about Amani Family Services at AmaniFamilyServices.org.

 

About Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend is a private 501(C)3 acting as the administrative agency that coordinates Catholic social-service programs for the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical welfare of persons in need; seeks and determines the causes of social problems in order to better promote preventative social-action programs; and participates in community planning and organization within the 14 counties the agency serves.

 

About International House

International House develops and maintains services and programs that provide regular ongoing contact with refugees and develop genuine, long-term relationships, embracing them as unique individuals, one person at a time.

 

Domestic Violence Awareness Month - Flowers on the Wall Event

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and as advocates for victims of sexual and domestic violence, it is so important to honor those who lives who have been deeply affected by abuse. We are so thankful to our friends at YWCA Northeast Indiana for including Amani in the Flowers on the River event yesterday evening.

Learn more about important resources in our community:

- Amani's Victim Care program for immigrants and refugees

- YWCA Northeast Indiana Domestic Violence Services: https://buff.ly/3rBUieu

- Fort Wayne Victim's Assistance: https://buff.ly/3EZOoXQ

- Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence: https://buff.ly/3FmQocZ

The Ambassador, Issue 9

Plenty of good news to share in this month's Ambassador! Check it out here!

In this issue:

  • One Beat Is Back! Expect exciting lip sync bands, open beer and wine bar and an incredible live auction. Tickets are $125. Buy now.

  • Amani CEO shares perspective on an Inclusive Workforce during GFW’s Economic Development Summit

  • Welcoming Week 2023 Recap - thank you for another successful year!

Join our email list for the latest updates!

Amani Family Services Receives $200K for Welcoming Fort Wayne initiative

Photo Credits: Rolley Navarro

Media Release - Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne

For further information, contact:

Brad Little

President and CEO

OR

Alison Gerardot

Chief Impact Officer

Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne

260-426-4083

AMANI FAMILY SERVICES RECEIVES A 2-YEAR GRANT OF $200K FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER FORT WAYNE. 

September 15, 2023 – Fort Wayne, IN – On Friday, September 15, during the 2023 Welcoming Fort Wayne Awards, Brad Little, The Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne President and CEO, announced that the Community Foundation has granted Amani Family Services over $200,000 for the next two years to strengthen its Welcoming Fort Wayne initiative and community advocacy efforts.

The Community Foundation does three things: we help people make charitable giving more impactful, connect funding to effective nonprofits through grantmaking, and provide leadership to address community needs and improve the quality of life in Allen County. This partnership with Amani perfectly exemplifies how the three things intersect to support much-needed change in our community. The grant is made possible through Community Foundation Funds and Donor Funds, specifically the Richard D. Waterfield Charitable Fund and the Richard Dallas & Marni McKinney Waterfield Charitable Fund.

“I am excited to see the impact Amani’s work will have in our community over the next two years and beyond,” said President and CEO Brad Little. “It’s truly momentous to see our vision come to life through this partnership.”

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About Amani Family Services

Amani Family Services is a local nonprofit organization serving nearly 2,000 individuals from around the world. Learn more about Amani Family Services at AmaniFamilyServices.org.

About The Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne

The Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne does three things: help people make their charitable giving more impactful, connect funding to nonprofits through effective grantmaking, and provide leadership to address community needs to improve quality of life. The organization connects people and resources daily to build a more vibrant community. As of December 31, 2022, the Community Foundation held charitable assets of approximately $194 Million and awarded more than $9 million in charitable grants and scholarships throughout the same year. Since its formation in 1922, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $184 million in charitable grants The Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne does three things: help people make their charitable giving more impactful, connect funding to nonprofits through effective grantmaking, and provide leadership to address community needs to improve quality of life. The organization connects people and resources daily to build a more vibrant community. As of December 31, 2022, the Community Foundation held charitable assets of approximately $194 Million and awarded more than $9 million in charitable grants and scholarships throughout the same year. Since its formation in 1922, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $184 million in charitable grants. For more information, visit the Community Foundation's website. For more information, visit https://cfgfw.org/

The Ambassador, Issue 7

Plenty of good news to share in this month's Ambassador! Check it out here!

In this issue:

- The Gateways for Growth Community Survey now available in Spanish and Burmese! Share your voice:

- Welcoming Week is coming! Submit nominations for the Welcoming Fort Wayne Awards before Aug. 25. Register for the free community awards program on Friday, Sept. 15.

- Amani’s Leadership Team visits community leaders in Indianapolis

- Welcoming Spotlight: International Village at Three Rivers Festival

Join our email list for the latest updates!




Gateways for Growth Community Survey Now Available in Multiple Languages

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – A new survey focusing on community barriers to inclusion is now available in multiple languages to ensure more individuals can access the survey.

All languages are now available through SurveyMonkey:

• English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FortWayneGateway

• Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FortWayneGatewaySpanish

• Burmese: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FortWayneGatewayBurmese

Survey respondents must be 18 years or older.

In partnership with Amani Family Services, Greater Fort Wayne, Inc., and Downtown Fort Wayne, the Gateways for Growth (G4G) Community Survey was released last month to support future planning. Nearly 500 respondents have submitted a response since the survey launched on June 15; so far 56% of respondents were born outside of Fort Wayne.

In an effort to supplement the findings from the English version of the survey, the community survey is now available online in Spanish and Burmese to support the city’s most prevalent foreign languages. The survey data will complement the findings from the G4G technical assistance team and ensure that all community members can voice their opinion.

Inclusive methods such as focus groups and one-on-one interviews are planned for foreign-born individuals to ensure they are fairly represented.

“Amani has been dedicated to advancing priorities around welcoming and inclusion for the past 17 years as an agency,” Amani CEO Ewelina Connolly said. “This survey allows us to amplify the voices of those we serve and care about. We view this as an opportunity to make an incredible impact on our community.”

All three organizations began working on a year-long initiative called the Gateways for Growth Challenge at the end of 2022 after Fort Wayne received funding and technical assistance from the American Immigration Council and Welcoming America to research the barriers and opportunities for immigrants and refugees throughout the city. The data will aid core partners in composing a strategic community plan to address the concerns surrounding accessibility and equity.

Downtown Fort Wayne and Greater Fort Wayne Inc. received a portion of funding for G4G from St. Joseph Community Health Foundation to offset the organizations’ matching efforts. ###

About the American Immigration Council

The American Immigration Council works to strengthen America by shaping how America thinks about and acts towards immigrants and immigration and by working toward a more fair and just immigration system that opens its doors to those in need of protection and unleashes the energy and skills that immigrants bring. The Council brings together problem solvers and employs four coordinated approaches to advance change—litigation, research, legislative and administrative advocacy, and communications. In January 2022, the Council and New American Economy merged to combine a broad suite of advocacy tools to better expand and protect the rights of immigrants, more fully ensure immigrants’ ability to succeed economically, and help make the communities they settle in more welcoming. Follow the latest Council news and information on ImmigrationImpact.com and Twitter @immcouncil. Visit Americanimmigrationcouncil.org to learn more.

About Welcoming America

Welcoming America is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that leads a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by ensuring everyone belongs. We believe that all people, including immigrants, are valued contributors and vital to the success of our communities and shared future. Through the Welcoming Network, we work to help communities develop the roadmap they need to create welcoming policies and share new approaches to inclusion to create an environment where everyone can truly thrive. Learn more at WelcomingAmerica.org.

About Amani Family Services

Amani Family Services is a local nonprofit organization serving more than 2,000 individuals from around the world. Learn more about Amani Family Services at AmaniFamilyServices.org.

About Downtown Fort Wayne

Downtown Fort Wayne partners with various public, nonprofit, and private sector organizations to make Downtown Fort Wayne an attractive place to live, work and play. Downtown Fort Wayne’s mission is to advance Downtown Fort Wayne as the vibrant, urban core of northeast Indiana. For more information about Downtown Fort Wayne, go to DowntownFortWayne.com.

About Greater Fort Wayne, Inc.

Greater Fort Wayne Inc. is the single point of contact for economic growth and business services in Fort Wayne – Allen County, Indiana. We focus on supporting local business, attracting new business, and improving our community’s quality of place to grow jobs, wages, and the economy. Go to GreaterFortWayneInc.com to learn more.

 

Amani Board Member Malak Heiny named David A Bobilya Award Nominee

Congratulations to board member Malak Heiny for being selected as a 2023 David A Bobilya Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award nominee! Malak currently serves as City Attorney for the city of Fort Wayne, and carries her passion for community into her leadership role as a long-standing board member for Amani. It is such an honor to be the nominating organization for this incredible individual. This recognition is well deserved.

The Ambassador, Issue 6

Plenty of good news to share in this month's Ambassador! Check it out here!

In this issue:

- Amani's World Refugee Celebration on June 20

- The launch of the Gateways for Growth Community Survey. Share your voice with us here: surveymonkey.com/r/FortWayneGateway

- Join Amani at TRF's International Village starting Friday

- Welcoming Spotlight: Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan Survey

Join our email list for the latest updates!




Amani Family Services celebrates World Refugee Day on June 20

Fort Wayne, IN (June 15, 2023) – Amani Family Services will host its annual World Refugee Day celebration from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 20 at the Small Pavilion in Foster Park.

World Refugee Day is an international day to honor refugees for their courage and resiliency as they enter new communities. Since 2018, Amani Family Services has hosted a potluck celebration at Foster Park to recognize the unique multicultural community in Fort Wayne. This year, Stephanie Crandall, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the city of Fort Wayne, will read a Mayoral Proclamation commemorating Immigrant Heritage Month and World Refugee Day on behalf of Mayor Tom Henry.

The event will also feature a cultural performance from the Amaneceres de Mexico dance group, a Zumba demonstration and a personal story from a local refugee. Supporters can participate in our celebration by bringing a potluck dish to the event.

In addition to activities, Amani will invite event participants ages 18 and older to respond to the Gateways for Growth community survey. Amani has partnered with Downtown Fort Wayne and Greater Fort Wayne, Inc. for the Gateways for Growth (G4G) challenge, a year-long initiative addressing the concerns surrounding accessibility and equity. The survey can be completed online through SurveyMonkey.

Amani Family Services - World Refugee Day

When: 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 20

Where: Small Pavilion, Foster Park, 3900 Old Mill Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46807

Cost: Free

For more information on the potluck and event activities, call Natalie Borjas, 260-484-1414 or email nborjas@amanifamilyservices.org.

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Amani Family Services is a local nonprofit organization serving more than 2,000 individuals from around the world who have made Allen County their home. Formerly Crime Victim Care of Allen County, an organization founded in 2006, Amani is entirely devoted to serving refugee and immigrant families and individuals.


The Ambassador, Issue 5

Plenty of good news to share in this month's Ambassador! Check it out here!

In this Issue:

- Amani receives national recognition from the APA for its work in minority mental health

- New study: US employers view immigration as a solution to labor shortages

- Save the Date: World Refugee Day takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. June 20 at Foster Park

- Amani CEO Ewelina Connolly travels to Poland as a part of the Sister Cities delegation

Join our email list for the latest updates!




Amani CEO Ewelina Connolly named Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation Class VI Fellow

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. 

The Ambassador, Issue 4

Plenty of good news to share in this month's Ambassador! Check it out here!

In this Issue:

- #GiveGreaterAllen success for Amani

- Amani CEO named a Mitch Daniels Leadership Fellow

- Amani takes part in the first Quarterly Learning Community Session alongside St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, Catholic Charities of Fort Wayne - South Bend and International House

Join our email list for the latest updates!




Welcome Corps: The Local Impact of Private Sponsorship

The U.S. State Department, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, recently launched the Welcome Corps. This new private sponsorship program will enable Americans over the age of 18 to directly sponsor refugees arriving through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).

Check out the Welcome Corps FAQ page here.

For 17 years, Amani Family Services has been involved in supporting refugees who have newly arrived in our community. Through our challenges and successes, we have a deep understanding of the investment of time and resources it takes to ensure the safety and mental well-being of refugee families. While we cheer on the progress of creating more welcoming communities, we feel a responsibility to educate our neighbors on this new federal program and its impact on agencies supporting refugees.

Amani, in partnership with St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, Catholic Charities, and International House will host a presentation on Refugee Resettlement Programs at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 30 at Allen County Public Library. Reserve a seat here.

“As an agency with the history and experience of helping immigrants and refugees navigate the aftermath of resettlement, we are already working to prepare and educate our community about how this will impact the city,” Ewelina Connolly, Amani CEO, said. “We are partnering with St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, Catholic Charities, and International House to launch quarterly learning communities to provide a space for nonprofits, for-profits, and individuals to learn about some tools and resources for how we can be a welcoming community. Unlike the traditional resettlement process where we already have an expectation of new individuals for the year, this new program will bring an unknown influx to Fort Wayne and we need to consider how we can build capacity to serve those in need, especially when working with the healthcare and legal systems.”

Who can sponsor through the welcome Corps?

American citizens and lawful permanent residents can come together to form Private Sponsor Groups (PSGs). To qualify, groups must have at least five members and all members must be over the age of 18. Currently, the Welcome Corps team will match sponsors with refugees who have been selected for resettlement. The earliest arrivals are expected by April 2023.

PSGs will be responsible for securing initial housing, providing basic needs, and connecting refugees to health care, education, and employment services within the first 90 days of a refugee’s arrival. Sponsors will also be financially responsible: PSGs must raise a minimum of $2,375 in cash and in-kind contributions per refugee. This amount aligns with the funding the federal government provides to resettlement agencies for the initial support of a refugee.

Why now?

The State Department states the Welcome Corps will “strengthen and expand the capacity of the USRAP by harnessing the energy and talents of Americans.” The program has a goal of recruiting at least 10,000 Americans to welcome 5,000 refugees.

Why this matters to Amani

As an active refugee resettlement site, Fort Wayne has a long-standing history of welcoming refugees. We are home to a large Burmese population (over 9,000 individuals*), 8.6% of Fort Wayne’s residents are foreign-born**, and we continue to welcome an average of 200 new foreign-born residents annually. Allen County has been an attractive destination for immigrants and refugees due to our robust infrastructure of social and support services.

Welcome Corps has been developed in addition to the traditional refugee resettlement process. As an agency solely devoted to immigrants and refugees, we expect that Amani will experience an increase in clients that will extend past our anticipated capacity for 2023.

Secondly, we feel we have a responsibility to well-meaning local organizations, church communities and individuals to be transparent about responsible private sponsorship. While the Welcome Corps provides training and tips, the obligation of care will ultimately be in the hands of sponsors. Amani and our partners are working together to provide more educational opportunities, but we implore all groups to take time to research and thoroughly outline a Welcome Plan that ensures a refugee’s success beyond the 90-day deadline. We ask that our community see this as an ongoing commitment to support immigrants and refugees, and support the organizations that walk alongside these individuals every day.

Learn more about the program on the official Welcome Corps website.

*Purdue Fort Wayne Community Research Institute, 2021

**United States Census Bureau, 2021

Happy Valentine's Day from Amani 💕

On a day full of love, we want to share our gratitude with you!

With your support, Amani Family Services served 1,969 individuals representing 34 countries and 16 different languages in 2022.

Thank you for supporting our multicultural community and being an example of what it means to be a true "Welcomer."

Let's continue to spread love everywhere!

Share the “Spread Love” GIF below or make your own Valentine! Click the images below to download.

St. Joseph Community Health Foundation Awards $100,000 Grant to Amani Family Services

Fort Wayne, IN (January 31, 2023) – Amani Family Services has been awarded a grant in the amount of $100,000 from the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation.

The two-year grant will support Amani’s multicultural Family Justice Center model, which provides crime victim advocacy through client-centered, trauma-informed practices. The funding provided by St. Joseph Community Foundation will help immigrant and refugee families overcome physical, emotional, and justice-related issues through direct clinical services and community partnerships. The funding cycle began in June 2022.

In 2021, Amani Family Services was awarded a $50,000 grant by the St. Joseph Community Foundation to develop a model for local immigrants and refugees. Through these practices, Amani is able to provide meaningful and comprehensive care.

An example of the foundation’s impact comes from a client who completed Amani’s Substance Use Support program. He visited Amani’s office to share how happy he was to receive his driver’s license. Through the support group, he understood the source of his anger and worked on rebuilding the relationships he lost. He was proud of his progress and wanted to share his happiness with the staff at Amani Family Services.

“We are very grateful to St. Joseph Community Health Foundation for supporting Amani’s mission, and trusting our staff to be innovative and forward-thinking in providing support to our multicultural community,” CEO Ewelina Connolly, said.

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Amani Family Services is a local nonprofit organization serving more than 2,000 individuals from around the world who have made Allen County their home. Formerly Crime Victim Care of Allen County, an organization founded in 2006, Amani is entirely devoted to serving refugee and immigrant families and individuals. Learn more about Amani Family Services at www.amanifamilyservices.org.

 

Connect with Amani:    Facebook   |    LinkedIn   |   Instagram

Gateways for Growth: Localizing a national conversation

The launch of the White House Task Force on New Americans marks a new phase of leadership from the federal government on immigrant and refugee issues. Originally formed under the Obama Administration, the revival of this task force will focus on equitable access to workforce training, language access, education, and financial literacy.

Our Amani staff navigates these barriers to serve our clients each year. Through Welcoming Fort Wayne, we are able to serve as advocates for what can be done on a local level - and we are hopeful to contribute to the national conversation.

In November, Amani Family Services, through its Welcoming Fort Wayne initiative, announced its partnership with Greater Fort Wayne, Inc. and Downtown Fort Wayne Improvement District for the Gateways for Growth Challenge. Read the press release here. This year, our organizations will work together with the support of technical advisors to create a community narrative, backed by data, to highlight the importance of inclusion in civic engagement. Fort Wayne is one of only nine cities selected to participate this year.

Fort Wayne previously participated in the Gateways for Growth Challenge in 2017, receiving funding to create a research brief on “New Americans in Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana.” The groundbreaking report produced in partnership with Welcoming Fort Wayne, the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, and Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County, showed that immigrants in Fort Wayne accounted for 24.7 percent of the overall population growth in the region between 2011 and 2016.

The report also shows that immigrants paid $161.3 million in taxes in 2016 including $104.4 million in federal taxes and $56.9 million in state and local taxes.

Receiving updated data this year is an incredible benefit to our city’s government, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. This data not only highlights the current impact of immigrants and refugees, it can be utilized to guage equitable access to education, employment, and entrepreneurship, which ensures the stability and prosperity of the multicultural community.

Amani serves nearly 2,000 Immigrants in 2022

In 2022, Amani Family Services continued providing clinical services to immigrants and refugees and served 1,969 individuals throughout six program areas (Family Support, Community Partners, Victim Care, Prevention, Substance Use Support, and Counseling). 

Representing more than 30 countries and 16 languages, we continue to welcome new neighbors to our community. They are hoping to begin their new journeys, join our region’s workforce and support their families. Amani will continue to advocate for equitable language access and cultural inclusion through the Welcoming Fort Wayne Initiative.


"Amani" :  peace (Kiswahili), aspirations or wishes (Arabic)

Amani Family Services is a 501(c)(3) organization. Services funded by Amani are provided to all persons without regard to age, gender, race, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigration status, or any other barriers to participation.
Founded in 2006   |   2022 Annual Report  | 2020 Form 990