260.484.1414 x507
econnolly@amanifamilyservices.org

Ewelina Connolly, MS Ed, LMFT, LCAC, serves as the Chief Executive Officer at Amani Family Services. Ewelina is a native of Plock, Poland, and has been living and working in Fort Wayne, Indiana for the past 20 years. She is an IU Alumna and graduated with a Master’s of Science in Education degree in 2009. Ewelina is a Pre-Clinical Fellow Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and is licensed in the state of Indiana as a Marriage and Family Therapist, as well as Clinical Addictions Counselor. Ewelina has extensive experience working in the mental health industry, as well as in a higher education setting. She is also highly involved in community initiatives focused on justice and advocacy and serves on a number of advisory boards and collations. Prior to serving as CEO, Ewelina worked at Amani in multiple capacities, as COO, Clinical Director, and Therapist.

Melissa Grossman, Chief Operations Officer

260.484.1414 x534
mgrossman@amanifamilyservices.org

Melissa Grossman is a dedicated professional with over a decade of experience working with immigrant and refugee populations, as well as victims of crime in Indiana. She holds a bachelor's degree in history and political science from Huntington University and a Master of Social Work from IUPUI. Melissa has a diverse background in both academic and non-profit sectors, where she has developed impactful programming to support vulnerable communities. She has also provided education and training on cultural competency and working with immigrant and refugee communities in the United States.

Melissa's passion for this work was ignited during a transformative experience in Ethiopia, inspiring her to dedicate her career to creating an inclusive and supportive environment in her community. Her personal mission is to ensure that the community she was born and raised in is welcoming and supportive for all its members.

Keiara Carr, Director of Mission Advancement

260.484.1414 x546
kcarr@amanifamilyservices.org

Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Keiara Carr has a big heart for our community. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Indiana University and uses her background as a newspaper reporter to share Amani’s story with supporters in Allen County. For the past five years, she has worked with nonprofit organizations to coordinate events and push forward marketing and fundraising efforts. In 2022, Keiara was named “Outstanding Fundraising Professional” by the Association of Professional Fundraisers — Northeast Indiana Chapter.

Josefina Cervantes, Substance Abuse Manager

260.484.1414 x506 / 260.452.6788  
jcervantes@amanifamilyservices.org

Josefina Cervantes is the Substance Use Manager. She was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and moved to Los Angeles, California in the 1990s. In 2005 Josefina made her way to Indiana. She completed her education in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services from IPFW. Josefina is certified from Indiana Credentialing Association on Addictions and Drug Abuse for Addiction and Drug Abuse CADAC II. Josefina is also a certified Community Health Worker, certified in Prime for Life and Wellness to Recovery, and a certified Spanish Interpreter. She has a total of 16 years experience in social services. Her passion is to volunteer with local organizations during her free time and spending quality time with family, friends, and herself. She loves to learn about new cultures and travels frequently to new places.

Maria Zamudio, Associate Family Support Program Manager

260.484.1414 x524
mzamudio@amanifamilyservices.org

Maria Zamudio is an experienced professional who worked at Amani in several capacities (intern and victim advocate) before taking on the current role of Program Coordinator for Family Support. Bilingual in Spanish, Maria is a qualified language interpreter and has great attention to detail. Maria has prior experience also as Executive Administrator at Quality Counseling & Psychological Services.