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May 1, 2024 | Volume 2, Issue 4 | |
Event Recap: Creating an Inclusive Community | |
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On Tuesday, April 30th, Amani Family Services hosted Creating an Inclusive Community, a presentation and panel discussion on the next phase of the Welcoming Fort Wayne Plan, which leverages data and community conversations to create a blueprint for improving immigrant inclusion in Fort Wayne and Allen County.
Panelists included steering committee members Meg Distler (St. Joseph Community Health Foundation), Ewelina Connolly (Amani Family Services), Rosalina Perez (Northeast Indiana Innovation Center), Emily Keirns (Fort Wayne Community Schools), and Megan Grable (City of Fort Wayne).
Some highlights from the event:
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Welcoming Fort Wayne is supporting the City of Fort Wayne in its pursuit of a Certified Welcoming Designation, the first in the state of Indiana. Fort Wayne is one of 12 localities selected to participate in the first Certified Welcoming Leadership Cohort by Welcoming America, alongside Detroit, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Boston, and others.
- The G4G steering committee reconvened this month, shifting its focus towards the implementation of recommendations and strategies outlined in the Welcoming Fort Wayne plan.
- Panelists highlighted the importance of collaboration and data-driven arguments for funding, access to capital and skill building for aspiring immigrant entrepreneurs, expanding support for immigrant learners beyond what is mandated for K-12 education, and increasing diversity in civic leadership by growing existing grassroots leaders.
We are thankful to our G4G core partners, Greater Fort Wayne, Inc., Downtown Fort Wayne, and all the supporting organizations who participated in the Gateways for Growth Steering Committee. We could not have done this without your dedication and expertise. We are also thankful to our partners through the Northeast Indiana Immigration Network: Catholic Charities, St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, and International House, for giving us a platform to present on this important work.
We also want to share our gratitude to the following funders for their ongoing support: St. Joseph Community Health Foundation for investing grant match dollars to support the G4G collaboration. The James Foundation and Old National Bank for their early investment into the WFW initiative. And Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne for investing in the future of WFW with a $200,000 multi-year grant made possible through the Richard D. Waterfield Charitable Fund and the Richard Dallas & Mami McKinney Waterfield Charitable Fund.
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Save the Date: World Refugee Day | |
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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 family-friendly potluck celebration to recognize the unique multicultural community in Fort Wayne.
Join us on Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 2121 Seddlemeyer Ave, Fort Wayne, IN 46816.
Family-friendly activities include children's games, arts & crafts, and a community potluck.
Due to construction at Foster Park, we have changed our event location to be with our friends at the Burmese Muslim and Education Center (BMECC). We appreciate their support to make our 2024 World Refugee Day a reality!
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April 22-26: National Crime Victims' Rights Week | |
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From April 22-26, Amani's Victim Care program took over our social media to shine a light on how we support victims of crime. We shared stories of resilience, resources available, and ways you can make a difference in your community.
Thank you for joining us in raising awareness, offering compassion, and standing in solidarity with those impacted by crime. #NCVRW2024
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Staff Feature: Reyna Salgado | |
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Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Reyna's connection to her cultural heritage and the immigrant experience has shaped her both personally and professionally. Her parents are from Mexico and arrived in the United States as young adults seeking better opportunities. Reyna watched them work hard to provide for her and her siblings while struggling with the complexities of life in a new country. Growing up in a Spanish-speaking home meant she faced her own challenges, particularly with English during her early school years.
Reyna’s grandfather always reminded her to keep pushing forward so she could achieve more than the generations before, and his encouragement fueled her determination to succeed after graduating high school. Initially drawn to nursing, Reyna's career path took a pivotal turn towards social work when she had an important realization that she could support those with similar upbringings to her own, “I wish I had someone who was there for me when I was going through so many challenges as a teen.”
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Welcoming Fort Wayne Spotlight:
Musical Conexion teaches kids to celebrate culture, language, and musicality
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Cote Godoy believes that everyone is musical. "We are all born with a unique musicality, that's the way you feel the music, enjoy the music" says Godoy, "You just need someone to teach you about the tools at your disposition with which you can express yourself and connect with others in a musical way." A Chilean-born musician and educator, Godoy began his musical journey at age 5. He went on to study music development and therapeutic education under tutelage of the founder of the first Waldorf School in Chile. Cote is passionate about working with children and understands the importance of social-emotional learning in the early stages of childhood development. Music is one of the most important tools in this learning process.
Today, Godoy is the Director of Musical Conexion, a bilingual educational enrichment program inspiring cognitive, kinetic, and cultural connection through music and movement. Musical Conexion is an in-school educational enrichment program. It also offers interactive live musical performances and workshops including English and Spanish folk songs, stories, finger-play songs, and movement activities. These experiential programs are designed to teach music in an approachable and fun way. "It's not about being the best," says Godoy. "It's about having fun, making beautiful [music], and doing it because you like it."
Godoy believes in the importance of multicultural and musical education for all. He makes his interactive live programs accessible to all children by partnering with other organizations offering inclusive learning opportunities. In June 2024, Musical Conexion will perform a series of Family Concerts at all 13 ACPL branches throughout all 4 quadrants of the city. These concerts are free and open to the public. In addition, Musical Conexion offers free online programs for Pre-K through 3rd grade, which can be found on their website.
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Welcoming Week at Alley Bash | | |
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Art This Way, a program of the Fort Wayne Downtown Improvement District, will be partnering with Welcoming Fort Wayne to celebrate diversity through art during their annual Alley Bash event on September 20, 2024.
Art This Way is currently accepting applications for artists to demonstrate their craft during the event. Immigrant and refugee artists are encouraged to apply.
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We partner with immigrant and refugee families and the community to promote safety, encourage personal growth, and foster a spirit of belonging. | | | | |
