News Release

FORT WAYNE — Amani Family Services’ Welcoming Fort Wayne initiative will celebrate the individuals and organizations building a more inclusive community at the annual Welcoming Fort Wayne Awards, 8:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20.

The event will take place at Ceruti’s Summit Room, 6601 Innovation Blvd., Fort Wayne. Admission is free but online registration is required. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. and a light breakfast will be served.

Community members are encouraged to nominate deserving organizations and individuals to receive an award. Award nominations can be submitted until Monday, Aug. 26. Download nomination forms here.

The Welcoming Fort Wayne Awards celebrates the achievements of exceptional immigrants and refugees, native community individuals, organizations and companies that have demonstrated a strong commitment to multiculturalism.

There are three categories:

Lifetime Achiever: Honors an experienced leader who has devoted a significant portion of their career and volunteer work to the immigrant and refugee community. Their service has deeply impacted multiculturalism in Allen County for more than a decade.

Emerging Leader: Honors a newcomer to the multicultural community who has demonstrated exceptional resilience and commitment to improving the community and lives of immigrant/refugee families through their burgeoning career or volunteer work.

Welcoming Organization: Recognizes a for-profit or nonprofit organization that has made a lasting effort to be inclusive and welcoming through engagements with the refugee and immigrant refugee community. In addition to its external efforts, the organization demonstrates multicultural representation at various levels of leadership and has taken initiative in hiring immigrants and refugees in Allen County.

“We all thrive when we feel a sense of belonging,” says Ewelina Connolly, CEO of Amani Family Services. “The Welcoming Fort Wayne Awards honor those who bridge the gap between immigrants, refugees, and the wider community.”
Welcoming Week is a globally-recognized celebration in which communities strive to be a more welcoming place for all, including immigrants and refugees.

In partnership with several local community partners, Welcoming Week will feature events from Friday, Sept.13 to Saturday, Sept. 21 that are focused on art, education and local resources.

The full Welcoming Week event schedule can be found here.