LATEST NEWS

March 1, 2024 | Volume 2, Issue 2

Mark Your Calendars for these Upcoming Events

Leading with Kindness with Steve Hartman (SOLD OUT)

Wednesday, March 6, 6-8pm

Arts United Center

In partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, Canterbury School presents this lecture with Emmy Award-winning CBS correspondent, Steve Hartman. All proceeds raised through tickets to this event will support Amani Family Services.

A Celebration of Community Impact (Free)

Thursday, March 14, 4:30-6pm

ACPL-Main (Theatre)

Join Indiana University Health and Indiana University Health Foundation in celebrating awards to IU Health Fort Wayne from the Community Impact Investment Fund.

Northeast Indiana Immigration Network Q2 Session (Free)

Tuesday, April 30, 3:30-5pm

ACPL-Main (Theatre)

Amani Family Services, in partnership with Catholic Charities, International House, and the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, will discuss the next phases of the Welcoming Fort Wayne plan.

World Refugee Day Celebration

Thursday, June 20, 5:30-7:30pm at the Burmese Muslim Education and Community Center

An annual community celebration hosted by Amani Family Services. More details to come.

Welcoming Week 2024

September 13-22

A week of events that celebrate themes of welcoming and belonging.

Welcome Fair

Saturday, September 14, 11a-1pm

YMCA Renaissance Pointe

In partnership with YMCA, this event features community resource tables and cultural performances.

Welcoming Awards

Friday, September, 20, 8:30-10am

Ceruti's Summit Room

This event honors local individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a strong commitment to immigrants and refugees.

Welcome New Board Members

Join us in welcoming new board members Dr. Tony GiaQuinta and Ines Etheridge to the Amani Family Services Board of Directors!

Tony GiaQuinta, MD

Pediatrician, Parkview Health

Dr. GiaQuinta is a Fort Wayne native and pediatrician at Parkview Health. He received his B.A. at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, IN and his MD at IU School of Medicine in Indianapolis, IN.

Dr. GiaQuinta is passionate about Amani's mission and ensuring that all his patients have access to quality healthcare, regardless of the language they speak or their national origin. We are excited to have Dr. GiaQuinta join us on the Board of Directors!

Ines Etheridge

Loss Mitigation Specialist, PNC Bank

Ines Etheridge immigrated to Fort Wayne in 1996 from Sarajevo, Bosnia. She graduated from North Side High School and received her bachelor's degree in English Literature from Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Ines has served on Amani's Community Advisory Board since 2020 and is incredibly dedicated to Amani's mission to foster a spirit of belonging. We are excited to continue working with Ines in her new role on the Board of Directors!

You're Invited:

A Celebration of Community Impact

Join IU Health and the IU Health Foundation 4:30 p.m. March 14 at the Allen County Public Library-Main in celebrating awards to IU Health Fort Wayne from the Community Impact Investment Fund.

This funding supported the creation of the Refugee Health Collaborative, in which Amani along with our partners at St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, Catholic Charities of Fort Wayne - South Bend, and International House are working together to help Burmese refugees meet their needs for physical and mental health services, case management, transportation, healthy food, job training and housing.

RSVP Today

Staff Feature: Gloria Vargas

Born in Mexico, Gloria moved to the United States at the age of 13, a journey initiated by her mother who was looking for better opportunities and determined to provide for her family as a single parent of four children. Gloria faced the many challenges of adapting to a new country, culture, and language.

Today, as a Community Navigator, Gloria embodies the spirit of service through her dedication to creating an environment where everyone feels like they belong. Her attention to detail allows operations to run smoothly and she prides herself on creating a homey feeling for everyone who walks through the door. She is the first point of contact for individuals reaching out to Amani, ensuring that each person is heard and directed to the appropriate resources or staff members. Witnessing the struggles her own family faced upon their arrival in the United States, Gloria understands the critical difference that this kind of support can make, “If my mom had the help people have through Amani, it would have been so much easier. That’s why I love working here, I can see a big positive impact on the families we serve!”

Welcoming Fort Wayne Spotlight: Genesis Outreach explores issues of immigration, race, and gender in Ragtime The Musical

From February 9-18, the Tony Award-winning musical, Ragtime, held its first community-wide theatre production in Fort Wayne to benefit Genesis Outreach, Inc, a community organization providing services to homeless individuals and families. The performances were held at the University of St. Francis Performing Arts Center.

Ragtime tells the story of three diverse characters in the melting pot that was turn-of-the-century New York - a daring young Harlem musician, a stifled upper-class wife, and a determined Jewish immigrant. These three disparate stories are tied together with their shared courage and belief in the promise of the future. The musical is based on a 1975 novel of the same name by E. L. Doctorow.

The production was made possible by Genesis Outreach, Inc. with sponsorship from Indiana Musical Theatre Foundation, Russ Koehlinger Foundation, and the University of St. Francis.

We partner with immigrant and refugee families and the community to promote safety, encourage personal growth, and foster a spirit of belonging.