It has been one year since Welcoming Fort Wayne and its partners held the first Welcoming Plan steering committee meeting. We're thrilled to share the exciting progress we've made since the plan launched in January. You have attended our presentations, celebrated with us during Welcoming Week, and brought new ideas to the table during our call to action or committee meetings. Your support has been instrumental in achieving these milestones, and we're excited to keep building on this momentum together.

Celebrating Achievements:

• Reaching Our Community: We connected with over 13,383 residents through in-person events, emails, and presentations.
• Building Partnerships: We welcomed 3 new core partners and held 11 productive Steering Committee meetings.
• Promoting Welcoming Week: With 10 events planned for September, we're gearing up for another successful celebration of diversity!
• Securing Resources: Great news! Fort Wayne was chosen for the 2024 Gateways for Growth grant, providing valuable resources to strengthen our welcoming efforts. Gateways for Growth implementation grant

This progress shows that you are committed to a more inclusive Fort Wayne. Here's how your support has made a difference. Last year's Welcoming Week saw record attendance at the Welcoming Fort Wayne Awards, highlighting the community's appreciation for newcomers' contributions, and The New Americans in Allen County Research Brief and Community Input Survey guided future strategies by capturing the diverse community's needs and aspirations.

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