FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – A new survey hopes to take on barriers to inclusion in the community.
Launched by a group of Fort Wayne organizations after a year-long initiative, the “Gateways for Growth”, the survey is now available online.
Amani Family Services, Downtown Fort Wayne, and Greater Fort Wayne Inc are behind the push with funding and technical assistance provided to the city for research on the barriers and opportunities for immigrants and refugees in Fort Wayne.
The data found in the research will lead to a strategic community plan to address concerns about accessibility and equity, according to a release.
Downtown Fort Wayne released the following:
A new survey focusing on community barriers to inclusion opened today to support future planning in partnership with Amani Family Services, Downtown Fort Wayne, and Greater Fort Wayne Inc. All three organizations began work on a year-long initiative called the Gateways for Growth (G4G) Challenge at the end of 2022 after Fort Wayne received funding and technical assistance to research both the barriers and opportunities for immigrants and refugees throughout the city. The data will aid core partners in composing a strategic community plan to address the concerns surrounding accessibility and equity.
“Amani is so grateful and encouraged to work alongside two pillar organizations in our community, Downtown Fort Wayne and Greater Fort Wayne Inc., to invest time and resources toward overcoming challenges of inclusivity for our city,” said CEO of Amani Family Services Ewelina Connolly.
The community survey will supplement the findings from the G4G technical assistance team and ensure that all community members can voice their opinion. Inclusive methods such as focus groups and one-on-one interviews are planned for foreign-born individuals to ensure they are fairly represented.
“Advancing Downtown Fort Wayne as the vibrant, urban core of northeast Indiana is central to all of our efforts as an organization,” said President & CEO of Downtown Fort Wayne Michael Galbraith. “This project will help us plan for the next decade to welcome future businesses, residents, and customers of Downtown who will be far more diverse.”
The survey can be completed online through SurveyMonkey. Survey respondents must be 18 years or older. The community is also invited to attend a Call-To-Action Meeting regarding the G4G initiative on Thursday, June 26, at 8:30 a.m. at Parkview Field in the Suite Level Lounge. Reserve a spot for the Call-To-Action Meeting through the Eventbrite link.
“Being a welcoming and inclusive community is more than just the right thing to do; it’s also good for business. For years now, business leaders—locally and across the country—have listed workforce shortages as their biggest challenge,” said Chief Economic Development Officer of Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Ellen Cutter. “Newcomers can play an important role in overcoming that challenge and building a nationally recognized economy here in Allen County. When that happens, our entire community wins.”
The American Immigration Council and Welcoming America selected Fort Wayne as a recipient of the G4G Research, Technical Assistance, and Matching Grant award, along with nine other cities, as part of the fifth cohort of the initiative.
Downtown Fort Wayne and Greater Fort Wayne Inc. received a portion of funding for G4G from St. Joseph Community Health Foundation to offset the organizations’ matching efforts.
