Class VI Outstanding Fellow | Ewelina Connolly

I am a first generation Polish immigrant and a Hoosier by luck. I came to Fort Wayne, Indiana for better opportunities and I have now spent over 25 years in Allen County rebuilding my village and my home away from home. Without hesitation, my biggest calling and passion is community service and advocacy for immigrants and refugees.

As the CEO of Amani Family Services I have the privilege to lead an organization dedicated to providing social services, support, and advocacy to immigrants, refugees, and non-English speakers in Allen County. I also have the opportunity to spearhead community development efforts focused on the economic impact of new Americans and identifying barriers preventing their full engagement.

In January, my team released a comprehensive Welcoming Plan, which continues to be deployed with community collaboration. This plan underscores the economic contributions of immigrants and refugees and seeks to create an inclusive environment where they can thrive. Mitch Daniel’s Fellowship experience has inspired me to take this work to the next level.  In creating “All IN for Economic Prosperity” capstone proposal, it was my hope to build on the success of this local effort and extend it to include economic development goals for our state.

"All IN for Economic Prosperity" outlines a strategic initiative focused on enhancing Indiana's economic vitality by integrating immigrants and refugees into the state's workforce. The core objective is to unlock the economic potential of new Americans through workforce development, recognition of foreign credentials, and support for entrepreneurship. This initiative aligns the unique talents of immigrants with the needs of local economies, fostering job creation, innovation, and driving economic prosperity across the state.

I am grateful to the Foundation for equipping me with the essential tools, support, and networks needed to take concrete steps toward making this vision a reality and improving Indiana's future.