All-America City projects: The Refugee Resource Center in Fort Wayne, Ind.
June 9, 2009 at 5:00 am by Wayne Garcia
The National Civic League’s 2009 All-America City Awards conference convenes in Tampa next week. Here is a look at one of the 30 nominees that will present their best civic projects, Fort Wayne, Ind.:
Fort Wayne, Indiana
The Refugee Resource CenterFrom 1991 to 2008, the number of immigrants and refugees from various parts of the world has grown from 44 to 3,644 an increase of 1274%. The United Way of Allen County held community forums to address the specific services and needs for the refugee community. As a result of this forum, a federal grant was submitted to the Office of Refugee Resettlement for funding by a coalition consisting of several community agencies to develop a refugee resource center that will serve as a one stop location. The coalition received the grant and in November 2008, The Refugee Resource Center was officially opened. The Center provides services and educational classes that help refugees access healthcare, employment, learn English and other skills. Currently, nine agencies provide on-site services, and two organizations provide off-site services as part of a Refugee Resource Coalition. Current coalition partners include: Saint Joseph Community Health Foundation; the Burmese Advocacy Center; the Allen County Lead and Healthy Homes Program; the Reclamation Project; Indiana Family and Social Services Agency; Advantage Health Solutions; Super Shot; East Allen County School Corporation; Neighborhood Christian Legal Services; Catholic Charities; and IVY Tech Community College.
Former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman is the president of the National Civic League this year and a big proponent of these kinds of partnership projects. During her tenure, in 1990, Tampa was named an All-America City. Creative Loafing CEO Ben Eason is also involved, as a member of the Host Committee.
Thirty cities, towns, neighborhoods and communities are vying for recognition as an All-America City at the June 16-18 conference at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. Each will give a short presentation on three public-private civic projects they undertook before a panel of judges names the best. Tampa is one of the finalists.
