A Valentine’s Day greeting from Community Engagement Manager Lydia Bronner

Before she was offered the role of Executive Director of the Immigrant Welcome Center and before the Immigrant Welcome Center even existed, Terri Morris Downs worked in Mayor Bart Peterson’s office. They created something called the Natural Helpers Program, which featured immigrant volunteers helping other immigrants and refugees transitioning to life in Indianapolis. “We were sure that we wanted this program to continue in perpetuity and beyond the Peterson administration,” says Terri. “We became a 501(c)(3) organization so that we could find grant funding to be able to grow the program and not use public funding for it.” And, thus, the Immigrant Welcome Center was birthed.

A self-described “behind-the-scenes” person, Kris, her husband Jim, and their two daughters are now stalwart supporters of the Clinic. They give of both their time and financial resources. They find ways to encourage and help the Clinic staff that are inventive and yet also simple. For instance, in advance of our 25th anniversary Justice for All Gala this month, the Zaloudek family sent personalized cookies with notes of encouragement to our main office for the staff to enjoy. When our Engagement Team needs assistance with a mailing, Kris shows up, ready to spend her time addressing and sealing envelopes. When we need an extra set of hands at an event, Kris is quick to offer hers.

The summer of 2014 was an important one for Jennifer Noelle and her husband Justin. Recently, they had become a Host Family for Safe Families for Children, voluntarily taking in children for short periods of time from the Near Eastside neighborhood of Indianapolis. While hosting two young African American men in their home that August, Jennifer and her husband watched the news stories coming out of Ferguson, Missouri about an 18-year-old African American man named Michael Brown who was fatally shot by a police officer. This confluence of events was the beginning of an evolution of their faith perspective for both Jennifer and Justin.