Ambassadors Club

A press conference was held in front of more than a dozen members of the Ambassadors Club of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne on Friday, June 10 to announce a new collaboration between the overall club and an international non profit, Kagera Advancement Inc..

Kagera is a health and education initiative operated by Mulokozi Lugakingira, and his wife, Kos to support a clinic and school in Tanzania, the home country of Mulokozi Lugakingira. Following their successful impact abroad the couple who lives in Fort Wayne wishes to expand their impact on childhood health and education into Allen County. They have identified the Boys & Girls Club as their partner organization in Allen County.

The couple donated $10,000 to the club and the Ambassadors Club of the Boys & Girls Clubs Of Fort Wayne committed to raising funds for five scholarships for children in Tanzania. Ambassador Enterprises, A Fort Wayne company, who sponsors the Ambassadors Club, plans to match the funds raised by the club kids.

Kagera’s efforts will continue in Tanzania. The couple founded the non profit Kagera Advancement Inc. to assist an isolated clinic and school in a small village in Tanzania.

The non profit supplied electricity for the school, medical supplies, books, building improvements, a library and scholarships for teachers and children.

Quilt Fest

The Fort Wayne Quilt Fest presented by Appleseed Quilters Guild on Friday, June 10th and Saturday, June 11th at the Grand Wayne Convention Center displayed quilts created and made by women who thoroughly enjoy their craft. The Sisters of the Cloth Guild, organized in March 1999 with seven African American women, had an exhibit at the Quilt Fest. There were approximately fifteen quilts on display with vibrant colors, patterns, themes, and titles. The Sisters’ Group Quilt’s title is “Swoon.” The group received a pattern and each one made a block. Each member completed a block within three days, but COVID restrictions kept them from gathering as a group to work on the project. Jannie Wyatt, a member, put the blocks together and the borders around the quilt and the “Swoon” quilt became a beautiful work of art.

Neighborhood Health Highlights Progress with Ward Redevelopment Project

Neighborhood Health provided the public a first look at its progress in redeveloping a historic structure and bringing critical health services to an underserved area of Fort Wayne.

At an event last Tuesday, Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry joined Neighborhood Health leaders to highlight the construction progress being made as the organization redevelops the former L.C. Ward education building in southeast Fort Wayne into a state-of-the-art, full-service community health center.

The building, located on the southeast corner of Warsaw and Oxford streets, had been owned by Fort Wayne Community Schools since its construction in 1931. It served a variety of purposes before being permanently closed in 2017 due to its need for extensive repairs and renovations. With the building slated for demolition, an alternate use was found after neighbors and elected officials representing southeast Fort Wayne objected. FWCS officially transferred ownership of the property to Neighborhood Health in January 2020, and initial renovation work began earlier this year.

“It’s incredibly exciting to share our vision for the revitalization and repurposing of this historic facility – as well as the progress we’re already seeing in making that vision a reality,” said Angie Zaegel, President and CEO of Neighborhood Health. “The redevelopment and expansion taking place here will significantly impact our ability to bring much-needed care to this proud, historic community. This facility will help make great strides and progress in addressing the unique and persistent health care needs these residents have.”

Once complete, the new facility will feature:

On-site family practice, pediatrics, family planning, prenatal, immunizations, preventive screenings, dental, nutritional counseling, on-site lab services and behavioral health services – all available regardless of insurance status

An 1,800-square-foot community center open to the public with a separate entrance for collaborative partnerships and health-related programming

An extensive prenatal focus

A convenient location, access to public transportation, and extended hours

In addition to highlighting the initial renovation progress at the facility, Neighborhood Health leaders launched a capital campaign to help raise the funds necessary to complete the expected $20 million project.

“Transforming this historic facility into a modern, state-of-the-art medical facility requires significant investment,” Zaegel added. “The projected costs represent a challenge, but they also represent our commitment to bringing positive health outcomes to this community. It’s a communal effort and as such we need everyone’s support to make it a success. We know that each of these funding sources are vital to not only initiate the project, but to give it long term sustainability and to be scalable to the need”

Those interested in supporting the capital campaign can learn more at the Neighborhood Health website.