Ink Note 8-3-23

Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne Jim Kelley Career Pathway Center and the Allen County Juvenile Probation (ACJP) division celebrated a first ever partnership program

Recently, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne Jim Kelley Career Pathway Center and the Allen County Juvenile Probation (ACJP) division celebrated a first ever partnership program in a ceremony held at the center on Fairfield Avenue.

High school school kids involved with the probation division explored various trades and learned new life and career skills.

Participants explored the use of VR headsets, completed a wood working project, worked on an alternator, used Tinkercad to create fidget spinners and print them on a 3d printer. They also challenge each other in a welding competition.

“We are excited to help kids on their journey to better futures career possibilities while learning valuable lifelong skills,” said Nicholas W. Gray, VP of Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Development

Boys and Girls Club of Fort Wayne Jim Kelley Career Pathway Center. “We are thrilled to partner with Allen County Juvenile Probation Division.

Allen County Superior Court Judge Andrea Trevino said, “You all see me usually not at your best, right? Usually, you're in court, been through something. You think you're in front of me to get in trouble, right?"

She added: “Our goal is always to leave you better than when you first came to us," Trevino said. "We want you to build a bright future."

The partners expect the program to continue and expand. Each participant received a certificate of completion. Probation officers recommended participants for the program.

Redemption House Ministries invites community to tour its newly renovated, 119-year-old Fairfield Street House

Redemption House Ministries invites the public for an inside look at its newly renovated, 119-year-old recovery residence during its 11th Anniversary Alumni Reunion + Open House. The event will take place at 2720 Fairfield Avenue on Saturday, August 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Redemption House moved into the 5,000-square-foot house at 2720 Fairfield Avenue in 2012. It still had a steam-heat boiler and the original ceramic tile roof from 1904. Renovation on the house began in March 2023 and has included installing new heating and cooling systems, a total kitchen renovation, numerous new windows, a new roof, fresh paint and refinished floors throughout.

“We can house up to 16 women in the house, and it has been an incredible blessing to hundreds of women over the past 11 years, but it really needed renovation,” said Redemption House CEO Tomi Cardin. “The results are absolutely stunning! We are eager for our supporters, sponsors and neighbors to come tour this beautiful house, and to learn more about the ministry of Redemption House.”

Redemption House residents will give visitors tours of the house. The event will feature free lunch provided by State Bank, as well as live music, games for the children and prizes.

What: Redemption House 11-Year Anniversary Celebration + Open House

When: Saturday, August 5, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: 2720 Fairfield Ave., Fort Wayne

Website: redemptionhousefw.org

Celebration Sponsors:

Cedarwood Contracting

Landmark Roofing

State Bank

Prairie Farms

About Redemption House

Redemption House is a network of transition homes for women who desire to redeem their lives from past destructive behaviors by developing a faith-based lifestyle and gaining the skills necessary to achieve and maintain success. The program serves as an alternative to incarceration. The women are court-ordered to complete our six-month program. During that time, they are subject to a variety of life-skills and faith-based programming.

Alive Community Outreach Awarded St. Joseph Community Health Foundation Grant

Fort Wayne's Alive Community Outreach Receives $10,000 Grant to Cultivate a Community of Nonviolence

Alive Community Outreach is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a one-year grant of $10,000 from the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation as part of its spring grant cycle. This generous grant will be utilized for operational support, empowering Alive to enhance its capacity as a dynamic and rapidly growing organization committed to fostering a community of nonviolence.

Rev. Angelo Mante, Founder and Executive Director of Alive, expresses his excitement about this pivotal moment for the organization. "This is an extraordinary time for Alive. As we witness the steady growth of our Co-Victim Care program and the remarkable success of our Peacemaker Academy at South Side High School, we are honored to have the attention and collaboration of FWCS district administration, who’ve included the expansion of our program in the upcoming referendum. This presents a significant opportunity for us to further our impact and create safer schools for the youth of Fort Wayne. Partners like SJCHF coming alongside us at this juncture of growth is truly a blessing, and we are deeply grateful for their belief in our mission."

About Alive Community Outreach

Alive Community Outreach is a faith-based 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to cultivate a community of nonviolence through meaningful relationships and education. Grounded in the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s philosophy of nonviolence, the organization provides vital support to families impacted by violence and empowers youth and youth-serving organizations with training in nonviolence and conflict transformation.

For more information about Alive Community Outreach and its impactful work, please visit www.alivefw.org.

Anaya Patterson hosts first EmPower Forward hoops camp at McMillan Community Center

On Friday, the University of Connecticut basketball standout hosted her first EmPower Forward basketball camp at McMillen Park. The former Miss Basketball winner welcomed kids from 1st-8th grade to the event.

Along with Friday’s camp, Patterson and her partners donated $15,000 in proceeds to the Autism Society of Indiana. The non-profit is personal to Patterson, whose nephew is diagnosed on the spectrum.

She is coming off her first season of college basketball at UConn. As a freshman, Patterson saw limited action averaging 2.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. Heading into her sophomore season, Patterson hopes to shoulder a larger role for one of the top program’s across all of college basketball.