On the Summit’s Horizon: Who Relocates to Fort Wayne? (Part I)

By Rev. Christopher W. Riley
FWIS Contributing Writer

In 2006, I came to the Summit City to take a job at what was then known as Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) in the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. During my first week, I went to Latinos Count at the Grand Wayne Center and got lost trying to get back to campus. I explained my getting lost to my direct supervisor and a student laughed at me. My supervisor told him to “shut up” because I was not from Fort Wayne and very new to the city. The student looked at me with a straight face and said, “what do you mean, you are not from here? Who moves to Fort Wayne?”

I responded by saying, I am sure a lot of people do.

It is now 2025 and African Americans are still relocating to the Summit City. However, this is not a new trend. According to an Indiana Minority Business Magazine’s 2016 article, there was a tremendous gain of African Americans in Indiana who left the South between 1910 and 1920. Most of the new settlers in Indiana moved to the central or northern part of the state. The early 20th century new residents were seeking new opportunities. Industrialization and a war economy enabled many of these opportunities.

Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Gary, South Bend, Muncie, Anderson and Richmond all saw increases in their Black populations during the middle third of the 20th century. Some of these were especially prevalent during and after World War II. This was a reflection of developing industries within these cities.”

In July 0f 2024, Neilsburg reported an African American population of 40,285 which is 15.23% of the city’s total population. Hence, African Americans make up the largest minority group within Fort Wayne which is the second largest city in Indiana.

Danita Lehman came to the city in 1993 when her youngest of five children was two years of age and her eldest was 12 or 13. Today, Lehman is a retired grandmother and great-grandmother who is affectionately known as “GiGi.” “I am so glad I got to raise my children here in non-segregated schools. I would never go back to Chicago. I am glad the children had an opportunity to meet other racial ethnicities.” said Lehman. Lehman was not unfamiliar with the Summit City; she spent summers here during her youth. “I was actually born in Indiana. I am a native Hoosier, so I came back home. Fort Wayne is a great place to live and raise a family.” Faith has been a very important part of Lehman’s life journey and has sustained her in the Summit City. She is a member of Kingdom Door Worship Center where Dr. Harold Johnson is the Pastor. Lehman is an Evangelist and earned a Masters of Theological Studies from Regents University School of Divinity.

Tabitha Ervin who currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Greater Fort Wayne YMCA came to the Summit City in 2007 to serve as the Program Director of the former Old Fort YMCA and Southeast Branches which is known today as the Renaissance Pointe YMCA. Service to the community is what inspired Ervin to remain in Fort Wayne. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. which is an organization of college-educated women committed to the constructive development of its members and to public service with a primary focus on the Black community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded at Howard University in 1913, and the Fort Wayne Alumnae Chapter was chartered in 1971. In addition to Delta Sigma Theta, Ervin has been involved with Vincent Village, Fort Wayne United, United Front and many other organizations.

When asked what has kept her in the Summit City? “God and the Y… I only planned on being here 3 years then I was going to move back to my hometown (Pontiac, Michigan) with my experience at the Y and open my own nonprofit in the community serving youth. God had other plans so here I am!”

Ervin shared this poignant advice with someone who is new to the Summit City: “Find a way or place to connect to others. I struggled the first several years being young with no family here. I eventually got connected first through the Y, then church and eventually got married and the rest is history! I’m really extroverted too so that helped me a ton!”

John P. Dortch, President/CEO of the Fort Wayne Ink Spot and President/CEO of the Preston Joan Group came to Fort Wayne after working for the Internal Revenue Service in Nashville for two years. He is a native of Camden, Alabama (Wilcox County) which is about 100 miles south of Montgomery and north of Pensacola, Florida and Mobile, Alabama (Gulf Coast). Dortch is a graduate of Tennessee State University which took him to Nashville. He was recruited by International Harvester as a Personnel Development Trainee where he spent three years traveling to other plants speaking about Humna Resources. Dortch was later recruited by Parkview Health as an Assistant Director of Human Resources and ultimately became the Vice President of Employee Relations.

“I was in the business of saving lives. One would ask me, how is that the case since you are not in the medical field. I will respond by sharing that if I help someone get a job, the income and the opportunity may change the trajectory of one’s life. Therefore, I am saving lives.”

In 1939, Alma B. Androzzo Thompson wrote the gospel tune, If I could help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain. Slain civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King popularized the lyrics in a February 4, 1968 sermon, “The Drum Major Instinct.” Dortch has also adopted this as his mantra and often quotes Dr. King profound statement, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?”

When asked why he remained in the Summit City, Dortch shared that he had job offers in Boston, Massachusetts and Lancaster, Pennsylvania but liked being in Fort Wayne because it is centrally located to several major cities that don’t require an overnight stay. “I also enjoyed the community. It reminded me of my hometown and many of the people had southern roots. Therefore, it was easy to merge and get acclimated.”

When asked to advise a newcomer to the Summit City? He shared, “Get involved. Don’t just talk and complain. There are many opportunities to do get involved and make a difference. Only you can make that decision.”