Fort Wayne's Very Own

Cydney Bridges, Our Queen!

On Sunday evening, January 14 as scheduled in my calendar, my ten year old daughter and I logged in online to watch the Miss America finals. The competition had not been streamed in several years and there was a local watch party in Fort Wayne where a group of local supporters gathered to watch.

Cydney Bridges, Our Queen!

New Executive Director to Lead Health Visions Midwest Inc.

Fort Wayne, IN- HealthVisions Midwest Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Sharon Tubbs as its new Executive Director, leading the charge for the nonprofit organization across Indiana and Illinois. A Fort Wayne native, Tubbs has been integral to the agency's Fort Wayne office since March 2020, and her elevation to the role of Executive Director comes at a crucial juncture as Midwest grapples with post-pandemic the challenges in achieving health equity and access for the underserved.

New Executive Director to Lead Health Visions Midwest Inc.

Caregivers: It’s OK to Ask for Help

We all want what’s best for everyone whom we consider family. Many gracious people go above and beyond to ensure all the needs of their loved ones are met. Someone caring for another recovering from illness, those helping an elderly parent with basic activities or others providing a safe environment for a child in need have one thing in common- they are all caregivers.

Caregivers: It’s OK to Ask for Help

Ivy Tech Community College and Tracy Davis

Tracy Davis is the new Executive Director of Community Relations and Diversity, Equity and Belonging at Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne/Warsaw. She started this role in May, and I was able to connect with her recently after a few months on the job on-site at her office to discuss how it's going and what the role means for the college.

Ivy Tech Community College and Tracy Davis

Hearn Family Ball

I was recently able to catch up with the Hearn family, Crane, Tonya and Sydney. I have known this family almost the entire 16 years I’ve been in Fort Wayne. I coached basketball at Prince Chapman Middle School at the beginning of my time in this community and Tonya would come to referee games with young Sydney in tow. As I attended and supported girls' high school games I then met Crane.

Hearn Family Ball

Drive, Dedication, And Discipline: Meet Vel Bates and Alexis Ackerson The Owners Of 3D Fitness- Part 1

Born and raised in Fort Wayne, IN, Vel Bates and Alexis Ackerson have been best friends for the last 17 years. They both grew up playing sports and having a love for fitness. Ackerson played basketball and tennis while Bates played football and ran track.

Drive, Dedication, And Discipline: Meet Vel Bates and Alexis Ackerson The Owners Of 3D Fitness- Part 1

Right To Your Doorstep: John Dortch receives Esteemed Dr. Daryl Yost Award for Philanthropy

John P Dortch was the 2023 recipient of the Daryl Yost Award from the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center on April 24, 2023. The esteemed award has never been given to an African American business leader since its creation nearly nine years ago. The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center,  The NIIC--is an incubator for business development offering supportive resources to entrepreneurs in the greater Fort Wayne area.

Right To Your Doorstep: John Dortch receives Esteemed Dr. Daryl Yost Award for Philanthropy

Self-Development and Leadership: Rescue Mission's Ellis LaGrone Shares His Story

Although his story begins with unfortunate circumstances, Ellis LaGrone has made lemonade out of the past lemons he created for himself. Ellis was facing criminal charges at the end of 2017, so his lawyer gave him two options: to go to drug court or go to prison. Ellis returned to his cell block to pray before beginning his new journey.

Self-Development and Leadership: Rescue Mission's Ellis LaGrone Shares His Story

Passing a Community Heirloom: Stuart Family Painting Donated to The Dream Center

Significant moments in our community's history are often forgotten and left unrecorded but remain foundational to who we are. When changes arise for any reason, we can identify moments or benchmarks representing the best part of us and our development into a better place. One of these moments happened on an evening on March 17, 2023, when Clarence Stuart Jr. donated a piece of his

Passing a Community Heirloom: Stuart Family Painting Donated to The Dream Center

Getting to Know Our FWCS Board President, Maria Norman

In April 2017, Maria was appointed to the Fort Wayne Community Schools’ Board of Trustees. After running a successful campaign in 2018, she was elected by the people of Fort Wayne for her first 4-year term.  In the 2022 election cycle, Maria was unopposed and feels honored to be a voice for students and families once again. Maria has received Fort Wayne Business Weekly’s Top 40 Under 40, IPFW’s Top 50 award, and the Indiana School Board Association’s Exemplary Governance Award for continued education as a school board member.

Getting to Know Our FWCS Board President, Maria Norman

The 69th Annual Wassail, Holiday kick-off Returns to The Jennings Center

December 4, 2022 at the Jennings Center, the Christmas season will kick off with their traditional Wassail celebration –the 69th annual celebration. The event, which features songs, dances, poems, and spoken word, has become a local holiday hit and an extension of the traditional Wassail celebrations worldwide.

The 69th Annual Wassail, Holiday  kick-off Returns to The Jennings Center