In Touch With 65 Years Of Community Service
By Betty Miller Buttram
FWIS Contributing Writer
The Cosmopolites Business & Professional Women’s Club was founded on November 7, 1957, by ten progressive women representing diversity of geographic areas and backgrounds. They conceived the idea of forming a strong network of professional women who would work to promote social, educational, and civic responsibilities in the Fort Wayne community. The Club has continued to work at changing the lives of individuals and families in the community adhering to their theme, “Lifting as We Climb.” Their digitalized history record of community service has become public information and is available for viewing within the Allen County Public Library.
At the Parkview Mirro Center on Saturday, November 5, 2022, 5:30 pm to 10:00, the Cosmopolites celebrated their 65th Anniversary of their involvement in the Fort Wayne community.
The celebration began at the reception honoring Judge Lori K. Morgan. Judge Morgan received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and her law degree from the University of Iowa. She served as a Magistrate in the Allen Superior Court Family Relations Division from 1995 to May 17, 202l. On May 18, 2021, she was appointed by Governor Eric Holcomb to serve as a judge in the Allen Superior Family Relations Division to fill the remaining term of retiring Judge Charles Pratt.
The Fort Wayne Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Premier String Quartet performed “The String Quartet No. 1” by Florence Price. Ms. Price was the first African American Woman to be recognized as a symphonic composer. Troy Webdell, Youth Education & Family Concert, was the Conductor.
Dr. Deborah Godwin-Starks was the Mistress of Ceremony and Councilwoman Sharon Tucker read Mayor Thomas C. Henry’s Proclamation designating November 5, 2022, as Cosmopolites Business & Professional Women’s Club Day.
The Cosmopolites’ Scholarship awards have been a part of the Club’s mission for years. At the 65th Anniversary Celebration, several Scholarship honorees were spotlighted:
Patrice Miller-Coleman was born and raised in Fort Wayne where she currently resides. She earned her bachelor’s degree in General Studies with a concentration in Human Services from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. Upon graduation, she was hired by the Department of Child Services as a Family Case Manager. She has served 14 years as Victim’s Advocate with the Fort Wayne Police Department and is flourishing in her role as senior advocate. She returned to Indiana University and pursued her Master’s in Social Work which has afforded her the opportunity to become an adjunct professor for the Indiana University School of Social Work at the Fort Wayne, IN campus.
Chandria Jackson-Stokes is a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center and is the Employer Relations and Development Director for the University of Houston Law Center’s Career Development Office. In this role, Chandria engages in strategic outreach to private and public sector legal employers to cultivate relationships and identify and develop new job opportunities of UH Law Center.
April Johnson-Carroll was born and raised in Fort Wayne and a graduate of North Side High School. She is a graduate of Norfolk State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry, a graduate of Loyola University with a Master of Science degree, and she currently works for a biopharmaceutical company as a Global Submission Project Manager.
Katina Williams-Anderson was born and raised in Fort Wayne and is a graduate of Northrop High School. She attended Indiana State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in business management. Katina also obtained a four-year degree in English education from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). She is a freelance writer and editor and is currently a marketing experience manager for the companies of OneAmerica in downtown Indianapolis.
Amir Pierre-Louis is a graduate of South Side High School and an accomplished musician. She plays several instruments—the piano, the clarinet, and the violin. She was a member of the Forty Wayne Junior Philharmonic and has played with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Youth Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall and she also has a talent for math. Katrina attends Indiana University where she is studying Community Health as her major and Music Performance as her minor. She played a viola solo of Otis Redding’s’ Try a Little Tenderness at the 65th Anniversary. After college, Amir plans on attending medical school with the goal of being a psychiatrist.
Tributes were made to members Carol Ann Autry, Juanita Eldridge, Lois Nelms-Keys, and Jean Marie Smith. White roses were given to the families of these sisters who are now resting in a good place.
There was a Silent Auction and Dinner. Ty Causey provided the musical entertainment which had folks moving on the dance floor.
The Cosmopolites Business & Professional Women’s Club has been very supportive in various service initiatives over the past 65 years and will continue to work at changing the lives of individuals and families in the Fort Wayne community for many years to come.