Summer Reading Buddies Needed

Budget Cuts to Summer School Programs Make Volunteers Even More Essential

 United Way of Allen County’s Learn United initiative is in search of approximately 200 volunteers to help elementary students improve their literacy skills over the summer. “Summer Reading Buddies” are needed June 14 through August 13 at a variety of times and locations. Volunteers may sign up for as little as one hour a week for two weeks, and as much as several hours a week for ten weeks.

 “Budget cuts have forced local school districts to eliminate or reduce summer school programs,” said Marcy Yoder, United Way of Allen County’s vice president of community relations. “That makes literacy volunteers all the more important this year to help local students who struggle with reading skills.”

Site locations include: the Boys & Girls Club, East Allen Family Resource Center, Euell A. Wilson Center, Fort Wayne Urban League, Neighborhood Action Center, Study Elementary, Vincent Village, Wellspring sites (Plymouth Congregational Church, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Trinity Episcopal Church and Trinity English Lutheran Church), and YMCA sites (Camp Glenwood, Camp Kekionga, Southeast Y and Old Fort Y).

Interested volunteers should call 260.469.4030, or visit www.LearnUnited.org and click on volunteer. All volunteers will receive training and undergo a background check.

Learn United is a ten-year effort to ensure all Allen County students read at grade level by the end of third grade. It involves recruiting volunteers to help students who struggle with reading. Learn United is a collaborative partnership between United Way of Allen County, the Allen County Education Partnership, all four Allen County public school districts, and The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce. More than 1,000 Allen County third-graders do not pass the ISTEP reading test every year; studies show that 74 percent of children who fall behind by third grade never catch up and gain the reading skills needed to be successful.

Our Youth Leadership Fort Wayne students worked diligently on the morning of Saturday, April 17, to re-box canned goods donated to the Associated Churches food bank.  They cleared the way for the upcoming Postal Workers Food Drive.  Although there was doubt that all the tasks would be completed, our hard-working YLFW class reboxed every unboxed can in the warehouse in a little over two hours.   As they worked they enjoyed each other’s camaraderie and learned the meaning of giving back.  We commend them for a job well done.

On May 2, both our LEAD facilitators and our YLFW class attended a closing retreat where they reflected on their experiences throughout the year and celebrated their accomplishments.  The staff takes all their comments into consideration when preparing for the next year’s events, so the retreat is not only a reminder to our youth of what they have accomplished, but it is also an instrument for continually improving our programs. 

We said farewell to our YLFW class at their graduation held at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art on May 5.  But we hope they will continue with our programs in the roles of LEAD facilitators and as members of the YAR Grants Council.  All graduates may apply for either of these programs where they act as mentors to other high school and middle school students and make decisions on grant proposals submitted by youth through the Youth as Resources Grants. 

 Current participants of Leadership Fort Wayne and the NINA programs along with alumni, board members, YLNI, Regional Marketing Partnership and other regional leaders met together April 14th at Sweetwater Sound to participate in a VISION 2020 Leadership Input Session. About 130 leaders facilitated by Gianni Longo and Dave Kolzow came together to brainstorm “OUTRAGEOUS” ideas to transform our region by 2020.

Here is a brief summary of feedback after the event & some more ideas:

 Please rate your experience at the Vision 2020 Breakfast:

• 55% selected Excellent
• 35% selected  Good
• 10% selected Fair

Comments Included…

“Very Well Organized”

“Idea Generating”

“Great time to reflect upon economic development within FW and the region.” 

Ideas you had at the session not brought forth?

-       What ‘Sustainability’ means for the future of NE Indiana.

-      Farming projects involving the international community to increase employment and take advantage of the skills brought from foreign countries

-       Focusing on manufacturing of green alternative-energy technology, by using this area’s engineering expertise. Also, promoting the arts by having a First Night celebration on New Year’s Eve, which would connect families and young people with the performing arts and provide something to do other than dining and drinking. Think how much fun it was to celebrate the city’s bicentennial as a community event. A first Night event (celebrated at cities around the country) would add in performing arts.

-      Though it was mentioned, I was surprised that not in any of the previous lists of ideas and information gathered was there a mention of our amazing diversity of cultures found in the northeast Indiana sector. I am concerned that instead of celebrating this fact, that we are just not talking about it or understanding the positive ramifications of this reality. South Side High School has one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation; in Fort Wayne, we speak over 80 foreign languages. Though this was never in the city fathers’ strategic plans, it needs now to be faced with a positive attitude.Need to get suburbanites and residents of town around Fort Wayne, downtown. Many in both these groups seldom, if ever, get downtown. Parkview Field is a fantastic start. Also, the need to add living quarters and studios for artists and musicians downtown, to create an arts community. Can there be artists’ apartments near Art Link? Also, why not have local colleges and universities coordinate activities downtown. Invite IPFW, Manchester and St. Francis students to Indiana Tech’s movie theater and student center for a music festival, and tie in downtown venues as well.

 As you reflected on the event over this past day, what ideas did you have afterwards?  

-      Although I was not on educational panel, I wanted to suggest that NEIRP looks at the Starfish model in Indianapolis. The Starfish model provides the brightest students within IPS to attend private schools on scholarship.

The Leadership Fort Wayne Alumni are in the process of considering how they can continue this type of constructive brainstorming and idea generating for other community issues.  If you have a community issue we should consider convening about, please contact us!

Thank you to our partner the Northeast Indiana Fund!

Mark Becker, a 1993 graduate of LFW  is currently the Executive Director of the Northeast Indiana Fund.

Mark champions regional economic development capacity building through the work of the Northeast Indiana Fund in providing financial support for growth-oriented initiatives.

Recently we caught up with Mark and asked him to share just a little about himself with us.

Q. As the Past Deputy Mayor and with your long time involvement in economic development  … would you share what drives your passion for the Northeast Indiana community?

A. While I have spent most of my career in economic development, my education – and my passion – is in community development and planning. Great communities and regions don’t just happen – they develop as a result of strong leadership and a commitment to planning and action toward achieving a desired future. I was very fortunate to serve the City of Fort Wayne, first as Director of Community Development and later as Deputy Mayor, during a time when there was a renewed commitment to planning and bold thinking about how we position our community for the future. Our comprehensive plan was more than twenty years old – and we had never planned for a shared future with Allen County. We now have Plan-It Allen, a plan for the coordinated development of our entire community. Parkview Field and Harrison Square are a direct result of the plans that we developed for the revitalization of Downtown Fort Wayne. Southtown Centre and the Hanna Creighton project exist because of bold leadership and sound planning. Mayor Richard challenged our team to establish a framework for success, always emphasizing that great things happen when opportunity meets preparation!

My current work with the Northeast Indiana Fund is similarly focused on supporting activities that help build the capacity of our region to support new private investment – leading to quality job creation. I believe as a region, we can achieve anything we set our sights on – but, we must have a vision to guide us and strong leadership committed to action.

Q. Describe how something you learned/experienced in Leadership Fort Wayne has helped/ benefitted you:

A. Leadership Fort Wayne provides perhaps the best overview of the “inner workings” of our community – and the issues we face – of any program available. When I approached my boss at the time regarding participation in the program, he questioned the value of the investment, thinking I was already involved in the community and knowledgeable about the challenges we face. I persuaded him otherwise and, in fact, I learned a great deal that I did not know about Fort Wayne and became friends with a tremendous group of people (the great class of ’93!), many of whom I stay in contact with today. Leadership Fort Wayne instills not only a broad understanding of our community, but also a better sense of how our individual skills and passions can be directed to have an impact toward making this a better place.

Although, I doubt you have much “free time” … When you are not working for our community, how do you spend your leisure time?  

A. First and foremost, I enjoy any and all time with my wife Cheri. Our lives are hectic at times, but she keeps me grounded, makes me laugh and challenges me in our life together to step out of my comfort zone – be it my personal or professional life. She is my safe harbor and my partner in crime! We have our little slice of paradise that we escape to on a small fishing lake in Steuben County, where you’ll find us with our dog Rosie working in the yard, grilling/cooking or relaxing with a good book. At home in Fort Wayne, we appreciate time with close friends—and, now that spring is here, you’ll also see us at TinCaps games!

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The economy must be looking up, John Scheele says: More people are ordering rhubarb pie for dessert at Cindy’s Diner, the 15-stool restaurant he owns with his wife, Cindy.

“People are spending a little more and feeling better,” he says.

There are other hopeful signs in this city of 248,000.

On May 17, General Motors‘ Fort Wayne Assembly will start a third shift for the first time in its 24-year history. By May 31, the truck-building plant will employ 3,787, up from 2,487 on Dec. 31.

Some of the new workers were laid off at GM facilities in 25 states.

“It’s great for the community. It’s great to see the whole nation bouncing back,” says plant manager Mike Glinski.

Relief that the plant survived GM’s restructuring created “a whole different atmosphere” after a “really awful” recession, says Orval Plumlee, president of United Auto Workers Local 2209.

This city’s diverse manufacturing base insulated it from some of the recession’s effects, says Andi Udris, president of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance, and its low cost of living makes it an appealing spot now for companies that are consolidating operations.

The metro-area jobless rate was 11.1% in March, but Udris says Allen County attracted about a half-dozen new employers in 2009.

Main Street Venture Fund, an investment group, recently saved 40 jobs when it bought the assets of a company that made electro-mechanical components.

“It’s starting to feel like we’re going to come out of this,” says Main Street President Karen Goldner, a Fort Wayne city council member.

Mike Carpenter, owner of Custom Poly Packaging, says the past three months were “a pleasant surprise” after a tough 2009 that forced him to lay off three employees. His 13 workers, including one temporary employee hired recently, are starting to put in some overtime, he says.

Don Jennings sees optimism in his customers at BitterSweet Gifts. More expensive items are selling, and “People have gotten nicer in the past few months.”

Click here to read the entire article

By Judy Keen, USA TODAY, printed  Tuesday April 27, 2010.

Northeastern Indiana is enjoying a mid-winter thaw with temperatures in the 30’s but for all of us at Leadership Fort Wayne it means we are halfway through our program year!  While the traditional overcast and gray winter skies of northern Indiana cause most of us to dream of sunny days and warmer climates, we here at Leadership Fort Wayne are gearing up for next year’s programs and graduation for Youth Leadership Fort Wayne and adult Leadership Fort Wayne as well as NINA’s Emerging Leaders participants. Indeed it is a busy time of year with alumni activities, program days and updates to our strategic plan including improvements to next year’s programs.’s Challenge and contributed over $2,500!  Big thanks to all who purchased their Fort Wayne On Board games. Under the leadership and determination of LFW staff member, Anne Duff, we have sold almost 250 games since October 2009. If you don’t have one, call or e-mail us to reserve this fun board game. Cost is just $10.00 and we have a rather large, but limited, supply to sell as quickly as possible!  They make great birthday gifts and are especially good for businesses who want a fun way to acquaint someone to the Fort Wayne community!

Leadership Fort Wayne wishes you all a wonderful holiday!  We have enjoyed some great things at Leadership Fort Wayne.  Our signature class is working hard on their CAT projects and are bonding as a class, as they are enjoying time together over the holidays.  Our YLFW class is a great group of young people who are doing a great job of becoming servant leaders.  They read books to the children at Fairfield Elementary in November, and they will enjoy another meeting in January.  Our LEAD facilitators were very helpful for our Youth orientation and their retreat.   They will be preparing to go to middle schools this spring to spread the word about being leaders in school and the community.  Youth as Resources met for the first time this month.  We have a great group of youth and adult mentors.  The council is made up of some old and new faces – including a few grant recipients.  They are looking forward to the Grant Review night on February 17.  Our NINA Emerging Leaders program class will begin in January with some great monthyly programs.  This program continues to be a great support to the non-profit organizations in our area. 

We would also like to thank all of our alumni who took the challenge from our Board president, Clifford Clarke, and gave generously to our organization.  A big thank you to all of our sponsors and funders.  We couldn’t run five fantastic programs without your continued support.  We are looking forward to a fabulous 2010!  Once again, Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year from all of us at LFW! 

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Click here for YAR Grant application  Do you work with youth?  Do you know someone who works with youth?  A teacher, scout leader, youth pastor, youth center director…if you work with youth or know someone who does, why not engage your youth in a community service project?  YAR (Youth as Resources) awards youth groups up to $750 in grant money for youth to do a community service project.  The project should all be youth initiated, planned and completed by youth, ages 6-18, with the guidance of a caring adult.  Grant should stress being drug-free or show how alternative activities can provide youth other things to do than drugs.  Applications are due on January 31.  Youth must prepare a 5 minute presentation for Wednesday, February 17, in front of the Youth as Resources Grants Council. 

Christmas shopping?  Get the perfect gift of a Fort Wayne on Board game, the monopoly-style board game based on Fort Wayne businesses!  What a steal for only $10.00 a game!  Makes a great gift for your family or for friends and relatives who once resided in our great city.  Call the office to reserve yours!