Thank you to the many supporters who attended the sold out Jonathan Hancock Lecture Series earlier this month! This year's lecture, "Leading with Kindness: An Evening with Steve Hartman is directly tied to our mission of fostering a spirit of belonging. Through the incredible generosity of our community, Amani received a gift of more than $7,000 from the event's ticket sales and donations. We are so overwhelmed by this tremendous response! Thank you.

We also want to share our gratitude to the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, Canterbury School and the incredible committee behind the Jonathan Hancock Lecture Series for selecting Amani as your charity partner this year. We were truly grateful to have this opportunity to share our mission!

On Wednesday, March 6, Amani continued its longstanding tradition of hosting a brunch for staff and supporters in celebration of International Women's Day. The event recognized the incredible women in ou community as well as spotlighting incredible immigrant business owners.

We want to thank Flora Barron and Kanela Blended Drinks, Coffee, and Bites for providing a beautiful brunch, and Elsi Barron Perez and Johnny Perez, owners of Mercado Restaurant, for hosting us in the Rose Room on the Landing. You are incredible leaders in our community!

We would also like to thank Zuhra Nezemi for sharing her inspiring journey of immigration from Afghanistan to the U.S. in 2022. Lastly, We want to thank our Amani Office Culture Committee for preparing beautiful table settings with quotes from inspirational women around the world.

Born in Xi-an, China, Rui and her family embarked on a global journey in 1995, moving to Germany and later the United States for her father’s career as a mechanical engineer. Upon their arrival in the U.S., Rui’s parents found support and friendship from local Chinese churches. Rui’s family moved several times before settling in Mississippi, but in each new town, they quickly built connections with the local Chinese community. Over time, Rui’s parents transformed their own experience of receiving aid by welcoming international students and other Chinese immigrants into their home to share traditional dishes and celebrate cultural holidays.

In her current role at Amani, Rui helps oversee the Welcoming Fort Wayne initiative, a community development and advocacy platform focused on reducing inclusion barriers and increasing opportunities for immigrants and refugees. In addition, Rui supports Amani’s mission through mission events, fundraisers, and leading cultural competency training.

“I’m grateful to be a part of the Amani team,” said Rui. “Each immigrant story is unique, you can’t make generalizations because there is so much nuance and richness in why people choose to leave their homes and build their lives somewhere else.”