Celebrating immigrants in Fort Wayne

I was honored to be part of a tremendous group of panelists celebrating immigrants in Fort Wayne. Thank you Progressive Social Hour for putting together such an important program and thank you Universal Education Foundation of Fort Wayne (UEF) for being hospitable and generous as usual. Many thanks also to our wonderful mayor Tom Henry for being there and sharing some opening remarks with the close to 200 people in attendance.

Here is a quick summary of some discussion points I was privileged to share

- we need to stop seeing our society as a melting pot and start appreciating the beauty of the mosaic that is America

- we need to look beyond the label and celebrate the humanity of those we impose the label upon

- I bet you you know an immigrant or a refugee within 3-4 degrees of separation. Get to know them and their story and don't let others tell it for you

- we must MUST acknowledge our conscious and subconscious biases towards "other" and realize the fact that we do not live in a post racial, all inclusive society. Once we realize that and appreciate it as a fact we can move forward

- Fort Wayne is a great place to live and has a solid foundation on which we can strengthen our community further. But we have to go beyond the cordial niceties and live what we purport as Hoosier hospitality and get to know those who do not look like us, believe like us or talk like us

Please share.
Please tag yourself if you attended