[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 175 (Thursday, December 3, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1704-E1705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN HONOR OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE IMMIGRANT WELCOME CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANDRE CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 3, 2015

  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. I rise today to honor the Immigrant Welcome 
Center, whose tireless work over the past ten years has blessed 
countless Hoosiers in my hometown of Indianapolis.
  The Immigrant Welcome Center was founded in 2005 by Mayor Bart 
Peterson and First Lady Amy Minick Peterson who sought to discover ways 
the City of Indianapolis could be more welcoming to its newest 
residents. Serving as a trusted liaison between newcomers and the 
community at large, the Immigrant Welcome Center provides a strong and 
positive voice for the foreign-born newcomers who represent 120 
different nationalities and speak more than 90 languages. Today the 
organization continues to build connections between immigrants and the 
city's social, cultural and business communities, making Indianapolis a 
more diverse and innovative place for all residents.
  The Immigrant Welcome Center is built on a model of empowerment that 
trains immigrants

[[Page E1705]]

and refugees as Natural Helpers in understanding the resources and 
opportunities available in our community. These Natural Helpers then 
help their fellow foreign-born brothers and sisters navigate the maze 
of available services and connect them to people, places and resources 
necessary to build successful lives. The organization has also helped 
make Indianapolis a leader among welcoming cities across the United 
States as part of the national Welcoming America Initiative's programs 
and outreach.
  Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Immigrant 
Welcome Center for its efforts to strengthen and integrate our growing 
foreign-born community, helping make Indianapolis a more welcoming and 
vibrant international city.

                          ____________________