Input Fort Wayne

10/07/2024

For the first time, Indiana Vintage Market is coming to Fort Wayne! On July 20 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center, over 50 vendors will be set up to sell a variety of vintage goods from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $5, but those wanting early access or more time to shop can buy Early Bird Admission online for $10.

Read our Q&A with co-organizer Sam Brann here:

Indiana Vintage Market comes to Fort Wayne for the first time on July 20 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center from noon to 5 p.m.

09/07/2024

08/07/2024

As a professor at Indiana University Fort Wayne School of Nursing with a certification in psychiatric mental health, Adaline Cunningham is passionate about raising awareness of mental health needs and addressing incorrect stigmas around mental health. She recognizes the increasing need for mental health training in medical professionals. She pilots the Mental Health First Aid Training (MHFA) program at IU Fort Wayne.

MHFA is an evidence-based, early intervention program that can be taught to anyone. The program itself is not designed to diagnose but rather equip participants to recognize and respond to a mental health crisis. It gives its participants the knowledge, confidence, and proper language to discuss mental health issues with anyone.

Cunningham says the program gives the students more confidence to approach specific scenarios, handle patients who may currently be in crisis, and set appropriate boundaries for the safety of everyone involved.

“Students are more prepared, have better mental health communication skills, and are overall more confident going into mental health facilities,” Cunningham says.

Mental Health First Aid was incorporated into the nursing program at IU Fort Wayne in the fall of 2021. Since its implementation, the IU Fort Wayne nursing program has trained almost 300 students and close to 30 faculty members.

https://www.inputfortwayne.com/features/MHFA-FWIUNursing.aspx

03/07/2024

Even though Indiana is known for its significant agricultural output, close to a million Hoosiers deal with food insecurity, according to Feeding America. But it’s not about access to just any food, leaders addressing food insecurity want to make sure people can access affordable and nutritious food that promotes health and prevents disease.

In 2020, leaders at the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation (SJCHF) helped launch Double Up Indiana, a program that allows people who use SNAP/EBT cards to double their buying power when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Participants receive a dollar’s worth of fruits and vegetables for every SNAP dollar they spend for up to $20 per day.

Double Up Food Bucks Michigan, which has approximately 250 participating sites, helped the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation start Double Up in Allen County. Currently, 53 locations (farmers markets and grocery stores) across the state are Double Up participants. This includes 11 locations in Fort Wayne.

And they're hoping to get more fruits and vegetables into the hands of Hoosiers. The Indiana Department of Health has applied for a grant that would allow Double Up to expand to even more locations across the state.

Learn more about it here: https://www.inputfortwayne.com/features/DoubleUpIndiana.aspx

02/07/2024

This year Rebecca Wolfe, manager of the Grabill Branch of Allen County Public Library, was recognized as part of the National Movers & Shakers Awards from the Library Journal for creating programming for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

We sat down with Wolfe to learn more about her career as a librarian and her experience creating specialized programming from scratch.

https://www.inputfortwayne.com/features/RebeccaWolfe-ACPL.aspx

01/07/2024

Have you ever wondered if Fort Wayne has any connections to outer space?

“It’s exciting from an engineering standpoint to bring in these earlier career engineers or big career engineers and have them get to work on some of the most sophisticated and important technologies for national defense. Hopefully, that will continu

26/06/2024

The City of Fort Wayne is preparing to conduct an urban heat island mapping study and is looking for volunteers to help them.

Learn more about how the study could directly impact city policies and how you can get involved here:

“I think the most important takeaway is that this is a chance for us to have some really important data that we can use to make well-thought-out, well-researched decisions in the future."

19/06/2024

Meet Dr. Alan M. Yahanda, who was recently named president of the Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute (PFCI). He’s spent his career focused on surgical oncology and now he’s bringing his skills and leadership to Parkview Health.

The PFCI is described as a “one-stop shop for everything outpatient” when it comes to cancer care, offering everything from diagnostics to chemotherapy and even a wig boutique. They offer specialized care and are dedicated to the comfort and health of the patients, offering the only gynecological and palliative oncologists in the area along with eight other tumor site-specific care teams to assure that patients get the most expert and advanced cancer care.

The Institute is well known for its outpatient infusion clinic, which provides chemotherapy and hydration infusions as well as blood transfusions with comfort and privacy for patients and their families.

“I’m excited to pursue new innovations in technology and treatment, and expand the availability of clinical trials for our patients,” says Dr. Yahanda. “I also want the PFCI to continue to be a valued partner in the Fort Wayne community, not just in taking care of cancer patients, but also ensuring the health of the community as a whole through prevention and education.”

Read more about PFCI's new president here: https://www.inputfortwayne.com/features/ParkviewPFC-DrYahanda.aspx

15/06/2024

Craving an outdoor adventure? 🏊🏼‍♂️🚴🏽‍♀️🏃🏻🚣🏻‍♀️

As the sun shines brighter, the grass turns greener and the temperatures warm up, so too, does the opportunity for outdoor adventures around northeast Indiana.

There are plenty of options to unplug and spend a day in nature, enjoying everything from running, hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, fishing, boating, and camping. Some communities, like Wabash, which is just 45 minutes southwest of Fort Wayne, offer all of these activities in one place.

We dive into all the outdoor possibilities in Wabash here: https://www.inputfortwayne.com/features/VWC-OutdoorRecreation.aspx

15/06/2024

Last month Fort Wayne launched its first DORA, or designated outdoor refreshment area.

Within a DORA, patrons can order alcoholic beverages from participating vendors and take their drinks with them in designated to-go cups as they stroll downtown. The DORA is a result of a collaborative effort among several local stakeholders, including restaurant owners, the City of Fort Wayne, and Downtown Fort Wayne.

Have you had a chance to experience the Downtown DORA yet?

https://www.inputfortwayne.com/features/DowntownFW-DORA.aspx

14/06/2024

Ever wondered what Fort Wayne's connection to outer space is?

“It’s exciting from an engineering standpoint to bring in these earlier career engineers or big career engineers and have them get to work on some of the most sophisticated and important technologies for national defense. Hopefully, that will continu

13/06/2024

What changes can you expect to see at Fort Wayne Parks in the near future? Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel tells us here:

From educational programming to large construction projects, we explore what's happening this summer at Fort Wayne's parks.

12/06/2024

Indiana may be known for many things: corn, the Indy 500, pork tenderloin sandwiches and other cultural touchstones. However, robust public health outcomes usually don’t rank highly on the list.

Stakeholders at the state and local levels are hoping to change that. Enter the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH)’s Health First Indiana (HFI) initiative. What the agency refers to as a “historic investment in public health” came out of 2023 legislation that was intended to re-tool the state’s approach to improving the health of Hoosiers.

Learn how local organizations are using that funding here:

“We all have to be very mindful that it's probably going to be at least 10 years until we start seeing actual changes in outcomes, such as obesity or food insecurity. As a state that took a long time to get where it got, it'll take a long time to beg

11/06/2024

This past winter the Zollner Engineering Center at Indiana Tech completed a significant transformation through a major renovation, heralding not only a revitalized physical space but also a profound shift in its engagement with industry partnerships.

Read about it here:

“For our students, they are getting real-world, hands-on experiences working on key projects for innovative companies. For corporations and entrepreneurs, they are gaining access to facilities, research and development services that are making a diff

11/06/2024

Middle Waves Music Festival is returning on Saturday, June 15 from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne! We explore the festival's recent leadership change and plans for its future here:

https://www.inputfortwayne.com/features/MiddleWaves-Embassy.aspx

04/06/2024

A local coffee shop can be many things to the surrounding community. It can act as a conference room or a meeting space for business. It can be a barista’s first job. It can be the stage for a poetry slam or a musician. It can be the first place where you feel ‘at home’ in a new town once you reach ‘regular’ status as a frequent customer.

For Blue Jacket Academy graduates and the Fort Wayne community, Tall Rabbit Cafe + Community is changing lives one coffee at a time.

Read about it here: https://www.inputfortwayne.com/features/TallRabbitCafe-BlueJacket.aspx

Blue Jacket, Inc.

03/06/2024

Healthier Moms and Babies has officially kicked off their diaper drive!

“When you donate diapers and wipes, we can provide more families with the resources they need so more babies stay clean, healthy, and dry.”

30/05/2024

Each year, Le Tour de Fort takes people on a pub crawl through Fort Wayne on bicycles. It's a popular local tradition, complete with highly coveted t-shirts and a history of supporting local veterans.

Learn more about it here: https://www.inputfortwayne.com/features/letourdefort-2024.aspx

22/05/2024

What does it look like when active community members are the ones reinvesting in their communities? We take a look at Wabash, a northeast Indiana town with a legacy of doing just that.

“Those visionaries kind of instilled the culture of reinvestment back into your community and then what that has led to is that just being the way of life here in Wabash County is then you see other people who have chosen to do that as well."

05/05/2024

Fort Wayne is often touted as an affordable place to live, claiming a spot in the top five most affordable places to live in 2023, according to a report from U.S. News.

On a national scale, Fort Wayne’s cost of living falls below the national average and on paper, when compared to other cities, Fort Wayne is easily marked as an affordable place to live.

But what’s on paper might not be the whole picture. George Guy, CEO of the Fort Wayne Housing Authority and chair of FHLBank of Indianapolis’ Affordable Housing Advisory Council says there are disparities in the information we see about housing affordability.

“The housing is good,” he says. “The wages are low, so that creates a problem. You have a growing city that is affordable to live in but as it grows expenses grow.”

Guy explains that while the growth of Fort Wayne is good, that growth creates demand and drives up the price of housing, but it doesn’t necessarily drive up wages.

We explore how one organization is helping create affordable housing across Indiana at the link in our bio.

02/05/2024

Fairmount Neighborhood is home to a few hidden gems, like Friendly Fox, Antonuccio's Italian Market, Born Again Quilts, and 2 Crazy Crystal Guys.

Rod Bice and David Lee own 2 Crazy Crystal Guys, which sells crystals, minerals, gemstones and jewelry. Metaphysical supplies including candles, sage, incense, books, tarot and oracles are also available as well as psychic medium readings available only by Bice.

The duo first opened in Fairmount in 2021 but were left without a physical store after having to leave their original shop. Now they’re happy to be back in Fairmount, just a block from their first store, but this time in a completely renovated building!

Curious to learn more about this gem of a shop? Read our Q&A here: https://www.inputfortwayne.com/features/2CrazyCrystalGuys.aspx

Photos and story by Rachel Von Stroup/Rachel Von Art LLC

29/04/2024

Today city officials, in partnership with Downtown Fort Wayne, announced its first Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas (DORA) would open up on May 5 in downtown Fort Wayne.

Within a designated outdoor refreshment area or DORA, patrons will be able to order alcoholic beverages from participating vendors and take their drinks with them in designated to-go cups as they stroll downtown.

We have the ten points you need to know about DORAs here: https://www.inputfortwayne.com/features/10points-DORA.aspx

(Plus, keep an eye out for more detailed coverage on the DORA this week from Input Fort Wayne!)

22/04/2024

🌎 🌱Happy Earth Day!

Today we're highlighting two local businesses that help make being "green" a little bit easier: Bottle Green Refillery and Vessel Refillery FW!

The refillery concept may be new to Fort Wayne, but it has existed in other cities nationwide for some time. According to Marketplace, this is a term coined in the zero waste and low waste industry to describe a retail space where you can bring in your own containers or purchase reusable ones and fill them up with personal and home bulk essential goods. Products are typically sold by weight.

This store type helps limit the amount of plastic and packaging used when purchasing personal and home goods.

Learn more: https://www.inputfortwayne.com/features/FWrefilleries.aspx

Photos by Rachel Von Art LLC & Story by Lauren Caggiano

16/04/2024

Fort Wayne native Cory Krueckeberg is bringing his film "Glitter & Doom" back to his hometown. Read what he has to say about Fort Wayne's arts and culture scene and the romance musical he created based on his own love story!

You can catch "Glitter & Doom" at the Cinema Center, plus a filmmaker Q&A on April 19!

“I've told people ever since I left Fort Wayne and went to college, the amount of culture and art that is in this small town in the middle of cornfields is kind of amazing and nobody would really believe me, but it really is. I'm very, very proud to

12/04/2024

To help address the need for affordable housing not just in Fort Wayne, but across the region, FHLBank Indianapolis offers grants each year for member financial institutions that partner with local not-for-profit housing providers, economic development partners, and housing developers to create affordable housing developments.

Since 1993, FHLBank Indianapolis has funded over 20 projects within Fort Wayne. Projects such as Charis House, The Courtyard, Bottle Works Loft, and River’s Edge have all received funding from FHLBank.

“It is just huge. I know it sounds like a small part of the total project, but when you've got a $500,000 grant that can just be used for capital to build that project and not have to pay that back—that’s a big deal.”

11/04/2024

Fort Wayne’s Burmese population is estimated at 25,000 people. Many of them come to the United States having spent months—or even years—in refugee camps. They often speak no English, some may not even be literate in their own language, and rarely have access to people who can understand them, translate for them, and advocate for them.

But the Refugee Health Collaborative is working to change that. Read about it here:

"We know resettling in a new country comes with a lot of challenges, and physicians can only do so much—which is why providing wraparound services is really important. The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation has done a great job with bringing part

09/04/2024

Have you checked out The Hive Coffee House? Southwest Fort Wayne's newest coffee shop features coffee from Utopian Roastery, gluten-free treats from Wild and Free Gluten Free Bakery, and other baked goods from The Bread Guy.

The cafe, decked out in boho meets midcentury decor, features a variety of seating options, paintings of community landmarks, two outdoor seating areas, and a partially sectioned-off kid’s play area. One wall is dedicated to a fireplace, which features bookshelves with a “take a book, borrow a book, leave a book policy."

Owner Jordanne Kilbourne says she hopes the menu and the atmosphere create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone, even those who don’t consider themselves coffee drinkers.

“We have so many other options,” she says. “We have teas, smoothies, refreshers, energy drinks– so just a little bit for everyone.”

The Hive is located at 7120 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46814. They’re open Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., and on Sundays from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m.

Read more about the coffee shop here:https://www.inputfortwayne.com/features/TheHive.aspx

04/04/2024

With warmer weather on the horizon, you might be wondering about Fort Wayne's outdoor dining options.

As warmer temperatures return, so does outdoor dining. In this Fort Wayne Foodslut Guide, the anonymous foodie scopes out over 60 Fort Wayne restaurants with outdoor dining options, including dog and kid-friendly patios.

02/04/2024

In case you missed it, in February we covered the Community Loan Center of Northeast Indiana. They're aiming to provide a model of non-predatory payday lending to help borrowers meet current and ongoing financial obligations safely and securely.

Read it here:

“Look and see what resources the community has to offer. It might be a situation like this, and you might need a loan – that might be the only option. There’s nothing wrong with having to use a loan, but if you do, just make sure that it’s right for

26/03/2024

In case you missed it: Last month we explored what happens when you send grandparents back to preschool through the Foster Grandparent Program from AmeriCorps.

Read it here:

“The children gravitate toward our grandparents. They look forward to seeing them in the classroom and spending time with them.”