Mayor Joe Hogsett announced the second class of the International Leaders Academy, a program dedicated to empowering and connecting with immigrant Hoosiers.
“Each and every resident of Indianapolis has the opportunity to shape its future. That includes those who called another country home before coming to the United States,” Hogsett said. “Thanks to the International Leaders Academy, each participant will better understand the functions of city-county government, all while learning how they can bring their unique, valuable perspective to the table.”
The free program was established by the Mayor’s Office of International and Latino Affairs (OILA) in partnership with the Immigrant Welcome Center. The program teaches participants the inner workings of local government.
“With Indianapolis become increasingly diverse, International Leaders Academy is designed to equip our immigrant neighbors with knowledge and tools to be civically engaged in the communities they live and work in,” said Gurinder Kaur, chief executive officer of Immigrant Welcome Center. “As a collaborative partner of International Leaders Academy, Immigrant Welcome Center is committed to fostering a deeper sense of belonging in Marion County.”
Here are this year’s participants and their nationalities:
- Ro Lian Thang (Myanmar)
- Farah Célestin Chéry (Haiti)
- Eulalia Gomez-Lebario (México)
- Nilofar Sherzad (Afghanistan)
- Gisela Maria Perez (México)
- Mohamed Yeslem Habib (Mauritania)
- Sandra Doratt (El Salvador)
- Alejandra Aguilar (México)
- Rosangela Ponce (México)
- Marie Dominique Dumornay (Haiti/Canada)
- Eva Gonzalez (Spain)
- Ghina Sadek (Lebanon)
- Melani Rodriguez Escobar (El Salvador)
- Costale Iyanla Martin (Haiti)
- David Masamba (Democratic Republic of Congo)
For more information about OILA and the work they do, visit indy.gov/activity/office-of-internationa-and-latino-affairs.
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Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
